Margaret couldn't sleep. No matter how much she tried to rest, she continued to toss and turn. She was grateful that she was alone; that no one was there to see her, wallowing in self pity. It wasn't like her. It wasn't like her at all. But she couldn't help it. The mixture of relief and disappointment was oddly dissatisfying.

She was relieved of course. Why shouldn't she be? She couldn't be a mother. There was too much at stake. And being forced to leave the army was like a death sentence. Damn rules. Kids visited the 4077 all the time, so why couldn't the Army just let her stay? Telling Donald would have been the worst part. She knew he wouldn't understand. Damn him. He certainly understood the process. But becoming a father? That was entirely different.

With a heavy sigh she swung her legs onto the floor and pulled on her robe and slippers. She stepped out into the night, grateful that she was alone. As long as Klinger didn't surprise her and make her scream with his ridiculous way of guarding the residents of the 4077. Radar's pet rabbit could have done a better job.

Radar….

Suddenly she turned and hurried over to the cages, filled with Radar's pets. Ridiculous that he was allowed to keep so many. But she supposed she should have been grateful. Without his pet rabbit Fluffy, she might have never known…

She moved closer to the cages, where the brown and white rabbit sat contentedly in his cage. Carefully she unhooked the latch and gently removed the rabbit. He was unimaginably soft, the way rabbits are supposed to be. And he didn't once flinch when she moved her fingers across his fur. In fact, he seemed to enjoy it.

"I don't want to bother you, Fluffy, but I did want to thank you. If it weren't for you, I-."
"Margaret, what are you doing out here? It's late. Better yet, why are you talking to that rabbit?"

At Pierce's voice she swung around and glared at him. "How dare you!" She shouted. "Can't you see this is a private conversation?"

"Looks to me like it's a Major conversation, but if you want I can get Radar and-."
"No!" She shouted, although she didn't mean to shout. Damn, why did Pierce have to be so nosy? "Just…leave me alone, all right?"
"Well, I would, but considering that you're holding Radar's rabbit and he would be very upset if anything happened to her, I-."
"She's fine!" Margaret shouted. "Nothing's going to happen to her! I'm just-."

He moved closer to her and took the rabbit from her hands, placing it back into the cage. "No crying, all right? I don't know where his raincoat is and I don't want to wake Radar."

"Will you just leave me alone?" Margaret shouted.
"What's wrong?" His voice was softer now.

"Nothing's wrong. I just-."
"Margaret, something's wrong if you're walking around here at night talking to rabbits. What is it? Is it the baby, or lack thereof?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?"
"If that's true, then why were you talking to a rabbit, one that, in fact, played a pivotal role in finding out that you are not, in fact, pregnant?"

She turned away from him. The animals before her blurred by the tears in her eyes. She tried to will them away, but of course she was unsuccessful. Besides, Pierce knew her too well.

"That's it, isn't it?"
"It's nothing!"
"If it's nothing, then why are you crying? Margaret, it's okay to admit that you're disappointed; upset, even."

The tears were streaming down her face now and she made no attempt to stop them. "I'm not crying! I'm just-."
A sob escaped and she started to walk way, but she felt him pull her into his arms.

"I'm sorry…" he said. "I know how much you want to be a mother and don't want to be one."

But there was something about the way he said it. It wasn't condescending or even judgmental. It was said with compassion. And that made her cry even harder.
In response, he held her closer and rubbed her back. And he didn't let go, even when she thought he would.

Finally it was she who pulled away. "Thank you, I-."
"Are you all right?"
She smiled. "Yes."
"Good, now tell Fluffy goodnight and get some sleep."
"All right."
"And let me know if you need anything."
"Like what?"
"Oh, just anything. Goodnight, Margaret." He kissed the top of her head and then he was gone.

She stood there, staring at Fluffy, crazily wondering what it was like for her, being operated on. She'd never be able to have children (or whatever baby rabbits were called), and strangely Margaret's heart went out to her.

She smiled on the way back to her tent, and when she was comfortably situated in her bed, she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning she walked to the Mess Tent and smiled when she saw Radar sitting there alone, eating a plate of scrambled eggs that was as high as the mountains that surrounded them.

"Is anyone sitting here?"

He looked up and smiled. "Oh no sir. I mean ma'am."
"Radar, I want to thank you."
"Me sir?"
"Well, I've already thanked your rabbit."
He shot out of his seat. "Fluffy? What about her? Is she all right?"
"She's fine. She's in her cage."
Slowly he sat back down. "Oh good."
"But I want to thank you too. I know it wasn't easy, letting us operate on her, but I'm grateful."
"Oh, it's all right. As long as Fluffy's okay and didn't feel any pain."
"She was a perfect patient."

"Major Houlihan?"
"Yes, Radar?"
"I'm sorry, too."
"For what?"
"I'm sorry you're not going to be a mother. Anytime soon, that is. I'm sure it will happen eventually."
Her eyes filled with tears and she hugged him tightly. The action startled him and his fork dropped onto the plate.

"You're welcome ma'am. I mean sir, I mean…"

The door opened and Hawkeye appeared. "I'll see you later, Radar."
She rose from the bench and walked over to Hawkeye. "Good morning."
"Is it?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means did you sleep well?"
"In that case, yes, I did."
"Well, I'm glad. And Radar and Fluffy are okay?"
"All's right with the world." As soon as she said the words, the hurt returned. Somehow Hawkeye sensed this and hugged her. How did he always know?
"Mind if I eat breakfast with you?"
"Not at all.""Have a seat, I'll be right back."She sat down at an empty table until he returned carrying two trays of food. He sat one in front of her.
"Breakfast is served; or something like it anyway."
They ate in silence, save for Pierce's ridiculous comments and attempts at jokes. And when BJ joined them it was even worse. The two of them were such jokesters.

But she knew one thing. Motherhood could wait. At the moment there wasn't anywhere she'd rather be.

~Fin~