Hi everyone,

Sorry for taking so long to update. I had some other inspiration for stories and had a little writers block on this story.

Enjoy.

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Chapter 23

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"Steve..." Danny started to say, realising now where this was going.

"Let me talk. It's just a precaution Danny in case something happens. I have put the house and its contents to you and a majority of my money and investments to you. There is a small amount going to my mother's parents who are on the mainland."

"Steve..."

"It's just a precaution Danny. I want to make sure should something happen you two will be ok."

"Steve we would be ok financially but not emotionally. We need you Steve, not your money or your home."

"I know but it's a precaution Danny. I just wanted to make sure. The second thing there is from the Navy to put you down as my emergency contact and partner."

"You are telling the Navy about us?"

"Yes. My team already knows. DADT was already repealed but I wasn't ready at the time to tell anyone. I am now."

"What about the park with all the families? They all knew."

"Yes but this team wasn't there. I am a part of a few different teams. I would move between as needed."

"Steve believe me. I know it's hard to come out. I didn't tell my parents for a long time. Before Rachel, when I was in college…"

"I thought you hadn't been with a guy before?"

"I haven't. Now as I was saying. I had a crush on a guy at college and my siblings found out and then my parents found out through them. I was almost kicked out of home. My mother didn't speak to me for months. It was a shock for her. I knew what their reactions would be so I never told them I was Bi. So I know it can be hard."

"I am always going to be careful who knows in the Navy. A lot of guys don't like the idea of men liking each other. Makes it hard when you need them to watch your back. But this team isn't like that."

"Steve you tell who you need to in Navy I don't care."

"So you just need to fill it out and sign it. I'll drop it off tomorrow."

"Alright."

"Denning has also given us Thursday off next week. So I was thinking off having a night out with everyone. Hilton maybe."

"That sounds like a plan"

They sat in silence for a few minutes and Danny could tell Steve was tense, worried over what was going to happen. Danny stood up and walked over till he stood in front of Steve and held out his hand. Steve frowned as he looked up at him before reaching out and grasping his hand. Danny smiled and pulled him to his feet and led him over to the lounge chair nearby. Danny pushed him down onto it and gave him a few seconds to get comfortable before sliding next to him. Steve wrapped his arm around Danny and held him close.

"Everything will be fine babe. Grace and I will still be here when you get back. Well we might be in New Jersey but we aren't leaving you."

"I'm not worried about that Danny."

"Really?" Danny said raising an eyebrow looking at him.

He knew that was one of Steve's worries given a lot of military families don't survive their marriages or engagements and the partner that's staying home waiting leaves. He couldn't blame Steve for feeling that way if the roles were reversed he would feel the same. Hell he was divorced.

"Ok maybe a little." Steve said giving in slightly and Danny just stared at him more. "Ok I am worried about that."

"I'll still be waiting for you." Danny said and kissed him gently.

Steve wrapped his arms around him tightly and kissed back. Danny pulled back slightly to breath and watched Steve closely. He was more relaxed now, still a little tense but that would be the upcoming mission and there wasn't anything Danny could do for that. Danny noticed how late it was and sat up more making Steve look at him.

"It's getting late and I don't know about you but I'm starting to get hungry."

Steve nodded and Danny climbed off the chair and both headed back inside.

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It was 2 days before Steve was heading off on a mission. It was Wednesday afternoon and they had Grace for the night. Steve was excited and a little nervous about how Grace would take him leaving for a while. She was a smart girl so they wouldn't be able to lie to her. Steve had convinced Danny to let him take them out to dinner and they would tell Grace when they got home. Steve was just finishing up the last of his paperwork he needed to get done before he left. Danny had left early to go pick up Grace from school and he would swing back for Steve. Steve was just shutting off his computer as he heard his door open.

"Uncle Steve!"

"Hi Grace." Steve said as she came around his desk and jumped at him and he caught her.

"You ready to go?" Grace asked.

"Just about."

Steve set Grace back on her feet and shut off his laptop and grabbed his badge and gun out of the draw and put them on his belt and then locked all the draws and stood from his chair.

"Ready?" Steve asked.

"Yeah."

Danny was standing at the entrance of Steve's office with a smile, but Steve could see it was strained. Steve leaned down and picked up Grace and sat her on his hip. Steve walked over to Danny and followed him as he headed out. Steve knew he was worried about how Grace would react to his leaving and he was worried as well. They left the building when Steve spoke up.

"So where do you want to go for dinner tonight Grace?"

"We're eating out?"

"Yes we are. I don't fancy cooking today."

Grace thought about it and decided on her favourite place to eat. Danny had already booked a table knowing that was where she would want to go.

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They arrived back at Steve's later that night and Danny and Steve dreaded the conversation they were about to have with Grace. Grace was up in her room at Steve's putting her bag away while Steve and Danny sat on the couch in the living room.

"Grace can you come down here for a minute?" Danny called out to her.

They heard Grace come down the stairs and around in front of them and Danny pulled her onto his lap.

"Now Monkey we need to talk." Danny said and Grace looked at him worried and confused.

"What's wrong Danno? Did I do something wrong?"

"No Monkey you didn't. But we do need to talk about something, its nothing bad." Danny said and looked at Steve.

"Grace you know how I'm in the Navy?"

"Yeah, Danno calls you SuperSEAL because of what you do."

"Yeah well because of that, the Navy wants me to go somewhere for them."

"To the bad people?"

"Yeah."

"How long?"

"I really don't know Gracie. It could be a month or more."

"What about going to see Nana and Pop?" Grace said with tears in her eyes.

"You and Danno will still go and if I finish everything with the Navy I'll fly straight there. I know when you will be there."

"I don't want you to go." Grace said as she started to cry.

She squirmed out of Danny's lap and over to Steve. He gathered her in his arms and hugged her tightly as he cried. Danny smiled sadly at Steve and moved right up beside him. Steve wrapped his arm around Danny as he hugged Grace and Danny rubbed her back.

"I'll be back before you know it Grace. It's not as long as you think. Danny will stay here while I'm away and you as well. I hope you'll look after the place while I'm gone and practice your surfing on the beach." Steve said and when Grace nodded he leaned down to her ear and pretended to whisper. "I don't actually mean the house, I actually mean you need to look after Danno, you know he gets himself into all sorts of trouble."

"Yeah." Grace said and they both looked at Danny.

"Wha… why you…" Danny spluttered in mock anger, knowing it would lift Grace's spirits.

He was right. Grace giggled, while Steve chuckle and rubbed her back. Grace was still not releasing her death grip on Steve even as she calmed and was starting to fall asleep.

"Come on Monkey. Time for bed. You have school tomorrow."

"But Danno."

"No, bed time. Go on, go get changed."

"Ok." Grace said.

She reluctantly let go of Steve and climbed off his lap. Grace made her way up the stairs in a more sedate pace than normal. Steve looked to Danny in concern as Danny squeezed his hand. Steve heard the door shut quietly before he spoke.

"Danny will she be alright?"

"Yeah just give it time. She understands that why you do in the Navy is similar to what we do. I have told her that. She is just worried."

Steve looked up the stairs as he could hear her crying now even if Danny couldn't.

"You might want to check on her Danny." Steve said and at Danny's confused look he touched his ear.

Danny nodded and squeezed his hand before getting off the couch and headed up stairs to Grace's room. Steve heard Danny walk in before he got up and headed out to the lanai. Steve leaned against the railing as he stared at the ocean. He could see the waves rolling in as the moon was full. Steve didn't know how long he stood there for till he heard footsteps behind him. Steve turned to see Danny behind him.

"She alright?"

"Not really. She wants to say goodnight."

"Alright."

"I'll lock up and see you upstairs."

Steve nodded and headed up the stairs and saw that Danny had left Grace's bedroom door open. Steve walked over and saw Grace in her bed and crying. Steve sighed softly, he knew it would upset her but he didn't realise how much it would. Steve walked over and sat down on the side of her bed and rested his hand on her shoulder.

"Grace? Grace come on it will be ok." Steve said and he heard Grace say something but it was mumbled. "Grace come on sit up so I can understand you."

"You could understand me." Grace said turning her head so it wasn't in the pillow.

"That's not the point. Grace look at me." Steve said.

Grace slowly turned over in her bed and looked up at Steve. Her eyes were red and puffy and there were tear marks running down her face. Steve wiped the tears from her face.

"I don't want you to go."

"I don't either but I have to. I don't want to leave."

"But it's your job."

"Yes just Five-O is my job as well."

"But not the same."

"No not the same but similar." Steve said and grace was silent for minute.

"You'll come back."

"I will certainly try my best Gracie but just like my job here there is always the possibility that something could happen."

"It's not the same. Danno isn't there to watch your back."

"I know. But my team will."

Grace started to cry again so Steve laid down on the bed beside her and pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. Grace grabbed a hold of Steve's shirt making sure he didn't leave as she cried. He rubbed her back gently and after about ten minutes she drifted off to sleep. Steve stayed a few minutes longer before he carefully removed her hands from his shirt and laid her carefully on the bed, covers tucked in around her.

Steve quietly left the room and made his way down to his room. Steve shut the door, locking it, to find Danny already in bed reading a book. Steve removed his shirt and pants before climbing into bed beside him. Danny smiled and put the book aside and looked to Steve.

"Now why did you lock the door?"

"I'm sure you can guess why?" Steve said with a smirk.

"You're an animal."

Steve chuckled and pulled Danny closer, claiming his lips with his own. Danny wrapped his arm around Steve's waist and using his body pushed him onto his back and climbed on top without breaking the kiss. Steve's arms wrapped around Danny's waist pulling him down so he was laying on him. Danny pulled away and kissed down and gently bit Steve's neck. Steve groaned and bucked his hips into Danny's.

"Danny don't tease." Steve gasped as Danny chuckled.

Steve quickly flipped them back over, leaned down and kissed down Danny's chest till he reached his navel. Danny's hands fumbled in the bedside draw for the lube before placing it on the bed sheets as Steve finally took him in his mouth. Danny gasped as his hand fisted in the sheets. Steve gave a harsh suck before pulling off making Danny glare at him.

"Bastard." He grumbled as Steve chuckled, coating his fingers in lube.

Steve quickly prepared Danny before coating his cock in lube. Danny pulled Steve down and kissed him gently before pulling away.

"I love you." Danny said and Steve smiled.

"I love you too."

"I want to be with you Steve. However you will have me."

"What do you mean Danny?" Steve asked in surprise and wanting to make sure he knew exactly what Danny wanted.

"I want to be with you for as long as we live. I want to be your mate."

Steve stared at him in surprise before leaning forward and kissing him deeply. Danny gasped in shock and wrapped his arms around Steve's neck and held him close as Steve kissed him passionately. When Steve pulled back he leaned his forehead against Danny's as he tried to calm down and regain some control.

"Steve?" Danny asked as Steve was tense and breathing deeply for a few seconds.

"I'm alright. You understand what that means right?"

"I remember what you said."

"I can mate with you but if you leave Danny it will likely destroy me. Even if you did now it would but not to the same degree. I would just like you to be absolutely sure."

"I am Steve I have thought about it for a while now."

"I would love nothing more than to do that now but with going away in a couple of days we best wait till I return. I need to be with you to help with the change and getting you used to it."

"Alright."

Steve leaned down and kissed Danny firmly as he pushed in. Danny hissed into the kiss and kept his arms wrapped firmly around Steve. Steve held still before feeling Danny tug at his neck and started moving. Danny

Steve stood from the bed as he recovered and walked into the bathroom and turned on the shower before going back to the room to see Danny laying there on his back looking at him. Steve smiled as he walked over and Steve held out his hand.

"We should get cleaned up in case Grace wants to come in."

"I'm not sure I can move right now Steve."

Steve chuckled and took Danny's hand and dragged him to his feet. Danny groaned and followed Steve into the shower.

~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~ End of Chapter 23 ~~∞∞Ω∞∞~~

Hope you liked it. Please review.