Disclaimer:

Casey: C'mon, I don't wanna do the stupid disclaimer!

Me: Sorry, but everybody has to have a turn.

Casey: You didn't let Donnie have a turn either.

Me: That was different.

Casey: I'll make it worth your while. I'll give you a bag of chocolate-chip cookies. (Holds out a bag of cookies)

Me: Hmm…Make that 2 bags and you've got a deal. (clears throat) MedaLink does not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. If lawyers are reading this, you did not read my story until this point. (eats cookies). On with the story! Oh, and I need that second bag by the next chapter, Jones.

Note: I know a lot of you like this story, so I'm sorry to say this might be the second last chapter. Then I'll write the last one and then an epilogue. Okay, reading time!

"Blue T. to Red T." Leo said into his Shell Cell. "Come in, Red T., over."

"Red T. to Blue T.," Raph answered back to Leo. "Everything's fine here, over."

It was again another beautiful night on the S.S. Nenet as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were ready to commence Operation: Proposal. Tonight was the night that their friend Casey Jones was finally going to ask April O'Neil for her hand in marriage, and they were going to help. They had two missions on their mind: The first was to assist Casey during his dinner with April so he wouldn't screw anything up until after he proposes; the second was to keep Matthias D. Sorel from entering the restaurant they'd be dining at, otherwise total chaos would ensure. Leonardo, Raphael, Tori, and Mari were securing the exits from the outside, Donatello, Splinter and Kelly were going to help Casey, and Michelangelo and Lily would keep watch from the inside.

Casey was taking deep breaths while loosening his bow tie. "I've got to be honest, guys," he said, " I'm kind of a bit nervous."

"Do not worry, Mr. Jones," Splinter told him, "Remember, you are not only doing this because it's the honourable thing to do, but for your undying love for Miss O'Neil."

"Just relax, Casey," Don reassured him. "We'll be telling you what to do with this communicator." He then handed Casey an earpiece with a small speaker on the ear side and a tiny mike on the other. It was small enough so nobody would notice. "Luckily, Leo and the others are going to make sure that Matthias jerk doesn't interfere."

"Donnie, we're here!"

Casey, Donatello, and Splinter looked to find Kelly escorting April to them. Casey's breath was taken away as he gazed at April's beauty, despite her unfortunate condition.

"Hey, Casey," April greeted.

"Uh…Hi, April." Casey greeted back.

"I…I'm really glad you invited me over to dinner tonight."

"Yeah…look, I--

Splinter cleared his throat to get their attention. "I believe you can discuss things over dinner. Now you two enjoy yourselves." He began to force them into the restaurant, finally leaving them when they walked in themselves with their hands linked together.

"Purple T. to Orange T., Casey and April have entered the building, over." Don contacted Mikey.

"Orange T. to Purple, Red, and Blue T.," Mikey contacted all of his brothers. "Targets have reached the destination point (their table) and Matthias has not been spotted. Guys, you're doing a swell job. Orange T., over and out."

"Copy that." Leo, Don, and Raph responded.

Once everyone was at their stations, Mikey and Don were watching Casey and April as they began to look at their menu. They were able to get something to drink as they continued to search for the right meal. Nervous, Casey was drinking like he would finish his glass of water in one sip.

"Casey, are you feeling okay?" April asked. "You look a little nervous about something."

"Yeah," he answered in a quivery voice. "I'm just…really thirsty, I guess." Then, he began to hear bits of static in his ear.

"Casey, are you there?" Don's voice asked through the earpiece.

"Yeah, I'm okay, I guess." Casey whispered into the mike.

"You need to engage in conversation." Splinter's voice suddenly told him through the earpiece. "Ask her how she is feeling."

Casey took a deep breath, preparing to talk to April. "So…uh… are you feeling okay tonight?"

"I fine," she said. "I'm still kind of shocked about being pregnant, but I've gotten over it a bit." She wasn't sure if it was the right thing to say seeing as Casey was the one who got her pregnant, but when she looked at him now, she just couldn't stay mad that much. "It might actually be nice to have a baby. I just hope the guys can handle it and I'll be able to make enough money to raise it." She soon became sad because Casey was looking away from her. She soon decided to change the subject. "So…are you feeling fine tonight?"

"I suppose." Casey said glumly. "It's just…I—

Suddenly, a giant waiter that seemed too large for his own suit. "Welcome, my name is Michel and I'll be your waiter. What'll you have?"

Casey and April finally placed their orders, and when he left, they began to laugh.

"Casey, you can't laugh at…someone's name like that." April said, giggling.

"Well, you're certainly one to talk." Casey said annoyed, still chuckling a bit.

Donatello, Splinter, Kelly, Mikey, and Lily sighed in relief. At least that changed the subject.

Meanwhile, Michelangelo was getting a bad feeling from the Michel person, despite his name sounding funny. Curious, he snuck into the kitchen with Lily using his ninjitsu skills and hid under a table with a cloth over it so they wouldn't be seen.

"Mikey, look!" Lily screamed in whisper. Mikey looked over her head to find she had spotted a bunch of waiters and chefs tied up and gagged on the floor.

"So, 'Michel'," an unknown voice with a French accent said, "did you find the two lovely couple the boss mentioned?"

Michelangelo and Lily looked over to the other side to find Michel talking to someone dressed in a fashion mix of a renegade and the sea.

"Mikey, they're pirates!" Lily gasped.

Mikey sighed. "And all this time I thought pirates were extinct."

"I told you guys, my name is Shark-tooth." Michel said. "And I'm tired of taking people's orders! When is the boss going to pay us?"

"In time, my friend. He says as soon as the time is right, all of these silly bilge rats will be taken hostage. Then, we will have all of our riches as soon as he gets his own."

"What does he mean by that?" Lily asked Mikey.

"I don't know," Mikey said, "but I don't like the sound of this pirate take-over."

Suddenly, his hand slipped on the sparkling, but slippery marble floor, but Lily kept him from falling on his stomach. Unfortunately, she had accidentally pressed his MCM, causing him to change back. Luckily, none of the pirates were looking when the ring of light surrounded him to commence his transformation. When Michelangelo rolled onto his back, he saw Lily looked like she was going to scream.

"Lily, no!" he screamed.

Without even thinking, he locked his lips with Lily so she wouldn't scream, but the two couldn't help but feel such bliss, even if Lily was kissing a turtle. Unfortunately, the pirate talking to Michel (or Shark-tooth as he preferred to be called) had lifted up the tablecloth and found them.

"Ah-hah!" he cheered. "I knew some troublemakers were spying on us!"

"Hey, can't you see we're kissing here?" Mikey said annoyed. In frustration—and the fact he was a bad guy—he punched the pirate right in the face, causing him to black out.

Activating his MCM again, he transformed back into a human with a sigh of relief.

Lily was still in shock. "Mikey, how…why…what the…"

"I'll explain later," said Mikey, "Right now we need to free these hostages." Using a sharp knife he found in the kitchen, he cut the ropes that the hostages were tied up with and sent them free with cheer.

"Thank you so much!" A chef cheered. "How can we ever repay you?"

"Make the best pizza you can bake and you've got yourself a deal."

"We'll make sure that the captain hears about this!" Another chef said. With that, they made their way outside to warn everyone. Meanwhile, Michelangelo was turning on his Shell Cell.

"I've got to call my bros and tell them—

Then, he saw Lily staring at him with the same look she bore when she saw his true form. Upset, he put down his Shell Cell.

"Well, I guess now you know, Lily." Mikey said with sadness. "I'm a fraud—a big, fat, lying, sexy fraud! The truth is my bros and I got mutated by a can of ooze when we were babies. Master Splinter got mutated too when he found us, and he took us in and raised us to be ninjas. Donnie made these Mutant Cloaking Mechanisms to disguise ourselves so we could go on this cruise with Casey and April. I just hope you can forgive me because I…I love…you." He cringed his eyes shut like he was waiting for a brick to be chucked at his head. However, all he felt was the warm embrace of Lily.

"Mikey, I…" she stumbled. "I love you too, you big dummy head."

With joy in their hearts, they shared one long, final kiss. Their moment could have been more romantic, but they had business to take care of.

"Orange T. to Red T. and Blue T., come in." Mikey tried to contact Leonardo and Raphael, but they weren't answering. "Leo? Raph?" Worried, he tried to contact Donatello. "Donnie, we've got major trouble here! There are pirates on board and Leo and Raph aren't answering their Shell Cells!"

"What?" Donnie gasped. "Okay, don't panic, Mikey, I'll check it out."

Meanwhile, Casey was having a better time with April at dinner. Luckily, Splinter had given him plenty of good advice. Unfortunately, they were both a bit angry because their food hadn't come yet.

"C'mon, I'm starving here!" Casey complained.

April sighed. "I know you have to wait a while for your food at restaurants, but it looks like no one has gotten their orders either." She pointed to some other families and couples who were complaining a little more then they were about their misplaced orders. "I have to say, this is getting completely ridiculous."

Out of ideas, Casey tried to contact Splinter again. "Yo, Master Splinter, our food hasn't come up yet and I'm still stuck with this whole thing. Any ideas?"

"Well," the ninjitsu master responded, "I believe the thing best thing to do would be—Donatello, what do you mean your brothers are not responding? I—Taken over by pirates?" It seemed what Michelangelo told Donatello had Splinter more worried about his sons and the entire ship than Casey's date with April.

"Master Splinter, what's going on?" Casey unfortunately shouted into the mike.

"Casey, who are you talking to?" April questioned.

Casey's stomach was turning over. If April found out, then Operation: Proposal would end in failure. "Uh...I wasn't talking to nobody!" he quivered.

"Oh, really." April reached for the earpiece Casey had and put it in her own ear.

"Mr. Jones," Splinter's voice said. "I'm sorry, but it seems something terrible has come up and I—"

"Master Splinter, is that you?" April asked into the mike.

Wherever Splinter was, he had become very embarrassed and looked like he had been in a very awkward situation as he heard April's voice. "Oh! Uh…Miss O'Neil, I had no idea I'd be hearing from you. This is a bit embarrassing and awkward, isn't it? I am definitely no good at playing matchmaker." His last sentence was accidentally whispered into the mike.

"What was that?"

"OH! Umm…it was nothing! Farewell!" He immediately switched his side of communication off and sighed in relief that she didn't spot him from where he was hiding and watching her and Casey.

Meanwhile, April had given Casey a hard look. "Casey Jones, why were you talking to Master Splinter this whole time?"

For Casey, things were not looking good—not looking good at all. "Well, it's just I…there is a…I was only…" Now he finally lost it as he slammed his fist on the table. "Oh, man, I can't keep inside anymore! April, I am really, really, really sorry for what happened, but ever since I got you pregnant, there's been nothing but guilt beating me up inside and no matter what I do, it's just going to keep haunting me for the rest of my life!" Then he quickly got out of his chair. "You know what, I can't do this! You really are a great woman; that's why I'm not good enough to be with you."

As he stormed for the exit, April tried to follow him, but he was too fast. Casey though getting April pregnant was the biggest mistake of his life, but he was too stupid and filled with guilt to see he was just about to make it that.

Meanwhile, Kelly, Donatello, Michelangelo, Lily, and Splinter were hiding under empty tables next to Casey's path. They were just about to leave to see what happened to the others, but then they saw what happened between Casey and April.

"Oh, no he doesn't!" Kelly said, "He didn't come this far just to lose it all!"

"We've gotta stop him!" Mikey exclaimed.

Luckily, Donatello came up with a plan. While no one in the restaurant was looking, he grabbed the side edge of the carpet Casey was running away on. Everyone else did the same. "Okay, everyone," he said, "On three, pull the carpet away from the exit. One…Two…Three!"

All together, they pulled the carpet away, making Casey trip before he escaped. The ring that he was hiding in his pocket had slipped out onto the floor. April and some other customers were coming to his aid. Suddenly, Leonardo, Raphael, Tori, and Mari had appeared from the door that Casey was trying to escape from, exhausted and covered with a few bruises. All of their friends had come out from under the tables.

"Guys, where have you been?" Kelly asked.

"Sorry we're late," said Leo. "but we had to—"

"Looks like we'll have to tell them later, bro." Raph interrupted his brother. "We made it just in time."

"In time for what?" April asked sternly. "What are all of you doing here? What is going on?"

During that time, Casey managed to find the ring in time. As April stared at him when he stood back up, he took her hands in his own. "April, I…" he stumbled. "You know how I told you how I felt about you and all, but after what happened between us, I was afraid you'd stop feeling that way about me and take what I told you that night as a lie, like I was just like Matthias or something."

Now it was April's turn to speak. "Casey," she said, " I know I was mad at you about what happened, but I really don't feel mad anymore. I was wondering why that was after I found out I was pregnant and finally swallowed up my pride and accepted that it was my own fault, too, but, now I figured out that the reason for everything was because…it was out of our love in its strongest form. And if it was that strong, then we really must love each other. I really do love you Casey."

"I love you, too, April."

While they shared a powerful embrace, everyone began to awe the lovebirds and the Turtles, Splinter, and the girls were even crying.

"It's funny," Raph said as tears began to fall from his eyes. "You never like this romantic crap until it happens in reality."

Now that April had forgiven him, Casey's guilt had vanquished and his soul burned with determination.

"Just one last thing April," he said to her. "I really do love and all of that, and this is to show that I'm going to give you the best years of your life." He finally took out the little box and revealed the ring inside. April was so shocked that she looked like she was going to faint. She put her hand over her mouth as Casey knelt down on one knee, taking out the ring and presenting it to her. "April, will you marry me?"

April was going to break out into tears while the Turtles were crossing their fingers and hoping she'd say yes. Taking his hand, she made her decision.

"Casey, I…"she said, trying to breathe from the shock. "Oh, Casey, of course I'll marry you!"

Casey finally got back on his feet, but he looked depressed, obviously not realizing what she just said.

"You know I really meant it when said I loved you," he said. "And after this cruise was over, I was going to find a good job support everybody and everything a husband and dad needed to do. It's your decision, April, but it really would have meant a lot if you just said…WHAT?"

After he finally got it, April gave him a tender kiss on the lips while everyone cheered and wolf whistled.

"Casey Jones, you're such a big bonehead." April joked while embracing him.

Casey smiled as he embraced her back and slid the ring on her finger. Then, the cheering grew louder as they shared one final kiss. However, something happened as the cheering died with their kiss. There was the sound of one person half-clapping when all was quiet. Everyone looked to the door to find that the half-clapper was none other than Matthias D. Sorel.

"Bravo, Mr. Jones, bravo." Matthias untruthfully congratulated.

"What the shell are you doing here!" Raph asked angrily.

"What am I doing here? What are you doing pretending to be married and keeping away the woman who rightfully belongs to me and owning her in more ways than engagement and marriage!"

"April is not some object you can harass, you self-worshipping, perverted pig!" Casey growled.

"I have my own free will, Matthias!" April joined in. "All women do."

Raphael was agreeing with them all the way. "You really are a sick creep, aren't you, you twisted son of a—"

Then, everyone in the room screamed and ducked for cover as Matthias pulled out a gun aimed at Raphael.

"Give April to me, or I will pull the trigger." Matthias demanded. "Oh, and by the way, it's not just you troublemakers whose lives are on the line."

Suddenly, dozens of pirates surrounded the inside of the entire restaurant, with swords and guns in their hands.

"I should've known you had something to do with these pirates!" Mikey exclaimed.

"So you've met my crew then. You see I happen to own the S.S. Nenet, so I already knew April was still single even before I met Casey Jones. I was just waiting for the right moment to take him down and to see how long their relation would last. I didn't expect it to go this far, however. As for my pirate crew, well I happen to be the soul heir of a great pirate treasure. I mean, you didn't really think I just became rich overnight, now did you?"

"You creep!" Leo growled. "You plan to hurt so many lives just because someone doesn't like you for not taking no for an answer!"

"April will be mine, I can assure you."

Suddenly, one of the pirates grabbed Tori's arms and pointed a gun right at her head. She wanted to break free, but if she did, the trigger would be pulled. She just cried, cursing herself for being so helpless. Everyone gasped, but Leonardo was the most worried for her life.

"Tori!"

Matthias chuckled evilly. "So, what will it be: April, or the life of her baby cousin?"

Everyone was going to rush in and save her, but Leonardo stood in front of her, his body acting like a shield.

"I won't let you hurt her!" Leo cried. "If you're going to aim that gun at someone, then let me take the bullet."

Everyone gasped at how he was going to sacrifice his life for her.

"Leo, please," Tori begged. "Don't do this because of me. I'm not worth it!"

"Just like my family, your worth everything to me!" Leonardo took a breath. "If I go down, I just want you to know…I…love you." He didn't know if it was something locked in his heart for a long time or he was just fitting into the moment, he said it and didn't care what anyone else thought.

"Leo…" Tori gasped.

It took Matthias a moment to think, but then he told the pirate to let go of Tori and lower the gun. He aimed his own gun at Leonardo, who was willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of his family, friends, and girl he felt great emotions for. But then suddenly, as Matthias still aimed at him, he turned the gun at Splinter and pulled the trigger. The cries of everyone their was just as loud as the shot from the pistol and the evil cackle of Matthias.

"MASTER SPLINTER! NO!"

Who-hoo! My first cliffhanger! (is surrounded by a circle of weapons aimed at her) I should've known this was going to happen.

Anyway, it's a cliffhanger, but I promise I'll get to work on the last chapter soon. And then I'll write an epilogue. So, yeah, there's only two parts of this story to go. Well, just review. Oh, and no offence to any boys out there named Michel. I just thought the name sounded funny. Sorry.