Author: Ren Kayashima

Rating: T

Disclaimer: It is sad to say that my attempt to get the rights to the Stephanie Plum characters was unsuccessful. They still belong to Janet Evanovich, who is one lucky person for having a mind like that.

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Chapter Three:

September 15, 2011

Stephanie was slowing losing her mind what with the constant surveillance, her mother's nagging, and Grandma Mazur's everyday attempts to state her independence. It all seemed to hit Stephanie at once, and she was ready for it to end.

Ranger wouldn't lift security until he was sure everyone was safe, but so far, he had no leads. Just a fire bombed Bug and a vanishing SUV. So, there wasn't much Stephanie could do but accept the fact that two burly men would accompany her anywhere and everywhere. They would even stand stalk still in front of the girl's bathroom as they waited for her to finish her business.

As for her mother's nagging, well, that wasn't going to end anytime soon. With the wedding preparations in the air, and the fast approaching arrive of Ranger's family; Stephanie was knee deep in a whole lot of family drama. Helen Plum was determined to welcome the Manoso's with open arms to Trenton, and Stephanie wasn't going to stop her.

Grandma Mazur was a character, and Stephanie was all too happy to admit that she was the greatest grandmother a girl could ask for. However, she wanted to go a couple days without another request to drive Grandma to the latest, and greatest, funeral viewing. Stephanie needed a break from the weekly family dinners, if only to get out of taking Grandma on another adventure. Since she lived in Princeton now, this was just the slightest bit more manageable, but family dinners were required for Sundays.

Stephanie rested her head against her desk at Rangeman and groaned. Could she hit the pause button on life and just breathe? Things would be so much easier for her if she could.

"Babe, if you fall asleep like that, you'll be stuck with a sore neck for the rest of the week," Ranger spoke from the edge of the cubicle.

Stephanie sat up and pulled her chair closer to her desk. "Please tell me you found out who blew up Allegra's car," she practically pleaded.

"No," Ranger said stepping into the cubicle. He rested his hands on her shoulders and started to knead the knots out of her tense muscles. "What else is going on?"

"Your parents are coming tomorrow," Stephanie groaned again. "My mom is nuts, and Grandma wants me to take her to Maurice Beaumont's viewing at the funeral parlor because 'it's not every day you see a Frenchman put to rest.'" Stephanie made finger quotes and rolled her eyes as she did her best imitation of Edna.

"Tell Grandma that you can't make it," Ranger said simply. "Say you have to pick Allegra up from youth orchestra because she still doesn't have a new car."

Stephanie took a moment to process his words. Could it really be that easy? She tried to stand up, but Ranger's firm massaging hands kept her in her seat. "That's brilliant," she whispered as she suppressed a moan of delight when she felt a kink in her neck disappear. "Why didn't I think of that?"

"Your attention is being pulled in fifteen different directions, and you don't know how to micromanage very well," Ranger answered. "I'm not sure how to help with your mom, but I already told you that I'll handle my parent's arrival. They're bringing my grandmother, too."

"What?" Stephanie yelped. "When did this happen?"

"Last night," Ranger answered simply. "She kept me in line while I was in high school. You shouldn't really be surprised that she wants to meet you."

"That's precisely why it's bad!" Stephanie said. "What does she call you? Mijo?"

"Maybe," Ranger smiled stiffly.

"Crap," Stephanie muttered.

"Finish your current search, take a deep breath, call Grandma Mazur to tell her you can't make it, and then head to the symphony hall to catch the end of Allie's practice. You'll feel better. I guarantee it."

Stephanie rubbed her temples. Ranger was probably right. Allegra's music could always relax her when she felt like she was breaking under all the pressure. Music could do that for anyone, she figured. How often had she found a world of her won when she was listening to The Eagles or Pink Floyd? Music was good for the soul, and for a while Stephanie had neglected its relaxing powers. That changed after she moved to Princeton where she heard nightly piano and violin ballads come from the living room.

Ranger gave a ghost of a smile before he gave his fiancé one last reassuring squeeze. And just like that, he was gone, and Stephanie felt a lot better than she had only a few minutes ago.

Ten minutes later Stephanie was seen leaving Rangeman in one of the Porsches and she was closely followed by Hal and Cal.

Ranger was seated behind his desk staring at a stream of his security cameras. He felt the muscles in his jaw tighten when Stephanie's car disappeared from the camera's range. The fact that someone had made another attempt on her life was not a thought he enjoyed. He always looked impassive on the outside, but inside was a whole other matter. He was angry because he had yet to come up with an answer.

He let out an inaudible sigh and tried to come up with a game plan. He had to arrange his staff so that two men were always available to watch Stephanie. Bobby and Lester had been permanently assigned to stay with the girls. Bobby and Lester enjoyed the teenage antic, and Julie and Allegra didn't complain about their two lovable guard dogs.

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Stephanie sat in between Tank and Call. They were seated at her mother's dining room table eating lunch after a victorious capture. They had stepped at the Plum house to get a hearty meal away from Ranger's health conscious eyes. Unfortunately, they had walked into wedding plan hell.

Helen Plum came bustling out of the kitchen holding a stack of magazines. "Stephanie, what kind of dress do you have in mind?" Halter, sleeves, strapless, cocktail length, long train?"

"Mom, can I please just eat my food without you trying to shove wedding plans down my throat?" Stephanie asked with a half moan. She grabbed her glass of water and took a large gulp.

She didn't dare mention that Allegra and Julie were much gentler about the wedding when it came to asking about plans. In fact, the two girls managed to be more help than her own mother. They simply handed her a book with their recommendations and let her make her own choice. Her mom, on the other hand was constantly asking her a long line of questions that almost never made sense. What was a tea-length dress or a fingertip veil?

"Well it's clear you aren't concerned with it," Grandma Mazur said. She plopped into a chair across from her granddaughter. "We don't even know when the wedding is. How can we book a church or the hall for the reception?"

"I was actually thinking about having the ceremony and the reception outside in the late spring," Stephanie said as she shifted in her seat. She and Tank exchanged sideways glances. "I need to talk to Ranger about it though. I mean he should have some say in the plans."

"Are you going to continue calling him that?" Helen asked. "He had a real name. I think it's time you use it. You are engaged to be married."

Again Stephanie and Tank exchanged glances. "You think I should call him Carlos?" Stephanie asked feeling like she had spoken a foreign language. "But I've always called him Ranger."

"He's your fiancé," Helen moaned. "And why would you have an outdoor wedding?"

"What's wrong with an outdoor wedding?" Stephanie felt her voice rising slightly.

"Your shoes and dress with get grass stains," Grandma Mazur stated knowingly. "Who's going to be your maid of honor?"

And with that, Stephanie stood up quickly, not ready to announce her choice. Mostly because she had yet to make a choice in the matter. It seemed like, invariably, there would be someone who was upset because they didn't get to be the MOH. "Sorry, but Tank, Cal and I have another skip to catch. Tanks for lunch!" she said before she grabbed her messenger bag and rushed for the door. Her personal guard squad was quick to follow.

Once Stephanie was locked away in her car, she rested her head against the steering wheel. Her phone chirped happily and she pulled it from her purse to look at the lit up screen.

Orchestra class got a new piece today. I think I might try for the solo in 'Scheherazade'. What do you think? –A

And Stephanie smiled. She was asked a question that didn't have to do with nuptials or dresses, or veils, cakes, or location. A simple question. One that didn't make Stephanie grind her teeth in aggravation. She typed out a reply before she turned over the engine in her car. Go for it. I'll be home later to listen to you practice.

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Author's Note: The time it took me to update this story is something I find unacceptable in my book. For me, as the writer, to post a story and not update for more than a couple months is deplorable. I apologize for this. School got really hard all of a sudden, and writing was put on the backburner. Thank you for being patient.

The next chapter will be the arrival of Ranger's family. Which means the fun is only about to start.

Please leave a review letting me know what you think.

Ren