Disclaimer: I don't own anything from MASH, no matter how much I would love too, I don't so please don't sue me!
Summary: Follow Hawkeye and Margaret's life, together from the beginning!
A/N: Thanks for all the great reviews! Keep them coming! I hope you enjoy the this chapter!
At the end of January, Natalie was beginning to creep all over the place. If there was something to hold on to, she was pulling herself up and walking around a little bit. Margaret and Hawkeye had to keep a careful eye on her so she wouldn't get into anything she wasn't suppose to. Margaret was on the sofa, watching Natalie eye up something on the coffee table, "Don't even think about it Natalie." Margaret says smiling at her daughter. Natalie gave her a huge smile and continued to creep over to the glass vase on the table. "Natalie... No!" Margaret said, grabbing the vase off the table, causing Natalie to show her disapproval of her mother, "This is not for little girls to touch."
"MAMA!" She says, frowning.
"Natalie." She says, giving her a stern look, however quickly forgot about being stern when Natalie smiled. "You think this is all a game don't you? Well let me tell you something Miss Pierce." She tells her daughter, picking her up and putting her in her lap, "This is not a game... I'm always going to win."
"Mama!" Natalie says, smiling.
She squirms in her mom's arms, so she puts her back on the ground, immediately pulling herself up onto the coffee table. Margaret talked to Natalie until the phone rang, she sighed, picked Natalie up and took her into the kitchen, "Hello?" She says, as she puts Natalie on the ground to crawl around.
"Hi Maggie."
"Hi Annie, how are you?"
"Good, how are you?"
"Good thank you."
"How's my niece doing?"
"Great! She's getting big... crawling all around and walking around with the help of furniture a little bit."
"That's great! How's Hawkeye?"
"Good... working as always." She says almost sighing. "How's Tyler?"
"He's doing really well. We may be moving to Indiana though."
"Really? When?"
"If it happens, it will be in March."
"Well, you'll be closer to us." Margaret says looking on the bright side.
"Yeah..." She says.
Margaret knew that something was bothering her sister, but she didn't know what,
"Annie..."
"What?"
"Is something bothering you?"
"No... why?"
"Ann Marie, I know you better then anyone... what's wrong?"
Annie sighs "Nothing is wrong Margaret," She says, "I'm just worried a bit."
"Worried about what?"
"I think I'm pregnant."
"Really? Annie that's great! Why..."
"I have all the symptoms, I'm sick in the morning, I'm late, and I'm constantly moody... so much that people have to know that I'm your little sister." She jokes.
"Hey!" Margaret says, smiling, sitting down at the kitchen table, watching Natalie play with her toys. "Have you gone to the doctor?"
"Not yet..."
"Don't you think you should?"
"Yeah..."
"Are you happy?"
"Thrilled... nervous... I don't know Margaret... Tyler doesn't want a baby yet. He was very sure of himself that we would wait another year or so..."
"It takes two to tango Ann."
"I know... but still, I am scared that he won't want it yet."
"I know how you feel... I was nervous with telling Hawk."
"But you and Hawk... you are married to a surgeon Margaret."
"The army pays pretty well too. Annie what do you want me to tell you, that this is the worst thing that is going to happen to you? You want kids right?"
"Yeah... but..."
"Well it's a little too late for but."
"It's just Tyler..."
"He'll be fine Annie. I know he will... Natalie... No." Margaret said turning her attention to the baby who was trying her hardest to get into the cabinets. She fell on her butt and smiled at her mom. "No." Margaret said sternly, before returning to her sister, "I'm sorry."
"It's ok... what's she doing?"
"Trying to get into everything."
"What do you expect? She's Hawkeye's daughter."
"She definitely is... though she's really beginning to battle me, so she may have a bit of me in her..."
"Dear lord no." Annie says laughing.
"Do me a favor..."
"Ok."
"Make yourself a doctor's appointment, and go... don't worry about it until you are certain. That's what I did with Hawkeye. Then what ever happens happens. Tyler will be fine."
"If you say so." Annie says, a bit leery.
"And I'm here to help you... if you ever need anything you know that I am only a plane ride or a phone call away."
"I know." Annie says, sighing.
"Relax."
"Thanks Margaret."
"You're welcome." Margaret says.
"MAMA!"
"What?" She asks, getting just a smile from her daughter, "Am I not paying enough attention to you? So sorry princess."
"Do you want to go?"
"No, she's fine." She assures her sister. They talk for a few more minutes before they say goodbye, "Let me know as soon as you find out!"
"I will. Thanks again Maggie."
"No problem."
"Give Hawk and Nat a kiss for me."
"Will do, I love you Annie."
"You too Margaret. Bye."
"Bye." Margaret says, hanging up the phone. "Alright Little Girl, it's you and me now. "
She says as her daughter crawls over to her, pulling herself up on her moms legs, holding her hands up. Margaret picks her up and she cuddles against her chest. "So what should we do today honey?" She asks. "Are you hungry now? I bet you are! Let's go see if we can find you some lunch. It's twelve thirty! And then, maybe we can go and take a nap. How does that sound? Good?" She goes to the cabinet to find her something to eat "I am going to have to go to the food store soon, otherwise daddy and I will have to start eating baby food. Maybe I'll go today if he gets home on time. Would you like that? Would you like to stay with daddy for a few hours?"
"Dada!" She says, banging her hands on her highchair.
"I thought you wouldn't mind that." She says, smiling as she places a couple pieces of banana on her table. That was now her favorite fruit, probably because it's the only thing Margaret doesn't puree for her. She only has about five teeth so Margaret is nervous giving her anything too hard. Hawkeye gives her cheerio's sometimes, but other then that, everything's still soft. Margaret started to feel Natalie, and she latched onto the spoon, "You are getting too independent for my liking Natalie." She says, helping her. "Then after this, how about we go and take a nap? Mommy needs to get a few things done around the house." Natalie just smiles and happily eats her food. Margaret cleaned her up after and sat her in the playpen to play for a while. She was getting to a point where she didn't like to be penned up all the time, she wanted to move around. At one thirty, Natalie started to cry, "Ok honey." Margaret said, picking her up. "Are you tired? Come on let's go take a nap." She continues talking to her till they get upstairs. She lies her in her crib and Natalie immediately sticks her thumb in her mouth and closes her eyes. Margaret kisses her and walks out to do a little bit of cleaning. The house was a mess now that Natalie was crawling No matter how hard she tried... the house always was in shambles. Margaret cleaned up the toys and put them in the corner and then went to the kitchen to finish up the dishes and figure out what she was going to have for dinner. Everything she did was usually planned out and organized. That was the only way she felt she could keep control of everything. She spent and hour cleaning and finally got to sit down and watch a little bit of television before Natalie woke up. Margaret went up when she heard her calling, and brought her back downstairs. She got her something to drink and eat and talked to her as she ate. When she was done Margaret got her down from the highchair and let her walk around. She crawled out of the kitchen and into the family room, where she headed to her toys and started messing everything up that Margaret had spent cleaning. All Margaret could do was smile. She heard the phone ringing and went to pick it up, "Hello?" She called, stretching the phone cord so she could see Natalie in the other room.
"Hello Margaret." The friendly, familiar voice called on the other line.
"Hi Colonel! How are you?"
"I'm well, how are you?"
"Doing well also." She says smiling.
"How's Hawkeye?"
"He's fine... working of course, but fine."
"Good, and Natalie?"
"She is doing wonderful. She's getting big and just started to walk around furniture."
"That's when they are most dangerous." Colonel Potter says laughing.
"Yeah, but she is wonderful."
"Good!"
"How is Mrs. Potter?"
"She is doing well. Busy with her bridge playing, but other then that, she is perfect."
"Good." She says, as Natalie starts to crawl over to her. Margaret watches her bypass and head towards the cabinets. "Natalie... don't even think about it young lady." She warns sternly, getting a smile from her daughter. She pulls herself up onto the counter.
"Well, the reason I was calling, is to see if you would like to come out and visit, or if we go out there to see you."
"That sounds good... what would be better for you?"
"Either would be wonderful."
"Well, you haven't come out here in a while, and I'm sure BJ would like to see you soon..."
"That sounds good." Potter says smiling on the other line. "It will probably be easier for us to travel then you."
"Yeah... When would you like to come?"
"I was figuring early February."
"That sounds great Colonel."
"We'll get a hotel..."
"We have plenty of room here if you would rather stay with us..."
"Nonsense, its fine. The misses and I are fine staying in a hotel."
"Ok, but if you change your mind, the offer's here."
"Ok, thank you Margaret."
"Natalie... NO!" Margaret says looking at her daughter, before picking her up. "That sounds great Colonel."
"Well, I hear she isn't too happy with you, so I will talk to you soon, when everything is finalized." He says smiling as he hears Natalie crying.
"Ok Colonel, I'll talk to you then."
"Tell Pierce I said hello."
"I will. Bye Colonel."
"Bye Margaret."
"Natalie... you can't go into the cabinet's honey. I have things in there that could hurt you! I am going to get them out of reach and then you can play in the cabinets when ever you want too sweetheart." Margaret says, bringing the baby back into the family room and placed her onto the floor. She spotted a book she wanted on the table, pulled herself up and grabbed it, falling on her butt smiling. She banged it on the table a few times before handing it to her mom, and lifting her arms up, "You want to read? Ok, that sounds good." She says smiling and begins to read the story. Natalie loved to read and Margaret loved to read to her. They read until Hawkeye came home at four.
"I'm home." He calls, setting down his medical bag on the ground, and hangs up his coat.
"In here." Margaret called as Natalie squirmed out of her grips, and held onto the table.
"Dadadadada!" She called, smiling brightly. She definitely was one of the happiest babies that Margaret had ever encountered.
As soon as Hawkeye came into the family room, Natalie let go of the table and crawled over to him. He picked her right up and gave her a hug, "Were you good today? Did you get into everything and stress mommy out? I bet you did." He says smiling, kissing her cheek.
"She missed you I think." Margaret smiles, as he bent down to give her a kiss.
"Not as much as I missed you two. What did you girls do today?"
"Well, she crawled all over the place, tried to grab things off the table that she wasn't suppose to, and Colonel Potter called."
"Oh? How is he?'
"Fine. He is going to come down in February to visit BJ and us."
"Really? That's wonderful!"
"He really wants to see the kids... he hasn't had the joy of meeting Natalie or Gillian so he is excited."
"I bet... well that sounds just great." Hawkeye says smiling. He tried to put Natalie down on the ground but she clung to his shirt, smiling. "You want to stay with your old man? Well, I guess I can live with that." He grins. "Do you want to go out to dinner with BJ and Peg tonight?"
"Yeah, sure... but..."
"They have a babysitter and she wouldn't mind watching Natalie along with the other two girls."
"Oh, ok, that sounds great." Margaret says, "What time?"
"Six thirty."
"Do you think Natalie will approve of having you leave her?" Margaret joked.
"I don't think she has a choice." Hawkeye replies, "Besides, we haven't gone out, for an adult evening in ages. The last time we tried, Natalie ended up sick."
"That doesn't look like an option tonight." Margaret smiled.
"What do you say Natalie... would you like to go spend the evening with Erin and Gillian?" Hawk asked, getting a smile from Natalie. "I guess that's a yes."
"Mama."
"What?" She says, as her daughter smiles. "I can't wait till you can talk more kiddo. Then I may actually understand what you want."
"She just wants your full attention."
"I know that... but it would be a lot easier."
"Don't rush her too much. I kind of like this age." Hawkeye says smiling.
"You would like any age she hit..."
"Yeah, you're probably right." He says laughing, causing the baby to start laughing too.
"Don't encourage him Nat." Margaret says rolling her eyes. "I better go get ready if we are going to be leaving here on time. Where are we going?"
"That Italian Joint, Trieste."
"Alright... can you put her in something clean and get the bag ready. I am assuming we'll be out till at least 10, so throw in something or her to sleep in."
"Right Major." He says, rolling his eyes.
"Pierce..."
"Go get ready. I'm leaving at 6:15 with or without you."
"I wont be too long."
"Right." He says, looking at his daughter, "Well kiddo, shall we go get something clean on? You are a mess from trying to feed yourself." He stands up and heads up the stairway to her bedroom, "Are you in a blue mood or a pink one... or maybe a purple mood? What do you think madam?" He says in a playful accent laying the baby on the changing table, "Blue you say? Righto. I think you look the best in blue anyway. You're eyes just shine!" He tells her as he pulls the dress over her head, "You have the true Pierce eyes there little girl." After a few more minutes, he picked the baby up and placed her on the ground to crawl around a bit. He watched her crawl around, playing with the toys in the corner of her room, while he grabbed some things for the bag Margaret wanted packed.
"I'm almost ready." Margaret called from her room.
"Alright, I have Natalie packed." He calls back to her, "Come on Natalie, lets go see mommy so I can get a shower."
Natalie smiles and crawls over to her parent's room, "MAMA!"
"Hi baby girl." She says, smiling as Hawkeye heads into the shower quickly before finishing dressing and heading back downstairs. Margaret was finishing feeding Natalie, and amazingly she does not have an food on her dress.
"Are you girls ready yet?"
"Almost." Margaret said, cleaning up her daughters face and hands. She fought her mother the entire time. That was her new game. "Natalie..." Margaret said as the baby squirmed, "Almost done... there! You're all done honey." She tells her, picking her up from the highchair and passing her over to her dad. "Let's go."
They got to the Hunnicut's house five minutes after they left, and walked into the house. They knew better then to knock before entering either households. "Hello?" Hawkeye calls.
"Hi Uncle Hawk!" Erin says running up to him.
He smiles at the little girl and hugs her, "Hi Erin."
"Hi honey." Margaret says smiling, as she was the second to get a hug.
"Hi Aunt Margaret."
"Where's your mom and dad Midget?"
"Mom's in the kitchen with Ashley and Gillian, and dad's upstairs. Come on!" She says smiling.
Margaret follows the child into the kitchen smiling, "Hi."
"Hi." Peg says smiling, as she sees her friends, "Margaret, you remember Ashley."
"Of course, how are you Ashley?"
"I'm fine Mrs. Pierce, how are you?"
"Fine, thank you." She says smiling.
"Natalie got big."
"She did." Margaret smiled. "And how are you Miss Gillian? You are looking as cute as ever." She says to the smiling baby.
"Come here Natalie... let me see you." Peg says, as they exchange kids.
"Mommy."
"What honey?" Peg responds.
"Are you coming home late?"
"Very late. You girls are going to be sound asleep before we get home."
"Oh."
"You are going to have a lot of fun tonight though, and I want you to help take care of the babies ok?"
"Ok mom." Erin says smiling.
"That's my girl."
Margaret and Peg put the girls down on the floor, and immediately they start to play together. Ashley smiles and says, "Do you have any rules for me?"
"My girls go to bed at 7:00 and 7:30... Margaret?"
"Natalie's usually around 7 too. She already ate and should be ok, but I have a bottle for her in the bag."
"Ok."
Natalie was cautious of Ashley. She just started on a new phase; when ever her parents left, she would start crying, but would usually stop fairly quickly. She crawled over to her mom and raised her hands, Margaret picked her up and she lay her head against her moms neck, shyly, "What's this shy girl? You know Ashley." She says smiling.
"Mama." She says, grabbing onto her shirt.
"She just stared to realize when we leave, so she may cry a bit..."
"That's no problem... Gillian does the same thing." Ashley says.
Margaret kisses her daughter's head and hears BJ come in with Hawkeye, "Hi Margaret."
"Hi BJ."
"You girls ready yet?" Hawkeye asks smiling.
"We're ready when you are." Peg says.
"How are you Dr. Pierce?"
"Fine Ashley, how are you?"
"Fine." She smiles.
Hawkeye takes his daughter from his wife and kisses her cheek, "You be a good girl tonight ok Natalie?" He asks, as she grabs onto his shirt, "Oh no, none of this." He tells her, un-wrapping her fist from his shirt. Margaret kisses her too while BJ and Peg say goodbye too their kids, "Be good Princess." Margaret says, as Hawkeye hands her over to Ashley. She immediately starts to cry a little bit, reaching for her mom and dad. "Let's go." She says, and they walk outside quickly.
"Gill does the same thing." BJ says, smiling.
"It's kind of nice to be wanted." Margaret said.
"She'll be fine." Hawkeye assured her.
"I know." She says, "Who's driving?"
"I'll drive." BJ says, unlocking his car.
They head to the restaurant and have a nice, quiet dinner.
"So did you hear from Colonel Potter?" BJ asked.
"Yes. He is coming out in February."
"Yeah, that's what he told us too."
"I can't wait to see him." Margaret continued. "It's been almost two years since we all have."
"Has it been that long?"
"Our wedding." Hawkeye says, smiling.
"I guess it has been." Peg says, nodding.
"It will be nice to see him." BJ says, smiling.
"Does he know when they are coming?" Peg asked.
"No, they just know it will be in February."
"Excellent." BJ says, "I think the Colonel should make a guest appearance at the hospital with us. It would do him good."
"I think your right Beej."
"I think he has had enough of you two clowns in the operating room, I know I have." Margaret smiles.
"Which is why you married me right?"
"Of course." She says laughing.
They spend the rest of the night talking and eating at the restaurant, mostly just enjoying their time together without the kids clinging to them. It was a nice change of pace for the adults and they relished in the time together. They headed home about eleven o'clock to the Hunnicut's house and sat around, drinking coffee till midnight, when Hawkeye grabbed Natalie from Gillian's room and they headed home for the night. Tomorrow, Hawkeye and BJ were going to be pulling a 24 hour shift. They would be gone from eight pm till eight pm the next day. Margaret and Peg hated when this happened, but they were getting use to it. Every time this happened, Hawkeye came home in a horrible mood, and according to Peg, so did BJ. And ever time Natalie didn't see her daddy for a few days, or even a full day she would cling to him, and if he wasn't holding her she would cry. Natalie just didn't understand why her daddy left for such long hours. They say babies can't tell the difference of how long someone is gone, but Natalie proved that wrong in Margaret's eyes.
Hawkeye and Margaret had dinner, and he spent the rest of the night with Natalie, until about seven thirty when he left to pick BJ up.
"Lunch tomorrow?" Margaret asked him.
"I'll have to call you. I really don't know what's going to be on my plate when I get there." He says, sighing.
"You'll be home around eight tomorrow night though right?"
"That's what I'm planning on doing... but once again..."
"I know."
"I hate these twenty four hour shifts myself Margaret."
"I know." She says, not really trying to make him feel bad, but it was happening.
"There is nothing I can do about it..."
"Hawk, I know. Get going. BJ will be expecting you."
"I'll see you tomorrow night." He says, kissing her cheek.
"Good night." She says as he heads out the door. She sighed and locked around the door behind him. "This place is a mess..." She says to herself as she looks around at the house before beginning to clean it up. "How can such a little girl cause such a huge mess?"
Margaret cleaned till around ten, and then took two more hours to shower and relax in front of the TV. It was midnight before she crawled into the big empty bed and slept until the next morning when she was woken up by Natalie.
"Mama!" She called, standing up in her crib, "MAMA!"
"Good morning." She says smiling to the ten month old, picking her up, "How are you princess? Did you have a nice sleep?" She says, as she changes her. "Well kiddo, it's just you and me today. Daddy is at work till late tonight, so what should you and I do? I was thinking about going to the park, and we can see if Aunt Peg and the girls would like to go, what do you think? Do you want to see Gillian and Erin?" The baby squealed and kicked her arms and legs, "I take that as a yes."
The girls spent the day together, and BJ and Hawkeye spent it in surgery. It was their fourth major surgery today, that had to be taken care of right away, and it had to be done together.
"It's a good thing we learned this in Korea." BJ says as they attack the aneurysm.
"Yeah, because if we didn't learn it at that precise moment over in Korea, we would have known about it six months earlier in the states." Hawkeye grumbles, "Retract that please. You have it Beej?"
"Yeah... scalpel." He says, as the nurse hands it to him. "Tie that off Hawk."
"Right." He says. They were both exhausted. Neither one of them had had a chance to sleep and they were up cutting almost all night. As soon as they came out, they had to go right back in.
"Only two more hours Hawk..."
"I can't wait. I hate these secessions."
"Yeah, it reminds me of Korea." He says sighing.
Right when Hawkeye was ready to head home, the Head of Surgery comes to him,
"Hawkeye." He begins.
"What can I do for you Nathan?" He says, looking up from his paperwork.
"Is your patient Mrs. Anderson?"
"Yes."
"The one with the gallbladder?"
"Yes... why?"
"They are prepping her for surgery."
"What happened?"
"She is in extreme pain, and it needs to come out now... I know you are heading home but..."
"No, that's not a problem. I'll just have to give BJ the keys to my car. I'll be right there." He says, walking over to his friend's office. "Beej, I have to go back into surgery, take my car and I'll just get Margaret to grab me tomorrow."
"Are you expecting to be in all night?"
"Yes. Can you call her and tell her that I'll talk to her tomorrow morning?"
"Sure." He says, taking his friends keys. "See you later."
"Right." He says, walking into surgery.
At eight thirty, BJ stopped by Margaret's to drop the car off, "Hi."
"He's still in surgery isn't he?"
"Yeah." He says, as Margaret walked into the house with BJ following. "He says, he'll give you a call tomorrow."
"I should expect this from him..."
"It's not his fault. It was his patient that needed surgery this time... mine will probably be next time."
"I know..." She says sighing, "You look exhausted."
"I am."
"Do you want me to drive you back or would you just like to take the car."
"I don't want you waking up Natalie, so I'll just take his car. I have to be in early tomorrow, so I'll drop the car off to Hawk."
"Ok." Margaret said smiling. "Thanks for letting me know BJ..."
"He wanted to call, but it wouldn't have been until around twelve till he was out of surgery..."
"I know." She says sighing, "Thanks for letting me know BJ. I'll see you soon."
"Right Margaret." He says, smiling at her and walking back out the door.
The next morning Margaret got up with Natalie and waited for Hawkeye to call, which wasn't till around nine, "Hi."
"Hi." Margaret said smiling, "How's it going in there?"
"It's a mess..." He says, stiffening a yawn, "How are you?"
"Fine."
"And Natalie?"
"She's fine... getting into everything." Margaret said, pulling an item out of the baby's hand.
"She should be... that's what ten month olds do." He says smiling.
"And children who are yours. She is just like her father."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not at all... has it kept my days interesting when my husband is gone almost two days."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that Margaret..."
"BJ told me, and I know it's not your fault. So what time are you coming home?"
"I don't know..." Hawkeye says, sighing, "I hope by around one, but who knows."
"So one?"
"Maybe..."
"Do you want me to make dinner tonight then?"
"Better hold off on that too."
"Are you expecting to be there all night again?"
"Well..."
"Dammit Pierce." Margaret said more hurt then angry.
"I can't do anything about it Margaret."
"Yes you can! You can get BJ to work or one of the other surgeons."
"That's the problem. BJ IS working and Luke just quit last week, which they have not found anyone to replace him yet!"
"That isn't your problem!"
"What do you want me to do? Have patients die because my wife doesn't want me to tend to them! You are a nurse! You know how hard surgery is!" He says starting to raise his voice, catching a glance at his secretary looking at him curiously, "Hold on..." He tells her placing the phone on the table and walking over to close the office door, "So... is that what you want me to do?"
"I want you to be home with your family! Your daughter hasn't seen you in two days... I haven't seen you in two days! You can't do lunch... you can't do dinner... you can't even give me an answer of if you are going to come home tonight or not!"
"I did give you an answer!"
"Yes you did, and it was I don't know... that is all I ever get from you anymore!"
"It's only been two days Margaret!"
"Only?! Is that how you think of it as? Only two days?! Would you like to know what you missed?! Would you like to know what you missed of your daughter? Today she spoke more... she is now saying Doggy and Kitty. Did you know this? No because you haven't seen her in two days! She also woke up today crying because of the storm we had last night! What else... oh, today she let go of one of my hands when she was walking."
"What do you want me to do Margaret? Quit? Do you want to go back to work... or should I have someone killed who I am going to inherit a ton of money from? I don't see a lot of choices..."
"You're talking like an ass." She continues, trying desperately not to raise her voice to scare Natalie, but that was getting difficult to do."
"You know what you were going to be getting into with marry a surgeon. You were a surgical nurse for Christ's Sakes! You know how horrible the hours can be, and this is the first time they have been awful. You don't think I'd rather see you then cut open a body? You don't think that I don't want to be home with Natalie? Dammit Margaret..."
"You know what... I'm done. I'll talk to you whenever the hell you come home... if ever." She says, and hangs up on him.
"That woman drives me up a wall!" Hawkeye says, slamming down the phone, seeing his door open.
"What woman?" BJ asked.
"Margaret."
"She always has." He says smiling. "What's wrong?"
"She is blaming me for having to work... I really don't have a choice... just like you don't. We are all doing the work of five doctors with only four staffed. She knows this!"
"You've been away for two days Hawk..."
"Not my fault..."
"Naturally, but still, it takes toll on the girls."
"I know that... then she starts telling me that I should be home rather then at the hospital, which I completely agree. And finally she ends with things Nat has done in the past two days I have been away and missed... which I feel bad, but what should I do? Let Margaret go back to work? Quit the only thing I have ever wanted to do with my life?"
"No one's saying that. She's just mad... and when she gets mad..."
"You know it, and she hangs up on you." Hawk says sighing.
"She'll be fine... are you able to go home tonight?"
"Probably not... I have three patients that have to be operated on tonight, and I have a feeling that Nathan was hinting around that he 'MAY' need me."
"Yeah... I'm doing another 24 hour shift..."
"I'm doing my third." Hawkeye says finishing up a chart.
"Dr. Pierce, report to surgery... Dr. Pierce to surgery please." The announcement calls.
"And there playing my song..." He says standing up, "I'll see you later BJ."
"Bye." And with that the two men split, and head to their respectable places.
That night, Margaret
got the call from her husband that he would not be coming home,
"I
can't get home tonight..."
"Fine." She says.
"I'm sorry..."
Margaret sighed, "Me too."
"Are you alright?" He asks her. She didn't sound like her normal self.
"Fine... I'm just tired."
"Are you feeling alright?"
"I'm fine. I just am tired and I have a bit of a headache. It was just from keeping up with Natalie all day."
"Alright."
"I'm going to go to bed..." She says looking at the clock on the kitchen wall saying it was nine thirty. "Will you be home tomorrow?"
"I'll be home by nine thirty." He says, hoping that will make her feel a bit better.
"Ok, good. I'll see you then." She says almost smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow... I love you."
"You too. Goodnight."
"Goodnight." Margaret said and hung up. She went upstairs, checked on Natalie one more time, grabbed a quick shower and went to bed. The next morning, Margaret was awoken at 5:12 by Natalie crying. She looked at the clock and yawned, not realizing how terrible she felt until she stepped out of bed. Every muscle in her body ached. She went to pick up Natalie and even she felt too heavy, but she picked her up anyway, "What's the problem Natalie? It is way too early for you to be up." She tells her, kissing her head.
"Mama." She says, clinging to Margaret's shirt.
"Shh... what's wrong? Huh? Did you hear something that scared you? You're ok... just relax...." She says, sitting down with her daughter. After about ten minutes, the baby stops fussing and is wide awake. Margaret groans, "You're not going to let me sleep any more are you? Are you hungry?" The baby smiles and the two girls go downstairs. She feeds the baby and gets her cleaned up just as fast and puts her down on the ground in front of her toys. She happily plays with them until she finds something more interesting on the coffee table, so she crawls over and looks at her mother for approval, "No Nat. Don't touch that honey." Natalie continued edging closer to the object on the table and right before she grabbed it; Margaret took it off and put it on the mantle. "Natalie, you have to give me a break today kiddo. I'm really not feeling too well." She says to the baby, "So can you level with me? I'll let you get into everything this afternoon, but right now let me relax. Maybe in about an hour we can take a little nap... what do you think Natalie? I guess we'll have to see." She says smiling as she watches Natalie crawl away from her and back to her toys. Margaret sat back against the couch and watched her.
At around 8:30, Natalie crawled back over to Margaret and raised her arms to her. Margaret winced as she picked the child up as she cuddled against her mom, "You tired honey? You should be." She says, picking her up and bringing her to her bedroom and laying her in the crib. She is instantly asleep, which allowed Margaret to go back to bed for a while.
Hawkeye got home at nine thirty, just as said and walked into the very quiet house. He hung up his coat and put his bag down on the floor and went in search of his family. He checked on Natalie in her crib, and then went into his room. He saw Margaret sleeping and kept quiet. She looked very pale to him, so he went over and placed a hand on her head as soon as he did this she woke up, "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
"It's fine." She says, looking at him, "You're actually home on time."
"Yeah." He says smiling, "And you feel like you have a fever."
"I'm fine." She says.
"Right." He replies, kissing her on the forehead, "How are you feeling?"
"Not too well." She replies sighing.
"Achy?"
"Very... and absolutely exhausted."
"Well, I'm home for two days, so don't worry about a thing."
"I think that is the best thing you have ever said to me." She says, smiling.
"Take your temperature." He says, handing her a thermometer, "I'm going to get a shower, and I'll get Natalie when she wakes up."
"Thanks." She says, sticking the thermometer under her tongue. She waits a few minutes before taking it out and checking how sick she was, groaning when she saw the result, 103." She says aloud. She would have never guessed that her temperature was so high. Hawkeye came out a few minutes later, got dressed and lied down next to Margaret, "I don't want you getting sick." She said, pushing him away as he tried to lay with her.
"I don't care... I work at a hospital... I think I can handle getting the flu." He says, pulling her next to him, "Besides, I missed lying with you."
"I missed it too."
"So, what's your temperature?"
"103..."
"Jeeze." He says. "So how much longer will my daughter sleep?"
"OUR daughter will sleep for about a half an hour more... if we're lucky."
"Ok... so I have thirty minutes to sleep." He says, closing his eyes, and his grip around Margaret. At almost ten on the dot, Natalie woke up. She called for her mother as usual and Hawkeye woke up. He yawned and pried himself out of Margaret's grip, slowly so she won't wake up. He walked across the hall and into the little girls room, "Well hi there princess!" He says smiling at the little girl.
"DADA!" She says, bouncing up and down in her crib.
"I missed you, did you miss me?" He asks, as he picks her up she immediately latches her hands around his neck and lies her head on his shoulder, "I guess you did. It looks like it's you and me today kiddo, mommy really isn't feeling well. So, shall we get out all changed and go downstairs for a little while?" Hawkeye continues talking to his daughter as he changes her and takes her downstairs. He sits down next to her toy pile and she picks out a toy so they can play together, "You know what sweetie, you have way too many toys."
"Dada. She says, handing him a book and sitting in his lap.
"Mommy says you know a couple new words..." He points to one of the pictures on the page, "What is that?"
"Dggy, ktty," She says smiling.
"Good girl!" He says, kissing her head.
When noon came, Natalie got hungry, so Hawkeye fed her, during that time Margaret came downstairs, "Mama!"
"Hi baby." She says as she grabs a glass of water.
"How are you feeling?"
"Awful..." She says, sitting across from her daughter.
"You look horrible."
"Thanks, that made me feel ten times better." She says, sighing.
"Should you be up?"
"I don't know Doc, what do you think?"
"I think you should get your ass back upstairs and into bed."
"I'm going too."
"Are you hungry?"
"No... not at all."
"Don't drink water... drink Orange Juice."
"I don't like Orange Juice." She says.
"I don't care...water isn't going to help you."
"I don't like orange juice..."
"You are a pain in the ass sick, do you know that?"
"Yes..."
He stands up, immediately getting a, "DADA!" From Natalie.
"I'm not going anywhere." He says smiling back at her. He grabs a glass and fills it up with orange juice, "Here, go upstairs and get some sleep."
"I won't drink it..."
"You will." He tells her, putting a hand on her head, "Go."
"I'm going." She says, standing up, reluctantly taking the glass and heads upstairs.
"Your mother is something Nat..." He says smiling.
That afternoon, when Hawkeye was putting Natalie down for a nap she would not let him go. She clung to him until he sat down with her and rocked her to sleep. He put her into her crib and heads into his room and sat down next to his wife. He looks over to the nightstand which had the full glass of juice sitting on it. "Is she sleeping?"
"Yes... are you drinking your juice."
"You aren't my father..."
"Thank god for that, and I'm your husband and a doctor. Drink." He says, reluctantly she picks up the glass and forces a few swallows down her throat. "Good girl."
"I'm not a child."
"You're acting like one." He says, smiling at her. "Now, you are going to do everything I say... you are going to take the medicine I get you, and you are going to rest so you can get well as soon as possible... alright?"
"Alright." She says, leaning against him.
For the next two days, Hawkeye spent taking care of both his girls. Margaret was feeling better by the second day, but she still wasn't one hundred percent. Natalie was attached to him from the moment she woke up till the moment she went to sleep. He always tried to make the most out of his time when he was home, which was not as often as he would have liked.
On February 19th, Hawkeye had just come home from work at three in the afternoon, and Natalie just woke up from her nap. She and Margaret were sitting on the floor reading a book. "DADA!" She said when she heard her father, as usual, when she saw him come in. Hawkeye squatted down a few feet away from her, "NATALIE." He says with the same enthusiasm. "Are you going to come see me?" He asked the ten month old. She pushed herself up and looked at her mommy smiling.
"What are you going to do Nat? Are you going to walk or crawl to him?" She asked as Natalie took her mom's hand, "Oh no, you have to walk or crawl without me. I know you can do it." She says, just getting a smile.
"Are you going to come and see me or not Natalie?!" Hawkeye says, reaching his hand out to his daughter. She smiles and falls to her knees and crawls over to him, "You brat... you can walk! I know you can!" He says laughing, as he scoops her up and kisses her, before standing up and walking over to his wife and giving her a kiss. "Did you talk to Colonel Potter today?"
"Yes, he'll be here on Thursday... and we have the first birthday part for Gillian on Sunday."
"I know. She walked when she was nine months... why cant you?" He teases Natalie.
"Natalie talked sooner..."
"I'd have preferred the walking." He laughs.
"She'll walk when she's good and ready." She says, "I talked to Annie."
"How's she feeling?"
"She says that she has been sick almost every morning, but other then that she says she is doing great"
"Good... are they making an appearance?"
"Not till Natalie's first birthday, same with my parents, and your father."
"That's great." Hawkeye says putting Natalie back down on the ground, walking over to the couch. "So are we picking up the Potters?"
"Yes, and I think BJ wants too..." She stops when she sees Natalie standing up, looking at her daddy, "Come with us." She continues, not to disturb Natalie. Hawkeye watches her closely as she smiles at him, "Come here Natalie." He says, opening his arms to her, she looks at him and slowly takes a few incredibly wobbly steps towards Hawkeye.
"Come here Natalie..." Margaret says as she continues to watch her finish taking the last two steps into Hawkeye's arms. "You did it! You walked." She says as Hawkeye picks her up.
"I can't believe it! Good girl!" He says smiling at her, "You know what this means?!"
"We better baby proof this house better... we have a walker now." Margaret says, even though they both know that the baby wouldn't walk perfectly for a while. "You waited till daddy came home didn't you... you waited for him!"
"I'm glad she did." Hawkeye says. "So Thursday?"
"At three, is when their plane gets in. They are staying in San Francisco, at the Regatta. Is Wednesday your last full day?"
"Yup, I'm off Thursday till Thursday."
"Good. I think Natalie will be thrilled."
"And you won't?"
"Of course I am!" She says smiling, "When do you go back in?"
"Tomorrow seven till five and then I am officially off. Natalie, don't touch that." Hawkeye says as the baby reaches for the lamp, "Natalie." He says raising his voice, causing her bottom lip to quiver, but she stops and crawls over to her dad.
"I think that was the first time I have EVER heard you raise your voice at her." Margaret says smiling.
"I don't want a little girl who doesn't listen... and I hear you have to start young." He smiles back as he picks Natalie up, "You will be a good listener, won't you princess?"
"A spoiled listener." Margaret smiled. "She already has two grandfathers and a grandmother that think she is the greatest little girl in the whole world... not to mention her father and mother..."
"And wait till the Colonel meets her..."
"Them too." Margaret laughs,
"But it's not like we can help it... she is perfect."
"I'll go with that." Margaret smiles, "I'm going to go start dinner... is chicken ok?"
"No... let's go out."
"Ok." Margaret said smiling; she wasn't in the mood to cook anyway, "Where do you want to go?"
"Can we get a babysitter?"
"I could try..." Margaret said smiling, "Let me go call Carolyn and see if she can come over."
"Alright." Hawkeye says smiling, "What do you think kiddo? Can mommy and I go out for a nice dinner tonight? We haven't been out, just the two of us, in a long time."
Margaret came back in and said, "Six O'clock she'll be here."
"Excellent!" Hawkeye says smiling as he gets up to call for reservations. "We have dinner reservations at seven!" '
"Sounds good." She says, looking at her watch, "I'm going to go take a shower."
"I'm in after you." He says smiling.
"Alright... I'll be quick."
"You're never quick..."
"That's you honey!" She smiles and heads upstairs, "Oh, can you give Natalie a bath for me?"
"Sure." He calls back, "What do you say Princess... would you like to take a bath? You're looking a little dirty there angel." Natalie eagerly accepted his offer and they went upstairs. Hawkeye filled the tub and sat her down in it, she immediately splashed around smiling. She loved being in the water, "We'll have to get a pool someday here kiddo, when you are a bit older. I think you'll like that." She smiled up at him and splashed some more, "Hey! Watch that splashing little girl!" He says, tickling her, causing her to splash even more, "I wanted to stay dry until my shower!" He lets her play a little more, before washing her up and getting her changed and into her pajamas. He then switched with Margaret and got a shower while she watched the baby.
At six o'clock sharp Carolyn comes, and Margaret answers the door, "Hi Mrs. Pierce."
"Hello Carolyn." She says smiling, "Thank you for coming over on such short notice."
"It's not a problem."
"She's walking around a bit now, so you have to keep a close eye on her. Dr. Pierce and I have baby proofed as much as we could, but you know kids, especially this one." Margaret smiles at the girl.
"I know. Don't worry, she'll be fine. Won't you Natalie?" She asked the baby.
"Pierce? Are you ready yet?"
"Almost." He called from their bedroom.
"Hurry up or we'll be late." Margaret finishes, picking Natalie up and taking her into the living room. "She's ready for bed, and will probably be exhausted by seven, so don't fight to keep her up."
"Right."
"And she should only need a bottle before... you know the drill. Everything you need to know is on the table."
"Ok." She says as Margaret puts Natalie on the floor.
"We won't be home late... probably around ten."
"That sounds good." She says, beginning to play with the baby.
"Hawkeye!" She shouts, not realizing he was right behind her.
"What?" He says as she jumps.
"You scared me."
"Next time look all around before shouting." He laughs, "Ready to go?"
"Yes." She says smiling.
"Hi Dr. Pierce."
"Hi Carolyn." He says before picking Natalie up and giving her a kiss, "You be good Natalie."
"Bye honey, bye Carolyn." Margaret says kissing Natalie before Hawkeye puts her on her two feet and the baby waves to them.
"You're driving." She says as they get to her car. Hawkeye smiles and opens her door.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Are you hungry?" He says as he gets into his side of the car.
"Very. I haven't eaten since around noon."
"Seven hours is a long time."
"It is!" she says in defense. "I can't wait till the Colonel gets here. We haven't seen him in almost two years... he's never met Natalie..."
"Honey, we've been over this before." He says smiling.
"I know..."
"I'm excited for him to come out too. It's only two days, so relax, and go about your cleaning while I'm at work so you don't yell at me."
"Shut up and drive." She says laughing.
They enjoy a nice dinner, just the two of them and get home at around ten, time to sit around and relax for a few hours before they went to sleep. Hawkeye went to work the next day and Margaret spent the day shopping, cleaning, and entertaining Natalie. She was an absolute joy that day, smiles all around and she walked a lot too. She couldn't stay up for too long, but she tried her hardest. She kept Margaret sane throughout the day.
Thursday at around quarter of three, Hawkeye and BJ were at the airport awaiting the Colonel's arrival, Margaret and Peg opted to stay home with the girls. BJ and Hawkeye were talking to one another when they heard the arrival of the plane and saw the Old Colonel step off with the Misses.
"Pierce, Hunnicut, well look at you two." He says smiling,
"Colonel, you look well." BJ says.
"You look great Colonel, but not as good as the Misses." Hawkeye says kissing her cheek, before embracing the man.
"How the hell are you two clowns?"
"Great, how are you?"
"Also good."
"Where's Margaret?"
"At home, along with Peg and our girls." Hawkeye informed him.
"Let's get your bag's and we can head to the hotel, it's on the way back to his house." BJ says, as Potter shows him which bags are theirs. They then head to the hotel, quickly check in, then it was over to the rental car place and finally to the Pierce household. The men talked a mile a minute throughout the entire car ride, "Well Colonel, welcome to Mill Valley."
"I like it so far." He says as they head up the walkway to the house, and in to the door.
"Hello?" Hawkeye called as he entered his home.
"Hi." Margaret called, picking Natalie up when she saw Hawkeye, "Hi Colonel." Margaret smiles, as he kisses her on the cheek.
"How have you been honey?"
"I've been well Colonel, how are you?"
"Fine also. And is this little beauty Natalie?"
"Yup... this is Natalie." She says smiling.
"Well you are definitely a beautiful thing. You look like your daddy."
"Look at those eyes." Mrs. Potter says, before kissing Margaret, "Definitely her fathers, but she has your skin color."
"How are you Mrs. Potter?"
"Fine dear. How are you?"
"Well." She says, smiling. Natalie decides to play shy to the new people and reaches for her daddy.
"Well, she is definitely a daddy's girl..." Potter says smiling.
"That she is." Hawkeye says, as she burry's her head against his neck, "You're not shy, say hello!" He encourages the baby as they head in to the living room.
"How are you Peg?"
"Fine Colonel Potter, how are you?"
"Fine thank you."
"And you Mrs. Potter?"
"Fine dear. My gosh, look at those beauties. Erin honey, you've gotten bigger."
"Do you remember Grandpa and Grandma Potter?"
"Yes." Erin says smiling.
"Gillian looks just like you BJ."
"Poor kid." Hawkeye says laughing.
"So do you like your hotel?" Margaret asks, taking Natalie from Hawkeye.
"Yes, from what we saw."
"Good."
Margaret puts Natalie on her the ground in front of her, getting an immediate cry from her, "What?" She says, lifting her back up into her lap.
"I don't think she's too fond of new people." Potter says smiling. "That's alright, I'll take no offence."
"She'll warm up to you." Hawkeye says. "Gillian here is usually the shy one."
BJ smiles, "Yeah, I guess when you turn one all of that is forgotten."
"Sounds like it." Margaret says.
That entire day was spent getting reacquainted with one another. They went out for dinner that night, and then came home. The colonel was scheduled to come in tomorrow morning with Hawkeye and BJ. They had it so they weren't working prior to this day, but the women wanted to go shopping so the doctors would head in for a few hours of surgery. The two doctors on 24hour call were glad to get the break. Margaret and Peg decided to take all three girls with them. They left around nine, and the doctors left at nine thirty.
"So, I get to work with you characters again." Potter says smiling.
"We figured it was about time you came out of retirement." BJ says smiling.
"How does this hospital do it..."
"Do what Colonel?" Hawkeye asks as they walk into the surgical ward.
"Work with you two all the time."
"How did you do it?"
"Easily... I was commander of you, and I was forced too." He laughs.
"They love us here." BJ says smiling.
"We are the only two who can work and joke constantly at the same time."
"Years of training in Toms Auto Body shop in Korea." Potter smiles.
"The one and only." Hawkeye replies.
"Morning Doctors."
"Good morning Judy." Hawkeye says smiling.
"Morning." BJ replies, "Judy, this is Colonel Sherman Potter, MD. He will be with us cutting today."
"Nice to meet you Colonel."
"You too my dear."
"Well, looks like you two have a good one to start on, it's a bisection."
"Triple?!" Hawkeye says, shocked.
"Have you done one?" Potter asks.
"Once... no twice."
"Well, I've done one... and they say third times a charm." BJ replies.
"Let's go... Ready Colonel? We'll need all the help we can get."
"As ready as I'll ever be." He says smiling as they head in to scrub up.
They spend three hours straight in surgery performing the bypass, successfully. All three of the men were thrilled to work with each other again. They acted just like they did in Korea, joking to cut the tension. They talked about the past and the future, and finally ended up in the scrub room. Then they headed home for some lunch and to relax. The women got home at around one thirty, and all three girls were still awake.
"Dada!" Natalie says smiling as she sees her daddy.
"Hi Princess, were you good for mommy?"
"She was fine." Margaret said kissing her husband.
"Did you boys play nice in surgery?" Peg asks.
"Yeah we did." Colonel Potter says smiling.
"We always play nice." BJ replies.
"And behave like perfect gentlemen." Hawk finished.
"Funny." Margaret says, as BJ takes Gillian from Peg.
"I think those two are ready for a nap, if you two want to throw them in Natalie's room."
"That's a good idea." Peg says, agreeing with Margaret.
"I think they are implying something Beej."
"Yeah." He says, "Shall we?"
"Of course."
Hawkeye replies as they head upstairs.
Erin spent the afternoon
entertaining her honorary grandparents, and when the two younger
girls woke up, they seemed to recognize the new people and took
quickly to them. Natalie decided to start saying "Pop." For the
colonel who smiled every time he heard her. Gillian and Natalie
walked all over the place, playing with each other and trying to get
the Potter's undivided attention.
The rest of their stay there, they spend with the Hunnicut's and Pierces. They went sightseeing around California and just got reacquainted over the five days they were there. Gillian's first birthday party went off without a hitch and then two days later, the Potters left for Missouri. They all said their goodbyes, and promised to come out to see them next time, soon.
Margaret and Hawkeye were sad to see them go, but also glad. Natalie got back on her regular schedule and Hawkeye went back to his schedule for work.
Before they knew it, May 18 was upon them, and Natalie was turning one. Hawkeye's dad came two days before Margaret's parents came which posed a problem. Natalie was shy towards Dan for about a day, before fully opening up to him, so naturally with the extra day, she would cling to him and try and impress him, but when the Houlihan's came, it was a different story.
"Dad?"
"Yeah Ben?"
"Can you watch Natalie so I can go with Margaret to pick up her parents?"
"Sure." He says, watching his granddaughter play with a toy five feet away from him.
"Thanks, we'll be back in an hour." He says, kissing his daughter, "Are you ready Margaret?"
"Yes." She says, kissing Natalie, "Thanks Dad."
"You're welcome honey. I'll see you in a little while."
"Bye Nattie." Hawkeye says, as she waves.
An hour later, the Pierce's and Houlihan's arrive at the house. Natalie instantly walks as fast as she can over to her dad and raises her arms, "Did you miss me already? I'm sure you had a blast with Grandpop."
"Hi Dan." Kate says smiling.
"Hi Kate, Al."
"Dan." He says, shaking the man's hand.
"I can't believe how big she's gotten." Kate says smiling. "Look at her! I can't believe she is one already!"
"I can't either; it's gone by so fast. Come here baby." She tells her, holding out her arms, which she easily went into. "You are my big girl now aren't you?"
"Mama." She says, before looking at her Grandmom and became very shy, burying her head against Margaret's neck.
"Since when is she shy?" Kate asks smiling.
"She just started it recently." Hawkeye says, "But don't worry she'll warm up."
"Will she come to me?" Kate asks.
"You can try." Margaret says, passing her over to her mother.
"This isn't so bad is it Natalie? You remember me. You and I met when you were first born." She says, talking to the infant. Natalie wasn't exactly sure what to do about the strange face in her house, but she liked her and offered her a smile, "Now, that is the Houlihan smile. You have gotten even prettier since I've seen you." Kate says, kissing her cheek.
"Of course she has the Houlihan Smile... all of our girls have the exact same smile!" Al says, looking at the baby. "Let me see this little soldier." He says, taking her out of his wife's arms.
Natalie didn't warm up as quickly to her grandfather and started to reach for her dad,
"Dada!" She says, starting to cry.
"What's wrong Natalie?" He asks, as she continued to reach towards him causing him to finally give in and picks her up, instantly having her cuddle against her neck, stopping the fussing.
"She'll come around Daddy." Margaret said smiling at him, "She's just shy..."
"I know." He says, brushing the baby's actions off.
Hawkeye puts her down on the floor and she walks over to Dan and smiles, "Pop!"
"What?" He says, looking at the baby, getting a smile from her.
"Up!"
He picks her up and says, "Is that better? Now what?"
She squirms down and takes his hand, bringing him over to her books, "Ook!" She smiles.
"What book should we read?" He asks, as she drops a book in his lap and sits down, waiting for him to read.
"Shall we get you set up?" Margaret asks, taking one of the bags.
"Sure." Al says, following his daughter upstairs.
The next day, Natalie was still very leery of the Colonel. She offered him a smile or two, but only when he was at arms length. He was frustrated with his granddaughters attitude towards him and it was beginning to show. Before they went to bed, Kate looked at him,
"She doesn't know you Al."
"And she doesn't know you either. You and I have seen that child the exact same time, as did Daniel."
"Daniel has been here two days longer. Hawkeye says that she didn't take right away to Dan either."
"So why does she take to you?"
"Margaret looks like me... maybe that's it. She may have your smile, but she looks like me."
"She should be use to me by now... It's probably her father's doing."
"How on earth could Hawkeye make the child nervous around you?"
"He could..."
"Al, give the child a few days to warm up to you. She's only one, and she has seen us maybe three times since she was born."
"He just..."
"He is her father, and your daughter's husband! Please try and remember that. Your granddaughter turns one tomorrow, she'll warm up."
"Humph."
"You really have to start seeing Hawkeye for who he is..."
"Good night Katherine."
"Good night." She says, sighing.
The next morning, Margaret got up with Natalie, and her Father was already up.
"Good morning."
"Good morning dad."
"Good morning Natalie." He says, getting a smile from her. "Well, that's a bit better then you hiding your face in your mothers neck."
"She just has to get use to you dad."
"I know." He says, watching his daughter put her in the highchair. Margaret got Natalie some breakfast and she happily ate, looking up at her grandfather a few times and holds her spoon out to him, "No thank you, you eat that." He says.
"See, she's warming up."
"Margaret... you don't have to keep reminding me."
"Sorry, would you like a cup of coffee?"
"Please." He says, as she pours a cup for each of them, "When is Annie getting in?"
"At 4:30. I can't wait to see her. Is she showing a lot?"
"Not really, but she is starting."
"I can't wait till she has the baby. I really want Natalie to have a cousin."
"Well, you have you're friends."
"But it's not the same. They are friends, and while the kids call us and Aunt or Uncle, it' not the same as your own flesh and blood."
"Right."
"Has she talked about names?"
"I'm not sure."
"How about where they are moving... does Tyler have a job?"
"I'm not sure..."
"Well what about..."
"Margaret, why don't you wait till she comes here?"
"Sorry." She says, cleaning up the baby.
"I can't believe how big she has gotten."
"Me neither."
"Are you thinking about having another?"
"I'd like to have one or two more... but we'll see."
"Right."
"Do you mind watching Natalie, while I get a quick shower?"
"Of course." He says smiling. "We'll be fine, wont we Natalie?" She smiles and lets him pick her up for the first time in two days, "See, I'm not that bad of a person, but I assure you that you will be one well disciplined child, between both your parents. You are absolutely perfect." He continues to talk to the child and play with her till Hawkeye came down and she runs over to him smiling.
"Are you having fun with pop-pop?"
"Dada!" She says, smiling.
"I thought you are. You have a busy day tonight honey! We have the party starting at six! I can't believe you are one already!"
The party went without a hitch and everyone had fun. When Margaret put the baby to bed she stood back and watched her for a few minutes, before feeling Hawkeye come around behind her, wrapping his arms around her and laying his chin on her head, "What are you doing?"
"Can you believe she is one?"
"I know..."
"I remember when she was just born." Margaret said sighing.
"She's still a baby."
"No... she's a toddler."
"She's a baby." He assures her.
"I just can't believe it."
"Me neither. She's one already..."
"I know... do you know how much she is going to keep on changing? They say between the ages of one and two is the biggest change in the children's lives."
"Of course Major, but how about we take one day at a time. We can always have another baby."
"I know... and I think I'll want one sooner then later." She says smiling.
"We can start now." He says, kissing her neck.
"Not that soon..." She smiles allowing him access. He had been very good the past few days with not going overboard with the intimacy with their parents, but it was beginning to take toll on him, "We should go back downstairs."
"Why?" He asks.
"Because we are in our daughter's room and we have our parents downstairs."
"Damn." He says, but agrees and they head downstairs.
One year ago they were new parents, now they felt like pros. A lot has changed for the Captain and the Major, and a lot more will in the years to come. They couldn't wait to see what happened with Natalie and their lives. It was always a roller coaster ride, and they wouldn't have it any other way.
TBC...
I'm just trying out something different. I always wanted to read a story that followed the way through Hawkeye and Margaret's life together so I figured I'd have a go at writing one. R&R Please, but be kind! There are PLEANTY MORE CHAPTERS TO GO! Forgive the small mistakes... its' 2:02 in the morning...
Thanks for all the great reviews! Please keep them up! Please R&R!
Thanks
STARY