After the reporter took pictures and captured a story, the Bob-Whites headed back to the hotel to clean up. �Wasn�t that simply marvelous of King Kuhio to invite us for dinner tonight?� Honey asked smiling.

�I�ll say it was! Imagine! And as a special thanks, the King is going to send us something as well!� Trixie�s blue eyes sparkled at the thought. It�s a good thing he doesn�t want us there until late because we�re dirty as pigs, you know.�

�I felt especially bad for the boys,� Honey added as she sat down on her bed. �They looked horrible! But did you notice, they didn�t really seem to mind?�

�I�ve noticed since the first time they ever fought anyone, that they never seem to mind.� Trixie said.

�Any ideas on what Kuhio�s sending us?� Di asked the other girls.

�No, I don�t.� Hallie said. �I did see him conversing quietly with Kalani, but didn�t think anything of it until he told us we had gifts of thanks being sent to us, and we should receive them before we are to be at his place.�

�Oh well,� Trixie said at last, �I�m filthy, so I�m going to shower.� When she was done showering she heard the girls squealing over something. Quickly, she dried off and burst into the room to see Honey and Di holding floral print Hawaiian dresses up to themselves and gazing in the mirror.

�Will you just look at these?� Honey spun around to show Trixie. �Divine!�

�Wow!� was all Trixie could say.

Di handed a dress to Trixie and she held it up to herself too. �Gosh, I don�t know about this, Honey,� Trixie said as her face fell. �Looking at these dresses, I don�t really have the figure for these. I�d be better off in one of my outfits.

�Don�t be silly, Trix,� Honey said pulling Trixie�s dress out of the plastic garment protector. �Here, slip this on and we�ll be the judges of what looks good on you.� Trixie obeyed and put the dress on. After clasping dress over her right shoulder, she studied the freckle-faced blond in the mirror wearing an ankle length, blue and white swirl pattern wrap gown. �Here,� Honey draped a sheer blue waist length scarf over Trixie�s right shoulder and attached it to the clasp with a silver hummingbird. �This came with it.� Trixie�s final appearance was met with smiles from Hallie and Di, and a gasp from Honey.

�Good grief, look at me,� Trixe said gawking at herself in the mirror, �Moms would hate this dress, you know.� She pointed to her left shoulder, which remained bare.

�I know,� Hallie said. �My mom wouldn�t like these dresses very well either, but I think because they were given to us, and its for a Hawaiian celebration, we should wear them anyway. It�s not as if they are really all that revealing.� Hallie picked up a small ruffled, flowered band and studied it. �What do you think these are? They came with the dresses too.�

Trixie shrugged as she took hers. �I don�t know, maybe a bracelet?� She slipped it over her hand and around her wrist. The other girls followed suit, as they didn�t know what they were either.

�Well, Trix,� Honey said laying her dark burgundy colored dress on her bed, �I�ll leave you here to primp yourself while I take a shower.�

After Hallie and Di left with their dresses, Trixie stared at herself for a while thinking back to Valentines Day, three years ago. She was nearly fourteen at the time, and wore a simple white cotton dress with green shoes. She turned to see her profile in the mirror and saw a beautiful, shapely woman looking back. As she turned to face her front again, she saw a handsome redhead sneak up behind her and slip a dainty diamond necklace around her neck.

�You look beautiful,� Jim said in her ear. She touched the necklace gently and moved her hand up to gracefully touch Jim�s cheek, but all of the sudden he disappeared and so did the necklace. She spun around to where Jim was standing and didn�t see anybody. Embarrassed, she giggled at herself in the mirror and busied herself in straightening the room. As soon as Honey was finished, she slipped her dress on and neatly styled her hair.

�Are you girls ready?� Di�s voice came through the common door.

�As we�re ever going to get,� Trixie announced, �Come on in.�

�Oh Trix,� Di exclaimed, �You simply can�t be ready, not like that!� She rushed into her room and came back with her make-up bag.

�No way. Nope!� Trixie protested. �Don�t even try, Di. I will never look like you guys. I was silly in leaving my make up home, so it�ll be my fault. I�ll just have to go without.�

�Don�t be silly, Trixie,� Hallie said putting her arm around her cousin. �I left mine home too. Didn�t think I�d need it so Honey let me have some of hers.�

�Well, that�s different,� Trixie said wiggling away from Hallie, �You and Honey have the same colors. Di and I look as different as night and day.�

�How?� Di demanded.

�One,� Trixie ticked on her fingers, �you have violet eyes. Mine are blue. Two, You have black hair. Mine is blond. Three��

�Listen Trixie,� Di said putting one hand on her hip. �You and I might have different features, but we still have light colored skin, so sit down and keep quiet while I make you look like a woman for a change.� Trixie laughed, sat down, and let Di apply the make up. �There,� Di said finally, �A work of art.� The other girls gave her approving glances. After making final preparations on themselves, they hurried down to meet the men in the lobby.

The elevator dinged and the door slid open to unveil four attractive looking women. Brian, Mart, Jim, and Dan were standing just beyond the fountain, dressed in light colored suit coats and slacks to match. Jim took a hold of Trixie�s hand as the others escorted their �dates� out the door to the rental car.

Jim�s green eyes twinkled merrily as he held the passenger door open for her. As she slid past him and into the car, she noticed his new cuff links and tie tack.

�Say, those are pretty nice, Jim, where�d you get them?� Trixie asked when he let himself in on the driver�s side.

�Gee, I don�t know if I should tell you, Trix,� Jim smiled at her. �Some cute blonde woman gave them to me.� Then he leaned closer and whispered in her ear. �You look lovely, Trixie.� She blushed and tried to hide her grin, but she wasn�t that strong.

�Ahem,� Brian broke in. �The party?� This time it was Jim�s turn to blush. His face grew as red as his hair.

Soon, all the Bob-Whites were on their way to Kuhio�s place. Jim drove with Brian giving him directions from a map that Kuhio had given them. As they pulled up to a large estate, Kalani burst through the large French doors and greeted each of them. She was dressed in a floral wrap skirt, a traditional cloth draped around her, and there was a beautiful red flower pinned in her hair. She led them through the gate into the vast yard and the family members stopped what they were doing to welcome the Bob-Whites. Kaiu rushed up to Trixie and took a hold of her hands.

�I apologize for not thanking you earlier, but I was in shock.� Her eyes danced from one Bob-White to the other. �I am so happy to see everybody. I didn�t think I would again.�

�But, aren�t you injured at all?� Trixie looked at the young woman, who seemed to be as fit as ever. �I heard someone throw you against the wall back at the hotel?�

�No, I was already against the wall,� Kaiu explained. �Kawan kicked the wall just above me, to scare me. That�s all.� She smiled again. �Please come and sit with us!� Kalani and the young woman led them to a long table.

Honey nudged Trixie in the ribs. �Look,� she pointed at the ankles of the other women. �Looks like these bracelet things go on your ankles.� After they seated themselves at the table, Trixie and Honey discretely switched the bracelet from their wrists to their left ankles. Di and Hallie copied them. Jim and Trixie found themselves sitting next to each other at one end, Honey and Brian, Hallie and Dan, and Di and Mart.

In the middle of the room was a large banquet table set up and young men preparing a bon fire. Soon dinner was underway and the Bob-Whites were stuffed. King Kuhio announced the return of his daughter, Princess Kaiu and gestured to the group of eight young people who were able to track her down. He also explained how wrong he had been to not call the police. A young man stood next to Kuhio that the Bob-Whites had not yet seen.

�Trixie,� King Kuhio said as he turned to face her, �Kawika would especially like to say a few words to you.�

The smiling young man stepped up and took her hands. �Trixie, you must realize that you are a hero to Hawaiian Royalty. If you, and your friends hadn�t caught the kidnappers, the dynasty would be without a Princess, a future monarch, and my future wife.� Trixie gasped at his words. �It is true. Kaiu and I are to be wed in three months. We would like to express our thanks.� Kaiu and three other women walked up to the Bob-Whites and hung bright colored flowered leis around their necks. Kaiu stood next to Kawika while the others stepped back.

All of this left Trixie speechless. She had never received such treatment before. Usually, the thanks she gets from Captain Molinson is a simple thanks and a smile. Then, the rest of the time, she gets a frown and a �beat it, kid.� The couple hugged and kissed each Bob-White and stepped back next to King Kuhio.

All through dinner, the Bob-Whites were entertained with dancers, singers, and fire-juggling acts. Di brought her camera to the dinner to take pictures of everything and she was sure to have their pictures taken with the Royal Family.

It was late into the night when the Bob-Whites thanked the Royal Family for the gifts and dinner, and finally arrived back at their hotel. None of them were the least bit sleepy, so they decided to meet down in the outdoor restaurant just to chat.

�You know, this will be one more feather in your cap, Trix,� Honey said proudly to her best friend. �Captain Molinson won�t be able to say that you�re just a nosy kid.�

�I think it�s funny that he still calls me �nosy� when he�s called on our help before. Remember the Dodge kids, and he sure wouldn�t have had a case with Mrs. Elliot if it weren�t for us Bob-Whites.�

�In light of what I said earlier about our younger sibling, I still think we should give the National Aeronautics and Space Administration a run for their money and send our favorite shamuses to the moon,� Mart said with a grin.

�Yeah,� Di agreed, �NASA too!� The Bob-Whites started laughing at Di�s innocent comment, but all she could do is sit there and wonder what they were laughing at.

�Don�t worry about it, Di,� Mart said lifting his black-haired, violet-eyed beauty onto his lap. �They�re just agreeing with you.�

They chatted for a while and finally decided it was time for bed. They were going to take the day off tomorrow from site seeing and just relax. Trixie and Jim stayed back at the table while the rest headed through the door and up the stairs. Brian held the door open for Honey, but she turned and gestured to Trixie to come on in with them.

�No, you go ahead. We�ll be up in a while.� Trixie said. Honey threw her a knowing grin and started up the stairs. Trixie leaned forward and rested her chin on the palm of her hand and sighed.

�What�s the sigh about, Trix,� Jim asked sliding his arm around her waist. She felt a little shiver as he did.

�I guess its inevitable,� she said, �that everywhere I go, a mystery pops up.� She folded her arms on the table and looked at him squarely in the face. �But there�s one mystery I haven�t been able to figure out on this trip. It�s really baffling me too.�

Jim raised his eyebrows at her. �Well, what?�

�Why didn�t any of you men, especially you, Jim Frayne, ever, ever try to stop me? I didn�t get one lecture from any of you.� She glanced at the corner of his mouth, which had been bleeding before. �You four sure put up a fight, and you didn�t even object to my fighting with you. Maybe the answer is right in front of me, and I just can�t see it.�

�Elementary, my dear Trixie. Don�t you know that besides Honey, I�m your biggest supporter?� He tore his eyes from hers and looked down at the table. �I have a confession to make, though.� Trixie�s eyes rounded at his words. �For the last three years, I haven�t always been there to support you. There were times that I said some pretty nasty stuff to you, and frankly, I don�t know why you continue to stick with me. Other girls would have said �sayonara� a long time ago.�

�Things like what?� Trixie acted as if she didn�t know. It was true, there were times when she felt frustrated at Jim�s lectures, but there was never a time when she was too angry at him to never forgive him.

�To start it all, is the incident with Dot, back in Iowa,� he pulled his hand back from around her waist. Folding his arms, he leaned on the table, but didn�t look in Trixie�s eyes. �And I hate to bring her up after two years, but then there was Laura. I could see the hurt in your eyes, and well, I just didn�t know how to tell them that I appreciated their kindness, but there is someone else in my life.� Jim�s face flushed a little. �I guess I�m just no good at telling people, who are being nice to me, where to get off. The times I made fun of your instincts, are times I regret too. I should have learned from the day I met you, that your instincts are usually right.�

Hearing Dot and Laura�s names brought back those memories. I don�t even care if I never talk to Jim again. What a horrible thing to think of, but he�s right, it did hurt her to see him at the side of another girl, one who was undoubtedly prettier than she was. But that was in the past. �Jim, let�s not even think about dumb things we did as kids,� she said standing up and kicking her sandals off. �Lets go for a walk out on the beach.�

Realizing that it was no longer necessary for him to bring up those two incidents ever again, he looked up and smiled as he untied his shoes, stuffed his socks in them and rolled up his pant legs. Soon they were walking down the sandy beach to the oceanfront.

�Come with me,� he said leading her by the hand up on a rocky ledge and around the bend. There, looking beautiful as ever, was a shimmering waterfall. He kept walking toward it, but Trixie protested.

�Jim, we�re going to get all wet!�

�Just wait and see. The yesterday while swimming, you girls were too busy with sand castles to go �sploring, so I found this little beauty.� The waterfall flowed over the ledge above them and crashed to a ledge below them. Jim let go of her hand and stepped behind the waterfall into a cave. Trixie took a hold of the freckled hand that extended around to help her.

From inside the cave they looked through the water pouring down in front of them and could see a sparkling ocean and a giant moon. The waterfall let in just enough moonlight so they could see blue outlines of each other. �Jim this is�.� Trixie started to whisper then stopped. She didn�t know how to describe it.

�Breathtaking?� Jim whispered back to her. He could see her nod. The blue light gleamed off her blond curls. �I knew you�d like it.�

�Oh Jim, could this be our special place?� Trixie asked excitedly. �You know, like how Dan and Hallie have one? I�m sure Mart and Di have one too.�

�If you like, we can have as many special places as you want,� Jim gazed at the pretty woman next to him. �The kitchen sink could be one, or better yet, the chicken coup?�

Trixie chuckled. �I�m sure, seeing that I spend most of my time there, it may as well be our place.� She caught a glimpse of the man standing next to her. The moonlight glistened off his red hair. He looked all around different in this blue moonlight.

�Trix, you look amazing, you know that?� Jim said brushing his hand lightly over her bare shoulder. �I�ll always love that thirteen year old girl that I met all those years ago, but the woman in front of me has me forever stunned.�

Trixie felt a slight zing go up her back as she felt his hand on her shoulder. Suddenly, the moonlight made his eyes twinkle differently. This was a different Jim Frayne that she had seen slide down the roof of the gatehouse and skillfully swing his supple body around the rain gutter. This man was different from the Jim that expertly kept Trixie and Honey from drowning in the flood in Iowa, who looked into her eyes right after saving her from drowning at Bob-White Cave, who was overcome by joy when he found out, that because of Trixie, he had a cousin, who gave her approving looks and showered her with compliments. Instantly, she forgot the frustrating times that they had discussed earlier.

Lightly, he slid his other hand around her waist and faced her. She moved her hands from his shoulders to his waist, and they stared into each other�s eyes for what seemed like eternity. As she moved closer to him, she could feel his heart beat faster and faster. He bent his head low to touch noses with her, who returned it with a wrinkled nose and a giggle. Slowly, Jim smiled, slid his hand from her shoulder to around her back, closed his eyes, and touched his lips carefully, tenderly to hers. She felt a very unfamiliar thrilled sensation well up from deep within and slightly moved her hands around his back. She had never been kissed before, not passionately. It was a whole new experience for her. She let a soft moan surface as Jim pulled her closer yet. As Jim�s lips let go of hers, he let his breath out and grinned. They gazed at each other for a while and lightly let out a small laugh. Both sets of lips were too numb to talk, so they stood there in each other�s arms, with her head against his chest and his chin resting upon her head of curls, staring out at the moonlight.

Captain Molinson set the Sleepyside Sun down on his desk, and sat there watching the sunset out his office window. The golden rays of sunlight filtered in and warmed the cold linoleum floor. It had been a slow, but rather boring day. Not much excitement happened around the police station when Trixie and her friends were out of town. Again, he glanced down at the headline:

Just below it was a group picture of the eight Bob-Whites, Captain Liu, and Kuhio with his daughter. The article had explained how Trixie had been able to track down three wanted men, including Texas prison escapee, Ian Storm, a.k.a. Steve Burgess a.k.a. Phil Rogers. As he read this, Molinson�s eyes moved from the newspaper to a WANTED poster hanging crookedly on his corkboard, amidst various other wanted posters, missing children posters, and �what to do in case of emergencies� posters.

�What a day,� he sighed to himself as he stood up from his desk and strolled over across the room. After a brief hesitation, he pulled the thumbtack out of the corkboard and removed the poster. �I suppose I�d better enjoy this solace, peace and quiet, as much as I can before next Monday.� He scuffed his way back to the desk and picked up the front page and Trixie�s penned note. After stapling the three items together, he pulled open his desk drawer, and dropped them in the file folder marked �TRIXIE�.

Author�s notes: �The Hamakua� is a real restaurant in Honolulu, and yes, I did use it without permission. The names Amy Lynn Baldwin, Lois Ann Sanderson, Tammy Lu Olson, Linda Stevens, Ian Storm, Steve Burgess, and Phil Rogers are fictional and any incidentals are pure coincidence. The names Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Liliuokalani, King Kamehameha, Kalakaua Dynasty, King Lunalilo, and Governor John Owen Dominis were real people who are all a part of real Hawaiian history. I �borrowed� them from various WebPages without asking. I have never been through the Capitol building in Honolulu, so I have no idea if there�s such a room like the one Kalani showed the Bob-Whites through. The names Kalani, Kuhio, Kiu, Kaiu, Kawan, Kawika, and Liu are all Hawaiian names and are fictional characters for the sake of this mystery. That I know of, there is no such historical preservation group in Hawaii that considers themselves Royalty because they are descendants, and who won�t call the police when in trouble, I made that part up. �How doth the little butterfly improve its shining wings.� is a quote from �Alice in Wonderland� by Lewis Carroll, and is used without permission (of course.) All other names and places affiliated with Trixie Belden are strictly owned by Western Publishing Company and I blatantly used them without so much as a lick of permission�so in a nutshell, DON�T ANYBODY SUE ME �CAUSE I AIN�T GOT NO MONEY!