Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. Those are copyright of Janet Evanovich.

Chap 10. Debts and Conditions

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well. Once again, I want to thank ladyofkeegan for editing this for me. Also, thank you all for all the reviews and comments. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. I put * around some sentences to indicate they are in Spanish. I thought that was better than translating every line in Spanish. Let me know what you think. Thanks!

Steph's POV

Ranger promised Ricky that he would get him ice cream later in the week. I swear my son is obsessed with ice cream. He's an ice cream-holic. He smiled and nodded. I took his hand in mine and he shyly took Ranger's. Ricky was completely oblivious to the tension between his parents. I sighed.

"I can take care of myself," I stated indignantly, "and Ricky."

"I know," he said, and we stepped in the elevator.

"What do you mean you're not letting us out of your sight?" I challenged, keeping my voice neutral in front of my son.

"It means that I am not letting you out of my sight," he responded, staring darkly my way. The elevator stopped at five, and we all marched onto the hall. The men at the control table looked up, and noticing Ranger's expression, scurried back to work.

My son giggled, and getting himself loose, ran up to Cal's desk.

"Mommy, look," he said pointing at Cal's forehead tattoo. "I want one."

Cal and the men around him laughed. Apparently, my son was already acquainted with the Merry Men.

"Bomber," Cal said, glancing up at me. I walked towards him and gave him a hug. Suddenly, all my old co-workers were surrounding me. They lifted me up in bear hugs, and patted me on the shoulder. I became teary-eyed.

"Bombshell," Bobby greeted, putting his arm around me. "We missed you."

Bobby's arm was holding me tight against him causing me to fidget nervously. My eyes instantly searched for Ranger but he wasn't there anymore.

"Don't worry," Bobby said. "He's in his office talking to Tank."

"Okay," I said, though I felt he was still watching me. I don't know why I even cared. So what if he saw me touching another man? It's not like he cared anymore.

We made small talk about my whereabouts and their search for me. Cal was balancing Ricky on one leg while my son was engrossed on the television screen in front of him. He was as comfortable watching his cartoons as if the control room was his house.

"He's definitely something," Ram said looking at Ricky.

"He walked in here and thought this was some kind of spaceship," Vince chuckled. "'Daddy, it's like a spaceship.'"

The guys laughed as Vince quoted my son. Ricky bushed and hid his face under his hands.

"Tank told me he glared at him. Is that true? Nobody ever glares at Tank, except Ranger."

"You forget he's Ranger kid," Lester reminded him walking out of the elevator. "He's a mini Ranger. Hello kiddo!"

"Hello Uncle Lester," my son greeted respectfully.

"Beautiful," he said, "I think you'll find your house is now bullet proof."

"What?"

"Hector is there right now," he continued, "taking care of the alarm system. I went over to help but… Sofia wasn't there."

How dare he? I am perfectly capable of taking care of my son and me. I made my way to Ranger's office. We didn't need an alarm system or bulletproof windows. Actually, those might come handy, but I still didn't like it.

"What happened to my house?" I yelled. Ranger and Tank's eyes felt on me.

"What's wrong with your house?"

"I'll leave you two alone," Tank walked out of the room, and closed the door behind him.

"I don't need an alarm system," I said. "I have trained and work very hard all these years to take care of my son."

"He's my son too," he reminded me. Ranger walked around his desk, getting closer to me. "I have a lot of enemies. I have the right to protect him as much as you do."

"You didn't even consult me," I complained angrily.

"You didn't tell me you were pregnant," he said calmly. "You owe me."

"I owe you?"

"Big debt."

Shit. I needed to be angry, but I couldn't help noticing the double standard in his voice.

"What do I owe you?" I asked a hand on my hip.

"Well, let's see," he said, sitting behind his desk. "Three years of my son's life, and nine months of pregnancy. Do I need to mention how much money I bled searching for you?"

What? I don't have that much money, and did he just say I owe him nine months of pregnancy? How do you pay back pregnancy? "You're kidding!"

"I've done lots of thinking," he informed me, "and I will find ways for you to pay me."

The corners of his lips tilted up slightly, "Of course, you can come live at RangeMan."

"No, there's no way I'm moving here," I almost shouted.

"That's what I thought," he said. I thought I heard a slight tone of disappointment. He flipped through a few folders on his desk. Finally, he found what he was looking for and gave it to me. I took the folder uncertainly.

"What is this?" I asked showing him the paper in my hand.

"It's your RangeMan contract," he said, ignoring the paper, "you are going to work for me."

"The hell I am," I yelled. "What makes you think I will work for you?"

"Okay," he replied. Ranger took another folder and handed it to me. My eyes widened at the figures on the print.

"And this?"

"Child support"

"Are you crazy?" I questioned frustrated. "I'm not accepting it. I don't want your money. I don't need your money."

"A judge would beg to defer," he said calmly. He was trapping me into accepting his job offer and the worst part is that he was winning. I sighed blinking away tears of pride.

"We are working on Leticia's case," he added, as if giving me some comfort. I nodded and placed the folders back on his desk.

"Fine!"

After some papers were signed, I had my old job back. I should at least be glad he didn't want me to stop being a bounty hunter. However, I knew this wasn't the end of the child support discussion. We walked out of the office together. Ricky was still sitting on Cal's lap, watching Phineas and Ferb on the little screen.

"Is he afraid of anything?" Ranger asked, "Anything at all?

"Ghost," I replied, remembering a very unfortunate accident. "He's afraid of ghosts."

"He's not afraid of me, Tank or any other dangerously armed men, but he's afraid of ghosts?"

"Yes," I said sadly. I couldn't watch Ghostbusters with my son.

Ranger shook his head. He kept walking towards his son mumbling, 'ghosts, my son is afraid of ghosts.'

-rs-

Ranger organized a conference for the next day. He invited the feds involved in the operation. I was in charge of calling Leticia's family to invite them as well. Leticia's uncle picked up.

"Michelle," he rasped. "Did you find her? Please, tell me you've found her."

"I'm sorry, Samuel," I said, "but we have nothing."

He sighed and cleared his throat, "the feds are having a hard time too. They are not even sure if this is a kidnapping. Can you believe that, Michelle? They are only working this case because of Marcus. I don't want anything happening to her. She's only sixteen!"

"Samuel, have faith," I encouraged him. I told him about Kennel and about the man in his house. "My spidey senses are telling me Leti was running away from somebody. Maybe she's hiding somewhere."

"Thank you, Michelle," he replied ruefully, "I trust your spidey senses. They give me hope." He paused. "Maybe after all of this is over, we could go out… you know, on a date."

I felt my face heat up. I sneaked a peak towards Ranger, since we were in the same room. He lifted an eyebrow, his lips on a thin line.

"Maybe," I said. I told Samuel I was working with Ranger, and about the meeting.

"Really?" he asked. "I hear he's wonderful. He has great credentials and everybody seems very optimistic about him. I met him a few days ago and I wouldn't want to piss him off. Did you two know each other?"

"He's Ricky's father."

"Holly shit."

"Tell me about it."

"Wow"

"Do you still want to date me?"

"I'll get back to you."

I chuckled and disconnected with Samuel. I had to smile even after the sad topic we discussed. Ranger watched me expectantly.

"He'll be here," I told him, biting my lower lip. I stood up to get a glass of water from the break room. I don't know how but Ranger slammed me against wall before I reached the door. I gasped in surprise, inhaling the scent of his shower gel. His body was perfectly pressed against mine. Ranger's hair brushed against my neck as he kissed my shoulder, then my neck, my cheek, and then my lips. It was a deep, passionate kiss but I was the only one panting at the end of it.

I unconsciously leaned forward, placing butterflies kisses on his neck. I was turned on, deprived of sexual contact, and I needed Ranger.

"Tell your friend to keep his hands away from you," Ranger said dangerously, his lips brushing lightly against mine.

Then, he was out the door, leaving me all worked up against the wall. I couldn't believe I had forgotten about his bat hearing abilities. Bat hearing isn't something anyone should forget about Ranger. He can hear locks tumble from afar.

How dare he kiss me like that and just leave? Apparently, the idea of me dating bothered him. In this case, my dating life was not his concern. What about the kiss? I was afraid to give that kiss too much thought. I wasn't sure where our relationship stood. Nonetheless, he did say he's going to find ways to make me pay. As far as I know, that might include sexual payment.

My phone rang. It was my mother.

"Stephanie," she said. "I heard your car got blown up today and Ranger saw everything. Is it true?"

"Yes, mother. It's true."

"Okay," she said, and sighed. "I'm expecting you for dinner. You can invite Sofia. Valerie and the kids are going to be here. Maybe Ranger would like to join us. Please, ask him. I'll see you later."

My mother hung up, and I stared at my phone. That was surprisingly easy. I thought I would never see the day she would take such news so lightly.

Ranger came into the room with Ricky next to him. I was still staring at my phone.

"Dinner at my parents?" I offered shyly, hoping he would declaim a dinner with grandma.

-rs-

Ranger parked behind my father's car. My mother and grandma were standing at the door like old times. I unconsciously bit my lower lip and got out of the car. Ranger was holding Ricky in his arms.

"Grandma!" he called out. "It's daddy, look!"

My mom's eyes grew wide.

"Ranger," she said, smiling, "its good to see you."

"Mrs. Plum," Ranger nodded. "How are you?"

We went inside. Ranger was keeping himself a significant distance away from Grandma Mazur. I smiled; she could still make a wonderful weapon. My father stood up from his sofa when he saw Ranger. He glanced briefly from Ranger and me. Then his stare stayed on Ranger. I was surprised because I've never seen my father act this way. I was watching two very protective alpha males having a staring contest.

"Mr. Plum," Ranger greeted. "How are you?"

"Grandpa!" My son wiggled out of his father's arms and ran to my father. Daddy kissed both of his grandson's cheeks.

"Are you two together?" he asked Ranger directly.

"No, we're not," I answered quickly. Ranger and daddy stared at me with blank faces. "What?"

My father took Ricky's hand and walked past us to the kitchen. He seemed mad at Ranger and I had a feeling he was mad at me too.

-rs-

Sofia had kindly refused my invitation. She was invited to dinner with her cousins in Newark. Valerie, Albert, and the girls came in late. We made our salutations and made small talk.

"I went to the salon," Grandma said, forking a piece of pot roast. "I asked around about Margaret like you asked me. I was very casual, you know. They didn't suspect anything at all."

Grandma glanced at Ranger and gave him a wink. He quickly popped a broccoli into his mouth and looked away. Daddy groaned and murmured something under his breath.

"Anything interesting?"

"Margaret was part of a book club," Grandma started. "Margaret's closes friends participated in it. Maybe you could ask them. Caroline was surprisingly eager to help. She gave me a list of contacts before I left. She wants Helen to join."

The dinner was surprisingly uneventful. Valerie kept glancing over at Ranger. He caught her eyes once, making her blush. Ricky was very happy with his cousins. He specially liked Lisa. They were close in age after all.

"The girls are young ladies now," I said, watching the two preteens chase after Lisa and Ricky into the living room. Ranger and my father were staring at each other in that room.

"I know," Valerie hissed. "It all started when Angie turned twelve. She developed overnight."

"Stephanie, that reminds me," my mother said. "Ricky's birthday is coming up. We really should throw him a birthday party. I think he would like it."

I thought about it. My son's laughter resonated through the walls. He was definitely happy, and at home. Ricky's birthday is usually just us two. We visit various places, and I take him to the toy store so he can pick a toy. Then I take him home with a birthday cake with his name one it. This year was different. My son was turning four and his family will be around to see it.

"Okay," I replied, thinking I would need to get more skips. My mother seemed surprised. Maybe she thought she had to fight for it.

-rs-

Ranger POV.

I surveyed Stephanie's new home as we walked into the living room. It was a beautiful humbled little house at the skirts of Trenton. She picked Ricky up with a little effort and started walking up the stairs.

"Thank you Ranger," she said gently. She decided to take the Buick, even though I offered her one of my cars. I made a quick call to have her car equipped for her needs, and safe with trackers.

I kept surveying the house, and made it up the stairs. Stephanie was helping Ricky brush his teeth, and into the bathtub. She looked up at me, but didn't say anything, letting me watch her prepare our son for bed.

"Keeping us within your sight?" She asked teasingly, tasting the waters. "I want to know because I need to shower."

"Is that an invitation?" I asked. Steph's cheeks turned cherry red. She instantly turned her face away and took Ricky out of the tub, toweling him off. I followed them into his bedroom, and I found myself amazed by his galaxy decoration. There were pictures of planets and galaxies everywhere. I wondered if it was Stephanie's doing, my son's or someone else's. There were a few frames too. They all looked like professional pictures of them together in the car, at the park, eating mountain of junk food. Steph placed his pajamas on the bed.

"He likes to get dress by himself," she explained, walking out of the room. I followed her, and we stood outside waiting in awkward silence.

"Sorry about my dad," she said to me, concern in her voice.

"He's a concerned father."

"I'm confused," she said, shaking her head in desperation. "I'm confused about everything."

"He doesn't want you to get hurt," I told her.

"Ranger, do you…" She looked away timidly, lowering her voice. "I know you hate me, but….if you could…"

"I don't hate you," stated before she could say anything else.

"Are you trying?"

"No"

"You don't call me Babe anymore."

I closed the distance between us and pinned her against the wall. I kissed her. I shouldn't kiss her or touch her, but I couldn't get my hands off her. I scanned her body with my hands, pausing at her hips, and sneaking my hands under her shirt. I felt her body heat under my fingertips. I started uttering things in Spanish, unable to stop them from slipping out of my mouth. I was in the moment. Then I heard someone burst into a fit of giggles and stepped away from Steph. We found Ricky staring up at us. He was standing with a hand over his mouth, and his pajamas were backward.

"I should go Ricky," I told him kissing his forehead. "I'll be back tomorrow, okay?"

He nodded, still giggling.

"Stephanie," I said before walking down the stairs. I could still hear my son's soft laughter and Steph's hurried questions on my way down.

"What did he say, Ricky? Baby, can you tell me?"

I stopped on the landing, listening.

"He wants to kiss your body," my son giggled. "He wants to touch you because he misses you, and he's crazy."

"What?" I heard myself wonder at loud. Did I hear correctly? I ran back up and I found Stephanie in a deep shade of red. She looked at me with surprise in her eyes.

"Ricky," I said to my son. "Puedes hablar Español? Me entiendes? (Can you speak Spanish? Do you understand me?)"

He looked at his mother, confused. I had to try again.

"Que quieres para tu compleaños? (What do you want for your birthday?)"

My son's eyes opened wide and bright.

"*I want a big blue bicycle. Mommy says I'm little, but I want a bicycle for big kids. I'm a big boy. I want a bicycle like this," he opened his arms wide to indicate how big he wanted his bicycle. I smiled, listening to him explain. He was like a nonstop recording. When he starts talking, he doesn't stop until the very end. He was speaking to me in Spanish.

"*I'll give you a bicycle," I told him proudly, drew him into my arms. I pressed him against my shoulder and kissed his temple.

"Babe?"

"He had to learn Spanish," she explained. "I had my friend speak to him in Spanish. I also found someone who speaks Spanish to take care of him. She has this rule, that in her house you can only speak Spanish, so he practices. He practically grew up with it. He's your son, and he should know Spanish."

"Compensating for something?" I asked her. I know I shouldn't say it the way I did, but I was hurt.

"Ranger," she replied hoarsely.

"You did good," I told her, trying to keep my feelings in check. I had to put my hurt feelings aside, and recognize that she did great. I could any imagine how hard it was for her to ensure that he learned Spanish.

"Daddy," my son said, now tugging my arm. "Can you read me a bedtime story?"

"*I have to go, son."

"*Please!"

"Next time, okay? I promise." I tucked him in bed, and kiss him goodnight. Stephanie was still standing outside, and I knew she was silently crying.

"Lester will be here soon," I informed her. I needed to prepare for tomorrow's meeting.

"Not keeping us out of your sight?" She asked, blinking unshed tears, a small smile playing on her lips.

"Never"

We walked down the stairs. Stephanie closed the door behind me, and a new car pulled up on the driveway.

"Sofia," I greeted when she came out of the car. I should have known, leave it to Steph to attract all the danger. However, Sofia pushes away as much danger. I guess I should be glad they are friends, although I would never say it at loud.

"Hello," she said, playing with her keys. I nodded, and got in my car. I drove in silence, realizing that a lot of thing about my Babe's life have change. It might have been Ricky or her undying desire to fly that might have provoked those changes. My life…well, my life only moves forward if she's with me.

-rs-

Ranger: Babe?

Steph: Yes?

Ranger: Ricky has a tattoo on his forehead."

Steph (smiling): Yes, isn't it cute?

Ranger: It looks like Mushu from Mulan.

Steph: You watched Mulan?

Ranger: Babe

A/N: I hope you guys liked it. Please review, comment, or make any suggestion. Take care!