I love it.

What a start to our ANNIVERSARY MARATHON! I'm so happy that this wonderful story opened up the marathon and another year of The REAL WORLD!

Joan is just perfect here and you write toddlers so so so incredibly well. Blending her distinct personality with typical two year old cuteness. The wake up call and excitement to see Unc Teeve and Ann Caf in her house just pulls the reader right into Mary & Joan's place.

The breakfast ... Steve 'losing' his seat... his joy at Catherine and Joan's interaction jumps right off the page. As does Cath's innate ability to have people love her. Right down to tiny little people, without even trying. That scene shows it more than ten paragraphs of descriptions could.

The mowing grass - Steve wants to step back into the role he was forced out of all those years ago so badly, and you show his getting more comfortable in being the big brother with this simple encounter.

Steve saying he's gonna check out Aaron with absolute matter-of-fact-ness was so spot on Steve. Because yeah, Mare, that's not gonna change.

The whole butterfly garden was so relaxed and beautiful. Perfect pacing of each scene and the hair gripping was just ... I adored that image of Cath loosening Joanie's grip on Steve's hair so very much.

The spinning was the perfect end to the day. Because even Commander Steve McGarrett spun at the butterfly garden and it was ... exactly ... what he'd do and how he'd do it as Catherine knew he would.

Finally, the relaxed scene with the two of them. Aw, Catherine's not too tired tonight. Good for them :) because the love and sensuality is palpable. Every minute indeed. And these two deserve it.

Bravo! love love love it! xoxoxox

I loved all the stories of their vacation, but I think I loved this one the most.

For Steve to get time with his sister and Joan...for me to get to "hear" so many "Teeve" callings... just a heart melting piece. For Mary, who Show has all but dumped completely, to have this day with her family is also just so lovely. And their day was so real. We've all had these with our siblings or cousins or whoever our close family are. Something we all treasure. So to know how rare this is for McG and Mary, just made the story all the more special. A trip to a museum, Steve mowing her lawn, ordinary things, but extraordinary for THESE characters. Then SUCH the big bro, wanting to run a full background on her new possible BF!

So cute:
Mary: Do you want his date of birth too so you can run a background check?
Steve, with no irony!: That would be helpful, yes.
And Steve again: Catherine can do it if you want, but it's gettin' done.

Tho he did have a good reason. They got some messed up family history for sure.

And there was just this wonderful peaceful vibe to this whole piece. Like a peace McG rarely if ever experiences. It just was there, thru the whole thing. I don't know how else to describe it, but I just loved it.

I loved this! I really hope we get to meet Aaron soon! :D

Favorite Romantic moment: early on in the RealWorld, there was that romantic scene when Steve lists all the scents Cath used and realizes that when he would have to be deployed, she would have no scent...so deep. Loved it.

This was so lovely, I don't know where to begin. The way you depict Joan is so realistic and full of cuteness that I want to give her a big squeezy hug. Breakfast and the tour of part of the house was such a mundane normal thing but it wasn't mundane to read it at all. I can already feel Joan''s distinct personality and the family dynamics between Steve, Cath, Mary, and Joan.

The mowing grass was great. I can feel the bonding these two siblings should have had when they were younger taking place now. I especially loved how Mary''s teasing about refilling the sand table was taken seriously by Steve. I could feel just how much he wants to look out for his sister, particularly since he couldn't do it when they were younger.

The new boyfriend for Mary is a nice touch. The fact that the relationship is going slowly and that this guy seems to be nice shows that she''s no longer the immature girl she was when the show first started or even when the RealWorld started.

The butterflies were nice. I liked how you put in real details about the butterflies without overdoing it. The trip felt more real and I could almost believe I was there with them.

Loved the spinning. :)

The ending of course was lovely. I can feel the love and desire between these two so well just from the dialogue.

I also like how you ladies build your stories on each other. Steve asking Cath if she wasn't too tired tonight compared to yesterday makes me forget that the Real World has 3 writers, not just one.

That was abeautiful interlude. Joan and Mary are such an integral part of Steve's life in your stories and Iappreciate that greatly. Your version of Steve is so refreshing, his willingness to show his love is wonderful

What a wonderful start to their vacation! Steve and Catherine are so good with Joanie...they'll make great parents some day! Although I see many background checks in the future for prospective boyfriends/girlfriends!

Amazing first chapter! Excellent! Looking
forward to reading chapter two!

Are you going do a story about steve or Catherine or both dooing background on the guy. I like to one.

It was a great day to share with Joan and Mary! Thank you for sharing this great day.

Little Joan could seriously not be more cute. Loved this!

An exceptional story (as usual) and a great way to lead off a marathon!

Favorite romantic moments... There have been quite a few but the ones that pop into my head off the bat are Steve's first "I love you" and the butterfly bushes. If I went back to re-read the entire REAL world library I'm sure the list would be quite long. Alas, that's not in the cards for me right now. :(

Another story that puts a big smile on my face and makes me sigh happily!

I just adore how far Steve and Mary's relationship has come and finally their interactions are just so 'normal'. The joking about Steve making himself useful as Mary throws him the cloth to wipe Joan being a prime example! The whole days interactions speak of 2 people who are comfortable with each other and are very much living the brother / sister relationship. The gentle teasing about spinning in the butterfly house made me grin. Mary has come a long way in her self confidence to be able to be relaxed enough to joke with Cath at Steve's expense. It wouldn't be too long ago she would have been afraid of the reaction she'd get.

Joan for me is perfect. She is such a typical toddler in her behaviour and love of all the people in her life. She has such an excitement about everything she does and does it at 100mph. The little moments she shares with Steve, Cath and Mary throughout the day bring so much to all of them and add so much to the happy family atmosphere that is being created. The image of Steve playing with the play kitchen being fed all sorts of things made my day. I can just see him sat on the floor while Joan very seriously creates him all sorts of masterpieces!

I loved how we get a small glimpse into the complex history Steve and Mary have. It was written brilliantly so not to be overpowering but leaving the reader in no doubt as to why Steve reacts the way he does. I don't reckon Mary has even contemplated the real reasons why Steve is so vigilant when it comes to new people entering their lives. It is so sad that he has to think like that and that the guilt he feels about not being around for Mary (even though it wasn't him doing) still rules so much of what he does.

As much as I adore all the interactions between Steve, Cath, Joan and Mary, I have to say the thing that made this story for me and gave me a warm fuzzy feeling were the small gestures of complete love between Steve and Cath. The way Cath runs her hand up his back at the breakfast table, the way she releases Joan's grip on his hair... I could go on and on. Every single one perfectly placed and every single one so perfectly in character. The final moments too were brilliant. Steve is so much more open with his feelings and that declaration of how great every night is with Cath by his side was just perfect!

Fav romantic moments... That's a REALLY tough one. So many of my favourite moments are so tiny. The looks you guys create across a bar, the office or the house etc, the gentle touches, the small moments of complete love... I could go on and on. If I had to choose though I'd say Cath quelling Steve's nightmare in Namesakes, Cath stating categorically that nothing will change if Steve's eyesight doesn't return in A cohesive team and Steve's reaction to Grace teasing him about being the one who loves Cath the most in Steel. (But I could go on and on!)

This is so cute. I love the interactions between everyone and it's good that they are all so close! Thanks for writing! Hope you continue xP

Awwww...love Unc Teeve and Ann Caf...

And the budderply experience was just so sweet!

A favorite REAL world romantic moment...
June 16th...Anniversaries...need I say more? I mean the anniversary of when Steve first saw Catherine? :)