A/N: Thank you to all who have reviewed! I really appreciate it. I just couldn't let this story rest. Please let me know what you think – I went way out on a tiny limb with this one!

Chpt 6: What Happens at the Wedding, Stays at the Wedding

As the evening began to wear down, friends and family lined up to toss flower petals at the newlyweds sending them on their way with warm wishes and lots of love. As the line collapsed behind the couple, Lori felt a hand slip around her waist. She knew immediately who had hold of her. Steve lowered his lips to her ear and whispered, "Tell Max I'm taking you home". A shiver ran down her spine. She knew she should protest, but instead, found herself nodding in agreement. Steve had asked her a dozen questions about her relationship with Max. Were they dating? "No". Why did she come with Max? "Because she didn't want to come alone". Why Max? "Because he asked". Really, just because he asked? "Yes, just because he asked". "Could he really be jealous of Max?" she had wondered. She couldn't deny the warmth she felt the few times they had danced. Steve was surprisingly smooth on the dance floor and she had nearly peed her pants when he and Danny and Chin attempted to break dance to the RUN DMC medley. She couldn't remember the last time she had had this much fun. Dancing with Kono and Malia and the girls… watching Steve watch her dance, had made her feel like a college kid again. But it was the slow dances with Steve that had really done her in. She hadn't felt the need to talk while they danced or to keep a stiff arm conveying the necessity for space with him like she did with the other men she had danced with. She was somehow both content and on fire as they moved together in time with the music. As the night progressed, Steve had pulled her closer and possessively tighter with each dance, and she had let him. It had been a long time since she had let anyone that close, physically or emotionally. "This is dangerous ground," she reminded herself as she traversed the crowd. She soon spotted Max at the dessert table.

"Hey Max."

"Ah, hello Agent Weston, are we ready to go?"

"Well, that's what I wanted to talk to you about. Thank you for the ride by the way, but Commander McGarrett and I are heading out to do a little research. We were brainstorming earlier and I think we may have a new lead on a cold case."

"Oh, I understand. In our line of work, one must follow the leads given when they are, in fact, given".

"Thanks, Max," she said with affection.

Butterflies danced low in her gut as she scanned the crowd for Steve. She found him by the bar with Danny, bouncing up and down on his toes. "You nervous or something?" Danny asked.

"What," Steve grunted, obviously distracted.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, why?" The nothing, however, became clear as Lori appeared. Danny watched as a warm smile spread across Steve's face. He excused himself without a word and closed the distance between the two of them. He ushered her to his truck and held the door open while she deftly maneuvered the big step up into the front seat. They quickly settled into a friendly conversation about the wedding and the beauty of the day. As they drove on, a comfortable silence blanketed them through a particularly festive neighborhood full of Christmas light displays. Steve broke the silence. "Are you gonna' be on the island for Christmas?"

"That's the plan."

"Is your family coming here?"

"No, no family."

Steve caught the hint of sadness in her reply. "No, no family? Or, no, no family coming for Christmas."

Lori bit her lower lip. "No, no family," she said resolutely and continued to watch the lights as they passed.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

"They've been gone a long time… I guess it's just especially hard at the holidays, you know that better than anyone."

"Who did you lose," he asked gently, sensing this wasn't a subject she spoke about often.

"My parents and my brother were killed in a plane crash my sophomore year of college."

"I'm sorry." He said with understanding and empathy as he pulled the truck into a vacant spot at her apartment complex.

"Thank you," she whispered, "and thank you for bringing me home."

"You're welcome".

Thinking that was goodbye, Lori smiled sweetly and opened the door.

"Hang on, I'll help you," Steve called over his shoulder as he darted out of the truck and around to her side. Lori swiveled her knees toward Steve and he held out his hands to help. It was an awkward exchange as Lori tried to remain decently covered in her form fitting mini dress while managing the big step down from the truck to the ground. Finally, Steve reached in and grabbed her by the waist, deftly lifting her from the truck as she steadied herself, palms flat on his shoulders. He sat her down slowly and held on to her waist just long enough for her to see the storm of greens and blues brewing in his eyes. "You feel like a walk?"

Not trusting herself to speak, she simply nodded in affirmation.

They walked in silence down a small trail to the beach and hit the sand in their evening ware and flip flops. The water was warm as it lapped at their feet. Steve nudged her gently with his elbow. "You want to talk about it?"

She hesitated. She hadn't spoken about them or their deaths in a very long time. Her last boyfriend had never asked, which was fine with her, as she probably wouldn't have shared any of it with him anyway. It was curious, this willingness to open up when she was with Steve. She wouldn't have wasted her breath when they first met in the Governor's office. She thought she had had him pegged: arrogant, self righteous hero type with no capacity to bend; his way or the highway kind of guy. She glanced at him standing next to her, waiting patiently for her to continue. She had come to realize that he defied any stereotype and confounded her ability to profile. She trusted him. It hit her like a sucker punch. She trusted him completely. With no further thought, she spoke. "They were in a private plane, on their way to the Hamptons. My brother, Mason and his fiancée had planned to get married there. The four of them were flying out to make the final arrangements." She spoke slowly and softly, pausing to steady her voice and draw in a calming breath. She crossed her arms over her chest, physically holding herself together. "They veered off course," she continued, "so flight control tried to reach them, but there was no answer. Investigators later determined that the plane lost cabin pressure mid way through the flight. The navy was alerted… they sent an escort to asses the situation…." She was breathing quickly now, talking with her hands. "They could see them in the cabin… they were…. well they weren't moving so…." Steve stepped in front of her and grabbed her hands, bringing them to his lips; he kissed her knuckles and watched as the color darkened from white to pink. He felt her relax. "Let's walk," he beckoned as he stepped back from her and let one hand go. He held the other hand firmly in his. She was quiet for a bit, letting the ugliness of the accident flash through her brain. Her voice was steady when she again spoke. "My grandfather sent his driver to school to collect me. He wouldn't tell me what was happening, just that I was needed at home. The next few days are a blur, really. I went back to school the day after the funeral, not really sure what else to do. I changed my major to physical education which caused my grandfather to make the trip personally this time just to yell at me about being responsible and living up to my family's name. I changed my major back to criminal justice and promised I would go to law school as long as I could double major in phys ed. I was angry and alone and, did I mention I was angry? All I wanted to do was hit things. I took all the martial arts classes that I could. I started running and I kept running because it was the only time I had a clear head. I went mountain climbing and spelunking. I started swimming and hiking, anything I could do that required physical endurance. And I did them alone. I kind of lost it for a while. I shut everyone out, dated guys I had no intention of staying with or sleeping with for that matter. I did anything I could just to keep going. Did you know I have a sister?" Steve shook his head. "Well I do, Claire. She's five years older than me and she never forgave me for shutting down. We're complete opposites. After their deaths, she threw herself even more into the social scene determined not to be forgotten. While I'm doing my best to protect the world, she'd doing her best to decorate it. I love my sister, but I don't really understand her and she doesn't get me at all. We speak ever so often, but we've never been close and after the accident, well things didn't get any better. She married one of the lead attorney's at Weston Industries and leads a perfectly upscale life in up state New York."

"Wait, Weston Industries…. That's you?"

"No," she abruptly stopped walking, "this is me," she pointed to herself. "Weston Industries is what's left of my family's business."

"That's a huge corporation."

"Yes it is. After my grandfather died, I sold my share of the business to my brother-in- law."

"Alright, slow down. I know you went to law school and I know you worked, first for the FBI and then for Homeland Security. At what point did you work at Weston Industries?"

"I didn't. That was my grandfather's plan. He passed away my last semester of law school. I hated law school, but it seemed a waste to quit half a semester out so I graduated and went straight to Quantico."

Steve shook his head in disbelief, speechless.

"I know… it's a lot to take in. I've never told anybody all that before."

"No, it's not that… it's just, you've been through… well, more than most and your background is… unique to say the least." She stood wide eyed in front of him, waiting for him to process. "I'm glad you told me."

She released the breath she had been holding and responded on a nod. "Me too".

They watched each other for a moment. Lori's hands went to where her back pockets should have been, not finding them, she crossed her arms over her chest. Steve chuckled at the tell. "What?" she asked quietly.

He shook his head and stepped toward her. Slipping his hands around her waist, he gently pulled her to him. She melted into his embrace resting her fists on his chest and her ear over his racing heart. He positioned his chin on the top of her head and she closed her eyes as he gently drew small circles over her back. She new instinctively that she would never regret trusting this gentle, heroic man.

After a few quiet moments, Steve spoke into her hair. "Danny and I planned to spend Christmas together. Rachel has Grace and my sister can't come home. I'd like it if you joined us."

She pulled back from his embrace just enough to see his face, enjoying the fact that he didn't let go. "I don't want to intrude."

"You're not. I'm cooking and he's picking the movies. It's not a big deal, trust me."

"I'll think about it."

"I'll accept that… for now." His entire face lit up under that cocky grin of his. She rolled her eyes and allowed him to guide her back toward her apartment. They walked in silence neither feeling the need for words. As they reached the large glass doors leading into the complex, Steve gently squeezed her hand. "Think about Christmas, OK"?

"I will," she assured him.

He touched her hair with his free hand, wanting desperately to kiss her. He held back, however, knowing this one was likely worth waiting for.

A/N: Just a bit of angsty fluff for the holidays. Thank you for reading! Reviews make my days a whole lot brighter!