Steve & Sarah
I hope you all enjoy this glimpse into Steve and Sarah's growing family life, the fun and havoc it reeks on their lives.
The story opens five years after 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand II' ended.
Five Years Later
Sarah sat on the lanai watching her two favourite people in the world playing on the beach. Danno, Grace, Kono and Adam joined Steve and Stephie in a game of football.
She looked over to see Stephie stuck to her father's back like a little monkey, her jet-black hair flowing behind her. Steve had the ball and he passed it to Adam, who dodged Kono and scored a touch down for his team. The three of them high fived as Kono, Grace and Danno grumbled and complained that there was definitely cheating involved.
Adam Noshimuri had become quite a fixture since he had becoming involved with Kono. At first it had been rather awkward, in fact the men hardly spoke to him, but Sarah had spoken to them and had reasoned with them all to give him a chance. After all he had saved Kono's life and she was in love with him. How could they not support her? And somehow, they had both lasted this long, even though their journey had had its share of ups and downs. They still had a lot to overcome.
Chin Ho snored lightly on the settee adjacent to her since he was unable to join the rest of them after his knee injury. She was glad that he was gradually getting back to normal after losing Malia. Although normal would still not be the same as before when he always had a smile on his face.
For a while it had been so bad that he had admitted to her once when she asked him, that he couldn't stand to be around people who were happy while his Malia was dead. He had refrained from being around them too much and avoided major celebrations such as birthdays and anniversaries. He still did but at least he had started to come to their regular weekend lunches again. He had been sorely missed.
Sarah was distracted by the sound of the newest addition to the McGarrett household, Sylvie who was three months old and already impatient. Like her older sister she also had Steve's eyes and her black hair, but where Stephie looked more like Steve right from the beginning, Sylvie was more of a mixture of them both. And unlike her sister, she had been planned.
They had actively decided to have a second baby because neither she nor Steve wanted their Stephie to be an only child. Even though Stephie was very close to Danno's daughter Grace and the two were sometimes inseparable, it was special to have a sibling. And no doubt Grace would be great with little Sylvie as well. At fourteen, Grace was nuts about her and couldn't wait for her to get a little older.
The football game on the beach ended with another touchdown, this time by Steve. They moved toward the house and Sarah couldn't help but admire him. She still couldn't believe sometimes that she had been lucky enough to land him as her husband.
At thirty-nine, his dark hair was slowly going greyer and he couldn't have looked sexier if he tried. At the moment he was just in board shorts, showing off his amazing body and man, was he fit. His active lifestyle had kept him in shape and he would always be that way. He had even managed to get her fitter and healthier. He was a damn drill sergeant when he exercised with her but it had worked. If she complained, his response would always be "You're the one who asked for it".
"Hey there pretty lady" he came up to her, Stephie still on his back, her little arms securely wrapped around his neck. He carefully bent and kissed her lips, "How are my girls doing?"
Sarah held his face in her hands and kissed him again, "We're good. Just admiring the view" she winked at him.
"You don't look too bad yourself" he flirted back.
"Get your filthy paws of my sister" came a growl behind them. They both turned to see her brother Jay come in dressed in slacks and a business shirt, followed by Lorraine also dressed formally in a fancy dress.
Steve straightened, "We have two kids together, will you get off my back now?" he asked exasperated. Stephie had already started squirming.
"Uncle Jay" she exclaimed as she clambered off her father's back and ran to her uncle.
"Hey baby" he bent to pick her up and kissed her cheeks. Then she was promptly kissed by her aunt. If her daughter wasn't the most spoiled kid. "And no I'll never get off your back about my sister" he smiled at Steve.
Her husband sat next to her, "I don't get your brother" he reached for the basinet and looked in on Sylvie as she slept through all the noise the adults were making.
"Believe me I know what you mean" Chin commiserated sleepily as he watched Adam standing against the railing with his arms rapped around Kono.
"Oh cuz, you secretly love Adam" Kono teased him, knowing completely that Adam and Chin had an understanding. As long as Adam kept his nose clean and treated Kono well, Chin was okay with him.
Chin just grumbled something under his breath, as he got to his feet wobbly and hobbled into the house.
"And you're going to get it even more once Stephie grows up" Danno chimed in, "I have to keep an eye on every guy in Grace's school now".
Grace who had just returned with a glass of iced tea from inside and plopped next to Sylvie's basinet, "Danno, you've been doing that since I started school" she said cheekily.
"Don't get cheeky with me, monkey" he smiled at his daughter who just stuck her tongue out at him then proceeded to try and wake up the baby.
The afternoon went on with everyone just relaxing and eating the food that everyone had pitched in. Soon Steve's guitar came out and Jay played it, finally relaxing after what she knew was another busy weekend with his business associates.
She loved it that her brother and sister – in – law had become such a big part of their lives. Jay had even admitted that this was probably the only place he could come and relax where he could spend time spoiling his nieces and drive his brother – in – law up the wall with his ribbing.
Sarah knew why he and Loraine loved spending time with their children, and it was sad that even after trying every treatment under the sun they hadn't been able to get pregnant. They had wanted to adopt and had been on the waiting list for the past three years. All she wanted was for her family to be happy.
Speaking of family, she couldn't wait for Mary and Doris to come from New York for their visit. They still had not seen Sylvie.
For about a year it had been touch and go with Mary and Doris and their relationship. But it had taken a Christmas where Steve had sat down with Mary and had a chat with her. After that she had agreed to give her mother a chance. Doris, without missing a beat had moved to New York to be closer to her daughter.
"When is your mom coming?" She asked Steve, while everyone was leaving. It took at least half an hour for everyone to hug and kiss each other goodnight. It was as if all the events, both tragic and good had made everyone aware of how precious they were to each other.
Steve pulled her into his arms, kissing her neck, "Sometime next week" he said distractedly. After so long together, she had started to read the signs. When Steve was on a mission nothing could distract him, whether the mission was a combat situation or sex. Right now his mind was on the latter and his laser focus would not entertain anything else.
"Steve you're not listening" she said teasingly, sifting her hands through his hair. She arched her neck, giving him more room.
He licked her throat and sucked, leaving a love bite, "How do you expect me to listen in a moment like this?" he mumbled, his hands gliding down her back and cupping her bottom. He lifted her up and she automatically wrapped her legs around his waist to hang on.
"Did you put the kids to bed while I cleaned up?" she asked him. She felt him start to move and she knew he was moving toward the couch.
"Yeah, Stephie was already half dead" he put her on the couch and then loomed over her. His smile was wolfish as he proceeded to get her top off.
Too late she heard a small rip, "Don't rip it!" she said quickly but it was too late as he held up her white linen and lace top, the strap hanging.
"Sorry" he said trying to sound convincing but his naughty smile said otherwise.
She laughed at his expression, "No you're not" she said, while pulling him down to claim his mouth in a deep kiss. "You better buy me a new one" she murmured against his mouth.
She ran her hands down his back and enjoyed the smooth ripple of his muscles under her fingers.
"You make me so happy" he murmured as he shed more of his and her clothes. Looks like they were going to be making love on the couch.
She smiled at him, "You make me happy too" he stroked her thigh up to her side producing a ticklish giggle which was rather loud.
"Shhh, don't wake the kids, we'll scar them for life" he laughed as he bent his head to kiss her.
They tried to be as quiet as possible, but after a while all was forgotten except for each other.
-X-
Steve lifted his head off Sarah's chest, he looked down and saw that she was dosing.
A smile curled his lips as he disentangled their limbs so he could lift her up and carry her to bed. She woke up halfway there and complained that he was going to damage his back.
When they settled in bed, he covered them up with the bedcovers, making sure before hand that they had put on their nightclothes first, him in his boxers and Sarah in her short night shirt with Mickey Mouse on it. Stephie had gotten into the habit of getting in their bed in the middle of the night.
As if on cue he heard the soft patter of feet in the hallway, then a small voice called, "Daddy?" just before a tousled little head peaked through the doorway.
"In here baby. Cant sleep?" he asked his daughter getting out of bed. She stood in her white cotton nightgown with little pink flowers that Anita had hand stitched for her. He could see her little toes peeking out of the bottom and her chubby arms hanging onto her ratty brown monkey that had once belonged to Grace. She raised her hands so he bent and immediately picked her up, feeling her little body squirming a little before settling comfortably in the nook of his arm.
"I wanna sleep with you and Mama" She rubbed her eyes sleepily, looking absolutely adorable. Her dark blue eyes were big behind the jet-black bangs on her forehead.
"Alright baby. Come let's check on your sister first and then we'll go sleep. You need to go wee-wee?" he asked her just to make sure. A couple of times they had woken up in a wet bed.
Stephie only nodded her head while he carried her into the nursery. He looked in on Sylvie and smiled as she slept on peacefully, but not for long because she had another hour or so before Sarah would be up to feed her.
Standing next to his two girls, he could never believe that this was his life. In fact, he would sometimes have to pinch himself just to make sure that he was not in someone else's dream.
Not everything had been perfect, no marriage was. He and Sarah both had to adjust a lot to make the life that they wanted to have for their family. He knew she sometimes regretted the loss of her independence and freedom, and so did he, but they had both realised that being with each other and their children was ultimately what they wanted more than anything else in the world.
They still fought, sometimes not talking to each other for a couple of days. Steve would go with Chin or Danno to cool off and they would get some space away from each other. But he would always come back with the feeling of peace knowing that his wife and daughters were his life.
He could feel Stephie growing into a dead weight in his arms, falling asleep with her head resting on his shoulder. But the minute he put her in her own bed she would wake up, so he took her back to their bedroom and gently laid her in the space between him and Sarah. Immediately she turned to her mother and snuggled in close.
"I see we have an intruder again" Sarah murmured sleepily. "We need to get her used to sleeping in her own bed".
"What else can we do? She goes to sleep every night in her own room and ends up between us" he said as he ran his fingers through Sarah's hair. Her eyes were closed, half asleep. "She'll get better".
"Can you imagine if Sylvie wants to sleep here too? That's one crowded bed" She yawned as she sat up, "I might as well feed her since I'm up".
He watched his wife get out of bed, admiring her body that was rather visible through her nightshirt. If it was possible, she was even hotter than before she'd had the kids. In no way had she lost her plumpness, but she was more toned thanks to the grueling workouts he made her do, all because she wanted him to help her.
If someone had told him six years ago that he would be one day married happily with kids, he would have laughed in their face. But there was never a day that he wasn't grateful to God that he had given him this life.
Despite going through all the heartache of losing his parents, then discovering his mother's lies and double life and the disruption to his family because of it, he wouldn't change one thing about his life. Because if that hadn't have happened to him, who knew what he would have been? Would he have still met Sarah? Maybe he wouldn't have.
And because of that, he would never regret anything.