All six of them stood out front by the cars. Steve closed the trunk of Carly's car and went up to Craig first.

"Thanks Buddy."

The two men hugged each other.

"I'm glad you came, Steve."

They released and Steve took Craig's hand shaking it, with his other one on his shoulder, "I want to see you in Hawaii, soon."

Craig nodded, "You got it. I'm serious too."

"Good! So am I."

Carly hugged Craig next thanking him with a kiss as Steve moved on to Marissa giving her a warm hug. "Thanks for your help yesterday."

"You're welcome," she replied. "Sorry I called you a Marine."

He chuckled at her. "It's ok. I hope you'll visit with Craig."

"I will!" she said excitedly. "I've never been to Hawaii."

"You'll love it. Beach and sun. It's a blond's heaven." He winked at her and got a smirk with rolling eyes in return.

Jack came up to Steve and they gave each other a hug as well.

"Let's not go another sixteen years, huh?" Jack said, slapping him on the back.

"Agreed," Steve replied.

Jack looked over at Carly who was talking to Jules. "I'm happy for you man. It's a long time coming, but I think we all knew even back then that you two would end up together. I know you'll take good care of her."

He nodded, "I will."

Jules hugged Carly, wiping the tears from their eyes.

"I'm going to miss you," Jules sniffed.

"Let's keep in touch on a weekly basis, ok?" Carly suggested.

Jules nodded enthusiastically, "Yes. I want that too." She smiled at her then. "I'm so happy for you Carly. I think this trip has been a blessing for you in so many ways."

"I've never been so incredibly happy in my entire life," she glowed. "It feels so good, Jules. I love him so much."

"It shows all over you. He'll take good care of you. You'll have a nice life with him."

"Like you and Jack," she proclaimed. "I've always envied your relationship, and now I feel like I'm there."

"You are." She hugged her once more. "We really did well for ourselves, didn't we?"

"Yes we did," Carly agreed. "It just took me a little longer."

"Don't take any shit off Allan," Jules said sternly, "You know he'll pressure you. Stand your ground."

Carly nodded, thinking of her conversation the day before with him. "I won't." She had no feelings for him whatsoever. That life was behind her and that's exactly where she wanted to leave it.

Carly went over to Jack as Steve approached Jules. He picked her up in a bear hug, kissing her cheek. "You're an amazing woman Jules. Jack's a lucky man." He squeezed her once more before setting her down.

"I feel the same way about you and Carly." Her eyes misted over as she looked up at him. "I'm not going to tell you to be good to her, because I know you will be. But I do want to say thank you. I have been so worried about her for so long." Her expression turned serious. "I know she tried so hard to hide it, but she was afraid of him and I think she had good reason to be. These last couple of years I really feared for her, but now," her beautiful smile returned, "I can rest easy because I know she's in good hands. She needs to be with you and you need her. I believe in destiny and I believe you two coming together these past two weeks was destiny long overdue."

Steve blew out a breath, "Geez Jules what are you doing to me?" he hugged her again as she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. "You get your kids and that bum husband of yours to take you on a trip to Hawaii. Free room and board."

She nodded feeling the tears come again.

Steve and Carly were the first to depart. As they drove off Steve gave a Hawaiian hang ten out the window as Carly waved.

She sat back in her seat, looking over at him. "Any second thoughts?"

"Only that I wish I would have made sure the house was cleaner before I left." He grinned at her, "I didn't know I'd be bringing a girl home."

She leaned over and kissed him and then sat back giving him an inquiring look. "Speaking of girls. I'm not going to find a strange girl in your bed waiting for you am I, or one knocking on your door at one in morning?"

"Oh shit!" He put his hand over his mouth. "I forgot to tell you about Megan."

Carly's expression was half amused and half worried. "Megan?"

He looked over at her sheepishly as he drove. "Yes. She shows up sometimes just before I go to bed. I feel bad so I let her in."

"Steve!" she laughed, "Are you serious?"

"I can't just leave her outside all night or she cries."

"What?" She looked back over at him and he was smiling over at her in that teasing way. She tilted her head, glaring at him. "Ok, I know I'm gullible and all but who's Megan?"

"I live next door to a church and they kind of adopted this cat. Somehow she ends up at my house at least a couple of times a month. I think she gets locked out and needs food."

"So you feed and take care of her?" Her voice was overly sweet. "Look at you. You're such a good guy. Sometimes I think you missed your calling. You should have been a Vet."

"I don't really take care of her. I just feed her and give a place to sleep. It's actually a pain in the ass because I have to keep cat food stocked now."

"Uh huh," she teased. "You love it and you know it. I bet when it's raining you even look outside to see if she's there."

He looked over at her and then pretended like he was concentrating on driving. "No I don't." But truth was, he had actually done that before.

"Yes you do." She leaned over kissing his ear.

"You keep that up and we're going to miss our flight."

"A six-hour flight across the ocean. You do realize that I don't think we've gone six hours without having sex since our first time."

He smiled over at her exaggeration but agreed with the logistics of it. "There's always the mile high club."

They made it to San Francisco barely an hour before their flight left. They dropped the car in short-term parking and texted Jack the space number. He had volunteered to drive it down to his and Jules house in LA and keep it for her.

After getting to the gate just minutes before boarding Steve stepped aside and called Danny.

"I'll be right back," he told Carly.

He hadn't spoken to him since the argument they had had several days earlier. They needed a ride home from the airport and he figured this would be the perfect opportunity to kind of break the ice. He answered right away.

"Hey," Danny said, sitting in his car waiting for Gracie, "I used to know a guy name Steve with this same number, not sure what happened to him, but my nuts still hurt from the last time I talked to him." He smiled at his own joke.

"If you weren't such an obnoxious little shit I wouldn't have to bust your balls all the time." He grinned, glad that things had settled.

"Yea, yea, what do you want?"

"We need a ride home from the airport tonight."

"Tonight?!" he groaned. "What time tonight?"

"We get in at eight thirty. Flight 984 from San Francisco."

He sighed heavily into the phone as if it were a bother, but didn't consider it a burden at all. He was not only anxious to get Steve back to work so the load he'd been carrying was finally lifted but he was also curious to meet this Carly he'd heard so much about. He still wasn't quite clear on the details of their relationship or for how long she'd be staying. It was the first woman he'd ever known Steve to be serious about so his curiosity was off the charts. "Ok, I'll be there."

"You better stop and get my truck. I don't think our luggage will fit in the Camaro."

"Anything else," he whined, "perhaps you'd like me to straighten up your house for you while I'm at it."

Steve laughed, "Now that you mention it. Would you mind cleaning the bathrooms for me?"

"Sure, right after I bend over so you can kiss my ass."

They both laughed at that.

"Flight 984 from San Fran." Danny repeated, "bring truck. Ok, got it. I'll see you and the new house guest tonight."

"Thanks Danno."

"Yea, yea, have a good flight."

They hung up and Steve let out a breath of relief, glad he had come around, not sure why, but he didn't care. He looked over at Carly sitting in the chairs. He imagined if he was a stranger, seeing her for the first time. His heart leapt, knowing he would have gone out of his way to meet her. The attraction was just too strong.

He sat next to her slipping his phone back in his pocket. She held the ticket up to him. "These are first class seats!" she announced, surprised.

"I know," Steve answered, unimpressed.

She leaned over to him, "These must have cost a fortune. Why did you get first class?"

"I didn't pay for first class, just the ticket." He tapped his pocket where his badge was. "Running a task force for the Governor of Hawaii has its perks."

Carly smiled as if she were impressed. "Wow, what other perks do you get?"

"Well, let me see," he thought. "Free parking on the island. Basically anywhere except in front of a fire hydrant." He huffed, "which you will see that parking is even more of a perk than the first class tickets." His expression showed more pondering, "What else. My trucks paid for."

"Those are some nice perks. I'm sure there are some not so nice perks too."

He huffed again, "Yes. I'm on call twenty-four hours a day and the word salary doesn't include overtime."

"Hmm, do you go in the office everyday, or just when you get a call?"

"Yes, just about everyday. If it's slow, we'll cut out early."

She began to realize there were so many things she needed to learn about him. "What do you do on your days off?"

"Kono and I surf. Danny and I fish. Chin and I like to ride motorcycles. I like to go for a run along some of the trails up in Koolau."

"What's that?" she asked, trying to repeat the Hawaiian word but butchered it.

"It's a beautiful mountain range along the east side of the island. Some of the harder trails go up about two thousand feet."

"And you do that for fun?" she asked, amazed by the idea.

"The view at the top is motivational." He nudged her, "You'll see. You'll love it Carly. Once you get out of Honolulu, which is only about ten minutes, you'll see some of the most incredible scenery in the world. I've hiked some of those trails over a hundred times and I still see things I've never seen before."

The way he described it with so much enthusiasm and interest was enough motivation for her. "I can't believe I've never been there before. I feel like I've been missing out on something special."

He reached over taking her hand, "I'm kind of glad you've never been there and that I get to be the one to show you."

She squeezed it, "Me too." She looked at him apprehensively, biting her bottom lip.

He knew that look already and motioned with his hand for her to get it out. "C'mon."

"My Mom and Dad said they want to come and visit."

He shrugged, "What's wrong with that?"

A smile slowly emerged on her face, "You wouldn't mind?"

"Of course not. Why would I care if they came to see you?"

She looked down, "I don't know, I guess I just thought…" she paused because they had never been welcome at her old house.

"They're welcome anytime," he reassured her.

She smiled up at him, "Thank you. You know my Dad was very excited about this? I thought he was going to be a little apprehensive because, well, technically I am still married, but he wasn't."

"What about your Mom?" Her Dad he wasn't too concerned about, but it was the Mother that he felt he needed the most approval from, regardless of what the tradition was.

"She was a little shocked when I told her, but before I hung up she told me that she could hear something in my voice that she hadn't heard in a long time." She squeezed his hand, "Happiness."

He knew that feeling too, because it had been shadowing him the past two weeks.

Steve leaned over Carly's seat trying to point out objects to her in the half moonlit sky as they approached Honolulu.

"You see those two islands right there off the coast?"

"Yes," she said, looking down.

"That's the Mokuluas islands and the beach on the coast right there is Lanikai." He looked at her, "That beach is the epitome of a Hawaiian beach. You'll think you died and gone to heaven."

She sighed, "I want to go there."

He sat back, "We will. I'll show it all to you, including the other islands."

She continued to look out the window as they turned and prepared to land. The lights from Waikiki were the brightest and she could see the world famous beach that looked spectacular even at nighttime. She couldn't imagine what it would look like in the daytime.

They walked side by side down the corridor as they made their way with the other passengers to the baggage claim. As they came to the main complex of the airport it opened up to the outside. There were very few windows and the walkways leading to the gates had no walls and looked down on gardens that were filled with various Hawaiian flowers that naturally brought in the fresh scent that hit Carly.

She stopped and took in a deep breath and smiled. "It smells so…"

"Hawaiian?" Steve tried to finish her sentence, enjoying the familiar scent himself. Glad to be home.

"No, exotic."

"Welcome to paradise." His hand brushed against hers and she naturally took a hold of it.

He looked down, not having held a girl's hand in public for years. He thought it would seem odd but it didn't feel that way at all.

Carly let go, "Sorry. I thought you were trying to hold mine."

"I wasn't but it's ok if you want to."

"You're not comfortable with it are you? I mean in public?"

"I've just never done it."

"You used to hold my hand before."

"We were in high school then."

She nodded her understanding, but hid her disappointment. Allan hated public affection and refused to hold her hand or touch her that way in public. It was hard at first but she got used to it just like she would with Steve. "It's ok; some people just don't like public affection." She continued walking.

He'd never really been one of those people. It's not that he didn't like it; it just never came up. He never criticized couples that did it, he just never saw himself there. He knew Carly wanted it though; it was obvious to him.

He reached out as she was a half a step ahead and took her hand. She looked down at it and then up at him, giving him the most pleasing smile he'd ever seen. That little gesture made her so happy that he decided to break his mold and go one further. He stopped and dropped the carry on bag over his shoulder as the other passengers walked past them. He put an arm around her waist, pulling her up against him. He looked her right in the eyes before he kissed her like he never had before.

Danny stood in front of the escalator that led down to the baggage claim watching the crowd of people walk by. He saw a group part and two people about fifty feet in front of him kissing as if they may never see each other again.

"Jesus," he moaned, "probably newlyweds. Poor schmuck," He looked away and then something caught his eye and he looked back at them. His mouth literally fell open in such way that a guy walking toward him turned around to see what had him so shocked. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary and walked past him. Danny however saw what he would consider in later years as one of the biggest shocks of his life. There in the middle of the Honolulu airport with people actually having to maneuver around them was Steve kissing a woman whom he perceived was Carly. But it wasn't just a kiss; it was a full-blown hand in the hair, arm tightly around the body, make-out kiss.

He released her with two more quick kisses and smiled, bending over and picking the carry on back up, putting it on his shoulder. She hadn't even had time to catch up with him yet because she was still reeling over the moment. It was by far the most romantic moment of her life.

He laughed at her expression; overly pleased with himself. "You ok?"

A smile slowly emerged on her face. She loved him so much that the adrenalin from it that shot through her body was actually on the verge of being slightly painful, yet at the same time it was euphoric. "Yes," she sighed. "But I'm not sure I can walk now," she smiled brighter.

He took her hand, feeling triumphant over the way she enjoyed it. "I told you I would never deny you anything."

She nodded her understanding. "I'm beginning to believe every word of that."

He started walking, pulling her along with him. "Come on pokey. Danny will have a heart attack if I make him wait too long."

They would have walked right by him if he hadn't said something.

"Hey Romeo." Danny put his hand out to Carly, "and you must be Juliet."

Steve stopped abruptly. "Geez Danny I didn't even see you."

He kept his hand out to Carly but looked over at Steve. "I would think not with your head in the clouds and all."

He froze and glanced over at the spot where he and Carly had been kissing. There was nothing to say and he had no chance of defending himself. He'd been caught by the one person in the entire world that would ride this for all its worth. He had no choice but to just go with it and ignore the fact that it had even happened.

Steve motioned to Carly with a proud smile on his face as she took Danny's hand. "Danny, this is Carly. Carly this is my partner, Danny."

Danny looked over at her, really paying attention for the first time. The picture of the pretty girl from sixteen years earlier was nothing compared to the stunning woman that was smiling at him.

"Hi Danny. It's so nice to meet you. Thank you for picking us up. I hope it wasn't too much trouble."

He shook his head as well as her hand, "It's nice to meet you too. It was no trouble at all."

"Steve has told me some really wonderful things about you."

He looked over at him again. "Really? Wonderful things?"

Steve shrugged, "I had to exaggerate some stuff. You know how you are."

Danny let go of her hand, "Ok that makes more sense." He motioned to the escalator down that led to the baggage claim.

Carly went first followed by Steve who was halted when Danny pulled on his arm.

"Ok," he whispered to him, "I get it now." He whistled his approval under his breath.

"The outside appearance is nothing compared to the woman inside." He stepped down on to the escalator, "You'll see."

Steve set the bags in the back of the truck as Danny opened the passenger door for her.

She smiled sweetly at him, "Thank you Danny."

"Welcome," he said closing it and then getting in the backseat of Steve's four-door truck.

As they pulled out the parking lot Carly turned to the back. "I saw a picture of Gracie. She's beautiful."

That won her about ten thousand points with him. "Thank you."

"Steve said that she's really sweet too. I hope I get to meet her soon."

Another big score. "You will."

Steve looked at him through the rearview mirror. "How did that jewelry case you guys were working pan out?"

"Closed," Danny replied, "The morons tried to fence them to a dealer in Maui."

They both laughed.

"Am I allowed to ask you about your work?" Carly asked, looking at Steve, "Or are you not allowed to talk about it because of legal reasons?"

His first thought was that he liked that she was even taking an initiative about his work and the second that she had the courtesy to ask rather than just assume. He reached over caressing her thigh, "You can ask me anything you want and I'll tell you what I can."

Danny sat in the backseat and heard a voice come out of Steve that was foreign to him. The only word he could use to describe it was gentle. He knew then that he had grossly misjudged his relationship with this girl. He had a strong feeling that she wasn't here for just a visit. "So you two knew each other in high school?"

Carly turned to him, "Yes," she glanced at Steve. "We were very good friends." She got a smile from him.

Danny grinned, "I heard you have some stories you can pass on to the less fortunate about the younger days of the militant Steve McGarrett?"

"Hey," Steve jumped in, looking at Carly and chuckling, "you be nice! I have a tough guy reputation to enforce."

She smiled at Danny and touched Steve on the shoulder, "I have to be loyal to my man." She leaned toward the backseat, putting her hand by her face as if she was trying to block out the sound to Steve and whispered loudly to Danny. "But I get really chatty after a couple glasses of wine."

Danny laughed, reaching up and tapping Steve on the shoulder. "We need to make a stop."

"No!" he bellowed, "I'm not stopping for wine!"

"But I'm thirsty," Carly whined, grinning at Danny.

Steve gave her the stink eye. "Ten minutes," he couldn't hide the fact of how pleased he was that they were already getting along, "you've only known him for ten minutes and you are both already planning my demise." He shrugged, "I can't win. I finally get the girl but I'm going to lose my masculinity in the meantime."

"It goes hand in hand," Danny offered up his belief, "if it wasn't this it would be something else. Just wait until you have to stop on your way home for tampons."

Carly roared with laughter over that one. She leaned over kissing Steve on the cheek. "I promise I won't make you do that, at least not for the first year."

"Thank you," he said submissively, "that's so kind of you."

She and Danny laughed at his obedient character.

Carly got out and followed Steve up to his house. She ran her hand over Danny's Camaro, "Is this for me to drive?" she said hopeful.

"Hands off the beast," Danny teased, "that's mine." He motioned to Steve, "Although he thinks it's his, because I never get to drive."

"I'm a better driver," Steve defended.

Danny huffed, "It's a control issue, and one day you'll admit that."

He set Carly's suitcase on the floor by the front door as Steve moved ahead and turned the lights on.

The second she walked in she felt a welcoming vibe that just grew by the second. She glanced around the front room, touching the soft brown leather sofa as she followed him in further. He stood in the middle of the room with his arms stretched out.

"Welcome home."

She smiled at him, touching him on the arm as she passed. "I like it." She walked to the kitchen, looking around, "I really like it!"

Danny picked up his keys that were on the side table by the door. "Are you coming in tomorrow?"

Steve didn't hear him; he was too preoccupied by seeing Carly standing in his kitchen. It was surreal to him that she was really here. If he had any misgivings at all about her coming, they vanished the second she touched him. He felt the shift in his life at that very second, always knowing it was coming, but the impact of it hit him just then. It wasn't scary or regretful it felt safe and relieving.

Danny shook his head at him. He was gone, off on some other planet named Carly, with only one inhabitant that was going to turn not only Steve's life upside down but Danny had a pretty good feeling it was going to effect his just as much.

"I'm outta here!" Danny yelled to get his attention.

Steve turned to him. "Ok, thanks buddy for the pick up."

Carly came out of the kitchen standing next to Steve, wrapping her hands around his arm. "Thank you Danny and it was really great to finally meet you."

"You too," he replied backing up with his hand on the doorknob. He couldn't look at them anymore. The two of them standing there next to each other was so sweet he could feel a cavity beginning to form. It was nauseous. They looked perfect together. It was a typical guy reaction, but the best friend inside of him was happy for Steve.

"I'll be in tomorrow morning," Steve announced, finally answering the question he never heard earlier.

"Yea," Danny said, "thanks for reminding me of that. Sleep well." He closed the door behind him

Steve pointed toward the upstairs. "Let me show you the rest of the house." He walked to the stairs pointing to a room off the kitchen. "There's a washer and dryer in there." She followed him up the steps that turned to the left and stopped at the first bedroom. He opened the door and turned the light on.

"I hardly ever use this room."

Carly peeked inside at the boxes and twin bed that had a Hawaiian quilt on it.

He walked down the hall and turned the light on in a bathroom.

"Bathroom one."

He went into his room and switched the light on by the bed. "Our room," he announced, walking around the queen size bed and opening up one of the french doors that led out to the lanai.

Carly smiled at his description of it being their room. She looked at the bed, anticipating getting in it with him. She glanced toward the back of the room at a closet and another bathroom before stepping out on the lanai. He stood by the railing motioning to the back.

"Backyard and ocean."

"Oh Steve," she sighed, getting a look at the view. Even though it was dark she could still see the water and the waves lapping up on the shore. "It's beautiful. I can only imagine how pretty that view is in the morning."

He wrapped his hand around her ponytail and slid it down. "It won't be as pretty as this view in the morning."

She turned to him snuggling her body close. "I love your house."

"I don't want you to think of it as my house. You're not a guest. I want you to feel at home. Nothing is off-limits to you here, Carly," he shook his head, "nothing."

She felt all that the second she walked in but having him say it was like icing on the cake. "Does that go for you too?" She put her hands on his hips moving them around to his back and up, feeling him.

He grinned mischievously as he began to undo the buttons on her blouse, "I don't want you to think of it as my body. Make yourself at home with it. You're not a guest." He slid her top off, laying it over the railing and then reached behind undoing her bra as he kissed her neck. "Nothing is off-limits to you." Her bra fell to the deck. "Nothing."

"Oh my," she sighed, "I do believe," she stopped mid sentence, letting him know by the moan that escaped her lips that his had hit that favorite spot on her neck. She continued on feeling breathless, "I believe…your home…is now perfect," she panted.

His hands made there around to her breasts as his lips slowly made their way to hers. "It's perfect now that you're in it."

She couldn't stand it anymore and hurried him along by meeting him halfway. He pinned her against the railing as they kissed. She found bare skin under his shirt and wanted it touching her. She lifted it over his head and they broke just long enough to make that happen. Their lips were like two magnets, drawn to each other. His kisses alone were enough to drive her mad.

She held tightly to him around his neck as he lifted her around the waist and led her back to the bed, kicking the door closed before he laid her down.

He rested on top of her, pushing his hips down into her over and over, simulating what he was going to do to her. His hand caressed the outside of her thigh and then moved inside as she moaned over his seductive move, knowing very well what was coming next. He felt her body shutter in anticipation of it.

"Please" she begged, pulling down on his hips, "hurry Steve." It was all she could do not to scream it. It had been too long since she'd felt him inside her. She desperately missed him, fumbling with her skirt as the kissing began again. She tried to unzip it but gave up as he gathered it around her waist, moving her thong to the side, giving her what she asked for.

They weren't even fully discarded yet when he plunged inside her, feeling that same urgency. She thrust her body into him, clutching his shoulder with one hand and the sheets of the bed with the other as the heat between them built faster and quicker than it ever had before. It was only a matter of seconds before she felt the sensation that started with his movement between her legs and then rippled through her. There was no stopping it, and the idea of delaying it was impossible. What he did to her was perfection.

The ability to make her climax so quickly was almost as pleasurable to him as the act itself. Just knowing that she wanted him that badly stroked his ego in ways like nothing else could. She played him perfectly in bed; seducing him with a body that was capable of taking him to the highest of highs and leaving him suspended there until she decided he'd had enough, and then catching him as he collapsed back into her arms. He knew she was a gift, and he vowed to treasure and protect her like nothing he had before in his entire life.

They rode out the moment together, gaining momentum from the other as they satisfied that ache to be close. The attraction between them was so strong that once the idea took hold it was almost impossible to prolong it.

Carly's grip on the sheets loosened as the aftermath of their lovemaking settled on her. She didn't realize how tightly she had been clutching them until she let go and felt the stiffness in fingers. She stretched them out before she slid her hand through his hair as his head rested on her shoulder.

He moaned from the motion of her hand, still feeling the spine tingling effects throughout his body. "Carly, Carly, Carly," he groaned, pushing himself up so he could see her. He kissed her once, thanking her for the great sex and kissed her a second time just because he wanted to. "I think that was a world record for speed."

She bit her bottom lip. "I'm sorry. That was kind of quick wasn't it?"

He leaned back looking at her as if what she said was crazy. "Don't apologize." He kissed her a third time showing her he was pleased, "It worked out really well for me, and by the sound of it," he teased, "it worked out well for you too."

Carly covered her face, giggling. "I'm glad you shut the door."

Steve sat up, feeling rejuvenated. "Me too. Reverend Donner next door would have me in confession ASAP." He pulled his shorts up that were sitting below his hips.

"Do you go to church over there?" Carly asked surprised, pulling part of the sheet over her, feeling chilly now that she didn't have his body on her.

"No." He scooted off the bed going to his dresser, pulling out a T-shirt. "I just know him because we're neighbors and also because of Megan the cat." He came back over to the bed and held the neck of the shirt open for her. "He's a nice guy though."

She lifted her arms as he slid it over her head. "Young or old?"

"Late fifties, early sixties." He pulled it down over her body. "Are you hungry?"

"Yes!" she exclaimed, pulling her hair through the neck hole.

She followed him down the stairs and into the kitchen. His shirt was almost the same length as her skirt. She sat on the counter as he looked through the fridge.

"Damn, I threw everything away before I left." He opened the freezer and smiled back at her, "Ice cream?"

Carly clapped her hands like a little girl.

He opened a drawer between her legs, "Do like Neapolitan?"

She took the spoon from him. "I like all ice cream," she declared. "All ice cream!"

He leaned against the counter between her legs and took the lid off, offering her the first scoop. "I'll make sure I keep a steady supply."

"You'll make me fat," she said with a mouthful.

"More of you to love."

She laughed, "You say that now."

He took a bite, "Then I'll buy you non fat ice cream. There, problem solved."

She giggled, "I'll go grocery shopping tomorrow. Just make a list for me."

"I'll bring the truck home at lunch and ride back with Danny." He took a bite off her spoon that she held up for him. "We need to get you a car." He looked at her "If you think you'll need one." He wasn't sure of her intentions as far as how long she would stay. He hoped forever, but she hadn't even brought anything with her except what she had brought to Craig's house. They had never discussed time, only that she would be coming home with him.

She knew what he was thinking. "There's nothing left in San Diego for me." She wasn't sure if this trip was an open invitation, or what it was. She just knew the thought of leaving him was heart breaking. "I'll work. I don't want you to support me."

He didn't care about money. "So you want to stay for a while?"

"I like it here. So yes. I'd like to stay, and I can chip in and pay for stuff."

He set the ice cream down and faced her, pulling her to the edge of the counter against him. "I don't care about any of that. I just want you here with me." He brushed some of her hair off of her shoulder, "I want you to be happy and I want you do you what ever it is that makes you happy."

"You," she put her hands on his face, feeling his whisker stubble tickle her palm, "you make me happy. I don't want to be away from you. So if this is where you are, then this is where I am too."

That was music to his ears and she caught a glimpse of it in a smile before he hugged her tightly. "I love you, Carly."

She wrapped her legs around him, bringing him intimately closer, "I love you too." She closed her eyes and rested her head on his shoulder not knowing what she had done to deserve him, but knew that she would hang on to him for dear life.