They had finished with dinner and had decided to go for a walk on the beach.

Danny held Sandra's hand as the surf washed over their feet and he sighed. He always loved to take her for a walk on the beach, but this evening was different. He was both troubled and proud because his best friend was going back to New Jersey to be a flight instructor. The same job had been offered to him, but Danny had made the choice to stay behind. Everything with Sandra was going so well and he didn't want to leave her.

Danny thought that what really prompted Rafe to take the instructor's job was that Evelyn was going to have another baby. He was nervous and excited and had tried to talk Danny into coming with him but he wanted to stay.

He felt a squeeze on his hand and looked at a serious Sandra. "Are you all right Danny?"

He squeezed her hand in return. "I'm fine honey, just thinkin'."

"Why won't you go with him?" She asked.

Danny looked at her in amazement. "How did you know?"

"It's written all over your face. And you haven't answered my question, why won't you go with him?"

"Because I don't want to leave you or this place. I really like it here Sandra and this was the first place that I was out of Rafe's shadow." It was hard for him to admit that last part.

"And if you go back with him you'll be back in that shadow."

"Yea. Rafe's always had an ease with people that I don't and he can fit into any situation. He'll fit in real well back there because he'll get to talk about flyin' and still be able to do it."

"There's something else though, isn't there?" Sandra guessed.

She was one in a million. "He won't be flyin' combat anymore."

"And you will, so why won't you go back?"

"I don't have a wife, a child and another one on the way." He stated matter of factly.

Sandra knew what he meant, but was hurt nonetheless. "I'm not important enough?"

Danny stopped and let go of her hand. "That's not what I meant."

"What do you mean then?"

"If we were in Rafe and Evelyn's situation I'd feel differently about it because if I went, you'd be comin' with me."

She took his hand and smiled. "Good answer Captain Walker."

He grinned at her and began to walk with her again. "If that's all you wanted to hear Sandra, all you had to do was ask."

"Then it wouldn't have been as much fun." She flushed.

He stopped again and let go of her hand to put his arms around her waist. "I don't know if I've told you lately, but I really love you." And he kissed her.

Sandra put her arms around his neck and kissed him back. When she let him go she smiled. "I love you too Danny."

He let her go and after he took her hand again, finished their walk up the beach.

They'd finished their training for the day.

Danny and Rafe were still off rotation because Rafe had only returned from New Jersey the week before and Danny was still recovering from the flu. The fact that he was flying had taken some serious convincing of his commanding officer. He had been afraid that Danny hadn't regained his equilibrium sufficiently to fly so Danny convinced him to let him fly to show his commander that he was all right.

After they'd shut down their engines, they headed into the hangar to stow their gear. Rafe had talked Danny into coming to the house for a late afternoon beer. He told his friend that Evelyn wouldn't start dinner for another hour or so and he was welcome to stay. Danny declined dinner because he was meeting Sandra later for dinner and then they were going to see a movie, but took him up on the beer.

Rafe grinned at him. "Evelyn wants to know when you're goin' to be bringin' Sandra over for dinner."

"I'll talk to her about it." Was all Danny said as they walked out to Rafe's car and headed to the house. When they got there Evelyn was out but had left a note for Rafe to tell him that she'd gone over to the nurse's bungalow. They wanted to see her and the baby while they still had the chance.

Danny walked out to the back porch while Rafe stopped in the kitchen. He sat down in the overstuffed chair and as he waited for Rafe sat back and relaxed.

He hadn't realized he'd fallen asleep until he felt a hand on his shoulder. When he opened his eyes, Rafe had a grin on his face. "Are you all right?" And handed him a beer.

"Flyin' is takin' more out of me than usual. The doc says it'll be awhile before I'm back to full form, so if I feel like sleepin' then I need to sleep." And he took a pull on the bottle. "So when are you scheduled to ship out?"

"It ain't goin' to be too long. As soon as we can we can get everythin' packed, we'll be on our way."

Danny looked at his friend who sat on the sofa and could sense he wanted to say something else. "All right Rafe, what is it?"

He sighed. "Are you sure you won't come with me? The General could use another good pilot and it would put you out of the fightin'."

"It would also put me away from Sandra and I don't want to leave her right now. I have to leave her enough when we have to fly out, but at least we always come back to the same place and she's here waitin' for me." He explained.

"You told me when we left for the mission that Sandra loved you, but you've never told me exactly how you feel about her. Do you love her?" Rafe asked him point blank.

"Yea. Rafe, she's the first girl I've ever felt this way about. And knowin' that she loves me, I don't want to leave her."

Rafe sighed. "Like I left Evelyn."

Danny put his beer down on the side table. "I didn't say that. I don't need to tell you that we are two very different guys and you did what you felt you needed to do. I'm doin' what I need to do, it's as simple as that."

"Oh hell Danny, I'm sorry. You're right and you do need to do what's best for you. I won't bring it up again." Rafe apologized.

"It's all right Rafe, really. I just wish you'd stop beatin' yourself up for leavin' Evelyn. You're fine and she's fine and you're goin' to have another baby. You need to be there so Evelyn won't have to worry about you."

"I'll worry about you though."

Danny grinned at him. "Why? You taught me how to fly."

Rafe grinned back at him. "That's not goin' to stop me from worryin' Danny."

"I know."

Neither man had heard Evelyn come into the house because she suddenly appeared on the back porch. She sat down next to Rafe and kissed his cheek before she smiled at Danny.

He really was one lucky guy to have her and their baby.

He stood up and smiled at the couple. "I need to get movin'. Sandra and I have a date tonight and I need to get ready."

"Have a nice time Danny." Evelyn said.

"We always do Evelyn." And he left Rafe and Evelyn McCawley sitting together on the sofa.