Chapter 2

The beginning

Edinburgh, March 12th 1980.

A younger Ducky Mallard emerged from the hospital dressed in his best suit, sporting the bow tie his friends had bought him with his wife on his arm. In her arms lay the sleeping form of their daughter, a newborn of a few hours. Ducky's mother stood beside him when he reached the bottom of the steps and he wrapped one arm around her waist as they reached her. Victoria Mallard beamed with joy and happiness at birth of her first grandchild- her granddaughter. She had dreamed of such a day for many years.

"Mother... Meet Iona Victoria Marsaili Mallard. Your granddaughter." Ducky smiled as Marsaili, his wife, handed the infant to his mother. The tiny infant stretched beneath her swaddling and Victoria smiled and cooed as the baby opened her eyes. Grey eyes, like Ducky and Victoria. Victoria herself felt tears welling in her eyes.

"Oh, Donald. You're father would be so proud if he were here," she looked down once more at the baby. "She is definitely a Mallard but their are aspects of the Campbell's in her. You can tell."

"Aye, that ye can, mother." Ducky smiled, slipping into his broad scots. Marsaili laughed gently and smiled at Ducky as he lead them all to his car- a 1961 Ford Falcon- and then on to the house Marsaili and he shared with his mother which sat on a hill above Edinburgh itself.