A Lifetime

by Stary0706

HM Follow the two of them through there lives the happy times and the sad... It's going to be a long story so bear with me! R&R but be kind. New Chapter: PG13 just to be safe! NEW CHAPTER It's a long one!sorry, I suck at summaries

11. The Good Times and the Bad

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! Sorry, I usually don't do cliffhangers, but I felt I had to with the last chapter!

Please R&R

January 5th, 1957 Hawkeye was sitting in his father's office, helping him out for the time he was up. He was so glad that he didn't have to be a full time physician anymore. He had only worked two days and already was sick of it. It was a never ending bore and he was ready to go back to his high pace surgery. It was almost four and Hawkeye was in his old office finishing up some paperwork, before heading back to his fathers house. He heard someone else come into the office and he groaned. Mrs. Kensington comes back into the office, "Ben?"

"Yes?" He asks her.

"Someone is here to see you."

"Who is it?"

"He said his name was John."

"John what?"

"I don't know... should I send him back?"

"Yes." He says, not really knowing what he was getting himself into. He sighs as he hears a knock on his door, "Come in."

"Is that all I get? A come in? After all those months in hell with you, this is how you welcome me."

Hawkeye smiles and stands right up, hugging his best friend "Trapper. How the hell are you?"

"Ok, how are you?"

"Fine."

"I was in the neighborhood and figured I'd stop up and see you."

"I'm glad you did. How did you know I was here?"

"I called your father's house and Margaret told me you'd be here."

"She was right." He says smiling at him, "Sit down. Are you in town for a while?"

"A couple days. I had a conference that ended yesterday in Portland, so I figured what the hell... I'll stop in and see you."

"I'm glad you did. Christ Trap it's been ages since the last time we saw each other... or talked!"

"I know and I'm sorry about that. Two years..."

"Let's not ever do that again."

"Right."

"Where are you staying?"

"In a hotel..."

"Not anymore. You are going to stay with us."

"I don't want to impose..."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. You haven't seen Natalie in ages..."

"I bet she's huge."

"She is."

"I'm also glad to hear Margaret is feeling better. I was worried sick about Hotlips."

"So was I. How's your gang doing?"

"Good. How about you three?"

"Great... soon to be four."

"You're kidding me!"

"No." Hawk says beaming.

"Hawk that's wonderful! Congratulations! When is she due?"

"Thank you and around mid-august."

"Outstanding!"

Trapper and Hawkeye talk a bit about nearly everything, trying to catch up on about two years of not seeing one another. They stayed in the office till five and then headed back to the Pierce residence. "I'm home!"

"DADDY!" Natalie screeches and runs full force into Hawkeye's arms. "I miss you."

"I missed you too." He says kissing her head.

"You always were good with the ladies Hawk."

Hawkeye laughed and Natalie looked at the new man, "This is your Uncle Trapper... can you say hi?"

"Hi." She says shyly.

"Well hi there! You are a pretty thing! I haven't seen you since you were about two months old!"

"Oh!" Natalie says smiling. "Mere!" She says, squirming down off of her dad and taking her new friend's hand.

"Ok. Where are we going?"

"'Oggy!" She says smiling.

"A doggy?"

"Yes!"

"All I see here is your mother!" He laughs, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Very funny McIntyre." She says smiling. "How are you?"

"Ok, how are you?"

"Fine."

"Congratulations on your pregnancy."

"Thank you." She says beaming. "Are you staying overnight?"

"I'm staying for two nights." He says smiling.

"Wonderful, then we have plenty of time to catch up."

"Right."

"'MERE!" Natalie says starting to lose her patients.

"She is your child Margaret..."

"Yeah, she really is."

"What's the doggie's name Nattie?"

"'Ban!"

"Ban?"

"Brandi." Margaret says smiling.

"Well that's a nice name for a dog."

"See?!" Natalie says all excited.

"I do. She is a pretty puppy."

"Mine!"

"Grandpop's puppy." Daniel says smiling.

"No, Gampop's, mine!"

"How are you John?"

"Doing alright, thanks." He says, "And you?"

"I'm well, thank you."

"That's good to hear."

That entire night they all spent time together, trying to reconnect with one another. Hawkeye was thrilled to see him, and vice versa. The next night however, McIntyre dropped a bomb on Pierce. One that hit him straight to the core. Margaret had just gone up to bed, and the two men sat downstairs drinking a bit. "Hawkeye," He started sighing, "Listen, there is a reason I came down here."

"I figured just as much."

"I don't quite know how to tell you this."

"What is it?"

"About six months ago I started feeling very sluggish, had consistent headaches, fevers, night sweats, and I started to bruise very easily." He says, watching his best friend's face turn pale, "I went to get checked out and they took some of my blood to see what's going on, and well..." he trails off.

"Leukemia?" Hawkeye questions.

"Yeah."

"My god..."

"I'm ok right now, it's in remission, but the doctors are certain it won't last. I wanted to come and tell you in person rather then on the phone, and I figured this was the best way to go about it."

"You should have told me... I would have..."

"You couldn't do anything. Its cancer... you know as well as anyone that there is no cure."

"How's your family?"

"They're ok. Its tough on the four kids, but Lorraine is taking it pretty well."

"How long?"

"Weeks, Month's, Years, who knows."

"You didn't lose weight..."

"I did, and I fattened up to this healthy robust shape." He jokes.

Hawkeye cracks a smile, "So... that's it?"

"Yeah, that's it."

"Damn...."

"Yeah."

"You're dying..."

"Not today." He says, trying to lighten up the mood. "Would you rather me have not told you?"

"No..." Hawkeye sighs, "I'm glad you did... I'd rather this entire situation have never come about."

"Me too..."

"I need a drink."

"Me too..."

The two men sit in silence for a few minutes drinking, before they retired. Hawkeye climbed into bed next to his wife and wrapped his arms around his waste. He tried to sleep but was having a difficult time doing so. At around two he rolled out of bed and walked out onto the deck. He stood in the cold, barely feeling it with his hands on the side rail, looking out at the ocean. Margaret woke up and saw him outside, "Hawk?"

"Yeah?"

"Its freezing out there, come inside."

"In a minute."

"What are you doing?"

"Thinking..."

"About what?"

"Trapper."

"Why?"

"He's dying."

"What?"

"He has leukemia."

"What are you talking about?! He looks fine."

"It's in remission."

"You're serious..."

"Would I lie about this?"

Margaret stepped out in the cold and went over to him, "When did he tell you?"

"An hour ago."

"Are you alright?"

"What can I do?"

She kisses his shoulder and wraps her arm around his waste. "You know how long remission can last."

"I also know how short it can last..."

"Don't think that way."

"This has been a hell of a three months."

"You know what they say." Margaret says shivering. "Bad things come in threes."

"So I'm waiting for one more thing... great..."

"Well, you could count Natalie and I separate... then you have three."

"Yeah, I could... so I'm done." He says, finally taking notice to her shivering, "What the hell are you doing out here? Get back inside."

"I go where you go..."

"Get inside... its freezing."

"Not until you come too."

"I can't resist that."

"Are you ok?"

"Yeah... fine."

"Just spend as much time as you can with him Hawk... that's all you can do."

"I know..." Hawkeye says sighing.

"Let's go inside and get some sleep. Natalie should sleep a bit later than usual tomorrow."

"Ok." He says, as they head back inside, shutting the door to the patio, and getting into bed. Margaret lies on his chest and feels him pull her closer to him, wrapping both his arms around her, gently rubbing her back. They slept that way until eight in the morning when Natalie woke up. She went to bed late, so sleeping in was in her plans.

The months went on, as Natalie turned two, Margaret got two sizes bigger. Natalie was amazed at the baby inside her mom's stomach and always asked when the baby was coming, kisses her mom's stomach and talks to the baby. Margaret was thrilled that she was handling the change so well being still a baby herself. They also found out that Peg was having another baby and she was due in November. This pregnancy was a lot easier for Margaret. She wasn't sick in the morning and was kept busy by a two year old, so she stayed in shape. Margaret and Hawkeye had moved Natalie down into the purple bedroom, which was on the other side of their bedroom, leaving the room across open for the baby. She even got a 'big girl bed' which she was thrilled about. Margaret decorated her room with white painted wood.

At the end of May, Margaret noticed something different with Natalie. She didn't want to do anything expect be held. She was very cranky, but Margaret wasn't sure what was bothering her. She put her to bed that night and spent some time to herself before she too went to sleep. Hawkeye was on for the past three days and had not seen his girls since. The next day Natalie slept in till almost 8, and then came into Margaret's room, climbing up onto her bed. She lied against her mom's chest, and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

"Good morning little girl." She says kissing her forehead. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes."

"Well that's good. Should we go get some breakfast?"

"No." She says, snuggling against her chest.

"No?"

"No mommy."

"Why not?"

"No eat."

"Ok." She says, rubbing her back. "Does something hurt you?"

"Mommy..." She says.

Margaret gets up, with the two year old still attached to her, "I'm going to go and get some breakfast... would you like to come with me? Maybe you can watch some TV?"

"Kay mommy."

Margaret sat Natalie on the couch and turned on a television show for her, then went into the kitchen to fix herself some breakfast, and to get Natalie a sippy cup of juice. She went back into the living room and handed the cup to Natalie, "Here honey."

"'Ank you mommy." She says, taking the cup and laying down on the floor in front of the TV.

"You're welcome honey." She says, and goes into the kitchen. She sat down and read the paper for a while, drinking her water and eating cereal. The phone rang at nine, so she put her paper down and went into the family room to answer it, "Hello?" She asked, sitting down on the couch, watching Natalie.

"Hi."

"Hi honey, how are you?" She asks, smiling at Hawkeye's voice.

"Exhausted. I was in surgery all night. How are you?"

"I'm alright."

"That's good, and Nattie?"

"I don't think she's feeling too well."

"Oh?"

"No, she doesn't want to eat or play. She just kind of lies around."

"Aww. She'll be ok."

"I'm sure of it." She smiles. "Are you coming home tonight?"

"Not tonight. I hope tomorrow."

"Ok."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's not your fault." Margaret says sighing.

"Let me talk to Natalie."

Margaret smiled, "Hold on. Natalie honey, do you want to talk to daddy on the telephone?"

"Yes." She says, going over to her mother and climbed up onto her nearly gone lap, "Daddy."

"Hi Princess, are you being good for mommy?"

"Yes."

"Do you feel ok?"

"No." She says leaning against Margaret.

"I'm sorry."

"Come home?" She asked.

"Tomorrow."

"Kay."

"I love you honey."

"Wove you daddy." She says pushing the phone away from her ear.

"She doesn't feel well."

"I could have told you that." Margaret smiles, brushing a piece of black hair that fell into her daughters face. "I'm going to go, I love you."

"I love you too. See you tomorrow, and I'll call you tonight."

"Love you. Bye."

"Bye."

"Ok, Miss Natalie, it's you and me today." She says smiling at the little girl.

"Mommy..." She says, cuddling against her.

"What hurts sweetie? Can you tell me?"

"No." She says.

"Alright, how about you and I just relax today for a while, and then we'll see how you feel."

Natalie cuddled as close to Margaret as she could and stayed like that all morning. She wanted her to hold her no matter what.

That afternoon Margaret coaxed the toddler into eating a little something, and then she went down for a nap. Margaret also took advantage of this and took a nap herself. She was seven months pregnant and exhausted. About an hour later, Natalie woke up and came into her mom's room, and lied down on the bed next to her. "Mommy."

"What honey?" Margaret asked looking at her daughter.

"Tummy hwrt." She says, pouting.

"I know sweetie. I'm sorry you don't feel well." She says giving her daughter a smile and a kiss on her cheek. Margaret had hoped that she was feeling better but that was definitely not the case. "You feel a bit warm kiddo. Maybe we should get a thermometer and take your temperature, how does that sound?"

"Kay."

"You have been pretty healthy for the past two years." She tells her as she takes her temperature. "103." She says aloud looking down into her daughters glassy blue eyes. That was one thing about the Natalie and her father, when they were sick you could tell by their eyes. Margaret shook the thermometer down and went into her bathroom to get her some medicine. Natalie followed her in and looked up at her, Margaret knew her daughters looks and decided to keep a bucket at close reach, which proved to be handy at around four. By seven, Natalie had a 104, almost 105 temperature, and Margaret got worried. She went into the kitchen and called her husband, "Hi, could I talk to Dr. Pierce please?"

"Let me see if I can find him, can I ask who's calling?"

"It's his wife."

"Oh, of course, one second Mrs. Pierce."

Margaret sat on the chair and kept her eye on Natalie in the other room for a few minutes before she heard the familiar, "Hi."

"Hi."

"What's up?"

"Are you busy?"

"Just doing my rounds... is everything ok?" He asks.

"No. Natalie is really sick." She says sighing, "She has been throwing up nonstop since around four, every half an hour and she has a fever of 104."

"Have you tried to give her any water or anything?"

"Yes, about fifteen minutes ago, it came right up."

"And her fever is..."

"Are you paying attention to me!?" Margaret shouts.

"Yes I am." Hawkeye says a bit annoyed. "What is her temperature."

"104."

"Alright. How about this; wait another half an hour, try some water, and call me if she is still sick."

"Ok."

"Try and get some medicine to stay in her too. Keep a check on her temperature."

"Alright."

"A half an hour."

"Ok."

"I'll talk to you soon."

"Ok, bye."

"I love you, bye." And they hang up.

A half an hour later Hawkeye was back on the phone, "You don't waste any time calling me."

"You were the one to say a half an hour."

"I know, how is she?"

"She's sick again. I tried medicine a few times and each time she threw it up."

"Damn, her temperature?"

"104..."

"Alright, bring her in. I want her to get checked out. I don't like that she hasn't been keeping anything down, and I really don't like the 104 temperature...."

"Ok."

"Bring her to the surgical floor and I'll talk to Diane about checking her out. I want a pediatrician to do it."

"Right. I'll be over in a few minutes."

"Ok. See you then." He says, and they hang up. Hawkeye stands up and sees his best friend, "Beej, have you seen Diane anywhere?"

"She just came out of surgery. Why?"

"Natalie's sick and I need her to take a look at her."

"Is she ok?"

"She has a 104 temperature and can't keep anything down, so I want to make sure it's just some bacterial infection rather than something major."

"Alright. I'll see you later then."

"Right." He says, and heads to the entrance of the surgical ward to wait for them. He sees them pull into a parking space and get out of the car. Margaret came over to Hawkeye and he took the baby. "Hi."

"Hi." Margaret said.

"Hi Natalie."

"Hi daddy." She says leaning her head against his neck, giving him a hug.

"Mommy says you aren't feeling well."

"No." She pouts.

"We'll get you some medicine and you'll feel better soon."

"Kay." She says.

"Well, do you know what we are going to do?"

"No."

"We are going to go inside and see my friend Dr. Delaney. She is going to fix you all up. We just have to do a couple of tests."

"Ok daddy." She says, burying her face against his neck.

"How are you Margaret?"

"I've been better." She says sighing.

"You look tired."

"I'm fine."

"Alright, let's go down to the Ped's floor." He says, as Margaret follows him. Natalie keeps her head on his shoulder, only peeking her eyes out every so often. They entered the floor, "Hi Diane."

Diane was the surgical pediatrician, one of the best there are. She was Margaret's age, 34, and absolutely adorable. She was great with kids and was as serious at her work as The Pierces, and BJ was. It was the only pediatrician Hawkeye would trust when it came to his daughter.

"Hi Hawk! I've been waiting for you three." She says smiling. "Hi Margaret."

"Hi Diane."

"And Natalie, I hear you aren't feeling too well honey?" She smiles, placing her hand on the back of her neck. She saw the baby peeking her usually bright blue eyes looking out from her father's neck. "Will you come over and see me? I'll try and make you feel better." She says, as Hawkeye unwraps her hand from his shirt. Diane lied her down on the exam table and began to poke and prod her.

"No." Natalie says, pouting.

"Dr. Pierce, you're needed in surgery. Dr. Pierce, please report to surgery," The intercom called.

"Damn, I'll be back soon." He says, kissing Margaret and Natalie, before heading up to surgery, "What do we have?"

"Appendix."

"Couldn't someone else take it?"

"No... everyone's tied up."

"Alright." He sighs, and scrubs up. He finishes up in a bit over an hour and has the nurse close. He then writes some things on the chart and heads back down to Ped's. He walks into the room and hears Natalie crying, "What are you doing to my daughter?" He says, cracking a smile.

"I think she's sick of me taking her blood."

"DADDY!" She says, reaching from Margaret's arms to his.

"You just want me because I'm taller." He says, picking her up, "Has she been sick again?"

"About twenty minutes ago... you have about ten minutes if she's still on her schedule."

"No." Natalie says, burying her head against his neck. "No more."

"Did you get it all?"

"I need one more tube." She says, feeling bad for the child.

"What do you say Natalie, one more time and then no more."

"No! No daddy no!" She says, crying.

"How about if Mommy does it?"

"Mommy?" She says, sniffling.

"Yeah, mommy can do it. It won't hurt a bit."

"Mommy no hurt?"

"No. And it's only one more time."

"Kay." She says, leaning against her dad.

Margaret stands up and grabs the needle from the Doctor, Diane smiles when Margaret talks to the little girl as she takes her blood. The needle didn't even make the little girl flinch. "There, was that so bad?"

"No mommy." She says, wrapping her arms around Hawkeye's neck.

"What do you think Diane?"

"I think she's extremely dehydrated, and if we can't keep anything in her system we are going to have to IV her. I want to keep her in for a few days, until she stops throwing up."

"Alright." Margaret says, taking her from Hawkeye, "Do you want to try some water for her?"

"Yeah, let's se if it stays in her." Hawkeye says, grabbing her a glass of water, "Can you drink a little Nat?"

"No." She says, pushing the glass away.

"Just a little bit."

"NO!"

"Natalie..." Margaret warns.

She takes a small sip and pushes the glass back away. "No more." She says, leaning against Margaret.

"Ok." She says, kissing her head.

Hawkeye once again heads upstairs to do his checks, and comes back downstairs around midnight. He sees Natalie sleeping. She has an IV dipping into her arm. He shakes his head and turns his attention to his wife who was dozing off by her daughters side. He walks over and places his hand on her shoulder, shaking her gently. She wakes up immediately and looks up at him, "Hi."

"Hi." He says, "Why don't you go up to my office and lay down for a bit."

"No, I don't' want to leave her."

"You need sleep."

"I'm not leaving her alone Hawkeye."

"I'm planning on staying with her. You look absolutely exhausted."

"I'm fine."

"You need sleep. Margaret, you're almost seven months pregnant."

"I'm fine." She says stifling a yawn. "I'm not leaving her alone."

"I'll stay with her."

"What if you get called into surgery?"

"I'm off for the night, I'll stay with her, and if I am called into surgery I'll be sure to come and get you so she is not alone."

Margaret looks up into his stern eyes and nods, "Ok." She truly was exhausted and needed some sleep.

"I'll go up with you."

"Alright." She says seeing the nurse in close range of Natalie.

"I have to fill out something quick and then I'll be back downstairs with her."

"Ok." She says, as they head up to his office.

"Relax, lay down for a little while and try and sleep." She lies on his couch and watches him, "What?" He asks, smiling.

"Nothing." She says, pulling a blanket over her that he had on his couch.

"She'll be fine."

"I know she will." She says, smiling.

"She's just sick."

"I was a nurse you know."

"You still are." He says, filling out a chart. "Go to sleep."

"I will, if you ever stop talking to me." She smiles.

He rolls his eyes and works on his paperwork, and then he heads downstairs to sit with Natalie. Margaret took the opportunity to get a little bit of sleep. She knew that Hawkeye was right, and she was exhausted so the sleep was welcomed. As soon as he left she fell asleep and stayed that way for about four hours. At around 3:40 she went down to the ped's floor, and walked into her daughter's room. Natalie was awake and Hawkeye was reading her a story. Margaret leaned against the door jam, and crossed her arms, listening to the story. Natalie looked up and saw her mom, and smiled a bit, "Mommy." She says, reaching out to her.

"Hi there little girl." She says, walking over to the pair. "Are you feeling any better?" She asks, gently picking her up, careful not to bump her IV.

"No." She says, leaning her head against her shoulder.

"Aren't you supposed to be sleeping?"

"I woke up." She says, kissing the side of Natalie's head, "I can't sleep knowing that she is down here. How is she?"

"Her fever is really high still, but she hasn't thrown up in almost an hour and a half, so hopefully that is done."

"What's her fever?"

"104."

"It hasn't budged?"

"No, but all the tests came back negative. She is just really dehydrated and of course the fever isn't helping anything."

"So what is it?"

"Just a bad bug."

"Mommy, take out." She says to her, holding her hand up.

"No sweetie, you need that in for a little while. Maybe tomorrow we can take it out. It's making you feel better."

"No, out."

"No."

"Please."

"I can't take it out yet honey, does it hurt?"

"Yes."

"Hawk..."

"It's annoying, it doesn't hurt her, I did it myself."

"Ok."

"She's just tired and not feeling well."

"Really Pierce?! She isn't feeling well? Well hell I didn't know that!"

"Margaret...."

"I'm sorry." She says, sitting down on the chair next to Hawkeye.

"What time is it?"

"Four."

"I go on duty at six."

"You should get some sleep."

"No way. I'm not leaving you too." He says, taking Natalie from Margaret's hands, "What do you think honey? Do you think you should get some sleep? You'll feel better after you sleep."

"No." She says, rubbing her eyes.

"She is your daughter."

"Hey!" Margaret said smiling, knowing he was right.

It wasn't for another two days till Natalie got to go home, even though she still had a fever, she was doing a lot better then before. It took her almost a week till she felt like her old self. She was very cuddly when she was sick. All she wanted was to be held, and Margaret loved that. She had gotten far too independent for her liking, which she knew was a good thing, but she missed the needy part of her daughter. She was the typical two year old, into everything. She would tell you exactly what was on her mind, like her father, but also kept a lot of things inside, like her mother. Natalie was a joy though. She loved to talk and Margaret could sit and listen to her all day. Peg and Margaret took the girls out a lot with them and they were joined at the hip it seems like when their husbands were at work. Peg was due in Early September, so she they were busy shopping for new things for the babies. Gillian and Natalie were just like their fathers, best friends. They loved being with each other, and now that they were two, Erin liked playing with them more, which made it easier on the two mothers.

Margaret really started to get excited around the end of June. She began "nesting" as some call it and it drove Hawkeye insane. He spent the days working and the nights doing what ever she wanted. She yelled at him an average of three times a day, either on the phone or in person. He couldn't wait till the baby came.

The one night Hawkeye did get home early they sat down and talked about names. He was exhausted when he came home, but Margaret really didn't care. She sat down next to him and said, "We need names."

"Use the ones we didn't use when we had Natalie." He says, rubbing his eyes.

"Pierce! I'm serious!"

"Margaret... I'm exhausted... I have been cutting for almost 20 hours straight. I want to sleep. Can't we discuss this tomorrow? I'm off!"

"And you can sleep then!"

"Margaret..."

"You don't care about this baby do you? All you care about is you!"

"Ok, ok... I do care, let's talk about names." He tells her, hoping he wouldn't fall asleep as she spoke. He really did care about the baby; he was just so exhausted right now.

"What names do you like?"

"You know that if it's a boy I want the middle name to be Blake..."

"For Henry, yes I know."

"And BJ... that's where the B name comes from."

"Obviously." She scoffs.

"What do you like?"

"I like the name Daniel."

"I do too, but I think I want our son to have an original name. I definitely don't want a junior..."

"I know. So what about Zachary?"

"Zachary Blake Pierce... I kind of like that."

"I also like Samuel..."

"No, I don't like Samuel, but I like Samantha."

"That's nice."

"I also like the names' Kimberly and Tara."

"I really like those." Margaret said smiling.

"So what do you think it is? A boy or a girl?"

"I'm not too sure. It's different then with Natalie, but its similar too. I really don't know."

"We'll know soon enough."

'I can't wait... it's getting a bit uncomfortable." Margaret smiles.

"You can't?! I can't!"

"I don't see you gaining about 30 extra pounds..."

"No, but I swear my blood pressure has gone up 30 extra points from you." He smiles, kissing the side of her head.

"WHAT!!!" She says, starting to lose her temper.

"So, Zachary and Kimberly or Tara.... Sound good?"

"Yes."

"Come to bed with me."

"Ok." She says, as he pulls her up off the chair. Hawkeye went around the house to make sure that all the doors were locked and the lights were out, then he took Margaret's hand and heads up the stairs, quickly checking on Natalie then going into their own room.

Around July 26, Margaret started feeling twinges. She pushed it off and she and Natalie spent the day together. Around noon the pains started getting stronger and she decided to keep a count of them. At one she decided that she was going into labor, and at two her water broke. Margaret called Peg and took Natalie over, then called Hawkeye and he came right home and picked her up and they went back to the hospital.

"How are you?"

"Fine..." Margaret says exhaling.

"It's just like the last time."

"How would you know." She growls.

"It will be over soon."

"Never again." She says as they walk into the hospital.

"Well, I've heard that before."

"Shut up Pierce!" She grumbles.

"Round two Eh Margaret?" David says smiling as he comes in to check out his friend. "How are you feeling this time around?"

"Hi David. Like I want this kid out of me." Margaret says.

"I seem to have heard that before. Let me check you out." He says, looking her over. "I think that we will be having this baby before you know it."

"Don't count on it." Margaret says.

"Alright Margaret, I'll be back in a little while to check on you."

"Thank you Dave."

"Yup, hang in there kid."

"How are you?" He asks, as they were getting set in the hospital room.

"I'm fine." She says wincing at another contraction. "Shit, Pierce, I didn't call our parents!"

"It's alright..."

"NO it's not! We have to call them! They have no idea that..."

"Margaret! Relax!" He says, laughing.

"It's not funny!"

"Margaret, relax, I'll go and call them ok?"

"You're leaving me?!"

"Ok... how about you make the decision... call before or after the baby is born."

"Call them now... my dad will kill you if..."

"I'll be back in a flash." He says, standing up and making a few phone calls in his office. He calls his father first, at the house, not getting an answer he calls the office.

"Dr. Pierce's office, how can I help you?"

"Hi Mrs. Kensington, it's Ben."

"Well Ben, I would know your voice from anywhere. How are you son?"

"I'm doing well, how are you?"

"Fine."

"Is my dad around?"

"He is, but he just started an exam, can I give him a message?"

"Yeah, can you tell him that before the day ends he's going to be a grandfather again?"

"Really?! THAT'S WONDERFUL!" She all but shouts.

"Yeah."

"I thought she wasn't due till August."

"I guess the baby wants out." He says smiling, "But I better get calling her parents. Can you just let him know? And tell him that I'll give him a call when the baby's born."

"Of course! Good luck honey."

"Thanks."

"Tell Margaret the same!"

"I will! Bye."

"Bye." Mrs. Kensington says, and runs back to tell the Doctor, "Dr. Pierce?"

"What is it?" He says, listening to the patient's heart.

"I just got a call from your son."

"Oh?" He says, looking up at her. He knows that he would never call him at work unless it wasn't important, "Is everything ok?"

"Yes. You will be a grandfather by the end of the day."

"Well hot damn!" He says smiling, "She's early!"

"Hawkeye's having another one?" Mr. Jones says.

"Yeah... well Margaret is!"

"Congratulations!"

"Thank you." He says. That information made his day. He was on cloud nine the entire afternoon and he told everyone that came through his door that he was going to be a grandfather again.

Meanwhile, Hawkeye was on the phone calling his in-laws, "Colonel, it's Hawkeye."

"Hello." He says gruffly.

"Hi. I was just calling to let you know that Margaret went into labor a few hours ago, and sometime today she'll have the baby."

"Is she alright? She's a few weeks early."

"She's fine, but I really have to get back. I'm guessing the baby just wants out. I'll let you all know what we have. Can you call Annie for us?"

"I'll get Kate to do it."

"Alright, I'll call you sometime tonight."

"Ok."

"Bye Colonel."

"Bye Pierce." He says, hanging up the phone, "Katherine?"

"What Al?"

"That was Pierce."

"Oh? What did he want?"

"Margaret's having the baby."

"REALLY?!" She says, practically jumping for joy, "That's wonderful!"

"He'll be calling us tonight after she has the baby."

"We'll have to get up there and see the four of them!"

"Right."

"I mean soon! I don't want the baby to be a month old and still never have seen us. We should leave now."

"I can't leave now, the earliest we can get up there is next week. I have a lot to do."

"Fine! Oh I wonder what she is having! Isn't this exciting?"

"Yes." Al says, a smile crossing his lips.

"This is number three!" She says, as she goes about her business, wondering what the baby was and if it was healthy.

Back in San Francisco, Margaret was getting antsy. She had only been in labor for three hours, but she wanted that baby out. The small hospital room seemed smaller then normal, and she was ready.

"Are you alright?"

"If you keep asking me that I'm going to kick you out of this room!" Margaret yells at him. He begins to laugh, "What the hell are you laughing at?!"

"You."

"PIERCE!"

"What?"

"What the hell are you laughing at?!"

"Margaret... you are always like this when you are ready to have the baby. Relax." He says, kissing the top of her head, "Would you like me to check on your progress?"

"NO!"

"I'm a doctor..."

"I don't want you down there EVER AGAIN!" She growls.

"Ever?"

"EVER!" She says, turning her head away from him. "Christ this hurts more then with Natalie..."

"Do you want something for the pain?"

"No." She says, taking his hand, squeezing it.

"Ouch... Margaret." He says, trying to loosen her death grip, "I need my fingers, I'm a surgeon you know."

"Sorry." She says, loosening her grip, but not completely letting go of his hand.

Six O'clock came, and she was ready to have the baby,

"Alright Margaret, you know what to do." David says, "Next contraction give me a good push, and we'll have a baby soon!"

"Alright..." She says, sitting up a bit.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." She says.

Thirty minutes later, "One more push Margaret, and we'll have the baby out." The next thing they heard was a baby cry, "Congratulations." David says.

"What is it?" Margaret asked, lying back on the bed, exhausted.

"Well, I believe it's a boy." He says smiling, holding him up.

"Is he alright?" Hawkeye asks.

"Ten fingers and ten toes! He looks perfect. Let me get him cleaned up and I'll bring him right back. In the mean time, I'd get his name ready!" He says, as the nurse takes him out of the room.

"A boy..." Margaret said looking up at Hawkeye, "We now have one of each."

"I know!" He says smiling. "Well, are we naming him Zack?"

"I think so...." She says, yawning, "I want to see him first... see if the name fits him."

"I think that sounds good." He says.

"They better bring him back soon..."

Hawkeye laughs, "Give them a minute to check him over."

"That's all they get." She says.

About ten minutes later they bring him back, "How would you like to meet your son?" Susan, one of the nurses asks.

Margaret sits up and reaches to her for him. He was wide awake when she took him and smiled, "He's beautiful."

Hawkeye looks him over, "He's not beautiful, are you buddy, your handsome. No son of mine will be considered beautiful."

"What do you think? Zachary?"

"I think that name fits him... Zachary Blake... what do you think buddy? Do you like that?" He smiles at the baby. "I think it's a winner. You look like your mommy buddy."

"He does... he looks like my dad a bit. He has your eyes though."

"Yeah... my god he's wide awake! You should be sleeping Zack, you had a busy day." He smiles, "Let me see you, come here buddy." He takes the baby from Margaret's arms, "I'm your daddy. Do you know your name? You are Zachary Blake Pierce. You are named after a really great guy, Henry Blake who I served with in the Korea War where I met your mommy and your uncle BJ. You have a big sister back home who is dying to meet you! Her name is Natalie. She's two and a half. You also have an Uncle BJ and Aunt Peg, and two cousins, Erin and Gillian. And you have a Grandpop, a Pop-pop, a Grammy, and a Grandma and Grandpa Sherman, and an Aunt Annie and a real cousin Angela... you have so many people to meet!" He tells him, "But maybe now you should get some sleep, because you and mommy have been through quite an ordeal!" He says, watching his son and wife sleep for a little while before the nurse came in to retrieve Zachary. Hawkeye took this time to phone everyone and let them know that they have a son. Daniel would be flying out on Saturday to see his new grandson, and the Houlihan's would be flying out on Sunday.

Three days later, Margaret and Zachary were able to come home. Natalie was thrilled to have her dad and mom home again, especially since her daddy was home for a week. Hawkeye had Zachary because Natalie would be very excited to see her mom. She was use to having her home all the time, where as Hawkeye for the past few days she had seen more than usual. Peg was at their house waiting to see the baby. She hadn't had a chance to see him, though BJ has. "We're home!" Hawkeye called, hearing his two year old run in.

"MOMMY!" She says smiling.

"Hi little girl!" She says, picking her up gently. She was still sore, "How are you?"

"Good." She says, hugging her, "I miss you."

"I missed you too. Were you a good girl for Aunt Peggy and Uncle BJ?"

"Yup!"

"She was fine." Peg says, walking into the room, "Let me see him." She smiles. "He looks like you Margaret."

"Yeah, except for the eyes. They are Hawkeye."

"He's long..."

"22 inches."

"I don't envy you." She says smiling. "Hello Zachary."

"Would you like to hold him?"

"Sure." Peg smiles and takes the baby from his father. "I need the practice again. Hi there little man, how are you? I'm your Aunt Peg."

Natalie looks at the baby very carefully from her mother's arms, "Baby." She says.

"That's our baby." Hawkeye smiles, taking Natalie from her mother, "What do you think of him?"

"Little." She says.

"That's because he's your little brother. His name's Zachary." Margaret tells her

"Zackwy?"

"Yup. Come on, you can come and meet him." Margaret smiles.

They go into the living room where the other girls were playing and sat down. Natalie looked at the baby her Aunt was holding and still wasn't too sure what he was doing there. She reached over and gently touched his arm, smiling, "Soft!" She said excited.

Margaret laughed, "Yes he is."

"My baby." She says, "Aunt Peggy My baby!"

"I thought this was your mommy's baby." Peg smiled.

"No. Mine."

"Do you like the baby?"

"Yes." She says after thinking deeply.

"Hi Aunt Margaret!" Erin says coming into the room.

"Hi Aunt Margaret!" Gillian mimics her sister.

"Hi girls." She says, kissing each one. "What do you think about your new cousin?"

"I like him." Erin says, sitting next to her mom, "Gillian! You're squishing me!" She says, pushing her little sister out of the way.

"Mommy, I want to see too!" She says, starting to raise her voice. "Erin won't move!"

"I want both of you girls to keep your voice down ok? No fighting or neither one of you won't get to see the baby!" Peg says to her daughters, "Are you ready for this?"

"I can't wait." Margaret says rolling her eyes.

"Mommy!" Gill says, pushing her big sister.

"Gillian Lee, what did I say?"

"What do you think Gill? Do you like him?" Hawkeye asks.

"Yes." She says, "Come play Natalie!"

Natalie gets up off her dad and runs after her cousin.

"Aunt Margaret?"

"What honey?"

"Can I hold him?" Erin asks.

"Honey, you're a little too young..." Peg says.

"I'm five!"

"She can hold him." Margaret said smiling. "Sit down." And the five year old squirms next to her mom and aunt. "You need practice too for your new brother or sister."

"I want a brother like Zachary."

"Exactly like him? What if you have a sister?" Hawkeye asks.

"Well, I guess a sister would be ok too, but I already have a sister! I want something different."

"I guess you'll see if you have a brother or sister for two months!"

"Yeah!" She says, as her mom puts the baby in her arms.

"Watch his head Erin. You have to put your hand under his head ok?"

"Ok." She says, holding the baby. After a few minutes she was done with him and Margaret took him back while Erin joined her sister and cousin outside.

"That fenced in yard is a blessing." Peg says smiling.

"It truly is." Margaret agrees.

"So how do you think Natalie will do with the baby?"

"I'm not sure... I originally thought she would be fine, but she's a bit leery of him."

"She'll be fine." Hawkeye assured her. "It will just take her a few days to get established to the routine but I don't' think she'll be bad."

"I think she's going to have a little adjusting to do when she realizes that she isn't the one getting all the attention anymore."

"Erin had that." Peg says.

"Mommy!" Natalie said running into the house.

"What?"

"I hold him?"

"You want to hold your brother?"

"Yes."

"Ok. Sit next to daddy." She says, as Hawkeye picks up the baby and sits on the loveseat, "Watch his head. Be very gentle!"

"Ok." She says smiling.

"Can you give him a kiss?" Margaret asks, as Natalie kisses his head, "That's nice."

"See daddy? My baby."

"It's my baby!" Hawkeye teases his daughter

"No mine! He like me."

"He doesn't like me?"

"He like you too!"

"Well that's good, because I like him too, and I like you too."

"Good. Ok, done!" She says, as Hawkeye lifts the baby up. "Bye!" She says and runs back outside with her cousins. The Hunnicut's all ate dinner at the Pierce house, and then they went home.

"What time are my parents coming up?"

"Your mom said their plane will be coming in at around noon on Sunday."

"And your dad?"

"Three Saturday."

"So we have about four days till they get here, alone." She says smiling. "I like it when it's just the four of us.... The four of us, isn't that a nice thing to say?"

"Yeah... so are we done now?"

"No, I'd still like another one, but we'll see." She says smiling.

"I seem to remember you telling me I am never aloud to be 'Down There' ever again."

"Yeah, right." She says laughing. "Natalie, come here honey, you need a bath."

"Ok mommy!" She says, running away from her brother who was lying on the floor. "You do it?"

"Yup, I'll do it."

"Good! Bubbles?" She asks hopeful of her mommy's answer.

"I think that's a good idea." She says smiling, as she picks her up. "Can you watch the boy?"

"Why, does he do tricks yet?"

"Funny." She says, "Let's go honey."

Margaret lets her play in the water for a little while and smiled the entire time. Margaret missed her daughter more than anything, and was glad to be home. She looked at the toddler and though how much bigger she looks now that they have the baby. She felt like the luckiest woman there was. She had a wonderful husband and two perfectly healthy children. "Ok Nat, come on out honey."

"Ok." She says, as Margaret wraps her in a towel. She got her into her pajamas, brushed her hair and the two of them went downstairs. Hawkeye had Zachary in his arms and was talking to him until he heard, "Daddy!"

"Are you all clean princess?"

"Yup!"

"Great!

"Switch with me, I'm going to put Zack down." She says smiling.

"Ok." He says and hands his son over to her. Natalie sat right on Hawkeye's laps and smiled. She loved spending time with her daddy before she went to sleep. It was one of the only times she got to watch TV that her daddy watched. "Well, should you and I read a story?"

"Not yet." She says, smiling sweetly.

"Ok." He says laughing.

Margaret went upstairs with Zachary and sat down in the rocking chair to feed him. She studied him as he ate. She looked at hi face, as if memorizing it, and she watched him look at her, "Well Zachary, I have never had a brother, and only had two cousins who are boys, so this is going to be a challenge for us. You're going to have to make it easy on me ok?" She says, "I'm a bit nervous, but I think we can handle it, what do you think Zack?" Zack looks up at her and yawns. "I can tell that you already find me boring." She laughs. "Well, I think it's time to sleep, what do you think? It's seven, and then I get to put your big sister to bed for the first time in about four days." Zack slowly closes his eyes, and when he is out, she puts him in the bassinet in her bedroom and watches him for a few minutes before heading back downstairs. She sees Hawkeye and Natalie on the couch, she was lying flat against Hawkeye's chest, playing with her hair, watching the TV, "Alright honey, your turn."

"Ok mommy." Natalie says, sitting up on his chest.

"Give daddy a kiss and a hug!"

She does what her mom is saying and Hawkeye smiles, "Night honey."

"Night night daddy." She says, leaning her head against Margaret's shoulder. "Mommy?"

"What honey?"

"You go away again?"

"No." She says smiling, "I'm going to stay with you for a while. I just went away to have the baby. He was a good reason to go away."

"Oh!" She says, "Read please." She says, pointing to her book on her nightstand.

"Alright." She smiles and sits down on her bed to read. After she was done, she kissed her daughter and walked out of the room. She stopped by her room again to check on the baby and watched him again. She couldn't believe that nine months had gone by so quick. She only had him four days ago and she couldn't think of how she lived without him.

Hawkeye was downstairs doing the dishes when Margaret came back in. She wraps her arms around him and leans against his back. He smiles as he feels her close around her waste, and pats her hand, "Hi."

"Hi."

"The kids in bed?"

"I wouldn't be here if they weren't would I?"

"I guess you're right." He says. "Are you going to stay there?

"Yeah."

"You know, it's really hard to do the dishes this way."

"I don't care." She says. He smiles and grabs a few soap bubbles and turns around, putting it on her nose.

"HEY!" She says, pulling away from him, smiling.

"You asked for it." He smiles, "Now... let me finish the dishes, unless you want too."

"No, that's alright. It's all yours." She says pulling away.

"Just like you to walk away." He laughs. She back hands him, catching his backside and walked away smiling.

"When you're done, come in and sit with me." She says smiling.

"Yes ma'am!" He says, flicking suds at her.

"Don't be smart captain." She grins, and heads out to the family room and sits down on the couch, watching TV. Hawkeye joined her a few minutes later.

"How do you feel?" He asks.

"I'm fine." She smiles, as he sits next to her.

"Are you in any pain?"

"Not too much. I took something a few hours ago. Lifting Natalie kind of hurt." She grins.

"You shouldn't be lifting anything heavy."

"She isn't heavy."

"You know what I mean."

At around eleven thirty, Zachary wakes up, crying, "I'll get him." Hawkeye says smiling as he heads up the steps, "Hey buddy! What's all the racket about? You are going to wake your sister up if you keep this up!" He says picking up his son. "Hi! Are you hungry? I bet you are. I know; it's hard being four days old. Mommy is waiting for you, should we go see her?" He walks down the stairs talking to him and sits next to Margaret. "I think he needs something to eat."

"I think you're right, but he looks content for the moment." Margaret says, seeing that he isn't crying.

"So what do you think so far Zack? Do you like this place?"

"I have to get him some clothes soon, otherwise he'll be wearing Natalie's clothes."

"We can't have that! No son of mine will have anything pink on!" Hawkeye says.

It always amused Margaret when Hawkeye talked to the kids. He completely changed from his normal tone and attitude when the kids are around. She was lucky to have him. He was such a wonderful father, and a wonderful husband. She watched him talk to the baby, "What?" Hawkeye asks, seeing her looking at him.

"Nothing." She says smiling, "Let me have my son."

"OUR son?!" He says grinning.

"The boy. Come here Zachary. Come see me. Are you hungry? You look like you are."

That night around three, the baby woke up again, but so did Natalie. She heard the cry of the baby and woke up herself, coming into her parents room rubbing her eyes, "What are you doing up Princess?" Hawkeye asks his daughter.

"Baby's loud." She says, crawling up on the bed between her parents."

"He woke you up?"

"Yes." She tells him, leaning against his arm. He smiles and cuddles her close to him.

"Why he up?"

"He was hungry." Margaret said smiling.

"Not morning!" She says, shocked that the baby ate at night.

"He has to eat a lot because he needs to grow up big and strong like his big sister." Margaret said smiling.

"Oh." Natalie stays next to her dad, watching her mom and brother.

"How about you and I go back to your room?" Hawkeye asks his daughter.

"I stay here." She says, getting under the blankets.

"You stay here?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Zachwy stay here!" She protests.

"But Zack is a baby. You are a big girl. You get to sleep in your big girl bed!"

"No." Natalie says. "I here too!"

"How about daddy goes back into your big girl room with you?" Margaret asks.

"No. Stay here."

"No." Hawkeye says, putting his foot down.

"Please?"

"No." Margaret says, "You have to sleep in your own room Natalie. Only the baby stays in mommy and daddy's room."

"Me too!"

Hawkeye picks up Natalie, "I'll stay with you for a little bit ok?" He knew that she was just exhausted. It would be even worse if she was woken up at six the next morning. Natalie was extremely clingy when she is woken up, and this time it is no exception.

"Ok daddy." She says, twirling her hair.

"Give mommy a kiss."

"Kay." She says, kissing her mommy.

"What about Zachary?" Hawkeye says, smiling as she does the same for him. "Alright little girl." He says, as she lies her head against his shoulder. They walk into the room next to their bedroom and lays the little girl in the bed.

"Daddy lay too." She says.

"Ok, move over." He says, scooting her over a bit. She leans against him and sticks her thumb in her mouth. Hawkeye pets her hair as they lay there and almost instantly she falls asleep. He gets up and walks back to his room and takes Zack from Margaret, laying him on his chest until he falls asleep. Then he places his son back into the bassinet, then rolls over and falls asleep.

Saturday, August 3rd, Hawkeye was getting ready to pick his father up from the airport. Natalie was lying down next to the baby on the blanket playing with him, while Margaret stayed close, cleaning the bedroom a bit.

"Margaret?"

"Yes?"

"I'm going to go pick up my father. Do you need me to get anything on the way home?"

"No, we have everything."

"Ok."

"Daddy?"

"What honey?"

"Can I come?"

"You want to go get Grandpop?"

"Yes please!" She smiles.

"Ok, go get your shoes for me." He smiles. She runs into the kitchen to get her sandals and Hawkeye picks up his son from the floor and sits with him.

"Here daddy!" She says smiling.

"Grandpop is going to be so glad to see you!" He says, maneuvering his son so he can put his daughters' shoes on.

"Yeah! And Zack!" She says smiling.

"He's very excited to meet Zack too." Hawkeye says smiling. "Alright, go say bye to mommy."

Natalie runs into the kitchen to give her mom a kiss, "Bye mommy!"

"Go to the potty first. I'll see you in a little while honey." She says, kissing her.

"Ok mommy!" She says running into the bathroom.

Hawkeye brings Zack to her and says, "We'll be back."

"Ok, I'll see you soon." She says kissing him.

"Come on daddy!"

"She is your daughter... impatient." He says laughing. "Bossy... demanding..."

"Do you want to sleep on the couch tonight?" She asks, trying not to smile.

"Bye sweetie. Bye Buddy. Come on Natalie." And the pair leaves.

"Well, it's just you and me Zack. What do you say we get you some lunch and then get you changed and ready to see Grandpop? Does that sound good? I think it does. It's going to be a quiet hour or two." She says.

Hawkeye and Natalie make their way to the airport. Natalie talked his ear off the whole time. He loved being with the kids, and was not looking forward to going back to work in a week. He parked the car, picked Natalie up, and headed into the airport, awaiting the arrival of his father.

"When Grandpop coming daddy?"

"Soon honey. His plane is going to land right there." He says pointing to the runway.

"Down daddy." She says and he puts her on the ground.

"Do you see the plane?"

"No daddy. I don't see it." She says, looking up in the air. She was very patient and after fifteen minutes, she says, "THERE DADDY! It's a plane!"

"I see it. Do you think Grandpop's on that plane?"

"Yes!"

"Well, I think he is too!" Hawkeye says, as Natalie takes his hand. They see Daniel get off the plane and Natalie smiles. When he is within ten feet, Natalie runs over to him, and he scoops her up.

"Well who is this beautiful little girl?" He says, walking up to his son. "This couldn't possibly be Natalie! Natalie is a baby! This girl here is no baby!"

"It's me Grandpop!" She says smiling.

"How are you darling?"

"Fine dad, how are you?" Hawkeye jokes.

"Cute."

"She is isn't she?" Hawkeye laughs. "How are you dad?"

"I'm great how are you Ben?"

"Fine." He says, hugging his father.

"I hear you are a big sister Natalie!"

"I am!"

"Do you have a little brother or a little sister?"

"Brover." She says smiling. "Hims name is Zachwy."

"Zachary? Well that is a very nice name. Can I meet him?"

"Yup!"

"What will he call me?"

"He can't talk Grandpop! He a baby! He call you Grandpop when he big like me!" She smiles.

"Where's mommy?"

"Home with Zack!"

"Oh, well can we go and see him?"

"Yup!" She says, " 'mon daddy!"

"Ok Natalie." He says, grabbing his fathers' bag.

"When's Margaret's parents due in?"

"Tomorrow around three."

"Oh that's great! You have a full house this week."

"Yeah, we do." He says sighing, "Margaret will probably want to meet her parents at the airport, so I'll probably stay with you and the kids."

"Kids... isn't that a wonderful word?"

"Yeah." Hawkeye smiles, as they drive home.

"How's Margaret feeling?"

"She's doing fine. A bit sore here and there, but other then that she is wonderful. She has to take Zack to the doctors on Wednesday for his one week checkup."

"How much did he weigh when he was born?"

"Nine pounds even. He was long though... 22inches."

"He takes after us with the height." He says grinning.

"It seems like it." Hawkeye replies as they pull into the driveway. "He looks like Margaret's side of the family though. He's blonde, fair skinned like Natalie, but he has my eyes. He looks like her father a little bit."

"So he looks nothing like Natalie?"

"The eyes... that's about it." He smiles, "And the skin. Come on Nattie."

"Grandpop! 'Dis way!"

"Are you going to show me your baby brother?"

"Yes! My baby brother!" She says, taking his hand, pulling him towards the door.

Hawkeye opens the door and calls, "We're home!"

"Mommy!" Nat calls out.

"I'm up stairs, give me a second." She says, changing the baby. "Looks like you get to meet your Grandpop now, how does that sound?" She asks picking him up, "Come on buddy."

Margaret walks downstairs to the family room with Zack, "Hi dad." She smiles.

"Hi honey, how are you?" He asks, giving his daughter-in-law a kiss on the cheek.

"I'm fine thanks." She smiles, "This is Zachary."

"My god, he looks like you."

"I told you." Hawkeye says smiling.

"He's very handsome." Dan says smiling. "Hi there Zack, how are you? You are wide awake!"

"He woke up about thirty minutes ago, so he'll be good for a while." Margaret smiles.

"Can I hold him?"

"Sure!" She says, passing him over, "You're the grandfather!"

Natalie sat right next to her grandfather and pat her brother on the head, "Zacky!" She says, smiling.

"Zacky?"

"Yup!"

"I don't think so." Hawkeye says smiling.

"Yes daddy!"

"So Margaret, have you been feeling alright?"

"Fine. I'm sore some times, but not too much."

"Well, that's better then nothing." He says, looking at his grandson. "I guess your father is tickled to have a boy in the family now."

"Yeah, he is." Margaret said smiling. "They will be here tomorrow."

"That's what Ben was telling me."

"Yeah."

"How are the Hunnicut's?"

"Great. You'll see them sometime during your stay."

"Peg's due soon isn't she?"

"Two months. They are hoping for a boy too I think."

"Yeah, though Beej would never admit it." Hawkeye smiles.

"Grandpop!"

"What angel?"

"Come see my room!"

"Your room?"

"It's new!"

"You have a brand new room?"

"Yup!"

"What color is it?"

"Purple!" She grins.

"Well what happened to your green room?"

"Zackwy's room."

"Well, you are the nicest big sister ever! Giving up your old room to your brother."

"He baby, his turn!"

"Sounds like something your mom told you."

"Yup! 'Mon!"

Daniel passes Zack to his mother and follows the eager two year old up the stairs, "Wow!" He over exaggerates, "You have the prettiest room ever!"

"Yup!" She smiles. "See my bed?"

"You don't have a crib anymore?"

"Nope!"

"Why?"

"Too big!" She gets on her bed and starts to jump. "Look!"

"I don't think you should do that honey." He says, grabbing her off the bed, "You could get hurt. What else do you have in your room?"

"Cowset! My clothes are there."

"That is really neat Natalie! Wow, you have gotten so much bigger since the last time I saw you!"

"I miss you Grandpop!"

"I missed you too honey." He says, kissing her cheek. "So, you and I are going to have a whole week together, what should we do?"

"Play!"

"Yeah? That sounds good. Mommy and Daddy may need a break from you two, and then we can do something."

"Mommy and daddy go out and Grandpop stay!"

"And Grammy and Pop-pop. I think they will want to stay with us too!"

"Ok!" Natalie says. She hears Zack start to cry and says, "Uh-ho, baby needs me."

"He needs you?"

"Yup!" She says, as she goes out of her room and down the stairs, running over to her mommy and sitting next to her, she kisses her brother, "All better!"

Margaret smiles, "I think he feels better now, just because of that kiss."

"Him still cry!"

"He's getting tired. He needs a nap soon." Margaret tells her daughter, kissing her cheek.

That day was very peaceful. They spent the day relaxing and watching the kids. Natalie kept Dan very active, and he loved every minute of it. He was amazed at how much older Natalie looked. He had only seen her a few months ago, but now; she looked exactly like her grandmother. Hawkeye had always looked like his mother more so than his father, and the same went for his daughter.

The next day, Margaret went with Natalie to pick up her parents. She was very excited to have her parents down as well as her father-in-law, and Natalie was thrilled to have anyone over who spoiled her, especially three grandparents at once. Their plane was on time and Margaret drove them right home. Natalie talked their ears off the entire ride, and both grandparents loved listening to her. Hawkeye had Zachary in the back deck, drinking a beer as his wife came home. It was a cooler afternoon and the trees shaded the deck enough that the baby could be outside.

"Where are the boys?" Kate asks, as they walk into the quiet house.

"Probably outside."

"He has a baby outside?! In this weather?!"

"He's fine mom." Margaret says smiling. "Daddy, you two can take the room next to Natalie's. Nat do you want to show Grammy and Pop-Pop which room they can be in? It's the blue one.

"OK!" She says taking her Grammy's' hand. "'Mon Grammy!"

"Ok." She smiles at her eager granddaughter and follows her upstairs for a few minutes.
Margaret goes outside and sees the two men sitting around the deck, "My parents are here."

"Great!" Hawkeye says smiling.

"Are you being sarcastic?" Margaret frowns.

"No, for the first time I'm not being sarcastic." He smiles.

"Zachary... so help me god, if you have the same personality as your father..."

"You'd love him just as much as me." He says, as she smiles down and kisses him.

"Mommy!"

"What honey."

"Grammy and Pop-Pop likes my room!"

"They do? I'm so glad."

"Let me see him." Kate says, as she makes her way over to Hawkeye, "He is absolutely beautiful!"

"Whoa... hold on now Grammy." Hawkeye says, "Let's get one thing straight... he is not beautiful, he's handsome. My daughter is beautiful... my son is handsome." He says smiling.

"Oh Hawkeye..." Kate says, giving him a kiss, "How are you?"

"I'm fine, how about yourself?"

"Fine."

"What about you Colonel?"

"Fine Pierce." He says, and turns his attention to Daniel, "How are you Dan?"

"Well, thank you."

"Can I hold him?" Kate asks.

"Sure!" Hawkeye says passing him over to Margaret's mother.

"Come here cutie. Let me see you!"

"He's a Houlihan through and through." Al says, proudly of the first male in his family.

"Not in the eyes... he has his fathers." Kate says, "And he's very long."

"Twenty-two inches." Margaret smiles.

"You were only 19, Annie was 20.... I couldn't imagine two more inches added onto that." Kate says, smiling.

"Yeah, Natalie was only a bit over 19."

"I couldn't imagine anything coming out of me." Hawkeye says shuddering.

"Here Al, do you want to hold him?"

"Sure." Al says, taking his grandson, "We finally have a male in the family." He says smiling down at him.

"What's wrong with girls?" Kate says, scoffing.

"Nothing. We have four of them, it's time we had a boy." He says.

"So, if I had happened to have another girl you'd have been disappointed?" Margaret asked, picking Natalie up and putting her on her lap.

"Of course not." Al says, knowing how much his daughter liked to argue. "He definitely takes after the Houlihan's though."

"Yeah he does." Margaret says, kissing the side of Natalie's head.

That night was difficult for Hawkeye and Margaret. Zachary decided he did not want to sleep. At ten he woke up as usual, but when Margaret tried to put him back down it just wasn't happening. He was up for another hour. Hawkeye and Margaret went to sleep around midnight and were woken up at one thirty by the cry of the newborn.

"What's wrong pal?" Hawkeye asks as he picks him up from the bassinette. "It's one in the morning, you can't possibly be hungry right now."

"Is he ok? Is he sick?"

"Doesn't feel warm." He says, kissing his forehead.

"Zack..." She says, taking her son, leaning him on her chest. "What seems to be the problem? Are you hungry? Probably not yet." She rubs his back and he slowly falls asleep. Margaret passes him back to Hawkeye and he puts him back to bed. They sleep for another hour before he wakes up hungry. He falls back asleep and by three was up crying again. When he woke up again, crying at four, Hawkeye and Margaret groaned,

"He can't possibly be up again." Hawkeye says.

"So who's crying?"

"I'm going to join him in a second..." He says grabbing the baby for the fourth time that night, "Ok Zachary... I'm not kidding... you need to sleep." Hawkeye says, lying him against his chest, "I love seeing you every hour on the hour, but really, cut us some slack buddy. Mommy and I really need some sleep. Alright pal? Can you give us two maybe three hours of sleep? I'd even accept an hour and a half..."

"Way to try and reason with a week old." Margaret says, curling up next to him, leaning her head against his neck, watching Zachary. "Please go to sleep Zack." She says, kissing his head. He stops crying, but he is still wide awake, but he finally slept around five, and was up again at six.

"Ok..." Margaret says getting up. "I am obviously not going to be getting any more sleep..." She says, picking Zack up.

"You want me to take him?" Hawkeye says groaning.

"No, I have him. He's hungry." She says, half asleep. "Natalie will be up soon."

"Right." He says. By six thirty, Natalie is up and in bed with Hawkeye. "Good morning princess."

"hi daddy. Time to get up!"

"I am up."

"No! I hungry! Time to eat!"

"Ok." He says, sitting up. "Go to the potty."

"Kay!" She says, running to their bathroom. He swings his feet over the side of the bed, and tries to rub the sleep out of his eyes, failing miserably. "Done daddy!"

"Ok, let's go." He says, heading downstairs. He makes her breakfast up and also puts on a pot of coffee for Margaret and himself.

At seven, Kate comes down and sees the exhausted parents, "Rough night?" She asks, smiling.

"Very." Margaret says, yawning. "He was up all night..."

"Oh come Margaret. He had too have slept some time."

"Ok, he was up from ten till five, only sleeping a total of two hours."

"That's better." She says, "Let me take him. Why don't you two go back up and sleep a little bit longer. You look like you need it."

"I don't want to leave you with them...."

"Margaret, go. I know what you are going through and I'm here to help. Go get some sleep. We'll be down if you need anything."

"Alright... there's a bottle in the refrigerator if he needs one." She says yawning.

"Ok honey. Good night."

"Night." She says, and the two of them head back upstairs.

"Margaret... I want a divorce... I am going to marry your mother." He says as he lies back into bed.

"If it lets me sleep, then you marry who ever you want." She says, curling up on his chest. They instantly fall asleep and stay that way till almost ten.

For the next few days, Margaret was thrilled to have the extra help with the kids. She loved seeing her parents and her father in law, and Natalie loved it too. On Friday, Margaret's Parents are leaving.

"Mom, dad, you should come down to South Carolina next month. We are going down to see a friend from Korea."

"Oh? You are taking the baby down there?!"

"Yeah, he'll be fine. We traveled with Natalie at that age, so we figured what's the difference."

"That sounds like fun. I'll have to check on our schedule, maybe Annie can come down too."

"That sounds good." Margaret smiles. "We're heading down September 14th."

"We'll discuss that." Kate says smiling. She says goodbye to her daughter, son in law, and grandchildren and they head to the airport. Daniel would be staying an extra day then catch an early flight home to open his office a half a day. That night Hawkeye got a phone call.

"Hello?" Daniel answered. It was almost nine.

"Hi, is Hawk there?"

"Sure, can I ask who's calling?"

"John McIntyre."

"Oh Trapper, it's Dan."

"Oh hi! I didn't know you were out there!"

"Yeah, I'm here till tomorrow, checking on my grandchildren."

"I heard about Zachary, congratulations Grandpop."

"Thank you. How have you been feeling?"

"I'm alive... I guess Hawkeye told you."

"Yeah, but it's in remission..."

"Yeah..." Trapper says sighing, "Can I talk to him please?"

"Sure... one second." Daniel takes the phone away from his mouth and calls to his son, "Ben?"

"Yeah?"

"Phone."

"Who is it?" He calls down the steps.

"Trapper."

"I'll be right there." He says, giving Natalie a kiss goodnight and takes the phone in the kitchen, "Trap?"

"Hey Hawk. Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No." He says, "What's going on?"

"Not much, Margaret's parents just left, my fathers heading home tomorrow. What about you?"

"Not much, just got our flight down to South Carolina for the 15th, we'll be there at 2pm, and I figured I'd let you know."

"Great... we probably wont be there till around 4pm."

"Sounds great. We haven't reeked havoc on a place together in a while." HE says laughing.

"Yeah, that's true." They talk about just about everything for a few minutes, until Hawkeye finally gets the nerve up to ask him how he was feeling, "So... how have you been... really?"

"Really?"

"As in feeling?"

"That's kind of what I was calling you for..."Trapper says, sighing... not needing to finish his statement.

"How long do you have?"

"You know how doctors are... they never give you a direct answer. I'm in stage three...."

"One more stage."

"I'd have to say, no longer than a year and a half."

"Dammit Trapp... I... I don't..."

"I know... but hey, let's not think about that. We have to think about how we can get drunk off our asses and not piss off the wives." He says trying to loosen up the tension.

"That's going to be hard."

"Yeah..." Trapper says.

There is an uneasy silence on both ends of the phone, neither wanting to get off the phone, until Natalie comes downstairs. "Daddy."

"Hang on for a second Trapper..." He says, turning his attention to his daughter, "What are you doing up Princess?"

"Story please." She says, raising her hands up to him.

"It's late..."

"Please!" She says, rubbing her eyes, laying her head against his neck.

"Ok..." He says, turning his attention back to Trapper, "I'm gonna have to go Trap, daddy duty."

"I know that all too much." He says, smiling, "I'll see you in a month."

"Ok! Bye."

"Bye." Trapper says, and they hang up.

"Alright Natalie... a quick story and then your little butt is in bed."

"Ok." She says.

"Give Grandpop a kiss." Hawkeye says to the tired two year old. She kisses him and leans against her dad. He puts her in bed, and with in five pages of the picture book, she was out like a light. He kisses her daughter and walks out of her room, closing the door behind him. Hawkeye walks down the stairs, bypasses his father, grabs a beer, and heads outside.

Daniel stands up and follows his son, grabbing himself a beer on the way out, "Hey."

"Hi."

"You alright?"

"Fine, why?"

"You don't look fine."

"I'm always fine. You know me."

"Yeah, I do." Daniel says, "You wanna talk about it?"

"No."

"Is it Trapper?" He says, hearing his son sigh, "Is he out of remission?"

"Yeah."

"It's hard isn't it?"

"I saw it with mom and now I'm seeing it with Trapper."

"It's never going to get any easier... you just have to..."

"Spend time with them... be with them.... Believe me, I know." Hawkeye sighs, "But it doesn't make it any easier."

"You're a doctor... you know..."

"I know... and it makes it harder."

Daniel knew better then to push his son with his emotions. Ever since his son was young, the two of them have always been on the same level. They could easily finish each others thoughts and did on a regular basis. Hawkeye stood there drinking his beer in silence. "It will be ok Hawk. Maybe he'll be lucky and go into remission again."

"Maybe he wont."

"Sometimes..."

"When you prolong the illness it hurts more then it would when you don't, I know dad. I am a doctor."

"People die..."

"Everyone dies." Hawkeye says sighing..."I can't wait to go down to South Carolina."

They stood in silence for a few minutes before Hawkeye says, "I'm going to go to bed. Good night dad."

"Good night Hawk." He saw the same flash of pain in his eyes that he saw when he was told his mother was dying, and the same as before, there was nothing he could do to make that hurt go away.

Hawkeye went upstairs and got into bed with Margaret, she was still up, but the room was dark, "What did trapper want?" She asks.

"To discuss South Carolina a bit."

"I can't wait to go down there."

"Me neither." He said short.

"Are you ok?" Margaret could tell something wasn't right with his tone.

"Bad things happen in threes... and the third one keeps on coming...."

"What are you talking about?" She asks, turning on the nightstand light.

Hawkeye checks on his son and says, "He's out of remission."

Margaret looks down, "Oh."

"Yeah..."

"I'm sorry honey."

"So am I. I knew it wouldn't last... but I figured it would last lover than six months..."

"Maybe he'll go back..."

"I wont get my hopes up."

"What stage?"

"Three."

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I will be. It makes me more anxious to get down to South Carolina for the week."

"It's only a month away." She says. "Lay down, get some sleep."

He takes her in his arms and says, "Death is part of life... it's a shitty part, but it's part."

"Just spend as much time as you can with him Hawk. That's all you can do."

"I know." He tells her, kissing her head. "Good night."

"Good night."

Hawkeye lies awake for about an hour, thinking about his friend, trying not to think about what was going to happen, but how could he not? He thinks about what if that happens to him, how could he live knowing he was dying. He counted his blessings as he lied in bed with his wife and his son next to him, and his daughter in the other room. "It's a part of life." He sighs, pulls his wife closer to him, and he closes his eyes.

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... I know they can be annoying, and I will do my best to minimize them!

Thanks for all the great reviews! Please keep them up! Please R&R!

Thanks

STARY