It's a new day, it's a new dawn, it's a new year

A/N Thank you for all the wonderful reviews on this story. I was planning on this being a simple three chapter story, but the story took on a life of it's own, and it seemed to want to go on. This is the last chapter, but it's along one.

I don't own the characters JE does; I'm just playing with them.

And thank you Margaret and Cindy for deeming this good to go :)

M Rating—mostly for language.

Chapter 6—New Year's Eve

I don't know how long I sat there. My tears had stopped but my ear was burning, so I finally got up to check it out. It wasn't a bad rip; I guessed the earring came out before too much damage had been done.

My cellphone rang while I was searching for the Neosporin with the numbing stuff in it and I grabbed for my bag to answer.

"Babe, where are you? Your car is in your parking lot but one of your GPS trackers is on Route 206."

"My earring. Joe took my earring."

"I'll be right over."

I sat down and started to cry all over again. This time it really was my fault. Why didn't I lock that door?

Well I guessed I didn't lock it again because nothing tumbled when Ranger walked through it.

"Babe," he said taking me in his arms and holding me tight. Once I stopped crying he looked down at my ear. "I'm going to take you back to Rangeman. I want Bobby to look at this and then you can tell me what happened."

I nodded in agreement.

Ranger got my coat out of the closet and put it on me. He grabbed my bag and helped me out to the turbo that was parked right outside the back door.

"It was all my fault Ranger. I don't think I locked the door. I didn't hear any locks tumble, but I thought it was you coming in. Oh God, I took you from your work again, didn't I?"

"Shhh Babe, let's just get your ear looked at; we can talk about everything later."

I hoped he wasn't mad, he didn't sound mad. When Ranger was mad he got quiet.

It was late so there weren't too many cars on the road and we made it over to Haywood in record time. Ranger fobbed us through the gate. We parked at the elevator and took it up to Bobby's infirmary. I guessed Ranger called him from my apartment; I didn't remember a call, but Bobby was waiting for us.

"I'm not exactly sure what happened," Ranger told Bobby, "but her earlobe is ripped and Morelli seems to have the earring with him."

"Hal's been following its whereabouts on the monitor. It paid a visit to someone on Fernwood and now it's back at Morelli's house. Bomber, can I look at your ear?"

I nodded that I was ok with him touching it and Bobby put on a pair of latex gloves before looking closely at my right ear under the light.

"It's just a little tear Steph. It will probably heal on its own, but I can put a stitch in if you want."

"Can I still wear earrings? Ranger bought me a couple of pair and I'd really like to be able to wear them."

"I'm not an expert, but I think if you just leave this alone without any earrings for a couple of weeks it will heal."

"New Year's Eve is two days away?"

"I'm sorry but that's not enough time, you'll risk getting an infection. I would put bacitracin on it a couple of times a day for the next week or so too."

"Ok Bobby, thank you."

"Babe not wearing earrings for New Year's is not the end of the world."

Actually it almost was, but I wasn't going to make a big deal about it. I could go earringless for New Years.

"I'm sorry Ranger," I tried again, ''this really was my fault. I guess I didn't lock the door."

"Let's go upstairs Babe, we can talk about it in the morning," Ranger said to me, and then turned to Bobby. "Thanks for coming in to take a look at her ear."

"No problem. Steph take some of these," he said handing me little foil packets of bacitracin, "and put a little on a couple times a day. It'll heal faster and you probably won't scar."

We thanked Bobby again and I went upstairs with Ranger.

"Babe, I heard you lock the door when I left. Did you go out again?"

"No, just to throw out the garbage and then I…shit. I pushed that little thing on the side of the door so it stays open. Damn, I'm so stupid."

"It's not worth beating yourself up about, but I don't feel good about you going back there until I've had a little talk with Morelli. Please Babe, stay here for a couple of days, at least until after New Year's Eve."

"I'll agree as long as you promise you're not going to hurt him."

"He hurt you."

"He didn't mean to. The earrings you gave me set him off."

"He was playing a psychological game with you. He cheated. You called him on it and now instead of letting you be angry with him he's turning the tables and feigning anger towards you. It's a manipulative move as old as the hills. I won't physically hurt him, but I can play head games with him that will leave him wishing I hurt him."

"Ranger don't. Please. Let's just let this whole thing go."

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes. Please."

"Ok Babe, but if he comes after you one more time, all bets are off."

"He won't…not if you talk to him."

"You should get some sleep. I have to go back downstairs for at least another hour to help Tank straighten out some of the loose ends on the Roebling robbery. We're going to share the video with TPD and we want to make copies before we release it to them."

"Can I help?"

"Just get some sleep Babe, I'll be up as soon as I can."

And he pulled me to him and kissed me. "I'm just glad you're ok. I wanted to kill him when I saw that he hurt you. Tomorrow we can go back to your apartment and get some of your things. Ok Babe?"

I nodded ok. Ranger kissed me again with a kiss that said he'd stay if he could. And I knew that was true. "I love you Babe, now get some sleep."

"I love you too Ranger. Thank you."

I woke up to strong arms coming around me and pulling me close. The arms were followed by some nibbles to my neck and a couple of teasing fingers walking their way way up and down my back. I reached back to find the body attached to the arms was gloriously naked. Oh God.

"I failed on my promise of a night to remember, but I can give you a morning to remember if we start now."

"Mmm Ranger, why now?"

"Because it won't be morning in about an hour."

"Does that make a difference?"

"Not to me it doesn't."

God. I could tell you about my morning, but I'd been committing a whole lot of sins in God's eyes, and I don't think he'd like for me to repeat it. What else can I say? About two hours later, after yet another glorious round, Ranger put his arms around me, "Babe, we should shower up and get over to you apartment. I'd like to get a few days worth of clothes and if you don't mind, attach some cameras to your door."

"I don't need the cameras."

"Morelli's unpredictable right now and I'd like to keep you as safe as I can."

"After you tell him I want him to leave me alone, he'll be fine."

"I'll make a deal with you. If there is no action at your front door after I speak with him, I'll remove the cameras."

That sounded practical and I was going to be here at Rangeman for the next few days anyway, so I agreed, and went off to shower.

I used Ranger's Bulgari Green shower gel and his fabulous Wen sweet almond mint conditioning cleanser in lieu of shampoo and I felt like a million dollars. A girl could get used to this. I sprayed my hair with some of his replenishing treatment that said on the bottle would cut down on frizz, and left his bathroom to try to get it to behave. I didn't have any of my own stuff here, so I just finger-wound the curls and hoped for the best when they dried. I added a couple of swipes of mascara and took a good look at my torn earlobe in his mirror. I hoped like Bobby said, that it would heal on it's own.

When I made my way out to the kitchen, Ranger was making brunch for us. I always had the feeling he'd be a good cook.

"Spinach, mushroom and cheddar egg white omelets Babe," he answered my inquiring look.

They really were good; even though I was sure they were bordering on way too healthy. I mean, no sugar, no carbs, very little fat, jeez. But since Ranger went out of his way to make them for us, I appreciated the effort and ate with gusto.

After brunch we set off for my apartment. Well, that's after stopping in the supply room on three so that Ranger could pick up a couple of micro-cameras. I guessed Hector had a built-in alarm whenever anyone went into his stock room because he appeared just as we were leaving.

"Boss, you need help?" he asked Ranger and winked at me.

"I was going to set up a few cameras around Stephanie's front door and feed them into Rangeman."

"I help. Maybe Chica shoot these out too, sí?"

I can't believe I was still the brunt of that joke, but I laughed along with them and we took one of the Explorer's to my apartment.

Hector and Ranger got the cameras installed while I unpacked the suitcase from Florida and packed it up again with enough outfits and essentials to last through New Year's. I also gathered my hair stuff and my larger make-up bag so I'd have everything I needed to make myself presentable for New Year's Eve.

And I was ready before they were.

They had to remove some old cables that ran along my door from the last time Rangeman installed cameras at my place. Today's technology didn't need co-ax.

Once they had everything in place and had called Rangeman to make sure the cameras were feeding into the system, we packed up the Explorer with my stuff and headed back to Haywood.

Ranger let Hector drive and got in the back with me so we could sit thigh-to-thigh and he could hold me close and nibble on my neck again. Super attentive Ranger was going to be the death of me.

Hector parked in one of Ranger's spots so we'd be closer to the elevator and Ranger and I went up to seven. Hector got off at three—probably to check his inventory.

My phone went off as soon as Ranger fobbed open his front door. Ranger had set me up with the new iPhone and iPad he bought me as late Christmas presents and the display was easy to read. It was my mother. I thought about not answering, but I hadn't spoken to her in days, so I pulled up my big girl panties and took the call.

"Stephanie, where are you?"

"Ranger and I just got back to Trenton, I'm at his apartment."

"Are you staying with him? What about Joe?"

"Ranger has been explaining psychological harassment to me; it's something they learn in the military to wear down their opponent and Joe's been trying to use it against me," I told her, avoiding answering her questions directly but letting her in on more than I usually do.

"Joe wouldn't do anything to hurt you Stephanie. Don't you want to get married again some day? Honestly he's your best chance. He's a nice guy with a good job…"

"Mom, if I issued a restraining order against him like people have been telling me to do, he wouldn't have a good job anymore. Can't you just open your eyes for a minute?"

I never talk back to my mother, but she just didn't get it. She was so hell bent on another 'Burg wedding—well mine and Joe's to be exact, that she couldn't see past her own nose.

"Well Stephanie, I only hope you know what you're doing. I have a nice pot roast for tonight, why don't you and Ranger come over for dinner. I'm sure your father would like to meet him again since you seem to be spending so much time with him."

"Thanks mom, but Ranger doesn't eat pot roast." Or chocolate cake or cookies or ice cream for that matter either.

"Doesn't eat pot roast?" she asked; obviously she heard that one.

"He's into health." I said hoping that was enough and I didn't have to get into it with her.

"Well I can roast him a chicken or make him some tofu," she said, trying to figure out what 'being into health' meant.

"Thanks mom, but that's not necessary. We're trying to keep a low profile for a few days, so we're just going to stay here. I'll come over after New Year's."

"Well if you change your mind, the door is open; six o'clock."

"Thanks mom," and we disconnected.

Ranger was giving me one of his almost smiles. "I'll eat pot roast Babe. It's a little high in saturated fats, but it won't kill you."

"Oh. You didn't want to go anyway, did you?"

"I'd rather be with you; but if you want to go, I'll go."

"Grandma will be there."

He paused for a second before answering.

"You sure know how to kill a man's libido, Babe."

"Well maybe I know how to get it back," I said coyly, walking up to him and skimming my hands up and down his stomach flirtingly.

"Let's unpack your suitcase and then go downstairs. I want to see what TPD made of the video we sent them. We can test out my virility later," he wolf-grinned.

It was Saturday afternoon, but Rangeman never sleeps, or takes a weekend off. I unpacked my suitcase and put my clothes in his closet, on the side with the dresses and my Rangeman uniforms, and we went down to five to see if there were any new developments in the Roebling Jewelry Robbery.

Binky was on monitor duty and called to us as we passed the control room.

"I think you should see this. I wouldn't have made anything of it, but I just saw the memo you sent out," he said talking to both of us but addressing Ranger on the memo thing.

Sure enough, there was Joe at my front door with a Tasty Pastry bag.

The cameras Ranger and Hector just planted didn't have audio but Joe appeared to be saying something. Ranger dug his cell phone out of his pocket and placed a call.

"Morelli," he said when someone answered on the other end, "Manoso. I'm looking at video of you standing in front of Stephanie's door. Don't you think that's a little presumptuous of you after what you did to her last night?"

"I came to apologize."

"I don't think Stephanie wants to talk to you right now, but I do. How about we meet back at your place in fifteen minutes?"

Surprisingly Joe agreed.

"Ram's on duty, isn't he Binky?"

"Yeah Boss. He's in the break room. He just came in with Cal."

"Have him meet me in the garage. Babe I'm going to head out and talk to Joe. I want to take Ram with me as a precautionary measure. Promise me you'll stay in the building until I get back?"

I wasn't going anywhere. I was a little freaked out that Joe showed up at my door again anyway.

"Promise me you won't hurt him."

"I'm not going to hurt him. We're just going to talk."

"Call me when you're done?"

"Come here Babe," he said, taking a step towards me and pulling me in by the collar of my sweatshirt for an uncustomary PDA in front of Binky and any other Rangeman who happened to walk by the mostly windowed room.

He kissed me again and held me tight before breaking apart to save the world from Joe. This was going to spread like wildfire, but I guessed he didn't care. He whispered, "I love you Babe, don't go crazy." So of course I had to respond with "I love you too. Don't get shot." And it wasn't until after I said it that I realized getting shot was a distinct possibility. He was meeting with hotheaded Joe after all.

I just stood there with Binky after Ranger left.

I knew that they all considered me his personal property, Ranger explained that one to me before, but aside from getting caught kissing on camera, this was a first.

Binky just looked at me.

"Yes," I said in way of an explanation and sat down in the vacant chair next to him.

"He finally got his head out of his ass?"

I nodded.

"Good. I think Junior won that bet."

I knew they bet on all kinds of things, but on Ranger and I? Yeash I guessed they did. And since Binky was talking, I thought I'd ask him a couple of questions.

"Is there a Rangeman New Year's Eve party this year?" I asked hoping to get an idea of where Ranger was taking me.

"It's at Shorty's again, we're meeting for pizza and beers around eight. You coming with us?" he asked.

"I don't know. Ranger asked me out, but he wanted me to get dressed up for dinner and dancing so somehow I don't think we're going to Shorty's." Guessed I wasn't going to find out anything from Binky.

"Well if you change your mind, let me know and I'll save you a seat," he said with all seriousness. The Rangeman guys were like brothers to me.

"I'm going to go take a walk around the floor. Ranger was wondering if TPD got anything from the video we sent over yesterday. Maybe Tank, Bobby or Les are around."

"Lester's here. I saw him earlier. He's probably in his office."

"Thanks Binky."

I wandered around and stopped at the cubicle I came to think of as mine. It was the same one I always got when I ran searches for Rangeman. I sat down, turned on the computer and was checking my email when I heard a familiar voice above me."

"Hey Beautiful, you looking for me?"

"Hey Les. Merry Christmas," I said getting up and giving Lester a hug and an air kiss on the cheek.

"TPD are assholes," he said before my question even got out. "They managed to botch the one partial print they found. Now all they have is the video and the guys were masked. I hear Ranger's taking you out for New Year's?"

"Binky?"

"Of course. He couldn't wait to tell me. Happy?"

"Lester, I can't believe this is happening. But I'd be happier if I knew what Joe wanted from me. Ranger went over to talk to him."

"I know. Tank said you're staying here for a few days until this blows over. I'm around all weekend if you want the ears of someone other than Ranger." He paused before wolf grinning at me, "I have some other very desirable body parts too."

"Lester," I said and punched him in the arm. He was impossible.

Ranger had been gone for almost an hour and I was starting to get antsy when my cell phone rang. I looked at the display and saw it was Ranger. Thank God.

"Hey, what happened with Joe?"

"I'll be back in about ten minutes. Meet me on seven and I'll fill you in on our conversation."

"Ok," I said, but he was gone. Guessed old habits were hard to break.

I shut down my computer and walked past the control room on my way to the elevator. Both Les and Binky were in there, so I waved to them and pointed that I was going upstairs. They both nodded, so I knew they understood my sign language.

I had just gotten off the elevator on seven when I heard it engage again and head back down. If I had to bet on it, it was probably Ranger. No one took the elevator between floors except for me. It seemed like the sole purpose of the elevator was to go from the basement to five or the basement to seven, and that was it.

I fobbed myself in and made myself comfortable at the breakfast bar. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three…and the door opened. I didn't even get to one.

"Babe?"

"Hey Ranger, I'm in the kitchen. What happened with Joe?"

Ranger walked through the foyer and into the kitchen. He came up behind me, moved my hair out of the way and feasted on my neck without saying anything.

"Oh God Ranger. You didn't shoot him, did you?"

"Babe. I told you we were just going to talk."

"And?"

"I got your earring back," he said handing me the missing GPS earring.

"But what did he say?"

"He said he can't live without you and he's devastated that you won't let him explain himself. I told him that his actions spoke volumes and you're not interested in carrying on a relationship with a cheater. He said he wasn't cheating, that you and he both agreed that you could go out with other people."

"That was a long time ago. When Joe and I got back together after the Hawaii thing, I thought we were in an exclusive relationship. I know I wasn't going out with anyone else. And you of all people should know that too. I tried to stay away from you."

"And?"

"And I couldn't. But we didn't do anything."

"Listen Babe. And I hope this isn't too hard for you to hear. I asked around and he's been with Terri for years. At least since her divorce from Gilman and probably the whole time you two were together. You know the Grizzoli's are the area's largest crime family. Unfortunately it wouldn't work well for his career as Trenton's vice detective to be associated with a Mafia princess. Illegal gambling, black market cigarettes and stolen merchandise are things he's sworn to make go away, not look the other way."

"You're not telling me anything I haven't suspected. But I guess I thought it was just an occasional thing, like when we'd broken up."

"So to cover up for this association that couldn't be, it was all eyes on Stephanie," he summed it up.

I didn't say anything. I didn't cry and I didn't think I seemed outwardly upset. I did that already. Now I just wanted to get on with my life.

"So tell me about you."

"Babe?"

"Who am I the stand-in for in your life?"

"I told you…nobody. I have not been associated with any woman since Rachel. Not to say I haven't had my share of sex, but that's all it was…sex."

"Jeanne Ellen?"

"What are you asking? Did I have sex with Jeanne Ellen?"

"I had heard that you were a couple."

"That's what people wanted to believe. That the two bad asses were together. No we were not a couple."

I didn't want to probe into that any further, but I knew Ranger would never lie to me.

"And now?" I asked instead, hoping to hear what I really wanted to hear.

"I've already made myself vulnerable by telling you that I love you and want you in my life. Stephanie, I only want you."

There were not a lot of words spoken after that. And as you know, actions speak louder than words. So yeah, we spent a lot of time speaking in actions. Like two full days. God.

xxxxXXXXxxxx

"Babe, we need to start getting ready. We have nine o'clock reservations."

"You still haven't told me where we're going Ranger."

"We're going out for New Year's Eve."

"But where?"

"It's a surprise."

Ok we'd been through this before. I guessed I just have to get ready and go along with the surprise.

I showered and spent a lot of time on my hair. I got it to fall in soft curls and if I had to say so, it looked really sexy. I put on a little more makeup than I normally do and added an extra coat of mascara…well, just because. I put on the tight, glittery champagne-colored dress and took the Jimmy Choos out of their box.

I took a look at myself in Ranger's full-length mirror and almost didn't recognize me. I turned from the mirror to take a look at Ranger. He was wearing a perfectly tailored black suit, black shirt and a dark grey tie. His hair was sexily messy and he looked hot.

"You look beautiful Babe," he said turning around to look at me.

"Thank you Ranger. And you look almost too good to share with the rest of the world. Maybe we should stay home?" I said thinking about the last two days.

"No. We're going out. I think we both could use a little air. Come on Babe, we have a date."

We went down to the garage and Ranger fobbed open the turbo. Wherever we were going had to be someplace he trusted with this car.

About fifteen minutes later we wound up in front of two seven-foot-tall wrought-iron gates. Ranger fobbed at some mechanism on the side of the gates and they parted for us.

There was a beautiful Victorian house up a small hill. It was lit with candles in the windows and the trees around it shimmered magically, illuminated by tiny lights. As we got closer we could hear music playing and I could smell a luxurious dinner being prepared—the smoke piping out of the chimney in small wisps.

"Where are we Ranger?"

"Shhh. Let's go inside."

He opened the great doors at the front of the house and we stepped inside.

A member of the wait staff came forward, curtsied slightly then took our coats and ushered us through another set of doors.

There was a lavish banquet table set up in the dining room but with only two place settings.

"Ranger?"

"Sit down Babe."

Ranger pulled the chair out for me, kissed my neck and helped me get comfortable. Then he sat down next to me and another member of the wait staff came over, poured some champagne into our glasses and slipped away.

Ranger raised his glass in a toast. "To us Babe."

I toasted back. "To us."

We each took a sip and then Ranger got down on one knee next to me.

"Stephanie Plum, will you marry me?"

I thought he was kidding me, but he had a ring box in his hand. I guessed my jaw dropped.

"Stephanie?"

"Ranger. You're kidding right?"

"No Babe. Nothing would make me happier than you saying you'll be my wife."

I was freaked. Not only was I not expecting this, I didn't even know where we were.

"Ranger where are we?"

"Well if you like this place, this could be our home. But you haven't answered me yet."

Ranger was still on one knee in front of me. A beautiful, large diamond surrounded by smaller ones was still in his hand and he was looking at me for an answer.

"This is so sudden."

"Babe, please. I need to know. Will you marry me?"

"Yes Ranger. I'd be honored to be your wife."

He kissed me with all the intensity of the love we'd shared over the last few days and then he put the ring on my finger.

"I love you Babe."

"I love you too Ranger."

Then magically there was the sound of church bells ringing in the distance…