"Red, wake up."

If he didn't know better, he'd swear he heard Betty's voice.

Red sighed because he knew he shouldn't have had that last beer. He always dreamed more about Betty after he'd been drinking and left him not only with a headache, but that deep sense of loss that he'd never really dealt with.

"Red you've got to wake up!" The voice was more insistent and when he opened his eyes, Betty was standing at the foot of his bed in the Bachelor Officers Quarters. She looked like an angel, but that's because she was.

He propped himself up on his elbows, not believing what he was seeing. "Betty?"

"Hi Red." She smiled at him.

"I've missed you ."

"I've missed you too, but there's a reason I'm here. Red, it's time for you to get on with your life. I know how much you love me and I love you too. But I'm gone now and I can't stand to see you without someone else to love."

Red sighed. "They're not you."

She came to the edge of his bed and sat down. "And they shouldn't be. But I know there is that very nice nurse who is too shy to let you know she likes you. It would make me so happy if you would give her a chance. Please Red, do this for me?"

"I always feel like I'm being unfaithful to you in some way and I feel guilty."

"I know, that's why I decided it was time to come talk to you. I want you to be happy, so please give this girl a chance."

Red sighed again. "I don't know if I can."

Betty put her hand on his cheek. "Red, you love me and deciding to move ahead with your life doesn't change that. What I'm asking you to do is love me enough to let me go and love someone else."

He felt tears gather in his eyes. "It really is time to let you go isn't it?"

"Yes Red, it is. But I know you'll always love me so don't ever worry about that." And she leaned over and kissed him.

He opened his eyes and Betty was gone. But for the first time in almost ten years, he felt he could begin looking to the future and not keep looking to the past.

When he woke up the next morning, he walked out to the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. He was still trying to figure out if what had happened last night was a dream. But what he did know was that he finally felt at peace with what had happened to her and knew that no amount of grieving would ever bring her back.

There was a knock at the front door and when he went to go answer it, Danny was there. "I know it's early Red, but Sandra was a little worried about you."

"Come on in Danny. You can tell Sandra I'm fine and I just had too much to drink."

"She worries about that you know."

"I know, but that's going to change and you can tell your lovely wife that."

"I'll do that."

They walked into the kitchen and Red poured a cup of coffee for himself and one for Danny. "It's been nice having everyone here these last two days, almost like old times." And he handed a cup to Danny who took a sip.

"We've been worried that havin' everyone here would be too hard on you."

Red smiled. "You and Sandra worry about me too much. I'm all right Danny, really. In fact, I think it's time to give that nurse a chance."

Danny nearly choked on his coffee. "What?"

"She seems like a nice girl and I've grieved for Betty long enough."

"Are you sure about this?"

"This coming from the guy who's tried to set me up with every eligible girl in Hawaii. Yes, I'm sure and I know Betty would understand."

Danny nodded at that and put his cup on the kitchen counter. "I'm headed over to the base, so I'll see you there later."

"Are Rafe and Gooz coming?"

"Yea. They both want to get another look at those jets." Danny sighed. "Rafe never should have left the military. Other than marryin' Evelyn and bein' a father to his kids, I never saw him happier than when we were flyin'."

"He's in the reserves in Tennessee, isn't he? Maybe he'll return to active duty." Red speculated.

"I don't know about that Red. I don't think Evelyn would be too crazy about him flyin' again. And with it lookin' more and more like war in Korea, she'd hate it."

"God, do you really think it's going to come to that? We just got out of a war." He frowned.

"Who knows, but we'll need all the help we can get if we do." And he opened the door. "See you in awhile."

Red closed the door behind him and went back into the kitchen to refill his cup before he headed to the bathroom to take a shower.

An hour later he found himself walking into the Pearl Harbor Naval Hospital. He figured if he was going to ask her out, he'd better do it while he could hold onto his nerve. He approached the reception desk and saw one Lieutenant Amy Bradford R.N. "Lieutenant, do you have a moment?"

She turned around to see one very nervous looking Captain Red Winkle. "What can I do for you Captain?" She was trying not to let him know she was as nervous as he probably was.

"I was wondering if you would like to have a cup of coffee with me when your shift is over."

It wasn't dinner at a restaurant, but Amy suspected this was the best he could do for the time being. She knew about the fiancee he'd lost in 1941 and how he'd mourned her loss, so this would suit her just fine. "That sounds like a nice idea. I'll be through with my shift at 4:30 and I can meet you at the cafe."

"If it's all right, I'll meet you here and we can walk over." He suggested.

"That would be fine."

Red smiled in relief. "I'll be here at 4:30." And he turned around and left the hospital. When he got outside, he took a deep breath and sighed. "Thanks Betty." He said before he headed to his car to get to the base.