The next morning, Grace woke up to singing. She saw all the nurses standing around her bed

and, better yet, Betty holding a cake.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Gracie, happy birthday to

you!" They sang and Grace clapped at the end.

"Oh, thank you, girls! This is wonderful, you shouldn't have!" She was so happy that these

women were her friends. They were so kind to her. The girls had cake for breakfast and the day

went on as normal.

LATER THAT EVENING

"So, what are you doing tonight? Did you get anything out of Danny?" Martha asked excitedly

as the other girls mirrored her image.

"No, he wouldn't tell me a thing! But I do love suprises!" Grace said with a small squeal at the

end.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"Oh, no! What time is it? If its Danny stall him, Barbara!" She yelled to her friend. "Girls you

have to help me get ready and fast!"

Grace said panicking. The girls started talking all at once and grabbed her clothes and make-up

and went to work.

Meanwhile, Barbara had a hard time keeping Danny distracted.

"Well, hello, Danny! Come on in" Barbara said when she opened the door.

"Thanks, Barbara. Is Grace ready yet?" He asked a little suspicious that none of the other girls

were in the living room.

"She'll be ready in a couple of minutes. You seem nervous, Danny. Whats wrong" She asked.

"Nothing...nothing's wrong. Why? Do I look like there's something wrong?" Danny panicked.

"No! No, you look fine. Really!" Barbara was silently praying for the girls to finish soon. She

didn't want to slip and say the wrong things.

"Danny?" Grace started when she came in.

When Danny caught a glimpse of her, his breath caught in his throat. She looked beautiful. Her

golden hair was down and curled. She was wearing a red dress that hugged every curve and

stopped before it got to her knees. She didn't have on a lot of make-up because she didn't like

to wear it very often. But this was a special ocasion.

"You look beautiful, Grace." Danny managed to say when he got his breath back. Danny himself

was wearing a black suit. He was taking her to a fancy resturant in a hotel.

"Thank you. You don't look half bad yourself." She said as she crossed the room over to him

and kissed him lightly on the lips. "So, where are we going."

"You'll see." He grinned and lead her out of the house. He opened her door for her and then

went around to the driver's side.

They rode to the hotel with light conversation. They talked of their last letters to Rafe, how they

were enjoying Hawaii, and how they missed seeing one another so often because of Danny's

flight hours and Grace's hospital hours.

When they arrived, Danny used the same jesture as he did at the house and tucked her arm

under his when they walked inside. Grace had no idea of what to say. She was extremely happy

that this was going to happen tonight. They sat down to dinner and, to them, they were the

only ones in the room. There was music playing so Danny took the oppertunity to dance with

Grace...to calm his nerves.

Grace couldn't tell he was nervous, because she was too busy worrying if it showed that she

was nervous! These two make a great pair... They sat back down a little while later and finished

their dinner. Once they were finished, Danny didn't budge and Grace wondered why...

"Danny, is something wrong?" She asked, but he didn't seem to here her so she laid her hand on

his and he jumped. "Danny is everything all right? Your jumpy!"

"Yeah...Everythings great, Grace. Listen, baby, there's something I want to ask you...and its, uh,

kinda important...um" Danny cleared his throat and stood up to walk over to Grace. Once in

front of her, he went down on one knee and pulled a box from his pocket.

Grace couldn't breathe. Her hand flew to her mouth as she gasped. This is what she always

dreamed of. A life with Danny at her side.

Danny wasn't in good shape himself. "Grace, whenever I try to see myself in 5 or 10 years I

ALWAYS see you by my side. Before Rafe left I kinda, uh, asked his permission fer

this...Grace Elizabeth McCawley...will you give me the honor of bein' my wife? Will you marry

me?"