The sunlight shines in the window. Hudson sat up. Jessica wasn't there. He got up and dressed. He checked his phone. His sponsor texted asking about racing. Hudson sighed. Thining about it. He knew he couldn't beat that kind of speed anyway. So he texted back.
Hudson
I'm honored that you want me to race the new cars. But I'm gonna pass. I'll see you in a few weeks back at the races.
Finn
Alright. If you change your mind before 6 let me know.
Hudson walked down. He smelled breakfast as he got closer to the kitchen. He peeked in the living room. Most everyone was sitting around and chatting and watching tv. Hudson walked into the kitchen. Jessica, Sky and Vern were in there. Cooking. "Good morning Hud." Jessica greeted as she noticed her husband. Hudson smiled and replied greeted back "Morning. Cooking breakfast?" Jessica nodded. Sky spoke up "We. Have turkey bacon and regular bacon. Which you want?" She asked. Hudson answered "Uh.. regular I guess." Sky then explained "I thought so. It's funny I didn't know there was regular bacon for the longest time!" Vern laughed and spoke up "She's not kidding." Hudson laughed a little bit and asked "Why?" Jessica answered as she turned off the oven and such "Because our mom only brought home turkey bacon. And she always baked it." Hudson nodded and replied "Thats weird."
Sky nodded. Lightning walked in and spoke to his son "Hey. Can I talk to you a moment?" Hudson walked out the room with his father and listened to his father.
"Did you talk to Finnigan?" Hudson nodded answering "Yeah. I am gonna stay here. I won't beat that thing anyway. And honestly it's nice to just relax. It's been tough lately. Between the accident and Jessica getting use to her leg and.. this surgery this weekend. Honestly I'm glad to be here with all of you guys and not out there stressing about racing?" Lightning smiled and replied "Okay. Hey do not forget about dinner tonight." Hudson then asked "Yeah. Hey so wait? You were gonna marry someone else?" Lightning sighed and placed his hands in his pocket answering "Yes. Long before I knew your mother. Actually before I was really racing even? She was just my girlfriend senior year in high school. And.. I thought I'd marry her."
Hudson became more curious and asked "Well.. do you remember what happened?" Lightning nodded answering "I really was going to marry her. We even lived in this small ran down apartment. Then one day Mack and I went to a race. Rusty and Dusty offered me the job. Nikki convince me to take it. We wrote a few letters. Because we didn't have cell phones. And one night.." he stopped. Hudson asked "One night what? You can't leave me like that?" Lightning snickered a bit and continued "I let fame get to me. I mean was kinda already a jerk. But. One night I went out with some girls and.. by the end of the night. Instead of writing to her.. I decided to stop writing anything at all to her.. I never even told her I wanted to brake up technically. Hudson replied "You and mom would have kicked my but if I did something like that." Lightning chuckled and agreeed with that. "What happened to the family you had here anyway?" Hudson asked.
Lightning thought for a moment before answering "I really don't know. Once I... Once I left home I really didn't look back. I never liked it much. Besides I moved here with my brother when my mother passed." Jackson walked by and raised a brow asking "Your mom is in radiator springs?" He mentioned. Lightning and Hudson looked over at Jackson. Lightning explained quickly "Well my birth mother. But I grew up with a bunch of other adopted kids." Jackson snickered and walked on and Hudson asked "What was that like? I mean growing up with siblings?" Lightning answered "Oh it was awful mostly. I was one the youngest and I just got picked on a lot. Mostly by Chad. But after my mom got married again it was alright."
Hudson chuckled and replied "Well I wouldn't mind knowing how my dad grew up sometimes." Lightning rolled his eyes and snickered "Oh right. Cause I'm so interesting." Jessica called out "Alright let's eat everyone."
Shortly after breakfast. Hudson did make Lightning think a bit. He did wonder what happened a little bit to some of his family members.
Sally walked up to the bedroom with some laundry. She saw lightning with his glasses on, on his phone. Sally sat the basket down on the bed next to Lightning and asked "Anything good?" She asked. Lightning looked up and at and answered "Just looking up some old family." Sally became curious and looked over his shoulder at he phones screen. Lighting out the phone down and took off his glasses and set them on the bed side table. And grabbed Sally's hips and looked at her teal blue eyes. "I love you Sally." Sally smiled and rested her arms on her husband's shoulder. "Love you to."
It wasn't to long and dinner came around. Lightning, Sally, Hudson and Jessica headed to a place that Jessica called "A place my dad wouldn't be caught dead at."
They walked inside. "Wow this place?.. is cheaper than it looks from outside?.." Jessica snarled. Hudson chuckled and joked "Think someone's dad has rubbed off on them." Jessica glared a bit at her husband. Sally was holding onto Lightning's arm. Wearing a simple pants suit. "There they are. Come on." Lightning said as he noticed Nicole. They all walked over. Nicole stood up and smiled saying "Lightning! Oh gosh glad to see you!" Nicole's husband stood up. Some grey haired man with glasses. Had on a suit. Kinda looked Chinese. Two boys were there to. Both older than Hudson. Probably by a good ten years or so. One was a brown colored skin man. The other looked like the old man. Probably their father. "You to Nikki. Um.. this is Sally my wife." Sally smiled and shook hands with everyone as Lightning continued.
"My son Hudson and his wife Jessica." Niicole smiled and shook their hands to and replied "Well. They are lovely and your son!? Ha! He looks just like you did! Before you got old." Lightning chuckled. The older man shook Lightning's hand and introduced himself "Joseph." Nicole introduced her sons "And these are two of my three boys. Micheal and Jason. My son Nelson had to work. So he won't be joining us. He's a doctor actually." Lightning nodded and shook the boys hands "Nice to meet the two of you." "And I'm Nicole." Nicole added. They all sat down. "I'm curious! The first thing I wanna ask is did you ever finish school?" Nicole asked
Hudson added "I thought you didn't go to college?" Lightning answered "I didn't. I started this stunt driving school. It was small and a little cheap. But I dropped out when rusteze came along." Nicole joked "Must be a fun conversation opener, hi I made my money racing for rear end cream!" Jessica kinda laughed with it. Lightning rolled his eyes as Nicole continued "I mean no really I'm so happy things went well for you. I mean it was a step up from the deo sponsor." Hudson asked "Deo?" Nicole nodded and answered "Your dads fisrt sponsor was part time amateur racing Smell Well." Hudson laughed now a little.
Lightning spoke up "Yeah Okay. It's funny. Anyways what did you wind up doing? Art ever kick off for you?" Nicole shook her head and explained "No. actually I became a nurse. Went back to school after you left. That's when I met my husband here. It's funny. He came in." "No. No one wants that story brought up Nicole." Joseph interrupted. Nicole nodded. Lightning then spoke up "Sally here was a lawyer and use to run two motels actually back home. And Hudson and Jessica are racers in the cup series." Nicole smiled and nodded "oh I heard about those new robo cars!? That's so cool right?" Hudson answered up "Not really. It honestly makes us worry about being replaced by them." Nicole stared a moment. She didn't think about that.
The waiter came and got drink orders. Lighting then asked "Have you kept in touch with anyone?" Nicole nodded answering "Jolene and William. Actually those to got married. Divorced now.. but they did once." Lightning replied "Well. Jolene was a bit of a neat freak." Hudson asked "Whose Jolene?" "She was one of my sisters." Jessica asked "How many sisters did you have?" Nicole laughed and answered "Like eight?" Lightning rolled his eyes answering "No. Six. But I never even really met two of them. I was to young to remember them." Jessica's eyes widened "Where the heck did you grow up?" Lightning chuckled and explained "A ranch actually. But I never done any work really on it. I was told when my father died things just.. changed." Hudson nodded.
Sally asked "So you dated Lightning in high school?" Nicole nodded answering "Yeah. On and off for a while. He was kinda a dick." Lightning's brows lowered as he defended himself. "I wasn't all the time?" Nicole laughed a bit. Sally spoke up "I'm sorry stickers but when you leave someone like you did her?.. that's pretty bad." Nicole asked "Well how did you two meet?" Sally answered "I had him sentenced to community service and forced him to fix a road that he messed up." Lightning chuckled and added "And I would do it again." Nicole laughed a bit. "How long have the two of you been married?" Nicole asked
Lightning sighed and sat back thinking. The drinks were brought and he finally answered "What would you say Sal?.. thirty.. four years?..". Sally nodded and explained "Yeah but we dated for five years before that." Jessica leaned her head on Hudson and spoke up "I hope we can be married that long some day." Hudson smiled and kissed her head saying "Only What? Thirty to go?" Jessica giggled a bit. Lightning spoke up to Nicole "Hey..I'm glad you're doing well. Glad you found someone and again. I am sorry for being a jerk Nikki." Hudson asked "Why do you call her Nikki? Nicole right?" Sally stared a moment to for this answer.
Nicole explained "Actually everyone at school called me that. I just started going My my actual name eventually." Lightning nodded and replied "Well, Nicole.. I'm sorry." Nicole shrugged again answering her ex fiancé "No worries. I don't think we were right for each other in the long run. I'm glad we found who we were meant to be with." Lightning smiled a bit and grabbed Sally's hand and said "Yeah. I'm thankful for that." Hudson spoke up "So. Was my dad a nerd in school?" He asked Nicole. She laughed and answered "No. not really. He was a slut." "Hey!" Lightning snarled. Nicole explained "You were? I mean you dated someone new like what every week? Sometimes every other day? You even kept that stupid book?" Hudson chuckled and asked "What book?" Sally was curious now to.
Lightning answered "Nothing it was stupid." Joseph spoke up "It was the book through high school. Every time your dad dated someone he would write down the pros and cons of that girl. Every guy in school wanted that book at one time." Lightning rolled his eyes. Hudson laughed and replied "Wow. Never thought you were like that?" Lightning sighed and spoke up "I didn't go around sleeping with anyone. I just dated a lot. No girl was good enough to keep . At least that's how I felt back then." Sally replied "That's awful. Slut." She joked. Lightning glared at her a bit and nodded saying "Okay pinstripe." Sally's eyes widened and she blushed a bit. "Whats pinstripe?" Jessica asked. "Nothing." Sally quickly answered.
Lightning then asked Joseph "Do I know you? Did We go to school together?" Joseph nodded answering "Yeah you were the guy who poured cereal into every toilet and sink in the bathrooms and left the boxes in my car. I was in a lot of trouble for that." Lightning faked a smile and explained "I am sorry. I was being silly". Sally's eyes widened. Nicole spoke up "Oh he once posted the school for sale online. Even added a photo of the cute reception lady and said you'd throw her in the deal. The principal was furious all day because so many people called about it." Lightning chuckled a bit. Sally glared. "Yeah.. Uh.. I had a little fun in school. Not that big a deal.." Lightning mumbled Sally replied "You seemed nice..". The familes ate. Chatted some more.
As dinner came to an end Nicole hugged Lightning and said "Thank you. For the apology. But can I ask you something?" Lightning smiled and nodded. Nicole asked "Why did you just?. Never talk to me again?" Lightning sighed and answered after thinking a moment. "Honestly.. It wasn't just that I started to get involved in the career. I got scared. Of getting married. And.. like the pathetic jerk I was. I thought the easiest way for me?.. was to just ignore you and let it pass.. I'm sorry for that. I should have just come to you about it. But.." Lightning looked at Sally and his son.. Jessica.. he smiled more and continued "I'd do it again if it would lead me to where I am now. I'm sorry.." Nicole smiled and replied "I'm glad. It hurt for a while but honestly. We weren't ready. We were What? Twenty? We were kids and stupid. I'm glad things worked out for everyone." Lightning smiled at her.
"Oh! You should check out your brothers old shop. He stop owns it. Does the oil in my car every year." Lightning raised a brow and asked "Chad still works there?" Nicole answered "Yes his done does anyway. He's kinda cute to." She winked. Lightning rolled his eyes and replied "I'm glad we got to see each other. You look good." Nicole smiled and replied "Thanks. I just am sorry you look so old and grey." Lightning chuckled. She use to make fun of him and be mean to him a lot. It was just their thing. "Thanks for tonight. Brings back a few pleasant memories. And sorry Jo! Didn't mean to be so.. mean in school to you." Joseph waved on.
They drove on back headed home for the night. When they walked in. Cruz and Jackson were watching rsn. Talking about these driverless cars again. Hudson stopped and listened in.
The woman spoke up.
"Robo car was running some practice laps today. With a formula one design. This silent vehicle doesn't run on fuel. No gas, oil, or anything else needed. Just tires. This car is set to race this weekend in Florida with nineteen others of its kind. We have even heard of a few sponsors looking into these cars as they come in. Saying they may even sponsor the car itself. No ford or chevys here. No, surprisingly we are seeing the makes and models from other companies. Such as Mercedes Benz and BMW."
The clip showed the vehicle driving. All you could hear was the wind and a small squeal from the wheels. This car was quiet.
"We even have a few people interested in buying the race cars. Here's Daniels to talk about it again."
The camera turned to a man standing in front of the odd hourglass shaped car,
"Thanks. Um Yeah this car is the future of racing. the cars don't make any noise or pollution to speak of. In Robo cars, the cars are powered by electric motors, and the loudest sound is the furious whisper of tires under hard cornering. Robo car is my vision for bringing motorsport into the digital age. Automakers have bought into the the car in a big way, with Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Peugeot, Porsche, and Renault all committed to help build these driverless race cars. Sponsors, too, are climbing onboard. So I expect to begin seeing a better and more up to date style for racing. We've seen it grow so much. From the 50s to the um formula one series. The speed increase!? The Jackson Storm generation I think sort of started this incredible journey. That generation was one of the first in a long time to change motorsports. And now, this is the next generation. And I believe it's improved for the better."
The woman spoke back to the camera. "Now here's a sneak peak of what's to come this weekend." She smiled and the screen went black for only a second.
The add was much like (the cars 3 commercials that showed off the bodies of Storm.) it was a slick black hourglass formula one style car with huge fenders with holes everywhere. With green stripes her and there on the body. The add ended.
Daniel spoke back saying "Now our top speed currently is 302. But we are working on a design that will reach 320. Just proving to be a bit more difficult and dangerous you know. Our goal is to reach the younger generation. Those under 24 mostly. As this generation has grown less and less into cars and more into technology."
Jackson shut off the tv. Hudson spoke up "Its happening isn't it?" Everyone stared at Hudson. "Racing is changing...". No one knew what to say..
Jessica and Hudson went up to their room. Showered and such. Laying down together. Jessica spoke up "Whats gonna happen to us?" She asked. Hudson sat up beside her and sighed saying "like?.. racing or? The family thing?" He asked Jessica explained "Racing. I know I wasn't going back for the next two years. But.. I'm not sure I'm gonna have something to go back to?..". Hudson thought for a moment as Jessica added "Maybe the family hung should wait and I should get back to racing?" Hudson frowned a bit and replied "I thought you wanted a family now?" Jessica smiled and answered "I did I do! But.. seems like you're gonna need me out there on the track?" Hudson thought about it.. they could just adopt anyway. But then again they came all this way for this..
So!! Choices!
Does Jessica hold off on the transplant and try to stop this new style racing.
Or...
After talking to Hudson she decides she is okay with facing that her career maybe over in order to have a family within the next two years.