ANTON/MIKEY

Anton caught more than one dirty look from restaurant patrons waiting for a table, as the hostess motioned him to the booth by the kitchen marked reserved. Both Denim and Mikey could be seen through the server's window as he passed by.

Mikey caught his eye as he tossed a pizza crust into the air. "Be right there!"

Ten minutes and four servers, rushing in and out through the swinging doors while calling both his uncle and aunt for help, had Anton thinking maybe his pick of lunch at the pizzeria wasn't such a good idea. This meeting was important and he didn't want a lot of interruptions.

While he waited, his mind turned over the events of the past year, most importantly the positive changes between him and Alli. Together at last. Healthy. Strong. Their relationship was beyond expression, transcending into emotions he didn't have words for.

But the gift of their love didn't discount the other unexpected blessings that had befallen him. Stepping up as leader, upon the formation of the small-but-serious trio team he, Alli, and Yuuta formed was a childhood fantasy made real. He smiled as leaned into the corner of the booth. It had been Yuuta's idea, and Alli fully supported his suggestion. Yep, all of that and Devon moving in, made them a very happy little piece of the Hamato family.

Life couldn't be any more perfect- He began to tap the table top, his smile growing so wide his cheeks hurt. Maybe it could be a teensy bit better... if this lunch went the way he expected.

Mikey'd just put the finishing touches on a new creation, when Kami called out. "Mr. Hamato, your nephew's here."

Sweet. Total genius move putting the staff on the lookout for Anton, though he'd caught sight of his nephew before he'd even sat down. He was so on top of things he could be mistaken for Leo. "Thanks, Kami, I saw him."

He dusted off, hung up his orange apron and cleaned up.

Anton had called for a secret meeting and he couldn't wait to find out what it was about. Could they be forming a club, like a way cooler version of Chris Bradford's Too Ruff Crew? Or perhaps he'd been doing spy work for a secret society and discovered the ultimate, tasty ingredient deep in the jungles of Zakanizbar and had come to entrust it to his uncle. Maybe he was on the run from inter-dimensional aliens and needed to lie low in the most awesome place ever. So many possibilities.

Bouncing on the balls of his feet in excitement, he pushed through the swinging kitchen door and slid into the booth across from Anton. "S'up, Ant-man, what's goin' on?"

Anton grinned at his uncle's nickname for him. Ant-man was super cool. "Hey, Uncle, Mikey. Doin' great, how bout' you?"

"Amazeballs. Scout's tournament is coming up and it's been crazy-fun getting ready. Well, everyone else is saying crazy, but I like crazy-fun better. So, what's the super-secret lunch meeting about? Is it a surprise-victory party for Scout cuz she's totes gonna rock that tournament? You've come to the right place. I'm awesome-sauce at victory parties." Mikey picked up a breadstick, spinning it around like a tiny baton as he jovially rambled on.

"Actually, I think you've got that covered." Where did he begin? His mouth seemed dry suddenly. He rubbed the back of his head, glancing toward the drink station. "Y'know, I'm just gonna get a drink real quick."

Mikey plunged another breadstick into some cheese-marinara-looking concoction. "Go ahead, I'll be here."

Anton picked a cup from the stack, filled it with ice and stared at the choices. He'd been rehearsing this in his head for weeks. He could just come straight out with it. Or try to lead with how great things are going right now. Was there a right way to do this? He wasn't sure and it made his stomach dive then rise, only to plunge lower. Ah, screw it. It's not like he was going to say no.

Filling his cup then grabbing a straw, he sidled back to the booth, glad to see Aunt Denim bringing a pizza to their table.

"Hope you don't mind. You're a test subject for Mikey's latest masterpiece. Barbecue base, provolone, mozzarella, cheddar cheese mix topped with fried bologna."

She suppressed a smirk as Anton sat down, staring at the strange pieces of meat atop what might otherwise be an awesome lunch. He glanced at his beaming uncle. Best not to critique this one until after he got what he came for. Forcing a smile, he reached for a slice and a plate. "Uh, sure, Aunt Denim. Thanks."

"You two have fun." She put a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Be sure to get an Alli update. I'd join you, but the kitchen's getting slammed."

Mikey nodded as he reached for three slices. "Sure thing, Blue Jeans."

"So, uh, I'll be graduating in the spring." Anton picked the bologna off his slice, took a bite and glanced at his uncle. "I'll be a registered nurse. Lots of good payin' jobs waitin'. I'm thinkin' bout stayin in school while I work, goin' for my nurse practitioners license. They get paid almost as good as doctors." He shrugged. "Better in some places."

Mikey munched his pizza while Anton talked, reveling in the flav-splosion. This one was a winner.

He was a little disappointed in their lunch topic. Anton's career aspirations weren't a secret. Mom was really proud that he wanted to look after the sick and injured.

And wasn't this the sorta thing that he should be bringing up with Raph and Zoe? Though Z could be scary and Raph...well Raph had a bug up his shell about the present living arrangements.

Mikey got it. When you found 'the one' you knew. It had been like that with him and Denim and probably was with Raph and Z too since Anton came onto the scene in their teens. You'd think Raph'd get it too.

Alli had seemed happier and healthier than she'd been in a long time since the two of them had admitted their 'secret' affection and that meant more to Mikey than anything else.

Hmm, maybe Anton was just really bad at secrets. He had a history of thinking no one knew obvious things.

"That's great. Sounds like you've got it all on track, Ant-man."

Anton squirmed a bit. "Thanks. Yer probably wonderin' why I'm tellin' ya all that." He shoved his food around on his plate in what closely resembled Alli's former behavior. Frowning, he decided to just get on with it. His dad's shell might crack because he hadn't finished school yet, but he totally would. "It's just, I kinda wanna ask Alli to marry me and I just kinda wanted to make sure you'd be okay with that before I do. An' the whole job talk was just ta let you know I will totally be able to take care of her." His eyes widened as he began to ramble. "But we don't haveta get married until after I finish school in the spring. That is if she says yes of course." His brow furrowed. "But I'd kinda like ta get the ceremonial part over before I go back for the third degree. So, uh, what do ya think? Would it be cool with ya if I ask her?"

Mikey choked on his pizza so hard it took Anton banging on his shell and a swig of water to recover.

"Uh, that's not the response I was going for." Anton mentioned with a look of concern.

Still coughing a little, Mikey tried clearing his throat. "No, I mean yes, it's all good. Better than good, great. You guys make each other the best yous and it's cool that your serious. But why are you asking me? Shouldn't this all be up to Alli?"

Anton scratched his head, sighed and looked toward the front windows. "I kinda thought you'd be cool with it. And it's s'posed ta be good manners or somethin' ta talk to a girl's dad before askin' her. That and uh, I'm pretty sure my dad's gonna have a coronary. He's worried-" He hesitated, wrinkles furrowing his brow. "I think he thinks she's gonna get pregnant and I'm not gonna finish school. I know that's what it is. Like them havin' me was so bad."

Mikey's eyes grew wide. "What? It is? Denim doesn't have a dad. Was I s'pposed to ask Connie before I married Blue Jeans? But she still hates me. Wait. Mom adopted her when Scout and Jem were on their way. Was I s'pposed to ask mom? Our family is kinda confusing."

Anton sighed. "Uncle Mikey."

He shook his head to clear away the pestering thoughts. "Right. Your blessing." Mikey grabbed the shaker of parmesan and dusted it over Anton's head, Anton too surprised to move. "Consider yourself blessed. Make each other super happy for all of the evers. Pro-tip: I recommend chocolate for binding soul glue. And don't worry about babies." Don't think too much about it. Happy place. Happy place. "We're all here to help, so you two can finish school. I think your dad's just worried, cuz you gotta be an adult sometimes when you've got kids and being an adult isn't always fun."

"Rrrright." Anton looked up as sprinkles of cheese tumbled down his cheeks.

As odd as his uncle could be, he was usually right- in his own roundabout way. And hey he'd given his, uh, blessing. His face lit up, only seconds later to fall. So why did he still feel off? "Uncle Mikey, I should be totally stoked right now. And I kinda am, I mean I am. I totally am." He sighed then perked up as an idea struck. "Any chance you'd help me talk to my dad? Great, thanks I'll just call him so we can get it over with because I'm totally proposing tonight." Before Mikey could respond Anton fished his phone out, dialed his dad and put him on speaker.

Raph's gruff voice answered after one ring. "Hey, Son. What's goin' on?"

"Hey, Dad. Uh, so I'm having lunch with Uncle Mikey. I wanted to ask for his blessin' cas I'm gonna ask Alli ta marry me. He said yes. So, I'm askin' her tonight, an I just want ya to be as cool wit it as he is. An don' worry bout nothin' cas we won't get married til after I graduate this spring. So yeah. It's all good. Right? Say it's all good."

As Anton stopped for breath he was met with silence from the other end of the line. He stared at the phone. Seconds passing, he cast pleading eyes on his uncle.

Yup. This was happenin'. Like right now. Open your mouth and say something.

"Uh, yeah. So cool, right? And you can finally stop being all Leo-uptight about their apartment situation." He saw Anton cringe and backpedaled. "Not that you're uptight. Or anything like Leo and his rule-mania. Nope. You're totes all sunshine and rainbows and we absolutely love spending time with you lately."

Mikey gave Anton a thumbs-up as his nephew face-palmed.

Raphael's growl began low, rising until he snapped. "Why, Antonello, can't you wait until yer done wit school?"

Then before Anton could answer, Raph redirected his attention to his brother. "And you, Mikey, ain't thinkin'. But what else ain't new? The two of'ems just kids. They need ta finish school before gettin' serious. But then Alli didn't even go to college. And you're okay wit that. Why is that again? Oh right, she dropped out when she almost died. And point made, she never went back. Man, don' you want more fer her than gettin married and havin' babies that might kill her? Hmm? Or have you forgotten what Denim went through? Nah, ya haven't. You don't want that fer Al. And that's the way those two are headed."

Mikey opened his mouth but Raph switched right back to Anton before he could get a word out. "Antonello, see Al if ya want. I ain't got a problem wit that, but get her outta yer bed and start thinkin wit yer big head not the lil one. Ya got yer whole lives ta get married. Stop rushin'."

"Shut up." Mikey's voice was low, quiet and very unlike him. "Just shut up."

To Anton's amazement, his dad did.

"Alli isn't back in school because she's still recovering. She's better but she isn't all back together again. She'll go back when she's ready, not before. And the reason she's better is Anton. He makes her well. Being together with him is making her well. A little more, every day, he's saving her. So, don't you dare throw her illness out there like some kind of bargaining chip.

"And don't you dare talk about Scout and Jem like they were a mistake. It might've been scary, but they are the most amazing gift ever and I have never regretted them. Besides, thanks to D, it's way safer now than it was then and, news flash, they can decide if and when they want kids. Anton's way more responsible than you, you big hippo-cramp. Or me, for that matter.

"And he isn't rushing anything. He's just proposing. He already said they aren't getting married until he's got his degree. And what's the big deal about him officializing what everybody's known for years." Mikey caught Anton's expression. "I mean the unexpected and surprising but totes right choice now that it's been pointed out, that no one would've guessed before."

Mikey thumbs-upped the phone before realizing that Raph couldn't see him. Maybe everyone, not just Scout, should do video calls. Of course, then he'd have to see Raph's face which would be a downer.

Raph remained quiet a few seconds, long enough to make Anton and Mikey both look at the phone to make sure the call was still connected.

Then he broke his silence. "M'sorry. I was outta line. I din' mean Scout and Jem weren't awesome, or to discount what you an' Denim went through. The two a' you set new standards fer courage. An yer right, there ain't nobody-" He stopped took a deep breath, and chuckled. "If yer so damn smart, Mikey why ya always pretendin' ya ain't? Ya know what don' answer that. You an Denim can take that one to yer graves."

He exhaled a loud residing sigh. "Antonello, there ain't nobody in the family that didn't see you an Alli love each other. We all knew. We've known maybe before you did. Shit, you were younger than me an yer mom. We were surprised you two held back as long as ya did. An even if I give ya shit, I'm glad you two got what you got. An Mikey's right, you should be together, an yer way more responsible than either of us put together. Look at what you two've been through, and be sure you really understand you were a huge part of savin' her. I don' wanna be the one that holds up a bond like that. An' one thing I do know about is bound souls." He chuckled. "Though my bond wit' yer mom didn't involve chocolate. But yer Aunt and Uncle swear by it. Nah. Go on an ask her, Son. Yer Mom 'n me are here if ya need us."

"Holy cow, did you just apologize? To me?" Mikey looked around for confirmation at Anton and several random patrons who'd been doing their best to act like they weren't overhearing. He pulled out his phone and flicked to the calendar. "I gotta record this, so I can celebrate it every year. It's gonna need its own special dish."

"Mikey..." Raph's voice carried an edge of warning.

"Right. Anton and Alli. Blue Jeans can help me create the apoloversary later." Mikey set down his phone and hugged Anton. "Congratulations. Make each other the happiest ever."