Disclaimer: I still own nada.

Author's Note: Thank you so much for the reviews and alerts for this story, it truly makes me so happy you guys enjoy this story!


Working up the courage to ask Danny about marriage is not easy for Steve. He's usually very confident and cool when it comes to dealing with his partner, since he has the most experience with anything that relates to Danny. But the thought that Danny still held a negative attitude against marriage was a little scary for Steve, even though that attitude was caused by the travesty that was his marriage to Rachel. There might have been some good times, like Grace, but the way that it ended and Rachel's marriage to Stan cast a negative shadow over the whole thing. But Steve's hoping that their relationship might help to ebb away some of that negative attitude, he's really hoping like fingers and toes crossed.

The only downside to dating Danny is the fact that he's a detective. Steve has to be really careful with how he comes to Danny about this, because one wrong word and the whole plans blown. Danny will be able to see through his thinly veiled attempt at finding out if Danny had even thought about Steve and marriage together in the same sentence. It's part of the reason it's taking so long for Steve to complete this task. He needs to find a way to work marriage into a conversation without Danny being suspicious and think Steve's fishing for something and gets angry. Angry Danny is the last thing that Steve wants to have to deal with, because contrary to popular belief an angry Danny is not a hot Danny to be around, he's horrible.

Thankfully Steve doesn't need to work marriage into the conversation. On a rare evening that Steve and Danny are home before the sun sets, they happen to be unwinding in front of the TV watching World News and there's a story about the new civil union law in Hawaii and the other states that have enacted similar laws. Steve almost gets on his knees to thank the higher powers looking out for him in relief that his segue has finally happened and Danny won't be suspicious about Steve asking his opinion on it, because Steve usually asks Danny's opinion on things like that.

"It's great that Hawaii's finally acknowledging civil unions don't you think?" Steve asks taking a sip from his beer and turning towards his partner. Danny mid-sip of his own beer turns towards Steve with his eyebrow raised.

"Yeah I do, everybody should have the right to marry someone they love and then have their heart torn to shreds." Danny replied sarcastically toasting his beer in the air.

"Really Danny? One failed marriage and you're a bitter old man?" Steve replies trying to keep his heart from sinking into the pit of his stomach from disappointment. He probably should have realized that Danny would still be bitter about the number Rachel did on his heart. Danny sighs and looks down in his lap.

"I'm not bitter just realistic. I mean Rachel and I thought we loved each other and look at how well that turned out? She left me and moved clear across the country with her rich new husband. Wouldn't you feel the same way?" Danny snapped back picking at the label of his beer.

"I know Rachel fucked you over Danny, I watched the aftermath happen. But what about us huh? Do you think that I could do that to you? Do you think that I could pledge to spend the rest of my life with you and then leave?" Danny whipped his head up staring straight into Steve's eyes. He left the breath be sucked from his body at the hurt and vulnerability swirling around his hazel eyes.

"You're right, you wouldn't do anything like that to me." Danny whispers reaching out and grabbing Steve's hand resting them comfortably between them.

"I love you Danny with everything that I have. I'm not Rachel, Danny and I don't know how to make you see that." Danny sighed again and squeezed Steve hand.

"I know babe, I know. And I love you too, so damn much. I'm just not sure that marriage is the way for me ya know? At least not right now, who knows how I'll feel in the future, but right now in this moment? I know that marriage is not for me." Steve smiled softly at him, his hopes weren't completely dashed, but still his timing would have to be perfect.

At least he found out how Danny felt about marriage and where he stood in terms of rejection or acceptance. Now that he knows that Danny wasn't completely against the idea he was just going to have to move onto the next part of his plan, getting Grace's approval. Because once Grace got an idea in her head it was pretty hard not to agree with the very persuasive little girl. So as long as Grace agreed to Steve proposing to Danny, it would only be a few weeks, two months, tops until Danny was saying yes to Steve's proposal.

Steve was well on his way to taking the next step with the love of his life.


Author's Note: And there is chapter two! This one of a tad bit hard to write what with having to figure out how Steve was going to bring it up and such. I hope that this chapter didn't disappoint you. Like always let me know what you think (good or bad) or any suggestions you might have, I'm always open to suggestions. Thanks for taking the time to read this story! ~thatredheadgirl~