FINALLY! Steve and Sophia are back! Please review and let me know what you think. THANKS!

Steve held on to his phone and dialed Sophia's cell not caring that Danny was standing in front of his desk. Danny would hound him incessantly until he told him what was going on between him and Sophia anyway, so Steve figured he might as well let him listen.

Sophia answered on the second ring. "Did you get my picture? Isn't she adorable?"

Steve smiled, "Yes, I got it…..and yes, she's adorable. However, the fact that you have a picture of her from my back yard means my sister showed up early."

"Well, that's no big deal. Honestly, I would have done the same thing." Sophia grew quiet for a moment and Steve wasn't sure what to say because he knew she was thinking of Gio. Thankfully, she recovered and broke the silence, "So…don't worry. We're having a great time. Mary and I are outside watching Joannie play and I am taking lots of pictures with this great camera you got for me. Oh and by the way, I'm making dinner for all of us….so if you can help it, don't be late."

"You're making dinner?" His voice showed pleasant surprise. "What are you making?"

Sophia smiled coyly into the phone. The sound of Steve's voice was making her weak in the knees but she was trying like hell not to show that to his sister.

"I'm making chicken marsala with garlic potatoes and a salad. Oh….and some homemade bread."

Danny heard what she said and felt his mouth water, "Seriously? You are the luckiest SOB alive, my friend."

Steve grinned and heard Shauni laugh since she had heard what Danny said. "Tell him to join us."

"Are you sure?" Steve asked.

"Yes. One thing I learned from my Momma was how to cook. Unfortunately, she doesn't know how to cook for only 2 or 3 people….which means I didn't learn to cook that way either. I probably bought enough to cook for us tonight and have leftovers for a week." The sound of her laughter made Steve stomach do a flip flop. He loved the sound of it. "Go ahead and invite everyone else too, if you want," she continued. "We'll have enough. Besides, I love cooking for a crowd."

Steve was proud of her but couldn't help but feel a little bit of disappointment at the fact he wouldn't have the whole night alone with Sophia.

Oh well. He reasoned that he would just be sure to make up for it later.

"Okay, well we should be finished here around 5:30 and then we'll be home. Need me to pick anything up on the way?"

Danny couldn't help but smirk at the suddenly 'domestic' sound to Steve's voice. Who would have ever thought his buddy would soften to such a degree. Of course, Steve saw Danny's smirk and knew right away what he was thinking. After being partners for so long, there was very little they could hide from one another. To his credit, however, he kept his face neutral and didn't let on that he knew what Danny was thinking.

"Maybe you could pick up some wine? Or beer….Depending on what you guys want."

Authentic Italian food definitely called for wine, Steve thought. Momma Rosa would probably have his hide if they drank beer with such a meal. Steve agreed to pick something up on the way home and they said their goodbyes.

After ending the call, Steve told the rest of the team that they were all invited over for dinner. Grover had his sons football game to attend and Chin and Kono already had plans, but Danny and Jerry both said they would be happy to join them. Knowing that Danny also had Gracie and Charlie for the night as well, he knew it was going to be a full night, but also fun. He would have most of the people he loved most in the world around him and that was enough to make him very happy.

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6:30 p.m…McGarrett House

Steve pulled his truck into his driveway and retrieved the bottles of wine he'd bought for the night's dinner. He also grabbed the flowers he'd bought for Sophia. He knew he was being uncharacteristically transparent by giving her flowers when several of his ohana would be there to witness it, but he felt she deserved them after volunteering to make dinner for everyone. Besides, he was hoping to see her face light up with a smile. Her smile was a thing of beauty…..just like the rest of her…..and it had been absent from her face too much since Gio had gone. Steve had made it a goal to do what he could to bring the smile back more often until the memories of Gio got easier to deal with. The pain would never go completely away, but it would get easier. He was doing what he could to help her move on.

He walked into his side door leading into the kitchen and found Sophia standing at the stove stirring something on a front burner. The house smelled of garlic, chicken, and fresh baked bread making his mouth water instantly. Hearing him come in, she turned in his direction and gave him the smile he'd been waiting all day to see. He sat the wine down on the counter before handing her the flowers.

Sophia's smile grew wider, "For me?"

Steve shrugged, "Yeah. I thought you might like them."

"Like them? I love them!" She leaned up to kiss him quickly, "Thank you."

She wasn't sure, but she thought she might have seen Steve blush just a little. She asked Steve for a vase to put them in which he got down from a cabinet and handed to her. As she started arranging the flowers into the face, Joannie ran into the kitchen arms outstretched for her uncle. "Unca Teve! Unca Teve!" He picked the little girl up and started tickling her belly making her squeal with laughter. After a couple of minutes, he kissed her cheek. "You snuck in on me!"

She giggled, "Mommy said we would turprise you!"

They had certainly done that, Steve mused. "Well, I missed you and I'm happy you are here for a visit!"

Sophia couldn't help but notice how he softened in Joannie's presence. She knew without a doubt the little girl had her uncle wrapped around her fingers. It did funny things to her heart watching them together.

"Me missed you, too!" Joannie agreed.

"Where's your mommy?"

Before Joannie could answer, Steve heard Mary's familiar voice behind him, "Right here, big brother!"

Steve pulled her in for a hug too and placed a kiss on her forehead.

"So I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow?" Steve said.

Mary couldn't resist teasing him, "Change of plans. I thought maybe I would come in early so I could meet Sophia before you had a chance to hide her away."

Steve feigned innocence, "Would I do that?"

"Yes…..you absolutely would. So being the good pesky little sister that I am, I wanted a chance to meet the woman who's had you tied up in knots recently before you had a chance."

This time Sophia was sure she saw the slight blush to Steve's cheeks as he tried frantically to think of something to change the subject. Thankfully, Joannie beat him to it and did so beautifully, "Unca Teve, Tophie took my picture today. Did you see it?"

He hugged his little niece tighter, "Yes, I did…..and may I say, you looked beautiful." He kissed the top of her head again before setting her down.

"Tophie said I yook yike a princess."

Steve couldn't help but laugh at how Joannie still didn't say her "S" or "L" sounds correctly, but it only made her that much more adorable. "Sophie was right. You do look like a princess," he agreed causing her to beam at him.

They heard Danny, Grace, and Charlie come in the front door and were soon inside the kitchen as well. Sophia finally shewed them all out of the kitchen so she could finish preparing dinner. Steve insisted on staying behind, however, to help put the salad together. At least that was the excuse he used. Truthfully, he just wanted to stay close to Sophia; A fact that didn't go unnoticed by his sister.

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Dinner was wonderful. Everyone complimented Sophia's cooking skills and Danny said it was the best chicken marsala he'd had since his Italian grandmother's. Sophia took that as a huge compliment even though she did look somewhat embarrassed at the praise. As they all continued to laugh and enjoy each others company, Steve looked around the table to the people he loved most in the world. He couldn't remember the last time he had eaten so well or felt so content surrounded by his family and friends.

After everyone was finished, Sophia stood to start gathering leftovers to carry into the kitchen. Steve gently grabbed her wrist, "Where do you think you're going?"

She gave him a look as if the answer should be obvious, "Just cleaning up," she whispered.

To her surprise, he pulled her down onto his lap growing several curious glances in their direction. The small gesture combined with the flowers he had brought to her earlier were making a subtle but definite statement that she was his. In spite of herself, Sophia felt the warmth spread through her body. "Negative. The cook doesn't also do the clean-up in this house," he said before winking at her. She shifted a little on his lap as she felt the heat of that small gesture all the way to her core. Steve's eyes darkened suddenly as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. Her heart rate picked up.

Danny put down his napkin and stood up effectively breaking the moment, "Steve's right. The cook shouldn't have to do clean-up, too." He motioned towards Jerry who also stood and the two men began gathering things to take back inside.

Steve pulled Sophia in for a quick kiss, "You and Mary stay out here with the kids. We've got this." He inconspicuously gave her ass a small squeeze before standing up and letting her have his seat. Sophia watched as he gathered dirty dishes into his hands and started talking back in towards the house.

"He really likes you, ya know."

Sophia tore her eyes away from Steve to look towards Mary, "I'm sorry….what?"

Mary was grinning like the-cat-who-stole-the-canary, so to speak. "My brother really likes you. I've honestly never seen him so taken with a girl."

Sophia turned back towards the house unconsciously looking for a glimpse of Steve through the window. "We're just….friends."

A chuckle escaped Mary at that feeble argument, "Uh-huh…..Right." Sophia turned back towards her and Mary's expression softened, "I meant what I said earlier. I've never seen him so infatuated with someone."

"Your brother is very special." Sophia answered.

"Yeah, he is," Mary agreed. "He's also been hurt. A lot. I would hate to see him get his heart broken again. Know what I mean?"

It was just the sort of statement Sophia would have made towards anyone having feelings for her brother as well. Sophia smiled at her softly even though a little sadly at the thoughts of Gio, "I think I'm really going to like you, Mary."

Then, the women turned and watched Grace playing with Charlie and Joannie for a few minutes before Sophia felt a wave of emotion threatening to break her down. She stood up quickly, "I'm just going down to the beach for a walk. Okay?"

Mary sensed her need to be alone. "Okay. Be careful."

A little while later, Steve came out drying his hands with a dishtowel. "Where's Sophie?"

"She went for a walk on the beach."

"By herself? At night? Why did you let her go alone?"

Mary let out one of the long suffering sighs she was so known for while rolling her eyes and looking up at Steve, "She's a big girl, Steve. I'm sure she can take care of herself. Besides, I had the feeling she wanted to be alone for awhile."

Steve tossed the towel onto a chair. "Okay, which way did she go?" he asked as he started making his way towards the sand.

"Going after her, huh?" Mary teased even though she pointed in the direction Steve needed to go.

Steve's only response was to look over his shoulder and smile at her. He stopped briefly to chat with the kids reminding them not to go towards the water since it was dark. Then, he set off to find Sophia.

He didn't have to go far. She was sitting on the sand with the moonlight spotlighting her beautiful silhouette and the breeze from the ocean softly blowing her hair. Steve swallowed trying to quell the feelings of possessiveness he was feeling towards her. He began walking towards her. Right before he reached her, he spoke trying not to startle her.

"Hey."

Sophia tried to wipe a tear away from her cheek before Steve saw it, but he failed. He walked closer so he could sit down behind her on the sand. "Hey…..come here," he said softly as he pulled her towards him. She scooted so she was sitting between his legs with her head leaning back onto his shoulder. She felt Steve's strong arms come around her and felt the pain in her heart ease just a little.

"What's wrong, babe?" Steve asked.

Sophia was trying so hard not to cry, but this was one of those moments her will was not strong enough to stop the tears. Steve felt her chest shaking when she finally lost the battle against her tears. He held her as she cried for a few minutes realizing that she needed to get it out before talking. He was willing to give her all the time she needed.

"I miss him so much," she choked out and Steve's heart broke listening to her pain.

He pulled her closer and leaned down to kiss her head before resting his chin there, "I know you do."

"Seeing you and Mary tonight…It made me realize….."

When she didn't finish the sentence, Steve urged her on, "Made you realize what?"

Sophia took in a calming breath and tried to stop her voice from shaking. "I realized I'll never have that with Gio again. I'll never have any brother/sister teasing. I'll never see him in love or be protective of him when a woman comes into his life…." Her voice trailed off.

Two things struck Steve about her admissions. One, was he in love?

The answer came to him as clearly as anything he had ever felt: Yes.

Yes, he was in love with Sophia and it felt as if the most natural thing in the world. The realization should have frightened him, but strangely it did not.

The second thing she brought up was something he needed to deal with right away though: Had Mary given her the third degree while they were outside and the men were in the kitchen cleaning up? The thought didn't settle well with him. Sophia had been through enough lately without having his sister add to the stress.

Sophia felt Steve tense behind her. "Did Mary grill you tonight? Because if she did, I swear to God…"

Sophia sat up and turned towards him a little while still staying in the safety of his lap. She put a hand on his chest, "Shhh…..No, she didn't 'grill me'. She was just doing what sisters do. She loves you very much and doesn't want to see you get hurt. I would have done the same thing for Gio."

Her eyes started to well up again but this time, she kept them at bay. Steve's eyes softened and he moved his hands to cup her face. He knew he couldn't take the pain away, but he hoped to ease it a little. He leaned down to give her a kiss that she felt all the way to her soul.

This was what Sophia needed; She needed to feel Steve's strength and his confidence…..and dare she say it…..his love? She could no longer deny that she was in love with him. She may not be able to admit it out loud yet, but she couldn't deny it to herself.

The only thing that frightened her was wondering if he felt the same.