Christmas at Joe's cabin. I hope you enjoy.
/././
"Okay, okay!" Danny stopped the vehicle. He'd rented a 4WD SUV, upgraded by Steve he'd discovered when they picked it up at the airport. Only the best for his ohana had been a note left with the clerk. "You can see the horses. But you're walking the rest of the way."
"What?" Grace wrinkled her nose.
"It's not far," Danny pointed. "You can see the cabin."
Grace thought for a second. She covered her dad's hand with her own. She opened her mouth to speak, but her excited little brother interrupted.
"Cool! We can have a snowball battle!" Charlie jumped into a snow bank.
"Hey, be careful!" Danny scolded. "Please don't get too wet."
Hands on his hips, Charlie reminded him too much of someone. Himself. Stubborn. "Uncle Steve said he'd have hot chocolate ready."
Danny muttered. "Uncle Steve is a menace."
With a squeeze of his shoulder, Grace almost made her dad cry. The fond look on her face, the sparkle in her eyes. That look of knowing. How could she know what love was? But she did. He'd noticed a special bracelet she wore everywhere and more hushed phone calls. Texts weren't enough when you were in love. Especially young love.
"You love him, Danno. And that's okay. I'll give you a ten-minute head start."
"Thanks, Grace. How did you get so smart?"
Her answer was an eyeroll. She slipped into the cold, the snow all blue as the sun dipped lower on the horizon.
He watched his kids for a few seconds. Charlie was on the edge of obnoxious. Those years before the preteen squeeze. Not quite a kid, years from being an adult. Danny remembered being ten and eleven. He'd gotten away with some shit, and he'd also spent months of his life grounded.
Grace made his heart hurt. She'd grown up to be a smart, independent young woman whose fierce kindness got her into trouble. He loved her protective streak.
Danny caught site of himself in the rearview. He glowed. His cheeks were hot. He couldn't stop smiling.
He hadn't seen Steve since Thanksgiving, and that was only for two days. They'd flown back to Oahu in September after staying almost a month at his parents' place. Determined to tie up loose ends, Steve had gone to Joe's cabin just after Halloween. They kept in touch with tons of texts and nightly video chats.
Giddiness made him feel light. The worries vanished. They were spending Christmas together with the kids. Solidifying their relationship. Danny had a small box in his coat pocket, tucked close to his heart. Like the idiots they were, they'd picked out rings together online. It wasn't a surprise. Not for them anyway. This was for the kids.
Danny held the vehicle to a crawl. He didn't want to rush. A recent snow had melted on the shale track, but most everywhere else was still covered. Drifts collected along the fence in spots against a backdrop of open fields, the surrounding forest and the mountains beyond. A beautiful greeting card.
His heart swelled. He felt like the Grinch, except he'd put down his pessimistic ways. He believed in miracles. He let love into his life without the constant fear of loss. He and Steve had decided to live each day to the fullest. No more questions. No more disasters looming. Sure, he knew things lurked out there, waiting to tear everything down. Such was life. Ups and downs. Life on their terms meant no rules. Except two. Honesty and love. No more hiding their feelings. Every hour of every day was precious. And secrets led to things like wandering off in search of a peace they knew they'd never find alone.
Steve was nervous, which gave Danny chills. Butterflies. Their new relationship was so familiar and comfortable, yet the new level of intimacy opened up a whole new world. Danny realized they'd been hiding their feelings for years. Even from themselves. He smiled at his partner, pacing at the edge of the driveway. Danny couldn't help but remember the last time he was there. He'd been met by a haunted Catherine. Her eyes flashing uncertainty and fear only for a second. That's how he'd known there was trouble. The monster in Steve had reared up, doing the unspeakable. Sighing, Danny pushed those old thoughts out of his mind, focusing on the present. Steve kept running his hand through his hair. Spiky now that he'd given himself another buzz cut. Danny'd scolded him the moment he'd seen the new doo on a video chat a few weeks earlier.
The sun blinded him as he stepped out of the vehicle, and he found himself in the arms of his best friend.
"I missed you." Steve murmured.
Danny's eyes pricked with tears. "I missed you, too."
"You're shivering."
"It's cold."
"Storm's coming. You got here just in time."
"Yea, that's what the guy at the rental desk said."
"Carl."
"You know his name?"
"He's my caretaker's cousin. That's how I hooked you up with the SUV."
"Thank you for that. I forgot how much fun it is to drive on snow-covered roads."
"It's good to see you. Thank you for coming."
Danny rolled his eyes. "You idiot."
"What?"
"Thank you for coming." Danny repeated.
"Your point."
"Where else would we be? It's Christmas."
Nodding, Steve ducked his head. Danny pulled him close. "I love you."
"I love you, Danno."
"God, why is this so – " Danny shook his head and sighed. "You got something to drink in there?"
"Sure, I've got something to warm you up. Take the edge off."
"Yea, that's good."
Danny stretched and groaned. "I feel like an old man Yet – you – you –"
"Make me feel so young." Steve did his best Sinatra impression.
"Oh my god." Danny nudged Steve toward the cabin. "You are a cheeseball."
"Thought I was a marshmallow?"
"That too."
Steve stopped just inside the door, turning to Danny, nose wrinkled. "Ew. A cheesy marshmallow?"
"Hurry up, would ya? I need a shot of something strong or I'm gonna smack you. Just wait til you travel with the kids. Charlie's bad enough. Add his incessant tormenting of his sister…" Danny groaned and exhaled some of his leftover aggravation.
"You'll smack me anyway," Steve replied, head tilted in his impossibly adorable way.
"True."
Steve opened a cupboard and produced two shot glasses. One etched with a seashell and the other with a surfboard. Two very different beaches. Danny didn't dwell on the symbolism. He grabbed a glass and clinked it against the counter.
"Pushy." Steve laughed.
"You like it."
Danny downed the liquor in one quick gulp, coughing against the burn.
"Easy, buddy." Steve patted him on the back before drinking his own shot.
"That's good stuff." Danny said, voice raspy. He cleared his throat.
"I found it under the sink." Steve pointed. "With a note from Joe."
"Oh," Danny replied, wiping his mouth, "I'm sorry."
"Don't be. He left it for us."
"Us?" Danny couldn't help but chuckle.
Steve handed Danny a folded piece of paper. A missive from the dead.
Share this with someone special. Don't let him get away. Good partners are hard to find.
Danny set the paper on the counter. His chest was tight. God, he missed Joe. Even if he had a love-hate relationship with the guy. "You think he knew?"
"Yea, I think he did." Steve dabbed the corners of his eyes.
They stood there for a few breaths, each focusing on their empty shot glasses.
"I think I need another." Danny reached for the bottle.
Steve stopped him. "Not so fast, there partner. We have Christmas to make. I need you in super dad mode, not moody Danno mode."
Danny chewed on his bottom lip. Eyes narrowed. He exhaled loudly.
"I take that as an I understand, Steve. You're right. Like always." Steve mimicked Danny.
"Don't push your luck, buster." Danny pushed Steve into the counter. "That was a terrible impression."
Steve laughed, and Danny shut him up with a kiss. They pulled apart when they needed to breathe, and Danny studied Steve, frowning.
"What did I tell you about this?" Danny asked.
Steve smirked, knowing exactly what Danny was asking. He leaned over, offering up his shaved head.
"You like it, admit it."
"Like it?" Danny waved his hands in the air. "I do not like stubble in certain places."
Raising an eyebrow, Steve blushed and opened his mouth to speak but Danny cut him off.
"Do not comment on that. My kids are liable to walk through that door any second now."
"No stubble. Check." Steve replied with a grin.
Danny's kid radar was on point. Grace bounded through the door, Charlie at her heels. They both screamed, "Uncle Steve!"
He hugged Grace. She rubbed his head and Steve said, "What do you think? Cool, huh?"
"Ew no! Why did you shave your head again?"
"Danno! Can I shave my head?" Charlie asked, giggling.
"See what you've done, babe?"
"Sure, I'll shave your head, Charlie," Steve answered the bouncing boy.
Eyes as big as saucers, Charlie beamed at his dad. "Really? Danno, can Uncle Steve shave my head?"
"No!" Danny and Grace yelled at the same time.
Charlie frowned, looking between Steve and Danny. "But Uncle Steve said."
Danny glared at Steve. The message was clear. Steven, fix this.
Steve was out of his league, but he did his best. "We'll talk to Danno about it, Charlie. It's too cold right now. Maybe for summer?"
"But you shaved your head," Charlie replied. Kid logic was in play now.
"Yea, I did." Steve rubbed his stubble. "And now I have to wear a hat when I go outside or I'll get brain freeze."
"I'll wear a hat!" Charlie wasn't backing down. "I want brain freeze!"
"You gotta do what your dad says, bud. Sorry."
Steve looked almost frantic. Danny would be a liar if he said he wasn't enjoying seeing his Super SEAL sweat. Until his son – their son, Danny liked to tell Steve now – dropped a bomb.
"But aren't you almost my dad, too? I saw your ring!"
Mouths fell open. Danny's hand went to his jacket pocket.
"Well, I – uh – " Steve stammered as he shot Danny a look for help.
Danny crossed his arms over his chest. Steve had started this conversation. He would have to finish it. Hell if he knew what to say. He wanted to ground his kid for snooping. The rings were supposed to be a surprise.
Grace saved them.
"And Uncle Steve told you to wait til summer, you goof." She grabbed her brother and pulled him close. "You have to listen to your dads. That's the law."
/././
More to come... Thanks, as always, for reading.