Chapter Nine: Between two worlds life hovers like a star, twixt night and morn, upon the horizon's verge.
Much to Margaret's joy, Christmas arrived quickly, as it was Daisy's first, and her daughter was happy and healthy, and full of life. And she had Hawkeye, not just in her life, but who was making a commitment to be theirs, and only theirs. Hers. Their relationship wasn't talked about by the town, nor did Daniel say anything.
"Okay, so we'll call you as soon as we land in New York, are you sure you'll be all right Daniel?" Margaret asked as the small family was standing in the doorway to the Pierce's house.
"Just fine, Jeanie is making dinner, so she invited me."
"If you're sure, Merry Christmas Daniel, and we'll see you in a few days, for new years."
"Spend it in New York, it's time for Ben to know your family, like you know his," Daniel smiled. "Now go, before he gets impatient!"
"Thank you Daniel," Margaret smiled leaning and kissing his cheek before waving at the door and moving quickly through the New England frost to the car. Daisy was sitting in Hawkeye's lap as she hit the steering wheel with excitement.
"Ready to go?"
"Yes, let's go," Margaret smiled as she reached for Daisy. "Come here little girl."
"To Portland," Hawkeye smiled as he backed the car up. "So I was thinking, we should maybe get a hotel room in New York."
"I was thinking the same thing," Margaret replied. "My sister's house is full enough as it is, and besides, with Mom and Dad being in town, it might be best. Dad never liked you."
"He has to like me know, I'm his granddaughter's father," he joked as Margaret raised a brow.
"He'll hate you more than he already does," she replied. "Please Hawkeye, behave this week."
"I will if he will," he responded. Margaret sighed as she leaned back, and kissed the back of Daisy's head. She had talked to her father once since the move to Crabapple Cove, and it did not go as well as she hoped. Her mother was more understanding to the move. It hadn't been that long since she last saw her mother, but it was nevertheless going to be different, when they arrived in New York. She was a single mother, and now she wasn't.
Was she happy in what she was calling their own version of a relationship? Couldn't be happier, her baby wasn't caught in a war between her parents. She knew her father, and her father loved her. Her father loved her mother. She assumed that Hawkeye loved her, she knew that he wouldn't have taken the step if he didn't care. Care enough to make them a real family. Hawkeye could have rejected everything about her and Daisy, but his efforts to make sure that she would be able to see her parents, in love?
The words still haunted her, "a brother or a sister"... Did that mean that he really wanted to have more children with her? Did she want to have more children? Daisy was a miracle, but she knew how much she loved Charlotte, and Hawkeye loved his sister, so maybe, if they were going to work out, another baby was in the future.
You're getting ahead of yourself, Margaret chastised her thoughts, as she held the bottle as Daisy drifted off in the car. Driving the six hours to New York was Hawkeye's idea, she couldn't argue at the logic, that they were going to need a car to transport them to and fro from the hotel. And when needed, to get out of the house when her father got too much. She didn't know what he was going to say meeting the father of her child, accept it she supposed, but the news that they were together, like a real life couple would be a different subject all together. She knew that her father would not be the happiest of her decision, but she had to make it, it was her baby's father, and quite possibly, the love of her life. She wouldn't tell that to him, because the thought itself scared her. It shouldn't, and she knew that but she was scared shitless.
"So, first time meeting the family, you have a sister Charlotte right?" Hawkeye asked as Margaret shook herself out of her thoughts.
"Uh yeah, she's married to..."
"Richard, four kids, right?"
"You remember?"
"Of course, it was important," he shrugged. "Who else are we expecting?"
"Um, no one, mom and Dad, we never really had big family holidays, with moving around so often," Margaret replied. "One thing I want to change with her."
"With my family, it's definitely going to," he smiled, dropping a hand to her knee and squeezing it. "What's on your mind?"
"Nothing. Everything. Don't worry though," she assured readjusting Daisy who was now sound asleep on her breast.
"I'll be on my best behaviour."
"I expect so," she laughed slightly. "Can I ask you something?"
"Always."
"Do you mean it? All of it?"
"I do," he smiled continuing to drive.
It was midafternoon when the small family arrived in Queens, Daisy was wide awake after sleeping most of the drive, much joy to both her parents. Hawkeye pulled into the driveway of Charlotte's house and looked at Margaret. "Don't be scared," leaning over he kissed her cheek.
"Let's go," she smiled crawling out of the car as the front door opened.
"Auntie!" Susan said excitedly running to her aunt, and hugging her waist.
"Hi Susie," Margaret chuckled. "Do you remember Daisy."
"Hi Daisy," the ten year old smiled.
Margaret smiled and turned to look at Hawkeye. "This is Daisy's dad, Hawkeye."
"That's a funny name," Susan said with a straight face.
"Nickname, my real name is Ben," Hawkeye smiled. "You must be Susan, your aunt talks about you non-stop."
"Why didn't you come last Christmas if you're Daisy's dad?" Susan asked, crossing her arms.
"Susan, not polite," Charlotte said cutting both her sister and Hawkeye off. "Why don't you take Daisy inside with Mary-Kate?"
"Okay," the young girl said as Margaret handed her child into the arms of the ten year old. "You're heavy."
"Maggie," Charlotte smiled hugging her sister. "And you must be the infamous Hawkeye I've been hearing about for years."
"The one and only," Hawkeye flashed a smile, as Charlotte looked over him.
"You did good Mags," she smiled before leaning over and giving the man a hug, much to his surprise. "Welcome to the family."
"Well, thanks," Hawkeye said raising a brow at Margaret who just shrugged.
"Well, how bow we go inside, before we all freeze! Dad took Richard and the boys out to get the Christmas tree, so you'll be the lonely male for a while I'm afraid," Charlotte explained shuffling the pair into her house.
"That's fine," he chuckled shaking off his jacket, and looking around the house.
"Where's mom?" Margaret asked, only seeing Susan, Mary-Kate and Daisy in the living room.
"Down for a nap. She said she wasn't feeling well after the flight in," Charlotte explained, as she slipped on a pair of slippers.
"Hmm, fever?" Margaret asked.
"Not that I know of," Charlotte replied as the three moved into the livingroom. "So Hawkeye, can I call you Hawkeye?" Not waiting for an answer Charlotte continued. "From what Magz tells me, you're a surgeon. What do you practice? Your speciality?"
"Well, I was meatball," Hawkeye said offhandedly. "I'm actually practicing general medicine right now, working at my Dad's clinic in Crabapple Cove."
"Stop giving him the third degree," Margaret said rolling her eyes. "I have a feeling he'll get it from Dad again."
"Oh that's right! You've already met the Colonel!" Charlotte said excitedly as Susan looked up.
"You know the Colonel?" Susan asked, cocking her head. "How?"
"Do you remember when the Colonel went to see Aunt Maggie in Korea?" Charlotte asked, as Susan nodded. "Hawkeye worked with her there."
"Oh," Susan said with a nod. "Mom?"
"Yes?"
"Do I have to play with the babies?"
"No," Charlotte chuckled. "Go on, they can amuse themselves I'm sure." Susan smiled and stood up before quickly running out of living room. Margaret stood up and picked up Daisy, before sitting back down next to Hawkeye, laying the child on his lap, who squealed upon seeing her father upside down.
"First time parents," Charlotte chuckled. "I'm putting Mary-Kate down, did you want the crib for Daisy?"
"No, she slept the entire way here, thank you though," Hawkeye smiled leaning down to blow a raspberry on Daisy's exposed stomach.
"I'll be right back," she said grabbing the toddler and walking up the stairs.
The small family remained quiet, as all you could hear was the shrieks of laughter from Daisy. When the front door opened, Margaret shot up off the couch and stood still, as eight pairs of feet were kicking off boots.
"Margaret, calm down." Taking a deep breath, she nodded and moved to sit back down next to Hawkeye and Daisy. "It'll be fine."
She nodded as the appearance of her nephews and brother-in-law emerged into the livingroom, carrying the tree, followed by her father, who stopped in his tracks upon seeing Hawkeye. "Doctor."
"Colonel," Hawkeye said. "Did you need help with the tree?"
"No, the boys have it," Richard said letting his grip on the tree go. "Usual place boys. I'm Richard, you must be Margaret's plus one."
"Hawkeye Pierce."
"Richard Beardlsey, Charlotte's manslave," he said holding out his hand.
"I like you," Hawkeye chuckled, shaking hands with the man.
"Daddy," Margaret smiled lifting Daisy up into her arms. Quickly she handed the child off to Hawkeye before hugging Alvin.
"Hello my little pearl," Alvin smiled hugging his youngest daughter.
"You know Hawkeye, Daisy's father," she said nervously.
"Yes, of course," he said holding out a hand for Hawkeye, who adjusted Daisy and shook the older man's hand. He figured carrying Daisy around, he'd be safe from a beating, or a verbal tongue lashing. But he figured, it took two to tango, and if Al Houlihan wanted a fight, he'd fight to keep his family in tack. Daisy was his, all his, okay partially Margaret, but she was his daughter, and he felt more love towards his little girl, which would rival Al's love for Margaret.
All of the adults knew the next few days were going to be awkward. Richard was bound and determined to keep the peace between Hawkeye and their father-in-law, which meant never leaving the two alone. And if they were, Daisy or Mary-Kate were seated in one of their arms.
"So Doctor," Al spoke softly as Hawkeye sat with Daisy in the den, calming the young child down Christmas morning.
"Colonel," Hawkeye said wearily.
"Margaret means the world to me," he started.
"Me too," Hawkeye agreed.
"I don't know why she chose you, but she did. Margaret's a lot like me," he said softly, holding up his hand silencing Hawkeye's urge to speak. "However, if you ever hurt her, like that idiot Penobscot did, I'll kill you. I don't care if you're my granddaughter's father, she picked you, and Margaret would have never gone back to you if she didn't love you. She may not be trusting, but when you gain her trust, she's in it for the long run," Al explained. "Hurt her, or Daisy, I kill you."
"Sir, if I may, I've seen the best and worst in your daughter, and she's seen it in me. I love her, and believe me, when I say, I would never, ever intentionally hurt her, or this little girl," he said placing a kiss to Daisy's temple.
"Oh there you are," Margaret said from the doorway of the den. "How is my baby?"
"Sleeping," Hawkeye smiled as she came up to caress the back of her toddler.
"What were you two talking about?" Margaret asked seriously.
"Shop, right Colonel?"
"Right," Al agreed before kissing Margaret's head and leaving the den.
"What was that about?" Margaret asked searching Hawkeye's eyes.
"Just coming to an understanding," he said leaning down capturing her lips.
"Goodnight," Charlotte smiled hugging Margaret, as Hawkeye carried the sleeping child in his arms.
"Goodnight Lottie, we'll see you tomorrow for breakfast," Margaret smiled hugging her sister back.
"You better. Breakfast," Charlotte smiled. "Hawkeye it's always a pleasure."
"You too Charlotte, but we have to be going, she needs to get put down, or there will be hell to pay," Hawkeye smiled gesturing to Daisy. "She's a little Margaret."
"Oh that I don't doubt!" Charlotte laughed as Margaret rolled her eyes.
"Good night," Margaret smiled as she moved towards the car in the cold new England winter. Snow was falling and the air was frosty, as the small family moved into the car, Hawkeye passing Daisy to her mother.
Christmas was an affair. Al and Kate were already in New York when they arrived, and Al did not seemed thrilled with her choice of partner. If you could consider Hawkeye her partner, they were partners in parenting. And she supposed life at the moment. But then begged the question, would they marry, because she didn't know if she was ready for another marriage, that might ultimately fail.
She couldn't think like that. Everything was going right, for the first time in her life, Hawkeye was behaving, her father was behaving, everything was going right.
"She's down," Hawkeye smiled as leaned against the door frame to the hotel's bathroom. The two were sharing a room, and were taking turns sleeping with Daisy in the twin beds. "I put her in my bed."
"Hawk?"
"Yes?"
"You're a great father," Margaret smiled. "And thank you, for dealing with my family."
"They're my family now Margaret," he smiled, "for the rest of our lives, your Dad will hate me." Margaret laughed as she spit and rinsed off her tooth brush.
"He'll tolerate you for Daisy's sake," Margaret smiled moving out of the bathroom and into the small bedroom.
"That's all I can ask," Hawkeye chuckled sitting down on the edge of the bed where Daisy was sleeping. "Are you glad we came?"
"I am. I'll be honest, I didn't know what to do for Christmas when we decided to stay in Crapabble Cove," Margaret said pulling down her bed. "But I'm happy you chose to come."
"I'll do anything for my two girls," he said standing up and moving to Margaret's bed. "Scoot." Margaret raised a brow before moving to the edge of the bed so Hawkeye could lay down. His arm went around her shoulder as she rolled on her side.
"I'm glad I met you," she mumbled closing her eyes. Hawkeye smiled and kissed her hair as he looked from Margaret to Daisy who was sleeping on her back. He loved her so much, more so than when she came into his life. With every day she looked more and more like Margaret, laughed like Margaret and throws fits just like Margaret.
Silently, Hawkeye laid there holding Margaret in his arms, his gaze focussed on Daisy, who was flat on her back. He watched her start to fuss and quickly detangled himself from Margaret to catch the baby before she woke her mother.
"Hey, sssh" he whispered picking her up before she started to cry. "Daddy's here." Daisy blinked and started to whimper as Hawkeye quickly moved into the hallway. "Hey hey," he cooed. "What's the matter? Do those gums hurt?" Bouncing the child softly, he rubbed her back.
"Hush little baby don't say a word. Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird. And if that mockingbird don't sing, Papa's gonna buy you a diamond ring. And if that diamond ring turn brass, Papa's gonna buy you a looking glass. And if that looking glass gets broke, Papa's gonna buy you a billy goat. And if that billy goat don't pull, Papa's gonna buy you a cart and bull. And if that cart and bull turn over, Papa's gonna buy you a dog named Rover. And if that dog named Rover won't bark. Papa's gonna to buy you and horse and cart. And if that horse and cart fall down, Well you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."
Walking his daughter back and forth in the hallway, Hawkeye sung quietly as she held onto him tightly. It seemed weird walking into the hall of the hotel, as Margaret slept not ten feet away. She seemed happy with her family, but Daisy was not as happy as she was at home. Home was in Crabapple Cover for his little girl. For the past six months she got to know the small town that was their home, be with both her parents and her Grandfather. She had her own crib, and her own toys, a home.
Having a child, made Hawkeye really think about what he was missing out during his life before he met Margaret, and if he truly regretted the war. What it stood for? Yes. What came out of it? Not a single chance, a best friend, a child, the woman he loved.
"What are you doing up?" a hoarse voice said from behind him, as Hawkeye turned around and nodded to the child resting her head on his shoulder. "Oh Daisy, what's the matter sweetheart?"
"She couldn't sleep," Hawkeye replied as he began to lift the little girl into her mother's arms. Margaret held up a hand, and placed it on Daisy's back, as the little girl yawned and her eyes blinked shut. "How?"
"Mother's touch," she replied in a whisper. "Come on." Obliging, Hawkeye followed Margaret back into the hotel room, and gently set the child back on her bed, placing pillows on either side of the sleeping child's body. He looked back at his bed, where Margaret had already crawled back into, and he searched her eyes for permission to join her. Smiling she flipped the blanket behind her on top of her body inviting him to join. Moving to her side, slipping his arms around her, pulling her into his warmth, he felt her sigh. Their lives weren't perfect, and he may never trust himself with Daisy all alone, or stop having nightmares that placed his daughter's body in the same position as the chid on the bus, but he was trying and that is all that mattered.
For Margaret, he was there, in her life, with her child, making it the best he could. The best they could. She wondered almost daily if there was something more between them, something other than lust and affection. Whether she was ready to make that step into the direction of being with Hawkeye, she knew that whatever this was, their relationship, neither would tolerate the other dating. They needed each other, she needed him, her steady constant. It boggled her how he had always been there, holding her hand, making sure that she was alright, like he loved her from the beginning.
Author's Note:
I know this has been a long time coming, and I do apologize. I'll update as I can, but as always please feel free to email me and what not, and if you're curious to see how the Pierce-Houlihan family tree works, just ask, as in my OCD I have made an entire family tree for them. (There will be spoilers for future chapters, it is your caution!)
