Author's words, explanation: Here I go again, the truth is that I don't want to be repetitive by writing a love story that maybe already exists with a similar plot, but I'll see if I can at least entertain you a little with this, besides, I think these stories are the ones I'm best at.

I had to defragment this story 3 times over the years. This is the last one and definitive.

Fic: Written in 2013, re-uploaded: 2018 with some changes, I adapted it to fit somewhat after the events of Cars 3. I continue it now in 2024, after many mental blocks and things in , after many ups and downs in my personal life and some good writer's blocks... I've decided to come and finish this fanfic.

I must confess that Lightning is not my favorite character and although he is the protagonist of Cars and I should know his expressions well, I swear I wouldn't know exactly how to interpret him perfectly, but at least I hope to meet certain expectations in the story. Dedicated more than anything to those who are his true fans.

I know that maybe there aren't many people who expect it, since so much water has passed under the bridge, and I'm pretty rusty when it comes to writing. But well...

Anyway, too many words, I guess, but anyway I really appreciate the people who stopped to read during my long absence (like 6 years).

- Human Version: Maybe you don't like my humanized versions of them, but I've been working on a particular design for so long that for me, they are like my "children."

- Sorry my bad English, my first language is Spanish.

Anyway...

Thanks for stopping by...

Shadoru.

Greetings.

Chapter 1: A Happy Family.

Look, don't touch.

"The forbidden calls you to tempt your own good sense, it calls you like the sweetest piece of chocolate when you're on a strict diet. The more you avoid it, the more you want it and if someone else can have it, you'll want it too... That stupid desire of being... You know it's wrong, but you still feel like you need it...

...Even though you don't really need it.

Is the thrill of danger worth it? They say it teaches many of us for life... Because that memory of that stone in the road is inevitably enduring."

Radiator Springs, the town somewhere in the middle of Route 66 in Arizona, in Carburetor County, had expanded a bit since the appearance of Lightning McQueen, and then with Cruz Ramirez, many people from that state had moved to find a new and healthy life, open a business or simply vacation, listen to one of the stories of Mater, who is one of the most prominent residents of the place, or stop by to start a chat with the former NASCAR idol, some who were content with his greeting or a handshake from him, taking a photo from afar or asking him to take one with them, to which the veteran racer agreed without problems when he had the time.

Others, more obsessed, wanted a piece of him, perhaps a lock of his blond hair or a recently cut nail, even a piece of fabric from his clothes, parts of the burned tires of his car, among others.

The same thing happened with his Young student; Cruz Ramirez, but at this moment she was not in town.

The truth was that Lightning in the last few years, and after taking Cruz as his student, had to keep many things under lock and key, even his trash, it was unpleasant to see strange people hanging around and taking the containers of the mineral water bottles that he drank after training.

Well yes, fame had its good side, but also its bad side and... above all its maniacal side on the part of some fans.

Right now, at that moment when he and Sally had become parents, he feared that even his baby's disposable diapers, with all their contents, would be taken and framed as a souvenir of a "wonderful summer" in Radiator Springs.

He was a little paranoid.

One Thursday morning, in that married couple's room with pale-colored walls and a Queen-size bed without a backrest, in the middle of the masterberoom, but invaded by a batch of about ten beige and white pillows at the head, most of them on the floor now. The couple was sleeping peacefully.

A crib was located on the side of the mother with long dark hair, who had her hand gripping one of the edges of the infant's object that now inhabited it, as if she were alert to any movement.

6:35 in the morning, a knock on the floor woke Sally up suddenly, her long brown hair over her frightened blue-green eyes, her face pale from thinking about what that could have been...

-Lance! - She sat up on the bed as if possessed, her heart was beating fast and her breathing was quickening. -Stickers... - She looked at her other side of the bed. -Stickers? - She got up, on the side of the crib and looked at where McQueen should have been, next to her. He wasn't there.

Suddenly a moan and the sudden showing of a hand from the floor at the side of the bed, made a small squeal come out of her mouth.

-Eek! -

-Ouch... Ouch, ouch, ouch... - The hand that was now pressing the sheets to push the body up and those screams belonged to Lightning.

He had fallen out of bed.

-Oh... - more relaxed with a palm on her chest, she breathes normally moving her head a little. - Oh Chrysler, not again. - She whispered, watching her husband peek out, climbing back up. - It's the third time you've fallen out of bed this week. Were you dreaming?-

- Yes... I dreamed that I crashed, my car caught fire in the middle of the last lap of the race and to save myself from the dreaded explosion of the gas tank, I had to throw myself out of it. I was very hurt too - Lightning sits on his side of the bed and looks ahead, on top of a chest of drawers, the first jacket he used to race sponsoring Rust-Eze hung from a wooden hanger. - Seeing my wrecked machine burn in the middle of the track was so painful. Even though it's a dream. And even though it already happened in the past... I don't know why I keep dreaming about this... –

Seconds after a couple of deep sighs, he turned his eyes to Sally.

- ¿He didn't wake up, did he? - He asks about their son.

-No, luckily not, I had a hard time getting him to sleep last night. - She looked at the crib and smiled, then spoke to McQueen again. - Hey... It's the same dream, right? Same three times.

-Yes, I didn't worry the second time, but now... - He shook his head a little. - Do you know what Mater told me when I told him about this? - Put on a distressed expression.

- ¿No, what did he say to you? - Sally asked curiously, sitting next to him.

-"Maybe you miss the tracks too much or there's an evil spirit haunting you. It must be the Phantom Light or the Howling Spectre." - McQueen said.

-Hahaha, don't tell me you believed that story? You know Mater likes to make up stories. -She laughed at that, besides, she knew that Lightning was often undecided about everything that happened around his best friend when he told an incredible story. -

-No, I... Maybe... - He scratched his head and looked down, he quickly changed the subject so as not to give Sally a reason to continue talking about. Yes, she knew him quite well. -Hey, what time is it? - Turned his gaze to the alarm clock on the nightstand beside him.

-6:45, good time to start the day. - She got out of bed on her side, walked to her dresser on the other side of the room, took her hairbrush and untangled it like every morning before going to take a shower. -

-Don't take too long in the bathroom... - He asked, still sitting there, watching all her movements. -

-I never take too long, you're the one who takes eternal showers. I've even been wondering how much you have to fix yourself? - She spoke to him without putting down the brush.

-Hahaha, you're kidding, right? I'm Lightning McQueen, I have to keep a good image, neat and radiant. - Made a very smug smile.

-Yes... I'm sure you do... When you come back from your training on the dirt track, you literally come back with all the dust from the road on you. - Once she was satisfied with her hair, she retraced her steps across the bed and leaned down to hug her husband and give him a good morning kiss.

They both closed their eyes in unison to merge into a passionate morning kiss.

After long seconds, Sally slowly separated her lips from his, slowly opening her eyes again.

-Good morning... - She smiled, still hugging Lightning.

-Good morning, Sal... Do you forgive me for waking you up so suddenly? And for coming back from the track out of my neatness? - He asked with repentant puppy eyes, caressing his wife's chin.

-Only if you give me another kiss... - Sally proposed.

-Deal. -

When they were about to do so, the moaning and subsequent crying of their little son interrupted them.

-Oh, Lance, you are very timely... - McQueen sighed with sarcasm in his sentence.

-Hehe... Well, maybe later. - She left the hug, got out of bed, went to the crib and took her baby in her arms. -I'm here my love... Don't cry. - She smiled at him and spoke to him slowly, tenderly. The child calmed down at Sally's voice and loving arms, making him see that he was not alone. - Good morning sweetheart... - She kissed him on the forehead.

Lance looked at his mother with big, teary blue-green eyes, now more calmly, bringing a couple of fingers to his mouth leaving saliva in them, making typical baby noises in between.

-Aww, my cute little boy. - She can't help but pamper him, almost forgetting what she was going to do before.

-Haha, Sal, although I love seeing you so motherly, I must interrupt to tell you to take advantage of taking your bath, I will take care of Lance. I will prepare his bottle, bathe him in his baby tub and have him ready for you once you get out. - Lightning suggested.

-Oh! That's right, I have to go check out the Cozy Cone and the motel this morning, I must hurry... - She approached him to hand him the child in his arms. -Stickers... please remember, do not give him his milk before his bath. His talcum powders, perfumes and refills are in the cabinet in the other room, choose an outfit that matches, last time you put a mix of colors on him that my child looked like a Van Gogh painting. -

While Lightning nodded at her instructions and received Lance in his arms.

-Hey, Van Gogh paintings are great, besides I already know all that. How many times have I gotten our son ready before leaving? Huh? - He asked, lightly rocking the baby, who was still calm.

Sally sighed.

-That's why Stickers... Every time it's your turn, I see a mess in the next room: Talcum powder spilled on you and the furniture, the fallen lotions, the clothes half-packed in the drawers... -

-Relax Sal... We're just having a little fun. - Right Lance? - He looked at the baby, who was more interested seeing his own hands and putting a finger of his father in his mouth. - You see? - McQueen smiled, looking at Sally.

-Okay... Whatever, just don't leave a mess please. - She asked and finally locked herself in the bathroom.

Hearing the "click" of the door lock he sighed, then spoke to the child.

-We are free men, son, we can do what we want... Yes... - He stood still for a moment, feeling something warm on the baby's back and down. - Oh no... Wet diaper, I think you take freedom too literally. Time for a quick change. –

After a couple of hours, the three of them were ready to go about their business. Lightning had to take care of something at the Hudson Hornet Museum and think about whether or not to reopen the school for future NASCAR prospects. Since his star student had left to visit her family, McQueen decided to close for a while. Besides, he couldn't ask anyone else for help, not even Mater who was quite busy taking care of his issues and now that Holley was pregnant, she was his priority. Everyone in town had work to do, he didn't have anyone to help him with that. Then he spent the afternoon racing his car.

Sally, for her part, immediately went to the Cozy Cone. A girl helped her with the waiter's work in the early mornings. Now she had to go to sleep while the brown-haired woman took her place.

In the lobby she had a crib set up for Lance, behind the counter next to her, also a couple of toys, his bottle and toiletries. So she left the baby there, him taking a nap while she checked some things.

Before the girl who was helping her is leaving; Camille, had a message for her.

-Mrs. Carrera, I forgot, I have someone important written down who demanded the best room with a view of Route 66 at the Wheel Well Motel. This person says will come tomorrow. - She commented.

-Someone important? How is that someone important? Did this person not specify anything? Who is? The King or Queen of some country? - Sally asked many questions in less than 10 seconds, she took one of the cookies left over after breakfast, from the baby bag, eating a piece.

-No, no... He says he is a friend of your husband and yours too, he said his name is: - Camille read a confusing handwritten in the passenger book, where she writes the reservations by phone, the young woman was so tired that she barely wrote that message coherently in the last hour.

-He said his name is... Francesco Bernoulli. -

To be continued...

Disclaimer.

-Lance and Camille are characters that originally belong to me as well as this story. (c) Shadoru.

-Other canon characters belong to (c) .

-Sorry again about my bad English.