"You need to know something," Danny began, sitting straight up and taking Janie's hand in his.
"Go on," she urged gently, looking him in the eyes.
"It's just that…this isn't easy for me. At all. I've kind of kept something from you, for as long as you've known me."
He paused looking up at the stars as they took over for the sun. The moon shone brightly on them, the tree above casting shadows across their faces.
"Remember Danny…Danny Walker?" She nodded. "Well, he was my Pa's best friend. No matter what, Rafe'll always think of him as just that."
She had never heard Danny call his dad Rafe before.
"When everybody thought Rafe had died, Danny comforted Ma. They tried to stay in touch, but it was just too hard. He reminded her of him and vice-versa. So they didn't talk. Until three months later. He took her flying at sunset."
Sighing, he watched as Janie looked on understandably, her eyes widening as it began to hit her.
"So, Danny and Evelyn, my ma, they got together that night. And for a while after that. They thought pa was dead, ya know? Well she got pregnant. Shenever told him…Danny. And when Rafe got back from the dead they had to go off and fight. Rafe knew about the baby…me…and he tried to get Danny to stay home without letting him know. Evelyn didn't want him to know. But he died. He died saving my daddy's life."
His eyes got a little wet, but he wouldn't cry.
"He told Rafe to be my daddy, to take care of me and ma like I was his own. And he did just that. Rafe'll always be my father, but I can't forget Danny Walker."
Janie sighed, clenching his hand harder.
"And the reason I couldn't tell you before was…I didn't want you to think I was a bastard. That ass Clay found out a long time ago from his Pops and he didn't let it go until he moved away. But I got a mom and dad, I ain't no bastard. No matter what, I got a dad."
Janie smiled softly and placed her finger on his lips.
"I would never think you were a bastard," she whispered into his ear. "And I love you even more for telling me. You can trust me, Danny. This is forever…remember? Danny Walker is your father, and he musta been a great man to produce someone as wonderful as you are. And Rafe is your Pa, and he loves you more than life itself. He sees Danny when he looks at you. And he misses him, I know it. You are his world, and I'm sure if Danny could see you now he'd be proud of you for being the way you are. I love you, Danny McCawley."
She kissed him passionately, falling back onto the grass. He lay beside her, looking at her with all the love in the world. Together they watched the sky that night, and Danny wondered if his father was watching him from the other side.
A/N: Should I continue with more Danny and Janie? I kind of like them…they're fun. ;) Please tell me what you think, I'll only do it if you guys want me to.
