Taking Care of Grace

Chapter Six

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: They are not mine. It just isn't fair…

Author Notes: Sorry this has been a few days in coming. I got really busy at the end of the week and the weekend, but I was mulling the end over in my head the whole time. Grace's parents return and Steve and Kono's secret is out. Last chapter and of course there will be fluff. Lots of fluff.

Steve woke up to vanilla and coconut assaulting his senses. The softest skin was pressing against his side, his neck and his chest. Kono's soft breath whispered across him and made him shiver. He sighed and snuggled back down in the covers, content to just enjoy the sensations. His mind drifted to the day and what he and Kono would do once they picked up the Williams Family. He also knew he would get a lot of grief from Danny about his new status with Kono, but right now, in this moment, he didn't care. Tonight he and Kono would be alone for the first time as a couple. There would be no ten year old sleeping down the hall. Suddenly his reverie was disrupted as a body launched itself into the bed with them. Kono woke with a start and Steve groaned as an elbow landed in his stomach.

"Morning!"

"Morning Grace. There has to be a more delicate way to wake someone up."

"My parents are coming home! I'm excited!"

"We gathered that."

"Come on. If you guys hurry we could go out for breakfast before we pick them up. Please? Pretty please?"

Steve grabbed her and tickled her mercilessly. Kono joined in and soon Grace was screaming with laughter and begging to be let go.

"Serves you right young lady."

"Uncle Steve, tickle Kono."

"I definitely want to do that."

Steve had Kono pinned before she could react and tickled her until she was crying with laughter too.

"You know, it's a shame I'm not ticklish."

"Oh, yeah?"

Soon the two women in his life had him laughing as well. They attacked him from both sides and as he scrambled to capture their hands and stop them from tickling him, one or the other would get the upper hand. Steve looked into Kono's eyes as she straddled him and his heart started beating double time. The girl was beautiful and she was looking at him with such…love? He couldn't stop himself from pulling her down to softly kiss her. Grace suddenly got quiet and eased herself off the bed. She whispered, as she left the room, not that either adult was paying attention at that point.

"I'm going to get dressed. Keep it PG people."

Their lips parted and they continued to stare at each other, both oblivious to the fact that Grace had left. Steve cleared his throat and pulled her closer. He nuzzled her nose with his and gave her one last sweet kiss.

"Uh, I think we better get up and get ready to go."

"Yeah, I think that'd be best."

They both jumped quickly out of the bed. Kono was blushing furiously. Steve thought it was really cute.

"Hey, come here."

Kono held back a little and Steve reached for her, pulling her close in his arms.

"It's just us Kono. We will go at your pace, okay?"

"I know, but…"

"What is it?"

"I really like you Steve and that scares me."

"How so?"

"What if things don't work out between us? What then? Will I have to leave Five-0? Will we be able to work together? We both have tempers. It could get ugly."

"It could also be amazing. We work well together. Even Danny says we finish each other's sentences. I want to be with you Kono. I think you want the same thing. Take a chance on me? I know what we are risking and I promise you I am committed to making this work. As long as we are honest with each other and we talk about things until we work things out, we will be okay."

"This is not the guarded guy I've known for a year talking anymore. You sound so sure."

"I'm sure of my feelings for you."

Kono couldn't take her eyes off of his. He was looking at her in a way a man never had before. It took her breath away. She felt herself getting emotional and her eyes filled with unshed tears. Steve's look was tender and filled with concern.

"Sweetheart are you okay? I didn't mean to upset you. I'm sorry. I pushed too hard. I will back up the truck and give you whatever time you need to think about this."

"No, Steve. These are happy tears. I'm sure too. I'm sure I want to be with you, now more than ever."

He lowered his head and kissed her softly. His lips lingered for a moment and then he pulled her into a tight hug.

"So, we're committed? You're my new girlfriend?"

Kono laughed and wiped away the left over wetness from her eyes.

"Yes. I guess I have a hunky new boyfriend."

"You better believe it. Now let's get going. If we're late Danny will never let us hear the end of it."

Once they found parking at the airport, the three of them headed into the baggage claim area to wait for Grace's parents. Steve leaned back against the wall and Kono leaned against him. He wrapped his arms around her waist and put his chin on her shoulder. This was the part of their new relationship that made him the happiest. He could touch her and hold her like this. They weren't going to hide anything. They knew as much as they loved Grace, she could not help herself. She would out them before long anyway.

Grace spotted her parents first and ran into their arms. Kono and Steve looked on and grinned at the love fest going on in front of them. The first words out of Grace's mouths shocked both of them though.

"Danno, it worked. It worked, just like you said it would. I did everything you told me to do and they do like each other."

Danny looked up and grinned at Steve and Kono wrapped in each other's embrace.

"I knew it."

Even Rachel was smiling.

Steve and Kono slipped out of each other's arms and walked towards them holding hands.

"You put her up to this?"

"Oh, yeah. Chin and I have been talking about how to get you two to wake up and see it for months now."

"Chin knows about this?"

"He knows about "the plan", but he doesn't know it was successful. I'll text him right now."

Danny pulled out his phone. Kono stopped him.

"Wait. I know a better way."

Kono pulled her phone out and held it in front of her and Steve. She grabbed Steve and pulled him in for a mind-numbing kiss and snapped a picture. Steve laughed and looked embarrassed as Kono texted the photo to Chin.

She read her note out loud.

"Hey Cuz, guess what I did with my time off?"

"Oh, you are just mean."

"Hey, if you guys are going to talk about us behind our backs and plot and plan against us…"

"For you…"

"For us, then payback is a…"

"Young ears are present."

"Oh yeah. Well, payback is deserved."

"But you're happy right?"

Kono looked up at Steve and their friends had no doubts when they saw how the two were looking at each other.

"Happy doesn't even come close to how we're feeling."

"Let's get you guys home, so you can relax."

"Trying to get rid of the dead weight quick, huh?"

"None of you is dead weight. We would like some alone time now though."

"I hear you Babe. Let's go."

Grace told stories of what happened during the week and Rachel thanked Kono again for being there for her. It meant a lot. Danny told them that he had proposed to Rachel and she had said yes to marrying him again. Grace screamed so loud Steve almost had to pull the car over. The adults started laughing as she started talking about being a flower girl and where it would be. It was a lot of fun for everyone. Steve smiled to himself. He had a family again. These people truly were family. Kono was his family now and soon he would make it official. He wanted to give Danny and Rachel their day first, but he could picture a wedding in his future as well. He smiled when he looked over to see Kono watching him affectionately. He reached and took her hand, squeezing it. When they got back to Danny's place and unloaded the car, Grace threw herself at Steve and Kono.

"I had such a great time. You aren't mad at me are you?"

"Who could be mad at you Sweet Pea?"

"Kono you were so great with my…you know."

"Hey girls help each other, right?"

She was rewarded with a huge smile and a kiss. Grace jumped into Steve's arms then and planted a wet kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks Steve. I had a really good time. You did the dad thing pretty good."

"I take that as a huge compliment Grace. See you later."

"Don't forget. We are going to Harry Potter together."

"Wouldn't miss it."

They hopped in Kono's car and headed back to Steve's place by way of Komekona's shaved ice stand. Steve grinned as they got out of the car and walked hand in hand up to the window. Komekona had a big smile on his face.

"Well, it's about time Little One. I thought you two were never going to figure things out."

"Hey, we were just taking our time."

"Uh huh, so what can I get two of my favorite people?"

They ordered and then sat on a bench facing the water and ate in companionable silence. Steve slipped his arm around Kono's shoulders and once again just enjoyed the feel of her in his arms. He couldn't keep himself from sighing in happiness.

"You're pretty cute SEAL."

"What?"

"You are just one big teddy bear. I watched you with Grace this week and with me. I'm glad you aren't hiding from me anymore Steve."

"Was I?"

"I think so, especially in the beginning."

"I was afraid of getting hurt."

"And now?"

Steve thought for only a moment before he responded.

"No. I know you would never do that to me."

"You're giving me some pretty big shoes to fill Steve."

"What? Not up to the challenge?"

Steve smiled down at her and she reached for his face and kissed him.

"Some relationships are worth the challenge. You are."

Steve shivered under her soft words.

"Let's get out of here. I want to be alone with you."

They arrived back at Steve's house about mid afternoon and decided to hit the water. They surfed and laid out on lounge chairs until Steve's stomach started to growl. They ordered pizza laughing at the thought that Grace would be jealous. That kid could eat more pizza than an adult. Kono took a shower and slipped into some pajama pants and a tank top. She crossed to the couch in bare feet and ran her fingers through Steve's hair. He had laid down on the couch to wait for her and had drifted off to sleep. When he didn't respond to her touch, she bent and kissed him with all she had. His arms immediately snaked around her neck, but she pulled them back and stood up.

"You. Go get a shower before the pizza comes. You are sandy and sweaty and in need of one. Hurry up though. It should be here any minute."

Steve stood up and took a second to let his eyes rove over her clean, sweet smelling body. He waggled his eyebrows at her and she punched him.

"Go, you."

"Okay. Okay. Are you always going to be this bossy?"

"Yes."

"Okay, just asking."

He winked at her and ran for the bathroom as she threw a pillow his way. He heard the doorbell as he was toweling off. Quickly slipping on a pair of boxers and a t-shirt, he joined her back in the living room. Kono had put on some music and they ate and talked for a long time. After he put away the left over pizza, he grabbed Kono and pulled her into his arms, dancing her around the living room. They were quiet for a long time, just staring into each other's eyes. Steve bent and kissed her deeply. He smoothed her hair back from her face and kissed her again. What she said next both shocked and thrilled him.

"Well, the pizza was great, but I'm actually in the mood for some dessert. Got any ideas?

Steve's eyes went wide as Kono started out of the living room. She disappeared around the corner into the hall leading to his room. He waited for a second until her tank top came sailing out into the room. He was on his feet in less than a second and chasing her down the hall. Laughter filled the house as he caught her in the hall, swung her up into his arms and carried her to his room. He tossed her unceremoniously onto the bed and then made a hilarious leap on top of her pinning her to the bed. His eyes roved over her half naked body and then met hers.

"You are beautiful. I feel so lucky to have you in my life. I can't wait to see what our life together will be like. This feels like forever Kono. I hope you feel the same way."

His eyes were sparkling down at her and her heart sped up just having him this close. He was the one. He was that guy that she had always looked for. He was handsome, strong, smart and loving. There was nothing like a strong mad with a tender side. This is a man to make a family with. She was lost in his eyes.

"I feel it too Steve. I want to move forward. I want to trust you with my heart. I want to let you in."

"Pretty incredible week huh?"

"Yeah. Who knew taking care of Grace would end up like this?"

"More like she took care of us."

Steve smiled then.

"She did, didn't she? We owe that little girl."

"Steve?"

"Yeah?"

"It's just us here."

"You're right."

Steve reached down and ran his hand through her hair, then stroked his fingers along her cheek.

"Kono…"

"Kiss me Steve."

Their lips came together in a tender and sweet kiss that each willingly deepened. They both sighed at the same time and then burst into giggles.

"We are hopeless."

"No, just hopeful."

A/N: That's all for now, but I have another short fic in my mind. I hope to post it this week. I can't wait for fall. I miss these characters already. I heard Kono gets her own season long storyline this year. Wish it was with Steve, but it is probably with someone else. I think they originally had plans for her and Danny, but the chemistry with him and his ex-wife was just too good. Oh well, maybe they will wake up and see the potential for these two characters to be great together.