"Sure Steph, thought of something you need?"

"In fact I did Ranger. Just wanted to let you know that I'm going to need sex tonight. Hope you don't mind."

Starting Over

Chapter 8

It took Ranger under a second to wrap his body around Stephanie's. One arm snaked around her waist and gripped her back while he grabbed the side of her neck with his free hand. He pulled her face to his and their lips met with a shudder. There was nothing soft or gentle about the kiss; it was hot and invading. His tongue jutted in and out of her mouth, leaving no part unexplored. He let the hand on her neck drift upwards until it settled on her cheek. It took all of her strength to meet his hunger, and by the time they separated they were both panting and stumbling to regain control over their bodies.

When their breathing returned to normal, Ranger grabbed Steph's hand and pulled her roughly through the apartment door. "Come on babe, we've got to go. We'll discuss this later."

Stephanie wasn't able to answer him. She simply let him lead her out of the building and into the car. As they sped down the road towards the courthouse she absentmindedly ran her fingers across her lips remembering the sensations Ranger had left emblazed upon them.

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Ranger's arm rested gently on the small of Stephanie's back as they made their way into the courthouse. As soon as they were inside, Ranger's lawyer trotted up to the couple.

"Good news, Mrs. Morelli. Your husband signed the settlement papers this morning. I think you'll be more than pleased with what we've worked out."

Stephanie took the papers from the lawyer and gave them a quick look. Her eyes froze on the bottom line. It was a lot of money. More than she ever thought she would get. She knew she should be happy, but the stiff feeling in her stomach prevented any joy.

She glance at Ranger, then the lawyer. "This is a lot of money, more money than Joe has. How is this possible?"

"Sure he doesn't have that amount in liquid funds, but it really won't be that big of a problem after he sells the house."

Steph jumped, "What? He's selling the house? But Joe loves that house."

Ranger removed his had from her back before speaking. "Steph this is a good thing. You're getting what you deserve."

"That may be true Ranger, but at what cost?"

The lawyer glanced at his watch then back to Stephanie. "Ok Mrs. Morelli, if you'll just sign beside the X's I can get these papers processed and you will be a single woman once again."

Ranger handed her a pen and shook hands with his attorney and gave the man a pat on the back. "Thanks for all the help Steven."

The two men talked and laughed quietly as they waited for Stephanie to fill out the paperwork. What they didn't notice was that she wasn't signing them, she was staring at them as if they were diseased. "I need to talk to Joe." Steph said too quiet for the men to hear.

"What was that Steph?" Ranger questioned as the smile slid from his face.

"I said I need to talk to Joe."

"I don't think you understand Mrs. Morelli. It's all taken care of. He signed the papers a few minutes ago. It's all settled."

"Not for me it isn't. I need to talk to my husband."

Ranger took a step away from Stephanie. She could feel his anger settle deep in his body. She would have to deal with that later, but at that moment Joe was her priority.

A few steps behind the three of them, a door opened and Joe and another man walked through. When he spotted Stephanie, Joe stopped cold, when his eyes shifted to Ranger he once again continued his path toward the exit.

Steph ran to him, grabbing his arm. "We need to talk Joe."

Joe tossed his head back in cynical laughter. "No Steph we don't. I believe your lawyer said it all."

"Please Joe. Just give me a minute."

Her eyes were pleading with him and he caved. "Fine. Lead the way."

Steph ignored the scowl on Ranger's face and walked with Joe down the hallway to a nearby conference room.

Joe headed straight to the window and watched the activities of the street below while waiting for Steph to begin.

She had hesitated long enough, and deep down she knew it wasn't going to get any easier. Summoning up her courage she began to speak in a low, soft voice. "Joe, I don't want you to have to sell the house."

Joe was taken aback, obviously these were not the words he was expecting. "You have a funny way of showing it."

"The lawyers came up with the deal, it wasn't my idea. But I didn't prevent it either. I was pissed Joe, surely you can understand that."

Joe turned his attention away from the window until it fell entirely on Steph. "I know I hurt you Stephanie. I am sorry for that."

"You hurt me a lot Joe, and at first I wasn't sure how to deal with it. Revenge seemed like a good idea, but that's not what I want now."

"What do you want Steph. You're already getting most of the money from the house, plus a nice alimony payment each month. I have nothing left to give."

"That's where you're wrong Joe. First of all, I didn't sign the agreement. I won't take that money from you. Ranger has given me a good job so I can support myself and our baby. But there is something I want from you, and if you oblige me I'll make the lawyer draw up a new agreement as soon as we leave here."

Joe cocked his eyebrow out of confusion and curiosity. "Just tell me what you want. If I can give it to you, I will. I at least owe you that much."

Steph swore she noticed regret in Joe's eyes. "Joe, all I want is for you to answer one single question for me. If you are totally honest with me, then we'll toss out that agreement and draw up a new one, on our terms."

Joe nodded in agreement, still weary of what he was committing himself to.

"Joe, while we were dating you told me constantly what you wanted me to change about myself. My job, my friends, basically my entire life. Stupidly, I did just that. I quit a job I enjoyed, gave up friends I loved, and became a mindless Burg drone for you. I became everything you said you wanted me to be. I was the perfect little 'Mary-homemaker' for you. But in the end, it wasn't enough. So my question is this. What was it that you wanted from me that I didn't or couldn't give to you?"

Joe was thrown off guard with the rare emotion of her question. He had made her doubt herself, and in the end, that may have been the worst thing of all he had done to her. He shook his head as if to clear himself of thoughts and grabbed a chair around the large boardroom table. He didn't answer immediately. He gathered his thoughts with his head dropped into his hands leaning on the table. When he finally spoke it was soft and contained a hint of hurt. "Jesus Steph, I never meant for this to happen."

Stephanie gave him time to finish, while she moved to a chair across from him.

"When I asked you to marry me, I honestly thought I could have it all. I thought I could have both you and the housewife all rolled into one. For awhile it was great, I loved coming home every night finding you there waiting for me. But eventually I realized that I had lost the Stephanie I had married. Your fire and spirit were gone, when I acknowledged that loss, I realized what a mistake I had made. I always thought if I could convince you to change for me, then I'd have it all. I was too stupid to realize that you were perfect just the way you were. I should have never have asked you to change; it'll be something I'll forever regret. I've fucked this up so bad Steph, and I have no idea what to do about it." Joe placed a hand over his eyes trying to prevent Stephanie from seeing his tears.

Stephanie was stunned by his answer. She honestly believed Joe was going to give her a laundry list of everything she had done wrong. "Joe, what's done is done. All either of us can do now is learn from our mistakes and move on."

"I still love you Stephanie."

"And I still love Joe. I probably always will."

He met her eyes, "How can you not hate me?"

"Oh, don't worry Joe part of me does hate you. But that part is growing smaller everyday. I want to move on with my life, and I can't do that if I dwell on the past. You need to do the same."

"Do you think that part of you will ever shrink enough to take me back?"

Stephanie eyes widened at his words. She had never imagined Joe would have second thoughts. The old Stephanie would have jumped into his arms, but that wasn't who she wanted to be now. She wanted to be the really, old Steph. The one that could see the reality of the situation.

"No Joe. It'll never shrink that far. This is it for you and me, no more second chances. I'm ready to move on with my life. I don't mean to sound harsh, but I need you to understand what I'm saying Joe." She let the words pass her lips slowly and deliberately. "We will never be together again. We won't be lovers, we won't be a couple, and we won't be friends. I plan on tolerating you for the sake of our child, but that's as far as my kindness towards you will reach. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Joe nodded his head slowly in defeat.

"And besides Joe, I don't think Crystal would care to much about you throwing yourself back into the arms of your soon to be ex-wife."

Joe chuckled slightly, "Crystal left me yesterday morning. Seems she liked me better married."

Stephanie stood and headed towards the door, "Joe, I'm going to do you a favor and leave right now. If I stay any longer and realize the only reason you apologized was because you didn't want to be alone tonight then I'm going to sign the original agreement and take you for every damn dime."

Joe didn't dare speak. He remained seated as he watched her open the door to the hallway.

She stopped short of leaving the room and spun to look at him one last time, "I'll call you when I have the baby. Do not call me or contact me directly in any way. If you need something call my lawyer."

The door slammed louder than she had anticipated and jumped just as Ranger and Steven came into her sight. She knew Ranger was still angry, but she had too many other things on her mind to deal with it at the moment. She ignored Ranger's glare and focused on the confused lawyer standing next to him.

"Can you draw up a new agreement? I don't want anything except for what I took into the marriage. I believe I already have everything from the house, but there are a few things in a storage building in East Trenton. Also note that I do not want any alimony. Please send the papers to me as soon as you have them ready."

The man stood stunned and Ranger began to protest but was stopped by Steph, "Not now Ranger, will you please take me home?"

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The car ride home had been in total silence. She knew she would have to explain things to him eventually but she just didn't have the strength. When they reached the Rangeman building, Steph slid from the car but Ranger remained seated and buckled in.

"Are you not coming up?"

"No."

Stephanie didn't argue. She headed for the apartment and went straight for the bed. She needed time to think. She needed time to get her head on straight. She fell asleep thinking how it was probably a good idea that Ranger was somewhere other than right next to her while he was cooling off. They would talk later.

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Stephanie woke nearly 3 hours later to the sound of Ranger's hushed voice in the next room. She rolled out of bed and headed out to face the music, but was stopped by Ranger's conversation. It was obvious what he was planning to do.

"Yeah, I'll get the closing settled when I get there. I just can't believe you found a place that quick and from what you described it sounds perfect for work and residence. Anyway, thanks for all your help but I need to get the process of closing the office started and then pack. With any luck I should be able to leave in two or three days. I'll call when I arrive."

As soon as Ranger flipped the cell phone closed, Stephanie entered the room with her arms crossed.

"You're leaving." There was no reason to make it a question.

To Be Continued in Ch.9