*faints* This story is now the most reviewed Sally/McQueen romance story on ! Wow, I am truly stunned and I promise you all that I will complete this story and not leave it hanging. I have already completed the entire rough draft and I'm working on my next story. :D I need to make one thing clear though, a few of you are under the impression that Sally is pregnant and she is NOT, I repeat, she is not pregnant! That was simply a dream that she had, not actually real. Alright, on to the story!

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

Sally remained locked in her room for a good part of the next day. She saw no reason to emerge to her nosey mother and condescending father. She passed time by sleeping and conspiring heart wrenching thoughts.

It wasn't until late afternoon that she heard a knock on the door followed by her mother's timid voice, "Sally? Hun, is something wrong? Please, come to dinner, you'll starve yourself to death."

She sighed but finally answered, "I'll be there in a minute, Mom." She dragged herself from her spot on the carpet towards the door in a mope. For the hundredth time she wondered what McQueen was doing, wondered whether he still thought of her. She pushed it away and tried not to think about the sound of his voice or the warmth of his lips. She was so scared she would forget the little things that had all become so natural. If she forgot about those she'd forget it all, and soon his memory would be but a leaf in the wind.

She reached the dining room and found her father in his usual place behind the low mahogany table. His face betrayed a thin scowl but it disintegrated upon the sight of his daughter. She looked weary and dull, like the life of her was being sucked away. She moved through the motions of parking at the table but her eyes were far away and drained. Like a flower without sunlight, she was neglecting herself and withering instead of battling to survive.

Jon sighed with disappointment. Something inside him was bending, a change of heart perhaps. After all, the only thing he'd ever wanted was for her to be happy and he had succeeded in just the opposite. Sally thought his actions were utterly insane and irrational but that wasn't it, they were just extreme.

He protected her life more than his own because he loved her so much. He figured that by setting her up with Justin she would have a wonderful life, the life he wanted for her. The truth though was this; he didn't want to let her go. He was terrified to pass the responsibility onto another male. Growing up he had always been her hero, her knight in shining hubcaps, to save her from the darkest hours. He didn't want another car to hold her heart more than he did.

One more look at Sally reflected the reality; there was somebody else who had stolen the key to her happiness from him. He could tell that she was craving for something; or someone.

It has to be her fiancé, he thought, I can't believe it. She really does love him…enough to marry him too. I wish I could help her but I blew my chance. Only he can save her now…

"Well, here's your drinks you two. Caviar anybody?" Cheryl offered as she placed the drinks onto the table.

Neither one answered but sipped from their drinks in silence. As the taste hit her tongue Sally felt more sadness. Store bought fuel was never the same as fuel from Flo's Café. With nothing but this and agonizing thoughts of McQueen she already felt homesick.

She was home though; her summer vacation home at least. Long ago she'd known nothing but this spacious cottage and the mansion back in Los Angeles. It felt like the most unwelcoming place in the world this time around. The paintings on the walls, the wooden flooring and the iron railings of the veranda all mocked her now for she didn't belong here anymore.

Cheryl shifted uncomfortably from the doorway unsure if she should repeat her question again to enforce an answer, She was about to open her mouth when they all heard a profound pounding at the front door. Each of them exchanged looks with each other before Cheryl bolted out into the hallway.

Sally turned acutely alert as the pounding came to a sudden stop. Sounds of the automated door closing, muffled voices and movement trickled down to the dining room. Every part of her body froze in anticipation.

Oh, please let it be him! Oh, please! She cried from the inside. Her father caught her eye and something in his greenish-grey eyes glinted back at her. It was almost as if her were thinking the exact same thing.

"Dad…?" she said almost inaudibly.

"Not now, Sally. Let's not keep him waiting," he replied.

So he was thinking the same thing as her! And was he blinking back tears? There wasn't time to deliberate such things in the moment though. She raced out into the hall with her father close behind. Her heart thudded so quickly that for a brief second she felt light-headed while the perimeter of her vision turned spotty. "Mom! Mom!" she screamed.

"In the den, Sally!" Cheryl called back.

Sally glanced swiftly at Jon before tearing down the hallway. She made a sharp turn into the family room then stopped dead in her tracks. All breath rushed from her body, carrying but a single word, "Stickers…"


Hahaha you guys were probably going to kill me if I didn't bring him back this chapter, well here he is! I wonder what will happen next? Drop a review and find out next chappie! Thanks!