Thanks for the huge response to Chapter 2. Glad Connie's POV was well received (I don't feel like she's used a lot, so decided to explore that POV).

Let me know your thoughts on this continuation from Ranger's POV.

Disclaimer: The Plum universe belongs to JE. Mistakes are mine (oops).

Ranger's POV

Even before I heard Lula's voice I knew Babe wasn't alone. There was simply too much noise for it to just be her. There was a brief moment before the door swung open and all the activity floated into the apartment that I briefly wondered if perhaps Babe had a male companion. Jealousy coursed through me at the mere thought of someone else running their hands all over her soft skin.

"Yo!" I heard Babe groan from the hall. I approached the open doorway silently, using my stealth to my advantage.

"I, uh, gotta go!" Lula ran off with impressive agility.

I hovered over the tangled duo that was left behind. Connie was struggling to untangle herself from Babe when her eyes snapped up and locked with mine, effectively stopping her movements.

"Uh oh!" Babe giggled as she whipped her head back to glance at Connie over her right shoulder. "Batman looks pissed!" Babe erupting in a fit of giggles and that obvious slur was indication enough that she was inebriated.

"Babe." I replied, bending down with the intention of helping her up.

"Oh no." Babe groaned, squirming ineffectively before she lost the battle.

"Stephanie." Connie whined, resignation flooding her features.

"Babe." I noted Stephanie managed to not only tag Connie's chest, but also got me below the knees. The gunk sliding down my cargo pants will inevitably drip onto my boots.

Babe shrugged apologetically, easily rolling off Connie with the added assistance.

Hooking my hands under her armpits, I righted Babe swiftly. "Big muscles!" Babe mumbled as she stumbled into the foyer.

"How much did she drink?" I asked Connie over my shoulder. Following behind Babe, arms outstretched to catch her just in case, I frowned. Babe can't handle her alcohol and it's very unlike her to get to this state.

"Three tequila shots and a mixed drink." Connie grumbled as she followed us inside, closing the door behind her. Connie side-stepped us, moving ahead into the kitchen as I steered Babe away from the entrance.

"Where's Rex?" Connie's inquiry stopped Babe in her tracks.

"He died." The sniffle quickly led to a full on bawling episode.

"Ahh, shit." Connie grimaced, unsure of what to do to comfort Babe. Resuming her cleaning efforts, Connie took a moment to wipe the mess off her cleavage and blouse.

"I-I-I mi-mi-miss him." Babe's hiccups tugged at my emotions. I hate seeing her crying or sad.

"Babe." I placed my hand on her nape, squeezing softly. Her tear filled blue eyes locked with mine for a long moment. Unable to contain myself, I wrapped my free arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a tight hug. Her face pressed against my throat, her sobs sending tremors through her body.

We stood holding each other for several beats until Babe pulled back.

"Come on. Let's get you cleaned up." I offered, guiding her towards her bathroom.

"Okay." Babe's mumble was beyond adorable. She really can't hold down her alcohol. It looks like tonight she went a little too fast and a little too hard.

As we stood inside of her bathroom, I had a flashback to the first time I walked into her place to help uncuff her. A small smile threatened to escape as I watched her struggle to untie her belt, effectively snapping me out of the memory.

"Help me." She whined, inadvertently tightening the knot with her excessive yanking.

"Babe." I touched her hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze in the process.

"Thank you." She murmured, closing her eyes and titling her head back as I reached for the knot. My breath hitched as I finally parted her dress, getting a more up close glimpse this time. She really didn't give me enough time to react back at Rangeman. What a shame. Our night could have gone down a completely different route. A very steamy route.

Shaking off the lustful thoughts, I helped peel her off the tight fabric. When I knelt before her to remove her heels, Babe's hands landed on my shoulders to steady herself. My forehead brushed against her bare thighs as I removed her shoes. The electricity that normally hovers between us seemed to crackle in the enclosed space.

"Uhm…" Connie barged in unexpectedly, awkwardly placing a set of towels on the sink counter when she took in our positions. "I'm going to clean up the mess that was tracked inside." With that she retreated, closing the bathroom door.

I stood, unsure if Babe wanted assistance with the rest of her clothes. When she didn't protest, the opportunist in me nudged her towards the sink. As she clumsily wiped off her make up and brushed her teeth, I helped her out of her lace thong. Yeah, I'm so not a good guy.

"I don't wanna." Babe griped when I steered her towards the shower. I had turned on the water while she brushed her teeth, so I helped her out of the sinful scrap of lace she called a bra.

"It'll be quick." I told her I was here to help her, ensuring she didn't slip and fall. She grumbled unintelligibly as I helped her inside of the tub.

"I'm really dizzy." Her groan and the way she bent in half prompted me into action. I shrugged out of my ruined pants after kicking off my boots and toeing off my socks. My T-shirt joined our growing pile of clothes seconds before I stepped in right behind Babe's unsteady body. "Gracias." She slurred, rolling the r more than she had to.

"De nada." She acknowledged my 'you're welcome' with a head nod as she leaned back against me.

Helping her lather up while keeping an arm wrapped securely around her waist transported me back to our brief time in Hawaii. I had to peel her off the sheets and practically cleanse us both in order to make our dinner reservations on our third night together. Her relaxed and unrepentant nature was enough to allow us to a explore a different side of us back on the island.

Her purr as I washed her hair, my fingers massaging her scalp, grounded me back to reality. With an efficiency that shouldn't be possible with Babe's nude body leaning back against mine, I somehow managed to complete the task without deviation. Well, not much deviation.

Wrapping a towel around her slick form, quickly followed by a hasty dry of her curls, was an easy feat compared to getting her to keep still while I reached for the last towel to cover my lower half. "Stephanie." I warned as I managed to keep her from falling on her ass.

"Oops." She apologized as I guided her out of the bathroom.

Connie was in the living room, her dark eyes tracking our movements. Ignoring her for the time being, I steered Babe into her bedroom.

I helped Babe dry before she could shimmy into a pair of cotton panties and an oversized T-shirt.

"I still have your sweats and some T-shirts." Babe slurred on a satisfied groan as she flopped face down over the covers.

Rummaging through her drawers didn't take long, easily finding the articles of clothing she mentioned. I remember how huge my black sweats were on her smaller frame. She'd had a nasty apprehension that ended with another car explosion several months ago. Rangeman was closer and after being checked by Bobby, Babe gave in to my suggestion for a hot shower to ease the tension out of her body. Despite having some clothes in my closet, she opted for my sweats because of the baggy fit. She claimed the cotton wouldn't stick to her scrapes if she wore my sweats. I reminded her that she could use anything of mine freely. No price I'd reminded that grim afternoon.

By the time I tugged on some clothes, Babe was fast asleep. Her soft snores told me she was in deep. I took a moment to adjust her position and tuck the covers over her still form before I ambled out of the bedroom.

Connie was exiting the bathroom, having changed into one of Babe's leggings and a hooded sweater. The clothes were tighter on her than Babe, but clean clothes will always beat soiled ones.

"She asleep?" Connie asked as she carted a bag filled with our ruined clothes behind her.

"Yes." I followed her to the kitchen, intent on finding out the details.

"Look, I don't know what happened between you two but it's obvious that's what has her in such turmoil." I've always liked working with Connie. She provided a normalcy when dealing with Vinnie in my earlier days and was always professional, which I appreciated more than she could ever know. I also secretly owe her for being responsible for connecting me with Babe. "She's going to leave if you don't get your shit together."

Surprise must have slipped past my tight control, prompting Connie to continue.

"Look, you're both adults. Do whatever you think is best. Just make it quick. Stop dragging it out." Her gaze hardened. "She hurts too much as it is." Before parting, Connie confessed that the sooner I make my choice the sooner Babe can heal and eventually be happy again.

I re-locked the front door once Connie left, frowning in the wake of her statements.

With a sigh, I padded back to Babe's bedroom. She was still in deep, so I sat with my back against the headboard to guard her sleep.

S&R

"Fuck me." Babe's commanding tone was a huge turn on.

"Babe." I flashed her a predatory grin as I reached for her. Deftly, I peeled the torturously tight dress off her soft skin. "Tell me how you want it." I breathed against the swell of her right breast. My lips skimmed over her flesh, peppering her with open mouthed kisses.

"You know how." She hissed out when my lips closed over a nipple. Her fingers gripped my hair as she threw her head back . Pleasure engulfed her as I moved to give attention to her neglected breast. "Ranger!" She gasped in shock as I whirled her around, applying enough pressure to drape her over the bar stool next to mine.

"You better hold on, Babe." I instructed before I dove in, licking her through the lace thong.

"Ranger." She said my name on a half moan, half groan. Babe wanted more than a superficial touch and I was going to deliver.

I was jolted awake just before I had the chance to pound into her tight heat from behind.

It took me several beats to take in my surroundings. Babe's bedroom was dark, but I could feel her tangled against my right leg. Her soft sounds gave me a good sense of where her head rested on my lap.

"Babe." I touched her shoulder gently so as not to spook her before I realized she was sobbing. When she didn't stir, I knew she was still asleep. Babe crying in her sleep happens from time to time, usually whenever a new traumatic event occurs. Knowing that she's crying because of me caused a tightness in my chest. "Stephanie." I soothed as I massaged her scalp. My mother would do that whenever we had trouble sleeping as children and it always worked like a charm. Babe was no exception, sighing with relief as her sobs subsided.

As soon as Babe was pacified, I was careful not to jostle her in order to scoot my body lower. With my back on the mattress and my head on the pillow, I adjusted Babe's position so that her head rested on my chest versus my lap. She didn't wake despite the movement.

Eventually I dozed off again only to be awoken by the feeling of Babe's hand moving back and forth across my torso. Opening my eyes gave me a front row seat to Babe's hand moving towards her mouth while she repeatedly smacked her lips together. I had a pretty good view thanks to the dawn rays spilling in through the drapes. It was a sight to behold.

"What are you doing, Babe?" I asked, amused. There's a fifty-fifty chance she'll reply. Even in slumber she's chatty.

"Eating my donut." Her sleepy reply made me laugh. I've been slipping in and out of sleep, hoping to jump right back into my erotic dream with Babe. But Babe? She's dreaming about donuts! It really is hilarious. She'll never cease to amaze me. "Hey." Her protest lacked the heat that would be present if she were awake when I pried her fingers open. "Give it back." Babe's pout over an imaginary donut gave me pause.

"I'll save it for you." I promised, kissing the curls on the top of her head as I ran my hand up and down her back.

"Okay." She breathed against my pectoral, burrowing her squirming body closer to mine. "Don't eat it."

My merriment didn't subside at the thought of Babe asking me not to eat her imaginary donut. "I would never." I promised just before she stopped fussing.

Staring up at the ceiling, I made the mental note to get some donuts from Tasty Pastry as well as Babe's hangover cure. We have a lot to talk about when she wakes and she's going to need all the comfort food fuel she can get.