This is how I envision Stephanie and Ranger getting together (finally). The Characters belong to Janet Evanovich, and the mistakes are all my own. I don't get anything from this other than my own enjoyment. Please leave feedback, and let me know what you think. This is my first attempt at the Plum Universe!

I was meeting Morelli for dinner at Pino's, and I was running late. I had been covered in things best left unmentioned after another semi-succesful day ridding the streets of Trenton of the ususal gang of scofflaws. I had to take a shower and change into clothes without holes in the knees, I mean, what would my mother think?

My Name is Stephanie Plum. I work as a bounty hunter for my cousin Vinnie. Bounty hunting isn't as exciting as it may seem. Most of the time it's very tedious. I round up the same people for the same things time and time again. Sometimes there's an added element of fun, like wrestling Punky Balog covered in Vaseline, or finding an exploding dye pack in a briefcase with THE Brenda. Today I just fell down the steps and landed in someone's garbage again.

Morelli was waiting for me at our usual table. Boy, I'm glad I spent the time to blow dry my hair and add extra mascara, because he looks fine. He looks as good as always in a laid back, Italian way, with dark hair and dreamy eyes. We've been getting in trouble together since I was 6, and are currently very on in the on again / off again relationship we seem to have developed.

"Hey, cupcake, I ordered us some wine since you were running late. you look good as always." He smiled at me, but it seemed as though he was a million miles away. Dinner was good, and conversation was light. Who needs to talk when you can be doing some serious eating, anyway?

When our waitress brought out dessert, Joe put down his fork and looked entirely too serious for comfort. "Steph, we need to talk. I found out today that I'm getting promoted to Lieutenant. That means that for the most part, I won't be working the streets anymore. I think it's time I grew up. I think I'm ready to start a family. Bob needs kids to play with and a mom at home. You know I love you, and I want it to be you that I come home to at night."

I was stunned. My jaw fell open so far that a piece of cake fell out and hit the table. I scrambled, and the words came out of my mouth before I even thought. "Your grandma Bella hates me! She's always giving me the eye and telling me how horrible I am!"

Joe smiled. "Cupcake, there's no such thing as the eye. Besides, once you make an honest man out of me, Grandma will love you. She can't be mad at the mother of her great-grandkids!"

That brought me to my next horrible thought. "You want me to stay at home and have kids? What about my job?"

"Stephanie, be reasonable!" Joe said as calmly as he could. I could see the vein throbbing in his temple. "You are the worst bounty hunter I've ever seen! Every day is a disaster where you get a car blown up, or yet another death threat, or kidnapped, or thrown off a bridge. It's a miracle you manage to bring in enough skips to pay your rent! Let Joyce Barnhardt play big bad bounty hunter. I'm asking you to marry me!"