Last Chapter of It's Never Too Late. enjoy!

"Are you sure? " Steve asked Catherine for what seemed like the 100th time. It was after they had their breakfast when he got a text from Mary.

The text read

"Hey Daddy, how's the little family doing? I could

Really use some big brotherly advice. Can you come home for a few

hours? Could Catherine spare you ? I wouldn't ask, but you're the

only person I trust 100%. Love Mary"

As Steve read the text, his face changed into a look of concern.

"What's wrong Steve, did you catch a case?"

"No, it's Mary; she's upset about something and needs her big brother."

"Well go call her; I can visit with my parents for awhile."

"She wants me to meet her at home, would you mind if I go talk to her, take a shower, change my clothes, pack a bag, and be back in two hours?"

"No, I don't mind. I'm good Steve, really I'm fine." Catherine replied getting slightly annoyed by his act, even though she thought it was cute.

"And if anything happens you'll…"

"We'll call you right away, Steve." Catherine's mother stopped him. Steve looked at them for a couple of minutes.

"I'll see you later then." He said before he leaned in to kiss Catherine goodbye, and gently ran his hand down her cheek, while staring into her beautiful brown eyes. Caroline had seen this love in his eyes before, the day she was there when he calmed Catherine down. Even though he had kissed her countless times in front of their friends this time it felt weird. Maybe it was the fact that in the past 7 years he had never shown any kind of affection towards her when her parents were in the same room. He could still remember the stolen looks or the hidden touches under the dinner table the one time he had joined her for Thanksgiving. He then leaned down and whispered to her. "Cath, I love you. I'm only 10 minutes away so call if ANYTHING CHANGES, ok? Catherine turns to look at him and kiss his cheek and nods her head and winks at him. "Caroline, Robert, I'll be back before you know it so take care of our girl."

With that, he leaves and the Rollins family is on their own.

10 minutes later Steve arrived at his house. "Mary what's going on? What happened?" Steve asked the moment he spotted his sister sitting on the couch.

"Ryan." She simply replied before taking a deep breath. "I don't know if I can be with him anymore." She added looking up at her big brother. Steve could tell that she must have spent at least half of the night crying, and could see two big tears sitting on the corner of her eyes just about to run down her cheeks.

"What are you talking about? I thought you two were happy."

"We were….I was…." Mary paused as she could feel that she was about to cry again She pulled up her legs and wrapped her arms around them. "Yesterday, after you've told me what he did to his cousin I went home and waited for him. I told him that you had told me about his little prison visit and what he did…. That he really thought that he could keep it from me."

"And what happened then?" Steve asked as he walked around the table and sat down next to his sister.

"He said that he was sorry for not telling me and that he went there to talk… he didn't know what got into him… but he lost it the second he saw his cousin. I told him he shouldn't have been there and that what he had done was wrong on so many levels."

"Mare, hey." Steve wrapped his arms around her as her tears start to fall.

"I don't even know if I want him to be in my life, in the life of our child anymore. I mean what if he's going to be like his cousin? What if he's going to lay a hand on me or our child…? I walked out on him."

"You did what?" Steve asked in disbelief.

"I walked out on him." Mary repeated as she sobbed. Steve took a deep breath as he thought about it. On one hand he could understand her reaction and that she was scared that Ryan would end up like his cousin, but on the other hand he didn't. Of course he wasn't Ryan's biggest fan when he first appeared and that he was related to a rapist and murder isn't exactly his dream brother in-law, but from what he could tell there was no way that Ryan would end up like Michael.

"What, no smart ass big brother comments?" Mary asked when she realized that Steve hadn't said a word.

"Well you know how I think or rather THOUGHT about him, but Mare do you really want to end it that way? Think about it, you're pregnant, you'll have a baby, do you really want to do it all on your own? Ryan loves you. Of that I am sure. And Mare, his reaction isn't any different than mine, Chin's or Danny's when our families are involved. Danny went nuts when Gracie was kidnapped and shot the guy who did it in the leg. Chin went psycho when Malia was missing and beat the shit out of one of the thugs who did it. And, you've not seem half the guys I've done damage to for hurting anyone I care about, my Seal brothers, you, dad, mom, and especially Catherine. Do you remember my reaction to just seeing this skumbag Michael trying to sit next to Catherine at the bar? Are you saying because some guys use their fists first and talk second, Catherine should leave me? It's just that simple, Mare. Wouldn't you rather know that Ryan would stand up to protect you if anything happened to you or your child? He beat Michael up for what he did to women he doesn't even know, and Catherine. That shows me more about him then you'll ever know. He's a strong man who fights for what he believe is right. The only difference between me and Ryan is that he did it first. I was too busy here at the hospital to go to the jail, so I'm not mad at him whatsoever."

"I'm not alone I have you and Mom. I don't need him."

"Fine, let's look at this differently. Do you really think Ryan could be like his cousin? I mean listen to your heart. Do you really think that he'll turn out to be a sick psychopath?" Steve asked getting up from the couch. "Would he hurt anyone he loves for any reason?"

"No." Mary whispered after a couple of seconds had passed. "I know he's a good man, Steve, it's just I'm so confused…"

"Then let's go." Steve grabbed his keys from the coffee table.

"Where? What are you talking about?" Mary looked at her bother as she whipped away her tears.

"Saving you from your biggest mistake, now get up." Steve said as he opened the front door.

"I can't."

"Yes, you can. Now get up." Steve commanded his sister. Wordlessly Mary got up from the couch and followed her brother to his truck.

10 minutes later Steve parked his car outside of Mary and Ryan's house. "He's at home." Mary whispered when she spotted his car in the driveway.

"Let's go." Steve said as he got out of his car followed by Mary a couple of seconds later. Steve had already knocked on the front door when Mary walked up the path that lead up to the front door.

"Steve, what are you doing here? Mary isn't…" Ryan immediately said when he saw his girlfriend's brother.

"That's why I'm here. I guess you guys need to talk." It was then when Ryan noticed Mary standing behind Steve.

"Mare, where have you been? I was so worried are you all right?" Ryan asked her his voice full of emotions.

"I'm Ok…sort of." Mary nodded not daring to look him into the eyes and then there was silence.

"Why don't we go inside?" Steve asked and Ryan stepped aside to let him and his sister walk in.

"Don't you both have something to say to each other?" Steve asked looking at Mary. "Mare, you go first, and Ryan will be silent and listen, he's going to just listen and not say a word, Ryan promises, don't you Ryan?"

"I…" Mary took a deep breath. "Yesterday when Steve told me what you did, I was so mad at you Ryan." Mary said looking up at her boyfriend. "And I got scared that you would be like him…." she stops and sniffles and wipes tears from her face. She starts to continue when Ryan starts to say

"Mare, I ….." Ryan stops when Steve walks over to him and gives him 'THE LOOK'

"Don't Ryan, she's not done, right Mary?"

"It made me wonder if you could ever be like Michael and I should be scared and protect our child. But as my smart big brother pointed out, some really good men hit first and talk second, even Steve. I'm not saying I approve of your behavior but deep down, my heart tells me you would lay your life on the line for me and our child, and if you were willing to beat up your own family for my family, then you are the man I love." Mary looks up at Ryan and smile, then at Steve who's also smiling.

Ryan walks toward Mary and pulls her into his arms. "Mary, I would give me life for you and our Peanut, and hate everything my cousin did and what he stands for. It sickens me to be related to him and know how much pain he's caused to people I don't know, and Catherine, Steve and the rest of your families. I detest men who hurt women, and I would never be like my cousin. I love you and I would never ever lay a hand on you or any other woman on this planet." Ryan said and then he noticed that she must have at least spent the last night crying. "Honey, I would never do anything like that to you." he reached out to touch her cheek, even though he was scared that she would back away. To his surprise she didn't, she let him touch her cheek. "Or our baby." Ryan added placing his other hand onto her tummy. "Never, never ever."

"I love you." Mary whispered when she realized that all her worries were for nothing and that they would be alright again.

"I love you, too." Ryan replied and then he pulled her in for a kiss. When they both parted again they looked into each other's eyes and they both knew that they'll make it through this. It was Steve clearing his throat that made them part again.

"I should probably head back home to shower and change, then get back to the hospital and check on Cath." Steve said.

"Yeah, tell her that I'll visit her tomorrow." Mary said as she went to hug her brother.

"No, Steve, tell her the three of us will visit tomorrow. Me, Mary and our little Peanut. There's nothing more important than family, and we are all family now." Ryan was trying to be brave but he still was worried Steve didn't like him but he thought he's go for it anyway.

"Sounds like a plan. Junior and his cousin can start to play with each other all ready." Steve said and smiled at Ryan and winked at Mary.

"Thank you." She whispered into his ear.

"I'll tell her and You're both welcome." Steve replied hugging her.

"Ryan." Steve said holding out his hand. "Welcome to the McGarrett family."

"Steve." Ryan took his hand.

"You know that I wasn't your biggest fan when you came into our lives, but Mary loves you and you're a good man. Just make her happy." And don't break her heart or I'll break your face, Steve thought to himself.

"I will, she's my life, my heart, my everything, oh, and Steve, thanks for all of this, I mean it, for everything. And could you tell Catherine, I am so sorry for the whole thing she went through at the hands of Michael."

"No need, Ryan, you're not him so you don't need to apologize. Just cherish the family you're making and forget everything about him." With that Steve leaves.

I have plans to write a 3rd part and if i'll do that I'll post a Author's Note here, so stay tuned and leave a review! :)