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AvalonReeseFanFics
A/N: Happy Friday my wonderful readers! This is it! The last chapter in season 5. (Though I will admit it has a few moments from the season 6 opener.) This is the last little bit of cute before the angst happens again. But don't worry, once we get through the season 6 angst, it's nothing but cute things. Like weddings, adoptions and babies. I promise. I can go into a little bit more detail here, but if you guys would like some major spoilers I can post them at the bottom of the next chapter. But essentially, yes, there are a lot of things wrong with Steve and Rowan's relationship, most importantly that she has a penchant for lying and he's emotionally abusive. Rowan's lying stems from her past, and Steve's emotionally abusive tendencies come from his inability to handle the emotions he feels. This season apart is going to address Rowan's past, Rowan's fears and her powers, while Steve will be going through his own things to fix his own issues. I will be adding a new main character into the mix, and we're going to see a lot more of Wo Fat, who will also be getting some character growth. So it's a lot that I'm going to be tackling for season 6, and the season 7 reuniting is gonna be cute AF. Don't forget to tell me if you'd like to have spoilers at the bottom of the next chapter, don't forget to review, and I'll see you guys on Monday.
Chapter 203
They made it to the Royal Hawaiian Golf Club in record time. Rowan, who drove Kono back, managed to get her back there before the others made it. They did their last minute touches and then they all headed to the fairground where the wedding would be taking place. Steve had Catherine on his arm, as she needed help to stay stable on the grass, while Chin, Grover and Danny all jogged towards their prospective dates. Grover got his wife, Danny found Grace, and Steve, once he got Catherine off his arm found Nahele already sitting down. Chin, went to Adam to assure him that Kono was, in fact, coming.
And then she was there.
Kono was coming towards them looking all sorts of bridely in that flowing white gown with matching silver ivy around the waist. Behind her came Rowan who was somehow managing to carry her own and Kono's bouquet as well as Kono's wedding train. They walk towards the group together, Rowan's eyes narrowing at Catherine who was still holding onto Steve while Kono beamed at Adam who was ready to receive her with open arms and a ready kiss. That lasted all of two seconds before Rowan shoved him away.
"You have your whole lives to canoodle," she warned him. "Don't mess up her make up! I gave up a lot in royalties to get the make up artist that I did. Don't mess with me!"
Adam backed away immediately and Rowan turned back to Kono immediately and frantically going about making sure everything was right as if the short walk could have put everything out place.
"Okay are you ready?" she asked her and Kono nodded.
"Rowan breathe," she ordered. "Calm down, everything is going to be great."
Steve couldn't help but smile Rowan was probably more stressed and excited about this wedding then Kono and Adam were. He stepped away from Catherine to gather up his anxious girlfriend so Kono could down the aisle this century.
"Hey babe," Steve whispered reaching out for her but Rowan had dodged his grip.
"Don't hey baby me, like I didn't just see you walk up to this wedding with Catherine on your arm."
"But… it was grass… and she's in heels… and you were with Kono."
"Excuses, excuses, go sit with our kid, go, go with Nahele," Rowan snapped shoving him down the aisle to where their seats were.
She had left Chin and Kono to talk, but it was time to go. She was to walk down the aisle with Chin. As she was the only brides' maid and he was the only groomsman.
"Ring me," Rowan said holding out her hand to him. She had entrusting Chin with the rings, a big deal for Chin, for Rowan to relent such an important part of the wedding to him when she had been in full control freak mode over the whole ceremony. It didn't bode well that he was wide eyes and staring at her as if this were the first time he was hearing of the rings.
Rowan scowled at him. "If you tell me you left those rings at home, so help me boy…"
"No, no, I left them in the car."
"You have less than thirty seconds to get those rings or so help me… Chin… I won't be held accountable for what I do to you…"
"Calm down, calm down I'm going!"
Chin turned and literally ran to the parking lot. He passed Rowan's car, Catherine's car, and Kono's car before getting to his. Luckily the rings were in the glove compartment because if he had to turn back and tell Rowan they weren't there… well let's just say he didn't want to face down her wrath. He didn't think he could stand up to it anyway.
"Hello Chin!"
Chin turned immediately. He knew that voice. He just couldn't believe he'd show his face. Still Chin turned around to face Gabriel and the gun he had leveled to Chin chest. "What are you doing here?"
"Came to apologize. I was wrong about Adam," he said. But when Chin would only glare at him Gabriel shifted. "I never meant to hurt you Chin. Everything aside, we're still family."
"Really? This is how you treat family?" he asked. "You stick a gun in their face? You try and send them to jail."
"It was the only way that I could get to Coughlin, to get IA off your back." Wow Gabriel was really going to pretend that he did that for him. "And now I need you to repay the debt."
"Repay the debt?" Chin echoed.
"Do you know what Black Cat Protocols are, Chin?" Gabriel asked. "It's a function on her app that one of them activated. It's suffocating the life out of me. Every time I think I'm out from under him he does something else to knock me down."
"So what? You want it turned off. She's at the wedding go ask her yourself."
"No. I know she keeps sparing me, something Wo Fat doesn't seem to want to do. I know there's no point in asking for her help in the matter, and I'm not stupid enough to show my face when her patience with me is waring this. No… now I'm annoyed. Now I'm going to hit him back, and I'm going to hit hard, right where it hurts, and when I do, when I knock him down. I'm going to take over," he said. Those were some heavy handed threats he was throwing around. Chin couldn't wait to personally tell Wo Fat what Gabriel had been saying. "I'm here to offer you a deal. You know what I do, and that I'm good at it. it's only a matter of time before you and your friends get in my way again. Everything I make, you get half. fifty-fifty. You just need to stay out of my way, and since I know you're so fond of that girl, get her and that app off my back."
"That's not a deal. That's a bribe."
"Before you say no, just think about it," Gabriel told him. It would have been imploring had his tone implied that, or if he wasn't waving a gun about. Instead it came out the way Chin assumed Gabriel had wanted it to. Like it was a theat.
"Everyone looks at you like you're a dirty cop. Everyone. Even your friends."
"You don't know my friends!" Chin cried.
"I don't? While they were off getting little miss Pierce out of jail in Colombia I was the only one helping you," Gabriel snapped. "You're not family to them Chin. But you are to me."
Chin's smile widened. "Ah see I know that's not true. Rowan sent a Rowan-gram. He killed Coughlin, not you. So… you know… I'm family to her, and that's clearly enough."
For a second Gabriel just stood there. "Rowan Pierce isn't going to always been around to save you. Who are you going to turn to then?"
That was a good point. But he'd still have his friends, he'd always have his friends. But the thought of not having Rowan around… of having her app to come in and save the day filled him with worry. Maybe they were all a little too addicted to Rowan and her wonder app. Instead he ignored the jab and decided to jab Gabriel right back.
"As soon as you put that gun away, I'm going to arrest you," Chin said. "Or I'll just hand you off to Wo Fat. Sounds like he really wants to have some fun with you."
"After all I've done. Not even a thank-you?" he snarled. "I'm really disappointed in you, Chin. Turn around."
Chin didn't want to, of course, but he had no choice. Gabriel had a gun and Chin was unarmed. Slowly he did as he was told and as he did Gabriel and that gun shifted closer to him. Well Chin wasn't going to go down without guilt tripping Gabriel first.
"This is who you are now? You're gonna shoot a man in the back?"
"You wouldn't be the first Kelly I've killed."
"Well, then you better take the shot. Because if you don't, there's nothing that's gonna stop me from finding you and putting you down. That's if Rowan doesn't get you first."
For a moment there was silence and then…
"Chin?" Rowan called, her voice carrying over the air. He jerked, turning back to where Gabriel had been with the gun, ready to attack him in case he turned that gun onto Rowan but he wasn't there. Chin looked all around him to make sure Gabriel was gone before he turned to where Rowan was jogging up to him, moving a little stiffly due to the heels she was wearing. "Dude, what's taking you so long, you said they were in the car. Were you lying and had to drive home?"
"No… I… uh…"
"Oh did Gabriel leave already?' Rowan asked peering past him. "Shame, I would have loved to speak to him."
Chin stared at her, not sure he liked the look about her face as she said it. There was something very Ice Queenish about it.
"Are we good to go?" she asked and he nodded. Shutting his car down and pocketing the rings. He decided that after the wedding, he and Rowan were going to have a long chat about the negative effects of her app.
H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O
Rowan had to stand behind Kono for the whole wedding, just as Chin had stood behind Adam. The two had handed the couple the rings when requested, and Steve had found himself staring at Rowan the entire time with a loving smile on his face. She looked so pretty standing there, her eyes misting with happiness as she watched Kono get married. He wondered, when it was their turn, if she would smile at him the same way, or if he'd shed a few tears himself. He was getting a little choked up just thinking about it right now.
When the ceremony was finished the bride and groom went off and Rowan could return to Steve's side. She let him pull her close and kiss her which she welcomed whole heartedly. They then went as a group to the banquet area where Rowan left him immediately to set up the music. Steve had milled around with his friend, heard from Chin why he was so late, and gathered the others around to hear the tale, so he hadn't kept his eyes on Rowan.
When he saw her next she was in the middle of the dancefloor with a microphone and Kono's cousin beside her. Makana had been in charge of all the singing during the ceremony, though it looked like they were going to share the duties now. Why was Steve even surprised that his girl was providing the entertainment for this wedding?
"Hello, ladies and Gentlemen," she called getting everyone's attention. "I hope everyone's doing well today. Today, both I and Kono's cousin Makana have the great pleasure of entertaining you, though I have brought in a few professionals to help us. But first, I'd like to introduce you guys, for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Noshimuri."
As Adam and Kono came in, holding hands and waving to all their guests, Rowan took her place on the small makeshift stage. As they got into place on the dance floor, Rowan got herself set on the stage. Steve found himself torn between who to watch. The couple about to complete their first dance or his beautiful girlfriend.
And as soon as she started singing Steve was no longer torn. Though Adam and Kono were dancing beautifully, nothing could compare to Rowan standing on that stage singing a song he had no idea she wrote, except that it was absolutely beautiful and perfect for the couple.
I thought sooner or later, the lights up above, will come down in circles and guide me to love. But I don't know what's right for me. I cannot see straight. I've been here too long and I don't want to wait for it. Fly like a cannonball, straight to my soul. Tear me to pieces, and make me feel whole. I'm willing to fight for it and carry this weight. But with every step, I keep questioning what it's true.
Fall on me, with open arms. Fall on me, from where you are. Fall on me. With all your light. With all your light. With all your light.
Adam took Kono through another turn effortlessly loving that smile that grew on her face when he did so. He took another glance at Rowan who was singing so nicely. He had known that she was good, but he hadn't quite been aware that she was that good. Even though Kono kept telling him.
"Wow," he breathed out after one of Rowan's inflections. "I'm really glad we put her in charge of music. Best wedding gift ever."
Kono laughed at him, opened her mouth to say something else when the familiar lilt of a male voice began to resonate around them in flawless, rich Italian.
Presto una luce ti illuminerà. Seguila sempre, guidarti saprà, tu non arrenderti, attento a non perderti. E il tuo passato avrà senso per te. Vorrei che credessi in te stesso, ma sì, In ogni passo che muoverai qui. È un viaggio infinito. Sorriderò se. Nel tempo che fugge mi porti con te
Both Adam and Kono couldn't help but turn. They both missed a step but they couldn't help it. Not when they were in the process of recognizing exactly who was up on that stage with Rowan.
"Is that Andrea Bocelli?" Kono asked.
While pulling her in for another turn, his mouth open in shock, Adam said: "That is Andrea Bocelli…"
"I mean when she said she got your favourite artist… I thought she meant herself…" Kono said watching as Rowan joined into the song, officially singing with Andrea Bocelli. She knew that the second their first dance was done, Adam was going to want an intro because Andrea Bocelli was one of his favourite artists.
When Rowan had said that the music for their wedding was going to be their wedding gift, Kono hadn't told her she didn't care, the fact that Rowan was going to be there and had already done so much that should have been Kono's wedding gift. But Rowan had been adamant to make the music aspect her gift, knowing Rowan's flare for the dramatic she assumed that meant that she'd get a show, you know… that features only Rowan. But this was one hell of a show with real actual headliners.
Fall on me. Ascoltami. Fall on me. Abbracciami. Fall on me. Finché vorrai. Finché vorrai. Finché vorrai.
"Wow this really is the best wedding gift ever," Adam exclaimed and Kono smiled.
Jesus Rowan had really come through for them.
H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O
It took a very long time for Steve to finally get a chance to pin Rowan down. Between Rowan putting on more shows, Adam practically fawning over Andrea Bocelli, dinner coming to the table, and everyone taking turns dancing, he hadn't had a chance to talk to her. And after the incident before the wedding both he and Chin were desperate to talk to her. Gabriel had said some things, dangerous things and he wanted Rowan warned. But they had to wait three sets before Rowan hopped off that stage to come towards them and let Makana take over the singing.
"Hey there sailor," she said when she got close. She jumped up on her tippy toes and kissed him solidly. Steve melded into her embrace and almost forgot what he needed to talk to her about. "Let me grab some water and me and you can cut a rug!"
"No…"
Rowan whirled around on him before he could even finish his sentence. "No? Okay, excuse you, I've been watching you dance with Catherine all afternoon and now that I'm available it's a no?"
Steve shook his head. "No, that's not what I mean, we're definitely gonna dance, I just wanna talk to you first."
"Oh cool, just let me grab some water I am parched!" she cried heading towards their table. A place had been set for her, of course, but no food had been brought out to it, just glasses of water. Steve and Chin followed her back.
"So uh… Gabriel pulled a gun on Chin…" Steve started only to be cut off by Rowan.
"I know," she said between gulps.
"You know?"
"Well yeah, I went to go see what was taking Chin so long. I obviously saw him," Rowan said. "And did you see how fast he ran when he heard me coming?"
Oh she sounded so proud, why couldn't she see it was a bad thing? "Rowan… okay, that's great… but he said some things to Chin I think you should hear…"
Rowan turned to Chin expectantly. "Like what?"
"He said that you and Wo Fat have been running Black Cat Protocols against him…"
"Wo Fat is, not me," she clarified. When both Steve and Chin just stared at her she sighed and said: "Sorry… please continue."
"Okay, well he said he's annoyed and that he's going to start hitting Wo Fat back hard… where it hurts," Chin said. Rowan just nodded, clearly not understanding the implications of that.
"Rowan… if he's going to hit Wo Fat hard, it means he'll go after you."
Rowan just scoffed. "No it doesn't. The man's not that stupid."
"Rowan!" Steve groaned watching with horrid curiosity as her hand went into her the bust of her dress and returned with her phone. Immediately she was typing something in while Steve was momentarily stunned that her phone had been hidden there the whole time and he couldn't tell. When he realized she was typing he frowned. "What are you doing? Who are you calling?"
"No one, geezus Steven, I'm just gonna log the threat into the app," she said. "Sandy's been monitoring all of Gabriel's incoming threats towards me and Wo Fat for months. The man is digging himself a grave."
Steve and Chin exchanged glances let Rowan finish typing and then hide her phone, once more somewhere in her cleavage. "Now, not to down play how serious it was that he showed up at this wedding with all of us so near by, but we are at a wedding. And we should be celebrating Kono and Adam not letting Gabriel get us down."
"She has a point," Chin said and Steve nodded.
"I would very much like to take my girlfriend out for a spin, and I know Nahele would like a turn too," he said as Chin milled off to find himself his own dancing partner.
Rowan smiled in that devilish way he couldn't help but find cute. "Uh… but first, you know, I was wondering… since you look all fine in that suit… if you'd like to uh.. I unno play out any James Bond fantasies…"
Steve's eyebrows shot up as his grin widened. "I've been here hours so I know where all the washrooms are and well… I know I've been busy lately with the wedding but we're almost through it now and I was gonna reward you tonight… I've got the anniversary panties on and everything but I thought you might like…"
"Yes," he said interrupting her before she could blather on any more, taking her hand the two of them slipped out of the dining hall where the wedding reception was being held and immediately made a bee-line to the closest private room with a lock on it. Like she thought he'd turn down sex when his girl looked like a goddess singing on that stage. The girl was crazy.
H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O
The party was dying down but Rowan wasn't done yet. The happy couple were sitting at their table of honor and Rowan still had one last gift for Kono.
She took the microphone again and taped it to get the attention of the crowd.
"Hello again ladies and gentleman, Rowan again. You know, before I took on the duties of Maid of Honor, I gave my friends the option to sign the card that goes with my wedding gift and everyone, including my boyfriend turned me down. And I really need you guys to remember that for this next bit," she said catching the table of scowls pointed in her directions. She blew kisses at them all before turning back to the crowd who was staring at her like she was crazy. "For those of you who don't know, the first song we performed today was a wedding gift for Adam, who, I've been told, loves Andrea Bocelli, but if I have a song for Adam that must mean I have a song for Kono too. And that's what we have coming up right now. So if you don't mind, I've got one last performance for you guys."
She received a smattering of polite applause before the music cut it all out. She loved this song, had worked hard on this song for Kono and she couldn't wait to dazzle her friend with it.
With the music came the drill team she had booked out for this. All in army fatigues. They got into formation and as Rowan began to sing, they began to perform with her.
Ladies all across the world. Listen up, we're looking for recruits. If you with me, lemme see your hands. Stand up and salute. Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps or lace up your boots. Representing all the women, salute, salute.
This was the part of the song she loved the most. Getting to mimic Steven and his salute. Gosh she had been practicing for so long she hoped it made him smile, she hoped she did it right and didn't offend him.
Attention (salute). Attention (salute). Attention (huh). Representing all the women, salute, salute.
She caught Steve's eye as she moved into the next verse, he was smiling, proudly at that. Good she had done it right.
With the first verse and second repeat of the chorus done, she called out: "Ladies, places!" and like that all the woman close to Kono got up out of their chairs. Makana went for Kono taking her hand and pulling her up to the stage while the women of the venue all found their place in between the all-female drill team to start the last part of the song.
This last part had been practiced for hours separately and together. Even Catherine had gotten lessons from Grace so she could be a part of it. Why Rowan was so worried about including her still when the girl was all over Rowan's man was beyond her, but she figured being the bigger person would win her bonus points with Steven.
When the women were all in place, and Kono was beside her, everyone turned to the stage and they started dancing as Rowan hit the chorus one more time.
Ladies all across the world. Listen up, we're looking for recruits. If you with me, lemme see your hands. Stand up and salute. Get your killer heels, sneakers, pumps or lace up your boots. Representing all the women, salute, salute.
That time when they were saluting they were saluting the most badass Five-0 on the team Kono. Makana came up to finish off the song for her.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the newly weds would like to thank you for joining them. We hope you enjoyed the show. Please feel free to stay, be merry and make friends. And remember, Five-0 did not help with the music! Have a nice night!"
The music died, the drill team left with Adam and Kono and Rowan smiled smugly at Steve who frowned at her.
"I told you to put your name on my card, but you said you didn't want to," she reminded him and that was true he had said that. He was regretting it now though.
"So I spoke to Danny, he's taking Grace home, and he's going to drop Nahele off too," he said. "I thought me and you could go out and get a drink, what do you think?"
Rowan glanced to where Catherine was hovering just behind Steve. "Do you mean you and me, or me, you and Catherine?"
Steve lowered his eyes. "I still haven't got a chance to talk to her and I just figured… you know… instead of going alone you'd like to come?"
Rowan sighed. She took his chin in her hand and smiled up to him. "You're lucky you're so damn cute, McGarrett," she said. "Come on, let's go."
And with their hands linked they walked out of the venue and into the night.
H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O
The following morning, Steve woke up to a pounding head and the wrong girl in bed with him. He frowned at Catherine, both because he was hung over and too old to be experiencing that kind of pain and because Catherine wasn't Rowan and he wasn't sure how Catherine got into his bed when he was pretty sure he went home with Rowan.
"Morning," she said sleepily to him, a languid smile creeping up on her face. Yeah let her smile, she wasn't the one who was gonna get screamed at. "What a night huh?"
"Yeah the night was epic," Steve agreed and then someone interrupted them.
"Who's the hussy?"
Steve practically threw himself out of the bed landing at Nahele's feet. The teenager just calmly stared down at Steve, a bowl of cereal in one hand, the other hand slowly shoveling a spoonful of cereal into his mouth. He calmly stared down at Steve like nothing was wrong with what had just happened while Steve was recovering from a heart attack.
"Jezus, Nahele you scared the crap out of me."
"Seriously, who's the uh… the girl who isn't mom in your bed?" Nahele asked again clearly very, very unimpressed.
Oh god, he really didn't want Catherine to catch the mom slip up. That was just too hard to explain. Catherine just groaned at him. "Steve… why is there a kid in your room."
"Catherine, Nahele, Nahele Catherine," he introduced. "Catherine is my ex, she's in town for Kono's wedding. Nahele is my foster kid."
Catherine nodded like this made sense. "Let me guess… Rowan's idea?"
A frown touched Nahele's face and Steve frowned in solidarity. It was true but she didn't have to say it like that. "No, my idea too," he lied.
"Is she why Ro ran out of here so fast?" Nahele asked and Steve inwardly swore. Son of a bitch.
"Ro's gone?" he groaned.
"Yeah, she booked it out of here like a half hour ago," he said with a shrug.
"I didn't even feel her leave the bed," Steve sighed.
"Oh she wasn't in here. She passed out in my room. I slept on the couch," Nahele said and Steve looked up. Dear god she hadn't even been in bed with him? Fuck how drunk were they?
Steve groaned and dropped his head into his hands while above him Nahele continued to munch away on his cereal. "So like you gonna chase after her or…?"
Steve just groaned louder. He didn't want to argue when his head pounded like this. He'd deal with Rowan later.