Once the decision had been made, Rafe felt a big weight lifted from his mind.

As much as he would have liked to have remained in the Air Corps, he really was more than ready to go home and be Mr. Rafe McCawley.

He informed his commander of his decision the Monday morning after he'd taken Evelyn out to dinner. He stood at attention, cap tucked under his arm and really wanting to get the hell out of there. No such luck.

His commander sat at his desk and looked more than a little disappointed. "Are you sure about this Captain? We really could use your combat experience to train these new pilots coming in."

"I know that sir and I appreciate the opportunity. But I talked it over with my wife and at this point with our baby comin', I don't know that I want another one of my children growin' up on an Army base."

"This is probably the best assignment you could ever get."

"I won't argue with that sir, but my original reason for not re-enlistin' is the same. There is no guarantee that I'll get to stay here permanently and I want my children to grow up in one place and my wife to have a home of her own."

"Those are very good reasons Captain."

"Thank you sir."

Rafe could see his service record on the commander's desk, as he looked it over. "Your tour of duty is up at the end of May so if everything goes smoothly, your separation papers should be ready by the end of June." He sighed and took off his spectacles. "Are you sure you won't reconsider your decision?"

Rafe shook his head. "The Air Corps has been very good to me sir. But I have more responsibility now than I did when I joined up and my family has to come first."

"Your wife concurs with this?"

"She left it up to me and goin' home was my decision." Rafe told him.

"Very well then." And he stood up. "I hate to lose you Captain but I do understand. Good luck to you." And he put his hand out to Rafe who took it and shook.

"Thank you for givin' me the time to make a decision sir." And he stepped back and saluted his superior officer.

He answered the salute. "Dismissed Captain."

Rafe turned and left the office.

Danny was waiting for him in the outer office and as Rafe came out, stood up. "How'd it go?"

Rafe sighed. "He asked me to reconsider and I had to tell him my decision was final."

Danny looked troubled. "I don't want to beat a dead horse Rafe, but are you sure you want to go home?"

"And I get tired of repeatin' myself. It's time for me to take my family home." He sighed.

Danny shrugged his shoulders in a gesture of defeat. "All right Rafe. If that's your final word, I won't mention it again."

"Thank you." He glanced over at his friend. "How 'bout you? Are you sure about stayin?"

"Yea. We like it here and if I get transferred, I get transferred. I might feel different after we start havin' a family, but for now it wouldn't bother me or Sandra for that matter."

By the time they had gotten outside Rafe's stomach was in a knot. "All I knew for two years was the Air Corps. It's what I'd always dreamed of doin' and it was all I ever wanted."

Danny grinned at him. "But Evelyn changed all that didn't she?"

"After I met her, there was somethin' in my life that I wanted more than flyin'." He grabbed Danny's arm to stop him, willing him to understand what he was trying to say. "Don't you understand Danny? I love Evelyn with all my heart and I put her through Hell these last few years. The Eagle Squadron and gettin' shot down, then gettin' into a war of our own. I left her with two kids and the fear I might not come back and as long as I'm in the Air Corps, she'll always have to live with that."

"I think Evelyn's a stronger girl than you think."

"Hell Danny, I know she's strong. If she weren't we wouldn't have made it through all this and had another baby comin'."

It seemed to dawn on Danny what his best friend was telling him. "That's why you don't want to re-enlist ain't it? It don't have anythin' to do with bein' transferred, you're afraid of somethin' happenin' to you and leavin' her with three kids to raise by herself."

Rafe nodded. "We ain't at war anymore Danny, but accidents happen. We sure as hell saw our share at Mitchell."

"I can't argue with that."

"There are so many things I wish I'd done differently. Evelyn told me that it was up to me if we stayed or not and I managed to get through the war and not make her a widow. I can't take that chance now."

Danny nodded and put a hand on Rafe's shoulder. "Why didn't you just tell me this before? I wouldn't have kept pesterin' you about it."

"I don't know. I'm sorry Danny."

"Never be sorry Rafe. You're doin' what you think best for your family and that's more than a lot of guys are willin' to do."

Ten minutes later, Rafe walked through the front door and heard his wife laughing. It was coming from the bathroom, so he followed the sound of her voice and found his two children in the tub. Their mother was probably as wet as they were as she tried to finish rinsing them off. He grinned and leaned against the doorjamb to watch until his son gave him away. "Daddy!"

Evelyn turned around and saw her husband standing there and she smiled at him. "I could use some help here Captain."

He pushed himself off and offered his hand to Evelyn and he helped her to stand. She was soaked. "Takin' a bath Mrs. McCawley?"

"The kids are giving me a bath." And she turned to her two kids and smiled. "Aren't you?"

They started splashing the water and Rafe looked at Evelyn. "This is how you got so wet." He stated.

"Very good observation Rafe."

He laughed at her sarcasm and grabbed a towel before he walked over to the tub and pulled his son out. Evelyn pulled Sarah out and as he sat on the edge of the tub drying Danny, she sat down on the hamper to dry off Sarah. As they took care of their kids Evelyn asked her husband about his interview. "He wasn't too happy about it I gather."

He shook his head. "He wanted me to reconsider, but I told him my mind was made up."

"When do we leave then?"

He looked at her. "My hitch is up at the end of May, but he says it'll probably be the end of June before my separation comes through." He explained as he dried Danny's damp hair.

She seemed relieved. "I should have had the baby by then."

"Does it really matter?"

She flushed. "Not really. It's silly, but since Danny and Sarah were born here I was hoping this one here would be born here too."

"It's not silly honey." And he put Danny on his feet so he could put him into his pajamas. Evelyn had gotten Sarah's nightgown on and she and Rafe took the kids to their room. She put Sarah down in her crib as Rafe tucked his son into his small bed and they kissed their children goodnight.

This was the time they liked best, watching the kids sleep.

Rafe closed the door and put his arm around Evelyn and walked her out to the back porch. He sat down and pulled her down next to him and she curled up and leaned back against his shoulder. "This is what I'll miss most I think."

He kissed the top of her head. "Evelyn, we have a back porch in Tennessee."

"I know that, but it won't be the same."

"I know honey." He said as he felt her stiffen suddenly. Oh god, not again. He sat up and looked at her with concern. "Evelyn, you all right?"

She didn't say anything but she smiled as she took his hand and laid it on her rounded form. He sat stock still because he knew what she was telling him and before he knew it, he felt the baby move under his hand. "The baby just kicked." He said unnecessarily.

She laughed. "The baby just kicked." She repeated and he leaned over to kiss her. "Everything will be fine Rafe, you'll see."

He knew she meant with the baby, but suddenly he knew that his whole life was going to be all right and he sat back with his arm around Evelyn.

Everything was going to be just fine.