This is my first fanfic, REVISED. After having it put up on two different sites almost three months after writing it, I realized this fic was COMLETELY awful. So I went back to it, fixed many, many typos, fixed accents, improved scenes and even added some. If you�ve read the original, I�m sure you�ll like this better. If you haven�t read the original, DON�T. Just read this one, you�re not missing anything.
| Tab and Win's ReBoot Time Table |
| Nanosecond=second |
| Microsecond=minute |
| Millisecond=hour |
| Second=day |
| Minute=week |
| Cycle=Month |
| Hour=Year |
"GAME OVER," the gentle voice echoed through the sector. As the game cube rose into the sky, Mouse, Ray, Bob, AndrAIa and Matrix appeared giving each other high fives. Dot came out of her diner across the street with Enzo, Frisket, and Rommie.
"How was it?" she asked Bob, hugging him.
"All went well," he responded, as the others agreed.
"So, nothing alphanumeric happened?" Enzo asked excitedly, then muttering, "Dude, I can't believe I missed it by just nanos. Basic ancient language class."
"Now Enzo, you know that class is important if you want to be successful like me," Dot said smiling. Enzo looked up at Matrix who made an I-don't-blame-you face, recalling his long seconds in the very same class.
"Daddy, when do I get to go in games?" Little 2-hour-old Rommie asked Bob.
"When you're alot older, sweetie," Dot answered for him.
"Hey shugah, you were great back there," Mouse remarked to Ray, flirting, as the group of sprites made their way back to the diner for some energy shakes.
"Thanks, luv," he replied, giving his most charming grin to Mouse.
"...An' then the lil' one binome just sta'ted shiverin' at the sight o' Matrix and fell over the wall!" Ray Tracer tried to say through uncontrollable laughter, causing Mouse to snort and crack up even more after hearing herself. Bob giggled in between hiccups, and Matrix actually started chuckling. It was obvious to Dot and AndrAIa that they were the only sober ones at the table; they glanced at each other.
"Well, I think we've had enough adult beverages for tonight," Dot finally said.
"Yeah," AndrAIa agreed, "Come on, Sparky, let's go home."
"Ok, Andi! heh.." Matrix said in a drunken tone.
'Oh, User! Help me..' AndrAIa thought to herself as she helped Matrix out of the booth. "See you, tomorrow, Dot!" she said, waving behind her.
"Come on Bob, we have to go relieve the sitter," Dot said, then seeing Mouse and Ray, leaning on each other, half-asleep, "But let�s take them home first..."
"But, Madame..." Cecil protested.
"I think you can handle it this time, Cecil," Dot shouted over the roar of Bob's ancient Convertible.
Dot dropped off Ray and Mouse at their apartment complex, and she watched them both stumble into Ray's bottom-floor apartment. A small grin crept across her face as she accelerated and drove the car away. When Mouse walked into the hallway, she looked back at Ray, with a slightly devious look. As Ray locked the door, Mouse grabbed his shoulder and pulled him closer to her. She looked him straight in the eyes, or tried to, and then realized she was staring at those silly goggles. Ray wrapped his arms around her waist, and Mouse took both sides of the goggles and slowly pushed them away from his eyes, revealing the most startling bright blue eyes she had ever seen. He gave her a crooked smile, seeing her surprise, and stared intently back into her walnut-colored eyes. She gave him her biggest smile, revealing her sharp fangs.
Oh, how Ray loved that smile! Just as he loved everything else about Mouse. She was the one, and he knew it. He had never met anyone else like her. She was beautiful and strong-willed and had such a fiery spirit. He drew her closer to him and kissed her deeply.
She was surprised at first because she had always been the one to begin the kiss, but she didn�t resist in the least bit; she knew he was the one. Mouse had never met anyone like Ray. He was so gentle and charming and handsome and so...
Ray pinned her against the wall and kissed her harder, Mouse accepting it and giving in to all her doubts and fears, allowing him to take her deeper into the dream world they had both longed for in all their hours of traveling and being alone. At last, they had someone.
Dot eased the car back into its space at the back of the diner. She nudged her husband to wake him up and helped him out of the car and through the back door, leading to the apartment. Bob slipped his hand around Dot�s waist and kissed her on the cheek, then flashed her a basic grin. Dot sighed. "This is the last time I let you have ten RAMs in a row." She led him to the couch and sat him down. "Stacy, we�re home," she said quietly, walking into Rommie�s bedroom.
"Oh, hey Ms. Dot. Rommie�s fast asleep. She was no trouble at all," a cute little one binome said.
"Great," Dot responded, giving some units to the adolescent, walking with her to the door "I�ll call if we need you again. Good night." Dot walked back into Rommie�s room, checking her daughter�s recharger and kissing her goodnight. When turned around from closing the door, Bob was right behind her. She jumped, startled at first, but seeing it was Bob, she just stared back smiling at him. He grabbed her around her waist and looked straight into her violet eyes. "Spam, you are so beautiful�" he mumbled. She blushed and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around him. He leaned down and kissed her gently.
"I love you," she uttered breathlessly.
"I love you too," Bob responded, pushing her into their bedroom.
One Minute Later
"Mouse can ya' hurry up?" Matrix said through the bedroom door, annoyed that Mouse was taking so long. "I really need your help to crack this code!"
"Ah'm not really feelin' too good this mawnin', shugah," Mouse said before running to the bathroom.
"Ah think ah may have caught some sorta bug! Can it wait 'til this aft'noon?"
"Oh, all right," Matrix finally gave in. "But I'll expect ya' at 15:00, sharp!" he said, walking off.
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!" Matrix heard Mouse scream from inside as he was walking away from her door. He thought she was in trouble, so he burst through the door, only to see Mouse in her underwear and hear her scream again, "AH THINK AH'M PREGNAAAANT!!" Matrix's eyes widened, but he quickly shut the door and jumped on his Zip Board to go get Dot.
"Now Mouse, are you sure?" Dot asked impatiently.
"Of course ah'm sure. Ah took the little test thingy, just t' be saife, and ah tested positive!"
Mouse moaned, "Ray, cain't we just delete it 'r somethin'?"
"Well, it'd be against all my princ'ples t' do that," Ray replied, "So wha' will we do?"
"We'll just leave you two alone now," Dot said, dragging Matrix outside.
"Ah guess we'll hafta get married 'r somethin'?" Mouse suggested when they had left.
"Yeah, luv, I guess so..." Ray said, staring off into nowhere, "It doesn't sound like a bad idea t' me!" he said quickly, shooting a smile at Mouse. After letting a few tears drip down her face, Mouse looked up into Ray's blue eyes, which he had revealed just for her, and a smile slowly crept across her face.
"You�re getting MARRIED?!" AndrAIa gasped, hugging Mouse tightly. Shooting a wide smile to Matrix.
"Uh-oh, Matrix," Bob said, nudging him. "AndrAIa�s going to start getting ideas with another couple around."
"Spammit..." Matrix mumbled with a slight smile.
"When�s it gonna be?" AndrAIa asked breathlessly. "Who�s going to be your maid-of-honor? It should be Dot. You two are just like sisters anyway!"
"Well, we haven�t really desahded when yet. And ah haven�t thaught much about the bridesmaids. Ah guess ah want it to be kinda small, ya� know?"
The door opened. Everyone looked up to see Ray come in with an adolescent Enzo. "Hallo, mates. What�s processin�?"
"Hey Ray," Mouse said, walking over to meet him. Where ya� been? We were just talkin� about th� weddin�"
"Wedding? What wedding?" Enzo asked.
"Oh, Enzo!" AndrAIa cried.
"What?" Matrix said, looking up from his shake.
"Not you, Enzo, this Enzo," AndrAIa said, pointing to little Enzo, who was not really little anymore, but almost taller than AndrAIa. "Enzo, I just found out too. Mouse and Ray are getting married!"
"Really? Cool!" he said, smiling.
"Ray, we need tah plan this out kinda soon," Mouse said, taking a seat next to him at the bar.
"Well, it�s all up t�you, luv. Ask Dot about it. She�s the planner among us."
Just then, Dot came through the kitchen door. She was beaming.
"Hey, ah need your help in plannin� the wedding, Dot," Mouse said. "And ah want you tah be muh maid-of-honer." Dot continued smiling, but didn�t seem to hear Mouse. "Dot, whut�s up. Yer a little... spaced out..."
"I�m guessing you announced it to everyone already, Mouse?" Dot asked. Mouse nodded, curious about Dot�s strange behavior. "Well, I have my own little announcement to make too." She smiled. "Bob, come here."
"What is it, hon?"
"Well, I just found out... but we�re going to have another baby..."
"We are?!" Bob cried, eyes wide.
"You ARE?!" everyone else in the diner exclaimed. Dot nodded. Bob�s face was one giant grin as he lifted her off the ground, kissing her on the cheek.
"Oh wow!" AndrAIa said with glee. "You two are probably going to have your babies around the same time! This is so exciting!" she ran up to Mouse and Sot, gathering them into a group hug.
"Pardon me if I hurl..." Enzo said, rolling his eyes. Everyone shot an angry glance at the teenager; everyone except Matrix who burst out laughing. "Hah! Good one, Enzo!"
The Big Second
"Oh User! I'm so nervus!" Surfr remarked. Matrix noticed he was practically shaking.
"Whoa, you gotta calm down!" Matrix said, trying to calm his nerves.
"How can I calm down?! I'm gettin' married...this second! In just a few more milliseconds!"
"You can calm down because you know you're marrying the girl of your dreams," Bob said as he came into the apartment.
Surfr sighed, "I guess you're right, Bob, she definitely IS the gal o' m' dreams."
"Exactly," Bob agreed, "Now let's get this show on the road."
"Ah cain't do this Dot! Ah'm not programmed t' handle this kahnda streass!" Mouse whined as AndrAIa was zipping up her white gown with sky blue beads stuck all over it.
"Mouse, why do you keep complaining about it? This is the luckiest second of your life!" AndrAIa said calmly, then sighing, "If only Enzo and I were in the same posistion..."
"Aww, AndrAIa! Don't bring up you and Matrix now, this is Mouse's second!" Dot said.
"There! You're all ready," AndrAIa huffed, placing the transparent veil on Mouse's firey hair that had been swept up as Dot always wore hers, "Go look in the mirror."
"Ah still cain't believe whut's about t' happen! Ah mean, ah've been waitin' for this m' whole lahfe!"
"By the power vested in me by the Supercomputer and the User above, I now pronounce you husband and wife." Phong announced to the congregation. "You may kiss the bride, my child," he said quietly to Ray.
He watched the two smile at each other as Ray removed his goggles to kiss Mouse. "I now proudly present: Mr. and Mrs. Ray Tracer!" Cheers came from the small crowd of the couple�s close friends and a few of Dot's business partners and their families, including Al.
"What?"
As they ran down the aisle, Ray swept Mouse off her feet and took her on his digital surf baud to Dot's Diner, where the party would begin.
Back at the diner, Cecil had made a wonderful three-course meal, and he had made certain that Frisket was not let inside to eat all the food.
"Ahh, here come ze tu littel lovebirds now..." Cecil sighed, but then frowned as he saw the crowd that was following them, knowing he would probably have to clean up the entire mess.
"G'day, Cecil! How 'bout some food for m' bride, here," the charming voice wafted through the doorway as Ray burst through carrying Mouse, followed by Matrix, Bob and the rest of the gang.
"Oui, Oui, monsiur, please, sit down at ze table of honour, motioning towards two stools behind the bar, "and ze rest of you sit down in zeeze boozs," directing them toward the five booths directly in front of Mouse and Ray's seats, so everyone could face them.
"Aww, Cecil! This is jus' raht," Mouse cooed, giving him a peck on his side panel.
"Let the festivities begin!" Bob yelled over the cheering of sprites and binomes alike, after all, this was only the second wedding many of them had ever seen.
"Okay, you gals ready?" Mouse asked, standing on the bar, with her back facing a group of female sprites and binomes.
"Yeah! Throw it, come on Mouse!" they all said at once.
"Okay..." Mouse said as she finally threw the bouquet of daisywheels. It sailed all the way to the back of the group, bounced off the head of an unsuspecting Matrix, and landed in AndrAIa's arms.
Dot gasped, "It's a sign!" She smiled up at Mouse excitedly, helping her off the table, and they walked over towards Matrix and AndrAIa.
"Oh Andi," Matrix turned away from his conversation with Bob, "You wanna go out tomorrow night, for dinner? I've been meaning to ask you something." That nanosecond, Dot and Mouse both knew exactly what he was going to ask her and looked at each other excitedly.
"Okay, open your eyes," Matrix whispered into AndrAIa's ear.
"Awww, Enzo! A bike! What a nice idea for a date!"
"Hop on," Matrix said, smiling a little. As AndrAIa thought of where Matrix might be taking her, she remembered how she had caught the bouquet at Mouse's wedding. �Oh! What if it really comes true... "AndrAIa, will you marry me? I love you, AndrAIa... AndrAIa..."�
"ANDRAIA!! HEY! Snap out of it!" Matrix had stopped on the side of the road and was turned around waving a hand in front of AndrAIa's face.
"Oh, Enzo, sorry," AndrAIa finally said, waking up from her daydream. "Where are we?" she asked, looking around, and not recognizing the place.
"We're on the outskirts of Mainframe," Matrix replied smartly, "Come sit down with me." The place they sat down was on grassy hillside, overlooking downtown Mainframe.
"Oh, Enzo, how'd you find this place..." AndrAIa sighed. "It's beautiful.."
"Well, I had to find a beautiful place on a beautiful night for a beautiful girl," Matrix said with style. AndrAIa blushed and smiled, looking down towards the ground. Matrix kept thinking about what he was going to say, 'Should I just go right out and ask her, or should I build up to it... hmm..' Matrix continued pondering the thought.
"Enzo? Is there something on your mind?" AndrAIa finally broke the silence, seeing the distant look on Matrix's face.
"Well, yes, Andi. You know, we spent all that time in the games together. And we grew up together, game hopping. And well..."
"Yes..." AndrAIa said expectantly.
"I love you."
"Enzo, I know you do, and I love you back, but I know there's something else you were gonna say..."
"Uh...ok, AndrAIa, if you wanna rush it," Matrix said nervously, and getting on one knee in front of her, he said, "Will you marry me?"
"Finally, Enzo!" she said, as a huge grin swept across her face, hugging Matrix, almost knocking him over.
"Is that a yes..." Matrix asked carefully.
"Of course it is!"
"Ra-ay!" Mouse yelled.
"Yes, luv?" Ray said, coming up the booth she was in. Both Dot and Mouse were in a booth; each sprawled out in the bench, on opposite sides of the table. Dot was surrounded by her usual vid-windows, doing business as best as she could, while carrying an extra load in her belly.
"Can�ya git me another energy shake, shugah?" Mouse said, smiling.
"That�ll be ya� sixth one!" Ray cried.
"Well, ah�m eatin� fer two here, shugah," she replied, rubbing her swollen belly. She grinned as she saw Ray walk off towards the counter. "Dot, ah dunno how in the Net you did this tha first tahme."
Dot closed a vid-window and glanced at Mouse. "Honestly, I don�t know how I did either," she sighed. "But it was worth it." She smiled.
"It�d better be." Mouse grunted, trying to sit up. "Ah don�t think ah cin stand another cycle of this. Muh back�s deletin� me."
Ray came back with Mouse�s shake. "Here ya� go, luv. How�s th� lil� tyke holdin� out?" Ray said with a smile.
"Oh, SHE�s doin� fine," Mouse said, frowning. "Bein� carried around ain�t so bad. It�s me ya� should be askin� about, honey."
"How do�ya know it�s a girl?"
"Ah dunno; ah just gotta feelin�," Mouse replied.
"Dot!" Mouse said to the vid-window, exasperated.
"What is it, Mouse?" The image of Dot�s face had concern creased down it. "Is something wrong?"
Mouse had to smile. "Well, kinda. Muh data broke..."
"What?!" Dot exclaimed. "Now? Where�s Ray?"
"He�s gettin� muh stuff together."
"You two get down to the PO. I�ll meet you there!" The vid-window closed and Ray came bounding through the apartment.
"C�mon, luv, let�s go." Ray picked up Mouse and stepped onto his baud. "Oof! You�re heavier than I thought..."
"Gee thanks, shugah!" Mouse said angrily as they zoomed off to the PO.
"AAAARRRRGGH!!!!!!" Mouse screamed, grabbing the bed sheets.
"Okay, Mrs. Tracer," the doctor said, "The worst part�s almost over. Just a few more pushes... You ready?"
"AHHHHHHHHH!!!!" Mouse screamed again, her face tight and distorted. "Ray! Git me muh katana so ah can cut off yer.."
"Ah-hem," Phong cleared his throat, coming into the room.
"...for doing this to me!!!" Ray stared, wide-eyed, at this monster his wife had temporarily become, and he slowly backed away.
"Don�t worry, Mr. Tracer," a nurse binome said, coming up to him with a painkiller and a glass of water. "They�re all like this. She doesn�t mean it. Come and watch. You won�t want to miss the birth of your child," she continued, a cheery smile on her face.
"RAAAAAAAAYYYY!!!!!" Mouse screeched one last time as the tiny cries of the newborn child filled the room. Ray was beaming as the doctor handed the screaming bundle to the happy father.
"Congratulations on your new daughter," the doctor said happily.
"She's just beautiful, luv," Ray whispered in Mouse's ear as little binome nurses began cleaning up the room. Mouse was sweating and breathing hard, but still glowing with joy as she took her new daughter from Ray. The young sprite was light purple and had thin sandy blonde hair with darker streaks of orange and striking dark blue eyes.
"Oh, shugah, she is, she really is," Mouse agreed. "Will ya' go git tha others?"
"Sure, luv," Ray replied sweetly as he walked into the waiting area. "Hey mates, Mouse wants ya' tah come on in and see the lil' squirt," he announced, still sporting his basic little grin, leading the gang into the delivery room.
"Awww! Mouse, she's so cuute!" AndrAIa cooed.
"Look Rommie," Bob said, holding his daughter up to see. "It's a baby sprite, just like Mommy's gonna have."
Rommie quickly looked from Mouse's bundle to Dot's swollen stomach, a bit confused at how one turned into the other.
"She�s cool," Enzo said, relatively interested.
"So," Matrix finally said, breaking up the mushy little scene, "what are you gonna call her?"
"Uh... dunno, Matrix," Mouse said, "Ray, whut ARE we gonna call'er?"
"Well, let's see..." Ray said thoughtfully, "Oh, look mates, she's waikin' up!"
"Oooh, look at her eyes, they're so wide!" "Look at how she's starin' at all of us!" "Awwww!" The mushy scene started all over.
"Yeah," Ray agreed with AndrAIa, "Look at how she changes from one face t' the other...almost like a tab command.."
"Shugah! That's it!" Mouse exclaimed, "Tab! We'll call'er Tab! It's a great name!"
"Wonderful, luv, Tab," Ray said with a grin.
Three Minutes Later...
"It's a boy!" Bob announced, as he took Rommie from AndrAIa's arms.
"Oh, Bob! This is really wonderful!" AndrAIa said energetically, "Both Mouse and Dot delivering in the same cycle! Can I see him?"
"Sure, come on in." Bob led Matrix, AndrAIa, Rommie, and Enzo into Dot's room. Rommie soon found herself face-to-face with her light blue little brother, staring at his deep blue eyes. The mound of fuzz on his head was a light silvery-grey, and his eyebows were just like Bob's.
"Have you decided on a name yet?" AndrAIa said quietly.
"Yes, we're going to call him Bin," Dot replied softly.
"We are?" Bob asked with interest.
"Yes, it was my uncle's name. You remember him, don't you Matrix? Enzo?"
"Uh..no.." the two said simultaniously.
"Oh, well, his name is Bin. Rommie, this is your new baby brother," Dot said holding him up for her to see.
"I bet Tab and Bin will become fast friends." AndrAIa finally said.
"Yeah, this is totally alphanumeric!" Enzo said excitedly, "I'm a double uncle in the same cycle... or something like that..."
"Hey Dot," Mouse said from the doorway, "Little Tab heard tha news and wanted ta� come see 'er little friend" Everyone cleared a path for Mouse and Tab to come through. "Whut's his name?"
"Bin," Dot replied as she help up her new son to see Tab. The two infants stared at each other curiously, and Tab reached out her hand towards Bin.
"Bin.. Tab and Bin.." Mouse said with a smile.
*Disclaimer* All names and characters in this story with an exception of Rommie, Tab and Bin are characters on the TV show ReBoot, produced by Mainframe Entertainment, Inc. Thank you ReBoot for all the wonderful ideas that inspired this! And thank you WIN for helping me learn about ReBoot, and for letting me use your characters and some of your ideas.