MISADVENTURES OF A YOUNG SPECIAL AGENT IN TRAINING

Tittle: ALL DAYS WE SPENT TOGETHER WERE GOOD BUT SOME WERE BETTER THAN OTHERS...

Rating: AU, Discipline, no slash.

Summary: The tittle said everything!

Disclaimer: The characters of Fox Mulder, Dana Scully, Walter Skinner, et al belong to 1013 Productions and I and will make no money from their use.

Walter sighed impatiently. He should never have let Fox convince him to take him to see the newest Star Wars movie. His idea of a pleasant Sunday consisted of an early morning game of golf with James followed by a well cooked meal preferably in a good restaurant completed with a quiet afternoon when he could lazily watch a basketball game on the TV or read a good book or relax in his comfortable easy chair on the balcony; a break from his too demanding daily routine as a FBI Assistant Director. This had been his life two months ago before young Fox came to live with him. Since then his weekends had been filled with frequent trips to several malls, theaters and amusement parks. It's not that he was complaining, Fox really was a terrific kid but sometimes he missed his old life. So today instead of his previous relaxing weekends he had a fast-food meal of a MacDonald's burger and was now in the middle of a crowded room full of noisy children who reacted with small excited cries to everything that happened to their intergalactic heroes. If eighteen-year-old Senior Cadet Tom Colton had been available it would have been him here in this hell-hole instead. Unfortunately the young man was at an age where dating girls and stealing kisses were more important than doing a favor for his Captain's closest friend. Honestly, he didn't have the heart to ask the boy to give up of his dating just to baby-sit Fox for a few hours so he could have a reprieve and relax in more agreeable ways. Walter smiled amusedly in the darkened room as he recalled the embarrassed red-faced lad telling him why he couldn't accompany Fox to the cinema.

"Er...I'm sorry Captain Skinner but I've already got an appointment." Tom said shuffling his feet on the floor nervously with lowered eyes feeling his cheeks getting hot with embarrassment. Captain Skinner was his Captain's best friend and had known him since he was a kid. Skinner was a kind of uncle to him and he loved him as such but that didn't mean he felt at ease to talk about girls with him yet.

"But Tom couldn't you take Fox with you?" Walter asked trying to contain his smirk when he realized the real truth behind all the blushing.

The talk brought back some memories of his own wild and delightful adventures most of which he shared with Reggie during their time together at the Academy much to the dismay of their Captains. Walter remembered the hard time he gave James when he started to go out on his own especially by ignoring his curfews. Those were a constant cause for the worst arguments he had with his former Captain and also for the worst spankings.

He smiled sheepishly at the boy before him and dismissed him with hopes that he have a good time. What more could he do? He'd been eighteen once and had loved every single moment. And besides the boy wasn't half the trouble he and Reggie had been.

Another roar of loud cheers rising from the young audience pulled him back to the present. He groaned resignedly and stole a glance at his young companion seated next to him. The good thing about all this was the look of pure rapture and delight on the face of the boy he now thought of as his own. The beginning had been rocky but now their relationship remained calm most of the time, a result of much hard work at building trust and respect on a daily basis. He lovingly brushed aside a single lock of dark hair that persisted in falling over Fox's eyes, mentally making a note to take him to the barber's as soon as possible. Fox took his attention off the screen for an instant to give his Captain a dazzling grin to make sure he knew how much he appreciated he had taken the time to bring him to watch the movie. Walter smiled back.

All went well for a while as the powerful Jedis continued to fight their way through evil enemies and dastardly plots, then suddenly the peace was broken not only on the screen but also in reality.

"Oh, SHIT!"

Walter lifted his eyebrows at the loud annoyed expletive that came from Fox as a woman and a boy around Fox's age sat on the two vacant seats in front of them.

He twisted his head to whisper into Fox's ear, "The boy isn't so tall. You can still see all the screen if you just sit upright and stop slouching as you are. Or if you want we can change places but don't bother everyone around you with any more nasty comments."

"But he's blocking my view! We were here first and he doesn't have any right to do this! He's such a butthead!"

"Fox! Watch your mouth! You know better than to use dirty words around me," Walter firmly admonished.

"But I want him out of my view!" Fox stubbornly said kicking the chair ahead of him sharply, the warning signs of a big tantrum starting to show.

"Stop that!" Walter put a restrictive hand over the boy's legs to prevent him from repeating the action. "Be quiet and watch the movie. One more word or another kick from you and we'll leave. So behave."

The threat appeared to have been effective and despite the big pout Fox seemed to settle and sat there quietly watching the movie. Walter relaxed in his chair when he was sure his spitfire had calmed down. A few moments later he felt his eyes grow heavy and soon he was napping.

On the other hand Fox was inwardly fuming that his fun had been disturbed by the other boy. Giving his Captain a quick sideways glance he noted with satisfaction albeit a bit bemusedly that his Captain was dozing off. He saw his opportunity and in one quick movement dropped all the contents of his extra-large bag of popcorn over the other boy's head. Fox snickered behind his hand as the other boy let out an outraged yell and looked disoriented for a moment not realizing from where the popcorn had come. Fox shook his head in amusement. What a butthead! He was pulled out of his smug complacency by his Captain grabbing his upper arm in a relentless grip.

"Captain, it was an accident!"

Like his Captain, the boy's mother wasn't so easily fooled and didn't buy his version of an accident either.

"Fox, apologize immediately!" Walter ordered him in a stern tone.

"But I didn't do anything!" Fox tried again with flushed cheeks unable to meet his mentor's eyes.

Extremely annoyed by his boy's bad behavior and not wanting to make a scene in front of strangers, Walter jolted Fox up without letting go of his arm preparing to exit.

"Please ma'am take our places." Walter offered with a forced smile. "I'm going outside to have a little talk with my young boy here and I apologize for his rudeness."

"Oh thank you, Sir. That's very nice of you. I do hope you can make your boy into a gentleman like yourself."

"That's my fondest hope. If you'll excuse us now," Walter said as he dragged a very reluctant Fox towards one of the exits.

"No Captain please. I don't want to go out now. I'm going to miss the movie," Fox pleaded as he pulled backwards to stay their departure.

Walter shook him hard and snarled at him, "Quiet, Fox. You're in big trouble as you very well know so keep your mouth shut and come along."

They only stopped when they were inside the men's restroom. Walter released his grip on Fox's arm after spinning him around so that they were facing each other. He fixed the boy with a hard stare.

"Did you do that on purpose?"

"No, it was an accident!"

Fox hung his head as his cheeks immediately acquired a light rosy color. It was a strange thing that happened to him every time he tried to lie to his Captain. He could tell a lie to everyone else without betraying himself but with his Captain he always felt his cheeks getting hot and giving him away. And this time wasn't any different.

Unable to keep up with the deception any longer he admitted in a pathetic voice trying to gain some sympathy that it had been intentional when Walter repeated the question. Fox valiantly stole a glance at the older man to see how he was absorbing this information. He flinched at the thunderous expression.

Fox knew he was in really big trouble now. Firstly for not obeying his Captain's orders to settle down, secondly for dumping his popcorn over the other boy's head and now for lying to his Captain when confronted. And he wasn't even thinking about the dirty word.

He was sure he wouldn't go to bed tonight without a warm bottom. His only relief was the fact that as they were in a public place his Captain wouldn't dare spank him there. Fox's theory was proved to be wrong when he suddenly found himself bent over one of the white porcelain sinks. Stupefied, he looked in the mirror in front of him for a moment unable to understand what was going to happen and just lay there passively. Then he started to feel panic when his jeans were pulled down along with his white cotton briefs to his knees, leaving his buttocks bare and strategically positioned for the assault of his Captain's hand. Fox glanced at his white bottom reflected in the body-length mirror right behind them hanging on the wall near the door and felt his face become hotter for the embarrassment of being in such a vulnerable position. He could hardly believe that he was going to get his bare bottom spanked in a place where someone could come in at any time.

"No, not here please. There are so many people around." Fox begged as he moved his hands to protect his bottom, darting apprehensive looks at the mirror in front of him in the direction of the heavy door which was reflected in the mirror.

Walter stopped with his right hand up in mid-smack and with his other hand pulled Fox's hands back, firmly keeping them at the small of the boy's back and held Fox's tear-filled eyes in the mirror.

"The sooner we get through this the better for you, so try to not make much noise." Walter said mercilessly as he brought his hand down sharply on the white smooth buttocks. He landed twelve hard smacks on the upturned butt eliciting small involuntary yelps from his young charge.

Fox cried in shock as he observed through a curtain of tears his bottom reflected in the mirrors directly in front and behind him turning from a light pink to a bright red color as each slap fell on his bare behind.

Walter heard the distressing sobs and really regretted having to punish Fox in this way but the boy really had to learn some common sense. As fast as he had been pulled over the sink Fox found himself on his feet again and blushing furiously he quickly pulled his pants on while sobbing quietly.

Walter steeled his heart at the sight of his distraught little tyke looking so miserable with fat tears flowing down his flushed cheeks as he cupped his stinging bottom rubbing it carefully. If he wanted to teach him a lesson and be certain that such bad behavior wouldn't be repeated he must be stern, so he put on a scowl for the boy, "Are you going to behave from now on Fox?"

"Y-Yes, S-Sir," Fox managed to say through hiccups and deep gulps of breath.

Walter realized that his Fox was much more upset that he had been paddled in a public place rather than because of the pain itself which although unpleasant wasn't so unbearable. He gently pulled the boy to the sink again and splashed some cool water over his face.

"Let's go back." Walter said as he put a hand on the back of Fox's neck and marched him back to the room showing The Phantom Menace. They found two places in the last row on the left as soon as they re-entered the room and Walter directed a much subdued Fox towards it. Luckily the row was practically empty which was a good thing as it could provide a quiet place for the boy to cool down. Fox sat down gingerly and hiccuped quietly for a few minutes more, wiping the remaining tears away with the back of his hands. After that he was unnaturally quiet.

Then a while later, "Captain?"

Without glancing in Fox's direction Walter asked somewhat annoyed, "What?"

"I'm cold," Fox said in a very small barely audible voice.

Abandoning his rigid posture Walter tilted his head to take a good look at the still-shaken boy and promptly reached for his nylon jacket buttoning it up to his chin. "Here, you'll soon feel warmer." Walter reassured him gently as he passed an arm around the small shivering body pulling him closer.

A few moments later Fox whined, "I'm still cold."

Now starting to become really worried Walter put his other hand on the boy's forehead and against his neck to feel if he had a fever. Finding nothing wrong he sighed in relief. "Do you want to sit on my lap, Fox?"

Fox nodded and Walter helped him to get up and settle into his embrace. Miraculously the shivering stopped within seconds and Fox let out a contented sigh as he buried more deeply into Walter's comforting arms and chest. Walter smiled fondly pulling Fox's head back to rest on one of his shoulders and placed a kiss on the smooth cheek. His hand found the stray, dark lock again and once more he mentally planned a visit to the barber's.

**********************

On Tuesday Walter was in the kitchen lecturing his young Cadet on the benefits of good behavior and common rules for a peaceful life et al to insure that everything would go smoothly during his absence. He was going to spend three days in Los Angeles at a major conference about new techniques in Police Security and James had offered to take care of Fox while he was out of town.

For the most part Fox did his best not to roll his eyes and managed to nod in all the appropriate places adding some "Yes, Captains" whenever he thought it was required or when his Captain stared at him for more than a second without saying anything. Fox heard these kind of speeches at least once a day and by now he knew them all by heart so he wasn't really listening this time.

"Are you paying attention Fox?" Walter asked suddenly, his expression suspicious as Fox missed his cue to nod.

"I am Captain!" Fox protested jumping from his seat with hurt eyes and a big pout.

He couldn't risk his Captain not believing him and starting again another round of dull instructions. In truth Fox was excited. He loved to be in the care of Captain Whitefield who treated him like a doting grandfather, giving him little presents and insuring that he had his favorite dessert in the refrigerator, a new computer game to play or a new video to watch.

He smiled inwardly as he remembered his Captain say to his former Captain in an ironic voice on more than one occasion, "You know James with your soft attitude you're going to spoil him." The answer to this complaint always came in an amused tone, "Well kid educating him is your responsibility not mine."

Perhaps I can persuade Captain Whitefield to take me to the science fiction exhibition at the Planetary Hall tomorrow. His mental planning was interrupted by his Captain's urgent voice.

"One more thing Fox. James has taken on a new trainee. A girl the same age as you and her name is Dana Scully. She came from another city and doesn't have any friends so I want you to get acquainted with her and help her settle in, okay?" Walter continued to talk with his back to Fox as he checked his briefcase for the tenth time.

"WHAT? A girl? Ew!" Fox answered with a grimace. In his experience girls were squeaky boring little things and he didn't have any intention of putting up with one more than was necessary.

"Fox! Promise me you're going to be nice to her." Walter chided him with a hard glare.

Feeling the weight of his Captain's annoyed stare Fox conceded wrinkling his nose. "Ah, okay okay. I'll see what I can do." When his Captain narrowed his gaze he added quickly, "I'll behave Captain. Don't worry I'll be an angel."

"Now I don't know if I should be relieved or extremely nervous." Walter said in a serious tone to break into hearty laughter at his pupil's sullen expression. "Come on now little tyke. Let's go. And for God's sake BEHAVE!"

******************************

"Um, hello Captain. It's me Fox!"

"Hello little tyke. Is something wrong?"

"Not really. I just wanted to say hello, that's all."

"I'm glad you called. How are things going?" Walter whispered in his cell phone as the other members of the conference table he was attending shot him strange looks.

"Okay! I got an A+ in maths but a B- in history."

"Great news little tyke but you must apply yourself more in your history lessons."

"It wasn't my fault. Captain Spender doesn't like me and he gave me a grade much lower than I deserved."

"What? Sorry Fox, I'm in the middle of a meeting and have to hang up. We'll talk more later, okay?"

"Sure! Bye Captain."

Walter felt a small grin tugging at the corners of his mouth as he could almost see the tongue his little Fox stuck out at him for being dismissed. Possessive little brat.

After that Walter was interrupted three more times by his pupil for the most unimportant things. At the last one he had to tell the boy not to call him again unless anything really serious happened. Walter tried to be as gentle as possible but he knew he had hurt his little boy's sensitive heart but it was something that couldn't be helped now. He was working and Fox must understand that. He missed him too but soon they would be together. Sometimes he didn't have any clue what was the best way to deal with Fox.

On the second day Walter was contemplating in amazement his inconsistencies. Despite the fact that he had felt the boy's calls were annoying and distracting, he found himself missing them now that they had stopped. All he could think of was the time the meetings would finish and he could fly home.

Walter kept saying that to himself in an attempt to placate the strange lump in his throat every time he thought of the little dark haired boy. But inside his head a little voice persisted in telling him that he missed Fox so much because he loved him very much. Walter sighed heavily as he looked around the table. He gave the audience a forced smile and asked for the question he was supposed to answer to be repeated. It was going to be a long day.

***************************

"Captain!" Fox shouted happily as Walter entered James's house next evening. He was playing Monopoly with Scully on the floor and jumped into his Captain's waiting arms, straddling his hips.

"Whoa! Calm down little tyke. Does this mean you missed me?"

"No. Hum, perhaps just a little bit," Fox shrugged as if he was uninterested. He soon dissolved into a burst of delighted giggles as his Captain tickled his ribs mercilessly.

Since it was already late Walter decided to let Fox stay another night at James's before they resumed their habitual routine next day. Putting Fox in bed required more energy than it was supposed to but in the end the overexcited boy was persuaded to comply by two hearty slaps expertly delivered to his pajama clad bottom. Thus, with the children safely tucked up in their beds Walter sat with James for a little chat with a nice bottle of Californian red wine.

"Tell me James, did Fox give you much trouble?"

James's sparkling blue eyes came to life as he smiled broadly. "The usual little transgressions smart brats always do. I almost thought I had gone back in time and was dealing with you again."

"How so?"

"Ah, kid! Like being difficult in the morning, eating sweeties before meals, neglecting his homework, trying to stay up past his bedtime, the list is endless but I see that you've taken my point."

"I have. And didn't you punish him?" Walter asked without much hope. He knew what the answer to that question would be.

"Not my place kid. Your duty is to educate him, mine is to spoil him."

"So let me see if I understood you. I can pamper Dana to my heart's content and you'll never mind and if the girl misbehaves I'm to do nothing, is that right?" Walter asked skepticism tingeing his tone.

"You could try kid but I've chosen the most well behaved girl in the world so you won't be able to spoil her even if you try."

"Don't be so sure James. You told me Fox and Dana got along exceptionally well and you know my boy isn't the role model for what we could call... exemplary behavior. Soon you're going to have your hands full with that girl." Walter said in a teasing tone which got him a hard stare. Since he had become independent and wasn't more under James's tutelage and therefore couldn't suffer his strict discipline anymore, Walter always picked every opportunity he had to tease the older man.

"But tell me James are you really going to do this?" Walter abandoned the teasing tone to ask in serious concern. In the twenty five years they had known each other James always stated that he would be his only trainee because of all the work he had caused. And now this.

"Of course, kid. Don't you think me capable anymore?" James questioned him a bit defensively.

"Absolutely not, James. If there's someone who can do this, that person is you. It's only that you didn't show any interest in any trainee before. And..." Walter stopped unsure how to bring his Captain's age without hurting his feelings.

"Yes I know kid. I'm not getting any younger but Dana's such a wonderful perfect little girl I couldn't resist. Besides I see the miracle Fox's working on you and I felt attracted to such a perspective. You seem younger and happier than I can ever remember."

Walter gave the big man a contented grin, "Yes, I feel reinvigorated! But tell me more about this little paragon of yours. How did you discover her?"

*****************

Next evening Walter opened the front door of his apartment and Fox rudely passed by him stomping his feet noisily on the floor as he stalked towards the sitting room where he sat on the couch and turned on the TV, absently changing from one channel to another.

Extremely annoyed by his trainee's sulky behavior Walter stopped at the doorway and ordered him in a hard tone, "Fox leave your books in your room and then come back here. We have some things to discuss."

Fox impatiently asked his Captain without turning from the TV. "What have I done wrong this time?"

"Just do what I told you," Walter harshly admonished.

Damn Fox! Look at what three days with James did to you. You are already talking back to me! I see it's time to pull your reins back and put you in your place again.

A few minutes later Fox returned to the sitting room, still very annoyed.

"So?"

"Enough Fox! Today I've been putting up with your bad mood and disrespect for as long as I could. Now I'm sick of it, so be careful if you don't want your punishment to be worse than it's going to be."

"Why can't I go with the other Cadets to the mall?"

Walter sighed wearily. They had been on this all day. "Fox, you are grounded for two weeks because of the little tricks you pulled on James while I was in L.A.. Moreover, you know my point of view about letting young boys go unsupervised to shopping centers."

"But everybody goes except me. You treat me like a baby!"

"When you behave the way you're doing now it only reinforces how immature you still are and that you're not ready to go out on your own."

"Bullshit!"

"Fox!" Walter frowned at him, his voice low and warning.

"I don't care what you think Captain. I want to go and I will."

"Watch out! You're walking a dangerous path little Fox. Do you know what you need?"

"What?"

"You my young Cadet need to learn how to follow orders and to respect your elders." Walter dryly said, his patience hanging by a thread. He didn't want their first day together after his trip to be like this. Perhaps if he could control his temper, the boy would follow his lead and they could go back to be the nice companions of the last week.

"Captain Whitefield would let me go."

Walter inhaled deeply trying not to lose his control, "James isn't your Captain, I am! You're not going to the mall and that's final."

A few seconds of tense silence followed and then Fox shouted in, "Sometimes I wish Captain Whitefield was my Captain! He at least would not tell me to stop calling him and he wouldn't leave me alone!"

"Sorry to disappoint you little tyke but I am all you have." Walter heatedly said, his posture unbending. He had already explained to the headstrong boy why he had asked him not to call him during his trip unless it was a serious situation.

"I was missing you!" Fox shouted in anger.

"And do you think that I wasn't too? How many times is it going to take for you to get inside that stubborn head of yours that I had to ask you not to call me because I was working? Because I was in the middle of a very important conference?"

"I'll never call you again!"

"Fox, this discussion is useless. We went over it many times today and now I see that you refuse to understand my reasons because of your stubborness. However, whatever your feelings you should have come to me instead of behaving so poorly. Resentment is not an excuse for bad manners and I am very disappointed in you. I also think you got a wrong impression from the days you spent with James. He may appear to be a very lenient person but in truth he's not, quite the opposite. He chose not to punish you himself because you're my trainee and therefore my responsibility. But now I think you stayed a very long time without discipline and you got reckless and disrespectful so pick a corner and stay there until I tell you otherwise." Walter finished the last words in a shout, pointing out the white wall behind the boy.

Fox stood there for a few seconds glaring at his Captain and swallowing tears of rage but then he turned around and headed to the left corner.

Walter chewed at his lower lip as he observed his trainee's rigid back before he left the room, regretting his slip of control. He went to the kitchen where he poured himself down a glass of cool water starting to drink it in slow gulps.

Damn! Why is the boy being so difficult?

Walter was still shaken by the boy's heated words. Although the blurted words weren't anything but a childish outburst said in the middle of a hopeless situation they had hurt him more than he thought possible. He knew that Fox really didn't think that way, however they were like a hammer blow to their still fragile relationship.

In an attempt to cool down Walter looked out of the large window quietly sipping the water. Then he noticed his brown leather slipper over the basket of dirty clothes and picking it up in his hands he thoughtfully studied it.

By the time Walter finished his drink he was much more composed. He had reached a decision which he could only hope to be the right one. He was going to test their bond and that scared him very much.

Walter returned to the sitting room where Fox was still standing in the corner. He sat on the middle of the couch with the leather slipper firmly clutched in his right hand.

"Fox come here."

Walter watched as the boy angrily turned from the corner and then stopped with a startled expression on his young face as he noted the implement his Captain planned to use on his butt.

For a long moment they intently stared at each other, neither of them able to utter a word.

"Fox, do you trust me?" Walter deliberately questioned the boy, baring his soul and bracing himself to the answer. Much more than a mere behavioral correction was at stake. He was asking for a life commitment, between father and son and not just between Captain and Cadet.

Fox met his eyes bravely, "Yes Captain I do."

Walter was incredibly happy at the straight reply. His little tyke sounded so sure, so trusting. Should I do this?

"I love you little tyke more than you'll ever know. However your behavior got out of control and you broke some of our rules, didn't you?"

With eyes shining from unshed tears Fox nodded.

"Fox, I'd like to spend all my time with you but sometimes we need to be separated and that doesn't mean that we don't love each other anymore or that we enjoy being separated or that we're giving up of our partnership. It's simply that we have to do our duty. I'm your Captain but I have some obligations as AD too. Can you understand that?"

Another nod.

"So do you accept that you should be punished and that I do this because I love you?"

"Yes," came the shy yet honest response. After that Fox came forward, dropped his pants and stood up in front of his Captain with his head bowed waiting for further instructions, a sign of submission to whatever punishment his Captain deemed necessary to administer.

Walter put a finger under the boy's chin, lifting it to meet his own eyes. "Don't be afraid."

He then helped Fox climb face down over his lap adjusting the small body more firmly in place and hesitated for a short moment before he grabbed the waistband of Fox's white cotton briefs sliding them down to the boy's knees, exposing the rounded buttocks. Closing his brown eyes for a moment to keep his mind focused on the coming task Walter brought the slipper down on the white mounds with a powerful swing. Immediately a redness appeared on the right cheek. Fox bravely met the stroke with a sharp intake of breath but no sound passed through his lips. Then a similar stroke hit the left buttock igniting another wave of red and fire but still no cry was heard, just a sharp kick of the boy's legs. The third smack was applied dead center on the sit spot and this time Fox couldn't control a strangled moan. Walter repeated this pattern once more and when the slipper found the very sensitive area of the sit spot again, the tears were flowing down abundantly and the sobs couldn't be held back anymore. Although Walter could feel his heart breaking a little with each smack he kept going until the entire bottom was sporting a bright scarlet color.

Walter was impressed and profoundly touched by the way Fox had taken this spanking, accepting it instead of fighting it. It was a demonstration of a new acquired maturity. He sensed that albeit Fox feared this slippering he had complete faith that his Captain would not mistreat him. His little tyke was really the bravest of boys.

Walter stroked Fox's dark curls while he murmured tender words to help him calm down. Afterwards Walter helped the boy get up and put his pants back in place.

Fox had submitted to the spanking because he knew that it was well-earned but now that it had finished he started to resent his Captain's soothing ministrations. So as soon as he could he fled towards the door. At the doorway he turned back to look at Walter and was taken aback by the intense misery dominating his Captain's features. The spanking had taken its toll on Walter as well. Fox didn't doubt that his Captain loved him and that spanking him was a trying task for him, a responsibility his Captain undertook as one of his most important duties to his trainee. And now he had hurt his Captain's feelings by rejecting his support. Tears quickly inundated his already puffy eyes and Fox dashed back towards Walter, launching himself onto the older man's lap, straddling his hips and burying his face in his neck.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Captain. Please don't be sad. I didn't hate you and I didn't want Captain Whitefield to be my Captain. Only you. I love you Captain!"

"So do I little tyke. So do I." Walter fiercely vowed as he rocked his precious boy back and forth, dropping small kisses over his head and face.

After a while Walter said in a teasing voice, "If I knew that this slippering would get me this kind of reaction from you little tyke I should have used it on you sooner."

His banter brought the reaction he had hoped for. A laugh and a protest!

"Ah! No, Captain! It almost killed me!"

But as Walter gently pushed him away to mockingly frown at him, Fox admitted in a petulant voice, "True, it wasn't so bad! But I still hate your slipper."

"Behave and it doesn't need to come out of my closet very often."

"Easier said than done."

"I never said that life was easy." Walter chuckled as he dragged his young trainee back into a tight hug.

Walter was relieved that everything had gone well. It hadn't been easy but they were willing to accept and love each other, giving themselves a chance to create a real family. Walter now was sure that the slippering, given in rage was faraway in the distant past. Together they had faced their fears and had come out victorious. All days they spent together were good but some were better than others.

The End