Author: Brinny (Angel of Fate)
Disclaimer: Of course I own none of the rights to Pearl Harbor. If I did, out sweet Danny wouldn't have died in the end. :::sniffles:::
Summary: The life of Daniel Walker, his journey to becoming a man. The hardships, the romance with his best friend's little sister and everything the world had to offer him.
AN: I've read a few other stories with Rafe's younger sister and Danny as love interests. Although my story does focus on that, it's not the primary basis for the story. And it's the fics of others (which are so awesome by the way) that in part inspired me to write my own.
Path of a Star
Tennessee, 1932.
"Walker steps up to the plate. Bases are loaded, two outs," young Rafe McCawley commentated, from the makeshift pitcher's mound, turning over the well worn baseball in his hand. "If McCawley strikes him out, he wins the World Series."
"If McCawley strikes him out I'll eat shit!" the slightly younger Danny Walker shouted back.
Rafe smiled crookedly at his best friend, before spitting into his hands and adjusting his grip on the ball. He wound up and threw a hard, fast curveball. Danny swung and missed.
"Strike one!" Rafe smirked. Danny shook his head and lightly tapped the wooden bat against his shoes. Rafe pitched another curveball; Danny missed that one too. "Strike two!"
"C'mon give me something good to hit!" Danny exclaimed.
"If you can't handle the heat boy…" Rafe laughed and floated Danny the next ball. This time a load crack erupted in the air as the ball went soaring out into the field.
"Dinner!" Mrs. McCawley called out from the porch of the old farmhouse. Her daughter, Elizabeth, who was standing behind her, took a seat on the front steps, tucking her skirt beneath her legs.
The two boys ran up to the house, laughing and out of breath.
"Are you staying for dinner Daniel?" Mrs. McCawley asked.
"If I'm invited ma'am," Danny replied politely.
"You always are," she ran her fingers through his brown hair, and placed her other arm around her own son.
Danny often stayed at the McCawley house, whether it was for dinner or just to avoid his own home. His mother had died just the year before and his father had beaten him for as long as he could remember. The abuse seemed to get worse after his mother had passed and Danny's only refuge was with Rafe and his family, who welcomed him with open arms.
"That's good Mama," Rafe grinned wickedly, "because Danny was just about to eat something awful tonight."
"Hey I hit that last one!" Danny protested.
"Only 'cause I let you," Rafe said darting into the house before Danny could chase him. Mrs. McCawley rolled her eyes at her son and went in after him with the reminder that there was no running in the house.
"What were you going to eat?" the small blonde asked from her spot on the steps.
"Oh, you're brother's just havin' fun with me," Danny answered and scooped her up in his arms swinging her around until she giggled. Danny was bigger than Rafe and could pick up his little sister with ease. He placed her down and gently shoved her into the house.
Elizabeth had had a crush on Danny since the day Rafe and brought him home, the poor boy following him like a lost puppy. Danny still looked like that sometimes, his brown eyes saddened and the corners of his mouth pulling into a frown. She was only a year younger than Danny, who was a whole two years younger than Rafe, but it always seemed like Danny was the oldest of them all. At fourteen he'd grown up too fast.
"Did y'all wash your hands after roughing around outside?" Mr. McCawley asked as they sat down to dinner.
"Yes sir," the three answered in unison.
"Hey, who wants to help me fix up that old crop duster I got hanging 'round the back?" Mr. McCawley questioned, while picking around at his food.
"Danny's real good at that stuff Pop," Rafe offered. Rafe wasn't much for repairing planes, but oh how he could fly them. Danny had the lucky advantage of being able to do both.
"Really?" his father raised his eyebrows at Danny.
"I'm okay I guess," Danny shrugged.
"Well you boys can join me after dinner if you want," Mr. McCawley smiled broadly.
"I should really be gettin' home after supper," Danny shifted in his seat nervously. "Daddy doesn't like me out too late."
Danny who had grown into a man at fourteen, whose father beat on him, still called his dad, Daddy. Still held a certain affection for a man who half the time couldn't care if Danny was alive or dead, as long as the beer was cold.
"Of course Danny," Mrs. McCawley nodded her head.
"So, Elizabeth, how was school today sweetheart?" her father inquired.
"Fine, I suppose," she replied indifferently.
"Rafe?" Mr. McCawley looked in his direction.
"Usual," Rafe responded. If there was something that Rafe hated with a passion, it was schooling. He just couldn't get his brain around letters, and you needed to know your words in school.
"Rafe hit a home run out in the schoolyard today," Danny boasted. "Isn't that right Rafe?"
"Wow, that's great son," Mr. McCawley said.
"Hey Pop, can Danny and me take the plane up tomorrow?" Rafe asked excitedly.
"If your chores and schoolwork are done," Rafe's mother answered for her husband.
"How come I never get to fly…" Elizabeth muttered.
"Cause you're too little, that's why," Rafe explained.
"I am not!" she protested. "I'm only a year younger than Danny—"
"Elizabeth, no daughter of mine is going to fly a plane, it's too dangerous," Mr. McCawley stated.
"But—" she began once more.
"Elizabeth Grace, this matter is closed. Do you hear me?" Mr. McCawley scowled.
"Yes sir," Elizabeth responded.
"Don't worry Lizzie," Danny whispered into her ear. He was so close, his warm breath tickling her neck that it caused Elizabeth to shiver. "I'll take you up someday."
Rafe, overhearing, leaned over and told his friend in a low voice, "Don't be making her promises you can't keep Danny."
"Who says I can't keep 'em?" Danny hissed back.
"Boys," Mrs. McCawley warned in a motherly tone. They stopped arguing but continued to silently glare at each other.
"Thanks for dinner Mrs. McCawley, but I best be on my way," Danny stood up.
"You're always welcome Danny, you know that," she smiled.
"And maybe tomorrow after you and Rafe done flying we can fix up that duster," Mr. McCawley said, between bites.
"Sure thing," Danny grinned. "Thanks again, Mrs. McCawley, it was delicious."
Danny nodded slightly to Rafe who still seemed a little upset at the idea of Danny taking his sister up in a plane. Promising her he would at that. Danny had just made it out to the front path when Elizabeth came bounding out the door.
"Did you mean it Danny?" she hollered, although he was no more than a few feet from her.
"Mean what?" Danny shook the hair out of his eyes.
"That you'd take me flying, did you mean it?" Elizabeth walked up the path towards him.
"'Course I meant it Lizzie," he grinned at her.
"Then thank you," she stood on tiptoes and lightly kissed him on the cheek.
"I will Lizzie, one day I will take you flying," Danny told her, his face flushed from where her lips had pressed against his skin.
"I'll hold you to that," she murmured softly.
"I never break a promise," he stated. "Never."
"I hope not," Elizabeth declared. "Goodnight Danny."
"Goodnight Elizabeth," Danny began walking off the path and through the field to his own house. He turned to see Elizabeth still standing there, her arms crossed over her middle, the gentle breeze blowing her cotton dress.
Just when had little thirteen-year-old Lizzie gotten so pretty?