Disclaimer: Bear, Babes Bar, and the bar crew belong to me; all other characters property of JE and used without permission just for fun.

A/N: I had hoped to have this out before Christmas - but you know how THAT goes! Anyway, I would like to say thank you to everyone who has stayed with me during my long hiatuses when my muse refused to speak. I appreciate all your support, your reviews, and your Private Messages! I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday and wish you the best in the coming year!

-oOo-

Chapter 36 - Welcome Home

The drive back to the Haywood building passed in companionable silence. The evening had taken on a surreal quality in Stephanie's mind – like maybe she was dreaming. Being back in Trenton felt both strange and normal, as if the past months in Kansas hadn't been real. Or maybe she was still sleeping in the apartment above Bear's and had only dreamed she'd returned to New Jersey. But Ranger's warm strong hand was folded around hers and that was real enough.

Once parked in the garage, Ranger opened her car door and took the bag of cookies from her, helping her out. She pinched herself on the arm as the elevator doors closed them inside. Ranger saw her do it and raised one eyebrow at her.

"Just checking," she explained. "I keep thinking I'm dreaming, that I'm not really back in Trenton."

"Why?"

"You're holding my hand," she started off with a faint smile. "You asked me to live with you, and spent time with my family without me even having to ask. My family was loud but unusually tame and nobody gave me the third degree over my lack of job or what I intended to do about it. And now you're voluntarily carrying cookies into Rangeman."

His lips twitched. "Carrying? Babe, I'm stealing these – your mom makes good cookies."

Stephanie was startled into laughing and he smiled. "See?" she pointed out. "You, stealing cookies? I thought you didn't eat sweets!"

The door slid open on seven and he tugged her out of the elevator with him, leading her to his apartment door. "I like sweets. I just don't indulge very often."

They stepped inside and Ranger turned on lights, and they both stopped in surprise. There were helium-filled mylar balloons, fresh flowers, a covered plate of muffins, and several envelopes of varying sizes and colors laid out on the kitchen bar. Some of the balloons said "Welcome Home" and the rest were just brightly colored.

Stephanie's mouth dropped open and Ranger chuckled. "News travels fast," he said, taking the cake plate from her. "Four hours since you left this building and we've already been invaded," he said with a smile as he nudged her toward the bar. "I think those are for you."

She sank onto a stool and reached for the envelope propped against the muffin plate. Inside was a Welcome Home card from Ella and Luis. It said they had missed her and were glad to hear she'd come home.

The next envelope had what looked like a wiped-off spaghetti sauce stain on the front and was from Mary Lou. She said she was excited to go shopping and catch up on gossip, and that she wanted to hear all about the people Steph had met in Lawrence. One of the kids had drawn what looked like a woman with really curly brown hair in crayon. Steph guessed it was supposed to be her.

The yellow envelope held a bright neon orange card that immediately made Stephanie giggle. On the front was a cartoon chiuhuha quivering with excitement 'at the news she was back', and when she opened it there was a pop-up of the dog exploding in colorful confetti. As she'd guessed, it was from Lula.

Last but not least there was an envelope nearly eight by ten inches. The big card inside was covered with different inks and handwriting as all the Merry Men had added their own messages to the printed 'Welcome Home'. 'Missed you!', 'Glad You're Home', and 'Can't Wait To Catch Up' were repeated in as many different ways as there were men at RangeMan.

Ranger handed her a tissue before she even realized she was sniffing back tears, and when she gave him an embarassed smile he pulled her off the stool and into his arms. She could feel his smile as he pressed kisses against her temple. "Just wait until tomorrow when the news hits the rest of Trenton," he said dryly, which made her laugh again. She felt him chuckle, too.

A moment later he drew back slightly and tipped her face up. "Just for the record," he said soberly as he looked into her eyes, "no one missed you as much as I did."

Stephanie rose to her tiptoes and pressed herself closer to him. "I love you," she whispered against his lips and then she kissed him.

For one long minute Ranger let her have free reign; then he made a gruff sound deep in his throat and his arms tightened around her. He deepened the kiss, sliding his hands down her back and pressing her against his hardening body. Then he lifted her and drew her legs around his hips and it was her turn to moan.

By the time she realized he was moving they were in the bedroom next to the bed. Ranger loosened his grip just enough to let her slide slowly to her feet; they were both breathing hard. Only then did she notice that the bed was turned down. Candles in cut crystal bowls illuminated the room softly with only the occasional flicker. The air was fragarant with a scent Stephanie couldn't place - something soft and sensual.

Ranger didn't seem to notice the room at all; his eyes were only on her. Both of his hands were slipping beneath her sweater, stroking up the skin of her abdomen and ribs, pushing the sweater up and off. Her slacks fell to his caress next, then her bra, and finally she was lowered onto the soft sheets. He shed his clothes quickly and followed her down.

Steph reached for him immediately, wanting to pull him closer, but he evaded her efforts. He shifted lower on the bed and crawled between her legs, brushing kisses across her knees and working upwards very slowly. His hands traced down her calves to her ankles and encircled them playfully before sliding back up to tease the crease behind her knees.

"Ranger!" she protested, wriggling, when his lips reached her abdomen and his breath stirred the curls guarding her softest flesh. She growled in frustration when she felt him smile.

He could smell her arousal and his own flesh throbbed eagerly. But he didn't want to rush. He intended to give Steph a proper welcome home - and he'd savor every moment of it. Breathing deeply, he deliberately directed his exhale to fan the flames. Her low growl made him smile as he began to brush kisses across her tender skin. When she squirmed he meerly upped the torment, nipping, licking, sucking...

Slipping further, he braced one arm behind her nape and his free hand traced up her thigh as his mouth sought and found her breasts and her hardened nipples. She arched her back to press closer to his mouth and spread her legs in invitation.

When his fingers began to play in her wetness, barely touching her, she began to writhe and he stretched up a little more to kiss her and rescue her lip from her teeth.

"Please, Ranger... Please," she begged against his mouth. The desperation in her voice had him nearly jerking against her leg.

"There's no hurry, Babe," he soothed gently.

"I want you now..."

"We've got all night..."

"Now!" Stephanie gave a barely coherent cry of protest, twisting, shoving, and arching against him--

And found herself on top, looking down into Ranger's very startled face. For one microsecond they were both frozen and she wondered if she looked as surprised as he did; and then they both broke into laughter.

Ranger's laugh ended in a gasp, though, as Stephanie took advantage and slipped over him, rocking back hard to take him deep.

Reflexively, Ranger's hands caught at her hips, pulling her tight to him as he arched up, thrusting even deeper, a low garbled cry torn from his throat. It wasn't in English but Stephanie didn't need a translation to get the gist.

She tightened her thighs and pushed up and let Ranger yank her back down. Gasping at the speed and depth she repeated the action, each time a little faster. Each time a little harder. Until they were both out of control and straining-- and then release came and they were locked together, writhing in ecstasy and fighting for breath.

Stephanie collapsed and let herself slide to the mattress at Ranger's side, still gulping air. Ranger recovered faster. He rolled over, rearranged Steph's body against the pillows, and climbed back between her legs.

"Okay, you had your turn," he said, his voice low and rough. "Now it's mine." He pushed back into hot, wet flesh still quivering with aftershocks.

Stephanie arched beneath him with a low moan that sounded almost as if she was in pain - but the way she wrapped herself around him proved otherwise. "Oh my god, Ranger!" she cried out.

"Yes, my Babe - welcome home..."

-oOo-

The End~