Hi, friends. The vast majority of you have read this story. I needed to make some corrections, so I'm posting this again, and when I'm done, I'll erase the old version. So, if you've already read that story, disregard it. Remembering that I don't own the characters, it's just a fan-to-fan story.
"McGarrett!" Steve said as he answered Danny's call.
"Hey Steve, I hate bothering you on your day off, but can you pick up Charlie at school? I'm at a reunion at Gracie's school and I can't make it in time".
"Okay, Danny, no problem, I'm not doing anything important, I'm going to get him".
"Thanks Steve," Danny said, finishing the call.
"Eddie, come here!" Let's go, my friend".
Steve was waiting for Charlie at the school gate. When the children started to leave, Charlie came running to Steve, along with a little friend.
Charlie hugged Steve. "Hey, Uncle Steve!"
"Hey, I came to pick you up today, my friend", Steve said, hugging him too.
The other boy ran with his arms outstretched.
"Mommy!"
"How was your first day at school, my love?"
Steve froze. He would recognize that voice anywhere in the world, he then turned around and saw her.
"Cath?"
"Hey, sailor." She said, surprised to find him at the door of the school. She hoped to find him anywhere on the island, because that would be inevitable, but not there.
Steve looked curiously at the boy.
"Steve, this is Ethan".
"Ethan, this is my ... friend ... Steve. Say hello, dear".
"Hi", Ethan said, extendingt his hand to Steve.
"Hi, Ethan", Steve said shaking the boy's hand. "How old are you?"
"I'm four years old", Ethan said, showing four fingers to Steve.
"And you, little boy, what's your name?" Catherine asked Charlie.
"I'm Charlie".
"Are you Charlie, Danny's son?"
"Yes".
"Then tell your father that Catherine said hi, okay?" Catherine said to the boy.
"It's ok". Charlie answered Catherine and then spoke to Steve: "Uncle Steve, can I go to the playground?"
"Just for a few minutes, Charlie".
"Can I go too, Mommy?" Ethan asked Catherine.
"Of course, Ethan, but only a little", Catherine replied.
Ethan and Charlie rushed to play in the playground.
"He calls you Mommy? Who is this boy, Catherine?" Steve asked.
"He's my son, Steve".
"No, he isn't . Four years ago we were together and you weren't pregnant ... wait a minute ... you got pregnant and had the boy in Afghanistan and hid it from me?"
"Of course not. Ethan is a war orphan and I found him sick, malnourished, almost near death. I took him to the hospital, I took care of him and I adopted him", Catherine replied.
"He looks like me", Steve told her.
"Maybe it's because his eyes are the same color as yours, Steve. I think that's what made me fall in love with him in the moment I saw him", Catherine said, but then she regretted it. "Sorry, I shouldn't have said that".
"And you're back in Hawaii?" How can you adopt a child working for the CIA?" He asked.
"I broke up with the CIA, Steve. I went back to the island, the place I should never have left".
"Ok", Steve said thoughtfully.
"How's Lynn?" Cath asked, with sadness in her eyes.
"She's fine. And about you? Where are you living?"
"In the same place, I kept my house", Catherine replied.
"I never knew you wanted to adopt a child", Steve told her.
"I wanted to have my own son, Steve, but I don't think I ever gave myself a chance, so Ethan came into my life and I love him so much".
Steve just shook his head and said nothing.
"I have to go now", Catherine told Steve and then went to the playground. "Ethan, let's go home!"
Steve followed her. "I can leave you at home, Catherine".
"That would be great, Steve. My car is in the garage, it needs a review because it's stopped for a long time".
Steve opened the car door and Eddie barked.
"Look, Mommy, it's a dog!" Ethan said, delighted by Eddie.
"This is Eddie!" Steve said.
"He bites?" Ethan asked.
"No, he only bites the bad guys. You can sit next to him", Steve told Ethan.
"Catherine, you come with me", Steve said.
"I didn't know you liked dogs, Steve", Catherine said as she sat next to him in the car.
"Neither did I, Catherine. But Eddie has conquered me", he replied.
They arrived at Catherine's house, and Ethan wanted to show Charlie his room. Steve and Catherine were alone in the living room.
"So it was good to see you, Catherine. I missed you".
"I missed you too, Steve".
"Come here!" Steve said, pulling Catherine into a hug. They both held each other in silence for a while.
"Steve, don't do this to me!"
"What, Catherine?"
"You have another woman in your life", Catherine said, referring to Lynn.
"Sorry", he replied.
Catherine just nodded.
"Charlie, we need to go", Steve said, not wanting to leave Catherine.
The boys ran into the living room.
"Hey, it was so nice to meet you. Be a good boy to your mother", Steve said, hugging Ethan
"Okay", Ethan replied.
"Bye, Charlie!" Ethan said, hugging Charlie.
"I think these two will be great friends", Steve said with a smile.
"Bye, Cath!" Steve said, looking into her eyes.
"Bye, Steve", Catherine replied, avoiding looking at him.
Danny went to Steve's house to get Charlie, and the boy opened the door.
"Dad!"
"Hey, Charlie, was everything okay at school?"
"Yes, Daddy, I have a new friend, his name is Ethan, and his mother told me to say hello to you".
"What? Did you hear that, Steve? I don't even know her. Is she a fan?" Danny told Steve.
"You know her, it's Catherine", Steve said.
"How she's Catherine? Catherine has no children".
"She has a child now, she adopted a four-year-old boy, an orphan. He's Ethan, Charlie's new friend, and now she's back on the island".
"Well, that's interesting", Danny said.
Steve didn't answer, just ran a hand through his hair.
"Wait ... wait ... you're angry, Steve. You're jealous of a child!"
Steve took a deep breath and said, "Maybe I'm ... he's in her life, and I'm not".
"Steve, you have another woman! You wanted her to do what? You're lucky, she now has a son and not another man."
"You really do know how to make things worse, don't you, Danny?"
"I have to go, thanks for picking up Charlie", Danny told Steve.
"Come on, Charlie!" Danny said to his son.
"Bye, Uncle Steve".
"Bye, Charlie, give me a hug here", Steve said, hugging the boy.
At night Catherine put Ethan on the bed.
"So, Ethan, did you enjoy your first day at school?"
"I liked it, Mommy."
"Did you like your new friend?"
"Yes I liked".
"And my friend Steve, did you like him?"
"Yes, he's cool. He has a dog that bites bad men", Ethan replied smiling.
"It's true, Ethan. He bites the bad guys, and now we're going to bed because tomorrow you have to go to school", Catherine said, kissing his forehead.
The next day, Catherine woke up with noises in the kitchen. She stood up quietly, took out her gun, and entered the kitchen.
"Steve, what are you doing here? How did you get into my house?"
"Good morning Cath, I'm making breakfast, I came in with the key you gave me, and you never asked for key back".
Catherine smiled, shaking her head. Do you know that you acted just like Doris that day at your house? "
"I know", Steve said, smiling. "Well, she's my mother, is not she?"
"Yes, she definitely is! Look, even Ethan is already dressed for school", Catherine said, laughing at the situation.
"Mom, I helped him make pancakes".
Serious, my son? "
"Yes", Ethan replied.
"I'm going to change clothes to eat pancakes with you", Catherine told Ethan.
Catherine changed her clothes and went back to breakfast.
"I also checked his car, and it really needs a review", Steve said, naturally.
"What time did you get here, Steve?"
"I arrived early, I actually couldn't sleep," he replied.
"Steve, I don't know what to say ..."
"So don't say anything, just eat."
Steve left Catherine and Ethan at school and went to headquarters.
Later, Catherine went to get Ethan on the school, and she found Rachel, who had gone to get Charlie. They talked about Catherine's return, Ethan's adoption and the friendship of the two boys. After that, Catherine needed to do some shopping and was with Ethan at the grocery store when she heard someone call her.
"Catherine?"
"Lynn?"
"Yes. Do you remember me? I'm Steve's girlfriend".
"Yes, of course, how are you?" Catherine said, noticing the venom in Lynn's voice.
"I'm fine, and this beautiful boy, who is he?" Lynn asked.
"Ethan, my son".
"Steve didn't tell me you have a son", Lynn said, surprised at the fact.
Serious? How strange he doesn't to tell you", Catherine told her, on purpose. "Well, it was good to see you, Lynn, I have to go now".
Steve was in his office when Lynn came in furiously and slapped him in the face.
"Lynn, what is this? Are you crazy?"
"Why didn't you ever tell me you had a child with her?"
"Son with who, Lynn?"
"With Catherine, the boy's face is like your face".
"Lynn, I don't have kids, and please get out of here".
"But Steve ..." she replied.
"Now, get out!"
Lynn left Steve's office and Danny entered.
"What happened, Steve?"
"Problems, Danny. Problems".