A/N: Yes, this is much overdue. But I finally figured it out, and here you go! Harley's next chapter in life and her role in Cars 3! The story will focus mostly on her, so it won't be following the movie word-for-word.

Enjoy!

Chapter One – Life So Far

"Keep up that speed, Lightning. Cal's trying to sneak up on you." My eyes flitted to the other races, most of them far behind my star racer.

"Roger that, Harley." Lightning said. Even from my perch, I could see Lightning's smile. Only ten laps to go.

"How's he look, Sis?" Mater asked.

"Awesome, as usual." I replied. "I'm already thinking of some new training techniques to spice things up a bit." I spoke into the mic again. "Speed Racer, stop bantering with Cal and Bobby and focus on the race."

"Come on, it's fun!" Lightning said.

"Save it for the practical jokes after the race." I said.

Guido juggled a few tires. "Peet stop?"

"Nah, only five laps left." I said. "Everyone, get ready to pack it up. We'll be finished shortly. What happened to Leland?"

"Went to grab a drink." Sarge said.

"I don't think he's so good at-a that human stuff." Luigi pointed out.

"He's used to it. He just doesn't like it." I shrugged. It had been two years since Seishin, the Goddess of Psyche, turned Leland Turbo and Nick "Loopin'" Lopez to humans and resurrect them. Finn and Holley were great help in securing new identities for Nick and Leland. Thanks to their links in C.H.R.O.M.E., they could rebuild new pasts for the revived souls. Once that was said and done, Nick moved to Piston Peak Air Attack to become one of their firefighters and Leland came to Radiator Springs to adapt to his new body. Seishin advised the boys to not go back into acting and spy work. Nick was okay with starting a new job as a firefighter, and even began dating Sky. But Leland couldn't imagine doing anything beyond spy work.

"You need time to adjust, to learn how to be human." Finn had told his old partner. "Only when I deem you to be ready will I allow you to return to spy work, if that is still something you should be doing."

Poor Leland. He struggled so hard for the first year. It didn't help that he was itching to get back into spy work. At least Sheriff could keep him occupied with some police training. Until Finn could give Leland the all-clear, I decided he could work with the racing team as a mechanic and email manager. He always came to races, where I hoped he would be distracted enough to not think about his frustrations. But, if anything, the races bored him. At first, he was busy with organizing the email and learning the mechanics of working in a pit crew. But he learned his skills quickly, and he got bored again.

Lightning won the race, and we all laughed at Bobby's latest prank on his friend. I shook my head, amused yet also amazed that grown men could act like such children.

"Incoming Brit." Sarge said.

I turned as Leland jogged up to us. His skin tone had slightly darkened from his time spent in Radiator Springs. He still had his lilac eyes and hair the color of his old paintjob. It took quite a bit of time to convince him to stop dressing in suits and start wearing more casual clothes. For races, especially, I pretty much ordered a dress code for him: jeans, work boots, a T-shirt, and a jacket if it got cold. Nothing fancier.

"A grand race." Leland said. "I am constantly impressed by Mr. McQueen's skill."

"Glad you caught the end of the race from the bar." I said.

"I was not at the bar." Leland scoffed.

"I can smell the beer on your breath." I countered. Leland covered his mouth with one hand, as though that would stop me from smelling it. I laughed as the team headed for the trailers to pack up. "Update me on the emails. Anything new?"

"The usual." Leland reported. "The parts you ordered are en route to the garage in Radiator Springs. Mr. McQueen and yourself are invited to several interviews next week, some of which can be done consecutively or simultaneously. And you also have multiple requests from other racers about being their crew chief."

"Send those racers the usual reply." I said. "They really ought to know by now that it's not going to happen."

Leland chuckled. "Another thing I am impressed by: your loyalty to Mr. McQueen."

"My dad entrusted me with the job." I said. "Lightning trusts me. I need to stay by his side."

"And that's what you want to do with your life? You have always wanted to be a crew chief?" Leland asked.

"I wanted to be like my dad." I shrugged. "Of course, adding the spy work certainly makes life interesting."

"Hey Harley!" Lightning zoomed up and skidded to a halt before us. "Did you see me? That was one of my best runs yet!"

"To be humble is a quality all winners should have." I advised. "But, I will admit, you did very well today."

"Heck yeah I did!" Lightning laughed. "Ka-chow!"

I rolled my eyes and laughed. Same old Speed Racer. My phone vibrated as it rang, and I took a few steps away from the team to have more quiet so I could answer. "Hello?"

"Harley, we've got a new mission." Finn was on the other line.

"Another?" I asked, surprised. "Didn't we just finish an undercover stint that lasted like a month?"

"This one is much simpler." Finn explained. "Busting a drug lord in the Caribbean."

"Ooh, tropical." I mused. "I like it."

"I need you to fly out to Florida ASAP." Finn said. "I know you just finished a race. Congratulations to Mr. McQueen on his victory."

"Finn says 'Way to go' on your win, Speed Racer." I told Lightning.

"Thanks!" Lightning called loud enough for Finn to hear.

"We send you in undercover at a poker game next week on Saturday, bust our guy, and then maybe go out for a few drinks to celebrate." Finn proposed.

"I like it." I paused when I remembered my calendar. "Uh, Finn, that Monday after is another race. Will we be done with the mission by then?"

"I'm sure we will." Finn said.

"Hey, don't worry about it!" Lightning had appeared next to me, apparently having heard my concern. "I'm sure you'll make it. Go on your mission. You like the spy work."

"You sure?" I asked. "What if I'm late?"

"You won't be." Lightning assured. "Never have, never will."

I smiled. "Okay, Finn, email me the details and I'll fly out to Florida in the morning."

"Looking forward to seeing you, Partner." Finn said. "Also, don't let Leland know about the mission. He'll just get miffed that he can't come."

"Roger that." I hung up the phone, and I caught sight of Leland's expression, like a child pouting because his mother told him not to do something fun. "What?"

"Another mission. And I'm guessing I can't come along?" Leland asked.

"Finn says you're not ready." I said as I hopped into Mack's trailer.

"Damn what Finn says!" Leland snapped as he followed me. "Sorry. I am sorry. That was rude."

"Yes, you should be nice to your friend." I agreed. "He's just looking out for you."

"But I'm ready to get back into action. I ready to go on missions again." Leland insisted. "Becoming human hasn't changed my instincts."

"I don't know. I think Harley has a point." Lightning said as he loaded up and shut the door behind him. "If I were suddenly human after being a car all my life, it'd take me years to get used to it."

"But you still would have your instincts as a racer. That wouldn't change." Leland said. "Harley, call Finn back and tell him I'm coming with you this time."

"Nope." I said, opening a racing magazine and perusing it.

"Why not?" Leland demanded. "I can do it. Whatever this is, I can do it. Just let me help!"

"It's not even my call, Leland." I reminded him. "Now stop complaining. Get some sleep."

"I can't sleep." Leland complained.

"Then have a drink." I pressed a button on my armrest, and a panel in the wall popped down to reveal a couple bottles of alcohol and a bucket of ice. "I had that installed as soon as I turned twenty-one."

"I'm still convinced you started drinking when you were nineteen." Lightning said.

"Oh please." I scoffed, flipping a page in the magazine. "The legal drinking age in Europe is eighteen. A couple of the C.H.R.O.M.E. agents taught me how to do shots on my birthday."

Lightning chuckled. "Doc would be proud, I'm sure."

"You should've seen how he drank." I chuckled.

Leland poured himself some Scotch into a glass. He swallowed the whole drink in one gulp. "This is a load of—" He glanced at me. "Tractor poop."

"I've heard Finn curse worse than that, Leland." I readjusted my glasses. "I'm not offended by it. You should've heard what would come out Dad's mouth when he was really irritated."

"I have heard what comes out of Doc's mouth when he's mad." Lightning laughed.

Leland poured another drink. "Why can't I just tag along for research? Work the desk like Holley does."

"Work the desk?" Lightning repeated.

"Basically it means waiting in the jet and staying on the computer." I said. "Leland, take it up with Finn, because I'm not having this conversation with you."

Leland huffed, taking another swig of his drink. I rolled my eyes. On the one hand, I understood that he was restless. On the other hand, sometimes I wondered how he could constantly ignore everyone's attempts to keep him safe and alive. He got a second chance at life. He can't take any risks so soon.

At some point in the drive, I fell asleep thanks to the dimmed lights. I didn't wake until Leland shook my shoulder.

"We arrived at the hotel. Get up." Leland said.

"I'm up. I'm up." I opened my eyes, wondering what I was resting my head on that was so soft and comfy. As soon as the lights flickered on, I realized my head lay on Leland's lap, with his jacket tucked under my head like a pillow. I bolted upright. "Geez, I'm sorry!"

"It's no problem." Leland looked surprised by my outburst.

"But when did I fall asleep on you?" I asked, rubbing my eyes. "No, not on you but on your lap. I mean, when did I lean over and—"

"It's fine." Leland interrupted me. "Really, it's not a problem."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

"Yes." Leland said.

"I thought it was kind of cute." Lightning said as he reversed out of the trailer.

"Oh shut up." I scoffed.

Leland pulled on his jacket. "I apologize if I made you uncomfortable. That was not my intention."

"What was your intention?" I asked.

"To make you more comfortable." Leland said. "Clearly, I failed."

"Boys sometimes make me uncomfortable." I said as we exited the trailer.

"I thought I was a man." Leland said with a playful smirk. "How do men make you feel?"

I stared at him. My mouth opened, but nothing came out. I turned away and speed-walked to the hotel. Immediately upon entering the hotel, I realized Leland might feel bad now, and I felt guilty. It wasn't Leland's fault I had an issue with men. The last guy I had a relationship with tried to rape me. Ever since, I unconsciously avoided men to keep history from repeating itself. Sky and Nick just clicked. Their chemistry was visible to anyone who watched them interact. But Leland and I? Well, I guess we were developing a bond, but neither of us were confirming that we had feelings for each other. We weren't denying it, either. But we weren't starting anything. Not that we didn't want to. Or did we?

I groaned, running my fingers through my hair. "I'm overthinking. Of course."

"Everything all right?" Lightning asked.

"Yeah. It's fine." I said. "Just thinking about the mission."

"Stay safe, okay?" Lightning said.

"I will. No worries." I assured. "I'll be quick and back in plenty of time for the race."

A/N: Short, but a new chapter will come soon! Livvy Leopard, I know you waited a long time and so patiently. Hope you like it!