Part IV

The Finale'

Throttle hadn't really done anything in the hours Charley had been gone. Mostly he sat in the dark corner of the garage battling with his heart. The years of being with Carbine flowed through his mind. The time when he sat in the Plutarkian prison or enduring the torture on Karbunkle's examination table, how the mere thought of finding her alive kept him wanting to live. Having that love die once they finally found each other again was sad, but not all together unexpected. Mars needed Carbine and Earth needed he and his bros. They couldn't build anything on a foundation that was so distant, on feelings that were long gone or memories of a time that was a million life times ago.

He didn't want to feel what he had started feeling for Charley. She was just such an extraordinary woman. Her beauty was beyond any woman he'd ever known with those, Rardazian crystal rose, green, eyes, soft furless Teloshella coral pink skin, all surrounded by mounds of shinny reddish brown gossamer soft full radiant hair. How could a man do anything but be mesmerized by the mere sight of her and he was very much a man. Alien in form maybe, but with all the heart and as much of a soul as any that walked on this world. So the Creator's hand designed him in a different way, but it didn't mean he loved any less. In fact when he did allow himself to care, it was with a devotion and depth not found any where in the universe.

His head began to ache and his tightly bound hair was only adding to the stress. Living on earth so long he'd allowed it to grow a considerable length down his back. Charley often commented on how handsome it made him and whether she was joking or not he let it reach down to his waist. Reaching behind he untied the black cord and it fell freely on his shoulders. His fingers worked their way up his temples and into the masses of golden locks and he could breath just a little easier.

The car pulling near the garage made him stop and look toward the outside door. He knew it was Charley coming home and he couldn't help but go to the window. He pulled the faded curtain back and because of the small light attached to the side of the building he could see into the front seat of the car. Charley was smiling at the Solemn and moved closer to him wrapping her arms around his neck. Throttle couldn't watch any longer, why make it any more painful than it already was. The sadden Martian hero walked back toward his bike switched on the workbench light and picked up a tool to at least try and look busy. He could have time to put his wall back up and re-enforce it so none of his feelings would show through.

Charley got out of the car smiling and watched while Solemn pulled off. She took a deep breath and walked into the garage. Her attention was immediately focused to the light shinning in the corner. She stopped for a second and watched Throttle. Before walking over toward him she reached down and pulled off her very uncomfortable, pointed-toe, dress heels. In her stocking feet she meanders over closer to him.

"Still messing around with that motor? I would have thought you'd be finished and back at the hide-out by now."

"Well there were a few little things I needed to tinker with. I thought having the garage to myself; I could get it all done before you got back. I'll get outta your hair and let you hit the sack."

"Please don't,. I'm not really tired and I want to talk to you."

He looked up from the non-existent repairs and caught something strange in her eyes. He didn't want to hear her tell him that she was in love with someone else, but they were still friends and she had always been there when he needed to talk so what else could he do, "Sure Charley-girl."

"Mind if I go get out of these clothes. I've had all the glamour I can stand for one day. Give me about 20 minutes and then why don't you grab some root beers and come on up."

"Sure. I'll clean up here and shut the bike down."

"Okay," she leaned down and kissed his cheek and scurried up the stairs.

Charley did have a strange look on her face. One of a woman who'd come to grips with what she wanted in her life. The look of contentment having made a decision that filled her heart with joy. She ran to her bedroom and took off all the female finery. Then quickly washed her face and brushed out her hair. She dawned a pair of baby blue flannel pajamas, with little lambs jumping over picked fences scattered all over them. She slipped her feet into her trusty bunny slippers and snatched a pillow off her bed before going into the living room to plop down on her faithful old couch to wait for Throttle.

The reluctant Martian settled his mechanical companion down for the night, went to the kitchen getting the bottles of soda, an opener and switched the lights off with his tail as he head up to Charley. It wasn't bad enough that he had to lose her to an unbeatable rival, but now he had to sit there and listen while she told him how wonderful he was and how happy he made her. Was he just a glutton for punishment or what?

He looked at her sitting there all glowing and smiles. Heaven help him, she looked even cuter in those weird things Earther slept in. He was going to have to get use to her talking about this guy and eventually her being with him so this was as good a time to start as any. He sat in the smaller chair that sat just to the left of the big couch. He popped the tops off the bottles and handed her one taking the other and settling back to wait for Charley to start talking.

She took a small swallow and titled her head to look at him still smiling, "Would you do me a favor? I know the light hurts your eyes but, if I turned it down would you take off your field specks?"

He wondered why she asked, but he shrugged and nodded that he would.

Charley reached over to the three-way lamp and clicked until it was at the lowest settling and the room was semi dark. He reached up and pulled his glasses off and put them on the coffee table in front of them.

"I like it when you let your hair loose like that." She seemed to be studying him from head to toe and it made him just a little uneasy.

"Well my head kinda hurt and it helped the pain go away." His eyes dropped to the top of the soda bottle and his finger slid down the side playing with a drop of water that had formed.

"Oh, I still think it's nice. Makes you look more relaxed easier to talk to."

He shrugged with just a little blush at the compliment, " So what is it you wanna talk about?"

She gave him a big beautiful smile, "Being in love."

"Love, well I'm not really good with advice of the heart. Maybe you'd better wait until Modo comes, he's the guy with all the good advice." He adjust himself nervously in the chair praying she would take his advice.

I don't need any advice. I know exactly what I want or should I say who I want. In fact what I really wanted to do is tell you a story."

"A story?" He looked at her raising one eyebrow in a very puzzled expresssion. "A story about what."

"Come sit closer to me and I'll tell you." The smile on her face was almost hypnotizing and he had no choice but sit where her hand touched lightly on the cushion next to her.

She turned toward him and in a surprising gesture took his hand holding in on her lap as if she were making sure he would stay put until she had finished."Actually it's about a king and a beautiful young girl. You see many years ago there was a famous king who had riches beyond anything one could imagine. He had castles and land and gold and silver. In fact he was the riches man on the Earth at that time. He was very handsome and kind and extremely wise. But there was one thing he didn't have."

"What was that?" He asked in soft curious voice much like a child listening to a bedtime story.

She touched his face lovingly with her other hand, "A young peasant girl. You see this young girl was already in love. Her heart belonged to a poor shepard boy. No matter what the king offered he couldn't sway her heart. He wrote her beautiful poems and probably offered her a life of riches and luxury the poor shepard boy could never give her. She would be one of his queens and never have to worry about anything materially for the rest of her life."

The unsure Martian hero's heart began to beat harder in his chest. So hard he could barely catch his breath. He didn't want to hope that what she was trying to say was actually happening. He had made up his mind that he'd lost her, that a life of riches and comfort would be the best for her. His hand trembled as he dared to touch her cheek. No she was too good for him. She should be the wife of a king, of a man that could give her the world on a golden platter. He was nothing, he had nothing and he could only make her life hard and complicated.

"Charlene, please. I can't..," he tried to pull his hand away, get up and leave before she could finish, but her grip was strong.

"The maiden didn't want all the riches the king could give her. She wanted the love of her simple shepard boy. She wanted the person that made her heart sing. The one that made the stars brighter at night and the sun more glorious during the day. No matter what life would be like with him, she knew it would be unlivable without him." She released his hands and held his face making him look at her, look deeply into her eyes.

"I want you my sweet shepard boy. Tell me you don't love me, Throttle. Tell me you don't feel the same." She said her voice quivering and her tears streaming down her flushed cheeks.

He couldn't hold it back any longer. His heart wouldn't let him bury the love buring his soul one second longer."You know I love you, Charley-girl. I've never felt like this for anyone before. But it's not fair to you. Who knows what our future will be like. My world is just about dead, my people are almost exstint. What about our children, if we can even have any children. I can't let you sacifice your life, all your hopes and dreams for me. I love you much to much to ask that of you."

"My adorable, nobel to a fault, furball. Don't you realize, without you I have no future. Why wouldn't we beable to have children. Just because your are a bit furry on the outside, doesn't make you any less a man on the inside. Our hearts are both human and anything that comes from our love will be a beautiful blessing. You just have to have a little more faith. And when we finish taking care of old Fishlips here, we'll go back home to Mars and I'll be there to help rebuild it."

He gazed into her brillent green gemstones. The love he saw overwhelmed him and consumed any doubt the might have lingered. "Somewhere or sometime in this horror, I call my life, I must have done something right to have a woman like you love me in this way. Like I said, I have nothing but empty hands to offer you. But I have a full and willing heart and I promise that I'll never hurt you. I'll do what ever it takes to make you as happy as I can."

His hands moved slowly up through her hair holding her head so he could guide her close to his waiting lips. She closed her eyes and soon was lost in a kiss that was so filled with love that the heavens actually wept with joy.

Epilog:

6 years Later

The dawn was creeping into the nice size bedroom in the neat little house on the far side of the Martian capital city of New Brimstone, filling the room with a warm golden glow. Sleeping had become a family affair since the night before had been filled with enormus claps of thunder and bright flashes of lightening. With the infusion of new technology and the resurgence of more water to the Martian atmosphere thunderstorms had become a more frequent occurance.

As wonderful as it might have been for the ecological system, three little Martian/ Earthling children, weren't as impressed with the display. The first low rumble got two tiny tan fur covered feet to pop out of bed and head for the security of mommy and daddy's bed. With the second, even louder clash, twenty more furless chubby little toes flew out of the bed and joined their big sister in the saftey of daddy's arms and mommy's side.

Throttle woke to a bed filled with the soft purring coming from his three children. Five year old Carbine and twin, three year old boys, Vincent and Modo. He reached up to twirl, around his finger, a chestnut colored curl, from his little girl's curly mop. The fact that her terrian features where covered by the same colored, tan fur as his, gave her an exotic type of beauty and made him swell with pride eveytime he looked prondly at her. The twins reflexed even more of their Earthling heritage, both having Charley's striking green eyes, but had Throttle's red antenna. Maybe it was because of the incredible bond between he and his bros, but though the boys were suppose to be identical twins, Modo dawned a head full of thick gray hair and Vinnie's was snow white.

The content Martian legion took in a soft satisfying breath, joyfully gazing at each member of his beloved family. Then silently he closed his eyes and in his mind he gave thanks for the full rich blessing he had received. Most of all he poured his heart out in special thanks for the woman who was the vital part in him getting back the faith he'd thought he'd never have again. Charlene Davidson Fireheart ( the name of Throttle's Martian family).

He had never been much of a singer but very quietly he began repeating the words and melody to the song that Charley had played for him on that phenominal night when she told him she wanted to be his. When she lay snuggled in his arms in those wonderfully ridiculous sleepying clothes. It was the same song they danced to at their small but beautiful wedding festival. It said all that she felt and helped him to understand why she had chosen him over a life of wealth.

words to, If I don't have you.

The End