Sorry for the long update, but it's hard to write when not many people read! But then, by some miracle, the rating wents up and followers gained and I got my spark for this story back! Updates will come sooner, but not staright away as I have three other stories too! I'm a busy woman!

A huge thanks too hwillson and 1 for following this story! It means a lot and this chapter is dedicated to you because you got my spark back!

Happy reading!

July 31st, 1938

"Lottie, hurry up sweetie! We're going to keep the McCawley's waiting," hollered Mama from the other side of my door.

"Coming!" I said as I put the finishing touches on my makeup. I stared at myself in the mirror and muttered a string of words I didn't even know what they were. It was probably the nerves taking over. Tonight, it was Uncle Johnnies birthday. We were having dinner at the farm followed by festivities that were yet to be planned. It was also the first dinner we'd had altogether after Danny and I got together.

I smiled at the thought of Danny. Ever since that day down at the pier, he'd always make sure to come and see me even if he was running late for work or sneaking me out at night. It was hard not to run to him whilst we'd crossed each other on the street. We just smiled coyly as if nothing at all was going on. If only people knew how my heart was racing.

I still hadn't had the chance to speak to Matthew about it. I'm sure he wouldn't over react that much, but it was always better to be safe rather than sorry. He had a funny temperament and he could react happily or go from the silence of a monk to a raging bull.

I walked down the hallway, my heels clicking happily against the floorboards. I was excited for this dinner, it was Uncle Johnnies birthday and I got to see Danny without having to hide it.

"What's go you so happy?" asked Matthew, breaking me out of my reverie.

"Nothing, I'm just excited for dinner," I said unhooking my jacket from the stand in the corner.

"Or excited to see Danny?" he asked smirking.

"Look, I don't think I'm as excited as you."

"What?" Matthew asked confused.

"I mean, you're basically grinning ear to ear at the thought of pestering Abbie tonight. All in the name of love," I say light heartedly as I meet our parents in the car.

"Ha ha," he said opening the door for me. I slid across the back seat and waited as Matthew slid in beside me.

"By the way, what did we get Uncle Johnnie for his birthday?" I asked curiously.

"The same thing every year Lottie, a bottle of whiskey," my daddy chuckled. We drove off towards the McCawley farm, my stomach tying itself in knots of excitement, all the way there.

"Come on in here Andrews clan, you'll be working up a sweat!" Aunt Ethel called from the kitchen window as we got out of our car. My green dress rustled in the hot breeze and I had to fan myself down. Music was streaming down the steps from inside and I could here the McCawley children screaming about something or rather.

"Sounds like a pig pen," my mother joked when she embraced Aunt Ethel at the door.

"It doesn't sound like it, it is," Aunt Ethel joked back.

"Hey Danny, Charlotte's here!" Rafe yelled as he bounded down the steps. I shot him a menacing glare. Abbie and Ethan walked down the stairs to. Ethan had a sly smile on his face and Abbie was pouting up a storm. They had obviously ganged up on her.

We said our hellos and I looked around for Danny expecting him to be there too. After all, Rafe had called out to him to let him know I was here. The cellar door opened and out walked Danny holding wine bottles. I could feel a smile break out across my face.

He walked over to the kitchen table and placed down the bottles and made his way over to my mum and dad to say hello. He kissed my mothers cheek and shook my fathers hand. I couldn't tear my eyes away from him.

"Hey Char," he said hugging me. He held on a little tighter than appropriate for friends, but I didn't mind.

"Hey you," I whispered softly. He pulled away from me and smiled brightly. How I wanted to kiss him.

"Alright you two, that's enough," Rafe said barging between us. He was sure making something noticeable as all the parents looked between Danny and I. I was going to kill him.

"Wine?" Ethan asked from the kitchen table holding up a white and a red. The mothers nodded as the fathers opted for whiskey. They took a seat in the lounge room while the children went to the porch.

I sat down on the swing as did Danny. Abbie then came and plonked herself in between us. Did all the McCawley children have the gift to annoy people?

"So Ethan, how was that date with Lindy Smith?" Matthew teased his friend.

"And how did you know about that?" Ethan asked rather dryly.

"The whole town knew about it, don't you know that girl has a mouth the size of an elephants trunk?" Matthew joked. Ethan picked up a pillow and hurled it at Matthews direction. The pillow hit him hard and he lost his balance on the rail he was perched upon and fell over the side. Howls of laughter went up from the group.

"He deserves that," Abbie said, "he's ruined on too many dates of mine."

"That's because he's sweet on you," Ethan shouted. Matthew stood up from where he'd fallen, his head just reaching the top of the railing.

"I am not!" he declared. He marched around the side and hit Ethan with the pillow that had just been thrown at himself.

"I knew it!" Abbie shouted as she stood up. "That's why you ruined them! Because you like me!"

"This is interesting," Danny said as Abbie walked closer and closer to Matthew.

"Look Abbie," Matthew tried to explain, but she didn't let him and cut him off.

"Don't you 'look Abbie' me! Why didn't you just tell me Matthew!? It could've save us both a lot of trouble," she frowned as she yelled at him.

"What!?" asked Rafe confused. Abbie would only be in more trouble if she'd known.

"I was going to, but then I came home after months of letter writing to find you going on dates with other guys!" Matthew yelled at her.

"I was only going on dates with them because I thought you were dating girls at college while you wrote to me! I wanted to make you jealous," she hollered. No doubt our parents inside would be listening now.

"Well it worked! Are you happy?" Matthew asked. This was turning out to be very entertaining. "And for your information I didn't date anyone while I was writing to you." Abbie looked to her elder brother for confirmation. He nodded his head, it was true.

"Well then," Abbie yelled.

"Well, there you go," Matthew yelled back.

"Just kiss already," Ethan muttered. Taking that as her que Abbie grabbed Matthew and kissed him hard. Matthew kissed her back, his arms wrapping around her like she was slipping from his grip. Danny wolf whistled as Rafe sat their wide eyed.

"Holy cow," I said laughing.

"Dinner-" Aunt Ethel stopped as she saw the two. She cleared her throat. Matthew and Abbie pulled apart and saw her. They both blushed. "Dinner is ready."

I could hardly contain my laughter. Aunt Ethel walked back in and all we heard was, "Gertie, your son just kissed my daughter." That's when I lost it.

"Happy birthday Uncle Johnnie!" I cheered as the glasses of drink clinked together in the middle of the dining table. Everyone cheered something else and it was a blur, but it was all the same well wishes.

"Thank you all for coming, everyone I love is here and that is all I could ask for," he said. We all awed and cooed at the old man, he really was quite sweet.

We began eating, the boys talking about plans to go back to college and Danny and Rafe's plan for the year ahead now that they'd finish school. The chatter quieted down until Matthew spoke up.

"Uncle Johnnie and Aunt Ethel," he started, the rest of us listened intently, "I just wanted to know if I could take Abbie out this friday, just to the movies?"

I nearly choked on my food as Danny nudged me, raising an eyebrow and motioning to my father as if to say 'should I ask too?'.

"Well you kissed her without asking, so why not?" Uncle Johnnie chuckled. Matthew went a bright red but thanked the old man none the less.

"Danny, don't you have something to ask?" teased Rafe. Matthew looked at me and then Danny and then to Rafe. He knew something was up.

"Um," Danny sputtered searching for words.

"Don't trouble yourself Danny, I know you're keen on Charlotte," my father said putting a piece of pork into his mouth.

"Not keen Richard, they're dating remember," my mother said adding to my humiliation.

"What?" Matthew asked looking between us again.

"I uh, well, you see," I stuttered.

"Mrs. Jones from Church saw them holding hands whilst Danny was walking Lottie home one night," my father explained.

"Sir I apologise for not asking your permission," Danny said calmly.

"Oh Daniel, don't bother, I know you'll look after her," my father said.

"How long has it been?" Matthew ground out.

"Look, it's Uncle Johnnie's birthday, I don't think he wants to hear about this," I told them all and continued to eat.

"Oh no, he won't mind," Rafe answered for his Dad.

"It's been a few weeks," Danny answered my brother. Abbie smiled happily in her seat.

"Why are you so happy Abs? She didn't tell you first," Matthew pointed out.

"It was bound to happen sooner or later," she told my brother.

"Like you two," Aunt Ethel said. "I was getting sick of all those letters." It was around this time Ethan burst out laughing. Soon after Danny joined, then the parents, then Abbie and I. But Matthew sat there with a cold face.

"Look Danny, Rafe's mum, I and your own mother all grew up together, we often joked about our children growing up and falling in love. We don't mind it," my mum told him. Danny smiled sadly and I grabbed his hand and held it tight. He squeezed it back.

"That calls for photo albums after desert," Aunt Ethel announced.

"Mum!" Rafe complained, "we're not going to have to look at you and Dad at a speakeasy again are we? They kinda creep me out. The thought of you two doing something illegal," Rafe finished with a shudder.

Aunt Ethel clapped her hand over her sons head and he moaned in mock pain. "We were there too Rafe," my father told him. This only made him shudder again and get another hit from my own mother.

After desert and the picture showing was over I helped clean up in the kitchen with Abbie who couldn't stop going on about how she was finally so happy all her scheming had come to an end. She nearly cracked it when I suggested she should've just told Matthew in the first place. Fair to say, that was the end of that conversation and she happily moved on to Danny and I.

"First kiss?" she asked.

I rolled my eyes, "The night of the dance at the festival."

"But I saw you all night," she said dropping the plate into the soapy water.

"Not during the fireworks display," I said winking. She squealed in delight. "Where is Danny anyway?" I asked. He wasn't with everyone else in the lounge which was unusual.

"He's somewhere, but you know how he gets after stories about his Mum," Abbie told me. I nodded and put down my tea towel.

"Are you okay to do the rest?" I asked her. She nodded happily.

"Go to him." I took off the spare apron and folded it neatly. No doubt Aunt Ethel would fold it again later, she always hated the way I folded things. I walked outside onto the porch. It was the only other place he could be. There was nothing for him upstairs to relax and the light was on anyway.

"Danny?" I asked as I opened the door slightly. I looked around and saw him sitting on the front step. He turned his head and smiled slightly. He then turned back to look out into the darkness. I walked over to him and took a seat beside him. 'We're missing you inside," I told him.

"Five minutes won't hurt," he chuckled.

"Hurts me," I said bumping him with my shoulder. He reached out his arm and slung it around me, pulling my boy closer to his.

"Where did I hurt you?" he asked smirking.

"Everywhere!" I exclaimed. He grinned cheekily, grabbed my face and started pecking my cheeks, nose, and forehead repeatedly. "Danny! Stop it!" I said trying to get him to stop rubbing his slight beard on my face and tickling me as well as kissing me silly.

"I'll be in soon," he said after we composed ourselves, "I just like to sit and think."

"About your mum," I said slowly.

"The story where she got up on the stage at the speak easy and sang, the fact that she was so unafraid of living just surprised me," he said.

"Why? Don't you remember her voice or her personality?" I asked.

"I don't remember her even being able to sing," he chuckled lightly. "But she was never that happy or willing to give things a try."

"An awful deep observation by a six year old," I said hugging him for warmth. He wrapped his navy cardigan around the two of us.

"She was happy though, just not singing happy," he told me.

"I get that, when I sing I have to be happy. You don't feel it as much otherwise," I told him.

"But I'll tell you what, sometimes when she thought I was asleep, she would hum to me, sometimes mumble the words."

"That's because you must've made her happy."

"Yeah, I must've," he said taking that in. It seemed to comfort him. We sat on the steps for a little while longer and then returned to the house once we heard Abbie starting to play the piano. Within the merriment, we had to sing.

August 2nd, 1938

I was in town getting my text books for the upcoming school year and on my way home walked past the shop Danny and Rafe worked in. It was a hardware shop and they were always busy. I looked in through the mirror to see Danny lazing behind the counter waiting for an elderly man to pick between two different hammers.

I walked in and hid myself behind the paint brushes waiting to surprise him when the man left.

"I might come back with my son to help me choose," the man said to Danny.

"No problem sir, I'll keep them right here for you," Danny said smiling. The old man thanked him for his help and made his way out of the shop an onto the street. Danny sat back in the chair that was behind the counter and closed his eyes. I popped my head over a shelve to make sure the coast was clear and I'd be able to surprise him good.

I walked on over to the counter and stood their watching him dose off. "If this is good customer service I'd hate too see what bad is. I may just have to go and ask for your manager," I said in a authoritative tone.

Danny jumped, "Uh, I'm sorry man," he said automatically. He then registered my face and sighed. "Char, what are you doing?" he said leaning on the counter relieved.

"Just came by to say hi," I replied as innocently as I could.

"Or give me a heart attack?" he asked leaning forward.

"Bit of both," I agreed smirking leaning forward too.

"Well I like it when you come to say hi," he told me.

"Mhmm," I said now leaning on the counter too. I couldn't take it anymore and leant right over and caught Danny in a kiss. "Of course you do," I said pulling away.

"You're lucky my boss ain't here," he said laughing a little shyly.

"Well, I could leave," I said. I didn't want to jeopardise his job, because God knows with his Daddy being a drunk that family needed every penny they could get.

"No, no, it's fine. I wanted to ask you something anyway," he said coming around from the counter and leaning next to me.

"Yes?" I asked curiously.

"I've been telling my Dad about you. And he uh, feels real awful for the way he treated you before," Danny started off slowly.

"I should've have gone when he said," I told Danny.

"Char, just let me finish," Danny said chuckling. He dismissed my attempt to defend his father with a wave of his hand and then placed them on my waist.

"He wants to meet you. Properly and I'll be with you," Danny continued.

"But Danny what if he-"

"We made a deal. No more alcohol, unless I say so. He should never find the bottles of whiskey nor will he ever treat you like he did that other night," Danny told me. I took comfort in the fact Danny was helping his father. Maybe it would be a new start for both of them.

"Are you sure he can handle it? Are you sure I can?" I asked him frantically.

"He wants this, and I want this. My father, no matter how horrible or beat up he is or what he treats me like is the only family I have left; that I know of anyway. I want you to meet my family," Danny told me.

"I met him when I was younger," I pointed out. It's not that I didn't want to meet Danny's father, just that I was scared.

"Charlotte Everly Andrews, I won't let anything happen to you," he said sternly. I blinked. No one hardly ever used my middle name, not even my mother. I didn't even know Danny knew it. But what I did know is that he wanted this.

"When do I meet your father then?" I asked smiling.

"Dinner, tonight at my house," he said grinning from ear to ear, "I'll pick you up at 7." I nodded and went to kiss him until the bells on the door rang alerting him of another customer.

"Hi Sir, how can I help?" he asked turning to the man.

"Paint," the man replied. Danny turned around to get the paint samples and I snuck off quickly, giving him a small wave through the window. He was happy, so I was happy.

The knocking came at exactly 7. My mother stood up and straightened her dress and stood by me. My father folded his paper and placed it on the coffee table whilst Matthew opened the door. They all were making such a big deal, as if it were a stranger coming to take me out.

"Can't you just pretend like it isn't a big deal?" I muttered to my mother.

"But darling, it is," she said happily. She, my father and Matthew took too much pleasure in my embarrassment.

"Danny," Matthew greeted as he welcomed him in.

"Matthew, Mr. Andrews," Danny replied cheerily. I pictured him shaking their hands and smiled.

"Danny dear," my mother said kissing him on the cheek.

"Mrs. Andrews, you look wonderful," he said genuinely.

"Save that for Charlotte, my dear," she joked but took the compliment.

"Hey Char," he greeted. I stood up and walked into his hug. I pulled away when I could feel everyone's eyes burn a whole in me.

"Well, we will be off," I told them all.

"And back at what time?" my father asked.

"Elev-"

"Quarter to eleven," Danny said. My father smiled brightly.

"That's more like it." They wished us well and sent us on our way. Worry was etched into my parents voice; they were well aware of Danny's fathers reputation as a drunk but gave him the benefit of the doubt as they were all old friends.

Danny opened the door for me and I slid in and waited as he got into the drivers seat from the other side. We waved goodbye and were off.

"Did I pass?" he asked. I chuckled.

"You passed before you even asked permission to date me," I told him rolling my eyes.

"But I didn't," he said confused.

"That's exactly my point." We drove down the dusty towns roads in silent company. His left hand on the wheel and right hand place gently on my knee. I hummed along to the radio and in now time we arrived at his house. I almost swallowed in fear but could feel Danny's eyes on mine.

"Ready?" he asked gently.

I nodded my head and checked myself in the mirror. I was now nervous about making a good impression than Mr. Walker being drunk and lashing out. "As ready as I'll ever be."

He helped me out of the car and held my hand up the steps. He pushed the door opened and walked into the house. I stepped in and was immediately hit by the smell of breakfast food. As Danny closed the door, I looked around at the happy yellow walls and beautifully furnished house. For two people, it was a palace.

"Daniel, is that you?" Mr. Walker called from the kitchen.

"Yeah Dad," Danny hollered. He kissed my forehead and pulled me through to the kitchen were his father was.

"This must be Charlotte. How she has grown since the last time I saw her," he remarked. He turned the stove off and came towards us in greeting.

"Mr. Walker, it's nice to re-meet you again," I said shaking the hand he extended.

"Re-meet? I suppose we are re-meeting, you were only four or so last time we met. You'd hardly remember me," he said smiling. The man in front of me looked like the man that had attacked me but bore no resemblance tonight.

"What are you cooking?" asked Danny pulling a seat out for me. I sat down.

"Breakfast for dinner, your favourite," Mr. Walker told his son and clapped him on the back. "Would you like a drink?" he asked me.

"Yes please," I replied, "Mr. Walker, what do you mean breakfast for dinner?" I was utterly confused.

"Danny's mother used to feed him waffles at 11:30 on school nights, whenever I'd ask why, she said that it was morning somewhere," he explained as poured my lemonade.

"Come on Dad, what did I say? No embarrassing stories!" Danny chuckled taking a seat next to me.

"That was hardly embarrassing," he replied handing me my drink, "Or do you want me to tell the pretty lady how you actually chipped your front tooth?".

"You said you got in a fight at school!?" I said remembering a nine year old Danny showing off his new tooth.

"Oh honey, he jumped off the toilet thinking he could fly and chipped half of it right off!" Mr. Walker said laughing hard.

"Dad," Danny complained. I sipped my drink happily. I would never pass up a chance to see Dannt embarassed.

The night passed much like the first five minutes did, pleasant, full of laughs and memories I or Danny were not old enough to remember. All was good and well and Mr. Walker seemed like he changed overnight. Everything was brilliant, for now.

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