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Catherine's Hospital Room – 4:30 PM

Catherine whispered so softly that if Steve hadn't been sitting so close and looking right at her, he wouldn't have heard her breathlessly say "T-take me… h-home." Steve knew it was time.

Without saying a word, Steve stood up and pushed the sheet off of Catherine's legs. He tucked one arm under her knees, and the other under her shoulders and back, and lifted her up into his arms. Catherine used what energy she had left and wrapped her arm around his shoulders and then tucked her head into his neck and closed her eyes. She wanted her final breath to be taken at home on their private beach wrapped lovingly in Steve's embrace, right where the two of them spent countless moments together.

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As Steve pulled into the driveway, he unhooked his seatbelt and turned to look over at Cath with tears in his eyes. He promised her he'd be strong, but wasn't sure he could follow-through on this one. He sat for a quiet moment and just stared at her. She had her eyes closed and looked like she was at peace. Steve was suddenly overwhelmed with emotions and had to get out of the car right then or he thought he'd suffocate.

He frantically grabbed for the door handle and pushed it open. He then stumbled and fell to the ground. Not noticing the gravel that embedded itself in his palms, he crawled to the grassy yard and dry-heaved until he was sobbing uncontrollably. He had lost so many people from his mom and dad to several of his SEAL brothers over the years, and now he was going to lose the only woman he'd ever loved.

After he had no more tears left, Steve picked himself up off the grass, brushed himself off, wiped the back of his hand across his mouth, exhaled a huge sigh, and slowly walked over to the passenger side door. Upon opening it, Cath opened her eyes and cracked a very faint smile. Even after everything she'd suffered, Steve thought she looked beautiful. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead as he unhooked her seatbelt.

He picked her back up and cuddled her body to his as he walked around the house through their Plumeria and Hibiscus garden to the backyard and down to the chairs that sat at the edge of their private beach. The huge Banyan tree branches created a perfect, little shady piece of heaven, while still allowing a full-view of the ocean. Steve sat down and kept her wrapped in his arms as she sat snuggly in his lap.

After 10 minutes of nothing but the ocean waves slapping against the shore and the light breeze cooling her face, Cath whispered "so… beautiful…" Her breath was labored now as she struggled to talk. Steve knew it wouldn't be long. Cath tilted her head back slightly and reached up and cupped his cheek causing him to look down at her. "It's okay…" Like always, she was more worried about him than herself.

Steve swallowed the lump in his throat and tried not to cry, but wasn't being very successful. He blinked to try to clear his teary vision, but tears streamed down his face. All he could manage was a simple nod.

They stared at each other for just a moment, saying everything words couldn't. A slight breeze tickled Steve's face and Cath slowly closed her eyes. Steve pulled her as close to him as possible and took a deep breath and soaked in all her smells. He held her tight to his heart, right where he knew she would always be… forever.

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Steve had no idea how long he had been sitting there when Danny came running towards him yelling "WE GOT IT STEVE! WE GOT IT BABE!" He didn't even acknowledge Danny as he stared out across the horizon as the sun slowly set. "Steve?"