Thank you Stephanie for your review, glad you liked the last chapter and thank you everyone that follows this story.

CW: none

The next time Karen met Steve, he came by the school, his weapon strapped to the thigh holster and his badge on full display as he walked into her office with a smirk playing on his lips.

"Commander, are you stalking me?" The brunette returned his smirk when she looked up from her paperwork and pointed to the chair in front of her desk.

Clearing his throat, he sat down and leaned back, watching her put the papers away. "Actually I'm not stalking you, I asked at the front desk for you."

"Of course you did and you still knew I'm at Kukui High from that hostage situation you worked on." Karen leaned back and smiled at the former SEAL. "What brings you here, Steve?"

He brushed his fingers along his chin, knowing he'd need to shave again or he'd look like a caveman, also according to Danny he already was. "Well, I wanted to ask you out. For a coffee, of course."

"Really?"

Nodding his head, he crossed his legs and smiled that nervous smile he got whenever Danny told him he'd not be human enough for civilian life. "I thought maybe at the Starbucks down by the Hilton, I heard it's quite good."

"Sure, I'd love to." Karen got up from her seat and grabbed her suit jacket and purse. "Come on Commander, let's go."

Springing into action, Steve got out of his own seat and followed after the brunette with a smile and he'd be lying if someone saw him, but he had a light spring in his step. "Let's go, Ma'am."

He led her outside to his truck, opening her door for her like his mother taught him when he started to express interest in girls - and he knew if she found out he wasn't gentleman enough, Doris McGarrett would have his hide. Karen thanked him with a smile and Steve quickly walked around the dark blue Silverado, climbing behind the wheel and driving off.

"So, what brought you over to my side of the town? Is it a new case you got?"

Shaking his head, the former SEAL watched the brunette carefully, "Nah, it's a slow day, no cases as of yet. But criminals don't take a day off so"

"Don't jinx it then."

Karen smiled as they drove along Kapiolani Boulevard, the buildings and greeneries flying by. She enjoyed the comfortable silence that had come over them, glancing next to her at the former SEAL, watching his toned muscles move under his skin, his biceps bulging once in a while as he moved his hand across the wheel.

Steve knew she was looking. He could feel her eyes on him even though she tried not to make it obvious, so he tried to rouse a reaction, long to see her feelings written all over. "So, what made you decide to move to Hawai'i? It's not like people just up and leave to stay here and work."

"Are you interrogating me, Commander McGarrett?" Karen let out a soft giggle and turned in her seat. "You know I'm not one of your suspects, I'm going to tell you what you want to know?"

Clearing his throat, the former SEAL shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Sorry, work habit I guess."

Nodding her head, the brunette let out a soft sigh and leaned back against the headrest. "I needed to get away from the douche of an ex-fiancé and my former best friend. He's a lawyer in New York and fucked her in his office, thought we were still going to marry after I found them together. So I packed my bags and left, needed a new scenery and such."

"Wow, he sounds like a piece of work." Steve commented, cringing at the thought that someone might hurt Karen like that. "I'm sorry to hear about that."

Snorting, the brunette grinned at him, her green eyes filled with mirth. "Don't lie, you don't sound sorry at all."

"Yeah, I'm not sorry. He's an idiot and I'm happy you decided to leave that piece of shit behind." He laughed and shot her a teeth flashing grin. "I'm glad you're here now, though."

Karen smiled at him, her hand itching to touch him, but they weren't even intimate - well that one time didn't count - so he probably wouldn't appreciate her being too forward.

Traffic had been light for a weekend, people enjoying the sun with surfing, swimming and just laying in the sand. Steve parked outside the hotel complex and jumped out of his car, wanting to open the door for her before she could do it herself.

"Whoever said chivalry is dead." Taking his hand, Karen hopped out of the truck and returned his grin. "Your mother taught you well it seems."

Nodding ruefully, he let go of her hand and stepped back. "She hasn't been around much but she taught me the important things in life."

"Sounds like she's an amazing woman."

"Oh she is."

Together they moved through the throngs of people enjoying their time at the Hawaiian Village Resort. Steve led her to the cafe and told her to take a seat. "You want regular or special?"

"Actually, I'll have some black tea with cream, please."

The former SEAL stopped in his stride, before another smile broke on his face. "Sure, just let me get it for you."

Sending him one of her own smiles, Karen leaned back in her seat and let her eyes follow after him, appreciative of the way his cargo pants fit him. Biting her lip, she shook her head. This was definitely going to get interesting.

A few minutes later Steve returned with their beverages, smiling as he sat down across from her.

"So what else do you want to know, Commander?"

"I'll take whatever you tell me." He shrugged, taking a sip of his coffee and smiled at her.

"Well, I guess with your resources you already looked into me and know most of my story."

Sheepishly Steve nodded his head. "We were checking you when you got taken hostage with the kids, but I'd love to hear it from yourself."

"Well, all right Commander, here it goes." Karen moved forward and placed her elbows on the table, smiling at the former SEAL and keeping her hands on her cup of tea, not wanting to send him running with inappropriate behaviour too soon. "I was born in New York, my father is an English teacher originally from Birmingham, UK. My mother is a nurse at the Presbyterian and a worry wart, she's the one thinking I'm going to jump down a cliff because of Martin, my ex, but they are the best parents I could wish for."

Nodding his head, Steve copied her, his eyes watching her delicate fingers as they played with the rim of her cup. He probably was being bold, too forward but he had had that urge since she got into his car. Without further thinking about what it would mean in the end, he reached out his right hand and took a hold of her left one, lightly brushing his thumb over the back of it. Her skin was so smooth and instantly he felt like he was tainting her with all of the bad things that had followed him throughout the last couple of years, but yet she smiled and he felt like he could let go, just for a second.

Leaning closer he dipped his head, his eyes never leaving her lips as he saw the tip of her tongue moving over them, wetting the plumb flesh. Steve made a split second decision and lightly put the hand holding hers behind Karen's neck, his breath fanning over her lips.

Steve's ringtone interrupted them, again they were so close.

"I'm sorry." He whispered. Another groan left his mouth when the ringing still continued.

"I think you should take that, it might be important." Karen mumbled, putting her hand around his wrist. She smiled at him and moved away.

The former SEAL let out a sigh and grabbed his phone. "McGarrett." He instantly moved into his cop mode, leaning back in his chair. "I'll be right there."

The brunette gave him a soft smile. "Go, we'll take a rain check."

"I'm so sorry, this wasn't how I planned it. I promise we'll do this right the next time." He stood up, his hands on his hips.

Karen smiled up at him, her eyes glinting with mirth. "Oh, there's going to be a next time?"

Snorting, he leaned down and placed a swift kiss on her cheek. "I intend to."

"I hold you to that." She grabbed his wrist and gave it a soft squeeze. "Go get the bad guys, Commander."

He nodded his head, a smile playing in his lips as he turned and left the cafe. Karen but her lip, leaning back in her seat. It was definitely going to be interesting for the two of them.

Karen needed to get some grocery shopping down. The empty fridge was screaming at her to get up from the couch and do exactly that.

With a sigh she got up, no use in putting it off again. There was only so much take out she could eat, especially when she was nagging Ally to eat healthier. The brunette grabbed her purse and made her way out of her apartment, the store just down the road.

She entered the climatized building and smiled at Miss Cho. She was a regular there, coming in at the same time every three days to get fresh Croissants from the in-store bakery. Grabbing a basket, Karen moved down the isles, taking stock of what she might need and wasn't looking where she was going when she read the instructions on the back of a homemade pizza dough mix. Only when she collided with another person, she looked up.

"Oh my, I'm so sorry." She gasped, looking at the older woman she ran into. "Are you okay, Ma'am?"

She laughed softly and waved away any concerns. "I'm fine, don't you worry. I'm tougher than I look." She smiled and held out her hand. "I'm Doris, I don't think I've seen you round here before."

"Karen, nice to meet you. Well, usually I don't come in here on a Saturday, but I was running out of food and an apple and a slice of bread won't keep me fed." Karen joked, holding up her basket with the much needed food.

The dark blonde woman smiled with a nod. Doris McGarrett had seen the folder with her pictures and information on her late husband's - well, her son's desk. Either she was a suspect in a case or he was trying to get a date with her. "So, are you a local?"

"Oh no, I moved here from New York about two months ago for work." Pushing a few strands of hair behind her ear. "It took some getting used to hearing the ocean instead of all night traffic."

"I know what you mean. Hey, do you have something planned later on? My son trains the Pee Wee Baseball group, why don't you come and watch it." She wanted to know why her son was so interested in her, there had to be something special.

Karen bit her lip. She had been debating on visiting Iolani Palace and ask Steve for another date but she wasn't sure that's what he wanted. Now this stranger invited her to a baseball game, she didn't even know any of the rules, never wanted to know about the sport. "I, thanks for the invitation, but to be honest I have no idea when to cheer and when to boo."

"Oh don't worry, you'll get the hang of it very quick."

Having changed into a pair of jean shorts and a loose tank, Karen made her way to the stands, looking for the blonde woman, Doris. When she turned, the brunette saw Steve standing next to the field, clapping his hands to motivate the kids.

He walked back to the blond man he was with that day at the shrimp truck and turned to the audience. That's when he saw Karen sitting down next to his mother and Chin Ho with a smile on her face.

"What you lookin' at, babe?" Danny asked him, following his partner's gaze as he zeroed in on the brunette sitting next to Doris. "Is that Karen Bishop? I didn't know you invited her."

"I didn't, I never got a chance to." Steve mumbled, uncertainty coloring his words before the Jersey detective pulled him back to the game. The Honolulu Shrimps still needed two points to win the game against the Navy Brats, and both Danny and the former SEAL hoped to get the kids to not lose the fun they had. Gracie was up for the next pitch and since she scored a home run on the last game, she was hyped to do it again. "Come on, Gracie. You got this."

She walked up to stand in her spot, taking a deep breath and watching the pitcher of the other team closely. The girl gripped the bat tightly and waited for the right time, just like before, to have fun and try to win. This was just a game. Danni and Uncle Steve would be proud regardless.

"That's Grace, my son's partner's daughter. Often enough it feels like he's adopted her as his own." Doris smiled, clapping and whooping with everyone to cheer on the young girl. "She's really good, thanks to her dad. Stevie was more of a football guy."

Giggling, Karen waved at him when she finally saw him looking at her. Steve was grinning broadly, before everyone erupted in cheers at Grace scoring another home run for the Honolulu Shrimps. He threw his hands in the air and screamed at his adopted niece to run across the field.

The adrenaline was rushing through him, he jumped up and down, Danny holding his arms open for Grace to run into. "We got it Gracie, you did it!"

"You were amazing, Grace." Steve praised her, brushing his hand over her shoulder. Turning around he looked towards the stands, seeing his mom, his friends and Karen - she especially made him feel warm.

"Why are you still standing here?" Danny nudged him towards the stands with a smile. "Go get her Smooth Dog, she won't be waiting around forever."

Sending him a questioning look, Steve turned around and made his way to the audience, smiling as he stopped in front of Karen. She leaned against the fence, her fingers inside the meshes, holding on tight.

"Hello, Commander." She greeted him softly, a light blush coloring her cheeks. "You guys did a great job out there."

He thanked her, the corners of his mouth pulling up in a smile, the light wrinkles in the corner of his eyes more prominent that day. "How'd you know we got a game today?"

"I didn't, actually your mom invited me along." Karen answered pointing to Doris, who was talking to Chin, Lou and Kono who had joined them. "Besides, I think it's my turn to invite you to dinner now that our first date was cancelled by some idiot doing bad things."

Snorting, Steve leaned his arm on the fence. "Well, that's true, I suppose. What did you have in mind?"

"I'll think of something." Biting her lip, she smiled at him. Crossing her arms over her chest, Karen walked away from the fence and left the stadium. The former SEAL grinned and pushed away from the fence, before he remembered he never gave her his number. So he called out to her, stopping the brunette in her tracks. "Well, I know where you work, I'll meet you there."

Doris turned and saw the smile on her son's face. She wasn't around much and a spy but she was happy when her children were happy and seeing Steve look like that warmed her heart. He deserved it, after all the heartache she caused him years ago and now with Catherine gone, there should be a new start.

"Commander McGarrett? There's someone here for you, they said you knew them." A HPD officer told Steve as he brought her up to HQ.

Looking up, the former SEAL smiled when he saw Karen standing there with her hair done in elegant waves and dressed in navy blue dress that showcased her curves perfectly. "Thanks Pua, I'll take it from there."

Thanking the officer, the brunette gave him a soft smile and then turned back to Steve. "Hey."

"Hey, what you doin' here?"

Smirking, Karen leaned against the desk in his office and crossed her arms over her chest. "I told you I'd take you out for dinner. Last time I checked, it's dinner time right now."

"Right, let me get this finished and we'll be on our way." He tapped a few keys on his laptop, before he closed it and grinned up at her. "I'm all done, let's go."

He stood up and held his arm out for Karen to take, making their way out of Ali'iolani Hale. Together they waved at Kenny, one of the security guards at the front desk and exited the building.

"So, we taking your car or mine?"

Steve looked around, expecting to see another vehicle in the parking lot but besides his truck there was none. Giggling softly, the brunette leaned into his side and shrugged her shoulders as if she was laughing at an inside joke. "Actually, I don't have a car. Usually my friend picks me up for work or I'll take the bus or a taxi."

"You don't have… damn, that gets expensive real fast." He didn't know what to say. Public transport in Honolulu could be he'll, not just financially. "You should definitely look into getting a car, it's easier to get around in."

"If you know a good dealer, be my guest and help me look for a nice one."

Pursing his lips, Steve opened the door for her and helped Karen inside the truck, but not without sneaking a glance at her legs that were nicely showcased by the dress she wore. Taking a deep breath, he closed it and walked around the car. He didn't know the last time he felt so nervous to be on a date - had he ever really been on a date? There were times with Catherine, but those were far and few between, besides that one time at Christmas when she had told him she thought of something a little more fancy instead of greasy food in a car. Steve had gone all out for that date.

Once he was seated, the former SEAL turned to his date and smiled. "Where to Ma'am?"

"I got a table at Tommy's Bahama Restaurant, it's not too fancy... hopefully." Karen winced a bit at the suggestion, maybe she should have asked before making reservations. During the time with Martin they usually went to atera in Tribeca, an expensive but amazing restaurant. He hadn't really liked it, but Martin didn't like many things besides his job and sex, everything else was just there to be done with. Letting out a soft sigh, Karen leaned back against her seat, leaning her elbow on the door and watching the buildings pass them by.

"I bet it's great, I've never been there but right now I could do with any food. Just hope they'll let me in with these clothes."

The brunette giggled at his joke, knowing he was trying to lighten the somber mood that had come over them. She turned over and leaned closer, putting her hand on right arm. Steve nearly jumped at the contact, too absorbed in traffic to notice their closeness before he relaxed under her touch.

"If they don't let you in, we'll get a different restaurant or just get take out."

Chuckling, Steve held out his hand for her to take. It had been so long since he had another female besides his family give him the contact he didn't know he craved. This right there felt right, just the way it could be - should be every day. He didn't want her to be a rebound from Catherine, he wanted her to be the real thing.