Note: Janet Evanovich's characters and descriptions do not belong to me. I am using them only for entertainment purposes.

This is the final chapter in this story and I hope that it ties up any loose ends. I just love how much encouragement I've received from everyone. I'm going to start formulating ideas for another one soon. :) Thanks for the reviews!

My hospital room was bright and cheery from the sun shining outside. I was so happy to be leaving the hospital today. It'd been a rough few days, but I was healing well and the doctor said I could go home as long as I took it easy.

I sat perched on the edge of my bed and looked around at the various bouquets, cards, and treats my well-wishers had sent to me. It was so touching to see the outpouring of love. I couldn't wait to see everyone and to be free from hospital confinement.

The door opened and Carlos stepped into the room. "I was wondering where you went," I said. The sight of him took my breath away. He was wearing distressed dark blue jeans with a black leather belt, a red long-sleeved Henley tucked in with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows, his diamond studs, and white and red cross trainers. I admired the way the jeans molded to his muscular thighs and butt. If he'd been close enough, I would have been tempted to make sure it was still as firm as I remembered. I found out that black was just a work preference and he actually did have a normal wardrobe that he wore. I also found out that red is his favorite color.

He caught me looking and smiled, coming over to sit on the edge of my bed with a Pino's box in his hands. "I thought maybe you'd want some lunch."

"Am I allowed to have Pino's?"

"They said that you could eat whatever you wanted and to enjoy it." He leaned forward and kissed me. "You are amazing, Babe. I'm never surprised at the courage you show."

I smiled and leaned forward to nibble on his ear, something I'd found he really loved.

He gave a low growl against my neck sending shivers down my arms. "If you weren't under strict orders to take it easy, I'd prove how much I love that."

"How about a rain check instead?"

"You can have anything you want." He held me close and I rested my head on his shoulder.

Soon the smell of the pizza overrode his Bulgari shower gel. I pulled back and opened the box. He'd gotten pepperoni and green pepper, my favorite. I took a slice and bit into it, then moaned appreciatively. "Oh, I'm so happy to have some real food. I didn't think I could survive another day on hospital fare."

He grinned. We each polished off three slices and then he sat the box aside and we washed our hands. "So, where are they?" I asked.

He opened his mouth to answer me, but was interrupted by the sound of the door opening. Two nurses came in wheeling two carts. The look of love on Carlos' face was enough to make my heart burst. He walked over to the first cart and lifted up a tiny blue bundle. "Have you come to see your mamá and papá, little Cesar?" He turned to me and beamed a bright smile at me that practically stopped my heart.

He brought the baby over to me and gently laid him in my arms. I looked at my son. He had dark curly lashes like his father, my blue eyes, and Carlos' full lips, which were currently pursed. His little tongue was working in and out of his mouth and I suspected he was looking for his lunch, as well.

Carlos walked over to the second cart. "And, let's not forget about you, little Carlos." He lifted out Cesar's identical twin brother and tucked him into the crook of his arm. My heart swelled at the sight of Ranger, the big, bad bounty hunter, holding and cooing at a tiny little baby.

Our sons were born on June 18th, just two days ago. Carlos was older by ten minutes, hence the reason he was named after his father. It seemed impossible to me that when I had gone undercover at Martin's place, I was already pregnant. My little guys held on through the shooting and recovery process. I was terrified when I discovered the pregnancy, but was quickly assured by my OB that if they'd survived all of that trauma, they were probably fine. They were born at thirty seven weeks, healthy and strong at six and a half pounds each. I was glad they were so big because I'd looked like a tank when I was carrying them. In fact, Tank and I joked that I was almost as big as him ... though, I'm not sure if I ever really found it that funny. When I worried about my weight to Carlos, he just showed me how much he appreciated my increased bust size and assured me he could whip me into shape in no time after they were born. The thought terrified me.

Joe had started dating a woman named Melanie Romano. She'd graduated from high school with him, but they hadn't really known each other back then. I knew her well enough. She was Italian and feisty, petite with black hair and brown eyes that could match the fury in Joe's when needed. He was no match for her. Her family was from the Burg and she made the meanest pan of lasagna I'd ever tasted. I should know. It sent me into labor just hours after indulging. It seemed that Joe was getting his Burg wife after all and we frequently had meals with the two of them, now that the rivalry between Joe and Carlos was over.

Lula and Connie still worked for Vinnie. Lula was now chasing down FTAs and I have been vindicated of my bombshell title by her crazy antics. The last article about her referred to her as the Crackpot Whackshot. I felt bad for Lula, but I couldn't help feeling that it was true.

Carlos and I found a home in the countryside outside Trenton. It was a large white Victorian style enclosed by wrought iron gates and a huge wraparound porch. I'd fallen in love with it the minute I saw it and knew that it would be perfect for raising our children. We'd spent months decorating the house, concentrating on the nursery first. I could live with a sparsely furnished bedroom and kitchen for a while, but I couldn't handle the thought of not having everything ready for my babies. We brought Ella and Louis to live in the guest house in back of the main house. The guys at the office were a bit miffed that they had to get used to a new housekeeper, but they got over it.

I was done with my BEA work for good. What can I say? Having babies can change a woman. I told Carlos not to expect me to stay out of the action, though. I fully intended to be involved with Rangeman as soon as I'd found someone who could nanny the children who passed my maternal scrutiny and Carlos' background checks. Of course, my involvement at Rangeman probably wouldn't involve those boring late night stakeouts … darn. I wanted to have an active role in the boys' lives. And who knows, there may be even more little Manosos running around before too long.

I also found out that there was no Batcave. Well, at least not in the top secret hideout sort of way. What a let down! Carlos had a condo in Trenton that he'd called home, but we didn't want to raise the boys in Trenton, so he sold it. It's as simple as that. My man of mystery wasn't as mysterious in some ways and turned out to be even more mysterious in others. There were no secrets anymore, but I still had a lot to learn about what made him tick. I enjoyed the journey of breaking the hard shell he'd built around himself. He was an amazing man and I was happy to be discovering more and more about him day by day.

Carlos walked over to me and nuzzled behind my ear. "What are you thinking about, Babe?"

"I'm thinking about how glad I am that I married you." He smiled and kissed me deeply.

"Me too, Babe." Carlos, as I call him now when we're alone, and I got married on December 31st. We wanted to end the year on a good note and start the new year on a promise. I think it's turned out pretty well so far. My mother was so happy that I'd recovered that I didn't hear much fuss about the pregnancy. Of course, it helped that Carlos and I didn't bat an eye at the idea of getting married. When you've been through what we went through, marriage doesn't seem so difficult.

As far as his life not lending itself to relationships goes, we found that it lent itself very well to one. Maybe the problem before was the 's' he had tacked onto the end. He handed a lot of the private investigating piece of Rangeman over to Tank to run. He and I concentrated on building the security business. In fact, I joked with him that he was becoming more of a white collar executive these days than a bug and bark eating soldier. That comment had earned me a couple hours of punishment in bed, which I hadn't minded in the least.

"I'm also thinking that I really am the luckiest woman in the universe." I smiled.

He leaned down to kiss my neck. "Don't ever doubt it, Babe."

"And I'm wondering how long it will take me to talk you out of making me run every day after I've completely healed from the births." I grinned.

"Not a chance, Babe."

I rolled my eyes. He felt the best way to strengthen my body and help recover from the shooting and the pregnancy was to get me out and get running. Because I had a long recovery and I was pregnant with twins, he'd had me go walking with the promise of making me run as soon as I recovered from giving birth. I still had a few tricks up my sleeve to convince him otherwise, but at least I didn't have to worry about it right now.

Carlos went over to sit on the couch by the window with little Carlos. "You know, I'm going to just have to call you Ranger."

"Why is that?" He grinned.

"Because, now there are two of you," I said with a laugh.

He thought about it as he snagged a little baby fist in his lips so he could kiss it. "I don't mind Batman." He winked.

Oh boy.

I got off the bed so Cesar and I could join them and winced a little. He rose from the couch and came over to wrap an arm around my waist. "You in pain, Babe?"

I shook my head. "No, I'm living on the other side of pain now."

"What's that?"

"Forever," I said and kissed him.