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And special thanks to Karen!

Joy and Pain

Chapter 17: Happy end

25th December: Christmas morning

I slowly opened my eyes only to see Julie's face centimeters in front of me. Her eyes were sparkling and she was grinning.

I smiled back and grinned as I remembered what day it was today.

It was Chrismas, yay!

And everything was good. Torner was in a closed psychiatric unit. He had had a total break-down during his trial. Since 19th December Ranger and I were living in our house. It was wonderful. If everything went as planned I would give birth in 6 weeks and I looked like a whale. Okay, that was not so good.

But now it was Christmas morning and tonight Ranger's and my family would be here to celebrate. I was really happy lying in Ranger's arms with Julie smiling at me, full of anticipation.

It was her first Christmas with her father and Ranger had been very excited but so far everything was wonderful.

I felt Ranger softly kiss her neck. "Finished with thinking, babe?"

Julie chuckled and I rolled my eyes.

"Come on, Daddy, Stephanie, we have to get our presents."

I smiled, remembering the way Ranger's eyes teared up when Julie asked him if she could call him "Daddy".

"You mean we have to see what Santa brought us." Ranger said.

"Duh, Daddy. I don't belive in Santa any more. I have caught mum laying the presents under the tree when I was six."

And with that she dashed out of the room and down the stairs.

I chuckled and gave Ranger a soft kiss.

He smiled. "Morning, babe. Merry Christmas."

I smiled back and kissed him again. "Merry Christmas to you, too, Batman."

-0-

8 hours later I looked at myself in the mirror and was pleased to see that I looked wonderful.

I was wearing a red dress, black pantyhose and a pair of black boots.

I looked hot, well rather cute but it was okay.

I heard Ranger calling me from downstairs and quickly put the earrings he had given me for Christmas on and went down.

Only to be welcomed by a burning fireplace and candles all over the living room.

Ranger was standing in the middle of it, looking extremely hot in a tailored suit.

He smiled at me.

"Hey, babe."

I smiled back, wondering what was happening here.

He took my hand, kissed it softly and led me to the couch.

He waited for me to sit down and kneeled down in front of me.

My breath got stuck in my throat.

"Babe, you know I love you and I have loved you for a very long time. You are my everything, my big weakness and my sunshine when I think that the world is a place consisting of darkness. I know that you are afraid that I only want to marry you because we're having a child but that's not the case and I hope that I proved this to you by waiting so long until I asked you. And I hope I gave you enough time to figure out what you want. "

He pulled a little box out of his pocket.

"Stephanie Plum, will you marry me? Will you be my wife and the mother of my children and be with me until God decides to summon one of us?" He opened the box and inside was a beautiful ring. It showed two hands holding a blue heart that was wearing a crown.

I was crying by now.

"Yes, Ricardo Carlos Manoso, I will marry you."

He pulled me into his arms and kissed me. Tears were running down his cheeks.

He sat down beside me and pulled me into his lap.

I was looking at my ring.

"It's a Claddagh. An Irish ring. The hands stand for friendship and trust, the heart for love and the crown for loyalty."

I kissed him.

"It's perfect."

He smiled. "So are you, babe."

This was the first time I had really seen Ranegr cry. Well, it was the first time until then.

The End

I hope you like it. An epilogue will follow.

Review, please.