A wave of disappointment washed over Arianna when Danny arrived sans Grace. She pasted a smile on when she asked, "Punk busy tonight?"

"Uh, yeah, she's working on homework," Danny replied.

"That's too bad. I'll have to give her a call later, study break or something," Arianna said.

"She probably won't answer. It's a big test or something," Danny hedged.

"Um, okay," she whispered sadly.

"So, we having homemade or delivery tonight," he asked in an obvious bid to change the topic.

"Delivery? As if," she snorted.

Danny snickered, "You're too easy, kid."

Everyone else arrived shortly thereafter, filling the house with noise and laughter. Good food and beer loosening the team up. They ate and drank until they couldn't take in any more.

At one point, Steve caught Danny alone on the lanai. "You wanna tell me what's really going on with Grace."

Danny didn't even try to look surprised. "She's just really busy lately."

"I call bullshit," Steve drawled.

"Steve, it's probably better if we let this drop," Danny pleaded.

"Danny," Steve said and accompanied it with his you know me better than that face.

"It's Rachel, okay," he blurted, clearly exasperated.

"Rachel?"

"She doesn't feel that Arianna is such a good influence for Grace."

Steve stood straighter, fish-faced, not knowing what to say. He whispered, "And you feel the same way."

"What? No!"

"Then why, Danny?" he asked almost as quietly.

Danny rubbed the back of his neck and flushed a little with shame. "It's that things have been going good with Rach and I'm a big wuss."

"So you don't think the same way?"

"No! It's not like I have the right to judge. Rachel either for that matter."

The partners stood watching the ocean, absorbed in their own thoughts. "I'll bring her by later this week. She misses Arianna too."

"Don't do me any favors," Steve growled.

Arianna watched the two men through the half open doors. She wasn't positive about their topic but she could make a good guess. She was so focused; she didn't see Chin's approach until he was right in front of her.

"They'll work it out, li'ili'i kumu, they always do."

"This time it isn't about them. It's about me."

"Doesn't matter, they'll still figure something out. They may scream, shout and rant some but still."

"I sure hope you're right, Uncle Chin."

"I am, now come join the gang. Those two will be in soon."

Danny and Steve rejoined the rest of the gang a few minutes later but neither man looked all that happy about it. Arianna raised a discreet eyebrow and received a signed, "not now," from Steve. The get together broke up early as everyone had work the next day. One glance at her father spoke volumes. He wasn't in the mood to talk. She quietly said good night and retreated to her room.

They scrambled to get ready and out the door the next morning, use to but not really use to, each other's workday routine. Steve figured they'd get it down in a couple of days. The fact that he wasn't eager to see Danny had absolutely nothing to do with the morning chaos.

Steve wanted to be working at his desk (or making a good attempt at it) when the rest of the team arrived. He should've known his partner better. Danny leaned against the door jam of Steve's office, patiently waiting for the man to acknowledge him. Stubborn complimented stubborn with the pair. Danny refused to budge and Steve glared holes in the computer screen. Chin wandered past with a "howzit." Kono waltzed past, slapping Danny on the shoulder. Lou ignored them as he marched by. Danny shifted his weight to his good leg and Steve opened and shut a desk drawer for no reason.

"For Pete's sake, would you two kiss and make up already," Kono yelled at them.

Danny cleared his throat. "We need to talk. Clear the air."

"I think we said enough last night, D."

"I disagree. We didn't even come close to saying enough."

Steve laid his palms flat on the desk, raising his head to look his friend in the eye. "Close the door and take a seat."

"So that's the way we're gonna do this," Danny said complying.

"What way? I don't want to broadcast this discussion to the entire building. We can both be vocal, I'm sure you'd agree."

Danny perched on the edge of one of the visitor's chairs, prepared to wait out his partner, again.

"Look, Danny, I get it. It's fine. Arianna is pregnant out of wedlock, to be old fashioned. It's contagious. Grace will catch it sooner or later. We can split the team gatherings. I won't bring her or the baby when I know Grace is going to be there."

Danny pinched the bridge of his nose. "That was your take away from our conversation? You didn't listen to a word I said."

"I heard you just fine. More importantly, I heard what you didn't say."

"What I didn't say? That's amazing! You've developed mind reading skills to complement those army skills you have."

"Danny."

"No, Steve, you're not going to do this. I don't feel the way Rachel does, I don't. I have no excuse really. There's been so much shit lately; I didn't want to add to the pile. Yes it's wrong and probably makes me a coward but there it is. I've apologized and offered to try and make up for it. What more do you want?"

"Why didn't you tell me how it was, Danno?"

Danny stared, bemused at his best friend. "Why didn't I? Really?"

"Yeah, all you had to say was Rachel was giving you grief. I would've understood so would've Arianna."

"Well, it's not like you've been on a vacation the last few months either. Before you say anything, I know hindsight is twenty/twenty."

Steve stood and walked around to lean on the edge of his desk. "We're good, partner, but for future reference."

"I know, we talk about it. Put that therapist's advice to practice. We should get back to work," Danny said standing up and thrusting his hand out.

Steve grabbed the proffered hand and pulled Danny into a manly hug. "Yeah, we should. You know that's rich coming from you right?"

"Yeah, yeah, I deserve that."

As the pair ambled out of Steve's office, Kono called out, "Ah, honeymoon's back on."

"Laugh it up, Kalakaua," Danny huffed.

"We got a case?" Lou asked coming out of his office.

Steve's phone rang. "Probably," he replied as he answered, "McGarrett." Everyone waited while Steve listened to the caller. He started circling his arm in the air as he finished the call. "We've got a hostage situation at the mall. Let's go."

Steve arrived home tired, dirty and covered in several Band-Aids. Arianna moved to hug him until she took a good whiff. "Holy crap, Dad, you smell like a perfume factory and a cheap one at that!"

"That's what happens when a drugged out 6'6" Samoan tosses you onto the perfume counter at Nordstrom," he relayed, pulling off his button down and t-shirt.

"I don't even want to know. Throw your clothes outside the door and take a shower. I'll put them in the washer. Oh, I have a surprise for you at dinner."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Yep! Now please go shower, Ms. Collins."

"Hey, don't I rank Mr. Dior at least?"

"Nope."

"How do you know what a perfume factory smells like?" Steve asked as Arianna's description sank in.

"I'm guessing. You do realize that you have a knack for finding yourself in situations that end up with you smelling? This is the second time in less than a month I've had to tell you to take a shower."

"Maybe I need a keeper."

"A new one at least. Uncle Danny doesn't seem to be doing his job."

Steve laughed, threw his shirts at her head and dashed up the stairs. He laughed harder as she yelled, "Great! Now I have to shower too!" at him.

Arianna dropped his clothes in the washer, along with her top. Normally, she'd make a mad dash for the second bathroom but since she moved slower these days, she wrapped a towel she'd left there earlier around her first.

Sitting down to a heavily fruit weighted meal, Steve resembled a young child at Christmas. Arianna, enjoying the sight of her big, badass father squirming in his chair, eventually took pity on the giant kid. "I've decided on a name."

"I really like John Steven. It's a strong name, after strong men. Give him something to live up to."

Steve's heart nearly burst in his chest. With a voice rough with emotion and trembling hands, he said, "I like it too."

Arianna grinned. "I'm glad."

They finished their meal and cleaned up, neither liked to wake to a sink full of dirty dishes. By unspoken agreement, they ended up on the couch each with respective paperwork. It was easy and nice. Because the day had been busy, Steve wasn't able to do the research he needed to be able to present his plan to his daughter. Watching her nibble on the end of her pen, he vowed to make sure he could make his presentation tomorrow night.