Way 71
See if she's uncomfortable about the way money is spent.

"Steven? How much did that cost?"

"Doesn't matter, Danny. Look how happy she is."

That was pretty much how those types of conversations always went.

"Steve, you shouldn't have paid for that."

"Why not? It's not like I've got anyone else to spend money on."

And really, it was very difficult to give his partner shit when the things his partner was doing and paying for, were for Grace.

"Oh, my God, you did not buy her that."

"Sure did. Look at that smile."

But the thing for Danny wasn't that he minded Steve wanting to do things that made Grace happy. Hell, that was all Danny himself was about, really.

"You know, a stuffed toy would've been just fine."

"Yeah, but stuffed animals can't lick her face the way that puppy's doing."

It was more that Danny just didn't want Grace to be so frickin' spoiled. Step-Stan bought her affections right, left and center, as far as Danny was concerned. Much like he'd bought the affections of Danny's ex-wife, but whatever.

"My daughter did not need to eat at Chef Mavro, Steve. Jack in the Box would've sufficed."

"Her dress was too nice for fast food, Danny."

But when Danny tried explaining this to Steve, Steve explained right back that he wasn't at all trying to buy Grace's affections. No. He was simply putting his money to better use than sitting and collecting interest in the bank, by giving Grace what she deserved.

"No, I will help her buy her first car, and it will not be a Camaro!"

"How about you give her this one, and we'll just get a new one for Five-0?"

And while Danny definitely couldn't tell Steve (or anyone else, for that matter) that Grace didn't deserve the absolute best, because of course she did, as the perfect child that she was, he also felt Steve was spoiling his little girl way too much. Not that this had stopped the practice as the years went by, of course.

"I don't…Steve, I…how can I ever thank you? Stan and Rachel and I together couldn't have paid for that operation alone…look at her. She can walk, even after what that drunk driver did to her. I can't…my God, my baby can walk again…"

"She's worth every penny of it and more, Danno. She's your daughter, after all."

Danny never protested Steve's Grace Spending Habits again.

Way 72
Take her on dates now and then.

"Steve, I understand you didn't get a whole lot of exposure to normal, average, everyday friendships during your Navy years, so I've been cutting you some slack. But I really need to understand something here."

"That being?"

"Why are you constantly taking me on dates?"

"Taking you on—I don't take you on dates!"

"The hike with the dead guy down the cliff."

"That wasn't a—"

"The pick-up on Valentine's Day in that gas-guzzling car that still doesn't work right."

"I was just—!"

"Watching a movie with me in my extremely transient living quarters."

"I just came over to—"

"The face-to-face getting-to-know-you time in the locked trunk of a Nissan."

"We'd been kidnapped by—"

"And last, but not least, the football game."

"The whole team went to that!"

"Steven."

"Danny, those weren't…why would you…what the hell, man? It's just…buddy stuff."

"Buddy stuff."

"Yeah. You know. Stuff guys do together. That friends do together. They're not dates!"

"Well, considering the fact that your idea of a date with your lovely Navy Lieutenant consists of barbecuing on the beach…said barbecue never actually grilling anything, of course…I suppose you may have a point. However, I need to point out to you that these little get-togethers may have the appearance outside of the little circle who…dare I say it…understands how your fish-brain works…of something altogether different than 'buddy stuff.'"

"Do…what now?"

"All I'm saying, is that you may want to tone down the actual frequency of our little get-togethers…over ninety percent of which I didn't actually name, by the way…or people outside of you might start getting the wrong idea."

"The wrong…huh?"

"I'm just sayin'."

"I have no idea what you're saying, Danny. As usual."

"No skin off my nose. Everyone already thinks we're married anyway, so…you know. I just thought I'd warn you, is all. Rumors being what they are."

"Rumors. Right. Uh…so…what are you doing Saturday night?"

"Game?"

"No. Governor's Ball. What's with the melodramatic sigh?"

"You haven't listened to a word I've said, have you…?"