Disclaimer: I don't own anything from M*A*S*H*, no matter how much I would
love too, I don't so please don't sue me!
********
Autumn came and past very quickly, and winter soon followed. Christmas was just around the corner, and BJ was anxiously awaiting his first Christmas with his daughter.
"I don't know which one of you is worse." Peg says, shaking her head at her daughter and husbands excitement.
"ME!" Erin tells her mother laughing.
"I don't know Erin, Daddy seems pretty excited for Christmas to come too."
"Yup!" Erin says, smiling as she runs over and sits by her daddy.
"It's nap time Erin." Peg says, looking at the 2 year old.
"No nap." She says, smiling.
"Yes nap. You are going to be miserable by Five if you don't take one."
"NO NAP!" Erin says frowning.
"Yes Nap, and that's final!" Peg says firmly with a frown on her face. BJ laughed at the two. Erin was only 2 and started to butt heads with her mom, but Erin backed down when she knew she wasn't going to get her way.
"Ok Mommy." She says, as she is picked up by her. "BJ can you go wrap some presents please?"
"Sure." He says, standing up. He follows his wife and daughter up, but takes a left into his room, and begins to wrap some presents. About 10 minutes later, Peg comes into the room to help him finish wrapping the gifts.
"Well, I have some good news." She says smiling.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" He asks, looking up from the present he was wrapping.
"In August, we are going to have a new addition to our family." She says.
"You're pregnant?" BJ asked. It was almost too good to be true in his eyes.
"Yes.' She says.
"That's wonderful!" He says giving her a hug and a kiss. "When did you find out?"
"A few days ago." She says, with a huge grin on her face.
"This is the best Christmas present ever." BJ says.
"Yes, it is." She says still smiling.
"Does Margaret know?"
"Yes."
"Oh, so my friend can know before me?" He asks, playfully.
"Of course. I had to tell someone, and I couldn't call you at the hospital so I called Margaret." She says, kissing BJ's cheek, "But don't worry... you were the third to know."
"The third?!" He asks, in a mock hurt voice. "Who was second?!"
"My mom... and my dad, so I guess that makes you fourth." She grins.
"The fourth? I was the fourth to know that I am going to be a father again! With Erin, I was the first!" He says smiling.
"Well, at least you were the first for one of them." She says, smiling as she picks up another gift to wrap.
"Cute." He says, grinning.
"I thought so." She says shrugging. They spend another hour and a half wrapping gifts, and get finished in perfect time. Erin woke up only a short ten minutes after they had 'hid' all the gifts. Peg goes to get her daughter when she hears her.
"Did you have a nice nap Erin?" She asks the little girl.
"Yes." She says, laying her head in the crook of Peg's neck. "Where daddy?"
"He is in my room. Would you like to go see him?"
"Yes." She says, rubbing her eyes. They walk into the master bedroom and Peg sets her daughter on the bed. "Daddy!"
"Hi Erin!" He says, as she flings herself on him in a tight hug.
"Guess what Erin?" Peg says, as she sits next to her baby, brushing a curl that fell into her face.
"What Mommy?"
"You are going to be a big sister! Mommy's going to have a baby."
"Where baby?" Erin asked.
"In my tummy." She says, placing Erin's hand on her stomach.
"When I see it?" Erin asked.
"In August." She assures her daughter.
"Ok!" Erin says. Peg knew she didn't understand fully, but she had to get her daughter use to the fact that there will be a new child living in the house.
Christmas came and went, as did the New Year. February came even faster. BJ was eager to have Daniel meet his family and Margaret. He was like a kid when it came to showing off his family. He loves every minute of it. Daniel flew in on the 18 of February and was planning on staying at the Hunnicut residence for four days. BJ left around 3pm to pick up Daniel at the airport. Erin was sick for a few days so Peg didn't want her going outside just yet. BJ walked into the airport and immediately spotted the elder Pierce and smiled.
"Daniel." He says, smiling.
"Hi BJ." Daniel says as he pulls the young man into a hug.
"How are you?"
"I'm doing well, you?"
"Well also."
"How is Erin feeling?"
"She's doing better, still a bit ornery at times, but she's better."
"And Peg?"
"She's doing great, she's feeling great and she's looking great."
"That's great." He says as he grabs his bags.
"Shall we go?" BJ asks.
"Yes." He says smiling.
They drive to his house, pull into the driveway and walk into their house.
"Hello?!" BJ calls as they enter the foyer.
"Hi daddy!" Erin says as she runs into the room. He scoops her up and gives her a kiss.
'Hi Erin. Are you feeling better?" He asks.
"Um, yes." She says, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Good." He says smiling. "Can you say hi to Dr. Pierce?"
"Hi!" She says smiling.
"Hi Erin! Boy you are a pretty little thing." He says, as he ruffs her hair a bit.
"Thank you." She says smiling.
"And you are polite too."
"Where's mommy?" BJ asks.
"Up." She says, pointing to the stairs.
"Upstairs?"
"Yup!"
"Do you want to show Dr. Pierce his room is?"
"Um, Ok!" She says, squirming off her dad and grabs the Dr's hand. "Come on!"
"Ok, lead the way munchkin." Daniel says, smiling. "She's an outgoing little girl isn't she?"
"Very." BJ says, smiling as he follows the two upstairs.
"Dere!" Erin says, taking him into the guest room.
"Thank you Erin."
"Welcome." She says, turning her attention to the doorway. "MOMMY!" She says.
"You're in a happy mood now?" Peg says, slightly annoyed. "You were a sheer terror and absolutely miserable two minutes ago!"
"Daddy here!"
"Oh so you'll throw a fit for me, but with daddy you're an angel?" She says, smiling.
"Yup."
"Well, at lest we have settled." She says, as her daughter attaches herself to her mom's leg. She picks her up and says, "You must be Dr. Pierce."
"I am, but please call me Daniel. It's nice to finally meet you Peg. I heard a lot about you." He says shaking her hand, and smiling.
"I have heard a lot about you too. And your son was all I heard about the letters he sent home to me for over a year. I'm very sorry..."
"Thank you." He says.
"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee perhaps?" Peg asks.
"That would be great." He says smiling.
"Alright, come on down when you're ready." She says, as the two girls make there way down to the kitchen.
"Make yourself at home Daniel." BJ says, smiling.
"Thank you." He says.
"Let me show you around the place." BJ says, as he gives him the total tour before they sit down for coffee.
"You have a very nice house." Daniel says to both Peg and BJ.
"Thank you." Peg says smiling as she hands him a cup of coffee.
"So, when do I get to meet the Major?"
"She'll be over around 5 for dinner." BJ says.
"I can't wait to meet her."
"She's one of a kind..." BJ says, smiling.
"So, Peg, how are you feeling?" Daniel asks.
"A lot better with this one then with Erin." She says, smiling. "I was sicker with Erin then this one."
"Well, I guess that's a plus." Daniel says smiling. "You look good."
"I feel good. Thanks." She says.
"And what do you think about being a big sister Erin?"
"I like it!" She says, smiling, causing the adults to laugh.
"Well that's good. I think you are going to be a great big sister." He says, smiling.
At four thirty, Margaret comes over. She knocks on the door and Erin jumps up and runs over.
"Daddy! Aunt Margaret here!" She says, excitedly as BJ opens the door.
"Hi Margaret." BJ says, smiling.
"Hi BJ." She says and looks down to the child clinging to her leg. "Hi Erin." She says, picking her up.
"Hi!" She says, wrapping her arms around her neck.
"How are you baby girl?"
"Good." She says smiling.
"Are you feeling better?" She asks, kissing her niece's cheek.
"Yup." She says, smiling.
"Well that's good." She says. "So did he get here?"
"Yeah." BJ says, smiling.
"Where is he?" She asks nervously.
"In the kitchen with Peg." He smiles. "What are you so nervous about?"
"I'm not nervous." She says, not moving from the hallway.
"Well, come on then." BJ says, starting to walk towards the kitchen. "Erin, tell Aunt Margaret to not be nervous."
"Go Aunt Margaret!" She says, pointing to the kitchen.
"Ok, ok. Who is in there?"
"Friend."
"Dr. Pierce?"
"Yup!" She says smiling. "Go!"
"Ok." Margaret says to the two year old as she follows BJ into the kitchen. She immediately sees the doctor sitting in the chair next to Peg, drinking coffee, and she smiles. She thought the same thing the others did, that he looked like Hawkeye only older. She places Erin down on the floor and says, "You must be Dr. Pierce."
"I am, and you must be Margaret."
"I am." She says smiling.
"It's nice to meet you." He says, shaking the Majors hand.
"You too sir."
"Please, call me Daniel." He says smiling. "You are exactly how my son described you... well, at least in the later months."
"Yeah, I bet." She says rolling her eyes. "We didn't get along that first year."
"He still respected you. I know that he said you were the best nurse he ever worked with, even though you were regular army." He told her grinning.
"He had no discipline for the Army, neither did Trapper or this one." She tells him point towards BJ.
"We had the respect of everyone who was Drafted." BJ grins, "Not all of us actually wanted to make our lives the Army, Major."
Margaret rolls her eyes again, ignoring him and adds in, "Your son was the finest surgeon I had ever worked with. BJ you were second."
"He took his job extremely serious." Daniel says, and adds in, "Too seriously sometimes I fear."
"Yeah, but he cared about his patients, just like BJ does."
"He was good at it... that's for sure." BJ agrees.
They were all silent for a while, before Margaret changes the subject, "So, Peg, what do you think you're having? A girl or a boy?"
"I'm not sure." She says, shrugging.
"What do you want to have?" Margaret asked.
"Either or. A boy would be great. I think BJ needs someone to roughhouse with, but a girl would be great too because she and Erin could be extremely close, and I wouldn't have to buy a lot of new clothing. Either way, Erin won't be an only child.
"Looks like you have a good outlook on this." Daniel says, smiling."
"I just want it to be healthy." She says, standing up to check on the dinner.
Dinner was nice. They spent the entire time talking, and continued to talk after they finished eating. Erin was getting a bit antsy because she was bored and ready to run around a bit more then her mother was letting her.
"Mommy!" She says, pouting.
"What?" Peg asks, looking down at her daughter who was sitting in her lap.
"Come play." She says, as she jumps off her lap and pulls at her hand.
"Not right now Erin."
"Play!" Erin says.
"In a minute." She says.
"PLEASE!" Erin begged.
"Erin..."
"I'll play with you Erin." Daniel says to the toddler. "What should we play with?"
Erin's eyes light up when she heard her new friend's offer and she immediately dropped her mother's hand. "Come!" She says, smiling.
"Alright." He says, smiling as she takes his hand and pulls him out to the family room.
"He's Hawkeye." Margaret says, as the two were out of ear reach, but still in a low voice. "Or, Hawkeye's him."
"Yeah, it's scary how alike the two are." BJ says.
"Erin loves him."
"She takes to anyone who will play with her." Peg says, smiling.
"True, but he is like a grandfather, and I think she likes that." Margaret says, as she starts to help Peg clear the table.
"That he is." BJ says, glancing into the other room before he too helps clean up.
Around 20 minutes later they all head out to the family room. Erin absolutely loves the older doctor and would not leave him alone for the entire night. The next day, BJ and Margaret took Daniel around the San Francisco Bay area. Peg was invited to go along, but she felt that the three of them needed some time alone. The next day, BJ was called into work, and offered Daniel a chance of coming with him to see how the West Coast ran a hospital. Daniel smiled and accepted. They spend the morning doing rounds, and touring the hospital until they heard, "Dr. Hunnicut, you're needed in surgery, Dr. Hunnicut please report to surgery immediately. Thank You."
"Would you like to join me?" BJ asked, as they stood outside the Operating Room.
"No, thank you. Surgery is not my field." He says smiling as he reads the chart. "I don't know how you and my son do it... appendixes make me sick."
"So that's where Hawk got that from." He says, smiling. "He told me a few times how he hated appendixes. I'll be out in about two hours, providing everything goes well. Make yourself at home in my office."
"Ok. I'll see you in a bit. Enjoy your operation."
"Enjoy sitting around." BJ says, smiling as he walks in to scrub up.
Daniel grabs a cup of coffee before he walks back to BJ's office. He walks right in and sees a stack of charts on his desk. He picks them up and reads over a couple of them and smiles. BJ probably has the best handwriting he has ever seen from a doctor. His smile quickly fades as he sees the pictures on his desk. He picks up the group photo of the 4077th.
He is able to tell which person is which from the letters that Hawkeye sent him. He smiled when he saw Frank Burns... "He really does look like a ferret." He says aloud laughing a bit. He puts the picture back in its place and moves on to pick up the second picture. It was a picture of BJ, Margaret and Hawkeye. Margaret was in the center of the two men and they had there arms around her. He smiled when he saw how close his son had gotten to the Major. Over the first year there, Hawkeye constantly complained about her, but it gradually got better until one letter he had sent said, "Margaret, Klinger and I went to the AID station. It was the worst thing I ever had experienced before, but I realized something that night, how great Hotlips really is. She was absolutely amazing out there dad! She may be uptight and completely by the books when it comes to the army, but she is a great person."
Daniel smile turned sad as he remembered the letter. He placed the photo back in it's place. He came to the last frame with a picture of the two best friends. "Beej- The finest kind- Hawk, July 6th, 1952," was the inscription on the bottom of the frame. Daniel took the picture and walked over to the couch where he sat heavily.
"So this is what he looked like..." Daniel says aloud. He hadn't seen a picture of his son in the two years he had been over in Korea. He had changed, not much, but you could tell that the place had taken a toll on him. The picture was taken a month before he died. He didn't even know what was going to happen to him, and it showed on his face. They both had smiles that touched there ears. Daniel stared at the picture in amazement. He had not seen a picture of his son that close to the end. He saw the body, but it didn't look like Hawkeye. Here, in this picture he was alive... full of life, with his best friend. He smiled sadly as he saw them both holding a martini glass. Hawk had always liked a dry martini, just like his father. Like father like son. He stared at the picture or a long time. A few lone tears trail down his cheek, and he does not even bother to wipe them away. He had cried a few times before for his son, but always decided that there was no reason to cry for the past. Crying would not bring Hawkeye back. There were times where he could not stop himself, no matter how hard he tried, because his son had died. He knew that he would probably feel mixed emotions for the rest of his life, and he had prepared himself for the coming years. His son had only been dead a year and a half, but in Daniel's eyes, it has been three and a half years since he has been gone. He looks at his watch and realizes that BJ would be back soon, so he places the picture back on his desk and just looks at it for a few minutes.
"That's my favorite picture." BJ says, as he follows the elder Pierce's eyes.
"It's a nice one."
"It was taken after we were in surgery for 35 hours. He and I survived it and decided we should celebrate. The entire camp joined us, and we enjoyed a martini, which was only about two hours old."
"Who took it?"
"The Colonel. He bought a camera for no reason, and just started taking pictures." He says smiling. "It was the same day we took the picture with Margaret. She was pretty drunk at the time too, though she wouldn't admit it. It was right after her devours, and she needed something to take her mind off so she drank our gin. That was probably the only reason we got her to get her picture taken." He says, laughing.
"She definitely doesn't seem like one who would like her picture taken." Daniel says smiling.
"Yeah, she definitely is not that type." He says, looking at the pictures.
"How was surgery?" Daniel says changing the subject. He felt that he has thought enough about his son for the day.
"It went fine. I'd take an appendix any day after what we went through over in Korea."
"I probably would too." Daniel says.
"Well. I think I'm done for the day." BJ says, signing the last bit of his paperwork. "This stuff can wait till tomorrow." He says, sighing. "Ready?"
"Yes." He says, as they head back to the Hunnicut Household. They pull into the drive way, and see Peg and Erin outside, playing in the yard. Erin stops dead in her tracks as the car pulls up the driveway and parks. As soon as the men stepped out of the car, Erin ran over to them. BJ dropped down to her level and gave her a hug.
"Hi Erin."
"Hi daddy." She says before letting go and running over to Daniel, and gave him a hug.
He picked her up and she would not let her put her back down. "Mine." She says smiling.
"Yours? Dr. Pierce is yours?" BJ says, at the two year old.
"Mine!" She says, hugging him around the neck. "My Gampop Pierce."
All of the adults smile at the little girl. He had been there only 5 days, and Erin had him wrapped around her finger like a grandfather would be. She adored him and the feeling was mutual.
"Your who?" BJ says again.
"My Gampop Pierce!" She says smiling.
"Honey..." Peg says, shaking her head.
"It's fine. She can call me that if she wants too. It's kind of nice to hear that." Daniel says smiling. BJ and Peg nod.
"Alright, you now have two grandpop's." Peg says smiling. BJ's dad had passed away about 8 years ago, so it was nice that he had Daniel around who was a father figure.
The next morning Daniel was flying back home to Maine. They all go to the airport to send off the doctor.
"Thanks for everything." Daniel says, smiling.
"Thanks for coming." Peg says, hugging the elder doctor.
"You take care ok?"
"I will." Peg says.
"Let me know how everything goes with Junior here."
"I will." Peg says.
"Be good for your mommy and daddy Erin."
"Ok!" She says, hugging her honorary 'Grandfather.' "Bye bye Gampop Pierce!"
"Bye Erin." He says smiling.
"Take care of these two." He tells BJ, not that he really had too.
"Yes sir." He says, smiling. "We'll see you in September."
"Yes, you will." Daniel says, shaking BJ's hand.
"Let us know how your flight went." BJ says.
"I will. Thanks for everything."
"Thank you."
And with one last wave, Daniel was on the plane.
"Well, let's head home." BJ says, picking up his daughter.
"Daddy."
"Yes?"
"We play when home."
"Sure. We can play when we get home."
"Outside?"
"That sounds even better." He says smiling.
They get into the car and head the short distance home. As soon as Erin jumped out of the car, BJ played with her. They came in for a short dinner and went back outside again to play some more, before the sun went down.
Around 7pm BJ gives his daughter a bath and gets her ready for bed. While he is doing that the phone rings, and Peg gets it.
"Hello?"
"Hi Peg." Daniel says, his voice flowing through the receiver.
"Hi Daniel. How was your flight?" She says smiling.
"It was perfect thank you. Everything there good?"
"The same since you've left." She replies.
"Well that's good." He says. They talk for a little while before they hang up. Peg walks up to their daughters bedroom and says, "Daniel got in safe."
"Good." BJ says, smiling. "When did he call?"
"Ten minutes ago." She says, as she turns her attention towards her daughter, "Do you want a snack and then go to bed little girl?"
"Um, yup!" She says, jumping off her bed and running over to her mom.
The next couple of months went quickly... almost too quickly. They had so much to do before the new baby. They got the nursery complete by early August, and on August 18th Peg went into Labor. They dropped Erin off with Margaret and headed to the hospital.
"You alright?" BJ asks. He was just as nervous about this one as he had been with Erin.
"I'm fine." She says, rolling her eyes. "Relax... I'm the one having the baby... you aren't." A few hours later she started to progress more. The doctor comes in and says, "How are you doing?"
"Fine." Peg says, wincing.
The doctor checks her over and says, "We should be having this baby by 1am I think." He says smiling.
"What time is it now?"
"11."
"Ok..." She says, blowing out some air.
"I'll be back in a bit, and by then hopefully you can start pushing."
"Thanks." She says.
The doctor comes in and out every fifteen minutes, until about 12:30AM when he says,
"Alright, on the next contraction I want you to push." The doctor says and at 1:45am they hear a cry of the newborn and the doctor say, "You have a healthy baby... boy... You have a boy congratulations!" He says, holding their son up. "Let me get him cleaned up and we'll bring him back to you."
"My god... we have a boy." Peg says, looking exhausted but extremely happy.
BJ leans down and kisses her forehead and smiles, "Looks like we need to go shopping again." He jokes.
"Yeah, I'd say so... I don't think we want him in Erin's old things." She says, smiling.
The doctor brings back the little boy to the parents, and places him in his mother's arms. "Do you have a name for him yet?" The doctor asks.
"Not yet." BJ says.
"Well you better figure one out so Erin knows what to call her little brother." He jests. The young doctor knew the Hunnicut's very well. They worked together for the past few months. "He was born at 1:45 on August 19th."
BJ looks down at his son and says, "What do you want his name to be?"
"Well..." She says, looking at her son, "What would you say about naming him after Hawkeye?"
"Are you serious?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She says, looking at her husband. "Why not? He was born on the day Hawkeye died..."
"Yeah..." BJ said sadly. This day would be a tough one. He was extremely happy, and also extremely sad at the same time.
"So? What do you think? Ben?"
"I like it." He says, looking down at his son. "Benjamin what though?"
"Does Hawkeye have a middle name?"
"Franklin."
"Ok.. then its Benjamin Franklin Pierce Hunnicut... what do you think?"
"That's a long name..." He says looking at his son, "But I think it fits." He takes his son from his wife's arms and says, "What do you think? Do you like your name Ben?" The baby just looks at him, "I guess that's a yes... you're not crying so I think we can keep your name. You are named after your Uncle Hawk, one of the finest surgeons I have ever seen. I wish you could have met him, but he died two years ago today. That's why you are named such a long name..." He continued to talk to the baby until he fell asleep.
A few days later Peg and Ben were able to come home for good. Erin and Margaret waited at the house as BJ went to pick up the two.
"We're home." BJ says, as he hears his daughter's feet running towards them.
"Mommy!" She says, as she throws herself into her mom's arms. BJ had the baby for just that reason. Erin has not seen her mother in 4 days, and was anxious.
"I missed you." She says, kissing her daughter. "How are you baby girl?"
"Good." She says, hugging her tight.
"How was she Margaret."
"A perfect angel." Margaret says, looking at her nephew in BJ's arms. "Look at him..." She says, smiling, touching his cheek. "I think he looks like you Beej."
"Here, do you want to hold him?"
"Sure." She says, taking the newborn. "Hi Ben. I'm your Aunt Margaret."
"Aunt Margaret! I want to see too!" Erin says, in her mom's arms.
"You want to see your new brother?" BJ asks.
"Yes."
Margaret brings the baby closer to her and says, "You're a big sister Erin."
"Yup!" She says, looking at the baby. "Little."
"Yeah, your little brother." Peg says, smiling. Erin looks so big compared to the baby. Erin reaches out and touches his skin and smiles. "Do you like him?" Peg asked.
"Umm, yup!" She says.
"Can you give Ben a kiss?"
"Ok mommy." She says, smiling and gives him a kiss on the head.
"How about we go to the living room, instead of standing in the foyer." BJ says, smiling.
"That's a good idea." Peg says.
They all head into the family room and get better acquainted with the new Hunnicut.
"So... this is Benjamin Franklin Pierce Hunnicut..." Margaret says, smiling, "that's a long name for a little guy."
"He'll grow into it." BJ jokes.
"Mommy, I hold him." She says, holding her arms out.
"Wait till Aunt Margaret's done." Peg says, as her three year old jumps off her lap and sits between her mom and aunt.
"Here Erin." Margaret says, as she places the infant into her arms, and peg supports his head. "Look at you! You are such a big girl!"
"Yup." Erin says smiling.
After a few hours Margaret goes home, and leaves the Hunnicut's to get use to the new baby. They spend the entire month getting the baby onto a schedule, and getting Erin use to the baby's schedule. She was doing very well. She wanted to hold the baby all the time and help with him. She was a great big sister.
The first week of September, Daniel fly's in to see the new baby. As soon as he got into the house, Erin was all over him.
"Gampop Pierce! Come see my baby!"
"Your baby? I thought it was your mommy and daddy's baby."
"No! It's my baby brother!" She says as she takes his hand and drags him into the family room where Peg had the baby. "See. It's my baby."
"Well, would you look at him." Daniel says, looking at the infant. "He is perfect."
"Would you like to hold him?" Peg asked.
"Sure." He says. "It's been a long time since I've held an infant though..."
"You'll do fine." BJ says, grinning.
"Well, what do you say Ben? You were named after my son, and I am so glad that you have his name. It's a strong name! Wear it well." He says, as the baby just gurgles and kicks his feet. "You are a little Hawkeye..."
"Little Hawk." BJ says smiling. "I think that's what we'll call you..."
"Oh no..." Peg says, shaking her head. She knew that it would happen, but she was hoping it wouldn't be for a while.
"What do you think Erin?"
"He is Ben!" Erin says smiling.
"You are right Erin. You tell daddy that his name is Ben... even though it isn't going to matter what you tell them." She says smiling.
"Thank you." Daniel says, smiling.
"For what?" Peg asks.
"For naming your son after my son. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"I couldn't think of a more fitting name for him." Peg says, pulling Erin into her lap.
"Especially on that day." BJ replies, smiling.
"He was the best thing that could have ever happened on that day." Daniel says. "It takes away some of the pain, you know?"
"I definitely know." BJ says, smiling.
That week went quick, and Daniel had plenty of bonding time with his new grandson and his granddaughter. The next trip the Hunnicut's would be traveling to Maine. BJ wanted Peg and Erin to see the beautiful state, and they were anxious to get out of California for a little while. They would be traveling in a few months, but right now they were concerned with getting to know this little boy better, and that is exactly what they did.
*****
TBC...
Please R&R, but please be kind... I haven't been writing fic's that long. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them up! If there are minor things wrong with this fic, I apologize; it was 2am when I finished it... I got an idea and had to go with it! Thanks for the Reviews!!! KEEP THEM COMING! Only two more chapters to go! I hope you like it! Keep up the reviewing! Thanks so much for everyone who has reviewed me! It really helps me out! Glad you are liking it! One more chapter to go :-)
*STARY*
********
Autumn came and past very quickly, and winter soon followed. Christmas was just around the corner, and BJ was anxiously awaiting his first Christmas with his daughter.
"I don't know which one of you is worse." Peg says, shaking her head at her daughter and husbands excitement.
"ME!" Erin tells her mother laughing.
"I don't know Erin, Daddy seems pretty excited for Christmas to come too."
"Yup!" Erin says, smiling as she runs over and sits by her daddy.
"It's nap time Erin." Peg says, looking at the 2 year old.
"No nap." She says, smiling.
"Yes nap. You are going to be miserable by Five if you don't take one."
"NO NAP!" Erin says frowning.
"Yes Nap, and that's final!" Peg says firmly with a frown on her face. BJ laughed at the two. Erin was only 2 and started to butt heads with her mom, but Erin backed down when she knew she wasn't going to get her way.
"Ok Mommy." She says, as she is picked up by her. "BJ can you go wrap some presents please?"
"Sure." He says, standing up. He follows his wife and daughter up, but takes a left into his room, and begins to wrap some presents. About 10 minutes later, Peg comes into the room to help him finish wrapping the gifts.
"Well, I have some good news." She says smiling.
"Oh yeah? What's that?" He asks, looking up from the present he was wrapping.
"In August, we are going to have a new addition to our family." She says.
"You're pregnant?" BJ asked. It was almost too good to be true in his eyes.
"Yes.' She says.
"That's wonderful!" He says giving her a hug and a kiss. "When did you find out?"
"A few days ago." She says, with a huge grin on her face.
"This is the best Christmas present ever." BJ says.
"Yes, it is." She says still smiling.
"Does Margaret know?"
"Yes."
"Oh, so my friend can know before me?" He asks, playfully.
"Of course. I had to tell someone, and I couldn't call you at the hospital so I called Margaret." She says, kissing BJ's cheek, "But don't worry... you were the third to know."
"The third?!" He asks, in a mock hurt voice. "Who was second?!"
"My mom... and my dad, so I guess that makes you fourth." She grins.
"The fourth? I was the fourth to know that I am going to be a father again! With Erin, I was the first!" He says smiling.
"Well, at least you were the first for one of them." She says, smiling as she picks up another gift to wrap.
"Cute." He says, grinning.
"I thought so." She says shrugging. They spend another hour and a half wrapping gifts, and get finished in perfect time. Erin woke up only a short ten minutes after they had 'hid' all the gifts. Peg goes to get her daughter when she hears her.
"Did you have a nice nap Erin?" She asks the little girl.
"Yes." She says, laying her head in the crook of Peg's neck. "Where daddy?"
"He is in my room. Would you like to go see him?"
"Yes." She says, rubbing her eyes. They walk into the master bedroom and Peg sets her daughter on the bed. "Daddy!"
"Hi Erin!" He says, as she flings herself on him in a tight hug.
"Guess what Erin?" Peg says, as she sits next to her baby, brushing a curl that fell into her face.
"What Mommy?"
"You are going to be a big sister! Mommy's going to have a baby."
"Where baby?" Erin asked.
"In my tummy." She says, placing Erin's hand on her stomach.
"When I see it?" Erin asked.
"In August." She assures her daughter.
"Ok!" Erin says. Peg knew she didn't understand fully, but she had to get her daughter use to the fact that there will be a new child living in the house.
Christmas came and went, as did the New Year. February came even faster. BJ was eager to have Daniel meet his family and Margaret. He was like a kid when it came to showing off his family. He loves every minute of it. Daniel flew in on the 18 of February and was planning on staying at the Hunnicut residence for four days. BJ left around 3pm to pick up Daniel at the airport. Erin was sick for a few days so Peg didn't want her going outside just yet. BJ walked into the airport and immediately spotted the elder Pierce and smiled.
"Daniel." He says, smiling.
"Hi BJ." Daniel says as he pulls the young man into a hug.
"How are you?"
"I'm doing well, you?"
"Well also."
"How is Erin feeling?"
"She's doing better, still a bit ornery at times, but she's better."
"And Peg?"
"She's doing great, she's feeling great and she's looking great."
"That's great." He says as he grabs his bags.
"Shall we go?" BJ asks.
"Yes." He says smiling.
They drive to his house, pull into the driveway and walk into their house.
"Hello?!" BJ calls as they enter the foyer.
"Hi daddy!" Erin says as she runs into the room. He scoops her up and gives her a kiss.
'Hi Erin. Are you feeling better?" He asks.
"Um, yes." She says, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Good." He says smiling. "Can you say hi to Dr. Pierce?"
"Hi!" She says smiling.
"Hi Erin! Boy you are a pretty little thing." He says, as he ruffs her hair a bit.
"Thank you." She says smiling.
"And you are polite too."
"Where's mommy?" BJ asks.
"Up." She says, pointing to the stairs.
"Upstairs?"
"Yup!"
"Do you want to show Dr. Pierce his room is?"
"Um, Ok!" She says, squirming off her dad and grabs the Dr's hand. "Come on!"
"Ok, lead the way munchkin." Daniel says, smiling. "She's an outgoing little girl isn't she?"
"Very." BJ says, smiling as he follows the two upstairs.
"Dere!" Erin says, taking him into the guest room.
"Thank you Erin."
"Welcome." She says, turning her attention to the doorway. "MOMMY!" She says.
"You're in a happy mood now?" Peg says, slightly annoyed. "You were a sheer terror and absolutely miserable two minutes ago!"
"Daddy here!"
"Oh so you'll throw a fit for me, but with daddy you're an angel?" She says, smiling.
"Yup."
"Well, at lest we have settled." She says, as her daughter attaches herself to her mom's leg. She picks her up and says, "You must be Dr. Pierce."
"I am, but please call me Daniel. It's nice to finally meet you Peg. I heard a lot about you." He says shaking her hand, and smiling.
"I have heard a lot about you too. And your son was all I heard about the letters he sent home to me for over a year. I'm very sorry..."
"Thank you." He says.
"Can I get you something to drink? Coffee perhaps?" Peg asks.
"That would be great." He says smiling.
"Alright, come on down when you're ready." She says, as the two girls make there way down to the kitchen.
"Make yourself at home Daniel." BJ says, smiling.
"Thank you." He says.
"Let me show you around the place." BJ says, as he gives him the total tour before they sit down for coffee.
"You have a very nice house." Daniel says to both Peg and BJ.
"Thank you." Peg says smiling as she hands him a cup of coffee.
"So, when do I get to meet the Major?"
"She'll be over around 5 for dinner." BJ says.
"I can't wait to meet her."
"She's one of a kind..." BJ says, smiling.
"So, Peg, how are you feeling?" Daniel asks.
"A lot better with this one then with Erin." She says, smiling. "I was sicker with Erin then this one."
"Well, I guess that's a plus." Daniel says smiling. "You look good."
"I feel good. Thanks." She says.
"And what do you think about being a big sister Erin?"
"I like it!" She says, smiling, causing the adults to laugh.
"Well that's good. I think you are going to be a great big sister." He says, smiling.
At four thirty, Margaret comes over. She knocks on the door and Erin jumps up and runs over.
"Daddy! Aunt Margaret here!" She says, excitedly as BJ opens the door.
"Hi Margaret." BJ says, smiling.
"Hi BJ." She says and looks down to the child clinging to her leg. "Hi Erin." She says, picking her up.
"Hi!" She says, wrapping her arms around her neck.
"How are you baby girl?"
"Good." She says smiling.
"Are you feeling better?" She asks, kissing her niece's cheek.
"Yup." She says, smiling.
"Well that's good." She says. "So did he get here?"
"Yeah." BJ says, smiling.
"Where is he?" She asks nervously.
"In the kitchen with Peg." He smiles. "What are you so nervous about?"
"I'm not nervous." She says, not moving from the hallway.
"Well, come on then." BJ says, starting to walk towards the kitchen. "Erin, tell Aunt Margaret to not be nervous."
"Go Aunt Margaret!" She says, pointing to the kitchen.
"Ok, ok. Who is in there?"
"Friend."
"Dr. Pierce?"
"Yup!" She says smiling. "Go!"
"Ok." Margaret says to the two year old as she follows BJ into the kitchen. She immediately sees the doctor sitting in the chair next to Peg, drinking coffee, and she smiles. She thought the same thing the others did, that he looked like Hawkeye only older. She places Erin down on the floor and says, "You must be Dr. Pierce."
"I am, and you must be Margaret."
"I am." She says smiling.
"It's nice to meet you." He says, shaking the Majors hand.
"You too sir."
"Please, call me Daniel." He says smiling. "You are exactly how my son described you... well, at least in the later months."
"Yeah, I bet." She says rolling her eyes. "We didn't get along that first year."
"He still respected you. I know that he said you were the best nurse he ever worked with, even though you were regular army." He told her grinning.
"He had no discipline for the Army, neither did Trapper or this one." She tells him point towards BJ.
"We had the respect of everyone who was Drafted." BJ grins, "Not all of us actually wanted to make our lives the Army, Major."
Margaret rolls her eyes again, ignoring him and adds in, "Your son was the finest surgeon I had ever worked with. BJ you were second."
"He took his job extremely serious." Daniel says, and adds in, "Too seriously sometimes I fear."
"Yeah, but he cared about his patients, just like BJ does."
"He was good at it... that's for sure." BJ agrees.
They were all silent for a while, before Margaret changes the subject, "So, Peg, what do you think you're having? A girl or a boy?"
"I'm not sure." She says, shrugging.
"What do you want to have?" Margaret asked.
"Either or. A boy would be great. I think BJ needs someone to roughhouse with, but a girl would be great too because she and Erin could be extremely close, and I wouldn't have to buy a lot of new clothing. Either way, Erin won't be an only child.
"Looks like you have a good outlook on this." Daniel says, smiling."
"I just want it to be healthy." She says, standing up to check on the dinner.
Dinner was nice. They spent the entire time talking, and continued to talk after they finished eating. Erin was getting a bit antsy because she was bored and ready to run around a bit more then her mother was letting her.
"Mommy!" She says, pouting.
"What?" Peg asks, looking down at her daughter who was sitting in her lap.
"Come play." She says, as she jumps off her lap and pulls at her hand.
"Not right now Erin."
"Play!" Erin says.
"In a minute." She says.
"PLEASE!" Erin begged.
"Erin..."
"I'll play with you Erin." Daniel says to the toddler. "What should we play with?"
Erin's eyes light up when she heard her new friend's offer and she immediately dropped her mother's hand. "Come!" She says, smiling.
"Alright." He says, smiling as she takes his hand and pulls him out to the family room.
"He's Hawkeye." Margaret says, as the two were out of ear reach, but still in a low voice. "Or, Hawkeye's him."
"Yeah, it's scary how alike the two are." BJ says.
"Erin loves him."
"She takes to anyone who will play with her." Peg says, smiling.
"True, but he is like a grandfather, and I think she likes that." Margaret says, as she starts to help Peg clear the table.
"That he is." BJ says, glancing into the other room before he too helps clean up.
Around 20 minutes later they all head out to the family room. Erin absolutely loves the older doctor and would not leave him alone for the entire night. The next day, BJ and Margaret took Daniel around the San Francisco Bay area. Peg was invited to go along, but she felt that the three of them needed some time alone. The next day, BJ was called into work, and offered Daniel a chance of coming with him to see how the West Coast ran a hospital. Daniel smiled and accepted. They spend the morning doing rounds, and touring the hospital until they heard, "Dr. Hunnicut, you're needed in surgery, Dr. Hunnicut please report to surgery immediately. Thank You."
"Would you like to join me?" BJ asked, as they stood outside the Operating Room.
"No, thank you. Surgery is not my field." He says smiling as he reads the chart. "I don't know how you and my son do it... appendixes make me sick."
"So that's where Hawk got that from." He says, smiling. "He told me a few times how he hated appendixes. I'll be out in about two hours, providing everything goes well. Make yourself at home in my office."
"Ok. I'll see you in a bit. Enjoy your operation."
"Enjoy sitting around." BJ says, smiling as he walks in to scrub up.
Daniel grabs a cup of coffee before he walks back to BJ's office. He walks right in and sees a stack of charts on his desk. He picks them up and reads over a couple of them and smiles. BJ probably has the best handwriting he has ever seen from a doctor. His smile quickly fades as he sees the pictures on his desk. He picks up the group photo of the 4077th.
He is able to tell which person is which from the letters that Hawkeye sent him. He smiled when he saw Frank Burns... "He really does look like a ferret." He says aloud laughing a bit. He puts the picture back in its place and moves on to pick up the second picture. It was a picture of BJ, Margaret and Hawkeye. Margaret was in the center of the two men and they had there arms around her. He smiled when he saw how close his son had gotten to the Major. Over the first year there, Hawkeye constantly complained about her, but it gradually got better until one letter he had sent said, "Margaret, Klinger and I went to the AID station. It was the worst thing I ever had experienced before, but I realized something that night, how great Hotlips really is. She was absolutely amazing out there dad! She may be uptight and completely by the books when it comes to the army, but she is a great person."
Daniel smile turned sad as he remembered the letter. He placed the photo back in it's place. He came to the last frame with a picture of the two best friends. "Beej- The finest kind- Hawk, July 6th, 1952," was the inscription on the bottom of the frame. Daniel took the picture and walked over to the couch where he sat heavily.
"So this is what he looked like..." Daniel says aloud. He hadn't seen a picture of his son in the two years he had been over in Korea. He had changed, not much, but you could tell that the place had taken a toll on him. The picture was taken a month before he died. He didn't even know what was going to happen to him, and it showed on his face. They both had smiles that touched there ears. Daniel stared at the picture in amazement. He had not seen a picture of his son that close to the end. He saw the body, but it didn't look like Hawkeye. Here, in this picture he was alive... full of life, with his best friend. He smiled sadly as he saw them both holding a martini glass. Hawk had always liked a dry martini, just like his father. Like father like son. He stared at the picture or a long time. A few lone tears trail down his cheek, and he does not even bother to wipe them away. He had cried a few times before for his son, but always decided that there was no reason to cry for the past. Crying would not bring Hawkeye back. There were times where he could not stop himself, no matter how hard he tried, because his son had died. He knew that he would probably feel mixed emotions for the rest of his life, and he had prepared himself for the coming years. His son had only been dead a year and a half, but in Daniel's eyes, it has been three and a half years since he has been gone. He looks at his watch and realizes that BJ would be back soon, so he places the picture back on his desk and just looks at it for a few minutes.
"That's my favorite picture." BJ says, as he follows the elder Pierce's eyes.
"It's a nice one."
"It was taken after we were in surgery for 35 hours. He and I survived it and decided we should celebrate. The entire camp joined us, and we enjoyed a martini, which was only about two hours old."
"Who took it?"
"The Colonel. He bought a camera for no reason, and just started taking pictures." He says smiling. "It was the same day we took the picture with Margaret. She was pretty drunk at the time too, though she wouldn't admit it. It was right after her devours, and she needed something to take her mind off so she drank our gin. That was probably the only reason we got her to get her picture taken." He says, laughing.
"She definitely doesn't seem like one who would like her picture taken." Daniel says smiling.
"Yeah, she definitely is not that type." He says, looking at the pictures.
"How was surgery?" Daniel says changing the subject. He felt that he has thought enough about his son for the day.
"It went fine. I'd take an appendix any day after what we went through over in Korea."
"I probably would too." Daniel says.
"Well. I think I'm done for the day." BJ says, signing the last bit of his paperwork. "This stuff can wait till tomorrow." He says, sighing. "Ready?"
"Yes." He says, as they head back to the Hunnicut Household. They pull into the drive way, and see Peg and Erin outside, playing in the yard. Erin stops dead in her tracks as the car pulls up the driveway and parks. As soon as the men stepped out of the car, Erin ran over to them. BJ dropped down to her level and gave her a hug.
"Hi Erin."
"Hi daddy." She says before letting go and running over to Daniel, and gave him a hug.
He picked her up and she would not let her put her back down. "Mine." She says smiling.
"Yours? Dr. Pierce is yours?" BJ says, at the two year old.
"Mine!" She says, hugging him around the neck. "My Gampop Pierce."
All of the adults smile at the little girl. He had been there only 5 days, and Erin had him wrapped around her finger like a grandfather would be. She adored him and the feeling was mutual.
"Your who?" BJ says again.
"My Gampop Pierce!" She says smiling.
"Honey..." Peg says, shaking her head.
"It's fine. She can call me that if she wants too. It's kind of nice to hear that." Daniel says smiling. BJ and Peg nod.
"Alright, you now have two grandpop's." Peg says smiling. BJ's dad had passed away about 8 years ago, so it was nice that he had Daniel around who was a father figure.
The next morning Daniel was flying back home to Maine. They all go to the airport to send off the doctor.
"Thanks for everything." Daniel says, smiling.
"Thanks for coming." Peg says, hugging the elder doctor.
"You take care ok?"
"I will." Peg says.
"Let me know how everything goes with Junior here."
"I will." Peg says.
"Be good for your mommy and daddy Erin."
"Ok!" She says, hugging her honorary 'Grandfather.' "Bye bye Gampop Pierce!"
"Bye Erin." He says smiling.
"Take care of these two." He tells BJ, not that he really had too.
"Yes sir." He says, smiling. "We'll see you in September."
"Yes, you will." Daniel says, shaking BJ's hand.
"Let us know how your flight went." BJ says.
"I will. Thanks for everything."
"Thank you."
And with one last wave, Daniel was on the plane.
"Well, let's head home." BJ says, picking up his daughter.
"Daddy."
"Yes?"
"We play when home."
"Sure. We can play when we get home."
"Outside?"
"That sounds even better." He says smiling.
They get into the car and head the short distance home. As soon as Erin jumped out of the car, BJ played with her. They came in for a short dinner and went back outside again to play some more, before the sun went down.
Around 7pm BJ gives his daughter a bath and gets her ready for bed. While he is doing that the phone rings, and Peg gets it.
"Hello?"
"Hi Peg." Daniel says, his voice flowing through the receiver.
"Hi Daniel. How was your flight?" She says smiling.
"It was perfect thank you. Everything there good?"
"The same since you've left." She replies.
"Well that's good." He says. They talk for a little while before they hang up. Peg walks up to their daughters bedroom and says, "Daniel got in safe."
"Good." BJ says, smiling. "When did he call?"
"Ten minutes ago." She says, as she turns her attention towards her daughter, "Do you want a snack and then go to bed little girl?"
"Um, yup!" She says, jumping off her bed and running over to her mom.
The next couple of months went quickly... almost too quickly. They had so much to do before the new baby. They got the nursery complete by early August, and on August 18th Peg went into Labor. They dropped Erin off with Margaret and headed to the hospital.
"You alright?" BJ asks. He was just as nervous about this one as he had been with Erin.
"I'm fine." She says, rolling her eyes. "Relax... I'm the one having the baby... you aren't." A few hours later she started to progress more. The doctor comes in and says, "How are you doing?"
"Fine." Peg says, wincing.
The doctor checks her over and says, "We should be having this baby by 1am I think." He says smiling.
"What time is it now?"
"11."
"Ok..." She says, blowing out some air.
"I'll be back in a bit, and by then hopefully you can start pushing."
"Thanks." She says.
The doctor comes in and out every fifteen minutes, until about 12:30AM when he says,
"Alright, on the next contraction I want you to push." The doctor says and at 1:45am they hear a cry of the newborn and the doctor say, "You have a healthy baby... boy... You have a boy congratulations!" He says, holding their son up. "Let me get him cleaned up and we'll bring him back to you."
"My god... we have a boy." Peg says, looking exhausted but extremely happy.
BJ leans down and kisses her forehead and smiles, "Looks like we need to go shopping again." He jokes.
"Yeah, I'd say so... I don't think we want him in Erin's old things." She says, smiling.
The doctor brings back the little boy to the parents, and places him in his mother's arms. "Do you have a name for him yet?" The doctor asks.
"Not yet." BJ says.
"Well you better figure one out so Erin knows what to call her little brother." He jests. The young doctor knew the Hunnicut's very well. They worked together for the past few months. "He was born at 1:45 on August 19th."
BJ looks down at his son and says, "What do you want his name to be?"
"Well..." She says, looking at her son, "What would you say about naming him after Hawkeye?"
"Are you serious?" He asked her.
"Yeah." She says, looking at her husband. "Why not? He was born on the day Hawkeye died..."
"Yeah..." BJ said sadly. This day would be a tough one. He was extremely happy, and also extremely sad at the same time.
"So? What do you think? Ben?"
"I like it." He says, looking down at his son. "Benjamin what though?"
"Does Hawkeye have a middle name?"
"Franklin."
"Ok.. then its Benjamin Franklin Pierce Hunnicut... what do you think?"
"That's a long name..." He says looking at his son, "But I think it fits." He takes his son from his wife's arms and says, "What do you think? Do you like your name Ben?" The baby just looks at him, "I guess that's a yes... you're not crying so I think we can keep your name. You are named after your Uncle Hawk, one of the finest surgeons I have ever seen. I wish you could have met him, but he died two years ago today. That's why you are named such a long name..." He continued to talk to the baby until he fell asleep.
A few days later Peg and Ben were able to come home for good. Erin and Margaret waited at the house as BJ went to pick up the two.
"We're home." BJ says, as he hears his daughter's feet running towards them.
"Mommy!" She says, as she throws herself into her mom's arms. BJ had the baby for just that reason. Erin has not seen her mother in 4 days, and was anxious.
"I missed you." She says, kissing her daughter. "How are you baby girl?"
"Good." She says, hugging her tight.
"How was she Margaret."
"A perfect angel." Margaret says, looking at her nephew in BJ's arms. "Look at him..." She says, smiling, touching his cheek. "I think he looks like you Beej."
"Here, do you want to hold him?"
"Sure." She says, taking the newborn. "Hi Ben. I'm your Aunt Margaret."
"Aunt Margaret! I want to see too!" Erin says, in her mom's arms.
"You want to see your new brother?" BJ asks.
"Yes."
Margaret brings the baby closer to her and says, "You're a big sister Erin."
"Yup!" She says, looking at the baby. "Little."
"Yeah, your little brother." Peg says, smiling. Erin looks so big compared to the baby. Erin reaches out and touches his skin and smiles. "Do you like him?" Peg asked.
"Umm, yup!" She says.
"Can you give Ben a kiss?"
"Ok mommy." She says, smiling and gives him a kiss on the head.
"How about we go to the living room, instead of standing in the foyer." BJ says, smiling.
"That's a good idea." Peg says.
They all head into the family room and get better acquainted with the new Hunnicut.
"So... this is Benjamin Franklin Pierce Hunnicut..." Margaret says, smiling, "that's a long name for a little guy."
"He'll grow into it." BJ jokes.
"Mommy, I hold him." She says, holding her arms out.
"Wait till Aunt Margaret's done." Peg says, as her three year old jumps off her lap and sits between her mom and aunt.
"Here Erin." Margaret says, as she places the infant into her arms, and peg supports his head. "Look at you! You are such a big girl!"
"Yup." Erin says smiling.
After a few hours Margaret goes home, and leaves the Hunnicut's to get use to the new baby. They spend the entire month getting the baby onto a schedule, and getting Erin use to the baby's schedule. She was doing very well. She wanted to hold the baby all the time and help with him. She was a great big sister.
The first week of September, Daniel fly's in to see the new baby. As soon as he got into the house, Erin was all over him.
"Gampop Pierce! Come see my baby!"
"Your baby? I thought it was your mommy and daddy's baby."
"No! It's my baby brother!" She says as she takes his hand and drags him into the family room where Peg had the baby. "See. It's my baby."
"Well, would you look at him." Daniel says, looking at the infant. "He is perfect."
"Would you like to hold him?" Peg asked.
"Sure." He says. "It's been a long time since I've held an infant though..."
"You'll do fine." BJ says, grinning.
"Well, what do you say Ben? You were named after my son, and I am so glad that you have his name. It's a strong name! Wear it well." He says, as the baby just gurgles and kicks his feet. "You are a little Hawkeye..."
"Little Hawk." BJ says smiling. "I think that's what we'll call you..."
"Oh no..." Peg says, shaking her head. She knew that it would happen, but she was hoping it wouldn't be for a while.
"What do you think Erin?"
"He is Ben!" Erin says smiling.
"You are right Erin. You tell daddy that his name is Ben... even though it isn't going to matter what you tell them." She says smiling.
"Thank you." Daniel says, smiling.
"For what?" Peg asks.
"For naming your son after my son. You have no idea how much that means to me."
"I couldn't think of a more fitting name for him." Peg says, pulling Erin into her lap.
"Especially on that day." BJ replies, smiling.
"He was the best thing that could have ever happened on that day." Daniel says. "It takes away some of the pain, you know?"
"I definitely know." BJ says, smiling.
That week went quick, and Daniel had plenty of bonding time with his new grandson and his granddaughter. The next trip the Hunnicut's would be traveling to Maine. BJ wanted Peg and Erin to see the beautiful state, and they were anxious to get out of California for a little while. They would be traveling in a few months, but right now they were concerned with getting to know this little boy better, and that is exactly what they did.
*****
TBC...
Please R&R, but please be kind... I haven't been writing fic's that long. Thanks for all the reviews! Keep them up! If there are minor things wrong with this fic, I apologize; it was 2am when I finished it... I got an idea and had to go with it! Thanks for the Reviews!!! KEEP THEM COMING! Only two more chapters to go! I hope you like it! Keep up the reviewing! Thanks so much for everyone who has reviewed me! It really helps me out! Glad you are liking it! One more chapter to go :-)
*STARY*