Mel sat behind the desk in her studio sifting through a thousand e-mails, or so she exaggerated. At least half of them were just spam but there were quite a few that were work related. There were people wanting to buy her photographs and others that wanted to hire her. Wedding season had started in Hawaii and business was looking more than promising. She was beginning to feel the strain of the job and was reminded of just how badly she needed an assistant.

"Excuse me." she heard a slightly nervous and discernably english voice ask from the other side of the screen startling her. She hadn't even heard anyone come in. "I'm sorry, I didn't intend to frighten you."

She looked up to see a boy that couldn't have been more than twenty standing in front of her desk. He was about her height and lanky with pale skin; definately a mainlander like herself. His hair was nearly black and partially hid his dark blue eyes. She could tell that he was obviously a college student.

"Don't be, I've been a bit jumpy lately." she assured him. "Can I help you?"

"I hope so. I'm looking for Melinda McGarrett."

"Well you found her."

"Oh." he said embarrassed. "My name is Cary Jenks, CJ, and I'm a student at UH - Manoa majoring in photography. I was wondering if maybe you could use some help around the studio, my professor says that I need some experience in the field." he explained.

Mel almost laughed at the student's timing. She was just thinking about how badly she needed an assistant and then here he was. He seemed like a nice enough guy, very eager and sincere. He was obviously nervous, not completely comfortable with putting himself out there like this and she smiled softly at him.

"Well I could use an assistant. It's mainly weekends and maybe a couple of hours a day during the week, not every day though." she agreed surprising him.

"Really?"

"Yeah I've been kind of frantic the last couple of weeks here by myself since wedding season started. I'm sure we could work it around your schedule."

"You're serious?" he continued to ask making her laugh quietly.

"Yes."

"Oh man my classmates are going to be so jealous. They all just chose market photoshops."

"That's disgraceful." Mel commented.

"I know, that's what I said but they all figured that no respectable studio would hire an inexperienced college student." he explained becoming more comfortable.

"Well I would say that you certainly have the advantage."

"Most definately Ms. McGarrett."

"Mel." she insisted.

"Right, Mel. So when can I start?" he asked excitedly.

"How does Saturday sound? Around nine."

"That sounds great."

"Good, I actually have that day open so we can work out a schedule and get you familiar with the place."

"Thank you so much." he said shaking her hand.

She assured him that he didn't need to thank her because she really did need the help around here. She was excited to be having a student around and thought that maybe instead of an assistant it could be more like an internship. She couldn't help but want to rub it in the noses of all the kids that chose the market photoshops. They probably didn't even try to get a job at any of the few studios on the island like CJ had. She decided that she liked him and wanted to help or advise him in any way that he needed.

Saturday rolled around pretty quickly. Mel was just getting back from her morning run at around seven thirty and wasn't expecting the visitor that sat on the metal staircase on the side of her studio that led up to her apartment. He sat there surprisingly patient as he was known more for the opposite.

"Now what did I do to warrant this early morning visit?" she asked with a smile.

"Do I really need a reason to want to see my own wife?" Steve responded as she walked past him entering the apartment and letting him in.

"So you missed me."

"Well, no, I, yeah. I missed you."

"You better be careful Commander, I could begin to think you're sweet on me."

"Is that such a bad thing?" he questioned stepping closer to her.

"Not that I can tell. Are you hungry? I can make breakfast."

"How about I make breakfast while you take a shower?"

"Are you saying that I'm all sweaty and smelly and gross?"

"No you said that."

"You're such an ass." she insulted him but her smile gave her lack of offense away.

"Yeah but you still love me." he said not thinking about his words.

"I do." Mel whispered, walking away before he could realize what she had just admitted to.

She showered quickly and dressed in a comfortable pair of blue jeans and a dark green tank top. She chose to substitute he usual heels for her black and lime green DC's since she would just be working around the studio all day. Walking into the dining room she was met with the delicious scents of eggs, bacon and pancakes. Breakfast really was the only culinary area that Steve excelled at aside from grilling.

"Smells good." she complimented.

"Well take a seat because this is just about ready."

He turned off the stove and put all of the food on that table while she made herself a cup of coffee then they both sat down to eat. They conversed casually like him showing up for breakfast unannounced were a normal event. Mel found herself becoming less awkward around Steve and she was really beginning to miss the days when they were still together. On several occasions she caught herself almost embracing him. She wanted to be with him, truely and fully be with him and it was killing her being this near to him and not being able to kiss him. It was almost too much to bear but not seeing him would be even worse.

A knock on the door broke her from her thoughts. "Are you expecting company?" he asked.

"Yes I am. You were the unexpected one." she teased standing up. "Though I'm not complaining." she added.

"I'll get it." he insisted and while he answered the door she cleared the table.

Steve opened the door to reveal a scrawny looking kid almost a foot shorter than him. He found himself needing to know who this guy was and had to remind himself to be nice. He invited the kid in but didn't like the way that he saw him look at Melinda, and even worse, the way she smiled at him.

"I didn't mean to intrude." the kid said quietly.

"Oh it's no intrusion CJ you're right on time." Mel replied.

"Lieutenant Commander Steve McGarrett." Steve introduced himself, doing his best to be intimidating. "Former navy SEAL, head of the Five 0 task force and Melinda's husband."

"Really." Mel muttered rolling her eyes.

"CJ, Cary Jenks, it's very nice to meet you sir." CJ said nervously and before Steve could do any more damage Mel intervened.

"CJ why don't you go downstairs while I see Steve out?" she suggested.

He agreed thankful for the excuse to get away from her scary husband and she showed him the apartment enterance to the studio. Once he was gone Mel turned to Steve, hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. He knew that he had pissed her off and now he was going to get it.