Taking Care of Grace

Chapter Four

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They are not mine. I just pretend they are.

Author Notes: A hike up Diamond Head makes for an interesting conversation with their precocious young charge.

Kono was taken by surprise by Steve's gesture. Her heart started speeding up the longer he sat looking into her eyes. She thought for a minute he was going to lean down and kiss her, but then he stood up. Letting go of her hand slowly. He sat down on the other chair and leaned back, once again closing his eyes and contemplating what just happened. Kono sighed softly and started drifting off to sleep. She knew what she wanted to dream about, kissing one tall, dark and handsome ex-SEAL. She didn't know how long she had been asleep when she felt a hand patting her face.

"I'm hungry."

Steve rolled to his side to find Grace sitting on Kono's chair and trying to peak under her sunglasses.

"Auntie Kono, wake up!"

"I'm awake. I'm awake."

She opened her eyes to look at Grace's sweet face and when she turned to the side she saw Steve grinning at her as well.

'Time for some grilled chicken, I think."

Steve stood up and picked grace up, swinging her in the air."

The young girl giggled, but then protested.

"Uncle Steve, I'm not a baby you know."

"I know, but I still like pretending you are."

He set her down and reached his hand out to pull Kono to her feet. Once she was up, he pulled her close to his body.

"Hey, sleepy head. How about dinner?"

Kono smiled up at him.

"I'm starved too Uncle Steve."

"Well, come on then."

Dinner was a rambunctious affair with all three of them pitching in. Afterwards, Steve flopped down in his hammock and Grace climbed up in it with him along with a Barbie and a Ken doll. Kono took the dishes inside and put them in the dishwasher. When she returned to find Steve and Grace playing dolls she hid behind a tree and listened in.

"Oh, Barbie."

"Oh, Ken."

"Barbie, I just want you to know I think you're the nicest and bestest girl I know."

"Uncle Steve, grown ups don't say bestest."

"They don't?"

"No silly."

"Oh, okay. Sorry. Barbie, I think you're the grooviest chick I know."

He had Grace laughing now and Kono could hardly contain herself.

"Uncle Steve! Sheesh! Only old people talk like that. For crying out loud."

"Um. Miss Barbie, I think you're cute. Almost as cute as that girl Kono. If I didn't already have a crush on her, I'd take you out in a heartbeat."

"Why Ken, what's she got that I haven't got?"

"Everything Sweetheart. Everything."

"Uncle Steve you like Kono a lot huh?"

"Yeah, I do, Grace. Can you keep a secret?"

"Sure!"

"I kind of have a crush on her, but I'm not sure how she feels. I think from some things she said today, she might feel the same way. I'm just not sure."

"Oh, she does, Uncle Steve. She does."

Kono cleared her throat to make sure Grace didn't say anything to embarrass her.

"So, you're into Barbie dolls Commander?"

Steve craned his neck around as she came into view alongside the hammock. How much had she heard?

"Yes, ma'am I am. Join us?"

Steve grabbed her hand and pulled her into the hammock with him and Grace. Kono squealed.

"Can this thing hold all of us?"

"If Komekona can lay in it, believe me the three of us can."

Grace took the Ken doll back from Steve as Kono lay on her side with her face now buried in Steve's shoulder. She took the two dolls and with only Steve watching she made the two of them kiss. Then she winked at Steve and hopped off the hammock.

"I'm going to go get my bath and get ready for bed. You two stay here and enjoy yourselves."

She grinned at Steve and then ran into the house and made straight for her room. The window gave her a perfect view of the two of them and the hammock. She rested her chin on her hand and waited.

Kono smiled as she kept her cheek on Steve's chest and listened to his heart beating.

"Is it my imagination or did we just get manipulated by a ten year old?"

"Oh, we most certainly did. She wants us to be together you know?"

"I've started to get that idea."

"And what do you think about that?"

"I think I told you earlier that I wanted that too."

"Just making sure we are on the same page."

Steve tipped Kono's face up to his and kissed her softly, tenderly, passionately. One little girl was smiling from ear to ear.

"Yes, oh yes, oh yes, oh yes, oh yes!"

Grace danced around her room striping off clothes as she danced her victory dance. She headed for the bathroom with her box of maxi pads and a big smile on her face. Getting her period was the absolutely best thing that could have happened this week. She chanted the well-known children's song.

"Steve and Kono sittin' in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes Kono with a baby carriage. La de da de da."

Since she was feeling so very grown up, she opted for a shower instead of a bath.

"I wonder how much people get paid who match make for a living?"

Outside in the hammock two pairs of eyes were locked on each other. Steve brushed Kono's hair back and cupped her cheek.

"Am I moving too fast? Just tell me Kono and I will back off. I don't want to do anything to ruin whatever is starting between us. I care so much about you and I don't want to do anything you don't want me to."

Kono smiled at his chivalry.

"Come here, you."

She returned his kiss with ardor and they both began to smile as they made out for a bit on the hammock. Things began to heat up and Steve finally pulled back to catch his breath. He knew he was going to have to stop now or they were going to cross a line that neither one of them was ready for yet. This wasn't just about the sex. He wanted a relationship with Kono and sleeping together just days after discovering their feelings would not exactly set them up for success. Besides, he wanted to go slow and discover her bit by bit.

Kono gasped for air as well. She was glad he pulled back from her. She had been lost in the kiss and wasn't ready to move forward, but she was afraid if she shut him down she could potentially lose him before they ever got started. She loved the newness of their feelings and wanted to enjoy them a step at a time. Besides, with Grace here it wasn't a good idea to let things go too far.

"Come on. Let's get our girl into bed. Tomorrow we're going hiking and she needs her rest."

Steve pushed Kono up and out of the hammock and she pulled him up after her. They smiled at each other and he slipped his arm around her waist. Grace was sitting up in bed reading.

"Hey, that better not be Harry Potter. I want to read that with you."

"Relax Uncle Steve. It's an American Girl Book. I saved Harry Potter for you. Kono? How much longer is this stupid period going to last?"

"Three or four more days, Honey. Sorry."

"That just stinks. Boys have it so easy."

"In some ways yes, but they have their own stuff to handle as well."

"Like what?"

Steve wanted to hear this answer too.

"Yeah, like what "Auntie Kono"?"

"Never mind. That information is for when you are much older."

"Okay, you, get some sleep and we will head out in the morning for Diamond Head. Are you excited?"

"I am. I don't have the cramping as bad tonight. I think I can go to sleep without the heating pad. Night you guys."

"I think we're being dismissed Miss Kalakaua. What do you think?"

"I think we are. Good night Grace."

"Kono?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks again for being here."

"You're welcome."

Steve kissed Grace on the forehead and turned out the light. She snuggled down. Steve put his hand at the small of Kono's back as they left the room.

"Sleep tight you two."

"Go to sleep Grace."

They walked down the hall to the living room.

"She is so much like her father, it's scary."

"Tell me about it."

"Want to watch a movie?"

"Sure."

"How about Dirty Harry?"

Kono rolled her eyes and grinned.

"Go ahead. Make my day."

Steve popped in the movie and joined her on the couch. He raised his arm in invitation and she scooted to cuddle with him. He wrapped his arm around her and ran his hand through her hair. It felt so good. Kono felt herself falling asleep. Halfway into the movie, Steve looked down at her and smiled. She was gone. He shut off the TV, shifted her over, stood up and scooped her up into his arms. Once he got to his bedroom, he pulled down the covers and laid her gently down. Slipping off his tee and climbing in with her, she immediately snuggled up to him and sighed sleepily.

"Good night Kono."

"Mmm. Night Steve."

The next morning Steve woke up to soft kisses on his jaw line. He looked down at Kono and was greeted with a huge smile.

"You put me to bed last night didn't you?"

"I did. You were so cute."

"I liked it from what I can remember."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah."

"I liked it too except for one thing."

"What's that?"

"I didn't get to kiss you goodnight."

"Well, you could kiss me good morning."

"With pleasure."

Steve tilted her face up to his and gave her a long, lingering and thoroughly satisfying kiss.

"Wow! I could get used to this."

"Me too. Now get up. We're going hiking."

It was around eight o'clock in the morning as they pulled up into the parking lot and gathered their daypacks.

"It only takes an hour or two to hike up and back, but there's no shade, so it's a good thing we're starting early. Even if we dawdle, we can be back down by ten o'clock or so and still head out to the Dole plantation for some pineapple ice cream. Sound good?"

"Yeah!"

Less than an hour later they stood at the edge looking out over the Pacific Ocean. Grace had a huge smile on her face and Steve and Kono once again took in the beauty they had enjoyed on more than one morning run.

"If I had a nickel for every time I've raced you to the top of this thing…"

"Why'd you always let me win? You were always behind me the whole way."

Steve shrugged and grinned at her.

"I liked the view."

Kono's eyebrows shot to her hairline. Then she giggled. Kono Kalakaua actually giggled. Steve picked her up, hugged her and swung her back and forth with her feet off the ground. Grace danced around them. When he set her down Grace was grinning at them.

"You two like each other. I knew it all along."

"And just how did you know?"

"I watched you this last year. You were always smiling at each other, all the time."

"And that meant we liked each other?"

"Sure. It was one of "those" smiles."

"What does that mean? "Those" kind of smiles? What kind of smiles?"

"You know, like Castle gives Beckett, like Tony gives Ziva, like Daddy gives my mom. Those kind of smiles."

"Ohhh…those kind of smiles. Were we that obvious?"

"Uh huh. A girl just knows these things."

"Right. Well, it's true. I do like Kono and she says she likes me too, so are you happy now?"

"Very happy. Now can we go get ice cream? I'm really hot now."

"Are you sure you want to drive all that way for ice cream?"

"Yep."

"All right. Lead on oh wised one."

Steve stepped aside and did a dramatic bow. Grace gave him a queenly nod and started back down the trail.

"Just wait until I tell Daddy!"

Steve looked at Kono and she looked back at him with the same shocked expression.

"Uh, Grace honey, about that…"