Most times after meetings, since they usually took place in the early morning and they almost always committed crimes at night, the members of the Fearsome Five, besides Negaduck, would hang around the base (who knows why Negaduck lets them), playing games, listening to the radio, and other things that most people did when they hung out with their friends. Yes, the four super powered members of the gang considered the other three their friends. The only two who ever really had issues was Megavolt and Liquidator, and that's just because of the whole 'water shorts out electricity' thing. Today was no different, and as Negavolt showered (just because he was a villain doesn't mean he didn't prefer to smell decent. Besides, it helped when impersonating his doppelganger), the other members of the Fearsome Five relaxed in the living room with the radio on, although they were more focused on their game of Uno then whatever song was playing. That was, until it came on. The station they had been listening to had been playing fast paced songs (much to Quackerjack's delight, he loves fast paced music), and the slow acoustic guitar that introduced the song caught their attention. Bushroot smiled contentedly at this change, he had always liked soft and sweet music. Quackerjack was slightly disappointed, but decided that it was a good song anyway, while Megavolt was about to change the channel before one of his light bulbs talked to him and told him that it liked the song, which caused Megavolt to sit down for the light bulb's sake. Liquidator raised a watery eyebrow at the sudden change of style, but otherwise completely ignored it as he turned back to the game, only to find the others caught up in the song. Now listening to the words, Liquidator couldn't help but smile as he remembered his son, who was now an adult.
Meanwhile, in the shower, Negaduck could clearly hear the song through the door.
Your little hands wrapped around my finger,
And it's so quiet in the world tonight.
Your little eyelids flutter 'cause your dreaming,
So I tuck you in, turn on your favorite night light.
Almost against his will, his mind shifted to thoughts of his Gosalyn, the one person who he would ever admit (although you'd probably be long dead by the time he said it) to care about, besides himself.
To you, everything's funny,
You've got nothing to regret.
The song was right. The sweet, innocent girl that was Negaduck's daughter had never done anything bad.
I'd give all I had honey,
If you could stay like that.
In the living room, Bushroot had already succumbed to tears at the sad song.
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up
Don't you ever grow up,
Just stay this little.
Negaduck thought back to when NegaGosalyn was younger, and found himself smiling slightly.
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
It could stay this simple.
I won't let nobody hurt you,
Won't let no one break your heart.
No, no one will desert you.
Just try to never grow up.
It was true. If anyone ever hurt his Gosalyn, well let's just say that it wouldn't be pretty. And he knew that, despite the threats, he would never willingly leave his Gos. Instantly, his mind flashed to when the Friendly Four took her away from him. He had been helpless to stop it as they brought her with them without ever giving him a chance to say goodbye.
Never grow up.
During the short guitar solo, it was obvious that the over-emotional Quackerjack had joined his fellow teammate in crying and Megavolt was sniffling slightly. The only one that was seemingly not affected was Liquidator, and even on him you could see his expression softening.
You're in the car, on the way to the movies,
And you're mortified your mom is dropping you off.
At fourteen, there's just so much you can't do,
And you can't wait to move out, and call your own shots.
Negaduck's mind went to the time when they let her visit him (after much pleading on her part) for a couple of days. He had stared at the now-teenager in surprise, and probably would have embraced her, if it wasn't for the fact that Bushroot was turning the corner from where the plant-mutant had dropped the girl off.
But don't make her drop you off around the block.
Remember, that she's getting older too.
And don't lose the way that you dance,
Around in your pj's getting ready for school.
Another small, almost nonexistent smile graced the overlord's lips, as he thought about the many times he had gone upstairs to wake the duckling, only to find her already awake and about to go down while she hummed a melody under her breath.
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
Just stay this little.
Oh, darling don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
It could stay this simple.
In the other room, Megavolt was beginning to lose it as well. Negaduck could hear something that sounded either like sobs or somebody trying to breathe after laughing too hard. He took a wild guess that it was the first one.
And no one's ever burned you,
Nothing's ever left you scarred.
Negaduck took a sharp intake of air at this statement, surprised, but brushed it off as a coincidence.
And even though you want to,
Just try to never grow up.
Take pictures in your mind of your childhood room,
Memorize what it sounded like when your dad gets home.
It couldn't have sounded that good, considering most times he got home late, grumpy, and tired. Gosalyn had even nicknamed him Mr. Grumpy Puss because of it, which he only let her call him when there was nobody around.
Remember the footsteps,
Remember the words said,
Not all of them were the best things to say in front of a girl her age.
And all your little brother's favorite songs.
I just realized everything I have is someday gonna be gone.
Not even Liquidator could fight the sad melody anymore as silent tears dripping down his face, invisible if you weren't paying attention.
So here I am,
In my new apartment,
In a big city
They just dropped me off.
It's so much colder than I thought it would be,
So I tuck myself in and turn my nightlight on.
Negaduck turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He got a strange feeling that the girl singing the song was now singing to him.
Wish I'd never grown up.
The voice was faint, and Negaduck almost thought he had misheard something when the song sprung back.
I wish I never grown up.
The girl was tear chocked as she sang that, and if Negaduck was his twin, he would have felt sorry for her. But he wasn't his double so he didn't really care about how upset the singer became, and instead turned to shave.
Oh, I don't wanna grow up,
Wish I'd never grown up,
Could still be little.
Oh, I don't wanna grow up,
Wish I'd never grown up,
It could still be simple.
Negaduck had the strange feeling he recognized the voice, but quickly shoved it aside.
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
Just stay this little.
Oh, darling, don't you ever grow up,
Don't you ever grow up,
It could stay this simple.
Won't let nobody hurt you.
Won't let no one break your heart.
And even though you want to,
Please try to never grow up.
Oh, don't you ever grow up.
Oh, just never grow up.
With that the song ended, and Negaduck finally realized why the voice seemed so familiar to him. It was his daughter's.