Author's note: After a long break, I've decided to follow through with the sequel and see how it works out. :D For those who are new to the story, this is the first chapter of the sequel to Wings of Silver, you might want to read that first if you're interested in the story between Gabrielle Connor (my OC ^^) and Danny Walker. This story starts a year after the Doolittle Raid. I haven't thought of the ending yet though, pretty much going to make things up as I go along. Might not be able to update as frequently now, but I'll try. :D Hope everyone enjoys this story as well!

Disclaimer: All characters you recognize from Pearl Harbor are not mine. ^^

Chapter 1

Gabrielle Connor wrung her hands anxiously as she waited behind the gates of the runway, chewing on her lip as she cast yet another eye on her watch. Why wasn't it time yet?

It had been so long since she last saw Danny…he was meant to be away for just 7 months, then something happened and the mission got delayed.

He didn't say much about what that caused the delay in his letters, and Gabby couldn't help grinding her teeth in frustration at not being able to know. If she had been there with him, she wouldn't have to go through all this. But she couldn't…not since she'd resigned from the army a year ago. The thought of rejoining the army crossed her mind a couple of times since then, but she'd quickly pushed them down the moment they surfaced.

No way Doolittle was letting her off if he saw her trying to pass off as an army pilot again. And considering his level of involvement in many of the war missions nowadays, it would be impossible to avoid running into him.

Still, it would help if Danny could be more detailed in his letters. Though the current mission he went on was nowhere as dangerous or secretive as the Doolittle raid, she knew there were still a lot of things he was leaving out of his letters. Whenever he wrote to her, he always talked about normal everyday stuff, like the terrible food, Rafe actually getting diarrhoea once or twice, the training they had that day…it was all very normal.

Too normal.

She knew there had to be more than that. He wasn't telling her because he didn't want her to worry, but she was going to get worried all the same, so why wouldn't he just tell her?!

Looking down at the nurse uniform she was wearing, Gabby couldn't help an evil grin spreading on her face. To everyone else, she looked like a nurse, albeit one who had been in such a hurry that she hadn't had time to change out of her uniform and had even forgotten to take off the mask meant only for operating theatres. There were even some throwing sympathetic looks her way, wondering how she could sit still in the hot weather with that mask on her face. She ignored them. Adjusting the mask she had on, she straightened up and turned back towards the runway, a mischievous glint in her dark brown eyes.

She hadn't told him she was coming. For all he knew, her last letter to him a month ago had been sent from his home in Tennessee, where she had been staying for the past year. She hadn't told him that, straight after she posted that letter, she'd packed her bags and came to New York, just so she could be there when he came back.

Served him right for leaving things out of his letters. Gabby grinned again.

With the mask on, there was no way Danny would recognise her. He was in for a big shock.

Beside her, her partner in crime, Evelyn Johnson had her own eyes trained on the horizon, waiting for the moment when the plane carrying her boys would come home. Their eyes met, and Evelyn smiled at the obvious glee in Gabby's eyes, amusement twinkling in her own as she envisioned Danny's reaction when he saw them. For a while, she could distract herself from those darker thoughts that never failed to plague her whenever she sat here waiting for them to come back.

She wanted to see them. Both of them. Back home, in front of her, alive and well. So far she'd been lucky. Whenever the planes come back from their missions, her boys had always made it back. Every time she came to meet them, she deliberately kept her eyes away from those who weren't as lucky and had their loved ones return in a flag-draped coffin.

If anything happened to either of them, she didn't know what she was going to do.

Finally, the plane came into view, the by-now-familiar sound of engines whining as it made its descent. The nearer it came, the more nervous she felt. Evelyn smiled wryly to herself. She was never getting used to it, was she?

Gabby subconsciously started chewing on her lip as she watched the plane come to a stop, then subconsciously held her breath as the door in the side open and the first pilot made his way out. Evelyn's dark brown eyes lit up immediately as she recognised Rafe McCawley, springing up from her seat and smiling as she caught his eye.

He smiled back, and gave her a slight nod. Evelyn's heart immediately settled. That meant Danny was fine, too.

She'd gotten lucky once again.

Sure enough, Danny Walker was the next to follow his best friend out of the plane, squinting slightly in the sun. The two ladies in bright white uniform stood out so much that he saw Evelyn almost immediately, and he couldn't help but smile at the sight of her waving at them. The nurse beside Evelyn…who was she? Evelyn's new friend? Half her face was covered, for goodness sake. Whoever she was waiting to see probably won't recognize her at all!

Shaking his head, Danny smiled. It was kind of sweet though, to think that she'd been in such a rush to get here that she'd forgotten to take her mask off. It seemed like something Gabby would do…

If she had been a nurse, that is.

Danny couldn't help scanning the crowd again. Gabby had said she was getting busy on the farm in her last letter, and even though he'd told her when they were coming back, she hadn't mentioned anything about coming to New York to meet him…

Nope…she wasn't here. Danny was sure he would have spotted her by now if she was.

Rafe hid a chuckle as they walked towards Evelyn, nudging Danny in the side. "Thought you said you weren't expecting her to be here?"

"Yeah, I'm not." Danny said somewhat defensively.

"Yes you are."

"I'm not."

Rafe raised his eyebrows. "Do I sense disappointment?"

Danny eyed him warily. "What?"

"Nothing." Rafe smiled dangerously. "No one bullies you in front of me and gets away with it, that's all."

Danny rolled his eyes. "You leave Gabby out of this, Rafe." They had been in a war for a good two years now, and his friend was still talking about him getting bullied. Besides, Gabby hadn't said she was coming. He was the one who got his hopes up, that's all. How would that count as bullying?

"Did I say I was talking about Gabby?" Rafe smirked.

"What's this? Arguing so soon?" Evelyn had an exasperated smile on her face as she met them halfway on the tarmac.

Danny turned his back on Rafe's smug expression as he smiled at Evelyn. "Hey."

"Hey yourself." Happiness and relief shone her eyes as she shook her head in mock resignation. "You two aren't ever going to grow up, are you?"

Danny grinned, then drew her into a brief hug, planting a light kiss on her forehead before stepping back. "You look great."

In an act of mock jealousy, Rafe planted himself right in the middle of the two of them, clearing his throat as he looked expectantly at Evelyn. "My turn."

Evelyn laughed, wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to plant a full kiss on his lips. "I've missed your nonsense, Rafe."

Danny rubbed his temples and let out a long-suffering sigh. "Don't encourage him, Evelyn. He's getting out of hand."

Rafe shot him a hurt look. Danny only raised his eyebrows. "What?"

Just then, a slight movement at the side caught his eye, and Danny turned to see the masked nurse standing there behind Evelyn. He frowned slightly.

"Sorry, ma'am, can I help you?" If she was looking for someone, he could probably point her towards the right direction.

She came a few steps closer, but said nothing. Danny blinked. Something in those smiling eyes seemed familiar…

When he failed to react, she came yet another few steps closer, bringing her so close that Danny reflexively took a step back. He looked so bewildered that Gabby couldn't hold her laughter in any longer. Pulling the mask off, she tilted her chin at him and grinned widely. "Gotcha."

Danny gaped at the "nurse" in front of him for a few seconds, then laughed as he wrapped an arm around her waist, hugging her tightly against him as he buried his face in her hair. "I thought you weren't coming."

His soft voice made Gabby's heart go all soft and mushy, and suddenly she felt like a jerk for what she did. She thought he would at least be mildly annoyed, but here he was, smiling happily at her without even a hint of disapproval or irritation…

Guiltily, Gabby laid her head on his chest and grudgingly conceded. "Fine, I won't do it again."

"Don't you dare." Danny tried to sound stern, but couldn't help smiling as he reached over and tucked her fringe behind her ear. It had been a very Gabby-like thing to do, and it was probably his own fault that he didn't see that coming.

He didn't need to ask where Gabby got that uniform from. The answer was obvious. Raising an eyebrow, Danny ran a finger along the name embroidered neatly along the rim of Gabby's hat, then glanced accusingly at the culprit. "Evelyn Johnson?"

"Told you Gabby was a bad influence." Rafe sighed as he came over with a guilty-looking Evelyn in tow. "Evelyn would never do this in the past."

"Face it, you liked my surprise." Gabby nudged Danny in the ribs.

"Don't I get a hug?" Rafe raised his eyebrows at Gabby.

Gabby pursed her lips in mock irritation. "Get out of my way."

"Come on now, I know you miss me."

"In your dreams."

"Leave us alone, Rafe." Danny pulled Gabby protectively towards him before those two could start bickering in earnest, steering her away from the crowds towards the gate. "We've got better things to do."

Indeed, the routine celebratory dinner was just hours away, and he still had to get Gabby out of this jarring white uniform.

An hour later, Danny smiled in satisfaction as Gabby strutted out of the room she was sharing with Evelyn, dressed in his favourite dress. The navy blue dress with the white sash that flowed around her waist, his first gift to her. He loved how she managed to look amazing just with her hair swept back in a simple ponytail and some light makeup.

His Rielle never needed to do much to look beautiful.

Rafe and Evelyn had already made their way to the dinner party, so it was just the two of them now. For that, Danny was glad. He wasn't exactly in a hurry to show the world what a lucky man he was.

Gabby did a small twirl as she reached the bottom of the stairs where he was waiting, then grinned happily at him. "How do I look?"

"Absolutely shocking." Danny said with a straight face.

Gabby made a face at him. "You've hurt your head while on this mission, I presume."

"Probably once or twice." Danny laughed, but immediately regretted it when he saw worry flash across her eyes. Gently pulling her towards him, he leaned his forehead against hers as he tightened his arms around her waist. "That was a joke, in case you haven't realised."

Before she could reply, he lifted her face up and caught her mouth in a tender kiss. He'd been wanting to do that since he'd gotten off the plane, and now that he finally had her to himself, he couldn't wait any more. Reaching one hand behind her head, he pressed her to him somewhat more roughly than he intended, his other arm snaking around her waist to secure her tightly against him.

Gabby responded fiercely as she wrapped her arms around his neck, closing her eyes as she relaxed into his embrace. His strong arms around her, his strong and steady heartbeat, his familiar warmth…all signs that he was indeed well and alive. Those sleepless nights she spent worrying about him seemed like a joke now, but she'd gladly go through them again if it meant she could have him here with her like this. Nothing else mattered.

They were both slightly breathless when they pulled apart, and Danny gazed lovingly into her shining eyes. "We're going to be late."

He made no sign of letting her go though.

Gabby grinned. "Good things come to those who wait."

"That I agree." Danny murmured softly as he gently stroked her cheek, pecking her lightly on the lips again. "I've waited long enough, I deserve a reward, don't you think?"

Gabby twirled a strand of hair around her finger nonchalantly. "I thought I heard someone say I looked absolutely shocking?"

Danny smiled, reaching down and interlacing his fingers with hers. "You know what I meant, Rielle."

"No I don't." Gabby pretended to play with her hair, deliberately avoiding the killer smile she knew he had to be aiming at her right now.

Danny heaved an exaggerated sigh, then moved behind her and draped his arms over her shoulder, pulling her close so that her back was to his chest. Gently nuzzling the side of her head, he rocked her slightly from side to side. "Rielle?"

"What?" Gabby couldn't help smiling at his tactics. He was almost 27 years old now, and here he was acting like a kid.

"I love you."

A ridiculous grin spread across Gabby's face. One year was too long a wait…but to hear him say those words again, everything seemed worth it.

"I love you too." She whispered softly.

"What? I can't hear you."

She rolled her eyes, then twisted out of his embrace, taking his hand in hers and pulling him towards the door.

"I said we're late for dinner."

"I could have sworn that wasn't what you said just now." Danny protested, but he obligingly let her drag him out the door and onto the streets.

They had a dinner to go to, and they were already terribly late.

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