Chapter 17: The Wedding

Allie ran around the church, her dress billowing out behind her as she ran. "Danny!" She called, trying to find him. "Danny, where are you?"

"Allie, what are you running around for?" Danny appeared in the doorway from inside a room, his shy smile showing on his face.

Stopping, Allie bent over resting her hands on her knees. "I… I've been looking everywhere for you," she managed to gasp. "You have the rings right?"

Danny's face went blank. "I… I thought you…"

Allie's head snapped up and she stared at him. "You're joking…"

With a look of complete seriousness, he said "yes I am." The grin broke out across his face and Allie glared furiously.

She slapped his arm fiercely. "I can't believe you! How could you do that? Don't ever do that again!" Allie exclaimed loudly.

"Calm down." Danny laughed lightly. "They're right here." He reached into his inside jacket pocket and pulled out the two rings. "See?"

"Oh! I am so angry with you!" Allie stomped her foot and turned away, her gaze falling on the wall in front of her.

"Come on, don't be angry." Danny reached out and took her shoulder, turning her slowly to face him. "Come on Allie." He looked down into her eyes and saw the tears that emerged. "Oh Allie you cry too much!" He laughed and pulled her in for a hug.

Allie smiled though her tears. "I know. I can't help it most of the time. I cry when I'm happy, I cry when I'm sad, when I'm stressed or…" she laughed. "Please never do that to me again," she said, wiping the tears from her eyes. "You 'bout gave me a fright."

"I'm sorry." He leaned down and kissed her forehead. "Come on, we've got to get you ready to walk down the aisle."

Allie took his hand and the two walked to the back of the church. "Now you stay here and you can walk down before Evelyn."

"Wait, Danny?" Allie stopped, still holding his hand.

The shy smile forming on his face again, Danny turned to face her. "Yes Allie?"

She gazed down at the floor and shook her head. "Nothing. Never mind."

"No, come on. Tell me." Danny reached up a hand and lifted her chin so that her eyes met his. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Allie forced a smile. "Everything's fine. It's nothing."

Danny stared down at her. "Allie," he said softly.

She sighed. "Is everything going to work? With this wedding… and us?" She glanced back up into his eyes, hoping for the happiness she wanted to see there.

Danny sighed. "I sure do hope so. Everything seems to be looking up for us. Now that Rafe and Evelyn are getting married… Everything should be fine Allie." He brought her hand up to his lips and kissed the back. "Is that all you're worried about?"

Allie nodded and smiled as Danny wiped away a fallen tear from her cheek. "Oh look, your tie is crooked." She reached up and straightened the light green tie that matched the green of Allie's bridesmaid dress.

Danny kissed her forehead and smiled. "I love you Allie," he said softly, trying to force her to meet his eyes.

When she finally looked up again, she saw he was smiling. "I love you too Danny. Now go. You have to get up front with Rafe. 'Cause if you're not there, he'll skin you alive!"

Kissing his cheek, she sent him off to the front of the church and she moved over to where Evelyn and Barbara were standing with Evelyn's father. "Are you ready," Allie asked the bride.

"No," Evelyn said nervously, "but I'm as ready as I'll ever be." She continued to take quick, shallow breathes. Her left hand rested on her stomach and the other held her father's hand.

"Calm down Ev," Barbara said.

"I'm trying," she snapped. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap. It's just… what if…" Evelyn's face softened and she looked around nervously.

"Don't even think it Ev," Allie said softly. "Rafe loves you. He won't leave you; definitely not at the alter."

Evelyn smiled. "I know. I don't know what's come over me. I must just be nervous."

"Come on Allie, Ev. It's time to get this show on the road." Barbara positioned herself in front of the doors and smiled back at the two other nurses. "Ready to go Evelyn?"

The bride nodded just as the music began. The girls ordered themselves, Barbara, Allie then Evelyn with her father. Barbara put on her best smile and began the walk down the aisle. Once she reached the halfway point between the doorway and the alter, Allie started her walk. She grinned at Danny, Rafe's best man, who was standing between Rafe and Red. When she reached the front of the church, she turned to face the back and to watch Evelyn walk down the aisle.

The bridal march began and the entire church stood, turning towards the aisle. Evelyn and her father walked slowly through the guests. She giggled girlishly as she caught eyes with Rafe. Allie couldn't contain the grin that remained on her face. Her brother and good friend were finally getting married and her new nephew was cooing in the front row.

When they reached the front, the guests took their seats and Evelyn's father presented her to Rafe and the minister. Allie took Evelyn's bouquet and she joined hands with Rafe.

"Do you, Rafe James McCawley take Evelyn Marie Johnson to be your lawfully wedded wife? To have and to hold from this day forward?" The minister said, glancing up from his book and into Rafe's eyes.

"I do," Rafe said simply.

"Do you, Evelyn Marie Johnson take Rafe James McCawley to be your lawfully wedded husband? To have and to hold from this day forward?"

"I do," she said softly, looking up into Rafe's eyes.

"Then by the power invested in me, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride."

Rafe pulled Evelyn towards him and the two kissed passionately. Allie and Barbara grinned and the audience erupted in applause.

"May I present Mr. and Mrs. Rafe McCawley!" The minister presented the newly married couple to the church and the piano player began the recessional music. Rafe and Evelyn walked down the aisle as Danny moved over to take Allie's hand. Barbara and Red came last and the couples ran out to the cars in the lot.

They drove separately to the reception a restaurant downtown. It was a small affair, only their closest friends and family. Allie and Rafe's father had come from Tennessee and Evelyn's parents traveled from upstate New York.

Allie and Danny entered the restaurant behind Barbara and Red. They looked around and smiled. The place had been dressed up with flowers, ribbons and bows. A table by the front window had several pictures on it. Allie walked over and looked at them closely. She picked up one photo, staring at the man's black hair and dark, mischievous eyes.

"Oh Anthony," she whispered softly. She blinked back the tears she knew were coming.

Danny came up behind her, also looking down at the photos. He recognized Allie and Rafe's mother as well as several of their friends from training who had perished in the attack and the bombing. He gently placed his hand on Allie's shoulder and squeezed lightly. "You alright Allie?" He asked softly.

"I miss him Danny," she whispered.

"I didn't realize you two were so close."

"He was nice to me even when he didn't need to be. He offered to beat you up you know, when you and Ev were together. He said you were an awful friend and didn't deserve me in your life." She smiled, remembering Anthony's smile. She placed the picture back on the table and shifted her gaze to the photo of her mother.

"I didn't deserve you, still don't." He leaned down and kissed her neck softly. "Is that all that's bothering you?"

"I wish Mom were here to see this. She'd be so proud of him." Allie sniffled and pulled her handkerchief from the small purse she was carrying.

Danny turned her around and pulled her in for a hug. "Your mom would be proud of you too Allie. You keep forgetting about everything you've done. Without you, so many men would have died."

"I know Danny. I know." She hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek. "Oh look, Rafe and Evelyn are here.

The bride and groom entered and danced their first dance as husband and wife. The song Evelyn picked was "Sunday, Monday or Always" sung by Bing Crosby. Allie and Danny smiled from the side of the dance floor, holding hands and swaying to the music. The dance was short and they ended it with a soft kiss, smiling as they separated.

The reception continued and Allie danced several dances with Danny and her father. After sitting on the side of the dance floor for a few moments, watching Rafe and Evelyn dance with their parents, Allie felt a heavy hand rest on her shoulder.

"May I have this dance?" The soft voice asked and Allie turned around to smile at her brother.

"Of course Rafe." She reached up and took his hand, following him out on to the dance floor. Allie placed one hand on his waist and the other in his hand as Rafe did the same. He looked to the band and winked as they began playing his special request.

Once the music started Allie looked up into his eyes, the tears already forming. "Mom's song," she whispered. Rafe nodded and the two began to sway to the music.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

They had driven especially into town to see the movie when it had come out. Imagine, a film in color! Their mother had loved the song so much; she hummed it as she did her housework. After she died, Allie found herself humming it to herself and it always brought tears to her eyes.

Some day I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me

Allie rested her head on Rafe's shoulder, slowly dancing back and forth. She caught her father's gaze and saw the tears that rested just in the corners of his brown eyes. He smiled sadly, watching his two children dancing together.

If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?

The slow song finished and Rafe spun Allie uncharacteristically out then pulled her back in. Allie giggled girlishly and curtsied to her brother. "Thanks Rafe," she whispered as she gave him a hug.

"Don't worry Allie; you'll always be close to my heart." He kissed her cheek and the two separated, going to their respective partners.

The wedding reception finished soon after their dance. Rafe and Evelyn left to spend the night in their rented hotel room. Danny walked Allie back to the nurse's house and planned to walk down the road to his barracks.

"Thank you Danny," Allie said softly, shifting from one foot to the other.

"You're welcome Allie. Can't have my favorite gal walkin' alone now can I?" Danny looked around nervously, as if something important was on his mind.

Allie looked towards the door, hesitant to enter. "Well," she paused. "Good night Danny." Standing on her toes, she kissed his cheek. She turned towards the door and reached her hand out for the doorknob.

"Allie, wait." Danny took her hand and pulled her gently towards him. "I…"

"What's wrong Danny?"

Danny took a deep breath. "Would you come for a walk with me?"

Allie nodded and stepped down the steps. The couple walked down the road and into the park that Allie had frequented so often during their drama. They walked over to the swings and Allie stood, holding on to the metal chain that held the swing to the tree.

Looking down, Danny stuck his hand into his jacket pocket. "Allie, I love you." He blurted out, still gazing at the ground.

Giggling softly she smiled. "I love you too Danny. What's wrong? You seem nervous."

"I… I'm fine. Allie?" He asked, looking down into her eyes. He bent down on one knee so that Allie was now towering over him. "Allison McCawley, will you marry me?" He pulled the ring out of his pocket and held it out in his hand.

The ring was a simple gold band with a small diamond in the center. He must have saved all his money from the past few months Allie thought, gazing silently down at the ring.

"Allie?" He asked softly. "Please say something." His voice was cracking with emotion and unshed tears.

"Yes," she whispered. "Yes, I'll marry you."

Danny's head snapped up and he grinned. He stood up quickly and slipped the ring on her left hand. Picking her up off the ground, he twirled her around in circles, laughing all the while.

"You've just made me the happiest man alive," he whispered as he placed her carefully back on the solid ground. "I love you Allie."

"I love you too Danny."

AN: Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story from the beginning. I'm so upset that this story is over! I might add an epilogue, to give you some idea on where the characters have gone from this point. It feels weird to have the story complete and I already miss Allie and Danny. Thanks again for reading and please leave a final review on your way out.

:Muzical