A/N: Once again, thanks everyone for all the great comments. My friend is out of the hospital and recuperating well at home, which is a relief. I have some new ideas of ways to take this story. I am really enjoying all the different ways this can go. I suppose I should mention that I don't know that this will develop into a romance for any of them at this point. It's more about the kids. But, you never know which way this could go. :)
Thankfully the next day was Saturday. No one had anywhere they needed to be. Chin and Kono were coming over in the afternoon with all the fixings for a nice barbecue and Lou and his family would be joining them.
Steve had been up and met Grace in the kitchen at 5:30. He smiled at her and handed over the baby monitor for Joan's room, as well as the one he had set up in his room for Charlie the night before. Grace smiled at him as she got the cereal and milk out for her breakfast.
When Steve returned from his swim, Rachel and Charlie had joined Grace. Danny and Joan were still sleeping. Rachel had already showered and dressed for the day, and had gotten Charlie ready as well. They were just sitting down to bowls of cereal. Steve greeted them, and then he and Grace ran upstairs to get their respective showers.
By the time Steve got back downstairs, Charlie and Grace were watching cartoons. Rachel and Danny were sitting out on the lanai with coffee cups talking. Steve stopped to fill the teakettle and could overhear what they were saying.
"Look, Rach. There is no reason we have to pull Grace out of Sacred Heart. Can you swing $8,000 a year for the next four years for your half? Because I can do that, maybe even a little more. She's been with those other kids for 8 years now, I don't want her to have to start in a new school."
"Yes, Danny. I should be able to do that. My little accounting business is steadily growing and I do have some funds set aside. I will be able to handle my share. Thank you so much. I didn't want to have to remove Grace from Sacred Heart either."
They sat in a companionable silence for a moment, and then Danny continued.
"Now, what about Charlie? I was planning to help Steve out with paying for Joan to go to Sacred Heart, because no matter what I say about the price, it is a great school and it has been great for Grace. I can help you do half for Charlie and help Steve pay half for Joan."
"But, Danny, how can you possibly do that? Joan is only a year behind Charles. That will be like paying full tuition for one child. You will run through all the money you gained from the sale of the house. No, perhaps it would be best if Charles attended the public school. I won't be able to swing Sacred Heart's tuition by myself. I think it is important for Joan to go to Sacred Heart. You help Steven with that."
"But, Rachel…"
"I've got a better idea." Steve interjected.
"Hey, man, didn't know you were there." Danny said.
"Yeah, sorry buddy, I didn't mean to be eavesdropping, but look, what if you let me go thirds with you for the rest of Grace's time at Sacred Heart? That'd be a little over $5k per year for each of us, which isn't going to break anyone. Charlie will be starting the year Grace is done. When Joan starts the next year, that will be $10k per year for each of us for the two kids. But, it's still more doable than any of us trying to do it alone, and then none of the kids will go to public school when we already know how great the program at Sacred Heart is. What do you say?"
Rachel and Danny were staring at Steve.
"But neither of you are responsible for Charles…." Rachel started.
"Rachel, we love that little guy." This came from Steve. "Besides he and Joan are practically glued together at this point. How could we send one of them to Sacred Heart and the other to another school? That's not going to happen. Maybe when it's time for High School we take a look at Kukui High, but for elementary I think Sacred Heart's the way to go. Frankly, the only one that should skate scot free out of this is Danny, after Grace is done."
"That's not going to happen either." Danny put in. "Like you said, we love that little guy and I love that little Kitten too. I've been lucky that Stan has paid Grace's education thus far. I've been lucky that I was able to sell that house and I've got some good money set aside. And I've been lucky you're letting me and Grace live here for the cost of half the property taxes and the expenses, babe. So, I think we should just consider it a plan. We're Ohana. Hey look at me going all native with the language! We'll get these kids through school, no matter what it takes, yeah?"
The others nodded in agreement. Just then the baby monitor burst to life. Joan was obviously awake. Rachel put a hand on Danny's shoulder and smiled at Steve as she passed him to go into the house and get their little girl ready for the day.
After Rachel left the room, Danny turned to Steve.
"How are we going to protect Rachel and the kids? I have no idea what Stan is capable of or who his connections are with this Yamashita character. They're still legally married and he is still Charlie's father. He could come back at any time."
"Danny, I've got a couple of ideas. Let me talk to a few people and see what I can figure out."
Danny saw Rachel coming downstairs with Joan and nodded at Steve. He had to trust that his friend would help him work out a good way to protect those they held most precious.
Once again the barbecue at Casa McGarrett was a smashing success. Charlie and Joanie were busy showing off their swimming skills for Chin and Kono. They both looked suitably impressed at the children's progress.
Kono approached Danny and pretty soon he was gesticulating furiously at her and at the water. He was red-faced and as Rachel approached, she heard him telling her "Absolutely not!"
"Absolutely not, what, Danny? What's going on?
"Can you believe that Junior McInsanity over here wants to start teaching Charlie and Joanie to surf?" Danny sputtered out.
Rachel looked over at Kono and noticed the smile teasing around the girl's face.
"Well, maybe that would be a good idea." Rachel couldn't help herself from joining in.
"Are you kidding me? It's just a few weeks ago the kid practically drowned and now you people want him floating on a piece of plywood in the middle of the ocean?!"
Steve and Chin had been attracted by the yelling and had drifted over.
"Okay, first of all, brah, it's polystyrene foam." That came from Chin.
"Secondly, he wouldn't be in the middle of the ocean, he'd be in my backyard."
"Thirdly, it's a great idea to get them to start getting the hang of the balance while they're little. You know for yourself how hard it is once you're old, Danny." Kono put in teasingly.
"Old! Are you calling me old, Kalakaua?" And Danny was off on a different rant. "If I'm old it's only because every day on this island is aging me rapidly beyond my years…."
Lou Grover looked at his wife, who was laughing hysterically.
"Oh my goodness, Lou! Is he always like this?"
"Yeah, he sure is. I don't know what we would do around the office without Williams for comic relief."
"I see what you mean, baby. He can really get going over just about anything, can't he?"
Rachel had arrived on the lanai in time to hear their conversation.
"Oh my stars! You have no idea. His siblings used to play the "wind him up" game. I asked one of his sisters about it right after we were first married and I heard her talking about it. She said it was something they started when they were all young. They would each find some subject and try to get him going. Then the next one would come up with some other subject. And they would time him! Whoever could get him going for the longest would win."
"Oh my God!" Lou blurted out. "That's priceless! I'm going to see if we can get that enacted in the office. It could certainly make a dull day go faster. After all, if I have to listen to him on one of his rants, maybe there should be a free beer in it for me at the end of the day. Hey, Chin!"
With that, Lou headed off to float his new idea off of Chin.
Renee looked at Rachel.
"Oh dear. I hope Danny doesn't get mad."
"Oh, he will. At first. But then he will settle down and see the humor in it. That's how he is." She said it fondly.
Renee looked at Rachel a few minutes and seemed to make up her mind about something before she spoke.
"I hope you don't mind me saying this, Rachel, but do you still love him?"
Rachel closed her eyes for a moment. When she opened them, she smiled over at Renee.
"I don't mind Renee. Yes, I do still love him. I love him for all of his many fine qualities. But I don't think I could ever be married to him again. There is just so much water under the bridge now. But, he is a wonderful father. I am so fortunate. He is absolutely marvelous with Grace and he and Steve have stepped into the father role for Charles, which is obviously so much better for him than if Stanley were involved. At this point in my life, I just want to raise my children. I really don't need anything for myself other than my friendships."
Renee looked at her dubiously and Rachel laughed.
"Oh, all right, fine Renee. Don't look at me like that. I know that is easy for me to say while I am still married to Stanley and Danny isn't dating anyone. But if he found another Gabby or Amber, I might have a different answer for you."
The women changed the subject as they saw Danny and Steve approaching the lanai, but Renee was certainly going to pursue it with her friend the next time they were out to lunch.