MCA #0, Way Too Early Monday Morning

[hatesparadise]

Well, that had certainly been a weekend. Grace being there had been great as per usual, while Doris had been... Doris.

Which was why Danny hasn't just fallen back asleep with a grumpy huff when Steve had gotten up for his usual level of exercise. Instead, he padded on out to make coffee, but found it already started by Steve. The good stuff again too.

That was what led Danny to taking his coffee to sit on the lanai to do something so cliché as to watch the sunrise as he waited for Steve to join him there.

[for that SEAL]

Comments

[grenadesandohana]

Steve draped his arm around Danny, pulling him in closer. "So could you. I know how you get when Grace leaves."

[hatesparadise]

Was that what Steve was going with then?

Danny nodded and took a sip of his coffee. "She likes it here at least."

[grenadesandohana]

Deflection and repression: the McGarrett way!

"I'm glad," Steve said quietly. "She took our news okay, huh."

It would've shriveled him up if she hadn't.

[hatesparadise]

"She did," Danny agreed with a very relieved sigh. "But she was definitely right about how Rachel will handle it."

Though it was probably more the Steve thing than the bi thing that would set her off.

[grenadesandohana]

"Will she challenge custody?" Steve asked, biting his lip.

[hatesparadise]

"In New Jersey it might fly, but less so in Hawaii," Danny replied, making a face like he couldn't say for sure. "And Grace is almost at an age where they'll ask her opinion."

[grenadesandohana]

"Shit," Steve murmured.

[hatesparadise]

"I wouldn't have said she'd react that poorly before the divorce either, but a lot of things surprised me then "

From both her and himself.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, though."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve reached out and squeezed Danny's hand. "Let me know if there's something I can do to help."

[hatesparadise]

Danny threaded their fingers together and nodded as he looked out at the island. "How bad was dinner? Really."

[grenadesandohana]

"Bad," Steve said shortly. "She's sniffing something out, but I don't know what."

[hatesparadise]

Danny's mouth pulled into a tight, unhappy line.

"I just... hate how she swans on back into your life and then out again."

[grenadesandohana]

"I know you do," Steve said. "She's not your biggest fan, either."

[hatesparadise]

"Oh, I noticed that myself," Danny assured him. "I think I'm a little too opinionated for her liking."

He was a mouthy little shit.

[grenadesandohana]

"Oh well for her," Steve muttered, gripping Danny's hand tightly.

It was possibly the meanest thing he'd actually say out loud about her.

[hatesparadise]

She never let him make heads or tails of his feelings now that she was back.

"For a lot of people," Danny said with a quiet laugh, bringing Steve's hand up to kiss the back of in an easy, affectionate way that was probably all sorts of new for Steve. "Won't be the first mother who hates me."

[grenadesandohana]

"It's their loss," Steve said, fiercely protective now that his mother wasn't actually around.

[hatesparadise]

Always easier in her absence.

"Hey, it's good. You're good."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve didn't feel good. He felt inadequate as a person and a sailor after his mother had probed more into exactly when Cath had left him: and his mom's comment about some things being bigger than family still echoed in his ears. He had accidentally been repeating patterns with Cath.

"You sure?" he asked, eyes focused on the sunrise.

[hatesparadise]

"Very sure," Danny replied with complete confidence.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve did not deserve this man.

He leaned further into Danny's space, sprawling to touch in more places. "Thanks, Danno."

[hatesparadise]

"This? I missed this," Danny announced, sprawling on back.

[grenadesandohana]

Steve sighed softly, pulling Danny closer. "Me too," he said. "I just didn't want to give Doris anything...or make Grace uncomfortable."

[hatesparadise]

"We'll need to find a balance," Danny told him. "Somewhere along the way here."

[grenadesandohana]

Steve nodded. "I never second guessed it when we weren't together and I hate that I do now," he murmured.