They never talked any more about it – the roaming hands, the kissing.

Christmas came and went. Pua never came back for the tree, and Danny never bothered to ask why. He knew.

Steve.

Work was quiet. For once there seemed to be a pause in criminal activity over the holidays. Not that anyone complained. It was simply a sad fact that Danny now found himself alone on New Year's Eve. Grace would return from a trip to the mainland in a few days. Kono and Adam were tucked away at some secluded spot on another island. And Chin had romantic plans of his own.

Danny had been afraid to ask Steve what he was doing. He was afraid to go near him. Too many feelings had been stirred up. And maybe he wanted to be alone tonight.

To sort out the conflicting thoughts in his head. To tamp down the demons best he could. But they always came back in the form of his biggest failure. Matty

So maybe part of him wanted to be alone to sulk, to toast the New Year by himself. The first one without the possibility of his brother's return.

But also the first with new firsts – if that made any sense.

Steve.

His god damn, gung ho, infuriating partner.

Steve and that damn mistletoe.

The football game.

The arguing.

The pilfered Christmas tree.

Lord knows he couldn't be angry with him for long. Steve was never good at romantic gestures. He didn't have much experience in that department.

Danny didn't need to ask any of Steve's girlfriends for their thoughts on that subject.

Frankly he wasn't sure why his mind had gone that direction in the first place. He had no idea what his best friend might have planned if he had expressed an interest in hanging out on this most auspicious of nights. So he didn't say a word. In fact, he'd avoided Steve all day. Timed his trip to the office to finish up some paperwork for late in the evening, hoping to find the office empty.

And so here he was without a date on New Year's Eve.

Until his crazy best friend appeared in his office doorway, startling him so much he didn't see the champagne until Steve held it up. Triumphant grin plastered on his face.

"Couldn't let you celebrate the New Year alone, buddy."

Totally oblivious to the fact that Danny was in the midst of brooding. Or maybe Steve did notice and he chose to roll right over the pity party in progress.

"I woulda thought you'd be off somewhere blowing things up or taking target practice."

"Nah, this is better." Steve produced two glasses from thin air.

"You're toasting my misery?"

"Hey, I'm serious."

"So was I."

"Danny."

"Don't Danny me. And don't touch me either."

"You mean, like this?" Steve leaned down and gave Danny a peck on the cheek.

"Hey, whoa!" Danny shrugged away. "Aren't you supposed to wait til the ball drops?"

"What? You mean like the groom not seeing the bride before-"

"Seriously Steven? Comparing our kiss to a wedding? Where the hell did that come from?"

"Worked didn't it?"

Danny was on his feet. "What?"

"Got you all riled up, didn't it?"

"That's your goal? Pissing me off?" Danny's face was beyond red.

Steve was all balls and bravado, hands on his hips. "Maybe."

"Maybe what?"

"Maybe I like to piss you off."

"What? Why?"

"Because you let your guard down." Steve didn't break eye contact though Danny's stare was burning holes straight through him. "And I can do things like this."

He kissed Danny – this time on the lips – and ran a hand through his partner's hair while the other hand snaked around his partner's waist to hold him in place. And there was no way he could have missed Danny's obvious shiver despite the fact he was paying more attention to the taste of his mouth. Peppermint and coffee. Always coffee.

Steve broke the kiss and to his surprise, Danny didn't move too far. Instead he simply turned, resting his head against Steve's shoulder with a sigh. Which was fine. They could stay that way all night.

"It's almost midnight." Danny was the first to speak. Lips brushing against that spot where shoulder and neck met. Steve's response was a nod.

"Yea." He slid his hand down Danny's back, fingers just a whisper under Danny's waistband.

"The toast and all. Champagne."

"Champagne." Steve murmured, eyes closed. "A toast to us."

Danny pushed away. "Us? There you go again with that us stuff again."

"So? I kinda like the sound of it." Steve grabbed the bottle and began opening desk drawers.

"Hey – what?"

"Found it!" His trademark goofy grin flashed across his face like a kid who just found a long lost toy in the sandbox.

"A cork screw? Where'd?" Danny shook his head. "You put that in my desk?"

"Say it again, Danny. Screw."

"Stop, you're-"

"Incorrigible?"

"Yea, where'd you learn such a big word?"

"You'd know about big." The grin was back.

"What are you? Now you're just being an idiot. Pop the damn top, would you? It's almost midnight."

"You said that already."

Steve opened the champagne and filled their glasses with seconds to spare. Handing Danny a glass, he smiled.

"To us."

Danny blinked. "To a safe and happy year. Nothing blowing up."

"Where would the fun in that be?"

They drank the bubbly and laughed. Danny surprised his partner by refilling their glasses.

"You trying to get me drunk?" Steve wiggled his eyebrows.

"No, no that would be too easy."

"You don't make any sense."

"This." Danny gestured between the two of them, spilling a bit of the sparkling liquid. "We don't make any sense."

"So?" Steve took the glasses from Danny and set them on the desk. "Why do we have to make sense?"

"Wait." Danny put his hand on his partner's chest. He knew Steve well enough to know a strategic strike was on the way. He had to put the brakes on any moves by the not so Smooth Dog in front of him. "Aren't we supposed to make resolutions? Smoke a few cigars? Sing Auld Lang Syne or something?"

Steve backed his best friend into a corner and onto the couch.

"Maybe my resolution is you, Danny."

"You really do know how to turn a guy on, Steven." Danny groaned.

/././

A Merry Happy New Year to all of you!