Amongst The Brave

S i x t e e n

                 Somewhere in sky over Pearl Harbor
                                       Amelia

They say time slows down when life is at its fullest. If that is true, my life must be overflowing because every since this plane took flight—

Time has been at a standstill.

An I am never going to complain about that. No, instead I will praise the man that has perfectly stroked the beautiful sky that surrounds us with his gracious brush. All its glorious hues of orange, that effortlessly transitions to a coral before turning that darkened pink right before it fades into a soothing purple as it begins to retire from its ending chapter of yet another day.

A sight that can mesmerize you without asking while standing on the ground. But up in the sky, you find yourself asking to somehow remain in its awestruck heavenly existence. Desperately seeking of ways to capture it. hold safely close until the dark days come, because no matter what life challenges arise, this sunset in the sky could bring light to the heavy.

My attention is stolen as the tenderly graze of Danny's finger tips glide over my now goosebump ridden skin. Starting from the hem of my dress, trickling over the thin cloth from it, and calmly they with ease, glide over my thigh. Feeling myself surrender into his embrace, my head falling upon his chest as if it were always meant to be. It is within that precise blink that I confirm the handsome, Danny Walker can put this perfected sunset to shame.

The golden hour consumes him. Lighting every inch with its everlasting golden glow. Making him even more breathtaking than he already is, and how that is possible I'll spend forever questioning—but as I stare upon him, my breath catches somewhere in my throat. My heart not far behind it and if I don't do something quick the organ might just fly out of my mouth and right out of this cockpit down until it splatters against the ground below.

"It's been a long time since I've been up here." I manage to say without a hitch in my voice as I can feel the nerves trying to take over.

Danny looks down, giving me that melt me in place smirk. His dimples always on view every time he does. Observing over every aspect of my face, his godly chiseled jaw flexes. I don't even have time to think of something else to say to sword through the heated tension being this close to him has created.

He frees a hand from the wheel; using it to collect my chin,  all I am humanly able to do is give into his loving touch. Closing my eyes, I take in raw emotions that he is sparking to life deeply past my heart and in a place that I'd never knew could catch fire— but was. I didn't realize his lips have closed the small gap that separated us, Danny's breath hot on my ear.

"Tell me about the last time you flew, Milly."

My eyes open, quickly catching that of his owns attention. Of course that famous dimpled grin of Danny Walkers stares back at me. A sight I'll cherish forever, that's for certain.

Thinking back to that time so long ago, but still as fresh as the precise moment it happened...

"It was the spring before you and Rafe left.."
Danny hears it and kisses tenderly at my ear. A subtle 'hmm,' as if to signal my story on.

That weird sensation of when my heart beats in my breath and tries to fall out into the open, occurs. Licking my lips to try and sneak my boiling anxiety far from his view. I feel myself knit my eyes further closed.

"You carried me over your shoulder..." Opening just one eye so I could make sure I caught his attention. His humor tugs at his eyes, though they remain to the horizon. After I told you countless times I felt more sound on the ground than up in the air. you made it your mission to prove me wrong ." A subtle grin declares over him as he nestles the side of my head comfortably within his free palm.

"But being the gentleman you've always been. After you flipped me into the seat and slid behind me, you apologized and promised I'd forgive ya once we up in the clouds."

Suddenly I felt the plane go from smooth gliding, to swaying calmly amongst the clouds. My heart began to double in pace.

"Well, did ya?" God, that Tennessee-one-of-kind southern draw was stronger than whiskey to hear. Though hotter than the sting it takes to down that shot. I couldn't resist, I grabbed hold of that free hand of his and brought the back of it straight to my lips. Lingering longer onthe tanned and worn skin. "After all those daring flips and whatever you call those tricks, yes, I did."

"Tricks? What tricks?" He says through a sly smile.

"You know where you spin the plane over..."

Before I could catch the words that flowed like a free river after a drought. I'd bite them if I had the chance. "You mean... ah, barrel role.."Danny retorts.

"Danny don't you even dare...."

Before my shouts could be heard I found myself spinning and not just from the drunken daze of love, but of that in reality. All I can hear is the fit of laughter that ignites the cockpit of the plane. The bouncing of Danny Walkers chest as I scream all but involuntarily release from that of my own. The entire plane does a complete roll over, and as it comes back to normal I'm doing all I can to catch my stomach.

Erratical inhales and exhales for a few seconds, I can feel my head settling and the spinning sensation calms. Danny nestles his chin on-top of my shoulder, pecking the tender skin and as he does he awakens a thousand chill bumps to ignite over my entire body. "Wasn't so bad was it?" He whispers. I tremble in response.

My eyes lock taking in the view of his side profile. I'm melting between his lap and in other places just by the wonderful sight. "It was rather... nice." My voices catches in the vine of nerves and shakes as I answer him. He laughs thinking it's because I'm still recovering from the barrel roll, but that's long forgotten. I'm swirling in sensations and emotions that only he could design within me.

He was driving me crazy. A kind of crazy that I felt two weeks ago at the hula bar. A crazy that with whiskey was damn near impossible to resist and I couldn't. Yet I've had not one drop, and I can feel the impossible more now than ever before.

Danny glances at me, his kind and gentle brown eyes scan over my face as they have countless times this evening, but he searches deeper and dives into depths of my soul that I've always kept hidden from him. Not tonight. I allow him to see parts of me that he has never seen before and I watch as his mind races to understand.

"I've thought about that night. How beautiful you were under the moon light, how perfect the waves matched against the music from the bar..."

"Danny, I should not have acted on my impulses nor should I have allowed myself to drink as much as i did." Danny's fingers intertwine with a fallen curl of mine. I watch as he slowly curls it around his index finger. "What I said to you... Danny I'm sorry."

He releases the curl and his dark eyes lock to mine. Almost as if what I had said caused a sudden insult which confuses me. I feel his body pull away from where I had been resting, his forearms stiffen as he places both hands on the wheel. My heart skips more than a beat and plummets to a darkened pit that resides in my soul, afraid that my words had caused him to be angry. Something that was not a typical Danny Walker move.

"Danny... I didnt mean..."

One hand releases from the wheel and in a blur I find him wrapping that arm around me. My forehead being cuddled next to his chin as he kisses it in such a way that all my worries fade.
"I love you Amelia, and I'm going to spend everyday reminding you that there will never be a day I won't."

I'm speechless and try to pick my brain for words to reply but nothing can be found. How does a girl even respond to such a winsome profession of love from that of the most handsome man she will ever have the privilege to know?

"Danny, let's go back to land..." I vaguely state. Though as our eyes match one another's. A connection so deep that it more than intertwine, it perfectly etched together as if he and I were both reading the same page... our souls sparking a fire that burned together. The sky was our heaven, but the land below held just what our desires burned.
     
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