Steve came up the beach after his swim shaking the excess water from his hair. He grabbed the towel from the back of the chair as he walked past it toward the house, using it first to dry off his face and then ran it over his head, rubbing it several times leaving his jet black hair spiked up in several places before he ran a hand over it, lying it uniformly in place. He dried his chest and arms next, slipping the T-shirt on that was lying over the rail by his back door as he went in the house, grinning widely at his cell phone that was void of any missed calls.

He went right through the house and out the front door, searching for the morning paper that was usually halfway to the fence.

He bent over and scooped it up, glancing over in the direction of the house across the way and saw Jenny sitting on the front door stoop eating a Popsicle. It was ten in the morning and he wondered how she had finagled that gift out of Anna.

"Morning, Jenny," he yelled over to her.

She looked over at him and waved, getting to her feet and skipped across the yard to where he was.

He watched with great amusement the long blond hair that bounced freely and as carefree as the little girl who wore it. She still had on the clothes from the trip to the ER the night before. Her red pajama top displayed the picture of a female Disney character that he'd seen before but didn't know the name. He caught himself grinning from ear to ear anticipating the conversation. She always seemed to charm him no matter the discussion.

"Guess what?" she asked excitedly, unaware of the night before and what had progressed beyond leaving the house to go to the hospital. She had literally slept through the whole thing.

"What?" Steve asked, meeting her at the fence line.

"Anna broke her arm last night! It's pink now," she declared. "The outside part is pink!"

Steve smiled, "I know. I took her to the hospital. Don't you remember?"

She crinkled her little face, wondering if he were teasing her. "No."

He squatted down so they were eye level just above the fence line. "We went in my truck, remember?" He could see the lights coming on in her eyes as she recalled that part.

"Oh," she nodded, taking a lick of her Popsicle. "I forgot."

"How did you talk Anna into letting you have a Popsicle so early?" He reached over and moved a piece of her hair that had stuck to the side of it.

"Eric gave it to me for breakfast. Her arm wasn't feeling good."

He stood up and looked beyond her to the house. "Have you seen her at all this morning? Did she get up and then go back to bed?"

Jenny nodded her head, biting off the top of her breakfast as her lips began to turn the same color of purple as the treat she held. "She's in her room."

"Really," he stepped over the short fence. "Come on, let's go see Eric."

"Ok," she said happily, following beside him with a playful skip in her walk. "Do you want some of my popsicle?" she held it up for him.

"No thank you sweetheart." He smiled down at her, remembering her curled up next to him on the couch the night before. He wasn't accustomed to having kids around except for Gracie, whom he also found pleasurable, others he found tiresome, but there was something about Jenny's innocence that reeled him in. He liked being around her. She was just a sweet kid. Eric wasn't far behind.

They came in the house and found Eric sitting on the couch. He quickly turned the channel of the movie he'd been watching to a cartoon, but not before Steve caught a glimpse of it, knowing it was too mature for him.

He looked from him to the TV and back at him, letting him know he was busted. "That's a pretty graphic movie you were watching."

He set the remote down on the table. "I was just flipping channels."

Steve motioned with his head toward the upstairs. "How's Anna doing this morning?"

"I think her arm hurts. She came down for some ice a little while ago and was going to make breakfast but then she went back up. I just gave Jenny a popsicle."

He went to the bottom of the steps and yelled up, "Hey Anna, it's Steve."

She appeared at the top of the stairs a few moments later. She too had the same clothes on from the night before and the black sling still over her shoulder, but her expression showed every bit of pain that Eric had mentioned. He could see the bag of ice wrapped in a towel sticking out of the sling.

"Hi. How you feeling?"

She came down the steps slowly as if every move was a cautious one. "Ok, it's just a little sore," she lied.

"Did you take some more pain medication?" he asked as she went past him.

"No, it makes me sleepy. I can't sleep all day."

He followed behind her into the kitchen. "You can't walk around all day in pain either."

"It's not so bad." She lifted up a pan and set it on the stove, just that slightest movement caused her to react.

He went up to the kitchen table and pulled out a chair. "Sit down."

"I'm fine," she countered, turning around and leaning against the counter. The forced smile was about all he was going to get. She was exhausted and didn't want to argue with him but also didn't want him to cater to her either. The events from the night before stung even more in the daylight.

"You look like you're about to pass out."

That remark to her was more like an insult and showed in her expression. "I can handle things around here."

He took his hands off the back of the chair and crossed his arms, "Like you handled things last night?" He regretted it the moment it came out but her hostility toward him was just as irritating. He knew she was in no shape to handle things and all he wanted to do was help her out. It was as if their moment of truce in the ER had never taken place. "I've broken my arm before. I know it hurts like hell. Why is it so hard for you to except a little help?"

She looked from him to the kids who stared at her, seeing Jenny's face and clothes with the purple Popsicle on both. Eric had that same condescending expression that told her she was being ungrateful without even having to say it. He was ten years old and even he knew better.

With her tail between her legs she slowly walked over and sat down in the chair.

He took the seat across from her and scooted it closer. "I'm going to look at your arm?" he warned her but also held back just before touching, as if asking permission.

She didn't answer but just shifted so her broken arm was in a better position for him to view. She looked up at him as he carefully pulled the bag of ice out, wondering why her first reaction toward him was always hostile. It was like she couldn't help herself. He could be so stubborn and demanding in the way he talked to her that it was like he was ordering her, not asking. He was hard and emotionless in that way too, but just as that thought crossed her mind she winced when a shot of pain that had been torturing her all morning began at her wrist and rippled up her arm. Her fingers in the cast contorted and she moaned as it began to throb, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth waiting for it to end, knowing by the time she counted to ten it would be gone. But to her surprise she only got to four when she felt a firm caressing on her bicep and up to her shoulder and back down again, taking away the pain. She opened her eyes and met his that were concerned as if he were feeling it too.

"Where are your pills," he asked again in that demanding voice, only this time it wasn't emotionless.

She stared at him recalling again how Jenny had been curled up next to him on the couch the night before, knowing it must have been a comforting place.

"Anna?" he asked again, only more sternly. "Where are your pain pills?"

"By my bed," she replied barely above a whisper.

Steve looked over at Eric and snapped his fingers, pointing to the ceiling. Eric didn't take it as an order or a demand but as urgency, seeing her pain as well. He jetted up the stairs at full speed.

Jenny came in and stood next to Anna, seeing too the discomfort on her face. "Are you ok, Anna?" She gently touched the cast and looked up at her, the sympathy on her little face griped Anna's heart.

"Yes honey I'm ok, it's just a little sore."

Jenny then turned to Steve. "Do something," she said; the desperation in her voice caught his attention too.

He reached out and stroked the child's arm assuring her. "We are honey. Eric went to get her pills. They'll make her feel better."

He came running up behind them, holding the prescription bottle out to Steve. "Here." He looked over at Anna and gave her a sympathetic smile.

Steve shook out two pills and went to the sink for a glass of water.

"Give me just one for now," Anna spoke up.

He sat back down across from her, holding the two pills in one hand and the glass of water in the other. "You'll take two," he said firmly, letting her know he wasn't going to argue.

"They make me sleepy, and with the kids…" she said, but was interrupted.

"I'm off today. Eric and Jenny can hang out with me."

She looked at him like what he just said made no sense at all. "Do you have any idea…" she began but he interrupted her again.

"What? I babysit an entire island. You don't think I can handle a couple of kids?"

She was amused at his parody but went one better. "I'm actually more afraid for them than you." Her wicked grin told him she was teasing.

"Very funny."

"Seriously though, what are you going to do with them?"

He looked at both of them as they stood next to each other staring back at him with blank expressions, wondering what his answer was going to be.

At the moment, he hadn't the slightest idea.

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Steve tossed Eric a life vest and then reached down and picked up Jenny under the armpits and set her down on the tailgate of his truck. "Arms up," he instructed, holding her life jacket.

She lifted them up in the air and he slipped a hand in each one of the holes and then fastened it together. She held onto his shoulders as he tightened it. Her little body jerking as he made sure it was secure.

"Are you going to wear one too?" she asked him.

"Of course."

She didn't say it but she smiled, glad to hear it.

He set her down on the ground. "Take your shoes off Jenny, and toss them in the back of the truck." He then knelt down on one knee in front of Eric going through the same procedure as he did with Jenny, checking his life jacket.

"I've never been in a kayak before, out in the ocean," he confessed, looking beyond them towards the water.

"Are you nervous?" Steve asked him, seeing a trace of hesitation.

Eric shrugged, "No, I guess not," he lied.

He leaned back just slightly so he could see his face. "We don't have to do this if you don't want too."

Eric glanced over at Jenny. "Are you scared?"

"No." She tossed her other shoe in the back of the truck as instructed, and suddenly as if someone had just lit a fire under her feet she began to jump up in the air excitedly. "It's going to be fun! Fun! Fun! Fun!" she shouted, putting her hands on her hips and whipping them back and forth singing the words now. "Fun, fun, fun. It's going to be fun. So much fun. Fun, fun, fun."

Steve stared at her not sure what to make of the sudden outburst and then looked at Eric as if he had an explanation, instead they both busted up.

"Our cruise director has spoken," Steve laughed.

"Our what?" Eric chuckled.

"Never mind." He stood up and flipped the tailgate of his truck up. "Let's get this crazy show on the road."

He grabbed an end of the kayak as Eric grabbed the other, lifting it with both hands.

Jenny continued to dance in place, replacing the singing with humming.

"Excuse me Lady Gaga," Steve said to her, "but could you please show us the way to the beach?"

"Yes!" she replied happily. "This way please." She began to skip across the parking lot as they followed behind her.

"You know who Lady Gaga is?" Eric asked him surprised over that.

Steve huffed, "I know the name, but I wouldn't know her if she were standing next to me."

Eric laughed. That made more sense to him.

They watched as Jenny thrashed her arms around in the air, singing the 'fun' song again. She was as happy as could be and Eric watched with amusement not having seen his little sister act that way in a long time. It used to drive him crazy, but today he was glad it was back.

"She's crazy," Eric laughed.

"She's five," Steve confirmed with a grin, enjoying her frolicking more than he had just about anything else in a long time.

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Steve slid down inside the kayak first and reached over picking up Jenny. He easily lifted her out of the waist high water and set her down on the seat between his legs.

The older gentleman who was lending them a hand held the boat steady behind Steve's back as Eric climbed in next at the bow. He held onto both sides before carefully sitting down in his seat.

Steve glanced over his shoulder, "Ok, I think we're good. Mahalo," he said to the man as he pushed them into the next wave that rolled up on Lanikai Beach. He tapped Eric gently on the back with one of his oars. "Man up Buddy. You're helping. Grab an oar next to you and start paddling."

Jenny looked up over her shoulder at him. "Where are we going?"

Steve pointed to the two islands in the distance. "Out to that island on the left."

She held up her hands and stared at them. "Which is left?"

"Do you know your alphabet?" he asked her.

"Yes. A, b, c, d, e…" she began to sing when he took her left hand, he smoothed out her fingers and then pulled her thumb down, holding it up so she could see that it looked like the letter L.

"Left begins with the letter 'L', " he explained, "see, this is your left hand because it makes the letter 'L'." he smiled remembering when his Mom had taught him that trick. He never again asked which was his left or right.

"Oh…" Jenny replied as if that was the most logical thing she had ever heard. "L" she held it up high. "Left." She looked back over her shoulder at him as he smiled down at her. She looked back out to the island and pointed to the one on the left. "We're going to that island, right?"

Steve grinned. "Right."

"No," Eric laughed, "left."

Steve splashed him with water. "Smart aleck."

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"Keep it steady Eric," Steve instructed him as they drifted the boat up on the beach of Moku Island. Once it touched the sand, Eric jumped out and grabbed his end as Steve lifted Jenny and set her outside the boat in the waist high water. She instantly took off toward the beach, amazed at the solitude.

"Does anyone live here?" she asked.

"No," Steve replied pulling the kayak the rest of the way up the beach. He reached behind he and Jenny's seat and pulled out a backpack, unzipping the main compartment. "Eric," he yelled out before tossing him a bottled water. "Make sure it comes home with us."

"I will." He caught the flying object with both hands.

He then took another one out and twisted off the top and handed it to Jenny. "Take a drink."

She took it with both hands and took a long drink before handing it back to him. "I don't want no more. You have some too," she demanded as if he might parish without the liquid. She smiled brightly as he finished it off and then put the empty bottle back into the backpack.

He slipped out of his lifejacket and helped Jenny with hers as Eric undid his own, tossing them into the boat.

"This place is so cool!" Eric declared, "Can we climb over those rocks to get to the other side?"

"Come on," Steve said, "I know an easier way."

Jenny reached up and took his hand, skipping along beside him, kicking the sand with her toes. "How come no one lives here?"

"It's a special island and it only belongs to the Akua's"

Eric looked back over at him. "The who?"

"The Akua's," he said again. "The Hawaiian Gods." He looked at him peculiarly. "You've never heard the word Akua's?"

"Oh yea. In school they talked about them some."

"Were you and Jenny born in Hawaii?" he asked him.

"Yes. On Maui."

"Then you should really learn about the customs of the islands. It's important to know. You're a native of Hawaii, it's a part of you."

"Me too?" Jenny asked looking up at him.

He squeezed her little hand. "You too." It made him wonder again of their upbringing. It was obvious that they weren't accustomed to the water; at least Eric wasn't, he found that sad, especially with them being born and raised in Hawaii. But he also knew people who lived on the islands for years and treated the beautiful surroundings as if they were just that, and not a playground like he did. Too each his own, he thought.

The trail through the rocks that led to the other side was easy for Jenny to maneuver. They came out between two large boulders and stared out at the vast Pacific Ocean that splashed up against the rocks below them. They could feel the spray of water that felt good after the hike and the early afternoon sun that was already getting hot. They made their way down to a calmer spot and sat down on a patch of sand.

Jenny stood next to Steve as he sat with his elbows on his propped up knees. "Pretty isn't it?" he said of the view before them. The white clouds in the distance seemed to settle on the blue water as the sunlight sparkled and danced off of it.

"What do you think heaven looks like?" Jenny asked unexpectedly.

He glanced up at her as she stood transfixed on the sight before her. "I don't know," Steve replied, not having thought about that question since his mother's death when he was young, but more important at that moment coming from Jenny so soon after losing both her parents was not just anyone asking a random question. He could see the longing on her face, recalling that same furlong look on Mary when they were young. She was thinking about her mom and dad. "Maybe it looks like that view right there. Or maybe it's whatever we want it to look like."

She thought about that answer for a minute before replying. "I want it to be pretty."

"I'm sure it's a beautiful place, and everyone there is happy and safe."

"No one ever comes back from there, do they?" she asked sadly, knowing the answer but hoping someday someone would give a better one than 'no'.

He could feel her pain. He was thirty-four years old but he suddenly felt like that young boy who had just lost his mother and the whole world around him had just come crashing down. He wished he could tell her yes, so much so for her sake, but more so for his own too. "No honey they don't."

She looked at him, "Do you know anyone that lives in heaven?"

He nodded, "My Mom and Dad."

Her eyes got big as she stared at him, taking in what he had just said to her. She shot a look over at Eric who was skipping rocks in the water and not paying attention to their conversation. Her attention went back on Steve as her eyes softened.

The sympathy that radiated from her over that confession tore at his heart. She was five years old yet she held the compassion and wisdom of an adult over that tragic news. He wrapped an arm around her legs and pulled her against him as one of her little hands rested on his shoulder. "Just because they live in heaven doesn't mean I can't still talk to them. They can't answer me back, but I know they listen and hear me."

"I want my Mommy and Daddy to come back. I miss my Mommy and I get scared at night when Daddy isn't there."

He couldn't think of a single thing to say that would cure a five year old of those words. Instead he gave her another squeeze, "I know honey, but Anna is there and I live right next door, you shouldn't be afraid."

She looked back over at Eric as he cheered, skipping a rock four times over the water. Jenny did a small leap, feeling his excitement. "Can I put my toes in the water?" she asked Steve. "I like it when the water comes up and takes the sand away from my feet."

He looked up at her and gone was the sadness, quickly replaced with the bright-eyed little girl he had grown to admire, as if the conversation just seconds before had never taken place. She was strong and resilient over her sorrow, but then again he thought sadly, she was only five.

He pushed himself up off the ground knowing he could appease her of this request and lifted her up under the arms, holding her out in front of him and playfully shaking her in the meantime as he took her down to the beach.

She squealed with laughter as he set her down in the ankle deep water.

"Put your feet in, Steve," she said curling her toes up as the wave splashed over her feet and then descended back out to the ocean. "It tickles!"

He joined her not having experienced that sensation since he was probably close to her age. He stood next to her and couldn't help but chuckle over the tingling under his feet as the water swished the sand around beneath it. He looked to his other side as Eric joined them.

The three of them stood together for along time enjoying the child like moment, laughing more at each other's enjoyment than their own.

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Anna sat up on the couch, looking out the new glass window as Steve's truck pulled up into his driveway. Eric got out the front passenger side and seconds later Jenny came running around from the other side, tearing across the lawn toward the front door. Anna stood up, holding her arm in the sling as it opened and Jenny stood grinning at her.

"Steve is going to cook at his house," she announced. "Do you want to come?"

Before she could even assess the situation, she saw him taking the same path as Jenny and then appearing at her doorstep.

"Hi, feeling better?"

She could see the fresh tan on his face and arms, the same on Jenny, only not as apparent, relieved that he had had the sense to put sunscreen on her. "Yes, I am. I've got it down to where I can take one pill every couple of hours. It doesn't hurt as much and I don't feel drowsy." She felt the smile that crossed his face seemed genuine, pleased over that information.

"Good." He pointed over his shoulder toward his house. "I was going to fire up the BBQ and make some burgers for the kids. If you feel like coming over…" he left it at that, not wanting to give her a formal invitation and make her feel obligated since he'd had the kids all day but didn't want to exclude her either.

"You don't have to do that," she quickly replied. "I can order a pizza. I really think you've done enough today."

"We already stopped and bought all the stuff."
Jenny put her hands together, pleading with her. "Please! We got ice cream too."

"Well," Anna caved, not able to argue with that, "if you got ice cream too, then you can't possibly pass that dinner up."

Jenny gave a small leap in the air and then began to run up the stairs.

"Where are you going?" Anna asked her.

She yelled down as she continued up, "I want to show Steve my baby book."

She shot a look over at him as he shrugged, whispering out loud to her. "I don't know what that is."

"It's all about her from when she was born. My sister in law put it together. It's her favorite thing."

Steve glanced up the stairs, "Oh, ok."

She thought it odd, but rather cute that Jenny wanted to show him that. She was so proud of it. She felt a slight hint of jealousy over it, knowing they both enjoyed him so much. She had been with them for weeks before she got a glimpse of that book, and yet her enthusiasm to show Steve was off the charts.

"Did everything go ok today," Anna asked.

"Yes," he said, leaning into her, "but we got into a little conversation about her mom and dad. She was asking about heaven, and what it looked like." His expression showed his uneasiness about it. "She was asking if they were going to come back and said that she gets scared."

Anna sighed, nodding her understanding. "She has bad dreams, but hasn't had one in a couple of weeks. I was hoping she was over the fear. Ever since…" She paused as Steve cleared his throat and motioned with his head as she came down the steps with what looked like a photo album.

"Here it is," Jenny said, almost breathless. "We can take it to your house." It wasn't a suggestion but a statement. "C'mon Anna," she ordered, walking past him out the door. She stopped just as she hit the grass, turning to them, "C'mon, I'm hungry."

Steve stepped out of the way for Anna to pass. "She's so bossy," he grinned.

"Try living with her," Anna snickered, playfully rolling her eyes.

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Eric sat against a tree playing a game on Anna's Ipad while Jenny lay curled up under a towel on the ground, sound asleep with her baby book next to her. Anna sat in one of Steve's Adirondack chairs down by the edge of the grass just before the beach.

He came walking up from the house, handing her a cup of hot tea before taking the chair next to her.

"Thank you. I don't think I've ever had a man make me a cup of tea before."

"I can't believe I even have tea," he chuckled. He knew it was in the cupboard. It had been Becky's, he'd just never bothered to throw it out.

Anna took a sip, "Mmm, it's good."

He took a drink of his beer making the same sound, "Mmm, better."

She grinned at him, "I bet, but it's probably not such a great idea after I just took another pain pill."

"Is the arm ok?"

"Yes." She wiggled her fingers. "I have a feeling this thing though," she tapped on the cast, "is going to drive me crazy."

"Whatever you do, now matter how bad you want to, don't stick anything up there to scratch an itch."

"I know," she replied. "The doctor told me the same thing. Did you do that when you broke your arm?"

"No, but I knew people who had. It's a mess when they take off the cast."

Eric came walking up to them. "Can I use your bathroom?" he asked Steve.

"Sure," he pointed up toward his back deck. "There's one just up the stairs."

"Ok, thanks." He set the Ipad on the ground and ran toward the house.

Anna leaned over, "I don't know what you said to him that night in the tree, but he's been so cooperative ever since."

"We just had a man to man is all."

She sat back in her chair, looking at him as he took a drink of his beer and stared out over the water. She couldn't imagine Daryl talking Eric out of the tree. He probably would have offered him cash to come down, she thought bitterly. She shook head, erasing him from her thoughts, not knowing why he was constantly lingered there, loneliness perhaps. The anger she felt toward him was nothing compared to the humiliation she felt for what he had done to her, but he wasn't the only one to blame, she thought sadly. Her sister was the instigator; she knew it without a doubt and that hurt even worse. She knew how Alyssa could manipulate men; she'd been watching her do it her whole life. It was an art she'd mastered, but what steamed Anna the most was the people she hurt in the process, including her. Alyssa Jordan was fast becoming America's sweetheart, but Anna knew better. Alyssa never would have taken on the job of caring for their brother's kids, ever. She stroked her hand over Jenny's hair as she slept soundly next to her. At times she didn't know how she had managed, but over the last couple of weeks, she was glad she didn't have to do it all alone.

"I appreciate what you did today, taking them off my hands," Anna said sincerely.

He looked over at her, hearing a genuine thank you, even if the actual words didn't come out. "You're welcome. I was a little surprised myself and to tell you the truth I was a little nervous that I'd end up with two bored and restless kids on my hands," he grinned, pleased with himself but most of all pleased with them. "We had good time. They're great kids. You should be proud of them."

Anna leaned her head back against the chair. "I can't take any credit. My brother Mark was a good Dad and Kim was a good Mom. I think they had a nice life here," she sighed, "before."

It was the first time she'd ever really talked about them and Steve felt the opportunity was there. "If you don't mind my asking, what happened?"

"They lived on Maui. It was just the two of them in the car. I guess they had a date night and were coming back from dinner when their car was hit head on by a driver that was reaching down to pick something up and crossed the center line." She shook her head as if it were illogical. "If they were just a few seconds behind or a few seconds ahead." She looked at him sadly, "But they weren't. They both died at the scene. That was almost six months ago. I was there the next day and my sister a couple after that, but my Mom," Anna huffed, "She came for the funeral and then flew back to Boston the next day."

Steve could see the frustration on her over that remark, feeling it himself. "And then your sister left," he commented, "and you stayed," he ended with a commendable smile.

She sighed again, "And I stayed. I thought about bringing them back to LA but I was afraid that a change like that would just do more damage, and living in the house they did with their parents wasn't helping either. Eric refused to let me sleep in their room so I slept on the couch. It was like living with ghosts there constantly, so I packed everything up and we moved here to my brother's rental house. I thought it would help but I had no idea what I was doing. Believe it or not it was a lot worse before. Eric was so angry and Jenny cried all the time and had horrible nightmares. I tried to reach out for help but it was like no one wanted to talk about it. My sister would just send money when she felt guilty, or," she pointed over her shoulder in the direction of the house, "buy us new luxury SUV and pay off the mortgage to my brother's house. That was her way of helping the situation. My mom would return my calls after a couple of days but the conversation was always about her. They have no clue what goes on here. Worse yet the kids adore their Aunt Alyssa and think I'm the devil spawn."

"That's not true," Steve said adamantly. "They respect you. They're kids and she showers them with presents while you deal out the punishments. But mark my word, when trouble hits home," he pointed at her, "it will be you they run too, not her."

It was the first words of encouragement she'd heard that actually gave her a boost of strength she needed. "You think so?"

"Yes. I know so. You're a lot more influential to them than you think."

There it was again, she thought. That power he had to motivate. She'd never met anyone like him before that could take the worst case scenario and turn it into a positive, wondering how he managed to do it so casually.

"Hey" Danny yelled out as he came through the back door. He pointed at the smoldering grill. "You have a party and don't even invite me."

Steve looked over his shoulder. "I wanted a relaxing party that's why I didn't invite you. Why are you here interrupting my day off? Miss me already?"

Anna's face showed her shock over that statement, wondering if they were fighting.

"Yea, I miss you like the plague," Danny said sarcastically, coming up behind him in a pair of cut off jeans a T-shirt and flip-flops. "Hey, how are you? he said to Anna, holding his hand out to her. "Good to see you again,"

"Hi," she replied, shaking it.

"Wow!" he said pointing at her arm. "What happened?" he slapped Steve on the shoulder. "What did you do to the poor thing?"

"Why do you automatically assume it's something I did?"

Danny didn't say anything but just gave him a look, as if saying 'yea right'.

"I fell," Anna jumped in, leaving out the tree part, smiling shyly over at Steve hoping he would do the same. "Steve wasn't anywhere around."

"See," he said sarcastically. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I need to borrow your snorkel gear."

"My snorkel gear? Jesus Danny, why don't you just break down and spend the twenty bucks and get your own?"

"Why, when I can borrow yours. Besides it's not for me, it's for Gracie. She's going with some friends."

"Oh," Steve suddenly had a change of heart. "Ok, for Gracie yes. It's in the hall closet."

"Animal," Danny mumbled.

"Excuse me." Anna said, looking between the two of them. "Do you always talk to each other like this?"

Steve and Danny exchanged a look.

"Like what," Danny asked. "You mean the bickering?"

"Like you…well yes."

"It's only because Danny provokes me," Steve looked up at him. "And he does it on purpose too."

He went to defend himself but went one better, "Ok, yes, maybe sometimes, but that's only because he's a total control freak."

Steve looked at Anna but motioned toward Danny. "See, he provokes me."

She shook her head at the both of them. "You're both stubborn. How do you work together?"

"Very well," Steve said proudly. "He's a great cop." He just then saw Gracie coming out of the house with Eric. "And an even better father. Hey Gracie!" he held his hand up, waving to her.

"Hi Uncle Steve," she waved back.

Anna watched as the young girl came up and they were introduced. Gracie didn't voice it but Anna could see the look on her face over the amusement of how much she did actually look like her movie star sister. The conversation then resumed about the snorkel gear with Steve reminding Gracie in a stern voice to watch the current when she was out in the water and to pay attention to her surroundings. He spoke to her as if she was his kid, and Danny never blinked an eye. It dawned on Anna then that they were like family. They bickered like brothers but Steve cared for them like they actually were brothers and Gracie was his niece.

Eric came around and stood in front of Steve. "I saw those pictures on the wall upstairs by the bathroom. Were you in the Army?"

Gracie laughed, "Don't say the Army! The Navy!" she corrected him. "He'll have a heart attack if you say Army!" she laughed harder and jumped back as he reached out to playfully grab her.

"You're getting as bad as your Dad," Steve laughed. He looked up at Eric, "Yes, I was in the Navy."

"Not just the Navy," Danny blurted out, knowing Steve would never divulge his honorable credentials on his own. "He was a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Seals and worked intelligence." He smiled brightly over the stink eye he got from him.

Eric and Anna both had surprised looks.

Eric sat down on the side of Anna's chair, his eyes full of wonderment over that enlightening news. "Really?! You were a Seal? Like in that movie?"

Steve knew what movie he was talking about. It had come out a couple months earlier and was based on factual events, but he had yet to watch it, recalling vividly when it had happened. He wasn't apart of that squadron, but knew two of the guys that were killed. He had heard Hollywood did justice to the story, but having to relive what they went through just wasn't something he wanted to see. "I didn't see that movie, but yes I was a Seal for about six years. Its not all Hollywood puts it up to be."

"Ask him to show you all his medals," Danny continued.

"And his uniforms are really cool," Gracie jumped in, not having the same agenda as Danny; she was genuinely impressed by it.

"Can I see them?" Eric asked eagerly.

"Maybe later," Steve replied.

"I want to see them too," Anna replied, intrigued over this newly discovered side of him that actually explained a lot. She understood now where the motivating and commanding way in which he conducted himself came from. "Show us."

"Now?" He was surprised that she would want to see them too.

"Please!" Eric begged.

"Please," Anna repeated with a teasing smile, knowing it wasn't something he necessarily wanted to do, but she was really curious now.

Danny gave him a nudge. "Show them."

"What are you all enthusiastic for about this? You hate my Navy life."

"Hey," Danny held a hand up. "I admit the Navy man in you drives me crazy, but I also have to admit that I admire what you did for our country. That I respect."

"Wow!" Steve exclaimed getting out of the chair. "That must have hurt like hell to say."

Danny sighed, "You have no idea."

Anna and Eric followed him up the stairs while Danny and Gracie stayed out back with a still sleeping Jenny.

Anna scanned the interior of his house having never been inside before. It was neat and orderly for a bachelor but understood that part after discovering this new side of him, but it also felt comfortable and inviting. She stopped halfway up the stairs, glancing at a collage of pictures on the wall of him in his Navy days with other soldiers. Each picture was taken in a different part of the world, which was obvious. One was in the desert where he wore tan fatigues and dark sunglasses, while another was in the jungle in which he had on green fatigues and a bullet proof vest, and still another was flying high over the world as three of them hung onto a rope, leaning out the back of an airplane about to jump out she presumed.

She admired the smile on his face and the other two men as well, almost as if they were having a ball.

"That was over Uganda," Steve said of the photo.

She looked over at him as he smiled at the photo.

"You look like you're having fun."

"Those two guys I was with were like a couple of comedians. I loved jumping with them. We were a good team."

She looked back at the photo, "Do you still keep in contact with them?"

"No," he replied somberly. "They were both killed not long after that picture was taken."

She looked at him again, seeing not necessarily sadness but certainly disappointment. It was like a reality check that had never touched her life before. He had been in war. The TV news showed images but they were from someplace else, people she never knew. It made her wonder how many others he had lost. "I'm so sorry."

The sincere honesty from her was touching. He believed her. "Thank you."

She held his gaze for just a few seconds longer than they normally would have, feeling another truce forming between them. She felt she'd touched a place that he held sacred and she had replied with the right answer. 'For once,' she thought amusingly.

"Is that your uniform?" Eric asked, pointing at Steve's Navy whites that were hanging from the curtain rod inside the spare room.

"Yes, those are my whites. My blues are over here." He went in the room after Eric, followed by Anna, going up to the black garment bag hanging in the closet and unzipped it.

Anna went past him, admiring the dark jacket but more so all the medals that were positioned on it. "Eric, come look at this."

Steve stepped back out of their way, feeling a sense of pride over their amazement and enthusiasm. He'd never really shown off his Navy attire before in this fashion.

"Wow!" Eric said wide-eyed, reaching up to touch one of the medals.

Anna quickly grabbed his hand. "Don't touch it, just look."

"It's ok," Steve assured her.

"What are they from?" Eric asked. "What do they mean?"

He pointed to the gold medal on the top that was pinned just to the left of the lapel on his jacket. It stood out amongst the rest. The distinguished golden eagle held in the grasp of its claws a colonial pistol in one and a trident in the other, while the Navy symbol of an Anchor seemed to hold them all together.

"This one is for completing BUD/S training, it's the Seal Trident medal."

Both Anna and Eric leaned in to get a better view.

"How long were you a SEAL?" Anna asked.

"A little over six years."

"Did you fight in battles?" Eric asked, knowing what a SEAL was to some extent from the movies. He did know they were the elite.

"Yes," he replied, leaving it at that. "This one down here," he pointed at the wings below the patch of other awards, "this one is my Jump Wings."

"For parachuting?" Eric asked.

"Yep."

"That's so cool."

Anna looked over at him. "How many times do you think you've jumped?"

Steve shook his head, "I don't know. I lost count after a hundred and twenty."

She rolled her eyes, chuckling, "That's crazy."

"It's really not. I mean I had to for the Navy, but I still do it every once in a while just for fun out at Bellingham Air field." He nudged her. "I could take up sometime if you want. It's unbelievably beautiful to jump over Hawaii on a clear day."

She smiled over that, wondering if he was asking her out on a date or if he was just being nice and wanting to include her in something that he new was thrilling. Either way she felt that truce between them again that assured her it was mutual. "I don't know about that," she shook her head. "You might not think it so thrilling when I throw up on you."

"Nah," Steve countered. "I don't think you give yourself enough credit. You're braver than you think."

"What are these for," Eric asked, pointing at the brightly colored patches of medals that hung on the jacket as Anna stood there amazed over Steve's last statement.

She listened as he explained what each one meant and why he got it, but couldn't get over the words of encouragement that he'd just shared with her. Here he was a decorated war veteran that couldn't have been much older than thirty, telling her she was the brave one. He must have sensed something in her that she didn't. It was uplifting to say the least, making her feel brave at that moment.

"How high do you jump from?" she blurted out.

He and Eric both turned to her, surprised over that question.

"Are you going to do it Anna?!" Eric asked, wide eyed with his mouth hanging open.

She shrugged, staring at Steve waiting for an answer.

"We usually go about fourteen thousand feet," he replied with a smile, knowing she had it in her, "but you wouldn't jump on your own. We'd do a tandem jump. You'd be strapped to my chest and I'd pull the cord, you'd just be along for the ride."

"Oh," she raised her eyebrows over that piece of information. The idea of jumping seemed even more attainable now, knowing he'd be right there with her the whole time. "How often do you go?"

Steve shrugged, "Whenever."

She held her hand up with the cast. "I don't think I could do it with this thing on."

He thought about it for a second and then rebuffed that claim. "Sure you could. I don't think that would hinder it at all." He could see a hint of fear in her eyes but at the same time he could see the wheels turning in her brain over his invitation. He had no qualms about taking her, knowing for one it would be safe and knowing also that she wouldn't really throw up like she first claimed. Over the last few weeks of getting to know her, she lacked confidence, that was obvious, but she was also stubborn. He felt strongly that she'd do it just to prove it to him that she could, and he'd never known anyone to say they hated it afterward, but the final decision had to be hers. "You think about it and if you want to go, you just let me know."

She was intrigued by his invitation. It not only told her that he trusted her enough to jump out of an airplane with her strapped to his chest, but that he was willing to take the time to do it in the first place. Both surprised the hell out of her. The idea of it was becoming more and more of something she might like to do, never having done anything remotely close to it. Maybe this is just what she needed to let off a little steam.

"Can I go?" Eric asked enthusiastically.

Steve and Anna both spoke simultaneously.

"No!"

They looked at each other, amused over their mutual agreement.

"I knew we'd eventually agree on something," Anna said with a wink. She put a hand on Eric's head and began to explain the reasoning behind the 'no'.

Steve only heard the voice in his head, speaking the undisputed truth. 'God she's beautiful.'