I do not own Hawaii Five-0 or its characters, it belongs to CBS and its creators.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Alyx quietly closed the door, making sure it was a quiet click. As soon as it was completely latched, she turned around and almost bolted up the stairs, only to jump to see Steve in the dining room doorway. He looked sad and tired. His eyes were red and his face was pale. He looked like he hadn't slept in a while.

"O-Oh, hey... If I woke you up, sorry..." She pointed up the stairs. "I was just about to go upstairs and go to bed-"

"Can we talk?" Alyx hesitated before nodding. Steve gestured to the couch. Alyx walked slowly to it and sat down on the edge of the couch. Steve sat down, clearing his throat quietly.

"I... I gave the conversation some thought. I'm sorry about how I reacted, not replying to you and all." Steve sighed. "I'm sorry. I have no right to be protective of you. I know you can handle yourself, and I know that we've only known each other for a year. I have no right to... To feel fatherly toward you at all. I missed your whole life, and I guess I'm just trying to make it all up at once. Anyways, I'm sorry. For everything."

Alyx stared at him before scooting up closer, taking his hands as he sniffled.

"I understand." She took a breath. "I'm sorry I've been iffy. I used to tell my father everything. When he died, it killed me, and I became quiet. I could talk to my mother, but it wasn't the same. Then after she died, and after Kai died, I felt lonely and felt like I couldn't talk to anybody. When I was in the Navy, I was asked what I was going to do after we went on leave and then I decided to meet my father. There's one thing I regret in my whole life was doing what Sato asked of me, and I hate it so much. I wish I could go back in time and do it all over. I would have done it totally different, and I would not have shot you." She looked down, her eyes welling up with tears.

"I'm really happy that you accepted me, and I don't know how to react to it." Steve teared up too, and wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. She buried her face into his shoulder, trying to hold back her tears, but to no avail.

They stayed like that for a while until they both fell asleep.

"You all are here today because of a reason. We may not know what that reason is. We may not know what you are here for until years later. But, we do know this. You all are here because of your own free will. Because you chose to make the island of Oahu a better place for everyone."

Duke turned to face them all.

"Congratulations, recruits. You are now officially Honolulu Police Officers."

Tani laid the lei over her head and Alyx giggled as she fixed it.

"You can't be called lieutenant anymore, huh?" Lou asked. Alyx shook her head.

"I'm still technically on active duty. I just haven't been called up, and I also haven't retired from the Navy. I still hold the title of lieutenant, but I have to start out fresh as a beat cop." Alyx beamed up at Steve, making him smile back. "Which should be pretty easy." Junior wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

"Does this mean we can have a drink now?"

"Yes. Please. I need some whiskey in my system now, or I will die." Junior and Tani laughed, walking away with her and Jerry. Steve, Danny and Lou lingered, watching families congratulate their own children with kisses and leis. Steve bumped shoulders with Danny.

"Just think, Charlie or Grace might be here next." Danny rolled his eyes, a tiny smile on his face.

"In my hallucination when I was dying, it was Charlie up here. And he turned out to be a very fine man."

"I don't doubt it." Lou chuckled.

"Good thing neither of my children want to be cops." Steve frowned.

"I thought Will wanted to be-"

"He is not going to be a cop." Steve held up his hands defensively.

"Okay, okay." He turned his attention back to Alyx, a smile coming to his face.

"Are you proud?" Danny asked.

"From a prison cell to here, I am very proud." He sighed. "I just know it's going to be difficult for her when she does start as a beat cop..." Danny lowered his voice to speak.

"I thought Duke knew that Alyx was-"

"I only told their instructor, Captain Kei. I haven't told anybody else." Danny frowned.

"How come you haven't told anybody?"

"Because it is not my place, Danny. If Alyx decides to tell them, I will support it. That is her decision, and if she is comfortable, then great. This year has been tough." Danny nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I don't know about you, but I really want to celebrate. Let's move it."

Renee and Will joined them, as did Grace and Charlie. Grace and Charlie were already acquainted with her, so Lou introduced her to his wife and son.

"This is..."

"Steve's daughter." Renee finished Lou's hesitant sentence as she shook Alyx's hand. "It's nice to meet you, despite what Lou says." Alyx raised her eyebrow, Steve copying and looking at Lou curiously.

"What does she mean by that?" Steve asked, his voice innocent and curious, but with a tone that said "I will fire you" so Lou smiled innocently.

"I've said nothing but good things."

"Sure." Alyx patted his arm and then plopped down next to Steve, smiling at him happily. They ordered their drinks and food, the others teasing Steve that he needed to pick up the tab tonight and he simply rolled his eyes but said he would. As the waitress distributed their drinks, Danny fidgeted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable with keeping the secret any longer. Alyx caught his eye from across the table, and she sighed.

"Say it." Danny said, covering it with a cough. Alyx rolled her eyes, turning around to face him.

"Steven McGarrett, I am really happy that you are my father." She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "I love you so much, Dad." Steve stared at her for a really long time before tears welled up in his eyes. He looked away as they all begin to laugh, but they were also wiping their tears. He wiped them before bringing her into a tight hug.

"I love you too."

As they settled into their seats, waiting for their plates to come, Alyx felt a tap on her shoulder and turned her head to see who it was when she was greeted by another pair of lips. She registered them as Hank and grinned, pulling away as he brandished a bouquet of gorgeous roses.

"What are you doing here?" She asked.

"I called him." Steve said, making her turn toward him.

"You did?"

"Yes." Alyx smiled at him happily, then pulled out the seat for Hank.

"Everyone, this is Hank Pearce, but you probably know him as Agent Douchebag."

"Sorry." Lou mumbled. Hank chuckled.

"Nice to meet you all." He greeted.

"So, does this mean you guys are official?" Tani asked. They glanced at each other, giving each other a small smile, before taking each other''s hands.

"Yes." They said together. Junior slouched in his chair, as though he had a huge weight taken off his shoulders.

"Oh thank god..." He mumbled.

"Thank you for holding that secret for so long, Junior." Alyx gave him a small smile. "I appreciate having a brother like you." Junior teared up.

"You consider me as a brother?" Alyx got up and walked up to him, wrapping her arms around him.

"I do." Junior buried his face into her shoulder, and Tani patted his back.

The appetizers came quickly, and Hank poked her arm.

"I'm sorry I couldn't attend the ceremony. Steve did record it and send it to me, so I was able to watch it on the stakeout."

"You were on a stakeout?" Danny asked.

"Yeah. Investigating a local gang boss that's been counterfeiting for a while. We hope to make a bust soon." They stared at him wide eyed, and Hank frowned, fidgeting uncomfortably.

"Uh, why are they staring at me like that?" Alyx patted his arm.

"It's because they're used to FBI agents being very vague, and this is the first time an agent has shared that much information with them."

"Oh." Grace rolled her eyes, coughing to clear the air and turned her attention to Alyx.

"Hey, do you have abs?"

"Yeah."

"Are you pretty strong?"

"Yeah."

"She said she can flip people!" Charlie's comment snapped everyone out of their stupor and Danny flicked Charlie's head.

"Don't say that! She cannot flip people."

"Well... She can, actually."

Alyx stiffened and everyone turned around. Alyx followed, but more slowly.

"Finn?"