These songs mentioned in this chapter are as consistant with WWII as I could make them. And, I don't own them, either. I own nothing. Remember that before you sue!

"Are you sure that's not too dressy?" Abby eyed the wrap-around, blue dress with the plunging neckline lying across Maria's bed almost as if it were a poisonous snake.

"Oh, never! We're all dressing up tonight. See what I'm wearing?" It was a flower-print dress with just as low a neckline.

"You have more cleavage than me, Maria. I don't know if I can hold this up." She picked it up and studied it.

"You may not have to the entire night," Maria's brown eyes danced playfully. "That Bob Anderson's mighty cute."

"And knows it, too," Abby muttered. "Plus, he promised. No monkey business."

"Oh, he promised, did he? Well, I'm sure he would never go back on that." She said it in a tone that implied she was most certainly sure he would.

Abby was so nervous, you'd have thought it was her first date, so she let the comment go. "Just how do all of you get such pretty things out here?"

Maria shrugged. "Ship from home. Plus, you meet a man over here that sometimes wants to buy you something . . . you know . . . nice."

"Well, I guess I've just never had a reason to impress anyone on this crazy island. Still don't," she added hastily.

"But, all girls like to dress up."

"Tony and I used to go to the clubs when we started dating." Over two years ago. Depressing thought. But, the blue dress cheered her. It had been awhile since she'd made pains with her appearance.

"Don't forget these heels. Seems you could use a few inches, since he's taller than you." Abby saw the shoes with the wicked looking heels lying on the floor, dyed to match the dress and slipped them on.

Perfect fit.

Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

There were three others waiting in the jeep when Abby and Maria found them, and they all did a double take when they saw Abby. Except Donna.

"Well, well, well. Little miss prima donna is getting off her high horse to hobnob with lowly pilots. What a surprise."

Barbara never was Abby's biggest fan.

Abby ignored her. Catty women were a fact of life in the nursing field. She just piled into the jeep, making sure to adjust her skirt around her as she perched precariously on the back. Before Barbara started it up, Abby reached out and touched her roommate on the shoulder.

Abby was surprised Donna was even going. She had been a little under the weather lately, plus she wasn't seeing Jim anymore and spent most of her free time moping.

Donna looked at her, her eyes a little puffy.

Crying again. Never one to waste tears over a man, Abby found it galling to have to console Donna time and time again.

"Nice dress." Donna said over the roar of the engine.

"I couldn't wear any of yours. Maria let me borrow this one." Donna was taller than she was, as well as being blessed with a tiny waist. Abby was stuck with being average: height and weight.

"Bobby'll like it." Donna returned to staring out through the dirty windshield.

Abby almost retorted that she didn't care if Bobby liked it or not; all that mattered was that she liked it herself. But, Donna's mind was roaming, so Abby let it go.

She was an expert at keeping her own catty comments to herself. Barbara should take lessons from her.

The VMF-214 camp was close to the hospital, so in no time, they roared onto the grounds. Barbara slammed on brakes so hard that Abby almost sprawled across everyone else.

"Oops. Sorry," Barbara said in a syrupy sweet voice.

Abby rolled her eyes. She was quickly losing patience with this game.

But Barbara had other things on her mind. Chattering, the others clambered out in a wave of perfume and silk.

Apparently, Abby was the only one a little apprehensive about the whole thing. After all, she was spoken for, and here she was off gallivanting like some school girl! But, should she really be so nervous? It was just a little harmless fun, wasn't it?

She should have stayed home. Done her laundry. Washed her hair. Read a book. Wrote her fiancée, for goodness sakes!

The chattering group climbed the steps into the Sheep Pen, and Abby could hear the raucous welcome they received. Unaccustomed to such high heels, Abby shifted from one foot to the other, debating on just leaving. Hopping in the jeep and retreating. She'd pay some orderly to drive it back here for the girls, and no one would know. Probably wouldn't even notice judging from the laughter and music coming from inside.

Bobby was running late. Pappy had kept him busy with some errand or other, and before he realized it, it was time for the nurses to arrive. After a quick shower and shave, nicking himself with the razor and cussing Don French for using it without asking, he found himself the last one there.

He just knew one of the other guys would have already claimed her. That thought was enough to make him hurry even more.

Racing around the corner and trying to get his tie on his uniform right at the same time, he spotted her. And stopped dead in his tracks.

Holy . . .

He'd never seen her dressed up before. Uniform, civvies and even that bathing suit that he dreamed about, but never like this. Her shoulder length hair was curled and piled on her head in some sort of complicated twist that probably only involved about three bobby pins. And that dress. It fit in all the right places!

And she looked like she was going to bolt as she stood next to the jeep, staring longingly at the driver's seat.

Bobby sprung into action. He got her this far . . .

"You look like you'd rather be anywhere but here."

Abby jumped at the sound of his voice and turned, the skirt swaying about her hips. "Good Lord, Bobby! You startled me!"

Bobby tore his gaze from her dress, trying not to gawk and fumble with his tie at the same time. "You can't go anywhere because you promised."

She sighed, the familiar look of impatience on her face. "I know, I know. I promised. Here, let me do that."

Expertly, she knotted his tie. And tried not to kick herself for getting so close, so soon. "There."

"Those must be some serious heels you've got on," he teased. "You're not usually this tall."

While not quite eye-level, she most certainly was taller. All she had to do was raise her head a bit, her lips mere inches from his and . . .

"Hey, Bobby! Get your ass in here!" The party was well underway, judging from Pappy's tone of voice.

Abby jumped back guiltily, trying not to stumble in these infernal shoes.

"And what do we have here? Why, Captain Reilly! So nice of you to drop by." Pappy sauntered down the steps to greet her, much to Bobby's chagrin.

He reached out and took her hand, kissing the back of it. "You look good enough to eat, Captain Reilly."

She could feel Bobby tense behind her. "Why, Major Boyington, I don't plan on being the main course." She snatched her hand back as quickly as she could without being rude. This was his camp, after all.

Boyington just laughed uproariously and offered her his arm. "Well, you're in the right place. Safest place you can be is with this bunch. Won't nobody harm a hair on your pretty little head. Isn't that right, Anderson?"

Anderson ground his teeth in frustration. "Right."

Abby glanced behind her and gave Bobby an apologetic smile. He shook his head in annoyance and followed them inside.

Maria was right. It really wasn't so bad. After the initial surprise of seeing her there, they all settled in their usual routine.

The only one that seemed to be missing was the mechanic, Hutch. He was still feverously trying to keep the Corsairs in shape. Their back-to-back missions were taking its toll on the equipment.

Abby wondered just how these guys had enough energy and stamina for a party after what they had been through lately.

After making a big show of escorting her inside, Boyington left her alone, much to Bobby's relief. And her own. Boyington's ego was about the largest she had ever encountered, and she didn't even know if she could handle him for too long.

And, it really was amusing to watch Bobby bristle any time another man would sidle up and make a pass at her, his arm laid possessively on the back of her chair as he glared at the guy until he took the hint and left.

Come to think of it, Tony never cared one way or the other, letting her fend for herself when he was sitting right there watching.

Eventually, after every single one of them tried to get her a drink or to dance, they left her alone. Sitting in their little corner of the boisterous room, that damn crow shrieking "Bonzai!" every chance he got, she actually got to know Robert Anderson.

"It must have been lonely being an only child," she took a sip of her drink she had been nursing all night. No need to get plastered in front of these folks.

"My parents thought they could never have children. I was a late-in-life accident. They were a little lost when it came to raising me." He grinned mischievously. "No wonder I turned to a life of crime. Made things so much more interesting."

She laughed, the scotch making her feel warm and toasty inside. That, and Bobby's arm draped across the back of her chair, his fingers making lazy patterns on the inside of her arm. "So, the Marines would take you after committing grand theft auto?"

He made a face. "It was all to impress a girl."

"Did you do it? Impress her?"

"Yeah, until the cops showed up. Then, she turned on me and said I had kidnapped her or some nonsense like that."

"I'm taking it you don't get any letters from her."

"Nah. I think she's married with three kids."

She leaned back in her chair and turned just a bit to see him better. At least that's what she told himself. But, the feel of his arm across her back was too tempting. "I can't believe the Marines would save you from a life in jail."

"I think it was more that the DA couldn't resist sending such a promising young man who had made one mistake to jail. Marines was the next best thing he could think of, I guess."

"So, let me guess," she motioned towards him with her hand holding her glass, "you wanted to be a pilot because you thought it would be 'a great way to meet babes'."

"Honestly, not at first."

Abby didn't believe him.

He saw her look. "No, really. I've always wanted to fly, and all the sudden, I had this chance. So, I buckled down, completed my training and got accepted to flight school." He smiled. "The babes are just a bonus."

"Of course they are," she said sarcastically, tossing her hair over her shoulder, the smell of vanilla surrounding him, almost provocatively. Plus, the feel of the bare skin on his finger tips was about to drive him certifiably insane. He swallowed hard. "You know, you're probably the only babe – er, lady – that isn't impressed with pilots."

This time, she took a large swallow of her drink. "I grew up with them. I lived and breathed it. My dad was a pilot before he was an admiral. All my parents' friends were pilots. My brothers became pilots. Most of the people I came in contact with were pilots or friends of pilots." She shrugged. "It gets a little old after awhile."

"It must have been hard to move around like that a lot."

He paid more attention to details than she thought. She couldn't even remember when she told him that. She motioned around the room, full of loud conversations and an even noisier juke box. "It's hard to make friends when you're never in one place for long. I realized pretty fast that if I never made friends, I would never have to give them up when we up and moved again."

"That's kind of harsh." His brow furrowed.

She pushed her glass around in a circle on the table. "When I was seven, we moved to Maryland for a year. I had this girl in my school. Amanda. We were absolute best friends. Sleepovers and parties and the whole nine yards. Well, when the year was up, so was my friendship with Amanda. It hurt, and it was hard to understand for a seven year old." She blew an errant strand of hair out of her eyes, but it didn't move far.

He reached out and brushed it away. "I bet that's why you're so serious with other people. You never open yourself up to the friendships to avoid getting hurt."

She looked at him, wanting him to move his hand, but then not at the same time. He looked so serious, his dark eyes studying her morosely. "You make it sound like it's such a bad thing."

He let his hand drop. "It's not, if you want to go through life living in a protective shell."

"Hey, Bob! Let's play poker!"

Bobby rolled his eyes at the interruption. Just when he was starting to get to know her . . . "Look, guys, can't you go someplace else?"

They ignored him, settling around the table. Someone produced a deck of cards and before Abby realized it, she was looking at a royal flush, wishing she had brought more cash along.

"One dollar."

"Oooo. Big spender." French leaned in closer to the table, thinking. Finally, he tossed his cards aside. "Too rich for me. What about you, Casey?"

"I'm thinking." His brow furrowed. "OK. Call."

Maria tossed her cards aside, too. "I'm out." She eyed French and smiled coyly. "Would you like to get some air, Lieutenant?"

"Thought you'd never ask." French almost fell out of his chair following her out the door.

Only one left to bid was Gutterman, Barbara draped provocatively across him. He chewed on an unlit cigar. She and Abby eyed each other suspiciously.

Anderson had tossed his cards aside earlier. Abby turned hers, so he could see. Thankfully, he didn't even raise an eyebrow.

Gutterman eyed her. "You're bluffing, aren't you?"

She just met his stare evenly and shrugged.

"Fine. Raise you fifty cents."

Casey tossed his cards aside. "I'm out." He leaned in closer to see how this would turn out.

Abby threw in her fifty cents. "Call." She looked at Gutterman sweetly.

He tossed his cards on the table. "Full house. Beat that, sweetheart."

She heard Bobby chuckle next to her. Carefully, she laid her cards face up. Gutterman's mouth fell open and his cigar almost fell into his lap. Barbara made an unladylike snort.

Casey leaned back in his chair. "You're pretty good at this."

Abby raked her winnings into a pile. "Don't let this pretty face fool you."

Gutterman's chair scraped loudly on the wooden floor. "C'mon, doll, let's go check out the beach."

Barbara couldn't follow fast enough.

Abby shuffled the cards. "So, you two up for another hand?" The crowd had thinned considerably, only T.J. and a new pilot Abby didn't recognize talking shop at the bar.

Casey stood up and stretched. "Better hit the sack. Got a big day tomorrow. It'll be good to have you back, Anderson."

"Good to be back."

Abby thought briefly about the mission they had been desperately trying to complete. And the danger. And the possibilities of injury and death . . .

"I see that."

Bobby's voice brought her back into the here and now.

"See what?"

"You're worrying again."

She shuffled the cards faster. "The last thing I need to do is worry about you crazy bunch of cretins." She hoped she sounded nonchalant. She sure didn't feel it.

Donna barged through the door catching her attention. She had been crying again. Seemed to do a lot of that lately. Abby thought of Barbara and Jim walking out arm in arm a few moments before and figured that was the cause of the tears this time.

Her roommate snatched her purse off the bar and stumbled for the door, trying not to look anyone in the face.

"Donna! Wait!" Abby felt she had to follow. It was full dark outside, and except for the lights from the Sheep Pen, the inky darkness closed in on them. Abby caught her as she walked towards the hospital.

Donna snatched her arm out of Abby's grasp. "Just leave me alone. All of you!" But, she didn't keep barging away.

"He's not worth it, Donna. None of them are."

Donna was sobbing now, smearing her mascara across her eyes. "That's easy for you to say! You're engaged!"

"But, even he's not worth tearing myself up over." Abby had always been practical.

Donna sniffled, the music filtering from the Sheep Pen a stark contrast to her mood. "You don't understand. None of you do. Just, please. Leave me alone."

Still sniffling, she walked into the darkness, leaving Abby standing alone.

At least, she was alone until Bobby walked up behind her. She knew it was him, didn't even have to turn around.

"She alright?"

Abby shook her head. "I don't know, Bobby. I just don't know. This business with Gutterman's got her all screwed up."

"He shouldn't be parading around with Barbara in front of her."

Abby turned to face him, to see if he was kidding. But, the frown on his face told otherwise.

"What?" he asked at the look on her face. "I've always liked Donna. A little on the dumb side, but she's alright."

Abby shrugged. The breeze from the ocean felt good on her face after being in the smoky bar. "Barbara just seems to make the rounds. If I remember correctly, she was parading with you until a few weeks ago."

"There's one in every bunch," he said sensibly.

They heard the sound of giggling on the breeze, and Abby rolled her eyes. "At this rate, I won't get to bed before dawn. We all rode together, you know. And, I'm not walking back in these damn heels."

"You can't leave now."

"Why not?"

"Well," Bobby thought fast. "You haven't danced with me all night."

She made a face, trying to hide her first reaction, which was pure pleasure at being that close to him. "Really, Bobby, is that necessary? I don't want to go back in there." She mentally patted herself on the back for that good excuse.

"You don't have to. We can hear the jukebox from out here."

Drats. There went that excuse.

"It's a beautiful night, anyway. Plus, you won all my money. You owe me."

Abby relented. "Fine. One dance. But, keep your distance."

As luck would have it, Les Brown's 'Sentimental Journey' started drifting towards them from the jukebox. Abby swore she saw Casey's grinning face for an instant in the window before she stepped towards Bobby. His arms went about her waist, and she hoped like hell he couldn't feel her heart beating.

"How much did you pay Casey for playing this song?" she asked.

"I didn't pay him. You did." The silky material of her dress felt smooth underneath the palms of his hands. He resisted the urge to run his hands towards her hips.

Abby was having just as difficult a time keeping her thoughts platonic. "Huh?"

"I swiped some of my money from your winnings. So, technically, you paid him."

"You are relentless, aren't you?"

"You know it, babe."

They started out at a respectful distance, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Before Les Brown was finished crooning, she had her arms around his neck, her head laid on his shoulder, Harry James's 'Sleepy Lagoon' flowing around them.

It was an automatic response, Abby tried to tell herself. The music was lovely, and the breeze so peaceful, the palm fronds whispering softly. Abby breathed deep as they swayed, the smell of salt water mixed with his aftershave. His hands on her back felt warm, firm, strong. She shivered as he absently wrapped a strand of her hair around his finger, her insides turning to jelly.

Man, oh man . . .

"Cold?" he whispered, his voice husky, his breath tickling her cheek.

She wished it were that simple.

As Helen Forrest sang about being the last to know, thoughts randomly rushed through Abby's head like wildfire, trying to avoid what was going on between her and Bobby, but not wanting to immediately abandon the safety of being in his arms.

Bobby must've paid Casey a bundle to play all those slow songs in a row. I wonder where Donna is? What's her deal? Gutterman couldn't be that good. I hope the twins are doing well. They look just like Jimmy and Johnny at that age. The Black Sheep have a mission tomorrow. What will happen? I wonder how Kevin and Johnny are. What about Tony . . .

They had stopped swaying to the music that was still wafting in their direction. She could feel his heart beating wildly – or maybe that was hers? She wouldn't look at him, was afraid of what she'd see. Desire, for sure. She could already tell that much, pressed against him like she was.

If she let herself think of it, she'd realize she was more afraid of what he'd see on her face.

His lips brushed hers hesitantly at first, almost to gauge her reaction, to see what she would do.

She'd be lying if she didn't say his kiss surprised her, but if she had any thought of protesting, it faded away at his soft touch.

He backed off for just a moment, and realizing she wanted it as much as he did, his next kiss was more forceful. Abby gladly returned the embrace just as ardently, startling herself with the sudden increase in just plain physical want.

If she thought he was good when he tricked her into kissing her, this time was oh, so much better! His arms wrapped around her waist, almost as if they could get any closer than they already were, as her hands ran through his hair, a sense of urgency growing between them.

Tony always hated for me to mess with his hair . . . oh, shit!

Abby pushed herself away. She hadn't known how much time had gone by. One minute? One second? One hour? They stared at each other for a moment, both breathing heavily, trying to decide what to do next.

Abby straightened her hair and her dress, trying to avoid her embarrassment, her engagement ring winking in the light from the Sheep Pen.

Her engagement ring. To Tony.

"I've . . . I've got to go."

He took a step towards her. "Wait . . ."

But, she was already gone.

Once she removed her heels, the trip towards the hospital wasn't so painful. She walked fast, purposefully, hoping she didn't run across anyone to comment on her swollen lips or stubble-burned mouth.

Did what just happened really happen?

Oh, yeah. It did. Oh my, did it ever!

No one had ever kissed her like that. Or garnered such a swift and highly unmannerly reaction from her. A kiss was a show of affection, nothing more. But, kissing Bobby was almost as good as anything she had ever done physically at all.

Shows how good Tony was in the sack. She'd finally slept with him before she left for Vella La Cava, mainly to shut up his whining. It was OK. She didn't really have anything to compare it to. Tony seemed satisfied enough, giving her a peck on the cheek and rolling over, almost immediately snoring away. Leaving her with her thoughts. Wondering if sex was supposed to get any better than that, telling herself it would with time. She hoped.

But, just one touch from Bobby had her mind reeling, her body practically panting for more. He most certainly knew what he was doing. Oh, and I bet it would be good. Oh, man would it ever . . . stop it right now!

She fought the war within herself all the way to the hospital and up to her room. There was a lump in Donna's bed, and Abby breathed a sigh of relief that she was sleeping, although fitfully.

Abby removed the dress, draping it over a chair to give back to Maria. She stared at it a moment, wondering if all the excitement over dressing up was worth it. She was always so worried about Tony catting around, only because it would make her look like a fool, and now what had she done? The same thing she didn't want him to do.

And, dammit, she liked it!

This was bad. Really bad.

Shaking her head at her own foolishness, she crawled beneath the sheet and hoped for a dreamless sleep.

Bobby stared out across the ocean, the crash and boom of the waves mirroring his emotions.

He knew it would be good. Hell, he even got a glimpse of that the day he tricked her! But, he didn't know it would be that good! Her lips were so soft, and boy was she ever eager.

He wondered if they had a few more moments, if he would have carried her off some place and had her out of that dress.

He'd been with plenty women, especially out here when death was imminent. The average lifespan of a pilot was a year. One year! He would enjoy the opposite sex as much as he wanted as often as he wanted if his life expectancy was that short!

But, Abigail. She was a different story. The skin on her shoulders, her neck, her arms was so silky smooth. He wanted to know what the rest of her felt like. All of her. And it wasn't just physical. He loved the way she laughed and the way she gave him dirty looks when he said something she didn't like. He even liked the way she turned a page in her book!

He kicked the sand roughly, getting some in his boot and cursed. Knowing he was going to mess up his uniform, but not caring, he settled to the ground, taking off his boot and dumping out the sand.

He heard footsteps behind him and briefly hoped it was Abby.

It was Meatball. The bull terrier tackled him, tail wagging.

"Didn't think you'd be out here alone," Pappy said, following his dog.

Bobby propped his elbows on his knees as he sat cross-legged in the sand, pushing the dog away. "Should've known it. She's loyal to that Tony whatshisface, I'll give her that." Meatball laid down nearby with a grunt.

"Seems like a stand-up broad." Pappy remained standing next to him. "Not usually your type."

"Maybe that's what has me so damned confused."

"You weren't thinking of offing yourself, were you? Staring at the ocean like that?" Pappy teased.

"I thought the cold water might do me some good," Bobby said grimly.

Pappy settled on his haunches beside him. "Let me tell you something, Anderson. I know you don't believe me, but you've got to listen to me."

Bobby looked over at his friend and mentor. "What's that, Pappy?"

Boyington seemed to stare off across the water for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "I was in love. Once." At Bobby's startled look, he laughed. "Didn't know that, did you?"

"Well, it's just that . . . you never . . ." Bobby stammered.

Pappy waved his hand. "It was awhile back in China. I was going to marry her. Bought a ring and everything. But, when I went to pick her up for the ceremony, she was gone. Took my ring and hocked it. Left me a note. Said it was a mistake. We could both die tomorrow. You know, the usual."

"That's . . . awful." Bobby didn't know what else to say.

Pappy shrugged. "It was the best thing that ever happened to me. She was right. Wartime was no time to start anything. Your emotions are all wound up and tensions always run high. If the two of you met back in the states, you probably wouldn't even give each other a second thought."

"It's not like that . . ."

Pappy shook his finger at him. "Yes. It is. You just forget about her. Too much of a temper and a general's daughter, to boot. Not to mention spoken for. And when you get up in that plane tomorrow, she better not even cross your mind? Because if she does, I'll know. And, I'll make sure I kick your ass when I get my hands on you, understand?"

Bobby rolled his eyes, but consented. "Understood."

Pappy stood with a groan. "Now, get some sleep. We're going to be busy for awhile now." Meatball happily followed his master back to camp.

Bobby was glad when he was gone. He had a lot to sort out and not enough time to do it.