"Goodnight honey," he said, kissing her forehead. "I'll see you tomorrow."

Lizzy looked up at him and smiled. "Okay," she opened the door but then paused. "I'm sure Mom is asleep, do you want to come in for a cup of coffee?"

"Hawkeye shrugged, "Sure, why not." He shrugged off his heavy coat and threw it on the back of the couch and headed for the kitchen.

"I'll be right in," Lizzy shouted from the other room. "I'm just putting my coat up." Hawkeye busied himself with starting a pot of coffee when he heard Lizzy gasp loudly.

"Uh Dad," she called hesitantly. "Dad, I think you better come in here."

Hawkeye walked into the living room and saw Margaret sprawled on the floor, dressed only in a flimsy slip, two empty bottles of scotch beside her. Margaret opened her eyes and smiled sleepily at Lizzy.

"Able, help me up." She commanded. Hawkeye snickered as Lizzy helped her mother up in disgust.

"She's drunk!" she exclaimed in shock. Hawkeye was trying his hardest to keep in his laughter.

"Able, do you know what he did?" Margaret asked, obviously not wanting an answer. "He tried to kiss me again."

That statement caught Lizzy's attention and she decided this could be rather fun. "Who tried to kiss you?"

Margaret's mouth hung open dramatically as she tried to think of an answer. "The ferret, that's who," She yelled.

At this Hawkeye began to laugh loudly. Margaret turned her head and for the first time noticed him standing there.

"Hawkeye" she squealed, her body lurching towards him. "Hawkeye, Ferret Face tried to kiss me again," she complained, hanging her arms around his neck comfortably.

Hawkeye led her to the couch and pried her away. Lizzy sat on the floor watching her mother in shock.

"She's drunk," she repeated again. Margaret picked her head off Hawkeye's shoulder and looked at her daughter.

"You better believe it mister, or I'm dead where you stand." She muttered, before dissolving into a fit of giggles.

"Hawkeye, I think you should borrow Klinger's clothes." She stated resolutely.

"Sorry babe, that's not quite my style." Hawkeye said, not quite as amused as he was at first.

"Who's Hawkeye?" Lizzy asked.

Hawk looked up and shook his head. "I'll tell you in a minute." He turned his attention back to Margaret and lifted her to her feet.

"Come on Margaret; let's get you your room." She pulled her hands away and tried to frown through her laughter.

"Not a chance Captain." She said firmly, raising her chin up in defiance.

Hawkeye smiled, his eyes sparkling once again. He grabbed at Margaret and easily threw her over his shoulder and took her up the stairs as she screamed and beat on his back.

"Dad put her down before she has a heart attack," Lizzy pleaded; still not sure what to think about the state her mother was in. Hawkeye tossed Margaret onto her bed and she screeched loudly.

"I'll have you court-marshaled!" she slurred. Hawkeye rolled his eyes and sat down beside her, trying to push her down.

"Come on Margaret just try to go to sleep." Margaret bounced back up and looked Hawkeye squarely in the eye.

"You're not Hawkeye," she accused. He rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Sure I am, now go to sleep."

Margaret shook her head wildly. "No; Ferrets are lipless, but Hawks are fun."

Hawkeye laughed loudly at this, but Margaret leaned in and kissed him fiercely. Lizzy watched, with her mouth hanging open as her parents kissed.

Hawkeye broke the kiss and smiled cockily.

"Hot Lips is back in town." He muttered, more to himself than anything. Margaret only smiled and snuggled up with her pillow.

"Yup, Hawks are more fun."

Hawkeye smiled and rolled his eyes. He looked up at his daughter and shrugged.

"Come on Lizzy let's get that coffee you promised me."

A few minutes later they were seated at the kitchen table. "I can't believe she's drunk." Lizzy muttered.

Hawkeye laughed, "I didn't even know she drank anymore."

"She doesn't! I haven't ever seen her drink more than a glass of wine at a restaurant!"

Hawkeye nodded. "I knew she was trying to avoid it; I wonder why she got so drunk."

Lizzy sighed and rubbed at her eyes. "Who's Hawkeye?" she asked.

"I'm Hawkeye," he answered. "It was a nickname my dad gave me. The only other people who called me that were from the 4077th."

Lizzy stood up as she started to yawn. "I'm going to bed." She muttered. Hawkeye stood up and kissed his daughter gently.

"I might stay here tonight. Your mother is going to be a bear tomorrow."

Lizzy looked at him in shock. "Well alright; I guess you can sleep on the couch."

Hawkeye nodded and motioned towards the stairs. "You go on to bed, I know where everything is."

Lizzy nodded sleepily and made her way up the staircase. When she reached the top she paused and looked down at her Father.

"Dad have you thought about what I said?" she asked nervously.

Hawkeye shot her a warning look and Lizzy sighed before walking to her room.


Margaret opened her eyes at a little past three. She looked around the dark room and groaned.

"Oh god, my head." She muttered.

"Is it as bad as I remember?" Hawkeye's quiet voice startled her and she slowly rolled over.

Hawkeye was sitting lazily on a chair in the corner.

"It's much worse," she whispered. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought I would stick around and make sure you were okay." He answered. Margaret nodded and lay back down, keeping her eyes on Hawkeye.

"Well alright; goodnight Ben."

"Goodnight Hot Lips."

Margaret glared at him through the darkness. "You promised to stop calling me that."

Hawkeye stood up and walked over to her, pushing her head back into the pillow. He leaned down and kissed her forehead gently. "Yeah well you earned the name back last night." He grinned devilishly as Margaret stared at him on confusion. Hawkeye slipped outside her room, shutting the door quietly behind him.