I'd like to say that this really is the last chapter of Choices Made, which is why it's almost longer than the last two combined, but that never works for me so I'm just going to say I like where this chapter ends, and that I have other stories I really want to work on, and leave it at that. Anything familiar belongs to Janet. The mistakes are mine.

Chapter 3

"What do you want to do?" Ranger asked me.

Considering what we just finished doing, I didn't think there was anything left. I was lying on top of Ranger, our bodies in no hurry to separate, and he was trailing his fingertips up and down my spine.

"Can't we just keep doing what we've been doing?" I asked Ranger, confused as to why he thought we should have plans ... or why we should even get out of bed.

"Continuing to do this is a given, Babe, but I'm talking about how you'd like to tell your parents - and no doubt the Burg right after - about you and I getting engaged."

I thought about it for a minute or two before I knew what my answer to that was.

"How serious are you about marrying me?"

"Stephanie, I think giving you a ring after all the times I said I don't believe in them, would tell you that I'm dead serious about you and getting married to you."

I pressed a kiss to the skin above Ranger's heart before speaking.

"Then what I'd like to do is stay here just like this a little bit longer, then hop on a plane to Vegas, tie the knot, and afterwards tell everyone who has doubted us to bite me."

Ranger's arms closed around me as he reversed our positions, him now being the one on top. Hey, if Ranger wants to steer the ship this time, I'm not about to shoot myself in the foot by complaining. Ranger lowered himself onto me and brushed his lips across my mouth briefly before they skimmed my ear.

"Sounds like a plan, Babe," he said against it. "We can leave just as soon as I'm done here."

I knew from that particular look in Ranger's eyes, and the direction his lips were now taking, I didn't have to worry about going anywhere for a good sixty to ninety minutes. Ranger will probably have to carry me to the car when we did finally leave, but I'd be smiling the whole way there.

Ranger got us on a flight out of Newark a couple hours later. I said goodbye to Trenton and hello to Vegas. Ranger even bought first class tickets so I actually enjoyed the plane ride instead of spending the entire time white-knuckling Ranger's hand or thigh.

"You can hold onto my thigh anytime you want to, Babe," Ranger told me.

"Thank you, but I was just thinking that I'm glad I can hang onto you because I want to, not because I'm scared of dying or anything. How pissed do you think the guys and Ella will be when they find out we eloped?"

"No one will be pissed," Ranger said. "Even though they might act like assholes for a few minutes, the men will be happy for us. Ella will be planning a celebration ten minutes after she hears the news. I should warn you that my parents are going to want to see us when we get back."

"I'm a little nervous about that," I told him.

"Steph," Ranger said to me, lifting my hand and kissing the knuckle in front of my engagement ring, "my family likes you."

"Yeah, but there's a huge difference between liking their son's girlfriend - even though I was never technically your girlfriend - and liking their new daughter-in-law."

"You defy any title, Babe. And my mother will be focusing only on the fact that I finally got married and now have someone keeping me in Trenton."

"I guess that means we're not moving."

"If we want to move, we'll move," Ranger said. "My mother would understand."

"What's that like?" I asked him.

"What's what like?"

"Having a reasonable mother?"

"It's good. And you'll see that for yourself, because she's going to treat you exactly like she treats all my sisters."

"Uh-oh," I said.

"There's no 'uh-oh' needed here, Steph. That just means she'll want to include you in all shopping trips, lunch dates, and family get-togethers."

"That sounds like something I can definitely handle."

"I thought you'd say that."

"Of course I'd say that. Shopping and eating are my two specialties."

"Then you'll get along just fine with the women in my family. And as long as all the women are happy, my dad and brother will be, too."

"The Manosos are easy to please," I said to Ranger.

"They balance out families like yours."

"Ouch."

"Do you disagree?" He asked me.

"No. Why do you think we're eloping?"

"Because you like Vegas?"

"I do, but I like annoying my mother more."

"Is that why you're marrying me?"

"Nope. I'd marry you anytime, anywhere, and on any day. My mother being irritated that I ran off without telling her anything is just a bonus for me."

Ranger kept my hand in his for the remainder of the flight. When we got off the plane, I thought we'd be headed to one of the luxury hotels like the Bellagio or The Venetian, but Ranger surprised me and drove to a small chapel a little ways from the Vegas strip.

"Just because we're in Vegas, Babe," Ranger said to me, "doesn't mean we have to have a guy wearing a sequined jumpsuit marry us."

I looked around the garden behind the little white wedding chapel and could see Ranger and I getting married here. It felt intimate, romantic, and perfect.

"How did you find this place?" I asked Ranger.

"I know people," Ranger said.

"Yeah, but considering you weren't even allowed in the state until recently, I didn't think wedding sites would've been a priority."

"You should know by now that I have a wide range of associates."

"I figured that out the last time I was here with Lula and Connie, when I thought I'd picked up a stalker but it just turned out to be your Las Vegas guy."

"If I remember correctly," Ranger told me, a small smile on his lips, "it didn't take long for you to destroy him."

"That was all Lula and Connie."

"Good thing they're not here with us then."

"Yep, they'd have this place reduced to rubble in five seconds flat," I told him.

"So ... what do you think, Babe? Is this where you'd like to get married for the second and last time?"

"I could ask you the same question," I said.

"My answer would be a yes.

"Mine, too."

I guess that settled that. We went back inside the building and made all the arrangements. Ranger and I would get married a little after sunset with only little white lights and a few candles illuminating the garden altar. And it'll just be me, Ranger, and whoever would be handling the ceremony.

Ranger and I left, and when the subject of clothes came up, I insisted he let me shop alone for an appropriate dress to get married in. I'm not a stickler for tradition, but that's one thing I was willing to go along with. It took me twenty minutes of looking, but when I saw the short, white dress that had a hint of lace, a deep V neckline, and body-hugging fit, I knew it was going to be my wedding dress.

When I met up with Ranger an hour after I left him, it was clear why Ranger had told me to get a change of clothes while I was out. He did have the luxury hotel idea in mind, just not for the actual wedding. Ranger had booked us a suite at The Venetian.

"Not only do we need a place to get ready," Ranger told me, after unlocking the door and letting me go in ahead of him, "I don't want to spend our wedding night on a plane or at Rangeman. We'll stay the night here and go home tomorrow morning. I'll get the work I've been neglecting wrapped up and then we can go on a real honeymoon in a day or two."

"I sort of thought we'd just do the deed and then head back home."

Which is why I needed to get a change of clothes while I was out, since the only thing I packed was my makeup.

"I knew you were a closet romantic, Babe."

"Hah-hah. Aren't you funny today?"

"I am in a good mood."

"You must be to buy first class tickets and rent a million dollar suite for the night."

As we were talking, I was very thoroughly checking out the rooms that were nicer than anyplace I've stayed outside Ranger's apartment.

"This isn't a million dollar suite, Steph."

"It sure as hell feels like one."

"I believe that's the point," Ranger told me.

"Well, it's working."

"You have an hour to get ready. Do you think you can make it?"

"Yep. We showered right before we left for the airport," I said, trying not to blush when I recalled a few things we did in my little shower, "so all I have to do is fix my makeup and slip into the dress I bought."

"Care to slip into it now?" Ranger asked, pulling me into his arms.

"You'll see what's in the bag soon enough," I told him, circling his neck with my arms.

"No sneak previews?" He asked me.

"Nope. You'll just have to settle for me wearing it."

"There's no settling, Babe. You are what's sexy, not the dress."

"I see what you're doing," I told Ranger. "You're trying to get me out of my dress before I even put it on."

"Do you blame me?"

"No. But you're still not going to see anything until we're ready to leave."

"You think I can't wait?"

"Since you're the king of self-control, I'm sure you'll be able to wait with no problem. And what about you?" I asked him. "Are you getting married in your uniform? Not that I'd mind. It does fit you in all the right places."

"And you spent a good amount of time on all of those places last night."

"I did. And I plan on doing it again tonight," I told him.

"Then go get ready so we can get this thing done. I am going to change, but I can do it in here."

Sure he can. Ranger already looks amazing. I,on the other hand, am going to need a little work and a mirror or two.

I kissed Ranger and took my new dress and shoes into the huge bathroom. I wasted ten whole minutes just deciding between putting my hair up or leaving it down. The deciding factor had been knowing that Ranger's lips always found their way to the back of my neck if it was left bare. Plus, Ranger seems to enjoy taking the entire mess down, and this time he'll be able to do it without worrying about Morelli interrupting us. Joe won't be interrupting us ever again.

I went to work on my makeup, adding a little more than usual, but not overdoing it. I went with a soft red lipstick, and made sure to choose one that wouldn't end up on Ranger's mouth when he kissed me at the altar, or on our way back here, or during the night if it lasted that long. I applied another coat of mascara, and just the right amount of eyeliner and shadow to make my blue eyes appear darker. I dabbed a bit of perfume into the V of my dress, and slipped on the four-inch heels. I checked myself out in the mirror, and thought I'd done a pretty good job on my own. I still look like Stephanie Plum, and that's a good thing in this case, because that's apparently who Ranger wants to marry.

To save time once we got here, Ranger and I had filled out the marriage application before we left my apartment. And boy, was that a surreal moment. Both of us sitting at my table, our thighs touching, typing in the information that would essentially make us husband and wife. I hadn't felt sick, I wasn't nervous, and I knew nothing except the plane crashing would keep me from marrying Ranger.

The only thing we didn't do in advance is get the rings, but Ranger had said he'd take care of that while I was finding a dress. I was a little concerned about how much this spur of the moment wedding was costing him. I didn't want to piss off Ranger by mentioning it, though. If Ranger thought I was worried about finances, he'd spend three times more than he'd intended just to prove he could. I've destroyed a number of Porsches and BMWs because I made the mistake of telling Ranger that I wanted just a normal, everyday crap car.

I took one last look at myself in the mirror before leaving the bathroom. I made it about two steps out the door, then my feet refused to move. My mouth dropped open and I was afraid that I was actually drooling. Ranger is mouth-watering in anything he put on, but nothing except bare skin looked as good on him as this tailored tux that seemed made specifically for his muscled body. Ranger hadn't bothered with the traditional bow tie and had left the button at his throat undone. I don't know how Ranger managed to look both formal and relaxed, but he did.

"Wow," I said, taking in the expanse of white shirt covering the chest that I've had many a hot dream about.

I still can't believe I get to act out each and every one of those dreams now.

"Wow, yourself, Babe. You look beautiful."

"Thank you. You, however, are more than beautiful."

"Men aren't supposed to be beautiful, Steph."

"The one I'm looking at is."

"You'd better stop looking at me like that or we'll be working on the honeymoon before we actually get through the wedding ceremony."

It was tough, but I got myself under control. Just thinking that I'd get to take that tux off Ranger made me determined to get us married as quickly as possible.

"I'm ready to do this," I told him. "How about you?"

"I've been ready since I saw Morelli in that store buying you a ring."

"I wouldn't have married him, Ranger."

"I know, Steph, but it was in that moment I realized that I did want to marry you, live with you, and love you. Getting married again wasn't in my plans, but like everything else involving you, those plans were blown all to hell."

"Gee, with compliments like that, I can't wait to say I do."

"It's a big compliment, Babe. No one but you could have gotten me to propose, then on a plane the next day to follow through with it."

"I should have asked if you even wanted to come here before suggesting we elope."

"All Nevada's issues with me have been taken care of, Babe. And now I'll get to take care of you."

"You don't have to take care of me, Ranger, but I'm happy that you'd want to."

"I do," Ranger said. "And I will."

"Shit. Where's a priest when we need one? I could have repeated that, kissed you, and we wouldn't have had to leave this room at all."

"You're a cheap date, Babe."

"I always thought I was, but this particular date has been far from cheap."

"Stephanie ..."

"You're not allowed to lecture me on my wedding day, so I'm not going to tempt you by saying anything more about how much money you're spending."

"Good. We've now got fifteen minutes to get to the chapel. Any cold feet?"

"No. You?"

"No."

"Okay, then. I say we leave now."

In a loaner car that wouldn't look out of place in Ranger's garage, he drove us to the chapel again. While Ranger handled the last minute details, I slid my engagement ring onto my right ring finger until after the ceremony when I'd put it back where it'd be keeping my wedding ring company hopefully for the rest of my life. The ceremony was simple, sweet, and completely unforgettable to me. The sun had just gone down, the little twinkle lights gave off a soft glow, making the area look magical instead of tacky, and the man who married us really seemed to enjoy his job.

Our vows were repeated quietly by us both, and I couldn't believe how quickly I became Ranger's wife. Ranger added a slim diamond-encrusted band to my finger, and I put a bling-free ring onto his. Then Ranger was kissing me. It was almost as if I'd dreamed the entire thing, but the desire that kiss produced in me was very real. Before I knew it, we'd said our goodbyes and were on our way back to our suite. I honestly think the drive there took longer than the actual ceremony, but it was perfect for us. No fuss, no frills, and no one except the two of us witnessing it.

I had my arm around Ranger's waist for the walk from the car to our room. He let us into the suite, and when the door was closed and bolted in place, Ranger pinned me against it and slanted his mouth over mine. He got his hands on my dress' zipper a few seconds later and helped it off my body so it could fall to the floor at my feet. Only then did Ranger lift his head. I ran my tongue slowly over my lips. They were tingling and hungry for more. Ranger must have guessed that, because he picked me up and carried me out of the room, leaving my dress behind.

He set me down next to the huge bed, and I immediately pushed the jacket of Ranger's tux off his shoulders. His shirt was next. If I was half-naked, then it's only fair that he should be, too. Completely naked would be even better. I got as far as the button on his pants, then Ranger was pushing me back onto the bed and following me down. His mouth covered every bit of skin that was exposed to him, and when he ran out of places to kiss, lick, or suck, Ranger took off the last of my clothes and started all over again in new areas. He left me only long enough to get rid of the rest of his tux, then Ranger was pressing me into the thousand-thread count sheets, and with one thrust of his hips against mine, started showing me that married sex can be even hotter than engagement sex.

Ranger and I got off the plane the next day in Jersey, and I was filled with excitement and dread. I was excited to share this with Ella and the guys, and the dread of course was directly linked to my mother. I didn't want her attempting to ruin our happy moment by insulting Ranger or bringing up Joe. Then again, Ranger doesn't care what my mom says about anything except me, and I'm feeling a bit invincible right now, so maybe the visit won't be as bad as I fear. Or maybe I'm on a Ranger-induced high and suffering from delusions because of it.

"I should stop and get Rex and some clothes before going back to your place after we break the news to my parents," I told Ranger before we left the airport's parking area.

"Rex, along with most of your things, are already at Rangeman."

"Huh? Run that by me again."

"You heard me the first time, Steph."

"And how exactly did that happen?"

"Tank and Bobby took care of the move."

"So they know we're married?"

"Tank knows why we were gone, no one else."

"The guys didn't think anything of my stuff being moved into your apartment overnight?"

"No. They know not to ask questions. And they probably figure you just finally came to your senses."

I smacked Ranger's shoulder and tried, unsuccessfully, not to wince when my hand bounced off solid muscle.

Ranger brought my stinging fingers to his mouth and kissed them.

"It'll be obvious why you're at Rangeman if they know about our engagement. If they don't, the men will just assume you moved in as a security precaution, or to keep Morelli from harassing you."

"I doubt Joe would bother with me. He was angrier than I'd ever seen him when he left my apartment."

"Morelli has always been a hothead, now it finally works in our favor. You don't have to tell the men about the wedding unless want to."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course I'm going to tell them. They are my friends after all."

"It's up to you, Babe."

"Not really. It's going to be hard to hide these," I said, moving my new rings around my finger. "These things probably cost more than my college tuition."

"Speaking of your college days, how would you feel about getting some use out of them?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked.

"Rangeman is always interested in hiring people with a unique set of skills."

"And what would mine be?"

"You have the ability to sense when someone is lying their ass off, you're the only female in the company aside from Ella, so you can help with system layouts and serve as a buffer between the men and clients. And you do have some experience in buying and selling a product, so you might be able to come up with some ideas on how to expand the company more than I have already."

"While I appreciate the vote of confidence, Ranger, aside from talking to criminals and suggesting camera placement, I don't think I'm going to add much to your company."

Ranger leaned in and kissed me before saying anything.

"That's why I'm the boss, Babe," he said. "I can spot potential in any new employee, and I know instinctively where to put them to help them, and my business, excel. All you have to do is say yes, and then give a hundred and ten percent towards whatever job I give you. I don't hire anyone unless I think they'll be an asset to what I've built."

"I know, but ..."

"Steph, stop. I'm not doing this because you're my wife, or because I feel sorry for you, I would have made you the offer a long time ago if I didn't think Morelli would've made your life miserable for accepting it."

"Yeah, Joe wasn't real happy when I started working part time for you."

"Now you can work full time and he can go to hell."

I stood up on tiptoes and pressed my lips to his.

"Is that my boss talking or my husband?" I whispered against Ranger's mouth.

"Both."

Ranger took control of the kiss and I let him. I'd need something good to think about while my mother was having her meltdown.

"You ready to head to the Burg, Babe?" Ranger asked, when he ended the kiss.

"Yeah. We can get this over with and then get started on our life."

"I think you should start the conversation with something like that, Steph."

"You would. Your contact with my mother can be limited."

"Yours can be, too. You don't have to take any shit from her, Stephanie. And I'll tell you right now, I'm not going to just sit back and listen to her belittle you. You need to make a stand, or I'll make one for you."

"You won't have to, Ranger. I'm just going to let them know where we were, and what we did when we were there, and then we're leaving. Even if my mother is okay with this, she's going to need a day or two to process the news. It's only polite to leave her alone while she does that."

"And you're nothing if not polite, Steph."

"I keep trying to tell everyone that. No one buys it, though."

"Let's see how long you stay polite once we get to your parents' house."

Ranger drove from the airport to the Burg, and I knew the chances of me playing nice were slim when I saw Joe's SUV parked in my parents' driveway.

"Why is Joe here?" I asked, a little suspicious and a lot annoyed that my ex-boyfriend is hanging out at my parents' place.

"I'd guess he's consoling Helen."

"My mother isn't the one who would have been forced to live with Joe. She's not the one who would've needed consoling."

"That's true, Babe, but she most likely felt she was gaining the perfect son-in-law," Ranger said.

"My mom should be happy then, because I made sure she got him," I told Ranger.

Ranger will always be the perfect everything in my eyes.

"I doubt your mother will feel the same way."

"I don't care if she does. I married the man I want, and nothing she or Joe says will make me regret it."

"We don't have to go inside, Steph."

"Yeah, we do. I'm not letting them get away with whatever they're plotting."

"Whatever they're up to doesn't affect us."

"No, it doesn't," I told him. "I just want them to hear that directly from me."

"Lead the way, Babe."

Ranger rested his hand low on my hip as we walked up the sidewalk. I opened the door without bothering to knock and Ranger closed it soundlessly behind us. We both saw my mom and Joe sitting on the couch, coffee and cookies on the little table in front of them, and Joe looking like he hasn't slept in days.

"Joe? What are you doing here?" I asked, making them both jump.

"Stephanie?" My mom said. "I didn't hear you pull up."

"I can see that," I told her. "Apparently I'm a little late. Or was I not invited to this particular party?"

"There's no need to get smart, Stephanie," my mother said. "Joseph just stopped by to see me."

Why wasn't I surprised?

"Give me a break, Joe. I refuse to marry you so you decide to tell my mommy on me?"

"Cupcake, your mother knew I was going to propose to you," Joe said to me. "I thought one of us should have the decency to tell her that it wasn't happening since you obviously haven't gotten around to it."

"You told me to have a nice life, Joe. I assumed that meant you wanted out of mine."

"I guess I'm just not as good as you are at immediately moving onto someone else."

"Watch it, Morelli," Ranger warned him.

"I'm only pointing out what we all know," Joe said to us.

"You're being an ass because you know I love Ranger," I told Joe. "And you're angry that what was between Ranger and I didn't stay a slight fascination like you'd hoped."

"That so called love has obviously made you blind. Ranger proposed, Steph, to win. And now that he thinks he has, Ranger will never go through with it."

"So you're saying that Ranger gave me a ring, but I won't be able to drag him to the altar?" I asked Joe.

I didn't have to drag Ranger anyway. He bought first class tickets to the freakin' altar. I could tell Ranger was enjoying this as much as I was. I don't want to hurt Joe, but I was through with his never-ending snide comments about Ranger's character.

Ranger bent his head to mine and his lips brushed my ear.

"Are you sure this is the way you want to tell them?" Ranger asked me, already knowing what I was about to do.

I turned my head and looked at him.

"Yes," I told him. "I couldn't have asked for a better set up."

"Then let him have it, Babe."

"Oh, I will."

I smiled at Ranger before focusing on my mom and Joe again.

"Cupcake, I'm sure Ranger made all kinds of promises, but he's not the marrying type. He's said so himself."

"Why would you do that to yourself, Stephanie?" My mom asked, as if Ranger wasn't standing right next to me.

"I've always thought it took a certain amount of ignorance and stupidity for anyone to believe they have all the answers," Ranger told them, not hiding his opinion of my mom and Morelli.

"You are right, Joe," I said. "Ranger did make me a lot of promises, and all of them were said in front of a justice of the peace last night."

I pulled Ranger's left arm around me and placed my hand and over his, showing off our new jewelry.

My mother and Joe has similar expressions on their faces. Horror, doubt, and my favorite of all ... the oh shit! one.

"We didn't mention the engagement to anyone, because after we celebrated it," Ranger said to them, mostly to piss Joe off, "we were busy getting married. We flew to Vegas and did the deed. Aren't those the words you used, Babe?"

"Not exactly, but Ranger and I are already married, so whatever you are up to doesn't matter now."

"For heaven's sake, Stephanie," my mother said, "we're not up to anything. Joseph just came over here to tell me that you turned down his proposal."

"Don't look at me like that, Mom. I was going to turn it down even if Ranger never showed up. There is a bright side you're overlooking. Now that Ranger and I are married, you won't have to worry about us living in sin." I noticed Joe's expression. "Rex and I are all moved in at Ranger's place, so everyone will have to catch me on my cell since I won't be at my apartment anymore to answer the one there."

Before they could say anything more, I heard Grandma's voice just as the front door opened.

"Stephanie, is that ...?" Grandma Mazur said, stopping midway through her question when she noticed both Ranger and Joe with me. "Hot damn. This is gonna be good."

"It's better than good, Grandma," I told her. "Ranger and I were just telling everyone that we got married last night."

My dad was in the process of coming in behind Grandma and that made him stop in his tracks.

"You're not pregnant, are you?" He asked.

"Nope," I said. "And Ranger owns a bunch of buildings, so we'll never need to stay here."

That's my dad's biggest fear, people moving into his house. He's barely holding it together with just Grandma here.

"Thank Christ," he said, and made a beeline for his chair.

"I'm pretty sure that means he approves of you," I told Ranger.

"What'd you do?" My Grandma Mazur asked. "Fly to Las Vegas and have 'The King' marry you?"

"Yes to the Vegas part," I said to her. "But no to Elvis."

Grandma pulled my hand under her nose, then whistled through her dentures.

"Ranger did good on short notice," she said, as she inspected my new collection of diamonds.

"Yep, he did," I told her.

"I had to make sure Stephanie wouldn't be tempted to take them off," Ranger told Grandma.

"If I was married to a hot guy like you," Grandma said to him, "I'd superglue those puppies to my finger ... and myself to you."

"Jesus," I heard my dad say, probably trying to block out the same visual Ranger and I were having.

It wasn't a pleasant one.

"I'd like it if you're the one wearing the glue, Babe," Ranger said, quietly, "but the idea of your grandmother in a glue suit is going to give me nightmares."

"Join the club," my dad muttered, actually paying attention to the conversation today.

I smiled. Looks like Ranger and my dad have something to bond over. They both have to listen to Grandma's uncensored thought bubbles.

"If you're married to the bounty hunter," my dad said, "what's Morelli doing here?"

"Good question," I said to him.

"Joseph was being a considerate young man," my mom told us. "We had discussed wedding locations before he proposed, and he felt he should tell me that they may not be needed now."

"Won't be needed ever," Ranger said to her.

"Now I'm confused," my dad told us. "When did the cop propose?"

"I should be going," Joe said.

"Yes, you should," Ranger told him. "Stephanie's no longer your concern. Are we clear?"

Joe stared at Ranger, but everyone knew he wouldn't get his way in this. Ranger has more friends, connections, and fighting experience, so Joe had no choice except to do what Ranger told him to. Joe kept up the glare for a full thirty seconds before I could detect a slight movement of his head. It probably wouldn't be considered a nod by anyone else, but Ranger and I took it for what it was. Joe isn't going to challenge Ranger unless he had something concrete, and Ranger is like the wind ... untraceable, powerful, and nothing can stick to him.

"You can't expect them never to speak again," my mom said to Ranger. "Stephanie and Joseph have known each other for years.

"Yeah, and they fought during every one of them," Grandma said, making Ranger grin.

"That part of our lives is over," I said to everyone.

"Yeah ... it is," Joe told me. And he walked out of the house.

Not that it would change things, but I wonder if Joe will ever get over hating us, or if his pride is too badly hurt for that to happen.

"Stephanie, that man came over because he cares about you," my mom told me. "That wasn't nice how you treated him."

"How I treated him?" I asked, my eyebrows shooting up. "While you and Morelli were busy discussing 'our wedding', did Joe happen to mention how he proposed?"

"Back to my earlier question," my dad said. "When did Morelli propose?"

"Mom didn't tell you?" I asked him.

"I wanted to wait to share the good news with everyone," my mom said. "Looks like I made the right decision."

"I guess there really is a first time for everything," I told her.

"That's not funny, young lady," she told me.

"I thought it was," my dad said.

"Frank, don't encourage her."

"That's what parents are told to do, Helen," he said. "They're supposed to 'encourage' their kids as much as they can."

My dad seemed to be having a little fun with this. Probably because he knows his house and dessert are safe from Ranger.

"So ... let me get this straight," Grandma Mazur said to me, "Morelli proposed to you ...?"

"Yep. Left a card on my kitchen counter like it was something about as important as a grocery list," I told her.

"Jerk," my dad mumbled.

"Then what happened?" Grandma asked.

"Ranger came in a few minutes after I found the card, and professed his undying love for me ..."

"That's not exactly how it went down, Steph," Ranger said.

"It sounded good, didn't it?" I said to him. "And you did show up with a ring, and asked me to marry you, so it's not too far off."

"Fair enough," he said, and kissed the top of my head.

"So you had two hot guys propose to you on the same day?" My Grandma Mazur asked. "I wish I could have just one room temperature one."

"I wish you could, too," my dad said from his chair.

"Needless to say, I turned Joe down and said yes to Ranger," I continued. "We were married a few hours later."

"How very ... romantic," my mother said, clearly not thinking it was.

"Isn't it?" Grandma said. "I always knew you'd end up with Ranger. I thought you'd just be shacking up together though."

"Mother!"

"What? That's what I would've done," Grandma said, earning another glare from my mother.

"It was romantic," I told them. "Now we're legal, and going to stay that way."

"Did you have to hurt Joseph to do it?" My mom said.

"Unfortunately, yes," I said. "Joe was going to be hurt either way. At least now he can find someone who wants the same thing he does."

"That's it? You've been together for years and you don't mind watching him walk out the door?"

"Nope."

"Stephanie ..."

"No, Mom. Listen, Ranger is my husband now. You wanted me married, and I am. I don't see what your problem is."

"My problem is that everyone is going to be talking about this."

"And?" I asked.

"And people are going to be wondering why you decided to elope. And they'll be discussing your relationship with Ranger ... and your life," she said to me.

"So? Let them discuss it," I told her. "What's the worst thing they can say? The pregnancy rumor will die a quick death since I'm not pregnant and they'll be able to count out nine months with no baby at the end of them. What's left? That I slept with my boss? Or that Ranger's a successful businessman and I'm only after his money?"

"You're welcome to whatever I have, Steph," Ranger said, smiling down at me.

"Stop it," I told him. "That's not helping."

"There are some that will assume you chose the more financially secure man," my mother said.

"They'll say that I'm a gold digger, you mean? Even you have to admit this is a little bit funny. Joe's family is full of wife beaters, mobsters, and murderers. His Grandma Bella is a freak, his cousin Kenny tortures and kills people just for kicks, and Joe had made a name for himself in every Jersey bar by the time he was sixteen. No one has held any of that against Joe, but the Burg still chooses to talk about me."

"You know how those busybodies are."

"Are you going to be one of them?" I asked my mother.

"What do you mean?" She asked me.

"Are you going to support our marriage? Or are you going to join the town in bad-mouthing us, too?"

"No one is 'bad-mouthing' anyone," my dad said. "You're old enough to do what you want."

"That's what I've been saying for years," I told him.

"So what's the problem?" He asked.

"That's what I'm asking," I said.

"Babe, they can talk if they want to."

"You're okay with that?" I asked him.

"If the talk is about me, I don't care. It's only comments about you that I'll be forced to address," he said, staring hard at my mother.

"I'm not going to say anything negative about my own daughter," my mother said to Ranger.

"In public you mean," I told her.

"Public or private," Ranger said, not letting the eye threat go.

"It seems you both think badly of me, but I wouldn't go against my family. Yes, I feel sorry for Joseph, like anyone would, but that doesn't mean I'm going to take sides."

"I never thought I'd hear you say that, Helen," Grandma said to her. "I'll bet my check it's because you're more scared of Ranger than any of the gossip-lovin' church ladies."

"That's not true," my mom said, but I could tell from her quick glance at Ranger that maybe Grandma was onto something.

Guess I should have had Ranger here more often. I could've saved myself a lot of arguments and a few pounds caused by my usual doughnut therapy.

"Don't worry, Mom. Ranger and I are going to be leaving soon for our honeymoon, so you have time to figure out how to appear happy for us."

"Babe."

"Did that sound bitchy?"

"A little, but it's probably warranted."

"You bet your patootie it's warranted," Grandma Mazur said. "If you weren't already married, her tongue would be wagging right along with everyone else's."

"That's enough, Mother."

"Since they are married, now you can just sit back and enjoy the show along with the rest of us, Helen."

"There is going to be no show, Grandma," I told her. "I'm not living in the Burg. And if I have to, I can stay completely out of."

"Nice threat, Steph," Ranger said.

"Thanks," I said to him. "And I can make it a truth instead of a threat anytime I want."

"Something to think about when we get back."

"Where are you two going?" Grandma asked. "I bet Ranger's flying you to one of those private islands. I'd sure like to stay on one of those."

"We don't know where we're going yet," I told her. "After Ranger clears his schedule, we'll probably decide right before we take off ... again."

"Are you going to come see us before you leave?" My mother asked me.

"Why? You're seeing us now. Why don't you just say what you're really after? You want info on our honeymoon."

"That's not ..."

"Save it, Mom. I've known you for over thirty years, and since you didn't know anything about the wedding, you're hoping to make up for it with honeymoon details."

"You've got your mother pegged," my dad said. "She was driving us all crazy when she couldn't get hold of you yesterday."

"I might have accidentally left my phone at home," I told everyone.

"That was no accident," my mother said.

"No, it wasn't. I wanted to enjoy our wedding day."

"You could have enjoyed it with us."

I laughed until I caught the frown on my mother's face.

"Sorry. I thought you were joking."

"There's nothing humorous about this whole situation," she said.

"I don't know about that, Helen, that look on Morelli's face a few minutes ago was amusing," my dad told her. "I never trusted him."

"Frank, Joseph is a detective."

"I saw one of them hour long programs on dirty cops," Grandma informed us. "You'd be surprised how many detectives tamper with evidence, intimidate witnesses, or take bribes."

"Grandma," I said, "Joe may have been a sucky boyfriend, but he's a good cop."

"Joseph was good to you, Stephanie," my mom told me.

"No, he was good to you, Mom. Me, not so much."

"All in the past, Babe."

"Yep. And now I've got a future to work on."

"You ready for it?" Ranger asked me.

"Yep," I told him, and turned towards my family. "I'll talk to you guys when we get back."

"I want pictures," Grandma Mazur said, following us to the door.

"So do I," I told her, giving Ranger an appreciative look.

"You don't need pictures, Babe," Ranger whispered close to my ear, his words causing the goosebumps more than the warm breath tickling my hair, "you have the real thing."

Boy, do I. I could feel my face heat when I thought of just how many ways I've had Ranger in the last two days.

"And I don't think I can get any luckier," I said to Ranger.

"You'll 'get lucky' plenty as soon as I get you alone again."

"Great, now you're going to make me want to give the guys the bum's rush," I told Ranger, when we reached his car.

"We can tell the men, and then you can visit with them while I make a few calls," Ranger said, pulling away from my parents' house. "Then we can talk about where you'd like to go after we're back on seven."

"We're going to talk when we get back to your place?" I asked, not believing him.

"I'm sure they'll be some talking going on, but we'll be in bed when we do it."

Ranger always came up with the perfect solution, I thought to myself. I made two phone calls of my own during the twenty minute ride to Rangeman. One to Mary Lou and the other to Connie so they couldn't bitch me out for hearing about our elopement from someone else. And I could also explain why I wouldn't be working for Vinnie for a few days - or maybe forever now that Ranger had offered me something much better - without having to actually talk to Vinnie.

I managed to get off the phone just as Ranger parked next to my POS car, which like my stuff had magically appeared here while I was in another state. Ranger and I took the elevator to the control room, and Tank was standing with Hal and Bobby when we stepped out on the fifth floor.

"Hi, guys," I said, walking up to them. "What's going on?"

"We were going to ask you the same question," Bobby told me. "Tank said Ranger was offline, and we all noticed you haven't been around. Not to mention, your stuff is now upstairs in Ranger's apartment."

"Well, I'm in now," I told him, smiling as Ranger draped an arm across my shoulders.

All three men noted the proprietary arm. Tank looked like he was trying not to grin. Hal blushed, and Bobby's mouth was already open to comment.

"Something's definitely changed," he said, watching us closely.

"You could say that," Ranger told him.

"Congratulations," Tank said, openly smiling now.

"Thank you," I told him.

"What am I missing?" Hal asked.

"Apparently the wedding rings," Ranger told Hal. "And here I thought I'd done a good job of training all of you to be observant."

"The two of you got married?" Bobby asked.

"Yep, last night. I got a free trip to Vegas and left with something much better than an empty wallet."

"I'm flattered, Steph," Ranger said.

"You're also better than a sky's the limit credit card."

"Now that is high praise coming from you," he told me.

"It's pretty much the highest," I assured him. "And if I had to choose between a card and you, I'd always pick you."

"What about Morelli?" Bobby said.

"Way to kill the moment, Brown," Tank told Bobby, whacking the side of Bobby's head harder than the question deserved.

"Joe and I were over a while ago. We were just too lazy to end it."

"You didn't sound lazy when you were giving Morelli hell, Babe. Twice now."

"What can I say, I was motivated."

I don't know what secret button was pushed, or when, but every guy who was at Rangeman at the time started showing up one by one. I'm pretty sure there's no 'boss got married' switch to activate, but whatever news delivery system the control room had proved just as effective.

"So," Woody said to me, "what should we call you now? Boss Lady? Mrs. Ranger? Mrs. Manoso?"

"That's one thing that hasn't changed, Woody. I'll always be Steph, or Stephanie, to you guys."

I'd done a good job of holding it together during Ranger's proposal, the simple but still surprisingly beautiful ceremony, and telling the guys here, but I almost lost it when Ella joined the group. She held out her arms to me and said the one thing I've always wanted to hear from someone so close to Ranger.

"Welcome to the family, Stephanie."