Sammy and Ilna, love you to the moon. REAL McRollers and Readers, thanks doesn't seem like enough, but thank you always.


More Every Day

Steve rubbed a hand over his face and looked at the photo on his desk of himself and Catherine taken in Kandahar half a lifetime ago. Just as he was about to dive back into paperwork, his phone buzzed.

"Hi," his wife's voice came over the line.

"What's up?" He leaned back in his chair, the tension in his shoulders easing. Just hearing her voice was enough to improve his day.

"Got time for lunch?"

He smiled. "Yeah, but can it be close? I've got a meeting with Lou and the P.A. on the Makoi case in an hour and a half. We're both testifying next week."

"Meet me in the courtyard," Catherine said. "I'll grab something from the cafeteria."

"Perfect," he replied, glancing at the clock. There were tables and chairs in the courtyard of the Governor's Palace that employees often took advantage of to get some air during breaks or have lunch. "Give me ten."

"See you in a few," she said, and the call ended with a soft click. Steve grinned and gathered the papers on his desk into a folder to lock in his drawer.

As he made his way out of HQ and walked towards the courtyard, a few tourists wandered nearby snapping photos while civilian HPD personnel milled around the parking lot and the grounds. When he strode into the area of the Governor's Palace with the tables and chairs, Catherine was already there.

A bright smile appeared when she spotted him. "Hey, sailor."

"Hey yourself," he replied, kissing her quickly and sitting across from her at a shady table. "What'd you get?"

"Mahi mahi on toasted rolls with mango salsa" she said, pulling containers out of a reusable tote bag. "It was the special." She placed them and two liter bottles of water on the table.

"Perfect. And perfect timing, it's been a morning of paperwork."

"I needed a break from working on the annual state employee gatherings." She raised her water bottle and took a sip.

"Not a formal luncheon, right?" Steve's question was accompanied by a grimace.

"Nope. The HPD, SWAT, task force one is a beach picnic day. We're just confirming which beach."

"Thank you," he grinned and toasted her with his water bottle. "Because those lunches were hell."

"And we aren't the only ones who thought so. After last year's beach day, half the HPD thanked us for having a family friendly, outside event."

"I rest my case."

Just as they dug into their lunches, Danny walked up and Steve checked his phone. "What? Did we catch a case? My phone didn't ring."

"Bite your tongue, no. I'm dropping off hard copies of the Olani case reports and here we have the chief of staff saving me a trip." He passed a folder to Catherine with a nod. "And now I'm grabbing lunch because I deserve a reward after the paperwork morning from hell." He took a step, then turned back with a grin. When Steve and Catherine looked up, the familiar blue eyes were twinkling with amusement. "I remember when Catherine used to stop by and see if you wanted to have lunch when she was stationed at Pearl. Back when 'lunch'" he air quoted, "didn't mean lunch."

Catherine rolled her eyes with a tiny smirk on her lips. "And now I can tell you details, Danny. Like we're having mahi mahi on toasted rolls…"

"Look at you two now, keeping lunch all PG," Danny laughed, "Which is all the detail I will ever need. Enjoy your 'we have two kids at home with a grandparent after day camp' lunch," he said while waving as he turned to walk back to HQ.

Steve and Catherine shared a grin, and he shook his head.

"He knows us a little bit too well, hmm?" She chuckled.

"The more things change, the more they stay the same." He shrugged. "We're still sneaking in lunch dates."

"Just not at home and fully dressed."

"Adapt and overcome," Steve said, "We just had to get more creative."

Catherine raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "True."

"We can schedule a 'lunch at home' after school starts."

"I like that plan," she said, her delighted laughter making him smile. "Still us. Just like we've always been."

"And always will be."

Catherine's expression softened, and for a heartbeat, the world around them faded. They shared a smile, talking and laughing until the sound of Steve's phone buzzing at the edge of the table broke the spell. They'd gotten a whole 45 minutes. He checked the screen, frowning. "There's Lou," he said, glancing at the time. "I gotta go."

"Duty calls, Commander." She leaned across the table and pecked his lips. "See you at home."

"See you at home.


That evening, Steve got home to the sound of laughter echoing through the house. DJ and Angie were sprawled on the living room floor, surrounded by parts of a STEM toy.

"Hey, Dad!" DJ said, jumping up. "Dylan sent us a STEM kit, isn't it awesome?"

"That's definitely awesome. And very nice of Dylan."

"We're gonna make it and send a picture of us holding it in our thank you note," Angie told him with a beaming smile as he bent to kiss them both hello. "Mommy took Cammie for a potty run," she added, "they're in the yard."

"I'll be right back," he said with a smile as he headed for the stairs.

By the time he locked up his weapon and returned, Catherine and Cammie were back inside. He ruffled the dog's fur and pecked his wife's lips.

"Mommy, is it time to help make dinner?" Angie asked.

"Just about," her mother replied as she admired their progress with the toy assembly, making both kids grin.

"I have an idea," Steve said with a wink for his wife.

"Ice cream after dinner?" DJ asked, picking up on his father's expression.

"I was thinking Pizza Palace for dinner, unless you guys don't feel like …"

"Pizza!" Angie threw both hands in the air and everyone chuckled.

"Pizza it is then. Get your shoes on and we'll go," Catherine directed with a questioning head tilt at Steve.

As the kids dashed upstairs, she stepped into his arms. "Yay, pizza," she teased. "You have a craving?"

"I figured since my beautiful wife picked up lunch and made my day, I'd pay it forward." He nodded towards the staircase and swayed them together, releasing her after a kiss.

Minutes later they'd locked up and the kids were out in front of them as they walked towards the truck. DJ helped Angie buckle herself in as she chattered excitedly, deciding if she wanted meat lovers or everything pizza.

Steve's gaze lingered on his family before he reached the truck, thinking how much had changed since their days when he was newly back on the island and Catherine had been stationed at Pearl. They'd changed careers, become parents and gained a huge extended family and ohana.

Squeezing her fingers before letting go so they could climb in and head for dinner with the kids that made him prouder than he'd ever thought possible, he smiled at Catherine.

"Penny for 'em?" She said, knowing his expressions better than she did her own.

"Still us." He responded, knowing she'd read his mind as usual. He'd never have thought it possible, after loving her so much for so long he couldn't remember not loving her, but his love continued to increase. "Love you. More every day."

"Still us." Catherine's voice was low and sincere. "And yeah. More every day.

# End Thanks for Reading


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