***

The next morning, George walked past Nosedive's bedroom and found him working hard at putting the right outfit together. "Morning, Ace."

"Hi, Daddy."

"Whatcha doing?"

"Getting ready for school."

"Really?" George asked playfully.

Nosedive nodded, ignoring his father, who was sneaking up behind him.

"Oh no your not," George grabbed Nosedive and began to tickle him.

"Ah *laugh* stop *laugh* Mommy! *laugh* Help! *laugh*."

"She wont save you now," George laughed throwing Dive onto the bed.

"Help! *laugh*."

"Dad what are you doing?" Wildwing asked as he came into the room to find his father on top of Dive on the bed.

George ignored Wildwing and continued to tickle Nosedive.

"Dad?" Wing asked, stepping closer to the fray. Wing continued to make a slow ascent toward the two on the bed, and when he was within range, George hooked him around the neck and pulled him onto the bed and began to tickle him as well. "MOM!"

Anna ran into the room afraid something had happened. Instead she found all three laughing and on the floor, having fallen off the bed. The boys were on top of their father and were now tickling him.

"Oh you boys stop that right now. We don't have time to goof around," She scolded.

George pushed the boys to their feet. "Your mother's right boys it's not time to goof around. You have to get ready for school," he said trying to be as serious as possible, but his smile kept emerging.

"Oh, Daddy," Nosedive laughed. George gave him a quick pat on the backside before exiting the room.

"I'm sure you didn't have anything to do with it dear," Anna mocked to his retreating back.

He turned at the top of the stairs and looked at her with a straight face. "I didn't. They double teamed me, didn't you see them on top of me?" She rolled her eyes and he flashed his trademark grin, the one that had made her fall in love with him.

"You're impossible," she stated walking up to him.

"I know." He gave her a kiss and descended down the stairs.

***

Mr. Flashblade took his sons to school again this day as he did the morning before. The only difference was that today Nosedive jumped out of the car with Wildwing and they ran to the playground together. Wildwing, of course, let Nosedive beat him in their little race. George happily followed behind the pair beaming proudly. Instead of going to find his friends, Wildwing decided to spend the morning with his brother, pushing him on the swing. Dive didn't mind. He would have rather spent the entire day doing just that, so he could be with Wing. The bell rang and Wildwing ran off leaving his father to stop the swing. Dive came to a stop, grabbed his father's hand and raced off to line up with the other kindergartners. George was glad that Dive seemed at ease now, but he was dreading having to spend another day in a room filled with five year olds. Don't get him wrong, he loved kids more then anything, heck he was a big kid himself, but there was only so much one can take of the little monsters shouting and running about.

"Okay, Ace, let's go."

"No, Daddy."

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm a big boy now. Wing told me how to do things. I can do it. You go to work. Mommy said she'd be mad if you don't go to work."

"Oh, Ace, she was only joking."

"I don't want you and Mommy to fight any more. Go to work!" Nosedive stomped his foot a put his hands on his hips.

"Nosedive," George laughed.

"Don't argue with me," Dive pointed his finger toward the parking lot. "You go straight to work and no complaining."

George smiled inwardly, but pretended that he was being punished, by hanging his head. "Do I have to?"

Dive, stubborn as an ox, pointed again to the parking lot.

"Okay I'll go, but only if you promise to be a good boy, have fun, and if you get scared to ask for Wildwing."

"I will, now GO before you're late." Dive turned his father towards the parking lot and started to push on his read end.

"I'm going, I'm going. You don't have to push," George chuckled, amused at the situation.

"Daddy," Nosedive laughed, removing his hands for his father's posterior.

"Have a good day, Ace. Mrs. Thunderbeak will pick you up at noon."

"Bye, Daddy." Dive waved goodbye before following his classmates into the classroom. His attention soon turned to exciting things to play. There was so much to do. What was he going to do first? Playdough or painting? Blocks or coloring books? Story time or nap time? The possibilities were endless. Dive found a small group of children and played with them. The game of rolling the ball on the floor and reciting nursery rhymes was fun, but it soon became dull. Dive looked around, half expecting his father to have been there, but he did after all tell him to go to work. Dive left the group of children and went to color at an empty table. His smile faded with each turn of the page. He didn't want to play with the other children or color anymore. He wanted his Daddy! He wanted to cry and demand for him to come, but he didn't want anyone to see him make another fuss. Instead he colored in despair, thinking that he had lost his family forever to be left with the torment of everlasting joy and contentment of toys.

"Children!" Mrs. Duckers said loudly. "Mrs. Haws is our mother helper for today. She will be helping us paint today."

The children gave mirth filled cries and ran to the painting station to put on their smocks. Dive was the only child that refused to leave his tiny table. He looked over his shoulder at the other children, yearning to go, but too depressed to leave his coloring. If his father had been there, he would have gladly gone, but he wasn't there so Nosedive did not budge. Instead Dive looked back at his page, red smearing across the lines and blue encompassing the boarder.

"Nosedive?" Mrs. Duckers asked softly.

"What?" Dive snapped.

"Don't you want to paint with the other kids?"

Dive looked away from her smiling face. "No!"

"What do you want to do?"

"I want Daddy."

"Oh sweetie, your Daddy's not here. Do you want me to go get Wildwing?"

"NO! I want Daddy!"

"But Nosedive"

"I Want DADDY!" Dive screamed at Mrs. Duckers, throwing his crayon onto the table. The crayon bounced off the table and landed on the other side of the table as Dive ran to hide in a corner, crying.

Mrs. Haws approached Mrs. Duckers confused at the raised voice. "What's going on?"

"Nothing. He's scared. Can you keep an eye on him while I go to get his older brother? Maybe he can calm him down."

"I will do my best."

"Thank you."

"Grandmamma," a little girl with dark braids and deep brown eyes tugged on Mrs. Haws pant leg.

"Yes Rita?"

"Can we paint now?"

"Yes dear, let's go paint." Mrs. Haws cast a doubtful look at Dive before ushering Rita to join the other children. Rita followed her grandmothers quick glance and saw Nosedive facing the corner rocking back and forth. She didn't know what was wrong, but as soon as her grandmother's attention was on some other children she decided to investigate. By the time she was able to make her way over to him, he had moved a little ways away from the wall, leaving her just enough space to crouch down in front of him. "Hello."

Nosedive looked up, surprised by her voice.

"Hi," she said again smiling at him. Dive responded with a weak smile that quickly faded.

"My names Rita, who are you?"

"Nosedive," Dive replied with a cracking voice.

"What's wrong?"

"I want Daddy."

Rita looked around, but only found her grandmother. She looked back to Dive. "Where is he?"

Dive shrugged and backed away from Rita. She did not let Dive get away so easily and she closed the distance between them.

"That's my Grammy," Rita pointed at her grandmother.

"So."

"She can make you feel better."

"No, go away."

"Why?"

"Because I said so."

Rita gave Dive a questioning look. "What if I don't want to?" She asked just to be defiant and folded her arms across her chest.


"You'd better."

"Or else what?" Rita challenged Dive.

Nosedive didn't know what he'd do. He hadn't thought that far ahead. What would Wildwing have done if he had pressed the question? He wouldn't have done anything. What would Canard have done? Canard usually pushed him and told him to get lost. It sounded like a good plan, so Nosedive planned on pushing Rita. He got to his knees and knocked her hard to the floor.

"Nosedive?"

Dive looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. It was Wildwing, and he was looking around the room for him. Dive jumped up and ran to his older brother. "Wing!" He slammed into his older brother and gave him a tight squeeze around the waist. Wing returned the gesture before changing the subject. "Are you okay, Dive?"

Nosedive nodded against Wing's side, getting another hold around his brother's waist. Rita walked up to the pair rubbing her rear end and glaring at Nosedive. Wing turned and noticed her and smiled. "Hello."

Rita, roused from her silent inward thoughts, looked up at Wildwing. Her expression was impassive as she studied him standing, holding Dive by his side. She looked to Dive then back to Wing. They sure didn't look like brothers to her. She looked back to Dive to ask him a question and found him starring at her. She flashed him a warm smile and turned back to Wing. Her smile faded under his watchful eye.

"Come here Rita," Mrs. Haws addressed her granddaughter. Rita looked up and found her grandmother holding her hand out to her. She had a smock in her hand and an easel ready for her to paint on. Rita looked back to the brothers, trying to decide what she wanted to do. A smug look crossed her features, confusing Dive, and she slugged Dive in the arm before running over to paint.

"Oww," Dive cried, rubbing his arm.

"What the? Why'd she do that?"

"I pushed her," Dive said casually.

"Nosedive, why did you do that?"

"I don't know," he shrugged.

"Nosedive?"

"She was bugging me. I told her to leave, but she didn't."

"Dive that's no reason to push her."

"But Canard does it."

"That doesn't mean you should. And when did he push you?"

"I'm sorry." Dive bowed his head in shame.

"I think you need to go apologize to her, not me. And when did Canard push you?"

"But"

"Nosedive, gentleman don't push ladies."

"She's not a lady, she's a girl."

"Mom's a lady and she's a girl."

"So."

"Dive, go apologize."

Nosedive heaved in a heavy breath, let go of Wing and went to apologize to the girl he knew as the annoying one with stupid braids. Wing watched as Dive slowly approached. Dive tapped Rita on the shoulder to get her attention. She turned around and smiled victoriously. Dive rocked back and forth on his heals with his hands behind his back and head bowed. "I'm sorry for pushing you," Dive mumbled.

"What?" Rita giggled.

"I'm sorry for pushing you," Dive mumbled a little louder.

"What?"

The conversation continued on like this for several minutes. Rita was enjoying this new game of hers because it was driving Dive crazy. Wing snickered at her antics; it reminded him of another female duck he knew. As Wing thought about his friends a female voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Hello, Wildwing, how are you today?"

"Oh hello Mrs. Haws. I'm fine."

"It was so nice of you to come and tend your brother."

"If Dive ever needs me, Mrs. Haws, I'll be there for him."

"Isn't that sweet. I wish Rita's brother's would be that way with her."

"What do you mean Mrs. Haws?"

"The boys don't like her. They are always picking on her. They enjoy making her cry and leaving her alone. I think it has to do with either them wanting attention from their parents, or because they are tired of having to deal with the younger ones."

"I'm sure Randy doesn't do that. He's always talking about her and how much he cares about her."

Mrs. Haws gave Wing a weak smile. "I'm sure he loves her Wildwing. Children no! The paint goes on the paper not each other!"