Chapter 20

BethBobby

Eek, thought this one was going to be late! Uni essay took shitloads longer than I thought it would!

(Note to self: start writing two chapters a week so that I have stuff pre-written!)

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READ READ READ! IMPORTANT!

I think I can officially say that this is the last one of these types of chapters, next week I go onto the 'stages of Grace's life' because when I wrote this chapter, to me it finished it off nicely. I felt 'done'. I think if I tried to drag it out any longer then I would kill the whole thing because to me now this stage of the fic feels finished and it feels right and I'm happy with it.

But don't unsubscribe to it as there is still a long way to go with the 'stages of Grace'. So this is your last chance to tell me what stages of her life you want to see.

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MY LAPTOP KEYBOARD IS BROKEN; IF THERE ARE ANY MISTAKES THEY WILL BE TYPOS! I APOLOGISE IN ADVANCE, JUST IN CASE!

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'Grace, leave Noah alone and come get ready.' Steve joked, looking at the little girl 'and I thought I told you that he wasn't allowed on the sofa!'

'He likes it though; it's a lot comfier than the floor!' Grace protested.

'He has a bed Gracie, like normal dogs, his bed is nice and comfy.' Steve told her, shooing the dog off the chair.

'But he wants to sit with us.' Grace said, a pout appearing on her face.

'Noah stays on the floor Grace,' Steve told her firmly, walking up the stairs to switch on the bath for her, returning to find the dog back on the sofa.

Steve sighed and decided to ask Kono or Chin where the best place to buy an afghan for the chair was.

He was a clean freak on a good day, without having to sit on a hair covered chair.

Blankets on the chair he could deal with, they could be shoved in the washing machine once a week.

Sandy paw prints all over his chairs couldn't be cleaned.

'Gracie, come on, you need to have a bath and get changed, it's still your birthday and I said we were going out tonight.' Steve said, lifting her playfully over the back of the chair.

'Will Noah be okay on his own?' Grace asked.

'I'm sure he'll be fine, but like I said, he has to live in the kitchen when we go out for a few weeks so that he doesn't wee everywhere or chew everything.'

'Only for a few weeks though right?'

'Just a few, I promise.' Steve nodded.

'Okay,' Grace nodded.

'Now, in the bath young lady, and then you can wear your new dress.'

'Where are we going, Uncle Steve?'

'If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise would it?'

'Is Uncle Chin and Auntie Kono going?' Grace asked, eyebrows rising.

'Maybe.'

'Danno used to say that when he meant yes.' Grace told him.

Fuck, Steve thought, waiting for the realisation that this was her first birthday without Danny and Rachel.

'Lily said that Danno and Mommy would want me to have a good birthday and not be sad. So I'm not being sad.' Grace told him, looking up at the frozen smile on Steve's face.

'Well, that is good.' Steve nodded.

Thank you Lily! Steve inwardly thought as he pushed Grace towards the stairs, the retriever suddenly at their sides.

'Noah, no. Stay downstairs.' Steve told him, waving his finger at the dog, who sat, wagging his tail along the floor like a windscreen wiper.

'Good boy.' Steve said, as him and Grace headed up the stairs.

'Five minutes, in and out while I go and find your shoes.' Steve told her as she went into the bathroom.

'Okay.' Grace said.

Steve walked into her room and began rummaging through her wardrobe for the pink shoes he swore he'd seen when he unpacked her stuff.

He heard a banging as something ran up the stairs.

'Bloody disobedient dog,' Steve muttered, shaking his head but not being able to stop the small smile from spreading across his face.

'Finally!' he mumbled as he pulled the offending shoes out of the black hole that was the wardrobe.

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Steve walked back to the bathroom and popped his head around the door.

He smiled when he saw Grace in the bath, bubbles right up to the rim, stroking Noah, who was resting his head on the side of the tub.

'Hey Gracie, time to get out, we have to go in an hour.' Steve said with a smile.

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'Uncle Steve, where are we?' Grace asked as they pulled up outside a big stone building.

'It's a surprise.' Steve replied.

They walked up towards the entrance of the building and Steve opened the door, ushering Grace into the darkness inside.

He flicked on the lights, knowing what was about to happen and smiling to himself.

'HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRACE!' the people in the building shouted.

Grace jumped, startled for a second, before a huge smile broke out across her face.

'For me?' she turned to Steve.

'Yeah for you, but you can't thank me. I didn't organise this.' Steve admitted.

'Who?' she asked.

'Danno and your Mom did, they organised it months ago, and it's your very first Luau.' Steve told her.

He knew that the natives didn't usually throw Luau's for haoles, but it was something her parents had wanted for her, to help her feel at home here.

As much as Danny had hated Hawaii, he wanted Grace to be happy here.

Steve saw Grace tear up as she smiled.

'Really?' she sniffed.

'Yeah,' Steve nodded 'you better thank them, not me.'

He pointed at the sky.

Grace nodded, looking up.

'Thank you Mommy, thank you Daddy, I miss you but I love my party.' Grace told them.

Steve smiled, sadly, wishing that Danny and Rachel could be here in person, he knew they were here in spirit.

Grace looked back at him.

'Now, what do you say we go and greet your friends and Chin and Kono's abnormally large family.' Steve shot a pointed look at the older Hawaiian who just shrugged.

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'I love my party,' Grace told Steve as held her against his chest as they pretended to ballroom dance for the last dance of the night.

Steve could see Chin dancing with Kalei as Kono danced with her father.

'I know, it's been a good day.' Steve agreed, kissing her forehead.

'I miss them.' She said quietly.

'I know you do, I miss them too, but that's okay. You don't have to stop missing them.'

Grace nodded 'I know, I love them. Lily says they know I love them.'

Steve smiled 'Lily's right, they know how much you love them, and they'll always be with you. Forever.'

'I love Noah too.' Grace said thoughtfully.

'That's good.' Steve laughed, that dog was going to become the bane of his existence.

'But, I love you too Uncle Steve. Is that okay?' she asked, suddenly unsure.

She looked up at him from underneath her eyelashes.

'Of course that's okay, I love you too Gracie. All the world and back again.' Steve gave her a squeeze.

Grace threw her arms around his neck, hugging him.

'Thank you for letting me live with you,' she whispered 'I love you Uncle Steve.'

Steve closed his eyes, holding her to him, suddenly feeling like a father.

He would never replace Danno, he wouldn't want to.

But he would try and be the best 'substitute' father as he possibly could.

He suddenly understand the love that meant you would kill for your children.

And all of a sudden Steve knew, no matter what, he would go through hell for this little girl.

For Grace.

'Li'ili'i Kaikamahine.' Steve muttered to himself.

Even with her head buried in his neck, Steve felt Grace smile.

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'It's gonna get harder still

Before it gets easy

You can't keep safe what wants to break

I'm alone in this

I'm as I've always been

Right behind what's happening

She's all lost in this

She's all like she'll always be...'

Please review?

See you next week with the first of the 'stages of Grace'.