In normal circumstances, Danny would have enjoyed vacationing at the retreat. In all his years, he never thought he'll get the opportunity. Because, see, specialised retreat such as the resort, it was a bit expensive.
As he was sent there to recuperate at the SGC's recommendation, his lodging and all necessary expenses was covered by the centre. At least, the major bulk of it.
Still. Even as unfeeling as he was, that doesn't stop the awe and the stupefied emotions in him as he looked about the place. He'll give credit where it was due.
It was one heck of a magnificent and luxurious resort.
The land was privately owned by the SGC and the retreat was secluded, tucked out of the way from any major towns or cities. It was guarded and gated community in on itself.
The retreat was mainly a villa styled resort, sprawling over a massive hectare of land. The accommodations were spread apart generously and they are either beachfront villa or hillside villa. All of them came with their own private pool. It has around seventy suites in total and the suites itself has a few categories, ranging from one-bedrooms villa up to five-bedrooms reserves.
Don't ask him why the establishment has a five-bedroom villa. He has seen pictures of the place. It's huge!
With land that size, activities and facilities were not lacking and were all complimentary. Activities such as paddle-boarding and snorkelling is pretty popular. Hiking and trekking seemed to be the main attraction, though. As the resort was surrounded by a forest reserve. The place was so wide spread that residence used bicycle to move about. There's also rock-climbing activity available – though Danny is not going to think about that. Casual relaxation such as spa, yoga and meditation… it's all there and you don't even have to set foot outside.
Seriously. It's a secluded community in itself. Any Sentinels and Guides that stayed there won't need to venture out for anything. And the reason the whole place was big enough was so that it won't trigger any boundaries. Or so Danny heard.
Danny's favourite feature about the place, and the reason why he chooses this resort in particular as opposed to the other seaside retreat or the island retreat; was the kid's club. And boy… was it a hell of a kid's club.
It's a huge playground centre all on its own. It spanned two floors and has its own activities and facilities within the club. A massive lagoon style swimming pool dominated the whole place complete with its own pirate ship. Grace would love that! They also have a Lego room, dress-up room, mini-cinema, music room, library, computer room, art and crafts room and cooking room.
Good God…
They don't have this type of luxury back in the day…
As it is a kids only area, naturally, it is overseen by the retreat's staffs while the adults do their own thing. It's their own space to do whatever they want and have as many adventures they can imagine. It was perfect for Gracie.
If he can let Gracie out of his sight that is…
Danny had hoped that with such a big kid's club, Grace will hopefully come out of her shell and start interacting with kids her age. With such a huge play area, Grace won't be bored or lack activities to choose from.
Aesthetic wise, the resort was Aztec inspired. The facade was beige limestone with open walls colonnades and dome-like roofs of silver-grey. It mimicked the resemblance of the softer version of Sentinel pyramid they were famous for, if Danny were to guess. Its serene ambience is perfect for Guides to revitalised themselves. As this was a sanctuary-slash-retreat purely for Sentinels and Guides in need of healing and wellness, it was retrofitted with Sentinel-Guide's high-end grade materials, and it was a luxury that spared no expenses.
To that end, the retreat has its own medical facility, located at its own building near the main building. It has the latest state-of-the-art technology, has a few check-up rooms and a medical wing with its own operation theatre.
Well, the resort was classified as a wellness retreat. It geared towards medical based retreat, which was why it has a more advance medical wing. Along with all the bells and whistles that comes with it.
Danny booked a one-bedroom entre-level villa, but was upgraded to a deluxe one-bedroom sanctuary that caters more to Guides' specification. It was a spacious villa. It has a separate living area with an ample seating and dining area and a kitchenette. Unlike the exterior, the interior was light and neutral tone. Brown wood with beige and white furnishing to match the white marble interior. Only the small pieces of furniture and movables gave the room some black accent. The bedroom pavilion has a super-king-sized bed right at the centre that opened up to the private pool right across it, with a chaise lounge placed at the foot of the bed. The bathroom, opposite to the bedroom, was massive. It has a double wide Jacuzzi tub with its own separate showers and water closet with glass view of the garden on the side of the property. Right beside the bathroom is the closet space. The stone-clad courtyard has a standalone pavilion with outdoor bed besides the pool. And the ten-metre private pool was ginormous!
The whole place boggles the mind, to be honest. Danny felt dwarfed by the sheer size of it.
At least it's still a one-bedroom. The bed is big enough to drown both Danny and his precious baby and still have plenty of room to spare. Even if the pool right outside the bedroom was making him absolutely fearful.
Another problem Danny had with his villa, is the unobstructed and direct access to the beach. Literally, the sea waves were a couple of steps away from the villa's boundary lines. Its close proximity to the ocean was making Danny very anxious. Grace was tiny and she could easily be swept away by the tides!
The whole shindig screams ultra-luxury, unique and exclusiveness. Danny was not used to such extravagant. Especially the premium kind. It was way out of his league. Sure, he stayed at some major hotel chains before, but nothing as fancy or as luxurious that they have their own regional signature mark. Resorts from the SGC's tend to have different aesthetic styles depending on location and type of retreat it was.
Danny was forever grateful that his stay with the retreat were sponsored. The SGC generally sponsor any Sentinels or Guides sent to the retreat, especially under medical grounds. Either it was covered in full or were given at a discounted rate, depending on the sentinels or guides' situation. The medical record that was noted to the in-house doctors also plays a major factor, as it can determined the duration of the sentinels or guides stays at the retreat. For Danny, his stay is fully covered, not just by the SGC, but also by the Alphas of New York. They wanted to make sure Grace had a full recovery.
One may wonder why Danny was busy describing his lodging in meticulous detail. Well, the answer to that was that – he needed a distraction. Badly. There are just so many times he could read the resort's properties catalogue over and over. But he needed something, anything, to take his mind off.
Hence, why he's going through resort magazine and was looking at SGC's other resorts chains. Rumour has it, there's one hotel that's going to be opened somewhere in the desert or the Grand Canyon. It'll be more open concept. Not much privacy considering the topography. However, considering his own Spiritual Animal and its habitat – Danny is actually very curious about it. This new resort is going to be pure indulgence, from the looks of it.
Yes, he needed help getting out of his head. He might feel numbed. He felt cold and depressed. Utterly downhearted, even. That doesn't mean he doesn't worry.
The truth of the matter that Grace's healing was progressive very, very slow. Too slow for his liking. Because of that, Danny's head tended to came up with horrible scenarios. Horrible enough that it's giving him nightmares and making him anxious. What if Grace never talked again? What if her health deteriorated again? What if she died?!
If anything happened to his precious baby, Danny would not survive. It will destroy him. Pure and simple.
And speaking of Grace, at least his Monkey is more relax, now. She still can't be separate from him for a lengthy amount of time, but she doesn't cling to him as desperately. After a week at the retreat, her instinct began to settle. She smiled more and was slowly getting to her old happy self.
Danny thanked God or whatever higher power for those small mercies.
And then one day, Danny woke up with a tingling on his skin and a buzz feeling in the air. A current of something that make him noticed.
It was a distraction, if Danny were being honest. And he doesn't want any distraction when Grace's is going to need him for her convalescence.
. . . . . .
Steve drove to the resort. It was a long journey and it was tiring. But it was better than taking a plane or a helicopter there. The thought of his pups at the airport – with lots of people – makes him felt uneasy and agitated. He did not want his children far from him, let alone having anyone touching or nearing them. So, he drove there.
Once he reached the lobby, the attendants came out and greet him. Even though it's going to cost, he chose to use the Valet service, letting the attendance parked his SUV for him. No way in hell was he leaving his kids unattended pupsprotectminenotfarnearnearnear and frankly, he can't let them out of his sight.
It was a good thing his wolf would look after them if he was occupied.
Ronan and Adrian had spotted the circular fountain situated in the middle of the reception hall, and they wasted no time making a beeline towards it and played tag around it, dragging their sister along. Mira's giggles could be heard loud and clear.
Steve kept his eyes on them even when he supervised all the luggage being unloaded. He didn't know what the hell Aunt Deb and Mary packed for the kids, but their luggage alone was two full extra-large sized suitcases. He had been struck speechless when Mary rolled up with the second suitcase, claiming it's what the triplet needed. He had no clue what's inside it. He knew the triplet's outfits all fitted in just one large bag! Even his own luggage was a large sized duffle bag.
As he was checking-in, Steve saw that his triplets have settled down some and was looking at some of the decorations and display curiously. Their own spirit animals, a Gray Fox kits, manifested and trailing behind them dutifully while his own wolf was not far from them.
While his registration was being process, he can't help noticing a sweet intoxicating scent in the air. It was fairly muted and faded, but it left him tingling and slightly reeling. His sensory was sharpened slightly and he felt electrified by it. It was a rich and heavenly smell. It teased him tantalisingly and it was quite the distraction. He could bathe in that scent and never have to worry about anything.
Steve frowned. He felt like there's something important he should remember. Something pivotal. But for the life of him, he couldn't remember what it was.
Steve shrugged and focus back to the task at hand.
He was at the retreat because he needed to heal. To get his bearings back on straight. His instinct was supposed to calm down after a feral episode. To decompress after dealing with an enemy that was no-longer-a-threat. To stand down after a job well done and mission completed. Instead, because of the threat to his pups and pride, he had become overprotective, possessive and territorial. He felt vulnerable and defenceless constantly that it was affecting him.
His children, blessed them, felt his overprotective nature and understood. And to be honest, they themselves wasn't any better. His pups have opted to follow him around everywhere. Like little ducklings, they cling to him desperately. They've also abandoned their own rooms and bunk down with him.
The problem was, after reuniting with his children at the centre, he couldn't let them out of his sight. Steve had gone defensive and extremely territorial. The moment his eyes lay on them and his pups flew into his arms, he wanted to sequester them into his den. Except, their house was compromised, and that makes Steve even more unhappy. That was before any mentioning of not being by his pups' side were not taken kindly. And God forbid anyone who dared to come close to his pups or looking at them wrong. He doesn't want anyone anywhere near his children. Even accidental touch makes him growling threateningly. A few orderlies have been subjected to his growl and howl treatment and he came close to attacking a nurse for accidentally stumble into Mira. His possessive and clinging behaviour got so bad that the alphas of LA had to give their assurances that all is well and that there are no threats present.
It's why it was suggested to him to take advantage of the retreat.
Steve was taken out of his thoughts – and his discreet cataloguing said wonderful, heavenly scent – by Mira running over, a pretty large-sized shell at the palm of her hand. "Look, daddy. This shell was found on the beach. Can we take one home? Can we? Can we? Please!"
Steve chuckled and hoist her up on to his hip. "Not this one. But if we go for treasure hunt on the beach when tides' down, we might find a few bigger and pretty ones. How's that sound?"
. . . . . .
Danny hummed as Grace took her afternoon nap. They had just got back from a check-up and Gracie was knocked out. As she slept, Danny sang a lullaby. Well, not a lullaby per se. But songs about Faeries. Grace adored Faeries. She used to sing and dance, pretending to be one. Nowadays, Faeries songs are her only preferred songs that she would beg him to sing.
As he sang, his awareness expanded. Bathing the whole area around him with peace and tranquillity.
It was suggested to him as part of Grace's healing process was for him to strengthen his connection with his baby. In essence, he was to feed their bond with his natural Guide's mystical ability until Grace's link no longer fractured or strained. Something like smooth out the cracks and strengthened the foundation, if you will. He was to do it at a slow and steady pace so he didn't overwhelm them like he did before. Once his Monkey's link is healed completely, and she felt safe and secured again, her own natural Guide ability will be strong enough to heal whatever left within her subconscious. In theory, she should be able to talk again.
At least that's what Danny had been strongly believed.
The best way for him to feed their bond was by singing. With Grace asleep, the calm and tranquil ambience will rejuvenate her.
From the corner of his mind eyes, there was an anticipation in the air. It has been going on since he woke up and as time went by, the feeling slowly grew. An excitement that puzzled him and somehow, it left him breathless.
He didn't know why. All he can grasp was that something is coming. And Danny's not sure if he's ready for it.
. . . . . .
Steve looked around to the massive three-bedroom suite, bewildered. He knew that the multiple bedrooms suites are spacious but this is monstrously huge. He wanted to take the two-bedroom suite originally, but was persuaded to take up the three-bedroom reserve instead. The suite was very gigantic. All open space and what-not. The only good thing about this villa is the bedrooms are near each other, practically side by side. The master suite is its own pavilion, with the master bathroom attached. It was practically its own wing. The other two bedrooms are beside the master suite. The second bedroom is larger with a king-sized bed with an open floored bathroom. The third and final bedroom are smaller, with a queen-sized bed and a decent sized bathroom.
Looking at the bedrooms, he knew that the third bedroom won't likely being used. Since it has an adjoining door, that room will likely serve as luggage room. The bed in the second bedroom is big enough to fit all three of his pups comfortably.
Then, there is the huge pool. And he does mean huge. Twice as wide as it was long. Easily fifteen metres. His pups will be happy with that feature alone.
Steve looked out, wondering where his hellions at. Upon seeing them, he groaned before ended up sighed exasperatedly.
All three of his pups have already shed their clothes and swimming in the pool in their birthday suit! Swimming expertly, wading through the water like the water babies that they are. If he didn't know any better, he'd say his pups were part fish.
Steve chuckled quietly to himself, shaking his head at the absurdity of his thoughts and bemoaning to a lost cause of trying to teach his children some modesty, without any success, might he add.
Steve stepped out to the patio and looked on to his three wayward children with a faux gruntled look, complete with arms folded on his chest. "What did I tell you about swimming out in the open, pups," Steve drawled, amused.
"No nude," they parroted dutifully.
Steve eyebrow raised and he felt a smile was beginning to form on his lips. His pups can be mischievously adorable little ones. "Uhuh… and why wasn't I obeyed?"
"But, daddy… you said no swim naked in the sea. You said nothing about in the pool," Adrian pointed out from where he was swimming, frog-style. He gave up swimming in that style and plunged deep underwater, chasing after his sister, as they started an underwater-tag game.
Steve could have sweat dropped. They had this conversation plenty of times. To his chagrin, his children have the tendency to swim without their swimsuit. All three of them. They would shamelessly shed their clothes and jump in to the private pool they own back home. Granted, nowadays, they do swim with swimsuits on, but if they can get away to swim without? They'll take the chance in a heartbeat.
Case in point – they arrived at their accommodation, and the first thing his kids did was jumped into the pool, stark naked.
By the looks of it, it was pointless for him to try to tell them otherwise. They got his stubbornness after all, with his intelligence and his sass to match. It's no wonder Aunt Deb and Mary found it totally hilarious. "At home is one thing, pups. We are at a hotel. We can't be naked whenever we feel like it. What if someone passes by?"
"Who's going to pass by, daddy?" Ronan chipped in, "We have tall walls and in front of us is the beach. And the yard is huge. The neighbours are far away." Ronan said, pouting. He yelped when his siblings nudged his foot unexpectedly. Mira waved cheekily at him from beneath the water, and Adrian was no better as he keeps tugging at his twin brother. Playfully pulling as he swam by. Ronan growled before diving in after his siblings.
"Yeah. Yeah," Steve sighed again.
Like he said, it's a lost cause.
That said, Steve decided he might as well join his pups and have fun. He took off his shirt and jump right in. There's epic water battle to be had and his pups have yet to defeat him. They were interrupted last time. Therefore, the pups were eager to settle the score.
. . . . . .
Danny sat at the beach chair as he watched Grace played in the water with her dolphin calf, an Indo-pacific humpback. Her spirit companion. A small little thing nearly the same height as his Gracie. At four years old, his baby is small for her age.
Her animal manifested when she was admitted to the SGC's Medical centre. Grace's dolphin whistle woefully as the staffs examined her and it was so heart-breaking that they had thought they might have lost his baby. It had spooked Danny so much that he wished he hadn't heard the nurses talked about that little detail.
It was the reason why the SGC insisted on him and Grace to be at the coastal retreat. Grace manifested her spirit animal early. It was the effect of her fighting for her life that propel her gifts to surface so soon.
For that alone, Danny felt bitter towards Rachel. Indefinitely.
Danny was brought out of his dark thoughts, by the pitter-patter of little feet's running on splashing water. The sounds of giggling and shrieking of laughter followed after. Turning his head aside, Danny saw three kids, no older than his Monkey, twin boys by the looked of it was chasing after their sister, who was sprinting ahead of them and evading her brother's grabby hands expertly.
The sound of newcomers caught Gracie's attention and she eyed them warily. She hugged her dolphin tighter to her when one of the boy's successfully caught their sister and they all stop right by Grace.
"Hello!" The three of them chirped in unison. All three have a big grin on their faces. Grace blinked up at them and she grinned shyly back. It was adorable.
"Hello there," Danny greeted the three kids as he walked over. "I'm Danny. And this is Grace," He introduced. Danny casually looked around and seeing no one got Danny frowned. While the resort prided themselves for its ultimate privacy and undisturbed stay, there's hardly anyone for miles. To leave the little ones unattended was just asking for trouble. "You here alone? Where are your parents?"
The three kids open their mouth in tandem and was about to reply when a voiced called out in alarmed, "Ronan! Adrian! Mira!!"
Danny turned and saw a tall, dark-haired man running toward them at top speed. Seeing the likeness to the three kids, this was obviously their father. The kids were a spitting image of the man.
He must have come from one of the villas further out. The villas were spaced apart by substantial amount of distance, for the comfort of sentinels and guides. And his abode, being a sanctuary that was generally for guides, was nowhere near the resort's main square.
As the man drew closer, Danny's breath hitched, enthralled. The man was stunningly gorgeous. Tall, tan and athletically muscular, he could be anyone's wet dream. Dude was fucking sexy. He was a seduction in an alluring package. The man smiled briefly, relieved to see his kids unharmed no doubt, and that smiled told Danny just how boyish and charming this other person could be. He was cute!
Danny was in trouble. The man should be illegal. Danny should arrest him just for being irresistible and undeniably hot. Especially when he slowed down and Danny saw two shoulder tattoos that are proud displayed by the wife beater shirt.
Yep. He's done for. Danny always has a weakness for shoulders tattoos.
And lastly, those eyes. He has a mesmerising, gorgeous eyes. Beautiful sea green that was wide and expressive. Very expressive. It holds unfathomable depths that hinted the hardship that the man might have seen.
Danny could get lost in those eyes…
Danny doesn't realise it. But the atmosphere that surrounded them was calm and tranquil and quiet. The itch and pressure that he has been feeling for the past few days has finally evaporate. And for the first time in his life, Danny felt everything was bright and crystal clear. Like fresh air after the rain. The cool mornings with a scent of heavenly brewed coffee. A kaleidoscope of vibrant, luminous colours with a mesmerising centre that just drew him in. It filled him with feelings of extreme elation, delight, joy, contentment and fulfilment – like the ones he read about when meeting his fated and destined one for the first time.
Danny's jaw dropped.
Oh.
Oh.
Oh my god!
From the dumbfounded look on his face, the shock and wonder clearly seen in those exquisite eyes, the Sentinel felt their connection that was beginning to form too. Said Sentinel stood a few breaths away from him, looking all over him in awe.
Danny couldn't breathe. He didn't dare to breathe. He had never imagined he would meet his Sentinel. Here of all places!
"Guide," Steve voiced reverently, intoned with the aged old ritual.
"Sentinel," Danny acknowledged breathlessly.
. . . . . .
"And that should do it," said the in-house resort's medical personal. She took the syringes that she injected both Steve and Danny with and disposed them in the bin.
It was a shock to both Steve and Danny for them to meet their fated match on the retreat of all places. Once they have acknowledged the other and had started the initial imprinting, they quickly make way to the resort's medical wing in hopes to stem off and put the bonding on hold. With each have their kids, it won't do for them to retreat to the bonding suite at once. They need to make plans after all…
The check-up didn't last long. It was the routine procedure to ensure they're both healthy and clean as well as monitoring how far the initial imprinting had progressed. It had spook them a little when they were told that the bond was accelerating, likely because the reason for them to be at the retreat in the first place. Because of the bond forming rapidly than the norm, medical shots were administered to Steve and Danny to slow them down.
With the additional help of a ring, an invention that was created by a special kind of metal imbued with some energy that neither of them ever read extensively into; it will hopefully put their bonding progress on hold as long as they wore them.
"Everything seems to be in order," The resort's doctor murmured. "Is there anything else you would like to ask while you're here?"
"Can I wear this ring long term? Will there be any side effects?" Danny asked as he twisted the ring that he wore in their middle finger.
"The rings were design to be a temporary stopgap, Guide Williams. Certainly not more than a week or two tops. You will feel imbalance though as the bond will naturally try to complete itself once it started. It might weaken your psionic healing ability treatment that you have with your daughter for the duration, and you'll likely feel like putting more energy into your bond. But I would advise against it as that might trigger your newer imprint with your Sentinel instead. Other than that, that's it."
Danny bit his bottom lip. He was not happy that his healing treatment with Gracie might be impeded. His baby's healing was important!
"What about the wristband I heard so much about?" Steve voiced beside Danny. A similar ring adorned his finger. "It has the same material and same metal effect, if I'm not mistaken."
"That one is for longer period, Sentinel McGarrett. But the effects of the wristband is far heavier and for those that doesn't have intention to bond. Or reserve for emergencies and extreme circumstances. Such as death of a mate," Both Steve and Danny paled horrifyingly at the thought. "It is use as a last resort. It is not suitable to use that in your case." The doctor replied. "The day you decided to bond, you'll need to come in for a check-up. The staff will take you to the boding suite from here."
Danny and Steve eyed each other. Danny's eyebrow rose inquisitively. Steve shrugged. "I guess that's all the questions we have. Thank you, doc."
"Well, that's that," Danny muttered as they left the doctor's office.
Steve sniggered in agreement. "Yeah. I never would have thought of running into you when I woke up this morning."
"Who does? No one does. That's why it coined fated meetings so much." Danny told him, hand waving as he stressed his point.
Steve and Danny reached at the children's playpen where they left their kids under the watchful eye of the receptionist. And the sight that greeted them melted Steve's heart and nearly send Danny to tears.
Grace was surrounded by the triplets. They were playing with the blocks. From the looked of it, they're building a castle. A tall and wide castle. It was obvious that the boys included Gracie and let her place the block as she put the triangle block gingerly at one of the towers. Their sister was obviously the mastermind behind the design as she and Grace was sharing huge grins as they contemplate where to put the next block.
"Danny," Steve murmured quietly. His thumb gently rubbed a stray tear from the corner of Danny's eyes. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing… I'm just… it's nothing…" Danny told him, eyes still not leaving the kids.
"Something's wrong with your baby girl, isn't it," Steve stated knowingly. "That's why you are using your Guide ability. To heal her."
Danny was silent for a beat or two before he nodded. "Stupid ex-wife and her attempt at bond interference and hardcore bond severing," Danny explained sadly. There was no reason for him to hide it from his soon-to-be-Sentinel. Steve's eyes widened at that. "Grace can't speak as a result. She can speak… it's just… psychological trauma." Danny gulped, trying so hard to burst into tears. "Her Guide link was fractured. It nearly shattered. She was would have been dormant, at the very least. But… Grace and I have always been close, yeah. My baby is my world. She bonded with me better than her mother. With how aggressive my ex tried to come between us… Grace would have died. My baby nearly died!"
Steve pulled Danny close to him and lay a kiss at the distraught blonde's temple. Fierce protectiveness rose deep in his chest. He won't let anything happen to his Guide and his daughter. There wasn't any doubt that he'll be there for them every step of the way. Whatever his Guide needed from him, he shall have it. "Then we will help her get better," Steve said with certainty.
Even when their bond is forestalled, Danny can feel the sentinel's conviction and full support. It vibrated unhindered and thoroughly. It left him off-kilter and a balm on his wounded soul.
Danny nearly loose it right then and there.
. . . . . .
The next couple of days were spend with each family getting to know the other. Now that the McGarrett's family knew where Danny's suite was, the triplets frequently came by for Grace to play with them. Grace lightened up when she saw the triplets every time. And they would either swim in the pool or play at the beach in short order.
Steve and Danny will spend those times talking. Danny would find out that Steve is already a Lieutenant Commander for the Navy, despite being younger than normal to achieve that rank. And Danny will regale Steve how he's the newly minted Detective of New Jersey's Police Department, specifically Major Crimes. Steve, unfortunately, doesn't have much to talk about of his immediate family outside of his Aunt Deb and Mary. Danny regaled and wax poetry about his parents, siblings, cousins and his Italian maternal grandparents.
They have also integrated their day together. In the morning, Danny and Grace will drop by at Steve's humongous villa before they headed to breakfast together. Afterwards, it'll be whatever planned activity or activities they have for that day.
They started off with casual activities. Steve invited Danny and Grace to go cycling with them. They would spend the day touring the island and sometimes went to the beach on the far, opposite end of their accommodations where one of the more secluded beach clubs was situated. They usually make a picnic out of it.
They did hiking one afternoon. Just a leisure stroll that would take them to a picturesque spot. It's not Danny's cup of coffee. It's hot and humid and it's sweaty! But the McGarretts were having the time of their lives. It was obvious that outdoor activities were a thing for Steve. While Steve carries the bag packs of necessary essentials, the triplets didn't wander away from their dad, always within eyesight. And sometimes, they climbed all over the man, just for the joy of being carried. Steve still hiked with ease. Even with three added attachments on him! Grace likes them too, even though she was strapped on his back and was eyeing everything she sees in wonder.
And then Steve broach the subject of Rock Climbing that one time. The word was enough to make Danny's blood frozen. Gods above… Who thought letting Steve loose was a good idea? That Neanderthal was happy at the thought of facing certain death via plummeting. Of all the activity, he chooses the one that has a potential for disaster?! Danny voiced his opinion, loudly, and he refused to participate on that activity.
"No, Steven. I am not going rock climbing with you. Or doing any rock climbing, ever. You know how dangerous that is? What if the rope snap? What if you miss a footing? What if your hand grip wrongly or got bitten by a snake or whatever?! I tell you, my idiot adrenaline junkie friend – you'll be dead on the ground. You'll fall to your death. And where will we be without you, huh?" Danny argued passionately. Hands on his hips and his jaw jutted stubbornly.
"It's not that dangerous, you know. It's in a controlled environment. There's protective measures and device are in place. It's fine." Steve said placatingly. A bit sheepish and he found Danny endearing. He wondered if Danny knew how cute he was when angry.
Danny's eyes narrowed "No, it's not fine. We are not entertaining rock climbing. Ever. Nope. Hard no. Don't even think about it."
Steve snickered. He can't help finding Danny's reaction amusing. Danny wasn't done yet. "And you will not – in any way shape or form – take the children rock climbing. I might allow indoor rock climbing at some sport centre, but there won't be any actual cliff climbing!" said Danny with a snit.
Steve had to take a sip of his drink, lest he burst out laughing and hurt Danny's feeling. Danny in a snit is too adorable for words.
Despite how much Steve adored teasing Danny, he'll give his Guide a break. No rock climbing in their future. Got it. Which was a bummer because Steve wanted to take Danny to places.
Fortunately, or unfortunately in Danny's humble opinion, their favourite pastime – at least when they don't have anything planned for the day – was snorkelling and or swimming.
One thing that Danny was miffed with Steve about – he wished Steve would have warned him that his kids were swimming prodigies since birth. Because when Danny found out, first hand, about it… He nearly had a heart attack!
The first time Danny seen them swimming in the pool, he thought they all already at Davy Jones' Locker as they were swimming without hand-floats and were completely underwater. They were submerged at the bottom on the deepest end, floating lazily from below. His legs had given out and he can't stop shaking in panic. That was the very first time Steve was subjected to a Williams-patented rant freak-out. Ranting vehemently, hands waving and flailing and pacing up and down restlessly in agitation.
"Steven Jack McGarrett, you stupid motherfuckin' a-hole!" Danny cried out in distressed. Tears of frustration was building up on his eyelid and he can't stop pacing, too jittery, too emotional to even stood still. He was absolutely livid with the lughead-of-a-sentinel that he wanted to cry. "Will it kill you to warn me that your kids are swimming experts since the moment they were born? I bet you taught them to swim before they were even six-months old. How long can they hold their breaths underwater, huh? One minute? Two? Three? Five maybe? I need to know this shit. I need to know how skilled they are, what they like to do and what I need to look out for while they swim!" Danny exclaimed in a controlled manner, so not to alarmed the children playing by the pool, wiping his eyes from the stray tears than ran down his cheeks. His fear was palpable. "Do you have any idea how scary it was when I saw your pups so still in the water? They were drifting leisurely at the very bottom. Not moving a single limb! I thought they fucking drown! Had I not realised their arms were paddling the water, I would have –" Steve had to snatch Danny up and pulled him into his lap. He whispered apologies over and over and cuddling Danny snugly as he worked to soothed Danny's fear. It took some time for Danny to quiet down and they continued to watch the children swimming happily.
They didn't go out at all that day. They spent the day calming down and relaxing at the McGarrett's suite and ordered in their meals. Steve was contrite enough for his hindsight, that he went out and practically bought all the chocolates and assortment of sweets from the resort's Chocolate-House. Danny still haven't forgiven him for that.
Nevertheless, Steve did take them snorkelling at a coral reef. By then, Danny already knew what to expect. And without the fear clouding him, he was very impressed. The McGarrett triplets swam around like guppies! One minute they're in front of him, getting ready and wearing the lifejackets, hand-floats and buoys in hand. Next thing Danny knew, they were already in the water, legs paddling in speed, faces submerged behind their vibrant-colourful goggles as they eyed the fishes and corals below. They were the epitome of water babies. Steve's influence, there's no doubt about that. Grace was no better! At least her spirit-dolphin was by her side to keep an eye on them. Danny couldn't take his eyes away from the kids!
At least now he understood why his Sentinel named his kids with sea-themed names. Literally. They all – his Monkey included – embodied the water elements one way or another. His putz of a Neanderthal-Sentinel can't stop beaming with satisfaction when Danny remarked upon it!
Having said that. Danny enjoyed the Light-and-Easy days the most. As in, those were the days where they just relax and chill, or sign-up for less strenuous activities.
Danny's favourite by far was the Art Class. They signed up for the art class at the kids' behest – and enjoyed them immensely. The pups plus Gracie loved finger painting. They made a colourful mess and there's paints everywhere! Not only on the canvas, but it has made their way on cheeks and hairs on five children. Yes, five. Steve has suspicious amount of watercolour on his hair. Even Gracie was not exempted and Danny knew full well it's Steve's fault. He has pictures to prove it!
Surprisingly, Steve was very good at Charcoal based painting. The picture he drew of the four kids while they were occupied, was the one drawing that Danny will cherish for the rest of his life. He's in the process of persuading Steve to frame that picture. No joke, it deserved to be immortalised. No words he could describe would have done the painting justice. Danny's trying to persuade his Sentinel to draw the same picture on a bigger canvas. Sadly, It's still a work in progress.
Then, there was that Yoga Class. Confession time – Danny signed him and Steve up as a joke. It was a retaliation to all the extreme outdoor activities that Steve drag him into. So, Danny thought, he should drag Steve into one in return. Being fair and all. Now, he was no expert. He doesn't even like yoga. Meditating was more Danny's speed. But seeing Steve stumble with the steps a bit was fun to watch. Definitely worth it.
And if Danny spent the majority of that time blatantly ogling Steve's behind in that tight, tight pants – was no one's business but Danny's, thank you very much.
Last, but not least, was the dance class….
It was totally the kids' fault. Danny will say it again – it was definitely the kid's fault. The kids wanted to learn how to dance like the prince and the princess after watching Beauty and the Beast. And in the face of four sets of puppy eyes, it was impossible to say no. Neither Steve nor Danny knew there was even a dance lesson offered. Apparently, they do.
So, they had a dance lesson. Where the kids had lots of fun swaying and twirling with the music. Giggling and laughing as they all were lost in their own childish imaginations.
Steve and Danny took the lesson too, just for the heck of it. The only thing that makes Danny unhappy by the amount of grumbling he did under his breath, was his unfortunate fate of being the female position. He has nothing against it, okay. It's just weird doing it backwards.
But Danny doesn't have to do much. He ended up having so much fun in the end. Because surprisingly, Steve, his Sentinel, knew how to dance. And he most certainly can lead.
The problem was, now Danny has intimate knowledge on what's it like being in Steve's arm…. His firm, muscled arms! As they danced…
Gods' help him…
And that was pretty much it. It was just them getting to know each other. Despite not jumping into the bed immediately, both Steve and Danny found themselves looking forward to their Bonding. All that is left was making preparations. The most important thing to arrange, was getting a sitter for the children.