Hey again! Can't believe this new muse of mine, he's so great! Anyways, here's chapter number 19!

Thanks for the reviews! You guys make it all worth it!

Not mine

Stephanie's POV

"Babe?" the tentative word was all he had time to say before I threw myself to him, hugging him tightly and kissing him with all my power. He started to kiss me back, after he realized what was going on, the passion in the kiss threatening to burn me alive. After what felt like eternity I pulled away and allowed us both breathe. Ranger leaned his forehead against mine as we both breathed hard, still loss for words.

"Babe." he breathed and kissed me again, like a man who hadn't drank in weeks finally getting his hand son a water bottle. I leaned in against him and felt him lift me into the apartment kicking the door shut behind him and leaning me against the door. I breathed in the delicious smell of him mixed with the sweet smell of his shower gel, the smell that had radiated from the letter he had sent me.

"Oh Ranger!" I moaned as his lips connected with my collarbone, his tongue licking the place he had just kissed. I placed my lips on his shoulder and kissed him with passion as I felt his hands make their way to my ass. Fear kicked in and bit down hard as the memory of the last pair of hand that had touched me there washed over me. I was so deep in the memory that I barely heard the noise Ranger made as my teeth sank into his shoulder.

"Babe?" His worried voice made his way to my scrambled brain and I opened my eyes that I hadn't even noticed I had closed. His concerned eyes met mine and I realized that I was shaking violently. He lifted his hand to my cheek very carefully and slowly as if he tried not to scare me. His thumb brushed away something wet from my cheek and I realized that I was crying. "Are you alright? Did I do something to hurt you?"

I struggled to find my voice and some words to say to him but I couldn't find any. He looked at me and picked me, carried me to his white couch and sat me down in his lap. I leaned my head into his neck and breathed in the relaxing smell of him. He spoke Spanish to me and rubbed small circles on my back. We sat there not moving for an eternity. After my eyes dried he held me at arm's length and looked at me with worry.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on?" He asked and forced me to look at him not at my hands.

"No, but I think I might have to." I whispered and prayed for strength to get through this. I fiddled with my hands and bit down on my lip. I knew that I had to tell him sometime and I couldn't hide my flashbacks long.

"Well… When I got to the house Morelli opened the door for me and got me inside. But he wasn't alone, there was this group of men too and they had Connie. What I found out was that Connie's family had done something to this group of men so they took Connie to make a point. I was told that Morelli owned money to the group and they had him call me and get me there. Turns out that one of my skips was one of the men's son, and they didn't think it was fair having me out there when he was in jail… "

I felt sick as I thought about those moments I had spent with them. All those screams that held me up at night, all that fear trapped inside me and beyond that; the anger pulsating through my veins. I was going to find the men who did this and I was going to hurt them like they had hurt me. I was going to make them cry and beg for help only to endure more pain. But now I needed to continue.

"They weren't happy with me at all. They did all sorts of things to me and Connie but then a shot was heard. As the men scrambled to the door and to Morelli who had been shot, I got to my feet and dragged Connie with me and we ran for our lives. We ran for so long and I remember being so scared. Oh, Ranger I was so terrified!" I exclaimed and buried my face to his neck, hiding myself from the anger that radiated from his body.

"Don't ever say that, Babe! I'm not angry at you, I'm angry with the bastards who did this to you. I could never be angry at you!" He said and hugged me closer, confirming my fear that I had talked out loud again. "I love you so much and I'll be here for you and I'll do whatever you want me to do. I love you, babe, more than my own life."

"I love you too Ranger." I said and felt my eyes go watery again. I couldn't believe that I deserved a man like this who loves me and supports me. It was the first time in my life when somebody besides my father loved me unconditionally. Joe didn't, he cheated and wanted me to change. Dick, well he wanted everybody else but me; even Joyce. But here I was, all screwed up and still he showed me love and comfort. I didn't deserve anything like this.

"Yes you do. Now it's late, do you want to go back to bed?" he said and I just nodded not trusting my voice. He picked me up and sat me down at my side of the bed and tucked me in.

"I'll be right back, I'll go get Ricardo if that's okay with you?" he said and my heart grew at the sight of him. I nodded, still not trusting my voice and sat up. I pulled the coverts up to my neck and asked if Range could turn the lights on as he left. I didn't want to be alone in the darkness of the night. He just nodded at me and with a kiss he hurried out of the apartment switching the lights on as he left.

I could hear my pulse skyrocket and I took the gun Ranger kept on the bedside table in my hands. With minutes ticking away I sat there staring at the door, listing to the faintest sound. Then after what felt like an eternity, he door opened and I heard Rangers voice telling me it was him. I sat the gun down and heard him make his way to the bedroom with our son, sleeping soundly in his arms. He had my crutches with him; I guess we had left them outside. He lowered Ricardo back into his crib, sat down my crutches beside me and then crept into the bed and pulled me closer to him. I felt him kiss the top of my head and then sigh.

"Let's sleep Babe and worry about tomorrow in the morning."

I relaxed into him and felt safe for the first time in a long time. I hugged his hand that held me close and smiled. This was my heaven. I fell asleep with the same smile on my lips.

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