A\N: Thanks to Tessa, Tracy and H's L Angel for reviews!
July 4 1954
Charles's and my taxi pulled up in front of the Honnicut residence. It was about 8pm July 3, and we'd just come from the airport. His parents and Nora had already gone to their hotel, but I was staying in the spare room, and the twins had Erin's nursery. The three -year-old was sleeping in her parent's bed for the two nights I was there.
"Hello?" I called knocking on the door. It was open in seconds.
"Annie! It's lovely to see you!" Peggy cried, we hugged tightly, mindful of Ben who was asleep in my arms.
"Peg, you look great!" At about five months pregnant, she had a wonderful glow.
"Thanks Annie, you're looking well too. You must be Charles." She turned to Charles who was holding Felicity.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance Mrs Honnicut." He shook her hand politely.
"Call me Peg, come in, the Potters are here too." Some people were getting in a day early, this was true in the case of Hawkeye, and any other east- coasters, whose flights had come in that evening. Trapper was on the same flight as Charles and I. The others would all arrive in the morning as early as 7am.
"Well, I'd love to put the children down, they hated flight across, and they've only just cried themselves to sleep."
"Of course, the nursery is upstairs and to your left. I'll get BJ to put your bags in your room." The cab driver had dumped them in the gate. Charles and I went up and put the babies in the cot, not bothering to change them.
"Annie, shall we?" I turned my face up, he stood behind me, a hand on my shoulder as I watched my babies sleep.
"Let's go Charlie dear." I took his arm.
"Annie, I'd appreciate it if you continued calling me that."
"Sure." BJ was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I let go of Charles, and slid down the banister, BJ catching me.
"Annie, you look great my girl!" He swung me around, laughing as I shrieked with fright and enjoyment.
"I missed you Beej!" I kissed him shortly, just like the one we'd last shared in Korea, and he returned it.
"Charles!" BJ shouted, seeing him for the first time.
"Upon my word, Honnicut it's good to see you again." Charles replied, joining us at the bottom.
"Charlie dear, don't be so stuffy." I reproved mildly. I saw BJ's eyebrows rise at the name, and he looked just plain confused when Charles laughed and kissed my head.
"I see I have a few things to learn." He smiled. Charles and I had agreed that there were a few things that we still had to learn about each other. He had to loosen up a little, and needed to learn about being a parent, while I had to tighten up my already perfected housewife skills and become familiar with upper class protocol.
"Come on, the Potters are dying to see you.' BJ showed us into the kitchen.
"Papa!" Colonel Potter and I hugged tightly.
"Hot dog! It's lovely to see you, and you Charles!" Colonel Potter pumped Charles hand enthusiastically.
"Mildred, it's great to see you!" She clasped my hands and drew back as she felt the engagement ring. She took my left hand in both of hers, and studied it with deep thought and deliberation.
"In my day when a lady wore a ring of that calibre, it only meant one thing. Who's the lucky man?" At Mildred's strong voice, Peggy, BJ and Colonel Potter fell silent.
"I'm going to tell you, but keep it secret, I'd like to tell the others, especially Hawkeye myself." I began.
"We would like to tell everyone else ourselves." Charles corrected gently, sliding a hand around my waist. A slow light of realisation broke over my friend's faces.
"You . . . Charles . . . engaged?" BJ stammered. I nodded with a smile, leaning into Charles's warm embrace.
"Well, I hope that you're very happy." Peggy smiled. Colonel Potter and BJ hugged, kissed and congratulated us when one I-want-Mum yell sounded from upstairs. I dashed up, and after a double diaper change, returned with two hungry but otherwise perfectly cheerful babies.
"Well, well, well, these are the two that caused so much trouble." Colonel Potter laughed, "They are every bit as beautiful as their mother."
"Thankyou papa, I know you're all dying for a cuddle, but Ben and Felicity are dying for a feed, so if you'll excuse me, I need somewhere to put my feet up."
"You can use your bed." Peggy offered.
"That's great Peg, you're quite welcome to come in, and once they're fed, you're quite welcome to a cuddle, they both love people." Ben had relaxed and I could give him to anyone without as much as a whimper or a frown.
Peggy decided she'd come keep me company and we went into my room. I got two cushions from a chair and settled on the bed. Drawing my knees up I put a pillow across them. I settled Ben on my left and Felicity on my right. Their heads met in the middle and their legs came out either side, the cushions supporting their backsides.
"That's clever." Peggy said sitting next to me.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this, if they get much bigger, it'll be pretty squashy, they'll keep bumping heads." I smiled at them. Ben's eyes had closed, and he'd brought one little hand up, kneading gently as he sucked.
"How much longer do you plan to feed them? I fed Erin till six months." Peggy asked, rubbing Felicity's little foot. She kicked her legs and curled her toes in pleasure.
"Mum managed to feed Jack and I till eight months, and I hope to keep going that long, it's hard, and they need a lot more than I can keep up with. They've been on bottles from 10 weeks, but I can start them on solids soon so the demand should ease off. But little BJ here is an especially good eater, he can empty both sides in one sitting."
"Wait until they start teething, that's why I stopped feeding Erin, she got teeth early, and she bit me."
"Ouch!" We talked a bit longer and once Ben and Felicity had been fed and burped, we reappeared. The babies were handed around, admired and cuddled. It was getting late and so Colonel Potter and Mildred went to their hotel. Charles was going to stay with me, somehow his suitcase had wound up in Mill Valley. After resettling my wide-awake twins with many lullabies, we all went to bed the upcoming reunion, floating on our minds.
I woke the next morning about 8 I rolled over to find Charles sitting up, looking down at me as I smiled sleepily.
"Morning sleeping beauty." I stretched and pulled Charles down for a kiss. The kisses we shared weren't as fiery or intense as any I'd shared with anyone else, but they were sweetly passionate and told of simple honest love.
"I guess we should get up." I said.
"Yeah," Charles and I got up, showered, dressed and appeared. Peggy had given the twins a bottle when they had woken, and they were now very happy on the back lawn with Erin and BJ.
The 4077 were going to a restaurant for lunch and then to a hotel where most of them were staying for dinner. Peggy, Charles, BJ, Erin and I played outside for a while before getting ready to go to the lunch.
"Hawkeye, Daniel!" I called, Hawkeye spotted BJ for the first time and many hugs and loud exclamations were shared. The next half-hour was made up entirely of hugs, kisses, reunions, proud displaying of my children, and generally lots of noise. We settled for lunch, by that stage both of my children had been whisked away, and I was able to eat in peace. I was sitting at a table with Hawkeye, Daniel, Charles, his family and the Potters. Margaret had Ben somewhere on the other side of the room and BJ was with Felicity on the next table.
"Shall we?" Charles murmured in my ear. I looked up at him and smiled.
"Yes, now's as good a time as any." I replied softly. Charles stood up and tapped a glass, calling for attention. Slowly everyone fell quiet, and looked towards him, as he took my hand and I stood up beside him.
"Thankyou. I have an announcement to make. A few of you are already aware of this, and we thank you for your discretion in the matter." I glanced at the Potters and the Honnicuts with a smile.
"Not so stuffy Charlie dear." I reproved, sliding my hand around his upper arm. He laughed and kissed the side of my head. Whispers and confused glances were exchanged. Daniel put a restraining hand on Hawkeye's shoulder.
"Very well, as some of you know Annie has been staying with my family and I recently, and during her stay I asked for her hand in marriage and she has agreed to marry me. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present you with the future Mrs Winchester."
"Of course you may." I smiled at him and as we kissed a slow, surprised clap began around the room. We sat down as Colonel Potter proposed a toast to us. Hawkeye raised his glass when needed, but was oddly quiet.
"Annie," Hawkeye whispered between courses, "can I have a word?"
"Sure, excuse me." We went through some French doors and into a small garden.
"Annie, what the hell is going on? You're not really marrying him are you?"
"Yes Hawkeye, I am. Before you ask, and I can tell that you will, it's not for money, or sex, it's just because he loves me and now I love him."
"What does he give you?" Hawkeye demanded.
"A home, security, everything you offered me, love, a great upbringing for BJ and Felicity. There's nothing more than I had with you and nothing less. Besides he's so passionately sweet, it's just lovely to be treated the way I am. Hawkeye I'm happy."
"How can you, you've only been single seven months! You're a mother for Christ's sake, you have two children to think of!" Hawkeye was yelling now, and I raised my voice back.
"Benjamin Franklin Pierce! You think what I'm doing is wrong? Boy, you'd better get your priorities straight! You were sleeping with someone else not two months after we divorced!" I had been going to say 'Margaret', but changed to 'someone else' when I realised that everyone was listening.
"I'm not throwing away my life because I've been asked to marry someone who I've known barely a year!"
"Benjamin! I'd known you for 13 months before I married you, that was throwing my life away! I've known Charlie for a year and a half, I'm going to be happy with him and I'm not asking you throw a huge party, or send me gold and silver. All I want to hear you say is that you're happy for me, and pleased that the kids will be able to grow up in a real home, where their mummy doesn't sleep on the sofa bed and where they can have brothers and sisters, and most of all, I want to hear you say that you're happy that I'm managing fine, and found love again."
"So marrying me was throwing your life away? Well, if it was that, then I don't think you can hear what you want. Because I'm not happy for you!" He stormed inside and into the bathroom, Daniel and BJ on his heels. After some deliberation, Trapper followed, as I burst into tears, and Charles came out of the restaurant and took me to him, murmuring endearments while I sobbed.
I settled down a bit, and we returned to our meals. Nora and Diana murmured a few soothing words while Hawkeye argued with BJ, Trapper and Daniel in the bathroom. They returned, looking exhausted and I could tell from Hawkeye's sullen behaviour that he had lost. However, he refused to talk to me for the whole afternoon, remaining in angry sulky behaviour. Not even meeting my gaze he ate in silence, talking to no one.
"To Charles and Annie, may they have many beautiful children together!" BJ called, everyone echoed and cheered their love and agreement.
"On top of that," Daniel called, "I'm declaring Annie in perfect physical health to try and create more children!" I turned scarlet and threw a napkin at him. Everyone laughed as Charles kissed the side of my head.
We finished lunch and headed to the beach for a few hours, many of us stripping down to our bathers and going swimming. Edna O'Reilly and I sat on the beach with Ben, Felicity and Walter Jr, Radar and Monica's little boy who'd arrived back in April. Margaret, Diana and Charles Senior weren't going in either.
"Annie, come on in, please?" BJ asked, standing over me, dripping wet. I looked doubtfully at the sea, where everyone else swam and splashed. "You went in way back in Korea and there are even more people than before so you'll be just fine." He offered me his hand, and I stood up.
"Okay, but only for a little while BJ." I agreed. I entrusted the babies into Edna' s capable care and followed BJ into the waves. He led me out until we were about waist deep.
"Okay when the next wave comes dive under it. Keep doing that till you're out behind the waves. Ready, go!" I obeyed, swimming under the wave. I resurfaced and kept going. BJ was there by the time I got behind the waves.
"Good on you! See, you're a natural, mind you, so's Hawkeye." He pointed. Hawkeye was diving with the waves, letting them carry him to shore in a wild ride.
"You can't grow up in Maine, and not be a good swimmer your life will depend on it one day, I lived in a seafront town and you could swim before you could walk." I explained, treading water.
"I see, come on, let's go play in the surf, you'll be fine." BJ said, seeing I was getting tired. We went with the next wave, and once the whole camp, Margaret included, was in the surf, we started a game of volleyball without a net.
Drying off, we went back to where we were staying and got dressed for dinner. We'd hired a large room, and we'd planned dinner and dancing till the early hours. BJ, Peggy, Charles, the twins and I caught a cab to the hotel and were shown into the room. Tables were set up at one end, while a dance floor was set up at the other. We had a band hired from 7pm till 11 and jukebox while the band wasn't there.
"You up for a jitterbug Annie? I heard you're a pretty mean dancer." BJ asked as the band began to play a rowdy swing tune. I accepted his hand and he twirled me onto the floor. Pretty soon everyone had stopped dancing as they watched us. The song continued as BJ and I twirled, flipped and lifted. We finished the song, breathless and flushed, and we stood gasping, while 'Tennessee Waltz' began to play.
"It seems that Daniel's pretty fond of Mrs O." Colonel Potter whispered to me, as I danced with him. I glanced over, Daniel and Edna O'Reilly, or Mrs O as many of us called her, were dancing extremely happily. They'd stuck up an instant friendship, and had eaten together, and spent many of the dances together.
"Well, papa Daniel's been a lonely man for a very long time." I paused to do the maths. "20 years to be precise, it's been that long since his Katharine passed away. It's good that he's found someone."
"No one should be that lonely." Colonel Potter said, "I suspect that Mrs O and Daniel have more than friendship." The song had finished and we turned so I could see. Daniel and Mrs O had taken a seat at a table. Daniel had got her a drink and he was holding her hand.
"I see Hawkeye's already talking Radar down." I pointed. "Radar got terribly jealous when he heard his mother had a boyfriend. Mind you, Hawkeye admitted to green eyes when Daniel tried to date after Katharine died."
"Or is Radar talking Hawkeye down?" I laughed at Colonel Potter's remark. Daniel and Mrs O, oblivious to their sons, talked and flirted on. Both men were agitated by their parents' closeness.
"I'm not sure. Excuse me, I promised a dance to Father Mulcahy." I went and danced with him and met his sister, Sister Catherine Angelina Constance Mulcahy. She too, wore glasses, and was as sweet and gentle as her brother.
We kept dancing, and it was just going midnight. Erin, the twins and Walter junior were asleep in the Potter's room, and we knew that they'd all be fine, and every half-hour, someone would check in.
"Everyone, can I please have your attention?" BJ was calling, no one listened. Radar called out, and we fell quiet.
"As you all know, it's a very special day today, I'm not talking Independence Day either, it's Annie's birthday, come up here Anne-girl!" I went to the stage, BJ helping me up.
"Okay, I know you haven't been given anything today, but we got together and arranged something for you. We're breaking a lot of rules here, so you better be grateful!" The band began to play 'Happy Birthday' and Marcia, the Honnicut's next-door neighbour appeared from somewhere. She was holding a box and she put it on the stage.
Everyone finished singing and I bent down and opened it. Four big brown eyes peered out at me and I knew now why they'd broken rules for me.
"We weren't sure if you'd appreciate them after having the kids, but we couldn't think of anything better for you, I hope you like them." BJ said tentatively.
"Oh they're beautiful! Thankyou guys!" Two black, brown and white beagle puppies sat in the box. I picked them up and cuddled the soft little bodies to my cheek. I stood up, the puppies still cradled to my chest.
"You've got a girl and a boy there, brother and sister. We couldn't bear to part them." Peggy explained. "Marcia's been looking after them for the last two days."
"You guys are wonderful! How did you know I loved Beagles?"
"Talked to Hawkeye." BJ replied with a grin. "The breeder named them already, the male, the one with the black ears is Captain and the female with brown ears is Glory. Now I hate to part you, but you'd better give them back to Marcia so she can get them out of here before one of them . . . or us gets into trouble." I kissed my new puppies and placed them back in the box. Marcia made a hasty, secretive exit.
"Thankyou guys so much! I never expected something like this, you know how to make a girl feel really special." I kissed BJ on the cheek.
"Come on down from there Annie." Charles said. I went to the edge of the stage and he put his hands on my waist, lifting me down. I wrapped my arms around him, as someone put on a slow record. We began to dance.
"How do you think Hawkeye's taken it my sweet?" Charles whispered as we danced.
"Not well, you saw the scene he created at lunch, and he hasn't talked to me or danced with me since. He'll barely look at the twins if I'm holding them. Speaking of which. . ."
"I checked them just before Marcia arrived, sleeping like babies, as are Walter and Erin." I smiled at him gratefully. BJ and Hawkeye were talking in low voices, but I still heard their conversation.
"Look at them, I should be the one holding Annie like that. I can't bear to think of what they do, and I don't mean smiling and laughing and flirting they way they are, I mean whatever they do in the bedroom, I can't bear the idea of Annie with anyone else, she's got such a beautiful body, and she's so perfect, I don't want to think of anyone, anyone hurting her or touching her like that." Charles held me a little tighter as he heard that.
"I wouldn't hurt you Annie, you know it." He whispered.
"I know Charlie dear, I love you." He kissed me gently, murmuring his reply.
"Hawkeye, look at them, he wouldn't hurt her. Besides, Annie has a right to live too. It's been seven months, she deserves happiness let her have it, you're not married to her anymore, she's got a right to live and enjoy herself. Don't let your jealousy or whatever it is you have stand in her way. Margaret told me about you and her, that was two months after, don't be a hypocrite, don't turn into Frank Burns, let Annie have her happiness."
"It means she'll move to Boston." Hawkeye sighed. I cuddled a little sleepily into Charles's shoulder.
"You'll work something out, you'll still get to see the kids if that's what you're worried about. I know Anne, we had our share of heart-to-hearts, I've never met a sweeter girl, and she wouldn't take your children away from you like that." The song finished, and a few people swapped partners. Charles and I didn't we were both perfectly content to hold each other, my head against his chest while I listened to his heartbeat.
Peggy and BJ were dancing so Hawkeye was dancing with Monica O'Reilly. Radar was dancing with his mother, having pried her away from Daniel. I could see that Monica was talking some sense into Hawkeye, he was relaxing as Monica's sweet Irish lilt calmed him.
"Don't look now, but I think someone's coming around." Daniel had approached us, and was referring to Hawkeye. The song had finished and Hawkeye was dancing with Mrs O, looking somewhat confused, but much calmer. Nora invited herself for a dance with Charles, so Daniel took me for a turn around the floor.
"Annie, I checked the twins, right as rain." Margaret came up as the song ended.
"Thanks Margaret, you're an angel. I was just going to go up and you saved me the walk." I spotted Hawkeye looking at me, and I smiled. He looked away, but began shuffling in my direction so Margaret and Daniel hurriedly decided to dance.
"Want a dance?" Hawkeye asked sheepishly. I smiled and accepted his offer. "I've Got You Under My Skin" began to play and we shared a reminiscing smile as we moved into each other's arms.
"Anne, I'm sorry about how I behaved, I was really selfish and childish. What I did was wrong, I'm sorry." He said sincerely. "I hope you're very happy and that you can have all the beautiful children you want so badly."
"Thankyou Hawkeye, your apology is accepted." I smiled at him. He grinned and dipped me so enthusiastically I had to clutch at him to stay on my feet.
"You coming back to the Cove?"
"I've got my ticket booked, I'll have to. But I'm only going to be there long enough to get my things sorted."
"I'll miss you, you know that."
"I'll miss you too, but I promise I'll get on a train Friday evening, and come down and spend Saturday with you every week that I can so you can see your babies."
"Good, want to extend the dance?" I laughed and accepted the offer; we were having a last few dances before heading back. I had promised final dances to BJ, Trapper, Daniel, Colonel Potter, Charles and Radar.
"I can't believe I was right. I saw the way he used to look at you, but I never thought it would come to this." Hawkeye shook his head disbelievingly.
"I had no idea he felt that way until he just said out of the blue he loved me and proposed." I smiled at Charles over Hawkeye's shoulder.
"How could you just say yes like that? It took 20 minutes for you to answer me."
"I don't know Hawkeye, I just felt right about it." The song finished. I moved on, it was close to 2am now, and we had our last dances. The last dance was pretty sweet, husbands and wives paired up, Charles and I danced together, and Margaret and Hawkeye even danced, but the best bit of the evening was Daniel and Mrs O dancing cheek-to-cheek, blissfully unaware of anyone around them.
We went to our rooms, or back to the Honnicut residence in my case. The babies were so tired, they slept the whole ride home, and didn't stir when we put them to bed. Afterwards, Charles, BJ Peg and I were so worked up we sat around for hours talking and laughing until finally we began to drop off, at about 4am.
"Oh, I had the best time." I collapsed on the bed, the springs groaned at the sudden weight. Charles, equally tired, collapsed on the bed next to me.
"It was a divine night." Charles agreed. I giggled a little, remembering the other time Charles and I had danced the night away. In our non-existent sobriety, we'd over-used 'divine' before passing out, fully dressed. I snuggled against Charles sleepily, and he wrapped his arms around me.
"My ever beautiful Annie, was Daniel serious when he said you were physically fit?"
"Yes Charlie dear, he said I'm quite okay as long as you're . . I'm . . . we're careful." I laughed. Chuckling softly Charles kissed me and we wound up consummating our relationship. I had to wake with the babies the next morning, after 2 hours sleep, and I forced myself into an unusually bright nature for that early in the morning.
"You're perky." BJ commented, sipping his coffee while Erin had breakfast and I bottle-fed Ben. Peggy and Charles were still asleep.
"I had the best time!" I beamed.
"When, at the reunion or last night?" BJ queried with a smile.
"Yes," I responded happily. "And tell Peggy she should probably change the sheets before anyone else uses that bed." I added with a grin. BJ stood up, and wrapped his arm around my head, ruffling my hair affectionately.
"That's my girl, always a winner with the guys weren't you?"
"Shh, not in front of the children." I reproved. Ben still sucked on his bottle, Felicity chewed her fist in the playpen in the living room and Erin was happily attempting to neatly eat toast.
"I can't believe I'm going home today, I'd love to stay on, but I can't." I set Ben in the playpen.
"We'd have you if you could, but there's one condition before you leave." BJ took my hands and looked me directly in the eyes.
"What?" I asked with a smile, meeting the beautiful green eyes steadily.
"You arrange a reunion next year, wherever you are." BJ said, his eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Of course!" I smiled, and I really meant it.
July 4 1954
Charles's and my taxi pulled up in front of the Honnicut residence. It was about 8pm July 3, and we'd just come from the airport. His parents and Nora had already gone to their hotel, but I was staying in the spare room, and the twins had Erin's nursery. The three -year-old was sleeping in her parent's bed for the two nights I was there.
"Hello?" I called knocking on the door. It was open in seconds.
"Annie! It's lovely to see you!" Peggy cried, we hugged tightly, mindful of Ben who was asleep in my arms.
"Peg, you look great!" At about five months pregnant, she had a wonderful glow.
"Thanks Annie, you're looking well too. You must be Charles." She turned to Charles who was holding Felicity.
"Delighted to make your acquaintance Mrs Honnicut." He shook her hand politely.
"Call me Peg, come in, the Potters are here too." Some people were getting in a day early, this was true in the case of Hawkeye, and any other east- coasters, whose flights had come in that evening. Trapper was on the same flight as Charles and I. The others would all arrive in the morning as early as 7am.
"Well, I'd love to put the children down, they hated flight across, and they've only just cried themselves to sleep."
"Of course, the nursery is upstairs and to your left. I'll get BJ to put your bags in your room." The cab driver had dumped them in the gate. Charles and I went up and put the babies in the cot, not bothering to change them.
"Annie, shall we?" I turned my face up, he stood behind me, a hand on my shoulder as I watched my babies sleep.
"Let's go Charlie dear." I took his arm.
"Annie, I'd appreciate it if you continued calling me that."
"Sure." BJ was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. I let go of Charles, and slid down the banister, BJ catching me.
"Annie, you look great my girl!" He swung me around, laughing as I shrieked with fright and enjoyment.
"I missed you Beej!" I kissed him shortly, just like the one we'd last shared in Korea, and he returned it.
"Charles!" BJ shouted, seeing him for the first time.
"Upon my word, Honnicut it's good to see you again." Charles replied, joining us at the bottom.
"Charlie dear, don't be so stuffy." I reproved mildly. I saw BJ's eyebrows rise at the name, and he looked just plain confused when Charles laughed and kissed my head.
"I see I have a few things to learn." He smiled. Charles and I had agreed that there were a few things that we still had to learn about each other. He had to loosen up a little, and needed to learn about being a parent, while I had to tighten up my already perfected housewife skills and become familiar with upper class protocol.
"Come on, the Potters are dying to see you.' BJ showed us into the kitchen.
"Papa!" Colonel Potter and I hugged tightly.
"Hot dog! It's lovely to see you, and you Charles!" Colonel Potter pumped Charles hand enthusiastically.
"Mildred, it's great to see you!" She clasped my hands and drew back as she felt the engagement ring. She took my left hand in both of hers, and studied it with deep thought and deliberation.
"In my day when a lady wore a ring of that calibre, it only meant one thing. Who's the lucky man?" At Mildred's strong voice, Peggy, BJ and Colonel Potter fell silent.
"I'm going to tell you, but keep it secret, I'd like to tell the others, especially Hawkeye myself." I began.
"We would like to tell everyone else ourselves." Charles corrected gently, sliding a hand around my waist. A slow light of realisation broke over my friend's faces.
"You . . . Charles . . . engaged?" BJ stammered. I nodded with a smile, leaning into Charles's warm embrace.
"Well, I hope that you're very happy." Peggy smiled. Colonel Potter and BJ hugged, kissed and congratulated us when one I-want-Mum yell sounded from upstairs. I dashed up, and after a double diaper change, returned with two hungry but otherwise perfectly cheerful babies.
"Well, well, well, these are the two that caused so much trouble." Colonel Potter laughed, "They are every bit as beautiful as their mother."
"Thankyou papa, I know you're all dying for a cuddle, but Ben and Felicity are dying for a feed, so if you'll excuse me, I need somewhere to put my feet up."
"You can use your bed." Peggy offered.
"That's great Peg, you're quite welcome to come in, and once they're fed, you're quite welcome to a cuddle, they both love people." Ben had relaxed and I could give him to anyone without as much as a whimper or a frown.
Peggy decided she'd come keep me company and we went into my room. I got two cushions from a chair and settled on the bed. Drawing my knees up I put a pillow across them. I settled Ben on my left and Felicity on my right. Their heads met in the middle and their legs came out either side, the cushions supporting their backsides.
"That's clever." Peggy said sitting next to me.
"I don't know how much longer I can do this, if they get much bigger, it'll be pretty squashy, they'll keep bumping heads." I smiled at them. Ben's eyes had closed, and he'd brought one little hand up, kneading gently as he sucked.
"How much longer do you plan to feed them? I fed Erin till six months." Peggy asked, rubbing Felicity's little foot. She kicked her legs and curled her toes in pleasure.
"Mum managed to feed Jack and I till eight months, and I hope to keep going that long, it's hard, and they need a lot more than I can keep up with. They've been on bottles from 10 weeks, but I can start them on solids soon so the demand should ease off. But little BJ here is an especially good eater, he can empty both sides in one sitting."
"Wait until they start teething, that's why I stopped feeding Erin, she got teeth early, and she bit me."
"Ouch!" We talked a bit longer and once Ben and Felicity had been fed and burped, we reappeared. The babies were handed around, admired and cuddled. It was getting late and so Colonel Potter and Mildred went to their hotel. Charles was going to stay with me, somehow his suitcase had wound up in Mill Valley. After resettling my wide-awake twins with many lullabies, we all went to bed the upcoming reunion, floating on our minds.
I woke the next morning about 8 I rolled over to find Charles sitting up, looking down at me as I smiled sleepily.
"Morning sleeping beauty." I stretched and pulled Charles down for a kiss. The kisses we shared weren't as fiery or intense as any I'd shared with anyone else, but they were sweetly passionate and told of simple honest love.
"I guess we should get up." I said.
"Yeah," Charles and I got up, showered, dressed and appeared. Peggy had given the twins a bottle when they had woken, and they were now very happy on the back lawn with Erin and BJ.
The 4077 were going to a restaurant for lunch and then to a hotel where most of them were staying for dinner. Peggy, Charles, BJ, Erin and I played outside for a while before getting ready to go to the lunch.
"Hawkeye, Daniel!" I called, Hawkeye spotted BJ for the first time and many hugs and loud exclamations were shared. The next half-hour was made up entirely of hugs, kisses, reunions, proud displaying of my children, and generally lots of noise. We settled for lunch, by that stage both of my children had been whisked away, and I was able to eat in peace. I was sitting at a table with Hawkeye, Daniel, Charles, his family and the Potters. Margaret had Ben somewhere on the other side of the room and BJ was with Felicity on the next table.
"Shall we?" Charles murmured in my ear. I looked up at him and smiled.
"Yes, now's as good a time as any." I replied softly. Charles stood up and tapped a glass, calling for attention. Slowly everyone fell quiet, and looked towards him, as he took my hand and I stood up beside him.
"Thankyou. I have an announcement to make. A few of you are already aware of this, and we thank you for your discretion in the matter." I glanced at the Potters and the Honnicuts with a smile.
"Not so stuffy Charlie dear." I reproved, sliding my hand around his upper arm. He laughed and kissed the side of my head. Whispers and confused glances were exchanged. Daniel put a restraining hand on Hawkeye's shoulder.
"Very well, as some of you know Annie has been staying with my family and I recently, and during her stay I asked for her hand in marriage and she has agreed to marry me. Ladies and gentlemen, may I present you with the future Mrs Winchester."
"Of course you may." I smiled at him and as we kissed a slow, surprised clap began around the room. We sat down as Colonel Potter proposed a toast to us. Hawkeye raised his glass when needed, but was oddly quiet.
"Annie," Hawkeye whispered between courses, "can I have a word?"
"Sure, excuse me." We went through some French doors and into a small garden.
"Annie, what the hell is going on? You're not really marrying him are you?"
"Yes Hawkeye, I am. Before you ask, and I can tell that you will, it's not for money, or sex, it's just because he loves me and now I love him."
"What does he give you?" Hawkeye demanded.
"A home, security, everything you offered me, love, a great upbringing for BJ and Felicity. There's nothing more than I had with you and nothing less. Besides he's so passionately sweet, it's just lovely to be treated the way I am. Hawkeye I'm happy."
"How can you, you've only been single seven months! You're a mother for Christ's sake, you have two children to think of!" Hawkeye was yelling now, and I raised my voice back.
"Benjamin Franklin Pierce! You think what I'm doing is wrong? Boy, you'd better get your priorities straight! You were sleeping with someone else not two months after we divorced!" I had been going to say 'Margaret', but changed to 'someone else' when I realised that everyone was listening.
"I'm not throwing away my life because I've been asked to marry someone who I've known barely a year!"
"Benjamin! I'd known you for 13 months before I married you, that was throwing my life away! I've known Charlie for a year and a half, I'm going to be happy with him and I'm not asking you throw a huge party, or send me gold and silver. All I want to hear you say is that you're happy for me, and pleased that the kids will be able to grow up in a real home, where their mummy doesn't sleep on the sofa bed and where they can have brothers and sisters, and most of all, I want to hear you say that you're happy that I'm managing fine, and found love again."
"So marrying me was throwing your life away? Well, if it was that, then I don't think you can hear what you want. Because I'm not happy for you!" He stormed inside and into the bathroom, Daniel and BJ on his heels. After some deliberation, Trapper followed, as I burst into tears, and Charles came out of the restaurant and took me to him, murmuring endearments while I sobbed.
I settled down a bit, and we returned to our meals. Nora and Diana murmured a few soothing words while Hawkeye argued with BJ, Trapper and Daniel in the bathroom. They returned, looking exhausted and I could tell from Hawkeye's sullen behaviour that he had lost. However, he refused to talk to me for the whole afternoon, remaining in angry sulky behaviour. Not even meeting my gaze he ate in silence, talking to no one.
"To Charles and Annie, may they have many beautiful children together!" BJ called, everyone echoed and cheered their love and agreement.
"On top of that," Daniel called, "I'm declaring Annie in perfect physical health to try and create more children!" I turned scarlet and threw a napkin at him. Everyone laughed as Charles kissed the side of my head.
We finished lunch and headed to the beach for a few hours, many of us stripping down to our bathers and going swimming. Edna O'Reilly and I sat on the beach with Ben, Felicity and Walter Jr, Radar and Monica's little boy who'd arrived back in April. Margaret, Diana and Charles Senior weren't going in either.
"Annie, come on in, please?" BJ asked, standing over me, dripping wet. I looked doubtfully at the sea, where everyone else swam and splashed. "You went in way back in Korea and there are even more people than before so you'll be just fine." He offered me his hand, and I stood up.
"Okay, but only for a little while BJ." I agreed. I entrusted the babies into Edna' s capable care and followed BJ into the waves. He led me out until we were about waist deep.
"Okay when the next wave comes dive under it. Keep doing that till you're out behind the waves. Ready, go!" I obeyed, swimming under the wave. I resurfaced and kept going. BJ was there by the time I got behind the waves.
"Good on you! See, you're a natural, mind you, so's Hawkeye." He pointed. Hawkeye was diving with the waves, letting them carry him to shore in a wild ride.
"You can't grow up in Maine, and not be a good swimmer your life will depend on it one day, I lived in a seafront town and you could swim before you could walk." I explained, treading water.
"I see, come on, let's go play in the surf, you'll be fine." BJ said, seeing I was getting tired. We went with the next wave, and once the whole camp, Margaret included, was in the surf, we started a game of volleyball without a net.
Drying off, we went back to where we were staying and got dressed for dinner. We'd hired a large room, and we'd planned dinner and dancing till the early hours. BJ, Peggy, Charles, the twins and I caught a cab to the hotel and were shown into the room. Tables were set up at one end, while a dance floor was set up at the other. We had a band hired from 7pm till 11 and jukebox while the band wasn't there.
"You up for a jitterbug Annie? I heard you're a pretty mean dancer." BJ asked as the band began to play a rowdy swing tune. I accepted his hand and he twirled me onto the floor. Pretty soon everyone had stopped dancing as they watched us. The song continued as BJ and I twirled, flipped and lifted. We finished the song, breathless and flushed, and we stood gasping, while 'Tennessee Waltz' began to play.
"It seems that Daniel's pretty fond of Mrs O." Colonel Potter whispered to me, as I danced with him. I glanced over, Daniel and Edna O'Reilly, or Mrs O as many of us called her, were dancing extremely happily. They'd stuck up an instant friendship, and had eaten together, and spent many of the dances together.
"Well, papa Daniel's been a lonely man for a very long time." I paused to do the maths. "20 years to be precise, it's been that long since his Katharine passed away. It's good that he's found someone."
"No one should be that lonely." Colonel Potter said, "I suspect that Mrs O and Daniel have more than friendship." The song had finished and we turned so I could see. Daniel and Mrs O had taken a seat at a table. Daniel had got her a drink and he was holding her hand.
"I see Hawkeye's already talking Radar down." I pointed. "Radar got terribly jealous when he heard his mother had a boyfriend. Mind you, Hawkeye admitted to green eyes when Daniel tried to date after Katharine died."
"Or is Radar talking Hawkeye down?" I laughed at Colonel Potter's remark. Daniel and Mrs O, oblivious to their sons, talked and flirted on. Both men were agitated by their parents' closeness.
"I'm not sure. Excuse me, I promised a dance to Father Mulcahy." I went and danced with him and met his sister, Sister Catherine Angelina Constance Mulcahy. She too, wore glasses, and was as sweet and gentle as her brother.
We kept dancing, and it was just going midnight. Erin, the twins and Walter junior were asleep in the Potter's room, and we knew that they'd all be fine, and every half-hour, someone would check in.
"Everyone, can I please have your attention?" BJ was calling, no one listened. Radar called out, and we fell quiet.
"As you all know, it's a very special day today, I'm not talking Independence Day either, it's Annie's birthday, come up here Anne-girl!" I went to the stage, BJ helping me up.
"Okay, I know you haven't been given anything today, but we got together and arranged something for you. We're breaking a lot of rules here, so you better be grateful!" The band began to play 'Happy Birthday' and Marcia, the Honnicut's next-door neighbour appeared from somewhere. She was holding a box and she put it on the stage.
Everyone finished singing and I bent down and opened it. Four big brown eyes peered out at me and I knew now why they'd broken rules for me.
"We weren't sure if you'd appreciate them after having the kids, but we couldn't think of anything better for you, I hope you like them." BJ said tentatively.
"Oh they're beautiful! Thankyou guys!" Two black, brown and white beagle puppies sat in the box. I picked them up and cuddled the soft little bodies to my cheek. I stood up, the puppies still cradled to my chest.
"You've got a girl and a boy there, brother and sister. We couldn't bear to part them." Peggy explained. "Marcia's been looking after them for the last two days."
"You guys are wonderful! How did you know I loved Beagles?"
"Talked to Hawkeye." BJ replied with a grin. "The breeder named them already, the male, the one with the black ears is Captain and the female with brown ears is Glory. Now I hate to part you, but you'd better give them back to Marcia so she can get them out of here before one of them . . . or us gets into trouble." I kissed my new puppies and placed them back in the box. Marcia made a hasty, secretive exit.
"Thankyou guys so much! I never expected something like this, you know how to make a girl feel really special." I kissed BJ on the cheek.
"Come on down from there Annie." Charles said. I went to the edge of the stage and he put his hands on my waist, lifting me down. I wrapped my arms around him, as someone put on a slow record. We began to dance.
"How do you think Hawkeye's taken it my sweet?" Charles whispered as we danced.
"Not well, you saw the scene he created at lunch, and he hasn't talked to me or danced with me since. He'll barely look at the twins if I'm holding them. Speaking of which. . ."
"I checked them just before Marcia arrived, sleeping like babies, as are Walter and Erin." I smiled at him gratefully. BJ and Hawkeye were talking in low voices, but I still heard their conversation.
"Look at them, I should be the one holding Annie like that. I can't bear to think of what they do, and I don't mean smiling and laughing and flirting they way they are, I mean whatever they do in the bedroom, I can't bear the idea of Annie with anyone else, she's got such a beautiful body, and she's so perfect, I don't want to think of anyone, anyone hurting her or touching her like that." Charles held me a little tighter as he heard that.
"I wouldn't hurt you Annie, you know it." He whispered.
"I know Charlie dear, I love you." He kissed me gently, murmuring his reply.
"Hawkeye, look at them, he wouldn't hurt her. Besides, Annie has a right to live too. It's been seven months, she deserves happiness let her have it, you're not married to her anymore, she's got a right to live and enjoy herself. Don't let your jealousy or whatever it is you have stand in her way. Margaret told me about you and her, that was two months after, don't be a hypocrite, don't turn into Frank Burns, let Annie have her happiness."
"It means she'll move to Boston." Hawkeye sighed. I cuddled a little sleepily into Charles's shoulder.
"You'll work something out, you'll still get to see the kids if that's what you're worried about. I know Anne, we had our share of heart-to-hearts, I've never met a sweeter girl, and she wouldn't take your children away from you like that." The song finished, and a few people swapped partners. Charles and I didn't we were both perfectly content to hold each other, my head against his chest while I listened to his heartbeat.
Peggy and BJ were dancing so Hawkeye was dancing with Monica O'Reilly. Radar was dancing with his mother, having pried her away from Daniel. I could see that Monica was talking some sense into Hawkeye, he was relaxing as Monica's sweet Irish lilt calmed him.
"Don't look now, but I think someone's coming around." Daniel had approached us, and was referring to Hawkeye. The song had finished and Hawkeye was dancing with Mrs O, looking somewhat confused, but much calmer. Nora invited herself for a dance with Charles, so Daniel took me for a turn around the floor.
"Annie, I checked the twins, right as rain." Margaret came up as the song ended.
"Thanks Margaret, you're an angel. I was just going to go up and you saved me the walk." I spotted Hawkeye looking at me, and I smiled. He looked away, but began shuffling in my direction so Margaret and Daniel hurriedly decided to dance.
"Want a dance?" Hawkeye asked sheepishly. I smiled and accepted his offer. "I've Got You Under My Skin" began to play and we shared a reminiscing smile as we moved into each other's arms.
"Anne, I'm sorry about how I behaved, I was really selfish and childish. What I did was wrong, I'm sorry." He said sincerely. "I hope you're very happy and that you can have all the beautiful children you want so badly."
"Thankyou Hawkeye, your apology is accepted." I smiled at him. He grinned and dipped me so enthusiastically I had to clutch at him to stay on my feet.
"You coming back to the Cove?"
"I've got my ticket booked, I'll have to. But I'm only going to be there long enough to get my things sorted."
"I'll miss you, you know that."
"I'll miss you too, but I promise I'll get on a train Friday evening, and come down and spend Saturday with you every week that I can so you can see your babies."
"Good, want to extend the dance?" I laughed and accepted the offer; we were having a last few dances before heading back. I had promised final dances to BJ, Trapper, Daniel, Colonel Potter, Charles and Radar.
"I can't believe I was right. I saw the way he used to look at you, but I never thought it would come to this." Hawkeye shook his head disbelievingly.
"I had no idea he felt that way until he just said out of the blue he loved me and proposed." I smiled at Charles over Hawkeye's shoulder.
"How could you just say yes like that? It took 20 minutes for you to answer me."
"I don't know Hawkeye, I just felt right about it." The song finished. I moved on, it was close to 2am now, and we had our last dances. The last dance was pretty sweet, husbands and wives paired up, Charles and I danced together, and Margaret and Hawkeye even danced, but the best bit of the evening was Daniel and Mrs O dancing cheek-to-cheek, blissfully unaware of anyone around them.
We went to our rooms, or back to the Honnicut residence in my case. The babies were so tired, they slept the whole ride home, and didn't stir when we put them to bed. Afterwards, Charles, BJ Peg and I were so worked up we sat around for hours talking and laughing until finally we began to drop off, at about 4am.
"Oh, I had the best time." I collapsed on the bed, the springs groaned at the sudden weight. Charles, equally tired, collapsed on the bed next to me.
"It was a divine night." Charles agreed. I giggled a little, remembering the other time Charles and I had danced the night away. In our non-existent sobriety, we'd over-used 'divine' before passing out, fully dressed. I snuggled against Charles sleepily, and he wrapped his arms around me.
"My ever beautiful Annie, was Daniel serious when he said you were physically fit?"
"Yes Charlie dear, he said I'm quite okay as long as you're . . I'm . . . we're careful." I laughed. Chuckling softly Charles kissed me and we wound up consummating our relationship. I had to wake with the babies the next morning, after 2 hours sleep, and I forced myself into an unusually bright nature for that early in the morning.
"You're perky." BJ commented, sipping his coffee while Erin had breakfast and I bottle-fed Ben. Peggy and Charles were still asleep.
"I had the best time!" I beamed.
"When, at the reunion or last night?" BJ queried with a smile.
"Yes," I responded happily. "And tell Peggy she should probably change the sheets before anyone else uses that bed." I added with a grin. BJ stood up, and wrapped his arm around my head, ruffling my hair affectionately.
"That's my girl, always a winner with the guys weren't you?"
"Shh, not in front of the children." I reproved. Ben still sucked on his bottle, Felicity chewed her fist in the playpen in the living room and Erin was happily attempting to neatly eat toast.
"I can't believe I'm going home today, I'd love to stay on, but I can't." I set Ben in the playpen.
"We'd have you if you could, but there's one condition before you leave." BJ took my hands and looked me directly in the eyes.
"What?" I asked with a smile, meeting the beautiful green eyes steadily.
"You arrange a reunion next year, wherever you are." BJ said, his eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Of course!" I smiled, and I really meant it.