Sorry this took so long, but it's always difficult to find time in the holidays. Example: I got home Saturday from France and was told we were going to see my aunt, uncle and cousins in Scotland on Monday. I never seem to be told anything :/ :D

Chapter 26

The beginning of August came. Sam and Tom were sitting quietly in the first class cabin of the plane. The large, completely separate seats were lined throughout the area. Tom sat – his cast now removed – on one with Sam sat on his lap, her head on his shoulder and her legs hung over the armrest.

Two weeks after Tom had proposed, he insisted to take her away from the hustle and bustle of the ED. She had felt a sort of reluctance at first, but once the idea settled, she began to feel contented. Time away in Hawaii with her fiancé couldn't have sounded better.

They weren't alone though. Joey, Harley, Ajit, David, Clare and their children were coming too. Chloe and her daughters were going to meet them there the next day. Harvey and Rachel were not going to be there until three to four days afterwards as they were in Florida with their father.

Although, Sam and Tom were staying in the Hilton hotel while the others were elsewhere – Joey and Ajit were staying with their uncle (and Harley when his mum was not there), and the other five were in The Kahala Hotel.

When walking through the terminal at HNL, Tom wrapped his arm around Sam's waist, refusing to let go and refusing to make her help with the luggage. After everyone had collected their luggage, they made their way outside where Steve was waiting with his dark blue, almost black looking Chevrolet pickup truck. He stood, leaning back against the hood, with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Aloha," he called in his Australian, borderline American accent to catch their attention.

David shook his brothers hand and began to introduce Steve to the person he would not know. "This is Sam," he started. "She is Tom's fiancée." Steve raised an eyebrow, surprised, and smiled.

"Congrats man." He said, slapping Tom across the shoulder. Tom grinned and pulled Sam closer – if possible.

The group stood talking for a moment. Around twenty minutes later, Joey said: "should we get moving?"

Sam stayed close to Tom, and asked, "How are we all going to fit? Not trying to state the obvious."

In a way, she had a point – because the truck only had five seats.

Steve overheard this comment and explained, "I'm driving. The three little ones will go on the back seats, and Harley will ride shotgun."

"You don't say it like that in front of the kids." Clare told him sternly.

"What? They're going to hear it sooner or later," was Steve's reply. He carried on after a brief pause. "As I was saying, the rest of you will be in the bed – with all your bags."

"Shouldn't that be illegal?" Sam inquired.

"It is a bit." Sam raised a questioning look to Steve. "If the cab is full, all the side racks and tailgates are closed, it is legal. I should know; I'm a cop." Steve concluded. Sam nodded her head, smiling in a slightly awkward way.

The six – Joey, Ajit, Sam, Tom, David and Clare – climbed into the back, while the children strapped themselves in at the front. Steve helped load the bags into the back, and then got into the driver's seat (which was on the left-hand side).

It took around twenty minutes to get to the Hilton hotel as there was little traffic. Sam and Tom alighted from the truck, taking their stuff with them, and said their valedictions.

"We'll come round to Steve's in about two or three hours." Tom called to the rest. Nobody bothered hinting at what they would get up to in that time.

Next, they dropped off David, Clare, Leah, Georgia and Mike. Those five were going to dump their bags in their room, and then walk over to Steve's.

~#~

The house before them was a brilliant white. You could hear the gentle lap of the waves crashing against the sand as they were barely fifty meters away. The lanai sat a few feet in front of them, painted in the same white. Steve parked the car in the drive, ahead of the garage on the right of the house.

Joey jumped out the front, going straight to the bed to take out his bag. Ajit and Harley followed suit, getting out from the back seats. Steve soon joined them. He shuffled his keys until he found the one for the tailgate.

Once they had emptied the entire luggage from the back, Steve threw the keys to Joey, who ran up to the house; with his army styled duffel bag slumped over his shoulder, and unlocked the front door. The other three came up behind him, put the bags down on the floor, and Ajit closed the door.

"They're here." Steve shouted to someone.

"I thought Cath was away for the weekend?" Joey questioned.

"She is." Joey stared at his uncle utterly confused.

The thirteen-year-olds turmoil was extinguished when two people walked into the large, spacious, wooden appearance lounge. The man, who must be in his twenties, had extremely dark brown, pretty much black hair. His green eyes reflected Joey's. He wore tan, grey and green camouflage patterned cargo pants and a tan coloured t-shirt – part of his U.S. Army uniform. The woman, who could barely be twenty, stood smiling at the teenager. She had her dark blonde, elbow length hair in a simple pony tail. She wore a different military uniform – a British one. The desert camo bottoms hung on her hips, and a tight brown t-shirt hugged her upper body. She was around an inch taller than Joey.

Her smile reached her brown eyes as she took the few short steps towards Joey. "Hey, little brother, I've missed you."

She flung her arms around him, as he did the same. "Sis, I didn't think you'd be here."

"When did you get back?" Ajit asked, while he went forward to shake hands with the man.

"I got back nine days ago, and Kay came back eleven days ago."

"And you didn't think to call, Keat?" Joey asked, pulling away from his sister, who then went over to hug Harley.

"Steve said you were coming over anyway, so we thought we'd surprise you." Kayla answered.

"Fair enough," Joey stated.

Steve had been stood there smiling the whole time, seeming pleased with himself. "Your dad and co will be around soon, so I suggest you get out of those clothes." He said to Keatan and Kayla.

"Why are you in your uniforms if you've been back days?" Joey inquired.

"Went for a run and climb up the mountains." Kay explained. Joey just nodded his head.

Everyone went upstairs to go to their various rooms. Keatan and Ajit had to share in the room with two singles. Kayla and Steve had their own rooms. Then Joey and Harley had to share, too. Harley took the single bed, while Joey took the wide, brown leather couch.

After everyone was finished upstairs, they all came downstairs and chatted, and waited for the others to arrive.

Just saying, I know the area I used pretty well (or I think so anyway) for various reasons. That is why I used it.