Thanks so much for the kind comments! I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy writing it.

'I thought I would find you here.'

They were on top of the Last Chance Garage with the stars above them. They had always believed that each star represented past mice that fought for their planet.

Throttle turned his head, moving aside to make room on the ledge.

'Am I that predictable?'

Lily sat a couple of inches away from him as the tanned mouse leaned back to study the city.

'It's beautiful up here.'

'Sure is.'

'Do you miss Mars?' She asked.

'Like you wouldn't believe.'

'I didn't think Earth was going to look like Mars,' Lily had spotted smoke slowly seeping out of one of the tall towers in the distance. Limburger had wiped out parts of Chicago, mainly parks and natural habitats in order to make way his money-making industrial revolution.

'This is reality babe. Limburger's taking over. That's why we're here.' Throttle said. 'You need to take a reality check sometime.'

'Throttle, I know exactly what's going on. Why do you think I made sure I knew how to handle myself by asking Stoker to help me?'

'That aint going to stop someone hurting you when you aren't looking, Lilith.'

Lily's hand reached over to hold onto Throttles, he did not move, instead, he twinned his fingers into hers.

'I thought you had forgotten me.' She whispered as a small smile crept across her face.

'You know how it is. Things got bad.'

'You stopped visiting,' Lily said, gripping harder. 'I saw you months later at the Mars ball with Carbine.'

It was true. It was his escape from what was really going on with Mars. No one had known about Lily, not even the bros. Vinnie had pestered Throttle for three straight weeks into asking Carbine out. His ego inflating once he was told how Carbine had watched him undressing his top half during field training. Throttle caught her off guard in the lunch hall, explaining that he knew she had been watching him. A young Carbine blushed, something that he hadn't seen for a while. In that moment, he asked her to the Mars ball, beginning their relationship.

'You didn't tell me you were a Princess.'

'Why would I? Do you know how many mice chat me up just to get to the throne? I thought you wanted to know me,' Lily argued. 'Meeting you on that ledge; that was my escape, a chance to be something other than royalty.'

'You could have told me.' Throttle looked up towards the stars. 'You knew exactly who I was.'

'Do you honestly think a Freedom Fighter would have wanted to be around a Princess? I've heard the comments you've thrown at me since I've been here. Imagine if you'd known,' Lily attempted to pull her hand away, but Throttle held on.

'Lily…'

'It's true. It's not my fault I was born into this! But since being here all you've done is make me feel bad for being something I can't help,' Her eyes glazed over with tears. 'I waited for you, and you forgot about me.'

Throttle leaned in and kissed her. He felt her warm tears fall on his hands as she pulled away.

'I never forgot about you.'

Years earlier

Throttle rested his back against a rock. Life was going to be completely different. He had trained for this. He flexed his arm muscles and smiled. Stoker had put all the Freedom Fighters through vigorous training, and in the next few days, it was going to show. Those stinking fishes won't know what hit them.

He closed his eyes and listened to the sounds of Mars; the distant cheering of the Freedom Fighters as they partied, the sounds of stormy Mars, which little did he know, would one day resemble The Windy City. Out of nowhere, a nostalgic tune nestled in his mind, bringing back the fond memories before the war. He listened attentively; every note mimicked the tune he remembered. As he opened his eyes, the tune wasn't just his memory comforting him. From the ledge below him, a female mouse, hummed to herself as she stared into the distance. He watched her as she brushed her fingers through her long hair that danced in the wind.

'Escaping life too?' He called down to her.

She whirled around and stared up at him.

'Don't worry, it's my job to protect you civilians, not harm you.'

'I'm glad to hear that,' she called. 'Would you like to join me?'

Throttle smiled and climbed down.

'You shouldn't be out here you know.'

'And you should be?' She said.

'Valid point.' He laughed. 'But I'm a Freedom Fighter, I think I'm allowed.'

She nodded slowly before turning to sit back where she was.

Throttle rubbed the back of his neck. Girls loved what he was; this one didn't even care. Even Carbine – a tough ass mouse - who worked for the Army, had taken a shine to him the first time they met, even flirting with him after training.

'It's quiet up here.' He said sitting down next to her.

'That's why I come here.' She said. 'So what do they call you?'

'Throttle. You?'

'Lilith - 'Lily.'

'That's a pretty name,' He studied her ripped trousers and her khaki shirt. She had now neatly placed her long brown hair on one side of her. 'Suits a gorgeous mouse like yourself.'

'You think you can fool me?' Lily moved away from him. 'I'm not here to leered at.'

'I didn't mean…'

'You don't know me.'

'You're right. I don't know you.' Throttle remained sat down. 'But I'd like to know you. I want to know how you know that tune.'

Lily smiled. 'My mother always sings it when things are going bad.'

'Are things going bad right now?'

'They are, in the grand scheme of things. You should know.'

'Are they on this ledge?' Throttle laughed.

'Well, I guess as long as you aren't a Plutarkian, I guess things aren't bad right here.' Lily laughed. 'You'd smell a lot worse if you were one.'

'Exactly…' Throttle winked.

'Wait, I smell?'

'It's a good job you are good looking, it deters the scent,' Lily chuckled, sitting back down next to him. 'I'm sorry Throttle, I've never been up close and personal to a Freedom Fighter before.'

'Never? Surely you've seen us hanging around your area before.'

'My parents are very overprotective.' Lily fiddled with the clasp of her bracelet. 'I'm usually stuck inside playing with my nieces, and keeping my brother under control.'

'Is he a tearaway?' Throttle laughed. 'The army would sort him out. Or us for that matter.'

Lily chuckled to herself. 'I can't see that happening anytime soon.'

'So what's life like as a Freedom Fighter?' Lily asked. 'Why didn't you join the army?'

Throttle's eyes widened, 'Are you kidding me? The government sold Mars to those fish guts! There's no way i'm going to help the army. Plus, the whole Royal stuff sucks. Why on Mars would anyone believe in such an outdated practice.'

Lily fell silent, rubbing her hands together.

'Sorry babe, I just want to do what's right for the planet. Stoker says that's what you should do.'

'Stoker?'

'Yeah, he's our leader. Don't tell me you've never heard of him?'

Lily smiled, 'Yes, I'm well aware of General Stoker,' Before he could answer, a beeping came from inside her bag. 'I'm not meant to be here. I've got to go.'

'When can I see you again?' Throttle reached out and grabbed her arm.

'Really?'

'I wouldn't ask if I wasn't interested.'

'I come here when the second moon is at its brightest.'

'I'll see you then.' Throttle leaned in and hugged her gently. She wrapped her arms tightly around him as he felt her head rest on his shoulder.

'I better rock and ride too.'

She stared at him blankly; all he could do was smiled at her.

They met, as planned, every time the second moon was at its brightest. Each time they grew closer until Throttle finally kissed her on their fourth visit.

On her eighth visit to the ledge, she waited until she couldn't wait anymore. The second moon appeared less bright than before, almost as though it had been outshone by the first moon. For a brief second, she thought she saw him.

Throttle's bike hummed to a standstill inside the Last Chance Garage. It was now midnight, Charley had retired for the night after finishing off the mess that Limburgers goons had left.

'Thanks for the ride.' Lily said clutching hold of his shoulders as she jumped off. 'It was nice to catch up.'

'So where have you love birds been?' Vinnie leaned up against the metal pole, whilst Modo looked on beside his bike.

Lily snuck a smile at Throttle as she pulled the crease from her trouser leg down.

'I showed her the city. After all, she's our guest.' Throttle shrugged.

'Aw man,' Vinnie pouted. 'That's meant to be my job.'

'Better luck next time Romeo.' Modo laughed.

Lily strode over towards Vinnie, her clothes enchantingly changing back into her royal attire.

'Vincent, I would be honoured if you had asked me on a tour around the windy city.' She gave him a gentle scratch under his chin. 'It's just a shame Throttle got there first. Maybe next time?'

'Well thank you, ma'am!' Vinnie puffed out his chest.

'Be careful Princess, we don't want his head to get too big.' Modo said.

'Why don't you show me some more earthling customs?" She gestured him towards the kitchen. 'What did you call them again? Hot dogs?'

'How was the ride?' Modo asked wiping down the last panel of his bike.

'Strangely quiet, citizens tucked up safe for the night.' Throttle replied. 'No sign of Limburger for now at least.'

'That's the last thing we need right now.' Modo said. 'Seems she's taken a bit of a shine to you after you've been unpleasant.'

Throttle smiled, 'Don't want to make Vinnie jealous or anything.'

'He's been more annoying this evening than usual. Kept on wondering why she never asked him.'

'We had a lot to talk about.' Throttle pulled out a root beer from his bike compartment and chucked one to Modo.

'Mars is in a state. She must be beside herself with worry.' Modo shook his head.

'Something like that,' Throttle pulled back his head, downing the can in one. 'Bro, listen, I didn't tell you back then as it wasn't that big a deal. Lily and I, we had a thing.'

'A thing?' Modo turned back, raising an eyebrow. 'Whatever happened to Carbine being your first.'

'A long time ago bro. Before Carbine and I ever got together.' Throttle began to explain how they had met.

'You've certainly surprised me,' Modo gave a grin. 'She's certainly an amazing mouse, can't understand how you let her go.'

'I had more and more duties, I got so far into saving the Mars that I couldn't see her. We were worlds apart,' Throttle reminisced. 'Then I met Carbine and Lily was just a distant memory.'

'Yeah well, make sure the relationship doesn't go the same way as it did with you and Carbine.' Modo replied.

'It's nothing. I can't suddenly start seeing her after all these years.' Throttle said. 'Carbine's still on my mind.'

'Make sure she knows it. Out of interest, did you know who she was?'

'I didn't have a clue.' Throttle said adjusting his glasses. 'Royal's aren't exactly there for us are they?'