Pehea wau i ʻike ai i kou makuahine

Based on the characters and stories of Hawaii Five-0.

Hawaii Five-0 is owned by CBS and their respective creators.

"Smooth Dog!" Freddie grinned as Steve made his way into the hotel suite and dropped his bag. The rest of their team had crowded around various maps and blueprints while they prepared for their next assignment. Steve nodded a hello as he settled into the group.

"You're late." Joe scolded him, not taking a second to look up from the intel packet he was reading.

"Plane got delayed. Weather."

"Yeah, Tom called me and told me." Joe looked up from the file with a grin. Steve's face turned as white as a ghost. "He was askin' questions about you."

Freddie looked between the two of them, "Who's Tom?"

Steve gave Joe a look that told him to keep his mouth shut, but he was too late. "Sorry - Admiral Rollins. Son of a bitch outranks me." Freddie's jaw dropped as the other members of the team looked up in disbelief.

Steve knew the team was about to berate him with questions. After all, they had all been placing bets on exactly when Steve and Catherine were going to give in and admit their feelings for each other. "You all have exactly fifteen seconds to ask questions."

"You spent Christmas with Catherine?"

"Did you hook up?"

"She still with Harrington?"

"But did you hook up?"

"Is she your girlfriend finally?"

"She going back to Coronado?"

"If you didn't hook up, what base did you get to?"

Steve raised his hand to call time on the barrage of questions, "Yes, I spent Christmas with Catherine and her parents. No, we did not hook up. No, she's not with Harrington. She's not my girlfriend either. She's probably back in Coronado packing up her place. Her new orders put her back on the Enterprise. Again, we didn't hook up, and it's none of your fucking business so don't ask again."

"I'd say second… maybe third base?" Freddie smirked as he studied McGarrett for a minute. "You're way too happy to not have gotten any action." Steve shot him a dirty look. "Yep. I'm definitely right."

"What happened with Greer?" Tim Cole was the only one brave enough to say her name. The rest of the team had agreed that it should never be spoken out of fear that they might somehow conjure her.

"Nothing." Steve snapped.

Freddie laughed hysterically, "Like hell nothing happened! We all know you two were hooking up in Marrakech!"

Steve glared at Freddie and Tim, but he wasn't about to lie to his brothers. "Stress relief. Nothing more."

"Are you and Harrington good?"

"Yeah, we're good." It was the answer they were all looking for, but Steve wasn't the one who said it. Every head turned and all eyes were locked on the man standing in the doorway.

"Harrington. Thanks for joining us." Joe stated as he waved him inside. "Team Seven's gonna be joining us on this op, so Billy's gonna sit in on the run through of the A.O. and any possible chokepoints with us before we all go in." He signaled that their time of personal conversation was finished. "Holidays are over. Time to get to work, boys."

"You just about done packing everything up?" Steve asked as he sat in the hotel bar a few hours later. The time difference with California had been on his side, and he had managed to call Catherine before they deployed on their op the next morning.

"Yeah, I've taken most everything over to my storage unit already. I just need to clean the place and get the furniture out now."

He swigged his beer, "Sorry I'm not there to, uh, to give you a hand."

Catherine's lighthearted laugh carried over the line, "It's probably for the best. We'd probably end up rolling around in bed and not actually packing."

Steve chuckled, "Yeah, probably."

"Oh, shit. The movers are already here." She mumbled as a knock on the door startled her, I gotta go. I miss you already. Stay safe."

"I got your six." Steve set his phone down on the bar and finished off his beer.

"Can I buy you another round?" Billy's presence surprised Steve to say the least, but nevertheless, he motioned for Billy to join him. Billy pointed to the phone laying on the bar, "Catherine?"

Steve nodded hesitantly, "Yeah." He was grateful when the bartender interrupted their awkward pleasantries to bring two more beers.

Billy grabbed his and took a quick sip, "You guys together finally?"

He laughed under his breath, "Nah, man. She and I? We're close, but we're just friends."

Harrington chuckled dryly, "You'll have to forgive me, but I have a hard time believing that."

Steve shrugged, "Suit yourself."

Billy stared into his beer for a few minutes before he finally spoke up again, "Look, McGarrett. I don't know what the deal is between you and Rollins, but as far as you and I? We're good. I don't want us going downrange with you thinking I'm gonna shoot you in the back."

A grin spread across Steve's face as he finished off the beer. "Thanks, man."

"I know you didn't have anything to do with what went down between me and her, so, uh, all's good in my book." Billy extended his hand to Steve.

Steve shook his hand and slid his bottle back down to the bartender. "Thanks for takin' care of her in the sandbox."

"'Course."

"She, uh, she didn't really tell me about what went down over there, but it sounds like it was a good thing you were there." Steve admitted. Truthfully, he was still angry at Billy for asking Catherine out, but he and Billy were brothers in arms and that covered a multitude of sins.

Billy smirked, "I dunno about that. She was, uh, pretty miserable." He chuckled. "She was really unhappy."

Steve thought back through all the days he had spent with Catherine, "I don't, uh, I don't think I've ever seen her not happy. She's like a walking ball of sunshine." He grinned. "Except for when I pulled rank on her back on the Enterprise… she was PISSED."

Billy nodded, "Seems like her happiness is dependent on the people she actually lets in, doesn't it?" He pushed back from the bar and dropped a couple bills down to cover their drinks. "See you in the field, McGarrett." He clapped his hand on Steve's shoulder as he turned and left the bar. "Hart." He stated as Freddie walked into the bar.

"Harrington." Freddie nodded as he and Billy exchanged icy greetings. He plopped down in Billy's former seat and looked over at Steve, "What'd he want?"

Steve shugged, "Just clearing the air before we move out."

"So, you're really not gonna say what went down with you and him and Rollins?"

Steve rolled his eyes, "What are we? Twelve year old girls having a sleepover? No, I'm not gonna tell you. Me and Harrington? We're cool."

"Seriously, man?!" Freddie scoffed, "Fine. What went down between you and her?"

"We're, uh, we're good. We're good. That's all." A satisfied smile flickered across his face as he thought back over the last few days.

He just shook his head, "Either you tell me, or I'll just ask Kelly. She and Rollins have been pretty tight since Catherine had us all over for dinner a while back. I'm sure Catherine told her everything."

"Cath can keep a secret." He stated.

A satisfied smirk crossed Freddie's face, "So there's a secret to be kept?"

"No!" Steve knew he had been cornered.

Freddie just laughed and shook his head, "Come on, man. You've been smiling like a damn fool since you got back. Get it off your chest. What happened?"

Steve could hide his joy any longer - especially not with Freddie. He was more of a sibling than his own sister was. "We, uh, we made up. I spent a couple days with her and her folks for Christmas. And… I dunno, man. Things are good. We'll get there eventually, I mean, she's about to be back on the Enterprise for a while and Teams has us all over the place. I don't wanna tie her down just for a couple days here and there once a year... if that."

Freddie sat in quiet thought for a moment before he finally spoke up again, "So who won the bet?"

Steve chuckled and pushed away from the bar. "December 23rd. Do with that what you will."

"How far'd you get?"

Steve chuckled and shook his head as he paid his tab, "I guess you'll have to, uh, ask Kelly."

"Catherine!" Amy squealed as she tackled her bunkmate in a hug. "Took you long enough! You were supposed to be here like four hours ago!"

"Can't...breathe…" She choked out as Amy finally released her death grip. "Sorry, I had to turn in my keys to my super and make sure my storage unit was paid up."

Amy sat on her bed and crossed her legs, "Tell me everything."

"Tell you what?" Catherine feigned innocence as she began to unpack her bag. One by one, she pulled out the shirts Steve had given her and arranged them in her trunk.

Amy snatched the shirt out of her hands and unfolded it. "Girl." A knowing smirk turned up on the corner of her mouth. "This is NOT your size!" She grinned. "Spill."

Catherine grabbed the shirt back, "Ames. It's not what you think."

"I haven't seen you in like two years! I don't know what to think! We haven't talked since right before your second tour. Are you still with that Billy guy? How are things going?"

Catherine sat on the edge of her bed and held the shirt against her chest. "It's Steve's shirt." She admitted.

Amy's jaw hit the floor. "Shut up. You finally did it! Oh my God!"

Catherine's eyes crinkled as her smile grew bigger and bigger, "We, um, we spent Christmas together. He came and stayed with me and my parents for a couple days."

"I've been to your folk's house…. There's only one extra room... Oh my God…. Did you finally do it?! I bet your mom adores him."

She just shook her head and laughed, "No. We, uh, we kissed though." She chewed on her lip to subdue the guilty smile. "It was pretty amazing."

Amy grinned, "So you guys are like… a thing now? No more beating around the bush?"

Catherine shook her head, "No, we're… I don't know." She sighed. "I didn't wanna push it… I mean, we only had a couple days together. I don't know what we are…"

"Is he a good kisser?" Amy smiled mischievously.

She laughed and flopped back on her bed, "Oh my God, it was amazing." Catherine continued to unpack her bag and settle in as Amy filled her in on the details of her and Matt's budding romance. She unrolled the SEAL hoodie and went to fold it when a piece of paper fell out of the pocket.

I'm gonna miss sleeping beside you. Stay safe.

I got your six and I'll see you soon.

I promise. -S

Steve held Catherine's hand as they walked through the Rollins' backyard. It felt as if it had been another lifetime since they had walked to watch the sunrise over the bay on Christmas morning. Shelby Jo was tucked into the carrier on Steve's chest while they walked a few miles before spotting the hill. "Take it easy." He put his hand on Catherine's back as they made their way to the top.

Catherine laughed at his overprotective nature, "Steve, it's just a hill. I've walked up here plenty."

"I know." He chuckled, "But it's dark." They sat in silence as they prepared for the sunrise. Shelby had cuddled up against Steve's chest and was sleeping soundly.

Catherine gently smoothed the strawberry blonde curls that had sprouted off the top of her head. "I can't believe she's almost a year old."

"Just a couple more days." He commented as he wrapped his arm around his wife and pulled her into his side. "C'mere, you." He grinned as he leaned down and kissed her. Steve brushed his thumb across her lower lip, "Perfect in every way." He smiled. They were a little older, a little wiser, and a little more easily exhausted since they had last sat on top of that hill, but the fire between them was still the same. The morning light peeked over the horizon. Splashes of orange, red, and pink lit up the sky and reflected over the bay. As Catherine rested her head on his shoulder, Steve leaned down and kissed her forehead, "Are you happy?"

"What do you mean?"

Steve shrugged, "Are you happy?"

Catherine smiled, "I've never been happier."

"You know, I never told you this, but, uh, after that Christmas I spent here, Billy and I, we had a talk."

Her eyebrows raised in curiosity, "Oh yeah? What about."

"You." He smiled. "We were working together and, uh, we needed to clear the air before we went downrange. He, uh, he said that you were miserable during your second tour… that you were really unhappy."

Catherine nodded. "Yeah…"

"When he told me that, at the time I couldn't, uh, couldn't think of a time where you weren't this light, this perfect source of joy in my life… Except for when we were pissed at each other or running away from each other, of course…" He chuckled, "But Billy said it probably had more to do with the company you kept than just your natural disposition."

"I hadn't talked to you for eight? Nine months? During that tour… I missed you like hell." Her hand slipped into his and she fiddled with his wedding ring, "Ever since that first day on the Enterprise, I've always been miserable without you."

Steve smiled as the sun continued to rise. Shelby wiggled out of his arms and crawled over to Catherine's. Steve sat behind her and wrapped his arms around his girls. One hand rested on Shelby and the other on Catherine's stomach, holding them close. "Merry Christmas, Lieutenant."

"Merry Christmas, Commander."

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Ah, the dashing Billy Harrington is back. One thing that I couldn't help but notice in S04E05 is that Steve was equally crushed by Billy's death - it wasn't just Catherine feeling the loss. I think it's definitely a complex dynamic between the three of them and I can't wait to dive deeper into it as this story progresses!

I can't wait to read your reviews!

XO,

-Mags-