By the end of the week Ben was all but ready to head home, he missed his father, but as he stood in front of BJ again for the second time in three weeks, he felt his heart in his throat. Peg stood beside BJ, holding Erin, who looked sad to see her "Uncle Ben" go.

"So I'll see you for Christmas," Ben asked.

"Yep, we'll probably be there for a week, we'll give you a call we all the plans are in place," BJ said smiling.

Ben nodded and looked at Peg and Erin, with a sad smile he reached out for the little girl and lifted her into his arms. "It has been a pleasure to get to know you Erin. Your daddy is a fine man and a great friend. I hope that I get the chance to watch him and Peg raise you into a fine young woman. You behave okay," the girl nodded and hugged him around the neck. With a deep sigh he pressed a kiss to the toddler's temple and handed her back to Peg.

"You take care of yourself, and tell your father we can't wait to see you." Peg said pressing a kiss to Ben's cheek.

"I will. You take care of this big lug…and what I said about him during Korea, I meant it." She smiled gently and nodded.

"I know, and thank you."

Ben looked at his best friend and sighed, "I'd say goodbye, but I know we'll see each other again, and soon."

"We're really like it if you and Dr. Pierce decided to come for Thanksgiving, it would be a pleasant treat to meet him," BJ said smiling.

"I'll ask him…see you soon," he said smiling as they hugged.

"Bye buddy…"

"Oh…Peg, if you see Margaret, tell her she's always welcome to come visit me as well," Peg smiled softly and nodded as she gripped BJ's hand. With another quick wave Ben walked towards his plane.

Benjamin Pierce sat at the kitchen table eating dinner his father had made, "so did you tell her?" Daniel asked.

"Oh I told her…she didn't reply," Daniel sighed.

"Maybe she wasn't ready to hear the truth. I'm proud of you son."

"Thanks dad…dad do you ever regret….not marrying Emily?" Daniel looked at his son.

"Do you regret me not marrying her?"

"I made you dump her," he sounded like a twelve year old child again. Part of Daniel desperately missed his little twelve year old boy, but another part saw the adult hurting inside and knew he was more important.

Leaning across the table he looked his son straight in the eyes, "I didn't marry her because I wasn't in love with her. Son, no one would ever take priority over you in my life. I could see she thought that she should be number one."

"You know, when I grow up I wanna be just like you," Daniel chuckled shaking his head.

"Good because when I grow up I wanna be like you," Daniel sat down beside his son.

"Mom sure must have had her hands full with us," Ben grinned gently. Daniel nodded.

"Boy did she ever, Hawk…Ben son, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, I'm sorry you never got to say goodbye."

"Dad, remember when I was eight and I asked you if mom was going to die, and you said no, then I asked if you were going to die."

"I believe I do, I also remember telling you'd I'd try and be here for as long as possible."

"Well, I want you to know, that after all these years, I still need you. Maybe not for the same things, but I still need you," Daniel smiled.

"Korea made you sentimental," Ben chuckled and nodded.

"Korea made me old to, but I'm not complaining," Daniel shook his head.

"Smart mouth."

"From your lips dad."

"Hawkeye?" he looked up through the tent and smiled as he saw her beautiful blue eyes.

"Hey solider, what's wrong?" he joked with her gently. She looked at him sadly.

"Can I talk to you?" He had been expecting this, ever since she had told him she was going to divorce Donald. He patted his bed in all seriousness and waited for her to sit down on his cot.

"I'm all ears," he said smiling.

"I'm scared Hawkeye."

"Why? Why on earth are you scared, besides the loud noises, the horrible blood and this damn war?"

"I don't…what if Donald is the best I'll ever have," she whispered gently. Hawkeye looked at her, suddenly more serious than ever before.

"Margaret why in God's name would you ever think something like that. You deserve and will get much better than Donald, he doesn't deserve to even look at you. You're going to find an amazing guy, who will love you for everything that's good about you," she raised an eyebrow at him. "They're going to love you for your humor, your passion, your stubbornness, even your voice. If the person has any brains in his head he'll see exactly what I see and fall madly in love with you. You're beautiful, you're kind, and you're sweet. You are perfect, will all your faults. A smart man couldn't possibly ask for more," she looked at him. Stunned by what she was telling him.

"Thank you Hawkeye, it's good to know I can talk to someone," she whispered. He grinned and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Anytime Margaret."

Hawkeye sighed as he rolled over on his side, looking at the pictures of his friends on his bedside table along with the picture of his mother. Shaking his head he rolled back over to his other side and closed his eyes, praying for quick sleep.

"Start him on an IV and I want blood pumped in every eight hours," Hawkeye said as he stood over the bed looking down at the sweet kid, "Don't worry Jim, you'll be out of here before Christmas," he patted the kid's leg.

"Thanks Hawkeye," the boy called as Hawkeye and the nursed headed out of the room. They stopped by the side of the desk.

"The next few hours are going to get uncomfortable for him Sharon, so call his mother see if she can't get down here for the evening, also see if you can't find a book or something for him to do."

"And the kidney?"

"Hopefully we'll have one to transplant by tomorrow," Hawkeye said gently. She nodded and headed behind the desk, while Hawkeye continued finishing up some paperwork.

"You look exhausted," came her unexpected voice. He didn't move, he couldn't, afraid she wouldn't be there when he turned around.

"I feel exhausted," he replied slowly turning. He came face to face with the woman he loved more than anything. She smiled gently at him, "what are you doing here?"

"Well, this funny thing happened to me several days ago. This man; a man who I fell for in for Korea, told me he loved me."

"Really, and how did you respond?" Hawkeye asked.

"That's the ting, I didn't really say anything. For what felt like the hundredth time, I let him just walk away. I never told him a thing."

"Why," He asked casually, his stomach churning with ideas.

"Because I was scared. Which is even more ironic because this man was the one who really taught me that fear and pain was okay to feel," reaching out she touched his cheek. "It's not going to be easy Hawkeye; we're both stubborn as bulls. We both hate being wrong. I'm demanding, so demanding that I don't even let the man I love in. You'll never come home and see me waiting with dinner. I'll never bring you your slippers. And emotions will always come a little hard for me. But a wise man once said when you love someone you're always in trouble, you either stop loving them or love them a whole lot more," tears filled her beautiful eyes.

Hawkeye smiled and reached down, placing his hands on her face and neck, "we'll work together, because that's what love is all about, and I do love you Margaret."

Leaning down their lips met, the kiss full of passion and love, his arms wrapped around her waist, "I love you too, so very much," she replied kissing him again.