Though Tuesday was Five-0's official anniversary, Danny had scheduled the dinner for the Saturday prior. Steve was ready to leave half an hour before Danny was due to pick him up and spent the remaining time pacing across the living room. The team hung out all the time and genuinely liked each other's company, so the night was sure to be enjoyable. But no matter the number of times Steve told himself that, he couldn't stop pacing, or dim his nervous energy. He couldn't quiet the singing in his veins, the taste of anticipation in his mouth. He had no idea why his body was acting this way; it was like it knew something Steve didn't.

Danny was six minutes late, but Steve forgot his impatience the moment he saw Danny standing on his doorstep. The detective wore a dark suit jacket that emphasized his strong shoulders and crisp slacks that may have been a little more fitted than those he wore normally. Surprisingly, no tie – just an open collar that exposed the golden skin of his throat. He looked suave and dangerous and delicious.

Steve swallowed. Fortunately, he didn't have to try to speak normally just yet: the moment the two men made eye contact, Danny's mouth was running.

"Kono called me about fifteen minutes ago to cancel. Said she had a family emergency, but Chin was still going to come."

"Is everything okay?" Steve demanded, instinct taking over.

"Yeah, she said it wasn't too serious."

"Well, maybe we should just reschedule."

Danny smiled slightly. "Kono thought you'd say that. She wants us to enjoy ourselves."

Steve hesitated a moment longer, but they already had the reservation, which had surely been expensive. "Okay," he conceded, stepping out and closing the door behind him. For on tantalizing heartbeat, Danny was so close Steve could smell his aftershave. But then the detective moved back, and Steve pulled himself together. What was wrong with him? He could usually deal with his feelings much better than this.

As a result of his befuddlement, Danny was sitting behind the Camaro's wheel before Steve could think to protest. Sulking, he slid into the passenger's seat, rolling his neck uncomfortably.

"It's cramped on this side," he complained as Danny backed onto the street.

"No, it's not. I would know. You realize this automobile doesn't belong to you? You're not even on the insurance. Technically, it's illegal for you to drive this car."

"Immunity and means, Danno," Steve smirked.

"That's not how that works. I know this'll come as a shock to you, but you can't break the rules whenever you want to."

"I think I can," Steve said, just as Danny's phone began to ring. Thank God – saved by the bell.

Danny slipped the phone out of his pocket and held it up to his ear. "Hello?"

Try as he might, Steve couldn't make sense of Danny's side of the conversation. The moment he hung up, Steve pounced. "Who was that?"

"Chin," Danny replied, eyes firmly on the road. "He won't be able to come either."

"What? Why?"

"He isn't feeling well. Nauseous. He thought he'd feel better by now, but he doesn't want to get us sick." Danny threw a quick glance at Steve. "I guess it's just you and me tonight, babe."

Steve's heart stuttered and he decided to keep his eyes firmly on his window. This was a team dinner gone wrong, and that was all.

When they arrived at the restaurant, Danny explained their situation to the staff and managed to score a table for two. Their new table was tucked away against a wall, where the light was slightly dimmer. Before Steve could sit, Danny reached for his chair and slid it out for the other man.

"Thanks," Steve said, surprised at the gesture. Danny smiled and sat in his own seat, releasing his napkin into his lap with a flourish.

"What do you think?"

"Very nice. I appreciate you doing this for me, Danny, even if Kono and Chin couldn't make it."

"You're welcome," Danny said smugly. "Fancier than Kamekona's, isn't it?"

Steve nodded, though it seemed like an obvious conclusion. What was Danny getting at?

Then a waiter paused beside their table, and the two ordered. Steve couldn't help noticing the waiter was young and handsome, and perhaps too generous with the number of smiles he gave Danny. Steve's fingers flicked at the napkin on his lap, and he had to will away the surge of protectiveness roaring inside of him.

"Hello, Earth to Steve," Danny said, waving a hand in Steve's face. His eyes refocused to see that the waiter had gone. Then he swatted Danny's hand out of his face.

"Hands to yourself, Danno," he grumbled. He didn't think he'd ever said a sentence he meant less.

"Hey, I was just checking on you. I'm sure I don't want to know what you were thinking."

No, you don't. Steve made a noncommittal sound, unwilling to satisfy Danny's poorly-hidden curiosity. "How's Grace?" he asked instead, and instantly Danny was telling him about her latest school project, sleepover with her friends, and her new desire to learn horseback-riding.

"I know someone –" Steve butted in, before Danny held up an indignant finger.

"Absolutely not. I do not want my daughter on a two-thousand-pound animal that could run away with her. Though Rachel will probably go behind my back anyway . . ."

Then they talked about Mary and Joan until their food arrived. The waiter continued to flirt with Danny, much to Steve's chagrin. When the infuriating man finally left, they ate their steaks and discussed their plans for Thanksgiving, which was only a few weeks away. At the end of their meal, Danny paid the check without a single complaint, surprising Steve. As they left the restaurant, their waiter called out to them.

"Have a good night, gentlemen."

"Thanks, you too," Danny replied with a polite smile. Steve grimaced, then rolled his eyes when Danny wasn't looking.

Danny was quiet during the ride home, but Steve didn't mind. He felt full and warm and buoyant, so much so he didn't even care about not driving. He relaxed against the soft leather seat and looked up at the night sky. The moon was nearly full – a round, dimpled shape – but it still shone with an intensity that nearly matched Steve's happiness.

He was a little disappointed when Danny pulled into Steve's driveway and cut the engine.

"I had a great time tonight," Steve said, turning to look at Danny. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," his partner replied quietly. Too quietly.

Steve felt his radiance start to dim. "What's wrong?"

Danny shook his head slightly. "Nothing. Nothing's wrong."

Steve frowned. "Danny?" Instinctually, he touched Danny's shoulder, and instead of shrugging it off, Danny leaned into Steve's touch.

"Yes?" Danny rumbled, looking directly into Steve's face. His heart skipped a beat, and he could've imagined it, but he thought that Danny had just looked at his mouth. But no, he did it again. Steve could feel his pulse throbbing in his throat, and his mouth felt full and fuzzy. Jesus, was Danny going to kiss him? He thought so, could hardly believe it, his heart was beating so fast –

Then Danny sighed faintly and pulled back a hair. "I told you," he said, and the words struggled to penetrate Steve's lust-fogged brain.

"What?" he said on impulse, as the realization slowly dawned on him that Danny wasn't going to kiss him. Danny wasn't going to kiss him. Disappointment bloomed in his chest like an ugly bruise.

"I told you I'd take you somewhere nicer than Kamekona's," Danny said, and the words triggered a memory, and how could Steve forget? A sudden, fragile hope pushed aside the disappointment.

"For . . ." Steve began, more uncertain than he'd ever been in his entire life. He had to heave the next words out of his mouth. "For a . . . date?"

Danny exhaled, long and shaky.

"Yes."

After that answer, what else could Steve do but kiss him? Danny immediately leaned into him, and his mouth was soft and hot and eager. Steve's hand slipped up over the smooth cotton of Danny's shirt, ghosted over his exposed throat, and finally landed on Danny's face, which radiated warmth into Steve's fingers. He felt his desire, pent-up for years, coil deep in his stomach, demanding more and more of Danny. But the center console prevented his partner from moving any closer, and they pulled apart in frustration, each wondering how far the other wanted to go.

"Do you . . ." Steve said, before Danny pulled his bottom lip between his teeth and he briefly lost his train of thought.

"Yeah?"

"Wanna go inside?" Steve rasped, desperately hoping for a favorable answer.

Danny smiled slyly and opened his door.

Steve's joints felt alight with excitement and need, and he fumbled the key in the lock several times. It didn't help that Danny was standing closer than usual, one hand provocatively low on Steve's back. With a forceful jiggle, the door finally gave in, and the two men spilled inside, not a spark of energy lost.

Given the circumstances, perhaps it wasn't surprising that Steve didn't get suspicious until sometime the next morning. He woke to an empty bed; not an unusual occurrence. What was different was the clothes strewn across the floor and the indent in the pillow beside his. He rolled over and felt lingering warmth in the sheets: Danny had gotten up not long ago.

Steve shuffled downstairs and found his partner in the kitchen, drinking coffee while shirtless. Again, Steve felt a strange type of déjà vu. A familiar sight, an entirely new context.

"Morning," Danny said, his smile just visible over the rim of his mug. Steve felt like his heart might burst.

"I don't think I've ever seen a smile on your face this early in the morning," he teased.

"What can I say, this is a good cup of coffee."

"No, I don't think that's it," Steve said, stepping closer. He stopped when Danny was forced to tilt his chin up to maintain eye contact.

"Someone has a big ego," Danny rasped. Steve heard a clink: the sound of Danny's mug against the countertop.

"I don't have an ego –" Steve protested; then Danny's coffee-flavored kiss shut him up.

The kiss was short and sweet. When Danny pulled back, he had that satisfied little smile on his face again.

"By the way," Steve said casually. "When were you going to tell me?"

"Tell you what?" Danny asked slowly. Uncertainly.

"That our 'team dinner' was actually a date?"

The only response Steve got was the beginning of Danny's smug face.

"I'm assuming Kono and Chin didn't actually have emergencies and nausea?"

"I don't kiss and tell," Danny said, pulling his lip between his teeth.

"We'll see about that," Steve said, and kissed his partner. This time, it wasn't so sweet.