Vinnie was pacing around the scoreboard, dressed in his Freedom Fighter's Dress Uniform. His Black Blouse jacket, adorned with several medals and accolades he was awarded for bravery, and other acts, lined the left chest of the jacket. Under it, was a well-fitted light blue shirt and a black tie. He wore a pair of black slacks, which fell straight down his legs to his meticulously shined black shoes. For a mouse of action, the waiting was killing him.
Modo and Throttle entered the room, dressed the same way as Vinnie was. Modo noticed the way Vinnie was pacing, and said, "Vin, bro, you're going to wear a hole in the floor."
"Modo! All this waiting is driving me insane! I'm going for a ride, nice and fast!" Vinnie said, walking over to the table and grabbing his helmet.
"Be sure you're at the garage, on time. Or Stoker will break your antenna, and Charley will do much worse!" Throttle said.
As Vinnie waved him off, he said, "Yeah, yeah. I'll be there." He left the scoreboard almost as fast as he could on his bike, riding off to who knows where.
He rode his bike to one of the highest points of Chicago. He stopped, turned off the motor, and stared down at the city. Out of the corner of his right eye, he saw The Last Chance Garage. The place where he first met, Charley Davidson, or very soon to be Charley Davidson VanWham. He felt the connection to her, pulling him to her, like a magnet. Of course, he came on strong. But, she saw right through his tough guy act, and saw the mouse he really was. The mouse she had grown to love, and say Yes to, when he asked her to marry him. He smiled, knowing in a few hours, the only woman who could steal his heart, was going to be his wife. He knew he wasn't supposed to see her, before the wedding. However, the pull to see her, hold her, and kiss her, was too great for the young mouse. He started his bike once again, and took off towards the garage.
Charley had finished taking a relaxing bath. She had left the Bathroom, wearing only a towel around her body, and another one wrapped around her head. She sat down on the edge of the bed, and turned her head to look at her dress. It was simple princess cut dress with not a lot of lace. But once she saw herself in it, she knew it was the one.
Vinnie arrived at the garage and parked his bike around the back so it was out of sight, since he wasn't supposed to be there, until later when he was getting married. He shut the bike's motor off, dismounted, and went to the back door. He pulled a key out of his right front pants pocket and opened the door. Once inside, he went up to the residence, and hopefully see the woman, who made his life complete, in more ways than one.
Hearing the Hair dryer running, he opened the bedroom door and let himself in. He made his way over to the bathroom's door, which happened to be slightly ajar, and peeked in. His heart almost stopped at the sight before him. There was Charley, running a brush through her hair with her left hand and the dryer in her right. But what caught his eyes was how the towel she had wrapped around her body, left all of her long legs exposed, as well as most of her shoulders and neck. He let out a whistle, then said, "You should wear that all the time, doll."
Even though, she had the hair dryer on, she heard her fiancé, loud and clear. She turned off the dryer, spun around on her left foot, and said, "You're not supposed to be here!"
He left his spot by the door, made his way to stand in front of her, and said, as he looked into her green eyes, "And since when have I ever done what I'm supposed to?"
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and said, "Never, which is why we are getting married in a few short hours. If you listened to Throttle, all those years ago, we never would have met. Then, I never would know what its like to be loved, by a Hunky, stubborn, mouse."
"And I wouldn't know what it's like to be loved by the Earth's sexiest, tough as nails, mechanic. I love you, Charley," he said, before he circled his hands around her waist and kissed her.
She kissed him back, letting it linger for a few minutes. Then they both heard, "You both planning on skipping the nuptials, and getting to what happens after the reception?"
Charley pulled back from the kiss, and saw Stoker, standing in the doorway, wearing his Dress Uniform. She did have to admit, he looked almost as handsome, as her future husband.
"Don't let me stop you two," Stoker said. "It was just getting to the good part."
"Coach, what are you doing, standing in my fiancée's bedroom door?" Vinnie asked.
"Making sure you weren't doing something you weren't supposed to, which you were. Leave the lovely bride alone so she can get dressed, punk. You can kiss her, all you want, once you say, "I do." But for now, go, or I'll make you leave," Stoker said.
Vinnie quickly kissed Charley again and left the bedroom, giving Stoker a nasty glance as he left.
"You're going to have your hands full with him, Charley. Hope you are ready for it," Stoker said.
"I know how to handle my future husband, quite well, Stoke," she replied. "Now get your tail out of my room, so I can get dressed and married!"
Stoker saluted her and said, "Aye Aye, ma'am!" He turned to leave, but stopped and said, "You know, you should wear short skirts more often. You definitely have the legs for it."
"GO!" She yelled, pulling her left arm back, threatening to throw her hair brush at him.
"I'm leaving. No reason to get violent, beautiful. You two were made for each other!" He said, and closed the door.
Charley lowered her arm back to her waist, then walked over to her full length mirror. Once she stopped, she slightly bent her right knee, angling it from of her left, and said, "I might have to take up Stoker's suggestion. I do have the legs to wear a skirt."
Stoker walked back down the stairs, to see Vinnie, sitting on the couch. "You mind explaining, what you were doing, up there, Vinnie?" He asked.
Vinnie lifted his head to Stoker, and said, "I love her, Stoke. I can't keep away from her. I knew there was some sort of, pull, when I first met her. But, when we returned to Mars, with Lard-Fish, and I didn't know if I was going to come back, I wanted to tell her, I was in love with her. Instead, once she said she would miss me, I rode into the transporter, hiding my feelings, which I don't want to do anymore."
Stoker sat down on his left, put his right arm around him, and said, "I knew you loved her, from the first time I saw you two together. Make sure you take care of her, for the rest of your lives. If you don't, or make her cry, for any reason, and I find out, I promise, I'll grab the first ship I can get, and come back and take you out! She's one in a million, Vinnie. Well, two in a million. I was really hoping you would have found, Harley, and had a family with her."
Vinnie sighed as he looked up, as if he was gazing at Mars. "There is not a day that goes by, where I don't think about Harley. She was my first love. I'll never forget her. But, what I feel for Charley, goes much deeper. I was younger, when I was in love with Harley. I thought I knew was love was, when I was with her. Boy was I wrong. Charley, makes me feel complete. Her smile warms me, from the inside out, every time she looks at me with those Dangerously Gorgeous Green eyes of hers, my heart stops, and her laugh, makes me want to give her, the world. Back on Mars, I didn't want a family. However, now when I dream, I'm surrounded by my beautiful wife, and my kids. Those dreams feel so right, I want them to become reality." He lowered his head to look at Stoker, and said, "Can you imagine me, as a father? Being with her, makes me think, I might actually be a good dad, unlike my own father."
"You had a rough life, Vinnie. But you found a home, with the Fighters, especially Throttle and Modo. I knew you three would become, tight knit, which is why I partnered you three up. Now, as far as you, becoming a father. If Charley ever suggests, having a family with you, I'm going to haul her off to the nearest Mental Institution and have her analyzed!" Stoker teased, then said, "Vin, something tells me, any little mouse, she gives you, would be the luckiest mouse in the world, to have you as a father."
Vinnie embraced Stoker, then asked, "You think, is even possible? Me, and her, having kids?"
"If anyone, could make it happen, it would be you two. Just do us all a favor, and don't start trying for them, until you two are alone, and I'm long on my way back to Mars," Stoker said.
Vinnie pulled back from the embrace, and said, "You really know how to spoil a mood. Why did we ask you to officiate our marriage?"
"Cause you both love me, and no one else would do it," Stoker said. "Come on, you and I have to get to the garage. She'll be down shortly. Then, you can get married."
Charley had already gotten into her dress. She was finishing putting on her light coating of makeup, when she heard from her window, "Glad I didn't miss the wedding. Traffic between Mars and here, was unbearable." She turned to her right, to see, Carbine, half sitting on the window sill, lowering her left foot to the floor. She rose from her chair, moving as fast as she could in her dress, saying, "Carbine!"
"Whoa! Don't try running in that! I'd hate to be one, who has to wheel the bride down the aisle, cause she tripped over the hem of her dress," Carbine said.
Charley stopped her movements, standing in front of her friend, then asked, "How do I look?"
"Breathtaking," she replied. "Vinnie is going to be tongue tied, when he sees you, and that's nearly impossible. You happen to have, something in your arsenal, that will make, Throttle, equally speechless?"
"I happen to have, something along those lines. How much leg do you feel comfortable, exposing, Carbine?"
Carbine crossed her arms under her chest, threw her weight onto her left hip, and lifted her left eyebrow, questioning what the other female had in mind.
Vinnie and Stoker were standing at a Make-Shift Altar, while Modo and Throttle stood off to the left.
Carbine entered the garage, wearing a light grey dress, which showed off all of her shoulders and the upper part of her chest. It tapered at her waist, emphasizing, she was a woman. Then, there was the skirt, or what there was of one. There was a slit on the right side, exposing her right leg from the calf down, and her entire left leg, completely exposed. Somehow, Charley managed to modify the dress to accommodate her tail, as if the dress was made for Carbine.
Modo was the first to see her. Using his left elbow, he nudged his friend, and said, "Get a load of your girl, Throttle."
Throttle was too busy, keeping an eye on Vinnie and Stoker to acknowledge Modo, with any physical movement. "She's still on Mars, Modo. You must be seeing things."
"If he's seeing things, then, we are all hearing them too," Carbine stated.
At hearing her Carbine's voice, Throttle turned quickly to face Carbine, and said, "Carbine, you look as.." He faltered, not knowing how to describe, how beautiful she was.
While Throttle was tongue tied, Modo said, "Carbine, ma'am, you look like the goddess herself."
Carbine walked over to him, and as she gently rubbed his left cheek with her right hand, she said, "Its nice to know, there are still a few Gentlemice left. Thank you, Modo." She then kissed his cheek, causing him to blush.
"Carbine, you and I may not have seen eye-to-eye in the past, but you look smokin' hot in that! I didn't even think the women on Mars even owned dresses," Vinnie stated.
Carbine turned on her right foot, to face Vinnie, while showing most of her back to Throttle and Modo, as she said, "We don't. This little number, is courtesy of your future wife, Vin."
"Wonder, what else my future wife, has hiding in her closet, that will make her, even more sexy than she is now?" Vinnie asked, still eying Carbine's body in the dress she was wearing.
"Why don't yo ask her, dear?" Charley asked. She was standing at the entrance of the garage, in her wedding gown, looking every bit as breathtaking, as Carbine described.
All four of the guys, stood up straighter, as they gazed at how gorgeous, Charley looked.
Vinnie was completely captivated, that he forgot to breathe for a few seconds. Until Stoker slapped his back with his left hand, and said, "Can't have the groom pass out, before he gets to kiss his wife, now can I?"
Vinnie started breathing again, but his eyes never left Charley, not even for a second.
"Now that the bride is here, let's get this party started. Miss Charley, please come, and stand next to your fiancé," Stoker said.
Charley walked down the so-called aisle, to stand to the right of Vinnie.
He instantly turned to his right and took her hands in his, tilting his head down, to look at her.
"Today, we fellow freedom Fighters, gather to witness the union of one of our own, to our dearest friend, and the universes, best wrench jockey, Charleen Davidson," Stoker started. "From the first time, I saw you two, harmlessly, flirting with each other, I knew, one day, you two would be standing before me, as you are now. Vinnie, I already stated my peace to you, and you had better be true to your word. Charleen, he may be rough around the edges, but you couldn't have picked a better man, to be your husband. He will be completely devoted to you, and any kids, you two decide to have, forever. That I promise. With that said, the bride and the groom has decided to write their own vows, which will bind their lives together, for all eternity. Miss Charley, please go first," Stoker said.
Completely from memory, Charley stated, "Vincent, from the first time I saw you, I was intrigued by you. You have saved my life, more times than I can count. With each time, your flirtatious banter increased. However, I saw though your macho act, and saw the true man, behind the bravado, the man, I came to love. That day, when you returned to Mars, I wanted to tell you how I really felt, laying it all on the line, hoping you returned my feelings. But instead, Carbunkle's crappy transporter got in the way, and I had to push everything I was feeling aside, to make sure you three returned to Mars, safely. A few months ago, when you asked me to marry you, my heart was pounding, os hard in my chest, it actually hurt. But I knew there was only one answer to your proposal, and that was, yes. I Charleen Davidson, take, Vincent VanWham, as my beloved husband, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, until death do us part."
At the completion of her vows, Carbine rested her head against Throttle's left shoulder, and took his hands in hers.
Throttle wrapped his tail around her waist, pulling her tighter into his body, while they waited for Vinnie to recite his vows.
"Charley, I too was not only intrigued, but infatuated. In front of me, was this beautiful woman, who was not afraid to, kick tail, when she had to. In order to impress her, I had to come on strong, be the hero, all the girls wanted. Things changed for me, right before Catscan, showed up. We had driven Limburger's goons away from the garage. You looked so happy at the time, you jumped into my arms, and I couldn't help myself, but to swing you around. Then, I set you back on your feet, and all I wanted to do, was to kiss those beautiful lips of yours. I also wanted to tell you, how I really felt about you, that day I returned to Mars. If it wan't f the stupid transporter, malfunctioning, I would have. The truth is, I have fallen in love with you, Charleen, almost fro the first day I saw you. And now, in a few short minutes, you will be my wife. With that, I Vincent VanWham, take Charleen Davidson, to be my wedded wife, to have and to hold, in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, till death do us part."
Stoker smiled at the couple, then said, "Modo, then rings, please."
Modo stepped forward, reaching into his jacket pocket with his mechanical hand, to withdraw, a small purple box. He passed the box to Stoker, then said to Vinnie as he returned to his spot, "You know how I love her, like a sister. You had better make her happy bro." He threatened.
"I will, Modo." Vinnie responded.
Modo returned to stand next to Throttle, and turned back around to face the couple.
Stoker opened the box, took out the small ring, which contained a tiny Martian Stone mounted in the center. "Vin, place this ring on her finger, and recite after me."
Vinnie took the ring from Stoker, and slipped in on Charley's left ring finger. He still adoringly held her hand in his, while waiting for Stoker to continue.
"With this ring," Stoker said.
"With this ring, "Vinnie repeated.
"I thee wed," Stoker said.
"I thee wed," Vinnie repeated.
Stoker shifted to face Charley, took out the larger ring, which was made the same way as Charley's, and said, "Charleen, place this ring on his finger, and recite after me."
She tried to remove her hand from Vinnie, but she found, she couldn't do so.
"Vinnie, she needs her hands to complete the ceremony. So let go, punk!" Stoker ordered.
Vinnie very reluctantly, released her hands, and she took the ring from Stoker. She lifted his left hand with her right, and slipped the ring on his left index finger with her left.
"With this ring," Stoker said.
"With this ring," she repeated.
"I thee wed," Stoker said.
"I thee wed," she repeated.
"I pronounce you, husband and wife. Now for the part we all want to see, you can kiss the flaming hot bride," Stoker said.
Vinnie shot him a dirty look, but once Charley's laughter hit his ears, he focused on her alone. He lifted the veil covering her face, then his mouth down to hers, and said, "I love you, Misses VanWham." Before their first kiss as husband and wife.
End of Story