No inspiration for this week’s drabble…except the canon in my own head :P

Steve rolled over to find Danny sitting up against the headboard, worrying his bottom lip between his teeth.

“Something bothering you, Danno,” Steve asked, propping himself up on his elbow to get a better view of Danny’s worried face.

“This thing between us, it’s serious, right?”

“If by thing you mean long-term, committed, monogamous relationship then yes, it’s serious,” Steve replied, a hint of a smile forcing its way onto his face.

“We’ve never discussed stuff though.”

“Like what kind of stuff?”

“Our future, is this forever, do you ever even want to get married, have more children? We just sort of jumped in bed together, discussed briefly that we wouldn’t sleep around, and have been playing house since then.”

“Are you worried that I’m going to bolt? Because I thought you’d realize by now that this is it for me, Danno; you’re it for me.” Steve had sat up, shuffling closer to Danny’s side. He was genuinely concerned now. He was sure he had shown Danny that this truly was what he wanted in his future. Because, fuck, he wanted it all – house, dog, kid, marriage. He wanted a life with Danny.

“I want to get married, I want more kids,” Danny replied.

Steve couldn’t help but get a tiny bit defensive, “What makes you think I don’t want those things too?”

“Because you’re Steve ‘SmoothDog’ McGarrett; you break everyone’s heart but still leave them wanting more.”

Steve pulled away, couldn’t believe what Danny was saying. Danny’s words felt like fire, cutting through his fire soul. “Danny, I…”

He didn’t know what to say. What do you say to the man you love more than the world after he admits to thinking you’re just looking for a short-term fuck buddy?

“Danny, that might have been my life back then, but it was before I met you. All those things you want, I want them too. I want a family, a home, kids. I want a life with you, forever.”

“You could do so much better than me.”

Danny had whispered it so quietly that Steve almost missed it. But when he looked into Danny’s eyes and saw the insecurity reflected back at him, his anger dissipated and he pulled Danny into his arms.

“No one will ever be better than you, Danno.”

Inspired by this photo.

“But Scott, he will hear you,” Alex whined as he covered the dog’s ears with his hands.

“He’s a dog; I highly doubt he understands what I’m saying.”

“But he can tell from your tone that you don’t love him.”

Alex was working all of his magic over on Scott, sad eyes, pouty lips, and the overall puppy look that usually had Scott melting into a pool of nothingness at Alex’s feet. But Scott needed to stay strong. Yes, he loved dogs, that much was obvious. But they already had two, and adding a third one, no matter how adorable and well-trained, just because his current owners were moving and couldn’t bring him with them did not mean it was time to sign the paperwork and pick out a new doggy bed.

“I think he’s adorable, but we’ve already got Dot and Dusty,” Scott reasoned as he scratched behind the dog’s ears; he couldn’t resist a dog for long.

“So, I bet they’ll love having a brother, just another dog to play with.” Alex’s infectious perky attitude was starting to grate on Scott’s last nerve.

“We’re barely home as it is. This guy is about to be separated from the only family he knows, and it would be unfair to take him home when he’d have to spend very long days by himself while we’re at work.”

“Home by himself, really Scotty,” Alex questioned in a tone of voice that radiated doubt.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means that I think the number of times Dot has ruined a shot because she’s run up to see you proves that our dogs rarely stay home for long days; they’re usually here with us or at home with Saxon who can play with them. This guy will have so much fun at our house. It’s near the water, it’s got a little beach, and he’s been trained around camera equipment so he can come on set no problem.”

Alex, much to Scott’s chagrin, was making some logical points. And Scott could feel his resolve begin to dissolve out from under him.

“Why is this so important to you,” Scott asked.

Alex didn’t answer right away, just absently scratched at the dog’s head as he purposely looked anywhere but at Scott. Scott heard him mumble something, but couldn’t quite make it out.

“What was that,” Scott asked in clarification.

Alex huffed and turned to look at Scott, “Because this dog would be ours. Dot and Dusty were around before us. We would be adopting this dog together, as a couple.”

“You are such a romantic,” Scott joked, but he knew that Alex heard the sincerity in his voice.

Jackson ended up loving his new home and his sisters. And, it turned out that having three dogs wasn’t all that different than two, and it sure was great to see both his and Alex’s name on the dog’s license paperwork.

Damn, Alex sure was turning Scott into a sap.