Chapter 1: Next Plane Out

As Charley finished packing up the last of The Last Chance Garage, she sighed heavily.

I listen to the sound of the rain fallin' down my window
Prayin' for a gentle wind
To bring my baby back again
Tryna be strong but I'm not getting any stronger
Loneliness is tearing apart this heart of mine

She couldn't believe it. She was finally moving to Mars to be with Vinnie for, what they hoped would be the rest of their lives. She smiled as she thought about how irresponsible she used to think he was. Especially when he spent quite a bit of time not calling or writing to her and he tried to make up some cute excuse as to why. As usual, she forgave him for being himself.

I lie awake
'Cause I can't take
Another night lonely
It's been too long,
I can't hold on no more

After taping up the last box, she lifted it up and walked by a mirror. Between the first and last time that they had seen each other on Earth, she had gotten her hair cut much shorter. She sported a dark blue tank top with an almost bare belly, black leather jacket with matching pants and boots.

Leavin' on the next plane out
'Cause I gotta see my baby
It's been too long
Since I held him in my arms
And I just won't sleep at night
'Til he's sleeping here beside me
Here beside me again

She may be a beautiful, sweet, and confident woman but, she also has an explosive temper that her biker mice friends do not want to see again. Especially after she got really mad at them when they told her that fighting crime was a male's job and refused to allow her to help them. She chuckled as she recalled showing them how good she truly was when she was able to use the same moves as them when she masqueraded around as the masked motorcyclist. They realized she was more then capable to holding her own in battle as they were.

Talking on the phone but that don't make it any better
Nothing's gonna ease this pain
Until I'm in his arms again
Runnin' down the stairs there's a taxi that's waiting for me
Loneliness, I'm gonna leave you far behind

"Hey Charley-girl" Vinnie called out from the the Big Rig.

The Big Rig is a custom built (like so many other things she owns) fully functional mobile repair shop. It features a metallic blue flame paint job and houses a small repair shop inside. Along with live-in and sleeping quarters consisting of a table and platform beds.

I'd walk for days
Through pouring rain
Anything to be with him
It's been too long,
I can't be strong no more

"Yeah Vinnie. I'm coming" she sighed as she handed Vinnie the last box from the garage. She watched as Four-By pulled with all of his equipment. She hold sold the garage to him for a very reasonable price of one dollar.

For the most part, her relationship with the white-furred mouse had to be the most endearing and unusual highlight of her life. She still didn't know exactly what attracted her to him but, it certainly wasn't his physical charms or his over-inflated ego. Nevertheless, she held him in a special place within her heart. She wasn't sure about her feelings for him in the beginning but, after he came into her life the second time, she knew, without a doubt, that she wanted to be a part of his world and decided to pack up her entire Earth life and move to Mars.

Leavin' on the next plane out
'Cause I gotta see my baby
It's been too long
Since I held him in my arms
And I just won't sleep at night
No, no, no, no
'Til he's sleeping here beside me
Here beside me again

"Last box?" he inquired as he took the box from Charley's arms and placed it into the Big Rig.

"Last one" she said with a sad smile as she looked longingly at the garage, just now realizing how hard it was going to be to leave everything that she had known behind.

I gotta be with my baby

"Charley? Are you sure about this?" he inquired as he slid his hands into his pockets, feeling nervous that she was going to change her mind at the last minute.

"Absolutely. There's just a lot of bittersweet memories here" she mentioned as she turned to look back at him.

Gotta be with him
Gotta be by his side
Gonna be with him
My heart's made up my mind

"But, we'll make plenty more. I promise you that much" Vinnie said as he pulled his hands out of his pockets and held them behind his back.

"I know you're right about that one" she smiled and then made her way to the front of the rig but, was stopped short by Vinnie placing a hand on her shoulder.

I'm leavin' on the next plane out
'Cause I gotta see my baby
It's been too long
Since I held him in my arms
And I just won't sleep at night
No, no, no
'Til he's sleeping here beside me
Here beside me again

"I wanna do this right gorgeous" he commented nervously.

"What do you mean?" she asked, turning to face him.

"You know on Mars, we do this a bit differently but, I want you to have the best of both worlds" he started to say.

It's been too long
Since I held him in my arms
And I just won't sleep at night
'Til he's sleeping here beside me
Here beside me

"I will have that" she said, not sure as to where he was going with his conversation.

"But, I want this to be the start of that" Vinnie said as he got down on one knee and showed her a ring that he had picked out for her to wear as a sign that he was finally going to marry her.

I gotta be with my baby,
Gonna be with my baby
Gonna take the next plane
Or the next train
Gotta get there
Gotta see my baby

"Is this..." she started to ask. As she placed a hand over her mouth, not thinking that he would ever ask her to be his completely. It was a simple silver band that had a hammered look about. Very basic and simple and not over the top. Just her style.

"Will you marry me?" he asked, his voice starting to shake.

And nothing's gonna stop me
From leavin' this time
Leavin' on the next plane out
Leavin' on the next plane out

"Yes. Yes I'll marry you" she said as she watched Vinnie slide the ring over her finger and then stood up. She tossed her arms around his neck and kissed him soundly on the lips for the first time since they had known each other

Next plane
Next train