Steve came in the bedroom and stood looking down on Carly as she slept soundly in his bed. He was right about his premonition the night before. The view was breathtaking. Her hair was fanned out on the pillow and her arm still rested in the same spot he had moved it to after carefully lifting it off his chest.

He had managed to slip out of bed and get ready for work without waking her up. He showered in the hall bathroom and put on clean clothes that were still in the laundry room from before he left. He sat on the edge of the bed and ran his hand gently over her hair, waking her up.

"Carly." She stirred slightly and he said it again, "Carly."

She opened her eyes and was instantly drawn to him. She pushed herself up, still half asleep and moved to him, laying her head in his lap. "Don't go yet," she mumbled, wrapping her arms around him.

He smiled, caressing her bare back that felt like silk beneath his palm. The sheet covered her below the waist but the vision of what lied under it was etched in his brain. That's what worried him. He didn't want to leave her either. Going the entire day without being close to her or being able to touch her was going to be difficult. It had become a habit already and was one he didn't necessarily want to break. He controlled the urge to continue down her back and under the sheet, knowing he would be late for sure if he let that happen.

"I have to go."

She sat up exposing the upper half of her body, leaning in and giving him a kiss. "I know." She hugged him around the neck and body. "I love you." Her voice dismayed because she was missing him already. It was the first time they would be apart.

He hugged her back. "I love you too."

"Please be careful today." She kissed him once more.

She lay back on the bed and he stared down at her, taking in one last look before he had to leave. She was so beautiful, even in the morning. He reached down cupping her face with his hand, gliding his thumb over her moist lips. He was completely and helplessly in love. He couldn't leave her. He just wanted to be with her one more time and knew his morning would be worthless if he couldn't get her out of his system.

He kicked his shoes off and she smiled, helping him lift his shirt over his head before he laid down with her.

Kono came down the hall and glanced over at Steve's office, speaking to Danny and Chin. "I thought the Boss was back today?"

Danny came from around his desk and stood in the doorway with his hands in his pockets. "He is."

Chin came out too, glancing at his watch. "He's not due in for a couple more minutes."

"He'll be late," Danny declared, as if knowing it.

"Did he call?" Kono asked.

"Nope, but mark my word. He'll be late."

Kono laughed, "He's never been late."

Danny pulled out a wad of money from his pocket and filtered through it, holding up a bill. "I've got twenty bucks that says he's late."

Chin and Kono looked at each other.

"Ok, what do you know that we don't?" Kono asked.

He came out and set the money on the computer table as they joined him. "I met her last night."

Kono's eyes got big. "You mean the mysterious Carly?"

"Really?" Chin said, joining them. "She seems nice on the phone."

"In person too," he agreed, raising an eyebrow. "And she's pretty. And when I say pretty, I mean she is drop dead gorgeous."

Kono shrugged, "So, why do you think he'll be late?"

Danny shook his head, "You don't understand. Steve is different around her."

"How so," Chin asked intrigued?

Danny looked over his shoulder making sure Steve wasn't walking up behind him. "Last night when I picked them up at the airport…" he paused, still not quite believing what he saw.

"What?" Kono urged, also becoming curious over the mystery woman.

Danny almost laughed just trying to get it out. "He was kissing her in the middle of the airport terminal." He held his hand up quickly before they could react, "And I'm not talking just a kiss, I'm talking as if they were filming a movie kiss."

"No way!" Kono blurted out.

"Oh way," Danny nodded.

Chin nodded his approval. "Hmm, Steve's got a crush."

They all three laughed over just the thought of that.

"I'm not kidding you," Danny assured them, "he's different around her."

"Different how," Kono urged him.

"You'll see." He glanced at his watch. "I told you he'd be late."

Kono looked over at Chin, "Steve in love? Making out in airports. I don't buy it." She looked back over at Danny as she made her way over to her office. "I think you're pulling our leg."

"Ok." He said, not wiling to argue with her. She'd see for herself. They both would.

Steve came in about an hour later, tapping on Danny's office window with his index finger. "Hey, sorry I'm late. I had to scramble up something to wear."

Danny came out of his office, "I didn't even notice the time," he said, giving the other two a 'told you so' look as they came out of their offices to greet him.

"Hey guys," Steve said to Kono and Chin smiling, "Did ya miss me?"

"Hey Boss." Kono came up to him, giving him a quick hug. "Did you have a good trip?"

He fist bumped Chin. "Yes. I had an exceptional trip."

"So we heard. When do we get to meet the new girl?" She teased him.

"Actually," he said, glancing at all three of them, "I was hoping you were all free tonight. I thought we could go over to JJ's for pizza and beer. I'll buy." He looked at Kono in particular. "I'd really like you and Chin to meet her."

Kono's mouth came open just slightly, surprised at his quick introduction. "Tonight? Umm," she glanced at Chin, shrugging, "Sure, I guess. I'm free."

"Yea, me too," Chin agreed. "I can't wait."

Steve slapped Danny on the back, "You'll be there too, right?"

"Of course, pizza and beer on your tab? You know I'm in."

Carly turned to go back up stairs, "Maybe I'll wear shorts instead."

Steve reached out grabbing her hand, "Hold on!"

"What?" she said impatiently, "I need to change."

"No, you don't," he assured her. "You look great. You look beautiful."

"But we're going to a sport's bar. This is too dressy. They'll think I'm over dressed and trying too hard."

Steve put his arms around her waist, "You are trying too hard." He ran his hand down her ponytail. "Just relax and have fun tonight. They're going to love you and you're going to love them."

Her shoulders slouched and she laid her head on his, "I'm just really nervous. I want them to like me. I know how important they are to you."

"Carly," he almost laughed but didn't want to make fun of her fear but knew she really had nothing too fear, "it's going to be fine."

She lifted her head, her voice shaky, "Do they know I'm still married?"

"Now you're over thinking it. Yes, they do, but they also know the circumstance and they also know me." He bent slightly so he could see her eyes, "Carly, I would never take you tonight if I thought even for a second that you might get hurt."

She looked up at him seeing the truthfulness of that in his eyes and in his voice. She nodded, knowing now she was being ridiculous. "Ok."

He kissed her, "Ok." He stepped back admiring the white sundress he had taken off her the first time they had made love. "And don't change either. I love that dress."

She ran her hands down the front of it, "You do?"

"You bought it for me remember?"

She bit her bottom lip, blushing just slightly over the fact that he had remembered that. She loved how quickly he could ease her down from a stressful moment into a blissful one. "Yes." She put her arms back around him, feeling the fear slide off. God she loved him.

Carly gripped his hand as they walked into JJ's. She looked around and was instantly charmed by the place. It wasn't touristy like she had anticipated. It was a local hang out joint with dark walls and plenty of sports memorabilia, as well as TV's. There were pool tables in the back and a long bar that stretched along the side and plenty of wood tables and benches to accommodate a crowded night. This particular night it seemed quite, considering it was a weeknight, but she imagined it was packed on the weekend.

She saw Danny and two other people at a table, assuming it was Chin and Kono. She took a deep breath as Steve led her over to them.

They all stood up when they saw him.

He let go of her hand and placed his on her lower back, easing her forward. "Carly," he said casually, pointing to each person individually, "This is Chin, who I believe you spoke to on the phone, indulging him in a story that I wish would just go away."

"Yes," she smiled, taking his hand. "Hi, Chin, it's nice to meet you."

"Good to meet you too, Carly." He agreed wholeheartedly with Danny's description of her. He looked at Steve, "Nani wahine, ho'i."

Steve grinned, "I know."

She looked back and forth between them, having no idea what that meant.

Kono reached her hand out. "It was a compliment. They don't know their manners sometimes and forget that not everyone speaks bird. Hi Carly, I'm Kono."

She wasn't sure what to expect with Kono. She had never met a woman police officer before and Kono certainly didn't fit the description she was imagining either. First off she was much younger than she had anticipated and the natural beauty that radiated from her was stunning, but she was positive that underneath the exterior there must be one tough woman, otherwise how could she be apart of this team. "Hi Kono." She took her hand, feeling a likeness to her right away.

"We brought you something." She reached down under the bench; "Danny said he had an enlightening conversation with you last night. We heard you get nostalgic…" she stood up holding an extra-large bottle of wine, "after a couple of glasses of wine."

Steve went to grab for it when Kono moved it out of his reach, "This isn't for you! This is for Carly."

Carly covered her mouth with her hand, trying not to laugh.

"Can we get you a glass," Kono asked?

"Or perhaps just a straw," Chin jumped in?"

"I'm seeing my error in judgment now of introducing her to you three," Steve growled under his breath.

The night went on just as Steve had said. They loved Carly and Carly loved them. Two pizzas and a pitcher of beer later and they were all getting along as if they had known each other for years.

"I'll be right back," Carly announced, "I'm going to wash my hands. Greasy pizza fingers and white don't get along." She got up from the table and went to the ladies room.

The three of them watched as Steve followed her with his eyes until she was out of view.

Kono waited until she was out of hearing distance. "She's a keeper, Steve," she announced.

"I have to agree on that," Chin said.

He smiled with pleasure at their acceptance of her. It did mean a great deal to him that they like her. They were like his family and it would have made things difficult if they didn't. But that concern was gone. "She is something, and she really hasn't changed all that much since high school."

"She has stories about you," Danny said, "give us one about her."

Steve contemplated for a minute and then started laughing, "I got one." He laughed again as Carly came walking toward them. "There was a group of us camping one summer up in the mountains," he moved over as Carly sat down next to him. "My buddy Jack and I were sitting by the fire, it was dark, when all of a sudden we heard this blood curdling scream come from above on this small hill next to our camp spot. We both stood up ready to go to war, knowing it was…" he pointed with his thumb to Carly.

"What?" Carly asked, confused about what he was talking about.

"We look up and coming down the hill like a mad woman is Carly."

"No Steve!" she leaned over covering her hand over his mouth, "Please don't tell that story."

The other three laughed, encouraging him even more now.

He pulled her hand down. "She had been up in the woods going pee when she saw a bear."

Her face turned beat red.

"That's scary!" Kono said, "And it's not funny."

"Hold on," Steve said. "She didn't see a bear." He looked over at her and started to laugh.

"It was really dark!" she scolded him. She looked at the other three, rolling her eyes, "It looked like a bear."

"It was a Saint Bernard," Steve blurted out, "from the campsite next door. And not only that, but it was the most gentle dog in the world."

The other three got the amusement and laughed with him.

Just remembering the hilarious sight of her alone was making it difficult for him to continue. "She's sliding down the hill on her bare ass," he laughed, "trying to pull her shorts up," he braced his hand on the table, barely able to speak, "screaming at the top of her lungs as this dog is chasing her, thinking they're playing."

"You are a mean boy!" She tried to act mad, but couldn't hide that it really was funny now that it was sixteen years later.

"Oh my god, it's one of the funniest things I've ever seen in my life." He wiped his eyes, unable to control his laughter as Carly smacked him on the shoulder. He leaned back out of her range, "I thought Jack and I were going to get sick we were laughing so hard."

She looked at the other three as they laughed more at Steve than anything else.

"He was scary looking!" Carly defended.

"He had a ball in his mouth!"

All of them laughed even harder at that one.

As Steve paid the bill Kono approached Carly. "Do you surf?"

"Yes," Carly said enthusiastically, "I haven't for about ten years, but I used to. Steve said you were a really good surfer."

She shrugged off the compliment, "I can hold my own. Would you like to go this Sunday?"

Carly's eyes shot open, "Sure. I mean, yes. That would be great!" She looked sheepishly at her. "I don't have a board though."

"Don't worry, between Steve and I, we've got you covered."

She smiled as he came toward them. "Kono and I are going surfing Sunday."

He put his arm around her and gave Kono an appreciative smile, "Really? Nice. Are you taking her over to Old Man's or Tongs?"

"Actually I was thinking this time of year that Suicides might be the place to go."

Steve nodded his approval, "You're probably right."

"Excuse me," Carly jumped in, "Suicides? That sounds like for an experienced surfer." She put her hand on her chest, "That's not me."

"In the winter time, yes," Kono assured her, "but in the summer, not so much." She patted her shoulder, "It'll be a good place to start. I'll call you."

"Ok," Carly nodded, "bye Kono."

She waved over her shoulder as she left.

Carly looked up at Steve, "I loved them all."

He held his hands out as if not surprised, "I told you." He pulled her in, "And they loved you too."

Her eyes danced with excitement. "I really love it here Steve. Tomorrow I'm going to look into taking my real-estate license test here in Hawaii so I can get a job."

He ran his hand over her ponytail, "There's no rush. You just got here."

"I know, but I want to get settled in. I don't want to feel like a tourist. I want this to be my home."

He grinned at her, "You want to be Kama`aina."

"What does that mean, Kama`aina?"

"It means you want to be apart of the culture. It's important to not just live here, but to know it. Hawaii is like no place on earth Carly. Once you're here and you embrace it, it will never turn it's back on you. And you won't ever want to leave it either. There's something sacred about these islands that most people don't understand. They only see the exterior beauty; they don't recognize the inner beauty and strength that you can achieve by learning and becoming apart of it."

She had never heard him speak so passionately before about a subject. It inspired her to want that same feeling and desire that he held for his home. "Will you teach me?"

He liked the sound of that. "Of course. `Oe ko`u wahine." He kissed her, taking her hand, "That means you're my woman."

She wrapped her hand around his arm as they left the bar, "Yes I am."

Carly sat at Steve's computer studying for her real-estate license when her phone went off next to her. She glanced down at the number and knew it was Allan even though she had removed him from her contact list. She hadn't spoken to him since the lake house almost three weeks earlier. She held the buzzing phone in her hand, sighing, not wanting to speak to him, but wondering if it was about the divorce and that she did want to discuss. She decided she would answer and if it was anything but that, she would hang up.

"What do you want?" she answered.

"My, my, you're phone etiquette needs work."

"If you're not calling about the divorce, then I'm hanging up."

"That is why I'm calling. Have you got a lawyer yet?"

"What do we need a lawyer for? Either sell the house and give me half or you just pay me half of what it's worth and we'll call it even. I withdrew my half of the money out of our account."

"I saw that. That was illegal you know."

She gritted her teeth. "So is murder. Don't talk to me about the law Allan."

"Oh that's right." He said coolly, "You're fucking the law every night now, aren't you?"

She couldn't believe the hatred that she felt inside for him. She wanted to hurt him. "Every night, every morning, every afternoon, every chance I get." She knew that did it. His jealousy would feed the fire and give him the pain she was hoping for.

He closed his eyes, seeing them together. His beautiful Carly naked beneath another man was heart breaking too him. It wasn't right.

"Send me the papers Allan. There's no need for you to call me anymore."

Not ever hearing from her again sent him into a panic. "You have to come here and sign them. You have to get your stuff because I'm not boxing it up for you and I'm certainly not sending it to you."

She had been dreading this moment but knew he was right. If she wanted anything she would have to go there to get it. In the heat of the moment she had told him to keep everything, but in reality, there were things she wanted back, possessions that were important to her. "I don't want to see you. When's your next trip? I'll come then."

"I'm leaving in three days for Houston." He lied. "I'll be gone for four days. That should be plenty of time for you to get your shit out of here."

"Fine. Have your lawyer put something together. I'll find someone to look it over while I'm there and we'll get this taken care of. I want you out of my life."

He felt the wounds from the knife in his back as she stabbed him over and over. "Fine. I'll leave the papers on the kitchen table."

Carly said all she had to and hung up. She smiled, knowing she would never have to speak to him ever again.

Allan pulled the phone away from his ear, staring at it. She had hung up on him. She didn't even say good-bye, or give him any closure that he felt he deserved. She just checked out of their relationship of seven years. She wasn't going to get the last word in, he would make sure of that.

Carly came down the steps, hearing him come home.

"Hi," She went up to him, giving him a kiss and getting one in return. The last three weeks had been like a dream for her. She couldn't have been happier and was positive he felt the same. They had settled in and were living comfortably as if newlyweds. They spent evenings sitting out back by the water talking or curled up on the couch watching TV. Their weekends were spent exploring the island and she was already beginning to understand what it meant to live here. It was paradise.

She knew she had to tell him about Allan's phone call because she had to make that trip. She followed him into the kitchen. "I have to go to San Diego this week." She blurted out.

He was bent over in the fridge and stood up, turning to her. "What? Why?"

"To sign the papers for the divorce and to get my things from the house."

He closed the fridge, suddenly losing his appetite. "I don't think that's a good idea."

"Allan won't be there. He's leaving for Houston on Thursday. I can fly over, get my things and then fly home on Sunday."

Steve shook his head, "No. I don't want you going there alone. Just wait a few more weeks and I'll go with you."

"I don't want to wait anymore, plus that will cost a lot of money for both of us to go and I'm sure I have a timeline to sign the papers."

"Have them send the papers here, sign them and send them back."

"I want my stuff, plus like I said, he won't even be there."

"How do you know he won't be there?"

She leaned back against the counter, "Because I talked to him earlier today."

He didn't know why that offended him, but it did. "Really? You talked to him?"

"Yes."

"Did he call you, or did you call him?" He knew that was a dumb question the second it came out, but it was already out there.

"What do you think?" she snapped.

"I don't want you to go," he said flatly.

She was still irritated with his previous question, "Well too late because I already bought my ticket this afternoon."

He looked shocked, "You already…" he threw his hands up, "Oh ok, well thanks so much for talking it over with me."

"I want to get this settled, Steve. I thought you would want that too."

"I do, and don't try to turn this around and say I'm trying to stall you. I'm just saying I don't want you going there alone, Carly. I don't trust him and you shouldn't either."

"I don't trust him! That's why I made sure he won't be there."

"Well I guess you have it all figured out then. There's no need for me to say anything else." He went back to the fridge and opened it just a little too abruptly, standing there looking inside but not seeing the contents, his mind was too consumed with her leaving the island.

She felt bad for not including him, but didn't know it would bother him this much. She thought he'd be happy she was finally getting it done. "Do you want me to make you something to eat?" she tried to make amends.

"No," he grumbled, closing the door and walking past her to the stairs. "I'm going to go for a swim."

She watched him take the stairs two at a time as if he were in a hurry to get away from her. She hung her head down, knowing she should probably go up there and apologize to him, but she knew she was doing the right thing and wanted so desperately to get it over with and move on with her life. She decided to just let him be, hoping he would cool off and eventually agree with her, otherwise it was going to be a long three days before her flight left.

They had said little to each other the rest of the evening. She stayed on the couch watching TV while he went in the garage and tinkered around while straightening it up. Mostly it was just to avoid the subject at hand. He felt cheated out of his say in this decision. But it wasn't so much the betrayal that bothered him; it was still the idea of her going. He knew he couldn't go with her now. He had meetings with the Governor this week and couldn't break them to go to the mainland again, especially if it wasn't for work.

He angrily threw the wrench in his hand down on the work table, shaking his head. It was a mistake for her to go, but as he stood there he began to wonder if it really was his gut telling him or his heart. He had this conscious fear that if she left the island she may never come back.

Carly turned the light off and crawled into bed next to him. She laid on her side, with her back to him, feeling the distance between them. It was horrible.

He laid on his back and glanced over at her. He had kept his distance for most of the evening but knew he wouldn't get a wink of sleep if he continued the separation. Plus it wasn't fair to her. This was the one place where he didn't want tension between them no matter what happened during the day, he didn't want it to end with them sleeping apart, even though they were in the same bed.

He rolled over and put an arm around her waist, not in the close intimate way he normally did, but it was a gesture.

She felt relieved and scooted back closer to him, taking his hand and pulling it up under her chin, holding it there.

Neither one of them said a word, but they both fell asleep within a matter of minutes.