To tell this story right, I think I need to start with what happened right before all this. Someday, you’ll hear the whole story of Miranda, the what and whys of it. But for now, here’s all you need to know: After Miranda, all of Serenity was hurtin’. Patching up my ship was easy; her outside is all paint and metal. The troubles of her crew were not as easily fixed up. We lost a lot. We lost some people were real important to us. Don’t misunderstand, we did right. But there ain’t been a day so far that I haven’t wondered why all this fell on us. Fell on me. Just the way of the ‘verse, I reckon. Inara decided to stay with us for a spell. Having most of the original crew together was at times a comfort, but it also reminded us of the two we lost. Death and trouble weakens people, and when you’re fighting that kind of sadness it doesn’t make sense to fight off the stuff that feels good. So Inara and I stopped fighting things. We really tried, but for all that had changed, we hadn’t. In the end fantasy becomes reality if you hold onto it for long enough, and we just didn’t fly. She left the ship much in the way she came on it: cool and composed. But at least we knew this wasn’t for us. We could both move along. Kaylee took it harder then we did, which as you’ll come to learn is just how Kaylee is. She thought if Inara and I couldn’t make it, who could? Fortunately, Simon was there to pull her brainpan back into reality. Kaylee and the Doc had wasted no time and had already gotten themselves married. It took Zoë to convince Kaylee that they had already made it. Coming from Zoë, Kaylee listened. After Inara leavin’ it was all pretty boring, actually. A welcome rarity that is not to be trusted. Zoë got better. River was River. Still a reader, still all kinds of creepifying, just not as muddled now that all the horror the Alliance fed to her was out of her head. She came to me one day with one of Inara’s scarves. “Found this. Thought you might want it. She wasn’t it. But don’t worry its coming.” As usual before I could ask what “it” was, she was gone. Halfway to the cargo bay, to do who knows what. She had been exercising with Jayne, but I don’t think she had out-benched him yet. Let me tell you that was a great day. Well, now, this is where you may start to become interested in the story, because this ultimately involves you. We took Kaylee home to see her mother, as we all could have used some mothering, and at the time there wasn’t another woman in the ‘verse who had more motherin’ to go around then Mrs. Frye. Besides, since her dad had sold his repair shop, there were some parts ‘round that Serenity could use. While we were there, an old friend of Kaylee’s came to visit and meet the young doctor. Long story short, she was looking for a change and was interested in renting the shuttle I had long been avoiding renting. I wasn’t totally ready to let go of that shuttles previous occupant, I guess. Kaylee’s friend, Aubrey, was a nurse who was working on the border planets teaching parents basic health and medical stuff to help in case there was no doctor about. Alliance funded. Renting the shuttle would obviously allow her to reach out further. There was nothing good about this. Kaylee, knowing me as well as she does, came to me first, before Aubrey did. I told her no. “No?” she squealed. And I do mean squealed. “Captain, she’s doing good work, she’s helping people and she’s got the money to pay.” “Yeah, Alliance money. We don’t need it, Kaylee.” “This program was started after Miranda; I think we had something to do with it. Part of the newer, shiner Alliance. Please, Mal, besides, she’ll be extra medical help if Simons, ya know, busy or gets himself stole again somehow.” Damn that Kaylee. I agreed to meet with her. And when she walked in she almost knocked my boots clear off, although I will never admit it to anyone but you. “Aubrey, I presume?” “Yes. Captain Reynolds, I hope?” “Hope?” “Well otherwise I’m in a tight space with a strange man, not the best scenario for me to be in” “I reckon that’s right. Well, this here’s the shuttle. Nothing too special. Get you where you need to go and back. Kaylee told you about the rest, cost and how we decide where to go next?” “Yes, go where the work is. That’s fine. Captain Reynolds…” “Please Malcolm. Mal, actually. People on Serenity only call me captain when they have to say something I don’t want to hear. Although if you really want something call me sir.” “I’ll remember that” I was kidding, really I was. “Mal, the Alliance may pay my bills, but I work independently. They don’t tell me where to go, or how to get there. Idon’t like them, or what they stand for, but helping these people is more important then the politics of it. Just wanted to make myself clear.” “ Noted. Anyway, shuttles yours if you want it. We leave tomorrow AM, that okay?” “Fine” “Good, then. I’ll be seeing you.” I knew I was in for some trouble right then. I just didn’t know how much. What was it about that gorram shuttle?? Turns out, Aubrey was really good for the whole ship. She is an excellent cook and seemed to enjoy doin’ so. I got to thinkin’ she was going to ask for a discount on account of the cooking, but she never did. I liked that. Honest lady. Hell, I just plain liked her. I was aware of it, I ‘m just, well I’m me, I guess. I was busy doing captainy things and running a ship and she was another of the crew. I also tend to be kinda clueless when it comes to people who ain’t trying to steal from me or shoot me. Plan to double cross me and I can read your gorram mind, bat your eyelashes at me and well, the cortex just goes out. I just don’t see it. So when those feelings were brought to my attention, I was surprised. I was also tricked. One night I noticed the ship was awful quiet and when I went to make my rounds of sorts, I found Aubrey, alone in the dining area, the lights dim and a mighty fine looking spread in front of her. “Aubrey, expecting company?” “Sort of. Sit down, Mal” “Um…Where’s my crew?” “Oh, they are all planet side celebrating Simon and Kaylee’s anniversary.” “Ta ma duh, I forgot” “Yeah, we were kind of counting on that. You’re still not sitting.” “Yeah, well this looks really great, but I, uh, I need to make sure the crew has their assignments for take off tomorrow. Can’t have them slacking off for too long…” “Mal, please sit, Sir.” “Sir?” “When we first met, you told me if I ever really wanted you to do something I should call you sir.” I sat. That was six months ago, or more, how the hell do you women remember these things? “So, you cook?” And it was really, really good. Real food. I hadn’t had real food since we were with the Frye’s. “I do, one of my many hidden talents.” I got that she was flirting with me, I was just hit dumb as to what to say. Captain Smartass had nothing to counter with. I wondered if I had wasted up all my female bantering skills on the wrong woman. I must have had one hell of a look on my face because she was flustered real bad. “Look, Mal, um, I’m just going to do this. In the six months I have been on this ship we have become friendly, but I really believe there is more to this. I have noticed, and have been equally guilty, of the stolen looks and little comments we exchange. I know you loiter outside of my shuttle on occasion. I always wondered why you never knocked, or hell just came in. Anyway, it occurred to me you would never initiate this so I got with Kaylee and decided to do it myself. So, dinner.” “Kaylee. Partner in crime” “Everyone needs one. Speaking of which it was Zoë’s idea to do this tonight.” “Zoë? Huh.” Anyway, we ate, talked, and did have a nice time. Truly. “I offered to do the dishes. Yes, I do that on occasion, and she said I could help. And somewhere between washin' and dryin’ we wound up kissin’. It was real different from my last few kisses. There was no deep history, poison or inevitable gunfight behind it. It was just a kiss. “Listen, Aubrey, all this was real nice, ‘specally that last part, but you don’t know what you are getting into here.” “Oh, I don’t?” “You may think you do, but I’m really hard to handle. Nothing with me ever goes easy. I’m bad luck. I’m stubborn as hell and twice as angry. I’m damaged goods, really. I’m not what you need.” “What is it that I need, Mal, that you can’t give me?” She was right in my face. Or as close as she could come, being several inches shorter then I. I really had no answer to that. I thought it would be enough to scare her off. It didn’t. “You think I’m not aware of your faults, Mal? I’ve all but lived with you for half a year. I’ve seen you work, I know what you do and I know the decisions that you have to make. But you make those decisions out of love for this ship and this crew and that’s part of your better points that you seem bent on ignoring. You are incredibly brave, fiercely loyal and I don’t know if anyone has ever told you this, but you are too swai for words. Besides when you care about someone you love all of them not just the warm fuzzy bits.” “When you what?” Ai-Yah Tyen-ah. I’m sorry, Mal I didn’t mean it quite like that, it’s just a word.” “No, it’s okay. A little weird, but okay. I’m just caught off guard here; did you say you loved me?” “Um, no, not really. I said I cared about you. If I didn’t would I have done all of this? But who knows where things go? Given time I could love you. Then again you could be right. You may be too far gone for something like this. But we never will know if you stick to all your lame excuses and cop out easy. If it’s me that’s the problem, that’s fine. Tell me I was reading you wrong and there’s nothing more to discuss, hands clean. But I don’t buy that. You play hard all you want, but I know there is more to you then you like to let people see. Mal, I’m not looking to save you, or convince you the ‘verse is a kind and fuzzy place, because it’s not. We both know that. Look, this is how I feel; you do what you want to with it. I’ll be around.” She kissed me on the cheek, smiled and walked off. Wow. She had been ranting like a madwoman, but she wasn’t wrong. I thought I was protecting her. It occurred to me this one didn’t need protecting. It made we wonder if any of them ever had. That was a bold move on her part, much braver then I am when it comes to these things. I decided it was my turn. Feelings like that have never suited me, they fuzz things up. I left her a note; I always was a coward with the women folk. Aubrey, I reckon it’s my turn to do something nice for you. We’re heading to Belix and your schedule allowing I’d like to show you around a bit. It ain’t a home cooked meal and a stern talking to, but I’m hoping I can still show you a good time. Let me know. -Mal Again, coward. To make a long story longer, we hit Belix and painted the town brown (I have always wanted to say that) and then continued to spend any spare time together for weeks with no real issues. No fights, no insults, just being together. I seemed to have this great easy thing with a wonderful lady my mama would have ‘proved of, and I had no idea what to do with it. We were dating or courting or what have you, but nothing really had happened. There was no announcement to the crew of coupledom and they didn’t dare mention it. I assume they were aware. I know Kaylee was so then Simon must’ve known and of course River. That can’t be helped. For some reason, we had managed not to be particularly physical about this. Never went past kissin’. Lookin’ back at it I was spooked and clueless and she was patient. Then I got sick. My death was not imminent but my nose was stuffed and I was all achy and just miserable. I had been shot and not felt this bad. There is very little that keeps me on my back, but Aubrey convinced me that Zoë could handle things and if she couldn’t well, my bunk was still on the ship. She brought me tea and soup and medicine and the truth of things hit me hard lookin’ up at her. “How did you do that?” “Do what, make soup? You want the recipe?” She was laughing at me “No, how did you make me love you?” “Mal, let me take your temp again, you must be delirious.” “I’m really not” “You’re soup question was much easier to answer.” She was playing with my hair. “Seriously, Aubrey. I do love you. You were truthsome that night at dinner; I was trying to keep you out. Somehow you broke through. And I’m glad for it. I have no idea how to do this right, and I’ll no doubt find a way to muck this up, but I’d like to try. I’ve been keeping you at bay and running scared from what might happen with you and I just don’t want to anymore. So no more running. I aim to please.” In the future, I need to remember that inside jokes are only funny if the other person in the room gets the joke. Somewhere, however, Wash was very amused. Well, I aimed to please, and I like to think I did. My understanding is that most people go through a period of adjustment when a relationship gets serious and I only had one real issue. I had the worst time sleeping in that shuttle. Not on account of what you might think, either. She was renting that shuttle from me. Me, who has helping her sleep in it, was accepting money for her to sleep there. Didn’t sit proper with me. She pulled it out of me, we talked about it and that was it. End of problem. She wasn’t paying to sleep in the shuttle, she was paying to take it planet side for work, see. She is a clever one. And all was well. Until the day she didn’t come home. Ok, that was a bit near the theatric side and it’s not my meanin’ to scare, but I do need to keep you awake somehow, right? But, all jokin’ aside, she was about four hours off of her shuttle log when I started to panic a bit. We were close enough to Persephone where all manner of people who would like to anger me may have gotten wind of her. “Kaylee!” “Cap?” “You heard from Aubrey…she’s real late.” “No, Mal, nothing. Did you wave the shuttle?” “Yeah, no reply.” “Have faith, Captain I’m sure she’s fine. Got stuck doin’ medical stuff. Ya know how things are down there. No tellin’, but I’m sure all’s shiny.” “Thanks, Kaylee” River was already on the bridge when I got there. “I looked, there’s no trouble. No flags. It’s peaceful there.” “Nothing about any hospital shortages or an accident or some such?” “No” “Then where the hell is she?” I was starting to get a little frustrated. I was about to get Zoë, Jayne and the ammunition when River blurts out, “Baby’s coming!” “She got stuck deliverin’ a baby? Could be why she ain’t waved…will it take much longer?” “Yes, but she will be here before you know it.” That’s River. Three hours of pacing later, the shuttle finally docked. “Aubrey, you alright?” I was looking for bruises, wounds other assorted damage done to her. “Yeah, Mal, I’m so sorry, I just could not leave that poor woman’s side. She was all alone and in labor for 37 hours. She finally had a healthy boy, which in a twist of irony I had nothing to do with, she called Malcolm. That’s nice, huh? What are you doing?” “You’re really okay?’ “Yeah, fine. Oh, you were worried! Mal I’m so sorry, by the time I had time to call…” “It’s alright. I’ll see you later” “Oh, Mal…” “Later” And I walked off. I had no idea how long I was going to pout, but I was. Hey, I had earned it. That woman had me scared out of my mind I might’ve lost her. She knocked an hour or so later. “Mal, I’ve come to grovel at your feet. And I brought dinner. Sir, please let me in.” Sir…dammit. I let her in. We sat at my desk and ate. She had some emergency “I made him mad” food reserved in the shuttle for these kinds of things. “So thirty-seven hours you said” “Yes, and, not even you, as skilled as you are, could have handled that kind of torture.” “I reckon not. Whoever decided these things chose to cut me from a different sort of cloth” “Your father.” “Sorry?” “It’s your fathers fault. Men carry the chromosome that decided the sex of a baby” “Can you please not say sex and my father in the same sentence?” She laughed. “How old are you?? Look at you, can’t even keep food off your face. Come here.” She wiped some goo off of my lip. “Thirty-seven hours” She said it almost under her breath. “Well, let that serve as a reminder to us to always be cautious. We don’t want a little surprise of our own, now do we?” “What if we did?” “What wanted a baby?” “No, what if we already had a surprise brewing?” “A, what, a, Aubrey are you telling me…?” “It is within the realm of possibility that I…” “Realm of possibili... what?? Can’t anyone else on this boat speak plainly?” “Yes, there is a decent chance that I might be growing one of our own little surprises.” “How decent a chance?” “All but tested. I wanted to tell you before I went to see Simon.” “Okay, well, I’ve been warned. Go” “I will first thing in the morning” “No, now.” “Mal, it’s the middle of the night!” “Yes it is, but I ain’t waitin’. Need to know now. No guessin' or ifs. The boy works for me, I have some pull with him. Besides, tell Kaylee, she’ll likely wake up the whole ship screeching.” When I said that I meant it with a touch of sarcasm, but the more I thought about it, the more likely I thought it was. I had Aubrey settle into the infirmary while I went to rouse the doctor as quiet like as I could. “Captain?” “Doctor. Sorry to bother but I need you in the infirmary. Alone, please.” “I, I’ll be right there.” One thing I will say about the Doc, when it comes to medical stuff, he doesn’t dilly-dally. “Aubrey, what happened? Was there some kind to trouble?” “No Simon, I’m fine. I just need an HCG test.” “Oh, my.” “Yeah. I’m sure enough that this should be what we need. We can do a blood if this comes back negative.” Now a good bit of that exchange, initials and something about blood made very little sense to me but she was sure enough…that part did not pass me by. “Okay, here you go. You know what to do. Mal, if you will come with me.” “What, I can’t stay?” “Mal, she has to pee in a cup and the door to the infirmary bathroom is broken. Can she go in peace?” “Oh, yeah, sure.” There were a few minutes of fairly uncomfortable silence, as the Doc doesn’t usually know what to say in the best of situations. “Listen Doc, I appreciate you doing this in the dead of night. I just…” “No need, captain. Kaylee and I had a similar scare a few months back, so I completely understand.” “Really. Wasn’t nothing?” “If it was, you would have known by now.” “So there’s a chance this could end up the same.” “There’s always a chance, but Kaylee’s no nurse. She knows Serenity better then she knows her own body most of the time. I’m sorry. I’m sure that wasn’t helpful. Whatever the outcome, I will keep this quiet as long as is needed.” He held out his hand. I shook it. “You can trust me, Mal.” Docs come a long way. “Men, you can come in now.” “How long will this take? I mean will we know by morning or…” “Done.” “Well?” “That’s a positive. Congratulations you two.” “Okay, well thank you, Simon. Tell Kaylee to come see me as soon as she gets up, will you? “I will, Aubrey. Get some sleep, you need it.” “Yeah, Doc’s right. We could all use some sleep, it’s been a long day.” I walked her back to the shuttle. “You coming in?” “Umm, no. I think I’m gong to hit my own bed this evening, or morning. Whatever it is. It’s kind of late, you know.” “Mal, I’m worried about you. Come inside, we’ll talk.” “Ain't noting to worry on. It’s late and like Doc said you need your rest. Besides I got some sortin' of my own to do. We have, what, eight months or so to talk. We will talk our selves hoarse I’m sure. Just got no need to start now.” “Actually it’s more like six months at this point, if I had to guess.” Six months. I touched my palm to her cheek and she kind of nuzzled into it. She looked like she needed that. “I understand, Mal. You had a lot thrown at you today. Take whatever time you need. But if you change your mind, I’ll be here.” “Good to know. Love you.” “You too, Mal, you too.” I paced around the ship for a while. Serenity, my first love. Things have gotten so much more complicated since the day I bought her. Torn up as she is, she’s still my pride and joy. Looks like she may have to share that title soon enough. Don’t misread, this was happy news. I had wanted this, just not the way it was happening. A month or so ago, after a really good profit on a job, I bought a ring. I didn’t know what I was going to do with it, as marriage didn’t make sense to me out here in the black. Actually, I thought it made her a target. Us marrying would have put her in danger, which was clearly not my aim. Aubrey may not have known it, but I had all sorts of intentions of getting to this in our own time. But, as usual, what I plan and what’s the truth of it ain’t ever the same. In the end that night, I did sneak into her shuttle to sleep. I tried my own bed, but it was feelin’ real empty. Planned or not our lives were fixin’ to change in a major way. When you are set to share something that big, it seems silly not to share something as little as a bed. I made a decision or two that night and I wanted to talk to her first thing in the morning. I snuck into the shuttle and walked over to the bed, trying not to wake her. I undressed and lay down next to her. She stirred just enough to snuggle up into me and smile. Then she fell right back to sleep. It was as if she was expecting me. I don’t know I have ever slept as well as I did that night. “Well, well, look who couldn’t sleep without me.” “Good morning. Don’t let it go to that pretty head of yours. It’s early.” “Yeah, I have not been doing a lot of sleeping this last week. Hormones, I’d gather. I’m glad you snuck in last night.” “Me, too. Got a few things I want to talk to you about, and I didn’t want to wait.” “No time like the present, you have my undivided attention.” “I was thinking perhaps we should be thinking about sharing a bunk. You know, so I can keep you out of trouble.” I winked and she smiled. “Besides, I really do sleep better when you’re with me. So I’m thinking we should make that a more permanent arrangement.” “You’re place or mine?” “Since the shuttle travels, I was thinking mine. I’d hate to need a shirt only to find it’s on the other side of the moon from where I am.” “True, besides when I quit work, I’ll have to give up the shuttle anyway.” “Thinkin’ on quittin', are you?” “Well, there’s going to be a point where I’m just gonna be too big and too far along to travel too far away from Serenity. I can’t work from the boat, so ultimately, yes.” “Hadn’t thought about that, but it’s true enough. We have some time to work on that, yes?” “Yup, so what else did we need to cover, Captain?” “This ain’t official ship business, ain’t no need to be calling’ me that. This is personal. I need to know, had us gettin’ married entered your mind at all?” She looked mighty uncomfortable “Aubrey, you need to be telling’ me truthful whether I’m going to like it or not. It ain’t a proposal, it’s just a question.” “I mean, it entered my mind, I just wasn’t sure if it was a good idea or not. No offense, Mal, but you don’t strike me as the marrying type. That has nothing to do with you being able to be faithful or how you feel about me, I don’t question any of that. It’s just all the ceremony involved. It just isn’t you.” “And you’d be right. Way I see it; a marriage and a wedding are two different things. A marriage is a relationship, nothing more. People have weddings to make things official with God and the Alliance, and I ain't looking’ to please either of those two groups. But you do get a say in this. Do you need this? Because I will do everything I need to do to keep you with me, Aubrey. Legal or not I have all intentions of never letting you get away from me. You’re getting the short end of the end of the stick here, as I ain’t the easiest man to live with, but that’s not news to you. You know the worst of me, so you are making an educated decision. Either way, I know this. I want to spend what’s left of my life taking care of you and our little family. I just need your input here.” “Oh, Mal. No, I don’t need to get married. We know how we feel, we know what we want and we want the same thing. Hell, Mal, I knew you were it for me long ago. Long before I even told you. Besides, I think sometimes I prefer the worst of you. At last then I know you’ll need a better half. Keeps me busy.” “Well with all that in mind, I would like for you to have this.” I pulled out the ring I had bought, even got down on one knee, despite not proposing. It seemed the traditional like thing to do. “This is beautiful. How long have you had this?” “Since that job on Persephone, ‘bout a month or so. I didn’t know how to give it to you or what it meant, but I saw it and just couldn’t imagine you not having it.” “Oh, my very own un-engagement ring. It even fits. It’s perfect. I love it. And you ain’t so bad yourself.” “Yeah, thanks. I love you, too.” I stood up to finish getting dressed. “Where are you going?” “I do have ship to run here, ya know.” “I had wondered why you had gotten dressed. Can it wait? I was thinking you take off that slanty gun belt of yours and come over here so I can…” There was a knock on the shuttle door. “Damn, that’ll be Kaylee.” I laughed. “Guess we had better be getting used to being interrupted. Why don’t we tell everyone all at once? Let’s just call them all into the dining area, have a ship meeting. I can do that, you know. I am the captain.” She laughed “It’s cute that you still feel the need to impress me.” “Eh, I do what I can.” So we sat everyone down and told them what was going on. It was the first time I had said it out loud. I had a baby comin’. It was a real scary thought, but I was also excited about it. It meant twice the worry and ten times the responsibility, but neither had stopped me from doing anything before. I guess I kind of looked upon it as I do most things: I’ll figure it out as I go and apologize as is needed. I had made it this far thinking on my feet. I’m sure they won’t fail me now. At least I would hope not. “Zoë, can I see you on the bridge, please. We do have some ship running’ to do.” “Of course, sir.” She gave Aubrey a hug and followed me to the ships controls. “Permission to speak freely, sir?” “Please do.” “Sir, I have known you a long time. I have seen you lose way more then you have ever gotten back. You deserve a whole mess of happy. And I am happy for you.” “Thank you, Zoë. I’m glad you feel that way, because I am going to need your help on this.” “In what way?” “Like anything else, I need you to be my first mate.” “You don’t need me for that sir, is that not Aubrey’s job?” “Zoë, I am in a dangerous line of work. This is not news to you. Now I ain't worrying’ on keeping Aubrey and the baby safe, we can plan for that, but if something happens to me, I need to know that you will take care of them. There is no one else I trust more then you to do this for me. Knowing that you are behind me would make this a whole lot less scary. One less thing to concern myself with. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not planning on dying, but you never do know.” “No, you really don’t. Of course sir, you have my word. I think the ‘verse of Aubrey and there ain't a one of us on this ship, I’m sure, who ain't gonna love that baby as if it was their own. They will be taken care of. It would be an honor and a pleasure. Well, not really, because then you’d be dead, but I think you see my meaning.” “I do. Well, thank you. Now let’s look for some work.” Six months left became three months, quickly became weeks and before I knew it you were a week late in comin’. We had a job that I had been putting off, as I was afraid of being more then a ships length away from your mother. I thought she was going to pop at any given moment. I was a nervous wreck, but Aubrey was as calm as I had ever seen her. “The baby will come when it’s ready, be patient, Mal.” It was about all she said for a month. Finally, I could put that job off no more and wouldn’t you know it that was the day you decided to make your entrance. Trouble from day one. Came out screaming and hollering’ just like you were supposed to. That’s my girl. Lilly Alleyne Reynolds. We named you after two of the strongest women I have known. Lilly was my mommas name and Zoë was an Alleyne before she was a Washburn. As sad as it is, I suppose she is again. I decided some time ago that I would start keeping records for you of things that I wanted you to know the truth of. I have nothing from my childhood. I have no captures to show you of your father as a baby, I can’t take you back to where I’m from. All of that is long gone. I don’t know the whole story of how my parents got together, and I don’t really know how they fell apart. That I can’t change. But I can make sure that doesn’t happen to you. I thought how your mother and I got together, and how you came to be, seemed as good a place to start as any. You have been a good listener snuggled here on the bridge with me, hadn’t cried once. I guess I’m about done here but I want you to remember one thing. I promise to remember this when you are thirteen and saying you hate me, if you promise to remember it when your grown and I’m gone. The day you were born was the happiest day I have been able to remember. And before I stop recording, let me say this. If you ever really want something, there’s no need to be jokin’ calling me sir like your mother does. Daddy will do just fine.