Kari sat on the edge of the bed with her head hung down, taking in deep breaths, fighting off the nausea.

Steve came in and sat down next to her, "I talked to Maggie and she can take Casey." He gently rubbed her back, "You ok?"

"Hmm," she moaned, nudging his hand off her, "Honey please don't do that."

"Sorry," he sat still, not sure what she wanted him to do, so nothing was his best assumption. "Do you want me to stay home today?"

She patted his leg appreciatively, "No, it'll pass."

"How about if I take JD to work with me? Give you some peace and quiet."

She laid her head on his shoulder, "That would be nice. Will he be in the way?"

"He'll be ok."

"What if you get a call?"

He put his arm around her, "I can name ten people off the top of my head in that station that would watch him if the team had to leave. They love having him around."

"I think I'm just going to lie down for a while." She moved back on the bed.

Steve stood up and laid the blanket over her, kissing her forehead. "If you need me today call me." He purposely made eye contact with her, "Ok?"

She forced a smile for him, "Ok."

He closed the door on his way out, going down the steps. JD sat on the floor trying unsuccessfully to tie his shoe.

Steve came up behind him, scooping him up and flinging him over his shoulder backwards so his belly was face up.

JD laughed and flailed his legs in the air, throwing one shoe off as it flew across the family room.

He flipped him back over so he was holding him in both of his arms. "I have a surprise for you."

His little body convulsed from laughing, "What?" he asked in a high pitch squeal.

Steve lifted him with both arms so his stomach was level with his mouth and blew on his bare belly.

Kari could hear JD's sweet laughter from upstairs. She was on the verge of throwing up, but still couldn't help but smile at the sound of her two perfect boys playing together.

Steve dropped him on the couch and sat down next to him, "Hey, do you want to go to work with me today?"

JD sat up quickly, his eyes huge, "Yes!" He squirmed off the couch, running for the stairs.

"Where are you going?"

"To tell Mom."

"Mom already knows. She's not feeling very good today so Casey is going to Maggie's and you are coming with me."

He stood on the bottom step, his mind racing with what he should bring. He couldn't really think of anything since there was so much to do and play with there. "Can we go right now?"

"After Maggie gets here." He smiled at his son's enthusiasm, it made him feel good that he liked coming with him.

They both heard a knock on the back door. Steve looked at him excitedly, pointing with his thumb toward the kitchen, "Maggie's here!"

JD tore through the room with one foot still missing a shoe and opened the door for her, "Hi Maggie. I'm going to work with Dad today!"

Maggie put her hands together like it was the most exciting news she had ever heard, "Oh my goodness, aren't you the lucky boy! You must be so excited!"

He nodded and slammed the door closed as she came inside.

"JD!" Steve scolded, motioning for him to be quiet, "Don't slam the door, Mom's trying to sleep." He walked up putting his hand on his head, turning him toward the family room, "Go find your other shoe." He shook his head at Maggie, "He's like a freight train."

"He's excited." Maggie reminded him, walking past him toward the stairs, "Is Casey in her crib?"

"Yep. Her diaper bag is over here by the door. Thanks Maggie, we appreciate this."

She waved her hand, slapping the air, "The best part of my day is when you call for a babysitter." She paused before going upstairs, "How is she feeling?"

"About the same."

"She was like this with JD and Casey too. It's always late in her second trimester that she gets the morning sickness."

"She never follows the rules," Steve huffed.

"Lucky for you she doesn't that would make her boring."

He couldn't help but agree with her.

"Dad?"

"What?" he looked at JD in the rearview mirror of the truck.

"How come," he paused, "how come Mom calls me Jonathon Daniel McGarrett when she's mad?"

He smiled at the confusion on his face, "Because that's your whole name, and moms do that when they're mad. I think all moms do that. My Mom used to call me Steven John McGarrett when she was mad."

"You have a name John too?"

"Yep, just like you. That was my Dad's name."

"He's in the picture that Mommy made, the picture by the TV. He died and went to heaven."

Steve glanced in the mirror at him, "Yes, with my Mom too." He pulled into a parking spot at the station and turned around, seeing his mind working on the next question in his blue eyes that blinked like he maybe had the answer but wasn't so sure. Steve waited patiently for him to ask.

"If they were here, would they be my Mom and Dad too?"

"No JD, they would be your Grandma and Grandpa. It's like Maggie. You know when her kids, Stacy and Kevin come and visit and they bring their kids, Josh, Lorna and Pauly?" JD nodded his understanding. "Josh, Lorna and Pauly call Maggie, Grandma."

"You don't have a Mom and Dad," he declared, knowing all along that they died, but the impact of it was just now hitting him, "and Mom doesn't have a Mom and Dad."

"Nope, not anymore." He felt the painful impact of that himself. JD would never have the privilege of having a Grandma and Grandpa. Maggie would be as close as any of his kids would ever know. She was an excellent substitute, but nonetheless, it still stung a bit.

Steve got out and came around the other side of the truck, undoing JD's seatbelt.

"Who took care of you when they died?" he asked, a look of concern on his face.

"I was older. Aunt Mary and I could take care of ourselves." He reached across him, grabbing his backpack.

"Who would take care of me and Casey if you and Mommy died?"

That got his attention. He stopped what he was doing and looked at him, "Mom and I aren't going to die for a long, long, long time." He was blown away by his inquisitiveness. Sometimes he would floor him with the questions he asked, and the way he would ask them. He saw tears begin to fill his eyes, "JD! Come on buddy, don't cry," he halfheartedly laughed, "I promise, Mom and I will never leave you and Casey."

"Bobby said that people shoot policeman for fun." He looked down at Steve's gun, "You should always wear your gun Dad. Don't take off your gun."

He was beginning to understand why he didn't like this Bobby Caldwell kid. "I always wear it when I'm at work. You know that."

He put his hand on Steve's chest, "How come you don't wear," he couldn't remember the technical name, "the shirt that stops the bullets?"

He took his small hand and held it, not wanting to see the worry in his little boy's eyes, "I do JD. I wear a bulletproof vest when they call us out on a case. When I leave the police station I put it on. Remember, I told you it's like a shield; nothing can get through it, especially bullets. It keeps me really safe."

He seemed satisfied by his answer, scooting off the seat standing in the doorway of the truck, "Or you could catch the bullet with your hand." He made a fist in the air, imitating what it would look like, "I saw that on TV."

"TV isn't real Buddy." He put his arm around his thighs and lifted him up, closing the truck door with his other hand, "You shouldn't listen to what Bobby says either, people don't shoot policeman for fun. I think Bobby plays too many video games."

JD squirmed, trying to get down as they approached the front doors. "I don't want you to carry me inside like I'm a baby. I'm not a baby like Casey." His attitude changed from little boy to little man in the blink of an eye.

Steve bent over, setting him down, "Sorry big guy, I guess we should have stopped for a double shot of espresso coffee for ya too." He slid the backpack over JD's shoulders.

He looked up at him, making a yucky face, "Coffee is gross Dad!"

JD slipped past Steve as they walked through the Five O headquarters door, running down the wide corridor between the offices, his backpack barely hanging on his shoulders. He stopped at Chin's office first, "Hi Chin!" He went inside and around to his desk.

"Hey JD! What's happening big Kahuna?" he gave him a high-five. "Hey," Chin said, holding his fist out, "I got a new one. We bump fists and then they explode from the impact, like this." He touched JD's fist and then opened his hand making an exploding sound.

JD laughed, "Do it again."

They touched fists together and both made the sound at the same time.

"Good one!" Chin complimented him.

"Can I see your shot-gun?" he asked.

"It's in the car. I'll go get it." He scooted his chair back and they both came out of the office. "Be right back."

"Ok." he said, running up to Kono, "Hi Kono!"

"Hey Buddy," she knelt down and hugged him, "What are you doing here today?"

"Mommy's sick."

Kono glanced up at Steve with a look of concern, "What's wrong?"

"Morning sickness."

She made a painful face, not ever experiencing it but knowing it wasn't pleasant, "Poor thing." She smiled at JD, "Well at least we get you out of it. I've got some papers that need to be sorted later on. Help me out?"

JD smiled and nodded enthusiastically, "Yes!" He took her hand as she stood up, walking with her to Steve's office.

"Is Casey at home with her?"

"No, Maggie has her," Steve replied sitting behind his desk, opening his laptop, "Kari was sleeping when we left. I was going to go home at lunch and check on her."

Kono squeezed JD's hand looking down at him, "Do you want to go to lunch with me, Chin and Danny today?"

He looked at his Father for approval, "Can I Dad?"

"Sure. Thanks Kono."

"We can go to that taco place you like." She jumped up and down excitedly with him.

JD laid on Danny's couch in his office, playing a game on his cell phone. He slammed his foot on the couch when the game didn't go his way.

"Hey," Danny scolded him, "it's for fun. If you're going to pitch a fit when you lose, you can give it back right now."

JD tilted his head back, looking at him, "I won't do it again."

"How come there's no school today?"

He sat up, setting the phone in his lap, "Teacher's have a free day, or some'em like that."

"Cool for you, huh?"

JD smiled, "I forgot until I woke up today and my Mom said I didn't have to go."

"What do you think of the new baby?"

He shrugged.

"Do you want a brother or sister?"

JD thought about it for a second. His Mom and Dad had both asked him this question, but he told them he didn't care, but he did. He didn't want a brother because he was afraid he would take his Dad away from him. Casey was different. He didn't feel threatened by her because she was a girl. He couldn't explain how it was different, but it just was. He shrugged his answer again.

Danny sat back in his chair, watching the obvious discontent he was feeling about the new baby. For four years it had been just him, and then Casey came along and stole some of his parents attention, and now another one. He was a smart kid and could feel the shift even four months before the actual event. Danny felt for him. He was also the eldest of three. "Your Dad was telling me that he wanted to take you camping in the next couple of months."

JD scooted off the edge of the couch, leaning against it, "He did?"

"He was hoping that it would become something you and he could do every year."

"Just me and him, no one else?"

"For now yes, but later on maybe Casey and the new baby would come too."

His expression turned dismal as he flopped his body backwards on the couch, pouting.

Danny came around his desk and sat down next to him, "Yeah, I know how you feel."

"You do?"

"My Dad and I used to go do stuff all the time and then my brother and sister were born and they always had to come along."

He stood back up next to the couch, putting his hand on Danny's knee, "Did that make you mad?"

"At first it did, but then one time my Dad told me that even though he loved my brother and sister as much as me, that I was special because I was his first kid."

JD cracked a small smile, "I'm the first too."

"Yep, and not only are you important to your Mom and Dad but you are super important to your little sister and the new baby."

"I am?" he looked surprised and confused.

"Absolutely! Are you kidding me?" He pulled him up on his lap so he was straddling him and they were facing each other, "It's a HUGE responsibility being an older brother." He stretched his arms out, showing the magnitude of it.

He heard the word responsibility and thought chore; whenever that word was thrown around he was usually being scolded. "Do I have to pick up their toys?"

"No," Danny shook his head, and raised his eyebrow, "but if you play your cards right, they might pick up yours."

JD was intrigued, "If I win at cards, then they have to pick up my toys?"

He shook his head, "No, that's a figure of speech. What I mean is, being a big brother gives you authority over the younger kids in the family. Do you know what authority means?" He was pretty sure he didn't.

He squinted his face, trying to remember if he'd ever heard that word before, but shook his head no.

Danny gently poked him in the chest, "That makes you the boss of the younger kids."

JD's eyes got big as well as his smile, "I can make them do things?"

Danny nodded, and then held up his finger, "But, it also means that they will see you as someone they can go to for help, and you need to be ready and willing to help them when they need it. You'll kind of be like your Mom and Dad when they aren't around."

It was like a light went on over JD's head, "This one time, Casey was chewing on this toy that I used to play with, but now it's for babies, and the nose came off in her mouth. I had to go inside her mouth and take it out."

Danny held his hands out, palms up, "Exactly what I'm talking about. That was probably your first time acting as a real big brother. She could have choked on it."

"Then she should pick up my toys when she gets bigger," JD announced.

He winked at him, "You'll probably be able to make them do anything you want, a good big brother is something special to have," he pointed at JD's chest again, "and you JD are going to be one of those."

For the first time he was actually kind of excited for the new baby, not really caring now if it was a boy or a girl. "My Mom said that you were the one that named me JD."

Danny smiled, remembering the argument between he and Steve about it, "That's right, I was. Your Mom and Dad decided to make your middle name after me."

JD tilted his head, "But my middle name is Daniel and your name is Danny."

"It's the same name, like John is short for Jonathon, Danny is short for Daniel. Anyway, I was pretty happy about it, but then thought, who uses the middle name? I'd never get to hear my name being used. So I started calling you JD, the J for John and the D for Daniel. Pretty soon everyone started calling you that and now, fifteen years later we are still calling you that."

JD chuckled. "I'm only five."

"What?!" Danny yelped, grabbing him by the shoulders and tipping him backwards so his head almost touched the floor, "I thought you were fifteen! Don't lie to me?"

JD burst out laughing, that uncontrollable five-year old laugh that made everyone in the office, sit up at their desks and look, laughing themselves because it was impossible not to. "I'm not lying," he yelled, "I'm only five!"

Danny stood up holding on to his ankles so he was hanging upside down and walked with him that way over to Chin's office. "Do you claim this?"

Chin shook his head, "Never seen it before in my life."

"Help me Chin!" JD giggled.

He walked over to Kono's office, "Where should I put this?"

"You could hang it in the closet," she suggested.

"Kono!" he squealed.

He walked over to Steve's office and up to his desk, "He claims to know you." He lifted him up by his ankles until he was eye level with his father. Steve pretended to look at him curiously, "Hmm, kind of looks like my son JD."

"Dad!"

"Sounds like him too."

"I guess I'll leave him here then." Danny walked over to the couch and dropped him on his stomach.

"Can we go eat now?" JD asked, sitting up, dangling his feet over the edge.

Steve quietly closed the front door behind him not wanting to wake Kari if she were sleeping. He was surprised to see her standing at the kitchen table folding clothes.

"Hi," she smiled, "I wasn't expecting you." She looked past him, "Where's JD?"

"They took him to lunch so I could come home and check on you." He put a hand on her back, kissing her cheek, "Feeling better?"

"Yes, I feel much better."

"Good." He kissed her again and walked over to the fridge.

She stopped what she was doing and watched him, feeling that familiar tingle throughout her body from his kiss and just having him close. She knew it was in part because she was pregnant and sometimes the urge for him would just be overwhelming. She was beginning to feel that urge now.

"Is there anymore of that chicken you made last night?" He asked, not aware of the lingering stare coming from across the room as he bent over looking in the fridge.

She came up behind him, putting a hand on his back, gliding it up to his shoulder as he stood back up and then letting it slide down his bicep, always amazed as his strength and how firm he was. "Um," she sighed, "it's right here." She reached inside handing him the plastic container.

He made the mistake of looking right at her and smiling, "This was really good." He moved past her to the microwave.

She followed him like he was a magnet, helplessly attracting her. Her heart began to race, "Can you look at something in the laundry room for me?"

His expression became annoyed, "Is something wrong with the washer and dryer?"

"No," She led him by the hand to the only room in the house they had never had sex in but was on her list.

He thought it odd that she was holding his hand. "Is everything ok?"

She glanced over her shoulder at him, "Yes."

He followed her into the small room that consisted of the washer and dryer on one side, a shelf with a pile of clean towels on the other side and a space in the middle that was about four feet wide. "What do you want me to look at?"

Kari smiled sheepishly, biting her bottom lip. She unbuttoned the top three buttons on her sundress, exposing an ample amount of cleavage from her breasts that in Steve's opinion had not been affected one bit by having two kids.

His eyes moved from her chest to her face, "Thank you, I appreciate that fine-looking gesture before I fix whatever it is you need fixed."

She put her hands on his chest, moving them slowly up and around his neck, "Do you have any idea how incredibly sexy you are?"

Steve laughed; realizing then that nothing was actually broken.

"Sometimes I think about you all day, especially when I'm in here."

He glanced around the cramped room. "Here," he looked oddly at her, "you think about me here while you're doing laundry?"

She nodded, "Yes. When I do your laundry I can smell your cologne and if I'm lucky, your sweat on your shirts." She brushed her cheek against his; breathing in that same scent she had just spoken off before kissing his neck.

"You smell my shirts?" he was dumfounded by this revelation.

"Hmm," she moaned, "yes."

"He chuckled, putting an arm around her waist, "I hope you don't smell all my clothes."

She pulled back, glaring at him, "Don't ruin this for me Steven. You know how I get in my fifth month, I'm either sick or turned on," she smiled, "I'm not feeling sick right now."

"Where's Casey?"

"She fell asleep at Maggie's so she's keeping her for the afternoon." Her hands slid down his chest and under his shirt, "We are all alone. How often does that happen?"

He looked around the small room; "You want to have sex in here?"

She didn't respond but just nodded, undoing his belt.

He glanced at his watch as she tugged on his pants just a little too roughly when they wouldn't cooperate. "Whoa, hold on," he halfheartedly laughed, "why don't we go upstairs?"

"No," she replied adamantly, "it has to be here!" She kissed him on the mouth, mastering the belt and moving on to his zipper.

"Ok, ok!" he agreed, a little too afraid to argue the point, "How, where?"

She stopped what she was doing and reached over, pulling the clean towels off the counter onto the floor. "Right here," she said, spreading them out with her foot and then grabbing him around the waist with both hands as she laid down on them, taking him with her.

"Kari!" he grabbed the edge of the counter catching himself before falling to his knees.

He'd seen her this way before, it was flattering to him but it could also be intense, the things she would ask him to do and the time it took. He glanced at his watch again, knowing he didn't have the time. He looked down at her as she scooted out of her panties, tossing them over her head out the laundry room door and then began to undo the rest of the buttons on her dress, never taking her eyes off of his. He positioned himself over top of her on all fours, forgetting about his watch, that little stunt she just performed changed his mind. He had time.

"You kind of caught me off guard," he teased, "what if I can't rise to the occasion."

She pulled down on his hips, "Just picture me wrapped in bacon and if that doesn't work," she slipped her hand inside of his pants.

"OH," he moaned and laughed at her bacon remark at the same time, "that's going to work."

Kari rested her forehead on his shoulder, still clinging tightly to his body as he laid her back down on the towels, "Feel better?"

She mumbled incoherently, letting him know she was.

He smoothed her hair away from her face, kissing her.

"Mmm, you're a good husband."

He kissed her again, "How lucky are we, huh?"

"Life is good, isn't it?" She put her arm around his waist and wrapped a leg around his.

He propped his head on his hand, smiling at her, "Pretty damn good."

She gathered a couple of towels under her head for a pillow, "The realtor called this morning. The sale of Ally's house closes on Friday."

"You feel ok about that?"

"Yes, mission accomplished."

"You did good." He kissed her forehead, "Seven girls, five college degrees."

"Seven college degrees," she corrected him, "Belinda and Reyna will graduate UCLA in two years."

"I don't know how you did it and still had two babies, ran this house, plus sold all those drawings in the mean time. You're amazing." The way he looked at her, she could tell he meant every word he said.

"I couldn't have done any of it without you."

"I don't believe that for a second."

"If I didn't have you standing behind me the last five years, holding me up, I never could have managed it." She reached up and kissed him, "Believe what you want, but you are just as responsible."

He smiled, "What's next?"

She tilted her head back, looking out the laundry room door. "We really need to start looking for a new house," she sighed almost regretful.

"I know. I think we've both been putting it off, but it has to happen. We can't bring another baby here." His hand moved down over her stomach, feeling the small bump that was forming.

"I like the idea of keeping this place though. I would really like to retire here. It would be perfect."

He nodded in agreement, "I'll never forget the first time you came here, standing by the front door, so afraid to breathe."

She stroked his arm that caressed her belly. She would never forget that night either; it was the very beginning of her life with him, which she cherished every second, of every day. "I love you. I love you so much." Without any notice she suddenly burst into tears, hugging him.

Steve chuckled, "I know it's painful isn't it."

"I just feel so happy right now," she sobbed, "I don't know why I'm crying."

"It wouldn't be because your pregnant and your hormones are raging out of control?"

She smiled, wiping her eyes, knowing that was a big part of it, "Maybe," she laughed at herself.

"I have to get back to work. I'm not going to leave you in an emotional mess am I?"

She laughed, pushing on his shoulder, sniffing, "No! I'm fine."

He got up on his knees, pulling his pants up, "You get some of the McGarrett lovin and it turns you to mush. Stay out of this room the rest of the day or you won't be able to function." He looked back at her, giving her a teasing smile.

Kari rolled her eyes, "Whatever."

JD stood next to the school flag pole waiting for his Mom to pick him up. He looked up when he heard his name.

"Hi JD, is your Mom coming today?" Bobby Caldwell's Mom yelled from the rolled down window of their car as Bobby got inside. She was late also and JD was never still there when she picked up Bobby.

"Yes."

"Why don't we give her a call?"

"She's coming," JD insisted.

She put the car in park and got out. "What's her phone number and we can call her?"

JD reluctantly agreed and gave her the number. He listened as Mrs. Caldwell talked to his Mom and then could tell from the one-sided conversation that she was going to take him home. He looked at Bobby sitting in the front seat of the car staring at him. He didn't want to ride home with them.

"Here JD," she said, handing him the phone, "Your Mom wants to talk to you."

He took the phone, "Are you coming?"

"Hi honey, I'm so sorry. I got stuck in traffic coming back from the doctor, but I'm almost home so Mrs. Caldwell is going to drop you off."

"I'll wait for you."

"No JD, just go with Mrs. Caldwell."

"Mom," he whined.

"JD!" she scolded, "please don't argue with me on the phone. I'll see you in a couple of minutes. You be polite. Do you understand?"

He looked up at Mrs. Caldwell, "Yes. Goodbye."

"Bye," she replied cheerfully.

JD climbed in the backseat of the Mercedes SUV and fastened his seatbelt. Bobby sat up and glanced back at him, "We don't have a baby seat for you to sit in."

"Bobby!" his Mom scolded, "That's mean to say." She pulled out of the parking lot of the school, heading down a side street toward JD's house.

"Where's my Gameboy?" Bobby said rudely, "You said you were going to bring it."

"It's in the glove box."

Bobby reached inside and pulled out the small computer game, dropping the two tiny game cartridges on the floor. He undid his seatbelt and reached down for them.

"Bobby," his Mother scolded, "put on your seat belt?"

"I dropped my games."

"Put on your seat belt," she said again.

He looked up at her with an angry glare, "I said I dropped my games! So be quiet!"

JD's eyes got wide at the tone and words that came out of Bobby's mouth to his Mother. He watched with wonder at what her reaction was going to be. He sat there shocked and bewildered when she did nothing at all. He couldn't even imagine how much trouble he would be in if he ever told his Mom to be quiet. He was pretty sure though she wouldn't be. She would yell, and then he thought of his Dad and knew for sure he would yell louder.

Bobby sat on the floor of the SUV, reaching under the front seat trying to retrieve his games. His body suddenly lunged back against the front as he heard his Mother scream and slam on the brakes.

JD's neck rubbed the strap of the seatbelt as the car stopped suddenly, causing a welt. He looked toward the front of the car to see what Mrs. Caldwell was screaming at when the window he was sitting next to shattered. He pushed his body back into the seat, stunned and frightened. The man reached inside with a knife, slicing through his seatbelt so quickly JD didn't even see him. His eyes were still closed from the frightening ordeal of the window breaking. He felt a tug on his shirt and before he knew it, he was being pulled out the window of the SUV.