Disclaimer: I do not own Hawaii Five-O or anything you recognize from it.
Where we love is home, home that our feet may leave, but not our hearts. — Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.
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Chapter Thirty-Six
No Longer a Refuge but a Home
Melissa watched as Steve leaned against the nondescript table, feigning nonchalance but she knew him and she knew he was aggravated. "About this morning…I'm sorry." She waited for Steve to make a move or even a sound but when he didn't she began to fidget with her hands, walking towards him like a criminal would walk towards their executioner. In hindsight, she knew she shouldn't have bolted, hell, she knew he would wake up in a near panic but she had freaked out at the gravity of what she was feeling. It was all too much, especially since she had never felt like this before.
"I know I should have stayed or something but I wasn't ready for it, I just wanted some time alone to think and I knew that you would pick up on my distress if I stayed around." Melissa explained, stepping between his outstretched legs.
Steve shrugged, staring at the wall behind her, "You're making a habit of it. What about what I want?"
Melissa stared down at her feet, she was lower than plankton at that moment, "I'm selfish and I'm a wreck but damn it, I'm trying." She argued.
He shoved away the urge to take her in his arms, he knew she was back to herself the moment she came out swinging, "Did you come to a realization then?"
She nodded and took a few steps closer, her arms brushing his thighs, "That I'll fight for you and that I'm not going to hide behind my doubts any longer." She smiled up at him, and wrapped her arms around his neck, "I love you, Steve McGarrett."
Steve stood up, wrapping his arms around her waist, "I love you, Melissa Jones."
She smiled and kissed him, feeling more secure and content than she had ever felt before and though she didn't know what their futures held, she knew they were going to be okay.
This is it, folks! I just want to say THANK YOU to every single one of you, for tagging along, reading, letting me know what you think and being a part of something more than I forethought at the beginning of this story. This is the end of Refuge for Ourselves but it is not the end of Melissa and Steve's story. A sequel is in the works, so please keep your eyes out during the winter months for it. Thank you again. More than you'll ever know.