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There is nothing nobler or more admirable than when two people who see eye to eye keep house as man and wife, confounding their enemies and delighting their friends. - Homer
The Grief that Does Not Speak ~ Part II
bOld Griefs, Fresh Tears/b
Chapter 1 – Idyllic Life
Wedding preparations, under even the most normal of circumstances, can be a time consuming and stress wrought barrage of tasks fill with compromises and none to few fights between the couple in question. When you're working within a tight one week schedule and the added difficulty of working a small family of mutants into the ceremony all makes for a very tightly wound April O'Neil; which in turn makes for a very belabored Casey Jones. The couple, trying to get everything together before the adoption hearing at the end of August, were decidedly at their wits end and ready to just get married at the courthouse. An idea that was quickly squashed by a loudly protesting Ellie O'Neil and Maila Hino. The younger of which didn't want the happiness of the event to be overshadowed by the 'esoteric workings of my wicked, wicked step-mother's mind' and the older one who simply found courtroom weddings to be somewhat tacky. At this very moment Casey was making a case to Master Splinter, to which the mutated rat was twitching only slightly as the younger man spoke.
"Technically you're still Hamoto Yoshi, who is a US citizen. You just have to get ordained and you can do that online," Casey pleaded with Master Splinter. Splinter's whiskers jerked with rare irritation as he took a deep breath.
"Casey, my son, you know it brings me great honor that you and April wish for me to have such an important part in your wedding; it is just difficult for me. When I transformed I decided to leave aside my life as Yoshi and become Splinter, to return to even a portion of that life, even for such a happy occasion is not something I can take lightly," he stated with some trepidation.
"Just think about, please, it would mean so much to us," Casey said standing next to Splinter's seat and placing a hand on his shoulder.
"The Hinos will be over for dinner, I will have my answer for you then, Casey-san," Splinter said, pushing himself from his chair, moving in the direction of the Dojo to meditate.
"'Kay, I'm off to pick up Ape and Ellie at her dance lesson," Casey stated waving to Mikey and Don as he passed them in the kitchen. Donatello appeared to be attempting to roll sushi while Mikey played at instructor. The kitchen was such a mess of raw fish, sea weed strips and sticky rice that had somehow made it onto the light fixture above their workstation that Casey couldn't help but smile at the boys when he passed.
"Could you tell Lani we'll be ready for her help in an hour?" Mikey asked Casey. Donnie gave him a withered look that told Casey he was ready to stop now but completely unwilling to give up.
"No prob," he said as he exited the apartment, trotting down the staircase to look for Lani while she worked in the antique shop. Mai had thought getting the girl a summer job might stave some of her hyperactivity, as well as her proclivity towards mischief, and April had quickly hired the girl on. Keeping the girls together and under her watchful eye seemed to be keeping them out of trouble. It also gave Casey the opportunity to watch Ellie and Raph now that the girls spent all their free time all in the same location. He was beginning to wonder if he and Mikey had been wrong. Their flirting had stayed innocent, teasing, a few grappling matches at the most, but nothing to really worry about...yet. But it had only been a scant few weeks since the now joked about 'Home Invasion' by the Hinos so he may need to let everything settle back in.
The young Hawaiian girl was closing up shop, counting out money in the cash register and putting away the excess into a manila envelope when Casey made it to the bottom floor landing. He stood on the steps watching her for a moment; seeing what Mikey saw for the first time. The boy had been all doe-eyed for the girl since they'd met it seemed and Casey'd found it funny to watch. She was pretty, he'd give her that but it wasn't the pretty that was driving his little turtle brother crazy and mournful all in one stroke, It was like she carried around some great secret joke all the time, her face was always ready to smile. She glowed with happiness and that fit right into Mikey's perfectly; Casey hoped she'd see the turtle the same way the boy saw her.
"Lani," he called, walking over to the checkout counter. Lani nearly jumped out of her skin, a nervous laugh escaping as she spun around to find Casey standing behind her.
"Geez, Casey, you scared the living bejeezus outta me," she laughed, her smile infecting him.
"Yeah, sorry 'bout that," he said, "but Mikey wanted me to tell you that he'd be ready for your help in an hour, though looks like Don's ready to stop anytime," He watched her face when he mentioned Mikey and saw it, a brightening in her eyes and the corners of her already smiling mouth lifting just a bit more.
"Oh, good, I'm almost done here, you wanna lock the door for me?" she asked flying through the rest of the closing procedures. She didn't wait for him to answer her but flew up the stairs just as he was headed out the door.
End Part II - Chapter 1
Title comes from this quote:
Waste not Fresh tears over old Griefs -Euripides
