In the days that followed, Danny felt like something was off with Steve. He couldn't put his finger on it, but something wasn't quite right with the other man. Steve seemed as if his mind was elsewhere sometimes, as if he was thinking about something else, and was quick to reassure Danny that he was fine when the blonde asked him (which was quite often).

Danny just hoped that whatever was on his lover's mind would soon fade, before he ended up distracted out in the field. On the first day he wondered if maybe the addition of sex to their new relationship was the issue - this was Steve's first gay relationship, after all. But that idea was quickly dismissed when Steve was more than a willing participant when they came back to Steve's after work, and even instigated round two.

Fortunately, Danny got his answer a few weeks later.

Their latest case was finally wrapped up and Danny was looking forward to spending a well-earned day off with Steve while Grace and Charlie were at school, but Steve surprised him by appearing in the kitchen one morning in his black suit and that blue shirt that Danny loved.

"Wow… I feel suddenly underdressed, babe." Danny said, glancing down at his bare chest and the gym shorts that he was wearing before taking another sip of his coffee.

Steve smirked as he approached his lover and pressed a good-morning kiss to his lips. "Nah, you look fine." He cast an appreciative eye over Danny. "Got a meeting this morning. I, uh… hope it won't be long. Then I'll be all yours."

"Alright," Danny nodded, being careful not to let his disbelief show on his face. "See you back here?"

Steve smiled and nodded, and with another kiss he bid Danny farewell, leaving the blonde man to wonder what sort of 'meeting' that Steve would go to before lunchtime. The man was known for his distaste of meetings, and their last case wasn't important enough to warrant a visit to Denning the morning after closing it. Danny frowned as he carried on pottering around the kitchen, before giving up and grabbing his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found Chin's number.

Steve pulled into the nearest empty space and switched the Silverado's engine off. He looked out of the door window and his eyes instantly homed in on his target, having been here enough times to know where it is. But not in a while, Steve sighed as he climbed out of his truck and headed across the grass. He respectfully kept his head bowed as he passed by the other headstones of fallen men and women until he came to John McGarrett's and lowered himself to sit on the grass.

"Hey, Dad," Steve said after a few minutes of silence, looking up at the clear blue sky before gazing around at his surroundings. "Sorry I haven't been in a few weeks, things have been… things have been interesting."

He smiled as he thought about just how interesting the last few weeks have been, and Danny's face came to the front of his mind. Ah, Danny, Steve sighed again as he thought of his lover and all that's happened lately between them. Which brought him back to why he was sat in front of his father's headstone.

"The task force is still going strong. I speak to Mary every now and again, but I haven't seen her and Joanie since… y'know, since she came here with Deb." Steve sniffed. "Everyone else is good, though. Kono's engaged to Adam now, but Chin still hasn't found anyone. And Danny-"

Steve turned his head at the sound of a car pulling up, and he wasn't really surprised at all when Danny got out of the Camaro and walked towards him. "Danny's great." He said quietly.

"Hey, babe." Danny winked at Steve before sitting next to him.

"How'd you find me?" Steve asked.

"I got Chin to ping your cell," Danny smiled apologetically. "Sorry, but really? A 'meeting' before lunch?"

Steve picked at something on his trousers before shrugging his shoulders. "I know, I just… dunno. I've been meaning to do this, but it was a spur of the moment thing, to come here this morning."

"Hey, you don't have to explain yourself, babe." Danny took a hold of Steve's hand, twining their fingers together. "I figured something was up, you've been a bit off."

Steve glanced over at John's headstone, Danny following his gaze and suddenly the lightbulb went on in his head as he remembered what Steve had said to him after their undercover op in the gay club all those weeks ago.

"You never told your dad, did you? That's why you're here..."

"He sent me and Mary away before I could." Steve ran the fingers of his free hand across the engraved letters on the stone.

Danny nodded in understanding, squeezing his hand as he shuffled closer to Steve to bump his shoulder. "Sorry if I interrupted your chat, babe. Did you want me to go?"

Steve shook his head, tongue darting out to wet his lips. "No, stay. I want you here… pointless for me to do this if you're not here." Danny remained silent as Steve took several deep breaths before giving his full attention to John's headstone.

"Dad, there's something I… something I need to tell you. I wanted to do this a long time ago, but then you sent me to the Academy. Every other time I came back I just… I dunno, chickened out, I guess." Steve briefly looked down at his lap and at his and Danny's linked hands.

"You probably already knew; you were forever asking me if I was ever gonna bring a girl home and commenting on things I'd do or say. Each time I came home with a new ear piercing you'd give me a weird look and not speak to me for a few hours." Steve sniffed, and didn't notice how Danny's eyes were fixed on the small line on his left earlobe. The blonde had wondered about those for some time, and figured that he'd had his ears pierced but had never seen photographic proof. He'd ask Mary next time she rang, unless the photo albums that Steve has kept held any treasures.

"Anyway, I didn't come here to chat about my past dress sense." Steve cleared his throat after another glance at Danny, who was still smiling at him. "The truth is this, Dad. I never brought any girls home, because… I don't like girls. Not in that way, at least. Never have."

Once the words were out of his mouth Steve breathed a sigh of relief. Danny beamed with pride at his lover's admission and rubbed his thumb over the other man's knuckles, noticing for the first time just how sweaty his hands were.

"In the Navy it was tough, but now I don't have to hide being gay. It took a while, but Danny and I… yeah," Steve beamed to his left at his blonde partner. "He's my boyfriend now, and I love him."

"He's my first thought in the morning, he's my first thought before I fall asleep, and pretty much almost every thought in between." Danny blinked at Steve's words, his eyes suddenly wet. "Danny and his kids have let me into their family, and I've never been happier. And even though you're not here anymore, I still want you to know."

Danny lifted their joined hands up and kisses each of Steve's knuckles, before clearing his throat and turning to John's headstone.

"Hello, sir. I don't think there's any need to introduce myself now," Danny chuckled as he saw Steve roll his eyes. "I just want to say that I feel the same way about your son that he feels about me, and I promise to do all I can to make sure that he doesn't need another organ transplant."

"Hey, that one wasn't my fault!" Steve hit Danny's arm with the back of his hand.

Danny feigned a look of annoyance. "Do you mind? Your father and I are having a conversation." The straight face was hard to keep, but eventually it was Steve who cracked first with a twitch of his lips.

"Asshole." Steve whispered, shaking his head as he leant in to softly kiss Danny's lips, lingering close when they broke apart.

"Yeah, but I'm your asshole, babe." Danny winked.

"Damn right."

Danny could already see that Steve seemed much happier, as if a weight had been lifted from the man's shoulders. He leant back with his hands splayed behind him on the grass to take his weight as he bathed in the Hawaiian sunlight, and listened with a grin as Steve told John about their new life and relationship together.