Brotherly Bonding on the Cusp of Adulthood
Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, & the NYTBA is fictitious.
Warning: Contains violence, coarse language, and possible sexual content.
A/N: These are mostly 2K14 Turtles with other bits thrown in as the mood takes me. No Tcest. Turtles are 19 (Leo), 19 (Raph & Donnie), & 17 (Mikey) respectively.
Friday 10 April (...Continued)
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Mikey's POV
I'm bummed Tina and I aren't allow to get married when the others do. It would have been cool to have the whole family married on the same day. I'm gonna ask Tina if she wants to get married on the 11th April next year, so we have our anniversary same day as everyone else. That way no one gets to forget!
Judge Reynolds was wicked cool, apologising about Crystal. He told me she'll be at tomorrow's wedding, but not to worry, he'll make sure she doesn't make a fuss.
Leo asked him if she would cope with us being mutants. The Judge said she'd be fine after the initial surprise wore off, besides given what she'd been doing with Mikey, she didn't really have a leg to stand on.
Everyone looked at me after he said that, but I told them, we'd only ever kissed. I'd been too nervous to do anything else. That was so embarrassing!
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Okāsan decides since its bad luck to see the brides before the wedding, all the brides are going to stay in Leo's apartment, and all the grooms are staying at Donnie's apartment, until the wedding ceremony. Those who aren't getting married will run messages between them, if necessary.
I have to make up a wedding dress for Amy, so I measure her up and ask her what kind of dress she would like. She would prefer traditional Japanese wedding clothes, so I spend the night making her Bridal Kimono Set.
I also have to make Okāsan a Bridal Kimono Set, and Karai asked me to alter one of her Kimono's to use as a Bridal Kimono. April already has a dress, and Jayne will be dressed when she arrives.
It's a very long night of sewing, and I'm almost a zombie, when I realise that I have five wedding cakes, and the entire wedding feast to prepare as well.
I was so glad, the next morning when Jayne's driver Thomas offered to save the day!
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April's POV
Raph's told me he loved me, but when everyone was asked, if they wanted to get married the same time as Vern, I was surprised when Raph whispered in my ear, "Will you marry me April?"
I looked at him as I squeezed his hand, and nodded, "Yes, Raph."
We put our hands up, as did Leo and Karai. Mikey and Tina were told they we're old enough yet, but Master Splinter asked, if he and Mrs Morrison could marry.
The Judge had a mountain of paperwork for everyone, as he had to register Master Splinter as a person, before he could apply to marry Mrs Morrison.
He's a crafty Judge, and a master lawyer. I didn't believe that it could be done legally, with Master Splinter being originally a domestic rat, but the Judge had it all processed and legal before he left.
Jayne told us after she and her father visited Donnie, that they were getting married too. I looked at the Judge, very surprised, but he told me, that she loved it here, and loved being with Donatello, so her father would do anything to make his little Jayne happy.
Besides, Jayne had been treated with an experimental therapy when she was a baby, to save her life, which had resulted in some scientists, wanting to pretty much dissect her as a child, so technically she was a mutant of sorts too.
We were all surprised by that, but Jayne is considered a member of the clan already, so we all congratulated her.
Mrs Morrison decided that all the brides should be removed from their grooms for the night, so we were all sequestered into Leo and Karai's apartment. I was allowed to go home to grab a suitable wedding dress and some personal effects thankfully, but afterwards I was on lockdown with all the other brides.
Jayne went home with her father, who's offered to help with the 'wedding costs' and preparations.
The rest of us had only been planning a quiet and casual wedding, but we were quickly being sucked into the wedding machinery.
My boss wasn't thrilled that I wanted a week off for my honeymoon, but I'm getting the ratings so, she agreed. I mentioned that Vern was getting married on the same day, and she asked if I was marrying him! I told her no, he'd snatched Amy Tang off Eric Sacks, which had the boss demanding an exclusive. I laughed, and said I would text Vern, and ask him to film his own wedding for the six o'clock news!
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I'd chosen a deep blood red single strapped gown, with a silver diamante phoenix on the single shoulder strap. I'd paired it with matching shoes, and a generous Swarovski crystal necklace.
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Karai's POV
I am happy to finally be able to marry. It has been a burden of shame in my life, remaining unmarried for so long. The children are excited by the plans, even though they don't really understand what the fuss is about.
Leonardo is evicted for the night, much to his displeasure, as is Master Splinter. They grumble as they retreat to Donatello's apartment for the evening.
I find a blue, orchid patterned kimono among my belongings, which matches the colour of Leonardo's mask. I need it altered slightly for tomorrows wedding, but Michelangelo is a master tailor, and quickly makes the alterations, before making bridal kimono's for Mrs Morrison and Amaya. Tina assists him as much as she is able, which speeds the process, but by morning he looks exhausted as the last stitch is completed.
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Esme's POV
Well, I didn't imagine being a bride at this stage in my life! I gather the other brides and we retreat from the rest of the clan to prepare for tomorrow.
Darling Michelangelo is making me a traditional Japanese wedding outfit, as I know Hahen is rather traditional in some respects. I hope he will be pleased with my attempts to fit his cultural background.
The silks are beautiful, and Michelangelo and April tell me, how it was brought from Japan, during one of April's work trips there.
She often brings back things that the clan would otherwise find difficult to acquire. She smiles at me, and tells me she's become quite the smuggler, when it comes to getting specialist ninja equipment for the clan. I tsk, but give my soon-to-be daughter-in-law a quick hug.
I've chosen a delicate pink, with cherry blossoms, as I've been married before, and would feel uncomfortable in white. Karai helps me to find suitable footwear, as we share the same foot size. I shall feel like a well-wrapped Christmas pudding when I am fully dressed tomorrow, but I suppose it will be fun for Hahen later to unwrap all those layers!
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Amy's POV
Akiko and Mariko make me go straight to bed, once I am settled into the apartment. I have been measured, and asked my opinions for my wedding attire, which is a novelty for me, then banished to bed.
I cannot sleep, so I muse on what my marriage will be like. Vernon-san is presentable looking, seems humble, and wishes for the good of his clan.
I am grateful that he is willing to sacrifice his own freedom to choose a bride, in order to prevent the further destruction of my mother's clan.
I do not know how we will wrest control of the Foot Clan back from Eric Sacks and his vile master, but I will do what I am able to do, in order to honour my ancestors.
I get up, unable to sleep, and tiptoe to the door. It is not locked, so I creep past the children's rooms, and listen at the double door to the main living area. It appears people are still up, so I enter the room, and carefully make my way to the kitchen.
"Amy! What are you doing up?" Mariko chastises me in Japanese.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought to get a drink for myself." I reply to her in Japanese.
"Go back to bed! I will fetch it for you. What would you like, my little night rain?" Mariko gets up to go to the kitchen.
"No Mariko, I will get it. You have more important work to do. I will get my drink, and I will return to my room." I tell her firmly, inwardly feeling nervous at rebelling against her word.
She sits down again, and goes back to whatever she is doing, so I make myself a cup of tea, and take it silently back to my room.
I pick up a few children's books, in English, on the walk back, and read until I fall asleep.
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Mariko's POV
There is so much to do, and not enough time to do anything. I help the kappa boy Michelangelo to sew the bridal clothes for Amaya, before I catch my little Miss trying to sneak into the kitchen.
"Amy! What are you doing up?" I chastise her.
"I couldn't sleep, so I thought to get a drink for myself." Amaya sheepishly replies, edging closer to the kitchen.
"Go back to bed! I will fetch it for you. What would you like, my little night rain?" I stand up, and carefully set her wedding kimono aside.
"No Mariko, I will get it. You have more important work to do. I will get my drink, and I will return to my room." She tells me fiercely, which makes me smile, and I must duck my head quickly to hide it. I sit down again and resume my work, while she makes her tea, and glides silently out of the room.
Once I'm sure she's gone, I tell Akiko, "Did you hear that, she's growing a backbone. Freedom suits her."
"Yes, I pity her husband a little; we shall have to ensure her new freedom doesn't go to her head." Akiko replied, shaking her head with a warm indulgent smile.
Mikey-san sniggered at our musings, and told us, that Vern-san has a backbone, when it mattered at least, so he would hold his own alright against his new bride.
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Leo's POV
After I researched what I could on Zone A, I started to look up wedding ceremonies.
I just knew that this wedding was going to give me nightmares, when I read all the things a bride 'should' have at her wedding.
I would need to speak to the others, about tomorrow night. We need to plan, as Raph has his concert after the ceremony, and April and Vern are both working tomorrow night at a city hall event. Donnie was planning to be at the Expo all day as well, as his plans were interrupted, by Amy's rescue.
I sketch out a basic itinerary for tomorrow, and head to bed for some sleep.
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Raph's POV
I'm glad Mikey got me clothes for my birthday now, as I sort out my wedding clothes for tomorrow. I polish my best shoes, and my best sai, and then try to figure out what kind of wedding vows I want to say to April.
That done, I go find the cats, and feed them. I can hear Donnie clanging in his workshop, and I decide, since I'm too excited to sleep, I'll head to my own workshop, and make something.
The show room looks a little empty now that the pews have been collected, so I decide to make a fourteen-seater Formal Dining Suite for the Clan. It can stay in the back of the showroom when it's not needed for family events.
I only need the table for tomorrow so I focus on that. It has six detachable turned legs and a thick hardwood top, inlaid with four turtles facing outwards in the centre, and the clan crest on either side of the main feature.
I have time to make the Master and Mistress Chairs, and I carve a stylised relief of Master Splinter's past, and a stylised relief of Okāsan's past as well. Not too much detail, just the fact that they raised four boys each, with a few little anecdotes I remember. The throne-like chairs will look good. I'll do the four under-table benches for the sides, after my honeymoon.
I've sent the cabin people an email asking to use that week soon, and they've said it's free from Sunday, so April and I, will be having a quiet week in the woods. I texted it to April, who's talked to her boss, and it's all arranged. I spoke to Sensei and Fearless too, so they know I won't be around next week.
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Master Splinter's POV
Once Leonardo has vacated the console room, I enter and sit down to meditate. The console room has become something of a meditation room, as the whir of the computers, and the flickering of their screens is actually quite soothing.
Donatello and I had a brief discussion in his workshop, about the custom of engagement rings, which I do not see as necessary. I see it as a frivolous waste of resources, which could be better spent elsewhere.
After an hour of trying to meditate and failing, I decide to go to bed. There is nothing I can do, but wait now for tomorrow.
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Vern's POV
I head home to try, and find something suitable to wear, at my own wedding. I've gone to quite a few high profile events recently with April for a story, so I have some passable suits.
Bern called me and told me Channel Six has exclusive rights to the wedding footage, and that she expects me back from my honeymoon the same time as April. I had to smile at April's negotiation skills; she got me a week off, without my even asking.
I make myself a coffee, as I look around my apartment. The dust bunnies stare back at me, accusing me of dust bunny abandonment. This has been my bachelor pad since I was thirty, and I've brought quite a few skirts through those doors over the years.
I realise that I'll be glad to be getting married, and to not have to chase and charm women, just to spend time with me. I think I'll do what the others have done and rent this place, and move into the lair. I can't really risk Amy getting kidnapped, and the security in this place is a joke.
I find my dodgy old laptop, and look up honeymoon places, far away from New York. I see an ad for New Zealand, and think that might work.
Tiring two-day journey each way, but it's an island, with good border security, and I can find a little nook to take Amy where I can hopefully, get to know her better. I meant, it's an arranged marriage, so I'm not expecting sex, though I wouldn't turn it down if she offered.
I text Donnie, and ask if he can get Amy's passport sorted by tomorrow, so I can take her out of the country. I tell him my plans, but he says it's too dangerous. I'll be honeymooning at the lair, until Shredder is safely dead or behind bars.
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Courtney's POV
It's kind of weird that everyone's getting married tomorrow. Donnie says we're still going to the expo, so it's going to be really tight co-ordinating everything. I'm glad I don't have to do anything for it except get dressed, and make sure my Dad's socks match.
Donnie's let me use a tablet, so I look up wedding etiquette, both American and Japanese, so I know what to expect. Then again this is, the Hamato Clan, they're basically unexpected.
I'm glad that Dad and I have our own apartment now, as it's an oasis of calm compared to the rest of the house. There's no training this weekend, especially because of the weddings.
I randomly surf the net, looking for funny videos of brides and grooms, and send them to Mikey. He doesn't reply, but I figure he'll see them later.
Finally at 11:00pm I'm sleepy, so I finally have my first night in my brand new bed.
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A/N: Courtney's light-hearted attempt to cheer Mikey up, is probably part of the reason he was having a meltdown on Saturday morning! Sending the caterer of a wedding, videos of bad receptions doesn't instill confidence in a newly-minted wedding caterer. Mikey knows birthday parties, Weddings are a whole different animal!
Akiko speaks a little halting English, but Mariko only speaks Japanese. Unless otherwise mentioned, anything they say will be in Japanese. I've written it in English just for ease of reading.
I love reviews, please tell me what you think.
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I've left the list down here from last chapter, so you don't have to flick chapter's to see who's who.
Brides and Grooms:
Esme Morrison (68 years) and Hamato Hahen Sōke (21 years, 65 years equivalent)
Amy Tang (Hamato Amaya) (21 years) and Vernon Fenwick (45 years)
Karai Orōku (43 years) and Hamato Leonardo (19 years)
April O'Neil (27 years) and Hamato Raphael (19 years)
Jayne Reynolds (16 years) and Hamato Donatello (19 years)
The Wedding Guests:
Judge Donald Reynolds (68 years) - Jayne's father
Crystal Reynolds (18 years) - Jayne's sister
Gerald Carpenter (67 years) - Reynolds' family servant - Groundsman
Mrs Doris Carpenter (64 years) - Gerald's wife - Reynolds' family servant - Cook
Thomas Carpenter (38 years) - Gerald and Doris's son - Reynolds' family servant - Jayne's driver
Mrs Karen Carpenter (37 years) - Thomas's wife - former Reynolds' family servant
Daisy Carpenter (15 years) - Thomas and Karen's daughter -casual Reynolds' family servant
Ruben Carpenter ( 8 years)- Thomas and Karen's son
Duncan Mac Boyce (57 years) - Reynolds' family servant - Butler
Mrs Charlette "Letty" Thompson (67 years) - Reynolds' family servant - Housekeeper
Daniel Thompson (26 years) - Letty's son - Reynolds' family servant - Crystal's driver
The Hamato Clan at the wedding (excluding the Brides and Grooms above):
Jay Hamato (4 years)
Yoshi Hamato-Orōku (2 years)
Hiroshi Akiko (89 years) - Tang family retainer - Nanny
Kaito Mariko (87 years) - Tang family retainer - Nanny
Michelangelo Hamato (17 years)
Tina Córtez (16 years)
Casey Jones (29 years)
Courtney Jones-Rutherford (13 years)
Sgt Dominic "Nobody" Longe (34 years)
Elliot Longe (7 years, almost 8 years)
Tobias Longe (7 years)
Anybody (Raph's Cat)
Lucy (Esme's Cat)
Klunk (Mikey's Cat)
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Any translations are done using Google translate app. I apologise in advance if the translations are a bit weak or wrong.
Japanese Translations:
"Hahen" (means Splinter).
"Amaya" (means Night Rain).