She had appreciated the girls concern, but Sandra had had just about enough.

She'd been silent about the fact that Danny had avoided her for the last month and had not taken her telephone calls. She had tried to understand why he would not talk to her and for the infinite amount of patience she usually had; hers had come to an end.

Danny Walker was going to talk whether he was ready or not.

She told the girls where she was headed and drove the car out to the base. When she got to the gate, she told the MP that she wanted to see Danny. She was told that she could not come on to the base unescorted, but Captain Walker could meet her there.

"Well can't you get someone to escort me then?" She asked him.

"I'm sorry ma'am. I can't let you on without a military escort."

"She's got one Sergeant, so let her through." She turned to see Red next to the car and he opened the passenger door and sat down.

"Yes sir, Captain." And he raised the guardrail and let her through.

As she drove toward the barracks, Red smiled at her. "I was wondering how long it was going to take one of you to do something. Danny's been a bear to live with and I had a feeling it might have something to do with you."

Sandra glanced at him for a moment before she looked back at the road. "This is Danny's doing and I'm going to find out why he's been avoiding me."

"I hope you can Sandra because I have to work with that guy everyday. We've come far enough so you can drop me at the PX." He told her and directed her there. She stopped the car and after Red got out told her how to get to the barracks from there. "When I left him earlier, he was by himself." He closed the door and headed inside.

She followed Red's directions and found the barracks with no trouble. She shut down the motor and sat in the car because she was suddenly uncertain about what it was she wanted to say. No words came to her, so she got out of the car and walked to the door. She took a deep breath and opened it. Sure enough, the barracks was empty except for the one man she came to find. Danny.

He was stretched out on his bunk, hands behind his head and with a look on his face that nearly broke her heart. He looked absolutely miserable but she couldn't let that sway her. "Danny?" She said softly.

He sat up and swiped away the tears that had rolled from the corners of his eyes and stared at her. "Sandra."

She stood at the door and folded her arms across her chest. "It's nice to know you still remember my name."

He looked at her and sighed. "I deserved that."

"And I deserve an explanation. I've had enough of you behaving like an ass and I want to know why."

He seemed startled at her directness before he sighed again. "I don't know where to start."

"The beginning is always a good place."

"I love you and that hasn't changed." He said to her in what seemed an explanation.

"I love you too Danny and that's why none of this makes sense." She unfolded her arms and walked down to his bunk. "In all the time that we've been going together you have never once avoided me. It's not like you to run from something and I think I have a right to know what it is."

"I have been behavin' like an ass and I am sorry. I've been kickin' myself for these last few weeks because I do love you and I'm a coward."

"What are you talking about?" She didn't understand where he was headed.

He swung his feet over the side of his bunk and stood up. He took her hand and pulled her to him before he put his arms around her and kissed her. To her it was so much like the kiss she'd given him when he's asked her if she would stay in Hawaii. She felt her knees turn to water and thought they would buckle but Danny held her so tightly that even if they did, she wouldn't go anywhere.

So she put her arms around his neck and kissed him back.

How long they stood in their embrace, she had no idea but she also knew that if they stood there much longer they were going to end up on his bunk. And she wouldn't stop him.

Danny seemed to sense the same thing because he slowly loosened his hold on her and leaned back. "I do love you honey, more everyday. I hope you believe me."

Her face was hot with a flush. "Then why have you been avoiding me?"

He smiled at her. "Come to the Black Cat with me for a cup of coffee and you'll find out why."

"Danny?"

"Please?"

She nodded. "All right." And she started to the door when she realized that Danny was not behind her. She stopped and turned around.

"You go on out to the car, I'll be right there."

She nodded again and suddenly her stomach was in a knot and she didn't know exactly why, but she turned back and headed to the door. She waited next to the car for him and it was only a moment before he was there with his jacket on and she handed him the keys. He helped her in before he closed the door and walked around to the driver's side and got in. He started the car and headed to the gate and drove to the Black Cat Cafe.

It didn't take him long to find a place to park and after he'd helped her out of the car, took her hand and walked with her into the cafe. They were shown to a corner booth in the back that Danny asked for and the knot in her stomach grew. Why would he ask for privacy if it weren't bad news? But he had told her he loved her, so that had to count for something.

The waitress poured them each a cup of coffee before she left them alone. Danny waited for Sandra to pour some cream into her cup and stir before he cleared his throat. This cannot be good. She couldn't help but think.

He took a sip of his, black and cleared his throat again. "I don't know where to start, so I'm just goin' to ask."

"Ask me what?"

She watched him as he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled something out. He put a small ring box on the table and looked at her. "We've been talkin' about this for so long and when I finally decided it was time, I lost my nerve."

It suddenly dawned on her what the little box was. "The Royal Hawaiian."

He nodded before he took the box and opened it, then he turned it toward her. "I wanted to give you this and ask if you would do me the honor of bein' my wife."

She stared at the ring and tried not to cry because her instincts had been right. He was going to propose that night. "Oh Danny, it's beautiful." And she put a shaky hand to her mouth.

"Please don't cry honey, this is supposed to be a happy occasion."

"Are you sure?" She looked at him and all she saw was a smile.

"I'm sure that I love you and that I want to spend the rest of my life showin' you how much." And he took the ring out of the box.

It was a small solitaire and it sparkled in the reflection of the ceiling lights. She couldn't take her eyes off of the ring and she knew what her answer was when she finally looked up and smiled. "Yes."

The smile on Danny's face widened and he slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed it. "I don't think you'll ever really know how happy you've made me."

"I think I will Danny because you've made me just as happy. And I'll try to show you how much for the rest of our lives."

His smile turned to a grin. "How 'bout startin' tonight? We are engaged after all."

She felt her face grow warm and her smile got wider. "Oh honestly Danny." She admonished him gently as they smiled at each other before they finished their coffee and left the cafe.