Hey! Sorry for the long update! School and life and just always in the way and it's so hard to find time to sit down and write for you guys! Hope you enjoy this long awaited chapter! I promise the next one will come a lot sooner.

To brosellinogirl, JoySalvatore1, ani1202, sesshysgirl12321, ashleebravo199981, 11OneDone2Many, BrokenGlass15, NBL8523 and kitcool, thank you guys so much for following/favouriting this story! Your support means so much and this chapter is dedicated to you!

To Broken Glass: The whole love triangle is a bit annoying. There are a lot of loose strings that will be tied up in coming chapters and it will all make sense and I hope you'll be happy with the ending! I wish I could write one million chapters for you, but my story does have an ending that hopefully I get too soon! Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Enjoy everyone!

June 21st, 1941

After we'd returned home to the Pearl we went straight back to work. It was our first night off since we'd gotten back and Danny was taking me out for dinner.

"Charlotte!" Came Betty's cry through the house as she ran up the stairs.

"What's wrong?" I asked her. Her tone seemed wilder than usual.

"Nothing, nothing! Danny's just pulled up!" she said smiling. I sighed.

"God girl, you nearly gone and gave me a heart attack," I laughed as I turned back around to put my earrings in.

"Well, you look beautiful," she said as she stood behind me wrapping her arms around my waist in an embrace and popping her head on my shoulder.

"Thanks baby girl," I said smoothing out the crinkles of my red dress. There was a knock at the door and Sandra's voice drifted upstairs calling my name.

"Well, I'm off, don't wait up," I told her kissing her on the cheek. I zoomed downstairs and met Danny on the porch.

"Hi Danny," I said hugging him from behind.

"Hey you," he said wiggling in my arms and turning around to face me, "Don't you look like a picture."

"Stop being silly," I said as he kissed my cheek.

"So, I know I promised dinner but how about a walk on the beach first?" he asked.

"What's the special occasion? I asked.

"Just wanna be with my girl before the whole world gets to see her," he said cheekily.

"You're a soppy mess Mr. Walker," I told him as he dragged my towards the beach.

"I'm just in love," he said poking out his tongue.

We made our way down to the beach arm in arm. The sun was setting and the waves were rolling in. Their were lovers everywhere. Some having picnics, some strolling along just as we were and some who were contented to sit and watch the suns last rays.

"It looks like you had the right idea," I told Danny softly.

"Great minds think alike. I guess us fly boys are all the same," he joked placing his arm around me.

"What happens when this is all over?" I asked him after a few moments of silence passed between us.

"We go home and live there," he replied smirking.

"I'm being serious Danny," I said sternly.

"Okay, okay. Well I'd get my Dad's house back, and then I'll walk myself to your father's door and ask for your hand in marriage," he said jokingly, then added softly, "if you'll have me."

"You don't even need to ask me," I responded. He went to say something but then thought against it and stayed silent.

"What were you going to say?" I asked him.

"Nothing, I don't want to make you upset."

"Come on, it's fine," I told him. He sighed.

"What if Charlie returns? Like I know he's been gone for a while, but he could still be out there somewhere."

I froze for a bit but kept walking next to him. I'd never really thought about it. "I made a promise to Charlie, but I've loved you ever since I was a girl," I told him stoping in our tracks. "Charlie is not an unreasonable man, he knows about you and if it comes down to who I love more, I'd pick you even if you couldn't take me to England," I laughed.

He cupped my face and kissed me hard. It was like he needed to hear that to be reassured about our love. I never wanted to be without Danny and I would do everything I could to keep us together.

July 18th

I had had a day off when Evelyn came home sobbing during dusk.

"Ev, what's wrong?" she said running to her. Evelyn all but collapsed in Sandra's arms. She shook her head, she could hardly speak.

"What's wrong?" I asked as we bought her to the couch.

"R-R-afe, he was s-shot down. He's dead," she cried out. My heart stopped. Rafe couldn't be gone he was the best pilot out there.

"What?" I asked her, "Who told you?"

"Danny," she stuttered, "he was told this morning."

"Oh my god, Danny," I said. I had to find him.

"Go, I've got her," said Sandra. Frantically I scrambled to the phone and rang his base.

"Pick up, pick up, pick up."

"H-hello," answered Red.

"Red, it's me Charlotte. Is Danny there?" I asked.

"No, he's not. I haven't seen him since this morning."

"Do you have any idea where he might be? Like where do you guys hang out?" I asked him.

"C-check the bar or the main strip," Red said. "Is e-everything okay?"

"Not really. Tell the boys Rafe's gone. K-I-A," I mumbled.

"Oh g-geez," Red said sadly. "I-I hope you-re o-okay. I-I know you guys were close."

"Thanks Red, please tell Danny I'm looking for him if you see him."

I hung up the phone and grabbed my purse. Evelyn was still sobbing. I ran over to her and gave her a kiss. This was undoubtedly her worst fear come to life. And mine. To lose a friend who I'd known since birth was a pain in my heart. But Danny needed me, I couldn't show him I was hurting too.

The first place I looked was the bar. I knew he sometimes went there to think or relax after a hard day. I looked around, went up to people and asked if they knew him, but no one knew who I was even talking about. I left, slightly defeated but determined to find him. It was getting darker by the second and I didn't want him to be out alone no matter what the state.

I walked around the island up to the hanger Danny was usually in tinkering on planes. Everything was closed, there was no one even around. The lights flickered and I continued on, maybe he was inside. When I opened the door, after finally being able to move the heavy thing, all I saw were planes and tools and smelt grease. I was running out of places to find him.

So I went, and walked another far while until I got to the main strip. People were finishing up their dinner and going dancing. There was so much joy and happiness you'd hardly think we were in the middle of a war.

"Hey Charlotte! Where you going?" asked one of the nurses I had a shift with earlier this week.

"I'm trying to find Danny, have you seen him?" I asked.

"Danny?" she said thinking as she scanned the street. "I haven't seen him tonight, but I know the boys are having a party down at one of the hanger's along the way. I don't think it's Danny's usual crowd but he might be there."

"Oh thank you!" I said grabbing her hand. There was only one other hanger that I knew off around here, and that was only because Betty used to love going to their parties.

When I left the main strip and had to walk along the grass, I removed my shoes. The balls of my feet were starting to hurt and my heels were sinking into the soft grass beneath me. There was a ruckus coming from the hanger, and it was so unlikely I'd ever find Danny there, especially given the news he'd just found out.

I ran into the hanger to see cadets swinging around the younger nurses, alcohol flowing from an unknown source. I went over to the make shift bar and got up onto the chair to see if I could spot his familiar face. I was nearly standing up when someone knocked me. I screamed as I lost my balance, but felt steady arms catch me.

"Sorry miss," he said politely, helping me down.

"Not your fault, it was silly for me to be up there anyway."

"Looking for someone?" he asked as he ordered a beer.

"My boyfriend, Danny Walker?" I asked him. "You haven't happened to see him around here?"

"He's friends with Red right?" he asked me thinking.

"Yeah, the boys are from the next hanger down!" I said hopeful.

"I think I saw him driving towards the beach on my way up here," he smiled.

I sighed. I don't know how long I could keep searching before it go too late and too dark. "Thank you for your help. Have a good night."

"You're not staying?" he asked.

"I can't. Danny and I grew up with this kid Rafe, we just found out he was killed in action. There's somewhere you just gotta be in times like this," I told him. He passed on his condolences and I ran off again into the night again. Lucky enough, just outside the hanger a group of girls were getting dropped off by the taxi, and my feet suddenly did a dance for joy.

By the time I got to the beach, it was dark. I could hardly see anyone three metres away from me and I cursed at how hard it would be to spot Danny. However, I made my way down the man made path and onto the cool night sand.

I saw couples romantically cuddled together, spread around the beach. There were groups who'd set up bonfires and people giggling from the shallow depths of the sea. It was a picturesque night, no one would ever guess the world was suffering from a war.

"Danny?" I called out repeatedly. Some guy from the bonfire jogged.

"You looking for me ma'am?" he asked grinning.

"No, sorry, wrong Danny."

"What a shame," he said and let me continue my search. I tried to check my watch when I moved further away. It was ten o'clock from what I could see and I'd already hit the rock pools that were a good 2 miles away from where I'd started.

It seemed to me like Danny didn't want to found tonight, so I made my decision to let him be and I returned on my way home.

When I returned home the girls were sitting around the fire place, Evelyn sleeping in Sandra's lap.

"How is she?" I asked coming to sit down next to them.

"I don't think she'll recover until this war is over," Betty said softly.

"Poor thing," I said softly.

"But how are you?" Martha asked.

"Me?" I questioned.

"Yes you. You and Rafe grew up together, he's like family." I'd been too preoccupied to think of my own feelings as I ran all over looking for Danny. I didn't seem to realise the stabbing feeling that shot across my chest whenever I thought of a memory together.

"He's like my big brother. You can never really replace anyone and I'll miss him for the rest of my days. But, I've been to worried about Danny to let myself wallow."

"Did you find him?" Sandra asked as she stroked Evelyn's hair.

"I looked everywhere and I cannot find him. I walked two miles up the beach in darkness and didn't see him. I'm so worried, but I figured he might just want to be alone."

"He'll be okay. Probably found a quiet spot somewhere to think," Betty said resting her head on my shoulder.

We sat in silence for a little while longer before everyone decided to go to bed. My feet were tired and so was my heart. Abbie and the rest of the family must be going through the worst kind of hurt. I couldn't even imagine the tears that spilt from his poor mothers eyes.

I undressed out of the navy sun dress I had on and sat down to unpin my hair. A picture of Danny, myself, Abbie, Rafe and the boys sat on my dresser and I fingered the cheesy grin Rafe wore.

"I never thought I'd see the day were I missed that cheeky grin," I thought to myself. After a moments reflection, I got into my night gown and slid into bed. The light was switched off and all I could hear was the gentle whistle Betty made when she slept. I thought about Rafe and Danny and home and how returning there would be so different without him being there with us. A tear rolled down my cheek and I finally let myself begin to grieve.

An hour later when I couldn't let myself resign to sleep, Danny walked through the bedroom door. He sat down on the edge of the bed and removed his heavy boots. He took off his shirt and placed it neatly on the bedside table and then slid into the covers. He faced away from me, ragged and short breaths coming from his mouth. His body was shaking quietly and that's when I realised he was crying. I turned around and put my arms around him, my face resting against the middle of his shoulders. He grabbed my hand and pressed it to his heart. The small tears falling freely onto it.