Author's Note: Here's chapter 4 and a big thank you to the helpful and encouraging reviews—I'm glad that you are all enjoying this story and now we have the meeting of the two rivals for Trixie's affections. Speed's finally going to get his comeuppance from all those times he was gawking at some other girl while Trixie got mad. Enjoy!

SEEDS OF DOUBT

The next day was a bright and sunny June Saturday and both Victori and Cam came down into the kitchen to get breakfast. As they began to gather ingredients for the meal, they both noticed the conspicuous absence of their parents.

"Well it looks like the parental units are sleeping in this morning," Cam said suggestively as his sister filled the carafe with water to put the coffee on. "Did ya hear them last night after we went to bed?"

"Cam, you're such a perv," Victori admonished. "Mom and Daddy just went to bed like we did last night." She began to mix the batter for pancakes.

"Yeah right," Cam scoffed as he stuck his finger in the bowl and she swatted at it. "Grow up, Vic, they didn't go right to sleep last night, believe me. They were up half the night doin' it."

Victori stopped mixing the batter as she eyed her brother with piercing cobalt orbs. "What did you do, Cam? Sit outside their door? So what if Mom and Daddy did it last night, at least they do it with each other. Not like other parents." She turned on the stove and heated the griddle.

"Yeah, most of our friends at school have their parents divorced," Cam agreed.

Victori nodded as she began ladling batter onto the griddle.

Upstairs, the fragrance of the pancakes wafted up the spiral staircase and through the closed door of the loft that was the master bedroom. The tantalizing aroma caused Speed's ocean eyes to open as the rest of his face was buried in the satiny soft shoulder of his wife and he whispered in her ear.

"Hey sleeping beauty, wake up. Smells like the kids are up and making breakfast."

Trixie yawned as she turned in her husband's arms. "Uh-huh. I guess we'd better get down there before they start wondering what's keeping us." And they both got up and put their robes on to head down for breakfast.

"Yeah they're growing up so I guess we'd better not give them any ideas," Speed said as he winked at his wife who tittered and slapped him playfully.

In the kitchen Victori and Cam were putting the finishing touches on a substantial pancake breakfast. Victori was pouring orange juice and Cam was finishing placing silverware down when Speed and Trixie entered the kitchen.

"Good morning you two," Trixie said cheerfully as she kissed her children. "So what's all this?"

"Yeah," Speed said "You two aren't usually up before noon on Saturdays. So what gives?"

"Nothing, Daddy," Victori went and wrapped her arms around her father and kissed him. Speed eyed her dubiously.

"Victori, you're still grounded so if that's the reason you're doing this, it was for nothing. I'm not changing my mind."

"Daddy, that wasn't why we did this," his daughter said with a pout, her eyes showing hurt.

Trixie shot a look at Speed and embraced her daughter. "Never mind, honey. You are very sweet to do this, thank you." And she kissed Victori's pretty cheek.

"Yeah," Cam interjected. "We just started breakfast so you guys could sleep late. We all got to bed late last night."

"Okay guys, I'm sorry. Let's sit down and eat, okay?" Speed said to his children placatingly. He went to his daughter and kissed her on the cheek. "Forgive me, sweetheart."

Victori smiled at her dad, "Done. Now the two of you sit down."

Trixie took a seat eagerly. "The table looks beautiful, doesn't it, Speed?"

"It sure does. Good job guys, everything looks and smells great," Speed approved as he took a seat and began helping himself.

Everybody else followed suit as they all said grace and then dug in. After consuming the wonderful breakfast, Victori grasped her mother's sleeve.

"So Mom can you continue telling us the rest of the story from last night?"

Trixie laughed as she said to her twins. "So that's why the two of you made this lovely breakfast, huh?"

Speed nodded, his cobalt eyes twinkling. "Yeah we should've known that there was a catch, huh Trix?"

Both twins glanced at each other and then Cam said, "That wasn't the reason we made breakfast but we'd like to hear some more."

"Yeah, I'm grounded so I have lots of time," Victori said as she threw a glance at Speed who sat with his arms crossed.

Trixie took a sip of her coffee and picked up the story where she left off. . . .

The sun was setting over the Pops Motors practice track, bathing the area in gold and orange light as the Mach 5 roared around the track, screaming at 200 MPH and making laps in less than a minute. The powerful white racing machine rumbled to a stop by Sparky who trotted over the driver's side and leaned in.

"Not bad, Speed. The times averaged out to about 198.345 MPH for those laps. Good with room to improve."

Speed wearily removed his helmet and tossed it on the floor of the cockpit. "Y'know Spark, you're soundin' more like Pops every day." He raised himself out of the seat and sat on the rear deck of the Mach 5. There was a mischievous glint in his cobalt orbs as he added, "Ya even look like you're puttin' on a few pounds."

Sparky's hazel eyes widened in mock horror. "Bite your tongue!"

Both laughed as Speed glanced at the grandstand bleachers "So where's the peanut gallery?"

Sparky looked over and said evenly, "They split about a half hour ago. But Sally wanted me to give this to you." He handed Speed a pink piece of paper.

Speed took the note and saw Sally's phone number with "CALL ME" written underneath in lacy script and he tossed it by his helmet. "Thanks, but no thanks. I rode with that girl for two laps in the Mach 5 and she wouldn't shut up. She's really pretty but I can tell she's a bubble brain. Besides," he added with a slow grin. "I'm already spoken for." He glanced over the fence at Trixie's airfield next door and noticed that her car was still gone. He frowned and said, "I wonder where Trixie is, the air show was over about two hours ago."

Sparky noticed the worry gathering on his buddy's handsome visage so he tried to reassure him. "Maybe she went shopping or grabbed a bite to eat."

"Hmmm," Speed said as he lowered himself behind the wheel. He started the motor and revved it as he shifted gears. "I think I'll head over next door and wait for her. I gotta make amends to her for before and maybe we can go over to Lake Icy Chill for a while."

"I don't know, pal. She was rippin' when she took off outta here before." Sparky looked dubious.

Speed grinned in spite of his growing trepidation. "No sweat, Spark. I know how to handle Trixie." And he screeched away as Sparky watched, shaking his head.

Speed drove over to the airfield and parked the Mach 5 by the tarmac where his girlfriend's blue helicopter stood. He cut the motor then yawned and stretched as he waited for her, his mind playing back the disagreement they had earlier and he felt a slight anxiety as how to make it up to her but he was staunchly determined to make everything up to her. His heart began pounding with anticipation like it always did before he saw her. . . .

Meanwhile, Trixie was driving through town with Gary, the two laughing at something Gary had said. It seemed among other things, the pilot/racer had a great sense of humor and kept her in stitches. She found she was relaxed and having an enjoyable time.

They passed La Faccia Bella restaurant and Gary suggested, "Hey how about I take you to dinner? I'm starving and it's the least I can do to thank you for giving me a ride."

Trixie opened her mouth to answer but her stomach did the honor as it growled noticeably. Both looked at each other in amazement and then burst out in laughter as she turned into the restaurant parking lot.

After a nice dinner, the two exited the restaurant laughing. As they walked to the convertible Trixie noticed that night had fallen, the moon standing in the upper eastern sky on the dark backdrop and she felt a twinge of concern as she consulted her watch.

"Oh my, look at the time!" she exclaimed. "It's almost nine thirty!"

Gary assisted her into the driver's side and then joined her. "Is that a problem?"

Trixie smiled apologetically as she started the car. "It is if we want to go up in my helicopter. I don't usually fly at night."

"Can we still go to see it? I really want to." His amethyst eyes were wide and appealing.

Trixie was hesitant as she thought about Speed and the fact that maybe he was trying to reach her but then Gary's eyes captivated her so she relented. "Okay." She turned onto Main Street and headed for her airfield. . . .

Back at the airfield, Speed was getting more worried. He had watched the sun set and then watched as the moon rose all the while wondering where Trixie could be. He began to think of possible worse case scenarios, her having car trouble, or the possibility that she could have had an accident and his heart started pounding as he thought of her possibly in danger. But then she would have radioed him, they had put a radio in the Mercedes at his insistence for just such an emergency. But if she was in an accident she wouldn't be able to call me, I hope she's all right, I don't know what I'd do if something happened to her. Boy, being in love can be tough.

Being in love, really in love was a whole new experience for Speed as before he met and began going with Trixie the girls he had gone with were all like Sally, more interested in his celebrity status then in him as a person. They had all been drawn to his prowess in a racecar and what it did for them statuswise to be seen with him so he became rather bored with their simpering attention. Until he met Trixie who was not only beautiful, but also brave and loyal, standing side-by-side with him in any circumstance, he saw girls to meet his baser needs but still wondered if he would ever find The Girl. Now he was sure he did, Trixie was the most incredible girl he had ever known.

As he sat in his car Speed was shaken from his reverie by the approach of duel headlights as the Mercedes convertible crept up the driveway and into the airfield. Relieved that she was at last home and safe, he hoisted himself over the door of the Mach 5 to sprint over to where the yellow convertible parked on the opposite side of the blue chopper. He got over to the driver's side to assist his girlfriend out, his face in a grin to greet her. It faded however dismayed, when he saw the passenger side open and a muscular form step out, make his way over to the door and open it to offer his hand to Trixie, who daintily alit from the vehicle.

Speed's cobalt eyes widened then narrowed as fury washed through him at the sight of a handsome young man being very attentive to his girl and they laughed together as if sharing a private joke.

"Excuse me," he said flatly, drawing their attention to him.

Trixie's sea green eyes widened in surprise as she said, "Oh Speed. I had no idea you were here."

"Obviously," Speed said sarcastically. "Who's your friend, Trixie? Aren't ya gonna introduce us?"

"Oh I'm sorry, of course. Gary Lightening, this is-" she began but was cut off.

"Speed Racer," Gary said with a smile that did not reach his cold violet eyes as he boldly assessed the scowling young racing sensation. He said mockingly, "This is a treat," meaning just the opposite as he offered his hand to shake.

Speed took the hand and shook it briefly as his own ire rose dangerously at the belligerence he picked up from the other young man. "A pleasure." He glanced over at Trixie and inquired of her, "So how long have you known this guy, Trixie?"

Trixie felt a chill go through her at the look in Speed's eyes. His tone of voice was neutrally friendly but she could read in the ocean depths of his eyes that he was livid. She suppressed a shiver as she said cheerily, "I met Gary at the air show. He's a stunt pilot and I wanted to show him my helicopter."

"Yeah, she told me all about it and so I managed to get her to show me." Gary answered then added in the same slightly mocking tone, "You don't mind, do ya Speed?"

"Oh hell, no." Speed was just as sarcastic. "But if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to my girl alone so excuse us, okay?" He grabbed Trixie's elbow and walked her away to where the Mach 5 was parked. He grasped her other arm and gazed deeply into her viridian eyes.

"Okay, Trix lay it on me. What's with you and this flyboy?" he demanded.

Trixie gazed back evenly. "I told you, I met him at the air show. He needed a ride home so I offered to take him and he asked to see my helicopter so we came here."

"Is that so? The air show was over hours ago, have you been with him all this time?" Speed said hotly, his anger bubbling to the surface.

She turned to avoid his snapping blue gaze. "We stopped to eat and then came here."

Speed's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Oh really now. You went out to eat with a guy you just met, huh. You have any idea what that looks like or do you even care?"

Trixie wrenched herself free at his insinuation. "Just what are you implying, Speed Racer?" she asked icily.

Speed was sullen, as he backtracked, "Nothing. Just that everybody knows who you are and that you're my girl. What do you think they'll say?"

"Oh maybe the same things they say when they see you drooling over some tramp," Trixie snapped, her patience at its end. "Even if she is a princess, a lady spy or a girl daredevil."

"That's different. I never pursued those girls, I just helped them out. I didn't stake them out like this guy did to you and I didn't take them out on a date."

"It wasn't a date we just had dinner, I have to eat you know. And for your information, we met when we bumped into each other by accident."

Speed snorted in derision. "Oh sure. He just happened to bump into you and he had no idea who you were. Sorry baby, I'm not buyin' it."

Trixie felt as if she were slapped. "You don't believe me? You think I'm lying?"

Speed shook his head vigorously as he said, "No, I'm just telling you what it looks like."

Now she was not buying it. "And what about that groupie slut Sally? Have you any idea what that looks like? She's been at the track everyday now for weeks and she's made it clear that she wants you. But do you do anything to discourage her by telling her about us? No, heaven forbid you lose one fan, the world would just crumble wouldn't it?" Trixie was in a fine temper, her hands on her hips and her face thrust right into her now silent boyfriend's glowering countenance.

Gary interrupted them. "Hey, Trixie if you can't show me the chopper tonight, we can do it another time. I should just get home some other way." He started walking but Trixie ran over to stop him as Speed stood there gaping at them, speechless.

"Nonsense Gary, I said I'd take you home and I will. And I promise we'll check out the helicopter another time, okay?" She glared at her boyfriend and added waspishly, "Unlike others, I keep my promises!" She took his arm and led him to the passenger door of the Mercedes and he climbed in as she hurried to the driver's side and got in. She started the motor and gunned off as grinning, Gary turned and gave Speed a sardonic wave, infuriating the coal haired racer.

Speed watched as the yellow Mercedes faded from sight and stood there seething, his rage at epic proportions. He hopped in the Mach 5 and considered going after them as he started the motor and revved it energetically. He then took a deep breath to calm himself and thinking clearer decided instead to head home, taking off in a roar.

NEXT-RIVAL ON THE TRACK