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.
It was still dark when Danny awoke to the sensation of someone stroking his body. The fingers started by his shoulder before moving down his back and the curve of his ass. Sometimes the hand strayed to his hip and around the front. Instinctively, he rolled to his back, presenting the part of him that craved the hand the most. The hand stilled momentarily, then found its target. "Whatever you do, don't stop. I really missed this too."
"I have no intention of stopping Danny. I'm sorry I fell asleep earlier. It was no reflection on you babe." Steve intended to make up for it now.
"That's okay. You were tired. Oh, that feels really good, right there." Danny's eyes almost rolled back in pleasure. They had gotten really good at this part. No one, not even Rachel, paid this kind of attention to Danny's erogenous zones. Steve had them mapped to memory and paid homage to them every chance he got.
"I dreamed about you at night. Sometimes we were spooned together. Sometimes we were making love. Do you have any idea how you drive me crazy?" Occasionally, Steve liked to talk during sex. Apparently, this was one of those times. Danny didn't know how he did it. Danny couldn't string three words together to save his life right now.
When Steve mentioned earlier that he had hoped for foreplay, apparently he wasn't kidding. Steve was painstaking in his attention. When Steve drove them both over the edge, Danny could only whisper softly, "Never leave me." He barely heard Steve's response, "Love you always."
Much later, Danny finally roused. "We'd better clean up and get dressed. Grace will be in when she wakes up. She cannot find us like this. And babe, you can wake me anytime you want to do that."
"Thanks, I will. Want to join me in the shower? I could use a little more sleep." Steve rolled out of bed and gave Danny a hand up. They quickly showered, dressed in their sleep clothes, and crawled back to bed.
The sun was streaming in the window when Steve woke next. He felt something wriggling in bed and realized that Grace had joined them in bed. He rolled over and threw an arm around her. "Hush, Danno's still sleeping."
"I'm not asleep, am I Monkey? My eyes are open and I'm talking. I'm definitely not asleep." Even with his eyes closed, Steve could tell that Danny was talking with his hands.
"Okay then, hush, Daddy Steve is sleeping." Steve was still in a haze from his earlier lovemaking session with Danny and he didn't want to leave his nice comfy bed.
"Again, I don't think he's sleeping. He is talking and moving. I'm pretty sure Daddy Steve is awake."
Steve realized that he wouldn't be going back to sleep and opened his eyes. Grace and Danny were wide awake and eager for him to join the party. "Okay, I'm awake. What time is it?"
"It's a little after nine. Grace came in about a half an hour ago. We've been waiting for you to wake up. You okay babe?" Danny was a little worried. Steve hadn't slept this long since he had moved in.
"Yeah, I'm usually like this when I get back from training." Steve nodded towards Grace as he emphasized the word 'training'. "It will take me a couple of days to get rested up. I'm glad it's a 3-day weekend. And I'm very happy to be here with my family." Steve hugged Grace tightly and grabbed Danny's hand.
"We're happy you're here Daddy Steve. It was lonely without you. What's for breakfast?" Grace's stomach growled just then and everyone laughed. They debated the merits of pancakes versus waffles.
"I vote for waffles. Mom remembered how much you liked her waffles and sent a Belgium waffle maker and some mix when she heard you were gone. She said something about since she couldn't send you a care package, you could enjoy it when you came home."
"Danny, Mom's the best. Waffles it is." Steve gave his family one last hug and got up. "Do we have any bacon."
Danny got up and helped Grace out of bed. "Steven, we have bacon and fresh-squeezed orange juice from Nino's. It's a breakfast fit for a SEAL."
Now, Danny and Steve were starving too. They hurried downstairs and started breakfast. Danny made coffee while Steve fried the bacon. Danny mixed up the waffle batter and stuck it in the fridge until the waffle maker heated up. The first waffle came out just as the last piece of bacon came off the griddle.
In another few minutes, all three waffles were done and they sat down to breakfast. Steve lifted the first piece of waffle to his mouth and moaned. "Seriously Danny, this is wonderful. I forgot how wonderful food can taste. MRE's shouldn't even be considered food."
"It looks like you lost a few pounds. We'll put them back on you soon enough. You should be able to take a swim before the gang comes over. I know you're itching to get out there."
"I needed to be with you and Grace last night more. It's the first time I had a family to come home to."
"We needed to be with you too, didn't we Monkey?"
"Yes Danno. Daddy Steve, can I show you my op after breakfast. I worked really hard on it." Grace had spent hours planning and positioning her forces. She couldn't wait to show her daddy.
"Danny, do we have a lot to do before everyone gets here? Will there be time?" Steve knew how important this was to Grace.
"We just need to ice down the drinks and get the hamburgers made up. Lori said she would bring a pasta salad. Kono is bringing corn to roast on the grill. Chin is bringing chips and dip. Max said he would pick up coco puffs for dessert."
"Joe is bringing baked beans. It sounds like we have a party. Grace, we should have time after we clean up breakfast. Do you want to sit in on the briefing Danny?" Steve hoped Danny would accept the invitation. Grace was very clever and caught on quickly.
"I wouldn't miss it. I was hoping you'd ask. Let's clean up these dishes." Danny and Steve cleared the table and washed the dishes quickly. When the kitchen was cleaned up, the family adjourned to Steve's boyhood bedroom. Grace had set up everything in there so it wouldn't be disturbed.
Grace invited Steve and Danny to sit on the bed as she started the meeting. She started at the beginning. Grace told about how the Kens had oppressed the Barbies over the years. She explained how the Joes had located their lair and how they teamed with the Barbies to infiltrate the Kens gang and take them down. When Grace finished, she looked at Steve expectantly.
Steve stood and circled the mission board Grace had laid out. Suddenly, he snapped to attention and saluted Grace. "Commander Grace, you worked out a brilliant strategy and the execution was flawless. May I call upon you and your team again."
Grace saluted back with a huge grin on her face. "Yes sir, Commander Daddy. My team and I await your next request." She turned back to her troops and gave her orders. "Men and women, you have served well. The party is at Malibu Barbie's house. Dismissed." Then Grace ran and gave Steve and Danny an excited hug.
"Monkey, you did a great job. I'm really proud of you." Danny was surprised at how well Grace had planned and presented her operation. He could see that Steve must have spent hours with Grace explaining the fine points of strategy.
The rest of the morning went quickly. Steve got his swim in while Danny and Grace ran to the Wal-Mart for paper plates and other picnic supplies. The salt water stung the scratch on his leg, but Steve barely noticed. Steve's muscles were stiff from constant use followed by periods of inactivity. Swimming was the perfect antidote to that. He stretched his arms in long powerful strokes through the water. The temperature was warm yet still refreshing.
Danny was carrying ice in for the coolers just as Steve came from his swim. "Give me a couple of minutes to put on dry clothes and I'll help." Steve knew that Danny had put a lot of work into supper last night and wanted to do more of the work today. He couldn't wait to see the rest of his 5-0 family. He was surprised how much he missed Chin's quiet intellect, Kono's ready laugh, Max's quirky reasoning, and even Lori's on-point analysis.
Steve was still making up hamburger patties when Chin came in. He brought his pretty doctor girlfriend, Malia. "It's okay that I brought a date with me, isn't it?" Steve had raised his eyebrows in when Chin and Malia came in. "Malia made fresh salsa and a seven-layer dip. It's terrific."
"Danny must have known. I wondered why he bought so much meat. It's great; we're having a party and the more, the merrier. Just stick whatever needs to stay cold in the fridge."
Soon, Kono came in with Charlie Fong. The corn was already prepped for the grill and in a cooler. Steve was pleased to see Kono and Charlie together. Charlie had been very concerned for Kono during her suspension. It was obvious that he had a little crush on her. Steve thought they made a good couple; at least Charlie would be tolerant of the demands of 5-0.
Now that Steve had finished with the hamburger patties and washed his hands, he exchanged hugs with both Chin and Kono. Danny and Grace came downstairs to greet their guests. Danny had braided Grace's hair and they were both dressed for an afternoon of sun and water. Steve could detect the faint scent of the sun-block Danny used.
Chin and Kono teased that Danny had been a real slave driver in Steve's absence. "Hey, I just asked myself what would an insane super-SEAL do, and then I did the opposite." The banter was good-natured and comforting. Steve had been a little anxious about the transition back to civilian life. Now he realized that his family would give him any help he needed.
Lori and Max came in almost together. Steve was happy that they had opted for the over-sized fridge. It was full now with the addition of the pasta salad and cocoa puffs. Joe came in just as everyone was moving outside. He stowed the beans in the oven on low.
"It looks like the gang is all here. Thanks for the invite."
"You're family now Joe, whether you like it or not. And you were right; it is easier when there's someone to come home to. Usually, I find myself replaying the mission for the first few days after it's over. Instead I had a nice nap with Grace, a great meal courtesy of Danny, and a movie. I got a good night's sleep and waffles for breakfast."
"Hell, if you get tired of them, I'll take them. Your dad would be pleased that you've found family. Shall we join the party. Kono said she would bring an extra board for me."
Everyone had a great time. It was agreed that there would be no shop talk; Steve could catch up on 5-0 business on Tuesday. Malia showed a talent for sand castles and spent time with Grace building a masterpiece. Grace and Danny demonstrated their burgeoning ability with a surfboard; Joe showed the group that he still had a few skills on a board. Charlie and Max set up volleyball net, and everyone joined in the game. Lori had a wicked spike and serve. Steve, Danny, Lori, Max, and Grace won both games against Chin, Malia, Kono, Charlie, and Joe.
Steve manned the grill while the others set up the rest of the meal. Danny had spent a lot of the afternoon lounging in his favorite chair, observing the festivities in quiet contentment. He thought about how his life had changed since the crazy SEAL invaded his life. A little over a year ago, Rachel was in the driver's seat and had it all. Danny had a miserable apartment, a police department that barely tolerated him, an ex-wife who screwed him over every chance she got, and a stranger who was father to his Grace.
Now, Danny and Steve shared everything: home, work, daughter. Against all odds, Steve was his partner and his lover. In less than four months, they would pledge their love and commitment in front of their family and friends. Danny was so happy that he had trouble working up a rant about pineapple on pizza anymore, although it really was an abomination.
"Danno, are you going to join the rest of us, or have you taken root there?" Steve could see that Danny was almost half-asleep and hated to rouse him. Danny had a really dopey grin on his face. Steve fell a little more in love with Danny every time he saw him like this.
"I'll be right there." Danny was surprised to see the beach in front of him empty. When had everyone gone up to the house?
The tables were laden with food. Steve had to bring second table out to accommodate the bigger group. It was a good thing Chin had brought over extra chairs. Unlike the last cookout, the 5-0 family was complete again. Kono was back with her family.
Grace cleared her throat and asked, "Can I say the blessing?" They didn't always say 'Grace' before meals, but she thought it was a good day to be thankful.
"I think that's a great idea, Grace." The group quieted and waited for Grace to start.
"Lord, thank you for the food. Thank you for bringing Daddy Steve home. Thank you for bringing Kono back with the family. Thank you for our big family. Amen." Grace looked up to see if she did it right.
Chin raised his glass and said, "Great job, Grace. Here's to our family, together again at last."
Everyone raised the glass and said, "To family". It was a perfect meal. The burgers were juicy, the beans spicy, the corn sweet and crisp. Steve was struck with the idea again that this is why he served, both with the SEALs and with 5-0. Steve and his teams kept the islands safe for families to have times like today.
Lori found the entire day fascinating. She knew that the 5-0 team was a close-knit group, but she had no idea that they indeed had become an extended family. She had no family locally and had grown accustomed to being alone much of the time. Her work schedule left little time for dating or forging close friendships. Now Lori saw that the 5-0 team might alleviate some of her loneliness. She seldom admitted to being lonely, but now she admitted to her feelings.
Lori knew the group was accepting her, not when she got the invitation but when Chin assigned her clean-up duty. Guests are served; family helps with the dishes. Steve was helping her fold up the extra table and chairs. "I appreciate the invitation for today Steve. I didn't have anything planned for the weekend."
"You're welcome Lori. We usually get together once or twice a month. I've got the only place big enough for the whole gang, and the private beach is a plus. I guess you can tell by now that we're not just co-workers; we're a family. Be prepared to have people interfere in your personal life, nag you when you don't take care of yourself, and otherwise not let you get away with a thing."
Lori laughed and told him, "It sounds perfect."
Steve gave her his goofy grin and replied, "It is perfect."
By the time that everyone had gone home, the kitchen was spotless and the area outside was back to normal. Grace and Danny went up to shower while Steve locked everything up. Steve took his shower while Danny helped Grace with her hair. It was too late to start a movie, so they opted for story time instead. Steve thought back to his first night of deployment; he had dreamed that Grace was reading a story in the big bed he shared with Danny.
Grace had brought her newest book in and was propped up against the pillows with Danny. He was surprised to see them there when he came out of the bathroom. "Grace started story time in here the first night you were gone and it kind of continued that way."
Steve shook his head and laughed. "That first night, I had a dream where Grace was reading to us in here. Let's get started."
They took turns reading, everyone enjoying the story. They were all tired from their day in the surf and the sun. The party had helped restore a little more of their routine life, and it had been interesting watching the additions to the group interact with everyone else.
Grace finally wound down enough for bedtime. Steve and Danny tucked her in and went downstairs. Both were tired but not ready for bed yet. Besides, Steve had a case of the munchies. "Is there any cobbler left from last night?"
"You're still hungry after that meal we had?" Danny couldn't eat another bite.
"Yeah, that's another side effect of a mission. Our meals were a little sparse. It takes me a while not to be hungry all the time. Like you said, I dropped a few pounds I didn't need to lose." Steve found the leftover cobbler and heated a piece in the microwave. He added two scoops of ice cream and settled on the couch next to Danny. The cobbler was almost as good the second time around.
"Sure you don't want a bite, just a little one?" Steve waved a spoonful of cobbler and ice cream under Danny's nose.
"Steven, you're eating dessert out of a serving bowl with a tablespoon. Are you a teenage boy again? I haven't done that since I was 16." Danny shook his head but accepted the offered bite anyway.
"Don't knock it babe. I'll be on a sugar high when I'm done with this. We'll see what else I can do like a teenager when I'm done." Steve had gotten his second-wind during story time and would be ready to play when he finished his cobbler. For now, he was content to settle in and watch 'Magnum, PI' re-runs with Danny.