A/N: Thanks to everyone who favorited, followed, and commented on my story. I didn't expect other people to enjoy this story as much as you all seem to...So thanks :)

Chapter 14

After several calls that made Steve want to rip his hair out of his head, he felt like he had a good start on long-term custody of Ava.

He stood in the kitchen, looking through the doorway at Ava. She had settled back on the couch and was snoring softly. This sweet girl had had everything ripped away from her, time and time again, and Steve was determined to never let it happen again. His heart clenched at the thought of having to say goodbye to her.

He strode into the living room and settled himself next to Ava on the couch, making sure to leave a bit of space between them so he wouldn't wake her and turned toward the TV. He had never seen the show that was on, but he didn't want to turn it off in case it woke Ava up. It had only been a few days, but already, Steve couldn't imagine himself living in the house alone anymore. Now more than ever, Steve understood the devastated look in Danny's eyes every time Grace left to go to her mom's. He knew that if Ava had to leave, he would be a mess.

Steve shook his head gently, trying to get rid of the negative thoughts that were spiraling and instead focus on the positive: Ava was with him now, and he had already started the steps to make sure that this was the only place she would stay. Steve felt a small nudge on his thigh, startling him back to the present. Ava was here. And she would stay. As Ava said, he had the entire 'ohana on his side.

Steve decided that he should probably head up to bed, as tomorrow promised to be just as long as today, if not longer. He stood up slowly, turned the television off, and turned to carefully scoop up the girl. As he picked her up, he noticed that her eyes were open and staring at him.

"Aloha wau iā 'oe. It's time for all little girls and grown SEALs to go to bed," Steve soothed, worried that she would get upset about being in his arms. With so much hope that he ached, Steve hoped that wasn't the case.

Ava snuggled herself deeper into Steve's arms and rested her head in the crook of Steve's neck and shoulder and sighed. Steve felt Ava's warm breath against his neck and it gave him goosebumps. Such a small sign of vulnerability from such a small person and he swore to himself that he would move mountains and stop floods to make sure Ava never had anything to worry about ever again.

As Steve stopped to put Ava down so she could brush her teeth, her grip on him tightened and she pushed her head harder into Steve and moaned.

"Hey, Sweetheart. You need to do your buckies so we can go to bed. Gotta have a clean mouth," Steve cajoled.

Ava groaned again and slowly slid down Steve's body like a slide. She stood there looking around like she was disoriented and not sure how she got there.

"Come on, kaikamahine pepe. I'll help you tonight, but don't think you can just bat your eyes at me and I'll do whatever you ask, ok? Part of my job is to make sure you grow up to be able to do anything you want," Steve kept up a steady stream of conversation as he grabbed a floss pick and held Ava's mouth open so he could floss her teeth for her.

Ava started shaking her head, hating this part of every evening. She hissed at Steve, with his fingers in her mouth, and tried to grab on to his forearm. Steve finished up quickly and snatched his fingers away from her teeth before Ava clamped them shut and gave Steve such a look of betrayal that his heart clenched.

"Alright. Alright. All done with that. Now we get to the real fun part...brushing!" Steve exclaimed. He had noticed that Ava seemed to love the feel of the bristles cleaning her mouth and teeth and would stay there and let Steve brush her teeth for as long as possible. It was always the stillest she ever was. Ava seemed to melt and completely relax.

Eagerly, Ava stepped back into Steve's arms and opened her mouth as wide as possible. Steve chuckled and pulled her into a hug and started brushing her teeth. Every moment that Ava allowed him to hold her, to bring some measure of comfort to her, was a moment that stole Steve's breath.

After five minutes, Steve stopped. He didn't want to risk brushing away all of Ava's enamel, after all. He helped Ava rinse her mouth and took her into the next room to lay out her pajamas and give Ava a moment to put her clothes in the hamper and pull on her pjs.

When Ava was done getting ready for bed, Steve stepped back into the room and picked the girl up at her request to go walk to the bookshelf on the other side of the room, already overflowing with kids books.

Steve was startled out of his thoughts when Ava bounced into his arms. "Bed?" Ava asked. The one word was enough to cause Steve to misstep on his way to taking Ava across the room.

"Y-yeah. Where did you think we were going? To Danno's?" Ava nestled back into Steve's arms like she had when going upstairs.

"You?" Ava asked.

"Yeah, I'm going to bed, too. Even Eddie is going to his doggy bed for the night," Steve answered.

Ava shook her head like she couldn't believe that he was being this dense, "Bed with you?" Steve lit up like a Christmas tree. Ava not was not only wanting to be with Steve, but she was talking to him. Talking. To Steve freakin' McGarrett.

"I suppose I can deal with some bony knees and pokey elbows for a night," Steve sighed, glancing at Ava, waiting for her reaction.

She didn't disappoint, huffing her breath and kicking her feet. She crossed her arms over her chest and glared in Steve's direction, not quite making eye contact, but close enough for Steve to feel the heat she was giving her stare.

"Alright, alright. Save it for later. I'm just kidding," Steve reached out slowly, giving Ava time to move away if she wanted, and put a gentle hand on her head and ruffled her hair. "Let's go to bed now," Steve walked out of Ava's room with the book she picked and headed towards his own room, flicking off lights as he went.

Steve was almost to his room when he remembered that Ava would need a nightlight in the bathroom if she woke up during the night and quickly backtracked before finishing the trek to his room.

He settled into bed, having changed into his pajamas while Ava was changing herself, and pulled the covers up over the girl and halfway up his own body. He grabbed the book from Ava and opened it to the first page.

As Steve was reading, he felt Ava's weight lean more and more into his side and then she gave a sigh and snuggled deeper into Steve. She flung her arm over Steve's chiseled stomach and smacked her lips before settling deeper into sleep. Steve smiled down at her and decided it was time for him to go to bed as well. He flicked the lamp on his bedside table off and shuffled down so he was laying down, holding Ava close to him. Keeping her safe. Surrounding her with love.

With those thoughts swirling around in his head, Steve closed his eyes and got some sleep, getting ready for the next day.

Aloha wau iā 'oe: I love you

Kaikamahine pepe: baby girl