```ts
export function thawRow(row: string, steps: number): string {
  if (typeof row !== 'string' || row === '') throw new Error('Invalid row');
  if (!Number.isInteger(steps) || steps < 0) throw new Error('Invalid step count');

  const melt = (r: string): string => {
    return r.replace(/(^\.|.$|\.(?=\.)|\.(?<=\.)\.)/g, '.');
  };

  for (let i = 0; i < steps; i++) {
    row = melt(row);
  }

  return row;
}
```