Four Years Later:
Aisla stepped out of the car and stared up at the country like house that loomed over her right in front of her. She smiled and sighed, thinking of how much had changed over the years. She was much more responsible then she had been just four years ago and she was mother, she had a great job working at a doctor's office as a secretary and she also owned a garage where she fixed things, cars and planes but mainly anything that would pay her bills. She also looked more mature, she carried herself with more confidence and her once long hair was now cut to the shoulders and up in an elegant bun. She also changed in what she wore, right now she was wearing a red skirt with red heels and a black silk shirt.
Aisla turned back to the car and opened the back door and smiled at her sleeping baby, well he can't really be called a baby anymore, no now he was a big boy as he requested her call him. She undid his seatbelt and pulled him out of the car and adjusted him so that his head was lying on her shoulder and she could carry him with one arm. She then pulled out a bag and started to make her way up to the front door of the house that belonged to her old best friend and the boy who had helped her go on living after Danny died.
She got to the front door and rang the bell, she heard running in the house and then a stern voice, "Daniel Walker McCawley you slow down this instant." Hearing the name had brought chills to Aisla but she shook it off and smiled at the little boy who was a shocking resemblance to his father.
"Who are you?"
She laughed at his bluntness and looked at him, "Well my name is Aisla but you can call me Aise." That's when Aisla felt a little head that was on her shoulder shift and lift itself up to look down at the body that belonged to the voice he'd heard. "Well this big boy right here is Rafe."
The boy laughed, "That's my daddy's name." Then Aisla heard more footsteps coming down the stairs.
"What are you doing Danny?" A deep voice asked before coming up behind him and seeing Aisla, his jaw dropped at the boy who Aisla was holding. Who besides his blonde curly hair and green eyes could have been Danny's twin. "Aisla?"
"Well hey there Rafe, it's nice to see you again."
Rafe opened the door all the way and motioned for her to come in, which she gladly did and then put little Rafe down but he hugged her leg, letting his shyness overcome him. Aisla laughed at his antics and then noticed Evelyn standing at the entryway gaping at her, Aisla smiled at her trying to show that she no longer harbored any hard feelings towards her. "I know that this is a surprise, but really I'm just passing through the town because I'm on my way back to Tennessee I've decided that I want my boy to grow up where I did and I thought that I'd stop by and see you."
"It is a surprise but your always welcome in our home," Evelyn said, stepping forward and putting an arm around Rafe's waist and he put an arm around her shoulders. I smiled and then Rafe let go of Evelyn to bend down and look little Rafe in the eye.
"And who are you?"
I smiled, knowing that I had never told Rafe what I'd named my baby, "His name is Rafe." Rafe quickly looked up at me and then back at my son. "I know Danny would have wanted it."
He nodded and held his hand out to my son, "Well Rafe I know you'll never forget my name, I'm Rafe McCawley."
Little Rafe laughed and shook Rafe's hand, "My mommy told me that you were best friends with my daddy. She said that you grew up together." Then little Rafe leaned in to Rafe as if to tell him a secret, "She said that you loved daddy like a brother and that you loved him so much that you saved his life, while you were at Pearl Harbor."
Rafe stared at the boy in wonder, knowing that he was Danny's son, but instead of answering in any form of question he just pulled the boy in for a hug and Aisla put a hand to her heart. Then Danny Jr. jumped on Rafe's back and the three boys began wrestling around while Evelyn and Aisla made their way towards the kitchen. Aisla gave Evelyn the bag she'd brought with her and Evelyn looked at her curiously, "It's nothing special I just thought that Danny should have something that would remind him of his real father."
Evelyn opened the bag and pulled out two things, one was the pilots hat that had Danny's wings in it and the other was a medal that was framed, it was the metal of bravery that he had gotten on the mission to Japan. Evelyn looked up at Aisla surprised, since she hadn't even known that Aisla had the medal, but smiled, not wanting to question her best friend. She set aside the gifts and motioned for Aisla to take a seat and then she sat down next to her, "So what have you been up to these last couple of years?"
"Well I got a degree in secratorial work and I've worked at the Doctor's office for the last two years and I also do part time work at the garage that was in town, but now I've decided that I want to take on the ranch that Daddy left to me. Plus I'll be by your uncle and he was always a better father to me then my own dad."
Evelyn smiled and nodded, "You know you never told me that you were having a baby by Danny."
Aisla smiled, "I never told anyone, Rafe knew, but I never told him. I was planning on telling everyone when they got back from Japan but the two people who mattered the most to me died on that mission and I guess that's why I've never really taken Rafe up in a plane, I just don't want to lose him the way I lost Danny and Tony."
Evelyn smiled sadly, "I know." They continued onto less sad things and talked for a good hour before they ate and then Evelyn insisted that Aisla and Danny spend the night. Aisla accepted and put Danny to bed before walking out the back door of the house and towards the barn, wanting to get some fresh air. She was staring at the ground, so she didn't notice the tombstone until it was right in front of her. She looked up at it and her eyes filled with tears.
She sank to her knees in front of it not caring that she was getting her skirt dirty, she only saw the words on the tombstone going over and over in her mind. It was the poem Danny had written about flying, "Why Danny? Why couldn't you just stay? Why'd you take that mission? Why did you get together with Evelyn?"
"So many questions Aise, where do you want me to start?"
Aisla looked up bewildered, because that voice sounded so familiar to the one that had begun to haunt her dreams, that's when she saw him. Her dark soldier, leaning against the tombstone and smiling down at her. Slowly she backed up still on her knees, thinking she was crazy for seeing her dead lover standing in front of her. "I'm dreaming, yeah that's it."
"Your not dreaming Aisla, it's me and I'm not aloud to be here long but there are things I have to tell you, you have to go on. I did love you but I just felt so stupid and I thought I'd ruined my only chance and I was so lonely. I was just trying to fill the void in my heart that your absence brought."
Aisla stood and walked towards him and gently held her hand out, reaching out to touch him but hesitant not sure if it would work. So he met her halfway and when she felt the warmth of his hand in hers she broke down and began sobbing again. She pushed herself into his arms and hugged him close to her and pushed her head against his chest. He sighed, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
"I love you Daniel Walker and I always will."
"I know you will but you have to go on and not just for your sake but for Rafe Jr.'s too." She pulled away and stared up at him and then bent her head and leaned on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply, longing for more but somehow she knew he would be leaving soon. Then again she also knew that she would have time for exactly what she wanted. She pulled him towards the barn and then up into the loft, slowly they made love that night, wanting to linger and savor everything that was happening. When they were done, they laid next to each other cuddling for awhile and then it was time and she just knew. She pulled her clothes on and laid back down, watching him get dressed. The last thing she remembered the next morning was him kissing her good-bye.
When she awoke she was still laying in the loft of the barn and her clothes were all wrinkled but his scent was all around her and she was glad because if it hadn't been then she would have defiantly thought she was crazy. That's when she saw it, the roses and the glass of salt and she smiled in remembrance. It had been two weeks after Aisla and Danny started dating and Danny wanted to surprise Aisla with something special, so he got a jar full of salt water and waited for the water to evaporate and then bought a dozen roses and stuck them in the jar with the salt and left them on her porch with a poem and letter. It had been the sweetest thing that anybody had ever done for her and she loved him even more after that day.
Snapping back to the present she stood and went over to it picking it up and that's when she noticed the note that had been underneath it. She picked it up, handling it gently as if it would break any second, and carefully she unfolded it and read it.
Dear Aisla,
You know it's always been you that I've loved and it always will be but remember what I said you should move on and not for my sake or your own but for our sons. I'm glad you named him Rafe, you always did know what I was thinking before I did. I love you!
Love with all my heart, Danny
Aisla stepped out of the car and stared up at the country like house that loomed over her right in front of her. She smiled and sighed, thinking of how much had changed over the years. She was much more responsible then she had been just four years ago and she was mother, she had a great job working at a doctor's office as a secretary and she also owned a garage where she fixed things, cars and planes but mainly anything that would pay her bills. She also looked more mature, she carried herself with more confidence and her once long hair was now cut to the shoulders and up in an elegant bun. She also changed in what she wore, right now she was wearing a red skirt with red heels and a black silk shirt.
Aisla turned back to the car and opened the back door and smiled at her sleeping baby, well he can't really be called a baby anymore, no now he was a big boy as he requested her call him. She undid his seatbelt and pulled him out of the car and adjusted him so that his head was lying on her shoulder and she could carry him with one arm. She then pulled out a bag and started to make her way up to the front door of the house that belonged to her old best friend and the boy who had helped her go on living after Danny died.
She got to the front door and rang the bell, she heard running in the house and then a stern voice, "Daniel Walker McCawley you slow down this instant." Hearing the name had brought chills to Aisla but she shook it off and smiled at the little boy who was a shocking resemblance to his father.
"Who are you?"
She laughed at his bluntness and looked at him, "Well my name is Aisla but you can call me Aise." That's when Aisla felt a little head that was on her shoulder shift and lift itself up to look down at the body that belonged to the voice he'd heard. "Well this big boy right here is Rafe."
The boy laughed, "That's my daddy's name." Then Aisla heard more footsteps coming down the stairs.
"What are you doing Danny?" A deep voice asked before coming up behind him and seeing Aisla, his jaw dropped at the boy who Aisla was holding. Who besides his blonde curly hair and green eyes could have been Danny's twin. "Aisla?"
"Well hey there Rafe, it's nice to see you again."
Rafe opened the door all the way and motioned for her to come in, which she gladly did and then put little Rafe down but he hugged her leg, letting his shyness overcome him. Aisla laughed at his antics and then noticed Evelyn standing at the entryway gaping at her, Aisla smiled at her trying to show that she no longer harbored any hard feelings towards her. "I know that this is a surprise, but really I'm just passing through the town because I'm on my way back to Tennessee I've decided that I want my boy to grow up where I did and I thought that I'd stop by and see you."
"It is a surprise but your always welcome in our home," Evelyn said, stepping forward and putting an arm around Rafe's waist and he put an arm around her shoulders. I smiled and then Rafe let go of Evelyn to bend down and look little Rafe in the eye.
"And who are you?"
I smiled, knowing that I had never told Rafe what I'd named my baby, "His name is Rafe." Rafe quickly looked up at me and then back at my son. "I know Danny would have wanted it."
He nodded and held his hand out to my son, "Well Rafe I know you'll never forget my name, I'm Rafe McCawley."
Little Rafe laughed and shook Rafe's hand, "My mommy told me that you were best friends with my daddy. She said that you grew up together." Then little Rafe leaned in to Rafe as if to tell him a secret, "She said that you loved daddy like a brother and that you loved him so much that you saved his life, while you were at Pearl Harbor."
Rafe stared at the boy in wonder, knowing that he was Danny's son, but instead of answering in any form of question he just pulled the boy in for a hug and Aisla put a hand to her heart. Then Danny Jr. jumped on Rafe's back and the three boys began wrestling around while Evelyn and Aisla made their way towards the kitchen. Aisla gave Evelyn the bag she'd brought with her and Evelyn looked at her curiously, "It's nothing special I just thought that Danny should have something that would remind him of his real father."
Evelyn opened the bag and pulled out two things, one was the pilots hat that had Danny's wings in it and the other was a medal that was framed, it was the metal of bravery that he had gotten on the mission to Japan. Evelyn looked up at Aisla surprised, since she hadn't even known that Aisla had the medal, but smiled, not wanting to question her best friend. She set aside the gifts and motioned for Aisla to take a seat and then she sat down next to her, "So what have you been up to these last couple of years?"
"Well I got a degree in secratorial work and I've worked at the Doctor's office for the last two years and I also do part time work at the garage that was in town, but now I've decided that I want to take on the ranch that Daddy left to me. Plus I'll be by your uncle and he was always a better father to me then my own dad."
Evelyn smiled and nodded, "You know you never told me that you were having a baby by Danny."
Aisla smiled, "I never told anyone, Rafe knew, but I never told him. I was planning on telling everyone when they got back from Japan but the two people who mattered the most to me died on that mission and I guess that's why I've never really taken Rafe up in a plane, I just don't want to lose him the way I lost Danny and Tony."
Evelyn smiled sadly, "I know." They continued onto less sad things and talked for a good hour before they ate and then Evelyn insisted that Aisla and Danny spend the night. Aisla accepted and put Danny to bed before walking out the back door of the house and towards the barn, wanting to get some fresh air. She was staring at the ground, so she didn't notice the tombstone until it was right in front of her. She looked up at it and her eyes filled with tears.
She sank to her knees in front of it not caring that she was getting her skirt dirty, she only saw the words on the tombstone going over and over in her mind. It was the poem Danny had written about flying, "Why Danny? Why couldn't you just stay? Why'd you take that mission? Why did you get together with Evelyn?"
"So many questions Aise, where do you want me to start?"
Aisla looked up bewildered, because that voice sounded so familiar to the one that had begun to haunt her dreams, that's when she saw him. Her dark soldier, leaning against the tombstone and smiling down at her. Slowly she backed up still on her knees, thinking she was crazy for seeing her dead lover standing in front of her. "I'm dreaming, yeah that's it."
"Your not dreaming Aisla, it's me and I'm not aloud to be here long but there are things I have to tell you, you have to go on. I did love you but I just felt so stupid and I thought I'd ruined my only chance and I was so lonely. I was just trying to fill the void in my heart that your absence brought."
Aisla stood and walked towards him and gently held her hand out, reaching out to touch him but hesitant not sure if it would work. So he met her halfway and when she felt the warmth of his hand in hers she broke down and began sobbing again. She pushed herself into his arms and hugged him close to her and pushed her head against his chest. He sighed, "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."
"I love you Daniel Walker and I always will."
"I know you will but you have to go on and not just for your sake but for Rafe Jr.'s too." She pulled away and stared up at him and then bent her head and leaned on her tiptoes and kissed him deeply, longing for more but somehow she knew he would be leaving soon. Then again she also knew that she would have time for exactly what she wanted. She pulled him towards the barn and then up into the loft, slowly they made love that night, wanting to linger and savor everything that was happening. When they were done, they laid next to each other cuddling for awhile and then it was time and she just knew. She pulled her clothes on and laid back down, watching him get dressed. The last thing she remembered the next morning was him kissing her good-bye.
When she awoke she was still laying in the loft of the barn and her clothes were all wrinkled but his scent was all around her and she was glad because if it hadn't been then she would have defiantly thought she was crazy. That's when she saw it, the roses and the glass of salt and she smiled in remembrance. It had been two weeks after Aisla and Danny started dating and Danny wanted to surprise Aisla with something special, so he got a jar full of salt water and waited for the water to evaporate and then bought a dozen roses and stuck them in the jar with the salt and left them on her porch with a poem and letter. It had been the sweetest thing that anybody had ever done for her and she loved him even more after that day.
Snapping back to the present she stood and went over to it picking it up and that's when she noticed the note that had been underneath it. She picked it up, handling it gently as if it would break any second, and carefully she unfolded it and read it.
Dear Aisla,
You know it's always been you that I've loved and it always will be but remember what I said you should move on and not for my sake or your own but for our sons. I'm glad you named him Rafe, you always did know what I was thinking before I did. I love you!
Love with all my heart, Danny