Evelyn always enjoyed being able to spend time with her family at the beach.

She had received a call from Amy Winkle a couple of days earlier to ask if they would join her and Red for the afternoon. She'd called Sandra and invited the Walker's as well.

The pilots were off rotation for the time being and it was an opportunity for the whole group to get together for some leisure time. Amy had confided to Evelyn that she still hadn't finished the adjustment to being married before her new husband had been sent out on an extended mission. "This is the second time that you've been through this. How do you do it?"

"You keep busy. I had two small children to take care of the last time and it helped keep my mind off Rafe's being gone so much. That's the secret of it really, just keep as busy as you can. And this time around I still have a small child to take care of, though Joseph is older than Danny and Sarah were."

"So I guess I should have a baby then." And she laughed.

Evelyn smiled to herself about that conversation and it suddenly crossed her mind that that might be the reason for the get together. Of course she could guess all she wanted, but only Amy and Red knew for sure.

Rafe had rounded up their son and as the boy squirmed, his father put his arms into a sweater. Evelyn put the basket by the door and they waited for the Walker's because they were going to walk down to the beach together and meet the Winkle's there.

She voiced her suspicion as Rafe came back up the hallway with his son in his arms after he'd run to the back of the house.

He grinned at her. "You're just itchin' to have another baby around."

"It isn't impossible you know. They've been married long enough by now." She reasoned.

"Give 'em time honey. They'll let us know when it's happened."

She nodded. "Oh, I know that. It would still be nice."

His grin got wider and he put his squirmy son down on his feet. "Are you thinkin' about tryin' for another one?"

She felt her face warm. "Three is enough Captain; four including you."

"Fair enough Mrs. McCawley." And he laughed.

"Hey McCawley's, we're here." Evelyn turned and saw Danny, Sandra and the girls on the other side of the screen door.

"Come on in." She told him as he opened it and waited for his wife and his daughters to step in ahead of him.

"Are you ready to go?" He asked.

Rafe came back up the hall once again with his son in tow. "We'd better get movin' before I have to track this rascal down again." He said as he grinned at the boy.

"Let's go dad!" Joseph laughed and squirmed out of his father's arms again. He nearly knocked the girls over as he pushed on the screen door and bounded down the front stairs.

"Rafe!" Evelyn tried not to panic as her son ran up toward the sidewalk.

He was out the door before she'd said a word and called out, "Joseph Michael, halt!"

"He's a little rambunctious today, isn't he Ev?" Sandra tried not to smile as she picked up Shelby, who'd begun to cry and she calmed the toddler.

"He's not used to Rafe being gone, so he gets a little excited when he's home." Evelyn sighed as she picked up the basket and followed the Walker's out the door.

She saw Rafe crouched down in front of their son and he was very serious. "You scared your mama somethin' fierce when you did that son and I don't want you to do it again, do you understand me?"

Joseph was equally serious and did seem to understand because he nodded and then he started to cry.

Rafe sighed before he picked him up and Joseph put his arms around his neck. "I ain't mad at you son, I just want you to be more careful."

He nodded.

"Do you want to walk down to the beach?" Rafe asked him.

He shook his head.

"Do you want me to carry you?"

He nodded.

"All right son, let's go." Rafe smiled at Evelyn and they headed toward the beach.

By the time they arrived, Red and Amy were there and had a blanket spread out on the sand. He stood up and had a smile on his face. "Is this a beautiful day or what?"

The foursome glanced at each other and couldn't help but notice that Red was in an exceptionally good mood and they smiled as well. "You're right about that Red, we couldn't have asked for a nicer day." Danny agreed.

While Rafe and Danny watched after the kids, Evelyn and Sandra laid out the blankets and opened the baskets. They all sat down and the adults talked while Evelyn made sure that Joseph ate while Danny helped Sandra feed the girls. Once they were done, the children wanted to play.

Rafe and Danny volunteered to take them down to the water and picked up their pails and shovels so they could make sandcastles.

"Before you do that, Amy and I have something we'd like to say." Red told them.

"What's up Red?" Danny asked.

Evelyn watched him as he looked at Amy and she flushed. Could she have been right?

"It was a real surprise to us, but I couldn't be happier about it."

"Happy about what?" Sandra wanted to know.

He took a deep breath and looked at his wife again before he smiled. "We're going to have a baby."

They were stunned.

Red laughed. "You weren't expecting that were you?"

"Well hell Red, congratulations." Rafe was the first to recover and he shook his friend's hand before he turned suddenly to run after his son who'd taken off down to the water.

"I guess I have that to look forward to." He joked.

"Pray for a girl Red." Danny grinned as he shook his hand. "They're easier to manage." Then he picked up his daughters and followed Rafe down to the water.

Amy stood up and was promptly hugged by Evelyn and Sandra.

"How are you feeling?" Evelyn asked her.

"I feel fine, except Red won't let me do anything." She smiled at him.

"Danny was the same way when we found out I was going to have Ann." Sandra added.

"I just want her to be careful, that's all." Red smiled back at her.

"We know that." Evelyn said. "So in the meantime, how about some practice at being parents? That son of mine is a handful today and I think Rafe could use some help."

Red and Amy nodded and followed Evelyn and Sandra down to the beach.