A/N not mine I own nothing but the plot.

Another Chance

New York City, the place I called home for the last three place I had finally found my solace, my peace, and my freedom. Some may find it strange that I say that I've found my solace and peace in such a large and busy city, but I could lose myself in the crowds of strangers. I could get lost in a sea of people and not worry about seeing the cause of my heartbreak on a daily basis. I could pretend that I wasn't a disappointment to everyone around me. I could pretend that my best friend didn't hate me. I could figuratively be anyone else; while still using my own name. Who am I, you may ask. I am Stephanie Plum.

I am thirty three years old and three years ago I left the town where I had been born and raised. I had ended my relationship with Trenton detective, Joe Morelli, six months before I left. We didn't have a knock down blow up fight. It ended softly with a quiet goodbye and a gentle kiss. It seemed that we shocked the 'Burg with how we handled it without a fight.

Our mothers had other ideas and kept trying to push us back together. My own mother told me that I was a disappointment and until I went back to Morelli I wasn't welcome back in my childhood home. When she told me that I only sighed softly, kissed her check and told her that I was sorry that I would never see her again. My Daddy didn't even try to stop me from leaving. My grandma Mazur hadn't been home and only sent me letters to keep me updated when she found out why I hadn't been home.

Through those next six months I kept working and saving every little penny I could save up just in case I needed to get out of town quickly. I was very glad that I had, because the only person I stayed in town for broke my heart for the last time. That day will live on in the scars of my heart until the day I die. It had been the final straw when it came to him, and once again I did not let my Italian temper get the best of me.

Flashback

I had just finished up a distraction for Rangeman, it had gone off without a single hitch and this was a big payday for me and an even bigger one for Rangeman. This was a DEA case and the target was a Columbian drug lord. I had also been told by Lester that it was the last enemy on Ranger's list. I was excited by the prospect of someday possibly coming true soon. I felt lighter on my feet than I ever had as I led the target out of the nightclub. The drug lord was quickly cuffed as I pretended to be confused about what was going on; Hal gave me a wink to let me know that I had done perfectly. It had become our sign for me to move off to the side and out of sight.

I moved out of their line of vision and walked to the back of one of the Rangeman SUV's. I waited for Tank as he was my guard and driver back to the office. I heard three voices nearby and I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but it couldn't be helped.

"So, Cuz, now that Eduardo is in custody are you finally going to ask her?" Lester was asking, who I could only assume was Ranger.

"No. EIther she and Morelli will get back together or Veronica will finally come back to me. She knows the score. She's an employee and entertainment, nothing more," was Rangers vehement reply.

"That's bullshit Rangeman and you know it. Ronnie is never coming back to you and Little Girl loves you. You know the saying, 'if you can't have the one you love, love the one you're with'. You've strung her along and used her just like everyone else. Jesus, no wonder the poor girl is such a fucking mess.'

I made my presence known at that point with a fake smile plastered on my face pretending I never heard a single thing. "So, are we ready to get back? I want to fill out my paperwork and get home. I'm exhausted."

Tank nodded and said, "your carriage awaits Little Girl." He held the door open and helped me in while glaring at Ranger. I couldn't even look at Lester. He and I had discussed what Ranger had told me over the years, but he knew the truth too.

"I know you heard what was said, Steph," Tank started. "I'm sorry you had to find out that way, but neither Les or I could watch you knowing he wouldn't step up and love you like you deserve."

"It's not your fault Tank. I'm a grown ass woman and knew long ago that Disney lies to children. I really do want to go get my paperwork done and get home. I have some chocolate and a bottle of white zinfandel calling my name," I said with a wistful tone as I put my hand on his shoulder.

I finished my paperwork and went home. The chocolate and wine were waiting just as I had told Tank. Around three in the morning I heard my lock tumble and knew it was

Ranger dropping off my check for my part in tonight's job. I was drunk and heartbroken, but I couldn't let him know that I knew what he had said to his cousin and friend.

"Hey, Babe. I thought you would be asleep already," he said gently.

"Nah, bad guy cooties. I had to do my post distraction ritual," I replied with a tilt of my head. I was suddenly seeing him in a new light. Yes, I could see the lust, but the love I had imagined in his eyes wasn't there; it was then that I realized that he didn't actually love me.

He moved in to kiss me and I allowed it. I knew that this would be the last time I could let him in my bed. It was the last time I would make love to him as he fucked me. It was the last time I would let him use me; honestly I was using him this time too. I wanted to cry as he gently caressed me and I'm certain he was pretending I was someone else. I let him think I had fallen asleep not long after. It didn't take him long to get dressed and leave.

End flashback

It was two weeks later that I gave my notice to Tank and told him I had a job offer out of town that I was taking. He understood and gave me a hug. Ranger had been in the wind on his final mission for the government. I made it a point to go around and say goodbye to those closest to me. I wrote Ranger a letter and left it on his counter along with his keyfob. The letter included my wishes for him. That the woman, Veronica, that he loved came back to him and he got his Disney life. I walked away from Rangeman and other than a few emails from Tank and Lester, I only had one from Ranger. It told me that it was a pleasure to have worked with me and wished me the best, but to never contact him again.

That email shattered me. All I could think was that he got what he wanted. It was also the day I discovered I was going to be a single Mom. I told Matteo that his Daddy would love him, but he doesn't know about him. I told him that one day he could meet him and that his dad wouldn't be mad at him. He was on a little over two so he didn't really understand, but one day I would explain it all to him.

My Dad still hasn't met, and probably never will, his only grandson. Grandma Mazur understood why I wouldn't come to Jersey, so we meet her at the train station once every other month and she spends a week with us in addition to her letters. She adores her great grandson and spoils him.

Today we would be picking her up and going to Central Park Zoo, she had always wanted to go and now she has the chance to see the zoo. Unfortunately, she had brought along an unwanted guest with her. A man I still loved and never thought I would see again. I closed my eyes with Matteo in my arms and counted to 10 as they made their way to me. I needed to gather my strength for the anger I know would be directed my way from Ranger. The little boy who was in my arms was his clone so I couldn't dismiss the reality that was in front of me now.

"Grandma, I'm so excited to see you!" I said as cheerfully as

I could, completely ignoring Ranger. "Lets get your bag to the apartment then we'll head to the zoo. I'm sure your friend can either find something else to do or come along."

The glare I received from Ranger before he spoke told me more than I wanted to know, "I think I'll come along, Stephanie. You know it wasn't that long ago that we were friends too, as a matter of fact you were my best friend."

I snorted and grabbed the handle of Grandma's bag as we made our way to my rarely used car. It didn't take long to get from the train station to my apartment. I put Grandma's things in Matteo's room since he has a cot in my room for when she visits. Ranger wasn't happy when I informed him that he could stay on my couch or make other arrangements, but it's all I could offer him.

He pulled me aside before we left for the zoo. "I think we need to have a talk, Babe," he said with a sneer.

"Well, Ranger, we can have a talk this evening when those two go to bed. We sure as hell won't be having this conversation while they are awake. If I had my choice, we wouldn't be having any conversation until he was eighteen," I replied angrily and walked away with a flip of my hair.

The day at the zoo was surprisingly fun with dinner from the pizza place around the corner from my apartment. Nearly two hours after dinner I just finished up bathing Matteo and settling him down for the night and grandma gave me a kiss on the cheek before going to be herself.

I made myself busy making a cup of tea to calm my nerves before facing Ranger. I would rather face a firing squad. I sighed and sat on the couch in my pajamas with my knees pulled up to my chest and tea in my hand. I waited for him to start.

He ran his hand down his face before sitting on the other end of the couch. "Why didn't you tell me about him?"

"I was honoring your wishes to never contact you again. I got your email and found out I was pregnant later that same day. From what I understand Veronica came back to you and you had everything you ever wanted. The entertainment gone and the love of your life back. Why would I tell you? Tank and Lester kept me up to date via email. Hell, they didn't even know about Matteo. I've been doing this on my own from day one, we didn't need anything from you," I told him with barely contained anger. "I went through my pregnancy and birth all by myself. I've provided everything for him and will continue to do so. You can go back to Tenton and Veronica and never have to think about us again. You also never have to worry about him having a step father as I don't intend to ever have any kind of relationship again. Now, does that satisfy your curiosity? I don't even know why the hell you're here. You never loved me, you used me as a source of entertainment and I refuse to allow myself to be in that situation ever again."

He sat back and looked like he was in shock by my words so I continued, "

I stupidly fell in love with you and was waiting for someday. The night of the last distraction I heard your conversation with Lester and Tank. I didn't deserve what you did to me. No one deserves that, so honestly, no matter how much I will always love you, you can go fuck yourself."

"How can you say I never loved you?" He growled out. "After everything I did for you, everything I provided you?"

"Your words told me. Shouldn't you be heading home? You don't want to piss off the love of your life. She may run away again if you stay away for more than

half a day. Isn't that how long it took her to leave you last time, while you were in the wind? Your guys are pretty chatty when they don't think you know Italian or Hungarian. You may not have been in love with me, but I was in love with you. The biggest difference is that I will never use someone for 'entertainment'.

"Everything you did for me? Everything you provided me? That was your way of paying your whore. That's all I ever was to you. So, you can't sit there and say you loved me. I heard you loud and clear when you told them that you would never give me any kind of relationship. That last time you fucked me and I made love to you I was saying goodbye, because you fucking broke me."

I had to put my cup of now cold tea on my coffee table. I was shaking so bad, trying to keep from sobbing. I lost it when he wrapped his arms around me and tried to sooth me in spanish. I laughed when he called me his light and even harder when he called me his heart. He pulled back and gave me an incredulous look. "Did you really think I wouldn't learn spanish so my son would know all of his heritage? Don't call me your light or your heart when I was never either."

"Steph, I need you to listen to me. I didn't realize that I was in love with you until Ronnie came back. She and I tried for about a month, but I realized she wasn't you. I'm surprised the guys didn't tell you that part. As for why it took me so long, I had seen a report when you had filed your taxes with a minor dependent. I thought I had lost my chance that you had found someone else and started a life with them. When I saw your Grandma was coming to New York I knew she was coming to see you. I had to see for myself that you were happy, that you were loved, and that they were good enough for you.

"Babe, I want another chance. I want to know our son, now that I know about him. I really wish you had told me you were pregnant. I would have been here for everything. I missed so much and lost so much because of my own stupidity and ego. I missed everything and so many firsts. I don't want to lose any more time with you. I don't want to miss any more important moment in either of your lives.

"You are everything to me, and that little boy is the most precious gift you've ever could give me. Will you at least consider it? You wouldn't even have to come back to Trenton. I can come here Friday through Sunday until I can move to New York. I've been looking to open up an office here. I could even retire and stay at home with Matteo. I know how much working means to you and I can retire comfortably at this point. Babe, just please think about it."

"You have to give me time to think about it. When I said you broke me, Ranger, I meant it. After everything with my parents, then six months later to the day you said the things you did, I don't know if I can take another heartbreak."

"I understand what you're saying. Would it be alright if I spend the week here as well? I can have Lester and Tank bring up my car and some clothes. I can take your grandma home so she's not riding the train. I want to get to know our son."

"As long as you don't mind the couch. It does pull out into a bed and I have extra pillows and blankets in the closet. We can talk more this week, but right now I need to get to bed. 'I have a toddler to keep up with. Let me get you the stuff for the pull out and we can talk more this week."

As I stood up he reached out and grabbed my hand before saying, "thank you, Steph."

I grabbed the bedding from my bedroom closet and came back out just as he was hanging up his phone, "the guys will be here around 10 am is that alright?"

I nodded, "goodnight, Ranger."

I heard him quietly reply, "it's Carlos, Babe. Goodnight."