Hope everyone had a great winter!

So here's the deal: I'm entering my last semester of college. I have a ton of work that I have to do and a lot of time spent in class. I will try and update as much as I can but no promises.

Thanks to everyone who has read so far. If you haven't reviewed, please do. Reviews make me a happy camper =)

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.

"Ow! Oh, mother freaking hell!" Copper growled, sucking the wounded tip of her finger. Where was Alloy when she needed him?! Sewing had never been her strong suit. Most of the time she stabbed herself instead of whatever it was she was supposed to be mending; at the moment, it was one of Silver's pairs of denims. She had caught them on a nail and torn them right at the seat. And for that, Copper had to suffer through stabbing her fingers.

"You alright, Copper ma'am?" Lani asked from where she was reading a book in the next chair. They were sitting in the common area of the shelter under a shaft of sunlight that filtered through a window in the ceiling, open to let in a bit of fresh air. Other females were around, attending to various tasks as children ran around and played with each other. The shelter they were in was tucked deep in the mountains with thick walls and doors that could not be opened from the outside. Windows in the ceiling allowed for light and air to get in, but only when they got the ok signal from the army. Even then, they could only be opened with a special code only a few of the females knew. The rest of their air got brought in from discreet shafts, but it could get musty.

Copper glared down at her fingers, then at the denims that had caused their present state. "Yeah. Just wondering when Silver grows out of the stage where everything gets torn at least once a day."

Lani laughed and held out a hand. "Here. Before you stab yourself to death." Copper handed over the pants gratefully, watching with some envy as Lani neatly re-threaded the needle and began fixing on the patch. "Lani?"

"Hmm?" Lani murmured, lifting bright blue eyes to look at her employer and friend.

"Thank you. I don't know how I could have dealt with all this without you. You're one of the only female friends I got, you know."

Lani smiled and shyly ducked her head, focusing back on the pants. "You're welcome, Copper ma'am. It's been nice to talk with you outside of work." She glanced up, a slight smile curving her lips. "Not that this is the setting I was hoping for."

Copper laughed loud enough for some of the other females to look over, curious. She nodded to them and they smiled back before returning to their tasks. "Goddess, I needed a laugh."

"I miss you laughing," Lani said, neatly biting off the end of the thread and handing the now-patched pants to Copper. "Though you've been laughing a lot more now that Mister Modo is back."

Copper's expression fell slightly, obvious pain and worry evident in her eyes. "I'm scared," she whispered. "I don't know what I would do if he got hurt and I'm stuck here where I can't help him."

Lani's eyes widened; she had never seen Copper look so vulnerable. Usually the red-furred female was loud and sometimes a little rude, able to keep peace in the bar and defend her barmaids from unwanted advances. Copper being vulnerable was new and very disconcerting to Lani. She reached over and took Copper's hand, squeezing gently. "I'm sure Mister Modo and Mister Alloy will come back safely and soon. They have you and Miss Silver to come back for."

Copper smiled softly and squeezed Lani's hand back. "Why couldn't Alloy have fallen for you? You'd be so much better for him than that frigid bitch."

"I wouldn't know," Lani said, ducking her head so Copper wouldn't see her blush. "It's his decision, not mine." Not that I would mind Alloy looking at me the way he looked at Miss Glassgreen, Lani thought. But no female would mind if he turned his attention their way.

Copper grinned and squeezed Lani's hand again. "Let's go find Silver. It's almost time for lunch." Lani nodded and picked up her book, following Copper deeper into the shelter where the mess hall was located. I will say prayers to the Goddess tonight, she thought. For Mister Modo and Alloy. I hope they are both safe.

Stoker chuckled and then winced, clutching his aching ribs. "Yes, it's me. You all really think I died?"

"No way," Vinnie said, shaking his head. "Just thought you'd gone off to be old and cranky somewhere else."

"Good to see you too, Vinnie," Stoker drawled. "I see you haven't grown up at all."

"Enough with the small talk," Throttle growled, glaring at Stoker from behind his shades. "Seriously, Stoke! Where have you been?"

"I've been traveling," the older mouse replied. "You know, spending my retirement years in exotic locations with warm beaches and little umbrella drinks."

"Any of those exotic locations Catatonia?" Throttle growled.

"No way, kid," Stoker said. "I've been running from those furballs ever since they got back on planet."

"Throttle, bro, would you chill out?" Vinnie said. "This is Stoker, man! No way he'd sell us out."

"Yeah bro," Modo agreed. "Why you acting so uptight?"

"Because the Regenerator is gone!" Throttle hissed. 'Our best chance to get Mars back to normal is gone. Our people are going to start dying without any water and that includes your girls, Modo. So yes, I am going to be uptight. I think it's the right time."

"Don't you think ah know that?" Modo growled, his eye starting to flicker red. "Ah know my girls are in trouble. But Stoker is here now. He can make another Regenerator."

"Yeah, about that…" Stoker said. "I can build another one, yeah. But I can't do it here."

"Why not?" Modo asked, his voice lowering ominously. Stoker swallowed and wondered how quickly he could move away from Modo if he gave the wrong answer.

"The Regenerator uses up tetrohydrocarbons quicker than Vinnie can guzzle root beer. There isn't a big enough deposit left here on Mars."

"And where is there a big enough deposit? Anywhere close?" Throttle jumped in before Modo could ask. The big guy looked like he was steaming now.

"Closest one?" Stoker chuckled and shook his head. "That would be Earth, boys."

"And that's the story, babe," Throttle said. He held his communicator at face level so he could pretend Carbine was in front of him, not just on a screen. "We gotta head to Earth and get those tetrohydrocarbons so Stoker can make a new Regenerator."

Carbine's image sighed and rubbed her temples. Around her, her office was in ruins. Some recruits were clearing rubble from her desk and surrounding machinery. "And that's the only way?"

"There are no more deposits left on Mars," Stoker piped up, leaning over Throttle's shoulder to talk to his niece. "Earth is the richest source of tetrohydrocarbons in this galaxy. And the closest to us. We could, in theory, get to earth, get the stuff and be back on Mars before the Cats even notice there's a ship missing."

"Like that will happen," Carbine muttered darkly, glaring at her uncle. "And don't think you're off the hook, Stoker! You can't just disappear for a year and think nobody will notice."

"I'm sorry, Cary," Stoker said, using the old nickname he had used when Carbine was a kid. "I'll remember to write a note next time."

Carbine's glare turned into a straight glower, making the older male cringe. "You better," she hissed. "And you," she said, turning back to Throttle, "Need to get your butt back to base and get a ship. Get to Earth, get the stuff as quick as possible and get back here. We'll keep the Cats off your back and keep Mars going."

"Thanks babe," Throttle said, smiling at his girl. "We'll get back as soon as we can."

"Carbine ma'am?" Modo said, his expression sad. "Is there any way you could get a call out to Copper? I need to let her know."

Carbine's expression softened and she nodded. "I'll patch her in to your arm communicator. Just give me a few." Modo smiled gratefully at her as Throttle's communicator flickered into darkness.

Modo sighed and ran his hand over his scalp, thinking over what he was going to say. A few minutes passed before he realized Stoker, Throttle and Vinnie had exited the cave, leaving him alone. He smiled to himself. "I'll have to remember to thank them later."

"Thank who, lover?"

"Hey, there's my darlin' lady!" Modo laughed, looking at his arm to see Copper's smiling face looking up at him. All his tension was momentarily forgotten as he traced his fingers over the image of her face. "How are ya?"

"Bored out of my fucking skull," Copper grinned. "How much longer, do you think?"

"Ah have no idea," Modo said. "Hopefully not too much longer."

"Yeah," Copper agreed, her smile turning mischievous. "I don't think I can handle much longer without you in my bed."

Modo blushed, grateful that the bros were not listening to this. "I know how ya feel."

"So not that I mind, but why the call? I thought we were keeping communications to a minimum so they couldn't be traced."

Modo sobered instantly. "Darlin', I'm sorry, but I've got some bad news." He took a deep breath that ended in a sigh. "We're in trouble. The Regenerator was destroyed in a fight and we have no way of making a new one here on Mars. We gotta go to Earth and get what we need to make a new one."

Copper stared at him, her brown eyes wide. "Are you fucking serious? You're going back there?"

"I have to, darlin'," he said. "But I'll be back as soon as I can."

Copper took a deep breath, obviously trying to calm down and not yell. "Damnation, Modo. It's bad enough you got me in this hidey hole where I can't look after you on this planet but now you're going to a completely different one?! Where you don't even have the rest of the Resistance to back you up?"

"I've got my bros and this time we got our own ship," Modo said. "Darlin', we'll be back in a month. Two at the most."

"You better be, or I'm coming after you," Copper growled. "Cats and distance be damned, I'm not letting you go a second time." Modo chuckled at that, feeling like a weight was lifted off his chest.

"Darlin', I'm so glad to hear ya say that. I'll be back as soon as I can." He searched the background behind her. "Silver around?"

"Yeah, she's right here," Copper said, reaching down to pick up Silver. The little female was holding her doll and smiled when she saw Modo.

"Mister Modo!" She squealed, making Copper wince as her hearing implant started to ring from the high-pitched noise. She waved at the screen frantically, almost making Copper drop her. "Mister Modo, hi! Look, Mama fixed my doll! Her arm fell off when I was playing with Racer and Nitro and they started laughing but I got them really good and they aren't laughing at me any more but we were playing today and they said they were sorry so I guess it's ok, right?" She paused for a breath and smiled at him, making Modo's heart melt. "When are you coming back?"

"Soon, li'l star. I'll be back as soon as the fight is over."

"Come back soon," Silver said. "Mama isn't smiling as much."

"I'll come back soon and make Mama smile," Modo smiled at his girls. "I promise." He gently touched the screen, stroking Copper's cheek. "I love ya."

"We love you, too," Copper said, scrubbing tears from her eyes. "Return home soon. Or I swear I'll come find you and drag your ass back here and I won't be gentle."

"On the road again," Vinnie hummed, leaning farther back in his chair and staring up on the ceiling. "Oh, I can't believe I'm on the road again…"

"Sing it, bro," Modo said, staring moodily out of the window of the spacecraft. "Ah sure as hell can't believe I'm on the road again."

"It won't be for as long this time, big guy," Throttle said, punching a few buttons to keep the ship on course. "We just need to find a few a few tetrohydrocarbon stashes so Stoker can fix the Regenerator."

"Hate to break it to ya mudpuppy, but searching for tetrohydrocarbons is a tricky business," Stoker said from his place behind an array of blinking machinery. "It's not like they carry them at any Earther superstore."

"So where do we start?" Modo asked, wanting to get this mission done as soon as possible so he could get back to Mars.

"Away from civilization is always a good place," Stoker replied. "But we'll get this done as soon as we can." He smiled sadly at Modo; it pained him to see the gentle giant hurting from missing his girls.

"But in the meantime, I think we should try and have a little fun while we're there," Vinnie said, gleefully shuffling through a stack of brochures. "First, we'll hit up Chi-town. Visit Quigley field, get a foot-long slathered in chili-"

"And maybe run into a certain red-headed mechanic?" Throttle said with a knowing waggle of his eyebrows. Vinnie's face went red and he tried to protest that he wasn't interested in the least in seeing Charley.

A loud beeping brought Stoker's attention back to the console in front of him. "Shit…" he growled, his metal tail lashing the air in agitation. "Catatonian Cat-a-cruisers, on our six!"

"Ahwoohoo!" Vinnie trumpeted, rubbing his hands together and glad the attention was off of him. "Time for soma action!"

"Helmets on and visors up, bros!" Throttle yelled, matching his words to actions and grabbing a blaster. "We got kitty pirates scratching on the door."

The bros and Stoker had all managed to get their helmets on when the hatch door began to melt, golden-red metal dripping to the floor like drops of water. Modo growled and held his arm ready, blaster out and ready to shoot at the first thing that came through the door. "As my old grey furred mama said, when company comes a callin', be suer to break out the welcome wagon." A foot soldier was the first unlucky one to get a face full of Modo's firepower, the other bros and Stoker backing him up for all they were worth. But then Stoker was rushed by a gang of the troopers and was wrestled to the floor, his weapon lost in the struggle.

"Drop your weapons," one of the other troopers hissed, "Or your general here is flambé."

"Man, I hate when this happens," Vinnie muttered, his weapons falling to the floor with a clang.

They were tied up and their weapons taken from them. Cataclysm came onto the bridge with a support team of at least twenty troopers, his hulking bulk filling the room and making it seem excruciatingly small. "Ah, General Stoker," Cataclysm said, bearing his yellow fangs as Stoker was brought before him. "How nice to see you again."

"Yech, too much tuna in the diet, Sylvester?" Stoker gagged, reeling back from the smell of rotting fish.

"See, I told ya they smelled bad," Vinnie muttered. Throttle and Modo hushed him with twin glares.

"Your impertinence means nothing," Cataclysm said coolly though his green-gold eyes were narrowed with rage. "Take him to my ship and throw him in the brig. As for the rest of the vermin…" He smiled again, a malicious gleam in his eye. "They are of no consequence. Kill them."

"At your command, sir," a trooper said. The Cats filed out of the ship, the last one activating the bomb that had been attached to the door of the bridge. "Bye bye, mousies," it purred. "Try not to make a mess when you die."

Throttle shook his head as the trooper disappeared. "Why do they always have to have the last corny word?"

"Dunno bro, but we better scoot if we're gonna save Stoker," Modo said.

"Let's blow this joint," Vinnie agreed, earning him a glare from Modo for the bad pun.

"To the bikes, bros!" Throttle said. "Let's rock and…shuffle our way to the cargo bay and hope we don't get blown up in the process."

"That doesn't have a nice ring to it," Vinnie said as they slowly made their way to the cargo area.

"But it works for the situation," Throttle replied. When they got to the door, he kicked the button to open it and watched the doors slide slowly open. "Vincent, weren't you going to fix this?" He growled, tail twitching in annoyance.

"Hey, it was fix the door or get to my aerobics class," Vinnie sniffed haughtily. "Health is our most important asset." Throttle sighed and whistled for the bikes. Well=places laser shots had the ropes off the bros and they jumped on to their respective bikes.

"Come on, let's get out of-" an explosion rocking the ship, interrupted him and sending the bros flying towards the hatch. "Never mind then. Let's blow this popsicle stand!"

On Earth, Charlene Davisdon revved her new orange bike and stared at the obstacle course she had laid out for herself. Clutching the throttle, she zoomed around a stack of barrels and up a ramp, landing safely on the other side. She swerved around a thick puddle of old oil and turned a sharp corner before heading up the ramp again, enjoying the feel of flight before her bike skidded to a halt back at the starting line.

"Not bad," she muttered, taking off her helmet to reveal auburn locks that had recently been trimmed into a pixie cut that showed off her high cheekbones and strong jaw. Her green eyes glanced over the bike, smiling as it purred under her touch. "Maybe I can get a few more RPMs out of this cherry," she said to no one in particular. Her thoughts were interrupted when what looked like a comet streaked through the sky, the orange ball of fire getting closer with every second. "Huh…Now do I make a wish or do I just GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" She revved up her bike again and had it squealing towards the garage when the comet landed in the middle of her obstacle course, obliterating it completely.

She stopped at the edge of the destruction, squinting at the smoldering wreckage of her course. "Ugh…" She said, getting off her bike and standing with her hands on her hips. "I haven't seen the likes of this since those macho mice left town." A sudden flare of heat make her wince and shield her face with her hand. "Damn, that's hot."

"Thanks. You're not looking pretty spiffy yourself, sweetheart." Charley's heart nearly stopped when she heard that voice. No way. There was no way that Vinnie was back. Smoke parted to reveal three tall figures to the Earth woman. Charley gasped before screaming their names. "Throttle, Modo!" She rushed towards them, flinging herself into strong arms. She didn't notice Vinnie's sad look downward as she went right past him.

Throttle and Modo laughed, squeezing Charley hard enough to crack her bones. She hugged them back just as tight, laughing the whole time. "Oh my god, you guys are back! I can't believe it!"

"Believe it, Charley girl," Throttle chuckled, affectionately nuzzling the top of her head.

"I missed you guys so much!"

"Yeah, right back at you, Charley ma'am," Modo said, gently pushing hair off her forehead so he could get a better look at her. "Yer lookin' good, Charley ma'am. Chi-town been good t' ya?"

"Not as fun after you guys left, but yeah, Chi-town is great!" The sound of a throat being cleared made Charley turn her attention back to Vinnie. The white mouse was looking sheepishly at her, scuffing his toe into the ground.

"Um, hiya doll," he squeaked, feeling like he was about to suffocate now that he saw her again. He drank her in, admiring the curve of her leg in her jeans and the short, messy hair that now framed her face and better showed off her features. Charley glared and stalked toward him with such determination that Throttle and Modo stepped back to watch the show.

"You don't write, you don't call, and now you show up again and what? All I get is a 'Hiya, doll?' " she seethed, stepping up so she was toe-to-toe with him. She glared, ignoring the way her heart did an odd little dance that always happened when she got close to him. "No excuses, no lame reason why I suddenly disappeared to you?"

"Well, I, um, I been busy, and, well…Ah, hell, I don't know," he groaned, hanging his head. "I'm sorry, sweetheart. I'm so sorry."

Charley's face softened and, slowly, so as not to spook him, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his chest. She inhaled the unique scent of him that she had missed so much and, before she could think, stood up on tiptoe to kiss him on the mouth.

Vinnie stood completely still for a moment, thinking that it wasn't possible this was happening. This had to be a dream. He would wake up in half a second, in his bed on Mars and Charley would be back to being thousands of miles away. But then he smelled her, smelled the combination of motor oil, flowers and that tea she liked to drink every morning. He could feel her, and the feeling wasn't fleeting like it had been for almost two years. This was the real thing. He sighed and wrapped his arms tight around her, his hands tangling in her hair as he kissed her back.

"You're real," Charley whispered when she broke the kiss. Tears glittered in her eyes and Vinnie's heart almost broke to see the drops on her cheeks. "You're actually here."

"Yeah, I'm here," he rumbled, holding her tighter. "I'm here, sweetheart."

"I missed you so much," she whispered against his neck.

Vinnie smiled and put a finger under her chin, tilting her head up to look at him. "I missed you too, pretty lady." And, just because he could, he bent down and kissed her again, slowly, savoring it now that he was positive he wasn't dreaming again.

Throttle and Modo stood off to the side, gaping at the two who now seemed oblivious to their presence. "Huh…didn't see that coming," Throttle muttered.

"Yeah…kids these days."

Hope you liked it. Please review =D