Margaret waved BJ and Hawkeye off with a huge grin on her face. She hadn't
been able to wipe off that smile ever since Hawkeye had proposed three
weeks ago. She was so happy. Margaret gave herself a little shake. It
was almost 11:00 and she had a few things to do before Peg came home to
bring her out to look at locations for the wedding and reception. She
closed the door and walked back over to the kitchen table. She picked up
the invitation that she had written from the table where she had put it
down to watch Hawkeye and BJ leave a few minutes ago and the maniac grin
was back. That was her wedding invitation. Her wedding invitation. She
still couldn't believe she was getting married. She shook herself again and
reprimanded herself for daydreaming. Margaret went to her room to get her
address book, that had the home and work address for nearly everyone she
knew. 'K.Klinger.Klinger Collections.' She thought to herself, running her
finger down the column. She picked up the phone and dialed.
Soon enough a very familiar voice sang "Hello, Klinger Collections, how may I help you?" happily.
Margaret grinned "Klinger! It's Maj.I mean Margaret Houlihan.how are you?"
"Major Houlihan?" asked the Lebanese, as if he was thoroughly unconvinced it was her "Is that you?"
"Yes, Klinger, it's me" she laughed "And it's Margaret now. The war's over and I'm not even in the Army anymore, so I'm no longer and don't want to be referred to as 'Major' ever again and that's an order!"
Klinger laughed on the other end of the line "Major.I mean Margaret Houlihan, it is you!"
"Who would be trying to pass themselves off as me?"
"I have no idea" laughed the Lebanese again, but he grew serious. "I hate to be rude, but since I assume this is a personal call and I'd love to chat with you, but I've got the final fitting of the bride for a wedding that's going to be tomorrow, so I'd have to ask if you would call me at home later."
"Actually, Klinger, this isn't a personal call. I'm getting married in two weeks and I'd like you to make the dress."
"You're getting married!" said Klinger "Congratulations!"
"Thank you"
"But I'm sorry, I can't make the dress"
"Why not?" asked Margaret, in her old 'Major Houlihan' voice, thinking she could convince Klinger to make the dress the way she could get him to do anything in the war. And if that didn't work, the other way, bribery. The voice didn't do anything.
"I'm sorry, Major" said Klinger, in the tone he used to use when she would try to make him do something and he couldn't do it. "Making a dress isn't as easy as it sounds. It takes a lot of work and fittings. I could probably do it in that amount of time, if you were here in Toledo, but since I doubt you're at the hotel down the street, I can't do it, unless you want it to look like you're wearing a bag. Then I could do it"
"What if I gave you the measurements? Then would you be able to make it?" asked Margaret desperately
"Maybe." said Klinger slowly
"And you could do fittings when you get here for the wedding"
"Well, I hope I'd be invited" laughed Klinger "Sure, I'll do it. Anything for you, Major"
"Margaret"
"Right, Margaret" laughed Klinger
"And could you do the maid of honor, bridesmaids, and flower girl dresses too, Klinger?" she asked
"Sure, Major.Margaret.it's gonna take me a while to get used to that" he admitted.
"It's gonna take you a while." laughed Margaret ".think about how long it's gonna take Radar!" The two laughed about that for awhile. Then Margaret gave Klinger the sizes of the dresses, using a laundry basket that she found in the Hunnicut's kitchen for some of them.
After she finished, Klinger said "I still can't believe you're getting married, Margaret!" "Neither can I!" she laughed
"I sure hope it doesn't turn out like the last one"
"Thanks, Klinger, me too"
"So, who's the lucky guy that stole the heart of our dear head nurse?" Klinger teased.
"What?" asked Margaret, getting nervous
"I said, who's the lucky guy who stole the heart of our dear head nurse?" he repeated.
"What about a purse?" she said, thinking fast.
"I didn't say anything about a purse" said Klinger, confused. "I said."
"Klinger, I can barely hear you" yelled Margaret "You're breaking up! I'm gonna lose you in a minute!"
"My end's fine" protested Klinger
"I heard that. Your end might be fine, but mine's lousy. You'll get a formal invitation in the mail in a few days! I'll call you later with more information! I'm just about to lose you! Goodbye Klinger! And thank you!" she said very quickly as she hung up the phone. Margaret burst out laughing. She couldn't wait to be able to explain that to Klinger. She put her address book away and returned to the kitchen. Her eyes fell on the laundry basket she had used for the two of the dress sizes. One being Erin's. The other being Peg's. She wanted Peg to be her matron of honor, but she didn't know how to go about asking her. She hadn't told anyone about wanting Peg to be matron of honor. Not even Hawkeye. Of course she hadn't said anything when she, Hawkeye, and BJ had been planning the wedding earlier, because.well because she was embarrassed. Embarrassed because she knew what people would say 'Peg? Why Peg? You just met her yesterday.' It was true she had just met her yesterday, but BJ used to talk about her nonstop. When Margaret first met Peg, she was so familiar, from what Margaret had heard about her, she had felt like she had known her for years. But how to ask her.
Before Margaret could ponder this more, the door opened and Peg came through it. "Hi Margaret" smiled the other woman
"Hi Peg" she smiled back
"How goes the wedding plans?" Peg asked
"Really well. We've got most of it planned out. We made a list." Margaret pointed to the list that was still sitting on the table, forgotten. Peg picked it up and read it over.
She put it down and asked "What can I do to help?"
"Well, we're supposed to go look for a place for the wedding and the reception" answered Margaret
"OK, just give me a minute to change out of my work clothes"
"Take your time".
Peg towards the corridor that would take her to her room when she stopped short.
"I just realized something. It's quiet. Too quiet. Where are the guys?" Margaret laughed "They went ring shopping"
Peg laughed too "I should have known they were out. It's never this quiet in the house when Hawkeye Pierce and BJ Hunnicut are together. ************************************************************************
Margaret Houlihan and Peg Hunnicut left the house ten minutes later. "So what do we have to do?" Peg asked when they were sitting in the car.
"Looking for the perfect place for the ceremony and the reception" Margaret answered promptly "I'd also like to at least start thinking about the food and the cake, but if we don't have time, we can do it tomorrow".
"OK then" said Peg "I have a few places in mind for the ceremony, but the reception, I have no idea".
Margaret smiled "Great! Let's start looking!" Peg pulled out of the driveway and started driving.
There was silence in the car. Margaret knew what she wanted to say and she was opening her mouth to say it, but what came out instead was "So, where's Erin?"
"At her best friend Anna's" Peg answered "Anna's mother and I set up a playdate for the two of them days ago". Margaret smiled and became furious with herself for not saying what she meant to say. Why couldn't she ask Peg to be her maid of honor? Was she afraid? Her. Margaret Houlihan.afraid? 'A Houlihan's not afraid of anything' Margaret said to herself firmly. But why was she scared? Scared Peg would turn her down? Scared Peg would become embarrassed that a stranger had asked her to do something so personal? It was true she and Peg had just met, but she was so friendly to her. It didn't feel like they had just met. She felt like she had known Peg Hunnicut as long as she had known her husband. For a brief moment, Margaret felt envious of Hawkeye. Hawkeye hadn't had to worry about BJ not accepting Hawkeye's proposal of being best man. There hadn't been any doubt in Hawkeye's mind that BJ wouldn't say yes. They were best friends. As close as brothers. Hawkeye had known BJ would say yes in an instant. Margaret wasn't as sure Peg would say yes. Though Margaret felt like she had known Peg forever, she didn't know if Peg felt the same. 'The only way to know if she will say yes is to ask' Margaret told herself and opened her mouth to ask Peg the question when Peg interrupted
"Here we are, the first place I had in mind. It's a little place called The Gardens"
Margaret closed her mouth, but opened it again, this time in awe when she first looked over The Gardens. "It's beautiful" she said and looked at it more. It was a pretty good sized area. The grass was neatly and newly trimmed. There were many different kinds of flowers here. Chrysanthemums, daffodils, tulips, sunflowers, and even some Margaret didn't know the names of! The area was treeless, except on the far side of the grounds where there were two trees six feet away from each other. "There" said Margaret suddenly "Between those trees. That's where Hawkeye and I will stand!"
Peg laughed "Guess you like it, huh?"
Margaret smiled at the woman "Yes, I love it. It's so beautiful here. Here is where I want to get married". They looked at a few more spots, but none of which Margaret liked as much as the small area called The Gardens.
"Now what?" asked Peg in the parking lot of the last area they were considering.
"A place for the reception" said Margaret
"Where are you putting the guests?" Peg asked
"BJ suggested the Ritz Carlton"
"That's a nice hotel" mused Peg "Maybe you could have the reception there"
"That's a good idea" said Margaret "could we go now and check it out?"
Peg smiled "Sure".
The two drove to the hotel. The Ritz Carlton was a normal hotel. Very tall with at least ten floors and a sign out front advertising the 5-foot deep Olympic swimming pool and the Jacuzzi. Margaret and Peg went in. Margaret talked to the manager about having her wedding reception there and at the same time, reserved a suite for the guests. He agreed to both and said to call when all the guests had responded so he could know how many rooms to reserve and which one of their large banquet rooms to use for the reception, as some were smaller than others. Before either of them knew it, the manager was ushering them out of the hotel and all of the things they needed to discuss with him had been completed.
"That took less time then I thought it would" said Peg, as they were getting back into the car
"What do you mean?" asked Margaret
"I actually thought the manager wouldn't let you use his hotel because it was short notice" admitted Peg.
Margaret laughed "I thought the same thing! But on the other hand, the hotel doesn't look that busy, so I think he was probably glad for the business"
Peg laughed too "Probably" she turned on the car and gasped when she noticed what time it was "Look at the time! It's almost 6:00! We have to get home!" "Hawkeye and BJ are probably wondering where we are" agreed Margaret. The two women drove home, stopping at Anna Jenkins' house to pick up Erin. The whole trip took such a short time, Margaret didn't have time to think about the thing that had been nagging at the back of her head the whole afternoon. All of a sudden Peg was driving the car into the Hunnicut driveway and Erin was jumping out and running into the house. Suddenly, Margaret noticed Peg starting to get out of the car. The time had come. 'It's now or never, Houlihan' Margaret told herself, mainly to make herself do it
"Peg" she said, before she had a chance to think about it. Peg turned and Margaret started talking before she could reconsider "I know we just met and all, but I feel like I've known you for years." Margaret started.
"Yes I feel like I've known you forever after all BJ has told me" agreed Peg.
"I was wondering if you would consider being my matron of honor" said Margaret.
"Oh Margaret" whispered Peg in awe "I'd love to be your matron of honor. But wouldn't you want someone you knew better?"
Margaret snorted "I was an army brat for most of my life. I spent my childhood moving around from place to place. I was always afraid to get to friendly with anyone because I was afraid of getting hurt. So from the time I was around thirteen to about four years ago I put on this hard outer shell that no one could penetrate unless I let them in and in those years, I only let one person in it. I was mean to everyone else. I was awful that first year in the war. Just ask Hawkeye. I was horrible and ordered everyone around and used my rank as a shield. I used it as protection, because all my life I had seen everyone else do it. I had grown up watching army officers make people do what they wanted them to do and I when I was older I thought that was the way to get anything done. I went to Korea thinking just that and made life hell for everyone around me. I saw a lot of my childhood friends and they didn't like what they saw, so half of them stopped being friends. The other half I've lost touch with. Then my oldest friend came to the 4077th. She told me to stop hiding behind my rank and start making friends with the people around me or I'd make myself and others miserable. So I did just that. I started to become closer to everyone. Hawkeye, BJ, Charles Winchester.those three really helped me break out of my shell. But no matter how many friends I make, it will never make up for the friends I lost. What I'm trying to say is I made myself lose a lot of friends that meant a lot to me. I don't have many.any close woman friends actually left over from my childhood and even if I did, I wouldn't want any of them because they were a part of me that is long gone. The Army brat part of me. I'm not an Army brat anymore. I want to open a new part of my life that mirrors the woman I am now. I'd like it if you'd be my matron of honor, Peg"
"I'd love to be your matron of honor, Margaret" whispered Peg "Matron.ugh.that sounds old, doesn't it?" she laughed.
Margaret laughed "Yeah it does".
The two women laughed for a few minutes until Margaret said "You know, we'd better get inside before the guys think we were kidnapped or something"
"Good idea". The two women left the dark outside to enter the bright kitchen ************************************************************************ "Where were you? We were starting to think you two had been kidnapped or something" said Hawkeye anxiously rushing over to Margaret and Peg, who had just entered the house. BJ was close on his heels. When Hawkeye said this, Margaret and Peg looked at each other and burst into laughter.
BJ looked back and forth between the two of them "Are Hawkeye and I that annoying when we know something you don't?" he asked.
"I was talking to Peg outside and I said to her we'd better come inside or you would start to think we were kidnapped or something" she choked out in between laughter Hawkeye and BJ laughed too. Peg and Margaret made dinner and the five of them were soon sitting down to dinner
"So what did you two find out?" asked Hawkeye, around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"Well, the place I liked best for the reception was this place Peg showed me called The Gardens. It's very beautiful there" said Margaret
"The Gardens?" mused Hawkeye "Sounds nice"
"You've been there before. Remember, last time you were down we took Erin there to play" BJ reminded Hawkeye
"Oh yeah" remembered Hawkeye
"I remember that. Mommy was sick and you took me there cuz I was bothering her" laughed Erin.
"That's right" BJ smiled at his daughter.
"What about the reception?" asked Hawkeye.
"We're going to have it at the hotel we're putting the guests in" answered Margaret "I reserved a suite while we were there"
"But we don't know how many people are coming"
"The manager said I could call him when we know how many people there will be. I thought it would be wise to reserve the suite now so we would be guaranteed to have it for the wedding" Hawkeye smiled at his fiancee "That was a good idea"
Margaret smiled back "Thank you".
BJ pushed his empty plate to the side and picked up the list he, Hawkeye, and Margaret had made earlier that day "OK, so the ceremony and reception are taken care of. What about the food?"
"It's just going to be a simple filet minion or chicken co' don bleu thing" answered Margaret promptly.
Hawkeye rolled his eyes "Yep, that's simple all right"
"What about the side dishes?"
"Mixed vegetables and roasted potatoes with chives"
"How much is this going to cost?" asked Hawkeye
"$500"
"Oi vai" mumbled Hawkeye.
"What about cake?" asked BJ
"Marble cake with vanilla frosting" answered Margaret promptly.
"Flowers?"
"We're going to do that tomorrow"
"Did you call Klinger?"
"Yes, he'll do it"
"Have you found a maid of honor yet?"
"Matron of honor and it's Peg"
"I like that idea."
"I thought you would"
"Did you fill in the invitations with the new information?"
"Haven't gotten there yet"
"Oh right" BJ reminded himself and looked back down at the list. "OK, Hawk and I got the rings and I assume no one's called Father Mulcahy yet, so all we have to do tomorrow is get flowers, write and send out invitations, and call Father Mulcahy"
"More like track down Father Mulcahy. No one knows where he is" Hawkeye pointed out
"Maybe the Army could help" mused Margaret
"Trust Margaret to think of the Army first" teased Hawkeye
"Shut up, Pierce. The Army keeps track of everyone that has ever been in their service for the next two years after they leave. So, if we call them, we can find out what he's done since leaving the Army and work from there" said Margaret.
"That's a good idea" said BJ "Margaret, maybe you should do it tomorrow since you're the one with the best ties to the Army".
"And also because I'm not on speaking terms with the Army until they apologize for sending me to that upholstered toilet and even if they do, I'm not sure if I'll accept" joked Hawkeye. ************************************************************************
A/N: Well, there's another chapter. Sorry it's taking so long to update. I've been busy with school and I just started a new job, so life's been a little hectic. I won't be updating as much as I was during the summer, but I'll do it as often as I can. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Your reviews help me fine tune the upcoming chapters and I appreciate it a lot. Speaking of reviews, Someone told me I should get a beta. Any suggestions? Anyone willing to do that for me, if you think I need it? If anyone's interested e-mail me at the e-mail address in my profile. I'd really appreciate it. And (time for the bribe) you (the person who wants the job, that is) get sneak peaks at upcoming chapters of 'Wedding Bells and Bomb Shells' Thanks again to all the reviewers! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story! -AEM
Soon enough a very familiar voice sang "Hello, Klinger Collections, how may I help you?" happily.
Margaret grinned "Klinger! It's Maj.I mean Margaret Houlihan.how are you?"
"Major Houlihan?" asked the Lebanese, as if he was thoroughly unconvinced it was her "Is that you?"
"Yes, Klinger, it's me" she laughed "And it's Margaret now. The war's over and I'm not even in the Army anymore, so I'm no longer and don't want to be referred to as 'Major' ever again and that's an order!"
Klinger laughed on the other end of the line "Major.I mean Margaret Houlihan, it is you!"
"Who would be trying to pass themselves off as me?"
"I have no idea" laughed the Lebanese again, but he grew serious. "I hate to be rude, but since I assume this is a personal call and I'd love to chat with you, but I've got the final fitting of the bride for a wedding that's going to be tomorrow, so I'd have to ask if you would call me at home later."
"Actually, Klinger, this isn't a personal call. I'm getting married in two weeks and I'd like you to make the dress."
"You're getting married!" said Klinger "Congratulations!"
"Thank you"
"But I'm sorry, I can't make the dress"
"Why not?" asked Margaret, in her old 'Major Houlihan' voice, thinking she could convince Klinger to make the dress the way she could get him to do anything in the war. And if that didn't work, the other way, bribery. The voice didn't do anything.
"I'm sorry, Major" said Klinger, in the tone he used to use when she would try to make him do something and he couldn't do it. "Making a dress isn't as easy as it sounds. It takes a lot of work and fittings. I could probably do it in that amount of time, if you were here in Toledo, but since I doubt you're at the hotel down the street, I can't do it, unless you want it to look like you're wearing a bag. Then I could do it"
"What if I gave you the measurements? Then would you be able to make it?" asked Margaret desperately
"Maybe." said Klinger slowly
"And you could do fittings when you get here for the wedding"
"Well, I hope I'd be invited" laughed Klinger "Sure, I'll do it. Anything for you, Major"
"Margaret"
"Right, Margaret" laughed Klinger
"And could you do the maid of honor, bridesmaids, and flower girl dresses too, Klinger?" she asked
"Sure, Major.Margaret.it's gonna take me a while to get used to that" he admitted.
"It's gonna take you a while." laughed Margaret ".think about how long it's gonna take Radar!" The two laughed about that for awhile. Then Margaret gave Klinger the sizes of the dresses, using a laundry basket that she found in the Hunnicut's kitchen for some of them.
After she finished, Klinger said "I still can't believe you're getting married, Margaret!" "Neither can I!" she laughed
"I sure hope it doesn't turn out like the last one"
"Thanks, Klinger, me too"
"So, who's the lucky guy that stole the heart of our dear head nurse?" Klinger teased.
"What?" asked Margaret, getting nervous
"I said, who's the lucky guy who stole the heart of our dear head nurse?" he repeated.
"What about a purse?" she said, thinking fast.
"I didn't say anything about a purse" said Klinger, confused. "I said."
"Klinger, I can barely hear you" yelled Margaret "You're breaking up! I'm gonna lose you in a minute!"
"My end's fine" protested Klinger
"I heard that. Your end might be fine, but mine's lousy. You'll get a formal invitation in the mail in a few days! I'll call you later with more information! I'm just about to lose you! Goodbye Klinger! And thank you!" she said very quickly as she hung up the phone. Margaret burst out laughing. She couldn't wait to be able to explain that to Klinger. She put her address book away and returned to the kitchen. Her eyes fell on the laundry basket she had used for the two of the dress sizes. One being Erin's. The other being Peg's. She wanted Peg to be her matron of honor, but she didn't know how to go about asking her. She hadn't told anyone about wanting Peg to be matron of honor. Not even Hawkeye. Of course she hadn't said anything when she, Hawkeye, and BJ had been planning the wedding earlier, because.well because she was embarrassed. Embarrassed because she knew what people would say 'Peg? Why Peg? You just met her yesterday.' It was true she had just met her yesterday, but BJ used to talk about her nonstop. When Margaret first met Peg, she was so familiar, from what Margaret had heard about her, she had felt like she had known her for years. But how to ask her.
Before Margaret could ponder this more, the door opened and Peg came through it. "Hi Margaret" smiled the other woman
"Hi Peg" she smiled back
"How goes the wedding plans?" Peg asked
"Really well. We've got most of it planned out. We made a list." Margaret pointed to the list that was still sitting on the table, forgotten. Peg picked it up and read it over.
She put it down and asked "What can I do to help?"
"Well, we're supposed to go look for a place for the wedding and the reception" answered Margaret
"OK, just give me a minute to change out of my work clothes"
"Take your time".
Peg towards the corridor that would take her to her room when she stopped short.
"I just realized something. It's quiet. Too quiet. Where are the guys?" Margaret laughed "They went ring shopping"
Peg laughed too "I should have known they were out. It's never this quiet in the house when Hawkeye Pierce and BJ Hunnicut are together. ************************************************************************
Margaret Houlihan and Peg Hunnicut left the house ten minutes later. "So what do we have to do?" Peg asked when they were sitting in the car.
"Looking for the perfect place for the ceremony and the reception" Margaret answered promptly "I'd also like to at least start thinking about the food and the cake, but if we don't have time, we can do it tomorrow".
"OK then" said Peg "I have a few places in mind for the ceremony, but the reception, I have no idea".
Margaret smiled "Great! Let's start looking!" Peg pulled out of the driveway and started driving.
There was silence in the car. Margaret knew what she wanted to say and she was opening her mouth to say it, but what came out instead was "So, where's Erin?"
"At her best friend Anna's" Peg answered "Anna's mother and I set up a playdate for the two of them days ago". Margaret smiled and became furious with herself for not saying what she meant to say. Why couldn't she ask Peg to be her maid of honor? Was she afraid? Her. Margaret Houlihan.afraid? 'A Houlihan's not afraid of anything' Margaret said to herself firmly. But why was she scared? Scared Peg would turn her down? Scared Peg would become embarrassed that a stranger had asked her to do something so personal? It was true she and Peg had just met, but she was so friendly to her. It didn't feel like they had just met. She felt like she had known Peg Hunnicut as long as she had known her husband. For a brief moment, Margaret felt envious of Hawkeye. Hawkeye hadn't had to worry about BJ not accepting Hawkeye's proposal of being best man. There hadn't been any doubt in Hawkeye's mind that BJ wouldn't say yes. They were best friends. As close as brothers. Hawkeye had known BJ would say yes in an instant. Margaret wasn't as sure Peg would say yes. Though Margaret felt like she had known Peg forever, she didn't know if Peg felt the same. 'The only way to know if she will say yes is to ask' Margaret told herself and opened her mouth to ask Peg the question when Peg interrupted
"Here we are, the first place I had in mind. It's a little place called The Gardens"
Margaret closed her mouth, but opened it again, this time in awe when she first looked over The Gardens. "It's beautiful" she said and looked at it more. It was a pretty good sized area. The grass was neatly and newly trimmed. There were many different kinds of flowers here. Chrysanthemums, daffodils, tulips, sunflowers, and even some Margaret didn't know the names of! The area was treeless, except on the far side of the grounds where there were two trees six feet away from each other. "There" said Margaret suddenly "Between those trees. That's where Hawkeye and I will stand!"
Peg laughed "Guess you like it, huh?"
Margaret smiled at the woman "Yes, I love it. It's so beautiful here. Here is where I want to get married". They looked at a few more spots, but none of which Margaret liked as much as the small area called The Gardens.
"Now what?" asked Peg in the parking lot of the last area they were considering.
"A place for the reception" said Margaret
"Where are you putting the guests?" Peg asked
"BJ suggested the Ritz Carlton"
"That's a nice hotel" mused Peg "Maybe you could have the reception there"
"That's a good idea" said Margaret "could we go now and check it out?"
Peg smiled "Sure".
The two drove to the hotel. The Ritz Carlton was a normal hotel. Very tall with at least ten floors and a sign out front advertising the 5-foot deep Olympic swimming pool and the Jacuzzi. Margaret and Peg went in. Margaret talked to the manager about having her wedding reception there and at the same time, reserved a suite for the guests. He agreed to both and said to call when all the guests had responded so he could know how many rooms to reserve and which one of their large banquet rooms to use for the reception, as some were smaller than others. Before either of them knew it, the manager was ushering them out of the hotel and all of the things they needed to discuss with him had been completed.
"That took less time then I thought it would" said Peg, as they were getting back into the car
"What do you mean?" asked Margaret
"I actually thought the manager wouldn't let you use his hotel because it was short notice" admitted Peg.
Margaret laughed "I thought the same thing! But on the other hand, the hotel doesn't look that busy, so I think he was probably glad for the business"
Peg laughed too "Probably" she turned on the car and gasped when she noticed what time it was "Look at the time! It's almost 6:00! We have to get home!" "Hawkeye and BJ are probably wondering where we are" agreed Margaret. The two women drove home, stopping at Anna Jenkins' house to pick up Erin. The whole trip took such a short time, Margaret didn't have time to think about the thing that had been nagging at the back of her head the whole afternoon. All of a sudden Peg was driving the car into the Hunnicut driveway and Erin was jumping out and running into the house. Suddenly, Margaret noticed Peg starting to get out of the car. The time had come. 'It's now or never, Houlihan' Margaret told herself, mainly to make herself do it
"Peg" she said, before she had a chance to think about it. Peg turned and Margaret started talking before she could reconsider "I know we just met and all, but I feel like I've known you for years." Margaret started.
"Yes I feel like I've known you forever after all BJ has told me" agreed Peg.
"I was wondering if you would consider being my matron of honor" said Margaret.
"Oh Margaret" whispered Peg in awe "I'd love to be your matron of honor. But wouldn't you want someone you knew better?"
Margaret snorted "I was an army brat for most of my life. I spent my childhood moving around from place to place. I was always afraid to get to friendly with anyone because I was afraid of getting hurt. So from the time I was around thirteen to about four years ago I put on this hard outer shell that no one could penetrate unless I let them in and in those years, I only let one person in it. I was mean to everyone else. I was awful that first year in the war. Just ask Hawkeye. I was horrible and ordered everyone around and used my rank as a shield. I used it as protection, because all my life I had seen everyone else do it. I had grown up watching army officers make people do what they wanted them to do and I when I was older I thought that was the way to get anything done. I went to Korea thinking just that and made life hell for everyone around me. I saw a lot of my childhood friends and they didn't like what they saw, so half of them stopped being friends. The other half I've lost touch with. Then my oldest friend came to the 4077th. She told me to stop hiding behind my rank and start making friends with the people around me or I'd make myself and others miserable. So I did just that. I started to become closer to everyone. Hawkeye, BJ, Charles Winchester.those three really helped me break out of my shell. But no matter how many friends I make, it will never make up for the friends I lost. What I'm trying to say is I made myself lose a lot of friends that meant a lot to me. I don't have many.any close woman friends actually left over from my childhood and even if I did, I wouldn't want any of them because they were a part of me that is long gone. The Army brat part of me. I'm not an Army brat anymore. I want to open a new part of my life that mirrors the woman I am now. I'd like it if you'd be my matron of honor, Peg"
"I'd love to be your matron of honor, Margaret" whispered Peg "Matron.ugh.that sounds old, doesn't it?" she laughed.
Margaret laughed "Yeah it does".
The two women laughed for a few minutes until Margaret said "You know, we'd better get inside before the guys think we were kidnapped or something"
"Good idea". The two women left the dark outside to enter the bright kitchen ************************************************************************ "Where were you? We were starting to think you two had been kidnapped or something" said Hawkeye anxiously rushing over to Margaret and Peg, who had just entered the house. BJ was close on his heels. When Hawkeye said this, Margaret and Peg looked at each other and burst into laughter.
BJ looked back and forth between the two of them "Are Hawkeye and I that annoying when we know something you don't?" he asked.
"I was talking to Peg outside and I said to her we'd better come inside or you would start to think we were kidnapped or something" she choked out in between laughter Hawkeye and BJ laughed too. Peg and Margaret made dinner and the five of them were soon sitting down to dinner
"So what did you two find out?" asked Hawkeye, around a mouthful of mashed potatoes.
"Well, the place I liked best for the reception was this place Peg showed me called The Gardens. It's very beautiful there" said Margaret
"The Gardens?" mused Hawkeye "Sounds nice"
"You've been there before. Remember, last time you were down we took Erin there to play" BJ reminded Hawkeye
"Oh yeah" remembered Hawkeye
"I remember that. Mommy was sick and you took me there cuz I was bothering her" laughed Erin.
"That's right" BJ smiled at his daughter.
"What about the reception?" asked Hawkeye.
"We're going to have it at the hotel we're putting the guests in" answered Margaret "I reserved a suite while we were there"
"But we don't know how many people are coming"
"The manager said I could call him when we know how many people there will be. I thought it would be wise to reserve the suite now so we would be guaranteed to have it for the wedding" Hawkeye smiled at his fiancee "That was a good idea"
Margaret smiled back "Thank you".
BJ pushed his empty plate to the side and picked up the list he, Hawkeye, and Margaret had made earlier that day "OK, so the ceremony and reception are taken care of. What about the food?"
"It's just going to be a simple filet minion or chicken co' don bleu thing" answered Margaret promptly.
Hawkeye rolled his eyes "Yep, that's simple all right"
"What about the side dishes?"
"Mixed vegetables and roasted potatoes with chives"
"How much is this going to cost?" asked Hawkeye
"$500"
"Oi vai" mumbled Hawkeye.
"What about cake?" asked BJ
"Marble cake with vanilla frosting" answered Margaret promptly.
"Flowers?"
"We're going to do that tomorrow"
"Did you call Klinger?"
"Yes, he'll do it"
"Have you found a maid of honor yet?"
"Matron of honor and it's Peg"
"I like that idea."
"I thought you would"
"Did you fill in the invitations with the new information?"
"Haven't gotten there yet"
"Oh right" BJ reminded himself and looked back down at the list. "OK, Hawk and I got the rings and I assume no one's called Father Mulcahy yet, so all we have to do tomorrow is get flowers, write and send out invitations, and call Father Mulcahy"
"More like track down Father Mulcahy. No one knows where he is" Hawkeye pointed out
"Maybe the Army could help" mused Margaret
"Trust Margaret to think of the Army first" teased Hawkeye
"Shut up, Pierce. The Army keeps track of everyone that has ever been in their service for the next two years after they leave. So, if we call them, we can find out what he's done since leaving the Army and work from there" said Margaret.
"That's a good idea" said BJ "Margaret, maybe you should do it tomorrow since you're the one with the best ties to the Army".
"And also because I'm not on speaking terms with the Army until they apologize for sending me to that upholstered toilet and even if they do, I'm not sure if I'll accept" joked Hawkeye. ************************************************************************
A/N: Well, there's another chapter. Sorry it's taking so long to update. I've been busy with school and I just started a new job, so life's been a little hectic. I won't be updating as much as I was during the summer, but I'll do it as often as I can. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Your reviews help me fine tune the upcoming chapters and I appreciate it a lot. Speaking of reviews, Someone told me I should get a beta. Any suggestions? Anyone willing to do that for me, if you think I need it? If anyone's interested e-mail me at the e-mail address in my profile. I'd really appreciate it. And (time for the bribe) you (the person who wants the job, that is) get sneak peaks at upcoming chapters of 'Wedding Bells and Bomb Shells' Thanks again to all the reviewers! Hope you enjoy the rest of the story! -AEM