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
Hawkeye started practically right into work. His shifts run mostly from 7:00am till 5:00pm, however some days he worked through the night. He was thrilled to be in charge of the hospital. He wasn't use to taking orders from people after being pretty much in-charge of the MASH surgery. When he comes home, his time is spent with the kids and his wife. He loves it that way. Work all day, and play all night. What he likes most of all about his new job is being back in his home town. Everyone knows everyone else. There was not a person in that town that Hawkeye didn't know, and Margaret was getting to know just about all of them. The house was finally perfect, according to Margaret by May, and the baby was due late July. Dan and Anna were a godsend to the Pierces. They would love having the kids over and be glad to baby-sit them if needed.
May 10th, 1960, Hawkeye opens the front door, "I'm home!" He calls, hearing footsteps running towards him.
"Daddy!" Natalie smiles as she reaches him, "I missed you!"
"I missed you too. Where's mommy and Zack?" He asks, kissing her cheek. This was his favorite part of the day, coming home and getting a hug and a kiss from his kids.
"Whent to get food."
"Oh, alright." He says, smiling, placing her on the ground.
"Zack is in there with Ms. Logan!"
"Oh." Hawkeye says, entering the family room, "Hi Anna."
"Hi Hawkeye. How are you?"
"I'm fine, how are you?"
"Fine also."
"Good to hear." He says, "How's my wife feeling today?"
"Pregnant. She wasn't in too good of a mood."
"The story of my life." HE smiles. He was beginning to get use to his father dating another woman, and actually began to enjoy her company… sometimes.
"Daddy, look what I drawed."
"Very nice Nattie." HE says, looking at the picture of the house she drew earlier in the day.
"Its for you." She says, very proud. She aims to please just about anyone, but her daddy was the one she wanted to please the most.
"It is?"
"Yup!"
"Well, I am going to have to put this into my office at the hospital so everyone can see it." He smiles, taking the piece of paper from her, placing it in his briefcase. She was very proud of that picture, and that daddy thought it was good enough to be shown at the office, and then runs over to play with Zack. "Is my father coming over for dinner?"
"Yes. He is picking up some food for us."
"What are we having?"
"Steaks, I think."
"Sounds good." He says, as they hear a car pulling up the driveway.
"I think Margaret's home." Anna says, hearing the ignition click off.
"I better go help her." He says, walking out to the garage. "Hi."
She smiles when she sees him, "Hi." He gives her a hug and a kiss, then she asks, "Can you grab some of the bags honey?"
"Sure." He says, grabbing a few bags, "How was your day?"
"Fine, but I'm exhausted."
"We'll go to sleep early tonight." He says, opening the door for her.
"Good." She says, walking through the door, "Hi Anna."
"Hi honey."
"How were they?"
"Angels, as usual."
"Mommy!" Zack says running over to her.
"Hi baby." She smiles, picking him up.
"Miss oou." He says cuddling against her neck.
"I missed you too little boy." She says, kissing his soft cheek. She couldn't believe how big he has gotten right before her own two eyes.
Dan comes over around 5:30 with dinner. They cook, eat, and talk for the meal, then Dan has an announcement to make.
"So, Anna and I had a decision to make the other day…" He says, knowing that there was no easy way to tell his son this, but no way around it.
"Oh?" Hawk asks.
"We decided that instead of us living right down the road together, we would move in together, into our house."
Hawkeye practically spits his drink out, "What?!"
"No sense of us both living in two separate big houses, right down the street from one another."
"That's wonderful." Margaret says, watching her husbands facial expression,
"What do you think Ben?" Dan asks, his son.
"Great." He says, wiping his mouth on the napkin, standing up, "Excuse me, I have a lot of paperwork to finish." He then proceeds out of the dining room, and into the sanctuary of his office. He closes the door and opens the first chart in the large pile. HE drums his pencil against his desk. "How could he do this? That woman living in my old house, sleeping in my mothers bedroom, in my mothers old bed…. HOW DARE HIM!" He screams in his mind.
Margaret, Dan, Anna and the kids finish up with their meals in practically complete silence. The kids, of course, finish before the adults and Margaret wipes them up before they go and play for a little while.
"That went as bad as you expected dear." Anna says, sighing.
"No, he didn't yell, he didn't leave the house, he didn't argue, he just went into his den."
"He'll get use to it." Anna says.
"I don't know…" Dan sighs, "It's one thing for him to come to terms with the fact that we are together, but it is another story for him to know that we will be living together."
"We are grownups…"
"He just never got over his mothers death, totally…"
"I'll talk to him tonight." Margaret says, quickly adding in, "I really don't know how much good it will do though."
"Thanks honey." Dan says.
At eight, the kids are ready to go to bed, "Mommy, I want to say goodnight to daddy." Natalie says, as her mom ushers her into her room.
Margaret thinks for a second if that would be a good idea, but decides to let her go, "Ok princess. Go ahead. He is in his office."
She runs down the stairs and over to his office, and opens his door, "Daddy?"
"Hi princess." He says, placing his pen down on the opened chart, as she jumps onto his lap, "Are you all ready to go to bed?"
"Yes." She says hugging him tight.
"You look sleepy."
"No." She replies, yawning, cuddling down against him, "But mommy says I have to sleep."
He smiles, kissing her forehead, "Well you have a good night, and I'll see you tomorrow night ok?"
"Kay." She smiles, kissing him, "I love you!"
"I love you too honey."
She jumps off his lap and runs over to the door, and turns around and smiles, "Daddy?"
"What?"
"Don't work too hard!" She says giggling, hearing her mommy say that to him so many times. Hawkeye laughs at her, and she waves, running up to her mommy. Hawkeye stays in the den until eleven, when he finally finishes all his charts. What normally would have taken him two hours, at the most, took him over five. He walks out of his office, turning all the lights downstairs off, before heading upstairs. Margaret was already upstairs watching T.V.
"Did you get everything finished?" She asks
"Yes. I thought you were going to bed early?"
"I thought you were too." She says.
"Touché. What time did my father leave?"
"Around seven thirty. Are you ok?"
"Fine." He says.
"Try again." She replies sitting up.
He looks at her for a minute, and sighs, "Who does he think he is? He is inviting another woman to live in the house, and sleep in the bedroom of my mother!"
"He has been alone for a while honey…"
"Twenty-Eight years. Would you want me to do that if you did?"
"I'd want you to be happy." She says plainly.
"No you…"
"Would you want me to be lonely the rest of my life if you died?"
"No, but…"
"It's the same thing."
"No, it's my father, and my mother."
"You don't have to like it…"
"You just have to respect it." He mimics. "YOU respect it, I won't like it. How does that sound?"
"Selfish…"
"SELFISH?!"
"Yes, selfish…."
"How in the HELL is that selfish?"
"You are thinking about yourself Hawkeye… your mother is dead, and the only one that matters now is you and how you feel. What about your father? What about him Pierce? You are all grown up… 36 years old. You have a wife, and a family, which leaves him in that big house with a girlfriend who lives right down the street from him doing the same. Let them be happy! Respect it!"
"I respected the fact that they are together every day…"
"So what's the difference? Do you not think that they stay together or have before?"
"Margaret…"
"I'm serious Pierce…"
He looks at her, "I'm getting a shower." And he goes into the bathroom to take a long shower.
"Oh why are you so damn stubborn!" She practically shouts, flopping down on the bed.
Hawkeye finally gets into bed at almost midnight, after performing his nightly rituals. He crawls in bed, not to disturb his wife's sleeping form, and falls asleep, waking up to the alarm just a short six hours later. He quietly gets up and heads to work, his father still on his mind, which affected his surgical abilities for the day. He just couldn't focus.
"Hawkeye, what is going on with you today?" Lewis asks.
"Nothing." He says, "Why?"
"You're all disheveled, and look like hell."
"Thanks Lewis." He says, rolling his eyes.
"Everything ok with the wife?"
"With her fine… my father is another story."
"Oh?"
"Yeah, but it's dumb… so I'd rather not talk about it."
"Right Chief." He smiles, walking out of his office.
"It is dumb…" He says aloud. He has to go talk to his father, civilly. He was a bit more calm then before, and had a chance to think about what his father was doing. He finishes up early, and decides to head over to his fathers practice, in hopes to catch him before he locks up for the night. He drives into Crabapple Cove, and parks out front of his fathers practice. He then proceeds up the walkway and into the office where he sees the smiling face of Mrs. Kensington.
"Hello Benjamin."
"Hello Mrs. Kensington, how are you?"
"I'm well, thank you. How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"And how is Margaret feeling?"
"She is feeling alright, but I think she is ready to get the baby out of her."
"I don't blame her." She laughs.
"Is my father still here?"
"He is in his office."
"I'm going to head back there then." He smiles, and walks to the back of the office. "Hi." He says as he walks through the open door.
Dan looks up at his son, "Hi. I thought you were working till five."
"That is the plus of being my own boss."
"I bet."
"So…"
"So…" Dan sighs, "Are you just coming here to say hello?"
"No, no, I wanted to talk to you."
"Oh?"
"Yeah… about the situation."
"I'm not going to have her move in."
"Dad…"
"No, it's not worth losing a son over."
"You wouldn't lose me…"
"No? Ben, I have done everything for you since you were a little boy, and I would never purposely do something to hurt you or bother you, especially something that I can control."
"Dad…" He says, sitting down, "I didn't have a chance to think things through… I only thought about myself…"
"And your mother."
"Her too. I know how lonely you must get, especially now that I have lived with you in a few years. I just think of Anna, and see her replacing mom, and I can't stand it. I mean, just when I got use to you and Anna being a couple, you drop this bombshell on me. I didn't know what to do dad."
"I didn't know how else to tell you."
"There probably was no other way, any way you told me I would have hated it."
"I know."
"Mom's dead, and I know she's dead, but all I can think about is her changing the house to her liking, wanting the kids to call her Grandmom, sleeping in her bed… and I can't take it."
"She won't be called Grandmom."
"What is she going to be called? Mrs. Logan for the rest of her life? What if you two get married?"
"Well, we'll figure that out when it happens… or if it happens. I'm tired of being alone Ben, and with Anna, I'm not. I'm tired of being alone. I like Anna a lot, and she knows how it feels to lose someone that you loved so much. She is the first woman who I feel is not trying to replace your mother. Claire was something special, and I felt something for her that I never felt before. I feel like a huge chunk of me.. of us is missing because of her, and I'm not trying to patch it up with Anna, I'm trying to just get through it. Anna is not your mother, you know that, and she is not your kids grandmother. She isn't trying to be, but I want her a part of my life. Why should I live in a huge house, when a woman who I really like is doing the same thing down the street?" He sighs, "The only reason I wont have her move in is if I don't have your consent. After all, it is your house too. You grew up there, and if you don't want her living there, well, then she won't."
"I can't say that I want her there, but I want you to be happy. You deserve it dad… and I will get use to the idea of her living in the house, and if you choose to marry her, then I'll live with that too. It will take some time though, I can't say that I can be perfectly fine with it right now, but I'll work on it."
"Do you like her son?"
"What?"
"Do you like her. I asked Margaret this, and now I want to know your answer."
"Do I like her?"
"It's a simple yes/no answer Ben. Do you like her?"
"I think she is very nice, and I think that's the reason I hate her so much, or think I do. I guess I feel that if I really start liking her, then it's disrespectful to my mother… crazy isn't it?"
"I felt the exact same way when I first met Anna… the same way."
"I just want you to be happy dad." Hawkeye replies.
They sit in silence for a little while, waiting for Daniel to finally finish up the work he was doing, with the help of his son, and then they left for the day. Margaret smiles when she sees him walk into the house, "Hi."
"Hi." He smiles, kissing her neck.
"How is everything?"
"It will be fine." He says, smiling, "How are you feeling?"
"Like a walrus."
"Your too pretty."
"You are bias."
"Nope… you just are…" He laughs, and the kids attack his legs. "Come on you two, it's a warm day out there, lets go play outside for a little while and let mommy finish cooking."
He and the kids go outside and play in the yard for a half an hour before they wash up for dinner. That night, Hawkeye went upstairs with Margaret when she was ready for bed and the two of them sat in the company of each other for a little while before going to sleep.
May 18, is Natalie's 4th birthday, and she is very excite. Hawkeye took off from work to spend the day with the family. Margaret's parents and sister will be arriving around noon, and staying for a few days. At 7:15am, Natalie comes running into her parents room, jumping onto the bed.
"IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!" Natalie shouts, bouncing up and down on her parents bed.
"Good morning birthday girl." Margaret smiles, as she lays down next to her mommy.
"Good morning!"
"Happy birthday princess."
"I'm almost a hand!" She says, proud of her fourth year.
"Indeed you are." Margaret laughs. "And you get to go to school next year."
"Yup!" She smiles, "When is my party?"
"At three."
"That's too long." She pouts.
"Maybe Daddy will take you to the playground."
"Really? Can we go Daddy?"
"Sure." He says, kissing her cheek.
"Now?"
"No, not now…"
"Soon?"
"After lunch." He smiles, "Maybe before…."
"Ok good!" She says. "I'm hungry!"
"Go to the bathroom and maybe daddy will make us pancakes." Margaret smiles.
"REALLY?!" She asks.
"That requires me actually getting up…"
"Right."
"Will you daddy?"
He looks at his anxious daughter, and smiles, "Yes, but you have to do as mommy says."
"YAY!" She jumps off the bed and runs out of the room.
Hawkeye scowls at her, "You can go make them."
"Oh, but daddy makes them the best." She says, sitting up.
"Uh huh. You are lucky I love you so much…"
"Daddy! Come On!" Natalie calls from the hallway.
"Ok, you too mommy."
"I'll be down with Zack." She smiles.
"I figured just as much." He says, following his anxious daughter down the stairs. "All right Miss Pierce, what will you have? Chocolate Chips in your pancakes perhaps? Bananas? Strawberries? Blueberries?
"Um… I think I will have chocolate chips."
"Chocolate chips it is." He says, in a horrific French accent, but it always gets a rise from Natalie. "We use, just a pinch of chips, because if we use any more, mommy will have my butt."
"Daddy…" Natalie giggles.
He cooks pancakes for all of them, and by the time Zack woke up, the pancakes were all done. Zack always wakes up hungry, so he was eager to feast on the pancakes. It wasn't very often that Hawkeye was home in the morning when the kids got up, so this was an extra treat. He tries to take off for the kids birthdays, and has succeeded in doing so all four years of birthdays. Hawkeye takes the two kids to the play ground. The weather is just warm enough for the kids to wear light weight jackets, and it is usually sunny. Hawkeye keeps the kids out until noon. They walked back to the house for lunch, and by that time, the Houlihan's were there.
"Grammy!" Natalie says as she sees her Grandmom on the porch.
"Well hi there Birthday Girl." She smiles, hugging her tight. "Let me take a look at you."
She says, as Natalie stands up tall, "You have grown another two inches since the last time I saw you."
"Well, I was three! Now I'm four!"
"You are going to have to stop growing…"
"I can't." She smiles, "Where's Pop-pop?"
"Inside with mommy. Come on, he's waiting to see you. Where's Zack?"
"I ran home, he is with daddy." She smiles.
"Oh." She laughs, as she hears the door open and the sound of footsteps running towards her.
"Grammy!" Zack says, as she scoops him up.
"Hi honey. How are you?"
"Dood, I miss oou."
"I missed you too." She says, kissing his cheek.
"Pop!" He then says, seeing his grandfather with his sister.
"Hi Zachary." He smiles, kissing his grandson with his granddaughter in his arms.
"Daddy?"
"Whatty?"
"When Grandpop getting here?"
"Soon Natalie."
"He taking too long." She sighs.
"He has to pick up Ms. Logan honey." Margaret smiles. "When's Annie coming in Mom?"
"In an hour or two."
"Is Angie coming?"
"Of course she is. She is very excited to play with you for a few days." Kate smiles.
"Can she stay in my room?"
"I think that will be ok… what do you think daddy?" Margaret asks.
"I think that is a great idea." Hawkeye laughs.
"Good!"
"Hello?!"
"Grandpop!" Natalie runs over to him.
"Happy Birthday Princess." He says, kissing her cheek.
"Thank you." She smiles, "Hi Ms. Logan!"
"Hi honey, happy birthday."
"Thank you." She says, leaning down to kiss her grandfathers girlfriend.
"I brought you a special person to spend your birthday with." She smiles.
"Cassidy?" Natalie asks hopeful.
"Cassidy and Laura, and for Zack, Stephen came to play."
"Good!" Natalie says, jumping down and over to her friends.
"It's a good think you have grandkids my grandkids ages." Dan smiles. "Hi kids."
"Hi dad." Both Pierces say.
"Al, how are you?"
"I'm well Dan, and you?" He asks, shaking the mans hands.
"Well also."
"How are you Kate?"
"Good thanks." She smiles, "And you must be Anna."
"I am."
"Nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you."
"And I've heard about you too."
Margaret has her hands full for the day, trying to entertain her family and keep the party running smooth. She was exhausted by the end of the day, and was eager to sit down and relax, however, that didn't happen till almost ten. Even though she had help, she is still exhausted. She sat down next to Hawkeye on the couch and joined into the conversation.
"Margaret honey, you look exhausted." Kate says.
"I am."
"You should go get some sleep."
"I'll be ok for a little bit longer." She smiles, "Besides, I know my husband will jump at the chance to wake up at the crack of dawn with the eager children and let me sleep… right honey?"
"Of course." He says, sarcastically, "Like I have a choice."
"Thank you." She says, yawning.
At eleven, Margaret goes upstairs, after her father-in-law and Anna left for home. Everyone else retires at 11:30. Hawkeye crawls into bed next to his wife, who was surprisingly still awake.
"You're up early." She smiles.
"You're up late."
"I can't sleep."
"Pregnancy insomnia?"
"I guess… my backs killing me."
"Did you take something for it?"
"No…" She sighs.
"Turn over." He says, as she smiles at him, kissing him quick, before he begins to rub her lower back.
"It was nice to hear from BJ today." Margaret smiles.
"Yeah it was. I really miss all of them."
"Me too, but we'll see them soon. The babies are due in the summer, so Peg and I figured probably Christmas time they will be coming out."
"Maybe Beej and I can find a conference before hand." He says.
"I'm sure that is just what you two need… a boring medical conference to just drink the days away."
"Like old times." He laughs.
"You two will never grow up." She laughs.
"And you and Peg wouldn't have us any other way." He laughs.
"Sometimes I wonder what we were thinking."
"Likewise." He laughs, kissing her neck.
She smiles, and turns in his arms, "Thank you."
"Does your back feel better?"
"Much." She smiles, and leans her head against his chest, "Good night."
"Night." He smiles, and closes his eyes.
June comes just as quickly as May passed. Margaret was only a month away from having the baby and she and Anna went out to pick out paint to finish up the nursery. Margaret decided that she doesn't want the room to be green anymore, she wanted it an aqua color, but not totally aqua, a lighter color, one suitable for a baby. When she tries to explain this to Hawkeye, he just agrees with her, but he was totally clueless to exactly what color the room would be painted. He didn't even care right now, what ever makes her happy. Margaret and Anna pile the kids into the car and they go to the local hardware shop to pick up the necessities.
"So, what do you think you are having honey?"
"I honestly don't know… with the other two I had an idea, but with this one, I can't pick."
"Do you two have definite names?"
"Yes, if it's a girl it will be Kimberly Claire, and if it's a boy it will be Bradley John Thomas, after Hawk's friends Trapper and Tommy, and BJ of course, as the first initials show."
"I like those names."
"We do too." She smiles.
"So a Kimmy and a Brad eh?"
"Well, Brad definitely, but we are going to try and keep her full name. I like Kimberly a lot better then the nicknames that go along with it, but I think she will have them anyway…"
"What do you think Natalie, do you think you will have a little sister or a little brother?"
"Um, a sister." She smiles.
"You do? What about you Zack a little sister or brother?"
"Boy." He smiles.
"Mommy? What color is the baby's room gunna be?"
"This color." She smiles, holding up the color to her daughter.
"That's pretty."
"I'm glad I have your OK to paint the baby's room. I can't ever do anything without the opinion of a four year old." Margaret smiles, kissing her cheek.
"Can I help paint?"
"Of course you can."
"Me mommy!"
"You'll be bored." She laughs.
"Ms. Logan, will you paint with us?" Natalie asks hopeful.
"I would love to paint with you."
"Grandpop too?"
"I'm sure he'll come over after he is done with work." Anna tells her.
"Good. And Daddy has to help."
"Daddy is GOING to help." Margaret smiles, emphasizing going.
They buy the paint and go back home. Margaret had Hawk move all of the furniture out of the bedrooms so they could paint. At three, Dan comes over and when four came around Hawkeye was home and painting. They got the entire room done in a few hours. Margaret was very pleased of the color of the room and was more anxious now to see if the baby is a girl or a boy. They eat dinner together and then Dan and Anna go home.
Natalie was sitting downstairs with her mommy and has a question to ask her mommy, "Mommy?"
"What princess?"
"Why do we call Ms. Logan, Ms. Logan?"
"Because that is what her name is."
"But she lives with Grandpop."
"Right."
"So why don't we call her Grammy?"
"What?"
"Grammy and Pop-Pop live together…"
"That's because they are married."
"But Grandpop and Mrs. Logan live together, why don't I call her Grammy?"
"Because she isn't daddy's mommy. Daddy's mommy died when daddy was very young. She would be called Grandmom if she was still alive."
"Oh." She says, "So I will only have one?"
"One Grammy yes, because she is my mommy, but you have Grandpa and Grandma Potter."
"There not your mommy and daddy."
"Your right, but Colonel Potter was like a daddy to me and your daddy over in Korea." She says, seeing how confused her daughter was.
"So Ms. Logan isn't my Grammy?"
"No honey."
"Cassidy calls her Nana…"
"I know, but she wouldn't call your Grammy, Grammy. Do you understand?"
"No mommy. Can I call Ms. Logan Nana?"
Margaret sighs, she looks away from Natalie, trying to see how she could explain it in words she can understand, she sees Hawkeye standing in the door way, watching them.
"Mommy…"
Hawkeye takes a deep breath and walks over to his daughter, "Why can't you call her Nana?"
"Yes."
"There is no reason…"
"So I can call her Nana?!"
"Yes, you can call her Nana, but you have to ask her first."
"She's not your mommy..."
"No, she's not…"
"Are you sad Daddy?"
"A little bit." He says, getting a hug from his daughter, "But you make it all better."
"Good."
Margaret smiles at her husband. This is a huge step for Hawk, and she is worried that he may regret it, "Hawk?"
"You can ask her tomorrow honey."
"Ok!" She smiles, jumping off the couch and down to the basement to play with her toys.
"Hawkeye?"
"I know…" He sighs.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I have to stop thinking about myself with this. I like Anna… I truly do, and so does my family and my father. Why should I deny my father a girlfriend and my kids a 'Nana?'"
Margaret smiles, "I'm proud of you honey."
"Yeah…" He sighs. "Zachary, come here pal." The two of them read, before bed.
July 6, 1960, Hawkeye was sitting at work, busying himself at his desk, filling out charts so he could get home at a reasonable hour. He was almost done when his secretary comes into his office, "Dr. Pierce, you have a phone call."
"Thank you Joan." He smiles, picking up the phone, "Hello?"
"Hawk?"
"BJ, how are you?" He asks, smiling.
"I'm doing fine… great actually! How are you?"
"I'm fine. What's up?"
"Peggy had the baby!"
"Really?! Congratulations! What did she have?"
"Another girl."
"Congratulations! Beej that's wonderful! Three girls, you are going to have your hands full."
"I have Mike to keep me sane." He laughs.
"What did you name her?"
"Kaitlyn Grace."
"Very cute. So you have a Katie to take care of now."
"You bet! Aw, Hawk, she's perfect, an absolutely beautiful. She is a complete mix of all three of the kids, but she looks more like Erin and Mike I think."
"How's Peg?"
"She's exhausted, but doing fine. My god, I wish you were here."
"So do I. You will have to send us a picture."
"Definitely."
"Does Margaret know?"
"Yup, called her first, hoping you were home. She's about ready to pop too isn't she?"
"Another week or two." He smiles.
"What do you want?"
"I'm like you, I have one of each, the third one I really don't care, girl or boy doesn't matter to me, as long as it's healthy."
"I'm sure it will be fine."
"Well Beej, they are playing my song." He says as he hears him being paged over the intercom, "Congratulations, and give everyone a kiss for me."
"I will, good luck. I'll see you in a few months."
"Right, bye Beej."
"Bye Hawk." And the two best friends hang up.
Hawkeye is absolutely thrilled to have a new niece, and was smiling on his way to surgery.
"Good news Doctor Pierce?" Joan asks.
"Yeah, my best friend had a little girl, Kaitlyn Grace, I'm an uncle again."
"Congratulations! Next step is to be a father again."
"Yeah. I can't wait for that, I get a week off." He laughs.
Hawkeye didn't have to wait for too long, because on July 13, she went into labor.
Margaret was sitting in the kitchen with her daughter, while her son was in the living room watching cartoons.
"Honey, color on the paper." She says, watching the crayon go all over the place. She has been feeling twinges all morning, but suddenly it was a pain. "Shit…" She cursed, silently. Hawkeye would be back by two. He had to run down to the store.
"Mommy, color with me!" Natalie says smiling, handing her a crayon.
"Ok princess." She says, trying to get her mind off the contractions, but also keeping a check on how far apart the contractions are. "Your daddy better come home soon." She says as she sees they are happening every 10 minutes.
"Why mommy?"
"Because, mommy's going to have the baby some time today." She sits and colors with her daughter for a half an hour before calling her father-in-law. "Hi dad."
"Hi Margaret, how are you darling?"
"I'm fine thanks. Listen, I need you and or Anna to come over and watch the kids for me, if you don't mind."
"Of course not. What are you going to be doing tonight?"
"Having your third grandchild." She smiles.
"Wahoo! That's great! I'll be right over." He says, hanging up the phone.
"That is if your son ever gets back here." She sighs and hangs up the receiver. She smiles and sits down next to her daughter. "Zachary, come in here baby."
"Wha mommy?" He asks as he runs into the kitchen.
"You and Natalie are going to be spending the day and night with Grandpop and Nana. It's time for me to have the new baby."
"Oh!" Zack says, smiling. "When?"
"As soon as your dad comes home from the store we are going to go to the hospital."
"Do you think it's a girl or a boy?" Natalie asks
"I don't know. I guess we'll have to just wait and see." She grins at her eager daughter. "What do you want it to be?"
"I don't know." She says. "I don't care."
"You are such a good girl. What about you Zack, what do you want? A baby sister or brother?"
"Boy." He says smiling at his mommy.
Margaret smiles and she hears the door open. "Is that your father?"
"No." Natalie says, "It's Grandpop."
"Damn." She says, quietly. "Hi dad."
"Hi honey." He says, kissing her cheek. "How you holding up?"
"If your son doesn't get here soon I'm going to go ahead and have this kid without him."
"How far apart are you?"
"Only about 7 minutes, but I should be good for another few hours, and he should be home any second."
"Well, that's good." He says, kissing his granddaughter, and then his grandson. "Did you call your parents?"
"No, I am going to do that in a few minutes."
"Better hurry." He says looking at his watch, "You may not have time, because as soon as Hawk comes you'll be out the door."
"You're right, I better go call them." As she stands up and picks up the phone.
"Hello?"
"Mom?"
"Margaret darling, how are you?"
"I'm doing well thanks."
"How are the kids doing?"
"They are both great."
"And Hawkeye?"
"He is fine also." She smiles, "I was calling you to let you know that you are going to have a new grandchild sometime today."
"Really?! That's excellent!" She says smiling. "When did you go into labor?"
"This morning, but it is really starting to pick up. I am just waiting for my husband to come home from the store and we'll be heading to the hospital."
"Excellent. Your father is due home soon, and we'll be on our way up."
"Ok." She says, taking a deep breath. "Well I better go get my bags. I'll see you when you get up here."
"Alright Maggie, good luck darling."
"Thank you, see you soon."
"I love you."
"Love you too Mom." She says, and they hang up. As she goes back to the kitchen she hears the door open and Hawk walk through the kitchen with grocery bags. "Hi." He says as he puts down the bags. "Hi dad."
"Hi son."
"It's about time you got here, now, let's go." She says, as she stands up.
"Go where?" He asked, looking at her.
"You are going to be a father again." She says smiling.
"OH!" He says, grabbing her bag. "Let's go then!" He smiles. "By dad." He says, smiling ear to ear. "Natalie, Zack, say bye to mommy."
They all give her a kiss and a hug and they are on there way. "How far apart are the contractions?"
"Six minutes… maybe five. I'll let you know in five or six minutes." She says, smiling.
"Smart ass." He says, smiling at his extremely pregnant wife.
"I was getting worried when you weren't coming home."
"Why? You knew I would be home as fast as I could get here."
"I am progressing faster then with the other two. I wouldn't be surprised if I delivered before 8." She says, wincing in pain.
"Right Major." He says, smiling. "Did you call your parents?"
"Yes, and they should be here later on tonight."
"Alright." He grins. He pulls into the Dr's parking lot and helps his wife out of the car.
"Shall we go have a baby?"
"Yes." She says, walking into the hospital.
"Dr. and Nurse Pierce, what a pleasure to see you today." The receptionist says, smiling.
"You too Joan."
"Is it time?"
"Yes." Margaret says smiling.
"Alright Nurse, we'll get you to your room. Let us know what you have."
"Definitely." She says smiling as they head into the room.
"You doing alright?"
"Fine, will you stop worrying?"
"It's my job to worry." He says, as she gets settled in the hospital bed.
At 7:30, Margaret gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby girl.
"It's a… GIRL." The OB says, holding the child up.
"A girl!" Hawkeye says, grinning from ear to ear. Natalie was a total daddy's girl, and he could not wait to have this one be the same.
"Congratulations Margaret, Hawk." The young doctor says, smiling. "We'll get her cleaned up and bring her right back to you."
"She's beautiful." Margaret says, watching the doctor take her away.
"Yes she is." Hawkeye says, smiling as he kisses her forehead.
"She is 6 pounds 4 ounces, 19 ½ inches long." The doctor says, as Hawkeye gets up to retrieve his new daughter.
"Thank you John." He says, shaking the doctor's hand, as he takes the newborn from his hands.
"You are most certainly welcome." He says. "Congratulations."
"Thank you." Margaret says, smiling.
Hawkeye looks at her for a few seconds before handing her to Margaret. "What are you naming her?" John asks.
"Kimberly." Hawkeye says, looking up at his friend. "Kimberly Claire Pierce."
"Well, welcome to the world Kimberly Claire Pierce." He says, before leaving the room.
"She's perfect Margaret… absolutely perfect."
"She is… and she has your eyes."
"She has your features though. I think she is going to look like Natalie."
"I agree." He says. "Let me take her." As he plucks the baby from his wife's arms. Margaret lies back and watches her husband and daughter. "Well Kimberly… what do you think of this place so far? This world isn't so bad is it? No, I didn't think so. Well, you have an older sister and brother at home waiting to meet you. They are going to be crazy about you, but not as crazy as mommy and daddy are about you. You also have three sets of grandparents and some aunts and uncles too. You have a new cousin too named Kaitlyn, and you will probably be best friends with her." He keeps talking until both his daughter and wife are sleeping. After another half an hour the nurse comes back in to take Kimberly to the nursery. Hawkeye takes the time to go and call his father.
"Hello?"
"Dad…"
"Hi Hawk, well did you have the baby yet?"
"Well… I didn't have the baby, but Margaret did."
"Hot damn! What did she have?"
"A baby!"
"Benjamin!"
"You are the proud owner of a new granddaughter." He says, smiling.
"That's Great!" Daniel says, smiling.
"Is that Hawkeye?" The background noise said.
"Yeah." Daniel answers. "What did you name…"
"What did they have? How's my daughter?" Hawkeye hears Kate saying on the other line.
"Hold on a second Kate…" He says, before turning his attention back to the phone, "Hawk, talk to Kate for a second, but don't hang up because I want to hear what you named the baby."
"Alright Dad…"
"Hawkeye?"
"Hi Mom." He says smiling.
"How are you? How's Maggie? What did she have?"
"I am fine, so is Margaret. You are the proud owners of a new granddaughter." He says, smiling ear to ear.
"A Girl! It's a girl!" She says, loudly, to her husband. "What did you name her?"
"Kimberly."
"What's her middle name?"
"Claire… Kimberly Claire."
"Are visiting hours still happening?"
"No, actually they just stopped, but I can get you in. DO you want to come over now? Margaret's sleeping, but she should wake up soon."
"Yes, AL! Get your coat on, were going over to the hospital to see your new granddaughter and daughter. We will be there in a half an hour."
"Ok. I'll meet you at the front door. Tell my father to come, and just bring the kids with him."
"I will. Do you need to talk to your father again?"
"Yes, really quick."
"Ok, see you soon Hawkeye."
"Well, what's her name?"
"Kimberly… Kimberly Claire."
"Kimberly? I love it. We'll see you in a few minutes."
"Alright, bye dad." He says, as he hangs up. He looks at his watch and decides to call the Potters and BJ before his family comes.
"Hello?"
"Hi Mrs. Potter, how are you?"
"Oh hello Hawkeye, I am fine dear, and how are you?"
"Also fine, thank you. I was just calling to let you know that Margaret had the baby."
"Already?! She's a week and a half early!"
"Ten days, but yes she had it."
"Well, what do you have?"
"You are the proud owners of a new honorary granddaughter." He says, grinning.
"Excellent! Oh, hold on Sherman wants to talk to you… I will talk to you soon dear."
"Bye Mrs. Potter."
"Pierce?! What did you have?"
"A girl… I have a new daughter, and you have a new honorary granddaughter."
"Wahoo!" He says. "What did you name her?"
"Kimberly Claire."
"That is a beautiful name. Mildred, they named her Kimberly Claire. How's Margaret?"
"She's sleeping right now, but she is fine… tired, but fine."
"I bet."
"Well, listen, I have to go call BJ and then go let our parents into the hospital so I will talk to you in a few days."
"Alright, you give Margaret a kiss for me."
"I will sir, good bye."
"Good bye Hawkeye." He says hanging up.
He then proceeds to call his best friend. He dials the number and hears a young voice pick up, "Hello?"
"Hi Erin, its Uncle Hawk."
"Oh! Hi Uncle Hawk!"
"How are you darling?" He asks his niece.
"Good! How are you?!"
"Good thanks. Is your dad there?"
"Yeah, hold on." She says, before screaming "DAD! It's UNCLE HAWK! Here he is Uncle Hawk! Bye."
"Bye Erin."
"Hawk?"
"Hey Beej."
"How are you?"
"I'm absolutely wonderful, how are you?"
"Annoyed at the people who work under me, but anyway what's going on?"
"Ahh, now you know my pain as the chief surgeon in a hospital. I was calling to let you know that Margaret just had the baby."
"Really! That's great! She's early."
"Ten days, but yeah she had it."
"Well, what did you have?"
"A girl. I have another daughter Beej."
"Fantastic! Congratulations Hawk! Peg! Margaret had a girl. What did you name her?"
"Kimberly Claire."
"Kimberly Claire." He repeats to Peg, standing next to him. "How's Margaret?"
"Fine, and so is the baby."
"That's excellent."
"How's Peg feeling?"
"Better now that she had Kaitlyn." He smiles.
"Yeah… well listen I have to go let my family and hers into the hospital. I'll give you a call in a few days."
"Alright, give Margaret a kiss for me. I'll talk to you soon, and congratulations."
"Thanks Beej. Bye."
"Bye."
He heads to the front of the hospital, and sees both families walking through the door.
"DADDY!" Natalie says, running towards her father. He picks her up and kisses her head.
"Hey little girl. Don't tell me you missed me already."
"I did!" She says smiling. "Where's mommy?"
"Mommy is sleeping right now."
"Can we see my little sister?" She asks, looking up at him.
"No, you can't. You are too little, but Grammy, Grampy and Grandpop can. You have to wait till the baby comes home."
"Are you coming home tonight?"
"Yes I am, but not till after you two go to sleep, so you have to be really good for your grandparents." He says, looking at the Colonel and Kate. "How are you Colonel?"
"Fine, how are you?" He asked.
"Fine also."
The two still aren't getting along very well, but they put up with one another because of Margaret. Hawkeye looks around to see who is there to take the kids for a few minutes, and spots Julia. "Hey Julia?"
"Yes Hawkeye?"
"What are you doing right now?"
"Nothing too interesting, why?"
"Would you mind watching Nattie and Zack for a few minutes while I show my father
and Margaret's parents the baby?"
"No, of course not." She says, smiling brightly. "Come on kids, I think I have some candy for you two."
"YAY!" Both kids say, running to Julia.
"Not too much." Pierce says, smiling.
"Oh, what did you have?" She calls back, but Danny answers.
"I have a new sister, and her name is Kimberly."
"Never mind." She says to Hawkeye.
"Alright, let me take you to the nursery." He says, smiling as they follow him. When they get to the window, the nurse sees Hawkeye and smiles, heading over to the cradle that holds his daughter. She holds the infant up for the family to see.
"May I introduce you to Kimberly Claire Pierce." He says, smiling. "I'll be right back. Let me see if she is ready to go back to Margaret or not. He goes into the nursery, letting the grandparents gawk at the infant, and talks to the nurse. After they exchange a few words, she hands Kimberly over to her father and he walks out.
"Come on, I'll take you to Margaret." He says, smiling as he cradles the baby. He walks into the room and says, "Hey, you up for a few visitors?"
"Of course." She says, yawning as she struggles to sit up. "Hi mom, daddy, dad, Anna."
"How are you Margaret?" Daniel asked, giving his daughter-in-law a kiss on the cheek.
"I'm a bit sore, but nothing more."
The Colonel walks over to his daughter, kisses her and says, "She is perfect."
Margaret smiles and says, "Yeah, we think so too."
Kate kisses her daughter and says, "Congratulations. I am so proud of you Margaret." She then turns her attention towards newborn in her father's arms and says, "She's already a daddy's girl." She touches the baby's hand and says, "Can I hold her Hawkeye?"
"Of course, you're the Grammy." He grins, passing her to Kate.
"She's so little… She's smaller than Beth isn't she?"
"She's only 6 pounds even," Margaret says.
"What was Natalie?"
"7pounds 5 ounces." Hawkeye says, sitting next to Margaret, who instantly takes his hand.
"She is a complete mix of both of you." Daniel says, smiling.
"She looks more like Natalie then Zack though." The Colonel says.
"Yes, she does."
"Speaking of Nattie and Zack, where are they?"
"They're with Julia."
"Oh." She says.
"I couldn't sneak them in this time."
"I didn't expect you too."
"Al, do you want to hold her?" Kate asked her husband.
"Sure." He says, taking the newborn in his arms. He looks at her for a bit and then smiles.
"Well sir, does she pass inspection?" Margaret asked her father.
"With flying colors." He says not looking up from his granddaughter. He holds her for a bit longer before saying, "Do you want her Dan?"
"I would love to have her." He says, taking the child from him. "Well hello Kimberly,
I'm your Grandpop. You have your daddy's eyes, just like your sister and brother, but thankfully, you look more like your mother.
"Thanks dad." Hawkeye says, rolling his eyes. Margaret smiles, and looks at her daughter. She couldn't wait to hold her again, but wanted his and her parents to do so first, but Daniel must have caught on to this and says, "But I think your mommy wants you back, so you go bond with her." And he passes her over.
Margaret cuddles her instantly and smiles, "Thanks."
"You're welcome." They all stay for a little while longer until 9, when Daniel says, "We best be getting home. Those kids have got to be exhausted."
Hawkeye looks at his watch and says, "Yeah, it's an hour past there bed time."
"Alright." Kate says, smiling as she stands up. "We'll see you tomorrow."
"Alright, bye mom, dad, dad." She says, as they each kiss her.
"I'll be right back." Hawk tells her as he goes to get his kids. They were sitting on the floor playing and watching the TV that is in there. Zack is ready to fall asleep, but Natalie still looks ok.
"Daddy." Zack whines, as he walks over to him.
"You're tired aren't you Zachary." He questions and picks the two year old up.
"No." He says to him, laying his head on his shoulder.
"Well, you are going to go home now with Grammy, Grampy and Grandpop, and I'll be home tomorrow morning ok?"
"Ok." He says, rubbing her eyes.
"Come on munchkin." Kate says, as she takes the two year old.
"Daddy, can we see mom tomorrow?"
"No princess, but she'll be home the day after that."
"Ok." She says, smiling.
Hawkeye gives him a kiss and says, "I'll see you two tomorrow morning."
"Ok dad."
"Daddy… hug." Zack says, reaching to him. He hugs and kisses him.
"Alright we'll see you tomorrow."
"Night Daddy."
"Night Natalie, Night Beth.. Thanks for taking them Mom, dad, Anna, Colonel."
"It's my pleasure." Kate says, smiling. "We'll see you in a little while."
"Right." He says, smiling and walks them out. As soon as they are in the car he heads back with his wife. "Well, that was fun."
"Yeah… loads." Margaret says, taking a deep breath. "Do you want to hold her?"
"She done eating?"
"Yeah."
"Sure." He says, taking her. "You should be sleeping."
"I'm going too… are you staying?"
"No, I'm going to head home, but I'll be back tomorrow."
"Alright." She says, yawning.
"And you Miss Kimberly should be sleeping too." He says, looking at the infant. "You aren't going to be a night owl like your old dad are you?" The baby snuggles against him and slowly falls asleep.
"She better not be." Margaret smiles.
"How are you doing Nurse Pierce?"
"I'm ok, thank you."
"Are you in a lot of pain?"
"No."
"Alright, well I'm going to take Kimberly for the night, and I'll bring her back when she's ready to eat."
"Alright." She says, as Hawkeye passes the sleeping infant over to the nurse."
"We'll see you in a few hours."
"Yup."
At about 11, Hawkeye leaves. He gets home and his father is still awake.
"Hi."
"Hi. How are you?"
"Exhausted, you?"
"Wonderful." He smiles, "I have a new granddaughter to spoil."
"Uh huh." He says, smiling.
"You look tired."
"I am exhausted."
"Did you tell everyone you have a daughter?"
"Yes, did you tell everyone you have a granddaughter?"
"Of course. What kind of Grandpop would I be if I didn't do that?"
"Well, I am going to go up to bed…"
"I'm doing the same. Good night son."
"Night dad." He says, smiling.
"Congratulations."
"You too." And with that, both men retire for the night.
A few days later, Margaret and Kimberly are allowed to come home. Margaret was glad to be home with her three kids, and Hawkeye was glad to have a bit of time off.
"We're home." Hawkeye calls to his family. Immediately Natalie and Zack run in and attach themselves to their mom's leg.
"MOMMY." She says, as Margaret leans down to pick her up.
"Hi Natalie. How are you?"
"Good! I missed you!"
"I missed you too. And I missed you too Zachary." Margaret says, painfully placing Natalie on the floor and picking up her son.
"Miss you." He smiles.
"Were you good for your grandparents?"
"Yup and guess what?" Natalie says.
"What?"
"Grandpop took us to get ice cream!"
"Wow, aren't you lucky. Did you say thank you?"
"Yes Ma'am."
"Daddy, I want to see the baby."
"You want to see the baby? Are you sure?"
"Yes." She says, smiling.
"Ok." Hawkeye says as he walks into the family room and sits down.
"Oh!" Natalie says as she sees her little sister. "She's little."
"Yes she is."
"You were that small too Natalie, and you too Zack." Daniel says, smiling at his oldest granddaughter.
"No." Zack says, quite sure of himself.
"Well, you were a bit bigger." Kate says, smiling.
"See." Zack says to her Grandpop.
"Ok, ok, you caught me." He grins.
"Daddy, can I hold her?" Nat asks..
"Sure, sit down." Natalie quickly sits next to her father and holds her arms out. "Watch her head." He tells him as her places the infant in his daughter's arms.
"She's light."
"She's only six pounds."
"Wow." Natalie says, smiling. "Hi Kimberly." She says as the baby coos. "She likes me!"
"Of course she does." Margaret says, sitting down next to him. "You are her big Sister."
"Mommy, it's my turn!" Zack says, sitting next to her dad.
"Alright." She says, picking Kimberly back up and handing her to Zachary.
"I do it." He says, as Hawkeye supports his baby girls head.
"Ok, but be careful." He says, watching Zack hold onto her head.
"Look!" He says smiling proudly as he holds the baby.
"You're doing such a great job Zachary." The colonel says, smiling.
"Yup! She likes me!"
"That's because you're her big brother." Daniel says smiling.
"Yes! Ok daddy, all done." He says, as Hawkeye picks Kimberly back up.
"Who wants her now?"
"I'll take her." The Colonel says, picking up his granddaughter. "Well Kimberly, what do you think of your big brother and sister so far? They aren't so bad are they?" The baby smiles at him.
"Did you call BJ and the Colonel?"
"The day she was born." He smiling.
"Good."
"She's perfect." Anna smiles.
"Thanks Nana." Margaret smiles.
Margaret felt a bit overwhelmed with all of the people around, two kids, and the newborn. It was late when Dan and Anna went home, and Margaret's parents turned in at around eleven, which leaves Hawkeye and Margaret to spend time with Kimberly, just the three of them, and what makes it even better is that she was wide awake. Margaret had her in a pair of lightweight pink and purple pajamas, and she was absolutely adorable. She watches her parents very closely as they talk about her, and to her.
"She's perfect… absolutely perfect." Margaret smiles.
"She's from good stock."
"You know you are perfect don't you Kimberly? You know that you are absolutely perfect." She smiles, kissing her soft skin.
"We have the three most perfect children ever." He laughs.
"They are still Pierces…" Margaret smiles.
Hawkeye laughs, "Yeah, and they are Houlihan's too, so we have three kids we'll have to be looking out for."
"Definitely."
Kimberly falls asleep around midnight, and the parents place her in the bassinet upstairs, and they too go to bed. They were exhausted and happy all at the same time. They were truly blessed. They were now a family of 5, and they could not wait to start their lives once the Houlihan's leave, which came quickly. Two days after Margaret was out of the hospital the Houlihan's left. They were finally able to adapt to the larger family, and get the kids use to having a little sister in the house. It will take a while, but both parents knew everything would go back to normal sooner then they expected. But, like everyone, no one ever knows what is going to happen in their lives, and the same goes for the Pierces. With three kids under the age of five, it was sure to be an adventure, one that they would not give up for the world.
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 know they can be annoying, and I'm trying to get rid of them…
Thanks for all the great reviews! Please keep them up! Please R&R!
Thanks
STARY