Steve doesn't think he's ever seen something this gorgeous, and in all his travels during his time in the Navy and his life in Hawaii, he's seen a lot of beautiful sights. But there's something about Danny Williams barefoot in a t-shirt and boxers, blonde hair sleep-mussed and fluffy, pacing Steve's living room with a baby in his arms that sets Steve's heart all a flutter.

And it's not a sight he ever thought he'd honestly see. Had someone asked him just a few years ago when he met the Jersey cop in his dad's garage, them both aiming guns at one another, he'd have said they were insane.

But then he'd have said they were just as lolo if they had implied he might fall in love with his partner too. The craziness of the concept still didn't stop it from happening, though. It's just a shame it's the unrequited kind, because as far as Steve is aware Danny is straight as an arrow - he's got an ex wife and two kids, after all - and, even if he's not, the likelihood he might feel the same way about his boss is slim to none.

Right now, though, Steve is watching this gorgeous scene unfold before him and it's a damn dream in action, a wish he didn't know he'd ever made come true.

Mary is back in town for a few days and she's brought little Joan with her, but with his sister wanting to use the Friday night to catch up with a few old school friends (or, rather, stay out all night, get unbelievably drunk with some girls she hasn't seen in years and harass the local men) Steve had stepped up and volunteered to babysit her daughter. It gives him brownie points with his sister, and some much needed bonding time with his growing niece.

Thing was, he'd completely forgotten to tell Danny that their usual Friday night beer-and-football-on-the-TiVo wind down session would need to be cancelled, so Steve was just putting Joan down for a sleep when his best friend turned up at the door with a six pack of Longboards.

Now Steve isn't one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and he's fully aware Danny is a fantastic dad, so when the opportunity presents itself for Steve to get some skilled, experienced help in the baby department, he'll damn well take it. He's not an idiot.

Plus there's no way he would want to turn down quality time with Danny.

So he waved off Danny's offer to leave him alone with Joan, guided him to the couch and flicked on the TV. And then Joan got fussy and Danny showed Steve how to swaddle her to get her back off to sleep, and after the SEAL had officially designated his partner the Baby Whisperer they settled back in for a few more beers - a few too many on Danny's part.

By the time the blonde had realised he'd had too much alcohol to drive home again, it was too late. He stated he would take the couch to sleep off the beer, and shortly after midnight Steve had taken Joan up to her crib in the spare room and gone to bed himself.

Now it was two in the morning and Joan had woken her uncle up crying for a bottle, so Steve had made his way downstairs and crept through the living room and into the kitchen to make up a feed for her, hoping her loud complaining from upstairs wouldn't wake up his dozing partner. He'd been in the kitchen for only a couple of minutes before Joan's cries had ceased, and once he'd gotten her bottle together Steve had been prepared to sneak back upstairs and feed her.

What he definitely wasn't prepared for was coming back into the living room to find Danny, who had evidently switched the side table lamp on and responded to Joan's wailing by going to fetch and soothe her, walking his niece around the room and looking ridiculously adorable. He's got one hand under her bottom, supporting her weight where she's cuddled into her adoptive uncle and enjoying his body heat, and the other is alternating between stroking her back in large, calming circles and smoothing down her hair. Her chin is on Danny's shoulder and her eyes are closed, and he is apparently succeeding in sending her back to sleep.

Because he is singing.

God damn it, as if everything else isn't enough to melt Steve's heart and make him weak at the knees, Danny is singing to Joan to calm her. It's quiet and soft, as if Danny thinks Steve might still be upstairs asleep and he's trying not to wake him, but he is definitely singing.

Steve takes a step back into the kitchen and hides behind the pillar of the archway so that Danny won't spot him, discarding the bottle of formula on the side and straining his ears to pick up the notes and words. It's a song he thinks he vaguely recognises from the radio, though he's not sure, but regardless it sounds beautiful in Danny's dulcet tones.

He had no clue that Danny could sing, and seeing as they've been partners for a good four years now he's actually a little annoyed he never knew that fact. He's practically made it his mission over the years to know everything about his Jersey-born friend, but there's only so much a file of academic and professional achievements will tell you - it's little tidbits like this that still manage to surprise him about the detective.

Danny's voice drifts over to Steve as he moves a little closer to the kitchen on his journey around the room, and he closes his eyes to try and fully engage with the song.

"Lonestar, where are you out tonight? This feeling I'm trying to fight…"

Steve breathes out a sigh at that line, knowing full well what it's like to push away the need he has for Danny.

"...It's dark, and I think that I would give anything for you to shine down on me…"

He bites his lip. This song is not just soothing Joan back to sleep, it's speaking directly to Steve's heart and making him ache to act on his feelings for his best friend.

There's a short pause before Danny moves on to the second verse.

"How far you are, I just don't know. The distance I'm willing to go…"

Steve feels himself take a step forward before he even knows he's made the decision, because he's always been willing to traverse any distance for Danny, and tonight is apparently the final straw that breaks him.

"...I pick up a stone that I cast to the sky, hoping for some kind of sign…"

Just as Danny sings that line, his gaze drifts up to the kitchen doorway and he spots Steve watching him, freezing in his path. His cheeks flush crimson, breath catching, and the embarrassment is evident, but before he can say anything Steve shakes his head gently and gives his partner a soft smile.

"Don't stop," he whispers almost urgently, desperate to keep hearing that gorgeous voice, "Keep going. Please?"

Maybe it's the way Steve asks nicely, perhaps it's the pleading look in the SEAL's eyes, or possibly it's because Joan stirs in his arms again, but Danny only pauses for a few seconds before he continues once more, repeating the first verse over again. He sings it a little louder this time, now that he's aware Steve isn't going to be woken by his voice, and his eyes stay locked with the Navy man's like he can't break their link.

"Lonestar, where are you out tonight? This feeling I'm trying to fight…"

There's a tiny, almost indistinguishable tremor to his voice and suddenly Danny drops his gaze away, but not before Steve detects a brief flicker of something pass through the ice blue, and instantly it all makes sense. Danny has always worn his heart on his sleeve, been honest about every part of him, so Steve has never once suspected that his partner might be hiding anything… but he has been. Steve recognises it instantly, but only because he knows it so well - that sensation of deep longing and fear of rejection that he's held inside the pit of his own stomach almost since the day he met Danny.

His best friend feels exactly the same way he does. This whole time, Steve has been pining for a love he never thought he could have and, as it turns out, Danny has been holding back for likely the exact same reasons.

He could kick himself. Why had he never seen this before? It occurs to him that maybe they've never been this exposed before. The unexpected encounter, the vulnerability of being half asleep at 2am combined with the relevance of the song Danny had inexplicably chosen was apparently all they had needed.

Steve realises all of this in the momentary gap between one line of the song and the next, and he immediately knows what he has to do about it.

"It's dark, and I think that I would give anything…" Danny continues to sing, his eyes darting back up to the brunette to track him as Steve moves towards him from across the room.

They're less than a foot apart now, and the detective's eyes are wide as he anticipates what his friend is about to do. Steve can almost read the questions rushing through Danny's mind; his hesitation still stemming from embarrassment, wondering if Steve is just coming over to take Joan from his arms or, maybe, something else. He looks hopeful, and Steve's heart twists in his chest.

"...For you to shine down on me…"

Danny's eyes drift shut seconds before Steve is leaning down and pressing their lips together. The kiss is careful, tentative at first while they find their feet, and then Steve is bringing his hand up to cup Danny's jaw and his tongue is running along the blonde's lower lip.

Danny opens to him, sighing when Steve gently probes his mouth; seeking, investigating, asking the question which the Jersey man quickly answers as he steps closer into his partner and changes the angle of his head, returning the kiss with feeling.

Danny is still holding Joan, both hands supporting her and unable to reach out physically, but somehow he still lets Steve know that he would be embracing him if he could, hands roaming and grasping to anchor them both in the moment. Steve slides his own hand from Danny's face up into his hair, the other settling on his partner's bicep and squeezing gently.

They break apart slowly, reluctant to let the moment end but needing to breathe, and when Steve finally opens his eyes he sees that Danny's are still closed, his face tilted upward like he hasn't quite recovered enough to realise the kiss is over.

There is nothing but the sound of their quickened breathing for a moment while they collect themselves, and then Danny swallows past the dryness in his mouth and clears his throat to try and speak.

"Well," he says, licking his lips and opening his eyes to look up at Steve from inches away, "That was… unexpected."

Steve chuckles, relief washing through him as he realises that he's finally taken that leap. The one thing he thought he could never find the courage to do, and he's done it - that kiss was the first step in admitting his true feelings to Danny, and it appears that the same goes for his friend judging by the way he's gazing up at Steve from under low, golden lashes.

"I couldn't resist, not after hearing you sing that song," Steve confesses, shrugging, "It said everything I needed to say…"

"Well, I guess I'm indebted to Norah Jones for making that happen, then," Danny grins, and it's so much like sunshine that Steve's stomach does a small flip and he feels his own mouth curve upward at the corners because, damn it, Danny's gorgeous smile is infectious.

The blonde opens his mouth to say more, but Joan makes a small noise and shifts in his arms, drawing their attention to her.

"I was gonna feed her, but the Baby Whisperer has worked his magic again," Steve murmurs, keeping his voice low so as not to wake her again, "Guess I should take her back up?"

Danny shrugs as much as he can with a baby in his arms. "Best not to risk disturbing her by handing her to you," he reasons, "I'll bring her up."

He follows Steve as the Navy man heads up the stairs and into the spare room, laying Joan down carefully in her cot before stepping back. They both hold their breath for a moment, praying she doesn't stir, and when it looks like she's down for the count Steve slides his fingers around Danny's wrist and tugs him from the room, closing the door quietly behind them.

He turns to face the Jersey man, and suddenly both of them are timid schoolboys, unsure of what to do.

"So," Danny begins, finding his voice, "What, uh… what happens now?"

Steve rubs the back of his neck and shrugs. "I dunno, I guess we take things slowly? I mean, I haven't been in a proper relationship in what seems like a really long time. Navy life didn't really allow for that and Cath was only ever casual. I can't guarantee I'm going to be good at the whole boyfriend thing…"

Danny snorts, his eyes sparkling. "When I said 'what happens now', I meant now now. As in… am I still on the couch tonight, or what?"

Steve feels his cheeks heat up as he realises he's dived right in without testing the waters first, dropping his gaze to the floor out of embarrassment, but Danny's fingers slip under his chin to bring his eyes back up to meet the shorter man's.

"But boyfriend?" Danny smiles, "That sounds good to me."

Steve lets out a heavy breath and feels his muscles relax, a grin spreading across his face again. His eyes travel down Danny's face to his throat, his broad shoulders and solid chest under that soft-looking cotton, and the SEAL's hand tightens around his friend's wrist again.

His need is deepening, a desire to be physically close to Danny now that it's an option lights a fire in his belly, and suddenly all Steve wants is Danny Williams, skin to skin and lips on lips, and nothing else can compare.

He pulls the Jersey man towards his bedroom door, hauling him across the threshold.

"I don't know what the future holds for us, Danno," he smiles as he pulls Danny in close and plants another solid kiss on the detective's lips, "But you're definitely not going back to that couch tonight…"