A/N: Time to meet the rest of the crew. Some characters will be developed more than others as you will see. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: On the second day of Christmas my lawyer said to me: Quit stalking Scott Caan, and you don't own H-5-0 you see. (Just kidding I don't live close enough to stalk Scott Caan. Besides that would be creepy. And I really don't own H50.)
Corie and her boys left to go home when the cooking was done.
Danny spent all day the next day, Sunday, playing with his niece and daughter. He watched the girls while his folks went to church. Talia decided that staying home one Sunday to be with her cousin wouldn't matter. Danny and the girls dressed in their snow clothes and headed outside.
Playing with the girls was not as rough as playing with the boys. Danny, however, did get them on board to ambush the boys with snowballs.
Talia loved every minute she spent with Grace and Danny. At home sometimes it felt like her versus her brothers. Tucker left her alone for the most part. It was Timmy and Terrence who got on her nerves. They were always ganging up on her. She enjoyed plotting revenge against the obnoxious terrors.
After building a snowman they went inside to warm up and relax.
Grace and Talia reminded Danny to put his wet clothes into the dryer even if he had remembered his mother and sister's shout from the day before.
They all rummaged through the kitchen for treats to warm them up. Grace found a huge canister of hot chocolate. Gram had used it to make it for the boys on yesterday at lunch. Talia found two cans of Tomato soup. Danny decided to make grilled cheese to go along with that. He scooted the girls into the living room so he could cook.
"Don't burn down the kitchen or Gram will kill you," Grace giggled as she walked out with Talia.
Talia couldn't hold in her laugh.
"Ha Ha, beat it," he said sarcastically pointing to the exit.
The girls pulled out a deck of cards and Grace started teaching Talia how to play 5 card draw. They had only played a few hands when Danny announced lunch was ready. He told Grace to bring the cards to the table and this is how Liz and Terry found them. They were eating grilled cheese, soup, drinking hot chocolate, and betting the oyster crackers that Danny had put out for the soup in their Poker game. Terry thought is was the funniest thing he had ever seen.
"Why are you corrupting my grandbabies?" Liz asked.
She did not approve of card playing of any type and it bugged her that her husband had taught all of her kids how to play. She was not happy to see it was being passed onto the next generation of her family.
Liz busied her self and calmed down by doing the dishes while Terry joined in the game giving his grand daughters tips on how to beat the pants off his son. That's how that group had spent the afternoon and into the evening. Liz was caught giving a few annoyed looks to her son and husband. She did enjoy the time to get her house in perfect shape for the family that would be arriving the next day.
H50
The next day was Christmas Eve. The family started arriving in the morning and it seemed like nonstop with hugs and greetings most of which went to Grace and Danny.
The first to arrive was Danny's middle sister Cryssie. She had her husband, 13 year old son Eric, 8 year old Callie, and 6 year old Sophia with her. Eric went straight for the couch, sat down, and grumpily folded his arms. He had a sour look on his face. Danny watched Crystal sigh as she looked at her son. Danny put his arm around her shoulders and pulled her away from everyone else.
"How you doing sis?" he asked.
Danny knew that Cryssie had been having trouble with her oldest son. He had been caught skipping school and hanging out with the wrong crowd. The teen hadn't done anything illegal besides being truant. Crystal was worried that it would only be a matter of time. She was at her wits end with her son. Eric was angry with her because he was grounded for his entire break and that included video games, cell phone, and he was only allowed to watch T.V. if it were a family activity. Not to mention he wasn't allowed to see his friends.
Cryssie looked like she was about to cry in response to his question. Danny hugged her hoping she would calm down.
"Let me know if I can do anything," he whispered in her ear.
Cryssie nodded and clung to her brother. As they pulled apart he put his hands on her shoulders.
"I mean it. If he puts one more toe and out of line and you send him to me for a couple of weeks.
Cryssie was confused.
"A trip to Hawaii sounds more like a reward than punishment," she said.
"You've never met my partner. He's a former Navy SEAL and his idea of a workout is cutting a trail five miles in the jungle with full pack in the blazing heat. Trust me it would be worse than boot camp," Danny assured her.
Crystal let a small smile form on her lips and she and Danny walked back to join the group.
"Howzit cuz?" Talia greeted her cousins trying out the pidgin that Grace had taught her.
This had brought odd looks from her family members especially Danny. The detective had been looking forward to getting away from the odd vernacular that he was constantly hearing. When he had first arrived in Hawaii he thought he had landed in the wrong place. Hawaii was a U.S. state so he had expected to hear English. He felt like he needed a translator for the first few months in his new home.
Danny pulled Grace aside. Talia followed when she realized her other half had moved away.
"You gonna teach that Hawaiian talk to all of your cousins?" Danny asked not sure how he felt about his nieces and nephews going around using the broken English that drove him crazy.
Danny also had a feeling that it would drive his sister, Sammie, crazy. She and her husband were school teachers. Danny had heard they had gone out of their way to make sure that their twin girls spoke with perfect grammar from a young age. It might make the pregnant woman go into early labor if she heard them speaking it. Considering she was only 16 weeks along that would not be a good thing.
As if on cue in walked Samantha's husband his arms full of bags. Samantha followed behind holding onto her daughters' hands. Grace and Danny had only seen the twins a few times before they moved. The girls were just over a year old when Danny and Grace had moved.
The four year olds clung to their mother's hand as the two tanned strangers approached.
"Kylie. . . Abigail," Sammie said looking down, "Remember I said that you were going to meet your Uncle Danny and cousin Grace today. I showed you their picture."
Abigail the shy one hid her face in her mother's side while Kylie took a step towards Danny. Danny got down on one knee and to his surprise Kylie wrapped her small arms around his neck. Danny gently returned it. He actually wasn't sure which twin he was hugging. They looked exactly alike. Thank heavens their mother hadn't dressed them in completely identical outfits. The shirts they wore had the same design, but different base colors.
Grace copied her Danno and also got down on one knee holding out her arms to her brave little cousin. Kylie then hugged Grace. As father and daughter stood Grace felt Kylie's hand slip into hers. Talia joined Grace by the door after helping her uncle with the bags. The other twin walked right over to Talia and held her hands up. The twelve year old picked her up. Shy little Abby loved being around her big cousin Talia. Talia was the twins' favorite babysitter.
Danny walked over to Sammie holding his arms out. She embraced her brother, but after a moment pushed him away.
"You smell funny Danny," she said in all seriousness wrinkling her nose.
Danny backed away a little bit not wanting to get thrown up on. He knew all about her pregnancy and morning sickness. Samantha walked forward put her nose close by his shoulder and sniffed. She sniffed up his shoulder and neck to the base of his hair line.
"What did put in your hair this morning?"
She asked taking a step back.
"Just hair gel like always, sis," he said.
"Fine, just don't stand too close. I don't want to smell it," Sammie said in all seriousness as she side stepped her brother and went in the kitchen in search of something to eat.
"No problem," Danny responded still feeling a little creeped out by the whole encounter.
"Don't take it so hard," Danny's brother in law Samuel said putting a hand on Danny's shoulder, "She says most of my stuff stinks too."
Danny hugged his brother in law. He couldn't get over the fact that his baby sister had married a man who had the masculine form of her name. Either could by go by Sammie or Sam. It was a little weird. The pair had met in while in college. They both had the same major of Elementary Education. Sam was now working toward becoming a principal. The extra money would mean that Sammie could teach part time instead of full and allow her to be home with her girls and new baby more. The hardest thing she had done was go back to work after her maternity leave had been up. At least this time she would have more time with the baby when he or she was born. The baby was due at the end of the school year so Sammie would have the whole summer. Sam should be starting a job in administration the next year and Sammie was hoping to apply for a part time position.
Grace picked up Kylie and followed Talia into the living room.
The doorbell rang once more and Corie walked in arriving last of the bunch. All could see the reason why it had taken her family extra time to get there. Terrence held a tissue up to his nose and had his head tilted back. One eye managed to look around the tissue to see where he was going.
"Don't ask. . . I don't want to talk about it," Corie said obviously feeling frustrated at what ever had caused the seven year old's nose to bleed.
Danny though he saw a red mark on Timmy's forehead. Danny was willing to bet that the spot would probably be a bruise before the end of the day. Talia put Abigail down and went to hug her mother.
"Are you having fun sweetheart?" Corie asked.
Part of her wished that Talia wasn't and would say that she wanted to come home. The smile on the preteen's face told her that this was not the case.
"Uncle Danny and Papa taught me how to play poker yesterday," Talia responded excitedly.
The smile vanished from Corie's face and she glared and her father and brother. She, like her other siblings, had been taught to play by Terry, but Corie had decided that she agreed with her mother and decided not to teach her kids how to gamble.
"I want to learn," Tucker said.
The quiet teen hardly spoke to Danny or any other adults the other day. Not to mention that Tucker was irritated that his sister learned before she did.
"Me too! Me too!" Timmy started and Terrence joined in even though he was still trying to get his bleeding nose to stop.
"Thanks, Pop," Corie said sarcastically as she headed to the kitchen to help her mother and more than likely to complain to her as well.
Everyone else gathered in the living room. Sammie came out of the kitchen eating out of a bowl.
"What is that?" Cryssie asked.
"Bake potato and sour cream," Sammie answered taking a big bite, "I can't get enough of them. I dreamed last night that there was a giant baked potato in a swimming pool of sour cream and now I really want one."
At least she wasn't craving peanut butter covered sardines or something.
Several conversations started through out the room, but most of the cousins were gathered around Grace anxious to hear about her exciting life in Hawaii. The adult conversations ceased after they heard the ten year answering all the questions the cousins had. Danny listened, but did offer any answers even though he knew just as much as Grace did.
"I'm learning how to surf and so is Danno," Grace said when asked about it.
All eyes turned to Danny. Shock was all over his two sisters' faces. They didn't know that he gone back in the ocean after vowing never again after the death of his best friend so many years ago.
"It's not so bad," Danny said.
"My Auntie Kono is teaching us. She used to be a professional surfer until she got injured. Now she works in 5-0 with Daddy," Grace said continuing on.
Again adult eyes turned to Danny, but this time the looks were very different. His family knew he was dating someone out in Hawaii, but he hadn't shared many details about it. The looks told Danny that they were wondering if he was dating his coworker.
"We are not dating, she's just teaching me how to surf."
"That's right Danno is dating Gabby for over a year now. Right Danno?"
Again eyes went from Grace to Danny. Now they wondered how serious it was. If he married a girl from Hawaii the chances of him moving back home were pretty much a zero. After he had left his family had held out hope that he would come to his senses and come back to Jersey. Three years later and three days back at home hadn't seemed to change his mind. Danny was stubborn and as many times he wanted to book a flight home in those first few months he hadn't. He couldn't leave Grace. He wouldn't leave her. And now that he thought about it he didn't want to leave his job with 5-0 either.
H50
One of the things Danny had looked forward to most about being home for Christmas was some of his family traditions that he couldn't do in Hawaii. He had tried having a real tree his first year in Hawaii, but the poor little thing was half dead when he got it. He had given in determined to have something that looked nice and that wouldn't die on him so he had bought an artificial one the next year. He sprayed it down with pine scented freshener, but it still wasn't the same. It had been years since the almost entire Williams Clan had gotten together to decorate a tree. Even before Danny and Grace moved. Gram and Papa decided that this would be a good year to decorate a tree as a family. The only day that everyone would be together was Christmas Eve and Day. Decorating the tree was one activity planned for the day.
"Tucker. . .Eric. . ." Terry said standing up, "Come on boys we are going to get a tree."
The two teens obediently got up. Both were anxious to get away from the noise of the house and spend some time with their grandfather even sour faced Eric.
The rest of the family would be going to a nearby park to enjoy another tradition of going sledding. Everyone got up and started dressing. Older kids dressed first so the adults could dress the younger ones and send them outside so they wouldn't start sweating in their winter gear.
Danny led his nephews around the side of the house as the large group tried to get organized once everyone was outside. Danny's sisters and mother were all trying to be the one in charge so it was pretty chaotic.
"What's that?" Timmy asked as they approached a snow wall that was about 4 feet high.
"You'll see," Danny said in a teasing tone.
At that moment Grace and Talia popped up with their arms full of snow balls. After the first one hit into their chests the boys tried to run and realized that Danny had a hold of the backs of their coats and was keeping them in place. The two girls laughed as they continued to pelt the obnoxious pair.
This is for going in my room. This is for pulling the heads off my Barbie dolls. This is for using my favorite shirt as a paintbrush.
Talia thought of reasons for payback as the snowballs flew. Danny let out an evil villain laugh as the boys tried to get away. The girls aimed for their chests and lower leg areas. The boys were defenseless and they really didn't want to hurt them. The boys' high pitched screams brought the nearby adults running around the side of the house. Instead of coming to their rescue everyone bust out laughing. All in the group at one point or another had been hit unsuspectingly with a snowball by the boys over the years. Grace and Talia soon ran out of snowballs and came out from around their snow wall. Both boys scowled at their older sister as she triumphantly approached them.
"Payback," is all she said.
She almost added, "is a bitch", but knew that her mother would not let her get away with that one.
"What about Tucker?" Timmy whined, "It was his idea to go after you the other day?"
The little boy turned toward his uncle.
"Well he's not here. That's how it goes sometimes."
The family all piled into the cars and drove the short distance to the same park that Danny and his sisters had played at when they were kids. Everyone either grabbed a sled or a younger child's hand as they trekked up to the top of the hill.
"I want to ride with you Grace," Kylie said clinging onto her hand. Grace smiled down at her cousin glad that she had taken a liking to her.
"I promised my dad I would ride with him first, but you can go with me the second time."
The little girl nodded and went to go stand next to her mother and wait for Grace to come back up to the top. Danny steadied the sled while Grace got in then settled in behind her. Grace looked down the monstrous slope as she felt her dad push them towards the edge.
All at once the sled went over the edge and down towards the bottom. The cold air on her face, Danno's arms wrapped around her middle, the white snow rushing past brought back the memories of her and Danny doing this before they had moved. Rachel had didn't like sledding so it is something the two of them had done.
Grace remembered her first sled ride. It had been on this same hill. Grace had been three. The sled moved fast down the hill. It looked the same way it had the first time. The only difference now was Grace was bigger.
Before they knew it the sled came to a stop at the bottom. All the weight added to the sled sent them further than anyone else in the family.
Grace immediately spotted Talia moving Abigail and their sled out of the way so they could walk back up the hill.
"Carry me," the little girl begged her cousin as Danny and Grace caught up to them.
"How 'bout letting Uncle Danny carry you and I'll pull the sled."
Abby looked up at the blonde man. She liked his daughter. Grace was nice like Talia, but the four year old wasn't sure about her uncle.
"I don't think I'll be able to carry you because my coat is too bulky. So it's either Uncle Danny or walk."
Abby thought over her choices as she looked up the steep hill. She lifted her arms towards the detective and Danny hoisted her up. Grace and Talia towed the sleds behind them. The little girl put her arm around Danny's neck and turned herself so she was facing forward.
The group made it up pretty quick as Abby's small legs weren't slowing them down. Danny set her down at the top, and to his surprise didn't run back to Talia or her mother. Instead she clung to Danny's leg.
"I want to ride with you next Uncle Danny," Abby said looking up at him.
Danny wasn't sure if she wanted to go with him because she was warming up to him or because she knew she wouldn't have to climb the hill is she went with him. He wasn't going to tell his niece no whatever her motives.
Talia helped Grace set up one of the sleds so she could take Kylie on the promised second ride. Danny followed behind with Abby. The twins squealed with delight as they slid down the snowy slope.
Danny scooped up Abby and the sled when they got to the bottom. Kylie, after seeing her sister, wanted to be carried too. Grace pulled the sleds as Danny carried the twins back to the top.
Sammie saw her brother, out of breath, come to the top with a twin in each arm. Sammie couldn't stop herself from bursting into tears. It was the cutest thing she had ever seen. Of course, anything made Sammie cry nowadays.
Danny decided that the hill was a lot steeper than he remembered and voluntarily took a break so he could catch his breath.
The group continued to take turns using the sleds to go down the hill and come back up.
After a bit the cold started to get to the little ones they decided to pack it up and head back to the house. It was well after noon and all were getting hungry.
As they entered the house wet clothes started coming off.
"Bout time you got home. The pizza was starting to get cold," Terry said coming out of the living room.
"Pizza?" Danny asked.
"Thought you and Grace could use a good slice, son," Terry said winking at Danny.
10 large pizza boxes were stacked on the dining room table. The smell hit the family making mouths water.
"No pineapple," Danny said contently lifting a lid and taking in the aroma.
It was just the way pizza was supposed to be.
The family piled the pizza onto paper plates and went to eat in the living room.
The smell of the pine tree mixed with the pizza. The live tree had been put into the tree holder ready to be decorated. Terry and his grandsons had already strung on lights.
The girl cousins sat together. Timmy and Terrence joined Tucker and Eric. The adults sat in groups of two or three talking.
Sammie ate an entire pizza by herself.
"Do you have another set of twins in there?" Crystal joked.
"There is only one baby and I have the ultrasound to prove it. I feel like I haven't eaten in weeks. At my last OB appointment my doctor said that I needed to eat whatever sounded good so I could get my weight up even if it was french fries. And right now pizza sounds good."
Corie chuckled. She was glad to see her sister eating again.
Clean up was pretty easy as most could be taken out to the garbage.
It was then time to decorate the tree. Grace and the other cousins took turns putting the same ordainments on that their parents had when they were younger. When it was done the family sat around it admiring their work. They then reminisced about Christmases past.
All noticed Gram excusing herself with tears in her eyes as a memory of Mattie was brought up.
"He hasn't tried to contact you? Has he Daniel?" Corie asked holding back tears of her own.
Danny shook his head remembering the last time he had seen his little brother is when he was boarding a plane and heading to who knows where.
"Why don't we see if there is a Christmas movie on T.V?" Terry suggested wanting to change the subject.
Terry had one of his sons with him this holiday season and wanted to get everyone out of the melancholy mood.
They spent the rest of the day watching Christmas show on T.V. Since they had a late lunch Liz and her daughters had set up food on the table buffet style. As people got hungry they came and filled up a plate and rejoined the family in the living room.
Around 9:30 everyone was tuckered out, even the younger kids who anxiously awaiting the day's end so they could go to bed and Santa could come and set to work. The adults and older kids got the younger ones into PJs and into bed.
Danny would be sharing his room with the boy cousins while the girl cousins were joining Talia and Grace in Corie's room. Corie and her husband were sleeping on a blow up mattress in Cryssie's room. Sammie and Sam had her room all to themselves. The arrangements had been set up before Sammie had gotten over her morning sickness. Her older sisters decided that they didn't want their pregnant sister tripping over the air mattress in an attempt to get to the bathroom.
Once teeth were brushed and everyone under the age of 18 was behind closed doors. The adults set to work setting out gifts and stockings for the next morning. They ran out of room pretty quickly and started stacking presents in any spot they could find. It was after midnight before the adults stumbled into bed.
Danny quietly stepped over a sleeping Terrence to get to the bottom bunk bed. He hoped the kids would sleep in tomorrow. He laughed to himself as a thought. When he was little he and his siblings would try to get their parents up starting around 5:30 A.M. He had a feeling that this year would be no different.
A/N: So I did see somewhere on the internet that in an upcoming episode Danny was going to have a nephew named Eric to come and visit. We'll just have to see how that goes on the show. More pregnancy stuff that is all true. It did eat an entire cheese pizza and dreamed about giant potatoes and sour cream swimming pools. I guess I did eat while I was pregnant I was just really picky about what I ate. That drove my mother crazy.