For the longest time, Albert Collins and his wife, Anna, had longed for a child of their own. But neither one expected to be landed with Fidget (who was brought to them by Father Richards). The thought of having a criminal as a son made Albert uneasy. He and his wife both took any necessary precautions to protect themselves. This included double-checking their belongings and spying on him through keyholes. But when the newly-adopted bat proved himself trustworthy, Alberts suspicions wavered. Fidget was suddenly a part of the family, and a great conversationalist for Albert.

Albert Collins was born and raised in London by his two parents, who were German immigrants. His given birth name means "of noble-blood" because he had a very giving nature. He was a very quiet man with simple needs and a generous heart. At first, this almost made him an easy target for ridicule among more talkative and ill-meaning folk. A mischievous young pickpocket once attempted to pick Alberts pockets, thinking that Albert was gullible. However, the boy was proven wrong when Albert grasped hold of his wrist and said, Hands got a mind of their own? To his benefit, a couple of passing witnesses heard Albert utter those words. One of them happened to be a young literature professor named Brianna Darcy (commmonly known by as Anna). No one thought less of him ever since. At the same time, it resulted in Albert and Anna meeting each other. Their from simple friendship turned into a deep intimate relationship. It was not long afterwards that the two mice married.

As a guardian father, Albert Collins does well in engaging in man-to-man conversations with Fidget. He is often told by his adopted son that Albert reminded Fidget of his own blood-father, Rupert Holloway.

More than anything else, Anna Collins wanted a child of her own. Unfortunately she was barren and all her efforts failed. Once she reached her early fifties Anna gave up the dream. But at the golden age of sixty, Anna became the guardian mother of Fidget. Like her husband, Anna wasn't comfortable with the knowledge that Fidget was an employee of Professor Ratigan (she and her husband were present at the Diamond Jubilee fiasco). For the first two weeks of his stay, Anna kept a good watch on Fidget, making sure he didn't steal anything valuable or hide any weapons. It wasnt until one afternoon when Fidget came to her aide (as she suffered a seizure attack) that Anna noticed a different side to him. After learning to look past his idiosyncrasies, Anna saw him as the child she never had.

Anna was born and christened Brianna Eileen Darcy in southern Ireland. Her parents moved to London, England when she was two years old, but she inherited the Irish accent from her parents. As a child, her father strongly encouraged her education in books. She was strongly inspired by literature, especially from female authors like Louisa May Alcott and Emily Dickinson. This acted as a spark to her desire of becoming a teacher. Shortly after she earned her degree, Brianna Darcy became a literature professor at Oxford University. As a teacher, Anna, as she was called by her friends and colleagues, encouraged her students to re-examin the teachings of traditional literatures and to think in a progressive-manner (especially concerning the roles of women in society). This caught the attention of a younger James Ratigan. Because he admired her teaching-style and progressive mind-frame, he was under the false impression that he and Anna thought alike. But when he attempted to court her, Anna refused because she sensed bad vibes from him. At the same time, she was already married to Albert Collins and defiantly showed her wedding band in Professor Ratigan's face. When she went to Mousetoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, she and Albert were once again confronted with Ratigan's presence.

Although she retired from Oxford, Anna still resorts to her teaching methods when helping illiterate children read or lost folks find their way (she once said, "I may be old, but I'm not weak"). As a guardian mother, Anna is warm and affectionate. She is the one Fidget turns to for a kind word and advice on "dealing with women."

References:

The Great Mouse Detective.

Character model(s):