January 16th 1954
Hawkeye and Margaret were sitting on that spot on the beach; they went there a lot. It was probably the only place in town where they could talk without anyone interrupting them or overhearing what they said. They would talk about times passed and things that happened through the day.
The whole town was relieved that Margaret had taken up residence at the Pierce residence. Some of the old-fashioned ladies weren't too keen on the idea of her living there, but she proved to be a well-mannered young woman who held her own among the unruly Pierces. Bessie liked her; she gave her a hard time not knowing how she would be able to put up with the stress of the office and the Pierce doctors, but when she saw how the girl brought back Hawkeye's smile and the damned good work she did, she backed off. Everyone noticed a change in Hawkeye's attitude; he was more cheerful and laughable, like he used to be so long ago.
Margaret had been enjoying being a small town nurse. It was much more relaxing and interesting to get to know the patients on a more personal level. She had gotten to know just about every one in Crabapple Cove. They were all so different. All their characters were so original. She had become good friends with Sara Woodman; she knew Hawkeye when they were kids. She teased him something awful, but it was all in good fun; she was a very free spirited person who didn't mind what people thought of her. Margaret and she often found themselves ganging up on him. She felt like she fit in; she loved it.
Daniel had come back home right before Christmas. He liked having a woman around the house again; it had been a long time since there had been one. He noticed how she and his son spent a lot of time together. Even the little spatz they got into proved to the elderly man that they had something they didn't realize. He had retired, actually Hawkeye kind of made him, and he handed the practice over to him. Margaret kept the boy in check, most of the time. She did something to Hawkeye; something had happened to him in Korea that changed him, and Daniel feared that he might never be the son that went away but with Margaret around, he was more of himself.
Hawkeye still had the grief living with him, but it didn't control him anymore. He liked having the practice though it was a bit tough when his father was there all the time. He hounded him about every patient with every detail about their history. Margaret ran everything like a well-oiled machine. She proved herself to Bessie who was a bit suspicious of the young lady, but she eased up when she saw how well she did everything. His dad liked having her around; they were always exchanging embarrassing stories about him, but he got some about them in too. Her being around gave him a sense of security; she understood most of what he went through in Korea, and he enjoyed seeing her happy there with him.
"Here," Hawkeye handed her a small box with a smile on his face.
"What's this?" she carefully untied the little bow letting the ribbon fall in her lap.
"It's just something I wanted to give you. You've become such big part of my life, Margaret. You're the only woman I'd like to spend the rest of it with."
She had just opened the satin box. Inside was a beautiful ring. It was so elegant yet simple. A small stone detailed with carefully designed vines. It took her breath away; she never expected it.
"It was Mom's," he said proudly. "It's only fitting that the only other woman in my life wear it," he placed it on her finger.
"Hawkeye, it's beautiful ." she wasn't sure to accept it or to refuse it. She cared for him so much. She knew she loved him and she knew that he cared for her too, but she couldn't tell how much or as what. She was so confused with memories and fears.
"Margaret, I respect you for being you and for that I love you like you wouldn't believe."
She was crying; She couldn't refuse it; she loved. He was her best friend and now they were going to be more. He wouldn't have proposed if he didn't love her or want her as his wife, he just wasn't that way. His honesty to himself and others was one of the first things she noticed about him when they first met, until he made a total idiot of himself. She reached over and kissed him with all her might.
"Is that a yes?" he asked falling even more into her form.
"Yes, that's a yes," she couldn't help but laugh.
It felt so right for both of them. They had denied each other because of their fears, memories, pride, and egos for too long. They sat there together, kissing each other, holding each other, leaning on each other.
Hawkeye and Margaret were sitting on that spot on the beach; they went there a lot. It was probably the only place in town where they could talk without anyone interrupting them or overhearing what they said. They would talk about times passed and things that happened through the day.
The whole town was relieved that Margaret had taken up residence at the Pierce residence. Some of the old-fashioned ladies weren't too keen on the idea of her living there, but she proved to be a well-mannered young woman who held her own among the unruly Pierces. Bessie liked her; she gave her a hard time not knowing how she would be able to put up with the stress of the office and the Pierce doctors, but when she saw how the girl brought back Hawkeye's smile and the damned good work she did, she backed off. Everyone noticed a change in Hawkeye's attitude; he was more cheerful and laughable, like he used to be so long ago.
Margaret had been enjoying being a small town nurse. It was much more relaxing and interesting to get to know the patients on a more personal level. She had gotten to know just about every one in Crabapple Cove. They were all so different. All their characters were so original. She had become good friends with Sara Woodman; she knew Hawkeye when they were kids. She teased him something awful, but it was all in good fun; she was a very free spirited person who didn't mind what people thought of her. Margaret and she often found themselves ganging up on him. She felt like she fit in; she loved it.
Daniel had come back home right before Christmas. He liked having a woman around the house again; it had been a long time since there had been one. He noticed how she and his son spent a lot of time together. Even the little spatz they got into proved to the elderly man that they had something they didn't realize. He had retired, actually Hawkeye kind of made him, and he handed the practice over to him. Margaret kept the boy in check, most of the time. She did something to Hawkeye; something had happened to him in Korea that changed him, and Daniel feared that he might never be the son that went away but with Margaret around, he was more of himself.
Hawkeye still had the grief living with him, but it didn't control him anymore. He liked having the practice though it was a bit tough when his father was there all the time. He hounded him about every patient with every detail about their history. Margaret ran everything like a well-oiled machine. She proved herself to Bessie who was a bit suspicious of the young lady, but she eased up when she saw how well she did everything. His dad liked having her around; they were always exchanging embarrassing stories about him, but he got some about them in too. Her being around gave him a sense of security; she understood most of what he went through in Korea, and he enjoyed seeing her happy there with him.
"Here," Hawkeye handed her a small box with a smile on his face.
"What's this?" she carefully untied the little bow letting the ribbon fall in her lap.
"It's just something I wanted to give you. You've become such big part of my life, Margaret. You're the only woman I'd like to spend the rest of it with."
She had just opened the satin box. Inside was a beautiful ring. It was so elegant yet simple. A small stone detailed with carefully designed vines. It took her breath away; she never expected it.
"It was Mom's," he said proudly. "It's only fitting that the only other woman in my life wear it," he placed it on her finger.
"Hawkeye, it's beautiful ." she wasn't sure to accept it or to refuse it. She cared for him so much. She knew she loved him and she knew that he cared for her too, but she couldn't tell how much or as what. She was so confused with memories and fears.
"Margaret, I respect you for being you and for that I love you like you wouldn't believe."
She was crying; She couldn't refuse it; she loved. He was her best friend and now they were going to be more. He wouldn't have proposed if he didn't love her or want her as his wife, he just wasn't that way. His honesty to himself and others was one of the first things she noticed about him when they first met, until he made a total idiot of himself. She reached over and kissed him with all her might.
"Is that a yes?" he asked falling even more into her form.
"Yes, that's a yes," she couldn't help but laugh.
It felt so right for both of them. They had denied each other because of their fears, memories, pride, and egos for too long. They sat there together, kissing each other, holding each other, leaning on each other.