The Music of Our Lives Chapter 1: Advice, a road rovers fanfic

THE MUSIC OF OUR LIVES

a Road Rovers fan fiction by Ratchet McCloud

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the songs or canon characters in this fic.

Summary: Hunter leaves Rovers HQ by himself to visit his mother on the anniversary of his first visit, and it's not purely a social visit; he wants to ask his mother's advice on certain matters. This will impact the team in a big way... (Pairings: Hunter x Colleen, Blitz x OC, takes place after episode 13 of the series)

Chapter 1
Advice
Featured song: "Tell Him"
Original performer(s): Céline Dion, Barbra Streisand
From album Let's Talk About Love (Céline Dion, 1997)
(A/N: I took a slight liberty with the lyrics.)

22 February 1998, 06h00 local time
Road Rovers HQ, USA

It was a beautiful spring morning at Road Rovers HQ. Everyone's favorite Goldador canosapien—you know him as Hunter Clinton—sat up in bed, streched, and yawned. After going through his pre-breakfast routine (shower, grooming, putting on clothes), the memory of visiting his mother one year ago came to him, a smile came upon his face, and he found himself whistling happily as he headed to the mess hall for breakfast. He had to turn on the lights, for he was the only one awake at this time. Fixing his breakfast, he took it to the table and ate in silence. While he did so, a human with white hair and glowing eyes—Dr. Shepard—entered the room. "Good morning, Hunter," he greeted him.

"*yawn* Morning, Master," Hunter returned the greeting.

Dr. Shepard poured himself a cup of coffee and sat down across from Hunter. "I heard you whistling in the halls a few minutes ago. You must be in high spirits this morning, am I right?"

"Yes, Master. It was on this day last year that I found my mother and went to visit her. I'd like to go visit her today, if that's all right with you." Hunter paused, as if to consider something. "There are also some things that I need to ask her about."

"Ah, the matters of the heart, eh?"

Hunter's mouth was full of food when the Master asked that, and, as a result, he did a spit take. After a few seconds of coughing and spluttering, he said, "As a matter of fact, yes, but I've never talked about it with anyone. How could you possibly know?"

Dr. Shepard smirked. "My dear boy, that's why I'm the Master." Hunter simply rolled his eyes and continued eating, and Shepard spoke again. "Anyway, back to your request. I suppose some free time would be good for you. Therefore, I have decided to grant your request."

Hunter perked up. "Really, Master?"

"Yes, Hunter. Go see your mother, and you have a great time." With that, Shepard got up from the table, taking his coffee with him, and left the mess hall. A few minutes later, Hunter finished his breakfast and headed for the vehicle bay. Before long, the Sky Rover was headed for Wyoming...

22 February 1998, 06h30 local time
Undisclosed location in Wyoming, USA

The sun was coming up in the sky when the Sky Rover reached Wyoming. Hunter started scanning the landmarks on the ground for the ranch house where his mother lived. After a few minutes of flying, he found the ranch and landed the Sky Rover a respectable distance from it. Walking up to the house, he knocked on the door.

The rancher answered it. "You look familiar," he said. "You would be Hunter, wouldn't ya?"

"That's right, sir," Hunter replied.

"And you must be here to see your ma, am I right?"

"Yes, sir."

"All right. Hold on, I'll go get her." The rancher retreated back into the house, and before long he was back with a middle-aged female Golden Retriever—Hunter's mother. When she saw Hunter, she ran up to him, put her front paws on Hunter's shoulders, and started licking his face. {Son!} she barked. {I'm so happy to see you!}

{I'm happy to see you too, Mom.} Hunter replied in barks. {There's so much I want to say to you, but I'd rather not do it in front of your master. Can we go for a walk?}

{Sure, son. Of course.} And so, they went for a walk. They conversed for a long time—he with words and she with barks—each catching the other up on the past year. The walk ended in the shade of a very large tree not far from the ranch house. While Hunter and his mother sat in its shade, Hunter's mother asked, {So, son, do you have a mate yet?}

"That's what I want to talk with you about, Mom." Hunter replied. "There is one female that I've had my eye on lately. Here's her picture." And Hunter showed his mother a photograph. {She's beautiful, son,} Hunter's mother said. {You have great taste in females.}

"Thank you, Mom."

{Does this gorgeous bitch have a name?} (Author's note: I will remind everyone that "bitch" means a female dog. Hunter's mother doesn't hate Colleen.)

"Her name's Colleen, Mom."

{Oh! Even her name's beautiful! Congratulations!}

"Thanks, Mom."

{What's she like?}

"As you saw, she's beautiful. And she's a Road Rover, like me. She's smart, she's funny, she's got a wicked powerful roundhouse, that sort of thing, y'know."

{So, you have some pretty strong feelings for this one.}

"Yeah. As a matter of fact, I think she's the one I want to spend the rest of my life with."

{Does she know that you're hot for her?}

Hunter sighed. "No. I've never told her."

{And why not?} Hunter's mother growled.

"Because I don't have any idea how I can bring the subject up. Even if I did know how..." Hunter cleared his throat and began to sing:

I'm scared, so afraid to show I care
Will she think me weak if I tremble when I speak?
What if there's another one she's thinking of?
Maybe she's in love, I'd feel like a fool
Life can be so cruel, I don't know what to do

Then Hunter's mother responded, also in song—well, howling:

{I've been there, with my heart out in my paw}
{But most important of all, you can't let the chance}
{To love her pass you by...}

{Tell her, tell her that the sun and moon rise in her eyes, reach out to her}
{And whisper tender words so soft and sweet}
{Hold her close to feel her heart beat}
{Love will be the gift you give yourself}

{Touch her with the gentleness you feel inside}
{Your love can't be denied, the truth will set you free}
{You'll have what's meant to be; all in time, you'll see}

Then Hunter confessed:

I love her

And his mother replied:

{Then show her}

Hunter declared:

Of that much I can be sure

His mother advised:

{Hold her close to you}

And Hunter kept baring his soul:

I don't think I could endure if I let her walk away
When I have so much to say...

Then his mother howled again:

{Love is light that truly glows in the hearts of those who know}
{It's a steady flame that grows}
{Feed the fire with all the passion you can show}
{Tonight love will assume its place, this memory time cannot erase}
{Your faith will lead love where it has to go}

{Tell her, tell her that the sun and moon rise in her eyes, reach out to her}
{And whisper, whisper words so soft and sweet}
{Hold her close to feel her heart beat}
{Love will be the gift you give yourself}

{Never let her go}

Things fell silent for a while. Then Hunter said, "Wow, Mom. You're a wonderful singer."

{Thanks, son,} his mother replied. {You're not so bad yourself, you know.} She chuffed—the canine equivalent of a chuckle—and added, {It's because you have my genes.} Hunter also chuckled at that comment. {But what about the advice? How was that?}

"Pretty good, Mom, pretty good. You're right. I'll tell her." And he got up to return to the Sky Rover. Quick as he was, however, his mother was faster. {Son! Wait!} she barked.

Hunter turned to face his mother. "What is it, Mom?"

{I've just had a wonderful idea.} She smiled. {I would very much like to meet this beautiful Collie who's taken my son's heart.}

"You... you want to meet Colleen?"

{Of course, son. Is there any reason why I shouldn't?}

Hunter considered his mother's question for a moment or two, then said, "No, there isn't. All right. Let's go." So they returned to the ranch house to ask the rancher's permission to let her leave with Hunter. It took some fast talking and outrageous flattery on Hunter's part, but the rancher granted it. So they were off. Hunter made a quick stop at a jewelry store, bought an engagement ring, and then the two were headed back to Road Rovers headquarters.

End chapter 1