JE owns these characters, most of them anyway.

A/N: This chapter is for Margaret Fowler, who wanted a HEA.

I would have been completely lost without latetolove as a beta/editor and friend.

Special thanks to Dog in the Manger for her perspective on this chapter, especially her advice on contracts and NYC restaurants.

All mistakes are mine.

Hugs to everyone who read along and shared this journey with Ranger, Stephanie and their friends. There could be more adventures, maybe, someday …

Epilogue

Ranger's POV

Three days in DC had turned into five and the last two were all about the contract. I was obligated for three years or 360 days in the field, which ever came first. Technically, there were three months left on the contract, but this FUBAR mission pushed me to 390 days in the field. I was free and clear unless I signed another contract, something Jack strongly advised against given the offer on the table. In the end, I walked away, leaving the bureaucrats muttering about my patriotism.

"Just how many Purple Hearts do these assholes have between them … even one?" Tank asked when he met me at the airport with the Turbo.

I gave him my trademark shrug. I'd never flaunted the medals before. Didn't plan to start now.

"You know you're the first person they'll call the next time they have an impossible job in Bum-Fuckistan, right?" he asked me. "The real question is, will you be smart enough to tell them no?" I didn't answer him, because honestly, I didn't know.

When I entered the apartment on seven, it was dark … and quiet. Rex was missing from the counter in the kitchen, and there was a pink post-it note in the silver tray by the door. Call me! was written in Stephanie's neat cursive.

Stephanie picked up on the first ring. "You're home! How did it go in Washington?"

"You could have stayed," I told her.

"Someday, I will," she said. She might have added someday soon, or maybe it was just my wishful thinking.

In retrospect, one of several different responses could have been appropriate. I understand. I miss you. Please come back. I'm on my way to your place. Almost anything other than what I actually said. Later, I played out a list of excuses in my head. I was tired. I was frustrated. I had a lot of practice in behaving like an ass.

"It's probably just as well," I said into the phone. "Stephanie Manoso wouldn't have been safe in my bed tonight."

"Tank and I sent out the memo about my so-called covert op the day after you left. Everybody knows about my alias and that there's no more Stephanie Manoso," she said sadly. "I'm afraid there's just Stephanie Plum, and she needs to get her life straightened out."

As soon as we disconnected, I shrugged off my suit jacket and my hand was on my belt. I had thought about Stephanie non-stop since I had boarded the plane earlier tonight. Sure, I had returned home to an empty apartment on Haywood plenty of times. But it never occurred to me that she wouldn't be waiting for me tonight. And now I knew what I was missing.

I planned to take a long hot shower to relieve some of the tension that had been building all afternoon, hell, all week. Then I was going to pour myself a shot of the Woodford Reserve that I kept for special occasions and try to sleep for at least 8 hours. Hopefully eight hours straight. I hoped to God Ella hadn't changed the sheets so that I could curl up around a pillow that smelled like Stephanie.

I shed the rest of my clothes as I entered the bathroom. Before I had the water temperature adjusted, I felt a tingle at the back of my neck. Stephanie was standing at the door of the bathroom, watching me.

"I thought you were at home," I said.

She was dressed in skinny black jeans and a RangeMan polo shirt, her hair pulled up in a messy bun. She looked tired.

"I was at my apartment, that is, my new apartment." She paused. "Tank offered me the empty unit on four. He didn't like the idea of me driving home by myself when we work as late as we did tonight. Besides, I actually managed to be on time for this morning's meeting when I just had to commute downstairs."

"You were working? Here at RangeMan? Tonight?" I asked blankly.

She nodded. "Tank asked me to continue working all of the same accounts that, um, Stephanie Manoso managed." She paused and looked at me, as if gauging my reaction. I thought she might have also given my naked body an appreciative glance, but that could have been my imagination. "Manny and I are pitching to American Hospital Corporation tomorrow. Last year, there was an infant abduction from one of their hospitals, so they're looking to install a new security system in at least 100 of their hospital nurseries."

AHC was a huge account. But tonight, I didn't want to be distracted with talk about work.

"You didn't have to leave," I persisted. "I expected that you would still be here when I got back."

"Listen," she answered. "I've moved into your apartment a couple of times now. The next time I do it, I want it to be because you actually invited me to move in." She gave me a sultry Stephanie Manoso smile. "But you better be sure, because after I do, I don't plan to ever move out again." Then the more hesitant Stephanie Plum added, "I thought, and Tank agreed, that maybe, you could use a little time and space to figure out what you want."

I stalked toward her, leaving the water in the shower running. "I've had plenty of time and space," I said, wrapping my arms around her. "What I want is you." What I want is us, Babe.

The kiss lasted long enough for the bathroom to completely fill with steam. When I finally released her long enough for her to take a breath, she gasped. "Well, I guess we have that settled." Then she got a wicked grin on her face and she rolled her hips against mine, pressing my erection firmly against her stomach. "But clearly I've interrupted something with my unexpected visit. Don't mind me … I'll wait until you finish what you started."

"Babe," I panted. "Don't tease. Please."

She scraped her fingernails lightly down my bare back, letting her hands come to rest on my ass. She squeezed none too gently before sinking down to her knees in front of me, sucking on the skin over my left hip.

"That wasn't teasing. Now this …" she sucked hard enough to leave a bruise. "Might be teasing, but I don't think so."

She said one last thing before I lost all coherent thought. "Welcome home, Amante."

Celia wasn't joking when she said that our father had invited most of Newark and half of Miami to Mama's birthday party at the Newark Club. Stephanie and I arrived early so that we could spend a few minutes with my family before the hordes descended.

Antonio had stationed himself at the door, waiting for us. He smiled broadly at Stephanie, kissed her lightly on each cheek and then held her at arms length. "So, Plum. I understand that Tank is lending me his right-hand woman for a few weeks. I'll expect you at morning meeting a week from Monday. Eight sharp. We'll go over your schedule then." He looked at her with mock sternness. "I'll have you know that I run a tight ship at RangeMan Miami. There will not be any doughnuts served at the meeting."

Steph answered him a sassy grin and a flip of her hair. "Sí, Silvio me advirtió que prefieras pastelitos de guayaba del panaderia en Calle Ocho." Yeah, Silvio warned me that you prefer the guava pastries from the bakery on Eighth Street.

My brother was momentarily speechless. Before he could collect his thoughts to formulate a response, my parents caught sight of us and hurried over. Ignoring me, Mama pulled Stephanie into an effusive embrace. I think Steph had worried about what she was going to say to my mother. She hadn't seen my parents since Scrog had kidnapped Julie. It turned out she couldn't have gotten a word in edgewise, even if she had tried.

"So glad you could come today! That's a stunning dress that you're wearing! You will you come to Easter dinner, won't you?" Mama asked her.

My father settled for a quick hug and murmured a greeting about seeing her in better circumstances this time.

After a few minutes, my parents had to reluctantly excuse themselves to greet their other guests. Now Steph was huddled with Celia and Selena in the corner of the room. Their heads were bent in a conspiratorial fashion. I was too far away to hear their conversation, but Celia was talking animatedly, moving her hands as she spoke, while Steph was nodding her head in agreement.

Watching them, I had to agree with my mother. The sleeveless silk gown Stephanie had chosen for today was stunning … and it was coral instead of the blue she normally wore. Selena was wearing the blue dress today. Steph had kept her lunch date with Celia and they had convinced Selena to come along. Ceviche at Victor's Cafe had given way to dress shopping at Barney's. They had found the perfect dress for Selena with a high neck and long, fitted sleeves that mostly hid her scars.

Suddenly, I heard a familiar shriek. "Stephanie!" A pre-teen version of Celia flew across the room and launched herself at Stephanie.

"Julie!" My Babe could apparently still shriek as well as any pre-teen girl. Clasping Julie's hands tightly, Stephanie allowed my daughter to spin her in circles at the edge of the dance floor.

"I can't believe you and my dad are coming to Miami next week!" Julie exclaimed. "I have something planned for us everyday."

I shot a look at Antonio and hoped he had taken Julie into account when making Steph's schedule. Mine too. If not, to hell with the schedule.

Selena's mouth was open, and she was watching Steph and Julie in amazement. Steph noticed and pulled Selena into their happy dance. Finally, all three of them collapsed on the floor, laughing uncontrollably.

Celia stood nearby, watching. She glanced up at me and smiled. "We love who we love," she mouthed from across the room.

As I looked at the pile of giggling girls on the floor… my girls … I was overcome by an unfamiliar emotion. I wasn't completely sure, but it felt a lot like joy. And I knew, at last, that my sister and I had found something on which we could absolutely agree.