As always: Not mine & not making any money. Minor Spoilers though 18.

Thanks to everyone who is continuing to read Holiday Weekend, a special thanks to those of you who have taken the time to leave a review and/or answer the questions that I posted at the end chapter 7- it means so much to me.

Editing, grammar, and language rules are not my strong point; I'm a total numbers girl! I do try my best and if I ever decide to work on another story a Beta will be used. Any and all mistakes you see are my own!

"Babe, I think you and I need to talk. There seems to be a misunderstanding," he said in a tone so serious I tried to turn my head to look away.

"Talk" I squeaked out.

"Yes, talk" he replied while picking me up and making his was out to the balcony.

Chapter 8

I began struggling a bit as he made his way out to the balcony. What was the point in this, what kind of misunderstanding could have occurred? He was obviously unhappy with me being here, I could see it last night in Watch Hill and again this evening when he was sitting on the balcony alone.

"Relax Babe, calm down Queirda*" Ranger whispered in my ear while running smoothing circles across back.

He settled in one of the lounge chairs and placed me in between his legs pulling my back to his chest.

He held me against him for a long time, completely grounding me, taking away my ability to flee. No words were spoken; you could faintly hear the waves crashing on the shore, and the sound of distant thunder.

"Babe why are you running away from me?" Ranger asked.

Why is he asking me this? I told him in my note why I was leaving, he was unhappy I don't want that for him.

"You're unhappy with me here Ranger, that's reason enough for me to leave" I replied.

"I think you're the one that's unhappy Babe" Ranger said.

How do I reply to that? I wasn't unhappy until I realized I was unwanted here by him. I was enjoying my time seeing 'Carlos' and his family was wonderful, were they inquisitive, yes, but that didn't make me unhappy, a little uncomfortable at times but I could live with that. I decided to go with a simple answer "I was having a nice time."

"Then why?" he asked quickly.

"Why what?" I replied I was starting to get confused.

"If you were having a nice time, why were you leaving?" he asked.

Didn't I already answer this, I tried not to let my frustration show in my voice when I answered "you're unhappy with me here Ranger, I don't want to stay where I'm not welcome"

"If you were unwelcome, I wouldn't have brought you" Ranger spat out.

I just shrugged my shoulders while replying, "people change their minds"

"I didn't change my mind, I don't change my mind" Ranger said while pulling me closer.

Don't I know I thought to myself, how I wish I could change his mind about my place in his life, about a relationship, kids, and a ring. Crap, crap, crap, where did that whole kids and a ring notion come from; with everyone else it has always given me hives. I guess if I was honest with myself the idea of those things with Ranger didn't scare me, in fact after seeing 'family Ranger' this weekend I wanted them even more. It was a somber realization and I could only think you can't always get what you want.

I must have been quiet for too long because Ranger spoke again "you didn't seem like you were having a nice time and that made me unhappy."

At least now we are getting somewhere and he was admitting he was unhappy. Why he assumed I was not enjoying myself I had no idea. Why me having a good time or not affected his happiness was confusing.

"Well I was" I answered simply.

"Then why?" he asked again but I assumed he was no longer asking why I was leaving. Does he realize I don't have ESP?

"Why what" I replied, this was beginning to feel like déjà-vu.

"Why when I opened the car door yesterday in Watch Hill did you look like you were about to bolt and swim back to New Jersey?" He paused for a brief second before continuing "and why were you crying on the beach? Last I knew those weren't actions of someone who was 'having a nice time'" he said, repeating my words back to me.

Holy shit how am I going to answer this? Maybe if I just go with answering the first question he will forget the rest. "I was just a little startled when the door opened" no reason to tell him I was excited to get out of the car, that I wasn't fleeing him, just his mom.

"You're not telling me something Stephanie." I know I cringed when he called me that, I was thankful he couldn't see my face.

"Were the women of my family mean to you?" he asked.

"No, no" I was quick to reassure him "everyone has been so welcoming to me. I meant what I said, you have a wonderful family Ranger".

I felt him squeeze me tighter to him, I'm not sure a piece of paper would have fit between us at this point.

We both seemed to welcome the silence for a bit and I was thankful, assuming he forgot his other question. I should have known better. He asked again "why were you crying on the beach?"

How the hell was I going to answer this? If I told him the truth he would probably run so far away from me and I would lose what little I had of him. I couldn't lose him from my life; I think I would seize to exist.

"I was just a little caught up in my own thoughts and emotions" I replied, silently begging him to drop it.

Before he got a chance to respond a knock occurred on the doorframe of the balcony, Ranger and I both turned our head towards the sound. Fern and Hector were both standing there, with questioning looks on their faces.

"We came up to see if you made a decision about brunch at The Ocean House, but it looks like someone is leaving" Fern said while glancing back towards my bag that was packed and sitting by the door with Rangers keys on top.

"No one is leaving" Ranger said quickly. Part of me was still thinking that wasn't the case but I didn't voice it. "I haven't had a chance to ask Stephanie what she wanted to do yet," Ranger continued.

I slid myself out from between Rangers legs, so I could turn on the chair and face the guys.

"We don't mind staying with the kids tomorrow, if you want to take Stephanie. You stay with them every year," Fern said.

I was beyond confused at this point. Ranger must have sensed it because he began answering my unspoken questions. "Babe every year the adults go for the Jazz Brunch at The Ocean House, a beautiful hotel in Watch Hill. I always stay back with the kids, so they can have a nice uninterrupted meal, and we go to the beach, go and ride the go-karts, watersides, or play mini golf depending on the weather. Fern and Hector offered to take care of the kids if you would like to go to brunch. I hadn't had a chance to ask you about it yet and they wanted an answer before bed. I got side tracked when I came upstairs and unfortunately forgot they were waiting. What would you like to do Babe?"

I looked at Ranger and couldn't help but smile, I don't think I have every heard him talk so much at any given time. I almost felt that if I answered this question, I was locking myself into staying here tonight and for the rest of the weekend. I gave myself a little pep talk, reminding myself of my earlier decisions, keep your heart closed and enjoy the weekend for what it is.

"Babe" Ranger said and I looked up and notice everyone was staring at me. Oh right they were waiting for my answer.

"I'm much more of a go-karting, putt putt kinda girl, then a brunch eater" I replied. Much safer with the kids then the adults I thought.

Ranger stood up and walked towards the guys and I followed. Whew, looks like our conversation is finished saved by a Merry Man and his other half. Maybe I should name Fern an honorary Merry Man.

"Enjoy brunch" Ranger said giving both of the guys some complicated handshake and manly one arm hug.

Hector walked up to me and engulfed me in his arms, he held me tight and whispered in my ear, "Talk to him Angelita." When he released me he walked off the balcony and into the bedroom, Ranger followed him.

Fern came over to me after the guys left, he took my hands in his and squeezed. "Remember what I said hermoso" and with that he left.

After a few moments I decided to go to bed. The quicker I go to sleep, the quicker this day will be over. As I reached the slider I watched as Ranger locked the bedroom door, went to the bed and grabbed something out of his nightstand draw and the present I left on my pillow before making his way over to me, all in less time then it would have taken me to walk two steps. I swear the man moves so fast he must be part panther.

"Babe" Ranger said when he reached me.

"Ranger" I replied. What else could I say?

"Where are you going Babe, we weren't done talking" he said while gently pushing me back out onto the balcony.

"We weren't," I said trying to play it cool.

"Not nearly" he replied while sitting us back down in the same position as before.

"What's this present for?" Ranger asked after we were sitting for a while.

Finally an easy question, I couldn't be more thankful that he didn't pick back up where we left off. I wiggled myself around to sit indian-style between his legs, facing him. "That would be your birthday present, I haven't had a chance to give it to you since you've been back. It's something I thought you would like that I found. You don't have to open it now." I knew I was rambling but for the life of me I couldn't shut up. When I bought the present back in the late spring I was tempted to give it to him at that time, but decided to wait as I thought it would be a great birthday gift. Now for whatever reason, I was nervous about his reaction.

Ranger kissed my lips in an effort to keep me silent, I think.

When he opened the card a small smile tugged at his delicious lips. The card itself was the Batman symbol, inside was blank so I wrote a personal message thanking my own private Batman and wishing him a happy 35th birthday.

When he took the first present out of the box he unwrapped that small smile turned into the full two hundred watt version. Inside was a first edition leather-bound copy of the Cuban poet Nicholas Guillen Man-Making Words. It is a selection of his poems. This first release was dated back to 1972; I found it at Mary Maggie's used bookstore. At the time I realized it was a unique and perfect gift for the man who has everything. Ranger had a newer edition on his desk for a while and when I asked him about it he told me it was his favorite Cuban author. After he told me this I came to realized that Ranger liked literature and poems, with the mention of Guillen and the times he has quoted Carl Sanburg to me. The book cost a pretty penny but he is truly worth everything I have and more, besides it was an unusual find, to hard to pass up.

"Babe, I love it. Did you know he is my favorite Cuban author?" Ranger asked.

"I'm glad Ranger, yes ,you told me once when we were in your office." I was surprised at the time that he was divulging information.

"I don't remember that. Where did you find this, it must have cost a fortune," he continued.

"Do you remember Mary Maggie the mud wrestler?" He nodded. "I found it in her used book store" I replied, I didn't mention anything about cost the whole 'no price' thing kept popping in my head.

Ranger placed the book down and leaned forward and placed his hands on both sides of my face and stared into my eyes. His brown eyes were soft, the color of molten milk chocolate and full of emotion. "Thank you Babe" he said placing a soft kiss on my lips "this is one of the most thoughtful gifts I have ever received."

When he released my face I smiled, he was so beautiful and I couldn't help but wish for a quick moment that he was mine.

Placing the book back in the box he came across the other part of his gift, the one now that I wished I didn't give. He pulled out the five by seven picture frame and began unwrapping the tissue. Inside was a picture of 'Corporate Ranger' and me dressed in business attire. It was from the security cameras inside the halls of RangeMan. His hands were at my waist and mine were on his chest, we were staring at each other and he had a grin on his lips and I was wearing a full smile. We had just come out of a meeting that secured a multi-million dollar contract for RangeMan. The contract had sales goals being met six months before schedule. I had been so nervous going into the meeting that he threatened to pick me up and carry me if I didn't leave my cubical. He told me he needed me to put the clients at ease. In the end after using the word please I agreed and we came out successful. The picture appeared on my desk a week or so later with a note signed from Hector. It truly was a beautiful picture so I found a classy glass frame and made a copy for Ranger, I thought it spoke volumes of our friendship and trust in one another.

Ranger stared at the picture for a long time once it was unwrapped, not saying anything. I was truly afraid that he didn't like it or was questioning why I gave it to him, as he has no personal photos in his office or penthouse. When he finally looked up at me the smile that was on his face didn't hold a candle to the two hundred watt version.

"Babe" was all he said before his lips crashed down on mine hungrily. It was passionate and demanding all at the same time. When his tongue ran across the seam of my lips asking for entrance I eagerly gave him access.

After sometime we broke apart both struggling to gain control of our breathing. When my mind stated to work again I wanted to kick my own ass, so much for keeping my heart guarded and my emotions in check.

"Thank you Babe, thank you, thank you" Ranger said while placing feather light kisses all over my face. "I know the perfect place for this" he continued.

I just smiled at him; it was strange to see him so full of emotion.

Ranger was tracing my jaw with his index finger and I felt like the way he was looking at me he could see straight into my soul, read my inner most thoughts. I turned away from his gaze, attempting to break the trance, but he pulled me back to face him using his fingers on my chin.

"Don't hide from me Babe" Ranger said when I was looking at him again.

I resisted the urge to laugh out loud at the irony of that statement coming from the Man of Mystery.

"Why were you crying on the beach Babe?" he asked me again.

"I told you Ranger, I was just a little caught up in my own thoughts and emotions."

He nodded his head and then asked "can you tell me about them?"

I shook my head no and attempted to change the subject by asking again "whose house is this?"

"It's my house Babe, well I guess that's not entirely true. It's a safe house that belongs to RangeMan but is only used by me and my family, mostly for play but occasionally I use it when I come back from being 'in the wind' to decompress " he answered.

"Why here?" was my next question, I felt if Batman was answering questions I needed to take advantage.

"I'll answer Babe, but then you need to answer one of my questions" I shook my head agreeing to his terms, my curiosity overriding my better judgment.

"When we were kids my parents didn't have a lot of extra money for vacations after taking care of the day to day needs of five kids. Every year on Labor Day weekend we would come up to a house that my dad's boss owned on the beach. In exchange for my Dad closing up the house for the winter we stayed for the long weekend at no charge. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from the times we spent on Misquamicut Beach and down in Watch Hill riding that very same Merry-Go-Round. My sister's and Fern use to get so mad at me because I would always get the brass ring and a free extra ride." I was watching Ranger as he talked and I could picture him as a little boy playing in the surf and riding the horses. "When I was about twelve or thirteen my Dad's boss decided to sell the house and our yearly tradition ended. I decided then, that one day I would buy a house up here on this very beach that my family could enjoy. On my twenty-ninth birthday, I bought this house, the guy who built it a year before was in financial trouble and the opportunity presented itself."

Wow that was some explanation from Batman. I was amazed that he shared something so personal with me. I would be lying if I said I didn't love him just a bit more, if that was even possible, for wanting to give his family a way to relive and create new memories.

"What am I to you Babe?" Ranger asked jolting me out of my inner thoughts.

Hmmm...this was a tricky one, he was my everything but I couldn't tell him that. The answer I decided to give him was one of complete honesty without giving away too much.

"You're my best friend Ranger" when he nodded I decided to continue, sensing he needed more "I trust you with my life." I chose to leave out the part that it was my heart I couldn't trust him with because he has the ability to break it without even trying.

"You're my best friend too Babe" he replied while picking me up and spinning me so that my back was to his front again. I swear the man picks me up like I'm a puppy not a grown adult who has a love of Tasty Cakes.

I sighed when he pulled me close and nuzzled my hair. God it felt so good to be wrapped in his arms.

"Why did you bring me here Ranger" I asked, feeling more comfortable now that I didn't have look at him, afraid that I wouldn't like the answer.

Ranger sighed; I know what you're thinking bad-asses don't sigh but I heard it clear as day.

"Can I show you something first before I answer that question" he asked.

I shrugged my shoulders and replied with "sure"; I didn't have much of a choice in the matter.

Ranger grabbed the envelope that I saw him take out of the nightstand earlier; he leaned forward and placed it in my lap giving me a kiss below my ear. "Open it" he said, he almost sounded excited.

I carefully opened the envelope, the light streaming in from the bedroom gave just enough glow to read the letterhead from the Department of Defense dated August 29, 2012. It stated that Colonel Ricardo Carlos Manoso has completed his contract with United States Army and was discharged honorably. I always assumed that Ranger still served his country and worked specific missions for the government when he was 'in the wind' but I never new for sure. I guess my assumptions were correct, but I didn't know what this really meant or why he was showing it to me so I asked "Ranger what does this mean?"

"It means Babe, I'm done, no more 'in the wind', no more leaving unless it is for RangeMan business or vacation. It means Babe that after fifteen years, my life is my own again" he replied.

I turned my head around to smile at him and before I realized what was happening he had captured my lips with his.

After releasing my mouth I turned back around, snuggling into his hard chest.

"I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of Babe, made a lot of enemies, a ton of mistakes but none I'm more ashamed of then the ones I've made with you. I hurt you Babe" I started to shake my head to say that he hadn't, to say that he always protected me, but he squeezed me tight and continued before I had the chance. "I may not have hurt you physically but I hurt you emotionally, that maybe worse and for that I'm so very sorry. I hurt you when I told you to fix your relationship with Morelli two and a half years ago but never gave you the chance because I stole a kiss or touches every chance I got. I hurt you when I offered you no more then my friendship and a chance for a roll in the sheets whenever you wanted with no type of commitment. I hurt you when I told you're a line item in my budget listed under entertainment."

"Ranger" I interrupted.

"No Babe please, let me finish, I need to finish," he said.

I just shook my head I could never resist when he said please.

"I think worse then anything else I hurt my chances of you seeing me as someone worthy of giving your heart to because I hurt you here" he said bringing his hand up to rest over my heart. "Someone worthy of sharing your emotions, thoughts, and feeling with because I've closed mine off to you, to everyone for so long" he said. "I guess I was scared that if I let you get too close to me that my darkness would corrupt you, dim the light that shines so bright from you, that brings light to me and my heart, light to my men. I was scared that if you got to know the real me that you wouldn't like what you saw and you would leave me, that I would be left with nothing but the memories of you. I was scared that if you did accept me and we started a life together that one day I would be on a mission and not come home. Where would that leave you, who would protect you?"

I jumped up and away from him at that point feeling myself going from zero to Rino-mode quicker then a blink of an eye. I was pacing back and forth, itching to run away. What did he think it wouldn't hurt me if I lost him, if I lost my best friend, the one true man who accepted me for me if we weren't in a relationship?

"Babe" Ranger said getting up attempting to stop my movement.

I walked right around him, trying to get away from him. I didn't want to explode, he was opening himself up to me, something I always wanted, but I couldn't stop the rage that was building up inside me. How could he be so stupid, how could he think I wouldn't be crushed if I lost him no matter what our status was.

"Babe" Ranger said picking me up, holding me close, cradling me in his arms.

I began hitting, and kicking him, attempting to get free from his grasp.

"Calm down Queirda" Ranger said attempting to get me to stop fighting.

"Put me down" I spit out threw clenched teeth.

"No" Ranger said quickly.

"Ranger put me down now," I said as the dam of my eyes broke free.

"No Babe, never" he said while kissing my tears away.

He sat us back down, me in his lap, holding me with such tenderness I almost forgot how angry I was with him.

"Why are you so upset Babe?" he asked after some time.

I felt myself getting worked up again did he really think I wouldn't care?

"Babe, talk to me, please" he said while rubbing soothing circles on my back again.

"Did you" I got out before I had to take a deep breath to keep myself from hyperventilating. "Did you" I started again "really think that I wouldn't be devastated if you failed to come home? Did you think my heart wouldn't break?" I asked. Before he got a chance to respond I continued "I would feel as if my world was shattered because I would have lost the one person who truly accepted me, understood my need to fly." I wanted to stop but my mouth wouldn't listen to my brain "and worst of all I would regret that you would have never known how much I love you."

Flipping us over, Ranger pinning me down with his body cut off my rant, he was cradling my head in his hands, his face was so expressive and his eyes were filled with dear I say love that I actually gasped.

"Tell me again Babe" Ranger said his eyes never leaving mine.

"I love you," I said tears starting to spring free from my eyes once again. "I'm in love with you," I continued.

Rangers lips were ghosting over mine, his thumbs wiping away my tears when he said, "tell me again."

"I love you Ricardo Carlos Manoso" I said in a voice just above a whisper, in a way I was sharing my secret and setting it free.

Ranger's lips came crashing down on mine with such force that I was sure they would be tender later. His hands were everywhere and I found myself pulling him closer to me, my hands on his muscular back, his tight ass.

After a few minutes he seemed to get himself under control and raised his body over mine, placing the bulk of his weight on his forearms. When he spoke his voice was so gentle that I blinked to make sure it was coming from him. "Do you know how long I have waited to hear those three words from you? I was beginning to think it would never happen, that you would never have those types of feelings for me. I love you Stephanie Michelle Plum, it may be in my own way but that's the only way I know how to love you. I love you with everything that I am and everything that I have."

"Really" I asked.

"Babe" was all Ranger said before kissing me again.

Ranger turned us so that I was once again sitting between his outstretched legs, my head resting right above his heart. It was only then that I realized that the sky was starting to lighten in the east. We must have been outside a lot longer then I realized.

"You asked me earlier Babe why I brought you here and I guess the easiest way to explain it is that I wanted to share it with you. I wanted to share my family and my childhood memories; I wanted to make our own memories. I want to share everything with you Babe, I want to share my life, have you share yours with me, make it ours, if you'll have me" Ranger said.

I turned my head to look into his beautiful eyes, allowing him to see the sincerity of my words when I said, "I will always have you."

Ranger rested his forehead against mine before saying "I love you Stephanie, my Babe."

I replied, "I love you Carlos, my Batman" before kissing him again.

I sat sideways on Carlos's lap as we watched the sun break the horizon and fill the sky with beautiful shades of pinks, yellows, and oranges.

Just as I felt myself nodding off Carlos stood up with me in his arms, kissing my temple. When he began walking into the bedroom he said "let's get some sleep for a few hours, we'll need our rest if we are going to survive all the kids".

"mmmm kay" I mumbled into his neck before he placed me on the bed and began undressing me.

The last thing I remember was Carlos crawling into bed beside me, spooning himself to my back. All I could think was maybe this weekend wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Queirda* -beloved or Sweetheart

Edited 03/07/13