Once lunch was eaten and certain feelings cleared up, it was time to start thinking of how Hawkeye could keep Annie. Hawkeye, Margaret, Daniel and Annie were all sat around the kitchen table discussing the options that they have. Hawkeye and Margaret are sat side by side with Annie next to Hawkeye in the high chair, Daniel is opposite.
"So, do you think is would help to get BJ and Sherman involved?" asked Daniel
"No, I don't think so… well not right now anyway" he looked at Annie "maybe later if needed" there was a small pause " I have all I need for now…my family" he said looking around the table
Margaret leaned over a kissed him on his cheek
"You know…everything may work out, now that you two are together" Daniel said getting up and walking out of the kitchen
"What you mean dad?" Hawkeye asked, but Daniel chose to ignore the question
Hawkeye looked over at Margaret all embarrassed "Sorry about that"
"Its OK" she said getting up "But I think that he is right"
"Oh yeah" he said getting Annie out of the highchair and walking over to her
"Yeah" she replied putting her arms around him, he did the same
"Yeah"
"Yeah" he said kissing her
Again they were interrupted, but this time by the phone ringing
"I've…got…to…get…that" he said in between kisses
"What's stopping you" she asked
"Your lips"
"Oh right" she said breaking the kiss and taking Annie from him
"You weren't suppose to stop" he said walking to the phone
"We'll pick it up after"
At the phone
"Hello" Hawkeye answered
"Ah, Doctor Pierce, Mrs McPhearson Nancy's mother" came the squeaky voice on the other end
"Ah, Mrs McPhearson how nice of you to call" was Hawkeyes sarcastic reply
"I wanted to tell you that I will be visiting you with my lawyer tomorrow afternoon at 1:00pm, it is essential that…" she was cut off
"Whoa, whoa I am at work tomorrow, is there another day… Thursday maybe…" he was cut off
"No Dr Pierce, if you are serious about fighting for your daughter you will meet me"…. a pause and a sarcastic tone hit his ears "if you do not then this will be held against you"
"Alright, OK…tomorrow at 1:00" He was quite, she hung up
Unbeknown to Hawkeye both Margaret and Daniel were stood behind him listening. Annie was on the floor playing.
"You OK son?" asked Daniel
"That… that woman" he spat "wants a meeting with me and the lawyers tomorrow at 1:00" there was a pause "If I don't meet her it is held against me if we were to go to court"
"Oh, Hawk" said Margaret sitting beside him on the couch taking his hand.
"It will be alright son, Margaret and I will both be here tomorrow if you need us"
"Yeah thanks dad" Hawkeye said "But that's tomorrow right now I have to ring Martin and call Stuart at the Hospital. As he said this Annie crawled over to him and tugged on his pant leg. He looked down
"Hi Princess" he said picking her up and setting her on his knee "Daddy's gonna fight for you… he started to get chocked up "real hard baby" tears in his eyes "I'm not going to let you go" he said hugging her to him.
Margaret got up to leave him and Annie when Hawkeye grabbed her arm
"Stay… please…be with us" he pleaded and she accepted
"Always" she said as she position herself in Hawkeyes arms with Annie lay upon them.
With phone calls made Hawkeye had cover for work and Martin the family lawyer was coming at mid day to talk to Hawkeye. That left the rest of the afternoon for them to spend together before uproar was caused by the McPhearsons.
Daniel sat in the back garden in one of the lawn chairs watching looking at the view; the view being the beach and the ocean. Somebody cam and sat down beside him.
"Hi honey" he said
"Hi" was the reply
"You OK?"
She nodded "You"
"This must be kinda rough on ya" he said meaning the whole custody battle
"I'm OK…Gotta be strong for Hawk"
"Well you look after him, and I'll look after you" he said patting het knee
"Thank you" she said squeezing his hand
"Would you look at that" he said pointing to the scene below them
Hawkeye was sitting at the waters edge with Annie between his legs letting the water run over their legs
"Know if we could only catch that moment and show it to Mrs Elizabeth McPhearson" Daniels voice was filled with venom "then maybe we could…" he was cut off
"It's OK… Every moment with those two is like that one being made now" she said looking at the pair on the beach "Hawk, you…us we don't need to prove that the love and caring is there because it just is, and as much as they may not want to see it they will because no matter what we are doing it always shines through" she said turning towards Daniel.
"You know Margaret you are most certainly a keeper" he said smiling. He got up and walked towards a gate" you coming" he asked
Margaret watched, and nodded. Walking over to him she slipped her arm through his as they made their way down the steps to join father and daughter.
Hawkeye looked up at the sound of distant chattering and smiled. His 'one' and his father were already so close.
"Hey dad, don't try and steal her away…I just got her" Hawkeye said
"I wouldn't dare" he scoffed "Margie in the General Store would have my head if she thought that I was cheating on her" Daniel said laughing, he turned to Margaret "Margie has had a thing for me for years"
"Jealous if any other woman even looks at dad" Hawkeye said smiling. He stood up "Dad, will you take Annie up and put her to bed" he asked kissing his daughters head and handing her over to Daniel "I want to show Margaret the sun set"
"Sure thing….come on emerald eyes time for sleepy" he said balancing his granddaughter on his hip "you want to give daddy a kiss before going to bed. Daniel leaned her over so that Hawkeye could kiss her "and what about mommy?" Hawkeye asked winking at Daniel. Margaret was shocked but recovered quickly "come here baby" she said taking her from Daniel and giving her a kiss and a cuddle. She then handed her back to Daniel who retreated toward the steps that lead to the back garden.
"So…how about that sun set" said Margaret said after a few minutes in silence
"Yeah" Hawkeye said looking round "this way" he said grabbing her hand and pulling her down the beach
After 5 minutes of walking they came to a secluded spot when he sat down and pulled Margaret between his legs.
"Did I scare you back then?" he asked
"When"
"The whole 'mommy' thing, are you ok with it…"
"Yeah" she replied hugging him closer
"I mean if your not then…"
"Hawk, I said yes"
"I don't want to push you into anything… he was cut off when Margaret's hand covered his mouth. "I said I was fine with it, if it's what you want" she asked
"It makes me very happy" he said before kissing her "as soon as all this mess is blown over I want to make it official" He looked into her eyes "I love you Margaret"
Butterflies were let loose in her stomach, something that had never happened when other men had said those three little words, maybe this was it.
"I love you too" she said "and I am with you one hundred percent tomorrow and everyday after that.
They spent the rest of the afternoon watching the day loose its battle to the night and talking about the future.