The ambulance drove off, we'd just seen off the last of the patients and Charles and I were alone.

"Well Mrs Pierce, if you would kindly get dressed up, I believe that Igor has prepared us a wonderful meal in Post-Op. I'll be glad to escort you to dinner" We were living in Post-Op so we could hear the telephone and to stay near the patients we had just seen off.

"Formal?" I queried teasingly, and a smile, and what could have been a sense of fun crossed Winchester's face.

"Yes, Black-Tie if you have any."

"Shouldn't be a problem, when will you pick me up?"

"7.30?" I checked my watch that gave me 15 minutes to get my dress on.

"Excellent, I'll be waiting in Major Houlihan's tent." We parted and I went to Margaret's tent. I knocked before entering, even if it was empty. It was a little joke Hawkeye and I had going. I had a dress I'd had sent over to go with Hawkeye's tux that was in her wardrobe and I found the pink number. I dressed quickly, using Margaret's tent as she had more room than the tent I shared with five other women.

Winchester knocked on my door as I finished doing my hair. It was 7.30 exactly. I slipped my shoes on and answered the door.

"Aah, Charles Emerson Winchester III at your service, and you are Miss -?" He looked at me, searching for my maiden name.

"Miss Pierce, I mean Dawson, Miss Annabelle Dawson." I caught onto his game quickly.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance Miss Dawson." He took my hand and raised it to his mouth, kissing it.

"Charmed, Mr Winchester." I smiled as he offered me his elbow and I stepped out of the tent.

"Well have to walk tonight I'm afraid, but it's a short walk and it's a lovely night out, not a mortar in the sky."

"I don't mind at all, it's a beautiful night." We walked across the compound; in the pale light I could see that he was wearing a suit and tie.

"You look absolutely wonderful tonight Miss Dawson. I'd even say you looked divine." He said as we stepped into Post-Op, and we were able to see each other properly.

"Thankyou, as do you Mr Winchester." I smiled warmly. Charles smiled mysteriously and lit two candles which he placed on a small table. He turned off the lights, and the flames cast a warm glow over the room.

"Would you like a drink first Miss Dawson?" He offered, pulling out a seat for me.

"Yes if it's no trouble to you."

"Water, coffee or cognac?" He offered and I gave a small laugh.

"I'll take whatever you're having Mr Winchester." He smiled and poured two glasses of cognac. He handed me one and I proposed a toast.

"To our friends who are on a mercy mission, may god give them wings and bring them all back safely."

"And to the start of a wonderful evening." Charles smiled. We clinked our glasses and drank. We sipped our drinks in silence, when I decided that I would do the honours and play out my part as a hostess.

"Mr Winchester, dinner is served." I got up and retrieved the covered platter.

"Aah, Spam roast, you're quite the cook Miss Dawson." I smiled modestly. The telephone rang in the office and I ran to answer it.

"Hello MASH 4077th, Captain Pierce here."

"Annie!"

"Hawk! How are you guys?"

"We're fine, Potter wanted me to check that you were both still alive now that there are no patients to prevent you from killing each other."

"We're fine Hawk, the patients got off okay and we're both managing just fine. However, dinner is waiting, I really must go."

"You're both still alive?"

"Yes! Now I have to go."

"Take care, I love you.

"Love you too Hawk." We hung up and I returned to the table.

"Sorry about that Mr Winchester, it was just Colonel Potter checking that we were still okay."

"Perfectly all right Miss Dawson, would you like me to do the honours?" He motioned to the as yet unsliced 'roast' of Spam.

"Yes please Mr Winchester." I smiled and handed him the knife and fork, while I got our plates and the vegetables.

We served the meal and poured a drink of 'wine' really water and food dye and we began eating.

"This is delicious really," Winchester smiled, I knew that we both hated the meal, army mush as usual had no appeal, but we gave it taste by pretending it was a real roast, and un-creamed veggies.

"It's wonderful I agree." I smiled back, sipping my drink. We finished the meal with similar small talk and we turned to dessert, saltines and dried fruit.

"A divine meal Miss Dawson." Charles said, a little later.

"Thankyou Mr Winchester, I enjoy cooking." I smiled and it turned out he had another surprise up his sleeve.

"I got you into that beautiful dress tonight, you should make use of it." He got up and rummaged around a little, setting up his record player in the dim candlelight.

A beautiful waltz began to play and Charles came over to where I sat.

"May I have this dance Miss Dawson?" He offered, holding out his hand, I smiled and took it. In a second we were dancing.

"You dance divinely Miss Dawson," We waltzed our way around Post-Op.

"Thankyou, as do you Mr Winchester," I replied, blushing.

"Please, call me Charles, I insist." He smiled at me, and I gave myself a mental pat on the back. I'd done it; I'd won.

"Well Charles, I'd be delighted if you could call me Annabelle."

"Anything you like Annabelle." I smiled and we continued dancing.

The phone rang several hours later, 12 hours since the last patient had left. Charles answered it this time and I listened to his side of the conversation.

"Yes Colonel, Annabelle is right here, we were just thinking of retiring. Would you like to talk to her? Yes here she is, thankyou Colonel, best of luck." Charles handed the phone over.

"Annie? That you?"

"Yessir!"

"Great jumping jodhpurs, you're both alive and sound happy! I trust all is well?"

"Yes Colonel, we've eaten dinner and done a bit of dancing and we're just about to retire."

"Well I won't keep you, just letting you know we're all okay, all alive and well, we'll probably be there when you wake up, we plan to move out again ASAP."

"Thankyou Colonel goodnight."

"Look after yourself Annie, sweet dreams." I returned to Post Op, Charles had not yet gone to bed

"Annabelle, would you like me to walk you to your tent to get your nightclothes?"

"Yes please Charles." We did that and I also retrieved my fatigues from Margaret's tent.

We sat on my bed, talking and having a nightcap.

"Well it's been an undoubted pleasure sharing tonight with you Annabelle."

"Likewise, I've enjoyed myself thoroughly. It's been a pleasure, especially the dancing; you too are a divine dancer. Thankyou for everything."

"My pleasure Annabelle, would you like another?"

"I have a better idea, would you like to try the homemade stuff BJ and Hawkeye are always drinking?" I smiled, knowing I'd easily be able to get some.

"Well, why not, I'll try anything once." We forgot about sleep then as I got some martinis from the Swamp.

Some drinks later, we were very drunk and we were still wearing our formal gear.

"So, Chuckles, you're one pretty cool guy."

"Thankyou Lyssie, you're an okay kinda bird yourself!" 'Chuckles' replied drunkenly.

"If I could relive one moment of my life, I'd relive my graduation," He said suddenly.

"Nice, I'd relive the moment I first held my baby sister when I delivered her."

"That's pretty touching, you women are so emotionally ruled." Charles slurred.

"You men are so career-ally ruled!" I replied as the phone rang. I glanced at my watch, it was 2am, and I struggled out, giggling helplessly to answer it.

"MASH four-oh-whatever-we-are!" I trilled cheerfully.

"Annie?"

"It's Annabelle, fairy goddess!" I sang happily.

"Annie, are you drunk?"

"Only a little." I replied as seriously as I could muster before giggling helplessly.

"We've just finished and we're moving out ASAP, we need some sleep first. I hope we'll get back about 1000 hours." Charles struggled into the office then.

"What's happening that I need to know about Lyssie?" He tried to pull the phone out of my hand.

"Nothings that you need to know, geddof!" I fought him off the phone.

"Listen, I want both of you to go to bed immediately! We'll be back about 1000 hours okay?"

"Yes, Colonel." I giggled some more as I hung up the phone.

"He says that we's gotta get to bed!" I told Charles.

"That's a divine idea!" Charles staggered back into Post-Op and I followed, we fell obediently onto the nearest beds and fell asleep fully clothed.

"Ooh, my head," I murmured, as bright sunlight filled the room. Charles groaned on the bed across the room.

"Yuck, the hangover feeling." I murmured more to myself than anyone. I rarely got seriously hung-over, but always felt terrible when I did.

"Annabelle, when did Colonel Potter say he'd be back?" Charles asked, opening his cognac, taking a swig directly from the bottle before re- corking it and tossing it to me.

"10am," I replied, as the bottle landed on my bed and I had a swig also. The 'hair of the dog' revival technique worked well and as we both stood up, we heard the first jeep in the compound, it was 10am, and the Colonel as always was punctual.

"It's them, we're busted, we'll just have to make the best of a bad situation." I said.

"Yes Annabelle, but I'd appreciate it if not too many details leak out."

"I understand completely and I'd appreciate it if you reciprocated the favour. Here. Let me fix you up." I straightened his tie and suit. He smoothed my hair and helped me fix my dress just as the first jeep stopped and called for us.

"Shall we?" He asked, I smiled and took his arm.

"Yes, lets," We walked out into the compound, arm in arm.

"Great Mother McCree, what have you two been up to?" Colonel Potter's voice rang out as Charles and I crossed the compound.

"Not much Colonel, we just did a little dancing." I replied cheerfully.

"In the words of our beloved Colonel, Great Mother McCree what happened?" Hawkeye came up, and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Charles and I, my hand curled around his upper arm.

"In the words of our beloved Annabelle, not much, we just did a little dancing. But now I rather suspect I have walked her to her door. Goodnight Annabelle, it was a divine evening and I thank you very much for your company." He turned to me and kissed my hand.

"You're very much welcome, I had a lovely time last night Charles, thankyou very much." Charles placed my hand in Hawkeye's.

"Hey baby!" Hawkeye kissed me, and I took his hand while he felt for the gold band. It was there and he relaxed instantly. I gave him a 'didn't you trust me' look and he answered with a kiss.

"Come on everyone, we've gotta get these guys into Post-Op." BJ called, as he passed with a stretcher.

"Hey Anne." He ruffled my hair fondly as he passed a few minutes later.

"Hey Beej, good to see you." I swiped at his back, missing him by miles.

"Give us a hand here, and then go change your gown, Klinger would be scandalized if he saw you working in it!" Hawkeye called.

"I already am sir!" Klinger passed us and the staff chuckled.

We were in the OR a few hours later and discussing the previous day's events.

"Well it certainly sounds like you had a fairly magical night." BJ laughed as we related the story of our dancing.

"I'm not sure, magical is a word often used for a romantic night, and it doesn't sound like that night was specifically romantic." Margaret said doubtfully.

"Well why don't we ask the persons involved? Describe your evening in one word." Colonel Potter looked at Charles and I, as we worked on the patient.

We lifted our eyes, meeting each other's gaze above our masks, one word, that had been on our lips most of last night springing to both our minds.

"Divine."