Author's Note: Hi all! Glad you liked the previous chapter! I didn't exactly end that at the place I wanted, so I guess that's where we'll begin here. Thanks again for all of your great reviews. They mean a lot! Oh, and for the part in the plane, could you tell I'm excited about getting a dog! Hehe, that I now have! =] Mine's MUCH smaller than the German Sheppard though. I also realized that I really have the dates mixed up…it really should have been maybe five and a half months since Hawkeye and Margaret had seen each other. (CLOSE to six, but not six) I'm sorry…I think this is why I'm only getting a B in Algebra II… :-[ Sorry again…but there's more math involved with this chapter because of time zones! GAH! Bear with me, please! ;-P But, here we go!

Chapter 28

Kimpo Air Base - Seoul

After showing all of his travel orders, discharge papers, military I.D., passport, and anything else the guy behind the counter was asking for, Hawkeye took a seat on a wooden bench across the room. The waiting area for those soon boarding the planes was a tiny little building made out of the same corrugated metal as the Officer's Club back at the 4077th. It was much less decorative, however, since the only stuff on the walls were departure times for the airplanes, a couple battle maps of Korea , and a small menu that hung above the closed concession stand.

Hawkeye took his hat off and set it on his suitcase. He decided he could entertain himself for the twenty minutes he'd have to wait, so he pulled out the picture of his family that was in his pocket. The same smile that spread across his face every time he saw the picture, returned when he saw his dad, Margaret, and his new son and daughter. The new father couldn't get over the look on his wife's face. It was even more beautiful than he remembered, if that was possible. The snapshot may have been in black and white, but he could tell his wife was just glowing. From what he could see, motherhood was suiting her perfectly.

Gazing at the picture kept him entertained for about five minutes. It would have for longer, since he could look at it forever, but every time he thought about all the wonderful things that he would be able to do with his family in the future, his stomach twisted into knots. He was thinking of Henry again. Try as he might, he couldn't get the thought out of his mind. He had made the flight to Tokyo a few times, and it was a scary flight for him after Henry had died, but now it was even worse because he had a family. A family that he'd give anything to be with, including his medical career and whatever else he had!

Instead, he decided to leave his stuff by the bench since there was no one else in the small building, and take a walk around the base. Just a short one, long enough to keep him busy until the passengers, however many there actually were, would be boarding the plane.

It was amazing how much better everything seemed now that he was out of the Army. Of course, he wouldn't really feel like he was out of the Army until he set foot on the front porch of 1412 Rock Point Lane. The birds were chirping, dogs were barking, and the sound of Jeeps rolling by no longer really sounded ominous. Now, it just sounded like a car driving on a gravel road. He was lost in his thoughts about civilian life again until a chopper flew overhead. Out of the Army or not, that sound meant the same thing: wounded. The chopper kept flying over the air base, heading for the same direction that Hawkeye had just come from. An involuntary shiver rand down the surgeon's spine, thinking of another 23 hour O.R. session.

"Sir?" A lieutenant that looked maybe thirteen because of his baby face, called out to the former captain.

It was as if his heart fell to his feet. Hawkeye had heard stories of people being discharged and then called up for more duty in the service before they had the chance to leave the war zone. "What is it Lieutenant?" He asked, a little harsher than he meant to and instantly felt guilty when the young man seemed to recoil a bit. "I'm sorry, I'm just a little anxious for the flight."

The young, brown haired, hazel eyed boy seemed to recover fast, "Oh, it's fine sir. I know how you feel. Actually, that's what I came to talk to you about. My C.O. put you on a different plane. The one you were gonna take originally had some engine trouble and has to stay in the shop for a while."

"Oh nice," a small wave of nausea passed through the man's stomach, thinking of what could have happened.

"Yeah, but we were able to get you on a cargo plane headed to Tokyo. Don't mind riding next to a German Shepherd, do you?"

The man in his class A's laughed, "Of course not, a dog's gotta be better than some of the other characters you find on a plane. Not so strange."

The young man laughed, "Very true." He nodded toward the building that Hawkeye had just left, "I got a sergeant putting your things on the plane now. It leaves in five minutes."

"Hey that's great!" There was excitement, with a little bit of hesitation, in the man's voice. "But uh…before I go…can you tell me where the latrine is?"

The obviously easy going Lieutenant chuckled and pointed toward a small tent, "Over there sir."

"Thanks kid!"

Somewhere Above South Korea - About a Half Hour After Takeoff

It was a small cargo plane with only the pilot, Hawkeye, and a few crates full of supplies. There weren't any seats except for the pilot's, so the man that really kind of felt like a stowaway sat by what he now figured out to be a big cage. He had been so worried about flying over the Sea of Japan that his mind had been elsewhere.

"Well hello there." The brown and black dog put his paw up on the cage door, his wet nose sticking out of one of the wholes just a little bit. He was whining a little in a way that made Hawkeye feel sorry for the creature, being stuck in the little cage. "How ya doin' buddy?" Hawkeye cautiously touched the paw. "Looks kinda tight in there." A big, flat, pink tongue emerged from under the black nose and the eyes became visible. They were soft brown and looked happy. "You're a beauty, aren't ya?" A little yip came from the cage. The man just laughed, reaching into his pocket. "I was planning on saving these for later, but you look like you could use a pick-me-up. Do you like olives?" After another happy bark, the doctor took a few olives out of the jar and fed them to dog.

"You can take him out of the cage!" The pilot yelled back, wanting to be heard over the loud engine and wind, "He won't bite! He's a good dog!"

"He yours?!" Hawkeye called back.

"Yep! Had him for a couple years! I keep him in the cage if there's anyone else in the plane, but it looks like he's found a new friend! He loves people with food!"

"Smart dog!" The object of the dog's full attention at the moment called up to the pilot. He turned toward the cage, "You want out of there, Bud?" There was more pawing at the cage door while Hawkeye tried to figure out the latch. When he finally did, the big brown and black fur ball came bouncing out, used to the turbulence the plane was going through for the time being.

There were a couple happy woofs from the big dog. Hawkeye just laughed and started petting the dog behind the ears. "What's his name?!"

"Brutis!" The man at the controls answered, "Named him after my kids' dog!"

At the thought of kids, Hawkeye's mind traveled. He must have stopped rubbing the dogs ears too, because he felt a cold, wet nose on his palm and had two big brown eyes were looking up at him. "Sorry," He chuckled while resuming his previous task. "I'd love to get my kids a dog when they're older!" He was now talking to the pilot again, "I never had one as a kid, but I've always thought they'd make a great friend!"

"That they really do!" The aviator replied, "You married?"

"Yeah! For almost six months now! I'm finally gonna see her again!" Hawkeye's smile again depicted just how excited he was about the whole ordeal.

"I take it you haven't been in Korea for long?!"

"Been here almost three years, actually! Met my wife at the MASH I was stationed at! She was head nurse, I was chief surgeon!"

"That's one way to spend a war!" The two men laughed a little, "How long she been stateside?!"

There was a twinge at the surgeon's heart, thinking of his reply, "She left Korea about a week after we got married!"

"That had to be rough!" The older man looked sincere.

"Tell me about it!" The passenger shook his head, "Hardest thing I've ever been through, having to be stuck in this hell when our kids were born. I've been a father for about two weeks and didn't even know it!"

"Did you say kids as in more than one?!"

"Yeah! Twins, totally a surprise! Especially for my wife!" Hawkeye laughed.

"Well congratulations! I sure am sorry you had to miss that! I got two kids myself! Glenda's 16 and Jeffrey's 18! Enjoy your little ones while they're still little! They grow up fast, trust me!"

The dog's current backscratcher laughed, "I sure will!" He kept petting the dog down the back now. When he stopped, Brutis started whining, cocked his head to the side, and gave the same big brown eyes. "You're just like my wife, you know that? Quit rubbing her back and she looks at me like I'm stupid," Hawkeye sighed "God, I miss that look." The German Shepherd made an agreeing growl, "Fine, I'll keep going, Beautiful." Another small snarl, "Oops, sorry. I guess that's handsome." The dog just panted happily, grateful for the on-flight massage.

Later - Over the Sea of Japan

About an hour had passed, and the human cargo was still rather nervous. It was just a good thing he had a conversation going with the man at the cockpit and plenty of company from the dog he was petting. There was a lot of truth behind what he had said earlier about a dog being a great flight companion.

Judging by the fact that everything was either blue or gray outside the windows of the small plane, he assumed correctly that they were over the Sea of Japan. He was so excited to go home that his claustrophobia wasn't bothering him so bad, but the fact that he was in the general area where one of his closest friends had died, was making him very uneasy. His stomach tightened with worry and his head started spinning a bit.

Pulling out the picture of his family again, he kissed his finger and lightly touched his wife's black and white smile. "I love you," he whispered, gazing longingly at the snapshot. He leaned his head back on the wall and Brutis laid his big fuzzy head on his new friend's lap and got scratched behind the ears some more. Before Hawkeye fell asleep anyway.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

There was a gentle breeze that smelt like the ocean mixed with lilacs and vanilla, Hawkeye's favorite smell. He took in a deep breath, thoroughly enjoying the beautiful Spring day. A soft hand ran through his hair, and looking to the side, he saw one of the most beautiful things he'd ever laid his eyes on.

Margaret was smiling up at him, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling. Her hair, still blonde, was blowing behind her shoulders, shining in the sunlight. Hawkeye held her close, dipped her low, and kissed her passionately.

"Yucky!" A little girl's voice called from the backyard. She was laughing, but still trying to feign a disgusted look.

"Eww! You're right!" A little boy with shaggy red hair ran over to his sister. "They're icky!" Just like the little girl beside him, he was laughing too much to look too grossed out.

The two on the porch were laughing, their lips still entwined with each other's. "Love you," Hawkeye mumbled quickly, yet passionately, before ending the kiss and running down the stairs toward his laughing children. "Yucky?!" He called, a big playful smile on his face. "Whose calling me yucky?!"

"We weren't calling JUST you yucky! Mommy was being yucky too!" The little girl giggled.

He was trying his best to look offended, but just started laughing. The Hawk 'swooped down' and scooped his kids up, one under each arm, "You're BOTH calling Mommy and me yucky?!" There was more whole hearted laughter from the dad in the middle and ecstatic giggling from both of the small kids. Hawkeye was able to look up at the porch to see his wife in a state of hysterics.

The kids both squealed with laughter, "Daddy! Put me down!" The little girl giggled.

"No way! You called me yucky!" Hawkeye was laughing as much as his kids were, "That's gonna cost ya!"

"I didn't call you yucky, Daddy!" The little redhead laughed, the same smile on his face as the one Margaret had when she was trying to pull the wool over someone's eyes.

"You did too!" Allie called across her daddy to her twin.

"I guess the tickle monster will just have to get you both!" The 'tickle monster' managed to get his squirming four-year-olds safely on the ground before they ran away. "Keep running!" Their father ran after them, trying to keep up. When he finally caught up, everyone was too worn out to do much, so they all ended up laying on the grass beneath a huge pine tree. Well, Hawkeye was worn out…

Alicia and Mikey sprang up from where they were on either side of their daddy. "Now whose the tickle monster!" Mikey giggled and started to tickle his father behind the neck. Allie joined in, laying across her daddy's legs to pull off one of his sandals to tickle his foot.

Hawkeye laughed, "Margaret! Help! Your children are attacking!"

Margaret was still on the porch, laughing so hard she had tears running down her face. Daniel opened the back door to see what was going on. Margaret just pointed toward the three when he asked.

"She trained her kids well Hawk! Good luck getting out of that one!" The older version of the man being 'attacked', called out to his son.

A yellow lab puppy with a red collar and tags jingling, came bounding off the porch and ran toward the three to help the cause. "Over here Radar!" The puppy's 'kids' beckoned him over.

"No! Not the puppy!" Hawkeye laughed as the little dog jumped up on his chest and started licking his face.

"Kennel up, Bud!" Daniel called. "Kennel up!" he called again…

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Kennel up Brutis!" The pilot called back to his dog.

Hawkeye woke up to a soft woof as the dog, much bigger than the one in his dream, went to his cage and laid down.

"Morning!" the aviator smirked. "We're about to land! You mind shutting his cage?!"

"Not at all!" Hawkeye leaned over and had to try to figure out how to close the latch this time. After petting the dogs paw through the metal, he went back to where he was and braced himself for the hopefully smooth landing.

As the plane landed in the expected way, Hawkeye just kept his eyes closed. He had made it past the area where Henry had died, but that didn't mean something couldn't happen on the way down. The best part of the flight though was when the plane finally stopped on the runway. He could finally relax since he had just made his final trip over the Sea of Japan. Now he just had two more flights and an eight hour bus ride to look forward to.

"Hey, thanks a lot." Hawkeye held out his hand for the pilot to shake after they made their way to the airport waiting area.

"No problem. My pleasure. Brutis's too." The older man winked, "Here, you might want this." The old aviator reached into his pocket and pulled out a lint brush.

Looking down, Hawkeye noticed that he was covered with medium length brown and black dog hair. He laughed and accepted the offer. After all the stray hairs were brushed away, he returned the brush, "Thanks again. And tell Brutis I'm sorry he doesn't have a stewardess poodle on his flight."

"Sure thing, you just get back to the states and enjoy those little ones of yours."

"Will do." Hawkeye chuckled and nodded his farewell before heading to the information desk of the much nicer airport than the one at Kimpo. One more step closer to home…

9:00 P.M. in Korea (5:00 A.M. in San Francisco)

Hawkeye was somewhere between Tokyo and San Francisco, but didn't know which time zone he was in exactly. His watch was still set to Korean time, and he didn't know when exactly he'd change it. He thought about keeping it set to the time he had grown so used to, at least for awhile or until the war was over, as a reminder of sorts for his friends still being in that hell he had just left. The former MASH surgeon felt so guilty for being able to leave, and for reasons beyond anything he could explain, he just couldn't even think about changing his watch any time soon…

The flight from Tokyo to San Francisco was going on and on and on. Now Hawkeye wasn't as nervous, but he was still plenty worried about getting home safely. He was so close to being completely done with the Army for good that he didn't want anything to screw it up. Outside, where the plane was above the clouds, the sky was the most beautiful mixture of periwinkle and pink. Closing his eyes, Hawkeye could just see himself on the beach with Margaret and the twins in a few years, watching the sun set over the ocean with his family. Almost everything he did or saw anymore made him think of his family.

Yet again, he pulled the picture out of his pocket and just gazed at it for awhile…now that he was past the Sea of Japan, he could look at it with happier butterflies fluttering around in his stomach instead of the worried vultures that had been circling. The whirring of the wind outside the plane slowly lulled Hawkeye to sleep, which was a good thing since he was getting kind of overwhelmed with thoughts and ideas. He had already gone through the mental checklist of his countless times, figuring out what all he needed to do in the next few days. Sleeping would also be a good way to pass a few more hours of the sixteen hour flight. It was just a good thing that he didn't have one of those 'strange' people in the next seat over.

Later (1:00 A.M. in Korea / 9:00 A.M. in San Francisco)

Hawkeye woke up about five hours later. The lack of sleep in the past few days was quickly catching up with him, along with the expected jet lag. Now, he thankfully only had about four hours left of this flight since he had been on the plane for a little over twelve. Reaching into the bag he was able to take on the flight, he grabbed all off Margaret's and his dad's letters and reread almost every one of them. He laughed, teared up a little at some, felt a tiny bit of anger from a few of the earliest ones, and thoroughly enjoyed all of them.

For the past three years since he'd been home, the only constant communication to his loved ones had been through the letters. Sure, there were the phones, but they weren't always accessible. Who knew that something as small as familiar handwriting could bring such joy to a person. Something written in his wife's handwriting in the last five and a half months could bring different emotions and feelings as something written in his father's. Margaret's seemed to bring him a rainbow of different emotions. There was love, longing, heartache, fear, and pure joy connected to their pages…connected to their words.

Three and a Half Hours Later (4:30 A.M. in Korea / 1:30 P.M. in San Francisco)

A short brunette in the blue and grey stewardess uniform went to the front row of passengers and went through the whole 'Please buckle your seatbelts' speech. Hawkeye did all he was supposed to and buckled his seatbelt and put the tray that attached to the seat ahead of him up. He closed his jar of olives and put them back in his bag, and did the same with the letters he was still reading.

Taking a deep breath, he looked out the window to see land…American land. To some, it could look the same as any land in the world, but to Hawkeye it was the way it was supposed to be. He had nothing against other countries, they were just filled with people like him, but he was so glad to be back in the good ole' U.S. of A. He was home…even though his actual home was still clear across the country. A huge grin covered his face when he whispered to himself, "I've made it a long way. California now…Maine later."

The pilot's voice came through he PA system, "Flight 482 from Tokyo to San Francisco will be landing shortly. We've had a smooth flight, so we will be landing a little earlier than expected. We hope you have all enjoyed your time and thank you for flying Tokyo - American Transport."

It took about fifteen minutes for the plane to land, but when it did, Hawkeye really felt different. It was as if he had left the states naïve, but returned aware of the way the world, outside his own little bit of it, worked. He never realized how great he had it until he was forced overseas to experience a culture that was like the polar opposite to his…and he was even living a better life than most of the people in Korea. Sure, the tents and facilities of the 4077th were horrible compared to home, but still a lot better than most of what the natives had. He'd try to never complain about how things at home could be again…

The stairs were rolled over and in place before the doors were opened. After unhooking his seatbelt, Hawkeye grabbed his bag from the seat beside him, made sure everything was in it, reached up to get a couple more bags from the storage compartment above the window, and waited for the line of people to pass by. Most of the passengers leaving the plane were service men and women in class A's or the normal olive drab garb. As they passed, the surgeon could have sworn he saw a few of his patients from the 4077th. He never thought he'd really be able to remember all of the people he operated on, but some could stand out.

"Doctor Pierce?" A young man in the normal, olive drab Army uniform stood in front of him on crutches.

"That's who I was when I woke up this morning…or yesterday morning…" He became momentarily side tracked, trying to figure out just how long he'd been traveling. He shook his head to get rid of the cob webs and smiled, "Yeah, that's me."

"Corporal Chad Landins, four months ago." He looked down at his leg, "Almost lost my leg, but the doctors in Tokyo said I was able to keep it because of you."

Hawkeye shrugged nonchalantly, "It was the least I could do." He shook the man's outstretched hand.

"Well, I really appreciate it. They transferred me from the 4077th to the 121st Evac. hospital while you were at the aid station, so I never got to say thank you."

"I'm just glad I could help." Noticing that the man was struggling with a bag, the doctor put one of his own down, "Need some help with that? Looks like your hands are full."

"Oh, I can manage, you have yours full too."

"Nonsense, I got it." Hawkeye just smiled, and took the corporal's bag and his, "No problem."

"I really appreciate it, but are you sure you got it all? I can take it, really." The young man seemed almost embarrassed to have someone help him.

The father of twins laughed, "Hey, it's fine. I have to get used to having my hands full anyway!" The two men started walking out of the plane, "So how long are you on the crutches?"

"Sounds like I can get off 'em next month if I keep up the physical therapy."

"That's great!" It was a good thing that they were at the end of the line of people getting off the plane since they had to take the stairs pretty slow to accommodate Landins' crutches. "So where's home for ya?"

"Fostoria. Tiny town in northwest Iowa, doubt you've ever heard of it." The captain could see the way that the other returning soldier's eyes were sparkling when he talked about his hometown.

"Can't say that I have, but I know how you feel. I come from a tiny town in Maine. Can't wait to get back, that's for sure."

"So you got another long flight ahead of you?" Hawkeye nodded, "Leaving again right away?" Landin asked. They were at the bottom of the stairs and making their way to the runway entrance of the rather huge airport.

Hawkeye just realized how hungry he was, "Nope, I'm gonna stay and have lunch with my best friend's family. My plane doesn't leave for a couple hours. I guess they're gonna be meeting me here." When they made it do the big glass doors, Chad managed to get the door open for the doctor who was carrying his bag along with all his own stuff.

"Well, I got it from here." The young man was able to get his duffle bag on his back, "Thanks a lot, Doc. I really appreciate it." He chuckled, "The bag and my leg."

"No problem, I'm always ready to help. Good luck."

"You too!" The young man smiled and was on his way through the crowd of people to get to his other flight. Hawkeye watched him hobble away on his crutches, wishing he could have done more for the man's leg when he operated on it. The more he thought about it, he could almost remember the exact operation. He had to do an arterial transplant and the stupid clamp wouldn't hold again… But, if the doctors in Tokyo were saying he had saved the leg, he could feel a sense of accomplishment.

He didn't think that Peg and Erin would be at the airport yet since the plane landed early, so the homeward bound soldier made his way over to the luggage caracal and waited for all of his stuff. In Tokyo, he had to get his name and address on each of the boxes and had them wrapped up good. They were marked fragile so he just hoped that everything would still be intact, and was relieved when he found them on the conveyer belt the same way he had put them on in Tokyo. He took the boxes, along with his other suitcase, duffle bag, and footlocker over to the seating area and piled them up.

He had just sat down and started looking through an old magazine when a little voice caught his attention, "Are you Unco' Hawky?" A very young girl with sandy blonde hair and a lot of his best friend's features stood in front of him, her hand holding onto a very nice looking woman that Hawkeye instantly recognized to be Peg Hunnicutt.

"That would be me!" He smiled from ear to ear, "And I'm gonna guess that you're Erin Hunnicutt, right?"

"W'ight!" the little girl spoke proudly in her cute toddler lisp, "An' 'dis is my mommy!" She pulled on her mother's arm.

"Hello Dr. Pierce, its so nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you," the woman held out her free hand.

"Please, call me Hawkeye." He got up and kissed the woman's hand, making her blush.

"That I can do!" She was all smiles, obviously flustered by the charismatic charmer in front of her. "You know, BJ has yet to send me a letter that hasn't mentioned you. I really kind of feel like I've known you for a long time."

Hawkeye smiled, "Well BJ talked about you and Erin a lot too. Read all your letters to me…of course he read them to the whole camp…"

"Oh dear, I hope he edited some parts!" Peg blushed some more.

The man's eyes flashed mischievously, "I knew he was hiding something from me!" He snapped his fingers, pretending to just realize something. At this, Erin giggled at her mom's side. "And you little lady," Hawkeye knelt down to the little girl's height, "look even more beautiful than the pictures that your daddy showed me all the time."

The suddenly bashful child hid behind Peg's leg, "What do you say Erin?" her mother asked.

"Fank you…" Erin was wearing a cute little pink and blue dress with white shoes, her baby fine, shoulder length blonde hair in two pig tails.

"How old are you now?" 'Uncle Hawky' asked.

The little girl came out from hiding and displayed three fingers proudly, "Dis many!"

Peg laughed and put one down, "I think you mean this many, Sweetheart." Erin just giggled some more and went back to her hiding spot. The mother bent down to pick up her daughter before asking, "So, do you want to grab a bite to eat? There's a really great café here."

"I'd love to, I'm starved!" Hawkeye managed to find a cart to haul all of his luggage on, and the three made their way through the busy airport. When they found the café, Erin picked out a table by the window so she could watch the planes, what she called the 'flies'.

After the waitress came around to get their late lunch orders, Hawkeye was watching the little girl vacantly, a small smile on his face. He was thinking about what his kids would be like, now and when they got older. He couldn't wait to meet his kids, but was also a nervous wreck about the next eighteen years or so of helping to raise his kids. As soon as he'd start to get confident about being a father in his mind, he'd instantly doubt himself and get a cold, clammy feeling again. It wasn't that he didn't want to be a father, that definitely wasn't the case. It was just…he didn't want to fail his children in any way. He wanted to give them the world, but knew how difficult it would be. He had no doubt in his mind that Margaret would be a wonderful mother, he just doubted how good of a father he would be himself.

Peg noticed that her lunch companion had a very distant look on his face, "Hawkeye?" She asked gently, "You okay?"

This brought the man out of his deep thoughts, "Oh yeah…I'm fine." He rubbed his eyes a bit, "Just a bit tired is all, jet lag's a killer."

"No…I know that look." The young mother shook her head, her eyes growing soft, "I saw BJ with that same look dozens of times when I was expecting Erin." She laughed a little, memories being conjured up, "Not long before he got drafted, I remember waking up one night and finding him sitting at the edge of the bed, totally engrossed in this parenting book that my sister had given me. Which wouldn't have been that bad, except it was geared toward new mothers with things like…um…well….personal things after the baby was born and such, but I remember just laughing when I saw what he was reading and he gave me the same look you had on your face a moment ago.

"He just couldn't keep it bottled up anymore. He said how worried he was about being a father and how he had no idea what kind of a dad he'd be to this little beauty." Peg hugged the little girl on her lap and kissed her cheek. "But I think every father I've ever talked to has gone through that. Just a natural part of being a parent. And trust me, mothers go through it too."

"I don't doubt that in the least," Hawkeye was just amazed how the experienced mother in front of him could divulge what he was feeling, solely based on the look he was making subconsciously. That dumbfounded expression must just be the universal sign, screaming Look out! New Father Alert!

Peg had a peaceful look on her face, "From the day a woman finds out she's expecting a baby, she starts having these happy, yet scary, thoughts in the back of her mind." The waitress came back with their drinks and BJ's wife took a sip of her iced tea before continuing, "Margaret and I had a rather lengthy discussion about this a couple weeks ago, after the twins were born."

He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face once again, "Oh yeah?"

Peg nodded, "She was talking about how great of a dad you would be, but how worried she was about being a mother. And then the conversation got to Korea and she said she was awfully scared of taking care of two little babies by herself while her husband was overseas. She said she knew that Daniel would be there to help, but it would just be so hard without you…" The brunette smiled widely, the reddish pink lipstick making her already white teeth seem even whiter, "So when are you gonna tell her you're back in the states?"

"Well, I want our reunion to be really special, you know… We haven't seen each other for over five months and so much has happened that we wanted to be together for. It's been pretty rough on her to be in a new town with new people and then to have two new lives thrown into the equation. So, I really want it to be a surprise. I have to stop in New York City to get all my plans worked out with my dad, but it's gonna kill me to stay away from the hospital… What I'm thinking is that I'll be home for a day or two before Margaret and Dad bring the babies home and that'll leave me plenty of time to get the house ready for everyone."

The woman opposite Hawkeye sighed, "That's so sweet…"

"I hope Margaret thinks so." He just grinned and took a drink of his Coca-Cola, one of the very small things he had missed about being away from home.

"Wook! Wook!" Erin was standing on the other chair looking out the window at one of the planes that was taking off, "It goin' weally fast!"

Peg just laughed and got her daughter to sit down, "Yeah, that plane's going really fast Erin. Suppose a bird could catch up to it?" She looked up at Hawkeye and winked, letting him know that she really wasn't that simple minded.

"No, mommy! A birdie's too swow!" The little girl's pig tales bounced around her shoulders as she shook her head, causing her daddy's best friend to think of Margaret and the way her fine, evidently not natural, blonde hair did that all the time…

Only a few more days… He had to keep telling himself.

About an hour and a half later, the adults' food was gone and Erin was still picking at the last part of her second of two small chicken strips and most of the fries that came in the kids' meal at the airport café. Hawkeye and Peg had been talking about everything from the (still almost - in his mind) former captain's time at the 4077th - before and after BJ had been stationed there, Peg getting her real-estate license after having to get the job that her husband was so against, and parenthood. Erin was contently entertaining herself by watching the planes fly by, take off, and land, and swinging her feet from the booster seat she sat in. She was a very bright little two-year-old and joined in on the conversation a couple of times with sweet little comments like, 'My mommy is weally smart' and 'Daddy wites weally funny stories in his wetters that mommy weads to me.' Spending more time around his 'honorary niece' was putting Hawkeye's mind at ease a little bit, and also making him all the more excited to meet Mikey and Allie…as if he could get any more excited.

Hawkeye looked down at his watch and sighed, "Oh man…my flight leaves in about forty-five minutes."

"Unco Hawky gonna weave?" Erin asked, a sad look on her face.

"I'm afraid so, Kiddo." He said it with a reassuring smile, "But not quite yet. When we get to the other side of the airport, I have something for ya!"

"We got somfin' for you too!" The little girl instantly cheered up, "Mommy I'm not hungry any more." She tried to get out of her booster seat herself, but her mom hurried to help her so she wouldn't fall. After she was 'freed', she ran over to Hawkeye, "What did you get me?!"

Hawkeye just laughed, "Well, I didn't get it for you…it's actually from your daddy."

The girl's big green eyes, that she obviously got from her mother, widened with delight, "I get a pwesant from daddy!?"

Peg was almost as excited as her daughter, "That's great!" She turned to Hawkeye, "Can you watch her for a minute? I'll go pay the cashier and we can get to where you need to be."

"I'd be glad to, but I can pay for lunch, Peg." He reached around and was trying to get his wallet out of his back pocket.

"Don't be silly! You're my guest, or rather you would be if this were home, but anywho…I'm buying." There was a stubborn smile on the brunette's face as she stood, hand on hip and foot tapping.

Hawkeye put his wallet back, "Fine, fine…" He put his hands up in exaggerated surrender, "I was taught to never fight with a woman."

Peg just laughed and turned around, heading for the cash register. Her daughter went running back to her honorary uncle, "Unco Hawky?"

"Yeah?" He smiled down at her in expectation.

The little girl put her hands behind her back and cocked her head to the side, "Do you fink you could tell me what my daddy got fo me?"

Laughing, he shook his head, "Then it wouldn't a surprise. I can't do that…your daddy wants you to be surprised when you see what he got for you."

"Pwease?" She tried her best with the puppy dog eyes, "With sugar and a cherwy on top!"

"Extra sprinkles with hot fudge and caramel?" Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Peg coming back to the table so just decided to stall Erin's question.

Now the little girls hands were on her hips, looking just like her mother, "Extwa whipped cweam if you want! Just tell me!" This sent Hawkeye into a whole hearted laughing fit, hearing such a big come-back from a girl that was barely even two. She was definitely BJ's daughter.

"Tell you what?" Peg scooped her up and kissed her on the cheek. "Thanks Hawkeye." He just nodded and the little girl squealed with laughter and seemed to forget what she was so concerned about, and just adjusted herself so she was sitting on her mommy's hip. Hawkeye watched as Peg fixed her daughter's hair with one hand and thought about Margaret. He couldn't wait to see his wife do stuff like that… "We ready?" He was brought out of his musings by his best friend's wife. When everything was set, they were off to the complete opposite end of the airport where all of his luggage would be sorted onto the plane and he'd get to wait and wait for the plane to start boarding. At least he'd have company.

After everything was ready to go and his luggage was checked in and sorted, except for his carry on bag and the box with Erin's present, the two Hunnicutt girls and the Pierce man sat in the crowded seating area. The two year old was looking rather sleepy, leaning on her mom, but kept her eyes on the box by Hawkeye's feet. "So are you gonna open your present, Erin?" The deliverer of the package asked.

This woke her up, "Yeah! Can I Mommy?" She squirmed down to the floor and held onto the box protectively.

Peg just chuckled, "Of course you can, Honey. Do you need help?"

"No, I wanna do it!" she replied, pulling at the bluish-green paper that it had been wrapped in at the Tokyo airport. When the cardboard box was exposed, Hawkeye reached down and helped the toddler get the top flaps open. Only after she asked for some help though. He could remember wanting to be totally independent when he was little, not that he could remember things from when he was two, but he could remember how frustrated he'd get when people just started helping without being asked, assuming that their help was needed when it really wasn't. "Fank you!" she looked up at her 'uncle' and back down to the box to pull out the medium black leather bag. "What is it?" She asked, setting it down and scratching her head in question.

"I bet I know!" Peg reached down and opened the clasp and gave an exaggerated gasp, "It's a doctor bag like your daddy's!"

"It is?!" Once again, the little girl's eyes lit up.

Hawkeye chuckled inwardly at the little girl's excitement, "Now you can pretend to be a brave, amazing doctor like your daddy!" He threw in.

"That's right!" Her mother joined in, "You could be like daddy and operate on your teddy bears when they get hurt."

"I could!" Erin carefully took out each plastic medical device to see what it did, with the help and explanations from Hawkeye as to what they were used for. The adults made sure that all the pieces, big enough for a little kid like Erin to play with safely, got put back into the bag so she didn't lose them. "Well that was awfully nice of your daddy, wasn't it Erin?" She just nodded, still a little sleepy. "We'll have to call him later and thank him, won't we?" Peg looked at the man in the seat next to hers, "Thanks for bringing it to her Hawkeye, I think you just made her week."

"Glad to do it," he grinned.

The brunette, in a beautiful white and yellow sun dress, reached into her big matching purse and pulled out a flat, wrapped package and handed it to her daughter, "Why don't you give this to Hawkeye, Sweetheart."

Erin nodded and took it over to her new favorite uncle, "Mommy got dis for you!"

Hawkeye graciously accepted the package from her, "Well thank you! I wonder what it is?"

"Open it!" The pigtailed cutie-pie exclaimed like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I think that might work," he laughed, carefully ripping off the white paper that had little pink and blue pacifiers drawn on it. "Oh hey, this looks familiar." He knew why it looked so familiar and thought it was a great idea.

Peg wanted to explain anyway, "Way back when I sent the other one to BJ to give to Margaret as a baby shower gift, there was only one little Pierce to be expected. So as soon as I found out that there was another one, I searched New York for another baby book like the one you guys already had and finally found this one. I thought that you'd probably like to have separate ones for each of the twins."

"That's really great Peg, thanks!" He leafed through the pages quick, reminding himself of what the other one, that looked exactly like this one, had looked like way back at his wife's going away party. The teddy bears, wearing the Groucho glasses, on the front cover made him laugh.

"Now boarding Flight 984 to New York City!" the intercom blared.

"Well, that's my flight!" The handsome departing surgeon carefully slid the new baby book into his carry on bag and plopped his class A hat back on his head.

"See ya later Hawkeye. Tell Margaret I'm so happy for her when you see her." Peg gave her husband's best friend a friendly goodbye hug, "And good luck."

"Thanks, I will. And I might need that." He hugged her back and when they separated, he knelt down to Erin's level, "You be good for your mommy, okay? Otherwise, your mean uncle Hawky might have to come and talk some good 'ole Crabapple Cove sense into you."

Erin's lower lip quivered a little, "Bye Unco Hawky." She sniffed back a few tears and wrapped her arms around his neck for a quick hug, "Will you come back someday?"

"Well of course I will! And I'll bring my little girl and boy and you'll be able to meet your little cousins. How does that sound?"

The toddler nodded, "That sound good."

"Good," Hawkeye stood up and slung his bag on his shoulder, "I guess I'll see you two lovely ladies sometime in the, hopefully, near future."

A sad, yet hopeful look spread across Peg's face for a moment, "I sure hope BJ's home soon, then we could all get together and have a really great time…"

"It won't be too much longer, Peg." He came back and gave her a reassuring hug, "See ya ladies!" The man waved back at the two as he walked to the door, showed his ticket, ID, and whatever else they asked for.

He was soon able to get on the plane and got situated for the flight clear across the country. Before he knew it, they were up in the air, and he was yet another step closer to being reunited with his loved ones.