Disclaimer: Cowboy Bebop is the creation of Watanabe-sensei. I just own my wild imagination.

AN: Okay, so here's the first of my short, oneshot CBBB ficlets. The themes range from romance to drama to angst to humor and even parody-and each one is titled after and inspired by a song. Also, a short snip of lyric from each song will be included to give you a little idea of where the plot's coming from. I'm also doing an IY one, so and Inu fans, expect some from me soon. And don't worry, I haven't given up on CIMC! This has just been playing around in my mind.

So, without further ado, here's my first ficlet.

Title/Song: The Greatest

Artist: Cat Power

Pairings: Jet/Faye

Genre: Romance, General

The Greatest

Once, I wanted to be the greatest…

Jet Black had always strived for excellence. Even as a youth, on his high school football team, he gave his all. In college, he studied hard and didn't party as much so he could graduate with honors. Then, as a fledgling detective with ISSP, he had worked to the best he could to bring justice and peace to the streets of Ganymede.

Trouble was, none of his hard work had ever paid off.

His high school football team had counted on him to take them to state finals, but he'd lost the game that would've taken them there. He never did graduate from college to pursue architecture like his dad had wanted. He dropped out two months after the elder Black's death and enrolled in police academy instead. After being promoted to detective only a month after getting the job at ISSP, he thought he was finally on his way up (and fast, too) but a few years in the game and the realization that it was all just a pile of garbage struck him hard-in the form of getting his arm shot off and being betrayed by his best friend and partner.

So, he did what he did last time things got tough-he quit. He told himself it was because the system was corrupt, but some nagging little voice in the back of his head insisted it was because he wasn't cut out for it. He would never rise to greatness. He was the one thing he'd sworn to his father on his deathbed he'd never become.

A failure.

Several years after leaving his job at ISSP, after meeting the elusive Spike Spiegel, after encountering and nurturing the eccentric hacker Edward, after taking care of the too smart data welsh corgi Ein, after being 'graced' with the presence of the beautiful Faye Valentine, he sat on a dock in Ganymede and just watched the water move with the wind. He thought vaguely back to everything that he had ever reached for and never achieved. He thought of how he hadn't even stopped Ed or Spike from leaving. He thought of how he couldn't, for a long time, shake the feeling that Faye resented him for not trying. And he thought of how he hated that he hadn't tried.

He thought about all of this and everything before-about college and ISSP and Alisa, and it probably would've depressed him had he stewed over it any longer. But he hadn't a chance to.

Rapid thudding of small feet and a muffled "come on Spiegel!" brought a smile to his face. Seconds later, a chubby, blue eyed toddler was standing on unsteady feet by his side and behind her was her beautiful mother. Said woman sat on the opposite side after relinquishing their daughter into his care and lay her head on his shoulder, her violet hair tickling his bare arm. "Whatcha thinking 'bout?" she asked softly. "Stuff," he replied, and took one of her hands in his. She didn't probe, knowing that when the time came, he'd tell her what was on his mind. Instead, she switched the conversation over to dinner. "So, what's for dinner?" Jet smiled and continued to stare at the rippling waves of the water. "I was thinking we could go to Zumbro's on Park Street, if that was fine with you." She laughed a little and patted his hand. "Right…as if we could afford it." It was then he turned to her and smiled, not saying a word, but she understood anyway. Eyes wide, she stared at him in disbelief. "How?" was all she could manage. "I've been saving a little change for a while," he replied, pulling his daughter into his lap where she fell softly with giggle and some indecipherable language. "Ever since you said you wanted to try that new restaurant, anyway." Faye beamed and planted a smooch on his cheek before putting a softer, more affectionate one on his lips. Then, talking to the year old baby girl in Jet's lap, leaned her head back on his shoulder. "Isn't Daddy the greatest?" And all little Spiegel could do was coo in agreement.

It was moments like that that convinced Jet Black that he was, in fact, not a failure.

Okay, so how did you like? It wasn't too specific, since it's so short, but I'll be doing some better ones (I hope) soon. Tell me what you think, of course, read and review, and give me some songs, too! I might just dedicate that chapter to you!

P.S. If you can, listen to this song; it's amazing!

BB