Last year of school is only a quarter of the way done! Someone needs to invent a fast-forward machine that can send me through time right to graduation.

But anyway, hope you all like the chapter! Pleasepleasepleasepleaseplease review! Reviews make me oh-so-happy and joyful.

DISCLAIMER TIME! I don't own the bros, sadfaces abound. Please don't sue me, I'm poor. And please don't use any of my characters (Copper, Silver, Alloy, Lani, etc) without permission.

"Fuck…" Copper muttered as she surveyed the mounds of boxes and still unpacked items that littered the living area. "Where the hell did all this shit come from?"

"I have no idea," Alloy grunted as he hauled a box full of kitchenware into the room, setting it down gently by the floor. "I blame you, though."

She glared at her twin. "How the fuck is it my fault?"

"Males never have that much stuff," Alloy said. "Everyone knows it's the females who hoard their stuff. Ergo, it is yours and Silver's faults."

"Oh, everyone knows this, do they?" Copper asked, cracking her knuckles in a way that made Alloy wince.

"Sheesh sis, you're gonna give yourself arthritis if you keep that up."

"Bite me, bro. And don't change the subject, yeah? How is all this shit my fault?"

"You're the one who never wants to get rid of anything!"

"That is so not true! What about all that junk right there?" She pointed towards the corner: there was a pile of Alloy's things stacked almost as high as the ceiling, ready to be moved into what used to be Copper's room. "Isn't that mostly clothes? For the love of the Goddess, Alloy, you have more clothes than I do!"

"I have style," Alloy said with a sniff. "All you wear is leather and t-shirts."

"That is so untrue," Copper grumbled. "I have other clothes."

"One skirt and one dress does not a wardrobe make," Alloy said. Copper glared at her brother again and punched him in the arm. "Oww! Geez, sis, why d'you always have to hit me?"

"Because you're an easy target." She smirked and shoved a box into his arms. "Now hurry up and take this to the cart. I gotta pick up Silver soon and by then Modo should be here."

Alloy frowned as he stared down into the box. The box was full of Silver's toys, including the grey mouse doll she usually kept with her. "It's going to be weird with you guys gone."

Copper mirrored her brother's expression, placing a hand gently on his forearm. "I told you you could move in with us. There's plenty of space."

"And potentially walk in on you and Modo doing the nasty? No thanks, I'm already worried about Silver's young eyes." Alloy smiled reassuringly at his sister. "It's time for you two to move on and start being a family."

"You're family too," she said. "And we've always got a room for you if you get lonely."

Skipping his usual sarcastic remark, Alloy leaned forward to rest his forehead against Copper's, their antenna briefly touching. "I know, Cop. We're gonna be ok."

Copper smiled sadly. "I'll miss you being around all the time, you know."

"Yeah, I know." He shuffled the box to one arm and gently tapped her nose. "Can't hide anything from me."

Copper grinned. "Watch it, punk, or I may hit you just on principle."

"You have no idea how much you sounded like Stoker just then," Alloy groaned. Opening the door, he walked out into the street, putting the box with the growing stack on the cart Copper had rigged to the back of his bike.

Copper sighed and turned her attention back to the pile of boxes. Things had been going so fast in the two months since she had met Modo's mama. Now she was heading over there on the last day of every week with Silver in tow to have dinner. Alloy had even come along once or twice. Silver had taken to Mama Maverick and her new aunt and cousins like a bro to his bike. Now she was always asking if they could go see her 'famwy', as she called them. Ratchet had been right: she had accepted her new family with minimal questions.

However, Copper didn't think Silver quite understood that Modo was her father. They had sat her down one night, Copper nervous as heck, Modo holding her hand to be reassuring, and tried explaining that Modo was her real father. Silver had smiled and nodded but still had not called Modo 'dad' or any variation on that title. He was still Mister Modo.

Copper could tell Modo was upset by Silver's refusal to call him dad. But he did not push the little female. He still played with Silver and still responded to being called Mister Modo. But sometimes Copper could see the sadness in Modo's expression, especially when Silver called her mama. Copper hoped now that they were all going to live together, Silver would eventually accept Modo as her father.

It had taken almost two months to find a home she and Modo would agree on. She wanted to stay in Redrock to be close to Alloy and the bar; Modo was hoping to be closer to his Mama and Resistance home base. Copper had won the argument, saying Silver needed to stay at the school she had begun attending just before Modo came back into their lives. Modo had agreed and found an unusual dwelling that he and Copper had fallen in love with.

On the outskirts of town, where farms had used to thrive, was a dwelling made out of a ridge of rock that had erupted from the ground. Part of the foothills of the mountains, the rock was hollow and the same red as the cliffs Redrock had been named for. It had once been the home of a farming family but it had been abandoned for years, before the war had even begun. Modo had made some inquiries and after finding no one else interested in the home had begun inquiring about purchasing it and the surrounding land.

He had taken Copper there alone, the both of them riding out to the secluded spot. He had not told Copper the purpose in the trip, letting her think it was just a nice drive out into the country. He had driven up to the property, Copper following on her ash grey racer. He led her around to the side of the home where it looked just like a tall ridge of rock. Parking Li'l Hoss, he pulled off his helmet and smiled at Copper, motioning for her to do the same.

"Where are we?" she had asked as she pulled off her helmet, setting it on the passenger seat of her bike.

"Come look," he said, offering her a hand off her bike. She took it, twining her fingers around his and following him up to the face of the rock.

"You came to show me a rock?" she asked with an upward quirk of her eyebrow. The ridge had the rough shape of a triangle that was being tilted backward. The top was tilting back at an odd angle like it had been pushed for millennia by wind. But the color was an attractive red-brown with darker brown and orange bands cutting through it.

"Lemme show you the rest," Modo said. Taking her around to the shorter edge, he opened a thick wooden door and walked into a dark room. Copper followed him cautiously, putting a hand on the blaster she had at the small of her back. Modo led her into the room and opened another door set into the opposite wall. Light from the outside door showed a small anteroom with a bench and pegs set in the walls. Copper assumed it had been used for motorcycle storage and the pegs were for hanging helmets. Before she could look closer Modo pulled her deeper into the rock, closing the door to the outside behind them.

"Modo baby?" Copper asked, straining to see in the darkness.

"Hold on, darlin'. I need to find the- ah!" With a soft click and a grinding noise, small skylights opened in the ceiling, reveling a large open space that made Copper's eyes widen. The room followed the natural shape of the rock, coming to a peak about twenty feet above the ground. A loft came out about halfway above the ground, floating above their heads with a spiraling staircase leading up into it. The kitchen was on the ground floor, separated from the main room from a rock counter. A door led farther back into the rock structure, but Copper left that for the moment.

Without a word, Copper went up the stairs, seeing the space above was not in fact a loft but a second story: a T-shaped hallway faced out over the ground floor with the down bar displaying a few doors, three on either side of the hall. A quick glance into each door showed two bedrooms with attached bathrooms, an empty closet, another bathroom and two spare rooms. Going back down the stairs, she opened the door that was in the back wall. It opened into a room as tall as the rest of the dwelling but completely empty. Copper assumed it had been a garage or a storage unit: a large metal door could roll up and lead to the outside.

She closed the door and looked toward Modo, who was standing in the middle of the front room with his arms crossed over his chest, an expectant and nervous grin on his face. "Well? What d'ya think, darlin'? This place is twenty minutes to Redrock, an hour to my mama's place and thirty minutes to Resistance HQ." When she still hasn't responded, he coughed nervously. "It's got plenty of land around it for a farm or something. My daddy was a farmer before he died, thought I'd take that up again. But if, ya know, that idea don't work for you, we can find some other-"

He was interrupted by Copper slamming into him, knocking him to the floor with her arms around his neck. She kissed him soundly, making Modo see stars. "I love it," she said, smiling at him. "I love it, I love it, I love it, it's perfect, how did you find it?!"

"I was driving by awhile back, thought it looked like a nice place." He smiled up at her, wrapping his arms around her. "D'ya really like it?"

"It's amazing!" Copper said, kissing him again. "It's so big! How are we going to fill all this space?"

"Well Alloy's welcome, if he wants," Modo said, endearing him even more to Copper. "Then there's Silver and, ah," Modo blushed slightly, "Any other little ones that may fall into our laps."

Copper stared down at him. "Little ones?"

"Not that I'm forcing ya, or anything!" Modo said in a slightly panicked tone. "It's up ta ya, darlin'."

Copper thought for a second before smiling again. "Maybe in a few years, ok? When we're all settled and me and Silver have had more time to catch up with you."

"No rush," Modo said, gently pulling Copper's hair free of its braid. "We've got plenty of time."

"Mmhmm," Copper hummed, leaning down to nibble on Modo's ear. "No rush at all…"

The rest of their visit to the house had been fun and pleasurable. Copper felt her cheeks heat at the memory as she placed another box in the cart. It had taken two months to nail out the final details but now the property was theirs and today was move-in day. Or, mostly move-in day. Their large furniture, like the beds and the couch (which Copper had won the coin toss for, much to Alloy's chagrin) was being hauled out the next day by Throttle, Vinnie and Modo with the help of a bigger cart than the one Copper was able to get. Checking the sun, Copper decided she had enough time to get the rest of the packed boxes into the cart before having to pick up Silver from school.

Just before setting off to get Silver, the familiar rumble of Li'l Hoss' engine came up behind Copper. She turned and smiled when she saw Modo with Silver sitting in front of him, safe in her father's arms. Modo grinned back and waved a greeting, Silver jumping off the bike with practiced ease. "Hi Mama!"

"Hi Silver sweetie," Copper said, sweeping Silver into a hug before settling the little one on her hip. "Did you have a good day at school?"

"Yes," Silver chirped. "Asher Blackthorne thought he could beat me at one-on-one combat but I showed him!"

"Oh did you?" Copper asked, raising a brow at Modo. "Are we going to have a visit from his parents?"

"He's fine, darlin'," Modo said, getting off Li'l Hoss. "Just a bruise the size of Olympus Mons on his backside. He'll live."

"Ya know, I don't approve of fighting unless there's a good reason," she replied.

"But Mama, he was askin' for it!" Silver protested. "He kept saying somethin' mean!"

"What did he say?" Copper asked. Silver looked over her shoulder at Modo before whispering it into her mother's ear. Copper's eyes widened and she actually felt herself go pale under her fur.

"Goddess bless, I didn't think kids knew what that was," she said in a faint tone. Silver nodded gravely before smiling, the incident mostly forgotten.

"Are we ready to go, Mama?"

"Almost, sweetie. Uncle Alloy just went to the new house with most of the boxes, he should be back soon." Copper smiled and held out an arm to Modo, who came over and wrapped his arm around his females. "Hey baby."

"Hey darlin'," Modo said with a kiss to Copper's brow. He could smell sweat and dust in her fur. "Good day?"

"I swear, ya never know how much sh-stuff you actually have until you move," she said with a grin. She was trying to get better at containing her swearing, especially when around Modo and Silver. Modo disapproved in a big way and Silver still repeated everything she heard.

"I brought something for ya," Modo said, showing her the package he had hidden behind his back. "Dinner."

"Aww baby, you cooked?"

Modo shook his head. "Nah, Mama did. Stuffed mushrooms, just the way ya like 'em."

"Thank you, Modo," Copper said with a curious sniff. "Those smell amazing. And is that a meat pie?"

"I like meat pie," he said with a grin. "Not all of us prefer veggies."

"Still thoughtful of you. I packed up all the cookware already, I didn't even think about dinner."

Modo laughed and nuzzled Copper's ear. "Well come on then, my darlin' ladies. Let's get t' eatin'."

They sat and ate at the table; Alloy had won the coin toss for that one. Silver actually enjoyed the mushrooms, much to Copper's surprise. She had never liked mushrooms when they had been served to her before.

"Grandmama makes them better," Silver said frankly. "But Mama makes better everything else."

"Thank you, sweetie," Copper said. "That's nice of you to say."

"But Mama smells," Silver said, wrinkling her nose. "Mama should go clean up."

"Thank you, sweetie," Copper said again, this time with a frown. Modo hid a laugh behind a bite of meat pie. With a sniff, Copper got up and went into the bathroom to use the sonic cleanser, leaving Modo and Silver to take care of the trash and any remaining piles of things that littered the living room.

By the time she got out of the bathroom, Throttle and Vinnie were sitting in her living room. "Hey guys," Copper said as she finished plaiting the end of her braid. "How's it going?"

"So much better now," Vinnie said with a wink as his eyes roved up her body in a teasing way. Copper just sighed and rolled her eyes, refusing to acknowledge him further.

"So not that I mind the company but what are you guys doing here?" Copper asked Throttle.

"Whatcha mean, Copper girl?" Throttle asked with a confused look. "We've been hauling furniture all day to your new place."

"Huh?" Copper poked her head into her bedroom, surprised when she saw her bed was missing; her chest full of weapons had been moved the day before, much to her annoyance. "What the hell? When did the bed disappear?" Going down the hall, she peeked into Silver's room and saw her bed and toy chest had also disappeared. In fact, all of the belongings that had been deemed hers and Silver's were now gone.

"We came by this afternoon. Alloy said you were out getting more boxes."

"Damn…no wonder he wanted me to stay out of the bedrooms. Sneaky bastard." Copper cringed and looked around, glad for once Silver wasn't around. "Where did Modo and Silver go?"

"They took the last of your boxes out to the cart. Then you guys are heading over to your new place," Vinnie said. "Hope you like it, we've been decorating all day."

"You were decorating?" Copper said with a raised eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

"We used all the stuff you picked," Vinnie said with a pout. "Doncha trust me, sweetheart?"

"Not as far as I can throw you," Copper smirked, and Throttle laughed.

"C'mon Copper girl, let's head outside and get you home."

Copper smiled and gave Throttle a hug, surprising the tan mouse. She shocked him even more when she gave Vinnie a hug as well. "Thank you so much, you guys," she said.

"Hey, anything for you, Copper girl," Throttle said. "You're family now."

"Wow, you're so much sweeter when you're in love," Vinnie said, holding on to Copper for a second longer than was proper.

"I will still break you," Copper said with a smile. He let her go, his white fur getting just a little paler on his cheeks.

They went outside and found Alloy had returned, a new bed frame and other new pieces of furniture now in the cart. Copper punched her brother in the arm, making him yelp in pain.

"You jerk! Why didn't you tell me?!"

"I wanted it to be a surprise, sis." Alloy winced and rubbed his arm. "Why you gotta hit me so hard?"

"Because you deserve it," she replied. Turning from Alloy, she saw Silver was wearing her helmet and perched in front of Modo.

"Ready to go, darlin'?" he asked with a smile that made her heart skip a beat. She nodded and grabbed her helmet from its old peg by the door.

"Yeah. I'm ready." She hugged Alloy and kissed him on the cheek, fighting off the tears that were threatening to come out; as much as her brother annoyed her, they had never been apart for more than a few days their entire lives. He was her twin and family that actually wanted her. "I'll see you at work, ok little brother?"

"Of course you will big sis," he said and gently kissed her forehead. "Take care."

"Always." They gently rapped knuckles and Copper pulled on her helmet and got onto her bike, revving up with a clatter of gravel and dust. "Last one home has to finish unpacking!"

"Hey!" Modo yelled and Silver laughed, pleased they would soon be going fast. With a wave to his bros and Alloy, he took off after Copper, his bike kicking up more dust than Copper's little racer.

Alloy and the bros watched the bikes disappear down the road, Alloy's grin a little wistful. When they were out of sight, Alloy sighed and pulled back his hair. "I'll share a bottle of ploom whiskey with you guys if you help me set up my furniture."

"Deal," the bros said in unison, grabbing furniture and heading inside. Ploom whiskey was a popular but hard to find drink on Mars. Totally worth helping a friend set up his now very empty-feeling apartment.

Alloy sighed again and grabbed an end table he had found years ago and kept stored at the bar. He had a lot of space to fill now that his family had gone.

The sun had set by the time they reached home. Copper got there just before Modo and Silver did, laughing as she pulled to a stop in front of the garage door. Her braid had come undone during the ride and her long hair was now a snarled mess. Totally worth the win.

Modo came to a stop slower than Copper had, his metal arm wrapped around Silver and holding her close. "That necessary, darlin'?"

"Yep," Copper said with a nod to Silver, who was now fast asleep. "Whenever she wouldn't fall asleep I'd take her for a fast ride across the sand. She'd conk out faster than you can hum 'Do Your Ears Hang Low'." Modo chuckled and opened the garage, wheeling in his bike with Copper right behind him. Carefully cradling Silver against his chest, he slid off her helmet and got off his bike. She stirred sleepily but remained in the loose, floppy state young ones achieved when they were truly at peace.

He took his daughter upstairs and put her into her pajamas, only getting a small murmur of protest when he tucked her into bed. Pulling her blanket up over her shoulders, her gently smoothed back her hair and kissed her forehead. "I love you, my little girl."

He still wasn't brave enough to say that when she was awake. But whenever he tucked her in, he said it and hoped she knew.

He went back downstairs and found Copper sitting on the couch in their new living room. With what he had had in his quarters at Resistance and what they had managed to find at markets, get from interstellar traders or commission from what artisans were left. So far the space was slightly bare but still homey: the old couch from Copper's place, a low table that Modo had found at a market and rugs Copper had conned from a Venusian trader decorated the front living space along with the pottery pieces Copper had from her mother. The kitchenware was still mostly unpacked with boxes lining the counter space. Modo had been working on a dining table but it was lying halfway built on the floor.

Copper growled as she tried to pull a brush through the long, snarled mess that was now her hair. "Goddess damn it all to the farthest reaches of space…"

Modo grinned and came up behind her, gently rubbing her scalp with his normal hand. "Give me the brush, darlin'."

She handed him the brush, sighing with content as he gently began working it through the worst tangles at the ends. "Silver asleep still?"

"Passed out like a light," Modo said, gently working out particularly nasty tangle. "How do you like the bros' decorating?"

"Better than I expected," Copper said, her eyes closing. "Thank you for having them help."

"They actually offered without my asking," Modo chuckled. "They're really happy that I've got someone again. And they like ya."

"Goddess only knows why." Copper smiled and looked up at him, her brown eyes sparkling. Modo smiled back and leaned down to brush a kiss to Copper's lips.

"Cuz they know yer not gonna treat me like dirt or leave me for a prettier face. Ya don't see me as a conquest or a freak. And ya can shut Vinnie up, which Throttle and I appreciate."

Copper laughed and turned to face him, tossing her now tangle-free hair over her shoulder. "Damn straight. He can't mess with the baddest babe this side of the Asteroid Belt."

"And don't I know it," Modo said, pulling Copper in for a hug. She hugged him back, tucked her head under his chin. He nuzzled the ragged flap of skin that was left of her ear and lifted her up over the back of the couch so he could hold her against his chest. "I love you, Copper darlin'."

"I love you too, Modo my love." She grinned and wrapped her legs around his waist, her grin widening when she felt his arousal grow against her. "Let me show you again how much…"

"General, we are entering Martian space," the masked private said in a low growl. "We have not yet been detected by their long-range scanners."

"Excellent," the hulking Catatonian said with a toothy grin. "Begin preparation of the first invasion wave. It's time to get what we came for."

Yes, Cataclysm thought as he settled back into his commander's chair, his golden eyes gleaming in the dim light of the command deck. Time to exterminate these rodents and get the Regenerator…By any means necessary.

AN: DunDunDuuuuuunnn!! XD