To New Beginnings

Fandom: Hawaii Five-O

Ship: Ranno

Characters (also mentioned): Danny Williams, Rachel Hollander, Grace Williams, Charlie Williams, Steve McGarrett, Stan Edwards, Five-O members.

Chapter 4: Palekana

(Soundboard)

It had been a couple of days since Grace had come home from the hospital and there hadn't been a lot of opportunities to re-vist what had been said the first night she had come home.. It was a lot of information for Danny to have to process and deal with, and before he could re-visit this with Rachel, he had to spend some time going over everything in his head.. He had already told her why he wanted Grace to be named after his partner, and that he would never have considered cheating on her, but he was still really hurt over it..

This wasn't just about him though, it was about them.. What they had put Grace through all those years.. If she had believed in him and trusted in him, then they may never have ended up divorcing and he wouldn't have had to see the love of his life marrying another man.. Though he was a big believer in fate, and the saying that things happen for a reason, had they not divorced, he may not have ended up here with such an amazing family who loved and cared for him and his kids like their own.

It did cross his mind though about why Rachel had all of sudden decided to leave him again when they were looking at rekindling their relationship and was pregnant with his child, though he wasn't quite sure if he ever truly believed that she was further along then she had let on, especially when she went into 'labor' early, but he never questioned it.. It was what it was and her leaving him again shouldn't have hurt as much as it did, but he had been really happy that they were going to be a family again and bringing another child into the world.

Was her mother the real reason behind her changing her mind and going back to Stan? His mother in law Amanda Savage never liked him, in fact she couldn't stand the sight of him the majority of the time whereas she loved Stan.. Stan was exactly who she wanted as a son in law, so for Rachel to leave Stan and go back to her ex husband and to top it all off have to tell her mother not only was she leaving and going back to Danny, but that her and Danny were having another baby.

The thought was causing him to lose focus even enough that he had needed to get out of the house for a few hours and go to work, Rachel had been staying with him since the night Grace came home, and with four people in the house, it felt like too many bodies added to the fact that Rachel had hinted at wanting to talk again about everything in more detail to try to resolve some of the tension between the two of them and Grace, Charlie and Rachel were watching high school musical it was causing Danny to lose his mind.

"Alright, So what's going on Danny?", Steve turned his head a little, glancing over at his partner who looked like he was having a break down, his hands still on the steering wheel, eyes darting back on the road and back to his partner every so often, "What are you talking about, nothing's going on Steven, just keep your eyes on the road". Nodding his head knowingly, Steve smirked, looking back at Danny, "Keep my eyes on the road.. Partner I know you think you are the better driver here, but telling me to keep my eyes on the road is not going to distract me from the real issue".

Turning his head from the window to face Steve, he raised his eyebrows and shook his head, sometimes he thought Steve did this to him on purpose to stir him up, "The real issue.. What are you crazier then usual? Ohh And I suppose you are going to tell me what the 'real issue' is aren't you Steven". Danny always let Steve get under his skin, though there were the odd occasions when he didn't really mind it and often unaware to Steve, played along because he liked seeing the look on the man's face.

"Well, yeah, I am going to tell you what the issue is..The issue has to do with Rachel doesn't it? Correct me if I'm wrong though Daniel, but that look you got going on there.. It is the same look you always get when something is about Rachel". Letting out a sigh, he shook his head and turned his head back towards his partners.. The man always seemed to know what his moods were about, they were like a married couple, they just had that sense of knowing exactly what is wrong and why.. "Alright.. If I tell you, will you quit pestering me about it huh?

The smirk on his face, the one that said he always knew how to break Danny, and he chuckled softly, "Of course, of course.. What's happened this time?", When it came to his ever complicated relationship with Rachel, Steve was the one whom he always managed to have these little chats and conversations with.. To be honest, though he always thought Steve bugged him on purpose and did things to annoy him, he was actually a good listener and had often helped him out with certain things as well.

Running his hand through his hair, Danny took a breath and let it out slowly, glancing back over at Steve who had just driven in the car park back at the palace, "It's nothing new.. Rachel always told me that she left because she was scared of losing me in this job, it's why she has tried to take custody away on occasion when Grace was young because she didn't want Grace to lose me either.. Now though, now I find out that was not the reason, and had everything to do with her parents and her family".

"What are you talking about buddy?", Watching Steve, knew he was a little confused at that, and he knew he would have to take it further and let him know what happened.. he had remained calm when Rachel told him, but his voice was betraying his feelings now, getting all breathy and shaky as he talked. "I'm talking about my mother and father in law meddled in our marriage, telling Rachel that I must have been having an affair with my partner Grace because I wanted to name our daughter after her..

Nodding his head, Steve could sense he was not taking that new well, but he just responded, "Go on", making sure not to say anything else, knowing Danny just needed to get this out, that he needed someone to lean on, and he was there for him. "Then they told her that it was further evidence that I was having an affair when I didn't want to go to therapy.. Rachel all but believed them, and began distancing herself.. That is when we really began having issues and I tried Steve.. to get close to her again, but that voice in my head said she was going to leave anyway so why bother trying".

His eyes were brimming with tears, something he hadn't allowed Rachel to see the other night, but there was something comforting about his partner seeing him at his lowest, "Losing Rachel was the hardest thing I ever had to deal with bro, I was a mess, and then the day she told me she was dating Stan, I had only just started feeling a bit better and that brought it all back you know.. It was like I had been punched in the gut.. I can't help but think, where would we be if her family hadn't lied to her, but I also think if we were still in Jersey, I wouldn't be here..", his voice trailed off softly.

Smiling softly, Steve appreciated the unspoken sentiment.. The man who initially hated Hawaii, who didn't want to be here and wouldn't have chosen this as a place to set down roots had really changed his tune in the last few years.. He might still whinge on the odd occasion but he knew that it was a more playful whinging at an island that he now calls home. "I know buddy, I love ya too". Patting his shoulder, he watched Danny as the tension seemed to melt away once he had gotten that off his mind..

Before Danny could say anything else, Steve spoke again, "My advice bro.. If you still love her and feel like it's time to give each other another chance, do it.. Don't wait Danny.. We lost Joe, we nearly lost Gracie, just don't.. don't wait". Nodding his head, Danny understood what he was saying, he just wasn't sure how to go about this.. It was all new to him, dating not only an ex, but his ex wife, the woman he has children with.. Wouldn't it be weird? Though he had a feeling he was right, and he owed it to himself, Rachel and the kids to see if they could make things work.

"I hear you bro.. Just promise me one thing though Steve.. One little favor", looking at him, he stopped for dramatic pause, then spoke, "practice what you preach, I know you know what I mean.. You... and Catherine.. I know at some point you must have been playing house there back at Joe's ranch, you had that stupid grin on your face like you always do whenever she is around the whole time she was there and I know you loved the idea of you and Catherine being 'married' on your little undercover job".

Unbuckling his seat belt, he opened the door, and got out, smirking as he saw the look on the other man's face, knowing he was almost too stubborn to do anything, but at the same time knowing that he did want to.. "Well, it is a little harder for me to practice what I preach when Catherine is still out working for the CIA, whereas you my friend.. You have every opportunity seeing as how Rachel has chosen to move back to Hawaii so that the four of you can be a family and stay together", Steve took the keys out of the ignition, took his own seat belt off and opened the door, getting out and closing the car door, pressing the lock button before throwing Danny the car keys.

Moving in step with Steve, they began to walk towards the palace, Danny couldn't help himself, "Look, all I'm trying to say here is that maybe there is a reason why it didn't work out with Lynn, and perhaps Catherine is the reason why you can't seem to move on with anyone else.. I know I was very vocal about her coming in to your life only to hurt you again, but buddy..", coming to a stop in front of him, "I know a good thing when I see it, and you and Catherine have a good thing.. So you can't tell me to take a chance if you aren't going to take a chance with your own love life capish?"

"Yeah, yeah, I hear you Danny", Steve had started walking again and Danny caught up beside him, the two of them walking inside palace and up the stairs leading to their offices, "Do you hear me Steven because I think sometimes you deliberately pretend you can't hear me". Opening the glass door to the office, he sighed, "Yes, I do hear you Danny.. As a matter of fact, Catherine and I have been talking and she is going to take some time off soon to come and see Gracie.. She was worried sick about her when I told her about the accident".

There was no way he was going to say anything, but he could already see Steve's face lighting up at the prospect of having Catherine back home in Hawaii for even a short period of time, His face turning into a more serious one, Danny sitting in his chair behind his desk and Steve sitting on a chair on the opposite side, "I was hoping you would get in touch with Catherine and let her know about Grace, She still misses Catherine.. She doesn't say anything, but seeing Catherine, then Kono, Chin and Sara leave, it was tough on her".

It had been hard on all of them to see Catherine leaving and then two of the original four five-o members leave, It was why Danny had been angry with Catherine because she didn't just leave Steve, she left them all, and none of them apart from Steve even got a goodbye.. He had seen Catherine as a sister, even Rachel and Catherine got on well with each other, but it was heart breaking to have to tell Grace that Aunty Catherine was gone again after only being here a couple of days.. "Steve smiled softly, " Of course, I update her all the time on what is going on in everyone's lives.."

Watching Steve click his fingers, he groaned a little, knowing already an idea was forming in his mind.. "How about when Catherine comes back to the island, we go on a double date.. You, Rachel, Catherine and I.. Adam can watch Charlie and 'pretend' to not be keeping an eye on Grace while she recovers.. We did it with Melissa and Lynn.. Why not do it with the loves of our lives? If things go well, who knows.. It might be a regular thing once Catherine does finally come home for good".

"Oy vey", Shaking his head, Danny wasn't sure if that was such a good idea, though he knew once Steve had his heart and mind set on something, there wasn't a lot that could be done to change his mind.. Just as he was about to respond further, and try convince him out of it, Lou stuck his head into the office, "Something you two gotta see". Danny nodded, Steve already out of his seat, but Danny stayed behind a moment to send a text to Rachel.. /How's our girl doing?/ before he got up, put his phone in his back pocket and followed Steve and Lou out to the smart table to see what was the latest in the case.

Thinking back on his conversation with Steve in the car and then again his office, not once did Steve ask him if he actually had an affair with his partner back in New Jersey, it made him smile knowing just how well Steve knew his partner to know without asking what the answer to that question was.. Maybe the double date idea wouldn't be such a bad idea at all, that is if the two of them can put the past behind them and move on with their lives and just begin to enjoy being a family of four.

Author's Note:

I really hope you all enjoy this chapter, I had to put a little bit of Steve and Danny in there as well talking over things, being a soundboard for each other. This story, along with Winds of Change are pretty much going to run off each other, so there might be over lapping stories or things I have mentioned in one or the other.. Even though it's primarily a Ranno story, it is a continuation after Steve and Danny got back from taking down Omar and it's a continuation of how I see it going in the future.

Shout outs:

Sabine68:

Thank you so much, I appreciate your words and am glad you like this version of the break up. I do think it makes a lot of sense. I think Rachel would have been fine with the name Grace for their daughter because she knew it was to honor his partner, and was fine till it was put into her mind to question why he wanted to name her that.

SteveMcGarrettLover:

Thank you so much, I can't wait to keep writing these stories. I love how the two of them are starting to make things work and getting along as well. I can see them hopefully getting back together on the show as well.