A/N: Alright this story is going to be very different from the other stories I have written. This story is mostly fluff. My goal is to give Danny and Grace a fun family vacation in New Jersey. Please let me know if this story starts to get boring. Nothing worse than a fluffy story with no H50 action, and it is boring to boot. Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: (Tune of O Christmas Tree) Oh H50 Oh H50 I do not own you no no no!
"Ladies and Gentlemen we will be making our final descent into Newark shortly. The temperature outside is a chilly 36 degrees so be sure to bundle up before you leave the airport and thank you for flying with us today," came the voice over the P.A. system.
Although Danny's eyes were closed he heard every word the captain had said. His stomach did an excited flip knowing that he was back in New Jersey. He hadn't been home in over 3 years. Spending Christmas with his family was something he had wanted to do ever since he had moved to Hawaii. He had spent three Christmases in the sun. The only hints of the time of year were on the calendar. He couldn't help feeling a little melancholy when he stared at the red and green decorations on palm trees. It just didn't look right. He missed the snow, even the cold weather, but most of all he missed his family.
Danny's mother was an excellent cook and everyone was always well fed at Christmas time. Danny planned on taking full advantage of her culinary treats while they were there. Although, if he gained weight on his trip Steve would never let him hear the end of it. That was motivation right there to not stuff himself silly.
It hadn't been easy to convince Rachel and Stan to give up Grace not only for her entire school break, but also an extra week after school started up as well. Not to mention that they were at the beginning of another custody disagreement. It had been Danny's mother that had convinced his ex to let him have Grace. Despite Rachel's disagreements with Danny she had always liked his mother even after the divorce. Rachel had given in after their phone conversation, although, she insisted on daily phone calls. This opened up possibilities for Stan and Rachel to take Grace to England for the holidays next year.
It had taken Danny three years to save for this trip and he wanted to take full advantage. In another 3 years Grace would be 13 and who knows what would be happening in their lives at that point.
Danny opened his eyes and looked down at his sleeping daughter. He gave her a small nudge. Grace yawned and opened her eyes. She was snuggled under a blanket. Grace had no winter wardrobe. In the planning stages of his trip he had reached out to his sister for help in supplying warmer clothes for her. Grace only had one older girl cousin and several younger. Danny knew his sister Corie was saving her daughter's clothes to be used as hand me downs.
Danny's clothing preferences hadn't changed much since the move although he did own a few more t-shirts to wear during his time off work. Anything he didn't have he could borrow from his father as they would be staying with Danny's folks during their visit.
"Are you excited, Monkey?" Danny asked as they felt the plane begin to make its decent.
Grace smiled and nodded her tired head. It had been a long trip. Their first plane had left Honolulu just after 5 the evening before. They had spent the night on the plane and landed in Chicago around just after 5 a.m Illinois time. Their layover had been close to five hours. The pair enjoyed breakfast and a bit more leg room until they boarded their second flight. With the time changes it put them in Jersey around 1:00 pm. This was 6 hours ahead of Hawaiian time.
Danny stretched his legs as best he could in the cramped space as the plane came to a stop at the terminal. As soon as the captain gave the okay Danny and Grace were up and gathering their belongings. Danny helped Grace put on her backpack before slinging his bag over his shoulder. Both wore long pants and sweatshirts. His folks were supposed to be bringing a winter coat for Grace to wear out of the airport. Danny and Grace joined the slow moving line off the plane. Danny nodded to the pilot and Grace waved as they exited.
"Where are Gram and Papa?" asked Grace as they walked through the busy airport.
"They should be waiting for us by baggage claim," Danny said focusing on hanging onto his daughter and stuff.
His mind automatically remembered his way around the familiar airport as he led Grace passed some metal detectors to the spinning luggage carousel.
"Daniel," came a recognizable voice.
"Daniel Terrence," another well known voice soon followed. Grace and Danny immediately spotted the owners of the voices.
The pair picked up speed making their way to the older couple. Grace was caught up in a hug with her Grandmother while Danny embraced his father. Danny had a lot in common with his father. It was his example that made him the father that he was. Danny also got his great hair from the man.
"How are you, son?" Terrence, "Terry" Williams asked.
Danny squeezed his dad tighter in response. The older Williams smiled against his son's blond head.
Danny and Grace then switched. Elizabeth Williams held out her arms to her son kissing his cheeks before wrapping her arms around her neck.
"My Danny baby is home," she said against his shoulder.
"Hi, Ma," came Danny's quiet response.
Danny got his sarcasm and stubbornness from his mother.
Both Jerseyians had thick accents. Grace had only had the beginnings of one when she had moved, but Danny had refused to lose his. Despite all his efforts his accent had faded some after his years in Oahu.
Danny pulled back from his mother and kissed her cheek. Mrs. Williams put her hands on either side of his face squeezing his cheeks slightly.
"Let me look at you, baby." Danny sighed like an embarrassed teenager and allowed her to inspect him.
Danny heard a chuckle come from his daughter. The older woman couldn't hold in her excitement and pulled her 36 year old baby boy in another hug.
"Lizzy. . . Lizzy. . . ," Danny's father said as he placed a hand on his wife's shoulder, "We need to find their bags and get going."
She kissed Danny one more time before pulling away and turning her affections back to Grace.
"How's my Gracie Elizabeth?" the older woman asked squeezing her grand daughter once again.
Danny and Terry watched the carousel.
"Ma, would you let my kid breathe before you suffocate her," Danny said half serious as he picked up Grace's pink Disney Princess suitcase.
Mrs. Williams loosened her grip on her grand daughter but kept her arms wrapped around the little girl. Grace looked up at her Grandmother and smiled.
"Gracie you letting your father borrow your suitcase?" the woman asked obviously teasing her son.
Grace giggled.
"Ha Ha," Danny said sarcastically.
Once they had all their bags Mrs. Williams picked up a shopping bag that had been dropped once Danny and Grace had been spotted. She pulled out a brand new winter coat.
"Now let's try this on and make sure it's the right size."
She helped Grace into the coat.
Danny took a deep breath.
"Ma I told you to get one from Cordelia," Danny said.
"Oh let me spoil my grand daughter," she retorted, "By the way Corie will kill you if you call her Cordelia."
Danny chuckled. He loved to tease his younger sister about her name. Danny turned to his father.
"Pop we are only here a couple of weeks it just seems like a waste."
"Hush Daniel and let your mother have her fun."
A few minutes later the four were walking out of the airport into the chilly New Jersey air. Danny took a deep breath. No pineapple, coconut, or tropical fruit smell of any kind. It smelled like home and immediately brought back hundreds of memories that the Hawaii heat and tropical smells had pushed into the far reaches of his mind.
"Do I get to see Talia today?" Grace asked as they climbed into the mid size SUV.
"Tomorrow honey, she and her mother are going to come over to help me do some baking. Do you want to help?"
Elizabeth Williams had planned on Grace helping anyhow, although Grace nodded enthusiastically.
The little girl was excited to help her grandmother in the kitchen. She remembered eating all her sweet treats from past Christmases in New Jersey. Packages had been sent to her and Danny after they moved to Hawaii. Both father and daughter agreed that the best time to eat Mama Williams' Christmas goodies was when they were fresh and warm out of the oven. Grace hoped to get copies of the recipes in order duplicate some of them at home.
Baking with Gram was not the only thing that had Grace excited. She was excited to see her cousin Talia. Talia was two years older than Grace, but the two girls were close like sisters. Talia had one older brother and two younger. Like Grace she had no sisters. Rachel and Cordelia had both been pregnant at the same time. Cordelia with her third child and Talia's younger brother. Talia had instantly become infatuated with Grace after she was born even though she was only two years old. She was always careful around baby Grace although she wasn't so careful with her own baby brother. Grace's move to Hawaii had been hard for both girls, but they kept in touch using Skype, Twitter, and Facebook. Neither girl was old enough to have their own account. Talia used her mother's while Grace had shown Danny how to set one up so she would have access. According to Gram Williams, Talia had gone nuts when she found out her favorite cousin would be visiting from Hawaii over her Christmas break.
Danny smiled at Grace as Terry pulled out of the parking lot. Danny read the welcome to Newark, New Jersey sign as the car passed by.
"Welcome Home," he thought to himself.
Alright lots of Danny's family to meet in this story. Poor Danny misses his New Jersey home so much. He needs a chance to be with his family especially after Mathew was such a poop head. So part of this story will be exploring who Danny's family is. We know his Hawaii ohana. Now let's meet his New Jersey family. Be prepared for stubbornness, loud mouths, sarcasm, and a whole lot of love. Enjoy and please review.