"Did you pack your Kevlar vest?" Grace nervously asked Steve, her hand clutching his as they disembarked the plane in New Jersey.

"No," Steve said, laughing.

"I don't relish the idea of losing my future husband before we enjoy certain aspects of our relationship!" she said, glaring at him.

He grinned down at her.

McGarrett had refused to have sex with her until they were married and Grace was royally mad at him. He wanted what they had to be special and unlike any relationship he'd had. He also deep down inside wanted Danny to accept this before he went and "violated" his best friend's daughter.

Each of them had contacted Danny and told him they wanted to visit for Thanksgiving. He didn't question the two of them coming together. Of course, both knew he might feel differently once they announced their intentions …

"Danno!" Grace screeched, releasing Steve's hand and running into her father's arms in the airport.

"Hey Monkey!" Danny said, twirling her around. He hadn't seen his daughter in person for nearly two years. He still couldn't get over the fact she was no longer a little girl.

He smiled when Steve walked up. Danny pulled him into a brotherly embrace.

"I'm glad I finally got you to join the real world," he kidded.

They were sitting on Danny's porch, drinking beers when Grace glanced at Steve, giving him "the look." He gave a slight nod, acknowledging they might as well get it over with.

"Danno?"

Danny turned his head to look as his daughter with a smile.

"Yeah, Gracie?" he said.

"I've got something to talk to you about and I don't want you to freak out, OK?" she said.

He frowned and glanced at Steve with a look that said "Did you know about this but didn't tell me?" Steve gave him a blank look and forced himself to not shrug.

Danny returned his attention to his daughter, who set her beer down and pulled her necklace out of her shirt to reveal a diamond ring hanging from it.

"I'm engaged."

Danny's jaw dropped and he looked like a gaping fish because no sound came out of his moving mouth.

"We want to get married soon and I want you to come back to Hawaii for the ceremony," Grace said.

Again Danny glanced at Steve with a frown.

"Steven, why didn't you mention my baby girl's been seeing someone? You're supposed to be watching out for her!" he accused.

"Hey," Steve said, standing up, "I told you she's an adult and I'm not her keeper. This is between you and her."

Grace stomped her foot and look at both of them in frustration. They stared at her.

"I'm 22 years old, Danno, and I will decide when and who I tell about my love life. You do not control me and you do not control who I choose to love," she said.

Danny cocked his head to one side.

"I'm sorry, Grace. I just would like to have met this guy before the wedding," he said.

"What, so you could interrogate him?" she shot back, hands on her hips.

McGarrett had to bite his lip to keep from smiling. He was going to love being married to this woman.

"Well, not exactly," Danny responded. "I would have kept the questions to a minimum …"

"Before or after the background check," Grace interrupted. She was on a roll, her eyes flashing.

"Could I get some help here, please?" Danny said out the side of his mouth to Steve. McGarrett held up his hands in mock surrender.

"So I don't get to meet this guy beforehand?" Danny finally conceded in defeat, realizing he wasn't going to change Grace's mind.

Grace locked eyes with Steve.

"He's standing right next to you," she said, mentally bracing herself for her father's reaction. She was not disappointed.

Danny's face nearly turned purple as he slowly turned toward, cussing his soon-to-be former best friend under his breath.

"What did she just say?" he hissed. Steve could see the steam rising from Danny's ears.

Grace pushed her way between them, firmly placing herself in front of McGarrett. She grabbed her father's hands so he couldn't go for his weapon.

"This is my life and he is my choice. You've known this all along, Danno. Please accept it," she softly said, her eyes welling up as she stared at him. "This makes me happy."

Steve gently placed his hands on her shoulders for support. Danny glanced back and forth at his two favorite people in the world. In a really bizarre way, it made sense. He smiled at Grace.

"If he makes you happy, then that's all I could ask for," Danny said. He then sternly looked at Steve and said, "This does NOT mean you can call me Dad."