Disclaimer – I don't own Hawaii Five-O. If I did, Steve McGarrett would be shirtless all the time. And they wouldn't be covering up any of AOL's tattoos. I'm just toying with the characters for a while.

Three and a half months ago, Claire's birthday

"So this silver Porsche comes flying around the corner barely on two wheels, skids to a stop in front of me leaving smoking tire treads on the pavement and there's Claire behind the wheel yelling at me to get in! She takes off like a bat out of hell and I'm thinking, she's supposed to keep us OUT of trouble, not get us in more…"

"Which," Danny started before allowing the laughter to die down a bit, "she didn't, and why, babe, because she then…"

"Flips on a set of police lights that this guy," Steve explained with a wide grin, pointing the top of his beer bottle at Danny, "gave her for 'emergency situations'."

"It WAS an emergency situation!" Claire countered through her laughter.

"Yes, it was, sweetheart, my life was danger," Danny added, rubbing his hand down her back.

"It most definitely was," Steve agreed with a nod, "but I'm riding shotgun while she's doing 120 mph down I-1, in traffic, I might add, and my life is flashing before my eyes!"

"You're just jealous that a girl can out drive you, McGarrett!" Claire interjected before dabbing the tears that had formed in the corner of her eyes from laughing.

"Ray, I know Danno's told you he fears for his life when I'm behind the wheel, but I gotta tell you, I've got NOTHING on your daughter," Steve continued. "If she decides to give up law, she's got a future in stunt driving!"

"And this all happened in my car?" Claire's father asked, trying his best to look horrified despite the chuckling he couldn't control. "Who taught you how to drive like that?"

"YOU did!" Claire exclaimed.

"We're surrounded by cops, sweetheart, that was supposed to remain our little secret, but I appreciate you outing me there," Ray teased.

"You're very welcome," she said happily, balling up her napkin and throwing it at him. "There was not a scratch on your baby when you got home, I might add!"

"It just had a few layers of rubber missing on the tires!" Chin added.

"When I said 'baby', I meant me, not the car!"

"And I was fine, by the way," Danny interjected, "just in case you were wondering." He caught the napkin ball Ray tossed at him and threw it at Steve, who batted it away with his hand, sending it flying in Kono's direction.

"Pop, are you gonna teach me to drive like that?" Claire's son Cooper asked.

"NO!" came the unanimous answer from the entire table.

Steve glanced across the table at his best friend and smiled. Danny had never looked happier than he did tonight, alternately watching Claire and Grace share a piece of birthday cake and focusing his attention on a game Cooper was playing on Danny's phone. Steve was happy for Danny, thrilled that he'd finally found the happiness he so deserved.

But he'd been fighting an attraction to Claire for months. Some days it was easy, some days difficult. Steve had always been fascinated by challenging women, and Claire Ellis was definitely a challenge – an enigma really – terrifying in a courtroom, tough as nails in front of a judge, irritatingly sarcastic while arguing with Steve. But insanely protective, immensely loving, compassionate and almost delicate around Danny, their kids and friends.

He kept telling himself he only had feelings for Claire because he was lonely. Catherine had been gone for months – stuck on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the Indian Ocean. His attraction to Claire was illogical…wrong…and maddeningly persistent.

The night wore on, the group sharing stories and robust laughs. Soon, Grace fell asleep in Claire's lap and Cooper was fighting a losing battle to keep his eyes open. Danny stood and took Grace from Claire, then nudged Cooper to stand and head into the house. "Say goodnight, Coop," he instructed, carrying his daughter. "Night," Cooper said with a massive yawn and a wave of his hand.

Claire and her father stood from the table and began carrying plates into the kitchen off the pergola covered lanai where Claire's party was held. The remaining guests followed suit, depositing their plates on the island before wishing Claire happy birthday with hugs and kisses, then bidding farewell for the night.

He found her alone in the kitchen as he carried the last dishes in, leaning against the counter, swiping her finger through the frosting on her leftover cake. "I saw that," he said playfully.

She cocked an eyebrow at him. "It's MY cake." She turned from him and stuck her finger in her mouth to lick the frosting off while opening the refrigerator with her other hand. "You want another beer?" she asked, hidden behind the massive stainless steel door.

"Sure," he answered, leaning his forearms on the island, watching her.

Claire shut the door and caught him staring. He stood straight as she tossed the can at him, catching it easily. "Don't look at me like that, Steve," she said with a sigh.

Steve's brows knit in confusion. "Like what?" he asked gently.

Her tone was clipped, tight and angry when she answered. "Like you…" she began before being interrupted by Danny coming down the back staircase into the kitchen. She turned away from Steve and busied herself pouring dish soap in the sink.

"Neither kid brushed their teeth, babe," Danny explained, heading to the refrigerator to procure a new beer for himself. "I was afraid they'd regain consciousness if they didn't go right to bed."

Claire laughed. "Don't let me forget they'll both have some serious dragon breath in the morning."

"No breathing in Mom or Dad's direction till Listerine has been sufficiently gargled. Note taken and filed for the morning," Danny added. He sidled up to Claire and wrapped his arm around her waist. "Did you have a good birthday, Baby?"

She turned and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Best yet," she answered with a bright smile.

"I'm gonna head out," Steve said as Danny leaned over to place a chaste kiss on Claire's lips. Danny broke the embrace with Claire and hugged his partner. Claire pulled the sweater covering her long sundress tighter before engaging Steve in what was, at best, a tense hug. "Happy Birthday," he said quietly, kissing her on the cheek before she quickly pulled away and turned her attention to the dishes on the island.

He strode through the house Claire shared with her father and Coop, glancing at the pictures and portraits that lined the walls, finding more of Danny, Claire and the kids than the last time he'd been in the house. He stepped up into the cab of his truck and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. Reading the display, he realized he'd missed a call. Catherine.

TBC…