Author's pov:

"Why wouldn't I accept your marriage? This is amazing news, Commander Throttle and General Carbine" The Queen nodded at them to lift up their heads while holding her hands formally in front of her and the couple was bowing and kneeling down in front of her. Throttle was on his one knee as a male should be while for a female it was just needed to bow formally to Her Highness when they had an appointment to ask her blessing to their marriage especially when she was supposed to do the ordination if she didn't give the rights to someone else, for example like the bride's father or someone else as important. Father Mahawaq would do the ordinations too, but mostly it was honored to do by the Queen.

"Do you mean, you accept our marriage, your Highness?" Throttle asked while they got up formally nodding at her when she smiled and nodded again. "Yes, just tell me when you have planned to have your weddings or if you want the ordination rights to be given to someone else" The Queen smiled, making them smile before Carbine shook her head. "My father, Efir, died in an accident when I was still a baby.. My uncle Stoker would be a fine decision too but your ordination means so much to us too!" She looked down the floor while having her ears dropped down before she turned to look at her the way it was alright to do it, meaning that not straight towards her face but a bit slanting down.

"I understand. You will have time to think that they are your wedding after all" The Queen smiled warmly before turning around when they all heard someone opening the door behind them in the secret hideout where the Queen had transported to meet the couple and a few others too before she would get back to the current one. "My apologies! I didn't know there was still an appointment going.. I was just coming to ask if you have seen my bag that's ready for the hospital, mother" Niv said while she was about to close the door as fast as she had opened it, but her mother nodded her to come in.

"We are friends after all, Niv.. How are you?" Throttle asked while Carbine turned back to the Queen who looked at them first. "May I have a word with you privately, your Majesty?" She asked the way Throttle didn't hear when Niv nodded to them it was alright to come to her and the Queen had accepted it too. "I'm fine.. Stoker's getting me some snacks from the kitchen.. I'm craving melted cheese on peach pearls with some chili sauce.." She sighed while lifting her hands on her stomach that had grown a lot since she was near her tenth month, that meant the baby would be born any day now. For a Martian female ten month was the time to expect a baby while an Earthen woman's pregnancy lasted for nine months.

"Ugh.. Sounds.. Interesting.." Throttle was about to throw up when he heard even the first word of cheese, not even forgetting the rest of it which got the princess just to laugh. "I'm quite sure he'll be vomiting too on the way here!" She laughed before feeling some pain in her stomach that got her to lean forward. "Niv, is everything alright?" Throttle asked while the Queen had accepted Carbine's unordinary suggestion and they had moved a bit aside to talk.

"Yes.. Just some contractions.. I have gotten more of these this morning.." She said when Throttle helped her to sit down. "Contractions?! Is the baby coming?" He started to panic, getting her to just chuckle and roll her eyes. "I wish so! But it seems like she or he is not in a hurry to come out yet.." She sighed before Stoker walked to them with the bowl of her craved food. And to Throttle's surprise, he looked more tired than her.

"Finally! The Baby is his or her macho mouse training going on and I got more contractions just before you came.." Niv sighed when he kissed her forehead gently. "My apologies.. Peach pearls were close to running out.." He explained while sitting next to her to gently pet her lower back to get her and the baby to relax at least a bit. "What?! Then I seriously hope this little one comes out soon and the cravings will end.." She lifted her hands on her stomach before starting to eat that caused the males to move a bit side from her to not throw up right there.

"You sure you are ready for that?" Throttle chuckled, but got a glare as an answer that made Stoker laugh. "Well how about you say that when you carry a new life inside of you for ten months and look like a Plutarkian with this stomach!" She growled, making Stoker now roll his eyes. "Hey.. First of all, none of those fish faces are as sexy as you with that belly.. Second of all, don't say that about our baby.." He chuckled while getting up to walk to Throttle, making her just snort and concentrate eating again.

"So.. You got permission from the Queen?" Stoker asked, making Throttle nod when they were standing a bit far from the princess to give her some peace to eat. "Yea.. It went better than we both expected since we were quite nervous about this.." He sighed, making Stoker lift his hand on his shoulder. "What for? It needs serious reasons for Her Majesty to deny your marriage.." He said, making the tan furred male just shrug and shake his head.

"I have had a lot on my mind lately too.. Which might make this to feel bigger than it actually even was.." He said which made his mentor nod at him. "Where's Carbine by the way?" He asked, making them both turn to look around the room, but they saw neither her or the Queen there. Her guards had left too, meaning that they had gone with the Queen wherever she had left.

"I see why you were worried.. But since there aren't any documents to prove that, I'm not denying your marriage to Commander Throttle.." The Queen said while looking through some papers her royal advisor had given her. "There aren't? Good.." Carbine sighed deeply but a bit sadly before her nerves finally started to calm down a bit.

"Not at all. Your friend did a good job with that.. Surprisingly good actually" She smiled, making Carbine smile too and nod at her. "I honor your honesty, General Carbine, but why didn't you want your fiancé to hear about this?" The Queen asked, making her sigh and drop down her ears. "He doesn't know? And you are getting a marriage that means full honesty between the couple?" The Queen said with a tone in her voice that got Carbine to gulp and to feel even more worse than she already had been feeling lately.

"I will tell him.. I just don't know how.." She said sadly, making the Queen touch her shoulder understandingly and maybe a bit in a mother manner too which got the general smile to her thankfully. "There's still time for your weddings.. Just make sure everything is alright there and there will be no problems from the Royal side" She said while showing her the way to leave the room to get back to the others.

"Thank you so much, your Highness!" Carbine bowed at her formally which got her smile and nod. "Remember that honesty and loyalty are everything in marriage.." She said, getting the general sigh and nod at her again before they entered the appointment room again. "Mother.." Niv got up from the seat when she started to feel a bit odd after eating too much of the food. She was holding her hands in her belly when she felt she was very close to throwing up or something else which was clearly more likely the option..

"Is everything alright, dear?" The Queen walked to her just before her water broke and her eyes widened. "You know what to do. Tell the doctors to get everything ready" The Queen nodded to her advisor who left immediately in a hurry. "Stoker!!" Niv gasped, making the brown furred male turn to look at her with Throttle and Carbine who had just walked back to the commander.

"It's time, Stoker.." The Queen smiled kindly while having her hand on her daughter's back to rub it gently, also to help her to stay calm. "It.. It's time.. It's.. What time? Oh right! THE BABY'S COMING!!" Stoker's eyes widened when he finally realized what was happening. "Do you want us to tell the others? We'll go to wait with the others for the news from you" Carbine smiled, making her uncle just nod and run to his wife to help her with the guards to get her to the hospital since it was much closer than their main hideout where there would be some places too that reminded a small hospital. And since Niv's history of health, the laboring was much safer to do in the hospital.

"Good luck! Our prayers are on the baby!" Carbine shouted before leaving with Throttle to the evacuation center to tell the others that the labor had finally started. Meanwhile Vinnie was finishing his second root beer bottle around a table in a small house in the Blue Village. "You surely didn't expect me to offer you a nice cup of tea or something? It's in our family to have an excellent taste in beer!" Laughed a light gray furred female opposite of him.

"No.. This is fine, aunt Mago.. But why did you ask me to come here? You know we haven't been in touch too often.." Vinnie asked while looking at his aunt, brown haired General Mago, leaning backwards to the backrest of the seat and chuckling. "You are one of those golden boys of his.. Turned even your back to your family to be with him.." Mago groaned while taking a sip from her root beer. Her words got Vinnie to just roll his eyes and look away even if she wasn't even looking at him either.

"Like you'd even say I ever had a family by blood.." He snorted at her, making her glare at him. "It's not my fault your parents were what they were!" Mago growled, getting him just chuckle and roll his eyes again before taking another sip. "And it's my fault by how? They made me and didn't even want me.. I'm innocent to that scum.. But did you really ask me to come here to talk about my parents or Stoker?" He said while looking around her living room. "What else then? To mourn with you about Harley then huh, is that what you want, Little Vin-Vin?" Mago chuckled while being clearly annoyed by something which Vinnie knew clearly what it was about.

"Just say what you want and I'll leave.." He sighed, getting his aunt to just smirk while turning to look at him. "You just came! What a rush you have? But yea.. Why did Stoker take that promotion? You know him better.. It's not just that little wife of his.. We all know how much and how strongly he is against the rules.." Mago leaned against the table while drinking her bottle empty and opening another one for her and her nephew.

"No thanks.. This is fine.." He denied politely while still having some to drink in his current bottle. "Well that habit must come from your father.. Your mother never denied even a drop of alcohol.." She chuckled, getting him to glare at her deathly. "Your sister might have had a problem with that, but that doesn't mean I would.." Vinnie growled, getting her just to laugh. "Like a mother, like a son! Don't you deny what I have heard of you.." She was about to continue but he spoke over her.

"Whatever.. But about that Stoker's thing.. I have no clue.. He founded Freedom Fighters and had a hard time to get us to follow him from the army.. Now he is leading both of the forces.. Doesn't make any sense, really.." Vinnie said, making her rub her jaw while clearly thinking his words. "You might be right.. But.. I'm still not buying that.. You know more than you tell!" She turned to look at him, making him shake his head.

"If I knew.. I wouldn't tell either.." He said while glaring at her when she glared at him too. "What is so special about him?" She shook her head a bit while turning to look away. "Like you would ever understand.." Vinnie crossed his arms after finishing his root beer. "Try.." Mago chuckled, making him swing his tail a bit. "You are just like my sister.. Easy to instigate.." She laughed which got him to get up and walk to look around her small home after thanking her politely for the drink.

"Why don't you tell what makes you see red every time you see him.." Vinnie said while stopping to look at a framed photograph of Mago and her sister, his mother. He just growled and turned to look away from it. "We were five years old in that picture.." Mago said while walking in the room. "Like I'd care.. Just answer my question.." He said while sitting on a couch for a moment when his aunt sat on a chair.

"I have known Stoker ever since we were still in school.. Have been rivals ever since, but when he found that snobbish female, he changed.. Before that he was the coolest mouse the city of Brimstone knew but then he turned into a child-loving, caring and fussing snob!" She spitted out, making the white furred male growl at her while having his arms crossed.

"Stoker isn't a snob! He fell in love.." He said, getting Mago just to laugh while holding her stomach. "He.. He fell in love!! Hah hah! That was a good one, Little Vin-Vin!" She laughed before hearing him growling again. "He would have become more than that, he took his part in the royal family! He took the shortcut and with what price? He would have even saved his own sister but instead of that, poor Carbine is an orphan and he had to raise her to make it for himself!" She laughed while Vinnie's eyes widened.

"You said what? What about Carbine's parents?" He asked when his aunt turned to look at him again. "Have you heard about that climbing accident where they and Modo's father died and now also late leader Jeff was the only one who survived?" She asked, making his eyes narrow while thinking about whether he had ever heard of it. He shook his head when he wasn't sure, at least he didn't remember hearing about it ever.

"Modo's father, Dan, was their group leader and they went for a mission during the civil war. They had been commanded to search for certain mountains where was given a hint that the opposite side's leader would hide.. Well.. The Ending was worse than expected. The Leader ended up being Jeff's own father without him knowing about it. Stoker heard about that before the group left to the mission, because Jeff had changed the rest of the group's ropes and hooks for barely working ones and told about that to someone else.." General Mago explained, getting Vinnie's eyes widen up again when he wasn't sure did he hear her right.

"No.." He said when she crossed her arms and lifted her other leg over her other knee. "Oh yes! Jeff ended up helping the opposite side.." Mago said while taking a bigger sip from her root beer. "What does that have to do with Stoker?" Vinnie asked, making her grin. "Glad you asked, Little Vin-Vin.. Stoker had time to warn his own sister and their group, but instead of doing that he left with Niv to a stupid date when she came to pick him up.. He knew what he was doing but didn't even bother to prevent that horrible accident from happening.. He is a traitor, I have told you so many times already.." Mago explained, making him growl and glare at her.

"I don't believe you.. He wouldn't do anything like that!!" Vinnie shook his head and got up from the couch. "Believe me or not.. But that's what your mentor is truly like.. Cunning male who only thinks about his own benefits! I don't even believe he would actually love that female.." She smirked while finishing her drink. "Stoker's a good male!" Vinnie shouted at her but got only a chuckle as the answer again.

"Then believe whatever you want.. But that's the truth.." She said, making him turn to look at her again. "Where do you know that?" He asked, but shook his head right away after she had answered to him. "I heard that from him.. We used to trust each other more than anyone else even if we were rivals back then.." She said while looking at her nephew heading to the front door. That made her chuckle and turn to look at the framed picture again.

"Leaving already?" Mago placed the empty bottle on the living room's table. "It's better if we don't see each other again.. I hate you.." Vinnie growled, making her growl too. "Your decision, Little Vin-Vin.. But think twice about what you are going to do with that decision.. At least Carbine would deserve to know the truth.." She smirked, before he slammed the door closed behind him, leaving her just sitting there on her chair while the picture of her and her sister fell on the floor and shattered without her even caring about it.

"He saved my life.. He wouldn't do anything like that!!" Vinnie growled to himself while heading to his bike to put his helmet on his head fast while starting his bike already. "He would never.. Never.." He felt his eyes watering when he dashed away from his aunt's house on his red sporty motorcycle. He headed straight back to Brimstone from the Blue Valley, but didn't go to the evacuation center where the others would probably be. Instead of that he chose a detour inside of the city before heading there since he needed to organize his thoughts after those shocking news, whether they were true or not.

Vinnie's pov:

I have lived in an orphanage since I was 3 years old. I had some memories before that too, mostly they were just blurry. I was the only child and my both parents, mostly my mother, were alcoholics who didn't ever even want a child. Something had happened in her and my aunt's youth that had caused her to drink, but I didn't know anything more or actually even cared since she treated me like trash. My father was almost as horrible when he had taken me to the orphanage while my mother was already waiting for him in the local bar.

I hated them more than anything, but when I grew older the feelings just turned to numb inside of me. Part of the reason why was those multiple fights I had got through that had made me tougher. I was almost emotionless, or barely even alive actually, when Stoker found me from the streets when I was five, after another fight in the forest that was at the back of the orphanage's small yard. I was the smallest boy there and also the only white furred one. Neither my pink eyes helped me out of everyone bullying me badly.

Those bigger boys had beat the life almost out of me when I had barely managed to escape and run through the forest. Hiding there wasn't an option since when I first tried it, they always found me because of my fur that exposed me everywhere I went. But when I managed to escape, they just laughed and yelled at me to never come back or they would really kill me. Like it was a fair fight either.. Would it be even called a fight actually when I couldn't even defend myself?

I was small, weak and underweight since I had to fight for my food every time in the lunchroom. Bigger children always stole my food from me, meaning that I ate what was left, if there still was anything left. Nowadays that still hurts, but it taught me to eat anything and to not to be picky about food. But I still remember the first proper meal that I had ever had in my life. The Taste was amazing and it was the same day Stoker had found me lying on the streets of Brimstone.

Later he told me that he had been so scared of finding a five year old boy laying there barely breathing, and he had carried me immediately to the closest hospital. There I had my first meal after waking up a week later. He had told me that he never left my side back then and waited for me to wake up. The First meal was those two headed chicken sandwiches he gave me there. They were amazing and the way he makes them is still my favorite and the only way to have sandwiches.

But for my bad, even though he was the nicest mouse I had ever met in my life so far back then, he still couldn't take me with him when I got out of the hospital two weeks later from waking up. He had visited me there very often and always brought a lot of food to help me to gain some weight, but he didn't have time to take care of a child back then. I lived on the streets for a year since the orphanage didn't even try to search for me and the hospital didn't know where I was from. They had actually tried to get me to another orphanage but I had managed to escape from them since I was so afraid of going through that same nightmare again. It took a year before Stoker finally had to admit that I wouldn't survive alone and he took me to his place before he got me to move into Adira ma'am's place where I also met Modo for the first time.

I didn't know what had changed his decision but I still remember him taking me somewhere in his bike's sidecar before I had met and moved to Adira's kind and caring home where I felt for the first time those kinds of feelings and nice behavior from someone else, especially from a female. It had felt very strange and at the same time something inside of my head told me to not get used to that too fast, it would change anyways. And getting kicked out and treated badly by Adira and Stoker too had been the nightmare I had seen when I had fallen asleep there but still felt like there was another kid with me in the same sidecar when he drove somewhere. I remember that kid being 4 years older than me and that he had given me some of his food which I had never forgotten even if for some reason I had no clue anymore what he looked like or who he even had been.

But he and also Stoker and Adira taught me that there were good mice still left, even if the world had been kicking my head for the most of my life. I owe my life to Stoker for saving me back then and many more times later too when I had a hard time.. He had saved me from death two or maybe even three times and never left my side. I just couldn't accept even my own aunt to speak about him like that. So it was easy for me to choose him instead of her even if it meant a rift between us. Like she had even been an aunt to me the way she should have. What she told me just couldn't be true, but why would she just make up those things in her head? She was rancorous to him that was sure, but why would she say things like that about Carbine who had never done anything bad to her? Was she right about those things after all? No.. Impossible..

Author's pov:

"Hey bro! What's up?" Vinnie answered his phone through his helmet's connection when he heard someone calling to him. It was Throttle who had called while Carbine had told the others about the news of Niv's laboring. "Great! I'll be there pronto!" Vinnie said quickly while he was actually already close to the evacuation center's secret entrance for the bikes and other vehicles. When he got into the storage, he pulled his helmet off his head as fast as he could before running straight towards the direction Throttle had told him where they were waiting for the news from the couple.

Now it wouldn't be good timing to ask anything from Stoker or Carbine, but he needed to find out some answers, as well as meet the twins since he hadn't seen either of them during the last couple of months after that night one of them had gotten hurt because of their own brother. Like their life wasn't messy already, he had a feeling that things would get more complicated one way or another..