Disclaimer: Anything familiar belongs to JE and the creators of Criminal Minds.

Warning: adult language, adult situations

Chapter 68: Wednesday, August 31st, 1500-1700

Ranger's Estate

Prentiss' POV

I arrive at Manoso's estate at around three. We finally finished questioning all the unsubs and have our cases set for prosecution. Now, I need to get the information that his team gathered. I will be talking to the Director when we get back to Quantico, trying to see if we can contract out some research to Rangeman when Garcia needs assistance. I know they have the clearance to deal with what we come across, so that will make it an easier sell. Rossi thinks it will be a good idea as well.

I rang the bell at the gate and was buzzed through. I started up the walkway when the door opened, and Lester Santos stood there waiting for me. Now that I have a chance to fully take him in, he's an insanely handsome man. Not quite as gorgeous as Ranger, but a very close second. Their personalities are the exact opposite. Where Ranger is closed off, introverted, and serious, Lester is extroverted, funny, and warm. However, he can turn lethal in seconds and slam on his own blank face just as quickly as Ranger.

"Good afternoon, Agent Prentiss. To what do we owe this meeting?" Lester asks, reaching for my hand and kissing it. I can't help the laugh from escaping.

"Ranger told me to meet him this afternoon, so I can get your files and research."

"Oh, he didn't tell me. You remember where the kitchen is, right? I'm going to go get Ranger. He and Stephanie are upstairs." Lester said. I read through the lines, and I hope that the man who will be coming down is one who is happy. I know Steph had a lot of issues to work out, but Ranger truly loves her. It is so clear to all of us on the team, I know we are all pulling for them.

I enter the kitchen, finding Julie sitting there with Tommy, helping him go through his sight words. "Hi, Agent. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, Julie, everything is fine. I just came to get the research so we can lock away all those people who hurt you and your family." I tell the kids.

"Good. I'm glad you got the bad guys. But I glad they came because now I here with Julie and Ranger and Stephanie. I love it here. I hope I stay." Tommy says. I feel my heart break a little for this young boy who is glad that he is no longer with his 'parents.' Sometimes there's a silver lining to tragedy.

"Agent, Ranger will be down in a moment. Do you want something to drink?"

"Do you have any of that wonderful coffee?"

"I can make you some," Lester says, laughing. Not even five minutes later, Ranger is entering the kitchen, wearing his typical work uniform of black Rangeman t-shirt, black cargo pants, and cat boots. His hair is wet and tied back in a low ponytail.

"How did the interviews go, Agent? Did you find out anything else?"

"They went well. We have the motives for each person, and Terry unwittingly admitted to her role after trying to frame everything on Connie Rosoli. Trenton PD is arranging to pick her up, and we hope that she will admit to her role." I inform Ranger.

"Oh, that coffee smells divine," I hear Stephanie exclaim as she enters the kitchen wearing a black V-neck Rangeman t-shirt, black cargo pants, and bare feet. Her hair is also wet, and I notice a mark on the back of her neck. I watch as Ranger turns towards her, smiling at her exclamation.

"You're coming with me to Rangeman?"

"Yes, Carlos. If I'm going to be working there starting tomorrow, then I need to see where my desk is and get the lay of the office. I would like for the guys not to be completely shocked when I walk in tomorrow morning."

"Beautiful, they'll be shocked for at least the first week. Miami has never seen my cousin with a woman, outside of the family or a client, ever before. Knowing that the Bombshell Bounty Hunter is in the mix will only fuel their curiosity, but they won't say anything. They actually are afraid of Ranger here."

Ranger shoots his cousin a look that would have most men cower, but Lester and Stephanie just laugh. "You're bad-ass look doesn't work on me, Carlito."

"Santos, mats, 0500." He glances at Stephanie, then amends, "make that 1000 at Rangeman."

"Okay, cuz," Lester says as the coffee finishes percolating. He pours a mug for me, handing me milk and sugar while Stephanie pours her own, doctoring it with milk and sugar as well. Ranger takes his coffee black, while Lester adds a little sugar to his.

"Julie why don't you and Tommy find Aunt Mariela and go out by the pool. You both need to go to bed early tonight, so you're ready for school tomorrow."

"Okay, Papi. Vamonos, Tommy." Julie says. They both take their cards and leave to find Ranger's sister.

"Have a seat, Emily."

We sit around the table, then Stephanie quickly gets up. She looks in the fridge before going into the pantry. "Thank God, Maggie is normal, stocking Entemman's in the pantry. If it were up to Ranger, we wouldn't have any cake to eat with our coffee."

"Babe!"

"Carlos?"

Stephanie sighs before opening the pound cake and placing it on a plate. She then grabs four dessert plates, puts one plate back, then takes out the toaster. She slices the pound cake. Finally, she turns to us. "Do you want your slice toasted with ice cream or as is, Emily?"

I haven't had toast pound cake in forever. "Toasted with ice cream, please."

"Thank God!" I see her place two slices in the toaster, before getting the ice cream out of the freezer.

"What about you, Lester?"

"You can toast mine as well, but I want two slices. I'm going to make an ice cream sandwich."

The first two slices pop up. Steph plates both bringing them to the table with an ice cream scoop. I put two scoops on my cake while Stephanie toasts Lester's slices. She takes the rest of the cake and places it in the center of the table. Then she removes some cleaned strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries from the fridge, and places them on the tables. She brings a small bowl over to Ranger, then gets out a can of whipped cream. By now, Lester's pieces are ready. She gives them to him, then finally sits down.

"Babe, what was that all about?"

"You can't have coffee and sit at the table without cake. It's un-American. My mother would have a cow if I didn't offer our guest cake."

"Babe, your mother is in Trenton."

"I know, Carlos, but it's only proper."

He shakes his head, and she looks at him quizzically. "Babe, you do realize what you just did is very domestic and very housewifely?"

"Yes, some habits are hard to break."

"Don't break them. The habits are fine. Why didn't you offer me any cake?"

"Because you don't eat cake. You eat fruit. The whipped cream is for us normal humans."

I can't help but laugh. The banter between Stephanie and Ranger is so easy, and I can see that she is clearly teasing this man, and he is teasing her back, but they both take it in stride. I know that if Morelli were to say that to Stephanie, her hackles would be up. World War three would have started in this kitchen.

We eat our dessert in silence, allowing me the chance to observe Stephanie and Ranger. He is focused primarily on her, she on him. It is almost as if Lester and I aren't in the room. When she finishes, she has little ice cream on the corner of her mouth that she missed with her napkin. I watch as Ranger leans in and kisses her. The kiss is hot and steamy, make me feel a little uncomfortable. Lester saves the day.

"You know, not all of us can have our cake and eat it too."

Ranger and Stephanie break apart, as Stephanie blushes. Ranger looks smug. "Sorry, Emily."

"That's okay," I respond.

"They're always like that. You build an immunity to it after a while." Lester states.

Stephanie gets up to clear the table, but Ranger grabs her arm. "Babe, sit. We'll clear it together later."

"Let me put away the ice cream."

Lester jumps up, "I got it, Beautiful. I need to cool off."

"Santos!" Ranger exclaims. Steph laughs.

"Leave Lester alone, he's just trying to make Emily feel more comfortable." Then she turned to me. "Did you find out why they targeted Ron?"

"Yes, it seems that Ron had figured out that Winston's wife, Amelia, didn't give birth to the kids. When Ron asked him about the kids and her pregnancy, Winston said things that were obviously wrong. Anyone who has watched someone go through pregnancy would recognize the inaccuracies. Ron started digging into Winston's past, looking for a way to elevate himself in the firm, hoping to take Winston's position. Through his research, he discovered the adoptions. He also recognized that the adoptions were illegal. He decided to blackmail Winston on the knowledge of the illegal adoptions. Winston, being angry that someone found out, called Terry and complained. He demanded that she pay the blackmail fee to Ron. Of course, she would do nothing of the sort. Instead, she got in touch with Manuel Gallego and started the ball rolling on the crimes here in Miami. Too many people spoke to Ron, so all those who helped him were eliminated. She had no clue that Ron was Julie's adoptive father. Had she known that, she would have staged a car accident, taking out only Ron. While an investigation may have been opened, it would have ended faster and kept Ranger away. She realized that her biggest mistake was trusting her cousin, Scottie, who had a thing for raping women."

"Was she also trying to have me killed?"

"No, she wasn't, but Orr was. It seems that Orr blames you for ruining his life and his career. He expected you to turn a blind eye to his indiscretions and to his mistresses, like a 'good Burg wife,' but when you left him and aired all your dirty laundry, he was ruined. The firm he worked for fired him, as you know. Any chance he had at obtaining a political office also went down the drain because he was caught cheating in his home, on his dining room table, by his wife of fewer than six months. Therefore, he was forced to work for less than reputable firms, getting entangled in other illegal activities. Once her sources down here said that you and Ranger seemed cozy, while Morelli returned to Trenton with his tail between his legs, she didn't care if you lived. You were no longer a threat to her and Morelli. However, Morelli rejecting her advances sealed his deal. She tried to have him set up for accepting sexual favors, so he would lose his badge. But, fortunately for Morelli, he decided to leave Trenton before that could happen. It also seems that your men in Trenton found out and warned Morelli."

"I know, Tank told me what they learned. Overall Morelli is a good cop. Trenton and the Burg, in particular, are toxic. He'll do much better in Atlanta." Ranger replied.

"My team and I can't thank you enough for all the help and support you gave us. There is no way that we would have been able to solve all these cases without your assistance. Stephanie, you are an amazing researcher. You think outside the box and have a knack for getting people to talk to you even if they don't want to talk. Penelope wants me to see if we can occasionally contract out to you if we get stuck on a case. Is that something you'd be interested in?" I ask Ranger.

"It is definitely something that we can do. I wouldn't mind it, but unless the case is located in one of my cities, I'd rather us remain on the periphery."

"Same here. We'd like to keep you as our ace in the hole." I respond. "I'll talk to the Director when we return to Quantico. We leave Friday morning."

"How would your team like to join us for a night on the town tomorrow? I can get us into one of the new clubs here. I know everyone will have a good time. It's a salsa club, mainly thirty and forty-something professionals frequent the place. The music isn't too loud, and the atmosphere is laid back, in a Miami way."

"I think my team would enjoy that. Is the information you obtained ready for me to take?"

"Yes, we have copies of everything boxed for you to take with you. Lester and I will help you bring the boxes to your car. Are you heading back to Rangeman tonight?"

"No, I'm heading to the Miami field office. That's where we are sorting through all the information and evidence we've gathered. Why don't you give me a call tomorrow around noon to go over the information for tomorrow night? We should be done with our work by then."

"Perfect. Will do. It's been a pleasure, Emily." Ranger states as he shakes my hand. I say goodbye and Lester and Ranger help me carry the boxes. Stephanie is straightening up the kitchen. Yeah, they are on their way to their happily ever after, that is something they both deserve. I can't wait to see them tomorrow night. I'll warn my team, so they won't stare.

TNTCE

A/N: Once again, thank you for your reviews and support. I'm glad that you agree with the way that I had Steph and Carlos affirm their love to each other. I am almost done writing, having up to chapter 73 completed. I expect Part 1 to be 80 chapters, and I have the rest of the story outlined, as well as the main plot of Part 2 and Part 3 flushed. I truly enjoyed working on this crossover, and I am sad to see the BAU leave, but it was exhausting.

I have an idea for another story, aside from Spring Break, that I will be writing, as well as a request from a reader that I will allow to percolate. I have had, at several moments throughout this story, anonymous guest reviewers writing that they feel I'm fishing for reviews. I'm sorry that those guest reviewers feel that way, but I am not. To all of you who are authors, you understand how reviews help fuel the creative process, affirming that our ideas are valuable and welcomed. However, if you choose not to review at all, that is fine by me. My only wish is that when EVERYONE reads my completed story, they comment at the end, one comment only. It is a nice way to know how the entire work, from start to finish affected you. I am not great when it comes to reviewing. I tend to review sporadically, and rarely at the end of each chapter, but I try to review after the final chapter. I'm a binge reader. I prefer to read the entire story, then review. I get so engrossed that I don't want to pause the reading to review. I understand if that is you.

So, in the end, if you don't want to review; if you feel as though I'm "begging for reviews," then don't. Instead of leaving a pithy, rude comment, just abstain. I don't mind. For those of you who I have gotten to know on a more personal level during my writing, thank you for your remarks, comments, and responses. I love making new friends here on FanFic, and I look forward to hearing from you.

As always, thanks to Susan for her quick turn around and critical eye.