"So what's this all about?"

Eliza looked over to him and grinned, "I thought a little suprise visit would be nice. Plus, Daniel has asked if I would want to come over for dinner."

"Dinner? What's on the menu?"

"Your dad said he was cooking a suprise."

Hawkeye smiled, "Well it looks like we've got quite the evening ahead of us don't-"

"Up! Up!"

With a chuckle, Hawkeye looked down to the little girl trailing along next to him. Erica held her arms high up and waved her little hands. "Alright, up you go," he said, pulling her up to sit on his shoulders.

/scene/

"Hey you two!!"

"Down we go!" Hawkeye said, gently bringing Erica down from his shoulders and setting her down on the carpet.

Eliza closed the door and led both the girls to sit down on the couch while she and Hawkeye went to survey what Daniel was cooking up.

"Ah ah ah! Don't come any closer!"

"Why not?!" Hawkeye asked, taking a step back with Eliza.

"I told you two, it's a surprise," Daniel replied, pointing a wooden spoon at the two hungry adults.

"Alright, alright, Mr. Pierce," Eliza said, raising her hands in defeat.

Hawkeye led Eliza back to the living room, where the two took a seat on the couch.

"So... How's everything at work been for you?"

Hawkeye sighed and tried to not look as worried about the matter as he really was. "Things haven't been that great. We're short staffed and barely making enough money to keep the place up and running. Would you believe me if I told you that aside from Mr. Miller and myself, only two other employees work there?!"

"There's only four of you running the whole place?!"

"Yeah... I don't wanna say it Eliza, but I'm worried. I wouldn't be surprised if the diner doesn't make it through another year."

"That's horrible! Why, that place is Mr. Miller's pride and joy!"

"I know," Hawkeye said with a solemn nod.

The two sat together in silence for a moment. Hawkeye watched as Eliza's face was lost in thought. She was ever so quiet until-

"Hey!"

"What?"

"What if I asked Mr. Miller for a job? I mean... I can cook pretty darn well considering I'm a baker..."

Hawkeye smiled, "That's a great idea, but who'd watch the kids?"

Eliza looked over at Erica and Rivkah, both already fast asleep on the other end of the couch.

"Hmmm, you've got a point... do you think Mr. Miller would let the kids stay at the diner?"

"Eliza, I'm glad you wanna help out so much, but I really don't think you getting a job is a good idea right now."

She nodded, "You're right. Unless... we could ask someone to watch them?"

"I really don't think that's something either of us can afford right now."

"Alright, sorry, I'll drop it."

"ALL DONE IN HERE!"

Both the kids startled awake by the shout and smell of Daniel's cooking. All four in the living room watched as Daniel came in with his oven mitts still on.

"Well, what are you couch-potatoes waiting for?!"

Eliza took in a whiff, "It smells good, what is it?"

Daniel smiled, "Lasagna and tomato soup, fresh from the kitchen. I think that-"

Daniel stopped his speech as the little black telephone on the end table began to ring. Eliza stood up and was about to answer, but-

"-Hold on now! It's supper time! Whoever's calling will just have to call later, you don't want my cooking to get cold now, do you?"

Eliza chuckled and diverted her path to the dining room, "Of course not, Mr. Pierce."

/scene/

"Hold still, Erica," Hawkeye said, wiping some soup off from her chin.

"This was really good, Mr. Pierce. Thank you so much for inviting me and my daughter over."

Daniel smiled, "Oh anything for a nice, young lady such as yourself."

And then the phone rang again.

"Agh! Don't folks know this is the dinner hour?!" Daniel stood up, "Well, the meal's just about over anyway, I suppose I should answer it. Hopefully it wasn't a call I missed from a patient."

"Oh sit down, I'll answer it for you," Eliza said, already halfway out the room.

"Thank you, dear," Daniel shouted back.

Hawkeye also stood up, "I guess I might as well get these two cleaned up," he said, glancing at the two messy toddlers.

"Mr. Pierce!?"

"Who is it, Eliza?" Daniel shouted back.

"I think it's one of your colleagues; another doctor."

Daniel stood up and began to make his way to the living room, "What's the name, dear?"

"Dr. Hunnicut."