The following morning, Nosedive and I were making breakfast for everyone. What woke everyone in the house was the smell of fresh brewed coffee. I had a Keurig, but they preferred I use the coffee maker. Whatever floats their boat. I preferred the Keurig, myself.

When Throttle came out of our room in his workout sweats, he walked over to the coffee maker and poured himself a cup. He likes to leave his cup by the coffee maker.

After he got his coffee, he walked over to the table, pulled out the chair and sat down with his coffee. He didn't like that I was on my feet when I didn't need to be. I couldn't help but feel his gaze on me. I looked over at him.

"What?"

"You don't have to cook breakfast. I can have Modo come over and help Nosedive."

I went back to helping Nosedive make breakfast. I wasn't going to get into it with Throttle this early in the morning.

The boys and Silverdawn came downstairs about 10 mins. later to the smell of bacon, eggs and pancakes.

The boys looked at each other then at me. "You can cook, mom? Since when?"

"I've always known how to cook, Tony. Who do you think made your dinners?"

"Uncle Modo and Aunt Charley when you weren't here, which was a lot."

I couldn't believe what I just heard. I looked to Silverdawn.

"Could you help Nosedive finish up, mom?"

"Sure, sweetie. You ok?"

"Yeah, I just wanna go get changed."

"Ok." Then she got up from the chair and walked into the kitchen to help Nosedive. I headed for my room to get changed.

Throttle knew that what Tony said bothered me, so he got up from the table and followed me. He knew I wasn't ok with what was said.
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Throttle shut the bedroom door and had me sit down on the bed. He sat down next to me.

"I know you're not ok. I saw the look in your eyes. You were hurt by what Tony said. I will talk to him about that."

I looked at him. "Thing is, he's right. I wasn't around much."

"Its called being busy. I was with the boys and so was my mom. You're allowed to have a life, babe."

"I'm suppose to be a mother first and everything else second. It seems that I've made being a mother 2nd. I don't wanna make that mistake with this baby." I rubbed my swollen belly.

Throttle grabbed my hand and kissed it. "You're not going to make any mistakes with this baby. You're a great mother and you'll be great again with this baby, too."

"I wish I could believe that, Throttle. I really do."

Throttle knew where the conversation was going and he didn't like it.

"Michelle, I don't wanna hear it. You're not leaving me again."

"I don't like it any more than you do, but it may be what I need for right now. I need to get my life in order. You know, step away for a while and live the single life. Tony made it painfully clear who really runs the house. Its not me, that's for sure."

"Ae you sure you wanna do this, babe? Last time you left, it seemed like you had no desire to come back to me. How do I know you're not thinking about making it permanent?"

I couldn't think of anything or really look him in the face. I didn't want him seeing the look in my eyes. The look that would break his heart.

"I can feel the resentment practically radiating off you and I don't like it. You're regretting getting married, aren't you?"

"I...I'm not sure what I feel right now. That's why I need time away to figure things out."

"Just...just do what you need to do. Let me know what you decide."

Right after he stood up, I grabbed his wrist. He yanked it out of my hand then left our room. I sat there and watched him shut the bedroom door behind him. I knew what I had to do. I stood up and stepped over to my writing desk. I like to write when I can't sleep. I took some paper out along with an envelope. I sat down and wrote a letter. Then I folded it, put it in the envelope along with my wedding ring.

I got up and grabbed a duffel bag and put some clothes in it. I knew I couldn't take all my clothes. I'd just buy some new ones later on.

After I was done, I grabbed the bag, then went out the sliding doors. I went around the house and grabbed the bike. I put the duffel bag in the saddle bag and grabbed the helmet. I got on the bike and left.
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Later in the day, Throttle came into our room to see how I was doing and to apologize for his behavior. All he found was an envelope with his name on it sitting on his nightstand. He sat down on the bed, then opened the envelope. He took the letter out, opened it then read it.

While he was reading the letter, he noticed that the envelope was a bit heavy. He put the letter down and looked in the envelope and saw my wedding ring in it. He went back to the letter and finished reading it.

By the time he was done reading it, he was crying. He saw the tears fall on the letter. He was heartbroken. He got up and poked his head out the bedroom door and called out to his mom.

"Mom, can you come in here, please? I need to talk to you."

His mom walked into the bedroom and saw the tears streaming down her son's face.

"Throttle, sweetie. Are you ok?"

"No, I'm not ok, mom. I probably never will be ok again, either. Michelle is gonna file for divorce then send the paperwork to me to sign."

"What about the baby?"

"She's either gonna abort it or put it up for adoption. Mom, I miss her so much."

Silverdawn sat down next to her son and hugged him.

"Why'd she leave anyway?"

"Cause of what Tony said. Charley and Modo always made their meals. When Tony said that, I knew it hurt her feelings. My own son is the cause of our family break-up. How am I gonna tell him that his statement caused his mother to leave? How do I make this right, mom?"

"How about I sit with you when you tell him? Help you explain that what he said was wrong."

Throttle hugged his mom again. "Thanks mom." Then he went into his bathroom to splash some water on his face. He needed to compose himself so he can talk to his son about his statement towards his mother.

He came back out with a dry face and ready to talk to his son. "Let's call them both down. Tyrone needs to hear this too."

They walked about of Throttle's room and stood at the bottom of the stairs and called to the boys upstairs.

"Tony! Tyrone! Come down here, please!"

"We're right in the middle of a game and can't pause it, dad!"

"Both of you get your tails down here now!"

"But dad…?"

"Anthony Tyrell Thornboy get your tail down here or I'll take the Xbox and destroy it! Same goes for you too as well, Tyrone Tiberius Thornboy! I want your tail down here, too!"

Both Throttle and Silverdawn heard the boys tell whoever they were online with that they have to go, then the Xbox and TV were shut off. They came downstairs to see what their dad wanted.

Tony gave his dad attitude about getting off the Xbox.

"Come sit down on the sofa, boys. I will deal with you, first, Anthony."

Tyrone looked at his brother. "What you do, bro?"

"No clue, Ty."

Throttle and Silverdawn both sat down on the sofa across from the boys.

"You don't remember what you said to your mother this morning, Anthony? That your aunt and uncle made all your meals and that your mother wasn't around all the time."

Tyrone smacked the back of his brother's head. "What is wrong is with you, bro? You know mom is sensitive."

"How was I to know that she would take it personal?"

Throttle couldn't believe what he just heard. He stood up and walked away so he wouldn't do something he would regret.

"Tony, sweetie. Your mother works hard to keep a roof over your head, food on the table and clothes on your back. Your father is already heartbroken. He didn't need your statement on top of his already broken heart. You need to apologize to your father."

Tony stood up and walked over to his father and hugged him.

"I'm sorry, dad. I didn't mean to be an asshole. Its just that mom wasn't around much. I wasn't use to seeing her in the kitchen, cooking."

Throttle hugged his son back. "I know, Tony. Cause your statement this morning, your mother left. She's filing for divorce."

"Now I feel horrible. I'm the cause of the family break-up. Think if I call her, apologize for what I said, she might come back?"

"You can try, but I have a feeling that she won't be coming back."
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About 3 days after I left California, I made it to Chicago. I figured I might as well as run the garage on a permanent basis. Run it year-round. I had already filed for divorce and had the papers sent to Throttle for him to sign.

Since I was still paying rent to my old place near the garage, I just took my things there and settled in for the night.
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Next morning, I noticed that I had a missed call from Tony. He also left a voicemail message. I listened to the message. He apologized for his rude statement and wants me to come back and make our family whole again.

I waited 'til the afternoon to call Tony. I went and opened the garage and did some work 'til 12 noon, then called Tony.

"Hey mom. Did you get my message?"

"Yes, I did. I accept your apology."

"Are you gonna come back and make our family whole again?"

"I'm afraid not. I'm sorry, Tony."

"What about our sibling?"

"The baby is going up for adoption. I'll be running the garage full time, so I won't have time."

"Dad and grandma can raise the baby. Tyrone and I can help them."

"I have a few months to think about it. How is your father doing?"

"He's hurting. And drinking….alot."

"And no one is stopping him?"

"Oh uncle Modo tried and got a beat down for it."

"What about your grandma?"

"She's tough for someone her age. She gave dad a good ass kicking. Oops. Sorry about the swearing, mom."

"That's ok, Tony. I'll let it go this time. Is your grandma available?"

"Yeah, hold on." Then he went to get Silverdawn.

She picked up the phone a few mins. later.

"Hello sweetie."

"Hey mom. So, Throttle got an ass kicking from you?"

"Yes, he did. I'm glad Carbine had taught me how to fight."

"Yes, she did. She was over a lot when she was dating Throttle back on Mars. She had seen the bruises that Tredz left on me, so she taught me how to defend myself."

"Glad it paid off. You didn't hurt too bad, did you?"

"No, I didn't. He's laying down right now. He refused to fight back against me."

"That's cause he won't hit a woman. You raised him well."

"Thank you. Want me to wake him so you can talk to him?"

"No, that's ok. Just make sure he signs the divorce papers when they arrive. Then have him send the papers back to me so I can file them with the court here in Chicago."

"You moved back to Chicago? Why?"

"Well, one, I'm still paying rent to my apartment and two, people have been leaving messages here at the garage, wanting work done."

"What about your job as the new Blackhawks manager?"

"That's during the winter only. The rest of the time, I'll be here at the garage."

"You do plan to visit during the off season, aren't you?"

"Only if Throttle wants me to. I know the boys will want me to, but since Throttle runs the house, its up to him."

"I will talk with him later tonight after the boys are in bed."

"Can I ask you something, mom?"

"Of course you can, sweetie."

"Were you aware that Throttle had a drinking problem?"

"Carbine had told me he came back to base drunk once, but that was it."

"Please help him get sober again. I may be divorcing him, but that doesn't mean I don't still care for him. I'll always care for him."

"I know, sweetie. I'll have him call you tomorrow morning."

"Thanks mom. I better let you go. I have customers coming in."

"Alright sweetie. Take care." Then I hung up. I got back to work and started working on my recent customer's truck.