Guardian
A/N: I'm going to start with an update on the expected frequency of new chapters. While I will do my best to post a new chapter each week, real life and my first venture into writing original fiction with vague dreams of eventually publishing may sometimes get in the way. That being said, I have key elements mapped out through the arrival of Grandpa Williams (for context this chapter is Wednesday morning and his arrival is tagged for about a week from now). I'm still hopelessly in love with our favorite little ohana, so as long as you're patient and keep reading the story will continue for quite a few more chapters.
Now on with the story - as a reward for your patience I give you some Steve & Grace goodness.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them.
Chapter 48
Propelling himself through the water, Steve let his thoughts wander as his muscles burned. It wasn't so long ago that he would have pushed himself to go longer, his morning workouts sometimes taking close to two hours. Now although the water still calmed him, he felt no desire to drag out the swim, no need to hide in the water were solitude was acceptable.
Turning toward the beach, toward the house that held some of those he held dearest, he noticed his towel was not how he'd left it. Spotting small feet dangling over the edge of the chair, he pushed his body faster toward the shore. Part of him was surprised, though this was a bit of a routine for them, with everything that had happened recently she hadn't been there waiting for him since she came home from the hospital.
Entering shallow water, the Seal rose, shaking water from his short hair and wiping it from his eyes. Just clear of the water, he dropped down to his knees and opened his arms. Smiling, he watched her take the last few steps, the towel billowing behind her, as she dove into his embrace.
"Good morning." Steve whispered into her ear as he relished the enthusiastic hug.
"Did you have a good swim Daddy?" His smiled broadened at the easy way she spoke the word daddy, as if she'd never referred to him as anything else.
"I did. Did you see Danno before you came out?" He felt her shake her head no against his shoulder. Rising to his feet, carefully bringing her with him, Steve laughed.
"You'd be impressed. He went running with me again today." Her expression was full of surprise as this revelation.
"Like last time?" She queried, remembering Danny's description of his previous run "with" Steve.
"No, this time we ran together more. I did some sprints so he wouldn't accuse me of being lazy, but I always looped back so we could run more together." Grace's smile lit up her whole face. He knew part of her worried about her Danno not taking good enough care of himself, so his sudden interest in joining Steve for workouts pleased them both.
"How much bigger do I have to be before I can run?" Her innocent question surprised him.
"We wouldn't want you to run alone at your age, but you don't have to be older to run if you want to run." Reaching the chairs, she straightened her legs from around his waist so her feet settled on the chair. She remained quiet as he dried off. "Gracie, did someone tell you that you were too little to run?" He hoped it wasn't Danny, though he had a hard time imagining her already trying to undermine something her Danno had told her.
"Stan, but Mommy agreed." Her voice was a bit sad, but she kept her eyes locked on him.
Sweeping her back off the chair, Steve cradled her to him as he sat down in the chair, settling her in his lap with her head resting on his shoulder. He wasn't quite sure how to continue the conversation, not wanting to say anything negative about Rachel to her daughter. He also suspected that her lack of argument with Stan may have had more to do with keeping the peace than any actual issue with Grace taking up running.
"Well, why don't we talk to Danno today and what he thinks?"
"Okay. Do you think it will be a pain for somebody to run with me?" True to form, Grace was concerned about causing a headache for anyone else.
Steve shook his head and chuckled softly. "Grace, I'm pretty sure between me and your aunts and uncles you'll have plenty of running partners. At the distances you'd likely start at I won't have any problem going with you even if I already ran in the morning." In his head, Steve acknowledged that it would likely be a fight over who got to go with her on any given day or it would end up being a group thing. "So how are you doing this morning?"
Letting her head rest on the Seal's sun warmed shoulder, hand settling over his heart, the little girl sat quietly for a moment. Grace knew that he wasn't really superhuman, but she found the sheer energy and larger than life presence that made him Super Seal reassuring, the strong beat of his heart was just a physical reminder.
Steve didn't press her to answer quickly. Though he didn't know the reasons, he noticed when she rested her head or hand over his heart she was usually thinking. Content to give her time, he fixed his gaze on the open water as he contemplated the idea that the little girl he'd come to love so quick after Danny let him into her life viewed him as a father figure. Not for the first time, he said a silent prayer that he wouldn't let her down.
"I think I'm okay." Grace answered the question at last. Though her pause was longer than would be deemed socially acceptable, Steve cared little for that. "The funeral was sad, but I thought it would be harder."
The Seal thought of his own mother's funeral, with his dad and Mary. They'd all been a mess, but instead of pulling together, their family had crumbled at the loss. Perhaps that was one upside of Danny and Rachel already being divorced, Danny and Grace had formed a family that would remain intact and supportive throughout the loss. "What do you think made it less hard?" He wasn't about to say easy, nothing about this was easy.
This time the response came much faster as her big brown eyes looked up at him. "You and Uncle Chin and Aunt Kono and Cath. Danno and I knew you had our backs. Even when I got scared in the bathroom, I knew you were all close and someone would come." Her faith in them made his heart swell even as the desire to live up to it humbled him.
Steve grinned down at her. Sometimes her choice of words gave a clue just how much time she spent around Five-0. "We will always have your backs. Even when we can't physically be with you, we will do our best to make sure you are capable of dealing with the situation."
With everything he'd seen in his time in the Navy and with Five-0 part of Steve wanted to look the entire ohana in his house where he could protect them, but he knew that was a ridiculous idea. The only suitable alternative was to equip them with the skills they needed to remain safe.
"Do you think Kono and Cath will show me more self-defense stuff today before the appointment with Dr. James?" It seemed her mind was wandering in the same direction as his. Danny way right, the two of them really did operate on the same wavelength sometimes.
"I bet they'd love that. Bet they'll be here before ten this morning." He'd be surprised if they made it that long before appearing at the house. "Think they'll let me play today?" He gave her his best pouting face.
Giggling up at him, Grace shook her head as she left. "You don't have to give me the puppy dog face, Daddy. It's the two of them you have to convince." Steve tried not to laugh when he realized the look on her face was an exact replica of one of Danny's looks. For all that the Jersey native insisted that he had face, Danny was just as guilty. Of course, Danny also had tones. Thinking of him partner, Steve realized they should probably head inside and see what the plan was for breakfast.
"Think we should go see what they have to eat in there?" He jerked his head toward the house. "I'm kinda hungry and I bet you are too."
Grace's stomach growled at him, answering the question for her. "Guess so," was her only addition the the growl.
"Ready?" He asked as he stood up from the chair with her still in his arms.
"Yep." As soon as the word was spoken, he swung her body around so she was on on his back, arms and legs wrapped securely around him.
/ GUARDIAN /
Dianne smiled watching her granddaughter with Steve. "That looks like a move they've practiced a few times." She knew Grace's slight weight would be little challenge for the Seal to maneuver, but it was evident the little girl had done her part to shift from his lap to his back more than once.
"A few thousand at least. Sometimes I swear riding around on Super Seal is her preferred method of transportation." He grinned as he watched them start toward the house. "Though she was loath to admit it and potentially hurt my feelings, I did get her to confess that the view is better from up there."
They both laughed as he shrugged, Beth's laughter joined from the kitchen. "Sorry son. You were destined to be short."
"That's okay, ma. Now that I'm training my neanderthal Seal to make himself useful." His voice was full of laughter and he and Dianne made their way into the kitchen. "Now, what can we help with? It looks like those two are headed this way, so they must be hungry."
"We've got it all under control." Mary shooed him away from the island. "Mom let me help." She gave him a wink.
Looking around the kitchen he couldn't argue with her assessment. Of course, his mother would have been keeping an eye on Grace and Steve through the window to know when they were approaching.
"Here, just carry these into the dining room." Beth shoved a tray of juice glasses and coffee cups into his hands. Once he turned to do as he was bid, she pulled a large bowl of cut fruit off the counter and handed it more gently to Diane. "If you wouldn't mind taking these." Her tone was far nicer with Mrs. Bradley, causing the British woman to laugh as she accepted the bowl.
"Of course, my dear." She followed Danny toward the dining room just as they heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Steve entered the room with Grace still clinging to his back. "Something smells good."
"Mary and I made biscuits and gravy, but if you don't go get changed there may not be any left for you." Beth retorted even as she walked up to give him a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Yes, ma'am." The Seal quickly helped Grace to the ground before bolting up the stairs to change.
"You enjoy your time with Daddy?" Beth asked as Grace gave her a hug. When the little girl nodded, she smiled. "Sometimes that is just what you need to start a day right."
"As always, you are right Ma." Danny replied as he reappeared in the room, wrapping his arms around his mother and daughter. She was more right than she may have realized, apparently sometimes all he or Grace needed to start their day off right was some time with Steve.
/ GUARDIAN /
A/N: So I kinda feel like this whole chapter was just oozing sweetness and fluff, but honestly they've all had just a rough go of it over the last several chapters that they just needed it. Now, if I could just figure out how to get my own day to start off with some time with Steve...
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