So, I haven't felt like writing anything in a really long time. I wasn't even sure if I could get into my account after seven years. Seven years! Go figure, when I finally felt like writing again, the show was canceled! I was heartbroken and wrecked for a long time, but I still wanted to write this. It was mostly written between May 12 and June 30 (when we fans were devastated but worked SO hard to find a new home for Magnum P.I.) but then July rolled around and my mother got very sick and was hospitalized for six weeks. Writing took a backseat while I focused on Mom. Thankfully, Mom is doing much better now!
Anyway, I thought I had deleted this fic, but I found it a couple of weeks ago, and I really wanted to finish it before Season 5 (Thank you, NBC!) started. I didn't quite make it, but I have not watched the new episodes yet. Any similarities are coincidental. I don't own these characters, just borrowing them! Picks up immediately after "Close to Home."
Enjoy!
VVVVV
Smiles. Shy and uncertain, but definitely smiles.
"That was…" she let out a shaky breath. She had to be dreaming again. But it felt SO real.
"Yeah," he agreed.
"Lovely."
"Yeah." Her. That kiss.
"Earth to Magnum!" She raised her hand between them and snapped her fingers twice.
"Huh?" He blinked rapidly, refocusing on Higgins.
"You currently seem to be incapable of putting two syllables together." She had to admit, it was fun to see him frustrated for once.
Momentarily thrown off balance by the power of that kiss, he fumbled to find words. "I…wow…"
She chuckled. "Well done with two syllables, but you're going to have to string together more than that when we go back inside."
Then he snapped back like a rubber band. She wanted banter? He could do banter.
"You're right! I can't wait to get back inside and tell everyone!" He enjoyed watching so many emotions play across her face.
"What? No!" she yelped, sensing the control shift. "I mean, so much has happened today. Rick, Suzy, Joy…"
He grinned. "Kidding. Although, you answered quickly. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were embarrassed by me."
"It's not that. I mean, you can be rather embarrassing, but today needs to be about them, Thomas. There will be plenty of time later to tell them about us."
His grin widened. "Us? So we're already an 'us?'"
Temporary aggravation flashed across her face. "I don't know what we are yet, but this is their day, and I'm certainly not ready for all the questions I know they'll ask."
He smirked and considered her response. "True. We'll keep it our little secret for now. All I'm saying is that it's not really fair to tease me about 'going there,'"—emphasizing the phrase with air quotes—"if we can't complete the conversation until later."
"I seem to remember that you kissed me. I voiced my concerns about 'going there.'" She, too, used air quotes.
"Oh, but you definitely kissed back!" Banter, for the win.
"Okay, fine!" she exclaimed. "I didn't plan on telling you here. Not like this. But it happened. Can we please just put this on hiatus until later? We need to get back inside before someone seeks us out."
"To find us arguing like usual? Please! Everyone's so focused on the baby that they probably haven't even noticed we're gone."
"But you knew when I left." She smiled.
"I did." He returned her smile. "So…later?"
"Right." She breathed a sigh of relief.
"Besides, who says I'm not embarrassed by you?" he teased with a wink and another grin.
Her smile grew. "Don't make me regret this, Magnum."
He closed the small gap between them. "You probably will," he whispered, going in for another kiss.
As they broke apart, she sighed deeply. Absolutely not a dream. And as maddening as Magnum was before, she knew the button-pushing was just getting started.
VVVVV
Everyone was still in the hospital room when they re-entered. All eyes remained on the tiny bundle of joy. Such a perfect name for the newest member of their Ohana!
Their movement drew Kumu's attention. "Are you two okay?"
So much for no one noticing their absence. It was fine though. They just needed to play it cool.
Higgins nodded. "Just needed a bit of fresh air."
"Me, too," Magnum added quickly.
Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all.
Joy picked that specific moment to let out an ear-piercing wail, demanding everyone's attention. Magnum made a mental note to thank Joy for the distraction.
"Sounds like someone's hungry!' Suzy exclaimed, shifting her gown to accommodate her baby.
"And that's my-my-my cue to leave!" Shammy stuttered, releasing the brakes on his wheelchair and backing away from the bed.
"Mine, too!" TC agreed. "You need a lift, Shammy?"
"Please!"
"You don't have to leave," Suzy said, although it was clear that she was tired and wanted to be alone with Rick and their daughter.
"Shammy's right," Kumu agreed. "You three need rest. And I need food. And possibly alcohol. Who's in?"
"It's on me!" Rick said, as Joy wailed again.
"Nah, brother," TC said as he clapped Rick on the back. "We got this. You're about to have a whole lot more on your plate! But congratulations to both of you."
"Thanks, man," Rick replied with a smile, as Suzy added her thanks, too.
TC reached down and gently rubbed a thumb across the screaming infant's forehead. "Uncle TC will see you soon, Princess Joy."
"Looks like you've found Joy's first babysitter!" Kumu exclaimed.
Everyone shared a laugh, much to Princess Joy's dismay, and she quickly let them know how she felt. They finished up their goodbyes, and Magnum, Higgins, Kumu, TC, and Shammy left with more congratulations and promises to visit again soon.
In the hallway, Kumu was the first to speak. "I'm serious about food. And alcohol. Who wants in?"
TC and Shammy confirmed immediately.
"Actually, Kumu, it's been an utterly exhausting day," Higgins said. "Thank you for the offer, but I think I'd like to go back to Robin's Nest and turn in early. I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize, Juliet! It has been a doozy of a day. I hope you get some rest. Thomas?"
"You know I'd love to, Kumu, but I'm kind of strapped for cash," Magnum said.
"Honestly, Magnum, when has that ever stopped you from turning down a meal?" Higgins smirked. One of them had to pretend like nothing had changed between them.
"Okay, fine. I'm tired, too," he admitted.
TC pursed his lips and squinted suspiciously at Magnum. "You okay, TM? You seem…off."
"Yeah, yeah. Like I said, just tired. I'll get some sleep and be back to the same moocher you all love tomorrow. Besides, Higgins and I came together…"
Oh, geez.
Magnum cleared his throat and tried again. "We rode together." His voice cracked. "In the Range Rover…"
He hated that he was acting like a teenager.
"Seriously, I'll be fine," Magnum insisted. "Early night tonight, moocher tomorrow. You'll see."
"Okay, wrap it up, boys! I'm hungry!" Kumu cut in. "And thirsty!"
"You've told us three times, Kumu," Shammy stated.
"And, yet, we're still here at the hospital where the best food is processed junk from a vending machine. Plus, they don't allow even little umbrella drinks here. I'm gonna need something way stronger tonight though! Now, let's roll, fellas!"
More goodbyes were exchanged, and Kumu, TC, and Shammy left in search of food. And alcohol.
VVVVV
Inside the Range Rover, Magnum broke the silence. "Do you think they know?"
"That you have the mentality of a teenager? Undoubtedly. Literally everyone knows you're constantly broke, and that you never turn down food."
"Sorry, I panicked! I thought you were hinting that you wanted to be alone with me."
Higgins sighed. "I need time to process all of…whatever this is, Magnum. You can't honestly think that we'd jump into bed after one kiss."
"Technically, it was two kisses…two real ones, anyway. Do you keep count of the dream kisses?" He didn't need to look at her to know that he was on the receiving end of 'The Higgins Look.'
She groaned. "I thought it would take longer to regret this."
"Oh, c'mon, Higgins. You know I'm a gentleman. I respect your wishes…"
Higgins laughed. "Oh, really?"
"Let me finish! We've both expressed our concerns about messing up our friendship and partnership. Do you think that I would jeopardize all of that to get you in the sack on day one?"
"No," she huffed. She'd always loathed that phrase. "But most men will say anything to bed a woman."
"I'm not most men."
'I know that."
He sighed. "You want to go slow, we'll go slow."
"Thank you."
Having arrived at the main house at Robin's Nest, Magnum parked the Range Rover and killed the engine. "Don't move."
"Why? What are you doing?"
He jogged around the front of the Range Rover, aware of her eyes on him the entire time. He opened the door for her and held out his hand. "Being a gentleman."
'I can open my own door, Magnum." Still, she took his hand and climbed from the vehicle. She really liked the feel of her hand in his. "But thank you."
"Chivalry isn't dead, you know." He gave her hand a gentle squeeze, and they walked to the main door.
"I'd offer you a drink, but…" she began.
"But one drink might lead to another, and another," he finished.
"I really am quite knackered."
"I understand. Are you sure you don't want me to look around? Make sure everything is in order. I am the head of security," he smirked.
"Then shouldn't everything already be…secure?" she teased with a smirk of her own. She glanced down at their still-joined hands before meeting his gaze again. "I need tonight to try and make sense of this, Thomas. I care very deeply for you, but if we are 'going there,' it can't be temporary." Her voice cracked as she continued. My heart can't be broken again."
"Thank you for unlocking the door to your heart, Juliet."
They both liked the sound of her first name on his lips.
"I'll handle your heart with care. I promise."
"Thank you."
He shifted, needing to ask her a question, but still very much respecting her boundaries.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Can I at least kiss you goodnight?"
Yeah, he definitely sounded like a teenager.
She chuckled and pulled him closer, sandwiching herself between him and the door. It felt good. And right. As they broke apart, her resolve waivered, but only for a second.
"You should go, Thomas."
"Can I at least make sure that you get inside safely?"
"I'm literally standing against the door!"
"Chivalry…"
"Zeus and Apollo…"
Only then did he hear the growling, in stereo, coming from the other side of the door. "Well," he muttered defeatedly, "sounds like everything's secure. I guess my job is done."
"Not even close." She unlocked the door, pulled him against her for another quick kiss, then pushed him away and slid inside the house before the dogs could get out.
"You good, Higgins?"
The dogs continued barking until receiving their shushing orders.
"Goodnight, Magnum."
"Goodnight, Higgins."
He turned away from the door and scratched the back of his head. 'Going there' would be more difficult with those devil dogs around, but he would be patient. After all, their master had finally unlocked the key to her heart. The dogs couldn't hate him forever. Right?
VVVVV
I hope you all enjoyed this fic…and the beginning of Season 5!