I wasn't going to publish another one of these until Tuesday, but here you go. I hope you enjoy.

Miss Me More - Kelsea Ballerini

I let out a breath, sitting down across from Joe.

"What was so important that it couldn't wait until after the game?" he asked, taking a drink from his beer.

"I can't do this anymore."

"Do what?" He frowned.

I sighed. "Us, Joe. This isn't who I am."

"Of course, it is. This is who you were raised to be." He rolled his eyes.

I shook my head. "You know it's not."

"Whatever's going on will pass," he said.

I stood. "No, this won't," I told him. I pulled the ring off my finger and set it on the table.

"I've already packed up all my stuff. I'll find somewhere to stay tonight. I wish you the best, Joe."

"Stephanie, this isn't funny!" he growled, standing and following me to the door.

"You're right, it isn't." I walked out of his house and to my car.

"This isn't the end of us," he yelled at me.

"Yes, it is," I whispered to myself, sliding into the driver's seat. I pulled out my phone and I dialed a number that I hadn't dialed in a long time.

"Yo'."

"Ranger," I said softly.

"Babe," he said. "It's been a long time."

"I..."

"You left him, didn't you?" he asked softly.

I nodded even though he couldn't see it. "Yeah."

"Do you want to come here?"

"Just for tonight?" I asked. I didn't want to stay on seven. I couldn't, not right now.

"There's an open apartment on four," he said.

"I can be there in fifteen."

"I'll meet you in the garage, Babe."

I hung up with a smile on my face. I loved hearing that name again. Pulling into the garage, I couldn't believe the sight in front of me. Ranger stood, waiting, wearing a pair of sweats and a t-shirt.

I slipped from my car, and he gave me a small, reassuring smile. I stood in front of him, and he smiled again at me.

"Missed you, Babe." He said bringing his hand up to brush my cheek. I leaned into his touch, before he pulled away. I was handed my key fob, the one I had given back to him months ago when I was forbidden from seeing him or the guys.

"I'll show you to your apartment," he said.

"I'm going to start looking for my own tomorrow," I promised him.

"Don't worry about it, Babe," he said, putting his hand at the small of my back to lead me into the elevator.

When Ranger left me in the apartment, I didn't go to sleep. Instead, I laid sprawled out across the bed, thinking. Everything I had given up to be with Joe crashed down at once.

I gave up my friends, my job, and my freedom. Everything was great until I accepted his ring. The first thing I was told I had to do was give up my job, replacing it with one at the button factory. The next, I had to cook dinner every night, unless he told me he was bringing something home or he wouldn't be home. Lastly, I wasn't allowed to see Ranger or any of the Merry Men. That should have been my breaking point. Instead, I followed his orders to tell Ranger to stay away from me.

I remembered the day I talked to Ranger like it was yesterday. We stood outside Rangeman; it was a cold day in the middle of December.

"What're we doing out here Babe? We can go inside," Ranger had asked.

"I can't," I told him softly. I pulled the key fob from my pocket, holding it out to him.

"He's making you do this," he said, a statement not a question.

"Ranger..."

"Babe," he said, taking it from me. His eyes searched mine. "My doors are always open. If he hurts you..."

I nodded mutely. He pulled me close and pressed a kiss to my forehead. "I hope he makes you happy, Babe."

I watched him walk away that day. A single tear rolling down my cheek before I went home to start making dinner for Joe.

That was over. I was done being somebody else, being what everybody wanted me to be.

I walked into my new apartment a few days later, looking around my new place with a small smile on my face. I had saved everything from when I was working at the button factory, and I had resumed working at the bond's office. It may not be the most glamorous job, but I enjoyed it. I invested some of my money in kick boxing and self-defense courses. They both started this week.

The last of my stuff was carried in; Les plopped down on the couch and grinned at me. "Nice place, Beautiful."

I grinned back. "A lot better than the last one."

"Babe, a blanket fort in a living room is better than your last apartment," Ranger said.

I shook my head and sent him the middle finger. "Alright, out. I have to unpack."

"You don't want any help?" Bobby asked.

I shook my head. "This is something I need to do myself," I told them.

They all headed towards the door. "Ranger?"

"Yeah, Babe?" He asked, turning back toward me.

"Can we go out for lunch tomorrow?"

"Sure," He smiled softly.

I watched him leave before settling in the middle of the living room and started to open boxes. One was full of all of my distraction clothes and heels. Joe had insisted I get rid of them, saying there was no reason for me to get all dolled up anymore. I rolled my eyes thinking of the memory and carried the box into the bedroom.

Once everything was unpacked, I took a nice hot shower and sprawled out across the bed. I sighed in relief. I felt like a huge weight had been lifted off my chest. I rolled over and sunk into the bed.

Sitting across from Ranger, his intense stare on me, didn't unnerve me like it used to.

"How are you doing?" he asked.

"Really, really good," I told him with a small smile.

He smiled softly. "I'm glad."

"I just want to thank you for letting me crash at Rangeman after I left Joe," I said.

"My doors are always open to you, Babe." He repeated that line from months ago.

I smiled softly. "I feel like I'm finding myself again," I told him.

He nodded. "You are."

"I don't know how long it will take or what it's going to entail, but Ranger..." I paused. "I hope I can find my wings again."

"You've already found them," he said. "You took a step back and took control of your life again."

"Now I just need to fly."

"You already are." He smiled.

I laughed softly. "You've always been one of my biggest cheer leaders," I told him.

"I don't think I could pull off the skirt, Babe," he deadpanned.

I laughed again. "I beg to differ, Batman." I told him.

I had missed this. Not just him, but I missed being able to see my friends, to sit around and laugh, and talk. Not that Ranger had ever talked much, but he seemed to be now even if I didn't know what caused it.

XXXXXX

I walked into the police station, dragging a high bond skip. This one bringing me in nearly 50 grand. All eyes were on me as the room fell silent. I pushed him to the sergeant's desk and handed him the paperwork as another uniform came to take him to processing.

"Cupcake," Joe said from behind me.

I turned to look at him.

"Can we talk?"

"No," I told him.

"Why not?" he bit out.

"Because I don't want to talk to you," I told him.

"I've missed you," he whispered, stepping closer.

I silenced anything else he had to say with a look. "I would've thought I'd miss you, Joe," I told him just as quiet. "I just missed me more."

My paperwork was slid back across to me, and I wasted no time walking calmly out of the station. I smiled to myself; now I felt like I was flying again, the only thing I had ever wanted to do.

So It's a strong Steph Story. Not a Babe or a Cupcake, although if you squint it might be a Babe.