CHAPTER 11
The Thing About Love

Steve called in that morning to give the team the morning off. Not that they didn't already need it, but he knew Mary was going to bug him until he talked about what was bugging him. This way, he killed two birds with one stone and made his life easier. Mary had, of course, been told a snow storm at wherever the flight she was supposed to be on was going to would keep them grounded for the day. Which meant he had no way of getting around talking to her about it, much to his slight dismay. All he knew was thank God Ben had started on a Friday, so he could talk to Mary without him rushing downstairs to get a ride to school.

"Alright, so... What's bugging you, Steve?" Mary asked as Steve seated himself on the couch, holding a cup of coffee "Did Catherine break up with you after finding out you were taking in a kid or something?" She asked.

Steve smiled, and shook his head slightly. "Nah, nothing like that. I talked to her before everything became official, she said she's totally cool with it. And that she can't wait to meet him." Steve replied, he smiled a little bit "We always wanted a family anyway. And ever since we found out I can't have kids, well... Ben's our best option if everything works out." He admitted.

"Wait a minute, you're infertile?" Mary asked.

"Yeah, Catherine and I were talking about trying once she got back to the Islands." Steve was silent for a moment "But when I visited a doctor to make sure it was possible, he told me I wouldn't be able to have kids. Trying would be a waste, basically." He sighed inwardly, then looked up a bit "I like to think that Ben may have been the answer to that." He added.

"I'm surprised you even want a kid, what with you-know-who still on the prowl." Mary admitted.

Steve knew she meant Wo Fat, but was surprised she'd even bring it up. He knew there was that danger, sure, he couldn't just ignore it completely. But he wasn't going to let the man dominate his decisions in his life. "Wo Fat doesn't dominate my decisions. If he wants to make a strike at Ben, I'll put a bullet through his skull." He shook his head a bit "I'm way more concerned about his brother. I actually feel sorry for him, in a way." He admitted.

"Why would you feel sorry for a murderer?"

Steve rubbed his forehead, that wasn't an easy question to answer. The kid hadn't just woken up one day and decided to kill, everything pointed to that society had brought him to this point, and taken its toll. "The kid has a warped sense of justice from the streets. I know it isn't uncommon, but God, what kind of life did he have to have HAD to get that way?" Steve asked quietly, he shook his head "I mean, Ben probably went through the same thing, but he's so normal." He added.

"Maybe because, unlike Ben. He hasn't met someone who showed him kindness... And who loves him?" Mary replied, Steve stared at her blankly at that last part "Oh please, Steve. Two weeks in and the first thing you thought of when you thought someone was breaking in was about him." Steve smiled slightly "He's stolen your heart like some street urchin in a cheesy Disney film." She added.

"You know me WAY too well." Steve grinned a bit, sipping his coffee "I guess it has gotten to that level. I didn't think it was even possible, y'know? But something about that kid." He shook his head a bit "I know I'm going to sound completely insane. But even when I first met him, something just told me there was something about him. Like, I don't know..." He shook his head "It's hard to describe, really." He explained.

"Oh I think I have a few ideas." Mary replied, she smiled a bit "I just don't think I can picture you totally as a Father." She admitted.

Steve smirked, he wasn't sure he could get used to that either, even if he was doing pretty good at it. "Yeah, well. If you want the truth, I do love that kid. And even if it is weird to think about." Steve shrugged his shoulders "I'm going to do everything I can to make sure he's mine. Even if I have to fight Social Services." Mary chuckled a little "I just hope I really am doing the right thing by doing it." He added, quietly.

Unseen by either one, Ben was seated on the stairs quietly, listening to every word they said. He wasn't even sure how he might have reacted if he had been in there, but Steve's words had really hit home. He had almost forgotten how good it felt to know you were loved by someone, even if a part of him wondered how truthful Steve's words were. But when he really thought about it, he knew that Steve was telling the truth. He'd grown up for so long thinking that anyone who worked with the police, even Five-0 was just bad news.

But that couldn't be said for Steve, Chin, Danny, or Kono, he realized. They were like a family to him, something he'd missed more than he was willing to admit. The feeling of belonging that he now had with them. "Hey bud." Ben's head shot up as Steve's voice carried into the hallway "Come on in here, there's someone I want you to meet." He said with a broad smile.

Ben felt a certain level of nervousness, knowing who Mary was. But he slowly rose to his feet, making his way towards the room, he seated himself closely to Steve. He must have noticed his nervousness, as he gently wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "Ben Davenport, I'd like you to meet my sister, Mary-Ann McGarrett." Steve stated, continuing to smile "Mary, this is Ben." He noted.

As Mary held out a hand, Ben hesitated for a shot moment, but slowly reached out and took it. The handshake was slow, and Ben was visibly very nervous, but he gave a shy smile. Mary settled for smiling back, and nodding. "It's great to finally meet you, Ben. Steve's told me A LOT about you over the phone." Ben felt himself blush slightly "Feel free to call me Aunt Mary, if you'd like." She added.

"Alright." Ben stated, quietly.

"Come on, kid, lighten up a bit. This is family, no shyness." Steve tried to coax him into a bit more liveliness with a gently tickle to his side, earning a giggle "I know you have more life in you than THAT." He grinned.

Ben smiled, he leaned against Steve, still a little tired, but smiling in Mary's direction. He knew that Steve was right, he had more life in him than this, even when he was nervous. "Sorry, I'm not good around new people." Ben admitted, he took a deep breath "Steve's told me a lot about you too. I'm glad to finally get the chance to meet you." He stated, then looked at her "I hope Steve's said all good things." He added.

"Well the fact he doesn't shut up about you should be a good indication." Mary got a quiet laugh out of Ben for that one "I hope you're giving my big brother a hard time, because believe me, it's always more fun that way." An even louder laugh escaped Ben that time, Steve simply looked VERY unamused "Oh lighten up, Steve, I'm your little sister, I'm SUPPOSED to encourage that kind of behavior in my future nephew." She explained.

"Just so you know, when YOU have kids, you're getting this back. Ten-fold." Steve smirked.

Ben watched as the two argued, extremely amused by this point. He wondered if this was how more loving siblings actually acted, he'd never know that. He'd always felt resented by his brother, and now he was more than sure that he was. "I'm going to grab a coffee myself. Be right back." Mary noted as she stood up and left.

Ben turned to Steve, he wasn't sure how to approach the next thing he did. But he slowly rested his head against Steve again, who looked down at him. "I hope I'm worth your love." Ben whispered, he looked at the ground quietly "I mean, I heard you and Mary talking..." Steve stared at him, smiling a bit "I don't get why you'd want to love ME. I mean, even if you can't have kids there have to be better ones out there than ME."

Steve was gentle as he moved a finger under his chin, and gently lifted it to look at him. "If I wanted a different kid? I would have handed you over to Danno, or Social Services." Steve told him, very calmly "You're a good kid, no matter what you think of yourself. And I'm proud to be your guardian, and to say I love you." He added, very firmly "I want you to stop putting yourself down so much, alright? You've already earned my love, or you wouldn't have it." He explained.

That's when Steve felt an odd sensation, Ben had actually hugged him, tightly. The Navy SEAL didn't feel it really, being he was quite strong, but he liked the sensation. Stroking his head, and kissing it gently, he pulled Ben close. He figured this was why cops didn't want to get attached at all, because in two weeks he'd already come to this conclusion. "Thank you." Ben muttered.

It wasn't an "I love you" back, but Steve knew that would be a while coming. He was willing to wait on Ben's getting used to it, to the love, to other things. Admittedly, he really hoped he'd get custody of him so that he'd see the day where he called him "Dad". He peered up, and noticed that Mary was quietly watching him, a smile on her face. Inside, she had a feeling Steve wouldn't make a half bad Dad after all.