Disclaimer: Ideas are fictional; not making any money on this. Hawaii 5-0 belongs to CBS. That's okay because none of this would work on TV.
Family Life, Chapter 9
December, 2021
Danny thought that making it through December was like running a marathon. You just had to keep your head down and run. This year was no different. He enjoyed the visit with his parents more than he could ever articulate and was deflated when they flew home.
Maybe that was because his husband and best friend, Steve, treated his parents like royalty. The big goof must have mentally catalogued every preference his parents had expressed over the last ten years. When a mini-instant brew machine with a variety of teas and coffees appeared on the desk in the guest room, Danny raised his eyebrows. Steve mumbled something about how much Mom enjoyed a cup of tea at night while she read and Dad enjoyed a cup of coffee while he shaved in the morning.
Then there was the short stack of books and magazines his parents favored on the nightstands. There were new towels in the hall bathroom and the shower was stocked with his mother's favorite soaps and body wash. Danny wouldn't have been surprised to see the bed turned down and chocolates on the pillows.
Danny enjoyed watching his parents with Jack and Jesse. All the other grandkids were in their late teen or early twenties. They still dutifully showed up for family events but they no longer thought that their grandparents hung the moon.
Danny smiled every time he saw Jesse with his haircut. His son was so proud to have his Poppa cut his hair. Jack insisted on having his hair cut too, but he was more laid back about it. Maybe that was because he always had grandparents but it was still a little new with Jesse. Come to think of it, that's probably why Steve always had a little extra shine whenever Mom and Dad were around. Steve had been without a mom for a long time, and he was estranged from his dad for years before his untimely death.
Steve never expected the gift of having a family again. He was amazed when Danny returned his love, and Grace was the icing on the cake. Then Mom and Dad descended on him that first Thanksgiving and his life was forever changed. Even the trauma of his torture in North Korea and Jenna Kaye's death didn't diminish Steve's pleasure.
Thanksgiving dinner had changed over the years. Actually it would be more accurate to say that it had morphed. The team grew to eight members, and most of them were married with children. Their extended ohana grew to include the new spouses and significant others. The newest member was Cliff Russell. Cliff was once engaged to Jesse's aunt. He came to the island to support Liz's effort to wrestle Jesse away from Steve, Danny, and Jack. He stayed after Liz realized her efforts were futile and went home. Cliff was working on a development deal for affordable housing with Finn, Kono's husband.
Now Finn and Kono's house was the only place big enough to seat all the guests inside; the McGarrett-Williams home was still the favorite hangout for cookouts. Everyone brought their favorite side dish or dessert. Steve and Danny baked some of their famous bread and pies. This year they were also bringing a turkey with stuffing. Mom insisted that it wouldn't be Thanksgiving without the aroma of turkey roasting in the house. Steve and Danny could deny her nothing.
The remainder of the week was spent decorating the house and otherwise getting ready for Christmas. Fortunately, Chin always had younger cousins who were always looking for a way to make a little spending money. Stringing lights at the McGarrett-Williams house was a tradition passed from one cousin to another. The original strings of lights purchased at the Christmas Barn several years ago had been replaced twice. They went from multi-colored to all white and then back to multi-colored LED lights.
Mom and Dad flew back to New Jersey on Sunday morning looking rested and tanned. Steve and Danny stood holding the boys as they waved farewell. Jack took the departure in stride because he knew that Nana and Poppa would be back for their winter vacation in February. Jesse didn't share his confidence because he lacked the history. Steve was prepared for Jesse's distress but it still cut him deeply. He knew that Jesse was very happy with his new family, but he hated to think about the years when Jesse had no one. Steve remembered how it was for him after his mother's death before Danny and Grace brought family back to him.
The month of December flew quickly. There was the normal frenzy of holiday preparations plus planning for the upcoming European trip. The boys were pinging off the walls by the time school was dismissed for Christmas. They missed Grace very much, and they were so excited to be traveling overseas. That they were cruising on a large ship was the icing on a very wonderful cake. Steve was almost as bad as Jack. Their ADHD was getting the best of them, and Danny often felt like he had a third child on his hands.
Jesse found the whole family dynamic very funny and comforting at the same time. He was always amazed how patient Danny could be with his dad and brother and how appealingly apologetic Steve and Jack were when they pushed Danny too far. The household was pretty noisy in the evening while they assembled and ate their supper. It was such a change from his previous home where his parents ignored him and fought with each other.
The only time Steve completely relaxed was in the evening when the family cuddled on the couch and watched Christmas shows or movies. He would sit with his arms around his sons and his husband, and Jesse could see the instant Steve let go of the day's stress.
When finally the day arrived to fly to London, men and boys alike were excited. Grace had been gone too long for their comfort, and the prospect of seeing a new country added spice to the reunion. The Edwards left a few days earlier, but they were all staying at the same hotel in adjacent suites. That would make it easier for Grace to visit with both families.
The reunion was totally amazing. Grace was waiting at the hotel for her dads and brothers. Rachel's mother had the combined families over for dinner on Christmas. The days before and after Christmas were a flurry of catching up with Grace and sightseeing. Grace acted as their guide because she wanted to show her family her favorite haunts.
Steve and Danny struggled to get the boys in bed every night. They wanted to see everything and begged Grace for bedtime stories. The time flew too quickly.
The cruise was equally special. Although Steve and Danny travelled regularly, neither had cruised before, at least not like this. Their suite was surprisingly roomy with two bedrooms, a nice living area, and a balcony. Steve enjoyed being at sea again after so many years since his separation from the Navy. It was even more special sharing it with his husband and their sons.
The land excursions kept them busy during the day. They explored castles and quaint little villages. They bought handsome sweaters and boxes of shortbread. The boys loved the buffets at breakfast and lunch, and they protested when Steve and Danny insisted that they go to one of the dining rooms in the evening. Steve was able to get a tour of the ship for their family when the captain discovered that he had two of Hawaii's top cops onboard.
All in all, it was one of their best vacations. Steve and Danny were a little jetlagged but very relaxed when Steve pulled into the driveway back on Oahu. It was afternoon local time but late evening according to their body clocks. The boys were snoozing in the back seat and stirred when Steve turned off the ignition.
"Are we home Dad?" Jack sat up straighter and looked around. "Hey Jesse, we're home." The boys unbuckled their seats and were out the door before Steve or Danny could react.
"I guess that the boys are happy to be home." Steve sighed and opened his door. He could smell the ocean and appreciated the boys' enthusiasm. As much as he enjoyed the cruise, he missed the warm Pacific Ocean.
"Steve, wait a minute. I know that you planned this whole trip and how much you looked forward to it. I just wanted to tell you how much I really enjoyed it. I didn't think that I would enjoy the cruise and tromping around the countryside. I know I complained about some of the stairs in all those castles. But it was really great."
"You don't have to say that Danny. I know that some of it wasn't your first choice of how to spend our vacation."
"Just hush Steven. I loved how we had our own little butler bringing us breakfast in the morning if we didn't want to brave the buffet lines. I loved how we were in our own little family bubble. There were no phone calls or e-mails. From the first time that we walked onto the ship until the last time that we walked off, there was only the four of us. And every night after the boys went to bed, it was just the two of us."
"Thanks Danny, I appreciate hearing it. It was a little strange to be in a foreign country for Christmas, but at least we were all there with Grace. I've missed her so much. I know that she mostly lived on campus last year and she's mostly an adult. I miss the times when we all of us lived here."
"I miss her too Steve. Thank God for Jack and Jesse. I wouldn't be getting through it if it not for you and the boys. I don't know where the years went."
"I guess time flies when you're having a good time. I remember the first time I met Grace. She was in a cute little tennis skirt, and you were so upset because Step-Stan wanted her to take tennis lessons."
"Yeah, who knew that Stan and Rachel would end up as our friends who watch our boys when we need to work late or when we just need a little time alone."
"That still surprises me sometimes, but it's so much better this way. It's so much easier to work together when kids are involved, and you can never have too many friends or family. And I love Charlie and Andy so much too. Maybe by the time the boys are grown up, Grace will be married and can give us grandkids."
Fortunately the boys interrupted before Danny started to rant about Grace and grandchildren. "Dad, Danno, can you open the door? We want to get our suits on so we can go swimming."
Steve unbuckled his seatbelt and opened his door. "We're coming boys. The least you can do is grab your backpacks." Soon the bags were inside and Danny was directing the unpacking process.
"Okay, everyone open the bag with your dirty laundry and put anything that needs to be washed in a hamper down here. Steve, I'll sort and put the first load in if you'll help the boys put their other stuff away." Danny started the washer and went into the kitchen to check the refrigerator for essentials like milk and eggs.
Danny was pleased to see the fridge stocked with the basics and fresh bread and fruit were on the counter. The Christmas decorations had been packed up and put away for the season so the house almost looked normal. It was too tidy to be totally normal but he figured that the boys and Steve would take care of that soon enough.
Danny always hated coming home from vacation because usually there is so much work waiting. It wasn't so bad this time. Steve had convinced Danny that they should have some of the laundry done on the ship, and the Kelly cousins who took care of the household for them made sure the house was spotless and the kitchen re-stocked.
It took another hour to unpack their bags and put everything away. The boys put their suits on but had to wait until Steve finished his chores before they could hit the beach. Steve played with the boys close to the shore until Danny came out. Then he went for a three mile swim. Steve knew that he shouldn't attempt anything longer. Although they all kept very busy during their cruise, Steve took a vacation from his normal workout routine. He would pay for it now but it was worth it to spend the extra time with Danny and their sons.
Although they were dragging by suppertime, Steve insisted that they should go back to their usual routine. Jet lag is a bitch no matter your age, and the best way to fight it is to observe the local time. Steve and Danny were keeping the boys out of school another day but Jack and Jesse would work from home to give them a little more time to adjust to the time change. Steve and Danny were working half a day for the same reason.
Later that night after the boys were asleep, Steve and Danny spent some time in their Jacuzzi tub. They were still a little stiff after their long flight and the swirling hot water soothe some of the aches away.
"How's your knee holding up? It's been a long day for you."
"It's been a long day for you too Steven. My knee is throbbing. I think that this is the year I'm going to have that surgery the Dr. Lee talked about the last time that I saw him. I know that I'll never be able to keep up with you because of your freakishly long legs but I should at least be able to keep up with Jack and Jesse. I had to take the heavy duty pain meds after a couple of those castle tours."
Steve scooted a little closer to Danny and started to massage the muscles around his bad knee. "I think that's a great idea Danny. Both Jack and Jesse came to me at different times during the trip and told me that your knee was really hurting you. Are you thinking total knee replacement?"
"Yes I am even though I'm young to be getting a new knee. The alternative surgery has a very long and painful recovery period and doesn't even last as long as the latest prosthetic knees. I'll need multiple revisions but I'll have full function for as long as the knee holds up."
"You know that the boys and I will take care of you."
"I'd rather that you take care of me now. There's something else aching a little further north if you're interested."
Steve laughed and moved closer to Danny. "Is it your hamstring?"
"No, my hamstring is doing quite nicely, thank you. Maybe I should show you. You do much better with a hands-on demonstration."
"It's a good thing that I'm a guy. That line would never work with a female."
"Hey babe, it's not my fault. We've been together so long that I've forgotten my best lines. I don't need them with you. All I have to do is take off my clothes."
"That's true." Steve was laughing again as he zeroed in on what he thought of as 'Dannyland'. When the position became too awkward because of Danny's knee, they moved it to the bedroom.
As much as they both enjoyed their vacation, it was so nice to be home. It would be another busy year. The boys always had something going on at school and the bad guys never took a vacation. Now they would have to make time for Danny's surgery and recovery.
Steve was considering how he would make it all work when Danny spooned behind him. "Stop thinking so loud and go to sleep. I've been properly debauched and now it's time to get some sleep." Danny held Steve until his breathing became slow and even before dropping off to slumber too. Whatever happened during 2022, they would face it together.