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! Please R&R

September 20th, one month after Trappers death, Hawkeye still thought about him. He checks up on Louise usually once a week, so there was no way he could get rid of the memory of Trapper. Margaret get the idea of them taking a vacation for a week, and books one to Hawaii. BJ and Peg decide to come also. Margaret just wants to get out for a while, leave everything behind, she feels that this would be the best way to help Hawkeye.

"Hawk?"

"Yeah?"

'I have an idea."

"Ok."

"I booked a vacation…"

"Margaret…."

"Hear me out." She says, sitting across from him. He sighs, and puts his pen down, "Peg and I booked a vacation for the four of us and the kids. We are going to go to Hawaii on a little get-a-way."

"Margaret, I've taken off a lot…"

"So what? Other doctors have taken off more than you have. Hawkeye, I will be fun."

"I'm not saying it won't be fun Margaret…. I'm saying."

"You aren't listening to me Pierce… we are going to Hawaii on October 15th for a week. Our flight leaves at 6 in the morning… we are going to have a good time." She smiles,

"What do you say?"

"I'd say, ok." He smiles.

"Well that's good, because I wasn't taking no for an answer."

"Yes Major."

"We need this… You need this."

"I'm not going to argue with you." He sighs. Margaret gives him a kiss and walks out of the office.

Natalie comes into the room, "Daddy, come play with me."

"I have to work Natalie…"

"Please!!!" She begs.

He looks down at his three year old, "How about this… you let me work until dinner, then after dinner I will play with you."

"Ok!" She smiles, and runs out of the office.

Hawkeye buries his nose back into his paperwork, while Natalie went out to look for something or someone to play with.

"Mommy, I bored."

"I'm sorry honey." She smiles, "Do you want to help me make dinner?"

"Yes."

Margaret looks over to her son who was happily playing with a couple of his toys by the refrigerator. He just started walking and was now into everything so she has to keep an eye on him. "Ok Nat… can you go get me the tomatoes?"

They were having spaghetti, and Margaret was making the recipe Hawkeye's mother use to use. Natalie was all girl and loved to help her mother cook. "Ok honey, get me the salt. Thank you." Margaret smiles, seeing her son stand up, "Excuse me Zachary." She says, as he turns to her and gives her a HUGE smile, "Where are you going?"

"Dada." He smiles, and walks out of the kitchen and over to the office, pushes the door open and toddles in, "Dada!"

"Hey buddy." Hawk smiles, as the baby comes over to him. He picks him up and sits him on his lap, "I haven't seen much of you. How are you?"

"Dood." He smiles.

"I'm sorry I've been so busy lately, but I have to get this stuff done. We'll have a week in Hawaii to look forward too, and you'll see me all the time." He gives his son a kiss and puts him down on the ground, "Go find mommy."

He smiles and walks out of the office to his mom, "Mama!"

"Hi honey." She smiles. At five thirty dinner is ready, "Natalie, go tell daddy it's time for dinner."

"Ok!" She says running out. "Daddy?"

"What honey?"

"Are you done?"

"Now I am." He says, putting his pen down, "What can I do for you?"

"Mommy says it's dinner time."

"Ok thank you." He smiles, "Come on." He smiles, taking his daughters hand. "It smells great."

"Thanks, Natalie and I slaved over it for about two hours." She smiles, "Did you get your work done?"

"Yes."

"Great." Margaret says, putting a plate in front of Natalie and then one in front of Zack.

"Do you want to go to the playground for a little while?"

"That sounds good." Hawkeye smiles.

"Peg will be there with the kids."

"Sounds great."

October 14th

Margaret went down the list that she had made for the trip. She had gotten some new clothes to take to Hawaii for the four of them. She was just about finished packing the kids up, and then would tackle her room.

"Natalie, come here sweetie." She calls.

"What mommy?"

"Try this dress on honey, see if it fits ok." Margaret says, putting the dress that her sister had bought for Natalie for Christmas. It was a purple, blue and green sun dress, and she hoped it fit by now. She helps Natalie with the dress and smiles, "It fits!"

"Do I look pretty?"

"You look beautiful."

"I going to show daddy." She says, running out of her room and into her parent's room.

"Daddy!" She calls, jumping onto the bed he was folding clothing on.

"Natalie!"

"Look!" She says, modeling her newest wardrobe.

"Wow, you look very pretty."

"It's new!"

"Aunt Annie gave you that didn't she?"

"Yup!"

"Well, I think blue is very pretty on you! It's your color Nattie."

"Yup!"

"It brings out the color in your eyes." He says, kissing her cheek.

She looks in the mirror, "YEAH!" She smiles and runs back into her room with her mother and her brother, "Mommy! Blue makes my eyes pretty!"

"Your eyes are already pretty." She says, laughing, "You have your daddy's eyes."

"Yeah, but blue makes them REALLY pretty!"

"I see that. Zack… no." She says, watching him creep over to the doorway. He falls back on his bottom and smiles up at her.

"Mommy, can bring this?"

"Yes, you can bring it, can you take it off and go tell daddy to give you and Zachary a bath?"

"Yes!" She smiles pulling off the dress and runs back into the master bedroom, "Daddy!"

"What?"

"You give me a bath please?"

"You need a bath?"

"Yes."

"Are you dirty?"

"Nope!"

"So why should I give you a bath?" He asks, teasing the child.

"Mommy says so."

"Oh, well then I guess I better hop right too it."

"Zack too!"

"Do you want a bath with him?"

"No."

"Well, then he can wait." Hawk smiles, and draws a bath. He sticks the three year old in the warm water, letting her play for a few minutes before he washes her, then takes her out of the tub, wraps a towel around her and sends her to her room where her mother can finish her up. He then does the same thing for his son.

Margaret gets the kids all ready for bed and gets them a snack, while Hawkeye puts the clothing and necessities for the kids into a suitcase. By eight o'clock, Hawkeye has the kids bags packed and Margaret puts them into bed. Hawkeye reads Natalie a quick story, and then kisses her good night. He closes the door partway and goes in search of his wife. He sees her packing their suitcase and decides to help out a bit.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Can you go get my yellow, blue and purple dresses?"

"Yes." He says, heading to their large wardrobe. He pulls out what she asked for and also grabs a few of his more 'dressier' clothing and places them on the bed.

"Thank you. What ever you need, just pull it out and lay it on the bed, I can pack… you already did?!"

"Yes." He smiles at her, "And there are a few things in there for you too, but I wasn't sure on what all you wanted, so I figured I'd stop while I was a head."

"Can you go get the kids toothbrushes and shampoo?"

"Sure." He smiles and heads into the bathroom to retrieve the items she requested. "You know, we are insane."

"Why's that?" Margaret asks, looking up from her folding as her husband throws the items she asked for on the bed.

"We are going on an almost seven hour plane ride, with five kids under the age of six, and only four adults… can you tell me how this is going to work?"

"It will be an adventure, that's for sure." She smiles. "Can you finish packing this up? I need to go pack some plane things for the kids…"

"Sure."

"Thank you." She smiles, kissing him a bit longer than a peck. She knew that would drive him crazy, and broke a part, "I'll be back…"

"Whoa… what's that? You are going to leave me just like that?"

"Yup. I have things to do." She grins to herself and heads downstairs. She grabs the kids favorite toys and a handful of books. She was nervous about both kids and how they would act on the plane. Five hours was pushing it for them when they went out to Maine, and now she is trying to add on a few hours. She already has some of the toys to keep the kids active during a rainy day, and that took up a suitcase on it's own.

Margaret looks around to make sure she has everything she could think of to take on the trip. Both kids had two stuffed animals that they just could not live without, so Margaret made a mental note to remember the animas as she turned off the lights and went back upstairs. Hawkeye was still packing, but has the TV on as she enters the room.

"Did you remember everything?" He asks.

"Yes, I think so, but who knows. I have to remember the kids stuffed animals though."

"You will." He smiles.

"How is your part coming?"

"Fine. I'm almost done."

"Good." She smiles, sitting on the bed, her back flat up against the head board, "How's the weather looking tomorrow?"

"The news says it should be a nice day."

"Good."

"I'm really glad you decided to do this Margaret." He smiles at her, "It will be nice to get

away from here for a few days."

"I thought you would appreciate it. I'm going to go get a shower." She says, and walks into the bathroom, undresses and lets the water run hot for a few seconds and stepping under the stream, starting to unwind from the day's events.

Hawkeye finishes up his packing, and then takes some time to sit on the bed, relaxing for a few minutes. He hears the water turn off and his wife step out of the bathroom in only a towel. He watches her, until she notices, "What are you looking at?"

"You." He smiles.

"Yeah? Why?"

"Because I am married to the most beautiful girl in the world." He says, standing up and walks over to her, "What do you say about losing the towel, and you and I can have some fun." He asks, leaning down to kiss the nape of her neck.

"I'd have to say not tonight, we have a long day tomorrow…" She says, bending her neck to the side, allowing him better access, "We will have a hard time if we are exhausted for this flight."

"We can be quick…"

"What's the fun in that?" She smiles, swatting him away.

"It could be as fun as we make it."

"No." She says, stepping away and pulling on a nightgown. Hawkeye sighs and flops down onto the bed. She knew he wanted something, but she was not going to give it to him tonight. Getting up at three thirty would be hectic enough, especially with Natalie. She wasn't too fond of waking up so early, and Margaret was nervous she wouldn't go back to sleep. "Are you going to get a shower?"

"Not tonight… I'll get one tomorrow. I'd never wake up enough to drive if I didn't." He says, yawning.

"We should go to sleep."

"Yeah. I think that's a good idea. It's almost eleven, and we are only going to be getting about five hours of sleep."

"Four and a half." Margaret yawns, "How do you think Natalie's going to handle being woken up so early?"

"Let's not think about it…" Hawkeye turns off the light and crawls into bed with his wife. "Did you set the alarm?"

"Yes."

"Good." He says, wrapping his arms around her, "Night."

"Night." She smiles, giving him a quick kiss and closing her eyes. Three thirty came upon them rather quickly. The alarm clock started ringing and Margaret couldn't believe it. It seemed like they had just shut their eyes. She groans and shuts the clock off.

"That can't be the alarm yet." Hawkeye groans.

"It is." She says, sitting up, blinking the sleep out of her eyes, "You better be quick in the shower, I want to get out of here no later than 4:15."

"I will." He says, getting out of bed and heading into the shower. Margaret goes downstairs and makes some coffee. She looks around the house one last time to make sure she wasn't forgetting anything, especially the kids favorite toys. She then walks back upstairs to get dressed. She dresses in a comfortable pair of pants and a short sleeve shirt. "Pierce, hurry up." She says, sticking her head in the bathroom.

"I'm going." He says. He was half asleep, how did she expect him to hurry this early in the morning?! He finishes up in five minutes and gets dressed.

"I have coffee downstairs."

"You are an angel." He says, kissing her cheek.

"Get dressed. I'm going to need help with the kids."

"I'll get Zack, and you get Natalie."

"Fine." She says. "I better start on your daughter."

"Why is she always my daughter when she is difficult?"

"Because she learns her difficult ways from you."

"Hah." He says, pulling on his pants and shirt, "You are more stubborn than I am."

"Get your son up." She says, walking out of the room and down the hallway to wake her daughter. She opens the door and turns on the bedroom light, "Natalie." She says, shaking her a bit, she groans a little bit and rolls over, "Come on Nat, you have to get up honey. We are going to go on the plane.'

"Mommy." She says, sitting up, starting to cry.

"I know honey, but you can go back to sleep as soon as I get you dressed ok?"

"No." She says, crawling over to her and into her arms. Margaret smiles and kisses her head.

"We are going to go on a plane! You like riding on the plane. But we have to get you dressed. Daddy is getting Zack dressed." She tells the cranky child as she puts her into a pair of pants and a blue shirt. "Uncle BJ is waiting for us at the airport. Go to the potty for me honey."

"No."

"Yes, go quick."

"Mommy…."

"Natalie." She says, standing her on her feet, "Go."

Natalie cries, but does as her mommy tells her, and Margaret goes into see how Hawkeye is doing with Zack, he wasn't crying but he wasn't happy. Hawkeye was busy talking to his son, while he dresses him, "You ok in here?"

"We are just fine." He smiles, looking down at Zack as he pulls his shirt over his head. "How's Natalie?"

"Miserable." Margaret sighs, walking over to her daughter who was coming out of the bathroom, "Get back in there Miss, we have to brush your teeth."

"No." She says.

Margaret sighs. She knew how much Natalie hated waking up when she wasn't ready, especially four hours early, so she was trying to keep her patients, "Come on honey."

She cries the entire time Margaret was brushing her teeth. "I know honey." Margaret says, picking up the crying child, "You can go back to sleep."

"NO!" She says, laying her head against Margaret.

"How about you go downstairs with Daddy. He'll give you some juice if you ask him."

"Kay." She says as her mom puts her on her feet. She slowly goes down the stairs, and Margaret goes into the kids rooms to get their blankets and stuffed animals. She then makes the beds and the crib quickly, looking over the upstairs and then makes sure that everything is unplugged and turned off. She walks downstairs and sees that it is almost 4:15. Natalie is sitting in her seat drinking some juice and Zack is sitting with Hawkeye drinking his milk.

"Are you almost ready?"

"I'm almost done my coffee." He says. "Do we have everything?"

"Yes. I double checked."

"Ok."

Margaret washes out the coffee pot and her cup, before Hawkeye gives her his, "Can you get the kids in the car?"

"Yes." He says, picking Zack up, "Come on Nat."

"Carry me." She whines.

"No honey, you can walk."

"Daddy…" She says, crying.

Hawkeye takes his daughter's hand and walks out of the house into the dark, putting both kids in the back seat, then handing them their stuffed animals and blankets. Margaret walks outside with a suitcase, and Hawkeye goes back inside to retrieve the last two. He then locks the door and they are off. Natalie was awake the entire time, crying half of the car ride. Zack was awake but quiet. Hawkeye parks the car, and they check the bag at the gate. Hawkeye picks up Natalie up who has been crying for him to do so the entire walk, which was only a few minutes. They make their way over to the Hunnicut's who just got to the airport as well.

"Good morning." Peg says as she sees her friends.

"What a rotten thing to say." Hawkeye groans.

"Agreed." BJ says. "Hi Nat."

"No." She says, frowning.

"She isn't happy." Peg says.

"No, she's not." Margaret says, as Natalie begins to cry again, "Natalie…" She says, "Go to sleep."

"NO!" She yells.

"Don't you yell at me young lady." Margaret says firmly, "I will not tolerate that tone of voice!"

"Hi Midget." Hawkeye says to Erin.

"Hi." She says. She looks about ready to fall asleep, leaning against BJ, who had Gillian in his arms.

"You don't look too happy either Gill." Margaret smiles, at the child. Michael was almost asleep on Peg. He just turned one, two days ago.

"She cried all morning!" Erin complains.

"It still is morning, and she hasn't cried." Hawkeye says.

"She will." Erin says sure of herself.

"All of the kids should fall back asleep." Peg says.

"I hope." BJ and Hawkeye say.

At 5:15 they board the plane, Natalie will not sit in her own seat, and cries when Hawkeye tries to put her in it. "Just hold her." Margaret replies.

"I was planning on it." He says, sitting down in the seat with the crying, clinging three year old. He calms her down quickly, and gives a look over to BJ who was having the same trouble with Gillian. Erin was already asleep on her chair as were the two boys on their mother's. They hear their pilot telling them that they are about to take off and as soon as they were in the air Natalie and Gillian fell asleep. Once they were sleeping the parents decided to take that time to sleep a bit, and did not wake up till almost 8 when all the kids woke. Natalie and Gillian were like two totally different girls. They were bright-eyed and happy from the moment they woke up again. Hawkeye looks at his watch and looks down at his daughter, "Are you better now Miss Pierce?"

"Yup!"

"Well I'm so glad." Hawkeye says, rolling his eyes, kissing his daughter.

Margaret and Peg were sick of hearing their husbands shouting across them, so Margaret stands up, "Here BJ switch with me."

"It's ok Margaret…"

"No, really." She tells him as they stand up and swap places.

"Thank you." Peg smiles.

"No problem. My god, they talk like they haven't seen each other in years!"

"I know. But now, the boys, and the girls will be happy, right Erin?"

"Yes." She smiles. "Aunt Margaret?"

"What honey?"

"Guess what."

"What?"

"In September, I get to go to school!"

"You do? Well that sounds like so much fun!"

"Yup!"

"Can I come?"

"Aunt Margaret, you went to school!"

"So I can't come?"

"You and mommy and daddy and Uncle Hawk are too old."

"We are? Why?"

"Cause you have to be almost six to go!"

"Darn." She laughs.

"Hawkeye should have moved over here, I'm sure Erin would be happy."

"I don't think he would have. He's claustrophobic, and I don't think he would make Erin move away from the window."

"He's claustrophobic?" Peg says.

"Extremely."

"Huh, I didn't know that."

"He's a bit better with it, but it never leaves you. We had to go into a cave back in the MASH and he couldn't take it. He stood outside almost the entire time, until we went back to the unit."

"I would have never guessed."

"Believe our surprise when he admitted it." Margaret smiles. "Planes are probably the one time it isn't as bad for him."

"Do you think the kids are?"

"I don't think so… they play hide and seek and all, so I'd have to guess not."

"Well that's good." Peg smiles, "These kids are going to be bouncing off the walls once we get off this plane."

"Don't I know it." She says, "Here, switch kids with me. I haven't seen Michael in a while." Peg and Margaret switch and talk to their nephews. Both boys knew a handful of words now, but they would talk to each other in baby gibberish.

"Daddy?"

"What Gillian."

"When we getting there?"

"By lunch time, in about two hours." He says, looking at his watch.

"Oh." She smiles, and goes back to talking to Natalie. They were coloring in coloring books, which suited their fathers just fine because they were able to talk. Erin was now a little book worm. She loves to read, which was fine for the adults.

The plane landed and just as Margaret expected, the girls were off the wall. They only wanted to run, but their fathers kept a firm grip on them. It was 80 degrees at ten thirty in the morning.

"How about we go get cars, then find the hotel, and then we can worry about lunch?" Margaret asks.

"That sounds ok… I think the kid can wait." Peg smiles, "For a little while at least."

The Hunnicut's and the Pierce's found cars and the hotel rather quickly. They were down the hall from one another, which was perfectly fine. Margaret and Hawkeye take a right from the elevator and head down to their room, while BJ and Peg take a left. Margaret opens the door and smiles when she sees the room. She was extremely pleased.

"Look at this." She smiles.

"It's really nice." Hawkeye smiles, putting Zack down on the ground. He toddles all around, following his older sister. They have two bedrooms in the hotel, which was ideal for them. There was also a kitchen, family room, and a balcony looking out over the ocean. Margaret unpacks while Hawkeye entertains the kids. Zack thought the balcony was the greatest thing ever. He ran in and out of the open door. The balcony was very safe for the kids. There was no way for them to fall out because the chairs were pushed up against the wall, away from the rail, and the rails were very close together.

"DADDY!" Natalie shouts.

"What?"

"Look! Outside! It's ocean!"

"I see that."

"We going swimming?"

"Later on today."

"Kay!" She smiles and runs into her parents room. "Mommy?"

"What?"

"Whatcha doing?"

"Unpacking. What are you doing?"

"Can I help?"

"Sure, go put this into your bedroom honey."

"Kay." She smiles, and takes her brothers blanket and her blanket, putting them on her bed and in his crib. "Mommy, now what?"

"Go play with daddy for a little while. I'll be done soon and then we can get some lunch with Aunt Peg, Uncle BJ and the kids."

"Ok! Daddy, play with me!" She says jumping on his back. Hawkeye was busy wrestling with Zack, but openly accepted his daughter in on the fight. As soon as Margaret finishes putting the clothes away, there is a knock at the door. "Margaret, are you done yet?"

"Yes." She says, walking out of their bedroom and into the family room. The kids had to be starving by now, "Shall we go look for a place to eat?"

"Let's just eat in the hotel." Peg says.

"That sounds even better." She smiles, "Let's go."

Hawkeye grabs Zack, and Natalie runs over to Gillian. They all walk downstairs and enjoy a rather early lunch, but that is only because of the time change. They get their food and start discussing the itinerary. "So…" Peg starts, "We were thinking."

"Oh? About what?" Margaret asks.

"The four of us are going to go out one night. We can find a babysitter for the kids fairly easy here.."

"I like that idea." Hawk smiles.

"It gets better." BJ smiles, "We are willing to take your two for a night, so you two can have some time, alone."

"I like that even better." Hawkeye smiles.

"That's a good idea, and we won't mind taking your three for a night either." Margaret smiles.

"Well that would be wonderful." Peg smiles. "We figured you would."

"What are you in the mood for today?"

"I told the kids I'd take them swimming."

"That's a good idea, what do you think Hawk?"

"Sound's good Beej."

When they get back to the hotel the kids are all pretty cranky, even Erin, so The adults go to the Pierce room and put on the TV for the kids. They all fell asleep within minutes. Peg and Margaret pick up the boys and put them in the crib, the girls would be fine on the floor, BJ and Hawkeye make four drinks and go onto the balcony, leaving the door open to listen for the children.

"Ok, so, today's Saturday… we have to stay with the kids at least for the first few days." Hawkeye smiles. "So, how about Monday we go out, Tuesday and Wednesday we flip for?"

"We'll take either." BJ smiles.

"Fine, you get Tuesday, we'll take Wednesday."

"That's fine."

"Then it's set." Hawkeye smiles. "Monday through Wednesday night it's adults only… well at least two of those nights."

"What time is it?"

"Two thirty." BJ says, looking at his watch.

"I actually think the kids will be on schedule today."

"That would be wonderful." Margaret smiles at Peg. "I really don't want to be woken up at four in the morning."

"I agree."

About three more minutes, Erin comes out, and sits on BJ's lap.

"Hi Erin." Peg smiles.

"Hi." She smiles.

"Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yeah." She says, yawning, "All the kids are still asleep."

"They will be up soon."

"So Erin, do you think you will start taking naps every day again?" BJ asks.

"No."

"No? Why not?"

"Because I'm too old."

"Well, I like taking naps, and I'm older than you."

"Your really old, you need naps." She says, smiling at her dad.

"Well if you are really old, that means I am ancient Beej." Hawkeye laughs. His friend was only two years younger, but that qualifies Hawkeye to pick on him. Hawkeye was almost 36 the others were 34 or almost 34.

"Can we go swimming?" Erin asks, looking up at her father.

"In a little while, when the others get up."

"Can I wake them?"

"NO!" Peg says, in a firm manor.

"Ok." She sighs.

By three thirty all the girls are awake and ready to get out of the hotel and do something, "Ok, how about you boys take the girls down to the beach and we'll meet up with you when the boys wake up?" Margaret asks.

"I think that sounds good." BJ smiles, "Give us a few minutes to get them ready."

"Right." Hawkeye says, as the girls go running out to the hall with their dad in tow. Hawkeye looks at his anxious daughter, "What do you say Nat, should we go get your bathing suit on? You don't need suntan lotion right now." He smiles.

"Ok!" She says, running inside to her parent's room.

Hawkeye gets her into her bathing suit, "Did mommy buy this for you?"

"Yes." She smiles, and twirls around, "Its new!"

"I thought so! It's very pretty!"

"It's puple and blue!"

"I see that. Go see mommy so I can get dressed."

"Kay." She says, running out. "Mommy! I ready to go!"

"I see that, but you need your shoes on honey. Go get your sandals in the living room."

"Ok!" She says, running back inside. When she comes back out, "Here mommy!"

"I like your bathing suit honey."

"Thank you Aunt Peg! It's new!"

"Did mommy get it for you?"

"Yes." She smiles.

"It's very pretty."

"Thank you!" She says, as she sees her Uncle and cousins walk back into the house, "Daddy! 'Mon!"

"I'm coming." He says, walking out of the bedroom, "We'll see you girls down there soon."

"We'll be down around four."

"Ok." BJ says, "Come on girls."

Hawkeye and BJ stake out a spot, and say down the towels. Then they take the girls by the waters edge, and let them play in the surf. The water was so clear you could see to the bottom, and it was so blue, you could see for miles. The girls all were laughing and splashing around their fathers. The girls were awed at, and absolutely loved by the women around them. They heard a lot of, "Oh, look at the fathers with their daughters… they are so cute!" and "I wish my husband was like that with my kids."

The girls are allowed to go in about waste deep. At four the women brought the two boys down. Zack spotted Hawkeye and started to run towards him, with Michael right behind them.

"Hawk." Margaret calls to him, getting both men's attention to their charging son's. Hawkeye walks towards the two boys and picks them both up, walking a bit deeper into the water and passing Michael to BJ.

"How are you buddy?" He asks, as Zack hugs his father. "Did you have a nice nap?"

"Yup!" He smiles, squirming down. Hawkeye stood him up in the water up to his knees. He loves the water almost as much as his sister. He got a bit nervous when the waves kept pushing against him, so he clings to his fathers legs.

"MAMA!"

"What?" She smiles at her son, who was raising his hands to her, "Eww, you are all wet…" She laughs as she picks him up.

"Mommy!"

"What?"

"Come in da water!"

"I will soon Natalie. Mommy has to get use to the water first."

"It's warm!"

"I really don't care how warm it is." She smiles at her daughter.

"Daddy!" Natalie pouts.

"What?"

"Make mommy get in."

"I would, but she has protection." He smiles, getting a quizzical look from his daughter, "Mommy is holding Zachary, and he can't swim, so I can't throw mommy in the water."

"Mommy, put Zack down."

"Oh no… I don't think so Miss. I'm keeping a good grip on your little brother."

"You no fun." She says, going to play with her cousins.

"She's turning into a real sweetie pie." Margaret groans.

"She may look like me, but she's you through and through." Hawkeye says, taking his son who was reaching for him. He puts him back down to splash in the water. He tries to walk out a bit deeper, but its stopped by his father, "Zachary, you are a bit too small to go any deeper buddy." He smiles.

"Dada!" He frowns.

"Now you are all your mother." He says, laughing, keeping a grip on the baby.

BY five, the adults decide to start thinking about dinner, and take the kids out of the water, and back up to the hotel.

They decide to take a drive and see what they could find outside of their hotel. "Natalie, come here and put your dress on honey." Margaret calls. She already had her son dressed, but Natalie was still in her bathing suit. "Come on Nattie, let's go."

"Ok mommy!" She says, taking off her swim suit, and raising her hands for her dress to go on. Margaret smiles and pulls the little pink sundress over her head. "Thank you mommy."

"You're welcome." She smiles, going into her room to change into something to wear.

At five thirty they are in a little town with a lot of shops and restaurants. The women scope out some shops that they are going to want to take some time and look through in the upcoming days. The men all said that they are more than welcome to go, but they won't have them there to carry the treasures bought. Erin tells her mother that she wants to go which starts a chain reaction.

"Ok, ok, how about this." Margaret begins, "We will take the girls shopping with us tomorrow afternoon, and you two men keep the boys, however, Wednesday, you guys keep all five of the kids, and we get to go shopping alone."

"Fine." BJ and Hawkeye say at the same time.

"Do we really trust them with five kids?" Peg smiles.

"When it comes to getting out with out kids and husbands…"

"Say no more." Peg laughs.

"I don't think we are wanted Hawk."

"I believe you are right Beej… you know, we should just let the kids with them the entire week, all of them."

"Not gonna happen." Margaret smiles.

"Well, maybe we just won't spend an entire night with you girls." Hawkeye says.

"You wouldn't…"

"Wouldn't I? I think BJ and I could go drinking on OUR night out instead of us going out."

"You wouldn't."

"Would you like to put money on that?"

"Yup." She grins.

"Well, you win… THIS TIME." He smiles.

After dinner was over, they let the kids go into the pool for about an hour, then they decided it was time to call it a night. Everyone was pretty tired, so they went back to their rooms for the night. Margaret got Zack ready for bed while Hawkeye got Natalie a little snack. She was pretty upset that she couldn't have ice cream, but got over it when Hawkeye gave her the next best thing, a cookie. She ate her cookie and Hawkeye brushes her teeth and reads her a story in the living room. "Alright Princess." He says, when he finishes the book, "It is now eight, and you need to go to bed."

"I not tired." She says, yawning.

"Well, how about we just go and lay in bed for a little bit?"

"Daddy too?"

"Me too." He smiles, picking her up and goes into the kid's room. Hawkeye lies down with her and within a few minutes she was sound asleep. He carefully stands up and walks out of the bedroom, closing the door partially. "Margaret?" He calls, not seeing his wife.

"Out here." She replies from the porch.

"I'm going to grab something to drink do you want anything?"

"Sure, surprise me."

Hawkeye pours two glasses of wine and walks outside into the warm, but comfortable night air. He hands her a glass and takes a seat next to him, "Thank you."

"You're welcome." He smiles.

"Is Natalie asleep?"

"Yes. She fell asleep shortly after she laid down."

"Good." She smiles. "Today didn't go as bad as it could have."

"Besides Natalie being horrendous this morning." He says smiling.

"We knew that would happen."

"Doesn't mean that I liked it."

"Well, if you listen, they are sleeping now… it is quiet, and it is just the two of us…" She smiles, "And I think that we should sit outside, drink our wine, and relax, because tomorrow is going to be another tough, fun filled day."

Hawkeye gives her a look to kill, she knows he wants something more tonight then just relaxing, but Margaret wasn't going to give him anything more. She stands up and sits in front of him, leaning back against him, he wraps his arm around her waste and kisses her cheek. "So, what is on the agenda for tomorrow?"

"Well, I figured around eight we can go get some breakfast. Peg and I want to eat down in the restaurant. The girls will love the food and the boys can find something to eat too.

After that we aren't too sure what we are going to be doing after, maybe go for a quick hike with the kids. Your dad told me about a waterfall that is rather easy for all of the kids. It's only a walk of about a hundred feet or so."

"What about the boys?"

"They love walking, they will be ok, and if they aren't you and BJ can carry them."

"Ok."

Around eleven, they decide to turn in. Margaret checks on the kids quickly before getting changed and brushing her teeth. Hawkeye locks the doors and turns off the lights, then joins his wife in their bedroom. He too then gets ready for bed, and joins his wife in their king size bed. He knows she is not in the mood for anything "fun" so he just wraps his arms around her, kissing her forehead. "This was a good idea." He says.

"I thought you would approve." She smiles, and kisses him before settling back down under the covers and closing her eyes. They are able to sleep until about six thirty, when Natalie jumps into bed with them. Margaret could tell she was still exhausted, and knew that she would probably go back to sleep for a little while if they lay still and not rile her up. She lies in-between her two parents and snuggles up against her mom. Margaret smiles at her three year old, and kisses her cheek, before closing her eyes. Natalie must have gotten the picture that they did not want to be up just yet, and closed her eyes too. They were able to sleep for another hour before Zack woke up, a bundle of energy. Margaret pries herself away from her daughter, who immediately woke up, but then decided to cuddle against her daddy for a bit longer.

"Good morning Zachary." Margaret smiles at the baby.

"Mama!" He says, reaching over to her. She picks him up and changes him.

"You slept pretty late there buddy." She says, kissing him.

"LE?"

"She's in the bedroom with daddy." Zack has recently been saying more and more words. He can't pronounce Natalie's name so he insists on calling her just Le. "Let's go see them. We have to get some breakfast soon."

The two walk into the big bedroom and Zack squirms out of her grips and onto Hawkeye's chest. He smiles, "Hi buddy."

"Dada!" He says, giving him an open mouth kiss.

"Yuck." Natalie says, as her daddy wipes off the baby drool. "Baby's are gross."

The two adults laugh, and Margaret says, "I'm jumping into the shower. Can you get Natalie dressed?"

"Sure. Ok Nattie, what do you want to wear?"

"My blue dress."

"Which one?"

"I don't know." She shrugs.

Hawkeye moves both kids over so he can go to the closet and pick out a dress for Natalie. He finds a blue sundress with purple, pink and yellow flowers on it, and brings it over to his daughter, "Is this ok princess?"

"Yup!" She smiles, and starts to get out of her pajamas. Hawkeye helps her with the dress and zips her up.

"You look beautiful!" He says, in an over animated voice, that Natalie just eats up.

"Thank you!" She smiles, " 'Mon Zack!!" She says, and they run into the living room to play with their toys. Hawkeye follows them out and sits on the couch, putting on the television to watch a bit of the news before he was able to get his shower. By eight, Margaret was dressed and out with the kids, and it was Hawkeye's turn. By eight forty-five, they were on their way over to meet BJ in the diner on the first floor. The kids were very hungry and glad to see each other.

"So are you two men ready to go hiking?" Peg smiles.

"I think so, what do you think Hawk?"

"Sounds like it will be fun."

"I thought you women were taking the kids and going shopping?"

"Tomorrow morning." Margaret smiles.

"That means we have a morning without kids…" Hawkeye smiles.

"And perhaps a night without wives?" BJ says.

"Not if you two are going to act like you did the last time we let you out." Margaret says, giving them one of her famous 'major' looks.

"Nah, there is no reason to get that drunk again."

"I just don't want my wife to declare world war three on me again." Hawkeye laughs.

"It served you right."

"Uhhuh." He says sighing, "So what do you think Beej, should we make a night of it?"

"Sounds good."

"Women?"

"I think it's ok… Peg?"

"Fine, but if you two come home like you did last time…"

"We won't." BJ answers for both of them.

"Good."

"Daddy, where you going?" Natalie asks.

"Tonight Uncle BJ and I are going out for boy time."

"Why?"

"Because we need a night away from the kids and wife." Hawkeye laughs.

"Oh, ok!" She smiles.

"Well I'm glad you think that it's ok for me and Uncle BJ to go out because if you didn't, then I just couldn't live with myself." He laughs.

"Mommy, what we doing today?"

"Going on a hike."

"A hike?"

"Yes, a hike, it's like a fun walk Gillian."

"Oh!" She smiles.

"We are going to go up to a BIG waterfall." Margaret says smiling.

"I don't wanna." Erin says, frowning.

"You don't wanna what?" Peg says.

"I don't wanna go. I wanna stay here."

"You can't stay here because we are all going to go to the waterfall."

"But I don't wanna."

"You are going and that's it."

"No." She says.

"Erin, you heard your mother."

"I know, but I'm not going. I want to go to the beach."

"We can do that later, it's too hot right now."

"No it's not!" She says.

"Erin Jane, No, that is the end of the discussion." Peg says, frowning at the little girl, raising her voice just enough to quiet her daughter.

"It's not fair." Erin mumbles.

"What?"

"Nothing." She says, crossing her arms.

"So, we'll eat and then go up and get ready to head out? Does that sound ok?"

"Sure Major." Hawkeye laughs. Margaret had to hold back her desire to slap him, even if it was for the most part playful because of the kids.

About a half an hour later, they went to their rooms to quickly change.

"Nat, get your sneakers on honey."

"Ok mommy!"

"Erin doesn't seem like she's having a good day."

"She's a woman, you people never have good days." Hawkeye smiles.

"Watch it bub, or you are on the couch."

"Second lesson about women Zack… you don't ever want to sleep on the couch, that means you are in huge trouble and need to work your baby butt off." He says.

"Dada." Zack says, laughing.

"What, you don't believe me? Just you wait and see." He says, picking him up. "Let's go see if Uncle BJ is ready ok?"

"Kay." He smiles.

"Margaret…"

"I heard you, go ahead, Natalie and I will be by shortly."

"Ok, come on pal." He says, and the two men walk out of the hotel and down the hall way, "Hey Midget, what's wrong?" He asks, seeing Erin's face.

"I don't want to go." She says.

"Why not?"

"Because. I want to go swimming."

"Maybe we can go swimming where the waterfall is."

"No, I don't want to go on a stupid walk."

"You aren't having a good day today Erin, are you?"

"I just don't want…"

"Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to do, and this will be fun."

"Will not." She pouts.

Hawkeye shakes his head, "You aren't getting sick on us are you Erin? You are never this unhappy." He puts a hand on her forehead, "You don't feel warm, so how about we make the best of this walk ok?"

"I don't…"

"I know you don't but it will be fun. You will LOVE the waterfall!" Hawkeye says, before hearing Peg.

"Erin, get in here and put your shoes on this instant young lady."

"MOM!"

"Don't raise your voice at me. You are five years old and I will not have a five year old yelling at me, now you better get your but in there this instant. I'll count to two…."

Erin groans, and stops back inside of the house, "That girl…"

"She may be coming down with something…"

"No, she's just in a mood. We were suppose to go shopping today, but Margaret and I decided to push that off till tomorrow, which Erin didn't like, then we decided not to go to the beach right away, which Erin didn't like… are you beginning to see a pattern?"

"Yeah… and if I didn't know any better, I'd say Erin is Margaret's child." Hawkeye laughs.

"If I didn't see Peggy push her out I'd say she was Margaret's too." BJ smiles as he stands by the doorway.

"Daddy, I'm ready." Gillian smiles.

"Ah, my easy daughter." He says, "Go get Aunt Margaret."

"And Natalie too?"

"Yeah, get Natalie too."

Gillian runs full speed down to the Pierce's suite and walks in, "Aunt Margaret!"

"Gillian!" Margaret calls back.

"Come on!"

"Hold on sweetie, I have to finish fixing Natalie's hair."

"Can you do mine too?"

Margaret smiles, "Sure, come over here. You and Natalie can be twins."

Gillian patiently waits on the bed as her aunt finishes her "cousins" hair, and gets hers done. Both girls had the same length hair, only one was dark brown, practically black, and the other was bright blonde. "Alright, you two glamorous three year olds, lets go out for our hike."

"Ok! Come on Gillie!" Natalie says, and the two girls run down the long hallway while Margaret walks. "Let's go!" Natalie smiles as she sees her dad.

"Wait till Erin and Mommy get here."

"Erin, let's go. It doesn't take you that long to put your shoes on!" Peg says, "I swear, sometimes that girl drives me right up a wall."

"I don't." Gillian says, smiling.

"Not yet, but you will." BJ laughs.

"No I won't." She replies quite sure of herself.

"ERIN, MOVE IT." BJ says. That got Erin moving and she quickly comes out with her shoes on. BJ only raises his voice on few occasions, and everyone knows that when his voice is up, he either has lost all of his patients or someone is going to get hurt. "Are you ready?"

"Yes dad."

"Ok, let's go on a hike!"

Margaret and Peg chose this hike because it wasn't very long. They knew the boys wouldn't be able to walk for too long, but their dad's could easily carry them, and it was just the right length both up and back from the waterfall for the younger girls. They loved having the kids outside and away from the TV. This was the perfect time of the day. They walked for about ten minutes, when the two babies wanted to be held. They were better off being held anyway because they were pretty slow on their feet. Erin really liked hiking once she got out of her funk, which wasn't too far into their hike, and the two girls like anything to do with running around outside with each other. They got to the waterfall and stopped. It was ENORMOUS. The girls were amazed at how tall it was and wanted to walk up to the very top. Margaret and Peg opted to take the boys while the daddy's took the girls up.

"Daddy! Come on!" Natalie calls, "Too slow!"

"I'm coming Natalie." He smiles, as they walk up the BIG HILL. When they get to the top the girls wanted to go to the edge, so Hawkeye and BJ gave them simple directions to follow, and they were "Don't Get Too Close to the Edge."

"Mommy and Aunt Margaret look so small!" Erin says, waving to her mom, aunt, brother and cousin, smiling as they wave back.

"That's because we are so far up." BJ smiles, "Are you glad you came with us?"

"Yes."

"Well, I'm glad you aren't so grumpy."

"Can we go swimming in the waterfall?" Erin practically begged.

"Mommy put your bathing suit on for a reason." BJ says, "But we have to go back down to go swimming!"

"I know that, I'm not jumping." Erin told him.

"What do you say girls, would you all like to go swimming for a little bit?"

"Yes!" They all squeal and start to head down to the base of the falls.

"I guess this means we are getting wet too." Hawkeye says.

"Unless we can con the women…"

"Like I said… I guess this means we're getting wet too."

"I guess it does."

The girls were already down at the base and in the water before the men caught up. It wasn't too deep of a pool and they could stand almost everywhere. Hawkeye and BJ could easily stand in the middle, being so tall, but the girls kept pretty close to the land.

The water was a crystal blue color, cascading down from high above. The sun heats it every morning so it was fairly warm. The girls splashed their fathers and swam around. Margaret and Peg went in the water for a bit too with the boys. After an hour, they decided it was time to go back to the hotel before the kids got cranky and hungry. They walked all the way back and plan on coming back to this waterfall very soon.

"Where are we eating?" Hawkeye asks.

"We can go into town, and find some diner." Peg suggests.

"That sounds good."

"Tomorrow, we are going shopping." Margaret says.

"Us too!" Erin says.

"I don't know about tomorrow honey." Peg says.

"But you said we could go tomorrow! That it would be a girls day! You can't say no!"

"She's right." Peg says, "Ok tomorrow is a girls morning, then at night it's an adult only, then Tuesday we go shopping alone."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Margaret smiles.

"I don't want to hear any of you girls complaining tomorrow ERIN." Peg says, "If I do, you are staying home with the boys."

"I won't."

"Ok."

The next day, the girls left by 9:00, which left the boys at home. The boys were on cloud nine getting to spend the entire day with their fathers. Michael and Zachary love to roughhouse, and BJ and Hawkeye were right there with him. They wrestled for a while, had lunch together, the boys took a nap, and when they woke up, Hawkeye and BJ took them swimming for a little while, and that was where the girls found them, in the pool. That started a chain reaction and all three of the girls got on their bathing suits and went for a swim before the babysitter would come to watch the kids as the adults go out for dinner. Zack and Michael were a lot easier with new faces then their sisters. They wouldn't put up a fight as long as they new person played with them. This was a lot easier on the parents. They were going to just be staying in Hawkeye's room, and the babysitter was right on time, 6:00, she knocked on the door.

"Hi, you must be Brenda." Margaret says, smiling.

"Yes, and you are Mrs. Pierce?"

"Yes, thank you for coming."

"That's no problem." She smiles. "It's quiet here for having five kids."

"Only two are here right now, the other three will be up very soon."

"Alright."

"Natalie, Zachary, come here kids."

"What mommy?" Natalie says, running into the living room with her brother hot on her tail, she sees the new face and smiles, "Hi."

"Hi." Brenda smiles.

"Kids, this is Brenda, Brenda these are my kids, Natalie, and Zachary."

"It's nice to meet you two."

"Mommy, when is Gillian coming?"

"Soon. I have to go finish getting dressed ok?"

"Ok."

"Hawk, are you ready yet?"

"Almost."

"The babysitters here." She says, fixing her hair a bit.

"Does she seem responsible?"

"Seems to be. She looks about eighteen, and she's worked here during High School and through College."

"Well I'm glad she meets your standards." Hawkeye smiles, tying his tie. "Move it Major." He says, kissing her cheek quickly and heads out to his children. "Hi Brenda."

"Hi Dr. Pierce."

"You two better be on your best behavior, got it?"

"Got it!"

"Yup!"

"Good, now, Natalie, go down to Uncle BJ's room and get him." He says, as Natalie opens the door, he follows her outside and watches her to make sure she goes to the right room, which she does, and Gillian and her come running back, "I said get Uncle BJ, not Gillian." He laughs.

"Uncle BJ be here soon!"

"Good, because we have reservations soon. Brenda, this is my niece Gillian, and Gillian, this is Brenda. Erin and Michael are the two you will meet soon."

"Hi Gillian."

"Hi." She smiles.

"I want you to be on your best behavior too Gillie Bean." He says to the little girl.

"Uncle Hawk, I always am!"

"Not when you are with Natalie."

Both girls giggle and run into the kids bedroom to play. "So do you have any rules for me Dr. Pierce? What the kids are allergic to or anything? Bedtimes?"

"They boys should be sleeping by eight, just put them both in the crib. They will be exhausted because it's a half an hour after their bedtime. The girls can stay up till nine, but just to play a quiet game or to watch a TV show. They should all fit in the bed, just make sure Natalie is on the far side so when the girls parents pick them up, they won't disturb her. None of the kids have allergies to any food or drink, and they can pretty much do whatever they want, within limits. Oh, and try not to give them any ice cream. We have cookies."

"Ok. Sounds good."

"Daddy, I want ice cream." Natalie says, coming out with Gillian.

"Me too."

"Ok, you girls can have it tonight, but tomorrow when we all go out for ice cream, you can't have any."

"But I want it then!"

"Me too!"

"Well, then I guess you two are going to have to wait for ice cream till tomorrow, and I think Uncle BJ and Aunt Peggy are going to be going to take you kids for ice cream on Wednesday too, so you girls will be ice creamed out by the end of our vacation."

"No we won't."

"No?"

"Nope! I love ice cream."

"You are going to turn into an ice cream."

"Uncle Hawk!" Gillian says smiling.

"Go play you two." Hawkeye says, "Margaret, are you ready?"

"Almost, did Peg and BJ get here yet?"

"Not…" Hawkeye begins, before seeing Erin run in, "Yup."

"Margaret isn't ready yet?" BJ asks.

"Of course not… she's one of 'THEM'" He says, pointing at all the girls.

"I resemble that remark." Peg smiles.

"Erin, go see if you can get Aunt Margaret moving for me ok?"

"Ok." She says, running into the bedroom, "Aunt Margaret?"

"What Erin?"

"Uncle Hawkeye says move it!"

"You go out and tell him if he says one more thing about me moving it, he's sleeping on the couch."

"Ok." She runs back out, "You're going to have to sleep on the couch."

Hawkeye and BJ laugh, "That sounds like my wife."

"Ok, I'm ready." Margaret says, putting a pair of sandals on.

"It's about time."

"You think I'm kidding about the couch mister?"

"Natalie, Zack, come here, we are leaving." Hawkeye says, smiling at his wife.

"You too Guys." BJ calls.

The kids all come running in from the kids bedroom, gives their parents and aunt and uncle a hug, "I don't want to hear you five causing any trouble." Margaret says, "Otherwise, I'll get mad, and you don't want me getting mad, right?"

"Right." The girls said.

"You three help Brenda out with the boys ok? Especially you Erin." Peg tells them.

"Ok." Erin and the girls reply.

"Ok, behave." Hawkeye says.

"Bye kids." BJ says, and they walk out.

They go to a restaurant overlooking the ocean. They haven't had a chance to go out to an adult restaurant in a while, especially now that they have the boys, and they really enjoyed spending time with just the four of them. They sat down and talked about everything and anything they could think about. They didn't get home until midnight.

"We can just keep the kids here if you want." Margaret says.

"You don't have too, we can wake Erin up and carry the other two… she's the easiest." Peg says.

"Well, how about we keep the girls and you take Mike?"

"Hawkeye, really…"

"Don't worry about it Peg, they are sound asleep, and if you won't keep all of them here, then just take one. I figured Mike will work the best, because if one girl slept here and the other went home…"

"Your right. Ok, keep the girls, and I'll take the boy." Peg smiles.

"We'll see you two tomorrow for breakfast."

"Ok. See you tomorrow." BJ says as he picks his son up from the crib and walks out.

On Tuesday, it rained all day, until the evening, so the women went shopping and the kids and the fathers went into the pool for a while. Hawkeye and Margaret took the kids and then Wednesday, they had the room to themselves.

"I hope you don't take as long as you did the other night to get ready." Hawkeye teases, "We do have dinner reservations in about two hours, and you haven't even picked out clothes to wear."

"You better get moving too! You need a shower, after I get one."

"I have a better idea, how about we get one together?"

"No… we'd never get out of there… and be a bit too tired for tonight." She says, teasingly. "And we have reservations in two, no more like an hour and a half to attend." She smiles, getting into the shower without another word. She secretly hopes that he comes in with her, but she doubted it. She was right. She showers quickly and then heads back into the bedroom to get dressed.

At seven, Hawkeye and Margaret were at the restaurant, and seated within minutes. The restaurant was on the beach, Hawkeye ordered a bottle of wine for the two prior to them coming down. They looked through the menus, "Everything looks so good, what are you getting?" Margaret asks her husband.

"I'm not too sure. What are you getting?"

"I don't know either… maybe the chicken."

"I'll get the filet, I think."

At eight, Hawkeye and Margaret ate dinner, "You know, this was a great idea."

"Yeah," Margaret says, "Peg and BJ really thought this out…"

"Not just that, coming here." He says, "It's been a hell of a year. The only good thing that came out of this year was Zack, and he was a year and a half ago."

"It has been, but it will get better."

"Bad things happens in three…"

"So we should be good for a while." Hawkeye smiles. "I'm really glad we came."

"So am I Hawk." She says, taking a swallow of her wine, "Everything will get better."

"It already is." He says, smiling.

They talk and finish eating, then take a walk on the beach before returning to their bedroom at around eleven thirty.

"I'll meet you in the bedroom." Margaret smiles as Hawkeye turns the lights off.

"So what do you want to do?" Hawkeye asks, lying next to his wife on the bed.

"I think we have the entire hotel room to ourselves, no children, no nothing, and I think we should take advantage of this as long as we can." She says rather bluntly.

"I agree." He smiles, and kisses her, "I love you."

"I love you too." She smiles, as they embrace again. That was the first time in almost a month that the two of them were able to be together. They have both been so busy that their personal life has been put on hold, but tonight that was rectified. At around one in the morning, Margaret lies with her head on her husbands bare chest. His arms were wrapped tightly around her. They didn't need to talk, they just lie in bed in each others arms, something that they have not been able to do in a long time. They were thrilled to have the night alone, and wished that it could stay that way for another day or two, but all good things must come to an end.

On Sunday, they flew back home, the vacation was over. The plane ride home was long, but not as traumatic on the kids as the first time. By the time they got home, the kids were sound asleep, so the parents put them in their beds, leaving the suitcases downstairs, and went right to sleep. That vacation was just what both families needed. October seems to come to an end quickly because of the vacation, and thanksgiving was soon upon them. The Pierces went down to Virginia for Thanksgiving. They flew yet again for almost eight hours, including one hour that they were at the airport and the rental place. Hawkeye was looking forward to seeing his mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Margaret and the kids were excited to see everyone. They got into the house and immediately the grandkids were spoiled by Pop-Pop and Grandmom.

"I'm glad you four could make it." Kate smiles.

"We wouldn't miss it." Margaret smiles.

"You look tired Margaret, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine mom." She smiles, "It was just a long plane ride."

"I bet it was. How did the kids handle it?"

"They were great and slept most of the way." Hawkeye replies.

"Well that's lucky for you."

"It really is." Margaret smiles.

For the rest of the day, they mostly relaxed. The kids played outside. Annie was due to have her second child in about three months, and she hopes she is like her sister and has a boy. They got the kids to bed around 9:00 and the adults sat up talking. At eleven, Margaret decides to go to sleep. She was exhausted and knew she would be up early, so she said good night to her family and went to bed. By midnight, Tyler and Hawkeye were the last ones awake, and they sat talking till one, before they turned in. Hawkeye checks on the kids and then joins his wife, like always, in bed. As soon as he lies in bed, Margaret wakes up and lies her head on his chest. Hawkeye kisses her head and closes his arms around her.

Margaret was right about waking up early, she was up at six thirty, for some reason. She wasn't feeling the greatest, but pushed it aside. Both kids had the flu, and she thought she had caught a part of it. A few minutes later, she was running to the bathroom, hunching over the porcelain bowl. Once she was finished, she brushes her teeth and goes back to her room, feeling absolutely awful.

"Are you ok?" Hawkeye mumbled, half awake.

"I think I have Natalie's flu." She groans, pulling the blanket up over her.

"That's not good." He says, cracking an eye open to her, "Let me check you out."

"I'm fine, I just want to sleep."

"Ok." He says, "I'll get up with the kids."

"Thanks." She says, closing her eyes.

Hawkeye keeps his promise and gets up with the kids. Margaret was sick all morning but began to feel slightly better as 2:30pm came along. She came downstairs about 3:00 to find something light to eat.

"Honey, are you feeling better?" Kate asks, seeing her daughters pale complexion.

"I'm ok mom. I just have a touch of something." She says, getting a piece of bread, "I'm feeling a lot better."

"Ok. Don't eat too much Maggie."

"I'm a nurse mom, I know what I'm doing."

"I know you do sweetie. It's hard stopping the mothering gene."

"I believe that." She smiles.

"I hope you'll be ok in a few days for our feast." She smiles.

"I'll be perfectly fine." She assures her mom.

"Mommy."

"Hi honey." She says.

"Are you feeling better?" Natalie asks, giving her mommy a hug.

"I am now thank you." She says smiling down at her daughter. "Are you being good?"

"Yes." She smiles.

"That's my girl."

"Will you play with me?"

"No honey, not right now, I need to eat a bit. You go play with Angela."

"Ok."

Margaret was ok all night, but once again, she woke up sick. She couldn't put her finger on what was causing it, because her and Hawkeye has been cautious, so she didn't think she could be pregnant… "Or could I?" She asks herself.

While she was brushing her teeth, Hawkeye came in to see how she was, "Are you ok?"

"Yes."

"Are you sick again?"

"Yes." She says, behind the toothpaste.

"Let me check you out, I'll see if I can find anything."

"I think I'm pregnant." She says, as she rinses her mouth out.

"What?"

"I think I'm pregnant."

"Really?!"

"Yes."

"We used…"

"Not the second time." She says.

"That's great!!!"

"Really?"

"We talked about having a third kid, why not now?"

Margaret smiles, "I'm glad."

"We'll set you up an appointment and we'll find out when we get home. How sure are you?"

"About 99.9 sure."

"So, we'll be a family of five." He smiles. "You are going to have to tell your mother, because she things you are dying."

"I'll tell her that it's possible… just like I said to you."

"So number three…"

"Yeah." She smiles, "Number three."

"We caught up to BJ."

"Until they have another." She laughs.

"You better go back to bed for a bit. I'll get the kids again."

"You get them every day this week."

"I'll get them everyday this week."

"Thank you."

"You are welcome, now get to sleep."

Margaret told her parents that she may be pregnant which is why she was feeling so ill each morning. She said exactly what she had told Hawkeye. Now, she has something to look forward to when she goes back to California. She wasn't sure, but she had a good feeling, she just has to wait an see. Thanksgiving came and went, and finally they were back home.

"This year is going too fast." Margaret complained.

"It truly is." Hawkeye replies. "1958, here we come."

She was going to the doctors tomorrow, and was anxious, very anxious. It was only a matter of time till she found out if she was pregnant or not, and she almost couldn't wait. That one day felt like an eternity, but she knew she has to deal with it; after all it was only another day.

TBC…

Thanks for all the great reviews! Keep them up! 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 didn't post till almost 2:15am. I know they can be annoying, and I will do my best to minimize them! I posted this at three in the morning…

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

Thanks

STARY