Chapter One" Ranger's New Life
Three months earlier, Stephanie got the call she dreaded, " Hi, Steph, this is Joe's mom. I am sorry to tell you, but Joe passed away last night; he was stabbed to death," Angie Morelli said to her.
"I am sorry. If there is anything I can do, please let me know," Stephanie told Angie Morelli,
"I will, I promise," Angie Morelli told her, then hung up.
Stephanie put her head on her pillow and started to cry. Ranger picked up the lock and came into her apartment. He heard her crying and walked into her room. "Babe," he said softly, and then he sat on the bed, rubbing her back in circles.
"Carlos Joe is gone. He passed away," Stephanie told him.
"I know, that is why I am here," Carlos told her softly. Stephanie wrapped her arms around his neck. "I will be with you for a long time," Carlos told her.
Three months later,
Stephanie was getting ready to marry Carlos, aka Ranger Manoso. She was in her childhood bedroom and could hear him downstairs. "I am allowing you to marry Stephanie because I want her to be happy. You are my second choice for her, Carlos Manoso," Helen Plum told him when he entered Steph's childhood home.
"Can someone go get her so we can get this going," Carlos said with a huge smile.
Grandma Mazur walked up to Stephanie's childhood bedroom.
"Come in," Stephanie said. Hello, Sweetie. Are you ready? Carlos is." Grandma Mazur could see how happy Stephanie was.
Stephanie was wearing a light purple flowered dress with black heels as she made her way down the stairs. Carlos saw her and took a deep breath.
Stephanie looked at Carlos, wearing black slacks, a white t-shirt, and a brown jacket. She could not have been more proud of him. The two of them looked at each other for a moment. Carlos said, "Hello, babe. Are you ready for this,"
"Yes, Carlos, are you?" Stephanie asked him.
"Yes, let's do this," Carlos then walked into the backyard.
Stephanie told her dad, "Hey baby, I am so happy for you, and I know it will work this time." Frank said as he took her arm and led her to the backyard. Stephanie looked at Carlos, who was under a flowered archway. Stephanie approached Carlos, "Who gives this woman away?" Father Josh said to Frank and Helen. "Her mother and I do," Frank kissed Stephanie on the cheek and handed her to Carlos,
"Do you, Carlos, take Stephanie as your wedded wife, "I do."
Do you, Stephanie, take Carlos to be your wedded husband, "I do,"
Does anyone object to these being wed? Everyone turned to Helen, who just clicked her tongue atop her mouth. "
"Do you both have rings?" Father Josh asked them,
"I, Carlos, take you, Stephanie, to be my wife, to love, honor, and cherish," Carlos said. Stephanie, you are my heart and soul; I would be lost without you." He put the ring over her left finger.
"I, Stephanie, take you, Carlos, as my husband to love, honor, and cherish," Stephanie said. Carlos, you are my strength and my heart. I truly love you," Stephanie told him as she nervously put his ring on his left finger.
"I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride.
Carlos gently cupped Stephanie's face with both hands and gave her a deep kiss. After they finally broke off the kiss, they walked into the living room, ate food, and talked with friends and family. Two hours later, Carlos noticed that Stephanie was getting tired. "Babe, how about we go back to the penthouse?"
Carlos stood up and said, "Thank you, everyone, for today. You all made it very special for us, but we need to get back to our home for the night." Stephanie and Carlos walked out of Stephanie's childhood house.
The two of them drove to the Haywood for the night. They walked in and up the elevator. Carlos hit seven. He used his keys and entered the penthouse, and Stephanie went in with him. Carlos picked Stephanie up and carried her to their bed. He laid her down and gave her a deep kiss. "Babe." He unzipped her purple flowered dress and took off her pantyhose. She took off his jacket and unbuttoned his shirt. He unfastened her bra and started to kiss her neck. She used her hand to undo his pants, and she used her feet to get them down. He kicked his shoes off. She started to kiss his chest. She dug her nails into his back. He took off her thongs, one of his hands moved down her thigh. He found her sweet spot that he knew so well. He then entered her, and the two found a perfect rhythm. She felt his seed go into her. The two of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
He got the call at two in the morning. "Carlos, I need you for a mission for about two months," Colonial Teagon told him.
"Yes, sir," Ranger hung up. He looked next to him and closed his eyes. "This is my last one. I promise you, babe," Ranger said as he kissed Stephanie on her forehead. He got up and changed into his black ops uniform. He grabbed his bag and went downstairs to see Tank on the late shift.
"You have a mission, huh," Tank said to him.
"Yeah, this one is short, and my last one. You will take care of Babe while I am gone," Carlos told Tank.
"Absolutely," Tank told him.
"Just come back to her," Tank said to him.
"I plan on it." Tank drove Ranger to his drop-off point.
Two and a half months later:
Steph was in the penthouse and in the process of throwing up when Tank came in to check on her. "Little One," Tank asked her.
"I am in here, Tank," Stephanie shouted. He saw her getting up from the toilet, using a face cloth to wash her face, and then brushing her teeth.
"Please tell me you are not getting sick. I heard from Ranger, and he is coming home early. He ended up with a sprained wrist, so they are sending him home," Tank told her.
"I don't think I am sick," Steph told him as she went to her purse and took out the pocket calendar. She went back a month and counted the days, and then she turned the page to the current page. "O boy," Steph said and then dropped her calendar on the floor.
"I am late," Steph told Tank.
"Okay, do you think you could be pregnant?" Tank asked her.
"Maybe," Stephanie told him.
It was then they heard some footsteps entering the penthouse,
"Babe," Carlos said, and then he saw Tank on the phone to someone. "Carlos, I have missed you,"
"I have missed you too," Carlos said as he walked up to his wife. "Babe, are you okay?" Carlos asked her, "Carlos, I missed something. That is why Tank is calling Bobby," Steph told him gently. Carlos wiped a tear from Stephanie's face.
Carlos closed his eyes for a moment. "I love you, babe, and I retired from the Black Ops. I want to start a new life with you in it, and I can't do it while I am in the Black Ops. I already filled out the paperwork. It will be final in a couple of days." Carlos played with one of Stephanie's curls. He was just about to kiss her when there was a knock on the door, "what?" Carlos yelled.
"Sorry, boss, but Bobby is here to look Steph over," Tank told him.
"Carlos, do I have to," She made her best puppy dog look.
"Yes, you do," Carlos said as he opened the door.
"Come on in, Bobby," Ranger yelled.
Bobby saw Ranger with Stephanie, "Hey Boss, how is the wrist?" Bobby asked.
"Not bad, could have been worse, but I need you to take some blood from Babe," Ranger ordered. Ranger picked Stephanie up and put her into his lap. Stephanie put her head on his chest and held out her arm. He put a tourniquet on her arm and said, "Quick poke,"
Stephanie let out a low moan as the needle went in her. After he took the blood, he put a bandaid on it. "What am I looking for," He thought he knew but wanted to make sure.
"Pregnancy test, and keep it quiet for now," Ranger told him.
"You got it," Bobby said and then walked out of the bedroom. I will be right back, I promise." Carlos kissed her softly on her forehead and walked out of the bedroom, where he laid her down in her bed. He closed the door partly. Carlos walked out so he could talk to Tank and Bobby.
"I will be off the grid for the next few days. So don't bug me or my wife, understand." Ranger told both of them.
"Got it, boss," Tank said, and then Ranger added, "Bobby put a rush on that blood work," Ranger ordered him.
"You got it, boss, and welcome home." Bobby and Tank walked out of the penthouse, and Ranger went to be with Stephanie.
After Tank and Bobby were gone, Ranger locked the door and entered the bedroom. "Babe," Carlos said as he put his wedding band back on. "I have missed you so much," Stephanie said to Carlos.
"I have missed you too, and I am glad I made it home to you," Carlos told her, and then they made love to compensate for lost time.