Got another story for you all! I hope you enjoy! A couple of you requested hearing about Julia, so I managed to tie it in with this one a little.

Meant to Be

1987

Luigi leafed through the stack of mail he'd just brought inside. Bill, bill, bill, for Guido, for Guido, hey; his Ferrari magazine had arrived! At the bottom of the pile was a letter from his brother. Curious, he opened it up. It had been several months since he'd heard from Mario or any of his family in Italy, for that matter. Knowing he had nothing else to do, he opened it up.

The letter was quite long. Basically, business in the tyre shop he owned was going well and he and his wife had just welcomed their first child, a beautiful baby girl. He had even enclosed a photo of the child.

Luigi was glad that nobody was around because he found himself tearing up. Now, he was the only one in his family who hadn't settled down, gotten married and started a family. Well, he had gotten married back in Italy; they were married for six years, but when their village was hit with hard times and, as hard as he tried, Luigi couldn't provide for the two of them, she'd left him. That was absolutely devastating for the Fiat because they'd been talking about having children.

"(I want them)", was what his wife had told him, "(but I'm not sure you can support them.)"

It was not long after that that he and Guido decided to board the boat and search for a better life in America.

Now, Luigi feared that he was running out of time. It had just occurred to him that he was not exactly a young car anymore. In fact, he was beginning to get up there in mileage. Would anybody really be interested in him? He seriously doubted it. Not only was he an older car, but he was hardly rich or successful. Besides, even if anybody was interested in him, would he even have the energy to take care of a child at this age? He didn't think he could keep up with a little kid.

Still, he remembered the way that Flo and Ramone's daughters looked at their parents when they were little. He remembered the pure joy the Donovans felt whenever they welcomed a new addition into their family. He wanted that. Of course, he had taken plenty of care of the children around town, but, at the end of the day, they weren't his children.

For most of his adult life, he'd wanted one, but it would especially be nice now. Having a child would brighten up his days, with no business in the town.

"Luigi?"

Luigi sniffled and glanced up as Guido came in. "Yes?"

Guido eyed him with confusion and concern. "(Are you okay?)"

"Yes", he assured the forklift, drying his eyes. "I am fine."

"(Are you sure?)"

"Yes", the Fiat repeated.

"(Are you coming to Flo's?)"

Luigi took another deep breath, making sure that nobody could tell that he'd been crying a little. "Yes. I think I need some oil."

Flo's was as quiet as it had been ever since the town had disappeared from the map. There was hardly anything to talk about. Nobody had a good business day; or a business day at all, for that matter. All of them hoped that customers would return soon, but nearly twenty years after the construction of the Interstate, things looked bleaker and bleaker by the day.

So, Guido and Luigi didn't bother to ask how anybody's day was when they arrived at the V8 Café that evening. They just thanked Flo for the oil and started sipping intently. Nobody asked them any questions either. All in all, just another typical, dull day in Radiator Springs, Arizona.

"Is everyone here?!" a voice called out excitedly.

That got the gang's attention. Robert Morrison and his wife, Julia, had just arrived at Flo's. Four years ago, they'd gotten married, which was one of the most exciting days in the town for a long time (exciting in a good way, that is; there had been a few deaths in that time as well). Now, it seemed like they had a big announcement.

"What's goin' on?" Flo wondered as she paused in the task of serving the others drinks and they all gathered around.

"We have some big news!" Robert began with a big smile on his face.

There was a dramatic silence.

"We", Julia announced, dragging it out for as long as she could, "are.. going to have a baby! I'm pregnant!"

Now, there was a stunned silence.

"You are?" Julia's mother, Ethel, asked in disbelief.

Julia nodded with a big smile of her own. "Mmmhmm. I'm almost four months along."

Ethel's eyes filled with tears of joy. "I'm going to be a grandmother?" She hugged her daughter.

Just like that, everyone was shrieking and hugging. Finally, finally, something good was happening in this town.

Only, not everyone was so happy about it. Luigi just parked at the back of the crowd surrounding the happy couple, praying that nobody would see him cry. Of course, he was happy for them. Why wouldn't he be? Still, he couldn't help wondering when- or if- he'd ever have a child of his own. It almost seemed like everyone was having children. Everyone except for him, that was. Maybe he just didn't deserve to be a father... Why was that? Everyone would tell him he'd make a terrific father, but maybe they were wrong. Maybe it just wasn't meant to be.

"Luigi?" Julia ventured. "Are you okay? You haven't said anything."

Now, everyone was looking at him suspiciously.

"Yes", he assured everyone. "I am fine."

"I thought you'd be happy", Julia remarked. She sounded a little hurt.

He nodded. "I am. I think it is wonderful... I'm sorry. I am just not having a good day."

"(It is true)", Guido confirmed. "(Before we came over here, he seemed upset about something.)"

"What's goin' on?" Doc asked the Fiat, concerned.

"Nothing!" Luigi insisted. He hadn't wanted to make a big deal over how he was feeling before, but now, he really didn't want to talk about it. He was afraid everyone would think he was just jealous (which was partly true). "It is just a bad day, that is all!"

"Yeah, I think we've all had quite a few of those lately", Sarge muttered.

"But at least we'll have a new addition to the family soon!" Flo squealed with joy again.

Yes, Luigi thought. As much as he wanted a child of his own, this could still be great too. He'd just make sure he'd be first in line to babysit.

Three Weeks Later:

There was still plenty of excitement going on around Radiator Springs. Julia had seen Doc once more and everything seemed totally normal. Already, the townsfolk were showering this baby with presents. Robert and Julia were studying the book of baby names they'd bought seriously.

"What about Edward? Or Edwina if it's a girl?"

"Hmmm... I kind of like Martina for a girl."

"Martina... I like it."

Needless to say, everyone was counting down the days until the baby was born.

Unfortunately, that was quick to fall apart.

One evening the residents of Radiator Springs were gathered at Flo's as they often were in the evening. Now, the conversation was a bit more lively with something to look forward to. The only ones not there were Robert and Julia; they'd gone into Ashgrove to get some more baby supplies and were going to pick up some groceries while they were at it. It was Thursday, the day that a couple of the town's residents would do that errand.

Just as the others were starting to eat their dinner, the parents to be returned.

"Hey!" everyone greeted them cheerily. "How'd it go? You get everything you need?"

There was an awkward silence.

"What?" they all asked fearfully.

"Oh, God!" Ethel cried nervously. "Is the baby okay?"

"Yes, Mom, the baby's fine", Julia assured her. "That's what we wanna talk about."

Whatever this was, it didn't sound good... What was going on?

"Everyone", Julia began, "Robert and I've been doing a lot of thinking ever since I got pregnant and we've decided... we don't want to raise a kid in Radiator Springs."

"What?!" everyone exclaimed in disbelief.

"It's just... the town's gotten a lot smaller recently", Robert explained. "We want our kid to grow up somewhere they can go to a good school and be around some kids their own age."

Well, the townsfolk could understand that, but it was still going to be sad to see them go.

"Are you sure about this?" Ethel questioned, sounding heartbroken.

Julia nodded. "Yes. We've found a house we like a lot in Oklahoma, about an hour outside of Tulsa. We put in an offer and yesterday, they accepted it."

"Wow!" Ramone exclaimed in astonishment. "So, this is really happenin'."

Robert nodded. "We'll be leaving in about three weeks, so we can get settled before the baby comes."

"Three weeks?!" everyone gasped incredulously.

"We're really sorry, everyone", Julia apologised sincerely. "We know you were all looking forward to seeing our baby grow up. Believe me, we hate to think he or she wouldn't be close to you guys, but we really think this is for the best."

For a long time, nobody said anything.

"Well", Doc broke the silence finally, "if this is for the best, then I think you should do this."

"Yeah", everyone agreed.

"We'd better organise a farewell party for y'all!" Flo decided.

"You don't have to do that", Robert began, although it was clear that they appreciated the idea.

"Of course we do, honey!" Flo insisted.

So, that's what they did. Two nights before Robert and Julia were due to leave, the townsfolk threw them a farewell party. The only problem was that the environment was more like a funeral. Just about everyone was crying. Nobody was crying more than Luigi. He was heartbroken that any chance of being around a child had just vanished. Of course, he never said anything about that. That is, until that night.

"Something's been bothering you for over a month now, Luigi", Julia commented as the two of them got a moment alone. Robert and Julia were pulling everyone aside to say goodbye individually. "I want to know what."

"It is nothing", he assured her.

"Really?" She gave him a sad look. "Come on. I'm leaving town... Do you really want to leave anything unsaid between us?"

Luigi sighed. "I am very happy you are having this baby, but..."

He spilled out all of his concerns that this was something he really wanted, but was beginning to fear would never happen for him. Julia listened sympathetically.

"Don't talk like that, Luigi!" she instructed when he was done. "I'm sure you'll have a baby someday."

"I wish I had your confidence", he muttered miserably. "I am not so sure. I fear that I am running out of time."

"Life's full of surprises", Julia pointed out with a shrug. "You never know what's going to happen."

"I suppose that is true", Luigi agreed half-heartedly.

"Come on, Luigi! You're a great guy! You're kind, you're smart, you're funny... You've got it all. Someday, some woman's gonna be lucky to have you. And some little kid's gonna be very lucky to call you dad. I just know it."

"You do?"

"Absolutely. If it's meant to be, it'll be. And someone like you is meant to be a dad."

Luigi smiled softly, still not convinced. He knew that as long as life wasn't over, there was still time. Though, unless they were a psychic, he wouldn't believe anybody telling him it was going to happen.

Robert and Julia left early in the morning two days later. Of course, there were plenty of tears and hugs before they left. Both of them had lived in Radiator Springs since they were infants. It was hard for everyone to see them go and it was hard for them to go. Not to mention the baby; everyone wished that baby could grow up in Radiator Springs with all of them as aunts and uncles. Unfortunately, it wasn't to be.

"Farewell, Julia!" Luigi hugged her. "I wish you nothing but happiness."

"Bye, Luigi! Keep in touch!" She returned the hug and whispered to him, "Let me know when you finally get a kid!"

"If", he corrected her.

She smiled. "You will."

A few minutes later, amid shouts, honks and waves, Robert and Julia climbed into a taxi and headed out of Radiator Springs for the last time. Luigi smiled softly with tears in his eyes. They were about to start a new life in a new home with a new addition to their family. Lucky them.

2001

"Look who's back!" Ramone announced, entering Casa Della Tires with someone.

"Fudgie!" Luigi cried, rushing forward and kissing his fourteen-month-old daughter repeatedly. She giggled.

"So, Fudge", Ramone grinned at the girl, "shall we show Luigi what you did this afternoon?"

"Da ba!" Fudge shouted.

Ramone smiled. "Yeah? Okay." He gave Luigi a rolled-up sheet of paper. "This is for you."

Luigi unrolled the paper and squealed with delight when he saw what it was: a colourful painting that Fudge had done entirely with her hands and feet.

"Fudgie!" the Fiat exclaimed, kissing his daughter many more times. "I love you so much!"

"Yeah!" Fudge cried. At this stage in her life, Fudge only knew a handful of words and yeah was one of them. (This was why the RS gang tried to be more careful what words they used around the little girl, in fear of her learning words she was too young to know. So, at that point, there was a lot of, "Gosh, darn it!", "Fiddlesticks!", and the occasional, "Oh, sugar honey ice tea!" going on around Radiator Springs at that point.)

Luigi and Ramone laughed.

"This is beautiful, angel!" Luigi proclaimed, kissing her one more time for good measure. "Maybe some day, you will be an artist just like your Uncle Ramone!"

The Lowrider grinned. "You never know, man. You never know."

"I am going to have this framed and put it on my bedroom wall", Luigi went on.

"Really?!" Ramone asked, feigning surprise. "But it's not a Ferrari poster."

Luigi laughed. "No. This is better."

When Ramone left, Luigi sighed happily.

"It is just you and me, Fudgie!" he declared blissfully. Guido was one of the ones who'd gone into Ashgrove that Thursday. He wouldn't be back for hours. "You and me for the rest of the day!"

Although, Fudge wasn't as excited about the prospect of that as Luigi was; five minutes later, she was fast asleep.

"Afternoon nap time already?" Luigi questioned, glancing at the clock. It was a little earlier than she'd normally go down for a nap. "Are you tired from your hard work painting? Is that it?"

Fudge just sighed in her sleep. Luigi sighed too, another sigh of happiness.

He didn't put her down, in fear of waking her up. So, he held her as he read a letter that had arrived for him that morning. It was from Julia. She'd stated that her fourteen-year-old daughter, Louise, had just graduated middle school and had gotten the lead role in the end-of-year school play. Louise also had an eleven-year-old brother named Josh, who had won the championship for his football team. Julia also seemed very happy for Luigi, finally having a child of his own and had commented on how very cute Fudge was.

She is very cute, Luigi thought with a soft smile at his sleeping daughter.

Julia had been right about everything. Not only did he have a child now, but you really do never know. Fudge had come to him so suddenly, so out of the blue. He hadn't even been thinking about wanting a child for quite some time. Then, practically before he could blink, he had become a father. It had happened literally overnight. He hadn't imagined having an adopted child. He wouldn't have even dreamed of having a human child. And he definitely wasn't expecting to be raising a child with Guido, his best friend since they were children. Even so, he wouldn't have changed a thing. Fudge was his precious baby girl, no matter what anybody said or did.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me", Luigi whispered. "You don't know how special you are, but one day, you will because I will tell you. I will tell you that you are the best thing that has ever happened to me."

2005

Luigi stared at his sleeping daughter, afraid to take his eyes off of her. As if he moved, she would vanish forever.

What had been just a typical day with his daughter and the rest of the residents of Radiator Springs had had a horrible ending. Social workers wanted to take Fudgie away?! How could they do that?! She was fine here! She was happy here! Fudge was his daughter and he didn't want to give her up for anything or anyone.

"Guido?" he ventured, breaking the awful silence. "What are we going to do?"

Guido didn't answer for a very long time. "(I don't know)", he declared finally. "(We are not going to let her be taken away, are we?)"

"No!" Luigi insisted, his eyes building up with tears. "Of course not! We are going to fight for her!"

That made both of them feel a little bit better, but they were still afraid of what was to come.

Maybe, just maybe, after all of this, Luigi just wasn't meant to be a father. Maybe the universe had been teasing him by giving him Fudge. No. He knew it was an angel that had given him Fudge... So, who was cruel enough to take her away? He didn't know and he didn't care.

All he knew was that she wasn't leaving him that easily.

Once again, I had no idea how to end this one.

Updates may slow down a little for this story, partly due to running out of ideas and partly due to having both Halloween and Christmas specials planned. I only have rough ideas at the moment, but I do plan on creating Halloween and Christmas specials for this story.

As usual, please review!