BJ simply couldn't peel that content smile off his face as he carried his suitcases into the bedroom to unpack. Not that he wanted to, anyway. It felt too good! In the last 3 hours he had been home, he must have told his wife and daughter each a thousand times how much he loved them. There had been some initial confusion from Erin at the sight of her daddy, but things were gradually growing better.
As was inevitable, occasional thoughts of Hawkeye and the rest of the 4077th crew would flit across his mind, and a small pang of sadness would fill him... but would quickly be replaced by an unexplainable joy at the sight of his family.
Flipping open the suitcase, BJ stared down at the picture that was right on top, of himself and Hawkeye posing stupidly by the signpost, while Margaret, Colonel Potter, and Charles looked on with laughter. A lump rose to his throat but was quickly forced back down by the sound of Peg's footsteps as she went from the kitchen, to Erin's room. He set the picture down on the bed and started lifting out his clothes, when something caught his eye. A small pile of papers lay on the bedside stand, covered in Peg's small, perfect handwriting. He picked up the topmost piece and was surprised to find a poem there. Peg hadn't written poetry in years.
Soldier, won't you come through that door
and bring the day she's been waiting for?
Just leave your boots there, on the floor,
and your captain bars in the dresser drawer.
It's here that you left an empty space
when you went to that God-forsaken place
she sits and waits for you, dressed up in lace
trying desperately to remember your face.
Letting loose a sigh, BJ shakily put the paper back in its rightful place. Then he abandoned his things and left to find Peg, and make it a thousand and one.