A/N: A new Tintin story; something I just thought up... No idea if it's any good, but if it is, let me know and I'll continue. Constructive criticism, please; nothing mean. :3 Enjoy!


A young Tintin, seven years old, slept soundly in his bed, in his room, in his family home in Brussels. At least, he was sleeping soundly, until he was pounced upon by a little sister.

"Tintin!" the squeal met his ears, causing him to start awake and promptly fall off the bed, quilt, pillow, sister and all.

"OOF!"

"Tintin!" A giggle and Tintin opened his eyes. The red-haired girl grinned broadly at him as she perched on his stomach.

"Kitty, I'm awake!" he laughed. "What's the rush?"

"You know!" the girl teased and grabbed his hand. She dragged him into the living room, where a strong evergreen stood proud and tall, adorned with candles and little glass balls dangling from delicate string threaded lovingly by their mother. At the top, stood a star, made out of wood by their father and painted gold. The candles lit up the room, since the sun had barely risen yet and the children were always impatient about Christmas.

"Yes, it is very beautiful," Tintin breathed, as he and his sister stood side-by-side, holding hands in the candle light.


Tintin, ten years later, smiled fondly as he gazed at the old photo of his little family. He grew up happy and loved by his parents and sister. He sighed as his gaze drew to a more recent photograph, taken five years earlier. His father, tall, strong and proud of his family stood with an arm around his pretty little wife, and a hand on his rapidly-growing twelve-year-old boy; who, in turn, stood with his hand clasped by his ten-year-old sister; who was smiling brightly.

This was the last photo taken of the family all together, before their mother, a year later, died unexpectedly of an illness no one even knew she had until it was too late to do anything about. Tintin's father left for a long holiday, just to get a change of scenery, to help him deal with the loss of his wife, when he got into an accident while out hiking. His sister, Katherine, went to live with their aunt in France, while Tintin stayed in Belgium, looking after his father's farm and house. Later he got his job as a reporter and moved to 26 Labrador Road. Eventually, Katherine's letters stopped coming and Tintin simply assumed she had moved on in her life. He was only slightly bothered by the fact she hardly kept in contact with him; he'd send her letters occasionally and some of the money he earned; but that was it.

As Tintin moved down the row of memories, he picked up one of Katherine's last letters to him. She chuckled as he read the words jotted down in her neat, curling handwriting, telling him about her current suitors and how two young almost got into a fight over her. This could only lead Tintin to assume she was very beautiful and made him wish all the more they were together.

Milou lay under the table, his head on his paws, gazing up at his master. He knew to leave Tintin alone whenever he went through the old photos and letters. The first few times he'd done it, he would get very sad and sit in the armchair gazing at one of the photos, before laying it aside with a sigh and pulling Milou onto his lap, stroking his ears.

"We can only move forward in life," he would say and Milou would bark in response.


Tintin moved around the apartment several minutes later, making a cup of tea and listening to the radio. While waiting for the kettle to boil, he gazed out the window down at the street, watching all the people go about their daily lives.

"The Captain will be expecting us for a visit later this week," he said absentmindedly to his dog. "We can't forget to return his-" Tintin stopped mid-sentence and a troubled frown clouded his face. He watched as a young woman, carrying a paper bag, walked along the sidewalk. Suddenly a large man came up to her from behind and grabbed her, as another started pulling the bag away from her. Tintin reacted by rushing down the stairs and out the door to help.


A/N: Yes; I am calling Snowy 'Milou'... Got a problem with that? :P Please review! :D