Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Danny woke slowly on New Year's Day. Normally, he would be a little hung over and pretty depressed over the sad turn his life had taken. Instead, he was feeling terrific. He was spooned behind Steve, his arm slung over Steve's side. Their hands were clasped; Danny could see their matching rings. He thought back to last night: the look on Steve's face as Danny pledged his love; the catch in Steve's voice as he pledged his love to Danny; the happy look on Grace's face as she took her place with Steve and Danny.
Danny remembered the congratulations and best wishes from their guests, from his family, their 5-0 family, the SEALs, and even the governor. Danny thought back to his wedding to Rachel. It was a lavish affair. There were more than 200 guests with a reception at one of the big hotels. He realized that he couldn't recall a single detail of the ceremony or the reception. He knew they made the right decision to keep it small and simple.
More memories flooded back. Fireworks punctuated their vows and the priest's blessing. There was a gentle breeze and a floral scent in the air. His mother, Kono, and Kamekona were wiping away their tears. After months of avoiding PDA's, Steve and Danny had their first public kiss. They held hands as they visited each table.
"It was perfect, wasn't it?" Steve was running his own montage. He was struck with the simplicity of the ceremony. He liked that they walked in holding hands with Grace. Steve knew he owed Grace a debt of gratitude for accelerating his relationship with Danny. He could still picture the look on Danny's face when Grace asked why Danny's wasn't sharing his room and his bed. He remembered the discussion with Danny on the lanai that night and later sleeping together. They agreed to go slow on the physical aspect of their new relationship, but that didn't last for long. Their attraction was too strong. Once Danny realized that he loved Steve too, Danny freely showed his affection.
Steve turned to face Danny, a very sexy smile on his face. He brought their hands up to admire their commitment bands. "They look good there. Good morning, Mr. McGarrett-Williams." Steve kissed Danny on their first morning together as partners. Danny decided it was a memorable kiss.
"Yes they do, and it was perfect. Good morning, Mr. McGarrett-Williams." Danny glanced at the clock and decided they had time yet this morning. He returned Steve's kiss and turned up the heat. His hands were everywhere, tugging at clothes and generally driving Steve crazy.
Steve had been happy just to cuddle with Danny this morning, but he loved what Danny was doing with his hands. No one ever drove him so close to the edge as quickly as Danny. Steve tried to slow the pace, but Danny wouldn't let him. It was like a storm that swept through, leaving them breathless and a little stunned. Steve would remember this time too with 'Hurricane Danny', as he thought of him now.
Danny didn't want to leave their bed, but they had a pretty full schedule this morning. They were meeting his family for brunch at the resort where Steve needed to sign the final bill. Danny didn't want to think what the total would be, but he didn't care. The time with his family was great, and he knew they were having their best vacation ever.
"I guess we should get washed up. Grace will be up soon." Steve had an unerring ability to guess when their daughter would be waking up. He kissed Danny one last time before he rolled out of bed. "We need to let her know that nothing has changed for her, that she's still welcome in here."
Danny got up quickly and followed Steve into the bathroom. He knew Steve was right. He remembered Grace's questions earlier this week. Part of Danny was surprised that Grace was insecure about her place with them after all they had been through, but he knew that it had been a turbulent year for her.
Sure enough, not minutes after they were back in bed, Grace tapped on the door. They were ready for her when she peaked around the door. "Come in Grace. We've been waiting for you." They agreed that Steve should take the lead on this issue. Grace knew her importance to Danny; he moved to Hawaii just to be with her. It was Steve that she had questions about now that he was officially Danny's partner.
Steve hugged Grace as she slipped under the covers. "Happy New Year Grace." Danny hugged Grace and gave an identical greeting.
"Happy New Year, Daddy. Happy New Year, Danno. What are we doing today?" Grace knew that they were going out for breakfast.
"Well, we're meeting Nana and Poppa and everyone for the brunch buffet at their hotel. Then we're going to help them with their luggage at the airport. Poppa, Uncle Mark, and Uncle Bill have to turn in the rent cars, and I'm taking their bags to the terminal in my truck so they don't have to lug them on the shuttle. Then we're coming back here to spend some time with Aunt Mary and Scott until they leave."
"Can we go swimming this afternoon?" Grace was so happy to have her daddies cuddled up to her.
"We can do whatever you want." Danny thought Steve was handling Grace's questions just right.
"Mommy and Daddy Stan come home tomorrow, don't they?" That was weighing heavily on Grace. She knew that she would be going back to the big house tomorrow. Grace really missed her other family, but she would miss Steve and Danny more for the few days they would be gone. This had become her real home, as she thought of it, over the last few weeks. She felt more like a visitor at the Edwards home.
"Yes Monkey, their flight gets in tomorrow shortly after noon. They're going by their house to drop their bags off, and then they're coming over here to pick you up." Danny was sure that Grace knew all this.
"When will I come back to live with you and Daddy?" She wasn't sure why she wanted to cry. Nothing has changed, she kept telling herself. She was afraid that once she left, her room wouldn't be here when she came back.
Steve took the lead back. "Grace, we'll be back next weekend, but your mom and Daddy Stan want you to stay with them for a few extra days. They've missed you a lot and can't wait to see you. We're going to miss you too."
"How long will it be before I see you?"
"Well, let me count." Steve counted the days. "We'll pick you up eleven days from tomorrow, but I think that's too long. I think we should come back a little early next weekend, and maybe your mom will let you come over and spend Sunday with us. Would that be okay?" Steve knew that they were really looking forward to the time alone, but he couldn't let Grace think that they were abandoning her. He looked to Danny, who nodded his concurrence.
"I agree, I don't think we can go that long without seeing you. What do you think, Grace?" Danny wasn't sure what was causing Grace's questions, but he suspected that Rachel and Stan's long trip combined with their own ceremony had something to do with them.
"I'd like that. I don't want to go." Grace started to cry, and now she was mad at herself. She hated crying.
Steve and Danny sat up and Danny lifted Grace to his lap. Steve drew closer so that they could both comfort Grace. Steve was frustrated; he would do anything if Grace would stop crying, but he knew that Rachel and Stan needed Grace back with them again. He was in over his head, a feeling Danny shared.
"Monkey, your mom and Stan have missed you so much. I know you've been here a long time now, but you still have a home with them too. We all love you very much and we agreed that we have to share." Danny gave it a shot and hoped it would convince Grace.
"You wouldn't leave me here like they did, would you?" Grace finally got it out, what had been bothering her.
That broke Steve's heart. "No Grace, we couldn't leave you that long, but Stan didn't have a choice. If Stan didn't go, then he would lose his job. He would have to move away to find a new one, and he didn't want that. Your mom, Stan, Danno, and I are all tied here as one big family with you. Your mom knew that we could take care of you, but if she stayed here, there would be no one to take care of Stan. So you got to stay with us, and she had to go with Stan. Now they're coming back, and we'll all be together."
Grace thought about it and couldn't argue with Steve's logic. "Okay Daddy. I'm sorry I cried."
Steve took Grace from Danny and settled her on his lap. "Grace, don't ever be sorry for crying when you're upset about something. You can always talk to us if something is bothering you. You need to know that. And you will always have a place here with us. Can you repeat that?"
Grace nodded. "I'll always have a place here with you and Danno." She took a deep breath and smiled. Her little world righted itself and she would be okay. She leaned her head on Steve's shoulder. He was all hard muscle like Danno, but there was something different about Steve.
"Good! Now I think it's time for us to get ready to go out. Why don't you get dressed and brush your teeth. I'll be in to help you with your bed and your hair in a few minutes." Steve lifted her off the bed and watched her disappear out the door. "Wow, you need to talk to Rachel and let her know what is going on in Grace's head."
Danny and Steve made their bed as they discussed the problem. "I know. I worried that she might feel this way when the trip first came up, but she seemed okay with it. Thanks for volunteering to come back early so we could have her for a day."
"Danny, I couldn't let her feel that we were just passing her around like a hot potato. I hoped that you wouldn't mind. We'll be missing her anyway. I would give up the trip but Grace needs to get established with Rachel and Stan for her own sake as well as theirs."
"You're right about that too. I think we did the best we could. I'm not sure that we couldn't use some guidance from a professional with this if it continues."
"You mean have Grace go to a counselor. We'd have to go too, wouldn't we?"
"I'm afraid so. The counselor would talk to Grace, and then probably each of us as a couple. Then we would all have to meet together. Would you go?" Danny hated that this came up on what had been a really happy day.
"Danno, this is my family. I'll do whatever it takes to keep us together and happy. And don't worry about the timing. We have a child, and things will happen on their own schedule. We can't control it, and Grace comes first." Steve gave Danny a reassuring hug and went to brush his teeth.
Brunch went well considering that everyone was a little tired from their late night. Grace went back for seconds at the buffet; apparently her emotional storm left her with an appetite. The farewell at the airport was a little hurried because the drop-off point was so busy. Steve and Danny made it home in time to spend a little time with Mary and Scott. They left early so Mary could stop by and visit her friend, Rebecca.
Steve took Grace swimming as promised while Danny made a hurried call to Rachel and Stan. Rachel was distressed to hear about Grace's meltdown but grateful that Steve and Danny handled it so diplomatically. She readily agreed that Grace could spend a day next weekend at their home. Her pregnancy was advanced now; her doctors were displeased that she was still traveling. She suspected that the doctors had pushed her due date out too far. She hoped for a few more weeks before the new baby came so she could focus on Grace.
Danny changed into his suit and joined his family in the surf. Grace was giggling as she evaded Steve's grasp. He would almost have her and then slip in the surf. Danny knew Steve was letting Grace get away. Yeah, they were both big softies for Grace.
The rest of the day was routine for them. Supper was food left from last night's reception. Danny asked the caterer's to leave enough for their meal tonight; the remainder was packed up for one of the local shelters. They watched part of a football game together before adjourning upstairs for story time. They tucked Grace in, realizing that it would be another week before they had the pleasure.
They changed into their sleep clothes and went down to have a beer. Danny was still a little upset that Steve had to deal with such an emotional scene their first day. He hoped for an easy day where they could bask in the glow of last night's celebration.
Steve had no problem with the day's events. "You know, it feels different. I mean, you've lived here for over six months, and Grace has spent most of her time here with us. But it still feels different since the ceremony. I don't understand why couples say a piece of paper doesn't make a difference."
Danny was surprised at Steve's words. Then he realized that he felt the same way. It was different. They had rights now that others took for granted. And there was a deep contentment now. There was something special about standing in front of their family and friends and making their vows. There was no room for misunderstanding; they were together and they were a family.
"You're right, babe. Are we ready for the cabin?"
"We need to pack, and I think we need to run by the store to pick up a few things. We'll have time in the morning. Right now, I'd like to take my partner upstairs. I could use some 'Danno' time."
That made Danny smile. "I like the way you think."
Steve and Danny went to their room and locked the door. At least this time was for them. They were still wearing their matching bands, proof of their new union. Steve knew that Danny was feeling the aftershocks from the earlier scene in the bedroom, but Steve took it in stride. After years of going it alone, he accepted every aspect of family life with Danny. He knew there would be good times and bad times, happy times and sad times. What mattered most that they would face the future together as a family.