Steampunk, the boy
Victoria, the girl
Ballad, their son"Dad, why are we here?"
Steampunk turned to his son with a sad smile. "I have something to tell you, but I thought we should get away for a while first. You know, it's one of those things that I just can't talk about around other people."
Ballad nodded and followed his father without question. The dogs walked quietly, the only sound being the rustling of leaves as they crossed the forest floor, weaving carefully between trees. Finally, Steampunk's ears pricked and the fur along his spine rose slightly. "Here we are," he muttered. Stepping out from a clump of trees, he walked into the small clearing where he'd been long ago. This was a spot that easily allowed the moonlight to shine down and glow gently on the ground. Steampunk walked over to where the ground dipped down suddenly - below was a clear and sparkling creek that ran silently over flat, smooth rocks. A fallen tree ran over the gorge, making a bridge over the river, but Steampunk decided not to sit there. That seat was too sacred to him.
He sat by the ledge and waited for his son to join him. He could sense Ballad's curiosity and slight fear, and for a moment, he was lost in thought as he watched his son, who did so many little things that reminded Steampunk of his son's mother. The way his eyes glanced to and fro when he was nervous, the way he tended to knead his paws like a cat, the way he always curled his tail to the right, and never to the left. He was just like his mother.
It took Steampunk a long time to gather up the courage to speak, and when he did, his voice shook and his heart hurt. "Son, I've never told you much about your mother. I've never told you how we met, or our past, or what happened to her, but it's time that you know."
Ballad flinched. "...Dad... Wait, why me? Why not tell the others?" His eyes were wide with confusion.
"I'll tell them when it's time," Steampunk replied. "But you, Ballad, should know now. I saw you coming home today, with that pretty girl walking with you." He shook his head with a sigh.
Ballad said defensively, "What about her? I think she's great."
The brown dog added, "No, it's not that there's anything wrong with her. She seems great. But... it's just strange to me. You're a young man now, and I realize that, but it still seems like just yesterday, you were a yipping puppy who called me Daddy and thought I was your whole world."
"Dad, you're still my world-"
Steampunk was too nervous to notice his son's reply, and he went on: "And I remember when I was your age, how innocent I was, until I fell in love. And it was great, and I'm sure it would've been great forever, had your mother and I not gone through such a tragedy."
Ballad fell silent. Steampunk glanced over and saw tears filling his son's eyes. "...Dad, what happened to Mom? I really do want to know."
Steampunk looked up to the sky. It was clear, and the moon was nearly full and every star shone brilliantly. Steampunk took a deep breath and began to tell the story that broke his own heart every night, every time it played in his head and reminded him of the pain.
By the time I was your age, I'd give anything
To fall in love truly was all I could think
That's when I met your mother, the girl of my dreams
The most beautiful woman that I'd ever seen
She said, "boy, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I can't help but notice you staring at me
I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe
I can tell by your eyes that you're in love with me"
Now son, I'm only telling you this because
Life can do terrible thingsSteampunk's mind went back in time to the warm summer night when he met the girl who'd change his life forever. He was at the annual summer festival in town with a couple of his friends, laughing and enjoying the warm, sunny day. Steampunk was a happy-go-lucky young man, yet he longed for love. All of his friends had girlfriends of their own and he felt left out. He desperately wanted a sweet young lady of his own to love and to cherish.
And on that particular day, he happened to catch a glimpse of the new girl in town. She was gorgeous, more so than any other girl Steampunk had ever seen. She was over by the shade tree, giggling with her friends. Her silvery fur had dark, intricate patterns, and her eyes were silver. He didn't point her out to his friends, and he watched her carefully, taking occasional glances at her and feeling his heart race.
After a while, his friends left to get something to drink. He started to follow them, until he noticed the girl leaving her group of friends and approaching him with a shy smile. His heart skipped a beat.
"H-hello," he said.
She replied with a sweet, "Hi."
Steampunk, remembering his manners, said, "I'm Steampunk. And what might your name be?"
She laughed. "It just might be Victoria." She glanced at him nervously, bit her lip, and said, "Um, I noticed you looking at me, and so did my friends."
"Oh... yeah, sorry about that." Steampunk's ears went back against his head in shame.
Victoria added, "and they proposed the crazy idea that you might like me, so I thought I'd come ask if that's true."
Steampunk felt his face warming up in a blush. He didn't want to lie to Victoria, so he told her, "Well... yes, it is. I think you're quite beautiful."
"You're not too bad yourself, Steampunk."
Steampunk smiled.
Now, most of the time, we'd have too much to drink
And we'd laugh at the stars, and we'd share everything
Too young to notice and too dumb to care
Love was a story that couldn't compare
I said, "girl, can I tell you a wonderful thing?
I made you a present with paper and string
Open with care now, I'm asking you please
You know that I love you; will you marry me?"
Now son, I'm only telling you this because
Life can do terrible things
You'll learn, one day, I hope and I pray
That God shows you differentlySteampunk laughed as he ran through the field, full-speed. Victoria was fast on his heels, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Fireflies lit the warm night around them. One year had passed since the dogs met, and they were madly in love.
"Hey, Steampunk!" she called, "Wait up!" The two dogs began to enter a forest, and trees became an obstacle for them. Steampunk weaved effortlessly through the trees, down the path he and his girlfriend had taken many times before. He slowed his pace to match hers, and the two young lovers ran side-by-side to their secret meeting place. As they entered, they scared fireflies from their leaves, and the little bugs filled the air with light. They had reached their clearing by the creek, and took their seats upon the fallen tree that lay over the gorge.
Victoria nuzzled into Steampunk's shoulder, and whispered, "I love you."
"I love you, too," he replied. "And that's why I brought you here. There's something I want to ask you." He reached into the small bag he'd carried over his shoulders, and pulled out a small, black box. Turning to face Victoria, he placed the box by her paws. "Open it," he encouraged.
Victoria smiled, and carefully tore the shiny wrapping paper off, and took the bow off the top and placed it on Steampunk's forehead with a smirk. Then, she carefully opened the box inside with her teeth, and then gasped. Amazed, she stared down at the beautiful ring inside, with a pure diamond.
"Victoria, will you marry me?" Steampunk asked.
"Will I? What kind of question is that?!" she exclaimed. "Of course I will!" Steampunk took the ring in his teeth and slid it onto one of toes on her left forepaw, then the two dogs touched their noses together in a kiss and cuddled together under a full moon.
She said, "boy, can I tell you a terrible thing?
It seems that I'm sick, and I've only got weeks
Please don't be sad now, I really believe
You were the greatest thing that ever happened to me"
Slow, so slow
I fell to the ground on my kneesSteampunk had just gotten home from work, and as soon as he did, he headed up to his and Victoria's bedroom. He was anxious to find out what the doctor had said - he had come over early that morning, since Victoria had been sick for days. When he arrived, he saw Victoria lying in bed with their four newborn pups. She was bone-thin and very tired, with dark circles under her eyes, but she was a wonderful mother. The pups nursed at her belly, just a few days old, two boys and two girls.
Steampunk approached Victoria and nuzzled her. She looked up at him with a blank expression. "Darling... I have bad news."
Steampunk's heart sank. "What is it? Are you okay?"
"Well... no, I'm not." Tears began streaming down her face. "It's what we feared. And the doctor gave me four weeks at best."
Time seemed to stop for Steampunk. He suddenly couldn't feel the ground underneath his paws and fell to his knees, tears running from his eyes. "Honey... No..."
"Please don't be sad, love," she whispered. "There's no need to be sad. I know where I'm going. And, really, you're just about the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. I'm so glad I was able to love a man like you, even if it wasn't for very long."
So don't fall in love, there's just too much to lose
If you're given the choice, then I'm begging you choose
To walk away, walk away, don't let it get you
I can't bear to see the same happen to you
Now son, I'm only telling you this because
Life can do terrible thingsSteampunk was crying quietly by the time he finished telling his son the entire story of the love between him and his darling Victoria. He felt shock and pain radiating from Ballad, and Steampunk turned to face him. "Please, son, don't fall in love. Don't fall for that girl, or for any girl. Please, if you can help it, don't love a girl the way I loved your mother. I know that sounds selfish, but I don't want to see this happen to you."
"Dad... It won't. I mean... I don't see why it would..." Ballad nudged his father encouragingly, and added, "Dad, I know you mean to protect me, and I'm glad you care. I really am. But everyone falls in love, and I'm no exception."
Steampunk thought about it for a moment. Could he really let his son go and fall victim to true love? What if Ballad ended up just like him? Finally, he made a decision. "I guess I gotta let you go sometime," he whispered. "Just be careful, son, 'cause life can do terrible things."
"I will, Dad."
And with that, the father and son began their trip home.
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The song used is Terrible Things by Mayday Parade.
Comments, feedback, etc. are welcomed and appreciated. c: It's very late and I'm very tired writing this, so I apologize in advance in the flow of the story is weird or anything, but I've had this idea for a while and I just wanted to get it down in writing.
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I love this song, too.
