Hawaii Five-O belongs to CBS. No copyright infringement is imtemded.
A.N. Thanks to "Book 'em Again" for the name of Chin's wife.
Prince Charming
by honu59
Just how did Chin talk him into this? One thing was for sure: he was going to remember this and Chin would owe him big time! Danny shifted uncomfortably in the itchy, overly warm costume. He poked his thumb inside the jacket and scratched where a label was irritating his chest.
"Oh Danny, you look so handsome!" Jenny exclaimed as she took a good look at the blushing detective who was regally dressed as a prince out of some fairy tale: red pants with a gold stripe running down the side seam and a powder blue coat with gold belt, buttons, stiff mandarin collar, fringed epaulettes and a medal pinned to the chest to top things off.
Danny shot the petite secretary an exasperated look and disappeared into his cubicle, away from the giggling that had spontaneously erupted. The sooner I get out of here, the better!
His thoughts were interrupted when Chin Ho poked his head in the doorway. "Ready to go, Danny?"
"Sure, Chin, let's get this over with."
Chin chuckled at his colleague's embarrassment. "Cheer up, bruddah, you've got a date with a beautiful young lady!"
o-o-o
The two detectives jogged down the grand staircase of the Iolani Palace and out the door to the parking lot. Soon they were on the road in Danny's LTD, headed for the Kelly residence. In the passenger seat, Chin loosened his tie and stretched out his tired legs. A couple of times he glanced over at the driver, but that only resulted in vain attempts to quell his laughter, so he kept his eyes on the passing scenery.
"Chin, you're going to owe me one," Danny finally remarked, irritated at the older man's amusement.
"I'm going to owe you? Look Danny, I'm the one taking your shift tonight. The only reason Steve let you off the hook is that you don't speak Chinese, and he needs a translator!" Chin said calmly but firmly. "Relax; it's not going to be that bad."
They arrived at Chin's modest home and walked up to the front door. When the door opened, the sight that greeted them completed turned around Danny's foul mood. There in the doorway, looking up at him with big brown eyes stood five year old Tilda, a vision in pink tulle and glitter, a tiny tiara fastened to her silky black hair with several bobby pins.
"Uncle Danny!" Tilda joyfully cried out, reaching her small arms up expecting a hug.
The young detective instantly fell under her spell and played along.
"Uncle Danny? No, I'm Prince Charming!" he responded seriously, taking the little girl into his arms.
"You're not a prince; you're a policeman like Daddy!" the youngest Kelly child explained.
"I am a prince," Danny insisted, winking at Chin. "I work in a royal palace, so I must be a prince!"
Lin Kelly appeared from the kitchen and greeted her husband with a kiss and a sandwich packed to go for his dinner.
"Thanks, dear," Chin said. "The other kids already at church for the Halloween party?"
"Yes, and I'm all set for our trick-or-treaters," Lin replied, nodding toward the large basket of candy by the front door.
"Okay, I'd better get back. Steve will be waiting for me. Thanks again, Danny; take good care of my princess!" Chin said with a grin before he was out the door.
Danny turned his attention back to Tilda and gallantly bowed before her. "Are you ready to go trick-or-treating, M'lady?"
Tilda giggled at the prince's gesture and grabbed her pillowcase and flashlight. "Bye, Mommy!"
"I'll have her back well before midnight, Lin," Danny called on his way out as he reached down to take Tilda's hand.
o-o-o
By the end of the evening, Danny had indeed become Prince Charming, and he was more than comfortable with the role. He hung around until Lin had changed Tilda out of her costume and into her pajamas, teeth brushed, hair combed, stories read. Danny, still in his Halloween costume, tucked the sleepy little girl under the covers and kissed her on the forehead.
"Goodnight, Princess Tilda," Danny whispered.
"G'night, Prince Danny," she responded, yawning.
Danny looked down at his costume and smiled. This thing that had been so irritating that afternoon had become comfortable, and he would always have fond memories of this Halloween night, all because of the magic of a little girl's smile.
Pau