this is the last one *le sigh* chapter I mean, not the last story obviously. You guys thank you so much for all the reviews and the love. You're like the best readers ever! I forgot to say something about the last episode, Lori is finally gone! ain't even sad. I swear. You know I was not the biggest Lori fan so I'm glad she's finally out. That will hopefully mean more Core Four bonding or McKono bonding, so YAY!

ok, off to read now my lovelies!

Fran

We stopped in front of his house and I turn towards him but he was already picking Elisa up from his seat. He opens my door and holds his hand out to me.

"What are we doing at your house?" I ask him and he smiles, "I thought you said we were going house hunting?"

"I need to show you something."

"What?"

He pulls me towards his house and I have no idea why but my heart is beating so fast I'm having a hard time controlling myself. Why he was smiling was beyond me.

He takes me upstairs and I frown as we step in front of a room. He stands in front of me, Elisa still awake, her beautiful blue eyes staring right back at me.

"I need you to close your eyes."

"Steve…"

"Just do it, please."

I close my eyes because he asked nicely and because whatever his surprise is was literally killing me. He puts his hand behind my back, moving me slowly from my position in front of the door.

"Open your eyes."

The sight before me takes my breath away. The room is entirely pink. The wallpapers has soft pink imprints in it. There is a beautiful crib and above it the name "ELISA" is written in colorful plush letters. There is also a shelf with all kinds of toys for babies and young girls.

"I've been working on it for a while but it's not finished yet," he whispers, snapping me back to reality. "I was planning on buying light pink curtains…"

"It's beautiful, Steve," I turn to look at him, a smile plastered of my face.

"I was thinking, since I've been staying at your place all the time, I thought you and Elisa could stay here too."

"Steve…

"I know, it's too soon," he whispers and his eyes drift to Elisa and then to me, "but I want this to work, better than it has so far. I don't want to push you to do anything you don't want to. I just want you to know you and Elisa have a home here with me."

The sweetness of his words makes me want to cry. Steve have been there for me ever since Elisa was born, even before that despite missing the first months of my pregnancy, but he has proven not only that he's willing to sacrifice his life for us and our daughter but he wants us truly be a family.

"I love you," he continues, as if his last words were not enough, "I just…wanted you to know that."

I break the distance between us, because there's seriously nothing else I can do, and kiss him. And there's nothing else for me to worry about, I have no doubts, there's nothing else but this growing feeling of love inside me.

We break apart, he smiles as a tear falls down my face and he wipes it away with his thumb.

"I love you…" I whisper, though I'm pretty sure he already knows, "and I want to be with you. I know I said I wasn't ready, but I am. I should have said so before."

"It's okay, Kono. I shouldn't have pushed you…"

"Would you ask me again?" I whisper, "Would you ask me to marry you again, Steve?"

Even though the first time he didn't technically ask.

He kisses Elisa on the cheek and then sets her in the crib and she is more than preoccupied with the baby mobile dangling above it. I take the ring off my neck and hand it to him. We both take a deep breath and he bends down on his knee. The anxiety of this next step is killing me, because he is taking his time to speak and God, I am dying inside.

"Steve…"

"Give me a second, alright?" he took a deep breath again, and holds my hand between his. "I just want to do it right…"

"Okay, sorry," I say and he resumes stalling.

"Kono Kalakaua, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"

I could have squeed with joy, but then I remembered Elisa wouldn't be too pleased to hear mommy screaming.

"Yes," I say all too quickly, "Yes, I would love to."

He places the ring on my finger, making everything official. I wrap my arms around his neck, and a tear rolls down my cheek once again..

"I love you," he whispers in my ear before sealing his proposal with a breath-taking kiss.

"I love you too."

THE END!

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