Connor looked at Shauni skeptically. Surely she couldn't be serious about loving this guy. He would admit that they'd had problems….and maybe he had acted like a total jackass….but that was two years ago and he was in a different place now. He was a different man. He just needed some time to convince her of that.

"Connor, I have to go. I have a show to finish."

Connor took a step towards her, but she backed away, "It's over between us," She continued, "It's been over for a long time and I've moved on. You need to understand that."

Anger flashed in his eyes again but he masked it quickly and pasted on a smile, "I'll change your mind."

Shauni looked him squarely in the eyes, "Don't count on it." She released a sarcastic laugh, "It can't be a coincidence that you decide to show up again right when I'm on the verge of a national tour. "

"What's that supposed to mean?" He spat.

"It means you want publicity, Connor. Hasn't it been awhile since you did a movie? I'm sure the photogs have already gotten their fill of pictures tonight. Some of those pictures are no doubt being shopped around for the highest bidder and there will be stories coming out about how we are 'reconciling'. This has nothing to do with you wanting to get back with me…..and everything to do with you wanting your face on magazine covers. But I am telling you…..It's over. Now, please leave. I don't want to see you again."

She left Connor in the room and exited to where her family was standing in the hallway. It was time to get back onstage. The crowd was getting restless and she didn't have time for this drama right now.

As she left the room, she leaned up on tiptoes again to kiss Steve. Even with her mile high boots, he was still much taller than her and she loved it. He was strong and supportive and made her feel safe; Things she had never felt with Connor. Or any of her other previous boyfriends, for that matter. She also had no doubt that Steve loved her which was something she had always doubted with Connor. Putting her mouth to his ear, she whispered, "I love you, Steve McGarrett."

Steve squeezed her hands in his own, "Ditto." Then, giving her a playful swat, "Now go out there and knock 'em dead."

Shauni offered him a confident smile before giving her family a "thumbs up", kissing Joannie on the cheek, and walking towards the stage to finish out her show.

Connor noticed the verbal exchange with Steve as well as the kiss….and everything else….and felt his anger boil deep inside. Steve walked back into the room with Tommy and Jake right behind him until he was standing right in front of Connor and infringing upon his personal space.

"You heard her," Steve said. "You need to go. And I'll give you a piece of advice: It might be best if you don't come around again."

Connor glowered, "You haven't heard the last of me, McGarrett."

"I've already told you, threatening me is not a smart thing to do." Steve growled.

Connor feigned confidence, but McGarrett saw how the pulse in his neck had increased rapidly. "I'm not threatening you. I'm just saying, I realize what a mistake I made in letting her go. I won't give up without fighting for her. She'll eventually see I'm right."

The man may be a superstar as far as the box office was concerned, but he certainly wasn't smart where Shauni was concerned. Steve was totally confident that he already had her heart….and she had his, so Connor Michaelson posed no threat at all.

Steve offered him a sideways smirk, "That's fine. I have no doubt who will come out the 'winner'."

When he saw Connor flinch unconsciously, he continued, "Now get out of here before I change my mind and decide to kick your ass for showing up here tonight."

Connor decided to let the matter go for the moment and made a quick exit. As soon as the door opened to let him back out into the arena area, he was surrounded with females vying for his attention. He happily signed autographs and started posing for pictures while Sasha looked on and rolled her eyes.

They have no idea how vile he really is, she thought in disgust.

Once he was gone, Steve turned towards Sasha, "Do you think he'll leave her alone?"

She swallowed as she looked from her Dad to Steve.

"Well? What do you think, sweetie" Derek demanded quietly.

"I don't know." She said with visible concern in her eyes. "Connor's never been one to let things go easily, but it's been two years since they broke up. I have NO idea why he's shown up again after all this time." She cast a guilty glance towards her parents, "After what he did to her and the way things ended, I never expected him to try to come back to her. I'm a little afraid of what he may have planned," she admitted.

"Nothing is going to happen as long as I'm around." Steve said as he looked towards the stage where Shauni was performing.

Olivia looked at him and felt her heart swell. This man loved her daughter, and if it was up to her, they would stay together. Forever. Steve was good for Shauni and she believed they had what it took to stay together, no matter what.

Olivia also felt the tension in her youngest daughter and decided to cut her some slack; Even if for only a moment. After all, who wouldn't be intimidated with Derek Steele and three former Navy SEAL's staring her down? Her look was sympathetic towards her youngest daughter as she squeezed Derek's arm, "We'll talk about all of this later, sweetheart. Right now, we need to go back out and watch the end of Shauni's show. She needs to know we are here. What happened in the past is in the past and can be dealt with later."

Then, she looked towards her husband, "Don't you agree, honey?"

Derek didn't look happy about it but conceded to his wife's wishes anyway. He had never been able to deny her once she set her mind to something.

"You're right, sweetheart," he conceded before turning back to Sasha, "But we are going to talk about this later."

"I know, Daddy." Sasha admitted. She suddenly felt like she was five years old again instead of twenty six.

Derek and Oliva turned to go back to front stage and watch the end of Shauni's show. Sasha, Mary, and Joannie stayed backstage with Steve, Jake, and Tommy watching beside them from the side of the stage.

Mary tried to make her way to her brother's side without being conspicuous, "Spill it, bro. What's the story between Shauni and Connor Michaelson?"

Steve cast her a sideways glance. Might as well bite the bullet and tell her what she wanted to know since he knew she wouldn't let it go, "I'm assuming you knew they dated for a while, right?"

"Well, duh. Who DIDN'T know that?" Mary said.

Steve scowled and Mary said, "Right….everyone knew besides you because you were off playing Captain America."

Steve couldn't help but smile at that comment, "Whatever, Mar. Anyway….things didn't end well between them. He hurt her…abused her…..and may've done worse if Sasha wouldn't have stepped in when she did."

Mary's eyes grew wide and she reached down to cover Joannie's ears for a moment, "Son of a bitch. Are you SERIOUS?"

"I wish I wasn't…..but according to Shauni and Sasha, that's what happened."

"So why did he come here tonight?"

"That's the million dollar question." Steve answered.

***********h50**************h50*********h50

Shauni finished out her show and went back for two encores before calling it a night. Her voice was tired, and considering she was on the verge of a national tour, she needed to pace herself. Being in front of the crowd was such a rush, though, and it had been a great night.

She ended the show very memorably without a care in the world as to how it might change things between her and Steve. Having Connor show up tonight had thrown her for a loop, no doubt. But it had also helped her realize how special the relationship with Steve was. He may not have voiced any insecurities, but she knew him well enough by now to know he'd felt some jealousy when Connor was there. She wanted to erase any doubts it may have caused and let him know he had her heart.

As she prepared to sing her last song, she settled onto a stool and grabbed a guitar from a band member:

"A few weeks ago, I was visiting a friend in Hawaii and sitting near his backyard watching the surf roll in. His guitar was close by, so I picked it up and began to play. This is the song that came to my mind as I started to sing and I want to end with it tonight. It may sound familiar since it's been recorded before by another artist, but like all of you, I am sometimes inspired by others. This song makes me think of what we all need; An anchor….A home base…A place where we feel complete. I think I've found that with a man who's stolen my heart." She paused for a minute to turn her head towards the side stage. Her band members were all smiling knowingly. The audience couldn't see who she was looking at, but her heart skipped a beat as she found Steve and their eyes met. The little zing of electricity was there just like it had been from the beginning, "This song goes out to you, sailor. You have become my home."

Then looking back at her audience, she said, "This one is called 'Feels Like Home'".

Steve was stunned…and surprisingly happy at her admission. They hadn't talked about making a public statement about their relationship. However, Steve had a feeling the Connor's uninvited presence at the concert that night may have prompted her to say something publicly. As much as it surprised him, he didn't mind. He was in love with her and nothing could change that.

At Shauni's bold declaration, Olivia's hand when up to her heart as she looked up at her husband. The look in Derek's eyes said he knew what she was feeling: Their girl had found her match. Steve was the one to make her feel complete. Olivia, for one, would sleep better at night now knowing that Steve was with her; Or at least looking out for her. He might not be on every leg of this tour, but they knew he would be in constant contact with Jake and Tommy.

Most importantly, Shauni had obviously found peace in her feelings for Steve since she was making such a public statement about it. Surely it would be all over the news within the hour, but she didn't seem to care.

After finishing the song for a happy crowd, Shauni left the stage to find Steve waiting for her. She walked into his arms and he kissed the top of her head before putting his hands on each side of her face and leaning down to kiss her.

"Great show. I'm proud of you." He said.

Shauni beamed up at him, "Thank you. Coming from you, that means a lot."

Steve's face turned quizzical. "What do you mean?"

Shauni's face softened, "I just mean that your opinion has become very important to me. I'm glad you enjoyed it."

Within minutes, Derek, Olivia, Sasha, Mary, and Joannie were all surrounding Shauni as she walked into her dressing room. It had been a great show and she was excited for what the next several weeks would hold even though she was going to miss Steve terribly. After a quick "meet and greet" session with some fans backstage, she changed into much more comfortable clothes which consisted ofyoga pants and a tank top and rejoining her family. She saw Joannie's smiling face and immediately picked the precious toddler up. Joannie had stolen her heart, and every time she saw Steve with Joannie, she knew the feelings were reciprocated.

"Hey, sweet girl! Did you like my show?" Shauni asked her.

Joannie giggled in response and gave a very toddler-like response as she jumped up and down, "Dancing, dancing!"

Everyone laughed in return as Shauni responded, "Yes, baby girl. I LOVE to dance. Would you like to come out sometime and dance with me?"

Joannie started to jump up and down again, "Yes, yes!" she screamed.

"Okay….well, we'll have to ask your Mommy, but maybe you can come out and help my dancers sometime soon. What do you think?"

Joannie beamed at her new "aunt" and gave her a big hug.

************h50***************h50*****************h50

Shauni and her crew eventually made their way back to a hotel. Even though they were in L.A. which was "home" to most of them, it was decided beforehand that it would be more convenient for them to end the night in a hotel since they had to leave early the next morning on buses to head to the next town. Phoenix, AZ was a few hours drive, so it would be easier for all of them to board the tour buses together and take off.

The Steele's and Steve said goodbyes to Mary and Joannie as they headed home for the night. Mary promised to join Shauni on the road at some point to catch another show. Then, Derek, Olivia, and Sasha accompanied Shauni and Steve back to the hotel for a "family meeting".

Derek took control of the situation. The girls opened a bottle of wine to share while he and Steve grabbed a couple of beers from the fridge.

"Okay, so let's settle this," He began as he looked between Shauni and Sasha. "I want to know what happened with Connor….and I want to know all of it. Understand?"