Authors notes: I am so sorry that I have not posted in over two months, things have been crazy busy around here. Not to mention the fact that I lost the inspiration to write. But the inspiration is back at least for now. I hope that I haven't lost any of my "Loyal Readers". I am not one to start a story and not finish it. I am going to try and double the writing time, so I can get all of the chapters that is centered around Christmas up before the holiday. No I still don't own M*A*S*H. The bible story is from Luke 2: 1-20 NIV version. Also Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!
Chapter Thirteen: Seeing Margaret
Timeline: December 20th, 1953
Sunday morning dawned early for Peg but not BJ. She quietly rolled herself up and out of bed at 7:30. Erin and BJ were blissfully asleep. Erin had woken up at about 1:15 that morning from the roaring laughter from the boy's downstairs. It took almost an hour to get her back to sleep. It was funny that Erin could sleep thru anything in her room; but put her anywhere else, no such luck. Peg needed to make a pit stop and as soon as she was done Erin was whining to get out of the crib. Peg pulled Erin out of her crib got her panties changed and took her downstairs to fix breakfast. At 8:05 Daniel came upstairs for coffee and breakfast. "Good Morning Daniel", Peg said. "Good Morning, is that coffee I smell?" Daniel replied. "Yes, how do you take it?", Peg asked as she was pulling a cup and saucer down to fill for Daniel and give to him. "Just black is fine." Said Daniel. "Hi Danney." Said Erin as she looked up from her coloring on the table. "Good morning munchkin, What are you doing?" Daniel asked. "Coloing! Like?" Erin asked as she showed her master piece. "That's really pretty, Erin." Daniel replied and then took a sip of his coffee.
Erin bonded well with Daniel the night before, but not with Hawkeye. Sure, Hawkeye smiled and made goofy faces at her, but Daniel was the one that got her to really laugh by being silly. Peg sighed before she said, "It's the only way to keep her out from under me, unless she's watching Howdy Doody. We can't have dinner until Howdy Doody is over." Erin's ears perked up at what Peg was saying and she asked, "Wen's Howy ooey?" "Not until tomorrow, honey." Peg said. Erin scrunched up her face and said tat a lon tim." Daniel laughed at Erin's face and Peg sighed and said, "I know, Honey, I know." Peg then went back to fixing breakfast.
"What time did the boys go to bed last night?," Daniel asked as he took a sip of his coffee. "I don't know about Hawkeye, but BJ crawled into bed at about 3 this morning,' Peg said and then looked at the cat clock in the kitchen and saw that it was almost 8:15 and if they were going to make it to church on time it was time to rise the boys out of bed, 'Speaking of BJ it's time for him to get up for church. Erin do you want to go wake your daddy up?" "Yeah" Erin said as she put down her blue crayon and hopped down out of her seat at the kitchen table and ran up the stairs to Peg and BJ's room.
BJ was lying peacefully on his side when Erin entered the room and got on Peg's side of the bed. "Daddy, Daddy?" Erin said as she pushed him. BJ moaned "Peg I don't want to go to work today, I'm tired." Erin then got to her feet and started to jump on the bed, upon feeling the mattress sink and then bounce back BJ awoke to find his daughters feet bouncing beside him. He grabbed her legs with one arm and her butt landed on the bed. "What are you doing?" BJ asked. "Mommy said to wake you." Erin said with her eyes innocent like. "Ah I see' BJ said with his eyebrow's raised, 'Is uncle Hawkeye awake yet?" Erin shook her head and said, "No." BJ sighed heavily and then said, "Alright pumpkin why don't you go try to wake up uncle Hawkeye and I'll be in there in a moment. "Otay" Erin said as she hustled out of the bed and ran over to her room that had been converted into a guest room for the duration of the Pierce stay.
Hawkeye was lying flat on his back on the roll away bed that wasn't any bigger then a twin mattress. Erin didn't have a choice but to sit right on Hawkeye's chest. As Erin poked him on his cheeks and in the eyes she said "Uncle Hawky, Uncle Hawky?" Hawkeye moaned and said, "Radar if you don't get out of here I am going to show you a new way to play that bugle." "It's not wade it's Ewin." Erin said as she put her hands on her hips. "Go away Radar I'm trying to sleep." Erin tried unsuccessfully for a solid 5 minutes poking and pushing on Hawkeye, before BJ walked into the room. "No luck huh?" BJ asked his daughter and she shook her head no. "Well it's time for something drastic, but we need to move you first." BJ said as he picked up his daughter by the underarms and placed her down by Hawkeye's knee's. "Now you need to be really quiet okay?" BJ whispered to Erin. "Otay" BJ then cupped his hands around his mouth and said, "ATTENTION ALL PERSONNEL, INCOMING WOUNDED, INCOMING WOUNDED BOTH SURGICAL TEAMS TO TRIAGE." "I'M UP, I'M UP" Hawkeye screamed as he sat up in the bed. "Good oning Uncle Hawky" Erin said as she smiled big. "Wait a minute, we are not in Korea what are you doing?" "Up get up." Erin said as she put her hands on her waist. Hawkeye took his pillow and threw it at BJ "Leave me alone I want to sleep more." Hawkeye said as he laid back down.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, "I wonder if Erin is having any success in getting them up," Peg asked. "Well I don't know much about BJ. But Virginia and I would have to drag Hawkeye out of bed every morning for school. If I didn't drive him to school he would have been late every morning. The only mornings he ever got up early was Christmas and his Birthday." Daniel said as he chuckled and shook his head. Then they heard Hawkeye yell "OH WE ARE GOING TO PLAY DIRTY, HUH?" "I guess there's our answer." Peg said as she smiled.
Upstairs both BJ and Erin had a pillow and were hitting Hawkeye over the head. After a few minutes of the pillow fight, Hawkeye grabbed Erin and wrestled her to the bed, she let go of the pillow and it flew back towards BJ "NO UNCLE Hawky, DADDY Help." Hawkeye let up on her and she sat up. "Boys, Erin breakfast is ready." Daniel yelled up the steps. "ALL RIGHT I GIVE, I'll GET UP." Hawkeye yelled. "and winner and still champion is the Hunnicutt's" BJ said. "Uncle Hawky?" Erin said. "What Erin?" Hawkeye asked. "Ace you, GO!" Erin said as she quickly climbed over Hawkeye and raced out the door. Hawkeye never had a chance in beating Erin, she was just too quick for him.
When BJ and Hawkeye arrived at the breakfast table and help themselves to pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, milk, coffee and oranges. "mmm... Peg this is the best ever." Hawkeye said while reaching for his third helping of bacon. "It even beats my breakfast? Hawkeye really?" Daniel said to his son in a teasing way. "Dad you make the best French toast, but Peg makes the greatest flapjacks. So soft so chewy and' Hawkeye said before being joined by BJ 'So definitely not like IGOR'S." BJ then reached for a third helping of pancakes. Peg slapped his wrist and said, "You better watch it or you're not going to be able to fit into your trousers." "What, Peg they still fit." BJ said smiling before he stuffed his face with a pancake. "Yeah, Barely." Peg said as she rolled her eyes. "Yeah I noticed you put on some weight. What doctor said you could eat for two?" Hawkeye teased. "I swear I had two children with bottomless stomach's when BJ came home, luckily Erin shot up, BJ just shot out." Peg said as she teased her husband.
After breakfast BJ was looking at himself in the full-length mirror. He noticed he was getting a tad on the heavy side. He had a small belly on him, his love handles were a bit lovelier and a bit fuller and he was starting to get a double chin. Peg noticed that he was pinching his love handles when she walked in from the bathroom. "Peg do you really think I'm getting too heavy?" BJ asked. "BJ!" Peg said as her mouth dropped open. "Well?" BJ asked insistently. Peg put her arms around her husband and said, "Well maybe a little I mean you're not 20 anymore, I guess it's natural that as people age that we all get heavier, but I think you went too far.' She then kissed his shoulder, 'But I still love you." BJ sighed heavily as he said, "You know this isn't going to be easy for me to try to get skinny while you get fat." "Oh, gee I wondered who put me in this position." Peg smiled as she was patting her belly. "Guilty as charged." BJ said. "At least we will be in this together when I drop this load come May" Peg said. BJ then put a hand on her belly before saying, "Well I guess so." "You know you could stop saying yes to second and third helpings." Peg said. BJ sighed and then asked, "Will you help me?" "Of course, I will be there for you. So, when do you want to start this diet?" Peg asked. BJ sighed again before saying "After Christmas, but I am going to start exercising immediately." "Well could you wait until after church before you exercise today?" Peg asked. "Yeah I think I will take Erin and we will go out on a walk, after all Baby steps." BJ said as he smiled. "Good Idea BJ, do you want to work off some of that breakfast now?" Peg asked him seductively. BJ's eyebrows rose, and he said, "What do you have in mind?" "Get dressed and we will take the long way to church." Peggy said as she went to fetch a pair of shoes out of the closet. "But Peggy church is across the street. I know that, but we can take the long way." Peggy said as she smiled. "OH PEGGY." BJ said as he rolled his eyes and then made his way from the bedroom to the bathroom to get showered, shaved and teeth brushed. "And the cheating begins, ALREADY!" Peggy yelled after him.
Hawkeye and Daniel went with the Hunnicutt's to church that morning. Hawkeye and Daniel were sitting on the end of the pew with Peg and BJ in the middle and Erin on BJ's lap. "Let the children come to me and we will sit on the steps for a few minutes and have a chat" Said Reverend Paul Ashton. Erin hopped off her father's lap in the middle of the pew went around Peg, Daniel and Hawkeye's legs. She got midway up the aisle and then turned around and grabbed Hawkeye by the hand "Come on Uncle Hawky" She said with her 1000-watt smile, she obviously got from her dad. "Do we know what is on Friday?" The good Reverend asked. "Yeah Christmas" said a little boy that was around age 7 excitedly. "Erin no" Hawkeye tried to say in a hush tone. "Come on" Erin pulled on him as hard as she could and brought him up to the front. "Do you know why we celebrate Christmas, oh Hello." said Reverend Ashton. Hawkeye smiled and said "Hello" as he went to sit on the top step to the alter of the church and Erin climbed up into his lap. "Is it Jesus's Birth?" asked a shy girl of about 10 years of age. "Yes it is; do you know where he was born?" Reverend Ashton asked.
"In a stable, duh." said another boy of about age 8, while rolling his eyes. The parishioners chuckled including Hawkeye. "Can you Imagine that being born in a stable? Most of you were born in a hospital, but Jesus was born in a stable why?" The kids all looked at the reverend. "Because there was no room at the inn, see Caesar Augustus wanted a count of people or a censes done, to know how many people were in Syria at the time. Joseph and Mary had to go to Bethlehem to take part since Joseph's family is from Bethlehem. Joseph is a part of the line of David. When they got to Bethlehem it was time for Mary to have Jesus and she gave birth and wrapped her son in cloths and placed him in the manger in the stable with cows, horses, donkeys, sheep and many other animals. Now there was some shepherds watching over there flock that night when an angel of the Lord appeared to them. Do you think they were scared? Reverend Ashton said. Most of the children said yes and a few shook their heads no. "Well they were terrified, but the Angel said do not be afraid for I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you he is Christ the Lord, you will find the baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Then what happened?" Reverend Ashton asked.
"More angels came?" asked a boy of about 10 years old. "Yes, they did, and they praised God by saying glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to men on whom his favor rests. When the angels had left them, they said let's go to Bethlehem and see Jesus and they hurried off to see Baby Jesus. Do you know what happened when they got there?" Reverend Ashton asked. "No" the children said together. "They spread the word about Jesus and those that heard it were amazed at what they heard. Mary had treasured all of these people and the kind words they had said. Which brings us to the end of our story but let us pray first. The children including Erin folded their hands, as did most of the congregation except for one person, Hawkeye. "Father we thank you for sending your son to us as well as all of these children and family that is surrounding them during the holiday's Lord give us peace during the holiday as you have given to Mary and Joseph in your name Amen." "Amen." The congregation and the children said together. "The older children grade 3 and up may return to their parents' The older children did as they were told 'Those that are in grade 2 and under are dismissed to Sunday school." Reverend Ashton said. Erin got up and said, "Bye Uncle Hawky." Before she headed down the steps to her Sunday school class. Hawkeye got up and return to his seat "Good Job, Hawk." Daniel said as he smiled at his son. Hawkeye also got a thumbs up from BJ. All Hawkeye could do was grimace.
After service Peg went to collect Erin from her classroom While BJ, Hawkeye and Daniel waited to be greeted by Reverend Ashton, As they were making their way out near the designated spot that Peg and BJ agreed to meet at to go home. They would alternate who would get Erin. "Wonderful Service." Daniel said as he approached the good reverend. Who was tall, but not as skinny as Hawkeye nor as fat as BJ was right now. But you could tell he had a few more wrinkles and gray hair then both BJ and Hawkeye had together. "Thank you I appreciate it. Can I get your name?" Reverend Ashton asked. "Yes, I am Daniel Pierce, and this is my son Hawkeye." "I take it you're staying at the Hunnicutt's for Christmas.' Daniel shook his head yes. 'It was pleasurable to see little Erin up on stage with you Hawkeye" said Reverend Ashton. "Thanks" said Hawkeye as he brushed by the Reverend and his father and kept walking to the exit. "Hawkeye?" BJ asked. Hawkeye didn't stop to wait for BJ or to talk to him.
Later that afternoon BJ, Peg, Erin, Daniel and Hawkeye all piled into the car to go to Margaret's apartment. It was a small building perhaps an old Victorian era house that was divided up into 4 apartments. When they arrived at Margaret's apartment on Shotwell Street in San Francisco Hawkeye took one look at the building and said, "This is it?" BJ replied with nerves shaking "Yep." "It looks awful." Hawkeye replied. In reality; it was a little ran down, green in color and the buildings on either side were worse for wear, poor Margaret thought Hawkeye. "It was all that she could afford. I tried to convince her to stay in Mill Valley or even Sausalito where the rent was cheaper, but she said that she would have to get a car and drive to work at San Francisco General and that would cost her more money. I even told her that we could make it work out until we got the beach house built and she said no. She had taken up too much space for too long and it was time to spread her wings and fly." BJ said quickly. "uh huh" Hawkeye said unbelieving in BJ's story. "Come on let's get inside boys, this neighborhood is kind of dangerous." Peg said while she was holding Erin's hand and the gifts for Margaret.
They quickly got inside and made their way up the flight of stairs that led to Margaret's apartment. When they reached apartment number 4 BJ and Peg stood in front of the door with Hawkeye standing behind BJ and Daniel bringing up the rear. Erin was in BJ's arms. When BJ knocked on the door, Margaret came quickly to the door and asked, "Who is it?" Hawkeye smiled at the sound of her voice. "It's BJ, Peg and Erin" said BJ. Margaret unlocked the door and opened it and hugged BJ and Erin "Merry Early Christmas, BJ and Erin" Margaret said as she let go of them. "And too you, Margaret." BJ said as he smiled. "Come in, Please." Margaret said as she made her way out of the door. "Well I'd like too but that would ruin your surprise." "Surprise? What Surprise?" Margaret said while eyeing BJ suspiciously. "BJ you know I'm not big on surprises." "Hmm, I think you'll like this one" BJ said as he smiled big. Margaret rolled her eyes, sighed and said, "All right." "Close your eyes Margaret," BJ said. "BJ just move I know the surprise is behind you," Margaret said while rolling her eyes again. "Not until you close your eyes," BJ said smiling big again. Margaret rolled her eyes again and then said, "Fine.' After her eyes were closed she said, 'There my eyes are closed are you happy?" "Very" said BJ, as he and Peg stepped to the side and Hawkeye stepped forward in BJ's place.
"You can open them now," Hawkeye said with his tone of voice deep and low. Margaret opened her eyes and screamed, "HAWKEYE!" and then she flew into his arms hugging him tightly. He hugged her just as tightly while smelling her hair. The wonderful coconut smell she always put in. He didn't know how she got it in Korea, but she did. Her body felt wonderful, he wanted to kiss her luscious full lips; but didn't know if he should. She wanted to kiss him as well but felt the same way. "Hawkeye say something" BJ whispered urgently after a few more minutes of hugging. "Hawkeye are you two going to move or am I going to have to find somewhere else to sit my old weary body?" Daniel teased his son and BJ and Erin started to laugh. Hawkeye rolled his eyes and him and Margaret broke there hug off. Hawkeye and Margaret stepped into Margaret's apartment. "This must be your father." Margaret said as Daniel walked through the door. "Yes it is Daniel Pierce and I must admit that you are just as lovely as your mother." Daniel said as he kissed her hand. "And you are a flatter just like your son" Margaret said as she smiled back. "Oh, Dad!" Hawkeye groaned. Daniel walked into the apartment followed by Peggy "Merry Christmas Margaret." Peggy said. "You too, you've grown a little." Margaret said as she placed a hand on Peg's belly. "Thank you" Peggy responded. "Have you felt little Adaline kick yet?" Margaret asked. "Excuse you; it's BJ Junior and no we haven't felt him kick yet." BJ said as he and Erin crossed over the threshold of the apartment. "Aunt Argraet." Erin squealed and jumped from BJ's arms to Margaret's arms. "Look at you! You have grown too." Margaret said as the two of them hugged. Hawkeye got all misty eyed.
Margaret and BJ were the last ones into Margaret's small one-bedroom apartment. The living room, a small kitchen and dining room was all together in one room. To the left was a small bathroom with just a toilet, sink and shower to the right of the living room was her bedroom with just a twin bed, a dresser, a nightstand and a lamp with a book or two on the nightstand. Margaret had just a couch in the living room that BJ and Daniel sat down on. Peg took a chair from the dining room set to sit in. It wasn't many furnishings. Most of the furniture came from BJ's house to help her along until she was able to buy furniture of her own. There was a couple of pictures on the wall. One had her father, mother, herself and a younger sister on the beach together, when Margaret was about 9 years old. Another picture on the wall was one of the whole mash unit together before Henry died and Trapper was sent home. The last picture was a copy of the picture of the photo that the officers and Klinger took before sending it off to the states for the 4077th M*A*S*H family's reunion. Hawkeye smiled seeing that photo with him in the tux. "You looked good in that photo" Margaret said coming up behind him. "As opposed to now?" Hawkeye asked. "No of course not; you just have a few more white hairs in your hair now but it's not as bad as it was at the end of the war" Margaret said. "Thanks that makes me feel better," Hawkeye said sarcastically. Daniel leaned over to BJ and whispered in his ear. "Is there something going on between them two?" "Yes, but they won't admit it to each other" BJ whispered back. "Aunt Argaret, uncle Hawky esents!" Erin screamed. "No, not yet, Erin. We are going to eat first and then we will open gifts." Peg warned Erin. Which Erin pouted immediately.
Hawkeye, Margaret, BJ, Peg, Daniel and Erin sat down at the table and had an early Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, they were able to get around the table with Erin switching back and forth between her parents and a couple of folding chairs borrowed from the neighbor across the hall. Needless to say; there were no leftovers. Afterward they exchanged gifts. Erin got a nurse kit from Margaret, BJ and Peg gave Margaret a set of dishes and Erin gave Margaret a blanket for her home. BJ got a new tie from Margaret while Peg got a new electric can opener. "I didn't know you were coming Hawkeye, or I would have gotten you and your dad something." Margaret smiled at him as the presents were done being opened. "That's ok Margaret just seeing you is enough," Hawkeye said as he smiled at her. "I agree son; just meeting this wonderful person is all the gift I want this year," Daniel said as he smiled at his son.
Hawkeye, you idiot say something to her; you love her, and you know it. Admit your feelings for her. Hawkeye's conscious told him. Margaret's conscious was telling her the same thing but of course she was ignoring it. After another hour was spent visiting, Erin had fallen asleep on the living room floor. "Well I suppose we should get home and get Erin to bed and you have an early day at the office, dear." Peg said. BJ and Peg started to gather up the gifts and their sleeping child. On the way to the door Margaret asked, " Oh, I was wondering if we wanted to get together and have lunch tomorrow Hawkeye? I could show you San Francisco." "Only if Dad can come along to?" Hawkeye asked. "Sure" said Margaret "Then it's a date; see you tomorrow." Hawkeye said as he smiled his trade mark smile at her. "BJ could you carry your daughter to the car?" Peg asked her husband, as she was getting ready to walk out the door with the gifts in her hands. "Yes dear, have a good Christmas Margaret. Hawkeye don't be too long." BJ said as he exited with Erin and Daniel followed them out of the door to make their way to the car. Come on say something, do you want to stay with me tonight. Margaret's conscious told her. "Well good night, Margaret." Hawkeye said as he gave her a quick peck on the lips. Margaret said, "Good night." Hawkeye then left her door and walked down the steps. Margaret checked the door a few times to see if Hawkeye came back sadly, he didn't, he got into BJ and Pegs car and left. Margaret cried herself to sleep that night.