Chapter 6

October 1957

There was a time in Margaret Houlihan’s life where she didn’t have to think of anyone but herself. She worked for herself, she shopped for herself, everything she did was for herself, and it wasn’t in a selfish way. All she had to think about and take care of for years and years was herself. Those times were long gone now.

She and Hawkeye told their family about the baby. It didn’t take long for them to put it together. Some didn’t mind, and some were disappointed. To Margaret all that mattered was what her father thought, and unfortunately he wasn’t too happy. She had to live with it for the time being because she had a lot on her plate now. She couldn’t make that her number one focus.

"Mommy," Danny whined. "I don’t wanna!"

"Honey, you have to take a bath. You’re dirty and you have to go to the sitter’s in the morning. We won’t have time for you to get a bath."

"NO!"

"Daniel Sherman Pierce, don’t you ever yell at me!"

That’s all it took and Danny started to cry. He was overtired, dirty, and didn’t want a bath. "Maa…meeee."

Margaret sighed partly in frustration and partly because she felt bad for the child. "I know you don’t want to take a bath, baby. We’ll make it quick and by that time Daddy should be home to read you a story. How does that sound?" Hawkeye had to stay late that night because he had to go back in on a patient.

He nodded and got into the tub. Margaret breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t have the energy to fight with him any longer, and wanted to go to bed herself. She had been on her feet all day and then took care of Danny all night. She was 6 months pregnant and getting bigger by the day. She needed to get off her feet and into bed.

When Danny was out of the bath and dressed for bed, Hawkeye was no where to be found. Margaret was really hoping that he would be home by that time so she could go to bed. She got into her pajamas while Danny was eating his snack and then picked up a book for her son.

"Mommy, where Daddy ‘night?"

"Daddy had to work late tonight. I’ll read you a story in my bed. How’s that?"

"Okay. Me ready. Is Baby ready too?"

She smiled. "Yeah. Baby’s ready to go to bed too."

"Me too."

"Good." She placed his plate in the sink and then picked him up and carried him to her room shutting the lights off in each room as she went. She laid down in her bed and he snuggled up to her. By the time she was on the third page he was sound asleep, and she was too tired to bring him to his bed. She decided that Hawkeye could do that when he got home and closed the book and shut the bedside lamp off.

Hawkeye took a cab home that night. He had been at the hospital for 14 hours that day. He started work at nine and it was now a little after eleven. He called his wife once that night to tell her that he was running later than normal, but he knew that by now she would be asleep. With work, Danny, and being pregnant, staying up past 10PM was too much for her.

He quietly let himself into the apartment and sat his things down by the door. He kicked off his shoes before walking to the bedroom. He didn’t want to make any unnecessary noise. He checked in on his son and saw that he wasn’t there. Then he went to his bedroom and saw the child curled up with Margaret. He smiled and scooped up his son and took him to bed.

He went to the bathroom and stripped down to his boxers in there so he wouldn’t have to turn the light on in the bedroom and wake his wife up. He crawled into bed in the darkness and spooned with her. He kissed her on the side of the cheek and then closed his eyes.

"Hi," Margaret said in a whisper.

"Hi. I didn’t want to wake you up. I’m sorry."

"You okay?"

"Uh huh. The patient is resting comfortably now."

"Good."

"I love you."

"Love you," she mumbled as she drifted off to sleep.

The next morning was hectic as usual. They took their turns in the shower, helped Danny get ready, feed him, and they talked a little bit about the plans for the day before heading their separate ways. Margaret went strait to work because she had to be there before him and he brought Danny to the sitters.

Margaret picked up the child as she normally did and the two of them went home to start dinner. At first she could handle all of that without a problem, but the farther into her pregnancy she got, the harder normal everyday things became. By the time Hawkeye got home at 6:30PM, she was ready for bed. She would actually relax on the couch with him and watch TV. To him, it was nice, but to her, she was just plain tired.

Margaret had Sunday off and she stayed in bed while Hawkeye got up with Danny. She slept until nine and then laid in bed for another hour. It felt really good not to have to get up. She could hear Danny and Hawkeye out in the living room playing with the child’s trucks and cars and laughing up a storm. She stayed there and smiled with her hand on her stomach. At six months she was showing and the baby was moving around now. She didn’t mind being pregnant at first, but she was starting to look forward to the end.

Danny came running into the room and smiled when he saw that she was awake. "Good morning," she smiled.

"Morning," he jumped up on the bed.

"Where’s Daddy?"

"At the basroom."

"So you snuck away and came in here, huh?" He just smiled at her not sure exactly what she meant. "Are you having fun this morning?"

"Uh huh. Are you sick?"

"No. Mommy’s just a little tired."

"Is Baby tired too?"

She smiled at him. "No, the baby is awake."

He smiled and put his head on her stomach. "Hi Baby. Are you awake? Me and Daddy are playing. You wanna play too?"

Margaret chuckled. "What did the baby say?"

"Baby said no," he shook his head. "He wants to stay wis you."

"Ah. What else did he say?"

"He say he wants me to has candy."

Margaret chuckled. "He really likes to talk to you, huh?" Danny nodded his head.

Hawkeye stepped out of the bathroom and saw that his son was no longer in the living room. He knew just where to look and went to his room. He saw Danny and Margaret lying in bed both focusing on her swollen stomach. Margaret looked up and smiled when she saw him in the doorway. "Good morning."

"Morning." He looked at Danny. "Did you wake Mommy up?"

"Nope."

"I was already awake. He’s just talking to the baby."

"Oh?" Hawkeye said with a smile. He laid down on the bed and gave his wife a kiss. "Are you feeling better today?"

"Much better."

"How’s the baby?"

"Growing, kicking, and taking all the energy I have."

"Sounds about right. What do you want to do today? The sun is shining and it’s a beautiful fall day out."

"You sound like an advertisement."

He rolled his eyes and ignored what she said. "What do you want to do today?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"Oh," he sounded disappointed. "I was hoping we could do something together today. Maybe go somewhere."

"As much as I would love to, I can’t. I’ve been so tired lately. I don’t feel up to it."

"You don’t feel up to much lately. When is your next doctor’s appointment?"

"This Friday at 1PM."

"Remind me and I’ll get off work. I’m going with you."

"You don’t have to."

"I want to." She smiled at him and gave him a kiss. "So, what can we do today?"

"You and Danny can go do something."

He looked disappointed again. "Without you? What are you going to do?"

"I think I’ll manage. Maybe we’ll all go out to dinner tonight."

"That sounds good. I think Danny and I will go to the park and play some football."

That made Danny perk up. "Yeah!" He loved to play football. He had broken a lamp a couple of weeks ago and was no longer allowed to have a football in the house, so he jumped at the chance to go outside and play. "Ready to go?" He asked his father.

"I’m all ready." He gave Margaret a kiss and then stood up and grabbed Danny. "We’ll be back in a few hours. We’re gonna get some lunch while we’re out. Is there anything you need?"

"Just come back in one piece, both of you."

"We will." Hawkeye and Danny smiled at her and then they left. She listened to them as they got their shoes on and their jackets. When they were gone, she got out of bed and went into the bathroom. She was going to take a shower, but she didn’t. She was too comfortable in her pajamas, so she stayed that way.

She turned on the TV and laid on the couch with her breakfast. It was nice and quiet and that’s just what she wanted. She hadn’t been able to do anything like that for a long time and really appreciated it. It was a welcome rest and a much needed one too. She lounged around all day, and it felt wonderful.

When Hawkeye and Danny came home at 2PM she was still lying on the couch in her pajamas with a blanket over top of her. She was watching an old Humphrey Bogart movie on TV. She smiled when she saw them walk in the door. "Hey honey."

"Hi," he smiled. "Don’t you look cozy?"

"I am." She nodded to the baby in his arms. "Looks like you tired him out."

"I did. Let me put him in his bed and I’ll be out to watch the movie with you."

Danny picked his head up off of his father’s shoulder. "No."

"What do you mean ‘no’, buddy? You’ve been trying to sleep for a half an hour.

He looked over at his mother with pleading blue eyes and held his arms out to her. "Wanna lay wis you. Me not tired."

"You look tired, sweetie." He shook his head no. "Come here." He wiggled out of his father’s arms and ran over to her. He started to climb up her. "Be careful of the baby." She didn’t want him to accidentally kick her stomach. She helped him get situated and he laid on her, tucked between her and the back of the couch. "All set?"

"Uh huh," he yawned.

Hawkeye smiled. "I’m gonna get a beer. Do you need anything?"

"No thanks. Just be quiet so I can watch the rest of this movie."

"Yes ma’am."

Hawkeye sat down and watched the movie with them as he sipped his beer. Before the end of the movie was over, Margaret and Danny were sound asleep. He made sure the two of them were covered up, shut the TV off. He decided to go for a walk and leave the two of them to their nap.

It was an hour later when he returned home. Danny was still asleep and Margaret was lying there with her eyes open. She looked like she had been up for a little while. She must have only taken a catnap.

"Hi baby," he whispered.

"Where did you go?"

"For a walk."

"That’s what I thought."

He helped her up so that Danny slid softly onto the couch without waking up. "Here you go." He handed her a single red rose.

"Aww," she smiled and took it from him. "Thank you honey." She gave him a soft kiss. "You’re so sweet."

"You’re welcome."

"I’m gonna take a shower. Do you want to join me?"

His eyes started to sparkle, "Are you serious?"

She didn’t say anything, but winked at him. He followed behind her like a little puppy to the bathroom. When she stepped into the bathroom she stopped him from going any farther. "Wait. You can’t take a shower with me."

"What? Why not?"

"Danny."

"He’s sleeping."

"Yes, but he’ll wake up soon and if we’re both in the shower, neither one of us will hear him."

He sighed. "Okay, but I’m coming in the bathroom to keep you company."

"Fine."

"I’ll leave the door open so I can hear him."

"Whatever you want." She started the water and then stripped down to get in.

Hawkeye stayed in there and talked to her as she showered. "You know, I was really hoping to take a shower with you. You had my hopes up and everything."

"Sorry." She loved the feeling of the water washing over her.

"You owe me now."

"I do, huh?"

"Yes. Tonight we’re doing what I want and you know what that means."

"Of course. It’s the same thing that got me pregnant."

He smiled but rolled his eyes. "Hey, we had fun didn’t we?"

"We always do."

"You know it’s been two weeks, right?"

She poked her head out of the shower to look at him. "I’ve been so tired. Sorry."

"I know, but two long weeks Margaret."

She smiled and went back to washing her hair. "What are you gonna do after the baby comes?"

"What do you mean?" His eyes suddenly widened at a thought she had. "You don’t want me to get cut do you?"

She laughed. "No. Once the baby comes we won’t be able to do anything for six weeks."

"I know. You better stock up on the conditioner than. Me and Mr. Right will be spending some time together in the shower."

"Ugh, you’re disgusting!"

"You love it," he teased.

"I do not!" She shut the water off and stuck her hand out. "Would you give me a towel?" He grabbed a towel and stood up. When she reached for it he pulled it away. "Pierce!"

"What?"

"Give it to me!"

He wrapped her in the towel and then held his hand out to help her out. She picked up her toothbrush and started to brush her teeth. He stood behind her and watched her. When she put the brush down he wrapped his arms around her from behind. "I think we need some new towels. These aren’t big enough anymore."

She slapped his arm. "They are too."

"I’m picking on you. You’re beautiful."

She smiled and turned in his arms. "I love you."

He kissed her and wouldn’t let go of her. "Let’s go to the bedroom."

"Danny," she said though his kisses.

"Sleeping," he mumbled against her neck.

"No. He’s standing right there," she pointed behind him.

Hawkeye let go of her and looked at his son. "You have the timing of a broken clock."

"What?" The innocent child asked.

"Daddy’s crazy," Margaret said. "Now if you two gentlemen will leave me alone, I’d like to get dressed.

"Fine." Hawkeye gave her a kiss and he and Danny went to find something else to do for the moment.

It was about five that evening that the three of them went to dinner. Margaret wasn’t nearly as tired as she had been and that was only because she had laid around all day and relaxed. Hawkeye was full of energy, but he always was. Danny was just glad to be out. Because Margaret had been so tired lately and lacked her normal energy they hadn’t been out to dinner.

When dinner was over, they went to do a little shopping. Margaret had decided that she wanted to paint the old office a pale yellow because it was going to become the baby’s room as soon as Hawkeye cleaned it out. She figured that the faster she moved on the nursery, the faster he would take the hint and start clearing out the room.

After they picked up the paint they went to a baby store. It had everything from furniture to clothes to toys; it had everything a baby would need. Margaret thought it was about time she picked out the furniture because as of now they didn’t have a single thing for the baby. Things had been so busy since they got back from their honeymoon with moving her things and blending two households into one. Now that she had some energy she wanted to get some things done.

"Hawk, what about this one?"

"It’s fine."

"Do you really want white?"

"Margaret, I don’t mean to sound mean, but they all look the same to me. Get what you want."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

She smiled. That was all she needed to hear. What she wanted was the most expensive set in there. It was a beautiful cherry set that came with everything. The crib, changing table, two dressers, and a padded rocking chair. "How about this one?" She said as she ran her hands down the side of the crib.

"Yeah," he smiled. "That’s a nice one."

Margaret turned to the salesman that was standing next to her. "We’ll take this set."

"We’ll have to order it ma’am. Will that be a problem?"

"How long will it take to be delivered to our apartment?"

"I would say three to four weeks."

"That’s fine. He’ll take care of the bill," she pointed to Hawkeye. He wasn’t focused on her, but was watching Danny play with some toys. "Hawkeye," she called.

He looked at her, "Huh?"

"If you’re ready to pay, this man knows what I want."

"Okay. Watch Danny."

Margaret smiled at the salesman and he and Hawkeye walked off. She took her son’s hand. "Come over here with me, honey."

Danny followed his mother over to the newborn clothes section. There was a rocking chair over there and he climbed into it while she looked around. Margaret looked through the newborn clothes and couldn’t help feeling absolute joy. She couldn’t wait to get her baby into her arms. She pawed through some of the racks that they had. She started looking at the neutral things, and then found herself in a sea of pink when she was looking that the baby girl things. All the while she was keeping one eye on Danny. He hadn’t moved from that chair that he found.

When Hawkeye found her she was looking at the newborn boy things. "What are you doing?"

She smiled and looked up at him. "Just looking."

"No buying?" She shook her head no. "Good, I think we spent enough money today," he gave her the receipt.

She chuckled. "You said I could get what I wanted."

"I know. Are you happy with it?"

"Very."

"Then that’s all that matters."

She smiled at him and gave him a kiss on the cheek. She had a little outfit in her hands and he took it from her and looked at it. "Tiny, isn’t it?"

"Yeah. I remember when Danny was that size. Seems like a lifetime ago."

"Well, you’re life is very different now."

"Better. Where is he anyway?"

She pointed to the three year old. It was a little after eight and he was dozing off as he was sitting there rocking. "We tired him out."

"Yes." Hawkeye walked over to him and picked him up. "You ready to go home, buddy?"

"Yeah."

Margaret hung up the little blue outfit and grabbed her husband’s hand as they walked out the door. "You know, I just thought of something."

"What?" She asked.

"We don’t have any clothes for the baby."

"That’s because we don’t have any room."

"We have that whole room we’re not using."

"Yeah, it has all your shit in it."

"I told you I would clean it out."

"You should do it this weekend."

"I can’t," he said.

"Why? You’ve been putting it off for months now."

"I have a conference in New York City this weekend, remember?"

"Ah. I forgot all about that."

"When do you leave? I have that doctor’s appointment Friday at 1PM."

They arrived at the car and Hawkeye put the baby in the back seat. "I’ll be there. I leave Saturday morning at 6AM."

Margaret waited for him to get in the car and sit down. "I have to work on Saturday. Did you get a sitter lined up for him?"

"No. I forgot all about it. Can you do it tomorrow?"

"Yeah. I think I can get Lucy to take him for the day. He’s knows her pretty well now." She was a friend of Margaret’s that Danny had been seeing more and more of now that Margaret was married to his father and he was always with her.

"Does he like her?"

"He loves her."

"Okay. I’ll be back Sunday night. Don’t touch anything in that room. I’ll take care of it next weekend."

"If you don’t take care of it next weekend I’m selling the furniture and some of the other junk you keep in there."

"I’ll do it." He said firmly. He didn’t want to listen to anymore nagging about that room.

"Fine!"

The week pasted just like the ones before it. The two of them went to work and Margaret would get Danny from the sitters after she got out of work. By the time that she and Danny got home she was dead on her feet. She would kick her shoes off and lie on the couch. Most of the time Danny would sit with her and they would talk. He loved to talk about that baby. That was his favorite topic, mostly because his parents instilled it in him. They wanted him to look forward to the new baby.

By the time that Hawkeye got home Margaret was still on the couch. He would make dinner for the three of them and then usually rub her feet for her. Her feet would swell up like balloons each day and she couldn’t do anything. Hawkeye didn’t like her working as much as she did. She had a hard job and it was hard on her body. But Hawkeye couldn’t say anything to her because it would only cause a fight.

Thursday night they were lying in bed and he was massaging her back for her. He was getting worried about her because her soreness and tiredness were not normal pregnancy things. She wasn’t able to function and couldn’t do anything but work. "Honey, what do you thinks wrong?"

"What do you mean?" She refused to admit that she was having a hard time and wasn’t superwoman.

"You work, and that’s it. You spend your days off recovering from the workweek and don’t do anything."

"I’m six months pregnant. What do you expect from me? Ah," she moaned. "Right there. That’s the spot."

"You need to cut back on your hours."

"I can’t."

"Why?"

"I just can’t. I’m the head nurse. If I cut back on my hours I won’t be the boss anymore."

"But honey, you can’t do anything right now except work. Doesn’t that bother you?"

"Sometimes."

"You need to tell the doctor what’s been going on."

"Nothings been going on! The baby is fine. I’m the one that’s tired."

Hawkeye stopped massaging and made her lie on her back so he could look her in the face. "You’re just as important as that baby. Don’t you forget it."

She smiled at him. "I guess since you’re gonna be there tomorrow I won’t have a choice but to tell him everything."

He bent down and kissed her. "Has your energy been rejuvenated enough?"

"Not as much as you want it to be."

He placed his hand on her belly and felt the baby move and then he placed his ear on her stomach. "What’s that you say Baby? You want Mommy to have sex with me?"

Margaret slapped him on the head. "Watch what you say."

"It can’t understand."

"I don’t care. Don’t talk like that to her."

"Ah. Okay. I’ll settle for a goodnight kiss. But I’ll expect a welcome home gift when I come back from that conference."

"Deal."

Hawkeye’s knee was bouncing up and down as he sat next to his wife in the waiting room of her OBGYN. He kept glancing at the clock on the wall. "It’s after one."

"I know. Sometimes they run a little late. Do you have to be back at the hospital?"

"At two, but I have enough time, right?"

"Yes."

He smiled at the baby that was sitting on his mother’s lap across from him. "Hi." The baby smiled and cuddled closer to his mother. Hawkeye whispered in his wife’s ear. "Let’s have another boy."

"Hawkeye," she scolded.

"Okay, let’s have a little girl."

"Mrs. Pierce, the doctor will see you know."

Margaret stood up and grabbed Hawkeye’s hand and they followed the nurse. When they got to the examining room the nurse took Margaret’s blood pressure, temperature and all the normal vitals that they always did. Hawkeye sat in a chair in the corner looking at a woman’s magazine. That was all they had in there except children’s books.

When the nurse left Hawkeye stood up and looked around. He opened the cabinets while Margaret told him to get his hands off of them and sit down. He was playing with a plastic replica of a baby in the uterus when the doctor walked in. "Dr. Pierce, nice to see you again."

Hawkeye placed the baby back on the shelf and turned around like he was a child being caught playing with an antique. "Hi, Dr. Jones. How are you?"

"Fine, and you?"

"Doing good, very good."

"Glad to hear that." The doctor turned to Margaret. "Now the most important question, how are you feeling?"

"Tired and fat."

He laughed and looked at Hawkeye. "She’s one of my most honest patients."

"Oh, believe me, she doesn’t hold anything back."

"Stop talking about me like I’m not here!"

Hawkeye smiled, "See what I mean?"

"Yes. You know the drill by now Margaret."

"Uh huh."

After the physical exam was over the doctor left to let Margaret get back into her clothes. He had found that his patients were more comfortable talking to him when they were in their clothes instead of a paper gown. Hawkeye was good and sat to the side as the doctor did his job. It wasn’t until the doctor left that he turned back into himself and started to grope his wife as she tried to get dressed.

By the time that the doctor came in and talked to the two of them, he had plenty to say. He knew Margaret wasn’t going to like what he had to say, but it was best for her and the baby.

"I can see that there’s something you want to say," Hawkeye noticed.

"Just say it," his impatient wife stated.

"From what you two have been telling me and what I saw upon the exam, you’re gonna have to stop working."

"WHAT?!"

"I’m sorry. If you continue to stay on your feet all-day you’re going to end up with Toxemia. At your age and this being your first baby, we need to take precautions."

"I understand that, but why do I have to stop working? Isn’t there another way?"

"Margaret," Hawkeye said. "The man knows what he’s talking about."

"Yes I do, and you’re going to have to stop working."

"I can’t do that."

"You’re married to one of the top surgeons in Boston. I’m pretty sure you can afford not to work for a few months."

"She can," Hawkeye answered.

"But…"

"Honey," he said softly. "We have to do what we have to do."

Margaret sighed and as much as she hated the idea, she knew she had to stop working. She would fight later if she had enough energy. "Does that mean I’m on bed rest?"

"No. You’re on your feet all day at work, and that’s not good. I want you to take a week and stay in bed and relax. Don’t go anywhere that you have to do any amount of walking. No trips either."

Margaret nodded. The way she was feeling now lying in bed for a week didn’t sound like a bad idea, but she wasn’t going to say that out loud. "What about our three year old son?"

"Oh, no lifting. That means him too. Don’t pick him up, don’t pick up a laundry basket, no heavy lifting at all."

"Now if he’s home alone with me, we’ll be fine, right? I won’t have to stay in bed while he runs wild."

"No. You can take care of him as you normally would, but don’t pick him up. And I don’t want him home with you for the first week unless someone else is there to take care of him. I want you to pamper yourself."

"Okay."

"Good." The doctor looked at Hawkeye. "I’m glad you came today. You make sure she follows my orders. I want this baby to be full term, maybe even later."

"You don’t have to worry about that."

"Now, where are you two going?"

"We have to get back to work."

"Wrong answer. You’re talking her home and taking care of her every need for the next 5 days."

"I have a conference in New York I have to leave for tomorrow morning."

"Cancel it."

"I have to work tomorrow," Margaret said. "I can’t just leave."

"You have to. You don’t have a choice and unless you can get someone to stay with you while your husband is gone, he’s going to be by your side."

Margaret opened her mouth to argue, but Hawkeye beat her to it. "We’ll work it out one way or another."

"Good." The doctor stood up and shook their hands. "I’ll see you soon."

"Bye."

Margaret and Hawkeye left the doctor’s office silently. She knew he wasn’t going to let her go back to work so she didn’t say anything when they headed home instead of back to the hospital. When they got home she spoke as he walked her into the building and to their apartment.

"I’m sorry."

"It’s not your fault, baby."

"What are we gonna do?"

"I’m going to go back to work and tell them. If they need you they can call you. I’ll tell them I can’t make it this weekend and I’ll have to go to the next one."

"When is that?"

"The end of January."

"Hawkeye, that’s when the baby’s due."

"I know," he pushed the button on the elevator. "That’s why I wanted to go to this one. If we’re lucky, I’ll get out of both of them," he smiled.

She smiled at him. "I’m really sorry."

"Stop it. You didn’t do anything wrong. After work I’ll go get Danny and explain to the sitter about things and see if she’ll be able to watch him on Mondays for us."

"Just this Monday," she said. She got her keys out of her purse when the elevator came to a stop. "He can stay home with me."

"Are you sure?"

"Of course. He’s my baby too. I want him with me."

Hawkeye smiled at her. He loved how she loved Danny as though he was her child and had raised him. She did have a big part in raising him the past year, and would from now on. "I’ll work it out so the sitter can take him next week and then he’s home with you until the baby comes."

"Okay." She unlocked the door and walked in. She immediately kicked her shoes off followed by her jacket. "I have to make some calls."

"Oh no you don’t." He took her hand and led her to the bedroom. "You’re not doing anything but lying in bed."

"I have to call work and tell them I can’t come in tomorrow or any day for that matter."

"I’ll take care of it. If they need to talk to you or see you then they have to wait until next Monday. I have orders to follow and you’re not doing anything but lounging around the house."

"Since when do you follow orders?"

"Since our child’s life depends on it."

He tried to push her to sit on the bed, but she wouldn’t go. "I have to use the bathroom, and I want to change out of these clothes and into something more comfortable."

"Okay. You do that and I’ll go make a couple of calls. You better be in that bed when I come back."

She smiled, "I will. When are you getting Danny?"

"I’ll know after I talk to my boss. If I don’t have to go back in this afternoon then I’ll go over and pick Danny up and talk to his sitter."

"Let me know what you’re doing before you leave."

"I will."

Hawkeye did what he had to do to be able to stay home that weekend and take care of his son and his wife. Margaret wasn’t on complete bed rest, but she had to stay home and off her feet as much as possible. Hawkeye went to the extreme when it came to taking care of her and even got Danny in on it. He would tell his mother that he was going to tell daddy because she wasn’t listening and was doing laundry.

Margaret tolerated the two of them for the weekend and couldn’t wait until Monday. They would be gone and she would be home alone. She found that it was easier to pamper herself when no one was around. She would sleep in and take a nice long bath and do some reading. She was starting to think that staying home wasn’t such a bad idea.

By the time that the baby furniture was delivered Hawkeye had the office cleaned out and painted. There were a few problems that she was getting frustrated with. Hawkeye wouldn’t help her move the furniture around the way she wanted it, and she couldn’t do it herself. She couldn’t decorate the room because she needed the furniture to be in place. Hawkeye didn’t seem to want to do anything to get ready for the baby, and she needed his help to do it.

Danny didn’t notice that anything was wrong. He loved staying home with his mother all day. He thought that it was the most wonderful thing to have her all to himself during the day. She would sit with him and read to him, they would watch TV together, take naps together, and eat together. He was practically in heaven with her home like that.

By the fifth week at home Margaret was getting more and more on edge. She was sick of being big, but was getting bigger and bigger by the day. She knew that the farther into her pregnancy she got the less she would feel like doing things, but yet Hawkeye didn’t seem to understand that. He would always tell her they would set up the nursery later, they would go shopping later, they would start introducing Danny to newborns later. Not only did they need to shop for the baby, but they also needed to go Christmas shopping. It was the end of November and she wanted to get things out of the way rather than have to fight in the stores later.

"Hawkeye," Margaret called from the nursery. Danny was spending the weekend with Dan in Maine. Dan hadn’t seen much of them since Margaret was about 6 months pregnant because she wasn’t supposed to travel. So, Dan decided to go to Boston and get his grandson and spend some time spoiling him. That left Hawkeye and Margaret alone for a few days. All they had done so far was fight.

"What?"

"Can you come here?"

"I’m busy."

Margaret huffed and rolled her eyes. "Fine! I’ll do it myself."

Hawkeye tossed the dish towel on the counter and went to her. She was trying to move a dresser in the baby’s room. "What the hell are you doing?"

Margaret stopped and looked at him. "Doing what you should have been doing weeks ago."

"Stop." He grabbed the dresser so she couldn’t move it.

"Let go!"

"What’s gotten into you?"

"Me?!"

"Yes, you. You’ve been biting my head off for two weeks now. I thought with Danny gone we could have a nice dinner together and you haven’t done anything but nag me since he left."

"Look at this room. It’s not ready for the baby."

"The baby is two month away."

"How much do you think I’m going to be able to do in the next two months month? Look at me now. I waddle. I can’t imagine what’s coming next."

Hawkeye knew she was frustrated with being at home and being so big. It wasn’t that being at home was that bad, it was the fact that it wasn’t her choice. She was told she had to do that and she didn’t like people telling her what to do anymore than Hawkeye did. "Margaret, stop it. We’ll get around to the room."

"And then we need to get clothes, diapers, bottles, sheets…"

"I know, I know."

"And what about Christmas shopping for Danny?"

"I’ll take care of it."

"No you won’t! You don’t do anything." She pushed him away and walked out of the room and to their bedroom.

Hawkeye was furious now. He took a couple of deep breaths and went to his room. "Listen, I work forty hours a week, sometimes more. I come home and most of the time I have to make dinner. I do the laundry, I clean the damn floors, I do a lot! And on top of it all, I do it to your standards just to please you."

"You won’t let me do that stuff anymore!"

"I know, and I thought you’d at least appreciate it a little that I’m doing it now!"

Margaret was pissed now. He was insinuating that she didn’t care and didn’t appreciate what he was doing for her. She picked up the closet thing she could grab, which happened to be some of the clean laundry that she had just folded, and threw it at him. "You’re an asshole!"

"Me?!" He dodged the clothes. "What about you? I do everything I can for you and you don’t seem to give a damn!"

"You clean! You don’t look at me like you used to! You don’t kiss me like you used to. You don’t do anything for me."

"What?"

"You know exactly what I’m saying. I’m fat, I’m irritable, and my husband thinks I’m a bitch."

"I don’t think you’re bitch."

Her eyes became big, "But you think I’m fat!"

"I didn’t say that."

She started to toss pillows and clothes at him. "You’re the one that had to keep going when the damn condom broke! You were the one that said it would be okay! And like an idiot, I listened to you. Now look at me. I’m a fat cow."

Hawkeye was getting ready to walk away because he didn’t want to lose his temper with her. Through the barrage of pillows and clothes he saw that she was crying. He decided to suck it up and make his way through everything and he wrapped his arms around her.

"Stop it!" She yelled. She was trying to fight him off and started punching his chest to get away, but then gave in and broke down.

She started sobbing. Hawkeye stroked her hair and held her to him. "Shh, it’s okay. There’s nothing to get so worked up about."

"I…know," she cried.

"I’m here for you. I’m sorry for everything."

"No," she sobbed. "I’m sorry. I…didn’t mean it."

"Hey, it’s okay, baby."

"I’m happy about the baby. I just feel like a fat cow."

"Oh, honey, you’re not. I’m sorry I didn’t make you feel better about yourself."

She looked at him. "I’m sorry I hit you."

"No problem. You can hit me anytime. I’ll be your own personal punching bag for the next two months if you want." He smiled at her as she started to laugh through her tears. "How does that sound to you?"

"Good."

He placed his hand under her chin and made her look into his eyes. "I want you to know something."

"What?"

"You’re beautiful just the way you are."

"No I’m not."

"Yes you are."

"Hawkeye, look at me. I’m a fat cow. How can you say that?"

"You’re not a fat cow! You’re carrying our child."

"I know, but…"

"But nothing. You’re gorgeous and I love you."

"I don’t know why," she said looking away from him.

"Stop beating yourself up. I told you I’m your punching bag. Criticize me. Tell me I have a big nose, or that my arms are too skinny, or how about I talk too much." She started to smile and then laugh. "You feel better?"

"A little." She nodded.

"Good. Now what do you say we eat some dinner?"

"Okay."

"We’ll do the nursery tomorrow. I’ll help you all day and so will Danny. He’ll be home tonight."

"Sounds good to me."

"Good." He gave her a tender kiss. "Now do you promise to be nice to me from now on?"

"I can’t promise you anything. These hormones are unpredictable."

"Don’t I know it!"

"Hawkeye," she sounded hurt.

"Sorry." He noticed that she was getting more and more sensitive about everything lately. He would have to start paying more attention to her moods before he spoke. That was never one of his strong suits.

When Danny came back the two of them spent time with him and Dan. He was staying the night and leaving to go back home early in the morning. He saw how lovey-dovey Margaret and Hawkeye were and knew that they must have just made up after a fight. That was the only time the two of them were like that.

The next morning Dan left and the three remaining Pierces got started on the nursery. It was nice that Danny was there so they could include him and make him feel like he was a part of it. They worked hard all day having fun at the same time. It was well worth the wait because they had a wonderful time together as a family.

When the room was set up how Margaret liked it she sat down in the rocking chair that was placed in one of the corners of the room. She wanted to see if that was the final place for it because it had started out somewhere else but she didn’t like it.

"How is it?" Hawkeye asked.

She smiled up at with her hand on her stomach. "Its perfect." She looked down at her belly and smiled. The baby had been kicking up a storm all day. "You think so too? I’m glad you like it because once you start sleeping through the night you’re gonna be in here a lot."

Hawkeye smiled at her. He loved to see her talk to the baby like that. He couldn’t wait to see her with the baby and see what the baby looked like. "Does he like it?"

She smiled up at him. "Yes."

"Mommy, can I feel?" Danny asked walking over to her.

"Of course you can." She placed his tiny hand on her stomach and he smiled brightly when he felt the baby kick. "Wow, I think the baby knows you."

Danny laid his head against her belly. "Okay," he said. He picked his head up and looked at his mother. "Baby said she want me have ice ceam."

"She did?"

"Uh huh." He placed his head back down again and listened. "And you too."

"Oh I know it. This baby always wants me to have ice cream."

Hawkeye laughed at the two of them and held his hand out to his wife to help her out of the chair. "You think you can settle for some chips because we don’t have anymore ice cream."

She gave him her most disappointed look. "We don’t? Are you sure?"

"I’m sure. I had the last of it tonight. Do you really want some?"

"I do!" Danny jumped up and down.

Hawkeye looked at his wife hoping that she would say no. He hated the nighttime trips to the store. "Would you like me to go get some?"

Margaret smiled with her hand on her stomach. "It doesn’t matter to me, but the baby would really like some."

He smiled and shook his head. "I’ll be back."

"Can me go?"

"No buddy. Stay home with Mommy."

"Yes," Margaret said. "We’ll get in our pajamas so we can have our snack when Daddy comes home."

"Okay."

When Hawkeye came back his wife and son were in the kitchen sitting at the table with the bowls and spoons already out. He sat the ice cream down and the three of them enjoyed a nighttime snack together. Margaret seemed to be really enjoying it. It was so funny to see her like that with food because normally she was nothing like that. She would eat, but she wouldn’t savor it.

"Is that good?"

"Very," she smiled. "Thank for going to get this for me."

"I thought it was the baby wanted it."

"It was, but since he’s in my body I speak for the both of us."

"I see," he smiled.

Margaret looked at her son, "Are you done?"

"Uh huh."

She stood up and got a wet cloth and wiped his face. "You look tired, honey."

Hawkeye glanced at the clock on the wall. "Its almost 10PM."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

Margaret grabbed the bowls and put them in the sick. "We have to get you to bed." Danny held his arms up to her and she was about to pick him up, but she stopped herself. "Daddy will get you."

Hawkeye picked him up and started to walk out of the kitchen. "Mommy," Danny said. "Are you comin’?"

"Yep," she followed the two of them.

"K."

Hawkeye and Margaret brought him to his bed. Margaret sat down on the edge of the bed and tucked him in. "You were a big help today. Did you have fun?"

"Yeah," he nodded. "When is Baby comin’?"

"Two months. We still have a while to go."

"Oh," he said sadly.

"What’s the matter?"

"Me wants to hold my baby," he pouted. He was overtired.

"So do I," she said. "But we have to wait until she’s ready."

"Why?"

"The baby has to grow bigger and when he’s big enough, he’ll come out."

"Oh," he sounded like he understood. "Can Baby come now?"

She smiled at him and so did Hawkeye. "No, not now. Right now, you have to go to sleep baby. Goodnight. I love you."

"Wuv you."

"I love you too buddy," Hawkeye said and gave him a kiss.

"Wuv you."

Hawkeye and Margaret left the room smiling. "If this baby is anything like him we’re gonna be in trouble."

"Yes," he agreed with a smile. "You ready to go to bed?"

"I’ve been ready for an hour."

He smiled and they walked into their room. "You’re in a much better mood today."

She got into bed and laid down. "I feel better with the nursery done. Like we’re more ready now."

"We are," he crawled in next to her. "If you and Danny go anywhere this week you can start buying things for the baby."

"Definitely," she smiled. "I’ve been looking forward to it."

"Good. I’m glad to see you’re happier."

She smiled and kissed him. "The only thing that could make me happier would be to have this baby in my arms."