To The Tune Of An Electric Lullaby

by: Ricia Fedora
Disclaimer:Ricia, Ian, Dr. Goshawk ,Ms Serweb,Chronos,Thompson and the Masters are mine . Megavolt, Bushroot, Quackerjack, Darkwing and Dean Tightbill, are property of Disney. Tempest Fugit and Frederick were Jessica's ideas...thanks, John Renard is John Moore's, Mandy is Mandy's, Aero is Ang D's, Lily, Forrest and Maggie are Tracey Pierce's.

Thanks: To Mandy who helped me pick a title to Jessica who wrote the wedding fic, to John for letting me use him for my own evil purposes also to Tracey, Ang and again Mandy for the same reason, and to Mr. JJ Thompson for being dead and obscure so I can use his name

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

Ugh....make the room stop spinning. Please.

Someone was knocking at the bathroom door. "Ricia? Are you alright in there?", her husband's voice called.

Ricia picked herself up and half walked half stumbled to the door. She opened the door.

Megavolt stepped forward. "Geez Ricia you look awful." He was surprised when she fell agaist him mumbling into his chest. "What?", he asked.

Ricia looked up. "Kill me.",she ordered.

He looked over at the bathroom light fixture. "I know she's kidding! I'm not stupid!" He stroked her hair and whispered. "You want an asprin?"

"No...I want you to kill me, don't you listen?"

He just nodded and led her into the living room. Advoiding the hideous couch he guided her to the gaudy plaid armchair. She slumped down into it. He looked worriedly at her and kneeled down to look her in the eyes. "Want some breakfast Rish?"

She stared at him and blinked several times. "Oh Lord..." She ran back into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.

Megavolt looked at the closed door and then glared at a nearby lamp. "Shut up."

********

"Mrs. Sputterspark?"

Ricia followed the nurse into the small room. She hated doctors. She was only going because Megavolt and Ian had both insisted on it. She grinned to herself. She always had such a hard time saying no to either one of them. They were both so important to her. Ian had raised her after her parents died. He had been there for all the important moments. He had given her away at her wedding. Ricia's smile widened slightly. She had truely found a great man. Megavolt was as eccentric as ever but she wasn't exactly subscribing to Normalcy Digest herself. Moving all her clocks into the lighthouse had been quite the adventure.

"Now Mrs. Sputterspark, what seems to be the problem?"

Ricia looked up, startled. "Huh? Oh! Dr. Goshawk, I'm sorry...what?"

"How do you feel Ricia?"

Dr. Goshawk was Ian's doctor and he recommended him highly. The man had very sharp features but soft and friendly eyes. Ricia relaxed slightly and explained how she was feeling weak and throwing up. A smile tugged at the corner of his beak.

Ricia glared at him. Great a sadist doctor. Thanks Uncle Ian.

The visit was rather quick. He ran a few tests and then said he'd call her. Before she knew it she was standing outside in the waiting room. She shrugged at a few patients who looked her way and walked out the door.

**********

"And you should've seen what that other store did to my clock! Absolutely disgracful! Now I hope you won't be like that. Though frankly you look too young to know anything at all!"

A week later Ricia was feeling slightly better...not much but slightly. Her newest customer Ms Serweb was blabbering on as usual. And as usual Ricia wasn't listening. She looked over at her friend John Renard who had come in a little earlier. He was trying not to laugh. Ricia turned away from him before she started giggling. She handed Ms Serweb her antique clock with a heavy heart. It was a beautiful crystal clock with a rotating pendulum. It was such a pity it had to live with this big mouthed old coot.

The woman picked up her clock and handed Ricia her payment. As she handed her her change, the woman looked her up and down and said. "Is that your natural color young lady?"

Ricia blinked in surprise.

No lady, I purposedly dyed my entire body this color so people like you would ask stupid questions.

John watched trying not to say anything to either party that would get him in serious trouble. He suddenly developed an intense interest in the gears that covered the table in front of him.

Ricia took a deep breath and composed herself. "Yes Madam this is my natural color."

The woman sniffed. "Odd."

Twitch.

Ring

Huh?

Ricia turned to look at the ringing phone. She picked it up. "Hello, Tempest Fugit, how can I help you?"

There was a long pause then Ricia started shrieking and stuttered a thank you into the phone. She hugged both John and Ms Serweb. And rushed out the door yelling behind her. "John, watch the store!"

John blinked. "Uh...what??" He looked over at Ms Serweb and forced himself to smile. "Hello madam."

She sniffed. "Stand straight young man! Do you want to be a bent over old man at your age?"

John stood up straighter and silently cursed Ricia. This had better be something important.

*********

Ricia ran into the lighthouse. "Megs? Megs?"

Megavolt walked into the room looking worried. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

Ricia ran to him and kissed him passionately. When she pulled away she grinned up at him "I love you."

Megavolt felt a little dizzy. "Um...I love you too. Uh...what did I do?"

Ricia laughed and hugged him. "Oh Megs! I just got a call from Dr Goshawk! You're going to be a father!"

Megavolt promptly fainted.

********

"Why did you have to invite him here??"

Ricia calmly looked over at her husband. She was now in her seventh month and was showing. Her tailoring skills had come in handy as she could no longer fit in her old suits. "Honey, Aero is my friend. She wants to help me out. Deal with it."

Megavolt flopped down in the plaid armchair with Fredrick. "But Ricia! Does she have to bring..."

"I am the terror that flaps in the night!"

Megavolt groaned and dropped his face in his hands. Ricia reached over and patted his knee comfortingly.

"I am the diaper service that never delivers! I am..."

"A gigantic pain in the electrodes!"

"Hey! Don't step on my lines Sparky!"

"Don't call me Sparky!"

Ricia looked over at Aero who had come in with Darkwing. They both shrugged and headed towards the kitchen. Darkwing rushed in with them and grabbed the first device he saw. "Aha! This is no doubt some evil weapon of destruction which will be used to reduce our beloved city to rubble!"

Ricia saw Megavolt standing in the doorway with a 'I told you so' expression on his face. Ricia looked pained as she took the device gently from Darkwing. "No, Darkwing. That's a waffle iron. We keep our weapons of mass destruction at..." She whispered in his ear.

Darkwing eyes lit up. "I knew it!" he cried and he rushed out the door.

"Shortcake?", Aero looked quizically at her retreating boyfriend. She turned to Ricia. "Where did you send him?"

Ricia grinned evilily. "Dean Tightbill's house."

There's a laugh heard from the other room. "Bravo Professor!" Reggie and Lily were standing behind Megavolt.

Ricia grinned. "Thanks Doctor. Hey Lily, where are the kids?"

Lily smiled and hugged Ricia. "They're back home with Spike."

A look of disappointment passed over Ricia's face. She had been looking forward to seeing Maggie and Forrest. Oh well maybe another time. She was surprised suddenly as Aero pushed her gently into a chair. "What are you doing standing up? We're here to help you out, just sit back and relax."

Ricia sighed. She didn't really want to act like she was helpless but Aero and Lily had both seemed so ethusicastic about helping out. She had finally agreed to let them when she had gotten a call from...

"Hey! Anybody home?", Mandy's voice rang through the house. She and Quackerjack entered the kitchen and looked at the group. "Hey everyone. What are we doing?"

Lily was rummaging through the fridge. "Dear Lord! Ricia, honey how do you and Megavolt survive? There's nothing in here!"

Megavolt looked over her shoulder. "Sure there is! Chinese food and half a jar of olives. Oh and whatever that is in the Quackerware... we can't tell.

Ricia grinned at the appalled Lily. "We have a bet. I think it's tuna but Megs is convinced it's vanilla pudding. We're going to analyze its chemical composition later."

Aero made a face. "Ew...that's sick. Don't worry Lily we can go shopping. I need to pick up some stuff for the spagetti sauce anyway. And speaking of shopping what's with the bags Mandy?"

Mandy held up a bright yellow bag proudly. "We brought toys for the baby!"

Ricia's eyes widened and she reached for her stomach, a look of pure terror on her face. Megavolt didn't look too good himself as he placed an arm around his wife. Mandy looked confused then laughed. "Oh no no! They're store bought!"

Quackerjack looked annoyed. "I don't see what's wrong with my toys."

Bushroot smirked. "Maybe they just want their child to survive long enough to see adulthood."

Quackerjack stuck his tongue out at Bushroot. Ricia had already started rummaging through the bag. She pulled out a box labeled "Baby's First Clock". The picture on the box showed a child playing with a red and white clock with big clunky numbers. Ricia laughed. "Oh that's adorable. Come to think of it I think I had one when I was younger." She looked some more then pulled out a video. She just started laughing and handed it to Megavolt. He looked confusedly at the box then smiled. "The Brave Little Toaster Goes To Mars. Hmmm... Fredrick will probably want to watch this with the baby."

They looked through the rest of the toys, which included much to both Ricia's and Megs' delight, "Squishy the Squirrels Big Book of Quantum Physics". Ricia and Megs both started looking through the book, lost in their own little world.

Aero, Lily and Mandy looked at each other. "Well guess now would be a really good time to go to the store.", Mandy said pulling Quackerjack out the door. Quackerjack looked pained. "But we just got back from a store!" Mandy's voice rang out. "Tough. C'mon." Aero, Lily and Bushroot laughed and followed. Before walking out Aero turned and called, "We'll be right back Rish!" But Ricia and Megs didn't pay any attention. Aero just smiled then made a mental note to stop by Dean Tightbill's house before Darkwing did anything that would get him arrested.

********

"Do you understand?"

"No! There's no reason for this! You can't expect me to..."

"We can and we do. You will prove the new guardian worthy or we will find the means to provide another one. Now...do you understand?"

He scowled darkly. He nodded quickly and bowed before walking away.

******

"Megs look out!"

*CRASH*

"Whoops"

Ricia picked her way around the clutter in the room. They had decided to convert one of the spare storage rooms into a bedroom for the baby. Things hadn't been going very well. Neither of them were sure of what they were doing, but they couldn't afford to have it done professionally. Ah well, with the two of them as parents this child had better get used to a cluttered mess.

How could the Keeper of Natural Order be such a slob? There was a big mystery. Ricia kissed Megavolt. "Never mind, darling. We'll get it done. We have a couple weeks. Worse comes to worse, the baby can sleep in our room...we have a crib. Now...", she continued speaking as she pulled on her jacket, "I've got to get to work."

Megavolt scowled slightly at this. He had wanted Ricia to take some time off from work and rest. Ricia had won the arguement by pointing out that they needed the money and she'd rather their child's first view of his or her father wasn't of him behind bars. Ricia never commented on Megavolt's questionable occupation unless it seemed necessary. She simply didn't care...much. She worried about him sometimes. He'd come home late and seem so far away. She never said anything at these times, just watched silently. Eventually he'd snap out of whatever it was and notice her. She had excepted this as one of his quirks...but it could be damn creepy.

Megavolt surveyed the room. "Well...alright Ricia. Just don't get overexcited about anything okay?"

Ricia blinked. "What's that supposed to mean? Are you implying I overeact?"

Megavolt just crossed his arms and smiled slightly.

Ricia blushed. "Alright. You win. I'm calm cool and collected for the rest of the day. Promise"

*******

"Calm, cool and collected. Right."

Sometimes Ricia was convinced there was a secret conspiracy agaist her. All the clocks in town would break down at the same time just to spite her. She looked tiredly at the long line of customers. She closed her eyes and willed them to go away. Nope still there. Dammit. She forced herself to smile and looked at the next customer. "Ouch!"

The customer took a step back. "Are you alright?"

Ricia smiled. "Oh...fine. Just a slight pain...no big deal. What can I do for you?"

She worked for a couple more hours. The customers finally all left and she slumped into a chair and dozed.

"Miss Fedora?"

Ricia opened one eye. Standing in front of her was Dean Tightbill.

"Slacking off as usual?"

"Oh dear God, not this dream again!"

"Very funny Fedora."

Ricia pulled herself up. "What do you want? Shouldn't you be hunting down children to eat?"

Dean Tightbill's face turned crimson. "Don't start with me! I've had a really bad few weeks! Do you Darkwing Duck broke into my house looking for weapons?"

Ricia laughed.

"I can take my business elsewhere Fedora!"

Ricia calmly poured a cup of tea and looked over at him "Bye. Oh and for your information it's Sputterspark not Fedora. I've been married for awhile." She indicated her stomach. "A child on the way."

Tightbill sneered. "I figured you just got yourself knocked up."

Ricia's hands balled into fists. "How dare you? Get out of my store! Get out of my life! Get out of..." Suddenly she gasped in pain.

Tightbill took a step back. "Um...Fedora?" He was at a loss. Dean Tightbill was many horrible things but he wasn't completely heartless. His enemy was at a clear disadvantage. He reached for the phone to dial 911.

*******

Mandy and Quackerjack had gone over to the Sputtersparks to see the new nursery. Mandy had attempted to be polite but Quackerjack was his usual blunt self.

"Wow...it looks like a bulldozer came in...and then blew up." He pulled out his Mr. Banana Brain doll and stuck it in Megavolt's face "Quite the mess, Tess!"

Megavolt pushed the doll away and glowered. "Hey, it's not easy building a room! I'd like to see you try it!"

Mandy could sense an arguement coming on and she stepped forward to intervene. Before anyone could say anything Megavolt disappeared in a flash of green light.

They looked at each other. Mandy blinked. "Well, that's one way to get out of an arguement."

****

Megavolt looked around. He was in a strange place with floating clocks and numbers. Colors swirled around him.

"Welcome Mr. Sputterspark."

Megavolt turned to face a very strange being. He was avian with purple feathers, a cloak of an undetermitable color flowed around him. "Who are you?"

Chronos held up a hand. "Relax Mr. Sputterspark, this should be relatively painless."

A blinding flash of green light appeared and died, followed by a scream.

******

"And then I Darkwing Duck will become the greatest...blah blah blah"

Aero just nodded absently. She loved her Shortcake but he'd been going on for two hours already. Shut up would you? She breathed a sigh of relief as her cell phone rang. "Hello?....What??...Yeah yeah we'll be right down. Thanks Mandy."

Darkwing was annoyed at being interrupted but his complaints died in this throat when he saw the tears in Aero's eyes. "Stringbean what's wrong? What did Mandy want?"

Aero was rushing to the Ratcatcher "Ricia's been rushed to St. Canard Memorial!"

******

It was strange.

The Keeper is ill.

The Heir is still confined.

Her heartbeat sounds with the watch.

They would remove the watch but fear stops them.

We are glad.

But the Keeper sleeps.

*********

The waiting room of the hospital was considerably less peaceful. Mandy shouted demanding to know where Ricia was. She looked ready to strangle somebody as Quackerjack tried to calm her down. Mandy fumed. "I will not calm down! I want to know..."

A voice interrupted her. "We're all worried Mandy." Mandy looked up to see Lily Bushroot holding a sniffling Forrest in her arms. "Ricia's tough, she'll be alright." Her husband walked over and put an arm around her shoulder. "I'm sure she will be." He frowned as he noticed who was in the waiting room. "You? Who invited you?"

Dean Tightbill sneered. "Well if it isn't Reggie Bushroot, King of Vegetables and Defender of Salads. For your information I was the one who called 911 to aid the young Fedora."

Bushroot was perplexed. "Why?"

Dean Tightbill looked smug but then slowly frowned as it occured to him that he had no idea.

Maggie tugged on her mother's skirt. "Mommy? When can we see Aunt Ricia?"

Lily looked down. "I don't know sweetie. The doctor's are busy."

"But I want to see her!"

"I know you do but try to be patient." She looked over at Mandy and was about to give her the same advice when a panicked Aero ran in dragging a frazzled Darkwing behind her. "Where is she? Is she okay?"

Mandy handed her a cup of coffee. "It's going to be a long wait."

*******

It's not time.

The center can not fall.

The Order must survive.

Must survive.

Too young.

The Heir is too young.

The Keeper must be told.

Call the one who came before.

*****

Megavolt stared at the wall trying to convince himself it had been a weird dream. Talk of Guardians and protecting the Heir and honoring the Order. It made his head spin. What had he gotten himself into marrying the Keeper of Time? He'd have to have a long talk with Ricia when she got home. Where was she anyway? He noticed some messages on the answering machine. Figuring she called he pressed the play button. Mandy's voice spoke and Megavolt ran out the door before he heard beyond the words Saint Canard Memorial.

*****

It was indeed very strange.

A creature so ultimately fragile set as the keeper of order. Of harmony. Of time itself.

A dying creature.

A creature who held within her, all hope for a future. A hope small but powerful and growing stronger.

The Heir was ready.

The Keeper was not.

*****

Ricia was used to finding herself in weird places where little made sense. Being a Keeper seemed to call for it.

"That hospital gown is not very becoming."

Ricia whirled around to face the new arrival. "Chronos!" She intinctively bowed slightly. "What is this about? What are you up to?"

Chronos looked hurt. "Me? This is not my fault. You're the one who has to be female. Keepers don't carry their children. At least not until you."

"I'm special. So what."

"Do you know where you are?"

"Here...being harrassed by you."

"Wrong! You are There and you are in a hospital."

"Why? Oh no...the baby!"

"The Heir is fine. Better then fine actually. You however are a mess. You'd still be sprawled on the floor of that delightful little clock shop if not for that old boss of yours. Tightwad isn't it?"

"Tightbill" Though Ricia thought Chronos' was more accurate. The thought of owing her life to Dean Tightbill made her ill. She shook her head. "Okay fine, but I'll going to be okay right? I mean we can't have a Keeper who's a new born! They couldn't handle the..." Ricia felt a wave of dizziness strike her and she sat down on what she assumed was the ground. She put her head in her hands and moaned.

Chronos reached down and helped her to her feet. "My girl, you are unique. This has never happened in all the history of the Order. But...the child most be born this night."

Ricia shook her head. "It doesn't work that way Chronos!"

The last thing Ricia saw was Chronos' glaring face. "Make it work that way Fedora."

tick....tick...tick tick tick

*****

It was strange.

What was normal was deeply fixed in the bizarre...but the bizarre were so horribly normal.

A watch that kept track of a Keeper's life but would ultimately mean diaster.

But the Order would survive.

The Keeper would survive.

We don't want her...not yet.

Call the Keeper's Guardian. He will obey.

*****

Ian Featherton was horrified by all that was going on. He had been so happy when he found out about Ricia's pregnancy. At last his greatest worries could be put behind him and Ricia could stop suffering. At least that's what he thought until Ricia had suddenly collapsed. He hadn't needed Ricia's friend to tell him. He knew.

"Guardian?"

"Yes Master?"

"You will protect the Keeper."

"I can't save her from everything! She's ill. She sleeps."

"She will awaken. The one who came before has explained."

"She's awake?"

"She will. She must present the Heir."

Ian was startled. "But, in her weakened state..."

"She will survive. We don't require her with us. Not yet. It is time."

Ian knew when the Masters had made up their minds. He gave his response automatically. "Time is everythng."

******

Ricia woke with a start. She looked around trying to remember everything that happened. She shuddered and brought a hand to her stomach. The door swung open and in burst her friends.

Megavolt dashed to her side and hugged her gently and if afraid she would break. "Ricia, I told you not to work yourself too hard. Are you alright?"

Ricia smiled and closed her eyes appreciating this tender moment. "I'm fine...sort of. Honey, the Masters want me to have the child now."

Lily frowned. "The Masters?"

Ricia ruffled Forrest's hair causing him to giggle. She looked up. "It's complicated Lily, let's just say I take my orders from them. Anyway it's not a good idea to refuse a direct order."

Aero frowned. "But is it safe for the child? If you get a C-Section, could the child be in danger."

John, who had learned late about Ricia's predictament looked worried. "Ricia, will you be in danger?"

Ricia shook her head. "The Masters wouldn't order me to die. The Order can't survive without a Keeper. No I'm sure I'll be safe." She reached for Megavolt's hand. "But I won't do anything if you don't want me to."

Megavolt blinked several times. "Ricia I...."

"Don't make him think too much. Wouldn't want to destroy that one lonely brain cell."

Ricia glared at the new arrival but stopped when she saw who it was. "Dean Tightbill. You saved my life and my child's life."

Tightbill frowned. "Everyone makes mistakes."

Ricia looked sad. "Thank you."

He paled slightly and looked ill. "You're welcome. I have to leave."

Bushroot looked up. "Oh really. Gosh too bad."

Tightbill glared at the plant duck before walking out.

Megavolt kissed his wife's hand. "I believe you Ricia. I hope we aren't wrong."

Ian walked into the room. "It is time."

Ricia smiled. "And time is everything." She frowned. "You know what's going on?"

Ian nodded. "It'll be alright, my girl. I'll see to it that no harm befalls either you or the precious child."

Mandy went over to the bed and hugged Ricia. "I know you'll be okay....just...make sure you are."

Ricia laughed. "I'll do my best. You'll be baby-sitting you know. It'll be good practice for you."

Quackerjack blushed at that. Mandy smiled. "Thanks Rish."

Ian frowned. "This is all very lovely and touching but we can't waste time. Where's the doctor?"

The doctor chose that moment to walk in. "Right here. What did you need?"

Ricia took a deep breath and started explaining.

*****

It is strange.

The Keeper holds a Keeper.

He will be with the watch soon.

Not soon to them.

But to us.

Quite soon.

A child, so small.

Very strange.

*****

"Meet your son, Thompson Jakob Sputterspark."

Megavolt was speechless. He looked at the child. Thompson was the same species as him...or looked it anyway. He did, however have his mother's deep purple coloring. On his head a small amount of brown hair stuck out in several directions and when he opened his eyes one could see one blue and one green eye.

The woman in the room cooed at the child while the men slapped Megavolt on the back in congratulations.

Mandy grinned. "Oh Ricia, he's adorable! You're so lucky."

Maggie tried to push her way past all the adults. "I want to see!"

Bushroot picked up Maggie and Lily picked up Forrest to give them a better look.

Maggie gasped. "Oh he's so small!" Forrest just watched curiously.

Ricia stroked the child's face softly. "Hello my darling. You'll learn who all these people are soon."

Darkwing walked over. "Hello, Thompson, I am Darkwing Duck!"

Thompson yawned elicting laughter from everyone but Darkwing.

Aero shook her head. "I don't think he's impressed."

Darkwing scowled. "Just like his father."

Megavolt smiled. "Father, I'm a father."

Quackerjack looked at Mandy in mock sadness. "And he just realized that. Sad really."

Ricia smiled but then saw John staying to the side. "John? Don't you want to meet Thompson."

John grinned. "I didn't want to interrupt anybody."

Ricia laughed. "Of course. Ever the audience member. C'mon let Thompson see his Uncle John."

John's smile widened at that and he walked over.

Ian bent down to whisper in Ricia's ear. "You've done well Keeper. He'll make a great Keeper...like his mother." A flash of sadness hit his eyes but was quickly replaced with the usual sparkle. "Be happy Ricia, your worries are over."

Ricia looked at him and smiled. "Thank you Ian. Thank you for everything."

He just nodded and stepped back.

Ricia handed Thompson to Megavolt to hold and sat back watching the others. She listened to the sound of the watch. Somehow it didn't seem as loud.


The End.


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