Danny stood with his son at the edge of the fence. From what he had seen of him, he was a clever and spunky child, but also had a quieter side. Just like me, thought Danny. Oh, God. He's starting to take over my life...or my non-life, actually.
Danny Jr. looked up at Danny. "Uncle Danny?"
"What is it, son?" asked Danny before he could help it, then cursed himself for that slip of the tongue. But it couldn't do that much harm, he thought. After all, a lot of grown men called little boys "son".
"How come you don't want me to tell Mother and Uncle Rafe about you?"
How am I going to get out of this one? wondered Danny. He smiled, a troubled smile. "Well, let's just say that they probably don't want to see me at this time, but I'm still friends with them. It's just...a little hard to explain. You'll understand it when you grow older." He sighed, and put a protective arm around his son. "But I think they wouldn't mind you playing with me."
"Have you known them for a very long time?" asked Danny Jr.
Danny laughed. "Longer than you could imagine, Danny. I've known your Uncle Rafe since I was as young as you. As for your mother..." He hesitated. "I haven't known her for that long. Just a little longer than you've lived." He turned, and smiled a warm smile at his son. "Why all these questions, Danny?"
Danny Jr. shook his head. "Nothing. I was just wondering."
Danny's smile faded, and he turned to face the night sky. "I might not be coming back for the next week, Danny."
Danny Jr. gave his father a bewildered look. "Why not?"
"Have you forgotten?" asked Danny. "The day after tomorrow is December 7." He lowered his gaze.
Danny Jr. nodded.
***
Danny Jr. watched as his father disappeared into the distance. He hated not being able to tell him he knew, not being able to ask all those questions he wanted to. He had only known his father for a couple of days, and already he could feel that inexplicable bond between a son and his father. It was a feeling of unconditional love he had never felt around Uncle Rafe. He loved his father, and he knew he was loved by him. He looked forlornly at the toy plane in his hands. How would he ever endure the next week without him?
He turned, unwillingly, and started on the long trek back to the house. At least, it seemed long to him, a small boy of three. He knew it was very late already. Only a small light flickered in the livingroom window of their house, and he could faintly make out his mother in front of him, running towards him with a smile on her face.
"Where have you been, Danny?" she asked teasingly as she picked him up and he snuggled in the warmth of her arms. For answer, Danny Jr. merely held up his toy plane.
His mother laughed. "Uncle Rafe says he used to love toy planes as well." Her smile disappeared briefly. "So did your father," she said, more quietly this time.
They'd reached the house. His mother bent down, and Danny Jr. jumped out of her embrace and into Uncle Rafe's. But it didn't really feel the same anymore, thought Danny Jr. Not after he had experienced the love of a father. He loved Uncle Rafe too, of course, but it was a different kind altogether.
***
Danny was sitting on the edge of Paradise, a serene expression on his boyish face.
Betty approached him cautiously from behind. He looked so happy, she didn't want to disturb the reverie.
Danny turned. On seeing the face of his trusted friend he smiled briefly. "I went down and saw my son yesterday evening." He paused. "The feeling was...indescribable."
Betty nodded wisely. "I think that's how it feels to be a father. I mean, not that I've ever been a father," she stopped, looking flustered. "But I mean...well, you know what I mean."
Danny looked away. "I guess I do, Betty. But the more I see him the more I want to see him again, and it's so hard to stay away. I'm just digging myself in deeper and deeper. If fate had intended me to grow old with my son she wouldn't have killed me when she did."
Betty thought for a while. She had no answer to that. "Maybe she made a mistake," she offered lamely.
Danny raised his eyebrows. "Oh?"
"Well, yeah!" Betty said. "Or maybe she just wanted your son to have the best of both worlds. You and Rafe, both loving him like a son." She shrugged. "Maybe all she wanted was to spare your son from having to see you die later."
Danny sighed. "Good try, Betty, but it doesn't erase the guilt. Anyway, I told him I couldn't see him this week."
Betty nodded. "That makes sense."
***
Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, December 7 1945
Evelyn, Rafe and Danny Jr. were at Oahu for their yearly visit to Pearl Harbor. Evelyn wasn't sure that Danny Jr., being only three-and-a-half years old, was old enough to recognise the significance of this otherwise lovely place, but nevertheless she insisted on bringing him along. She had told Rafe that no matter what, her child had to grow up knowing the history she had lived through. She had to make sure the enormity of Pearl Harbor didn't diminish down the generations.
It was approaching sunset. Rafe had taken Danny Jr. to see the airplane hangars. The boy had insisted on going in the evening, because in the day almost all the planes were out flying. Evelyn was left on her own to wander about the once-more bustling harbor. It had been restored as well as possible, but now and then something caught her eye and brought back those memories of 1941. There was the occasional stray war poster, lying tattered on the ground...the busy hospital that hadn't changed one bit...the ships, the sailors, the wrestling matches.
As she passed by a pillar she thought she heard a noise. She whirled around.
She caught a faint glimpse, through the darkness, of a very familiar hula shirt before it disappeared round the pillar. She blinked, and ran over to have a closer look. But there was nobody there.
This is strange, she thought. She could have sworn she heard something, saw something...
***
Danny faded to invisible just as Evelyn came to peer around the pillar. Man, that was close, he thought, heaving a silent sigh of relief.
As he looked around him and started recognising more and more of his old friends, he decided that perhaps it would be better to stay invisible. He went over to where a whole bunch of them were gathering in the cafe. There was Red, Goose, Sandra...and their families.
Their families! he thought bitterly. If there was one thing he hated the war most for, it wasn't for separating him from his friends, nor was it for causing him to lose his wings. It was for snatching away the joys and travails of raising a family.
His friends were seated at the bar, talking excitedly. Danny drifted closer, out of curiousity.
"Have you heard?" asked Red. "I hear there's talk of setting up a memorial here."
A memorial! thought Danny. Why, that'd be perfect.
Just then Rafe walked up with Danny Jr. Rafe took a seat at the bar. "You can wander about," he told the boy, "but stay in this cafe." Danny Jr. nodded, and ran off. Rafe turned to look at Red. "What were you saying?"
"There's some rumour that there's going to be a memorial here," said Red. "But right now, it's nothing but talk."
Rafe looked overwhelmed, and when he spoke, his tone was one of joy, tinged with the sadness of the memories. "If you're right, Red, it's the best thing to have happened since the war ended." He lowered his voice, and looked right in Danny's direction. "Danny would have loved it."
Danny swallowed, blinking away the sudden tears. I do, Rafe. he thought. I do.
***
Author's Note: Hi all, here's Chapter Three for your enjoyment (hopefully). I'm not sure how to spell Goose's name, so I adapted as best as I could. Correct me if you do know. Just a little history supplement for those who don't know: The Arizona memorial wasn't built till 1961, and the Pacific War Memorial Commission was set up in Hawaii only in 1949. Thanks for your patience! And thanks to all who have encouraged me in the writing of this fanfic: you guys are the greatest. Please read and review. Flames are welcome as well. Chapter Four is on its way. ~HuntressMinerva
