Disclaimers 'n' crap: Haihai peeps! Well, I have to say, I think this will be the longest chapter in the story (5 pages in MS Word). By now, we've heard about the "Metal Gear kids", but, in this chapter, we actually get to SEE them! Yes, Raiden and Rosemary DIDN'T meet for the first time because of The Patriots. Sorry, no young Snake, though. You already know who and what I do and don't own. Enjoy!

"The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout. Down came the rain and washed the spider out," Jack sang as he watched the rain gush down the living room window "Out came the sun and dried up all the rain, then the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again. Mommy, what's a 'spout'?"

"It's something that water comes out of," said Marilyn.

"You mean the sink is really called a spout?" said Jack, sounding a little confused.

"No," said Marilyn "The water doesn't come out of the sink, it comes out of the faucet above the sink." She turned on the faucet to demonstrate. Jack still looked puzzled. "You'll get it when you're older," she said, chuckling a bit. He's only 3 and he's already so inquisitive, she thought. Not that she wasn't proud, she loved Jack very much and couldn't wait to see what kind of man he would grow up to be. Then she stopped. Be careful what you wish for, she thought. She thought of all the stories she'd heard about parents seeing their kids off to school or camp or collage and talking about how their kids seem to grow up so fast. She liked the pace things were going at now. She looked up from cutting vegetables for dinner to see Jack at the window again, resuming his singing.

"The itsy bitsy spider went up the water sink…"

Marilyn thought she was going to die laughing. After regaining her composure, Raikov came running in the door, looking very happy.

"Hi, honey," he said quickly, kissing Marilyn on the cheek "I have great news!"

"What's going on?" said Marilyn.

"Daddyyyyyyyy!" squealed Jack, running into his father's arms. Raikov scooped him up.

"Hey there!" he said, bouncing Jack in his arms a few times "How's my little Jack-of-all-trades?"

"Mommy told me what the sink does!" Jack babbled. Raikov smiled.

"Did she, now?" said Raikov, looking at Marilyn "Well, good for her!"

"So," said Marilyn "What's this 'great news', Ivan?" Raikov bounced Jack again before answering.

"Major Fisher and I had lunch today," said Raikov "And he told me that Roy Campbell was chosen personally by Big Boss to succeed him in FOXHOUND." Marilyn gasped. "Gabe told me that he had planned on having Roy succeed him in the USSSSD, but I guess Big Boss got there first. Anyway, Major Fisher is holding a congratulatory party for him this Saturday and he invited us. He says everyone is 'bringing the kids'."

"Party?" said Jack, his eyes lighting up.

"Not really the kind of party you're thinking of," said Marilyn. Jack looked disappointed.

"But," said Raikov "There will be other kids there for you to play with!" He turned back to Marilyn. "Oh, and in case you were wondering, yes, the Zennings will be there."

"Goodness," said Marilyn, looking up in nostalgia "I don't think we've seen them since Jack was born."

"So are we going to the party?" said Jack. Raikov chuckled.

"Yes, of course we're going," he said, bouncing Jack again.

"Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!" yelled Jack.

Indeed, it did seem like more of an adult party. People were standing, drinking wine, talking, the sort. Jack held his parent's hands tightly. Major Fisher saw them and came over.

"Ah!" he said "Marilyn! Ivan! So glad you could make it!" He shook their hands and then bent down to Jack's level. "Hello there, Jack! Remember me?"

"Yeah!" said Jack "You're the Major Fish-Man!" Raikov and Marilyn laughed. Major Fisher got up.

"Um, Ivan can I see you in private for a moment?" he said "It's concerning a quite serious matter."

"Alright, then," said Raikov, following Major Fisher to another room and chuckling "Major Fish-Man" to himself.

"Daddy?"

"I'll be back in a minute, son," said Raikov.

"Daddy just needs to talk with Major Fisher about something very important," said Marilyn "Why don't we…"

"Marilyn! There you are!"

"Carol!" The two friends hugged.

"Three years and you still recognize me!" said Carol.

"Yes," said Marilyn "It's been too long. Oh, this is my son, Jack."

"Hello, Jack!" said Carol, smiling sweetly "I'm Carol, I'm a friend of your Mommy's!"

"Hi," said Jack.

"Honey!"

"Yes, Chris?" said Carol, turning to face her husband who was dragging their two children.

"Sorry," he said "But the kids almost got in the spiked punch." Carol sighed.

"Kids," she said, kneeling down in front of them "The juice in the green bowl is only for grown-ups to drink."

"Sorry, Mommy," they said together. Carol got up and turned back to Marilyn.

"Marilyn, you remember Basil and Rosemary, right?" she said. Marilyn nodded. "Basil, Rosemary, this is Marilyn's son, Jack." All three kids stayed silent. "Say 'Hi'."

"Hi."

"Hi."

"Why don't you three run along and play?" said Marilyn. Jack stayed close to his mother.

"C'mon, Jack!" said Basil, trying to sound like an adult, even though he was only 6 "We'll teach you how to play a game!"

"O..kay…" said Jack, nervously stepping out from behind Marilyn's leg. Rosemary grabbed his arm and pulled him off.

"Don't worry," said Basil "We'll take good care of him!" He ran off to join the others.

"Me? Really? You're serious?"

"Yes, Ivan. I think you would be the perfect candidate for succeeding me in the USSSSD."

"Sir, I…"

"Listen to me, Ivan, you've been like a second disciple to me, second only to Roy Campbell. I've watched you grow from a frightened young Russian amnesiac to a caring man who loves his wife and son. Please, do this for me. Do this for yourself…Ivan Raidenovich Raikov-Flynn."

"Alright, then, sir. I'll do it."

"That's a good boy. I'm proud of you, Ivan." There was cheering and applause from the next room. "Hmm," said Major Fisher "Looks like our Roy Campbell has just arrived." Raikov and the Major left to see Roy Campbell entering with his brother's family in tow. Roy was smiling at everyone. Matt and Carrie looked on with pride. The little girl behind them just stood still, an expressionless look on her face. Everyone around Roy started to crowd around him and congratulate him. Matt leaned over to the girl.

"Meryl, honey," he said "Why don't you go find the other kids and play?"

"Okay," said Meryl, making her way around the crowd to the back with the other kids "Hi," she said to them "Are you the other kids?"

"Yay!" said Rosemary "Another girl! Oooo! What's your name?"

"Meryl," said Meryl "Are we gonna play a game?"

"Yeah," said Basil "Oh, my name is Basil, and this is my little sister, Rosemary, and this is…" he gestured to Jack, who hesitated, obviously a little shy.

"My name's Jack," he said.

"Okay!" said Basil "Now that we all know our names, he's what we're gonna play. It's called 'circuit'. It's a race game. When I say 'go', we all run around the side of the whole room and whoever gets back here first wins! Okay, ready? Go!" All four of them started running. In the end, Meryl won, Jack came in next, then Basil, then Rosemary.

"Hey!" said Rosemary "No fair! I didn't win!"

"Can we play again?" said Jack. They did. This time, Jack let Rosemary run ahead of him. Then, Basil and Meryl did the same. Rosemary won.

"Yay!" she squealed "I won! I won!" Then, the was the sound of someone hitting a wine glass with a spoon.

"Everyone! Everyone!" said Major Fisher "May I have your attention, please? Thank you." The room was quiet. "I would like to propose a toast."

"But I already had breakfast!" yelled Basil. Everybody laughed. "But I did! Really!"

"I don't think he's talking about that kind of toast," said Raikov.

"So we're not gonna have toast?" said Basil, sounding disappointed.

"Ask Mommy if you can have some when we get home," said Rosemary.

"Ahem," said Major Fisher "Continuing on, I would like to propose a toast, in honor of our friend, Roy Campbell, eventual successor to Big Boss, to FOXHOUND!"

"To FOXHOUND!" everyone echoed, raising their glasses and drinking. Roy stepped forward.

"Thank you, sir," he said before turning to the crowd "And thank you all for coming. Actually, I'd like to propose a toast myself." He picked up his glass. "I believe many of you have heard that Big Boss' mental stability is beginning to show signs of failure. I pray that this does not continue. Big Boss is too great a man to lose his mind." He raised his glass "To Big Boss!"

"To Big Boss!" everyone echoed.

Mental stability? Big Boss? Government successors? What will this mean for Raikov and family? Keep your eyes out for the next update.