10

He sat down next and looked at her. She was so beautiful. He couldn't believe this was happening. His mind raced. She loved him and he knew that no mater what happened everything was going to be okay. He realized that he didn't want to be away from her, ever. "Margaret." He took her hand. "You know that I love you and I want to be with you forever. Will you marry me?"

Margaret just stared at him. Did he say what she thought he had said? Did he just ask her to marry him? "What did you say?"

"I said, will you marry me?" He couldn't believe that he had said it either.

She didn't say anything. She just looked at him with tears in her eyes then threw her arms around him and cried.

"Does that mean yes?" He was desperate for an answer.

She drew back and looked at him. "Yes."

He embraced her. He was so happy. He leaned back on the bed pulling her down with him. He kissed her, first her lips, then her cheek and then her neck.

His quick movement startled her. She pulled back. "Hawkeye, no. Not like this."

"Not like what?" He was confused. "What are you talking about? It's not like we haven't ever been together before." Hawkeye looked at her searching for an answer.

"I know, and I want to make love with you. I do. Just not now." She sat up and straightened her shirt. Then she got up, walked over to the table and put her hands on the back of the chair.

Hawkeye just stared at her. He didn't understand. He stood up and walked over to her. He put his hands on her shoulders. "Margaret, I don't understand."

"I love you. And I want to be with you." She turned around to look at him. Oh, you're going to think this is crazy."

"Go on."

"I don't think we should make love until after we are married." She waited for him to explode.

"What? Why?" He couldn't believe she was saying this. Margaret was the last person he would have expected to say anything like that.

"I have made so many mistakes in my life. I don't want make any mistakes with you. I want to do this right. All my past relationships have been based on sex and not love. I don't want it to be that way with you. I love you and I hope you understand." She stared at him. She didn't know what to expect.

He was so touched by her words that he took her in his arms and kissed her tenderly and then he said, "I love you and I do understand. After all, we have the rest of our lives.

He kissed her again. "I'd better go and let you get some sleep. I'll see you in the morning." He walked toward the door.

"Please don't go. You can sleep here."

"I don't think that's a good idea."

"Why not? I can control myself if you can." She said sarcastically. She climbed into the bed and motioned for Hawkeye to join her. The snuggled together and fell asleep.

To be continued...