A Painful Decision

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Disclaimer: I don't own the BMFM, Charlie, Limburger, or Brie. I do however, own Mari, Mandy, Turbo, Ice, Fire, Phoenix, Blaze, and Snowfall. I make no money and do this for the reading enjoyment of others.

This story takes place a few weeks after A Comforting Shoulder. There is some foul language and some places not for the weak of heart, so the warning is there none the less.

I've tried to tone it down and will make an added disclaimer that I am no expert on the subject of human births, only from the point of view of an animal breeder.

Read and enjoy.

                             A Painful Decision
                          (C) 2/23/1999 All Rights Reserved
                                   By Goldenmane
                              ***********************

    Mari swallowed hard, fighting the ever increasing nausea that threatened her safety. She aimed her laser at a Dune Ranger, blowing his buggy to pieces. She continued firing until she felt it wise to retreat. She had been glad when Firefall and Sunspot decided to stay, but wished they had not left for Cleveland so soon. She could have used their help right about now.
    Mari kicked Ice into gear, turning to yell obscenities at the nearest Dune Ranger. She laughed when he noticed the grenade in her hand and slammed on the breaks, causing a chain reaction that wiped out most of the Dune Rangers following her.
    She threw the grenade at the remainder, turning Ice to speed back toward the wreckage, jetting over it. She engaged Ice's battle wings and glided toward Brie's Palace.
    Mari chuckled to herself as she let loose several well-placed shots, stopping short when she felt her stomach grow sick again.
    'Why did this have to happen,' she thought.
    She resumed firing, dodging the retaliatory fire from Brie's Dune Rangers who fought to save the Palace. Mari lobbed several grenades toward the Palace, engaging Ice's thrusters and jetting away as the tower crumbled in a series of explosions.
    She landed some distance away in a back alley, parting her helmet. She leaned over, her stomach no longer capable of holding it's contents. Once she had finished, she leaned back up, retracting Ice's wings.
    Mari laid her head on her folded hands, eyes straight ahead, her arms resting on Ice. She let her stomach settle, cursing her luck, then headed back to the Changing Times. She needed to talk with Mandy. She couldn't deny the facts any longer.
                                                    #
    Mari pulled into the Changing Times and dismounted Ice. She removed her helmet, laying it on Ice's seat. Mari put a hand to her still queasy stomach and walked into the main part of the garage.
    Bent over some bike parts sat Mandy. She glanced up, barely acknowledging Mari. Mari only smiled and went to her friend.
    "Finally, the commission of a lifetime," Mandy said as Mari took a seat next to her.
    "Enough to pay the bills?" Mari quipped, swallowing hard again.
    Mandy turned to her. "Something wrong? You trashed Brie, right?"
    "Palace is in ruins." Mari looked down, rubbing her stomach. "I think something really did happen. Something I didn't think would."
    Mandy laid the part in her hand down, her attention full on her friend. "You can't be serious."
    Mari shook her head. "I got hit with another round while I was fighting," she paused. "There's no getting over the fact."
    Mandy lowered her head. "You'd better tell someone right away."
    "What do I say? How the Hell is he gonna react to the news?" Mari rose, hand over her mouth as another wave hit.
    "You can't deny the fact forever," Mandy said, rising to put an arm around Mari. "You're gonna have to tell them sooner or later. And now seems the best time."
    Mari half turned her head. "I know, I know. You don't have to say anything. I get the message. I know what we did wasn't right," Mari paused. "But what's done is done. There's nothing we can do to take it back."
    "That's why you got to tell them, no him, right now." Mandy guided her toward the radio. "Call them now. I'll give you some privacy."
    Mari waited until Mandy had left before turning the radio on. She punched a button, calling into the receiver. "Mari in Detroit calling the guys in Chicago. Anyone home?"
    She waited a few moments for someone to answer. She had just about figured no one was at the Last Chance garage when a ragged voice answered.
    "What ya got, trouble?"
    "Don't tell me Limburger is trashing you guys," Mari said a half smile on her face. "You've never sounded so out of breath, Throttle."
    A slight pause. "We just finished pounding his fins into the ground. So, what's the call for?"
    Mari hesitated. "I just got done trashing Brie. But I got to talk to Vinnie for a moment. Alone if I could."
    "Sure," Throttle said, uneasily.
    She could hear him holler to Vinnie then rustling sounds then soft breathing into the Mic. After a few seconds she heard Vinnie speak.
    "Yeah? What'd ya want to talk about that's so private?" Vinnie asked. "Your face hasn't healed?
    "Some scar tissue left, but that's not it. It's about something that happened a few weeks back."
    Silence.
    "Have you told Charlie yet?" Mari asked.
    "No. Why?"
    Mari hesitated. "Because for the last few days I've been getting awfully sick. Today I almost lost the battle thanks to nausea."
    Silence again.
    "I think, no I can tell," Mari paused, the words hard for her to say. After so many years, after all this time, after all the pain and memories. "I'm pregnant."
    The silence on the other end almost killed her. She could sense the turmoil he must have been feeling. The shock, disbelief, the anger, and the sorrow. The joy that crept in did not have a fighting chance.
    Mari could not speak, her throat so choked with tears. Her heart had always belonged to Turbo and the memory of her children who died at Monument. Now she had other matters to contend with.
    "Are you sure?" Vinnie asked, his voice broken by disbelief.
    "I'm almost certain," Mari said, her emotions once more under control. "Mood swings and morning sickness go with the territory. I oughta know. I've been through it before."
    Silence again. Mari's heart leapt at the click on the other end. She had not wanted to lose a friendship that had started to blossom, but then again she could not deny the facts.
    Then a sudden noise emanated from the radio before her. "We gotta meet. We gotta talk about this,"
    "Agreed, where?" Mari asked.
    A pause. "Does Mandy know?"
    "I think she acknowledged it before me."
    "I'll come there then," Vinnie said. He paused. "We'll work this out, sweetheart. Thrust me."
    Mari sighed, fighting another wave of nausea. "I'll be waiting."
    She hung up the receiver and turned the radio to standby. She rose, going to her room, sitting on the bed, head in her hands. She cried her heart out, knowing that several individuals would soon go through a transformation that may rip friendships and relationships apart. And all because two individuals couldn't keep their raging hormones in check.
    Mari laid down knowing it would take some time for him to arrive. She closed her eyes and nodded off, dreaming of what was to come and what she hoped would never be.
    A sudden noise brought her full awake. She reached for her laser and then her stomach. The quick movement had upset the delicate balance once again.
    She looked over to the door and half smiled when she saw Vinnie standing there. She moved aside and patted the bed, her mood dropping when he did not move. Mari sighed, a knot of worry eating at her soul.
    "Are you sure?" he asked, unmoving.
    Mari nodded. "I'm as sure as I'll ever be. I can't ignore the signs any longer."
    He walked to her, slowly and with measured steps. He sat heavily, a hand going to her stomach. "I can't believe it."
    "You and me both," Mari said, laying her hand on his. "Oh, and since I've been through this before, I'll warn ya. Sudden mood swings are part of being pregnant, so if I bite your head off for no reason, just remember, my body's gonna go through some changes."
    Vinnie only smiled. "If you say so."
    Mari returned the smile. "Glad you understand. I figured you'd go through the roof. With Charlie and all."
    Vinnie hesitated a moment. "She's human and you're a mouse, we went through this before. Charlie and I wouldn't 've lasted anyway."
    "And what makes you think we have a chance?" Mari asked, her voice breaking. "I still believe Turbo is alive, and for him . . . "
    Vinnie hushed her with a finger to the lips. "Take what ya can get. He's not here and he may never be found."
    Mari sighed, taking his hand in hers. "I know. It's just that I thought a mouse my age couldn't get pregnant."
    "But ya did."
    "And now we've got to live with the consequences." Mari rose suddenly, going to the window.
    Vinnie followed, laying a hand on her shoulder. "All ya gotta do is have faith."
    That unexpected remark stopped Mari in her tracks. Faith. Trust. Loyalty. The ability to make a judgmental decision and stick to it no matter what the outcome. There would be a child born. A Martian born on Earth in a few months. Something everyone would have to deal with sooner or later. And in Mari's opinion, the sooner the better.
    "Faith is one thing, but it takes more than that," Mari said after a while. "This little one will need parents who are willing to raise her."
    "And they'll have them," Vinnie said.
    Mari shook her head. "But you don't understand. I can't leave Detroit and in a few months I won't be able to protect this city. Mandy'll have to do it on her own. You are needed in Chicago with the guys. I can't ask you to relocate just because of this."
    "I won't leave you," he began. "Not after this."
    "Even with this, I want you to try - "
    "-No."
    Mari turned tears in her eyes. She fought the flood of emotions, cursing what she knew to be the inevitable. Damn but she hated being pregnant.
    "She's in the past. You're all that matters now," Vinnie said, kissing her.
    Mari pulled back. "If you really don't love Charlie, then you'd come right out and say it. Say it to my face, then head back to Chicago and tell her to her face."
    At his hesitation she continued. "I knew you couldn't because somewhere, deep down inside, you still love her. You feel a kinda loyalty and betrayal toward her for what we did." Mari looked down, resting the top of her head on his chest. "Gods only know I do with Turbo."
    "Will he always be there between what we could have?"
    Mari looked up. "No more then when you think of Charlie and what you threw away to stay here with me."
    Vinnie turned, crossing his arms. Mari could sense the confusion in him and it broke her heart.
    "Take your time to decide what you're gonna do," Mari said softly. "We have a few months before the big day. Just don't wait to tell Charlie."
    "To tell you the truth, Charlie and I broke up right after we . . . "
    Mari sighed. "You did it, didn't you?"
    "I told her we would never make it and that I had set my sights after another. I didn't tell her who."
    "Dammit," Mari shouted. "In all the time I've known you, have you ever used your brain? Why would you go and do a stupid thing like that?"
    He turned, anger flashing in his eyes. "Because."
    "That's no answer."
    "Because . . . I love you."
    Mari grabbed her stomach, fighting a wave of nausea. Today had been her worst day so far, though she knew eventually they would end.
    "Sweetheart, you ok?" Vinnie asked, concern making his voice go soft, the anger abated. He went to her side.
    "I can't get myself so worked up. My stomach won't handle it," Mari said, a half smile on her face. "I never learned from the last two times did I."
    Vinnie guided her toward the bed. "Rest."
    "Not until we come to some agreement and arrangement," Mari said, sitting.
    "I don't need to go back. I don't have anything back there anyway," Vinnie said, though Mari could sense otherwise. "And I have you and our little one here."
    Mari closed her eyes. "We both are going to go back to Chicago. I want to be there when you tell Charlie the whole truth. If you can," she said when he began to protest. "Then I will let you move here. Ok?"
    "Anything for you, sweetheart."
    Mari rose again, walking to the door. She told Mandy her plans and grabbed her helmet on the way by. She went to Ice, firing her bike's engines. The trip to Chicago would be long, and at this late hour, it would be daybreak before they would arrive.
    She wondered how long her stomach would last before the next wave of nausea would hit.
                                            #
    Mari kept her eyes closed, head resting on her chest, arms draped over Ice's handles. She let her bike do the driving and let Vinnie tell her when she had to open her eyes.
    When they pulled off the interstate, Mari had to force another pit stop to relieve her stomach. When she had finished, they resumed their trek, finally arriving back at the Last Chance.
    They entered the garage, walking their bikes in. No one was awake yet and judging by the clock, Charlie might not be up for a few more hours. They had made quite good time, even accounting for the pit stops.
    Yet before they had time to get their helmets off, a very tired-looking Charlie emerged down the stairs, trying to rub the sleep from her eyes.
    "Vinnie? Mari? What are you doing here this early?" Charlie asked, trying to focus on the subject at hand.
    "We have something to tell you," Mari began, looking to Vinnie to finish this.
    "What?" Charlie asked, now fully awake.
    Vinnie hesitated, glancing to Mari. She gave him a look that meant business and he continued. "I told you that I had someone else in my life. And that someone is Mari."
    Charlie stared at Mari in disbelief. "I thought you believed Turbo was still alive?" she asked accusatorially.
    "I do. Believe me, and I know you won't, I didn't plan his actions. He's bringing this all upon himself. As for the complications . . . " Mari said, her voice trailing off as she looked to Vinnie.
    "Mari is," Vinnie began, faltering some. "Going to have my child."
    The silence that filled the garage seemed to suffocate Mari. She did not need to use any of her abilities to know what went through Charlie's mind. Confusion, anger, resentment, hurt. All natural and unavoidable.
    "That's why I called us off," Vinnie said, trying to sound confident, though Mari could sense the hesitation in his voice.
    "I...see," Charlie said. "In that case, I don't see why you need to come here any more." And with that she turned and went back up stairs.
    Mari turned to Vinnie. "Go and talk to her. I'll wait outside."
    "What's there to say?" Vinnie asked.
    "For the love of the gods, she's hurting, and needs someone to comfort her." Mari said, anger welling up inside of her. She hesitated, fighting the urge to slug him one repeating to herself, 'it's only the pregnancy, it's only the pregnancy'.
    Vinnie took her by the shoulders. "She said to go."
    "Try and talk to her. If you don't, you'll lose her all together. I don't want to see that happen, no matter what you say." Mari's voice rose in pitch slightly. "I know you still love her, you're just too afraid to admit it."
    Mari half smiled to herself when her mark hit home. He took a step backwards, looking at her in total confusion. "You're making no sense," he said. "It must be the pregnancy."
    "No," Mari said with cold deadliness. "I'm making perfect sense. Yes, what we did was morally wrong, and I'm willing to take the blame for it. But what you're doing now is beyond that. You're gonna throw away something special just because you think you truly love me."
    Mari turned, storming out of the garage, Ice following meekly behind. She mounted her bike and raced back to Detroit as fast as she dared, tears blocking her vision. Ice drove all the way back.
                                            #
I'd gladly walk across the desert with no shoes upon my feet,
To share you the last bite of bread I had to eat.
I would swim out to save you in your sea of broken dreams,
When all your hopes are sinking, let me show you what love means.

Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine.
Love can build a bridge, don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?

I would whisper love so loudly, every heart would understand,
That love and only love can join the tribes of man.
I would give my heart's desire so that you might see.
The first step is to realize that it all begins with you and me.

Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine.
Love can build a bridge, don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?

When we stand together, it's our finest hour.
We can do anything, anything, if we keep the believin' in the power.
Don't you think it's about time?

Love can build a bridge between your heart and mine.
Love can build a bridge, don't you think it's time?
Don't you think it's time?
Love and only love.
Love and only love.
                                            #
    Mari waited in silence, smiling to herself when she saw Brie begin to jump and rant over her latest efforts to get him once and for all out of Detroit. She patted Ice on the side, a protective hand going to her stomach which had started to bulge.
    Mandy may have told her that soon it would not be safe to ride into battle for fear of losing the child. Mari protested saying she would go crazy without something to do, and Mandy gave her a stern look.
    Mari chuckled when Brie began to take his frustrations out on his Number One.
    "Glad to see some things are back to normal," she said to Ice. "And thank the gods I've finally gotten over my morning sickness."
    Ice beeped softly in agreement. Mari continued to watch, resting her elbows on Ice, her chin going to her hands.
    When Brie turned and pointed in her direction, Mari shot straight up. She thought she had concealed herself well enough, but apparently not. Somehow Brie had spotted her in the shadows on a nearby roof.
    Mari gunned Ice's engines, turning on one wheel to speed along the roof. She jetted Ice to an adjacent roof, wishing she had selected a vantage point in the direction of the Changing Times, not away from it as her current position took her.
    She screeched Ice to a halt as several bikes suddenly cleared the roof and landed not too far in front of her. Mari's ice-blue eyes widened in surprise. Brie finally had hired bikers to take her down. No longer could she squeeze Ice into a narrow alleyway to escape the dune buggies. Now she had real competition.
    "Ya want a piece of me?" she yelled to them, turning Ice back toward Brie. "Then come and get me, eh?"
    She sped off, laying low, she leapt the distance back to the building she had come from, and down the building, racing past Brie and Number One.
    Mari punched a button, calling Mandy for help. When she did not get a response, she began to panic. Though finally she heard Mandy's voice faintly over her helmet's radio.
    "I've got a situation here," Mari said. "Home in and assist. Brie's hired bikers and I can't shake them."
    "On my way," Mandy responded.
    Mari slipped into an alleyway, racing up the wall at the end, clearing the roof, and activating Ice's battle wings. She flew in the direction of the Changing Times, hoping beyond all hope that Brie hadn't installed similar accessories to his bikes.
    When no one followed her, she breathed a sigh of relief, turning with a start when a laser pierced the sky a little too close for comfort. She scanned the ground, spotting the bikers below. They had followed her by jumping the buildings, and now had set their lasers against her.
    Mari banked Ice toward the bikers, firing with both laser and Ice's missiles. She laughed triumphantly as several bikes exploded, many more being damaged in the process.
    She turned Ice again, firing her bike's engines, glancing back to see one lone biker still following her.
    "Mandy, I got all but one. Stubborn little cuss he is," she paused, dodging a missile as it streaked toward Ice. "He's playin' for keeps and I'm heading in your direction.'
    "Gotcha," came the reply.
    Mari fired several rear missiles toward him, managing only to destroy the roofs of several buildings. Sometimes she wondered who did more damage, Brie or her misses.
    Mari banked, noticing a missile as it headed toward Ice. She kicked Ice's engines into overdrive, diving for the ground. She prayed, knowing she would never make it in time, and felt the missile as it slammed into Ice.
    Mari felt the world go black as Ice and her fell to the roof below, somewhere in the back of her mind she noted a jet-black bike firing on her attacker, blowing his bike to shreds.
    Then the world became still with a sickening thud.
                                                #
    Mari could feel pain. She tried to move, feeling hands on her and a muffled voice telling her to lie still. A desperate need to flee overcame Mari as she could smell the acrid stench of smoke. She could just barely recall being shot down.
    "What about," she began, weakly.
    "It's too early to tell, but so far I don't think the damage is severe enough," Mandy said. "You took quite a tumble, but you'll live."
    Mari tried to shake her head, but could not move it. "I mean my child."
    "Like I said, it's too early. I can't say if you'll lose it or not."
    Mari quieted her mind, something she had done many times in the past. She concentrated on the tiny life growing inside her. Focused her thoughts on finding a glimmer of life.
    She had done this after she had crashed on Earth, trying in vain to locate Turbo. She had not felt him, but knew in the back of her mind, he lived. Just as she could tell that, though her body had taken a beating, the child did indeed live. Though barely.
    "I'm gonna move you," Mandy said. "I've salvaged what I could of Ice. At least I got her AI chips. Those weren't damaged."
    "If it hurts, ya'll know it," Mari said, crying out in pain when she felt Mandy lift her to the sitting position. She looked to her friend then past to the smoking wreckage of her bike. 'Ride free, Ice.'
    Mari couldn't tell what area hurt the worst, but the pain in her back and legs let her know she wouldn't be fighting Brie until she had delivered. No way could she heal fast enough with this many injuries. Mice may heal faster than humans, but when injured severely enough, time could only work its healing magic.
    Mari could feel herself passing out, and let the darkness quell her pains. When she awoke, she lay flat on her back on her bed in the Changing Times. She weakly looked around for Mandy, worry creeping in when she could not move.
    "Mandy?" she called out hoarsely.
    "Glad to see you're finally awake," Mandy said, sitting beside the bed. "You had me worried for a moment. But at least I got you here in one piece."
    "How bad is it?" Mari asked, not wanting to know, but having to ask none-the-less.
    Mandy hesitated. "You broke both legs, and did some damage to your spine. If you heal right, then you'll be your old self in no time."
    "And if I don't then I'll be crippled the rest of my life," Mari said, closing her eyes.
    "No, you'll be stiff and sore for several more months before you get back into the swing of things," Mandy said reassuringly. "There's going to be no permanent damage. But you will be sore and stiff for quite a while after you heal."
    Mari paused. "Can you build another Ice?"
    "I've already started on it, and Ice's memory is on line, and already bugging me to finish her body." Mandy laid a hand on Mari's arm. "She'll be ready and waiting for you when you finally can get out of bed."
    Mari smiled weakly, desperately wanting to sleep. "Glad to hear," she said.
    "Before you pass out on me again, I got to ask you a question."
    "What?" Mari asked, not opening her eyes.
    "Do you want me to give him a call?"
    Mari hesitated. "No. After the stunt he pulled a while back, no. He made his choice and he'll have to live with it. I won't give him the satisfaction of crawling to him."
     "This isn't crawling. He has a right to know you're hurt. That his child almost died."
    Mari weakly shook her head. "That'll only make him rush over here and really throw things away."
    Mandy sighed. "Suit yourself. But I think Vinnie needs to know. Even if, as you said, he told Charlie it was over to her face and yours."
    "I need to rest now," Mari said, letting sleep overcome her senses.
    In the afternoon, when she awoke, she gently lifted her head, biting on her lip as her back protested. She lowered her head, trying her arms. She found she could move them without pain and so folded them over her stomach.
    'If I lose this child, it would make things so much easier,' Mari thought. 'But then that would be the cheater's way out of it.'
    She opened her eyes, squinting at the brightness. She could smell food beside her bed and carefully looked around. She could see Mandy sitting, chin on chest, sleeping peacefully.
    'She must have stayed up all night watching me,' Mari thought. 'I hate to wake her, but damn, am I hungry.' As if in anticipation, her stomach grumbled loudly. She then turned her thoughts on another. 'Tryin' to eat yourself into a blimp?' she thought to her child. 'Nah, just the case of eatin' for two.'
    "Mandy," Mari called with strength in her voice.
    Lazily Mandy raised her head, blinking sleep from her eyes. She smiled when she saw Mari. "Awake, and hungry?"
    "What else? Eat for two and you'd be hungry too," Mari chuckled, wincing at the pain in her back.
    "You'll hurt for sometime still, but at least you've got some strength back."
    Mari slowly nodded. "I hate feeling helpless like this."
    "Better to be helpless for a few weeks, then to be dead," Mandy said with a cold matter-of-factness.
    Mari had to agree, carefully nibbling at the food Mandy had brought in. She ate in silence, her thoughts tumbling around her. She really should have Mandy call Vinnie. He really did have a right to know.
    After she had finished, Mari asked Mandy to call Chicago. When Mandy stated that it was about time, Mari could only smile.
    Mandy returned to let Mari know that Vinnie was on his way, and that he promised to stick to the speed limit, though both ladies knew that would be asking the impossible.
    Mari slept while she waited, waking to Vinnie's tender voice and feeling much the better. She opened her eyes and smiled.
    "I see you made it in one piece," she said, a half smile on her face.
    "Well . . . " he began sheepishly.
    "Never mind," Mari said. "I didn't want Mandy telling you because I knew you'd rush over here, worrying about me. I hope you have talked with Charlie."
    When Vinnie said nothing, looking down to his hands which clasped hers, Mari knew the answer.
    "Why? And don't give me this bull about you love me. Remember, I can sense feelings, and I know you still love her. You're only acting this way because of our child."
    He looked up, pain in his eyes. Mari hated doing this, but she desperately wanted him to return to the one he truly loved.
    "It must be the pain," he said at long last. "You're not making any sense."
    "I don't want to fight you, but I have to make you see reason. You and Charlie belong together. If I ever find Turbo then what'll happen to you when I go back to him?" Mari paused. "I think you're the best friend a girl could have, but my heart belongs to Turbo, now and forever."
    Vinnie rose still clutching her hands. "I don't believe it."
    "It's true. I still feel he's alive and I will never give up hope."
    He turned. Letting go of her hands. "Then I guess you don't want me here after all. I wasted all this time coming here because I thought you wanted me."
    "I never meant it like that," Mari said, wincing in pain as she tried to shift her position.
    "It sure sounded like it to me."
    Mari sighed, closing her eyes. "I just want you to be happy."
    "But I am, here, with you and our little one."
    "Then why do you still think about Charlie?" Mari asked. "I can sense the turmoil within you. I can tell you still feel for her. I can't blame you."
    Vinnie turned to her. "She's in the past. Turbo's in the past. We have this moment in time. We have a child."
    Mari opened her eyes, looking deep within his soul. "I know, but that still shouldn't change the facts. If you truly love me then you'd go back to Charlie and patch things up. I don't want you to say you really love me when you're doing it out of loyalty to our child. That's not true love. That could never compare to what Turbo and I had and what you and Charlie can get back."
    "Can't you be happy you have a child?" Vinnie nearly cried. "And to think you lost your children during the war. I thought you'd be happy?"
    "That's hitting kinda below the belt," Mari said, an edge to her voice. "You've never lost someone so dear and precious to you, so how in the Hell would you know what it's like?"
    "You don't know the half of it," Vinnie growled.
    Mari paused. "I know this little one can be a new start, but they'll never replace Phoenix and Blaze."
    "I'm leaving. I might come back when you make more sense," Vinnie said storming out of the room. She heard his bike start and roar out of the garage.
    She closed her eyes and cried. Cried for the hardships this pregnancy had created, and cried for her own children who died at Monument.
    But most of all she cried because of the tiny bud within her heart that cried out of a love she started to feel for Vinnie.
                                            #
    As the months went by, Mari regained her mobility, thankful she did not lose the child. She had heard nothing from Chicago in all that time and worried about the guys, her thoughts always turning to Vinnie and the big fight they had right after her accident.
    When finally her growing belly proved too much, she resigned to stay in the Changing Times and let Mandy and the rebuilt Ice fight together.
    Snow soon fell on Detroit and Brie's operations ground to a halt. Mandy spent many hours helping Mari navigate the garage as soon Mari became nearly completely bedridden.
    Then the day arrived. Mari had cried out in the night, her insides twinged with sharp pains.
    "This is gonna kill," Mari said through clenched teeth as another contraction hit her. "No pain killers for this one, no doc, and no support."
    "You got me," Mandy said, propping Mari up. "At least I worked on a farm for a few years birthing the livestock."
    Mari half smiled, her silver-ticked white fur began to darken with sweat. "It's something, I guess."
    Mandy paused. "Want me to give him a call?"
    "Wouldn't do any good," Mari said, groaning as another contraction hit her. "Damn, too close together. I don't like this. My water hasn't broke yet."
    "Panic won't help," Mandy said rising. "If not for you, then for my own peace of mind, I'm calling the guys."
    Mari only nodded, laying her head back. "Too damn old, and too damn tired."
    Mandy returned after a few moments, her face a solid mask. "He's on his way, though if he doesn't kill himself on the way, we'll all be lucky.'
    "He'll never make it in time," Mari said, crying out in pain. "Not unless he breaks every known speed law."
    Mandy chuckled. "At least you still got your sense of humor. And after the fight you two had months ago, I didn't think you'd ever say anything about him again."
    "You know I can't hold a grudge for long," Mari said, panting. "Why do I have the sudden feeling this is gonna be a long one."
    "You've been through it before, is this much different?"
    Mari hesitated. "Phoenix took the longest, but she was my first. Damn near killed me it took so long. Doc's said I had lost so much blood they feared the worst. But I lived."
    "The second's always the easiest, right?"
    "Blaze was born in only three hours, not the grueling nine for Phoenix. But ya gotta remember, I'm a lot older now. Maybe even too old to safely have a kid." Mari opened her eyes and stared at her friend.
    Mandy smiled, letting none of the worry she felt show through. "Mice are different from humans."
    Mari nodded, looking to the clock. "I gotta time this, just for the records."
    She then closed her eyes and tried to regulate her breathing. Tried to get her mind off of what could happen for the worst, and look to the future. She may have lost her children at Monument, but now she had a second chance.
    Time seemed to drag, and Mari kept glancing at the clock. Too much time had passed, though her water had finally broke. She waited to go into full contractions, but she hadn't. She couldn't keep the worry out of her mind.
    Then it hit. Mari doubled over in pain, her voice ripping into the night. She lay back, panting. "Finally,"
    Mandy was at her side instantly, throwing the covers back and checking Mari over. "I'd say not long now."
    "By the moons, I hope not," Mari growled as another contraction hit her. "I don't think I'll be able to last much longer."
    "You have to," Mandy said.
    "Sarcasm, dear, haven't ya gotten used to it by now?" Mari said, a half smile on her face.
    Mandy only nodded.
    The contractions grew in intensity and frequency. Mari felt as if her lungs were on fire from all the screaming. She had never been in so much pain before and thanked modern medicine for inventing pain killers. Though she did not have access to them here.
    "I see a pair of antennae," Mandy shouted over the hoarse cries of Mari. "You're almost home.
    "Just wake me when this is over."
    Mari pushed again, crying out in pain. She continued to push until she felt she could not go on. At Mandy's urging, she pressed on, pushing and hollering.
    Mari could not tell when the exact moment of blissful non pain began, but she could have sworn to hear a voice encourage her. Stroking back her sweat drenched hair from her face, soft and tender words that seemed to fall upon her like a blessing.
    With a final push, Mari lay back, exhausted, panting hard. She did not dare open her eyes, but at the sound of a tiny pair of lungs wailing, she cracked her eyes open to see Mandy standing there cradling a tiny naked form.
    "It's a girl," Mandy said softly, cleaning the infants nose and mouth. "And she looks like she'll be a hardy, healthy young one to boot. Both of you should be proud."
    Mari quirked a weary brow, then turned as she felt a cool hand on her warm skin. She looked up to see Vinnie standing there, a tender smile on his face.
    "Didn't think I'd make it, sweetheart, but I did," he said, kneeling beside her.
    Mari sighed, grimacing at the pain. She would be sore for a long time, and out of action. She looked over to Vinnie and smiled. She then looked past him and out the window.
    He followed her gaze. "Whatcha lookin' at?"
    "It's started to snow," Mari said weakly. "Isn't it beautiful."
    Vinnie was lost on the whole conversation. "You feeling all right?"
    "After passing something large through an opening not really designed for it, no, but as for the snow, I think it's beautiful," Mari said. "Snowfall."
    Vinnie still did not catch on, looking toward Mandy.
    "I agree. After all, with genetics and all, she will have white fur, and no doubt silvery hair. I think Snowfall is a perfect name for her, right?"
    "I see," he said, finally grasping the concept. "I like it."
    Mari smiled weakly. "Glad you approve." She accepted Snowfall when Mandy handed the now sleeping infant to her. Mari looked down at the tiny bundle and smiled with more strength
    Mandy took her cue and left them alone. Mari did not acknowledge her leaving, instead looking tenderly at her newborn girl.
    Mari sighed. "She'll be back to clean me up, but at least she'll give us this time to talk."
    Vinnie carefully took a finger and hesitantly pulled the blanket back from the child's face. "I thought a lot about what you said."
    "Me too. Being off my feet and out of action, I had way too much time on my hands," Mari said, sighing again, her berating starting to return to normal.
    "I . . . I talked with Charlie," Vinnie said hesitantly, his gaze never leaving Snowfall.
    Mari looked up. "How did she take it?"
    "I told her what you told me, and . . . "
    "And what? For the love of the gods, don't keep me in suspense."
    Vinnie hesitated. "She said she understood and she was sorry she snapped at me. But ya got to admit it, she had a reason to be upset."
    "No, really?" Mari said in mock sarcasm. "Lay a bombshell like that at someone's door that early in the morning, and sure, ya got fireworks. I shoulda realized that wouldn't be a good time to spring it on her, but I wasn't thinking."
    "She says that we might have a chance. I was with her when Mandy called. I don't think she was that mad I came to be with you," Vinnie said, looking at her, a half smile on his face. "I hoped you had gotten over being mad at me."
    Mari returned the grin. "As I've told Mandy before, I can't hold a grudge long. But I did get worried when you never called, nor the guys." Mari paused. "I feared Limburger might have gotten the better of you."
    "Ol' cheddar breath'll never get the drop on the Biker Mice," Vinnie laughed, clamping a hand over his mouth when Snowfall began to stir.
    Mari closed her eyes and gritted her teeth in pain. "Take Snowfall and get Mandy."
    "Something wrong?" Vinnie asked, taking his daughter, worry lining his face.
    Mari shook her head. "Nothing that good ol' Mother Nature won't fix. That and a lot of aspirin."
    Vinnie exited hastily, Mandy soon entering.
    "So?" Mandy began as she cleaned Mari up. "What's the verdict?"
    "He's finally gone back to Charlie, though I know Snowfall will test their love. But I think I've gotten him to see the proverbial light over things," Mari said, sighing once more.
    Mandy chuckled. "I don't think I've heard you sigh so much in all the years we've known each other."
    Mari chuckled, grabbing her stomach. "You've never had kids, you don't know what a relief it is after you've given birth."
    "True," Mandy said rising, her task done. "Do you want me to send him in?"
    Mari shifted stiffly in bed. "Snowfall will need her first meal once she is awake, and as sore as I'm feeling, I'll need the release myself."
    Mandy only nodded, leaving the room. Shortly Vinnie re entered, carrying Snowfall. The girl slept soundly in his arms.
    "You must be a natural," Mari said.
    "I'm afraid I'll drop her."
    Mari reached for her daughter. "In time you'll learn. Turbo was the same with Phoenix." She looked up at the mention of her mate's name, fearing she had said something wrong.
    Yet when Vinnie handed her their daughter, he only smiled. "How long did it take him to finally get comfortable?"
    "Not until Blaze came along. By then he had already gone through two years of child rearing and knew what to expect."
    "I still can't believe it," Vinnie said, kneeling beside the bed. Snowfall began to stir and he looked tenderly at her.
    Mari unbuttoned her shirt, helping Snowfall to nurse. She looked up to see the deep crimson blush in Vinnie's cheeks as he tried to keep his gaze off of her chest.
    Mari could not help but smile. "Ya've seen 'em once, what's to be ashamed about now?"
    He looked into her eyes and smiled his trademark smile, so much like hers. "It's just that things seem different."
    "Of course they do. Things are different." Mari shifted Snowfall to her other breast, wincing in pain at the tenderness in her chest and the bite from Snowfall. "Damn but she's gonna be a feisty one."
    "She gets it all from her poppa," Vinnie said, smiling.
    Mari looked up, a half smile on her face. "Says you. If she gets anything from me, it'll be common sense." She paused. "You didn't break the speed limit, did ya?"
    "If you want me to be honest, do ya want me to answer?"
    Mari chuckled. "See, you gave her the fire inside, and I gave her the wisdom not to make rash judgments."
    "No," Vinnie said suddenly, kissing her on the forehead. "We gave her the desire to fight, for what she believes in."
    "What if we're both wrong and she turns out to be completely different?" Mari asked.
    "Then we'll blame it on something else," Vinnie said, laughing.
    Mari followed suit, though she could not match the howl Vinnie gave, her insides too sore to allow it. She looked down at Snowfall who had fallen asleep mid meal, apparently undisturbed by her parents. She carefully disengaged her girl and bundled her up.
    "Here," Mari said, handing Snowfall to Vinnie. "I gotta rest after that. Stick around, if you want, and in a few hours I'll feel more like talking."
    "I'll be here for you. I promised it once and I won't go back on my word, no matter what."
    "Just don't ruin it for you and Charlie. That's all I ask."
    Vinnie grinned at her. "I promise. I won't." He paused. "She does mean a lot to me."
    "Glad to see you finally came to your senses," Mari said, returning the smile. "See you later," she added.
    "Sleep tight," he added, leaving the room, his gaze on Snowfall.
    Mari laid her head back sighing once more. Things seemed like they would go back to some sense of normalcy after all, Snowfall aside.
    If they ever knew what normalcy was before.
                                                       #
Although you see the world different than me,
Sometimes I can touch upon the wonders that you see.
All of the new colors and pictures you've designed,
Oh, yes sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine,
Child of mine,
Child of mine,
Oh, yes sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine.

Nobody's gonna kill your dreams or tell you how to live your life.
There'll always be people to make it hard for a while,
But you'll change their heads when they see you smile.

The times you were born in may not have been the best,
But you can make the times to come better than the rest,
I know you will be honest if you can't always be kind,
Oh, yes sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine,
Child of mine,
Child of mine,
Oh, yes sweet darling, so glad you are a child of mine.

You don't need directions, you know which way to go,
And I don't want to hold you back,
I just wanted to watch you grow.
You're the one who taught me,
You don't have to be behind.