Ok so here is my Chapter 19 excuse for not posting….LOL…first off can I just say thank you to those of you who have stuck with me on this journey to the land of Carlos & Steph? Now on to my excuse….so my other laptop gave up the ghost & I had to get a new one…..well it didn't come with Microsoft Office (and I couldn't afford to buy it) so I had no Word to write in plus my muse was on an extended vacation somewhere beyond my reach. Then the tornado hit Joplin (I don't live there but I work for a cluster of radio stations located in Joplin) and I have been swamped at work so no time to write. Well a wonderful person I go to church with gave me his copy of MO (he had 1 license left on it) so here I am…..I have been writing so I will try to update once a week at least if not sooner….so here we go

Chapter 19

I woke up when Carlos slowed the car down and stopped at a guard shack. I saw him flash his ID to the guard and tell him "good work Renner" as we drove into the gated community.

From what I could see these were nice homes with sprawling lawns. These weren't mansions but they were a far cry from what I grew up in. This was nothing like the Burg.

"Babe there is no where that is like the Berg. This is the gated community Ron and Rachel moved to after to after Scrog. I wanted something a bit more gated but Rachel said she wouldn't raise her kids in a prison. So we compromised on this place. It has the best security money can buy" he tells me with a smirk.

Well duh! Of course it's the best, it's Rangeman secure.

"Babe" Carlos says with a little laugh. Oops guess I said that out loud.

We pulled up in front of a beautiful 2 story stucco house. Before Carlos could shut the car off, the front door flew open and Julie was running towards the car yelling "Ranger, Steph I can't believe your finally here" and threw herself into Carlos' lap talking 90mph as he caught her.

"Easy Querida, you'll hurt yourself" he told her as he wrapped her in a tight hug.

"I have missed you so much Julie. You are growing up so fast. I can't believe how beautiful you are" Carlos told her while kissing the top of her head.

She turned to me and pulled me in for a group hug. "I'm so glad you came with Ranger Steph. I have missed you so much. I've enjoyed keeping in touch with you online and by phone but having you here is so much better" Julie told me while hugging my neck tight.

I hugged her as I said "I've missed you too Jules. I'm glad I was able to be here for you and I know your dad is too".

I kissed her forehead and grasped her cheeks in both hands and started to tell her how grown up she had become but she let out a loud shriek and grabbed my left hand shouting "OMG is that what I think it is? Did you 2 finally get your heads out of your" "Julie Renee Martine don't you dare finish that sentence" came from Rachel who was standing by the car with Ron.

I had to laugh. "Yes Jules we did finally get our heads out" I told her as Carlos opened his door and lifted Julie off his lap and got out behind her.

Coming around to open my do for me, he pulled me into his arms for a hug and kissed me lightly before taking my hand and walking around to join Rachel, Ron and Julie.

"Congratulations Steph" Rachel said warmly as she whispered in my ear "he's a great man and has become an even better father thanks to you and your love for him".

I squeezed her and pulled back with tears in my eyes. "He is a great man and a great father but I had nothing to do with that".

"Not true Babe Since the day I met you in the diner, you have had an influence over my life. Even before we were together, I lived my life hoping to make you proud. Every mission I went on I thought of nothing but getting home to you. Your love and constant approval made me realize I am a good person who deserves love and happiness. You also helped me see that I could be a good father to Julie despite the mistakes I've made with her in the past".

By this time I had tears streaming down my face as did Rachel and Julie. I looked at the utter love and devotion in his eyes and fell ever more in love with him right there in Ron and Rachel's driveway.

A feeling of peace ran thru my body and I pulled him in for an emotion filled hug and said "let's get married in Miami Carlos."

He looked at me and grinned. "When Babe?"

"What about Saturday evening? I want to get married on the beach at sunset. We have Tank and Les here plus Jules, Rachel and Ron. That's enough family for me. We can let our mother's plan a big reception when we get home, but I don't want to wait any longer to be your wife. I know we can't go right away but in the near future I want a honeymoon on a tropical island with nobody around for miles except my sexy husband" I added for his ears only.

"Babe I'd be honored to marry you on Saturday. Maybe Rachel and Julie can help you make the arrangements" he asked hopefully looking at his ex-wife and daughter who both squealed and hugged me so I took that as a yes.

I saw Ron and Carlos shake hands and do the man hug thing as us girls were hugging.

Carlos glanced at his watch and said we needed to get going.

I pulled out of my girl hug and asked Julie what time she got out of school tomorrow. "I get out at 2:30 why" my soon to be step-daughter asked me.

"Well I thought I could pick up your mom and then we could come get you after school tomorrow and start doing some wedding stuff. We have your session with the counselor on Wednesday, so if you want we can get started on the wedding tomorrow" I told her as I looked to Rachel for approval of my plans.

"Sounds good Steph. The kids have after school activities tomorrow and then they go to my folks for dinner and their Tuesday night bonding with their grandparents" Rachel told me with a smile.

"How bout we plan on going out to dinner tomorrow night since the little guys will be occupied" I said turning to Carlos for his ok. I sure have made a lot of decisions for him in the last 10 minutes.

He gave me a raised eyebrow then a mega watt smile and said "whatever makes you happy Babe I'm all for it. I hate to break up this party but we should probably get going. We came here from the airport and it's been a really long day" Carlos said as he was steering me back towards my side of the car.

I gave Julie a quick hug and told her and Rachel I'd see them tomorrow and gave Ron a wave as Carlos tucked me into the car and fastened my seatbelt while he gave me my usual post buckle up kiss. Yummy!

He gave Julie and Rachel a hug and shook Ron's hand before getting in and buckling up, then heading back towards the gates.

As we waited for the gates to open he leaned over and kissed me and said "thank you Babe".

I pulled back and asked "for what" with a puzzled look on my face.

"For loving me like you do. Your unconditional love and devotion means more to me than you will ever know. Also for wanting to marry me on Saturday. I've wanted you to be my wife for so long and now you're making my dream come true" he said as he pulled me in for a toe curling kiss.

We pulled apart as we heard a horn honk behind us. Carlos growled as he pulled thru the gate, glaring at the man in the car behind us.

Renner, the Rangeman guard still on duty, chuckled and told the boss to have a nice evening. I waved out thanks as Carlos drove off in a huff.

"Relax baby, it's no big deal we got caught necking like teenagers" I told him while squeezing his thigh.

He took my hand and kissed my knuckles before laying my hand back on his thigh so he could shift in the sudden traffic we found ourselves in.

Carlos was in his zone as we drove towards the ocean.

"Carlos you haven't told me anything about your house down here. Is it on the beach? How many bedrooms does it have"?

I was firing off questions left and right as we drove.

"Our house Babe. It's always been ours but it becomes officially ours on Saturday and yes it's on the beach. It's actually on a cove so our beach is private and very secluded" he said with a wolf grin.

Whew boy I know that look. I bet we find out just how secluded and private it really is

"As for how many bedrooms, it has 7. Our master suite, Julie's suite and 5 guest rooms, all with their own private bathrooms. There is also a media room, formal living room, formal dining room, as well as an eat in kitchen. There is a 6 car attached garage, a pool with entertainment area and pool house" he told me as I gasped and covered my mouth with my hand.

"OMG Carlos it must be huge. It sounds like a mansion" I said with wonder and awe in my voice.

"It is big Babe, but I have a big family that likes the beach so it had to be big enough for everybody. Plus when I bought it I was thinking of you living in it with me" he told me as he kissed our clasped hands.

"When did you buy it" I asked him.

"About 3 years ago Babe" he told me as he glanced over at me to see my reaction.

"But that was before we were even together the first time" I said with a shocked expression on my face.

"I know Babe. I've been planning our someday for awhile now. I'm sorry for the way I let you think I didn't want a relationship with you, but my contract with the Government kept me from letting you get to attached to me. At least that's what I kept telling myself. It finally sunk in about a year ago that we were in a relationship, albeit a non-sexual one" he told me with a rueful look on his face.

"It wasn't all your fault Carlos. I should have stood up to my mom and Joe instead of giving in to all of their demands. I knew you had feelings for me but I still kept you at arms length. It finally sunk in to me that not having Joe in my life didn't bother me that much, but the thought of not ever seeing you again gave me a panic attack. That's why I had to break it off with Joe for good. I couldn't hurt you or him any longer" I told him as my voice broke.

"Babe please don't cry. We both made mistakes, but us being together now, getting married on Saturday, those are defiantly NOT mistakes" he told me as he leaned over to kiss me.

I hadn't even realized he had stopped the car. After he kissed me he said "welcome home Babe" and gave me a 200 watt smile.

I looked up and saw a black rod iron gate with 'Batcave' at the top and 'Batman and Wonder Woman live here' underneath it. I laughed and hugged him before he reached over and typed a code into a hidden panel that opened the gates.

We drove up a long, palm tree lined driveway that let to our home. It was a gorgeous sprawling 2 story stucco with coral slate roof mansion. The driveway circled the front and Carlos stopped underneath a covered walkway leading up to the double glass front doors.

I checked my chin for drool as Carlos came around to help me out. I just stood there making a fish face which made him laugh. Yep my Batman let out a full belly laugh and wrapped me in his arms and told me "Babe you never disappoint".

He took my hand and led me up the stairs and after shutting off the security system, we stepped into an amazing open foyer. There was a double staircase leading to the 2nd floor but what had my attention was the floor to 2nd story ceiling glass wall in the formal living room. You could see all the way to the back of the house from where we were standing and thru the glass windows was nothing but ocean.

I rushed down the hall and gazed out across the pool area to the beach and the ocean beyond. There was our own little piece of paradise. A secluded cove with a pier that had a huge boat…ok a yacht at the end of it named "Someday" wow…..

"Oh Carlos the view is breathtaking" I told him as I turned around to smile at him.

"It certainly is Babe" he said looking right at me. I melted on the spot, pulling him to me and kissing him with everything I had in me.

"Mmmm Babe what was that for" he asked me with hooded eyes.

"That my sexy husband to be was me letting you know that you are the best man I know and I'm so lucky to have you in my life. It was also to let you know that I am so in love with you I can't think straight" I told him as I rubbed up against him and slid my hands up under his shirt stroking his back.

"Babe" he groaned "let me grab the bags out of the car and get us something to eat and I'll show you our master bedroom, all night long. I think you're gonna enjoy the view" he said with a wolf grin.

"I can't wait to see the view Carlos, but I am hungry so point me to the kitchen".

He turned me towards the kitchen which was off the formal living room and said "Babe Michelle, my housekeeper here, probably left some good stuff for us to eat. Just grab whatever looks good and put it on a tray. There is fresh juice and bottled water also. I'll meet you at the staircase. I love you Babe."

I headed for the kitchen and stopped and stared. It looked like something out of a magazine. Black glossy appliances (no stainless steel for my Batman), black and white swirled marble countertops and black and white slate tile on the floor. Off to the side was a pub table with 8 stools attached to the end of the bar. I headed towards the fridge and saw a tray setting on the cabinet with a note on it.

"Carlos and Stephanie-I left some stuff in the fridge for your supper since I knew it would be late when you got here. Steph, Ella told me what you liked to eat so I hope you like what I fixed. If you want anything different while you're here, please let me know. I look forward to meet you, Michelle."

I smiled and opened the fridge and gasped. There were so many containers I didn't know where to start. There were fresh fruits, salads, finger sandwiches and bite sized cheesecake for dessert. Hmmm my mind went to many fun things we could do with those.

I heard Carlos come in so I finished loading the tray with food, water and silverware and napkins and headed towards the foyer to meet my sexy husband to be.

He was coming down the stairs so I assumed he had taken our bags up to our room.

"Here Babe let me carry that for you" he said as he took the tray from me and said "last one up the stairs has to do the dishes."

A/N: Ok I hope this made sense and it was worth the wait. I had a reader ask me to cut back on the smut a little so this was a smut free chapter :O. Yep I can do it…LOL…I think from here on out I'll try to do the smut so folks can skip it if they want & not lose anything from the story. Reviews are my drug….they will motivate me to write more. I am going to try and post weekly. Thanks for hanging with me. Lauri