"His Salvation"

CHAPTER FIFTY-TWO

Title: "His Salvation"

Author: Michelle Heath

Rating: MA for adult language and situations

Summary: He saved her. Will she be his salvation?

Date Written: January 20,2011

Disclaimer: I so do not own Hawaii Five-0; unfortunately!

(Danny lets himself into Caroline's apartment and nearly drools at the delectable aroma coming from the kitchen. Caroline is just taking a roast out of the oven and smiles as he comes through the door. She's been on pins and needles ever since Danny left to take Grace home knowing that he was going to tell Rachel they were getting married, but the smile on Danny's face and his relaxed body language puts her at ease.)

"How'd it go with Rachel?"

"A lot better than I expected. Grace has been singing your praises to her mom."

"Really? Danny, you don't think that's upset Rachel, do you? I mean, she doesn't think I'm, I don't know, competing with her for Grace's affection, does she?"

"Of course not. Grace loves her mother very much and Rachel knows that. Actually, Rachel thanked me for talking to her about our getting married. See, when she and Stan got married, she just called me up and told me Grace had a step-father and I'd just have to deal with it. She's okay with this, Caroline, and she wants to meet you."

"I totally get that. I'm going to be Grace's step-mother, so I completely understand Rachel wanting to meet me. I would certainly want to get to know the woman my daughter was going to be spending a lot of time with if I were Rachel."

"So, you're okay with going out to dinner with Rachel and Stan?"

"Hey, I'm game if you are, Romeo. Although, knowing how much you detest Stan this ought to be interesting."

"Funny thing, but I really don't resent Stan the way I used to."

"When did this happen?"

"About the time I realized I was falling in love with you. You've changed me, Caroline. Since we've been together, everything in my life is so much better. I honestly hadn't realized just how cynical and pessimistic I'd become before you came into my life. But you, you're so positive and full of life. You're always putting other people first. Like when Sam was being held by the terrorists in Kabul and we were all camped out at the office. You not only brought us food and made us eat, but you made us all rest, and you got on the phone and started calling anybody and everybody you could think of to help us find Sam. Now, I know that you and Sam have been best friends for, well, forever, but you didn't just do those things for Sam; you did them for all of us; you did them for me. . . . You've given me hope when I had none, you've given me strength when I needed it, and you've given me your love freely asking nothing in return. You've made me see the world in a whole new light, Caroline. I love you so very, very much."

"I don't think you were all that cynical or pessimistic, Danny. I think you were bitter after a less than amicable divorce and that you felt like Rachel was trying to take your daughter away from you. She really wasn't, you know, but I can understand how you might have thought so. And, wow, thank you for all the praise, but I'm just an ordinary person with ordinary beliefs; one of which is that, as long as I can, I'm going to do what I can to help people I care about if I think they need me. And . . . I love you more than I've ever loved anyone and you've been very good for me, too, you know. You . . "balance" me. I can't imagine my life without you in it and I don't ever want to have to try."

"Well, okay then. Getting married as soon as Sam and Steve get back from their honeymoon work for you?"

"Whoa, there, Romeo. As much as I want to become your wife, I only plan on doing this once and I'd like to have the whole wedding thing. I think it's probably going to take longer than two or three weeks to pull that together."

"Okay, I get that. How long?'

"Oh my God, you're really serious, aren't you?"

"Damned right, I really serious! I. Want. To. Marry. You. ASAP."

"Can you hold on for a couple of months, Romeo? I'm fairly certain that, between Sam, Kono, my mother, and me, we can put together a beautiful wedding in a few weeks' time."

"Okay, I'm giving you eight weeks. If you can't pull it together in that length of time, we're eloping."

"We are not eloping."

"Eight weeks, Caroline."

"Okay, one, we are not going to elope; two, we are not going to fight about our wedding, and; three, you know you're going to give in anyway, so why are we even discussing this."

"Wanted to see if I could get a rise out of you, and, yeah, I'm gonna' cave."

A/N: Sorry this is so short, but I wanted to get an update out since it's been a couple of days. The next chapter will be about Sam's and Steve's honeymoon, among other things. Thanks for reading and for the kind reviews! Michelle