Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-O or anything you recognize from it.

The art of love... is largely the art of persistence. — Albert Ellis

Thank you again to everyone and to the anonymous reviewers. Please enjoy and Please Review!

Chapter Ten

Oh Mama, It's Times like These

Melissa stretched, settling herself further into her comforter on her luxuriously soft bed, when was the last time she had simply woken up and stayed in bed, too comfortable to move? She shook her head, excitement at the idea that she was finally home making her toes curl. She threw herself out of the bed and started her shower, glancing quickly at the clock and grimaced. She hadn't meant to sleep past midday but she didn't regret it, she felt enthused and brimming with excited energy. She still had enough time to run and get a few groceries before making a surprise dinner for him at his place.

0000000000000000

Danny muttered a few expletives as he realized he was going to have to wrap her damn gifts he had bought Jones. He stared at his couch brimming with gifts he couldn't help but buy and the tape and newspaper in his hand; what had he gotten himself into? When the doorbell rang, he was only too happy to throw the tape and paper down to go answer the door and welcome his liberator. He quickly wondered if it would be in bad taste if he just threw everything in a grocery bag and handed it to her. Damn Jones for making him wonder about these things.

"What are you doing here?" Danny asked the man staring shyly at him.

Chin shrugged, "Brought you wrapping paper."

Danny winced, "Ugh, come in. You got her something too?"

Chin nodded but stopped dead in his tracks when he caught sight of Danny's brimming couch, "You got her all that? I don't think McGarrett is going to like that, you're showing him up."

"Are you going to help me or not?" Danny asked: he could handle McGarrett.

"Sure, where do you want me to put this?" Chin asked, motioning to the two bags of snacks he had bought for the impromptu party.

Danny pointed to the table and quickly wondered if he could just unroll the damn wrapping paper and throw everything in the middle, how much tape would he need?

"What the hell is this?" He heard Chin ask.

Danny turned around and glanced at the other man, his heart stopping when he realized what Chin was looking at, "Its nothing, give it here." He made a grab for it but it was too late: Chin was already reading the case file. He winced and leaned wearily against the table; even Kono didn't know anything about Charles Picot.

Chin glanced startlingly at Danny and he knew immediately the other man had just read Melissa's name in the file.

"Is this some kind of a joke?" Chin asked wanting desperately to believe this had never happened. Chin finished reading the file and closed it, shutting his eyes against the light, "How could—" He cleared his throat and frowned, sharing a scowl with Danny.

"Melissa must not know, only you and I know about this." Danny said quietly.

Chin nodded, "Not even McGarrett?"

"Its not for us to say, we're just going to protect Jones."

"And Kono?" Chin asked.

"Its not for us to tell." Danny ran a hand through his hair, feeling guilty for allowing Chin to know but he knew the other man, and Chin would take what he knew to the grave.

They stared at each other for a few more minutes before nodding in resolve; it was Melissa's homecoming and they wouldn't let the past ruin it for her.

0000000000000000

Melissa glanced around at her surroundings once more and unlocked the main door, pleased with the fact that she could definitely be a spy if she wanted to…and the fact that she still had a key to Steve's place. She kicked the door shut with her foot, Steve's car wasn't in the driveway so she knew she was alone, for how long though was up in the air. She quickly put the groceries away and went ahead making the bed and putting away a few 'extracurricular' games in the drawer of the nightstand. She fought the warmth that settled in her cheeks just thinking about all of the fun her and Steve would have in bed before laughing to herself. It had been slightly mortifying for her to walk into a sex shop for the first time; she wasn't innocent but by gods, the things she saw? Next time, she was bringing Kono. And definitely drinking, that was a huge pre-requisite.

She went back to the kitchen and had to place a calming hand over the pounding in her heart, she was a mess but it would be worth it. She went through the mechanics of making the food, still too shell-shocked and happy that she was finally back in his home to really care about how it'd taste. His scent was everywhere and damn it, she couldn't wait for him to come home and wrap her in a cocoon of comfort and love.

"What are you doing here?" She heard a gruff, whiskey voice ask quietly from behind her.

She whipped around, the knife still in her hand and despite everything; she caught the smirk Steve sent when he noticed her still grasping it, "Are you going to put that down?" He quietly asked her.

She stared at him, a part of her screaming in joy and the other part: noticed that he didn't really look as happy as she would have thought to see her. And for a blinding second, the damning pain washed over her, a greasy tide wanting to lull her back down into self-destruction. She was swamped with the feelings of déjà vu, her standing in Rourke's kitchen, surprising him and her being shocked when his fiancée had shown up. She shook herself out of the painful reverie, Steve would never do that to her.

She felt warmth surround her and looked up to find him staring down at her, the knife safely out of her hand, "Bad thoughts?" He asked quietly.

Melissa stared up at him, bringing a shaky hand to gently trace his jaw, "I love you so much."

He bent his head and she met him halfway, her back arching into him, his wild scent and addictive taste flooding her scenes. Even if she had eternity, she'd never get enough of him. "Well, that was one of the best surprises I could have ever wanted." He gruffly told her, rubbing his cheek in her hair.

She glanced up at him, "You looked like you saw a ghost."

He nodded, remembering his promise to Kono and the stupid surprise party for Melissa. Why did he have to have friends? They were such a hassle, "You shouldn't be here."

She pulled away, her eyes burning holes into him, "Are you expecting someone else?"

Steve smirked, he knew it wasn't healthy but he loved when her claws came out, "Yes."

Melissa shoved him away from her, disgusted that he didn't even budge, "Get away from me!"

"No, I don't think I will." He grabbed a hold of her and crushed her to him.

"What do you say we go for a cup of coffee?" He asked calmly.

She glared at him, couldn't he see how confused she was? Screw logic, "How about an explanation instead?"

He shook his head slowly, "I would rather not."

She kicked his shin, ducking around him, "Whom are you expecting?"

He grinned, if Five-O weren't going to be arriving very, very shortly, he'd give chase and catch her, "You'll find out. Now, let's go." He turned towards the stove and shut everything off, "Looks damn delicious." He commented, feeling more light-hearted than he had since she had left.

She frowned but instead of running from him, like she had so many times before, she stood her ground; she trusted him implicitly. "Fine, you can help me pack up my things." She smirked, seeing the colour leach from his face.

"Like hell." He shot back at her, crossing his arms over his chest, "I let you leave once, never again Melissa Jones." He warned.

It was her turn to grin at him, wishing she could prolong his torture but he looked so damn desolate, "I know. You can help me pack up my things so I can move them here." She explained slowly.

A grin split his face before he banished it again, "What makes you think I want you to move in with me?"

She rolled her eyes and waited, "I'm not going to wait around for you to ask me."

He stared at her, and was once again reminded how much he loved the damn woman. He wanted to grow old with her…ugh: he was in trouble.