Hawkeye didn’t see much of Margaret once they got home. It had been two weeks and he had only seen her in the hall and when he went to pick up Danny from her. She was watching him on Mondays now. Hawkeye’s normal sitter was having some health problems, so he had to find a new one. In the mean time his friends were helping out with Danny. Margaret had him on Mondays and picked him up the rest of the four days of the week when she got out of work because she was out an hour before Hawkeye. Each time Hawkeye went to pick his son up, Margaret had the baby ready and at the door. He was very confused by her behavior. He would rather talk than ignore the situation.

Margaret stayed away from Hawkeye as much as she could for the time being. She didn’t want get to hurt. She thought that the best thing was to have things cool down for a little while before they started spending more time together. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but she didn’t know of another way. She wanted to keep things as least complicated as possible. She didn’t want to lose him as a friend, but she didn’t know if he was ready for more.

After three weeks of this, Hawkeye couldn’t take it anymore. One Sunday afternoon he marched up to Margaret’s apartment with Danny in tow. He had to talk to her about something. He needed to see her and hear her voice say something other than ‘hello, goodbye’.

"Daddy, where we go?"

"We’re going to see Margaret."

"Yay," he said happily.

"You haven’t seen her for a day. What are you so happy about?"

"Me wuv Maggie," he informed his father and then took off down the hall to Margaret’s door.

Hawkeye smiled and walked behind the baby. Danny knocked on the door before Hawkeye reached it and Margaret answered. She must have been standing right next to it. She smiled and bent down to the baby, "Hi honey. Are you by yourself?"

Hawkeye walked up to them, "No he’s not by himself. Are you crazy?"

She smiled at him and picked Danny up. "How are you today?"

"Dood. Me come see you."

"I see that." She looked at Hawkeye, "Come in." They walked in and Margaret took their coats and put them in the spare bedroom she had set up to double as an office. When she walked back out into the living area Hawkeye was sitting on the couch talking to Danny telling him to behave himself. She smiled at him. He was a great father, and she loved that about him. "Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"If you have some made, I’ll take some. Cream and sugar please."

"I know." She said walking into the kitchen. Five minutes later she was back with a tray with the coffee, a juice for Danny, and some cookies. "Here you go," she sat it all down on the coffee table.

"You’re a wonderful hostess," Hawkeye smiled.

She smiled and sat down in the chair. "Why are you here?"

"I want to ask you something."

"What’s it about?" She hadn’t had a conversation with him in a while and assumed he wanted something.

"This Saturday night."

"Um…yeah, I can watch him. Are you going on a date with one of your bimbos?"

He smiled, "That’s not what I was going to ask you. I was going to ask you if you’re free Saturday night for another reason."

"What’s that? You need me to watch your bimbo date?"

"I hope not," he smiled. "What I’m trying to ask you is if you would like to go out with me. Would you?"

Margaret gave him an odd scrutinizing look. She didn’t know what he was trying to pull, and she didn’t want to fall for something that was going to end up hurting her. "What are you talking about?"

"You and me." He could read her mind and knew what she was thinking. He had thought some of the same things himself. "I want to go out with you, Margaret. I want to see where this would go, and don’t try to pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about."

"Hawk, I don’t know. I don’t know if I want to take that chance."

"It’s either move forward, or stay like this, and I don’t want to do that. I miss seeing your smile and talking to you. I miss knowing you’ve been at my house because I can smell your perfume."

"What do you want?"

"I want to move on. We’re more than just friends, we both know that. It’s about time we admit it so we can go on and see what we can be. Who knows, maybe we’ll end up killing one another, but we may not, and I’m ready to take that chance. Are you?"

She sighed and looked down into her cup of coffee as if it would give her the answer. "It scares me."

"What does?"

She looked into his eyes. "To get involved with you. I don’t want to get hurt or lose a friend."

She had a point there, but he also had one. "I don’t want to go on like this. We don’t talk, we avoid each other. Hell, Margaret, I’d rather fight with you than nothing at all. Would you please go out with me Saturday night and see what happens? I have a sitter for Danny."

She smiled at him. She really wanted to go out with him, and he seemed to want to take her out. "What’s your plan?"

He smiled widely causing his eyes to crinkle like she loved. "Nothing too fancy to start, dinner and movie. I have to be back to get Danny by 12, so we can’t stay out late."

"That’s fine."

"Is that a yes?"

"Yes," she smiled. "I’d be glad to go on a date with you."

He winked at her, "You’ve never been on a date until you’ve been on one with me."

"I’ll bet. You’re gonna be good, aren’t you?"

"I am," he grinned. "Would you expect anything else?"

"Yes, a lot more."

"Well, I have to get going. I have laundry to do."

"I can never get used to hearing you say that."

He smiled and downed his coffee and grabbed a cookie before getting to his feet. "Danny, you ready to go buddy?"

"No."

"Too bad. Let’s go."

Danny walked over to Margaret and sat on her lap and gave her a hug. "Me haves to go bye-bye."

"I know. I’ll see you in the morning though. You’re going to spend the day with me."

He smiled, "Go store too?"

"No, we’re sticking close to home and working on that potty training that you started."

"Me big boy."

She smiled and gave him a kiss. "Bye honey. I’ll see you tomorrow."

Margaret found herself anxious about Saturday. They weren’t going anywhere fancy, but she couldn’t find anything to wear. She wanted to look good and feel good. She went shopping Saturday after work and still didn’t find anything she wanted to wear, so she had to go back to her closet and find something. It was driving her crazy. She knew Hawkeye, and he had seen her at her worst, she could figure out why she felt so nervous. He had seen her covered in blood, dirt, in the morning with no makeup, you name it and he saw her that way. She didn’t know what was wrong with her.

Hawkeye was so giddy about his date with her it was ridiculous. An hour before their date, he was in the shower getting cleaned up, he did his hair, he shaved; he cleaned himself for her. When the sitter came Hawkeye gave the young girl the rules, which didn’t take very long. And then he grabbed his coat and headed upstairs to pick Margaret up.

He was a little early but he thought that she would be ready. She was the one that was always on time and mostly waiting for him. He knocked on the door and waited for an answer, but it took her a minute to get there. When she answered, she was in a towel with her hair also wrapped in one. "I’m sorry. Am I early?"

"Not really," she ushered him in. "I’m running late. It’s my fault. I’m sorry."

He smiled and shut the door behind him. "No problem. We’ll eat a quick dinner so we can make it to the movie."

"That sounds good," she smiled. "Make yourself at home. I’ll try to be fast. If you’re hungry you can find something. Whatever you want," she walked into her bedroom and shut the door.

Hawkeye smiled to himself. "You just made my day in that towel." He looked down at his pants, "Down boy. We’re not ready for that yet."

It took Margaret another half an hour to get dressed and ready to go out the door. She couldn’t find anything that she wanted to wear, but she had to settle on something anyway. Hawkeye had been waiting patiently for her and it didn’t seem to bother him. She was very impressed. When she came out of her bedroom he was lying on the couch reading a magazine.

"I’m ready now."

He stood up and smiled at her. She was so pretty and she didn’t know it. He thought that had to be something that made her more beautiful. "Okay. You look wonderful."

"Thank you," she smiled and touched her cheek self consciously.

"Let’s go. How does Italian sound to you?"

"Great. Let’s go."

The two of them went to dinner and a movie as they planned. Hawkeye was a little shy with her. Any other time he was open and flirting, but he felt awkward. They had known each other for so long and now they were on a date. He was a gentleman all the way and didn’t try to make her feel uncomfortable in any way. Margaret had a good time, but noticed he was a little shy. She didn’t know what was wrong with him; she had never seen him like that.

He dropped her off at her door at midnight and gave her a kiss on the cheek and told her he’d see her Monday when he dropped Danny off, maybe tomorrow if he had to go into work. He had some things he needed to do and he was on call, which meant that he was undoubtedly going in. Margaret always took the baby for him when that happened.

Margaret had to take the baby on Sunday night, and he ended staying the night because it was 11PM by the time Hawkeye got out of work. Hawkeye went home and went to bed because he had to get up in the morning for work. Margaret hadn’t talk to him since he dropped her off Saturday night. When he dropped Danny off on Sunday he had to leave in a hurry. She was hoping that she would get to talk to him Monday when he picked up his son.

"Maggie," Danny cried.

"What honey?" He wasn’t feeling good and she had to be in the same room as him or he would throw a fit. "I’m right here."

"Maggie, want you hold me."

"Danny, I’m right here honey." She was folding some laundry and sitting in the chair. He was standing in front of her pouting and getting ready to cry. "Can you wait a minute?"

"No," he burst into tears.

Margaret sighed and moved her things aside and picked him up. "I know you don’t feel good, baby. What do you need?"

"Me wants you."

She rubbed his back, "You have me. I’m not going anywhere. Daddy will be home in a few hours to pick you up. Will that make you feel better?"

"No Daddy. Want you."

"Okay. I’m here. We need to get you some medicine. I bet Daddy has some downstairs for you. Let’s take a walk."

"No."

"I’ll carry you."

"Okay," he said sadly.

She spent the rest of the day taking care of the child. He was a handful when he was sick. She finally got him down for nap, but that didn’t last long. He was up after an hour and whining unless he was being held. She felt like his mother not his sitter, or whatever she was supposed to be. She didn’t even know anymore.

Hawkeye never worried about his son when he was with Margaret. He didn’t even call at lunch like he did with other sitters. He knew Danny was in good hands and trusted her 100%. He had been so busy all day that he wouldn’t have had the time to call her anyway.

When he did get home, he dropped his stuff off at his place and then went upstairs to get Danny. Sometimes Margaret would have dinner made, and he was hoping this would be one of those days. He knocked on the door and waited for her to open it. He could hear her getting closer because he could hear his son’s voice getting louder. He was mad because Margaret stood up and he wanted her to sit down and hold him like she had been doing.

"Hi," she said when she opened the door.

"Hi. What’s the matter?"

"He’s sick," Margaret said walking away from the door so he could shut it. "He’s got a cold, but apparently he doesn’t like it."

"Can you blame him?" Hawkeye picked up his son and felt his forehead. "He’s a bear when he’s sick. What’s the matter buddy?"

"No feel good."

Hawkeye looked at Margaret, "Did you give him something?"

"Yes. I had to go to your place and grab it."

"Okay. Are you ready to go home, Danny?"

"No." He reached for Margaret and she took him.

"He’s been like this all day." She rubbed his back and sat back down on the couch and cradled him in her arms. "I was going to make something to eat, but with him like this I couldn’t."

"It’s okay. Do you want me to cook something?"

"If you want to."

"Do you mind us staying?"

"Of course not, you know that."

"Just checking. Are you okay with him?"

"As long as he’s fine, I’m fine."

He smiled at him. "You’re gonna make a great mother one day." She flashed him a smile. "I’m serious."

"Go start dinner."

"That’s right; you don’t know how to take a compliment." She rolled his eyes and he laughed. "I’ll make dinner."

"Good."

Margaret sat through dinner with Danny on her lap. He ate a little bit, but he was picky and fussy. Hawkeye took him home after dinner and Margaret had to listen to him scream as his father took him away. She felt so bad for him and would have kept him but she had work in the morning. She wasn’t his mother either, no matter how much he wanted her to be.

Hawkeye asked Margaret to go out with him that coming weekend and she accepted. She had a wonderful time with him and knew that their relationship could really go somewhere. Her future could be with him, and she welcomed that. She no longer turned him down or thought he was the scum of the earth. Since she had found him again he had proven to be a very romantic, and someone grown up man. He still had his little boy qualities about him, but they were all part of his charm.

They had been going out for a month and felt that it was time to include Danny. He was too little to really know what was going on, but they were getting serious very fast and Hawkeye wanted Danny to see them together as a couple not just friends. Margaret agreed with him and asked him what he wanted to do. He said that he was making dinner Saturday night and wanted her to come by around six. He also wanted her to spend the night, but he didn’t say that.

Margaret knocked on his door at six like he told her to. She had gotten home from work, showered, and got dressed and then went to his place. Hawkeye was cooking his favorite meal again; spaghetti and meatballs. He had told Danny that Maggie was coming over and he was all excited. He was waiting for her to get there and ran to the door when he heard her knock.

"Daddy," he yelled. "Maggie here! Open door, she come in."

"I’m coming buddy," he smiled. He wiped his hands on a towel and then went to the door. He opened it and Danny ran into her legs and wrapped his arms around her. "I think he’s glad to see you."

"I think so too," she smiled. She bent down and picked him up. "Hi sweetie. How are you?"

"Good," he smiled. "You gonna eat wis me?"

"I am," she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

"Come on in," he ushered her inside and gave her a sweet kiss on the lips. "How was your day?"

"It was alright. How about you?"

"Good. What did you bring?"

"Oh," she handed him the wine. "I thought this would go good with dinner."

He smiled at her, "Are you trying to get me drunk and take advantage of me? You know you don’t have to get me drunk."

"Watch your mouth. The baby can hear you."

"I didn’t say anything he would understand."

"Not yet, but one day you’re going to and he’s gonna repeat what he hears."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah." He walked off into the kitchen to get back to his dinner. Margaret sat down with Danny and talked to him for a few minutes. Hawkeye came back with two glasses of wine. "I thought you might like one now."

"Thank you," she said taking it. As she did so she brushed his hand and felt something like an electrical charge. He did things to her like no man ever did, and they hadn’t even slept together yet. She was looking forward to that.

"What are you doing tomorrow?"

"I don’t have any plans. Why?"

"Just checking."

She looked at him like he was up to something, but she didn’t ask. "Where did you get that picture?" She had spotted something new on the mantel. She stood up and walked over to it.

He stood up and went to her. He looked over her shoulder and smiled. "I found it today. I was looking for something in my office and I came across this. Does it bring back memories?"

"Yes it does." She examined the picture closely. It was a picture of the two of them at the beach on the fourth of July. They were standing together at beach posing because BJ had begged them to so he could have a picture of the two of them to show Peg and Erin.

"Do you remember what happened after that picture was taken?"

"Yes," she smiled. "You threw me in the water."

He laughed. "My, my, how you forget. You pushed me in the water as soon as he snapped the picture and I just pulled you down with me."

She stood up strait and looked into his eyes, "Because you grabbed my ass!"

"So you do remember."

"Yes I do. You’ve been looking at my ass for a long time, haven’t you?"

"Let’s see," he pretended to think. "Its 1957, I’ve known you for seven years, so yes, I’ve been looking at it for all seven years."

"You’re horrible," she smiled and tried to be disgusted. "I don’t know why I put up with you."

He smiled at her. "I better get cooking the rest of the dinner. Would you mind entertaining my son for a little?"

"I’d love to," she smiled. She looked over at the child and he was sitting in the middle of the floor now playing with his Lincoln Logs. She sat down with him and let him teach her how to build.

About ten minutes later Hawkeye called them and told them dinner was done. Margaret got Danny into his highchair and all settled in like she always did. She fell into the roll of care taker to that little boy long ago, and thought nothing of it anymore. It was a part of her normal everyday life, and now that she and Hawkeye were together it was more now than ever.

Danny made a mess of himself with dinner. Margaret cleaned him up enough so he could get down and play before he had to take a bath and go to bed. Instead of cleaning up the kitchen, Hawkeye and Margaret sat down and talked and laughed. It was the most relaxed either of them had been lately. Hawkeye didn’t have to be in a hurry to get back home because of the sitter and it was more informal now that they were at his place.

Hawkeye couldn’t count the times he caught himself staring at her. He was falling for her, and falling fast. Sometimes he would look into her eyes and memorize the color while she was talking to him. Other times he watched how her mouth showed her teeth when she talked, and just how perfect her teeth really were. There were a few times that night that he didn’t know what she was saying because he was looking at her rather than listening to her.

Margaret saw what he was doing a few times, but she was doing the same herself. The man sitting beside her on that couch had captured her heart after all those years. She found herself wanting to be with him forever, and she hadn’t even slept with him. That was a first for her.

"Hawkeye," she said. "I think its time for his bath. He looks like he’s falling asleep."

Danny was sitting in the middle of the floor playing with his building blocks and starting to doze off. Hawkeye smiled at him, "I think you’re right. Danny, you ready to go to bed?"

That perked him up, "No. Playing wif toys."

"For a few more minutes," his father said. "And then you have to go take a bath."

"Okay."

"How long do you think he’s gonna last?"

Hawkeye looked at his son again, "He’ll be asleep before he’s in his pajamas."

"I think you’re right," Margaret smiled. "He’s pretty tired. What did you two do today?"

"It was a nice afternoon so we went to the park and played in the snow. He’s going through a growth spurt though so he’s been sleeping more lately too."

She looked at the little boy on the floor. He was perfect to her, just as her own children would be. "He’s getting too big."

"He’s growing up," Hawkeye said proudly. "And I think he’s turning out very good."

"He is," she nodded in agreement. Margaret jumped to her feet when Danny let out a wail. "What’s the matter?"

Hawkeye beat her to him and picked him up. "What’s the matter?" He was screaming and crying now.

"Owww," the baby cried.

"What hurts, buddy?"

Danny looked at Margaret and held his hands out to her, "Mommy, take me."

Margaret’s eyes almost popped out of her head when he said that, but she took him into her arms. "What’s the matter honey? Can you tell me?"

"Falled down," he showed her his hands. "See boo-boo?"

She didn’t see anything on his hands and knew he was just tired. Normally that wouldn’t have bothered him in the least. "Let me kiss them and make them better." She did as she said. "Is that better?"

He nodded yes and gave her a smile. "Tank you."

"You’re welcome. Why don’t we give you a bath?"

"You do it Maggie?"

"Yes."

"Daddy too?"

Hawkeye smiled. "Daddy too, buddy."

Hawkeye couldn’t believe his son had called Margaret ‘mommy’. He wasn’t overly surprised, but it was something he wasn’t expecting to hear at that moment. It was because Danny was hurt and tired and it just slipped, but Hawkeye had to admit to himself that he liked the idea of Danny calling Margaret ‘mommy’.

After the baby’s bath, Hawkeye dressed him and read him a story. Margaret left the father and son alone and went out to the kitchen to start cleaning up. Hawkeye loved putting his son to bed, and she knew that. He had told her all about he and Danny’s routine and how much his son meant to him. She didn’t want to get in the way, and she needed a little breathing room. After being called ‘mommy’ and then giving the baby a bath together, she was feeling a little too much like she was playing house, and she didn’t want to do that. She couldn’t let herself do that; it would hurt too much for everyone if things between her and Hawkeye didn’t work out.

Hawkeye kissed his son on the head and walked out of the room turning the nightlight on and shutting the door. He turned the record player on to some love songs and then went to find Margaret. He heard her in the kitchen and saw her standing at the sink getting ready to do the dishes. He walked up behind her and wrapped his arms around her.

"Hey sexy," she smiled.

"What are you doing?" He asked nuzzling her neck.

"Cleaning up," she leaned her body close to his. It seemed like she could never get close enough to him.

"Not anymore." He grabbed a dish towel and dried off her hands. "I’ll do this later." He picked up her hand, "Come dance with me."

She smiled and followed him into the living room where he took her into his arms. "I love dancing with you."

"I know," he smiled and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Me too. Its like we were made for each other."

"Uh huh," she mumbled. She was getting lost in his arms. It had always been easy for her to do that, but lately all it took was a hug.

He picked her chin up so she looked at him and they kissed. It wasn’t long, but they were already lost in each other. There wasn’t another soul around, and theirs seemed to be becoming one. They were soul mates, and they both knew that for years. There was no mistaking that.

Soon things were getting heated and clothes were trying to be taken off. Hawkeye moved them into the bedroom before any clothes came off, but after that door was shut it was another story. They had so much passion for one another that they could feel it burning in their hearts. No one had ever made them feel like that. It was an adventure to be together, and it was worth it.

Margaret had fallen asleep with her head on his chest and his arm wrapped around her. He didn’t go to sleep right away, and that was something new to him. He laid awake and felt her next to him. The soft skin on his was welcome and having her in his arms never felt so good. He looked at her through the moonlight and thought about what it would be like to have her with him like that all the time. There was never a woman on earth that made him think about forever.

Soon he had to get up and go to the bathroom. He kissed her on the top of the head and eased out of bed trying not to wake her up. He slipped his boxers on and left the room quietly. After going to the bathroom his checked in on his son. He was still sleeping peacefully so Hawkeye went back to his bedroom.

There she was sleeping on her stomach. The pillow had been thrust aside and the sheet had fallen from her back and was only draped across her waist and legs. He crawled back into bed next to her and placed a hand on her back. She had the nicest skin he had ever seen. Normally he wouldn’t notice something like that, but with her he noticed everything. He placed a gentle kiss between her shoulder blades and reluctantly covered her up before drifting off to sleep.

Margaret opened her eyes at 5AM and saw where she was. She smiled and almost snuggled closer to him, but changed her mind. She got out of bed and started to get dressed as quickly and quietly as possible. Her plan didn’t work out too well. She knocked the alarm clock onto the floor and woke him up.

He wiped the sleep from his eyes and looked at her. Was he seeing her getting dressed and leaving? "Margaret," he said groggily. "What are you doing?"

"I’m going to my place," she whispered.

He sat up in bed and reached for the clock on the floor. "Why? Its only 5AM. You can stay."

"I can’t," she said buttoning up her shirt.

"Why?"

"The baby will see."

"He won’t care. He won’t even know."

She smiled at him. "It doesn’t matter if he knows or not. I can’t have him wake up and know I slept here. I know he won’t know what it means, but I do."

"I’m not following." Part of that had to do with the fact that he was tired, and the other, that he was a man.

"He’s a kid," she whispered sitting on the bed. "He doesn’t need to see this."

"See what? There’s nothing for him to see."

"I can’t do it."

"Was it something I did?"

"No, Hawkeye. He called me ‘mommy’. I don’t want to confuse him more than he already is."

"Oh," he sighed.

She smiled and kissed him. "I had a wonderful time. I haven’t felt this good in…well…I don’t know how long."

He smiled. "Me too." He pulled her close to him so that she was almost lying on him. "We’ll have to make this a habit," he kissed her again.

"Mmmm," she nodded when she sat up. "I have to go. Lunch?"

"Sure. We’ll meet you at your place at eleven thirty."

"Okay." She gave him one last kiss and then got up and left.

Hawkeye and Danny were up bright and early having breakfast. Danny asked about Margaret and when he was going to see her. He had been seeing her everyday, but he still felt the need to ask. After breakfast was over they kept with their normal Sunday routine. Hawkeye started the laundry and then they lounged around the house the rest of the morning.

Margaret woke up and saw that it was already eleven o’clock. She hadn’t slept that late in years. Hawkeye and Danny would be there to get her for lunch within the hour, so she decided to jump in the shower quickly. Once she got to her apartment earlier that morning, she crawled into her bed and tried to get back to sleep, but found that she wasn’t nearly as comfortable alone in her bed as she was in Hawkeye’s bed with him. It took her over and hour to get back to sleep and she stayed that way until 11AM. She slept better when she was with Hawkeye.

Margaret had her hair done and her makeup started when she heard a knock at the door. She looked at the clock in the bathroom and it said that it was 11:30AM. She knew it had to be Hawkeye and Danny. She grabbed her robe and put it around her. She had been wearing a towel, but thought it better to open the door in her bathrobe rather than a skimpy towel.

"Hi," she smiled.

Hawkeye smiled and kissed her. "Hi. You’re not dressed."

"I know. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready." She looked down at Danny, "Hi honey."

"Ready go?"

"Not yet. Let me get dressed and we can go."

"Okay," he ran off to the living room where he had some toys and started to play. He never had a problem entertaining himself.

Hawkeye stepped inside and shut the door behind him. He took Margaret into his arms and gave her a soft loving kiss. "I had a great time last night."

"Me too," she smiled up at him.

"Too bad you had to leave. I didn’t sleep nearly as good after you left."

"I know, I didn’t either, but I can’t stay at your house with the baby there."

"I know." He gave her another kiss. "Danny and I will entertain ourselves for a few minutes while you finish getting ready."

"Okay." She started to walk away, but turned around and gave him one more kiss. He smiled at her. "I couldn’t resist. I’ll be out in a minute," and she went to change. She couldn’t get the smile off her face the whole time she was getting ready. He made her feel so good about herself and about the two of them. There wasn’t a time in her life that she had felt so secure about where she was in life.

She put on a pair of jeans; ones that she knew made her ass look very appealing, just for Hawkeye. Then she went back into the bathroom to finish her makeup and brush her teeth. She loved to look good and tease Hawkeye as much as possible. She loved to watch him suffer.

"Daddy," Danny said. "Me haves to go potty."

"Can you wait a minute, buddy? Maggie’s getting dressed." Danny sighed and sat back down on the floor. Since Danny was in the middle of potty training Hawkeye didn’t really like to make him wait. "Let me go see if she’s done and you can go use the potty."

"Okay."

Hawkeye stood up from the chair and walked down the hall to the bathroom. He knocked on the door and then opened it without waiting for an answer. "Are you all...?"

Margaret was brushing her teeth and looked over at him. She spit in the sink and then wiped her mouth with a washcloth. "Pierce."

He grinned. "Danny needs to use the bathroom."

"Oh." She looked down and realized she wasn’t wearing a shirt. She grabbed a towel and covered herself.

"What are you doing? I’ve seen it all now."

She smiled slightly and shook her head. "He can use the bathroom. I have to get my shirt on and then I’ll be done." He blocked the doorway so she couldn’t get out. "What are you doing?"

"Give me a kiss and then you can pass." She smiled and kissed him. "Mmmm, that was good."

She smiled and ducked under his arm. "Danny, honey, you can use the potty now." He got up and ran into the bathroom. He was doing very good with his potty training and was proud of himself. He would get so disappointed when he would have an accident and she didn’t want that to happen because she was in the bathroom and he couldn’t use it.

When they were all ready to go they went and had some pizza at Danny’s request. That was his favorite meal and since he was doing so well at potty training, he got to pick what they did that afternoon. Margaret and Hawkeye didn’t care what they did as long as they were together. Things were moving fast between them, but they were both up for it. They both started to think that they found love, but never said a word to the other.

After lunch was over Danny wanted to go to the park and play for a while. It wasn’t too cold outside so Hawkeye said that they could do that. He and Margaret sat at a picnic table while the baby played in what was left of the snow. It was mostly just snow banks that had melted down to little mounds of snow, but Danny loved it all the same. It was March now, so the snow was starting to disappear.

Margaret was sitting on the side of the table that had the perfect view of where the baby was playing. Hawkeye had started out on the opposite side, but soon sat down next to her. He couldn’t see his son, and he also wanted to be next to her. He wanted to feel her in his arms and give her a kiss when he felt like it. He couldn’t stand being on the other side of the table.

Danny got sick of playing in the snow and he was getting tired. It was close to his nap time and it was about time to start heading home to get him to bed. No one liked to have a cranky two year old on their hands.

"Danny, time to go buddy," Hawkeye stood up and called to his son.

Danny got up and ran over to his father and Margaret. They were both standing up and Hawkeye picked him out. "No," Danny yelled as he wiggled to get down.

Hawkeye put him down. "You can walk then. We’re gonna go home."

Margaret took the little boy’s hand and Hawkeye grabbed the baby’s other hand. Danny loved to be with both of them like that. He was used to being with them one on one, but having them together like that was wonderful. He could sense what was going on between Margaret and his father, and what he was feeling was good.

Once they were on the sidewalk and on their way home, Danny decided that he would rather walk by himself. He let go of their hands and walked in front of them. Hawkeye and Margaret’s empty hands didn’t stay that way for long; they found one another. Danny kept up a fair pace, but the poor little guy kept tripping because he was so tired. Margaret or Hawkeye would usually grab his hand before he fell down, and then he was on his way again like nothing ever happened.

"You know something," Hawkeye said.

"What?"

"I think my son is going to be a handful."

"Why do you say that?"

"Look at him. He never wants help. He wants to do everything on his own."

"He’s independent, but that’s a good thing." She smiled at him. "But then again he is a Pierce, and that just screams trouble."

Hawkeye laughed, "You’re a funny lady," he said with light hearted sarcasm.

"I know." She cringed as she watched Danny stumbled and Hawkeye lunge and miss. "Oh no," she saw the baby on the ground on his hands and knees. Hawkeye quickly picked him up. Danny was too shocked to cry for a moment, but then he let out a wail and started to scream.

"Its okay," his father said. "You’re okay. I got you."

"No," he screamed. "It hurts Daddy."

"What hurts buddy?"

Danny looked at Margaret and held his hands out. He was bawling and screaming and it kept getting worse. "Mommy, take me pease."

Hawkeye handed him over and rubbed the baby’s back. "You’re okay buddy."

Margaret gave the child a kiss on the head. "You’re okay honey. Do you have a boo-boo?"

Margaret tried to peal his head off her should so he would look at her. He wouldn’t do it. "Danny, look at Maggie. She wants to help you." He was trying to get his son to calm down because people were looking at him now thinking he was being tortured. He tried to take him back, but the child screamed louder.

"No!" He wrapped his arms around Margaret’s neck. "Maaaa….meeee," he sobbed.

"Danny," Margaret said. "I have you honey. Stop crying and show me your boo-boo."

Danny picked his head up and showed her his hands. They were dirty and a little red from the impact on the cement, but nothing more. "See."

"I see," she brushed them off carefully and then kissed his hands. "There you go. Let’s go home."

"No nap," he pleaded with tears.

"Okay. How about I hold you when we get home?" He nodded yes and laid his head on her shoulder. "Okay. I’ll do that."

Hawkeye wrapped his arm around her and smiled as they started to walk. "We need to talk about this."

She knew he was referring to the baby calling him ‘mommy’. "I know we do."

He couldn’t figure out if it was a good thing or a bad thing. She was always there and took care of him like she was his mother. That wasn’t a bad thing, but he didn’t know if that was what she wanted. They hadn’t even told each other that they loved one another, although they did love each other.

When they got back to the apartment Margaret got Danny settled and sat on the couch with him. Hawkeye gave her a blanket and she and Danny covered up while he went to do another load of laundry. It was hard to watch his son acting like she was his mother, but what could he do? He couldn’t tear them apart. He often had thoughts about the three of them being a real family, but all they were was thoughts. He didn’t know if that was what she wanted or not, and he didn’t want to ask her because he didn’t want to move too fast.

When Hawkeye came back on the room Danny was sound asleep. He walked over to the two of them and tossed the blanket to the side. "Let me put him to bed and then you and I will talk."

She lifted the baby up to him and let him go. "Okay."

It was less than two minutes later that he came back out to the living room. He laid down with his head resting on her lap and looked up at her and smiled. She smiled back at him and ran her fingers through his hair. "I don’t know what to do."

She bent down and gave him a kiss. "I think he’ll be okay. He’s only said it when he’s been really tired. I don’t even think he knows what he’s saying."

"Maybe you’re right."

"I hope so," she said. She gave him another kiss. "You know something?"

"No, what?"

"You have the softest hair I’ve ever felt, besides Danny’s."

"Where do you think he got it?" He looked up into her eyes for a moment, and then she smiled. That made him smile. "Can I tell you something?"

"You can tell me anything."

He sat up and looked at her. "Promise me you won’t get mad."

"I won’t. What’s this about?" She was puzzled. He was acting a little strange.

He held up his right hand with his pinky outstretched to her. "Pinky swear."

She laughed, "Hawkeye, that’s childish."

"Pinky swear," he insisted. "Pinky swear that you won’t get mad."

She smiled and thought about it for a moment. "Okay," she sighed. She linked her little finger with his. "I pinky swear that I won’t get mad."

"Good," he smiled. He looked into her eyes. "Margaret Elizabeth Houlihan, I’m falling head over heals in love with you."

She stared at him for a moment with a blank expression on her face. He wasn’t sure what she was going to do. It had crossed his mind that she might be trying to decide what to do because she swore she wouldn’t get mad. All his fears were put to rest when a bright smile spread across her face. "Well, Benjamin Franklin Pierce, I’m glad to hear that because I’m falling head over heals in love with you too."

He smiled and lunged at her and kissed her. She fell back onto the couch and he climbed on top of her never letting her lips go. It was such a release to tell her and hear her say it back to him. He didn’t want to let go over her, but thought that he had to when he felt her pushing him off of her. "Sorry," he breathed as he sat up.

She smiled at him. "Don’t be." And then she lunged at him. He smiled at her after the small shock wore off. "You’re heavy."

"Ah," he nodded. He wrapped his arms around her and started to make out with her again. He didn’t realize it until she said that he was heavy just how much weight he had placed on her.

She settled on top of him comfortably. She had better access to him like that, and she didn’t have one hundred eighty five pounds on her either. She moaned as his hands moved all over her body and soon went to the back of her pants and started to tug at them. She wanted him to continue, but it was a little difficult in the position.

"Can we go to your room?"

He smiled up at her and kissed her. Then he pushed her off of him and stood up. He grabbed her hand like an excited teenage boy and ran off to his bedroom. She was in his arms and his hands were roaming all over her body. Before she knew it, she was on the bed being undressed. Somewhere along the way she had undressed him too and he was in his birthday suit on top of her.

"Mmm," he moaned into her neck as he kissed her pulse.

"Ah," she breathed. He knew just what points to hit. "Hawk…eye," she moaned.

"What?"

"The door," she pointed behind him.

He got up and shut it. They didn’t need Danny seeing anything or hearing anything. "Better?" He grinned as he crawled onto the bed.

"Yes," she smiled and took him into her arms.

Later that afternoon Danny woke up and found Margaret was still there. She was sitting at the kitchen table sipping her coffee when he saw her. He walked over to her and climbed up on her lap. She gave him a kiss on the side of the head and he smiled at her. "Did you have a nice nap?"

He nodded and leaned back against her comfortably. "Where Daddy go?"

"He’s taking a nap."

"Like me does?"

"Yes, like you do. How would you like to go with me to the store and we’ll go get some groceries?"

"And Daddy too?"

"No, we’ll let your father sleep. Just you and I will go. Is that okay?

"Okay," he smiled.

"Can you get your shoes and coat on for me?" He nodded and got off her lap. She drank the rest of the coffee in her cup and then put it in the sink. She smiled at Danny as she walked through the living room and into Hawkeye’s room.

He was lying in the middle of the bed on his back with his eyes closed. He looked like a child in a way, and she smiled to herself. She looked around for his pants and spotted them next to the dresser. She picked them up and grabbed his wallet out of the back pocket.

"What are you doing?"

She almost jumped out of her skin when he said that. She thought he was sound asleep. "Danny and I were going to go get some groceries and make dinner. You don’t have any food in your house."

"Yeah, I know."

"I needed some money and I didn’t want to wake you up."

"I was awake," he yawned.

She walked over to the bed with his wallet and sat down on it and handed it to him. "Here."

"Take what you need."

"No," she handed it to him.

"I trust you baby," he smiled. "Take what you need. I know you’re not going to steel from me."

She smiled at him and bent down and kissed him. "We’ll be back. You can relax. How does that sound?"

"Great. You kept me up until 3AM, and then I had to get up with Danny at 8AM."

"I know," she smiled. "I slept in until 11AM, so I’ll take him with me and you can finish your nap."

"Okay," he yawned. "Give me a kiss before you go."

She leaned down and gave him a kiss. "We’ll be back soon."

She stood up, but he grabbed her hand. "I love you."

She smiled brightly at him and gave him another kiss. "I love you too."

"Get me a candy bar while you’re out, will you?"

"Sure."

Margaret and Danny went grocery shopping and then made dinner. When it was time for Danny to go to bed that night, Hawkeye asked Margaret if she would like to put the baby to bed with him. He had always handled that on his own in all the time she had known Danny. She was flattered that he offered, and accepted. It was clear to see that he was trying to include her as part of the family and show Danny that. She was no longer just his friend that lived upstairs and sometimes took care of Danny. In the past couple of months her role had changed, and it was time that Danny saw that too.

After Danny was in bed, she planned to head home. Hawkeye had work in the morning and she had to get up to get Danny for him. He would still spend Mondays with her rather than a sitter. It started out as a favor to Hawkeye, but now it was just normal everyday life.

"I should head home."

"No," Hawkeye objected. "Stay the night."

"Hawkeye," she sighed as she stood to her feet. "We’ve been over this. I’m not going to spend the night here with Danny. It just isn’t right."

"He’ll never know."

"Pierce," she scolded. She picked up her coat and put it on.

He jumped to his feet and took her in his arms. "Stay here. You have to come by in the morning to get him anyway. Go get your clothes," he kissed her. "Come back here," another kiss. "And spend the night with me."

"Hawkeye, I would love to do that, but…"

He kissed her again to keep her from talking anymore. "I’ll set my alarm so you wake up with me. Danny won’t get up until I wake him up. He’ll sleep all morning if you let him."

"Hawk…" She opened her mouth to speak again.

"He won’t know. He’ll think you came to get him like you do every Monday morning."

She thought about it for a moment. Looking into Hawkeye’s pleading eyes made her give in. She also thought about how good it felt to be in his arms the night before, and how great the sex was that night, and this afternoon. "Okay," she smiled. "Let me grab my things. I can’t believe you talked me into this."

He laughed. "Hurry."

"I will."

Spending Sunday night there soon became normal. Danny never knew about it. She was always up and dressed before he woke up, and Hawkeye was gone to work. He was only a toddler and didn’t pay attention to that. But there were many things that he did see, and welcomed the change. Margaret was there everyday, or they were at her house. Other than sleeping in separate beds most of the week, they were like a married couple with a toddler.

Hawkeye was ready to take the next step in their relationship, but wasn’t sure if she was ready for it. They had been together for a few months, and he wanted that to turn into decades. He would just wait until she was ready. After all, they had only been together as a couple for a few months, and he wanted that to turn into decades. He would just wait until she was ready. After all, they had only been together as a couple for a few months. Moving too fast wasn’t what Margaret wanted, and all he wanted was to give her what she wanted.