Things go very fast.

Chapter 33

The room was so small for all these people to be in it all at once. Bell felt like she wasn't even supposed to be there like she was taking up space that wasn't hers She should've just gone home as soon as Lillian was safe. Instead of cramming into this small room. She felt more alone now than before, looking around the room, she couldn't see one person who she thought would consider her to be a friend. Sighing, she just stood by the door with Michelangelo as he listened in to see what was being said on the other side.

"Has Lillian been sleeping on the couch the entire time she's been here, red?" Casey asked, standing by the window.

April was sitting next to Donatello on her bed, "Of course not. She's slept with me on my bed. I wouldn't just leave her on the couch." She sighed sadly. "I have a feeling that's over though."

"Do you really think she'll marry this man? After everything?" Donnie said, grabbing hold of April's hand and placing it on his lap.

Leonardo shook his head, going over to the window in a rush. "I need to make a call." He said. Casey opened the window and moved out of the way so he could leave.

"I think we should call Barry. Lillian hasn't talked to her parents since Luis proposed." April said. "Better yet, call Ian. If anyone is going to kill Luis, it'll-"

Mikey held out his hand to stop her from continuing, "April, I'm going to say the same thing I always do to Raph. This is Lillian's decision to make. Not ours. I want her safe just as much as anyone else here and you know what? I'm positive she's going to make the right decision." He sighed, shaking his head. "It's Raphael I'm worried about."

"What's wrong with Raphael?" Bell asked softly. "Is he going to be angry with her?"

Mikey looked at her, rolling his eyes. "Not at Lillian. But he will be angry."

"There's no way Raph would mess up now." Donnie defended. "I remember when they were young, they couldn't even stay away from each other for very long without getting moody, at least Raph was like that. I think it can be like that again."

Mikey chuckled. "Yeah, I remember how they were but… I still don't trust him."

Bell could feel Raphael's anger was never directed at Lillian, nor was his love possessive or dangerously obsessive...he was protective of Lillian. He loved her. When Lillian walked into the apartment he was the first to touch her, inspect her, make sure she was okay, bringing tears to her eyes... Bell saw the way they both looked at each other. It wasn't the same way she looked at Luis, maybe even with Neil. It was a different kind of love. An unconditional love...

Mikey placed his forehead on the door, "He's going to be an idiot and tell her to marry the guy."

"That's what I think too." April sighed.

Casey cleared his throat, "No. Not this time. Come on, you guys. Have a little faith in Raph." Casey defended. "He's not going to let go of her now."

"Why exactly did they break up in the first place?" Bell asked.

Mikey turned to face the blonde, frowning. "You don't know?"

"Lillian never talked about herself. I didn't even know she went to school here, let alone had a big love affair." She admitted, laughing in disbelief at herself.

Mikey chuckled, shaking his head. Lillian was always a private person but to never bring up the fact that half her life was in New York? He motioned over to the bed. "Well, pretty lady... Since you're a new member of this family, we should probably catch you up on some of the drama that comes with it."

"I know what you're going to say,"

"Oh no, you don't."

"Yeah, I do."

He crossed his arms over his chest, sitting back on the couch, "Enlighten me then."

Lillian sighed, running a hand through her hair. "You're a broken freaking record, Raph. You want me to have a normal life. Having a child and getting married to Luis is how I'll have it. It's why we broke up, remember?"

Raphael rolled his eyes at the question, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees.

"Okay..." she headed to the kitchen, maybe if she weren't so close to him this would make things easier. "So...for the first time maybe...I agree with you."

Raph's eyes widened, her words sounding like nails on a chalkboard in his ears. So this is what she felt like when he told her he wanted to leave her. Like he was a sheet of glass and she just threw a rock right through him, watching him shatter to pieces. This was how she felt when he told her? It was practically unbearable.

"I think...it's my turn to think about your family and your safety. Okay?"

"Wow..." he breathed, his voice just beginning to crack. He cradled his head in his hands as it painfully pounded. This was an overwhelming sensation, at the same time, it made him wonder how Lillian could've survived a blow like this as a young woman. He felt his fingertips begin to tingle, his mouth salivating at the thought of having a drink right at this moment.

"This isn't the decision I want. But it's the decision I have. Either expose your family to the world or marry this guy...there's no debate."

"That's not what the choices are," Raphael mumbled.

"Raph-"

Raphael shot up from the couch, his anger mixed with heartbreak was audible in his voice and visible in his stare. "Your freedom is on the line, Lillian." He said through gritted teeth.

"And your life is on the line." She wiped her endless tears. "There is no debate. It's okay."

"It's not okay." He couldn't believe what she was saying! Okay? How was any of this okay? If Lillian wanted to marry this man so that her child wouldn't have a complicated life and because she miraculously still loved the dick then fine. He'd be broken but knowing she was happy was enough. But this poor excuse for a man has and was mentally and physically abusing the one person that Raphael loves the most in this world. This man did not deserve Lillian's life. In his opinion, this man did not deserve to breathe. "Lillian, you don't see any problem with this?"

"Of course I do! This man..." she covered her face in shock at what she was about to say. "I got there and he promised me therapy, a chance to be a mother, an opportunity to forget and..." She let out a sob in disbelief. "There was a moment when I thought it sounded better than co-parenting."

Raph gave her a look of almost disgust, "To marry him? After everything he has done to you? After everything we've been through?"

"This isn't about me anymore, Raphael!" She snapped. "This isn't about us! There's a life involved that did nothing to deserve this shit. And Luis...believe it or not, I think he'd be a good father."

"Oh come on, Lillian," He groaned. "You can't be that naive. This man put his hands on you, he's lied to you, and to top it all off he has people following you and taking pictures of us! Invading your privacy and threatening me!" He counted off on his fingers. "And you're still going to give him this? Give him your life and child?"

"My hands are tied! I'm damned if I do and you're damned if I don't. I'm not playing with the safety of your family. My family."

Raphael went to reach out to grab Lillian's hand in an act of desperation, to connect with her and convince her not to do this on a physical level.

She snatched her hands away, "Don't. It'll only make things harder."

"Good! Then this is going to make it or break it." His arms wrapped themselves around her waist, pulling her close to his chest. "Don't do this."

Lillian attempted to push him away, but it was the difference in strength that made her sob helplessly, fighting to collapsed in his arms. "Raph," she held a hand to her head. "Why are you fighting this?"

"What do you mean why-"

"You ended our relationship for this exact reason! You said it was for my own good, my own protection. Well, let me do that for you."

"I don't-"

"You don't what? I am trying to help you and your family!"

"We're not asking you to do this."

"You don't have to."

"Lilly...please..." he begged, his pride crumbling when he heard how pathetic his voice sounded. To hell with pride... This was Lillian. He got clean because of her and he did everything he could to get her back. She was his again! And he was not about to let her go without a fight.

"Raph," she watched his hand grab and placed them on his chest. "I can't risk your safety..." she whispered, not even attempting to pull away.

"I love you."

Lillian shut her eyes at the rush of adrenaline she felt come over her at his confession. At least one of them was courageous enough to say it first. "Raph, please..."

"I don't ever want to leave you again. I want you by my side, just you...forever." He admitted softly, finding her gaze. Why was he saying this? These words would probably scare her away, but he was desperate to keep her away from Luis. What he was about to say would either keep her in his arms for good or push her away for good.

Her fingertips touched his face timidly, his emerald eyes glossy with tears. "What are you saying?" She whispered, hanging on to every word he said or was about to say.

"I know we just started dating again, we said we were going to take it slow...but that was when I felt like I'd enough time to make up for all that I've done to you." He hung his head in shame, her hands immediately brought his head back up to look at her. "Now...I don't know how long I'll have you here with me."

Lillian shook her head, whimpering in agony at his explanation. "What? What, Raph?" She urged as if she already knew. She just wished he'd hurry up and say it!

"I know it wouldn't be real but..." he swallowed hard before continuing, truly not knowing the outcome of this. "I want you with me, by my side, and no one else's... As my wife."

"And that's why I will never forgive him and I'll never trust him with Lillian's heart." Mikey finally finished.

Bella frowned, "I get that Lillian should've been able to decide whether or not she wanted to stay with him...but I kinda see Raphael's point of view."

April sighed, laying back onto her bed. "That's because you're not with any one of these guys. Once you and Leo make it official you'll see."

"Well, I disagree." Bell huffed. "If Lillian would have grown up, looking back on how her life could've turned out, maybe she would have had a lot of regrets and then grow to resent Raphael. What if she did want a child? She's keeping this one. What if she did want to marry, and marry by the church? It's not like they both can just walk into one and be married by a priest. Everything normal, no offense, couples can do, she'd be sacrificing. She'd grow old never knowing what the alternative would be like." Bella said, leaving everyone speechless for a moment. "At least now she knows what it's like to live without all of you."

Donnie opened his mouth to argue but raised an eye ridge in thought, "Heh...I never thought about it that way..."

April promptly smacked his arm, "Don't get any ideas." She growled at him.

Donnie looked back at her, flashing her a warm smile. "You're stuck, unfortunately." He laughed softly, placing a hand on her knee.

Bell smiled at the both of them, "Now that Lillian knows what life without Raphael is like, maybe...she won't marry Luis."

Mikey sighed, shaking his head. "I don't know."

Leonardo suddenly raced back into the room through the window. "I called Bishop. He was able to get into contact with Barry. I'm supposed to get a call back within five minutes."

"What did Lilly mean when she said you guys were working with her dad?" Bell asked.

Mikey placed a hand on Bella's shoulder, "That, my friend, is a longer story for another time."

Leonardo looked around the room, "Are they still talking?" He asked, pointing towards the door.

Mikey nodded.

"Are you sure?"

"What else would they be doing?" Mikey asked.

"Do not open the door if you don't know, Mikey," Casey warned. "I have walked in on some conversations with Raph and Lillian before. You do not want to hear them."

"I don't think Lilly is in the mood for anything like that, Case," Mikey argued. He went over to press his face up to the door so he could hear something. "Actually, I don't hear anything."

Leonardo jumped when his phone suddenly began ringing. "That wasn't...five minutes." He answered the phone.

"Leonardo? Hello! How have you been? Bishop told me you had an emergency."

Leonardo smiled sadly, "Hi, Mr. Anderson."

"Please, call me Barry."

"Barry..." Leo chuckled. "I wish I were calling on better pretenses. A situation has been brought to my brothers and I about Lillian."

"Lillian. Is she okay? Where is she? What happened?" Barry asked, his voice quick with worry.

Leo sighed, "It involves her boyfriend. I know you told me to only call if it involves something detrimental to society or something like that but trust me when I say this is."

"Involving her... What the hell did he do?" Barry groaned.

"Well, partly Raphael's fault for being careless but apparently Luis has a picture of Raphael in his possession and is using them as blackmail for Lillian to marry him or he'd release them to the public."

"Oh...he did, did he?" Barry's voice was dangerously low. There was a period of silence that made Leonardo worry a bit. Barry cleared his throat, "Give me a second, Leonardo."

"No problem,"

Mikey, after waiting a while to hear any noise come from the living room, grew frustrated at the silence and decided to open the door. Slowly and quietly he peaked his head out to see if he could hear anything.

"What do you want, Mike?" Michelangelo jumped at his brother's rough voice.

"Where's Lillian?" Mikey whined.

Lillian exited out of the bathroom, her face soaking wet. "You guys can come out. I had to spray water on my face before I had a panic attack."

Mikey nodded, "You sure you're okay?"

Lillian gave a little shrug, "Not really but in time..."

April quickly hopped up from the bed and exited her room, pushing Mikey out of the way so that she could hug Lillian. "I love you, you know that?"

Lilly smiled, returning the warm hug. "I love you too. All of you..."

Mikey sighed, "What are you going to do?"

"I..." Lillian let out a breath, "I don't know..."

"That's okay!" April cupped her face, "That is okay to not know. You don't need to know right at this very minute."

Lillian nodded though she silently disagreed, lacing her fingers with April's. "Today has been too much. I just need to sleep and relax."

April nodded, "I'll kick everyone out."

Before she could move to do just that, Lilly pulled on her hand. "You don't have to do that, April."

"Yeah, I'll leave willingly. No kicking." Mikey laughed.

Bell placed a hand on Mikey's shoulder, "Lil'?"

Lillian almost forgot Bell was still here, being exposed to a whole new world. "Oh god, Bell..." she held out her arms to hug the poor girl. "I'm so sorry you had to experience all of this so suddenly. Do you want me to call a cab?"

Bell shrugged her shoulders a bit, "It's okay, I've met some pretty cool people" She pulled away from the embrace to cup her friend's face, her thumb caressing her red cheek. "You poor thing," She whimpered before pulling Lillian in for another hug. "I'm calling Neil and Dick and we're setting that building on fire with him inside it. Since Dick is a lawyer we can get away with it."

Lillian laughed, her arms tightening around Bell's slim frame. "I'm sorry for leaving you alone."

"I'm not alone." She chuckled, kissing Lilly's cheek. "I wasn't. You know me, I'm never alone when there's a man in the room." She joked, brushing a strand of hair out of Lillian's face. "I made new friends."

"Hey, I can give you a ride if you need it," Casey said from behind everyone. "I don't mind."

Bell turned and smiled, "That'd be great. Thank you."

Leonardo suddenly came running out of the room toward Lillian, he held out his hand and offered her his phone. "Take this."

Lillian furrowed her brow before she took the phone, slowly placing it to her ear. "Hello?" Her eyes suddenly widened. "Dad?"

Leonardo nodded, "I told him. I hope that's okay."

"Dad... In two days?..."

Leonardo faced everyone while Lillian talked to her father, "So Barry is coming to the city. They're going to take care of any information this guy was able to get his hands on, then the EPF is going to launch an investigation on where he got the photos and make sure they're all deleted."

"Just like that?" Casey asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Well, yeah," Leo stated with a shrug. "The public knowing about our existence isn't something to be toyed with. Our lives are in the hands of people like Barry and Bishop. The EPF will be the first to tell everyone about the existence of mutants not some abusive waste of human life." He smirked smugly. "Though, being friends with the daughter of the head of the EPF does make us a little more of a priority."

Lillian handed Leo back the phone, "Thanks for calling my dad." She said with a frown. She had been working up the courage to actually call her family but now they were coming and she still had yet to tell them she's pregnant.

Leo sighed, holding the phone back up to his ear. "Hello?"

"Leonardo, I will see you in a couple of days. I leave the safety of Lillian in Raphael's hands. I know he'll protect her."

"Very well, see you then." When Leonardo hung up the phone, he immediately turned to Lillian to apologize, bending at the waist. "I'm sorry about calling your father but it was the only thing I could think of."

Lillian pressed a hand on his shoulder, pushing him up. "It's okay, I just...now have to tell them I'm pregnant."

"Nobody wants to see you marry this guy. Co-parent is one thing, but being forced to marry him?" Leo shook his head. "I couldn't let that happen. I think it's better if we nip this in the bud."

Lillian sighed, though still annoyed, "I understand. Thank you."

Mikey clapped his brother's shoulder, "We all got you covered, sis! And if you still need someone to kill him." He laughed before his expression immediately turned cold and serious. "That's not a joke."

Lillian rolled her eyes, "I know it's not a joke. You guys are psycho."

"No one knows it better than you. I mean you're dating the most psychotic one out of all of us." Mikey snickered.

"Hey," Lillian whined.

When he heard that, Raphael got up from his seat on the couch and went over to whether everyone was gathered. "Hey Mike, come over here and say that to my face."

Mikey raised his hand in surrender, "Don't feel like fighting you tonight, Raphie." He gave Leo a small shake, "Time to go home." He said before going to kiss Lillian goodbye. After, he turned his attention to Bell. "Nice to meet you, sorry my brother is an asshole sometimes but if you ever want to have fun." He took her hand and kissed her knuckles. "Michelangelo is the name."

Bell smiled sweetly, but before she could say anything Leonardo was pushing him back into April's room. "Move it, before I move you." He growled.

Bell just giggled.

"So...what were you planning?" April asked, handing Lillian a cup of hot cocoa before going over to snuggle up next to Donatello.

Both Raphael and Donatello chose to stay with their girls, just to keep them company after such an eventful day.

Raphael actually wanted to be alone with Lillian just the two of them. Just for a while so they could talk or not talk. After today he didn't want to leave her side at all. If he had the choice to be with her, he wasn't going to fight it anymore. He was done with the fighting, done with pushing her away, done with waiting... He didn't think Lillian realized how much today meant to him. Everything was so quick but...that was fine with him.

Lillian blew on the cocoa before sipping it. "I...guess I'll wait till dad comes. He told me it was going to end when he gets here." She frowned. "Today has been so much...I can't even begin to process it."

"You're not marrying this man, right?" Donatello asked.

Lillian shook her head, "If dad can get everything under control then-"

"No," Raphael growled. "She's not."

Donnie rolled his eyes, "Your protectiveness is touching, Raph. But let her speak."

Lillian placed a hand on Raphael's leg, "It's okay." Raphael looked at her, his hand grabbing hers and squeezing it. "Actually," she said slowly, looking at him as if to ask for permission. Raphael's eyes shifted to April and Don, knowing this was probably going to end in an argument, but still gave Lilly a shrug and a small nod. "Somebody else wants me to be their wife."

April, instead of taking a sip of her drink, spat out whatever was in her mouth when Lillian's words finally hit her. "WHAT?" She yelped before looking at Don with wide blue eyes. "You...I can't believe...I am-really?" She gasped.

Donnie was just frozen, staring his older brother down with an empty glare while in his mind thought about what this meant for Raphael and his recovery. Lillian was his lifeline. And it looked like Lillian felt the same way. "Wow..." he said flatly. "Are you sure about that Raph?"

"I told you if I was going to get her back I wasn't going to leave her again. She's the endgame for me." Raphael defended, matching his brother's glare. "This asshole, Louis,"

"Luis," Lillian corrected.

"Larry," he spat. "He made me feel like I was running out of time. I didn't think she would say 'yes'."

"You said 'yes'!?" April screamed.

Lillian nodded, "I mean yeah... I don't know how this will work. I don't expect a wedding or vows or anything like that. I think...we'll just refer to each other as husband and wife." She suddenly frowned. "I...know it's really fast. I mean we haven't even slept together."

Raphael cleared his throat, "Hey," he whispered before shaking his head. "Chill..."

Lillian chuckled softly, taking his hand and placing it in her lap. "If I'm being honest, I'm terrified we may be going too fast but... The only thing I'm confident about in my life is his feelings towards me and mine towards him."

Donnie sighed, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "Leo is not going to like this."

"I know. Which is why I'm not telling him yet and neither are you." Raphael said sternly.

"Mikey is going to kill you."

"Yeah well..." Raphael smiled at Lillian. "I think I'm protected so I'm not scared."

The more April stared at the both of them, the more she felt a painful lump rise in her throat. This was going to be weird and confusing. This was going to be new for everyone. But the amount of unconditional love these two had for each other... The amount of pain and suffering both went through during their time apart... Breaking up and being without one another only to pick up years later where they left off and still have those feelings for each other as if they never left and were only hidden... The adoration their eyes showed when they looked at each other...

April set her mug down on the floor so she could rub her eyes with the back of her hands. "You guys..." she whimpered softly.

"Are you crying?" Donnie asked.

April shook her head, "No..." she said before letting out a small sob.

Lillian smiled, "Raphael and I agreed that even though we want to be together forever, we both want to wait a couple of months or so before we start calling each other husband and wife." She let go of his hand and placed it on her stomach. "I do have a child to think about now so...I'm not going to stress over something stupid like planning a wedding."

April sniffed, finally calming herself. "What about Luis?"

"His only option is to co-parent. I'm not giving him another more." Lillian took another sip of her drink. "He is still the father."

Donnie wrapped an arm around April's shoulder, pulling her towards him. "Have you ever thought about what Mikey said? About Raphael being-"

"I'm not going to ask Raphael to be this child's father. One, the father is alive. Two, that's a big responsibility to put on Raph's shoulders and I'd never ask him to do that." Lilly interrupted. The thought of Raphael raising this child as his own made her nervous. It was one thing to help it was another to completely take over as the father figure. Stepfather... Well, this was something Lillian would have to deal with when she got to it.

"Why not?" Raphael straightened. "You know I'd do anything for this baby and you. It doesn't seem like this other guy is going to."

Lillian shook her head, "This is not your responsibility-"

Raphael held up his hand to stop her, "Whoa whoa whoa wait... What do you think marriage is? That I let you take care of a baby by yourself without me because it's not mine?" He scoffed and shook his head. "That's not what we're going to do. This thing is half and half...you give me half and I'll give you half."

"But you-"

Raphael shifted, "Hey," Lillian was already tearing up at the serious tone of his voice. "If you're going to be my wife, I'm going to be in that child's life whether you like it or not. I know...it deserves more than a mutant as a father-"

"That's not what I'm saying, Raph."

"It's what I'm saying. But if you want to be with me, then I want to be with you." He stared into her eyes, trying to convince her with his piercing eyes. He reached over to tentatively touch her stomach. "All of you."

April let out another sob, "Jesus Christ it's like a scene from the Notebook or some shit." She mumbled, continuing to wipe her tears away.

Lillian snickered at April's comment, grabbing Raphael's hand once again. She sighed in defeat and nodded. "Okay..."

Donnie felt like he was saying goodbye to his brother as he rested his forehead on Lillian's. Almost like his brother was now a grown-up and moving out of their home even though...no one has said anything about moving. It just felt bittersweet... His brother seemed okay mentally with Lillian at his side, as did Lillian. He was happy for both of them.

Holding April close to him while she still cried, Donnie smiled at his brother and...his wife. A feeling of peace oddly washed over him.

Okay, I know it's really quick, but it was bound to happen. Given the situation, it made the most sense to me. Luis is doing nothing but pressuring and Raphael felt like the clock was ticking. Lillian did say she wanted to go slow, but that was before everyone knew she was pregnant and because she was afraid of Raphael's reaction to it.

It should end here but it doesn't. We need these pictures gone.

Let me know what you guys though, honestly. I may be gone for a while. I love hearing what you guys think so please leave a review. See you guys later-hopefully soon