An invitation to a fundraiser from the governor was not something you got to even consider to turn down and no matter how boring it might be, there was one upside. He was going to get to see Kono in a dress, a real formal gown, something he had only seen on Chin and Malia's wedding. They were not exactly formal people so the few dates they had had was more of a casual affair, but it sure wasn't a sight he was soon going to forget. He was home alone getting ready in their bedroom since Lori had insisted that the girls should get ready together, he had practically been able to see Kono begging him to save her from across the room. Smirking at the thought of Kono being tortured by girly stuff also made the evening a whole lot better.
Kono was not someone you would staple as a girly girl, she was anything but. Instead of waking up half an hour earlier in the morning to get dressed and dolled up she rather went to the beach for a surf before throwing on the nearest item, barely remembering to run a brush through her hair. While other girls spent hours at the shopping mall she spent five minutes in the shop, long enough to gather up some elegant shirts and a pair of jeans that fit. She rather went to the shooting range with him then down to the gym for yoga. Sure she still liked to do the other stuff and she liked to dress nice, but it wasn't in her nature to do so and that was what he liked about her. She didn't feel that it was necessary to make a fuss about everything and draw it out. Simple. Pretty much like him.
Straightening up his tie he took one last look in the mirror and doomed himself ready. He had found his one and only black suit in the closet that he had worn when Chin got married, normally when he when he was forced to go to a formal event Blues were expected or mandatory, so it was pure luck that he actually had something to wear. Picking up his keys and wallet, he couldn't go to a fundraiser and "forget" his wallet like he did every time he went out for a beer with Danny, and took off for the hotel. When he arrived the place was swarming with women in long gowns in every colour and men in suits and ties, he was going to fit right in. Walking through the mass of people he finally spotted Danny by one of the tables and it looked like he was signing up for something, much to his surprise. When he reached Danny and he told him what he was bidding for he couldn't help but laugh and do the same, if only to spur on Danny. Which he regretted the moment he opened his mouth and began of his famous rants. And that was when Kono decided to make her entrance for the night along with Lori, striking him speechless. She was wearing a long white dress that was covered from top to bottom with sparkling gemstones, held up by two thin straps that was resting on her delicate shoulders. He had to remind himself to keep his mouth closed so the he wouldn't make a fool out of himself in public. But before he could say anything Chin walked up to them and told them about his upcoming lesson with a famous ukulele player.
"Do you know what would be even cooler though? If you bid on that romantic weekend in Kauai." Kono hinted, not so discreetly to her cousin and Danny immediately took the bait.
"Why would he do that?"
"Because he's newly married and its Valentine's Day this week…" She said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world and quickly casted a glance at him before turning back to her cousin and he had to fight the urge to slap himself. He could not believe that he had forgotten about it again. Their second year together he had totally blanked that it was Valentine's Day and he had yet to hear to end of it. When Chin then explained how Malia liked it simple he thought he could just copy his example until Kono voiced her displeased opinion on the matter. Drugstore candy was not what a girls wanted as a token for their love.
"-but of course it's better than someone not remembering at all…" And once again her gaze turned to him and he could see the smug smirks on both Danny and Chin's faces. Of course he would be the one that forgot about the day of love.
"So, what I hear is that you would actually be okay with chocolates?"
He grinned and made everyone laugh, including Kono. Breaking out of the circle they had unconsciously formed he went to stand next to Kono instead. Putting one of his hands on her almost bare back his smirk grew even bigger. She truly was utterly beautiful. Up close like this he could see just the smallest amount of make-up on her face and her soft alluring perfume reached him.
"You look absolutely amazing!" He whispered in her ear to prevent Danny or Lori from hearing their conversation.
"You don't look so bad yourself Koa!" But as soon as we get home the heels are coming off."
"I was hoping you would say that!"
Leaning in he stole a kiss and then another before pulling her slightly closer until she was resting against his chest. But the peace didn't last long as the governor approached them and called out for him and Lori. He didn't know if he should be glad or sad that they all of the sudden got dragged into work. On hand it meant that they could skip out on the boring event, on the other hand it meant the end of their night off and probably the next coming once as well. But he would have to say it was slightly angering since all of the sudden he was stopped from doing his work properly for reputations sake. He sure hated these fundraiser parties.
To say that it was both difficult and ridicules to investigate a crime scene in black-tie attire was an understatement, but it did give him something good to look at every time Kono moved. Looking through the surveillance tapes they got a lead and it ended up with him throwing himself of the roof after a suspect. Something he knew Kono would give him hell for. Ever since the affair with Wo Fat she had been a little more apprehensive of him doing something stupid that could get him hurt, she wouldn't really say it or show it but he could definitely tell. Maybe it was best not to say something about it, hopefully Danny could shut up as well.
It was something about this whole case that irritated him. First they had a person at upscale event who did not belong at an upscale event. Then they had a diplomat who was untouchable as a suspect and who most likely did it, the trick was just to prove it when you couldn't even speak to him. And that's why they, or mostly him, had planned their most insane raid ever. Which unfortunately did not end so well. Chin got stuck inside, having to take all the heat from the Russian consulate while the rest of them where on the outside. They managed to smoke their suspect out but as usually he ran and he of course ran after. He almost had him within his grasp when out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash of something black and then came the pain. They flew straight into the windshield and then things went black. From somewhere far off he thought himself hear Kono's desperate cries but he could not will his eyes to open. He hated hearing Kono in any kind of distress, he just wanted to take her into his arms and reassure her that everything was fine, but no matter how hard he tried he could not move his body.
When he saw her next she was approaching him in the cutes pair of scrubs and it sort of bothered him that it could arouse him even in a situation like this. She wore the most tender look on her face as she stepped between his legs and placed her hand carefully on his less damaged cheek. Letting himself go for a second, he leaned into her touch and sighed in contentment. Lori had been the one to go with him in the ambulance and he had not seen Kono since he woke up at the sight, just as they were rolling him into the ambo.
"Are you okay?" She asked quietly and he couldn't do anything but smile at her, she was truly one of a kind.
"I'm fine! Did you get it?" Holding up the piece of plastic in her other hand, she waved it in front of his face and smiled smugly. Grinning proudly at his girl he enjoyed her presence for a few more seconds before they heard approaching voices, one of them belonging to the governor. Kono quickly slipped on her mask again and gracefully slipped out through the door on the opposite side of the room before the entourage came in to the room.
He had to try and explain himself to the governor and defend their actions but it did not go down too well. The governor was beyond furious and he knew that they would definitely have to pay for it when all of this was over. But they only needed a few more hours so that Fong could match the blood and prove that the suspect was their killer. When the results came back and he could take the sister to see the man who had once destroyed her life, it was the greatest feeling. They had managed to get justice for the girl, but it came at a big price. Lori had to leave them. It was a little sad because despite their start she had begun to grow on them, but on the other hand it was also a relief, things would go back to how it used to be, just the four of them. As a parting gift she had given him the season tickets he and Danny had been bidding on, apparently she had outbid them both when their backs had been turned. In the end though he ended up giving them to Danny anyway, not really wanting him and having something else to look forward to.
Walking out of the office with Kono like any other day they jumped into the car and drove off. Only this time he wasn't taking her home. When the others had been busy with paperwork he had snuck out for half an hour and rushed back home and backed them both an overnight bag. He had taken her advice after all and not gone for the chocolates in the end. He could see the confusion clearly on her face as she realised they were not on the way home, but she still didn't say anything and it warmed his heart. It just showed how much she trusted him, so much that she never even questioned him when he was abducting her. When they arrived at the airport her curiosity got the best of her and her resolve broke, but the only answer she got was a broad smile. It was a good thing when it got to surprises that he never broke under pressure.
When they got their boarding passes however he could not hide it anymore and the look on her face when all the pieces came together was priceless. She smiled that adorable smile that was completely filled with love and warmth, reserved for times when she found no words, and he felt pride to the fact that he could make her that happy since she made him so happy. Before he met her, family was something he kind of resented and didn't have much experience off. He practically lived for his job, going on mission after mission and almost always longing back to the action when he was on leave. It was what kept him going, knowing that what he did helped people live their lives in bliss. But then he met Kono and everything change. Work ended up far down to the bottom of the list and suddenly he had other priorities. He found himself wanting to settle down with another person, create a life together. For the first time he lived for someone else's happiness and felt like he belonged somewhere. Content.
They arrived in Kauai a while later and a car was waiting outside to take them to their hotel. The sun was setting and their hotel-room was facing the ocean, tempting them for a surf in the morning but if he had his way they would not leave their room this weekend. Champagne and flowers were waiting for them and ironically enough, chocolate. They both burst out laughing but quietened when they got other things to occupy themselves with.