Author's pov:

The Evening had turned to a night already, but the general still couldn't sleep at all. Her mind and her thoughts kept her awake, but they weren't the only ones. Her baby bump had grown and the baby in her stomach was moving restlessly too, which made her feel not only worried, but also rather nauseated. She was somewhere between seven to eight months pregnant now, which meant there wasn't much left anymore, but still a couple very important months to her and the baby.

"Would you please calm down, honey? Or do you sense mommy being.. Uh.. Not her best?" She sighed deeply while sitting up slowly on the bed to lift her hands gently and lovingly to her grown stomach. She had been living in the underground military headquarters with Jessica after she had asked her to move there with her since she hadn't had other places to go either after the fire. This solution had been the best for her to have some company other than just her own thoughts. It was some months later after Snow had got kidnapped from the military base. No-one had found her yet, which also meant that Carbine's worries seemed to be never ending. The Only lead was that the general had saw the kidnapper looking like Sapphire, but so far it hadn't led anywhere. That also got Carbine very worried and restless.

"Since when have I talked so affectionately or childish? Maybe since I met.. I met Throttle.." She said while already feeling the tears filling her eyes just before she started crying hysterically again. She had been on sick leave ever since her just married husband's death, but there was no amount of time that would heal her pain. Not even Snow about who she had told Adira that the little girl helped her a bit to not think about him that much, which wasn't actually that much true either. But now since she was gone too, Carbine's mind was mostly on those three Martians she had recently lost and she dearly missed. Especially the loss of her husband was in her mind more often again. She had lost the love of her life, the only male she ever cared for and loved like him. And she didn't even have enough time to tell him that she was expecting his child..

"I.. I.." She started but couldn't talk until the baby kicked her so hard it made her almost fall from the bed on the ground onto her knees. "Please honey.. Let me even a bit easy.." She groaned in pain while whipping her tears away after the kick had made her stop crying even for a moment. "Not even born yet and you already remind me so much of your father.." She sobbed while getting up from the bed. "He would have been so happy if he knew you.." She said while heading to a kitchen, which luckily was empty.

"Only if he had a chance.." She started crying after filling a mug with some herb juice since there hadn't yet been any good ideas, or not ideas at all, on how to get the water back to the red planet. But even if the herb juice would have helped her to feel better, she couldn't drink it much because of her nausea. She still tried to drink more if it was what the baby needed to calm down even if she knew deep inside of her that the reason was her stress and her sorrow. Like the hormones weren't bad enough, she even had to go through a mourning period.

"Carbine.. Are you still awake?" She heard someone speaking quietly, almost like whispering, which made her turn around a bit when she was leaning against the counter. She saw Jessica walking to the kitchen too while yawning. "No, I'm sleepwalking.." She said, making her chuckle while they both sat on the bench, the general slower than the nurse because of the grown stomach. "Sorry.. Did I wake you up?" She sighed while trying to take another sip from her herb juice, but couldn't because the smell of it made her want to throw up. "To be honest, yea.. But it's alright since I wake up almost every time someone's up here.. My room happens to be the closest one" Jessica sighed and leaned against her hand, an elbow on the table.

"Sorry.. Have you asked if someone would like to swap rooms?" Carbine said, making her shake her head. "No-one would be that stupid to volunteer to lose their last sleep.." She said, making the general sigh. "And I want to be close to you if anything happens.. Like now, is everything alright? Even though I might know the answer already, I'm here if you want to talk.." She said and looked at her friend worriedly. "No.. No need.. Thanks.." She said but then felt another kick that made her hold her stomach a bit tighter. "Giahh!!" She gasped and looked like someone had just shot her. "Carbine! Should I get a nurse here?!" Jessica panicked and lifted her other hand on the general's back, but it only made her laugh even if she was still in pain.

"You are a nurse, Jess!" She said, making the chestnut furred female chuckle and pet her back gently. "Right.. I think I'm still half asleep since I forgot that.. The Baby's kicking?" She said and got a nod as a response. "How long has the baby been as restless as this?" She asked while continuing petting her back since it seemed to help even a bit. The Black haired female was panting a bit when she answered to her. "A Couple of days and nights have been tougher than normal, but this.. This is more likely the Biker Mice level.. The Baby is just like its father!!" She started crying right after saying that.

"Oh Carbine.." Jessica swallowed and tried to hold her own tears back. She felt so horrible to see her friend suffering like that. Carbine's situation was horrible if it was asked from anyone of her friends and closest ones. Ever since the Plutarkians had taken her husband down, she hadn't been her normal self after that, which was totally understandable. It had been even a miracle she had survived from the fire either like she did from the explosion where Throttle had passed away. Maybe Throttle up there was making sure his dearly loved wife didn't join him too early, since she had still so much to do down here, as well as the baby too.

"Let it all out.. I'm here.. I won't leave you alone now or ever.." She sighed before hugging her gently. She just cried in her arms while holding her stomach with her other hand. "But he left me!! He promised to be by my side for our whole life together! He promised that in his wedding vow!!" She cried and couldn't hold anything back anymore. Some of the soldiers that were sleeping at the other rooms there had woken up too, but after they had taken a peak from their doors to hear what made that noise, they just slowly closed the doors without saying anything. They felt so bad for her and didn't want to make her feel any worse if it was even possible. All they could do to help her was to do anything she needed, for example like to keep her company or do her tasks if she felt them to be too much for her to be done.

"I can't even describe how bad I feel.. Can't even imagine how you feel, Carbine.. But remember we all are here to support you! We'll help you with everything you need! You and the baby.." Jessica said while still hugging her. "Throttle, if you hear me from wherever you are.. Please give Carbine some strength.. All of this isn't good for the baby, so please help them.. Help your wife and your unborn baby!" She prayed in her mind when she felt some tears rolling down on her cheeks too.

"I don't.. even know.. How can I.. How can I.. Manage with the baby.. Without Throttle being here by my side.." She sobbed while heavily crying. "He always wanted to have children as much as I.. We always dreamed about having a family.." She explained even if it was a very hard thing to do while crying so much. "He would have been a perfect father.. I swear we will take those bastards down who took him from you.. We'll hunt them down! And we won't stop until we have found them even if it takes us to the planet of Plutark!" Jessica cried even if she tried to stay strong for her friend. "I know.. If I wasn't pregnant.. I would have done that myself.. But I can't.. I can't.. I just.. This baby is all I have left from him.. And there's nothing I regret the most than that I even tried to abort my baby by myself.." She cried while holding her stomach now with both hands.

"I could never have forgiven myself from doing that.. I love our baby! I'll always protect him or her.. With my life.." She closed her eyes to prevent the tears, but didn't manage to do it. She cried so heavily it got her head to ache. "We'll all protect you and your baby.. She or he is part of the new generation.. Hope of Mars.." Jessica said, making her nod while still crying. She tried to say something but ended up sobbing something unclear since the sorrow drove over her again so badly. It made Jessica sigh deeply and she felt so helpless at the situation.

"H- Have you got the gender checked?" She managed to ask after a small moment of silence when she tried to think what she could say or do for her. There were only the sounds of sobbing, crying and snoring which came from some of the rooms. "No.. I just couldn't.." She said while looking at her stomach when she still held it. She started to rub it gently when she heard her friend talking again. "That's understandable.. But have you thought about it? What do you think it would be?" She asked, making her shake her head. She saw from the corner of her eye that she nodded to her. She was about to say something but let her talk after noticing she was about to do it too.

"Any gender is fine and perfect.. I know already the baby has his nature.. But I'm honestly scared about knowing the gender.." She started, making the nurse a bit confused. "How's that?" She asked, even if she might have a small idea about it. "If it's a boy.. And looks like Throttle.. I.. I don't know how would I.. How could I.. I.." She said but then started to cry again. She pulled her in a hug again while petting her back gently. Carbine just cried while missing Throttle so much. Even if some time had passed, the grief and sorrow hadn't gone away at all. And losing Snow made it even worse. That two year old baby would have probably been like a sister for her baby, even if the black haired general didn't still know Snow was actually her own cousin.

"That's-" Jessica started to say but then let her continue. "Either way if it's a girl.. It would feel horrible as well.. How can I even say that? It's my baby! He or she isn't horrible! I love my baby.." She cried while rubbing her stomach warmly. She wrapped her own tail around it gently, as the way she had imagined Throttle would have done it definitely if he was there. But it made her feel even more horrible even though it actually helped the baby to finally calm down.

"Everything you feel is alright.. I would have even understood if you had decided to.." She said and nodded towards the stomach since she couldn't say it out loud. "No.. Like I said.. The Baby is all I have left from him.. With this of course.." She said and touched her wedding ring she couldn't have taken off, maybe she could never do that. She was a widow of Throttle, and she let the rings tell it as well as her changed last name that she had got to change after her late husband's funeral.

"Yea.." It was all she could say while slowly getting up. "Want some tea? Or do you still feel nausea? I see that herb juice wasn't much help.." She said while taking two cups on the counter. "I don't know if I can do that either.. It's the smell that makes me nausea.. And the baby's movements.." She sighed while still gently rubbing her stomach. "Has the baby calmed down? Even a bit?" Jessica asked while still making some tea for them. She saw her nodding which made her nod back before she handed another cup to her.

"But I said.." Carbine said but she smiled gently. "Drink it.. It will help you calm down and get some sleep.. You need to sleep a lot not just for the baby but also for yourself.." She said, making her nod and taking a sip from the tea. The Nurse didn't take it badly when she saw her pinching her nose while drinking it. The Main part was that she still drank it. "Good.. How are you feeling now?" She asked while drinking her own tea. "Maybe a bit calmer.. But still horrible.. Thanks Jess.. I owe you so much.." Carbine said before leaning in to hug her. She put the cup down to hug her back. "You owe me nothing, Carbine.. That's what friends are for!" She said, making her smile a bit. But then she suddenly let her go and got up while holding her stomach a bit lower now.

"I think I need to pee now.. Thanks a lot!" She said, making the nurse chuckle and smile at her. "At least you are smiling finally.. But go now because I don't want to clean it!" She laughed, making her laugh a bit too while she hurried her way to the closest bathroom, while the nurse cleaned all three cups away before walking closer to the bathroom's door to wait for her. After she was done, she helped her to get back to her room and she stayed there so long that the general finally fell asleep.

It was almost a morning when that happened, but it was alright since she was still on her sick leave while Jessica still had some work to do as a nurse there, meaning that she spent all the time in the headquarters. Most of the time she was the general's personal nurse, but also for a couple of other females that were also pregnant. Even if she liked to meet all kinds of patients, she was now actually pleased to be the nurse of pregnant females. New life was needed desperately on Mars to make sure the Martian mouse population wouldn't die out. But did she also have some news to tell to whom? More than that engaged news which she and Modo was still hiding from the others?

Meanwhile at one of the bars in the city of Brimstone

"He hasn't picked up?" A Tan furred male asked while cleaning around the bar, lifting seats upside down onto the tables after making sure the tables were empty and clean, except one of them. "No.. I don't know where he is.. I can't find him anywhere.. But he needs to know.." Zeka said while taking a bite from his breakfast the male had made for him. "I agree.. But how are things between you two? I mean.. Vinnie sounds like a pretty complicated person" The Male said while yawning after lifting up the last chair from the other tables before he sat on the opposite side of Zeka at the last unfinished table.

"Good, I think.. At least.. They were good.. We talked about dating when we met last time but I have not seen him ever since" Zeka sighed while taking a sip from his juice. "Dating, huh? Sounds serious.. Do you think he would have had second thoughts since he's missing now, all of 'sudden'?" The Male smirked before forming the quotation marks into the air with his hands, making him chuckle. "Even if I have not found the male I love before, I know now that I love him.. And I think Vinnie loves me.." Zeka said dreamingly, making the tan furred male lift up his other eyebrow. "You think?" He said while crossing his well trained arms and leaning against the backrest. "Hey, it's not that if you can't find a female who you love, that everyone would have the same problem, Xander.." The Brown furred male said while making sure some of his long hair was well tied on the top of his head.

"Bullshit.. I can love.. someone.." Xander chuckled while shaking his head. "In your case, Oxshit.." Zeka smirked, making both of them laugh. "Speaking of which, we have work to do in the evening.. But can you do it?" He said while scratching himself under his jaw a bit. "Not being able to contact Vinnie means automatically I couldn't do my job?" He lifted his other eyebrow now while the other male rolled his eyes. "No.. About what you need to tell him.. I think you should have a day off.. Concentrate on finding him and taking care of yourself" Xander lifted his other hand on Zeka's shoulder to pat it a couple of times.

"You know why I just can't contact the Freedom Fighters.. I need to find him another way.. But thank you for the breakfast! Last night was pretty rough.." Zeka smiled at him, making him sigh but smile too. "I know.. And it's just a way to thank you for helping me here.. Otherwise I would have been in trouble since one of my bartenders got sick and informed me a bit too late" Xander sighed while stretching his arms. "Of course! That's what friends and coworkers are for. You help me and I help you whenever needed" Zeka yawned while continuing eating. "That's why we make a great team" The Tan furred male yawned too. "Catchy catchy.. But hey.. Speaking of which, could you contact the Freedom Fighters for me?" He asked, making the other one gulp and turn to look a bit away.

Xander sighed deeply before answering. "You know I can't.. I'm in the army" He said, making Zeka look at him suspiciously. "And? You know after the war both of them have been better to each other.." The Brown furred male said while doubting his friend. "Not all of them.. Otherwise I'd help you with that" Xander said, making him sigh and nod. "Alright.. Can't blame you.. But tell me if you see or hear anything about Vinnie, this is important" Zeka said while finishing his breakfast before getting up. "Of course, of course.. But about tonight's shift.. Are you really sure you can do it?" Xander said while finally being able to clean the table now.

"Yea! But if anything happens, I'll contact you as soon as possible. That's the way we do, right Ox?" Zeka smirked and hugged him, making Xander rub his head with his knuckles after hugging him back. "Right, Bull! You are such a good stripper that I'd be just a weak prey for those hungry predators.." Xander laughed, which made Zeka laugh too. "Weak prey, you? Have you looked at the mirror lately? If I didn't know you any better, I'd say you'd be one the Biker Mice! But see you in the evening, Xander" He laughed while nodding towards the male's green shirt which had the logo of the Biker Mice. His words made the tan furred male chuckle and rub the back of his neck awkwardly. "Right.. See you, Zeka" Xander looked away before cleaning the rest of the bar he owned while Zeka finally left to go home to try to get at least some sleep before tonight's show.

"There are things that even you don't know, my dear best friend.." Xander sighed while finishing cleaning before leaving the bar too. "'Always remember to whip tail, citizens..'" He smirked and locked the doors to walk along the streets from his bar that carried the name of Black Harley and had the exact slogan, he just read from the front door's sign. He stuffed his hands in his pockets while his tail swung calmly behind him when he turned to look at the red sky where the two moons of Mars were barely showing since the Sun was rising for the day. The Male surely carried some big secrets with him, but so did Zeka too. Why did he need to contact Vinnie so eagerly? Was everything surely alright with him since Jessica and Modo had seen him at the hospital many months ago when he had tried to keep himself unnoticed by anyone? And what were the secrets of Xander that even his best friend didn't know about at all? A Best friend to whom he told everything, didn't he?