Thanks to Sammy and Ilna for bouncing and Sammy for basically taking a seed and tossing out this whole storyline in a chat. Love you both, always.

REAL McRollers and Readers, thanks as usual for the love and joy you bring us with every communication.

This one's for Julie, who's been told we are alike in mannerisms, thoughts and even voice patterns (we talk fast!) for most of her life. I can't think of a higher compliment than being told someone you are as proud of as I am of her is even a teeny bit like you. Nurture indeed.

Half and Half

The day was beautiful and not too hot as Angie, wearing the new Minnie Mouse bathing suit Elizabeth had ordered after the 'Lost in Ocean City' story, was next to DJ who was wearing a red Lightning McQueen swimsuit of his own. The children were flanked by their parents and being watched from the water's edge by an ever vigilant Cammie.

"Okay, buddy, that was a great try. Remember don't look at your feet, look up," Steve instructed his son as the family stood in the calm, shallow water.

"Okay." DJ's voice and eyes conveyed complete trust as he held his father's hand. He was kneeling on his new surfboard as he glanced at his parents' smiling faces.

Steve and Catherine were nodding their encouragement when his eyes fell on his sister. She was finally standing, supported by their mommy, on her own tiny surfboard after multiple attempts.

After a few seconds on her feet, Angie let go of Catherine's hand and raised both arms. The result of her 'TaDa!' being an immediate tumble into the water.

Coming up laughing and crawling back onto the board to her parent's excited accolades, she exclaimed, "DJ tu'n. Is fun!"

"Okay," he told his sister. "Daddy will catch me again, right, Daddy?" DJ said with complete confidence in Steve being right at his side.

"I'll always catch you." He lifted his chin towards his wife. "We both will." His father's voice and mother's agreement were steady and sure, giving the almost seven year old the courage to try again.

"Okay," DJ repeated, pushed up gently, and stood. Shakily at first but then he gained his balance enough to hold the hand that wasn't in Steve's out to the side.

"I did it! Daddy, I did it! Mommy, Angie, look!" The joy in his voice was reflected in his euphoric smile.

"Did it! Yay DJ!" Angie clapped with unbridled excitement, truly gleeful at her brother's accomplishment.

"Great job, sweetheart! Look at you!" Catherine gushed, pride shining on her face.

"DJ did it!" Angie said again, pulling herself into a standing position again. "I tu'n!"

"We're so proud of you both," Steve said as the tiny swell of a wave began to roll in. "Here comes a wave. Hop off, guys. That's not till our next lesson."

DJ held tight to his Daddy's hand and gently stepped off the board into Steve's arms while Angie called "Wheee!" and flung herself with abandon into the water, surfacing into Catherine's embrace with a huge smile.

As Cammie frolicked happily in the shallow edge, the family made their way to the shore. Once they'd planted the boards in the sand, Steve lifted DJ above his head and down into a hug. "You did amazing, buddy. Great job." He placed him on his feet so Catherine could offer a hug and kiss while she passed Angie to her daddy.

"And you may be giving Auntie Kono a run for her money way too soon." He helped her remove her vest and placed it on top of the one DJ had been wearing.

"I surf wif DJ wike Mommy an' Daddy," The two year old happily told her furry best friend when Steve placed her on her feet. "See Cammie?" She pointed to the boards, both gifts from Kono.

Cammie woofed at her youngest human and chuffed, kissing first Angie then DJ before breaking into a little dance when Steve said, "C'mon, Cammie, your turn," as he headed back towards the ocean for a swim with the patient, fun loving dog.

That evening after the kids were asleep, Steve reached across Catherine as they reclined in bed and grabbed her phone.

They'd set her phone on a tripod on wide-angle that afternoon to record as much of the surf lessons as possible.

Both children had fallen asleep early and soundly after the family's day on the beach. That allowed for Steve and Catherine to have some extra alone time … complete with a snack of pancakes in their bedroom, and when he reached for the phone she couldn't hold back a smile at how they were, as always, in sync with their thoughts.

"You wanna watch it again." She grinned. "Me too."

Wrapping her arm around his bicep and snuggling close, she leaned into him as he hit play.

"Look at her, encouraging DJ," Steve pointed proudly to the image of their tiny daughter calling out support. He kissed her temple. "That's all you, right there."

Smiling as Angie got up unfazed after multiple falls, then laughing out loud at her flinging herself into the ocean at the end of the lesson, Cathering poked his chest with a snort. "And that is one hundred percent her McGarrett genes, right there."

"We made a spitfire as Nonna says, but I never expected anything less." He grinned and gestured to the video which showed DJ attempting to stand again and again in spite of his concerns with falling. "And look at that determination."

"He keeps trying, no matter what," Catherine said proudly. "Like you. You never back down or give up."

"Neither do you. There's nurture versus nature right there. He's becoming more like us already."

She leaned in to peck his lips. "I agree. And no matter what our son's start in life was, we're going to overcome it with him and he's going to shine like he was always meant to."

"He absolutely is. He's brilliant and determined and so caring. Both our kids are half you, half me, whether by nature or nurture or both."

"I'd say that makes us pretty lucky, Commander." Catheirine's smile was bright.

"As usual, I agree." They watched the rest of the video play out as the family moved towards the camera and embraced each other, then Cammie. Kissing Catherine softly and smiling as the phone went dark, he repeated, "I completely agree."

#End. Thanks for reading!

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