POV 3rd Person Omniscient

Hello readers this is the final chapter. At the end there are several small scenarios explaining people or small events from the last chapters that were not addressed in the main story. It is the size of a part one epilogue so read it if you like, but it does not affect the overall story understanding or conclusion. They are random and in narrator prose style. Not in a polished novel type format. So this final main story chapter isn't really as long as it appears.

As always thank you for reading. And extra special thanks to my regular reviewers GarbanzoBeans, Tommy14, Rendickave, Baileygirl12, Caren47, Buddy'sBabe, Karaleej66, aruqan, Elenimou, Vulcanrider, and the kind guest reviewers. You kept me going to the end.

Epilogue: Aftermath Part 2

Wandering down hall Ranger knows she is here in this corridor. Stephanie was given her own room because she is considered terminal and needs comfort and quiet.

"It's only a matter of time" Dr Swatt said quietly looking away when they met them in the ER. Dr Swift only talked of treating his wounds and watching him for fevers as she typed and matched him for a few units of blood, her concern obvious. He wanted to say he'll be fine and send her back to cure Babe. But he remained silent, because of the anguish reflected in her eyes when she first exited Stephanie's ER booth and came to his.

"Carlos!" Stephanie sits up smiling in excitement. She was already missing him so much and didn't expect to see him for days. But here he is. A beautiful dark angel even wearing an ill-fitting white hospital gown. His eyes are serious. It seems someone told him the ridiculous news. She has felt herself dying several times. This isn't it. She feels fine. Only a bit exhausted, but this isn't death's grip around her. Opening her arms wide she invites him to her.

"Babe" He lifts her in a tight hug then looks around the room before he gets to work rearranging. In minutes he has the other bed pushed next to hers making the two hospital beds a double. "Watch out for the rail" He searches for a blanket folding it over the lowered guard rails where the two beds meet. There, all fixed. Not as comfortable as the their bed at home but, "Better than your old bed"

"Hey! my old apartment bed didn't have double metal rods running down the middle with a dip" Stephanie laughs.

"Just a sloping sag with springs digging into your back" Ranger teases. "It's best with me." She nods in agreement to his low rumbling voice. His bed and sheets are amazing.

He pulls her to his left side carefully avoiding his right shoulder wound and guides her head to onto his chest. There that's better.

"Stay here, Babe"

"Hmmm" the drowsiness is overcoming her again. It seems she just woke up from a nap.

"Mother came by and saw me." Stephanie says drowsily fighting the sleep. She wants to be with him a moment longer.

"Mine did too" He kisses the back of her fingers then slides a sparkling cut wedding band on her finger. They never had a chance for the rings. Their marriage was a whirlwind. Literally.

"Oh," Stephanie's eyes sparkle and she bolts up a smile bursting across her face. Then her brows furrow.

"Looking for this?" Ranger pulls out his wedding band.

"Yes!" She snatches it away polishing it with her bedsheet. "There" she slides it on his hand and beams happily admiring it on his rough hand, before snuggling up to him again and yawning. "Mother was all worked up I was injured by my horrible job again and the stalkers it attracts. Oh and the big mess I caused to everyone and everything around me."

"MMmm"

"Mid scolding, I told her that if she followed your security protocol, no one would've kidnapped me and exploded the guests." Stephanie giggles because the vampire may have come for her anyways. If not yesterday, eventually. So it wasn't really her mother's fault, well not totally. She did attract too much attention.

"And.."

"She stopped talking, sputtered and left. Of course, that may have been because I said you were injured rescuing me and I'd never forgive her for endangering you! I threatened to not invite her to the big white wedding."

"Babe. You didn't." Ranger eyes sparkle with amusement and disbelief

"Yep. I did. But I wouldn't really ban her from our big wedding. I just had to get my revenge. You know, apply some pressure so she knows to treat my man right" Stephanie's bright laughter fills the room. Ranger relaxers into the melody of her.

"Mom and Grandma said they like you and they look forward to Christmas." Ranger responds thinking of their visit this morning. He wonders why Stephanie's mother complains about her so often. His Babe is near perfect. Their families are safe and satisfied they are both fine. That is all they need to know.

"What is this? You can't be here!" a young nurse looks at Ranger in shock. Not only is he in the wrong room, but it's a female room. He rearranged the beds! Who does he think he is?! This is against every protocol.

"It's legal." Ranger glances away unworried by her fussing. "She's my wife" his voice and face say, this all makes perfect sense. He isn't moving an inch.

"Well, you can't have the beds like this. I am sure it's against some rule or fire code." Ranger raises an eyebrow. He's 100% sure there is no fire code against putting two beds together. She is the uptight list checker type, so he won't give her a hard time. But he also isn't going to leave.

Bringing in a few male orderlies, she moves the bed with Ranger still in it, back to the other side of the room. Where it belongs. "Now go back to your room, Sir" she wags her finger at him.

"This is my room." Ranger says calmly grinning defiantly at her. Stephanie watches surprised.

Climbing out of his bed he gets into Stephanie's bed with her. Sure, it's a tight fit with both of them in their, but it has its advantages. Once the Nurse gives up and leaves them alone, he'll just push the beds back together.

The nurse narrows her eyes but what can she do? She leaves agitated, muttering about the head nurse. Ranger's eyes twinkle. He hasn't been tattled on since high school.

Stephanie shivers then snuggles up around him passing into blissful sleep now he is here. She ends up half lying on him, wrapping her shapely legs around his as she sinks deeper into oblivion. Yes, definite advantages to this, he thinks. It always drives him a little wild when she tangles herself up in him. Smiling he strokes her hair, covering her cold fingertips on his warm chest with a strong hand. She sighs in contentment. He'll make sure she is always at his left side until his blasted right shoulder wound heals.

"I just don't know what to do…" The young woman returns with a distinguished looking woman. She has a calmer air about her. Clearly, the head nurse. Her eyes widen in surprise then sparkle with laugher.

"Sir, visiting is always encouraged, but I have to ask you to vacate the bed and go back to yours." The head nurse says lightly suppressing a smile.

"She took my bed" Ranger says nonchalantly. That's why he commandeered this one.

"What?!" Confusion spreads across the head nurse's face and the younger nurse's face flushes with embarrassment an agitation. She'd never kick a patient out of his bed. How can he say she took his bed!?

Ranger eyes the bed across the room "It was right here where it belongs. Then she took it" He nods his head indicating the space next to Stephanie's bed.

"Don't be ridiculous." The younger woman puffs.

"Never!" Ranger's attitude changes suddenly. His mellow attitude evaporates instantly, his dark eyes deepen dangerously. "She stays at my side, always" His voice is surprisingly low but a menacing chill races up the women's back. "Leave before I lose my patience."

"Uh um , oh we can't have the two of you smashed in there like that. We can't check vitals or properly change your dressings." watching Ranger's face an alarming tension is quickly rising across his powerful frame. The head nurse's stomach trembles. This is not going to get any better if they keep insisting. What difference does it make if a husband stays with his wife? "Place the beds together" She whispers to the younger nurse.

"But.."

"It's better than the alternative." She glances at Ranger's stormy face. She has too much to do to worry about if the beds are together or on separate sides of the room. This is a private room, anyway.

Babe will stay by his side until…the end. Whatever end it is. Ranger grips her tighter. He won't spend a minute away from her until he knows if she is going to come home with him, or forever fly away from his side.

Once the beds are pushed together again, Ranger moves over to his. The nurses check their vitals and then changes his dressings. Once everyone leaves, he slides Stephanie back over into his arms. She is winking from sleep and smiling up at him. "Hmmm, hey this is an awesome surprise" She looks around at the beds her eyes twinkling. How does Ranger get special privileges everywhere he goes? It must be the power of the beauty bubble. Beautiful people live charmed lives, she thinks before falling back to sleep again.

For the next 2 days she is in an out of sleep each time she awakens he is there by her side. Sometimes eating lunch or reading. Other times he is just lying on his side watching her, holding her hand.

"Babe" He whispers as she wakes up and scoots closer to him. Her fingers are cold. She trails them on his bare chest teasing him, but he doesn't flinch or complain.

"You should put your hospital gown back on, to protect you from my ice princess touch." She teases lightly.

"Mmm" But he makes no move to put on a shirt and pulls her tighter to his ribs encircling her in his arms.

"You're so warm" she sighs. In fact he feels warmer than earlier. When was that? All her days and times are a mixed-up mess in her head from her constant sleeping. Anxiety rises at the back of her mind telling her something is off. "Carlos, you're too warm. Wait, I remember..", her eyes widen in horror. Was it a nightmare or real? Ranger was in peril. He was about to die… Something terrible is happening to him. "I need to check.." she murmurs raising her head up. She must see if he is ok.

"Babe" He kisses her temple calming her anxiety. "Don't worry. I'm right here. Waiting for you. We'll go home when you're ready" He smiles tenderly into her eyes. The flush of the slight fever hides the paleness in his complexion. Her foggy mind doesn't see the mild illness in his face. The previous events and her disjointed dreams over the past few days swirl together muddling her thoughts. Her body is too heavy, she can't move from her spot. She is too tired to think. Her sole desire is to sink deeper into his delicious embrace and stay forever in this perfect space.

"Okay, you know best" she murmurs laying her head on his chest and fading away into a deep sleep.

"Stay with me Babe." Ranger's eyes glitter bitter chocolate with worry.

"Hmmm" Where would I go? She wants to say. But she doesn't have the energy to form words.

She doesn't wake up the next morning even though Ranger shakes and calls her name all morning.

"Mr. Mañoso there is nothing anyone can do" Dr Swatt says. If a human loses too much blood it doesn't matter if they replace all of it with a transfusion. The person will still die in a few days or a week from massive organ failure from the shock of the body losing more than half its blood volume. Miss Plum lost 75% of her blood, maybe more, in the last attack. Each body organ and body system will fail one after another. But he doesn't say this. Even a blunt researcher like him knows when to be silent.

'It's starting. It won't be long now,' Dr Swatt thinks instead. Ranger turns away in anger when he sees the look in his eyes. 'Ahh the Hunter refuses to admit it.' Dr Swatt doesn't blame him. The blow is devastating when she survived the vampire's attack, but not really. Dr Swatt sadly turns away. He is surprised Miss Plum didn't die at the mansion but made it to the hospital. It was probably because the Hunter carried her blood with him to rescue her. But in the end, it doesn't matter.

"Sleeping beauty." Ranger whispers as he watches her. It looks like she could open her eyes. Doesn't her skin look less pale today? No one seems to see it but him. "Stay at my side" He murmurs into her ear holding her close. But she sleeps on deeper than before.

Soon she will stop breathing and her heart stop beating, they tell him. He won't believe them until he sees it.

The hospital staff try to get him to leave the room for testing. He refuses. They respond by bring all possible tests to him. They tell him he needs to go to the OR for his shoulder. He stubbornly tells them he already went when he first arrived "to be fixed up."

"You'd benefit from more debridement of your shoulder wound" the surgeon tells Ranger. "It will help with healing. You will only be gone a few hours, half a day at the most, to the OR. Delaying your care won't help anyone." Ranger still refuses.

She is only asleep. Ranger will be here when she wakes or if… he won't even consider the alternative. No, he won't leave until the end is known.

Stephanie POV

I am heaviness. It's too much effort to take another breath. I can't feel my body. Soo tired, sinking here in the weight and darkness. Just remain still. Don't take another breath because it's too exhausting.

I wait to see how long before I absolutely have to breath. The burning in my chest slowly builds but it isn't so bad. Maybe I don't have to breath. Yeah, breathing is annoying.

I feel something! A light fluttering across my back. It soothes but also send an invigorating tingle across my skin breaking through the muddied mire. Ahhh. Taking a deep breath, that feels soooo amazing. Hmmm don't stop. My minds sparks awake. I remember…Carlos stabbed to a wall!

My heart skips a beat the unmentionable has him by his silky hair. He is going to kill him. Drink him up until there is nothing left! My heart thumps shooting pain through me. Gasping, hollow aching builds in my chest. Clawing my way to the top of the darkness, I must find Carlos. I'm screaming in the darkness. I can't lose him! Forcing my eyes open all is bright and quiet around me. I'm in bed laying on my stomach. Masculine rough fingers trace a soothing trail up and across my bare back.

"Carlos" I whisper. Tears gather on my eyes, spilling over my nose onto the mattress. He is there laying on his side, his head propped up on his hand. "I had the most horrible nightmare."

"Babe!" sheets rustle at my side and his face is on the mattress peering into mine. A 1000-watt smile lights up his face. "You're awake" his voice rings with excitement he bounces up like a little boy exploding with excitement. Of course, I'm awake. But I'm still so stupid and sluggish. What is he so excited about?

Strong hands close around my upper arms and he is pulling me onto his chest gathering me in tightly as he falls onto his back. I lay on his left side blinking at his sparkling dark chocolate eyes. He is so beautiful. Why is he so beautiful?! I blink away the tears, relief flooding me. He is not stabbed to the wall and bleeding out. The vampire doesn't have him in his claws ready to suck him dry.

I cup his cheeks in my hands and kiss his forehead, his nose then his cheeks and finally his lips. "I had the most horrible dream" My voice trembles softly above his lips. "You were stabbed through the chest pinned to the wall" I gasp back the sobs "And the unmentionable was going to eat you up" I shudder whimpering.

"Babe." Ranger smiles softly. His happy face and calm voice say, why are you so worried? His eyes gentle into milk chocolate brown.

"Such a vivid nightmare, the horror. The pain. I thought my heart was going to shrivel up and die." I clench my fist at my chest. Yes, it sound dramatic for a nightmare but it seemed so real and then I see the bandage at his neck. "Wait a second..." I feel my face draining in horror. Yanking his hospital gown off a large bandage covers his right shoulder at the top of his chest. "It's true." I whisper mortified, my stomach clenching tighter. Ranger's face blurs as my eyes fill with tears. Is he going to be alright!?

"Babe. It's ok." wiping the tears from my eyes he sits up and pulls me into a gentle hug. Relaxing into his embrace I sigh. Reaching over, I pull off the bandage on his chest before he can stop me.

"Oh Crap!" I whisper covering my mouth. This is bad. Reaching for the bandage at his neck, he catches my hand.

"No, Babe" His breath warms my fingertips as he kisses them softly eyeing me sensuously.

"Ranger! Don't even.." try to distract me and hide this! Raising up on my knees I lunge at him and ripe off the bandage. What is this?! His bite is red and swollen with jagged edges. Is it festering? "Why does it look like that?!" I demand feeling something snap as my voice trembles. My cheeks burn as rage surges inside me.

"Don't go crazy" He says low and smooth grinning at me. I want roll my eyes and scream that I am not going crazy but then I stop and laugh. The crazy is building in me. I can't help it.

"Where is that monster!"

"Dead" Ranger smiles proudly. Collapsing in relief, I never doubted Ranger would get him.

"Stephanie?" Alarm laces his voice as he looks down at me. I look up exhausted and smile.

"I'm fine, just tired. How can this be when I just woke up from a nap?" I grin sheepishly. He is so strong. How does he do it?

"A 48-hour nap, Babe" Ranger murmurs low reaching for me. But I sit up and straddle his hips trying to put back the bandage on his wounds. The tape is all ruined and the gauze looks soiled.

"You definitely need a fresh one" I glance around looking for a nurse or call button. Ranger grabs my hips and looks up at me his eyes dark and alluring.

"Wait." Huh? I look back at him and his mischievous face. "Stay right there" his voice rumbles low. His cheeks slightly pink under his mocha deliciousness. If it were anyone but Ranger, I'd say he was flushing, but not Ranger. He doesn't blush over something so small.

Leaning over I kiss his mouth and stroke his chest. He is warm. Comfortably deliciously warm. But too warm, even for him.

"Mr. Mañoso I was.." I turn my head and see a gaping Dr Swatt staring at my bare back. Oops. These hospital gowns, Ugh. Twisting around I fall off Ranger and back onto my bed. Quickly pulling the gown closed, I secure the ties. "Amazing!" Dr Swatt rushes to my bed and starts listening to my heart and shining lights in my eyes and calling on his phone. More people in white coats appear and it starts all over again.

I glance at Ranger and roll my eyes. What is this all about?

After an hour, the excitement finally dies down. Ranger has new bandages on is wounds and I eye him worried.

"Something's burning, Babe."

"You have a fever." Bobby's words echo in my mind over and over again. Vampire venom. Actually an infection that causes high fevers and death when a person has extensive injuries or blood loss. How much blood did the unmentionable take from Ranger?

"Mmm. A small one for a few days." Winking he pulls me close and strokes my hair. His demeanor and face tell me it is nothing. A passing fever that will go away. It hasn't gotten worse so maybe? I smile back at him and push the anxiety into the back of my mind. Right now, I will just enjoy he is here with me.

After I woke up, the staff take Ranger away for half a day to treat his wounds. They were very insistent and aggressive for some reason. But I don't mind, because the shoulder wound looks loads better on the next dressing change. His bite wound is still astonishingly bad. Mine are so clean without even a bruise. The tiny puncture marks have mostly faded away.

I doze throughout the day holding is hand sometimes, other times I'm awakened by him pulling me tight to his left side.

It's day 6 since we arrived at the hospital and I feel ok other than I have an 8:30 bedtime. I know so lame. But it won't always be like that. I am awake all day now, except for one 2-hour nap.

Noise and movement wakes from my sleep at midnight. Glancing over I see Ranger talking and thrashing. A nightmare?!

"Imposter." He growls. What is this? "Morelli! Go home. I'm standing guard" I thought he knew I'd never go back to Joe? "Julie.." He whispers.

Crawling over I stroke his hair, he is burning up. Pushing the call button, the nurses take one look and runs for medicine.

"I won't stand by if he is sleeping with you in the next room!' wait this is familiar. He is dreaming about when he made my house his headquarters when Scrog pretended to be him. That was actually rather hot, until Joe moved in, then it was just a hot mess. Ranger was on the run because the imposter Scrog kidnapped his daughter. "¡Cuidado Cariña mia! Where!? No more tricks. Why so cruel, Babe? Don't go back to him. Solo yo te quiero tan profundo, Nadie te ama asi."

He is looking for someone desperately in his delirious dream. I always thought he hid at my place because he didn't have anywhere else that was safe while he looked for Julie. But now I see he could've disappeared easily and gone anywhere to set up headquarters. He was there watching over me. Making sure Scrog didn't snatch me like he did Julie. He didn't trust Joe to watch over me.

"Babe, stay inside. The Slayers teeth are too sharp" the situation sounds desperate. He's delirious. His mind is mixing up the Slayer gang with recent dark creatures and Scrog and Julie are there too. My poor Carlos.

The staff give him medicines and he calms down but he continues to sleep fitfully. His temperature doesn't stay down for long. It slowly begins climb again. I remember this. But not really, since it was a years ago and I was half out of my mind when my temperature skyrocketed. I don't know what would've happened to me if Ranger didn't suddenly appear and take me to the ER. I woke up after a few IV's with Ice packs around me.

"¿Donde está? Cariña, mi vida. No jueges con mi corozon. !No la toca o le mato!"

When his temperature hits 105'F the whole loud crowd of doctors and nurses cart him away leaving me huddled in the corner of my bed frozen with fear. Thirty minutes later a male nurse quietly walks into my room. Is he sneaking?

"Stephanie?" He whispers. Nodding I watch him intently, hoping he has news.

"Come with me. Be quiet. I'm not supposed to do this" he motions for me and I follow him into the hall. He takes me to a special room where Ranger is laying in a bath of water.

His temperature is at 103'F but he is agitated and muttering low and quickly to himself continually in Spanish. I don't understand any of it like I did the simple phrases in the room. There he was asking where his life and beloved or Cariña was and not to play with his heart or touch her or he'd kill the person. Though I doubt he would kill someone for simply touching me. But he has that side to him that uses fear and threats to get results. Right now, he is dark and a bit scary even though he is clearly sedated.

"What's he saying?"

"Well…" The nurse looks at me clearly uncomfortable. He doesn't want to say "That's why I came and got you. He's furiously searching for someone. I think it's you. For the past hour he's been muttering all the things he is going to do to the perpetrators unless they release you" he explains nervously, sweat forming at his temples.

"And..?" I encourage him.

"Uh, Right now, he's muttering about disemboweling and shoving the guy's intestines down his throat until he ..uh chokes on his own..well, anyway, now he is going to follow the poor bastard to hell and ew, ooh remove his um manhood and…It just keeps getting worse."

"You think he might attack you?" The nurse shakes his head no, then nods yes, then shakes his head no again looking at the male orderly next to him. They are there to watch over him while he is sedated and restrain him, if necessary. But he has clearly spooked them. "What do you need from me?"

"He is agitated and breathing black threats, if you aren't returned to his side…so we thought."

"Say no more." Stepping up to Ranger, I run my fingers across his stomach and up his chest under the luke warm water.

"Ranger" I say softly. He freezes a moment then continues muttering in Spanish. Running my fingers through his hair, I kiss his cheek and then his ear and whisper "Carlos," Nuzzling him "Hey there dark angle, it's me Stephanie." Ranger stops muttering. "You're looking extra full of fury today." I murmur softly to him stroking his arms and chest. Taking his hand in mine I lace my fingers through his and kiss the back of his hand gazing down at him floating in the stainless-steel trough. "Why are you so beautiful?" I breath in awe. There's only him.

"Cariña." he sighs squeezing my hand and soon he is quietly sleeping. I watch over him all night. His fever fluctuates 103 then 104 then 103 then 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Once it remains steady at 102 point something degrees Fahrenheit, they send him back to our room with extra nursing staff to watch him.

Doctors murmur around us all night about medicines. Dr Swatt enters in the morning with a clear amber bag of fluid that looks familiar.

"It's experimental and a bit risky, but we hope to transfer to him some of your antibodies." I nod remembering they started the night he got delirious. Dr Swatt was delighted Angela, the Hunter Association scientist already gave him a dose at the vampire mansion. He says he hopes the antibody treatments help, but he can't promise it will.

It will help. It has to. So that all that self-donation of blood and plasma is worth it. Though Dr Swatt says his college Dr. Angela Winter is sure that I survived because I received my own blood.

I don't get why everyone is saying this. I don't feel like it was ever an issue. Being tired from anemia is normal. I was tired and blah last time. I just didn't sleep for a week, with 48 hours of that being continuous.

"You're unusual. I don't think you could die of blood loss as long as you are transfused with your own blood." Dr Swatt's voice is full of curious excitement. "In fact, you likely can lose abnormal amounts and still recover without a blood transfusion. I'm sure you have already and didn't even know it because of the forgetfulness of the vampire's hypnotic eyes" He concludes.

"Ok. But let's not test it." I respond cautiously as I hold Ranger's hand.

"Of course not, my dear." He frowns looking at the feverish Ranger.

"So?" I gaze back at him with worried hopeful eyes.

"His bite was contaminated, further complicating his injuries. The infection from a first bite is always dangerous even without complications" He looks away not meeting my hopeful gaze. "Perhaps the young Hunter will also astonish us" he adds quietly as he leaves.

My heart constricts as I recall all the Hunters that died 2 years ago. Not one of the bitten survived. But they were hurt worse than Ranger and not as strong as him and not enhanced by pixies, and, and...

"You can't leave me" I whisper into his ear, my heart racing with fear. Taking a deep breath, I try to calm myself.

The day continues and he steadily gets worse. He is fitful but seems to rest better when I'm near. When I return from the bathroom, A young nurse has just moved my bed across the room and tells me to get in.

"He is so ill; it is best to leave him alone to rest. We can better care for him without interference" She eyes Ranger's unconscious face. Normally I'd agree with her assessment, but not today.

"No. I crawl onto his bed and stand up, a foot placed carefully on either side of his calves so I won't step on him or any of his IVs or tubes. "Carlos wants me by his side. I refuse to leave!" I roar at her my hands on my hips.

The nurse stares up at me in shock. "Put it back!" I yell pointing to my bed. I'll scream until they return my bed to his side. I refuse to leave him. If they try to take me off his bed, I'll scratch and bite and kick anyone that touches me.

Another nurse comes running in at the sound of my screaming. She seems to be in charge. "Jan, please, just let it go" She says sternly then cranes her neck up at me "Enough, no one is going to change anything, just get down before you fall." She and Jan push the bed back over so it is now flush with Ranger's. I tuck the blanket over the lowered guard rails so there is no longer a hard metal dip in the middle.

"Thank you" I sniff wiping my eyes. The head nurse smiles, and nods and I hear her angry scolding as she and Jan disappear down the hallway.

Laying on my side I hold Ranger's hand squeezing his fingers, one. two. Stroking his hair, "I'm here. Always," I murmur. Learning over I kiss his feverish lips before I settle down and fall asleep to the sound of his steady breathing.

I wake up the next morning and realize everything is still, too still. Flying up I hover over Ranger.

"Carlos!" Nothing. I've never seen him so still. I glance frantically at the numbers on the machine. It shows a pulse and breathing. I touch his chest but don't feel it moving. I lower my hand to his diaphragm between his ribs and feel the small up and down movement on his stomach. "You're too quiet." I yell poking him hoping to startle him. But unlike yesterday he doesn't stir. All is motionless and deathly quiet.

Tank comes in with Lester.

"Hi Stephanie. Why don't you come with us." Tank's eyes are solemn and watery.

"Yeah, Take a break and get some fresh air. I'll buy you breakfast, Beautiful" Lester looks at Ranger then away, but he won't look into my eyes.

"No. that's ok" Taking Carlos' hand in mine I stroke the back of his hand and forearm. It's no longer feverish. It feels cool to the touch for the first time, ever. Pulling up the blanket I tuck it around him tightly.

"Stephanie, it's ok if you leave. It's probably best if you're not here when...He wouldn't want you to watch." Lester says gently.

"You're wrong!" my voice trembles and my vision blurs. "Carlos asked me to stay" I whisper because my voice is cracking and giving out. I won't. I can't leave! He always wants me at his side. Taking a deep breath, I slowly let it out then turn and smile. "It'll be ok, just wait and see" I try to make my voice cheerful, but it sounds strange even to me.

Tank looks back at me. He and Lester stand by awkwardly for 5 minutes and then leave, quietly closing the door behind them.

A few minutes later, it opens again. I turn to tell them that I haven't changed my mind when a pair of beautiful steel gray eyes meet mine, under windswept silver locks.

"Sunny what are you doing here!?" I glare at him.

"Surprised? I'm delighted to see you too, Pet."

"DROS! I'm not your pet and how dare you, after what you did!"

"What, improve the odds for you? You're welcome, Cutie" He smiles charmingly at me.

"By exploding the courthouse parking lot?!"

"For such a smart pet you can be rather dense." He says calmly, like of course he helped. I stare back at him baffled into silent, fuming. "Would you rather the Dark Lord slash his way through the guests and your beloved hunter friends?"

"Uh, No"

"Or maim and kill your mighty Hunter on the spot as he snatches you away? You somehow convinced him to leave the wounded men behind. But he would never have left your mighty Hunter alive, if he were in the car with you. You know this, Pet."

I do. It was fortuitous that Ranger was not with me or in any of the trailing SUVs that day. It allowed him to track the creature and strike the first blow at the unmentionable, instead of the vampire striking at him first.

"So you're saying you planned this, to help?"

"Pet, I was bound to obey. Even my Queen must comply despite her true wishes. But there is nothing wrong with diverting the Dark Lord to an outcome that is more favorable for you."

If Sunny was ordered to help the unmentionable apprehend me before our wedding, he failed. Sunny waited until after we signed the marriage certificate and then detonated the bombs. Assuming he even knew we were upstairs getting married. The bombs sent me far away from the crowd and separated me from Ranger so the Dark Lord could easily attack. But in the end, it did keep the vampire away from my friends and family at the courthouse and away from Ranger.

Some may say it would be better if the vampire attacked at the courthouse while all the men were there to support Ranger. But with all those guests my mother invited running around as collateral tragedies? My heart just can't accept the horror of them getting caught and shredded in the crossfire.

Looking up, I shudder at the thought and sigh, my anger evaporating. Things aren't always what they seem with Sunny, nor simple. Maybe he was doing what he could, without endangering the wrath of the unmentionable.

"Speechless pet? I'm surprised your Hunter lived. He exceeded all expectations." He smiles down at Ranger.

"Dros Leave now!" how dare he say such things.

"You misunderstand my intentions. We consider him the mightiest Hunter we've ever encountered. I came to offer solace and protection. We'll take care and watch over you, Pet, when the mighty Hunter is gone. You don't even have to come live in our areas. I have a pixy that will guard and obey you always. No one will ever harm you. Out of respect to your might Hunter." His eyes glimmer a soft metallic grey.

"A pixy? Yeah right, to bite me. Just honor your agreement, Sunny."

"I will and more. The Hunter killed the Dark Lord so you and yours are not only safe in my areas, but my Queen decrees no pixy will bite you or any of your people. This is your reward for delivering us from the Dark Lord's tyranny." He smiles and for the first time it shines in his eyes.

"Umm, his struggle is with the first bite poison" he mutters leaning over and for the first time taking a good look at Ranger.

"Do you have an antidote for this?" His Queen has worked with vampires for who knows how long, centuries perhaps. My heart races with hope.

"Any human my Queen gifts to the Royals never is alive in the morning. They aren't favored like you pet. Your status is very rare." His expression is deeply solemn and for the first time, he doesn't have a smile dancing across his face. Being offered as a meal to a visiting vampire by your benefactress, is rather chilling.

Sunny pulls Ranger's chin to the side and scrutinizes his face. He runs his fingers once through his silky hair. "I've never seen the fierce Hunter so peaceful and quiet. I see why you like him. He has the flavor my Queen loves."

"Hey.." Sunny ignores me looking over Ranger's strong arms and shoulders.

"It's such a shame he was too willful to be a slave and too fierce to be a pet." He then locks eyes with me and smiles his most dazzling smile.

Sunny wasn't talking about Ranger for consumptions of his lifeforce when he said he was the Queen's flavor. Doesn't the competition get to him? It's clear his Queen is everything to him.

"You look for men for your Queen? Don't you feel...I don't know, Jealous?"

"Her happiness and pleasure are my greatest delight. She doesn't have to be content with just me. Even though I am the most superior of all men." He smiles confidently. "You should sample me and my talents, Pet, when you are solitary and lonely once more" He glances at Ranger and steps back nodding respectfully at his quiet stillness.

Oh right he has his own little lovers too, that call him Bunny. "I've had plenty of samples" I reply flatly looking away gazing at Ranger's masculine beauty. "And I find you rather clever and annoyingly devious."

"The Dark Lord never treated you properly. Let us show you the true meaning of Pet. Now is not the time for decisions. Take the pixy and if you find yourself lost or alone, I'll always come for you, Stephanie." He kisses the back of my hand.

"I'll can't accept the pixy until I talk to Ranger about it. After he wakes up." shaking my head no at the pretty little present he offers me. We both know it contains a pixy.

Glancing at Ranger so still and silent, Sunny bows to him respectfully. "I wish you luck then" he mutters low and leaves placing the brightly wrapped present in his coat pocket.

I'm enshrouded in a mute unmoving world. I've never seen Carlos this deathly quiet. Not even after the pixy attack. He is always vibrating energy in some way. Even the way he breaths when exhausted and sleeping is moving and alive. Now all is silent and inert. Kissing his still lips they are slightly cool. I don't know if I should be glad his fever is gone or alarmed at his strange coolness. His lifelessness is already threatening to break my heart.

I lay by head over his heart and listen to its soft slow thump. It is alarming to hear its pace and sound compared to the heartbeat that lulled me to sleep at Hayward. Yet it offers some comfort because the constant silence is broken with the steady motion of his heart. My heart. Not only did he give me the strength to overcome my dark nightmares, but he destroyed the monster haunting me.

Nothing moves in the stagnant room except my beating heart. I hold his hand and wait. The hours crawl along and seem to speed by and at the same time. I fear what will happen, but I can't look away.

"Don't leave me behind." I whisper clinging to him tightly. He will wake up now. He has my antibodies.

At night, I fall asleep to the slow lub dub rhythm of his heart. His still hand clasped in mine. At dawn I'm awoken by the steady screaming beep of his monitor machine. Frantically reading the screen, there is no pulse reading and it is flashing his blood pressure as unreadable. I glance at the heart monitor and see a flat line screeching its high pitch beep.

Bolting up, my heart thunders in my ears and my head instantly swims in the tears blurring my vision. There is motion at my side, but I can't see or understand it.

"Carlos!" my eyes seize upon his face. His eyes blink and his lips are moving but no sound is coming out only the shrill of machines.

"…someone shut off that alarm!" He is steadily ripping wires and monitor pads off himself as he struggles to rise from the bed. He reaches for the IV buried in his arm.

"DON'T MOVE" I cry shocked and overjoyed he is awake. "I'll call a nurse." the alarms stops as I sense people around us but I am too busy crying and raining kisses on his surprised face.

"Babe..wait.." Then I land on his mouth "MMmm" and his shoulders relax, and he's pulling me to him tightly. His mouth taking control, ravishing my lips. Oooh, I'm melting. Voices murmur in my ears and alarms scream but they echo far away. Only he exists.

"How?….amazing…impossible. His tests were wrong….Never!..We do excellent work. Vitals don't lie." The scattered conversation echo around me. Will I have to wait for an hour while people tramp in and out and look at Ranger over and over again?

After one examination Ranger refuses everyone else that arrives, telling them to get the notes from the other guy. Class is over. Then he pulls me close to his chest.

"Promise me, never die on me again. That's 3 times now." My voice and fingers tremble.

Ranger glances down at me his eyebrow raised. "Babe? I never."

"Stabbed in the chest, the vampire ate you," pointing to his neck, "and then poisoned." I finish my voice cracking and my eyes spilling tears. They are happy and distressed tears all at once.

"Babe, you exaggerate. I never died. You're the one giving me a constant heart attack." His low laugher rumbles softly. His dark chocolate eyes sparkle. I think there is a double meaning in this…

Tank and Lester run in with some guy I've never seen. He looks official.

"Hunter Mañoso! So glad to see you awake. Just the recovery powers alone of you and your Lady are astounding." He seems to be hinting at something more than our abilities to get well.

"MMm" Ranger doesn't even look at him but continues to gaze into my face.

"Of course, the Association will honor your contract. I look forward to working with you both." He smiles too sweetly and leaves us to rest. Ranger narrows his eyes at his back as he walks out the door.

"Let's go home." Ranger declares.

"What?! the nurse and doctors exclaim. "Your wounds are still healing. You just woke up from a ravaging infection. You're still weak and could relapse." They cry out in rapid succession.

Ranger looks at them sternly. He doesn't believe them. Of course, he didn't believe that he would get ill enough to need antibodies. Then he got delirious.

"Stay for a few tests. The antibodies alone could be a major breakthrough in treating first bite infections and saving lives" Dr Swatt leaves the doorway and enters the room.

"Dr. Angela at the Association will cover that" Ranger replies coolly. She has the unmentionable remains and she vowed she'd develop a magic bullet that can stop a vampire if one ever surfaces again. Who knows maybe he was the last one out there? At least the last one powerful enough to be a royal vampire.

Ranger agrees to Dr Swatt's request as a favor to him. But I know Dr Swatt is asking as a way to get Ranger to receive more medical care.

Ranger turns from the bewildered staff and gazes with sparkling chocolate eyes into mine. "One day, then we leave. A man needs privacy and his own bed, where he can relax and recover with his wife."

"So husband, want to lie around with me" I tease back.

"No" His eyes darken "Lets honeymoon for months, no a year. We'll travel the world."

"What?!" I laugh in delight and shock. "That'd be nice" After so much lock down. "But what about work? And the Hunter Association wont they need you?"

"It'll be fine. Don't worry, Babe."

"Huh?" Ranger wraps his arms protectively around me glaring at the door where the Hunter Association man left. I don't think he liked him saying he looked forward to working with us.

"That'll give your mother a year to plan whatever giant wedding she desires."

"While we aren't here?" I can't stop giggling. That's an excellent idea! Let her handle all the drama she creates.

"Once her froufrou show is over, the real fiesta will begin." My giggling turns into full laughter. I never thought that word would ever come out of Ranger's mouth.

"So honeymoon first, then reception afterward. That's a brilliant idea!" No waiting through endless plans so we can leave and have fun.

"Not a stiff reception a giant party. 3 days of fiesta, at least Babe. That's how long I need to scream to the world you are mine."

"Humm" Gazing dreamily into his face, I strum my fingers through his beautiful hair. "You'll be a good dark angle and rest at home until we leave?" Ranger nods

"I need to reacquaint myself with all my favorite parts of you." His voices rumble low.

"What parts are those?"

"Every part.." he breathes out low kissing my jaw. "By then your passport will be fixed."

"Fixed?" mine isn't due to expire for at least a few years. I stare back at him my eyebrows raised.

"It needs to say Stephanie Michele Mañoso." His chocolate brown eyes pull me in and soon my mind is swirling, his fingers and breath a whirlwind coursing down my skin filling up my everything with the delicious flavors of him.

THE END

Thank you for coming along the path with me on this shadowy fairytale. The main story ends here. It is much longer than I expected and a bit dark. If I write again, it will be a traditional plot mire that is zany, light and something we can hopefully laugh over together. A good dose of humor is the main missing element in this story. Fiction should bring enjoyment. I hope you have an enjoyable reading year.

Authors After Party Notes: A lot of little of things in case you were still wondering…about Sunny's pixy and the wedding and Dr Angela...

While resting Stephanie told Ranger about Sunny's visit and the truce that no pixy would bite Ranger, her, or their people. Stephanie said she understood their people, to mean family and maybe close friends, but she was not sure it meant the merry men. Ranger said it better mean his men or he would visit Dros and say hello again. Ranger knew he could get away with another violent hello if he was pushed into a corner and Sunny couldn't retaliate, now they had the agreement.

Dr Swatt complained and whined horribly when he overheard that Sunny offered Stephanie a pixy. "Accept it my dear and give it to me for study!" he told her.

Ranger growled he would not be responsible for a pixy biting patients and hospital staff. Dr Swatt gasped that'd never happen incensed at the idea, but assured Ranger he wouldn't be liable even if it did. Ranger still refused stating he is sure it would happen, and he didn't care about the mess but his Babe would feel guilty if people got hurt. Once Stephanie is sad, then he would have to raise hell and fix the situation. IF he ever had a pixy, he'd send it to Dr. Angela.

Ranger did take Stephanie on a honeymoon for a year around various locations around the world. He was so well paid for his contract for killing the unmentionable by the Hunter Association that he didn't have to work for a year after paying his men. He told Tank to run Rangeman with their current clients and when he got back, they'd worry about new ones. Of course, the merry men got a few new contracts for the company while the couple were away. Ranger said it wasn't necessary and not to call him unless the company went up in flames and he needed to sign the insurance papers for the payout so they could start all over again from scratch WHEN he and Stephanie were done with their honeymoon. Tank and Lester knew this meant don't call unless the place is literally burnt to the ground in ashes.

While Ranger and Stephanie were away for the year, Hal, Luis and Hector decided to see what would happen if they wandered into Dros' domain. They always returned without issues. On new years, they got smashing drunk and decided to catch pixies to play beer pong. Instead of cups the drunken idea was to play ring toss on the tied-up pixy. I know, who ever said drunk people are anything but idiots. They trashed a few buildings but never found a pixy. No surprise there since a person can't find a pixy even when sober, unless a pixy comes out willingly. After making a drunken mess, that neither of them remembers clearly, they woke up at Rangeman to a fuming Tank and a disgruntled Sunny standing over them. But not a single pixy bite or scratch was found on their pretty boy skin.

It doesn't usually matter what they do when off duty as long as it doesn't affect their work. But this did reflect badly on the company, when Sunny who they had a working truce with, picked their drunken arses up and delivered them safely to Rangeman headquarters. It was a tad embarrassing to say the least, and on the more severe side, it showed drunken unprofessional conduct and unprovoked destruction of Dros's property. Luckily the Pixy Queen is not the type that demands formal apologies and Dros just smiled at them devilishly like he now had something on them.

Tank decided this affected work and assigned them remedial training. The first day they read the entire Rangeman code of conduct and courtesies manual. The next 3 days they had monitor duty because this is where employees hone their basic quality of patience and discipline. Monitors take focus, and attention to detail and discipline in a situation where it is tempting to slack off. The next week they were sent on low level security patrols. After they completed 9 total work days of remedial training they were released back to their regular duties. Lester laughed and said it was the easiest 2 weeks of work he's had in years. A paid work vacation. Being a head supervisor is grueling. This just made Tank turn red but what could he say? After 2 weeks he dumped Lester's supervisory load and projects right back on him, despite his complaining. Because there really was no one else qualified to do his job. Yes, it may be easier to be a regular grunt, but Lester must wear the big boy pants. He is good at it too. Tank just won't say it to his smirking face.

Once Stephanie and Ranger returned home her mother was overjoyed and very repentant. She explained she had a huge, solemn respectable wedding planned full of tradition and beauty that would showcase all that is good and right for her beloved daughter. Ranger said she has a ridiculous cheesy wedding planned full of boring froufrou nonsense. Stephanie said sure Mom what a lovely thought (and barely held in all her giggles) as long as you pay for it and smiled sweetly. Ranger stood calmly through the whole confusing thing. His men were ushers looking delectable in black suits. They were the most delicious thing there, because the wedding cake was awful.

Ranger exuded an air of solum mystic to all the ogling church ladies during the wedding because he was silent almost the entire time. He didn't even say a word about Stephanie's giant white dress with puffed sleeves the size of grapefruits and a humongous bell skirt that had layers and layers of ruffles and tule. For the first time ever he thought, 'Stephanie's a cupcake with white icing.' But he didn't say anything until she groaned. "I look like a f*%#ing cupcake!" he laughed and laughed his deep melodious laugh and soon she started laughing to. When they finally stopped Stephanie felt lighter and she didn't care about the dress anymore. This was for her mother.

"I'll see you at the finish line Babe" he whispered and left to take his place after kissing off all her lipstick. They finished the wedding ceremony without worry. Only smiles and laughter in their eyes. Ranger wasn't sure if the dress or her swearing was the most hilarious.

"Serves me right for just giving her free reign on the dress." Stephanie grumbled as she stripped out of it shortly after of the ceremony, with Ranger's eager help.

"Mmmm, as long as I get to eat you, I don't mind." he rumbled, changing her mood again so drastically she got through cutting the 17 layer wedding cake that tasted like posterboard and all the rest of the reception in the pink reception dress her mother selected especially for her.

"At least I am not a cupcake" she muttered.

"Nope just a pink frosted, cookie" Marylou whispered back, and Ranger nodded his laughing eyes.

When their party came Ranger really did throw a 3-day fiesta. Stephanie had a gorgeous outfit for each day that Ranger and she had bought while abroad. The first day was sort of tame and he invited his Mother, Abuela (grandmother), and Stephanie's family to that day. The second day was rowdy, and the 3rd day was an uproar all around Rangeman. Food, live music, dancing, pranks (uh I mean games, Lester says). It was one giant crazy party.

Bobby invited Dr Angela to come. Ron and Don were not invited but crashed anyway teasing Bobby about liking Dr Angela. Claiming she is too smart for him with her doctorate degree. He told them smart women are sexy. There is more than one kind of intelligence Bobby said giving them a hard challenging look then grinned devilishly. Taking Ron and Don down to the basement firing range, he completely wiped the floor with them, then took a quick dash to the gym and ran circles around them. When he was done, he told them next time they would go outside into the real world and play in the woods instead of just doing kindergarten puzzles in the building. Ron and Don never made fun of Hunter or a Merry Man again.

Sunny also showed up to the party and Ranger was not pleased. Stephanie said let's see what he has up his sleeves. So they patted him down and he didn't have a pixy or any weapons on him so they let him into the bottom floor. He stayed a while and drank enough to make Tank drunk 4 times over without getting buzzed. Then he offered a pixy to Stephanie and Ranger said he'd accept it. Ranger locked the present in a metal strong box and Bobby delivered it to Dr Angela, who studied it for a year.

Sunny was horrified when he found out the pixy was in a lab being experimented on. Stephanie assured him it was just being studied, not tortured. But Ranger didn't care if it was, which didn't help the tense situation. Stephanie visited Dr Angela to see how things were going and they became good friends. Eerily, the pixy would sing and coo every time Stephanie showed up. Don't ask me or Stephanie why. Maybe because it was hers. Ranger thought it was funny but also disturbing so he told her to make sure the pixy was always locked behind the special plexi-glass container. Duh! Both Angela and Stephanie are giving Ranger a much-deserved eye roll.

At exactly 13 months to the date of the pixy gift, Ron and Don snuck into Angela's lab to graciously take over her strenuous pixy project.

"Steal it you mean," Angela grumbled after it got loose

Ron and Don kindly stayed to stubbornly get in the way in hopes of snatching the prized magical being. I mean they stayed in the lab to help find the little lost creature. They searched the lab and then the entire building but found nothing until Angela flushed the lab airducts. Suddenly it appeared zooming along the vaulted ceilings. Unfortunately, by then it was nighttime. Not only was it faster but it's bite 10 times more potent. It proceeded to bite the male research duo, but did not touch Angela even though she caught hold of it before it slipped through her fingers like lightening and disappeared never to be seen again. When Stephanie heard this, she was pleased to see that Angela, her friend, was protected from pixy bites by the truce.

Sadly, Dr Angela hadn't discovered how pixy poison turned a person blank, summoned them to the queen, or made it possible for the queen to control a person. So of course, she didn't have an antidote for the pixy trance of Ron and Don. Instead they lock the researchers in the padded cells used for people turned viciously mad by dark creatures for 24 hours to keep them from mindlessly wandering away to the queen. The hangover headaches were horrendous. Luckily, Dr Angela had figured out how to counteract the poison's side effects. She cured the vomiting throbbing PhDs in an hour. The medicine was so effective she patented it and sold it as a super migraine medicine and made a small fortune. The fortune was sustainable enough she did not have to rely on the resources of the Hunter Association to do her research. She soon quit the Association and set up her own lab.

Angela left on an unknown expedition a few years later. 6 months into it she disappeared without a trace. Bobby was devastated. They had been dating sort of. She reappeared 8 months later with no memory of what had happened. But it was hard to tell anything for sure because she was completely out of her mind and rather vicious.

"Definitely touched in the head" Ron and Don said.

"Probably bitten by werewolves or almost drowned by naiads. She is lucky she wasn't devoured." Don said and Ron nodded that is possible if she came across anything spectacular. But he doubted she did.

"Just too much jungle fever. The ladies are more delicate" Ron responded since he thought Don was being ridiculous, not all insanity is caused by dark creatures.

Bobby was angry and Ranger annoyed. Werewolves and naiads don't exist, they're purely fictional and if werewolves did exist, they're human friendly. You'd think a couple of PhDs would know Werewolves are fantasies made up by humans who wished for a powerful protector against unmentionable dark creatures, Bobby said shaking his head. Ron and Don are silent and refuse to say they are wrong. Maybe they have some evidence or ancient text.

After about 3 months Angela's mind started to come back to her. Her accounts pointed to a possible run in with a goblin or a troll. Both were thought extinct ages ago. "Don't ever do that again!" Bobby scolded her for running off without a large backing of Hunters. Sure, it is annoying to work with the politics and bureaucracy, but everyone needs experienced back up. Bobby instructed her to work with a Hunter Association team if she ever went on an expedition again.

"Who are you to tell me what to do!?" she demanded viciously, being still a bit touched in the head. Bobby immediately married her ending that argument. She eventually fully recovered 3 months after their marriage and rejoined the Hunter Association as their head of dark creature research.

Ranger of course quit the Hunter Association. No one and he means NO ONE is going even think about using Stephanie to help trap, lure or apprehend a dark creature in any way. He knew the Association would want her to work for them and eventually team up with him, possibly as a power couple. But he would not stand for that.

Stephanie' mother is rather pleased with her currently. The big wedding was the talk of the neighborhood and it gave her a new view of Ranger. He stood there so quiet and polite the whole time and saved her thousands of dollars in usher fees by offering his strong men for free. They were the most talked about ushers of any wedding in the past 5 years because they looked so strapping and handsome in their suits. They also were very prompt and polite noticing everyone the moment they arrived and taking their bag to the bag check. That is something no one else ever had at their wedding. They were so organized almost like security guards watching the guests and insisting they check in everyone's coats and bags. But that would be not nice, if they were watching everyone like guard looking for threats. They were clearly there to show people to their seats and make things pretty. These boys behaved so nicely, and Carlos was very sweet and handsome even though he is tough. Because he is such a nice tough boy, he keeps Stephanie out of trouble and her car never blows up. He is much better than that troublesome Morelli boy that was always hanging around. Helen is as content as she can be with Stephanie. But I think that will change once grandchildren show up. Mothers always have lots to say then.

However, Ranger and Stephanie can't be bullied so of course they lived happily ever after.

El Fin.