Both Throttle and Modo ran into my room and saw Charley kneeling next to me. "Wh…what happened?"

"She fell after standing up. She was going to go use the bathroom, when she just collapsed."

"Hmmm, I wonder…" Then he checked behind my pants. He noticed there was a tail growing.

"That would explain why her equilibrium is off. Ever since I donated blood to save her life, she had been worried if it would change her in some way."

"She hit her head on the bedside table and was knocked out."

Throttle looked at the gash on my head. "Its not real deep, so she won't need stitches. Just need to clean that gash and lay her back in bed for a while."

I started coming around shortly after. I rubbed my head and felt a giant goose egg on my head. "Anyone get the number of the truck that hit me?"

Throttle helped me up and back into bed. "Remember that problem you mentioned after the blood transfusion? Well, your Human DNA is being replaced completely with Martian Mouse DNA. The reason you fell is because your equilibrium is all wacked out. You've started growing a tail, babe."

"Seriously?"

"You don't seem to be upset about all this."

"What good would it do me? Cause stress to the baby? Raise my blood pressure? For what? For something that was inevitable after the transfusion? I'm quite alright with what's going on."

Both mice and Charley looked at each other then at me. "Are you sure you're ok with what's happening to you, Mike?"

"Charley, don't worry about me. I'm fine. So, I'm going through some changes other than being pregnant. Stop trying to stress me out. Damn."

"Babe, we're not trying to stress you out. We're just a bit worried, that's all." Then he looked at Charley and Modo.

Charley got the hint. "We'll be in the other room, making breakfast." Then they both walked out of our room. Charley shut the door on the way out, too.

Throttle sat down next to me and held my hand in his. "I would like an honest answer for the question I'm about to ask you, ok."

"Of course. I would never lie to you, Throttle. You know that."

He smiled. "I know. For the 3 months I was gone, have you been faithful to me?"

"Yes, I have. You can even ask Charley. Why would I cheat on you when I'm carrying your child, babe? For that matter, when would I have time to cheat? Have you been faithful to me?"

"Of course I have. With Stoker putting me through that rigorous training, I had no time to cheat. Not even with Carbine. She knew how much I missed you, so her and I would talk after my training. Because of her, I was able to come back. It also helped that Stoker finally admitted that what he did was wrong. He even admitted that he was being insensitive."

"Wait a minute here. Stoker admitted he was wrong? Shocking."

"I know. I couldn't believe it, either. I am so happy to be back where I belong. Back here, with you and our unborn child. By chance, do you know what you're having?"

"It's a boy. I was thinking for a name, instead of Chet, even though you like the name, I was thinking Anthony, but call him Tony for short."

"I like the name Tony. In my family, its tradition to name the first born with the same initial as the last name. Tony Thornboy sounds really good."

"I like how it just rolls off the tongue. If it had been a girl, what would we have named it?"

"Tamara."

"Nice."

"I'm gonna go check on breakfast, then bring you some. You have to keep your strength up."

"Uh…I haven't been eating much for the past 3 months. I also haven't been out much other than to the Drs. Office for my appts. Please don't be mad at me, Throttle. I had been depressed since the day you had left."

Throttle leaned down and kissed my forehead then smiled at me. "I know you've been depressed. Charley has been emailing me about your problem, that's why I'm not mad at you. I was more worried than anything, but there was nothing I could do about it. Will you try to eat if I bring you something?"

"For you, of course. Have you been able to eat since you left?"

"Not really. I have been so worried about you that I lost about 10 lbs."

"I guess you'll have to eat to gain some of that weight back. I don't need no skinny ass mouse. I love my mice to be strong, handsome, and a hot, thick bod."

"You're pretty strong yourself, beautiful. I better go check on breakfast. You just stay here and relax. I'll be back with your food, then maybe give you a back massage. How's that sound?"

"Sounds great."

Throttle stood up and headed out of our room. He opened the door and walked down the hall. He sighed as he sat down in the kitchen. Modo noticed and had Charley take over the cooking.

"You OK, Throttle?"

"Yeah, I'm fine, Modo."

Charley looked over at Throttle. "I know you're worried about Mike, Throttle. We are too. We came and checked on her during the 3 months you were gone. That's why you got the emails you did about her being depressed."

"I feel bad for not being here while she was depressed. I feel like I failed her in some way."

"Now Throttle, you know that's not true. You going back to Mars was out of your hands. You had no choice but to go back. Thank god for Carbine finding a way to get you back here with her. Mike knew that if she watched you leave on that ship, it was going to hurt worse for her. If Modo and I hadn't come check on her, she might have done something stupid and I know that if you found out, it would hurt you so bad. I would never forgive myself and I know you would never forgive me, either."

"I could never be mad at you, Charley. We've been friends too long for me to get mad at you. If anything, I would blame myself for not being here and talking sense into her. I'm the reason she can't sleep in our bed at night. How am I to live with that feeling?"

"One day at a time, that's how." I had heard most of the conversation walking down the hall. I was a bit upset at what he had said.

Throttle got up and helped me to the table. "Why aren't you in bed, babe?"

"Why are you bashing yourself, Throttle? Its not your fault I can't sleep in our bed. And its not your fault that you left. Pregnant or not, I will kick your ass and you know I can do it, too."

"I have no doubt that you could. After watching you fight alongside the Ducks, I know you can fight well. There will be no fighting the goon squad while you're pregnant, that's for damn sure."

I was about to say something, but thought better of it. He was right. "Fine, but you have to promise me that you'll come back in one piece. I mean it, Throttle."

Before Throttle could say anything, Modo spoke up. "Breakfast is served. I bet your both hungry."

"You have no idea, Modo. I'm eating for 2. I'm really hungry. Make sure to keep the food coming until I say enough."

"Will do, Michelle. Both of you go ahead and dig in. There's plenty for everyone, including you, Charley-ma'am."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who can cook. Any word on Vinnie?"

"Its not looking good. Carbine is on her way back to Mars to go hunt for Harley. She's hoping that if he hears Harley's voice, he might come back to us."

"And if he doesn't? I'd hate for you guys to lose him like this. You have been fighting together for a long time. Word doesn't need to go back to Mars that Vinnie is dead. I don't want that to happen and I know you don't, either."

"You're right, babe. Word doesn't need to go back that he's dead. I won't let it happen. I damn sure know Modo won't let that happen, either."

I looked at Modo and saw the look in his eye. I knew I blew that. He looked so sad. I got up from the table and went to my room to get changed.

While I was changing, Throttle came in. "You OK?"

"I blew it."

He came over and sat down next to me. "What do you mean? You did nothing wrong, Michelle."

I looked at him. "You didn't see the look I saw. The last time I saw that look was when you were leaving. Modo looked so sad after what I said. I should've kept my mouth shut."

Throttle looked at me and smiled. "You said the truth and sometimes Modo can't handle the truth. Its not your fault. Let's go back out there and eat, OK. Afterwards, you and I will go visit Vinnie."

"Sounds like a plan, but how we getting there? I can't exactly ride behind you."

"My bike trusts you, so I'll ride behind you for a while. I love wrapping my arms around your swollen belly."

A/N: Thanks goes out to DinoDragonMaster for some of these ideas. Please keep them coming, my friend.