A/N: This chapter includes the November 2021 Writing Challenge for the Janet Evanovich Fan Fiction Facebook Group.

Challenge: "Ready for another year of awkward conversation and unmet familial expectations?" "No, but I brought tequila, so I will be soon."

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Chapter Nineteen

Stephanie gave a little sigh. How was it life had gotten so complicated in just one week? Last week, her life had been normal. She had her footing and knew her place. This week the world was on fire. She was in a sort-of-maybe-eventually a relationship, and she was buddies with the head of the bratva and the lord of the underworld. A strangled sound of disbelief escaped her lips before she could mash them together and stop it.

Comfort and normalcy had been ripped away from her, leaving a tender new future. One that held the possibility of promise or destruction. Whatever it was made her blood hum and for the first time in a long time, she felt alive. She was no longer satisfied with just going through the motions.

Stephanie met Luca on the plane and settled in for their trip to the Keys. She was asleep before the wheels ever left the ground. It had been a long few days.

Stephanie jerked awake with a snort, looking around, momentarily disoriented. Another jolt of turbulence rocked the plane, and her memory quickly snapped into place. It was déjà vu.

Luca was across from her sleeping like a baby, his features relaxed, not a care in the world. Another patch of rough air shuddered through the plane. The pilot came over the intercom announcing they would be landing shortly. Luca woke up at the sound of the chime and stretched the kinks out of his neck, giving an enormous yawn.

As they dropped below the clouds, Stephanie hazarded a glance out the window and then whipped her head back to stare, confusion drawing her brows together as she looked closer.

"Those aren't palm trees." Stephanie pointed out the window.

"Nope." Luca confirmed. The p making a little popping sound.

Stephanie thought they must have caught another case while she was asleep. She almost groaned out loud. She desperately needed a few days off to rest and recover.

"Where are we?" She cautiously peered out the window again as the ground got closer.

"Trenton."

Stephanie's eyes cut to Luca's. "Trenton?" She asked incredulously as the wheels smacked down on the runway, and she pitched forward with the rapid deceleration, as the pilot slammed on the brakes.

Luca waited until the pilot taxied to the hangar and exited the plane. Then he pulled a confused Stephanie to her feet.

"Why?" Stephanie stammered.

"Because you and I both know this is where you want to be. Where you should be." Luca gave her a pointed look. "I know I pushed you to explore this thing between us."

"Yeah, I thought that's why we were going to the Keys." Now Stephanie was just lost. The conversation had taken so many twists and turns she felt like she was in a maze.

"I've given it a lot of thought the last few days. I'm not in love with you, at least not that way, and I never will be, and come on, let's face it. You definitely aren't in love with me." Luca's voice challenged her to disagree.

Stephanie furrowed her brows as she processed what he'd said. She guessed she should be offended, but Luca was right. He spoke the truth, and they both knew it. "True." She elongated the word, asking for more of an explanation.

Luca ran a hand through his sleep mussed hair. The unruly lock falling back over his forehead.

"I think I panicked when I saw you with Ranger. I felt you slipping away. I could see he did things for you I couldn't. He made you happy. He touched a part of you I never could. The more I really thought about it, I realized I was more afraid of change than of losing you. It was about comfort and pattern."

Luca gave a helpless shrug.

"You probably figured this out, but I'm not good with change. It felt like one more thing was slipping away, one more loss, but let's face it, I never had you. You weren't mine to lose. We were just fillers for each other."

"And you didn't really want me. You never did." Stephanie said. There was no heat in her words. Neither of them had gone into this thing wanting or expecting a relationship. She'd never wanted Luca that way, either.

"No, not like that. You're my friend. You're my teammate. That's never going to change. I'd follow you to the ends of the earth. You know that.

After Gabriel died, I saw myself in you. When I lost my wife and child, I just kind of spun out and shut the world out."

"Your wife and child?" Stephanie asked, dumbfounded. She realized just how little she knew about the man, even after all of these years.

Luca gave her a humorless smile. "Yeah. I was married, our daughter was five when it happened. They were everything to me, and when I lost them, I had nothing."

Luca reached up and rubbed some of the tension in his neck before continuing. "I was a negotiator with the FBI, and I got involved in this hostage situation. I was really new at the time; it was maybe my third solo negotiation." His voice had taken on a faraway quality that told her he wasn't here with her any more. He was lost in the memory.

"The men surrendered without incident. Of course, they all went to prison. Most of them for twenty years, but one of the men involved was put away on gun charges. His name was McGill, and he only got five years. He served a little over three. After his release, he kidnapped Nadia and Mia. He took them right out of the parking lot of a shopping mall in broad daylight. He held them hostage and threatened to blow himself up. I tried to get through to him, to get him to let them go. I spent hours negotiating with him, begging him. I would have given him anything. I even offered to trade myself." Luca stopped and looked heavenward for a minute, collecting his thoughts. Stephanie could see the tears in his eyes.

"I failed or at least I thought I did." His voice was hoarse. "He blew himself up and killed them."

"Oh Luca, I'm so sorry." Stephanie put a comforting hand on his arm.

So many things about Luca had become clear. She wanted to take away his pain, but she knew it wasn't possible. Pain like that stayed with you always, you just learned to dull it and work around it.

Luca pointed to the scar on his head. "He almost killed me, too. I was in a coma for a few weeks, but eventually I recovered. Most days, I wished he had killed me too, until I met you. You, and this team, gave me hope. Gave me a purpose. After I left the FBI, I just drifted, until Nick recruited me. I was in a really dark place, but eventually I learned to live with my grief." Luca blew out a harsh breath. "No, that's not true. I'd learned to function despite my grief."

He cleared his throat, fighting for control.

"When I saw you after Gabriel died, I recognized myself in you, or at least I thought I did. I thought you were broken, like me. I thought maybe our jagged pieces could fit together. Between the two of us, we could try to make a whole. I wanted to help you, but in the end, it was you that helped me. You expected nothing, you never pushed. I found comfort in you, in the ease of our relationship. You always had my back, but I knew I couldn't fail you because you didn't want anything from me. You didn't love me and you never would. But I was wrong about one thing."

Luca locked eyes with her and took her hands in his. "You're not broken, Steph, not at all. At least not with Ranger. He makes you whole. He does for you what I will never be able to. You deserve a shot at being happy, and that's what I want for you. That's all I have ever wanted for you. Always."

Stephanie launched herself into Luca's arms and he crushed her to him. She could feel the silent sobs wrack his body, or maybe they were hers. She wasn't quite sure. They had both been each other's anchor, but in doing so, they'd isolated themselves in their own private grief. A few minutes went by and they just held each other, taking strength and giving it in equal measure.

Stephanie nestled in the crook of his neck. "You're wrong about one thing, Luca. You're not broken. You're a good man. One of the absolute best, and you should never doubt that. You're my friend and there is nothing I wouldn't do for you. I do love you; you know." She whispered against the side of his neck.

"Please don't say like a brother, because that would just be creepy." She could feel Luca smiling as he kissed the top of her head.

Stephanie gave a watery laugh. "No, definitely not like a brother. As a friend."

Maybe even something a little more than just a friend. Something that could have grown into a lot more if circumstances had of been different, but they weren't. Luca was right. They had used each other to hide from the world, but that wasn't all. That space between them had provided protection but it has also given them the opportunity to heal. Stephanie would have never been ready to meet Ranger if it hadn't been for Luca. She'd let Luca inside her heart, not just her body.

Luca stepped back and wiped his eyes. "There's something else. Something I need to tell you."

Stephanie searched his face, unease pulsing at the base of her spine.

Luca continued. "I finally got access to the case file. There was footage from a reporter, shot from an angle I'd never seen. Steph, I didn't fail. McGill was turning himself in. He had taken off the vest when it blew up. Someone else set off that bomb. Someone else killed my family. McGill wasn't the one in charge. He might have been the one that held my family, but he didn't kill them. I've been spending every free minute trying to find out who was behind it. I don't have many leads."

"God Luca, what can I do? How can I help?"

"You trust Nikko." It was more a statement than a question.

"Yes." Stephanie replied without hesitation.

"I wouldn't ask this, but I'm at a dead end. Do you think you could ask Nikko? I'm pretty sure he's CIA. He has access to things I could only dream of, contacts that might be able to help."

"Of course. I'll do it today. Anything you need, Luca. I'm with you every step of the way and we will find the person responsible."

"Thank you." Luca cupped her face in his hands and kissed her forehead. "Don't think you can ditch me when you go into partnership with Ranger."

Stephanie gave a bark of startled laughter. "How did you know it was on the table?"

Luca just shrugged. "It's what I would do. Besides, Les might have mentioned something about it when he threatened me and told me to stay away from you."

Luca grinned.

"Les threatened you?"

"Yep. Ranger's a lucky guy to have someone like Les in his camp."

Stephanie nodded. She was pretty sure having Les on your side was always a good thing. He was two sides to the same coin. An easy-going people person and a lethal predator, and somehow, he seamlessly blended both. The combination made him a bit of a unicorn. He was a lot like Jack, except for the undercurrent that spoke of tragedy and betrayal. It was in his eyes. Les seemed simple, until you looked closely. Probably a lot of people had been fooled by his charm and had never seen the knife coming that slipped between their ribs.

"Now go on and get off the plane. I've got margaritas and conch fritters waiting for me." Luca gave her a gentle shove towards the door. "I'll see you when I see you."

Stephanie gave a little two fingered salute and stepped off the place. If home was where the heart was, she was definitely home.

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Ranger eyed the monitor that displayed the video feed from the camera outside of the RangeMan building on Haywood. His arms crossed, a befuddled expression on his face when Les came in.

Les leaned forward and squinted at the monitor. "You think she'll come in this time?"

Ranger's shoulder tilted up. "Not sure."

Stephanie was outside the RangeMan building staring at it like she'd just seen the Wizard of Oz or something equally confusing and disturbing. She'd been out there fifteen minutes this time. Rooted to the spot, transfixed. She'd done the same thing yesterday, and eventually left. Ranger had been tempted to go after her, but this was her choice. If she wanted to contact him, she would. Ranger wasn't good at doing nothing, but he would grind his molars into dust if he had to. On this one, he would keep staring at the monitor until he mastered the finer points of Wu Wei. The odds he would actually have any teeth left were dwindling with each passing minute Stephanie stood on the street.

"Come on, we have to go. Abuela is expecting us, and she will kick our asses if we are late." Les warned Ranger. Both of them still stared at the monitor, arms crossed in identical positions.

"Yeah, OK. Give me five minutes." Ranger finally said. Les was right. His abuela didn't tolerate tardiness for Sunday church or Thanksgiving dinner.

Ranger went out through the garage and approached Stephanie on the street.

"Babe?"

She gave a startled gasp and whirled to face him, a guilty look on her face.

"Hey there." Came her breathless reply.

Ranger stalked towards her and she backed up until her body was pressed against the side of the building. He stopped in front of her before making contact. The rapid rise and fall of her chest drawing his attention. Each breath memorialized in the frosty November air.

Ranger let his eyes stroll up her perfect body to her face. Her beautiful blue eyes danced with hope and uncertainty, her strong features highlighted under the glow of the streetlamp. His eyes stopped on her generous mouth that had the power to bring him to his knees in so many ways. He loved that mouth. It was imminently kissable, wonderfully talented, and it was the one that would finally admit she was his. Eventually. A strange sensation rippled through his body, warming him from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, settling with precision in his chest. Ranger was a little afraid he knew what that sensation meant. She belonged to him and he belonged to her. She just didn't know it yet.

Ranger set his arms on either side of her, caging her. He could feel the rough brick against his palms and focused on the sensation to keep from yanking her into his arms and demanding her surrender. She was here, and that was a start.

"So why have you been avoiding me?" He asked as he leaned in and scented her, drawing the crisp, clean scent deep in his nose. She smelled like citrus and figs. His new favorite combination. The heaviness and longing took him by surprise as his body reacted to her nearness.

Stephanie's eyes darted from his face to a point in the distance and back again. She licked her lips and his eyes cut back to her luscious mouth. He needed to kiss her, but first she needed to answer his question, so he waited. Only years of training kept him stationary. He ignored the fluttering of his stomach and his racing heart.

"Because, well, because I think I may be falling for you, OK." Her unease and confusion at her own feelings highlighted in the stammer of her voice.

Her words hit him like a punch in the gut and he exhaled a ragged breath. Ranger forced himself not to declare victory prematurely as his body flashed hot, then cold, and his knees threatened to fail him. He could hear the blood roaring through his own head as he kept his hands pinned on either side of her.

"Falling is the easy part. Admitting it to yourself is the hard part." Ranger purred and leaned a little closer.

"I'm starting to see that." She sounded like she had run a marathon.

Her fingertips had found his chest and lightly skimmed across him, sending sparks of fire shooting through him in their wake.

Ranger slid his hands down and tangled them in her hair, tilting her head back, taking in the soft, silky feel. His mind flashed to her hair covering his thighs and lower stomach as that beautiful mouth of hers had worked its magic. The heaviness turned into a throb.

He ran the tip of his tongue from the base of her throat to her chin, tasting her like a fine wine. The throaty, growly moan that escaped her lips shot straight through him. One more sound like that and he wasn't making Thanksgiving dinner.

"I thought you might want to give me that Christmas present early." Came her breathy voice that instantly took Ranger's thoughts to very carnal places.

Ranger was pretty sure whatever that sound was that escaped, he'd never made it before. It was a half-groan, half-growl low in his throat that sounded as much like pleasure as it did pain. He leaned in and pushed her back against the wall, molding against her body, he pushed his leg between her thighs. Ranger could feel her heat searing him through the thin material of his slacks.

"You're killing me babe." He breathed against her lips.

Stephanie nipped along his jawline; hands splayed across his ribs. Every touch weakened his resolve. If he kissed her the way he really wanted, all bets would be off and Les would be going to dinner alone. His abuela's wrath would be a small price to pay, it was her disappointment that would gut him. Without her firm hand and her unconditional love, Ranger wouldn't be standing here. He would have fallen prey to the gangs and been dead or in prison. Disappointing his abuela wasn't something he could do. Ranger let out a soft sigh.

He gently grasped Stephanie's chin and tilted it up, his lips brushed against hers. He meant it to be a quick kiss, not more than a peck, but her lips captured his and didn't let go. She devoured him and he was helpless to stop her. Not that he even wanted to. Stephanie explored his chest and abdomen with her hands while her lips never left his. Teasing, exploring, stoking the fire in him that was raging to the surface.

When she kissed him like that, the world around them vanished. The noise of the city faded into the background and it was just the two of them suspended in their own reality. She might not be able to tell him in words how she felt, but her kiss told the story. It was all passion, longing, and hope.

Heat boiled between them, neither wanting to break the kiss or move away. Their lips and bodies moved together in perfect rhythm and Ranger desperately wanted to continue this dance somewhere other than the alley with far fewer clothes. He was certain his cock was about to rip through the fabric of his slacks.

He groaned against Stephanie's mouth, a sound that was half-pleasure, half-pain, and all frustration.

"We have to rain check this, babe. I have to go. My abuela is hosting Thanksgiving dinner, and she will have my ass if I'm late."

"Oh." Stephanie sounded as dazed and confused as he felt. "Right, it's Thanksgiving. Of course, you have plans."

"You could come with me." Ranger's mouth was clearly not engaged with his brain.

Inviting Stephanie to meet his family was a sure-fire way to send her running for the hills. His family was big and loud. And nosy. The more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. Ranger had never brought a woman home, but he hoped Stephanie would be the exception. He wanted her to be part of his life and he wanted that life to start now.

"You want me to meet your family?" She asked him like he was few bricks short of a load.

Ranger shrugged. "Well, yeah. Unless you have plans with your family already."

Ranger figured if she did, she wouldn't be standing outside of RangeMan, but he kept that to himself. He didn't know what happened to her plans and he didn't care. She had chosen to come to him, and he knew just how big a step this was for her.

"I mean, I guess I could. If it's not too much trouble. I might miss out on my mom telling me I should get a good job at the bank like my sister Valerie." Stephanie smiled at him. "I'd hate to miss out on that, but for you I might be willing to forgo that family bonding moment."

"I can see how that might be a problem." Ranger teased. "It would be a big sacrifice, but I promise to make it up to you later."

"Well, when you make a girl and offer like that. How could I refuse."

Stephanie's hands were wrapped around his middle and she was smiling at him like he was her favorite slice of pie. Fire boiled through his veins, and other than the very real danger he was going to spend half the night hoping he didn't embarrass himself in front of his abuela, Ranger couldn't think of anything he wanted more than to bring Stephanie home. The thought should terrify him, but it didn't. His family would love her just as much as he did. His heart stuttered at that thought. He waited for the panic, but it didn't come. Instead, his heart settled into a slow, steady rhythm like it had always known that truth.

With a lot of effort, he disentangled himself from her and grabbed her hand and tugged her towards the garage. Les was waiting by the SUV. Les' eyes slid over them and his brow hitched up a fraction when he caught Ranger's gaze.

"Hey Steph." Les gave her his trademark grin. "You coming with us?"

"Yes." Stephanie confirmed.

"Good, that takes the pressure off. Someone else can be the focus of the inquisition." Les joked. "Ranger can answer all the marriage and baby questions tonight."

It sounded good natured enough, but Stephanie had a feeling there was a kernel of truth in it. She was thinking maybe that impetuous decision hadn't been the wisest one.

Ranger smacked Les on the back of his head and gave him the look that said cool it. Les just shrugged and climbed into the back of the SUV and they peeled out of the garage. Ranger figured bringing a woman home would get him off the hook for being late, but he'd rather not take that chance. His abuela scared the shit out of him.

"Ready for another year of awkward conversation and unmet familial expectations?" Les asked as Ranger screeched around the corner and they all grabbed for the oh shit handle.

"No, but I brought tequila, so I will be soon." Ranger replied, eyes on the road.

Stephanie burst out laughing. She really hoped he was joking. She had no idea what she'd gotten herself into, but for the first time in a long time she didn't much care, because she was happy. The woman that didn't believe in fairy tales thought it was entirely possibly happily-ever-after was sitting right next to her.

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A/N: Thanks for reading and reviewing. With that Firefly bids you adieu.

Steph/Ranger, Gabriel, and Luca all have loose ends. Interested in a third installment to tie things up? Drop me a comment or a PM.