Authors Note: To all my readers I am loving your comments! It makes me feel great to see you are just as excited to read this as I am to write! And because of that… It makes me write faster meaning more updates for you J A couple things to note for the Babes and the Cupcakes… When the story gets back to present time there will be changes to both Ranger and Morelli that really is going to send Stephanie into a whirlwind of emotions.

Also, I don't know why I feel this is really important but when I write I sort of have a soundtrack for each chapter, each big scene. Sometimes it's a song that just sounds nice as melody in the background but sometimes it's a song that means something to the story. If any of you are interested I am happy to post what it is I'm listening to. If not that's okay too J

Please keep reading and telling me what you think. It really does make me smile to read the comments, and see that I have been added as a favorite author/favorite story.

Disclaimer: Not mine… Blah blah Blah… JE is the mastermind, I am simple the puppet master J

We stepped off the elevator and into Ranger's amazing apartment, I would really miss coming here. I'll bet there's no Batman in Wisconsin, maybe that's a good thing- besides in my mind there really was only going to be one Batman. And that would be the man of mystery standing in front of me, but anyone could see right now there was no mystery- he was pissed.

"First things first, you need to get cleaned up and changed." I looked down at myself, I can't remember having rolled in garbage tonight even though being that it's me that was always a possibility.

"Do I stink or something?" I couldn't see anything on me but Lord only knows how many unknown substances I've landed in. Ranger simply shook his head, his eyes carefully avoiding me.

"Then what is it, I have a few questions I want answered before I hop in the shower of ecstasy and forget all about them."

"Then make it quick." He was acting strange this was not normal for him. I know we hadn't seen each other practically at all since I moved in with Joe, but why should that at least change us being able to talk.

"No, don't skirt around my question, why do I have to hurry up."

In an instant Ranger had crossed the room to me, pushed my back into the door and pinned his arms on either side of me so I had no choice but to stay right there.

"Because you have been pushing my patience all damn day long, Stephanie. I know you think I am some super hero, and maybe I am. That doesn't mean I don't have a weakness."

"How have I been pushing your patience all day! I just saw you tonight for the first time in almost two months!" Now I was getting pissed, what had I done now to piss someone off. I was used to having these conversations with Morelli but not with Ranger. Ranger was the ying to my yang when I was loud and angry he was calm and collected.

"For starters you swiped a high bond FTA from the Rangeman folder, those are given to us because they aren't some just run of the mill dudes that got busted. These guys are bad and I didn't even realize you swiped a file until later this evening when I was reviewing them. Connie told me there was 4 FTAs for me, and there were 3 in my folder then I hear how coincidentally you were there this afternoon. So once I finally realized who the last guy was I started watching your trackers, the one in your car and your purse. Now for the last month and a half you have been very routine so to see you sitting at your buddy's house didn't phase me at first. Until Morelli pulled in to his house at 6 pm and 2 hours later left again, drove to your parents house, then Mary Lou's house, then the bond office, then bakery. Everywhere that you could possibly be, now that's not normal to me that meant he didn't know where you were because you ran off or got kidnapped. Who knows what could go wrong. Then I sent one of the guys over to your friend's house just to make sure you were there. When your dude answered he told Lester that he was supposed to tell anyone who asked if Stephanie was there to say yes. So, well being that that was a little suspicious Lester made him give him an actual answer. Which finally he did because I would have wrung his neck if I had to go there myself and personally get this out of you. However, he didn't know where you were but he remembered you saying something about how a lot of money would change everything for you. It didn't take long to put 2 and 2 together that you were going after that skip. I had to call Connie and figure out who it was that you lifted. Finally we got enough information on him to figure out where he would be, and where you would be." Ranger stopped for a second, his arms relaxed a little and his eyes got their warmth back. He placed a kiss on my bare shoulder that sent an electric current through my body. It had been a long time since Ranger and I had done anything more intimate than simple kisses to the cheek, or forehead. Not that I didn't love those, but the man's mouth was magic and my body was under his spell. His lips moved from my shoulder to my neck placing another deep kiss at the base of my throat. Then another at my ear, I wanted more but he pulled back and looked me in the eyes. A look I only saw on the rarest of occasions, fear.

"If we wouldn't have got to you when we did, you'd be… did you ever think of your baby, Stephanie? There was a reason you stopped chasing skips, and that reason sure as hell wasn't Morelli. I don't care if he held you at gunpoint and told you to quit your job, before you got pregnant there is no way you would have quit. My moral ethics only run so deep and when I saw Ellis on top of you like that my first instinct was shoot to kill. There are cameras in those rooms, as a way to protect the girls- if I shot him that tape would have been destroyed, as would the evidence of what he said and was going to do to you."

I didn't know there was a camera in there, I didn't want anyone to see that video. First off I looked completely different and was showing much more of my body than I would have liked. It was hard enough feeling comfortable enough to wear it there let alone think of it as evidence in the hands of the cops, going around the police station faster than a box of donuts did. Not to mention some of the things I did in the beginning to make Ellis believe I really was there to give him a show, not arrest him. Those things I only felt comfortable doing in the comfort of my own home, with all the lights off, with no one else home. Sure there was times when I wanted to spice things up for Morelli so I would sometimes dress a certain way, the extra make up, FMPs, and just some sexy lingerie. That was it though, and it wasn't too often, I didn't give Morelli a lap dance the way I did for Ellis. Not because I didn't love and want to please Morelli but one, I wasn't comfortable enough to assume I could pull of a dance like that and still look sexy. But also, Morelli was always horny it didn't take long to get him going and especially when I put a little effort into appealing to his sexual side- there wasn't a whole lot of foreplay.

"I promise the video will be shown only once and then I will personally make sure it gets destroyed. I promise only those that need to see it will." I nodded, sometimes I was glad Ranger could read me so easily. I didn't have to voice the things that made me uncomfortable, he just knew and even better- he understood.

"That still doesn't explain why you want me to hurry up and change."

"Like I said, I have a weakness too, babe." A small smirk touched his lips for a moment before he pulled himself back into stoic Ranger.

"What is your weakness than?" I asked playfully, curious to see where this was going to go.

"Do I really have to say it?"

"I think you should."

"You are, Stephanie Plum. Being that I haven't seen you in almost two months I already miss you. But this…" He said, looking down at my outfit, or I guess lack of. "This is more than I can handle." He backed away a few steps and I knew exactly what he meant now. Finally, I actually looked like I could bring a man like Ranger to his knees, hoping even to have me glance his way.

Well since this didn't happen everyday and in just a few days I would be states away from this sexy man. I was going to use what time I had left not regretting a thing. I pulled Ranger's leather jacket off my shoulders and let it fall to the ground. Even though he tried to look unaffected by this, I could tell I was making him sweat. I took my hands and ran them through my hair, and took two slow steps towards Ranger.

"Are you telling me you don't like what you see?" I took another step closer and ran my new fake nails down his perfectly muscled chest.

"Babe." I smiled a little and wrapped my hands behind his head, slowly tracing my fingers down to his back. I could feel his body tensing up but in a different way than that angry Ranger he had been earlier.

"Babe what? I know you don't like to answer questions, but I'm not going to stop until you answer my question." His eyes were piercing me with the sudden need he had for me.

Suddenly he reached down and lifted me up, legs wrapped around his waist. He was walking us back to press me against the door but for all I know he could have been walking us out of a window because the instant his lips touched mine that was all I felt. Our kiss deepened, our tongues explored each other's mouths, I didn't know how much more I could go on like this. I needed him. But as fast as it had started, he stopped it. My legs were back on the floor his arms were still on the door behind me but not in the way that told me this was going to go any further.

"Not like this." Was all he said, but that was all he needed to say. The moment had passed, he walked into the kitchen and I stood there for a second longer to gather myself. My life was screwed up enough right now without taking Ranger down with me. I was a mess- even if I didn't look it, I needed time to find myself again.

"Where is my car?" I asked, looking for anything to change the mood that still hung all around this apartment.

"In the parking lot, I had Hal go get it for you. He grabbed your purse for you too so that and your clothes from the uh…club are in my room." I nodded, but I could tell he wasn't done.

"Hal also said there was a huge suitcase in the trunk and two other bags." I didn't know how to respond, no reason to deny it and I wasn't ready to explain it.

"What did he do with the bags?"

"The big suitcase is in my room too."

"And the uh…pillow?" I had placed the pillow carefully in the trunk not wanting it to lose its smell or its memories.

"Right where you left it." I nodded again, pathetic I know but I didn't know what else to do. After a few moments went by and I said nothing else he started again.

"Have you told Morelli that you're okay?" I shook my head. "You need to call him and at least tell him you're safe."

"Why?"

"Because he's going to send every cop in the city out looking for you. Not only are you known to getting in some serious shit but now you're also carrying his child. And I don't want to deal with the kind of shit that will come from the cops and Morelli if they think my men took you."

"What makes you think he'd send every cop out looking for me?" He looked at me, reading my expression to see if I really didn't know the answer.

"Because that's what I'd do." For a man of mystery he sure knew how to touch my heart.

"I don't want to talk to him."

"Then I'm going to call him." I motioned for him to call on his own, but there was no way I was going to shower until I heard how this went. Ranger sighed, I think he was hoping I'd stop him and actually be an adult about this and call him myself. Yeah, right- not happening. He picked up his high tech looking phone, punched some buttons and put it to his ear. I ran closer to hear, not that it was necessary, Joe wasn't exactly a quiet guy when he was pissed, plus he's Italian. So I'm sure even the boys down on 5 were going to hear this conversation.

"Morelli." Ranger said into the phone as soon as he heard the phone pick up.

"Tell me you know where Stephanie is. She left me a note and hasn't come home, I've looked everywhere but I can't find her." A sharp pain shot through my chest, he wasn't mad- he was scared and worried. Here I was making out with Ranger, once again, not mature enough to call him myself- and he was hurting.

"She's fine, she's here in one of the apartments at Rangeman."

"Well why, what happened- have someone bring her home. Shit, I'll even come pick her up." I shook my head. I wasn't going back to Morelli's, no matter what- I couldn't.

"There was an incident tonight, she's fine. I'm sure your boys at the police station will fill you in tomorrow. She said she wants to stay here tonight."

"No way! Are you kidding me, I haven't been able to sit still for 5 Goddamn minutes because I was sure something happened to her. Why the hell wouldn't she want to come home?"

"I don't know your business, Morelli and I'm not getting into it. I was just calling to tell you she's here and she's safe. She'll call you later." Ranger clicked the phone shut and pointed to the bathroom. He didn't have to say a word, I needed to wash this horrible day off me. After what felt like a lifetime in that shower I ran into Ranger's room and quickly grabbed a pair of panties, sweatpants and T-shirt before going to search for Ranger.

He was sitting on the couch reading through some documents.

"Much more you, babe." He said with a smile. Putting aside the documents he walked into the kitchen and I followed. He held out a little Dixie cup with a couple pills in it.

"Take this." I swallowed them down without thinking, I knew Ranger wasn't going to give me something to harm my baby- but maybe I should have figured out what they do first. Now he held out a coffee mug to me.

"It's not coffee, it's an herbal tea that Ella makes- she said pregnant woman drink it all the time. Don't ask anything else about it, cause I don't know."

"And the pills."

"From Ella too, safe for baby. They're supposed to help you sleep, and help with any pain you might have, only…" There was a smirk on his lips that told me I wasn't going to like this next part.

"Only what?"

"They're going to make you a little loopy until you actually fall asleep." Great, just what I needed. To make a fool out of myself- again.

"Gee can't wait."

"Let's go lay down, I have a few other questions for you before you totally lose it." No reason to tell me twice, I had no idea how much a bed like this cost but as long as it wasn't 50,000 dollars I was totally getting myself one.

"First question, what in the hell were you thinking taking down Ellis on your own?" I shrugged my shoulders, I wish that would be an acceptable answer to the question. But I wasn't stupid enough to believe it.

"I needed the money."

"For what?"

"I don't want to say right now."

"Why didn't you tell me you needed money? I would have given you a job here."

"I don't want a job here. I didn't tell you because I didn't want you to talk me out of it. Plus, I need the whole amount- if I told you what I wanted to do, and somehow convinced you to let me do this I know it would require planning and your men to help." He nodded, no doubt about that- this was the way a big skip was taken down.

"Well I didn't want any help, Ranger. If Rangeman got involved I couldn't take all that money from you guys. It wouldn't feel right giving you your slice of the money."

"Babe, we wouldn't have taken the money if you needed it that bad." I could already feel the meds kicking it, and loopy was definitely the word I would use to describe this.

"I don't want to talk about the money anymore."

"Okay, what's with the suitcases?"

"I'm not staying with Morelli anymore, I can't pretend to be happy as the little wife that has her whole life ahead of her, but instead decides to make her life to clean up after his."

"Good for you, babe."

"I've missed you and the guys." He chuckled, apparently I wasn't hiding it very well that the medicine was starting to take affect.

"We've all missed you too."

"Were they mad I was with Morelli?"

"Not at all, they care about you, babe. They want you happy."

"Did they think I was happy?" His pause before the answer told me what I thought.

"They didn't did they?"

"No, they know you pretty well. That wasn't you." What the hell did Ella give me, there was no way this could be safe for a pregnant chick. Above the bed I started seeing stars twinkling, and everything started to seem very funny.

"It's like in that movie, that cat says that thing to the other cat- you know?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"The Lion King! Yes, where Mufasa says 'Remember who you are'." I said with my best deep Mufasa lion voice, making Ranger laugh.

"Do you even know what I'm talking about!" I asked poking him in the chest.

"Yes, Stephanie."

"Wait, you've seen that movie before haven't you?"

"I plead the fifth." He said getting off the bed.

"No way! I bet that is your favorite movie ever, you even know what part I'm talking about." I sat up fast and pointed at him. "You want to be Simba, don't you?"

"I think you need to sleep, babe." He said with a chuckle.

"Where are you running off to, Simba?"

"I have work to do, since someone had to take matters into her own hands tonight I have to catch up on a lot of stuff."

"You'll be close by, won't you Simba?" He smiled.

"Why would I want to be Simba?" The medicine was slowly pulling me into the first stage of sleep but I fought it off.

"Because Simba ends up happily ever after." Simba slowly walked closer to me and knelt down next to the bed.

"What makes you think I'll end up happily ever after like Simba?"

"Because it would be far too tragic if you didn't get your happily ever after."

"With Nala?" He asked with a smile that made me smile wider.

"You have seen it!"

"Hundreds of times, but if you tell anyone- you'll regret it." I smiled and took my hand, rubbing it down the side of his cheek.

"Yes with Nala."

"Only if you be my Nala." He slowly started to walk away, and I could feel the dark blankets of sleep closing in on my body, but before I went under I whispered out to him.

"Maybe someday."

"Go to sleep, Nala." Then sleep won it's battle and I fell into a deep sleep.

A/N: This is somewhat of a filler chapter, but important none the less. Tell me what you think J