Chapter two

Thanks for the reviews guys, I'm glad you're all enjoying it. I watched the second episode and as we all know we have been introduced to the lovely Officer Lori Weston, and I think on the show she is going to be great for Steve, both as a co-worker and a love interest. But for the purposes of the story we are IGNORING her!

Steve smiled as he watched his team members and friends sitting around his dining table, eating and drinking, celebrating his release. Next to him sat Sarah, who had pulled her chair close to his and was snuggled into his side, a little sleepy. He knew she was tired, but she had been the one who had arranged the dinner and was determined that everyone had a great time.

"So Sarah, how was Rome?" Jenna asked as she sipped her beer.

Sarah snuggled closer to him and smiled, "It was lovely, but unfortunately I couldn't enjoy it as much as I had thought I would. I missed here and New York too much" Steve hugged her closer to his side, knowing the reason why she didn't have a good time.

Danny sighed sitting across from them, "I know how you feel, I miss Jersey all the time".

Beside him Sarah couldn't help herself as she snorted, "Really? Jersey?"

"Excuse me?" Danny got all defensive.

"Here we go. I was wondering how long it would take for this argument to surface" Chin muttered next to Danny.

"Come on Danno, living in Hawaii how can you miss Jersey" Sarah teased him, knowing full well it would only rile him up.

"Jersey is cruelly mistaken for its misinterpretation on shows such as Jersey Shore and the Housewives show" His hand movements were getting aggressive, making Steve laugh, that only earned him a dirty look from his partner.

"Oh Yeah, enlighten me, what is so great about Jersey?" Sarah, it seemed had been woken up from her sleepiness.

"Hello? Bruce Springsteen? Dionne Warwick? Witney Houston? Jon Bon Jovi? Frank Sinatra? Need I say more?" Danny was on the edge of his seat now.

"If that's the case, how come Sinatra sang 'New York, New York' and not 'Hoboken, Hoboken'?" she asked him, reaching for her iced tea.

"Oh brah, she's got you there" Chin thumped Danny on the back.

"That is an unfair argument against everything that is good about Jersey".

Sarah laughed as she got out of her chair and went around to Danny, she put her arms around his neck and bent over him, giving him a kiss on the cheek, "I'm sorry Danno, I was kidding. New Jersey's not that bad. I have been there".

"Thanks babe".

Then she smiled sweetly again, "But New York's better" she quickly said as she scooted from there to avoid Danny's napkin.

"You kids had enough?" Joe White spoke up. He used his stern voice, both Danny and Sarah stopped and stared.

"Yes Sir" they said together, looking sheepish.

"I hate to break the mood, but we do need to discuss a little business".

"And that would be Victor Hess's murder" muttered Steve.

"Yes. We need to get a meeting in with the Governor regarding this situation ASAP" observed Chin.

Steve sighed, "I'll see if I can get an appointment with him tomorrow sometime".

Once that was settled, everyone hung around a little more before leaving. It was only Steve and Sarah in the kitchen, as they both worked to clean things up.

"You should go to bed, baby" he told her as they were loading the dishwasher.

"If I sleep right now I will never get home" she passed him a couple of plates.

He straitened from his position, "What do you mean 'get home'?" he looked at her, but she avoided eye contact. "I thought you'll be staying here now".

Now she looked directly at him, "And what made you think that?"

"Well, we're back together, we're having a baby together".

"And that's enough for me to move back in?"

"Yeah" he didn't understand what more she wanted. "I thought we cleared everything up the other night? And you have been staying here since then" he pointed out making her blush.

Good. So she was also remembering what they had been doing while she had been staying with him. The first two days they hadn't gotten out of bed. It had been strange to be in a position where they were expecting a child together but had previously only slept together on the one occasion. But they had certainly made up for lost time, after she had assured him it was okay for the baby.

"I know I have, but I need to get back to Jay's" she sighed tiredly.

Steve abandoned the dishes to pull her into his arms, "Is he giving you a hard time for staying over with me?"

"No, its not that" she pulled away slightly to look up at him, "It's just that we moved too fast the last time and look where that led".

He kissed her lips lightly, "I know, but I was an idiot then".

She laughed at that, "Yes you were an idiot. But I still think we should just date for a while".

"We're a bit past time to date" he pointed out.

She rested her forehead against his chest, "I know, and the only thing I regret about this situation is that we never got to do all the typical boyfriend/ girlfriend stuff".

"We can still do that if you move in" he released her top knot, spreading his fingers through her silky hair, "Besides how will you punish me by making me rub your feet and give you pedicures when you can't see your feet?"

He felt a slap on his chest, "You know, you're a real ass for reminding me of my coming condition".

"I was just stating the facts" he defended himself. "Let's make a deal" he suggested.

She looked at him suspiciously, "And what would that be?"

"You move in when your bump starts showing and we go public with the news".

She seemed to think about that, "Why when the bump starts showing?"

"Your bump will start showing in about another month or so, which gives us plenty of time to do all the dating, even if I have to take you on a date every night" he steered toward a chair, making her sit down. "And that also then gives me time to get the house ready for both of you".

"You don't have to do all this Steve" he knew she was trying to be self sufficient, but he would not give up a chance to make things comfortable for her. Not because it was the right thing to do, but because he wanted to.

"Yes I have to do this. I want to be a part of not only the baby's life but yours as well. Right from the start I want to support you".

"That's great, Steve and I want you to be. But there will be times when you wont be able to because of work".

"I know that. Which is probably even more of a reason for you to be here. We will get to spend more time together".

She was quiet for a while, thinking, "Okay. But you have to promise me one thing".

"Anything".

"Promise me you will not become a pain in the ass".

"Not you too" he groaned, "Define 'pain in the ass'"

"You will not treat me like some fragile piece of glass. You will help me within reason, you will not carry me around like some macho hunk" she used her best teacher voice.

"I thought you liked me as a macho hunk" he smiled and winked at her. He could see a small smile playing at her lips.

"Listening, please" she cleared her throat, "You will not wrap me in cottonwool by not telling me about anything dangerous you are involved with. If you are in trouble, you speak to me. I understand if it's classified" she rolled her eyes when she said that, "But you DO NOT hide things from me under the pretence of protecting me".

Steve smiled, she was giving him a lecture like he was one of her students.

"Yes Ma'am" he saluted her with a serious face. Then smiled at her, "You are one bossy lady" he kissed her on the lips, "I like it. I wonder if you can be this bossy in bed" he couldn't help but tease her as he raised one eyebrow, just the way she said she liked.

She blushed, but smiled mischievously, "Oh sailor, you aint seen nothin' yet" she drawled as she pulled him close for a sexy open-mouthed kiss.

Maybe if he distracted her with this, she would forget about leaving altogether.