San Francisco 1963

Margaret Houlihan took a deep breath as she walked onto the pediatric floor of the hospital. She had just moved from New Jersey to California. She had been offered a position as a nurse. It was better hours and pay then her old job, and she gladly took it. When BJ found out she had been hired, he called her up and told her to get her 'beautiful butt' to come see him. She took the opportunity to see him, and told herself she could do it. Margaret walked to his office and knocked on the door. BJ opened it with a wide smile and lifted the blonde into the air.

"Margaret!"

"BJ!" BJ smiled brightly and held onto the blonde.

"Don't ever throw yourself off this world again." He said setting her down on the ground.

"I didn't mean to, I had things to work out."

"That's okay. Don't worry, I heard what happened."

"Colonel Potter told you?"

"Sure did, and I would have been there in a second if you asked."

"Thank you. " She smiled. BJ smiled and looked at her.

"You haven't changed a bit."

"You got rid of the mustache."

"Yeah, Peggy didn't like it."

"I wonder why?"

"Ha-ha." BJ smiled. "Want to see the most beautiful children in the world?"

"Of course." Margaret smiled as BJ handed her the picture.

"The tall brunette is Erin Jane, she's 13 now, the blonde is Helene Lilith, she's 9, the boy that's Benjamin Charles, he's 7, and the little girl in my arms is Kamilia Chiara, she just turned 5 yesterday."

"They're adorable BJ."

"I think so."

"So when do I get to meet the head of ER and OR surgery. The head nurse said he was on vacation time."

"He is. Hey I have this great idea. Hawk moved here about 8 years ago, its weekly dinner night. Why don't you join us?"

"Hawkeye's here?"

"Sure is. Come on, it'll be fun."

"I couldn't impose."

"You won't. Here's his address. Peggy and the kids will be there around 5, I get off at six."

"Are you sure he wont mind?"

"Of course not. He'd love to see you."

"Okay. I should go soon."

"That you should. Its 4 now, go take a shower, get changed, and head over there."

"Okay. Thanks BJ."

"No problem hon." BJ smiled. Margaret gave one last smile and headed out the door. Hawkeye had meant so much to her over in Korea. He was her strength, even now. 5 years after the death of her husband, Hawkeye still had this certain place in her heart and soul. She knew they belonged together. If as friends, then let it be, but as more, hopefully.

She walked into her house and looked around. Without Michael and Joseph there it seemed lonely. Michael would have been 6; she didn't want to think about it. It caused too much pain. Instead she went to take a shower before Sabrina was dropped off. She was now 5, and was a perfect mixed between her and Joseph. Margaret quickly showered and dressed. She didn't put on anything fancy, but something to tease Hawkeye. She walked downstairs to see Sabrina walk in.

"Hi Mama."

"Hey baby. Get changed, we're going out to dinner."

"Okay. Where we going?"

"A friend of mine's."

"Oh. Guess what Mama."

"What?"

"I met two new friends!"

"Did you?"

"Yup! Katelyn and Kamilia. They're best friends. And they said I could sit with them. And they like me."

"That's good." Margaret smiled at her little girl. Sabrina was never the one to be shy. "Go put a sun dress on, then we'll go."

"Kay Mama." Sabrina said before running upstairs. A few minutes later Sabrina ran back downstairs and they left. The two talked about Sabrina's first day of school. It was shortly after five that they pulled up to the house. There were toys and bikes in the front yard. It was very well kept. Margaret assumed that BJ's kids were they a lot. They walked up the stairs and knocked on the door. A little girl about 8 answered the door.

"Hi, is this the Pierce house?"

"Yup. I'm Baylee."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Baylee, I'm Margaret, and this is Sabrina."

"Hi."

"Is Hawkeye home?"

"Yup. Come in, I'll get him." Margaret smiled and watched the little girl run off. Margaret looked around the hall, it was very cozy. A few minutes later the little girl came with Hawkeye.

"Margaret?"

"Hawkeye!" She screamed as they threw each other into the other's arms. The two greeted each other, the way they said goodbye all those years ago. With just as much passion. Each longing for the passion each had. When they broke apart they hugged each other, making sure not to lose what they already lost.

"Oh my god. Look at you."

"Look at you."

"God you look amazing. How long as it been. 10 years?"

"Yeah. 10 years." Margaret smiled. The two were still in each other's arms and looking at each other. "Oh I want you to meet someone. Hawkeye this is Sabrina. My daughter."

"I heard that you married and then,"

"Yeah. Just over 5 years ago. Sabrina never met her father."

"Daddy died coming to see me be born." The little girl said. Hawkeye looked at the little girl and smiled.

"Margaret, I want you to meet some people. Baylee get everyone rounded up."

"Okay." Baylee smiled and ran off.

"Come on, we'll go into the kitchen." Margaret smiled and took Sabrina's hand and they walked into the kitchen where a little girl was playing in her high chair. "Margaret, Sabrina this is Rory. She turning 2 in December."

"She's adorable." She smiled as 5 other children walked in.

"Ah ha. Margaret I want you to meet some other members of my family. This is my oldest, Baylee Linnea, she's 8. My oldest son Dorby Montgomery he's 7, Finn Arden, he's 6, Katelyn Emmy she's five, Vincent Hastin he's 3 and Rory Mari, who is 1 and 1/2."

"It's a pleasure to meet all of you."

"Rugrats, this is Margaret,"

"Margaret Houlihan. This is my daughter Sabrina."

"Hi Katelyn."

"Hi Sabrina. This is your Mommy?"

"Yup. That's your daddy?"

"Uh huh."

"Katelyn why don't you show Sabrina your room?"

"Okay. Come on Sabrina. Maybe you can spend the night some time." The little girl said as she went upstairs. Margaret smiled and watched them.

"Go back to what you were doing. And no fighting. And Finn, leave your sisters alone."

"Yes sir." Finn said before running off towards the backyard.

"They're adorable. Are they all yours?"

"You bet. All 6 of them."

"Wow, where's your wife?"

"Oh I'm divorced. The divorce papers came when Rory was 2 weeks old. Amanda left the kids with me after that."

"I'm so sorry."

"Thanks."

"May I ask why she left?"

"Amanda wanted to go into the Army. She wanted to see the world."

"Oh."

"Amanda was a nurse. She's in Vietnam right now. The kids don't know and don't need to. They're mother has been gone for 2 years. The three oldest are the only ones that really knew her. Baylee is still sensitive about it."

"I bet."

"So what are you doing here?"

"Well I got a job at the hospital actually."

"You're the new nurse they hired?"

"That's right. BJ and I had a meeting today. And he told me to come."

"I'm glad he did."

"So am I." She smiled. The feelings she had for him resurfaced. She knew they would, but never imagined they would be this strong. He was a divorced man with 6 children. She was a widower with a daughter. They were older, and more matured. But they still had these amazing feelings for each other. Feelings that couldn't be ignored.

"Where's BJ? Peg was supposed to come by early."

"That's what BJ said." Margaret commented as Peg and the kids walked into the kitchen.

"Speak of the devil." Hawkeye smiled. "Hey kids."

"Hi Uncle Hawk." Erin smiled. Then looked at Margaret. "I'm Erin."

"Hi Erin, I'm Margaret Houlihan."

"I know you. Dad talks about you."

"All lies." Margaret smiled as she played with Rory. Hawkeye smiled and walked to the bottom of the stairs.

"Katelyn!"

"Coming!" She yelled. Hawkeye smiled and walked to see Peg and the kids.

"Helene, Dorby's outside, why don't you and Ben go play with them?"

"Okay." The two said before walking outside. Kamilia and Erin still stood there.

"Kamilia!" Katelyn screamed running to her best friend.

"Katelyn. Hi Sabrina."

"Hi Kamilia."

"Why are you here?"

"My mommy and me came." Sabrina smiled pointing to her mother.

"Oh."

"We're playing dress up in the attic, come on. Erin wanna play with us?"

"Sure." Erin smiled and followed the three 5 year olds upstairs. Margaret smiled. It was a good thing that Sabrina had made some friends. She never thought that she would make best friends so soon.

"Looks like those three will be together forever." Hawkeye commented taking Rory from Margaret's arms. "Isn't that right Doll?" Rory smiled and looked at Margaret "I think she wants to be with you." He smiled handing the child over to Margaret. Margaret smiled and placed the child on her hip.

"Margaret, it's a pleasure. I'm Peg Hunnicut."

"Pleasure to meet you. BJ talked about you and Erin all the time."

"Well he talks about you all the time." Peg smiled. Margaret smiled then they heard BJ walk in.

"Who do I talk about?"

"ME!" Rory said happily when she saw her uncle. BJ smiled and picked up the two year old.

"How is my Rory?"

"'Ood." She smiled resting her head on his shoulder. BJ smiled and rubbed her back. He loved the little girl. She was so different from her brothers and sisters. Rory was more like Hawkeye than Amanda. For a good reason Hawkeye raised her all by himself since she was born.

"Does Rory like Margaret?"

"Yup." She smiled holding her arms out to Margaret. Margaret took the little girl and smiled.

In The Attic:

"Sabrina?" Erin asked looking at the 5-year-old.

"Yeah?"

"Where's your Daddy?"

"Daddy is dead. He died coming to see me when Mommy had me. My brother died too." Sabrina said sadly. Kamilia and Katelyn looked at their new friend and hugged her.

"Sorry. I know, my Mommy didn't want to be my Mommy anymore." Katelyn said with a slight smile.

"Really?" Katelyn nodded her head and looked at her friends. "Mama said she never leave me. I'm her life and soul."

"It must be nice to have a mommy. Kamilla's mom is real nice. She takes me shopping. And Daddy does my hair. He tries at least."

"Kamilia you have both a mommy and daddy, it must be nice."

"Yup. And I got two best friends. Hey maybe you can sleep over. My birthday party is on Saturday, wanna come?"

"I have to ask Mama." Sabrina smiled.

Later that night, after the Hunnicuts went home, and Hawkeye's children were in bed, and Margaret had laid Sabrina down they sat out on the front porch talking.

"I can't believe you're here."

"Neither can I. When I was offered the job here, I never thought I would see you."

"When I moved here, I never thought that you would come. Most people don't come to San Francisco, who were former Army Majors."

"Colonel actually. I made Colonel then had Michael and had to resign my commission. Then a year later Sabrina was born, and um, Joseph and Michael were killed." She paused looking down at her feet as she remembered those horrible memories. "They were on their way to see Sabrina, and um, they were shot." She said as tears began to flow. "Joseph was a policeman. We met through a friend, and fell in love. We dated for about 10 months and he proposed. We got married, and a year later Michael was born. We were so happy. He was the love that we had for each other. We named him after our best friends. Michael Jacobs, and Benjamin Pierce." Hawkeye smiled and was touched that she thought of him as her best friend. Even though they haven't seen each other in 10 years, they were still closer than most people. "Then a little while later, I was pregnant with Sabrina. We discussed her name throughout the whole pregnancy. He wanted to call her Sabrina and I wanted Annalee." She smiled slighting remembering how they used to argue over her name. "I gave birth to her, and before we named her, I had Joe's boss come in and apologize for the death of my husband." She said before she started to sob. She managed to hold back most of them to finish her story. "Right then and there her name was Sabrina Josephine Anderson." Margaret started to cry and fell into his arms. Just remembering what happened made it hurt so much more. "Mom and Dad came when they heard. Joe and Mike were caught in a shooting. They were both shot, and died, they was nothing anyone could do to help them." She started to cry harder. All he could do was hold her and comfort her. "I remember thinking if you were there, you could have helped, but I knew no one could." She let her tears fall and let the man beside her hold her until she felt that she could speak again. "Um...my sister said that she would help raise Sabrina if I needed it and I decided to move in with my mother. I was so devastated, I never thought I would lose the two men I adored more in the world. The only reason I'm alive, is Sabrina, she made me understand that just because they're gone, doesn't mean that their memory won't live on." She paused looking through the door at the little girl sleeping. "She holds my only link to Joe in her. I gave her the eternity band that he made for me on our wedding day. She has never taken it off." Margaret paused once more before continuing. "We moved in with my mother and stayed there until I was offered this job, and I knew BJ was here, so I came."

"That must have been hard for you." He commented whipping a tear off her cheek. Margaret smiled slightly and leaned into him so he could hug her.

"It was tough. But Sabrina makes everything worth it."

"She's such a beautiful girl." He smiled brightly. Margaret smiled at his comment.

"She is."

"She looks so much like you."

"She does. But she has Joseph in her. You can tell by those green eyes."

"What about the red hair."

"That's mine. Daddy had that same hair colour. Sabrina inherited it."

"The red gold, colour suits her though."

"What about Katelyn?"

"She has her mother's hair colour. Golden blonde and I love it. Katelyn is the spitting image of Amanda." He paused for a moment. "I dunno what happened between us. I think that after Finn was born something happened. Amanda was happy with Baylee, Dorby and Finn, but then Katelyn was born, I was ecstatic, she was happy, but not as she should have been. Then Vincent came, I think that's when things turned. By the time she was pregnant with Rory, we already filed for divorce. When Rory was born, Amanda decided that she didn't want to be the mother of 6 kids. So two weeks later, we were officially divorced. Amanda moved home, to Canada, and volunteered to go to Vietnam. It's been two years. I got a letter saying she was serving in the war, and I sent her pictures of the kids, and she sent a letter back saying she'll never forget."

"I'm so sorry. I can imagine my life without Sabrina."

"She could. That's the main problem I think. I loved her; I don't think she loved me."

"I know the feeling." Margaret said remembering her time with Donald. Hawkeye looked over at her and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I know you do. And you know that I would never let you feel that again."

"I know." Margaret smiled. "Well I should get Sabrina home."

"Yeah okay. You're welcome to let her spend the night here."

"That's okay. Maybe some other time." She smiled as they walked into the living room where the child was sleeping. Hawkeye picked her up and walked Margaret to the car.

"Don't be a stranger."

"I won't be." She smiled. Hawkeye smile and waved goodbye. She meant so much to him in Korea. And now ten years later after one evening those feelings arose once more. Feelings that he knew wouldn't go away. They would grow stronger over time.