Modo quickly fell into the roll of a father, and loved every minute of it. Crystal and him became almost inseparable. Modo even had a helmet made just for Crystal, who as soon as she unboxed it, she jumped into Modo's arms and hugged him tightly. Which he returned.
Althea couldn't have been happier that Modo and Crystal bonded so quickly. Watching them interact with each other made her smile.
On the day of Crystal's adoption, Althea and Crystal wore matching light blue dresses, while Modo wore his formal uniform. The process went very smoothly, but when they were signing the forms, Althea came upon a space for the Adopting Father to fill in his name and sign the form. She looked over to Modo, extended her right hand to him, and said, "You need to sign this as well, dear."
Modo left his spot over by the door and went to stand next to Althea. He looked down at the paperwork, especially the blank lines that were slated for the father to fill out. Without any hesitation, he entered his name and signed the form.
Crystal was almost bouncing with excitement, cause she now had a family again who already loved her.
Modo noticed this as well. He walked around Althea to Crystal, picked her up, resting her in the crook of his left arm, then said, "I want to take my daughter and my girlfriend out for the afternoon."
"Can we go for a ride on Lil Hoss, daddy?" Crystal asked.
"Sure, as long as mom doesn't mind?" Modo answered.
"She doesn't mind at all," Althea said. "Go, and have fun, you two, I have to help my parents finish up for the party and Modo, don't spoil her appetite!"
Modo went over to Althea, kissed her, deeply, then said, "Yes dear." And left the room, carrying Crystal in his arm.
After they left, Althea said, "He's such a great father already. I wonder how he's going to react when I tell him I'm pregnant with his child, when it actually occurs, that is."
Modo rode down the streets, with his now daughter behind him with her arms around his waist. He couldn't be a happier, if he tried. Every once in a while, he would look in one of the mirrors, to make sure Crystal was not only safe, but she was enjoying herself. To his surprise, he found her, smiling from ear-to-ear. He smiled back as he continued riding towards Charley's new garage.
Carbine, Charley, and Throttle were busy inside, fixing several bikes since once the word got out of how good Charley was with a wrench, she had a waiting list, quite long for her services.
Carbine offered her and her husband's help to her almost immediately, which she gratefully accepted.
That left Vinnie to handle the more mundane tasks in the garage. He simply didn't have either the patience or the finesse required to fix anything mechanical. For the last time he tried, he was too easily swayed by his wife's body in the tight jeans she was wearing.
Modo pulled up to the garage, stopped his bike, and shut off the motor before removing his helmet. He turned around in the saddle to Crystal, and asked, "Want to meet four of your parents' closest friends?"
"Sure, daddy," she responded with a smile on her face
Modo stood up, threw his left leg over the tank, then picked up Crystal in his arms again. "You know, I'm never going to get tired of holding you in my arms, Crystal. You have no idea how happy I am to have you as a daughter," Modo said, right before he kissed her on the left cheek.
"I love you too, daddy. But, mommy wants to be held by you as well, can you hold us both at the same time?" Crystal asked.
Modo walked over to Charley's tow truck, crouched down, extended his left arm under the front bumper, and as he stood back up, he lifted the entire front end of the truck. "I think I can hold both of you, quite easily, Crystal.
Crystal knew her father was strong, but to see him lift the front end of a truck, with one arm only, made her eyes go wide.
Modo put the truck back down, kissed his daughter again, then said, "Let's go inside, knowing Charley, she's probably got something sweet for you."
They entered the garage and found both Charley and Carbine, with their hands buried deeply into a pair of old Military bikes' engines and Throttle giving an Oil Change to a Racing Styled bike. "Hey guys, I have someone with me, you all are going to want to meet." Modo said.
Throttle was the first one to stop what he was doing and turn to face the Gentle Giant. That was when he noticed the girl in Modo's arms. "Who's your friend, Big Fella?" He asked.
"Throttle, this is Crystal. She's mine and Althea's daughter," Modo answered.
Upon hearing the word 'daughter' leave Modo's mouth, both females dropped the wrenches they were holding, got up, and as they wiped their hands on a pair of Red Shop towels, Carbine asked, "Daughter? Where and when did you find time to not only find this beautiful girl, but adopt her?"
"Funny story, General. Can we head to the Living Quarters and I will gladly tell it to you. Althea will kill me if Crystal's dress gets greasy," Modo said.
All five of them entered the Living Quarters of the building. And while Modo found a chair for him and Crystal to sit in, Throttle and Carbine sat in the Love Seat, while Charley went into the kitchen to get a few drinks and snacks for them all.
Carbine couldn't keep her eyes away from Crystal and Modo. To her, they obviously loved each other already and made a perfect pair of Father and Daughter. She leaned back to Throttle, then said, "Modo has taken to parenthood quite well. He loves her to no end, just like if Crystal was his own."
"To him, she might as well be, Carbine. When it came to kids, Modo always had a soft spot for them. Althea is one lucky woman, he loves her, and now, he is going to share that love with their daughter. Modo was born to be a father, that's just the way he was made," Throttle said.
Charley returned, carrying a tray with some glasses, a pitcher of cold water, and some snack items.
Both Throttle and Modo rose from their seats to help Charley. But Throttle said, "Sit back down, Modo. You have your arms full, with precious cargo already."
As much of a Gentleman Modo was, he listened to his bro, and sat back down. Then gave Crystal another kiss.
"Daddy! Save some for mommy!" Crystal said.
"I already kiss mommy, lots, Crystal. You on the other hand, haven't been kissed enough by your father," he responded.
Charley sat down across from Modo and Crystal, then asked, "Where did you find her, Modo?"
Modo told them Althea and him found Crystal's camp as well as her birth parents were killed in the war.
Carbine balled up her right fist, then said, "Stupid War! Even though its over, it just keeps on giving! When is it enough? When the entire planet implodes?" She quickly realized she might be scaring Crystal and calmed down. "Sorry, Crystal. I was a General in the Freedom Fighters during the war. These two served under me. I witnessed way too much destruction and loss over the years and I'm tired of it. I simply want to rebuild Mars to the beauty it once was, is that too much to ask for?"
"Its not, babe," Throttle said in a tone to comfort his wife. "I want the same thing as well. Someday, Mars will be what it once was, I promise."
"Good, I'd hate to raise our child in a barren wasteland,"she said.
"Child?" Throttle asked. "You're pregnant, Carbine?"
Carbine snuggled against her husband, then answered, "I was going to wait to tell you, Throttle. But now is as good time as any. In about seven months, you will be holding your own child."
Throttle leaned back in the Love Seat, then said, "Wow, I'm going to be a father. Hey, Big Fella, got any pointers for a bro?"
"Its instinctual, Throttle. You just know what to do," Modo said.
Throttle opened his mouth to say something, then Vinnie burst into the Living quarters, holding several boxes in his arms, "Babe! Where do you want this load of crap you ordered?!"
"Watch your mouth Vin! There is a young lady present!" Charley scolded her husband.
"Right, the only females here are Carbine and my Red-Hot Wife!" Vinnie said as he dropped the boxes onto the floor.
"And my daughter, Vinnie," Modo said, shooting his younger brother a censuring glare.
"Daughter? Even if you knocked up Althea after the ball, there is no way she could have popped out a kid already," Vinnie said.
"Vin, you never cease to amaze me, with how often you are able to put your foot in your mouth!" Modo said. "Althea and I adopted Crystal this morning and I would appreciate you, not using that type of language in front of her."
Vinnie finally turned around to face Modo and Crystal. His stomach turned in remorse. Even though he was brash when it was only Adults around, he would never talk like he did in front of a child. He slowly walked over to crouch down in front of Crystal, then said, "Sorry about the way I talk, Crystal. You are quite cute, hope you take after your adoptive mother, and not your adoptive father. He can get quite grouchy at times."
"Let him, he's my daddy, and I love him," Crystal responded, wrapping her arms around Modo's neck.
Vinnie stood back up, then said, "I always knew you would be an awesome father, Modo. Congrats to you and Althea on adopting her."
"Thanks, bro. You four are coming to the party later this afternoon?" Modo asked.
"Of course we are," Charley said. "We would not miss Crystal's Adoption party for the world."
"Great! It wouldn't be a party, if all of my family wasn't there," Modo said, right before he stood up, and said," I need to get back and see if Althea or Rosemary needs help setting up." He turned to Carbine, then said, "You are going to be one of the best mothers out there, Carbine. Just don't treat your child like a Soldier, and you will be fine."
"Thanks Modo. Be sure to get Crystal back home, nice and safe. I'd hate to see Althea throw you out on your tail, because you were wreck less as Vinnie," Carbine said.
"Not going to happen. This little girl is my life. Nothing is going to happen to her, while I'm around. That I swear," Modo said and left the garage, carrying his daughter.
"When did you find out you were pregnant, Carbine?" Charley asked.
"Carbine, pregnant? Oh, man! I can see the little tyke now! He or she is going to be one Bad-ass mouse!" Vinnie said.
"That it will be, Vin," Throttle said. "I guess the night of the ball was very special, for more than the Coorination?"
"For us, yes it was, Throttle," Carbine said, stroking the right side of his muzzle.
Vinnie walked over to Charley, wrapped his arm around her, then said, "Modo now has a daughter, Throttle and Carbine are expecting, when are you going to give me a kid, doll?"
"If everything goes right, in about seven to eight months, Vin, I think I'm pregnant as well," Charley answered.
"Your.. you..Pregnant…" Vinnie managed to get out before passing out.
End of Chapter
