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 RR
It was almost November, and BJ and Hawkeye were discussing plans on what was going to be going on during their visit. The phone calls drove Peg and Margaret crazy because when they called each other, it always ended up a two minute phone conversation because BJ and Hawkeye would get on and talk an hour. They began calling each other during the day, but that still was interrupted because of the kids. They were very excited to be seeing each other, but there was a lot to do. Margaret wanted everything to be perfect, and no matter how much Hawkeye says it will be, she won't believe him. They began calling each other during the day, but that still was interrupted because of the kids. They were very excited to be seeing each other, but there was a lot to do. Margaret wanted everything to be perfect, and no matter how much Hawkeye says it will be, she won't believe him. She was having her parents, sister, the Hunnicutt's and their entire family out for Thanksgiving. It was a very busy time of the year, and the Pierces couldn't wait. It couldn't come fast enough… or could it?
"Natalie!" Margaret scolds, as she comes down into the play room. "What did I tell you young lady!"
Margaret was furious. Peg and BJ would be coming tomorrow, and Margaret wanted the basement semi cleaned up, she asked Natalie to clean up her toys a little bit and instead, the basement was a mess. "Well?"
"Clean up."
"Why haven't you!"
"I want to play." She pouts.
"Well, we are not playing right now, we are busy cleaning up because Aunt Peg and Uncle BJ are coming tomorrow, and you have left this place a mess. I see Zack listened to me, why can't you."
"I want to play!" She says, stomping her foot.
"Natalie Anne, I want you right now to clean up every toy down here. If you don't you will be punished. You are four years old young lady, and I will not have you talking to me like that do you understand me?" Margaret says, raising her voice, watching Natalie frown, "WELL!"
"Yes."
"Good. Now if I come down here and your toys aren't put away, you are going to be in big trouble."
"Yes ma'am." She says, wiping a tear away, and begins to clean up her toys.
"I will not have my four year old telling me what to do… no sir." She grumbles and walks up stairs.
Hawkeye comes in just as Margaret walks into the kitchen, "Hi."
"Hi." She grumbles as he kisses her cheek.
"What's wrong?"
"Your daughter is driving me up a wall."
"Uh-ho, my daughter… what did she do?"
"I told her an hour ago to clean up the basement, Zack came up after he cleaned up his side, and I went down to see if her mess was cleaned up, and no, it was worse. The basement is a disaster, BJ and Peg are coming tomorrow, and your daughter is giving me the worst looks and the worst attitude there is. She is driving me crazy!"
"She is just like you are, stubborn." He laughs.
"It's not funny… that child is going to be a terror."
"Margaret, come on, she's four. You get like this every time someone is coming to visit sweetheart, relax." He says, pulling her into a hug. "It's BJ and Peg… they have four kids. They know how messy it can get. If the basement is a little messy then it's a little messy." He rubs her back and kisses the side of her head. "Relax."
Natalie comes up from the basement with her head hung low, "All done mommy." She says.
"Your toys are cleaned up?"
"Yes." She says, not looking up.
"All of them?"
"Yes."
"That didn't take you too long."
"I am fast."
Margaret smiles, "Come here." Natalie looks up at her unsure, "Come on." She sighs, squatting down to be on her level. Natalie walks over and hugs her, "I didn't mean to yell at you." She says as she picks her up. "But, you have to listen to me when I tell you to do something ok?"
"Ok." She smiles, wrapping her arms around her mom.
"Good."
"Daddy!" Natalie says, reaching over to him.
"Hi Princess." He says, taking her.
"Uncle BJ coming tomorrow and Aunt Peggy, and Erin, and Gillian, and Michael, and Katie!"
"I know! That's so exciting isn't it!"
"And you staying home right?"
"Yup, I'm staying home tomorrow."
"Good." She smiles.
Zack runs in and Hawkeye picks him up as well, "Where's Kimberly?"
"Upstairs sleeping still. She should be awake soon."
Margaret spends the rest of the day cleaning, and Hawkeye could tell that the kids were beginning to drive her crazy so he takes them over to his fathers. He knows she can use the peace and quiet. She is very grateful to her husband and gets everything cleaned the way she wanted. By the time they came back it was seven thirty. She was pretty much finished cleaning and the kids were ready for a bath and bed.
"Hawk?" Margaret calls, "Can you give Kimberly a bath please?"
"Sure." He says, picking her up off the floor where here sister and brother were playing with her.
"Just give her one in the sink. Natalie you need a bath, and so do you Zachary."
"I want first!" Zack says running over to her.
"Ok." She smiles, picking him up.
"Daddy?"
"What princess?"
"Can I help give Kimberly a bath?"
"Sure, come on."
Natalie likes to help a lot with the baby, and usually, if Kimberly isn't tired she is quite cooperative, but tonight that just wasn't going to happen. She fussed the entire time. All she wanted was for someone to hold her, and to have her bottle, but that wasn't happening and she was miserable.
"I know." Hawkeye says while washing her soft dark hair, "Daddy is mean isn't he? All
you want to do is sleep and I'm keeping you up. Natalie, can you go upstairs and get Kimberly's pajamas please?"
"Ok!" She says, jumping off the chair, running up the stairs.
"Alright." He says as she starts bawling, "All done Kimberly… you're all done." He wraps her in a towel and calms her down for the time being.
"Here daddy!"
"Thank you Natalie! Now, go upstairs with Mommy."
"Ok!" She says, running back upstairs.
"You aren't going to like this Kimberly…" He says, taking off the towel causing her distinct scream as Hawkeye quickly dresses her. She stops as soon as he picks her up and leans her head against him, yawning, "It's almost eight. Would you like a bottle? I bet you would. Margaret!" He calls, "I'm going to give Kimberly her bottle and put her to bed."
"Alright." Margaret calls back.
Hawkeye makes a bottle for the baby and gives it to her. He turns the lights down low and sits in his black leather seat. She watches him very attentively as she drinks the bottle. She looks exhausted as she continues to drink, and pulls away soon after. "Are you done? You didn't drink it all." He reclines in his chair, placing the bottle on the table next to him and lies the baby against his chest, rubbing her back. "It's late Angel. You should be sleeping. How about we sleep a bit?" He watches her fight sleep and finally lose the battle. Her blue eyes close and she sighs. Hawkeye goes upstairs and places her in her crib, next he goes into the other kids rooms and says goodnight to them before he goes into his room and finds Margaret lying in bed reading.
"The house looks great."
"Yeah, thanks for taking the kids for a bit."
"No problem. I'm looking forward to tomorrow."
"Me to." Margaret smiles, closing her book, leaning up to kiss him.
"What was that for?" He grins.
"It's been months."
"It has."
"Let's rectify this problem."
"I'm all for a little strenuous cardiovascular exercise."
"Well, it's a good thing I'm here." She says, kissing him.
"Welcome back Hotlips." Hawkeye smiles as he pulls her top off.
That was a night that they both needed. They didn't have time for a lot of romantic interludes, between the kids and Hawkeye working.
"We really need to do this more often." Hawkeye says, rubbing her bare back.
"I agree." She smiles, sitting up. "I need a shower. Want to join me?"
"I would love to, but I'm going to check on the kids first, make sure they are sound asleep." It was midnight, but still, both parents want to be better safe than sorry.
"I'll meet you in there." She smiles seductively.
Hawkeye crabs his robe, tying it tightly around his waste, proceeding out into the hallway and in to check on the kids. He covers them up, kissing them, and walks back into his room to join his wife in the shower. He wraps his arms around her waste like he always does and begins to place small kisses on her shoulders and neck. "I think…" he begins, in between kisses, "you and I need to get away for a weekend, no kids, just us."
"They are still so young…"
"Just a night."
"I don't know… maybe if we wait a bit longer."
"My dad could watch them."
"Kimberly's so little Hawk."
"Maybe?"
Hi lips were wearing her down, "Ok, maybe."
"Good." He says as she turns in his arms.
"We should get out."
"We should." He says, continuing the attack on her neck.
"The kinds may wake up."
"I know."
Margaret smiles and steps out of his arms and out of his shower. She grabs a towel and walks out of the room followed by Hawkeye. They get into bed and sleep straight through the night.
The kids were all up by 7:30. BJ calls at 8:00 saying that they will be leaving on time and would be arriving at their house by 7:00 that night. The kids spend the majority of the day running around, and Margaret decided that she wanted all the kids to take a nap, including Natalie. Margaret allows the kids to relax and watch some TV during the afternoon which works like a charm. By 1:45 all three kids are sleeping. Margaret knew that if Natalie didn't take a nap and wanted to stay up late with Gillian there would be problems. By 4:00 all of the kids were awake.
"Mommy." Natalie asks.
"What honey?"
"When is Uncle BJ coming?"
Margaret looks at her watch, "In about two hours."
"Good. Can I go with Daddy?"
"Daddy isn't going to the airport. Uncle BJ and Aunt Peggy are going to bring a car."
"Oh. Ok!"
Margaret takes Kimberly out of the playpen and feeds her.
At almost seven, a car pulls into the driveway. Natalie squeals, "DADDY! Uncle BJ is here!" and runs out of the house without shoes or a jacket. "Uncle BJ!" She says, running into his open arms.
"Hey Nattie girl! Ho are you?"
"Good! I miss you!"
"I missed you too!" He says, "Get back inside! It's too cold out for you not to be wearing shoes and a jacket."
"Ok." She smiles, seeing Gillian, "Come on Gilly!"
They all run into the house, and Gillian immediately sees her uncle and hugs him.
"Why Gillian, I do believe that you got about three inches taller! I hardly recognized you!" He jokes.
"I did!" She smiles proudly.
"Where's the others?"
"Coming in." Gillian says, running over to Margaret.
"Well hi there little girl." She smiles, "How are you?"
"Good." She smiles, as she hugs her aunt.
"Aunt Margaret!" Erin says, running into the house.
"Hi honey." She says, hugging her, "How are you?"
"Good." She smiles.
"How is school?"
"It's great!"
"Well, I want to hear all about first grade kiddo, and I bet Uncle Hawk does too."
"Of course he does." Hawkeye says, picking Erin up, and hugging her, "You got big too." He laughs, putting down the 7 year old.
"Hawk, go out and help BJ." Margaret says, "I'm sure they have their hands full."
"Right." He smiles, and heads out the door, "Hey stranger." He smiles.
"Hey." BJ says, as the best friends embrace each other. It has been miserable for both friends working without one another. They get along, but they miss the company they once shared constantly. "How ya been?"
"I've been great Beej, what about you?"
"I'm doing great too." He says, clasping a hand on Hawkeye's shoulder.
"Peggy, you look great!" He says, noticing her figure after having the baby.
"Hah, you're too kind. This little one put way too much weight on me."
"Let me see her." He says, as he looks at the 4 month old in Peggy's arms, "She looks like Michael."
"Yeah, and a bit of Gillian. Erin's more me then BJ… what about your little one?"
"She looks pretty much like a mix of the two of us… kind of like Katie here." He smiles.
"Come on in, your kids have the right idea! It's freezing out!"
Hawkeye and BJ grab some bags, and put them upstairs, talking the entire time. Margaret and Peg knew what they were getting into when the two best friends were reunited… and were thankful that they were close, otherwise, it would have been a boring two weeks.
Margaret and Peggy traded the babies and sat in the living room talking, while the kids played down in the basement. "Are you hungry yet?" Margaret asks.
"Not just yet, but I'm sure we all will be soon."
"We'll order pizza or something and have the men pick it up."
"Sounds good to me." She smiles, looking down at her niece, "Kimberly is really pretty Margaret."
"Thank you, so is Katie."
"She looks like the perfect mix of you and Hawk."
"She, like the other two, has Hawkeye's eyes. I'm glad. Even when we were at each others throats, I always loved his eyes."
"He does have gorgeous eyes." Peg smiles.
Margaret glances down at the baby looking up at her intimately. She smiles and says, "Hello Katie! Are you a bit confused about who has you? Well, you'll get us to me soon. I think Kimberly is a bit confused too."
"She is. She isn't sure if she should cry or smile." Peg laughs, shifting the baby's weight. "So what are we doing with these two tonight?"
"They can either sleep in the same room, or you can keep her in your room."
"Hmm, we'll have to see what type of mood Miss Kaitlyn is in…"
"We couldn't separate the girls, or the boys for the night. They won't have it."
"You're right… especially the girls."
"We'll see how they are with the chatting tonight." Peg laughs.
"They will be terrible, but tomorrow won't be as bad."
"True."
"These two are getting tired."
"Yeah, Katie was up the entire time on the plane, so she should be screaming in the next hour or so." Peg says, looking at the clock seeing it was 6:30, "We should probably get something to eat soon."
"Yeah… where are our husbands?"
"Who knows, check the family room?"
Margaret and Peg stand up and walk from the living room to the family room, and see Hawk and BJ talking a mile a minute, drinking beers, "How many have you two had?"
"What?" Both ask.
"Beers… how many?"
"Two a piece, why?" BJ asks.
"Because you two have to go get the pizza."
The men groan, "When?"
"After you order it." Margaret laughs.
"I had five…" Hawkeye lies.
"Too late… BJ blew it for you."
"You're no longer my best friend." Hawkeye laughs. "What do you girls want?"
"Just get plain… I don't think Nat and Zack will eat too much."
"Did they eat?"
"Around 5."
"Ah."
At 7:00, the pizza arrives, and everyone has at least one piece. Margaret and Peg put Kimberly and Katie in the playpen together and they were cooing the entire time, until around 7:30 when they were ready for bed. By 8:00 it was fairly obvious that Kaitlyn and Kimberly could not stay up any longer so Margaret and Peg put them down. The boys stayed up until around 9:00 and the girls till 10:00. They would have stayed downstairs playing all night if their parents let them, but they figured 10:00 was late enough. The girls were tired, but by the time they finished brushing their teeth and getting on their pajamas, they got their second wind. Each parent went up at least once to silence the gabbing, giggling girls, but that was just not possible.
"Who's turn is it?" BJ asks, when he hears the girls getting loud.
"Will it do any good?" Peg asks.
"I think we need to tag team it." Hawkeye says, looking at Margaret.
"Why me? I went up last."
"Because you are the one who is the mean one." BJ laughs, getting hit with a throw pillow. "Major."
"I'll go with you Margaret." Peggy says, standing up, as they go upstairs. "Girls!"
"Hi mommy." Gillian says.
"Do you three know what time it is!"
"No." Natalie smiles.
"It's almost 11:15. You two should have been sleeping about three hours ago!" Margaret says, "And now you are still up laughing and talking very loud. You are going to wake up your brothers and sisters, and cousins."
"No we aren't." Natalie says a matter of factly.
"Yes you are, and I don't want to hear any back talk Natalie."
"Ok." All of the girls say.
"Now, we want all three of you to keep quiet and go to sleep… it is too late." Peg tells them, kissing all three.
"Or, we'll send up the daddies and they will split you three up into your own rooms."
"No mommy, I don't want that." Natalie says.
"Well then be quiet and go to sleep." She smiles, kissing all three of the girls. "Good night."
"Night." All of them say.
"That should do it." Margaret smiles as she and Peg walk back downstairs and sit with their husbands.
"They look tired." Peg says.
"They have to be… I mean even in Mill Valley, it is pretty late for them."
"Yeah. So how does Kimberly sleep through the night?"
"Pretty well. She wakes up sometimes, but not too often."
"Is she a sound sleeper?"
"Yeah, more so than the others. Natalie is probably my lightest sleeper. What about Kaitlyn?"
"She's a fairly heavy sleeper. I was just worried incase they wake up."
"They'll be fine. They probably will sleep through each others cries."
"Good."
"Yeah, I'm not worried about them." Margaret smiles.
"Who aren't you worried about?" BJ asks.
"The babies."
"Oh, yeah, they sleep like logs." Hawk replies.
"Yeah."
"How about our three talking culprits?"
"We said that if they aren't quiet, their daddies are going to come up and separate them into different bedrooms."
"Always making us out to be the bad guys aren't you?" Hawkeye teases his wife.
"She always has… ever since Korea." BJ jokes.
"In that case, Hawk, you can get Kimberly if she wakes up tonight."
"That's fine."
"That goes for you too BJ."
"That's fine." He says, "I haven't seen much of her anyway."
"They'll be whistling a different tune come 3 o'clock." Margaret mutters.
"Yup."
"So, are you two going in to work at all?"
"I have to work tomorrow at noon, but I don't know if you wanted to come in or not Beej."
"Sure, why not. Not like I have anything better to do. Anything interesting?"
"Yeah, an amputation. It's like being back in Korea again." He groans.
"Amputation of what?"
"The foot. Usually I don't do much of them, but the foot has been bad and there is no circulation left, so it's turning black."
"How old?"
"60 year old man. It will take about two hours. Then it will probably be the usual. I was going to do it yesterday, but they wanted one last night of dancing."
"Right."
"So, we'll go at it around 7 am. That will be our last one."
"Ok."
"So then, we can go shopping if you want Peggy. We can leave the kids with Hawk's father if you'd like."
"Oh, I don't know… seven kids is a lot…."
"He won't mind." Margaret smiles. "He and Anna are use to having all of the grandkids over night sometimes. They total to 10."
"But the girls…"
"They won't be bad for them. I think Anna's off that day too."
"Well…"
"He really won't mind Peg." Hawkeye assures him.
"Well… alright."
"Good. We'll grab some lunch and do a bit of shopping."
"If you are sure that Dan doesn't mind."
"Are you kidding… he loves your kids."
"But two babies…"
"Will be just fine with him."
"How's your dad feeling?"
"A lot better… I mean, he's weak still, but he's doing a lot better, thanks." She smiles.
"Good to hear."
At midnight, they decide to retire. It was a long day for the Hunnicutt's, so they all say goodnight and went upstairs. The women check on the kids and then join their husbands.
"I'm glad they're here." Hawkeye says, as Margaret gets into bed.
"Me too." She says, "The baby really looks like Peggy."
"She does… but I see Beej in her too."
"Yeah." She yawns.
"Good night." He says, kissing her forehead.
"Good night yourself." She smiles.
The next morning, BJ and Hawkeye get up, and head to the hospital at around 11:00, leaving Margaret and Peg with the kids. Daniel said that he would come over and watch the kids with Anna rather than have them drag all seven to their house.
"Natalie, come here honey."
"What mommy?" She asks, running in.
"Grandpop and Nana are coming over to watch you kids for a bit ok? I want you to behave."
"I will." She smiles. "I always do!"
Margaret laughs, "You're your daddy's daughter, you never do."
"Do too." She grins, hugging her.
"Go play." She says, laughing.
"So, how are Hawkeye and Anna getting along these days?"
"Better than before. Almost perfect. He still gets annoyed with her, but that's just normal. It doesn't seem to bother him when the kids call her Nana, so, that's something."
"Yeah, I'd guess it would be. Are your parents coming up for thanksgiving?"
"Not this year. Dad and Mom wanted to have it, so they are staying down in Virginia. My sister and her family are going to be there too."
"That will be nice." She smiles.
"Yeah. They want us down there for Christmas, so we'll see what happens."
"Great!"
"Mommy! Gampop hewr!" Zack squeals… as he waits by the door patiently to see his Grandfather. "Gampop!"
"Hey Zachary!" He smiles, picking up his only grandson, kissing his cheek, "How are you buddy?"
"Good." He smiles, hugging him around the neck.
"Hi Zack."
"Hi Nana!" He says, kissing her without leaving his Grandpop.
"Where's mommy?"
"I'm here." She smiles, "Hi Dad, hi Anna."
"Hi honey." Dan smiles, kissing his daughter-in-law.
"Hi Margaret." Anna says, hugging her. "You must be Peg."
"I am. It's nice to meet you Mrs.."
"Anna is fine." She smiles, shaking her hand. "I've heard a lot about you, your husband and your kids."
"I've heard a lot about you too."
"Where are the kids?"
"Kimberly and Katie are in the playpen, the rest are down in the basement." Margaret smiles, "Hang on, let me get them." Margaret goes to the basement door and calls the girls upstairs. Michael and Zack are playing in the living room with their trucks.
"GRANDPOP!" Natalie smiles, running up to him, hugging him tight.
"Hi Princess. How are you sweetie?"
"Good." She says, "I missed you."
"You just saw me two days ago."
"I still missed you."
"Well, I missed you too Natalie."
"What about me Nat?" Anna teases.
"I missed you too." She giggles.
"Erin and Gillian, you two girls got a lot bigger and prettier since the last time I saw you too."
"Yup!" Gillian smiles.
"You kids are going to spend the day with Dr. Pierce and Mrs. Pierce, and I want you to help them with the babies, and also be on your best behavior, do you understand?" Peg says.
"Yes." All the girls say.
"That goes for you two Michael and Zachary." Margaret says, grabbing the boys attention.
"What Aunt Margaret?" Mike smiles.
"You two need to be good too ok?"
"Ok." The boys say.
"Thanks a lot dad." Margaret smiles.
"No problem honey. Don't worry about the time you are home, we'll be fine."
"We'll be home by dinner."
"Ok. Have fun girls." Anna smiles, as she goes into see how the babies were fairing.
"Bye gang." Peg says, and they leave the house.
Margaret and Peg spend an hour eating lunch then they head out shopping, "I really need to pick up outfits for Nat, Kimberly and Zack for Christmas. It's getting close and I have nothing."
"Yeah, I do too, but usually I have to bring Erin with me because she is so picky."
"Natalie is already getting to that point, but I still can get her to wear almost everything. She absolutely loves blue because her daddy told her that her eyes look "so pretty" in that color."
Peg smiles, "I have Gillian who loves Purple, and Erin who loves Green, and Mike loves any color except the ones his sisters wear."
Margaret laughs, "Let's go to the Kids store and see what we can find."
"Alright."
They walk over to the kids store and grab the boys outfits first, "They are the easiest…" Peg smiles, "Boring, but easy."
"They will look cute in these outfits though." Margaret smiles, looking at the little suit she picks up, "The only problem is, that they will outgrow them by next year."
"Yeah, it's crazy, just like the girls. I mean, Erin isn't growing as fast any more, but it's still faster than I can keep her in clothes."
"I need to find a dress that isn't too hot. All of these are velvet." Margaret says, sighing.
"It is going to be in the mid 60's down in Virginia, just like out in California."
"These are cute." Peg smiles, holding up a purple half velvet half satin dress with a bow that ties in the back. "It comes in blue."
"I like that… I like the purple and the green one to."
"We should get them. I think the girls will get a kick out of the fact that they all have the same dresses, just different colors."
"Yeah!" Margaret smiles, grabbing the sapphire blue color, and a wine color for Kimberly. Peg grabs the same wine color for Katie, and the purple and green colors for the girls. "They are going to look too cute."
"I think so." Peg smiles, as they go to pay for their finds. "Where too now?"
"What else do you need?"
"I don't know, but I need to get something for me. I'm sick of only buying for everyone else." She laughs.
"Agreed." Margaret says as they walk around. By 4:00, they decide to head home, and pile their bags into the car. "Do you want to stop in and see Hawk and BJ?'
"Sure. Is it out of the way?"
"No, we pass it. I'll show you the hospital." She smiles. "Since we won't see them till tomorrow, we may as well say good night."
"Right." Peg says, as they pull into the hospital parking lot, "That was close."
"I told you." She laughs. They walk into the hospital talking, and stop at the desk, "Hi Karen, how are you?"
"I'm fine Mrs. Pierce, how are you?"
"Fine thank you. This is Dr. Hunnicutt's wife."
"It's nice to meet you Mrs. Hunnicutt."
"You too Karen."
"Are our husbands around?'
"They should be in the office."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. They are quite a pair."
"They definitely are." Both women smile.
They knock on the door, and hear the two talking, "Come in." Hawkeye calls.
"Shouldn't you two be operating?" Margaret teases.
"Shouldn't you two be shopping?" BJ shoots back.
"We were." Peg smiles, kissing her husband, Margaret doing the same.
"What are you two doing here?"
"I missed you too Pierce." Margaret laughs.
"How was shopping?"
"Great, we got the kids Christmas outfits."
"Oh? And what else?" Hawkeye laughs.
"Outfits for us too."
"How much did it cost me?"
"Not too much."
"I'm sure." He laughs.
"Are you two having fun?"
"Loads. It's been relatively quiet today." BJ laughs.
"I bet." Peg grins.
"Well, we just wanted to say good night. We have to get home and take the monsters off your fathers hands." Margaret replies, kissing her husband, "Good night."
"Good night. I'll see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow." They all say, and leave."
They drive home and the kids are thrilled to see them. "Hey Natalie, Gill and Erin, come here girls." Peg calls.
"What?" The girls say.
"We got you girls Christmas dresses."
"Really!" Erin says, "What color!"
"I got you Green, Gillian purple, and Katie a dark pink color."
"Mommy, what color is mine!"
"Yours is blue and Kimberly's is the same color as Katie's." Margaret smiles, showing them the dresses, "Here, look at them."
"Ohh! Pretty! They are the same!" Erin laughs.
"I like mine mommy." Gillian smiles.
"Do you want to go try them on?"
"Yup!" All three of the girls say and run upstairs with their dresses. Margaret and Peg go upstairs too while the kids grandparents were there and helped them out, "Go show Grandpop and Nana Nat."
"Ok! Come on Gilly!" She says, "Erin too."
The girls run downstairs to show Dan and Anna.
"My, my, my, you three look absolutely gorgeous!" Dan smiles.
"Thank you!"
"They do, I can't believe how pretty they look!" Anna smiles back.
"I can't wait to show daddy!" Erin says.
"Me too!" Both girls smile.
"Come on back up girls, and put your play clothes back on." Peggy calls.
"Can we wear our dresses for thanksgiving?" Gillian says, coming upstairs.
"No honey, you have a dress to wear."
"Ok." She says, as her mom unzips her. "You can wear this for Christmas."
"Are we coming here for Christmas?" Erin asks.
"Not this year."
"Are we going there mommy?"
"No honey, we are going down to Grammy and Pop-Pop's."
"And Gram and Gramps are coming to visit us."
"Oh, ok." All the girls say a but upset.
"You'll have fun anyway." Margaret laughs. "Go play."
The girls run back downstairs, followed by their mothers. "Thanks a lot Dad."
"No problem honey."
"Do you want to stay for dinner?"
"No, that's fine." Dan says, holding Kimberly, "I think she's missed you." He says as the baby starts fussing.
"Come here sweetheart." She smiles and takes Kim, Peg does the same with Katie. "I missed you too." She says, as the baby immediately stops fussing. "Are you getting hungry? I bet you are. I bet Katie is too."
"She should be." Peg says, as the baby smiles up at her.
"Well, we should be going Dan, we have dinner plans."
"You're right honey. We'll see you soon ok?"
"See you Thursday." Margaret says, kissing him.
"Bye. Bye kids!" He calls, getting his grandkids attention and they run up to them to get a last hug.
"Mommy, I'm hungry!" Natalie says, running into the kitchen.
"We'll have dinner soon ok? I have to cook something."
"What?" Gillian asks.
"Does spaghetti sound good?" She asks the four year olds.
"Yup!"
"Ok then, we'll have spaghetti." Margaret smiles, sitting Kimberly in the highchair, and Peg takes the baby seat for Katie. They feed the girls then get ready for dinner.
Thanksgiving day, they wake up to six inches of fresh snow, and all the kids were thrilled, as were the parents. Natalie and Zack woke up their parents by jumping on top of them.
"Oof." Hawkeye says when the kids hit his back. "It better be at least seven o'clock kids." He mumbles.
"Daddy! Wake up! It's 7:00!"
Hawkeye cracks an eye open and looks at the time, it was 7:30, "Go back to sleep."
"No! It's time to get up!"
"Get up daddy!" Zack says, pulling on his arm.
"Why?"
"It snowed daddy!"
"It did?"
"Yup! And Gillian and Michael and Erin are up!"
"But Kimberly and Kaitlyn aren't up yet."
"So!" Zack says.
"Hawkeye…"
"Did you two go to the potty?"
"Nope!" Both say.
"Well go first, then I'll get up, and Mommy will too."
"Ok!" And both run to different bathrooms before quickly coming back to the bed and jumping on Margaret this time, "Mommy, up!"
"Ok, ok." She says, as the kids roll off them. She sits up, "I better check on Kimberly and Katie."
She walks out of the room and sees Peggy, "Morning Margaret."
"Good morning. You had the same idea as I had."
"I did." She says, as they go into the nursery and see both girls wide awake, cooing at one another. "Well, would you look at that."
"They seem to like each other." Peg laughs, "Best friends, just like their daddies."
"That's for sure." She says, as she picks Kimberly up, "Good morning honey." She says, kissing her, and Peg does the same with Katie. They change the babies and bring them downstairs with the other kids.
"They were awake!" BJ asks.
"Yes. Wide awake, and talking to each other." Margaret grins.
"Well, at least we know they like each other." Hawk smiles.
"Mommy, is it Thanksgiving?"
"Yes it is Erin."
"Good."
"Mommy, can we go play outside?" Gill asks.
"Not yet… it's a bit early."
"But it snowed!"
"I know it snowed!" She says, with the same excitement.
"We need to eat breakfast first." Margaret smiles.
"Ok." All the kids say.
"Then your daddies can play with you."
"Sounds good." BJ says.
"Yup."
After breakfast, the women continue to cook and the boys bundle the kids up, except for the babies, and take them outside.
"Would you look at them?" Margaret smiles, looking out her window.
"They are like children themselves." She smiles, "Hand me the spice please."
Outside, Hawkeye and BJ were busy chasing the kids around, "I miss snow." BJ smiles.
"I did too when we lived in California."
"Daddy…" Natalie grins, as she throws a snowball at him, giggling.
"Oh no you didn't little girl." He laughs, grabbing Natalie and throwing her over his shoulder tickling him. He then gently throws her on her back into the snow, "That's what you get little girl." As his son jumps on his back, and they get into a wrestling match.
"Daddy, why don't we get snow?"
"We do sometimes honey." He smiles.
"Not enough." Erin says, playing in the snow.
"We live in a place too warm."
"Can we come again when it snows!"
"I'm sure we will." BJ laughs, as Gillian runs into his legs.
"You kids aren't cold yet are you?"
"No!" All the kids say.
"Ok, we'll stay out for a bit longer." Hawkeye smiles.
"YAY!" All the kids smile.
Margaret and Peg were still busy cooking. The babies were sleeping in the playpen in the other room. "Peggy, hand me the salt and oil please?"
"Sure." She smiles.
"It's really nice having someone to help cook for once." Margaret says, returning the smile.
"I agree. It's a godsend."
"Definitely." She smiles, looking back outside the large kitchen window. "I wonder if the kids are cold."
"Not yet. I bet they'll be out there for a bit longer.
"Look at Pierce and BJ. I swear, they are only ten when they get together in the snow."
"When they get together any of the times they are ten." Peg laughs. "I thought BJ would have had a heart attack if we didn't get here on time."
"Hawkeye too."
"When he wrote me his last letter from Korea, he said that he was worried about losing touch with some of you."
"I was too. I was there all three years, and BJ, Hawk and the Colonel were the people I trusted. Leaving them was quite scary." Margaret says.
"I bet." Peg smiles. "We miss having you out there."
"We miss you too."
"Do you like it out here "
"Oh I love it, and Hawkeye loves his job, and loves being around his father. I'm use to my father not being around, he isn't. It's wonderful being out here."
"Well, I'm glad. It's beautiful here."
"It is." Margaret smiles, "Summer is even better."
"Well, we'll have to come out here during summer then."
"I think it's our turn next time." Margaret says as she hears Kimberly cry, "I think someone just woke up." She smiles, walking into the living room, picking the baby up, "Well hello Kimberly." She says as she picks the baby up and cuddles her. "Katie should wake up soon too. You'll like that."
"I think the kids are getting cold." Peg laughs, as she looks outside.
"We should boil some water and make hot chocolate."
"They will love that."
Margaret kisses her daughter and puts her in the baby seat, and soon after Katie wakes up and Peggy does the same with her daughter. The girls sit in their baby seats cooing at each other the entire time.
"Mommy! It's cold outside." Natalie says, stepping one foot into the kitchen.
"Freeze!" Margaret says, "Go back into the laundry room and get undressed. Aunt Peg and I are making hot chocolate."
"Good!" She smiles.
"All of you get undressed in the laundry room!" Margaret reminds them as she cleans up the wet footprint left by her daughter, before standing up and going over to the stove to finish up making the hot chocolate. Hawkeye's hands were freezing despite wearing gloves. Margaret had her back to him when he comes in. He smiles at Peg and places a finger up to his lips. He slowly walks closer to her and sticks his hands down the top, back of her shirt, "PIERCE!" She shouts, squirming, "My god! Get out, get out, get out! Oh my god your hands are so cold! GET THEM OUT!"
"You are so warm though!" He says, fighting to keep his hands on her back.
"PIERCE!" She says fighting against his freezing hands. Everyone thought this was the funniest thing ever, and laughed, "Ben… I swear…"
"Uh-ho Hawk, you're getting a Ben out of her…" BJ smiles.
"They will warm up."
"BENJAMIN!" She says, laughing, "Oh my god, they are so cold!"
"Why do you think I'm here?" He laughs, kissing her neck.
"Stop…" She says, finally getting his hands off of her, "You are such an ass!" She wants to slap him put won't because the kids were looking.
"Thank you, my hands are nice and warm now."
"Ugh, but I'm freezing now!"
He wraps his arms around her, "Better?"
"NO." She groans.
"When do we eat dinner?" BJ asks.
"Six." Peg smiles.
"Daddy?"
"What honey?"
"When Grandpop and Nana coming over?"
"Around four."
"Good." She smiles, "Come on Gilly!" She says, and the two girls run downstairs to play. The boys went to play cars, and the big boys took the little girls and fed them while Margaret, Peg and Erin finished cooking.
"What's wrong Erin?"
"I'm bored." She says, sitting down at the table.
"How can you possibly be bored at my house?" Margaret teases.
"Because, I'm seven, and everyone else is littler. You and Uncle Hawk should have had a baby the same age as me."
"I didn't know Uncle Hawk then honey." She laughs.
"Oh."
"Do you want to help make a pie?" Peg asks her.
"Yeah!" She smiles.
"Ok, we have to fill it ok?"
"That's my favorite part!"
"And you and I need to talk about first grade honey. We haven't had much time to talk about that yet have we?"
"Nope."
"Well, do you like it?"
"I love it Aunt Margaret! It is so much fun!"
"So, what do you learn there?" She smiles, pealing vegetables.
"Oh, lots of things! I learn math and social studies, and science, and language arts, and mathematics!"
"What is your favorite subject?"
"Math." She smiles.
"Really?"
"Yup!"
"She takes after her daddy." Peg laughs, "I hate Math."
"I don't mind it." Margaret smiles, "I needed to like it though, just like your dad and your uncle."
"Yup!" Erin smiles.
"So, who are your friends?"
"Everyone!"
"Everyone!"
"Yup! But my BEST friends are Susan and Samantha and Denise, and Lydia, and Jane."
"You have a lot of best friends."
"Yup, and I play with them all the time. They are going to come over and spend the night when Christmas is coming. Are you coming to our house for Christmas?"
"Not this year honey. I have to go with my mom and dad and sister."
"Oh." She says a bit upset.
"Maybe next year." She smiles.
"Ok! I wish you still lived out where I live."
"But now, every time you come and visit you get to take a plane!" Margaret smiles.
"That's good, but we use to see you alllll the time."
"I know honey."
Margaret smiles at her niece, as they finish making dinner. Erin gets bored after a while of cooking and heads into see what her father and uncle were doing. "What are you doing?"
"Playing with the babies."
"Can I hold Kimberly?"
"Sure, come sit down." Hawk smiles, passing his niece his daughter. "She likes you."
"I like her too!"
"What do you think about your new cousin?" BJ asks.
"I said I like her!" Erin says, a bit discussed at him.
"Well, I'm sorry." He laughs.
"You need to be a good listener daddy." Erin says.
"Where did you hear that from?"
"Mrs. Lucas tells us that."
"I can't believe our littler Erin is in first grade." Hawkeye laughs.
At 4:00, Anna, Daniel, and the grandkids, and Hawks "step siblings" come over. "Erin, come here honey." Hawkeye calls.
"What?"
"This is Jamie. She is in first grade too."
"Hi Jamie!"
"Hi Erin!"
"Do you want to play downstairs?"
"Yup!" She smiles and the two new best friends run downstairs.
"Cassidy, Natalie and Kait… I mean Gillian are downstairs." He says, laughing, "See, you throw one more girl in the mix and I can't get their names out. And Matt, Zack and Michael are upstairs."
"Thanks for inviting us Hawk."
"No problem Donna." He smiles at his step sister. "Derek it's good to see you too."
"You too Hawk."
"This is BJ, BJ, this is Anna's daughter and son-in-law."
"Hi." He says, shaking their hand.
"I'm going to go into the kitchen and make myself useful." Anna smiles.
"I'll go with you mom." Donna says.
"Have a seat Derek." Hawkeye says, picking up Kimberly.
"Thanks." He smiles, "Hi there Kimberly. You have gotten a lot prettier since the last time I saw you." He smiles, getting the baby to smile too. "And who are you?" He asks, looking at Kaitlyn.
"This is my youngest Kaitlyn, Katie." BJ smiles.
"She's a pretty one too."
"Thanks." He says.
"Here Derek, take Kim for me, I'm gonna go see if I can help in the kitchen."
"Ok." He says, taking the baby. Kimberly decides at that exact moment to get fussy and cries.
"Let me see her." BJ says, after the baby full out cries, maneuvering Katie to access Kimberly too. "Hey Kim, come here angel, do you want to go play in your playpen with Katie? I bet you do!" He smiles, picking both girls up and putting them in the pen, and immediately she quiets down and 'talks' to her cousin.
At six they all take some time and eat dinner together. The kids were all done within thirty minutes and were off playing down in the basement, leaving the adults and babies to take their time and finish up eating. Kimberly and Katie at seven thirty were quite fussy and ready for a bottle and to go to bed, so Margaret and Peg got them quickly ready and put them down for the night, after their fathers fed them.
For the next three days, the Pierce's and Hunnicutt's spent the days enjoying the company. Hawkeye and BJ went out one night to the bar and came home in relatively decent condition. Finally, Sunday came and they were getting ready to go. The kids were not happy at all, they were miserable the entire morning.
"I don't want to go." Gillian says, pouting.
"I know you don't, but we have too. Erin has school tomorrow." BJ says.
"I don't need to go daddy, I know everything!" Erin says, defending herself.
"I'm sure you don't know everything midget." Hawkeye says, smiling.
"I don't want go daddy." Michael says, pouting.
"Stay here!" Natalie smiles.
"They can't honey, they live in California."
"I know! They can move here!"
"I don't think so." Peggy says, kissing the kids, "We don't want to move yet." She laughs.
"We have a conference coming up in a few months gang, and we'll see each other then." BJ smiles.
"Ok."
"We'll have to talk to everyone about another reunion, after the holidays."
"It's at Potters place this time I think…" Hawk says.
"Right, I think this time it is."
"Well, we better get going, because our flight leaves in about an hour and a half." Peg says, hugging her friends and kissing the kids, "We'll see you soon."
"Call us when you get home ok?"
"Alright." BJ says, kissing Margaret's cheek, "Thanks for everything Margaret."
"No problem, thank you for coming."
"Next year its at our place."
"We aren't seeing them till next year!" Erin says, a bit alarmed.
"No honey, we'll see them sooner than that ok?"
"Ok." She says, hugging her aunt and uncle.
They all get into their rental car, and drive away with a beep. Natalie was quite upset about them leaving, but tries to be strong. "Come on inside Nattie, it's cold out honey."
"Mommy…"
"What baby?"
"I miss them."
Margaret smiles, and picks her up, "I miss them too, but you'll see them soon. And guess what?" She says, kissing her cheek.
"What?"
"In two weeks we are going to be going down to Grammy and Pop-Pop's house soon for Christmas. Doesn't that sound fun?"
"Yes." She says, wiping a tear that fell from her cheek.
"Good. Now, would you like to help make a cake with me?"
"Ok."
Margaret and Natalie busy themselves in the kitchen, which leaves the boys and Kimberly to do things on their own for a bit. It was a great week, a lot less stressful than Margaret makes out to be, and they will miss the Hunnicutt's a bunch. It was times like this when Hawk sits back and asks himself if moving was the right thing, but he knows it was. It is a passing question.
December came very quickly, and before they knew it, they were on a flight down to Virginia.
"Who's picking us up?"
"My father."
"Ok." Hawkeye says, as they exit their flight and get their bags.
"Natalie, do you see Grammy?"
"Um…" She says, looking around.
"You look too Zack."
"Der!" He smiles, running as fast as his legs could take him over to his grandparents.
"There they are!" Natalie repeats, running on the tail of her little brother, getting hugs.
Kimberly was a bit cranky when they got off the plane, and she wasn't interested in having her grandparents hold her, she clung to her mother, with her head down as her Grammy and Pop-Pop kiss her cheek.
"How are you honey?"
"Fine mom, you?"
"Great! Hawkeye, how are you?"
"I'm fine mom." He smiles, kissing her cheek, "How are you feeling Colonel?"
"Much better Pierce." He says, shaking the mans hand.
"Have you kids been good this year?"
"Very good!" Natalie smiles.
"Yup, vewy good!" Zack smiles, as his Pop-Pop picks him up.
"Well, I hope Santa can find you this year." Kate jokes.
"He should, they have been extremely good this year." Margaret smiles.
"And what about this one? What is the problem with my youngest granddaughter?" Kate asks.
"I don't know. I think she's beginning to teeth, and she just isn't the happiest." Margaret says, rubbing her back.
"Poor baby."
"Yeah."
"Let's get this show on the road." Hawk says, as he grabs some of the bags, Margaret and the Colonel take the rest.
"Grammy, I got a new dress!"
"You did!"
"Yup!"
"What color is it?"
"Blue."
"Did Kimberly get a new dress?"
"Yes, hers is pink."
"And what about you Zachary did you get a dress?" Kate teases.
"No!" He says, quite defensive, "I gots pant., shirt, and tie."
"Just what I like to hear." The Colonel similes.
"Did Annie get here yet?" Margaret asks.
"Nope, tomorrow morning." Kate replies.
"Ok." Margaret smiles.
They drive to the Houlihan house, and unload the car, putting the suitcases in their respectable bedrooms. Kimberly stays pretty close to either Hawkeye or Margaret in the beginning, but she was slowly warming up when it was time for her nap. Hawkeye puts her down for a nap and then tries to get Zack down too, which wasn't going to happen today.
"Just let him stay up." Margaret says, listening to him fight with their son. "He'll sleep late tomorrow… I hope."
"Right." Hawkeye says, walking into the kitchen to make a call to the hospital, just making sure everything was ok.
"Gammy!" Zack smiles, calling to his grandmother, "Come pay!"
"Ok." She smiles, sitting on the floor next to her only grandson, "What are we playing?"
"Cars." He smiles, handing one of his trucks.
"Is this for me!"
"Yup!" He smiles, making car noises, "Vroom!"
"Can I play?" Natalie asks, coming away from her grandfather.
"No!" Zack shouts, pushing Natalie away from his cars.
"Zachary!" Margaret scolds.
"No Natalie!" He says again, this time grabbing the car from her hand, "Mine! You no pay!" He shouts again.
Margaret stands up, pulling he son by his arm, "Zachary Blake Pierce, that is ENOUGH!"
"Mommy OFF!" He shouts, trying to pull his arm away, beginning to cry.
"No sir! You are not being nice to Natalie!"
"No want her paying! Me and Gammy pay! No Nattie!"
"Do NOT yell at me young man!" She says firm as he screams, pushing her away. As she picks him up, he begins to kick and punch at her, "Zack! Ouch!" She says as his fist catches her cheek, "That's it!" She finally blows. "You do NOT hit me! You are getting a time out." She says, sitting him down on the steps, "You sit there and wait until I say you can get off, do you hear me!" She says, leaving the screaming child to scream his lungs out.
Kate sits with her granddaughter perched in her lap, grinning at her daughter, "WHAT!" Margaret says.
"Oh nothing." She laughs kissing Natalie.
"What!" Margaret asks again.
"Paybacks great." She laughs. "H is just like you when things don't go your way."
Margaret smiles, she was right. After another minute or so she goes over to the steps where her son was sitting, quite quietly now, "Zack…" She says, firmly, watching him tear up, "You can't be mean to your sister do you understand me?"
"Mommy!" He cries, reaching over to her. She picks him up and kisses his cheek.
"You have to be nice! You hurt Natalie's feelings. You have to be nice, ok?"
"Ok." He sniffs.
"Go say sorry to Nattie."
He stands up and goes up to his sister, apologizes, and a second later, they were best friends.
About an hour later, Margaret hears Kimberly crying. It was about 3:15, so she goes up to get her. "Good afternoon Kimberly." She says, picking the five month old up. "Did you have a nice nap?" She changes her and picks her back up. Kimberly lies her head against her mom's shoulder as if she was still tired, "You slept for two and a half hours Angel, you couldn't possibly still be tired. Are your teeth bothering you? You are chewing on your fingers an awful lot honey." Margaret brings her downstairs, and passes her to Hawkeye, "Can you check her mouth out?"
"Sure." He says, "Are you teething Kimberly?" He asks, as he washes his hand while balancing the baby, "Let me see." He says, "Open up." He says, sticking a finger in her mouth. She bites down on him and gums him a bit, "Hmm, they are down there somewhere." He says, feeling around again, "Ahh, bottom left." He says, pressing on her gums softly, "You are the youngest one to start teething." He says, pulling his finger out, as she cries a bit, "I'll find you something to chew on, hang on." He smiles, grabbing a plastic ring for her to bite down on.
"Did you find anything?"
"Bottom left should be coming in soon."
"She's getting them early." Al says.
"She's five months." Hawkeye shrugs.
"How old were the others?"
"About seven." Margaret says. "Meghan cut a tooth when she was four months though."
"True." Kate smiles. "Will she come to me?"
"Try it." Hawkeye smiles, passing Kimberly over to Grammy.
"Come see me Kimberly." She smiles, taking her, "Come see me, I haven't held you at all yet!" Kimberly looks a bit leery when she was passed over, but she warms up quickly and even gave her a smile, "There's a smile."
"Gas." Al smiles.
"Nope, I know a smile when I see one." She says, kissing her youngest grandchild.
"What do you guys want for dinner?"
"Pizza." Natalie smiles.
"I don't think so." Hawkeye replies.
"I do." Nat laughs.
"Pizza isn't good for you all the time." Margaret laughs.
"But we like it."
"Kids always like pizza." Al says. "I don't understand why."
"We need something that is good for Pop-pop's heart." Margaret says.
"The hell you do…"
"Dad." Margaret warns.
"Margaret, I am not living my life afraid to eat everything. Besides I'm fine now."
"I don't care, when you are with me, you will listen. I didn't go to Nursing school for nothing. And that's final."
Without another word, they all went out for dinner, which was a nice meal, however, on the way home, Kimberly decides to scream at the top of her lungs, and despite everything Margaret tries, nothing would help. When she got back, she passes her onto Hawkeye, "Here, you try." Her patients was wearing thin, and she couldn't handle the screaming any longer. She took the two kids and got them a bath, leaving Hawkeye with the screaming child.
"Mommy." Natalie complains.
"What?"
"Kimberly's loud."
"I know, but she'll go to sleep soon, and you won't hear her."
"Good. I don't like her when she cries."
Margaret smiles, as she washes her daughters hair, "I know you don't. But just you wait, soon she'll be as big as you are, and you two will be able to play."
"And not cry?"
"Not as much."
"Good." She says.
After the kids are clean, they go back downstairs. Hawkeye has Kimberly quiet and is giving her a bottle.
"Mommy, will Santa find me?"
"Of course he will."
"But we didn't leave a note!"
"He knows where you are."
"How?"
"He just does." Margaret smiles. They sent down the kids gifts about three weeks earlier so they didn't' have to drag many presents with them.
"How?"
"You know, Santa won't come if you keep asking these questions." Al says to his granddaughter.
"Oh!" She says, quickly becoming quiet, "I'll stop asking then! But he will find me Pop-pop?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
"I promise."
"Daddy, is Grandpop coming down?"
"No, but you'll see him when we go home."
"I miss him." She says, leaning back on her Pop-pop.
"You miss him when you're gone, and you miss Pop-pop when you are home." Margaret smiles.
"Yup!" She says, hugging her Pop-pop tight.
Hawkeye looks down at Kimberly who was beginning to fall asleep before finishing her bottle. Her cheeks were bright pink from all the crying, and she wore herself out. She ended up chewing on the nipple of the bottle instead of drinking the last two ounces, and Hawkeye let her. She fell asleep quickly afterwards.
That night, however, around two in the morning, Margaret and Hawkeye were woken up by a high pitch shrill cry.
"I'll get her." Hawkeye says, standing up and walking into the other bedroom, "Kimberly…" He sighs, picking her up. "And you have a fever." He groans, as she cries. "Shh, shh, shh. We better go downstairs so you don't wake up the entire house." He says, as they walk downstairs. He paces the floor, sticking a pacifier in her mouth, trying to calm her down, with no luck. She didn't want anything in her mouth, but she wanted her teeth out. "I know you don't like those teeth honey, but pretty soon, you'll be eating solid food. Your fever will break by tomorrow, and you'll feel a lot better, I promise." He sighs, lying down on the couch, covering them up with a blanket, rubbing her back. :"Calm down, calllmmmm down. Stop your crying, you are fine." He says, shoving his finger in her mouth. She gums it for a bit and slowly calms down, "I guess you do want something in your mouth eh? It's a good thing that you are cutting your tooth now, instead of Christmas day or Christmas eve even. Hopefully that mean tooth will be out of your mouth soon."
She stops crying and looks up at him, "What?" He smiles. "Do you feel better now? Do you think you can maybe take a bit of a nap for me? I'm pretty tired too you know, and no matter how much I love these little bonding moments with you, I'd like them even better if they occurred around 8am. Lets just lie here for a bit, and close our eyes ok?" The next morning Margaret comes down at 6:30 and sees the pair sleeping on the couch. She kisses them and goes back upstairs for a few more minutes of sleep. Kimberly woke Hawkeye up at 7:00, "Hmm, I guess we fell asleep down here didn't we?" He smiles, as she grabs for his nose. "Shall we go see Mommy? I think that's a good idea."
She was still cranky, a bit more than yesterday, only allowing Margaret or Hawkeye to hold her most of the day, but she was feeling a bit better.
Christmas day seems to be a blur. The kids were through their Christmas presents in about fifteen minutes, the adults helped the younger kids, but for the most part they were ripped apart and opened. Natalie was thrilled to get a bike from Santa, and wanted to ride it right away. Hawkeye was more than happy to let her ride the new 2 wheeler. Margaret didn't want to see it. She was a very fast learner, just like her parents, smiling the entire time, even when she fell the first few times. Her determination for a four year old was something else. Zack got his bike too, and he though he was the best thing since sliced bread. He road around following his sister most of the time. Two days later, they were back in Crabapple Cove having another Christmas with Hawks family. The kids were on cloud nine, and as soon as Kimberly saw her Grandfather, she was attached to him.
January was upon them, another year, and there was hopefully going to be a reunion. Hawkeye had to call around and see what they wanted. Margaret also was asked to work for a bit, and she wasn't sure what to do. She would decide that in the new year. There was just so much left to do in December that even though January was four days away, it felt like it should be ten months away.
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. RR 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… Especially after today… I have the flu and can't sleep so I finished it… at 2am….
Thanks for all the great reviews! Please keep them up! Please RR!
Thanks
STARY