AUTHOR'S NOTE: This is merely a trial run for this fiction. The story is the life story of my original character who ties in with the Darkwing Duck realm. I know not many people take too kindly to fan character based fictions on this site so I figure I'd see how it flies. If people don't like it, I will take it down and only post the story on my own sites and friends' sites. If people DO like it, I'll keep updating here. Even though this is the life-story of my character, other DWD canon characters will make appearances as the story progresses.

Also, there are a few other fictions floating around on the internet (and even on this site) involving the origin of my character, who seems to be growing in popularity. THIS IS THE ONLY OFFICIAL. Since I am the original creator of the character, this is his official story.

DISCLAIMER: Jake Mallard and other characters mentioned in this chapter are © me. The Darkwing Duck realm and its canon characters are © Disney.

CHAPTER 1

Do you ever wonder how different everything could have been if it weren't for one downfall in your past? Do you ever regret making a decision that changed your entire life? I do. All of the time. Not a day goes by that I don't ask myself those questions and wonder.

My name is Jake. Jake Elias Mallard. And now, in the year 1992, I'm 55 years old and the Chief Agent of SHUSH in St. Canard. I look in the mirror every morning as I put on my tie for work and I notice how much I physically have not changed. I'm still 5' 10" with a strong build to defy my age and I possess piercing green eyes which are shadowed by bushy eyebrows that seem to be stuck in a permanent scowl. My hair is nothing more than the white plumage on top of my head. At a glance, my relationship to Drake Mallard is obvious. But on the inside, the changes I've gone through are inevitable.

Yes, now I'm living what seems to be a normal, luxurious life with a great career in St. Canard. My life has been anything but an ordinary one. I had the taste of a normal life at one time. But it didn't last and was quickly overcome with bitterness. It's a rather long story which would take decades to put in writing. This is an overview of my life; well, the important points of my life.

I probably should start more towards the beginning. I'm not from around here, I'm from very far away. Another dimension, in fact, which is now known as 'The Negaverse.' I was born and spent the first several years of my life in a city a few hours out of St. Canard called Aviamitty with my mother and my younger brother of three years, Nick. I was the more level-headed and 'down to Earth' of the two while my brother couldn't stay out of trouble. Our biological father, Robert Mallard, we never knew personally. From what we were told, he was a military colonel who perished in World War II when we were still infants. We heard stories of how he was a hero and that is how we envisioned him.

Our mother re-married a few years later to a man named Roger Featherston. It didn't last. When I was nine, he was arrested and sentenced to 25 years in prison. I won't go into detail on the charges for the sake of my persona. My mother filed for divorce and moved to St. Canard with my brother and I immediately to escape the experience and leave it behind us.

The next ten years my brother and I got to live 'normally.' We went to school, we had friends, and got to be kids. Even throughout school and up to graduation, I was the more studious of the pair while Nick was the energetic troublemaker. After high school, I left home for St. Canard to attend college, majoring in business management. Nick stayed in Aviamitty with our mother while he attempted to figure out what he wanted to do with his future.

It was during my junior year of college that I met the woman who would become my future wife. Abigail Cleeson. She was a beautiful white mallard with long, curly blonde hair and deep, dark blue eyes. I knew the moment that I saw her walk into the classroom on the first day of class, I wanted her to be mine. And I would have her. Eventually.

Several weeks of subtly making my presence known to her went by before we had our first personal conversation. I can remember the day clearly. Midterms were one week away and I was in the campus library studying. I was hunched over a legal pad, organizing my notes when a pair of slender hands set down a pile of textbooks on the table beside me. I looked up and was greeted with those blue eyes. My breath was caught in my throat and I immediately began to feel dizzy from the lack of air in my lungs.

"Jake? Is it alright if I sit here?"

Her angelic voice snapped me out of my mesmerized stupor. I can only imagine how ridiculous I looked. Finally, I managed to find my voice.

"Oh, Abby! Uh, yes, of course," I answered, clearly flustered as I attempted to gather my books to one side of the table and cleared a space for her. She smiled and sat down in the chair beside me, smoothing her calf-length skirt. I watched her curiously out of the corner of my eye as she picked up one of her textbooks and opened it to a marked page.

"I hope you don't mind. You're definitely one of the smartest students in the class and I don't doubt you could answer any questions I may have about this stuff," Abby explained and looked up at me with a motion toward the subject books.

I gave a light chuckle in reply, which unfortunately sounded more like squeaky guffaw. Quickly, I cleared my throat and covered, "It's no problem. No problem at all."

Abby returned her gaze to her book. I picked up my own textbook and returned my inconspicuous gaze to her. Every feature on her face, every delicate feather, the perfect curls of blonde hair. She was perfect. I etched an immortal picture of her beauty in my mind.

"Jake?"

Once again, her voice introduced me to reality and I immediately shifted my eyes forward. "Yes?"

"Is that book very helpful?" Abby asked without looking at me.

I was perplexed by her sudden question but I spat out an answer without a second thought. "Oh, yeah. It's has a really good review chapter."

"Uh huh? Think it would be more helpful if you were reading it right-side up?" she asked as a sly smile played on the corner of her bill. While humiliation made it's presence known by the red color rising to my face, I fumbled to turn the book right-side up as suavely as I could.

The friendship started from that day in the library. Back in those days, relationships weren't rushed. We began as friends and grew tighter over the months. It wasn't until the end of the academic year that things really progressed when I received some unfortunate news from home.

The two of us had plans that evening. We were going to meet up with a few other classmates to go dancing as soon as Abby came to my dorm room. But when I opened the door, she wasn't greeted with our ceremonious embrace. Instead, my face was distraught and a letter was clutched in my right hand.

Abby immediately noticed and frowned in concern. "Jake? What is it?"

"Abby, come in. I'll be ready to go in just a minute," I answered, anxious to dismiss the subject. I'm not the type to openly show vulnerability. To me, it meant I was weak. And I wasn't about to show that in front of the woman I had strong feelings towards. I turned my back to her and crossed the room to fetch my coat and set the letter down on the table.

But Abby wasn't easily fooled. She was an intelligent young woman and I should have known better than to think she would let the subject slide past. She had followed me across the room and placed a hand on my shoulder for my attention. I turned around and looked down into her concerned eyes.

"Jake, what's wrong? What has happened?" She demanded gently.

I looked back towards the letter on the table and picked it up to explain. "I got a letter from home. It's about my brother. He…" I stopped. Maybe for the moment I believed that if I didn't say it, it wouldn't be true. "He was killed two days ago. Apparently he made enemies with the wrong people and he was run off of the road."

Her hand came up to her bill and she shook her head in disbelief. "Oh, Jake. I'm so sorry. Are you going to be alright? Is there anything I can do?"

"I'll be alright. I'm going to have to visit home this weekend for the funeral but I'll be fine." I looked at Abby apologetically and heaved my shoulders. "I'm sorry, Abby. I suddenly don't feel up to going out tonight. Tell everyone I'm sorry I didn't show."

To my surprise, she shook her head defiantly. "If you're staying in tonight, then I am, too. That is, if you don't mind the company."

"Are you sure that would be such a good idea?" I ventured hesitantly. And young man and woman who were not married and sharing an evening in the same room was frowned upon in those years.

Abby reached down and took one of my hands in both of hers. She stared genuinely up at me and spoke softly. "I'd worry about you, Jake. Please don't let yourself sit in here alone tonight."

How could I say no to her? Granted that while I hate being pitied, I really didn't want to spend the evening alone. Not after receiving the unfortunate news of my brother. And Abby genuinely cared for my well-being. She would be one of the very few in my life who would. I enjoyed her company and that night would be no exception.

"I'd like that," I conceded and managed a slight smile. Abby returned her warm smile before she turned and approached the door to the room. I watched as she stepped gracefully, making it appear as if her feet didn't even touch the floor. She was like an angel. An angel whose long, blonde locks flowed over her slender shoulders as she gently closed the door to my dorm room.

We were alone. Just the two of us in my dorm room. When she turned towards me again, her brows furrowed. "Jake, are you sure you're alright? You look a bit flushed."

She was right. I could feel the feathers on the back of my neck becoming damp with sweat. But I tried to remain calm and nodded. "I'm fine. I'm just working away the shock, I suppose."

"Just sit down. I'll get you a glass of water," Abby insisted and pointed to the second-hand couch against the wall. I waited until she rounded the corner into the small kitchen area before collapsing onto the couch with a heavy exhale. My usual calm, cool demeanor had become non-existent at that point. I tugged at the collar of my sweater to air out my neck and return the pure white color to my face. The evening had taken a turn in a direction I was not prepared for and I didn't have a map. I found myself resting my elbows on my knees and leaning forward with my face in my hands to regain my breath.

A moment later, Abby returned with a glass of ice water in her hand. I lifted my head and brought my hands down from my face as she stopped in front of me.

"Here, drink this," She demanded and held the glass to me.

I nodded and silently reached for the glass. In wrapping my hand around it, my fingers slid over her own. The only reaction from her was a smile before she let go of the glass and turned back around. While I slowly drank, I watched as Abby wandered about my room, which was anything but tidy. She began to scoop up clothes, papers, notebooks, and various other items off of the floor.

Now I was beginning to feel guilt. The woman I was experiencing strong feelings for was not only spending the evening with me, but now she was cleaning up my messy room. And no matter how much I tried, I couldn't keep my eyes off of her.

It was too much for me to experience at one time. I suddenly stood up from the couch and swiftly made my way to the window. My hands came down on the sill and I leaned forward with my head lowered.

I must had been breathing heavily because it caught Abby's attention. She stood upright and looked in my direction. "Jake?"

When she got no response, she set all of the junk in her arms down on the table and approached me. I involuntarily flinched when I felt her place her hands soothingly on my back. My head turned to meet her gaze and we stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like years.

"Jake, there's something else on your mind," Abby deduced. Once again, a smart girl. She had a way of reading my mind.

"No, I'm just….I'm sorry, I'm just not feeling like myself tonight," I admitted half-truthfully. The nervousness in my voice was obvious and Abby picked up on it immediately.

"Oh, I see," she answered softly. Now she appeared to be nervous as she rubbed the back of her neck with her hand. "Well, perhaps I should go so you can have some time to…."

Abby began to turn and motion to the door. Before she could finish her sentence, I reached out to grab her by the wrist and pulled her back around to face me. She stared at me in shock for only a few seconds before our bills were brought together. Her hands were gently pressed against my chest while I held her shoulders as we kissed passionately. It was ecstasy that I had never experienced before and I didn't want it to end. But I eventually began to notice my shortness of breath and we slowly parted.

My chest was heaving with each breath I took. Abby stared up at me blankly, but slowly she smiled brightly.

"Abigail, I'm…I'm sorry. I shouldn't have…." I began to apologize. I was silenced when her index finger came up to my bill, like a mother hushing her child.

"Shhh. Jake, please don't apologize for that. If you feel like you need to apologize for something, say you're sorry for making me wait this long," Abby said coyly as she brought her hand up to gently stroke my cheek.

I tilted my head into her hand; her gentle, soothing touch. It wasn't until that moment that I realized just how much I needed someone important in my life, especially after just losing a part of my family. Her hand gently moved my head so that we were gazing at one another again.

"I'm really sorry about your brother, Jake. Truly, I am. I understand you're suffering a loss but I'd really like to do what I can for you. I want to be here for you," she confessed sincerely.

That was all I needed to hear. I nodded as my confidence was restored and pulled her into a gentle embrace. Abby's soothing hands rubbing my back made me forget how nervous I had been moments earlier. It wasn't long before I brought my bill to hers for another kiss, just as passionate as the last. Only this time my hands slowly slid down the delicate curves of her body and came to rest on her hips. Her hands curiously made their way down my chest to the bottom of my sweater. I felt her warm fingers as her hands slipped underneath my sweater and run through the feathers on my chest, the whole time our bills never parting.

I still remember that night as the best I'd ever experienced. The next morning I woke up to a warm body with welcoming blue eyes beside me. I wanted that to last forever.

Unfortunately, my life would turn out to be a rather lonely one, all at my own fault. This was only the beginning.