Of Twins, Memories and Choices

Chapter 1: "What do you mean you can't babysit?"

Summary: Danny and Steve are called to the Governor's office for a case but Mary isn't available to babysit Lilia & Lucas like she usually does.


"Steve, we can't take the twins to work with us," Danny said as he followed Steve around their...his...their children's nursery as he packed their diaper bags.

"Well, what do you suggest we do?" Steve asked as he paused. "Mary said she's busy, Kamekona's giving a helicopter tour, Grace practically begged to watch them but we both agree she's too young to stay at home alone for an unknown amount of time."

Danny sighed. He knew Steve was right. They were out of options. The Governor called and said he wanted all hands on deck for his urgent case and was giving them 45 minutes to get to his office with the rest of the team.

"We could call Rach...," Danny began, but Steve cut him off with a decisive, "No. Absolutely not."

Maybe that came out a bit more harsh than he intended, but Steve wasn't about to turn to his partner's ex-wife to watch his kids/niece and nephew. And fuck, if that wasn't a complicated mess, he didn't know what was, but he needed to not dwell on his sister and Danny in bed together. Ever again. Especially not now that he and Danny were finally together.

"Okay, well what about Max?" Danny suggested as he picked up Lilia from her crib. "At least until we know the kind of case we're working on and how long we're going to be busy...and if he's not currently slicing and dicing any bodies."

Steve thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Okay, but you're calling to ask him." Steve said as he picked up Lucas from his crib next to his sister's. "Don't forget the other diaper bag."

"Chicken...," Danny mumbled as he grabbed the diaper bag and followed Steve out of the room. "You're a chicken, you know that, McGarrett. Still not over the third degree he gave you the last time you asked him for a favor."

Steve shrugged his shoulders, neither confirming nor denying the accusation. "It's your turn to ask," came his rather lame and delayed reply.

Danny snorted as he set Lilia in the carrier that was sitting on the bed in his and Steve's room. "Right. My turn. Why don't you just take them down to the car and I'll make the call." Danny added as he picked up his phone from the charger on the side of the bed.

"I'll be in the car," Steve put Lucas in the other carrier, secured both kids and checked his pockets to make sure he had everything he needed before picking up both carriers, leaving the room and going down the stairs.

"Hold up McGarrett!" Danny said as he reached over to grab Steve's arm. "Why is our son wearing his sister's beanie?"

Steve looked down at the boy in question and gave a little shrug. "I couldn't find his and we need to leave...come on," he said as he continued out of the room.

Danny sighed as he scrolled through his contacts list on his cell to call Max. As he waited for the call to connect, he sorted through the diaper bags. He did not understand Steve's method of packing, it made absolutely no sense.

"Detective Williams, what can I do for you?" Max said by way of greeting when he answered his phone.

"Max, Steve and I have a huge favor to ask of you," Danny said as he lifted his left shoulder to hold his phone in place while he finished working on the bags and moved to secure his badge and gun to his belt.

"I thought as much," Max replied.

"The Governor's called us in and our usual babysitters are busy…," Danny began.

"And my services are needed to watch Lilia and Lucas?" Max finished.

"Yes," Danny said with a sigh, "If you're not cutting open any bodies that is."

"My morning is currently free, however I do not know about the rest of the day," Max said. "I will gladly watch them for you and Commander McGarrett."

Danny grabbed the diaper bags and rushed out of the room. "Thank you Max. We will be there soon."

"I will be waiting, Detective," Max said as he ended the call.

Danny put his cell in his pocket before heading down the stairs. "Max has agreed to watch the twins," he said to Steve. "If we leave now we can still get to the Governor's on time after dropping them off."

"Right behind you, D.," Steve replied as he maneuvered out of the front door. "My hands are full so you're going to need to unlock the car doors."

Danny waited until Steve was walking down the foot path to their borrowed car, they were going to have to get something larger soon because they couldn't continue to use Mary's rental while she borrowed her friend's car, before pressing the unlock button on the key fob. With his foot, he did a skipping hop to pull the front door closed and turned to lock it.

"Did you activate the alarm?" Steve asked as he set Lilia's carried down and opened the rear passenger door of the car. He secured Lucas' carrier, gave him a stuffed animal and closed the door before he picked up Lilia again and walked to the other side of the car. Once there, he opened the door, moved a couple of the stuffed animals to the side and secured Lilia, gave her a stuffed animal and closed the door.

"No, but I locked the door." Danny said. "It'll have to do, don't have time to unlock and set it."

Steve snorted. "It's okay for you to not set it, but you read me the riot act when I forget to set it."

"No one has ever broken in when I forget to set it, but when you forget, they break in and taser you."

"I was tasered once, well before the twins were born, and I did set the alarm but it was deactivated," Steve said defensively. "Just...let it go, Danno." he said the last part in a sing-song way and spreading his arms from his body while wiggling his fingers.

Danny rolled his eyes. "What have I told you about watching Frozen?" He popped the trunk to put the diaper bags in the back, closed it and walked to the driver's side. "I'm driving," he informed Steve as he held up the key.

Steve was about to protest when Danny raised an eyebrow. "I had to call Max and you were too lazy to look for Lucas' beanie. This is your punishment."

On the way to drop the kids off with Max, Steve went over what type of case would warrant 'all hands on deck'. "You get the feeling that the Governor has some shady friends?"

Danny raised an eyebrow as he looked at Steve, "Better be careful he doesn't hear you say that..."

"You know what I mean," Steve replied with a roll of his eyes. "They're obviously no where near as shady as Jameson's 'friends' but it's questionable."

"One, you're in no position to talk about having questionable friends. Two, it doesn't necessarily have to deal with one of his friends. Could be something completely unrelated." Danny said as he merged on the H-1. "Just...don't worry about it until we hear what he has to say."

Steve nodded his head, but still mused what could be going on. "Yeah, you're probably right."

H50-H50-H50

It took twenty minutes to get from the house to Max's office and another ten minutes to get the kids settled with him.

"Lilia had half of the baby food in the green container and needs to finish the other half," Steve said as he set the carrier down. "Lucas has half a bottle of formula and if possible, all of the baby food in the yellow container." Steve set the second carrier down.

"Are they still not eating and drinking all of their food?" Max asked, slightly worried. He didn't profess to know everything about babies and their eating habits, but as much as he had been around these two, he began to notice certain qualities about them, but never had it in him to bring it up with Steve or Danny.

"Lucas can't stop eating, but Lilia only seems half interested in the baby food and formula," Danny replied. "Their pediatrician said said they were healthy."

"I do not know your pediatrician, but perhaps some sort of supplement could be given to Lilia?" Max questioned. "Girls are not known to eat as much as boys do."

Steve thought for a moment before nodding, "That could be something we talk to the doctor about."

"But what do you know, you're a coroner!" Danny added defensively.

"I still went to Medical School," Max replied as he turned his attention to the twins. "Now who is ready for Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure?"

Danny was set to respond to Max's suggestion, but Steve reminded him they needed to meet the Governor, so they left the kids in Max's capable, yet eccentric hands.