Tani shook her head and laughed as Callie walked off. "She's something else."
"Yeah, she is," Junior agreed. "She's a lot of fun. Super nice."
"And she doesn't mind that you're living here?"
Junior shrugged. "She says it's great with her. It's a big house. She isn't here all the time either—her schedule is almost as crazy as his—and she still has her apartment too. They're not really living together." He shrugged again. "I think they both know I don't have anywhere else to go right now. They're two of the best people I know, Tani. They're both just awesome. They've both gone out of their way to make sure I have what I need, make sure I feel comfortable here…" He shook his head. "Way more than I deserve."
"Well, that's what McGarrett's good at, right? Giving us all way more than we deserve?"
"You tattled on me!" Danny said after receiving a thorough dressing down from Steve while they manned the grill.
"Told you I would," Callie said, grinning. "Who gets to be smug now, Danno?"
"Oh, shut up," Danny groused, swatting at Callie as she ran inside, giggling, to fix the sides to go with the steak.
"Hey," Tani poked her head in the kitchen. "Can I help in here?"
"I think I've got it handled, but I'd love the company," Callie said. "Steve and I did most of the prep this afternoon, so I'm just finishing up a couple of things."
"I've had fun being here today. Thank you for having me."
"Of course! I hope it hasn't been too much for you. The line between work and ohana gets blurred a lot with this group, but it works for them. I think it has always been that way."
"Yeah. The four of them were really close, weren't they?"
"They were, and still are. But you and Junior are a really good fit for the team…and for our ohana. Take it from someone who became a part of this kind of late, it's a little overwhelming. Everyone knows everything about everybody. There aren't many secrets, which can be a little unnerving at times. At the same time, though, that's kind of comforting, too. No pretenses, no images to keep up, just the ability to relax and be completely yourself. And if something happens, if something goes wrong, if you need help in any way—suddenly, there are so many people there."
"I wouldn't mind having that."
"That's good," Callie smiled. "Because I'm not sure they're going to give you a choice."
"Callie, this is fantastic," Renee gushed over dessert.
"It really is," Lou said, helping himself to seconds of the strawberry shortcake.
"Thanks!" Callie replied.
"She's pretty, smart, puts up with you, can cook like this, and never mind what I learned earlier?" Danny commented. "You should marry her tomorrow before she wises up, partner."
Steve smiled, leaning back in his chair and slinging an arm around the back of Callie's. "Tell me about it," he said good-naturedly.
"And you should buy a lottery ticket. Because you, my friend, have fantastic luck."
"I do," Steve said, giving Callie a short kiss.
"Have you set a date yet?" Renee asked. "You know, I directed Kono and Adam's. I'd be honored to help with yours, if you'd like."
"I'd love that, Renee. Thank you," Callie said earnestly. "And, no, we haven't set a date quite yet. Our schedules are…difficult, and a few things have to be coordinated with the Navy and the governor. We're both planning to take a considerable amount of time off. Lot's of moving parts to put together, you know?"
"I can imagine," Renee said, nodding. "With your careers, especially."
"It's fine though. I'm pretty sure he's not going to reneg the offer," Callie teased, bumping into Steve's shoulder. "And he already has the honeymoon planned."
"He does?" Lou said, arching his eyebrows. "Well, now. Where is Mr. Romantic sweeping you off to after you take his last name?"
"A gun range? Coronado? Backpacking in the jungle? A hundred mile trek across a deserted island?" Danny guessed.
Callie rolled her eyes at Danny. "You're hilarious, Danny. Italy. For a month."
"Italy?" Danny said at the same time as Lou whistled and Renee and Tani squealed.
"Everything's all set. I just have to let them know when we're arriving," Steve said.
"Wow, boss," Tani said. "That's awesome."
"How long have you been wanting to go?" Renee asked Callie.
"Oh, no. This wasn't my idea. It was all him."
The group gaped.
"Have you ever been? It's gorgeous," Steve said, acting like this was the most natural conversation in the world. "Callie's never been."
"No, we've never been," Lou deadpanned. "And we're never gonna go. In case you didn't know, I'm a cop. I've always been a cop. Always gonna be a cop. And you don't pay me well enough to skip off to Italy at all, much less for a damn month!"
"Yeah. Sorry about that." Steve wrinkled his nose.
Danny liked to tease Steve about being cheap, and it was true that he was kind of frugal, but he'd been in charge of his own finances since an early age. He knew how to manage money, and he did it well. This was the part of Steve that was easy to forget about—his money. He worked hard. He had been single his entire Naval career, meaning that he lived on base and on the military's dime. He was a SEAL and had been deployed many times, so he'd collected hazard pay in addition to his regular officer's salary. Though it was through an unfortunate event, he'd inherited his house. He'd made a series of really smart investments through the years, had inherited money from Aunt Deb, and constantly bought and sold stock. In truth, he was much better off than any of the rest of them, even though he would never say anything. He knew it, and had no problem giving elaborate but practical gifts or financial help often. It had started with the nights at the hotel for Danny and Grace that very first weekend and had progressed since. "Anonymously" paying for a month of Samantha's college tuition and books for Lou, cheerleading camp for Grace when he knew it was going to be too tight for Danny to swing, the first three months of Jerry's rent to help him get back on his feet instead of ending up homeless, everything he was doing for Junior….and those were just a few examples. He was always doing something, it seemed.
"Where exactly are you planning to go?" Renee asked.
"Venice for a week, Rome for a week, then to the Amalfi Coast," Steve answered.
"Nice," Junior commented.
"Well, I for one am jealous," Renee said to Callie. "You might be just as lucky as Danny says Steve is."
"Oh, absolutely," Callie agreed, touching Steve's thigh under the table. "It definitely goes both ways."
"Hey," Grace said, joining the adults at the table. She wrapped her arms around Steve's neck from behind, leaning over and placing her chin on his shoulder.
"Hey. What're you up to?" he asked.
"Wondering if you have stuff for s'mores," she replied in a hopeful voice.
"Why would I have that?" he teased, making a face. "Those are the nastiest things…"
"First of all, no they're not. You just don't have good taste. And second, because I'm your favorite niece and you always have stuff for s'mores when you know I'll be here," she said sweetly.
"Hm. That so?" he said noncommittally.
"Uncle Steve!" She poked him in the ribs, succeeding in tickling him. He barked out a laugh, jerking away from her.
"Gah, Gracie!" Steve laughed. The rest of the group smiled as they watched the exchange between the girl and the commander. "In your cabinet." She knew where the items would be, but just wanted to make sure it was okay. She'd had her own kitchen cabinet at Steve's house since she was little.
She hugged him tight. "You're the best, Uncle Steve," she said. "And not just for the s'mores stuff." She kissed his cheek. "I love you."
"Love you too, Gracie."
Lou turned to Will. "You know, son, if you ever hurt that girl, her daddy will be the least of your concerns. That man," he nodded toward Steve, "is the one you need to be afraid of."
Will nodded warily. "Yes, sir. I know."