Ok..this is a bit rough. My muse is gone, and I'm pulling at strings.

But.. here is Chapter 2.

Please review, in hopes that they reach my muse's ignorant little ears and draw her home for the glory!

My only warning is this: Remember that things are NOT always as they seem… ;-)

Chapter 2

It was slow at the Bonds office, so after "dessert" with Ranger, which was very hot and extremely satisfying, I met up with Mary-Lou at the mall. The repairs to my apartment had finally been finished last week, and I moved back in two days ago. I was still a bit mopey about that - I hadn't wanted to leave Ranger's. We had developed an easy relationship, falling into a pattern of living that just seemed right. The nights were even more right. They were hotter than the fires of hell, and I loved every minute of them.

But still, despite Ranger's homecoming at Christmas, and meeting his family, and our new years night...despite the fact that we had traded I love yous a dozen or more times - it didn't really come easy to either of us even still - I wasn't entire just what, exactly, our relationship was. And I didn't want to overstay my welcome. Ranger had said before his love didn't come with a ring, and while I was willing to accept whatever he would give me, I also didn't want to lose what we did have by invading his space for too long.

I had to leave Sin, though, so she was still invading his space, and destroying it. No surprise there. She was just entirely too rambunctious for her own good. But she loved Ranger, and despite the fact that he claimed otherwise, I'd caught him in enough compromising situations with her to know he was quite fond of her himself. I even had pictures to prove it.

I pulled up to the mall and met Mary Lou in our usual meeting spot at the food court. And then, of course, we headed to Victoria's Secret. It was always our first stop.

An hour and a large sum of money later, we were on our way to Macys to check out the shoe department. I figured while I was there I would also check into distraction clothing. Probably a good idea. I'd worn everything I already owned at least once for distraction. And I was thinking a nice dress might have some benefit. Who knows when I might get a chance to wear one.

We were combing through the dress racks and catching up on Burg gossip.

"...And George Oliver went to visit Amy Carmelli so now her mother is planning the wedding. She didn't think she'd ever-" Mary-Lou shut up midsentence. Only one thing could have that power. I turned around and she was holding up a vivid red dress. "Steph, this is perfect for you." She shoved the dress into my hands. "Go try it on."

I held the dress at arms length and scanned it critically. I wasn't one hundred percent sure about the red. It was somewhere between fire-engine and deep burgundy...And in truth, if it fit right, it would probably be gorgeous - at least, if the color suited. What the hell. I shrugged and headed for the fitting rooms. I had dinged the bell and was waiting for service when one of the fitting room doors opened and Celia stepped out. Her eyes widened and she smiled, a full Ranger smile.

"Stephanie? How are you?" She hurried over and hugged me.

"Good-" I started, but was interrupted by Mary Lou, who, in a protective gesture, shoved me aside and planted herself in front of me.

"I'm Mary Lou. Steph's friend." She introduced herself.

"Celia." she extended her hand to Mary Lou.

"Ranger's sister." I added. Mary Lou's eyes widened and she smiled.

Celia zeroe'd in on the dress in my hands. "Let's see." she demanded, in the same tone Ranger often used. I held the dress up for her inspection. "Oh, that's going to be perfect for you."

"Isn't it?" Mary Lou agreed. And just like that, Mary Lou and Celia were fast friends.

"Carlos isn't going to be able to keep his hands off of her." Celia told Mary Lou.

"Hello, I'm still here, and he already has that problem." I grumbled, thinking about Ranger's deal for Sin's rent. Celia laughed and stepped out of the doorway to her dressing room, catching my arm and tugging me in.

"We want to see." she told me, as the door closed. I pulled my shirt over my head and tugged off my jeans, then shimmied into the dress. It fit well, and the color suited, but I wasn't sure. It was far from racy, but I still felt exposed. I took a breath to fortify myself, and stepped out to meet the girls' scrutiny.

"Wow." Mary Lou said.

"Perfect." was Celia's contribution.

"Too expensive." I said.

"Way worth it." Celia argued back.

"Not when it's only going to last a tenth of a second!" That's about how long it'll take Ranger to rip it off my body.

Celia gave me a knowing look. "I give it at least five minutes and a tenth of a second. It'll take the first five for him to be able to move again after he sees you. In fact..." her face lit up in a sly grin "You should wear that on Sunday. It is semi-formal afterall."

"What's Sunday?"

"Mama and Papa's anniversary. Carlos didn't tell you?" Celia asked, and then started again before I could get a word in edgewise. "He's going to pretend he forgot, the ass!" she exclaimed, and pulled out her phone. She pressed two, and waited.

"Carlos." she said when he answered. "What time will we see you and Stephanie on Sunday?" She paused. "Thinking of an excuse, are you? Going to pretend you forgot? I know you to well, little brother, you don't forget anything." Another pause. "You WILL be there. And don't worry about asking Stephanie. I think she will be getting ready at my place. She'll meet you there." Another pause, I could hear Ranger through the phone now, his voice terse, but I couldn't make out what he was saying. "NO. She will meet you there. I don't care Carlos." And Celia hung up on him. "Geez."

"Did you just...?" I stammered. Hung up, on Ranger?? No one hangs up on Ranger. I tried it once, and he was not happy. Celia just looked at me and shrugged, as her phone rang. She checked the display and laughed.

"Foolish man. You're going to knock his socks off when he sees you in that. And he can't use the dress as an excuse for you guys to not make it either if you get ready at our place." Celia looked notably pleased with herself.

"His socks aren't all I'll knock off." I said. By the time I was done knocking things off of him, we'd both be naked and on a horizontal surface. I shook my head and turned back into the fitting room as Mary Lou gasped, and Celia chuckled. I checked my reflection in the mirror and held my hair up off my neck. Yeah, it really was a spectacular dress. And Ranger really was going to love it. What the hell.

"I need shoes." I told the girls when I rejoined them. And our shopping duo became a trio as we headed towards the shoe department. And Celia's phone rang again. She checked the display and grinned, before shoving it back in her purse.

"Carlos." she told me. "He hates it when I hang up on him." No kidding. Celia was definitely a Manoso that way - she has guts. No sooner did her phone quit ringing than mine started. I recognized the ringtone and raised an eyebrow at Celia as I dug through my bag. My fingers sifted through cuffs and pepper spray, among other things, before coming to rest on the antenna of the phone. I dug it out and flipped it open.

"Yo."

"Babe."

There was silence, and Ranger was obviously waiting for me to say something. Probably spill my guts about Celia or something. I waited a second and then spoke up. "Ranger."

"What are you doing?" He asked, when it became obvious that I wasn't going to volunteer any information.

"Shopping." I told him. Ha. I can do one word answers too!

"With my sister." he said flatly. "You didn't tell me you were going shopping with my sister."

"I didn't know. We just kind of ran into each other." I admitted.

"Let me talk to her." He said. I cut my eyes to Celia and she shook her head. Shit.

"Uh..you can't." Think Stephanie, think. You need a lie.

"Why not?" He asked, suspicion lacing his voice.

"She's indisposed." I told him.

"How so? I can indispose of her myself." He threatened. Celia was his sister, so I was pretty sure it was an empty threat.

"Um...You probably don't want to know." I said. I was stalling, and probably he knew it. I never could lie.

"I don't mind knowing."

Shit. "She's trying on" I looked to the other two. Mary Lou had gotten a hold of my VS bag and was conferring with Celia as to whether or not I needed more underwear to go with the dress. "Underwear."

"Babe." His voice was pained.

"Told you you didn't want to know."

"You're lying."

Damn. "Nope. Not me." I said.

"Babe." Ranger said. And then he sighed. Holy Moly! Batman never sighs! "Don't encourage her." And he hung up.

"It's not my fault!" I said to the dead phone as I flipped it shut.

"What'd he say?" Celia looked up from my pink VS bag.

"Not to encourage you." I rolled my eyes. "Like you need encouragement."

Celia just grinned, and we turned our attention to the shoes.

Forty minutes and three pairs of shoes each later, we finished at Macy's and headed towards the food court. We needed a snack. Celia and Mary Lou had deemed one of my VS purchases as being acceptable to go with the red dress, but we were still going back, because Celia hadn't been yet. I wasn't complaining. We were just turning towards the food court when I, literally, ran into Joe.

"Sorry Cupcake." He said, steadying me with one arm.

"What's up?" I asked him.

"Shopping."

"Yeah, well, it is a mall." I pointed out. Joe shifted his weight, and crooked a half smile at me. He looked...nervous.

"Joe?"

"Yeah?"

"Something wrong?"

"Who's this?" he indicated Celia.

"Celia. Ranger's older sister."

"Shopping with the future in-law." he grinned at me.

"Not future in-law, and it just kinda happened." I narrowed my eyes. "And Joe? You avoided my question."

Joe blew out a sigh. Geez, what is it with the men in my life and sighing today? That's two! " I could use your advice." He asked me. Mary Lou looked at him curiously, and I could tell she wanted in on whatever was happening. "Privately." he added.

"Sure." Joe steered me away, as Celia dragged Mary Lou into the food court. I called back to them that I would meet them back there.

"So?"

"I..I'm...I want..."

"Spit it out, Joe."

"I'm going to ask Elaine to marry me on Valentines Day." I felt a pang in my heart - not because Joe was marrying Elaine instead of me, but Joe was going to ask Elaine to marry him, and I had no one...well..I had Ranger, but I still had no idea what our relationship was.

I shoved that thought away, and smiled at Joe. "That's great! You guys are perfect for each other. What's the problem?"

Joe steered me into the Jewelry store. "I need to find a ring."

"Oh no. I am not choosing your fiance's ring." I Told him. "No way."

"Cupcake, just your opinion." he said, and then we both stared in shock as a man at the back of the room straightened, and turned to look at us, shock mirrored in his expression.

"Are you...?" I started, staring at Tank. He gave me a slightly sheepish look, and nodded.

"Find a ring yet?"

"Not sure. Maybe. Don't wanna screw it up."

"I hear you, man." Joe said. "Heavy stuff."

I rolled my eyes, then glanced at the ring Tank had been analyzing. I headed over for a closer look. "Nice.." The ring was big, with a huge princess cut diamond, and it looked just gaudy enough for Lula. It was a ring that would leave a permanent mark if she punched someone. Lula would like that.

"Think she'll like it?"

"I think she'll love it. But if you're not sure, you can always bring her to choose her own ring." I suggested.

"Probably she'll choose that one." Tank mused. I nodded. Probably he was right.

"Find anything?" I asked Joe.

"I don't know. Maybe that one?" He pointed to a fairly simple ring, with a fairly good sized diamond. It was one that would fit well underneath her surgical gloves at the hospital, and I thought she would like it.

"Nice." I said. "But if you aren't comfortable, just let her choose her own." I wasn't comfortable with this situation. It was weird. But then, most of my life was.

"Would you be ok with it if Ranger proposed and then went ring shopping with you afterwards?"

That was never going to happen. Not only because Ranger would never propose, but also because if Ranger decided to buy me a ring, he would never let me choose - because he'd want to buy me something way more expensive than I would be willing to pick out for myself. Kind of like cars. Like my red Mustang. "Absolutely." I told him.

"There are so many that seem perfect for her." Joe mused.

"So tell her that. Come on. I gotta get back to the girls."

"I'll walk you back."

"Girls?" Tank asked.

"Celia and Mary Lou."

"Celia? Ranger know about this?"

"He does now. And it's all Celia's fault!" I said dryly, and led the way out of the store. We all headed towards the food court - Joe was adamant about walking me back, and Tank wanted to say hello to Celia. We had just gotten to the table the girls had snagged when Joe jumped. Instinctively, I reached behind him and yanked, pulling an arrow out of his ass. No one around us seemed to notice anything, but him and me. I turned the arrow over in my hands.

"Where'd that come from?" Celia looked confused as she caught sight of the arrow. Mary Lou and Tank looked equally mystified.

"Cupcake?" Joe asked. I quit turning the arrow around and looked up at him, meeting his gaze. His eyes darkened, and he dropped to one knee.

"Are you ok?" I asked, reaching out towards him. Joe grasped my hands in both of his and looked up into my eyes.

"Stephanie, Cupcake...Will you marry me?"