Surfing.
(Chapter Twelve)
Bailey McGarrett woke up on the couch alone. She and her husband Steve had fallen asleep there after she had come down a few hours earlier and found him sitting on their couch naked reading the memory book. She had scolded him for not coming back to bed after getting a drink of water. Instead, he had seen her memory book laying on the coffee table ready for him to read, so he had. Bailey remembered laughing softly at him, then slipping her own naked body into his lap. Naturally, they ended up making love and falling asleep. But once again she had woken up alone. She glanced toward the back door and realized that the sun was rising. She hauled herself off the couch, went upstairs, took a shower, and got dressed. When she came back downstairs she looked out the kitchen window and noticed that her husband had gone for a morning swim. So Bailey got out a thermos and a coffee cup. She made a pot of coffee, then poured herself some and filled the thermos for Steve. She went back into the living room and grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch. She also grabbed a pencil and her memory book. She then took all the items outside to the second of the two lounge chairs. She put the coffee down on the table near Steve's chair and wrapped herself up in the blanket with her pencil and memory book.
Bailey watched her husband enjoy his morning swim while sipping her cup of coffee. She tilted her head slightly to the side as she watched her husband exit the water and walk toward her.
Steve McGarrett looked over at the lounge chair where he had placed his towel and saw his wife sitting in the chair next to his. A large grin spread across his face. Vi's head was tilted slightly to the side and that meant only one thing. Vi was regaining a memory.
Surfing.
We are at the beach. You, me, Adam, Kono, Chin-Ho, Danny, Stan, Rachael, and Grace. We planned a beach day. Lou's plan was to spend the day with his wife and kids but said we might see them later. You and Danny arrive together. You are the first ones here. Then I arrive and right behind me is Chin-Ho. He gets off his motorcycle at about the same time I turn off my car. He raps on my window and motions for me to unlock my driver's side door. I unbuckle my seatbelt and do so. Chin opens the door for me, helps me out, and shuts the car door behind me once I am. I hit the button on my keychain; locking up my car.
"Got anything in the back?" Chin asks.
"Probably more than I need. But I wanted to get our boards down and get them the spot first." I reply with a chuckle.
"Thanks for bringing my board with you so I could ride my bike," Chin says gratefully.
"Not a problem, Chin," I say with a smile.
We take our boards and make our way toward you and Danny. Danny looks hot and irritated. He is also fully dressed. Which makes me pause and give him a look when we get close enough to see him.
"Everything okay Danno?" I ask him cautiously.
"Why yes, everything is peachy. I am standing here frying my butt off because king kahuna over here (indicating to you) decided we should have a beach day, and my ex-wife along with her husband are invited." Danny replies grumpily.
"I see. Did you also by any chance skip your morning cup of coffee? I will gladly go get you an iced one and some shorts to cool your ass down if you need me to." I say sweetly.
I look up at you just in time to see as well as hear you snort-laugh. I roll my eyes and stick my board into the sand.
"Please tell me you brought cooler clothes than this?" I beg, gesturing to his current attire.
"They're in the car," Danny says giving in.
"I have to head back to mine and get the rest of my things out of the trunk. Do you want me to get your beach clothes out of yours for you?" I offer.
"I'll come with you, if you're anything like Rachael you've over-packed and are going to need help." Danny teases.
"I knew there was a reason I like her." I laugh.
Danny offers me his arm, I take it, and we head back towards our vehicles.
"Have you heard from King recently?" Danny asks me.
"He called last night. He was asking how you and Mac are. He wants to come to visit soon and be introduced to the rest of my family here." I laugh.
"I'm really glad you came with me when I had to go back last month Danno." I continue sincerely.
"Babe, you became family from the minute you became part of this team. You think a year on and we aren't gonna jump to be there for you?" Danny asks.
"Well, I certainly didn't count on you and Mac hopping a last-minute flight to New Orleans with me," I tell him.
"The man who is for all intents and purposes your father needed you and you needed backup. Hence the last-minute flight." Danny says with a shrug.
We get to my car and I pull out my key chain. I press the button and the trunk pops open. Inside are towels, blankets, a cooler, a few collapsible umbrellas, sunscreen, and a bag with two pairs of clean clothes.
"See I told you I didn't over-pack, Stan. Bailey's beach essentials aren't much different from what I insisted we bring." I hear Rachael's voice say unexpectedly behind me.
I turn and see Rachael, Stan, loaded with loads of beach stuff, and Grace carrying her surfboard.
"Hey there monkey." Danny greets his daughter.
"Hey, Danno. Hi Bailey." Grace greets giving her father a hug first and then myself.
"Hello, Princess!" I greet Grace happily.
"I brought lounge chairs and lots of other goodies to make our day enjoyable. I didn't think about beach umbrellas, though. It's a good job you did." Rachael says to me.
"Lounge chairs! I knew I forgot something!" I cry.
"Don't worry about it, darling. I'm sure Kono will remember whatever you and I have forgotten." Rachael returns reassuringly.
"Kono? More like Adam. Kono will remember her board and a towel. Girl's gonna wanna surf." I reply with a laugh.
"Is this everything Bailey?" Danny asks interrupting us.
I turn back to him to see, like Stan, he is loaded down with everything I packed for today.
"Gah! Danny, for goodness sake give me some of that stuff. I don't expect you to carry all this down to the beach by yourself. Besides you still need to get your beach clothes out of your car." I tell him.
"What's going on over here? I thought we were having this party over on the beach, not the parking lot?" You ask joining us.
"Rachael and I may have gone a little crazy with beach stuff," I admit, turning to you.
"A little. Need a hand Danno?" You agree with a smile and ask Danny.
"Please, take any of this stuff that you want!" Danny says enthusiastically.
"Ugh, it's not that much?!" I cry in mock exasperation.
Grace giggles and then, with her board, runs over to Chin watching us with amusement from our spot on the beach.
"How bout you and I grab the cooler, Rachael? Danny, do you and Mac think you guys can help Stan and bring the rest?" I suggest to Rachael and ask Danny.
"No, problem. Right, Danno?" You answer for both you and Danny.
"Yeah, sure. No problem." Danny says sounding a little less than enthused.
"Hey, Grace!" I yell.
"Yeah?!" She calls back.
"Do me a favor! Come get Danno's keys and get his beach clothes out of the car for him!" I shout-request back.
"Kay!" Grace agrees and smacks her board into the sand next to mine.
Danny digs into his pants pocket and grabs out his keys. He holds them out. Grace snatches them up and runs for her dad's car. The rest of us grab the beach items and head back over to our spot and Chin.
Rachael and I start to set up. Grace came running back with her father's beach clothes.
"Here you go Danno," Grace says handing a beach bag to her father.
"Thanks, Monkey," Danny replies.
"Where do you want the umbrellas set up, Vi?" You ask me.
"Next to the chairs and the towels would be great, if you don't mind, Mac." I turn to you and say.
You grin at me and I feel my cheeks heat up. Ever since we got back from New Orleans I find myself looking for excuses to look at you or be near you.
I know now that whatever happened in New Orleans is where I fell in love with you. I can't wait to have that memory back, Steve. I really can't.
"Oh, I brought a changing tent for anyone who needs it," Rachael informs us.
"You brought? More like Stan schlepped." Danny quips.
"Hey, I'd be nice to your ex-wife if I were you buddy. At the moment you are the one who needs the changing tent." I warn Danny playfully.
Rachael laughs and motions for me to join her over by Stan who is holding the said changing tent. We take it from Stan and set it up a couple of feet away.
"There you are Daniel, all ready," Rachael says happily teasing her ex.
When they can get along; they are great friends and wonderful co-parents to Grace. Unfortunately, times like these are rare and every one of us at Five-0 has been dragged into the drama of their usual relationship before.
"Thank you so much. Excuse me a moment." Danny replies in his typical fashion and enters the tent.
"Hey, it looks like you've already gotten everything set up!" Kono greets us.
"Pretty much, I wish I remembered to grab a card table though," I reply happy to see her.
"Did someone say card table?" Adam asks carrying the very thing under one arm.
Under the other, he has a couple of folded chairs and on his back, a backpack with what I am guessing are towels and changes of clothes.
"My hero." I cry and quickly help him with his and Kono's things.
"Danny needs the changing tent?" Kono asks with a grin.
"Who else? He's the only one who refuses to dress like he lives here." You reply.
"Mac, be nice." I softly scold you and attempt to swat you in the chest with the back of my hand.
You catch my hand before it can make contact and kiss the back of it. I look up into your eyes and blush. Just for a moment, I forget that you and I aren't the only ones on the beach. Then a discreet cough from one of our companions brings me back to earth. I remove my hand from yours and look away.
"Alright, done," Danny claims emerging from the changing tent.
I turn to look at him and roll my eyes. I walk over to him and give him my best "Seriously?" look.
"What?!" He asks as I enter his personal space.
"What's with the polo?!" I demand.
"I'm in my swim trunks." He replies defensively.
"Generally people do not wear polo shirts for a day at the beach, Danno," I tell him.
"Generally people are not forced to have a day at the beach either." He retorts.
I let out a huff of exasperation and demand, "Arms up, Williams!"
"What.. what are you doing?!" Danny demands as I pull his shirt off over his head.
I turn and throw the shirt to Grace and say, "Hide that someplace, will you princess."
"On it." She replies and then "hides" it in her mom's beach bag.
"Thanks a lot, Monkey. I thought you were supposed to be on my side." Danny says pretending to be upset.
Everyone laughs. I grab Danny's wrist and drag him over to my beach towel.
"Sit," I command.
"Since when are you so bossy, huh?" Danny asks doing as I want.
"Since we are not on the clock and you are not one of my bosses but my irritating, stubborn friend," I reply sitting down behind him.
I turn and dig into my beach bag, pulling out the sunscreen. I open the cap and squeeze some of the contents onto my hand. I then begin to apply it to Danny's back.
"I can do this for myself, ya know," Danny informs me lightly.
"I am aware of that Detective, but by the time you finally get around to it you will be burnt." I tease him.
"Back all done?" He asks me.
"Yup, arm please," I reply
He gives me an arm and I repeat the process until he is covered in sunscreen. I then hand him the bottle and say, "Grace's turn."
Grace sits down in her dad's lap and Danny proceeds to apply sunscreen to his daughter.
"Need help putting on your sunscreen Vi?" You ask me.
"Are you asking or offering, Mac?" I return the question.
Adam throws you a bottle of sunscreen, you smile at him in thanks, and then look at me waiting. I walk over to you and we sit down together in a nearby lounge chair. Well, you in the lounge chair and me basically sitting on your lap.
"You wanna take a walk later?" You ask me applying sunscreen to my back.
"Alright." I agree.
Everyone else in our party is either applying sunscreen, sunbathing, or getting ready to surf, so I am just enjoying my time in your lap. We all relax and enjoy being together.
After about ninety minutes of just lounging and chatting with Rachael; Kono and Grace join us fresh from the waves.
"The water is awesome, Bailey. Come surf with us, please?" Grace pleads with me.
"Alright princess, give me a minute to get this tank top and my shorts off and I will join you guys." I agree.
I strip off my tank and shorts. I walk over to my beach bag and rummage around until I find a hair tie. I get a hold of one and put my hair into a ponytail.
"Your bikini is absolutely stunning, Bailey." Rachael compliments.
"Thanks. Grace helped me pick it out." I reply with a smile.
"Ah, good to know she is inheriting my taste in clothes," Rachael says with a grin.
I laugh, grab my board, pull it out of the sand, and walk to the water to join Kono and Grace.
"Mind if I join you, ladies?" You ask catching up quickly to me with your own board.
"You plannin' on playing King of the Waves there, Steve-o?" Danny asks ribbing you.
I laugh, shake my head and enter the water leaving you and Danno to do your work-husband routine for the rest of our group. I spend the next two hours surfing with Kono and Grace. You join us for the last thirty minutes with Danny and then we all head to the beach for something to eat. We ride a wave back to the sand and join the others. I put my board in the sand and follow my nose to the card table where I am certain I smell one of my favorite foods.
"Chinese!" I squeal happily upon seeing the Peking duck on the card table.
Rachael chuckles and says, "Stan thought you would enjoy it. Looks like he was right."
"The only thing better to this Southern Girl is Creole home cooking," I tell her enthusiastically.
"Are you going to squeal like a little girl some more if we tell you Stan also ordered dumpling soup?" Danny asks amused.
"You didn't?!" I squawk excitedly.
"He did," Rachael confirms with a smile.
I rush around the table and quickly kiss Stan on the cheek.
"That was a nice thank you. Wait til you see what Rachael and I are planning to get you for Christmas." Stan grins.
"Oh behave you," Rachael tells her husband cheerily.
"Sorry, Rachael. The man got my second favorite dinner." I apologize slightly sheepish over kissing another woman's husband.
"It's nothing darling."She reassures me easily.
Everyone fills their plates, another thing that Adam remembered and the rest of us didn't, and we all dig in.
After you have finished eating you come over to me. I have just finished my dinner as well.
"Any chance of that walk or I can refill your plate if you want?" You ask.
"I'm full. I'd love to take that walk with you." I reply.
I take your paper plate add it to mine along with our plastic forks and throw them in a garbage bag that someone remembered to pack. I catch you smiling at me as I rejoin you. We then walk down the beach away from our group.
We have been walking in silence for about three minutes when I ask you, "Is something on your mind, Mac?"
"Am I that transparent?" You ask in return with a small laugh.
"No. I just figured there was a reason you asked me to take a walk with you." I reply.
"I was wondering if…" You start and stop.
"If? If the sky is purple? If I am enjoying your company? If what?" I ask teasing you a little bit.
"I think it's safe to say that you enjoy my company and I enjoy yours." You reply with a smirk.
"Very safe." I agree with a grin.
"Would you…I.." You start and stop again.
"Would I what, Steve? What are you trying to ask me?" I ask stopping are walk to really look at you.
"I want to give this a shot. You and me. I want to know if you'd want that too." You say sounding slightly nervous.
I frown for a moment trying to process what you are asking me and then realization dawns on me.
"You want me to be your girlfriend?" I ask to clarify that I've interpreted what you are trying to say correctly.
"Yes." You reply.
My face breaks into a wide smile and I feel dizzy with happiness, then answer "Same."
It is your turn to frown for a moment to figure out what I am telling you. It only lasts a few moments. You then grab me by the waist, pick me up and kiss me.
And that my love is how I remember how we became a couple.
Bailey took a moment to look at the last line she had written in the memory book for her husband. No doubt Steve may remember things slightly differently, but that was okay after all these were her memories.
"Are you still sitting out here babe?" Steve asked his wife rejoining her.
Bailey looked up and saw that her husband was already dressed for work.
"Just finished up. I'll get my bag ready and we can head to work." Bailey replied standing up.
"Get it all down?" Steve asked.
"Yep, you can read it after work. If you are lucky you may have two entries to read tonight, who knows." Bailey teased him lightly.
Steve smiled and guided his wife into the house. Bailey noticed once they were inside that her bag was already packed and waiting by the door for her. She smiled, walked over to it, and tucked the memory book into a side pocket. She then turned to her husband, raised herself up on her toes, and wrapped her arms around his neck. Steve in turn grabbed her by her waist, picked her up, and kissed her.
