July 24, 1954.

She watched him on the edge of the breakwater. His head hung low. Margaret was heartbroken at the thought of leaving but Crabapple Cove didn't have any reason for her to stay. Hawkeye had not given her a reason.

A pang of longing rocked her. For two weeks he'd made no move toward her in any romantic form. The last night in Korea had her thinking that they might have a future together. Now they were about to leave each other again, maybe for good.

What made it all so crazy is Margaret knew she loved him. It was his smile, his laugh, his slight limp and even those big, cold feet. She saw that hurt look deep down in his eyes when she mentioned going back to her sister's house. Hawkeye left the porch quietly and practically threw his glass into the sink. Now she was packed and it was time to go.

Margaret took off her shoes and left them with her suitcase in the sand. Slowly, she picked her way across the rocky wall until she was about ten feet behind him. He turned around.

"I don't know whether to say goodbye or throw you into the ocean," she said, moving closer.

Hawkeye turned around again to stare back out at the waves. There was stubble on his face and his hair was unwashed. This was the dirty visage of Korea's Captain Hawkeye Pierce, retired from the wackiest MASH in the Army.

She moved closer until she could reach out and touch him. "Don't you want to say goodbye?" she asked, sucking in a breath.

"I don't think I ever want to say goodbye to you," he said in a whisper. The waves ceaselessly pounded the craggy rock and the breeze carried his words out into the ocean. Margaret put her hand on his elbow.

"Why, Hawkeye?"

He turned again, tears in his eyes, smiling slightly. "Because I love you."

Margaret gasped. It was every nightmare and every dream she ever had. Now he was fishing around in his jeans pocket, still looking at her with that little smile.

"I love you too," she whispered back. She was losing the battle to control her breathing. Hawkeye let out a sigh. In a quick motion he reached out to grab her hand and produced a sparkling band of white gold.

"This was my mother's ring. Dad gave it to me last night," he said, slipping it on her finger. "He says we can have the house. He wants something smaller. So Margaret, whaddya say?"

"Can't we do this the traditional way?"

"What, you want to get pregnant first?"

She was not amused.

"Okay," he said, sinking slowly to his knee. "Margaret Houlihan, will you marry me?"

She thought about that big white house with the two chairs on the porch and her suitcase in the sand. She loved him so much it scared her. His blue eyes were still watery as he looked up at her, hopeful…

"Yes. I thought you'd never ask."

Hawkeye stood up and they stared at each other for a long minute. Then she let out a shriek and jumped into his arms. He held her tight for a long time.

November 1955.

"Be sure and thank your dad for all that food."

Margaret felt like a tick about to pop. She watched Hawkeye change into a pair of pajama pants. He was still so skinny. She couldn't believe how much he could eat and not gain weight. It was a struggle to watch her own weight fluctuate.

"Aw. He likes to cook and besides, he's better at it than I am," Hawkeye said, bending over to stoke the fireplace. He raced into bed because the night air was so chilly. Margaret was smart enough to dive under the covers early and just skim a LOOK magazine.

"See this? These are those new cars I was telling you about," she said, folding over a page.

"Volkswagon. Margaret, you want a GERMAN car? I thought you said your family applauded the Hindenberg crash."

"I just think it's nice. Plenty of room and cheap. We can swing it."

Hawkeye sighed. Sharing a car was an ordeal but spending money on a car no one in Crabapple Cove could repair wasn't a good idea.

"Please," she said. "Come on. We're working, doing okay."

"Let's wait on it. Maybe Carl will get something we can both agree on," Hawkeye said, knowing full well one of the funny little cars was in his immediate future. He clicked off his light and prepared for a verbal retaliation. Nothing came. She just kept staring at that page as he began to inch closer and started kissing her neck.

"Uh, Hawkeye?"

"Yes dear."

"You know I saw Doctor Shelton today."

"Do you know that turkey still owes me five bucks from poker?"

Hawkeye began to feel a little warmer but Margaret was ignoring his advances. "Well, what's up with Shelton?" he asked impatiently.

She looked at the ceiling. Hawkeye had a strange feeling of déjà vu.

"He says I'm pregnant."

Hawkeye sat straight up like a rocket. "Pregnant? We're…you and I…are having a baby?"

Margaret nodded, smiling. Hawkeye started jumping on the bed and she dissolved into laughter. "This is the best news of my life! A baby!" he yelled.

She remembered Daniel's bear hug earlier in the day. He assured her Hawkeye would be okay with things. "Little lady, I am so proud for both of you. My goodness. Grandkids," he said, sinking back in his favorite leather chair, smiling.

Hawkeye stopped jumping and fell back to a reclining position, staring at her with the most peaceful look she'd ever seen. His blue eyes seemed lighter. Four years ago, could she even have imagined?

"Wow," was all he said, but Margaret knew he was thinking the same thing. "Kids."

"Unreal," she agreed.