Thanks for your wonderful feedback - I'm definitely addicted to your comments! Well, here we go again...

Ranger crept forward assessing the damage Hector's bomb had done. Maximum impact, minimum effort. Well done, he thought robotically. Off to his left his partner in crime was creeping along the edge of the crumbling building, taking in exactly what had happened. Dead bodies littered the paths and broken walls. Between them they counted fourteen bodies but Taylor Nellson was not among them.

Damn!

Nellson's right hand man was there, well actually half of his right hand man was there. His twisted face stared up at Manoso with empty eyes. Ranger stepped over the body and moved forward. Silence filled the air, not even the sound of a bird or distant engine provided a back drop to the carnage. Shocked silence instead. Alongside the dust cloud that settled gently on the only two men still standing.

Ranger signalled to Hector who followed him into an empty outhouse where they sank to the floor behind a pillar.

"What now, Boss?" asked Hector.

"You need to go home, your job is done." Ranger said quietly, giving him a knowing look. He was releasing his friend and colleague from any obligation.

"Yeah, right!" snorted Hector softly. "Do you think I am stupid? Nellson will not rest until you and all that you hold dear are dead. Stephanie, Julie, your sisters..."

Ranger cut him off "that's why I need to get to him first. Hell, we've got rid of much of his power base, I need to find and neutralise him for good. Go home, back to your loved ones. Your mission here is over, Soldier." Ranger said, trying to dismiss him again.

"And miss all the fun?" Hector smiled "Any way, you and the rest of Rangeman are my family. I have no one else. Tia Elisa died last year – I am the last." He looked off into the distance "Ranger, I need you to get home to Steph. I promised myself this would be my wedding gift to you. She needs you man, just as you need her. We finish this together, today."

Ranger stared at him, willing him to get the hell out of there. He wanted at least one of them to make it back.

"I owe you my life, I'm in your debt, Boss. I can't leave you in this lion's den to deal with this mess on your own." Hector continued. Ranger looked confused. "You saved me from the streets and gave me back my life. Without you I would most certainly be dead." Hector whispered. "I have a debt to repay and here and now is where I choose to do just that."

Ranger nodded his acceptance of Hector's intentions and they got up and crept away into the breaking dawn.

oo0o0o0o0o

Steph rolled over and looked at the clock as it chirpily informed her it was time to get up.

9.30am.

She glared a Burg Death Glare at it which it clearly ignored as it continued to fill the air with its vile cheerful tune. She sighed as she reached out and grabbed it, stuffing it under the edge of the mattress to finally shut it up. She knew Ella would find it later and return it to its usual spot so that it could annoy her again tomorrow morning. She almost smiled at the comments Ella would make under her breath as she put it where it belonged, but it was too early for humour so she just groaned instead.

She sighed again and rolled out of bed, which made her morning sickness wake up and take notice. She only just made it to the toilet in time. Ten minutes later she was in the shower and cleaning herself off. An hour later found her sitting in her kitchen gingerly nibbling toasted bagels with peanut butter plus fully loaded coffee complete with sugar and cream. Yuk! The coffee tasted terrible. Please don't tell me I'm going to hate coffee for the next few months, she thought grimly.

She looked at the paper that Ella had kindly brought up to her with her breakfast and noticed the date. It was Wednesday. She should be getting married in two days' time. Tonight was...her hen night! Oh My God! Mine and Lula's hen night, she gasped. What should she wear? Who was invited again? Was she even going to be a bride and therefore technically should she even be celebrating?

Whilst she was mid-panic, her phone rang. It was Valerie.

"Right, Steph, where are you at with your day? Are you decent enough to accept visitors?" Val barrelled out.

"Er..." replied Steph.

"Good... Bye!" Val said as she rang off.

Steph stared at the phone bemused at the conversation she'd just had with her sister and whilst she was contemplating their relationship the doorbell rang. The sound snapped her back to the here and now and she stood up to let the visitor in.

Sophia Manoso, Ellen Plum, Grandma Mazur and Val were standing on the other side, with various bags. They stepped in over the threshold and made a beeline for the lounge, pushing Steph out of the way as they went.

"Put the coffee machine on, please Steph" said Ellen as she sat down and proceeded to empty the bags she had with her all over the coffee table. The other ladies also emptied their bags and it wasn't long before there was a large pile of brightly coloured parcels piled up waiting to be opened.

Steph stood transfixed at the chaos that the girls had created, convinced Ranger would have a heart attack if he could see it. Before she had time to think any harder about what was going on, the door bell rang again and Lula barrelled in with Connie and Mary Lou in tow.

Fifteen minutes later and the whole wedding party was present, coffee cups loaded and read to go.

"Before we start looking at what you've bought to humiliate Lula and I with, I'd like to say a few words." Steph said, standing up. "first up, thanks so much for all your support for what I'm going through. I really appreciate it guys." She said, her eyes misting up slightly. She took a deep breath to calm herself and continued.

"Second, I won't be drinking tonight as I I'm pregnant..." the room exploded with shrieks of delight and it was several hugs and minutes later before Steph was allowed to continue. "Thirdly, tonight is about love. Between lots of special people. Tank and Lula and Carlos and I obviously, but also about the love surrounding us all. The love of parents, siblings, friends and lovers." She raised her mug of hot chocolate to the wonderful women sitting round the room. "Today we forget our worries and look to the future, full of love and hope. I expect everyone here to celebrate because we have so much to be thankful for." With that she raised her mug again. Everyone stood up and raised their own. "To us all" Steph said, everyone else softly repeating her words before taking a drink.

"Right, then ladies, do your worst" she said grinning as they all sat down. She was handed a dubious looking wrapped parcel the contents of which lived up to her expectations...

o0o0o0o0o0o

The parcels opened, Lula and Steph were adorned in a number of very dodgy looking accessories. Learner driver plates, a wedding veil covered in condoms and pink fairy wings for Steph. In addition to matching L-plates, Lula was wearing flashing pink breasts that sat snugly over her own and red devil horns. The other women present were all sporting t-shirts with pictures of Steph on one side and Lula on the other. Half wore Steph on the front the rest had Lula stretched over their boobs.

"Ok, ladies. Time to go" said Connie as she stood up and waved for everyone to follow her. Half an hour later found them sitting in the Clip n Curl having manicures. From nowhere a bottle of champagne appeared along with glasses and the ladies giggled their way through the afternoon.

o0o0o0o0o0o

Tank sat at his desk. He had ten minutes before his shift ended and he was free to attend his stag party. He was worried, very worried. He knew the guys were up to something by the furtive glances he'd been getting all morning. He ran his hand over his shiny bald head and tried to concentrate on the information on his screen. He blew out an exasperated sigh and gave up, closing down the document and then his computer. He turned to look out of the window. "Wherever you are, Ric, I'll be getting you back for skipping out and leaving me to the mercy of the guys." He sighed again and stood up to go to his fate.

o0o0o0o0o0o

"Absolutely not!" roared Tank as he was handed a large paper carrier bag from which he pulled a pink frilly tutu skirt. He held the offending item up as if it was burning his hand before dropping it onto the floor.

Lester sniggered and picked it up. "Just your size as well. Come on big fella, you only get married once" he quipped as he tried to hold it up to Tank's frame.

Tank shoved him away crossly. His face showing exactly what he wanted to do to the pink multilayered garment.

"Oh, come on, Tank!" Bobby said, nodding to the other men standing in his apartment. En masse, they grabbed him and after a brief and half hearted protest from Tank managed to pin him down sufficiently to get the skirt over his legs and up to his waist.

Tank finally gave up as he knew he was outnumbered. He glared at his 'friends' "Fine" he growled, "but don't expect me to be happy about it." He huffed.

"It's ok, you're not alone" smiled Bobby as he briefly left the room, returning with a bag. Reaching in, he pulled out a pile of pale pink t-shirts. "One for you, Les" he said, throwing it at Santos who looked horrified "Ram, here's yours. Hal..."

Ten minutes later all those involved in the stag do were similarly clothed, the back of the t-shirts said "Tank's goin' down on Friday..." in big black letters under a photo of Lula.

"Right, boys. First stop. Go carting..." said Lester as he marched out of the apartment and into one of several taxis waiting outside Tank's apartment block.

o0o0o0o0o0o

"So, Steph, are you happy that you're pregnant? It's not the real reason you're engaged is it?" shouted Ellen over the pumping base of the music at Club Tequilla, looking a little concerned.

"No Mum. Carlos and I decided that we wanted a family straight away. I know you always wanted me to settle down and become a Mum, but when I was with Joe I just couldn't bring myself to think about parenthood. As soon as Carlos and I admitted our feelings something changed. Perhaps my body clock was partly to blame, but I also think that deep down I knew we were meant to be and that being parents would only add to that."

She looked deep into her mother's eyes trying to confirm how she felt. It must have worked because Ellen pulled her daughter into her arms and gave her a squeeze. "I'm glad you're pregnant, Sweetheart, and I hope Ranger gets a chance to come home and be part of our family."

Their heart to heart was rudely interrupted when a shriek loud enough to be heard over the music went up from Lula "You want me to do what!" She was looking at Connie with her best Rhino glare. The four cocktails she'd just consumed had done nothing to lessen her indignation. Connie was trying to explain the rules of sharking to her.

Steph and Ellen leaned over to find out what the fuss was about.

"I am not going to spend the evening trying to get men's underwear and that's final!" Lula hissed. "My Tankie would not be happy with that idea, no sirree" she stated emphatically.

Connie just laughed, shaking her head. "What's up?" Steph asked over the loud music.

"Connie is trying to get me to steal men's boxers and I ain't doin' it." Lula huffed as Connie sat giggling, the four cocktails she'd also consumed clearly lessening her inhibitions. "Well, I'm going to go sharking with or without you" she said emphatically as she stood up a little unsteadily before marching off in the direction of the toilet.

Steph glanced after her then movement in the corner of her eye stopped her. She looked in horror as Tank, Bobby, Lester, Zero, Ram, Cal and Hal plus a few men she'd never seen before walked in to the nightclub.

Damn! They wouldn't be able to flirt with any of the clientele of this fine establishment she thought. She looked closer and her eyes went wide as she stifled a grin then turned to Lula to point out what her friend's fiancé was wearing.