Hello everyone! I am so pleased that so many of you enjoyed the last update. As promised, here is the final chapter of the story. THANK YOU to everyone who left such kind and encouraging reviews, and a big thank you to everyone who followed and favourited this story. Thank you for your support!

This chapter beings after Father Mulcahy has lost his hearing in the final episode, and everyone knows that the war will be over soon.

Hope you enjoy the last chapter of...

No One Said it Would Be Easy

Colonel Potter looked down at his drink as he considered what BJ had just told him. Father Mulcahy had suffered substantial hearing loss. Colonel Potter shook his head, knowing full well that such an injury would undoubtedly end Father Mulcahy's career as a priest. Colonel Potter could only imagine the despair Father Mulcahy was feeling. But suddenly, an idea occurred to him. Maybe having to leave the priesthood would open a window of opportunity for the chaplain - a window which, until that point, had always remained firmly shut.

Francis Mulcahy stood in his tent, looking through the window in his door. How odd it was to see everything, but hear almost nothing. In the days since the attack, he had been struggling to come to terms with his new reality - one which was unlike anything he had ever faced before. His turmoil grew every time he wondered about the future. What future was there for a deaf priest?

Stepping towards his desk, Father Mulcahy wondered how this was part of God's plan. Without being able to hear, what purpose would his life have? It was too much to bear - especially paired with the scars his heart still held. Despite the fact that seven months had passed since she had left, the wounds were as fresh as though it had been yesterday.

He turned around, startled to find that he was no longer alone. Colonel Potter had entered while he was lost in thought.

"Hello, Colonel," said Father Mulcahy, flustered. "I'm so sorry, I didn't hear you come in."

The colonel nodded. "Quiet all right, Padre."

"Please sit, sir. What can I help you with?"

"I'd like to ask how you are for a change, Father."

"Oh...I'm all right, sir. Thank you."

Taking a seat, Potter said, "I'll get straight to the point. BJ told me about your hearing."

Father Mulcahy felt the anger rise within him. "He what? But he promised me that-"

"Now, his intentions were pure. He felt that you needed someone to talk to. I haven't told anyone else, and I don't plan to."

That calmed the priest somewhat, and he sat down on his cot, feeling more than a little embarrassed. "I didn't mean to lose my temper, sir. It's just...this changes everything."

"I understand."

"No, I don't see how you could understand. With my hearing damaged, I can't continue to be a priest. Ministry is not a one-way commitment. I must be able to preach and listen. What good would I be to any church? Churches need leaders, not cripples."

"Father, all might not be lost."

"What's that?"

"All might not be lost," Potter said in a louder voice.

Standing, Father Mulcahy began to pace his tent. "But how? All I ever wanted to do was work in the church and help people understand their faith. I've struggled sometimes, to be sure, but the priesthood is my calling."

"Very true, but there is probably a reason for this."

"What reason? People need priests - they need spiritual guidance, Colonel."

Potter chose his next words carefully. "They do, Father. But maybe Mary Cooper needs you more."

Father Mulcahy froze, his eyes widening as he turned to Potter. "I don't think I heard that correctly."

"I'm sure the last thing you want to do is give up your calling, but maybe it wouldn't be all that bad. After all, you'd be free to get married, if you wanted."

"Colonel, what are you talking about?"

"You kept it well hidden, Padre, but I know that you were sweet on Mary."

Father Mulcahy panicked. "What are you talking about? Of course I wasn't...I'm not!"

Potter chuckled. "You seem to have forgotten that I was with you when you found out that she was being transferred."

Father Mulcahy sighed heavily, recalling that day and the utter anguish he had felt at the news that Mary was leaving. If he had let on even half of what he had been feeling, Colonel Potter would seen enough to know he had feelings for Mary. "Oh," he began quietly. "Well, what difference would it make? She just saw me as a friend. And even if she hadn't, what would I have to offer her? I can barely hear, and I have no work to return to."

Colonel Potter was thoughtful for a moment. Should he tell him? What if Mary had succeeded in moving on with her life? But, if there was one thing Sherman Potter had learned, it was that you needed to seize your opportunities. "Father, Mary's transfer wasn't routine. She requested it."

Father Mulcahy looked up. "She requested it? Why? Was it because of her and Hawkeye?"

"Well, Father, it was actually because of you. You see - and I'm only telling you this because I think that you should know, not because it's any of my business - she was in love with you."

Father Mulcahy's jaw practically hit the floor. "She what?"

Potter fought back a smile. "Do you need to sit down, Padre?"

Father Mulcahy nodded dumbly, sitting on the edge of his cot. "I...oh my. I couldn't have heard that correctly."

Potter had to smile at that. "You did, Father. She loved you. And, if I was you, I'd make my first stop on the homefront Boston."

"Boston?"

"That's where she is."

"But Colonel...I...she…"

"Y'know, Padre, when I realised that I was in love with Mildred, I was scared silly. I didn't have much to offer her and, being a military man, I knew I could be called away any time. But, I couldn't live without her. The truth is, when you love someone enough, the problems never stay as big as they seem at first." Potter got up and started for the door, before he said, "No one said love or life would be easy, Father. The decision is up to you but I think that, with your hearing, the man upstairs is making his thoughts clear."

A month later, Francis Mulcahy stood outside a small white bungalow on a side street in Boston, Massachusetts. The paper with the address Colonel Potter had given him the day everyone left the 4077th was held firmly in his grasp, and he checked it to make sure he was at the right place.

He had arrived home two weeks earlier, determined to find her and try to win her heart. Or at least, find out if it was still his for the taking. The delay had only arisen because Colonel Potter had arranged for him to have surgery on his ears. The damage was far from reversed and he would require at least one more surgery, but at least Father Mulcahy's hearing was a little improved.

As for his days in the priesthood? Well, now that his hearing was beginning to improve, that decision all depended on Mary. During his recovery, he had considered what career path he would take. He considered whether he would simply change denominations, or whether a new career entirely was the solution. Either way, he felt sure as he walked up to Mary's door that his days as a Catholic priest were firmly behind him.

He knocked on the door, his heart quickening as he waited for her to answer. The door swung open and he held his breath. She didn't look up, but was looking at some papers she was holding.

"Madge, I told you that when you arrived you could just-" She looked up and the stack of papers fell to the ground. She was so surprised she could hardly think - surprised at both his presence and the intensity with which her feelings for him returned. Clearly she hadn't buried her feelings away as well as she thought she had. "Father Mulcahy." She was so taken aback by his surprise visit that she didn't know what else to say.

"Hello, Mary," he said gently.

"What are you doing in Boston?" She asked once she managed to find her voice.

"Well, I...I needed to speak to you about something."

"You mean, you came all the way to Boston just to talk to me?"

"It's important," he said, growing more nervous by the minute.

She smiled, propping the door open. "Please, come in."

It would be lovely to end with a fairytale happily-ever-after and say that their lives were perfect from that day forward, but that would be unrealistic. The years that followed were wonderful to be sure, but they also held many struggles. Their lives were far from simple. After all, no one said it would be easy.

But when Francis and Mary Mulcahy were together, things were never as hard, either.

And that's the end. I hope that you all enjoyed this story! If you feel so inclined, please leave a review and let me know what you thought!

Also, if you have a chance, I would be honoured if you checked out my other MASH story - Christmas in Tokyo.

Again, thank you all so much for your support. Have a very Merry Christmas!

OnMyOwn1832