Chapter Six Okay! We're on 6 now!

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"Rafe?"

"Yes?"

"Did you ever know a nurse named Barbara?"

"Yea I did. She was a friend of Evelyn's; I wasn't that good friends with her though. Why?"

"She works at the hospital, she recognized you this morning."

"Well I'll have to stop in tomorrow and see her." ************************************************************************ (A/N: I'm gonna flip in time faster because this could get rather tedious.)

Ella awoke to birds chirping in the early morning sun. Surprisingly, Rafe wasn't in bed. She looked at the clock it read six thirty. She knew Rafe never got up before eight. She searched the house for him. The car was gone and there wasn't a note. She got worried, she hurried into the kitchen and dialed Evelyn and Danny's phone number.

BRING BRING BRINGGGGGGGGGGGGG

"Evelyn?"

"Ella?"

"Have you seen Rafe? He isn't here and he didn't leave a note."

"Ella go look at the calendar."

Ella went to the desk and glanced at the date. It read December 7th, 1944.

"Oh Evelyn. I completely forgot."

"Every year he and Danny disappear and no one knows where they go."

"Oh okay sorry to wake you Ev. But I was thinking if you want I can watch the kids if you wanted to go visit someone or somewhere."

"I would like that. Are you sure?"

"Yes I'm sure." ************************************************************************

"Come on Danny hold my hand." Ella said as she pushed the baby carriage across the street to the park. She remembered Rafe saying Evelyn had lost some friends on December 7th, 1941. She thought she might have wanted to go visit the cemetery or just be alone to think. ************************************************************************

Ella was reading on the back porch around five that evening when she heard the front door open and close. She decided to let Rafe find her, if he wanted to talk he would, and when he was ready. She heard the refrigerator open and shut. She knew he would find the plate of sandwiches and the bottles of beer she had put in there that afternoon. The screen door opened and Rafe came outside carrying the plate and a bottle.

"I'm sorry if I scared you this morning."

"It's okay Evelyn told me about Danny and your tradition."

"Thanks for the sandwiches and stuff. That was nice of you."

"Rafe, I just want to tell you, you don't have to talk about it. I understand."

"Thank you. Thank you for being here, I love you."

"I love you too." ************************************************************************

Rafe, Ella, Evelyn, Danny, Grace, and little Danny were sitting in the living room at Rafe and Ella's house. It was Christmas Eve. The month had gone quickly, Ella and Rafe had settled in to a routine at Pearl and neither wanted to go back to New York. Christmas carols echoed in the background as they all talked.

"Do you think Santa will come Mommy?" little Danny asked.

"I'm sure he will."

"Does anyone want anything to drink? Another glass of wine Evelyn?"

"No thanks. We should be going. Grace is already asleep and it is way past Danny's bedtime."

"See you all tomorrow morning. Is there anything we can bring for breakfast?"

"Nope!" The plan for Christmas day was a late breakfast at the Walker's then dinner at Rafe and Ella's. ************************************************************************

"Good morning, sweetheart." Rafe said to the awakening Ella.

"Merry Christmas. What time is it?"

"Just after nine."

"Okay. I'm going to get dressed."

"Alright."

Both showered and dressed in festive clothing and left for breakfast at Danny and Evelyn's. ************************************************************************

"Look! Look what Santa brought me!" little Danny shouted as he showed them all of his presents.

Ella sipped her orange juice and excused herself politely to help Ev with the dishes. Danny and Rafe tried to clean up all the strewn wrapping paper that decorated the living room. ************************************************************************

Ella placed a gorgeous turkey on the table and handed a knife to Rafe, so he could cut it. Bowls of green beans, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and many other things crowded the table. The blessing was said and they all dug in.

"Ella dinner was delicious." Danny told her.

"See Dan, I told you she was a good cook." Rafe commented.

"Oh stop it. I like to cook, my mother taught me from the time I was seven or so." She said as she entered the dining room carrying a giant chocolate cake.

"Lets do presents now." Rafe said.

"Okay." They all agreed.

From Rafe Ella received a pretty dress. Practical but it was sweet. By ten that night everyone was exhausted. The Walkers left and Rafe and Ella were alone. She finished cleaning up the kitchen and sat outside on the back porch. Rafe followed her outside and said "You forgot a present Elle."

"I did?"

"Yeah you did."

He handed her the velvet box and her eyes grew wide. She had been a little envious of Evelyn, who received a brooch from Rafe but shook it off remembering how far back Ev and Rafe went.

"Aren't you going to open it?" Rafe asked her.

Ella lifted the lid and gazed at the diamond ring. Her eyes wide with amazement she looked up at Rafe.

"Ella, Will you marry me?"

"Yes Rafe. Yes yes yes."

Rafe kissed her and pulled the ring out of the box all at the same time. He pulled away and took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger.

"The dress was just a diversion. Danny and Eve knew about the ring. I just didn't want to ask you in front of anyone. I wanted to surprise you."

"Oh Rafe! I love you!"

"I love you too." ************************************************************************

"Oh Ella! It's gorgeous!"

"Thank you Evelyn."

It was the day after Christmas and Ella and Evelyn were doing their daily switch off. They walked to the house and sat down in the living room, Danny playing with one of his toys and Grace sleeping in the coach. Ella had an idea. She picked up the phone and dialed the number to the base.

"Hello"

"Hi Rafe it's me. I just had a great idea."

"Okay what is it?"

"Let's move here, to Pearl Harbor."

"Well I think it is a good idea, I'd love to be around Danny and Ev and the kids. Let's talk about it when I get home."

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Ella was putting a batch of cookies into the oven when Rafe came in.

"Hi beautiful." Rafe said as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey. Did you think about what I said?"

"Yeah, I talked to Danny about it too. He said I would be able to get a transfer to Pearl, they are understaffed here. So if you want to we could go to New York after New Years as planned and pack our stuff and come back."

"Sounds great." ************************************************************************

"She's back, Ella is back!" Michaela shouted from the living room where she was looking out the window.

"Elle's here?"

"Yeah she just pulled up."

Ella got out of the car and walked up the steps to the porch. She opened the door and stepped into the living room. Immediately she was assaulted with hugs. She knew she would miss the girls, but Rafe was happier in Hawaii, she could tell.

"Girls. I have something to tell you. I'm moving to Hawaii, permanently. Rafe and I got engaged."

"No!"

"Yes."

Mary snatched Ella's hand and gazed at her ring.

"Elle it is gorgeous."

"Hi girls." Rafe said announcing his presence.

He put down all of Ella's suitcases and walked over to her and put his arm around her waist. *********************************************************************