A/N- Thank you for all the kind reviews, I love that people are still reading fanfiction for MASH. Now on with the show...
Margaret gave Hawkeye a look, "Don't you think that's a little fast?"
"Well, in my opinion, it's not fast enough. If I had my way I'd marry you today."
"Ben; I want to marry you, I honestly do, but theirs a part of me that's scared."
"What are you scared of?"
"You're going to think I'm crazy, now I understand why those women back in town were looking at me the way they were. They obviously. think I'm marrying you for your money, not because I love you."
"To hell with them, let them all think and say what they want, I know the truth, you know the truth and my dad knows the truth, and that's all that matters. Margaret we've been to hell and back, you know that, so I'm not about to let a bunch of old busybodies take over our lives. I'm marrying you on Saturday!"
"Is that an order Captain?"
"Well, I can't technically make it an order, since you outrank me."
"Ah but see that's where you're wrong, you're the chief surgeon, it's your OR."
Hawkeye gave her his best boyish grin; "Well then Nurse Houlahan, as Chief Surgeon, I'm ordering you to marry me on Saturday."
"Yes, Doctor." She replied with a smile, however, their moment was interrupted by the cries of their daughter. Hawkeye reached into her buggy and picked her up, cradling her in his arms, while Margaret watched them.
"Ben you're a natural with her."
"She makes me look good."
"You know, back in the early days at the 4077, I wouldn't have pictured you sitting down with a family. After I got to know the real you, everything changed for me."
"And when was that?"
"Somewhere between the trip we made to the Aid Station and when the camp bugged out, and we stayed behind. I knew I would be safe with you. I could trust you, otherwise, I wouldn't have stayed."
"Can I ask you a question?"
"Yes"
"What drew you, Donald?"
"Right for the lightning round, honestly he was the type of man that had been drilled into my head, the type that I needed long term, I convinced myself that I was madly in love with him."
Hawkeye sighed; "A lot makes sense now; why you took that letter as hard as you did. I'm sorry for the way I reacted, part of myself that next day was worried you were just rebounding from the letter, if that was the case I was afraid that once we got out of there, everything would go back to normal, so I figured I needed to protect myself just in case."
"You know; if we'd both been a little more honest with each other, we could have spared both of us a lot of hurt."
"Well said, darling."
Margaret laughed at the memory of herself calling him darling."If we had been honest, what do you think might have happened?"
"A lot might have happened, I know after I thought about everything, I realized that you brought up feelings that I thought I had buried."
"I see."
"I'm glad you found them." He said as he reached over and ran his hand through her beautiful blond hair. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to get lost in his touch.
Both jumped when they heard someone clear their throat. Hawkeye looked up and into the eyes of none other than Carlye Walton, "Hi Hawkeye, I heard you were back in town."
"Yeah, been back 6 months now." Margaret watched the two ex-lovers talking ( Hawkeye had confided in her about his love for Caryle, and also how she'd broken his heart.) "You remember Margaret Houlahan from our M*A*S*H unit?"
"Yes of course I remember her. It's a pleasure to see you again Major."
"Likewise Lt."
"What brings you to Crabapple Cove Major?"
"Well actually..."
"Margaret is my wife now, and this little bundle in here is my daughter."
"You're married?"
"Yes; you see, I found out why I had such a difficult time committing to you, turns out you just weren't the one for me after all." He smiled as he squeezed Margaret's hand. "I had to go to Korea to find her."
"I'm happy for you Hawkeye, I truly am. I'm happy to know you've found someone that makes you happy."
"They both make me a better man."
"I can see that." She said as peeped into the baby buggy. Her eyes got wide as she looked at the little girl."You adopted her I assume?"
"Yes, we did, those poor children over there deserve more to life than what they will get by staying there, if I could help at least one after all that bloodshed then it was worth me being there. And Margaret agreed with me, I think we treated as many kids as we did soldiers. That's no life for them." He squeezed Margaret's hand.
"Oh I see, it's just I remember you a little differently. I am happy for you, for all three of you."
"Thank you." Hawkeye stood up and reached for Margaret's hand, "We'd best get going, all the items we bought will be getting to the house soon. Caryle it was nice seeing you again, give my regards to Doug." He said as he walked away with his family.
After they were out of earshot of Caryle, Margaret stopped him and made him look at her. "Talk to me, Hawk?"
"I'm fine, I really am." He said as he started to pace back and forth, and ran his hand through his hair."Why did she have to look at her the way she did? She's a baby, she's not going to open fire on her."
"It's going to take time for people over here to get used to seeing her."
"Why?" What did she do?"
"Hawk she didn't do anything, some people just aren't as ready for change as others are. You know that."
"Well, they'd better get ready, 'cause no one is going to hurt my baby."
Margaret smiled, she loved this side of Hawkeye, she'd always loved it when Hawkeye showed his passionate loving side. "Why don't we go back to the house."
"Yeah, we can do that, after all, we need to clear out her room."
Hawkeye turned the baby buggy back towards the street heading toward his house. He took Margaret by the hand as they walked along the sidewalk. She leaned in close to him and laced her arm through his as they walked, they both didn't have a care in the world right now.
Hawkeye suddenly stopped when they reached his house, he couldn't believe what he saw spray painted in red across his garage door, "Send that gook back where it belongs."
Hawkeye was outraged, it was all he could do to control his anger at that moment. Margaret just stood there staring at the words on the door, both jumped when they heard Daniel come out of the house. "Kids you both go inside and take that precious little girl with you."
"Dad?"
"No Hawk, I know who did this and why. I'll handle it. Just go inside."
"Dad you have to let me come with you."
"Please Mr Pierce, let Hawkeye go with you."
"Margaret, he needs to stay here with the both of you, I've already notified the police, they've been here already. Now I know who did this and why. I'll take care of it. Son, you need to watch after them."
Hawkeye knew deep down his father was right, now was not the time for him to be a hothead. Now was the time for him to protect his family. He pushed the baby buggy up the driveway and sidewalk not stopping till they reached the front door. Once inside he locked it making sure to keep his family safe.
He leaned against the door and lowered his head, Margaret went over to him and took him into her arms, he buried himself deep in her neck pulling her as tight to him as he could. "Why" was all he said as he sobbed.
And here's chapter 5- Please drop a review...thank you