On Love and Other Things
Summary: The future for Kono and Steve.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything H50
Thank you everyone, as always, for reviewing, commenting, supporting and inspiring. Double thanks for adding the alerts and faves. And a truly heartfelt thanks for following OLaOT.
Epilogue.
# # #
One Month Later
Five-0 HQ
"Hey, Steve?" Kono asked poking her head into his office. "You got a minute?"
Steve smiled and waved her in. Getting up from his office chair, he moved around the desk to sit on its edge as she walked in. "Hey," he said, smiling again. "What's up?"
Kono winced a little as she came to stand before him, obviously having something difficult to tell him. "I have to go out of town," she said softly.
"Wait, why?" he asked, surprised and clearly disappointed.
"My cousin Leilani, in New Zealand? She's about to give birth," she started to explain. Kono watched as Steve nodded, awaiting further elaboration. "She was there for me when I blew my knee out and I was there for her when she miscarried. This baby? It's a miracle baby, Steve," she said.
"Well, that's fantastic and I'm guessing you want to go to be with her to give her some support?" he asked, concerned.
"I wouldn't ask otherwise. I mean, her mom, my Auntie Hoku will be there, and of course her husband Eddy but, I just... she's - they've been trying for five years - "
"Go, Kono. She's family and she's important to you. And being there is important for you," he said, giving her a lopsided smile.
"Are you sure? I mean, we just wrapped up that Kunia case... " Kono asked back.
"Yeah, go," he said waving it off, trying to appear cool. "When would you leave?" he asked.
"Now."
"What? I mean, I thought maybe I could give you a ride to the airport or something," Steve said.
Kono shook her head. "She may have to induce tomorrow, if the baby doesn't come while I'm in the air," she said with a smirk. "Besides, you can't give me a ride, you and Danny have a meeting with the Governor in five minutes, remember?"
Steve looked at his watch and rolled his eyes. "Right," he said dropping his head. He smiled as he brought his gaze back to her. "Are we ever going to get some time for ourselves?"
"I know, right?" Kono snorted softly. "One day, all the criminals in Honolulu will take some time off and then maybe, just maybe, we'll actually get to work on us for once," she said, arching a brow.
Steve stood as he noticed Danny exit his office. He looked at Kono tenderly and exhaled loudly, working his jaw. "Hurry back?" he asked, his blue eyes soft.
Kono smiled up at him and nodded. "Oh, yeah."
Wrapping his arms around her, Steve placed a chaste kiss on Kono's forehead before leaving his office to catch up to Danny and head out.
# # #
...Hey, I know we've been so busy lately. I just wanted you to know that we'll get there. It's gonna be rough being away from the team, being away from you. But, thanks for letting me be there for Leilani, Steve...
…I haven't changed my mind about anything, no second thoughts, I promise...
...hopefully, I'll be back soon...
Steve folded Kono's letter and smiled to himself. Tucking it into his shirt pocket, he exited his office and headed straight towards Chin's.
"Hey," he said, opening the door. "You got an address for your cousin Leilani's in New Zealand?"
# # #
Honolulu
Oahu
...I thought about you today. I realize it makes it sound as if that happens only once in a while, but that couldn't be farther from the truth. I think about you all the time. I miss you. But anyway, Danny and I took Grace to the beach and he showed her his moves on the surfboard. And then she showed him. It was funny, Danny getting owned by Gracie...
...I know you said it'll only be two weeks, but I don't think I could ever get used to being away from you...
...I know you already know how much I miss you. But, Danny's driving me nuts. Secretly, he misses you too. Chin claims you bring balance to the team. I know you bring balance to me...
Kono folded the last of the letters she received from Steve just as the captain turned on the 'fasten seat-belt' sign. She couldn't help but smile at how cheesy Steve was in his letters. Right before she left HQ that day, she tucked a note onto his desk, just because. But, two days into her trip to New Zealand, a FedEx letter arrived for her at her cousin Leilani's house. It was from Steve. And ever since then, they started a ridiculously expensive, two week long, incredibly romantic, love affair, through mail that was crisscrossing each other across the Pacific.
Kono shook her head at the thought and fastened her seat-belt. She looked out the window at Oahu as it came in to view and chewed on her thumbnail. Feeling anxious and a nervousness in her gut, she wondered where it all suddenly came from. She was after all, just coming home.
But of course she knew.
It was what waited for her at home that caused her to be so flustered. Add in the fact that she left New Zealand a day early to surprise a certain Lt. Commander, and of course, her nerves were shot. She just couldn't wait anymore. She'd called ahead to Chin and he'd worked things out for her.
When she finally landed, she noticed that it had just started raining. The cooling effect the rain had on the islands, calmed her and emerging from the baggage claim, she found Chin outside with her Cruze.
"Cousin!" she greeted, giving him a hug.
He smiled, hugging her back in return. "Howzit, Cuz, how was the trip? Leilani guys okay? The baby boy, Noah okay too?" he asked. Chin threw her bag into the trunk and tossed her the keys as she got in. "Drop me off at your apartment, I left my bike there," he said as he got into the passenger side.
As Kono pulled out and took the freeway exit into town, she glanced over at Chin. "Yeah, Noah's good. Got a mess of hair just like Eddy does. Big boy though, eight pounds, nine ounces! Poor Leilani is in so much pain from the C-Section, but you know her... always has her eye on the prize, Noah's all that matters now."
"That's good to hear though, it was a long time to wait for a baby," Chin stated.
"Yeah, I know. It was so good to see her, all of them. They're all so happy, you know? How was everything here?" she asked that last part nonchalantly.
Chin smiled at the change in subject. "You want the truth?" he asked, quirking a brow.
"Of course," she answered.
"We were all miserable without you. Does that make you feel good?" he asked.
"No, because I know you're not being serious, c'mon Chin," she said.
"I am being serious. Who else would help me with the tech stuff? Those two? No way. And Danny was the most miserable one of all," added Chin. "Even more than Steve."
"Danny? Why?" Kono questioned, arching a brow.
"Because of Steve," he answered simply.
"Oh," she said softly as she pulled into her apartment driveway.
"Yeah, 'oh,'" he mocked. "He's at home," Chin said smiling as he opened the door to get out. "Take your time, I think I'll hang out at your place, to wait out the rain?"
Kono nodded and smiled. "Thanks Cuz," she said as he closed the door and ran towards the lobby of her building to avoid getting wet.
The rest of the drive out to Steve's place, Kono had to consciously stop herself from hyperventilating. Never, had the urge to see Steve had been so immediate. She could feel herself practically jumping out of her skin. They had after all, barely got started when Leilani called asking for help.
Pulling into Steve's driveway and stopping her car, she started debating with herself and questioning whether she had enough nerve to actually get out, walk up to his front door and knock on it. The rain helped somewhat to alleviate her anxiety and she hoped would give her some cover from her fright. And then she finally decided to just do it and got out of her car. With no umbrella, she immediately got soaked and when she got a few yards from his front door, she saw the door swing open and Steve stepped out. Giving her a look that caused her breath to catch, she stopped as he walked towards her. She was drenched by the time he reached her. Without saying a word, he placed a hand on each side of her face and gently caressed her cheeks before bringing his lips down to hers. The kiss was warm, electric, wet and urgent, as if he'd been waiting forever to breathe. Kono's hands grabbed at his wet t-shirt, making their way to his back, she held on tight as he continued to take her breath away.
When they finally broke apart, he said, "I guess you got in early."
"Surprise," she said, looking into his blue eyes and smiling.
Steve chuckled and kissed her again, pulling her in and wrapping his arms tightly around her. They broke apart long enough for Steve to say, "welcome home." And then Kono smiled in surprise as Steve lifted her easily and carried her into his house.
# # #
Five Years Later
McGarrett Home
"Steve, I've gotta tell you man, you - you've got great timing," said Danny with a smug smile.
"What the hell are you talking about Danny? You're like the third person to say that to me today," Steve replied, looking perplexed. "Chin, and Kamekona said the same thing," he added as he grabbed some burger buns from his kitchen cabinet. "I mean, I can't figure out if you guys are talking about my proposal to Kono or something else."
Danny just shrugged and smiled. "You want me to take these burgers out back?" he asked, picking up the plate.
"Hey. Danno, hey -" Steve called as he followed Danny out to the backyard.
Danny just laughed and shook his head.
Out back, the grill was fired up, there were drinks going around, the table was set up and laden with local eats and all of the Five-0 family and extended family were there. They had all gathered to celebrate Steve and Kono's engagement. Which in some of their eyes took forever to happen. But when it did, it seemed all too appropriate and fitting.
Steve gave up on Danny the moment he stepped out into the sunshine. Kono walked up to him and took the burger buns from him with a smile. "Mary's finally here," she said with a nod towards the table, where Mary stood whispering something to Danny. Steve gave Kono a quick kiss on the temple before turning to his sister.
"Hey, what took you so long Mary?" Steve said as he tended the grill, adding the burgers and turning the chicken and ribs.
Mary winked at Kono before turning to Steve. "I wanted to pick up something for my sister-in-law to be," she answered.
Steve arched a brow and smirked at his sister. But then he noticed knowing smiles from Danny, Chin and pretty much everyone else there. He looked at the large package in Mary's hands and stepped away from the grill. "What's going on?" he asked, looking at Kono.
"She had nothing to do with it... well, partly. You did too, actually," Mary said with a smirk and a roll of the eyes. She giggled at her brother's confused look. "I picked this out for both of you really," she explained. "But, well, just open it, Steve. I actually had to have it made."
He looked at Kono first, but at her nod, he grabbed the package from Mary. When he opened it he pulled out a Kevlar vest. He shook his head and looked back at Mary questioningly.
Some of the barbecue goers laughed, notably Danny and Chin.
Kono shook her head but smiled fondly at Mary, hugging her.
"I don't get it," Steve said looking at the vest in his hands. "We already have these, Mary," he said. But not wanting to offend his sister, he said, "uh, thanks?"
Mary rolled her eyes again. "Look at it, really look at it."
Steve held the vest up and noticed that it seemed longer than normal and that the width of padding and protection around the waist seemed to be wider and bigger, apparently covering more... and then it dawned on him. He looked at Danny who smirked and winked at him. Chin smacked him on the shoulder as his eyes crinkled from a giant smile spreading across his face. The other friends and family in attendance began to murmur and talk excitedly. Steve's eyes met his sister's and then Kono's.
"Does this mean what I think it means?" he asked Kono as he stepped closer to her.
Kono chewed on her bottom lip before looking at him. She grinned. "Yeah, it does."
Steve rested a hand on her stomach and laughed. Grinning from ear to ear, he ducked his head to kiss her, and as he picked her up to twirl her around, their ohana cheered and clapped, joining in on their new found happiness.
The end.
# # #
A/N: Oh. Emm. Gee. This turned out cheesier than I expected, but cdnyellowrose? You're right, cheese is good, a little or a lot, doesn't matter. Seriously, I found that I couldn't really avoid it. Sammie28, you're absolutely right about how I portrayed Kono's love, which is why I wanted these two to end up happy in OLaOT, dammit. And truthfully, I owe all the KoVe readers out there for continuously following this story and encouraging me. Every little comment, whether I responded to it or not was truly insightful and helpful and just plain nice. Mahalo nui loa.