At the invitation of the McCawley's Ann's grandparents were in Hawaii for Thanksgiving and Sarah's grandparents were there as well.

It was a full house that day and she should have been happier but wasn't. The damper was that Danny looked unhappy and Ann knew that she was responsible for it.

It came out of nowhere, his admission that she'd been in his thoughts and at the time she didn't know how to respond. How could she when she thought that what she'd seen the day he took her up in the P-40 was actually true? The look in his eyes hadn't been her imagination or the way his arm was firmer around her waist than it should have been. She thought it was because he promised that he wouldn't let her fall.

He kept his distance but she was nevertheless aware that he watched her throughout the day. It didn't matter if it was when all the men were gathered around the television as they watched the football game or the women in the kitchen as they prepared the meal. Whenever they were within the same proximity of the other there was a sharp tension that was never there before.

He seemed to recover his good spirits however when the extended family finally sat down to dinner and Tom McCawley let his oldest grandson know what he thought of his unattached status. "I'm happy to see that you're flyin' solo again, that's for sure. That Harris girl was no good for you." He answered.

"Thomas!"

"Daddy."

Danny's grandmother and his father admonished him in unison.

"It's all right." Danny put his hand up to calm them and Ann watched him as a flush started up his neck. "Gramps has always been honest with me in how he felt about the situation with her and the truth is I'm happy to be flying solo again too."

"Just don't make it a permanent situation. The right girl is out there for you." Mr. McCawley smiled at him.

The flush moved up toward his ears and it wasn't the first time Ann saw Danny embarrassed. "I'm only twenty-two Gramps; I've got time."

He shook his head. "We're at war, again. There ain't never enough time, especially when you're trainin' to be a combat pilot."

"Yes Sir." Danny answered and grew quiet.

Ann watched as Mr. McCawley glanced at Danny's grandmother and she had a frown on her face. He cleared his throat and he himself suddenly seemed to be embarrassed. "I'm sorry son. Mother is always remindin' me that I'm too direct sometimes and I think this is one of those times. I don't mean to embarrass you with what I say because I am very proud of you and of what you've accomplished. You set a goal for yourself when you were a boy and saw it through. I guess what I'm tryin' to say is that I hope it ain't your only goal."

"Give him time Gramps, he's bound to figure it out." Sarah smiled and Ann had a pretty good idea that her friend's comment was directed at her and her brother and not very subtly at that.

It looked to her as though Danny thought the same thing because he frowned at his sister. "Knock it off Sarah."

"I'm only saying that if you took the time to look right in front of you, you might be surprised." She persisted as her smile turned to a grin. It certainly didn't help matters when Danny glanced across the table at Ann. She felt her cheeks warm and was irritated by it.

"Leave your brother alone Sarah." The sound of Mrs. McCawley 's voice as she admonished her friend brought Ann around and she picked up her fork as calmly as possible and continued to eat, or at least give the appearance of it. "I don't understand you two lately. It's almost as though you're thirteen and twelve again and I was constantly sending you to your rooms because you never knew when to stop."

"If everyone has had enough to eat, why don't you hand me your plates so I can take them into the kitchen." Ann's grandmother stood up and held her hands out for the dirty dishes.

Sarah's grandmother stood up as well. "Let me give you a hand with those Margaret." And they both waited for the dirty plates to be passed down from each side of the table.

When Danny's mother and Ann's tried to help, Mrs. O'Connell motioned for them to sit down. "You two girls worked your fingers to the bone today and it's the least I can do. Jim and I were so appreciative that you asked us to spend Thanksgiving with you and I want to help." And she began to carry the dishes into the kitchen with Mrs. McCawley right behind her.

"You two sure know how to finish a meal." Major McCawley looked at his son and his daughter and sighed.

"Dad!" Danny protested.

He shook his head. "You've done your fair share, son."

Tom McCawley smiled across the table at Ann. "And you've put in your fair share of work today too Annie, so how about taking a walk with your old Gramps?"

Ann looked at her mother and she nodded. "Just be back in time to help Sarah and Shelby serve the pie and coffee." And she checked her watch. "Twenty minutes, all right?"

"I'll have her back in time honey, don't you worry about that." He promised before he stood up. Ann got up and folded her napkin before she put it on the table and when she glanced across the table the look she got from Danny was as serious as she'd ever seen from him.

She joined Mr. McCawley at the front door and after he opened it waited for her to proceed him outside. It was a beautiful evening and the full moon lit the way as the pair strolled down the walk. "Where to Gramps?"

"Let's take a walk down to the beach." He answered as he put an arm around her shoulders. "You know I never used to give much thought about bein' land locked until Rafe ended up here with Evelyn. You've got a mighty fine view from where you are."

She nodded as she put her arm around his waist. "Since we were kids Mama always made sure that we took advantage of where we lived. Major Winkle and his family live further in so they don't get to the beach as much as we do. And Mrs. Dearborn and her family live over at Hickam."

"So what do you think about Danny breakin' things off with the Harris girl?" He asked out of the blue.

She wasn't surprised at the question because she saw him at the table observe her and Danny. "Sarah thinks he took too long, but she's happy he finally did."

"That's ain't what I asked."

"I know and the truth is I hadn't given it much thought. I never saw that much of Caroline when she lived here because she was never at the family gatherings that Danny invited her to. There always seemed to be something else she needed to do." Ann told him. "And why does it matter what I think?"

"Because there is somethin' goin' on with you and that grandson of mine." He stated in a matter of fact way.

She felt her face warm again and hoped the moon wasn't bright enough for him to see. "There isn't anything going on. Danny just hasn't adjusted to being home yet."

"Don't think you can fool me young lady. I've been watchin' the two of you today and it ain't like it used to be." He told her.

"Of course it isn't. Danny was away for four years and we both grew up. And for the first time in his life he isn't thinking about what he has to do to get to the Academy because he's done it."

"That's true. And with that girl out of the picture he sure looks a lot happier." His look was pointed.

Ann nodded. "I saw him the day he broke things off with her and he told me that he'd been walking around with a knot in his stomach the whole time they were together."

"Your daddy tells me that you and Danny have been seein' a lot of each other in the last few months."

She shrugged her shoulders. "We've seen each other at the beach."

Mr. McCawley stopped and from the pale light of the moon she could see that he was dead serious. "You know that ain't what I mean Ann. He seems to think that Danny's seekin' you out to talk to you."

That much Ann knew wasn't true. It was just an odd coincidence that they seemed to run into each other so much. Danny's grandmother would call it Providence, but she wasn't about to tell his grandfather that. "I don't think so."

"So you don't see Danny as anythin' more than a big brother, is that it?" His voice was gentle as he asked.

She felt her face flush again and she tried not to sigh. "Why do you make that sound like a bad thing?"

"I didn't say that it was. I guess what I am tryin' to say is that maybe Danny got assigned here for a reason. Maybe it was God's Will that he come back and see someone he didn't see before he left."

"I was only thirteen when he left; of course he didn't see me." She brushed off the comment.

"And now you're seventeen and he's twenty-two. I knew Sarah was the girl for me when I was sixteen."

"But that was a different time, people got married a lot earlier than they do now." Ann tried to reason with him but knew he wasn't convinced because he shook his head.

"Love don't look at age honey. It just takes some folks longer to find it, is all. I found it early and your daddy and Danny's daddy found it a little bit later. And if you'd only give it a chance, you might find it too."

The conversation began to take a turn she wasn't prepared for. "Love? Where on earth did that come from?"

"It ain't impossible Annie. When Cupid's arrow finds you it won't matter who it is, even if it's someone you never considered." He smiled at her.

She felt as though she were in over her head because she suddenly felt that her surrogate grandfather was giving his approval for something that might happen between her and his oldest grandson.

"Twice in one day." He said and sighed. "Mother is right, I am too direct."

Ann put her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I don't think so Gramps. You just love all of us so much and want us to be happy. Even kids who aren't your real grandkids."

"Who says so?" He laughed and took Ann's arms from around his neck to look at her face. "You and your sister and brother are as much my grandkids as the other three. You may not have McCawley blood, but your daddy has always been a part of our lives and he's blessed us by lettin' us be a part of yours."

"Dad really loves you." She told him and knew it wasn't something that the older man wasn't already aware of.

"I know that because he's never given us any reason to doubt it. He's been a real good daddy to you kids just like Sarah and I knew he would be and we're awfully proud of him."

It was a gentle swipe at the grandfather she never knew, but if anyone had cause to say anything about Cole Walker, it was her Gramps. "Dad doesn't talk about him much."

"That's because there ain't much to say. Cole Walker went to France during the Great War and didn't come home the same. Bein' in that kind of a situation sometimes does strange things to a man and whatever Cole saw changed him."

"But it didn't change you, did it." Ann never understood how both men could fight in the same war but come back so differently.

He shook his head. "Cole and I were different kind of men and we had different parts to play in that war. He was in the Infantry and I was one of those new fangled pilots."

The mention of his being a combat pilot got Ann to think about Danny. "When Danny goes into combat, do you think it will change him?"

"If you look at the stock he comes from, I think he'll be all right." He told her honestly. "Does it worry you that he's goin' to be rotated in eventually?"

"It wasn't something that I really thought about until now. I just couldn't help but think that Major McCawley was shot down twice in two different wars." She explained to him.

"That's true, but it don't mean that the same thing will happen to Danny." He seemed to try and reassure her.

"But it seems with every new war the planes get faster and more dangerous."

Mr. McCawley nodded before he put an arm back around her shoulders and steered her back toward the house. "That's also true. But you need to remember that Danny's trainin' ain't over just because he's done with the Academy. He's constantly flyin' with his squadron and their instructors are puttin' them through as many combat situations as they can to get those boys as prepared as they can."

"I know that Gramps. I guess I just don't understand why we're in another war."

"Because we're doin' what we've always done honey; helpin' those who can't help themselves. We did it in the Great War, in the Second World War, Korea and now Vietnam. Our families have a proud tradition of servin' our country and it's only with your daddy and Danny's daddy that they decided to make a career of it. And now Danny's goin' to carry on that tradition."

"And now Mrs. McCawley will have her son to worry about as well as her husband." Ann remarked.

"Evelyn's a strong girl Annie. She's a fine military wife and she knows what the score is, especially now that she's got more than Rafe to worry about."

As they reached the house Ann saw Danny on the porch swing.

"Am I late?" Ann asked as they stepped up on the porch. She looked at her watch from the light of the porch lamp and saw that she still had five minutes.

"You're not late." Danny assured her and seemed to feel the need to explain his presence. "Mama sent me out here because she said I was getting in the way." He explained to them and Ann could still feel the tension, but it had gentled.

"Well I'll head inside then, I'm sure Mother has some things for me to do." Mr. McCawley told them before he kissed her cheek and walked to the door. "Don't be too long Annie." He reminded her before he stepped into the house.

It felt awkward being alone with Danny and she wished it didn't. "Why don't you have a seat Ann? You have a few minutes."

"I really should get inside." She told him but couldn't seem to convince her feet to move.

"Sarah shouldn't have said what she did. I hope she didn't embarrass you." Danny got up from the swing and came to stand much closer to her than she thought he should have.

"She's a lot like Gramps; she says what she thinks." Ann shrugged and willed her rapid heartbeat to slow. "You certainly didn't help matters though."

"Maybe." He stepped closer and gently grasped her arms. The look she saw in his eyes the day he took her flying was there and Ann's heartbeat refused to slow. "When did you get so pretty?"

Ann began to panic because she sensed what was about to happen and felt helpless to stop it. "When did you get so cocky? Just because you've earned those pilots wings doesn't mean that every girl you meet is going to swoon at your feet."

She expected to see a grin on his face, but he was serious. "Are you swooning Annie?"

"You seem to forget that I grew up on a military base and it's going to take more than a pair of wings to make my head swim." She answered defensively if only to delay the inevitable.

"Well then maybe this will." He said quietly and before she realized what he was doing, Danny pulled her close to him. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, as though to gauge what he was about to do and in the next moment leaned in and kissed her.

To call it a kiss, though wouldn't exactly be accurate. To Ann, he seemed to rest his lips on hers to see how she would react and when she didn't felt his arms slip around her waist and he pulled her even closer. He hold on her was gentle as he began to move his lips on hers and it was then that Ann's knees turned to water. She reached up to grasp his arms to steady herself and without realizing that she was, began to follow his lead and kiss him back.

He didn't seem prepared for her to respond as she did because his lips stilled and he slowly loosened his hold around her waist.

"Why did you do that?" She whispered because his kiss had taken her breath away.

"Because you said that I was cocky and I wanted to see if I could make you swoon." He answered in a whisper of his own. "But the fact is you didn't do such a bad job at it yourself."

She leaned against him for a moment and closed her eyes because she suddenly felt lightheaded.

"Are you all right?" Ann heard the concern in his voice and found the nerve to look into his eyes.

"This is too sudden. We've known each other for most of our lives and never gave each other much more than the time of day. You've only been home since June and you finally came to your senses and broke up with Caroline in August, then without any warning you kiss me."

"I've wanted to do that since I took you flying with me." He admitted.

Ann shook her head and countered logically as she let go of his arms and stepped out of his embrace. "You were making a point."

He disagreed. "I would never have kissed you just to make a point. I kissed you because I wanted to know what it would feel like."

"And what did it feel like?"

"It made me feel like I want to kiss you again." He reached for her again and but Ann backed away so that he couldn't get a hold of her.

She felt her heart beat double time and all she wanted was to let him kiss her again. "I think you need to stay out here and let me go inside."

Danny stepped closer to her again and she couldn't move. "I'm not stopping you."

He was right.

Her feet felt as though they were rooted to the porch and he put his arms around her waist again and pulled her against him. "Please don't." She pleaded with a whisper.

"Why not?" His low voice was husky as his nose bumped hers when he tried to kiss her again.

"Because you're scaring me." Ann said and then corrected herself. "Because this is scaring me."

Danny seemed to think about it because he stepped back and let her go. "I'm sorry. I would never try and scare you, you know that."

She nodded. "I do know that, but I also know that you've never been as impetuous as this. Ever since I've known you, you've never done anything without thinking it through first."

"I'm not being impetuous; I already told you that I've been thinking about this for awhile." He admitted.

"Why?"

He smiled at her and Ann's heart did a flip. "Because you're pretty and nice and smart as a whip. And because I've really enjoyed the time we've spent together."

She didn't know what to say. "Why me?"

"Why not you?"

"You should play the field." She reasoned.

Danny shook his head in disagreement. "I'm not that kind of a guy Ann; you should know that by now."

"As handsome as you are, you could have your pick of any girl on this base." She felt herself begin to tremble.

He smiled again. "You think I'm handsome? No girl has ever told me that."

No girl? "Not even your girlfriend?"

"Ex-girlfriend." He emphasized. "And no she never did, all she ever saw was my uniform."

Ann didn't understand how that could be possible. "I never saw the uniform; I only ever saw you."

"That's because you knew me before a uniform became a regular part of my wardrobe." Danny reminded her.

"Probably." She said as she moved away from him and looked at her wristwatch again. "I have to go in now."

He sat back down on the swing. "One of these days, you'll have to sit out here with me."

"You should sit out here with a girl your own age." Ann told him.

"Shouldn't I have a say about that?" He looked at her. "I've been back at Wheeler since June and I haven't met a girl yet whose first attraction isn't to my uniform."

"Well, you probably haven't given them a chance." She reasoned.

"Maybe, but why should I when there's already a girl I've discovered that I'd like to give me a chance. How about it Annie?" He asked as he laid an arm across the back of the swing. "I promise that I'll behave myself."

To say that she was dubious didn't begin to describe how she felt. "The same way you behaved yourself after Gramps went into the house?"

He laughed softly and it was the first time she'd heard it all day. Ann loved the sound of it but she wasn't about to tell him that. "All right, you got me there. But I would never cross a line you didn't want me to."

"I don't believe you."

He nodded. "Yes you do. You may not believe it right now, but you've known me for too long to ever doubt it."

"How can I when I've never been in this situation with you before?"

Danny stood up again and closed the distance between them. "Do you think this is easy for me? I've had the hardest time in the last few months not seeing you as a kid and an even harder time admitting how much I like it when you're so close to me. It was always my job to look after all of you because I was the oldest and it was never in the realm of possibility that I would see a girl, who was nothing more than a sister, as a young woman. And whether you like it or not Ann that is how I see you."

She looked into his eyes and let out a sigh. "I don't understand any of this."

"I'm still trying to figure it out myself." He admitted with a sigh of his own. "The truth is, I don't know why it turned out to be you or what it was that got me to see you differently, but I do. All I'm asking is that you don't say no to finding out what this could be. Please."

It was too much for her to take in for one night. She still couldn't comprehend that her imagination hadn't worked overtime and that Danny did see her as more than a kind of sister. "I really need to go inside." She told him and walked to the door.

"Ann."

She opened the screen door and reached for the front doorknob. "You've obviously had some time to think about this and I think it's only fair that I have that same opportunity." She said before she opened the front door and walked inside.