Hi Everyone,
Welcome to the first timestamp for Low! The diabetes isn't a huge part of the story itself, but it played a key part in the development of the story. If you haven't read Low, this won't make heaps of sense (though you'll get the gist). It's reasonably short and they will get longer, but for now, enjoy!
Thanks Again,
Rose
(Please not my knowledge of Hawaiian is completely google-based. Apologies for any mistakes.)

Makuakāne

The alarm goes off much too early for Danny's liking. In fact, the very notion of having an alarm on a Sunday goes against everything Danny has ever thought.

"Steve if you don't turn that goddam alarm off I swear-" he's cut off as the alarm ceases by a pair of soft lips on his own. He lets his eyes lips back closed, sinking into the kiss. Steve is on top of him and it's enough of a consolation for being woken up Danny thinks he'll let go of the early wake up. Steve sinks lower, hips shifting down in a way that sets off a feeling deep in Danny's gut. He'd love to let go, but his morals win out and he pushes Steve off him.
"What was that for?" Steve's looks and sounds like a puppy and yep, that face is being filed away somewhere deep for a rainy day.
"That," Danny says, sitting up and pushing his hair out of his face, "Is because my daughter is two rooms down. And because you woke me up at," he checks his watch, "seven on a Sunday."
"Fair enough," Steve gives him one last peck and leaps up with much to much energy for the time of morning. "I'll be back for you with coffee in an hour."
"Mm-hmph." Danny's already halfway back to sleep.

Steve walks quietly down the stairs, mentally evaluating how he's feeling. In the last two months, things have been better than Steve could have imagined. After he'd finally made it out of hospital, Danny had insisted on moving in for a week to keep an eye on him. The week had turned into two, then three and suddenly Grace's thing from her room at Dany's moved permanently into her room at Steve's and Danny was signing off on the ceasing of his lease. Grace stayed with the two of them every other week now; Rachel had more than approved of the large McGarrett residence as an appropriate place to raise the young girl and Steve was getting to see his two-favourite people more than ever before. He tested his levels, noting he was slightly high. It was nothing his swim wouldn't fix, and he'd retest before his insulin with breakfast. He slipped out the door, taking care not to slam it. There were two other people in the house, both of whom hate the early mornings.

The morning was warm already. Steve strolled up the beach, towelling his hair dry. He flicked the coffee pot on and set about making eggs for breakfast, which he planned to take upstairs for his family. Family. It wasn't a word that was familiar for Steve. He'd been alone for a long time. Alone when he was sent to school, alone when his father died and alone with his diabetes. But now, he had a team, a family. And now he's let them in, he's happier than he can ever remember being. He measures his insulin and takes it, plates up breakfast and wanders up into the sleepy domain of the Williams's. He sets the tray on a table in the hall and moves in to wake up Grace.
He crouches by her bed. "Gracie." She rolls over, braids Steve will deny he's learnt how to do perfectly in a sleepy frizz, coffee brown eyes opening.
"Makua?" The word is mumbled, Steve's heart misses a beat.

Grace had come home from school several weeks earlier with an assignment from her "our world and other cultures" class. She was to find someone she knew who could teach her another language. It wouldn't be due until the end of term and the students weren't expected to know much past the basics of their language. It was a culture and bonding exercise more than anything. But Steve can remember the flood of warmth when she'd asked to be taught Hawaiian. They'd spent a half hour every night since, conversing in English with Hawaiian words interspersed. The nights she' been at Rachel's they'd spoken on the phone after she'd called Danny. A little under a week ago, she'd asked the word for father.

"Makuakāne" Steve had replied. "But I called my dad Makua." She'd tried the word out on her tongue and then quickly moved on too much more interesting forms of conversation.

"Good Morning sweetheart." He tried to ignore the slip, for surely that was what it was.

"Hi Uncle Steve." A slip. That's all it was. She didn't even realise she'd done it. Maybe she'd though he was her Danno coming in.
"I have brekkie for you and Danno, want to come and hop in bed with us?" She' shot up with the speed only someone with a Williams' stomach could, bouncing towards the door. He laughed, following her out. A slip. That's all it was.

Danny was awake by the time Steve had picked up the tray. Grace was cuddled into his side, content to sit in the silence with her father.
"Steve you'd better have coffee."
"Well good morning to you too grumpy. "He set the cup of coffee besides his partner even as he said so.
Danny took a sip. "Hey, I said good morning. When you woke me up in the middle of the night."
"It was not the middle of the night."
Grace's laughter nearly upended the cup.

Midday came and Grace was happily playing on the beach, Steve and Danny curled into a hammock they never should have fit into.
"Time for your insulin babe." Danny moved to get up. Before he could get far, Steve shifted, pinning him.
"Danny." The tone had said-man stilling almost immediately.
"What's up babe?"
Steve sighed. "Grace called me dad this morning. Well, not exactly and she didn't mean to and it was probably an accident, I'm sure she though it was you and she didn't even remember but-"
"Slow down babe. From the beginning." Steve took a breath and did as he was asked.

"Why are you so stressed out Steve?" The story had come to an end and Danny didn't look the least bit surprised.
"If she did, you know, mean it, subconsciously or not, then where does that leave me? I'm not her dad, that's you. I couldn't replace you and I definitely couldn't be the sort of guy she needs. She needs someone who can protect her and tell her she is the whole world and deserves that and more. She need someone who will talk with her and help her with her homework and-. Oh." Danny smiled.
"Exactly babe. She knows just what she needs. You."

The lunch table is quiet as the last of the salad rolls are eaten. Danny stands to clear the table, handing Steve his insulin as he goes. Steve injects, the site not unusual for Grace, but as she stood to leave, Danny sat her down.
"Monkey we just need to have a quick chat because Steve's freaking out a bit."
"I am not!" He argued, while Grace giggled.
"This morning when the mad SEAL woke you up before the sun was in the sky, you called him Makua."
Grace jumped in. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to." The young girls seemed distressed and Steve felt himself deflate. "That's what I thought Grace. Don't worry, it wasn't important." Steve tries to leave before the disappointment shows too much. As he turns, he feels a small hand on his shirt.
"Did you like it?" Grace's voice is small and he turns to face her.
"Like what, sweetheart?"
"When I called you Makua, did you like it? Because I didn't mean to make you sad, but Mummy told me that my Daddy was someone who loved and took care of me and I loved and who I could never replace or be without and that's you. Well, it's Danno, but also you. But if you don't like it I won't do it." She looks at the floor.

Steve's heart is hammering and full of warmth. "Gracie," he says, scooping her up and spinning her around. "I would love to be your Makua." She laughs and Danny joins them, a hug that feels like it will last until the end of time itself.

Hours later, movies credits are rolling, but Steve doesn't move. In a bit, he'll wake Danny from where he's slumped into a warm ball on Steve's chest. He'll take his insulin, carry Grace up to her room and tuck her in with whispered words of love. In a bit. For now, he's content to stay exactly where he is. Exactly. Where. He. Is.

Thanks for reading! I hope you liked it. Not sure when it will be updated, but hopefully in less than a week (it may or may not be more hurt/comfort, sorry, I just can' help myself). Please review!
Rose xx