Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Steve, Danny and Grace piled in the front door of the McGarrett family home. Grace had been quiet on the drive over and had fidgeted endlessly. Danny and Steve could feel the girl moving around in the back seat. Finally, Danny turned around and asked, "Hey Monkey, got ants in your pants?" Grace settled down a little after that.
Now that she was finally home, she didn't know where to go first. She wanted to see her room, she wanted to see the beach, and she wanted to see everything because this was now her home too. She was headed to the stairs when she stopped. She went over to one of the end tables and picked up a picture frame.
"This is us Danno. It's from your old apartment." Grace ran her fingers over Danny's image.
"Yes it is. Uncle Steve and I moved all my things over here this week. Remember, I told you I was moving out." Danny was a little concerned; he knew they had discussed this last weekend.
"I know Danno. It's just…your stuff is everywhere. I guess I just expected everything to be in your bedroom." Grace wasn't sure she knew what she was expecting. "Where's your couch?"
Danny laughed and ran a little movie in his head where the couch was being subject to countless indignities. "I don't know babe and I don't care. I'm only glad I don't have to sleep on it anymore."
Steve decided that maybe he needed to clarify what he and Danny had decided. He drew her over to the couch and they both sat. "Grace, Danno brought everything he wanted to keep here. He wouldn't need the couch and some other things since I already have them here. He donated everything else to someone who could use them. You and Danny aren't just staying in your bedrooms. You are sharing my whole house. You can bring some of your things over and keep them here. We'll make room for them. I want you to feel at home here. Do you think you can do that?"
Grace turned on a 100-watt smile. She hugged Steve and kissed his cheek. "I can do that Uncle Steve."
Steve tousled her hair and gave her one of his own bright smiles. "Great. Why don't you and Danno unpack your things? I'm going to change out of these work clothes and take my family out to dinner tonight – my treat."
Danny had watched the exchange between the pair intently. Why had he ever accused Steve of being bad with kids? Steve was a natural, at least with Grace. When he spoke to her, her always got to her level and looked her squarely in the eye. He never talked down to her and always made sure she was following whatever he was saying. And the big goof, he was so sweet with her!
Grace jumped up with the mention of dinner. She ran over and grabbed Danny's hand and then urged him upstairs. Steve grabbed the duffel and dropped it in Grace's room. Then he went back to his own room to get ready for dinner. He decided on a quick shower and was ready in 10 minutes.
He heard Danny in the other bath; Danny decided a shower and change of clothes sounded too good to pass up. Finally the three assembled downstairs. They were all in shorts and tees and flip-flops.
Steve surveyed the group and said, "Well, it's a good thing I had a casual place in mind. Let's head out. I have just the place in mind. How does pizza sound? My family used to go to this place when I was your age Grace"
Danny laughed and cut in, "No, I refuse to believe that you were ever Grace's age."
Steve knew that Danny was only kidding by the gleam in his eye. "Of course I was. I have pictures. At least I have progressed beyond childhood unlike someone I know. Anyway, as I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted, this restaurant has been around for over 30 years. Mary and I loved going there, and I hope you like it too."
Danny realized that Steve was trying to share some of his childhood with them and that he was a little insecure about it. "Hey, as long as I can get a pie without ham and pineapple, I'll be happy."
Crystal's* turned out to be a large storefront in a strip shopping center. Steve, Danny, and Grace stood in line waiting to order their pizza. They decided on one Hawaiian and one pepperoni pizza and soft drinks. Steve also ordered the salad bar or else he knew that he would pig out on the pizza. After ordering, they surveyed the layout of the restaurant.
There was a large room with open seating in the center and privacy booths around the perimeter. There was also a drink station, the salad bar and two other doors in the back. One led to an arcade judging from the sound. Steve motioned for them to enter the other door. They filled their drinks and collected plates, napkins and utensils first.
Door #2 was a multi level viewing room with long tables and benches on either side of the center aisle. Old Looney Tunes cartoons were showing. Danny and Grace were delighted with Steve's choice. Little did he know that Steve and Mary usually spent the first couple of hours on Saturdays watching Bugs and Daffy when they were younger.
Danny looked at Steve and asked, "How is it possible I've been here over a year and never found this place? You my friend have been holding out on me."
The trio settled at an open table halfway up the aisle. Steve went back to make his salad. Then they all watched the action until their order number came up on the board. Danny retrieved their pizzas and they all grabbed a slice.
Steve realized that his all-time favorite Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd cartoon was coming on. Elmer was a hunter as usual, but this time the dialogue was sung in opera style. Bugs was dressed as a femme fatale and was riding on a big horse. Why is Bugs in drag always so funny, and why does Elmer always fall for it? Of course, he is furious when he sees through the disguise. He calls down the wrath of the gods and is running around singing "Kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit, kill the rabbit now".
Steve was laughing so hard that tears were running down his cheeks. Danny thought he might have to administer CPR if Steve didn't catch his breath. In a hundred years, Danny would never have imagined being in a place like this with Steve and Grace. It was beyond unbelievable.
Finally the cartoons ended. During the brief pause, Danny surveyed the other customers. He knew Steve could probably give him a complete description on every single person. He saw several other families, and then he saw what appeared to be fathers with their child or children. There were no moms in sight.
For Danny, it was a reminder of his life with Grace since his divorce. Danny remembered a song from a CD his mother liked to play while she worked in the kitchen. It spoke of 'Sunday Fathers'**; the day was theirs by law. They were in parks or at the movies, beaches, zoos, anywhere inexpensive. They had one day every week or two to re-connect with the children they lost in custody battles. It was a poignant story of loss and sadness.
Danny could feel their pain from across the room. He thought about how he had planned their time together so that Grace would have a happy memory to keep her through the week. He realized that now that Grace would be spending so much time with him, he would need to establish a new pattern. Families didn't spend all their time going out or playing games. They had chores to do and needed some downtime on their own.
Danny also knew that Steve would need some private time. They all would. And while they wouldn't want to spend their weekends with Grace cleaning and shopping and otherwise working the whole time, they did need for her to share in the household duties. He knew that he would need to discuss the matter with Steve after Grace went to bed tonight.
For now, there was more fun ahead. A Three Stooges episode started on the big screen. These were also a favorite of Danny's. He and Mattie used to imitate Moe and Larry, much to the irritation of their father. Danny was quickly absorbed in the nonsense.
By the time a couple of short clips had ended, Danny, Steve and Grace had finished as much of the pizza as they could manage. Steve got a couple of carry out boxes. One would have been enough, but Danny was adamant about not letting the ham and pineapple contaminate his pepperoni pizza.
They adjourned to the arcade where Danny reigned as the king of skeeball. Grace turned out to be pretty adept too; Steve never did get the hang of it. He alternately threw the ball too softly so that it never reached the rings or he threw it so hard that it rolled over the top without scoring. Steve wanted to pout but also wanted to set a good example for Grace. Damn, he thought, I never planned on being a role model. His regard for Danny shot up several more points.
Finally, they let Grace cash in their tickets and headed home. The quiet of the car was almost deafening after the din of the arcade. They were content to ride home in silence. The spices of the leftover pizza permeated the interior of the Camaro. There was still enough pizza left for lunch tomorrow.
Upon arriving home, they all headed upstairs. Steve needed to return a couple of phone calls, one to Joe White and another to Kono. Steve had been trying to connect with Kono all week. They had talked some shortly after 5-0 was reinstated. Steve had offered to come clean about his involvement in the asset forfeiture cash, but Kono was adamant that he keep quiet. Truthfully, they would all be implicated if Steve spoke up; at least this way, only Kono was under investigation.
Danny helped Grace finish unpacking. There was plenty of space in the dresser and closet for her clothes. There were some pictures she wanted to keep in her room, mostly of her with Rachel and sometimes Stan. "Is it okay for me to have these here? I don't want them to make you sad." Grace realized that Danny might not want to have pictures with Rachel and Stan there.
"Monkey, you heard Uncle Steve. You're free to bring whatever will make you happy and comfortable. How about we take some pictures of you with me and Uncle Steve this week? Then you could have pictures of your family here to keep at your mom's."
"I'd like that Danno. I'm a little tired. If I change into my jammies, will you and Uncle Steve read me a bedtime story?"
Danny wasn't sure if Steve was up for story time but he offered to check. "Let me see what Uncle Steve is up to. Did you bring a book?" Grace produced a book, one of the 'Diaries of a Wimpy Kid' series. Danny nodded his approval and left to find Steve while Grace changed.
Steve had just finished up his call with Joe. Kono wasn't taking his call so he made a mental note to try again tomorrow. He had left his door open, and Danny ducked his head in. "Grace wants to know if you want to help read her a bedtime story. It's okay if you don't." Danny wanted to give Steve an out.
Steve didn't need an out. He put down his phone and followed Danny back to Grace's bedroom. Together, they pulled her bed down. All three settled against the pillows which had been propped against the headboard. They spent almost an hour reading, first Danny and then Steve. Danny had a lot more experience and was a colorful reader.
Steve was a little stiff at first. He could have been reading an instruction manual on how to clean his weapon. After a few minutes, he got into the story. It would be a while before he was up to Danno standards, but he was getting there.
Steve loved sharing this with Danny and Grace. His mother had read to Mary and him when they were younger. He never thought that he would be on this side of the book. He never thought he would be part of a family like this.
Finally, Grace was too tired to keep her eyes open. The men each gave Grace a hug and kiss before wishing her 'good night'. Out in the hall, Steve asked Danny "Want a beer?" The restaurant didn't serve liquor, but they would not have had any even if it had been available. It was a family night for them.
Danny answered, "Yeah, just give me a chance to empty my pockets." Danny came down a few minutes later. He realized that now was a good time to talk about establishing a new routine for life with Grace. Their activities this week would set precedence for all future visits. He wasn't sure how to proceed but he thought that Steve would have some good ideas.
Danny was used to making the few decisions he made concerning Grace alone. There were a lot more decisions coming up, and he was grateful that he would not need to make them all alone. He was pretty sure Steve would want to be involved; Danny was seeing another side of Steve he didn't think existed.
Steve brought in a couple of Longboards and handed one to Danny. "Well Danny, what's on your mind?"
*Crystal's is a now-defunct restaurant in Ft. Worth, TX. My kids loved going there in the '80's. We spent many hours watching cartoons and episodes from the Three Stooges and 'Star Trek' (back when there was only the original).
** "Sunday Father" is a Barry Manilow song. Yes, I'm old enough to be Danny's and Steve's mother. Even if you're not a Manilow song, it bears listening to.