The next morning, I found Modo sleeping on the floor in the living room. I had, like always, slept on the sofa. I had another nightmare again. Throttle woke up and came out into the living room and saw me sitting up on the sofa. He walked over and draped his arms over my shoulders.

"Hey there, good lookin'. Sorry about last night."

Throttle walked around and sat down next to me. He saw Modo laying next to the sofa and nudged him a bit to wake him.

"Did he really sleep on the floor last night?"

"Yep. I had called Charley and told her that Modo was staying over since it was very late. She was ok with that. She also told me that she plans to come by sometime this morning."

"I better get dressed. You should to. You have a Dr. appt. this afternoon."

I nudged Modo a little harder than Throttle did, but I got a response. "Hey big fella. Time to wake up."

Then I got up from the sofa and walked into the kitchen to make coffee for all of us.

Throttle noticed I was getting coffee made and went in to help me. I looked at him with a scowl.

"What? I thought I'd help. That's all I wanna do. Just help out a bit."

"If all you wanna do is help, then get three cups down for me, please. A bit hard with this belly protruding out." I lightly patted my stomach.

I sat down after I started the coffee maker. "I will be so glad when this baby is born. I feel so fat."

Throttle turned around and looked at me. "You're not fat, babe. You'll lose it all after Tony is born. I wouldn't care if you gained more weight after he's born. I'm still gonna love and cherish you 'til we both die. I give you my word."

"Promise?"

"Biker's Honor. If I ever decide to leave you, which I hope never happens, but if it does, you have my permission to beat the holy hell out of me and I won't fight back."

"Throttle, no! I don't wanna hurt you for any reason. I just want you to be by my side no matter what."

Modo happened to hear the tail end of our conversation when he walked into the kitchen.

"He best not ever think of leaving you. I will beat the holy hell out of him myself. Up until he met you, he was unbearable to be around. He was always depressed after talking with Carbine. After he met you, he was a whole new mouse. Yeah, we didn't see much of him, but when we did, he was always smiling. Then 4 months ago when he was forced to leave after finding out he was going to be a father, you were miserable. It made me sad to see you like that. I think of you like a sister, Michelle and I always will. If you 2 ever have problems, you can always come to me. We can sit down and talk. Ok?"

"Thanks Modo. I also think of you like a big brother, especially since mine past away."

He leaned over and gave me a hug. I had Throttle pour Modo a cup of coffee and pour himself one.

"Babe, could you get my decaf down and start a pot for me, please?"

"Sure. What are you going to cook for breakfast, bro?"

"Whatever you 2 want. Pancakes sound good to me, though."

"Mmmm, sounds good to me too, Modo. Pan is in the cupboard next to the stove. Cooking spray is in the cupboard above the stove and the pancake mix is in the cupboard next to the fridge."

Modo got everything and started making breakfast.
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While Modo was making more pancakes, there was a knock on the door. I got up from the table and went to answer it.

I looked through the peephole and saw that it was Charley. I unlocked the door, opened it and let her in.

"Hey Charley. Come on in. Grab a plate and dig in. Modo is cooking pancakes for breakfast."

"Nice. Hope he wasn't a problem."

"Not at all. Thanks for letting him stay last night. He made a great meal last night. There's even leftovers for tonight."

"No hot dogs and root beer for dinner, then?"

"Nope. He made a special dinner that his mom had made while he was growing up. It was pretty good, too."

We sat down at the table and I finished my 4th pancake. Charley grabbed a plate and grabbed a couple of them, too.

"By chance, do you have any more pancake mix, Michelle?"

"Sorry, Modo. What you're using is all I have. I need to do some shopping later today. If I'm allowed to drive." I looked at Throttle when I said that.

"Only if I go with you."

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't believe it. I was being treated like a child.

"Go ahead and roll your eyes, babe. With Limburger gone, I have all the time in the world to spend with you. I love doing everything with you."

Charley looked at Throttle. "I think she would like some alone time once in a while, Throttle. I think grocery shopping might be what she needs today. Cubs are back in town. Why don't you and Modo catch a game today. I'll go with her."

Throttle sighed then looked at me. "You really feel that way?"

"Honestly Throttle, I do. I know you enjoy doing everything with me, but I do need 'me time'. I'm sorry, babe." I reached across the table and grabbed his hand.

"I understand that you need 'me time', babe. I'm sorry I made you feel smothered. Tell you what. When you want 'me time', let me know and I'll go hang with Modo. How's that sound?"

"That sounds just fine, Throttle. Thank you for being very understanding. If we do this when we have a problem, then our relationship and our marriage will stay strong like it is now. Talk out our problems and everything will be ok."

"I think its the best thing for us. It keeps us honest with each other."

"Exactly. I understand why you're wanting to do everything with me. Its cause you were gone for 3 months. I also understand that you worry about me, but you also know I can handle myself when I need to. We'll have plenty of time to spend with each other when I get the bounty hunter business up and running."

Charley looked at me strangely. "Bounty hunter? You were a bounty hunter before you moved here to Chicago?"

"Yep. A little over a year ago, I had shut down my business and moved out here. There was a reason why I didn't tell you, Charley. My face was all over the TV's in Cali. Once I moved out here, I made sure that no one knew who I was, especially by reputation. Another reason why I never told you my last name. Throttle knows it."

"May I ask what it is, Mike?"

"My last name is Montana, like the state."
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That afternoon, Charley and I went to my Dr. appt. then to the grocery store to pick up some things. It was nice to hang out with Charley. She helped with some of the things I couldn't or shouldn't try to get. The things on the higher shelves or the lower shelves that require me to bend down.

After I got everything I needed, we headed for the checkout counter to pay for everything. I was pulling out my black credit card and Charley stopped me.

"No way are you paying for this."

"Not happening, Charley. I told Throttle that he was welcome to help out, but he is not to do everything for me. Same thing goes for you, too, Charley. You can help put everything up on the conveyor belt but I'm paying for everything. I never get a credit card bill with this card. Its unlimited."

"I get it. You don't wanna feel helpless. Not a problem. I'm always happy to help out when you need it, Mike. You're my best friend and I don't want to make you feel like you can't do anything for yourself. Do you plan to get back in the cage anytime soon?"

"I've been thinking about it. I'm thinking maybe after Tony starts school, when I can get to a gym."

"Tony? You and Throttle come up with that name?"

"Yep. Its tradition to name your first born with the same initial as your last name. In his family, it is."

"I think it's the same way with Modo, too. I'll have to ask him."

"How you 2 doing? Is he treating you good?"

"Of course. I would never let him treat me any differently. If he did, I'd be done with him. I will not allow a man or mouse abuse me in any way, shape or form."

"Good for you. Thanks for keeping me from doing something stupid when Throttle left 3 months ago. I was so depressed that I wanted to die. Thanks for staying over every night."

I paid for my groceries and once they were in the shopping cart, we headed out to the SUV.

"You don't need to thank me, Mike. I could tell you were very depressed. Having a girls night every night was fun. Maybe we could do a couple's night sometime."

"I would love that. I bet Throttle would like that, too. I'll have to ask him tonight."
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We got back to my place in about 20 mins. We took the groceries up to my place and started putting them all away.

As we were putting the last of the groceries away, there was a knock on the door. "You expecting anyone, Mike?"

"Nope. Could you go see who it is, please?"

"Sure." She put the milk in the fridge then went to see who was at the door.

Charley looked through the peephole and is surprised that its Vinnie and Harley. She also noticed that Throttle and Modo were coming up the stairs, as well.

"Vinnie and Harley are here. Throttle and Modo are back, too"

"Let them in, Charley. I'm glad he's out of the hospital now."

Charley let them in and then closed the door and all 4 of them were inside.

"Please take your boots off at the door. I don't need a dirty carpet."

They all took their boots off and left them by the door, then took a seat on the sofa. I was glad that the sofa was big enough for all 6 of us to sit on.

"So, how you feeling, Vinnie?"

"Much better, thanks. Do you prefer Mike or Michelle?"

"Either one, really. Charley calls me Mike. Throttle and Modo call me Michelle."

"So, who's the lucky father of your baby, Michelle?"

"Throttle is. We're having a boy. We're hoping that all of you, Rimfire and Carbine included, will make it to our wedding."

"After we set a date, of course."

"Charley and I will definitely be there. Won't we, darlin'?"

"You better believe it."

"You really rushed right into it, didn't you, bro?"

Harley couldn't believe what Vinnie just said. "Vincent! Uncalled for."

Vinnie looked at Harley. "Its true, babe. It all started the day Charley introduced Michelle to us. Throttle immediately asked her out."

Harley looked at Throttle. "Is Vinnie really telling the truth, Throttle? Did you really rush into a relationship with Michelle?"

"Yeah, I did. The more I spent time with her, the more in love I was with her. I knew she was the one I was looking for. Honestly Harley, I wouldn't change anything about how we got together. It was love at first sight."

"Throttle has made me so happy, Harley. You have no idea."