Apologies. This story is boring to me, for some reason, but I only have like.. two? chapters left, if I ever get them written. This chapter doesn't have as much content as I had originally planned, because I wrote so much on only one thing. Other than that.. To0dleZ.

AmbeR

"Home sweet home," I muttered. Ranger, who had driven me from the hospital, threw some clothes at me while I rested on my bed.

"Take a shower," he said, hitting me in the head with my lacey underwear.

"Hey!" I yelled, sitting up and pulling the panties off of my head. "You're going through my panty drawer."

Okay, so it was a little exciting to know that Batman was digging through a drawer of Victoria's Secret lingerie that was bought with him in mind..

but still.

He gave me a raised eyebrow, as if saying "..And?"

Grumbling, I got up and collected my scattered clothes.

"I never pictured you as a nosy one," I griped, watching as he began to dig through my nightie drawer.

He gave me a 100 watt grin, and I leaned back against the bed to catch myself.

"Why don't you try these on for me?" he asked. He moved closer to me, my rather revealing red nightie in his hand. As I stood frozen, he pressed himself against me, his arm around my waist to keep me from falling.

"Umm.." I mumbled, trying to get my senses back.

Can you say 'hotflash?'

"Well?" He began to whisper into my ear just exactly what he would do to me if I put that nightie on.

"Shower!" I exclaimed suddenly, pushing away from him. He gave me another grin, knowing the shower was the last thing on my mind.

I doubt you'd be too concerned about it either, if you were in my place.

He opened his mouth again, no doubt to utter another innuendo, when there was a frantic knock at my door.

Thank God.

I was almost done unlocking the door when Ranger grabbed me and pulled me behind him, his gun in place. He finished unlocking the door, then lowered the gun as Vinnie stepped in.

Rat fink.

"What?" I asked.

I swear, if he rags on me for not being at work, I'll kill him. I'll slam his head into my TV. I'll suffocate him with the red nightie.

Which Ranger still had in his hand.

"Well, Stephanie," Vinnie began, rubbing his sweaty hands on his jeans. He gave a curious glance at the item in Ranger's hand, but immediately turned his attention back to me. "We're family, right? And family forgi-"

"What did you do?" I asked, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"I uh.."

I narrowed my eyes at him, and he squeaked.

"I had to do it, Stephanie!" he exclaimed.

I grabbed him by the ear. "What-" I asked, twisting it ("Ouch, shit!") "Did you do?"

"I bailed them!" exclaimed Vinnie. I let him go, my eyes wide.

"You.."

"I had no choice," he whimpered, rubbing his ear. "They threatened to kill me if I didn't.."

I glanced at Ranger. He had his unreadable face on, but I could see with his eyes that he was PISSED.

"Oh.. Well, I'm getting in the shower," I said hastily, seeing that Ranger was about to blow. "I'll be back."

When I got in the shower, I was understanding.

When I got out, I was pissed.

"Hey!" I yelled, running in in a towel. I punched Vinnie in the nose.

"Shit!" he swore. "What was tha-"

"You're a damn bounty hunter, you wussy!" I yelled.

Ranger grabbed my arms as I made to smack Vinnie again.

"Lemme go."

Right.

"Get out," I spat to Vinnie, all the while struggling against Ranger's tight grip. "Get! Go!"

Vinnie scrambled out of the apartment, one hand on his nose, the other on his ear. "See you at work?" he called tentatively.

I growled. Like that, he was gone.

"I'ma kill him," I grumbled. Ranger let me go, but kept an eye trained on me.

"I'll take care of it," he said, his voice dangerously low.

So sue me. I'm a hormonal woman. I have a right to be pissed.

"Meanwhile," Ranger said, his voice calmer, "I have a proposition."

Oh hell.

"What?" I asked wearily.

He gave me another grin. "You don't have a reason to be nervous, yet."

Oh, do I..

"Whenever you talk with that voice, it means something is about to be asked that I will not agree with. Well, I may agree with it, but it probably won't be morally right."

"I'm Ranger Manoso," he said. "When has anything I've done not been morally right?"

"Got all night?"

"So, my proposition."

I sat down on my couch, making sure I had a clear route to the door. "Continue."

"Your rent is overdue."

I wasn't surprised. I hadn't paid on it in two or three months. "Okay?"

"This place is an accident waiting to happen."

I narrowed my eyes. "I happen to like my place, thank you very much."

"Babe, your biggest form of protection is your hampster."

I glanced over at Rex's cage.

Or where it should've been.

"Hey!" I exclaimed. "Where's Rex?"

"At my apartment."

I sat up and looked around at my walls.

Now, normally it's bare.. but today it was dead.

"Heyyyy," I glared at him. "Where's my stuff?"

He smiled. "At my apartment."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What's the catch?"

He sighed. "Stephanie," he said, using my full name. Ohh Lord. "I want you to move in with me."

I didn't answer. My jaw was slack. "You.. what.. when.. why?"

He grinned. "Me, you move in with me, today, because it's safer, less expensive, and I can have my entertainment right there at home."

Entertainment. Oh, I'll show him entertainment.

"Fine," I said sweetly. This time, it was his turn to narrow his eyes. He knew I had agreed way too easily. "But only under certain conditions."

"I better sit down for this one."

I smiled, moving toward him. "Mary Lou is always welcome to come over."

"Deal."

I sat down on his lap. "Ella has to cook full-time."

"That could work." He wrapped his arms around my waist. I began to kiss him on the neck.

"Lula gets all access as well."

He pulled away and gave me a look.

I pouted, then grinned. "Jus' kiddin'."

He pulled me off of him, then pulled out his cell. "I'll get them up here to load everything up," he said.

"Actually," I interrupted, "Do you think I could do it?"

He shot me a curious look. "I have this thing about other people touching my stuff." At this, I glared at the red nightie lying over the back of the couch, then looked at him pointedly. He grinned.

"No problem," he said, "But once you're living with me, don't expect me to keep my hands off."

"You didn't to begin with."

He helped me round up some boxes, then left me a cell phone.

At closer examination, I realized it was mine.

"Oops?" I asked. I fully expected a lecture, but, to my surprise, he just tugged on a stray curl.

"I'll be back," he said. After a mind-blowing kiss, he was gone.

"All alone, all alone," I muttered, spreading out the boxes and dragging a few into my room.

I carelessly began to throw things into a box, noting sourly how almost everything in my drawer fit into one.

"Snack time," I announced to myself, after filling up two boxes. I turned around, only to find a gun between my eyes.

"Oh, shit."

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