I started this in July 2016. For timeline purposes, we'll say this takes place around 2004/2005 and the Planeteers are in their late 20s. And the technology is not what we are used to having today.

Disclaimer: Not mine. Not getting paid. Also, I'm not a medical professional and while I tried to do some research to keep it realistic, I'm sure things have changed since I first started writing this story...and also, sometimes it's just necessary to not be medically accurate for the sake of drama!

Summary: Past events can have a lasting impact and change the future.

Everything

Linka stares blankly at the computer screen, ashamed of the way it's affecting her. She scrolls down the screen and shakes her head.

"Bozhe moy! More?!"

She buries her face in her hands and sighs.

"Hey Babe, can I…"

She jumps out of her chair at the sudden intrusion, slams her laptop shut, and turns away from him.

"Damn it Wheeler, did no one ever teach you to knock?!"

"Door was open. What the hell…?" He gives up the argument when he realizes that her reaction wasn't typical. There have been many times where he'd just walk right into her room to ask her a question and she was fine with it. Obviously, something is bothering her.

"Linka, what's wrong?"

"There is an obnoxious Yankee standing in my doorway."

Wheeler steps through the doorway and further into her room until he is standing right behind her.

"Not anymore," he says as he reaches for her hand to try and get her to turn to face him.

She pulls her hand away.

"Great…now he is in my room."

"Look, Babe…I just wanna…"

"Why are you here?" She asks, frustrated and looking to quickly get rid of him.

"Well, I came here to ask if you were done with the movie that I let you borrow. Ma-Ti would like to see it too…but if now isn't a good time…"

"It is on my dresser…just take it."

"If you didn't get a chance to watch it yet, I'll just tell Ma-Ti…"

"Nyet, take it. Let him borrow it. I do not have time," she says loudly before quietly adding, "There is just never any time."

Wheeler forgets about the DVD and focuses his attention on the woman before him. The sadness in her voice disturbs him. The way her normally straight and confident posture is now slumped and defeated. He takes one step closer to her and rests a hand on her shoulder, rubbing his thumb soothingly back and forth.

"Whatever it is, if you need to talk about it…or if you don't want to talk about it, but want some company, I just want you to know that I'm here for you."

"I know you are…but I just want to be alone."

He drops his hand from her shoulder.

"Ya know, when people say 'I just want to be alone,' they really mean 'The last thing I want is to be alone.'"

"Wheeler," she sighs.

He wraps his arms around her and rests his chin on her shoulder.

"What?"

She rests her hands over his and whispers,

"Thank you."

"For being annoying and persistent?"

She chuckles and swipes at a tear before returning her hand back to cover his.

"Da."

"Anytime Babe," he says as he turns his head to kiss her cheek. "There's only one thing I hate more than seeing a pretty girl upset about something."

"What is that?"

"Seeing a friend upset about something…so, you gonna tell me what's buggin' ya? Or is it a 'who?' Do I need to kick someone's ass?"

"Nyet…no one…it is stupid."

"If it's bothering you, then it's not stupid."

She sighs in resignation and turns around in his arms.

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Make me go from not wanting to talk or be around anyone to making me want to tell you everything?"

"I'm charming…and you're stalling."

"It is nothing…really. I am fine…now."

"I'm not leaving until you tell me."

She sighs heavily, giving up the fight.

"I was on the computer, just messing around, and I was reading the news feed from my friends list…it seems like all of my friends are getting married, or are married and having babies, or have had babies."

"And you want all that?"

"Nyet…well da…maybe…someday. I just…I am older than I realized."

"You do important stuff though. Do your friends?"

"Being a mother…having family…that is not important?"

"Not as important as saving the world…you know how messed up this world is Babe…do you really want to bring a baby into it? Raise a family when there's still danger from the deranged Dr. Blight or that mutant glowstick, Nukem?"

"Do you not want children, Wheeler?"

"Well yeah, sure…I guess. Someday. I suppose guys don't really think about it as much as girls do. If it happens, it happens, if not…oh well. I guess…it's different for women…you get to experience what it's like to have a child growing inside you…and now that I think about it…that's pretty awesome. I'd say I was jealous, but I don't think I'd be able to handle it as well as you will…and you WILL…someday. Don't worry about what everyone else is doing now. You're doing your own thing and I'm sure if they knew of all the adventures you have…the things you see…living on a tropical island…I bet they'd like to trade places with you."

"Nyet. They would not."

"You'll have your chance…"

"NYET! I WILL NOT! I…I cannot."

"Because of the Planeteers?" He asks, hoping that she doesn't mean what he thinks she means.

"Nyet…because of Chernobyl…I…I am infertile."

"Oh. Babe…I'm so sorry," he says as he pulls her closer and kisses the top of her head.

"Do not apologize…it is not your fault."

"I just…I don't know what to say."

"You do not need to say anything. But please, do not tell anyone else."

"Of course not. It's not my business to tell."

She squeezes him tighter and rests her cheek against his chest.

"Thank you…you know, I never really thought it would bother me…I do not know why it is…it is not like I am in any position to have children anyway. It would be one thing if I were in a relationship and had to tell my partner that we could never have children…but I am not, so it is pointless to be worried."

"I guess it's just a matter of not realizing you want something until you think you can't have it," he offers as explanation.

"Da," she says sadly.

"And when you think you don't have a chance at something, it only makes you want it more," he replies, knowing all too well how that feels.

He can feel her nod against him.

"You know, there are other options. There are plenty of kids out there without parents. You can adopt. I know it's not the same as experiencing carrying a child or giving birth, but you can give a child the same love."

"I know…that is an option. But I do not think I can take the rejection."

"Rejection?"

"Of being told AGAIN that I cannot have a child."

"Why would that happen?"

"They do not just hand babies over to anyone that asks. They would have to run a background check."

"Is there some deep dark past you're hiding Babe?" He teases.

She chuckles.

"Besides being a recovered addict? Nyet. I meant that being a single parent is not really an advantage. They would prefer a child to have two parents."

"I can't see you as being single the rest of your life. You're the kinda girl that should be beating guys off with a stick."

"That is not true. You are the only guy that I have been beating off."

Wheeler begins to choke on the laughter he is trying to hold in.

"What?" She asks.

"'With a stick' Babe…you have to add 'with a stick' to the end of that or else that phrase takes on a WHOLE different meaning…one that you REALLY don't mean."

She looks at him curiously.

"Never mind…you don't wanna know."

Deciding that it was most likely something dirty and instead of risking further embarrassment, she lets it go, as does he so he brings the conversation back on track.

"Things are different nowadays. Being a single parent is much more common. I don't think they can deny you the right to take in a child who needs a home…it wouldn't be right for the kid. One parent that loves them is better than growing up in an orphanage and then being tossed out to fend for yourself once you're 18 or going back and forth between foster homes."

"Da, but being a Planeteer does not exactly provide a stable home life. I would have to quit."

"Eventually…we all will, right? Unless you're in a hurry and want a baby, like, tomorrow."

"Nyet…I can wait. Can I tell you another secret?"

"You can tell me anything."

She steps out of his embrace and looks him in the eyes before taking his hands and leading him towards her bed where she sits down and looks up at him, still holding his hands.

His heart is pounding, anticipating her confession, but she looks like she is having second thoughts. He feels that by towering over her, he's intimidating her, so he kneels down in front of her and clasps her hands between his.

"It's ok. Take your time."

"Be honest with me?" She asks.

"Babe, I've never been more honest with anyone than I am with you…about everything."

She smiles at him, knowing how very true that is. Sometimes, it scares her.

"There have been times when you have regretted being a Planeteer, da?"

"Yeah…I think we all have at some point…anyone that says otherwise is lying."

"I never have."

"Really?!"

"Until now," she admits.

"Why now? Because of the baby thing?" He asks.

"That is part of it…a small part of it. I feel like my life is on hold. Everyone around me is growing and changing…except me."

"And me."

"Nyet Wheeler…you have changed the most."

"No, I haven't…you're just finally seeing the real me."

"I like the real you. I liked my previous evaluation of you too…but whether you want to admit it or not, you have changed. You are more mature."

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone else you just admitted that!"

"You can…I am able to admit when I am wrong."

"See, you just proved yourself wrong, you HAVE changed…I never knew the Linka who would EVER admit to being wrong about something!"

She chuckles and rolls her eyes.

"You've changed more than you think, Babe. You just can't see it."

"How have I changed?" She asks.

"Well for starters, you used to hate me…now you tolerate me."

She shakes her head and pulls one of her hands free from his so that she can run it through his hair and down to rest on his cheek, holding him steady so that she can hold eye contact with him.

"I never hated you."

"'Imperialist dog?'" He says with a quirked eyebrow, reminding her of a comment she made long ago.

"That was so long ago…and not an insult."

"Oh really?!"

"Da…I like dogs. Dogs are loyal, eager to please, understanding, forgiving…and cute…which makes it impossible to stay mad at them."

"You think I'm cute?"

"I think dogs are cute."

"Woof woof…" and then he pleads his case with his best puppy dog eyes, causing her to laugh.

She then turns sad and serious again and gets a far away look in her eyes.

"Now what's wrong?" He asks.

"What made you stay? When you wanted to leave?"

"I saw what life would be like…what the planet would be like without the Planeteers…and what we would be like without each other…it was sad. I realized that it's not just about one of us…it's about the team. We don't work without each other."

"The team, you mean?"

"Yeah…sure."

"Would you hate me if I left?"

"No. I could never hate you. I'd be sad. It wouldn't be the same around here, that's for sure…I'd probably not want to continue."

"Where would you go?" She asks.

"I don't know…where would you go?"

She shrugs.

"I do not know. Russia, I suppose. I have no where else to go."

"Then why don't you stay?"

"And do what? While the rest of the world is living their lives…I am stuck here?" She argues.

"I'm sorry you feel that way."

"You do not?" She asks.

He shakes his head.

"I'm happy here. I have my best friends."

"You do not want more?"

"Everything I want is here…for now," he says.

"So you agree…you feel like there is more out there…like you are missing something?"

"I will be…if you leave."

"I think I need to…not for good…maybe just take a break. Get out, see the world."

"Meet new people?"

"I guess. I do not know…I do not make friends easily…and all the friends that I had back home…they no longer have time for me. Not now that they are married and having children."

"If you're worried about life passing you by, don't. You're still young…you still have plenty of opportunities to find Mr. Right. It's not like you're going to end up old and alone," Wheeler says dejectedly.

"I am not alone. I know that. I just…I want to be 'not alone' somewhere else. I want to get away…see what it is like to live a normal life without worrying about eco-villains."

"Yeah, that would be nice," he admits.

"Will you…I mean…would you like to…umm, what I am trying to say is…I would really like some company. Will you come with me?"

He smiles at her and then bows his head, unable to control the ecstatic expression on his face, but not wanting her to see him so giddy with excitement and betray his cool exterior. He takes a deep breath and sighs, trying to keep his emotions in check.

Linka takes his reaction the wrong way.

"I know it is a lot to ask of you…leaving your life here behind to come keep me company…to babysit me and tell me that I am being irrational and silly. I just…I have always wanted to travel, and we get to do that as Planeteers, but we never really get to stay and see anything. I do not want to go alone though, but I understand if you do not want…"

He shakes his head and looks up quickly, no longer attempting to hide how happy he is.

"Yes."

"Da?"

He nods his head enthusiastically.

"Yes. I'll go. I WANT to go…but I gotta be honest Babe, you're gonna have a hard time meeting Mr. Right out there if I'm tagging along. They might get the impression that you're taken."

"I am not doing this to find a boyfriend…a future husband who will just leave when he finds out I cannot provide a family for him."

He stands up and pulls her up with him, hugging her tightly.

"Hey, don't…"

She pulls back and puts her hand up to stop him.

"I am doing this because it is something I have always wanted to do. I have saved up all of the money that Grandma and Mishka have sent me over the years as an allowance. They did not listen when I told them that everything I need is provided for me here, so they kept depositing money into an account for me."

"Oh crap…I didn't think about money…I guess since we're taking a leave of absence from the Planeteers, we won't be able to have the Geo Cruiser at our disposal. I don't know if I can afford it Babe…I'm sorry. I can't go."

"Nyet…I have more than enough."

"I can't use your money…it's not right…and I don't know when I'll be able to pay you back."

"I do not want you to. If you do not go, I do not go. I asked you to join me therefore, I will cover the expenses."

"I feel terrible, moochin' off you like that."

"You will feel even more terrible if I do not get to do something I have always wanted to do."

"Yeah…I don't want to be the one who holds you back."

"Then you will go with me?"

"Yeah. I'd love to. Sounds fun."

She smiles up at him gratefully.

"Now…how am I going to tell Gaia that I am taking time off and taking you away from the Planeteers as well?"

"I guess we'll just have to bite the bullet and tell her. She can't force us to stay here. She's gotta know that at some point, we were gonna want to leave and do our own thing."

"I hope so."

"We're pushin' 30 Babe…nothin' last forever," he reasons.

"Some things do," she says quietly and with a hint of hope.

To Be Continued...

I'll get into details of Linka's condition and how it came to be. But of course, there will be lots of Wheeler and Linka moments. Let me know what you think!