Chapter 19

Sailor fell asleep that night…watching shadows dance on her wall. They were wintry shadows, that seemed to prolong themselves as they went. But there was a black puddle, and a mistress, with purple hair, turquoise skin, and a black dress floated across the wall. She floated across the room in a shadow. "Sailor…Sailor". She whispered, seductively, imploringly, as she watched Sailor…seeming to whisper in a matter of begging. "Sailor". The mistress whispered, sympathetically, pleadingly as she wanted to talk to Sailor…that's all she wanted. The Black Puddle Queen just wanted to talk. And Sailor was enticed to listen, even after all of the ignoring she did.

"Yes?". Sailor replied, as she looked up at the Black Puddle Queen. "Darling…come with me". "I need you…I'd like to speak with you". The Black Puddle Queen whispered, as her lips moved with her words. "You need to speak with me?". Sailor asked, as she looked up at the Queen. "Yes, darling…jussst for a moment…if you would". The Black Puddle Queen whispered, gently, though it was a bit of a hiss. Like she always had. "Ok". Sailor said.

Then, Sailor was transported to the Queen's underwater lair. The Queen looked at Sailor…brushing her cheeks, kindly. "Why are you sad, Sailor?". "Why are you becoming sssullen?". The Queen asked, in a whisper, as she and Sailor faced each other, and Queen held her cheeks.

"I'm worried about my grandmother". Sailor replied. "I'm worried because…she is everything to me…and…I don't know what else to do". "I don't want to lose her". Sailor said, as she sniffled.

"You won't lose her, darling". The Queen assuaged, kindly. "Nothing will happen to her…nothing at all…I think the deeper reason you're upset is because…you are ssstill grieving". "You lost your parents..and now, you feel losst". The Queen smiled a kind smile. "There's a part of you that's still traumatized from when you lost birth mom…and you can't accept that loss". Queen said, gently. Sailor looked off to the side for a moment. "Really?". "How would we know?". Sailor asked.

"You are what your birth mom is…and what you've experienced by her". "Losing her was painful…but we all must accept now". "Trauma is what we experience…not what we live by". Queen said, kindly. Sailor nodded. "Maybe so". "So…what do I do to accept it?". Sailor asked.

"Just accept the new life your friends are bringing forth". "And know that each thing is peaceful…because you accepted it". Queen said, kindly. "Maybe I can". Sailor replied, as she woke up the next morning, feeling happy, and renewed, because of a certain thing a woman said from her dreams. Renewed is the best way to put it. Which brings us to our final news on the baby's birth, and the final destination to our long journey, reader. Then, I'll move on and pursue a new story. So here it is…the moment we've waited for.

Nazz went into labor, and had the baby a week later. Sailor waited outside in the lobby, as the nurse allowed her back in to see us. "Come on back". "Gerald has arrived…9 pounds 3oz". The nurse said, kindly as she smiled a friendly, kind, loving smile to Sailor. Sailor felt refreshed…renewed, and rejuvenated, as she had a spring in her step to come on back and see the baby. She felt something comforting…something majestic, and something heavenly wash over her as she came back and saw newborn Gerald…resting in Nazz's arms. "Gerald!". Sailor said, as she smiled and played. "Yes, here he is…definitely". Nazz said, kindly as she smiled a loving smile…exhausted, wet, and worn out from delivery. "Your Godson, Gerry, Gerald". Nazz said, gently. Nazz smiled a kind smile as she held Gerry in her arms. "Yes, there he is". Sailor said. "He looks amazing…in so many ways". Sailor looked down at Gerry as he was wrapped in a blanket from what the nurses gave them. "He looks great". Sailor said, as she had tears in her eyes. She was crying tears of joy. "Yes, he does look quite wonderful, indeed". I said, kindly as I was wrought with exhaustion as well. I could barely stand up.

"He does, in so many ways". Nazz said, as she saw Gerry, kissing his small head. "There you go, there you go, coochie boo". Nazz said, gently as she kept the baby close to her chest….close to her breast. To Sailor…there were deeper feelings…there was much more to that than she knew, and thought possible. Something mightier, and more human than herself.

Sailor pictured what it would've been. Her, and Ana…in birth mother's arms, as she held them close…letting them suck milk from her breast….letting them hear her lullabies as she tenderly kissed them, and held them. Sailor remembered it now…subconsciously….she knew the human feeling of being nurtured and loved. Sailor began crying heavily now…as there were human tears of memory, pain, joy, pride, and suffering. "This baby", Sailor's idea was…"will experience all of that". This made her cry even more.

"Sailor". I said, kindly with gentleness, as I ran my fingers over my bald head. (That's what was under my hat all these years, folks). Sailor turned her exploding cheeks, and her human eyes towards me as her emotions, her trajectory and journey, (though still young) was shown on her face, in her crying eyes.

"Y..y…y..yes, what?". Sailor asked, as she looked over at me. "Is everything good?". "Are you feeling the same way I feel, too?". I asked, kindly. "I am, in fact…if what you're feeling is joy, and sadness at the same time". Sailor said. "I'm sure". I said, kindly. "And I feel it as well". "But…it's a momentous occasion". "Nazz has been my best friend since childhood, and here we are". I smiled through my tears. As Sailor smiled through hers as well. It was extremely momentous. Now, my life would change forever. I was going to be a father. And now, I was going to start a family of my own. I felt joyous…in every aspect.

I smiled as I held my son again, for the very 3rd time. I was proud of myself. Forget degrees, and science, jobs, profession, and intellect. I had the best achievement I could think of. Fatherhood. And it would be truly magnanimous.

"Would you like to hold him?". I asked Sailor, gently. Sailor nodded. "I would, yes". Sailor replied, as she took Gerald for the first time. She cried…and she's told me…in our conversations, that she heard her parents' her sister's echo in Gerald's newborn tears. She was right because…I heard Michelle's echoes in Gerald's tears as well. I smiled, as I rubbed Sailor's back, and we shared another great moment together. Sailor. She has, and always has been the best for many years. She's my best friend, she's my soulmate, she's my baby sister. But more than that, she's my heroine. She's my rock. She's done so much for me that I will always adore. And for that, I am grateful. She reminds me of how I was when I was young. And somehow, I'll still be amazing, because of her. Because as Henry Ford puts it, "My best friend is someone who brings out the best in me". And he was right. Sailor is my best friend, and my family. And I know just how amazing she is. So…to her, this story is dedicated. And to her, will I always be fulfilled. Because she is…my rock. She is my guardian angel.

To tie up loose ends, Lee and Eddy had their baby. His name is Victor, and he was 6 pounds 7 oz. Yet, he was a good baby.

Lee and Eddy are nice. And we did have Gerald's christening as well. Everyone came, including Le Quack. Yes, we invited him as well. Gerald grew into a healthy baby, and Sailor is still his Godparent. And I guess, after all these years, we're still the same boys that used to grow up in the Cul-De-Sac. We are still the same men. We still get into trouble, we still exasperate others, but in essence, we've grown up. And what is classic will always remain classic. Family is family, no matter how we come. Maybe later, reader, you'll notice how the Cartoon Network we know and love will dissipate, and it will mature. But it will always have the same, fun, classic past we know and love. And whatever happens, it won't go anywhere. Just like me. We remain strong. Like our Sailor. Because we all have her provisions. We have the Provisions of a Sailor.

So, I leave you now, Sailor, my reader. Hopefully, you'll get this, and you'll remember our friendship, and the stories that made us whole, you'll remember in 2023. So, until I see you next, have a wonderful year, and know that I'm only a letter away. Sayonara!'

Sincerely;

Eddward .