Note: I decided not to call this particular followup 'tangents' since a tangent is something that wanders off from the main point. The previous sets of tangents while sometimes housing foreshadowing or plots continued in later entries were still each a self-contained short story. In this case each entry follows one unifying plot thread from start to finish, making it more of a mini sequel than a tangent series.

As with the tangents, rating and content fluctuates from chapter to chapter, but for the most part it stays PGish. Special thanks go to MayaPatch, who inspired this entire thing with her innocent question of whether or not the young hybrids in this series are, like Ashlin, sterile. Thank you and enjoy.

(Side note: Grammatical and spelling errors that appear later this chapter were done on purpose, since I thought they fit the character making them. It was mildly torturous to force myself to do this. The ways we suffer for our craft...)

Part 1: Discovery

It was a great day for a party, and Vector loved parties. Plenty of free eats, enough root beer to drown in, friends and family crammed in around you until you felt pleasantly smothered. The back room of Slingshot's was reserved just for them today, and everyone was here: his parents and baby sister, his best bud, both his 'uncles' and their families, and the extended brood from Malteria. General Jayce was standing near his sister, with his mate and daughter hovering close by. His son Dirk was over at the snack table - a boy after his own heart.

Vector was much more interested in the ladies of the group, both young and old - because when they were Imeeran it didn't make much difference. They stayed hot even when they were hundreds of years old, which was just fine by him. In fact, he was pretty sure Imeerans were his favorite kind of female. He loved how they came in an endless variety of colors - sizes too. Some were big enough to make him feel intimidated while others were so small he could probably carry them like a doll. It wasn't something he let get around, but he kind of liked to imagine moving to Malteria so he could be surrounded by all that multicolored beauty day in, day out. Better than living in a candy store.

Too bad all the ones in the room right now were taken - except Chloe, that is. She had grown taller than her tiny mom but still had the same kind of delicacy to her, the same sweetness - yet she definitely had a sassy streak. Vector thought her cotton candy pink skin and frosty white hair made her awfully cute.

Everyone's attention was on the guest of honor, whose mom was hovering over, voice coaxing. "Come on, sweetie," said Tamerin, "blow out the candles."

She demonstrated without actually blowing; Thea quickly caught on and extinguished the trio of candles perched atop her small pink cake. Everyone cheered, making her giggle in delight. She was only three, but she knew to sit back in her booster seat and wait while the candles were taken away and the cake was sliced. Her dad fussed over her in the meantime, straightening her bib and making sure she had a plate and a set of pink utensils.

Thea's life had a lot of pink in it. Vector couldn't blame her parents; the rolly-polly little critter didn't have anything about her yet that really showed that she was a girl, though he personally thought her big blue eyes and dark lashes were an obvious giveaway. It wasn't an uncommon issue; lots of girl mouse babies got mistaken for boys when they were still in their chubby and hairless stage. To compensate, their parents would dress them in frilly dresses and lacy bloomers. Thea's parents did the same, often completing the girly look with a ribbon around her fuzzy head, tied in a bow in front of one of her round ears.

After everyone had a slice of cake, it was time for presents, which were as predictable as you'd expect for a three-year-old's birthday. Picture books, dolls, a few cutesie outfits, educational games. Thea kept quiet as she unwrapped each gift, her big eyes growing even bigger and shining with delight. It made Vector a little jealous; his own birthday was months away.

Once all the presents were opened and the snack table emptied, most of them moved to the arcade. He managed to pry Saber away from Joy long enough to start a friendly contest - which he ended up winning. But Saber almost looked happy about losing if it meant he was free to get back to his wife, so Vector didn't gloat very hard. Now that Saber was officially his brother he didn't think it would hurt if he and Joy took a time out from each other for a little while. Maybe even five whole minutes.

The younger members of the group stayed in the arcade, while the adults went to the restaurant section of the bar for coffee and more root beer - except for Thea's mom. She hung out in the arcade for the rest of the day and blasted past all their best scores - including his. Vector didn't mind as much as he would have if he had been beaten by one of the guys, seeing how she was mother of the birthday girl and all. Not to mention hot.

When it finally came time to wrap things up and go home, Vector groaned in disappointment; he hated to see the day come to an end. But come to an end it did, Thea's dad carrying the sleepy birthday girl with one arm and the bags holding all her goodies with the other. Rimfire and Bevra decided to stay in the restaurant for dinner before heading home, but the rest of them were leaving. Jayce transported back to Malteria with his family, and Joy stepped outside with her brother, with Saber at their heels.

Vector took a deep breath; the night air felt cold and refreshing in his lungs after being cooped up in the stuffy arcade for so long. Smirking suddenly, Joy punched his shoulder. "I'll beat you next time," she vowed.

"Were you even playing against me today?"

"No, but that's besides the point."

Vector rolled his eyes; she snickered and punched him again. Her small fists had a harder impact than you'd think they would.

His brandywine eyes full of affection, Saber put his arm around her. "You ready to go?"

"Uh-huh."

Joy glanced at her brother. "You're okay riding home alone, right?"

It was an absent, rhetorical question, and the two of them walked away without waiting for an answer, heading to where they'd parked their bikes. Vector felt the relaxed smile that had been on his face all evening fade. His eyes slowly drifted from couple to couple as they left the bar and grill together. His parents, Uncle Throttle and family, Uncle Modo and his. His sister and best friend, walking with their arms tightly around each other.

Yeah. He was okay riding home alone. And being at home. All alone.

Working in the garage was extra dull after such a fun day, and Vector spent most of the following morning swallowing huge yawns. It was a slow kind of morning to boot, with only a little repair work and a bit of cleanup on his schedule. Joy was already finished and gone for the day...little showoff.

He wasn't the only one who was bored. Dad was restless and looking for trouble, deliberately getting in his wife's way as she worked and poking her with his tail when she dodged by, to her further irritation. Finally, Dad quit his version of foreplay, grabbed Mom by the waist and tossed her casually over his shoulder. "You're working too hard," he said frankly. "We're going to go play whether you like it or not."

"Vinnie, not in front of the customers," Mom scolded, squirming in embarrassment as she tried to wiggle free.

"What customers?" Vector asked innocently.

The shop portion of the garage was empty right now. It was just them and a few of the other mechanics, who were watching the owners in amusement. "You can keep an eye on things out here for a few hours, right?" Dad asked. "This little lady's got wing nuts that need tightening."

"Don't even know what that's supposed to mean. And please don't explain it to me."

Dad merely grinned before turning and heading out of the room. On the way he gave his wife a sharp slap on the butt, making her yelp and kick her feet. She continued to grumble and struggle as the two disappeared into another section of the garage...though she wasn't struggling very hard.

Shaking his head, Vector went back to work. He stayed busy with the repairs on a small bike model for several hours before he was finished. Yawning, he stretched for a minute before wiping his hands off and putting his tools away. He was just about to close his toolbox when he spied a slip of folded white paper tucked inside the lid.

Great. Mom must have thought up another job for him.

With the sound of the other mechanics at work behind him, Vector plucked the paper from the lid and unfolded it. And the world seemed to fade away until the only thing he was aware of were the words on the small page.

Seeing you smile brings a light to my world that wasn't there before.
Hearing you laugh makes the sun feel warmer, the stars shine brighter,
and everything I taste seem sweeter. Watching you happy makes me
feel a joy I've never known.

Minutes ticked by and he was still standing there, quietly gawking at the wrinkled paper in his hand. Well, damn, was his first thought. Somebody seriously had the hots for him.

And who can blame her? he asked himself, as he turned to grin at his reflection in a hubcap that was hanging on the wall. Just look at him. He had it going on in pretty much every way possible.

He grinned at and admired himself a few moments more, combing his fingers through his forelock, before returning his attention to the love note. In his mind he was already trying to imagine where and when he had sparked this lucky lady's attention - it could have been just about anywhere and at any time, since he was all kinds of awesome at every second. Could've even happened here at the garage; that seemed the most likely scenario, since he found the note in his toolbox. It was easy to picture a shy lady mouse customer being enthralled by him and his mad mechanic skills and leaving her intimate thoughts where she knew he'd find them.

Although picturing that his secret admirer was a lady mouse made his excitement dip a notch. Not that there was anything wrong with lady mice. He just had a strong taste for ladies of the furless variety. Couldn't be helped; it was in his genes. Trips and family vacations to Malteria and Earth were always his favorite, because he got to gaze at all the glossy-skinned females his eyes could stand.

They had to be more sensitive in virtually every way, too, since there was no barrier between their skin and intimate touches. Even a soft caress with his fuzzy fingers was bound to give a girl like that the chills, gentle nips with his teeth would make her shiver...

Shaking his head to dispel the mounting fantasy, Vector shoved the note into his back pocket and slapped his toolbox shut. He was getting a little carried away. It was just a note. It didn't mean there were going to be more. Or that he would actually find out who wrote it. He doubted this would lead anywhere at all.

A few days went by, and just when Vector forgot about the note, he found another one. And another one after that. And another. And another. Before long, he was hunting for them daily and was disappointed if one didn't show up. But even when he had his eye out for them, they always took him by surprise. He would get distracted by something or start thinking about something else, and up one would pop. They showed up just about anywhere, too: at work, out in town, when he was taking it easy in Slingshot's. It was like the note-leaver knew all his habits and just where to find him.

He always wanted his own secret admirer-slash-stalker.

It was fun. It was like a game they were playing; she knew where to find him but he had no idea where - or who - she was. But he was going to find out. He didn't know how, but he was going to find his little messenger girl. He had no plan on what to do after that, but he'd think about that part later.

The notes themselves were a nice stroke to his ego. Most of them were like the first one; sweet and poetic. Others were shorter, sometimes only one line, and looked like they were written in a hurry. Others were longer and more like love letters. And some were even kind of sad.

Seeing you happy always makes me smile. But
sometimes I think about how you'll never be mine,
and then I start to cry.

They wouldn't know that for sure until they actually met now would they?

Most of the notes were happy, heaping praise and compliments on him. And then the bomb was dropped.

I wish I wasn't shy. I wish I wasn't so afraid. I wish I could be
the one to hold you when you're down. The one to wipe your
tears when you cry. The one to share your joy when you laugh.
I wish I could be there for it all, and be everything to you that you
are to me.

And you are everything to me. You are the sun, the moons
and the stars to me. I wish I could tell you face to face that
I love you.

After the shock of that little revelation wore off, Vector quickly went back and reread all the other notes - to make sure he wasn't actually dealing with some creepy psycho he should be alerting the authorities about. But he didn't get that vibe from any of his sweet, tender notes. No lamentations of 'if only we knew each other' or 'I wish we could meet' or 'if I can't have you, no one can.'

Which made something finally dawn on him; maybe this wasn't a stranger writing to him all this time. Maybe he and this girl already knew each other but she didn't know how else to express her feelings.

When that thought came to him, it made him feel pretty stupid. There couldn't actually be someone in his life who was in love with him without him knowing it...could there? He tried picturing every girl he knew: regulars at Slingshot's, customers at the garage, girls he'd gone to school with. He knew lots of girls. How was he going figure out which one was the note sender?

He spent days puzzling over it, barely paying attention to his work as he kept one eye out for more notes and another eye out for any and every girl that walked by. He started making a mental list of all the ones that seemed the most likely to be leaving the notes - and then he took it a step further, sitting down at his home computer one day and writing down every girl he could think of, even ones whose name he didn't know, followed by the likelihood of them being his note-leaver based on how much opportunity they each had. He followed that with a long list of personal traits and qualities he felt added or subtracted to their likelihood of leaving notes instead of handling this face to face.

It all got a lot more complex than he planned it to, but categorizing and analyzing every little detail gave him a better idea what he was dealing with. And looking at everything he had gone over so far...he had absolutely no clue who his secret admirer could be.

Leaning back in his computer chair with a groan, Vector rubbed his eyes for a moment. This mystery was really starting to take over his life; his desk was littered with love notes, and the rest of his home was messier than usual. It was too bad Saber wasn't still around. He cleaned like a girl.

Still leaning back in his chair, Vector absently plucked a note from the pile and passed it under his nose. Some of them had a faint odor, a ghost of something subtle and sweet. Like cinnamon and brown sugar. Did his mystery woman bake? As a sucker for sweets, he could only hope.

After taking another sniff, his eyes focused on the note he was holding. Some of these were almost enough to make even him blush - almost. He really needed to find the person who saw him this way.

Your smile is my sun,
your eyes the stars in my sky,
the warmth in your heart the
center of my universe.

A chiming noise made him look up. The default messaging program his computer came with had just popped open, signaling that someone was trying to talk to him.

In a time gone by, the notion of Mars having a digital network was laughable, but these days computer linkup was becoming more and more common. And someone with brains like his was right on top of all the latest developments in technology. There was more to him than just his looks, after all.

He scooted his chair closer and peered at the screen; his own icon peered back at him from the upper right corner of the program. A picture of himself - naturally - taken from his best angle and capturing his best grin. And in the text box below was a brief message.

Are you busy?

He quickly scanned the column to the left, where everyone on his contact list was displayed. The person who messaged him the most was fellow techie Michio but his icon was grayed out, indicating that he was offline. Vector frowned at the small square in the upper left corner of the message box; it was empty. No icon was visible, and the space underneath where the screen name should have been displayed was blank.

There was no name in the text box either. So, he was dealing with a crafty little hacker, was he? Blocking your info took skill.

Intrigued, he tapped his fingers on the desk for a second, then typed: not really, you?

There was a pause, and then: I was hoping I could to talk to you for a little while.

sure, he typed back, while thinking to himself, why not? His curiosity was piqued.

There was another pause, then: Are you feeling all right?

of course, he responded, confused. why wouldnt i?

You usually get so sad this time of year.

For a long moment Vector stared blankly at the screen, confusion growing - and then it hit him, making his face warm and his throat tighten uncomfortably. He'd been so distracted by the mysterious notes he'd completely forgotten; Astrid's birthday was coming up. Or at least it would be if...

This was getting a little too personal for a casual PC conversation. Never one to be anything but blunt, he typed: do i know you?

Yes.

have we met in person? he pressed.

Yes.

Unconsciously clacking his teeth, Vector sat back a little, thinking what to say next...and then his gaze focused on the scattered piles of love notes cluttering his desk. He became aware of a faintly sweet odor.

His excited fingers flew across the keyboard. are you the one whose been leaving me all these notes?

There was another pause - a really long one. The white half-mouse fidgeted anxiously in his seat as he waited for a reply.

And then...

Yes.

"Aha," Vector cried out loud. Dozens of questions were pouring into his mind, but with one hand he typed out the question that had been on his mind the most these last few weeks...while with the other hand he started up a new program.

Part of him was really hoping for an honest answer, while part of him kind of doubted he'd get one - would he be able to be honest if put on the spot like this? - but...he had to know. So he asked: do you really love me?

He expected to fidget through another long pause, but there wasn't one.

I do. With all my heart.

His face warmed again, but for a very different reason. As he kept one eye on the meter now filling next to the message box, he thought for a moment, then typed: have we known each other long?

Yes.

like really long?

Yes.

Pursing his lips because he was getting annoyed with the repetitive answers and because he was feeling stupid again for not realizing someone he'd known for years was hot for him, Vector typed: is it possible to get something out of you besides yes?

There was a pause. Maybe.

"Cute," Vector mumbled aloud, eyes flicking to the now half-full meter. It was obvious that his secret admirer wasn't going to volunteer information about herself, so he decided to keep trying to gently extract what he could as he stalled for time, and hopefully without scaring her away. have we seen each other recently?

I've seen you, but you probably didn't see me.

why not?

You don't notice me. Why else do you think I'm contacting you like this?

He had been hoping it was because she was too shy to approach him but still super-cute, but now his hopes were replaced with disappointment. He always noticed cute girls - especially the hairless ones. So that probably meant she was plain as can be and a mouse. Bummer.

Still, he thought, as his eyes drifted over the clutter of love notes, it was worth investigating someone who was so into him. can i at least get a hint what you look like?

Not yet, was the response, after another pause. One day I'll tell you everything. But not yet.

While smiling wryly, Vector typed: sure, i can wait

He wouldn't have to wait very long. The meter was almost full, and when it was, he would have total access to his mystery woman's computer. Personal data, files - everything. On Earth invasive technology like this was highly illegal and using it had serious consequences, but since private networking was still relatively new on Mars, laws were only starting to be developed. Not that he didn't feel a little guilty about it and only used such methods when he felt it was absolutely necessary. Not to mention if his mom ever found out, she'd lecture him on privacy - and probably find a way to ground him for a year even though he didn't live at home anymore.

The sense of excitement growing inside him overshadowed the guilt, and he leaned forward eagerly as the meter finished filling. It turned green when it reached the end, and then...

There was an error sound, followed by the meter turning red. A message reading Access Denied flashed onscreen.

Vector was momentarily stunned. He'd known from the blocked information that he was dealing with a skilled hacker, but this? This hinted at talent and knowledge that far surpassed what he'd suspected. Your average, casual Martian PC user would not have the knowledge, skill, or means to completely lock anyone out of their system; this took military level intelligence - or access to technology from other planets.

His curiosity mounted to almost painful levels. He was still staring dumbly at the screen when a new message popped up. You're trying to be naughty.

"Ummm..."

you noticed that huh?

He could practically feel her smirk as his mystery woman typed her response. I think I better go now. We'll talk again soon, sexy thing.

"But - wait," the white rodent sputtered as he scrambled to type something. But it was too late; the mysterious blank icon disappeared with a dull humming sound, like a machine shutting down, signaling that his party had gone offline. The message box disappeared too, and when he checked the log later, there was no record of their conversation.

Vector sat staring at the blank screen, aware of the pile of notes at the edge of his vision. He felt both frustrated and tantalized. Disappointment over his admirer possibly being a mouse had vanished; his only thought now was that she was a brilliant hacker, a poet, possibly a baker. And sexy thing?

This was the woman of his dreams. And he wasn't going to rest until he figured out exactly who she was.

When the notes started to taper off, Vector wasn't surprised. Why leave notes in secret when you could chat live? He still got the occasional mushy poem, usually left near his workbench or on a table he just happened to be sitting down at for dinner in Slingshot's, but for the most part they stopped appearing. Over the next few weeks he spent all his spare time at home, waiting for his mysterious admirer to message him. And when she did, when that enigmatic blank icon showed up and a string of text without a screen name appeared, it always set his heart thumping.

It didn't take him long to figure out that even if he peppered her with questions, he wouldn't scare her away. She simply dodged the ones she didn't want to answer or vaguely replied that she couldn't say anything without saying too much. It always gave him a little thrill, a sense of discovery, when he coaxed something new out of her. At the same time he felt humbled - and strangely vulnerable - when he realized that there didn't seem to be a thing this girl didn't know about him. She knew his favorite color, his favorite bands, favorite shows, his hobbies. It was humbling, but at the same time comforting. They said you couldn't truly love someone until you really got to know them. This girl's feelings for him could only be genuine.

so how long have you loved me? he asked one night, as he sat up with a cold root beer and his hopefully hot woman.

I've admired you for as long as I can remember. You always seem to be having so much fun, no matter what. I realized it was love about two years ago.

Vector quickly tried to think of something significant that'd happened two years ago and drew a blank. After that eventful year three years ago, life had been pretty routine for all of them. Saber and Joy had set up house together, work continued at the garage, just about everyone fawned over Thea whenever they had the chance. Naturally it was his job to shake things up, keep the others on their toes. And that was exactly what had attracted the little lady? This was definitely the woman for him.

He knew he was being a pest about it, but he couldn't help asking again: can we meet yet?

I don't know. I'm comfortable with this. And I'm afraid of what will happen once you know who I am.

you mean besides sweet sweet lovin? ;)

Be careful what you wish for, sexy thing. Pleasant dreams.

Vector groaned out loud as his mystery woman logged off for the night. Sighing, he leaned back in his computer chair and took a long swig of root beer. He had to admit, he understood what she meant about being comfortable. What they were doing had a low risk factor, and relationships were about the only area in existence where he wasn't willing to take risks. But he knew that if they didn't stop playing it safe, they would never get anywhere. A relationship needed more than cryptic messages to grow, to move forward.

His need to meet his mystery woman face to face and take the next step in their budding romance quickly took over his life. She became all he could think about no matter where he was or what he was doing. He daydreamed at work about what it would be like to go out on a real date, he fell asleep at night with their latest conversation replaying in his head.

As the weeks went by he could tell that his loved ones had figured out something was going on, but he wasn't going to tell until he really had something to tell. Having a girlfriend who wouldn't tell him her name, where she lived, or much of anything else (calling her his girlfriend was probably a stretch...) wasn't really something to brag about. No, he planned to wait until he'd unraveled the mystery of his mystery woman. Then he'd start bragging.

do you bake? he asked one evening. He found a love note tucked in his toolbox that morning, the folded paper smelling faintly sweet, like chocolate.

Sometimes, was the response. It's mostly a hobby of mine when I'm not at work.

where do you work? Vector wondered.

When his question was met with a lengthy pause, his heart sank. He'd come to recognize that as the signal he had ventured into uncomfortable territory.

That would give too much away, she finally answered.

She said goodnight shortly after that, leaving him to wonder why she couldn't talk about her job. Did she do something no one else he knew did? Or did she work with someone he knew who would be able to figure out who she was if he mentioned her to them?

All the wondering and the unanswered questions were really starting to drive him crazy. He didn't want a mystery girlfriend; he wanted someone he could be with freely. Someone he could go on wild rides with. Someone who liked letting loose as much as he did. Someone he could safely hold as tight as he could, and for as long as he wanted to.

can we please meet? he begged a few weeks later, after more frustratingly vague conversations that told him tantalizingly little and left him aching to know more. pleeeaaaase?

We've already met, she reminded him, making him flush.

i know, he typed quickly, i just want to get reacquainted with you face to face. please?

There was a long pause, and then: I'm just afraid that you'll be horribly disappointed once you see who I am.

how could I be? he said seriously. anyone who sees me the way you do is definitely the one for me.

But he hadn't forgotten her saying that he'd never noticed her before, even know they'd known each other for ages and she'd loved him for two years. He still felt pretty stupid about that, and wasn't too proud to say so. but ive noticed you now, he went on. and i want to see where things go for us. we wont know until we take that chance.

When she didn't respond, he thought back on their conversations, remembering all the small, innocuous facts he'd learned about her. She liked to swim, her favorite color was aqua, she loved seafood pasta served in a creamy white sauce. She liked to relax in a park with headphones on. She enjoyed reading nonfiction best. The things she liked were a little different than what her friends and family were into, so she ended up spending a lot of time alone. When he asked her she said she didn't mind; she liked doing things her own way.

it also doesnt seem fair, he continued when she still didn't answer. you love me and know everything about me. i know enough to like you but not enough to love you. i want to know all there is to know about you so i can love you like you love me.

There was another long pause. And then...

All right. Let's meet.

Vector whooped for joy, hands lifted in triumph. where? he asked eagerly when he was done celebrating. and when?

Tomorrow. Let's meet at the park. Wait for me on a bench by the center path.

He noted that she didn't suggest he wait by the obvious romantic spot next to the fountain. Which must mean she knew that spending too much time near spouting water made him run to the bathroom.

all right, he agreed, barely able to contain his excitement. see you then.

Goodnight, sexy thing. See you soon.

Vector barely slept that night, and in the morning he jumped out of bed and ran straight for the shower. After making sure he was clean and that he smelled as good as possible, he took his time picking out his clothes. He eventually decided on his best jeans, snuggest t-shirt, newest denim vest, and finished the look off with his favorite black steel-toed boots. As he headed out the door he absently tied his old blue bandana around his neck.

During the ride to the biggest, most popular park in town, Vector felt Red Ebony let out an extra hum. She was as excited as he was, he realized. "Mystery almost solved, sweetie," he told her, patting one of her handlebars.

She responded with a rumbling buzz, like the heavy purring of a content cat. She continued to hum and buzz happily, until the park was in sight. Then she went strangely quiet and didn't respond when he pulled to a stop and told her to wish him luck. Puzzled, Vector started into the park...and then it hit him.

She was sad that the ride was over so quick. Because where had he gone lately other than to work and back home again? Not to a whole heck of a lot. He couldn't remember the last time he'd gone on a wild ride, just the two of them. Come to think of it, he couldn't remember the last time he'd goofed around with Saber, bikes or no bikes.

He had put aside his most basic of habits for far too long, and as he hurried along the main path that wove through the large park, he silently vowed to get back to his old routines as soon as possible. But for now, he pushed thoughts of friends and joyriding from his mind and continued down the center path, which served as a hub for the other paths. It was a park for family, children, and pets, so there were colorful decorations and playground equipment everywhere, and the paths themselves were merely soft dirt. As Vector moved deeper into the park he was soon surrounded by thick violet grass, dense lavender trees, and gaudy, fragrant golden shrubs.

Beyond the center of the park, where the giant fountain and other attractions were, the main path veered off into a secluded area, with a nearby drinking fountain and a metal bench. It was here that Vector made himself comfortable, though he was too excited to sit still. He fidgeted his feet and absently drummed his hands on his knees, all the while scanning frequently back and forth for any sign of the one he had come here to meet.

That afternoon he saw numerous rodents, mouse and rat alike, all wandering up and down the paths either with children, a significant other, or friends. His heart would speed up every time someone female drew close, but each time they would keep going without so much as a glance at him. He'd been sitting there anxiously for about ten minutes when he heard someone call his name.

He turned his head and saw - with what he hoped wasn't obvious disappointment - Throttle and his family coming toward him. "Don't you have something to fix?" the tan mouse asked as the three of them paused by the bench.

"Nice try," Vector said distractedly, his eyes darting from one end of the path to the other. "The garage is closed today."

"And you're taking it easy by sitting on your butt?"

"I'm meeting someone," the white mouse mumbled.

Throttle gave him a knowing smirk, a look his mate mirrored. Thea merely waved, using her whole arm in that cute way little kids waved, before clutching her mother's hand with both her chubby paws. "Don't do anything that'll bring shame on your family for generations to come," Throttle advised as the trio moved on.

"Great, thanks," Vector responded, too preoccupied to think up a worthwhile retort, or care that he hadn't. His eyes continued to dart across the path and between gaps in the trees, while the minutes ticked on by. He was about ready to fidget clean off his seat - and then he heard something that made him jump to his feet. Someone calling to him - a female someone.

But then his heart sank and he sat back down. It was only his sister.

"What are you doing here?" Joy wondered, as she and Saber stopped in front of the bench, hand in hand.

"Just waiting for someone," said Vector, not really seeing either of them. "You?"

"Relaxing for a change," said his baby sister, her tone drier than the most barren point on Mars. "You know, I've seen so little of you lately I almost forgot what you look like."

"You can always stop by the garage even though you don't work there anymore," Vector said reasonably.

Or so he thought. The stony glares both his sister and best friend gave him suggested otherwise. "You haven't been paying attention to anything lately, have you," said Saber, tone and hardened eyes accusing.

"Did you even read the messages I sent you?" demanded Joy.

"Umm..."

Had anyone else messaged him recently? He hadn't noticed. But it was starting to sink in that he'd missed out on something, and not something small. "I guess I've been a little distracted lately," he said meekly.

Joy let out a huff and folded her arms. "I've barely had a moments rest, thank you. A few weeks ago a surface rat faction got rattled over some rumors that another faction was getting ready to take them out. Some of them wanted to seek protection at the shelter but decided not to leave the ones who refused to. And so all the mothers of young children chose to leave them at the orphanage to keep them safe."

Vector cringed. "Ouch. You must have had your hands full."

"They left over two dozen," said Saber, his sour tone matching his wife's. "Ages ranging from ten to infant. We certainly could have used some extra help."

Now Vector hung his head, his heart flooding with shame. He had gotten far too wrapped up in his mystery woman and had let too much pass him by. He made a promise then and there that no matter what happened today, he'd get things back to normal again.

Before he could think up a proper apology, the two hybrids were already walking away. "We better get back," Joy called over her shoulder. "Enjoy your day off."

"I'll come help tomorrow," Vector called after them lamely. In fact, if no one showed up the next few minutes, he was going to leave. He'd put too much on hold and needed to make up for it, starting with the orphanage.

He sat slumped and continued to wait, absently drumming his hands on his knees again. His eyes roamed, his ears vaguely aware of the footsteps on the path in front of him, on the paths around and behind him. His mind was wandering over the things he needed to do once he got home and he wasn't really paying attention anymore. He didn't listen to the hum of conversation going on around him, didn't try to track the footsteps moving back and forth in front of the bench. Didn't focus in on the soft set of steps that suddenly drew closer.

Not until they stopped next to the bench and someone sat down next to him, and a voice quietly said, "Hi."

Momentarily startled, Vector looked over - and looked ahead at the path again a second later, mind already wandering. "Oh. Hi, Chloe."

She and her family traveled to Mars all the time, so he didn't question why the young Imeeran was here alone. Probably visiting her aunt or something. Eyes on the path and fidgeting with impatience now, Vector vaguely noticed as Chloe started swinging her feet, hands folded on her lap. "This isn't what I picture you doing at this time of day," she noted.

Vector shrugged, unable to argue with her. Sitting in one place wasn't at all like him - though he'd been doing it a lot lately, thanks to being glued to his computer so much. He clacked his teeth as his irritation started to grow; what was keeping her anyway? It was her idea to meet here. Not bothering to show up was just obnoxious and rude. "Five more minutes," he muttered aloud.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

With a heavy sigh, the white rodent slumped further on the bench. "I thought I was. I guess I was wrong."

He glumly watched the path for another few minutes, seeing faces he knew and faces he didn't know, but one thing was clear. No one here today was going to bother with him. With another sigh, he hauled himself to his feet. "I'm going home," he mumbled.

Red Ebony sensed his dour mood and didn't hum with happiness, even when he decided to take a detour and rode around outside the city for a little while. Afterward he moped at home, guzzling down a few bottles of root beer as he gathered up his extensive collection of love notes and poems and dumped them all in a box, just to tidy up his desk a bit. He shoved them back behind his computer monitor and went back out, riding straight to the orphanage.

Despite there being plenty of babies around, Vector had never really spent much time taking care of them, so he supported Joy and the others working at Stardust House in other ways, like going out to fetch supplies and helping put together more cribs. He soon learned that Joy was trying to find temporary foster care for each of the young rats, since there were too many of them to keep at the orphanage, plus they were holding on to the hope that their mothers would come back for them someday. But she also made it clear that the temporary care might turn out to be indefinite, since the rumors of another faction looking to wipe them out proved to be anything but false.

By the end of the day Vector was worn out, but he felt more accomplished than he had in ages, and he crawled into bed that night feeling pleased with himself. As he was drifting off to sleep the memory of his mystery woman bailing on their big meetup tried to scratch its way back, but he pushed it away. He didn't get this far in life just to let something like this get him down, or so he told himself as he resumed life as usual the next morning. He immersed himself in his work before heading back to the orphanage for a few hours, all the while doggedly ignoring the sense of disappointment that kept threatening to creep over him.

When he got home after a fun evening at Slingshot's, complete with arcade time with Saber, his mystery woman was waiting for him. So to speak.

Are you there? read a message waiting in a distinctly featureless message box on his computer screen. With equal parts hope and irritation, Vector sat down.

im here, he began, and i was at the park, too. where were YOU?

I was there, too.

were not, Vector responded in annoyance. i waited and waited but you never showed up.

I did.

Muttering under his breath now, Vector typed: nobody showed up but me. only other ones there were my uncle and my sister. i waited for ages but nobody came up to me and said she was the one leaving me notes and sending me messages.

There was a long, all too familiar pause. I was there. I told you that you don't notice me.

"You gotta be kidding," the white rodent muttered, as he typed: i wouldnt notice if you came right up to me and said hi?

Apparently not. I sat right down beside you. And yes, I said hi. You still didn't notice.

But that's crazy, Vector thought. How could he not notice someone get that close to him? He stared blankly at that last line of text, yesterday morning replaying in his mind...and then it hit him, leaving him dumbstruck. Someone had sat down beside him yesterday. Someone he barely glanced at and forgot all about just a few minutes later. But it couldn't be...could it?

His hands fumbled for the keyboard - he was sure he was wrong but knew he'd never sleep until he asked. CHLOE?!

A second after the one-word message was sent, his mysterious party logged off without comment. Vector sank back in his seat, too stunned for words in any form - and that was no small accomplishment. He just couldn't believe it. Chloe? Chloe was the one who sent him all those notes? Chloe was the one madly in love with him?

It didn't seem possible - and not just because he hadn't known he was so dense he couldn't figure out it was someone so close to him who was pining after him. But now that he did know, the pieces all fit. He'd known Chloe his whole life - or rather he'd known Chloe her whole life. But it wasn't at all uncommon for Imeerans to fall for someone significantly older than them - even hundreds of years older - even if they first met their future mate when they were still a kid. In fact, it was practically an everyday occurrence for a very young Imeeran to fall in love with someone they'd admired their whole life once they got older. Societies that didn't age past twenty years old functioned a little differently than the ones that did.

Then there were the military level hacking skills - something she wouldn't have too much trouble acquiring, given that virtually every member of her family was involved with the military in one way or another and considering how many super-advanced computers she had access to. And she also had direct access to the transporter, which would explain how it was so easy for her to leave notes in the most discreet of places without him or anyone else ever seeing her. It all fit so well he felt like a complete numbskull for not seeing it sooner.

But now that he knew the truth...just what was he going to do about it?

Vector paced around his bedroom for an hour or so before he finally made up his mind. After making sure he looked his best, he dug his dinged wrist communicator out from the mess piled on his dresser and sent a quick message. A minute later he was running through the transparent tube that led into the Imeeran undercity, oblivious to the perky glow and the colorful sea life swimming outside. Ordinarily the first thing he did when he came here was check out what was new at the game parlor, but today he ignored the urge and stayed off the upper level. He ignored the restaurant that cooked those exotic-tasting hot dogs too, even though his black nose twitched as he ran past. He kept on running and didn't stop until he reached the hospital.

"Is Chloe on duty?" he asked the girl at the front desk.

"Not today," she reported, after checking the computer. "It's her day off, so she could be anywhere."

Vector sure hoped not. "Isn't there something else she does?" he prompted. "Another job, or hobby, or...?"

The pink-haired girl turned thoughtful. "You mean like at the cookie shop? She goes there all the time, so she might be there."

Vector thanked her before running back out, almost banging into a couple coming in. He mumbled an apology and hurried on. He wasn't familiar with a place that sold cookies and had to ask where it was. "You really need to start paying better attention," he reminded himself sourly as he headed to a small shop tucked back near the park. He was still several feet from the open door when he was greeted by a warm fragrance that had his mouth watering. Confectioner's sugar, fudge, vanilla icing, a variety of nuts, and a plethora of other ingredients that had his stomach feeling like it just died and went to heaven. But he ignored his anxious taste buds for now and went up to the front counter.

The place wasn't all that big, but there were still multiple glass counters, display racks and shelves, and a round table draped in white cloth at the center of the store, each one covered in perfectly arranged plates and trays all brimming with cookies and other small treats. The fudge-and-peanut butter squares stacked to perfection on the corner of the front counter practically begged him to come over and gobble them up. Vector gave himself a shake and edged to the middle of the counter. "Is Chloe here?"

The Imeeran he assumed was the shop owner was busy lining up what looked like lemon bars on a tray; he paused and gave the anxious rodent a friendly smile. "Sure, she's in the back. You a friend of hers?"

"Uh-huh," Vector mumbled.

The owner didn't seem to mind if he paid her a visit, so he went around the front counter and through a closed door at the back of the shop. It led to a small room connected to the kitchen, where most of the packing and arranging was done. Chloe was standing at a long table at the back, carefully placing sugar-dusted cookies on a white plate so they neatly overlapped each other. She looked up when he came in; her pink cheeks turned scarlet and she went back to what she was doing.

Vector shuffled closer, hands tucked behind his back. "Ummm..."

He had no clue where to begin, and as he tried to think of something to say his eyes wandered to the plate she was putting together so meticulously. He found himself watching her hands, their movements graceful as she placed each cookie one by one. And those cookies looked darn good, dusted with a mixture of white and brown sugar like they were. "Can I have one?" he blurted.

He cringed as soon as the words were out of his mouth; oh yeah, that was a mature place to start. Chloe looked up and narrowed her eyes at him. "Do you have any money?" she asked.

"Not on me. Just like everyone else on this planet."

Eyes still narrowed, Chloe wordlessly held a cookie out to him. Sensing she was on the defensive, he used the time it took him to munch it down to gather his bearings. He also took the opportunity to look at Chloe - really, truly look at her. He'd seen her countless times before, but now, he was noticing her for the first time. And he had to wonder why the heck he'd never noticed her before.

Just when did she get so grown up? He'd had her solidified in his mind as the small, cute one, but now...

She looked older than sixteen. She wasn't tall, but her slim figure curved in all the right places. Her arms and legs were long and lean, and even though she was eyeing him warily, she held herself straight and with an air of confidence. The knee-length dress she was wearing was feminine and pretty, the aqua color matching the ballet flats on her feet. The white hair tumbling around her bare shoulders looked soft and downy as a cloud. Her aquamarine eyes were round and bright, and framed with long, thick lashes. Her cute nose was a little plumper than the slim bridge that ran in her family, and her pink lips were full and pretty...even though the corners were currently pointing down a little.

All in all, she exuded that special hotness all Imeerans naturally had. But that wasn't why his heart fluttered nervously as he finished the last of his cookie and shuffled a step closer. "So..."

Chloe lifted her white eyebrows questioningly. "So...?"

He grinned crookedly. "I know this is a little awkward for us both right now, but...I'm willing to work through it if you are. Y'know, see where this takes us."

Her eyebrows lifted higher, her eyes widening with a look of hope. "Really?"

Still grinning, Vector shrugged and fumbled in his vest pocket for a moment. "Let me put it this way; I may have been the most oblivious rodent in the galaxy for the last few years or so, but..."

He pulled out the note he'd grabbed before he left and unfolded it. The one where Chloe basically said he was the center of her universe. "The girl who looks at me this way is the only girl for me. I can't picture myself with anyone else. Not anymore."

As he tucked the note back in his pocket, Chloe's eyes started brimming with more than just hope. "Really?" she said again.

She looked about ready to tackle him, and part of him was more than happy to let her. But he turned serious as he placed his hands on her shoulders, moving another step closer. "There's that one tiny thing, though. You look like an adult, but technically..."

"I won't be considered an adult until I'm twenty," she finished. "I know. That's part of the reason I kept quiet about how I feel."

"So no one knows but me?"

She shook her head. "I can understand why it might make one or two people a little upset," said Vector. "Which is why you and I are going to take this super, super slow. No heading in a direction that might end up with you stuck with me for life if on the off chance you change your mind."

"I agree," she said, though her tone and eyes said she didn't think for a second that she would ever change her mind. "Four years is plenty of time for us to figure out exactly how we feel about each other and how we go together, right?"

"Right," Vector confirmed, even though he knew she was talking more about him than herself. He imagined he was going to like the next four years. Four years spent getting to know the one who loved him so much and learning to love her just the same.

Smiling, he tightened his hold on her shoulders and drew her closer. Almost like they'd held each other before, Chloe instantly responded, her arms going around him as she rested her cheek on his chest. His own arms went around her and he held her tight. Really good and tight - closer and tighter than he had ever held a girl before. He let himself pull her against him until he could feel her heart beating. He let himself marvel at how she felt, enveloped in his arms like this. So warm. So strong and so solid. He thought about how he could hold her even tighter without hurting her a bit and felt a lump form in his throat.

Chloe was swallowing thickly herself, and as he placed his hand on her soft hair, he felt her trembling a little. She was so happy she was finally holding him - so happy it was giving her the shakes. Ego stroking quota filled for the day.

Grinning suddenly, he gave her one last squeeze before slowly letting go. Chloe looked reluctant for the moment to end, but the way she smiled as she went back to work told him that she knew it was just the first of many more to come. Still grinning, Vector went to stand beside her and watched as she started on another plate.

"Can I help?"

"I don't know; can you put more on the plate than in your mouth?"

"Probably not."

Chloe chuckled and nudged him with her elbow. "That's what I thought. But it's okay. I still love you."

She said those words so freely and so easily, it made his heart lift in a way he didn't think it ever had before. Feeling strangely light, he stayed with her for the rest of the afternoon, helping almost as much as he got in the way. And deep down, he already knew this was exactly where he wanted to be.