Epilogue

Now

Steph POV:

"Carlos! Hurry up, we're going to be late!" I yelled.

"I'm coming Babe, I'm coming."

He walked out of the bedroom, trying to tie his bow tie. I rolled my eyes and pulled it from his hands. I tied the bow quickly and made sure it was symmetrical.

"We've got forty minutes to get there and it's only six blocks."

"But we're hosting it so we have to be there early." I rolled my eyes, "Now can you zip my dress up?"

I turned and he ran the zipper up the back of the dress. He pressed a kiss to my shoulder. "You look, gorgeous Babe."

I was wearing a long red, A-line dress, off the shoulder, with a slit along with the skirt. I wore a pair of four-inch FMPs to bring me up to Carlos's level. I smiled at him, as he placed the wrap around my shoulders.

"Ready?" He asked.

"Ready," I confirmed. He kissed me softly before leading me to the door.

He helped me to the elevator and we rode it downstairs to the turbo. He made sure my dress was all the way inside the car before closing the door. He held my hand the whole way there.

After leaving the car with the valet, we walked inside the ballroom. Today we were attending a charity event for the Children's Hospital. Carlos and I had donated $250,000. We found our table and sat down, Rangeman had a table near the front. Tank, Les, and Bobby had all brought their girlfriends.

We all chatted back and forth, about various things. Going through the motions of all charity events, eventually, the dance floor was opened. Carlos whisked me away onto the dance floor as a song started to play.

Carlos pulled me close, "Do you know this song?" He asked me softly.

"I recognize the tune."

"It's I Keep On Lovin' You by Reba McEntire."

"And how did you know that?"

"It's the song we danced to at my sister's wedding." He said with a smile. "This song has always reminded me of us."

As we danced, I listened to the lyrics. As the song ended I felt tears in my eyes. "Carlos," I said softly.

He cupped my cheek and kissed me softly. "I'll always love you, Babe,"

"I love you so much, Carlos."

"I know." He smirked. I laughed softly. "Now that enough time has gone by for us to leave…"

"Carlos you're such a horn dog." I teased. He pulled me tight to him and dipped me.

"Let me take you home Babe."

"Alright, take me home."

He chuckled, "Let's go tell the guys we're leaving."

XXXXXX

Carlos POV:

I walked in late at night, stripping off my clothes as I made my way to the bedroom. I spied Steph asleep in the bed. She looked as gorgeous as always.

Tomorrow was her fortieth birthday, well I guess it would technically be today. I slipped into bed, Steph shifted next to me, and Lev who was perched on top of her pillows stretched and stared at me.

"Carlos?" She murmured.

"I'm here Babe, go back to sleep."

"Hmmm, you're warm." She muttered snuggling into my chest.

"Thank you, Babe."

I woke up before Steph, slipping out of the bed, I made my way to the kitchen. I started mixing the batter for her waffles as the iron heated up. While I was turning to pour some of the batters in, I caught sight of something in the corner of my eye.

"Shit!" I yelled as I jumped.

Steph stood in the entrance of the hallway wearing one of my old Ranger shirts and holding Lev to her chest. She broke out into a grin. "Did I just scare you?"

"No."

"No? You jumping says something different." She smirked. "Oh, and you're burning that waffle."

I spun around and she was right. The waffle was burning. She made herself a cup of coffee. I shut off the iron as she sat at the counter. "I was trying to make this morning special."

"Carlos, every morning with you is special." She grinned.

I smiled and walked over to her. I leaned over the island and kissed her softly. "Well, today is even more special. You're one year older."

She narrowed her eyes at me. "I don't know what made me fall for you again." She grumbled.

"My charms, perhaps."

She laughed softly. "Maybe, but let me remind you of something that I know your momma taught you."

"What's that Babe?"

"Don't ever bring up a woman's age, and never mention it in public."

I chuckled and kissed her again. "How about we go back to bed and then go out to brunch?" She purred.

"Sounds like a hell of a good idea to me," I growled.

XXXXXX

Steph and I were sitting together at the table in the front of the room. Attending my cousin's wedding. Her hand in mine. She smiled up at me.

"Babe, have you ever thought about getting married?" I asked her. She raised an eyebrow.

"And they say going to a wedding makes women want to get married." She laughed. I rolled my eyes at her.

"I'm serious. Have you ever thought about marrying me?"

"Well sure." She said, her thumb tracing over the back of my hand.

"Do you want to?"

"Is this your way of proposing to me?" She smiled.

"I'm just thinking about our future." I shrugged.

"Carlos, it wouldn't change much if we did get married. We would still be living together, we still love each other. We would just be wearing matching rings and have a pretty piece of paper."

I chuckled and kissed the back of her hand. "Is that your way of letting me down easy?"

"If you want to get married we can get married. Go right on down to city hall, have a quick ceremony, and then spend two weeks somewhere for a honeymoon." She told me. "I just want you to realize that I don't need a wedding band or a huge ceremony, or that slip of paper to show you that I love you and I want to be with you."

I smiled and leaned in to kiss her. "You always know how to make me melt Babe."

She laughed softly. "As many times as you've made me weak in the knees, I think you deserve some too."

I laughed softly and pulled her onto my lap. "How about we think it over? It's open-ended Babe, don't feel like I want you to drop everything and marry me. Let me know when you want my ring."

"I will, I promise." She vowed. "Now, there's something else I want."

She ground against me, and I growled. "Oh, I think I know what you want Babe."

"Take me home and ravage me?" She purred.

"Don't come complaining to me if you can't walk tomorrow," I growled in her ear as I stood. She slipped off my lap and pressed her body against mine, tangling her fingers in my hair, pulling me down for a kiss.

"If I can't walk tomorrow, you can stay home and nurse me back to health." She purred in my ear.

"Get walking woman," I growled. "Before I paddle that ass cherry red when we get home."

"Promises, Promises, Promises." She teased.

The End


Since this story happens over a years time, I wanted to write a shorter story focusing on the big events. Yes Ranger and Stephanie attend more therapy sessions together. I gave myself the goal of writing a complete fic before publishing it and I accomplished this.

I've got a few more song shots to publish, but I've got a multi Chapter WIP for the December prompt Peri gave us in the JE FF group on FB. Thank you as always to Heather (Txbabefan) for letting me bounce things off of her and dealing with me in general lol.