a/n: This story is part of a 30 Kisses challenge. This chapter contains kiss #16 'invincible/unrivaled'.

Chapter 5: In My Life

Just outside the noise of the city, as the afternoon rains came down, a son said his final goodbyes to his father:

"Dad, I know we didn't have many sentimental father-son moments when I was growing up. You made my mother cry so many times I swore I'd never forgive you. Do you realize what a lucky man you were to have her? I guess you did when you realized the error in your ways and did your best to make up for the hurt you caused. As for me, If Mom can forgive, so can I. If there's one thing that I've learned over the past few days, it's that it doesn't matter where you've been, it's where you're going. It just hurts that we weren't able to make new memories after finally making our peace. If nothing else, we do have that, so I don't have to forget you. In spite of the pain, I really do love you, Dad, so, rest in peace, okay?" Drying the tears from his face, Wheeler turned to Linka who was holding the umbrella sheltering the two from the torrents of rain. Just then, he noticed that her eyes were filled with tears as well, "hey, now, what's the matter, Babe?"

"I am sorry, Wheeler, I came with you to New York to be your support in your time of need and all I could do was screw up," she regretfully replied.

Wheeler only smiled as he enfolded her in a tight and sincere embrace, "Babe, you're always such a perfectionist. You put me to shame sometimes. Trust me, if we weren't allowed to screw up every now and then, I'd be in serious trouble, now I wouldn't I? I'm a really lucky son of a gun that all you guys keep on forgiving me."

"Nyet, you are no screw up! Never!"

They remained lost in each other's arms for a good long time. The rain ceased its unrelenting decent and the sun came through. Both would have loved to remain that way forever, but it was time to move on, "Come on, Linka, let's go help the other's with the repairs to the Geo-cruiser."

"Will you be okay?" she asked.

"Never better, Babe," Wheeler said taking her hand, "I may not like where I've been or know exactly where I'm headed, but I know I'm on the right track with you by my side."

"Be careful, Yankee, we may lead each other off a cliff."

"Hey, at least we'd fall together," he said as they walked away hand-in-hand in the direction of the newly formed rainbow in the sky.

xxxxxxx

That night, all the Planeteers decided to have one last fling before leaving the city. There they were at a cafe with Joey, Trish, Diane, and a few of Wheeler's other old friends. Wheeler just sat and watched everyone interacting. Ma-Ti fussing over an old jukebox with Suchi on his shoulder, and all the others crowding up a single table. It wasn't The Plaza, but to Wheeler, it was rich.

"So, you guys are takin' off tomorrow?" Trish asked.

"Yes, the Geocruiser is in flying condition, so we have to get back to work," Gi explained.

"You were able to fix it that fast?" Trish marveled.

"Sure, It's been through much worse," Gi giggled, "How many times has it been shot down, Kwame?"

Kwame only shrugged, "To be perfectly honest, I have lost count."

Trish laughed along for the moment, and nudged Diane.

"Oh right," Diane responded leading Gi, Kwame. and the rest of the group away, "Why don't you guys tell me more about this Planeteer stuff you guys do?"

When everyone else was out of shouting distance, Trish turned to Linka, "Listen, Linka, I don't blame you for being sore at me and Wheeler, but the truth is, after that little rebound, Wheeler and I realized that we were ancient history."

Linka bowed her head in shame, "I should have understood that from the beginning."

"Don't be too hard on yourself," Trish said as she jabbed Linka's shoulder playfully, "I know Wheeler has a way of getting under your skin when he constantly flirts with all the girls, but you should know by now that he always comes back to you."

"Da, I know," Linka said half-smiling.

"That doesn't make it right, of course," Trish said, "but there's one thing he does that tells me you're completely unrivaled."

"And just what is that?" Linka asked curiously.

Trish gave Linka a smile as if to show it was the most obvious thing in the world, "He never called me 'Babe'."

Meanwhile, Joey snuck up on Wheeler who was sitting by himself, "So, aren't you going to kiss her already?" he whispered.

Wheeler gave Joey a devious smirk, "Isn't it past your bedtime?" Joey made a face at Wheeler, "I'm just kidding, Little Cuz. I really appreciate everything you did for me and Linka."

Joey refused to accept any of the credit, "It was nothing. I'm just glad you didn't snitch about it to Mom and Dad."

"Our little secret," Wheeler said messing up Joey's hair.

Linka approached the pair from behind, "and just what are you boys talking about, eh?"

"Just about how Joey reads Eloise!" Wheeler promptly replied.

"Traitor!" Joey then remembered something. He apologetically turned to Linka, "I'm sorry I said you looked like trash yesterday."

"It is all right, Joey. I behaved like trash." Linka admitted.

"Well, what really matters is that you and Wheeler are back together."

"And just what makes you think that your cousin and I are a couple now?"

"Trust me," Joey said, "I just know."

Ma-Ti put a coin in the jukebox. Wheeler instantly recognized the song, "Ah, The Beatles. Leave it to my little buddy to chose a classic," he said feeling at peace.

There are places I'll remember all my life
Though some have changed
Some forever not for better
Some have gone and some remain

"Yes, it's true," Wheeler said to himself.

"What is true?" Linka asked noticing Wheeler's far-off look.

"In spite of it's flaws, I'll always love New York."

"I see," Linka responded in a disappointed tone.

All these places had their moments
With lovers and friends I still can recall
Some are dead and some are living
In my life I've loved them all

Linka took a deep breath, "So will you always be at home only here?"
Wheeler didn't even have to think, "Not in your life!"

"But your precious city has so much," Linka teased.

Wheeler put his arm around Linka, "I can think of one thing it doesn't have, Babe; one thing that I'd never be complete without."

Responding to the beckoning of the music, Wheeler offered his hand to Linka, "So, Babe, may I have this dance?"

"Da, I would be delighted!" Linka giggled throwing her arms around him.

But of all these friends and lovers
There is no one compares with you
And these mem'ries lose their meaning
When I think of love as something new

By this time, all eyes in the room were on Wheeler and Linka, but neither seemed to be aware as they continued to slow dance to the music.

"So, you aren't jealous?" Diane whispered to Trish.

"Nah, this is romantic," Trish replied giving Wheeler a thumbs up. Wheeler responded to Trish with a wink.

Though I know I'll never lose affection
For people and things that went before
I know I'll often stop and think about them...

Linka, now aware everyone around her, was feeling bashful from all the attention, "come with me," she gestured towards the door to the cafe which had been left open to let the cool night breezes in, "this is hardly the place." Once outside they prepared themselves to pour their hearts out to each other. Instead, the rain instantly began to pour on them again. "Bozhe moy! The universe does not want us to be together!" Linka said getting ready to head back into the shelter of the cafe.

But Wheeler, far from defeated, pulled her back, "Ah, screw 'em," Wheeler said enjoying the refreshing feel of the rain on his head, "Tonight, I'm fighting the universe."

As they kissed in the pouring rain, the final lyric of the song came ringing through the air. If Wheeler had sung them they would have been truly sincere:

In my life I'll love you more

a/n: Five kisses down and twenty-five more to go! Thank you for reading and I hope you will continue to follow this pair on the stories to come. I still have so much more in store for them.