Disclaimer – I do not own any rights to Airwolf or the characters created in the TV series. I have just borrowed them for entertainment purposes and make no profit from writing this.

This story is the 4th in my series, following on from 'A Second Chance', 'The Trouble with Teenagers' and 'Sapphires and Secrets' and is set in December 1985, about 51/2 months after the events in Sapphires and Secrets.

While it would be useful to have read the other 3 it is not essential.

Some references are made to the season 2 episode 'The Truth about Holly' but I don't guarantee 100% accuracy although I do try!

This is fan fiction based on the series and the story and original characters are my creation.

This is rated T for language and some adult situations.

The Holly and the Ivy by Bethhawke.

Chapter 1

Stringfellow Hawke and Dominic Santini sauntered into the Santini Air hanger. The two men seemed in a good mood and were laughing and joking about the stunt job they had just returned from.

"I still can't believe we only had to do two takes, they usually want at least ten, even if the first one is perfect," Dom shook his head as Caitlin offered him coffee, but Hawke took one.

"The first take is always perfect when I'm flying," Hawke replied loftily, "It's only 'cause the actor got sick that we stopped at two takes."

"Yeah, that was funny, even if it meant you had to change out of those clothes."

"Well at least they weren't my clothes," Hawke laughed as he sipped his coffee, "and how was I to know he got air sick?"

"Well, the fact that he told you may have given you a hint," Don answered, grinning widely.

The young actor who they were talking about had been trying to tell Hawke how to fly all week and when the director was finally ready for them to fly the scene he had admitted that he got air sick.

"Yeah, but the little pipsqueak has been winding me up all week. Since when does one lesson as a teenager qualify him to tell me how to fly stunts. And his excuse of 'an inner ear condition' was pretty lame."

"You didn't have dive the way you did, I mean the scene didn't call for it. You'd've thought there were a dozen Migs on your tail the way you were flying!"

"But the director loved it," Hawke replied loftily.

"Yeah, so much so that he fired you," Dom wasn't sure whether to be mad at Hawke or not. He could fly the last stunt with Caitlin backing him but it was meant to be Hawke's job, "and calling the actor 'Pip' didn't help." After the first day Hawke had called the actor a 'little pipsqueak' to his face and since then had shortened it to 'Pip'.

"Don't worry Dom, they've agreed to still pay you as long as you fulfil the contract. You don't need me."

"Well it's a good job or you'd be working overtime for the foreseeable future," Dom glanced around and changed the subject, "Hey isn't Beth and that beautiful baby of yours supposed to be here?"

"They are," Caitlin said, "they're resting out back. They had a busy morning shopping and Beth looked fit to drop. She finally got the baby to sleep about 20 minutes ago so no sudden noises. I've got a charter..." she glanced at her watch, "right about now and those parts you ordered have arrived and need collecting. So, I'm off. I'll see you guys in a couple of days." Grabbing her bag she hurried out to the waiting chopper, waving to the men as she climbed in.

"I'll go pick up those parts, you stay here with Beth. There's always paperwork if you get bored. See you later String and give that baby a big kiss from her Grandpa Dom!"

Hawke sat behind the desk and stared blindly at the paperwork in front of him. He yawned, put his feet up on the desk, linked his fingers behind his head and tipped his chair back, balancing it precariously on the back two legs. He was bored and Beth was still sleeping, not that she would be much company when she woke. She'd had no time for him since the baby arrived. He had offered to help care for her but Beth had pushed him away, insisting on doing everything herself.

Even Le was feeling pushed out and the lack of sleep was affecting his school work. He had moved into Dom's place a couple of weeks ago and would stay there until school finished for the holidays in a few days.

All in all this parenting business was a disappointment. He had hoped for so much more.

Only finding out about the pregnancy two months before the baby was due hadn't given him much time to dwell on it. The two months were spent building an extension onto the back of the cabin, consisting of two bedrooms, one for Le and the other a guest room, mainly for Dom to use.

When the baby was born and Beth brought her home for the first time it all seemed so unreal and he realised that he hadn't been prepared at all. She slept in a cot on Beth's side of the bed for a couple of weeks, while Le and Dom occupied the two new rooms. But as soon as Dom moved back home Beth and the baby moved into the guest room, leaving Hawke lonely and confused in the loft bedroom.

He did wonder if Beth was thinking about taking the baby and leaving him. They hadn't really been close since she had moved back in when she was seven months pregnant and the baby was now three and a half months old. He knew part of the problem at first was because Le was living with them, sleeping on the sofa and it didn't leave them much privacy. But now Le had his own room and Beth was even more distant.

The more he thought about it the more he became convinced that she would be leaving soon. He had tried talking to her but she always had an excuse, 'we'll wake the baby', 'I'm too tired', 'we'll talk later'.

So they didn't talk, touch, kiss or make love, all the things they had enjoyed when they first met.

They didn't do anything together, except occasionally argue. Beth looked after the baby while he worked at Santini Air and worried and blindly hoped that things would get better.

Although she said she was fine, Hawke knew that in reality Beth had never fully recovered from her kidnap and rape just over a year ago. He didn't hold that against her; who could get over something like that? But she was different now. She used to be so strong, passionate and full of life. She had always been emotional and had never been afraid to show her feelings. Even after the rape she had shared her emotions with him and together they had cried and loved and cried some more. But recently she had shut herself off from him and he had no idea how she was really feeling.

He realised with a start that her melancholy mood was rubbing off on him and he gave a deep sigh and attempted to pull himself together. Coffee was definitely needed so he stood up, stretched his aching back and filled the coffee pot.

As he waited for the strong drink to brew he heard a car draw up outside and he strolled over to the door to investigate.

The car was white and spotless and he had no trouble guessing who it belonged to. Sure enough, the door opened and long elegant legs exited the car first, followed by an equally elegant body.

Nobody exits a car as gracefully as Marella, thought Hawke, pleased to see the woman who had become a good friend to Beth, and to him too if he was totally honest. She had been working in Europe for the last two months and he hadn't realised that she was back.

He covered the short distance to the car in record time and greeted her with a hug. Marella hesitated slightly before returning the hug, the only sign that she was surprised by the welcome. Usually all she got was a gruff 'hello', so either he had missed her or something was wrong. She didn't think it was the former so she pulled away and gently asked him, "What's wrong Hawke?"

He attempted an innocent look, failed miserably and just shrugged. He cleared his throat which had strangely developed a lump, "Beth and the baby are resting out back. You want to go and see them?" It was meant to be a question, but came out like a plea.

"Are they both alright?" she asked him, a bit worried now.

He shrugged again, "Beth's a bit tired......"

"You have been helping her with the baby, haven't you Hawke?"

"She won't let me."

Marella just stared hard at him before walking swiftly into the hanger.

While Marella visited with Beth, Hawke drank the coffee he had made and had just finished the pot when he heard the door open.

He looked up to see Marella with the baby in one arm and Beth being supported by the other.

His daughter was unceremoniously plonked into his arms as Marella and Beth walked slowly outside to the car. He followed them, unsure of what he was supposed to do.

As Beth climbed unsteadily into the passenger seat, Marella turned to him, obviously angry.

"She needs feeding soon, you'll find everything you need in her bag. I'm taking Beth to the clinic, I'll contact you at Dominic's later."

Hawke stumbled over his words, confused by her anger, "What...why the clinic, is Beth sick?"

"I thought you had 20-20 vision Hawke, but you can't see what's right under your eyes!" she got into the driver's side, not so elegant now, and slammed the door.

At the sudden noise his daughter started to cry and he awkwardly jiggled her about, trying to calm her.

"Let's get some dinner," he suggested, taking her back inside. He found the bag and made up the bottle as he had seen Beth do.

He settled in a chair and fed her the bottle. For the first time ever it was just the two of them and he found himself enjoying the moment. When the bottle was empty she started to cry and it took a moment for him to remember what to do next. Raising her to his shoulder he gently burped her, ending up with milk deposits all over his shirt. He didn't care though, it was all part of the experience. After he had changed her, an experience he realised he hadn't missed, he wondered what to do next.

"I know! Let's play," he told her and was rewarded with a gurgle. He put her blanket on the floor, folded it over to make it more comfortable and laid her on it.

He was a bit lost then. How do you play with a baby who can't sit up or talk? She started to kick her legs around and he found himself watching, fascinated, as her tiny toes wriggled about. He took hold of her foot and tickled it. She seemed to like it so he tried the other foot. Yes, she was definitely enjoying the attention, so he touched her hands. He grinned foolishly as her fingers grabbed hold of his and held on tight. He realised that she was staring straight at him, blue eyes connecting with blue eyes, and he felt a wave of emotion wash over him. He had been missing this all the time that Beth hadn't let him in, but he was going to be firm from now on. There was no way he was going to miss any more of his daughter's development, he realised now that it was too precious.

That was how Dom found them when he returned half an hour later and he joined in the fun and games. Finally she got tired and started to grizzle so Hawke scooped her up into his arms and rocked her to sleep.

When she had settled he quietly told Dom about Marella's visit but it was obvious that the older man had something he wanted to tell Hawke.

"I got a letter from Holly," he took an envelope out of his pocket and waved it in Hawke's direction, "She's coming over for the holidays," he could barely keep the excitement of seeing his niece out of his voice. Hawke however was not so thrilled, remembering the last time he had seen her.

"Are you sure that's a good idea? I thought you'd invited Cait to stay over."

"Oh they'll make it up. Holly's really sorry about what happened."

"Dom, Holly tried to kill her! It'll take more than a sorry for Cait to trust her."

Dom couldn't understand his friend's attitude, he thought Hawke would have been pleased. After all it wasn't very often that he got to see his family, "I thought you'd be pleased. It will be a real family Christmas, the first in years."

"I know Dom. I just think you'd better warn Cait, give her the chance to back out."

"But she's family too. I want you all there."

"We won't all be there Dom," Hawke stated quietly, thinking of his brother, still MIA in Vietnam, "just warn her, okay?"

"Okay, okay! But a bit of holiday spirit wouldn't go amiss."

"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about Beth. Marella said she would call later. Is it okay if I stay at your place tonight?"

"Of course it is kid, and don't worry, I'm sure she's fine."