A/N: Okay, folks. This is the final chapter. It's not as angsty as the last one so most of you should be fine. And just so I don't get yelled at (the list is too long to mention everyone by name) there are no new character deaths in this chapter.

Again, my sincere thanks to Sharon for not only her beta skills, but her ability to keep me on track. You so totally rock, Babe!

Disclaimer: All JE's, blah, blah, blah.

Hope you all enjoyed the ride!

LOVE IN THE WIND

Chapter 4

The next couple of months were hell for Stephanie. She'd lost the desire to do anything. She spent most of her time locked away in the apartment, venturing out only to go to the doctor or the occasional dinner with her parents or with Ranger's family.

It wasn't until her last checkup when the doctor told her she'd lost weight that Lester finally decided to take control of the situation.

"Look, Beautiful," Lester said one afternoon. "I know you're hurting, but you can't keep doing this to yourself. It's not healthy for the baby. You need to start interacting with people again. You need to start living your life again. It's what Ranger would have wanted."

Steph looked at him with tears in her eyes. Her pain was so overwhelming it consumed her every thought.

"I don't know how to go on," she said softly. "I miss him so much. A hundred times a day I want to tell Ranger something, but he's not here." Instinctively, her hand went to her distended belly and she began rubbing it in small circles.

"I know, honey," Les said, pulling her into his lap. "I feel the same way. Ranger and I grew up together. We got in a lot of trouble together," he said with a small chuckle. "We went through the Army together and I helped him build this company to what it is today. Believe me, I miss him, too.

"But he'd want us to go on. Ranger wouldn't want us to stop living and wallow in sadness. He'd want us to make something of our lives. It's the best way I know to honor him."

"But how? How do I go on when there was so much more I wanted to share with him?" Steph asked. She knew what Lester was saying was right; she just didn't know how to achieve it.

"By putting one foot in front of the other. It's hard at first, but you'll find it starts to get easier. You have to think about the baby."

"I do think about the baby. I think about how I'm going to tell him that his father is gone and what a great father he would have been to him. But honestly, I don't know how I'm going to do that."

"You'll find a way, Steph. You're strong even though you don't feel it right now," Lester said. Then he thought about what Steph said. "You know it's a boy?"

"Bobby didn't tell you?" Steph asked. Bobby always accompanied Steph when she went for her check ups. He'd obviously told Lester about the weight loss so she'd assumed Bobby had mentioned the sex of her baby.

"No," Lester said. "He's apparently left it up to you to announce what you're having."

"Well, they took another ultrasound and could tell. I'm having a boy. Ranger would have loved a son, I think," she said quietly. "He would have been a great father to this child."

"Yes, Ranger would have loved him very much. You'll make sure your son knows who his father was. I'll help you, if you'll let me."

"I rely on you too much now as it is," Steph admitted.

"Hey, that's what family is for." Lester pulled her close and placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"Come on. What do you say you join me downstairs and run a couple of searches for me?" Lester suggested. "You don't have to put in a full day, just get out of the apartment for awhile. Will you do that? For me? And for the baby?"

"I look like a mess," Steph said as she wiped her tears from her face.

"Nah, you're just as beautiful as always," Lester smiled.

"You're such a bad liar," Steph said with a little smile.

"Hey, I'm a good liar. It's a skill I've perfected over the years," he teased.

"And it's gotten you in more trouble than you can keep up with," Steph said as she lightly elbowed him in the gut.

"It comes with the territory." Lester had a big smile spread across his face. This was the first time he'd seen a glimpse of the old Steph in months and it warmed his heart.

"Come on, let's go downstairs. The guys would love to see you." Lester stood up and extended his hands to Stephanie. She took them and he gently pulled her from the bed.

Despite what she thought, Steph did feel better getting out of the apartment and seeing the other guys. Some of them were surprised at how big she was getting since they hadn't seen her in awhile.

At Lester's urging, she joined him in his office and ran a couple of searches for him while he did other paperwork. By five o'clock, she was actually hungry and felt good about having accomplished something. She agreed to start working again but only part time. She didn't think she was up to putting in a full day yet and wanted to ease back into things. Lester was just pleased that she was willing to start reclaiming her life and had agreed to any and all terms she set.

True to her word, Steph did return to work, if only for a few hours a day. And after a few weeks, she even began venturing out of the building to visit with Connie and Lula or go shopping for baby things. Of course, it wasn't easy. Missing Ranger was a daily battle and some days were better than others.

But the nights were still hell. That's when she was the loneliest. That's when she missed Ranger the most. The flag that had covered his coffin was in a display case sitting in the bookshelf. Sometimes, she would sit and talk to it, other times she would remove it from the case and hold it to her and cry. She doubted she would ever get over the loss of the one man that had truly held her heart.

Today had started off as a fairly decent day. She was at her desk by nine and had managed to complete several searches and other various paperwork by noon. The baby was even having a very active day. He'd been moving around all morning and even managed to kick Steph in the ribs a couple of times. But it was the jumping jacks he did on her bladder that sent her racing to the bathroom before she embarrassed herself in front of an office full of men.

Deciding to call it a day, Steph went to Lester's office to let him know she was leaving.

"Hey," she said, lightly rapping on his door frame. "I'm heading up to have some lunch and maybe take a nap. I also want to work on the nursery later."

"You okay?" Lester asked. "You look a little tired."

"I've had a busy morning and the baby's been running marathons in my tummy. I swear this kid is going to be a track star," Steph said with a smile.

"Alright, Beautiful, I'll be up in awhile to check on you." Lester had been spending a lot of time in the last several months on the seventh floor. He hated leaving Steph alone for long periods of time. He knew that although she was trying hard, she was still having a hard time dealing with Ranger's death. They all were.

Of course, it hadn't gone unnoticed by the rest of the team how much time Lester had been spending with Stephanie. He'd practically attached himself to her hip, even spending a few nights a week with her in the apartment. Men being what they were, rumors began to circulate around the office. Were they involved? Weren't they involved? Was Lester just biding his time until Steph had a chance to get over Ranger?

The rumors had not escaped Tank's attention, and he threatened every one of the Merry Men within an inch of their lives if they so much as breathed a word of their suspicions to either Stephanie or Lester. His friends were in enough pain and didn't need the added stress of an office scandal. Although knowing Lester like he did, Tank secretly vowed to keep an eye on the situation.

As Steph headed upstairs, she wondered what Ella had left her for lunch. The older woman loved doting on Stephanie and had been a godsend when it came to picking out colors and designs for the nursery.

Thinking about working on the nursery brought a small smile to Steph's face. The guys had moved Ranger's office furniture out in order to make room for the baby furniture. That was a hard day. Steph hated for anything of Ranger's to be removed from either the apartment or the building in general. It was like getting rid of a piece of Ranger himself and she just couldn't take it. But she knew this was necessary. Her son was going to need space of his own.

Work on the nursery was slow but steady. It seemed every week she added something new. Steph had even spent some time with Maria and her own mother to shop for furniture and baby clothes. Steph was dragging her feet about having a baby shower, though. She just didn't feel like having a party without Ranger there to share it with her.

As Steph finished up her lunch, she decided to take a nap on the couch. She laid down and wrapped a blanket around her, but she just couldn't get comfortable. The baby started kicking again so she sat up. When she did, her gaze fell to the flag sitting on the bookshelf.

"What's wrong, little guy?" Steph said as she rubbed her rolling tummy. "Are you getting a bit cramped in there? Well, you'll be here soon and then you'll have all sorts of room to roam about." She turned back towards the flag and sighed.

"I wish your daddy could be here to see you. I just know he'd fall hopelessly in love with you as I have." Steph got up from the couch and moved to the bookshelf. She ran her hand along the wood of the display case, feeling its smooth surface beneath her touch. Immediately, tears filled her eyes.

"Life is so unfair at times, little one. You have the best man in the world as your father and you'll never get to meet him," she said as the tears began rolling down her cheeks. "I bet you're going to look just like him. Tall, dark hair, beautiful skin, and I hope you get his eyes. God, I could get lost in your father's eyes." The baby kicked again and she rubbed at the spot.

"He would have taught you a lot, too. He was strong and very smart. He would have taught you the ways of the world so much better than I ever could. He did everything with precision, purpose and determination. He would have taught you to be a strong, honorable man. But I guess your uncles are going to have to help you out in that department now."

Stephanie's quiet tears turned into sobs at the thought of all the things Ranger wouldn't be able to teach his son. Then something snapped in Steph and she got angry.

"How dare you leave me here alone with our son," she yelled at the flag. "How dare you give me this gift then not come home to see him grow! Who's going to teach him how to be strong? Who's going to teach him how to look out for himself? Who's going to teach him how to be aware of his surroundings? How dare you leave all that up to me! I can't possibly do all those things without you. I need you more than ever, but you're gone! Gone! You bastard! How could you do this to us?" Steph screamed, the power of her rage crashing through her like a hurricane.

Steph's knees buckled and she began to fall, her body racked with sobs. But before she hit the floor, a pair of strong arms caught her around the waist and held her tight. Figuring it was Lester, she melted into his body and cried as her heart broke all over again.

He picked her up and moved her to the couch, gathering her into his lap as she cried into his chest. She didn't know how long they stayed like that and she really didn't care. Ranger was gone and she was left to raise their son on her own. The guys offered to help wherever they could, but she knew it wouldn't be the same. Her son would never know his father's love like she did.

She knew Ranger had loved her. She replayed their last night together over and over in her head all the time. A man didn't make love to a woman like Ranger had to her and not love her. He had even finally admitted it. More than once.

In between his kisses and roars of passion he would whisper how much he loved her. Then she would see the sadness in his eyes as they both knew the opportunities that had been missed. Ranger knew that night he would never come home. On some level, so did Steph, but she just couldn't bring herself to accept it. Even at the funeral she wished that he could have somehow shown up, but he never did. She was left alone to pick up the pieces of a life that she could have had; a life that she had been too scared to go after.

Finally, Steph began to calm down. Tears still fell down her cheeks but the heart-wrenching sobs had been replaced by a few hiccups and shaky breathing. She felt herself slowly being rocked. It soothed her as she kept her eyes closed and lost herself to the feeling.

"You know what really blows about this whole situation?" Not waiting for a response she continued. "Ranger would have wanted to marry me out of honor or some damned sense of duty or obligation. I would have said yes anyway because I loved him."

"Then marry me. Marry me because I love you."

Stephanie froze. She couldn't believe Lester would say something like that, especially at a time like this. But something was wrong with Lester's voice. It didn't sound right. She opened her eyes and looked at the arm that was wrapped around her. The skin wasn't Lester's. It was too dark, yet too light to be either Bobby or Tank. She looked up and almost screamed.

It was Ranger.

Stephanie knew that she must have finally snapped and lost her mind. There was no way Ranger could be there. Everyone said that he had died in the explosion. Hell, he had been gone for months. Surely if he'd still been alive someone would have known. Someone would have told her.

With a shaky hand, Steph reached up to touch his face. He nuzzled his cheek in the palm of her hand and she threw her arms around his neck.

"Oh, God, you're alive!" she cried.

"Yes, Babe, I'm alive and I'm home." Ranger held Steph as tight as he was able. He didn't have his full strength back. Besides, he didn't want to hurt her or the baby.

As Steph pulled back to look at him again, she saw that he, too, had tears running down his cheeks. She wiped away his tears like he had done for her so many times before.

"You're really here. You're not a figment of my imagination," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder.

"I'm really here, Babe. I came home as soon as I could," Ranger said, wiping away her own tears.

"Everyone said you were dead, but I didn't want to believe it. Then Tank gave me your dog tags and I knew it must be true," she admitted.

"You have my dog tags?" Ranger asked, stunned. He thought he'd lost those in the blast. Stephanie grabbed the chain that was around her neck and pulled the tags out from underneath her shirt.

"I haven't taken them off since Tank gave them to me. It was a way to keep a piece of you close to my heart," she said, remembering what Joe had told her at the funeral.

Ranger's heart swelled with love and pride along with a bit of sadness. Between witnessing her outburst and her admission about his dog tags, Ranger realized just how hard his 'death' had been on her.

"So where have you been?" Steph asked. "How come everyone thought you were dead?"

"Well, I spent a few months in a make-shift clinic in the middle of the jungle trying not to die. The facility was limited at best and they had no way to transport me," Ranger explained. "Their communications were intermittent, but even when they could call out, they didn't know who I was since I didn't have my dog tags and was unconscious most of the time."

"Oh, God, you're hurt and here I am sitting on you," Steph gasped, but when she tried to get up, Ranger tightened his grip on her. He thought he would never get the opportunity to hold her again; he wasn't letting go anytime soon now that he had her back.

"I'm not hurting you?" Steph asked.

"No, Babe. You're fine." Even if she were hurting him, he'd never admit it, nor would he allow her up. He had her right where he wanted her and it felt good.

"How badly were you injured?" As Steph studied his face closer, she could see several scars, which were still healing, on his face. She wondered how many of those scars would be permanent.

"I was messed up pretty badly," Ranger admitted, trying to decide how much to tell her. He knew he had to withhold some information as the mission was still deemed 'Classified,' but he felt that in light of everything she'd gone through, she deserved as much of the truth as he was allowed to divulge.

"The mission basically went off as planned. Without going into details, the targets were eliminated and the evidence destroyed. When the building started to go, I didn't even try to escape. From where I was positioned, it would have been pointless. There was no time for me to get out and I knew that going in." Stephanie began to tear up again when she heard that.

"Shhh, querida. Try not to get upset and let me finish," Ranger said as he gently dragged his thumb across her lips. When Stephanie took a deep breath and calmed herself, he continued.

"The building began to go up. I hunkered down and waited. Next thing I knew, the floor began to give way underneath me. Apparently, the compound had an old tunnel system that either the Army didn't know about or failed to inform me about." Ranger paused for a moment. He could still hear the thunder of the explosions and feel the rumble beneath his feet just before the floor gave way. He could also still feel the shrapnel tear through his body as all the C-4 explosives he'd planted sent the tiniest of objects through the air like projectile missiles.

"I landed so hard on the tunnel floor that I knew my leg was broken. To make matters worse, the hole was big enough to bring part of the first floor down on top of me. I did manage to dig myself out but it took awhile. I don't know how long I was down there. I just knew that this was my one and only shot at survival." And his one and only shot back to Stephanie. Ranger's hand made lazy circles on her belly as he gave her the details of his escape.

"Once I was clear of the debris, I still had to make it to the end of the tunnel. I was banged up pretty badly, but knew I had to try. When I did, the opening was outside the compound in the jungle somewhere. I passed out and didn't wake up until months later. When I did, I learned that not only did I have a broken leg, but five broken ribs, two of which lacerated my lungs and some internal bleeding. Some of the deeper cuts I had became infected, causing me to spike a high fever."

"My God, Ranger," Steph cried. "Thank God you were unconscious for most of that."

"Yes, and like I said before, the clinic wasn't equipped to handle a case like mine. But thankfully, the doctors never gave up. Just like I couldn't give up. I had to make it back home to you… and our son?" Ranger gave Steph's belly a light squeeze at the mention of the baby.

"Yes, I'm having a boy. I'm due in less than two months. I thought I was going to have to raise this baby on my own, but you're really here."

"I heard. I'm sorry you've had to go through it alone, but I'm here now and I'm not leaving. Ever." Ranger said that last word with such conviction that Steph slightly jumped.

"They won't call you back for another mission?" Steph asked, terrified at the thought of having to lose Ranger all over again.

"No, Babe," he assured her. "That was my last mission whether or not I survived. But I made sure of that once I was transferred back to the states. I have personal confirmation from the General that I'm done. There will be no more missions."

"You met with him personally?" Steph asked.

"Yes, I was in D.C. for a few weeks under quarantine while the Army doctors assessed my condition and the brass debriefed me," Ranger explained.

"Why were you in quarantine and how come you couldn't call?" Steph wondered.

"I was in the jungle for months, Babe, and near death a couple of times. They had to make sure I wasn't carrying any deadly viruses or diseases. Plus, they had to make sure I was me. Black Ops is a deadly game and people don't always play by the rules. The Army wasn't taking any chances."

"So that's it. You're home now. No more going 'into the wind,'" she stated.

"I'm free and clear to live my life as I see fit. Which leads me back to my original question." Ranger placed a hand on Stephanie's cheek and searched her eyes.

"Will you marry me? Not because of the baby, but because I love you. With every waking moment, all I could think about was getting back home to you. Once I got out of that tunnel, I knew I had a shot at making a life with you; a life I should have started a long time ago. All you have to do is say yes."

Stephanie looked into the eyes of the man who held her, the man whom she loved with every fiber of her being, the man whom she thought she had lost forever.

"Yes, Carlos Manoso, I will marry you and not because of the baby, but because I, too, love you and only you. I want to build a life with you and raise our son together." Steph was crying again, but this time they were happy tears.

Ranger bent down and kissed away her tears. Then he captured her lips with his for a searing kiss Steph felt all the way to her toes. Even the baby kicked. Laughing, Steph pulled away and looked at her belly.

"I think he approves," she said smiling.

Placing his hand over Stephanie's, Ranger whispered, "So do I."

THE END