Happy Holidays everyone!

Over the course of 10 yrs., I had been going to my therapy appts., had an abortion after I had been raped, and now that Tony is done with school, he's decided he wants to join the military. He hasn't decided which branch yet. Whatever he decides, his father and I will be happy with. I'm secretly hoping he'll go for the Marines. I think Throttle is secretly hoping for the Air Force. Ty, on the other hand, would like to see his bro go into the Army.

Throttle makes sure I take my Bi-Polar meds so we don't have a repeat of everything that has happened over the years. We've been together for 26 yrs. and a lot of it was either my fault or Tony's fault. Deep down, I didn't want to do what I had been doing, but with everything that had been going on, I didn't want to deal with it. The way I was looking at it, I was a horrible wife and mother.

Shawn got sentenced to 5 yrs. in prison for attempted sexual assault and got out 5 yrs. ago. He came looking for me after he got out, and Throttle told him, in not so many words, not to come around his family or his wife again. I later found out that Throttle had filed for an RO (restraining order) against Shawn. If he were to come around any of our family, then he goes back to prison for violating the RO. Throttle immediately called the police and told them that Shawn had been at our house without our knowing. They found Shawn not long after Throttle reported him.

During the 10yrs., I had opened the Bounty Hunter business. When we couldn't run it during the winter, we had retired CPD officers come run it for us. We had hired them before the hockey season started, so we were glad they were able to run the business for us. They brought in a lot of money, too. Even Ty was helping out with the family business. We made him a General Manager when we couldn't be there during the winter. The retired CPD officers didn't give Ty any crap cause they knew it would come back to me and I would deal with them when we got back.

Tony had decided that he was going to go into the Marines like his mother. His father and I were proud. His brother was proud, too. So was Richard, Tony and Ty's adopted brother. I tried to get Tony as close to prepared for the Marines as much as I could before he shipped out for BCT (Basic Combat Training). I found out the day he is to ship out that he's going to Camp Pendleton, where I train the Marines during the spring and summer. In fact, he was leaving right at the beginning of March. In those same orders I was also to report to Camp Pendleton to train the next batch of recruits, including my son. I had called the General and told him that my son is going to be in that next batch and find out what the protocol is for me training my own son.

"There is no protocol, that I know of. I can have a new name tag made with your maiden name so there isn't a confusion."

"That would be a good idea, General. I will remind my son that he can't call me "mom" during BCT or any time while in uniform. It would look like favoritism."

"Good idea. He can live with you in the officer's housing units cause he is your son. That's the only exception I'm going to allow for him."

"I will tell him that, General. Thank you. We will see you soon, sir." Then I hung up.

I turned to Tony and told him that we both need to report to Camp Pendleton ASAP.

"Wait, you're going with me? Why?"

"General wants me there to train the new recruits. Same ones you're going to be with."

"What about the protocol, mom?"

"The General is going to have a name patch made with my maiden name on it so its not confusing. The General is also going to allow you to stay in the officer's housing units with me cause you are my son. That's the only exception you get while in the Marines. You can't call me "mom" while in BCT. You have to address me as Major Montana when in uniform. Ok?"

"I think I can do that. The General sounds like nice guy."

"He is, but you can't just walk up to him and act like he's one of your friends, ok?"

"No problem, mom."

"Now, I have to tell Richard and Ty that I won't be home for a while. I know Ty will understand, but I'm not sure if Richard will. He doesn't like when I have to leave during the Spring and Summer."

"What about during the Winter?"

"He helps Ty at the office. Your father or I call the office while we're on the road for an update. Come on, let's go talk to him. Have you seen your father?"

"Nope. He hasn't been the same since grandma passed away a couple of yrs. ago. Think he went back to Mars for a while?"

"No. Maybe the scoreboard. After we talk to Richard, I'll take you to the scoreboard. Its where your father, Uncle Modo and Vinnie use to live. Its also where they crashed their ship."

We had been sitting outside in the warm weather the whole time.
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We were in luck. Both Ty and Richard were getting their shoes on.

"Boys, can I talk to you, please?"

"You're leaving again, aren't you mom?"

"Yeah, I am, Ty. The General wants me at the base along with your brother."

"Why can't you say no, mom? I understand you do this every Spring and Summer, but that's when I wanna spend time with you."

"I know you do, Richard. Would you like to come with your father and I during the winter instead?"

"I'm not big on hockey, but…"

"That's ok, Richard. I understand."

"I didn't mean it like that, mom. I'm sorry." Then he hugged me.

I hugged him back. "I know you didn't mean it like that. I'm not going to make you go with us if you don't want to. I'll let you decide if you want to go with us. Right now, your brother and I are going to look for your father. Did you wanna go with us to go look for him?"

"Yeah, I would. I'm worried about what he could do, mom. He hasn't been in his right mind since grandma passed."

"You're not the only one who's worried, Richard. Being Martian Mice, we have a connection that, if broken, could kill one or both of us. You lost your biological parents, I don't want you losing your adopted father or me."

"Then let's get in the car and go look for him."

We all got in the car and headed out to look for Throttle. I was so worried about what his current state of mind is.

"Ty, call your father. I'm hoping he'll answer if you call him. He may not if its me."

"Why would you say that, mom? Dad loves you to death."

"I know he does, Ty, but when he goes through things like this, he doesn't want to hear from me until he's ready. I may not like how he deals with his personal problems, but I do respect his wishes and I don't call him 'til he's ready."

Ty took out his cell phone and called his father. We waited for a few seconds when I heard the other end pick up.

"Hey Ty. What do you need?"

"Wondering why you left and if you're coming home soon? We miss you."

"I miss you guys, too. How's your mother doing? I know she's worried about me."

What Throttle didn't know was that Ty had put his phone on speaker.

"I'm very worried about you, honey. I understand that you've been hurting, but you need to come home and we'll talk. I wanna help you. Richard wants to help you."

"I wanna help you too, dad. Please come home."

"Where you guys at right now?"

"Heading for the scoreboard. Mom figured you'd be there."

"Heh. She knows me well. Come on over and we'll talk."