Disclaimer : Anything you recognize from H50 I don't own.

AN: Sorry for the wait but I was (am) swamped with coding and couldn't find the time to write (had to work over the weekend too) the whole of last week. I still have no business writing at all but my muses were restless so I finally had to let them out. As usual, I thank everyone who's taken the time to read my work and leave feedback (and add this to their favorites and alerts lists) – and I know should really take time to get back to everyone personally but time is being a mean SOB so this would have to do for now. (I hope those who do leave comments won't get tired of doing so even if I don't respond personally though). Anyway, this is unbeta'ed so all mistakes are mine.

PS. Flying back home (again) this Thursday so the next update (for this & Aftermath) might take a while. Hope you all keep reading anyway. *hugs to all*

As punishment for his less than princely behavior towards the two princesses, the Prince was cursed to become a beast and only a true love's kiss was destined to break the spell. So the beastly Prince sought to capture the attention of his one-true-Princess so she could break the spell. Alas, the Princess was too busy kissing other frogs in her quest to turn one into a prince.

A curse? Really? That's the explanation for the aneurysm face? What kind of a….wait…what frogs? There's more than one?

Huh! It's a good thing that this isn't a fairytale then.

Even if like the fairytale, there really is a frog and (a beast).

Chapter 10: The (Bull)frog & the Beast

She's always known that there was something hokey about that frog prince 'fairytale' crap. Because really, what girl in her right mind would ever want to kiss a frog, let alone a talking one? That would just be creepy as hell and even if you somehow preferred the other version of that tale…well, have you ever seen an animal splattered all over a wall? Yikes!

So when she told Mary Ann about Steve being 'the frog' – she was really only joking – at least, that's her story and she's sticking by it. Then again, she never thought the younger girl would actually tell her brother about it but surprise, surprise, she DID tell. Why else would he be asking her what she thought about frogs of all things when she got to work the day after their beach-side encounter with Ben and Mary Ann? Fortunately, she was saved from having to actually answer when they get a call from Danny asking them to look into the death of his ex-partner Meka.

That was a couple of weeks ago and since he's never brought it up again, she's been breathing a lot easier and thinking she's off the hook.

Of course she should have known better because when they get a case investigating the death of an advance security detail for Sandimar dictator General Pak, guess who (what) comes knocking on that proverbial door but the a real live talking frog? Ok, so it's not really the green amphibian kind but rather Steve's former SEALs teammate Nick Taylor aka 'Bullfrog,' whose firm they would be assisting in providing added security for the general. She just barely stops herself from looking at the heavens because of all call signs in the world he has to have that particular one.

So when she meets him she's a little (a lot) rattled and if she thinks (wonders) if maybe that's the universe's way of telling her that fairytales might actually come true, can one really blame her? After all, if she were to actually kiss a 'frog' then it might as well be someone who's actually called Bullfrog, right? And really, if she's honest with herself, Taylor isn't all that bad to look at – actually, he's really kind of hot – if you know, you're into those tall, blonde, muscly types. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) she isn't. *Sigh*

Someone should really take the time to explain chemistry to her. Because why is it that she can look at two equally attractive men side-by-side and be so cross-eyed into one and not the other? Especially if said hot guy she's into acts more like a Neanderthal beast than a prince most days anyway? (She bets the reason he's actually called Smooth Dog has something to do with his beastly attitude rather than anything else, right Danny?) Still, she does make an effort to focus on Taylor in the hopes that he at least distracts her attention from a certain dark-haired, bossy and beastly and hot amnesiac commander with a penchant for danger and a navy girlfriend to boot.

But then he chooses the day she actually decides to go ahead and get to know Taylor better to partner up with her in chasing a lead and thus effectively preventing her from further 'socializing' with Bullfrog. She tells herself it has absolutely nothing to do with jealousy on his part because that's just foolish and silly thinking, right? So she bites her lips so she doesn't ask about frogs and some other stupid s*hit like that and just channels her inner frustration at his caveman-like tendencies in making her watch the back door instead of going with him to ask the suspect by body tackling said guy when he runs. And okay, maybe she does take a moment to re-evaluate because the beast's decision actually works in their favor.

And yeah, she really should have known better than to actually consider kissing another 'frog' because as it's always the case with her, said frog turns out to be a snake in disguise (someone give Danny a cookie for having the good instinct to actually hate the guy at first sight), which is why they end up hiding in Steve's house with the General and his family and being surrounded by Taylor's men. She'd take time to actually comfort Steve for his friend's betrayal if you know, they weren't too busy trying not to get killed protecting a mass-murdering dictator in the process.

And if she ever thought her feelings for him was no more than a silly infatuation borne of a kiss that's been blown out of proportion in her mind, then seeing him in his natural element as a SEAL just about blows that notion out of her mind. Because yeah, how could she possibly not be into a guy who fights for duty over personal feelings and goes all fairytale hero on her by actually saving her before riding off to fight the evil villain of the piece?

And when the encounter finally ends and they find Steve bloody and bruised with a decidedly dead Bullfrog on the beach, it takes all she has not to launch herself into his arms and kiss the living daylights out of him. She supposes she has the HPD to thank for coming just in time to actually stop her from throwing all caution to the winds. So she settles for just whispering a soft "Thanks" to him as they're walking back to his now destroyed house, hoping he understands all that she wants to say even if she lacks the guts to say them out loud.

She's just stepped out of the shower later that night when she gets a call from him and she nearly drops her cell in surprise.

"Kalakaua." She hopes her voice sounds normal, given that she's only wearing a towel as she answers.

"Hey…" is all he says.

And she has trouble breathing because his voice has her thinking things she shouldn't be thinking about – especially in the middle of the night while practically naked.

"What are you doing?" He asks and she thinks maybe her near-death experience earlier has affected her profoundly because her brain-to-mouth filter goes AWOL on her and she finds herself telling the truth.

"Showering..." and yes, her voice comes out huskier than she intends.

The long silence on the other end brings her to her senses (a little) and she frantically thinks of a way to bring their conversation on track but comes up blank.

"Funny…so was I."

And she would probably think he might actually be flirting with her if the slight hitch in his voice is an indication had the image of rivulets of water dripping down his body not been playing like some porno in her mind…which, ironically is what actually brings her fully back to her senses.

"Something on your mind, Boss?" She finally manages to ask, making sure to add the last part because she desperately needs the reminder that she has no business thinking X-rated thoughts about him at all.

"Oh… yeah, I just…I wanted to ask why earlier…" He offers.

"Why what?" she asks because she's not quite sure what he's talking about.

"Why you said thanks…"

"Well, you did save my life..." She reminds him.

He laughs. "I'm sure you'd have done the same for me."

"Would I?" she teases him.

"Of course…although…" he trails off.

"Although what?" she asks curiously as she smiles into the phone.

Of course what he says next wipes it off her face…

"Isn't a kiss supposed to be how the Princess thanks the frog?"

And she might actually think of an answer to that one if she isn't too busy wondering how fast she can get to Mary Ann's beachfront rental so she can go ahead and strangle her.

Because even if she doesn't believe in frog princes (anymore)…

Mary Ann apparently does.

*sigh*

And damned if that doesn't make her think that maybe...

...this might be a fairytale after all.