I do not own Hawaii Five-0, its content belongs to CBS.
Chapter Thirteen
They were walking back from seeing off Kawaka, and JJ had a gut feeling his phone was going to ring any minute.
"Well, the morning's yours, Aunt Deb. What do you want to do?" Deb pulled on her purse.
"What do I want to do?" She said thoughtfully, but looking at Steve expectantly. "I want to drive your truck." Steve stared at her.
"What?"
"Your pickup truck. I want to take that bad boy for a spin."
"Oh, my gosh." Mary said, grinning widely. Steve looked behind them to see the valet service pulling their trucks up and then he turned back to her, his face kind of green. He pointed at it with his thumb.
"Do you even know how to drive, Aunt Deb?" JJ coughed and pinched his side.
"Honey, I lived in Los Angeles my whole life. I was driving before you were in camo diapers." JJ perked up, and made a mental note to search for pictures of him in those.
"I-I know, but why the sudden urge to drive a truck?" Mary asked.
"Well, you know, it's actually for Leonard." They quieted for a moment. "Uh, last year, we got together, and we made up a list of things that each one of us wanted to do before we died." The bucket list flashed in her mind, and she was grateful that she told Steve and Mary before JJ accidentally revealed it to them.
"Like a bucket list?" Steve asked, picking at his fingers.
"Yeah." They seemed a bit normal at the sound of the bucket list.
"What was on it?" Mary asked.
"Well, we wanted to see the pyramids, we wanted to learn how to ski, and... I wanted to get a tattoo."
"I really like her." JJ said, and Steve gave her a side-glare.
"Oh, don't get a tattoo." Steve said, putting his hands on his hips the way she liked it. "Trust me, it's not, uh..."
"Too late!" Deb laughed, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a red heart with D+L on her forearm.
"Wow." Mary said. "Look." Mary pointed at it to Joan, making her look at it puzzled.
"Yeah, sorry, kiddos, but the two of you are not the only ones in the family now with ink."
"Okay, good. I'm glad you have ink." Steve said, chuckling and looking down at her.
"Can you believe her?" Steve asked and JJ held up her arms.
"I got my first ones at nineteen, so I'm not saying anything."
"But you said you got those at twenty three."
"Did I? Oh, must've meant my other one..."
"Wait, what other one?"
"Not saying."
"You have three: the ones on your arms and your SEAL Team one."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes..." Steve trailed off unsure, and begin to think of where else she could have a tattoo." Deb chuckled and they all turned their attention back to her.
"So, um, anyway, we never did get to finish the list, but one of the items on Leonard's list was he wanted to drive a police car."
"That's such a boy thing." Mary said thoughtfully.
"So, um, how many ponies under that hood?"
"I'd really... I'd really prefer if you didn't find out." Steve said, closing his eyes.
"Steven, I hate to play this card, but I just lost my husband, so you're not really gonna deny me on this, are you?" And then she pushed past them and headed to the truck.
"I really like your aunt." JJ said, and happily followed after her. Steve looked down and soon they were by the vehicles and figuring out where to go with who.
"Well, I am not going to be in the vehicle because my morning sickness is bad, so I will meet you at the Palace and we'll go from there." JJ said and Deb chuckled. "I already know what you've got planned. Steven, give her the keys." Reluctantly, he pulled them out of his pocket and dropped them in Deb's hand. She happily went to the driver's side and opened the door. Mary was buckling Joan in so they were alone outside. Steve let out a deep sigh and looking down, his crossed arms making the shirt tighten around his biceps and his muscles and JJ felt very compelled to squeeze them.
"Just let her have this, babe. Her husband just died."
"Stop playing that card."
"Mhm."
"What are you going to do while I'm trying not to throw up?"
"Go to the bank, maybe stop in by the store to see if they have any sales there." Steve nodded.
"Alright. Be careful." JJ smiled and pulled him down, happily enveloping his lips and squeezing his biceps.
"You just wanted to touch my arms, didn't you?"
"Yup, but I liked your lips, too." Steve shook his head and rubbed her belly.
"Be careful."
"I will. Don't die, I really like you."
"I won't."
They met up at the Palace about fifteen minutes later. Steve looked really green, like he was about to throw up. He helped her out of her truck and then hugged her tightly for a really long time, making her pat his back.
"I thought I was going to die." He whispered and she laughed.
"Don't be dramatic."
"I legit thought I was going to die and left you with four children to raise."
"Shh, shh, it's okay..." JJ glanced over at Mary and Deb, who were currently playing tag with Joan on the sidewalk. She stood on her tip toes to whisper in his ear.
"I'll take care of you later tonight." He turned red and pulled away, making her look at him smugly.
"Really?" He asked quietly.
"Yes." He rubbed her belly happily and kissed her softly.
"You're the best."
"I know." They turned to Deb and Mary, holding each other's hands.
"So, what are you wanting to do today-"
His phone begin to ring and they looked over at Steve as he looked down.
"I'll be right back..." He mumbled and went to the sidewalk, pulling out his phone in the process.
"Have you felt any movement?" Mary asked.
"No, not yet. I should feel it at twenty weeks or so. The doctor said it's normal with multiples."
"Four of everything, right?" Deb asked. JJ nodded.
"Four cribs, four mattresses, at least two changing tables with drawers, and I really want a big dresser with shelves on it. That would be awesome to get."
"Are you going to move in with Steve?" Mary asked and JJ nodded.
"We're going to figure out the arrangements and everything, but we don't want to rush or anything." They nodded in agreement and Steve jogged back up.
"We caught a case, and I have to go, sadly."
"Oh, don't worry about it. Us girls will go to the mall and have a little shopping spree."
"Okay, well... My truck as the carseat for Joan, and I have to go now, so..."
"How about I take your truck, and you take mine?"
"Are you sure?"
"I've driven much bigger things than this. Now, hand over the keys and go to wherever you're needed. We'll update you later on."
"Don't spend too much, okay?"
"Okay." Steve took a breath, laying his hands on her belly and leaning down, kissing her softly on the lips and then on the cheeks.
"Be careful, alright?"
"Yes, sir." The words built in his throat, but he swallowed them and kissed her forehead.
"Drive safe!"
"Yup!"
JJ set down her glass as Mary and Joan were in the dressing room trying on some stuff, and so it was just her and Deb.
"Are you gonna try on some dresses or clothes?" Deb asked, looking through some of the hanging clothes on the racks nearby.
"I actually found everything that I needed a couple of months ago, so..." She shrugged. "I think I'm good, and we're on a budget. We're trying to save up for all of the baby necessities. It's gonna be like... Almost 900 for just the good cribs."
"Doesn't Steve get paid a lot?" Deb asked, feeling the material on one dress.
"He's on government salary, so... No, he does not."
"Oh." Deb hummed a bit, watching her lean back on the couch and rub her belly comfortingly.
"Are you going to find out the genders?"
"We decided to keep them as surprises."
"So, you'd like the nursery to be neutral?"
"Yes." Deb nodded.
"Smart. What would you like?" JJ took a breath, shrugging.
"I don't know, I have a few ideas in mind. It would be really neat to have four cribs, obviously, but each of them having their own little changing table on the side and something that can be converted throughout stages in life." Deb smiled softly.
"That's actually really smart. Have you done a lot of research?" JJ nodded.
"From the moment I got pregnant." Deb nodded in agreement, and then thought for a moment.
"Do you love him?" JJ looked up at her startled, before blinking slowly, and then nodded.
"I-I think so..." Deb stared at her for a moment, a grin spreading on her face, and she turned toward the saleswoman.
"Do you have any maternity items we could look at?"
The end of the day ended when Steve came home and wrapped his arms around JJ happily and kissed her with such passion, making her cup his cheeks. Mary and Deb whistled as they did, and as they pulled away JJ furrowed her eyebrows.
"Are you okay? You've never kissed me so passionately before." Steve smiled goofily.
"Well, this case made me think of how much I'm... I'm blessed with."
"Why are you getting so religious all of a sudden?" Steve grinned and kissed her once more, laying his hands on her waist and then embraced his aunt, sister and niece.
The next morning begin with Mary, Joan and Steve all in the kitchen, happily making breakfast.
"Good morning." Steve said happily, greeting her with a kiss.
"Morning." JJ leaned over and sniffed. "Do I smell bacon?" Sure enough, as she opened the microwave, there was a plate of highly stacked bacon.
"You can't have any." Steve said, smacking the back of her hand gently and shutting the door. JJ stuck out her tongue and pinched his side.
"I can have whatever I want."
"The doctor said no pork."
"Not even one piece?" JJ whined.
"No." JJ frowned at him and went to grab a cup, Mary leaning over.
"I'll sneak you one." JJ grinned.
"I heard that!" Joan giggled and JJ walked over to the fridge, peering at her drawing.
"Oh, Joanie, that's beautiful!" Joan laughed. "You should put another spiral right... Here." Joan happily went over to where JJ pointed and picked up the blue crayon and begin to draw the spiral.
"Hey, you should flip that." Steve said as he watched Joan, pointing at the stove. Mary turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Okay, well, I know my pancakes, and I'll flip when I'm ready."
"It's bubbling. It's just, when it's bubbling, it's ready to be flipped." JJ took a sip from her water, watching the McGarrett siblings converse with interest.
"Wow. Micromanage much?" Mary asked, turning around to look at him with a disappointed look.
"It does it all the time." JJ chipped in and Steve gave her a glare.
"Hey. You don't need to get all Danny Williams on me. I'm just trying to be helpful."
"Alright, well, if you want to be helpful, then why don't you go wake up Aunt Deb and tell her breakfast is ready?"
"You mean burned, right?" JJ choked and watched Joan show her her finished art.
"It's not gonna be burned. You're gonna love it."
"Okay, hold on." Steve walked up to Joan's highchair, leaning down to her eye level.
"Joanie, listen to me, okay? Keep an eye on your mother. She's got that weird look in her eye. I don't want her to burn the house down." He told her and JJ chuckled, shaking her head and walking over to the sink. Finally, Mary got fed up and pointed out the kitchen door.
"Go!" She said, chuckling. "Stop." Steve pointed at Mary, keeping his eye on Joan.
"Joanie, watch her." Then Mary came up and leaned down to her eye level.
"Don't listen to him. Don't listen to him." And kissed her head. JJ smiled and leaned against the counter, laying her hand on her belly and sipping her water.
"So, have you guys said the three letter word yet?" Mary asked, returning to cooking the pancakes. JJ stared at her for a minute before it clicked and she cleared her throat.
"Y-You know, we've only been dating for three months, so..."
"Well, do you love him?" Mary asked and JJ opened her mouth, but no words came out. She looked down, her cheeks getting hot.
"Um..." Mary smirked, but then frowned and flipped the pancake.
"My brother has been hurt before, and I don't want to see him hurt again. And he seems really in love with you, so..." JJ's shoulders relaxed, and she nodded.
"Well... I don't know. My emotions are all mixed up, so I don't know what I feel right now." Mary nodded.
"Like I said, I don't want to see him hurt again." JJ nodded. It was quiet before JJ started to smile.
"But... I do think I love him." Mary turned to look at her with a grin. Steve came in before she could say anything, his face solemn, and his good mood had vanished. JJ set down her glass and walked up to him.
"What's wrong?" JJ asked, taking his hands.
The way he looked at her gave her a sinking feeling in her gut.
A/N: No lie, I legit did so much research on baby products for this story. I even found a website with a woman who had quads and she made a list of everything that she got for them, and so I was trying to make a good and realistic price range, and my mom during this was like: "Is there something you need to tell me?" So yeah, that's one thing. And another thing, why is baby stuff so expensive? Like damn, no wonder nobody wants to reproduce.