Chapter

Kono looked at herself in the mirror, straightening out her dress. It was a fitting blue dress with a white floral pattern and Kono wore her hair in soft waves. She smiled at herself pleased with how she looked. She was nervous about meeting Adam's family for the first time. They had been dating now for nearly a year, of course the first four months had been in secret and it was only recently that Kono's friends and family had started to warm or at least pretend to like Adam.

"Hey gorgeous" Adam grinned from the doorway.

"How did you get in?" Kono asked with a raised brow.

She had yet to give Adam a key to her place since she would normally go to his and if she were honest she was a little embarrassed to live in such a small home in comparison to his. Although she had not given him a key she knew he had sneakily taken the key she had made for him but he didn't know she knew.

"Ahm" Adam hummed with a cheeky grin.

"You took the key without asking me" Kono offered with a pout but her voice was light.

"Well…you have a key to mine"

"Hmmm"

"I was beginning to wander if you would ever give me a key" Adam asked as he stepped closer and wrapped his arms round Kono's waist.

Kono bowed her head, smiling as Adam kissed her cheek softly, his thumbs stroking her hips.

"I just didn't get round to it" Kono muttered still avoiding gaze.

Adam frowned a little beginning to wander if something was bothering Kono.

"Is everything okay baby?"

"Yeah of course" Kono smiled briefly.

"Really?...did you not want me to have a key?"

Kono's eyes went wide and she buried her head in Adam's shoulder.

"Kono what's wrong?"

"It's silly"

"Sweetheart…I can give the key back"

"No…no I want you to have a key"

"But?"

"I was just…embarrassed that my place is so small" Kono admitted.

"What? Kono darling I don't care how big or small your place is"

"It's silly…"

"Yeah it really is…Kono I don't want you ever thinking that you're less than me"

Kono smiled softly and waited for Adam to lean down and kiss her lips.

"Shall we go now?" Kono asked

"Yes…you ready?"

"Yup!"

Adam led Kono into the grand house that belonged to his father. The whole family was gathered in the front room and Kono was immediately intimidated by the luxurious surroundings.

"Son" Hiro stated firmly as he stood to shake Adam's hand.

"Dad"

"Adam it's been to long" A thirty something women said with a smile as she hugged Adam.

"You moved away" Adam pointed out as he grinned.

"I go where the work is…were business people Adam"

"I know"

"Business before anything else" The women muttered casting a brief look at Kono.

Kono shuffled her feet and look around the room nervously. Eyes were either solely focused on her or ignoring her completely.

"Sis this is Kono" Adam finally said as he introduced Kono to the women who was apparently his sister.

"It's nice to finally meet you" Kono smiled having heard a lot about Adam's sister Kani.

"Hmm, Adam hasn't mentioned you much, what do you do?" Kani asked.

Kono frowned realising Adam hadn't spoken about her to his family. She turned to glare at him but he had wandered off to great others.

"Oh I erm…"

Kani smirked at Kono.

"Well?"

"I'm a cop" Kono finally got out.

Kani stared at Kono for a moment, her eyes squinted in thought.

"Did you know she's a cop?" Kani asked Hiro as she announced her question loud enough for the whole family to hear.

Everyone turned to stare at Kono and Kono looked to Adam desperately. She had no clue that he had been so secretive about their relationship.

"Yes…I've had to deal with her team a few times" Hiro bit.

"Dad" Adam warned.

"Adam's happy" Hiro muttered turning to someone else.

Kono watched as Adam briefly smiled and wandered off to talk to other family. Kono felt alone and singled out and she hadn't even been there ten minutes.

"So where do you live?" Kani asked Kono.

Kono frowned not understanding the question, she clearly lived in Hawaii.

"Erm…"

"What area?"

"Oh…Waikiki"

"Street?"

"Erm…Kamua Avenue"

"Oh…so your place can't be very big if you live there?"

"It's erm…perfect for me"

The group sat down around the large coffee table in the living room, Adam sat next to Kono but turned his back a little to talk across to others. Kono looked to her left and Kani sat down.

"So how many bedrooms do you have?" Kani asked.

"Just the one"

"Oh…Adam's place has five"

"I know"

"Bet you do" Kani muttered under her breath but Kono heard.

"So what do you do?" Kono asked trying to be polite.

"I work for my dad…I run the business from New York"

"Ahh"

"Is that an issue?"

"What no of course not" Kono rushed out although she didn't like Adam's family business.

"I like your dress" Another women said from near Kani.

"Oh thank you" Kono smiled as she tried to relax.

"It's just not what I would wear to meet someone's family…but apart from that it's nice" The women muttered.

Kono looked down at her dress feeling as though she looked awful. She felt terrible knowing Adam wasn't bothering to stand up for her. He could clearly hear what was being said and she began to think he didn't want his family to know her. She tried to push those thoughts aside knowing Adam had organised the family gathering, he wouldn't have if he didn't want to show her off.

"It's taken a long time to meet you Kono" Adam's uncle said.

"Oh…"

"Yeah I thought it was about time so I organised this" Hiro commented.

Kono felt sick realising Adam hadn't wanted to show her off and that his dad had been the one to sort this. Kono sat for a while longer listening to Adam's family judge her and make snarky comments. Adam didn't once stick up for Kono and it was beginning to upset her.

"Where's the bathroom?" Kono whispered to Adam.

"Huh?" Adam muttered as he laughed at something a cousin said.

"The bathroom?" Kono asked again becoming annoyed.

"Err…Kani can you show Kono the bathroom" Adam said.

Kono blushed in embarrassment, she didn't want Kani to have to show her and she didn't need everyone knowing she had to use the bathroom.

"Of course" Kani smiled.

Kono sighed and followed Kani out of the room and up the stairs.

"So why are you using my brother for his money?"

"What!"

"You clearly don't have the money my brother has, you live in a one bed box and you clothes don't scream money"

"I'm not using him, I love him"

"Watch out Kono, I don't like people messing with my family" Kani bit venomously as she left Kono on the landing.

Kono blinked back tears and looked around still unaware where the bathroom was. She wandered down the corridor and fortunately the door was open. She went in to pee and looked at herself in the mirror when she was done. She felt like Adam didn't care and didn't want her as his girlfriend. She furiously blinked back tears and went to leave. She opened the door of the bathroom and Adam stood outside.

"Babe I was worried you've been gone a while" Adam said softly.

"Don't pretend to be worried about me now" Kono snapped.

"Kono" Adam said worriedly as he stopped her leaving and pushed her back into the bathroom. "What's wrong?"

"I want to go home"

"Why?"

"Because your sister has been judging me all day and the rest of your family and you haven't once stood up for me. I thought you had organised this to show me off but your dad did, I get the impression you don't even want to be with me"

"Oh Kono stop…that's ridiculous of course I want to be with you"

"So why haven't you stood up for me!"

"I…I didn't realise"

"I want to leave…you can either drop me home or I'll get a cab."

"Baby"

"Don't"

"Let's go" Adam sighed knowing he had fucked up.

Adam lay on his bed staring at the vacant space left by Kono. He hated to not have Kono there; he loved to curl up with her and kiss her neck while she fell asleep and listen to her soft snores. He loved it when she rolled over in the night and snuggled closer to him, her fingers fisting in his shirt or lying flat on his bare chest. He had tried to call Kono but she had ignored him. It had been a week since the family gathering and Adam had now realised what a jerk he had been. His sister had made some comments about Kono which confirmed to Adam that she had been judging Kono. He sighed in frustration and got dressed before heading out the house to get his girl back.

Kono got out her car and walked up to her front door sadly. She had been so upset since the gathering and cried most days when she was alone. She missed Adam but wasn't ready to forgive him…she wasn't sure how she felt. As she put the key in the lock she realised it was unlocked and panic filled her. She rested her hand on her gun and opened the door fully. She frowned in shock at the petals scattered on the floor. A small smile tugged at her lips and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth nervously. She put her bag down and followed the trail of flowers to her kitchen where a beautiful bunch of flowers sat. Kono smiled and smelt the flowers the scent wafting through the air. She followed the trail to the bedroom where a gift bag sat. Kono opened the bag and found a floral skin tight dress that was almost identical to the one she wore at the gathering except for the pattern. Kono read the note that lay on top.

I don't care what anyone says, she looked stunning in your blue and white dress and I think should wear skin tight dresses more often because then I can stare at your sexy bum…assuming you forgive me…I'm working on it.

Adam XXX

Kono smiled at the note and dress and sighed pleasantly happy. She turned and followed the petals again until they led her to the lanai where Adam sat on the steps quietly. Kono padded over to him and sat down next to him.

"Hey" Adam said softly.

"Hi"

The sat in silence for a while before Kono leaned in closer. Adam wrapped his arm around her and kissed her temple.

"I'm sorry…really sorry Kono"

"I know"

"I should have stood up for you"

"Hmm"

"Kono look at me" Adam said seriously holding Kono's face in his hands.

"Mmm"

"I love you, I am in love with you…you are my everything and I don't care what my family thinks because I love you. I should have stood up for you and when I spoke to my sister after I put her in her place…I know that means nothing now but I promise to never let anyone talk to you like she did." Adam said genuinely.

"Thank you…and thank you for the dress and flowers" Kono smiled.

"I know you're not using me"

Kono bowed her head hating that the suggestion was even in the air.

"Adam I would never…"

"You don't need to explain, I know you wouldn't use me"

"Love you" Kono grinned.

"Do I get a kiss?"

Kono sighed and snuggled in closer kissing Adam deeply.

"Mmmm" They moaned in unison.

Kono pulled back and smiled.

"I think you owe me dinner" Kono grinned.

"What you thinking?"

"Mmmmm….pizza and beer" Kono giggled.

"This is why I love you"

"Come on you can make thing's up to me in the bedroom first"