Margaret stood up and walked towards her closet. She still remembered that kiss as if it were only yesterday. It was so warm and gentle, (which she hardly expected coming from Pierce) but most of all it was sincere. She opened the closet door and pulled out a dusty album. She leafed through the faded pictures smiling. She stopped at the last page. She lightly fingered the top picture.

She was sitting in a cot in post-op. Her hair was a mess and she still had a black eye and several cuts across her face. She could barely sit up but that wouldn't have mattered. She was being supported by a tall handsome doctor. That picture was taken on her wedding day. She couldn't even get up but they were sending her to the hospital in Tokyo and Hawkeye hadn't wanted to let her go. She closed the album and sat back down at her desk.

I remember distinctly when he proposed. I woke up to the sound of Hawkeye and Colonel Potter arguing…again. They had gone over the same subject over and over again. Colonel Potter said I needed to go to the hospital in Tokyo but Hawkeye insisted I could stay at the 4077th. It was the same argument. They each repeated their views over and over again. It was making my head hurt even worse.

"Hey," my voice cracked. It was driving me crazy that I sounded worse than a horse. "Some people are trying to sleep!" Hawkeye sent a rather hateful glance at Potter and walked over to me.

"Sorry." He said gently. He put his hand under my hair and began stroking my neck. It made me uncomfortable when he touched me like that. I'm not sure why, I suppose he hadn't completely assured me of his love. Although I'm not sure he could have done much more than he already had, it was mostly my fault. I was scared.

"He's going to win." I looked up at him frantically. I wasn't sure of much, but I was certain that I didn't want to be sent to some hospital miles away.

"I can argue with him all I want but he will eventually win." Hawkeye's voice was completely flat. I knew he hadn't slept at all in the past two days that I had been conscious. I started to cry. I couldn't believe I was starting up again. What was wrong with me? I go my entire life hardly ever crying and then suddenly I turn on the waterworks? I was tired of blubbering all over the place but I couldn't stop the emotions that were coursing through my body.

"I'll miss you." He said gently. "But you'll be back; as soon as you're healed they'll send you back." I nodded and tried to control my tears. "But I don't want you to go without giving you this." He pulled a small, blue velvet box out of his pocket. My heart leapt into my throat. So much for controlling my tears. He opened the box and got down on one knee. I was sobbing uncontrollably now.

"I love you Margaret," His voice sounded strange and I pried my eyes away from the ring to look into his eyes. I realized he was struggling to keep his emotions steady. "I know this seems strange but I don't want to let you go without having the assurance that I'll never lose you again. I want…I'm asking you to me marry me." I didn't even bother to stop the tears. "Will you marry me?" He looked into my eyes, more than anything I wanted to throw myself into his arms, but I couldn't. I was glued in place. I couldn't have moved if my life depended on it.

My sobs only increased and I was almost hyperventilating. He sighed and stood up. "I'm sorry Margaret." What was he apologizing for? "I want you to keep the ring anyway." I shook my head furiously. He couldn't leave! Why didn't he realize how I felt?

"Idiot," I managed to choke out. "I love you." I don't think I could have said more but it wasn't necessary. He sat down beside me.

"Then…" He trailed off hopefully. I nodded frantically.

"Yes, I'll marry you." I clung to him like a honeysuckle vine. I couldn't let go. He gently pried me off of him and helped to lie back on my pillow.

He kissed my cheek and then moved his lips to my nose. He brushed the tip and then zeroed in on my lips. He leaned back up and smiled, stroking my cheek with the back of his hand.

"Marry me today?" I couldn't believe he had just asked me that!

"What?" I managed. "Hawk, I can't even…I can't…uh." I was beginning to turn red, I could feel it.

"I know," he said, smiling broadly. "I know you can barely sit up." He paused and then asked teasingly. "That is what you were going to say wasn't it Hot Lips?" I only blushed more deeply. "I want to marry you before you go to Tokyo."

I was shocked, but there was no way I was going to turn him down. We were married a half hour later. There were no frills or any service. I was disappointed that I wasn't even able to walk down the aisle, but Hawkeye promised me a wedding when we returned to the states. I still can't believe that I married a man when I couldn't even sit up, much less have any sort of honeymoon. I was sent to Tokyo that same day. I cried the entire way there. I couldn't help but feel that it would be the last time I ever saw Hawkeye Pierce.

Short and sweet…I was considering ending the story here with just a slightly different ending. Instead…I will be continuing for at least five more chapters. Hawkeye is only going to show up once more and then we won't hear from him anymore. (Hawkeye fans…please don't kill me!) Thanks to all my loyal reviewers! I'll try to update soon!