|20| Family Time

-THURSDAY-

"Whatcha doing?" Emily asks as she sits next to me on the beach. I look up from my book.

"Watching Steve surf." I say pointing out into the water.

"He just comes over and surfs at your house?"

"Well I told him too. He told me he was gonna go surfing this morning at his house and I convinced him the waves here are better. Mostly just because I haven't seen him in a few days. He's been busy on a case."

"Gotcha. He's pretty good."

"Yeah, he likes to think so." I say with a small laugh.

"How is everything with you two?"

"Amazing."

"Good. I'm glad. I'm glad I get to meet him too."

"Me too. He probably won't be out there to much longer. He's already been out there for almost two hours."

"Wow. He does that for a long time."

"That he does. Now you see why I made him come here to do it." I notice Steve hop off of his board and start walking out of the water. He shoots me a smile and I couldn't help but smile back.

"Did you see that last one? That was insane." He asks with a big smile on his face.

"I did. You were pretty good out there." He leans his board up against a tree and walks over me to kiss me.

"Mmmhmm." Emily says clearing her throat.

"Oh, Steve, this is my sister Emily. Emily, Steve." He reaches his hand out to shake her hand and she shakes his.

"I've heard so much about you."

"All good things I hope." He says smiling at me.

"Mostly." Emily says with a small laugh.

"You look tired." Steve says to me. I just close my eyes and smile. "Let me dry off and we can go inside."

"Okay."

"It was really nice to meet you, Steve." Emily says right before walking back up to the house.

"You too."

"You still coming over for dinner tonight?" Emily asks as she turns around.

"Wouldn't miss it."

"Good. I know the kids really want to meet you." She turns back around and walks inside. Steve just smiles and uses the towel to dry his hair off and the rest of his body. He sets the towel down on the chair and we both walk inside and go into Everest's room where I was sleeping while my sister was in town. We get into the bed and Steve turns the tv on. I'm pretty sure I was asleep before he even picked a show to watch.

"Hey. I'll be back in a few. The team just got word on a new suspect so I've gotta go." Steve whispers to me. I just nod. I feel him kiss my forehead and I hear the door shut and I fall back asleep.

I was asleep for a couple more hours until I wake up again, with my head on Steve's chest.

"I thought you had to go?" I say with a sleepy, low tone to Steve.

"I did. I just got back a couple minutes ago."

"Really? How long did I sleep for?"

"Probably four hours. You were only asleep for about an hour when I had to leave and I was gone for about three hours."

"Geez. I didn't realize I was that tired."

"It's okay. Kids can take a lot of energy."

"Was that new suspect your guy?"

"We think so. We had to let him go because we're still building evidence. But we have HPD on his house so that when we get this guy, we'll know exactly where he is. Chin and Kono are working on putting it together and the rest of us are just waiting on the call."

"Good. Are you sure you don't need to be there?" I just look up at him and smile.

"Yeah. I might have to do some work here but there's nothing I can do there until they can put the pieces together."

"Okay."

"Alex was very confused when I walked in the house. He told me I was...what was the word...tesptruding."

"Well, I mean he kind of had the right word, I guess two words. What did you tell him?"

"I told him I was your friend and I was just looking for you. I figured we would tell him you're dating when you're around. I know how kids are."

"Yeah, haha. And that kid has a wild imagination."

"Well after he said the word 'tresptruding' I can only imagine." We both let out a small laugh.

"I should probably get up. I'm sure they've been up for a couple hours now. Driving their parents crazy."

"I've heard a lot of screaming and little feet running around."

"Oh no." I start to get up but I stop and look back at Steve. I smile and give him a small kiss and we both get up and go into the kitchen.

"Oh good, you're up. There was a guy...THAT GUY! He said he was your friend so I told him where you were. He also told me he's a cop, so I trust him." I hear Emily laugh a little as she was making sandwich's.

"Thanks buddy. This is my boyfriend, Steve. Steve, this is my nephew Alex."

"Nice to officially meet you, Alex."

"Wait, I thought you said you were her friend?"

"I am. I am also her boyfriend."

"Cause you're a boy?"

"Exactly."

"But you guys like, hold hands and stuff?"

"Right."

"Hmm. I'm watching you mister." Alex says narrowing his eyes at Steve.

"Alex, leave the poor boy alone." Emily says. "Go sit down and you can have lunch."

"Lunch!" Alex yells as he runs to the table.

"Imagination." Steve says as he laughs.

"Are you guys hungry?" Emily asks.

"Emily, you're in my house. You don't need to feed us."

"Shut up. You want food or not?"

"...yes." I say. She looks over at Steve and just waits for an answer.

"I mean, I feel like I can't say no now." Steve says.

"Good. Because I already made you guys a sandwich. They're on the counter."

"Thank you." We both walk over and grab a sandwich off the plate. "Emily, these are not cut in half. How am I supposed to eat this?" I joke.

"I will shove it down your throat if you don't eat it."

"I like her." Steve says with a laugh.

"You two are going to get along great." I say as Steve and I walk over to the table. "Hi Jessie."

"Hi auntie." Jessie says with her mouth full.

"You have a good nap?"

"Mmhmm."

"Good. Me too. Jessie this is Steve." Jessie just stares at him as he smiles at her. "Can you say hi?" She just shakes her head no.

"That's okay. Strangers are scary, huh?" Steve says to her. She nods her head. "I get it." He just smiles at her and then me and then takes a bite of her sandwich. "Does this have chips in it?" He asks Emily.

"Yeah. Adds a little crunch."

"This is amazing." He says taking more bites.

"Thank you, but I can't take all of the credit. It was really Alex's idea."

"It was?? Way to go buddy! This is genius!" He says to Alex.

"Thank you. I'm pretty smart."

"That you are."

The rest of the day we spent out in the water and all hanging out. And then we had a nice dinner that Everest cooked where Steve formally got to witness how crazy my family is. Just wait until he gets to see when my whole family is together...