Sarah unpacked the groceries on the counter as her father came in from the backyard, removing his work gloves.

"Have you seen my phone?" she asked him, not stopping with her duty.

"No. Is your Mother around?"

"No. She ran over to the party store for plates."

He came in the kitchen with her, getting a glass of water. He leaned against the counter taking a drink and watching her, feeling the tension that wasn't spoken, but it was there. She had grown up to be a wonderful young woman, he thought. Smart, independent. He remembered the day when she told him she was moving to Hawaii and the disappointment he felt over it, only because he was going to miss her so much, and worry continuously. But she had done well for herself there. He should have been prouder of her. He felt a wave of guilt wash over him from being so hard on her about this new man. She was no push over; he knew that and should have given her the benefit of the doubt. She deserved at least that. Plus, this silence between them was killing him. He was so excited to have her home and here they were barely speaking. He thought about the argument between he and his wife the night before in bed, being told that if he didn't accept her decision that she just might make this her last visit home. That made him toss and turn all night.

"Sarah," he said gently.

"What?" she answered, putting away a handful of cans into the cupboard.

He set the glass down and went to her before she could reach into another bag. "I'm sorry." He held her by both arms. "This whole thing came as such a shock to me. I guess I always had this old fashioned idea that when my daughter met the one, he'd come and ask my permission to marry you, the same as I did with your mother, but that is my ideals, and not necessarily with the times. I shouldn't have judged this young man on my ideals. I'm sorry."

"He's not a wolf in man's clothing Dad."

He sighed heavily. "I know. It's just hard to see your daughter grow up and find another man to take care of her. I just want it to be someone who can really do that and who can really appreciate you for who you are."

Sarah smiled, both over his choice of words, never knowing he felt that way, and the fact that she had found that ideal man. "Steve is wonderful. He's all that Daddy and more. You'll see when you come to Hawaii."

He pulled her into his arms, not having heard the word Daddy from her in a long time. He liked it, reminding him of a simpler time when she was just his little girl. "I'm sure he's everything you said." He pulled away so he could see her. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?" she smiled.

"No children until you get married."

"Ok," she laughed, knowing that would never happen with Steve anyway so it was an easy promise. She hugged him again, glad they had settled that.

The BBQ in the backyard was in full swing. It was the pre-dinner to the fiftieth party the next night. It was mostly family and few close friends that attended, gathering around the pool and patio. Her father manned the BBQ as always, cooking burgers and chicken with his infamous white smock on that read '#1 Dad'. A gift Sarah and her brothers had given him for Father's Day almost twenty years earlier, but he still wore it proudly every time he fired up the grill.

Sarah sat in one of the chairs by the pool talking with her sister-in-law Natalie, but her mind was on Steve. She was at a loss on trying to get a hold of him. She had tried leaving messages at his office and home. She had even gone as far as calling Carol and having her run upstairs to his office to find Danny, but no one was there.

Locating their cell numbers was next to impossible. They were not only police officers but they were considered government official since being so closely related to the Governor and numbers were unlisted on all the normal lists. She needed to find her cell phone, imagining him trying to get a hold of her too. But the one thing that bothered her was that if he really wanted to get a hold of her he could have easily found her parents number. They were listed.

She began to let her mind wander, hoping she didn't make him feel pressured by telling him about her father. The more she thought about it the more she began to convince herself that maybe he thought of it as an ultimatum from her. He knew how much her family meant to her. She only hoped that wasn't the case, wondering now if that's why he hadn't called. Her stomach hurt over that thought, because she knew more than anything else he couldn't be pushed.

She laid her head back on the chair when Natalie noticed the conversation had become one-sided. "You miss him huh?"

Sarah smiled. "I'm sorry Natalie," she chuckled. "I feel like a teenage girl. It's only been a couple of days at most. But I can't think about anything else."

Natalie shrugged, "That happens when you're in love. I remember when I first met Ken. I couldn't stand to be away from him."

"There's just so much going on right now and not being able to talk to him is really frustrating."

"I wouldn't worry too much about it. I'm sure he's probably thinking about you too."

Sarah smiled, wondering if he was, and if he was, was it good things he was thinking?

Timmy cornered his older brother Ken in the garage. "Hey, I think I screwed up."

Ken pulled down an old tricycle from a shelf for his daughter to ride on. "What now Timmy?" That statement didn't surprise him. Timmy was always the one that never stopped to think before he acted.

He held up Sarah's phone. "I've had Sarah's phone the whole time."

He glanced over at him. "Why? She's been looking everywhere for that."

"I don't know. I was standing by it and that guy called."

"The guy from Hawaii?"

"Yeah."

"So why didn't you give it to her?"

"Don't you think he's stringing her along by not marrying her?"

Ken stood up, holding the bike. "Are you for real? It's none of your goddamn business Timmy. Or should I say Dad?!"

"He would agree with me!"

"Give me the phone!" He grabbed it out of his hands, searching through it, not seeing a call or any messages. "Did you delete his calls?"

Timmy nodded, "That's not the worst part." He shifted nervously, "I talked to him this morning when he called back and told him she was out with Gary Pudo last night and today."

"What?!" JC came up to them after coming out the door from the house and hearing the last part of the conversation. "What the hell Timmy!"

Ken held the phone up. "Dick-wads had Sarah's phone the whole time so she couldn't talk to her boyfriend."

JC reached out and grabbed Timmy's nipple with his thumb and finger, squeezing and twisting it. "You little shit! I told you to stay out of it!"

Timmy went down to his knees, trying to get the relentless hold off from his older brother. "Fuck JC, let go!"

"No!" He twisted a little harder. "How's it feel when someone invades your personal space? Hurts don't it."

"I know! I know! I fucked up! I'm sorry!" He tried to maneuver away until JC finally let go, pushing him back to the floor on his butt.

"She's been going crazy trying to reach this guy, calling his office, his friends. She misses the hell out of him. She needs that phone! And now you go and tell the dude she's out with other guys. No wonder she can't get a hold of him. He probably thinks she's cheating on him!" His anger showed as he reached for his other nipple. "If you mess up this relationship for Sarah I'm going wail on your ass!"

Steve slowed down in the rental car as he came down the street, checking the address on the paper to the numbers on the houses. It was just after sunset and the streetlights were on. He noticed a lot of cars on the street, wondering if someone was having a party or if this was the norm. He saw the house and went past it, not finding an open spot to park. He found one around the corner instead.

He came up the sidewalk, ruffling out the front of his blue dress shirt helping get some air circulating through it. He didn't get the whole 'dry heat' description about this city. It was just plain fricking hot, even at nine o'clock at night. He wished he had on his shorts instead of black slacks, but wanted to look presentable when he met her family. He rolled up his sleeves to the elbow, trying to alleviate some of the heat.

He smiled at the house that she had grown up in. It was a two-story, tan stucco and even though a majority of neighbors had desert lawns, this one had plush green grass and flowers along the base. It was evident that someone cared about it a great deal.

He came up the driveway, seeing three men in the garage and stopped. The noise coming from the back of the house indicated that the party was here.

"Whose that?" Ken said, pointing toward the driveway.

JC glanced over in that direction. "He's a little over dressed for a BBQ."

Ken came to the edge of the garage. "Hi, can I help you?"

Steve could see Sarah in this guy as plain as day. 'Brother,' he thought. "Does Sarah Hickey live here?" he asked him.

Ken pointed with his thumb. "Yeah, she's out back. Side gates open."

JC and the other two were all thinking the same thing. Who was this guy and why was he looking for Sarah.

Steve leaned over in that direction and wasn't sure if this was the best time. He wanted to see her badly, but didn't want to ruin anything just incase she was upset with him or worse yet, her father was. "You know what," he said sheepishly. "I'll just come back in a little while."

JC came and stood next to his brother, getting a closer look when all of a sudden it dawned on him. "Hey," he asked inquisitively, "are you Steve?"

Steve raised an eyebrow a little taken back, not sure if the reception was going to be good or bad, and even more surprised he would know who he was. "Yes."

"Holy crap." JC nudged his brother Ken, identifying him. "This is Steve! Sarah's Steve from Hawaii."

Ken looked back over at him, "No shit? Does she know you're here?"

"No. I've been trying to get a hold of her and haven't been able to. I was a little worried about the last conversation we had." He stopped there, not sure how much they knew.

JC walked toward him. "So you came here all the way from Hawaii because you worried about her?" he asked dumbfounded.

Steve shrugged as if that was the common thing to do. "Well, yeah."

The two brothers looked at each other, coming to the conclusion that everything Sarah had said about him wasn't an exaggeration, including the physical description. "Nice move. She'll be glad you're here. She's been going out of her mind trying to get a hold of you too."

"I tried to call her this morning but…"

"Hold that thought," JC said , stepping back and grabbing Timmy by the back of the neck and shoving him toward the front. "This is Timmy. I believe you two spoke on the phone this morning."

Timmy swallowed trying to clear his dry throat. He felt a nudge that was Ken's hand on his back.

"Common on big mouth. You weren't at a loss for words this morning."

Timmy froze, not only from the humiliation, but also from the man standing in front of him. He looked intimidating as hell.

JC stepped forward for his little brother, "There is no Gary Pudo," he explained. "Well there was, about fifteen years ago, but Sarah wasn't out with him. Stupid here," he shoved Timmy on the shoulder, "thought he would play a game of sticking his nose in others people's business and told you a line of bullshit."

Steve felt both relieved over that and a little pissed off, staring at Timmy, wanting to smack him the head.

"I'm sorry, dude," Timmy begged. "Seriously, I'm sorry. I thought I was just looking out for my little sister. I just wanted to…" he paused.

"To what?" Steve said glaring at him. "To make me jealous?"

Timmy shrugged. "I don't know I guess. But it worked. You're here."

"I didn't come here because of that. I trust Sarah and know she would never do anything like to me. I came for another reason."

"Well she's out back," JC said. "like I said, she's going to be happy to see you." He reached his hand out. "I'm JC by the way. Sarah's brother."

"Thought so," Steve smiled. "You all three are related aren't you? I can see the resemblance in all of you."

"We do have that," Ken laughed, reaching his hand out too as Steve shook it. "I'm Ken, the oldest. JC is second oldest and the middle kid Todd is out back and Timmy here is the youngest brother and of course you probably know Sarah is the youngest and only girl, so you have to know that we've always been kind of protective of her."

Steve laughed. "She mentioned that." He shook Timmy's hand next, gripping it a little tighter than the others, looking him straight in the eye. "I've always been pretty protective of her as well. There's no need to test my devotion when it comes to her, it's genuine." He turned his attention back to JC. "Danny told me to say Yo, if I saw you."

JC smiled, "He was cool. I liked him. Sarah said he's your partner."

"He is, and he is a pretty cool guy."

"Well let's get out back and make her night."

"Actually," Steve said, standing his ground. "Is your father here? I'd like to speak to him before I see Sarah."

"Dad?" Ken smiled, "You want to talk to our Dad? About Sarah?"

"Yes," Steve smiled back, knowing they probably had an idea about what.

"Do you…" JC grinned, "want to ask his permission for something?"

"Maybe," Steve chuckled.

"If you're trying to score points with the old man," JC laughed, "then this is defiantly the way to do it."

"I heard that I'm not in very good graces with him. Do you know anything about that?"

JC shook his head as if telling him not to stress it. "I wouldn't worry about him. He's the most protective of Sarah out of all of us. Hell, she's his little girl and always will be. But he's really harmless. He just wants what's best for his daughter."

"Understandable," Steve replied, "So do I."

They liked the sound of that, even more so that it was sincere. Ken went toward the back of the house. "Take Steve into Dad's office. I'll go get him."

He followed JC and Timmy into the house through the garage door that led to the kitchen. He looked out back, searching for Sarah, but didn't see her. He went into the room and JC closed the door behind them.

"Were you really a Navy Seal?" Timmy asked, taking a seat on the small leather couch.

"Yes," Steve replied, trying to calm his nerves and not wanting to necessarily discuss his military life right now.

"I heard that's really hard to get into. Is it really hard?"

"One of the hardest things I've ever done, but worth it."

"Did they send you on top-secret missions for the Government?"

Steve looked over at him, getting an understanding of this guy. He did talk before he thought. "I think you have Hollywood's version, Timmy. Most of the time I was in training or training novices."

"But you did go out on missions?" he pushed.

"Yes."

JC recalled Sarah telling him how Steve didn't like to talk about his military service too deeply. He thought it admirable of him to keep it low key. He certainly had earned bragging rights in this situation, but had chosen not to exercise them. From what he had gathered from Sarah, Steve was a high ranked Seal that was sent on, and even volunteered for many dangerous missions. The fact that he didn't feel the need to brag about it only made it more commendable. "Let him be Timmy," he said to his little brother. "He's got other, more dangerous things on his mind right now." He grinned over at him.

Steve chuckled, "I think I'm more nervous now then I ever was in the Navy." At that moment the door to the office opened and Ken entered first followed by his father and other brother Todd.

"What the heck is going on," Carl, Sarah's dad said.

Steve took in a deep breath as JC stood up and made the introductions.

"Dad, this is Steve." When that didn't get a reaction out of him except confusion, he clarified. "Sarah's Steve…from Hawaii," he announced as if that would explain everything.

His face lit up, "Oh, well. Wow!" He gave him the once over, seeing the man who she had described and even more impressed with the stature of the live version. She hadn't exaggerated. "Hello there."

Steve shook his hand. "Hello Sir, It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Well you too, Steve. I didn't know you were coming."

"I hadn't planned on it, Sir. I couldn't get away from work but under the circumstance I felt the need to come and explain myself and to talk to you about Sarah. If that's OK?"

He nodded as if telling him that was acceptable. He wasn't anything like he had imagined, on the contrary he was beginning to feel like the Godfather being spoken to in such a formal way. He assumed it was his military training. "What would you like to say?"

"First off," he ignored the brothers in the room, already coming to the conclusion that he was going to have to do this in front of all of them, but it didn't really matter, he was doing it for Sarah more than anyone else. "I want to tell you right off that I meant no disrespect to you or your daughter. I would never do anything to deliberately hurt her. I love Sarah very much. This whole idea of she and I moving in together, it was really just a way to throw her off track. I've planned on proposing to her as soon as she got back to Hawaii, but then when I talked to her the other day she said that you very upset over the idea of us living together without being married. I could hear in her voice how upset she was over that, so I jumped on a plane and here I am to explain myself," he corrected himself. "actually to ask you Sir, if it would be acceptable with you if I asked Sarah to marry me."

"Damn that was pretty good," Ken said, as they all stared at their father, waiting for an answer.

He tried not to show his pleasure too much over what was happening at the moment but he couldn't have been more satisfied with the words that came out. "Do have a ring?" he asked him, knowing how happy this was going to make his daughter.

"Yes Sir." He reached in his pocket and took out the black box, opening it and showing him. "I bought it the day she left."

The four boys all leaned in, two of them whistling over it.

"Nice rock," JC announced.

Carl looked up at Steve, "Very nice." A smile slowly appeared on his face as he looked at the man that would soon become his son-in-law. He had just met him but was already impressed by him. He had always been a good judge of character, knowing when someone was full of it or filling him with B.S., but he saw and heard nothing of that in the last couple of minutes, it was authentic. Sarah had done well for herself, he thought proudly. "Yes, Steve, you have my permission."

He smiled, reaching his hand out. "Thank you Sir. I promise I'll take good care of her."

Ken slapped him on the back. "Welcome to the family Bro."

They all patted his back, acknowledging that fact.

"Not yet," Steve laughed, "I still have to ask Sarah."

Carl put his hand on his back, leading him out the door. "Well gets on that then. I can't take that gloomy look on her face anymore."

"Now?" Steve said a little taken back by that. He hadn't planned on doing it in front of a whole party. This meeting alone was nerve raking, but that made him even more nervous.

"You'll be fine, besides you don't have to worry about her saying no."

Steve went to object, but had a feeling it would have gone out the window. He was already down the hall and threw the kitchen, being led out back by her father. He saw two women in the kitchen staring at him but was too preoccupied by the event that was about to take place.

"Who is that?!" Ken's wife said to him as they led Steve through the kitchen.

Her sister-in-law, Todd's wife asked the same thing.

"Close your mouth's girls," he laughed. "That's Sarah's boyfriend and future fiancé."

"What?!" They both exclaimed simultaneously, dropping what they were doing and coming around the counter following them out the back door.

Steve followed behind Carl as he led him over to where Sarah was sitting.

JC got his mother, dragging her away from a conversation as she objected.

"Believe me Mom, you'll want to see this," he said, guiding her by the arm.

"Sarah," her father said as they approached her chair. "There's someone here to see you."

She looked up at him as he moved out of the way, showing Steve.

Once he saw her all the nervousness just vanished away. It was as if he had stepped into a world of complete calm that was like being home. It was safe. God he missed her, but more so than that he never knew until that second just how much he really did love her. She was his better half, understanding the meaning of that phrase in full force.

Sarah got up, stunned over seeing him; her mouth open but not able to put two words together from being so surprised. "What? Why?" she stumbled as he smiled at her.

"First things first," he said and put his arms around her, hugging her tightly. "I missed you," he whispered to her.

She felt the same calmness suddenly come over her as well. She breathed in his familiar scent, closing her eyes and just letting the last twenty-four hours slide off her shoulders. He was here. He was really here. "I missed you too."

He pulled back, kissing her cheek. "I'm sorry for all this confusion."

She shook her head, not sure what he was talking about. "Why are you here? Is everything ok?" she asked, concerned.

"Yes," he said, slipping his hand inside her hair and pulling her in, kissing her. He could only see her amongst the others who were standing off to the side watching the display. It was as if they were on an island alone. "I came because I wanted to give you something I should have given you before you left."

She stared up at him becoming intoxicated over the smoldering good looks that she always had been lovesick over, but this time he really had her going. The way he looked at her was mesmerizing. "What did you bring me?"

"This," he smiled, not backing away from her, but reaching in his pocket and taking out the black box. He opened it between them, showing her the diamond ring.

She gasped at not only the surprise over it, but by the beauty of it as well. "Oh my God Steve!" She looked up at him and in a second of clarity she had to know. "Are you sure this is what you want?"

His words came out as if it was divine intervention. He didn't need to plan what he wanted to say, it came straight from his heart. "I know you Sarah, probably better than anyone else. And you know me better than I want anyone else ever too. I'm not doing this for me, or for you. I'm doing it for us. We belong together."

She couldn't believe she was in this place at this second, knowing it was coming at any second. The moment she'd been waiting for. It had arrived. She stared at him, trying to see him through the tears that filled her eyes.

"I don't want to wait. I want to marry you now." He smiled over the look on her face, it was exactly what he had hoped for. He took the ring out of the box and reached down for her left hand, slipping it on her finger. "Will you marry me Sarah?"

She stared at his mouth, hearing the words that lifted her up until she felt like she was floating. Nothing could have prepared her for the feelings that rushed through her. She was in the most wonderful place at that second, and knew nothing would ever top this moment. She laid her head on his shoulder, sliding her arms around his chest, hugging him and feeling his cheek rest against hers as he hugged her back. "I love you," she cried.

"I love you too." He leaned back, looking down at her closed eyes that left damp spots on his shirt. "Is that a yes then?" he chuckled.

Sarah laughed, pulling back, nodding her head. "Yes," she said, wiping her eyes, feeling the excitement grow. "Oh my God, Yes! Yes!" she shouted.
Her mother reached over and squeezed her husband's hand as she wiped her own eyes clear as the others around them cheered and clapped.

Steve gripped her around the waist and leaned back, lifting her off the ground as she held tightly around his neck and kicked her feet back and forth excitedly. He set her back down as she looked up at him. "We are going to be so great together," Sarah declared.

Steve huffed, "We already are."

She stood up on her tippy toes and gave him one of her stellar kisses that he confessed was one of the things he loved most about her.

Ken came up first and reached his hand out to Steve, "Welcome to the club buddy. It feels like hell sometimes but you won't regret it either."

Steve laughed shaking his hand. "Thanks. I think."

JC hugged Sarah first and then moved as their mother made her way over.

"Mom!" Sarah said excitedly, hugging her tightly.

"Oh Sarah. That was beautiful." She broke away from her and went to Steve, cupping his face with her hands, like she would do her own sons when she was proud of something they did. "I'm the Mother and just let me say, well done. Well done!" She reached up and hugged him.

"Thank you," he looked over at Sarah as her father hugged her next, saying something to her that Steve couldn't hear. She smiled over at him, which made him feel it was something good.

They spent the remainder of the night maneuvering amongst the crowd as Sarah introduced him to Aunts, Uncles, cousins and old friends of the family. By the time the last person left it was just her family as well as her grandparents.

Sarah handed Steve a fresh beer as they sat in chairs by the pool with her brothers. Her grandfather came up and shooed Timmy out of the chair next to him and took the seat. "Sarah tells me you were a Navy man, Steve."

"Yes Sir," Steve replied.

"So was I. Senior Chief Petty Officer. I served two tours in Vietnam, running a river boat down the Mekong Delta in 66 and 67."

Steve shifted in his chair, giving him his full attention. "That was the beginning. There was heavy firepower coming down on those riverboats. That was a gutsy job I heard."

"I lost a lot of good friends. I think that's why I signed up for another tour. I felt I owed it to them to get back in the fight. No one understood that except the guys I was fighting with."

Steve nodded, understanding it all too well. "Never back down and never let them think they have control." He remembered that was something his drill Sergeant repeated over and over while he was in boot camp. To this day he lived by that rule.

"That's right son, that's exactly right." He hadn't spoken of his Vietnam days for years, simply because he seldom ran into anyone anymore that had served. Steve may not have been in the Vietnam War but he knew he had served in battles that were just as dangerous. "What about you. Where did you serve?"

Steve had no qualm about rattling off his duties to this man. "After graduating from the Naval Academy. It was suggested by my Commanding officer that I attend BUD training to become a SEAL. I served four years in Afghanistan. Three of those years were for CIA OPS that called me out for special duty. I was promoted to Lieutenant Commander and finished my career heading a special task force for Naval Intelligence that's sole propose was the war on terrorism."

His expression showed his impressiveness over his credentials. "So you did highly secret missions that were called out by top officials."

"Yes Sir."

JC sat forward in his chair, "When you say top officials, who do you mean?"

Steve didn't answer but her grandfather did. "The President, JC."

"You got orders from the President?" Ken asked, astounded by that.

Steve laughed, "Not exactly. My Commanding officer did."

"But then you were handed the mission, right?"

Steve only nodded.

"Holy shit," Ken said. "You're a bad ass."

"With all due respect Ken. You're grandfather here is what I would consider a bad ass. I heard stories from my Commanders who served with the guys who traveled those rivers. They were fearless. The banks were lined with heavy artillery and the boats were usually loaded with ammo they were supplying the troops. You had to have balls of steel to make those trips." He looked over at him. "You guys were serious gun fighters."

"Is that true Grandpa?" Todd asked, their attention being diverted to him instead.

He nodded and went into a story about how they had been stranded during a battle and had to hold off approaching enemy boats until air strike could arrive. All four of his grandson's on the edge of their seats never hearing a story like this from him before.

Sarah reached over and took Steve's hand, knowing he didn't want it to seem to her brothers that he was the impressive one, but also knowing that he was just as impressed by her grandfather as the others, even though he was the multi decorated and higher ranked of the two.

He looked over at her and smiled, caressing his thumb over the diamond ring on her finger.

Sarah tapped gently on the door to the room her mother had set Steve up in. She went to open it but it was locked, which surprised her. She went to tap again when he opened it, blocking her entrance.

"Hi," she whispered, "why is it locked?"

"Because I knew you'd try to get in."

She chuckled over that and went to enter but he closed the door a little more, shaking his head. "No way Sarah. You aren't coming in."

"What?" she stammered, "Why not?"

"If your parents didn't mind us sleeping together your mom would have put us in the same room."

Sarah put her hand on his bare chest, trying to entice him. "Didn't you miss me. I missed you."

"Of course I missed you."

"Then let me come in. They're asleep anyway. I'll be quiet."

Steve had to hold back his laugh on that statement.

Sarah playfully smacked him. "I can be quiet. Come on." She ran her hand down his chest, inching closer to his crotch.

He grabbed her hand, "Sarah, I'm serious. We are not having sex in your parent's house. You're dad will kill me."

"He will not. He loves you."

"And I'm not going to screw that up by letting you in here."

"Don't you want me?"

He looked at her like that was a low blow. "You know I do. All the time, but not here."

"Then let's go someplace else."

He raised an eyebrow over that suggestion. "Where?"

"Put a shirt on," she smiled.

Sarah pulled up ten minutes later in front of a vacant house.

"Where are we?" Steve asked.

"My parents own this house. It's a rental that's in between tenants right now."

"So it's still technically your parent's house," he reminded her.

She gave him a look before rolling her eyes. "Don't be such a chicken." She reached over the backseat for the blanket.

"I'm not a chicken," he defended as they both got out. "But this would be technically breaking and entering."

"Not if you have a key." She declared, walking to the side of the house. "He keeps one under the planter in the back for when workers have to come over." She glanced over her shoulder at him, "Come on goody two shoes. Live on the edge."

"Are you calling me a wussy?"

"Not technically, but if you are feeling it then…" She shrieked as he came running up, wrapping both arms around her waist from behind.

"Get me in that house and I'll show you a thing or two about living on the edge." He kissed her neck.

"Oh my, and no one will hear me screaming out in a vacant house."

Steve laughed, "Be as loud as you want."

Once inside they scanned the dark living room, not wanting to turn the lights on. "Which room?" Sarah asked him.

He walked by, taking her hand. "The master of course."

She laid the blanket out as he slipped his shoes off and then took his shirt off, not waiting for her to do the same and laid down on it, pulling her with him so she was on top of him.

"You did miss me," she smiled, but his response was in a kiss, rolling her over so he was on top of her now. That move alone told her he was serious in his endeavor but it also sent her heart racing as his hands began to magically and impatiently remove her clothes.

"I want you so bad," he whispered to her before kissing her again.

She reached down and slipped her shorts and panties off as he moaned softly, making his way down her now naked body. His hands roaming over the woman who would become his life partner in not only sex, but also all the good and bad that came with life, and he couldn't have been more pleased with his choice. "You're so perfect, Sarah," he said between kisses that covered her stomach.

Her hands caressed his back and over his shoulders, looking down at him as the ring on her finger shown even in the dark. "I love you so much."

That did it. He moved up on her taking possession of her lips.

She let out a gasp as he entered her. It always felt good but there was something about this time that was even more pleasurable. They had made that ultimate commitment and she knew now that he was hers for life. It was amazing the feelings that arose just over that simple realization.

He couldn't get close enough to her, wrapping an arm around her waist, pulling her in and pushing deeper inside her, "I need you so much Sarah, don't ever leave me."

"I won't," she promised. "I'll never leave you."

He searched out her lips, kissing her as they clung to each other, proving the effect of the bond they had created. The passion between them was explosive and on a whole new level, giving each other that freedom and pleasure of knowing they were loved.

They finished at the same time.

Sarah lay with her head on his chest as he slowly glided his fingertips up and down her back. They discussed wedding plans and possible dates when Steve suddenly raised his head off the floor. "What was that?"

Sarah lifted hers off his chest. "What?"

Lights suddenly came on in the house.

Steve sat in the front yard of the rental house with Sarah next to him. He glanced over at her as she tried to stifle her smile as he fumed, angry with himself for letting her talk him into that. Sarah shifted, trying to scoot over to him.

"Don't move around or they'll leave marks on your wrists," he said dryly.

They sat still, both their hands cuffed behind their backs.

The other officer came up and flashed the light on them. "With no ID on either of you, and even though you are claiming this is your Father's house and you are a police officer, we're going to have to get someone to ID you or take you in until we can get proper identification on both of you."

"I told you who I was," Steve said coolly. "All you have to do is call it in to your database and they'll send you a photo ID of me."

"Maybe so, but you should know that this is still breaking and entering until we can get confirmation from the owner."

"Can I call my father?" Sarah asked.

"The neighbor called him. He should be here in a couple of minutes."

Sarah looked over at Steve as he dropped his head and painfully moaned over that piece of information.

She couldn't hold it in and busted out laughing over their situation.