Everybody and anything familiar belong to Janet. Mistakes are mine alone. The first two lines are from a writing prompt I saw. I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday weekend.

"How are you feeling?"

"Well, my eyebrows don't hurt."

One of Ranger's lifted in response. "That bad?"

I sighed and tried sitting up, only to wince when my body reminded me to keep my dumb ass still.

"Easy, Babe," I was told.

He sat beside me on his bed and gently eased a shoulder behind me so I could feel a little less like a patient and more like the woman currently occupying his bed.

"I'm sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for, Steph. You're alright and here with me, that's all that matters."

Easy for him to say. He doesn't have his inner voice screaming 'Idiot! Idiot! Idiot!' on a loop in his head. I knew Dazden Manord was dangerous, but I didn't take into account his apparent hatred of curly-haired brunettes trying to arrest him. The joke's on him though, since that's exactly what I did but not before he charged me and executed some sort of unnecessary roughness-like football tackle that resulted in some bruised ribs.

Being the professional that I am, I'd gotten to my knees, hissing out every curse I could think of, and put cuffs on Manord tighter than I'm supposed to. He hadn't thought his angry rhino-reaction all the way through because after he had plowed over me, he hit the asphalt headfirst and knocked himself out, which I hate to admit is likely the only reason I got him cuffed.

That's when Ranger and Tank arrived on the scene. Ranger took care of me while Tank did something with my skip that I probably don't want to know about. And from that moment on, to the ER and while inside the hospital, and now back here in his apartment, Ranger continued to take care of me. Though he claims there's a few perks to the job. One being getting me out of my clothes and reluctantly into one of his black button-down shirts so I wouldn't be naked - not something he usually advocates - but I wouldn't have to deal with stretching and bending to get in and out of pajamas or sweats.

"Thank you for saying that," I told him after a few more beats of beating myself up, "but we both know I should've taken backup … if only so you could've taken me out to lunch afterwards instead of me needing the emergency services St. Francis provides."

I felt him press his lips to the top of my head. "I'll always be there - and here - for you, Steph, whatever the circumstance."

I could feel the prick of tears threatening my eyes after hearing that. I want to blame the medication, but I didn't want to take anything unless it's absolutely necessary or the pain becomes unbearable. I've had nightmares about spilling my guts to Ranger while under the influence of something I should've avoided - the substance changes with each dream - and those nightmares could turn into reality if I'm not careful.

I decided not to get into a discussion that needs longer than a few minutes to wrap up. As usual, I went for humor as a diversion.

"Can you really say that, since you're due at your parents' house soon. What time are you leaving?" I asked, trying not to sound sad at having to spend Thanksgiving alone.

As depressing as that is, it's still the preferred option. There's no way I could handle being in physical pain while suffering through a typical Plum family dinner. If there are seven levels of hell, that would be one of the scarier ones.

"I already told Ella not to do anything special," I continued, when he stayed quiet behind me. "I'm just going to hang out here in bed and catch up on some bad tv."

I needed to turn around and look up into his eyes. They're the only hope I have of knowing what he's thinking. But turning anything is out of the question, so I was stuck doing the one thing I hate … waiting. Well, one of the things I hate. A silver lining to getting injured is I'm not gonna have to eat any green or orange vegetables for supper.

"I canceled your order," he told me, now running his fingers through the curls that haven't gotten tangled yet. "I also canceled my dinner plans. Ella is busy making us Thanksgiving-for-two." I can't see his expression, but I was about to hear the smile in his voice. "You can stick to part of your plan and stay in bed to eat it."

"Huh? Ranger, you can't ditch your family just because I acted without thinking again. And you can't make Ella do more than she already does, especially on a day when she should be enjoying time with Louis and their families."

His free hand snaked around to my front and started toying with the hem of my borrowed shirt that had become exposed when I initially tried to move from lounging to just reclining.

"You're the one who keeps spouting how commercial holidays have become, that no one cares what they're celebrating as long as they get to throw a party."

"What does that have to do with making your mother hate me for keeping you here when I'll be okay on my own?"

"My mother will never hate you based on the fact that I settled only an hour away from her, rather than remaining on the other side of the world with limited time and opportunity to call or come home."

Gulp.

Before I could come up with a coherent response to him basically admitting that he lives in Trenton just because it's where I am, he spoke again.

"I bring up your previous comments because if the intent behind Thanksgiving is to stop for a moment and fully appreciate what you're grateful for in your life, the fact that you're alive and in my bed will always be at the top of my 'Grateful For' list. Ella was also thankful that you were only bruised not broken, so she wanted to show you her love through food." Again, a smile was impending. "At least you won't run from a piece of pie."

I know what he's saying. I'll accept Ella's food-affection without a second thought, but I always try to explain away the love Ranger feels for me. I couldn't tell him that I still don't think I deserve it - deserve him - without sounding pathetic.

Since it looks like we have all night now, I bet there will be no escaping this conversation. "Are you saying all of this because you know I can't run away?"

"Yes and no. I said what I did because it's true, but also because I know your ribs hurt too much for you to get out of bed so you can't avoid this subject or me."

"You're sneaky."

"No, I'm an opportunist."

He's not lying. He warned me of that about three lifetimes ago.

"I don't know what to say," I told him.

Truer words were never spoken.

"I'm not asking for anything, Babe. No strings, remember?"

I do, but that brought an immediate question to mind. "What if I want strings now? Lots of them." He went quiet again and the nerves came immediately back. "I mean, if you want to be tied to me. We can keep doing … this … " I said, waving my hand between his and my body, not knowing how to classify us, "if you're still in the pro-condom/anti-ring phase of your life."

I know he could feel the exhale that wheezed out of me as I pushed those words out, but I couldn't help it. He gave me a head's up on that opportunist-thing, and I've warned him repeatedly that I suck at saying and sharing how I feel unless I'm pissed off.

"The condom-situation is why I went silent, Steph. Hearing you say that you want more with - and from - me and not be able to bury myself deep inside you is proving to be difficult."

Other areas of my body are starting to feel something besides my injured side. "Maybe we could …" I began, trying to think of a way to make us both happy without hurting myself more.

"No," he told me, kissing only my head again. "We have time. When I do make you mine, I want nothing holding either of us back."

Turned on? Check. Disappointed? Check. Feeling stupidly-happy instead of just stupid? Check!

"My mouth doesn't hurt," I informed him, hoping for at least a kiss to seal the deal.

He laced his fingers through mine and brought them to his mouth, kissing the scratches on my knuckles that I got when I made contact with Manord's paved driveway.

"I thought you said it was only your eyebrows that don't hurt?" He teased.

"I asked around … and my lips said that they may need a thorough inspection from yours."

"Is that your roundabout way of saying you'd like me to kiss you?" He asked, sucking just the tip of my index finger into his mouth as he waited for what I would say next.

"If that wasn't clear enough … I'm prepared to drag myself out of this bed, crawl if I have to in order to get to your safe, and then shoot you with whatever I find in it, if you don't freakin' kiss me already!"

"I'm on it," he said, turning his head as he lowered it down to meet mine where I'd tilted it up to try to glare at him for playing with me.

I wish he was on me, but a deliberate kiss from Ranger surpasses beginning-to-end sex from a mere mortal man.

I enjoy food. I love Ella's more than most, but I groaned in frustration against Ranger's lips when I heard Ella's voice call out that she's putting our dinner in the kitchen. Ranger raised his head and I was pleased to see that his eyes are as dilated as I bet mine are. Whatever issues we've both had to deal with to reach this point never factored into how desperately we've always wanted each other.

"How do I look?" I asked him.

He allowed his expression to soften. "Beautiful."

"You're lying, but I'll take it. Can you ask Ella to pop her head in? I want to thank her."

If he wasn't already in love with me, I honestly think he would've fallen at that moment just from hearing how much I care about everyone here.

"I'll be right back," he told me, dropping a kiss on my mouth before he left.

He reappeared a few seconds later carrying the most elaborate food tray to date … and its creator was right behind him. I know Ella loves a reason to go all out, but she somehow managed to make a small tailfeather flower arrangement to go around a turkey-shaped candle. And she added two wine glasses to go along with the bottle of Cabernet she set on the nightstand. Good thing I'm not currently hopped up on painkillers.

When we'd left the hospital, the temperature had already dropped ten degrees from what it'd been when we'd walked in. Even being inside an insulated building now, I can hear the wind whistling as it blows by. If any leaves had stubbornly stuck to their branches, they won't survive this night. Cuddling up to Ranger in bed, sipping wine and eating a Thanksgiving dinner that I know will be amazing, is the best possible way to spend a chilly night. And it's more than I could've ever hoped for when it came to a holiday.

Maybe I can push my luck and talk him into putting up a Christmas tree tomorrow, since I'm usually either too busy or too lazy to bother decorating my apartment.

"Oh, Stephanie! Louis and I are so glad that you're alright," Ella was saying. "You gave us all quite a scare when we heard you were taken to the hospital. How are you doing?"

"Honestly, this might be the best day of my life. I get to see you and eat whatever you made for us. And I get to spend Thanksgiving with Ranger. Not a bad way to end what could've been a really crappy, really lonely holiday."

"Nonsense. I hope I'm not out of line for saying this, but Ranger wouldn't have left you alone, today of all days. If there were an emergency and he was forced to leave, the men and I would have kept you company and sufficiently fed."

I cut my eyes to Ranger. "What's going on today? Everybody is trying to make me cry."

"Sometimes crying is just a side effect of being happy," Ella shared.

I nodded. "Must be," trying to stifle my sniffle before it could lead to more.

"I hope you don't mind, but I took a few liberties with the traditional meal. I didn't have an exact time of when you would be released. I was not going to serve you turkey that would be dry." She said that like someone had just suggested she dish up a dose of poison. "Soooo I went ahead and made you chicken-fried turkey cutlets, cranberry/apple/walnut coleslaw, mashed potato puffs, cornbread/sausage stuffing, and parmesan roasted green beans."

"Guess I'm eating something green after all," I said mostly to myself.

"You are," Ranger replied, straightening the blankets with one hand before placing the tray across the bumps my legs made under it.

"There's a chocolate pecan pie on the counter," Ella added. "And vanilla bean ice cream in the freezer."

"Thank you for doing all of this for us on top of everything else you do."

"It was my pleasure. The extras are headed downstairs as we speak so the men will have a bonus dinner."

That news made me happier than the pie. The guys deserve something special.

"Thanks," I stopped and flicked my eyes toward Ranger to include him in my appreciation, "both of you for always thinking the best of me … and wanting the best for me."

Ella rubbed the top of my hand in a maternal way that my mother has never figured out. "I've loved having you here. I should be thanking you, not the other way around."

My mouth proved once again that it didn't hurt by smiling as wide as it was able to. "You may change your mind about that. Even when I'm back to as normal as it is for me to be, I'm probably going to refuse to leave this building and the people inside it."