Disclaimer: You know the drill...don't own it and do I have to keep rubbing salt in the wound? The song featured in this chapter is "Do what lovers do" by the Hawaiian group Three Plus

Chapter 8 Louie's Luau

They had arrived at Louie's grandmother's house an hour ago and almost before they could get out of the Jeep both women had been whisked away in different directions. Marissa had been immediately brought to meet Louie's grandmother, who directed the brunette to call her Nana. Alex on the other hand had been dragged away by the Cousins, as they were called, questions flying from every direction; mostly focusing on Marissa and when Alex planned on 'doing her'.

"For the hundredth time Mike, it's not like that!" Alex growled at Louie's cousin, the teenaged boy just winked at the blonde and said "Sure Alex, if you say so."

Alex rolled her eyes and moved away from the group of guys that had been circling her for the last forty minutes, some of them trying to get her to go out with them, some wanting to know if she was doing the dirty with Marissa. As her thoughts turned to the leggy brunette, she let her eyes wander around as she raided the buffet style table, all the while looking for the girl. Finally cerulean eyes found their prey, Marissa sat talking to Nana on the far side of the large canopy that had been set up to cover the food and house at least some of the large extended family attending the luau as well as the large dance floor at the center of the gathering.

Alex, feeling confident enough that no one was watching her, took this opportunity to study the brunette beauty unabashedly; Her eyes traced the Marissa's lips as they curved into a soft smile, her eyes lighting up so spectacularly it put even the most lavish fireworks display to shame. A shiver worked it way down her spine as the sound of Marissa's voice washed over her, the blonde couldn't make out any specific words, but to her ears it was like a lilting melody playing on the warm night breeze.

"You know, if I didn't know better, I would think that Bad Ass Alex Kelly was crushing on a certain fashion designer." Alex almost jumped out of her skin as Louie came up beside her. Shooting the big man an annoyed look she said "I have no idea what you are talking about." while grabbing a couple of pastries from the dessert table before turning to look her friend in the eyes. Louie just gave her that knowing look of his.

"What! I don't have a crush on Marissa." Louie cocked his eyebrow but then just shrugged, he knew it was never a good idea to push Alex; it was always better to let the blonde come around in her own time.

"Anyways. So I was wondering if I could ask you something, it's about Dawn."

Alex nodded and the two moved a little bit away from the main crowd. The stood for a moment and finally she realized that he was going to need some prompting. "What's up bro?" Louie looked nervously at all the people talking and laughing together, his family and friends, and then back at Alex.

"I've been doing a lot of thinking about stuff lately, you know life stuff." He said looking at Alex seriously. "And I was wondering what your thoughts were on this." He said pulling a small box out of his pocket and handing it to the girl. Alex took it, opening it her eyes went wide before a bright smile lit her face, inside sat a simple diamond ring, nothing extravagant, but beautiful in its own right.

"Well gee Louie, I don't know, this is so sudden." Alex teased in her best girly girl voice. Louie shoved her lightly.

"Not you, fish head. Dawn, I want to ask her to marry me and I was wondering if you thought that now was a good time to do it?" Alex smiled warmly at him, before closing the box, handing it back to him and giving him a great big hug.

"Louie…I think now would be the perfect time to ask her." Alex whispered in the big man's ear. The two stood there hugging for a moment before Alex pulled away and asked. "So, how you wanna do this?"

Louie gave her a huge smile and whispered into her ear. Alex's smile became even brighter. "Perfect bro. Need any help setting up?" Louie shook his head. "Nah, I got it covered. All you have to do is sit back and enjoy me making a fool out of myself." Louie said as he walked off to find a couple of his cousins. Alex smiled as she made her way over to where Marissa sat with Nana and Louie's girlfriend Dawn. "Hello ladies, how are you this evening?"

"Alexandra! Where have you been?" Nana scolded the blonde as she placed a kiss on the older woman's cheek.

"Sorry Nana, the boys had me cornered." Alex apologized as she lowered herself down next to Marissa. Most of the people sat on mats around a large raised platform that the younger members of the family used to practice and perform native dances. Alex gave Marissa a warm smile before turning her attention to Dawn. "Hey Dawn, haven't seen you in a while." The girl smiled before gently patting the growing bump that was her belly.

"Yeah, it's getting harder to move with this one getting so big." The girl was absolutely glowing, Alex was pretty sure she would be positively nuclear after Louie's surprise. Just then the music was cut off and a line of about ten teenage girls came streaming out in full costume, wearing simple white bikini tops and grass skirts. All the girls were adorned with ti leaf head dressings and anklets as well as flower leis. The girls got into their formation and as the music started they began to move as one, their bodies flowing as if part of the sea. After the first song was over they changed formation and were joined by a few of their male counter parts dressed in Hawaiian print shirts and white pants rolled up to just below the knee, but this time instead of music being play on the stereo Louie and a couple of the boys came out carrying ukuleles.

As the guys got settled in front of, but off to the side of the dancers they began to strum the instruments. Alex recognized the song vaguely as Louie started singing.

'Hey pretty baby I like your style

The way you move it makes me smile

I know you don't know who I am

But I wanna be your man'

The dancers had started moving to Louie's singing. The big man began moving forward, it was now obvious that Louie was singing to Dawn. There were scattered 'oohs' and 'ahhs' from women in the crowd as well as wolf whistles from some of the men. Alex turned to see Dawn smiling lovingly at her man as he continued to serenade her.

'Cuz I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you baby

And I need you, I need you, I need you, I need you darling

Because I want you, I want you, I want you, I want you honey

I want you to come on and get close to me

And I'll give you all the livin you need

Cuz girl you know I'm stuck on you

And I want to do what lovers do'

Louie was now standing directly in front of Dawn, smiling brightly down at the woman he loved.

'See you getting in the groove

I treat you like a real man should

It's so clear for you to see

That all you need is here in me'

This time when the chorus started it was Mike that sang as Louie looked deeply into Dawn's eyes. Everyone watched on as the big man gently set aside his ukulele and lowered his considerable bulk down onto one knee pulling the small velvet box from his pocket. By this time Dawn had tears flowing freely down her face. "Louie, what are you doing?" the girl whispered as he took her hand. Nana looked on proudly while Alex sat there grinning like a fool. Marissa however sat stunned, not seeing the scene unfolding in front of her, but one from years ago.

"Dawn, I love you with all my heart, and I was hoping you would do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Dawn could only vigorously shake her head yes as she gathered Louie into her arms.

Everyone started clapping and cheering, but Alex didn't notice any of it as she saw Marissa quickly get up and rush off towards the large tropical garden at the back of the house. Without even a second thought she got up and gave chase to the fleeing brunette. The blonde slowed as she came to the darkened path that led through the fragrant maze of flowers and trees that made up Nana's prized garden. It was darker here the full moon above provided enough light so that she didn't need a flash light.

Finally, her eyes landed on the brunette's shuddering form sitting on a carved wooden bench by an artificial pond and waterfall. Quietly she went and sat next to Marissa, not saying anything, just waiting for the girl to be ready to talk. Marissa swiped at the tears, embarrassed that the blonde had seen her in this moment of weakness. "I'm sorry, I just. I hope I didn't ruin it. His proposal I mean." Marissa stammered.

Suddenly Alex understood. Gently she wrapped an arm around the fragile girl, not offering empty words but the solid comfort of her body. Marissa leaned into Alex, letting her arms wrap loosely around the girls waist, accepting what the blonde was offering her for what it was. They sat in silence staring at the night sky reflecting off the rippled surface of the pond, Alex gently stroking Marissa's back, Marissa with her head nuzzled into the crook of the blonde's neck breathing in her scent. The atmosphere had become charged, Alex felt the change and she knew that Marissa felt it to. The girl had been gently stroking Alex's side with her thumb when she had suddenly stopped.

Both girls pulled back slightly so that they could look into each others eyes. Alex brought her hand up to gently cup Marissa's face, her thumb gliding along the girl's smooth cheek. The brunette licked her lips as her eyes darted back and forth between Alex's lips and eyes. The blonde's lips had just grazed Marissa's, barely a touch, when the quiet of the night was shattered by the ringing of a cell phone.

Alex leaned her forehead against Marissa's sighing. "Sorry, I have to take this." Even to her own ears her voice sounded breathless. Sitting back she pulled her phone from her pocket and flipping it open. "Hello?"

"Alex, I'm sorry to bother you, but there is kinda a situation down here that needs your attention." Jodie's voice came over the line. Alex heard the irritation in her friend's voice.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked, dreading the answer.

"Nothing serious, it's just that we have some unwanted guests and we can't get them to leave. They are kinda causing a big scene here."

"Who is it?"

"Let's just say that K.C. Cunt and the Sunshine Slut are attempting to make a comeback." Alex heard a stream of muffled curses, it sounded vaguely like Eden. "Sarah came onto Lena and Eden saw it and this whole place is on the verge of turning into one big bar fight."

Marissa watched the expressions that crossed Alex's face. Finally the girl sighed deeply. "Okay fine, I'll be there in thirty minutes. Keep Eden out of trouble until I get there."

Turning to Marissa the blonde smiled apologetically. "That was Jodie; there is an emergency at the Shark Pit. I'm gonna see if I can get Louie or Mike to drop you back to the house."

"You don't have to, I mean, I could just go with you. That's if you don't mind." Marissa said quickly.

Alex seemed to think about it for a minute. "Well I don't see anything wrong with it, besides this way you can see my bar." The blonde said with a cocky smile. With that she stood taking the girl's hand and leading her back to the party so that they could say good-bye and congratulate Louie and Dawn on their engagement. Marissa smiled to herself, as the girl held her hand, their fingers entwined. 'Things were definitely looking up.'