chapter seven
"Close Friends Never Change"
"Beej!" Hawkeye called loudly across the crowded Portland airport as he spotted his best friend coming out of the baggage claim area.
"Hawk!" BJ greeted in return, waving his hand excitedly over his head. He stopped walking and bent down to pick something up. A moment later he stood up, holding a little blond-haired girl in his arms. Hawkeye smiled as the pair waved at him again. Then an attractive young woman joined them and started looking around curiously. BJ pointed to Hawkeye and she gave him a more subdued wave.
It took a few minutes for the small family to weave their way through the crowd to Hawkeye, but when they finally made it, the two old friends almost fell into each other's arms joyfully.
"Hawk you're looking great!" BJ exclaimed excitedly as he patted his old friend on the back.
"You're looking pretty good yourself," Hawkeye returned, an enormous grin on his handsome face. "Despite the fact that you still have that cheesy looking mustache. I can't believe that Peg let you keep it."
"What can I say." BJ shrugged and gave his friend a mischievous smile. "She knows a good thing when she's seen it."
The two men laughed and then Hawkeye said with deep feeling, "I can't tell you how wonderful it is to see you again!"
"About as wonderful as it is for me to see you!" BJ quipped with a teasing grin. Then hugging his friend again, he said. "I've missed you, Hawk. I've missed you very much."
"I've missed you too," Hawkeye assured him sincerely as he thumped him affectionately on the back. They clung to each other for another moment before separating and turning towards the young woman who was standing slightly behind them watching their reunion with great interest. "And this beautiful lady must be the much beloved Peg that I've heard so much about."
Peg smiled at him and held out her hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Hawkeye. BJ has told me so much about you too."
"Well, I can safely say that half of it is lies and the other half is untrue," Hawkeye joked as he shook her hand and gave her a warm smile.
Peg gave him an amused smile and replied, "Well, I don't know. I've never known BJ to lie."
"No, but he's been known to stretch the truth on occasion," Hawkeye retorted, shooting his best friend a mock-annoyed look.
"Maybe," Peg conceded, but then with a wicked glint in her eye added, "But this time I'm inclined to believe him."
"I wouldn't." Hawkeye commented casually. "Not unless he's willing to swear on Father Mulcahy's grave that it's true."
"Father Mulcahy isn't dead, Hawk," BJ pointed out with a small chuckle.
"That's beside the point," Hawkeye dismissed causing both Hunnicutts to laugh with amusement.
Then bending down, he changed the subject by greeting the little girl who was holding onto Peg's leg nervously and watching him curiously. In her hands she held a teddy bear that Hawkeye had sent home with BJ for her when they'd left Korea.
"You must be Erin."
The little girl giggled and nodded.
"Do you know who I am?" He pressed gently.
The little girl nodded again.
"Who am I?"
"Unco Hawkee," the little girl proudly replied.
Hawkeye laughed heartily as he repeated, "That's right 'Unco Hawkee'." Then opening his arms, he asked gently, "Can I get a hug?"
The little girl hesitated for a moment, clinging a little tighter to Peg. Her father had told her a lot about the man that stood before her. He was the man who had given her 'Mr. Bear' and was in one of the pictures sitting over the fireplace at home. She even had a picture of him and her daddy sitting on her dresser in her room. She understood that he was somebody that meant a lot to her father and that her daddy had been very excited to go and visit him. He'd even asked her to be very nice to 'Uncle Hawkeye' and hoped that they would be friends. He'd also said the same thing to her Mommy and her Mommy had said that she was sure that she'd like Hawkeye if only for the fact that he'd helped her Daddy through a very hard time.
Hawkeye's voice interrupted the young girl's thoughts. He had straightened back up and was saying in a very warm tone, "It's okay, Erin. I can get that hug later." Then addressing the others, he asked, "Shall we go?"
"Yes, lets," BJ exclaimed eagerly. "I'm dying to see the famous Crabapple Cove that I've heard so much about."
"Well, then let's go." Hawkeye encouraged as he reached for a suitcase. As he did so he felt a slight tug on the bottom of his coat. Looking down he smiled when he saw Erin looking up at him, her arms outstretched. His smile widening, he picked her up and said, "Shall we blow this pop stand?" Erin merely grinned and nodded her head in agreement.
"So how did your date go the other night?" BJ asked curiously as they drove along the road that led to the Pierce homestead.
All the way from Portland to Crabapple Cove the two old friends had been catching up on what had taken place in each other's lives since they'd last seen one another. Peg had added her comments too but was mostly content to sit and listen as the other two chattered on like a couple of excited schoolboys.
"Actually, it went very well," Hawkeye replied, trying to cover the smile on his face by checking the side review mirror. "She was very nice, and we hit it off quite well."
"That's good," BJ commented, shooting his buddy a mischievous grin. "I'm glad that your evening went well."
"It went very well!" Hawkeye exclaimed adding, "And that was despite the fact that I ran into Charles."
"Charles?" BJ exclaimed in surprise. "I don't believe it! How's the big lug doing?"
"Oh, he's doing just fine," Hawkeye assured him. "He was quite in his element at the banquet."
"Well, of course," his friend remarked. "Stuffy black-tie affairs are his specialty. What did he think when he saw you there?"
"Well, he was surprised, of course." Hawkeye chuckled. "Said he hoped my date had brought a leash and muzzle for me, so I didn't embarrass her."
"That sounds like Charles." BJ laughed with amusement. "What was his reaction though? Was he friendly? Did he pretend he didn't know you?"
"No, actually he was okay, he talked to me," The doctor replied. "He wasn't overly friendly, but to be honest he was friendlier than I expected he would be, given the circumstances especially. I mean we're talking a stuffy, high fluent affair filled with high officials and rich mucky mucks. The only reason I was there was because I was escorting someone who's cousin works at the hospital that was sponsoring the banquet. Having a reputation to maintain he couldn't exactly break out a chess board or a deck of cards and set up a game or anything like that."
"True," BJ quickly agreed with a chuckle. "Wouldn't everyone have looked if you and Charles had set up a poker game or a chess match in the middle of their stuffy banquet. You'd have never lived it down."
"You mean Charles would have never lived it down," Hawkeye corrected with a mischievous laugh. "I've pulled enough off the wall things not to care anymore what people think of me, but Charles on the other hand…"
"Charles would never let his rich counterparts see any other side of him but the proper, educated one," BJ commented. "So, I gather than you didn't have much of a reunion with him."
"Oh, to the contrary," his friend remarked with a chuckle. "The next day he invited my date and I out for lunch and we had a real reunion, especially after Trapper showed up unexpectedly at the same restaurant."
"Trapper?" BJ exclaimed in surprise. "You're kidding? I bet he was surprised to see you."
"To say the least." Hawkeye chuckled mischievously. "But the four of us had a nice little reunion, even Charles got into the spirit of it. To tell you the truth, I think Charles misses us more than he wishes to admit."
"What makes you say that?" BJ asked curiously.
"For one thing, he seemed eager to get together after the banquet," his friend replied thoughtfully. "And secondly, he's invited us over for dinner some night this week."
"He has?" BJ couldn't believe his ears. Then with a sly look at his friend asked. "Who's us?"
Hawkeye immediately understood what his friend was trying to get at. "Us means you and Peg and Erin and Dad and me and the very nice lady I met the other day."
"Oh, really?" BJ's eyebrows raised inquiringly. "So, you're going to be seeing more of this 'very nice' lady, are you?"
"I am." Hawkeye confirmed as he turned the car into his driveway.
"Oh, yeah?" BJ pressed, his eyes sparkling with expectation.
"As a matter of fact, we're getting married next Sunday." Hawkeye avoided looking at his friend as he dropped the bombshell. He knew if he looked, he wouldn't have been able to keep a straight face because BJ's expression was nothing short of hilarious.
"You're…you're…you're getting married?" BJ finally managed to blurt out.
"That's right." Hawkeye nodded as he pulled the car to a stop and turned to look at his shocked friend. "And I'd like you to be my best man."
"But…but…what about Margaret?" BJ questioned anxiously. "I thought…I thought… you were in love with her."
"I am," Hawkeye assured him seriously. "I happen to be very much in love with her."
"But you're marrying the woman that you went out on a blind date with the other night?" BJ remarked, his face full of confusion.
"That's right." Hawkeye nodded in confirmation as he opened the door of his car and got out.
"But how can you do that?" BJ asked as he followed his friend out of the car and around to the trunk. "How can you be in love with one woman and yet marry another."
"Who said anything about marrying another," Hawkeye asked as he pulled the suitcases out of the trunk of his car.
"Hawkeye, you're not making any sense at all," His friend exclaimed in exasperation. "When we spoke last week, you were mourning the fact that you didn't know where Margaret was or how to get ahold of her. You were going on about how much you loved her, how much you missed her…don't tell me you forgot that so quickly."
"Of course, I haven't," Hawkeye told his friend firmly as he started toting a couple of suitcases towards the house. "I meant every word of it last week and I mean every word of it this week. I love Margaret very, very much. There will never be a woman that means as much to me as she does."
"Then why are you engaged to someone else?" BJ remarked, his tone rising along with his confusion.
Hawkeye didn't comment. He just opened the door of his house, motioned for Peg to enter with Erin and then carried the two suitcases he had inside. BJ followed mutely behind. As he set the suitcases on the floor Hawkeye called, "Meg, honey I'm home."
BJ shook his head and said, his tone dripping with disbelief, "I just don't understand you. You…"
"I'll be right there, darling," a voice called from the kitchen.
At the sound of the familiar voice BJ turned and stared at his friend, his mouth open as he tried to get a grip on what was going on.
A moment later the owner of the voice appeared at the kitchen door. "BJ!" The woman cried excitedly, causing the owner of the name's eyes to widen even further.
"Margaret?" He exclaimed in profound disbelief as he was grabbed in a warm embrace. Pulling back, he looked into her smiling face. "I don't believe it! What are you doing here?"
"Didn't Hawkeye tell you?" Margaret asked, looking at Hawkeye expectantly.
"I was trying to," Hawkeye informed her. "But he was having a hard time figuring out how I could marry the woman that I went out on a blind date with Friday night when I'm supposed to be so in love with you." He planted a kiss on her rosy cheek.
Margaret laughed and remarked, "Ben, can't you just once tell somebody straight out that were engaged without making it a such a big, confusing ordeal?"
"I could try, but it's much more fun my way," he told her as he nodded towards BJ's wide-eyed expression.
Margaret chuckled at the look on BJ's face and then turned to Peg. "Since your husband seems to be tongue-tied and my husband-to-be is busy keeping him that way, allow me to introduce myself. I'm Margaret Houlihan and I served with these two adorable fools in Korea."
Peg smiled warmly at the other woman and accepted the hand she offered. "Ah yes, you were the Head Nurse. BJ's told me a lot about you."
"And I've heard a lot about you too," Margaret replied. "In fact, I believe everyone in camp has heard about you. BJ talked about you and Erin incessantly."
"So, I understand." Peg blushed slightly as she looked at her husband lovingly. "All good things, I hope."
"Oh, nothing but," Margaret assured her with a small chuckle. "BJ sang your praises well." Then gesturing towards the living room, she encouraged, "Please come on it and sit down. You must all be tired after your long trip. Here, let me hang up your coats."
BJ raised an eyebrow as he shrugged out of his green winter coat and handed it to his old comrade. He was surprised at how at ease Margaret seemed about playing hostess in Hawkeye's house. If he didn't know better, he'd swear that she'd been doing it for years already.
Margaret chuckled slightly when she recognized the coat that BJ handed her bringing BJ out of his musings, "I thought you'd have gotten rid of this after you left Korea."
"I kind of did," BJ replied with a soft smile. "I threw it in a box along with all my other olive drab wardrobe and stuffed it in the back of the garage. But when we decided to come to Maine in January, I figured I would probably need it again. It's not exactly easy to buy winter clothes in California."
"No, I suppose it isn't." Margaret chuckled as she took Peg and Erin's heavy sweaters and went to hang them up.
"Though I must say that there certainly isn't as much snow here as I had expected," BJ continued. "I thought for sure we'd be wading at least knee deep in the fluffy white stuff."
"Oh, don't get too disappointed yet," Hawkeye remarked as he led them into the living room. "It's only the middle of January. We could still have a few good storms before spring arrives." The group settled down on the plush couches before the crackling fireplace.
"You have a very beautiful home, Hawkeye," Peg remarked as she looked around the room.
"Thanks." Hawkeye smiled proudly. "But I can't take the credit. It's my Dad's house, I'm just a border who won't go away."
"Where is your dad?" BJ asked eagerly. "I'm anxious to meet him."
"I'm not sure," Hawkeye commented with a slight shrug. "He's usually home at this hour. Do you know where Dad is?" He asked Margaret as she came into the room.
"Ah, yeah." She nodded as she sat down beside him. "He's at the hospital. A patient of his had a mild stroke earlier this afternoon and had to be admitted. Your Dad went down to check up on him."
"Did he say who it was?" Hawkeye asked anxiously.
"Yeah, a Mr. Lawrence I believe." She looked thoughtful for a moment as she tried to remember the name. "Samuel Lawrence, I think."
"Samuel Lawrence?" Hawkeye repeated, his expression turning even more concerned.
"Whose he, Hawk?" BJ asked curiously.
"Samuel Lawrence is my dad's best friend," Hawkeye told them all. "He and Dad grew up together, went all through school together. In fact, when they were seventeen, they both had an enormous crush on Mom. Did everything they could to outdo each other for her attention."
"And your Dad obviously won," BJ commented with a broad smile. Hawkeye just smiled back in response. His friend regarded him and Margaret for a minute before shaking his head slightly. "So, you and Margaret are finally getting married. I always hoped the two of you would make a match of it."
"You did?" Both Margaret and Hawkeye exclaimed in surprise. Looking at each other they chuckled slightly.
"Why did you hope that?" Margaret asked after a few moments.
"Because you seemed so perfect for each other," BJ replied simply, giving them both a warm smile. "Hawkeye needs someone who can control him, and you need someone to lighten you up."
The new couple looked back at each other and smiled again. "That's true," Margaret admitted softly.
"Can I see your ring, Margaret?" Peg asked hesitantly. She'd been sitting quietly beside BJ, content to just listen as the three old friends spoke easily among themselves.
"Certainly," Margaret leaned forward and extended her left hand so that the other woman could admire her engagement ring.
"It's beautiful," Peg told her sincerely, giving her a warm smile.
BJ took his turn admiring the exquisite piece of jewelry. He looked at Hawkeye with surprise written on his handsome face. "That must have set you back a healthy fortune."
Hawkeye brushed the comment aside with a wave of his hand. "It was worth every penny." He put his arm around Margaret as she leaned back against him. "And so's Margaret." He kissed the side of her head lovingly.
BJ observed the pair for a moment. "You do make a beautiful couple."
"Does that mean we have your approval, Dad?" Hawkeye teased his friend lightly.
"Well how could I stand in the way of two crazy kids who want to get married." BJ's expression suddenly turned serious as he commanded, "Just don't make me a grandfather too quickly. I'm only 31 years old."
"Yes, Dad." Hawkeye laughed slightly in amusement.
"So, when did you say the wedding was?" Peg questioned eagerly.
"A week from Sunday," Margaret replied with an excited smile.
"That's the day before we leave," BJ remarked thoughtfully.
"We know." Hawkeye nodded slightly. "We wanted to make sure that you'd be able to attend." He paused slightly as he looked at his friend seriously, "I'd like you to be my best man."
BJ smile broadened greatly as he replied, "I'd be honored."
Margaret looked at Peg and asked. "And would you be my Matron of Honor?"
"Me?" Peg exclaimed in surprise. At Margaret's confirming nod she added, "Are you sure? I mean we hardly know each other, surely you have someone else that you're closer to…"
Margaret rose her hand to stop her protests. "The way I see it, I probably know almost everything there is to know about you. In fac,t BJ spoke of you so much that I think I know you better than I've ever known anyone outside of the staff at the 4077th. And with Hawk and BJ being such close friends, I'm hoping that you and I will be friends as well." Giving the other woman a friendly smile, she pressed. "So, will you do me the honor of being my Matron of Honor?"
"I'd love to," Peg replied as she reached out to squeeze the other woman's hand warmly.
"Margaret this meal is fantastic!" BJ exclaimed in delight as he reached for another piece of roast beef. "I didn't know you were such a wonderful cook." Looking at Hawkeye he joked, "We should have gotten her reassigned to the kitchen. She could have shown our cook a thing or two."
Hawkeye smiled mischievously and looked at Margaret out of the corner of his eye as he teased, "If you think that's good, you should see what she does with leftovers."
Margaret shot him an amused smile, immediately catching his reference to the cracker and jam breakfast they'd shared while in the abandoned hut.
"Seriously though," he said as he looked at her and grinned. "I could get used to this."
Margaret put her elbow on the table and leaned towards him, resting her chin in her hand. "Well, don't get too used to it," she warned with a small smile. "I'm not going to be doing this every night."
Hawkeye feigned disappointment, causing Margaret to chuckle and give him a light slap on the arm.
Before anything else could be said the front door of the house opened and a voice called, "I'm home."
"In here, Dad," Hawkeye called back to the newcomer.
"Something smells wonderful," his father replied as he quickly removed his coat and boots and headed for the kitchen. Looking at the table loaded with roast beef, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, fresh buns, and salad he licked his lips in anticipation.
"Have a seat." Margaret gestured to the empty place on the other side of Hawkeye. "There's plenty of food."
"So, I see," Daniel commented as he settled himself down beside his son. Glancing at the various dishes set before him he looked back to Margaret and said admiringly, "You've really outdone yourself tonight."
Hawkeye leaned closer to his dad and in a stage whispered warned, "Careful, Dad, don't get use to this. Margaret just told me that she won't do this every night."
Daniel gave Margaret a look of intense disappointment. "What a shame," he said. "I was so hoping."
Margaret couldn't help but laugh when the older man put a childish pout on his handsome face.
"Didn't your mother tell you that pouting won't get you everything you want," she scolded teasingly.
"It always worked for Hawkeye," Daniel told her, giving his son a sly look. "In fact, it worked very well."
"I know," Margaret remarked lightly. "Why else do you think I agreed to marry him."
The rest of the group laughed heartily as Hawkeye gave her a look of mock hurt.
"What about my winning personality, my exceptionally good looks, my wonderful sense of humor?" he asked in a sulky tone.
Margaret looked thoughtful for a second, then shook her head lightly. "No, that wasn't it."
Everyone laughed again as Hawkeye said, "Oh, you want to play do you?" He picked up his water glass and held it threateningly over her head.
"Hawkeye don't!" she cried in alarm as she tried to lean out of the way, but the glass followed her.
"Not until you tell everyone why you agreed to marry me," Hawkeye told her, tipping the glass a little more.
"I don't know why," she lied, squirming again in her chair. The glass tipped ever more. "Okay, okay." She gave in as a drop of water fell out of the glass and onto her shoulder. "I agreed to marry you because I love you, you idiot!"
"Thank you," Hawkeye said in a pleased tone. He jerked the glass quickly before moving it away from her, causing a few more drops to fall on her shoulder.
"You creep!" She exclaimed as she brushed at the wet spots, giving him a slightly angry look.
"Well, you certainly didn't think I was going to let you completely off the hook." He looked at her innocently and gave her a slightly wicked smile.
Daniel turned to the other man that was sitting across the table from him. "So, you must be the famous BJ Hunnicutt that I've heard so much about."
"That would be me, sir." BJ gave the other man a friendly smile.
"Well, it's a pleasure to finally meet you," the older man commented, returning the warm smile with one of his own. "Hawk's told me a lot about you."
"And he's told me a lot about you too," BJ replied. Then gesturing towards his wife, he introduced, "And this is my beautiful wife Peg, of whom I spoke about to Hawk all the time."
"And he's not exaggerating when he says, 'all the time'." Hawkeye gave his best friend a teasing look.
"I have already had the pleasure of meeting your charming wife." At BJ's puzzled look Daniel reminded. "At the Family Reunion that you set up while you were still in Korea."
"That's right," BJ exclaimed in recollection. "How could I forget."
"It's a pleasure to see you again, my dear." The old doctor gave Peg a friendly smile.
"It's a pleasure to see you too, Dr. Pierce," Peg replied, a little shyly.
"Please, call me Daniel," the man said warmly. Then he turned his gaze to Erin who was sitting between Peg and BJ starring at him with wide blue eyes. "And this must be your adorable baby girl."
"That's right," BJ replied proudly. "This is our pride and joy."
"How was your flight out from California?" Daniel Pierce asked curiously as he started into his meal.
"The flight went well," BJ replied as he reached for another homemade roll. "It was nice and smooth, a lot smoother than the one that I had coming home from Korea."
"Well, I warned you Beej that you shouldn't jump up and down while the plane was in the air," Hawkeye teased his friend giving him a mischievous look. "You were supposed to wait until you were home to do that."
"So has Ben shown you any of the sights yet?" Daniel asked as he poured himself a glass of wine.
"No, not yet," BJ replied, then looking at his best friend he chuckled lightly. "But he did have a surprise waiting for me when we arrived." He shifted his look to Margaret and chuckled again. "A big surprise."
Daniel's eyes widened slightly as he remarked, "You mean he didn't call you last night and tell you about the wedding?" He gave his son a look of surprise. "I thought you said that you and Margaret had called everyone from the 4077th."
"We did." Hawkeye nodded in confirmation. Then glancing at this best friend briefly he added, "Except for Beej. We figured there was no reason to wake him up in the middle of the night when he and Peg would be here in a few hours." He looked back to his friend and teased, "Besides, it was much more fun to tell him in person."
"I'll bet." Daniel's eyes started twinkling knowingly. Then turning to BJ, he asked,
"So, what do you think of my son's choice of bride?" His eyes sparkled with mischief as he glanced at the couple out of the corner of his eye.
BJ caught the look and pasted a thoughtful one on his face. Before he could answer Margaret warned, her eyes flashing with amusement.
"Be careful what you say Hunnicutt, I know where you're sleeping."
"I think Hawk and Margaret make a great couple," BJ replied without skipping a beat, causing the rest of the group to laugh heartily in amusement.
"And then BJ not only took his frustrations out on the still, but then he clobbered me!" Hawkeye exclaimed as he gave his old friend a mock annoyed look.
"You?" Peg exclaimed in surprise. "BJ actually hit you?"
"He nailed him good!" Margaret nodded. "Gave him quite the shiner – a real beauty."
"Thanks, dear," Hawkeye teased as he put his arm around her neck and gave it a brief squeeze. Margaret merely gave him a wicked smile in return.
The five adults had spent the last four hours catching up and swapping stories about the last three years of their lives, the highlight of which was hearing Hawkeye, Margaret, and BJ exchange stories from the 4077th. Both Peg and Daniel found the tales very enlightening. It helped them get a better picture of what life at the 4077th had been like, as well as the depth of camaraderie between its inmates. From the looks, the smiles, and the laughter it was very obvious that the three comrades were more than a little glad to be in each other's company again.
"I knew that BJ got homesick once in a while, but I didn't realize that he got so homesick that he'd actually attack someone because of it," Peg commented her eyes still wide from shock. "I'm surprised that you two stayed friends, let along best friends."
"Actually, Beej only got that homesick the one time," Hawkeye told her. "He usually only got depressed, not crazed."
"Well, I don't know." Margaret looked at her fiancée teasingly. "He could get pretty crazy at times – and so could you."
"And you, too," Hawkeye replied, giving her a sly smile.
Margaret merely smiled at him mischievously for a moment before opening her mouth to comment. Her reply, however, was somewhat muffled as an enormous yawn overtook her. Clamping her hand over her mouth she chuckled slightly in embarrassment.
"It's been a long day," she commented when she could speak. "Ben and I have been up since two this morning."
"Two this morning?" BJ exclaimed in surprise. "What on earth would you be up for at two o'clock in the morning? In Korea I could wholeheartedly understand, sleep was something of a rare commodity, but I gave up being a night crawler the moment I set my foot on American soil."
"I did too, for the most part," Hawkeye replied with a chuckle. "But last night I just couldn't sleep. I was too excited about the past few days: having found Margaret again, her agreeing to marry me, then also the fact that you, Peg and Erin were coming. I just couldn't rest."
"And neither could I," Margaret added, snuggling closer to Hawkeye. "I was so excited about having found Ben again, about our engagement, about moving to the famous Crabapple Cove that I couldn't sleep either."
Her sentence was punctuated by another yawn, indicating her increasing ability to sleep now. After it passed, she continued.
"Anyway, we both ended up down here and next thing we knew we were calling everyone asking them to come to Crabapple Cove in two weeks."
"So, who's coming to this little affair?" BJ asked curiously.
"A few from here, including the Chief of Staff from work, a couple of the other doctors and nurses, Margaret's cousin, Carrie, she was one of the one's that set up our 'blind date'," Hawkeye replied. "But mostly the old gang from the 4077th."
"Who's coming from the 4077th?" BJ pressed curiously.
"The Potters, the Klingers, Radar and his mom and his new girlfriend…"
"Radar has a girlfriend?" BJ questioned in surprise. "We'll I'll be."
"Charles is also coming and Trapper and his wife," Hawkeye paused, giving BJ a serious look. He was a little worried about how his old best friend would take meeting his new best friend. He still liked Trapper a lot, but he no longer felt the same strong bond with him that he now felt with BJ. In fact, he would have to say that the bond of friendship that he had with BJ was a lot stronger than the bond he'd ever had with Trapper. Maybe because their personalities complimented each other more, BJ was more easy-going and level-headed and Hawkeye had the 'act first, think later' approach to life. But despite those differences both were incurable jokesters.
"I'm looking forward to meeting Trapper," BJ commented to Hawkeye, giving his friend a reassuring smile.
Truth was, he was very curious to meet the man that he'd heard his friend talk about so much. He knew that Hawk and Trapper had been very close at one time, but he also knew that Trapper had hurt Hawkeye greatly when he'd left Korea without saying goodbye. He remembered clearly during the early weeks of his incarceration at the 4077th, Hawkeye eagerly shifting through his mail in search of any correspondence from his Stateside friend. After a few weeks he seemed to resign himself to the fact that his friend had left for good, but BJ knew that the sting still remained.
"Well, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to head up to bed," Margaret said as she rose to her feet and stretched slightly. "I'm absolutely exhausted."
"I think I'll join you," Hawkeye commented as he rose up off the couch. At Margaret's frown he quickly assured her, "I didn't mean 'I'll join you' join you, I just meant I'm ready to go to bed too."
Margaret's face lost its look of disapproval and replaced it with a smile. She leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips. "In less than two weeks you can 'join me'." She told him when she pulled back from the kiss.
"I look forward to it," he replied with a wicked smile.
Margaret merely chuckled and turned to Peg, BJ and Daniel who had also risen from their respective seats. "Goodnight everyone." She reached over and gave all three a warm hug in turn. "Sleep well."
"You too," The trio echoed together as they watched the pair walk up the stairs, their arms around each other.
When the couple disappeared, BJ turned to Daniel and opened his mouth to say goodnight when the other man stopped him. Putting his finger to his lips he motioned for them to follow him quietly. Puzzled BJ and Peg followed their host as he led them up the stairs and then stopped about three steps from the top. Kneeling down he leaned forward so that he could peer around the corner of the landing to the hallway above. He motioned for BJ and Peg to do the same. It was a tight fit, but all three managed to settle themselves and peek around the corner at the couple standing a few feet away.
"We shouldn't be doing this," Peg whispered to her two co-spies. "We're invading their privacy."
"Ssh." BJ put his finger to his lips. "I want to hear."
A few feet away Margaret had her back to the wall as Hawkeye leaned toward her, one hand on the wall to brace himself. The pair was completely oblivious to the audience that was lying on the stairs watching them intently as they spoke.
"It's been a nice day," Margaret commented as she felt her heart beat wildly at his closeness. "It's great to have BJ around again. And I'm glad I finally got a chance to meet Peg. She's such a sweet person. I'm glad that she agreed to be my Matron of Honor."
"I thought that you were going to ask Carrie to stand for you," Hawkeye commented, finally voicing his puzzlement at her sudden change in plans.
"I was." Margaret admitted. "But then I decided that I wanted to have Peg."
"Why is that?" Hawkeye asked curiously.
"Because I'm hoping that she and I will eventually be as good of friends as you and BJ are," Margaret replied honestly. "I've never had any really close friends, at least none that lasted. The closest I've ever come was at the 4077th and I'm sure you remember how long it took for me to let my 'icy barrier' melt away."
"I remember." Hawkeye chuckled in remembrance. "I'd have gladly thawed it out sooner if you would have let me."
"I know you would have." Margaret smirked in amusement. "But I had to do it myself. It took a while, but I finally let it go. And now I want to replace it by the secure feeling of love and friendship."
"Well, you have a good dose of love and friendship standing right here," he told her sincerely as he reached up and touched her face with his hand. "I love you with all my heart and soul. You mean more to me than anyone else ever has and I can't wait to be able to show you how deep my feelings for you lie."
"How about a small sampling of it right now?" She gave him a teasing smile, her eyes sparkling with expectation.
Hawkeye leaned closer to her and pressed his lips against hers. Wrapping their arms around each other they kissed for several moments, each relishing the feeling of being in the others warm embrace. Smiles of appreciation spread across the faces of the observers on the stairs.
"Okay, come on you two," Peg urged, rising to her feet. "Let's leave them alone. They have a right to some privacy."
"Awe, come on, Peg," BJ pleaded, giving her his best sad puppy look.
Peg laughed and pressed, "Would you like it if they spied on us?"
"Hawk and I were always spying on something or someone, it's only fair that he gets spied on for a change." He turned back to watch his best friend and Margaret kiss.
Peg just shook her head and rolled her eyes at the two grown men before her. Suddenly the pair on the stairs broke into thunderous applause. Curious Peg popped her head around the corner.
Hawkeye and Margaret had stopped kissing and were now turning a few shades of red due to the round of appreciation they were receiving from their – until then – secret audience. Margaret buried her face in Hawkeye's chest and laughed with embarrassment.
"I'm going to get you for this, Hunnicutt," Hawkeye threatened. "You too, Dad. You're both in for it."
"Let the games begin," BJ challenged as gave his best friend a taunting smile. And begin they did.
BJ stirred as the winter sun started shining through the uncovered window. He stretched and turned on his side to face his wife and went back to sleep. A little while later he was awoken by a shriek from Peg that was followed by a muffled laugh. Opening his eyes, he looked at his laughing wife puzzled by her unusual reaction.
"What's so funny?" He asked expectantly, a puzzled smile on his face.
Peg couldn't reply since she was laughing so hard. Instead, she reached over to the nightstand beside the bed and grabbed a mirror out of her purse.
Holding it up so that he could see his reflection, BJ now understood the reason for his wife's sudden outburst of uncontrollable laughter. He had been given a complete 'make over' while he'd slept – eyes, lips, cheeks, even his mustache was now a nice shade of bleach blond.
"I would say that has to be Margaret's shade," he commented as he scrutinized his face more closely. "Yep, definitely Margaret's." He shook his head, unable to believe that they had managed to pull such a stunt without waking him up. He moved to get out of the bed, but Peg put her hand on his arm to stop him.
"What are you going to do?" She asked a little anxiously. She wasn't sure what her husband thought of the prank.
"First I'm going to clean this stuff off my face," BJ replied as he looked at her seriously. "Then I'm going to play a little prank of my own." His eyes started to twinkle mischievously. "And I think I know exactly what I'm going to do."
"I have only one question." Peg stopped him again.
"What is it?" He asked expectantly.
"Can I help?" She asked, her own eyes starting to sparkle slightly.
A broad smile spread across her husband's face. "You bet! It'll be the Hunnicutts against the Pierces or rather the Pierce and the future Pierce."
"So, what's your plan, mon Captain?" His wife asked excitedly.
The Hunnicutts scheduled their attack for the next morning. During the day they acquired the items they needed to execute their plan without Margaret or Hawkeye knowing. The rest of the day was spent touring around Crabapple Cove. They stopped in at the hospital so that Hawkeye could check on little Tommy Wilder and so he could show his best friend where he worked.
"Look, Beej." Hawkeye pointed into an operating room. "Only one table per OR. And look at this." He opened another door to reveal a clean, civilized change room. "There's even a bathroom in there with its own sink and everything."
BJ laughed at his friend's excitement. "Sure, beats the old 4077th doesn't it."
Hawkeye led his friends through the hospital finally stopping at Tommy Wilder's room. Pulling out his famous Groucho nose and glasses he stepped into the room.
"Well, hello, hello, hello. How are you today, Tommy?"
"Okay, Dr. Hawk," Tommy replied giving the goofy doctor a small smile.
Picking up his chart Hawkeye asked, "How's your stomach this morning?"
"Okay. Sore though," Tommy said weakly.
"Well, that's what happens when you try to 'soar' out of trees," Hawkeye punned as he sat down beside the boy. He gently examined the boy's abdomen, checking for signs of extra pain or infection. "Well, you'll be as good as new in no time. But promise me, no more falling out of trees or at least next time you do, make sure you fall on something soft – like your sister."
Tommy laughed slightly then winced in pain.
"No laughing for a week," Hawkeye told him in a mock serious expression. "No driving, no swimming and no picking up nurses either."
Tommy chuckled again.
"Hey, I told you not to laugh," Hawkeye told him again, a huge smile on his own face. "I'll be back to check on you in a day or so."
As he left the room he bumped into Tommy's father.
"How's he doing Hawk?" Toby Wilder asked anxiously.
"He's going to be just fine," Hawkeye assured him. "He'll be up and about in no time. In fact, he'll probably be able to go to a wedding next Sunday night, as long as he promises not to get on a table and dance and rip out all my fancy stitches."
"A wedding?" Toby echoed in surprise. "Who's wedding?"
"Mine," Hawkeye told him proudly.
"Yours?" Toby exclaimed in surprise. "Are you serious? You mean you've finally decided to settle down? With whom? Who's the lucky, or maybe I should say 'unlucky' lady?"
Hawkeye put his arm around Margaret who was standing beside him and proudly introduced, "Toby, I'd like you to meet my beautiful fiancée, Margaret Houlihan. Margaret this is a very old friend of mine, Toby Wilder."
"Hey, I'm not that old!" Toby protested with a teasing laugh. Looking at Margaret he extended his hand and said, "What Hawk means is that we use to play together when we were kids."
"Toby Wilder!" BJ suddenly exclaimed. "Now I know why that name was so familiar." Looking at Hawkeye he added, "He's the one that you had a nightmare about one time. Him and…Davey…Danny…Dickie! Dickie Barber!"
"Good memory, Beej." Hawkeye chuckled slightly. "I'm impressed." Turning back to Toby he said. "Toby, I'd like you to meet Dr. BJ Hunnicutt. We were roommates in Korea for the better part of two and a half years and he turned out to be one of the best friends a fellow could ever have."
"It's nice to meet you, BJ," Toby shook hands with BJ and gave him a warm smile. "Anyone who can put up with living with Hawk for over two years and not kill him must have a very strong character." Looking at Margaret he said, "I hope you have such a strong character."
"Oh, I believe I do." She looked at her fiancée teasingly.
"She does," Hawkeye and BJ echoed in stereo causing the others to laugh.
Hawkeye pointed to Peg and Erin and said, "And this lovely lady with BJ is his darling wife, Peg and this sweet little girl is their daughter Erin."
"It's nice to meet you Peg and Erin." He shook both of their hands and gave them warm smiles. Then turning back to Hawkeye, he questioned, "So, you're really getting married next Sunday? I didn't even know you were engaged. Hell, I didn't even know you were dating anyone."
"Actually, I haven't been," Hawkeye admitted, his eyes twinkling slightly. Looking at Margaret for a moment he continued, "I'm afraid that Margaret stole my heart while we were in Korea and since then I haven't wanted to see anyone else."
"You knew each other in Korea?" Toby exclaimed in surprise. "How did you meet?"
"We served at the same M*A*S*H unit for the whole three years we were over there," Margaret explained. "I was the Head Nurse, and he was the Chief Surgeon. We worked together a lot."
"So, during that working together you got to know each other and fell in love," Toby speculated, a large smile spreading across his face as he looked at his old friend and teased, "I bet all the single girls in Crabapple Cove will sigh in relief knowing that the biggest Romeo in town has now found his Juliet."
Hawkeye gave him a mock indignant look, but Margaret laughed and said, "Let's just hope this 'Romeo' and 'Juliet' have a happier future than the originals did."
The others voiced their agreement.
"Well, how about we blow this pop stand?" Hawkeye suggested to his friends. "There's a nice little coffee shop next door that serves the nicest apple pie in town."
"Nicer than my apple pie?" Margaret asked seriously, giving him a sly look.
"Oh, no," he quickly assured her. "Nobody's is nicer than yours. Yours is the best there is."
He felt very proud of his quick and diplomatic reply, so his face turned a few shades of red when Margaret sidled closer to him and in a stage-whisper said,
"You've never tasted my apple pie."
BJ, Peg, Toby, and Margaret all began to laugh in amusement at the embarrassed expression on his face.
"Come on," Margaret encouraged her deflated fiancé. "I'll buy you a piece of the 'nicest apple pie in town'." Grabbing his hand, she led him down the hall. BJ and Peg followed after them, waving goodbye to Toby who was still chuckling at his friend.
As the small group made their way down the hallway, they suddenly heard a voice exclaim loudly, "Hey, you young scalawag, get your butt in here!"
Hawkeye stopped and peaked around the corner of the last room they'd past. Inside he saw his father sitting beside the bed belonging to an older man.
"What makes you think I want to stop and talk to an old geezer like you?" Hawkeye replied as he entered the room his friends following hesitantly behind.
The old man in the bed looked at Daniel Pierce and commented, "Didn't you ever teach this brat of yours some manners?"
"I've tried," Daniel replied with a sigh. "But you know how boys are."
"And Pierce boys are even worst," the older man replied, his eyes starting to twinkle with mischief.
"And you would know, wouldn't you Sam." Daniel laughed lightly as he looked at his friend teasingly.
"Well, it looks like you must be feeling better," Hawkeye remarked giving the older man a warm smile. "I mean if you can grouch and complain like you are then you must be on the mend."
Ignoring the younger man's comments, he remarked, "Dan tells me that you're finally getting married."
"That's right." Hawkeye smiled proudly at the other man.
Looking at Peg and Margaret he asked, "So, which one of you unfortunate young ladies did this scalawag convince to marry him and how did he manage to do it? Hypnotism? Drugs? Bribery?"
"Nothing of the sort," Hawkeye retorted in a mock angry tone. "I didn't drug her, hypnotize her or bribe her – I just blackmailed her."
"Oh?" Sam queried curiously.
"I told her that I couldn't live without her," the young man replied simply as he placed a gentle hand on Margaret's shoulder identifying her as his bride-to-be. "And that if she didn't agree to marry me, I might to something drastic."
"And she fell for that?" The older man asked in a surprised tone.
"That and the fact that I told her that I'm head over heels in love with her," Hawkeye concluded, smiling at Margaret lovingly.
Margaret returned the smile and reached up to squeeze the hand that was still resting on her shoulder.
"Well, no matter how he managed to convince you to marry him, it's a pleasure to meet you all the same, my dear," Sam said, giving Margaret a friendly smile.
"It's a pleasure to meet you too." Margaret returned the smile.
"Well, now that you've met, how about I introduce you?" Hawkeye quipped as he looked at his father's old friend teasingly. "Margaret, this is Mr. Samuel Lawrence, Dad's oldest and dearest friend and my honorary uncle. Uncle Sam, I'd like you meet the most special woman in the world to me, Margaret Houlihan."
Sam reached out a hand to Margaret and pulled her closer to his bedside when she took it. "So, you really mean to marry this rascal, do you?"
Margaret glanced over to Hawkeye and smiled. "I sure do."
"Well, that being the case I'd be honored if you would call me 'Uncle Sam' too." The older gentleman told her warmly, "Ben's been calling me that since he could talk."
"I'd be glad to," Margaret assured him, giving him a bright smile.
Sam gave her hand a squeeze and released it. Looking over to BJ and Peg he asked, "And who are these lovely people?"
"Uncle Sam, I'd like you to meet my old tentmate and best friend, Dr. BJ Hunnicutt and his charming wife, Peg," Hawkeye introduced and then swinging Erin up into his arms he added, "And this little cutie is my honor niece Erin." Hawkeye's proud smile widened as Erin threw her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"I would say that Miss Erin loves her honorary Uncle very much," Daniel Pierce commented with a soft smile.
Meanwhile Sam extended his hand to BJ and said, "So, you're the unlucky doctor that had to put up with Hawkeye all those months. How did you ever manage to live with him and not kill him?"
"Oh, it was a challenge," BJ commented, shooting his best friend a mischievous look. "But at least I only had to put up with him for two years. Margaret's got to put up with him for a lifetime."
"Sometimes it feels like I already have," Margaret joked, giving her fiancée a sly glance. "After all, I met him before you did, Hunnicutt."
"Yeah, but it's your choice to put up with him now," BJ pointed out then with a martyr's tone he added, "I had no choice in the matter. When they incarcerated me in that hellhole, I wasn't given a choice of cell mates."
"Maybe not," Margaret replied. "But I think you lucked out pretty good."
BJ shook his head slightly and chuckled. "You certainly didn't feel that way when I first arrived. If I remember correctly, at that time you would have as soon shot him as look at him."
Margaret looked sheepishly at Hawkeye before looking back to BJ. "Maybe I was a little too harsh in my judgment."
"Maybe," BJ repeated with a teasing tone.
"Well, we should get going," Hawkeye commented, interrupting the playful banter between his best friend and his fiancée. "I was going to show these guys a few more sights before supper."
"Are you cooking again tonight, Margaret?" Daniel asked in a mild hopeful tone.
"If leftovers are considered cooking," she replied a little wickedly. "I warned you last night not to get too used to my cooking skills because I'm not going to use them every night."
"Shucks." Daniel snapped his fingers in disappointment.
"Come on let's get out of here," Hawkeye urged as he pointed his friends towards the door. "We'll see you later Uncle Sam. See you at home Dad."
"See you kids later," Daniel called after the group echoed by Sam's farewell.
Hawkeye couldn't help smiling to himself as he heard Sam tell his father as they exited the room. "I think Ben's finally found himself a real gem in Margaret."
"You guys feel like some coffee and cake?" Margaret offered the group as they all relaxed in the Pierce's living room later that evening. It was about ten o'clock and they had just spent another enjoyable evening talking and laughing. Erin had already been put to bed and even Daniel had taken to his study early and left the four friends to their pleasant chatter.
"Sounds wonderful, Margaret," BJ replied eagerly from his spot on the couch.
"I second the idea," Hawkeye echoed, a broad smile on his face.
"Motion carried," BJ exclaimed, slapping his hand on his knee as if to conclude the matter.
"Coming right up then." Margaret chuckled in amusement as she rose from her spot beside Hawkeye.
"I'll give you a hand," Peg offered, rising from beside BJ. Before leaving the room, she turned and admonished the two men, "Make sure you two play nice now. No fighting or carrying on."
"Now there's an idea." Hawkeye clapped his hands together and sat up in his chair. "How 'bout it, Beej? While these two lovely ladies get dessert why don't we indulge in a few rounds of something."
"Sounds good," BJ replied, sitting up in his seat as well. "What should we play? Chess? Checkers? Cards?"
"How about all of the above," Hawkeye replied with a chuckle.
"Great," BJ exclaimed eagerly as he rose to his feet. "You get the games and I'll get the drinks."
"Just like old times," Hawkeye remarked as he left the room.
Peg shook her head and entered the kitchen where Margaret was already preparing the coffee. "Those two really do get along well, don't they?"
"That's the understatement of the century," the other woman chuckled as she pulled some dessert plates out of the cupboard. "I have never seen two people, especially in the Army, get along as well as those two. For two people who spent an inordinate amount of time together they got along amazingly well. They had very few quarrels and even the ones they did have didn't last for very long."
"I'm glad," Peg replied with much feeling. "I was so worried when BJ got sent to Korea. Not being regular Army I was afraid he'd have a hard time adjusting to Army life. All those rules and regulations and saluting."
Margaret chuckled slightly, trying to picture BJ following rules and regulations. Though not as much of a maverick as Hawkeye, who blatantly refused to mold himself into typical Army life, BJ had gladly followed Hawkeye's lead soon after arriving in camp, which made him a total disappointment to Frank – and herself at the time.
Smiling at Peg she said, "Well, fortunately for BJ he landed where he did. Army rules and regulations pretty much when out the window at the good old 4077th. What between Hawkeye's childish antics and Colonel Blake's spineless command the unit was doomed from the start in living up to any military protocol."
"That was good though, wasn't it?" Peg remarked as she moved to the cupboard and started pulling out some mugs. "I mean it must have made life a little easier to deal with then if there was nothing but discipline and orders."
"You're right, it was," Margaret agreed, then with a wry smile admitted, "Though it took me two years to discover that."
Peg chuckled knowingly. "So, I understand. I seem to remember BJ's first letter home mentioning how much you loved rules and regulations and everything military."
"So, I did." Margaret nodded, then with a chuckle added, "But then things changed."
Both women jumped slightly as a loud cracking sound came from the other room.
Looking out the kitchen door into the living room they both started to chuckle when they heard BJ exclaim in mild annoyance, "You're cheating!"
"How can I cheat, there are no rules!" Hawkeye retorted undeterred.
"Oh, yeah." BJ sighed slightly, as if he had truly forgotten the fact. "In that case, bishop to bishop seven." He announced as he moved a chess piece across the board. "Straight, you rule-breaker."
"Oh, really," his friend drawled as he laid his cards down on the table. "Gin."
"Gin it is," BJ accommodated as he picked up a gin bottle and added more to his friend's glass.
"And then again, some things never change," Margaret remarked to Peg with an amused shake of her head as they returned to their task of getting dessert.
Hawkeye moaned when the loud ringing penetrated his sleep-filled brain. Reaching up he tried to silence the offending clock, but his hand connected with something else, sending it crashing to the floor. Mumbling incoherently, he opened one eye and was surprised to find himself eye level with the coffee table. Opening the other eye, he realized that he was stretched out on the couch and that the infernal ringing that had woken him up was still sounding.
"Will somebody stop that horrible ringing!" He shouted as he closed his eyes against the sharp pain that shot through his brain. Moaning again, he sank deeper into the couch cushions as the ringing ceased.
"Rise and shine, Hawk!" A far too chipper voice encouraged, causing Hawkeye to moan again.
"Go away, Beej," the sleepy man warned as he put a small pillow over his head in an attempt to drowned out the other man's voice.
BJ, with a wicked glint in his eye, placed a small white creature on the arm of the sofa as his wife placed a piece of cheese beside Hawkeye's hand. The small critter sniffed the air vigorously and then quickly scampered in the direction of the cheese. As the four little paws started running along the bare arm of the semi-conscious man, he flinched slightly and murmured. "Leave me alone Beej or Radar and I will paint your elephant purple."
BJ laughed in amusement at the nonsensical comment. "As far as I know, I don't own an elephant Hawk, and Radar isn't here to help you paint it. And besides, I'm not bothering you, Daisy is."
"Daisy?" Hawkeye repeated in a sleepy tone.
"Yeah sure, you remember Daisy don't you, Hawk?" His old bunkmate grinned wickedly. "Small, cute, furry, fast."
His dark-haired friend lifted his head from under the pillow and glanced in horror at the white mouse that was now happily stuffing cheese into its mouth. Peg was sure she'd never seen a grown man move so fast in her life. Within a split-second Hawkeye had literally leapt over the back of the couch and was now standing behind a very startled Margaret, who had been watching the scene from the living room doorway, a phone receiver in her hand.
"What's going on?" She demanded in a tone mixed with amusement and curiosity.
"That thing just tried to eat me," Hawkeye exclaimed in disgust as an involuntary shudder went through his body. Starring at BJ, who was now holding the frightened little mouse in his hand he demanded. "What was that for?"
"What? You mean Daisy?" He asked innocently.
"Of course, I mean Daisy." Hawkeye exclaimed in disgust. "What was the idea of putting a man-eating mouse on me?"
"Actually, she's isn't a 'man-eating' mouse," BJ replied with amusement. "She's more of a 'cheese-eating' mouse."
"I don't care what she eats, just get her away from me," his friend exclaimed, cringing behind Margaret.
"BJ just got Hawk with a mouse," Margaret reported laughingly into the phone.
"Who's that?" Her fiancée barked gruffly.
"It's Charles," she told him. "He's calling about dinner tomorrow night."
Grabbing the phone, the annoyed surgeon commented, "Peg and I would be glad to come to supper tomorrow night, Charles. However, I'm afraid that Margaret and BJ will be tied up for the evening."
"Hey! I had nothing to do with this!" Margaret protested fiercely. "BJ executed this one all by himself!"
"Actually, not all by himself," Peg pipe up, a mildly sheepish look on her face. "He had a little help."
"Oh, he did, did he?" Hawkeye gave her a wickedly amused smile. "Well in that case, I take it back." Putting the phone to his ear he commented to the man on the other end. "Charles, a little change in plans. Margaret and I would love to join you for dinner tomorrow night. BJ and Peg will be tied up for the evening."
"Sounds like you're getting a little taste of your own medicine, eh Pierce," Charles teased, chuckling in amusement.
"Careful Charles if you don't want to be joining Beej and Peg in the doghouse," Hawkeye warned seriously.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Pierce," the other man replied. "Especially since I spent enough time with Hunnicutt in cramped, flea infested quarters."
"Well, I'm glad to hear it, Charles," the surgeon drawled sarcastically before adding. "That settled, what time do you want us for dinner?"
"Would 6:30 be convenient?" Charles asked.
"Six-thirty would be fine," Hawkeye agreed quickly. "And I must say, Charles I'm looking forward to it."
"As am I," Charles surprised the other man by admitting. "And listen, Pierce. I know this is probably a lot to ask after the tremendous emotional turmoil you just endured, but do you think you could find it in your heart to allow Hunnicutt and his no doubt charming wife to join us for a simple repast."
"Depends on how simple," his old bunkmate queried slyly.
"For Hunnicutt nothing more than bread and water," their host assured him, his tone serious.
"And for us?" Hawkeye pressed.
"Hawkeye!" Margaret slapped his arm roughly. She had a good idea what he was asking Charles. "It's not polite to ask your host what's for dinner."
"She's right, Pierce," Charles told the other man in a slightly haughty tone. "But since I know the person behind the question, I won't take offense. And I also won't answer it."
"Ah, come on, Charles," Hawkeye pleaded lightly. "I'll let you kiss the bride at the wedding."
"I'll let him do that anyway," Margaret commented wickedly.
"Nice try, Pierce." Charles chuckled in amusement. "I'll see you all tomorrow evening. And Pierce, I have just one small request."
"And what would that be, Charles?" The dark-haired surgeon drawled expectantly.
"Would you please leave that horrible Hawaiian shirt at home."
Hawkeye grinned wickedly, "We'll see, Charles. We'll see."