The Pink Ribbon
Finale'
Are you sure you want me to do this?" Venna asked holding the sharp scissors inches from Charley's long beautiful auburn hair.
"Yup, I can't stand to see it fall out likes it's been doing, a handful at a time. It will hurt less if it all goes in one shot." Charley took a long deep breath for courage and closed her eyes.
After about a half an hour Charley's eyes opened to gaze at her reflection in the large dressing table mirror. Venna wasn't sure of her friend's reaction to the unskilled handy work.
Oddly, for the first time, Charley noticed that not only was her hair gone but her eyelashes and brows had also fallen out as well. She was silent for a second then one small tear escaped and soon was followed by another. Charley's hands clasped together and she brought them up to her trembling lips.
Venna wasn't going to try and comfort her with useless words like, it will grow back or you look just as beautiful with or without her hair. Even though it was all true at this moment holding her dear friend and understanding that her tears weren't from vanity would do more good.
"You've been holding up so well, Charley, but I really understand how much this part hurts. I'm not going to give you any clichés. I won't tell you things I already know, you know. But when you finish I've got a surprise I think will make it a little better." Venna eased their bodies on to the floor so she could better cuddle her sister of survival more comfortably. The two rocked softly and slowly until Charley's tears ran dry.
Charley straighten her back up and wiped her nose and eyes. Venna smiled and cuffed Charley's chin playfully. "You okay now?"
"At least these crying gags are getting shorter. Yeah, I'm okay. What do you have to show me?"
Venna winked and hopped up off the floor retrieving her sports bag. Opening it she pulled out, her makeup bag and a yard long piece of cool crisp white cotton material.
"Now we are going to doll you up so that hunky man of yours will pop his Martian cork.
Even though you really don't need anything extra for him to do that. The way that guy loves you, you could sprout another head and he'd just think it was more of you to love."
Charley had to giggled knowing it was exactly how Throttle felt about her.
After Venna had done her handy work of wrapping Charley's head and applying just enough makeup to cover over what was missing. She turned Charley to face the mirror and viola' she was a masterpiece.
"Wow! You are in the wrong line of work. You should open a cancer victim makeover center. I absolutely love it."
"Well with you I didn't have to do much. Hey, how about we put you on that black spaghetti strapped frock you wore to that medical benefit last year and you just have to wear those strappy sandals with the sexy heels. He won't know what hit him when we unveil you tonight."
"Okay, Why not. It's been a while since I really felt girly and if I ever need to I do now."
Throttle, Modo and Vinnie slid into the garage after a full day of wrecking havoc on Limburger and his cronies and they felt like a million dollars.
"Hey, Charley girl, we brought your man back just a little the worst for wear thanks to the unmatchable skills of the baddest mamma jamma this side of the known universe." Vinnie announced taking all the credit as usual.
Venna stuck her head out of the trap door, "Vinnie it's amazing that you can carry that big head of yours around on that small bike."
She turned to blow a kiss at Modo, "Hey Sugar Lump, be down in a second. Oh and ET you 'd better take a seat we gotta little surprise for ya."
The guys took seats on the couch, which faced the TV set. Vinnie was using what little self control he could muster so as not to die laughing at the new nix name Venna had dubbed onto her delightfully sweet Martian hunk.
Throttle was a little uneasy knowing what Charley had intended to do with her hair. For him it honestly didn't matter. In their travels across the vast universe when they were tying to get back home to Mars beauty was expressed in so many diverse ways.
On a planet called, Bel 'Nalla Tirua, the inhabitances looked like creatures earthlings referred to as wolves. The males of that planet were the ones who dawn the long flowing locks and the women had no hair on their heads other then the normal fur that covered their bodies.
Venna was a godsend because whatever Charley looked like the knowing young doctor would be there to help his unsure wife over another hurtle. He couldn't imagine what she had come up with, but he knew it was going to be as insightful and helpful as everything else she had suggested.
"You guys ready." Venna called.
"Yeah! Cheese, come on already." Vinnie fussed impatiently. "Man, you chicks have to have all this drama. We know Charley girl is going to be a babe no matter what."
Vinnie had no idea what his words meant to an unsure, Charley. In his, always saying the wrong thing, at the wrong time way, he had given her the last burst of encouragement she needed to make her unveiling. Charley looked down at Venna who stood at the bottom of the stairs and smiled confidently as she slowly descended.
She got to the bottom and walked around to the front of the couch and the look on the guy's faces was priceless. It was so quiet you could have heard, a mouse, pee on a piece of cotton, 10 miles away.
"Vinnie was the first to break the awe struck silence, "You are more beautiful then a sunset in the pink forest before the fish heads touched it." He stood and walked over to hug Charley. She reciprocated holding back the tears as he trembled slightly.
He leaned back and looked at her once more. Softly holding her chin he leaned down and kissed her, "My bro has really been bless to have you, Charlene. Thanks for giving him all that he deserves. Thanks for giving us more than we could ever repay. I love you little sis."
He took a cleansing breath then walked away. Seeing Charley so beautiful, after all she had endured, was more than his heart could handle. The joy he felt for his bros happiness and the sorrow he still felt for the lose of his own true love, Harley, came down on him like a small asteroid. He, not looking at either of his bros, got on his bike and rode out needing to be alone. Alone to find the comfort only his memories and reflections of his never-ending love for the young Martian, jack-of-all trades, could give him.
This rarely shown part of Vinnie's personality didn't surprise Modo and Throttle. For all his wild antics, egoistical blabbering and seemingly careless attitude they knew the sensitive, young hero had this and more buried deep inside of him.
Modo walked over and picked up Charley's hand and gently swirled her in an almost dance like spin. "I've seen a bunch of pretty lady folk in my day, but Charley ma' am you out do um all."
Looking over at Venna he smiled and gave her a loving wink, "Well, all but one, that is."
Venna cocked an eyebrow returning the unspoken message of, I'll let you get by with that one, because it's Charley, but let's not make a habit of it.
He looked at Throttle who had gotten off the couch and walking closer to Charley with an extended hand. Modo put Charley hand into that of his very pleased bro. Charley still had the blush on her cheeks from all the sweet compliments and from the look of adoration and love gleaming in her adoring husband's face.
Venna sashayed over to Modo and wrapped an arm around his waist. "Why don't we leave the kids to some private time and I'll show you how we earth women spend a quiet night putting big smiles on the faces of our men folk."
Modo was all for that and escorted his lady love over to his bike helping her on with her helmet and after seating himself held an arm out for her to settled herself behind him.
"Hey, you two, you might wanna turn off the lights and close up for the night. We won't disturb you in the morning, so sleep in late." Venna playfully suggested to the now entwined couple before holding tighter around the man that was soon going to be the husband she thought she'd never find and the happiness she almost envied Charley in having.
Modo stopped just at the door reaching over to hit the automatic garage door button and quickly roared out before the door completely shut.
In the quiet, semi-dark, room, Throttle couldn't take his eyes off the extraordinary woman who had so completely answered all his prayers. He was filled with joy and pride at her courage and strength. No matter what happened he knew that she would always be his one and only love.
Neither of them would dwell on what the future would hold. They would just love each other completely each day. They would share the joy of an incredible almost indescribable relationship that had been born from the bravery of a journeyer from the stars and the dweller of a world that had no clue to its part in the saving of a world and its people.
The room was filled with the velvety darkness of the sweet summer night. Throttle lay with Charley snuggled close to his chest. His attention shifted from the light reflected in a tiny shimmer that emitted from the earth symbol of their eternal joining that encircled the finger of his left hand to the glow that seem to be surrounding Charley's bald head.
If it were possible he loved her more at this moment then he had before. The deep beauty that was so much beyond the shape of her face or the length of her hair would be forever branded in his mind.
She moved slightly and took in a small breath then wrapped her arms tighter around him snuggling deeper into the warmth that he gave her. He smiled and gently kissed the smooth baby soft skin closest to his lips and drifted off to join his wife in the land of dreams.
The beginning