𝘾𝙃𝘼𝙋𝙏𝙀𝙍 𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙑𝙀𝙉
—𝘵𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳—

     𝘽𝙍𝙔𝘾𝙀 𝘿𝙔𝙇𝘼𝙉'𝙎 𝙉𝙀𝙓𝙏 few days went by too fast to notice that Evelyn hadn't gone to work. She couldn't focus on how her raven-haired friend was doing because of the significant amount of paperwork that stacked up as the hours went on. The brunette was beginning to fall behind because of the newfound stress on her shoulders, and she could barely handle it on her own— she definitely needed that assistant the commander was speaking of. But maybe, just maybe, she felt too prideful to ask . . . yet she would never admit it.

"That's an awful lot of work, don't you think?" Danny taps on her office door twice before entering and pulling off his pilot cap. "Maybe I could help you out so we can take some time off together. I've been missing you, sugar. You're always cramped up in this little room with nothing but files to go through."

"I'd really enjoy some fresh air, but I think it's up to me to do this on my own," Bryce sighs, bowing her head as she continues to write on the document in her grasp. "The commander already thinks pretty lowly on my abilities to work, I wouldn't want him to find someone joining in to take care of this load."

"But that's exactly what you need," the man points out, moving to take the seat directly in front of her desk. He quickly snatches the ballpoint pen from her hand, before intertwining their fingers and looking into her eyes. "Bryce, do you honestly believe that the commander does all of his paperwork by himself? I bet he's got at least three assistants helping him."

"And that's exactly why I don't need one— to show that I'm not as weak as I seem." She states, her heart fluttering as he places a gentle kiss to her knuckles. "I'm sorry, Danny. I just can't."

"What if I talked to him about it? Maybe he's not purposefully doing it. Carter could easily assign someone to cover for you while you're away," he bargains, his eyes alight with hope that she would take some consideration into his suggestion.

"Don't you have pilot training to do?" Bryce chuckles, shaking her head.

"Aren't you supposed to be teaching about medical things for the battlefield?" He shoots back, raging an eyebrow and trying to contain a triumphant grin.

"Why should I do it when Rose has been doing such a lovely job?" She counters, clicking her tongue. "She loves it, actually, and I'd rather not force her back into this office so I can get my freedom again to teach all of you."

"But technically, she's filling in for the job that you were assigned. So technically, it's waiting on you. I've already talked with Rose, and she prefers to be in here. The pilots are too flirty with her, and for some reason, she can't keep their attention. Ever."

"Are you positive?" Bryce questions. "I'll only be willing to trade spots if she's comfortable with it."

"Yes, Bryce," he chuckles, taking her face in his hands. "She's not as stubborn as you, either; so I'm sure if she did get behind, Rose would have no problem in picking up an assistant. Now come on, let's go do something fun and get you out of this cramped space."

"Oh, alright," she huffs, laying down the manila  folder that was once in her grasp. "But only for today. Starting tomorrow, you can't drag me out of work. You'll have to save it until after, because I can't keep giving in to all of your distractions."

"So you don't like me coming around?" He raises a questioning eyebrow, turning to face her before they both reach the door.

"Let's just say that when you're around, I lose focus of everything else in the room."

"In that case," he winks, his accent dripping off his tongue like smooth honey, "I know how you feel, sugar."

---

There was a ledge. It was a drop-off on the coast, overlooking the water where boats still lingered before the sun would disappear from the sky. Danny and Bryce perches themselves on the edge of the cliff, allowing their ledge to dangle off the grassy area, where it faded to nothing but a chunk of earth beneath him. They could hear the noises coming from the boat passengers nearby, and even sailor calls from far off.

The ocean crashed up against the shore below, and the tides began to fall. The sky— oh, the sky. It was a billion different shades of brilliant pink, and some blue undertones just beneath it, peaking out for just a few moments. All Bryce knew, in this moment, was that she hadn't felt this relaxed in her lifetime. With the comfort of Danny's strong arm wrapped around her waist, she leaned into him.

"I didn't have a mother growing up." Danny says, looking at nothing in particular as he continues. "But my Dad always talked about her. He was a rough fellow; pretty strict at times, but well-rounded. He was in the first war, and had seen just about everything. But he'd never tell me a word about any of that."

Bryce notices his pause, even though it's short— in which he takes a deep breath, then goes on.

"Every night before bed, he'd tell me a different memory of her. I heard it all, from their first date to her last words to him. But I don't think he did it for me. I think he was starting to forget her, and telling me things would help him remember. And the way his eyes always lit up when he mentioned her name— goodness, that's what I've always wanted. She was his world, and he lost her."

"If there's one thing I know, anything," Danny says, looking down to meet Bryce's eyes, "it's that I don't want to lose you. I've never known a feeling this strong before, and it scares me to know that if I get drafted, you'll be here alone and I'll have no way to protect you from this God-forsaken world. You're the purest, most delicate woman I've ever met in my life. But you're also strong. And brave, and fearless, and beautiful. Kind, smart, talented, funny— everything a guy like me could only dream of."

Bryce giggles, shoving him slightly as she goes to wipe away a stray tear that fell from her eye. He laughs too, placing his hands on either side of her face, and wiping it off before she could. He stared into the depth of her eyes; they were glittering with the reflection of the setting sun, specks of lights dancing in the orbs. But deeper than that, he saw her emotions. He could see her warm smile in them, and her heart full of kindness. And all he could've ever wished for in his life was this.

This solitary moment where he would finally allow his feelings to go free, no longer kept captive in the back of his mind for him to deal with when he felt emotional. This was the day, the hour, the minute where he would admit what he understood from the start.

"From the day that I met you, there was something so different to you that I couldn't see in others," he grins, shaking his head. "Your gorgeous smile, and those rosy cheeks of yours brought something out of me. You saved my wings, and that's something a normal stranger wouldn't do. You had me nervous to even talk to you.

"But I knew something that you didn't. I knew from that day on that I had to have you. From your little action, I saw your heart and your dedication. I didn't want to let you down, I wanted to impress you. I wanted to be someone you could look to whenever need be. I wanted my eyes to light up like my father's did when he talked about my mother. And now, I know that I want to spend the rest of my life with you; staring into your perfect eyes and telling you every day just how utterly amazing you are."

By now, Bryce has shed more than a few tears. She tried not to make a sound, but it was clear that she would really cry after Danny finished. The Dylan woman had never heard words like these before, except from a select few family members, let alone from a man who had the utmost of character.

"I'm afraid of losing you," he states. "Because I want to know what it feels like to wake up next to you, and hold you throughout the night. I want to lay underneath the stars in a field full of flowers, and look over to find you next to me. I want to make your coffee just the way you like it, and help you cook in a kitchen of our own. I want to hear all of your secrets, and help you when times get rough. I want you, Bryce.

"Because I'm so utterly in love with you."

She swallows back a cry when he says it, wanting him to pull her closer and make the tears stop. But she couldn't stop crying. There was so much happiness in her heart that it overflowed and she could do nothing but this.

"I want forever with you," Danny places his forehead on hers. "And every day after."

_______