A/N: I don't own the characters. Sorry for any mistakes. I'm not sure about the age difference but it works for this story.

Confessions of the Heart

Steve had had enough. He and Danny were on the way back to HQ after interviewing a person of interest that turned out to be a waste of time. There was no better time than the present to have that talk with Danny. Steve looked over and saw Danny brooding and looking out of his window. Steve drove to a secluded place where he and Danny could talk without any interruptions. Danny didn't even notice. They were parked for a couple of minutes before Steve started to talk.

"So when are you going to ask her out?"

"Huh?!" Danny replied "Who am I asking out?"

"Seriously? That's how you want to play it?"

"Steve what are you talking about? And why are we here?"

"Kono. Kono is who I'm talking about. When are you going to ask her out?"

Steve saw Danny stiffen. He expected denial but was surprised by Danny's response.

"I'm not!"

"Why?"

"WHY? WHY? Let me tell you why. She's a colleague, we work together, I have to think about Grace, she's Grace's aunt, she's still in love with Adam, Chin will kill me, I'm a pervert and last but not least she doesn't feel that way about me. So why would I want the humiliation of asking her out for her to turn around and let me down gently?"

Danny said the last part quietly, Steve barely heard him. Steve decided he needed to tackle certain aspects of his best friend's rant. He could see Danny was hurting and had been for a while and couldn't take it anymore.

"Firstly, Grace loves Kono and she's a teenager now, she knows first-hand that relationships don't work, you and Rachel are divorced. Do you honestly think that if you and Kono did start a relationship and for some reason it didn't work out that Kono would forget about Grace? Seriously? You know Kono loves Grace there is no way either of you would intentionally or unintentionally hurt Grace. If, and that's a big if, if you don't work out at worst things may be awkward for a while but then they would improve. Now you can't tell me you regret your marriage as that resulted in Grace, you can't regret your relationship with Gabby because you did have some good times and I know you love her even more for talking to Grace when you two broke up so Grace knew she was still loved. Kono would never hurt Grace.

Secondly, Chin is not going to kill you, well I'll take that back, he will kill you if you hurt her by not giving yourselves a chance. Look Chin knows you, he knows you're not a player. He knows that you would do anything for Kono. You have liked Kono since that first day on the beach but you never did anything about it. I thought it was because of Chin, then I thought you didn't want to cause problems with team in case it didn't work out. Chin didn't know us then so of course he was protective of his baby cousin but he knows you now. I bet everything I own that you have never been a player in your life. You would never treat a girl badly. It's probably because you have sisters. Look I'm the same, I've never been a player either. Don't get me wrong I had one night stands when I was much younger but I never lied to any of the girls. If they seemed to want something more after I told them what I wanted I left. You don't make promises that you can't keep, you never mess with someone's feelings, that's just wrong. Chin knows this and knows that you would never hurt Kono.

What's this about Adam? What makes you think that she still loves Adam? He left her!"

"Exactly, he left her. She didn't leave Adam he left her so she's still loves him."

"Danny you know I don't like people messing with my personal life and so I try not to do it to them, but if I can see how you two look at each other when you think the other isn't looking than that says a lot.

Explain how you're a pervert?"

"Seriously? I need to explain that to you? I have feelings for a lady who is 13 years younger than me! When I was 26 she was 13! How the hell is that NOT creepy?" Danny shouted with heart breaking angst while waving his hands.

"Danny, when you were 26 did you look at Kono and think I want to date her?"

"WHAT! OF COURSE NOT! I didn't even know her then."

"Exactly! You've known her since she was 22. You've known her as an adult. You're not a pervert. You're a decent guy who has feelings for someone and for some reason believes he's not worthy. You are and you always will be.

Lastly, I'm pretty sure she feels the same way about you. I wouldn't bring this up if I wasn't sure. I'm your best friend do you honestly think I would set you up for a fall? I would never do that to you. I love you, you're my brother but I can't stand to see you miserable any longer.

Danny you're a decent guy, one of the best, along with Chin. Do you want to wake up years from now with Kono married to some guy and you being you, becoming this guy's friend just because he loves Kono and being their kids' favourite uncle and wondering 'what if?' What if you took a chance and asked her out on a date. If there is a chance that you two could be together isn't it worth the risk? Don't wait too long because Kono won't wait forever for you. Listen to me."

"What would you know? You have the perfect relationship. You have Cath."

"Danno I know about regret which is why I'm talking to you. You know that Cath and I broke up years ago?"

Steve waited until Danny nodded.

"Well I never told you the whole story. I broke it off with Cath."

Danny paid attention to that and sat up looking at Steve like he was mad. He knew Steve loved Cath so why would he break it off?

"When we were together the first time I was an idiot. I still couldn't tell her how I felt and it took me ages to ask her out on a date. In between our dates we were both deployed and it was hard but we made it work. Anyway I knew she was special the first time I saw her. Anyway after a couple of years I realised she was the one. I knew I wanted to marry her and have kids with her but I also knew I didn't want to leave the Navy. I couldn't ask her to leave that wouldn't be fair. I knew I didn't want to have kids only for them to grow up without me. I thought I was doing the best thing for her so I broke it off with her giving her a lame excuse. I swear she could tell I was lying. I left her apartment and just lent against the front of the door and I could hear her crying. I just made the biggest mistake of my life and I couldn't take it back because all of the reasons I had were still there. So I walked away. I learned a few months later that she started to date Billy. That was the hardest thing I had to do and the stupidest!"

"Steve, I never knew. I'm so sorry!"

"It's ok. It was my choice I had to live with it. Anyway about 6 months after that Freddie got a message to me. He knew I messed up and told me something I wanted to hear but thought I never would. He told me he heard that Cath and Billy had broken up. I didn't want to just take his word for it so I tracked Billy down and found him in a bar and he was on his way to being completely drunk. I had to find out if it was true I wasn't going to mess up their relationship if it was fixable. I couldn't do that to Cath. As soon as he saw me he got right to the point.

"She broke up with me because I wasn't you McGarrett. She told me that she still loved you and until she didn't it wasn't fair if she was with anybody."

I was shocked and so happy I wanted to go to her straight away but I had a mission that I had to complete. For once it went like clockwork and we were back within a couple of weeks. As soon as we were debriefed I went to her place I knew she was on leave. I didn't even shower, I took my duffle and went to her place. I knocked on her door and she opened it and she looked amazing. She let me in. I asked her if she had company and she said no. I let out a breath I didn't realise I was holding. I opened my mouth to apologise and she covered my mouth with her hand to stop me from speaking. She took my hand and led me to her bedroom."

"Er Steve, you don't need to tell me the rest. It's none of my business."

"Danno, shut up and listen. She took me to her bedroom and then through to her bathroom where she shoved me in and told me to shower. I really did stink. I hadn't had a shower since the day I left for the mission. It was not pleasant. Anyway once she shut the bathroom door I had a shower and at some point she brought in some boxers and a t-shirt I must have left there. I got changed and went into the bedroom. Cath was waiting for me there and she took my hand and we went to the bed where we laid down and we slept. We just slept. It was one of the best times of my life. We woke up when my phone rang and I had to be back on base smartish. We kissed and we said everything we wanted to in that kiss. Cath knew me, she knew what I was feeling. I didn't need to say a word. She never made me grovel, I was ready and willing but she didn't need that. As soon as she took my hand I knew we were going to be fine. The next time we had leave I told her everything even though she didn't need it. We've been together ever since. I know how lucky I am to have Cath. I know what it's like to have regrets Danny, I just don't want you to have regrets. Think about it."

"Thanks for telling me that. I'll think about it.

tbc