SIGONELLA, Sicily -- In the military, refueling stops can take on a whole new significance.

Just ask Petty Officer 2nd Class Karla Sosa.

As Seabees from Port Hueneme made their way to Kuwait this week, the second stop on their 31-hour journey was a U.S. Naval air station in Sigonella, Sicily. Immediately upon disembarking for the short layover, Sosa, a 21-year-old dispensing clerk with Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 4, ran to the pay phone and dialed with a shaking hand. She misdialed twice but got through on the third try.

Less than 45 minutes later, her boyfriend, Nick Lacy, 25, was at the base for a few unexpected moments with the woman he loves. The couple have been on the same continent less than two months of the 15 months they've been dating.

They didn't expect to add 35 minutes to that total this week.

"I thought we were going to refuel in Germany," Sosa said, sitting next to Lacy on the hard plastic seats in the air base terminal, "but he gave me like six different numbers in case."

The "in case" came in handy. She called Lacy, who lived 40 miles from the base in Sicily, at about 4 a.m. local time. He tossed on a sweatshirt and jeans and drove to the base that flies both the American and Italian flags in front and has a Burger King in the terminal.

"I don't want her to go to Kuwait," said Lacy, a petty officer second class, "and if she has to go, I want to be there with her."

But he couldn't get his orders changed.

"I want to get back (to Battalion 4) for a number of reasons," Lacy said, "but mostly her."

Lacy met Sosa while he was stationed at Port Hueneme, but then he was transferred to do public works maintenance at the Italian air base. So, the couple keep their love alive through letters, e-mail and phone calls, and those surprises that come with never really knowing an itinerary on a military flight.

The most difficult part of the couple's stolen time is the military's prohibition against public displays of affection while in uniform. Sosa sat on her hands. Lacy wrung his.

"This is so hard," he said.

Then, it was time for her to go. She walked away with her battalion. She rushed back for a hug. Then she walked out of the base onto the flight deck. Lacy leaned against a wall and put his head in his hands. He then ran to the window, putting his face on the glass.

Sosa turned around once for a quick look.

Observing the peek, Petty Officer 2nd Class Keenna Ryder crowed, "They are so in love."

Sosa just reddened, but she didn't turn around again.