I love holidays! I'm able to just churn these chapters out! Five more chapters till it ties in with Pearl Harbour! YAYAYAYA!

To My name is Alice: Charlotte is a very head-strong and indepenant girl! Not even Danny was going to take that away from her and it's probably the main reason for their fight. Who was he to tell her not to see Jeremy, huh? They'll probably be better friends than anything at the moment!

To hwillson: Jeremy is a mystery to us all. Maybe in the future he'll be Charlotte's knight in shining armour? Maybe not!

Enjoy!

November 7th

"Can you smell that?" Abbie said excitedly as we hoped off the train. We were back home for the weekend. Lindy had begged us to come down and help her go shopping for a dress. I didn't see why when we all knew she'd end up wearing her mothers. It was her mothers dream, unfortunately for Lindy.

"What?" I asked Abbie.

"That fresh, unpolluted air. It's the best," she joked.

"I have to disagree, I believe a little grub won't do anyone any harm," I replied. She nudged me as we walked off to go get our luggage.

"Tell that to Millie. She believes if she doesn't clean her dorm at least once every two days she's going to catch meninga cockles."

"Look, that girl's about four types of crazy. No way I'm telling her anything," I told Abbie, raisin my hands in surrender. As mush as we loved our new friend, her quirky ways were sometimes questionable and there was no changing them.

"So are you," she told me.

"What?"

"You're crazy for not talking to Danny since your big day," she pointed out. After the fight, I didn't mail any letters or ring him. But in my defence, neither did he.

"He had blown things way into proportion."

"He had a right too. Jeremy doesn't even know you're going steady with Danny," she told me, a questioning eyebrow.

"It hasn't come up. If he asks me on a date then of course I'll tell him. But he's a just a friend and it's not like we've ever talked long enough to bring up the subject of special friends," I said. We continued to search through the bag pile until we found our bags.

"Here," Abbie huffed as she passed me mine. "Tell him anyway. Danny is your priority, not J."

"J huh? Nickname basis now? I wonder if he nows about Matty then?" I joked.

"Of course he does. We've all be out together," Abbie said as she dragged her bag out of the pile.

"Look, let's just drop it. When I get back I'll tell him, I just want to smooth things over with Danny," I told her as we walked to the outside of the station.

"If you don't tell him, I will."

"Okay fine. Gosh, it's like being a prisoner," I sighed. We got to the front and searched for Lindy. She was meant to pick us up so we could go straight to the only bridal shop in town.

"Any sign of my sister-in-law-to-be?" Abbie asked. I looked at my watch. Our train was a little early and they wouldn't be expecting us for another twenty minutes.

"I think we're stuck for a while," I told Abbie as I pointed to the town clock.

"In this cold?" she asked. It was nearing winter and Abbie always was a sook when it came to the cold.

"Welcome to the South were taxis are not being used yet."

"I'm so glad you guys could come back for the weekend," Lindy told us as she drove us to the bridal shop.

"Thanks for asking us to be your bridesmaids."

"Yeah, thanks for letting us help you choose your dress," I chipped in.

"It's a long shot, but Mama is willing to let me look at least," Lindy smiled brightly.

"Why not alter your mothers dress to make it more fashionable," Abbie suggested.

"It's like a fruit cake. I swear to the Lord above, nothing would make that dress fashionable," Lindy joked as she pulled into a parking spot. Right outside Danny's work. Fingers crossed he wasn't working today. I couldn't face him yet.

"It can't be that bad. Take off all the ruffles and drop the waistline. It'll be perfect," Abbie instructed. They stood at the front of the car waiting for me to get out, but from where I was I couldn't tell if the coast was clear or not. What if he was working and saw me? Do I say hi and do I pretend to not notice him. What was I saying!? He was my boyfriend, of course I should say hi.

"Charlotte, you coming?" Lindy joked as she banged the hood of her car. I was shaken out of my reverie and got my bag.

"Sorry, last minute touch ups, you know how those train rides cause commotion to your looks," I explained.

"Nonsense. You girls always look good," Lindy complimented us. She hooked our arms together and we made our way down the side walk towards Nancy's Brides.

"You should see Abbie in the morning then," I told her. Lindy laughed as she took in this new information.

"Look, after a few nights out I'm allowed to look a like roughed up," Abbie defended herself. I broke out into peals of laughter.

"What's so funny?" Danny's voice asked. I opened my eyes to see him standing in front of us. I'd been so preoccupied with him working in the shop, I hadn't stopped to think about what if I'd seen him on the street.

"Apparently Abbie isn't the best at waking up," Lindy filled him in.

"I can picture that," Danny said. Abbie rolled her eyes and gave Danny a warm hug.

"Good to see you."

"Likewise," he said. He looked at me and I averted my eyes down at once.

"Lindy, we better go in before we miss the appointment," Abbie said. Lindy noticed the tension and nodded.

"Well we'll see you later," she smiled. Danny nodded courteously.

"I didn't know you girls were back for the weekend," Danny said clearing his throat. I looked up and squinted to protect my eyes from the sun.

"It was last minute and we hadn't talked lately," I pointed out.

"I've been busy at the shop and helping out Johnnie," Danny explained.

"No, don't explain yourself. I know why," I said. I wasn't the type to sugar coat things and I could tell it caught Danny by surprise.

"Look Char," he started.

"We'll talk later. I don't think this is the time or place to do this," I told him. He stepped back, wounded.

"Uh okay."

"Tomorrow?" I asked him.

"Yeah, my Dad would like to see you I bet," he told me.

"Sounds good," I told him. He smiled softly and I gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked off to meet the girls. I felt good. I'd taken control of the situation and handled things like a lady for now. I just hoped I could do the same tomorrow.

November 8th

"Hey," Danny greeted the next day. He'd knocked at the door around 11.45 to take me to lunch at his house with his dad. I was nervous about the fifteen minute drive, alone. Would he bring it up?

"Hey," she said. We walked down the path and to the car.

"Let me get that," he said opening it for me.

"Thank you." So far it was only polite conversation. Practically only manners spoken between us. Why was it so hard to apologise? Danny started the car and it roared to life. He took off slowly and headed the back way to his house. It would take an extra 10 minutes and I cursed him for it.

"I'm sorry I ruined your birthday Char," Danny said softly. He turned his head, left, the right to make sure he wasn't going to crash into someone else when turning.

"You didn't," I assured him. He was nervous, I could tell. He wouldn't make eye contact and that was just not because of the driving.

"I did."

"I still had fun."

"Yeah, with Jeremy," he said. He didn't say it sarcastically but rather as if he'd wished the fun had been had with him.

"And the rest of my friends. I haven't been anywhere with just Jeremy," I pointed out.

"I'm sorry. I just don't like being away from you and when I hear about other guys, I just..."

"You just have to trust me okay?" I asked him.

"I do," he said. He relaxed into his seat and placed his right hand on my knee. It felt normal between us again, although we both knew there was more things to be sorted out.

"How's you Dad?" I changed the subject.

"No improvement. One day he's good and then he'll spend the next four days recovering," Danny explained.

"The doctors still think it's a cold?" I asked bewildered. That didn't sound like any normal cold.

"They don't know what to think."

"What do you think?" I asked him. He checked his vision again and then turned into the long and gravely pathway leading to his house. Just over the way, you could spot the McCawleys farm.

"It has to be something more. I don't know what, but something."

"Maybe it's from all the alcohol," I suggested.

"It'd make sense. He's lost a lot of weight, always has pain in his lower body and his eyes are turning yellow."

"Sounds cancerous," I said softly.

"Fingers crossed it isn't," Danny said pulling up the hand break and turning the car off.

"It's so good to see you," Steven Walker coughed out as sat on the couch. I pulled out a blanket ad wrapped it around him. Poor thing was shivering.

"You've said that about ten times Dad," Danny pointed out as he cleared the table.

"Well, it's the truth."

"Well, I'm glad I could come back to see you. Wanted to make sure Danny was taking good care of you," I told him.

"Everyone keeps fussing over me. I'm old, I'm going to die anyway," he laughed. The more he did, it turned into a cough. I could see the yellowing in his eyes and knew this wasn't just a cold. He was skinny and in so much pain.

"Not if we can help it."

"You shouldn't worry about spending your precious time with me. Worry about Danny, he's been a mess since you've been off in New York."

"Has he know?" I asked, smirking at Danny. He just rolled his eyes.

"He's complaining about missing you and the post service for not being faster. He nearly got fired because he skipped a shift to go see you," Mr. Walker laughed.

"Danny!" I exclaimed, "I thought you said you got a few days off?"

"I had to do what I had to do," he shrugged.

"Well, I'll be back again for Christmas and New Year. You'll both see plenty of me," I told them.

"That's good. We're trying to get everyone here for Christmas dinner," Mr Walker told me.

"We are?" Danny asked surprised. His dad had obviously never out himself out that way.

"Don't worry, you don't have to cook," Mr. Walker replied.

"If that was the case, we might've not had a dinner," I joked. Mr. Walker laughed and he closed his eyes. Tiredness was obviously taken him over.

"Well, I think I'm going to go rest. All this being nice is making me tired," he told us.

"Here I'll help you," Danny said as he ran in from the kitchen, tea towel slung over his shoulder.

"I'm sick, not disabled," he told his son. Danny backed up and watched his father walk up the steps and close the door behind him.

"Let's finish those dishes," I said tugging him away.

"He's taking naps more regularly," Danny told me.

"Look, the doctors in this small town are not equipped for illness' like this. You have to take him to Alabama or Nashville. They'll have better doctors," I said as I dried the dishes Danny had already washed.

"And how will I get a man like him to do that?" Danny asked quizzically.

"You have to explain to him that what he has is more than just a cold," I told him.

"He knows it is."

"Then why won't he let you take him?" I asked him frustrated. Danny shushed me, pointing to the roof letting me know his Dad's room was right above us.

"It's a lot of money to see them," Danny started.

"I've got money," I told him.

Danny shook his head. "That's your money. Besides, I think he just wants to be with mum now. He's gone on long enough without her. Ever since he's gotten sick he can't stop looking at old photos of her."

"You think he knows he's going?" I asked.

"Yeah, I think he does." Danny stopped washing the dishes and let the water run down the drain. He turned and faced the room and watched me as I put the plates and cutlery away in the shelves. When I was finished, I turned to face him, a whole dining table in between us.

"Well, you know what?"

"What?" he asked.

"Whenever you think it's time, tell him what you need to."

"He knows what I'd say," Danny said.

"Then tell him again."

November 9th

"A weekend is hardly long enough," Danny said as he pulled up outside the station.

"It's better than nothing," I sighed taking off my seatbelt.

"Well, you better get on back to school. Don't want to deprive Sarah Lawrence, Shellie and Millie from their best girl," he joked.

"I still have to wait for Abbie," I said rolling my eyes.

"Trust the McCawley's to be late," he laughed. A silence settled over us and we sat there.

"Now, I want you to know that the moment I get back I'm going to tell Jeremy that I have you. I'm going to set the boundary and make sure it's strictly a friendship."

"No, Char you don't have to do that. I understand you're just friends, I really just overreacted."

"Danny, I'll doing anything to put your mind at ease and I know this will. You are my priority," I told him. He nodded thankfully.

"I promise to not overreact the next time you mention a boy and promise to write even when you're angry," he smiled.

"We knew it was going to be hard," I said holding his hand.

"I know, I just wish it didn't have to be," he smiled softly. I moved over on the bench seat until I was flush up against him. He took my face in his soft, strong hands and pulled it towards his, kissing me heatedly. I smiled as his lips roamed mine. His touch was enough to send me into a frenzy.

"Hair," I motioned as his hands started working their way through my strategically placed pins.

"Sorry," he muttered pulling away. He laughed and tried to smooth the curls out.

"You're lucky I love you," I told him. He smiled as he watched me rework my updo.

"I am lucky. Lucky indeed."

Don't forget to R&R!

Much love!