A/N: Here it is, the final chapter! I cannot believe that this story is already finished; I've never finished a multi-chapter story in such a short amount of time! I want to thank everyone for their amazing support throughout the writing of this story! I hope this last chapter doesn't disappoint your expectations :)

With that being said, I am already planning a sequel for this story! It's called "Family Ties Are Precious Threads." I have posted a brief summary of the sequel at the bottom of this chapter. I'm hoping to have the first chapter posted in the next few weeks, but I started grad school today so it may be a little while. The best way to make sure you don't miss it is to add me to your author alerts :) You will also then know when I post the first chapter of another story I'm working on that follows Danny and Steve's developing relationship throughout the first season of the show. Each chapter will be based on an episode, but will be filled with slashy goodness :)

And finally, I want to thank my awesome beta jerseybelle for her wonderful suggestions and quick edit of this chapter as well as for her support throughout this entire story and in the planning process of my future stories! I also want to give credit to LIGHTNSHADOWS for giving me the inspiration for and a line in the final scene of this story :)

After Danny left the office to bring Avery out to meet Rachel and Grace, Steve waited for what seemed like the appropriate amount of time, twenty minutes, before rushing home to get ready for dinner that night.

By using the last-minute sleepover as his opening, Steve had locked himself into only a few short hours to put together the night he had planned. Steve had been perfecting this plan for over a week, ever since Danny had admitted to missing his mother's cooking more than anything. People say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, and for Danny this was especially true.

Beyond the food, though, what Danny missed most about home was his family, and Steve was determined to show him that he had a family here in Hawaii. Danny was it for Steve, now it was time to prove that to Danny.

Steve rushed through the grocery store with military precision, stopped at the local farmer's market, and bought dessert at a bakery. Steve considered getting malasadas as well, but he thought he might be getting ahead of himself if he planned for the next morning; he didn't want to jinx it and all.

As Steve walked through the front door, laden down with his purchases, he glanced at the clock. He had exactly two and a half hours to cook dinner and get ready. He wasted no time getting the lasagna made and in the oven, adding some fresh onion and garlic to the sauce in an attempt to make it a little more flavorful than your run-of-the-mill jar sauce. He peeled and boiled the potatoes as he worked on chopping some zucchini, summer squash, and broccoli. The vegetables would be grilled right before Danny got here, but the potatoes were mashed, buttered, and creamed before they were also put in the oven to bake a little.

Now that dinner was well underway, Steve had exactly forty-five minutes to get dressed. No problem, he had this all under control. He was really proud of the spread he was able to put together under such a time crunch, but, standing in front of his closet he began to frown, the pride bubbling in his chest quickly dissipating. He didn't know what to wear.

Ugh, I seriously sound like a girl, he thought as he let out a groan. It wasn't that he was contemplating the pros and cons of each shirt; it was trying to find the right balance between his everyday work attire and his normal dating attire. This was a special night. Steve wanted it to be clear that it wasn't just any other night where they kicked back with a few beers and steak on the grill. This was different, and he wanted to make sure that was very noticeable. However, he still wasn't confident Danny's reaction to his feelings would be positive, so he needed to make sure he had an out if that was the case. He needed to dress more presentable than his work clothes, but not dressy enough to be wearing his date clothes.

Okay, he was officially over thinking his wardrobe. This frantic worrying about all the small details needed to stop. Steve was not a swooning teenage girl, though the butterflies in his stomach and the giddiness he felt sure made him feel like a teenager. Giving up on finding the right level of dress, Steve grabbed one of his black t-shirts out of a drawer and put on a pair of jeans. He figured that a t-shirt wasn't too dressy, but Danny would definitely notice that he wasn't wearing his cargoes or swim trunks.

Just as Steve was pulling his shirt over his head he heard Danny walk through the door.

Shit!

"Can't you ever knock," Steve said as he jogged down the stairs, wanting to make sure to intercept Danny before he made it to the kitchen.

"Why would I change when you love me just the way I am," Danny smirked as he held up the six-pack of Longboards he had brought with him.

Steve's breath caught in his throat for a moment, Danny's love comment throwing his concentration, but he used the momentary lapse in his ability to communicate to notice that Danny was not wearing a tie.

"You aren't wearing a tie."

"As much as you think I have some sort of unhealthy obsession with ties, I do not, I repeat, do not wear them on my off-hours unless the situation warrants wearing one. So, no, I'm not wearing a tie. Though, you dressed up so maybe I should have, too."

Steve felt the heat rising up his neck, "I'm not dressed up Danny. I threw on jeans. The last time I checked jeans weren't considered dressed up. In fact, I think most people call them casual."

"Yes, normal people wear jeans casually, but you, Steven, are not normal. So, in your twisted world jeans are dressy, cargoes are appropriate work attire, and swim trunks are casual."

"Swim trunks are casual; they are comfortable, isn't that a necessity of something being casual?"

"Swim trunks are meant to be worn in the water. Swim trunks are not appropriate to wear as pants in any other given situation."

"Danny, we're in Hawaii, everyone wears swim trunks."

"That's because everyone here spends most of their time in the water. Why, I have no idea, but they do, so in that instance swim trunks are appropriate."

"Whatever." Steve didn't think arguing about swim trunks was the best way to start off this evening, but he was hoping the rant would have thoroughly distracted Danny from his observation that Steve was more dressed up than usual.

It didn't work.

"So, why are you dressed up again?"

"Um, ah, I was hoping if I put on jeans I might get a respite from your constant grumblings about my clothing choices. Apparently I was wrong."

Yes, Steve thought, good cover.

"Okay," Danny drew out as he walked past Steve towards the kitchen. Apparently Steve wasn't as convincing as he thought he was because he sure didn't miss the eyebrows Danny raised in his direction.

"I'm just going to put the beer in the…" Danny reached the doorway and stopped suddenly causing Steve to bump into his back. His eyes gazed over the food and ambiance in the kitchen. "What's all this, Steven?"

"I wanted to do something nice for you. You know, to say, ah, thanks for all you've done with Avery and stuff." Steve rubbed the back of his neck. He had planned out an elaborate cover story about being thankful for helping with Avery, bringing Gracie into Avery's life, and being a constant presence for her. But now that he was faced with actually telling Danny, the cover story seemed to fall flat and sounded ridiculous.

"Well, um, thanks," Danny said as he shifted from side to side. Steve, noticing what he perceived as Danny's discomfort, mentally groaned, this is really not going well. He took the beer from Danny's hand as a distraction from the palpable awkwardness that had fallen upon them.

"So, I just have to finish grilling some vegetables and then we can eat," Steve said as he moved past Danny towards the lanai, keeping his eyes firmly locked on the glass door, not glancing in either direction.

Danny just nodded his head, still looking around the kitchen at the set table, the bread in a basket, and actual glasses sitting by the plates. Steve watched Danny sniff the air a little bit, clearly recognizing the familiar smell of his favorite dish.

"You made me lasagna?"

Steve's hope buoyed a little bit as he heard the obvious sounds of a smile in Danny's voice. "Not just any lasagna, Danno. I made a really special one." Steve poked his head around the glass door and grinned at Danny. Score one for Steve. Danny's heart is directly attached to his stomach.

"I'm sure it's great, McGarrett, but I doubt it's any more special than my mother's lasagna, which is what I want to have as my last meal on this earth."

"I will keep that in mind."

"You better because with the way things are going in my life, I'm sure yours will be the last face I see before my untimely demise."

"What makes you think that seeing my face before you die means your death is untimely?"

Shit. Way too close to real feelings there, Steve, pull yourself together.

For his part, Danny just gave him a quizzical look and sauntered over to the oven, pulling it open and letting all of the wonderful smells of bubbling cheese, marinara, and beef waft into the kitchen. "Heaven. This is my heaven."

"That's a pretty good heaven," Steve said as he walked inside carrying the platter of vegetables and placed them in the center of the table. Yes, he was insisting they actually eat at the table. If they ate at the table it was almost always the one outside, but tonight was different. Tonight was special.

"A pretty good heaven for me, yes, but there is not enough access to AK-47s and other forms of automatic weaponry for you to be blissful for all of eternity."

Steve watched Danny, a serene look crossing over his face as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. And Steve could see the memories of a family night in Jersey play out behind Danny's closed eyes – Mama Williams working tirelessly in the kitchen to put together her most prized dishes, the men sitting by the TV cheering on a Yankees game, and the kids seated all around playing games while intermittently asking their fathers questions about baseball. A faint smile found its way onto Danny's lips as he opened his eyes and looked intently at Steve.

Steve felt his heart jump into his throat as Danny held onto their connection. Steve's mind had gone gooey and before he found himself able to stop, he uttered, "You'd be there and that's all I need for eternity."

Mentally slapping himself as the words escaped his lips, Steve broke eye contact with Danny by turning around and walking outside to ensure the grill was off, even though he knew it was. He couldn't bear another minute in the kitchen with Danny, the air around him suddenly feeling stuffy and suffocating. Deep breaths, McGarrett, he ordered himself. Damage control, how can you cover that miraculously disastrous slip-up?

Steve's mental acuity wasn't up to its usual standards; his typical awareness of his surroundings lapsed as Danny came up behind him and placed a hand on his shoulder without him even noticing that Danny had followed.

"Thanks for inviting me over for dinner," Danny said as he edged around Steve's form so they were standing face-to-face. "It was a really great gesture. And now I'm officially starving so I'm ready to try this supposedly very special lasagna, though I highly doubt its ability to defeat Mama Williams' famous recipe."

Steve felt the air return to his lungs and the constant ache in his heart whenever Danny was around begin to throb. Steve stood in awe of Danny's uncanny ability to diffuse the tension of any situation with just a simple sentence. Danny comforted Steve's nerves in ways Steve never thought possible. And with the thought of Danny understanding him better than anyone, Steve followed Danny into the house and served him dinner.

"Steven, this tastes oddly familiar." Danny was staring at the lasagna hanging off his fork.

Steve tried to hide the grin tugging at the ends of his mouth, "It's lasagna, basic lasagna, of course it tastes familiar."

"No, no," Danny shook his head violently. "This isn't just normal lasagna. It has a hint of wonderfulness that no other lasagna has ever reached other than my mother's."

Steve sat in silence, waiting for clarity to dawn on Danny. One, two, three…

"Oh!"

There it is.

"You made my mother's recipe."

"I did," Steve didn't miss the look of gratitude Danny was sporting.

"How? Why?" Danny spluttered along, eyes not leaving the lasagna on his plate.

"It's your favorite and I wanted to say thank you."

"Regular lasagna would have been just as satisfactory."

"But I wanted to make your favorite." He chanced a look at Danny across the table. His palms were starting to sweat and his heart was beating wildly in his chest. They were reaching the pinnacle of the evening, the moment of truth, he could feel it. His mind was having more and more trouble blocking out the pleas from his heart.

"Wow, no one has taken this much time to say thank you." Danny put the forkful of the lasagna into his mouth, eyes closing as he savored the familiar taste of home, "Mmm, just like Mama used to make."

"Danno…"

Fear griped his mind as Steve pushed himself away from the table. He couldn't do this, he really couldn't. His partnership with Danny meant everything. How could he be so stupid as to jeopardize the best thing in his life because he selfishly wanted more? He didn't stop to glance at Danny's shocked face as he walked as fast as possible, without actually jogging, towards the edge of the water.

The sun was beginning to set behind the dark expanse of ocean stretched out in front of him. The orange hue of evening had settled upon the beach, enveloping Steve in the warmth of its rays. A deep breath of salty air gave Steve clarity as he felt Hawaii wrap her arms around him, holding him tight like a mother comforting her son. Steve's beating heart began to settle as the heat of the dying sun took Steve away from reality and into a place of bliss.

"Steve."

And then reality came crashing down. The feelings of rejection, pain, and fear crushing their way through Steve's already tainted soul, lodging themselves inside his breaking heart.

"I'm sorry, Danny."

"For making my mother's lasagna?"

Steve couldn't look behind him. He couldn't see the look of pity that was sure to be held firmly in place on Danny's face. Steve didn't respond; he couldn't. He couldn't bring himself to say another word, fear gripping him as he felt Danny move closer.

"It was delicious, Steve, really. I really appreciate the gesture."

Steve continued to keep his gaze locked firmly on the breaking waves in front of him. If he looked at Danny now he would pour his heart out and there wouldn't be the chance to take it back.

"It was more than just a thank you, wasn't it?"

Danny's hand had found Steve's shoulder, but he didn't pull to turn Steve around. He continued, "When Rachel and I were dating I was always the one to plan the special things. She said it was my job as the guy in the relationship."

Steve wanted the sand to open wide and swallow him whole.

But the earth didn't move and Danny continued talking, "It feels different being the one wined and dined."

A fiery pit in hell sounded a whole lot better than standing on the beach with Danny as Danny betrayed all of Steve's deepest secrets.

"I'm flattered, really, but you didn't have to."

Here it comes, the kind rejection. Because this is Danny, and no matter how repulsed he is by Steve's feelings he would never reject him with anything but kindness. Steve wished Danny would scream, yell, and swear at him. It would feel better; Steve could handle that better.

"Because you don't feel the same." Steve sighed, "I know, Danny, you don't have to explain."

Danny laughed.

Why was he laughing? Here was Steve finally admitting his deepest, most strongly guarded secrets to his partner and Danny was laughing at him. Steve thought he knew Danny, and as much as he thought a mean Danny would make the blow easier, it didn't. Seeing Danny act in a way so contradictory to his normal behavior made Steve shudder with unhappiness.

"You are such a clueless goof, you know that, right?"

Steve couldn't help it, he turned around. He knew that seeing Danny laughing at his darkest secrets was bound to sting, a lot, but Steve was apparently a masochist and looked at Danny even as his brain warned him not to.

Danny looked, well, breathtaking. There wasn't another, more manly word to describe the way the last vestiges of sunlight glowed brilliantly gold against his blonde hair. Danny's hand hadn't left Steve's shoulder and for a moment they stood there in silence, both barefoot on the beach, water lapping at the hem of their pants, the sun the only thing privy to their exchange.

Danny's hand wound its way down to Steve's, lacing their fingers together. Steve was preparing for the worst, and so he didn't register Danny's fingers tangled in his own until, "I've felt the same for a long time."

Steve was sure he had heard Danny wrong. Danny could not be standing in front of him, holding his hand, telling him he felt the same. Right?

"You still don't believe me, do you?" Danny moved closer to Steve, his other hand wrapping itself around Steve's neck, pulling him down.

Steve felt the warmth from Danny's breath as his face inched closer, lips glistening as his tongue swept across. And then their lips met, briefly, and it seemed as if his world had slipped back onto its axis, that Danny was his gravity, keeping him grounded to the spot.

The kiss was short, done before it really got started. But, it was enough. It said everything Steve wasn't sure how to put into words and everything Danny could have put into too many words.

"Do you believe me now?"

Steve nodded. His mouth was still incapable of forming coherent sentences. He could still feel the ghost of Danny's lips pressed against his and he didn't think before greedily leaning back for more.

*H50*

Their second kiss felt as if it lasted only a few seconds longer than the first, but it was longer and more daring. Steve's tongue prodded Danny's mouth open a little before darting inside. Danny tasted like tomatoes and the sun; his warmth was everywhere.

Danny pulled back first this time, slightly out of breath, "I'm not some freaky fish-man who is trained to hold his breath for unfathomable lengths of time."

Steve smiled as he leaned his forehead against Danny's, "There are lots of things that my breath-holding capabilities will sure help with." He pressed his lips against Danny's once more, pushing forward so their bodies were flush against each other.

"Mind. Gutter. McGarrett," were the only words Danny was able to get out before Steve's mouth was on his once again.

After a minute Steve pulled back. He wasn't a lovesick teenager who was desperate to get laid. He needed to take this slow. He needed to make sure Danny knew, without a doubt, that Steve meant a lifetime not a one-night stand.

"You do know that all you had to do was say something, right? You didn't have to make dinner or plan this whole big gesture to tell me how you feel."

Steve shrugged as he pulled Danny down onto the sand, "I wanted you to know this was different."

Danny sidled up to Steve's side, his arm resting on Steve's bent knee, "Different than what?"

Steve's armed snaked around Danny's side, pulling him closer, "Than Catherine or any of the other people I've been with."

"People?"

"Yes, people. I've been with other guys."

Danny just nodded his head and looked towards the ocean.

"But Gwen was the only person I was ever in a relationship with, and frankly, looking back, it wasn't much of one anyway."

"I've never been with another guy," Danny's ears turned pink and he didn't look at Steve.

Steve reached his other hand around and pulled Danny's face towards his, "That's okay. I want to take this slow. I'm in this for the long-haul, though for the life of me I don't know why listening to you forever is something I would want in my life."

Danny laughed. "I don't really do one night stands very well, anyway; I'm much too clingy."

Steve laughed and brought his head down to kiss Danny again. "You, clingy? I don't believe it."

"If you keep kissing me like that I'm pretty sure I can get used to being the girl in this relationship."

"I am never going to stop kissing you so I sure hope you are comfortable in that role."

"Let's just make one thing clear, McGarrett. If you ever mention, to anyone, the fact that I just admitted to being okay with being the sappy, clingy one of this relationship I will make sure you never enjoy anything that follows this line of kissing."

"Duly noted," Steve murmured before he went in for another kiss. Now that he knew what Danny tasted like, he couldn't get enough. He wanted, needed more. He was like an addict struggling for his next fix, an alcoholic with the burning need to feel the crisp, stingy sensation of burning liquid as it entered the back of his throat.

As the first sparkles of the stars reflected off the ocean, Danny became more comfortable in Steve's exploration of his mouth, and even darted his own tongue in once or twice to memorize the way Steve tasted. They pulled back, gasping for breath, lips swollen, eyes locked on each other. Steve guided Danny down so they were lying in the sand, hands groping each other's sides, grasping at each other like at any moment everything might disappear and they wanted to be sure to remember this feeling, wrapped together in each other's arms.

Steve felt his desire getting stronger, and he could feel Danny's peaked interest as well. And as much as Steve's body wanted him to push it further, he pulled back. They had all the time in the world; this time Steve wanted to take it slow.

He sat up, pulling Danny upright next to him, "I think we should go inside."

"Um yeah, okay," Danny wasn't able to meet Steve's eyes.

"Danny, we aren't going to do anything you aren't ready for, I promise. You and me, this is it for me, babe." Steve brushed his lips over Danny's and got to his feet, brushing sand off his pants.

"Okay."

Danny followed Steve back into the house, "So should I leave now or…"

"I would love for you to spend the night, just sleeping, I promise. But, I understand if you want to go home."

"My apartment sucks."

Steve laughed. "Yes it does."

"But kissing, we can do more kissing," Danny's innocent question made Steve groan for more, but he wanted Danny to feel safe in this new relationship.

"Always kissing, Danno."

Danny grabbed Steve's hand and pulled him towards the stairs, "Well, what are you waiting for then."

*H50*

Avery waved goodbye to Rachel as she walked up the steps towards her front door. She knocked and waited for her Dad. She was happy as a clam; fresh from her very best friend's house after a sleepover. After knocking another three times, McGarrett's weren't known for their patience after all, she grabbed the key from the hidden rock her grandfather had shown her when she turned five. She turned and waved the key towards Grace's Mom, showing her that she was going to go inside.

"Sweetie, maybe I should come in with you. I need to make sure your Dad is home before I leave." Grace's mom had gotten out of her car and was walking up the steps.

"Daddy's here. His truck is in the driveway. He's probably outside swimming since Danno's car is here too. Danno only comes this early when Daddy needs him to watch me," Avery explained, shrugging her shoulders as she walked into the house. Rachel followed behind her.

Avery looked through the kitchen and out to the backyard, but there wasn't any sign of her father. She turned towards Rachel, "I'll be right back. I'm just going to check upstairs."

Rachel nodded, "I should probably come with you."

Avery hurried up the steps and pushed open the last door on the right at the end of the hallway, Rachel not far behind. She wasn't sure what she was expecting to see, maybe her father oversleeping or in the attached bathroom taking his shower.

What she did not expect to see was Steve and Danny tangled up in each other, sheets twisted between them, sleeping soundly.

She broke out into a huge smile and jumped on the bed, right in the middle of the two men, "Good morning, Daddy and Danno!"

Steve and Danny jerked awake as they rubbed sleep from their eyes, realization dawning on them as they determined the compromising situation they were currently in.

"Uh, good morning Avery," Steve said as he moved to sit up against the head board, untangling his legs from Danny. He's not embarrassed, per say, but his daughter finding him in bed with Danny was not exactly the way he planned on telling her about their relationship. And laying half naked, in bed, next to Danny was certainly not the way he expected to tell Rachel about their relationship, either.

He opened his mouth to try and explain, but Rachel, wide-eyed and gawking, walked back out the door without a sound. Steve heard the slam of the front door and the obvious turn-over of an engine kicking into life.

Undeterred, Avery snuggled herself between the two men, putting her legs under the covers too, "Daddy, did you sleep well last night?"

"Very well, sweet pea."

"Good. I told you that Danno would help you sleep better."

"You did," Steve laughed as he glanced over at Danny who was smiling at him above Avery's head.

Avery turned towards Danny, "Danno, thank you for keeping my Daddy company while he was sleeping." She wrapped her small arms around his middle and he placed a kiss on the top of her head.

"My pleasure, munchkin."

Though having a heartfelt discussion in bed wasn't exactly what he had in mind, Steve figured this was as perfect a time as any to have the relationship talk with Avery. "Danno's probably going to be here a lot more often, sweet pea."

"I know, Daddy. It's because you love each other."

Steve laughed, "Yes, we do." He took a minute to look at the smile on Danny's face.

"And we love you so much, too, Avery," Danny said as he looked down at her.

"That's right, we do. We both love you very much and that will never change, no matter what."

Avery nodded her head. Steve continued, "But, some other things are probably going to change a little."

"Like what?"

"Well, Danno's going to sleep here sometimes, and he'll probably come to your swim practices even more than he already does. He'll eat dinner with us or go swimming at the beach with us. He's going to be around more often, Gracie too."

"But, Dad, that's not really any different than it is now."

Both men laughed as they realized how right she was.

Danny clarified, "You're right, it will be very similar. But now your Dad and I will maybe hold hands sometimes or kiss each other sometimes, to show that we love each other."

"So, you're going to act like other kids' parents?"

"Yeah, we love each other just like other kids' parents."

"So does this make Danno my new mommy," she asked with big eyes.

Steve laughed as Danny scowled at him over Avery's head, "Something like that, sweet pea. He will love you just like a mommy, but he's going to be your other daddy and love you just like I do."

"So I have two daddies now?"

"That's right."

"Does that mean Danno is going to help me practice swimming too because that's what daddies do?"

"If you really want me to help you practice swimming, Avery I would be happy to," Danny said, he couldn't really say no to the cute, unassuming little girl even if he did despise the idea of entering the ocean.

Avery's arms wrapped tight around Danny's waist, "I'm so glad you're my family, Danno."

Steve smiled down at the other occupants of his bed. It seemed like only a short time ago he had flown back to Hawaii feeling lost and alone. But, here in this house, in his bed, he had the family he had longed for, all the love he needed, and that would always be enough.

A/N: The sequel will be called "Family Ties Are Precious Threads." Here is the summary for the sequel!

Danny and Steve have grown into a family over the years, but what happens when someone shows up and threatens everything they love? Will they fight to keep their family together or accept defeat and watch it be torn apart?