A/N: Thank you for reading and favoring and especially for commenting on this fic. I'm sorry for the slow pace of updates, but at this point I guess the fact that I'm actually not watching the show puts me in somewhat of a disadvantage. This fic is just about to be wrapped up. I have new ideas for more fics (McKono fics, obviously) and I know I owe you an update for "Calculated Steps" as well. I'll do my best, promise.

Please tell me what you think, your reviews make me very happy and encouraged.

They eat in silence. At least she eats. He only sits there, playing absentmindedly with his food. She gives him the time, in silence, worried out of her wits, but he never even looks up at her, only sits there, brooding. They clear the dishes together, and she helps him clean up the kitchen. When they finish, he turns towards her and says "Kono, you don't have to stay here if you don't want to."

Although she half expected it, it catches her off guard. She tries to shake the choking sensation she has in her throat when he looks at her steadily, but still, so brokenhearted. She steps towards him slowly, until they both stand so close to each other she can feel his hot breath on her cheek, "kiss me, baby" she whispers, and he does, slowly and tentatively at first, but after a few seconds he holds her forcefully against him and deepens the kiss, his penetrating tongue dances in her mouth as he tells with his body all the things he can't say. Her entire world is swirling around her, when he holds her like that in pained desperation and she lets herself get lost in his demanding embrace.

()()()

An hour later they're naked on his bed. He lies on his back, still a little short of breath, his skin covered with sweat, looking up at the ceiling. She is lying on her back too. Her sweaty naked body shining under the moonlight that comes through the open window. She turns her head towards him, his big and heavy body beside her is radiating warmth and strength, making her feel safe and loved and content. He sends her a questioning look, seeing her smiling happily. The mere fact that he still questions her happiness when she's with him is no less than ridiculous, "you're out of your mind, Steve" she laughs a big, sensual and contagious laugh at the man she loves "you have no idea."

()()()

He doesn't get it. He just sits up abruptly and starts to look for his boxer shorts on the floor. When he finds them he pulls them up and starts pacing around in the room in front of her. She sits up on the bed, and tries to cover herself with the sheet, she sends her arm to turn on the bedside lamp, her eyes follow his every move with growing alarm.

"I was right" he tells her, stopping abruptly in the middle of his furious pacing, spitting the words with hardly contained anger "I was right, at the end." She only looks at him curiously, she has no idea what he's talking about. "I was right, to keep Adam's arrival from you" he explains again, his hand rubbing his face anxiously as he stands there in his bedroom tall and beautiful and utterly enraged "the first thing you did, when he called you was to run over to see him. You didn't even… you didn't even tell me…" he shakes his head, obviously annoyed by his uncharacteristic outburst.

"Of course I had to go see him" she is getting angry by his reaction as well "I had to make sure things are clear between us."

"He wanted you back" he looks at her accusingly "came back to see you all dressed up and powerful, spreading money around, with his…"

"Steve" she cuts him off in anger.

"He's a criminal, Kono" he hovers above her, almost shaking her "he's picked up exactly where he left off, gained his position back in the Yakuza. I know you love him, but even…" The strong slap on his cheek makes him stop. He puts his hand on his face, looking at her with burning eyes, filled with love and pain and despair. She suddenly fears that he'll slip away from her. Leave her there, without letting her explain, the connection between them is so fragile still, she fears that he'll renew the distance he kept, that she thought she just broke. Fortunately, Steve McGarrett is not one to avoid confrontations. She can see how his initial shock is turned into hot boiling rage. She releases the air she was holding within her. A fight then. That, she can handle.

"I don't love him" she tells him, with elevating force. He only stands there in front of her, arms crossed over broad chest, face guarded, ready to hear the worst "I love you" she clarifies "I told you that already, a few times, but maybe with the amount of blows you got to your thick head, you managed to forget it by now." He looks at her pointedly, lips pressed together, eyes glinting, irritated twitch in his jaw. "I went to see him because he asked me to, and I wanted to make sure he understands I need him out of my life." His expression is turning a bit softer when he hears that, she can see how he looks at her, hanging on her every word. "I left him when we were in the middle of a battle zone. We were running for our lives, we were scared, and we didn't trust each other… he knew I missed home, he knew I was regretting my choice, coming here now, he wanted to try it again In a more secured and safe place. He thought that now, after things are more stable, and he can offer me security and a home, things would be different." He looks at her unsurely, but he nods ones, and she hopes it means he understands "I had to tell him that my decision is still the same." She explains "that I am where I'm supposed to be, that I'm happy, that I don't love him anymore, and perhaps I never really did… I had to tell him to go away, and to never contact me again."

He looks at her with growing interest, the stony expression is gone, and she can almost hear the rapid beating of his heart in the silent room. "How did he take it?" he asks, his voice hoarse.

"Not very well" she smiles bitterly, pushing up to stand on her knees before him. He steps forward and gathers her naked body in his arms, gently "apparently I'm quite awesome" she smiles in his embrace, "he didn't really want to let me go…"

"You are pretty awesome" he whispers, but his body is tensing when she mentions Adam's reluctance to leave "what did he do?" he asks urgently, pushing away from her so he can see her face.

"Oh… nothing I couldn't handle" she shrugs and moves away from the bed, walking towards the shower. He chases her to the shower, and watches as she's moving the curtain and steps under the current "what did he do, Kono?" there's a distinct threat in his voice.

"He held my arm, and hugged me and told me he'll never let me go" she tells nonchalantly and she can see his rage reaching a new level "but he did" she reassures him "eventually."

"Did what?" he has million scenarios running in his head, he has no idea what she's talking about.

"Let me go, obviously" she rolls her eyes at him "he couldn't really hold me very well after I broke two of his fingers…"

He stands there in silence, while she closes the curtain behind her, trying to understand what she just said.

"You broke his hand?" he moves the curtain away, looking at her like she's crazy "yes" she shrugs, "and kicked his knee in. I think he'll have quite a limp for the next couple of weeks…" He looks at her in amazement. "By the way, Steve" she looks up at him like she suddenly remembers something "who was it?"

"Who was who?" he's completely confused by now.

"From the two bodyguards, who was the one who punched you, and made all this damage to your face?"

"The baldheaded one" he mumbles.

"Good" she smiles with satisfaction "so I chose right"

"Why?" he looks at her unsurely "what did you do?"

"I shot his leg" she tells him simply "that will show him to touch my man." He looks at her dumbstruck, emotions reeling inside him, as she's only standing there, naked, and wet and completely beautiful. "What's the problem?" she asks him when he still doesn't move after a few minutes.

"I…" he only mumbles.

"Just get into the shower, Steve" she laughs at him, pulling him against her under the current, helping him to get rid of his boxers in the process.

"I thought you disapproved of my actions in the airport" he mumbles when she's moving her lips to kiss him gently on his neck, and her leg is sliding between his own, making him gasp with the want and need she entices in him.

"Of course not" she groans, as his hand captures her breast, his lips closing around her wet nipple "this part was completely appropriate."

()()()

Four weeks later they are in the ocean, on their boards. They are lying on their stomachs in the sun, letting the waves rock them slowly. Her hand is skimming the water gently, and she can feel the afternoon breeze on her back. He is beside her on his own board, his leg is stretched in the water, and she can feel his warm skin touching her leg from time to time.

They're out of the water, walking towards the car together, holding their boards when he suddenly sends his hand and captures hers. She smiles at him happily, a little surprised by this small uncharacteristic gesture. He's usually very reserved when they are in public, always keeps his distance, making sure to treat her as casually as possible. It's rare when he permits his true feelings show, like this.

"What?" she smiles at him when she catches him looking at her strangely "what's going on?"

"Nothing" he shrugs, and points his eyes back to the sandy beach they are walking on. His hand is still holding hers, though, so she can pull it, and make him stop for a second, make him turn around to look at him better.

"What?" she says again, quietly, stepping closer to him, letting the board drop to the sand.

"I…" he smiles back, and she can see his dimples and the shy glint he has in his eyes.

"Tell me" she insists, pulling at his hand to emphasize her demand.

"I love you" he says, quietly, and she thinks… yeah… it looks like he's blushing… She can hardly speak, it's the first time he'd said it. The first time he makes this proverbial leap of faith, and… this is so unexpected, and thrilling, and she feels like she's suddenly overwhelmed with feelings of love for him. "Okay, okay" he smiles awkwardly, looking around him in trepidation, making sure nobody sees this, obviously pathetic emotional outburst "don't make a big deal out of it, please..." It's too late for that, when he looks back at her he can see the tears rolling down on her cheeks "oh shit" he cries in alarm "what's wrong?" his hand covers her tears stained cheek "what is the matter?"

"Nothing" she sniffs "I'm fine." He looks at her unsurely, dropping his board to the sand as well, and holds her as close to him as he can.

"Kono…" he whispers, kissing her salty hair "Kono, stop…"

"Steve" she laughs, pushing away from him, doing her best to dry her eyes "it's fine" she explains "I'm just happy." She leans down and picks up her board again, before continuing to go towards the car. He does the same, hurrying after her.

"It's a very weird way to show you're happy" he grumbles when he catches up with her.

"I don't care" she shrugs "I am."

"Fine" he resigns "but just so you'll know, I was planning on asking you to move in with me today, over dinner. Now you can forget about it."

"What?!" She shrieks in surprise, turning around swiftly, watching him unbelievingly.

"Nope" he shakes his head decisively "not gonna happen."

"Steve!" she cries, watching in shock how he loads the boards back in the trunk, and does it so casually. He only smiles at her mischievously, walking around to the driver's seat "I mean, it's all Danny's fault for pushing me to talk about every fucking little thing and expose my emotions" he explains to her.

"Steve!" she cries incredulously, if he thinks for one moment he'll be able to play his way out of this, he's out of his mind.

"I knew it was a bad idea" he shakes his head in mock self contempt "I mean, it's completely unnerving now. God only knows how you'd react when I'll ask you to marry me…"

A/N2: I wasn't sure about it, so I do hope you'll like the ending.