Time and Again

Summary: Everyone has something in their life they wish they could go back and change the outcome of some event in their lives some big some small. This is the story of how I completely screwed up my life and by some miracle was given another chance. I swear it will not be wasted.

Disclaimer: As always these characters belong to Janet I am just taking them out to play for a while. Enjoy!

Stephanie felt a fantastic nervous energy as she walked into Rangeman determined to have a conversation with Ranger about the status of their non-relationship. They were closer than ever, sleeping together every night he did not have to be on a business trip whether it be at her apartment or up on 7 and she had never been happier. The news she had received would have terrified her even six months ago but she felt safe with Ranger and was excited to tell him he would be a father again. "Where is he?" She asked the merry man at the desk with a small smile.

"Core meeting in conference room 1. Is this an emergency should I call for a lock down?" He asked, reaching for the phone.

"Not at all I promise no crazies or stalkers this time. I just need to talk to him. Let him know I'm up on 7 waiting for him?" Stephanie dashed off before he could stop her.

Hal grabbed the phone with a sigh. Ranger hated being interrupted in core meetings but this would not end well for anyone. "Boss man we have a problem Steph is on her way up to 7."

"And you didn't stop her?!" Ranger hung up before Hal could answer, scraping a hand through his hair. "Fuck."

"I told you to come clean to her months ago you two have pretty much been living together you had to know this was going to happen eventually given the gold digger you are married to." Tank shook his head.

"You are not helping." Ranger snarled slamming out of the room to get to his apartment.

Stephanie fobbed her way in humming softly as she set her purse and keys down on the little side table gasping in fright when someone snarled from the living room behind her.

"What gives you the right to walk right into my husband's home like you belong here." A gorgeous exotic looking woman glared at her hand on hips.

"There must be some mistake. I am here to see Carlos.."

"Carlos is my husband you dumb slut. I take it that those ugly clothes in my husband's closet belong to you? Do you enjoy being a homewrecker? His sons haven't seen him in 3 years."

"I'm Carlos's.."Stephanie stopped suddenly as she couldn't even put a name to the non-relationship she and Ranger were currently having. While she stood frozen the door opened and in walked Carlos. Tears gathered in Stephanie's eyes "How could you? I should have listened to what you kept trying to tell me but I listened to my heart and your actions instead. You helped me get past what Dickie and Morelli did but you have to be worse than either of them giving me hope and making me fall for you when you have a wife and children you haven't seen in years out there somewhere. You.. You made me the other woman forcing me into a role I loathe."

"Steph wait you don't understand.." Carlos reached for her his voice soft and pleading, unable to stand the tears running freely down her face.

"What is there to misunderstand Carlos? Tell me are you fucking married? Have you left your wife and children to their own devices for years while you played with my heart? How long have you fucking been married?" Stephanie snarled out.

"Ten years I have been married to the cheating son of a bitch for ten years bitch." Elena hissed.

"Shut up Elena you are not helping things and you are mis-representing…" Carlos snarled

"Tell me what she is mis-representing Carlos? That you are married or that you have been fucking me while married to her. Have a good life you make a beautiful fucking couple. I am fucking done!" Stephanie turned to the woman "I think he said your name is Elena I just want to apologize it will never be enough I know as I have been through this twice now myself. My only excuse is that I honestly did not know if I had I would never have touched him."

Stephanie turned to leave but Carlos caught her arm. "Wait Steph please Hal said you needed to talk to me, that it was important please tell me what's going on."

Stephanie slapped him hard, turning his face and leaving a scarlet handprint on his cheek that would definitely bruise. "Do not touch me! Nothing about me concerns you anymore."

Carlos watched in shock as Stephanie stormed out. "I hope you are happy with yourself. That was my best friend and the love of my life you just utterly shattered." His fist embedded itself in the wall next to her head. "Get the fuck out the divorce forms will be delivered first thing in the morning sign them or I will keep you in court until doomsday before you see another fucking penny from me."

"Please Carlos I know it didn't start out that way but I want to make this marriage work with you. I have fallen in love with you and I am willing to overlook your little slut." Elena begged.

"There is no way in hell Elena I married you when my brother died to give you and the children my name and the benefits from my army service. I do not need the army to take care of his children anymore you will get an allowance and child support that's it. You already live rent and utility free in one of my properties and as long as either of the boys stays with you it will remain that way now get the fuck out you money grubbing whore." Carlos leaned his head against the door for a moment after she left, gathering himself before heading downstairs.

"I need trackers on Stephanie now! Does anyone know what she came to discuss with me?" Carlos barked.

"Only that it is important and that it did not involve crazies or stalkers." Hal piped up.

"She's at the mall. I hope she doesn't have your credit card. Shopping therapy will be expensive!" The men laughed.

"What is funny about little girl leaving in tears!" Tanks voice boomed. "I told you to fix this shit Carlos not shatter her."

Stephanie had never been happier that she had been paying attention for the last year or so and had grown so much. She had been taking on the medium bonds along with her regular bonds until she suspected her pregnancy, her nest egg was considerable and she had set up an alias including documents. Stephanie got in a cab with nothing but the fresh clothing she had bought and her purse heavy with cash and her documents. Rubbing her belly gently she murmured her love and soothing words to her growing baby.

"I don't mean to pry miss but are you alright? I would hate for my pregnant daughter to be upset and alone in a cab with a random stranger." The kindly cab driver asked his indian accent heavy with concern.

"Thank you for your concern. I will be alright thats about all I could promise at the moment."

Part 2

"What do you mean you cant find her! She didn't just disappear into thin air." Rangers voice echoed as he threw the whiskey glass he had been holding shattering it against the wall.

"She is not stupid Ranger she has been listening and learning quite a bit in the last months. I know you have been wrapped in her to distraction lately but you missed a lot she has not only not lost a car or been rolled in garbage she has also been taking on all but the top tier ftas for Vinny." Lester piped up.

"How did I not notice this?" Ranger sat down hard. "Did you find anything to explain things in her medical records? I know she had an appointment she was anxious about. Please tell me shes not ill."

"I did but I am not sure if I should tell you, and I think we should talk in private Ranger."

"Don't fuck with me right now Bobby just lay it out straight every man in this room loves Stephanie." Ranger growled.

"I would lay money she wanted to tell you that you were going to be a father again, and before you ask the timeline puts the baby at being yours." Bobby said nervously.

"Angelita has been visiting bridal websites. It looks like she wanted to discuss making a life together with you."

"Fuck!" Carlos spat out "So you're telling me that she came here to ask to make our relationship official and that she is carrying my child and that money grubbing whore ruined it. I was weeks away from having this resolved so that I could ask her to marry me. Keep on it I want her to be found yesterday."

Stephanie sighed as the plane touched down in Hawaii exhausted from the emotional rollercoaster and the trip. Thankfully there had been a position open at the resort she and Ranger had stayed at when here and she had last been here. She felt secure having already found a job that included both room and board and child care there would be very little she would need to dig into her savings for.

Months later Hector stepped into his office with his laptop footage of Stephanie at the airport pulled up. "Have we found the alias or flight she got on?"

"Not yet hermano but I am already contacting the airport authorities with her photo. We will have it soon."

Elena had been stewing for months that slut had cost her millions it had taken weeks and too much money but she had managed to find a contractor at Rangeman willing to spy for her. "Perfect let me know as soon as the alias comes through and where she went, remember I need at least a few hours head start." she purred into the phone.

"I don't know ma'am I am risking my job here. Stephanie is liked by nearly every man here."

"I will add in a $10,000 bonus for you that will be a nice nest egg if something happens to your job. I just want make up for the problems I caused and bring her back for Carlos." Elena pouted into the phone knowing damned well Carlos was going to kill the man after she completed her plan. Early the next morning her phone dinged with the information and she boarded a plan with an evil smirk in place. "Bitch takes my man and thinks she just gets to go live in paradise like nothing happened I think not."

"Great job Steph the new project is well underway and ahead of schedule. I swear those construction worker are terrified of you. Go home and get some rest!"

"I am leaving now this little one is keeping me so tired these days!" She rubbed her round 7 month belly.

"When are you going to tell us if we are getting a niece or nephew?" Susan called.

"I keep telling you I want to be surprised. I am not going to find out until I give birth to my little peanut." Stephanie waved laughing as she grabbed her purse and keys on the way out.

Stephanie was barely 100 foot from the door when she bumped into someone apologizing softly before trying to move on. A hand reach out grabbing her arm long nails digging painfully into her skin causing her to cry out. "Please let me go."

"You couldn't have made this easier for me bitch literally coming right out and bumping into me. It's about time things started to go my way." Helena's cold laugh echoed on the empty beach.

"Helena why are you doing this? I left you can have him!" Stephanie's hysterical voice nearly screamed out knowing this wouldn't end well.

"Oh I know you left and had no contact. I can see you did your best to make things right. The problem is he hasn't stopped looking and he demanded a divorce cutting off my unlimited cash flow. Now I have to punish him and the best way to do that is to take away the woman he loves." The crazy dripped from Helena's voice.

"Please don't hurt me. I'm pregnant, I left and I am not going back." Stephanie cried out trying to attract attention from someone, anyone. She felt a familiar tingle at the back of her neck telling her Carlos was near and she nearly collapsed with relief before she could take a breath to call for him the world seemed to move in slow motion as Stephanie saw the gun come up heard the bark of the gun shot and Carlos's scream before everything went dark and she knew no more.

"No!" Carlos didn't have a second thought about raising his gun and putting an end to the bitch that took Stephanie from him, sinking to his knees beside Stephanie.

Lightning struck and Diesel appeared falling to his knees beside him. "This is not how it was supposed to be! Carlos quick I don't have much time if they figure out that I am here to break the rules.. I'm going to send you back to fix this mess you made. You are the only one who will have any memory of this timeline."

"What the fuck are you talking about Diesel I need to.."

"They are gone Carlos! Both of them! I am sending you back to fix this don't ask fucking questions we don't have time for this shit." Diesel cut him off. "I am already going to be fucked for this so you better not fuck it up this time."

Part 3

Carlos nearly fell when he felt the oddest sensation and suddenly there were memories of events that had yet to happen. His phone rang and looking down to see Connie's contact he didn't hesitate to say yes to helping out the new BEA. This time he set the meet for a much nicer cozy candle lit venue. He prayed he wouldn't fuck up this time this was a one time deal Diesel would be punished severely for from what he understood. He thanked a God he hadn't spoken to in years praying not only for this to go well but for Diesel who gave him this chance.

"Hi you must be Ranger my name is Stephanie Plum. Connie said you would be willing to show me the ropes of being a BEA." A shiver ran down Carlos's spine as he heard the voice he had yearned for, for months.

"Hello Ms. Plum please sit I hope you don't mind a dinner meeting I haven't had a chance to eat today. Please feel free to order whatever you like my treat."

"Please call me Stephanie. I look around for my mother when I hear Ms. Plum. You may regret that offer. I am no rabbit food eater!" Stephanie laughed.

"I like a woman who enjoys food who wants a bone when there's a meal to be had, and please call me Carlos." Carlos winked, sending heat down Stephanie's spine. "I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty of pulling your information before you arrived to see what I would be working with. You will be wasted as a BEA I am opening a security business and could use someone with your background to help me get it off the ground. I understand that you have made a commitment to your cousin so I would like to make you an offer. I will help you with the current files you have for a 20% fee on anything above $1000 take for you. In return I would like to go ahead and get you on payroll and have the ftas handled by Rangeman exclusively at the rate Vinney's paying you until he finds a new person or 90 days so that he cannot abuse the arrangement."

"Tell me more Carlos, it sounds like we will work well together." Stephanie smiled widely.

Carlos didn't waste a moment of his second chance with Stephanie building Rangeman with her instead of trying to watch her as he did so himself. It was amazing how much smoother everything came together with Stephanie there to sweet talk everyone along the way. The client base blew up with her behind the scenes making people feel more comfortable than talking to the military men most found intimidating. His divorce went through without a hitch since it came about before Elena got a whiff of his money and the kids would still be covered by his benefits. There would be child support allowance and college funds to come but she was blissfully unaware of that currently. The Scrogg incident and so many others were avoided and best of all within six months of their second meeting Stephanie slept happily in his arms every night. A year later and they were married and expecting twins he couldn't count his blessings and still counted them everyday.