A/n- (Technically pre S1) This picks up where the events of 'On a Wing... 1" left off but from the Walker's perspective. As a warning there are several large time jumps.

Edna was not in a good mood.

While the woman prided herself in her normal cheery disposition, today she couldn't help the black clouds that swarmed around her thoughts. Just because they tried to see the best in people did not mean she or Ed were willing to break themselves in half for others who tried to use that to take advantage of them. So instead of coming home with a car-load of scrap metal all the Walker's had to show for their day's effort was a nearly empty tank of gas.

Picking up on his wife's nonverbal cues (mainly the fact she was being nonverbal) Ed drove home in silence. The sun had just finished its descent in the western sky when the old jalopy chugged into the junkyard. Ed shut off the engine but neither of them got out of the car.

"Honey?"

Edna's eyes snapped toward Ed. She bit back the first answer that came to mind. "Yes dear?"

"It's okay. We have another run planned for this weekend."

Suppressing a sigh, Edna allowed a tiny smile instead. Ed's ability to stay optimistic was just one of the many things she loved about him. "It's really not okay, but we'll make do. We always have."

Ed gave Edna a pat on the knee and stepped out of the car. Edna followed at a slower pace.

"I think I'll tuck in early."

"Do you want me to heat anything up for you?"

Edna smiled, more genuinely this time. "No thanks. I don't have much of an appetite right now."

After giving Ed a quick kiss she entered the small bedroom of their trailer. Not even bothering to change into her pajamas, Edna climbed into bed. 'This is one day I'll be glad to put behind me.' Exhausted as she was Edna quickly fell into a deep sleep that even Ed climbing into bed didn't disturb.

Several hours later the quiet night was shattered by banging outside. Both Ed and Edna sat bolt upright. The sound cut off as quickly as it came, but there was no denying that something- or someone- had made that noise. It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to steal from the scrap yard.

"Ed?!" Fear squeezed Edna's heart as she watched him grab a baseball bat from the wall by his headboard.

"Stay here, dear." Ed's voice was deadly serious.

With equal parts fear and thankfulness Edna watched her husband creep toward the front door. She thrust her hands out blindly for a house phone that sat near her headboard. Her hand struck the phone and it went flying toward the wall. Scrambling out of bed she started to search the floor where she'd heard it fall when,

"Edna! Edna, come here!"

Though it didn't sound like Ed was hurt, Edna couldn't decipher the tone of her husband's voice. Abandoning the phone she hurried to the front door. Ed stood frozen in the door frame, looking at something Edna couldn't see.

"What is it, Ed?"

Wordlessly Ed pointed to the ground near his feet. Edna squinted into the dimly lit yard and let out a gasp. A tiny mewling bundle lay only a couple feet from the door. 'What in the world?' The sound of the baby's cries broke Edna's shock. Sorting out what the baby was doing outside their doorstep would half to wait. She ran out and quickly picked up the baby.

The blanket wrapped around the baby was black with soot and traces of - 'was that blood?'- in various spots. Enda hastily pulled the blanket back, but the blood didn't seem to be the child's. The sudden loss of warmth made the baby whimper. Edna bundled the blanket back around the small infant.

Gently rocking the baby, Edna couldn't deny how her heart cracked at the way the small child fit so perfectly in her arms. 'No, NO! Do not let yourself go there.' Having never been able to conceive, she'd long since quietly accepted the role of aunt and never expected anything else. But seeing this bundle in her arms... Edna swallowed hard.

"Hey there," Something in the blanket caught her eye. Though dirty and damaged it looked like something had burned a name in the blanket. 'What in the world happened to this child?' It was a shaky but legible "Jay?"

That and the spots of blue showing up under the dust seemed to confirm the baby was a boy. Though Edna would probably have to confirm that soon, given the squishy feeling of the child's diaper. That brought another smack of reality to her.

She turned to Ed, who was still staring at the baby in shock. "We have to call the police. Someone just left a baby on our door and he's only recently born if I had to guess. He's going to be hungry and we don't have anything for him. We don't have any diapers or anything-"

"Edna dear. Breathe." Strong arms wrapped around her shoulders.

Edna snapped her mouth shut and took a shuddery breath in through her nose. "You're right. You're right." She looked back down at the baby in her arms. "But what do we do?"

"I'll go ahead and call the police and see what they want. Maybe a baby's been reported kidnapped."

"He looks like he just came from the hospital."

With a nod Ed led them back inside. He hurriedly found a phone and dialed the emergency line. Putting it on speaker, Ed set the phone on the table between them.

Edna passed the baby to Ed and hurried to where she kept her linens. They didn't have anything in the house for a baby, but she could at least get him in clean clothes. She grabbed a couple washcloths, a sweater she never used, and the smallest blanket she could find. Soaking the washcloths in warm water Edna made her way back to the living room.

"-your emergency?"

"We uh, well, someone left a baby on our doorstep."

Edna reclaimed the baby and began to gently wash his exposed skin.

"Someone left a baby at your house? Do you recognize the child?"

"He." Edna quietly supplied.

"No. Something banged on our door and we found him outside. We live in the Sea of Sands- Ed and Edna's Scrap N' Junk. There's no one around for miles so I don't know where he came from. And, though he doesn't look injured," Ed shot a look at his wife, who nodded in confirmation, "for lack of a better phrase it looks like he's been through hell. He's a small thing, maybe just born, but he's covered in dirt and blood."

"How's his color and breathing?"

Edna leaned forward. "He's pretty red, it looks like he was born fairly recently, but he's breathing easily. The blanket he's wrapped in almost looks like one that would be found at a hospital."

There was a moment of silence on the other end.

"Hello?"

"Sorry. I was passing on your information to the police. How alert is he?"

Ed and Edna answered several more questions about the baby's condition. Though the Walker's didn't want to wait to get formula or diapers for the baby, without a carseat and without immediate concern for the baby's health, they were told to sit tight until the police arrived. Edna paced, rocking the baby as she went. Both she and Ed were uncharacteristically quiet as they tried to process the fact an infant had been dropped, rather literally, in their laps.

"Edna... we did take those classes earlier this year-"

"I know, I know." Edna cut him off, not wanting to go somewhere in her mind with the baby when they knew nothing about him, including if in fact the infant was a boy.

"I'm not saying I hope he doesn't have family, but if he doesn't..." Before Ed could finish his though a heavy knock came at the door.

The sound jolted all the occupants of the room. The baby woke with a cry... and would not be consoled. Edna frowned with concern. Who knew the last time he ate and with him as young as he was, he'd need to eat frequently. The knock came again, albeit somewhat softer this time. Ed hurried to let the officers in.

Two men in uniform entered the room with a woman in business attire. Quick introductions were passed around naming the newcomers as Officers Brown and Davis, and Katie Holmes a social worker. Thankfully Katie had brought some formula. Edna started heating up a bottle on the stove while Ed gave another run down of the last couple hours.

"What will happen to him?" Edna asked once the questions died out.

The officers glanced at each other but Katie was the one who answered. "We'll try to find his family. No one's reported a baby missing, but," it was her turn to glance at the officers. Davis nodded. "If he is from the hospital we might not know for a day or so who he belongs to."

The Walker's weren't tracking with her logic. "Doesn't the hospital keep records of their patients?"

"They do but..." Katie trailed off.

Officer Brown leaned forward. "I take it you haven't seen the news?"

"What news?" Ed frowned.

"There was a fire at the hospital tonight. That seems to be where this little guy came from."

Edna's mouth dropped open and she looked back at the baby in her arms. What had he already gone through in his short life?

"He'll be put in foster care for now. If no one comes forward, or if we can't find extended family, he'll probably be placed up for adoption."

'Adoption...' Ed and Edna's eyes locked. She gave a tiny nod.

"If that's your plan for him, could we care for him until the next steps are determined?"

At Ed's words confused looks abounded through the room. Katie's turned apologetic. "For now we'll have to place him with a licensed foster care family."

"Well," Edna spoke slowly, fear and hope again welling within her, "Ed and I became licensed just a month ago. Though, we haven't taken any placements yet."

The officers' eyebrows raised. "Talk about right place at the right time." Davis muttered.

Katie looked at Ed and Edna with a thoughtful expression on her face. "I'll have to make a few calls, but since he's already here if we didn't have to move him again it would be best for him." With that Katie excused herself outside.

"How bad was the hospital?" Edna asked. She bounced the baby gently in her arms, his cries long gone with formula now in his stomach.

"It didn't sound good. But the Elemental Masters got there before the whole building came down. There's going to be many casualties though."

With Officer Davis' grim pronouncement, the group fell silent. A few minutes later Katie came back inside.

"I've gotten the green light for the baby to stay here. I have some formula, a couple diapers and a set of pjs I brought with me."

"Looks like we've got some shopping to do." Edna grinned giddily at Ed. She had no idea what they were getting themselves into, but isn't that what parenthood is anyway?

9 Months Later

"I hereby announce the recognition of Jay Edward Walker!" Judge Kennedy rapped his gavel on his podium.

A thrill of adrenaline shot through Edna. Though Jay had lived with them for the last nine months, a small part of her had feared they wouldn't actually reach today. In a way it had almost been like a pregnancy, having to wait the better part of a year to be properly introduced to an anticipated child.

And now, forever and always, Jay was hers (and Ed's).

Edna gently rocked Jay, who was looking around with wide eyes at the cheering around him. He looked up at Edna and a matching smile came over his face.

"Babababa."

"I couldn't have said it better myself." Ed whooped and took Jay in his arms. Jay laughed and Enda felt her heart melt that much more.

The sleepless nights, the fear of the unknown, and the admittedly large hit to their meager savings were all more than worth the smile on her little boy's face. No one had come forward to claim Jay as their own, so it had ended up just being a waiting game for the court to officially declare Jay a ward of the state. From there it had been easy to set up a case for why the Walkers should be the ones to adopt him since they were the only family he'd known.

A large smile stayed in place on all their faces through extended family's congratulations. In a way it was a baby shower Edna and Jay never had as presents were given and desserts served.

Finally, late in the evening, the three Walkers bid their farewells and started the half hour trek from town to the junkyard. Minutes into their trip Jay's chatter quieted down and in the rearview mirror Edna smiled at her son's sleeping form.

"You reckon we're gonna tell him when he gets older?"

Edna glanced at Ed. "I guess I'd hadn't thought about that." She studied Jay for several long moments. "I don't know. We're the only family he's had. And we did just have a large celebration for his adoption, it's not like we kept it secret from our family..." Edna trailed off. "I guess we have a few years to think about it huh?"

Ed nodded and let the matter drop. They'd revisit it again. Later. Shaking away the odd feelings that question rose in her, she smiled again at Jay.

Even if he didn't remember it, this had been a day she would treasure always.

Four years later

A scream tore through the small trailer. Edna jerked awake just as another high pitched cry rang out. Her blurry eyes found her alarm clock. 3:00. 'Well it's an hour later than last night.' Stifling a yawn she crawled out of bed and headed toward Jay's room.

He was sitting upright on his toddler bed, eyes glistening and breathing rapidly. Without a word Edna sat on the bed next to him and scooped Jay onto her lap. She could feel him trembling in her hold as she gently rocked him and whispered, "You're okay baby, I've got you," over and over in his ear.

Gradually Jay relaxed into her arms and, a half hour after she first entered the room, Edna felt the change when Jay finally fell back asleep. Holding him for a few more minutes Edna frowned into Jay's hair. These night terrors had come out of nowhere and nothing she or Ed tried seemed to make a difference. No one in the house had slept well in almost a month. Sighing, Edna tucked Jay back under his covers.

Her head pounded as she made her way back to her room, but she ignored it. To her surprise, Ed was sitting upright in bed when she entered.

"Here I was thinking you slept through this one."

"Naw, his lungs are too healthy. I think our neighbors could hear him." Neither of them laughed at Ed's attempted joke.

Edna climbed back into bed, thoroughly exhausted but mind racing. "We can't keep up like this. He's wearing himself - and us- ragged with whatever's attacking his sleep."

"It's not like he's remembering waking up."

"Maybe not, but he still isn't getting the sleep he needs."

Ed hummed in agreement. They were quiet for a minute. Edna was just starting to drift off to sleep when Ed sat bolt upright.

"Ed what-?"

"I just had an idea!" Practically jumping out of bed Ed ran toward the closet that served as their unofficial attic.

Bewildered, Edna watched from her side of the bed. "What are you doing?"

Ed pulled out a box and dug through it. Evidently not finding what he wanted Ed moved to another box.

"Ed!" Edna tried again just as Ed cried out in triumph.

"I knew I still had it buried here somewhere!" He held up a misshapen blob.

"What is that supposed to be?"

Ed let out a faux gasp. "Don't you dare mock Mr. Cuddlywomp. He was one of my best friends growing up."

Too tired to continue the conversation, Edna shook her head and laid back down. "You can catch up with your friend if you want, but I'm going to try and get what remaining sleep I can."

"Honey, you need it if your grammar's sounding like that."

Resisting the urge to toss a pillow at her husband, Edna rolled over and promptly fell asleep.

Edna woke early in the morning and rolled over to look at Ed... only to let out a gasp and lurch backward as a blue thing appeared in her line of vision.

"What the-? ED!"

Ed jerked upright. "Hold the cheese!"

Edna raised her eyebrows but quickly pointed at the stuffed animal. "Why did you put this in our bed?"

"It's been so long since Mr. Cuddlywomp had company! I didn't want him to be lonely."

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Edna internally rolled her eyes. "What prompted you to go look for... it... last night?"

Ed's eyes lit up. "Well when I wasn't much older than, Jay my parents gave me this here fella and he saw me through many nights. I thought he might be a help to Jay when he sleeps."

At those words any lingering irritation Edna had drained away. "And that, Ed Walker, is why I married you."

Grinning, Ed picked up Mr. Cuddlywomp. "Let's go see if Jay is awake."

As Ed and Edna drew near Jay's door they could hear his little voice already chattering.

"-and the lasers! Pew! Pew! Whoosh." Footsteps pattered back and forth.

Edna cracked open the door to see Jay running in circles holding a plastic pterodactyl and Fritz Donagan action figure above his head. He froze when he saw the door move.

"Mommy!" He bounded over and threw his arms around Edna. "Mr. Downawan almost got eated!"

"Eaten." Ed corrected with a smile.

Gasping in delight, Jay launched himself at Ed. "Hi Daddy!"

"Oomph, morning kiddo."

Jay's eyes immediately latched on the blue stuffed teddy bear in Ed's hands. "What's that?"

Ed led Jay to the bed and sat down. He pat the bed next to him and Jay plopped down. "I want to introduce you to a very special friend of mine. His name is Mr. Cuddlywomp and he was my best friend when I was your age." Jay sat in rapt attention. "We would play all day, then when I went to bed he would protect me from any nightmares that tried to get me."

"Whoa... Mistwr Cuddawewamp can do that?"

Stifling a snort at Jay's pronunciation, Ed smiled. "Friends take care of each other. You think you can take care of Mr. Cuddlywomp too?"

With wide eyes, Jay nodded emphatically. Gently, almost reverently, Ed placed Mr. Cuddlywomp in Jay's lap.

"He's bwue! I wike bwue." Jay wrapped his arms around the stuffed animal.

Chuckling quietly, Edna left the boys alone and went to make breakfast.

That night Ed put Jay to bed. He tucked Mr. Cuddlywomp in next to Jay.

"Now remember Mr. Cuddlywomp can be a friend even when you sleep. I love you Blue Jay." Ed kissed Jay on the temple.

"Nigh-night Daddy..." Jay's voice trailed off and within seconds his breathing went deep and even.

'To be young again.' Ed shook his head in amusement before heading to his own room. Despite it being only seven in the evening he and Edna had decided to call it a night.

"Do you think the bear will make a difference?"

Ed shrugged. "I guess we'll find out."

For the first time in almost a month, all three Walkers slept through the night.

Four years later

"But Mom I don't want to go." Jay dragged his feet through the dirt as he walked toward the car.

"Jay it's a new year. Third grade will be fun."

"Humph."

"Jay..." Edna's voice held a warning tone in it. They were going to be late at this rate.

"I want to stay home and work with Dad. He doesn't have to go to school."

"That's because he already went."

Jay slowly opened the car door and climbed in. "I don't want to go." He muttered else something under his breath.

"I'm sorry jay but you're going and that's final."

Another "humph" came from the backseat and Jay didn't say another word the twenty minute ride to school. When they got to the small school building Jay slid out of the car.

"See you later Jay. I love you."

"Love you." Jay automatically responded, though his tone lacked its usual enthusiasm.

Jay watched his mom pull away and, gripping the straps of his backpack, slowly trailed into the building. Dozens of kids filled the hallways, heading to one class or another. Jay hung back, keeping his head down when he ducked into his classroom.

His teacher, Mrs. Jones, smiled at him as he came in. "Good morning Jay. You can hang your backpack in the coat room and your desk is right over there."

Jay followed Mrs. Jones gaze with his eyes to a group of four desks in the front corner. Three were taken but the fourth had a name tag that had Jay's name on it. Following her directions Jay quickly took his folder to the desk. He didn't recognize two of his table mates, a girl with blonde hair and a boy with red hair, but the third person made Jay's heart sink to his toes. Trevor. He'd been a meanie in Jay's class last year, and now Jay had to share a table with him?

Refusing to look at the boy Jay slid into his seat. He suddenly felt something sharp hit his leg.

"Ouch!"

"Jay?" Mrs. Jones called, "Is everything okay?"

Nodding in reply, Jay started playing with his pencil.

"Welcome class. My name is Mrs. Jones and this is what we're going to be doing today..."

The rest of the morning passed quickly and soon it was lunch time. Jay pulled out his metal Fritz Donagan lunch box.

"Those movies are stupid."

Jay froze at Trevor's words before finding his own voice. "You shouldn't say stupid. It's a mean word."

"Oh no what are you gonna do? Run home to the junkyard?"

In that moment Jay did want to run home but he just frowned instead. "Go away, Trevor."

Snickering Trevor walked past Jay, his elbow catching the lunch box and sending it flying. The box landed with a thud, its contents spilling on the ground. Tears prickled in Jay's eyes as he hurried to pick up his food. Thankfully everything inside was bagged or packaged so nothing was ruined.

Slowly Jay walked to the cafeteria and found a seat at a table. None of the other kids joined him. He poked at his food, no longer feeling hungry. Lunch and recess seemed to take forever since no one offered to play with him. Jay spent his recess time drawing in the dirt pictures of things he wanted to build one day. Ed had started letting Jay help in the garage, mostly grabbing and handing him tools, but it was a lot more fun than learning anything about fractions.

Not soon enough the whistle blew to signal the end of recess. Jay joined the lineup of kids heading back inside.

"Alright class. Today for science we're going to make homemade batteries."

Jay sat up straighter in his chair. That actually sounded interesting. To his surprise Mrs. Jones placed a potato in front of every student. A couple wires and small LED lights soon followed.

"Listen carefully..." Mrs. Jones went on to describe how to connect the wires to the potato. When the students finished that step she showed them how to connect one side to the light.

"Now take the other wire and tap it to the metal spot here on the light bulb." Mrs. Jones demonstrated and 'ooo's' filled the room as the light bulb lit up.

Jay connected his wires and bounced with excitement when his own light bulb flickered to life. His joy was cut short when Trevor leaned over and pulled Jay's wires.

"Hey, leave those alone. They're MINE!" Jay grabbed at his small electrical circuit, all the anger over Trevor's actions against him snapped out of him in another shout, "Leave. Me. ALONE." Something inside Jay snapped.

POP!

There was a moment of stunned silence. Just as suddenly pain erupted in Jay's face, above his left eye. He lifted his hand- not noticing the glass shards falling from it- to his face. Something sticky met his fingers. Pulling his hand away Jay looked at the substance.

It was blood.

Movement and sound erupted around Jay, but it felt hazy. Jay stared at the blood growing dizzier by the second.

"Jay?"

Was someone saying his name? Black spots enveloped his vision before he could find out.

Jay woke to soft beeping and low voices.

"-without a family medical history we don't know-"

"Shhhh he's waking up."

Jay blinked sluggishly as a fuzzy figure appeared in front of him.

"Jay, honey? Can you hear me?"

Slowly Edna's face came into focus. "M-" Jay broke off coughing, his mouth felt like cotton had been stuffed in it.

Someone pressed a straw to his lips and Jay sucked in the liquid. A little bit of the haze was washed away as the water entered Jay's system.

"What- what happened?"

"We were hoping you could tell us. Somehow your light bulb exploded and you cut your face up pretty good."

"Fives stitches." Jay's head lolled to the right and he saw Ed sitting next to his bed. "On your eyebrow. You're mighty lucky the glass missed your eye."

"Wha...?"

Before Jay could try to touch his forehead, Ed trapped Jay's hands in his own. "Woah there, you gotta leave it be. Though I know it's gonna feel funny for a bit." Ed pointed to a faded scar near his elbow. "But it won't last too long."

"Jay, can you tell me what happened at school?"

The event was hazy in Jay's memory. "I-I got mad that Trevor was trying to take my wires for science but- but I don't know how the light bulb broke. I didn't mean to!" Tears began to roll down Jay's face.

"Hey, hey it's okay sweetheart." Edna sat on the bed next to Jay. "We're not mad and you're not in trouble. Do you remember anything else?"

Jay shook his head. "I was just mad."

"Okay honey. We talked to your teacher and classmates. Mrs. Jones is going to move Trevor after what happened." That was a plus of whatever this whole thing was. "I just wish we knew why the glass broke."

Jay missed the glance exchanged between his parents over his head. Somehow they doubted this would be the last of their son's escapades.

Down the hall, in the waiting room, an old man scanned an EMS report that he had managed to 'acquire' from being in the right place at the right time. His mind raced as he read through the details, and pictured the young child in his mind's eye, years of experience and knowledge filling in gaps that no one else could have hoped to.

'I found him Libber. I'm sorry it took so long, but I found him and I won't lose sight of him. I just wish I knew what happened to you, my friend.'

Seven years later

The paper beneath Jay's hand was no longer just a piece of paper, it was a portal to a whole new dimension... at least that's how Jay liked to imagine it.

And being alone, albeit with his parents, most of the time (even at school, which blessedly was out for the summer) he'd had years to develop his imagination.

Jay smiled as the image he was working on transferred from his mind to the paper. If his schematics worked it would be groundbreaking- airbreaking?- advancements in science and technology.

Many hours later a detailed diagram of a flight suit stared back at Jay. He leaned back in his chair, exhausted but excited. A knock came on his door.

"Jay? I haven't seen you all afternoon."

Looking up Jay saw Edna standing in the doorway, holding a plate with a sandwich on it.

"Sorry. I was working on my newest idea."

"I figured." Edna chuckled softly. "But you're still a growing boy and you need to eat. What are you working on today?"

"It's a set of wings to be used for flight!" Jay held the paper up so Edna could see. "Although right now it's more for coasting than actual 'flight.' I'm still trying to figure out a propulsion system small enough to be worn while being powerful enough for lift off. Based on my calculations that will need something besides arm effort to achieve."

"Interesting."

Jay noticed the worried glint in Edna's eyes. "Don't worry it'll be totally safe. I'm going to put it through several miniature test runs before I even build the full size model."

"Maybe consider doubling the safety trials before you even climb into it, and I'll feel a lot better."

"Moooooom."

"Hey, I really don't want to take another trip to the ER again. Two previous broken arms are enough in my opinion."

Jay grimaced in memory. "You've got a point."

"Heaven knows I don't want to discourage you from inventing, just be careful, okay?"

Giving Edna a mock salute Jay grinned. "I'll do my best."

Edna shook her head but left Jay to his work. Taking the sandwich, Jay had it devoured in four bites. 'I guess it has been a while.' His stomach growled loudly, wanting more, but Jay ignored it. 'Too much to do.' He had a set of wings to build.

Three weeks later Jay bent over his table in the garage. A full size set metal and canvas wings lay stretched out beneath him. The actual building process had taken a lot longer than he anticipated it would, and that was without the disturbance of school. Scrounging for the right parts amidst the organized chaos that was their junkyard had not been easy. Then the extra checks he'd promised Edna he'd do pushed things back even further. But, now he had a model to actually test out.

Eagerly Jay set up a ladder next to their trailer. Carefully Jay carried the harness up and began the process of securing the backpack-like harness to himself. When he was finished Jay gripped the control sticks firmly in his hands. Edging forward, Jay looked down from the roof. He couldn't have been more than fifteen feet (4.5m) in the air, but suddenly the ground looked a lot further away.

'Nope, don't think about it. This is going to work. Hopefully.' Taking a deep breath Jay stretched out the wings and jumped.

The wings caught the air and for two amazing seconds Jay felt himself flying. But the wings suddenly lurched sideways and Jay started to spin. 'Oh no!' Jay tried to pull the wings upward. No response. In a blur of color, gravity claimed Jay. He struck the ground, breath forced from his lungs.

Jay lay on the ground for a minute. When he finally caught his breath he sat up and inspected the damage. He'd have a good sized bruise on his chest tomorrow but other than that he was fine. His wings on the other hand... Jay groaned. One wing had snapped in two.

'Back to the drawing board.'

Two weeks and four more failures later Jay was tempted to throw in the towel. None of his modifications had helped to keep him in the air for more than twenty seconds, and that was just gliding to the ground! 'All of this is starting to look like a colossal waste of time.' Jay glared at the contraption, resisting the urge to kick the table it rested on. Jumping from the trailer roof and bruising himself was getting old.

'Wait! Maybe that's it! I'm not giving myself enough distance for the wind resistance to work!' Berating himself for not thinking of it before, Jay started fixing the damage of the latest test. 'If I can get a higher vantage point they're sure to work better!'

The only question was where?

Jay looked out the window at the mounds of scrap piled around the house. The tallest piles were descent heights, Jay estimated a couple to be nearly forty feet (12.2m), but getting to the top of those piles wasn't very practical- or safe. So where to try it?

He walked back to the house, trying to come up with a solution in his mind. He was so lost in thought he bumped straight into Edna when he entered the trailer.

"Oops, sorry Mom. I wasn't paying attention where I was going."

"I see that. Everything okay?"

"Yeah. Just tired."

Edna studied Jay. "You sure?"

"Mom I'm fine, I promise. Just too many late nights in a row."

"If you say so. I'm heading to town for groceries. That time of the week again."

Jay stood up straighter. "You're going to town?"

Enda sighed. "Yes. We're out of produce and I need to get a few other things for this week's meals."

"I could do the shopping today!" The words burst out of Jay before he realized he was speaking.

"I said the grocery store, Jay."

"Yes I know you said the grocery store but I can still do it."

"How little sleep have you been getting the last couple days?"

"Mom!"

Edna laughed. "Just checking. You don't usually enjoy the grocery runs."

"I know but I need a break from my garage and I know you have stuff here you wanted to do."

"Hmmm. If I give you a list you'll keep exactly to it?"

"I promise!"

"Alright, I will take you up on it today. Here, let me write down what we need."

"Okay. I'll go get my shoes."

Jay raced to his room, grabbing his wallet and shoes before hurrying back to the kitchen.

"Here's everything we need. Grocery store and back okay?"

"Thanks see you later!"

A twinge of guilt ran through Jay as he purposefully didn't acknowledge Edna's words. 'I just need to try the wings on a higher building. It's not like I'm going to go to the comic store or anything.' In the garage he quickly loaded the invention into the backseat, making sure it wasn't visible from the windows. 'It's not like she didn't tell me not to bring it.'

'And that's why you're hiding it from her?' A little voice asked. Jay ignored it.

Twenty minutes later Jay arrived in the city. As he drove through the streets Jay looked for a building suitable enough to test his invention. One three-story, slightly run down, building caught his eye. Quickly parking Jay pulled the wings out of the car, made sure to lock the vehicle, and lugged it to the door.

The building looked like it had been an apartment complex at one time, but a condemnation notice was posted to the door. Jay pulled at the handle and, to his surprise, it turned. Pushing the door open Jay peeked down the dim hallway. Nothing moved.

'Just get to the roof and you won't have to be in this creepy building for much longer.' It took a few minutes to find the stairs but excitement pulsed through Jay making every second worth it. 'I'm finally going to get this right!.' The door to the roof gave way at Jay's touch and he found himself blinking in the sunlight.

A line of buildings and billboards sat across the street and to the left, but there was an empty lot to his right. 'I can aim there and stay away from any cars!'

Taking a deep breath Jay walked to the edge of the building. 'It will work this time. I know it.' Then, without giving himself time to talk himself out of it, Jay stepped off the roof.

The wings snapped open and Jay let out a whoop. He was doing it!

Suddenly a gust of wind caught his right side. Letting out a yelp Jay frantically pulled at the wing's controls. He overcorrected. Now instead of heading toward the lot, Jay was propelled across the street!

CRASH!

Jay broke through one of the billboards, landing on a second story roof. He lay still for a second, thankful to be alive, before realization of what just happened hit him.

"This. Is. HOPELESS." Jay roared. Pushing himself to his feet, Jay struggled to unwrap himself from the wings' straps.

"Hopelessness is a choice, not an outcome."

A very high-pitched scream was Jay's response. He stumbled backward, the wings sending him falling to the floor. Trapped by their weight, Jay thrashed around like an upturned turtle.

"Calm yourself young one, you'll only hurt yourself."

Jay froze and watched as an old man- with a crazy long white beard- approached him, offering an outstretched hand. Hesitantly Jay took it and was all but launched upright by the man's grasp.

"Thanks." Jay took a quick look around realizing that this was another abandoned rooftop. "Why are you up here?" The words were out before Jay stopped to think about them. He flushed red. "Sorry, it's not really any of my business."

"You're quite alright young man." He sat down and pulled a teapot and two tea cups from nowhere.

Jay's jaw dropped. "What-? How-?"

"What would you say-" The man cut off Jay's spluttering, "if I told you I was here with a job offer?"

"Uh not sure my mom would want me to go for that..."

The man muttered something that Jay could have sworn was, "You'd be surprised," but Jay was pretty sure he heard wrong.

The man turned Jay found himself frozen again, this time by the seriousness in the man's eyes.

"I have a very special proposition for you Jay Walker." A thrill that was equal parts alarm and intrigue ran through Jay at the sound of his name. "And it involves bringing hope to a lot of people."