Lost

Chapter Nine

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me. Phooey Chop Sooey!

Author Notes: Final Chapter. Fluffity, fluffity, fluff, fluff. I warned you.

Steve grinned up at Kono from where he sat on the corner of his desk. She was dabbing antiseptic on the cut over his eye. His girlfriend did not look happy, but he was beside himself. He felt his heart rate evening out and the adrenaline starting to come down. He had relished every minute of the take down. He remembered her voice coming across his ear piece after he cuffed the guy.

"Steve McGarrett, what did you think you were doing taking him down with your bare hands?"

The other guys had chuckled as they, of course, could hear the entire conversation.

"Kono, come on. I just wanted to…"

"What? What, Steve? Get yourself killed?"

"No, Baby…"

"Ohhhh." "Baby is it?" "Uh-huh." "Lover's quarrel!"

"Uh…can we talk about this later…at home?"

"Oh, you better believe we are going to talk about it."

"Uh, oh." "Stevie is in the dog house." "You got that right."

Kono dabbed the antiseptic on pretty hard this time. She was trying not to crack a smile. He was so adorable when he was like this. He settled his hands on her hips as she worked and drew her closer to him. He was so cute with that smug expression, but she couldn't let him know that. His head would be too huge to fit in the jeep later.

Steve's mind had wandered back to the bust. When they had secured the house and begun investigating the property, they discovered that they had closed down the biggest gun running operation the island had ever seen. They found three buildings on the property that housed over 2,000 weapons from semi automatic assault rifles to surface to air missiles. The governor was so excited that she planned to give the entire team citations. Steve invited all four tactical teams and anyone else involved in the take down to his house for a huge BBQ. Significant others were invited as well. There would be beer and dancing and general rough housing. Kono understood why they needed to celebrate, but she was hoping for some alone time with Steve. Oh, well.

Steve was getting pretty good at reading her. His expression changed and he looked up at her apologetically.

"Kono, I'm sorry. This was your first day back at work and you look exhausted. I should never have invited all those people over."

"It's okay, Steve. It comes with the job. Besides, how do you know I don't want to do a little celebrating myself?"

"I know that you would celebrate not by partying, but by surfing, which you can't do for at least two more weeks. I also happen to know that you and I haven't seen each other all day and we won't get much alone time now that I've invited the entire island over. I'm sorry. I promise I'll make it up to you. I also want you to feel free not to play hostess, but to stretch out on one of my lounge chairs and just take it all in. Okay?"

"Okay."

They put their foreheads together and looked into each other's eyes. Once again someone cleared his throat. It was Danny.

"Chin and I are going to do the shopping for tonight. You take Kono home so she can rest for a bit and we will see you there."

"Danno, thanks man."

They arrived at the house around four, so Steve insisted Kono take a nap. No one was expected before six. Kono agreed as long as Steve would lay down with her. They climbed onto his bed and nestled in each other's arms. Steve had opened the window and allowed the sea breeze to blow gently in the window stirring the curtains. It mesmerized them both and they were asleep in no time. The two of them didn't stir again until they heard Danny and Chin sneak into the house.

"They are so cute. Dontcha think? They're so adorable at that age when they sleep."

"That's my cousin he has his arms wrapped around."

"Yeah, but they look good together. I say we leave them like this and let everyone from the party come and take a look."

"We can hear you, you know."

"Oops. Our bad."

Kono threw a pillow at them.

"Very funny. You better have lots of beer and food. Now get out of here and go start the grill. We're coming."

Steve leaned down to kiss Kono and hopped off the bed. She stretched and looked up at him with a big grin.

"I can wear a bikini again. No more bruises or ribs wrapped up. You better keep an eye on me mister."

"I'll have both eyes and two hands on you at all times if possible Miss Kalakaua. Now get your cute body up and put said bikini on. I've missed ogling you."

She walked past him unbuttoning her shirt as she went. Steve held his breath and groaned a warning.

"Kono…"

She glanced back over her shoulder innocently.

"What?"

He gave chase and smacked her on the bottom just before she slammed the bathroom door on him.

The turn out for the party was great. Steve was glad his nearest neighbor was several hundred yards away. There was a lot of noise and music and laughter. The stories of Steve's fight had reached epic proportions. The stories of the assault on the property had as well. The guys had earned it though. He was glad that no one on any team had been seriously wounded and only one guy had required a stay at the hospital. Thank God for Kevlar. Steve enjoyed manning the grill and Kono had taken his breath away when she came out of the house wearing his favorite turquoise bikini. She settled on a chaise lounge right beside the grill and watched him the entire night. When he would finish turning the meat, he would come and sit on the edge of the lounger and play with her hair or hold her hand. They smiled at each other all night.

Chin and Danny watched them from their spot on the wall surrounding his backyard.

"Man, they are gone."

"You can say that again."

"It's like they're in their own little world."

"Yeah, but it's nice, don't you think?"

"I do. It hasn't been easy for either one of them."

"It's so great to see my cousin truly happy again. When she had to leave competitive surfing, I didn't think she would ever smile again. Tonight she's glowing."

"Steve grieves for his dad. I know he does. We've had a few conversations in the car and I think he honestly had come to the conclusion that he would never be happy again either."

They clinked their bottles together and downed them. Derek walked over to where they were standing.

"I would never have had a chance with her, would I?"

"Nope." "Not a snowball's chance."

"Figures."

The party went on until way into the night and Steve had to put the last guy in a cab and send him home around three in the morning. Kono was asleep on the chaise lounge wearing one of his T-shirts. It completely swallowed her. Cute. Definitely cute. He gently slipped his arms underneath her and carried her into the house. Chin and Danny were each crashed on one of the sofas in his living room. Thank God neither one snored. Kono had snuggled under his chin and was sighing softly in her sleep. When he got to his bedroom, he didn't place her on the bed right away. He cuddled her to him. He relished holding her like this. He looked down at her and his heart was so full he felt himself tear up. When did he become such a softy? And how on earth did he get so lucky? When he was dating Catherine he never felt whole. It was like a piece of him was always missing. With Kono he didn't feel that way anymore. In fact, he finally felt complete with her in his life. He almost groaned at his lame reference to Jerry Maguire. He couldn't picture himself saying to her, "Kono, you complete me." How lame was he? He chuckled and Kono stirred. Her eyes fluttered and she looked up at him. She had the cutest voice when she was sleepy.

"Steve?"

"I didn't mean to wake you."

She reached up and cupped his cheek.

"Steve, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. I just…love you."

"Steve…"

He settled her softly onto the bed, lay down and drew her close.

"Kono, I've never felt this way with anyone, ever. I don't want to scare you, but even though we've only been together for a month, I've known you for over a year. I…I don't want you to move out when you get the cast off in two weeks. I want to make our relationship permanent. I'm not asking you to just live with me Kono. I want to marry you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

"How much did you have to drink?"

"Two beers. I was the cook. Remember? Kono I'm not kidding about this. I want to wake up to your face every morning. I want to snuggle with you every night. I want to kiss you while we eat cheerios in the morning and then drive in to work together. By the way, I love the fact that you love cheerios too. I want to cook dinner with you every night and go surfing together and some day soon I want to make love to you and have babies with you. I want to know everything about you. I want to know all your cute little quirks. Oh, and I want to keep catching the bad guys with you. I want you Kono, in my life, from now on. Am I being clear enough?"

Kono was having a hard time finding her voice. It finally came out in a whisper choked with emotion.

"Perfectly clear."

"Kono, I know you know this better than anyone, but when you found me that night at the beach, I was lost for the first time in my life I didn't have purpose. I'd lost my way. Losing my dad and then Catherine dying because of me using her like that. I wanted to die. I really did. But you were so earnest and so caring and I lost my heart to you that night. I can't ever imagine my life without you."

Steve buried his face in her neck and hair and held her close.

"It's so funny that you are the one giving me the credit for saving you, when you did the same for me. That night at the beach you found me too. I saw someone in front of me that hurt the same way I did. I saw someone who cared about what they had done. I saw a man I admired and respected. The fact that you were so affected by what happened is why I fell in love with you. And I am deeply in love with you in case you don't know that. You are so amazing. I have never felt so loved in my entire life. You've become my world Steve. I can't picture being away from you ever again. I want the same things you do. I want you to carry me to bed at night like you did tonight. I want you to wash my hair for me in the shower. I want to beat you to catch a wave."

Steve laughed and tickled her on that remark.

"I want to wash the jeep with you and spray you with the hose and have you chase me with a wet sponge. I want to have kids with you too. I can't wait to have a curly-haired little boy with your beautiful eyes and long lashes. I want to watch you play catch with him in the yard and chase him across the beach. I think you'll be an amazing father. I know this is going to sound corny, but you are the love of my life Steve. No one else could even come close to you. I want to marry you too. That is if you are really asking."

"Oh, I'm asking, only I plan to do it right with a ring and everything soon. I promise it will be so romantic, you'll faint before I can put the ring on."

"Did I mention that your ego is really cute sometimes?"

Steve gazed down into her eyes and smiled. The moonlight fell across the bed as he took her in his arms and kissed her deeply. It was the one kiss they would never forget. It held the promise of a life together and a love that would carry them through the years. Steve slipped his hand underneath the t-shirt she was wearing and stroked his hand across her smooth stomach. Kono's hand rested on his bare chest and she reveled in the ripple of his muscles. The kiss deepened and they caressed each other and whispered together until sleep claimed them both.

In the living room a voice whispered in the dark.

"Dibs on Best Man."

"Go to sleep Danny."

Author's Notes: That's all for now folks. I have a new story idea, but am still doing research to see if the concept is plausible. If so, I may start posting later this week. They are predicting snow for us, so I could have a couple of days to write to my heart's content if I don't have work. Once again, thank you for the reviews. They have been supportive and funny and delightful to read. You are all so faithful to leave them for me. It means a lot. I read them like a starved animal.