Disclaimer-I don't own this show!

"Why does Serenity get to stay up later than me?" Willow asked, pouting as she climbed into her bed.

"When you're twelve like Serenity is, you can stay up later, too," Steve said, pulling the blanket and sheet over Willow.

"When will I be twelve?"

"Five years."

Willow sighed and sadly said, "Five years. A whole hand."

Steve smiled. "You had a long day, Willow. You need some sleep."

"Okay. Goodnight, Daddy."

"Goodnight, honey."

Meanwhile, Serenity and Catherine were watching a movie in the living room. Neither of them were paying much attention to it.

"So I hear you had a busy day," Catherine commented.

Serenity nodded. "Yeah."

"Being in medical offices all day must be a terrible way to spend a Saturday."

Serenity shrugged. "It's like school. You don't wanna be there, but you have to be."

"And why don't you wanna be at school?"

"I don't know."

Catherine didn't say anything else. She could tell Serenity didn't want to talk to her.

A minute had passed by of awkward silence when Steve came into the living room. "I know I said you could stay up later than your sister, Serenity, but only half an hour more. You need to sleep."

Serenity nodded. "Okay."

"Before you go to sleep, I need to talk to you about school," Steve said, turning the TV off and sitting in front of Serenity.

"What about it?"

"Are kids giving you problems?"

Serenity sighed. "It's no big deal."

"It is a big deal. I don't want you being-look at me, Serenity-I don't want you being bullied because you didn't tell anyone what was going on."

"I'm not being bullied!" Serenity exclaimed, rising to her feet. "And even if I was, I can handle things on my own!"

"Serenity, you know you can tell me anything, right?"

Serenity looked down at her feet. "Okay, so maybe I'm not being completely honest."

"What aren't you being honest about?"

"People are mean to me at school."

"Give me their names," Steve said, his expression serious.

"Steve!" Catherine exclaimed. "You can't go all Navy SEAL on a bunch of seventh graders!"

Steve sighed. "How about I talk to a counselor at your school? Maybe we could get the problem straightened out."

Serenity nodded. "Alright."

"Good. Now how about you get some sleep now?"

"Yeah, I'm tired."

Soon Serenity was underneath the blanket on her bed.

Steve stood beside the bed, remembering something Dr. Harrison had told him to say before Serenity went to sleep. "Serenity, if you have any nightmares tonight, don't be afraid to come get me. You can come to me for help with anything, okay?"

Serenity hesitated to respond. A moment passed before she said, "Are you sure?"

"Of course I'm sure. I don't say anything if I'm unsure about it."

Serenity nodded. "Okay, if I can't sleep, I'll come get you."

With a smile, Steve said, "Goodnight, sweetie."

"Goodnight, Steve."

"Serenity doesn't like me," Catherine said to Steve. She was cuddled up next to him on the couch.

"Willow loves you," Steve pointed out.

"Don't change the subject, Steve. I know she doesn't like me."

"It's not that she doesn't like you, it's just..."

"It's just that she doesn't like me," Catherine finished.

Steve sighed. "She doesn't like that you act like a mother."

"Am I bad at being a mother or something?" From the sound of Catherine's voice, it sounded like she was near tears. "I wanna be a mom, Steve. I love those girls."

Steve had no idea what to say.

"What do you think?"

The question took Steve off guard. "What do you mean, what do I think?"

"You know...do you agree with Serenity?"

"No, but I see where she's coming from. You should be around here more often. And that's why I'm doing this."

Before Catherine could realize what was going on, Steve was down on one knee in front of her on the couch. He pulled a small box out of his pocket.

"Catherine Rollins, will you marry me?" Steve opened the box to reveal a beautiful diamond ring.

Catherine was speechless. She had believed no one would ever ask her to marry them. She was tough and not very girly. But there Steve was, on one knee, ring in hand, proposing.

And waiting for an answer.

"Oh my gosh...yes, Steve."

He slipped the ring into her finger and kissed her passionately.

When their lips broke apart, Steve said, "I love you."

"I love you more."

"That's not possible."

Catherine smiled. "We need to get married soon."

Steve grinned. "A bit anxious to be Mrs. McGarrett?"

Catherine felt her cheeks go red. "Yes, that and the fact that I'll be around more for Serenity."

"You tell me when."

Then a voice came from the hallway. "Steve?"

Footsteps made their way into the room. Serenity was soon standing beside the couch.

"I can't sleep."

"Come here, honey," Steve said.

Serenity sat on the couch beside Steve. He pulled her against him.

"I had a nightmare," Serenity said quietly.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

Serenity shook her head.

"Are you sure? Sometimes it helps to talk about nightmares," Catherine said.

"I said I don't wanna talk about it!" Serenity snapped.

"Serenity!" Steve warned. "Watch your tone."

"I don't care! She doesn't know what's best for me."

"I'm sorry for bringing it up, Serenity," Catherine apologized.

Serenity glared at her. "Maybe next time you'll know better than to bring something up that I don't wanna talk about. Don't try to act like you know what you're talking about! You're only around Willow and me an hour each day! I hate it when you try to act like a mother! I hate when you try to talk to me. I hate you, bitch!"

Serenity stopped her rant when she felt a hand spank her bottom. Instinctively, she covered her hands over where her bottom stung. "Hey!" she exclaimed, angrily looking at Steve. "What was that for?"

"You know perfectly well what that was for. Apologize right now."

Stubbornly, Serenity crossed her arms and looked at Catherine. "Sorry."

"Go back to your room. I'll be there soon," Steve said.

Serenity turned away, going back to her room.

Once Serenity was out of ear shot, Catherine exclaimed, "Why would you do that, Steve?"

"Do what?"

"You know what you did! She didn't do anything to deserve that."

"She was direspectful," Steve stated. "There was a lesson that needed to be learned."

Catherine shook her head. "So if she did something you deemed worse, you would spank her? What, are you training her to be in the navy or something?"

"I'm not gonna let her be disrespectful toward you."

Catherine sighed. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry, I just didn't like seeing that."

"Should I not have done it?"

"No, you were right. Let's not think about it. There's an emotion-crazed pre-teen that needs to be checked on."

Steve nodded and took Catherine's hand in his own. They walked to Serenity's room. Before going in, Catherine looked at the beautiful ring on her finger. How would the girls react?

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