CHAPTER FIFTY-NINE

Title: "Salvation: Forever and Always: Elusive Dreams – PART III"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult situations and language

Summary: Story #9 in the Salvation series. The bonds of family bring the Five-0 ohana even closer.

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately! All original characters are the property of the author!

Date Written: March 29, 2013

(Sam is still trying to control her amusement when she walks out of the bathroom after having changed into an ice blue silk gown and brushing her teeth. Steve, passing Sam on his way into the bathroom as she comes out, has a small frown on his handsome face which only heightens Sam's amusement. The sound of his wife's soft laughter makes Steve that much more determined to make Sam beg before he's through, and he quickly brushes his teeth and heads back into the bedroom. Sam has turned out all the lights in the suite's master bedroom except one, small table lamp that sits on a table on the opposite side of the large room from the king-sized bed lending a soft, muted glow to the room. Standing next to the table, she straightens from turning on the lamp just as her husband steps into the room and her eyes lock with his as a slow smile spreads across her beautiful face. The light from the lamp is just bright enough to outline Sam's curves beneath the ice blue silk, and Steve stops in his tracks and his breath hitches; all thoughts of getting back at Sam disappearing completely as he takes a good look at his wife. Walking toward him, Sam slowly pulls first one and then the other tiny strap from her shoulders but catches the silk in front of her with one hand just before it drops. Sliding her other hand up behind Steve's neck, she pulls his mouth down to hers and then allows the gown to fall to the floor as the hand which had been holding it up slides around Steve's neck. Steve snaps out of the state of momentary paralysis that had a hold of him and both of his strong arms immediately go around Sam's slender form. Effortlessly swinging her up and into his arms, he takes the two strides necessary to bring them to the bed and gently lays Sam down in the middle; his mouth never leaving hers. Sam wastes no time in hooking her thumbs in the waistband of Steve's shorts and pushing them down and he finishes the task so that they are skin to skin. As much as Sam was in a hurry earlier in the evening, now she is quite content to take things slowly. It seems that Steve is, too, and he lifts his mouth from hers and lets his gaze roam slowly over his wife's beautiful face. Ever so gently, he touches her cheek and she takes his hand in hers and places a soft kiss on his palm.)

"I know I've already told you this, Steve, but I really do appreciate what you did for me today."

"You were hurting, Sam, and I can't stand to see you in pain; especially when I can do something about it. I just hope that, now, you can put this behind you. Emily and I need you, Sweetheart, and we both love you very much."

"I know you do; I love the two of you very much, too, and I need both of you every bit as much as you need me. . . Steve?"

"Yeah, Sam?"

"We haven't really talked about this, but . . Emily is going to be two in a few months and I was wondering if . . ."

"I would love to have another baby with you, Sam, but I want you to be sure you're ready. I mean, you'll be grounded again, and I know how much flying means to you."

"Steve, having your children, our children, means way more to me than flying!"

"Yeah, I knew that; I just . . . I just want you to be happy, Sam."

"And if I told you that having another baby would make me happy?"

"Then, I'm all for it and I'll gladly do my part to make it happen."

"Of course, you will. Seriously, Steve, I don't want Emily to be an only child, but I don't want you to feel pressured about this."

"Sam. Sweetheart, I don't feel the least bit pressured, and I want Emily to have brothers and sisters, too. You know, we have plenty of time, Sam; we don't have to make a decision about whether or not to have another baby right now."

"I know. I guess I just wanted to get a feel for how you felt about it, Steve."

"Well, now you know; I'll be ready when you're ready. 'Kay?"

" 'Kay. You know, Steve, when we do have another baby, it's going to be interesting to see how Emily reacts."

"Emily will be just fine with having a little brother or sister, Sam. She and Eric are BFFs so she'll be good with another baby in the house."

"You sure about that? I mean, yeah, Em and Eric are really close, but Eric has his own Mommy and Daddy and she doesn't have to share us with him or anyone else."

"You think Emily would be jealous of a new baby?"

"No, I mean, she's our daughter, Steve, and we definitely do not spoil her, but it's going to be an adjustment for her all the same."

"So, maybe we should wait until she's a little older."

"Maybe we should. . . Steve?"

"Yeah, Sam?"

"You ready for round one?"

"Round one?"

"Well, yeah. Emily's sleeping in Mom's and Dad's room so we have the entire night all to ourselves, Steve."

"I like the way you think, Beautiful. Round one it is."

(And Steve proceeds to kiss Sam so sweetly that tears actually spring to her eyes, but then he deepens the kiss and his hands begin to move, ever so slowly, over Sam's curves, and all rational thought disappears because Sam's pulse rate has kicked up several notches and her mind, body, and soul are completely centered on her husband.)