We arrived safe at the 4077th on two choppers some hours later, and everyone was very surprised, but still pleased to see us home early.

"Hotdog! It's good to see you back already!" Colonel Potter rode up on his mare, Sophie.

"Jump on Annie," The Colonel shifted forwards in the saddle to let me on. I looked up at the horse and then round at BJ, knowing I'd need his help in mounting.

"I'll give you a leg up, don't worry!" He grinned and in half a second I was riding down to the camp behind Potter.

"Annie! Oh I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!" Hawkeye caught me as I slid off.

"Hi Hawkeye, ow." I kissed him gladly, but pulled back as the knot in the girdle of his robe was pressed against the stitches.

"Hi Margaret!" I smiled and the Head Nurse surprised me with a hug. Margie, Caitlin and a few others came up and hugged me too.

"Annie, you have to know now. you've got your orders." Potter said and I threw my arms around his shoulders, hugging the elderly man warmly.

"Don't get excited, they're only sending you as far as San Francisco." Margaret told me and I was thrilled that I was going back to the States, and sad because I was leaving my friends.

"When do I go?" I asked as chattering noisily, we made our way into the Mess Tent.

"Annie, we're going to have a wedding first my darling, I'm not letting you go without being my Mrs Pierce." Hawkeye kissed me and cuddled me closely.

"Really?" I asked completely beside myself.

"Take my word for it, you're not leaving until we're married!" I smiled, he was serious, and there was no two ways about that.

"They want you to report for duty 0900 next Monday. so if Hawkeye flies up to Tokyo with you on Wednesday for a couple of nights to see you off, you can get in on Saturday which will give you a couple of days to settle in." Potter told me.

"That'll give me time to ring Peggy," BJ said suddenly, a grin beginning to form on his rather handsome face. My face betrayed my confusion and he explained himself further.

"I'll call home and let her know you're coming, she can met you and show you around the bay. We can't have you all alone in the big city." He added teasingly.

"I'm not a little girl!" I protested laughingly. Hawkeye laughed and put his arm around me.

"You are too, you're just my little girl, who I'm going to marry!" Hawkeye kissed me.

"Whatever you say," I laughed kissing him back. "But what I really want now is to have a not-so-little nap!" Everyone helped me get settled in and I had my not-so-little nap, which I was woken from about 4 hours later by the sound of choppers.

BJ put the phone down smiling, it was 3am, but he didn't really care. Peggy had just rung him after he'd called her the previous day and had been unable to get through.

"Anne, she said she'll meet you at the airport. Hawk, don't worry, your Annie is going to be just fine. God it was good to hear her voice again." He added half sadly.

"Thanks Beej, I'm glad to know that Annie is going to be okay. I'd go insane if something happened to her." Hawkeye said honestly. I could see where he was coming from; I knew I'd be distraught if I lost him, or any of the staff here.

"Well, I've only known her since September, two months, but she's a wonderful person and a great friend." BJ and Hawkeye I could see were warming up for a man-to-man so I decided to leave and have a D&M of my own with Margaret.

"Margaret. what I've been hearing tells me that Hawkeye's very commitment- shy, why is he so determined for us to get married?" I asked the one thing that had been on my mind ever since we'd first become engaged.

"Annie, he was very skittish when it came to commitment, but he really cares about you. He wants to give up medicine for you. He said if it came down to his career or you, you'd win. He loves you more than his medical certificate and that's something he's never done before, not even for Carlye." Margaret told me with a warm smile.

She and I were altering a wedding gown someone had found, traded or stolen from somewhere and the preparations for a wedding in two days were well under way.

"Really? He's said he loves me since we met practically, it's sounds so typical of him, I heard about Erika a while back." Margaret gave a laugh, sounding more girlish and young than I'd heard her in a while.

"If you were a passing phase Annabelle, you wouldn't be in his heart nearly a year on. When you were sick, he said he'd trade his shirt and the Still just to get in a doctor who could help you." I had to laugh then and she joined me.

"He really does love me then!" I chuckled, and glanced at my watch, realising with surprise I had a shift to go to, I was working my last few days at the 4077th, whether Colonel Potter liked it or not.

"Goodness, I have to go, thanks for listening Margaret," I added and hugged the woman warmly, we'd formed a sister-like relationship and we were more than a little upset at the idea of it being spilt up.

"That's alright Anne, only." She paused and checked her watch, doing mental calculations before continuing, "56 hours till you walk down that aisle!" I laughed, thanked her again and headed for my shift.

"Knock, knock, anyone home?" I was surprised, at that, no one ever bothered to knock on my door, they usually just barged in, but as I recognised the rather loud, if not harsh voice of Mary-Jo, I opened the door.

"Surprise!" Caitlin, Mary-Jo and Leslie came into my tent and someone slipped a blindfold over my face. Leading me from the room, they proceeded to hum the bridal march. It was Monday night; I was getting married the next morning and the day after Hawkeye and I were going up to Tokyo for a night and then by the same time next week I'd be in San F.

"Where are we going?" I asked, as Caitlin took one hand. She led me around the camp, in circles until I lost any sense of orientation and then took me to whatever it was they had planned.

"They men are up at the O-Club having a bachelor party so we're going to have a little 'do' of our own!" Margaret slipped the blindfold off, I was in one of the nurses' tents and every one of the nurses, including a couple I didn't recognise, but had probably driven in from the 8063rd were crammed into the tent.

Drinks were poured, music played and we had a wonderful night. Makeovers were performed and we laughed, sang, and acted like a bunch of schoolgirls.

"How about we call it a night?" Potter asked. The parties had merged sometime ago and Colonel Potter was trying to find some order. Most of us nodded agreement.

"Very well, sweet dreams company." The Colonel went to bed and most of us followed tiredly. It wasn't that late but we hadn't been sleeping well and with less than 12 hours before the wedding we all wanted as much sleep as we could get.

"Rise and shine," It was Margaret who she shook me gently. I rolled over and opened my eyes.

"Good morning." Margaret smiled, and I sat up, to be presented with a tray with my breakfast. There was a note from Hawkeye.

"Dear Annie see you at the altar. Hawkeye" Margaret read for me.

"Well, are you ready for the big day?" She asked and I smiled, nervously.

"Don't worry Annie, it'll be fun!" Margaret promised, and with my bridesmaid, and the other equally excited nurses I was showered, pampered and spoiled until it was time for me to walk down the aisle.

Colonel Potter was giving me away, and with and Colonel Potter on my arm, I walked down the aisle in the Mess Tent. I stood beside Hawkeye and Father Mulcahy began the service.

"Would you turn to face each other?" It was time for the vows and Hawkeye and I were both getting nervous and I turned to Hawkeye, who was actually wearing a tux.

"Thankyou, now, do you Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce take this woman 2nd Lieutenant Annabelle Felicity Amy Jane Dawson to be your lawfully wedded wife."

"I do!" A ripple of laughter passed through the group as Hawkeye didn't even wait for Father Mulcahy to finish.

".For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, through war and peace, to love, honour and cherish as long as you both shall live?"

"Oh god yes, I do!"

"And do you 2nd Lieutenant Annabelle Felicity Amy Jane Dawson take this man Captain Benjamin Franklin Pierce to be your lawfully wedded husband. For better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, through war and peace, to love, honour and cherish as long as you both shall live?"

"Of course I do!"

"Well, Captain, the ring." Hawkeye turned to his groomsmen, Radar and BJ. They fumbled around pretending to have lost the ring, and after clowning for a second, BJ handed Hawkeye the ring with a handshake and a whispered blessing.

"As you place ring on Anne's third finger, say the vows that you have written."

"Our love is like a circle, never-ending and with this ring as a symbol of the never-ending love, I thee wed." I hadn't expected this, and hadn't written my own vows but as I placed the ring, which Margaret gave me, on Hawkeye's finger I came up with something.

"Ben dear, this is spontaneous, just like everything else about us, but unlike everything else, I hope that our love is not just a fleeting moment and with this ring, as the object to make time stand still and our love last forever, I thee wed."

"Well, by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss the bride." Father Mulcahy concluded with a smile.

Hawkeye lifted the veil from my face and we smiled at each other, just soaking in the moment.

"He said kiss the bride, not stare at her!" BJ called laughing and Hawkeye and I wrapped our arms around each other in a passionate embrace.

A round of applause erupted as Hawkeye and I walked back out of the Mess Tent amidst a hummed wedding march.

We posed in the windswept compound for a few photos and then I retired to my tent to change out of my gown.

Colonel Potter tapped his glass sometime later and the after-wedding party quietened down.

"Thankyou company, now as the Veteran of both World Wars, I've seen and had my fair share of war romances, none of which last very long. But it gives me great pleasure to say this isn't your average war romance, they waited more than a month to tie the knot." A small chuckled rippled through the crowd.

"I'm very pleased and touched to see that the bride, who I met sick in bed and thought of as a little girl is becoming a young woman."

"In more ways than one!" I slapped my new husband playfully amidst whistles and catcalls.

"And I'm equally pleased to see the groom who I know will treat the little girl with all the respect and love she is entitled to, Dr and Mrs Pierce, you have my blessing." I smiled warmly at the Colonel and our party continued.

"Lieutenant Dawson-Pierce-Annie-ma'am?" Radar approached me nervously, holding something behind his back.

"Yes Corporal O'Reilly-Walter-Radar-sir?" I replied teasingly.

"I think it's just swell that you married Hawkeye, and I've got a present for you, now that you're not going to have Captain Pierce to cuddle anymore."

"Oh, Radar!" He pulled out a teddy from behind his back, not his, but identical to his. almost, it had both eyes.

"I had Ma send me one over, take it, he's not loaded," I chuckled and accepted the bear.

"Thankyou so much Radar. Hawkeye look what Radar gave me." Hawkeye came over and gave me a kiss, and looked at the teddy.

"He's missing one thing, and if you'll accompany me back to the Swamp, I can name it." Curious, Radar and I followed Hawkeye down to his tent.

"Here you go, something for the Teddy so you don't forget me." Hawkeye put his little-worn Captain's bars into my hand.

"Hawkeye!" I pinned the bars on the bears vest and hugged him tightly. Klinger came into the tent and with difficulty, pried us apart.

"Colonel Potter very politely requests that we all go to bed now, especially as you're leaving 0900." He informed us and after a hug, kiss and a thankyou for everyone Hawkeye and I retired to my tent giggling like children.

"Well, Annie, my beautiful wife." Hawkeye smiled as he carried me over the threshold and nearly tripped on the blown-up rubber gloves that had acted as balloons.

"Watch out!" I laughed as Hawkeye dropped me on my bunk and stomped on several 'balloons' popping them noisily.

We cuddled closely, both of us trying to put off the moment we thought of as inevitable, neither of us wanting to take the last step, but wanting to consummate our marriage.

"Annie, I don't want you to go," Hawkeye told me, as his hands caressed my neck and shoulders.

"I never thought I'd say this but I don't want to go." I replied honestly and Hawkeye teasingly checked my temperature.

"Call a doctor, did I just hear what I thought I heard?" I laughed and told Hawkeye he had.

"Well Annie, I promise you that we'll try to get you back, we've done it before," Hawkeye said with such sincerity I was surprised. We cuddled closer and talked longer, and finally forgot about sex and fell asleep.

Hawkeye and I climbed in the back of the jeep; Radar was driving us to Kim- Po where Hawkeye and I would go to Tokyo.

"Goodbye, good luck and god bless my child!" Father Mulcahy called.

"Take care Annie," Caitlin, who was more than a little misty-eyed.

"We'll miss you," Margaret, who was crying as hard as I was.

"Look after her!" Practically the entire company

"Lieutenant Pierce, it's been a pleasure knowing you, you were always well- behaved even with the influence of your hooligan husband."

"Thankyou Frank, I'll miss you too." I tried to hide my laughter and after a hug from Potter, Radar drove off and I turned around in my seat, taking in the perfect memory of my dear friends, and looking at their beautiful and some not-so-beautiful faces for what was to be the last time.