Christmas 1945
"They're here! They're here," young Danny said as he ran through the kitchen and out the door onto the porch.
Evelyn smiled, drying her wet hands on a tea towel. "Slow down, Danny!" she called to the excited boy. Looking into the oven she saw that the cookies were close enough to being done. She took them out and followed her son, grabbing his coat and her sweater on the way.
The black car was just rounding the barn as she stepped onto the porch. Danny was hopping up in down with excitment. He had missed Grace desperately. Evelyn put his coat on him and then sent him off. She waved happily at the car's occupants. She had missed her friend too. She and Kate had exchanged weekly letters, so they knew everything that was going on in each other's lives, but it wasn't the same as sitting across the table peeling veggetables or chatting over a cup of tea while the kids played outside.
Stepping down the stairs, Evelyn reached for the passenger door. She laughed lightly at Kate's green face. "Some things never change," she said, offering Kate a hand out.
"I hate this damn car," Kate said through clenched teeth.
Rafe, who had come up from the barn, laughed. "You're not going to pass out on me are you?"
Kate tried to glare at him, but failed miserably. "I just might...so you be nice to me Rafe!"
"I'll get Sam...if that's okay," Evelyn said. "You go on inside. I have some hot water going. Danny!" she said to her son, "leave the door alone. I'll get it. Grace is on the other side," she shooed him around the car, smiling again at his excitment. Picking up the sleeping baby she followed Kate into the kitchen.
Rafe picked up Danny as he ran around the car. "Hey, boy...slow down. Grace is sleeping, see," he said, holding him to the car window. "Why don't you say hi to your uncle."
"Hi Uncle Danny," he said, leaning to give Danny a hug. "Can you wake up Grace now?"
Danny laughed, setting the squirming boy down. "I guess I can. Hey Rafe," he said to his friend, shaking his hand. "It's good to be home."
"You're looking good," Rafe said, smiling. "Don't look too worn out."
"It's not too bad yet," Danny replied. Opening the back door, he unbuckled Grace. "Hey, Gracie," he whispered. "We're here. Time to wake up. Danny's waiting for you."
Her eyes fluttered open briefly, but she didn't wake up. Danny picked her up. "You know," he said to Rafe and Danny, "she talked the whole way here about seeing you guys, and then fell asleep twenty minutes ago." He looked over at Danny. "Let's get her inside and let her wake up a bit more, okay? Then she'll be ready to play."
"You go on in," Rafe told him. "I'll take care of your bags."
"Thanks Rafe."
Inside, Evelyn was busy making tea and exclaiming about how much Sam had grown. Kate had regained her normal coloring and was helping with the cookies, Sam balanced on one hip. Everything fell easily back into their normal patterns. Kate smiled up at Danny as he walked in with Grace. "Won't wake up?" she asked her husband.
"She's awake," he told her, "just a bit groggy. Hey Ev," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "How are you?"
"Good," she smiled. "Hey, Grace," she said, patting her niece's back and trying to see her face that was buried against Danny's neck. "I made some chocolate chip cookies - just for you. So when you wake up, you and Danny can have some, okay?"
"Cookies?!" Grace exclaimed, her sleepiness immediately forgotten. "Can I have 4?" she asked.
Evelyn laughed. "I think so. This is a special occasion."
"Grace! Grace!" little Danny called from below, jumping up and down. "Wanna come to see my room? Mama fixed the bed for you and Ramsey got one too and I got a new plane." Diving out her father's arms, Grace followed Danny out of the room.
Evelyn shook her head. "He's been driving us crazy all week."
"Grace hasn't stopped talking about Danny since we told her it we were coming back for Christamas," Kate told her. "She wanted to bring all her toys to show him."
Rafe came into the kitchen carrying three suitcases, a cold draft of air swirling through the room. "How long are you staying?" he asked, dropping the bags heavily.
Danny laughed, going over to help. "I don't have to be back until the fourth, so only about 2 weeks."
"There's two more bags out there!" Rafe exclaimed, shaking his head. "You didn't leave with this much stuff."
Picking up the suitcases Danny started walking towards their room. "Kate did the packing...." he told Rafe, earning a playful swat from his wife as he passed by.
"Two of them have presents in them," she defended. "And one has all of Danny's books...I didn't pack those."
Rafe groaned. "You brought school work?"
"I have some reading to do," Danny called from down the hall. "It's not my fault...and it's not a lot."
"How's school going?" Evelyn asked as she served up cookies on to a plate for Grace and Danny.
"Fine, fine," Danny told her, walking back into the kitchen and snagging a cookie for himself. "It's not too hard at the moment. I'm just taking some to the basic requirement classes."
"He's doing really good," Kate beamed at him. "Don't be fooled by his modesty."
Danny blushed slightly, and Rafe laughed. "Oh, I knew he would."
"I like school," Danny said. "The classes are interesting and..." he shrugged helplessly, "I'm good at it, I guess."
"Well, it takes all kinds..." Rafe winked at Danny. His liking of school was an old joke between them. While Rafe was a smart man, he had hated school and all it's rigid criteria and structure. He preferred to learn on his own, through experience or what others could tell him. With his learning problem, that was what worked best for him. Danny on the other hand loved books. He loved being challenged to write a paper or prove a proof. School came naturally to him. He thrived in it's environment. Surprisingly, this difference in temperment hadn't hindered their friendship. They had instinctively realized the benefits of each other's learning methods and how they complimented each other. So Rafe broadened Danny's mind outside of the classroom, and Danny helped Rafe to get through the school work he hated. What could have been a hinderance had only made their friendship stronger.
"Yeah, all kinds," Danny agreed. "So, did you manage to get the old plane fixed, or...."
"Funny you should mention that," Rafe interrupted. "I've been waiting for you....."
Danny groaned. He leaned down to kiss Kate. "This could take awhile," he whispered, causing her to giggle. "When's dinner?" he asked more loudly.
"In about an hour," Evelyn told him, smiling. "So don't get too greasy."
"Oh, it shouldn't take me that long," Danny winked at her.
"Don't get so cocky, Walker," Rafe told him. "Even Jeramiah was out here to look at it."
Grabbing his coat, Danny followed Rafe out to the barn, arguing good naturedly about the pros and cons of Jeremiah as an airplane mechanic.
Kate and Evelyn watched them go, both smiling broadly. Evelyn looked over at Kate. "I'm so glad you're back."
Kate nodded, letting out a deep sigh of contentment. "It's good to be here."
Dinner was a causal affair. Evelyn had made a beef stew and homemade bread. Everyone talked and chatted as they ate their fill, catching up on all the details that couldn't be put in a letter. By the time the kitchen was cleaned and the kids were in bed, the adults were exhausted. Rafe started a fire and Kate curled up on the couch, her head resting on Danny's lap. Evelyn knitted in the rocking chair, working on a Christmas stocking for Sam. It felt good just to be together again.
"So any idea what this one is going to be?" Evelyn asked.
"Boy," Kate replied softly, her eyes not opening.
"Girl," Danny said at the same time.
Everyone chuckled.
"It's a boy, I'm telling you," Kate said, opening her eyes drowsily. "This one feels the same as Sam...Grace felt different...It's definitely a boy."
"Well, it's 50-50," Danny pointed out. "I could be right."
"But you're not," Kate smiled, closing her eyes again. Danny's hand ran through her hair gently playing with her soft curls.
"We'll see."
"So, if she's due in May....what does that mean at school for you?" Evelyn asked Danny.
Danny smiled wryly. "It means that I won't be getting a lot of sleep and I better not fall behind. Term ends May 31st, so I have to be ready."
"Will you be coming back then, or are you going to stay for the summer?" Rafe asked while he poked at the fire.
Danny shrugged. "We haven't decided yet. I guess it depends on Kate. If she's feeling fine then I'll probably go through the summer. I'll have a couple weeks off in June and again in August, but I don't know if we'll make it back here." He frowned. He didn't like the idea of not coming back, especially now that he was here and remembered how comfortable it was, but the sooner he got his degree...the sooner they could move back permanently.
"How are things going for her now?" Rafe asked, moving to sit in the chair next to Evelyn.
"Fine," Danny answered, smiling down at her. "I'm not the only old man there. There are a lot of other guys just out of the war. Some of them are married. There's even a couple of kids. It seems to be working out fine."
"Except for turning green every time she steps foot into a car," Rafe chuckled.
"Rafe!" Evelyn chastised him.
Danny smiled. "Well, she doesn't need to drive anywhere, really, so it hasn't been a problem. She was getting better, it was probably just the long ride here that got to her. Short trips don't affect her anymore. Though she won't take the bus....all the stopping and starting. She....."
"She's listening, Daniel Walker," Kate interrupted, "so there is no need to tell that story."
Danny leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Sorry, but it's such a good story.'
Kate opened one eye to look at him. "Tell it and I will make sure Santa puts coal in your stocking."
Holding up his hands in surrender, Danny grinned. "Okay, okay. I won't say a word." Looking over at Evelyn, he changed the topic. "So how are things with you? How's Danny handling the seperation? Grace was miserable for the first few weeks."
Rafe smiled gently. "He followed me around like a lost puppy for at least a month. He and Ramsey made quite a sad pair. It was pitiful," he shook his head ruefully. "And I'd like to say thanks to you - Uncle Danny, for telling him to watch over me when I work on the plane," Rafe laughed. "It got so bad that I would wait until he was napping, or get up early in the morning."
"Sorry," Danny managed to say without laughing too hard. "It was just a saftey precaution - look what I came home to!"
"Now that wasn't my fault," Rafe protested. "That plane is just old...it was bound to break sooner or later."
"Sure, sure," Danny replied with a grin.
"Now you two," Evelyn chastised, a grin flittering across her face too. "Stop it. Play nice."
"Well, were is the fun it that?" Rafe asked with a mock frown on his face.
Danny just laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
There was a comfortable silence as they all sat and watched the fire burning. The clicking of Evelyn's needles and the popping of the fire the only sounds in the room.
'I think it's time I took Kate to bed," Danny finally said, still stoking her hair. "It's getting late, and I'm sure the kids will be up early tomorrow."
"Yeah," Rafe agreed, standing and stretching. "Ready Ev?" he asked, holding a hand out to her. She smiled putting down her knitting. Taking Rafe's hand she stood.
"Is she asleep?" she asked softly, looking down at Kate.
"No," Kate said, her voice low, her eyes still closed.
Danny shifted her in his arms, easily rising off the couch. Kate snuggled against his chest, one arm around his neck.
"I can walk," she protested sleepily.
"But I want to carry you," Danny replied, kissing her forhead.
"Mmmm," Kate mumbled.
"Good night," Danny said to Rafe and Evelyn. "See you in the morning."
"Night, Danny. Night Kate."
"G'night."
Rafe and Evelyn stood for a moment watching Danny gently carry his wife down the hall to their bedroom. When the door was closed, Evelyn took Rafe's hand and led him upstairs to their room.
"You know, he's changed," Rafe said after they had changed for bed and were pulling back the covers.
"How so?" Evelyn asked, slipping into bed.
"I don't know, really," Rafe shrugged. "He's just not the same as he was....before."
Evelyn slid over and into Rafe's arms, settling her head on his chest. "Before what?"
Rafe thought about it for a bit. "Before...everything. Before Pearl, before China....just...before."
"Well," Evelyn said, "he's lived through a lot. We all have, but Danny more than most."
"There's that," Rafe agreed, "but it's more. I don't know how to explain it." He sighed. "It's like when we were growing up....I felt like I always had to protect him, that I was somehow respondsible for him. And Danny was so serious all the time. He barely ever smiled. I never really thought about that before...but he never smiled. He'd grin, or something, but never smile."
"I think I see what you are saying," Evelyn said. "I can't really remember him smiling...not a real, full fledged smile. One that lights up his face. He's still serious, but...."
"That's it. He's still serious...but he's happier. When he see's Kate...his whole face lights up. He smiles at her. He really smiles. Teeth and all," Rafe chuckled.
"She lights up too," Evelyn pointed out. "You can see it...in every look and every touch...they love each other very much."
"Yeah, they do," Rafe agreed. "I think Danny finally grew up. For so long I felt like he was my little brother, a part of me...and now...he's his own man." He thought for a minute. "I guess we both grew up - fell in love, got married. For the first time Danny and I are together...and in the same place in our lives. I'm not leading him...and he's not following me. We just...are."
Evelyn thought for a moment. "I think...." she began slowly, "that Danny finally found that one person that he was meant to find," she told Rafe. "He hasn't had the easiest life...and everything has always been overshadowed by it...but now...he's found Kate and he's....complete. And Kate too, I think." She turned to look up at Rafe. "Just like us," she said softly. "Our lives may not have been as...harsh...as Danny's and Kate's, but we found each other. I see the love Kate has for Danny, and I know that that is how I feel about you. That's why it was so hard when I thought I had lost you. You and I were meant to be together....just like Danny and Kate."
Rafe gently carressed his wife check, amazed at how well she could articulate the feelings that coursed between them. "Meant to be," he agreed with a smile. "I love you." Leaning in he kissed her softly. "Danny's a lucky man if he feels half as much in love with Kate as I feel for you."
Snuggling against him, Evelyn sighed. "No Rafe," she told him. "I'm the lucky one."
"They're here! They're here," young Danny said as he ran through the kitchen and out the door onto the porch.
Evelyn smiled, drying her wet hands on a tea towel. "Slow down, Danny!" she called to the excited boy. Looking into the oven she saw that the cookies were close enough to being done. She took them out and followed her son, grabbing his coat and her sweater on the way.
The black car was just rounding the barn as she stepped onto the porch. Danny was hopping up in down with excitment. He had missed Grace desperately. Evelyn put his coat on him and then sent him off. She waved happily at the car's occupants. She had missed her friend too. She and Kate had exchanged weekly letters, so they knew everything that was going on in each other's lives, but it wasn't the same as sitting across the table peeling veggetables or chatting over a cup of tea while the kids played outside.
Stepping down the stairs, Evelyn reached for the passenger door. She laughed lightly at Kate's green face. "Some things never change," she said, offering Kate a hand out.
"I hate this damn car," Kate said through clenched teeth.
Rafe, who had come up from the barn, laughed. "You're not going to pass out on me are you?"
Kate tried to glare at him, but failed miserably. "I just might...so you be nice to me Rafe!"
"I'll get Sam...if that's okay," Evelyn said. "You go on inside. I have some hot water going. Danny!" she said to her son, "leave the door alone. I'll get it. Grace is on the other side," she shooed him around the car, smiling again at his excitment. Picking up the sleeping baby she followed Kate into the kitchen.
Rafe picked up Danny as he ran around the car. "Hey, boy...slow down. Grace is sleeping, see," he said, holding him to the car window. "Why don't you say hi to your uncle."
"Hi Uncle Danny," he said, leaning to give Danny a hug. "Can you wake up Grace now?"
Danny laughed, setting the squirming boy down. "I guess I can. Hey Rafe," he said to his friend, shaking his hand. "It's good to be home."
"You're looking good," Rafe said, smiling. "Don't look too worn out."
"It's not too bad yet," Danny replied. Opening the back door, he unbuckled Grace. "Hey, Gracie," he whispered. "We're here. Time to wake up. Danny's waiting for you."
Her eyes fluttered open briefly, but she didn't wake up. Danny picked her up. "You know," he said to Rafe and Danny, "she talked the whole way here about seeing you guys, and then fell asleep twenty minutes ago." He looked over at Danny. "Let's get her inside and let her wake up a bit more, okay? Then she'll be ready to play."
"You go on in," Rafe told him. "I'll take care of your bags."
"Thanks Rafe."
Inside, Evelyn was busy making tea and exclaiming about how much Sam had grown. Kate had regained her normal coloring and was helping with the cookies, Sam balanced on one hip. Everything fell easily back into their normal patterns. Kate smiled up at Danny as he walked in with Grace. "Won't wake up?" she asked her husband.
"She's awake," he told her, "just a bit groggy. Hey Ev," he said, leaning down to kiss her cheek. "How are you?"
"Good," she smiled. "Hey, Grace," she said, patting her niece's back and trying to see her face that was buried against Danny's neck. "I made some chocolate chip cookies - just for you. So when you wake up, you and Danny can have some, okay?"
"Cookies?!" Grace exclaimed, her sleepiness immediately forgotten. "Can I have 4?" she asked.
Evelyn laughed. "I think so. This is a special occasion."
"Grace! Grace!" little Danny called from below, jumping up and down. "Wanna come to see my room? Mama fixed the bed for you and Ramsey got one too and I got a new plane." Diving out her father's arms, Grace followed Danny out of the room.
Evelyn shook her head. "He's been driving us crazy all week."
"Grace hasn't stopped talking about Danny since we told her it we were coming back for Christamas," Kate told her. "She wanted to bring all her toys to show him."
Rafe came into the kitchen carrying three suitcases, a cold draft of air swirling through the room. "How long are you staying?" he asked, dropping the bags heavily.
Danny laughed, going over to help. "I don't have to be back until the fourth, so only about 2 weeks."
"There's two more bags out there!" Rafe exclaimed, shaking his head. "You didn't leave with this much stuff."
Picking up the suitcases Danny started walking towards their room. "Kate did the packing...." he told Rafe, earning a playful swat from his wife as he passed by.
"Two of them have presents in them," she defended. "And one has all of Danny's books...I didn't pack those."
Rafe groaned. "You brought school work?"
"I have some reading to do," Danny called from down the hall. "It's not my fault...and it's not a lot."
"How's school going?" Evelyn asked as she served up cookies on to a plate for Grace and Danny.
"Fine, fine," Danny told her, walking back into the kitchen and snagging a cookie for himself. "It's not too hard at the moment. I'm just taking some to the basic requirement classes."
"He's doing really good," Kate beamed at him. "Don't be fooled by his modesty."
Danny blushed slightly, and Rafe laughed. "Oh, I knew he would."
"I like school," Danny said. "The classes are interesting and..." he shrugged helplessly, "I'm good at it, I guess."
"Well, it takes all kinds..." Rafe winked at Danny. His liking of school was an old joke between them. While Rafe was a smart man, he had hated school and all it's rigid criteria and structure. He preferred to learn on his own, through experience or what others could tell him. With his learning problem, that was what worked best for him. Danny on the other hand loved books. He loved being challenged to write a paper or prove a proof. School came naturally to him. He thrived in it's environment. Surprisingly, this difference in temperment hadn't hindered their friendship. They had instinctively realized the benefits of each other's learning methods and how they complimented each other. So Rafe broadened Danny's mind outside of the classroom, and Danny helped Rafe to get through the school work he hated. What could have been a hinderance had only made their friendship stronger.
"Yeah, all kinds," Danny agreed. "So, did you manage to get the old plane fixed, or...."
"Funny you should mention that," Rafe interrupted. "I've been waiting for you....."
Danny groaned. He leaned down to kiss Kate. "This could take awhile," he whispered, causing her to giggle. "When's dinner?" he asked more loudly.
"In about an hour," Evelyn told him, smiling. "So don't get too greasy."
"Oh, it shouldn't take me that long," Danny winked at her.
"Don't get so cocky, Walker," Rafe told him. "Even Jeramiah was out here to look at it."
Grabbing his coat, Danny followed Rafe out to the barn, arguing good naturedly about the pros and cons of Jeremiah as an airplane mechanic.
Kate and Evelyn watched them go, both smiling broadly. Evelyn looked over at Kate. "I'm so glad you're back."
Kate nodded, letting out a deep sigh of contentment. "It's good to be here."
Dinner was a causal affair. Evelyn had made a beef stew and homemade bread. Everyone talked and chatted as they ate their fill, catching up on all the details that couldn't be put in a letter. By the time the kitchen was cleaned and the kids were in bed, the adults were exhausted. Rafe started a fire and Kate curled up on the couch, her head resting on Danny's lap. Evelyn knitted in the rocking chair, working on a Christmas stocking for Sam. It felt good just to be together again.
"So any idea what this one is going to be?" Evelyn asked.
"Boy," Kate replied softly, her eyes not opening.
"Girl," Danny said at the same time.
Everyone chuckled.
"It's a boy, I'm telling you," Kate said, opening her eyes drowsily. "This one feels the same as Sam...Grace felt different...It's definitely a boy."
"Well, it's 50-50," Danny pointed out. "I could be right."
"But you're not," Kate smiled, closing her eyes again. Danny's hand ran through her hair gently playing with her soft curls.
"We'll see."
"So, if she's due in May....what does that mean at school for you?" Evelyn asked Danny.
Danny smiled wryly. "It means that I won't be getting a lot of sleep and I better not fall behind. Term ends May 31st, so I have to be ready."
"Will you be coming back then, or are you going to stay for the summer?" Rafe asked while he poked at the fire.
Danny shrugged. "We haven't decided yet. I guess it depends on Kate. If she's feeling fine then I'll probably go through the summer. I'll have a couple weeks off in June and again in August, but I don't know if we'll make it back here." He frowned. He didn't like the idea of not coming back, especially now that he was here and remembered how comfortable it was, but the sooner he got his degree...the sooner they could move back permanently.
"How are things going for her now?" Rafe asked, moving to sit in the chair next to Evelyn.
"Fine," Danny answered, smiling down at her. "I'm not the only old man there. There are a lot of other guys just out of the war. Some of them are married. There's even a couple of kids. It seems to be working out fine."
"Except for turning green every time she steps foot into a car," Rafe chuckled.
"Rafe!" Evelyn chastised him.
Danny smiled. "Well, she doesn't need to drive anywhere, really, so it hasn't been a problem. She was getting better, it was probably just the long ride here that got to her. Short trips don't affect her anymore. Though she won't take the bus....all the stopping and starting. She....."
"She's listening, Daniel Walker," Kate interrupted, "so there is no need to tell that story."
Danny leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Sorry, but it's such a good story.'
Kate opened one eye to look at him. "Tell it and I will make sure Santa puts coal in your stocking."
Holding up his hands in surrender, Danny grinned. "Okay, okay. I won't say a word." Looking over at Evelyn, he changed the topic. "So how are things with you? How's Danny handling the seperation? Grace was miserable for the first few weeks."
Rafe smiled gently. "He followed me around like a lost puppy for at least a month. He and Ramsey made quite a sad pair. It was pitiful," he shook his head ruefully. "And I'd like to say thanks to you - Uncle Danny, for telling him to watch over me when I work on the plane," Rafe laughed. "It got so bad that I would wait until he was napping, or get up early in the morning."
"Sorry," Danny managed to say without laughing too hard. "It was just a saftey precaution - look what I came home to!"
"Now that wasn't my fault," Rafe protested. "That plane is just old...it was bound to break sooner or later."
"Sure, sure," Danny replied with a grin.
"Now you two," Evelyn chastised, a grin flittering across her face too. "Stop it. Play nice."
"Well, were is the fun it that?" Rafe asked with a mock frown on his face.
Danny just laughed. "Yes, ma'am."
There was a comfortable silence as they all sat and watched the fire burning. The clicking of Evelyn's needles and the popping of the fire the only sounds in the room.
'I think it's time I took Kate to bed," Danny finally said, still stoking her hair. "It's getting late, and I'm sure the kids will be up early tomorrow."
"Yeah," Rafe agreed, standing and stretching. "Ready Ev?" he asked, holding a hand out to her. She smiled putting down her knitting. Taking Rafe's hand she stood.
"Is she asleep?" she asked softly, looking down at Kate.
"No," Kate said, her voice low, her eyes still closed.
Danny shifted her in his arms, easily rising off the couch. Kate snuggled against his chest, one arm around his neck.
"I can walk," she protested sleepily.
"But I want to carry you," Danny replied, kissing her forhead.
"Mmmm," Kate mumbled.
"Good night," Danny said to Rafe and Evelyn. "See you in the morning."
"Night, Danny. Night Kate."
"G'night."
Rafe and Evelyn stood for a moment watching Danny gently carry his wife down the hall to their bedroom. When the door was closed, Evelyn took Rafe's hand and led him upstairs to their room.
"You know, he's changed," Rafe said after they had changed for bed and were pulling back the covers.
"How so?" Evelyn asked, slipping into bed.
"I don't know, really," Rafe shrugged. "He's just not the same as he was....before."
Evelyn slid over and into Rafe's arms, settling her head on his chest. "Before what?"
Rafe thought about it for a bit. "Before...everything. Before Pearl, before China....just...before."
"Well," Evelyn said, "he's lived through a lot. We all have, but Danny more than most."
"There's that," Rafe agreed, "but it's more. I don't know how to explain it." He sighed. "It's like when we were growing up....I felt like I always had to protect him, that I was somehow respondsible for him. And Danny was so serious all the time. He barely ever smiled. I never really thought about that before...but he never smiled. He'd grin, or something, but never smile."
"I think I see what you are saying," Evelyn said. "I can't really remember him smiling...not a real, full fledged smile. One that lights up his face. He's still serious, but...."
"That's it. He's still serious...but he's happier. When he see's Kate...his whole face lights up. He smiles at her. He really smiles. Teeth and all," Rafe chuckled.
"She lights up too," Evelyn pointed out. "You can see it...in every look and every touch...they love each other very much."
"Yeah, they do," Rafe agreed. "I think Danny finally grew up. For so long I felt like he was my little brother, a part of me...and now...he's his own man." He thought for a minute. "I guess we both grew up - fell in love, got married. For the first time Danny and I are together...and in the same place in our lives. I'm not leading him...and he's not following me. We just...are."
Evelyn thought for a moment. "I think...." she began slowly, "that Danny finally found that one person that he was meant to find," she told Rafe. "He hasn't had the easiest life...and everything has always been overshadowed by it...but now...he's found Kate and he's....complete. And Kate too, I think." She turned to look up at Rafe. "Just like us," she said softly. "Our lives may not have been as...harsh...as Danny's and Kate's, but we found each other. I see the love Kate has for Danny, and I know that that is how I feel about you. That's why it was so hard when I thought I had lost you. You and I were meant to be together....just like Danny and Kate."
Rafe gently carressed his wife check, amazed at how well she could articulate the feelings that coursed between them. "Meant to be," he agreed with a smile. "I love you." Leaning in he kissed her softly. "Danny's a lucky man if he feels half as much in love with Kate as I feel for you."
Snuggling against him, Evelyn sighed. "No Rafe," she told him. "I'm the lucky one."
