Thanks to everyone who have reviewed so far and now I beg for more, pleaseeee!!!! Here's chapter 11! yay! read, enjoy, and review, review, review!

Chapter 11

"Engagement Rings"

Steph's POV

I woke up and looked at my clock on my bedside table. 7:17 AM. Huh? Only a little than five hours of sleep and I was feeling well rested and wide awake. I've gotten used to waking up early around seven thirty to run and exercised. After my run, shower and breakfast, I realized I needed to find a gym and sign up for membership to keep up with my routine I started in Texas. At nine, I drove my way to the bonds office when I noticed the large gym I happened to pass frequently. I pulled over and parked. I signed up for gym membership, defense lessons they had twice a week and yoga which was offered three times a week. Not the exact same routine I was used to but it was better than nothing.

When I got to the office, Connie looked dead on her feet and handed me a single file. Lula hadn't appeared yet, I expected her to have a hangover and probably still asleep.

"That's the only FTA as of now. You don't need to take that one in for another two weeks honestly. I'll call you if anything comes in," Connie explained as I scanned through the file. I nodded at her as she drank her coffee and left the office.

I wasn't in the mood to deal with the skip. Her name was Philipia Evans. She was barely 19 and a first time offender for shoplifting. I'll get her tomorrow I decided and thought of practicing with my gun. I headed towards the gun range and bought a lot, a lot of ammo. After shooting paper targets for two hours, I felt better. Hey, why not go after the easy FTA anyways? Yup, it was becoming a good and productive day, I might as well and afterwards I can go shopping with Lula.

I was able to bring in a nice and willing Philipia Evans to the police station and bonded out again. Hell, she even commented sweetly on my frizzy hair. It is a very, very good fine day. I got to the office with pizza from Pino's for lunch with the girls and turned in my body receipt for a check. Connie didn't have any more files for me and said she'd call if anything came in so Lula and me headed for the mall.

Ranger's POV

I woke with a huge massive headache. What the hell??? I began recalling last night and groaned as I sat up from the awkward position I slept in the chair. I hated hangovers and didn't often get carried away and drink so much, not since I was a teen anyways. My groan seems to have Tank stir from his drunken sleep. He groaned as well and carried himself to my bathroom where I could hear him throwing up, his typical hangover routine.

I dragged myself to the kitchen. I got two bottles of water and brought them back to the living room and waited for Tank to join me. I called Ella for breakfast and the control room to check in. I looked at the clock. 10:37AM. My babe would never believe it if I told her that Tank and me woke up at this late time in the morning with hangovers. I chuckled at that thought as Tank walked back into the room and plopped himself back into the couch in such a pissed off mood. I passed him a water bottle at the moment Ella came into the apartment with breakfast.

She looked over at the multiple empty liquor bottles to us in our hangover states and asked with amusement, "Celebrating for anything important?"

"Nope," I answered with a cheeky grin while Tank groaned. She laughed.

"As long as I don't have to tell and lie to my cousin Carlos," she shook her head at us. Not many know but she is my father's cousin and when with family I called her my aunt.

"Not necessary Tia Ella, its okay," I said and took the tray from her and placed it on the coffee table in front of Tank, "we just got carried away last night talking about our love problems." I decided on the truth, it doesn't hurt, not with her anyhow.

Ella burst out laughing. "Men," she chuckled on her way out.

I sighed. Men blamed women and women blamed men. I shook my head which made my headache a little worse. I chuckled at the stupidity that led us to drinking so much.

"Damn. We haven't got that drunk together, just me and you, since years," Tank chuckled. I couldn't help but chuckle with him.

"If my memory serves me, we got drunk like this quite frequently every night or so when we were teens," I grinned at him. "Our parents wanted to kill us multiple times."

"What were we thinking?" Tank asked sarcastically. We both started laughing uncontrollably. We were stupid back then, young and stupid. "But we turned out just fine, didn't we? Our parents are proud of us now."

We chatted and recalled on our past together. We were comfortable and acted like we were 13 and 15 years old all over again. The bond that we shared like brothers back then and at times like now.

By 12:45PM, I turned to Tank and said, "Aren't you running late for work there buddy?"

He laughed. "Aren't you? I see the boss is running late today too." We should have been in our offices at nine but there weren't any major meetings today and FTAs can wait until tomorrow.

"Nope, boss gave me a day off," I shrugged, "He's thinking about giving you the day off too so you can go and buy that engagement ring you'll need for next week." He gave me a big grin.

Still smiling, "You up for some shopping man? You're the best man by the way." He chuckled.

I shrugged. "Might as well go with you, make sure you don't buy the wrong things for Lula. Can't have her kill you, I still need you for the company." I laughed as I got up and headed for my bathroom in need for a quick shower. "We'll meet in the garage in twenty." I listened to Tank laugh and let himself out of the apartment.

Steph's POV

We were looking around Macy's when Lula surprised me with a question.

"You think Tank loves me?" she asked. I turned to stare at her. She's got to be kidding me. She looked thoughtful and serious. Don't mess this up, please, I begged myself. I didn't want to say something wrong and deal with an angry Lula.

"Uh, why?" Idiot, why did you ask why?! Her answer wasn't what I expected.

"Tankie told me he loves me. I said I love him too, but he's acting weird, not a bad way, but different," Lula said as she stared at the floor.

I chuckled, "He probably doesn't know what to expect. I mean, you guys just admitted to love each other, sometimes it means the relationship goes, you know, more."

"More?!" she squeaked and became so stiff. Oh god!

"Not in a bad way, no, no, no, no, no, and not so fast, he probably confuse at what you expect from him now that you know he loves you," I said with lots of panic through the answer. She slightly relaxed at my answer. Thank you, God!

She changed subject, "girl, what are we shopping for today?"

I shrugged, "I am just in the shopping mood, nothing really specific."

"Okay girl, but you should try that on, its perfect with your eyes," she pointed to the shirt I was holding up against the rack. It was a silk bright blue long shirt with white flowers sewn intricately and short slits on the sides. It looked delicate and formal. "Girl, I can see you wearing that with a soft white skirt, not them short skirts but them knee lengthy ones with blue or white heels. Oh, I can see you wearing them on my b-day next week! Tank wanted a 'casual, slash, formal' dinner with friends and family at his house. I've never been there before tough (she let out a tiny shriek in delight). You would look so delicate and maybe Ranger would like to help out a certain delicate 'gale in distress' or whatever them fairies say they are again."

I laughed. "I think you mean 'damsel in distress' Lula." I thought about it for a moment picturing myself wearing the outfit. She's right, I would look almost dainty. "Alright girl, let's get me a white skirt and try it on."

After purchasing that outfit with several other tops I had happened to like as well, we hauled our shopping bags out of Macy's and started to walk towards the food court for something sweet before we would head out to Victoria's Secret.

Tank's POV

Ranger and I were both dressed casual today. I wore a slightly loose, white button up shirt and black designer jeans along with a silver chain. Ranger wore dark blue designer jeans and a black button up shirt with all the buttons undone except one right in the middle showing the burgundy tank top underneath. As Ranger walked into the mall entrance first in such a calm stroll, I saw two women, that were exiting, goggling at him and they proceeded to walk into a set of closed doors and fall to the floor. I chuckled, it sometimes never gets old.

We entered the mall and headed straight for one of the four main jewelry stores. After checking the first two, we were browsing through the third call Tiffany's when I saw it. The perfect ring! The thick gold band held a pair of five small diamonds on either side of a huge diamond cut in the shape of a heart. I pointed it out to Ranger as we waited for the lady behind the counter to finish attending to the burly old man next to us who was buying a necklace for his wife on their 50th anniversary. Poor old man kept going on about how life went by to fast. He saw us next to him and turned to fully face us.

"Now don't go wasting your lives like many men have. A whole lot of youngens these days don't appreciate what they have. And don't be leaving love ones behind," he lectures us as he pointed a stubborn finger at us.

He turned his attention solely on me, "I love my wife, by God I do, but the one when I was young, the one I really loved got taken by another man all because I was stupid." At this I grinned and faced Ranger who conveniently was gazing up at the ceiling ignoring that particular statement.

I turned back to the old man and said to annoy Ranger, "Tell that to him," I nodded my head in Ranger's direction, "I'm buying my girl an engagement ring today, but I don't see him doing that."

The old man shook his feeble head poorly at Ranger, "Well I would something soon you or else you'll regret it."

Ranger glared at me, "In fact, I did buy her an engagement ring."

Utterly surprised I asked, "When was this?!"

"Last year."

I smirked. "Then how come I don't see you and Bomber engaged and married off with a little boy yet, huh? Jesus, a year! Who buys jewelry, doesn't ask the question and waits that long for a yes answer anyways?" I saw the lady behind the counter choke on her laughter at my sarcasm.

The old man shook his head again and said to me, "I would try to put some of your senses into that brain of his."

I laughed, "Been trying since, what, 15, 16 years now Ranger?" He growled and glared in my direction.

The old man shrugged and said loudly to himself, "Must be one of them 'lost cause.' What a shame." He straightened the collar of his shirt and nodded towards us. "Have a good day gentlemen. Oh, and congrats on your engagement." He promptly left the store.

I barked out laughing. Ranger?! A lost cause?! Oh god! Of all people to say about that… Ranger growled and glared until he had enough and said clearly for me, "If I were you, I would remember that I can beat the shit out of you and don't forget, I'm also your boss and can fire your ass to the curb friend or no friend." I choked on the last laugh. Jesus, he needs to lighten up! I quickly faced him with a blank face. It was funny though. I don't care about losing a job, didn't really need one with the money I have, but I didn't want to lose the job at RangeMan either, I like it.

We turned towards the lady behind the counter, who was watching us with amusement all over her expression, and I pointed and asked about the ring I wanted. I asked to have the inside of the gold band engraved to say 'I love you Lula ~Nigel' I hate my real first name, which is no better than my middle name Pierre! but Ranger convinced me to use my real name in the engagement and Lula did know my full name. Fifteen minutes later we left the mall and headed back for RangeMan. I would have to pick up the finished engraved ring tomorrow around noon.

Steph's POV

As we headed towards the food court, we decided on ice cream when I got a sudden warm tingle at the base of my neck. I stopped Lula from moving forward.

"I've got this weird feeling," I stated when she looked at me curiously. I looked around and there I saw them. Tank and Ranger, in casual clothing, in Tiffany's Jewelry! Oh my god! "Lula! Am I seeing things?!" I pointed towards them. I turned to face her and saw her jaw drop.

"If you are, then so am I! What are they doing there? You think they're working? My Tankie is looking fine though." I shook my head in amusement then looked over at them again.

"I don't think so Lula. If they were working, they would be dressed in their RangeMan black," I pointed out and we watched as they turned to leave. I grabbed Lula and moved us behind a thick pole before they could spot us.

"Wha-ah!"

"Shush! We don't want them to see us!" I said, "and I also want to know what they were buying." I peeked around the edge of the pole to see them walking away in the opposite direction. Good. I walked calmly out from behind the pole and Lula followed me. I looked into the store and saw that Jenny was working in there. She was in my high school class and thankfully, one of the few that was from outside of the burg. Even thought she married a man from the burg, they lived outside of it. I called the store number that was listed in front and watched as she picked up the phone.

"Tiffany's Jewelry. Jennifer speaking. How may I help you?"

"Uh, hey Jenny, its Steph, Stephanie Plum, I saw two guys walk out of your store right now and I'm just curious for my friend here." I saw her look out the window and she saw us and smiled.

"Hold on, I'm about to get off my shift and I need a ride home. As payment, you'll love to hear this." She put the phone down and walked to back and emerged with a man following her. She came back on the phone, "Be right there."

Lula and I patiently waited for her outside of the store for her to gather her purse. When she joined us, we walked towards Basket and Robins for ice cream. We got into my car with our pints of cie cream and she told us everything about the amusing event between our men and an old guy before I even started the car.

Even though it was amusing, we sat there stunned, Lula more in a nervous break down than shock. Thank god for the ice cream.

After several large spoonfuls of her chocolate fudge ice cream she quietly stated, "Tank proposing to me, on my b-day most likely." She sat quiet a little longer in the backseat. "I think I'm going to be sick. Steph?! What do I do?!!!!"

I quickly looked at Jenny and she could tell we were about to deal with a hysterical woman soon. Jenny winced and said softly, "You, uh, could say yes?"

"Oh lord, oh lord, oh lord," Lula began ranting. Jenny looked at me with the 'I'm sorry' puppy look and I sighed.

"Lula, don't you love him? He's obviously thinking about marrying you, what's wrong with that?"

"Oh lord," she suddenly sighed and snapped out of it, "I do love him but what if he changes his mind after the wedding, what if, Oh My GOD, what if I end up pregnant?"

"He obviously is in love with you," Jenny said reassuringly, "I mean, he's spending a quarter of a million on your engagement ring."

"Quarter of a million," she said softly. "QUARTERAMILLION?!!" she shrieked. And there goes a hysterical Lula.

"Wrong thing to say," I muttered to a sheepish looking Jenny. "Look Lula, calm down! Marrying him won't be the worse thing in the world. You love each other and kids will come or not on their own. This is Tank, Lula. He wouldn't do something unless he was sure on it."

Lula took in a large and nervous breath. "You're right. I'm going to be happy with him and we going to be great together."

"Just remember, I'm the maid of honor," I teased and smiled at her.

"Damn right you are! You helping me plan it too." Jenny laughed next to me. I smiled bigger. Lula turned to Jenny, grinned and said, "Of course you'll be in it too, you're a big part of this now."

"No problem, I love weddings," Jenny smiled and said.

I turned the car on and drove out of the parking lot before Lula reminded me, "Girl, I just realized! Batman bought you an engagement ring for you a YEAR ago!" I groaned, it didn't make sense that he did that for me. I was with Morelli an year ago. Jenny looked slightly confused. I briefed her on the conversation between the them that she listened to and told us.

"Oh! You're the year waiting girl, seriously? He never asked you?" Jenny asked.

I sighed and decided on some truth, "We never dated, but there something between us. Plus I'm engaged to someone else now."

"Something? Please girl, there fireworks when you guys are together," Lula accused at me, "You should see them Jenny! Then you'll know what I mean, you'd have to be blind not to notice. They don't even kiss in front of you but the air around them is just so electrifying! I swear I could get burns for standing to close sometimes." Jenny chuckled.

I gritted my teeth, "It's complicated. Always complicated when it comes to him."

After dropping Lula at the bond office and Jenny at her house, Jenny offered me to dine with her and her husband which I declined and told her that I needed to think, she understood and told me her husband proposed three times before she said yes. Oh god, I didn't want that to happen to me. Three times before making up my mind!

I laid in my thinking position on my bed for hours. Why would Ranger buy me an engagement ring and never ask? A year that ring been sitting there and he always said his life didn't lend to relationships. So what's with the ring for me? His love comes with a condom and not a ring and yet there was a ring all this time for me? I was falling into a confused sleep. It wouldn't matter now, would it? I'm so close to being married to Jeremiah and Ranger hasn't done anything, anything, all this time we've been dancing around each other. Why would he do anything now anyways? I'm doomed, was the last thought before drifted off.

This is my longest chapter written so far (I'm trying! give me a break)

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