Sorry it's been so long since I updated. I'm in the process of moving, so I'm often away from my computer.

Recap: Ranger and Steph go to dinner at her parents' house. Chaos ensues, but Ranger shows himself to be excellent at placating Mary Alice, standing up for Stephanie against her Mother, and not shooting Grandma when she asks his intentions towards Stephanie.

Stephanie

You ever have one of those hours where every second drags by like the last day of school before Christmas Vacation? This hour was like that. OK, it was probably only a few seconds. Long enough for Ranger to chew and swallow, then take a drink of water. He set down his glass and looked at Grandma, his eyes sparkling.

"I intend to care for her, love her, and spend my life with her for as long as she'll have me."

The room was deathly silent, aside from the small suckling noises Lisa made as she turned back to her dinner. Had Ranger just said what I thought he'd said? We'd been dating a week, was he hinting at marriage?

My mom looked a little faint, dad went back to his potatoes. Nobody spoke until a quiet voice came from the card table. "Are you and Aunt Stephanie going to get married? Will you have any babies I can give pony rides to?"

It was Mary Alice. She alone didn't looked shocked. Grandma was grinning like a fool, but everyone else was exhibiting some level of suprise. "I don't know honey." I told her, honestly. "Would you like that?"

She thought for a moment. "Yes. You smile when you mention him. Even when you don't mean to. You don't smile about Uncle Joe the same way, you look eggs-per-rated."

"That's exasperated Mary Alice." My sister replied. She looked at me. "I agree, you do look happier. Your eyes are more relaxed."

"Can I call you Uncle Ranger?" Mary Alice asked. "Grandma said I should call the other guy Uncle Joe, but I don't like him. He says I'm not a horse. And I am too a horse!"

Ranger spoke up. "You can call me Uncle Ranger. I'd like that. I used to know some nice horses, so I'd like to get to know you too."

Mary Alice looked enchanted. I knew the feeling. He gobsmacked me on a regular basis. Albert came back in at that moment, stuttering his blanket-getting adventure. "I found the blanket, but it had some crumbs on it, so I shook it out. Then I lost my grip when I was shaking it, and I kind of dropped it. But I found it! It fell in a puddle, but I squeegeed out most of the water out of it. See?"

He held the blanket out to Val. It was covered in mud, though not very wet. Dry streaks covered it where he had tried and failed to clean it. My mom hopped up to grab the blanket, then rushed away to put it in the laundry. I had no doubt that tomorrow it would be ironed 8 or 9 times.

Ranger's pulled his buzzing phone from his pocket, and he stepped into the kitchen to take it. A moment later he came back. "That was the Secret Service. They have more information, and we need to go back to Haywood to discuss it."

Mom looked startled. Again. She was having quite the surprising day. "The Secret Service?"

"Yes. Rangeman has been contracted to help provide security for the President for a rally on Halloween. Stephanie has kindly agreed to help, and her insight and local knowledge has already proven to be invaluable. She was instrumental in catching two leaders of a terrorist group this weekend." He turned to look at me. "I'm afraid we need to go back now and debrief."

My mother's expression changed. I hadn't told her about the job. There was just too much going on, and I wasn't sure how she would react to it. But now she actually looked….impressed? It was such an unfamiliar expression I could barely recognize it.

"Thank you for your hospitality Mrs. Plum, but we really do need to be going."

Mom jumped up and performed her 'Burg housewifely duties of packing up leftovers. Ranger said goodbye to everyone and carried the paper bag of food as we left.

I let out a breath of relief as we cleared the house. I climbed into the truck and flopped back against the soft seat, grateful to be alone with him. As he pulled away from the curb I looked at him. "As long as I'll have you, hmm?"

"It's true Babe. I've been an idiot in the past, I don't intend to make that mistake again."

I stared ahead at the road, watching the light pass us as we made the short drive back to the office. "It's good timing that Agent Mankiller called. I really needed to get out of there."

Ranger didn't say anything, but his lip twitched slightly.

"Wait, it wasn't good timing at all. Did she even call?"

"Nope. That was Tank. I knew things might get chaotic, so I had him call every 5 minutes. If everything was clear I'd let it go to voicemail, but if I thought you needed to get out of there, I'd answer the call and use it to make our excuses."

His thoughtfulness and planning floored me, as always. How did I get so incredibly lucky? "So we don't have a meeting with the USSS tonight then?"

"Not tonight. But we do have a one with them in the morning. I'm not nuts about you being up and about so soon after your injury, but you deserve to know what intelligence they gathered."

I was glad. Despite all my resting that day, I was exhausted. Still, I was grateful to be included.

We pulled into the garage at the Rangeman building, and I was amazed how much it felt like home. I had that same sense of serenity and security I got when I went to my apartment. Moreso, in fact, as my apartment had as many bad guys passing through as a bus stop outside a prison. Here I was in the safest apartment in the city. We walked to the elevator, his arm wrapped around my shoulders in a gesture that was both affectionate and supportive.

When we got into the apartment I was tired enough I just wanted to fall asleep. I striped down and took a shower while Ranger put the food in the fridge. When I got out I collapsed on the sheets and was asleep within seconds.

Ranger

We had survived dinner. Honestly, I'm not sure how Stephanie grew up in that house and managed to come out as strong as she did. I could only be grateful she had. After she fell asleep I did some work I had been neglecting, then just watched her sleep for a while. She looked angelic, with her hair spread in crazy curls around her head. She was naked, and I wanted her so much it hurt. But I contented myself with kissing her forehead, pulling her into my arms, and holding her until I drifted off as well.