Chapter 59

Fox walked closer, still not saying a word. He walked up to the car and took a look, "It just died on you?" He looked over at his unexpected company.

"Yeah, we got it last month for Christmas. Mom and dad just wanted me to get something basic so I picked this, maybe I could've picked something else." She tried to squeeze out a laugh despite the unexpected and awkward meeting.

Fox reached into his pocket and pulled out his visor. "What's that?" She asked him when he pulled out the chip and saw it expand.

"It's a prototype visor that Slippy made." The scouter expanded and Fox activated a small flashlight on the outside of the scouter, shining a bright enough light so that he could see under the hood, and see her face. "You like it?" She nodded her head, "It looks like it's coming in handy now." Fox looked under the hood at what all could be out of place. "Can you try and crank it? I'm not entirely sure what the problem is."

She pulled the keys out of her pocket and sat down in the driver seat. She turned the key, all that was heard was a small clicking noise. Fox waved for her to stop and beckoned her to come back to the front of the car. "Judging by the noise it made, I think your alternator went bad. It's no big deal, I'm gonna call Slippy and get him to tow it to his place tonight or tomorrow, he and his dad usually have spare parts so maybe they'll have one that'll fit your car. It may not be a top of the line part, but it'll at least get it moving again if they have a spare." He removed the visor and clicked the button, causing it to collapse into the small rectangular piece that fit into his pocket.

"One minute, I'll call him now." He walked back to his car to get his phone as she nodded to him and sat back down in her own car. "Hey dude, got a broken down car out here on 22nd street, just a little bit past the book store. I think it's alternator went bad, think you can come get it and see if you guys have a spare that will fit it?"

"I guess I can try, it won't be tonight but why are you flagging down random strangers and helping them with their-"

"I found her." Fox said quietly as he looked in his rear view mirror to ensure his new company didn't hear him.

"Found who? Who's her?"

"Her. She got a car for Christmas."

"Oh. Okay, I'll be over tonight, when I get home I'll tell dad I'm taking the truck and I'll bring it back home." "Thanks Slip, knew I could count on you." The two friends could feel each other smile on the other end of the phone as they hung up. Fox put his phone back in his pocket and walked back over to the broken down car. He closed the hood back and leaned on the open car door, catching a glimpse of his companion's face as the lights of other cars drove by.

"Slippy said he'll come by and get it tonight. He doesn't know if they have a spare alternator or one that'll fit your car, but it'll be safer and in better hands at his place than on the side of the road here. I'll give you a ride home if you want it." She scratched her face as she looked down. "You don't have to say yes, but Slippy may get here before one of your parents does."

"No no, it's not that. It's just that I was headed to the store, not home. I have to get some baby supplies for my new brother." Fox's ears perked up on his head, "Wow, last time I saw your mom she wasn't even showing. I don't mind taking you to the store, unless you'd rather go home."

She shook her head, "No we really need some diapers, he surprised us shortly before everyone wanted to go to bed." She squeezed out a small laugh herself, and even managed to make Fox laugh a little. "Come on, sounds like your parents are in extreme distress." It was the first time he had actually laughed and smiled since this unexpected encounter.

She slouched down in the shotgun seat as she had done on numerous occasions in what felt like the long ago past. The car ride was silent. "Any store in particular they wanted you to go to?" She nodded yes in response, "The one down past 13th avenue, the one over by the movie store." Fox nodded his head as well, remembering the same store she spoke of. Fox pulled up at the parking lot, as close to the entrance as he could get.

She unbuckled her seatbelt and checked her pockets to make sure she had everything. "Okay, I shouldn't be long." She opened the door and got out of her seat, shutting the door as she walked off.

As she stepped closer to the entrance, Fox actually took notice of what she was wearing. 'Ha, a black tank top, gray sweat pants, and some converses. Some things just don't change.' He laughed to himself as he pulled out his phone and called his dad.

"Do you have any idea what time it is?" He heard his dad ask in a groggy and tired voice. "Yeah, not long after you and mom usually go to bed. Nice try old man." He could feel his dad roll his eyes and try to hold back a small laugh. "So what's up? Why are you calling me so late? And where are you at?"

"Was just about to get to that, I don't know what time I'll be back tonight."

"What? Is something wrong?"

Fox scratched his chin as he looked in through the front doors of the small general store. "No, I don't think I would say that. I found her."

"Her? Who's her?"

"You know, her. Got a car for Christmas and it broke down on the side of 22nd street. I'm getting Slippy to check it out."

"Oh. Her. Got it, see you tomorrow then?" Yeah, see you tomorrow." Fox hung up his phone as he tapped his finger on the steering wheel. He looked at the clock on the dash, it had been a few minutes since she went inside. 'Don't think she can really slip out on me. I'm sure she would've called her parents from the start if that was her intention.' He pulled out his phone again and called Falco this time. "Hey dude, what's up?" Fox could hear the end of Falco's question muffle, he probably brushing his teeth.

"Nothing much, just was driving on my way home and saw a car broken down on 22nd street. Decided to do what Fara said and try some new things, stopped and gave the car a look." "Yeah? And what's this grand tale result in?"

"I found her. She got a car for Christmas."

"Her? You mean you found-"

"Yeah, I did."

Falco was scratching his head as he finished brushing his teeth. "So… what now?" Fox shook his head as he continued to eye the entrance to the store, he could see her at the checkout line with a handful of items. "I'll tell you about it later, gotta go." Fox hung up before the bird could even say anything back. "Got everything?" He asked her as she eased into the seat with a rather large bag.

"Yeah, at least the bare necessities to get through the night." She secured her seatbelt and put the bag in between her legs in the floorboard. Fox put the car back in drive and started driving back towards their neighborhood. Still silence, Fox didn't know what to say. This happening was something he didn't think about, he didn't know if it would ever actually happen. He could only watch as the white lines came and went on the side of the road.

He could barely resist the urge to glance over at her, it had been such a long time. She was just looking out the window, doing the same thing as Fox, watching the white lines come and go. "So what's his name?" Fox didn't even think, he just said something.

"Marty." Was all she said back. Nothing else, just the bare essential.

"And when was he born?"

"December, just a few days before Christmas."

"Wow, that's great. Congratulations." He didn't look over at her, but he hoped that she was smiling. He only shook his head, it seemed like all of his attempts were in vain. They pulled into the neighborhood and Fox slowed down as to not fly through the streets. He halted at her house and unlocked the doors.

"Here's your stop. Need any help with that?" She shook her head, "Thanks for helping me tonight." She unbuckled and opened her door.

"Do you wanna go to corner café?" He blurted out, impulsively and without even thinking. She looked up from the bag in between her legs, she picked it up and looked over at him.

"No."

She got out of the car and shut the door. She walked up to her house without looking back, only leaning over to see inside where her parents were. 'Well, I guess this is really it. My one chance…' His thoughts trailed as he put the car in drive and turned around for his house.

He put it in park in his usual spot and trotted towards the door, his ears drooped a little. He unlocked the door and walked inside, dropped his keys and his phone on his computer desk. 'Geez, we were really out for that long?' his clock told him it was 12:08, tomorrow had already come. 'Been a long time since I said something like that, we.' Fox chuckled just a little, trying to cheer himself up.

'I guess-' his thoughts were interrupted.

He heard a noise come from his living room. He grabbed his blaster in case, he didn't wanna wake his dad but he wasn't afraid to even if there was something amiss outside his house. He stood around the corner of the hall that led to his living room. In a quick motion he flicked the light switch on and pointed his blaster outwards. He scanned the room but saw nothing.

'What in the, I could have sworn I heard a noise.' He looked around the room, nothing of interest.

He kept turning but then stopped when something out of the ordinary caught his eye.

He could see through the small windows next to his door, she was waiting on him.

He approached the door and opened it, sticking his head out towards her. "What are you doing here? Don't you have to take care of your brother?"

She shook her head back, "My parents are taking care of him, come on, we have to go to corner café."


So then, maybe it is time after all, like Fox said at the end of the last chapter. Hope you're all enjoying it still, thanks for all the viewership and support.