While he jogged through the garden, passing those who used it for its intended purpose of plant gazing, Steve held up his phone to facetime Grover. Lou had Eddie, the dog Steve was prepared to adopt and was out a handler at the moment, playing in his living room floor. The big man let the dog climb over him, sleek tail whipping side to side.

"Look at him go." Steve chuckled, his voice barely impacted by the pace of his run.

The garden was a maze of bushes, each new section decorated with buds, and unfurling blossoms. Palm trees lined the sidewalk to mark the end of the garden. Steve took a left around the fountain, the breeze sprinkling him with water. He had two more minutes and he was done. His phone began to beep steadily, and another call popped up. Danny.

"Hey Lou, I gotta go. Thanks for keeping me updated."

"Sure thing, McGarrett." Lou laughed, still subject to Eddie's affection.

Steve switched calls. "Hey."

"Are you running?" Danny asked, peering at the phone. "Of course you are."

"What is it, Danny?" Steve asked.

He traveled round the last potted plants, and onto the lined walkway. Leaves swayed over the sidewalk, drawing shadow pictures where Steve's feet would step.

Danny said, "I'm at this breakfast place near the front. I thought maybe you'd join me."

Steve looked around, jogging in place. He could see where the sidewalk wrapped around the resort towards the front of tall glass panels. "I'll be there."

Danny occupied a window seat, thumb swiping over his phone, with the other hand stuck in a basket of french fries. Steve sat down at the table. Heat radiated from his skin, bouncing between his hands and the cool wood.

"This is your breakfast?" Steve asked. He took a couple fries.

When his hand came back Danny smacked it away.

He said. "I've also got two sets of whatever entails a piha kakahiaka on its way."

"Thanks." Steve said.

Danny mhmed, and looked back to his phone, before pushing the tray of fries to Steve. They both absently ate what was a very salty and unhealthy snack. Danny held his phone out, a smile kicking up the corners of his mouth.

"Isn't she beautiful, I told Rachel nothing strapless, so sleeveless was the compromise."

"Yeah." Steve agreed on a bittersweet note.

He looked at a picture of Grace who seemed ready to go to a dance. That dark hair pinned up, already wearing too much makeup. It tugged at his heart to see this girl growing up. Steve pulled out his phone and passed it to Danny.

"Grover sent me these this morning."

"What, are you comparing my daughter to a dog right now?" Danny asked pointing between the two phones.

"Eddie's a beautiful dog, so if I was it'd be a compliment." Steve reasoned.

Danny was ready to fire back, finger pointed at Steve but their plates arrived. The waiter arranged their plates, silverware, and drinks off his platter to their table. He dipped his head and said to let him know if they needed anything.

"You're lucky that guy came when he did." Danny grumbled, pulling out the fabric napkin and laying it across his lap.

Steve smirked, watching Danny properly cut the pancakes, jam the bread, while he stuck the napkin in his shirt collar and scooped up eggs with toast getting crumbs and butter on his fingers.

"I don't know why you didn't feel at home in the bathhouse." Danny said around a mouthful of hotcakes. "You're a mess, Steve, you're sweaty, eating with your fingers, a mess."

"Are you still on about that?" Steve asked.

"No, no I'm not." Danny promised waving his fork before sinking it back into another stack. "But you did lock me out of the room this morning."

Steve nodded. He swallowed a combination sausage and biscuit, then said "Is that why you're wearing a woman's blouse?"

"This is not a ladies blouse."

"Yes, it is, Danny. I can tell, the buttons go the opposite way." Steve reasoned gesturing to the aqua shirt.

"Jesus, of course you'd know the direction your shirt buttons." Danny said pinching the bridge of his nose. "It's Alana's alright?"

"She's the girl you spent the night with."

Danny looked around, running a hand through his hair. The white gold and bronze strands scattered before he pushed them back again. "Could you keep your voice down?"

"Are you embarrassed about it?" Steve asked in the same tone. "Why would you do something you'd be embarrassed about? And if you're not why should I keep my voice down?"

"Are you mad about somethin'?" Danny asked turning the interrogation back on Steve.

Steve didn't answer, just shook his head. He wasn't one to lie about frivolous things, but he wasn't going to dive headfirst into another argument, or a longer discussion he didn't care to have over breakfast. He let the silence fizzle out Danny's aggravation, and they finished their breakfast.

"It looks nice." Steve said finally.

Those clear blue eyes narrowed in a moment's hesitation, but Danny took the compliment. "Thank you. I'm thinking about trying more color, greens, purples."

"You should." Steve agreed. "More vertical stripes too, it makes you look taller."

Danny picked up a paper napkin, balled it up and tossed it at Steve. Steve laughed, ducking, like the paper could actually cause damage. He caught it and tossed it back, making them laugh too hard for such a small joke. Steve thought it was partially the relief of being happy with each other again. They were finishing their breakfast. Danny finished first, he wiped his hands then leaned his forearms on the table.

"There's this place here they call the Sandbox." he said. "It's basically a beach without the water-"

"So, a sandbox." Steve mused.

"Smart." Danny continued. "I figure go down there get some sun, relax a bit, and pick up some shells for Grace. She hasn't asked for those in years, but she did today."

"That's sweet." Steve smiled. "I'll go with you."

"Great!" Danny sat back, matching Steve's smile. "I'll tell Alana to bring a friend."

And now Steve was finished. The heavy foods weren't what he wanted after a run anyway, but those words made it impossible to try anymore. He pushed the plate away and wiped his mouth with the napkin before tossing it aside.

"On second thought, it's been four days, I need to check on the team." he said.

"Woah, wait a minute." Danny waved his hands, the sun reflecting off the watch on his wrist. "You were just in, now you're out? What's the matter with you?"

"Nothing."

Steve left folded bills on the table and got up. With his hands in his pockets, he walked out the open double doors. When Danny caught up he used Steve's trick, grabbing him by the shoulder and spinning him around.

"We're going to stand right here until you tell me what's going on." Danny said.

He planted his feet to reinforce his words and ticked up an eyebrow, waiting. This area like the rest of the resort was quiet. It was mostly booked by couples, and groups, who kept to themselves unless there was an event raging with music and laughter. Standing there, the two men broke the resorts unspoken code of privacy like they had been the entire trip. Steve ran rough hands over the back of his head. He rallied his thoughts and focused back on Danny.

"Let's go to the room."

"You're gonna talk?"

"I'm gonna talk." Steve promised.

It wasn't two seconds after they returned to the suite that Danny took a seat on the bed, and patted the comforter with a stiff smile. Steve sat behind him. He leaned back on his hands, this time letting his eyes wander over the embroidered curtains, anything but the man beside him.

"You remember a few years back when we were trapped in that-"

Danny waved him off. "One of your stupid decision got us there. I still get claustrophobic thinking about it, don't remind me."

Steve nodded. "That was one of the first few times either of us said I love you."

"Yeah?"

"I don't say that much do I?"

"I mean, after therapy-"

Steve cut him off this time. "Seriously, Danny."

Danny crossed his arms and lost his joking tone. "No."

"Right. I'll admit it's partially because I'm not like you, my emotions don't surface every few seconds." Steve explained, warding off his friend's response with a hand. "Partially because although I do love you, it's not the way you're taking it. You're my best friend, your kids call me uncle, and I wouldn't have it any other way, and as my best friend, I love you. That's the relationship we've been building since I drug you into this job. I don't know when it changed exactly, but now that love is something else."

"Steve," Danny laughed, "You sound like those soaps Rachel used to watch. What, are we breaking up or something?"

"I'm trying to tell you I'm in love with you, Daniel. Can you let me say that?" Steve frowned.

"I think you just did."

Danny sat up a bit straighter. He braced his palms on his knees, blinking deliberately in the way that usually warned of a disagreement. Steve grimaced, bracing himself for it. He wasn't a man that experienced much disappointment. He accomplished what he set out to, and he cut ties with anyone who could potentially cause him to fail, or disappoint him. This wrenching in his gut usually came around when he spoke to his mom, or Mary or thought of his dad. A sharp pain in his shoulder snapped him out of it. He grabbed his arm.

"What was that!?"

"You idiot!" Danny exclaimed standing. "I've been giving you hints, hell, I've been waving flags! Why do you think I'm so hard on you when you're acting like a lunatic? You think I want an aneurysm? No, it's cause I want you around for when this finally happened. Do you think I'm trying to tie the rest of my life with yours because I think you make a good business partner? No, you're insufferable. And if you think I'd let anyone near my car especially after destroying the first one-!"

Steve grabbed Danny by his expressive hands flying while he spoke. He pulled and threw Danny off balance but by the time he had the chance to stumble Steve already crushed the man to his chest. With one arm around Danny's waist, the other locked in his hair, Steve took his words and the breath that came with them in a kiss. It was a harsh confirmation of everything Steve thought he felt. Once the momentum died down Danny's lips pushed softly against his. They accepted and offered a warmer affection. By the time they separated a subtle sting stained Steve's mouth. He wasn't sure if he was shaking, he wasn't sure of much except a weight lifted from his shoulders. Well, one other thing, he was a sucker for Danny's eyes which were impossibly more stunning this close.