I couldn't help myself, I needed to write this. So here is that happened at the Plum Thanksgiving Dinner.

Ranger POV:

I sat down at the table, thankfully not across from Grandma Mazur. Steph and the Kloughn girls sat to my left, Frank and Helen sat at opposite ends of the table. Albert, Valerie, and Grandma Mazur sat across from me. It was a full table, and it was only a matter of time before chaos ensued.

On the table the turkey was golden brown, the green bean casserole looked crispy and creamy, the rolls fluffy and golden, and the ham had a honey glaze. I was going to be spending some time in the gym after this dinner.

After grace, everyone dug in. Not many words were exchanged until Mrs. Plum opened her mouth. "When are you going to get married, Stephanie?"

Steph paused with her spoon halfway to her mouth. "I'm not engaged."

"You've been with this young man for the past few months, are you not planning on getting married?"

I opened my mouth to respond but Steph beat me to it. "Why do I have to get married? It's just a piece of paper. Besides, Valarie has given you as many grandkids as you can handle."

"A child is a blessing," Valarie scolded. Steph rolled her eyes.

"Uncle Carlos and Aunt Stephie, sitting in a tree!" the girls sang. Steph grinned, filling her spoon with pees. I didn't expect her to fling them at her nieces playfully. Her aim was off, and she nailed Mrs. Plum in the face.

Grandma Mazur grinned, shifting her teeth around her mouth. "A good ol' fashion food fight! Been a while since I've been in one."

"NO!" Mrs. Plum giggled. Steph scooped up a huge spoonful of potatoes and reared back, almost nailing me in the face with it before slinging it at her mother. Frank scooted back from the table, taking the plate with him.

Mrs. Plum finally got fed up with food being flung at her. She threw a roll at her mother. "You're too old to be starting food fights!"

I got out of the way of the next roll she threw, missing Steph. Albert had pushed back from the table and Valarie had stood, ushering the girls into the living room. "That's enough!" Frank called from the head of the table. Mrs. Plum flinched at hearing his raised voice.

Grandma Mazur grinned. "Bought time you grew some balls," she told him.

Steph put down her silverware and glanced at me. "She started it."

I felt a chuckle rumble from my chest. "Babe."

She smiled softly at me before turning her gaze to her father. "I'm sorry, Daddy," she said.

"It's alright, Pumpkin. Just no more food fights, please."

She nodded in agreement. Glancing around the dining room, she giggled. Potatoes were clinging to the walls, sliding down them. A clump of potatoes fell from the ceiling and plopped on the table.

"So, how are we going to clean this up?" Steph asked, glancing around.

"You two head home," he sighed. "Your mother and grandmother can take care of it."

"Well, that's not fair," Grandma Mazur complained.

"Edna, you egged them on and got in the middle of it. You're sober and have no excuse," he reminded her.

"Hmmmph," she said, crossing her arms. I took Steph's hand and she stood, following me.

"Take her home and put her to bed," Frank told me. I nodded and shook his hand. Steph gave me an appraising look once we got on the porch. "How do you always stay so clean?"

"It's a gift," I told her. She rolled her eyes and wrapped both arms around me to steady herself as she walked down the stairs. I opened the door of the Turbo and she slid into her seat, sitting up sideways and slinking down into it.

I walked around quickly and tried the handle. It was locked. Steph giggled inside the car. I used my key to unlock it, but she was fast locking it again.

I unlocked it again and managed to beat her. "You're lucky you're drunk," I told her. "Otherwise, I would paddle your ass when we got home."

"Could be fun," she giggled again, sliding her hand along my thigh. What happened to the Stephanie that got tired when she drank?

By the time I got to Rangeman, she had discarded her boots and had undone two of my buttons. When I opened her door, I picked her up and she sighed snuggling into my neck. Taking her upstairs, I took her directly to the bathroom and stripped us both of our clothes. Stepping into the shower, Steph sighed as I brought her under the hot water.

I let her stand under the water and washed her from top to bottom making sure all the food was gone. It took me a while to get the potatoes from her hair, but that's what the industrial hot water heater was for.

When we got out, I carried her to the bed, and laid her on top of the duvet wrapped in a towel. I walked into the closet and grabbed her one of my shirts to sleep in, and my boxers for myself.

I walked into the bedroom and found Steph tangled in the blankets and the towel. I shook my head and pulled on my boxers. I untangled her and threaded her arms into the sleeves and slipped the rest of the shirt over her head.

She hummed as I picked her up and tucked her under the duvet. I pulled her to me as I slid under with her. She sighed, pressing her face into my neck.

"Carlos?"

"Yeah, Babe?"

"I love you," she murmured.

"I love you, too, Babe," I said, kissing the top of her hair and taking a deep breath, breathing in the smell of her strawberry shampoo.

"Carlos?"

"Yeah, Babe?" I asked with a smile.

"You know what we should do?" she asked, pressing a kiss to my chest.

"What's that, Babe?"

"We should get a dog!"

"What would we do with a dog?" I asked

"Play with it, love it, cuddle it," she informed me.

"We don't have time for a dog."

She sighed heavily. "What about a cat?"

"Babe," I chuckled.

"You're right, cats are too much like you."

I shook my head. "Let's talk about it tomorrow," I told her.

"Okay, but you remind me, okay?"

"Okay, Babe."