Chapter Seventeen: They crown'd him long ago, On a throne of rocks, in a robe of clouds, and a diadem of snow.

"You sure that's what you want Dad?" Hawkeye asked on night as he, Margaret, and Daniel sat in the livingroom.

"Hawk, I can't go working like I used to, I'm getting old. This young fellow will be good for the clinic, I can take more time to be with the girls, you can stop pulling double duty at the hospital, and the clinic on your days off. It's good for us."

"Christopher Stedman," Hawkeye read the letter of intent once more.

"I think it's a great idea Daniel," Margaret voiced from her spot on the couch. The girls were already in bed, and that gave her time to work on the mending. The nice thing with two girls is that everything that was Daisy's, could easily be Laura's. "I know Daisy will love to spend more time with you. And now with Laura on the move, it'll be a great help."

"I don't know," Hawkeye sighed. "Is he really the Doctor for us? He's not from here."

"Neither is your wife," Daniel retorted as Margaret smirked. "He's coming in tomorrow from Portland, be nice or you can play with the girls, and Maggie and I will talk to him."

"No, I should be there," Hawkeye conceded. "We can leave the girls with Stacey."

"She'll love to spend time with them," Margaret replied. Stacey Cochern had quickly become her best friend here in Crabapple Cove. The woman was the same age, and had children around Daisy and Laura's age-Mary and Stephen. They lived across the street, and Margaret was thankful of the relationship she had built. Stacey's husband Thomas ran Cochern's Food Market, and worked as odd hours as Hawkeye did. Her son Stephen was a month older than Laura, and the two often had play dates.

"Do you have anyone else you're talking with?" Hawkeye asked looking up at his father who shrugged.

"How many people want to move to a small town to practice medicine part time?" he asked poitedly.

"Exactly, why does this guy want to come?"

"You're picking too much," Margaret sighed. "Let it be. It's not your practice, it's your father's. He has the right to want to bring in help. It'd be nice to have someone in town who is content in a General Family Practice." she added seeing the look on her husband's face. "You are not meant for a family practice, you're meant to be in the OR. Colds, and tonsils are not what your hands are meant for."

"You too much of an adventurer," Daniel added. "Now, if you're going to be a child about this."

"Since when did you two join forces," Hawkeye griped as the two chuckled.

"Since I decided I like her more than you," Daniel winked as Margaret laughed.

The evening was spent with Margaret sewing, and Hawkeye darning socks. The small family was well off, but Margaret was not one to spend extravagantly on the children, stating that they grew so much and so fast that it was pointless, especially at their young age. So he darned and hemmed-kept his fingers nimble (and Margaret from going crazy).

Morning was like any other morning, being woken at 6am by Laura crying (after being up at 10pm for her feeding, and again at 3:30…) to which they could guarantee another hour in bed snuggling with Laura before Daisy crawled into bed with them. Then it was Hawkeye changing the girls, and getting them dressed while Margaret made breakfast-toast and eggs or oatmeal was their only choice. By the time he got the girls downstairs, one wrestled into her high chair, and the other at the table, Daniel had sauntered into the kitchen with his morning paper.

"What time is Dr. Stedman coming?" Margaret asked as she pulled the empty breakfast plates from the table.

"Bout an hour from now," Daniel replied as he laid his paper down and looked at Laura who was happily sitting at the table shoving bits of toast into her mouth. "Stacey doesn't mind taking my angels?"

"No, she said she's fine taking for a bit of a play date," Margaret replied as she handed Hawkeye a cloth to wash Daisy's face and hands with.

"No," Daisy said firmly staring at her father. She knew was was coming.

"You're funny," Hawkeye winked as he pressed the cloth to her face, wiping away spare egg and toast that littered her face.

"So Maggie, if you don't mind running the office?"

"Of course," Margaret agreed as she picked up Laura and placed her on her hip. "I'm going to get these girls ready to drop off at Stacey's, and I'll see you two at the Clinic."

"See you," Hawkeye bid goodbye as he patted Daisy's bum as she followed Margaret out of the kitchen.

"Thank you love!" Daniel called before looking at his son. "You can come, as long as you're not going to be a baby about it."

"I just want what's best for you and the clinic Dad," Hawkeye replied. "You head in, I'm going to do the dishes, and I'll see you there."

Daniel nodded and patted his son on the back as he left the kitchen. It wasn't like he didn't want his Dad to take it easy, he'd wanted that the moment he came home. He'd been saying it for years, and even tried to get him to take more days off by working as much as he could at the clinic. Dad and Margaret was right, he didn't belong as a family practitioner, it wasn't his style. He just didn't like the idea of someone that wasn't him being in the clinic that had been in is father's life for so long.

He loved the idea of his Dad staying home with the girls, allowing Margaret to go back to work herself. She wouldn't admit it, but he could tell she missed being in a hospital working. Hawkeye knew it, from how restless she got every once in awhile. Those days she would pack up the girls and go to the hospital, or go into the clinic and work the afternoon away.

Margaret made sure Daisy's shoes were on the right feet as they stepped outside into the almost summer air. Now Mid-May the air was warm and sweet, and the small town was already bustling with summer plans. Daisy was officially 3 and Laura was inching towards her first birthday.

"Hand please Daisy," Margaret held out her spare hand to which the girl took with a sigh as they walked down the path of the house. "You get to play with Mary and Stephen."

"Lor gets to play with Stephen," Daisy corrected as she happily walked with Margaret.

"Mrs Pierce!" the mailman smiled as he walked up towards the trio. "Beautiful day!"

"It is Martin," Margaret chuckled.

"I have a few letters here for you, want them or should I take them to the house?" he asked holding the few letters.

"I'll take them," letting go of Daisy's hand, she took the letters. "Thank you Martin. Have a good day."

"You too Mrs. Pierce," the postal worker waved as he moved onto the next house. Margaret smiled as she placed a hand on Daisy's head as to guide her.

"And what do we do before we cross the street?" Margaret asked as Daisy stopped, looked at her mother, before smiling and looking both directions, before stepping out onto the road and crossing. Stacey was standing in the doorway, Stephen on her hip, waiting with a smile.

"Hello Miss Daisy," the brunette smiled. "Did you want to go to the playroom and see Mary?" Daisy nodded and bolted into the house with ease. Margaret laughed as she watched her eldest daughter.

"Thank you so much for taking them."

"Any time," Stacey placed Stephen on the ground as she reached for Laura. "The kids love each other."

"Oh don't I know it," Margaret laughed as Laura wiggled down to look at her friend. "I'll be here to grab them before nap."

"Take your time," Stacey replied. "Hands please." Stephen and Laura looked at each other before taking a hand that was offered to each. "It's too quiet in the house, which means Mary and Daisy are up to mischief."

Margaret shook her head laughing as the three moved into the house. She looked at the letters in her hand and smiled, one from BJ, the spring letter from Colonel Potter, and one from Helen. Helen had been writing more frequently, and Margaret couldn't be happier. Shoving the letters into her purse, she walked up the street towards the clinic.

Margaret knew there were perks to having a new Doctor in town, mostly for her. She loved Daniel, and loved her husband, and Daniel had delivered Laura. But Margaret knew from experience she was pregnant again. Same feeling of nausea every morning, swallowed with her morning coffee, and put aside as she took care of her already two young daughters. The same familiar feeling growing in her abdomen. It wasn't confirmed yet, but she knew that in the new year, they'd have a new baby.

She loved Daniel, and Hawkeye, but there was definitely something a little uncomfortable with your father in law being the doctor who would deliver the baby. It also would hopefully make him worry less about her, and the girls.

Making her way up the street to the clinic, she opened the door and smiled at the man who was sitting in the waiting room. "Good morning, do you have an appointment with Dr. Pierce?"

"I do, Dr. Christopher Stedman," the brunette man said as he stood up, and buttoned his jacket. He used to be the exact man Margaret would have been attracted to, tall, broad shouldered, brunette hair, striking green eyes.

"Oh, you're a bit early. I'm afraid Daniel isn't in yet, but I'm Margaret," she laid her bag on the front desk and held out her hand.

"Oh, so nice to meet you," the young Doctor smiled.

"You as well, please, have a seat. I'll call the house and see if Daniel and Hawk have left yet. Goodness knows I can get the kids to the babysitter and walk here before they can get here. Those two boys, brilliant physicians, but definitely take their time in almost everything they do."

"It's your husband's fault," Daniel complained good humouredly as he walked into the clinic.

"Don't blame me, blame Dad," Hawkeye shot back as he followed behind. "I was being a diligent husband and doing dishes," he pecked Margaret on the cheek and smiled.

"Don't believe a word he says," Daniel laughed. "Oh you must be Stedman."

"That's what my underwear tells me," the young doctor chuckled as Hawkeye threw his head back and laughed. "I hope it isn't lying, I'd have to return my acme medical degree!"

"Daniel Pierce. This ugly guy is my son, we still like him. This gorgeous being is Margaret, the woman who runs our lives. Come, we'll go to the office, leave my son to play Doctor," Daniel winked at Margaret and Hawkeye who laughed as he sat on the desk, and Daniel and the young Doctor disappeared in the back.

"Think Dad is going to ask him to join the practice?" Hawkeye asked seriously looking at his wife.

"I think so," Margaret replied as she moved around the desk and swatted at her husband to get off. "He wants to spend more time with the girls, he wants you to spend more time with us on your days off. He's getting older Hawk, he can't do everything he used to."

"I know," Hawkeye replied, as he grabbed the charts in the days bin. "Who do we have this morning anyway?"

"Your guess is as good as mine. Jean worked yesterday, she has the appointments," Margaret replied. "Besides I'm only here for the morning."

"You're so helpful to me," Hawkeye teased as Margaret picked up the appointment book and scanned the page.

"Virginia Mason is coming in for a checkup, Harry Simpson is coming to see if you can remove the cast on his wrist. Nancy Sue has tonsilitis again," Margaret started as Hawkeye flipped through the files.

"We might want to pull those soon. Third case this year already, and it's only May," he replied. "Can you call the hospital and see when we can get in? I don't think we have a choice."

"Definitely," Margaret quickly made an annotation on the appointment book. "And then Billy West needs his warts removed. Plus whatever walk in we get," she added.

"Not too busy," he flipped through the chart of Nancy Sue and sighed. "When Nancy Sue gets here, can you draw blood for me? I think I'd like to check her white blood count. No way a kid this old can be sick this often. Look at this," he turned the chart towards Margaret. Margaret frowned her brows as she read the chart.

"What are you thinking?"

"I don't know, could be autoimmune, could be she's built up a resistance to antibiotics. Just the range of symptoms, prolonged and frequent infections, she's getting nose bleeds."

"Your dad noted irregular heart rate when she was in last week," Margaret replied as he nodded. "I'll draw blood and give her the twice over."

"Thanks," he took back the chart, and continued to read. Margaret moved around the office with ease. As patients started arriving, Hawkeye moved in and out of the exam rooms, peaking towards the office where Daniel and the young Christopher Stedman were.

"Now don't you go asking Margaret to make you coffee, Jean will. She's a good soul," Daniel explained as he brought the doctor into the main area. "Chris is going to start on Monday, afternoons until we can get him a place in town."

"Welcome to the practice," Margaret smiled brightly.

"Thank you! Can't say I always know I'd practice here in Coveapple Crab, but I think I'll grow to like it," the younger man grinned as Margaret rolled her eyes. Let Daniel be the one who discovered a young doctor who was just like himself and Hawkeye.

"Daniel, Hawk wants to pull Nancy Sue's tonsils. I called the hospital, and we can get her in on Monday afternoon. He's working nights next week, so I've cleared your schedule for the day. I'll get Stacey to watch the girls and come to the clinic."

"We're pulling them?" Daniel asked as Margaret nodded and handed him the chart. "Still infected and she's been on antibiotics for a week already?"

"You took blood today?" the young doctor asked as Margaret nodded again.

"Her symptoms made Hawk wonder about her white blood count," Margaret explained.

"I can see why," Chris added as the door to one of the exam rooms opened, and Hawkeye walked out with Harry who was smiling widely as he admired his wrist sans cast.

"Hey, you're better!" Daniel pointed towards the young teen, faking his shock. "I'm a miracle worker!"

"It feels just like before Doc!" Harry beamed. "Doesn't hurt at all."

"Great!" Daniel exclaimed as he felt the wrist that was handed to him by the boy. "Looks fantastic. No pitching it with this hand for a little while."

"I'm outfield," Harry replied.

"Looks good. Pop back in sometime next week if this rash isn't gone okay?"

"Probably just form the cast," Hawkeye replied as Daniel nodded.

"I will, thanks Doc! Hawk!" With that the young teen bounced out of the clinic as they adults laughed.

"So Chris, why don't you and the wife come to supper this weekend," Daniel turned back towards the young doctor.

Margaret walked into the clinic that Monday afternoon, her nerves were getting the best of her. She wasn't a first time mother, and there was a little bit in her that wished that she was wrong, and she wasn't pregnant. Hawkeye was at home sleeping with the girls who were down for their afternoon naps, Daniel had made his way into Portland for the tonsillectomy.

"Oh, I didn't know you were my appointment," Chris said surprised as he sat reading the medical charts.

"Yes," Margaret replied. She was nervous as she stood holding her own chart. Handing it over to him, she started to recite. Chris watched her recite it verbatim, her entire medical history and continue on to her current signs and symptoms. Margaret didn't really need his diagnosis to know for sure. And so they set off to confirm her pregnancy, as Margaret's brain spun in all directions.

As the days went by, Margaret busied herself with the girls and spring cleaning. Daisy wasn't very helpful when it came to cleaning out of her dresses and toys. Laura was content sitting with her blocks while Daisy repeated "no" over and over again when Margaret placed something in a box.

Chris had called one morning while Hawkeye was sleeping, and Daniel was at the clinic. The rabbit had died was what he said. She knew it, and set up a prenatal appointment for later in the month. And so it was, she was once again pregnant, and hoping it was the last.

So sitting on the floor of Laura's room carefully folding and placing all the clothes that were too small for her in a hamper.

"Good morning," Hawkeye yawned walking into the bedroom, his eyes barely open.

"What are you doing awake?" Margaret asked looking up from her spot.

"You forgot to tell this little nugget that I was sleeping," he said as Margaret noticed Laura perched on her father's hip, a giant grin on her face.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" She stood up, dropping the sleepers onto the floor reaching for Laura.

"What are you doing?"

"Oh, just organizing Laura's old clothes," Margaret replied as she bent down to retrieve the sleeper.

"Why the sudden organizing?" Hawkeye asked as he studied his wife. Margaret held the sleeper in her hands, as she stared at him. Her eyes dropped to the sleeper, and back up. "Margaret?"

"We'll need these again in January," she replied, searching his eyes for a response. Hawkeye stood there and stared at her. He adjusted Laura and stared at her.

"You're pregnant?" he asked as Margaret nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Positive," she replied. "We certainly don't know how to plan for babies now do we?" Hawkeye stood there and smiled, before he leaned down and kissed her.