In The Eye Of The Beholder

by Falcon and HM Writer

FINAL chapter is up. Please leave a final review. We hope you enjoyed it.

5. Chapter 5

CHAPTER 5

He opened the door for her and let her go out ahead of him. He grabbed the bag of things that she had gotten for her niece and then they headed out the door. They walked side by side for a moment, but then Hawkeye picked up her hand. He saw that she was nervous and wringing her hands. There wasn't any need for her to be nervous. After the little show she was involved in that afternoon he didn't think anyone would have the nerve to go after her.

Hawkeye pushed the button that said lobby once they got into the elevator. "Where is she meeting us?"

"She thinks she's coming up to our room. That's why I want to catch her by the door before she tries to. We don't need anymore problems."

"Okay." He didn't understand what the problem was with them staying in the same room. He could understand everyone having a hard time with them living together, but everyone knew they weren't a couple of virgins. Of course they would be staying in the same hotel room.

When they reached the lobby the doors opened and they saw Katie, Rick, and the baby standing there. They had been waiting to go up. Margaret breathed a sigh of relief. They had narrowly escaped Katie knowing or having to make up some kind of story. "Hi," Margaret smiled.

"Hi, we were just coming up," Katie said.

Margaret and Hawkeye stepped off of the elevator. "It's nice out. Let's go sit by the pool for a little bit. I don't want to be in that dining room waiting."

"Sounds good," Rick smiled. He didn't like the Houlihans, but he would never stand up to them. They scared him.

Margaret took her niece into her arms. It wasn't often that she got to see Janie and she wanted to spoil her and hold her while she could. It was also unbelievable how calm the baby made her. She made her relax and enjoy the moment. When they reached the pool area they all set down at a shaded table in the corner. Margaret settled the baby on her lap while the other three adults finished up some small talk.

"So Margaret," Katie began. "When are you telling dad?"

"I thought he knew." Rick suddenly said, he hadn't been there but Katie had told him earlier that Hawkeye and Margaret were getting married.

"No." Katie snapped. "Not that. Margaret's getting out of the Army." She told him.

Rick laughed. "You're getting out?"

Hawkeye and Margaret looked at each other; they didn't seem to think it was funny. "Yes, I am."

"Rick!" Katie swatted him.

"I'm sorry, it's just hard to imagine." He chuckled a little more. "Wait until your father finds out..."

"That's what I'm worried about." Said Margaret, she could feel a headache coming on. She leaned in towards Hawkeye. "Can you order me a drink?"

"Sure." He stood up. "What do want?"

"Something dry."

He leaned down and gave her a quick kiss. "I'll be right back."

"Thank you," she smiled.

"I'll go with him," Rick said.

"I'll take a water," Katie called after him. She looked at Margaret and shook her head. "He doesn't even ask if I want anything."

"I noticed."

"Be careful. Once you get married and have a baby everything changes."

"That won't be for a little while. We don't plan on having any right away."

"Well," she smiled looking at her daughter. She was very relaxed in her aunts arms. "It doesn't always happen the way you plan it to. Isn't that right baby girl? You were our little surprise."

Margaret smiled at her. "I don't think Hawkeye will be like that."

"I didn't think Rick would either, but it isn't only the husbands. We change too. Our number one priority gets bumped to number two. That baby becomes your life."

"Yeah, well Hawkeye and I have other things to worry about right now. Having babies isn't on that list." She picked up the bag that was sitting next to her feet and handed it to her sister. "This is for Janie."

"Wow, did you get her a whole new wardrobe?"

Margaret smiled. "Practically. Once I walked into that baby store I couldn't leave with buying just one thing."

Hawkeye came back with the drink for her and sat down next to her. Rick was with him and took his seat too. "Here honey," Hawkeye said.

"Thank you."

"Look," Katie said to Rick. "Margaret bought the baby some things."

"Nice. Just what she needs. More clothes." Margaret and Hawkeye looked at each other. Rick seemed to be a little jealous of the baby. "As if she doesn't get enough already."

"Rick, please," Katie whispered tersely.

Margaret gazed away from her sister and brother-in-law and looked at her fiancé. Hawkeye could see the anguish and worry written across her face. Her little sister's marriage was in distress and it was clearly getting worse. Hawkeye picked up her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze, he knew she was terrified the same thing would happen to them.

"Anyway," Katie suddenly picked up her voice. "Thank you very much." They didn't need to be arguing there, not in front of her older sister. Rick grew quiet and sat back in his chair. Margaret could see how upset Katie was and it broke her heart.

"Would you excuse me?" She suddenly stood up and bolted back into the hotel.

Hawkeye jumped to his feet. "I'll be right back." He told them and quickly hurried after her. At first he didn't see her, she wasn't in the bar or the lounge. Finally he saw her standing beside the elevator, waiting for it open. She was visibly upset.

She looked at him when she heard footsteps coming. "Hi."

"Where do you think you're going? You just gave them the baby and left. What's wrong?"

"I'm sorry, I can't stay there and watch that."

"You can't just run away. Why does it bother you so much?"

"It just does."

Hawkeye picked up her hand and pulled her away from the door. "What's wrong?"

"Look at them. They're marriage is falling apart. You can see it."

"Yes, but honey that's no reason to get up and bolt from the table like that. Tell me what's wrong."

She looked around to make sure they were alone. "My little sister's marriage is going to shambles, my parents are divorced, and I've been divorced. I'm scared. What if that happens to us?"

"It won't. We're different, baby."

"You can't say that for sure."

Hawkeye looked into her eyes. "We need to go back to the table. We'll continue this later."

"I don't want to."

"Let's go," he pulled her hand along. "We'll tell them you got sick."

"Hawkeye, I just want to go home."

"I know. We will in a few days. Maybe one day we'll look back on all of this and laugh."

"Yeah right. You're dreaming," she said coldly.

"Look," he stopped and held her hands in his. "I am nothing like Rick, I am nothing like Donald, and I am definitely nothing like your father. We are different then them."

Margaret didn't say anything; she knew they weren't like any of them. "It's just that I love you so much..."

"Sweetheart, I love you too, more then anything in the world. I will never stop loving you." He told her sincerely while holding her close.

A tear fell down her cheek. "Oh Hawkeye..." She buried her face in his neck. Hawkeye rubbed her back and whispered comforting sentiments in her ear. He knew how terrified she was of being left alone.

After a few minutes she calmed down and composed herself. Hawkeye bought her another drink and then they went back outside. Katie and Rick were talking softly when they approached. As soon as they spotted Hawkeye and Margaret they stopped. "Hey, what happened?" Katie asked her sister as they sat down.

"I'm sorry I rushed out like that." Margaret apologized. "My stomach's been kinda jumpy all day."

"Aww, feel any better?"

Margaret looked over at Hawkeye and smiled. "Yeah." She told her sister.

"Well, it's almost time to go in, people should be arriving soon."

"Okay." Everyone stood up. Margaret took Hawkeye's hand and followed the other couple inside.

Margaret really didn't want to go in there and stood back. Hawkeye had to practically drag her in there. Usually it was the other way around. She was the one that had to drag him to places. When they got in there they surveyed the crowd to see if Al was there. They didn't see him so they looked around for a table. "Where are we supposed to sit?" Katie asked.

"I don't think it matters," Margaret said.

"There's a table over there," Hawkeye pointed to the corner of the room.

They all nodded and followed him over there. When they sat down Margaret looked around the dining room to see who was watching. There were so many people there and so much gossip that she really hoped she wasn't the number one thing on everyone's mind. After the show that afternoon she wasn't so sure about that. She saw the glances and the mouths moving knowing they were whispering. Hawkeye must have seen it too because he put his arm around her shoulders and held her tightly against him. She smiled and leaned into him.

Across the table Katie and Rick sat there staring at them. Katie's eyes looked down when Margaret caught her. She longed to have that kind of relationship. "So," Rick said a little uncomfortably. "What are you two doing tonight? Going out on the town?"

"Are you kidding?" Margaret said coolly. "After being here like this all my energy is drained. All I want to do is go home."

"In a few days," Hawkeye said. He looked back at Rick. "What are you two doing tonight?"

"Same as always," Rick said. "Go home, put the baby to bed and then wait around until we get tired and go to bed."

Margaret looked over at her sister and Katie nodded in conformation. "Do you ever go out anymore?"

"Not since the baby was born."

"That was four months ago! Why haven't you been out?"

Rick looked at his wife and then back to Margaret. "Because your sister doesn't want to leave the baby with anyone. God forbid she do something for herself or someone else."

Margaret could see the hurt on her sister's face, she was about ready to cry. An anger burned inside her as she tried to control her emotions, had they been some place else, Margaret would have reached across the table and decked him.

"That's not really fair." She said in a calm and collective voice. "She has been taking care of your child day in and day out for the last four months. I really don't see how that qualifies her as being selfish."

Rick glared at Margaret and Hawkeye saw it. "It wouldn't kill her to leave the kid with someone for a few hours." He said.

"Maybe she just doesn't have time to make herself up for you, seeing as how you're never there to help!" Margaret said rather viciously. She hated it that her sister's husband was such an asshole.

"Stop it! Please." Katie realized that their conversation was starting to get more heated and knew it was time to stop it before things got too out of hand. "Can't we just have a nice dinner?" She pleaded.

For the sake of her sister and her already bruised reputation, Margaret relaxed and sat back. Hawkeye moved possessively closer to her and tightened his hold around her shoulders. If Rick gave her one more dirty look he was going to have a few choice words to say to the other man.

"So," Hawkeye said. "What are we supposed to do here? Just sit in the corner and hide all night?"

Katie smiled. "That's what Maggie and I used to do when we were kids. We used to go as far away as we could. Remember when we vowed we'd never show up at these things once we grew up?"

"Yes," she smiled. "And look at us now. We're still hiding here in the corner."

Hawkeye gave her a kiss on the cheek. "Don't worry, honey. We'll get a few more drinks in you and you'll be out there in the middle of the room telling everyone to go to hell."

"Hawk," she slapped him teasingly. "That's not funny."

"I think he's right," Katie said. "That was pretty good when you did that."

Margaret rolled her eyes. "I don't think I want to do that." Hawkeye looked at her, but didn't say anything. She had already had two drinks and he could tell she was looking for a third; she just didn't want to go up to the bar. He'd go up for her a little later, but he didn't want her to get drunk. She needed to get something in her stomach before she had another drink, but he couldn't come right out and say it. She wouldn't go for that and then she would be mad at him.

"I heard about that," Rick said. "I wish I'd have been there."

"To do what?" Margaret said evenly. "Avoid your wife and suck up to my father."

"Maggie!"

"I'm sorry," Margaret said quickly. "I didn't mean it."

Rick clenched his jaw and looked at his sister-in-law. He had liked her when he first met her a few years before, but the more he saw her the less he liked her. She always claimed not to be like the rest of the Houlihans, but she could be like them. She could be overbearing and demanding, and she definitely had a temper on her. She was starting to let that show, and he couldn't see why.

"So, where's that waiter huh?" Hawkeye said, trying to lift the tension. Everyone was looking very grim.

"Well, there's a lot of people." Margaret told him. "I'm sure it'll be a while."

"Yeah, but they should have enough waiters for this many people."

"And I made reservations two weeks ago." Katie added.

"That doesn't mean anything." Commented Rick from beside her.

"Yes, it does, they knew we were going to have this many people. They should have been better equipped." She argued back.

"What hotel does that? This is not the Plaza; we are not in New York."

"Rick, that's besides the point..."

"Stop, please." Margaret said. Her head was starting to hurt. Everyone grew silent and just took to sitting around the table.

It was getting late, they were hungry, and the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. "I'm starved." Hawkeye commented, the silence was killing him. He began tapping his fingers on the table.

"Is that all you think about?" Margaret asked him sharply. After a minute she changed her mind. "Wait...I know the answer to that, don't say anything." The only thing Hawkeye liked better than food was sleeping, and the only thing he liked better than sleeping was sex.

Hawkeye grinned at her. "Then we better eat, right?"

"Yes," she nodded. Just then a waiter came by their table. They all breathed a sigh of relief. Hopefully getting some food on the table would ease the tension. They ordered some drinks and their food at the same time since they knew what they wanted. When the waiter was gone the table was quiet again.

"What are we doing tomorrow?" Hawkeye asked. He really didn't know the schedule of things, he just went with it.

"One more get together. I think at the beach tomorrow and that's it. No more." Katie said. She was adjusting the baby in her arms. Janie was getting restless.

"Good. I can't wait to go home," Margaret said looking at Hawkeye.

"I know."

Rick looked over at Katie and the baby. "Will you keep her quiet? We're in a restaurant."

Margaret tensed up, but calmed down quickly. "I'll take her," she stood up as Katie passed the baby across the table. "What's the matter, honey? You don't like it when you don't get all of the attention?"

"Like that never happens," Rick said under his breath.

"I think she needs her diaper changed," Margaret said. She stood up. "Where's the diaper bag."

"Right here," Katie passed it to her. "Thank you." Margaret took the baby and went to find the bathroom. She needed a breather from Rick.

That left Hawkeye sitting all alone with Katie and Rick. As soon as Margaret was out of ear shot they started arguing again. Hawkeye didn't want to say anything, he'd only met them the day before and it was obvious that this problem between them had been growing for some time now. "Will you excuse me?" He pushed back his chair and stood up. "I'm afraid I forgot my wallet upstairs." He didn't even wait for a response before he started walking off. Once he and Margaret got married, no one was ever going to visit them; he wouldn't be able to take it.

Hawkeye had pushed the button numerous times, hoping that it would speed up the elevator, but nothing happened. Finally he gave up and leaned up against the wall beside it. "Where are you going?" A voice said from behind him.

He turned his head to see Margaret standing there. She was holding Janie in her arms, waiting for a response. Just then the elevator opened. "Come on." He held the door and ushered her inside.

"Where are we going?" She questioned him as the door shut behind them.

"Up to the room. I figure we can stall for a little bit."

"What? Why?" Then answering her own questions she said, "Were they going at it?"

Hawkeye nodded. "I didn't feel it was my place to say anything, you know only having met them yesterday."

"So then why are we going upstairs?"

"I told them I forgot my wallet."

"Ah." She nodded. "But you didn't, did you?"

Hawkeye pulled out a brown leather wallet and wiggled it out in front of her. "We don't have to stay long, I just wanted a breather."

"What about the baby?"

"You can either leave her in the elevator or bring her in the room." She rolled her eyes. "What about her? Who's she going to tell? She can't talk."

"You're right." She smiled at Janie. "We're escaping for a few minutes. What do you think of that?" Janie smiled. "You like that, don't you?"

"Who wouldn't? What's up with those two anyway?"

"Who? Katie and Rick?"

"Yes. Who else would i be talking about?"

"Well, they're having trouble."

"Yeah, but people don't fight out in the open like that. How long has that been going on?"

"Just after they got married. Things got worse when Janie came along. She's a lot of work, and Rick doesn't seem to think she's worth it."

"I wouldn't say that. He loves the baby."

Margaret was just mad. "Well, he needs to show it. What about Katie?"

"We don't need to get involved."

"You're right, but she's my baby sister. I have to watch out for her."

Hawkeye smiled. "You're almost as cute as Janie."

Margaret gave him a warning look. He just smiled.  "Since she is my niece I'll let you go on that one."

"Let me take her."

"No," Margaret pulled away. She's mine now."

Hawkeye pretended to pout. "That's not fair."

"Too bad." She cuddled the child against her and turned away from him.

"That's okay." She felt his arms slip around her waist. "I've got the babysitter." He buried his face in her neck.

"What has gotten into you? Three times today and you still want more." Hawkeye nuzzled her gently.

He kissed her neck. "Can I help it if I love you?"

"There's loving and then there's loving." She reminded him.

The elevator door opened and he stopped. They stepped out and starting walking down the hallway. "Just because your sister and Rick aren't having sex doesn't mean we can't."

"Hawkeye!" She covered the baby's ears. "You can't say S-E-X in front of a child!"

"She's only four months old!"

"I don't care."

Hawkeye rolled his eyes. "Fine...just because their not getting along in the bedroom doesn't mean we have to follow their example."

"We've made love three times today....."

"Let's make it four."

"No."

He took out the key and unlocked the door. "Go ahead," he let her go in with the baby. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to."

"I'll just get a few drinks in you and you'll be singing a different tune."

She rolled her eyes. "You're crazy."

"I was once, and I don't plan on going there again. That's why I needed to come up here. I don't know how you do it, Janie." He took the baby from Margaret.

"Hey...You can't just take her."

"Sure I can. I just did."

She placed the diaper bag down beside the couch and took a seat next to Hawkeye on the couch. "This is so much nicer up here."

"I know. I needed more than a bathroom break to escape from that fighting. It's really uncomfortable. And why do they fight in front of the baby?"

"I don't know." Margaret placed a hand on the baby's chubby bare foot. "You'd think they wouldn't do that. You could see that it was making her upset."

"That's what was wrong with her?"

Margaret nodded. "She didn't need a diaper change. We just needed a break."

"And you left me there all alone!"

She gave him a gentle kiss. "You're old enough to take care of yourself. Janie still needs someone to look out for her."

"We all need that." He moved some hair out of her eyes.

"You're right when it comes to that." She admitted and sat closer to him. Hawkeye put his arm around her shoulder. They sat with the baby and played with her for a few minutes.

"She's so small." He commented.

"Only four months."

"I can't wait to see what our kids look like."

Margaret smiled at him. "We would make a good looking baby wouldn't we?" Hawkeye leaned down and kissed her softly.

"You know....." Hawkeye trailed off when he saw the baby yawn. "We could get in a quick one before we go back."

"Hawkeye..."

"I'm kidding," he smiled. "But..."

"No!"

He leaned in and kissed her. "You can tell you two are related." He handed the baby back to her. "She looks like a Houlihan."

Margaret smiled. "She's a cute one. I want some just like her."

"Some?" Hawkeye asked a little surprised. "What does that mean?"

"Well, don't you? You just said our kids would look cute."

"Yeah, one, maybe two. How many do you want?"

"Oh, I don't know. We don't have to talk about this now." She placed her hand on her knee. "Are you worried about that?"

"Well Margaret, I don't want ten kids. Up until about six months ago I didn't even want one kid."

"You never told me that."

"We didn't really talk about that stuff much. You know what happened to me in Korea. If you haven't noticed your niece is the first baby I've held."

She didn't notice that at all. If she did she wouldn't have fought with him to keep the baby in her arms. She would have gladly let him take her. "Here, take her."

"No," he smiled. "You hold her. She's your niece and you never get to see her."

"Soon she'll be yours too. That is if you still want to marry into this family I have."

"Of course," he said. "If I can tame you, I can tame the rest of them."

"I'm not going to get my hopes up." She rolled her eyes playfully. "Here, take her back." Margaret tried to hand him back the baby.

"No, that's okay." He held up his hands in protest. "I need to go take a piss since we're up here anyway." He stood up and walked into the bedroom.

Margaret followed him and stopped when he walked into the bathroom. She sat down on the bed and cradled the baby. "She's getting sleepy." She called to him.

"That's probably because we're the first people whom she's been around who don't shout all the time." He told her. The door to the bathroom was still open; she could see and hear him.

"Maybe so." She said softly as she watched the baby stretch. "What if we watched her for a night? It would give Katie and Rick a chance to work through some of their problems."

Hawkeye finished washing his hands and walked back out into the bedroom. "Under normal circumstances I would, but look where we are. We're in a hotel, where would she sleep?"

"I'm sure we could think of something."

"You know after having to watch you walk around in a bikini all day I'm not going to want to sit around when we get back tomorrow."

"I didn't mean right now. Maybe the night before we leave." Suddenly she just realized what he said. "Bikini?!" She looked at him.

"Well, yeah. We're going to beach tomorrow for the end of this damn reunion."

"I'm not wearing a bikini!"

"Yes you are. You always wear one. Why should this be any different?"

"We already talked about this." She said lowly. The baby was dozing off and she didn't want to disturb her. "I don't want to fight about it. I've done enough fighting here."

"Fine. We should be getting back down there before they come looking for us." He wouldn't fight with her, but he had a new mission in mind for tomorrow. He would get her to wear that bikini some how.

"Do we have to? Look how peaceful she is." She stared at the tiny baby in her arms. She was close to thirty years old and she could practically hear her biological clock ticking. It didn't seem that strong before, but once she got that baby into her arms things changed.

"I think we do. Her mother will come looking for her if we don't. I don't see how you're going to get your sister to let the baby stay with you for the night."

"You'd be surprised what I can get Katie to do."

That sounded interesting. "Oh?"

Margaret smiled and stood up. The baby was sleeping now. "I hope she's a deep sleeper. Once we get down there it'll be a little loud."

"I'm sure she is. Her parents seem to fight all the time. She has to be used to the noise."

"Here." Margaret handed the baby over to Hawkeye. "Make her comfortable. I'll get the diaper bag."

Hawkeye placed the baby on his shoulder. Her little arms wrapped around his neck and she cuddled into him. Hawkeye found himself feeling oddly comfortable with her. He walked out into the living room where Margaret had the diaper bag. "Let's get married and have one right now."

Margaret looked over at him and smiled. "Awww. She's infectious, isn't she?"

"She is."

She walked over to the two of them and gave him a kiss. "One day. Right now let's go fight off all the demons downstairs."

"Hopefully we can eat and then get the hell out of there." He said softly so as not to wake the baby.

Margaret walked in front of him and opened the door. "I hope they haven't ordered already."

"I'm sure they haven't." He walked out into the hallway. "You know how you lose your appetite when you've been yelling."

"That's true....."

"Hopefully it won't be a long wait."

"Everyone should be there by now." They got onto the elevator. "Including my parents." She groaned.

"It'll be okay, we're not eating with them."

"That's right. They'll sit with everyone else who hates us." She spat.

The Elevator opened and they walked back into the lobby. Margaret led the way as they made their way back into the dining room. Katie spotted them before they reached the table. "Where did you go?! You were gone for more than twenty minutes!"

"Shh," Margaret said. "She's asleep."

Katie looked at the baby on Hawkeye's shoulder. It was cute picture, but she would have liked it better had the baby been with Rick. "Well, where do you go? I was getting worried."

"The baby and I were on our way back from the bathroom and we saw Hawkeye." She pulled out Hawkeye's chair for him so he could sit down with the baby and then took her seat. "Did you order yet?"

"No. So where did you go?"

"We walked up to Hawkeye's room with him so he could get his wallet."

"It took that long?"

"No. The baby was getting sleepy so we sat down and let her relax at little. You're not mad are you?"

"No, but next time tell me. I was worried about her."

"Sorry. You know she's safe with me."

"Yes, but still..."

"I get it Katie. Did Mom or Dad come over and say hi yet?"

"Mom came over and asked where the baby was. I told her you had her with you. She just turned around and left."

"Great," Margaret rolled her eyes. "How did she seem?"

"You know Mom. She always seemed pissed for one reason or another."

"Yeah, but we all know why this time."

"At least it's not because of me." Katie smiled.

Margaret frowned, she hated to be reminded that her whole family hated her. "Yes, I know."

"You have no idea how much better it makes be feel."

Normally she would have been glad to do it, but now Katie was just rubbing it in her face. "Yes Katie."

The waiter came up to their table finally and took their orders. Margaret was grateful for the interruption and Hawkeye was glad so they could finally eat. Hopefully then everyone would be too busy to talk. The waiter left them with some rolls and then went to place their orders. Hawkeye picked up a roll and started eating. "I'm so hungry. I haven't eaten anything all day."

"What about breakfast?"

"Nope. Didn't get out of bed until ten and then....."

"And then I gave him a wake up call and made him get ready to go."  Margaret informed her sister.

"Oh.  Margaret, would you mind walking with me to go to the restroom?"

"Sure."  Margaret pushed her chair out and walked away with her sister.  They made it to the ladies room without running into their mother, but they had no such luck on their way back.  Joan was headed straight for them and there was no where else to go.  "Hi Mom."

"Hello.  I see you brought him with you."

Margaret narrowed her eyes.  "He'll always be with me, so you better get used to it."

"You didn't have to bring him here."

"I wanted to."

Joan went on like Margaret hadn't said a word.  "I see that you two are hiding in the corner just like you always have.  Its embarrassing.  Why do you do that to me?  I thought you two would have grown up a little.  You can't even come and talk to your own mother."

"And just like then you've really gone out of your way to encourage us mother." Margaret said coolly before walking off. She had absolutely nothing to say to that woman.

"Well I never!" Joan gasped as her daughter walked away.

"What do you expect? You hate her." Katie turned to her mother.

"I do not hate her!" Joan exclaimed. "It's that man I can't stand!" She growled. "And as long as she's with him....."

"And yet you're angry because she doesn't talk to you?"

"I'm angry because I told her she couldn't marry that man and she's going against my orders!"

"Your orders?" Katie asked. It sounded like Joan was the one in the army. "Mother, she's going to marry Hawkeye no matter what you or anyone else says. You had better just get over it and accept it."

Joan crossed her arms. "Never." She said sternly. "Besides, he's one of them."

"One of them?" Katie didn't quite understand, what the hell was she talking about?

"You know, he's Italian." She said lowly.

"Oh Mother!"  Katie walked away.  She didn't want to hear anymore.

Katie went back to the table and sat down.  "What was she saying to you?"  Margaret asked.

Katie didn't want to say.  "Nothing really.  You know her."

"Yes," Margaret rolled her eyes.

"Rick, maybe you should take our daughter.  It's not Hawkeye's responsibility to hold her while she's sleeping."

"She's fine," Rick said.  "She looks comfortable to me."

"Would you go get her carriage from the car?  We could lay her in there that way we can all eat."

"Fine."

No one argued with him as he left the table. Whatever his intentions were, Margaret didn't care. She was just happy he was doing something. Hawkeye had handled Janie beautifully and it was clearly obvious that it had make Rick jealous.

"Did anything happen while we were gone?" Margaret asked her fiancé. Knowing Hawkeye, if he was pushed hard enough, he wouldn't have just taken it and sat there.

"No." He shook his head. "We didn't speak at all."

Katie waved her hand. "Don't worry about it. He's like that all the time." Margaret didn't ask any questions, she knew they were having marital problems. Katie had expressed some of her frustrations while they were in the bathroom. Margaret was determined to take the baby for at least one night, if not just to give Katie and Rick a chance to reconnect.

"You said you ran into your mother." Hawkeye tried to change the subject. "How was that?"

"I don't even know why I bother." Margaret sighed and laid her head on his shoulder.

"That bad?" He kissed the side of her head.

"I left before she could really lay it in." She told him. "But Katie talked to her." Then to her sister she asked. "What were you two talking about?" She couldn't imagine why anyone would talk with her more than they had to.

"Oh, she was just being Mom. Nothing new." Katie wasn't sure she wanted to tell Margaret about what their mother had said about Hawkeye, at least not while he was sitting there. She'd wait until they were alone and in private.

"There never is when it comes to her."

It was then that their food finally came. The waiter placed an entree in front of each them and poured Hawkeye and Margaret each a glass of wine. A few minutes later Rick returned with the carriage and took Janie from Hawkeye. It was then that the four adults sat down to eat.

"What kind of sauce is that?" Margaret pointed to Hawkeye's platter after a few bites of her own dish.

"Pesto." He pushed his plate over and let her eat off it as he reached over her and took a fork full of hers. "You ordered tomato and basil?" He asked as he ate.

"Yeah." She screwed her face in a dissatisfied look. "It's not as good as yours." He shook his head in agreement. Margaret pushed her plate to the side and they started to eat off the same plate.

"How come you always end up eating all my food?" He asked her when she'd gone through half his meal.

"You have good taste." She took another big bite.

Hawkeye laughed. "Now there's a phrase I'd never thought I'd hear you say."

Margaret giggled, that was very true. She didn't even let him go shopping alone. Margaret leaned over and gave him a soft kiss.

Across the table the other couple was watching with very disgusted and shocked expressions.

They had once been in love like that, but now they both changed. They were looking at a picture that once was the two of them and then across the room in separate corners was a picture of what could be them in the future.

Al and Joan avoided each other as much as possible, and on the few chances that they did get together, they fought. Joan wouldn't have even showed up to the reunion, but she wanted to see her daughters, and it was really the only chance she had to see Margaret. When she heard that Margaret was bringing someone along she decided that she had to go. All she had done was make more of a mess of things, but that never seemed to matter to Joan.

Hawkeye ended up finishing off Margaret's plate while she ate his. He didn't care about the looks he was getting from across the table. It wasn't anything new. They had been getting those kind of looks since they arrived there. The first being from Joan when they were at the airport, and he had to say he was right in guessing that the last would be from whomever saw them last. Not a single one of them could miss a chance at trying to make Margaret feel guilty about what she was doing. But she wasn't doing anything wrong. No one seemed to care about that though.

After the plates were gone it became quiet at the table again. Margaret had moved her chair closer to Hawkeye so she was using him for a backrest instead of the chair. His arm dangled over her shoulders and held her securely making sure he didn't let go. He didn't want anymore of them hurting her. He would have stood up to every one of them, but he needed to give Margaret a chance to do that. She wasn't ready for him to step in either, and if she wasn't ready then all that would have done was cause a fight. That was the last thing he wanted to do.

Margaret had brought up the subject of taking care of the baby for Katie, but she never got a strait answer while they were at the table. Margaret was guessing that it was because Rick was there and Katie didn't even know if he wanted to go out with her anymore. She'd talk to him later and then get back to Margaret. Katie loved her little girl, but she would jump at the chance to be able to go out alone with her husband. Even just to go out alone would have been nice.

"Its getting late and I have to get home with the baby. Are you ready to go Rick?"

"Yes." He hated being there.

"Will you get the baby?" Rick took Janie into his arms. She had woken up and ate a little bit, but now it was time to get her home and back on her normal routine. She needed a bath and some time to play and then it was off to bed for her. "How long are you two staying?" Katie asked to the engaged couple.

"Not long at all." Hawkeye looked at Margaret. She had had a few more drinks in her and he wanted to get her back to their room before she started to make another scene. They were in a hotel and he didn't want her to be too embarrassed the next day.

"Maggie, give me a call in the morning and we'll talk about you taking the baby."

"Bye honey," she gave her sister a kiss on the cheek. "Bye." She said to Rick. Looking at the baby she smiled. "I'll see you tomorrow sweetheart."

"Bye," Hawkeye said.

The other couple disappeared into the crowd fairly quickly. Once they were out of sight Hawkeye directed his attention back to his fiancé. "Are you ready to go back up to the room?"

She was leaning against him again. "Yeah," she said lazily. "There's no reason to stay down here anyway."

"Okay....." Neither of them moved however, they just sat there and watched the crowd. Margaret's hand had been resting on his knee, but after a few minutes it started moving up his thigh. When it was close enough to almost touch his crotch, Hawkeye decided it was time to go. "Okay, let's go." He stood up then. Knowing her and the way she acted when she was tipsy, it would be best to take her back upstairs. He helped her to her feet and picked up her purse, together they started walking towards the elevator.

"Mmm....." She started giggling when they left the dining room. "Someone wants to play."

Margaret spotted the bar and started walking in the opposite direction. Hawkeye caught her and guided her back towards the lobby. "There's wine upstairs." He told her. At least if she got drunk it would be in private and she wouldn't make another scene.

Margaret went along willingly and let him take her to the elevators. "I know what you want." She whispered to him as they waited. Her hands started to roam again.

Hawkeye pulled them off and held them with his hands. "Your family is all around here." He hissed.

"I don't give a damn." She wrapped her arms around his waist.

Hawkeye held her close. "Yes you do." He didn't want her hands to roam too much so he rubbed her back comfortingly. She usually stood still when he did that.

"No I don't. My father didn't even come and talk to me. Why should I care?"

He knew that she was very hurt by that. He had been there, but he never once made a move to talk to his daughter. If that man knew how much he meant to Margaret, he would feel like dirt knowing how much he hurt her. Margaret hadn't said anything all night about that, but Hawkeye saw her looking over at him wanting Al to come over. He broke her heart and for that Hawkeye hated him. "I know you still care."

Margaret's feisty mood changed to one of depression as quick as those words came out. "I hate him," she said sadly.

"No you don't, honey."

"Why didn't he talk to me?"

"I don't know. I'm sure it wasn't you. It was me."

Margaret looked into his eyes. "You and me come as a set."

He smiled and dropped a kiss on her forehead. "He'll come around. And so will your mother."

Margaret laid her head against his chest. "She's a bitch. I just want my father to be happy for me. I love him so much."

"I know you do, baby." The door opened and Hawkeye pealed her off his chest. He took her hand as they walked to the room. "They just need time."

"I don't know about that. They need more than that."

"Maybe."

"I need a drink," she said as she waited at the door for Hawkeye to unlock it.

"What you need is a good night's sleep."

"No, I really need a drink." Hawkeye unlocked the door and held it open for her. She walked in before him and made for the mini bar.

"Why don't we just blow off tomorrow?" He called to her as he latched the door. "You and I could find our own beach."

"We can't just take off; I promised Katie we'd go." She poured herself a short of vodka.

Hawkeye walked into the living area and threw his jacket on the couch and sat down. "Well, what time do we have to be there?"

"It starts at three, but Katie wanted to have breakfast."

"Breakfast?" He took of his shoes. "That means getting up."

Margaret downed her shot. "We can't sleep all day."

"Well, I am." He told her. "You and your sister need some time to yourselves. Let me stay here and sleep."

"But you have to come with me; I can't be down there all alone." She walked over to him and sat on his lap. "I need you." She kissed him.

Hawkeye knew what she was doing, it wasn't going to work. "You've been handling them for the past twenty-nine years; I think you can handle them for an hour more."

Margaret kissed him again, but this time deeper. Her hand moved down and sought him out. "If I see my mother one more time," she said against his lips. "I'll strangle her."

"She's not going. It'll be just you and Katie."

"How do you know?" She kissed him again.

"Because I was sitting right next to you when you were talking about it."

"Oh, that's right. But don't you want to go with me?" She looked at him pouting a little bit.

A smile spread across his face. "Not for breakfast. You come and wake me up after you're done."

"Please," she begged.

"I'm sleeping in. You know I don't like to get up before ten."

"Fine. You're no fun." She kissed him again.

He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her passionately. "You are though." He laid her on the couch and got on top of her. She smiled up at him and he kissed those smiling lips. "We'll deal with all the problems tomorrow."

She nodded wrapping her arms around his neck. "Tonight...we have fun."

"Oh yeah!"

She giggled and rolled him onto the floor falling on top of him. "I want you to make me feel good. Do you think you can do that again?"

"Margaret, I can go all day."

She ground her hips into him. "I'm counting on all night."

Hawkeye grinned and gave her a mischievous look, he growled and rolled her onto her side. "I'm going to hold you to that." He whispered as he reached around and pulled her zipper down.

"God, I hope so." She kissed his neck.

He slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders and moved to kiss her collarbone. "Do you want to move?" He asked before he got too into it.

"No." She breathed.

"I don't want to give you a burn once we get into it." He pulled more of the dress down

"A burn?"

"A rug burn." He kissed her chest moving her dress down.

She smiled and moved to unbutton his shirt. "I'll be fine. You're the one who should be worrying."

"Oh?" He moved out of her grip and pulled the dress all the way off of her and tossed it to the side. "In that case maybe we should move." He kissed her and pressed his body against hers.

Margaret pulled his shirt off of his shoulders and threw it somewhere in the room. "I hate clothes!"

"Someone's in a hurry." He moved down her body kissing all the way. When he got to her waist his hands pulled down her panties, but then he was in too much of a hurry and ripped them.

"You're lucky that was an old pair." He laughed at her and moved to kiss her again. "Take your clothes off," she breathed as he kissed down her neck. She couldn't take it anymore and needed to feel his whole body against hers.

"Sounds like someone else is in a hurry too."

Margaret reached up and gave him a sultry kiss. "I need to feel you." She told him hoarsely. Hawkeye got her drift and sat up.

"I thought this was your favorite part." He teased her as he started undressing. He was removing his socks at a painfully slow pace.

"Oh God Hawkeye!" She cried, she was losing her patience fast. Hawkeye grinned and removed his belt. He unzipped his pants and took them off. When he was left in his boxers he moved back over to her. He was greeted with a passionate and needy kiss. Her hands moved through his hair and down his back. "Get these off." She said breathlessly as she tugged at the waistband of his underwear. Hawkeye lifted up and helped her to remove them. As soon as he was naked she pulled him back down to her, pressing his naked body against her own.

"You can't go to breakfast now." He said when they broke from kissing. They were already breathing hard.

"Why?" She panted and then pulled him down for another kiss.

When they broke apart again he answered, "I'm going to make love to you all night. You're not going to have the strength to get off this floor." A grin spread across his face. "I'm sure your sister would notice if you showed up tired and sore."

"I may be tired tomorrow, but you'll be the one that's sore." She pulled him back down on her kissing him.

"Is...that...so?" He asked between kisses.

"Uh huh."

He ground himself against her. "I don't think so. I've got some staying power now."

"I can go all night," she shot back.

Hawkeye moved the coffee table out of the way so they had more room. He didn't want to be banging himself off of the hard wooden table. There was something else that he would rather be banging at the moment. "We'll see about that."

She smiled at him and rolled him over so he was on his back. He always talked a big game, and although he was very good, she could always outlast him. He would fall asleep in a matter of a few minutes, but he always made sure she was satisfied before he did that. She didn't have any complaints.

**********

It was two nice long hours later that they somehow found their way to the bedroom. Hawkeye fell asleep with his head on his fiancé's chest. Margaret stayed awake for a few more minutes playing with his soft black hair. Soon she joined him in slumber.

It had been two long days for her and the only time she felt like herself was when she was with him. No wonder why she didn't want anything to do with the rest of them. Staying in the room all day was a nice though, but she knew she couldn't that. It wouldn't be right. As angry as she was at some of them, they were still her family. She knew that if she could get her father to accept her choice of husband then the rest would follow. Even if they didn't, she didn't care as long as her father wasn't among them.

**********

Hawkeye opened his eyes to find that it was still dark out. He lay still for a moment trying to think of where he was. His head didn't feel like it was on a pillow, but it did feel like something familiar. That's when he picked his head up and looked to see that he was on Margaret's bare chest. He grinned remembering that they had both said they could go all night. He climbed on top of her so his legs were on either side of her body and placed kissed from the center of her neck down to her breast bone. He looked up to see her reaction and all she had done was groan, but she was still sleeping. He smiled to himself and then kissed her left breast and then the right one. Still no response. Then he took her breast in his mouth and started to suck on it. That caused a reaction to come from her.

Hawkeye felt a hand sift through his hair and gently scratch his scalp. He knew she wasn't fully conscious, but her hand was encouraging. He sucked gently as she idly caressed his neck and shoulders. Her chest moved beneath him as he continued to apply his ministrations, her deep breathing was a good sign that she was starting to come around.

Finally Hawkeye was rewarded with a deep throated moan of satisfaction. He moved his lips from her breast and let his fingers take their place as she drew him closer and kissed him deeply. Her arms moved to his neck as he moved further on top of her so his body enveloped hers. They kissed passionately for a few minutes as they wrapped their arms around one another and settled into a comfortable position.

"I won." She whispered when they parted lips.

Hawkeye moved lower to plant a kiss below her ear. "It's still dark." He muttered softly. His hand moved beneath the sheet to caress her thigh.

"You fell asleep first." She told him with a soft moan of approval.

"But the night isn't over yet. That was just a nap." Margaret didn't argue, his hand was moving along her ribcage in the most tantalizing manner. He had wonderful hands and knew just how to use them to her advantage. She melted every time he touched her. "I meant it when I said all night." He was parting her legs so he could slip between them.

"Good," she said letting him settle himself. She wanted some more foreplay before she was going to let him get anywhere else. He moved into kiss her again and again. He rubbed his body up and down hers making sure she could feel all of him. After ten minutes of foreplay she was ready for him. She opened her legs to him and let him take his favorite place.

*****

Margaret opened her eyes to the ringing of the telephone. She groaned knowing it had to be her sister. No one else had the number. She moved out from underneath her sleeping fiancé and picked up the phone.

"I'm awake."

"Good," Katie said. "I'll meet you in twenty minutes."

"Bye."

Margaret hung up the phone and closed her eyes again. Hawkeye was right when he said he was going to make her tired and sore. She took a deep breath and made herself get out of bed and into the shower. Hawkeye didn't wake up at all and she knew that he wouldn't. He could sleep through anything, and he was also used to the sounds of her getting ready for work in the morning.

Twenty minutes later Margaret was dressed and ready to go to breakfast. It was a good thing it was just Katie, she couldn't handle seeing anyone else. When she left Hawkeye was still sleeping, but now he had moved further beneath the sheets and was holding onto a pillow. She wished she could have joined him, but Katie was expecting her.

As soon as Margaret got off the elevator she spotted her sister. Katie was waiting for her in the lobby.

"Hi." Margaret smiled sleepily as she walked up to her sister.

"Hey." They started walking towards the door. "You look tired."

"Yeah, I didn't sleep very well." She yawned.

"What happened?" Katie asked. "Bed too hard?"

"No, the bed was just fine."

"Well, what's the matter then?"

"Just couldn't sleep. Where are we going to eat?"

"I know of a place around the corner that we could walk to. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, that's fine." For the first time since she had been there Margaret actually felt comfortable. She was in a pair of jeans and a very casual shirt. "What did you do with the baby?"

"Ah," Katie smiled. "I fed her and handed her over to Rick. He can spend some time with her this morning. It's not going to kill him."

"Good."

"Yeah. I'm really sorry about last night. I know we made you and Hawkeye uncomfortable."

Margaret waved her hand to dismiss that. "It's okay. No harm done."

"Its not always like this. We're just having some problems."

"I can see that," Margaret said as they stepped onto the sidewalk.

"Well...things are just..."

"You don't have to explain it to me, Katie. It's your marriage, not mine."

"I know, but can't I talk to you about it? I want to. I need to."

Margaret glanced over there and smiled. "You can always talk to me."

"Good. Now, about taking Janie for us..."

"Yes?"

"Rick and I talked about it and we want to take you up on that offer. Janie loves you and she's taken to Hawkeye very well. I'm assuming Hawkeye will be with you too."

"Yes." She smiled.

"Do you two ever fight?"

Margaret almost chocked on her laughter. "We fight everyday. About every little thing."

Katie smiled. "How do you get along so well? Rick and I were never like you two are."

"We don't fight about the big things. Like right now...here at this reunion. I've treated Hawk like dirt a few times because I've been so upset about things, but he knows that and lets me go through my emotions. I apologize and he tells me he understands. Don't get me wrong, he's not a saint by any means. He does some things that really piss me off, but we pick our battles."

"Rick and I aren't even happy anymore."

"What happened?"

Katie shrugged her shoulders. "I don't know. I guess it started when Janie was born."

Margaret looked at her sister. "What do you mean? I don't follow."

"Well, having the baby just complicated things. I spent all of my energy and time taking care of Janie. By the time I had a moment to myself all I wanted to do was sleep."

"And it didn't leave much room for Rick." Margaret finished her sentence. She had suspected that's what it was, Rick was feeling neglected.

Katie nodded. "I'm afraid things still haven't gotten better. It's be such a long time since we've.....uh.....you know."

Margaret almost laughed, she didn't think her sister's situation was funny, but when she thought about Hawkeye she found it amusing. They'd made love five times the day before and she knew he would still be itching to get his hands on her when she got back. Even when they were at home they found regular time to be together. "You guys just need some time alone together." She said.

"I hope you're right." Katie stuffed her hands into her pockets.

"I'm sure he's just feeling neglected. He'll come around." Margaret told her younger sister with an encouraging smile.

They found the place and Katie opened the door. "Are you sure you want to get married?" She teased. "You don't really know someone until you've lived with them."

"Oh, I think I know him better than you think I do."

Katie looked at her sister oddly. "What do you mean?"

"We're not like most people. We've been in war together. We lived fifteen feet apart, sometimes less, for three years in Korea."

"Yeah, that's right." Katie looked at the hostess. "Two non-smoking please."

"Right this way."

When they were seated they continued their conversation. "Believe me, we've seen the best and worst in each other and we're still in love."

"I envy you," Katie said to her sister.

"It'll get better. Like you said, you just need time alone; time to focus on each other. That's all Hawk and I have right now. We don't have a baby to work into the mix."

"Not yet anyway," Katie smiled.

"One day...in the future. Right now there are too many other things to worry about."

"Like what?" Katie couldn't think of anything. Right now her own life seemed more complicated and messed up.

"Well for starters, getting Daddy to talk to me and Mom to stop talking to me."

Katie laughed. "When you figure out how to get Mom to stop talking, let me know."

"Okay," Margaret smiled. "Then there's the army, getting married, moving. I'm sure we'll end up in Maine or somewhere close by."

"You said that's where he's from right?"

"Yes." Margaret looked up at the waitress as she came over and put down two glasses of water and gave them some menus. "Thank you."

"Can I get you some coffee?"

"Please," they both said.

"I'll be right back."

"Have you been to Maine?"

"Uh huh. We went up there to meet his father."

"Really? What's he like?"

"He's a nice man. He wasn't what I was expecting."

"An Italian man living in Maine. Somehow that strikes me as odd."

"No, he's not Italian. That's Hawkeye's mother."

"What's she like?" Katie wanted to know what his family was like. Hawkeye seemed like such a good person and she was curious how he came out so well.

"His mother? She passed away when he was boy."

"Oh. That's horrible."

"He never talks about her. I'm guessing that they were very close. He's an only child and she took care of him. He said he and his father never became close until after his mother died."

"Are they still close?"

"Very close."

The coffee came and then they ordered their food. They were both starving and knew exactly what they wanted. After last night Margaret was starving. Hawkeye really did succeed in his mission.

"What about you? Did you like his family?"

"They're nice, but I don't think they liked me very much. But they weren't mean to me like our family is to Hawkeye."

"I know. They want to eat him alive."

"They're in for a real surprise if they try." Margaret smiled. There was no way Hawkeye would let anyone walk all over him. She was just waiting for one of them to cross the line with him. "Did you and Rick decide when you want to go out?"

"Ah...what about tonight? Is that okay with you?"

Margaret looked at the pleading look on her sister's face and knew she couldn't say anything but yes. "Of course, tonight is fine." She smiled.

"You and Hawkeye didn't have plans, did you?"

Margaret shook her head. "No." She said in sort of a flat tone. Margaret didn't have a problem with watching Janie and neither did Hawkeye, she just knew he was going to be hard to control.

"Great." Katie beamed. She'd been looking forward to spending an evening alone with her husband.

Margaret took a sip of her coffee and closed her eyes. She wanted nothing more then to be back in bed and curl up with Hawkeye. Every muscle in her body was stiff; she'd have given anything for one of his massages.

Finally the food came and Margaret opened her eyes. The waitress set down their plates in front of them and refilled their coffee. "I'll bring by the baby's things later on." Katie had been talking to her but she hadn't been listening.

"You could just bring them along to the beach and we could take them from there, it wouldn't be worth it for you to drive all that way back to the hotel." Margaret started picked up her fork and started eating hurriedly.

"Nonsense, it's no trouble at all."

Margaret really didn't want her to stop by. She knew that she would want to come up to the room and that wouldn't be good. She wasn't ashamed that she and Hawkeye lived together or that they were staying together. The problem was it would cause a lot of unnecessary trouble. "No, we'll take her and her things from the beach. That's fine."

"No, because she's going to have to eat dinner and I'll need to feed her."

"Well, don't you pump some milk?"

"Yes."

"Why don't you just give me a few bottles of it?"

Katie smiled. "That's why I need to go home. It has to stay cool and taking it to the beach with us wouldn't do that. I'll bring her by. I want to borrow something of yours."

"You do? What?" Margaret took a bite of food.

"One of your dresses. You said you went shopping the other day, right?" Margaret nodded. "I don't want to go out and buy a dress that I'm only going to wear once, so I wanted to borrow one of yours. You don't mind, do you?"

"No. Come by a little early and we can look and see what I have." Margaret gave in before Katie started to think anything was suspicious.

"Okay. It'll just be me and the baby though."

"Good. Make sure you tell me the baby's schedule."

"I will." Katie smiled thinking about her night without the baby. "I'm so excited. This could be the start of good things. I don't know what we'll do once you go back home. I don't have anyone I trust enough to leave my little girl with."

"I'm sure you'll find someone." Margaret's mind was wandering thinking about how she could prevent Katie from finding out that Hawkeye was sleeping in her room with her. She was only half listening to her sister.

"So when do you think I could come up?" Katie asked, rousing Margaret from her thoughts.

Margaret looked up in alarm. "Well...uh...it's quite messy right now." There were clothes scattered all through the room and a very disgruntled and very naked man sleeping in her bed.

"Oh that's fine. I have to go home soon and collect the baby from Rick. He's not used to being alone with her for so long." Katie finished off the last of her coffee and wiped her mouth. "Then I'll be over."

Margaret didn't say anything for a moment, she was too busy thinking. "Okay," she said finally.

The two of them sat there for a while longer eating a talking.  Mostly Margaret's mind was on the man that was back in the hotel room lying comfortable on a big king sized bed all alone.  She wanted to be with him more than anything.  As soon as she left breakfast with her sister she hurried back to the hotel room and got back into bed with her fiancé.