Ranger didn't take time to respond and he didn't stop running until he had reached his truck. At that moment the only thing on his mind was getting to Stephanie.

Eleven Days Later

Chapter 10

Stephanie was in the middle of a Wheel of Fortune marathon on the Game Show Channel when Ranger burst through her door.

"You're pregnant." He shouted as he slammed the door closed behind him.

Startled, Stephanie jumped then relaxed when she realized what he said. "No I'm not."

Ranger took a few big steps and landed on the couch next to her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and brought her head forcibly into his chest. "Don't worry babe. We'll have a quickie wedding and no one will be the wiser. Your parents will never suspect a thing. I guess I just assumed you were taking birth control but none of that matters now. We'll get married and you can move into my apartment with me until we find a suitable house. Shhh, don't worry Steph everything's going to be fine." Ranger mumbled on.

Stephanie's cries were muffled against Ranger's chest. "Mfmpf." She tried pushing away from him but he kept her close. She tried again, but he simply squeezed her tighter. Unable to think of a better plan she took a deep breath then punched him, with all her might, directly in the stomach.

"Ooomph." slipped from his mouth.

The impact made him loosen his grip just enough for her to slip out of his grasp. When she was standing in front of him she put her hands on her hips and began ranting. "Ranger! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you a freak?"

"Babe." He said.

"Don't babe me. I'm not pregnant so what put that stupid idea in your head." She asked.

"Oh God. Did you terminate it? Well, if you did that's ok. We'll deal with it."

"Ranger!" She screamed to stop his rambling. "There was no baby to terminate. I'm not pregnant and I never have been so start explaining how you came up with this insane notion."

Ranger looked at Steph with amazement. "You're just in denial but don't worry I'll take care of everything. But to answer your question, it doesn't take a genius to figure out what's going on."

"What do you mean?"

"We've been together every night for the last seven weeks." He explained.

"So?"

"So? Babe, you haven't had your period once during all that time. That can only mean one thing. But like I said, don't worry things are going to work out great. Sure this speeds up my plans a little bit but that's ok…"

Stephanie sighed then stomped her foot to get his attention. "Ranger stop. I'm not pregnant. I'm on birth control. It's a new kind the gyno gave me called Seasonale. It causes me to only have four periods a year so I'm in fact not late at all. You're jumping to conclusions."

The briefest look of disappointment shot across Ranger's face before he spoke. "So you really aren't pregnant?"

Stephanie shook her head slowly, suddenly feeling bad about having to tell him no.

Ranger pulled himself together quickly and responded, "Whew! Well that's a relief. I guess I'll get back to work now." Then he turned to head back out the door.

Stephanie grabbed his arm and tried to stop him from leaving. "Ranger wait."

"Yeah babe?" He said as he turned his attention back around to her.

"Are you ok? You seem disappointed."

"Are you kidding? I'm fine." Then he pulled away and again headed for the door.

"Ricardo Carlos Manaso! Stop right there and don't take another step forward!" Stephanie yelled.

Ranger turned around slowly and cock his eyebrow at her.

"Don't give me that look Ric. I know you well enough to know when you aren't being completely honest with me. Now come have a seat on the couch."

"Babe," was all he said in the way of an argument.

"I'm serious, you aren't going anywhere until we talk about this." She exclaimed.

Ranger finally agreed then returned to the couch, with Stephanie following closely on his heels. When they were seated beside one another she began to speak softly.

"Do you think I would keep something as important as a pregnancy from you?"

Ranger shook his head then turned quickly to her. "No babe. It's nothing like that, I just thought… Oh hell Steph, I don't know what I thought. These past few weeks have been so amazing I lost track of time and I thought maybe you had done the same."

Stephanie smiled slowly then cupped her hand around his cheek. "I know what you mean. One minute I feel like this just happened last night and the next I feel so comfortable with you that I think we must have always been together. This is the happiest I've ever been."

Ranger met her smile. "Me too. I never realized it could be this good."

Stephanie took a deep breath. "Well if you are so happy, why did you seem disappointed when I told you about the birth control?"

Ranger fell back on the couch and closed his eyes. "I guess I just assumed that I would never have anymore children, so when I thought you might be pregnant I was a little excited. I know it's stupid…"

Stephanie leaned back against the couch and snuggled into his chest. "It's not stupid at all. I was just a little shocked by your reaction. I had no idea you wanted more kids, we've never really talked about it."

Ranger opened one eye and peered down at Steph. "Are you saying that you would like to talk about it?"

Stephanie thought about it for a few seconds then said, "I suppose we should Ric. Lord knows we're probably going to be asked every question in the book at my parents house tonight…"

"At mine too." Ranger interrupted.

"So I guess we better get our stories straight," she said.

"Guess so."

They both sat silently for several minutes, neither of them daring to begin before the other. Finally Stephanie spoke up. "All this serious talk makes me hungry. Let's fix lunch then we'll talk."

"Best idea I've heard all day." Ranger replied.

---------------------------------

After throwing together a quick lunch the pair sat face to face at the kitchen table.

"Suppose we should start talking now." Stephanie said.

"Suppose so," agreed Ranger.

Again, silence.

"Can we put some conditions on this conversation," Stephanie said after a full five minutes had passed.

"What kind of conditions?"

"What if we both agree to say whatever it is that's on our mind and the other person has to agree not to get mad and storm out."

Ranger thought about it for a few minutes then shook his head. "That's probably a good plan."

"Ok then. Do you want to start?"

"Chicken," teased Ranger.

"Absolutely, never denied it. You go first." she laughed.

"Fine. I guess first of all I should ask you if you want to have children or not?"

"Technically that's cheating since it was a question, but since you're cute I'll let it go this time."

"You're staling babe."

"I know. Ok, just remember, no storming out mad."

"Agreed."

"Yes Ric, I do want to have children but I assumed it would happen after I got married again. I know it sounds old fashioned and stuff but I really don't want to have a child out of wedlock."

"So you want to get married?" He asked.

Steph shifted uncomfortably in her chair. "Eventually yes. What about you? Would you ever get married again?"

"I assumed after the disaster of my first marriage I'd never want to go through that pain again." A smile softened Ranger's face. "But lately, I've been thinking that marriage could definitely be in my future."

"You've thought about marrying me?" Stephanie sounded shock.

"Of course. Hell, there's not much I haven't thought about when it comes to you." The soft grin was replaced by something much darker and more intimate.

"Wow. I don't really know what to say to that. I mean, it has only been seven weeks!"

Ranger laughed. "Well don't get your panties in a wad just yet. I haven't even asked you."

"I know!"

Ranger leaned in until his lips were against her ear. "But I will. So be thinking about your answer."

Stephanie pushed him back into his own chair and smiled, "Don't worry, my answer's already on the tip of my tongue."

"Babe," Ranger said as his voice went husky.

"Ric," Stephanie replied.

Ranger glanced at his watch then back over to Steph. "We've got plenty of time before we head to your parent's house."

"So what are you proposing?" she teased.

Ranger jumped up from the table and scooped her up into his arms. "I propose we start practicing in case we ever have a real honeymoon night."

"I like the way you think." she said as she slipped her tongue across his neck. Ranger carried her into the bedroom and for the next two hours they practiced again and again.

To Be Continued…

FYI - There are only 2 (maybe 3) chapters remaining in this story.