1961
Red Winkle sat down at his desk after a long day at work. He rubbed his eyes from exsaughtstion. He looked at the calendar. December fifth. Tomorrow he'd be taking a flight out to Pearl Harbor for the memorial service that was held each year. Each year he saw his friends Rafe, his wife Evelyn and son Danny Jr., Anthony and Sandra, their daughter Nikki and Barbara with her son Billy Jr. Each year he went to pay his respects to his friends who didn't survive, Danny Walker (even though Danny died in the raid and not at Pearl Harbor) Billy Tate*, and his beloved Betty.
"Dad," he turned to his daughter, 'Bet'.
"Yeah?"
"I'm all packed,"
"Okay, put the stuff in the car. We're leaving early in the morning,"
"Okay," Bet left the room. Red went back to his desk. He looked at the few pictures. One of Bet, one of him with his wife Rachel and one of he and Betty.
"How are you doing?" he turned again at the door to see Rachel in the doorway.
"Its g-getting easier,"
"I know you still love her,"
"I d-do,"
"You always will, and I know this and I respect it. But you've got to let her go, it will hurt less,"
"Rach, we have this conversation every year,"
"Promise me you'll make peace with it this year. Its been twenty years,"
"I'll t-try,"
"Okay, come on dinner's ready,"
December 6
Red and Bet got off the plane and headed for baggage claim.
"Dad tell me I get my own room this year. Please? I'm seventeen," Bet picked up her backpack and began to follow her father.
"Bet, you're not an adult-"
"Please?" she continued to beg.
"F-fine. But its gonna be right next to mine,"
"Thank you!" she hugged Red and picked up her suitcase.
10:00pm
Rafe and Evelyn McCawley walked into the bar with their son Danny Walker Jr. behind them. Rafe scanned the room for a familiar face.
"Evelyn! Evelyn!" Evelyn saw Sandra waving her arm from across the room. She, Anthony, and Nikki were sharing a booth and a few table put together with Barbara, Billy Jr., Red and Bet.
"There they are," Evelyn pointed out. Rafe began to walk towards the table, Evelyn followed.
"Mom, please can't I just go back to my room?" Danny pleaded.
"Danny, come on, you haven't seen your friends in over a year. You haven't come in two years. Please?"
"Fine," Danny agreed. He followed Evelyn and Rafe. Danny hated coming every year. Every year he got the same treatment. Every year people would go 'You look so much like your father', 'You fly just like Danny', 'You look more and more like Danny every year'. He was constantly compared to the father he never knew except in his dreams.
Danny was about to approach the table when he saw Bet sitting at the end next to Nikki. Bet looked amazing. Last time he saw here when she was fifteen, she was scrawny, with braces, broken out face and her dirty blonde hair was stringy and in pigtails. Now she was full figured, skin totally cleared up and smooth, and her hair was now blonder and slightly wavy.
"Danny!" Billy called to his friend.
"Hey Billy," Danny was less enthused. "Hi Nikki. Bet."
"Hi Danny!" Nikki was a perky sixteen year old with her mothers curly brown hair and father's cocky attitude. "How are you doing?"
"Pretty good,"
"Well, sit down," as Nikki said that someone got the jut box playing a slow song.
"Bet...would you like to dance?"
Bet got a weird look on her face. She thought that Danny had hated her after their last encounter two years ago. He had totally ignored her the whole time and when he did talk to her he teased her. "S-sure. I-I'd love t-t-too." ~Damn it Bet~ she cursed in her mind. She had inherited her father's stuttering when she was nervous or excited.
Danny took Bet's hand and lead her to the dance floor. He held one of her hands and placed the other on her waist.
"Y-You know I always thought you hated me,"
"Why?"
"Last time I saw you, you teased me like crazy. And I was the only person you never talked to after the memorial. And you didn't come last year so..."
"It wasn't you. I don't come because I always get compared to my dad,"
"Rafe? You look nothing like him,"
"Rafe isn't my real dad. My dad died at the Doolittle raid,"
"Oh, I'm sorry,"
"Its okay. Its not like I knew him,"
"Mmm," she rested her head on his shoulder.
"He really looks like Danny," Anthony said to Rafe as Danny and Bet danced.
"Yeah..." Rafe stared at his glass of beer.
"So how's Rachel doing?" Evelyn asked Red.
"She's doing good,"
"That's good," Evelyn understood the loss that Red was feeling.
12:00am
Red fumbled in his pockets and found the hotel key. He jammed it in the door and walked in the room. He looked at it puzzled wondering where Bet was and remembered she was in the next room. He went to check on her.
KNOCK, KNOCK
"Bet?" He heard slight moving about and voices. "Bet?" He began to get worried. He jiggled the doorknob and the door flew open. "Holy shit!" he yelled to no one after seeing the hotel room. Danny and Bet were both in the bed, naked. "Oh God." Bet rolled her eyes and pushed Danny off her. Danny quickly dressed and ran past Red as if his life depended on it. Bet wrapped the sheet around her. "B-b-b-et!" she got up and walked to him.
"Yes, Dad?"
"W-w-what's...w-w-why..."
"What's going on?" Rafe and Evelyn had the room side Bet's. Rafe came out. "We heard you yelling' then Danny running past the door." He saw Bet standing in the doorway with the sheet. "Oh..."
"Rafe what is going on?" Evelyn came out.
"We need to talk to Danny," Rafe explained.
"Why?"
"Trust me," Rafe started down the walkway with Evelyn behind him. "Danny!"
"B-b-b-et, I-I...h-h-how c-could y-you do this?" Red struggled to get his words out.
"Dad, I'm growing up and I think I love Danny,"
"Y-you've only k-nown him f-f-for tw-tw-two hours!"
"Dad, you're stuttering, we'll talk in the morning," Bet went to close the door.
"B-Betty Lynn,"
Bet stopped in her tracks. She knew that her father only called her 'Betty' when he was extreamly upset with her. She knew he hated saying 'Betty'. "What Dad?"
"W-why did you do this?" he was calmer.
"I don't know Dad. Look, I know you're probably won't trust me now but...I don't regret sleeping with Danny. Goodnight," she went to her room.
Red sighed and went to his room. He sat on the bed and rested his head in his hands.
"Kids huh?"
Red's eyes shot open and he was afraid to look up. He knew the sound of the voice...but it couldn't be. He slowly raised his head. "B-b-b-betty?"
There, standing in front of him was his beloved Betty. She was wearing a long white dress and her hair was down. She had a bit of a ghostly look to her. "It's me Red. Don't be scared."
"W-w-w-what are you doing h-h-here?"
"I came to see you. We all came to see the ones we left behind,"
"W-we?"
"Danny and Billy. We've been watching,"
"t-t-this is un-unbelive-lieveable,"
"You look good Red,"
"You do too," there was an awkward silence. "I m-miss you B-betty."
"I know you do. I miss you too. I still remember the night you proposed to me. It was the happiest day of my life,"
"M-mine too,"
"Don't lie Red. I know that the happiest day of your life was when you had Bet,"
"I n-n-amed her af-after you,"
"I know. And I'm honored. Danny and Billy are honored their sons are named after them,"
"W-w-why did you h-h-ave to die?"
Betty smiled sweetly. "It was my time. And if I didn't die, you would never have had Bet. I know you love her more than me. More than Rachel,"
"I love you more than Rachel," he confessed. "I'm not even sure if I love her."
"You do. You still hurt because of me. You need to let go. You're just making things worse for you. Worse for Rachel...and Bet,"
"I s-st-t-still miss you,"
"You always will. But Red I'll always be here," she touched where his heart was. "Its okay to remember me...but don't mourn me. I love you so much Red, but its time to let go."
"B-Betty-"
"Good-bye Red," she lightly kissed his lips and began to disappear.
"Betty don't leave!"
"Shhh. I'll always be with you," she faded away leaving Red alone in the dark.
*****************************************************************************************************
December 7
Many soldiers and marines stood on the memorial for Pearl Harbor. Rafe and Evelyn stood hand in hand listen to the speech. Evelyn was on bridge of tears. Rafe tried to keep a strait face. Both still blamed themselves for Danny's death. Barbara stood with Billy next to her. She leaned on her son for support. Sandra, Anthony and Nikki stood silently. Red was standing next to Evelyn. Danny and Bet were standing hand in hand.
Danny had gotten the talk of his life the night before after Rafe had caught up with him. Bet felt bad. She felt bad for saying what she had said to Red the previous night. The sound of trumpets broke Bet's thoughts. She looked up after they were over.
"Bet...meet me in the garage. I wanna show you something," Danny said to her.
"Okay," Danny walked off and Bet walked to Red. "Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for losing your trust and probably your respect-"
"You could never lose my respect Bet,"
"D-Dad...I don't re-regret sleeping with D-d-danny but...if I lost your trust then I'll stop seeing him,"
"Bet...you can con-continue to see Danny, I st-still trust you,"
"Really?"
"Really. I think he's waiting for you,"
"Thank you Dad!" she hugged him then left in a hurry. Red actually smiled.
"Red, we're going to the bar to have a drink. Ya know like old times," Anthony said.
"K-kay," Red shook his head and followed the group.
~Is he okay?~ Danny Sr. asked Betty.
~He'll be fine,~
A plane flew over the head of the ghosts head. Danny, Betty and Billy Sr. looked up.
~That was Danny and Bet,~ Danny said.
~Just like his old man,~ Billy laughed. ~Next stop, parachute hold.~
~You knew about that?~
~Everyone knew about that, come on. Lets go watch the party,~ Billy walked off and Danny soon followed. Betty looked at Red and smiled.
~He'll be fine,~
________________________________________________________________________
Quick disclaimer- the only people that are mine are Rachel, Bet, Billy Jr., and Nikki. Please remember to review.
PS- If you'd like to see a squeal to this with Bet and Danny Jr. Let me know. But I need at least 8 reviews to do so.
Red Winkle sat down at his desk after a long day at work. He rubbed his eyes from exsaughtstion. He looked at the calendar. December fifth. Tomorrow he'd be taking a flight out to Pearl Harbor for the memorial service that was held each year. Each year he saw his friends Rafe, his wife Evelyn and son Danny Jr., Anthony and Sandra, their daughter Nikki and Barbara with her son Billy Jr. Each year he went to pay his respects to his friends who didn't survive, Danny Walker (even though Danny died in the raid and not at Pearl Harbor) Billy Tate*, and his beloved Betty.
"Dad," he turned to his daughter, 'Bet'.
"Yeah?"
"I'm all packed,"
"Okay, put the stuff in the car. We're leaving early in the morning,"
"Okay," Bet left the room. Red went back to his desk. He looked at the few pictures. One of Bet, one of him with his wife Rachel and one of he and Betty.
"How are you doing?" he turned again at the door to see Rachel in the doorway.
"Its g-getting easier,"
"I know you still love her,"
"I d-do,"
"You always will, and I know this and I respect it. But you've got to let her go, it will hurt less,"
"Rach, we have this conversation every year,"
"Promise me you'll make peace with it this year. Its been twenty years,"
"I'll t-try,"
"Okay, come on dinner's ready,"
December 6
Red and Bet got off the plane and headed for baggage claim.
"Dad tell me I get my own room this year. Please? I'm seventeen," Bet picked up her backpack and began to follow her father.
"Bet, you're not an adult-"
"Please?" she continued to beg.
"F-fine. But its gonna be right next to mine,"
"Thank you!" she hugged Red and picked up her suitcase.
10:00pm
Rafe and Evelyn McCawley walked into the bar with their son Danny Walker Jr. behind them. Rafe scanned the room for a familiar face.
"Evelyn! Evelyn!" Evelyn saw Sandra waving her arm from across the room. She, Anthony, and Nikki were sharing a booth and a few table put together with Barbara, Billy Jr., Red and Bet.
"There they are," Evelyn pointed out. Rafe began to walk towards the table, Evelyn followed.
"Mom, please can't I just go back to my room?" Danny pleaded.
"Danny, come on, you haven't seen your friends in over a year. You haven't come in two years. Please?"
"Fine," Danny agreed. He followed Evelyn and Rafe. Danny hated coming every year. Every year he got the same treatment. Every year people would go 'You look so much like your father', 'You fly just like Danny', 'You look more and more like Danny every year'. He was constantly compared to the father he never knew except in his dreams.
Danny was about to approach the table when he saw Bet sitting at the end next to Nikki. Bet looked amazing. Last time he saw here when she was fifteen, she was scrawny, with braces, broken out face and her dirty blonde hair was stringy and in pigtails. Now she was full figured, skin totally cleared up and smooth, and her hair was now blonder and slightly wavy.
"Danny!" Billy called to his friend.
"Hey Billy," Danny was less enthused. "Hi Nikki. Bet."
"Hi Danny!" Nikki was a perky sixteen year old with her mothers curly brown hair and father's cocky attitude. "How are you doing?"
"Pretty good,"
"Well, sit down," as Nikki said that someone got the jut box playing a slow song.
"Bet...would you like to dance?"
Bet got a weird look on her face. She thought that Danny had hated her after their last encounter two years ago. He had totally ignored her the whole time and when he did talk to her he teased her. "S-sure. I-I'd love t-t-too." ~Damn it Bet~ she cursed in her mind. She had inherited her father's stuttering when she was nervous or excited.
Danny took Bet's hand and lead her to the dance floor. He held one of her hands and placed the other on her waist.
"Y-You know I always thought you hated me,"
"Why?"
"Last time I saw you, you teased me like crazy. And I was the only person you never talked to after the memorial. And you didn't come last year so..."
"It wasn't you. I don't come because I always get compared to my dad,"
"Rafe? You look nothing like him,"
"Rafe isn't my real dad. My dad died at the Doolittle raid,"
"Oh, I'm sorry,"
"Its okay. Its not like I knew him,"
"Mmm," she rested her head on his shoulder.
"He really looks like Danny," Anthony said to Rafe as Danny and Bet danced.
"Yeah..." Rafe stared at his glass of beer.
"So how's Rachel doing?" Evelyn asked Red.
"She's doing good,"
"That's good," Evelyn understood the loss that Red was feeling.
12:00am
Red fumbled in his pockets and found the hotel key. He jammed it in the door and walked in the room. He looked at it puzzled wondering where Bet was and remembered she was in the next room. He went to check on her.
KNOCK, KNOCK
"Bet?" He heard slight moving about and voices. "Bet?" He began to get worried. He jiggled the doorknob and the door flew open. "Holy shit!" he yelled to no one after seeing the hotel room. Danny and Bet were both in the bed, naked. "Oh God." Bet rolled her eyes and pushed Danny off her. Danny quickly dressed and ran past Red as if his life depended on it. Bet wrapped the sheet around her. "B-b-b-et!" she got up and walked to him.
"Yes, Dad?"
"W-w-what's...w-w-why..."
"What's going on?" Rafe and Evelyn had the room side Bet's. Rafe came out. "We heard you yelling' then Danny running past the door." He saw Bet standing in the doorway with the sheet. "Oh..."
"Rafe what is going on?" Evelyn came out.
"We need to talk to Danny," Rafe explained.
"Why?"
"Trust me," Rafe started down the walkway with Evelyn behind him. "Danny!"
"B-b-b-et, I-I...h-h-how c-could y-you do this?" Red struggled to get his words out.
"Dad, I'm growing up and I think I love Danny,"
"Y-you've only k-nown him f-f-for tw-tw-two hours!"
"Dad, you're stuttering, we'll talk in the morning," Bet went to close the door.
"B-Betty Lynn,"
Bet stopped in her tracks. She knew that her father only called her 'Betty' when he was extreamly upset with her. She knew he hated saying 'Betty'. "What Dad?"
"W-why did you do this?" he was calmer.
"I don't know Dad. Look, I know you're probably won't trust me now but...I don't regret sleeping with Danny. Goodnight," she went to her room.
Red sighed and went to his room. He sat on the bed and rested his head in his hands.
"Kids huh?"
Red's eyes shot open and he was afraid to look up. He knew the sound of the voice...but it couldn't be. He slowly raised his head. "B-b-b-betty?"
There, standing in front of him was his beloved Betty. She was wearing a long white dress and her hair was down. She had a bit of a ghostly look to her. "It's me Red. Don't be scared."
"W-w-w-what are you doing h-h-here?"
"I came to see you. We all came to see the ones we left behind,"
"W-we?"
"Danny and Billy. We've been watching,"
"t-t-this is un-unbelive-lieveable,"
"You look good Red,"
"You do too," there was an awkward silence. "I m-miss you B-betty."
"I know you do. I miss you too. I still remember the night you proposed to me. It was the happiest day of my life,"
"M-mine too,"
"Don't lie Red. I know that the happiest day of your life was when you had Bet,"
"I n-n-amed her af-after you,"
"I know. And I'm honored. Danny and Billy are honored their sons are named after them,"
"W-w-why did you h-h-ave to die?"
Betty smiled sweetly. "It was my time. And if I didn't die, you would never have had Bet. I know you love her more than me. More than Rachel,"
"I love you more than Rachel," he confessed. "I'm not even sure if I love her."
"You do. You still hurt because of me. You need to let go. You're just making things worse for you. Worse for Rachel...and Bet,"
"I s-st-t-still miss you,"
"You always will. But Red I'll always be here," she touched where his heart was. "Its okay to remember me...but don't mourn me. I love you so much Red, but its time to let go."
"B-Betty-"
"Good-bye Red," she lightly kissed his lips and began to disappear.
"Betty don't leave!"
"Shhh. I'll always be with you," she faded away leaving Red alone in the dark.
*****************************************************************************************************
December 7
Many soldiers and marines stood on the memorial for Pearl Harbor. Rafe and Evelyn stood hand in hand listen to the speech. Evelyn was on bridge of tears. Rafe tried to keep a strait face. Both still blamed themselves for Danny's death. Barbara stood with Billy next to her. She leaned on her son for support. Sandra, Anthony and Nikki stood silently. Red was standing next to Evelyn. Danny and Bet were standing hand in hand.
Danny had gotten the talk of his life the night before after Rafe had caught up with him. Bet felt bad. She felt bad for saying what she had said to Red the previous night. The sound of trumpets broke Bet's thoughts. She looked up after they were over.
"Bet...meet me in the garage. I wanna show you something," Danny said to her.
"Okay," Danny walked off and Bet walked to Red. "Dad?"
"Yeah?"
"I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I'm sorry for losing your trust and probably your respect-"
"You could never lose my respect Bet,"
"D-Dad...I don't re-regret sleeping with D-d-danny but...if I lost your trust then I'll stop seeing him,"
"Bet...you can con-continue to see Danny, I st-still trust you,"
"Really?"
"Really. I think he's waiting for you,"
"Thank you Dad!" she hugged him then left in a hurry. Red actually smiled.
"Red, we're going to the bar to have a drink. Ya know like old times," Anthony said.
"K-kay," Red shook his head and followed the group.
~Is he okay?~ Danny Sr. asked Betty.
~He'll be fine,~
A plane flew over the head of the ghosts head. Danny, Betty and Billy Sr. looked up.
~That was Danny and Bet,~ Danny said.
~Just like his old man,~ Billy laughed. ~Next stop, parachute hold.~
~You knew about that?~
~Everyone knew about that, come on. Lets go watch the party,~ Billy walked off and Danny soon followed. Betty looked at Red and smiled.
~He'll be fine,~
________________________________________________________________________
Quick disclaimer- the only people that are mine are Rachel, Bet, Billy Jr., and Nikki. Please remember to review.
PS- If you'd like to see a squeal to this with Bet and Danny Jr. Let me know. But I need at least 8 reviews to do so.