The Hardest Thing

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Disclaimer: I don't own the Biker Mice or anyone from that show. I do, however, own... Mari, Snowfall, Mandy, Turbo, Sparky, Starfire, Starmantle, Tactica, Ice, Fire, the Rockers... the Sabers, Phoenix, Blaze, Blade, Thunder.. and I think that's it :) .

This story takes place some time (but not all that much) after the finding of the Rockers and their new lives on Earth. I make no money from this and do so only for the enjoyment of myself and others.

Read and enjoy.

The Hardest Thing

By Goldenmane

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Charlie looked up at Vinnie with a slow and lazy smile. She sighed as her heartbeat began to return to normal.

"So?" Vinnie rasped. "Am I forgiven?"

She reached up and gently ran her fingers through the fur on his cheek. "Do you even have to ask?"

He smiled tenderly at her, drawing her closer. He rested his chin in her hair, sighing. Mari had been right. Charlie was the one and only woman for him. And after what both he and Charlie had seen between Mari and Turbo, he would never have stood a chance. Turbo seemed quite content now to raise Snowfall as his own. Though he had made it clear that he expected Vinnie to visit often. For Snowfall's sake.

"Thinking?" Charlie lazily asked.

Vinnie hesitated. "Yeah."

"What about?"

"You really want to know?" he asked, almost hesitantly.

Charlie shifted against him, looking up into his red eyes. "Mari?"

"Only that she was right all along," Vinnie said softly.

"How so?"

"That we really were meant for each other. She could see that, and I couldn't. I... almost didn't want to admit it once I did see," he said, his voice trailing.

Charlie nestled closer, allaying his fears. "You didn't want to be hurt again. Mari reminded you of what you lost when Harley was kidnapped. You didn't want to take a chance anymore. You were afraid of loving again. Mari had renewed her feelings for a mate she did not yet have. And that I'd reject you for what you did."

Vinnie remained silent.

"And I did. I've told you before that every time you mentioned her name, I hated you for it. Hated Mari for taking you away from me," Charlie paused. "But then I began to see a change. In both of you. Mari turned completely to Snowfall as only a mother could. And you became distant. From her. From me. Then on New Years Eve when you gave me the necklace, and we watched the fireworks, I knew then, no matter what, that you really and truly loved me."

"I never meant to hurt anyone. Especially you."

She withdrew her hand, entwining her fingers with his. "Then, I couldn't understand. I didn't want to believe that you would do something like that. But I guess somewhere, deep down inside I knew there was that chance. The chance that you would never become or want to be a one-lady mouse."

"But I am...now."

It was Charlie's turn to sigh now. Especially when the CB began to blare downstairs. She moved, staring at the clock. It was well afternoon. No doubt the guys were coming over. Again.

Vinnie cursed out loud as he tramped down the stairs to the CB. One of these days, he mused, they would have to bring the CB upstairs.

He breathed deeply once, holding it before releasing. He wanted to make sure his breathing had returned to normal as well.

"Yeah, what is it?" he half grumbled into the Mic.

"I'm coming in with some news," Carbine said, much to his surprise. "I've found something important."

Vinnie half turned as Charlie walked over to him. He turned back to the CB. "What could be so important?"

Carbine paused. "We've found Harley."

Vinnie paled. He weakly reached for a chair with his tail and sat. "Where?" he barely squeaked out.

"Some unnamed, as-of-yet undiscovered ball of rock. We received word from a strange being that it had picked up our radio relays floating through space and decided to help," Carbine said. "It said something about it's duty to serve and help. Said it's name was SilverWing. Anyway, we sent a ship out and confirmed it's findings. She's being held in a max security compound run by the Plutarkians. No sign of Mace."

"How long before you get here?" he weakly asked.

"I'll be landing soon."

Vinnie laid the Mic. down, his head going to his hands. He jumped visibly when Charlie laid a hand on his shoulder. "After all this time," he whispered.

"Fate can play cruel tricks," Charlie said softly.

Vinnie looked up into her emerald eyes. His heart ached, torn in two directions. He had, once, vowed to find Harley and make Mace pay. But that was years ago. Almost a lifetime, it seemed. And now he had Charlie.

"What are you going to do?"

He hesitated. "Let the guys know."

He radioed the scoreboard, waking Throttle and Modo, though they became fully alert when he told them the news.

"I can't believe it," he heard Modo say over the CB.

"You tellin' me," Vinnie said.

"We'll be over as soon as we can," Throttle said, signing off.

Vinnie rose and stood there. Stood there looking at Charlie, as a single tear fell down her cheek. He tenderly wiped it away, embracing her. He rocked her back and forth, his chin resting on her shoulder.

She pulled back. "I know you have to go," she said softly.

Vinnie hesitated, "I made a promise, sweetheart . . . "

Charlie shook her head. "We'd better get dressed before company comes."

His heart sunk when she turned, plodding back up the stairs. He sunk to the chair, turning. He set the CB for another frequency and sighed.

"Last Chance to Changing Times. You guys there?" he asked.

Silence then: "Vinnie?" Mari half panted. "Gods, you sound awful. Don't tell me something's happened?"

"It has."

"Not the guys or Charlie," he heard Turbo, out of breath, in the background.

"No. Carbine found Harley. She's comin' in with a ship. Plutarkian fortified prision out in the middle of no where," he said.

He winced at a small flurry of activity, especially when he heard a slam on the other end. "Want the whole of the Rockers?"

"By the way Carbine sounded, probably."

"I'll give them the word and we'll transport in. Any ETA?" Mari asked.

Vinnie hesitated. "Five minutes. It'll take Carbine about that long . . . and . . . Charlie and I . . . well . . . "

"Ah," Mari said in a tone that she understood. "Gotcha. 'Bout time too. Take us probably that long to get ready ourselves. We'll call in about five. Detroit out."

He set the Mic. down, setting the CB to standby. He sighed and rose. He went upstairs, pausing at the top of the stairs. Charlie sat on the edge of the bed, back to him, dressed and crying. He went over and sat beside her, an arm going around her shoulders.

She leaned into him and cried.

"It'll be alright, sweetheart," Vinnie said softly, cradling her.

"Why do I feel like I'm going to loose you?" she sobbed.

"I know the odds look bad, but I'll be back. You know that."

She looked up. "Do you promise?"

"Biker Mice honour, sweetheart," he said softly. "I promise."

"You'd better get dressed," she said, standing suddenly. "I'll wait downstairs."

Vinnie sighed, gathering his clothes. He dressed quickly, rushing down the stairs when he heard Mari's call over the CB. "All set here," he said hurriedly.

By the sound on the other end, all of the Rockers had gathered at the Changing Times. "All set here, too," Mari said. "Transporting in."

"I've got your frequency," Carbine said. "I can see Throttle and Modo heading your way, they'll be there shortly."

He could hear the roar of two bike engines, soon drowned out by the scream of a ship's engine breaking for a landing.

A flash of light and the Rockers appeared. The doors swung open and in rode Throttle and Modo, Carbine walked in shortly thereafter.

"Now how we gonna do dis?" Mari asked in her accent.

"We ride," Vinnie said, going for his bike.

He looked back to Charlie, saying more with his eyes than words could ever speak. There stood a great chance he would never return. Never return to the one lady in his life who he had finally pledged his undying love to. And he had taken that and trampled it beneath his renewed feelings for Harley.

"Vinnie," Mari said harshly in his ear. "It's now or never. And if I were you, I'd sit this one out."

He turned to Mari. "I'm coming along. Aint no way I'm gonna let my bro's have all the fun."

Mari shook her head. "You tried that stunt once and nearly lost her. Are you gonna risk another chance for happiness?"

Vinnie rolled his bike towards the door. "The sooner we get going, the sooner we'll be back."

Mari only sighed and backed Ice up. She wheeled her bike around and slowly they all left the Last Chance and boarded the ship, securing their bikes. Mari went to Vinnie, laying a hand on his arm and stopped him.

"Just be sure," she said.

Vinnie pushed her aside, taking a seat next to Sparky. "Turbo, time to hit the skies. There's a mouse that needs rescuing."

They made good time to the asteroid, Mari worried when they encountered no resistance. Someone had said it was good news, and another quipped that they might make it in and out with no hassles. Mari could not feel so sure. She could not shake the feeling they were flying right into a trap out of her mind.

Carbine stayed with the ship as they all transported down. They had no time for a plan, forced to 'wing it'. They rode fast and silent towards the complex. Mari called for a halt just as the walls came into view. "I don't like this. Something about this bothers me," she said.

"It didn't when we left Earth," Vinnie said.

"No. But now . . . I don't know. Something just feels wrong," she said.

"Do we go or bail? Her hunches have never been wrong yet," Starfire said.

Vinnie inched his bike ahead of Ice. "We ride."

They set off once more, finding little in the way of resistance until they started to breach the walls. They broke, finding themselves under heavy laser fire from the wall mounted lasers and the Plutarkian defenders. A fine shimmering shield prevented them from transporting in.

"Kind of reminds me of Junior's Fortress," Tactica said with a shudder.

"Who knows? Maybe this is one of his?" Mari questioned. "That might be what I feel?"

They circled the building, finding no way in. Mari at last penetrated the shields, locking on a sole Martian signal. "Only room for one," she said. "Just remember, I don't like how fast I broke the code. I still say this is a trap."

"I'm on it," Vinnie said, getting the co ordinates.

He transported in, his bike taking up most of the room in the cell. He dismounted, going to a still figure on a cot. He touched the figure's shoulder, jumping back when the figure leapt to it's feet.

"Harley?" he asked softly.

"Vinnie?" she replied equally shocked. "It is you . . .but how?"

Vinnie smiled. "Long story, sweetheart." He helped her onto his bike, revving his bike's engine. "Just hang on."

He half smiled again as Harley gripped him tight around the mid section. He transported out, cursing when he did not arrive outside, but in another area of the prison.

"Something wrong?" Harley asked.

"Must be a shield. Mari must have lost he code." He punched a button on his bike. "Mari, you read me?"

"Loud and clear," came the response. "Any luck?"

He chuckled. "A-ok, except I can't transport out. Something must be jamming the co ordinates."

"Try it again, I've locked Ice to your signal."

He punched a button, starting the transport. He reached for his laser when he saw a Plutarkian round the corner. He let off one quick shot, leaning his bike sideways as the Plutarkian fired. The world did not go black as it normally did during a transport, instead he could smell smoke accompanied by a blinding flash. Then the world became eerily still.

Mari waited, keeping an eye on the co ordinates Ice fed to Vinnie's bike. She watched as his signal wavered, a sign he had started the transport, then something happened. His signal disappeared, Ice's control panel began to short out. Mari leapt off her bike, watching as Ice fell over, her circuits burned.

She watched as Turbo rode over, leaping off his bike to embrace her. "You ok?"

Mari nodded, though she shivered. "Ice is toast. But I lost Vinnie's signal. I don't know where he is?"

"We can't stay here, they'll be looking for us," Turbo said, going to Fire. "Need assistance, down a bike," he called.

"Be right there," Carbine said.

"Transport in to our co ordinates," Mari added. "Back up fire until Carbine can get here."

They started working on Ice, pausing when the Rockers and Throttle and Modo, led by Tactica, transported in.

"I have no idea where or when Vinnie and Harley are," Mari said solemnly. "Ice was connected to his signal then she just shorted. Big time."

The others scanned, finding no other Martian bikes except for theirs. "What now?"

"Retreat. That's all we can do," Mari said. "Like I told Turbo, I don't think they are dead. Just lost out there."

They watched as Carbine landed nearby. They boarded the ship just as a small group of heavily armed Plutarkians crested the ridge. The Rockers provided cover fire, transporting aboard the ship once Carbine had taken off. They sped back towards Mars.

"If I can get enough of Ice fixed, I might be able to figure out where they went," Mari said, running a diagnostic on Ice. "Whatever happened, it was on his end, not mine. Something must have interfered with the transport mechanism," Mari half muttered.

"Think you can do it?" Sparky asked.

Mari shrugged. "Doesn't look as bad as I first thought. But the temporal and spatial fields are shot. Her memory is in tact and maybe I can rewire enough parts to get at least some form of reading."

"If you say so," Modo said.

Mari worked, the others helping when they could. They soon reached Earth orbit and Carbine landed the ship near the Last Chance. They disembarked, Charlie rushing out to greet them. When Mari walked slowly down the ramp, Modo carrying Ice, Charlie became worried.

"We hit a small snag," Mari said, sighing. "Vinnie tried to transport out, couldn't, linked to Ice and something happened during the second transport. Ice burned out and he's no where to be found."

Charlie only stood there in shock.

"Come on," Mari said, walking over to her. "I don't feel he's dead."

"No," Charlie snapped. "It's all your fault. You did this to him."

Mari sighed, taking a step back. "Think what you will, I've got to get back to Ice."

"You think more about your bike than Vinnie," Charlie said, moving away from Throttle when he approached.

"Without Ice's transport memory, I can't tell where or when he went. If I can find that, then we can go in for a pick up," Mari said.

Charlie turned, stalking back into the garage. Mari winced when Charlie slammed the door behind her. Mari only half turned and shrugged, returning her work on Ice.

Time seemed to drag on, before Mari let out a whoop of joy. "Part of the ol' gal's systems are back on line. I've got a lock. Sorta."

"What kind of 'sorta'?" Starmantle asked.

"They're still in our time, I just don't know where," Mari rose. "Carbine, put in a call to Stoker, see if they turned up on Mars. The rest of you get back to your cities and check there. See if Firefall, Sunspot, or Mandy have heard anything."

They broke, going their own ways, Turbo remained with Mari, helping her repair Ice. Both of them worried over Charlie. And Vinnie and Harley.

Darkness. Stark darkness. Voices, soft and tender. Something burning. Struggling to wake, sensing danger. Vinnie leapt to his feet and into Harley's arms. He wondered for a moment where he was, then calmed when Harley began talking to him. He could barely remember being shot down while trying to escape a prison. But he couldn't remember which one. Or what he was doing there.

He knew he had to repair his bike. If the Plutarkians or Sand Raiders decided to attack, he would need some form of protection. Though why Stoker would have positioned Harley and him so far from the front, he could only guess at. When he faltered, Harley provided the background he needed.

Something, though, bothered him about his bike. Someone had made changes to his bike's systems. He couldn't tell what, only guessed that the Plutarkians must have done it while he was a prisoner of them. Harley had said that many things had happened while they were prisoners. Terrible things. But he had, she told Vinnie, broken them out, only to be attacked. That's when his memory went on the fritz, and Stoker sent them to the remote outpost.

Vinnie had been astonished when she had told him Throttle and Modo had died while they were captive. It seemed, as she said, the war would never end. That they would never see peace. That's why Vinnie and she had to stay in the outpost under strict radio silence.

He had repaired his bike, leaving the changes as they were. As far as he could tell they had shorted out completely and should be harmless. Harley had told him to tear the circuits out, in case they were a Plutarkian homing device. He had, making sure to destroy them.

At least the outpost had a good supply of rations and weapons. Weapons that had to be put to use when a band of Sand Raiders attacked one day.

As time went by, he could not help shake the feeling that something was amiss. Something in the back of his mind told him there was someone else. Someone he was supposed to meet at the prison. Someone named Mari. But he couldn't remember who she was or why she'd be so important.

Then something happened. A flash of light, a disorienting sound. He could hear a voice calling to him. A female voice. Familiar to him. Warning him. Telling him to link to her. Link? How? He tried to ask.

He could see a face, a white mouse with grey hair and blue eyes. She seemed to be calling to him. Beckoning him. He looked behind him to Harley. She too seemed to call to him.

He put his hands to his ears, collapsing on his knees. He shut his eyes, trying to block out the sound and light. But most of all to hide from Harley and the nameless female mouse. He wanted out. He wanted to get back. Back? Where?

He struggled to remember. Fought against a tide of hopelessness. Surged ahead of his shredded memory to remember who the white mouse was.

Mari.

Vinnie looked up, his eyes going wide. There Mari stood with a child in her arms. White with light grey hair and blue eyes. She seemed to be reaching for him. Both of them. Something seemed familiar about the child. And the auburn haired human who stood behind them. He tried to remember who they were. All the while trying to drown out the pleas from Harley not to leave him. Not to make her go back.

He rose, taking slow, laboured steps towards Mari. Something pulled him to her. Away from Harley. He approached her, reaching out. His hand brushed the child, sending pains through his head. He grabbed his head, staggering backwards. Images, names, sounds, sensations came flooding back. Mari, Snowfall who, by now, would be back in Detroit with Turbo. Charlie who waited for him back at the Last Chance.

Vinnie turned. Harley stood there, a wispy wraith-like form. She seemed sad, confused, and understanding at the same time. He watched in horror as Harley's form faded from view. He turned, finding Mari, Snowfall and Charlie gone. Though a voice seemed to call to him.

Time to come home . . .

Home . . .

Vinnie bolted upright, wondering for a moment where he was. The room lay in darkness and a cool breeze wafted in the window. He nearly jumped out of bed when a pair of soft hands reached for his arm, a finger tracing lazily along his muscles.

"Another nightmare, sweety?"

Vinnie looked down toward Harley. She had lost a lot of weight during her imprisonment by Mace, but she had lost none of the fire Vinnie had known her for.

"Nightmare."

"If you talk, maybe they'll go away," Harley said, half rising in bed. She laid her head against his shoulder, rubbing her hand absently along his arm.

He shook his head. Mostly to clear the nightmare from his mind, though mainly in an attempt to rid himself of the bad feeling. Finally, after two months, he could finally think straight. He could finally remember what happened.

"Do you know how much I've missed you?" Harley asked.

"I've missed you, too," Vinnie began. "Things have changed."

"What do you mean? We're still at war. Stoker still want's us out here. We have each other. Our love alone," Harley said softly.

"No. It's finally come back to me." He turned to her. "I've got someone else."

Harley pulled away. "Mari? You mumbled her name enough when you slept," she said with contempt.

Vinnie seemed shocked for a moment. "No. A human named Charlie."

"How could you love a human? How could you have given up on me?" Harley turned, cradling her head on her knees. "I've never given up on you," she sobbed.

Vinnie turned to her. "I never gave up hope we'd find you. We tried, Harley, we tried."

"Not hard enough."

"We searched. We scoured the whole of Mars. And when we left Mars, we still searched. I had almost given up any hope I'd find you alive."

Harley rose, going to the window. "Ever since Mace kidnapped me . . . I wondered what it'd be like to have you back. Wondered if you still loved me after all this time. But I guess not."

Vinnie rose, going to her, cradling her from behind. "I never forgot what we had once. But that is in the past. We have to look to the future, now. Things do change. I have a new life on Earth. I have . . . a family there."

Harley turned, shocked. "With that human?"

"No. With Mari." Vinnie took a step back, turning. "I'm going to call them."

"You can't," Harley began.

Vinnie went to the radio, grimacing. The wires had been cut. That would account for the radio silence. Harley had taken precautions in case he did get his memory back. Even to tricking him into destroying the only means he had of getting back to Earth. He did not have Mari or Goldenmane's know how of transporting, and could never rebuild the transport system in his bike. He would be stuck here until someone could find them.

If they ever did.

He turned. "Why?"

"Why? How dare you ask me that," Harley nearly cried. "We were meant to be together, you know that. What Mace did shouldn't get in the way."

"Why lie to me?"

"I didn't lie. Only told you the truth."

Vinnie sighed. "The truth according to your view. Not the whole truth."

At the sound of a bike engine, Vinnie rushed to the window. He reached for his laser, setting off a few quick shots around the biker. "Yo, in here," he called.

He rushed down the stairs to the front entrance to the post, swinging the door open, careful to stay out of the way. "Never thought I'd be glad to see you, old timer," Vinnie said.

Stoker dismounted, carefully going in the old outpost. He stood there, shocked when he saw Vinnie. Thought more so when Harley came down the stairs.

"Long story, coach. I'll tell you on the way back to HQ," Vinnie said.

Vinnie sat outside the small room, waiting for the Healers to finish their check-up on Harley. When they emerged, giving him the news, he half sighed. Her mind had changed while she was a prisoner of Mace and the Plutarkians. Somehow she had latched onto Vinnie's memory and corrupted it over the years. She found her chance to have him all to herself and lied to him while he had partial amnesia. Which the healers said had corrected itself naturally.

Once they had gotten back to HQ, Vinnie had put out a call to a very relieved Mari who, after telling Charlie, had transported in. She had begun repairs to his bike, reinstalling the transport ability while he waited.

He half nodded when Stoker walked up to him.

"Sometimes these things happen," Stoker said. "Don't worry, she'll be in good hands here.'

"Thanks," Vinnie said solemnly.

"If it's any consolation to you, Mari says she's done with your bike."

Vinnie only nodded.

Stoker clapped him on the shoulder once before entering the small room. He emerged, sheltering a gaunt, tired looking, Harley with his arm. He led her down the hallway and out of sight.

Vinnie sighed and rose, walking to the bike bay, away from Stoker and Harley. He went to his bike, barely acknowledging Mari.

"It's tough to find a lost love then loose them. Again," Mari said.

Vinnie only barely nodded. "Let's get going."

They transported back to Chicago, Mari saying her goodbyes before heading onto Detroit. Vinnie found the Last Chance deserted and went upstairs with a heavy heart. He sat on the edge of the bed, numbed to the core. Sometimes life could be unfair. Though he wondered if anything could be more of a shock than finding and losing Harley.

We we're not meant to be,

This is wrong,

And baby it's killing me, it's killing you.

Both of us got to be strong.

I got somewhere else to be,

Promises to keep,

Someone else who loves me,

And trusted me endlessly.

I've made up my mind.

There is no turning back.

She's been good to me.

And she deserves better than that.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do,

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie,

To show no emotion when you start to cry.

I can't let you see what you mean to me,

When my hands are tied and my heart's not free.

We're not meant to be.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do.

To turn around and walk away, pretending I don't love you.

When we'll meet again,

Fate is a place and time.

So you can get on with your life,

I've got to be cruel to be kind.

Like Dr. Zhivago,

All my love I'll be sending,

And you'll never know,

That there can be no happy ending.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do,

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie,

To show no emotion when you start to cry.

I can't let you see what you mean to me

When my hands are tied and my heart's not free,

We're not meant to be.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do.

To turn around and walk away pretending I don't love you

I've made up my mind,

There is no turning back,

She's been good to me,

And she deserves better than that.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do,

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you,

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie,

To show no emotion when you start to cry.

I can't let you see what you mean to me,

When my hands are tied and my heart's not free.

We're not meant to be.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to do,

To look you in the eye and tell you I don't love you.

It's the hardest thing I'll ever have to lie,

To show no emotions when you start to cry.

Epilogue

Vinnie looked at the picture of Harley. The one he had kept safely tucked away in his personal belongings. What little he had. He had found his first true love, after all those years. Had actually touched her. Been with her. Now he could fully understand what Mari had gone through when she had found out Turbo was alive.

But this was different.

Mari had gone back to Turbo. Once he had forgiven her - and Vinnie - for Snowfall, they had renewed their pledge of love. Their ties stronger than ever. Just like he had finally done with Charlie. They may not be married in the Terran or Martian sense, but their hearts were forever bound by a common thread. Love.

Vinnie turned with a start at an hand on his arm. He turned, blushing a deep crimson when he saw Charlie standing there. He quickly tried to stuff the picture in his pants pocket, sighing when Charlie snatched it out of his hands.

"It's hard, isn't it," Charlie said softly. "To find a love then loose it. Twice."

Vinnie could find no words. Mari had basically said the same thing to him when they left Mars. When he left Harley once more.

"But you still have something out of all of this," Charlie continued. "You have us. What we can and will be."

Vinnie smiled tenderly down at her. He embraced her, the picture falling silently to the floor. He had his one true love. Now. In the present. Not a memory or a feeling from the past. Charlie had been right. He had used Mari to get over his feelings for Harley instead of turning to her. He had belonged with Charlie since he had first met her those many years ago. Though then he still was too hot headed and 'macho' to admit he could feel for anyone. More than just surface feelings.

More than the two months he spent on Mars with Harley, his memory in shreds from the rescue attempt. He could never bring himself to love Harley again. Not after her attempts to keep him there. He thought he had a loyalty to Harley, though he finally realized that his true feelings and heart lay with one very special woman. A woman he now held in his arms.

Charlie pulled back suddenly. "I've... got to go."

"What is it, sweetheart," Vinnie said, concern lacing his voice. "Did I do something wrong?"

Charlie shook her head, her hand going to her mouth.

"Why? What's wrong?" Vinnie paused. "You're not..."

Charlie said nothing, hurrying downstairs. Vinnie followed, stopping outside the bathroom door. He sighed, leaning back against the wall. He waited for Charlie to finish before saying anything.

Charlie finally emerged, slightly paler.

"How long have you had morning sickness?" he asked.

Charlie quirked a brow. "How could you guess?"

"Mari...told me enough about it when she was pregnant with Snowfall...." Vinnie's voice trailed off.

She only shook her head, a single tear falling down her cheek. "I wanted to make sure you really would come back to me. After what Harley pulled. That's why I didn't tell you when you first came back."

Vinnie was speechless again.

"I went to the doc and she gave me the news.... I am pregnant," Charlie said almost hesitantly. "You're going to be a daddy . . . again."

His jaw visibly dropped.

Charlie only smiled.

Regaining his composure, he hugged her tight, releasing her quickly, his hand going protectively to her stomach. He smiled at her.

"Since we first met, I always wondered what it would be like to have your child," Charlie said softly, taking his hand in hers, drawing him closer. "Now I guess we get to find out."

"Are you sure it's safe?" he asked, concerned.

"Doc's say things seem to be going fine. No complications. But they do want me in on a regular basis," Charlie paused. "Though my doc did do a double take when I showed her a picture of you. She want's to make sure nothing goes wrong. Especially since this will be a mixed-race birth."

Vinnie hugged her, careful of her stomach. Careful of the new life they had created. Nothing could spoil this moment. And if something did come up, he wouldn't let it bother him. He had his one true love. His one soul-mate, as Mari had once told him, the only woman he was meant to be with.

He caught a glimpse of the picture out of the corner of his eye. His thoughts turned depressive for only the briefest of moments. The past would remain in the past. He would concentrate on the future. On the start of his new family.

Of his life with Charlie.

No one would ever come between them again. Of that, he silently vowed to whatever God or Goddess of good would hear him. The picture of Harley was soon forgotten.

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The Hardest Thing (C) 98*