First of all I must appologize for this chapter taking sooo long for me to post! This chapter took me FOREVER to write! Also, sorry it is so long, but there was alot I wanted to be in this chapter. I hope you all enjoy it! Thank you all so much for all the reviews and adds! You have no idea how much I appreciate them! They make my day! I will try and have the next chapter up within the next few days! Let me know what you think! Love to you all! ~SD :)
P.S. I don't have a beta, so any mistakes are mine. Also, I don't own any of them. Although I wouldn't mind having Danny as my own! ;)
Chapter 12:
The Ceremony…
3 days before the ceremony:
Steve sat in his office at 5-0 headquarters, looking very intently at the computer screen in front of him.
"Glaring at it won't make it talk, babe" Danny teased from the doorway.
Steve looked up at his partner and flashed a small smile.
"I was just hoping to get this case over with today. I don't like leaving work undone." Steve said with a sigh.
"Well, I am sure Chin, Kono, and Officer Pouha can take of things until we get back" Danny reassured him.
Steve didn't look convinced. Officer Kai Pouha was going to be "filling in" while Steve and Danny were gone on their "honeymoon". Governor Jameson had approved this fill in. Steve just didn't like having some new person invading his space.
Danny watched Steve's face cloud over.
"Hey, Steven, lighten up. Kai is a good cop. He's been with HPD for over 10 years. Everything will be fine. Chin can take care of things."
Danny was desperately trying to get Steve's mind off of work. They were having their commitment ceremony in 3 days, and then they were off for a week to spend some quality time together. They still had a ton of things to do and Danny had a huge surprise for Steve.
Steve looked up at Danny and realized he was obsessing over something he couldn't change. He stood up and took Danny's hands in his own.
"Why do you put up with me?" he asks softly.
"Because I love you" Danny responded just as softly.
Danny reached up and pulled Steve's head down for a soft kiss.
Steve sighed as they broke apart.
"Only 3 more days" he thought, "then I can have Danny all to myself and in every way possible."
Danny's thoughts were running along the same lines.
The two men stood looking at each other lovingly for a few minutes before they were interrupted by Kono.
"Hey, shouldn't you guys already be gone?" she asked.
"Shit" Danny cursed grabbing his keys and pulling Steve out the door.
"Thanks Kono" he called back to her.
She just laughed and shook her head at the two of them. So much in love, and so focused on each other that sometimes they were so clueless to the rest of the world. She hoped she would find love like that one day.
********************H50********************************H50*************
Danny insisted on driving. Steve was almost pouting in the passenger seat. Not just because he wasn't driving but also because Danny wouldn't tell him what was going on. Danny just grinned. His surprise for Steve was working out perfectly.
When they arrived at the airport, Steve asked curiously,
"I thought your family wasn't coming in until tomorrow?"
"They aren't"
"Then what are we doing here?"
"Just picking up a friend"
Danny's heart was pounding in anticipation. He couldn't wait to see Steve's face.
They walked into the airport, and straight to the baggage claim. The flight they were meeting had already landed and the person they were picking up had already gotten her bag and was waiting patiently for them.
Steve was looking around for someone familiar when he spotted a petite woman with blonde hair. He stopped on his tracks when she turned around.
"Mary" he said breathlessly.
"Steve" she squealed as she ran into his arms.
"I didn't know you were coming." Steve said hugging his little sister tightly.
Danny stood by and watched the brother and sister. Mary had tears in her eyes and Danny was pretty sure Steve did too.
"So, you guys finally got together?" Marry said slyly.
"Yeah, I finally got tired of being chased by this big guy, so I gave in" Danny said teasingly giving Mary a hug.
"Well, let's get out of here. We have a ton of stuff to do" Mary said leading the boys out of the airport.
Steve smiled and thought of how much she reminded him of their mom.
*****************H50************************H50************************
2 days before the ceremony:
Danny and Steve, and Mary had spent the rest of the yesterday and early this morning getting things ready for the ceremony. The men had decided to write their own vows, and Steve was having a particularly hard time with his. He had stayed up most of the night writing and rewriting them, and he still didn't have them done. But he didn't have time to worry about that now! The entire William's clan (sans Matt) was coming in today for the ceremony and to spend some time with Grace. Danny and Steve stood at the baggage claim again and waited for the family to come through the doors.
Jared and Hunter came through first dragging their dad, Robert. Their mom, Bekka followed a little slower and was walking with Leah, and their mom, Janice. Beth, Kevin, Riley and Ben brought up the rear of the group. After giving hugs to everyone, Steve pulled Bekka aside.
"How's the baby?" he asked excitedly.
Bekka laughed at his excitement.
"SHE is doing fine" Bekka told him with a smile on her face.
"That's good-wait, did you say she?"
"Yep, it's a girl" Bekka told him proudly.
"Got a name picked out yet?"
"We have a few we like but no definite ones yet."
Danny noticed Steve and Bekka talking and walked over to his sister. He put a hand on her growing belly and leaned down to talk to the baby inside.
"Hey there little guy. You behaving for your momma?" he asked sweetly.
Steve burst out laughing and Bekka just giggled.
"What?" Danny growled.
Steve and Bekka shared a look, one that Danny did not miss.
"You two gonna tell me what that look was for?" he asked puting his hands on his hips.
Bekka smiled and put a hand on her brother's arm.
"You might not want to call the baby 'little guy' anymore" she told him gently.
Danny thought about this for a moment before understanding finally hit.
"Oh my god, you're having a girl" he said breathlessly.
"Yep. It's a girl" said a deep voice behind them.
They all turned around and Robert was grinning from ear to ear with pride.
Janice came up to the group and looked at all of them.
"Well, I guess they know now" she said smiling.
"Yep" Danny and Steve both said at the same time.
Everyone laughed.
"Come on guys, let's get you all to the hotel, and then we have stuff to do before Saturday" Danny said.
Steve grasped Danny's hand as he started to walk away.
He leaned down and kissed Danny solidly.
Danny looked up at him.
"What was that for?"
"Just because" Steve told him looking lovingly into Danny's baby blue's.
They walked out of the airport hand in hand.
*******************H50**************************H50********************
The night before the ceremony:
Steve and Danny had decided that even though theirs wasn't a traditional wedding, they still wanted to do some of the traditional wedding things. One of those was a rehearsal dinner. They had decide to go to the Hawaiian Hilton Bar and Grill, one of their favorite places. Everyone was having a great time, but Danny noticed Steve had aneurysm face.
"Hey babe" he said quietly leaning over to look Steve in the eye. "What's with the face?"
Steve looked blankly at him and said "I don't have a face."
Danny grinned.
"Yes you do, and it usually quite a handsome one, except when you get aneurysm face."
Steve looked darkly at Danny, then sighed and put his head in his hands.
Danny stood up, took Steve by the arm, and pulled to the bathroom. He pushed Steve up against the tile wall of the bathroom, and got right in his face.
"What is up with you? We are getting married tomorrow more or less. Please don't tell me you are backing out on me. I will kill you if you are." Danny said all in one breathe.
Steve looked at Danny eyes wide and mouth open.
"Wha? No. I'm not backing out. It's just…I can't seem to finish my vows" Steve looking defeated.
Danny let out a laugh.
Steve's face clouded over.
"It's not funny" he said petulantly.
Danny looked up at Steve and sighed.
"Just speak from your heart. I don't care what you say, just as long as I can have you as mine for the rest of my life."
Danny kissed Steve passionately. Steve let out a growl against Danny's mouth.
"God, Danny, please don't do that. I can't stand it. I want you so bad."
Danny chuckled.
"Only one more night then I am all yours and you are all mine" he told him, his voice suspiciously husky.
"We better get back out there to our guests before they think we abandoned them" Danny said regretfully.
"Yeah, ok" Steve agreed.
They walked back to the dinner party. Several toasts, and beers later, they stood outside Danny's hotel room for the night.
"Parting is such sweet sorrow" Steve said trying to hold in a smile.
"What, so now you're quoting Shakespeare?" Danny asked laughing.
"Eh, it sounded good" Steve said shrugging his broad shoulders.
"You had better go. Chin is waiting for you" Danny told Steve sadly.
"Yeah. I'll see you tomorrow?"
Danny smiled and leaned up for a kiss from Steve.
"Of course, wouldn't miss it"
Steve leaned down and met Danny's lips. The kiss was sweet and sorrowful all at the same time. Steve wrapped his arms around Danny. Danny's hand went to the back of Steve's head, and his other arm went around Steve's waist. They deepened the kiss, both wanting and needing more, but both also knowing that they couldn't break their promise to one another. The last week had been pure torture to both of them. Danny had offered to sleep in the guest room or at Chin's or in a hotel to make it easier, but Steve refused to let him. They were going to make their "wedding night" special. And Steve needed to prove to himself and to Danny that he could do this.
They finally broke the kiss, both in need of air.
Danny slowly ran his fingers through Steve short dark hair. He trailed his finger tips down Steve's chest. Steve's breath hitched just a bit, and Danny could tell Steve was getting hard.
"I…I…I better go" Steve stuttered pushing himself away from Danny.
"I love you Danny."
"I love you too Steve."
Danny watched Steve walk down the hall and into the elevator. He turned and went into his room, and sat down on the bed. He felt so lonely without Steve. But he knew that after tomorrow, he would no longer be lonely.
******************H50**************************H50********************
The day of the ceremony:
Steve woke up to the smell of coffee wafting through the air. He smiled as he thought about the events of the day. He glanced at the clock and realized he had plenty of time to get ready. He got up, took a shower, and shaved. He paid special attention to his hair. He wanted to look perfect for Danny. He slipped on the pants Kono had helped him find, and looked in the mirror. They looked good on him. Then he put on the shirt and buttoned it up. He decided to go downstairs and see if there was anything he could do to help.
As he walked in the kitchen, Kono and Mary both let out whistles of appreciation. Steve grinned and kissed his sister on the cheek.
"Wow, big brother, you look good" Mary said smiling at him.
"Thank you" he said sincerely.
"Here, let me help you with something" Mary said reaching for the buttons on his shirt.
She unbuttoned the top two buttons. The openness of the shirt let Steve's chest show just a bit.
Steve looked at her curiously.
"Danny will like it like this" she told her brother.
Steve grinned.
"Anything I can help with?" he asked.
"Nope, just eat breakfast, and relax. Everything is under control." Kono answered him.
So Steve did just that.
Danny on the other hand wasn't quite so relaxed. He was nervous!
"Danny, calm down. You aren't helping. You're going to end getting scalped if you don't sit still" Leah told her brother as she tried to trim his hair. He was getting on her nerves. She did this kind of thing every day, and he was worse than some of the kids she had as clients.
"Danny, stop moving around" she hollered at him.
Danny stopped moving.
"Sorry" he said quietly.
Leah walked around and looked at her oldest sibling.
"Hey, big brother, what's wrong. Why are you so nervous?" she asked.
Danny sighed.
"I don't know. I guess the last time I did something like this, the other person walked out on me 5 years later."
Leah knew Danny was talking about Rachel. She had to get his mind off of her and on Steve.
"Now is NOT the time to think about that" she told him sternly.
He looked at her in surprise. She sounded just like their mom. He gave her a small smile.
"Thank sis."
"You're welcome. Now be still so I can finish your hair cut. Otherwise Steve will think he is marrying Shaggy from Scooby-Doo."
Danny laughed and held still and let his sister finish cutting his hair. Then he showered and got dressed.
At 1015 am the first guests arrived. They were shown by Robert and Kevin and of course, Jared and Hunter to the back yard and down to the beach where there were chairs and an arch set up. Governor Jameson arrived at 1030. She was going to perform the civil ceremony, even though it wouldn't be legal until January of the next year.
At 1045 Danny walked through the front door with the rest of his family. Mary walked up and hugged her future brother-in-law. She then unbuttoned the same two buttons on his shirt that she had on Steve's. Danny gave her a "what the hell" look.
"Steve will like it this way" she told him smiling.
Danny was ushered into the downstairs spare bedroom to wait for the ceremony to start. Grace knocked on the door and opened it slowly.
"Hey Monkey" Danny said bending down to hug his precious daughter.
"Danno, I'm glad you and Uncle Steve are getting committed" she told him seriously.
Danny choked back a laugh. Although sometimes he had to agree with his daughter that Steve needed to be committed, and he himself probably should be for following him into all the craziness.
"Sweetie, we are having a commitment ceremony, kind of like a wedding" he told her gently.
"Ok, whatever, I'm glad Uncle Steve makes you happy" she told him.
He hugged her again.
Janice then stuck her head in the door.
"Ready to go?" she asked.
"Yeah" Danny said breathlessly.
He stood up and took Grace's hand.
"I'm ready."
At 1100 am Danny heard the music start. The song they had picked out to walk down the aisle to was "Watermark" by Enya. As the music played Danny walked out of the room. He watched from the living room as Robert walked Bekka down the aisle to their seats. Then Kevin walked Beth, Chin walked Leah, and Jared and Hunter walked Kono. Then it was Ben and Janice's turn. Janice leaned over and kissed her son on the cheek.
"I love you Danny. Steve is a good man and we are so proud of you both." Ben nodded in agreement with his wife.
Danny's eyes were suspiciously moist as Janice took Ben's arm and proceeded down the aisle to their seats.
"Ready Daddy?" Grace asked her father.
"Ready Monkey" Danny said smiling and taking her hand.
Grace walked her father down the aisle.
Mary was watching Danny and Grace from the stairs and when they got about half way down the aisle, she got Steve from his room.
"Time to go bro" she told him.
They descended down the stairs and got ready to walk down the aisle.
Steve stopped and Mary looked at him surprised.
"Steve?"
Steve took a deep breath and looked down at his baby sister.
"I'm ok. Let's go" he told her giving her a small smile and taking her arm.
As soon as they started down the aisle, Steve looked up and locked eyes with Danny. He didn't even notice anyone but the man he loved. He smiled at the sight of Danny. Danny grinned back at Steve.
Steve and Mary got to the end of the aisle. Steve took his place beside Danny and Mary took her place beside Steve. Grace was standing on the other side of Danny, and Governor Jameson was standing in front of them.
The music ended, signaling the beginning of the ceremony. Governor Jameson looked at both of the men, smiled and began:
"Aloha. I would like to welcome all of you to the commitment ceremony for Steven James McGarrett and Daniel Scott Williams. Their love extends beyond earth, sea, wind, and flame. It is greater than who they are and meaningless without the other. It is more powerful than their pasts, yet the foundation for their future. It has brought them here today to become one in the eyes of their family and friends, for all days to come. Their love is the essence of their lives. They have decided to recite vows that they have written for each other."
She then looked at Danny.
Danny cleared his throat and pulled a piece of paper from his pocket.
"Steven, I love you. I hated you when we first met, and you got me shot that first day." Danny paused as everyone softly laughed, than he continued:
"You drive me crazy, but in a good way, most of the time. You love me for me and all my imperfections. You mean more to me than I could ever tell you."
Danny paused again as tears gathered in his eyes, and one began to roll down his cheek.
Steve gently reached out, wiped it away, and took Danny's shaking hand.
"You love my daughter, and you have allowed us both into your life. I love you with all my heart. You came into my life with such force, and I don't ever want you to leave. My heart belongs to you."
Steve swallowed hard, trying to keep the tears in his eyes from falling.
Danny smiled up at Steve.
"Your turn" Danny whispered.
Steve looked into Danny's eyes. He wasn't sure his voice was going to work. He took a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"Danny, um, I, um…"
Steve stopped and looked at Danny with desperation in his eyes.
Danny smiled and put his hand over Steve's heart.
"Remember, just speak from the heart" Danny whispered.
Steve swallowed hard again. He looked into Danny's eyes and locked onto them.
"Danny, I don't know what I would do without you. You amaze me every day. You love me for me. Even with all my craziness. I trust you with my life, and you know that's not something I do easily. I love you and I love Gracie, more than anything. I know my parents would love you if they were here."
Steve stopped and was trying desperately to stop the tears that were threatening to spill down his cheeks. Danny gave him a small smile and squeezed his hand.
Steve continued, his voice breaking just a bit.
"I know they would love Gracie too. I am glad we met. I am proud and honored to call you my best friend, my lover, and now my partner, in every sense of the word. I love you Danno. I always will."
Steve looked at Governor Jameson and gave her a small nod.
The Governor then continued.
"Danny and Steve, you both have chosen to exchange rings."
She turned to Mary first.
"Do you have the ring?"
Mary handed her Danny's ring. It was the same ring Steve had "proposed" with.
"Steve, please place this ring on Danny's finger and repeat after me. You have captured my mind and soul, and I here commit them to our union. From this hour, may we surrender to one another, completely rejoicing in the power of our new partnership, secure in our own identities, and certain in our bond. I, Steven James McGarrett, take you, Daniel Scott Williams to have and hold forever and always."
Steve looked at Danny, tears now running down his face, took Danny's left hand and slipped the ring on his finger.
"Danny, you have captured my mind and soul, and I here commit them to our union. From this hour, may we surrender to one another, completely rejoicing in the power of our new partnership, secure in our own identities, and certain in our bond. I, Steven James McGarrett, take you, Daniel Scott Williams to have and hold forever and always."
The Governor then looked at Grace.
"Do you have the ring?"
Grace proudly nodded her head, and handed her Steve's ring. His ring matched Danny's. Danny had even had "Never alone, SJM & DSW" engraved on the inside.
"Danny, please place this ring on Steve's finger and repeat after me. You have captured my mind and soul, and I here commit them to our union. From this hour, may we surrender to one another, completely rejoicing in the power of our new partnership, secure in our own identities, and certain in our bond. I, Daniel Scott Williams, take you, Steven James McGarrett to have and hold forever and always."
Danny took the ring from the Governor and slipped it on Steve's finger.
"Steven, you have captured my mind and soul, and I here commit them to our union. From this hour, may we surrender to one another, completely rejoicing in the power of our new partnership, secure in our own identities, and certain in our bond. I, Daniel Scott Williams, take you, Steven James McGarrett to have and hold forever and always."
"Steve and Danny also would like to include another person in this union" the Governor said to the crowd.
Danny and Steve turned and looked at Grace. Both men squatted down so that they were closer to her level. Danny took one hand and Steve took her other. Steve pulled out a delicate sliver chain with a small orchid pendant. He placed it around her small neck.
"Gracie, I promise to love and protect you for as long as I live. Thank you for sharing your Danno with me" Steve told her sincerely.
"Grace, always remember Danno loves you" Danny said softly.
Grace was beaming and hugged them both tightly. Steve held on to the little girl he loved as if she was his own. He kissed her cheek and then stood up. He held out a hand to Danny and helped him up. They stood back in front of the Governor.
She smiled at both men.
"Steven and Daniel, you have both vowed your love and commitment to each other in front of God, your friends, and family. You may now kiss and seal this commitment."
Steve smiled and reached fro Danny. His hand went to the back of Danny's head. Danny put his arms around Steve and met his lips half way. The kiss was sweet and soft, but with an intensity that promised more to come. Everyone cheered and clapped. As the couple broke apart the look they gave each other was nothing more than pure love. They both knew that the best was yet to come.