Rewrite

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Hey guys! Having a good Monday? If you're not hopefully this chapter will cheer you up. So I chose to do a fluffy little filler between the two episodes because the last one was a little anxious and the next episode is going to be a bit of a wild one. But you're going to see a little bit of how far Rowan's reach goes. And then after that chapter we're devolving into utter chaos guys. UTTER CHAOS. But I promise that you guys are going to LOVE how it ends. On an unrelated note… Guys, I've officially finished writing 130 chapters. Guys, this is the longest fanfiction I've ever written, and I'm still writing! Guys this just… this just amazes me! I'm two chapters away from starting Season 5 and if I'm lucky I'll finish writing that season this year! Wish me luck guys!

P.S.: AJ, the chapter your character is appearing in has moved to chapter 130 cause I added an anniversary chapter. Hope that's okay!

Chapter 111

Rowan was not having fun.

Steve was like a kid in a candy shop, but Rowan… Rowan was like a kid in a doctor's office.

They were sitting on their surfboards staring back at the beach Rowan really wanted to be back on. They were waiting for the next swell. Well that was what Steve was waiting for, Rowan… Rowan was waiting for death.

That's what this had been. Death. The ocean had been trying to kill her for hours now, but Steven had picked surfing as his belated birthday activity so Rowan had agreed despite knowing that she was rubbish at this and that at every opportunity the ocean was trying to put her back where she belonged, which was back on land.

"Oh here it comes," Steve said shooting Rowan a big smile. God he looked so good sitting there on his board in nothing but those blue swim trunks. What was she really going to say to him? Well… she had tried, she had asked him to go back to land but he wanted a few more rides.

Rowan tried to be excited for him, she smiled warmly as he glanced over his shoulder to watch the swell. He turned back to her took in both her posture and her fake smile and almost frowned. "This time when you get up try to spread yourself evenly… okay?"

Rowan nodded like she didn't know for certain that this was going to be an epic failure. Still when Steve told her she began to paddle, following his lead, but once the wave crested, she was on her own. Steve flew away from her surfing that wave like the badass he was. Rowan managed to stand for three minutes that time before the ocean swallowed her up.

But this time she didn't bob up like she did all the other times that day. This time, much like her surf hour with Kono on her own birthday, her board popped up but she got stuck in an under tow that was sucking her outwards and downwards. She couldn't get out of it. She was stuck. She was going to drown.

Great… just fucking peachy. What a great way to go. A fucking tragic surfing accident with the man she wanted to make her boyfriend. It sucked that this was how it was going. Not the fucking Chinese spy, the gunshot to the shoulder, the numerous abductions and hostage situations or her copious amount of head injuries. Nope, she was going to be taken out by the ocean.

And then Steven was dragging her upwards and towards the surface. As soon as she broke the surface Steve pushed her traitorous board into her arms so she could float. He roped his own in board in and then put a hand to her back.

"Are you okay?" he asked as she coughed and sputtered.

Rowan smiled at him. "Yeah… uh… I'm fine. Can… can I go back to beach now?" she asked.

Steve glanced out at the incoming waves longing on his face so she added: "You don't need to come with me, you can stay out on the water."

"Are you even good to go back by yourself? You sure you can swim alright? Did you swallow water?"

No, no and yes. But she couldn't say that to him so she just waved off his concern. "No, no, I'm okay," she said.

"Still, I'd very much like paddle back with you, it's the least I could do."

Well… he had a point so Rowan let him paddle her back. She let him help her back to her towel, let him unstrap her from the board. Then she let him sit beside her until he was certain she was okay. Together they sat in the sun, he looking like a beautiful bronzed glistening god while she probably looked like a less glamourous Ariel after she got her legs.

"I'm going to go back out there," he whispered to her. "You sure you don't want to come?"

"I am more than sure. That was not the first time the ocean has tried to drag me down in an undertow. I've learned my lesson. The next time I ride on water, it's going to be frozen and under a metal blade."

Steve kissed her cheek. "Mmm… I'd love to see that. Next weekend maybe?" Rowan just nodded knowing that she probably wouldn't get back on the ice any time soon, too many painful memories, of things she'd lost and things she'd never get back.

Steve picked up his board and ran off looking all sorts of fine and for a moment she just watched him as he paddled out to meet the waves. Damn, that man was fine. And for the current moment he was all hers. At least she assumed he was, it wasn't like he had brought Catherine over, but then again, in the last twenty four hours since agreeing to move in with him Rowan and Steve hadn't been apart.

"Hi… uh… excuse me?"

Well that pulled her right out of her thoughts. Rowan looked up, to find three girls standing above her. All blonde, all in fancy string bikini's staring down at her like she was disgusting. But the leader, the one who had talked to her was smiling at her in the same sort of way that Rowan used to right before she picked apart someone else.

"Hey, quick question… that guy… do you know him?" the blonde asked. She gestured out to the waves where Steve was sitting out on his board, he waved at her and she waved back… and so did the three girls standing above her

Rowan's eyes narrowed her eyes at them. "Uh… yeah… he's uh… he's with me."

The three girls broke out into loud laughter. "Oh honey… a guy like that… there's absolutely no way that he would choose you."

Ah, so this was what it felt like to be Ice Queened. Normally that didn't work, because she was pretty tight lipped about her worries and insecurities, but they had hit dead-on on one of her insecurities. Dead on the mark. Because they had a point. What was a guy who looked like he had been photoshopped be doing with a girl like her?

"Hey! Who are your friends?" Steve asked, jogging up looking like he came straight out of a movie. A board under one arm, all glistening and abs. Damn that was fast. Had he sensed that she needed him and he came back? If so… how nice of him.

The leader of the three girls slid up to him, her hands on his chest halting him before he could get to her, conveniently stepping in between them as well.

"We're lost and she couldn't give us directions."

"Well, Ro doesn't know the area," he said as if that made sense of the situation but made no move to get out from under her hands though he did seem confused by the contact.. "Uh… where are you heading? I can point you in the right direction."

Oh her gentleman Steve, he couldn't see what they were doing. He thought he was just being helpful. She'd bet any money they asked him to be their guide.

"We'll we're looking for Waimea Bay to jump off the rocks," she said.

"Oh… uh… well you're not even on the right beach. That's two beaches over," he said suddenly much more confused and wary.

"Oh no, how terrible," she whined with a fake pout on her face, Steve was no longer smiling, his eyes had narrowed at her officially not buying her bullshit. "Do you think you could take us there? We'd love to have a big strong guide like you helping us. We'd feel safer."

Boom there it was. Pay the girl her fictional money.

Steve's eyes turned to where Rowan was sitting. She couldn't take her eyes away from the display. That plastic looking blonde beach bunny looked perfect next to Steve, like they fit together perfectly. He took in her stare, looked deep into her eyes and then said: "No."

The girl recoiled, her two friends gasped. "Sorry, I'm out with my girl today. But uh… if it's really that scary to you, I could suggest some other activities near-by. There's a waterfall you could hike to. You may like that better than rocks to jump off of… you're uh… not really dressed for it anyway… or a hike… maybe you guys would like to tan instead. More your speed. Have a nice day, ladies."

And with them dismissed Steve sat himself down beside her and together they glared at them until they walked away. "That was weird," he said but it wasn't. She'd be crazy if she didn't notice the stares they got. A lot of people thought the same thing as those girls.

"Yeah, so weird," Rowan blew off because she wasn't going to tell Steve what it was that worried her. They had enough problems as is.

"Are you sure you're feeling okay? You didn't swallow water? Bash your head on a coral reef?" he asked, brushing her stringy red-blonde hair back behind her ear.

"I'm fine Steve," she said. "That you for rescuing me."

"That's what I'm here for," his voice low and husky in her ear as he began to nibble her ear lobe and down her neck.

"Is there anything else you'd like to do today, birthday boy?" she asked. His smile widened in that playful way she adored more than anything.

"Yeah, I'd really like to get you under that waterfall. So dry off, I'll return you're board, we'll put mine in the car and get ready for a hike," he said standing up.

That was not where Rowan thought that would go. Not at all. She thought, with the way he was nibbling and kissing that he'd want to take her home for some R rated fun. Instead he was trying to kill her again. He wanted to take a girl he knew to be the clumsiest thing on the planet for a hike? Was he out of his mind?

Steve kissed her cheek picking up both his board and hers and Rowan blinked her eyes.

Dear god. Sure, she really, really liked him. And, yeah, she really wanted to build a relationship with him and most of the time he made her so very happy, but god, at what cost?

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Danny was in a full out panic by the time Rowan showed up at his place. He was trying very hard not to be angry but what other emotion could he be?

Rachel still wasn't back, opting to stay longer in Las Vegas with Step-Stan and Charlie leaving Danny high and dry and unable to go to Maui with Amber like he wanted to. It wasn't like he could just leave Grace unattended, and though he was angry, he was angry at Rachel, not Grace and he didn't want Grace to think it was her fault.

"What's going on?" Rowan asked as soon as she came into the house. "Grace texted said you had an emergency. I brought over ice cream."

"Ice cream… do you think I… me and Amber are still together!" he shouted at her.

Rowan nodded. "Oh, so not now then," she whispered to herself. Great, Rowan had seen their break up? Really? Thanks Rowan. "I'll just put it in the freezer?"

"Why are you here? I thought you were supposed to be moving in with Steve."

"I am… I did… he's just…"

"Insane? A control freak? Unbearable? Are you unable to co-inhabit with him?"

"No, I've done it before, I can do it again," she reminded him. "No, everything's fine on that front but I'm pretty sure he's trying to kill me."

"What?"

"He took me surfing… then hiking," she said. "The ocean nearly ate me, twice and then I practically fell down the trail on the way back. I have no coordination why did he think I'd like any of that? Anyway I just needed a bit of a break so I said I was going out to do a few errands."

"He's trying to share his interests with you," Danny whispered. He thought it was cute that Steve was trying to do all those things with her and a little bit funny thinking about Rowan rolling down a hill with Steve's frantically panicked face following her trying to save her.

"Okay, guilt trip not needed. I know what he was doing and I appreciated it… and I mean I enjoyed some aspects, like watching him out on the water all glistening and chiselled abs… and the sex was phenomenal…"

"I'm sorry… when did you two manage to…"

"At the waterfall up in Waimea Valley." Great, Danny was never going to go there again. "God if you're going to make that face at me I'll just change the topic. Why don't you tell me what's going on? Grace said it was an emergency, and if Amber is still with you I fail to see what could be your problem. So spill. Mr. Grumpy. Spill your problems so Auntie Ro can find a way to make you happy."

"Rachel's in Las Vegas, I have to stay with Grace, which means Amber and I can't leave for Maui tonight as planned."

"Ah. I see."

"Yeah. Don't know why Gracie texted you, what can you do?"

"Uh… babysit. Duh!" Rowan cried. "When does Rachel get back?"

"Well… she said tomorrow afternoon… but I don't think…"

"Kay, so you go to Maui with Mel… Amber, I got her name that time. Amber. And Grace can stay with me and Steve."

"Are you out of your mind? You think I'm going to trust either of you," he snapped. "You're both out of control. You're a bad influence and he's just a damn nut."

"You wanna go to Maui or not?" Rowan asked hands on her hips as she glared at him.

Danny sighed, he was trapped, and there was no other word for it. The man was absolutely trapped!

"Alright fine," he growled and from behind him came a squeal of utter delight.

"Yay! Girl's night! Girl's night!" Grace cried jumping out from the hallway and bouncing up and down. Oh dear god, poor Steve. "I'm already packed, let's go."

She grabbed Rowan's hand and practically attempted to drag her away. She clocked Danny's glare, knowing right away that he was upset that Grace was more excite to spend a night with Auntie Ro and Uncle Steve than staying with him, but all she could do was smile apologetically at him. It wasn't her fault that she and Steve were the fun Aunt and Uncle.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

It wasn't that Steve was mad. He was just surprised. When Rowan went out on her errand, purposely to avoid going for a run with Steve, even though he promised not to run her too hard or too far, he never thought she'd come back with a child.

Steve hugged Grace and then followed her and Rowan up to the second floor where Rowan put her in her old room. She told Grace to unpack as she opened the windows to air it out, and when she was changed into her PJs they could have cocoa on the lanai together.

As soon as she was back in the hallway Steve was on her.

"Okay… so uh… are you avoiding me or something?"

Rowan turned back to him a confused look on her face. "I don't know how you came to that conclusion when I'm literally moving in with you."

"Yes, and on night two of us officially living together you've brought home a child. Shouldn't you want all the alone time in the world with me? Especially right now? Isn't this supposed to be our honeymoon phase?"

Rowan didn't even bother to look back at him as she made her way to the kitchen so she could start on the cocoa she was famous for. "Okay, for starters we're not married. Secondly I'm moving in with you, there will be plenty of time for alone time. And thirdly… you're reading way too much into this," she said to him with a smile on her face like she thought it was funny. "Steve… I'm doing Danny a favour. Simple. He wanted to go to Maui with Melissa… fuck Amber… I swear to god… why is this so hard for me?" When Steve shrugged, she waved off her mistake and kept going. "He wanted to go to Maui with his hot new girlfriend. Rachel is in Las Vegas is until tomorrow. And we want Danny to be happy… and you know… after yesterday…"

Yes. After yesterday. Yesterday had been a disaster, which was why Steve wanted her all to himself. There were so many things he wanted to do, so many things he wanted to say to her, so many ways he wanted to shower her with affection but he couldn't do any of that now that Grace was in the house.

"So… she's staying a night… right… a single night?"

"Yeah, I return her tomorrow after Rachel lands. We can handle this Steven, us together, between you having to wrangle me and me having to wrangle Wo Fat, we can handle a single 12-year-old. We just gotta keep her entertained."

"Right… yeah… entertained…"

Rowan looked up to him. She must have seen the ashen look on his face because she immediately asked if he was okay.

He was not.

He was worried sick. He hadn't spent long periods of time with Gracie without her friends or her father being around to act as a buffer. Now he was going to having to be more than the fun Uncle Steve who let her get away with everything and did the things with her her dad didn't want to do. What if he wasn't any good at it? What if she didn't like him after this was done. What if he wasn't fun Uncle Steve after this?

Rowan put a hand to his arm. "It's going to be okay, Steve. We're going to be great."

Grace came rushing down the stairs a big smile dawned on her face like Rowan was putting on a mask. "What do we think about s'mores?!" Rowan cried and Grace cheered.

Rowan turned that dazzling smile to him and Steve knew he was going to do whatever it was she was about to ask him. "Can you get a fire started?"

Yes. Steve could do that. Quite easily actually.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

After s'mores and cocoa Rowan let Steve teach Grace how to skip stones against the waves. They came in when it got too dark and they all sat together, Grace between Rowan and Steve, popcorn bowl in her lap and let her pick a movie to watch.

The whole time they were on that couch, Steve's arm rested along the back playing with the tips of her hair, and tracing patterns along the back of her neck and tops of her shoulder blades. For a while there Rowan imagined that this was what it would feel like if she and Steve actually got together and had a kid. This could be the future in store for her.

Which was why she kept glancing at Steve and smiling. He took it as something else. So when they went to bed, when Rowan had changed, making sure to be in the washroom and away from Steve's eyes so he couldn't see the bruises covering her body, Steve was expecting something a little… R-rated.

His hand were under her shirt before she even got in bed, he was already pressing kisses to her, trying to land her lips and missing. Rowan knew that if he started kissing her she wouldn't be able to resist him, but she was too sore and battered to go that far, and she really… really didn't want Steve to know about how badly she was hurt because then he'd worry and he'd want to get her checked out.

Usually it would be torture to try and resist Steve, who knew exactly where to press his kisses and how to move his hands to get her the right amount of turned on, but as his hands skimmed over her bruises it was easy to remember why she didn't want to.

"Not tonight, Steven," she whispered to him and that was it. Steve stopped completely, but now he was hovering over her with concern in his bright blue eyes, concern and hurt.

"Did I do something wrong? Last night? Or this afternoon? Did I… did I hurt you?"

"No of course not… it's just… you know with Grace across the hall…"

"Is that why you brought Grace over? So we couldn't have sex tonight? Why? What am I doing wrong? I mean… you seemed to like it before!"

"For god sake Steven," Rowan sighed trying to keep her voice down lest she woke up Grace. "What the hell is the matter what you? This has nothing to do with you or doing anything wrong. It's more to do with a twelve-year-old girl being across the hall, and knowing full well that our volume tends to be sound breaking when we really get into it and you know it! We got a noise complaint last night! Duke personally knocked on our door! Remember?!"

Steve's smirk returned and he quickly swooped in to kiss her, pressing his body against hers as he whispered: "Then we'll just have to be… very… very… quiet."

Rowan groaned, there was nothing more she liked that feeling him all against her, every inch of him hard against her. His chest… those abs, those strong broad shoulders. Fuck. She wanted to but her body… and she really didn't want to tell him that. She didn't want him to think that she couldn't keep up with his lifestyle. Rowan knew she couldn't but she could work on that… hopefully.

His hands skimmed the bruises again and that time she couldn't hide with the wince from him.

"Seriously, Steve, could you just… not?"

That paired with her wince was enough, it was all Steve needed to be concerned. "Are you okay?"

Well no point lying now, especially when she was trying to teach him to trust her. "No," she admitted. "I think… I unno… I'm just really sore… cause you know…"

"Shit, cause you fell," Steve breathed out. "Okay… uh… well where does it hurt the most?"

"If we're going for honesty right now, my legs hurt the most. I'm way out of practice and stamina so like… they're the maddest at me right now. I'm surprised you didn't have to carry me up the stairs. But… uh… honestly when you touch my sides it really hurts and I've got this tight feeling in my chest…"

Steve was suddenly lifting up her shirt, which, despite Grace being across the hall, caused Rowan to squeak in surprise. She lowered her voice to hiss out Steve's name but he wasn't interested in foreplay but was intently staring at the lyrical tattoo on her ribs.

"I can tell you what it says if you'd like…"

"You've got bruising, looks bad," he whispered instead his fingertips brushing again them softly. Oh… that's what he was looking at. "Does that hurt?"

"Well… uh…. Not really…"

"Oh good," he said carefully pulling her shirt down. "Your ribs aren't broken then. Probably just bruised. If the tightness continues we'll take you to a clinic okay?"

He settled himself down beside her and her hand came up to rest against his jawline, skimming his stubble. Her sweet man worried about her wellbeing. Why was he so good at making her heart flutter and swell? It was like he just knew what to say to her, like he didn't have to try.

"We'll go easier next time… and we'll get you proper shoes…"

"Or we could just not take me hiking," Rowan whispered. Steve's eyes had been closing but they opened when she said that. "Not that I didn't have fun up at that waterfall and the pictures we took turned out great, but... you know... I grew up in BC… I think if I liked outdoorsy shit Steve I'd be much better at it, don't you think?"

Steve must not have realized that she came from the province with the best hiking trailing, skiing, and camp sites, if she didn't do or like that stuff when she lived there it wasn't going to change now that she was in Hawaii. And her saying it now seemed to make it clear to him. "I'm a city girl, unfortunately. But… I'm sure we can find something to do together that we both like… you know… other than sex."

Steve had a strange look on his face that Rowan didn't recognize, but before she could question him on it he had buried his face in her neck, tugging her close to him and sighed like he did when he was ready to go to sleep.

"Okay, well… good night Steven," she whispered into his head. He breathed out a good by against her skin and Rowan couldn't help but smile. This was how she wanted every night to end.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

When Steve woke up Rowan was already out of bed. He knew immediately that she was working on breakfast so he didn't panic. He got up, being sure to put on more clothes then he usually would if it were just he and Rowan in the morning, checked in on Grace who was still asleep and curled up in the bed that used to be Rowan's and then headed down to see what she was doing.

He got to the kitchen, where Rowan was, for once, not wearing a piece of his clothing, but this time was properly and fully dressed. She was also putting together waffles.

"Mmm… no pancakes?" he asked sliding in behind her as she plated the last waffle. One for each of them. He wrapped his arms around her torso and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Rowan turned in his grip to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him solidly. They exchanged brief good mornings before she turned back to her handy work.

"I thought we'd do something different this morning. I'm going to put out bowls of toppings and then we get to choose, I thought Grace might like that."

"Mmm… cute… she'll love it."

"Do you want to start on the bacon or would you rather cut up the fruit?" she asked.

Steve shrugged. "Whatever you want babe."

"Okay let me rephrase. Are we trusting me with the frying pan or the knife?"

Steve turned to her, a knife already in her hand, and his heart leapt into his mouth. For god sake she couldn't walk down a slightly inclined path without losing her footing and tumbling down.

"Yeah, you're going to take the bacon," Steve said immediately, as calm and cooly as he could, taking the knife out of her hand.

There was something soothing about how they went about making breakfast. Rowan made them the bacon, Steve cut up bits of pineapple, strawberries and bananas. And then when Rowan wasn't looking he put out a bowl of chocolate chips and a canister of whip cream right next to the maple syrup. So that when Rowan turned around to put the plate of bacon on the kitchen island where they would be eating, she was surprised.

"Ohh… I like it…" she said and then they both looked each other in the eye and said: "Don't tell Danny."

They broke out in laughter, Rowan wound her arms around his neck again as his arms settled around her waist so he could pull her close. They were about to kiss when Grace's giggles interrupted them.

"Good morning," Rowan said turned out of his embrace to greet her as Grace got up on the barstool to sit down. Steve tried not to groan but instead his own good morning to Grace as Rowan cried: "Pick a waffle and then pick your toppings."

Grace let out an appreciative "Ohh…" and for a moment they were all quiet as they went about picking their toppings and passing them around to one another. Once the waffles were suitably topped, they all sat down.

They were eating for two seconds when Grace said: "Can we do something fun together? All three of us?"

"Uh… I unno, Uncle Steve do you work today?"

"I can call Chin and tell him I'm off. You know, not to bug me unless it's a big case," he said.

Rowan's eyes narrowed at him. "I thought you said you did that yesterday… because of the whole… you know… building thing…"

"Yeah, but I was only planning to take one day off," he said and then caught Rowan's look, the look she made when she was angry and trying to not show it. Her eyes got slightly wider and her nostrils flared. "Uh… don't you have a meeting today?"

"Yea but I can cancel it. I'll just say I have family stuff. Or tell Pete to sell the song without me and text me if anything comes up, we don't really need me there."

"Can we go skating?" Grace asked. No. He'd look like an idiot. It was fine for Rowan's' birthday but not just out on his own.

Rowan seemed to sense his worry about it because she quickly said: "Oh… sweetie… uh… Uncle Steve would only want to watch and we want to do something all together.

"How about we go surf…." Steve didn't even bother to finish that with the way Rowan's eyes bore into him. "Okay, no, or hiking?" When Rowan continued to glare at him his shoulders sunk. "Kay I'm out of ideas."

Rowan suddenly straightened, a huge smile spreading out on her face. "I just had the most brilliant of brilliant ideas!"

And coincidentally that was the one they went with.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

Steve had no problems finding Rowan and Grace a go-karting place. In fact he knew a guy at the best indoor go-karting place in Honolulu… K1 Speed. He and Rowan had so far co-parented quite well. They had managed to share all the duties. They co-cleaned breakfast as Grace got ready. They agreed that Steve would drive to the go-karting place and Rowan would drive back. It was agreed that it would be Rowan's car they took because she had the back seat and because Grace had flat out demanded to be in that car. And when they got to the K1 Speed, since Grace was little they agreed that this wouldn't be like bumper cars and they'd play fair during their races.

The first set of laps Rowan played nice until Steve cut her off and then those goddamn drag racing skills came out of her. He lost every single race after that, Rowan didn't win many, she usually just screwed over him and other drivers to Grace could win instead.

In between the two sets of laps, they shared arcade pizza and sodas, they played some of the other games there. Then they found out that because of Rowan's aggressive driving there had been many complaints and she wouldn't be allowed out on the track again. Steve had been surprised, but Rowan hadn't been.

I swear to god this happens every time I go go-karting.

Well wasn't that something to tell him before they showed up? Grace decided that she didn't want go again if Rowan wasn't coming with her and Steve agreed, so they blew that go-karting stand and this time Rowan got to drive.

Sitting beside Rowan, in charge of the music, as Rowan and Grace sang songs that Steve almost knew the words to, had him feeling all light and happy, like nothing was wrong in the world. How could it be when he had his girl beside him, the Hawaiian sun was beaming down on them, and a light breeze was cooling his body as he listened to her beautiful voice sing to him. He fully understood why Danny was so keen on going on every Sing-Along Grace and Rowan had. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy and undeniably proud to know that almost every song that gave him chills, or made his heart swell with each rising crescendo, was specially crafted by the girl who had his heart and were… most of the time… about him.

Rowan drove them to the Halona Blow Hole, the same place they had their first date. Steve went off to treat them to snow cones and when he got back they decided to sit nicely in the sand together, to watch the waves ebb and flow and to accept the refreshing mist that erupted out of the blow hole.

It was calm, it was serene, it was everything Steve needed out of that day. The perfect resonating harmony to make up for yesterday's distaster.

They were almost through with their snow cones, it was almost time for Rowan to take Grace back to her house when Grace suddenly blurted out: "I really like this. You and Uncle Steve together. I really like it. I wish you could stay like this forever."

Steve and Rowan glanced at each other over Grace's head. Rowan's cheeks went this pink color in her surprise but Steve could only smile at her.

"Yeah, you're right, it's nice," Rowan said turning away from him. "It's even more fun with you here, Gracie."

Grace giggled and pressed a little closer into Rowan's side. Steve wrapped an arm around both of them, and pulled them close to him. For a minute there it felt like this was his family, like he was seeing a bit of his future right then and there. If this was what he had to look forward to, Steve was going to make sure he got there sooner rather than later.

H5O-H5O-H5O-H5O

After going back to Steve's place to drop him off and pick up Grace's stuff, Rowan went over to Rachel's place to drop off Grace.

She had walked Grace up to the door, smiling as Grace ran to hug her mother. Rowan smiled to Rachel too. Rowan hadn't had a lot of contact with Rachel, she knew Rachel didn't quite approve of her influence on Grace but she hadn't flat out forbidden them from seeing each other.

Rowan, who had carried Grace's overnight bag up for her, handed it off to Rachel.

"Was everything alright?"

"Of course," Rowan answered immediately. "Had a nice day out, kind of filled her up on junk food though, not gonna lie."

"That's fine," Rachel said waving it off, and letting Rowan come into the house. "I'm just glad she had fun seeing as Daniel couldn't be bothered to…"

"Hey… he went through something traumatic… and he didn't know you'd miss a plane and stay an extra day in Vegas," Rowan growled. Rachel's eyes bugged out like she hadn't expected that from Rowan.

She smiled nicely at her even though Rowan could tell that Rachel was not impressed with her. "You're right, I'm sorry, that was insensitive of me. Of course I'm glad that Daniel is alright and I am very grateful that you were there to take her in."

Rowan could sense that Rachel was upset. She got the distinct feeling that maybe Rachel wasn't over Danny which explained the way she snapped about his trip. She put a hand to her arm to comfort her and then immediately wished she hadn't.

Rachel yelped at the static shock that hit her and Rowan withdrew her hand immediately but the damage was done she had seen it.

"He's Danny's," she breathed out. Rachel stared at her horrified cradling her arm to her chest.

"What?"

At that moment the second child in the house, Charlie came running in crying "mommy, mommy, mommy," and hugging Rachel tightly. Rowan stared at the little boy, with his mop of blonde hair and familiar eyes.

Oh god. No. this was not a secret she was supposed to have, this was a secret that Rowan couldn't keep to herself.

"He's not Stan's," Rowan growled. "Is he?"

Rachel sent Charlie off and then turned to Rowan, ready to lie to her, ready to throw her off the scent but it was too late. "Now… Danny mentioned that you do this… psychic vision thing but…"

"He's Danny's. I know it, you know it, don't bother lying to me," Rowan snapped and Rachel's shoulders sagged. Great. She couldn't have even bothered to try to dissuade her? "Okay, look. I can't keep this to myself, you understand? Because if I don't tell Danny and he finds out I know he'll kill me. So you have to tell him, and I suggest you do it soon cause little boy is sick. Got some rare blood thing and he's going to need Danny's marrow or something."

"What are you…?"

"No. Don't argue. Don't ask stupid questions. Just fucking tell him. Tell him or I will!" Rowan ordered and then she turned on heel and stormed out. Already her chest was tightening around the secret, trying to put it out and away. With each step she took away from that house the vision got a little bit fuzzier. She didn't want it anyway. She didn't want to be in the middle of this and with any lucky she wouldn't have to be. With any lucky, by the time Danny came back she wouldn't remember the vision at all.