Butterfly.
Summary: As a caterpillar hatches from an egg and then transforms into a chrysalis to a butterfly, so does life with its many changes. Y/n and Leonardo are getting ready to take that massive step in society: Marriage. Please read and review, thank you.
Disclaimer: I don't own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles nor do I make money from this.
Author's note:
Hi everyone! Just like many thousands of others, I'm at home. So to bring some distraction, so please enjoy this.
Weddings. Oy. I honestly don't like the whole event itself because of how big of crowds it can hold. So please bear with me when I'm writing this out. I also have been to of 4 weddings in my life. So my memory maybe a bit blurry on some things within this kind of event.
For the inspiration of this one-shot, it's from a piano with a hint of violin, song. There are no words to it, but the song of a piano and hint of violin itself. Look up on YouTube: Butterfly Waltz by Brian Crain. Give it an ear if you want to hear it. And this is 2007 TMNT Leo.
In italics are the flashbacks.
Anyway, please read and review, thank you!
Butterfly:
Today was finally the day!
You were getting married to not just the love of your soul, but your best friend.
Rolling over in your bed after a restless night because you were so excited to be marrying him, you softly smiled. How you became the sun of his solar system was pretty interesting in and of itself.
It wasn't as noticeable as the local news channel but, the newspaper was just as good. Even though you knew that April O'Neil was at Channel 6 news station, you were at a different building that only had 15 people.
As a reporter, you were doing an article on the mysterious new owner of the Shadow Tech and Co. building. It had once belonged to an insane tech geek that April O'Neil had done on the news.
It was also very strange that April was the first one to always report these kinds of events; where the bad guys were always tied up and knocked out.
In many ways, you always felt a bit peeved off that she would get to announce it or was always bringing it to the public's attention. At the time you didn't know why she became a news reporter, but when you were told of the reasonings behind it, it made sense.
So, in order for you to get to the bottom of this new mystery and wanting to be the first to report it, you had to go uncover as a new employee within Shadow Tech and Co.
The building itself was very strange. Always cleaned carpets, someone cleaning the dark shaded windows or something. Another thing that made a red flag fly was how little no one was around. Sure, the receptionist was there, but that was it. No one coming and going to wherever, no bosses or anyone in the hallways. It was eerie.
It was a couple of weeks, that you were in this building, that you got a notice from your bank that you had a large sum of money being dropped into your account. You quickly went and sorted it out with them on what you were doing. For the sake of not having the IRS or the FBI showing up on your door of your apartment, you cashed it all out.
"y/n?" you heard from the door, bringing you to the present time.
"Yes?" you asked the person back.
"We're ready whenever you are," the young man said through the door.
After making a quick look in the mirror; your hair was down and parted from the far left side with white small flowers woven in. You didn't have any make up on because Leo did say that he loved you just the way you are.
Grabbing your bouquet of flowers, you looked over your very elegant ivory white simple A-line charming V floor length chiffon wedding dress as it had a light blue wrapped around under your bust with a bow hidden in the back. It looked like a dress that survived the 1700's even though it was modern.
You opened the door, smiling at the man standing there. His jaw dropped in awe as you walked out and towards where this wedding was taking place.
It wasn't the farm that you always heard of from April or the boys. It was actually a farm that hosted weddings. The place had a massive barn for the after party, one of the fields was used for the vows and ceremony, and the pond was for the photography part.
Your mind starts to wander for a little bit until your father clears his throat.
"Hi dad," you greet him with a soft shy smile.
"Today is the day," he replied back, sadness in his eyes.
He had watched you come into this world, go through so many steps and have gone through so many things up until this point.
"Just think that you're getting a son-in-law and not me going away forever," you tried to console his sorrow.
"I'm more than happy and proud of you, y/n. And I've never seen you look more happier whenever your with…Leonardo was his name?" your dad stated back.
Laughing into your hand, you then said "Yes, dad, and it's because I love him,"
He nodded, breathing heavily as he then said "Let's get this over with or your mom will never get to see her baby girl walk down the aisle,"
"Now, that would be a tragedy," you joked back, giggling.
It seemed to have worked because he chuckled and seemed a lot more relaxed than before.
Taking his arm, you were lead through the barn where the after party was held, down a very narrow walk way as you heard the piano and violin music playing.
Here your memories flooded back to when you met Leonardo.
You didn't honestly know who he was. But that's getting a little too far ahead.
As you were undercover, with no one else to call for backup or even the police for that matter, you soon found out who was the owner of Shadow tech and co.
Long before you were born, there was terror within New York City. Terror that pales in comparison today. It was run by one evil man. He had many different names, but only 2 stuck out: Oroko Saki and the Shredder.
But, according to several past years of news, he was pronounced dead. So how could he be walking, talking, and hell even breathing at this point?
You were down in the warehouse of the building, going through innovatory; guns, knives, chemicals of all sorts, batteries and among other things.
"Y/n?" your father whispered, when you realized that you had stopped walking.
"Sorry, just…" you try to get out; your breathing becomes more hitched.
"Take it slowly. Whenever you're ready to start walking, we will," your father encouraged you, ignoring everybody.
You nodded, forcing yourself to look at the ground; breathing deeply as you had to focus now. How many times did you see Leo do this? Forcing himself to think before acting.
A soft smile appeared on your lips as you looked up. It was then that you realized you were just feet from where Leo, Raph, Donnie and Mikey were all standing, with the wedding officiate standing silently there.
"You okay, y/n?" Leo softly asked; his eyebrow muscles scrunched together.
"I am now," you softly replied back to him.
He nodded; everyone else was waiting patiently for the wedding to continue. It was only then that you actually thought on how big of a crowd it truly turned out to be.
"Come on, little butterfly," Leo softly distracted you.
"Trying," you whispered, breathing heavily again.
"It's not that many if you focus," You heard him say, you focusing more on breathing correctly again.
A soft warm hand gently rubbed your back, as you close your eyes to find your inner focus and strength.
"Just picture everyone in their underwear, little sis!" Mikey piped up.
"Will you shut it!" Raph snarled low at him.
"What? Just trying to help here," Mikey shrugged back.
It made you chuckle as you nodded to your dad, after opening your eyes.
The few feet away from the altar wasn't that bad, you kept your eyes solely on Leo after your father handed you to him.
You also didn't miss the "You better take care of her, son," to Leo.
"I swear on my life, that she will, sir," Leonardo told him, his face becoming stoic and hard to read.
"Dad," you hissed at him.
"All right, all right. I'm stepping back now," he said with his hands up.
It made the crowd chuckle because everyone could relate to it.
The man cleared his throat "Hello, we are here gathered on this day for two people to be wed. That their worlds, even though they had forged it long ago, to be officially one. From what I can understand from both Groom and bride, they have their own vows to read to each other, thus, Miss (y/l/n) will go first. Y/n, are you ready?"
Swallowing thickly, you nodded silently and look to Leo. For a Mutant turtle, he only had a black bow tie and a red rose on his strap for his katanas.
"Take your time, we're in no rush at all," Leo whispered low to you.
"Thank you," you whispered back.
You close your eyes, trying to fight the instinct to flee. You hated crowds; ever since you were a little girl you just did not do well being in front of them.
"I choose you, Leonardo," you suddenly say, locking your eyes onto his bright golden ones. "To be no other than yourself. Loving what I know of you, and trusting on who you will become. I will respect and honor you always and all in ways. I take you to be my spouse, to have and to hold, in tears and in laughter. In sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, from this day forward, in this world and well into the next,"
Leonardo smiled at the ground and then looked up at you, stating "I take you, y/n, to be my best friend, my faithful partner, and my one true love. I promise to encourage you and inspire you. And to love you truly, through the good times and bad. I will forever be there, to laugh with you, to lift you up when you are down. To love you unconditionally through all of our adventures in this life and the next, together. I love you, y/n, forever and always,"
You couldn't help the warm tear trickle down your face at those words. He gently reached over and swiped the tear away, the crowd awed at that.
"If the ring bearer, please step forward," the man said, bringing you back down a little.
Donnie walked up with the ring that Leo had gotten you and the one that Donnie hand made for Leo.
Your ring was a unique blue round diamond with leaves, the metal was a 14 carat rose gold with little white diamonds throughout it. It was very beautiful. For Leonardo's wedding ring it was a simple white titanium with a blue sapphire in the middle around the whole ring.
Leo gently put your ring onto your wedding finger, smiling after it snuggling rested against your knuckle. You handed Donnie your bouquet as then you put Leo's ring onto his "pinky" or third finger.
"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss your bride," the officiate announced, smiling.
Leo gently cupped your face, resting his forehead against your as you leaned forward. Your lips met as there was applause from the crowd.
You ended the kiss quickly, hiding in Leo's neck as he gently hugged you to him.
"It's okay and I'm so proud of you. You did it," he whispered low in your ear.
"I still say that going to the courthouse would have been easier," you mumbled back to him.
He chuckled and said "Nah, getting a picture of Raph tearing up is far more entertaining. Plus I can use it against him,"
You giggled to as you took your bouquet back from Donnie.
"Leonardo and y/n! Welcome to the family, little sister," Raph roughly announced to everyone as you and Leo walked back up the aisle.
A tremendous amount of relief flooded your body as you walked hand in hand with Leo. Your husband!
"I can't believe that we just did that," you mumbled, smiling at him.
"Me too. But, before we get to the partying part, follow me," Leo mumbled softly back, showing his special grin to you.
Walking after him, you wondered what he wanted to show to you.
"Remember how we met?" Leo asked you, slowing his walk down.
"How could I? I was on the tallest tower within New York City and a crazy woman was holding me over the edge," you replied back, rolling your eyes.
"Just how did that come to be?" Leo asked you, gently wrapping his arm around your waist.
"I kept seeing April O'Neil on the news station, that she would be doing these reports first and no one could get there fast enough except her," You honestly told him "So I started to dig around, since I'm a reporter myself and filtrated in the then Shadow tech and co,"
Leo's mouth hung open a little as he then said "I don't want you to do that again. You could've lost your life that night,"
"Leonardo, I can't promise that I will uphold it, but I will tell you that I will act if it's the right choice," you said to him, stopping near the pond.
He nodded and then asked "So why was it Karai and not the Shredder?"
"She found out that I wasn't the real thing and asked if I could meet her at the building. The rooftop part came after I realized what she was intending to do," you explained to him.
"Which was?" Leo pushed for more.
"To kill me at point blank range, but I had said to her that I had to go to the bathroom. It gave me a 5 minute head start but in the wrong direction since that building layout is so damn confusing," you huffed in annoyance at that.
Leo walked over, wrapping his arms around you, gently resting his forehead against yours.
"I'm glad that my gut took me to that building. Otherwise you wouldn't be here, married to me at all," he whispered, his warm golden brown eyes turned almost liquid when he stared into your eyes.
You ignored the clicking sound of the cameramen as you kissed Leo on the lips. The world just fell away as you and Leo were the only two there.
"You're my wife," you heard Leo mumble to himself, almost dreamy like.
"Indeed, I am," you mumbled back, smiling.
"Guys?" you heard Donnie's voice interrupt your moment together.
Leo moved his head and rested his chin on top of your head, looking at his younger brother.
"Sorry, for interrupting, but the guests are curious on what is taking so long," Donnie told them, blushing a lot.
"Its okay, Don. Just tell them that we're taking our time and if they have places to go and such, we understand. Thank them for coming anyway," Leo said, using his leader voice.
A soft shiver ran down and up your spine.
"Okay. Oh, and Leo, I got the results back," Donnie then whispered towards the end.
"And?" Leo asked, his attention was fully on his brother now.
"She can but, through surgery," Donnie replied, swallowing nervously when he looked at you.
"She can?" Leo repeated, the severe gravity tone of his voice made you look at Leo.
"She can, what? And who's she?" you asked him, your curiosity getting the better of you.
"I'll tell you when we're completely alone," Leo answered, knowing that he couldn't fully tell you right now.
"The pictures that I took," the photographer spoke up then "Are not finished but, if you like, we can finish them up,"
"You better explain yourself, Leonardo and that would be great," you scolded your husband and smiled at the photographer.
All the men there, gulped nervously, and nodded.
The pictures were wrapped up and you walked back to the barn. Leo knew he was in the dog house if he didn't explain what Donnie just revealed.
Cutting the cake was interesting as you smashed the piece of it into Leo's face, laughing with everyone else. He also laughed but, in gentlemen like manner did not return the favor.
Throwing the garter was somewhat embarrassing as the men cat called to you. In some ways it made you angry because you weren't a piece of meat.
"Alright, gentlemen," Leo commanded, glaring at some.
Leo threw it and smiled when it landed perfectly in Raph's hand.
"What do I do with dis now?" Raph asked confusedly.
With chuckling and pats on the back, Casey said "Keep it until you get married pal,"
"Uh…right," Raph wisely said, blushing heavily.
"Alright ladies, going to throw my bouquet next," You told them all, turning around.
You chucked it whether they were ready or not, turning back around when it left your hands.
Strangely enough it landed in April's hands.
"AAH! I get to get married next!" she shrieked happily.
"Not ta me I hope!" Raph exclaimed, understanding what this ritual was all about now.
"No, Raph," April smiled at him "but a friend dance wouldn't hurt,"
"We get to dance?" He asked her in confusion.
"After the bride and groom with their parents, the bride and groom and then us, and then who is together the longest," April stated off, counting on her fingers.
You moaned in dreading of these dances, but Leo gently smiled at you.
Somehow, someway, you got through the parent's dancing and the "longest relationship" dancing too.
When it was the dance with just you and Leonardo, your heart raced for some strange reason. True, you have seen him all throughout this event; except before the vows, but, this was different.
Leo had bowed to you, smiling his special grin. Swallowing nervously, you curtsied back and he swept you into his personal space, let alone the waltzing.
"I remember when I first saw you," He mumbled low, locking his dark brown eyes.
"Kind of hard to forget since I was dangling over the side of the building," you mumbled back, smiling.
"You were so terrified, and had every right to be. There is one thing that I still don't know," he said, twirling you softly out of his arms and back in.
"And what is that, Leo?" you asked him when you were close to him.
"How did you survive that fall?" He asked you, his smile was gone but his eyes shown with care.
You didn't answer him, for you were trying to remember.
"Please, please don't do this," you begged Karai who held onto your upper arm.
"I think it was too late for talking," her soft Japanese voice reached your ears.
"Karai, please! I didn't share anything to the media or gathered anything on what is going on within Shadow Tech and co!" you pleaded with her.
"I wouldn't drop her if I was you, Karai," a male's voice entered the picture.
You swung your eyes to the left and gasped. You've heard stories from many different people being saved by these…aliens of some sort. Now that you could see him, you noticed that he wasn't an alien, but a very large walking, talking turtle.
"Hmm," was all Karai said.
You shrieked when she let go of your arm and held onto your wrist.
"Help me!" you screamed at the turtle.
For you, when you looked down, all you saw was an empty street, 100 stories down.
"Karai!" His voice was more on edge with panic.
"I don't think you will be talking anymore," Karai softly said, letting you go entirely.
You let out a massive scream as you tried to grab onto the ledge of the building, but didn't.
"NO!" the turtle yelled, racing towards you as you fell to your doom.
"Oh god, oh god," you whispered, panicking because there was no one there or anything for you to grab.
You kept falling, and the ground kept getting closer and closer.
"Oof!" You grunted out when someone had caught you.
Noticing that you were just 20 feet above the ground, you look at the person and swallowed thickly. It was the Nightwatcher. You heard the stories of him as well.
"You okay, miss?" he asked you through his helmet; his heavy Brooklyn accent came through too.
"Yeah…yeah…though I think I'm going into shock," you mumbled, trembling badly.
"I'm taking ya to the hospital," He informed you as you were loosing consciousness.
"Don't forget the turtle with the blue. He tried to save me from…Karai," you mumbled low, passing out on his shoulder.
You didn't see the Nightwatcher look at you and nod to that.
"Wait, it was Raph who caught you!?" Leo exclaimed when you mumbled out the answer.
"It was Raph?" You repeated back to him in surprise.
"Yeah, a couple of years ago, we had a split literally and figuratively in our family when I went away to get more training. When I was gone, Raph became the Nightwatcher while Don and Mikey took up jobs to help keep things going," Leo explained to you, stunned.
"Whoa. But yeah, he caught me and I remember more strongly of waking up in the hospital the next morning," You said, looking at his chest plates.
"I can't believe that he didn't say anything on it or about you when you came looking for us," Leo said, knowing that their song had ended a long time ago.
"Maybe he didn't want to share it, for some things have to remain a secret," you told Leo, leaning up and kissing him on the lips.
Leo hummed at this as everyone started to clap.
It brought you back to the present and hide in Leo's neck.
"You're alright," He chuckled, holding you to him.
Walking off of the dance floor, you two left the big party in the old 1960's van from Casey and April.
You couldn't wait to start your life with the one who captured your heart from the very start of you investigating Shadow Tech and co.
"I love you, Leonardo," you mumbled to him, taking his hand into yours.
Very skillfully, Leo leaned over and gave you a quick kiss on the lips.
"I love you too, y/n," he replied back.
THE END.