Sorry this took so damn long, I guess I'm just lazy. Also, this chapter is a little jolty, it just sort o came out of left field and then proceeded to flow out of my fingers. Oh well, thanks for all the reviews and the constructive criticism, it always helps budding writers such as myself and away with the tale I have thus far spun…
Oh, MASH isn't mine…duh!
"I'm Daniel Pierce, father of the swamp rat here. I don't believe we've been introduced" he smiled, extending his hand.
Margaret was dumb struck, she couldn't understand why, but for a few long moments, she couldn't find her voice.
"Uh-I'm Margaret Hou-Penob…..Houlihan" she finally settled on her maiden name, extending her hand. Her stomach fluttered as the slightly calloused hand enveloped hers and gave it a firm shake. The Pierce patriarch was man to marvel at. He was at least a half a foot shorter then his son, but he had such a presence he seemed to fill the entire hallway and tower over Margaret.
"Margaret Houlihan? From Ben's 4077th family? Oh, I should've known. Ben's told me all about you" Daniel smiled cordially and let go of the stunned woman's hand.
"Me?" Margaret croaked, resting her hand on her stomach and feeling the baby move below the skin. Maybe it was because she was still slightly enthralled by the fact that the father of her child was currently standing beside her or that the man with his identical laugh had eyes that seemed to pierce right through her (no pun intended). Despite his warm welcoming, Margaret had the unnerving feeling that Daniel was more clued in to her reasons for visiting their home then his son.
"Yes, all the time, and I must say he has done you justice. You are definitely as beautiful as he described" Daniel's eyes sparkled and Hawkeye's cheeks reddened a little at his father's admission. Clearing his throat, Hawkeye rolled his eyes.
"Dad, you've only just met her and you're already playing it smooth"
"Ah, so the apple really doesn't fall that far from the tree does it?" Margaret found herself joking.
"I like this one Hawk, she's got spunk" Daniel nudged his son, "She's definitely a keeper."
"Okay Dad, that's enough. I think I hear the bacon calling you" Hawkeye said in a long suffering tone of voice. He pushed his father away, towards the stairs.
"I must talk to you later Margaret, I'm sure there are a thousand stories you can share with me about this troublesome son of mine, oh and in return I can show you the vast number of photos I have of his naked caboose when he was just a whippersnapper" Daniel teased.
"Bye, Dad" Hawkeye gave the man one more insistent nudge.
"Bye, Margaret!" the elder man called on his way down the stairs.
"Until next time Mr. Pierce!" she called down to him. Hawkeye turned on his heel to face her from his place at the top of the stairs.
"Well that was only a little embarrassing" he sighed and shook his head. Margaret smiled and nodded. She couldn't believe she was being so outwardly jovial, just a little below the surface she was desperately fighting down a serious amount of terror at the prospect of being left alone with Hawkeye Pierce. This terror had risen because of several factors; namely, he was the father of her unborn child and she had yet to tell him, once he found out the truth, his playful demeanour could go either way.
Another reason, one that she was reluctant to admit, was that she couldn't trust herself around him, just one of his wicked grins, a wink, and she was putty in his hands. Her pregnancy was example enough for this. She remembered all the times he'd offered the other half of his bed up to her and all the times she'd vehemently turned him down. She could remember one time in particular, when the entire camp had been struck down with the flu expect for the two of them and a few corp. men. The casualties had rolled in of course and they'd just managed to handle it, she'd even performed a few simple procedures herself. The one memory that had stuck out in her mind though was when she had entered their 'Swamp,' as he'd lovingly named their tent, searching for Frank Burns' bible. Hawkeye had been lying there, reading on his bed. As soon as she entered, he'd thrown down the sheets and propositioned her, of course she'd turned him down; she had thought she loved Frank then, but for the first time ever, she had considered his offer. It had almost made her laugh out loud, the thought of his reaction if she'd ever actually agreed to jump into the sack with him then and there. Yes, she'd clearly agreed to on later occasions, but most of their trysts had been initiated by him and if she ever did show interest herself, it seemed to unnerve him. That day, if she'd jumped into bed with him, she was sure he'd jump right out the other side. She was sure he would, but she never knew why.
Shaking her head of the memories that were bogging her down, she looked up into those velvety blue eyes and swallowed. She had to tell him, she just had to, but how. Opening her mouth slowly, she contemplating telling him right then and there, just blurting it out and seeing where her chips fell. Of course being the well adjusted man he was, he didn't see the signs in her face that what was about to say was vitally important and cut her off.
"Well Major, I believe the breakfast is ready. May I escort you downstairs?" he asked politely.
"Mmm-Yes" she nodded, suppressing her annoyance at his interruption. He held out his crooked elbow and she slipped her arm through it, leaning on him as she waddled down the precarious stairs. When they reached the bottom floor she marvelled at the beauty of the old house. In all her haste to see him last night, she had not stopped to admire the house. The hallway floorboards were so clean she could almost see her reflection in it and the creamy walls were crisp and fresh, and almost covered in hundreds of family photos. Letting go of her escort's arm, she examined the many pictures.
Hawkeye watched her in mild amusement. Her serious attitude as she gazed into the captured moments of his past almost had him in peals of laughter, but he held back and just watched her and she moved along the timeline.
"You always were a gangly thing weren't you Pierce?" she mumbled to herself and Hawkeye rolled his eyes. He opened his mouth the quip something back, but she spoke before he had the chance.
"Is this your mother? She was beautiful. You look a lot like her" she murmured, stopping in front of her picture. The woman with dark hair and dark doe-like eyes stared back at her; she was clearly the benefactor of Hawkeye's Italian features. She held her arms around her own waist in a motherly way and Margaret noted that she was pregnant. Just like her husband, she was small, but she also possessed a great amount of presence. In her state of pregnancy, she just seemed to glow, even in the sepia photograph. It was a photo that had pained Hawkeye to look at for a long time, but his hurt had dulled a little since her death all those years ago.
"Yeah, she was, she was" he nodded
"Ann-Marie Pierce" he whispered her name with such awe that Margaret had to turn to look at him. She saw his eyes swimming and instantly regretted opening her mouth.
"I'm-I'm sorry-"
"No, it's fine" he shrugged her apology off and swallowing, went on with what he was saying.
"She's pregnant with me in that picture…it's my favourite" he ran his fingers over the glass reminiscently and Margaret reached out, taking hold of his hand. She could feel the gentle tremors running through his fingers and rubbed the hand between hers affectionately. He looked up at her with more then a small amount of shock and he felt as if she was sending electric shocks up his arm. They stood just staring at each other for a moment, until the moment was broken by Daniel, who stuck his head around the door, telling them their breakfast would go cold if they didn't hurry.
Until next time my faithful readers, and many thanks because without you I'd have no reason to write.
