A/n: Well, this is it folks. We have reached the end of this story and I hope you have all enjoyed it. I've actually had the ending to this planned out a long time ago and it was the quote below that inspired it. I think it fits perfectly with everything and I was so excited when I heard it. But what's wrong with this picture? Today is my 21st birthday but you guys are the one getting a gift? Well, you can make it up to me with reviews. They make good birthday presents

It's been a long year and everyone around me has disappeared. It's been a long year and all this mess around me is finally clear, so can I have a moment just to say hello? Can you let your anger go? It's been a long year and I'm finally ready to be here. -Rosi Golan, It's Been a Long Day

Danny was coming home today and it was making Steve anxious. His partner hadn't called with his flight information which only added to Steve's anxiety. He thought about looking up the flight manifests to see which one Danny was on but if the detective didn't want him to know there had to be a reason so Steve had resisted the urge (plus he could hear the rant in his head from Danny about abuse of powers). Steve had managed to make it through the day, trying not to be a total pain in the ass. Chin and Kono didn't have to suffer just because Steve was in a mood, but that didn't mean that their suspects were granted such reprieve.

At 5pm, Chin was practically shoving him out the door and Steve didn't fight him. His plan was to swing by the house and pick up the Camaro and then go by Danny's to see if he was back at his apartment. That plan dies though as Steve looks out at his back yard and sees his partner standing on the beach, hands in his pocket, looking out towards the beach. Danny's wearing jeans, a long sleeve shirt and his hair is slightly mussed by the ocean breeze and Steve's never thought his partner's looked so good.

He takes the stairs down from the lanai to the beach two at a time and makes it to his partner's side in a few long strides.

"Danny," He calls out, making the other man aware of his presence. "I didn't realize you were back in town."

"Got in a few hours ago." Danny shrugs, not looking at Steve. His voice is calm and it's a little unnerving to his partner.

"Why didn't you call? I would have come and picked you up." Steve questions, somewhat uneasy about his partner's mood.

"I needed some time to think." Danny informs.

"Okay." Steve answers, still hesitant, and takes a seat in one of the chairs. They're both quiet for a few minutes-Steve sitting with Danny still standing and staring out at the ocean- before Danny speaks again

"I've had a lot of time to think over these last two weeks and I've had a lot of realizations about things but the one that scares me the most, is that I'm in love with you."

The words flow effortlessly out of Danny's mouth and Steve is frozen in his spot. Danny is scared to be in love with him. Right back atcha partner. Steve thinks to himself. In the two weeks that Danny was away, Steve has come to the same realization that what he and Danny have is so much more than just a partnership—it's a relationship. It's not one that either of them went looking for but somehow they found in each other the missing pieces of themselves. Steve is quiet, tightly controlled and seemingly irrational whereas Danny is loud, emotional and logical to a fault. The list is long but at the end it all comes down to the fact that they needed each other and for them, need is a terrifying concept.

Before Steve can even process what Danny is telling him and form a proper response in his head, Danny is talking again.

"You know, I was okay with being alone for the rest of my life until you came crashing in with your combat boots and hand grenades ….and now suddenly the thought of being alone for the rest of my life depresses the hell out of me. And it's not just a need for companionship, it's a need for you. Because without you, who else is going to accept a haole who talks too much, too loud and for too long no matter how good of a cop he is? Who else is going to fight my ex when she gets the bright idea that I'm too dangerous to be around my own child? Who else is going to take care of my Grace when I can't and make sure that nothing happens to her?" Danny rants and Steve smiles.

Danny's gotten carried away again trying to make a point that Steve already knows. The taller man stands and moves closer to his partner and it seems to settle the blonde down some. Danny looks up into Steve's eyes and sees a reflection of himself in them. Fear, desire, anxiety and most of all love are shining through his sea blue eyes and Danny reaches up to place a hand on the side of Steve's face, softly brushing his thumb across his cheek.

"Who else is going to love me, faults and all, for the rest of my life?" Danny adds softly and Steve's smile grows.

"Nobody but me, babe." Steve replies before leaning down to softly brush his lips against Danny's.

The kiss is soft and slow as if time has suddenly ceased to matter and for them in a way it has. Both men realized that right now forever is theirs for the taking. After a few minutes, Steve finally pulls back and rests his forehead against Danny's.

"I was afraid that you weren't going to come back to me." He whispers. "I was afraid that you were going to think this was all a mistake and leave me before I ever really knew you were mine. That you were going to realize that New Jersey would always be your home-" Danny puts a finger over Steve's lips to quiet him.

"I went back home, or at least to what I thought was home, and found out that there was nothing left for me there. My family is there …..but my heart is here with you and Grace." He states and the smile that Steve rewards him with is absolutely stunning.

"Are you actually calling this 'pineapple-infested hellhole' home now?" Steve asks, trying to contain his excitement.

"While Hawaii still has many flaws like fruit on pizza and tsunamis and ridiculous looking clothing, it's got a lot of really good things too." Danny says placing another kiss on Steve's lips. "Though I still claim that Springsteen could take on Don Ho any day." He states and Steve laughs, pulling his smaller partner into his arms.

"I'm glad you're home." Steve declares with another kiss. "I missed you while you were gone."

"I missed you too babe." The two men stand there like that, simply holding onto one another as the last of the sun disappears over the horizon.

"You coming inside?" Steve asks as the dark begins to roll in. He slides out of the embrace till only their hands remained together.

"Yeah, just give me a minute." Danny replies. Steve looks at him for a second before nodding and heading back up towards the house.

Alone on the beach again, Danny closes his eyes and tries to picture the Jersey shore in his mind as he listens to the waves crashing out at seas but instead of picturing the boardwalk, all he can see are two faded wooden chairs with a cooler of Long Boards settled between them looking out over another perfect Hawaiian sunset. It's one of those rare defining moments in a person's life when all the answers appear with sudden clarity. New Jersey wasn't his home anymore—Steve and this Hawaiian beach side house were his home now …..and forever.