A/N: Courtesy of a sugar induced writing binge last night, you don't even have to wait a week for this chapter.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters and make no money doing this. I'm just having fun playing with them. My beta reader is awesome, but all mistakes are my own.

Chapter 72

"Daniel, if you don't stop fidgeting I'm going to tie you to your chair." Beth threatened from the seat beside him. "His plane landed a little bit ago, so I'm sure he'll be out here any minute."

"Sorry." Danny squirmed in his chair.

Instead of finding rope to follow through with her threat, Beth wrapped her hand around his forearm. "Why in the world you are you nervous about your father getting here?"

"Gee, I don't know. Maybe because the last time I spoke with him was before I left to come home, and I'm pretty sure the idea that I was in love with my very male partner hadn't come up. Now we're picking him up from the airport so he can come back to the home I am now sharing with that same partner. Now only sharing the house, but sharing his bedroom." Danny started rambling.

"Daniel." Beth spoke slowly. "Snap out of it. I sure as hell hope you weren't this keyed up with Steven or he'll be an absolute basket case by the time we get back." She leveled a glare at him, his guilty expression making her sigh. "Well, we'll deal with that later. In the mean time, calm down. Do you honestly think that this thing between you and Steve was something I figured out on the plane over here? Remember what I said before, your father and I just want you to be happy. We both adore Steve and we both just want to see you happy."

Staring at his mother, Danny took a few deep breaths. He wasn't sure why he was so worked up about this. He knew his mom had been talking to his dad on a regular basis since her arrival. Dad knew everything there was to know already, and he'd always had a soft spot for McGarrett. He guessed a part of him just wanted to show his dad that he wasn't an epic failure in the family department. His parents were such a great example growing up, and yet he'd completely botched his marriage with Rachel. They'd done nothing but support him, but a small part of him always felt like that would be a failure in his father's eyes.

"Well, some greeting I get." A loud voice interrupted his thoughts, making Danny and his mom both jump from their chairs.

Beth launched herself into her husband's arms before Danny could take another step forward. He smiled at his dad when the older Williams looked up at him over his mom's shoulder. "It's good to see you again, son." When his wife finally released him, Paul stepped forward to embrace his son. "You sure you're ready for your folks to invade and cramp your style?"

"Not a whole lot of wild parties going on in my life for the last few years, so I'm not sure there's much style for you to cramp."

"Well, let's grab my bags. I assume it's just the two of you here to fetch me, and there are people I'd like to see before I get any older." Paul headed toward the baggage carousel. "How is Grace doing? Your ma's been filling me in when we talk, but I know you're closer to that girl that anyone, so I want your take."

"Better than I ever expected. Steve's helped a lot with that. Those two have always had an uncanny bond, but this experience seems to have magnified it. He gets it on a level I don't think I can, but I'm glad she has him."

The carousel hadn't started turning yet, so Paul turned to face his son. "I'm glad you both have him. You look like you expect me to have some issue with it, but son I don't. Steve is like another son to me, and if some day you two decide to make it legal, I'll gladly welcome him into the fold officially. He's good for you. It'd take a blind man to miss that even just via Skype. The pair of you make all the sense in the world to anyone that cares a lick about either of you."

Danny stared at his father, not sure what to say to that. It's not that he and his dad didn't have a good relationship. The Williams clan didn't believe in holding things in, but for him to come right out with it before they'd even made it to the car was surprising.

"Told you so." Beth elbowed him in the side before turning to Paul. "Your eldest had himself in quite the tizzy before you arrived. I didn't see Steve right before we left, but I'd imagine Danny got him all nervous too." She gave him a meaningful look. The two parents had spent more than enough time discussing Steve both before Beth came to Hawaii and after. She really hoped that having Paul here would help mend another piece of Steve's battered soul, giving him a father figure that would embrace him where his had only judged.

"Well at least you had the good sense to leave Grace with him so he didn't sit at home and start freaking out while you two came to get me." Paul laughed.

"You underestimate his ability to multi-task." Danny's head shook. The conveyor started moving before anything else could be said on the topic. "Which bags did you bring?"

"The two big blue ones and another big black one. Thought your mom might like a few new outfits until all our stuff gets here. They all have the bright green straps around them."

"Nice. Those will definitely help as blue and black are not exactly the most distinct colors for luggage."

"It's what we had. Didn't see the point in splurging for new suitcases to move." Paul smirked. "There's one now."

Within a few minutes, all three bags were collected and the trio headed back out to the parking garage.

"Good thing we brought the truck." Beth laughed. "Otherwise one of you might have been riding home on top of the car."

"It'd be a shame to have to strap our son to the top of hood of his car. Pretty sure Camaros aren't made for that type of abuse." Paul followed Danny toward Steve's truck.

"You'd be surprised." Danny pulled the tailgate down and heaved one suitcase into the bed of the truck.

"Be surprised about what?" Paul asked as he lifted the next one.

"Nothing." Danny backpedaled realizing what he'd said.

"And you think I believe that? Try again, son." Paul pushed as Danny put the last back in the truck and slammed the tailgate closed.

"It was worth a try." Danny climbed into the drivers seat, silently cursing his big mouth.

"Oh come on, Daniel. Spill. Sounds like there was a story there." Beth pushed from the backseat.

"I happen to have first hand knowledge that Camaro hoods are more than capable for supporting the weight of an adult male while navigating the streets of Honolulu." He admitted, carefully watching his mirrors as he backed the truck out of the parking space. "Didn't even leave a scratch."

"I thought you said Steve was the one that did all the crazy stuff?" Paul questioned. "That sounded very much like an admission that you strapped someone to the hood of your car."

Danny sighed. "Fine. I was attempting to get information from someone while we were investigating Meka's murder. He wasn't being overly cooperative."

Both parents laughed. They'd heard enough stories to know that their son and his team had to go to unusual lengths sometimes, and they both knew Meka has been Danny's only real friend on the island before Five-0.

"Well, I hope it worked." Beth grinned at him.

"It did." The detective decided it was time to change the conversational direction, not ready to divulge any more of his more daring stunts at the moment. "So Dad, are you sure you're ready to trade New Jersey winters for sun and sand?"

Paul's eyes were focused on the scenery around them as his son drove. "I think so. I'm not as young as I used to be, and shoveling all that snow last winter took more effort than it should have."

"That is one advantage here. Aside from building sandcastles with Grace, you shouldn't have much shoveling to do." Danny admitted. Even he didn't really miss clearing massive piles of snow to be able to get out of his house.

"It'll be nice having family around again. I know I've only met most of them once, and some not at all, but your ma tells me you've found yourself a home among good people here. Hopefully they don't get tired of having the parents around."

"I think as long as ma offers to cook every once in a while you two should be safe." Danny laughed. "Seriously though, we don't always like to admit it, but we're a pretty mangled bunch sometimes. I don't think anyone is going to complain about having the two of you around to make life feel a little more normal." He glanced at his father, saw the understanding in his eyes.

"How is Steve doing?"

"He has his good days, and he has his bad days. I think we're getting through to him though." He paused for a while. "It's just hard to watch him take everything on his shoulders, always expecting the rest of us to be disappointed in him when he can't fix everything." Paul gave him a knowing look. "Even I am not as bad as Super SEAL. I operate with a full understanding of my limitations as a human-being. He forgets those little details sometimes. I think he drank a little too much of the Kool-Aid the Navy was serving up."

"Well, maybe he'll start realizing he has more to live for these days." Paul smiled at the idea.

"Either that or he'll decide he has more reason to sacrifice himself." Danny mumbled under his breath. He had to admit he understood a bit more of Rachel's fears while married to him now. He would have done anything to protect his family, including dying for them. Until Steve, he'd never really had someone that he was certain would do the same for him and Grace. The idea was both terrifying and comforting. He really hoped a situation never arose that required testing that theory.

The rest of the ride was filled with idle chatter about the new house they were buying, Grace and Beth's defense lessons, and anything else Paul wasn't already current on. Everyone steered away from the heavier topics, not wanting to arrive at the house with to solemn of a mood hanging over them.

As Danny pulled the truck into its spot, Paul laughed. "It's nice to come home to driveway full of cars. Means you're surrounded by people that love you."

"We can grab the bags later unless there's something you need immediately." Danny suggested.

"Nope. Right now I just want to find my granddaughter."

"Grandpa!" The shout reached him before he could even turn for the house. Grace came barreling down the walkway, arms flung wide until she almost crashed into Paul. "You made it!"

"Of course I did. I swear you've grown six inches since I saw you last. You'll be taller than all of us before we know it." Paul squeezed her tight.

"Not taller than Daddy." Grace corrected.

"Speaking of your daddy, where is he?" Paul asked.

"In the kitchen getting dinner ready." She pulled his hand, leading him toward the house.

"Well why don't I go see if he needs a hand with those." Mr. Williams followed his granddaughter.

Danny turned to his mother. "Please tell me he's not going to interrogate Steve over the the grill."

"I seriously doubt it. Just relax and let him talk to Steve. He's met your father before, and held up just fine." Beth tried not to laugh at her son's obvious concern regarding his father and partner being left together. "Come on. Let's go find the others."

"Look who I found, Daddy." Grace led Paul into the kitchen. "I'm going to go back so Kono can finish braiding my hair."

"Okay, Gracie." Steve smiled fondly after the girl as she scampered from the room before extending a hand to Danny's father. "Welcome back to Hawaii, sir."

"Son, tell me you didn't just call me sir." Paul stared up at the taller man.

"No sir. I mean yes, sir. Shit! I'm sorry, Mr. Williams."

"Steven, take a deep breath. We've been over this before. Either call me dad or Paul. None of this sir or Mr. Williams bullshit. Now how about you grab us a couple of beers and I'll haul these rather tasty looking chops out to the grill." Paul reached for the platter before Steve could argue.

"Yes … Sure thing, Paul." Steve felt like a complete bumbling idiot. He hadn't been this nervous around anyone's parents before, even when picking up his first date during high school. Following Danny's dad out the door, he hoped this improved quickly before Paul decided he was a complete loss.

Once the pork chops were on the grill, the two men stood facing the water.

"Relax son, I'm not going to demand to know your intentions with Daniel. It seems pretty obvious. They're already living with you, and it isn't hard to see you love them both every bit as much as they love you. I didn't come here to make you nervous. All I've heard from Beth since she got out here is how this is home now. How this is where we have the best chance of being surrounded by a big family again. I miss that. We both do. Family means everything to the both of us, and you are family Steve. You've been family since you hijacked Danny for your task force and gave him back a big chunk of his self-respect and motivation to really live."

Paul fell silent for a moment, letting Steve process his words.

"I know this thing between the two of you is pretty new to both of you, but the rest of us have been expecting it. You make him happy, Grace adores you, and I know you'd do anything to make sure they both know they are loved and protected. I can't ask for more than that for the pair of them." He clapped his hand on Steve's shoulder. "Honestly, I'm glad it's you. Rachel and I never got on well. She was always too pretentious for my taste. It's a nice change to have Danny with someone that I actually like."

"That means a lot." Steve finally spoke. "I know it may sound strange, but I think having you and Mom here means almost as much to me as it does to Danny. I'd almost forgot what it really felt like to be part of a family." The SEAL was surprised with his own words, knowing it wasn't an admission he made easily. "I'm glad to be a part of it."

The two fell silent, drinking their beers as they looked out over the ocean. Both men were content to be right where they were.

/ GUARDIAN/

A/N: I'll admit, nervous Steve cracked me up. He's so adorable when he's flustered.