Disclaimer: see chapter one
Author's Note: I'm so sorry for the delay in this chapter, but it took a long time (and a lot of drafts) to finally get this to a point where I thought it was good enough for you guys. Thanks again for continuing to read and review this story; your reviews are the reason are the motivation for me to keep writing this story. So thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything.
Steve slowed down once he saw the William's house come into view, he could feel his heart beating hard in his chest from his workout. Just because they weren't even close to an ocean didn't mean that Steve was going to go a whole week without some sort of workout. Plus his morning run was a great way to clear his head their first morning there. After their emotional talk with Deb and Dennis Steve needed to clear his head and focus on making this trip the best trip ever for Danny, especially since Danny's birthday happened to fall during their visit and Steve had a surprise for Danny. A surprise he was finding hard to keep to himself, it has been almost two full weeks and he's itching to tell someone about his birthday present for Danny.
While he was running through the picturesque suburban neighborhood that Danny called home for so long, Steve finally decided that he was going to run his surprise by the first person he saw in the house, it didn't matter who it was, he just needed to tell someone. As he reached the house Steve smiled, feeling a sense of being at home wash over him and the ache in his chest from his tragic family history seemed to lessen just a tad.
Ellie looked up from the morning paper as Steve entered the quiet house. He looked startled when his eyes landed on Ellie at the kitchen table, but relaxed when she motioned for him to come join her. For a moment Steve wished that Danny would come down the stairs and save him, because he had a sinking feeling that Ellie knew a lot more about their relationship then his parents did.
"Morning Steve." Ellie greeted pouring him a cup of coffee and handing it to him because she had no way of knowing how he liked his coffee. Steve smiled in thanks and took a sip of the hot liquid stalling for time. "I'm not going to bite, but I would like to talk to you." Steve nodded taking a seat across from her, his nerves flaring once again.
"Don't worry about hurting my feelings with whatever you have to say." Steve started off giving her cart blanche to say whatever she wanted, he knew that eventually one of Danny's family members was going to have some words for him.
"Look I know that before you guys even got together that things were shit with Danny even thinking about leaving his beloved Five-0 family, but I also know that you pulled your head out of your ass and started fixing the damage that was caused. I know that you guys have been working through your issues since then and seem to be working even better now than ever before. I've heard how Danny feels about this relationship but I need to hear it from you. After what happened the last time and what's still happening now with Rachel, I guess I just want to make sure that he's not going to end up so devastatingly heartbroken. I can't watch Danny go through that again, especially now that Matt's not here to pull him out of it." Ellie paused taking a much needed deep breath and looking at Steve expectantly.
"I completely understand what you're saying and I'm not Rachel. I understand that Danny's job is incredibly important to him, almost as much as Grace is. I understand that Danny's a loud powerful force that pushes his way into everything and everyone's personal space. And I love that about him. I love that he won't back down, he just gets louder. I love that he loves Grace so much that he's willing to completely uproot his whole life in order to see her for the little time he does." He paused taking a sip of his coffee before continuing. "And yes, I know that I royally fucked up before we even started this relationship and I've spent the last eight months making sure that Danny knows how much I love and need him and Grace in my life. And I wouldn't dream of ever hurting Danny, hell I've even told him that if this custody thing with Rachel gets too out of hand and our relationship hurts his chances of seeing Grace, I'll bow out because I won't allow anything to come between Danny and Grace." Ellie sat back shocked at the words coming out of Steve's mouth.
"You would really leave him just so he could continue to see Grace?" She asked still shocked at the serious yet sad tone that Steve's voice had taken with his shocking statement.
"I'm going to fight Rachel tooth and nail to make sure that Grace and Danny stay together, but if all my attempts are futile and the only way he can continue to see Grace is by him and me not being together than as painful as it would be, I'd walk away." Ellie smiled and looked up seeing a barely awake Danny at the bottom of the stairs staring at both Steve and Ellie confused. Steve followed Ellie's eyes and smiled at the absolutely adorable sight of Danno rubbing the sleep from his eyes with his serious case of bed head. Steve chuckled as Danny slowly made his way over to them before reaching down and blindly grabbing Steve's coffee and taking a long sip.
"Good morning sunshine." Ellie joked smiling when Steve wrapped his arm around Danny's waist and pulled him closer to him, it was nice to see Danny in a happy, healthy relationship for once.
"Morning Danno." Steve whispered looking up when Danny lightly tugged the hair at the back of Steve's neck. Danny smiled softly down at him as he leaned down to lightly kiss Steve. Just because they were in his parent's house did not mean that he was going to change his morning routine.
"What are you doing here so early?" Danny finally asked as the caffeine began to take effect. Ellie just looked at him for a moment before he nodded his head, as if they had just had a silent conversation. Steve took his coffee back from Danny and leaned back in his chair. He wished that they could have moments like this all the time. "Why'd you take my coffee away?" Danny asked, the urge to pout written clearly across his face.
"Because Danno it's my coffee, there's plenty more right over there." Danny grumbled under his breath about selfish super SEALs as he walked the short distance over to the coffee maker. Ellie laughed as she watched the exchange and shook her head. Steve finished the last of his coffee right as Danny came back to the table, and got up motioning for Danny to take his seat.
"Hey see if Grace is up after you shower?" Danny asked as Steve began walking up the stairs. Steve only nodded flashing Danny one his prize smiles that made Danny smile broadly back at him. It was moments like this when Danny just seemed to fall even more in love with Steve, when they had such mundane simplistic moments away from their high stress jobs and the custody drama and they could just be Steve and Danny.
Steve made his way up the stairs with a huge smile spread across his face. Who knew that coming to Jersey would give them the peace they've been searching for months to get? If Steve had known that they would be this happy he would've come to the mainland months before.
"Oh good morning Steven." Deb greeted as she came out of her room, surprised to see Steve up this early.
"Good morning Deb." Steve paused and leaned down gently kissing his cheek.
"Danny still asleep?"
"No, he's down stairs having coffee with Ellie." Deb looked at Steve and broke into a large smile; she knew exactly why Ellie was here this early. She could also tell that there was something on Steve's mind that was just begging to come out.
"You're planning something aren't you?" Deb asked watching as Steve poked his head into Grace's room to see that she was still sleeping. Steve chuckled quietly as he shut the door and turned nodding his head with a huge cheesy smile on his face.
"Yes, I am."
"For Danny's birthday I presume?" Steve nodded again leaning against the door jam. "Why don't you run it by me so you can have some relief from the doubt as to if he's going to like it or not."
"I got tickets for a Yankees game for him, Grace, you, Dennis, and I." Deb lit up and walked over to him grabbing his face so he could see how serious she was.
"He's going to love it. He's been trying to take Gracie to a game since she was born. Also thank you for including Denny and I, that's awfully sweet and thoughtful of you."
"I just want him to feel special on his birthday." Steve whispered feeling a little bit insecure. Deb smiled and pushed him towards the bathroom.
"Your secrets safe with me now shower and I'll get started on breakfast." Steve nodded yet again and smiled, happy to know that he had done well with picking his presents for Danny's birthday.
True to her word, Deb didn't breathe a word of Steve's birthday surprise. Sure Steve and she had shared many looks with small smiles several times in the two days before Danny's actual birthday. Steve had thought having her know would help him be able to keep it under wraps but really it just made Steve want to tell other people, like Danny. He wanted to see if Deb was right about Danny loving the present.
Finally the morning of Danny's birthday arrived and Steve took a deep breath before he opened the door and slid back into bed quietly with Danny. Wrapping his arm around Danny and pulling him closer to Steve kissed him lightly behind the ear. "Happy Birthday Danno." Steve whispered once Danny had begun to wake up. He turned toward Steve and with a sleepy smile pulling him down for a proper good morning kiss. Danny hummed into the kiss and stretched his muscles.
"Good morning." Danny whispered playing with the hair at the back of Steve's neck. Steve sighed into the touch and presses his body against Danny's.
"Your mom and Grace are finishing up breakfast with all your favorites, so you need to get up and get dressed we have a special day planned for you." Pressing his lips chastely against Danny's Steve pushes Danny out of bed. Danny almost growled at Steve as he got up from bed, but couldn't help but smile as Steve also got up from the bed and gave Danny a much better kiss.
"Much better." Danny praised smirking with half lidded eyes as he finally went to go take a shower leaving Steve standing there laughing at Danny.
When Danny finally made it downstairs dressed in Steve's favorite pair of his jeans and a plain t-shirt that Steve can't help but wonder came out of his bag, Grace greets him with a loud 'Happy Birthday' and a homemade card with a kiss and tight hug.
"Thanks Monkey." Grace smiled brightly at Danny's huge smile and jumps out of his arms rapidly telling him about everything her and Grandma Deb made him for breakfast. Steve and Danny share a smile over her head as she goes on and on with their breakfast menu.
"We even made Uncle Steve oatmeal because I know he loves oatmeal with fresh fruit, see Uncle Steve we even got your pineapple."
"Thanks Gracie." Steve leaned down loudly kissing her cheek and making Grace squeal and squirm away from him. Danny walked over to his mother and kissed her cheek thanking her for making such a lavish breakfast.
"Nonsense Danny, it's your birthday. I always spoil my children on their birthdays, I'm just glad that you're actually here this year." Danny and Steve share another look filled with so much guilt. Steve knows that Danny should see his family more often, but sometimes the best intentions don't matter because the real world doesn't allow them much time off. Steve's actually surprised that they haven't been called back to Hawaii for a huge case, he wonders if the criminals are taking a break because he and Danny aren't there to entertain them with their 'old married couple banter'. But Steve isn't going to look a gift horse in the mouth, he's going to enjoy their remaining time here in Jersey and shower his Danno with so much love for his birthday.
"So what's the plan for today?" Danny asked as he digs into his stack of pancakes. Deb and Steve share another coy smile as Steve swallows his mouthful of oatmeal.
"Here Danno, open this and it should answer your question." Steve replied reaching into one of his many pockets and pulling out an envelope. Danny looked between the envelope and Steve confused for a few moments before Steve nods for him to open it. Danny gives one more look between the two before opening the envelope, his mouth falling open in surprise.
"These are Yankees tickets, tickets for behind home plate." Danny held the tickets in his hands as if they are going to crumble in his hands if he's not careful with them. Steve smiled at the shock and wonder spread across Danny's face and can't help but feel his heart swell in his chest. "Steve." He finally whispered looking up at Steve with so much love swimming in his baby blue eyes.
"Happy Birthday Danny." Steve sincerely replied chuckling when Danny sat there staring at the tickets with such awe. "I hope your silence means that you like them." Danny's head whipped up at that and he's out of his seat in a flash pulling Steve into such a fierce hug that catches Steve slightly off guard.
"Thank you." He whispered into Steve's chest tightening his arms around Steve's neck. "Babe, you have no idea how awesome this is." Danny finally says after a few moments of silence passes between them. Grace smiled and gets up to join them in their hug and Steve doesn't hesitate to pick Grace up so she can truly be in the middle of their hug.
"Do I get to go to the game?" Grace asked still wrapped comfortably in Steve's arms.
"No birthday celebration is complete with Grace and there are even tickets for Grandma and Grandpa." Danny's head yet again whipped up again and his mouth falls open, he was sure that Steve had only gotten tickets for him and Steve and possibly Grace.
"Seriously?" He finally asked once Grace was running up the stairs to get dressed.
"Of course Danny, I thought it would be a nice thing to do with your family." Deb smiled at her boys before going upstairs to help Grace do her hair and get ready herself.
"I love you." Pulling Steve closer to him Danny kisses him fiercely. "Best birthday ever." He whispered once they pull away and Steve can only smile and rest his forehead against Danny's.
"There's one more thing we need to do before the game. I think we need some type of Yankee gear, so we're going shopping."
"Babe, the tickets are enough." Danny tried to protest, worried about the amount of money that Steve's already spent on their tickets but Steve just shushes him with a dismissive wave of the hand.
"It's your birthday Danny and I want to make it special. Stop worrying for once and let me shower you with gifts okay?" Danny only nods and hugs Steve again content to just stay in this moment for as long as he can, because it's not often they get moments like this and he wants to carry this feeling with him.
Once they have all gotten their Yankee gear with jerseys for the whole family with hats to go with it, they finally make their way to Yankee Stadium and Danny finally realizes who the Yankees are playing today and just as the realization hits him, Deb snaps a picture with Danny looking at Steve with his mouth hung open in surprise. Steve had gotten them tickets for behind home plate for the Yankees v. Red Sox game, any true Yankees fan knows how hard it can be to get these tickets for this series and Danny swore as they found their seats that he has fallen in love with the goof all over again.
Danny's birthday gets even better when they are leaving the stadium, when the Yankees win 15-9 over the Red Sox and Steve gets a message from Chris, informing them that Rachel's attorney has agreed to meet with him to avoid taking this to court. As Danny listened to the message he relaxes thinking that maybe just maybe they won't have to fight Rachel in court for time with Grace and that hope only adds to Danny's happiness. He finally feels as if things might just be looking up for them, but Steve is the one that's waiting for the other shoe to drop not that he'll tell Danny that, not today. No Steve will keep his suspicions about Rachel's motives to himself and prepare for the fight once Rachel finds out that Danny's going for joint custody of Grace, because he knows that Rachel will not give up her control over Danny that easily.
And Steve can't wait to finally cut Rachel's puppet strings over Danny that will be the best present that Steve could ever give Danny.
A/N 2: So be honest, did you really expect Steve's surprise? For any Yankees fan or baseball fan in general, you know that tickets to your teams rivalry games are super hard to get, especially when they're behind home plate. Like always don't hesitate to let me know what you thought (good, bad, etc). I love to hear from you, ~thatredheadgirl~