NOTE: I feel bad about putting a few fics on hiatus but I was inspired to work on this tearjerker of a fic. Let's just say that if you hate Milton Midas in the canon, you'll REALLY hate him in this fic.

It had been a morning just like any other morning in the Evergreen Forest. Ralph and Melissa were hiking through the woods together as the sun shone through the autumn leaves. Melissa gaped in delight at the beauty of the red and golden leaves adorning the birch trees as she snapped her camera, taking photographs of all the natural beauty around her, "Isn't it just breathtaking, Ralph?"

Ralph smiled warmly as he put his arm around her, "Not as beautiful as you, dear."

Melissa giggled and blushed, "You sure know how to butter me up, Ralph." The photographer gave her husband a quick kiss on the snout and Ralph felt himself blush.

The two raccoons continued down the autumn path, taking in all the sights and sounds of nature. The Canadian wilderness seemed to envelop them as they heard the crunching of dead leaves beneath their paws.

It wasn't long before they came across a clear stream running along the edge of the forest. The water was crystal clear and untouched. Melissa sat down by the streamside and scooped up a handful of water, splashing her face, the crystalline water of the stream running in rivulets down her muzzle, "This water is so clear, you can literally see your reflection in it."

"Just another one of nature's wonders, honey." Ralph replied as he walked into the stream and stood in it, gazing at his reflection.

Melissa suddenly got a playful smirk of her face, "Say Ralph, has anyone ever told you that you look cute when you're wet?"

Ralph blinked a few times, "Why no, Melissa. I can't recall anyone ever saying that."

And with that, Melissa scooped up a handful of water and threw it in Ralph's face, "Well, guess what? Now you're ever cuter, honey!"

"Oh ho, so that's how you're gonna play. Huh, Melissa? Fine, I can live with that because you yourself look adorable when you're soaked!" Ralph said as he threw some water on Melissa.

Melissa just giggled as she threw some water on Ralph and pretty soon, the married couple were laughing uncontollably and having a big splash fight with each other in the crystal clear creek.

Soaked with the water, the two stepped out of the creek, laughing and dried themselves off with Ralph's scarf. Ralph just chuckled a bit, "That was actually pretty fun. It sure made me feel like a kid again."

Melissa giggled, "Me, too. And to think there are some people out there who would pollute something like that for the sake of money."

Ralph crossed his arms, "That makes me sick just thinking about it."

Melissa nodded, "It sure is a good thing guys like Milton Midas are behind bars."

"Yeah" Ralph shuddered, "Just the fact that a guy like him exists leaves a pretty bad taste in my mouth."

Melissa sat down on a nearby stump and started taking a few shots of nature with her camera. Ralph sat next to his wife and put his arm around her. He took a deep breath of fresh air and watched the sunset. Melissa smiled as she rubbed Ralph's back, "It's getting late, we should be heading back pretty soon."

Ralph nodded, "You're right, honey. We sure had a great time, didn't we?"

Melissa nodded, "We sure did. I'm glad I took so many photos on our walk. I think I'll start a new scrapbook once the pictures get developed."

Ralph smiled, "I'm sure it'll look great, Melissa."

Suddenly, Melissa's ears twitched and she heard a voice crying out in the distance. Instantly, she got up from the stump and faced Ralph, "I think I hear someone calling for help."

Ralph blinked, "What?"

"It's coming from that way!" Melissa shouted, pointing to the west. Instantly, the photographer made a mad dash in the direction of the voice and she looked down the hill and saw a small squirrel with a bear trap on its leg in the middle of the road, crying for distress. Melissa then ran down the hill as fast as she could, autumn leaves crunching under her feet as she ran up to the injured squirrel and gently helped release it, stroking it softly with tears in her bright blue eyes, "Poor thing."

Ralph ran as fast as he could but was surprisingly out of shape. Just then, he noticed he noticed a speeding car with an eagle driving it. It immediately dawned on him that it was Milton Midas, "MELISSA, LOOK OUT!"

Ralph dashed towards Melissa as fast as he could go but it was too late, Midas' car collided with her and her bloody body was thrown to the road side. Ralph watched in complete shock and horror as Midas sped off without a care in the world. Melissa peered up at Ralph with a dazed look in her bright blue eyes. A trickle of blood seeped out of her mouth as she coughed a little, "Ralph...I...love...you..." And with that, she slipped into unconsciousness.

"Melissa...I...love you, too." Ralph choked out, pressing his eyelids shut against the salty sting of hot tears. Instantly, Ralph took his scarf off and tied it around his wife, applying it like a tourniquet in an attempt to stop the bleeding.

And with that, Ralph scooped Melissa's limp and bloody body into his arms. They were only two miles from the Raccoondiminum and neither rode their bike. Ralph sighed as he carried his unconscious wife, "We'll get through this, I promise..."

Ralph's mind was now a sea of fears and worrysome thoughts. What was a wonderful day turned out to be a great tragedy. His beautiful, loving wife was hit by that scumbag, Milton Midas while trying to help out a trapped squirrel. Midas didn't even stop, he just kept driving despite the fact that he hit Melissa full-force with his car. The thought that anyone would want to do that to someone as sweet as Melissa sickened Ralph to his very core. That eagle businessman was truly a soulless monster.

The husband carried his bleeding wife as he walked down the road. After 12 grueling minutes of torturous walking, Ralph noticed a car driving down the road and in the car was none other than Cyril Sneer himself. Ralph immediately flagged the aardvark down and he blinked, "What in blue blazes-"

"No time to explain!" Ralph shouted, "Melissa needs medical attention and she needs it NOW!"

"Get it, raccoon. I'll get you to the nearest hospital." Cyril offered.

"Thanks, Cyril, you're a lifesaver." Ralph replied as he got into the limo with his unconscious wife. And so, the limo sped off into the night.

NOTE: Things are only going to get sadder from here on out. Break out the tissues.