I wanted to write something for today. This doesn't involve any state nor any of the other plots going on.


Twelve years…twelve long years, I think walking down the hall. I could have closed myself off either at home or here at the White house but then what kind of hero would I be if I did that? I swear every year I can still feel my lungs tighten again, my stomach lurch with every stride I make. And even now I swear I can taste the dust as I round this last corner to see someone special.

Normally I spend today with my brother, Iggy and Japan but…today is different. I want it to be different so I walk up to a young woman sitting behind a rather large desk. I guess I startle her cause she quickly jumps back, "Oh Hello, Mr. Jones." She says looking away.

I cock my head, I don't look that bad today do I? Or more likely she's not expecting me. I think but I don't ask as I give her my best smile, "Sup Amy what yah doing?"

She blinks looking me up and down to make sure it's really me, "Uh…work mostly…why Sir?"

I shake my head, "Nope not today. Today you and me are going out. And Dude stop calling me Sir call me Alfred." She just sits there confused but I give her a really big country boy smile, "Come on for me? I know you don't want to spend all day at this small desk rather than hang out with this hero."

Finally she stands and grabs her purse and I quickly take her hand and lead her out of the White house. "Right on to our awesome adventure." I just say it to get a smile but she just looks down.

"Sir…um is this really such a good idea? I mean it being-"

"Amy this is an awesome idea and I told you stop calling me Sir." I give her a warm smile taking her hand, "Let's go."

Somehow we end up in a corner booth in a small bar, "So um…why are you spending today with me of all people?" She finally asks looking down at her tea, "You should be spending it in New York City or Pennsylvania or Virginia right?"

I take a sip of my Coke, "Well technically we are in Virginia." She just nods at me, "That was a joke Amy." I've seen her around the Capital many times but I never thought she would be this...shy.

"Yeah…" She doesn't look up as the TV at the bar clicks on to the History Channel and it's playing what it plays every year, "Oh…um we can go if you want."

I take her hand trying to ease the tension, "Why? Amy trust me I've…" I stop for a moment trying to come up with the right words, "I've felt it, lived it a hundred times over. Every year I stare at that screen and I'll admit to you that it just hurts all over again." I stop for a moment, "But then we need to..." I break off unsure if I should say it.

She nods, her brown eyes wide with awe, "What do you mean? You were attacked, we were attacked. I mean how many people died?"

"Over 3,000."

"Yeah…"

We turn our attention to the show playing and it's a moment before I speak again, "I've grieved for everybody lost that day like we all have but…Du-Amy every time I saw someone pulled from that rubble I cheered and I cried and cursed everybody and everything I could think off for making my people go through that. And yeah this hero wanted revenge bad." I watch her playing with her straw, "But you know what I think of the most?"

She looks up from her straw, "What?"

I smile at her, "The heroes that gave their lives that day; those who instead of running away ran up those stairs and pulled countless people to safety." My mind goes to a quote I've recited to myself a million times before, "It's not how they died that made them heroes but how they lived."

She inhales slowly looking right into my eyes, "Yeah but…why tell me? Why not England or Japan or any other country? Or even Mr. President? I'm not anyone special, hell I'm an unpaid intern."

I take her hand, "Because I wanted to tell you. You know I was in the middle of a meeting with France and England going at it like always when I felt it and fell to the floor. It was at the UN building in New York City so it didn't take long to realize what was happening."

Again she nods slowly, "I was..." She stops and I can see the sadness in those sweet eyes of hers.

I take her hand again and give her a comforting smile, "I know Amy and if you don't mind I want to be the first to wish you a happy birthday."

Her eyes are huge as she looks away towards the show playing and the site in front of us, white smoke rising against the pure blue sky, "Sir you really didn't have to."

"But I wanted to. We will never forget and we all have grieved, cried and screamed at some point but I know my people are strong and will heal and someday Amy." I stand and pay for both our meal, "I hope you will celebrate your birthday again and not on the tenth or the twelfth but today."

She stands understanding what I'm saying as she takes my arm and I escort her out of the small bar, "Thank you Alfred for this small gift."

I kiss her cheek and watch her face grow a light shade of red as we walk down the street, "You're welcome. And Dude send me an invite."

"Sure Alfred." I actually get a smile from her, "Next year I promise."