*&*&*&*&*&*&*&

After Margaret was through doing what she needed to, she picked Matt up out of the highchair and they walked outside.  By that time Hawkeye and Danny had been in the pool for ten minutes and were laughing and splashing around.  Danny spotted them and waved, but went back to jumping in and out of the water.  Hawkeye saw Danny wave and turned to look.  Margaret was standing at the edge of the pool with the baby in her arms.  Hawkeye swam over to them and placed his hands on her bare feet, smiling up at her. 

"You coming in?"

"No, change of plans.  I'm going to help your father make dinner."

"Okay, but that's not for a while.  You have enough time to come in."

"No, I'm going to shower instead."  She sat down on the ledge and dangled her feet in the water.  "Take him," she said handing Matt over.  He was going crazy not being able to get in the water.

Hawkeye gathered the baby into his arms and placed him in the water up to his belly.  "Just jump in and you won't have to shower."

"No, I want to shower.  We're having company."

"Who?"

"It was my idea."

"Well, who is it?"

She paused for a moment and looked into his eyes.  "Dora, and she's bringing her grandson Sam.  Your father already met him; he's the same age as Danny."

Hawkeye narrowed his eyes, not sure if he should be hurt or angry or either one.  "Why did you invite her?"

"You need to meet her."

"But now?"

"What's wrong with now?  Tomorrow we're going to that Fourth of July celebration and the next day we're going out alone.  Then we leave the day after that.  We don't have another time, and this seems like the best way."

He sighed knowing she was right.  "What time?"

"An hour.  You can jump in the shower after me.  Keep the baby with you so your father doesn't have to worry about him."

"Fine.  We'll play for a little while."

"Okay.  Give me a kiss."  He reached up and kissed her.  "Cheer up, honey.  She's a nice woman and she's not here to be your mother or the boys' grandmother."

"I know."

"You'll like her."  She stood to her feet.  "Be careful with him.  He's just a baby."

Hawkeye rolled his eyes as she walked away.  "She must think I'm an idiot.  I know you're a baby; you're five months old."

*&*&*&*&*

 

Hawkeye stayed in the water with the two boys for about twenty more minutes.  When the baby started to turn into a prune he decided it was time to get out of the water.  When the three of them got into the house Dan was in the kitchen gutting and cleaning the fish.  Hawkeye had Matt in his arms wrapped in a towel and Danny ran to the living room and turned on the TV.  He had been busy all day long and Hawkeye told him to go to the living room and hopefully he would nap.  He didn't want Danny to be in a bad mood for dinner.

"You cooking on the grill?"  Hawkeye asked.

"Yeah.  When I'm done with this."

"So," Hawkeye said to Matt.  "Where does your mother keep the clean diapers?"

"I think she did some laundry today.  I saw some clean things on top of the dryer."

"Ah, okay."  Hawkeye took Matt into the laundry room and was back into the kitchen in two minutes.  Matt was out of his wet clothes and into a clean diaper and a new t-shirt.  "We'll let your mother pick out your clothes for dinner."

"She should be out of the shower soon," Dan said.  "I'll keep an eye on the boys if you want to get a shower before dinner."

"You sure?"

"Yeah.  Stick him in his highchair with some toys and he'll be fine."

"Great.  Thanks."  Hawkeye place Matt in the highchair and handed him some toys to play with and try to eat.  Matt had been more content than he had ever been while they were in Maine. 

Hawkeye looked in on Danny and saw that he had dozed off just as expected and then he headed upstairs.  He heard the water running in the shower and smiled to himself.  After grabbing a towel out of the linen closest he slowly and quietly opened the door to the bathroom.  He dropped his shorts and placed the towel on the counter.  Margaret hadn't heard or seen him so he took advantage of that.  He snuck in the shower behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist.

"Ahhh!"  She screamed.  She turned in his arms and started to hit him.

He moved his hand to cover her mouth.  "Shhh, shhh.  It's me.  Calm down."

She looked at him and moved his hand away.  "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

He smiled and kissed her.  "No, I'm trying to take a shower with you."

"Where are the boys?"

"Dad's keeping an eye on them for us."

"Oh," she smiled.  "Does he know you're in the shower with me?"

"No."

She pulled him closer to her under the running water.  "Are you sure?"

"Uh huh."

"That's nice."  He started to kiss her desperately and she gave in completely.  The hot water was running down and steam covered everything.  Hawkeye's hands roamed up and down her back as she ran her fingers through his hair.  Before she really knew what was happening she had her legs wrapped around him and her back was pressed against the tile of the shower wall.  She didn't fight any of it, and loved every second.

After they got cleaned up in the shower they went back to the bedroom to change.  Margaret made Hawkeye holler down the stairs to his father to make sure the boys were okay.  She didn't like leaving them with him only because the boys were her and Hawkeye's responsibility and she didn't think it was fair to leave them to Dan when they were in the same house.  She loved the fact that she could leave them with him for a few minutes, but she didn't want him to feel like they were taking advantage of him.

"What should I wear?"  Margaret asked as she looked through the closet.

"You look good in that," he smiled.  He was sitting on the bed watching her.

"A towel?  You're crazy."

"What does it matter what you wear?  We're staying at home."

She rolled her eyes.  "You're such a man."

"Just throw on some shorts."

"Never mind.  I found something."  She pulled out a pale yellow strapless sundress.  "What do you think?"

"Perfect."

"Good," she smiled.  "Now get off your ass and get dressed.  We still have to get the boys ready."

"Fine."  He stood up and left his towel on the bed.  "What do you want me to wear?"

She pulled out a nice collared polo shirt.  "You can wear it with a nice pair of pants or khaki shorts.  Whatever you want."

"I'll pick the shorts to show off my nice legs.  You can't be the only one around here looking sexy."  She laughed at him.  "You know, I'm looking forward to meeting this woman now."

"Good."  She said as she started to get dressed.

"It'll be good for Dad.  At least he's not alone all the time."

"Hawkeye, I don't think he's ever really been alone all the time.  You just didn't know he was keeping company."

"Eww, Margaret, don't talk to me."

She laughed and walked over to him and gave him a kiss.  "Don't be such a baby, and put some clothes on."  He gave her a long slow kiss and then pulled away like nothing happened leaving her standing there with her mouth open wanting more.  She watched him as he pulled a pair of white boxers on and then walked away into the bathroom.  She shook herself out of her trance and finished dressing before heading to the bathroom herself.

Hawkeye was in there shaving.  Half of his face was lathered up and the other half was freshly shaven.  She picked up her brush and ran it through her hair looking at his chest and stomach through the mirror.  "What are you doing?"  Hawkeye smiled.

"What?"

"You're staring at my chest."

She looked into his eyes through the mirror and smiled.  "So?  I catch you staring at mine plenty of times and I don't say anything."

"Touché."  He picked up his razor and finished shaving while she blow dried her hair.  Her hair was shoulder length now so it didn't take long to do and it was easier to wear it down even in the warm weather.  The only problem with wearing it down was that Matt was starting to pull hair and he loved hers.

As soon as Hawkeye was done shaving and brushing his teeth he went back to the bedroom and got dressed.  Margaret was still in the bathroom doing her hair and applying makeup when he walked downstairs.  He could hear Dan talking to the baby and knew that Matt was getting fussy.  It was getting close to dinner time and he wanted a bottled before his meal. 

When Margaret came downstairs she had clothes in her arms for both of the boys.  She knew that Danny wouldn't stay clean for long especially with another little boy around, but she wanted him to look presentable.  He was sleeping on the couch wrapped in his wet towel when she walked in.  He had slept long enough to be in a good mood, and that's all she was worried about.  She sat down on the couch with him and woke him up so that he would cooperate with her when it came to getting dressed.  She put him in a pair of jean shorts and a nice blue collared shirt like the one his father was wearing.  When he was done he laid on the couch and watched TV quietly while he woke up a little more.

She moved over to the play pen where Matt was just finishing his bottle.  She picked him up and burped him, and then dressed him in a red onesie and a pair of jean overall shorts.  He was a chubby little baby with very little blonde hair on his head and looked so cute in that outfit.  She would have dressed him in that everyday if she could have.  When he was dressed she placed him on the floor on his tummy in front of some toys.  He reached out and started to play not caring what his mother did. 

"You play for a little while and Mommy will go help with dinner."  He didn't care that she left the room without him because his big brother was in the room with him.  He wasn't alone, so he was fine.

When Margaret walked into the kitchen Dan was gone, and it was just Hawkeye.  "Hey baby," he smiled.

"Where's your father?"

"He's outside getting the food started."

"What do you need me to do?"

He gave her a sweet peck on the cheek.  "We have the fish and potatoes under control out there, so you can just."

"Do everything else," she smiled.

"Please."

"Sure."  She didn't mind doing that because someone had to stay in the house with the boys, and she liked to see Hawkeye and Dan together.  They were very close and they didn't get to see each other as often as they used to.  She wanted her boys to be close to their father when they were grown men like Hawkeye was close to Dan.  The two boys adored their father and were off on the right track.

Fifteen minutes later Hawkeye and Dan were still outside sipping on their beers chatting and laughing.  Danny was in the kitchen with his mother talking up a storm.  He was wide awake now and back to his normal energetic self.    Matt didn't like being alone and threw a fit when his brother left him alone in the living room.  Now he was on his mother's hip slowing her down.  She had to do things one handed which prevented her from getting some things done. 

Danny followed his mother around the kitchen as she tried to get things together with Matt attached to her.  "Mommy, I'm hungry." 

She got some plates out of the cabinet and sat them on the counter.  "I know honey.  Dinner will be done soon."

"Can I have a snack?"

"No."

"Why?"

"Because you can't."  Just then the doorbell rang.

"I get it," Danny yelled as he took off for the front door.  He loved opening the door at his grandfather's house.  At home he couldn't because the door was always locked and he couldn't reach the top two locks.  He never understood why it was like that because at his grandpa's house the door was never locked.

"Danny, wait a minute," Margaret called after him.

It was too late and he had opened the door.  "Hi honey," Dora said with a smile.

"Hi.  Who's that?"  He pointed to the blonde headed boy in front of him.

Margaret and Matt walked up to the door.  "Hi," she smiled.

"Hi honey."

"Come in.  Danny move out of the way."  She gently pushed him to the side to let their guests in.  "I'm so glad that you could come."

"Mommy," Danny tapped on her leg. 

"One minute, Danny.  I'm talking."

He looked at the little boy that seemed to be his age. Since his mother wasn't going to answer him he decided to find the answer to his question himself. "What's your name?"

"Sam," he said.

"I'm Danny.  Wanna go play?"

Sam looked up at his grandmother, "Can I?"

Margaret smiled at Dora.  "Danny is not shy at all.   He's like his father.  If you would like," she said to the two little boys.  "You two can go play outside."

"Okay," Danny said. 

"Sam, I would like you to meet Mrs. Pierce.  Margaret, this is my youngest grandson, Sam."

"Hi sweetie," Margaret smiled.

"Hi."

"Mommy, can we go now?"  Danny said impatiently.

"Go say hello to Dr. Pierce," Dora said to her grandson.

"Where is he?"

"Danny can show him."

Danny looked up at his mother with confusion.  "Who's Dr. Pierce?"

Margaret smiled.  "That's Daddy.  Oh, and Grandpa."

"Okay."  Danny and Sam took off running for the back door. 

"I'm glad you came," Margaret motioned for Dora to follow her to the kitchen.

"I know how much Dan wanted me to meet his son.  I've heard so much about him.  Where are they?"

"They're outside."  She pointed out the window in the kitchen.  "They're supposed to be cooking, but they picked the easy job."

Dora peered out the window looking at Hawkeye.  "He's a good looking man.  Danny does look just like him."

"I know."

Dora moved away from the glass.  "Can I help with anything?"

"You could take Matt for me.  That would be the biggest help."  Dora took the chubby baby into her arms gladly.  "Thank you."

"No problem.  I just love holding this little guy."  Margaret smiled and started moving around the kitchen doing things as fast as she could while talking to Dora.  She really did like the woman and she could tell how happy she made Dan.  She was a little nervous about introducing her to Hawkeye only because she didn't know how he would take seeing his father interact with Dora. 

Ten minutes later everything was set inside and they were just waiting for the corn on the cob to get done.  Dora was anxious to go meet Hawkeye, so she, Margaret, and the baby went outside.  Hawkeye spotted them and watched carefully as they made their way over to him.  Dora looked harmless, but at the sight of her he couldn't help but miss his mother more than normal.  He felt that old void open wider.

He didn't allow himself to fall apart; instead he pasted a smile on his face and stood up politely.  "Hi," he extended his hand.

"Hi Hawkeye.  It's nice to finally meet you."

"You too.  I'm sorry about yesterday."

"Oh, honey, don't worry about it."

He motioned for her to sit down, and then sat back down.  "No, no.  I shouldn't have been so rude; it was just a little bit of a shock to me."

She waved her hand to dismiss what he said.  "I understand.  I didn't think you'd be a complete jerk to have a father like Dan, and a nice little family.  I don't know your wife very well, but I don't think she'd be with someone that acted so silly all the time."

"Believe me; I've heard it from her.  She keeps me in line."

"She needs too," Dan added with a teasing smile.  He reached for Matt and Margaret handed him over before taking a seat next to Hawkeye.

"Did the two boys come over?"  Margaret asked.

"Yes," Hawkeye said.  "They became fast friends," he nodded to where the boys were playing by the tire swing.  "They tried to get us to let them in the pool."

"I don't mind if its after dinner," Margaret said looking at Dora.  "Do you?"

"No, it's fine with me.  Sam brought his swim trunks just incase."

"Good."

"Margaret," Dan said.  "How long until the corn is done?  Everything else is finished."

"Oh, it might be done."  She stood up, "I'll get everything."

"Let me help," Dora volunteered.

"I'll get it," Hawkeye said.

"No," Dan stood up.  He passed Matt over to his son.  "Margaret and I will go.  You two stay here and get to know each other a little bit.  Be nice, Son."

Hawkeye rolled his eyes as he accepted his son.  "Tell Grandpa he's crazy.  Daddy is the nicest man in the world."

"Oh brother," Margaret groaned.

Margaret and Dan walked inside and talked a little bit while they got things together to take outside.  They spied a little on Dora and Hawkeye while they were in there.  They couldn't make out any words and both found themselves wishing they knew how to read lips, but they looks on their faces was a good sign.  They were laughing some and seemed to be getting along just fine.  Hawkeye was very easy to get along with anyway, and so was Dora.  The only thing that would have prevented them from getting along would have been if Hawkeye's feelings got in the way.

Throughout dinner Hawkeye kept talking and laughing like he normally did.  He was very mature and put on a nice front for Dora.  Inside he was torn, but no one needed to know that.  He needed to act like an adult, and he did.  He took a little break from everything after dinner and went swimming with the boys.  For some reason being around Dora made him want to run away from it all.  Having someone there where his mother was supposed to be was odd and it hurt.  It was something that he would have to get used to for his father's sake.

Dora and Sam left around eight thirty that night and headed home.  The sun was going down and it was getting to be time for the kids to get to bed.  Matt was getting very fussy and he was ready to eat and go down for the night.  He would get breastfed at night and first thing in the morning.  Margaret was weaning him off of the breast for when she went back to work.  It would be better for everyone. 

She and Hawkeye took the two boys upstairs and got them ready for bed.  Margaret sat down in the chair in the boys' bedroom and fed the baby after he was in his pajamas.  Hawkeye took care of Danny and had him take a quick shower and brush his teeth before bed.  He had had a busy day and was one very sleepy toddler.  By the time that he was tucked in bed Margaret had finished feeding Matt and had him in the crib tucked in safely and warmly.  She sat down on one side of Danny's bed while Hawkeye sat on the other. 

Hawkeye leaned down and gave him a kiss on the forehead.  "Did you have a good day today, buddy?"

"Yeah."

"How did you like Sam?"

"He's fun."

Margaret smiled at him.  "I'm glad you had such a good day, honey."

He looked into her eyes curiously, "Mommy?"

"Yes."

"Is Miss Dora my grammie?"

Margaret looked over at Hawkeye who looked like he was about to cry.  "No, honey.  She's not.  Why would you think that?"

"Cause Sam calls her that, and Grandpa told me she's a grammie."

"She is a grammie, but she's not yours."

"Oh.  Where is my grammie?"

"Grammie is at home."

"No," he shook his head.  "Not your grammie, Daddy's grammie."

Margaret looked at Hawkeye to see if he wanted to answer that, but he shook his head no with wide eyes.  "Well, when Daddy was a little boy, she got very sick and she died.  That means she's in heaven watching out for you."

"How?"

"She's.well."  Margaret tried to find the words, but they wouldn't come.

"She's our angel," Hawkeye said remembering what his father had told him long ago.  "She watches out for us."

"Oh.  Can I see her?"

Hawkeye stayed silent and let Margaret handle that.  "No, honey.  Angles are in heaven and we can't see them.  They can only see us."

"Oh.  Does she love me like my otter grammie does?"

Margaret smiled and nodded.  "Of course she does."

"What her name is?"

Hawkeye smiled.  "Sophia."

"Okay.  Can I call her Angel Grammie?"

"Sure," Hawkeye said.

"Okay."

Margaret smiled.  "Anymore questions baby?"

"No."

She bent down and gave him a kiss.  "I love you sweetie.  Goodnight."

"Love you."

Hawkeye and Margaret both stood up together.  "Goodnight, buddy.  Love you."

"Love you too Daddy."

Margaret grabbed her husbands hand and they walked out of the room together.  She pulled him into their bedroom and gave him a hug.  She saw how hard it was for him to talk about his mother.  It was the first time that Danny had ever been curious as to why he didn't have a grandmother other than Margaret's mother.  Margaret felt him relax and then he pulled away wiping a fallen tear.

"You did good tonight, baby," she said.

He sat down on the bed with his shoulders slumped.  "No I didn't."

She sighed seeing how defeated he looked.  "Hawkeye, you did fine.  You were pleasant company and then you answered some of Danny's questions."

"No," he shook his head.  "That's not what I mean."

She sat down next to him and placed her hand on his leg gently.  "What do you mean?  You can tell me."

"Ah, would you go outside with me?"

"Huh?"  She thought he was ready to talk to her.

"Please?  We can ask my father to listen out for the boys."

She smiled sweetly, "Okay."  She leaned over and gave him a tender kiss.  "I love you."

"I'll ask him."

"Do you mind if I change? 

"Sure.  I'll be on the back porch."

Margaret nodded and watched him get up and walk out the door.  She felt so bad for him.  He needed to talk and get some things out.  He had never really talked about his mother and she knew that it was because he had buried those feelings deep inside.  It broke her heart to see him looking like a lost little boy

She got up and shut the door and then grabbed a pair of pajama shorts and one of his oversized pajama tops and put them on quickly.  She looked in on the two boys and then headed downstairs.  She saw Dan in the living room sitting on the couch reading the evening newspaper.  She smiled at him and told him thanks for agreeing to listen out for the boys.  Then she went out back.

Hawkeye was sitting on the porch swing looking out to the ocean in the distance through the moonlight.  She sat down next to him and put her hand on his leg.  "Peaceful, isn't it?"

"I know.  My mother loved the ocean.  She was the one that made my dad buy this land."

"Did they own it when you were born?"

"Yes.  I've lived in this house all my life.  Grew up in the same bedroom that the boys are in right now."

"Wow.  I wish I could say that."

He looked at her and smiled sadly.  That was a weak spot for her and he knew it.  He had always known it.  "You saw the world."

"I did, but if I had to chose one of those for our boys, I'd want them to know what home and family are."

"Me too.  I had a pretty good childhood.mostly."

"I can see that."

"It would have been perfect had my mother not died."

She wrapped an arm around him.  "I know.  What happened?"

"Well," he started.  "At the time I wasn't sure because my father never told me.  I just thought that my mom was sick and that she would get better, but she never did.  Later I found out that she had cancer."

"Where?"

"Started out as breast cancer, but then it spread quickly all over her body.  Of course you and I both know that there isn't anything anyone can do for cancer."

"Maybe one day they will."

"I pray for it everyday.  I had thought about going into that field in medical school, but I couldn't do it.  It was too hard for m and I couldn't handle it."

"You were meant to be a surgeon just like your father was meant to be a family physician."

"I know."

"Maybe one of our kids will be the ones to go into that field.  You never know."

"Maybe.  Just don't leave the boys like my mother left me."

"Honey, I'm sure she didn't mean to leave you, just like I wouln't want to leave my boys.  But it isn't always in out control."

"You know what pisses me off?"

"What?"

"They didn't tell me she was dying until a week before she passed away.  Why didn't they tell me?" 

He looked at her for a moment and then spoke.  "Why did my mother have to die of cancer like that?  She was fine and then it seemed like one day she got sick and never got better.  Why didn't they tell me?  I never knew until a few days before she died.  I was ten, Margaret!  I never got to say goodbye!"

She wasn't sure how to answer that or even if she should.  He was looking for answers to questions he had always kept to himself.  "I'm sure the fact that it was 25 years ago had a lot to do with it."

"No," he shook his head.  "Don't give me that old reason: 'Those were different times.'  That doesn't cut it.  That's what my father always said to me.  I let him get away with it because I didn't want to open old wounds."

"Okay."  She thought of another way to explain it.  "We have two boys and you're a father now.  How would you be able to tell them that their mother has cancer and is going to die?"

A tear dropped down his cheek thinking about that.  "I don't think I could ever do it."

"Maybe they didn't know how to either."

More tears fell down his face.  "Margaret, I miss her so much.  It hurts to think about her sometimes.  When Danny asked about her I didn't know what to do."

She pulled him into a hug and rubbed his back comfortingly like she did to their children when they were upset.  "You know something?"  She asked when he pulled back to compose himself.  "We're a team, honey.  If there's something you can't do, I can do it.  If you can't tell Danny about his grandmother, then I will."

"I didn't think Danny would ask so soon.  And it was the way he asked that caught me off guard."

"I could tell.  Maybe now you'll have to deal with it a little more.  Danny loves to ask questions and now that he's figured out he's missing a grandmother he'll be asking a lot more."

"I know.  Today was a little much for me.  I wasn't expecting Danny to ask questions tonight.  I didn't see it coming."

"Look at it this way; now Danny knows that Dora isn't his grandmother and now that he knows so will Matt.  Danny will teach him just be example and telling him."

Hawkeye smiled.  "I love having two kids."

"Me too."

"We should have another one."

"Wow," she smiled.  "Two months ago you were ready to get a vasectomy because you didn't want anymore."

"Yeah, but look at them now."

"Well, they're both at a good age right now.  How would you like another colicky newborn around?"

"There is no way in hell that I want to do that again!"

She laughed at him.  "We have to take that chance if we have another one."

"You know, one second thought the two boys we have seem good to me."

"You feeling better?"

"Yeah.  I have the greatest wife in the world who knows just what to say."  He leaned over an gave her a soft kiss.  "My boys have the best mother in the world too.  That's why I would like to think about having another one.  I could just see three little boys playing out in the dirt."

"Maybe a girl," she smiled.

"Maybe not."

She hit his stomach.  "Why not?  What do you have against girls?"

"Nothing.  I married one didn't I?"

"So why don't you want one?"  She asked curiously.  He had made plenty of comments about not wanting to have a baby girl, but he never really said why.

"I just think its senseless to think about it because Pierces always have boys."

"Well, we're not having another one for a while anyway.  I'm going back to work and I like being thin again."

He wrapped his arm around her, "I like you thin again too.  You're one sexy Mommy."  She smiled up at him.  "I have an idea."

"No!  You're father is in the house awake."

"Not that!  How about the two of us go for a nice relaxing swim?  I can get rid of some of this tension."

It didn't take much convincing her.  "Alright.  I haven't been swimming without the boys for a long time."

"I don't know what it is with those two.  Everywhere we go, there they are."

She rolled her eyes.  "They're our kids.  They're supposed to be with us."

"Not tonight.  Lets go get changed."

He pulled her up and they walked into the house.  Hawkeye walked into the living room to talk to his father, but saw that he wasn't there.  He knocked on his bedroom door and saw that he was in bed reading a book.  He asked him to keep and ear open for the boys and Dan didn't have a problem with that. 

Margaret was standing in the kitchen in a bathrobe and bare feet when Hawkeye walked in.  He gave her a kiss on the cheek and then grabbed a clean pair of swim trunks off the dryer.  Margaret watched him without him knowing as he undressed in the laundry room and slipping into a pair of trunks.  He had really started to take care of himself and his body and she loved it.  His arms were still thin in comparison to a lot of other men, but they were strong.  She could see the veins and the muscle bulging out, and he had a new washboard stomach.

"Ready, baby?"  Hawkeye said before he turned around.

"Ah.yeah."

He grabbed two towels and then opened the back door for her.  When they got to the pool he put the towels down on the table, and then dove in.  Margaret still had her robe around her when he came up for air.  "Come on in."

She tossed the robe to the side and sat down on the  edge of the pool putting her legs in.  "Oh, that's cold."

"Don't be a baby," he said swimming over to her.

"It's cold!"

Hawkeye stood up between her legs and kissed her pressing his wet body to hers.  "Come in.  You get used to it."

"I don't know, Hawk.  This is really cold."  He gave her an evil grin complete with sparkling eyes.  "Whatever you're thinking, don't you dare!"  He laughed and grabbed her by the hips and pulled her in.  "Hawk!"  She slapped him.  "You jerk!  What's the matter with you?!"

"Stop being a baby.  You're fine."  She glared at him and headed for the stairs.  "Where are you going?"

"I'm getting out!"

He rolled his eyes when her back was turned to him.  "I'm sorry," he swam over to her.  "I didn't mean to make you mad.  Stay in here with me and I'll keep you warm."

"Get away from me."

He stood up in front of her to stop her from moving anymore.  "Margaret, don't be mad.  I didn't do it to make you mad."

She sighed.  "What do you want?"

"Stay in.  I promise I'll make you warm."  He wrapped his arms around her and at first she was very tense, but then she put her arms around him and hugged him back.  "How often do we get to be alone at night?"

"Not much after we get back home to Boston."

"Exactly."  He pulled out of the hug and grabbed her hand and started to walk back toward the deep end.  She pulled back when the water reached her waist.  "Just dive in.  You're gonna torture yourself."

"You're right."  She let go of his hand and dove in swimming across the pool.  Hawkeye followed her and when he came up she wrapped her arms and legs around him.  "This is better."

He shook his head letting the water from his hair fly all over the place.  His arms were wrapped around the bottom of her back and he leaned in to kiss her softly.  "How would you like to be a little daring?"

"I don't know.  What did you have in mind?"

"Skinny dipping."

"No," she smiled.  "You're crazy!"

"Why?  We're the only ones out here."

"Yes, but the lights are on and if your father looks out the window he'll see us."  She ground her hips into him just to tease him.  "You'll have to suffer with your clothes on."

"I'll keep mine, and you can take yours off.  Doesn't that sound better?"

"NO!"  She said with a smile.  "No sex in the water."

He gave up on that and started to kiss her passionately.  When he sensed that she was losing her composure he moved to her neck to keep her from gaining her senses.  After a few minutes of making out he pulled the string behind her neck that kept her top on.  She didn't realize what he was doing so she didn't do anything to stop him, and that's just what he was counting on.  He knew how to get to her and took advantage of that when he could.  He had figured it out long ago and was now using it.

Margaret didn't come back to reality until she felt Hawkeye's hands moving down her bottoms.  She pulled away from him, "Mmm, no.  Stop," she breathed.

He pulled her against him.  "Yes."

She moved back away from him and swam out of his reach.  She looked down and noticed that her top was down floating in the water.  She quickly reached out and grabbed it putting it back on.  "We can't do this here."

"I know where.  Follow me."

"No, Hawkeye, we can't."

"Come with me," he said as he jumped out of the water.  Margaret climbed the stairs and grabbed his hand.  He pulled her along and over to the pool house.  He shut the door behind them and pinned her against the wall ravishing her with kisses and roaming hands. 

She couldn't resist anymore and gave in completely.  "Oh, Hawk, ahhh."

"I know."  He started to strip her of the little clothing that she was wearing. 

"Be fast," she moaned.

"Only if we can be rough," he said as he kissed down her body and pulled the two of them to the floor.

"Oh, yes," she hissed as he got on top of her.

(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*(*

The annual Crabapple Cove Fourth of July Festival ran most of the day in town.  People had food stands set up, game booths, balloons, crafts stands, local business had stands set up.  It was like a small fair that was held for one full day each year where everyone in town got together and socialized.  Parents didn't have to worry about their children because everyone looked out for everyone else. 

Margaret had never seen anything like it in her life and Hawkeye was looking forward to showing it to her.  The year before they hadn't gone because they were on their honeymoon.   He knew that she would love it because she loved almost everything about small town life.  The more thought he gave to that the more he came to think that the reason she liked it so much was because of the boys.  They were all happy in Boston, but he had to start to put some serious thought into moving out of the city.  Hawkeye didn't want his boys to grow up in the city and Danny was getting older.  Maybe they would stay in the Boston area and move to a suburb, or maybe they would go to Maine.  That was something that Hawkeye was going to have to start thinking about.

From the minute Danny woke up from his nap that afternoon he began pestering his mother about going into town.  Dan and Hawkeye had been telling him how much fun it was earlier that day and when he got up from his nap they could go.

"Mommy, it's time to go."  He said following his mother around the kitchen.  She was cleaning things up.

"We can't leave right now, baby.  Your brother is still sleeping."

"I will go wake him up."

Margaret caught him before he left the room.  "No.  He needs to finish his nap."

"But Mommy,, its time to go," he whined.

"I'm sorry, but you'll just have to wait."

"No!"

"Daniel Sherman Pierce," she said in a warning tone.  He looked at her with his jaw clenched and anger written all over his face.  He was about to talk back, but thought better of it.  He had tried to fight with her before and lost each and every time.  Instead of doing it again he stomped off and went out the back door.  He was now free to go in and out of the house because there was a fence up around the pool that he couldn't get into.  Margaret looked out the window to see where he was going.  He had walked over to the shed where his father and grandfather were cleaning it out.

Danny sat down on a stump that was near the door to the shed.  A minute later Hawkeye walked out of the shed and saw Danny sitting there with his head down and his arms crossed.  "Hey buddy, what's the matter?  Did Mommy yell at you?"  He didn't say anything so Hawkeye knelt down in front of him.  "What's wrong?"

"Mommy said we can't go," he pouted.

"Is your brother still sleeping?>"  Danny nodded.  "That's why.  We have to wait for him to wake up."

"You said when I wake up.  I awake now."

"Sorry buddy.  Mommy's right.  You have to wait."

"But I don't wanna!"

"Stop whining.  We'll go, but you have to wait."  Hawkeye stood up and rustled Danny's black hair.  "Dad, you want a drink?"

"Yeah," Dan yelled.  "Get me a glass of lemonade if we have some."

"Okay.  Danny's out here."

"Oh, good.  Danny come here and help your old grandpa."

Hawkeye walked back toward the house and Danny did as his grandfather asked.  Hawkeye walked in the side door and through the laundry room and into the kitchen where Margaret was making some lemonade.  "Hi," she smiled over at him.

"Hi.  Perfect timing."

"Huh?"

He have her a kiss on the cheek.  "Dad and I are dying of thirst out there."

"How's Danny?  Is he still pouting?"

"He'll get over it.  Dad recruited him for helping." 

"Good."

"I hate when he whines."

Margaret smiled at him.  "He's just a little boy.  You and your father got him so excited about going into town today."

"I know, but I still don't like it.  He's part of a family and he has to realize that.  We can't just do things because he's ready."

"You're right.  He'll learn."  She gave him a kiss as she walked by to get some ice out of the freezer.  "I don't know how much Matt's going to like being out for that many hours though."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, he likes to get down and play.  He won't be able to do that, will he?"

"Sure he will.  We'll bring a blanket and he can roll around while we eat.  He'll love it."

"Maybe you're right."  She handed him three glasses of lemonade.  "Take these out there."

Just then Dan and Danny walked into the house.  Danny had a smile on his face and ran in and took a glass of lemonade from his father.  Hawkeye handed another glass to his father.  "What did you do to him?"

"Well," Dan smiled.  "We came up with a new plan.  Danny and I are going into town in a few minutes and you, Son, can finish cleaning the shed on your own.  When you're done and Matt's ready, you can meet us there.  Is that okay, Margaret?"

"Well.yeah, I guess so.  You're not doing it because he conned you into it, are you?"

"No.  I like to get there around this time.  Dora and Sam will be there too and we'll meet up with them."

"Its okay with me, is it okay with you Hawk?"

"Sure.  Come with my buddy, and I'll get you some clean clothes."

When Danny and Hawkeye left the room Margaret looked over at her father-in-law.  "You're going to spoil him."

"That's my job honey," he smiled giving her a kiss on the cheek.  "Let me jump in the shower quickly.  I'll be ready in ten minutes; make sure my grandson is ready to go then too."

"I will."

Five minutes later Hawkeye and Danny were back.  "Where are his sneakers?"

"By the front door."

"Danny, go get your shoes on."

"Okay."

Margaret looked at her husband, "What time should we go into town?"

"I don't know.  I was thinking about it and you might be right about the baby.  Maybe we should wait a little while after he wakes up so he'll be in a good mood."

"We have to be back by eight thirty."

"What about the fireworks?"

"We have a five month old.  He can't stay up that late and I don't want him to be scared of the noise like his mother."

"So we don't get to see the fireworks?"

"Sorry.  I thought you knew that."

"I guess I didn't think of it," he said trying to hold back his disappointment.

"You can stay with Danny, but Matt's too little.  He needs to be in bed and I don't really like fireworks anyway."

"What?!  You must be kidding."

"No.  I never have liked them.  I really don't mind staying home with the baby."

"Oh, but honey it would be so romantic."

"Hmm," she thought.  "We have a little boy that's almost four that will be running around, and a five month old that will be screaming.  I don't see how that can be romantic."

"You're right, but I don't want to stay without you."

"Sorry, maybe next year."

"Fine.  I guess I'll live."

She gave him a soft kiss on the lips.  "We'll be together today."

"Yeah, but we'll have the kids."

"They'd have been with us tonight too."

"Yeah, but that's different."

Margaret looked over at Danny who had walked into the kitchen with his shoes on, but untied.  "Mommy, will you help me?"

"Sure."  She placed him on the countertop and started to tie his shoes.  "I think we need to start teaching you how to tie your own shoes."

"Yeah!"  He said enthusiastically.

"There you, hon.  All done."

"Thank you."  He gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"You're welcome," she smiled.  He was such a good hearted little boy and showed his love with affection like his father did.

"Oh, good."  Dan said.  "You're ready."

"Yep!  Time to go?"

"Sure is."

Margaret put him down on his feet.  "Behave yourself."

"I will.  Bye," he waved as he ran out of the room.

"Bye," his parents called to him.

When the door shut Hawkeye looked at his wife and grinned.  "Let's have some fun!"

She smiled slightly.  "I'm going to do some laundry and I believe that you have to finish cleaning that shed before we can do anything."

"Oh, damn!"

"Ha ha," she teased.

He drank the rest of his lemonade.  "If you need me you know where to find me."

"Okay."  There really wasn't any laundry for her to do, but she didn't want him to think that just because she didn't have anything to do he didn't have to do anything either.  She had at least thirty minutes before Matt woke up and wanted to sit on the couch and read a magazine.  She couldn't remember the last time she did that.  Their vacation had been relaxing, but busy.  She hadn't had a moment to herself without Hawkeye or one of the boys hanging off of her.  It was nice to be loved so much by them, but sometimes it could be a little suffocating. 

Matt slept a little later than normal and Margaret let him.  It would be nice for him to stay up later tonight so they could all stay out a little longer.  She wasn't planning on being out too long, but it would it wouldn't hurt for Matt to be up a little later.  Margaret got to hang out and relax a little longer.  When Hawkeye came back in he was all sweaty so she sent him up to the shower.  They never left the house until after 5PM that evening.

When they got into town they had to park the car at Dan's office.  They took the baby's carriage out of the trunk and got him all set up and comfortable before they went a foot.  If he wasn't completely satisfied he would let his mother know and then would only want to be held.  As long as he was sitting up somewhat and could look around at the people and the things that were going on around him he was fine.

Margaret stuck close to her husband all evening.  People would come up and talk to her like they knew her and she had no idea who they were.  With Hawkeye there they would talk to him and focus more on him than they would her.  People wanted to hold Matt, but if he didn't know a person he didn't want to be held by them and all he would do is look at his mother and cry yearning to be in her arms.  Margaret had to admit to herself that she liked that because with Matt being her first baby she was a little overprotective when it came to him and other people holding him.  They were all wonderful people, but they were mostly strangers.

They met up with Dan, Dora, Danny, and Sam at dinner time.  They set up a blanket on a grassy hill and had some dinner together.  After that they all walked around together looking at different things and letting the two toddler boys run around.  Matt was fine as long as he was with his mother.  Being in the crowd made him a little uncomfortable.

As it got closer to eight Margaret started to put it in Hawkeye's head that it was time to start heading home.  He didn't seem to pay attention and that was only because he didn't want to go.  Finally when it passed eight and the baby was getting fussy Margaret had had enough.  It was time to go.  On the ride back to Dan's house she could tell that he wanted to go back into town.  She didn't mind and told him to go back if he wanted.  Danny was with his grandfather and Dora having fun, so all that they had was the baby with them.  It didn't take much convincing on Margaret's part to get Hawkeye to go back into town after he dropped her off.  Sometimes it was easier to put the baby to bed when he wasn't around.  It allowed her time to be with Matt alone.  Feeding him at night was something she loved to do.  It was just the two of them and no one else. 

By the time that the baby was done eating he was fast asleep like he always was.  She laid him in his crib and went to her bedroom where she changed into a nightshirt for bed.  Her only plans were to relax and then go to sleep.  She went downstairs and made herself a cup of tea and sat in the living room watching a little bit of TV.  She had found an old movie on TV that she hadn't seen in years, so she cuddled up with a blanket and watched.

About a half an hour later Margaret saw lights headed up the driveway.  As far as she knew all of the Cove was in town except her and Matt.  She stood up and opened the front door and saw that it was Hawkeye's car.  Maybe he forgot something or something happened to Danny, but that didn't make sense because he would have called.

"What are you doing here?"  She asked when he got out of his car.

He walked up to the porch and gave her a kiss.  "It wasn't any fun without you.  I'd rather be here doing nothing with you than being in the middle of the biggest party of the year."  She smiled and they headed back into the house. "So, what are you doing?"

"Nothing really.  I was watching a movie, but the signal's bad now."

"Ah.  Nice pajamas," he smiled at her shirt.  It was a very short one.

"Thanks."

"So, what do you want to do?"

"I don't know."

"Well.why don't you get us a couple of glasses of wine and I'll meet you upstairs?"

"Okay.  Check on the baby for me."

"Sure."  He gave her a kiss and slapped her ass.  "I love you."

"I love you too."  She thought it was very odd that he came home because she knew how much he loved to be in town.  She hoped it wasn't because she made him feel guilty, because if that happened she didn't mean for it to happen.

Margaret walked upstairs carrying two glasses of red wine and went into the bedroom.  She didn't see any lights on, but she saw candles flickering.  "Hawk, where are you?"

"Out here."

She followed his voice to the balcony and saw him laying on a blanket out there in just a pair of shorts looking up at the stars.  She smiled at him and knelt down next to him.  "What are you doing?"

"Looking up at the sky."  He grabbed his glass and took a sip before setting it to the side.  "Have you ever done that?"

"When I was a kid." 

He patted the spot next to him.  "Lay down next to me."  He grabbed her glass and made some room for her.  She laid her head on his chest as he wrapped an arm around her.  "All settled?"

"Yeah."

"Not a cloud in the sky tonight.  I love it when its like this."

"Better than fireworks?"

He smiled.  "Yes.  Fireworks can't be all that great if you're scared of them."

"I never said I was scared of them."  She said in her Major Houlihan tone.

"I know you're scared of loud noises like that.  So why wouldn't you be afraid of that?"

She smiled up at him.  "You're right.  They do make me jump, just like a storm.  I know there's nothing to be afraid of, but that doesn't seem to matter."

"That's okay."  He stroked her cheek.  "Can I let you in on a little secret?"  She nodded yes looking into his eyes.  "I like it when it thunders.  You always stick close to me at night."

She smiled, "You make me feel safe.  When I'm alone I can't even sleep when the storms going crazy outside."

"If these arms make you feel safe, then you can stay in them forever."

She looked up at the stars.  "That's what I plan on doing.  Have you ever seen a shooting star?"

"A couple of times."

"Did you make a wish?"

"Once."

"Did your wish come true?"

"No."

"Oh.  Will you tell me what it was?"

"I was ten.  It was the night my mom passed away.  I was sitting out there on the cliff with my dog when I saw it.  I wished that she would come back.  I never made another wish after that."

"That's so sad," she whispered.

"There's a lot of sadness in the world."

"I know.  So, you never once tried to make another wish?"

"I thought about it before, but I never did it.  How about you?  Have you ever seen one?"

"Yeah.  I've seen a lot."

"Did you make a wish?"

"Same one every time."

"So, yours didn't come true either."

"I wouldn't say that."

"So it did come true?"

She smiled.  "Uh huh."

"Well what was it?"

"Do you really want to know?"

"Of course."

She turned around and rested her body against his looking into his eyes.  "To find the love of my life and be happy."

He felt his love grow for her as he looked into her eyes.  He needed to kiss her and wrapped his arms around her pulling her lips to his.  "Do you have any idea how much I love you?"  She couldn't do anything except smile.  "If you weren't already my wife I'd ask you to marry me."

"If I wasn't already your wife," she paused for a moment because she couldn't think of anything else to say.  "Well."

"Yes?"  He said with an amused smile.  She smiled and leaned down to kiss him.  "Yes?"  He asked again.  "I leave you speechless, don't I?"

She laughed at him.  "I love you," she whispered looking deep into his eyes.  She felt his arms go around her as he pulled her down for another deep kiss.  She moved her hands to the sides of his face as she pressed her body on top of his.  His hands moved up her legs and moved her night shirt as far up her back as he could get it.  He couldn't move it much past the middle of her back because her stomach was pressed against his preventing the shirt from moving. 

She pulled her mouth away from his for a moment and looked into his eyes once more.  She knew what he wanted and she wanted the same.  She was so much in love with him that all she wanted to do was be with him.  He made her feel good and not just sexually.  Sure, he made her feel sexy, but he also made her feel wanted and needed.  He made her feel good about herself deep inside like no one had ever done before. 

He looked into her eyes and nodded his head yes in question wondering if she wanted the same as he did.  She smiled back at him and sat up some so he could take off her night shirt.  As his hands slip up the sides of her body she lifted her arms so he could take the shirt all the way off.  He tossed it to the side and brought his hands to rest on her hips noticing the panties that she wore were his favorite ones.  They were red lace leaving little to the imagination.  Sometimes he wondered how she could go from taking care of two kids one minute and then being the sexiest women he ever laid eyes on.

His hands moved up her rib cage toward her breasts kneading them in his large hands.  She closed her eyes and breathed enjoying the sensations he was bringing to her.  "Hawk," she whispered.

"Hmm?"  He moved his hands up to her face and pulled her back down so he could kiss her neck.

"Can anyone.ah.see?"

"No."  He rolled over so she was on the bottom and he kissed his way from his neck downward.  She laid there and let him have his way with her doing as he pleased.  Being out there on that balcony in the moon and starlight was the most romantic thing she could think off.  Her hands grasped the blanket that was underneath her as he did what he wanted.  As he was kissing and licking her stomach his hands moved to her panties and started to tug on them.  She lifted up so he could slip them off her.  He did it slowly kissing his way down her legs until he got to her feet.  He tossed the flimsy red panties to the side and worked his way back up.

The made love for 45 minutes out there under the moon and stars relishing in one another.  Hawkeye  rolled off of her and onto his side only to have her roll over and rest her head against his chest listening to the pounding of his heartbeat.  He rubbed her back slowly as they both calmed down. 

"I love you," she whispered.

He kissed the top of her head.  "I love you."  As much as he hated moving from that spot he knew that they had to.  They couldn't have Dan or Danny walking in on them when they returned home.  "We gotta get up."

"No," she pouted.

"Sorry.  You know we can't stay here."

"I know.  You have to help me up."

He stood up and then pulled her to her feet.  He grabbed all of their discarded clothing and threw it in a pile in the corner of the bedroom.  Margaret pulled out one of her husbands t-shirts and put it on quickly and laid in bed watching Hawkeye go about the room naked looking for a clean pair of boxers.  "Help me," he finally said.  She smiled and pointed to a pile of clean clothes on a chair.  "Thank you."  He blew out some of the candles that were still flickering and got into bed next to his wife.  Margaret rolled into his arms and was greeted by a warm welcoming embrace.  "Goodnight."

"Night," she said softy as she closed her eyes.  She couldn't have asked for a better man.  All those years of wishing on fallen stars had paid off for her.  She was in the arms of the most wonderful man on earth and loved every second of their life together. 

The both drifted off to sleep holding onto one another.  When Dan and Danny come home they stayed asleep.  Danny had fallen asleep so his grandfather brought him to bed and that was it.  By 11PM the whole house was in a peaceful sleep.

 

By the time that they left Maine everyone was relaxed and happy.  Danny loved to be in Maine and would have stayed if he was allowed, but his parents wouldn't let him this time.  Dan didn't have the time to take off at the moment and Margaret wanted Danny home.  She wanted to get him into a preschool and she wanted him there to go with her when they found one for him.  Her mission when she got home was to get started on daycare for the boys and look for a job.

Matt like it in Maine, but he missed home.  He was just more comfortable there.  He was in his own room and his own house.  Margaret felt better with him in their own home too because she knew what there was that he could and couldn't get into.  She had baby proofed their apartment, but Dan's house had a lot of things Matt could get into.

Hawkeye was even ready to go back to work.  He loved his time in Maine and had learned a lot about himself and his father.  He straightened out some things with his mother that he had buried deep inside with the help of his wife.  He came to understand that Dora was a part of his father's live and therefore was a part of his.  Had to accept it.  As much as he loved his time in Maine he wanted to get back to the city and back to their lives there. 

Margaret absolutely loved it in Maine.  Hawkeye had treated her like a queen.  She couldn't have asked for a better man.  They had come a long way in their marriage since Matt was born.  Getting over that rough patch in their marriage made them stronger.  Getting back home would prove it better than a vacation.  They would have to work together with the boys and the house.  With Margaret going back to work things were going to have to change some.