An Explanation

************************

Hawkeye knocked lightly on Margaret's door. There was no answer but he could hear sniffling. He opened the door to see Margaret curled up on her cot cuddling a worn Raggedy Anne doll. He walked over to her and sat down next to Margaret and let her cuddle into him. He gently rubbed her back calming her down. As soon as she could speak again, she looked at him.

"I can't marry you."

"Why?"

"You have someone at home."

"What are you talking about?"

"Hawkeye I know about Anastasia, I know that you have someone at home."

"Margaret, Baby. I can assure you the only person I love is you. I'm not married, and I never have been."

"What about Anastasia?" She asked through tears.

"I think you need to listen to me. Can you do that?"

"Uh huh."

"Okay, come here." Margaret cuddled into him, letting his hands wrap around her. "Now it's true I do have a daughter. Anastasia Elizabeth. I've had her since she was born. Her mother was one of my best friends, but died while giving birth to her. Anastasia's real father was never there. He wasn't even there for the pregnancy. I helped Natalie through the whole thing. After she died I took the baby, named and raised her. She's like a daughter to me, and in some ways is. Everything I do is for her happiness. She means the world to me, and if you can't live with that I'm sorry I loved you."

Margaret took a deep breath as she composed herself.

"Hawkeye, I love you. And I always will. I told myself that I would always stick by you, and if you have a daughter, then I will stay by you help you, and love her like she was my own."

"You mean it?"

"I do." She smiled. Hawkeye smiled brightly and tightened his grip around her, as he placed a kiss on the side of her head.

"God I love you."

"Love you too. Hawkeye, why didn't you tell me about Anastasia?"

"I thought you wouldn't love me, if you knew."

"How could you think that. I love you, because you're you. Not because of what you have or don't have."

"I know that. It just that Carlye left me because of Anastasia."

"What?"

"She was ridding backseat to her and medicine."

"Will I be ridding backseat?" She asked seriously. Hawkeye looked at her and smiled.

"Never. You and Anastasia come first." He told her as he stared into her eyes. Margaret smiled and gave him a kiss.

"Tell me about Anastasia." She told him as she settled herself back in his arms.

"Well that little girl means the world to me. After her mother Natalie died, I promised that she would always have someone that loved her. When she was born, it was the happiest day of my life, and also one of the saddest. Scarlett was still pregnant with Laura. I remember, after Natalie died, I was sitting with the baby, and Scarlett came up behind me and she told me I could do it. I named her, after her mother. Anastasia Natalie Elizabeth Malloy. So I named he Anastasia Elizabeth Pierce."

"Why Pierce?"

"Well by the time she was 10 months, she was mine legally. I gave her Pierce as he last name."

"What does your father think?"

"He loves her. He's taking care of her while I'm stuck here. Dad took care of her while I was at school and doing my residency."

"That's so sweet of him."

"Yeah well Dad, is a great guy." Margaret smiled.

"Tell me more about her." Margaret smiled. Hawkeye smiled and thought for a second.

"Laura and Anastasia are best friends, when they were babies…"

Meanwhile in the Swamp, Scarlett was lying on Hawkeye's cot.

"You know what Beej?"

"What?"

"Having Hawkeye telling Margaret about his daughter is the best thing that could ever happen to them."

"Yeah. Red?"

"Yeah?"

"You have a thing for Charles, don't you?"

"I think I might love him. No, I do love him. But he doesn't love me." Scarlett said with a small sigh.