Guardian

A/N: I think I might spontaneously combust writing this story. Hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.

Chapter 13

Walking hand in hand between her Danno and her Daddy along the beach, Grace kept sneaking glances up at each of them. They both seemed content and sad all at the same time. First she'd catch one staring at the other, then staring at the beach in front of them, and then smiling down at her.

Part of her wanted to just pull their hands together and tell them to quit being stupid boys, but she was just nervous enough about that plan that she decided to wait for Grandma to arrive and help. Daddy was going to grill something for dinner and she bet that would give her a chance to talk to the older woman and maybe even Kono in the kitchen.

Steve looked over at his partner again, silently watching him as he stared across the sand. He felt like he was an emotional live wire about to ignite. He was both happy and relieved that he and Grace had sorted out his status in her life. Meanwhile, the fury at Stan and desire to strangle him still boiled inside him.

As if that weren't enough, he was thoroughly confused about Danny. Little things were starting to add up, making him think that perhaps an advance on his part might not be entirely unwelcome, but he couldn't decide if he was just imagining what he wanted things to mean or if it was real and he was terrified of scaring the other man away. Afraid of being caught staring, he averted his gaze to the water.

Eyes focused on the sand in front of them, the Jersey native was in a state of utter and complete turmoil. Fear for his daughter and partner and rage at Stan had fueled him as he'd traveled home. Now the fear had only lessened, not disappeared. They had a long way to go before he would believe Grace was truly out of the woods. Her question about being happy made it clear that things were starting to surface.

Turning his head slightly, he glanced first at his smiling daughter, and then at the man who'd become such a steadying force in his life, when he wasn't trying to get them killed. Steven was so much more complicated than he'd ever believed possible. He hated to remember how he'd pegged him as the emotionless Rambo type as soon as they'd met. He was starting to think the Seal held in more emotion than most people ever felt.

Releasing a sigh that was quickly lost on the ocean breeze, Danny closed his eyes briefly. Part of him regretted that he hadn't pushed further in the conversation with Steve at the beach earlier. They'd clarified where he stood with Grace, but left so much unanswered in where they stood with each other. Was he reading Steven wrong, did the Seal just view them as friends? He was beginning to think he'd lose his mind being so close and yet so far away from what he wanted.

Crossing the lanai, the trio headed back into the house. Danny led them into the kitchen where he'd placed the monstrous box from HPD on the island.

Gracie spotted it immediately, "Danno, why is there a huge present?"

Both men laughed as she approached the box cautiously. "It's for you, Monkey. Duke said everybody down at the station pitched in for it. They wanted to remind you that they're all there if you need them."

Steve lifted her carefully to kneel on one of the bar stools, hands on either side of her small waist to make sure she stayed balanced. Danny moved to stand across from them, unable to contain the smile at the picture they made together.

"Go ahead, open it." As she and the Seal became engrossed in unwrapping the box, he snuck is phone out of his pocket and snapped a picture. Steve's eyes flashed up to meet his at the sound, but the taller man only grinned when he realized what Danny had done. He'd have to ask his partner to send him the picture later.

Removing the box lid, Grace stretched up to see what was inside. "It's huge!" The little girl exclaimed, at what looked to be very large stuffed animal hunched down in the box. Her face turned up to Steve, an unspoken request for him to pull it out. Freeing one hand from her side, he reached up and grabbed what appeared to be the bear's neck. Pulling it out, he lifted Grace back to the floor with his other arm and handed her a teddy bear that was almost bigger than she was and sported an HPD polo shirt.

Steve looked back to the box, head cocked sideways. "How the heck did they get that," he gestured to the bear, "to fit in there?" He pointed back to the box.

"I don't know, babe, but that is one humongous bear. Hope it knows how to swim or it might have a hard time in the ocean room."

Steve erupted in a full laugh at his partner's observation. Danny and Grace both smiled up at him before joining his laughter.

"Danno, can we call Duke?" She loved her bear and wanted to let the officers know.

"Of course, Monkey. I'm sure he'd love to hear from you."

/

An hour later, Duke and the others at HPD had been profusely thanked for the gigantic bear and the three had ventured up to Grace's room to look at their workspace for the pending decorative overhaul.

The room was fairly large and had the nicest bedroom set of all the spare rooms, though Steven realized that since it had been his room the furniture had a more masculine feel to it.

"Maybe we should move this furniture into one of the other rooms and start fresh in here? The stuff in the other rooms could really stand to be replaced." He gave Danny a look that told him he was not allowed to argue. "This is the stuff I had in high school. It's not going to look right with the new theme."

The detective shook his head and shrugged. "It's your house, Super Seal." He regretted the words immediately. Steve's face fell before he turned away, before Danny could take it back.

"But it's our home." He shorter man barely heard the whispered words. Looking over at Grace to see if she had noticed, she stood with one hand on her hip giving her father a look that clearly said 'Fix it!' Sometimes he truly thought she was much more adept at handling Steve than he was.

"Be right back." Grace disappeared from the room and Danny heard the bathroom door shut behind her a few seconds later. So much for getting her to help.

Walking up behind McGarrett, Danny wished he could just wrap his arms around the man and tell him just how much he believed this was their home, but what if it backfired? What if that wasn't what he wanted?

"Babe, please turn around. I didn't mean it like that." Instead of turning, he stepped further away, standing in front of the window. Reaching his hands up, he gripped the frame on either side, letting the structure support him.

Intellectually, Steve knew Danny hadn't meant it the way he took it, but his heart was having a hard time reconciling itself with his head.

Danny's cell phone ringing cut through the silence in the room. Recognizing the ringtone for his mother, the detective reluctantly answered.

"Hi Mom."

"Daniel, what's wrong?" He groaned; his mother was far too perceptive. "Don't tell me nothing, I can hear it in your voice. Are Gracie and Steve okay?"

"Gracie is fine, Mom, and Steve will be if I can ever finish apologizing for saying something stupid." Danny knew his partner was listening and was granted a small spark of hope when the taller man released one hand from the window frame and turned partially toward him.

The haunted look in the Seal's eyes nearly took Danny to the floor. He'd done that. He and his big mouth had put that look in those eyes. Steve could put a puppy to shame with those eyes.

"Daniel, give Steven the phone and leave him alone for a minute. I'm in the car with Chin and Kono and will be there soon." She sounded a bit exasperated.

Knowing better than to argue with his mother, especially when he was in the doghouse, Danny extended the phone to his partner. As their fingers touched, he mouthed a silent, "I'm sorry," before he turned for the door.

"Steven, are you okay? You don't have to tell me what he said, but you know how his mouth runs away with him sometimes. You know he would never mean to upset you."

He cracked a small smile at the phone. "I know, Mom. I just… I don't know. I'm a mess."

"Oh, my dear boy, I think sometimes you forget you aren't really Superman. You are only human, Steven. We will all still love you just as much even if you can't be strong all the time. I don't know everything that's happened, but my guess is you're trying to be strong and keep it all together for Danny and Gracie." She heard his mumbled confirmation. "Now, I want you to listen to me. When we get off here, you tell Danny to start prepping the steaks, so they'll be ready in plenty of time for dinner. Then you go change and go for either a run or a swim. You have to take care of yourself too."

"I'm glad you're coming, Mom." Right now he was so off-balance that he just wanted his mom and she was the closest thing he had.

"Me too, son, me too. Now hop to it. You'll feel better by the time I get there. I love you, Steven."

"Love you too, Mom." He stared at the phone for a second before moving. Sometimes it amazed him just how well she knew him. She'd only seen him twice, once when she came to visit and the other when Danny drug him to New Jersey with Grace, but once Danny and Grace had started staying over every weekend he was always included in the weekend call with the New Jersey family.

Having stayed right out in the hall, the detective stepped back into the room. Grace had left the bathroom, given him a repeat of the earlier look, and gone downstairs as soon as he explained Steve was talking to Grandma. The look of satisfaction on her face should have worried him, but he had equal faith in his mother.

"Steven," Danny started to apologize again, but stopped when the other man shook his head no.

"I'm under orders from Mom. You are supposed to get the steaks ready so I can grill them for dinner. I am supposed to go get some exercise."

Danny processed this new information for a moment before deciding his mother was a genius. "Got it." He held his ground as Steve approached the door, forcing the taller man to stop. "We'll talk later, but babe, I'm sorry I opened my mouth without thinking. This has always been your house where we came to visit. It's just an adjustment, but that doesn't mean this isn't home for all of us now."

Not trusting his voice, the Seal just nodded his head. They'd talk later when he'd regained some semblance of balance.

/

A/N: Please take a second to review.

Mama Williams will be on the ground with them in the next chapter A few little nudges and I think the boys might finally get the hint.