Chapter Text
It seemed like time was flying by for Grace as they tried to get everything done in time for the dance as the week began. Grace had anticipated that the hardest part was going to be finding their outfits, but she had underestimated just how difficult it was going to be. They had been going shopping every day after school hoping to find their outfits, but hadn’t been successful. Every dress shop they went into didn’t have what Grace was looking for and also wanted to put Kailani in a dress (which was just not going to happen, because, according to Kailani, “I need pockets for my stuff! You don’t typically get pockets in a dress!”), and every suit shop acted like they were crazy when they mentioned that Kailani wanted a suit instead of a dress. Finally, on their third day of looking when they were about to just give up and risk ordering something online, they found a small shop that had been in the same family for a few generations now. From the moment Grace and Kailani walked in with Rachel, one of the shop owners, Mrs. Kameāloha, was warm and welcoming. When they explained what they were there for, Mrs. Kameāloha led Grace over to the dresses side of the store, and pointed out the suits that might fit Kailani’s size on the other side of the store. She explained that her husband, Mr. Kameāloha, was out on a delivery, but he would be returning soon and would be able to help Kailani tailor the suit of her choice.
They spent almost three hours in the store, but by the time they were finished, both Grace and Kailani had their outfits for the dance, thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Kameāloha. Both Grace’s dress and Kailani’s suit needed to be tailored slightly in order to fit them perfectly, so they would be coming back in a few days to pick them up when they were ready. Neither of the girls really knew what the other had chosen, so it was going to be a surprise on the day of the dance.
Grace was ecstatic , and chatted on and on about the dance during dinner that night with Kailani, Charlie, Steve, and Danny. Rachel had declined to join them, as she had another early flight to the mainland, but she assured Grace that she would be back before the dance.
“It’s not just that I’m happy that we have our outfits taken care of so that’s another thing that I can cross off the list,” Grace said at one point. “I’m also excited because it makes it seem even more real, and like it’s really happening, you know?” She smiled excitedly over at Kailani and she smiled back in response.
“I know the feeling,” Kailani said warmly.
“Oh, by the way,” Danny said. “Speaking of the dance. I’m going to be a chaperone again. Yay,” he added in a deadpan voice with a small wave of his hand, causing Charlie to giggle.
“Oh boy,” Grace said slowly, a small smile on her face. “Is this going to be like the last dance, Danno, when you kept talking to me and Will all the time?”
Danny pointed at her. “Let’s hope it’s not going to be like the last dance, or did you forget that you and your classmates were held at gunpoint for a couple of hours?”
Grace rolled her eyes. “ No , I didn’t forget, Danno. What kind of a question is that? I was talking about the good parts of the dance, before all of that happened.” She stuck her tongue out at Danny and he mimed grabbing it.
“Don’t worry, Gracie, I’ll keep Danno in line,” Steve said with a grin.
Kailani looked at him curiously, her eyebrows high on her forehead. “How on earth do you intend to do that?” she asked him.
Danny sighed heavily. “That is not how I intended to tell them, Steven,” he said with a mild glare towards Steve. Steve gave him a slightly panicked “what do you expect me to do” look.
Grace blinked between her father and Uncle Steve. They were acting squirrely, and had been for a few days now, she realized. They had a secret. She narrowed her eyes at them. “Tell us what, Dad?” she said sharply.
Steve and Danny exchanged a meaningful look before Steve nodded and Danny sighed once more. “Alright, um,” he said before stopping and running his hand through his hair. He sat back in his chair.
“Are you okay, Danno?” Charlie said in his little voice.
Danny smiled at him and reached over to ruffle his hair. “Yeah, bud. It just isn’t easy to say this.”
“Well, you always say that it’s easier to just say what you need to say if you blurt it out, Danno, why don’t you try that?” Grace said with a small smile, trying to help.
Danny nodded. He swallowed hard, and glanced at Steve again. Grace saw Steve’s arm move like he was reaching over to Danny. Suddenly, she had a feeling she knew what this was about.
Danny cleared his throat and began speaking. “On the same day that we found out about Grace and Kailani’s relationship, Steve and I realized a few things about ourselves and our own relationship. He and I are now dating, and have been since that day.”
Grace squealed before leaping up and running around the table to throw one arm around Danny and the other around Steve for a group hug. “I’m so happy for you both! This is awesome!”
Kailani gave Steve and Danny a smile as she said, “Congratulations, I’m happy for you both.”
“Danno, does you and Steve dating mean you’re like Mama and Step-Stan?” Charlie asked innocently, his head tilted to the side.
Grace watched with delight as her father and Uncle Steve blushed. “Um, it’s similar, bud, but it’s not exactly the same. It means something slightly different,” Danny said.
“What’s different?” Charlie asked, as he got out of his chair so he could cuddle up to Danny’s side under his arm.
“Well, me and Steve dating just means that we want to spend time together and that we love each other. With your mom and Step-Stan… it’s different since they’re married, which is more than dating.”
“Oooh,” Charlie said.
“Do you understand?” Danny asked.
“Not really,” Charlie answered, shaking his head with an impish smile, and they all laughed.
“That’s okay, Charlie,” Steve piped up. “You’ll understand more when you’re older.” Charlie just shrugged as if to say he couldn’t care less. Grace laughed at the expression on his face as she sat back down.
“I guess this means that I’m going to have to talk to Auntie Kono,” she said with a grin. “She owes me some of her winnings from the bet.”
Danny squawked in outrage. “What! You bet on my love life with Steve?! Grace!”
Grace just laughed, letting the familiar sounds of one of Danno’s playful rants wash over her as she finished her dinner. She was happy beyond words that her dad and Uncle Steve had finally figured themselves out and admitted to themselves and each other what everyone already knew to be true.
**********
It’s here, it’s almost time, oh my gosh, I can’t believe it’s happening!
Kailani kept thinking the same thing over and over the day of the dance. The school had, wisely, decided to hold the dance on a Saturday, because otherwise every student would’ve been absolutely useless in class all day. Kailani had ended up wandering around taking dynamic photos in the morning while Grace was getting a manicure, and tried to sit still while they both got their hair done in the early afternoon. She was almost too impatient to let the hair stylist do what needed to be done (which wasn’t even that much), but managed to endure it by making faces at Grace the whole time to make her laugh (which she succeeded at, thank you very much).
Kailani was now waiting impatiently in the living room of Steve’s house for Grace to come down the stairs. Kailani had already been ready for ten minutes, and she desperately wanted to know both what Grace would look like in her dress, and what Grace would think of how she looked in her suit.
Kailani glanced over at the mirror hanging on the wall one more time, double checking her appearance. The Kameālohas had done an excellent job tailoring her suit to fit her like a glove, and she had to say that the hair stylist had done an excellent job as well. She had decided on a single breasted two piece suit in a deep burgundy color, with a black collared shirt underneath. Her normally unruly hair had been tamed so that it fell in gentle waves around her shoulders and down her back, with only a small portion of it held in a hair tie behind her head to keep it out of her face. To complete her look, she had a light pink rose boutonniere secured to her lapel that matched the corsage that Grace would be wearing on her wrist.
She had closed her eyes and taken a deep breath, trying to contain her excitement, anticipation, and her nervousness, when she heard the click of a high heeled shoe on the first step. Kailani turned to look and her breath caught; all she could do was stare.
Grace was descending the stairs as regally as a queen, and in Kailani’s mind, she looked like one too. Grace’s long, gorgeous hair had been gathered into braids giving her the appearance of having a crown on her head, with a few strands hanging loose around her face. She had chosen a beautiful light blue floor length dress. It was sleeveless, with thick straps going over her shoulders with a modest v-neck neckline. There weren’t any embellishments or embroidery, and the lines of the dress were fairly simple, with it cinched at her waist and falling to the ground with only a few natural pleats in the fabric.
Kailani was in awe. Grace was always beautiful to Kailani, every day, whether she was dressed fancy or in her pajamas rolling out of bed, but the way she looked right now stole Kailani’s breath away.
Grace smiled shyly at Kailani when she reached the bottom of the stairs, a small blush on her cheeks. “What do you think?” she asked softly.
Kailani was helpless to do anything but smile back and answer honestly. “What do I think? I think that you are the most beautiful woman on the entire planet, and I am in awe over the fact that you’re actually my girlfriend because I don’t know how I got so lucky.”
Grace giggled, blushing further. “I could say the same,” she said. “You look absolutely amazing. And that suit! Very dashing,” she added with a sly look.
Kailani bowed at the waist, keeping eye contact with Grace the whole time. The gesture may have been silly, but the intent behind it was entirely sincere. “Anything for you, my queen.”
Grace blushed but grinned. She placed her hands on Kailani’s shoulders and gently pushed her to stand upright before she stepped closer. “Anything?” she asked in a whisper, her face inches from Kailani’s. All Kailani could do was nod, captivated as she was. “Then I’d like a kiss, please.”
Kailani smiled, and pulled Grace impossibly closer with an arm around her waist. Her mind flashed suddenly to the movie that they had watched the other day, and she replied just as one of the main characters had when asked to do something, “As you wish,” Kailani whispered, unable to help herself. She hadn’t yet told Grace that she loved her, and hoped that this wouldn’t reveal too much at the moment, because she had plans . Kailani tilted her head down to kiss Grace, lingering in the kiss. A throat being cleared interrupted their moment, and they looked up to see Rachel standing at the base of the stairs, an amused look on her face.
“If you two are finished, I’d like to take some pictures?” she said, her mouth curling into a smile.
Grace giggled, hiding her face in Kailani’s shoulder, before she turned to her mother. “Sure, Mom, where do you want us to pose?” Kailani took the opportunity to slip Grace’s corsage on her wrist, Grace turning back to smile at her as she did.
“Outside!” came Danny’s voice, yelling through the open doorway in the study. Kailani, Grace, and Rachel exchanged amused looks before they walked outside, Grace and Kailani arm in arm. When they walked out the door, they stopped short at what they saw.
Part of the backyard had been transformed into an even more beautiful landscape than what it typically was. There was an archway made of palm fronds with the ocean framed behind it, with flowering plants set up in front of and around the archway. Danny and Steve stood off to the side in their suits, cameras in hand, and wide smiles on their faces.
“Did you guys do all of this?” Grace asked, her voice wobbly with the tears Kailani could see in her eyes.
Danny nodded with a smile. “We wanted to make sure this day was as special as it could be, for both of you.”
Grace grinned suddenly and quickly closed the distance between her and them to throw her arms around them in a big hug. Danny hugged her back and motioned for Kailani to join them. She walked over, surprised that he was extending the offer to her, and was pulled into the impromptu group hug. Kailani felt tears gathering in her own eyes at the sheer amount of acceptance that they were extending towards her, and cleared her throat against them as they all began to pull back from the hug.
“Alright,” Danny said, hefting his camera. “Who’s ready for pictures?”
“Oh, me, definitely!” Steve said excitedly, quickly moving so that he was standing facing the archway, ready to photograph them.
Kailani and Grace laughed as they moved to stand under the archway hand in hand. Kailani glanced over at where Steve, Danny, and Rachel were all waiting to take pictures of them and she gave a small grimace.
“You okay?” Grace asked her softly.
Kailani nodded. “I am, I’m just used to being the one on the other side of the camera,” she said.
“I understand. Focus on them as little as possible, though, okay? It’ll be over before you know it,” Grace said with a smile.
Kailani smiled back at her, and she saw a flash out of the corner of her eye. She jerked her head around to see Steve holding his camera up with a wide grin on his face.
“Candid photo,” he said with an unrepentant shrug. Kailani rolled her eyes, but she was smiling as she did.
“Okay, you two,” Rachel said. “Let’s start with a classic pose, hm? Go ahead and put your arms around each other's waists, and then we’ll go from there.” From there, they were off. Kailani had a newfound appreciation for all of her clients who requested photo shoots if this is what it felt like to be directed by the photographer to do this or that pose, or look this way, now that way. Finally, though, photos had been taken until Danny, Steve, and Rachel were all content, and now it was time to actually head to the dance. They had decided to take Steve’s truck rather than the Camaro, as it would be easier for the girls to climb into, especially Grace with her dress. When they arrived at the event hall, Steve parked the car to the side to wait for the valet.
“Do you want to head inside ahead of us?” Danny asked Grace and Kailani, turning around in his seat to do so. “It’s going to take us a few minutes since we need to register as chaperones and get our name tags and such.”
Kailani exchanged a look with Grace before she nodded. “We’ll head in, then. Thanks!”
“Have fun!” Steve said with a grin as Kailani stepped out of the car.
“But not too much!” Danny added immediately.
Kailani laughed, and turned around to see Grace shaking her head in exasperation as she scooted closer to the open door. Kailani held out a hand to help her out of the car, and Grace took it with a smile, stepping gracefully out of the truck.
“Beautiful,” Kailani couldn’t help but whisper to her.
Grace gave her a knowing look out of the corner of her eyes, but said nothing; she didn’t need to. Kailani knew everything she needed to from the light blush on Grace’s cheeks. Grace simply held out her phone, small wallet, and compact that she had brought with her to Kailani.
Kailani took them from her in surprise more than anything else, her brow furrowed. Before she could voice her question, however, Grace spoke.
“Might as well put your pockets that you wanted so badly to good use,” Grace said with a wink.
Kailani burst out laughing and quickly tucked the items away before closing the car door. “As my lady wishes,” she said. She then held out her arm for Grace to take, which she did, and they began walking to the front door of the event hall.
Most of the students and chaperones had entered the building by the time they reached the front door, so there weren’t many people around. When Kailani and Grace were only a few feet away, Kailani felt Grace tense up next to her. She turned to look at her, concerned.
“Are you alright?” Kailani asked her worriedly.
Grace took a deep breath, her eyes closed tightly. “I know it’s silly to be worrying about this now; we’re already here. But I still can’t help but think about what people are going to say when they see us.”
Kailani moved so that she was standing right in front of Grace and cupped her cheeks with her hands, causing Grace to open her eyes. “First of all, it’s not silly, not at all. It’s perfectly fine that you’re worried and nervous. Honestly, I am too. But you shouldn’t think about it, okay? Because, trust me, if anyone has an issue with us, we’ll deal with them, and if we can’t, you really think your Danno and Uncle Steve are going to let that fly?” Grace gave a small laugh at that, cheering up a bit, which was Kailani’s intention. “And second,” she added. “The only thing they're going to be thinking when they see you is about how absolutely gorgeous you look, okay?”
Grace ducked her head, smiling. “Thank you,” she said, looking back up at Kailani. She gave her a kiss on the cheek. “They’ll be thinking the same thing about you, too, you know,” she added.
Kailani wrinkled her nose. “Eh, not if you’re next to me,” she said with a shrug. Grace laughed and looped her arm through Kailani’s again. She turned them so that they were both facing the doors. Kailani could see the lights and the balloon arch right inside the doorway, and she could also hear the music. Grace took a deep breath, letting it out slowly when she exhaled.
“Ready?” Kailani asked.
“Ready,” Grace answered.
Together, they walked arm in arm through the doors and entered the event hall.
**********
When Kailani and Grace walked through the doors, they were stopped by the official photographer to take their picture, so they didn’t notice the slow ripple that went through the room as they were noticed. The students closest to them noticed their arrival first, and their whispers brought the attention of the people further away, and so on and so forth, until the whole room was talking about them, and more than one jaw had dropped.
After all, it wasn’t every day that new information came to light about one of the most well known and well-liked girls in school, one Grace Williams. Everyone in the school knew who she was (and more than a few had a small wager going as to who the tall, dark, and handsome guy was that rescued them from the gunmen at the last dance, and what his relation was to Grace’s father).
There were a few scattered comments of hopeful “maybe they’re just here as friends” and oblivious “aw, that’s cute, they’re such close friends that they came to prom together!” Most of the room, however, recognized Kailani and Grace for the girlfriends that they were, and were happy that they had found happiness with each other, which was plain on their faces for everyone to see.
The subsequent arrival and brief photoshoot of Steve and Danny in their suits, though… That caused even more of an uproar.
**********
Some time later…
Kailani almost couldn’t believe how amazing the night had been. If she didn’t know any better, she would think that she was dreaming. But no. This was all very, very real, and she felt like the luckiest girl in the world. She and Grace had mingled for a while, meeting up with their friends, answering some of the questions of their more persistent and closer friends. They had danced to silly music, eaten way too many mini meatballs, and Kailani had taken way too many pictures of Grace (though Grace had convinced her to actually be in almost as many).
Now, though, a series of soft, slow songs were being played through the loudspeakers, and many different couples had taken to the dance floor for one or more songs, including Kailani and Grace.
Elsewhere, off on the side of the room, Danny could tell that Steve had something that he wanted to say, but he couldn’t for the life of him think what it could be. The two of them had been standing off to the side of the event hall for a while now, keeping an eye on all of the students dancing wildly to the upbeat music, and having casual conversations to entertain themselves. Now though, the music had slowed down, and some of the students had taken to the dance floor to dance with their dates for the night, and were still there (Grace and Kailani included), even a few songs in. After the third time in as many minutes that Steve had turned to speak to Danny but changed his mind, Danny couldn’t take it anymore.
“Steven. Spit it out already,” Danny said a tad sharply, he’ll admit.
Steve blinked at him. “What- Danny, what are you talking about?”
“Clearly, you want to say something,” Danny replied, gesturing to Steve as he did, “So just say it, stop waffling around.”
Steve exhaled sharply, and stared at Danny, exasperated. “I’m not- I don’t waffle , Daniel,” he finally said. He then rolled his eyes, and threw his hands up. “I was trying to figure out how to ask you for a dance, okay?”
Danny instantly softened. “Yeah?” he asked him with a grin.
Steve smiled that dopey smile back at Danny that he loved so much. “Yeah,” he said. “So, how ‘bout it, Danno? Will you dance with me?” Steve held out a hand.
Danny gladly took Steve’s hand in his and nodded with a soft smile. “Absolutely, babe, I’d be happy to.”
For the next two songs, Steve and Danny were completely wrapped up in each other’s worlds. They were doing little more than swaying together to the music, but to them, it was incredibly special. After all, they never expected that they would be able to have this closeness with each other, one of their deepest secrets finally laid bare to the other, with the best possible outcome that they could’ve hoped for. They were together; and to them, that was all that mattered.
**********
Meanwhile, on the other side of the dance floor…
The current song being played was maybe the third or fourth that Grace and Kailani had danced to, Kailani had lost count, but the number didn’t matter. She was just so absolutely happy to be there, dancing with the girl she loved. And soon, very soon, Kailani was going to carry out her plan to tell Grace just how much she meant to her. She was waylaid by Grace speaking before she could say anything though.
“I’m glad we decided to come tonight,” Grace said with her head resting on Kailani’s shoulder.
Kailani couldn’t help the smile that bloomed across her face at Grace’s words. “Me too,” she whispered into Grace’s hair.
Grace picked her head up and made eye contact with her. “I’m also very glad that I get to be here with you ,” she said with a smile.
Kailani smiled back at her. “There’s no one that I would rather be here with.”
Grace seemed a bit surprised, but incredibly pleased with what Kailani said if the look on her face was any indication. “Really?”
“Of course,” said Kailani, pulling Grace tighter to her. Kailani paused for a moment, and knew that this was the moment, the one that she’d been waiting for. She swallowed hard, and held tight to her courage. “I love you,” she said.
Grace’s eyes widened, and she felt tears begin to gather in her eyes, but she was also smiling. She felt her heart swell with how happy she was at hearing those words from Kailani. Grace had hoped that Kailani’s feelings had grown to match hers, but she hadn’t known for sure. Now, she did, and could actually say the words that she had come so close to saying before.
“I love you, too. So much,” Grace said, her voice a tad thick.
Kailani felt tears gather in her own eyes as she smiled as widely as Grace did; she was just so unbelievably happy to hear Grace say that. She tilted her head down and kissed Grace, overcome with emotion.
Kailani couldn’t believe that she was allowed to do this, that this was her life now. She never thought that she would be so happy that her father had found out she was gay, but without that day she wouldn’t be where she is now, with her girlfriend, her new family, and happier than she had ever been.
To Grace, the day that they had been confronted by Kailani’s father had been absolutely terrifying, in more ways than one, and she didn’t think that she would be happy that they had gone through that. However, a part of her was. Because now, in clear view of everyone, including her dad, under the soft lights creating a romantic mood, she was able to freely be with and kiss her girlfriend.
At that moment, for Grace and Kailani, their lives were absolutely, totally, completely perfect.
There was nothing more that a girl could ask for.