"Because you are only six. And a six year old does not need a string bikini," Danny informed Grace. They had been shopping for two hours and all of their nerves were wearing thin. Not that Grace hadn't been as patient as any six year-old could hope to be. She had been excited to pick out new clothes, a pile of jeans and tee shirts collecting at the register. At some point she had asked them if she was going overboard, sounding more like she was 78 than 6 but they assured her that she could have as many blue shirts as her heart desired.
It was when they were choosing bathing suits that tempers began to flare. She had already selected three one-piece suits, all in various shades of blue. It was the skimpy bikini that was currently under discussion which became the tipping point.
"But it's pretty. And it's blue," she said, her arms crossed and her lower lip protruding.
"I know that it's blue, Grace. Just like the other three. And every shirt you've picked out so far. And you can have as many blue one-piece suits as you want. You cannot have a string bikini," Danny said firmly, frowning down at her as she continued to hold the suit, his hands waving more actively than they had up to that point, his agitation making them dance to their own rhythm.
"But I want it," Grace said, her frown deepening.
"No," Danny said. It was now a battle of wills, the bikini the excuse rather than the reason.
"Listen," Steve said, squatting down to Grace's level. "Danno has a point." He held up one hand when Grace started to protest. "I know you like it, Gracey. How about this? We'll buy the ones you picked out so far. We'll have some lunch and talk about this bathing suit."
She turned her unhappy gaze from Steve up to Danny and back. After looking at the suit one last time, she surrendered it to Steve who stood up with a nod. When Grace held her arms up to Steve, he easily picked her up and settled her on his hip, his right arm wrapped securely around her. He gave the offending bikini to Danny to return it to the rack with the other age-inappropriate suits.
"I know you're tired, babe," Steve said, kissing her head.
"I'm hungry," she replied into his shirt.
"You two go ahead to the restaurant," Danny said with an apologetic smile. "I'll take care of paying and meet you there."
"Good plan," Steve agreed, leaning closer to quickly kiss Danny. "We'll see you shortly."
"Thank you, Danno," Grace said softly, looking up at him from under her lashes.
"You're welcome, Gracey," he said with a light kiss on her head. "Order me an ice tea? No fruit or funny stuff. Just ice tea."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah," Steve agreed, laughing with Grace as they left the store.
"She's a very lucky girl," the saleswoman said when she appeared seemingly from nowhere.
"So are we," Danny agreed as the clothes were rung up.
"Only blue?" the woman asked with a smile.
Danny shrugged. If Grace only wanted to wear blue, what did it matter to either of them? Made matching her clothes that much easier as far as he was concerned. When he had paid for the clothes, the saleswoman kindly asked if they had other shopping they planned to do. Shoes, pajamas and panties were still on their list, he admitted.
"Then leave these with me. When you're ready, I can have one of our stock guys help you to your car."
"Are you sure that's okay?" Danny asked in some relief.
"Certainly, Detective McGarrett-Williams. We're happy to help you out in that small way."
"It's not a small way at all. And I really appreciate it," he said. With a last assurance it was no problem, Danny went down to the Clam Shack where Steve and Grace were waiting.
"Did you decide she didn't need any new clothes after all?" Steve laughed as Danny sat next to him. Grace was on the other side of the table, coloring the place mat, using various shades of blue. It was a relief to Danny that she was apparently enjoying her artistic endeavor.
"They are holding them for us," Danny explained. "When we're finished shopping, we'll collect all the packages."
"Makes sense," Steve agreed. "Should we go to the toy store after this?"
"Barbies," Grace cheered, beaming up at her two guys.
"It's settled then," Steve said. "What other toys do you want?"
"Puzzles." She frowned, concentrating for a moment. "It's been a while since I've played with toys."
"I know what you mean," Steve agreed. "We'll just look until we find some you like."
Grace nodded at that, staring off in the distance with an expression that Danny recognized as one Steve had from time to time. Danny figured it meant they were considering a former life or trying to sort out memories from reality.
"Can I ask why you like Barbies so much?" Danny asked, hoping he wasn't crossing some invisible Amaranthine line.
"I had granddaughters," she said simply when she turned to Danny, a wistful smile on her face. "Four of them. And six grandsons. I also had 2 great-grandchildren."
"I'm sorry," Danny said quietly.
She shrugged, focusing on Steve. "I can keep track of my grandchildren through Facebook. Since I'm dead to them, they won't know it's me."
"How will you friend them?" Danny asked.
"My 'daughters' will do it."
Surprisingly, that made sense to Danny. As much as the rest of his new reality did.
There wasn't much more time to consider it when the perky waitress came to take their orders, spending way too much time flirting with Steve for Danny's comfort. Danny glanced at Grace who was also throwing silent daggers at the waitress who was young enough to be their daughter.
Danny silently cheered her on when Grace left her chair and squeezed in between the waitress and the table to stand in front of Steve. "Daddy?" she said in the best six year-old voice she had used since arriving. Danny did an admirable job of not laughing at the expressions that blossomed on Steve's and the waitress's faces.
"Yes, Gracey," Steve responded, finally comprehending what it was she was doing.
"I need to go potty," she said softly, leaning against his thigh and looking up at the waitress whose expression had become one of dismay.
"Of course," Steve agreed, lifting Grace and going toward where the waitress had indicated the bathrooms were located. "You are very naughty," Steve told Grace softly.
"Maybe," Grace said, hiding her face in his shoulder. "She was out of line."
"She was fine," Steve said.
"Danny was going to blow a gasket. Is that the way you are planning to become a widower?" she asked, making Steve laugh.
"Stop being an old woman," Steve said, setting her down outside the women's room. "I guess you really do need to go?"
"Yeah. Good timing though," she said, entering the restroom as he waited right outside. It didn't take her long to return, looking up at him.
"You wash your hands?"
She nodded, accepting his hand to return to their table where Danny was scowling at the two of them.
"What?" Steve asked when they were sitting back down.
"You," Danny said, pointing at Steve, "should have stopped her. And you," he said, pointing at Grace, "are very good at that."
Grace giggled, blowing kisses to Danny. "You're welcome, Danno. You should tell him you're sorry, Daddy."
"I'm sorry, Danno," Steve said, kissing Danny's cheek.
"Your apology is noted. Acceptance is pending," Danny informed him not for the first time.
"You let me know now," Steve said, making Grace giggle again.
Lunch finally finished up after multiple fits of laughter slowed it down considerably. Gracey decided she didn't want dessert right now, especially with the promise of shaved ice in her future. At one point, she did admit that she was being intentionally stubborn about the bikini and apologized for being such a stupid six year-old. Both her fathers assured her they understood after which they returned to the department store on the hunt for shoes, pjs, and panties, all in various shades of blue.
The next stop was the toy store where she picked out six Barbies and two Ken dolls, plus a couple of Star Trek action figures.
"Don't you think the new Captain Kirk is dreamy?" she asked Danny as Steve went to find the GI Joes he was sure were in the store somewhere. Danny said he could have one as long as the explosives and artillery that came in the package were not real.
"Dreamy," Danny agreed, accepting the Captain Kirk action figure, and the Mr. Spock action figure, because no way could Captain Kirk live at their house without his Vulcan First Officer to keep him out of trouble.
"Not as dreamy as you and Steve," she said, trying to reach up for a Lt. Uhura doll.
"Thank you," Danny said with a smile, handing down the Lt. Uhura action figure to her. "Don't you want the rest of the command crew?"
"I didn't want to go overboard," she said reasonably as Danny accepted the other four Starfleet officers. "Steve would be in Starfleet if it was real."
"Yeah he would. He'd be wreaking mayhem across the galaxy instead of confining it to Hawaii."
"Would you be his First Officer?" Grace asked as they went toward the armed forces section of the store.
"Starfleet might not take me," he said, watching from the end of the aisle as Steve studied the GI Joes with the intensity he generally reserved for choosing the new armaments the governor had promised to pay for, no questions asked, even though Danny had on several occasions begged her to ask Steve why he needed a grenade launcher and a flame thrower.
"Yes they would," Grace said with such certainty he had no choice but to believe her.
Steve heard their conversation, turning to grin at them and catching Gracey when she ran over to him. "Did you find all the Barbies you need?"
"Uh huh. And we're getting the Enterprise crew too," she told him.
"The aircraft carrier?" Steve asked with a frown.
"The Starship Enterprise," Danny corrected, holding up the Kirk action figure.
"Oh. Right, right," Steve said, still frowning with his you know I was fighting in a war instead of watching TV face.
"Oh. My. God. Do not tell me you've never seen Star Trek?" Danny said, the superfluous question marks clearly audible.
"Well," Steve said with a shrug.
"Steve," Grace squealed, making Steve flinch. "They are da bomb."
"I guess I'm behind," he admitted. "Is this the TV show from the 60s?"
"That's old school," Grace told him. "These are from the way-cool movie."
"Movie?" Steve repeated like he didn't know the meaning of the word.
Danny sighed and shook his head. "When we get home, we are going to find it live streaming and we're all going to watch it."
"Okay," Steve agreed, handing Danny the three GI Joes he had selected, all in various degrees of scary, warrior-like attire.
"Three?" Danny asked, looking down at their ferocious expressions.
"Gracey has 15," Steve pointed out, gesturing at the basket Danny was holding.
"Grace is six," Danny said in fond exasperation.
Steve just shrugged, sharing a conspiratorial wink with Grace.
"I am in so much trouble," Danny realized as he went up the register, Steve and Grace trailing behind.
After leaving the toy store, they went to get shaved ice, Grace choosing cherry, Steve and Danny graciously refusing Kamekona's offer to try the new flavor he was experimenting with. Eggnog shaved ice was not something either of them had the need to experience.
As Grace was enjoying her treat, Kamekona came and sat with them, studying her with a smile. "You sure are a cute little girl."
Danny held his breath, sending up a silent prayer. This was the first time one of their friends had met her. It was one more hurdle for them all to overcome.
Grace looked up at Kamekona with a perfect six year-old's shy smile. "Thank you," she said softly before turning her attention back to her shaved ice.
"We're thinking of having some friends over for lunch tomorrow, including Kamekona. What do you think of that idea?" Steve asked, more behind the question than was obvious to the emperor of shaved ice.
"That would be fun," Grace agreed with a happy nod. "Will they go swimming with us?"
"Of course," Steve said. "Kono will bring her surfboard. Do you want to learn to surf?"
"Yes," Grace said brightly. "Do you surf?"
"I do," Steve agreed.
"Not Danno," Grace said sadly, shaking her head.
Steve and Kamekona laughed, ignoring Danny's indignant response. "If you can't swim, you can't surf," Steve reminded him.
"I can swim," Danny said firmly, frowning when they laughed again.
"All right, Danno," Steve said, looking past the shaved ice stand to the new white picket fence that had appeared since the last time they had visited. "What's with the fence, brah?"
"Christmas trees," Kamekona said proudly. "Diversionication."
"Diversification you mean?" Danny asked, Kamekona ignoring him.
"I don't see any trees," Steve said, studying the corral made by the fences.
"Be here tomorrow morning. Having them flown in special," Kamekona explained.
"Great," Steve said. "You can bring us a tree when you come over tomorrow."
"Sure thing. Then we can help decorate it," the large man agreed.
"Make it a good one, big guy. Not some pathetic Charlie Brown misfit," Danny requested.
"Charlie Brown?" Steve asked. Danny was pretty sure he was kidding but chose to ignore him all the same.
"I'm on it, Jersey," Kamekona assured him, going back into his shaved ice shack to shout at one of his many cousins working there.
"He's funny," Grace decided, drinking some of the syrup from the bottom of her cup.
"He's something," Danny said, Steve laughing. "Call the guys and tell them to come."
"By guys you mean Kono and Jenna too?" Steve asked, making Danny frown at him. "I'm on it."
"Are you the boss of him?" Grace asked as Steve wandered away, taking out his phone to call Chin.
"At home. At work he's the boss of me. At least I let him pretend he is," Danny told her in a loud whisper.
Grace nodded like that made all the sense in the world. "Where am I going to school?"
"We enrolled you in a private school. Like a Montessori Academy but not exactly. It's self-paced but you still have to act mostly like a six year-old."
Grace sighed but nodded. "I know. The longer I'm here, the more six I feel."
"Is that hard on you?" Danny asked, again hoping he wasn't crossing that invisible Amaranthine line.
"In some ways," she said sounding weary as only a 78 year-old could sound. "After a while, you get used to it. The world keeps changing so it's never boring. This will be my first time in grade school with computers."
Danny nodded at that, looking up at Steve when he returned to them. "All set?"
"Sure are. They'll be there noonish. You ready to go?" he asked Grace.
"Uh huh. That was really good," she said as she threw away her bowl.
"We were just talking about school," Danny said as they went to Steve's truck, Steve helping Grace into the backseat.
"Do they wear uniforms?" she asked as Steve strapped her in.
"You'll get them on Monday when you go," Steve told her, getting into the front seat.
"You two are taking me?"
"Danny is. I have a meeting with the Governor first thing Monday morning," Steve said.
"'Kay," Grace agreed, yawning as soon as Steve had the truck on the road. It was not many minutes later that she was sound asleep.