"Steve?" Maggie whispered in the dark.

A few seconds past before he responded. "What?"

"Go to sleep," she ordered, forgoing the quiet tone, feeling his breath on her neck and knowing he was wide awake.

"I'm trying."

"No you're not, otherwise you would be." She rolled over facing him, still in the comfort of his embrace. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," he replied, but didn't convince her by a long shot.

"Don't lie to me."

He chuckled over her insightfulness. "Ok, ok, I admit, I'm a little wound up."

"Are you nervous about the MRI tomorrow?"

"Aren't you?"

"No," she said casually. "Not really. I feel good. I just can't wait to see the look on Dr. Vanu's face when he sees the results."

He smiled, pulling her in a little closer, feeding off of her confidence. "They'll want to write you up in medical journals. What are you going to tell them?"

"Nothing! My lips are sealed," she said kissing him.

"I keep waiting for you to ask me what happened that night on Nihau."

She had been thinking about it a lot, but hadn't asked, not sure she wanted to know, especially after Danny's comment that Steve had almost died for her. She just had to trust in him like he had asked her too. It had paid off. Here she was, feeling like her old self again. "I figured if it was something I needed to know, then you would have told me, so I'm leaving it at that."

He ran his fingertips over her arm that was wrapped around his neck. "The only thing you need to know about that night is that I went there for you. I begged for your life and my pleas were heard. I want to honor the Akua's for what they did, I hope you will too."

She nodded, "I will. I want to learn more about the islands and the culture. I feel a part of it now. I've never felt so much peace in my life. It's amazing."

He couldn't have been more pleased over her response. "You're amazing," he replied, rolling her over on her back.

She looked up at him tenderly, touching his face with her fingers, "You saved my life."

"No I didn't," he quickly pointed out. "You saved mine." He looked at her warmly "I thought I had it all; a nice house, a good job, money, security," he playfully rubbed his nose over hers, "and then I met you and realized what it was really like to live the dream. You make me happy, Maggie. I could lose all my material comforts tomorrow and I might be uncomfortable, but I'd still be happy. That I know for a fact."

She reached up giving him a kiss for his sincere honesty.

"Don't be afraid for tomorrow, Steve. It's just another day is all, another day we get to spend together."

She was right he thought gratefully, laying his head down on her shoulder as his fears melted away with every stroke of her hand through his hair.

"I love you so much, Maggie."

"I know," she whispered, cradling him in her arms as he peacefully drifted off to sleep, guided by her gentle touch.

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Maggie squeezed Steve's hand as they walked out of the Hospital entrance and across the parking lot toward his truck. Neither said a word, lost in their own thoughts.

He undid the alarm with the keys still in his pocket as he reached for her door, opening it.

He couldn't help but recall this same scene not too far back after they had discovered the second tumor growing and the news that had devastated both of them.

They had stood in almost the same spot as he succumbed to the devastating news in a way that left him in shambles.

He looked over at her as she began to get in the truck and put his arm around her waist, pulling her in close.

Maggie giggled at his playfulness, and then joined the fun as he pushed her up against the side and kissed her like he never had before.

She lifted her foot and caressed his calf as her arms went around his neck, enjoying the romantic display, not caring where they were or who saw them. It was the happiest day of her life and she would bet her tumor free life that it was her husband's as well.

He broke from the kiss but remained intimately close to her as they both breathed heavily over the encounter, feeling that marital bliss overcome the both of them. The remarkable news of her recovery had stunned the doctors and nurses as expected but both Steve and Maggie remained calm amongst the pleasing chaos. They weren't surprised in the least.

"I want you," Maggie panted, looking into his blue eyes that held the same desire as her own. "Get me home, now," she begged, consuming his lips once again for a kiss that left him uncertain of his capabilities to drive.

He lifted her up into the truck and stood on the foot rail, leaning inside and kissing her again, hoping to get his fill until he could at least run around and get in the other side.

She could feel the wonderful swollenness of her lips from the kissing and her want for more. She impatiently watched him run around the front and open his door, grabbing the steering wheel as he pulled himself up into the cab, only to be met by her beautiful face as she leaned over and greeted him with yet another mind-blowing kiss.

They both began to laugh, having to forgo the make out session because of the giggling over their good fortune.

"Maybe we should just jump in the back," he joked, sliding his hand up her thigh and resting it just inside her short shorts.

"Ok," she agreed, "lets do it."

He raised an eyebrow at her willingness, taking it into consideration until a family and an older couple walked in front of the truck. He winced over missing the opportunity, sitting back in his seat.

"I'll drive fast," he said, starting the engine as Maggie giggled and scooted over close to him.

"Lights and siren?" she joked, but laughed when he reached over and flipped them both on, racing out of the parking as safely but as quickly as possible.

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Bridgette hugged Maggie just before she boarded her flight. Steve and Danny stood next to them having already given their hugs and kisses.

"I thought I would be leaving here feeling a whole lot different," Bridgette smiled, wiping her eyes.

Maggie laughed through her own tears, "I didn't think I'd be feeling anything."

They both busted up and hugged each other again.

"I miss you already," Maggie confessed.

"Me too," Bridgette sniffed. "Please plan on a trip home…" she caught herself midsentence, "I mean to New York, soon." She smiled at her and reached over touching Steve's arm. "I forget this is your home now. This is where you belong."

Maggie stepped back into him as his arm came around her waist. "Yes it is."

Bridgette lifted her phone and took a quick picture of them, "My new screen saver. The miracle and the miracle worker."

"What about me?" Danny blurted out. "You don't want a pic of your handsome brother?" he joked.

Bridgette smiled and stood next to him, holding up the phone, taking a selfie of the two of them. She turned and gave him another kiss, "I have to admit Danno, this trip has been like an eye opening experience for me in many ways. I forget sometimes what a decent guy you really are."

"Aw shucks, Sis," he grinned with a wink, "you're not so bad yourself."

They hugged once more before she reached over and gave Steve a quick kiss on the cheek. "Thanks again for being stubborn. I think it's your best quality."

He smiled back at her, "You're the only one that gets that," he joked.

Bridgette waved as she disappeared around the corner of the skyway.

Maggie looked at Steve with an overly sad face.

He stepped up and put his arm back around her," I can't have that look all day. What can I do to cheer you up?"

Maggie sighed heavily, resting her head on his shoulder as they began to make their way through the terminal, "Nothing. I'll be fine."

"I have to head back to work," Danny announced, breaking away as he went in a different direction toward his car. "I'll catch you guys later."

They both waved a hand as he departed.

"When do you have to go back to work?" she asked Steve.

"Soon, in the next few days. I think I'll wait until they clear up the case they're working on and then jump in on the next one."

"Hmmm," she sighed again, nuzzling closer to him. "I miss you already too."

He smiled, pulling her in closer as they casually walked out of the airport. "Let's make the most of these few days then."

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Maggie looked over her shoulder away from the new stove that had been installed after the fire as Steve came down the steps and into the kitchen. He wore a pair of dark sweat pants and rubbed his hands over his face, wiping away the morning weariness.

"Good morning!" she sang out happily.

He couldn't help but smile brightly over her cheerfulness. "Good morning beautiful."

She leaned back allowing him to kiss her cheek as she flipped a piece of french toast in the pan. "Hungry?"

"Starved," he replied, giving her one more kiss before grabbing a clean coffee cup off the counter.

"What do you want to do today?" she asked as he filled his mug.

"Depends on you."

"Why? Did you have something in mind?"

"I was thinking maybe I should work on this kitchen, or," he grinned, "how about a hike, just a small one."

"Hmmm," Maggie playfully contemplated those two ideas tapping her finger against her cheek, "Let me see, stuck inside smelling paint fumes, or hiking outside smelling fresh air and my husband's sexy sweat….hmmm, I can't decide."

He rolled his eyes and shook his head at her with a grin, "I'm getting the idea you want out today."

"I say forget this kitchen, I'm up for a hike." She liked the idea not only because it sounded a lot better than painting but also she suddenly recalled a dream she had the night before where the two of them had gone hiking together. The timing seemed perfect. "Any place you want to go in particular?"

"Yes. There's this place I know of that's kind of off the beaten path. We can drive up and then hike the rest of the way through the trees. The top has a great view of the leeward side of the island."

Maggie flipped two pieces of toast on a plate for him. "The leeward side?" she questioned. "Is that this side or Lanikai said?"

"This side."

She walked the plate over to him. "That's odd." She set the food down in front of him.

"Why?"

She shrugged, "I had a dream last night we went for a hike along this path in the forest and then we came out of the trees and we could see that whole side of the island."

Steve was about to take a bite when he stopped and looked at her peculiarly. "Wow, that's weird, I had a similar dream."

"You did?!" she asked surprised, thinking too that it was odd, but not really finding it that peculiar. "Great minds think alike."

He started to tell her about Mahina's tale of the Akua's possibly coming to him in a dream, but decided against it. They would come to 'him'; he recalled her saying, not the both of them. He too blew it off as nothing more than a coincidence. He tried to remember if he had mentioned hiking to her the day before, using that as an excuse for the two of them to be subconsciously thinking the same thing, but with all the delirious chaos over her healing the past couple of days, he couldn't recall if he had or not.

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Steve reached his hand back as Maggie clasp on to it. He pulled her up the incline so she was standing next to him. They both admired the view that ran through the valley of lush green mountains and out to the vast pacific that ended at the horizon.

"It's beautiful!" she sighed, leaning back against him.

"This is home," he smiled, sliding his arm around her waist.

"I love it so much."

He kissed her cheek for that, always pleased to hear her say those words.

"How are you feeling," he asked, taking the bottle water from the side of his backpack and handing it to her.

"Good!" she replied, glancing over her shoulder at him. "I feel great." She took a drink and handed it back to him.

"I was thinking we could hike the service road up to the old surveillance tower. From up there you can see the North Shore. What do you think?" He took a quick swig from the bottle and secured it back in the slot of his pack.

"Sounds like a good plan to me," Maggie agreed cheerfully. "Lead the way!"

Steve grinned happily over not only her approval but that she felt up to it. It had been two days since the doctor visit and five since his trip to Nihau and he was counting his blessings every second of each. He thought for sure he'd feel the lack of sleep from the night before from lying in bed and just staring at her as she slept, his mind flipping through the past year of his life and how it had changed so dramatically.

The extraordinary events that had taken place sometimes felt like a dream, wondering if the beauty lying next to him was just a figment of that dream, until he would lean over and kiss her, feeling the soft skin that reminded him that he was living his dream not sleepwalking through it like he had been pre Maggie.

They walked the narrow service road side by side as Steve pointed out trees and vegetation that were native to the islands. Maggie joked that he missed his calling of being a Service Ranger instead of a cop.

"No way," he laughed, "I'd get fired for slapping some idiot around the first time I saw em' defacing the landscape or carving their initials in a tree."

Maggie laughed, taking his hand as they strolled along the narrow road in the forest.

He glanced down at it and then up at her, always feeling proud and still a little shocked that she had chosen him. He stepped in front of her, blocking her path and pulled her in close, planting a kiss on her always-generous lips.

"What was that for," she giggled.

Steve shrugged as he turned and continued to walk, holding her hand behind him with both of his. "No reason. I just love my wife and my life."

Her face and body flushed over his statement that also left her feeling giddy inside. She felt the same way about him. "I love you too. You're my hero, do you know that?"

He glanced over his shoulder at her, about to laugh over her silly declaration but it didn't play off that way once he saw the look on her face. He realized it wasn't a play on words, she meant it.

"I think you're delirious, Maggie."

She moved in front of him, blocking his path now. "I'm not delirious, I'm telling you straight out that you make me feel safe and secure in this life. Even when I thought I was going to die, if you were with me…" she paused, shaking her head still amazed over the comforting feelings he could instill in her. "I can't remember the last time I felt this way. I was alone for so long that I forgot what it felt like to know that someone truly loves me despite all my flaws."

His hand reached up and touched her face, "You have no flaws. What you see as imperfections, I see as endearing. I don't see myself as your hero, I see myself as this lucky schmuck who somehow mysteriously won over your heart. You love me, and that simple fact that I know to be true motivates me in ways that you haven't even witnessed yet. I feel like our lives are just on the brink of something incredible. I just don't know what it is."

He always had a way of putting things in perspective for her that made not only their life together but also their existence seem fascinating.

"See," she smiled at him, "my hero." She swear she could see him blush past the rolling of his eyes over her declaration once again, but ignored it with a kiss that showed him truly who he was to her.

They continued on still holding hands which Steve realized was quite a pleasurable thing, understanding now why couples did it and also realizing that it wasn't for everyone and the ones that did hold hands he didn't think were just doing it to exhibit some sort of public affection but more so the reason was that it simply felt good. He'd never verbally snubbed hand holding couples but had perceived them as clingy and over dependent on that other person, but deep down inside he was jealous of the physical affection and now after getting the rare gift of joining the elite club he saw it as neither of those two flaws, but rather gratifying, but more than that, it felt secure, filling him with that self confidence that only Maggie could instill in him.

He was about to show her once again his gratitude when she stopped on the edge of the road and was looking at something down the steep incline.

"Steve look!" she pointed, narrowing her eyes. "Oh my God, is that…" She let go of his hand and stepped over the edge, sliding on the wet ferns for a couple of feet before catching her balance and continuing on.

"Maggie!" he yelled, going over after her without giving it a second thought as to why or where she was headed. "Stop!"

"It's a car!" she shouted, sliding down on her backside using her hands as leverage as she made her way down to the wreck.

He sidestepped and had almost caught up with her when he saw the car, stopping in his tracks at the mangled mess. "Maggie, please stop!" he begged, not sure of the contents nor the stability of it.

The insistence in his voice made her halt. She looked over her shoulder as he came up behind her, taking her by the arm as if she might tumble forward.

"Wait here," he insisted.

She watched as he carefully made his way down, putting both hands on the driver's side door of what she could make out from the mangled mess was an older Honda Civic. She held her breath, hoping it was empty but knew instantly by his body language that it wasn't.

Steve could tell right away the older Hawaiian man and woman were dead the second he saw them, even with the exploded air bags. He pushed back away from the car and turned his head to the side. He swallowed hard and looked back over at Maggie, startled as she came down the rest of the way.

"Maggie, don't look."

She used his shoulders as a brace to stop the momentum as she came down. "Did you check for a pulse?" she asked, before even seeing the carnage.

"There's no need," he swallowed again.

She moved past him and glanced inside, wincing from the horrible display, but still reached inside.

"Maggie! What are you doing?"

"You forgot I'm a nurse. I've seen people survive worse."

She pushed away the air bag that had lost its purpose as a powdery substance misted up into the air. She touched the cold and clammy wrist of the older man first, knowing by the touch he was deceased. She did the same to the woman just to be sure before she reached her other hand back for Steve to grab onto and pull her back up away from the wreck.

She didn't have to verbalize her diagnose, he knew it before she did, but she had to be sure.

He moved her back a safe distance incase the ground gave way in front of the car and checked the back, moving the driver's side seat forward that had come loose from the impact.

"Oh no," he whispered mournfully. His voice letting out a whimpered cry as he backed away from the scene, visibly shaken over what he had seen.

"What is it?" Maggie asked, frightened over the heart-wrenching look on his face.

He took a breath and swallowed down the lump in his throat. "Its…there's a car seat in the back."

Maggie gasped and looked beyond him to the broken backseat window. "Is there a baby in it?" she asked, feeling the air leave her body over the horrible thought.

"It's upside down, but I saw a leg," he wiped his face on the corner of his shirt, feeling sick over the vision of the dead child. "Maybe two years old."

"Oh no," Maggie cried, her eyes filling with tears. She went past him, having to see for sure, just like the others.

"Wait a second," Steve said, knowing what her motivation was. He took a deep breath and let it out, mentally preparing himself for what he was about to see.

He moved in front of her and reached inside, getting a hold of the top of the car seat that was lying upside down, facing the floor of the backseat. He hesitated for just a second as Maggie held on to his shoulder, looking over it with a similar pained expression over what they were going to find.

He pulled back on the car seat and both were startled when they heard a whimper and then a muffled cry.

"Oh my God!" Maggie cried, moving over to the other side of him as he began to crawl inside the wreckage. "Be careful, Steve!" she warned as the car creaked from the extra weight on the slippery slope.

He could see the dark haired little girl facing the floor, pinned down by the passenger seat while her body still wrapped up in the straps of the child seat. Her head turned to the side as much as she could and started to cry harder.

"It's ok sweetie. I'm going to get you out of here," he promised, trying to console her with a gentle caress on her back not sure of her injuries. "Shhh, don't cry."

"Is she hurt?" Maggie asked, trying to make her way to the other side of the car to get a better view.

"I don't know, but she has a healthy cry," he chuckled, pleased over that as she wailed louder now, wanting out of her dilemma. "She's wrapped up in the straps from the car seat. Come get my knife from the backpack. It's in the front zipper part," he ordered, holding the seat back with his right hand and trying to calm her and check for broken bones with his left.

Maggie quickly made her way back over to him and unzipped the front pocket of his backpack, reaching inside and feeling for the pocketknife. She lifted the four-inch blade out from its shield and handed it to him over his shoulder, handle first.

"Here," she said, getting a glance inside at the little girl whose cries had subsided more so out of exhaustion rather than lack of anger and fear. "Do you need help? I can maybe crawl in on the other side and hold her head."

"No, I think I got it. She's moving her head back and forth so I don't think there's a neck injury. I don't feel anything broken. She's just pissed," he halfheartedly laughed as he slid a hand under her chest until he could cup her head with his palm and then slipped the knife under the straps in the back of the car seat and cut them with the sharp blade in one swift motion. He felt her weight on his arm and hand as she was freed from the encumbrance. "I got her!" he declared, moving the car seat out of the way, exposing her whole body into view. "Whew," Steve laughed, "she's ripe and in definite need of diaper change."

He dropped the knife on the seat as he lifted her up, using his other hand to brace her back and keep her still until Maggie could examine her and make sure there were no injuries that he couldn't see.

He carefully pulled her through the window as the crying resumed once again while her little arms flailed about trying to grasp on to something or someone for security.

"It's ok," Maggie cooed as she took her right hand, feeling the small fingers clasp tightly onto her. "She's got a good grip. Set her down over here."

Steve knelt down and carefully rolled her over still keeping her secure in his grasp.

Her long dark hair was a ratted mess and matted to her head from sweating. She blinked repeatedly as she stared up at the two strangers. Her right cheek was swollen and bruised but other than that Maggie couldn't find any other injuries that were visible as she felt over her small body.

"Give me some water," she said, wiping away the sweat and dirt from the child's forehead with her hand.

Steve wiggled out of his backpack and pulled out the water bottle and handed it to her.

Maggie cupped her head in her hand and put the bottle up to her lips as the little girl grasp onto it with both hands and tipped it back like a baby bottle spilling the liquid out into her mouth. She coughed and choked on the contents, resuming the crying as Maggie pulled it away from her lips and sat her up.

"Slow down sweetie," she said, trying once again with a firmer grip on the container. "She's really thirsty and I bet starving too. By the remains of the other two victims I think it's been at least two days since the accident."

"We need to get her to a hospital," Steve said as he stood up with his cell phone in his hand. "There's no signal here. We'll have to hike out with her." He knelt back down on one knee next to them. "Do you think she's ok enough if I carry her out of here?"

"I think so. I don't see any kind of injuries except for her cheek, but you never know what's going on inside. Her pulse is normal, a little high but you can only imagine what she's thinking."

He went back to the car, looking for the registration, hoping to get the identification of the deceased couple and spotted a diaper bag on the floor in the front seat between the woman's legs. He carefully reached in and took it out, filtering through it as he went back over to Maggie.

"Look what I found." He pulled out a small plastic container and shook some cheese fish crackers into his hand and squatted down next to the two of them, holding his hand out to the little girl.

She looked up at him starry eyed and then at the contents of his hand. A bright smile emerged on her face as she slapped her hand over top of the treat and scooped up a handful, shoving them into her mouth.

"Not so fast," Maggie laughed, giving her another drink.

She let out a small whine in disapproval as Steve pulled his hand away.

He quickly shook another smaller amount and held them out to her. She grabbed them in the same fashion, putting them in her mouth and chewing, reaching out for more before even swallowing down what she had.

"She is hungry," he declared, "poor thing." He gave her another handful and filtered through his backpack pulling out a granola bar and handing it to Maggie. "This will fill her up more."

She broke off a small chunk and gave it to her.

She chewed on the bar and reached her hand out, "Mo," she said with her mouth full. "More."

Maggie looked over her shoulder at Steve as they both smiled. He motioned with his head to the little girl. "You heard her, more."

She broke off another one and gave it to her. "What's your name?" she asked in a childlike tone.

She chewed and just stared at her not responding.

"How old are you? Two?" she asked, holding up two fingers, but once again the question went unanswered.

"I'm thinking maybe two," Steve guessed, "or almost?"

Maggie nodded, "Me too."

He set the diaper bag down next to them and took out a small pair of pants. "We should get her out of those wet clothes. She's going to have a serious diaper rash."

Maggie looked at him amusingly. "I didn't know you even knew what diaper rash was?"

He gave her an odd look, "Of course I do. I've read about it, never seen one, but I heard they were uncomfortable."

She took the pants from him, charmed over his answer. "Are there any diapers or wipes in there?"

He took out both and handed them to her. "Here." He pulled his shirt over his head and gave it to her too. "Lay her down on this."

Maggie smiled at his insightfulness and spread it out on the ground and picked up the little girl after giving her another piece of granola bar to keep her content and set her down on the shirt. She pulled her damp pants off as the stench from the full diaper hit them both.

"Whoa," Steve said, standing up. "Damn, that is stinky!"

The little girl laughed at his expression as she chewed on her food.

He was taken back by the sudden cheerfulness and leaned over Maggie's back, looking down at her with another silly grossed out face, hoping for the same sweet chuckle. "You are a stinky girl."

She laughed again, which made them both laugh.

"Isn't he silly?" Maggie cooed, tossing the full diaper aside and using the wipes to carefully clean her off.

"Popo," she blurted out, pointing at the car. "Nana."

Both of their cheerful expressions faded, knowing she was asking for the couple.

"I think those two might be her grandparents," Steve predicted, recognizing the slang words for grandma and grandpa.

"I think you're right. I wonder where the parents are? They've been up here for at least two days, maybe more and nothing about them in the news. No one has missed them?"

Steve shrugged, "Maybe they're on vacation off the island. I don't know, but we need to get her out of here and to a hospital and get some help down here to get them out."

Maggie fastened the fresh diaper on, "All done," she said leaning over her and smiling. "All clean now." She slipped the clean pair of pants on her and helped her sit up.

"Nana," she said again, pointing to the car.

"Nana and Popo are sleeping now," Maggie told her, hiding her sadness over the child's misfortune.

She stood her up and put Steve's shirt over her head.

He bent over and scooped up the little girl, setting her on his arm, holding out another handful of goldfish crackers, hoping to charm her so she wouldn't make a fuss once they began up the hill, leaving her family behind.

She scooped up the food and held onto his bare shoulder with one hand and fed herself the crackers with the other.

"Are you ready?" he asked Maggie.

She nodded, sadly glancing back at the car one more time before moving ahead of him to find the best path up the hill for the three of them.

Steve held her tightly as they began to climb up. She looked over his shoulder at the car and pointed once again, voicing her concern for the occupants.

"Nana, Popo," she declared, looking at Steve for some sort of reply, but when he didn't respond to her demand she began to squirm on his arm, reaching out with both arms now back toward the wreck, "Nana!" she squealed with fresh tears.

"It's ok sweetie." He tried to console her; hold her; and steady his climb up the slick embankment all at the same time as she began to cry harder. He became mindful of the dream he and Maggie both had the night before, wondering now if this wasn't just a coincidence, them stumbling upon the accident and the little girl. Perhaps this was exactly what Mahina had predicted could happen all along. It gave him a great sense of relief and pride knowing he had potentially fulfilled his duty to the Akua's. The more he thought about it the more he was convinced that he and Maggie both were led to this place the same as he was led to Mahina. It was meant to be. His payback was completed.

He comforted the terrified rant from the little girl as they made the last few steps and came up on the narrow road. He switched arms and turned her away from the view below as she howled her disapproval of being taken away from her grandparents, the only people she knew and relied on in her small world.