Midnight Rescue

Verse 1:

I was lost in the darkness, chasing the shadows alone. Until he appeared like a hero in the neon glow, his eyes locked on mine, and I knew I was saved; by the mysterious stranger, with a heart of gold and brave.

Chorus:

He's my midnight rescue and guardian in the night. With a touch, he sets me free and a love that feels like a fight. We dance on the edge of danger and desire. Our hearts beat together like a drum in this forbidden fire.

Verse 2:

He's got secrets and scars, but I see the real him shine. My hero in the shadows, with a love that's one of a kind. He takes my hand as we run from the ghosts of our past. We'll face the dawn together, leaving the darkness to last.

Chorus:

He's my midnight rescue and guardian in the night. With a touch, he sets me free and a love that feels like a fight. We dance on the edge of danger and desire. Our hearts beat together like a drum in this forbidden fire.

Bridge:

We'll drive all night with the wind in our hair, and the city lights reflect the love that we share. No promises, no regrets, armed with this moment we own. In this wild and crazy ride, we'll find our way back home.

Chorus:

He's my midnight rescue and guardian in the night. With a touch, he sets me free and a love that feels like a fight. We dance on the edge of danger and desire. Our hearts beat as one like a drum in our greatest desire.

Final verse:

Now I'm not alone in this dark and crazy world. With my hero by my side, our love will unfurl. In the shadows, we always find our own light. And our midnight rescue will be our love's ignite.

Dad smiled as I sat at the piano. It had been several years since I sat on the bench and placed my fingers on the ebony and ivory keys. When I was six, Mom insisted I take piano lessons since I refused to attend ballet lessons. Practicing was worse than dancing pirouettes and walking on my toes.

"What are you writing?" Dad asked.

"A song that wouldn't leave me alone," I replied. "I could hear it in my dreams."

"What is it about?" he questioned.

I frowned. How do I tell Dad it was about Ranger and me? The lyrics came easy, but I had to find the perfect notes for the song. Should I write it on a major scale, making it a happy tune? Or a minor scale, filling it with angst and sadness? Decisions. Decisions.

The music flowed, surprising me. Dad listened as I played the notes. I started and stopped the song many times to record the notes on the blank music staff. He smiled as I decided to write the song in G major. "A happy song," he reasoned.

"Yes, Daddy. It fits with the lyrics," I explained.

Once I wrote the notes for the first verse, I played and sang, "I was lost in the darkness, chasing the shadows alone. Until he appeared like Batman in the neon glow, his eyes locked on mine, and I knew I was saved; by the mysterious stranger, with a heart of gold and brave."

Dad nodded appreciatively. "That sounds beautiful, Pumpkin," he praised.

"Thank you, Daddy."

I replayed the verse and devised a complimentary chorus. Once I rewrote a few notes, I sang, "He's my midnight rescue and guardian in the night. With a touch, he sets me free and a love that feels like a fight. We dance on the edge of danger and desire. Our hearts beat together like a drum in this forbidden fire."

Dad smiled as I replayed the music I wrote for the verse as I sang the words, "He's got secrets and scars, but I see the real him shine. My hero in the shadows, with a love that's one of a kind. He takes my hand as we run from the ghosts of our past. We'll face the dawn together, leaving the darkness to last." I repeated the chorus, making Dad smile.

The song's bridge took longer to write. Changing the key signature often made the song more appealing yet more challenging to feel cohesive with the verses. I wrote and erased a few notes which sounded off to my ears. "Do you need help?" Dad offered.

"Maybe a little," I confessed. Dad sat beside me on the piano bench. He gently bumped me to the left, allowing him to place his fingers on the keys. I never realized Daddy played the piano. He read the music and played my song.

When he reached the bridge, I furiously wrote the notes he played, hoping it sounded great. Dad started at the beginning. We sang together until the bridge, where I sang solo, "We'll drive all night with the wind in our hair, and the city lights reflect the love that we share. No promises, no regrets, armed with this moment we own. In this wild and crazy ride, we'll find our way back home."

Dad let me sing the chorus as he played the piano. He returned to the music for the first verse, playing as I sang, "Now I'm not alone in this dark and crazy world. With Batman by my side, our love will unfurl. In the shadows, we always find our own light. And our midnight rescue will be our love's ignite."

"Does Ranger know you're in love with him?" Dad asked. I shook my head and shrugged.

"He knows I love him. Isn't that the same thing?"

"Pumpkin, love is different for everyone. Loving your parents and siblings is different from the way you love a boyfriend or spouse," Dad explained. "Do you love Morelli?"

"Yes, but it's more like a friendship type of love. With Ranger, I feel an overwhelming passion, desire and respect. I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him. Unfortunately, he doesn't do relationships," I whined.

"Why don't you play this song and sing while I record," Dad offered.

"Thanks, Daddy," I replied.

"Ready," he said.

I placed my fingers on the piano's keyboard and played, tuning out Dad as I poured my heart into the song. As I played the final notes, my neck tingled. Ranger was here. "Babe," he whispered, pulling me off the piano bench and slamming his lips against mine. "Who wrote the song?"

"Me," I replied.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?" I asked, refusing to put distance between us.

"That you are in love with me," he whispered. His lips tickled mine as he spoke.

"I thought you knew but didn't feel the same," I replied, averting my attention. Ranger gently tipped up my head until my eyes met his. My heart ached, preparing for the heartbreak I could feel coming.

"Babe, I'm in love with you. I have been since we met in the diner. It broke my heart when you started dating Morelli. I thought you wanted what he offered. To protect my heart, I told you many things I never meant. The two weeks we spent in Hawaii were the best of my life. I wanted our fake marriage to be real. Babe, you make me want things I don't deserve," Ranger confessed. He cupped my face, stroking his thumbs across my cheeks to wipe away my tears.

"You wanted to be married to me for real?" I asked, shocked by his confession. It was more than I expected. I prayed Ranger wasn't messing with my emotions. "Why didn't you say something?"

"I was scared of chasing you away. You know I have enemies," Ranger said.

"But only two of them came after me. Most of my mishaps were caused by the Burg bitches exercising their loose lips while wagging their tongues," I argued.

Mom gasped. When did she join the party? "Helen," Dad warned. Ranger chuckled, and I smiled. Dad had my back.

"Are you and Morelli in a relationship?" Ranger asked.

"No. We ended things a few months ago after I caught him in bed with Terry Gilman," I replied. Ranger nodded in appreciation. He kissed me, ignoring Mom's gasps and attempts to interfere. Dad kept her from speaking.

Ranger looked into my eyes, and his gaze turned serious. I loved it whenever he dropped the blank face for me. His eyes bared his soul. I could see how much he loved, respected and desired me. He refused to hide his feelings as he asked, "Babe, Stephanie, you are the love of my life. Will you let me become your husband?"

"Yes," I whispered, tears streaming from my eyes. Ranger posed the question as me possessing him, not vice versa. It made all the difference in the world. Ranger kissed away the tears. He scooped me into his arms after placing the stunning sapphire engagement ring I wore in Hawaii on my left ring finger. "Where are we going?" I asked.

"On a midnight rescue," he laughed, using the lyrics from my song.

Three weeks later, Ranger and I returned to Trenton, New Jersey. I hoped the news of our marriage wouldn't put Ranger or me in danger from his or my enemies.

While on our honeymoon, we broke the news to Tank and the others. They were happy for us but disappointed not to have joined the nuptials. Ranger and I wanted to keep our announcement to people we knew and trusted.

Julie was ecstatic to have me as her stepmom. It sounded strange when she called me Mom for the first time. Technically, Carlos wasn't her father. He may have provided half the DNA to create Julie but signed away his rights after Rachel remarried. Carlos wanted to protect Julie, which was admirable. However, I know how much it hurt for him to give up his precious daughter. Thankfully, it didn't matter to Julie because she insisted on calling him Dad. Rachel kindly allowed Carlos and I to maintain contact after Scrog kidnapped Julie. She congratulated us on our marriage and wished us luck.

I rubbed my abdomen, wondering if I got pregnant in Hawaii. My last period had ended a few days before Carlos swept me off my feet. We decided to forgo condoms and let nature take its course. Carlos and I would know if we created a life in eight days. My cycle was a predictable twenty-eight-day cycle. The thought of having a child with Carlos never frightened me. I smiled as I remembered him offering to give me a baby if I wanted one. Carlos understood I couldn't have a baby with a man I never loved.

Mom, Dad, Valerie and her children attended the party at Rangeman. I was surprised when Carlos and I came home. Ella and Mom arranged the reception.

When we entered the conference room on the main level, Mom gave me a rare hug. "I'm so proud of you, Stephanie," she said, surprising me.

"What?" I asked, feeling dumbfounded by her praise. It was the first time she said she was proud of me.

"I only wanted you to find a suitable husband and have children," she confessed. "I noticed your hand on your stomach. Are you pregnant?"

"Mom," I hissed, "I don't know, and it's too soon to know."

"Tell me the minute you find out," she said, looking over my shoulder. Mom smiled and amended, "After telling your husband." She kissed my cheek and gently pushed me toward Dad.

He hugged me. "You look happy," Dad observed.

"I am happy," I replied. Dad shook Carlos's hand and welcomed him to the family.

Grandma hugged Carlos and me without groping my husband. He smiled in appreciation. Mom hissed, "Mother, no," when Grandma tried to pinch Woody's ass.

"You're no fun," Grandma whined.

"Edna, my men never complain, but it's inappropriate. They won't charge you with assault because you're Stephanie's grandmother," Carlos said.

I snorted, "But they benefit when Grandma tells everyone in the Clip 'N Curl about the size of their packages. The women practically line up to see if Grandma was accurate with her assessment."

"Babe," Carlos said.

"Grandma, Carlos is right. The men don't like you pinching their asses or copping a feel. It's sexual harassment. When you were young, it was acceptable. However, the times have changed, and it isn't proper," I added. Grandma stuck out her bottom lip. She walked away without pinching asses and grabbing the men's crotches.

"There's hope for her yet," Carlos chuckled.

"But she isn't happy," I agreed.

We celebrated our wedding with our family and friends. Everyone congratulated us and wished us a lifetime of happiness. Carlos and I were so exhausted after travelling and partying that we fell asleep without having sex.

In the morning, I crawled out of bed after making love to my husband. "Your nipples are darker," Carlos said, entering the washroom after I emptied my bladder.

"Are you sure? They look the same to me," I replied. Carlos kissed my neck. He reached into the shower to turn on the water. I rolled my eyes as he nudged for me to get inside. Carlos wasn't shy. He had no reservations about urinating with me standing at the vanity. I appreciated him respecting my comfort level.

Carlos stepped into the shower to help me wash my back. I let him take charge as he gave me the sexiest shower ever. My body responded to his touch, with everything feeling more sensitive than usual.

Once we left the shower, we dressed in Rangeman uniforms to meet Bobby for our medical exam. According to Rangeman's policy, we had to let Bobby collect blood and urine samples.