A Little Taste of Heaven

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By Assilem

Crabapple Cove

August 1956

The two sat in silence; each engrossed in their own thoughts until Rose came out.

"Hi Mommy!" She greeted cheerfully.

"Hi Baby girl. Did you have a good nap?" Margaret asked as the little girl crawled on top of her mother.

"Yep."

"You slept a long time. You must have been tired."

"Was. Now good!"

"So are you ready to go swimming Rosie?"

"'Es pease!" Rose smiled.

"Well, what do you say you and your mommy go get your swim suits on, and then we'll go."

"Kay. C'mon Mommy." Rose said climbing off the hammock.

"All right, we'll meet you back her in a little bit."

"Okay, bye Rosie."

"Bye," Rose waved shyly. Hawkeye smiled and gave Margaret a quick kiss. Margaret smiled and then walked back inside with Rose. When they two were inside Margaret looked down at her daughter.

"Rose, do you like Daddy?"

"Dunno yet Mama. Daddy 'ice."

"But you're scared you'll lose him." Margaret stated, as Rose nodded. Margaret bent down and picked her daughter up. "You wont lose him. He loves you."

"He 'oves me?"

"Yes he does. And he loves me too."

"'Ood, cause I 'ove Mama too."

"I love you too baby girl. I love you very much."

"Mommy, 'an I air my bink babyingsuit?"

"Sure. Do you need help?"

"I 'an do it!" Rose said confidently.

"Okay, here you go. Mommy is going to put her bathing suit on. I'll be back in a minute."

"Kay." Margaret smiled and walked out. After a few minutes she walked back in to see Rose trying to put her swimsuit on. "Mommy 'elp."

"Couldn't get your head in?"

"No." Rose said as Margaret put it on properly. "Tank oo Mama."

"Welcome baby. You ready to go?"

"I am."

"What's taking so long?" Hawkeye asked standing in the doorway.

"We're ready to go now."

"Good. I got everything in the care. Except for you two. I even called Dad, and he insisted on making dinner. I got no problem, he's almost as good as I am."

"Almost eh?" Margaret teased as they walked downstairs.

"Well I never asked your opinion." He shot back playfully.

"Yeah, since when haven't I given it?"

"Good point." Hawkeye admitted, then spotting a neighbor. "Hey Jenny! Where's Caitlin?"

"Caitlin's at the beach. I would be there, but I'm grounded."

"Why?"

"I punched Jake Wilson out. But after the festival, which starts in the morning, I'm outa here."

"You decide on a college?"

"Yup. University of Toronto, in Canada you know?"

"Well we got to go. Tell mom I say hi."

"Will do Hawkeye. Bye."

"Cute kid. Eighteen now. Has the dream of inventing. I can't remember what is was called, but she said it was going to be a really small record that can hold a lot of music."

"Very interesting idea."

"It is. By the way the beach is maybe a five minute walk, but this way we can carry everything."

"Guess wat?" Rose asked excitedly.

"What?" Hawkeye asked matching her excitement.

"I 'an sim. Mommy sims wif me all time."

"I bet she does."

"Uh huh."

"Well guess what. We're here. I'll meet you two down if you want?"

"Its okay, we'll help."

"'Eah! Me 'elp!" Rose stated.

"Okay." After everything was down on the sand, Hawkeye sat down. "This is the life."

"Hey Hawk!" Came a voice. Hawkeye looked up and saw a teenage girl running towards him with a beagle. "You dad asked me to take Tuttle. I was going to drop him off later, but since you're here."

"Thanks Caitlin."

"Any time." Caitlin said, then looked at Rose who was taking her sandals off. "And who is this cutie?"

"This is my daughter Rose. I'm Margaret Houlihan." Margaret greeted, extending a hand.

"It's a pleasure Miss. Margaret. And you too Rosie. I'm Caitlin Gray."

"Hi. Wanna go wimmin wif me?"

"If your mommy says its all right."

"Go ahead."

"Thank you I wont take her out far. I promise."

"Tank oo Mama."

"You're welcome."

"Thank you, we'll be back soon."

"Take he Caitlin, have fun." Hawkeye assured her.

"I'll have her back soon." Caitlin said ignoring Hawkeye.

"Don't worry. Rose will come back when she wants too." Margaret said.

"Okay, bye." Caitlin waved.

"Bye." Margaret smiled as Rose ran off with Caitlin.

"She's in good hands, all the kids love Caitlin. She baby-sits most of them. Her and her friend Gwen are the Cove's top baby-sitters." Hawkeye said as he watched Tuttle run up to Rose and Caitlin.

"She seems nice, and Rose is having fun." Margaret said sitting down next to Hawkeye in her bikini.

"Yeah-WOW!" He said looking at Margaret. "You look incredible."

"Well I'm going to sun bathe, would you please put some sun tan oil on my shoulders?"

"I would be honored!" Hawkeye exclaimed, Margaret just rolled her eyes and laid down so she could still see Rose. Hawkeye moved so he was straddling her butt, and started to undo her top. Once it was undone he started to rub oil on her shoulders and back. "What you thinking about?"

"Rose, she's afraid that she's going to lose you."

"I see."

"Listen, I want to tell Rose that we're going to live here. But I want you there."

"I would be there even if you didn't want me there. I'll do anything to help."

"Thank you. I'm going to leave Rose with you tonight, I need to do some things."

"Like what?"

"Like I need to call some people. And don't worry I'll pay the bill. And then I need to get some things unpacked."

"Don't worry about the bill. I'll do something with her after dinner. What time is bed time?"

"8:30, she's going to need a bath. So I'll gibe her one around 8:00 or so."

"So you want me to tire her out?"

"I think she'll be fine. She's been active all day, and a warm bath will put her to sleep."

"All right, well we'll have some fun."

"Okay, just don't give her any sweets."

"No problem. Love you."

"Love you too. Pierce." Margaret scolded when she felt his hands drift down.

"Sorry they slipped."

"Sure."

"You see there's oil on them, and oil makes my hands slippery."

"That could be true, but I know what you want."

"What's that?"

"Something to keep you busy." She smiled. Hawkeye laughed and placed a kiss on her neck.

"Mommy!" Rose yelled runny up to her mother, with Caitlin and Tuttle trailing behind her.

"Hi baby girl." Margaret smiled as Hawkeye finished tying her top back up.

"Guess wat?!" She asked jumping into her mother's arms, and getting her all wet.

"What?" Margaret asked laughing as she took a towel to dry the chubby blonde girl.

"Catewin took me da water, ad wes wam. Den Tuttle wanted to wim, but he cant."

"Really?"

"Uh huh."

"Sounds like you had fun."

"I did."

"Were you a good girl for Caitlin?"

"Yep. 'Ight?"

"That's right. Rose was a pleasure."

"Well thank you."

"No problem." Caitlin smiled. "I gotta get going. I'll pick Tuttle up in the morning."

"Okay, we might be sleeping so use your key."

"Okay. Bye all!" Caitlin waved as she ran away. Margaret smiled and waved back as Rose yelled 'good bye.'

"You ready to go home?" Hawkeye asked as he saw Rose lay her head on Margaret's chest.

"'Es pease."

"How would you feel if after dinner, I took you out for ice cream and get a present for mommy?"

Rose's face lit up and she smiled. "'Es pease. "An we mommy?" Rose asked looking up at Margaret.

"Of course you can. Mommy will stay home and do some things."

"Tank oo Mommy."

"You're welcome baby."

"Why don't you get dressed, while I put everything in the car?"

"Putting a blanket away, that's hard,"

"It is." Hawkeye defended. Margaret rolled her eyes and stood up. Hawkeye noticed for the first time that Margaret was wearing black shorts with her black bikini top. 'She always looked good in black' He thought. He folded up the blanket and walked back to the car. When he came back Rose had on a blue sundress. And Margaret put a pink blouse, which she left undone. Just to tease Hawkeye. He smiled when he saw the two. He bent down and picked up Rose. She looked over at Margaret, and Margaret smiled and nodded to her that it was all right. Rose laid her head on Hawkeye's shoulder and smiled. Once the three got back to the house, Daniel had already cooked dinner. The four ate, then Hawkeye escaped with Rose, and left Daniel and Margaret to clean up. Which they didn't mind. They talked and laughed. By the time eight o'clock came around, Hawkeye came back with Rose lying in his arms, with a bouquet of flowers. Margaret smiled, took Rose and gave her a bath. Just as they walked towards the bedroom, Rose saw Hawkeye. And for the first time she smiled at him and addressed him.

"Daddy read wif me?" Hawkeye and Margaret smiled brightly at each other.

"Of course Rosie." Hawkeye said taking the little girl into his arms. As he walked into the bedroom, he gently rubbed her back. He put her down into the bed and as soon as he head hit the pillow she was asleep. Both Margaret and Hawkeye smiled and each kissed her goodnight and left the room.