Hawkeye and Margaret finished their dinner and just enjoyed the view drinking their coffee. They had so much to say, yet no way to say it.

Margaret was the first to speak again. "Have you heard of anything from the rest of the 4077th yet?"

"Well, I talk to Beej every few days, and I had a couple letters from Radar when I got home. Apparently he thought we got home July 27th, right away or something. He's got a girlfriend though. Her name is Patty. Apparently they met in the airport on his way back from R&R, that time when he just got back and got to go home again. Have you?"

"No, I guess no one knows where I am. I don't blame them; since I didn't even know where I would be once I left the 8063rd. I really should contact them. You haven't heard from the Colonel or anyone else, have you?"

"Well, actually, just yesterday Trapper called. But, he's changed, you know?! Well, actually I think the thing is he hasn't changed. He said he had a girl for me out in Boston, and we could go on a double date. I wasn't interested so he said he'd just have more girls to himself. I thought he was joking, and I said he wife wouldn't want to take some strange girl with them on a date, but it turns out, he wasn't going with his wife. I can't see why it didn't bother me before. I would never have done what he did in Korea, but I thought it was just because he was lonely. I really got upset with him and ended up hanging up on him."

"Oh, Hawk, I'm so sorry to hear that. I always said what he did was bad, but what I did wasn't any better. I knew Frank was married. I would never think of doing anything like that now. The only relationship I'm looking for is one that would be a long lasting one. Not some fling."

"Me too. That's the reason I didn't want to go out with Trapper and his nurses. I mean, I still make passes at nurses, but I'm just fooling around. I was then too. I wasn't ready for a serious relationship. I just wanted sex. Now, I want more than that. I want someone to love."

"Yeah." Margaret said thoughtfully. "You really have changed Hawkeye. Your morals seem so much better. I think part of it is BJ, but mostly, you've finally grown up."

"I have NOT! Take that back! I will NEVER give up my Groucho glasses!"

"Hawk, you know what I mean."

"I know I know. Why don't we go get your things at the hotel and head back to meet dad. I told him as I was running out the door that you were moving in, so I didn't actually see his reaction, but don't worry. He'll love you. He's just like me!"

"Oh, lovely" Margaret said sarcastically getting a playful slap on the arm in return. "Let's go."

The two got up to pay the bill, and Margaret started to reach for her purse. "You don't think I'd make a girl pay for her meal did you? You can put your money back. I'm paying for it."

"Gee, thanks Hawkeye. That's nice of you."

"No prob. C'mon let's go." Out of habit he placed his hand lightly on her back to lead her out of the restaurant and into the car. The sun was almost set, but you could still see it on the horizon. They got into the car, but Hawkeye went a completely different way than they had come.

"Where are we going Hawkeye?"

"Hold on I'll show you." They pulled into a dirt pit that didn't look nice at all. "We're here. Just follow me"

They got out of the car and walked behind a few trees until they reached the beach. There was no one else there and they had a perfect view of the sunset.

"Oh, Hawkeye! It's beautiful! No wonder you missed this place so much. I love it here! I'm so glad I came to Crabapple Cove."

"C'mon, over here." He sat down against a rock and pulled her down so she was sitting between his legs with her head on his chest. They sat there for a long time, just watching the sunset, and enjoying each other. Hawkeye idly played with her hair and twirled it with his fingers.

"This is so pretty Hawkeye. Thank you so much for the wonderful evening! I can't wait to meet your father."

"Yeah."

"Oh, Hawkeye, I missed this."

"Missed what? We never did this before."

"I know, but just being with you, without fighting. We get along so much better now. I still remember why you drove me nuts, but those qualities in you just seem to be part of your humor now. I think I'm getting like it too. Which scares me." She gave a little shudder. The wind was cooler than she was used to for August.

"You cold? Here, have my jacket. I'm used to the Maine weather." He took of his jacket and placed it around her shoulders and put his arms around her to keep her warm. She didn't protest.

"This is nice."

"Hmm."

They were getting lost in the moment, each wanting to kiss the other, but also afraid. Hawkeye broke the odd but nice moment once he realized that they had been sitting there for half and hour and the sun had long dipped into the ocean.

"We should go. Molly won't like you checking out so late in the night."

"What?" Margaret had been lost just thinking about Hawkeye. "Oh, Yeah, let's go."

They got her things, after a few remarks from Molly about Hawkeye's "new girl". They got home, and Margaret was speechless about the place where she would call home.

It was a fairly large house, not small, but cozy. It had a wrap around porch the second floor, huge windows, blue shutters against the white washed siding. There was even a white picket fence. On the first floor there was a deck on the front with a porch swing, and as they walked in the backyard, (because nobody in a small town uses their front door) there was a gazebo and a huge back patio with a grill.

"Hawkeye, this is the house I dreamed of as a child, with no real home except for what the Army boarded us in! It's beautiful! Thank you so much for letting me stay with you."

"It's no problem. But, if you don't mind, I'm gonna go straight to bed. I have to work in the morning."

"That's okay. I should too. We'll be working together tomorrow." Margaret said smiling.

Just as he opened the door a big Golden Lab bounded down the stairs and nearly knocked over Hawkeye. "Woah! Tuttle!! Be good. Okay boy. Sit. Paw. Good boy!!" He got down on the floor playing with the dog as if he was a dog, growling, bowing and barking, and even pretending to bite Tuttle's ear, leaving Margaret standing there, half scared to death. Just then, a man who looked exactly like Hawkeye except his hair was grayer and he had a few wrinkles came out into the porch.

"You must be Margaret. Don't mind my son, I'm sure you already know that. My name is Daniel. Welcome to our humble abode. Son? Get up off the floor and act human for a change!" Even in his voice and his gestures, you could see Hawkeye. In fact their voices we exactly the same. That would get confusing she thought.

Hawkeye got up and brushed himself off and fixed his hair. It was all ruffled up from playing with the dog. "Oh, yeah. Sorry. Margaret this is dad, or Daniel, Dad, this is Margaret."

"We already got that established Hawk. Now invite this lovely lady in and show her where everything is. Since she is living with us. I'll take your bags for you." As he led them into the living room he said, "You know, I heard a lot about you. Hawkeye was so happy when he found out you were here. In fact, you were always the first thing in his letters Margaret this and Margaret that."

"Da-ad!!" Hawkeye said. He was beet red, and was acting just like a teenager on his first date. "Anyway, Margaret, your bedroom is upstairs, first one on the left. The bathroom's at the end of the hall. This is Tuttle by the way." He said pointing to the dog now sniffing Margaret's bags.

"I figured that. That's so sweet of you to name him after such a noble captain like Tuttle. He was a great man." She looked over and saw Hawkeye red in the face shaking trying to suppress his laughter. "What's so funny about Tuttle? He was a great man, and it's tragic what happened to him!"

With that, Hawkeye lost it all together. When he could breathe, he managed to get out "Tuttle never existed!! We made him up to requisition supplies and money to St. Theresa's orphanage!"

"You WHAT? You mean you screwed the Army over! But not for yourselves as many people would have done. You did it to feed the orphans. How sweet of you!"

"Margaret you really have changed. If I had told you this a year ago you would have been furious because it was against Army Regulations. I'm proud of you."

"Yeah, well, I realized what was more important. And the Army isn't one of them. Anyway, I think I'll go get to bed. Good night. And thank you so much for letting me stay here!"

"I think I'll follow you Margaret. We do have to work tomorrow, and it will be so nice to work after actually sleeping for once. Goodnight Dad!"

"Goodnight kids." Daniel said to them as they climbed the stairs. He was so happy. She was perfect for his son, and just what he needed to be happy.

Later that night Hawkeye woke up and just couldn't sleep. It wasn't a nightmare. For the first time since he got home he didn't have one. He thought he heard someone downstairs. He glanced at his clock. 3:00 in the morning. His dad should be asleep, unless he was sick or something. But someone was definitely up. He got out of bed and slowly crept down the stairs. He heard someone crying. He looked around the corner, and saw Margaret crying on the couch, hugging her knees. She was back on to him so he went over and slowly sat down behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She didn't flinch; she just melted back into him.

"You want to talk about it?" He whispered. When she turned around to face him he used the bottom of his shirt to wipe off the tears.

Once she swallowed the lump in her throat, she spoke. "It's just, there was Frank, but I knew nothing would come of him. Then there was Donald. I thought I would marry him and be happy. But he cheated on me! I want to have a long marriage with someone with a big family, you know, the perfect picket fence family. But I don't have anyone! What's wrong with me?" She said as she lent forward and buried her head into his chest, crying again.

"There's nothing wrong with you. You were just looking in the wrong places." He replied as he pulled her close and cuddled into her. "And I use that in the past tense" he added, and kissed the top of her head.

She looked up and their eyes met. Hawkeye leaned forward and kissed her. It was a short kiss, but nice all the same. Then he kissed her again. This time more passionately and she deepened the kiss. He moved a bit so he was on top of her. Kissing her neck. All of a sudden they heard something. They both looked up like deer in headlights. Daniel was standing there.

"Don't mind me, kids. You just go back to whatever it is you were doing. Although maybe you could get a room. I just wanted to get something to drink. I'll be going now. He went into the kitchen and got a glass of water. On his way back upstairs he looked back into the living room to see Hawkeye and Margaret sound asleep. He covered them with a blanket and went upstairs. It was the first sound sleep for both of them since before Korea.