Author's Note: I know it's been a while but here's Speed Racer story number 6. This is an idea that came to me as I was chatting with Oriana about how I was going to handle Trixie's pregnancy. I decided to have it take place toward the end of her term and her eagerness to remain part of the team even in her condition is prevalent as she continues on an emotional roller coaster due to hormones. And this of course sends our hero into a quandary as how to handle it and places him in the difficult position of making a decision that hurts his wife as he hires a replacement for Trixie that is none other than Twinkle Banks from "Girl Daredevil." Inspiration really hit when the Speed Channel began showing "Speed Racer" daily in November. And as always, I don't own Speed Racer, it is owned by Speed Racer Enterprises and DIC.

SACRED TRUSTS

JOYFUL PREPARATIONS

The aerodynamically sleek white racing machine with the red "M" emblazoned on its hood was creeping along the quiet suburban street at an uncharacteristically sedate twenty-five miles an hour, a speed that made the machine appear as an impatient thoroughbred forced to a trot. The 12 cylinder power plant growled in low gear as if in protest as it turned into the driveway of a sprawling ranch with a newly landscaped lawn, green and lush. Spring had come early and daffodils lined the edge, as if they were saluting the arrival of the Mach 5.

Speed Racer, the defending Formula 1 racing champion, cut the motor and then hurdled the driver's side to sprint over to the passenger side. He opened the door and proffered his hand to his wife, the former Trixie Shimura as she accepted her husband's assistance to climb out of the low slung vehicle. It was hardly effortless as she was eight months pregnant with their first child.

"Are you okay, baby?" Speed asked solicitously as he examined her in concern.

Trixie sighed wearily, "I'm fine, Speed. You need to cool it a bit, I'm just having a baby. And I can assure you that I'm not the first to do this and won't be the last."

"That may be true but to me you're the first, last and only," her husband insisted as he took her arm to pilot her to the door but she stopped at the trunk of the car. Speed pulled at Trixie but to no avail, she wouldn't budge.

"Hadn't we ought to take the packages in first?"

"Aw, Trixie they can wait till later. You look bushed, I want to get you inside now."

"But, Speed," she pleaded. "I want to see how the sheets will look in the crib." She beseeched him with her eyes and again he was lost.

Speed sighed as his wife's infamous stubbornness made an appearance. "Okay, have it your way. But if you try to carry anything heavier then a small bag, I'll be really ticked at you." He took his key and opened the trunk, which was full to overflowing with their purchases for the nursery. He reached in and pulled out a small shopping bag. "There you go."

Trixie eyed him dubiously as she protested. "Speed, I can carry a bit more than this."

"Yeah well that's all I'm letting you carry, so deal with it." He gathered up the rest of the boxes and bags and with his foot, deftly slammed the Mach 5's trunk shut. He then led the way to the door as Trixie followed.

"Uh, Trix, could ya open the door, please," Speed asked as he juggled his burden.

Trixie already had her key out to insert into the lock and open the door. "I'm glad you still think I can handle some things," she said with a pout as they headed inside. "I don't suppose you want my help."

"No thanks, sweetheart. I can handle it." Speed took his bundles around the corner of the kitchen and into the room they made into the nursery.

With a sigh, Trixie sank into a kitchen chair, feeling as was usual lately, fat, unattractive and useless. Tears began to well up in her sea green eyes as she propped her head dejectedly in her hands and sobbed.

The nursery was a cheery room painted pale yellow and decorated with curtains on the window in a delicate pink and blue pattern with balloons. Inside Speed was putting down the packages of supplies and clothes for the baby and was about to put them away when he heard the unmistakable sound of his wife's sobbing. Alarmed, he strode to the kitchen where he found Trixie crying hysterically.

Speed knelt beside her, worry etched on his handsome face. "Trixie, baby what's wrong?" He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her head against his shoulder. "Please, sweetheart, talk to me."

Trixie hiccuped as she pulled her head back and looked into her husband's cobalt blue eyes, filled with loving concern. She shook her head and buried it in his shoulder again, words at a loss.

Speed held her closer and gently suggested, "C'mon, baby. Let's go sit in the living room where it's more comfortable and when you're ready, you can tell me what the trouble is, okay?" When Trixie nodded in agreement, he picked her up and carried her to the sofa, placing her down carefully. He took a seat beside her and took her in his arms again, crooning softly to her.

"It's okay, darlin'. Everything's okay," he said over and over. Trixie was just wordlessly sniffling as her husband encompassed her, enveloping her in his strength.

After a while, Trixie's tears subsided and she pulled her head back to look at Speed. She lowered her head in shame as she said in a low tone, "I-I'm sorry, Speed. I didn't mean to get so weepy, I just couldn't help myself."

Speed smiled at her in warm patience. "It's okay, Trix. I'm here for you, you know that. Just tell me what happened."

"That's the thing it's really nothing. I felt because you didn't want my help with the bags, that you didn't need me anymore. It's so silly, I'm so silly!" she admonished herself.

Speed took her chin in his hand. "No you're not, honey. It's just like the doctor told us when this whole thing started, your moods are going to go a little crazy."

Trixie shook her head in disgust. "I know but I've never been like this. So ready to cry at the drop of a hat, it's so annoying. And it must be annoying you."

Speed chuckled as he shook his head. "No, but I feel like I should buy stock in the Kleenex company." He reached over and pulled out the last of a box on the end table to dab at her eyes. "We've just emptied another one."

Trixie tittered as she gazed earnestly into his eyes. "Thanks for putting up with me."

He gazed at her lovingly. "No sweat. Didn't you put up with me and all the craziness I dragged you through for the last three years? It's just payback time, baby." He kissed her tenderly.

Later that evening, the couple was sitting, enjoying a quiet night at home when the front doorbell rang and startled them. Trixie, whose head was resting on Speed's broad and muscular shoulder, shot up as the two glanced at each other.

"You expecting someone, Speed?" she asked as he rose to answer the bell.

"No but I'll see who it is," was his reply as he opened the portal and was overrun by his kid brother, Spritle as he burst in.

"Hey Spritle what are you--," Speed began as the jovial bulk of his father bearing a large box came bounding in, huffing and puffing with beads of sweat popping on his forehead from the exertion.

"Hi, Speed, Trixie!" Pops said with a smile as he wiped his brow with a handkerchief. "Mom and I wanted to bring this over right away." He patted the large carton cheerfully as his wife came in and approached her daughter-in-law with a doting smile.

"Hello Trixie, dear. How are you feeling?"

Trixie returned the smile as she kissed her mother-in-law and replied, "I'm fine, Mom. Just a little tired but okay."

Pops pulled open the box and said, "Well, wait'll you see what we brought you kids."

Speed asked curiously, "What is it, Pops?"

"You'll see," the Racer patriarch said enigmatically as he reached in to extract the item.

Spritle piped up, "I'll help you, Pops." The garrulous preteen reached and helped his father bring out the gift, a state-of-the-art baby stroller.

"Ohhh!" Speed and Trixie said in unison as they examined the stroller in awe.

Mom, Pops it's beautiful," Trixie said softly.

"Yeah, it's outtasight," Speed echoed as he knelt down to take a closer look. He ran his hands across the conveyance and nodded, impressed.

"It's a top of the line. Only the best for our grandchild," Pops preened as he stood back to watch the proceedings.

"Trixie, darling I hope you don't mind. Pops and I saw it and we just couldn't resist and you know Pops he had to bring it right over to see how you and Speed liked it," Mom said as she eyed her daughter-in-law.

Trixie flashed a smile at her mother-in-law. "Of course I don't mind, Mom. It was sweet of you all to do this for us, we hadn't gotten a stroller yet, we had been busy buying other things."

The doorbell rang again and Speed leapt up. "Wow, I guess we're really busy tonight." He opened the door to be greeted by an oversized panda bear that seemed to be suspended in midair. "Anyone there? Hello?" he greeted, perplexed.

"Hey, Speed wanna give me a hand?" Rex's deep baritone sounded from behind the huge stuffed bruin. Speed took the bear's front paws and he and his big brother wrestled the toy into the living room.

"Ohhh, Rex it's adorable!" Trixie gushed as she stood before the panda and touched it, savoring the soft fur. The panda sat with its eyes transfixed as if surveying its new domain.

"Rex, that's quite a bear," Pops chuckled. "It looked like you guys were in a three-way battle royale to get it in here."

Rex grinned as he regarded his father. "As an uncle-to-be I have an obligation to see that my niece or nephew has the best."

"My sentiments exactly. It's true what they say, like father, like son," Pops said airily.

Speed glanced from his father to his older brother. "Yeah, Pops just brought us this." He gestured to the new stroller.

Rex let out a long whistle. "This child's going to go first class all the way."

"Yeah, till you give us a grandchild," his father remarked.

Mom gazed at her firstborn. "Yes Rex, one day Speed will do the same for you when you become a father." She smiled fondly at her youngest. "And you too one day, Spritle."

Spritle made a face, as he rejoined, "No sirree, not me. I'm never gonna get married." He stood by the stroller with his arms folded and an obstinate expression.

Everyone burst into laughter as the doorbell rang again. Speed glanced at Trixie and commented, "So much for the best laid plans, huh baby?"

Trixie nodded, "It's okay, Speedy. I wouldn't have it any other way." She joined him and he looped his arm around her as they both answered the door. The portal opened and their dear friends Sparky Sabu and Janine Trotter were there, carrying another large box.

"Hiya, Speed, Trixie. We just thought we'd drop by and bring this over." Sparky hustled the box into the living room where the rest of the boisterous Racer clan was gathered. He glanced at the group in mild dismay.

"I didn't know that the whole family'd be here."

Speed nodded as he said, "Yep, it just seems to be that me and Trix are the popular night spot tonight." He pulled his best friend aside and added, sotto voce, "But it woulda been nice to be less popular tonight, if you know what I mean."

Overhearing Janine said apologetically, "I told Sparky that this might be a bad time but oh no, he just had to bring this gift. The baby won't even be able to use it for a couple of years."

Trixie was curious. "Ohhh, what is it?"

Sparky grinned proudly as he reached in the box and pulled out a shiny red miniature replica of the Mach 5. "Here it is. I been working on it for the last four months in my spare time."

Speed's eyes took in the tiny racer with interest as all the men all gaped at it in admiration. Pops squatted down to give his critique on the car.

"Hmmm, that's a fine job there, Sparky. And the way you've created it to be a pedal car, excellent."

Sparky grinned wider as he responded, "Well, might as well get the little guy ready to follow in his daddy's footsteps."

"Or the little gal," Janine piped in.

Mom agreed, "That's right, Dragon. Our first grandchild could be a girl."

Pops shook his head. "Sorry ladies but since the baby's a Racer, chances are it'll be a boy. After all I had three boys and my brother Henry's only child was a son."

Janine regarded the mother-to-be. "What do you want the baby to be, Trixie?"

Trixie went over to her husband and entwined her arm with his. He gazed lovingly at her as she replied, "Speed and I don't care what the baby is as long as it's healthy, right Speed?"

He nodded in agreement. "Absolutely. Trixie and I are just happy to be having our baby make us a family." He leaned in to steal a kiss that she responded to in equal fervor.

Everybody responded with an echo of, "Awww!" but Spritle turned up his nose and complained, "Aw Gee didja have to get so mushy?"

Laughter spread across the room like a tidal wave and Speed reached and ruffled his little brother's head. "Sorry about that pal."

Later the women had gone into the kitchen to prepare coffee and a snack while the men were seated around the dining room table discussing the next race. Spritle had planted himself in front of the TV set to amuse himself with some program as the discussion went on.

"You've done a great job this year, Speed. You're a shoo-in to repeat as Formula 1 champion," Sparky pointed out. "And you're favored to win the Himalayan Mountain Road Race this weekend."

"Yeah, the Himalayan Mountain Road Race is gonna be a whopper. It's one of the toughest courses on the circuit this season." Pops informed the guys as they all agreed.

"Uh-huh, the course is 450 miles on some of the roughest terrain you ever raced on," Rex pointed out.

"Yeah, I've been checking out the IRC information packet and it'll be a challenge, that's for sure," Speed remarked. "I'll definitely need a navigator around the Tibetan road, especially as I get to the top."

Trixie and the other women entered carrying a tray of sandwiches and coffee to set down at the table. Her eyes widened as she chipped in, "Don't worry, Speed. I'll make sure I memorize the map and road landmarks to do a good job for you like always."

The room suddenly became uncomfortably silent as Pops pinned his second son with his penetrating onyx orbs. "You didn't tell her, did you?"

"Tell me? Tell me what?" Trixie inquired as she too studied her husband as he squirmed in unease.

"Ahhh, yeah well look Trix, I meant to talk to you about this before but you weren't feeling good so I decided to tell you later but I—I mean Pops and I don't think it'll be a good idea for you to navigate this race." At her crestfallen expression Speed leapt to his feet and entreated, "It's for your own safety, sweetheart and the baby's."

"But the baby's not due for another month," Trixie protested

Pops cleared his throat and said, "We just think that this race especially may be too much for you and the baby, honey."

She turned on Speed. "And you agree with this."

He nodded his head as he replied, "I think that it's best. I have to think of you and our baby, Trixie."

Trixie's face reflected hurt, her eyes welling up and becoming luminous with her tears. "I thought you felt we made a great team, that's what you once told me. So you were lying to me all this time? You don't think I can do a good enough job, do you? Everything I did for you for three years means nothing to you!"

Trix, baby you know that's not true," Speed reassured her but she angrily brushed past him and wiped her tears away as she faced the Racer patriarch.

"Pops, is this true? Are you agreeing that I can't handle the job?" she demanded shrilly. The large man hung his head, unable to meet his daughter-in-law's challenging glare.

Mom hastened to intervene. "Trixie, dear calm down. I'm sure that Speed and Pops only have your best interest at heart."

She ignored her mother-in-law's attempt to soothe troubled waters as she glowered at her husband who, at the moment appeared like he wanted to be somewhere else. He was rendered speechless, petrified that anything he would say could set his volatile spouse off any more than she was. Of all the criminals and villains that he had faced in his life, not one put a fraction of the fear in him than Trixie did when she had her Irish up and she had it up to epic proportions now. He decided to hoist the white flag and sighed as he took her shoulders in his hands.

"Listen, honey I want you to know something. I want you to know that having had you by my side for three years helping me win means the world to me. A race wouldn't be the same without you with me, navigating and carrying me to victory."

Trixie looked up into Speed's earnest cobalt gaze. "You mean that?"

Speed chuckled, "Of course I mean it. And if you're sure you feel up to it, I'd love to have you as my navigator this weekend, Trix."

Trixie hugged him tightly, overjoyed. "Oh thank you, Speed! I promise I'll do a good job and make sure you win so you'll be proud of me!"

Speed returned the hug and said against her hair. "I'm always proud of you, baby. And I still think we make a great team." He glanced at the others and imperceptibly shrugged.

At midnight Speed and Trixie were enjoying a late night snack of rainbow sherbet, to satisfy a nightly craving that she had since her sixth month. Many nights she would awaken Speed to go out in the Mach 5 and hunt down the confection so that the craving would not keep the both of them awake.

Trixie was in a mood to chatter, excited and pleased by her husband's decision to let her accompany him in the race.

"Tomorrow, while you're at the track practicing, I'll study the course map and all the other information. I have to make sure I memorize every landmark."

"Hmmm," Speed answered as he ate his sherbet. He was studying the contents of his bowl as he contemplated the consequences of his cowardice to his wife's whimsy. Concern about the wisdom of his decision was chilling his stomach as much as the frozen substance was.

"Speed, are you listening to me?" Trixie asked as she watched her husband swirl his spoon in the melted sherbet in his bowl, his eyes faraway.

Speed glanced at her as he inquired, "D'you say something, Trix?"

Trixie sighed as she examined her bowl. "I really forced you into doing something you don't want to do, didn't I?"

"It's okay, it's not the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last," he replied, resigned.

Trixie bit her lip, shamed as she said softly, "I'm sorry you feel that way. But if you only knew how important it is to me to keep being part of the Go Team, even if I am pregnant." She lowered her head, avoiding him.

Speed put his spoon down and took her hands in his. "I want to say something to you, okay? You will always be an important part of the Go Team, even if we end up having ten kids. I wouldn't be where I am today without you." He gazed deeply into her eyes as she looked up.

He continued, "But, as such, and having taken on the very coveted and cherished role as your lifelong mate, I am privileged and obligated to see to it that I do everything in my power to keep you safe from harm. So if that makes me an ogre at times in your beautiful green eyes, so be it, it's a risk I'm willing to take."

Trixie got up from her seat and perched on Speed's lap, encircling him in her arms. "I love you, Mr. Speed Racer. And you are far from an ogre."

His chest rumbled with laughter as he said, "I'm very glad to hear that. And I love you too, Mrs. Speed Racer." He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of his wife as he continued wondering and worrying. For some unexplained reason, he had a bad feeling about the whole thing but decided to keep quiet about it.

Speed got to his feet with Trixie still cradled in his arms. "C'mon baby, let's go to bed."

NEXT----AT THE BRINK OF DISASTER