Continuing on.

Nosedive, was playing with his Duck Man' action figure and Transorg the Destroyer' toys at the top of the stairs. Duck Man' hit Transorg' in the midsection and threw him down the steps to his death. Dive went to retrieve the toy and noticed his father yelling at Wing. Dive backed up the stairs and hid behind the railing as he watched the confrontation below.

"Wildwing Kelly Flashblade, you are in soooo much trouble Mr. What ever possessed you to attack Canard? Well? Answer me!"

Wing shrugged.

"I will not have that in my home!"

*Uh oh,* Dive thought. *Dad used Wing's middle name. Wing's in trouble.*

"Stop yelling, George," Anna said calmly. "You're scaring him."

"Well, maybe he needs to be scared."

"Stop it, George, and I mean it!" Anna raised her voice. Wing sank into the couch and hid his face. Anna joined him on the couch and comforted him. "It's okay sweet heart."

"Anna, stop protecting him. He has to grow up some day. He never will if you keep running to protect him."

"Don't tell me how to raise my children, George."

Wing wrapped his arms around his mother's waist and buried his head in her chest weeping madly. She took him gently into her arms and rocked him back and forth till he fell to sleep. George hovered over them steaming mad, but he did not dare argue the point further with his wife. When Anna was satisfied that her rising would not disturb Wing, she lifted him up into her arms and carried him upstairs to his bedroom. Dive quickly jumped to his feet and ran to his room. He didn't want his parents to know that he had seen them fighting. Dive hid in his room by the door and watched his mother walk past his room with Wing in her arms. She was humming softly as she walked. He followed her with his eyes, and when she was out of his sight he ran after her. He watched her place Wing on his bed and take off his shoes.

"Mamma?"

Anna looked up to find Dive standing in the doorway. "Yes baby."

"What's wrong with Wing?"

"Nothing honey. He's just tired."

Dive ventured into the room and stood at the foot of the bed. He watched quietly as his mother dressed Wing in his pajamas and tucked him in. As soon as she was finished with Wildwing, she turned her attention to him. She picked him up and carried him out of the room. "Time for bed munchkin."

"But I'm not tired," Dive yawned.

Anna ignored Dive's protests and dressed him for bed as well. He tried to escape the inevitable by jumping on the bed, but Anna put a stop to the activity at once. She tucked him in and admired her handy work. "What about teddy?"

Anna smiled retrieving Dive's sleeping buddy from his position on the floor. "Do you want a story?"

Dive nodded feverishly before jumping out of the bed to run across the room to fetch from his bookshelf his favorite book The Little Engine That Could'. Dive dove back onto the bed and under his covers. His mother sat on the edge of the bed with her back to the door and read Dive the story. Half way through the story, Dive lifted his head off his pillow and smoothed out his comforter to sneak a peek at the door. His dad stood leaning against the doorframe watching his mother and him.

"Mamma?"

"Yes, Divey."

"Are you and Daddy fighting?"

Anna's heart sank. She laid the book down and looked at him. "What would give you that idea?" She knew the answer, but she didn't want Dive to think anything was wrong. She was hoping that she could fool Dive into thinking he was mistaken.

"Wing was crying. He only cries when you fight."


"Nosedive, Wildwing was crying because Daddy yelled at him for fighting with Canard."

"Why were they fighting?"

"That's none of your business." Anna kissed Dive's forehead and began to read again.

"I love you."

"I love you too, now go to sleep."

Anna finished the story, brushed a few strands from Dive's sleeping face and kissed his flushed cheek. She placed the book back in its place on the bookshelf and left the room. She hid her surprise for finding George in the doorway. She turned off the light and exited the room, brushing past her husband. He opened his mouth to speak, but she cut him off. "Don't start."

"Start what?"

"George"

This time he cut her off by taking her into his arms and kissing her passionately. Dive, who was pretending to be asleep, sat up to find his parents kissing. *Yes!* He congratulated himself and laid back down to go to sleep.

"What was that for?" Anna asked out of breath.

"A make up kiss."

"Why? Were we fighting?"

"A little."

"Well then a kiss won't do. I believe that you need to do a lot more making up." Anna winked at George walking seductively towards their bedroom. George smiled as he followed her. When Dive knew that the coast was clear he quickly exited his room and ran into Wing's. He hit the bed hard, but Wing did not wake from the motion. It wouldn't have matter anyway, for Dive was determined to sleep in his brother's room. After finding the right spot under the covers Dive snuggled close to Wing and fell to sleep. An hour passed when Dive awoke in need of his brother's help. He looked around the dark room in terror. Something had to be done, and the only person to help him was the sleeping from next to him.

"Wing," Dive whispered.

Dive whispered a little louder, "Wing."

Yet again, Dive whispered louder and gave Wing a gentle shove, "Wildwing."

"WILDWING!"

"Huh? What? Dive? What's wrong?"

"I gotta go potty."

"So go." Wing rolled over and tried to go back to sleep.

"Come with me."

"No."

"Please," Dive begged bouncing up and down near tears afraid of wetting the bed.

"No, Nosedive."

"MAMMA!"

It only took a second for his second cry in the night to get an immediate response. Anna flew down the hall towards Dive's room, passing Wing's.

"Mamma!"

Anna quickly back tracked and found Dive bouncing nervously on the foot of Wildwing's bed.

"What's wrong, Dive?"

"I havta potty." With that said, Dive bounded off the bed and dragged her to the bathroom at the end of the hall. He reached to door and turned on the light. "You can wait here," he told her as he went in and closed the door.

"Well at least we know he's potty trained," George said sneaking up behind his wife.

"Yes, but what are we going to do about this fear of the dark?"

The sound of the toilet being flushed was heard and Nosedive emerged from the bathroom. He smiled at his parents and headed back to bed.

"Forgetting something, Ace?"

Dive gave his father a confused look.

"Did you wash your hands?"

"No."

"Will you please do so."

"Okay, Daddy."

Dive walked back into the bathroom and washed his hands with his father watching him like a hawk. Dive smiled at him as he rubbed his hands together with the soap and rinsed them under the running water. George walked Dive back to his room and tucked him in bed. Dive looked dismayed and gave a slight cry when his father turned to leave. "You okay, Ace?"

" Yes, Daddy but"

"Why were you in Wildwing's room?"

"Because Wing needs me to keep away the monsters. He has a lot in his room."

"Really?"

"Mmhmm," Dive nodded.

"Then why didn't you go potty by yourself?"

"Because."

"Because why?"

"I wanted Mamma."

"Nosedive."

"I didn't want the monsters in the hall to get me!" Dive exclaimed standing up on his bed and holding the corner of his blanket to his beak.

"That's better. The truth doesn't hurt, Dive, only lying does. Now lay down and go to sleep the monster wont get you now."

Dive's father turned to leave, but Dive was still unsure of his fathers' assurance. "Daddy, wait!"

"What is it, Dive?"

"Please don't go."

"Why not? You need to get some sleep and so do I."

"Butbut the monsters."

George laughed heartily. "What monsters? The ones in the hall? Don't worry, Dive, your ol dad can handle them." George planned on walking out into the hall to have a battle with one of the monsters, but Dive's next statement stopped him.

"Not them."

"Then why?"

"Because" Dive's voice dropped to a whisper. "Because of the ones in my room."

George looked around suspiciously. "Really?" he whispered back. "Where?" Dive pointed behind his door. His father took the lead, leaving Dive on the bed; he slunk up to the door and quickly looked behind the door. There were none hiding behind the appointed spot. "I don't see any monsters. Oh I know, their in the closet." George snapped his fingers and attacked the closet next. Again he found nothing. "Ace, their not here. I think we scared them off."

"No, Daddy, they only come out when it's dark," Dive whispered.

George thought for a minute, coming up with a plan to destroy the monsters. "I've got an idea. Hold on. Look! There's one!"

"WHERE!?" Dive screeched with fear.

"Under the bed. Come back here you! I'll teach you to scare my son!" George dove under the bed to attack' the monster. He struggled with the imaginary creature, making a huge fuss knocking things out from under the bed. Dive squealed, jumping up and down frantically afraid that the monster would hurt his dad. Anna came running to see what the matter was and found Dive clutching his blankets bouncing up and down on the bed, her husbands' legs sticking out from under it. Every time Dive landed on the bed George would let out a grunt. George finally made his way out from under the bed holding his bashed in head. "Don't worry, Ace, I took care of him for you."

Dive panted heavily looking at his father's battered torso and head. "But what about"

George silenced Dive by putting his finger to his beak. "What if I gave you a" George looked around to make sure no one was listening. "Do you see any monsters?"

Dive looked around and shook his head no. "Good. What if I gave you a secret weapon?"

"What secret weapon?"

They were both whispering again. "It's called" again George checked to make sure the coast was clear. "The light of invisibility. So long as it shines it make you invisible to them."

"Wow."

"See I plug it in here," George plugged the night light, which he had found under the bed, into the wall. "And they can't see you when I flip this switch."

"Really?"

"Really, really."

"Thank you, Daddy."

"Anything for you, Ace, good night."

***

The next morning Anna Flashblade woke her sons bright and early to get ready for their first day of school. Wing begrudgingly woke and dragged himself out of bed to dress. He put on the outfit his mother had laid out for him, blue jeans, hockey T-shirt, white jacket, and his stylish new tennis shoes. After dressing, Wing headed to Dive's room to check on his brother. He found his brother sound asleep drooling on his pillow. Wing chuckled softly as he approached the bed to wake the slumbering duckling. "Dive, wake up."

Dive did not give a response.

"Nosedive get up, it's time to go to school."

Dive pushed Wing away; who had been shaking him in an attempt to rouse the sleepy head. It was evident that Dive meant to sleep the day away when he pulled the sheets over his head and rolled over.

Wildwing yanked the covers off the bed. "NOSEDIVE GET UP!" Nosedive rolled off the bed and hit the floor, but did not wake. Wing heaved in a sigh and stomped out of the room. He returned with a cup of water from the bathroom and he splashed Dive with it. Dive shot up with a start, but sleep was still upon him. Wing helped him to his feet and to the door. Dive staggered after Wing, but needed his help down the stairs. Wing ran ahead of Dive after getting to the foot of the stairs and headed to the table for breakfast. Dive walked into the room slowly, rubbing the sleep from his tired eyes. He found Wing reaching for his bowl and his father reading the newspaper at the table. His mother was at the stove cooking breakfast.

"Morning, Ace, Sport!" George said noticing his boys for the first time.

"Morning Dad," Wing said happily.

"Ready for school, Sport?"

"I can't wait."

"How about you, Ace?"

Dive yawned his reply and rubbed his eyes again. He turned from his father and shuffled up to his mother and hugged her leg. Anna looked down and was surprised to see Dive still wearing his yellow rubber ducky pajamas.

"Mamma."

"Hi sweetie, don't you want to get dressed?"

Dive frowned at her words and her appearance. She looked different then usual. Instead of wearing her blue jeans and flannel shirt, she was wearing a nice dress suit.

"Come on Nosedive, better eat up, you don't want to go to school on an empty stomach," His father said heartily.

Nosedive's stomach growled, but he didn't move. "Mommy."

"Come here, Ace," his father coaxed again. This time Dive left his mothers side to go sit on his father's lap. Wing happily ate his cereal and a bran muffin. Dive insisted on eating his father's pancakes that were layered with bananas, apples, tootsie rolls, sauerkraut, tomato sauce, and strawberry syrup. Dive picked out the sardines and anchovies. When Dive was finished eating Wing lead him back upstairs to get dressed. Dive refused to wear the jumper suit his mother had laid out with the train on the front. Instead, Dive insisted on wearing his torn pants and jersey for his father's favorite hockey team. The uniform was special to Dive because his father used to play for the team (a little foreshadowing for a story to come, just so you know).

Dive put on his velcro shoes and ran down stairs to meet Wing, who had left after pulling the clothes out of the closet, at the door. Their father grabbed their lunches and ran them out the door. Now this was a new concept for both of the boys. Instead of their mother taking them to school, their father was. That was not the first new thing either. Instead of just Wildwing carrying a lunchbox and backpack, so was Dive. This confused Dive. Why did he have to carry these things instead of his teddy? Why was his mom not taking Wing to school? What was going on?

.

Still continuing, but ff.net won't let me post in one sitting. Evil computer, but hey, there is always good news. FF.NET lets me post from home now!