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Boston Mass. 1955
Margaret smiled and watched her two year old daughter run to meet her at the door. She was running as fast as her chubby little legs would go. Her blonde curls were bouncing and she jumped into Margaret's arms.
"Mommy!" She said happily.
"Haylie." Margaret said in a high voice to amuse the little girl. Haylie laughed and laid her head on her mother's shoulder. Margaret looked up at the teenage girl standing there with a smile on her face. "How was she today Hannah?" Hannah baby-sat Haylie after school so she could pay for college, Betsy took care of her during the day until Hannah got off from school. It was a system they all enjoyed.
"A doll as usual." Hannah replied putting her jacket on. "Well I hate to sit and run but I have an essay due and I should get it finished."
"Okay. Bye and thanks Hannah."
"No problem, Haylie is a joy to sit. You do have someone for next week right?"
"Yes I do, don't you worry about it. Just take your exams and go on vacation. You deserve it."
"Thanks. I made dinner for you; it's in the oven. Well bye."
"Bye." Margaret waved.
"Bye bye." Haylie smiled waving her chubby little hand. Hannah smiled and waved back before shutting the door. Margaret smiled and hung up her jacket with the baby still in her arms.
"You hungry Haylie?"
"Yup. Hungy."
"I bet. You haven't eaten, since snack." Margaret asked walking into the kitchen with the blonde still on her hip. Haylie didn't understand what her mother had just said so she smiled and gave her a kiss. "I missed you today."
"Miss mommy too."
"What did Hannah make for dinner?"
"Dunno." Haylie smiled as Margaret opened the oven.
"I have to put you down so I can get you some food; you want to sit in your chair with some juice?"
"'Es." Haylie smiled toddling over to her high chair. Margaret smiled and lifted the little girl into her chair. She placed the little girl's cup on the counter and Haylie watched carefully as her mother poured milk into it. "Nof."
"That's enough?" Margaret asked holding up the cup. Haylie nodded and held her hands out for her drink. Margaret smiled and handed her the cup. "Well let's see what Hannah made shall we?"
"Ana ade ood?"
"Hannah made some food, probably while you were sleeping."
"Me nap." Haylie smiled.
"You took a nap?" Margaret asked as she placed a plastic plate in front of the baby.
"Uh huh. Ood nap." Haylie smiled before she started to eat. Margaret laughed and sat down with her daughter. Haylie was turning two next month and growing more than Margaret wanted her to.
After the two finished dinner, Margaret put Haylie in the living room while she did dishes, then gave the little girl a bath. Haylie loved taking baths, it made her world better. After a nice warm bath Margaret sat down and cradled the child until she fell asleep.
Margaret put her to bed and then went out into the living room. Hannah was always making sure the house was clean, and Margaret loved it. Margaret picked up the few toys Haylie was playing with after dinner and sat down on the couch. It was only nine o'clock, but she was dead on her feet. Margaret picked up her book and was just about to start reading when the phone rang. She sighed and picked up the receiver.
"Hello Houlihan Residence."
"Well Hello Margaret." Charles smiled on the other end.
"Charles?" Margaret questioned in surprise. "Oh my god. How did you get my number?"
"We work at the same hospital Margaret. I thought I saw you the other day, so I checked the nurses registered and I found you were upon one of them.
"I am. I've been working there almost two years now."
"As I know now." Charles smiled. "How are you and Haylie, is it?"
"That's right. She's turning two next month."
"How is little Haylie?"
"My life and soul. She's everything to me."
"As I expected. Margaret my dear, I was wondering if you are free on Saturday night?
"I am. But I'm going to spend the night with Haylie. I've been working late all week and I told her we would spend a night together."
"Well that isn't a problem. You can bring her along. I'm having a dinner party and would be honored if you and Haylie would join us."
"Oh Charles, are you sure? I mean having a baby there might disturb the party."
"Nonsense Margaret, there will be a child who is younger than Haylie there. Don't worry about it."
"Okay Charles, what time?" The two talked a while longer until it was ten o'clock and Margaret heard a female voice telling him to get off the telephone. They bid each other good bye and Charles was going to make an effort to make his way down to the OR the next afternoon.
Margaret went to bed as happy as she's been in a long time. Being a single mother with a two-year-old was tough, now she had Charles to help her find who she was missing, and maybe just maybe help make her life complete.
That night Margaret sat in bed thinking about that day that changed her life forever.
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"Well?" Margaret asked impatiently staring at the dark hair surgeon in front of her.
"Oh my god this is incredible!" The surgeon replied in a teasing but astonished tone in his voice.
"What? What?" Margaret asked sounding as anxious as she could ever be.
"I never knew my thumb was this big." He responded as though he was thoroughly interested in the appendage.
"Oh will you cut it out." Margaret asked eagerly as she awaited her fait.
"And the winner is…" He started double-checking so he was absolutely positive.
"Pierce!" Margaret said ready to bite his head off at any moment.
"Positive." He said looking at the gorgeous blonde in front of him.
"Positive?" She asked quivering.
"Positive." He confirmed looking at her.
Margaret immediately sighed and leaned back as a few tears started to fall from her eyes. Hawkeye stood up and brought her in for a hug. Margaret buried her face into his neck and started to sob.
They both knew that she and Donald were having problems and he couldn't for the life of him figure out if the tears were happy or sad ones. All he knew was just to hold her and let her cry.
It was only a week later that Margaret left. Everyone was standing around ready to bid the former Major goodbye and good luck. Hawkeye and BJ had just thrown her last trunk into the jeep when Margaret took his hand.
"Hawk, thank you for everything."
"Any time Margaret, just remember we love you more than anything."
"I know. And I want you to know, no matter what happens, I'll name this baby after you. It's the only thing I can think of repaying you for all your help.
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I want to, I want this child to know about the man who helped me. And that I grew to love."
"I love you too Margaret." Those simple words that the camp heard was convincing enough that those two belonged together no matter what happened. Hawkeye leaned down and placed a soft kiss on her lips before whispering something to her. Margaret smiled and hugged him tightly, as if she never wanted to let go.
After a tearful goodbye everyone went to deal with the grief. Colonel Potter went to paint something, and BJ watched as his best friend walked into the Major's former tent and stayed in there letting out all the feelings he kept hidden.
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Margaret wiped her tears away and stood watching her daughter sleep soundly. "If it wasn't for him Haylie, you wouldn't be the same girl you are today." She whispered running a finger over the baby's soft cheek. "If I told him how I felt, maybe you would have a daddy to treat you like a princess."
She watched the baby carefully with tears in her eyes. The child seemed so content with her life, like she had everything she ever wanted.
Without a word, Margaret left the room in tears, as she remembered exactly why she didn't tell him her feelings. She needed to talk to him; she walked into her bedroom and pulled out a box. She opened it and pulled out a picture and turned it over before grabbing the telephone.
Margaret my dear, penny for your thoughts? How about a nickel? All right, a dollar for you to go out with me? Okay one hundred dollars for you to have sex with me?… okay well just remember I'm only a phone call away. Here's a nickel don't spend it all in one place. I love you forever yours always
Benjamin Franklin 'Hawkeye' Pierce MD
Margaret felt the tears run down her cheeks as she dialed the operator.
"Hello, what state please?"
"Maine."
"City?"
"Crabapple Cove."
"Name?"
"A Doctor Benjamin Franklin Pierce, it might be listed under Hawkeye Pierce."
"Yes ma'am, please wait while I connect you." Margaret sighed and heard the operator speak again. "I'm sorry ma'am there is no Benjamin Franklin Pierce, or Hawkeye Pierce in Crabapple Cove, would you like me to try another a number?"
"No thank you. Thanks for you help." Margaret sighed and hung the phone up. She needed cheering up and there was only two people who could ever make her feel better, one she didn't know where he could be and the other lived on the other side of the country. It was worth a try. She thought. She picked up the receiver again.
"Hello, which state?"
"California."
"City?"
"Mill Valley."
"Name?"
"Doctor BJ Hunnicut."
"One minute please." Margaret waited until she heard the phone ring. After the third ring a woman answered.
"Hello?"
"Hi, I was wondering if BJ is in?"
"Yes he is, may I ask who is calling?"
"Just tell him 'Hot Lips'"
"Of course." Peg smiled, she looked at BJ. "Darling a 'Hot lips' is on the phone." BJ immediately jumped out of his chair and grabbed the phone.
"Margaret?"
"Hi."
"Oh my god, how are you doing?"
"Okay."
"How's Haylie?" He asked in a panic tone. He hadn't heard from the woman since she left Korea two and a half years ago. All he could think of was that something was wrong.
"Haylie is just fine. Don't worry; I was wondering if you had a minute."
"For you I got an hour." BJ smiled on the other end. "What's up?"
"You did hear what Hawk told me when I left, right?"
"Sure did." BJ smiled remembering the day.
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The whole camp gathered to wish their favorite nurse off. It was a very sad day for everyone.
Colonel Potter was beside himself with tears, the woman he thought of as a daughter was leaving. He watched in tears of joy and sadness as the blonde nurse hugged every one of her nurses. He smiled and hugged her tightly as she walked up to him.
"Sir."
"Margaret." He softly.
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, just take care of you and the coming baby. I want my honorary grandchild to have a good life."
"You dear sweet man." Margaret smiled through tears; she hugged the elderly man one more time before taking a step away.
BJ watched in sadness as this young woman that he had grown to care for left for the final time to go where everyone would rather be. He smiled trough the tears as she came up to him.
"BJ, I want to thank you."
"Thank me when I get home." BJ smiled
"I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too honey. Just take care of yourself and the baby."
"I will."
"You better. I don't want to hear anything about you being unhappy."
"You wont."
"Good. Bye Margaret."
"Bye BJ." Margaret said giving the blonde surgeon a hug once more. She stepped out of his arms and walked over to Charles.
"Margaret."
"Charles."
"You take care of yourself."
"I will."
"Good, Margaret if you need anything, remember we are all here for you."
"Thank you Charles."
"Thank You Margaret." Charles said picking up her left hand and giving it a gentle kiss. "Have a great life my dear."
"I will. Thank you Charles." Margaret said turning to the Lebanese man.
"Major."
"Klinger."
"Thanks Major."
"For what?"
"Just being here, even though all those times you yelled at me and called me names I know you didn't mean it."
"Klinger I wouldn't actually go that far."
"We'll miss you major."
"I'll miss everyone too."
"Remember, have a good life."
"I will thank you Klinger."
"No problem Major." Klinger said embracing the blonde major standing in front of him Margaret hugged him back and turned to Father Mulchay.
"Father."
"Major. God put you on this earth to do some good. You have and now he's putting another one the earth to do some more good. Take care of yourself and the child."
"I will father."
"Bless you my child."
"Thank you father." Margaret smiled giving him a hug. She turned to the youngest of the group. He was standing there nervously. "Radar."
"Major."
"You're a good kid. Take care."
"Thank you. You take care too."
"I will." Margaret turned to Hawkeye and smiled. "Hawk, thank you for everything."
"Any time Margaret, just remember we love you more than anything."
"I know. And I want you to know, no matter what happens, I'll name this baby after you. It's the only thing I can think of repaying you for all your help.
"You don't have to."
"I know, but I want to, I want this child to know about the man who helped me. And that I grew to love."
"I love you too Margaret." Margaret hugged him tightly.
"I love you." She whispered into his ear.
"I love you more than anything." He whispered letting her go. He gave her a kiss on her lips and held her hand as BJ threw her last trunk
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"Well I was wondering,"
"You don't need to wonder Margaret. But I think I should fill you in on what happened."
"What do you mean?"
"Well before the war ended Hawkeye got married."
"He what? To who?" Margaret was really heart broken now. She loved the man more than life itself.
"Hawkeye got married to your replacement Sybil Dixion. She came an hour after you left. They fell 'in love' as it were."
"They weren't in love?"
"Hawkeye told me once after we all found out about Haylie that he still loved you. But he loved Sybil a different way. He loved her like he should, but he loved you so much more."
"He got married?"
"Yes he did. And it was the second biggest mistake he ever made."
"What was the first?" Margaret asked holding back the tears that were threatening.
"Letting you go. Margaret you are the best thing that happened to him."
"BJ if he's married then he and Sybil are supposed to be together."
"They had a baby, right after the baby was born, Sybil left. That was just over a year ago. He lives in Boston now with Lily."
"Lily?"
"Yeah, he said when Lily was born he named her after someone who he loved. I don't know who."
"Me."
"What do you mean?"
"My middle name is Lilian. Lily for short."
"Lily is a doll. She looks like Hawk's mom, Angelina. Hawk named her Lily Angelina Pierce. She's the chubbiest thing in the world."
"Haylie is pretty chubby too."
"But anyway back to my story. After Lily was born Sybil left. Hawk took it extremely hard. If it wasn't for Lily he would have never lived. He told me that first he lost YOU and then Sybil, maybe he just was never meant to be with anyone besides Lily."
"Oh my god." Margaret breathed.
"Margaret listen to me. Hawk lives in Boston. Go look for him."
"I..I cant." Margaret said softly. "It wouldn't be right."
"It wouldn't be right NOT looking for him Margaret. Go look. I know that he means as much to you as you mean to him." Margaret sighed.
"Okay BJ you're right. I do love him."
"Good, go tell him."
"I cant."
"Yes you can."
"Okay."
"Well Margaret my dear, I hate to do this but I have to let you go. I'll call you tonight okay?"
"Okay, I'll most likely answer on first ring if Haylie is sleeping."
"No problem. Bye Margaret."
"Bye BJ."
"Take care of yourself and Haylie."
"I will." With that Margaret hung up the phone and sighed. She can do it. The man she loved was only a phone call away.