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Danny loved his family, and missed them so much it’s like a physical ache, at times. But if he did not get out of this house and spend some time alone—and soon—he would go crazy. Since he and Grace had landed on Sunday, it had been a non-stop parade of family and friends in and out of his parent’s home, asking him about living on the island and his job, all the nitty gritty details of his life that they now missed out on.
By the second day he started to feel a tad overwhelmed—it had been so long since he had experienced a full house for an extended length of time. By the time Thursday rolled around his need to get away was so strong, Ma ignored the fact that Stella was hitting a store on her way over and sent him out to get some last-minute items while Grace was kept occupied by all her cousins.
Danny was quick to jump on the opportunity, smacking a grateful kiss to his Ma’s cheek and snagging the keys from her outstretched hand while he had the chance. A quick goodbye to Grace and he was out the door, relishing in the fact that he didn’t have to scoot his damn seat forward, thanks to some long legged neanderthal.
In the time it takes to reach their preferred local grocery store Danny’s stress levels have sufficiently lowered; with no one else in the car to judge and the craziness that was holiday traffic, he was able to yell and rant to his hearts content.
Once inside Danny meanders through the aisles, easily losing himself to the chaos that is shopping so close to Christmas. He soon finds himself in the sweet’s aisles, zipping past all the big-name brands until he reached the small section of locally owned companies. The moment he spotted the one his mom favored, Danny locked in, moving fast to grab the last one they had on the shelf—
—and out shot an arm, reaching around him and grabbing the cookies before Danny could get his hands on them. For a moment he’s locked into place in shock at the audacity—oh, that was not happening!
Danny spun on his heel, ready to fight for the damn cookies only for the breath to be knocked from his lungs at the sight before him. For standing there, in all his damn seal glory, was Steve fucking McGarrett, the container of cookies in his hands.
“Hey, Danno.”
“Hey, Danno? Hey, Danno? What the hell, Steven! What are you doing here? I thought you couldn’t come to Jersey with us—don’t you have some army he-man bonding to do, huh? Isn’t that why you told my baby girl and her big puppy dog eyes no? Huh?”
Steve’s heavy sigh was unnecessary. “It’s Navy, Danny, and you know that.”
This man and his never-ending ability to say the wrong thing was going to get him in trouble, someday. Danny huffed, throwing his arms up in the air in frustration. “Not the pint here and you know it, Steven! Why aren’t you lost in the jungle right now? Did you lie and break my girl’s heart for the fun of it? I swea—”
“Hey—you know I would never do anything to upset Grace.” Steve frowned at him, hurt lurking in the downturn of his mouth.
The sight got to him; Danny stopped, took a deep breath and tried again. Steve is right, he knew—the man would hurt himself before he ever did anything to upset Grace. “Ok, you’re right, I’m sorry. I know you would never intentionally hurt Grace.” His words ease some of Steve’s tension. “Want to explain what you’re doing here, then?”
Steve cocks a brow. “Now that you’re going to let me?” He sets the cookies in Danny’s cart, dropping a small case of Grace’s favorite soda—that can only be found in Jersey—in there as well. “Training was cancelled last minute—too many of us ended up having something else come up. We’re going to try again in the new year.”
Sounds reasonable so far.
“And how did you end up here?” Danny asked, the two moving in tandem through the aisle, making their way to the registers at the front of the store.
“Ma Williams is a force to be reckoned with.” He should have known his mom would have something to do with this. “I couldn’t get ahold of you and called the house. Your mom answered, and the rest is history.”
Danny pondered the answer as they took their place in line. “Did Ma send you here?”
“Messaged her as soon as I landed and caught a cab to the store.” Steve side eyed him. “We both agreed me meeting you here first would be the best choice.” The so we could avoid fighting in front of Gracie unspoken but loudly heard, nonetheless.
Danny answered the silent add on with a forceful hip check, booting Steve out of the way so he could unload the cart. “Let me guess, you’re expecting a ride back to chez Williams, right?” A quick glance at the bag at Steve’s hip answered his question. “Better pull out that infamous wallet, babe, this is all on you.”
Steve heaved a sigh but did as he was told, running his card through the machine to the amusement of their cashier. Danny snagged the bag and left the soda for him, grinning at the baby-faced cashier before them. “Merry Christmas!”
“Merry Christmas!” The cashier beamed right back, adding an upbeat wave as they left.
Danny led the way to the car, popping the trunk and carefully tucking the cookies away. While Steve tucked his own things away, he started the car, grateful all over again that he and he and his siblings had been able to convince their parents to get an upgrade. The seat warmers were a God send in the Jersey winter. How quickly it warmed up was a bonus, as well.
Once Steve had settled in and they were warmed up, Danny started the trek back home. “You better be ready to grovel, Steve.”
“I did my recon, Danno.” No doubt talking about the six pack of soda in the trunk.
“Uh-huh.” He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, judging the distance before merging lanes.
“I’ve got this, Danny.” Steve stated firmly.
“If you say so, babe.”
By the time they get to the house, Steve’s nerves are palpable. Despite all his bravado and cocky assurances, Danny knew that Steve was honestly unsure about his reception. If Grace was upset, he knew it would hurt Steve, too.
“Hey.” Danny waited until he had Steve’s attention to continue. “It’ll be fine, babe. My girl’s going to understand, and forgive you. Promise.”
“Right.” Steve nodded, taking a deep breath. “Ok, let’s go.”
They swiftly unloaded the car, Danny leading the way as they trudged through the snow. Opening the front door brings with it a welcoming warmth; Danny knocked the snow off his boots and kicked them to the side, Steve mirroring his actions behind him. “Ma, I’m back!”
“We’re in the kitchen, dear!” He can hear the anticipation in her voice—Grace must be in the kitchen with her.
“Here we go, babe. Just leave your bag here, we’ll put it away later.” Danny reached out and squeezed Steve’s hand; the man followed behind him, down the hall to the kitchen and the delicious aroma of smells that emanated from it.
He beelined to his mom first, Steve stopped in the hallway just out of sight. “Your cookies, Ma.” Danny handed them over with a kiss to the cheek. “Sneaky.”
She beamed at him. “You learned from the best, dear.”
He can’t help but snort at that.
Grace leaned over the counter and looked for any extra bags, giving him the perfect opening. “Did I get anything, Danno?”
“As a matter of fact, Monkey, I did pick you up something.” Danny smiled at her bounce of anticipation. “You’re going to love it.”
Steve took his queue, walking into the kitchen and setting Grace’s soda down on the counter before her. “Just for you, Grace face.”
Danny saw the moment it struck Grace who had spoken; it was all there in the gasp of delight and stunned look. She spun on her stool and threw herself into Steve’s arms with a loud shout of his name.
“Uncle Steve! What are you doing here? When did you get here? Are you staying for Christmas?” She threw the questions out without pause, beaming up at his best friend.
Steve squeezed her tight, delighting in her laughter. “I just got here, and I’m here to spend Christmas with you—if you’re not to upset?”
The words remind Grace why it was such a surprise to see him. She sat back down on her stool with a small frown. “Why aren’t you in Hawaii, Uncle Steve? I thought you had SEAL things to do?”
“We had to reschedule for the new year, and I’d rather spend Christmas with two of my favorite people than alone at home.” Steve answered honestly.
Grace took a moment to process his words. Danny wasn’t worried about her answer—his girl was mature for her age, and he knew she would understand Steve’s reasons. “I’m not upset, Uncle Steve.” At those words, tension visibly drained from Steve’s shoulders. “I’m really happy you’re going to spend Christmas with us.”
“Me too, Grace.” Steve leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I love you.”
“Love you too.” Danny melted over the two, glad that his mom had chosen to meddle in their lives. Witnessing the bond between two of his favorite people always left him full of love–and aching just the slightest over feelings he was terrified to act on.
"Come on, Steve. Let's get your things put away." Danny hated to break up the moment, but if he didn’t, he feared he would spill his feelings, and then where would they be?
"You can stay with us in Danno's old room!" Grace enthused, turning those big eyes on her dad next. "Right Danno?"
"Only if he behaves, Monkey." Her giggles could light up a room.
"Of course, he will! Won't you, Uncle Steve."
"That's right, Gracie." Danny just knew he waited until she was looking right at him to stick his tongue out.
"Ha ha. Go get your bag, you goof." Danny gently pushed Steve out of the kitchen, waiting for him to get his bag and leading the way up the stairs. "Luckily for us, Ma sweet talked Pop into putting a chaise lounge Grace is wild about in here. She's on that. Unfortunately, the bed is still the twin from when I was a teen."
He stopped in the doorframe, watching Steve throw his duffle on said bed and look around his childhood room. "Not exactly a hardship to share a bed, Danno."
He ignored the way those words set his pulse racing and focused on the moment in the kitchen, instead. "I told you it'd turn out okay. You just made Grace's day."
"Yeah, yeah. What about you?" Steve asked.
"What about me?" Danny wasn't sure what that tone was in his voice; it was different, smoother than anything he'd heard from Steve before.
"Did I make your day, too?" He wished he could stop the flush the taller man’s intense stare brought to his cheeks.
"Of course, you did, Steve."
The smile that lit his face was shy and loving and Danny's favorite. "Danny?"
"Yeah, babe?" Steve's eyes flickered above his head, drawing Danny's attention. And there, above his head (though it hadn't been there earlier in the day) was a sprig of mistletoe, bright and daunting above his head.
Steve moved in closer, one hand gently cupping his face. "Merry Christmas." Soft lips press the sweetest kiss to his own, the touch everything he'd been wishing for and more. They pulled away slowly, foreheads touching and hands holding one another in a gentle embrace.
"Merry Christmas."
As they shared another kiss, Danny basked in the knowledge that this would be a Christmas he would cherish forever.