This is a one shot that I wrote several months ago. I'm wanting to explore this relationship more, but for now it remains in this form because I don't want to commit to a new story when I'm so bad at updating my existing one! I would, however, appreciate reviews!!

P.S. It has been brought to my attention that I, sadly, do not own MASH. Donna, and the storyline around her are my creation, however everything else is based on pre-existing characters which I in no way shape or form posess.

Daniel will be home any minute, I thought; as I stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes. I was cleaning the last few items, and then I would finish preparing his dinner. We'd eat together, and then after doing the final supper dishes I would head out. Our Sunday ritual was one of the highlights of my week.

Suddenly, I heard a car door slam. He's early, I thought. Before I had time to think anymore however, the door to flew open and a loud voice called out,

"Dad! I'm home!"

Gasping, I let the plate I was holding fall with a splash into the sink and ran out to the front room. I stopped short when my eyes fell on the man who had just walked in. We stared at each other for a second; he was clearly as surprised to see me in his home, as I was to have him show up.

"Ben."

"Where's my Dad?"

"He should be back from the office any minute." I paused.

He was so much older looking. He was skinnier than I remembered, but it was more than that. His hair was greying, and wrinkles were forming on his face, but even that wasn't what I really noticed. I stared into his blue eyes for what seemed like forever. They weren't as bright as they'd once been. They were older, quieter, weary. Eyes like that were out of place in Crabapple Cove. Finally I licked my lips and spoke again.

"You didn't tell Daniel when you'd be back. He'll be so glad to see you."

"I wanted to surprise him."

We fell silent again. I wanted to tell him to sit down, to make himself at home, but that was ridiculous because this was his home. And yet he seemed to have no idea what to do. He stood, tense, and unsure in the centre of the entryway, and I stood awkwardly in the doorway to the kitchen. Daniel walked up the driveway just as I heard the timer ding in the kitchen. I stepped out of the entryway to take care of the meal, while father and son met again.

A few minutes later when I stepped out again to call them to dinner, I stopped short in the door. Ben had fallen to his knees, his arms wrapped around his Dad's waist, sobbing into his shirt. Daniel was hunched over his son, rubbing his shoulders, whispering to him. I was frozen to the spot in awe.

This was not the Ben who had left Crabapple Cove three years ago. This was not the little boy I'd skinned knees with, the young man who'd taken me on my first date, the doctor fresh out of medical school who had broken my heart by ending our relationship when he got drafted. The man I'd known and loved seemed lost, and I didn't know how to find him. It scared me, yet my heart ached for him, and I longed to comfort him. Instead I stayed in the doorway, watching Daniel continue to soothe his son.

When Ben finally stood up, I was shocked to find tears streaming down my own face. Daniel was also in tears, and for a moment no one spoke. Then I heard my own voice shakily whisper,

"Supper is ready." Daniel turned to me, and acknowledged me for the first time since he came home.

"Thank you Donna. Ben, you must be starved."