Danny grabbed the flight info from the printer. He found two flights leaving for LA in the next two hours. He heard Steve's dresser open and close upstairs. "I got some flight info. Two hours," he yelled up the stairs.

"Ok, thanks," Steve replied.

Danny walked into the living room and froze in his tracks. He was completely dumbfounded and caught by surprise. The front door was open and Lexi was standing five feet from him. He was almost as happy to see her as Steve was going too be. As beautiful as she was, she looked almost as devastated as Steve. He walked over, returning her smile and put his arms around her, kissing her on the cheek first.

"Are you ok?" he whispered in her ear.

She shook her head, "Is he really mad?" she whispered back.

Danny pulled back so he could see her, "No, he's not mad. He's scared half out of his mind that he might lose you."

She felt a bit of relief and guilt from that and hugged him again, tighter this time.

Danny squeezed her one more time and released her, "I think I'll leave you two alone." He kissed her cheek again as he walked past and closed the door behind him.

Lexi started to make her way upstairs when she noticed the backdoor. She looked at it quizzically for a second but was in too much of a hurry to see Steve to give it any more thought. She heard him in the bathroom and saw him walk across the hall into the bedroom. He wore a pair of dark jeans and a black t-shirt. He tossed some stuff into a duffel bag and then sat on the bed, putting on a pair of shoes. She watched him as she made her way up. 'He always looks so handsome', she thought. He could make her heart skip with just a glance in her direction. She caught a subtle whiff of his cologne and started to fall in love with him all over again. It felt so good.

Steve pushed the duffel bag to the side and grabbed his shoes off the floor. He was going over in his mind what he would say to her when he noticed a presence in the room, he looked up expecting to see Danny. It took him a second to realize he wasn't hallucinating as she moved toward him. He wanted to go to her but he couldn't move, his whole body felt like it was glued to the bed. He wanted to cry he was so happy to see her. He saw nothing in her eyes that would threaten his happiness. She was so beautiful the way she was looking at him. He knew then that all had been forgiven. As soon as her hand touched him, he felt that rush through his body again, only this time, it felt good. It felt so good.

She was a step away but couldn't wait to touch him. She reached her hand out and rested her palm on his face, moving her body between his legs. His blue eyes followed her every move, showing nothing but love for her. She felt his hands move up her back, caressing her all over, holding her tightly. She remembered the feeling she had the first time he kissed her, that same rush swept over her again. She looked down at him, gliding her hand through his hair, pulling him closer against her body.

He looked up at her feeling intoxicated by her touch. He lifted her shirt, kissing her belly where his baby was safe and growing. That made her smile. His hands were always so gentle on her, making her feel like she was a gift that he treasured. He looked back up at her, pulling her down so she was sitting on his knee. His hand went up into her hair, "Aloha," he mouthed as he reached up and kissed her.

She felt like she was floating as he pulled her in deeper and deeper, swearing to herself that she would never leave him again. She felt that her heart was going to burst if she couldn't get out what she needed to say to him. Her hand went to his chest and gently pushed away from him, but still kissed him two more times on the lips, just because she had missed them so much. "I have to tell you something."

He smiled at her, "You're in love with another man?" he reached up again, tasting her neck, gliding his hand over her soft thigh. He wanted to kiss every inch of her.

She loved it when he teased her. She pulled back and held his face in her hands, wanting his full attention. Her eyes softened and she glided her fingers over his lips that she adored so much, "I will never love anyone other than you. I promise you that. I need you so much, Steven. You have to promise me that you'll be careful, because I'll never make it without you."

He shoved the duffel bag to the floor and put an arm under her legs, lifting her up, circling around on the bed, laying her down. He moved on top of her, easing her legs apart with his and settling down.

"That was an impressive move," she giggled, "comfortable?"

"Very," he confessed, kissing her, "I promise that I'll be careful. But do you promise that you will never leave me again, at least not without a note and not for longer than 23 hours?"

She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him closer, "I promise. Do you promise that if you ever seduce me again, you will follow through."

He felt relieved, knowing she was forgiving him for that, "I promise." His expression turned serious, "I'm sorry I left you that day, I should have..."

She reached her mouth up and kissed him, wanting him to stop.

"Don't say it. You did the right thing. I'm the one that should be apologizing. I never should have left you there." Her soft touch moved up his arm until she found his hand, wrapping her fingers through his. "Do you feel better now that he's dead?"

"All that matters to me, is that you're both safe, and you're here with me right now, everything else is history."

"I love you," she whispered, kissing him.

That made him smile. "I love you." He thought of the breakdown in the bathroom and squeezed her hand, thanking God for hearing him.

He slowly made his way down her body, lifting her shirt up, speaking to his baby, "I love you too," he kissed her belly, stroking his hand over that area, anticipating the growth and excitement it would bring. "I saw the baby clothes you bought,"

"Did you like them?" she asked, her hands stroking his back and through his hair.

"I was so excited I kicked the backdoor out." He looked up at her between kisses, smiling.

"I saw that. Rough night?"

He moved back up her body, taking her shirt with him, lifting it over her head. "Worst night of my life. By the way, that bottle of tequila in the fridge is gone."

Lexi reached down and undid the button on his jeans as he sat up on his knees and slid his own shirt off, "I'll make you forget all about that night," she promised, pulling on his hips.

He laid back down, eager for the therapy to begin. He turned toward the door, "Is Danny still here?"

She shook her head, smiling devilishly at him, "He left, we're all alone."

He pushed his hips deeper into her, "Good, because I want to make love to you, and when we're done, I want to go downstairs and eat, and then come back up and make love to you again," he kissed her, "and again," he continued the kisses, "and again."

"Ok," she agreed, breathless. Her body was on fire, she never remembered wanting him this badly before. He had proved himself over and over to her and now it was her turn to give him everything he wanted.

It was the beginning of what would be a perfect day in paradise.

Seven months, one week and four days later…

Lexi stared at the turkey sandwich sitting on the counter. She couldn't resist and took a bite. The variety of condiments hit her all at once and she moaned, taking another bite. It was the best thing she had eaten all week, until the memory of that pineapple ice cream cone Steve had bought at the beach hit her. She took another bite of the sandwich but was thinking about the ice cream, wondering if they sold it in pints.

She looked over her shoulder as he braced both hands on the counter, pinning her against it, "Is that good?"

She looked at him sheepishly, and then at the half eaten sandwich, "Sorry," she said with her mouth still full, "it looked so good. I just wanted a little bite," she handed it to him, "I kind of got carried away."

He kissed her on the cheek, "Like my ice cream cone yesterday? Finish it, I'll make another one."

Her eyes widened, "l was just thinking about that pineapple ice cream ten-seconds ago!"

"Why am I not surprised. At least I got one bite of that," he laughed, reaching in the fridge, pulling out the same sandwich ingredients he did ten minutes before, "I think I've lost ten lbs during this pregnancy from loosing half my food too you."

"I know, I'm sorry." she said, puffing out her bottom lip, "I'm just so hungry and everything you eat looks so good."

He laughed hard on that statement, "I'm more than happy to share with you. If the baby is hungry and wants my sandwich, it's yours, and my ice cream, and my sushi, and my steak." He looked over at her and winked, pointing toward the bread he was putting turkey on, "Do you want another sandwich? Because I'll make two if you plan on eating half of mine."

She finished off his last one and shook her head, smiling shyly, loving the fact that he was so understanding, "No thank you." She put her hand on the counter, gripping it, suddenly feeling a pain, "Oh that's a nasty one."

Steve stopped what he was doing and watched her, "You ok?"

"Hmm," she moaned slightly, closing her eyes, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slow, "it's those Braxton Hicks again, all morning." She felt his hand rubbing her swollen belly.

"You sure?"

She smiled up at him. "Yes, I still have two weeks." She put her hand over his on her stomach, "Gone, I told you."

He gave her an uneasy look, "Maybe I should stay home today."

She reached up and kissed him, "I'm fine. Eun Mi will be here in half an hour, and Danny will be here in about five minutes so you better hurry," she pointed toward the sandwich, "I'm getting hungry again so you better really hurry."

He went back over and picked up the sandwich, laughing, "Give me at least three bites. That's all I'm asking for." He took one bite as she moved toward him, playfully licking her lips. He held it high above his head, out of her reach.

"That looks so yummy," she giggled, reaching for it. "Just one bite. I promise." She moved her hands over his chest, seductively, "I'll earn it."

He shook his head, "You're shameless," he put his arm around her, still holding the sandwich in the air, "tell me how you would earn it?" he asked, kissing her.

"Do you want details?" she wrapped her leg around his.

"I want a demonstration."

"Give me a bite first and then I'll..." she stopped mid sentence and they both looked down.

"What the," Steve said and looked up at her, perplexed.

"Oh my God!" she declared, "I think my water just broke!"

His mouth fell open and he dropped the sandwich on the counter, "What?! You have two weeks left?"

Lexi laughed and put a hand on his chest, "I guess not!"

Steve put his hands up, "Ok, ok, just be calm, we have lot's of time?"

Lexi smiled at his panicked expression, "Are you talking to me or yourself?"

"Both." He cupped his hands over his mouth like he was trying to decide what his next move was.

Lexi was surprised that she actually felt pretty calm, "Why don't you go up and get my things," she looked down at his wet clothes, "change your pants and shoes and then we"ll go."

He looked at her like she had just solved the riddle of the year, "Good! Ok, you just stay here," he put his hands on her shoulders, "don't move. I'll be right back." He got two steps away from her and came back, kissing her on the lips, "I love you."

"Hmm," she moaned, "I love you, please hurry." She could feel a contraction coming.

"Ok," he agreed and ran toward the stairs, taking them two at a time.

She gripped the counter with both hands and leaned over, breathing through it. She scolded herself, knowing the last one and all the ones she had been feeling earlier must not have been a Braxton Hicks, but actual labor pains. It was strong and her stomach felt like she could bounce a quarter off of it. "Hmmm," she moaned, wanting to cry out but not wanting to panic Steve, knowing he would come back down and she wanted him to just hurry so they could go. She tried to calculate back how long it had been since the last contraction. 'Two, maybe three minutes,' she thought.

The pain subsided and she stood back up making her way into the living room so she could sit down. She made it almost to the chair when she felt another one coming. This time she began to panic.

"Steve!" she called out, bracing her hands on the back of the chair, breathing deeply and letting it out slow. It was stronger than the last one, "Steve!" she yelled louder. It felt like her pelvic bones were separating and going to fall out of her body. She felt his hands on her waist.

"You ok?"

"Oh, they keep coming," she moaned, hoping this one would end soon.

"Contractions?" he asked, stunned.

"Yes!" She held on tight to the chair and leaned over so she was parallel with floor. She felt the pressure in her vaginal area and fought every urge she had to push, "Oh Steve, I think it's coming!" She had a break in pains and stood up, holding on to his arm, "I need to lay down."

He guided her toward the front door, "You can lay down in the car. We have to go!" He clutched her around the shoulder as she began to sit down.

"No, I can't!" she made it as far as the front door and held on to him as she eased herself down on the floor, feeling another one coming. "Why is it happening so fast?" she moaned.

"Lexi!" he pleaded as she went down, "Wait, just wait a couple more minutes."

She looked at him like he was insane, "Are you serious?" Another pain hit her and she couldn't hold back the pain anymore and cried out, pushing at the same time. She laid back on the floor, lifting her knees, finally feeling some of the pressure release, from her hips.

Steve leaned over her, fumbling with his cell phone in one hand and holding her hand with his other. He couldn't get his fingers to work fast enough to dial 911, and just when he thought he had it, the call failed. "Shit! Shit!" He felt a tug on his shirt and looked down as Lexi grabbed a handful of it and pulled, trying to use him as leverage to push. She screamed out laying her head back, going with the natural instinct of the contraction and pushed, but the rug was slippery under her feet, making it even more scary and painful. Steve heard Danny get out of his car and leaned back out the door, "Danny! Hurry!" he shouted.

He put his hand on Lexi's foot, trying to brace it on the floor, and hold her hand, and dial 911, and try not to show her the fear that had completely engulfed him. He watched helplessly as her body calmed and she moved her head back and forth, breathing heavily and moaning.

Danny was on the porch in seconds flat. He saw Lexi and leaned over Steve's shoulder, looking down on her. He knew right away what was happening. "How far apart are they?"

Steve glanced over his shoulder at him, "Seconds, if any."

Lexi squeezed Steve's hand and grabbed the end of the rug she was laying on with the other hand and braced herself, feeling another one coming, "Oh, Steve," she moaned, arching her back.

"Danny, do something!" Steve urged.

Danny looked at him quizzically, "What do you want me to do?!"

"You've done this before!" Steve yelled at him.

"What?!"

"You know what I mean! You're a father, you were there when Gracie was born!"

"Yea!" he shouted back, "I was there, along with this other guy called a DOCTOR!" he yelled back at him.

"Will you two please shut up!" Lexi screamed. She looked up at both of them as another one started, "Please, Steve, I'm scared." She lifted her head and tried to push but her feet slipped on the rug, "I can't do this."

Danny took a deep breath and shoved Steve, "Go behind her so you can help her push." He looked down at her, "We can do this Lexi," he encouraged her. He saw on her face that another contraction was coming. He kneeled down at her feet as she lifted her knees back up again. "Oh shit," he mumbled to himself, 'you can do this, Danno."

He reached down and pulled her panties up and over her knees, glancing back down, feeling uneasy by the fact that it was Lexi. The second he saw the babies head, he forgot all about any awkwardness.

Lexi put her right foot on the door frame and her other one on Danny's shoulder. She reached back and grabbed Steve's biceps and pushed as the next contraction hit her.

Danny leaned into her with his shoulder and held the babies head as it appeared, "Oh shit, that's it Lexi, push!"

Steve held her underneath her shoulders, "You're doing great, baby, you can do it!"

Lexi felt like her entire body was convulsing. The pain was so intense with every contraction that she was afraid she might pass out. She just kept telling herself it was natural and to breathe, "Just breathe," she groaned, taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, trying to remember something, anything from Lamaze class.

"That's good, Lexi," Steve encouraged, "Breathe!" He kissed her forehead as she collapsed against his chest, between pains, panting. He felt her body stiffen and braced himself, as she began to moan again. Seeing her in this much pain was almost as frightening as the whole ordeal. He was in complete awe of what her poor body was going through.

"Just a couple more, Lexi! It's coming out," Danny reassured her, "just the shoulders. Come on, push!" he said more sternly, "Almost here," his hands were shaking as he held the tiny head and tried to grip the shoulders that were only part way out. He wiped his free hand on his pants and got a good grip on the babies shoulder as she pushed, carefully guiding it out.

"Look at this Steve?" he blurted out, not sure if he was watching.

Steve strained his neck and looked down just in time to see a tiny arm emerge and then in just a matter of a seconds the rest of his baby slipped out into Danny's hands. "Oh my God!" he yelled, amazed at what he had just witnessed. He watched Danny, hold the tiny body with both hands. "It's a girl!" He said excitedly, leaning over to Lexi. She still had a hold of his biceps and was trying to catch her breath. She smiled up at him, with tears streaming down her face. His excitement turned to fear as he looked back down at it. It was covered in a pasty white mucus and silent. "Is she all right?" he asked Danny.

Lexi pushed off the floor with her elbows, panting, trying to see, "Danny!" she begged him for something, "is the baby ok?"

Danny carefully flipped the baby over on its stomach and no sooner had he done that, a little gasp came out. He stuck his finger in its mouth and wiped out any mucus, this made her madder than hell and all at once the crying was heard. "She's mad!" he laughed, cuddling her against his chest, in a football hold, "temper, temper!" he looked up at Steve, "She's yours that's for sure!"

The umbilical cord was still attached and Danny refused to look down at the afterbirth, not sure he could take it. "Scissors, knife?" he asked, looking at Steve.

Steve felt around his pants with his hands, suddenly forgetting where he kept his knife after two years. "Here," he reached it out to Danny.

"No!" Danny corrected, pointing toward the cord with his head, "You! My job is done."

Steve leaned over as Danny held the baby, "Where?"

"About five inches from the baby. It wont hurt so don't worry."

The sharp knife cut through easily and Danny leaned forward and placed her into Lexi's open arms. He wiped his hands on the back of his pants taking his phone out. He stood up and walked over the mess on the floor and into the kitchen for towels and called 911 at the same time.

Lexi leaned back against Steve's shoulder as they both held the baby. His arm was underneath hers that cuddled their daughter.

"A girl," Lexi cried, "We have a girl." She looked up at him, fresh tears running down her face. "She'e so beautiful."

"Aloha Casey," he announced in a childlike voice, smiling brightly, he hadn't even realized that he was crying too.

Danny appeared over Steve's shoulder and laid a towel over the baby, tucking the ends in around their arms. "Yes," he said into the phone, "Commander McGarrett's wife just gave birth in their living room and we need an ambulance ASAP." He laid another towel over Lexi's abdomen, "Yes, the baby has already been born, everything seems good." He stood up and walked away, still talking to the 911 operator.

"You're amazing," Steve said to Lexi, lifting her chin up so he could kiss her, "I love you so much." He held them both a little tighter, looking down at his beautiful family, wondering how he had ever made it this far in his life without them.

Steve watched Lexi through the kitchen window as he waited for the water to boil. He smiled at the vision of her sitting in the chair talking to Casey, who was in her arms.

"Knock, knock, any indecent diapers laying around,?" Danny asked, entering the kitchen. He held a small bag in his hand.

"Hey!" Steve acknowledged him with head toss, "What's up?"

"On my way home and needed to drop this off." He held up the bag.

"What is it?"

"Gracie made a little headband for Casey." He set the bag on the table. "How are ya holding up, Daddy?"

Steve shrugged, "Pretty good so far. She eats about every two hours and poops about five times an hour. How does that calculate out?"

"It doesn't, just get used to that equation for the rest of your life," Danny replied, opening the fridge, scanning the inside, "no beer!"

Steve looked over his shoulder at him, "Sorry, but there's some breast milk in there and I think a bottle of Baileys in the cupboard," he teased.

"You're sick," Danny grunted, grabbing a pop, "so how many diapers have you changed so far?"

"Enough that I can do it almost as fast as I can change a mag on an AK-47," he said proudly.

Danny stared at him in disbelief, "You're the only person I know that can compare a diaper to an AK-47."

"Am I right though," Steve laughed, "about the same power?"

"You do have a point, partner," he patted him on the back.

"Tell Gracie thanks for the gift and we'll have her over to spend the night in the next couple of weeks, as soon as things settle down. Lexi promised her after the baby was born she could come help for a night."

"She'll love that." Danny glanced out the window, "Who's that talking to Lexi?"

Lexi took Casey's tiny hand and kissed it, over and over. The baby stared up at her, but was beginning to get anxious. "I know, Daddy's coming," she spoke softly, "he likes to feed you too. It's his turn." She kissed her and looked up when she heard a voice.

"This is a beautiful view you have here."

Lexi smiled at the man standing on the beach about ten feet from her, "Mahalo, it is quite relaxing."

He walked toward her with a surprised expression, "My, what another beautiful view you have here."

Lexi looked down proudly, "Mahalo again."

"How old," he asked?

"She's two weeks today."

"Lovely. It must be nice to have something so precious to hold on to."

Lexi looked back up at him as he leaned over toward her.

Steve pulled the bottle from the boiling water and looked out the window. "I don't know who that is, probably just a tourist," he said to Danny.

"I'm going to use the head." Danny announced, "I'll be right back."

Steve saw the man talking to her and narrowed his eyes, trying to get a better look at him. Living on the beach always attracted walkers; even though it wasn't a popular beach, it still had public access. But when he approached Lexi's chair, Steve's inner alarm went off. He took the bottle without testing it and walked out the back door, trusting his instincts.

Danny hesitated and watched through the window.

The second Steve came out, the man looked up and backed away from Lexi. Steve glared at him as he approached, "Aloha."

"Hello," he said, "I was just admiring your baby, very beautiful." He stepped back, never seeing McGarrett in full form before. He was very intimidating.

"Mahalo," Steve replied but not in the same friendly tone that Lexi had. He stood between the man and the chair that she and Casey were sitting in. "Where are you from?"

He stared at Steve, becoming uneasy, knowing this had been a mistake, "California, just enjoying the day." He waved to Lexi as he backed away, continuing down the beach, "Congratulations too you."

Lexi smiled at him and then glared up at Steve, "What was that about?"

Steve took a step down toward the water to watch him, "What did he want?"

Lexi shrugged, "Nothing, just passing by." Casey started to cry and distracted both of them. "Are you ready to feed her?" Lexi smiled at him.

Steve took one more glance down the beach before turning to her. She stood up and handed the baby off to him. The second he looked down at her in his arms, the man was forgotten. He took the empty chair and handed the bottle to Lexi, "Is this ok? I didn't test it."

The man stood behind the trees on the lot next door. He felt the knife tucked behind his back dig into his skin as he hunched over. He scolded himself again for approaching her. He thought he would have been able to get a quick, clean kill, but didn't anticipate McGarrett to be watching. He was relieved he didn't do it, if he had, he knew that he would be dead too, and couldn't even begin to comprehend the rage that would have been inflicted on him from McGarrett. It would have been twice fold anything that he could ever have possibly imagined.

"Next time I will be more careful, next time I will make…" his thought was interrupted by the butt of a gun against his skull, pressing hard into it.

"You know old Mrs. Gunther that lives here, she doesn't like people in her yard, but I know her so I can put in a good word for you, "Danny whispered in his ear, removing the knife that was tucked in his pants, "but McGarrett over there," he laughed sinisterly, "there wouldn't be anything I could say that would stop him from ripping your throat out with his bare hands."

Danny frisked him and then pushed down on his shoulders until he was kneeling on the ground. "You go back and tell your people that if anything happens to McGarrett, or God help you his wife and baby, that we will retaliate with such a force that you won't even have time to beg your God for help. Don't be so naive to think that we aren't watching you too. We have eyes all over the world." He grabbed the man by the hair and pulled his head back, so they could see each others faces, "now I have eyes on you too," he put one hand over his mouth and the blade of the knife against his cheek and sliced it open from his his chin to his ear.

The man gasped in pain, his eyes full of terror.

Danny smiled devilishly at him, "Next time, you won't even know I'm there until you look down and see the knife through your chest. Now you run along home and tell your friends they shouldn't pick fights they have no chance of winning." Danny squeezed his handful of hair, "Are you hearing me?"

The man stared up at him, literally shaking so hard his teeth chattered. He thought without a doubt he was going to die. "I will." he stuttered.

Danny shook him by the hair, "Tell them what?" he tormented.

"Stay away or we all die." he whimpered.

"That's a good boy." He hit with the bunt of his gun in the face and pulled him off the ground, half dragging him across the lawn away from Steve's house. He shoved him toward the beach and pointed the gun at him, "You have to the count of five to get out of my sight. One…"

The man turned and tripped, scrambling to his feet, trying to cover his bleeding face.

"Two, three," Danny took aim down the barrel when he turned back around looking at him as he ran, "four."

He disappeared around the bend of the beach.

"Hi Danny," Lexi smiled as she saw him coming down the lawn from the house.

"My turn," he said holding his hand up. He stopped in front of the chair that Steve was sitting in holding Casey. "Come on, give her up."

Steve gave him a look, "I thought you left."

"No, I got a call. I had to play hard ball with this guy about this thing."

He had contemplated whether or not he should tell Steve about the incident. He finally decided to forgo it for now. Steve was in a state of bliss in his life and he just didn't have the heart to take that away from him.

Steve stood up and carefully handed Casey off to him, "I got her all nice and happy for you."

Danny smiled down at her, "You get cuter and cuter everyday. Don't you beautiful?"

"Who did you have to play hardball with, what was that all about?" Steve asked.

"Must you know everything, all the time?"

Steve held his hands up, "Settle down girlfriend, just asking."

Danny spoke to Casey, "He's an animal, your Daddy. But he'll keep you safe and sound, and when he's not around, I will." He kissed her on the forehead.

Lexi gushed, "Danny! That is the sweetest thing I've ever heard."

Steve and Danny both looked at her as she cupped her hands over her mouth and tears welled up in her eyes.

"Are you crying?" Danny asked bewildered.

Steve leaned over to him, "She gets like this. It confuses me too. I'm not sure sometimes whether to hug her or get out of reaching distance of the swing."

Lexi crossed her arms and glared at him, "Can you read me now?"

Danny whispered to him, "Duck."

Steve smiled at her, putting his arms around her in a bear hug, doing damage control, "I love you. I love you so much."

"Yea, yea," she laughed, "my two tough guys, acting like you're all confused and immune to a couple of tears," she pointed at them, "I know you two, I've seen your soft side. You're not always so tough."

They pointed at each other as if saying, you're talking about him, right?

Steve pleaded with her, "Come on honey, I need to keep up my image here, I'm Commander Steve McGarrett, head of Five O, Navy Seal. I'm tough!" he tried to keep a straight face, knowing that she really did know him, inside and out.

Danny jumped in, "What about me? Ever since I've met you, I believe my whole tough guy image has increased in levels. I can be very intimidating." He thought of his confrontation a few minutes earlier and knew it had nothing to do with being tough, that was his own bad temper that ignited that anger. Nonetheless; there were some Seal tendencies in that conversation which actually mad him feel a little tougher, but he would never in a million years admit that to Steve.

Steve looked down on him holding the baby, appeasing him in a teasing tone, "Yes, you can be intimidating, Danno, yes you can. Now can I have my daughter back?" he asked, reaching for her.

Danny moved away from him, "Back off."

Lexi walked toward the house smiling over her shoulder at them. They didn't even realize that they were standing in one of those soft moments right now, doting all over a little baby. She stopped before going in, taking a mental picture of all three of them. She loved them more than anything, and each one for a different reason. She hugged herself, feeling that wonderful euphoric rush.

Life was good again in paradise.

Author note…

Thanks so much for reading and for your nice reviews. They were always appreciated, and they were also very encouraging when I would hit a writing wall. I have another H50 story in mind. It's one I wrote with my own made up characters but I could easily turn it into an H50 read. It would just take some time to manipulate. I was going to continue the Steve and Lexi saga, but I think they have been through enough to keep it believable… :)

Aloha !