Author's notes: right like I said in the last chapter I would probably do a flashback, mostly to explain why Aerrow doesn't really hesitate to let Dark Ace re-join the Storm Hawks. Disclaimer time: I don't own Storm Hawks, I don't own anything except the plot and the computer it was written on.

PROMISE

The little red head clung to Ace's legs for dear life. Ace swept him up from the floor as Kernal, Lightning's pet sky monkey, charged towards Aerrow.

" Uncle Ace," started four-year-old Aerrow, " Why does Kernal keep wunning at me?" he asked with big round green eyes.

Ace chuckled. " Protecting his young, just like your daddy and mummy protect you."

"I don't need protecting," Aerrow protested. Ace raised an eyebrow. " I don't and I was only giving Radarr a hug. I wasn't gonna hurt him."

" Oh, the puppy has a name now does he?" Ace asked. Aerrow nodded his head vigorously.

It still amazed Ace how much like his father Aerrow looked. Except his eyes, he had his mother's eyes. It hurt Ace a little every time he saw Lightning and Aria together. No matter how long passed, he could never stop loving her. Yes he hated Lightning deep down. But he didn't want to hurt Aria. If Lightning got hurt Aria got hurt, simple as that. But then again, if Ace got hurt, she worried and fussed over him as well. To put it simply, Ace hated hormones and Lightning. Ace liked Aria, Aerrow and Aerron, Aerrow's brother.

"A-a-ace?"

" Yes Aerrow?"

"When will I get my squadron?"

"When your older."

"Will you be in it?"

"I'm in this one though Aerrow."

" But I want you in my squadron." Aerrow pouted.

" Well, if its ok with your dad, perhaps."

" Yey!"

" But it would also have to be ok with you when you grow up, you might change your mind."

" I won't, I promise."

"Promise is a big word Aerrow."

Aerrow paused. " No it's not. It only has one-two-three-four-five-six-seven seven letters."

Just then Aerron walked in. " you shouldn't use metaphors or proverbs on him Ace, he's too young."

"and your too simple minded." Ace shot back.

"Aerrow, tell Ace off, he's bullying me."

"Don't use Aer--"

" Ace, stop picking on Aerron now!"

Ace glared at Aerron. "Where's your girlfriend anyway?"

" Who? Ravess? She's not my girlfriend, she's just a friend that happens to be a girl."

" aka a girlfriend." Ace teased.

Aerron glared. " whatever."

The siren went off. Ace watched Aerrow's eyes light up. Ace felt his stomach sink. He knew what was coming. More destruction. That kid was seriously morbid.

" BYE BYE DADDY!! BYE BYE MUMMY!!" Aerrow called, as was his little routine now."

" Bye darling." Aria called back.

" Remember your promise, Aerrow." Ace whispered in his ear before he too joined the battle.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aerrow's POV~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

That was the last time I saw my family. That was the day Ace killed them. My mother, my father, my brother, his family, my family. " remember your promise, Aerrow." he told me, way back when I admired him. I never did forget my promise. I wish I could go back on it sometimes, but my honour stops me. I never forgot my promise to him. The one that I made so long ago on that tainted day, ten years ago.