“Welcome to Christchurch,” I set my chin on Kawe’s shoulder as our plane landed, “I kind of miss my house already.”

“It has been nice staying together,” he smiled, kissing my forehead, “but I can’t wait to see the city.”

“I’ll do my best to show you a bit at least. I have a car at my parents. Wish I could get it to my house, but eh,” shrugging, I undid my seatbelt, waiting for the announcement to get up, “I have a wonderful boyfriend who happily drives me around.”

“Always will,” Kawe laughed softly.

We finally left the plane a few minutes later, Kawe carrying our bags as we only planned to stay for three days. I had originally booked us for two, but the return flight to Pitt Island was an hour before my doctor's appointment tomorrow and wouldn’t be possible. Instead, Kawe agreed to spend an extra day in Christchurch with me, and it gave me peace to know how easily he adjusted to unexpected changes rather than get upset about them.

“Oh,” I smiled, “There they are. Dad! Matua!” I called to my parents, and Rio spun around before racing over to me, nearly knocking me down, “Jesus, Dad, I saw you a few months ago!”

“I just missed ya,” he whispered, leaning away to cradle my face, “Ya look so much happier than the last time I saw ya in person.”

“Because I am,” shrugging, I hugged Koa when he came close before moving back to Kawe, who happily wrapped his arm around my waist, “Dad? Matua? This is Kawe. I told you about him. Kawe, these are my parents. Rio is the blonde one, Koa wears glasses.”

“It’s so nice to meet you both,” Kawe immediately shook Koa’s hand, “thank you for letting me stay. I brought a gift for you from my parents. I won’t lie, it was a bit difficult to get through security.”

“Is it dangerous?” Koa laughed softly.

“Not at all. Just some special cider my Matua makes and a cake from my Mom.”

“Aw, thank ya,” Rio giggled, patting Kawe on the arm, “Aren’t ya handsome? My word, Asher. Good job.”

“Dad,” I whined, my face warm, “I’m too old for you to keep embarrassing me.”

“Oh, hush, it’s my job. Come on. Bailey, Kylie, and Ava are waitin’ for us. We’re havin’ dinner as a family.”

“Are my grandpa’s coming?” smiling, I followed Rio as Koa and Kawe talked behind me, “They’ll love Kawe. Especially Papa Billy.”

“Why?”

“I’m a firefighter,” Kawe called, joining our conversation, “Ash hates it but accepts that I won’t give it up. I’m the fire chief after all.”

“At 26?” Koa gasped, his eyes wide as we reached Rio’s car.

“No one else wanted to do it. My brother Nikau runs the post office, and my little sister Noemh is a seamstress. She makes clothing for tourists to buy. Except for the jacket I gave Asher as a welcome gift. That was special. Made specifically for him.”

“Wait, that’s not what you told me!” I grumbled, staring at him.

“Would you have honestly accepted it if I told you that I had worked with Noemh to give you a nice surprise when we found out you were moving to Pitt Island?”

“Yes.”

“Liar,” he pinched my side, and I giggled, “You’d have refused, claiming we were doing too much for you. I know you, baby.”

“Shut up.”

Rio laughed softly from the front seat before winking at me, and I nodded, reaching over to take Kawe’s hand.

“So, Kawe,” Koa looked at Kawe in the rearview mirror when we reached a red light, “Have you really never left the island?”

“Never and wouldn’t have without Asher, I don’t think. I love my home, it’s beautiful. You two should really consider coming to see us there. I’d love to show you around and take you to one of the barbeques my parents do weekly. Ash loves it.”

“Because his family is wonderful and Noemh makes delicious cocktails,” I shrugged.

“Asher is the only one brave enough to drink them. They’re so damn sweet.”

“How does… Felix fit into that?” Rio cleared his throat, and I squeezed Kawe’s hand.

“He’s my cousin by marriage. We aren’t blood-related. None of us had truly talked to him in years. He didn’t even come to Uncle Awena’s funeral, and that man raised him. Even though Felix wasn’t biologically his son.”

“Aata told us that when we talked to him a few days ago,” Koa sighed softly, “he gave us the entire truth along with evidence if… Asher had any issues regarding the annulment.”

“It’s already processed,” I smiled, “I’m free of him.”

“Ash,” Kawe stared at me, “tell them.”

“Tau…”

“Do it.”

“Ugh. Felix keeps calling me from random Swedish numbers. I need to change mine. Kawe is under the impression that Felix will try to get to the island again. To see me. To try and win me back or something.”

“Then we change it while you’re here,” Koa nodded, “you should have said something sooner, Asher. We’re your parents. I know you’re an adult and can manage things alone but you don’t have to. I have always loved how independent you are, but that doesn’t help when you’re being stalked by an ex, okay?”

“Okay,” I muttered, “thank you.”

We reached my parents' house a few minutes later, and Kawe had never stopped staring at what we passed, the downtown area making his eyes wide and causing me to giggle.

“How does anyone live like this?” he whispered, and I tilted my head, “You’re on top of each other. No one seems connected. I don’t mean it rudely, it’s just entirely different than how I grew up. We could go to anyone on the island and ask for help. I don’t think that’s a thing here.”

“It’s not,” Rio shook his head, “but it’s home. We love it and I’m happy ya get to see somethin’ different, Kawe.”

“Me too. I feel overwhelmed,” he laughed, helping me from the car before grabbing our bags.

“Unca Ash!” a squeaky voice called from the front door, and I looked over to find my brother Bailey holding my niece Ava on his hip, her blonde waves bouncing in her pigtails.

“Ava!” I yelled back and Bailey set her down to toddle over to me, “Hi baby doll,” laughing, I scooped her up, leaning against the car to keep my balance, “Oh, I missed you.”

“Unca,” she giggled, kissing the tip of my nose before turning and looking at Kawe “Ooh.”

“Hi,” Kawe laughed, taking Ava’s hand when she held it out, “Aren’t you beautiful?”

Ava smiled, her few teeth showing as she laid her head on my shoulder and wrapped her other hand into my hair. Kawe carefully took her as I could not walk holding her and carried her to the porch, talking to her the entire time.

“He’s so gentle,” Rio whispered, linking his arm through mine.

“Yeah. Always is. He knows how big he is, so he does his best to be careful. I’ve watched him play with the kids on the island. There are only 10, and they love Kawe,” I whispered back with a smile.

“I’m sure. We already like him,” he kissed my temple, and I laughed.

“It’s great to meet you,” Kawe smiled at Bailey as he handed Ava to him, “Kawe Tawhiri.”

“Bailey Bennett. What do you do?” Bailey gestured to the house, and we followed him to the kitchen, where we found Kylie making lunch for everyone.

“Fire chief, but I spend the majority of my time doing repairs for the homes and businesses around the island. I rebuilt the schoolhouse recently.”

“Really?” Kylie gasped, adjusting her ponytail, “Why did you have to do that? I’m Kylie, by the way, Bailey is my fiancé.”

“Well met,” Kawe nodded, “just before the cyclone hit, lightning struck one of the rooms. Asher made sure I went, and I helped get the kids out with my team before we worked to stop it. Luckily, the torrential rains started, and we didn’t need to do much anymore. I took the kids home and ran to the hotel my mother owns. We stayed there for a few days. Once everything cleared, I took Ash to my house. It wasn’t in a good… It was ruined.”

“He had a tree family in his living room along with a shark and some fish in his bed,” I giggled, sitting at the kitchen island, “so he’s been staying with me while he fixes up his house.”

“It’s too much, though,” Kawe sighed, “I have to redo the entire thing. I’ve already had to before. My boathouse got washed out to the ocean, so I probably won’t rebuild one. Not worth it. My catamaran is gone anyway.”

“Oh, you fish?” Koa smiled, handing us drinks.

“Of course. I don’t like buying it from Uncle Aata; I want him to be able to send his catches to the companies he’s contracted with. My Matua sells groceries and tourist crap but I hate shopping. I usually catch my own fish and get vegetables from my mom. But Asher has been feeding me mostly, or I go get groceries for us.”

“Other than when you eat with Nik. But you can’t handle it,” I teased, making my parents smile, “What?”

“Nothin’ just nice to see how in sync the two of ya are. What can’t ya eat, Kawe?” Rio shrugged.

“It’s not that I can’t eat it,” Kawe shook his head, standing behind me and wrapping an arm around my chest, “but red meats sit hard in my stomach. I’m not used to them at all. My brother loves steak and makes it all the time. I eat it because I love him and want to spend time together.”

“You have two siblings?” Bailey called, setting Ava in her high chair.

“I do. My older brother Nikau is the postmaster, and my little sister Noemh makes clothes. Noemh’s girlfriend Dippa is moving to Pitt Island soon, though. They rarely see each other, maybe three times a year, and it’s dragging on their relationship after five years. So Dippa is leaving India to be with Noemh.”

“That’s beautiful,” Koa laughed as the front door opened, “I know someone very well who did the same thing.”

“Really? Who?”

“Him,” he gestured to my grandfather Caelan, who looked around confused, “moved from America to stay with my Matua.”

“Oh. You’re new!” Alexander smiled, “Hello.”

“Hey there,” Kawe nodded, shaking hands with all of my grandparents, “Okay, Asher told me so let’s see if I get it right. Billy,” he nodded and Billy returned it, “Joey. Alexi,” he pointed at Alexander who smiled, “and Caelan.”

“That’s me,” Caelan laughed, his thick accent throwing Kawe for a second, “Ah. Right, you haven’t met anyone from America, have you?”

“Nope. Most people who come to our island are from the mainland, Australia, Fiji, or Indonesia. I’m Kawe, by the way.”

“He’s my boyfriend,” I smiled up at Kawe, and he kissed my forehead, “just so everyone is aware.”

“Oh wow!” Joey smiled, setting his walker to the side as he took a seat, “Are you older or younger?”

“Same age actually. We were born two weeks apart. Asher is older than me, if we want to be that specific.”

“Ah. I’m 15 years older than Billy. Koa is 8 years I think older than Rio. I was just curious. Your parents?”

“Arona and Kamaka Tawhiri. Mom runs the hotel and Chamber of Commerce, Matua owns shops. They grew up in the hotel together; it’s generational. Noemh will eventually take over.”

“Not you?” Billy sat with Joey, and I leaned against Kawe more.

“God no. I can’t stand being stuck inside like that.”

“He’s wild,” I shrugged, “I caught him trying to climb a tree the other day to get a coconut down. I had some on my counter.”

“They’re better fresh,” Kawe grumbled, making everyone laugh, “I know, I know. It kills Ash. I get into things all the time, but he puts up with it.”

“It’s fun to watch,” shrugging, I took a sip of my drink with a smile, “he accepts I can’t join.”

“You wouldn’t anyway,” Bailey snorted, “you’ve never climbed a tree in your life.”

“I could try, ass.”

“Hey! Ava is right here, watch your mouth.”

“Oh. Right. Not used to being around babies. She’s beautiful. Thank God Kylie is her Mom, I can’t imagine what a baby that looks like you would be like,” I shuddered, and Bailey rolled his eyes at me.

“We’ll find out soon,” Kylie called softly, “I’m 16 weeks with our son.”

“Wait! Really!” I gasped at the same time as Kawe.

“Oh, I have to call my mom! Hang on,” Kawe ran outside, and I shook my head.

“He’s stupid,” Bailey snorted, “in a fun way.”

“Trust me, I know. I called him a himbo, and he yelled at me, but he is. Big giant idiot with a heart of gold. It’s refreshing. He’s authentically himself, never trying to impress anyone. I guarantee he’s calling Kamaka to have Noemh make something for your son. Family is vital to the Tawhiris. It’s why Felix isn’t welcome anymore. His lies destroyed that relationship.”

“Are you comfortable dating someone that close to him?” Billy called, and I nodded, “Good. It’s all we wanted for you. I like Kawe.”

“So do we,” Rio nodded, “he takes care of Asher without expectations on it.”

“That he does,” I smiled, “picks up my medications, groceries, and cleans when I can’t. I don’t ask any of this. I can take care of myself, but Kawe lives for taking care of people, and I can’t take that away from him. The first day we met, he stopped me from falling and got me what I needed. He adores me. We were scared of each other, honestly. He wanted something real and saw that in me, but Kawe never allowed himself to be happy. I couldn’t get past the idea that his parents wouldn’t want me to be with him because of Felix. We finally broke that down thanks to his brother. Plus, I talked with Arona and Kamaka. I asked if they felt comfortable with us being together, and they gave me their blessing. He’s going to ask for yours,” I looked at my parents, and they nodded with a smile, “It’s incredibly important to Kawe that you like him and feel safe leaving me in his care.”

“Okay,” Kawe came inside, “Rio and Koa? My mother is going to be mailing a few things over the next 9 months. For you, as well as Bailey and Kylie, for your children. I think food might be in there around the time you give birth, so you don’t have to worry about cooking.”

“Really?” Kylie giggled, “Thank you, Kawe.”

“We take care of our community. Oh, I mean family. Asher pointed out how different that is to him. We call ourselves our community as we add people all the time. But it is family. I’m dating Asher, which makes you my family. Um… can I borrow you for a moment?” he rubbed the nape of his neck after pointing at my parents, and the three of them headed to the door before Kawe stopped, “Bailey, you as well.”

“Why me?” Bailey smiled, joining them.

“You took care of Asher when he was in university. You’re also his big brother. It’s important.”

“Right okay.”

 I watched them leave as Kylie came over and cradled my face, a gentle smile on hers, “Ky?”

“I am so happy for you,” she whispered, “you deserve this level of dedication. Kawe clearly, deeply cares for you, and accepts you as you came to him.”

“Yeah. He never misgenders me the way Felix does when he calls to harass me. Hell, Kawe’s first gift to me was a beautiful jacket.”

“That’s all I wanted for you. All any of us did,” she looked at my grandparents, and they shared a gentle smile, peace flowing through the room, “you have our blessing as well.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, hugging Kylie tightly before gently touching her baby bump, “hi bug…”

“Do you want to know his name?”

“Please…”

“Bentley. Bentley Caelan. After his Papa.”

“Oh. Thank you, Kylie,” I sniffled, “I’ll do better to be here more so that Ava and Bentley know who I am.”

“You focus on being happy. Our video calls and your visits when you can are more than enough.”

“Okay.”

Kawe returned with a laugh before bouncing over and kissing me softly, cradling my chin, “Hi baby.”

“Hi Tau. Welcome back.”