Hey yall! This is my first McDanno fic ever but honestly I couldn't help myself. I caught up and now I'm re-watching it. Probably one of the best cop shows I've seen in a while and the characters are amazing not to mention I'm OBSESSED with McDanno they are beautiful and amazing. Hope you like it!

This is based in season 2 around the time that Danny is staying at Steve's place.

The apartment that Danny was planning on moving into fell through, again. The landlord decided that renting it to his nephew from the mainland was more important and pulled out of their deal two days before Danny was planning on signing the lease.

So now Danny was currently staring at the ceiling in Steve's living room from his place on the couch, donning the noise cancelling headphones his partner had so thoughtfully bought for him. It was probably around two in the morning. He wasn't sure if it was his insomnia that was making it hard to fall asleep or the idea that Steve was in the room above him most likely shirtless in a big cozy bed without him.

It was probably both.

He'd never been picky, man or woman, if you were good looking he wasn't gonna pass up a good time and he wasn't blind, first time he saw Steve he was impressed with his looks. The guy was like a rugged Abercrombie model for Christ's sake, but he'd never really thought of Steve in a romantic light, at least not towards the beginning of their friendship.

Danny knew the exact moment that he realized his feelings for Steve were more then platonic. It was a little less then a year ago when Danny had contracted serine from a hobo that had drank some seriously fucked up milk. He'd almost died and woke up in a hospital bed feeling like he'd been hit by a train.

He'd opened his eyes to Steve leading Gracie into the hospital room, her little hand clutched in his partner's big one. Steve was smiling down at the little girl like she was an angel—and let's face it she totally is an angel, have you seen her?—and kissed the top of her head as she released his hand to give her Danno a hug.

It fucking melted his damn heart.

Not only did Steve remember that Danny had Grace that weekend, but he went out of his way to pick her up from school himself and take care of her until Danny was allowed to have visitors. Sure, Danny knew that all of five-0 was fond of his daughter, but seeing Steve look at her with so much love in his eyes twisted Danny's heart into a knot.

Since that day he couldn't help but think about how nice it would if the three of them were together all the time, and that was it, that thought did it. It broke a dam in Danny's mind and bucket loads of conflicting romantic feelings flooded into him and he'd been dealing with it ever since.

Now, here he was, a year later, sleeping on the couch of the man he was secretly in love with because there was no way in hell he would let the truth come out. Not when it could seriously damage the best friendship he'd ever had.

Someone came up behind Danny and ripped the noise cancelling headphones off his head. Danny jumped into a sitting position, yelling and then squinting up into Steve McGarrett's grumpy face.

"Heyyy! What the hell is the matter with you, huh? It's 2 in the fucking morning!"

Steve scowled and threw something at him. It hit him in the chest. Looking down, Danny picked up his cellphone.

"Yes Daniel, it is two in the fucking morning. And your phone has been ringing for twenty minutes and you haven't picked it up, so I had to get out of bed where I was sleeping soundly and give it to you."

"Oh," Danny tried not to smile, "Sorry Steven, these noise canceling headphones work uh, work really well."

"Yeah," Steve grumbled, "No shit."

Picking up his cellphone Danny looked at the screen. He had four missed calls from Rachel.

"Rachel's called me four times," shit, Danny stood from the couch and began pacing, redialing his ex's number.

"Danny I'm sure everything's okay," Steve said, his demeanor immediately changed, worry and sympathy softened his features.

"Danny, finally. I'm sorry if I woke you."

Rachel's soft British accent wafted into Danny's ears.

"Rachel, it's fine. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, well sort of. Stan's mother passed away tonight, I wanted to call and see if you could take Grace for the week. We've got to fly to the mainland to help with the arrangements."

Danny couldn't hide the relief that flooded through him despite the bad news. Grace was okay and that's all that mattered.

"Of course, yeah no problem. Shit, give Stan my condolences."

"Thank you Danny, can you come get her in the morning, around 8? Our flight is at 9."

Right, Danny thought, tomorrow was Saturday, Gracie didn't have school.

"Yeah, I'll be there."

"Thank you, goodnight Danny. See you in the morning."

Danny hung up the phone and sat back down on the couch, running a hand through his bed head he looked up to see Steve raising an eyebrow at him.

"Everything cool?"

Danny nodded, "Yeah uh, Step Stan's ma passed away. They've gotta head to the mainland to help with the arrangements and stuff. I've got Gracie for the next week, which is, yah know, perfect. I haven't had her for this long in ages."

Before Steve could say anything, a light bulb went off in Danny's brain, "Shit, Steve, I can get a motel room or something, don't worry about it—"

Steve cut him off, "Will you shut up? You are not renting another shitty motel room. I said you could stay here until you found a new place, didn't I?"

"Well yeah," Danny rubbed the back of his neck.

"Okay then. I knew what I was offering. Plus, I love Gracie, you know that. Wouldn't you rather her stay here than in a crap motel?"

"Yeah, of course."

Steve smiled down at him, the sleepiness hadn't quite left his features and Danny thought it was adorable.

"She can stay in Mary's old room. I'll set it up tomorrow alright? And the offer is still open Danny, you can crash in my old room, you don't have to stay on the couch."

Danny waved a hand at him, "I like the couch better then your little twin bed, it's fine."

Steve shrugged and made his way towards the stairs to go back to sleep, "Hey Steve?"

"Yeah?" he asked, turning just a little.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome, Danno."

Danny couldn't help but smile, he loved it when Steve called him Danno.

-x-

Saturday:

Dany cracked an eye open the next morning and groaned. He knew it was early, he could tell. Rubbing his eyes with the heels of his hands he squinted at the clock on Steve's cable box; 6:45 am. Fifteen whole glorious minutes before his alarm was set to go off. Groaning he pushed himself off the couch and trudged into the kitchen.

The cool floor felt good on his bare feet. Out on the lanai there was a towel and a bottle of water and SuperSEAL was cutting through the water like a damn killer whale or something. Fucking Steve and his morning swim at fucking 6 in the morning.

Rolling his eyes and pushing the admiration and longing he felt for the SEAL back down his throat, Danny made his way to the shower. Danny's duffle was in Steve's childhood bedroom so that he didn't leave his entire wardrobe all over his friends living room. After showering and changing into some jeans and a t-shirt he made his way back down the stairs.

There was a sticky note on the coffee pot and he recognized Steve's precise handwriting; Danno, made a pot for you. Went to the store for some stuff. I'll see you when you get home with Gracie.

Grinning because he honestly couldn't stop himself from doing so, he filled a mug with the coffee and grabbed some cream from the fridge before popping some toast in the toaster. It was hard not to notice how comfortable he'd grown moving around in McGarrett's home. They'd established a good rhythm over the past two weeks and he was trying not to get to attached to it.

Danny got to Rachel and Stan's a little before 8. He didn't even need to get out of the car, Rachel ushered Grace out to him and gave her a kiss before Grace hopped into the passenger seat. Danny nodded to Stan who was standing in the drive way and said goodbye to Rachel.

He frowned a little because when he looked next to him Grace's face was squished into a little pout.

"Hey Monkey, you okay? Is this about your Step-Grandma?"

Grace shook her head.

"No? Then what's the matter, babe?"

Grace looked down at her lap and fiddled with her little fingers, "I love being with you Danno, sometimes more than Mommy, but I don't like where you live."

Danny's heart squeezed inside his chest, he hated his situation. Hated hindering the time he was spending with his daughter because he couldn't find somewhere proper to live. Luckily, he had the best friend in the entire world, and was currently staying with him.

"Well Monkey, you're in luck because I got kicked out of that place. They had black mold everywhere."

Grace scrunched her nose, "Black mold? Where are we staying now? The Hilton?" she asked hopefully.

Danny shook his head, "Even better. Danno's been staying with Uncle Steve, he said you can stay in his sister Mary's old bedroom. How does that sound?"

The absolute glee that crossed his daughters face was almost as wonderful as the happy giggle that escaped her.

"Really?! Can I swim in the morning? Can Uncle Steve take me surfing? Will you look for shells with me?"

The questions poured out of her and he chuckled, "Whoa, whoa, slow down Monkey. Yes, we can do all of those things as long as we're on our best behavior okay? Uncle Steve is doing a really nice thing letting us stay with him."

"Are we staying for the whole week? Are you moving in with Uncle Steve?"

Gracie's second question surprised Danny.

"No sweetie, Danno's not moving in with Uncle Steve, he's just letting me stay with him until I can find a new place to stay."

"Oh, okay." Danny thought he heard a small hint of disappointment in his daughter's voice.

Steve's truck was parked in the driveway when they got back. Grace sprinted into the house when Danny opened the front door.

"Uncle Steve!" she called.

Steve popped his head around the corner from the kitchen into the living room. He scrunched his eyebrows in confusion.

"Danno, did you hear something?"

Danny shrugged, "I didn't hear anything."

Grace tried to look frustrated but couldn't keep the smile off her face, "Hell-ooo! Uncle Steve I'm right here!"

She waved her hands wildly in front him and Danny laughed.

"Oh, man, how silly of me. I didn't see you Gracie you're so tiny!" Steve grinned and kneeled to open his arms for one of Gracie's magical hugs.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you, for letting me and Danno stay with you!" she shouted into his chest and squeezed him tight.

"Of course, why wouldn't I want my two favorite people here for a whole week?"

Butterflies erupted in Danny's gut and he hoped the flush on his cheeks wasn't too obvious.

"I am going to hold you told that statement Steven," Danny grinned and picked up Grace's bags, "Come on Monkey, let's bring your stuff upstairs."

Steve grabbed the backpack Grace had been wearing and led the Williams' up the stairs and around the corner.

Danny's breath caught in his throat, Mary's room no longer looked like Mary's room. Steve had hung curtains that looked like giant ocean waves and spread a comforter that had whales and dolphins on it over starfish bed sheets. Hung on the empty wall across from the doorway were big blue sparkly letters that read 'Gracie's Room'.

"Steve…" Danny breathed, he couldn't even get a thought out he was so overwhelmed with love for the man standing next to him. It was taking all of Danny's self-control to not pull Steve into a crushing hug.

"Uncle Steve I love it!" she shreaked, squeezing Steve around the waist as tightly as she could.

"I'm glad," Steve said, placing a hand on the back of Grace's head and wrapping an arm around her.

"Do you like it Danno?" Grace asked, still attached to Steve like a tiny octopus.

Shaking some of the shock from his body, Danny smiled down at his daughter, "Of course I do Monkey! Uncle Steve did a really good job didn't he?"

"Maybe he's not a Neanderthal like you said?" Grace asked, and Danny couldn't stop the chuckle that escaped his throat.

Steve looked at him with mock offense, waiting for his partner to answer the question.

"Nope he's still a Neanderthal, but he's a pretty good Uncle too."

Steve beamed at him. That smile was like the sun and Danny would do anything to bring it out of him. Lord knows that man needed to smile more, have a little more happiness in his life. He wanted to be the one to give that happiness to Steve, and if this was how to do it then so be it.

-x-

Grace asked to go swimming about twenty minutes after they'd got her things all settled. It wasn't even ten in the morning yet and it was a Saturday. Despite Danny's aversion to sand he couldn't think of a better way to spend the day. He'd always favored Steve's back yard to public beaches anyways, it was quieter, and nothing could distract him from watching Grace splash around in the surf.

Danny had played with Grace in the ocean for a couple hours, her big brown eyes that mirrored her mother's could convince him to do just about anything. Steve brought some sandwiches out around noon and when Danny came back out to the lanai after bringing their scraps inside he found his daughter and Steve asleep in the hammock.

Grace was curled up against Steve's side, his long lean arms were gently wrapped around her small frame, and her little face was tucked inside of the crook between Steve's shoulder and neck.

Pulling out his phone he snapped a couple photos, he couldn't not. He hadn't seen anything so adorable and precious since Grace was born, it was overwhelming. Deciding not to wake them he went back inside to grab the book he'd been reading and a cup of coffee. Setting up in one of the lawn chairs on the lanai he enjoyed the cool breeze and cracked open Huck Finn. He'd read it before, but it was one of his favorites and he hadn't read in a while.

Most people weren't aware of Danny's affinity for a good book. He was particularly well read; how else would his rather loud rants contain the vocabulary that they did? He was about five chapters in when Grace woke up.

"Danno?" her little voice cut into his focus and he slid a bookmark into his spot before standing.

"Hey monkey, you have a nice nap?"

Steve was still asleep. Gracie nodded, "Can you help me get up? Uncle Steve's arms are too heavy for me to lift."

Danny chuckled, trying to pry Steve's arms open without waking him so Grace could climb out of the hammock. As Gracie slid out of his partner's embrace Steve stirred and furrowed his eyebrows, humming comfortably but not opening his eyes.

"He's kinda cute when he's asleep, huh Danno?"

His daughter was smiling fondly at her uncle and Danny agreed, "Yeah, I guess he is. But shh, don't tell him I said that, can't have this animal thinking I'm going soft."

Grace nodded and let out a quiet giggle before leaning to kiss her Uncle Steve on the forehead, "I'm gonna go take a shower Danno."

Danny nodded, telling her where everything was in the bathroom and how to work the nozzles in the shower before she skipped inside. He sat back down in his chair and opened his book. Huck Finn was trying to scrape together some money so Pap wouldn't beat the shit out of him when Danny heard Steve grumble.

"Danno? Where's Gracie?" Steve sat up in the hammock, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hands.

"She woke up a couple minutes ago, went inside to take a shower. You two napped pretty hard."

Danny watched as Steve stumbled out of the hammock and stretched to his full height, like a cat unfurling to its full length. He'd always thought there was something a little feline about McGarrett.

Steve walked over to Danny, still barefoot and shirtless. Sand was stuck to his muscled chest and shoulders, "What time is it? How long did we sleep?"

Danny took a quick look at his cell, "It's almost four. You slept for like three hours, which means that monkey in there is gonna be up late tonight but tomorrow's Sunday so it's alright."

"Wow," Steve rubbed a hand down his face, "I haven't napped like that in…geez ever," he felt Steve peak over his shoulder, "What're you reading?"

Shrugging, Danny held the book up for Steve to see the cover, "Huck Finn. It's a classic, and one of my favorites."

"I didn't know you could read," Steve joked and then chuckled when Danny glared up at him.

"I am well read, for your information," Danny said waving his hands—one of them containing the book—about, "You, on the other hand, are a Neanderthal."

They made there way inside. They could hear the shower still going. Danny tossed his book on the coffee table and went back to the kitchen for some more coffee. He knew he drank too much of it, but it was like liquid heaven in his mouth and the hot mug warmed his hands, sending heat from his fingers, down his arms, and into his chest. It was comforting.

Steve had pulled an apple from the fridge and bit into it, the loud crunch drew Danny's attention towards his partner and Steve grinned with his mouth full of fruit.

"Thank you," Danny said, sipping from his mug.

"For what?" Steve asked leaning against the counter.

Danny shrugged, "For letting me stay here with Grace, for giving her a cool ocean themed bedroom, for spending time with us, the whole shebang."

It was Steve's turn to shrug, "I love having you guys here, you know that. You're Ohana Danno."

Danny tried to hide his blush behind his coffee mug and continued to smile, "It means a lot, Steve. Gracie, she adores you. She kissed your forehead while you were napping earlier, you know."

Steve's eyebrows hit his hairline and it was his turn to blush, but he couldn't hide it with a mug, all he was holding was an apple core, "Really?"

"Yeah really, don't sound so surprised, and wipe that stupid grin off your face before if gets stuck that way," Danny chuckled.

"I'm glad," Steve said, tossing the core into the trash can, "I love Gracie a lot, but nothing beats the way she looks at you Danno."

"Yeah?"

He felt like sunlight had just flooded his body. He never got tired of hearing how much his daughter loved him.

"Yeah," Steve turned from the trashcan and took a step closed to Danny so that they were facing each other, barely a foot apart, "She looks at you like you're the sun, Danno. I can't blame her."

Did he really just hear what he thought he heard?

"Steve—,"

"Danno?" they heard Grace call from upstairs.

Danny was staring up at Steve who was still smiling softly down at him, "Down here Monkey!"

He finally tore his gaze away from Steve's gentle one when he heard Grace's footsteps come into the kitchen. She immediately went to her father, wrapping her arms around his waist and smiling up at him, and then up at Steve.

"You should really shower Uncle Steve, you're covered in sand."

"I am?" Steve asked in mock surprise, "I didn't even realize."

"Of course you didn't," Danny grumbled, squeezing Grace into his side, "You're a animal, the sand doesn't bother you."

"Be nice, Danno," Grace giggled up at dad.

"Yeah Danno," Steve teased and headed towards the bathroom.

"Shut up, Steven, and hurry up," Danny said shooing him away, "I need to shower too. Gotta get this wretched ocean water smell off of me."

Grace and Steve rolled their eyes at him and Danny was 100% sure she had picked that mannerism up from the Navy SEAL.

-x-

Danny took Grace grocery shopping while Steve was in the shower, so they could get some stuff—they needed to teach Uncle Steve the right way to eat after all.

When they got home, Grace decided she wanted to watch Lilo and Stitch (her favorite movie of all time) so they set up a blanket fort and ordered pizza for dinner, much to Steve's chagrin. The only way they got him to agree was if Danny ate a slice of ham and pineapple, which he promptly complained about in his usual loud and obnoxious manner.

Finally, after he'd read Grace a chapter in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and put her to bed, was Danny able to hop in the shower and wash the events of the day from his skin.

His hair and skin were stiff with dried ocean water and he was pretty sure he'd had sand in parts unknown for much too long.

It wasn't that Danny disliked the ocean, well, it was, but not for the reason you'd think. The ocean reminded him of Steve McGarrett. It could be eerily calm one moment and outrageously fierce and dangerous the next, and it was god damn beautiful. Steve rubbed at Danny the way the waves rubbed at the shore; back and forth, back and forth, wearing away parts of him until there was only soft sand and sea shells left.

So, he scrubbed it away. Scrubbed the ocean water from his body because he didn't need another reminded of how he felt for Steve, there was already a plethora of them that he couldn't get rid of.

He finally stepped out of the shower when the water started running cold. Wrapping a towel around his waist he exited the living room. Steve was sitting on the couch and the tv was on but his partner seemed distracted, his eyes weren't quite focused on the screen in front of him.

Danny leaving the bathroom brought him out of this reverie and he looked over at him.

"I can uh, get up, so you can go to bed."

Danny shook his head, "Don't worry about it, it's only half past nine. I'll be back down in a second, grab me a beer?"

Steve nodded, and Danny disappeared up the stairs. Shedding his towel once he was in Steve's old room he pulled on some boxers and sweat pants and an old Newark PD t-shirt before heading back down stairs. An open longboard was sitting on the coffee table for him and Steve was drinking another.

Danny smiled at him as he sat down. He remembered what Steve had said earlier. It wasn't anything detrimental to their relationship, it was just so…honest. He wasn't always sure how the SEAL felt about him and it was rare for him to voice his feelings at all.

"I mean what I said earlier, you know."

Danny's gaze shifted from the tv to Steve.

"I feel like I should say thanks, but it doesn't sound right."

Steve shrugged, "You don't have to say anything. I just thought you should know that I uh, I see you that way too. Like Gracie. Like you're amazing, because you are. I feel like you probably don't hear it enough or think its true. But it is."

Danny squeezed the neck of his beer between his fingers and cleared his throat. He wasn't sure what to do so he reached out with his other hand and grabbed Steve's, intertwining their fingers. It wasn't a romantic gesture really, more a caring one.

"Right back atchya, SuperSEAL," he said quietly, "You are—" Danny let out a breath, "You're important to me, and to Grace. Honestly, you're down right incredible because despite the fact that you are the most insane human being I have ever met in my entire life, and despite the fact that you have a death wish and an innate ability to drive me fucking bonkers, you're also unbelievably kind and loving and having you in my life has been a damn blessing."

Steve squeezed his hand, "Thanks Danno."

"You're welcome, Steve."

Here's the first chapter! I KNOW ITS SO LONG BUT I COULDN'T STOP WRITING, I made myself stop here so I'd actually have something to write in the next chapter. As of write now each chapter will be a day during the week Rachel and Stan are gone and Grace is with Danny at Steve's.

Read and Review! One Love, Liz.