For those of you not familiar with my stories they are different from the movie plot, except for Aftermath and Trespasses.

In my alternate universe stories Danny and Evelyn never get involved. Evelyn does get pregnant but the baby is Rafe's, Danny does not die in China and he and Sandra are married. Enjoy!

This story picks up where Reunion left off.

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It had been a wonderful day because after so many years of being so lonely for Betty, Red had finally found a girl to love and had gotten married.

The McCawley's and the Walker's had hosted a reception for Red and his new wife at Rafe and Evelyn's house and the bride and groom had left just an hour before. Gooz wife had gone back to their hotel because she felt that he should spend some time with his friends before they had to leave the next morning. Evelyn and Sandra had tried to get her to stay, but she was insistent and had departed by taxi not long after.

The last of the guests had departed so with the help of Barbara, Martha and Gooz, his somewhat reluctantly, they put the small house back into order. Joseph McCawley had been put to bed while Danny and Sandra's daughters, Ann and Shelby were asleep on Rafe and Evelyn's bed. The day had been full of excitement for the three small children and they had finally given out.

They all gathered on the back porch to finish off the last two bottles of champagne that Rafe had sworn he'd forgotten, but conveniently had at the ready when Barbara suggested that they toast Red.

Evelyn could see that he'd tried to keep a straight face when he brought the bottles out from the kitchen and looked so surprised that he'd missed them.

Danny suggested that since Gooz had been Red's best man, that he open the first bottle and make the first toast. So after all of their glasses had been filled, they raised them and Gooz cleared his throat. "This was a day I know we thought would never get here, but it finally did. I can't remember the last time I saw Red as happy as he was today and I hope he always will be. To Red and Amy."

The friends stood in stunned silence because they had never heard him speak so sincerely.

Gooz grinned at them self-consciously. "I can be serious when I need to be." And he raised his glass.

The others followed his lead and raised their glasses as well. "To Red and Amy." And after they took a sip, sat down on the sofa and chairs that were scattered around.

"Every time I come back here, I wonder why I didn't ask the Navy if I could stay." Barbara commented to Evelyn. "They told us that we were needed in New York, and so I went. But it hasn't been a whole lot of fun being away from all of you."

"Why don't you ask the Navy if you can come back here?" Evelyn replied. "With another war on, this is the place where all of the wounded eventually come. They could use veteran nurses like you and Martha."

Martha grinned at her. "What about veteran nurses like you and Sandra? The Navy could use you too."

"Martha, I have my hands full with Rafe and Joseph. Besides, I had to resign my commission when I was going to have Danny."

"You've also said that you have Mrs. Monahan to help out with babysitting." Barbara added.

"But we don't want to take advantage of that." Sandra told her. "Ev and I don't mind asking her every once in awhile to watch the kids, but we can't expect her to watch them every day."

"I don't think Barbara meant going back into it full time Sandra. But why not work a few hours a week to help out?" Martha countered.

Sandra looked at Danny and he shrugged his shoulders. "You were a damn fine nurse honey. And if you wanted to do this, I don't think Mrs. Monahan would mind lookin' after the girls more than we usually ask her to do."

Evelyn looked at Rafe and he took her hand. "What ever you want to do Evelyn is all right with me."

The girls looked at each other and smiled because they realized that they were excited by the idea. "It would really be something, wouldn't it?" Barbara smiled. "If the Navy would transfer us back here and you girls worked a little bit, it would be like old times."

"Not quite." Sandra sighed. "We'd be missing someone."

Betty.

It was inevitable that her name would come up and they were quiet for a moment. They still missed her but they also felt that she would be the happiest of them all that Red had finally let himself care for someone as much as he had for her.

"I'm sorry." Sandra apologized. "I didn't mean to put a damper on this."

"We know that Sandra and it's okay." Martha told her. "Betty was our friend and we'll always miss her but I think she would have been the first one to say that it was about time."

Sandra nodded. "Thanks Martha."

The last ones to leave that evening were Danny, Sandra and their daughters. They were only two doors down and told Rafe and Evelyn that they could carry the girls to the house.

"Are you sure? It's no problem to let them stay here." Evelyn offered.

"Thanks Ev, we appreciate that. But they don't like to be too far away from us." Sandra explained.

"We'll see ya'll tomorrow for breakfast." Danny reminded them.

"You don't need to do that Danny." Rafe told him. "You and Sandra helped put this reception together and to put breakfast together too..."

"It's too much." Evelyn finished for him.

"Nonsense." Sandra countered. "We may have helped, but you had it here and had to turn your house upside down. The least we can do is have everyone over at our house for breakfast."

Rafe put his arm around Evelyn's waist and smiled at her. "I think they've got us there, honey."

She smiled back. "I think you're right."

"Is there anything you want us to bring?" Rafe asked.

"Just yourselves." Danny answered as his friend walked to the front door and opened it for him. "Thanks Rafe."

"It really was a nice day, wasn't it?" Sandra asked.

"It was that." Evelyn agreed. "And wouldn't it be something if we all ended up back at the hospital again?"

Sandra smiled before she looked at Danny. "Almost like old times."

"If we could talk Gooz into comin' back, then it really would be like old times." Danny smiled back. He waited for Sandra to step out onto the porch ahead of him and he followed her up the walk. "See ya'll tomorrow."

Rafe and Evelyn watched as their friends got to the end of the walk and turned onto the sidewalk and waved goodbye before they went back into the house.