Disclaimer: I do not own anyone/anything you recognize.

A/N: I continue to be amazed at how many of you follow and review this story every week. No words can express my gratitude enough. You flatter me to no end!

This is another chapter with a semi-smutty scene at the end. Apologies if it's not your cup of tea! I just can't help myself when it comes to Kono and Steve; they're just too hot, separately but especially together. I think that they deserve hot, steamy scenes.

My endless thanks go to quisinart4 and Tiana-P. You two are awesome.


"What do you think of this shirt?" Steve asked as he held up a long-sleeved, snug-fitting V-neck to his form.

Kono, who was sitting cross-legged with her arms crossed atop her knees on one of the waiting chairs, responded enthusiastically in an attempt to hide her boredom. "Yeah, I like that one."

He looked at her in an annoyed manner as he dropped the shirt to his side. He then spoke in a flat, unwavering tone. "Sweetheart, you've said that about the other three shirts I picked out. Which one do you really like?"

"Baby, they're all nice," she said, earning her another glare. She then chuckled before continuing to speak, flinging her hands out for emphasis as she kept her sitting position exactly the same. "Look, I don't understand why you feel the need to buy new clothes for tonight."

"We're having dinner with your mom and sister. Kind of a big deal," he said as he placed the shirt back down on the pile of shirts he had already accumulated on the chair next to her. He then plucked a long-sleeved, salmon-colored shirt from the pile and walked to the mirror, holding it up to his chest.

"How is it a big deal?" she asked incredulously, raising her eyebrow out of confusion. "It's not like you haven't met them before."

He then turned back around to her. "Yeah, but I have to make a good impression on them this time since I'm your boyfriend now."

She glanced down at the pile of shirts then back up at the shirt he had in his hand. "Why are all of them long sleeved?" she asked amusedly, her eyebrow still raised.

"I'm covering up my tattoos. I don't think your mom would like them very much," he said nonchalantly with a shrug. She held back a laugh, causing him to cross his arms and scoff. "Seriously, baby, this is not funny."

She smiled as she got up from the waiting chair and walked up to him, cupping his face in both of her hands. "Would you stop stressing? You don't need to try hard to impress them. They already like you."

He sighed impatiently, his eyes pleading. "Just pick one for me, please?"

"Okay, okay," she laughed as she turned around to look through the pile. She then pulled out a button-down, long-sleeved plaid shirt, holding it up to him daintily. "This one."

"Are you sure?" he asked haltingly, emphasizing every word.

She rolled her eyes, a smile lingering at the edges of her mouth. "Yes, I'm sure."

His eyes squinted as he looked at her. "You better not just be rushing me out of here so you can catch the good swell."

"I would never do that," she protested. He then tilted his head a spot to the left, looking at her incredulously. She rolled her eyes again as she continued to speak. "Okay, I would. But I'm not."

"Alright, okay, I'm done," he replied sulkily as he took the shirt from her.

"Are you sure?" she pouted sympathetically as she pulled his waist closer to her. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize how important this is to you."

"Yeah, we can go," he huffed defeatedly as he kissed her nose, causing her to scrunch it and smile. "I like this shirt best, too."

"Yay!" she said as she grabbed his hand, dragging him toward the checkout counter. "Okay, come on. Chop, chop. I wanna go surfing."

He scoffed, though still allowing her to lead him forward. "What did I say? I knew it."

As he handed the cashier the shirt, he wrapped his free hand around her waist. Instinctively, she wrapped both arms around his neck in a side hug. "Nah," she smiled as she kissed the corner of his mouth. "I just knew you'd give in."

"You're lucky you're irresistible," he said through gritted teeth, fighting a smile.

Kono and Steve walked into the main room of the art gala, her arm linked through his. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw that he had a complacent smile plastered on his face. Moving her eyes back to what was in front of her, she spoke softly to him. "You look pretty smug."

"As it happens, sweetheart, I'm feeling pretty smug," he responded, his smile widening as he, too, kept his eyes in front of him. "Danny kissed you the last time we went undercover together. I'm sure I'll get my turn later."

"As if you don't get enough of my lips," she said through her smile, shaking her head in amusement.

"I don't," he murmured into her ear, trying to sound as seductive as possible. He then spotted a man behind a velvet rope stanchion, his tone back to normal. "I think I just spotted our gatekeeper."

Her eyes moved to where he was looking. They watched as the man examined a card that was handed to him by three "important" people standing on the other side of the velvet rope stanchion before letting them go past him. "Looks like we need a magic card," she said as she leaned her head toward him.

They then spotted a man coming out from the other side, the bouncer lifting the velvet rope to let him back into the main room of the gala. "Can you check it out for me?" he muttered huskily.

She squeezed his arm before letting go. "Of course," she said, matching his tone.

She took a few steps forward, catching Chin and Danny's attentions with her gaze. She nodded her head toward the man, giving them a go-signal to attempt to steal his wallet.

As Danny passed the wallet covertly to her, she deftly removed the card before tossing the wallet away and walking back to Steve. He then grabbed the card slyly from her hand, pulling her into his arms in the process as he stuffed it into his inside jacket pocket. "Told you I'd get my turn," he whispered into her mouth as he kissed her, a smirk playing on his lips. "Thank you, baby."

"You're welcome," she grinned into his mouth.

A woman then approached them; they assumed she worked for Bastille. "Good evening, and might I say, you two make a beautiful couple."

"Aww, thank you," Kono said to the woman as she giggled from Steve's playful nibbles at her neck.

The woman smiled at them before continuing. "Like what you see?"

Steve's attention was now focused on the woman, though his arms remained around Kono's waist. "Uh, yeah, it's hard not to."

Kono rested a hand on his forearm while the other pointed at an art piece behind the woman. "Yeah, this one is very conceptual."

The woman turned around to look at the piece then turned back to them. "Are you interested in it?"

"Actually, my girlfriend and I are in the high-volume resale business," Steve said as he pulled the card out of his inside jacket pocket, lifting it up for her to see. He then nodded his head toward Chin and Danny, who were standing a few feet behind them. "My, uh, other two business partners are here, as well."

The woman looked at them suspiciously before leading them to the bouncer.

Kono looked into Steve's office and saw him leaning back on his office chair with his hands behind his head, his facial expression soured with regret and worry.

As she entered his office, he looked at her and smiled a forced smile. She pouted at him sympathetically as she approached him and sat on his lap. He then leaned forward in his chair, his arms now around her waist and his head resting on her chest. "You okay?" she murmured against his hair as she wrapped her arms around his neck, her fingers stroking the back of his neck to calm him.

He pulled his head back to look at her. "Was I wrong?"

"No, you were just going with what the evidence was telling you," she said as she continued to stroke the back of his neck. "I obviously saw the same thing."

He remained silent, his eyes distant and distracted. "Aww, baby," she said gently and sympathetically as she wrapped her arms around his head, kissing the top of his head and winding her fingers through his hair. "It'll be okay. He'll be okay."

They stayed that way momentarily; he nuzzled his head into her neck gently as she giggled lightly. She then kissed his head again before continuing to speak. "So, what exactly did Danny do to Bastille?"

He pulled his head back again to look her in the eyes, a small yet genuine smile making its way across his soft lips. "He, uh, tied him to the hood of the car then drove up a parking deck in high speed."

She chuckled and scoffed. "Sounds like he's learning a lot from you."

"You think it's sexy," he said as his smile grew wider, his voice now husky.

"Mmm, that, I do," she said, winking before leaning in to kiss him chastely.

As Kono slid her key into the lock of the front door of her mother's beachfront estate in Kailua, Steve ran his free hand over his plaid shirt to smooth out the wrinkles, his other hand nervously holding a bouquet of flowers.

"Are you sure I look okay? Did I dress up enough?" he asked as his hand moved down to smooth out his denim faded jeans. He then ran a hand through his hair, his eyes now looking up at her. "Does my hair look okay?"

"Baby, stop," she laughed as she turned around, placing both hands on his waist. She placed a quick kiss on his lips. "You look good, I promise."

She turned the key then opened the door, stepping inside only to smell a delicious aroma of food coming from the kitchen. "I recognize that smell," he said as he sniffed the air, closing the door behind him.

She turned her head around to flash a smile at him while walking toward a single sofa chair in the living room to put her purse down. "She's making your favorite."

"Aww, she didn't have to do that for me," he said sweetly as he walked up next to her.

"It's cute that you remember my mom's cooking," she smiled as she placed her hands over his chest, giving him a brief kiss on the lips. She then yelled for her mother to come into the living room. "Mama?"

"Oh, kaikamahine," her mother said as she came out of the kitchen and entered the living room, an apron wrapped around her. She hugged her with a big smile. "I've missed you! I barely ever see you."

"I know. I've missed you, too." Kono pulled away, her hands now holding onto hers. "I'm sorry we had to reschedule the other night. We had a long case."

"Oh, it's okay. I'm just glad you're here now."

She then turned around to Steve, causing him to step forward to greet her mother. "You remember Steve, right?" she asked while turning her head back toward her.

"Oh, my God, you look so different!" her mother said as she let her go to hug Steve. "Hi, sweetie!"

"Hi, Mrs. Kalakaua," he smiled as he hugged her back with one arm.

"Oh, come on. You know better than to call me that," she said as she pulled away from him completely.

"Ida," he smiled again as he brought out the flowers from his back and presented them to her. "These are for you."

Ida placed a hand on her chest, touched by his gesture. "Oh, you didn't have to get me these."

"I wanted to," he shrugged.

"You haven't changed. You're still the sweet boy I remember," she said, making him smile again.

Kono, who had been smiling at their reunion, spoke up to her mother. "Is my sister here?"

"Yeah, she's helping me in the kitchen," Ida nodded before calling out for Lani. "Leilani? Can you come out here, keiki?"

Her five-foot, six-inch sister with paler yet still tanned skin came out of the kitchen. She was wearing an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt and short, white shorts with a bikini inside. Her eyes were dancing as she took in the sight of Kono's cotton, strapless, white dress with a sweetheart neckline. "Nice dress. Who bought that for you?"

"Come here," Kono smiled through gritted teeth as she pulled her sister in for a hug. "Oh, I've missed you, you punk."

"I've missed you, too," Lani smiled as she closed her eyes, taking in her sister's presence and warmth.

"How much longer until you have to leave?" Kono asked as she pulled away.

"I've still got a couple of days."

"I'll take you out to lunch tomorrow. I'm off." She then looked at Steve before re-introducing him to Lani. "You remember Steve?"

"How could I forget?" Lani said as she walked over to hug him. "His name was always so prominently popular in this household."

"Did your sister really talk about me that much?" Steve asked while still hugging her, amusement clearly in his tone.

"All the time," Lani smiled as she pulled away.

"Okay," Kono said abruptly, clearly embarrassed. "Is dinner ready?"

Lani chuckled before responding. "Just about." She then nodded her head toward the kitchen. "Come help me."

Kono looked at Steve again. "You two gonna be okay here?" she asked with slight concern.

"Of course," Steve said confidently yet still shaky.

"Yeah, go, we'll be fine," Ida waved her hands, shooing the two ladies away. "Just bring us some lilikoi juice." Her eyes were back on Steve. "Do you still like lilikoi juice?"

"Yes, ma'am," Steve nodded with a smile.

"Here, I'll put those in water," Kono said as she grabbed the flowers from her mother's hands. Before walking with Lani toward the kitchen, she smiled and winked at Steve, causing him to smile back.

Ida looked at Steve as she sat on one of the couches. "So, how are you, sweetie?" she asked as she gestured him to sit across from her. "Tell me about the Navy."

Steve sat with his arms resting on his legs, back bent forward. "Well, I went to Annapolis, spent five years with Naval Intelligence before joining the SEALs for six. I came back after my dad died and I decided to stay."

"Wow! Impressive! Do you miss it?"

He nodded but protested, a smile reappearing on his lips. "I like my life now, though, just as much."

"What made you want to stay?"

Before he could respond, Kono reappeared into the living room and walked over to where he was sitting. He smiled as he opened his arm and put it around her waist, her arm instinctively wrapping around his shoulders. He then looked back at Ida, smiling even wider this time. "Your daughter, for one."

Kono and Steve smiled at each other sweetly, causing Ida to smile at them. Kono then moved her eyes back and forth between her mother and Steve. "I was about to bring out the juice, but dinner is actually ready now."

"Oh, okay," Steve answered, still looking at Kono.

Kono looked down at him, concern in her tone. "You two doing okay?"

"Yeah, we're doing fine," he assured confidently.

Kono squinted her eyes skeptically but cautiously agreed. "Okay, good." She nodded her head toward the dining room as she spoke again. "Come on."

She then walked over to her mother to extend her hand. "Come on, mama." She pulled her up, wrapping an arm around her waist and walking with her toward the dining room, Steve following suit.

Dinner had long been over, and Kono and Steve had been leaning forward against the lanai railing and staring out into the open ocean in comfortable silence for a good while now, the evening breeze caressing their skin. He had his arm draped over her shoulders, her head resting against his collarbone. Lani stepped through the already opened glass door to join them on the lanai, two cups of coffee in her hands. "Mama really likes Steve," she said, getting both their attentions as she handed them the coffees.

"What was mama saying?"

Lani was now leaning next to Kono against the railing. She looked at both of them though her words were for Kono. "She just kept talking about what a fine gentleman he grew up to be and is happy to see him still taking such good care of you."

"Aww, she said that?" Kono said to her before turning her head to look at Steve, swatting his chest playfully with the back of her free hand. "See? I told you she liked you."

"He was nervous, huh?" Lani chuckled. Kono just chuckled back and nodded before taking a sip of her coffee.

"Alright. Tease me, just get it over with," Steve huffed, rolling his eyes as he took his own sip.

The two ladies continued to laugh before falling into another comfortable silence, their eyes all looking the same direction toward the ocean. After a few moments, Lani broke the silence, directing her words toward Kono once more as she continued to stare out into the ocean. "Hey, sis, remember when we'd sneak in alcohol then take our boards out here at night?"

"Yeah," Kono said after taking another sip, recalling memories from her past as her eyes were also still fixed on the ocean. "God, that was fun."

"Seriously?" Steve asked as he looked at Kono, his tone in disbelief.

She turned her head toward Steve, her voice amused. "Seriously. We used to do it all the time. I'm surprised our mom never woke up from us. We were so loud."

"Yeah, your girlfriend was pretty crazy back then," Lani teased, her eyes moving to Steve.

"You were worse than I was," Kono scoffed at her with amusement. "I don't think you want me to start listing the shit you got yourself into." Lani just punched her arm playfully and scrunched her face in fake anger, causing Kono to stick her tongue out at her. Steve just smiled at the two of them, shaking his head as he drank some more of his coffee.

Lani then nodded up at her. "You said you're off tomorrow, right?" She waited for her to nod then continued, her voice now excited. "Let's relive our past!"

Kono sat her cup on the wide railing, her hand still through the handle of the cup. "Lani…"

"What?" Lani asked innocently.

"Seriously?"

"Why not? We're only young once. Might as well do all the crazy shit while we still can. Besides, who's gonna arrest us? You two are cops."

Kono contemplated before turning to Steve, letting go of her cup. "Do you mind?"

He finished his coffee and set his cup down on the railing, his face full of curiosity and excitement. "Hell, I'm joining in." He then looked at Lani. "You got an extra board, right?" Lani just nodded and smiled widely.

"Really?" Kono asked him in disbelief, a smile playing on her lips.

"Yeah," Steve smiled back. "I never got a chance to grow up with you. I'm curious to see what it was like."

Kono smiled mischievously and spoke to Lani without turning around. "Go grab the whiskey."

As Lani ran excitedly into the house to grab a bottle of whiskey, Steve raised his eyebrows at Kono in shock. "Whiskey?"

"Oh, yeah. My sister and I, we'd drink like men," Kono said proudly. She then smirked as she saw his face light up in amazement. "You look impressed."

"Oh, I'm more than that," Steve said lowly, his voice full of arousal. Kono just chuckled and shook her head as Lani came out with the whiskey.

Kono and Steve went into her childhood room, flushed with adrenaline and alcohol. They were stumbling to keep upright as they tried to control their laughter. "Fuck, that was fun," he whispered through a smile as he threw his towel on the floor of her room.

She closed the door behind her and tossed her towel on top of his, her eyes dark and lust-filled. She then walked toward him, crashing her mouth with his while fumbling with the strings of his swim trunks. "Mmmhmm, but this is fun, too."

"Mmm, what are you doing?" he moaned in-between kisses, slightly pulling away.

"What do you think I'm doing?" she asked as she continued to kiss him, her tongue now diving into his open mouth to run along his upper pallet, sending shivers down his spine. "Mmm, did I mention how fucking hot you looked in those jeans and plaid shirt?"

He grabbed her arms and pulled away to see her eyes half open, mouth slightly agape. "Baby, we can't. We're in your mom's house."

"Mmm, so?" She pressed her groin against his then drew her tongue along and down his neck, causing him to angle his head and groan in pleasure. He struggled to bring the words out of his mouth. "We can't have sex in your mom's house."

"It's my house, too. I've got a key," she reasoned before pointing both index fingers skyward. "See? Look, my room."

She pushed him onto her bed and unhooked her strapless bikini top, letting it drop to the floor. She then climbed on top of him and quickly put her hair up before kissing him again. "Don't worry, she won't wake up."

"You talk as if you've done this before," he said against her mouth, both his hands now on her hips. When she didn't respond, he stopped kissing her to look at her. "You've done this before, haven't you?" he huffed flatly, his face and tone unamused.

She gulped before gaining back her confidence. "Are you not gonna fuck me anymore? I thought you wanted to relive my past with me?" she asked innocently as she grinded her pelvis against his, trying to fight a smile coming onto her face.

"You can't do that," he retorted, amused yet annoyed. "You can't play cute and innocent."

"Why not? It's working, isn't it?" she smiled as she bit her lower lip.

He clenched his jaw playfully and smiled before swiftly turning them around, pinning her beneath him. She laughed and squealed simultaneously, causing him to put his hand over her mouth. His voice was quiet, yet husky and rough. "I'm going to fuck you so much better than every boy you've ever brought in here."

She bit his hand playfully to get it off her mouth then smirked at him, her voice seductive as she lifted her head up from her pillow and whispered, "I wanna see you try."

Still smiling, he growled lowly and swept his tongue over her bottom lip before diving it into her mouth.

He was, indeed, better than all the boys she had ever brought home.


lilikoi – passion fruit