For those who have not read my previous stories, I wanted forewarn you about this chapter. It may look somewhat familiar to you. But since Danny and Evelyn never get involved in my stories, I took the liberty of borrowing that part from the movie.

She looked out the window of the passenger car and saw Rafe standing on the platform. He'd told her he would return from Tennessee the day before New Years Eve and if she wanted he would meet her train when it came in the next day.

"I'd like that. I'll be back at 3:30."

"I'll be here waitin' for you." He said with a smile before he kissed her.

When she stepped on to the platform he had a smile on his face that made her heart beat just a little faster. This is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. It was something she'd come to realize as she had cautiously told her parents about the pilot she'd been seeing.

Her father worried, but told her he trusted her judgment. Her mother had told her simply to follow her heart. And Evelyn had done just that, all the way back to New York.

"Hey." Was all he said before he took her into his arms and kissed her. When he let her go, he brushed her cheek lightly with his fingertips. "I've really missed you."

"I've missed you too. How was your trip home?"

"Too short. It was nice bein' able to wake up in my own room and eat Mama's cookin' for a few days. Danny swears he gained ten pounds." Rafe said with a grin. "How 'bout you?"

"It was nice being able to sleep in and not have to stick fresh pilots with hypodermics." She smiled at him.

The joke was not lost on Rafe because he laughed. "If it weren't for that needle we wouldn't be here."

"I can't argue with that. So what is this big surprise you have for me?"

"You get right to the point don't you?"

"Well that's what you told me just before I left. A very special Christmas present is what you called it."

"Okay, I give." And he kissed her cheek before he picked up her suitcase. Evelyn tucked her arm through his and they walked down the platform and through the station. Rafe had borrowed the car of a pilot who was still on leave, but had left the keys with him.

As they pulled away from the curb, Evelyn wanted to know where they were going. Rafe just smiled and said, "You'll find out."

It didn't take Evelyn long to figure out they were going to New Jersey. "Are you taking me to the base?"

"Yea." Was all he told her.

"Why?"

"You'll find out." He repeated.

Sure enough, they approached Mitchell Field and Rafe showed his identification to the M.P. at the gate. He looked into the car and noticed Evelyn. "Is this your guest Lieutenant?"

"Yes it is."

He handed a badge to Rafe. "Make sure she wears it where it can be seen."

"Thank you Corporal, I'll make sure she does." And he handed it to Evelyn who pinned it on her coat.

She looked at Rafe, confused and he just smiled at her. "You'll find out." He told her one last time.

He parked the car near a hangar and when Evelyn got out, saw a lot of airplanes. Rafe came around and took her hand and pulled her toward one particular aircraft. "This is mine. Isn't she a beauty?"

Evelyn wasn't sure what to make of it. Rafe had obvious pride in his plane but if this was his gift to her, she was disappointed. She couldn't let him know that though, so she tried to put the best face on it. "It's really something."

He could see her disappointment and grinned. "Evelyn, this isn't your present."

Now she was really confused. "I don't understand."

"You want to go up?"

"Are you serious?" Truth be told, she wasn't sure she wanted to.

"Very serious. I wanted to give you the chance to see what I do everyday."

Evelyn stood next to the plane and felt her heart start to quicken, because she suddenly knew what she wanted to do and smiled at him. "I went up with my dad a couple of times, but I was just a kid. I think this is going to be a little different."

"I'm a really good pilot, Evelyn. You don't have anything to worry about."

"I know that, Rafe. Are you going to get in trouble for this?"

"Not if you don't tell anyone." He laughed.

"I'm serious."

"As far as anyone knows, I'm takin' you on a tour of the base. If a plane happens to go up, Danny's loggin' some flight hours."

"Won't he get in trouble?"

"It was his idea to do this."

"You could lose your commission."

"I might if you keep standin' here arguin' with me. So let's get in the air."

Evelyn's objections had been calmly answered and it wasn't that Rafe didn't care what could happen to his career, but it obviously meant so much to him to take her up. She looked at him, "All right Lieutenant, what do I do?"

She could see the relief on his face when he smiled. "Just trust me."

She shook her head and smiled. "I guess I have to."

He climbed up onto the wing and reached a hand down to Evelyn. She took it and he pulled her up next to him. "All aboard."

Rafe settled himself into the cockpit. He helped Evelyn down and to say they were in close quarters was an understatement. He started up the engine and pushed the throttle forward as they headed toward the runway. It had been such a long time since she'd been up in a plane she'd forgotten how it felt to suddenly leave the ground. She must've been holding her breath because Rafe leaned forward. "Are you all right?"

She could only nod.

"I'll take her down if you want me to."

She shook her head. "I'm okay. It just takes some getting used to."

"That's my girl." And that comment made Evelyn smile.

She'd forgotten how different things looked from the air and knew the world would never look quite the same again. She also realized she'd made the right decision when she'd passed him during the eye exam. He really was a good pilot and she could see how much he loved to fly.

She couldn't help but let out a gasp when Rafe suddenly banked the plane to the left as he headed back toward the field. That made him laugh. "I haven't done anything except turn back."

"I told you it had been a long time." And she laughed too. "Rafe, we don't have to go back yet do we?"

"Not if you don't want to." He leveled out from the descent he'd begun and pushed the plane back up. Rafe leveled the plane out again and they seemed to float in the air. She looked out of the cockpit window and saw the headlights of cars start to blink on. The sun slowly moved down onto the horizon and little by little lights blinked on all along the ground.

"It's time to head back." Rafe told her after they'd been in the air for about a half-hour. "It's gettin' too dark to see." And he headed back toward the base.

He pushed the plane into a descent as they approached the airfield and proceeded to line it up with the long white stripe on the runway to guide him in. The plane bounced slightly as he set it down and lowered the flaps and brought it to a rolling stop. He shut down the engine and they sat in the quiet.

"So what did you think?" He finally said.

"I can see why you love flying. Thank you for showing me." Was all she could think to say. It had been such an over whelming experience.

Rafe slid the canopy back and the cold air felt good. "Can you get up?"

"I think so." And she tried to stand up but her knees were water and she sat back down in his lap.

Rafe couldn't help but laugh. "This is very nice, I've got a pretty girl in my lap."

That made her flush. "And I'm sitting in the lap of a very handsome pilot." And she kissed him.

It seemed to take him by surprise because he was quiet for a moment. "If you're goin' to do that every time I surprise you, I'll have to do it more often."

"Thank you for such a wonderful Christmas present."

He grinned at her. "Thank you for stickin' me with that needle."

"You're welcome." And she kissed him again.