Mari Ilna--you're the best.

McRollers--thanks for reading.

San Pan Frisco Here We Come (1/2)

"Now don't forget," Catherine told the kids as they gathered their things before heading out the door Friday morning, "Grandma and Grandpa will pick you up from school today and you'll be staying with them all weekend."

"'Cuz you and daddy are going to San Pan Frisco," Angie replied as she hoisted her backpack over her shoulder.

"San Francisco," Catherine corrected with a chuckle.

"That's where the Golden Gate Bridge is," DJ said. "Miss Lane went there over the summer and she showed us pictures."

Catherine's trained mommy eyes did one last sweep of the living room for forgotten items. "She's the one who recommended the hotel we're staying in."

"Are you gonna ride on a cable car?" DJ's eyes danced with excitement. "She said those are super fun."

Angie's eyebrows knit together in a way very reminiscent of her father. "What a cable car?"

"It's kinda like a train that runs on the street." DJ pursed his lips as he searched for the best way to describe a cable car to his little sister. "Like the trolley we saw at Disney World."

Angie stopped dead in her tracks causing her mother and brother to pull up short behind her. She turned and her eyes narrowed as she looked at Catherine. "Are you and daddy going to Dizzyworld without us?"

Catherine stifled a laugh since it was clear by the look on her daughter's face that this was not a laughing matter. She knelt down and looked Angie directly in the eye.

"Daddy and I would never do that," she said. "We're going to San Francisco."

"You pinky promise?" The young girl asked, holding out her hand.

Catherine wrapped her pinky around her daughter's. "I pinky promise."

"Ok then," the now placated four year old said, "Time for school."

Catherine swung by the palace on the way to drop off the kids to pick up Steve who had gone in early to take care of some last minute paperwork. He'd been at the office since before the kids got up.

"I was afraid we weren't gonna get a chance to tell you goodbye," DJ said, clearly relieved that wasn't the case.

"I'd never do that," Steve promised as he climbed in the front seat and buckled his seatbelt.

"You and mommy aren't going to Dizzyworld," Angie told him. "She pinky promised."

Steve laughed. "We would never go there without you, baby girl."

"You still have fun in San Pan Frisco," she said in a consoling tone that made it clear she thought there was no way it could possibly be as good as a trip to the happiest place on earth.

Steve reached back and tickled her leg. "We'll do our best."

After copious hugs and kisses goodbye and reminders to behave for Grandma and Grandma, Steve and Catherine headed to the airport to catch a morning flight to California. Between the five hour flight time and the three hour time difference it was dinner time when they arrived at their hotel.

"Welcome to the Hotel Riu Plaza at Fisherman's Wharf," a young man whose name tag identified him as Trent said as they approached the check-in desk.

"Hi." Catherine smiled. "We have a reservation. It's under McGarrett."

Trent tapped a few keys. "Yes. Here we are. You'll be with us for two nights and you're in a suite with a city view."

Catherine passed him a credit card for incidentals. "Sounds perfect."

"You're just in time for dinner," Trent said as he ran the card then passed it back. "If you'd like, the concierge could recommend a good restaurant."

"Actually we flew in from Hawaii so it feels like mid-afternoon to us," Steve said. "We're not quite ready for dinner yet."

"Many of the restaurants on Fisherman's Wharf are open late so if you would like a late reservation I'm sure the concierge desk could help you. Just dial extension twelve from your room phone."

Catherine nodded. "Thank you."

As Trent handed their keys across the counter he said, "We also have a fully equipped gym if you'd like to expend some energy to help yourself get to sleep on California time."

"Thanks." Steve smiled as he picked up their bags and headed across the lobby towards the elevator. When they were out of Trent's ear shot he told Catherine. "I'm sure we can come up with a few better ways to work up an appetite and tire ourselves out."

Two hours later Steve and Catherine lay naked and tangled together on the room's very comfortable, and bouncy, king-sized bed. As his fingers moved feather light up and down her spine Steve heard the unmistakable sound of Catherine's stomach growling.

"I guess someone is ready for dinner now," he chuckled as he leaned over to the bedside table and checked the time on his watch.

"I could eat," Catherine said without lifting her head off his chest.

"Room service or do you want to get dressed and go out?" He asked.

Catherine thought for a few seconds then lifted her head and kissed him softly. "Let's get dressed and go out."

"We must be getting old," he teased. "We never used to leave the room."

"You haven't lost a step," she assured him as she got out of bed and began searching for her hastily discarded clothes. "But when I see Joni Lane next week and she asks if we visited any of the places she recommended, I'd rather not have to tell her we never left the room."

"She recommended the hotel too," Steve pointed out with a sly smile. "She'd probably be happy to know we liked it so much we found ways to entertain ourselves indoors all weekend."

Catherine arched an eyebrow. "Are you going to tell her?"

Steve took a minute to imagine having that awkward discussion with DJ's beloved teacher then mumbled, "I'd rather not."

Catherine reached into her purse and grabbed her phone. "She emailed me a list of a few restaurants within walking distance she thought we might like." It only took her a second to find what she was looking for. "How does the Pier Market Seafood Restaurant sound? She said they have the best clam chowder outside of Boston."

"Sounds good to me." Steve reached for the phone. "I'll ask the concierge if he can get us a reservation."

Tune in on Monday for part 2

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