Disclaimer: The characters belonging to Janet Evanovich are used strictly for entertainment purposes. My characters are for my enjoyment. ;)

A/N: This is a crazy idea that popped into my head one day while downloading some songs. I've been writing a different story, but this one wouldn't leave me alone! This is a Babe story, a little rough on Morelli at first, but he eventually gets his own HEA. Will be an eventual Babe HEA. Hope you enjoy it.

"What do you say, Cupcake? We can hop on a plane tonight, be to Vegas in a few hours, get married on the strip, and be home for dinner on Sunday at your parents … surprise them with the news." Joe's enthusiasm washed over Stephanie like a bucket of ice water.

"What? Are you being serious?"

Joe went still and stared at her for a moment while he worked the question over in his mind. Was I serious? If I wasn't, why would I say it? I do love her and I want her for myself … why shouldn't we get married? "Yes, I mean it. I think we should just go to Vegas and get married, right now. I'll call my cousin Lucy, she's a travel agent. She'll have a flight and room booked for us in no time." He walked over to Stephanie and pulled her into a cuddling embrace. "It will be so good, all this will be over … this back and forth thing we keep doing. We'll be committed."

"C-c-committed?" Her face went pale and her eyes grew wide. Just about the same time she started to hyperventilate, an angry look came across his face.

"Gee, don't get so excited about it." Joe released his hold and took a step back.

She stumbled backwards and sat down in the chair behind her at the kitchen table and drew in several ragged breaths. "You just caught me off guard. Marriage is a big step, just … huge."

Joe studied her for a moment and a tick started to throb and dance at the junction of his jaw. When he spoke, his tone was frigid, void of emotion. "Do you ever intend to marry me?"

"What kind of question is that?!"

"I think it's relevant. Answer the question, Stephanie. Do you ever intend to marry me?" He slammed his hands onto his hip and rested his weight on one leg, staring her down.

"Joe…"

"Do you love me?"

"You know I do, but what…"

"Okay. Then, let's give this a try. Either we get married, right now, this weekend … or we're done. Over." His heart began to thump in his chest and he felt the beginnings of his own panic attack when he heard his words. He schooled his features to reflect an entirely different impression of how he felt inside and he prayed she wouldn't call his bluff. Then again, maybe he was praying she would call his bluff.

"What? Now you're saying I have to marry you or we're through? What the hell has gotten into you, Joe?" She stood up and anger radiated through her system. "Why would you even go there? You never wanted to get married before."

"Because, I'm not sure if you really love me. I think that you're using me because he is dragging his feet. I think that you have feelings for him and I'm just a convenience to you." Where was he coming up with this stuff tonight?

He watched as the rage poured over her face, bringing a bright pink blush to her cheeks. She didn't need to ask who Joe meant by 'he' and crossed her arms, her eyes narrowed coldly at him. "How dare you ask me that? Ranger has nothing to do with this." She paced a few steps and then stopped, dead cold, and turned to face him, noting his 'yeah, right' look. "No, Joe."

His heart stuttered, and then kept on beating. His breath, on the other hand, hadn't quite returned, so his "No what?" came out a bit on the raspy side.

"No. No to the marriage, no to your continuous ultimatums, and no to you trying to turn me into someone I'm not. I'm not doing it. No, no, no!" She was screaming now and he was certain the neighbors could hear the near-sonic quality of her voice. "I won't change for you, or anyone else for that matter."

Before Joe could respond, she tromped up the stairs. He could hear banging in the bathroom as she threw things around and slammed cupboard doors. Most likely tossing her stuff into her clothes basket. I should stop her … wait, why should I stop her? She's the one willing to toss away what we could have. He thought for a moment and decided he wasn't even going to help her pack up as he had in the past. If she was through with him, then he was through with her. Time for Pino's. He grabbed the keys to his Ducati and slammed out of the house, motoring away at top speed for the little pizza joint located at the heart of the Burg. Definitely time to wash the taste of her out my mouth with a few beers at Pino's.

Stephanie felt numb as she threw her things together. She didn't know if she'd ever planned on marrying Joe, but ending things this way hadn't been her intention. But she wouldn't, no, couldn't allow him to try to bully her out of her choices … out of who she was! Marrying Joe would mean giving up … Oh God. It is because of Ranger. I won't marry him because I can't accept not having Ranger in my life! I love him too much!

The realization of how she really felt changed her next move. It was time to tell the man in black himself just how she felt. She was sure he loved her the same way. He'd shown it so many times. The stolen kisses, his worry over her each and every time she'd gone missing, the cars he offered, the jobs he'd given her when she was nearly destitute time and time again. All of these things were signs that he did love her … he'd even told her, even if he'd felt the need to qualify it. But love is love, right?

She could think of no logical reason not to take the plunge. She'd already lost Joe and, if she was honest with herself, it was a relief. There wasn't a night when she rested her head on her pillow that her thoughts didn't stray to Ranger. Her life had become so stagnant. Date Joe, break up; have hot, sexy kisses with Ranger, feel guilty about Joe; have hot, sweaty sex with Joe; dream about Ranger; nearly have sex with Ranger, only to feel more guilt about Joe after.

That one night they'd been together so long ago had made her realize that Ranger would never vacate her thoughts or her desires. He liked to go slow and take his time. He liked to kiss and lick. He loved to make a woman scream and laughed with deep pleasure when she was satisfied. And, oh God, the way his body moved and the intensity in his eyes when he drove his length into her. She'd never been able to erase that memory from her head, and she'd never wanted to.

She struggled to lift her packed laundry basket and made her way out to deposit it into her car and then drug her suitcase out and tossed it into the trunk. Her little POS groaned at the weight of her belongings, but it would just have to deal with it. She had a man to hunt down … and lasso in. Magic lasso, work your stuff, get Ranger to open up. She sent up a silent prayer while she drove to Rangeman over on Haywood.

She pulled up to the gate at the garage and key fobbed her way in. Her POS died with a loud sputter and a puff of black smoke shot out of the tailpipe, filling the air with poisonous carbon monoxide when she shut the engine off. Maybe Vinnie will give me my job back and I'll be able to afford a new muffler for this thing. She sent the rusted metal pipe a grimace, walked over to the elevator, and key fobbed her way up to the seventh floor where Ranger's private apartment was located.

He'd given her the key fob several months ago, before her last disastrous move-in with Joe, and she'd forgotten to return it. Just as well since Ranger could be hard to reach if he wanted to be. When the elevator opened on seven, she decided not to barge in on him and instead, she knocked with a nervous smile on her face. Joe forcing her hand had made her realize how ready she was to have this conversation, but it was still a bit nerve-wracking to be standing here waiting to actually do it.

After a few moments, her face fell and she realized he might not be home. She felt like an idiot and started to turn when the door opened with a silent rush. Ranger stood before her, his body dripping wet and a small towel that barely covered his hips was wrapped around his waist. He gave her that soft, almost-smile and his sensual lips tilted ever so slightly when he asked, "Babe?"

Words left her. Stephanie was sure she'd had a reason for coming here, but she couldn't remember what it was. Something about … something about Ranger. She needed to talk to him. While her thoughts raced, Ranger's smile widened to the super sexy level. A little further and it would be at the lethal level, the full 200 watts.

"Do you want to come in?"

Stephanie nodded and worked really hard to keep her eyes off the tiny towel that showed off a good portion of the side of his left buttock and his hipbone. She checked her mouth for drool with a quick flick of her tongue and then followed him inside. Once she was past him and the door closed, he wrapped a warm, strong arm around her waist and drew her back against his chest.

Stephanie closed her eyes, breathing in the smell of Bulgari and Ranger. Ranger closed his eyes breathing in the unique smell of Stephanie and her coconut shampoo. The smell reminded him of home when his mamá made coconut chicken, one of his favorite dishes from his youth.

"What brings you here, Babe?"

Oh God, why is he asking me to think right now? Stephanie opened her mouth, trying to think of the right words to say, when she felt his gentle laughter against her back. She felt his soft lips brush against the side of her neck and closed her eyes, breathing out a sigh and tilting her head to give him better access.

"Not that I mind," he said between kisses, "but I'm sure Morelli wouldn't appreciate you enjoying this so much." Stephanie didn't hear the sexy quality to his humorous tone, only the words he had just spoken.

"Right." She stiffened and stood up, turning around to face him, and receiving his standard raised eyebrow in response. "That's why I'm here."

Since he was naked and had to hold onto his tiny towel, there wasn't much he could do other than give her a slight nod of encouragement.

"Right."

"You said that already, Babe."

Stephanie threw him a look that said 'very funny' and drew in a deep breath. "Okay! Well, Morelli asked me to fly to Vegas with him tonight and get married as soon as we landed."

His expression didn't change and she wasn't really surprised. What did change were his eyes. The humor left them and they took on a hard edge. "Okay…" he said slowly.

"Well, I freaked out." His smirk was back and he gave a light shake to his head. Stephanie continued on. "Not only did he ask me to get married, but he said that if I didn't marry him right now, we were over for good."

A look of understanding came into his eyes now. "Ah … and you told him no?"

"How could I say yes?" She began to pace, her arms crossed over her waist. "I mean … marrying him would mean that I'd have to give up…" She squared her shoulders and looked up at him, making him stand up a little taller, his expression unreadable. She pulled in a deep breath and decided to just do it, like the Nike slogan, so she plunged ahead. "I'd have to give up you. And … I couldn't do that," her heart hammered in her chest when the next words left her mouth, "because I'm in love with you."

Stephanie wasn't sure which reactions she had expected from Ranger, but the look of pain that crossed his features wasn't one of them. "Babe…"

"Look, I know you said you don't do relationships, but I can't do the 'say goodbye forever' thing and not have you in my life at all." She swallowed and continued, "He asked me to choose tonight and to answer him and I knew, beyond a doubt, that my choice would always lie in keeping you in my life. That's when it hit me … that I love you. That I will always love you."

She began to tremble, almost violently, as she watched him and saw his eyes turn to hard black steel before her. "I never asked for your love, Stephanie." Her lungs stopped working at the use of her given name and she pressed a hand to her heart, her open mouth trying to drag in an elusive gulp of air. "I have absolutely nothing to offer you. Nothing."

Stephanie stood frozen to the spot with her mouth open and her breath coming in short spurts. After a few moments, she was able to ask, "Nothing?"

He clenched his jaw and stood even straighter. "Nothing."

Stunned, she bit the insides of her cheeks to keep her lips from trembling with the tears that threatened. Stephanie's only goal at that point was to get out of there before she lost all control. She nodded and said a quiet, "Okay, uh ... thanks." She focused her steps in the direction of the door, walked past him, and dropped the key fob in the small silver bowl by the door. Before opening the door, she turned back to him briefly and said with a bravery she didn't quite feel, yet, "Just for the record. I wasn't asking you for anything different than what you were already giving me. I wanted you however you came. Over the years we've known each other, you've given me your love and support, your belief in me, and the shelter of your arms. I was asking for nothing more than that." She turned back around then and opened the door, slipping out quickly, and shutting it quietly behind her. Her feet felt like lead, she struggled to lift them to walk the ten steps it took her to reach the elevator. Her hand felt like it was being held down when she moved to press the call button on the wall. Rational thought left her completely. She hadn't planned for rejection. She honestly hadn't thought he would be so cold, so distant. She'd truly believed he'd felt the same way.

Now what, Wonder Woman? You've lost both of the men you love in one night … what are you going to do? She pressed her lips together to keep the explosive sob building in her chest from bursting out. She'd be damned if she would cry here, in his building, in front of his men. No, Stephanie Plum was through making a fool of herself in front of Ranger and Joe, in front of the cops and the Rangeman crew, in front of the Burg, and Trenton as a whole. It all stopped here. She lifted her head with newfound pride and pulled in a deep breath.

The elevator doors opened with a ding and she pressed the button for the garage, standing straight and tall, staring only at the crack between the two elevator doors. When they split apart and the garage was before her, she walked across the pavement and slipped into her dingy little POS and started the engine. Stephanie backed out of her parking space and then crept to the gate, glad when they opened automatically due to the new sensors that had been installed a few months ago. The guys convinced Ranger it would help them get out faster, so he'd approved the change.

As her car moved through the gates, she felt the familiar sting of tears filling her eyes. "No. Stephanie Plum is not crying over Joe Morelli or Ricardo Manoso anymore. Ever again." She clenched her jaw and set her face, made a quick decision and turned the car toward Atlantic City. She needed a break from Trenton, at least for a little while. There was nothing important enough in her life that she had to stay in Trenton. Rex had passed away two months ago. Her eyes still smarted when she thought of her little friend. All of her clothes were in her trunk and anything of value was in her clothes basket or on her person. Sure, there was a bed and some furniture in her apartment, but it was all worthless junk. She wouldn't miss it. When she came back, if she came back, she could just buy more at the Salvation Army store.

Her only regrets would be Mary Lou, Lula, Connie and Grandma Mazur. She wouldn't spend one minute longer thinking of those damned men. Damn Joe! Damn Ranger, too! Damn them all! Thinking of men, though, reminded her of the ones she did like: Her dad, Tank, Lester, Bobby, and Hal. Shit! The Merry Men! She pulled over off the side of the road and grabbed the flashlight from her glove box. It took her ten minutes, but she finally found and pulled two trackers out from under her car and tossed them into the grate against the curb.

She jumped back into her car and took off and a sense of freedom came into her soul as the ties she'd allowed to be strung around her pulled loose. When she pulled onto I-295 South, she dug her cell phone out of her purse and flung it out her window. She didn't know what she was going to do, but she'd figure it out. AC was a casino town, she'd find a job and start a new life until she was ready to face her old one again.

A weak smile touched her lips when she thought of the messages her mother would leave. She could almost hear them: "Stephanie Michelle Plum, this is your mother. How could you turn down Joseph's marriage proposal? You call him back right now and tell him you accept!"; "Stephanie Michelle Plum, this is your mother. I know you're avoiding me. I'll expect you at dinner tonight at six."; "Stephanie, this is your mother. No one has seen or heard from you for two days, you'd better call me RIGHT NOW, young lady! Do you hear me?"

Stephanie gulped when she realized her mother's messages would become more frantic and she was glad she wouldn't be able to listen to them. True, she could check them from any phone, but if she did, someone might find her. She wanted, no needed, some solitude. Maybe just a couple of months and then I'll be ready to go back and face everyone again. She didn't really want to leave home, but she knew if she didn't she'd never have any peace. After tonight, she just wanted that elusive peace and some time to find herself and figure out what she really wanted out of life.

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A/N: I plan to post updates to my chapters on Wednesdays. This story is about 75% written, so I should be consistent with posting once a week. This story is just my take on Stephanie getting a life away from prying eyes. Thanks for reading. :)