They left the coffee shop to get her settled in to a place to stay. Margaret insisted on getting a

hotel room for herself, but Hawkeye wouldn't hear of it. He was not going to put the love of his

life out when he knew his father and he had more than enough room in their home for her to stay.

Opening the door to Daniel Pierce's residence, Hawk called for his father like a child with a new

toy, grinning from ear to ear.

"Hawkeye, don't shout. You're not in grade school anymore." said the older doctor to the

younger.

"Dad, there's someone I want you to meet. Daniel Pierce, meet Margaret Houlihan."

"Thank God! Now I don't have to hear you ramble about her or talk in your sleep anymore."

Hawkeye's face became a deep shade of red as Margaret gave him her famous "oh really" look.

Not even his embarrassment could cloud the joy he felt of just having her there.

Putting his arm around her shoulder, Daniel told her, "You should have heard him. Day in, day

out you were the only woman's name on his lips. Hell, he drove everyone crazy because you're

all he ever talked about." Margaret shot Hawkeye a look and just chuckled at his humility, or

humiliation.

"Dad, I have some shopping to do. Would you keep her company for me until I get back?"

"Be glad to", he said.

"Take good care of her." said Hawkeye.

"I have a feeling I'll be telling you the same thing in the future, son." shot back the older Pierce.

____________________________________________________

He kissed Margaret goodbye and flew out the door to his car. He headed down the main street,

straight to the jeweler to find the most beautiful ring he could find for the most beautiful woman

he'd ever known. He greeted the clerk, Mr. Ellis, with a bright smile and asked what they had in

the line of engagement rings. The jeweler was taken aback by his question. Hawkeye Pierce,

Crabapple Cove's most eligible bachelor, asking about engagement rings? Who would have

thought?

Once Mr. Ellis stopped laughing, he gained his composure enough to help Hawkeye pick out a

ring. The ring he chose was a diamond marquis with pave' accents on each side. He couldn't

wait to get home and finish the job he intended to do. When he got back, his father and her were

having coffee in the kitchen. He decided to hold off until just the right moment to spring it on

her. He wanted to make it extra special.

_____________________________________________________

Later that evening, Hawkeye made reservations at the finest restaurant in Crabapple Cove; The

Old Mill. It was his and his father's favorite place to dine. It had a down home elegance that just

made you feel at home. He got dressed the tux he wore in Korea, which had finally gotten a

good cleaning when he came home. Jokingly, he donned the cowboy hat he used to where over

there as well. "I'm ready" he heard from the bottom of the stairs. Thinking his joke would work

he came down with a flourish to the landing, only to find himself removing the hat because the

site before him took his breath away. There stood Margaret, in a beautiful maroon gown, low cut

with a slit up the left side.

"Pierce," she stated, mockingly, "will you put your eyes back into your head so we can go?"

After swallowing the lump in his throat, he managed to get out, "Margaret, you look incredible."

"Thank you." she said with a smile.

Dropping his hat on a nearby chair, he crooked his arm so she could take it for him to escort her

to the car. They arrived and walked in. The maitre'd led them to their table, which was a quiet

area off the main dining hall. Candle's, champagne...the works. Hawkeye pulled out Margaret's

chair then seated himself. They had a wonderful dinner of Maine lobster followed by chocolate

mousse. As they sipped their champagne, they kidded about the "champagne" that he and

Trapper had once tried to pass of to her when she tried to transfer from the 4077th. When dessert

was through, he took a deep breath and began to ask what he'd always been afraid to do.

"Margaret, we've known each other a long time and better than we knew ourselves at times. I

want us to spend our lives keeping it that way." Pulling the ring from his pocket, he got down on

one knee and opened the box.

"Only a treasure like this deserves to be worn by a treasure like you. Margaret Houlihan, will

you marry me?"

Her tears fell as she said, "yes". He placed the ring on her finger and took her in his arms.

"C'mon, let's get out of here. I want to have you all to myself."

_______________________________________________________

They got back to his father's house. Hawkeye unlocked the door, as no one was home since his

father had gone for the evening to play "gin" with an old friend. He turned on the lamp in the

corner, turned on the hi fi and asked Margaret to dance. They waltzed around the living room

with smiles on both their faces. Soon, they were close to not dancing at all. They were both too

mesmerized with each other's eyes. Soon, Hawkeye found himself leaning his head to the side.

He could feel her sweet breath on his face. He couldn't resist placing a tender kiss on her lips.

Margaret wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into her. She removed his jacket and

threw it on the sofa, not leaving his lips. He picked her up in his arms and took the stairs to his

room. He let her stand back up and began to remove her dress as she was unbuttoning his dress

shirt. It wasn't long before their clothes were on the floor and they were writhing around on his

double bed. They didn't want it to be like the night in that abandoned hut. They wanted time to

touch, feel and experience each other.

He caressed her breasts, teasing her nipples into hard buttons, tantalizing them with his tongue.

They both got up on their knees on the bed and she placed her back against his chest as he kissed

her shoulders and explored her entire body, trailing his fingers with one hand on her breast while

the other found it's way to her wet mound. He reached for his hardness and entered her from

behind, not taking his hand from her peak. They moved in rhythm as their moans became louder.

Finally, he spent himself inside her as they both came together, not knowing his father had come

home.

The elder Dr. Pierce climbed the stairs only to hear the sounds of ecstasy coming from his son's

room.

"Good Lord, you'd think they were attached by the way it sounds." he mumbled under his

breath.

Not thinking Daniel was home, Hawkeye opened the door to head for the bathroom and came

face to face with his father and was not even wearing a smile.

"Son, could you please cover up. Margaret may not mind the view, but I do."

Covering himself with his hands, he managed to say "sure Dad" and ran back into the bedroom,

slamming the door and leaning against it.

"What's wrong?" she asked, "Um...uh....Dad's home."

"What????!!!"

"He just, uh, saw me."

"Oh God!" she exclaimed.

"It's ok, but I'll probably never hear the end of it. We should get dressed, anyway." Hawkeye

stated as he put his arms sat on the bed putting his arms around Margaret. " We have

plans to make."