Hope you enjoy the chapter and have a safe holiday!

Not mine, but I'm still hoping for Ranger under my Christmas tree wearing a bow...and only a bow ;)


Ranger's POV

Ugh was my first thought. I actually thought ugh.

I am never drinking again. Ever.

I looked over at the clock and saw that it was almost noon and my beautiful wife was nowhere to be seen. Thank god. Mr. Happy is not getting up today.

Slowly getting out of bed, I go for the pants left on the floor and head out to the kitchen. We stayed on seven last night in case something happened so the guys would be close at hand to help. Stephanie has become such a worry wart.

And speaking of my Babe, she was leaning on the kitchen counter, waiting for the coffee to brew, her pajama shorts and tank top barely meeting in the middle of the curve of her beautiful belly. I never thought that pregnant women would be so beautiful before. Sure, they look great and motherly, but until Stephanie started to show, I never got the beauty.

That and every time I think about it, I want to beat my chest and roar.

My baby. My son, growing inside of her.

I finally beat Morelli at something. He was first in her heart and her bed, but I was first to produce an offspring with her. And I would be the only person to produce anything with her for the rest of her life.

She looked up at me and smiled. "I was about to bring you a cup and the cure."

"The cure?" I asked.

"Sure, French fries and coke from McDonalds."

"Babe, I don't eat that crap."

She rolled her eyes. "You did twelve shots of Tequila, three beers and a Jello shot. You need the cure."

I had forgotten about the Jello shot.

"You tried for two, but it wouldn't stay on my stomach."

I smiled at that. My son was going to be interesting, considering his drunken father tried to do a shot off his head.

I kissed her neck and put my arms around her on the counter. "I'll let it slide this one time."

"Like you could say no to me."

"I could if I want."

She snorted and turned in my arms. "Exhibit A," she said, showing off her baby bump in Vanna White style.

My smile widened. "I think that would be the other way around, Babe." I dropped to my knees. "Hola mi hijo." I said, giving him a kiss.

If the guys knew I did this, I was toast.

"You look beautiful today." I said, eating a fry as we sat at the table. Stephanie was ever so kindly helping me.

"I look fat."

"You look pregnant. There's a difference."

"Tell that to my expanding waistline. I told Lester you were taking the day off."

I could agree to that. The little gnomes in my head were pounding away. "Lester?" I asked, curious as to why he was running the company today.

She nodded. "Tank's still out cold. Lula just texted me, poor guy."

"We partied hard."

"I saw. So did Morelli."

I looked up. "What?"

"You don't remember him being there? He was the one that called me to come get you."

I felt my brow furrow. "He called you?"

She nodded. "You threatened to cut off his balls."

That I remember. "I thought that was a dream."

She smiled. "Completely real. I think he's going to start wearing a cup around you."

That made me smile. When I was done, she put me back into bed.

"Okay, I'm going to work and I should be back around five and then we can go home. You stay and rest." She kissed my forehead.

"When did you become all motherly?" I asked.

"When I started to nest. Damn pregnancy."

I chuckled. "Bye Babe."

She kissed me once more and then she was off. I slid down into the bed and wondered what my life would be like without her. Dark, was the first thought. She definitely brought light to my life. I couldn't believe that she picked me to be her partner, but I was glad when she did. I've done a lot of bad things to bad people and they will try to get retribution, but it is my mission in life that we stay well hidden. I've paid for the security I'm getting and I will make sure that Stephanie and our child, or children, will reap the benefits of a comfortable and safe life. It won't always be this easy, I know that, but at least for now, it's going fantastically.

I also would be very horny. Before Stephanie, I was used to getting my way. When she stepped into the café, not an ounce of flirtation happened between us. At first I was confused considering women used to fall at my feet. But not her. She was completely professional.

And then…And then I made the deal. We had sex for the first time and I was a goner. She changed me and I never wanted to go back to the old me.

And that scared me.

I was scared that she could change me so much that I wouldn't be the Ranger I recognized. That I would do something stupid to get myself and anyone I was with killed.

So I did what I do best. I ran.

I'm just thankful that she kept chasing me; otherwise I wouldn't be the happiest man alive. Stephanie was my wife, carrying our child and I thanked God that no one was after us and every day that I could wake up next to her.

When I woke up, Stephanie was back.

"Hi," she said, kissing my head. "How do you feel?"

"Better." I replied, pulling her onto me.

"Feeling frisky?" She giggled.

"Mmhmm." I nuzzled her neck.

We undressed quickly and soon I was inside of her. She rocked her hips slowly, savoring the feeling.

However, she was going too slow for me.

Screw this. I rolled her over.

We screamed, moaned, clawed and grunted our way to release.

Hey, the hangover was gone. I'll have to thank Stephanie.

When she wakes up.