13
Early May and everything was set up in the back yard for the wedding. Every thing seemed to be going perfectly. The sky was clear, it wasn't too hot or too cool, but just right. Standing out there in the back yard were all the guests. Mainly their families and the people that they had worked with in Korea, but they were close enough to also be considered family.
Hawkeye nervously sat on one of the seats in the front. He was nervous. This was a big step for him, but it was also to the woman that he loved. That was the only thing that kept him going through this. The fact that he had no doubts about them. The only thing that did worry him was whether or not Margaret had doubts. The other day in the bathroom had him thinking that she might change her mind and not go through with the wedding.
Margaret sat upstairs with Angela while the other brides maids were getting ready in the room across the hall. She sat there staring emotionlessly at her reflection in the mirror. She was truly happy about today and about getting married to the man that she truly loved. But at the same time she was also nervous.
"There you go. You look beautiful," Angela said.
She had just finished her hair for her. Half of it was pulled back and loosely sat up on the top as a place to put the veil onto. The rest of her hair was in loose curls that covered her shoulders. Her dress was plain white and sleeveless. The top was a silk material that went down to about the waist line and then filled out.
"Something wrong sissy?" Angela asked.
Margaret sighed and turned around to look at Angela.
"You know what I've been through the last year," Margaret said.
"Yeah," Angela said sitting down on the edge of the bed.
"And you know now, that I'm probably not going to be the same person that I was before," Margaret said.
"That's understandable," Angela said.
"Do you think that Hawkeye can handle that?" Margaret asked looking up at Angela.
Angela just watched her for a minute as she glance down at the floor and then back up at her.
"I mean, first off, I kept a huge secret from him. I'm surprised that he can even trust me! Then every time we visit that grave I'm sure that I'll cry. And I'm sure that I'll have nightmares every once in a while. I just wonder if he's strong enough to put up with that," Margaret said.
Angela smiled as she went over to Margaret. Standing before her, she took her hands.
"Now Margaret, I don't know him too well. But from what I have seen the last couple of days I can tell that he loves you. If you truly love some one, you'll put up with a lot from them. Not because you have to or just to keep from getting in a fight, but because you want to be with them. Like I said, I don't know him, but I'm sure you could put him through hell and he'll still love you. Besides, you kept his daughter from him and never allowed him the chance to even meet her, and he's still by your side," Angela said.
"I hope you're right," Margaret said smiling up at her.
There was a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Angela asked.
"Are you ready?" the familiar voice asked.
Angela looked down at Margaret.
"Yes daddy," Margaret said standing up.
Alvin walked in and smiled at the sight of his oldest daughter.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"Thank you," she said with tears swelling up in her eyes.
"Now I've seen enough tears as it is," he said teasing her.
Margaret laughed.
"I know," she said dapping her eyes being careful not to smear her make up.
Alvin sighed and then looked down at his watch.
"Well, everybody's waiting for you," he said.
"Just let me get her veil on for her and then we can get down there," Angela said.
"Actually, do you think that you could wait out in the hall for a second? There's something that I need to tell Angela," Margaret said.
"Okay," Alvin said.
Margaret turned to watch Alvin as he left the room.
"Angela," she said looking down.
"Yes?" she asked.
"I have something that I need to talk to you about," Margaret said as she looked up at her with worry.
Hawkeye stood at the front with Father Mulcahy. Off to his side were BJ, Tony, Trapper, and Klinger. All of his thoughts were now centered around Margaret walking down the aisle, finally being his wife, getting the chance to see what had missed out on. He turned back and saw his father sitting in the front row. He gave him a reassuring smile. On the others side was a seat reserved for her father and then the Potters.
The brides maids started down the aisle and then before he knew it, Alvin came down the aisle with Margaret. Once she finally got to end he took her from her father's hands. They stood facing each other. They got through most of the ceremony like that.
"Now for the vows," the father announced.
Hawkeye smiled and then turned to Margaret. He grabbed her hands as he stared into her eyes.
"Most men take the time to write these down and then read then during the wedding. Well, I later found that it would be more meaningful just to tell you what I felt during the wedding. I also can't read my own writing," he said.
Margaret rolled her eyes.
"But really," he said taking his hand and stroking the side of her face.
"I have never felt this way about a woman before. You know what I was like, empty acts of love that I would try to escape from the very next morning. I don't want that with you. I want more then that. No matter what happens, I'll love you. No matter what you do, I'll love you. Maybe you have gone through some rough times, but that doesn't mean that you're alone. I'll always be there for you," he said.
Margaret's eyes started to water.
"Now matter what you need, I'm there. If you're cold I'll give you my coat. Tired, I'll give you some place to rest. If you're happy I'll celebrate with you and if you're sad I'll be your shoulder to cry on," he said.
That was all that she needed to hear. She wrapped her arms around him and embraced him.
"Thank you," she whispered into his ear.
Letting go, she stepped back and smiled.
"I was once told that if you truly loved some one that you would stay with them no matter what they do," Margaret said and then glanced over at Angela.
"I just want you to know that I'll be there for what ever you need me for to. I also want you to know that that was the sweetest thing that any one has ever told me," she said starting to cry.
Father Mulcahy waited until they were ready to continue.
"Now, do you, Benjamin Franklin Pierce, take Margaret Louise Houlihan to be your lawful wedded wife? To have and to hold? For richer or for poorer? In sickness and in health? Until death do you part? Say I do," the Father said.
"I do," Hawkeye said.
"And, do you, Margaret Louise Houlihan, take Benjamin Franklin Pierce to be your lawful wedded husband? To have and to hold? For richer or for poorer? In sickness and in health? Until death do you part? Say I do," the Father said.
"I do," she said.
"I now pronounce you, man and wife. You may now kiss the bride," he announced.
They cheered as the two kissed. During the reception, many people came up to congratulate them. The only thing that upset Margaret was that her father had to leave early. Right before he left he pulled Hawkeye aside.
"Now, I want you to take care of my little girl," he said.
"I will sir," Hawkeye said.
"I'm sure that you will. I'll be keeping an eye on you," he said.
"Good to know," Hawkeye said.
Margaret walked over and stood beside Hawkeye.
"Bye sweetheart. I'll call you tomorrow," Alvin said.
The two hugged and then he left.
Hawkeye stood there with Margaret for a second and watched as he left.
"What was that all about?" Margaret asked.
"Oh, just your normal threat from bride's father to groom," Hawkeye said and then walked back over to and started talking to Trapper.
Margaret rolled her eyes. How could she not see that coming?
"Hey Margaret."
Margaret turned and saw BJ with his two daughters.
"Hey!" she said and then the two hugged.
"Long time no see," BJ said.
"Yeah," Margaret said.
"How have you been?" she asked.
"Great," he said.
"These are my daughters, Erin, the one you always heard about every time mail came and this here is little Cassie," he said.
Margaret smiled down at the two little girls.
"Hi," Erin said.
"Hello," Margaret said.
"Your daddy told me a lot about you," Margaret said.
Erin just laughed. Margaret then looked over at Cassie who was hiding behind BJ's leg.
"Hi," she said softly as she knelt down.
The little girl looked exactly like her sister. Big brown eyes, short black hair, and a face that any one would have a hard time saying no to.
"Go on and say hi Cassie," BJ said.
Cassie took her hand from behind her back and handed Margaret a daisy. Margaret just stared down at the daisy. She didn't know why, the simple little act reminded her so much of her daughter.
"Thank you," Margaret said.
"You might want to apologize to your neighbors," BJ said.
Margaret looked up at him.
"Don't worry about it, I don't think that they even noticed," she said.
Margaret stood up.
"Well, just coming by to say congratulations. We have to get going now," BJ said.
"Thank you," Margaret said.
"Hey, I knew that some day you two would end up together," BJ said.
Margaret smiled at him. Once he left she stood there and sadly stared down at the daisy. Taking her hand, she rubbed her fingertips across the petals.
"You certainly won't even be forgotten," Margaret said.
"What was that?"
Margaret quickly turned around.
"Oh, hello Colonel," she said.
He just laughed.
"It's just Sherman now," he said.
"And I'm Mildred," the lady with him said.
"Margaret," she said.
"We both wanted to congratulate you," he said.
"Thank you," Margaret said.
"And compliment you on the beautiful wedding," Mildred said.
"It was just in the back yard," Margaret said.
"But you still fixed it up very nicely," she said.
"Thank you," Margaret said.
Sherman could easily tell that some one was wrong with Margaret.
"Uh, Mildred? Do you mind if I have a minute alone with Margaret?" he asked.
"Okay, I'll go find the groom," she said.
Margaret stood there with her arms crossed as she stared down at the ground. She knew exactly what was coming next.
"Is there something bothering you?" he asked.
Margaret just shook her head.
"Are you sure? You look awful down in the dumps for some one who was just happily married," he said.
Margaret looked up at him. There was a true readiness to listen in his eyes. She uncrossed her arms and held up the daisy.
"Cassie Hunnicutt gave this to me," she said.
He just stared at her and waited for her to tell him more.
"Just like Serena always would," Margaret said close to tears.
He gave her a look of confusion, but at the same time seemed as if he were piecing it together in his head.
"Serena's my daughter," Margaret said awaiting his reaction to what she had just told him.
"You have a daughter?" he asked.
"Well," Margaret said looking down.
"I did," she said.
"Oh God," he said and then put his hand on her shoulder.
"How long ago?" he asked.
"She died about two months ago. She was just getting ready to turn four," she explained.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"It's okay," she said looking up.
"Well, it's not okay that a little girl died, but I guess I can't do anything about it now can I?" she asked.
"I wish there was," he said.
They both stood there for a minute. He now felt sorry that he brought any thing up. The last thing that he wanted to do was to upset her on her wedding day. Finally realizing that he had to go, the two embraced.
It was the day after the wedding and everything had just been cleaned up. Margaret sat out on the back porch. The sun was setting. She was happy about finally getting married to some one who actually loved her, but there was something in the back of her head. The same thing that had been occupying her thoughts for the last couple of weeks. She sighed as she looked down at her hands.
"Hey there stranger. You come here often?" Hawkeye asked.
Margaret looked up at him.
"Hey," she said and then continued looking down.
They were both quiet for a moment. Then, Margaret decided that she had better talk.
"Hawkeye?" she asked.
"Yes?" he asked.
"There's something that I think I should tell you," she said.
He was about to try and kid around with her, but he could see that she was truly worried about something. He sat down next to her and put a gentle had on her back.
"Okay," he said as he started rubbing her back.
She looked up at him. Hesitant to speak, she first glanced down and rested her hand on her stomach. Looking back up at him, she finally spoke.
"Hawkeye. I'm pregnant," she said.
The only tone in her voice that was present was fear. She seemed to be extremely unsure of herself as tears started to form in her eyes.