It was another beautiful spring day in suburbia. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the birds were singing and on Avian way… Darkwing Duck was fuming.

“-AND do you know what he screamed when he pushed the perpetrator into the police squad’s trip line?”  The hero spat angrily as he tossed his hat on the kitchen table with a scowl. “ ‘Spoon.’ Like THAT’S supposed to make any-”

The conversation was interrupted by a snort of laughter that was quickly covered up with a cough. The masked mallard turned an unamused glare on his teenage daughter who struggled desperately to look like the sound had come from someone else.

“Would you care to explain what’s so amusing Mildred?”

She cleared her throat meekly looking up at him with those big blue eyes and an innocent smile.

“It… well… uh… it was… the uh…battle cry of…” She waved her hand dismissively. “It’s from an old T.V. show, it was just a… funny thing to say that’s all?”

“Well it wouldn’t be so funny if it had been you running down that punk for ten blocks just to have that hooded hooligan swoop in and bumble his way into making it look like he did all the work.”

She coughed again ridding her face of the smile and locked eyes with the table top.  Darkwing nodded sourly and looked back to his wife who was looking less outraged than he would  have expected.

“Well?” He prompted her.

“Well…” she started carefully. “At least the crook was caught.”

“He should have been caught by me! I did all the leg work!”

“Dark, he’s just… uh…” Morgana floundered, what she really wanted to say was ‘just like you used to be’ but knew what would have resulted from that. “…he’s enthusiastic.”

“Enthusiastic!? He’s a menace! You should have SEEN what a mess he made of the stake out the Justice Ducks had meticulously kept on Megavolt’s last hostage attempt! They were cleaning up the chunks of watermelon for weeks!” The mallard thrust his hands into the air heatedly and the sorceresses’ eyes followed them curiously as if expecting something to happen.

“…but the hostages were released and Megavolt is still in the super villain’s prison… isn’t he?”

“You’re missing the poiiiiiiiiint.” He waved her off.

“Daddy,” Milly started carefully. “…maybe if you ask him to join the Justice Ducks he’ll learn how to-“

“OH NO!” He brandished his finger at her wildly. “I am NOT working with that thick headed, glory seeking, motor mouthed brat!’

“He’s just trying to make a good impression on you…” she mumbled.

“I’d like to make a good impression of him… right in the pavement….” He smacked his fist into his palm morbidly.

“Now, now Dark-“ Morgana tsked. “I think you need to cool off.” She fussed with his turtle neck dusting some debris off it. “Go change before someone sees you carrying on like this.”

“Pah, I’ll carry on anyway I want.” He grunted as he stalked away moodily.

Once the storm that was a scorned Darkwing had moved out of ear shot (and could be heard banging around upstairs) Mildred found herself being glanced at strangely by her mother. She shifted in her seat slightly and gave her a hopeful smile. She hadn’t done anything to warrant a lecture… had she? Morgana blinked slowly before she tightened the black apron around her waist and turned back to the casserole that had seized the wooden spoon from the counter and was stirring itself.

“He’s been by the shop asking about you nearly every day you know?” Morgana’s voice was light and conversational… in that way all mothers have mastered when discussing something they really want to get to the bottom of and are pretending so very hard that they don’t care one bit.

“…uh who?” Milly blinked.

“The bane of your father’s existence.”

“Swift?”

“Mmm hmm.” She pointed at the wriggling recipe and zapped it into submission before pouring in a healthy amount of bread crumbs. “At first he pretended that he’d become interested in the occult to try to hide his interest in you… but I asked him to kindly stop butchering the names of my potions to try to impress me.” Milly felt her brow knot and her gaze fall back to the table. “He’s rather charming don’t you think?”

“He’s just a flirt mommy.”

“The sun doesn’t rise and set on Travis Crackshell Mildred…”

She felt her cheeks twinge pink and she sent a scandalized stare at her mother’s back.
“I know that!” She squeaked. “If it did he’d be sunburned all the time.”

“He’s a good looking boy, and very sweet but… dear…” Morgana turned to her daughter with a sympathetic gleam in her emerald eyes. “…you shouldn’t … get your hopes up.”

The pieces were slowly coming together in Mildred’s head and her eyes widened.

“You want me to go out with Swift don’t you!?” She hissed in a shocked whisper.

Morgana averted her eyes with an innocent shrug.

“I didn’t say that did I?” She said smoothly. “I certainly hope you remember that I didn’t if your father asks. I do know that he’s very taken with you… he thinks you’re the cream of the coven.”

“Moooooooom.” She whined. “Why are you telling me this? He’s nice but… no one likes him. He only has a crush on me because I talk to him…”

“And why do you talk to him if you don’t like him?” Morgana put a glob of purple goo into the concoction she was simmering.

“Because I-“ She stopped. “Hey is this that reverse pie-cology Gos was telling me about?!”

“Psychology?” Morgana blinked and lifted an eyebrow at her. “Why, good heavens dear why would you think that?”

Milly scrutinized the angelic look of virtuousness that her mother had mastered over the years and crossed her arms not sensing its true intent. Being married to someone as hard headed as Darkwing had helped her adapt her poker face and method to have her will carried out by merely making it all seem like ‘his’ idea.  And she was really good at it which made her  even more dangerous. So once Morgana had turned back to her cooking she smiled to herself as she heard Milly sigh.

“I feel sorry for him I guess. He’s not really that bad he just… doesn’t know how to get people to like him.” The teen explained sadly. “Even Travvie doesn’t like him… which I think is a first. Travvie likes everyone.”

“Yes… Swift does seem to be very interested in ways to get in people’s good graces. He’s a bit over enthusiastic though isn’t he?” Morgana prodded.

“But he’s really great when he’s relaxed, he can let his mouth run sure… but it’s only because he thinks people will like him more if they think he’s clever.”

“Do you think he’s clever?” Asked the wheedling mother knowingly.

“He is. He’s funny and smart but… he’s got a lot of stuff on his plate. He told me he didn’t have anything else to do but fight crime once… but I don’t know if that’s true or not…”

“Why wouldn’t it be? A handsome boy like that surely has better things to do to lie to you…”

Milly furrowed her eyebrows and sent her mother a weary glance only to see her maintaining her cooking with what appeared to be her undivided attention. She sighed again.

“I don’t know. He’s gotta have a family and school and  all that stuff so… it just seems like it wouldn’t really be true you know?”


“Hmm.”

“I mean he’s got to do something else…”

“Of course.”

“He can’t really be out fighting crime every second of the day… until he comes to your shop.” She blinked slowly. “Why does he come to the shop anyway?”

“Must be my Puss Popsicles. The young Normals seem rather fond of them… which is fine because it will give them nice strong bones and a healthy sheen to their scales.”

“Mom… he doesn’t have scales.”

“Not yet .”

“….are you joking?”

“All I’m saying is… he always buys something and stays around to chat with me. He’s very polite and respectful. His wit is sharp and his aura is clean. I think he’d be a rather smart match for any young ghoulish girl… or normal girl… maybe one that’s a little of both?”

“Mom-“ She started warningly.

“I’m only saying-“

“Oh for cryin’ out loud…” she pulled her hair up into a ponytail to mask the concentration it was taking to keep the blush out of her cheeks. She stood up quickly. “I’m going out for a while… and NO I’m not going to find him and stuff like that. I’ve got to go the cemetery for a school project.”

“Of course dear.”

Mildred ran out of the house careful to avoid looking her father in the eye when she nearly plowed into him. Drake blinked after her as he pushed the kitchen door open.

“Where’s she goin’ blushing like that?” He asked suspiciously.

“Cemetery.” Morgana turned to him with a bright smile and a wooden spoon full of… something. “I’m glad you’re here darling I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind sampling this for me?”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*


The cemetery was set on a hill overlooking perhaps the most un-picturesque view of the city there was. But most people didn’t pay much attention to the skyline or the back of the big billboard that interrupted the flow of the traffic’s din. Then again most people didn’t sit on a flowery pink blanket with two cups and a thermos of tea in the middle of the place either. Pleasant laughter … was another thing that didn’t normally echo through the headstones and mournful angels. But if there was one thing to be said about Mildred Mallard it was that she was not like most people.  And the only other living occupant of the cemetery was completely aware of this; as he stood back curiously watching her. She seemed to be talking to herself. He leaned against a headstone tilting his head at the way her eyes sparkled as she looked at the air. If he squinted he could swear he could see some sort of reflection in her eyes… a reflection of something that wasn’t there. The coolness of the stone he was propped up on seeped through the sleeve of his hooded sweatshirt and he recoiled instantly when he realized what he’d been doing. He stared at the headstone and grimaced.

“Uh… sorry…. “ he said patting it gingerly. “Didn’t mean to lean on ya there… uh.. Mrs. Flaversham.”

The air was suddenly silent and he slid his eyes to the girl who was now staring at him strangely.  He cleared his throat and pulled on his sweatshirt straightening it out so that the big yellow “S” emblazoned on it stood out proudly. With a spring in his step (but no forced speed) he walked over to her.

“Hi Windy, didn’t expect to see you here.” He said merrily.

“What are you doing here?” Was her response. “Did my mother tell you to come here?”

Swift couldn’t help but give her a slow blink.

“Er… no? Does she usually tell people to come look for you at the cemetery?”

“…depends on who it is I guess.” She sighed and shifted a little.

“You look lovely as usual.” He grinned at her and motioned to the other cup. “Expecting someone? Got a hot date coming?”

Her eyes flitted back to the air it looked like she’d been conversing with and then her gaze fell to her lap.

“Maybe.” She lied.

“Mind if I keep you company until the lucky guy shows up then? Thanks!” He plopped down next to her and noticed how intensely she was staring at the cup in her hands. “Is it one of those monster guys? Like the ones that your mom does business with? There was this guy in there once with a face like a prune and all this cob webby silver hair, he looked like a peanut on stilts and wore this old top hat and had one red eye… wooo creepy…”

“That was my grandfather.”

“…Wooo creepy-ily good looking smart man that he was! I wouldn’t mind being related to someone as dapper as that!” He finished quickly.

“She told me you go around there a lot.” Her eyes rose to his in a challenge but his smile only grew wider.

“Sure, she’s a great lady your mom. Besides she’s got these popsicles she makes that are bangin’.”

“…you eat them?”

“Uh… yeah aren’t you supposed to?” he asked nervously.

“…I dunno my dad never did.”

“Oh… well there’s a lot of things your dad doesn’t do I bet.”

She frowned and poured the contents of her cup back in the thermos quickly doing the same to the other cup and screwing the top back on.

“Hey…” He leaned forward nervously. “What? Are you leaving?”

“Yeah. I’ve got stuff to do.” She said bitterly.

“I didn’t mean to make you upset Milly… your dad’s an ace. You know I didn’t mean to-“

“What are you doing here Swift?” She interrupted him harshly.

The bite in her tone made him shrink back slightly and his eyes darted around as if hoping that a knocked out burglar or villain had suddenly materialized for him to lay claim to. The space around them remained criminal free. He lowered his gaze to the withering grass with a heaving sigh.

“…I was trying to find someone.”

“Me?” Her voice was hard.

“No. Though that was a pleasant surprise.” He sent her a small smile and she kept her frown firmly in place. “…I was hoping I might find someone buried here… that’s all.” He finished lamely.  He heard her sigh and watched her aggravation melt away.

“I’m sorry…” she said softly. “…I forget that people come here for different reasons then me sometimes.”

“For dates?”

“…no.” she admitted and looked at the air again. His grey eyes searched the space curiously then turned back to her an idea sliding into place.

“You… can see ghosts can’t you?”  he ventured.

She blinked, gave him a cautious glance before she nodded slowly and hastily looked away.

“I’m a freak I know.” She said miserably.

“A freak?” He repeated in shock. “Who said that?” He demanded and her startled eyes met his. “I didn’t say that! I’m a guy who can run fast enough to break the sound barrier and you want me to call you a freak?” He laughed and it echoed off the tombstones very much in the way hers had before. He could almost hear the echo of her laughter mixing with his it made him feel a little mushy inside… wait a minute. He looked at her to see she was laughing and it did nothing to quell the bright smile that immediately engulfed his face.

“Okay, okay…” she giggled. “Fine we’re both freaks.”

“That’s more like it!” He cheered

“Um… so did you find that someone?”

“…sorry?”

“That someone you were looking for here?”

“Oh… no… no I didn’t.” His smile faded slightly and he forced it stay.

“I could ask you know.” She offered.

“Ask?”

“I could ask Esmerita here…” she waved to the air. “She used to be a spirit medium when she was alive… I saw her when I walking by one day and she asked me to come talk to her. I feel bad that we don’t spend much time together… she gets so lonely around here all by herself you know? But she does know everyone who’s buried here and exactly where to find them! ‘It’s not like they move around much’ she says. So who were you looking for?”

“Uh…” He let his smile fall. “Well I was looking for a woman named Katherine Quackman… I think that was her last name anyway…”

He watched as Milly looked meaningfully at the empty patch of air and after a moment shook her head sadly before she turned back to him.

“I’m sorry Swift… Esme says she’s never heard of her…”

“Oh… oh that’s okay.” He shrugged lightly. “I wasn’t sure she was really here anyway… uh… thanks anyway… er… Esme.”

Milly smiled and he felt his stomach tighten slightly. He couldn’t bite back the grin that turned up the corners of his mouth. He shifted for a moment before he got up.

“Well I’ll let you ladies get back to your… uh… tea. I’ll see you again soon won’t I Windy?”

“Sure.” She said pleasantly.

“Great!” he chirped happily. “Bye!” He knew he had to leave before he embarrassed himself so he ran away as fast as he could. Which resulted in him skidding to a halt two counties over.  But… that was fine by him, she couldn’t see the massive smile on his face from there.

Milly smoothed out her hair from the wind that the dramatic exit had kicked up as a wispy voice beside her said in a now all too familiar tone of voice.

“My what a charming young man… not many like him around anymore.”

“Oh not you too…” She groaned.