Disclaimer: Anything familiar belongs to JE. Thanks for letting us play.

Warning: Adult language, adult situations, tissue warning

Lester's POV

I arrive at Stephanie's to find that she is not waiting for me. She must have overslept. I take out my cell phone and call her. After four rings, she picks up, "Hello?"

"Beautiful, it's Lester, I'm outside. Are you ready to go?" I ask.

"Oh shit, Lester, I'm sorry. Give me five minutes, and I'll be down. Come on in the house. I'll meet you in the kitchen. I have a surprise for you."

I hang up the phone and use my key to enter the house. I go into the kitchen, putting up a pot of coffee, for I know she'll need a hit once she gets down here. I think about tonight and Stephanie's expectations. We have always had sex on the night we visit Carlos, but I'm not sure if I can now that I have Melanie in my life. I think she is the one, and the thought of sleeping with Stephanie feels like cheating. I always told her that she was in control, and I'm afraid of how she will take the news to me ending our arrangement. I finish getting the pot ready when I hear her come down the stairs.

"Lester, honey, sit down. There is someone here who wants to see you. However, give me your guns."

"Why Beautiful?"

"For your safety and mine. Please."

I can't deny Steph when she says please. There is a part of me that will always love her, but she no longer occupies my whole heart. I give her my two guns, and she holds her hand out for my third. Damn, she knows me too well. I see her place them on the counter on the other side of the room when I hear her say, "come on in, now."

I watch as a figure walks into the room and I almost fall off my chair. I must be seeing ghosts because the person standing before me is dead.

"Carlos?"

"Yes, Santos, it's me."

"What the fuck are you doing here? You're dead!"

"Not anymore. I was deep undercover, against my wishes. But I'm back, retired."

"I don't understand."

Carlos sighs sit down and tell me the story while Beautiful makes breakfast. Once the food is on the table, Steph goes to sit down next to Carlos, but he pulls her on his lap. I watch her melt into him, seeing her at peace and finally happy.

"Everyone is going to flip when they see you, Carlos. But don't worry, I'll hold them at bay for a few days. I'm going to head out of here, give you time to reconnect, to learn about your Rosa. She's a spitfire, Carlos."

"I can't wait," Carlos replies.

I get up, and so does he and Stephanie. Stephanie hugs and kisses me, thanking me for being there for her. Carlos hugs me, thanking me for taking care of his girls. I leave the house, knowing the next few weeks are going to be chaotic, at best.

Two Days Later

Stephanie is returning to work today for the first time since Carlos' return. She called Tia Maria, asking her to bring Rosa home early, and for Tio Ricardo to come as well. She called me to be there for moral support. My Tia fainted when she saw Carlos standing in the living room. When Carlos saw Rosa for the first time, he cried. Stephanie would show Rosa pictures of Carlos every day, so she recognized her Daddy.

Flashback

Rosa enters the room and runs to her Mommy, hating to be away from Stephanie. Once she's in Stephanie's arms, she notices Carlos for the first time. She looks at him appraisingly, then tentatively says, "Daddy?"

"Yes, Carina, I'm your Daddy."

"But Mommy, you say Daddy is far away."

"He was, Sweetie, but he's home now, forever."

"Mommy, does Daddy lobe me?"

"Carina, I love you with all my heart. I am so glad to meet you finally. The last time I saw you, you were an infant, in your Mother's arms."

"When did you see her, mi hijo?" Tia Maria asks.

"In Arlington. I was there, hiding behind some trees. Mama, Papa, I was forced to go deep undercover in Colombia. I had to marry another woman, a girl, as she was half my age. The person I was after knew a lot about many things, we needed the information. I wasn't supposed to go that deep or to get that involved. Once we discovered how much he knew, we set the operation up with another man would be in the inside man long term, but his daughter chose me, even though I tried to brush her off and ignore her.

I told them I didn't want to do the mission, but they threatened a court-martial. My handlers also said that I wouldn't need to worry about my daughters because they would take care of them." Carlos said, a dark look taking over his face. "I had no choice. It protected my daughters and Stephanie or potentially lose them forever. I chose to give them life. I sacrificed myself. Now, I am officially retired, honorably discharged. They can't call me up ever again for a mission, only to consult."

"Oh, Carlos, how horrible. I can't believe what you must have felt." Tia replies.

"I'm glad that he's home now. Our someday is finally here." Stephanie replied. It was at that moment that I noticed the engagement ring on her finger that wasn't there this morning.

"Mama, Papa, a judge is coming here in about an hour to marry Stephanie and I. We know it's short notice, but after losing out on over six years, we don't want to lose any more time."

"That's wonderful news. Look, mi hijo, why don't you spend some time getting to know Rosa while I help Stephanie get ready." Tia stated. Carlos sat on the floor and opened his arms to his daughter. Stephanie placed her on the floor, and she ran to Carlos. When he hugged her, she said, "Mommy, he smells like your special soap, like you say."

We all laughed, glad she accepted her father without any reservations. "Mommy, where my books? I want to show Daddy."

Stephanie left the room for a moment and returned with the three books she filled. The first was her pregnancy book; the next two were from Rosa's birth until her birthday yesterday. Tia Maria and Stephanie left the room to get ready while Rosa shared her story with her father.

XXXXXXXXXX

Somehow, in a house monitored by Rangeman, no one at Rangeman found out that Carlos returned. Steph texted me when they were five minutes out, and I moved everyone into the largest conference room, except for Hector who took the monitors and a new hire who completed probation last week in the lobby. He didn't know who Ranger was, and wouldn't let anyone in on our secret. When Stephanie arrived, she told Jimmy that he was a client who was meeting with the Core Team. He didn't question her. The rode the elevator to the fifth floor. Hector gave a Ranger their signature handshake, then motioned to the conference room. Stephanie walked in first.

"Gentleman, Lester called you all in here today because I have an important announcement to make. I know that many of you will be surprised to hear what I have to say, so I ask that you please all take a seat."

Once everyone is seated, she continues. "Over the weekend, I got married. My husband is a good man, and he makes me very happy. I know that he will be a good father to Rosa. I will no longer be using my maiden name, but my new, married name. Please refer to me as Mrs. Stephanie Manoso."

At the announcement of her last name, Ranger entered the room. There were fifty men in the room, but you could hear a pin drop. Finally, Bobby said, "Well I'll be damned, Bomber was right. He's still alive."

Suddenly the room erupted in noise as the men crowded around their leader who they thought was dead for the last five years. Once everyone greeted Ranger and congratulated him, and Beautiful, Tank spoke, his voice heard clearly over the noise. "Ranger, I'm glad you are safe and home, but where the fuck was you for the last five years?"

Ranger sighed, and sat, sharing the what he could of his story with the men. When he finished, the tension in the room was palpable. "Who set you up, Ranger?" Tank asked.

"I don't know, but I intend to find out." He responded.

"Are you sure everyone is dead?" Bobby asked.

"No, I'm not. I need a way to get confirmation from a non-government source. I don't want to place Stephanie or Rosa in any unnecessary harm."

We dismiss most of the men and spend the rest of the day gathering whatever intel we can. We discover that Consuela is still alive, the only one not to die, as she wasn't feeling well and retired to bed right after Ranger left for his appointment.

"Shit. Consuela was sick a lot the last few weeks I was there. I didn't count on her being sick that night."

"Ranger, is it possible she is pregnant?" Stephanie asks, in work mode.

"I guess so. I tried to push condoms, but Consuela's father made it clear that he expected a grandchild, and soon."

"We need to determine what she knows. If she ever discovers your true identity, you could be in trouble." I add.

"I know. Damn it. Why does everything have to be so complicated?"

"But that means you are still married to her," Stephanie says.

"No, I'm not. I didn't marry Consuela as Carlos Manoso, I married her under an alias, as someone who doesn't exist, Juan Villegas."

We all sit and think for a few minutes. Finally Tank says, "We'll track her movements and see what she is up to. You said that she didn't seem to be a part of her father's business. If that is true, she may not pose a threat to you."

"I hope you're right, Tank." Ranger replies.