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.
Steve and Danny were up a little earlier than normal for a Sunday; they agreed to attend the 9 o'clock services at the same church as last weekend. Steve fixed oatmeal and fruit for breakfast while Danny helped Grace with her hair. They made it in church with a few minutes to spare.
The same minister preached the sermon. This week, he encouraged the congregation to find some way to make the holiday better for someone less fortunate. A group was going to work the soup kitchen downtown next weekend, and he called for volunteers to join them. They prayed for the troops who would be returning home in December. The minister greeted them again as they exited.
"You know, it's a nice place. I like that they're service oriented." Danny had been unsure if their attendance today was such a good idea, but he was pleased with their experience.
"I like that too. Thanks for coming today Danny. It just seems a nice way to start the week." Steve was feeling a lot stronger today. He was uncertain after the full day yesterday if he would be overly tired.
"I like it here too, but I miss Nana and Poppa. How long before they come back?" Grace couldn't wait until Christmas. She loved the feeling of anticipation on Christmas Eve knowing that something important happened so many years ago. She loved the soft glow all the lights gave everything. She loved the way everyone smiled all the time. Mostly this year, she loved being part of a family with Danno and Daddy Steve. She loved that Mommy and Danno didn't fight anymore.
"I miss them too Grace. They will be here in twenty-three days. I can't wait to see them too." Steve had lived without parents for more than half his life. He didn't want to miss a thing with Mom and Dad.
Steve decided to go for a short run and a swim before lunch. Their schedule for the day was flexible. They wanted to do some holiday baking, but Steve could rest for a bit if he was tired. His muscles protested a little when he tried to push up the speed, but Steve was just so happy to be well enough to exercise again. The water was refreshing after his run; Steve was impatient to return to his full routine.
"You looked good out there, babe. How are you feeling?" Danny and Grace were sitting on the lanai enjoying a cool drink.
"I feel terrific. I think the antibiotics have done the job this time. I'll stop by the lab to get my blood drawn on the way to work tomorrow, so we'll need to drive in separately. I'm fixing pot roast for dinner; what sounds good for lunch?" Steve was drying off taking care to drip water on Danny and Grace before he was too dry.
"Hey, watch it. Oh, I get it. You did that on purpose. I'll get you later for that. I found some Italian sausages at the store. I'd like to grill them out with some peppers and onions. There's some hoagie rolls in the kitchen." Danny's mouth was watering at the thought of the sausages. He has spent over a year trying to find some of his favorite foods. The sausage was a new discovery.
"That sounds good. Let me wash the salt water off and I'll slice the veggies. Will you start the grill?" As usual, Steve's appetite had returned in a big way. He was down from his shower in minutes. Grace came in to keep him company while he worked.
"What kind of cookies are we going to make?" Grace didn't get to help in the kitchen at her mommy's house. She loved working with Danno and Daddy. They always made everything fun, and she liked helping.
"I want to make some seven-layer bars. They have butterscotch and chocolate chips, nuts and coconut, among other things. I'd like to make some oatmeal raisin cookies, and maybe some cranberry walnut cookies. We need to see what Danno wants to make. We can bake another day if we don't get everything made. We'll freeze some until the family comes in for Christmas." Steve finished the veggies when Danny came in.
"We can put those in foil with a touch of oil and grill them with the sausages. What are you two plotting, or do I want to know?" Danny appreciated the relationship between his lover and his daughter, but sometimes it was a dangerous thing.
"Danno, what kind of cookies do you want to make today?" Grace looked innocent enough, so Danny accepted that Grace wasn't getting into any trouble with Steve.
"I want to make sugar cookies. Theyare the kind you roll out and then use cookie cutters to make shapes. We can ice them and put sprinkles on or whatever you want." Danny knew they were a lot of work with not a lot of yield, but he loved making them anyway. "We need to make them first and let them chill before we can roll them. Was there anything special your mom made at Christmas?"
"Yeah, she had this recipe for beer cake. It had nuts and dates and a can of beer. I found the recipe tucked in one of her cookbooks. Do you want to try it?" Steve remembered the unique aroma in the house when the cake was baking. His mother spent a lot of time in the kitchen during the holidays. It was another thing lost when she died.
"Beer in cake? What will they think of next? I think we should definitely make that one. Do you have any other family recipes?"
"Mom had a lot of handwritten recipes. There's one for banana bread and another for pumpkin bread. I even found a cheesecake recipe from my grandmother. I barely remember her." Steve had repressed his childhood for so long. Occasionally, a memory would bubble to the top.
"I love cheesecake; we need to try that one. My grandma always made us a red velvet cake for our birthdays. Did you ever think about how many of our favorite childhood memories are tied to food or our favorite meals?" Danny loved holiday mealtimes at his grandparents. There was so much food and so many people. He missed that so much.
Steve saw the longing in Danny's eyes. "Hey Danno, we'll definitely go back to Jersey next summer. You can see everyone then." He pulled Danny close for a hug.
The ache in Danny's heart eased. Sometimes when he was driving home (when Steve let him drive his own car), he asked himself 'How in the hell did I end up in Hawaii'? Those times were few and far between now. Steve was bigger than life, filling all the empty spots in Danny's heart. He knew that even if he moved back to Jersey, it wouldn't be the same. His life was here now with Grace and Steve.
"It's okay. My life is here now. Now we need to throw the veggies on the grill for a few minutes before the sausages." Danny carried the neat little foil packets to the grill.
It didn't take long for the savory aroma of grilling onions and peppers to drift across the lanai. By the time the sausages were done, Steve was starving. Danny was right about one thing; the results were amazing. He practically inhaled the first sandwich.
"Do you want to slow down babe? Are you doing the eating thing like you did after your deployment? It's okay, but I just want to make sure that I don't get between you and your next meal." Danny remembered the night Steve ate the huge slab cobbler with three scoops of ice cream after eating a large supper.
Steve knew he was busted. "Yeah, I guess so. It's been a while since I was sick like this, but it's mostly the same thing. Anytime I don't eat a minimum amount for more than a couple of days, I overcompensate later. It doesn't help that I exercised before lunch."
"It's okay Daddy. We're just happy to see that you're not sick anymore. We were really worried about you, weren't we Danno?" Grace climbed on Steve's lap and gave him a hug.
Steve returned the hug. It was the best medicine in the world. "Thanks Grace. I didn't mean to worry you and Danno."
"We know Steve. I was impressed that you called the doctor's office to check on your lab work. You asked me to pick up your new medicine, and you didn't even give me a hard time when I took you home. You were a very cooperative patient unlike last year when you were in denial with every injury. We don't mind taking care of you when you don't fight us all the time."
Steve finally had enough food. It didn't take long to clean up. It was time for cookies. Danny pulled out his sugar cookie recipe while Steve set the mixer up. It took a while to make the dough. While it chilled, Steve found his oatmeal raisin cookie. The cookies were baked and cooling when Danny judged the sugar cookie dough was thoroughly chilled.
Steve and Grace watched Danny roll the dough out. Danny asked Grace to pick out her the cutters she wanted to use. Grace selected the Christmas tree, the star, and the Santa Claus. Steve wanted to make the candy cane shape. Danny added the angel shape.
It took almost an hour to cut and bake all the cookies. Steve mixed the frosting and spread the mixture carefully on the cookies when they cooled. He broke a couple of the cookies, so they sampled the 'rejects'.
"These are really good Danno. Great job!" Steve was impressed with the finished product. Grace was in charge of sprinkles. Some had more sprinkles than others, but no one cared. Steve assembled the seven-layer bars quickly; it was an easy recipe.
It was late afternoon when the kitchen was clean. Steve was relieved that supper would be easy tonight. He put the roast in the crock pot after church, and the carrots and potatoes went in after lunch. The scent of the meat combined with the wonderful baking aromas made their house seem like the home of his childhood. Danny was right about the important role food played in some of their best memories.
Danny packaged up the baked goods, designating some for the freezer and some for sharing now. He liked Steve's seven-layer bars. They were a more decadent version of the granola bars. Steve put the finishing touches on supper. They fixed their plates in the kitchen and ate on the lanai. Danny had to admit that he loved eating outside like this. The weather report for Jersey was a cold rain changing to ice and snow. This was much nicer.
Grace took her shower after supper and came down to watch some Christmas cartoons. She watched them every year. Last year, she watched them alone. Tonight she was tucked between Danno and Daddy Steve. She had a bowl of popcorn on her lap and a root beer on the coffee table. The tree lights were the only light in the room, although the outside lights cast a blow in the living room.
It was the end of a very good weekend. She had shopped, and she had baked. Daddy wasn't sick anymore. She had fresh cookies in her lunch sack, cookies that she had decorated all by herself. Grace gave the weekend an A+.
Later, after Grace was tucked in, Steve had the opportunity to show his appreciation to Danny. "I love how you take care of us. You're the glue that holds us together. It's been so long since I've been part of a family; I wouldn't know where to start if not for you. I love you Danno. Only four more weeks until we say our vows. Only four more weeks when we pledge our love in front of all the important people in our life. I love you Danny. I wouldn't change a thing about you. Promise me this will never change."
"I can't do that. This will change, but I think it will be in a good way. There's no happily ever after, but I think we have the possibility to be very happy together. I can promise you that I will do everything within my power to make that happen."
"I promise that too. I will do everything I can to protect you and Grace and the life that we share. However long we have, it will never be enough."
Later, they slept in each other's arms. Their ceremony wasn't for another four weeks, but they already made their vows. Who needed a piece of paper anyway?
