Taking Care of Grace

Chapter One

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They are not mine. I just fantasize about them.

Author Notes: This story came to me this morning when I was talking to one of my friend's daughters. She's ten. Steve is babysitting Grace, but he unexpectedly needs a little help from Auntie Kono.

Steve and Grace stood at the security gate with Danny and Rachel. Danny was hugging Grace for the tenth time since they arrived at the airport.

"Remember, don't let Steve feed you too much junk food. The man can cook, so make him."

Rachel took her in her arms for a hug.

"You can call us any time no matter what time of day or night. Got it?"

"I've got it mom. I'm almost ten you know."

"Are you sure about this Steve? I can't believe you're willing to use your only days off in a month to babysit."

"Well now would be a pretty bad time for me to say no, now wouldn't it? Go and enjoy some time away. I'm so glad to see you guys back together. Grace and I are aces. We are going to surf, swim, build sand castles, go to the water park and eat our way through Waikiki. Don't worry, okay? If I get in trouble I'll call someone. I had a kid sister you know. I took care of her after my mom died. I can do this Danny. Now go, get out of here and love on your woman. We will be fine. Right squirt?"

"Right, Stevo!"

"Did you teach her that Danny?"

"Who me?"

The two men grabbed each other and slapped each other on the back. They grinned as Rachel reached up and gave Steve a sweet kiss on the cheek.

"Thank you for doing this. It's the nicest thing anyone's done for us in a very long time."

"Then don't worry. I'm prepared for any scenario. Go and have a good time and we will see you in a few days."

"Okay, bye Sweetheart. We'll call every night."

"Okay, bye Mom."

They watched as her parents hesitated and then finally got in the security line. She watched them until they went through the scanner and gathered their bags. As they disappeared towards their gate, she turned to Steve who grinned down at her. They high fived each other. Grace sighed.

"Thank goodness. I thought they'd never leave."

Steve nodded his head at her with a grin. He turned his back to her and squatted down.

"Yippee, piggy back ride!"

"Let's go see Kamekona and get a shaved ice."

"Oh yeah!"

Grace jumped on his back and they headed out to his jeep. Thirty minutes later they were standing in line at Kamekona's stand. What a surprise when they reached the window and found Kono behind the counter.

"So this is what you do on your days off? Am I not paying you enough?"

"The big guy called me. He's short on help and I figured why not? It's the beach and I get all the free shaved ice I want. I didn't have anything better to do. So, Danny told me you volunteered for babysitting duty. Who knew you had au pair skills Boss?"

"He's a great babysitter. I get shaved ice and pizza for dinner tonight and we're going to the Wet and Wild water park tomorrow."

"Oh, man. The one with the huge slide?"

"Yep."

"I love that park."

"Want to go with us Auntie Kono?"

"Uh, Grace I don't know how Uncle Steve feels about…"

"Oh come on "Auntie Kono", it'll be fun."

"You seriously don't mind if I come along?"

"We always have a good time together. As long as Grace wants you to come I think it'll be fun. We don't do enough stuff together away from work. Come on. Say yes."

"Okay then, deal. Beats doing laundry."

"Okay, you're on. We'll pick you up at 9:00."

Kono grinned at Steve.

"I'll make us a picnic lunch since you're driving. It will have some healthy stuff for a change of pace."

"Hey, I eat healthy stuff."

"Yeah? Don't forget I hang out with you after work. All the three of you guys eat is pizza, hamburgers and steak. I'm pretty sure there are a few more food groups than that."

"Yeah, yeah, okay. How about after the water park tomorrow I grill some chicken out on the grill with roasted vegetables? You can bring a big salad and we will be able to tell her parents how well we're feeding her."

"You're on. See you guys tomorrow."

Kono watched them walk away. As they sat down on a bench to devour their treats, Steve looked back at her and winked. Kono smiled for the rest of the day. Her boss really was cute. He was so much more than that though. Other than Chin, she had never looked up to a man like she did him. Besides, any guy that loved kids the way Steve did, made her heart flutter. There was just something about someone so masculine being so tender and playful with kids. She was really looking forward to their time together. It would be a whole day with Steve in papa mode.

That night Steve sat on the side of Grace's bed and read from Harry Potter.

"You know, these books are really good."

"Uncle Steve, are you getting hooked?"

"I think I am actually."

"Want to go see the final movie with us when it comes out this summer?"

"Sure."

"Night Uncle Steve."

"Night Doodle Bug."

Steve kissed her forehead and tucked her in. When he went to turn the light switch off Grace asked him a question.

"Uncle Steve, do you like Kono?"

"What do you mean, Grace? Of course I like her. She's my friend."

"No I mean like, like her."

"Oh…you mean like a girlfriend?"

"Yeah."

"I…I've never thought about her that way."

"Why not?"

"Uh, I work with her Grace. It could complicate things and I don't think she thinks about me that way."

"Hmmm."

"What hmmm?"

"She's really pretty Uncle Steve. Don't you think so?"

"I do think so, but…"

"So what's the problem?"

"Uh…time to sleep Grace. Let's talk about this some other time, okay?"

"Okay, but I think she likes you Uncle Steve."

"How do you know?"

"A girl just knows these things."

"Oh, she does huh?"

"Yep. I think you should talk to her."

"What would I say?"

"Oh, you know, romantic stuff."

"I see, and that will work?"

"It does in the movies and on TV. Try it Uncle Steve. Just try it."

"Okay, you, go to sleep."

"Night."

"Night."

Steve closed the door and walked back down the hall to his room shaking his head. What a funny thing for her to say. How could she pick up on something like that? He did like Kono, but had never pursued anything with her. It just seemed easier that way. Besides she was always dating some guy or other. He did wonder what it would be like to date her. She was always so fun when the four of them did stuff after work. She teased and flirted and just had fun whatever they did. It occurred to him that there had never been a woman in his life that did so many things so well. He loved watching her surf. It was poetry in motion. He had a hard time going to sleep that night. Thoughts of Kono filled his mind.

The next morning Steve pulled up in front of Kono's and smiled when he found her sitting on the front steps waiting. The girl was always prompt or early. She would have done well in the military.

"Hi, Kono!"

"Hey Gracie. Are you ready for this?"

"You bet!"

"Hey Boss."

"Hey Kono. Do you think that for today since we are not at work you could call me Steve?"

"Sure, Stevo."

Steve groaned.

"Get in the jeep Kalakaua."

Kono stood and stretched her long legs that looked even longer with the pair of shorts she had on. He wondered what color bikini she had on under those shorts and t-shirt. Darn Grace for putting these ideas in his head. Who was he kidding? He'd had those kinds of thoughts about Kono for several months now. He put the jeep in gear and headed out on the highway to drive to the park.

It was a weekday so the park wasn't very crowded. Grace was thrilled that she was finally tall enough for all the rides. Steve almost groaned when they changed at the lockers. Kono was wearing a bright red bikini and she looked amazing in it. Grace grabbed her hand and Steve's hand as they walked through the park. It was like they were a little family. It made Steve think about what it would be like if he and Kono had a family of their own. He shook his head. Where did that come from? They hit the Tornado, the Big Kahuna, Shaka and the Flyin' Hawaiian before lunch. He loved the Big Kahuna. It was a three person raft ride and Kono was pressed against him with Grace pressed against her. They laughed and screamed until they were hoarse. The tornado was wild. They all grinned as they plunged down the sloping sides. He had to ride Shaka twice, once with Grace and once with Kono. They had to sit with Kono's legs overlapping his. She grinned at him as they plunged down the steep incline. Afterwards, the three of them decided to break for lunch.

"I'm having such a great time Uncle Steve. Thanks for bringing me."

Grace ran ahead to the gate so they could go out to the jeep and eat lunch. Kono grinned at Steve.

"Yeah, "Uncle Steve". I'm having a great time too. Thanks for bringing me."

"I'm glad you're having fun. I am too. This has been so much more fun with you along, Kono."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. We should hang out more often."

"I'd like that."

Grace yelled at them.

"Hey guys. Hurry up and get stamped so we can eat."

Steve surprised Kono by grabbing her hand and running the rest of the way to the gate. He held both their hands out to the guy for a re-entry stamp and didn't let go all the way to the jeep.

Kono had made a feast. The ice chest had sodas and beer and orange juice. She had kept some fruit in there chilling and the best sandwiches Grace said she had ever eaten. For dessert she had made Haupia. It was Steve's favorite Hawaiian dessert.

"Wow Kono! Why haven't I asked you to make lunch before this? You've been holding out on me. I'm so full. I don't think I can swim for at least an hour."

"Aww!"

"I know. Why don't we go and hang out at the Water World Playground? That way Kono and I can catch some sun and you can keep playing in the water. After that we'll hit all the other big rides and call it a day."

"Hooray!"

Ten minutes later Steve and Kono were spreading their towels over a couple of chaise lounges and watching Grace try to maneuver over the obstacle course.

"She's such a fun kid."

"I know. I see parts of both Danny and Rachel in her. They're wonderful parents."

Steve watched Kono as she smiled and waved at Grace.

"Do you want kids?"

"Some day I do. I want to teach them to surf. I think I want a big family. I come from a big family and it's so much fun to be part of that."

"Yeah, I've experienced the Kalakauas in all their glory. It is fun."

"Sometimes it's hard though. When all the stuff with my uncle and Chin went down, the family split down the middle."

"That must have been hard for you. I'm sorry Kono."

"I knew Chin was a good man. I knew he didn't do it, but I just couldn't get him to tell me what really happened. My uncle is a good man too. He just got caught in a bad situation trying to help Auntie."

"Do you miss her?"

"Every day sometimes. She was really sweet and a really good listener. My mom tends to be a bit dramatic. It drives me crazy. Auntie just listened. She never judged me. When I was surfing and competing, I went a little wild. My mother would get hysterical when I didn't come home sometimes. I couldn't wait to get out of the house and on my own. My father was extremely strict, so it wasn't always easy, but I did know I was loved."

"Yeah, my dad was strict too. Military man all the way, but he did tell me he loved me. It did it often. That's the kind of dad I want to be. I want my kids to know I love them and I'm not afraid to say it."

"You're a nice guy Steve McGarrett."

"Thanks. You're a nice woman Kono Kalakaua."

"Thanks."

They sat staring back at each other for the longest time and then they both put on their sunglasses at the same time and laid down to soak up the sun. After about an hour, Grace came and dripped water on both of them as she shook her wet hair.

"Hey you two get up. We paid to have fun, remember?"

"That we did. Let's go ladies."

They spent the rest of their time riding the Raging River, Surfsliders and the Waianae Coasters. At the end of the day they rode some of their favorites again. By the time they headed out of the park Grace was beat. Steve hoister her up on his back and carried her piggy back to the car.

"Best day ever, Uncle Steve."

"Yeah?"

"Oh, yeah."

"I gotta say Grace, you are one fearless young lady. There wasn't a single ride you wouldn't go on. I like a daredevil."

"Is that why you like Kono so much?"

Two heads swung sharply in her direction.

"What?"

"Nothing."

As Steve dropped her in the back of the jeep, a huge smile spread across her face. Kono looked at Steve and he shrugged his shoulders.

"You are a daredevil and I do like you."

"Get in the jeep and drive."

"Yes ma'am."

Kono couldn't help the smile that spread across her face. She turned to look at Steve and found him smiling affectionately back at her. In the back seat Grace pumped her hand in the air. Her plan was working beautifully.