November 25th, 1941

"So girls, I hear Hawaii is paradise. There's going to be so many men out there, I think the ratio is like ten to one. There's plenty of military men to go around. You girls know you can't resist a man in uniform!" Charlotte winked to the gaggle of young nurses sitting around the table eating dinner in the opulent dining room of the Polynesian Jewel heading towards Hawaii from San Francisco. The group of four nurses were from all corners of the country, but became fast friends over the last week since they boarded the steamer ship heading for their new duty station of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

Trying to make herself inconspicuous, looking down at her half eaten meal, Beth Greene blushed at the happy laughter of the girls talking about men they would possibly run into, when she had left a boyfriend back home. She was the youngest of the group, having lied about her age to join the nurse corps, to get away from her small hometown of Clayton, GA. Right about now Beth's family would be putting up the Christmas tree at church, getting everyone into the holiday spirit. Beth loved Christmastime, it was her favorite holiday with all the home baked goods and people getting together. This year, Beth wouldn't be making it back home for Christmas, being on an island in the Pacific Ocean.

Gail elbowed Beth gently, startling her out of the memories of back home. "Beth, what about you? Are you looking forward to all the dances and social gatherings? You haven't said much since we got on the boat." Gail was probably the one person Beth talked the most to, the tall redhead from Chicago made sure that every girl in the group was sociable and welcome. Beth was Gail's project child, she was quiet and kept to herself. Gail found Beth more than once writing in a journal in their shared room, rather than out exploring the ship.

"Oh," Beth began, dabbing her mouth with a cloth napkin and blushing when she felt the group's eyes on her, "Um, Yeah. I guess you could say I'm pretty excited. I just can't wait until we get there. Just think girls, the sights are going to be just gorgeous," Beth gushed, her crystal blue eyes lighting up in anticipation. The girls nodded, continuing to chatter about the reputable beauty of Hawaii, when Charlotte sought out the spotlight once more. Beth wasn't sure if she liked Charlotte quite yet. While Beth was quiet and reserved, Charlotte was a tad loud and boisterous. They were polar opposites, but had to get along since they would be working at the hospital together when they reached the shore.

"The sights I'll be keeping my eye on will be tall, tan, and handsome," Charlotte said, her emerald eyes sparkling as the girls burst into a fit of giggles. The more the girls talked about mouthwatering men in uniform, the more Beth's heart ached for Jimmy.

They were the typical high school sweethearts that everyone assumed would get married in time, but Beth had other plans. She cared for Jimmy, a lot, but she was consumed with the idea of serving her country by tending to the wounded military men. She just wished that Jimmy could see her aspirations the way she did. Jimmy was a close minded country boy that thought Beth was fit to be a housewife after high school, not a nurse, and sure as hell not thousands of miles away from Georgia. Beth loved her little hometown, but she wanted to see the word, explore it and meet new people, go to new places, and have a little fun before she settled down. She had a bit of that wandering spirit that Beth inherited from her father, Hershel.

"So, Beth what kind of man in uniform will you have your eye on?" Charlotte asked, attempting to pull the shy girl to into the lively conversation. Charlotte could tell by Beth's demeanor that she was a southern blossom, as was Charlotte. Beth was the traditional blonde haired, blue eyed petite southern belle-Charlotte was the polar opposite. She was more of the green eyed, curvy brunette that had male admirers tagging along behind her. Charlotte came straight from Atlanta and she knew Beth came from the small region of Clayton.

"Actually, I have a boyfriend back home," Beth said, tucking a loose golden curl behind her ear. The brunette pursed her cherry red lips and studied Beth's serious expression. Once more, all eyes were on Beth and she began to feel the heat creep up her neck. She didn't want to talk about Jimmy to the girls, but she had already opened that can of worms. "His name is Jimmy and he helps my daddy on the farm. He's a good guy." Beth sighed, hoping that tidbit would be enough to appease the girls' curiosity.

Charlotte cut her eyes at the blonde, like a snake hunting a mouse. "And why isn't Jimmy doing his part for the war effort, sweetie?" As far as Charlotte was concerned, every able bodied man should be out fighting the good fight against the Japs and Germans. She was jealous that Beth's boyfriend was home working the farm, while all three of her brothers were serving in the Eastern front and the Pacific theatre. Charlotte's parents had given each of their children to the war effort, doing their part.

"He's the only one left in his family. His daddy was killed in the Great War and his older brother was murdered in a gangland drive by in Atlanta. Robert was standing on the street corner outside the recruiting office when he was gunned down, along with a group of guys he was standing with waiting to sign their names." Beth choked up at the memory, everyone in the county who knew the Tully family was saddened at Mae and George's loss. Beth stood up, politely excusing herself from the group to go to bed. They would be pulling into Hawaii in the morning, and Beth wanted to make sure she was well rested.

The group of girls fell silent, no one said a word as Beth walked away. Served Charlotte right for being nosey, Jimmy was none of her concern. Beth put her hair up in rags and went to bed, she didn't even hear Gail come into the room and settle into bed herself. All the nurses needed to be rested for the long day coming, checking into work and moving into their new quarters would be exhausting, but exciting to be somewhere new. Beth was excited and nervous all the same, it would be the farthest she had ever been from home.

Beth toted her one suitcase through the maze of the pier, struggling to keep up with the other nurses. The Hawaiian sun was bright, but the weather was amazingly pleasant for end of November. The gossip Beth had heard about Hawaii was right, it was beautiful. The white sand beaches, the clear blue ocean to the majestic mountains, this was paradise.

The sound of a car horn blaring startled Beth as a large hand gripped into her arm, jerking her back into a solid chest that was standing firmly on the sidewalk. Trembling from being startled at the horn blowing, she looked up into the storm blue eyes of a man who was nearly scowling at her.

"Ya need to be careful out here honey, these folks don't know how to drive with common sense." His gruff southern drawl made Beth's heart homesick, she could recognize a southern accent anywhere.

"Thanks for saving me. I'm sorry I was just trying to keep up with my friends." Beth straightened her dress as a fresh faced young man with green eyes and a wide grin handed over her dropped suitcase.

"Here ya go doll, my name's Frank. You have a good day now." Frank stood next to the gruff southern man who still had a hold of Beth's arm. The man dropped her arm roughly, as he would after scolding a petulant child.

"Thank you Frank. And your name is?" Beth addressed the man who was scowling at her, but before he could answer, Gail took ahold of Beth's arm, pulling her across the street to the rest of the group.

"Beth! What were you doing straggling behind? You could have been run over if it wasn't for those guys!" Gail admonished, as Beth turned to look at the men in question. Frank waved, still smiling, causing Gail to smile and wave back. The stranger's eyes bored into Beth's, he was not smiling, but his face held a look of curiosity. Beth told herself if she ran into the blue eyed stranger again, that she would thank him properly and introduce herself. It was the least she could do for someone who just saved her life.

Don't kiss me if you're afraid of thunder. My life is a storm.
-Anita Kizzan

Hey guys! I hope you like this one, it's different but I think it's the start of something really great! A huge shoutout to the cowriter of this fic, Riain! She's an amazing writer and I'm honored to be a part of this! Much love -BethylAddixon