The sun had recently set, but night was falling fast on the island. With all the lights on, the Tennant family home warmly illuminated its surroundings, inviting people in for a drink. Just like its owner, Jane said regularly, her door was always open. The three victims were safe and sound, the Jeffrey McKingcale investigation was now closed by the FBI, so the special agent in charge NCIS felt like celebrating. That and the calmer atmosphere between Kate and Lucy. Obviously, everyone had understood that the two women had finally reconciled, but in accordance with the discretion of a tall blonde not very comfortable on the subject, they had all respected their privacy by not saying a word on the matter. Kate had arrived among the first people, accompanied by her cousin Laura. In retrospect, there were indeed some identifiable family traits, height in particular, and attitudes that showed that they had grown up together, in part. They were both in deep conversation with Ernie and Jesse. Lucy and Kai were still missing.

Jane went out on the patio to join everyone, she simply paused to enjoy the moment and savor the happy moments. She smiled more when she saw that Kate was coming to meet her. The two women clinked their glasses to toast.

"Thank you so much for inviting Laura.

-I am very happy to be able to meet her.

-Oh you'll have time, she's here for 6 months.

-Big project ?

-Yes, and very selfishly, I'm very happy to have her around for a while. It's not that often that we get to be in the same city."

Jane nodded as she sipped her cocktail.

"I guess."

Lucy made a very noticeable entrance with a general "hello" full of gaiety, as she knew so well how to do. The scene brought a slightly silly smile to Kate's lips that did not go unnoticed under the sharp eyes of her interlocutor. To make things easier, everyone had brought something to eat and the little brunette was no exception to the rule. She rushed with a light step towards the two women.

"Hey, hi."

Kate and Lucy shared a knowing look and a beaming smile, Jane was close to feeling like she was too much. The little woman quickly resumed:

"Okay, I made huli huli chicken but I'm not too sure I got it right. Would you mind tasting it to tell me what you think?"

Kate nodded her head in agreement.

"Yes of course."

Lucy took a piece with a fork from the table and gave it to her companion.

"Well?"

The tall blonde blinked a few times, her attempt to keep her face as neutral as possible failing miserably as the strangely bitter and pungent taste spread through her mouth.

"Okay... That doesn't sound very good..."

Kate shook her head vigorously as she tried desperately to chew the piece in her mouth to swallow it as quickly as possible and maintain some semblance of dignity. Lucy winced.

"Sorry... Wait wait, hold on! I'll be back with a cocktail to make you pass the taste. " the little woman left in a hurry towards the kitchen.

The blonde glared at her friend who was laughing beside her, Jane found the scene particularly funny.

"Oh if you could see your face!"

She had taken out her phone, Kate raised a threatening finger in her direction, but she was well behaved, she had been taught not to speak with her mouth full, so her protest was very quiet. Lucy saved her life by coming back with a drink.

"Here you go sweetheart, it's a margarita, that should get the taste across."

Their eyes met over the glass that Kate had just retrieved. It was the first time she had used a pet name, and it had just slipped out, most naturally. Lucy stammered something inaudible before finally saying:

"Heeeeemmm... I'm going to go throw the chicken away before I poison someone else, okay? I'll be right back."

And she disappeared back inside, leaving a disarmed Kate under Jane's amused look. The blonde began to drink her cocktail as if her life depended on it. Her friend put her hand on her arm.

"Okay okay, you don't have to drink the margarita straight up to pretend it's the alcohol that's making you blush. It's all good, okay. I'll pretend I didn't hear that and we won't talk about it."

The FBI agent sighed softly, she observed the liquid at the bottom of her glass.

"You think I'm ridiculous don't you?

-No, not at all.

-Lucy told me that the whole team knew about the two of us."

Jane smiles fondly.

"You're talking about trying to hide something that's happening right in front of their noses, every day, from a team of investigators.

-Sure, when you put it that way..." Kate breathed, "I'm just not very comfortable with... all of it." Obviously that was a pretty vague description. "I need some time and Lucy and I just got together."

Kate gave her friend a brief hug to stop her anxiety.

"Hey, you don't have to justify anything. You take as much time as you need to be comfortable with it all. No one's putting pressure on you.

-Thank you, really."

Jane nodded sympathetically.

"What about that huli huli chicken?"

The tall blonde raised to the sky.

"Horrible, never go near it, under any circumstances."

Under the starry Hawaiian sky, there was a lot of light-hearted discussion, lots of laughter as they shared memories and stories. No one but Kate tasted the chicken, but everyone heard about it. And Jane, Jane had managed to capture the moment, not with a photo, but with a video. Little by little, the guests thinned out, Laura was the first to leave in a cab, soon followed by Jesse. They stayed in smaller groups for a while, humming to Jack Johnson's "Banana Pancakes". Spontaneously, they finally tidied up the place together and the last guests left the house, greeting Jane warmly.

Lucy walked down the aisle, her empty dish under her arm. She glanced at her companion just beside her.

"Didn't you bring anything?

-I had bought a cake at the bakery. Nobody ever leaves a dessert."

The small brunette greeted the answer with a light laugh. They had not talked about the incident of the evening but Kate seemed very relaxed at her side.

"Would you take a walk on the beach with me?

-Yes, of course.

-Can I leave this in your car?" she said, pointing to the dish "I came by cab."

In response, Kate unlocked her car. They then left in the direction of the ocean. The cool night air was welcome after the evening, and the wind carried the sea air inland, playing through the vegetation. They turned onto a small sandy path that led down to the beach. The crashing of the waves could be heard in the stillness of the night. Lucy pushed aside a lock of hair that the wind had blown back in front of her eyes.

"I'm sorry about earlier, with the margarita.

-No, don't apologize for that, please. I thought it was very sweet. You're right to be comfortable, they're just caring people, it's reassuring. I need to keep working on myself. It's just..." Kate shrugged slightly. "That it's not as easy for me as it is for you. I wish it was but, I still have some work to do."

Unsurprisingly, the beach was almost deserted, a few night walkers like them enjoying the coolness of the night and the romance of the starry nights. Kate took a long, tense breath and gently, shyly, she took Lucy's hand in hers. Their fingers intertwined naturally.

"But I'm getting better. I'm trying anyway."

She found herself captured by the look full of tenderness of her companion. The young brunette nodded, her smile brimming with emotion.

"I love you."

Kate's heart missed a beat, probably two. She pulled Lucy against her in a tight embrace. It was amazing how such a small phrase could have such an effect. She had never felt so fulfilled.

"I love you too."

Lucy closed her eyes, letting the wave of emotion wash over her. Despite the obstacles on the road, they had managed to find each other. Kate captured her lips in a warm kiss, and she moaned softly against her. It's hard to say how long they stayed that way, standing under the twinkling stars, but that night was theirs alone.