Hello darling readers! Sorry for the delay on the second chapter but here it is! I hope you enjoy it, there's a lot of Charlotte and Danny fluff! Yay!

I'd just like to say thank you to bezgraniczna and slinky190 for following/favourite this story and me as an author! You're support is appreciated greatly and the chapter is dedicated to you!

Enjoy!

July 18th, 1938

I rolled over in the double bed I had shared that night with Abbie as I heard the sound of the planes engine roar to life. I looked to the silver clock next to me and groaned as I saw the time. It was 7:30 in the morning and I was up, at this time during summer holidays. Despite this, I still got up and slipped on my robe deciding to head to the kitchen to make myself some tea.

It was eerily quiet as I walked down the steps. Obviously someone was out on the plane but Aunt Ethel and Uncle Johnnie were no where to be seen, I just assumed they'd gone off the the morning market. I bustled around the kitchen and made myself a pot of tea. I placed a biscuit on the saucer, took it outside and sat on the porch swing watching the plane fly back a forth over this coming years crops.

As the plane came closer to the house, I was able to make out it's pilot. It was Danny. He usually helped out around the farm as Uncle Johnnie was getting older and Rafe had a part-time job a the mechanics. I smiled instantly when I realised it was him for I hadn't seen him that night since dinner. Thinking about that night gave me butterflies and I was unable to get my mind off him.

Soon enough the plane landed and Danny steered it into the shed. As he finished up with the plane he walked over to the house, covered in a bit of grease and slowly started buttoning up his shirt. He smiled as he noticed me perched on the swing and jogged up the steps.

"Hello stranger," I said as I took a sip of my tea.

"Ah," he sighed rubbing his gloved hand sheepishly through his hair, "You've noticed my absence?".

"It's hard not to when I've grown up seeing you nearly everyday," I told him as he took off his gloves and placed it on a table in front of the swing.

" Sorry, I've been real busy at home and with work. Believe me, I wanted to see you too," he said smiling.

"That's okay, I understand. How was the flight?" I asked him nodding over towards the fields.

"Magical as always. The farm looks massive from up there! Have you seen it?" he asked me, smiling brightly once again.

"No, I've never been up. To tell you the truth, I'm kind of scared," I laughed nervously.

"Don't worry, I'll keep you safe when I take you up," he said.

"Is that a promise?" I asked him flirtatiously.

"Pinky promise," he said holding his little finger towards me. I stuck out my own and locked it with his. Danny looked down and checked his watch. "Man, I've got to go get ready for work, I'll see you soon okay?" he said looking down at me.

"Sure," I replied as he bent down and kissed me on the cheek. "Bye."

"Bye Char," he said as he smiled and walked off. Once he was out of sight I broke into a massive grin. With nervous and excited energy I finished my tea and got up to get ready for the plans Abbie had for us. I was about to walk inside when I spotted a pair of black gloves lying on the table in front of me. Danny must've left them here and it was the perfect excuse to go over and see him later today.

I hadn't really been to Danny's house. No one ever had. He liked to keep his home life private and never spoke of his father. I felt uneasy walking up the dirt driveway, would Danny be angry if I came to his house without him knowing? I walked up the porch steps and knocked three times on the door. There was no answer, so I pushed the door slightly and it opened. I decided to go in and quickly return the gloves.

"Hello? Danny are you here?" I asked quietly. My voice echoed down the halls. As I turned into the living room, I saw a frail figure perched in an old fabric recliner.

"He's not here and you shouldn't be either." My guess was that it was Danny's dad. There'd been lots of rumours about Mr. Walker. After the death of his wife soon after he returned from war, he had become overtaken with depression and tried to drink away his blues. This led to him becoming violent and a raging alcoholic.

"I-I'm sorry Mr. Walker, I just came t-to return Danny's gloves," I said stuttering. Mr. Walker stood up, there was a glass in his hand and the ice inside of it clinked as he walked towards me.

"Return his gloves huh? Well, he's not here so take them and go back to where ever it is you came from," he yelled, the smell of alcohol rolling off his tongue.

"But I'm here now, can't I just leave them on the table?" I asked looking down at my feet trying to avert his glaring gaze.

"What did I tell you girl?" he asked as he grabbed my hand roughly. I squirmed as I tried to get him to let go of my arm, but that made him only hold on tighter.

"Mr. Walker, please let go, you're hurting me," I told him scared.

"Oh deary, many things have hurt me before, why should they not hurt you too?" he asked, his words slurring.

"Mr. Walker you're drunk and being unreasonable. Let me go now!" I yelled with a newfound courage. Just then Danny walked through the living room door!

"Dad, what are you doing!?" he yelled. He walked over quickly and pulled his father off me. "Charlotte, wait outside. Now!". I did as he said and hurried out the door. Once I was outside I fell to the ground, starting to sob out of fear to what could've happened if Danny didn't arrive home. I could here him yelling at his father.

"What did you think you were doing Dad? Charlotte's a nice girl she wasn't going to hurt you! And even so, you do not treat women like that! That's it Dad, there will be no more whiskey, I'm telling you. This is the last straw." I blocked out the rest that came as it was mostly muffled sounds of hitting and cursing.

Ten minutes later Danny emerged from the house, his shirt was untucked, his lip was cut and his hair was tousled. He looked like he'd been beat up bad.

"What were you doing here Charlotte?" he asked angrily. I winced at the tone of his voice. It was coated with anger and I didn't like it especially when it was used towards me.

"I-I was returning your gloves," I told him as I stood up shakily.

"You should've never come here! You should've waited till I came back over to Rafe's okay!? Look at what happened!" he yelled.

"How was I supposed to know Daniel!?" I yelled back. "All I wanted to do was return you your gloves and see you again. Do you think I asked for this to happen?".

He shook his head and ran a hand through his hair. "I'm sorry," he sighed, "I just didn't want you to get hurt. You know the stories about my Dad."

"Yes well, can a girl give a veteran the benefit of the doubt?" I asked him harshly.

"Look Char, I'm sorry. Are you okay?" he asked softly as he walked over to me. I stepped back out of his reach.

"I'm fine. Here are your gloves. I'll be on my way now," I told him as I dropped the gloves into his hands and walked off.

"Charlotte, c'mon," he said as he followed me.

"Goodbye Danny," I hollered as I walked off down the road faster than I thought I could in the summer night's heat.

July 21st, 1938

"Abbie, do I have to go on this date with you? Can you not bare to be without me for once?" I asked as I fell onto her bed.

"Oh come on Lottie, it's a double date. That's means there'll be a guy there for you two," she said as looked at herself in the mirror trying to decide on which dress to wear.

"I don't wanna go though, I don't even like the guy," I complained.

"I know, I mean if Danny was Billy's friend I would've suggested him," she said smirking.

"I beg your pardon Abigail? What does Danny have to do with all this?" I asked her.

"Oh hush you. Don't think Rafe didn't tell me what he saw when he came to get you two for dinner that night."

"What?" I asked her truly confused.

"That night we came back from the lake, we were covered in mud and you and Danny went to cleaned up and then Rafe walked in on you two about to smooch," she said dramatically as she threw down a red dress on her bed.

"Oh," I replied remembering that night. Thinking about it gave me butterflies and I seriously hoped Abbie didn't see me blush.

"Oh is right Lottie. So tell me, what's going on there?" she asked trying to pick matching shoes.

"Nothing. We haven't spoken for a while," I told her, which was partially the truth. But the whole truth was that I was a little bit upset at him for yelling at me that night I went to return his gloves.

"I suppose, I mean he has been busy at work and stuff. Rafe told me he's even taken a few shifts over at the mechanics," she said digging through her closet.

"Well, anyway, that last time I like liked Danny was when we were 9," I told her feeling like a child for say 'like liked'.

"Who are you trying to fool Lottie. You basically melt every time you see the boy," she joked.

"Maybe, but that's different now."

"And why is that?" she asked as she stood up and sat next to me on the bed.

"He hasn't saved me from falling into a lake recently," I joked. Abbie doubled over in laughter at the memory and then proceeded in getting us both ready for our 'date'.

"So Jake, how about we take these girls dancing?" said Billy as he clung to Abbie tightly. The movie we'd seen had just finished and Abbie and Billy didn't want to separated just yet.

"Um," Jake muttered as he scratched his head, "I promised I'd meet the boys after the movie, sorry," he apologised as he turned to me.

"That's alright, Lottie can come with us," said Abbie as she stared into Billy's eyes.

"No that's okay, I'm getting tired anyway. I'll just head home. You guys go and enjoy yourselves," I told Abbie and Billy. I then turned around to say goodbye to Jake but it seemed like he'd already left.

"We can give you a ride home," said Billy smiling.

"No it's fine, I can walk. Enjoy your night," I told them as I waved goodbye and began to walk down the street. I watched them drive past as Abbie waved a hand out the window of the car. I stopped at the crossing and waited for the all clear sign.

"Char!" I heard a familiar voice call out behind me. I turned around only to be greeted with the sight of Danny running towards me with a bag of groceries in his hand.

"Hello Danny," I said stiffly.

"What are you doing out here all alone?" he asked giving me a sweet smile. Abbie was right, I melted every time he was near me.

"I got dragged out on a double date with Abbie. They went dancing and my guy ditched," I told him semi-harsh and turned to walk across the street.

"Hey, wait up," he said jogging behind me again. "You're not upset at me are you?".

"Well, what do you think?" I asked him as I stopped and faced him.

"Yes."

"Well you're correct."

"Hey, I said I was sorry. I was scared you would've got hurt," he said softly. "I didn't mean to yell."

"All I wanted to do was return your gloves, I never meant for that stuff to happen okay," I told him sadly.

"I know you wouldn't Char. It's just that my Dad's an angry man, he would've done a lot of damage to a pretty little lady like you if I hadn't got home in time. It scared me," he said pulling me into a hug.

"I'm sorry I went," I told him as my face was pressed tightly to his chest.

"Just promise not to go there alone, okay?" he said letting me go.

"I promise," I whispered.

"Now, let me walk you home okay?" he asked, his bright smile reappearing on his face.

"Sure."

"So, who was the guy you were set up with?" Danny asked, a hint of jealousy in his voice.

"Jake Montgomery, why?" I asked him amused.

"Just wanted to know the name of the guy who passed up the opportunity to dance with you," he chuckled. "He's stupid."

"Well if he's stupid, then so are you," I said as we walked down the pavement.

"What?" Danny asked amused.

"When I was in 10th grade, there was a school dance and Rafe told you to dance with me but instead you danced with Margret Johnston," I told him, remembering how sad I felt as I watched him waltz her around the gym.

"Let me explain," Danny said raising his hands, the bags of groceries nearly falling to the floor.

"Go on then."

"I remember it clearly. I was walking over to you and on the way there Margret walked up to me and asked me to dance with her. I couldn't say no to the girl Char, she was smiling so much and her voice was shaking from the nerves," he explained.

"Of course, you do make all the girls nervous, don't you Danny," I joked.

"One of my many talents," he laughed.

"Well you're still stupid," I told him.

"Wait a minute," he said as he stopped and put down the bag of groceries.

"Danny, what are you doing?" I asked puzzled.

"I'm about to dance with you," he said as he grabbed me hand and pulled me out into the middle of the street.

"Are you crazy!? People will see, they'll start talking!" I said trying to get my hand out of his grip and run away.

"Let them talk, we're just dancing," he said as he pulled me close and rested a hand on my back.

"Yeah, in the middle of the street," I told him sternly as he began to waltz me around.

"Come on, it's not that bad, I'll even provide the music," he finished before he started humming Cheek to Cheek. "Come on, sing."

"Heaven...I'm in heaven...And my heart beats so...that I can hardly speak," I sung along with his humming. Then Danny joined in, doing his best impersonation of Fred Astaire, but horribly.

"And I seem to find...The happiness I seek!" he half sung, half yelled. I burst out into laughter as he kept going all the while dancing impecably.

"Stop it Danny! Not so loud, you'll wake up the people in these houses," I warned him still laughing.

"Let them hear me! They can get up and see I Daniel Walker dancing with the prettiest lady in the whole town!" he exclaimed as he twirled me around. We were laughing and enjoying ourselves so much we could hardly hear the car engine coming up the street behind us. Suddenly Danny lost his smile.

"Run, quick! Move Char!" he yelled as he grabbed my hand and pulled me off the street. We got back onto the pavement in a wave of shock. Danny's eyes were filled with fear as he gripped my hand. I started to laugh at his expression.

"It's not funny Char, we could've died!" he explained.

"But your face!" I giggled louder which caused him to grin too. The car started to back up and I looked over to the passengers.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here?" asked the passenger as he stuck his head out the window.

"Matthew!" I exclaimed.

"Hey baby sis!" he said as he got out of the car.

"I thought you weren't coming back from college until next week!?" I asked him as I hugged him tightly.

"Our holiday to the beach was cut short," he explained as we pulled apart. "Hey Danny," he said and shook his hand. "Good to see you."

"Good to see you too, it's been rough without you and Ethan here to keep and eye on these girls," Danny joked.

"Yes, well Abbie and Char are quite a handful," said Ethan McCawley and he got out of the car too.

"We're not that bad Ethan," I said as I went over and gave him a hug too.

"The last time I checked you were," he joked and then walked over to Danny to shake his hand.

"Now, what were you two doing in the middle of the street at this time of night?" Matthew questioned as he raised his eyebrow.

Danny cleared his throat nervously. "Just dancing Matt."

"Dancing huh?" said Ethan grinning.

"Give the boy a break and give us a ride home will you?" I said trying to save Danny's behind. The two prodigal sons chuckled and motioned for us to get into the car. Once we were all piled in and Matthew had fixed the rear view mirror so he had a clear view of Danny and I in the back, we finally left to got home.

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