At noon, Peg, BJ, Daniel, and Hawkeye had gone down from their rooms to greet the arriving guests for the MASH 4077th reunion in the hotel ballroom. The room was decorated in lively blues and golds and a small orchestra, requested by Charles, played softly. Margret, now seven months pregnant, decided to lie down for a bit before rejoining her husband and friend's downstairs. Naturally, Sherm and Mildred Potter were the first guests to arrive.
"Col. Potter, sir. How great to see you again!" BJ greeted the former commanding officer with a firm handshake.
Wrapping him into a hug, "Now how many times do I have to tell you boys. It's Doc Potter, Sherm, Sherman, Mrs. Potter's husband. Anything but Colonel or sir to you fine gentlemen." Potter laughed as he pretended to scold BJ. "Hawk, BJ. How's civilian life treating you both?"
"Just fine Mrs. Potter's husband" BJ laughed "that adorable little girl over there is my daughter Erin. Between her and working at a normal hospital, I've been keeping busy."
Pulling his wife to his hip, BJ continued, "Peg here makes sure to keep my practical jokes to a minimum unfortunately."
Playfully slapping her husband on the chest, Peg laugher, "Oh, I try. I feel for you having to put up with him every day in Korea. He's a handful." BJ grinned triumphantly at his wife while the Potters and Pierces laughed with his wife.
"What about you Hawkeye? Has your father here been keeping you in line, not that that was ever possible? Are you back working in a hospital or are you in private practice now?' Potter asked, focusing now on Hawkeye. Last, he had heard, Hawkeye had been having some trouble re-adjusting to life at home. Based on his observations, Hawkeye seemed to be doing much better these days, but he did have a way of putting up a façade that worried Potter.
"Well, Sherm, you might not believe it, but I managed to get myself the most wonderful wife and a fantastic career as the chief pediatric surgeon at the Portland Children's Hospital back home in Maine." Hawkeye chuckled at Potter's expression at what he had just said. He wasn't sure if Col. Potter's jaw could drop any lower.
"Hot Dog! That's a career I never thought I would hear of you having. That's truly wonderful!" Potter exclaimed, earning himself a confused look from Mildred. Not missing the first part of Hawk's life update, Sherm continued, "You Rascal! When do I get to meet the poor girl you conned into marrying you? Will she be joining us later? How'd you final settle down and get yourself married?"
Hawkeye mocked offense "I did not such thing as 'con some poor girl,' as you put it, into marrying me! She married me because she loved me!" Hawkeye's eyes glittered with laughter as he continued, "She'll be down later, she is resting upstairs in our room until the rest of the guests arrive. You'll love her. She's the most amazing woman I've ever met and she's an amazing nurse to boot." Hawkeye beamed proudly as he continued rambling about how amazing his wife was.
As the Potters, Pierces, and Hunnicutts continued catching up on each other's lives, the rest of the guests trickled in. Of all the members of the 4077th that were invited, Klinger and his wife Soon-Lee, Father Mulcahy, Radar and his mom, Charles and his sister Honoria, several of the nurses, Sidney along with his wife and two kids, and Margret all accepted their invitations. Margret was the last guest to arrive, and when she did, Hawkeye made sure to be the first to greet her.
"Why Margret! How wonderful to see you again!" Her husband winked as he continued to pretend that this was the first time he had seen her in several months. "Just look at you! You look ravishing in that dress. Come with me, the old gang is all here." Leaning in so only she could hear him he whispered, "Are you feeling well? If you don't mind playing along with me for a bit, I haven't told anyone we are married yet, and Potter is looking forward to meeting the wonderful wife I've been going on and on about."
Margret laughed and playfully swatted Hawkeye. "You always have a joke up your sleeve don't you silly. I'm feeling much more well rested now. Junior here" Margret patted her stomach gently "seems to take after you. He or she doesn't want to sit still for very long anymore." Hawkeye beamed as he brushed a lock of hair from his wife's forehead.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Hawkeye announced to the group, "Margret is now here. Let the party begin!"
Margret blushed and shot Hawkeye a dirty look as she began mingling with the other guests.
"Margret, look at you!" Sidney exclaimed as he embraced her in a welcoming hug. "If I didn't know better, I would say a lot has happened since you left New Hampshire."
"Margret this is wonderful!" Potter continued when Sidney paused momentarily. "A little major-ette to join our 4077 family! When will I get to meet this little guy?" Potter questioned as he placed a hand on Margret's rounded stomach. Margret tenderly rested her hand atop Potter's.
"My, Margret!" Charles exclaimed joyfully. "Whoever the lucky chap is that married you got you such a dainty and elegant ring. It looks absolutely marvelous on your hand."
"Speaking of this mystery husband," BJ piped up, glancing mischievously at Hawkeye, "didn't you bring him along? Or were you afraid he would feel inferior to me?"
Catching a glimpse of the grin on Hawkeye's face Margret kept with the joke. "Oh, I'm sure he's around here somewhere. He's an amazing doctor and wouldn't miss a chance to visit some of the best doctors I've ever met for anything."
"Does this doctor have a name?" Father Mulcahy quipped as he joined the growing crowd focused on Margret.
"Of course, Father, how could I forget. His name is Ben and if this little guy turns out to be a boy, his name will be Ben as well." Hawkeye was stunned. He had a million names picked out for a little girl, but it hadn't occurred to him that he might have a son instead.
"I don't mean to be out of line Major," Klinger started only to be interrupted by Margret.
"Klinger, it's just Margret now. I gave up the army shortly after the cease fire. And after spending all that time wearing dresses, I think its impossible of you to be out of line." Margret laughed.
"As I was saying, MARGRET, everyone here is accounted for. Are you sure your husband will be joining us this evening?"
"Golly gosh!" Radar suddenly jumped up. "It's Hawkeye isn't it? His name is Ben. He said his wife would be down later, and then you came downstairs. You MARRIED Hawkeye?"
For a brief moment, the group fell silent, expecting either Margret or Hawkeye to deny Radar's statement. The two of them just stared at each other for a moment before Hawkeye broke into a grin.
"Guilty as charged!" He laughed as all of his friends congratulated the two of them.
"Margert honey, why don't you tell everyone how this little guy got here." Hawkeye said as he bent to kiss his wife's tummy. "Hey! Squirt here just kicked me! I guess he doesn't want you to tell everyone about our wedding or anything fun like that." Hawkeye planted a kiss on his wife's cheek as she rolled her eyes.
Hawkeye excused himself from the group to catch some fresh air for a moment. It was wonderful seeing everyone again, but between his new marriage, new job, new baby, and old friends, Hawkeye was starting to feel an uncomfortably familiar panic rising in the back of his throat. Sidney noticed the look in Hawkeye's eyes as he excused himself from the crowd. Working as long as he had with veterans and as a psychiatrist in general, it wasn't hard for him to spot panic in his friend's eyes. A few moments after Hawkeye left the room, Sidney whispered in Margret's ear that he was going to go check on her husband. He was sure he was fine, probably just a little overwhelmed with seeing everyone again in the same place, but he figured it couldn't hurt to check.
Walking outside, Sidney found Hawkeye pacing in front of the hotel entrance kicking a rock.
"What if I can't handle it when the baby is born?" kick…kick…kick "What if I crack up again and Margret leaves me? What will I do then?" kick…kick..kick "Why am I like this? Why do I have to be me?" Hawkeye muttered loud enough for Sidney to hear him but not loud enough to draw the attention of those passing by.
Walking gently up behind the discouraged hand, Sidney spoke in his calm, unfazed voice. "You know Hawkeye, when my son was born, I wasn't sure I would be a good father. I was afraid my son wouldn't like me since I wasn't home as often as I would have liked, being at the hospital and all."
"You?" Hawkeye quit kicking the rock but didn't turn around. "You, Sidney Freedman, human teddy bear, was afraid a baby wouldn't like you just because you spent your days helping people?" Hawkeye turned around, angry that Sidney might be teasing him. Seeing nothing but honesty in the other man's expression, Hawkeye eased his aggression.
"You're right, Hawk. I had nothing to be worried about. My son adores me. Every night when I get home, he drops his toys and runs right to me, begging to be picked up." Sidney continued, "when the draft came for me, I was even more worried about both my boy and my wife. Diane and I had just lost our second baby a few months before I was sent to Korea. I was afraid, with all the death in the war, I would never get the chance to grieve for my little girl. I was afraid my son would forget me, and my wife would resent me. The war took a lot from us, Hawk. But we don't have to let it keep taking the things we love most."
Hawkeye finally met Sidney's eyes but said nothing. Sidney pressed on, knowing his words were meaning something to Hawkeye. "When I got back, I was terrified when Diane told me she was expecting again. I thought for sure this baby would only bring back bad memories of the war and the baby we had lost. As soon as she was born though, I felt nothing but love for her. Sometimes I do still think about the little girl who should be her older sister and about the war, but I know she needs me. You don't have to be perfect for your baby, your baby will love you flaws and all. Margret loves you more than I've ever seen her love anyone else. Let her help you Hawkeye and help her."
Sidney waited quietly, and finally, as he expected, Hawkeye gave him a quick hug and motioned for the both of them to return to the party inside. Even though he didn't say anything Sidney knew Hawkeye was going to be okay.
Margret's face was crinkled in laughter as she watched her husband fret about the state of the baby's nursery yet again. He had read a study stating that the bassinet they had bought when Margret had first found out she was pregnant was responsible for the deaths of seven children. Consequently, that one was thrown out with the next week's garbage collection and one that claimed to be the safest, most comfortable, sleeping accommodations ever made for newborn infants moved took its place in the nursery. No matter how many times Margret reassured him that everything was perfect, Hawkeye kept finding different things around the house that could possibly hurt a baby.
Daniel hollered up the stairs to the expecting couple, "Margret, if you don't get that husband of yours to quit hiding all the knives in the kitchen, my poor grandbaby will have to starve." Margret just laughed as Hawkeye tried to defend himself. "But dad! What if the baby knocked them off the counter? She could get hurt!"
"She?" Margret retorted. "Do you know something I don't know, or do you have another daughter you've been hiding from me all this time?" Margret said, pretending to be cross as she threw a diaper at Hawkeye.
"Well, I was kind of hoping we would have a little girl." Hawkeye responded sheepishly but quickly adding, "Not that I would mind a son. I could raise him to be exactly like me. Well, not exactly like me. I won't teach him how to build a still until he's at least seven."
"For that comment, and your sake mister, if it's not a girl, you are going to be on diaper duty for the rest of your life." Margret laughed, catching the diaper Hawkeye playfully threw back to her. Shooing him out the door to go help his father with lunch, Margret sat down in the rocking chair, enjoying the quiet and peacefulness in the nursery. She knew the baby was due any day now, but she still wanted to savor what little time she had with just Hawkeye to take care of. She knew he was worried about being a good dad, and she was equally worried about being a good mother. Her mom would never have won the mother of the year award, and Margret often worried about being like her. Even worse, Margret thought about what would happen if her relationship with their daughter was like her and her father's; the baby spending her entire life trying to win her mother's love. Now that Hawkeye got the idea stuck in her head, Margret was convinced the baby she was carrying was a little girl.
"Don't worry sweetheart, you have an amazing daddy and a mommy who is going to try her best to be the best mommy in the world. Daddy and I love you and can't wait to meet you already." Margret whispered as she hugged her belly. Almost as if on cue, Margret felt a sharp pain in her back. Standing up slowly, noticed her pants were soaked. Not wanting to panic herself or Hawkeye, she called for him as calmly as possible, "Hey Ben, could you bring me a new pair of pants? I think I had a little accident."
She could hear Hawkeye whistling as he skipped up the stairs to the bedroom to grab the pants before heading down the hall to the nursery. "You know Margret, the bathroom is just outside the…." Hawkeye stopped in the doorway seeing his wife's pants completely soaked, "…door. Uh, Margret? I, uh, I … I um… You… your… I" Hawkeye stuttered.
"I know, my water broke. We are having a baby today." Margret said, trying her best to not sound as terrified as she felt. Both Hawkeye and Margret stared at each other for a few seconds trying to decide what to do next. Hawkeye recognized the fearful look in Margret's eyes. Thinking quickly, Hawkeye grabbed one of the baby's towels from the dresser and helped Margret dry off and change pants the best he could.
"Don't worry beautiful. I'm here. You've got this sweetie." Hawkeye whispered as he kissed Margret gently before helping her down the stairs.
"Hey dad, Margret and I are going to head out for a bit. Don't wait for us for lunch." Hawkeye hollered as he helped Margret out the front door. As they stepped onto the front porch, Daniel exited the kitchen wiping his hand on a towel.
"Does lunch really smell that bad that you both have to leave? I've gotten used to Margret stepping out when I use too much garlic, but you too now Hawk? You are going to break your poor father's heart." He joked.
"No, no dad. It's not your food. Margret and I just thought it would be best if we had the baby at the hospital even though there's two perfectly good doctors here at home." Hawkeye joked, earning him a glare and elbow in the ribs from Margret.
Turning the stove off quickly, Daniel grabbed his coat and joined the couple as they made their way to the Pierce family car.
"I've delivered nearly every baby in this town for the past forty years and if you two think I'm about to not deliver this one, you are dead wrong. I don't care if this is my son's baby or the president's baby. If it is born in Crabapple Cove, I am the one delivering it. Come on you two, I'll drive." Daniel chuckled to himself at the frightened look in both of their eyes. "It'll be okay guys. Come on if you don't want this baby to be born here in the yard."
With that, Hawkeye helped Margret into the car, and they made their way to the hospital, just in time.