Happy Birthday, ShellSueD! This story's inspired by the Rangetree you shared so I'm dubbing it a belated Christmas/Youday story. ;) Everybody and everything familiar belong to Janet. Mistakes are mine.

It's always the most mind-numbingly regular day that ends up changing everything. The only thing out of the ordinary of Ranger letting himself into my apartment while I had my head in the freezer looking for ice cream is it was a celebratory treat instead of me just trying to make myself feel better.

"Hey, Babe. Heard you got Capill."

By 'heard' he likely means Gene or Vince let him know that I left the bonds office, Dezzy Capill's trailer, and then the TPD … and only needed to top off my gas tank afterwards, not visit the ER.

I shut the cold back into the freezer and turned so the kiss I knew was coming would land where it was intended. Which was my temple this time. Much, much later I'll dissect why feeling his lips on me was so important, even platonically.

"I did," I told him, feeling confident in my abilities for once. "I didn't end up wearing garbage, nothing got blown up, and my gun only appeared to back up a verbal threat."

"Proud of you, Steph."

"Thanks. I was going to toast myself with ice cream, but I just remembered that I polished off the pint I'd had on standby when Morelli pissed me off yesterday."

That had his body stiffening, and not in a satisfying way. "He giving you trouble?"

The last thing Ranger needs is a pissy Morelli targeting him for being what Joe can never be. "Nope. He thought I'd want him back after weeks of no contact. Spoiler alert … I don't. My life is calmer, quieter, and less miserable with him out of it."

"Then why did you need the ice cream?"

"I needed to cool down figuratively as well as literally. I knew once I'd hit the bottom of the carton, it'd be too late to shoot him."

His lips twitched. "It's never too late for that."

He said that so innocently, I had to laugh. "I have to say, he didn't factor into my plans once I'd unleashed Ben and Jerry. It's actually nice to know for sure that he doesn't matter anymore."

"It's more than 'nice'. So … your schedule is clear?"

"Yup. Capill was my last FTA before the holiday. I just told Vinnie he can call Joyce if something comes up. I'm done until next year."

"You don't have any Christmas plans?" He asked, doing that freaky highly alert thing he does when he's waiting for a specific answer to - or result of - his question.

"Just the usual. A hopefully quick trip into the Burg to drop off gifts for my family and Mary Lou's." I sighed. "Can't say I'm looking forward to it though. My family aside, it doesn't feel much like Christmas this year."

"I agree that it's different. We could capitalize on that and spend it together. Tank suggested I take the holiday off."

"And you listened? You never take orders … or vacations."

"As I said, he 'suggested' it. He knows better than to try and give me orders."

'Try to give him orders'. That's typical Ranger. No one tells him what to do. Which means Tank is concerned and thought his friend taking a break would be a good idea. That could mean anything in their world … from the death of a buddy to a hit being put out on him.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, not breaking eye contact.

Batman doesn't let anything show unless he wants it to, but I wasn't going to miss a chance at possibly catching something.

"Yes. As you know, I'm usually in Miami this time of the year. Tank believes my having to stay in Jersey upsets me 'deep down' if not on the surface."

He is Ranger's best friend so he would know when to worry. "Does it?"

"Not in the way he thinks."

"Care to explain?"

"No, but since I came here to ask you to join me on this unplanned leave, I will. Rachel and Ron wanted to try a combined family trip this year during Julie's Christmas break …"

That made no sense to me; and I said so. "But you're family."

"Not in the same way."

Him saying that as well as believing it pissed me off. "Don't get mad at me for saying this, but that's crap. Even living in a different state, you've been more of a dad than mine has ever been. You deserve an invite."

His lips tipped up in the corner at the high amount of attitude in my tone. "I appreciate you saying that, but Ron is Julie's legal father and has been her daily dad since he got involved with Rachel."

I snorted. "Legal, smeagal. You took a bullet in the neck for your kid, that counts too."

And gave me four heart attacks in the process.

"They agree with you, Babe. But it'd be a little crowded with Rachel's parents as well as Ron's and their siblings as well as all their offspring. The only bright side I can find about not being with my daughter is that I can spend some alone time with you."

Days spent in what would no doubt be luxurious accommodations, away from my family while being the center of Ranger's attention? What woman would be dumb enough to turn that down?

This one apparently. As perfect as this getaway sounds, it scares the absolute crap out of me. "Ummm, I don't know if that's a good idea."

He studied me for a few beats without speaking. Again, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. But this time, I really didn't want to know. I love him and I think we both know it. The problem has always been trusting it.

"Haven't we progressed past that excuse?" He finally asked.

I vaguely remember saying something similar after he kissed me for the first time. "Yes and no."

That's the truth too. I want him and I need him, yet I couldn't say for sure we could live together permanently. We've done it short term, but we tried really hard to keep our feelings compartmentalized every time. Letting our emotions run wild could be dangerous for all involved.

"I had a feeling that would be your answer, but I had to ask."

"Ranger, I …" I began and then stopped.

I have no idea what to say to explain what I just did.

"It's fine, Babe. If you change your mind, the address is programmed into your car."

"Huh? My car doesn't have any type of GPS thing."

"It also barely made it home from the gas station. I had Cal and Junior drop off the Cayenne." He put a slight warning in his voice before he continued. "I want you to use it even if you don't drive it to me, since I won't be in town to pick you up when your shitbox finally dies."

"I don't …"

"You may want to stop being so quick to turn down an offer. One could end up being life changing or lifesaving." He paused to press a kiss to my head. "You know where to find me. But if you come, be sure, Stephanie. This is a Batcave caliber invite. I'm not interested in a night or two with you."

My eyebrows almost got lost in my ponytail with that doozy of a lie.

"Alright," he corrected. "I'm always interested in getting you naked, and the ball is still in your court ... but I've now decided which ball we're playing with."

With that ominous but glorious statement, he kissed me in a way that had me flashing back to the first time we locked lips in my lot. When he sensed that his lips and tongue had put nothing except him in my mind, he drew back.

"Think about it," he told me.

Then he was gone.

"Like I can do anything else now?" I grumbled to Rex who really didn't care about anything except whether I'd be giving him food and changing his water or if I'll be leaving someone else in charge of that until I get back.

I wasted all of ten minutes picturing what the next couple days would look like if I listened to my head and remained here. I'd either have to stay locked in my apartment with my phone turned off or face my family for unspecific amounts of time. Even if I plan to drop in at my parents' house for a few minutes, the Burg will be on my case for not staying and breaking Christmas bread with my family.

On the other hand … there's Ranger and everything that comes with him. Peace, security, bad food but good conversation, and knowing us that'll lead to some sexy, naked time.

Truth is, I don't care what my mother or my old neighborhood says. And Grandma Mazur and Mary Lou will understand my suddenly going AWOL. My attempt at coming up with excuses to protect myself from a possible heartbreak was pathetic even to me.

Ranger went out of his way to include me in his holiday. The least I can do is meet him halfway. Meeting him all the way to where he's staying will be even more effective.

"I'm going, aren't I?" I said to Rex.

That being decided, I had only two things to do … pack a bag and get a babysitter for my hamster. Knowing Ranger as well as I do, clothing will always be optional, so I spent less time in my closet than in the bathroom gathering my hair and makeup crap. He'd likely know my body anywhere … having touched, tasted, and memorized every inch of it, but my face and curls minus the products I use to enhance them could put me in witness protection level of unrecognizable.

At my bedroom door, I paused before leaving it to glance down at myself. Ranger has already seen me in my standard uniform of jeans and a T-shirt, so maybe I should put in a little effort to show that I've really thought this through. Sure, I've only consulted Rex and just assumed he agreed with me in the end, but that's still forethought, right?

I hit my closet for the second time and pulled out the LBD I'd splurged on when Mary Lou had insisted I go to the mall with her and help her find something to wear to Lenny's cousin's wedding. If Batman had a visceral reaction to the little black number I'd bought in another life for another man, this should make him … happy. It's basically a simple mini, strapless cocktail dress except my chest looks like it's wrapped in a monochromatic bow that will immediately draw Ranger's eyes, being a breast and everything-Stephanie man.

Thankfully, it still fit like it had the first time. I stepped into my matching black FMPs as I called Grandma Mazur.

"Howdy," I heard two rings later.

"Hey, Grandma. How'd you like a break from mom for a couple days?"

"Heck yeah! Whatta you have in mind?"

"That you come stay in my apartment and take care of Rex for me."

"You going somewhere?"

"Yep. Ranger's staying in Jersey this Christmas and he asked me if I'd like to keep him company."

The snort I heard was a little insulting and totally expected. "Told you, you were in love with him."

"So … what if I am?" Was my mature response.

"I'd say good for you. Now, go out and get him. I've still got your key, and I'll take good care of Rex while you're away, so don't feel like you gotta wait for me or hurry back."

I'd say that's sweet of her to say, rooting for me and Ranger to make it. But there's also a fifty percent likelihood that she wants me gone as long as possible so she can pretend she has her very own bachelorette pad for as long as she can manage it.

"I guess there's nothing left to do but actually go," I said to my rodent roommate. "Wish me luck."

He only wished I'd put two grapes in his cage instead of just one. I left my lights on because I know Grandma will get here minutes after I leave. It wasn't lost on me that it'd almost mirror me showing up at Ranger's mystery hideaway not long after him.

Maybe that'll work in my favor. Yeah, I had … still have … doubts, but it didn't take me long to overcome them and track him down. As I palmed the keys Ranger had left on my counter, I had to admit that there wasn't much tracking involved when I just had to get into the Porsche, start it up, and follow the directions to collect the prize at the end of the road.

I've been accused by many people of not being able to shut up, but I was left speechless when I pulled into the driveway of the most anti-Ranger house I could've pictured. The size of the place and its property wasn't a surprise; the shock was how home-like it was. It was mostly windows, bulletproof no doubt, and the parts without glass were covered in light wood siding. If a log cabin and a ski chalet had a baby, it'd be this place.

While I shut the Cayenne down and slid out from behind the wheel, staring in shock at what was obviously a giant Christmas tree lit up in one of the on-display rooms, Ranger stepped out onto the covered porch.

"Nice of you to join me, Babe."

His voice was quiet, but I still heard him from the sidewalk that took me to him.

"Like you didn't know I'd show up."

"I did. I just wasn't sure exactly when you'd change your mind." He noticed where my attention had strayed and was amused by it. "I FaceTimed with Julie and we knocked out the tree while I waited."

"You decorated a tree just for me?"

I had to smile. Purposely acknowledging the holiday was surprising, but its color scheme was pure Rangeman. Clearly the tree is a fake one, since there aren't any all-black trees in nature as far as I know. And all the ornaments that lean heavily towards traditional were either black, silver, or a bronzy gold.

"Are we playing twenty questions?"

"No."

And then I clamped my mouth shut so I'd stop sounding stupid.

Like he always is, he was as gentle and understanding as I was awkward. He brushed the back of his fingers along my cheek.

"I thought you'd be happy to finally have a decorated tree on the proper holiday."

I snorted so I wouldn't cry. "If you wanted me happy, you should've used multicolored lights and a tree that didn't follow Rangeman's dress code."

"Babe."

"Sorry. I'm really bad at this, aren't I?"

"Bad at what?"

"Living in the moment and enjoying it … especially when it comes to you. You've been sort of a guilty pleasure."

"By that you mean, you've felt as guilty loving me as you felt pleasured by it."

We both know that is uncomfortably true, so he didn't bother framing it as a question. But I answered it like it was one anyway. "Yes. And that's why I came here, to change all that. I'm ready to feel all the love with none of the guilt."

"You don't owe anyone anything."

I finally allowed my shoulders to stop hunching in self-defense or shame for letting anybody else have an opinion on who belongs in my life. Truth is, I don't know why I was worried in the first place. This man makes everything easy. He may live in a world of gray, but it's been stark black and white territory when it comes to what he feels about me.

The only questionable part was how long he'd want me once he gets me. Being a little slow, it just occurred to me that I was pretty much leaving that up to him to decide, like he did when he showed up at my apartment to invite me here. I hate thinking of myself as a wimp, but it turns out I needed to hear him say he's interested in more than one night before I could actively go after all the others.

I started unbuttoning my coat as I began talking. "That's not entirely true," I informed him. "I owe you a lot of things, but I thought we'd start with something that's easily fixed."

I shrugged out of my coat and stopped breathing as soon as his appeared to accelerate.

After a few beats that could've been cut with a butter knife, he moved his eyes from my body to meet mine. "Haven't we been here before?"

The memory of that day was zinging between us. Even being stalked by a monster back then couldn't dampen the desire that immediately flared up between us.

"Yes," I told him when I could speak again.

I paused to take another deep breath before giving us both permission to get our hopes up of this being just the first of many special occasions.

"But I can promise you, this time it's going to have a much different ending with a way better man."