I'm SO sorry for leaving this so long...I've been having a hell of a time...single as of last week, one of my close friends is dying of cancer and my grandad has had to go to a secure unit in a rest home. Now I'm also getting a cold so bleh, basically.

Thank you to my wonderful reviewers, Samurai, Kindra, Intrepid and Raven. You guys rock, and thank you for being so understanding :)

Well, this chappies a lil' short, and I've only just begun the next chapter, but I'll keep working on it and hopefully have it up by this time next week. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Don't own BMFM, Sparks is Kindras, Alex and Night Storm are mine...blah blah blah...

Chapter 20: Modo's Idea

Vinnie snuck back down the stairs, after going to see why Modo hadn't come back down. He grinned widely at Charley and Throttle.

"You gotta come see this" he said, giving a mischievous grin. "It's too cute. I can rib Modo about this for months!"

Tala had left a few minutes ago to go over her ship, and Stoker had gone back to duty, so the two left followed Vinnie quietly up the stairs and peeked into the girls room.

Hushed snickering broke out in the hallway.

"Aww" whispered Charley between giggles "isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever seen? Does anyone have a camera?"

"If you guys don't keep it down, I'll sic Alex on ya" came a whisper from the room.

The two mice and woman out in the hall looked up and saw Modo glaring at them. But from his grin, they knew he was only kidding.

"You comin' down anytime soon Big Fella?" asked Throttle.

"Nah bro, ya go on ahead, I'm fine"

"What if Alex was downstairs?" Charley was desperately trying not to laugh out loud, not wanting to wake Alex.

Modo shot a Look at Charley, and the auburn-haired woman had to run downstairs, bursting out with laughter as she went into the kitchen, shutting the door behind her.

"I'll come" a voice piped up from Modo's other side. Sparks appeared, and scrambled over his fathers legs.

Modo suddenly remembered he wanted to talk to Stoker.

"Wait, I changed my mind" he rumbled quietly "I gotta talk to Stoke about something" Modo carefully eased his arm out from under Alex, and gently laid her back on her pillow. He gazed at her for a moment before reaching out and tucking a stray lock of her silky hair off her forehead. The large mouse turned to the dresser, found paper and a pencil, and quickly scribbled Alex a note, which he placed on her small bedside table. Then he headed for the door, not looking back, because he knew if he did, he wouldn't leave at all.

"So, Stoke…do ya think it'll work?" Modo asked the older mouse.

"I don't see why not" Stoker replied. "That's a damned good idea though, you go and talk to your pretty lady, and I'll have a chat to some of our techs, to see if we can do this. She's got loads of space, so it should work."

Modo grinned at Stoker, and left his office, heading back towards the accommodations on the other side of the small fort.

Alex rolled over, opened her eyes and saw, out the window, that it was late afternoon.

'Hmm, must have slept about 2 hours' she mused to herself as she sat up and ran her fingers through her tousled hair. It was then she remembered. Where were Modo and Sparks?

Getting up, she quickly crossed to the dresser, brushed her hair, and tied it into a high ponytail. Then Alex went back to the bed, pulled up the sheets a bit…and noticed the note Modo had left.

Alex sat on the bed and unfolded it.

Dear Alex,

I've just gone out to talk to Stoker about an idea I had. I'll be back soon, and if Coach says it could work, I'd like to talk to you about it. See you soon.

Love Modo

Alex blushed as she read the last two words, and a silly grin plastered itself on her face. She almost skipped out of the girls' room, bounced down the stairs and into the kitchen where she found Charley and Throttle talking quietly. They stopped as she burst in.

"Hi!" Charley raised an eyebrow at the chipper greeting and smirked.

"Someone looks happy"

Alex gave the silly grin again.

"Why? Shouldn't I be?" With that, she bounded back out of the kitchen, humming loudly to herself.

Charley just rolled her eyes at Throttle, and the two of them laughed quietly before going back to their conversation.

Alex entered the lounge room just as the door opened and Modo walked in. She walked up to him and slipped her arms around his waist. Modo didn't bat an eyelid as his own arms encircled her shoulders, returning the welcoming hug, then leading her over to the couch.

"Well, ya know that idea I had?" he asked, sitting down and pulling her to sit beside him. Alex nodded. "Stoke said it could work. Hear me out before sayin' anythin'." Alex only nodded again, wondering what on earth Modo was talking about.

"Now, ya know we won't always be there when yer out on Night Storm, or yer not goin' t' want anyone there…well, my idea was t' put weapons on yer bike so ya can get outta trouble if it finds ya. I know ya don't like the idea of killin' anythin', so the Techs that do it are gonna wire the system to Night Storm herself. That way, yer bike can protect ya if I can't"

Alex sat in contemplation for a few minutes, Modo growing more uneasy as time passed. She wasn't going to say no was she?

"Alright" Alex suddenly made her decision. "It's definitely a good idea…so long as they program, Night Storm to injure instead of kill?"

"I think that can be arranged Darlin'" Stoker strode through the front door and grinned at the two on the couch. "Satisfy an old mouse's curiosity. You two sorted things out yet?"

Alex and Modo's faces both turned pink and they spluttered for a few seconds, then Modo finally nodded his head. The older mouse slapped him on the shoulder.

"'Bout time young 'un! From what I've heard from the others this girl will be good for ya" He winked at Alex, who blushed deeper. "Now you take care of my boy here" Stoker told her "Don't let him get away with his bad habits"

Alex burst into giggles at the indignant look on Modo's face.

"Now hang on Coach…" the grey mouse began, then he saw Stoker was trying to hold back his laughter. Modo grumbled "I feel like Vinnie…everyone's against me" Alex only giggled more, and slipped her arms around his waist, muffling her laughter in his chest.

(AN: Heheh...poor Modo's getting the pss taken out of him :P and don't worry, I'll try and get Modo and Alex to have their first kiss soonish...I'm no good at these kinda scenes...remember to RnR!)