She appreciated what he had tried to do. It was a gesture of a man who loved his wife and wanted to do anything he could to make her happy. Evelyn knew that and didn't have the heart to tell her husband she didn't have a very good time.

Rafe had taken her back to the nightclub where they had all gone the night before he'd shipped out for England, to relive a little of the past. She even wore the dress she'd worn that night at Rafe's request but it wasn't the same though because so many of them were gone now and those that survived were in Hawaii.

They sat at a quiet table for two and Rafe told her about the General's plan for his future as a pilot. "He's goin' to Washington since he got his promotion and he wants me to come back as a flight instructor."

He said it so matter of factly that Evelyn wasn't sure if he was teasing her. "Are you serious? No more combat missions?"

"If we came back here there would be no more missions."

Evelyn could see it was something he wasn't sure about. "Rafe do this because you want to, not because you think it's what I want."

"You wouldn't have to worry about me anymore." And he reached over to take her hand. "I thought that would make you happy."

"It would be a new challenge, but would it make you happy?" And she squeezed his hand.

He looked into her eyes. "If it were just me, I'd say no. But there's you and Danny and I can't ignore that."

Evelyn was quiet because his being transferred would be the answer to her prayers, in more ways than one. But she also knew how much he loved to fly. "Would you be grounded?"

Rafe grinned. "No, I'll still be able to fly."

She was confused. "Then why are you so unsure about this?"

"If I come back as an instructor that leaves one less pilot at Pearl, two if Danny comes with me." He said simply.

"Then we'll go back and you'll keep flying. It's as simple as that."

"That's why I love you so much. You make everything sound so easy."

She smiled. "That's because it is. If this isn't an assignment you want to take on, then don't. We'll go back and I'll worry along with the rest of the wives."

"You are really somethin'."

"I know." And they laughed.

Rafe stood up and offered his hand to Evelyn. "Would you like to dance Mrs. McCawley?"

She took his hand and stood up. "I'd love too." And they headed to the dance floor.

A romantic tune was playing and Rafe took Evelyn in his arms. "This takes me back." He said quietly. "It seems so long ago."

"It does to me too." And she put her head down on his shoulder.

They moved together to the music and didn't say anything else. It was an odd thing to them both, being in this place as if they'd never been to England or Hawaii. The ghosts of Anthony, Billy and Betty were there with them and made it all the more poignant that the rest of the crowd was absent, too.

The song finished and they stood holding each other. When Evelyn pulled away, Rafe was smiling at her. It was a smile that set her heart racing and she couldn't help but smile back. "What is it?"

"I was just thinkin' that this was about the time a couple of years ago where we left here and I took you on that boat ride."

She nodded at the memory. "And we're staying at the same hotel where you refused to come upstairs."

"Don' t remind me." Was all he said before he grinned at her and took her hand as they walked back to their table. They stood there before Rafe suggested they go back to the hotel. Evelyn nodded her agreement and they walked to the coatroom. After Rafe had collected their coats and he'd helped her on with hers, buttoned up his own overcoat and they walked down the stairs to the street. There was not a cab to be had, so they decided to walk back. Evelyn tucked her arm through his and they took in the sights of the busy street and crowds of people. It was so very different here than it was in Hawaii.

They came to their hotel and it was with a sense of deja vu that Rafe pulled Evelyn into the alcove. The same place he'd told her he was going to fly with the Eagle Squadron. He took her hands in his, "Do you think I'd make a good instructor?"

"I think you would. You have so much to tell these pilots about what real combat is. You can give them the benefit of what you've learned."

Rafe laughed. "Yea, not gettin' shot down over the English Channel."

Evelyn cuffed him on the arm. "Rafe McCawley that's not funny, I thought you were dead."

"I'm sorry honey I know it's not. But if that's all I can teach them, they're in a world of trouble." And he put his arms around her and kissed her. "Let's go inside." And they walked through the revolving door into the lobby.

__________________________

Evelyn didn't know when Rafe was more handsome. When he was smiling at her with that cocky grin of his or when he was sleeping, as he was now. These were the times she liked best because she could watch him. He was the father of her son and whatever their new baby was going to be.

She'd suspected she was going to have a baby for the last couple of weeks but wasn't sure until her first bought of morning sickness that very morning. It was something that was unmistakable and she was excited about having the baby, especially if Rafe decided to take the assignment of flight instructor. It had taken all the resolve she had not to demand he take the job because it had to be his decision.

It also took all her resolve not to tell him when they'd gone to the nightclub. That was not the place she wanted him to find out he was going to be a father again. The trouble was, she hadn't figured out how to tell him. When she found out she was going to have Danny, she didn't have to tell him. He had seen for himself when he'd come back from China.

She knew he would be happy about it, that wasn't what worried her. But she didn't want the baby to be the reason he took a transfer he didn't want.

She reached over and gently brushed the hair back from his forehead. It was soft and she loved the feel of it against her hand. It was at that moment Rafe opened his eyes and smiled at her. "What are you doin' Mrs. McCawley?"

"What do you think I'm doing?"

"Makin' me very happy."

"What else would make you happy Captain McCawley?" She asked him, knowing what the answer would be.

"Makin' love to my wife would do it." He said, as she knew he would and pulled her down into his arms and kissed her. He let her go for just a moment and added, "And bein' a flight instructor."

Evelyn wasn't sure she'd heard him right, but Rafe set her straight. "You heard me all right, I'm goin' to take the assignment. The General really wants me here and I can't think of one good reason to turn him down. I've seen my share of combat and you were right about my tellin' those boys about what I've seen. Maybe it can help save their lives."

"Are you sure about this?"

"I'm sure."

The opportunity she'd been looking for presented itself. "I guess raising our children here would be just as good as raising them in Hawaii."

She wasn't sure he understood what she was trying to tell him. "Children, but we only have Danny."

Evelyn brushed his hair back again. "Not anymore. That baby sister we've been trying for will be here before the end of the year. Of course he may get a baby brother, we won't know until I actually have it."

Rafe lay very still and looked absolutely stunned. "A baby? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure." All of the sudden Evelyn was unsure about Rafe being happy about their new addition but she needn't have worried.

Once it sunk in what his wife was telling him his face lit up with a broad smile and he sat up. "Are you all right, do you need me to do anything for you?"

"I feel fine and there is nothing you can do."

He grinned at her. "I guess I already did somethin', didn't I?" He joked.

"You certainly did." And she kissed him.

"Are you sure you're all right?" He eventually asked her.

"I've been through this before, remember? Everything will be fine."

"It's a good thing we're comin' here then, isn't it?"

She smiled at him. "Yes, it's very good."