Chapter 4: "...Tuck You In, Warm Within, Keep You Free From Sin..."

Two weeks had passed since the dogfight over the airport had ended. Things had returned to normal, passenger flights were running and the recent events had done nothing to dampen Cornerian's spirits about flying to other, more exotic planets in the Lylat System.

A young black vulpine gazed outside wide-eyed at the activity of the airport while waiting for his flight, along with his parents in the waiting room. The vulpine spied a cloaked figure standing solely in the middle of the airfield.

"Mum, Dad, who's that!" The young fur chirped. His dad stood up from reading his paper and looked out at what his son had seen. A figure stood next to display of flowers and laid a solitary rose on top. The clocked figure looked upwards before turning to stare back. The young boy flinched and hugged his dad in shock. The Avian lowed his head and walked slowly away, exiting the airfield.

The Greatfox was now a quiet since the tragic events of the previous weeks. The once hub of activity had died to an Erie silence, as if the ship was in constant slumber.

A female vulpine entered the quiet surroundings of the common room, she sat down on the oversized sofa as the tv blared quietly, obviously left on by someone. She lifted a mug of warm cocoa that she came in with and, brought it to her lips and slipped slowly as memories too haunted her. A small tear fell down her cheek and fell into the mug, making concentric circles round in the brown liquid.

"Fara?", a voice whispered, startling her a little as the voice came closer, "Fara... are you ok?", the voice whispered again as she felt a pair of warm paws and a furry head hold her shoulders.

"Baby, you can't be doing this every night, she's gone!" Fox's voice was calm, although a little frail itself.

Fara turned her head towards his, "Why did she have to leave us!" she wept.

"I... I don't know.", Fox choked on his words as he felt himself breaking down too, "I... guess fate had..."

"Fate!!", she looked at him disgusted, "Fate has nothing to do with it. We could have saved her!", she left him walked back to their shared quarters, sobbing.

Fox collapsed on the sofa and mused at what he had said, his thoughts turned back the clock and he would now wish anything to have Katt back, a star had died, and with her, the Greatfox would never be the same again.

He would have probably started to cry himself if his thoughts weren't interrupted by a load of banging of doors. This now nightly noise signalling Falco return, in a drunken state. Fox got up and went to the door of the common room, he was greeted by a drunken Avian, stumbling into the side of the door arch.

"ey... Foxxxxx..!", the Avian shouted, even though Fox was right next to him.

Fox looked at Falco disappointed, "I thought we were gonna stop doing this, ya know... you getting drunk every night?!"

"eh... why? I in't dunk!" Falco slurped his words, while continuing to wander all over the place.

Fox looked unimpressed, but his eyes were sympathetic, he too would probably act like this if he lost Fara, "Ok Falco, come on, lets get you to bed."

"I'm fiiinnee!" Falco slurped, with a hint of anger in his voice.

"No your not, come on Falco." Fox approached him closer. This was met by a cold stare by Falco. Before Fox could dodge, Falco swung at his friend and landed a punch on his muzzle.

"What the..." Fox stumbled as the he began to feel the full force of what Falco had done, physically and physiologically. He lost his words and just stared at the Avian, who was still blissfully unaware of what he had done. Fox held his jaw and quickly left.

"Night Falco!" Fox walked swiftly away and into his and Fara's quarters. Fox's jaw was aching, but it wasn't that that hurt the most.

The morning rays of Solar woke Corneria city up from it's slumber. Peppy, as normal was the first of the crew to rise. He always prefered the quieter atmosphere to wake up to, way before any of, what he considered to be, the kits cause havoc.

He lazily walked into the kitchen and found to his sadness, Falco sprawed out over the dining table fast asleep, yet still klinging to the empty vodka bottle in his feathery hand. Peppy sighed and gently took the bottle and placed it in the waste desposule shoot. Peppy then began to clean up the mess that Falco had created before starting to make pancakes.

The smell of breakfast cooking filled Falco's nostrils and slowly he came round from his sleep. As he began to open his eyes, a shot of pain hit his head and he felt dizzy.

"Peppy?" he said disorientated.

"Ah... your awake. Want some breakfast laddy?" Peppy replied looking at him. Falco just nodded in agreement. Peppy thought not to make any other conversation and started making the batter for some pancakes. Peppy still liked to consider himself the adult of all the kits on board, and although his age may be somewhat more than the rest of them, this did not effect usefulness. Now he felt the rest of the crew need he more than ever.

Peppy turned to face Falco to serve him his pancakes to find the Avian back in slumber again. The old hare simply smiled and placed he pancakes infront of falco and stroked his head feathers.

"C'mon laddie, you gotta eat something to soak up all that alcohol." Peppy said intisingly. Falco awoke again and after some time, started to eat. As Peppy went back to the kitchen hob to make some more, Fox and Fara walked into the kitchen.

"Morning Pep!" Fara chirped.

"Morning lass, want some pancakes?" he asked,

"No thank you." she replied as she grabbed a bowl and some corn flakes

"What about you Fox?" Peppy asked,

"Yes please, just a few if thats ok?" Fox answered before walking past Falco like he did'nt exsist. Falco kept his head down while his eyes followed Fox's movements. They sat down for an uneasy breakfast.

"Morning Falco."

"Mornin' Fara" he spoke, holding his head in pain, which Fara quickly picked up on.

"You ok?" she asked,

"Yeah... I'm fine." he replied, keeping his head down, picking at his food, anything to keep away from Fox's staring eyes. "I... I think I'm gonna go have a lie down." he muttered and got up from the table and staggered away down the hall to his quarters. After Falco had gone, Fara sighed and looked at Fox. Fox just stared back at her before taking her paw and giving it a quick kiss.

"Don't worry, he'll be alright." he reasured her as Peppy sat down where Falco had been with his own breakfast.

"Well.. at least he was'nt sick this time, unlike the other night." Peppy tried to offer some hope as he cut a slice of pancake up and ate it.

"When's he goning to stop this!" Fara asked distraut. Peppy could only sigh,

"I don't know lass, I just don't know."

Fara got up and left the dinner table. Fox and peppy just watched and decided not to intervien. She walked up the hall, it's metallic structure cold on her bare paws. She walked till she reached Falco's door. She put her head against the door. She heard little sobs coming from the other side. the sound made her heart twist. She gently knocked on the door. There was an imediate reply.

"Go away! I'm trying to sleep!" Falco's shouted, doing his best to sound normal, but a hight in his pitch gave it away.

"Falco, let me in.. I know your not sleeping. I could hear you crying."

"I wasn't crying!" Falco shouted to the other side of the door.

"Yes you were" Fara replied softly, "Please let me in." It was quiet for a minute then Falco's door opened. Fara walked in to see Falco laid on his back on the bed.

"I heard you hon, we all miss her you know." Fara stared.

"If you've come here just to preach to me, there's the door." Falco pointed to the door she came in.

"I'm not preaching to you, I just trying to think if Katt would really want you to be still crying over her." That last remark made Falco think and he was quiet while Fara talked.

"Falco, you've got to face that shes' gone... no amount of tears or alcohol is gonna change that!" Falco felt tears forming in his eyes again as she spoke harsh reality. He finally had enough and interupted her.

"Fara... I'd like to be left alone now." He said as he turned away from her and faced the wall next to his bed.

"Ok Falco... just promise me you won't get drunk anymore. You promise?"

"I promise." he muttered.

"See you later Falco, if you want to talk..." she was stopped in mid sentance.

"I know.. I will." Falco replied. Fara smiled at him and closed the door. falco was left alone in the dark, with his own thoughts.