"Oh, Raf…! If only I had known it was going to be this amazing, we would've done this YEARS ago!"

"You know what they say, Miko…good things come to those who wait."

"Raf…? I-I'm almost ashamed to ask, but…m-maybe just one more…?"

"Whoa. Are you sure, Miko?"

"Miko's got needs, baby. Besides, I hear third time's the charm. C'mon, please…? Don't make me beg."

"Well, all right…but only because you asked so nicely."

"Holy scrap. Raf, suddenly I-I'm not so sure…I mean, it-it's so big."

"In my defense, I did warn you before we got started."

"Oh, what the heck…I'm sure I can find room. Give it here."

"Here you go."

"Mmm…oh God, Raf! Wh-why did you hold out on me for so long? It's so goooood…!"

Suddenly the door slammed open and a panicked Mrs. Esquivel appeared, shrieking at the top of her lungs, "MADRE DE DIOS! WHAT ARE YOU KIDS DOING IN HERE?!"

Looking back at his mother from the kitchen stove, a startled Raf slowly set down a hot plate and blinked in confusion, "Umm…"

Miko grinned, "Mrs. E, these breakfast burritos you fixed are the best! I was just telling Raf how I can't believe that I've never tried these before! I'm already on my third one!"

Mrs. Esquivel stammered, "B-but…but I heard…I-I mean, I thought…"

Raf stared uncomprehendingly at his mother for a moment before the embarrassing truth finally sank in.

"MAMA! Y-you mean, you thought me and Miko…?!"

Mrs. Esquivel said nothing but her cheeks immediately flushed a deep shade of scarlet.

When it finally clicked, Miko suddenly spit out the soda she had been sipping and doubled over as she clutched at her belly and laughed her head off.

"BWAHAHAHAHAHAH!"

A thoroughly humiliated Mrs. Esquivel couldn't help but smirk, "Bueno, esto es genial. Now I know how Ralph Furley always felt…"

Miko wiped a tear from her eye as she giggled, "Mrs. E, you ought to be ashamed of yourself! Only a real pervert with their mind in the gutter would've assumed that me and Raf were up to any naughty shenanigans in here! Oh, the idea…!" She abruptly stopped in mid-sentence as she got a diabolical grin and began to seriously ponder the notion, murmuring, "Oh, the idea…"

Raf sighed, "Miko, c'mon…stop teasing Mama." His eyes twinkled as he deadpanned, "I mean it's not like she can help it if her mind is filled to overflowing with wicked, indecent thoughts that would cause innocent little children like us to run away and cover our heads in shame…"

Miko gasped with mock indignation, "What, you're siding with her over me? I shoulda known…"

Mrs. Esquivel chuckled, "Okay, okay…that's enough, you two. Hurry up and finish eating breakfast. We need to be leaving soon if we're going to make it in time to pick up Miko's parents from the airport, remember?"

"Yes, Mama."

"You got it, Mrs. E."

Mrs. Esquivel sighed, "Miko, dear…remember, we're practically family now. Call me Mama."

For a moment Miko blinked uncertainly. "Ummm, okay…" A cross between a grin and a grimace slowly formed on her face as she forced out the word, "…M-M-Mama."

Satisfied, Raf's mother briskly exited the kitchen as Raf and Miko started to clean up.

Miko exhaled with relief, "I think I liked it better when your Mom couldn't stand me."

Raf snickered, "You'll get used to it."

Several minutes passed before Miko worked up the nerve to break the silence with a soft but urgent whisper.

"I meant what I said, y'know."

"What, about me siding with Mama over you? Miko…"

She shook her head, "No, no…I know better than that. I meant the other thing."

Raf gulped, "Y-you mean…?"

"Mmm-hm." Miko fixed Raf with a steady, simmering stare that could melt steel. Unblinking, she huskily replied, "Let's just say you and I won't need to go through all the trouble of planning where to honeymoon at, 'cause honestly…?" Her feral eyes narrowed into tiny slits, her low voice almost predatory as she growled, "…I don't think we'll be leaving our room much."

As Raf blushed profusely, Miko winked, "Don't worry, Raf-kun. I promise to be a good girl right up until we say our 'I do's,' but as soon as the ceremony is over…? I'm gonna take you apart."

"S-s-scrap, Miko…y-you know if Padre Marcus ever caught you talking like that, he'd have you saying Hail Mary's right up until the day of our wedding…maybe even after!"

"No problem, Raf. I mean, I'd have to actually be Catholic for that to even…oh, riiight." Miko chuckled, her fingertips brushing against the still-unfamiliar sensation of the tiny silver cross hanging from a delicate chain around her neck.

Raf smiled as he watched her and murmured, "Still hard to believe, isn't it?"

She nodded in agreement, "Tell me about it. Seriously, I was just as surprised as everyone else was when I made the decision to speak with Father Marcus. Thank God he didn't make me go through a year's worth of catechises beforehand. I guess after what you and I'd already been through together, he figured my circumstances warranted cutting right to the chase with receiving baptism, first communion and confirmation all at once." She giggled, "Sure made your parents ecstatic, though. I thought your Mama was going to explode from sheer happiness…"

"And you…? Are you happy with your decision, Miko?"

She smiled serenely and with an unshakeable certainty said, "Yes. It was my choice, Raf…and no one else's." Miko then sighed, "I just hope that my parents will be as understanding."

"Never thought I'd say this but I think you're worrying too much, Miko."

She smirked, "Isn't that supposed to be my line, Raf? Like I said, I hope my mother and father will understand, but if they don't…? Well, they better learn how. Look, sooner or later our parents are gonna have to accept the fact that we're not little kids anymore. These are our lives and this is our wedding, remember? Our families need to respect our decision that this isn't going to be a traditional one…Japanese or Mexican."

Raf frowned, "B-but how are we supposed to break it to them? Somehow we've been able to stall up to this point, but you know how smart our parents are. Eventually they're going to find out. Are…are we ready to do this, Miko? I-I mean, really ready…?"

Miko shrugged, "I dunno, I haven't gotten that far yet. I'm making it up as I go."

Raf rolled his eyes and huffed, "Well, thanks. That makes me feel so much better."

Surprised by Raf's snappish tone, Miko tried her best to assuage his fears. "Trust me, Raf…this'll be a piece of cake. We've kept things under wraps this long…what's a little longer?"

"I don't see how Agent Fowler does it…" Raf grumbled.

Miko nodded, "Man, can you imagine all the crazy secrets he's had to keep in the name of international security?"

"Probably keeps a few for interstellar security, too. All I know is I can't take this much longer. I'd almost rather go one-on-one with Soundwave in the Shadowzone than continue tiptoeing around the truth."

A loud voice from the next room suddenly boomed, "RAFAEL! MIKO! VENGA, ACELERA!"

Raf winced reflexively at the sound before he caught himself and sighed, "On our way now, Papa!"

…

"There they are! Otosan! Ogasan! Kocchi da yo!"

Miko waved frantically until her parents finally managed to spot her. She quickly made her way, effortlessly knifing her way through the busy crowds at Mar de Cortés International Airport while Raf and his parents struggled valiantly to keep up. When they finally caught up with her, Miko was already in the process of greeting her mother and father with a brief but respectful bow.

"I'm so glad you both made it! How was the art exhibit in Los Angeles, Ogasan?"

Mrs. Nakadai smiled tiredly, "It was a lot of hard work but it paid off in the end. We managed to sell quite a few pieces so my company considered it a relatively decent success."

"Sweet! How are you doing, Otosan…?"

Mr. Nakadai grumbled, "At least the plane didn't crash."

Miko rolled her eyes and sighed, "I told you, Otosan…it just couldn't be helped that all of our crazy schedules worked out this way." She turned to Raf and whispered, "Today is Butsumetsu. According to the Japanese Almanac on the days of Rokuyo, this is traditionally a very unlucky day to do pretty much anything remotely important, let alone an engagement party! I'm actually pretty surprised that my father agreed to it…!"

Raf raised a curious eyebrow and replied, "What about you, Miko? I seem to recall not too long ago you being scared stiff when all those so-called unlucky things happened to me in Japan."

Miko shrugged, "Ehn…I figure at this rate things couldn't possibly get any worse."

Feeling the sudden onset of a massive headache, Raf groaned, "Holy scrap, it never fails. Just when things are finally beginning to look up, she has to go and give fate the finger…"

Mrs. Nakadai spoke up in defense of her husband, saying, "Now, Miko…your father and I are both progressive-minded adults who are not steeped in superstition. This is why we have graciously decided to acquiesce to your wishes and meet on the unluckiest day imaginable."

Miko's father attempted to smile as his eye twitched impressively.

She couldn't resist and giggled, "Don't worry, Otosan. We're in Mexico, remember? Maybe Butsumetsu doesn't apply here."

Mr. Nakadai growled low and threateningly. Hoping to change the subject before there were any unpleasant altercations between Miko and her father, Raf hurriedly bowed to greet his fiancé's parents.

"Ohayo gozaimasu. It's a pleasure to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Nakadai."

Miko's mother relaxed somewhat and smiled, "Domo arigato gozaimasu, Rafael-san. It is good to see you as well." Miko's father grunted not unpleasantly as he shook Raf's hand.

Under her breath Miko abruptly muttered, "Chikusho…"

Mrs. Nakadai blushed bright scarlet as she scolded, "M-Miko! Language…!"

"I'm sorry, Ogasan…I'm just very sad that my babies couldn't be here…"

Mrs. Esquivel's eyes rounded like saucers as she sputtered, "B-b-babies?! Y-you didn't mention that you had…"

Raf sighed, "…she's talking about her cats, Mama."

Mr. Gonzales stifled a guffaw just as his chastised wife jabbed him in the ribs with an angry finger.

Mrs. Nakadai smiled patiently at her daughter and said, "Miko, it wouldn't have been fair to Chi Chi and Ding Dong if we had to carry them all the way around the world from Japan to America and then to Mexico, would it? They're both very happy back home."

With a childlike timidity, Miko asked, "Yakusoke…?"

Her mother nodded reassuringly, "Yakusoku shimasu."

Raf saw his opening and grinned, "Mr. and Mrs. Nakadai…if I may, it is my great honor to introduce to you…my parents."

As Raf's mother and father grinned and stepped forward, Miko's parents smiled in return and bowed smoothly towards them. For a brief moment Mr. Gonzales and Mrs. Esquivel were both caught off guard and stood motionless, forgetting what to do.

Raf mentally facepalmed and urgently whispered a reminder, "Papa, Mama…we talked about this! When someone from Japan bows to you, you're supposed to bow in return, remember?!"

Thoroughly embarrassed, Mr. Gonzales winced, "Oh! Si, si…"

Raf's father was in such a rush to redeem himself in his son's eyes, he failed to realize just how close he was standing next to Miko's father. When he hurriedly bowed, his head bonked against Mr. Nakadai's in a spectacular collision.

Both men were slightly dazed from the resounding impact and wobbled unsteadily on their feet.

Miko murmured, "Talk about a meeting of the minds…"

As Mrs. Nakadai held onto her husband's arm to help support him, she worriedly asked, "Mrs. Esquivel, is Mr. Gonzales all right…?"

Mrs. Esquivel grinned, "No need to worry. My husband is extremely thick-headed so he'll be just fine."

Mrs. Nakadai's eyes twinkled as she fought the urge to smirk.

Regaining his balance, Miko's father slowly straightened and reflexively apologized. At the exact same moment Raf's father also groaned an apology as he rubbed his aching forehead. The two men caught themselves and chuckled at one another.

Raf's father suddenly reached out and pulled Miko's father into a crushing bear-hug. Loudly he laughed, "Mi hermano!"

Raf and Miko stared slack-jawed as the extremely uncomfortable scene unfolded.

Wide-eyed, Mr. Nakadai was so startled by the unexpected physical contact that he froze in place and stood there stiff as a board. When Mr. Gonzales finally pulled away, Miko's father smiled helplessly as he attempted to take it in stride.

As Raf exhaled shakily, Miko smugly smirked, "Told you it'd be a piece of - "

"SHH!" Raf abruptly realized that he had basically told his fiancé to zip it. He quickly stammered an apology, "S-sorry, Miko. I-I just don't want to risk jinxing this moment…!"

"'Jinx?' Oh, please…since when are you the superstitious type, Raf?"

"Oh, I don't know…probably since I learned that every time you say, 'No problem, Raf! We got this!' it usually ends up with me in the hospital!"

Before Miko could shoot back an angry retort, she heard the distinctive warning sound of her father gruffly clearing his throat. Raf and Miko slowly turned their heads to see both sets of parents silently staring at them.

Raf's father began to laugh uproariously as he said, "It's like they're already married!"

Adjusting his glasses, Raf sighed, "Come on, everybody. Let's hurry up and get Miko's parents through Customs. Trust me…you do not want to mess around with those guys."

…

After leaving the airport, Raf's father loaded the Nakadai's luggage into the family car. He quickly made sure that everyone was safely secured in the vehicle before driving them towards their destination. Raf and Miko had already taken the liberty of reserving a modest banquet hall at a nearby resort hotel, wanting their parents to meet in a neutral territory so there wouldn't be any feelings of awkwardness.

Along the way Mr. Gonzales proudly regaled Miko's parents with nonstop tales about Mexico and its culture. Mr. and Mrs. Nakadai nodded politely, doing their best to keep up with the relentless assault.

"…and so you see, among the most popular musical styles here in Sonora are rancheras! They involve stories about lost loves, and sadly these songs are heard a great deal this time of year. Speaking of which, it is a shame you weren't able to be here for Día de los Muertos! It is always a very important celebration, but the miraculous things that we witnessed this year…?" Mr. Gonzales shook his head as the words momentarily failed him. Finally he sighed, "Fue maravilloso. Me dejó fascinada."

Mrs. Esquivel nudged him fondly and said, "English, my love."

Mr. Gonzales smiled apologetically, "I am sorry, where are my manners?"

Mrs. Nakadai nodded, "It is all right, Gonzales-san. You were saying…?"

"Oh, si! Well anyway, soon after that we were given yet another wonderful surprise when Miko announced that she was joining the church! Father Marcus managed to pull a few strings and she was officially baptized just this past Sunday, and…and…" Mr. Gonzales slowly trailed off as he saw the horrified looks of shock and dismay on Raf and Miko's faces. It quickly dawned on him what he had done and winced, "…a-and she hasn't had a chance to mention it to you yet, has she? Oh, Miko…lo siento."

Miko shrugged as she held out the tiny sliver crucifix for her startled parents to see. After they leaned forward to closely examine it, she sheepishly grinned, "Um…surprise?"

The Nakadais blinked uncertainly for a moment before settling back into their seats. Her mother smiled, "As long as you are happy, Miko." Her father nodded, grunting in agreement.

Everyone in the car sighed with relief, glad that particular cat was finally out of the bag.

Mrs. Nakadai looked at Raf's mother and said, "It does make one wonder, though…our children seem to have a knack for hiding things from us. Why, they had even managed to keep the depth of their relationship a secret until only recently."

Mrs. Esquivel chuckled, "That's true! Are there any other secrets you kids have been keeping?"

Mr. Nakadai broke his characteristic silence and suggested, "Perhaps the government agency they work for deals with aliens from outer space…?"

Exchanging an ephemeral look of panic, Raf and Miko managed to laugh loudly and dismissively at the stray comment just as they arrived at their destination.

After the happy couple and their parents went inside the resort hotel, one of the hotel staff ushered them to an isolated section of the building. Raf paused briefly outside the large double doors leading into the reserved private room before he smiled and said, "Well, this is it."

Miko nodded, "We hope you guys don't mind, but we wanted to keep this little shindig as middle-of-the-road as possible. Didn't want to risk an international incident or anything…"

As he reached for one of the door handles, Raf couldn't help but catch a subtle look exchanged between his parents. He chalked it up to nervousness on their part and didn't think anything more about it as he opened the door.

The moment that the door swung open, Raf and Miko's small party were bombarded by an explosion of color and sound. In the banquet room a massive crowd comprised of nothing less than Raf's entire family leapt to their feet and greeted them with a hearty, "¡SORPRESA!"

The room had been adorned in what could only be described as a fiesta theme. Bold punches of bright greens and reds were set against a passive background of white linens, dishes and clear glass. There were decorations and lots of them. Streamers, pompoms, hanging ornaments and balloons were everywhere, further accenting the festive atmosphere. Raf and Miko looked in disbelief at the long line of crock-pots for the taco bar, stretched far as the eye could see. From an adjoining side room several of Raf's aunts appeared, carrying large plates heaped full of mouthwatering churro cupcakes that were topped with tiny sombreros.

Miko numbly asked, "Is…is that a mariachi band over in the corner…?"

Raf forced himself to nod, "Yes…yes, it is."

Miko nervously crossed herself as her mother meekly asked, "This is middle-of-the-road…?"

Before Miko could formulate an answer, Raf's sister Pilar suddenly appeared and politely whisked Mr. and Mrs. Nakadai away and ushered them to a large table at the front of the room.

Raf stammered, "I-I-I don't understand…we made reservations for a tiny little party for just the six of us! H-how did…wh-what could've…" He stopped in mid-sentence and turned to glare knowingly at his parents. He wasn't at all surprised to see the exact same subtle look from earlier displayed on both their faces.

Flabbergasted, he barely controlled his ire and growled, "What…did…you…do?"

Mrs. Esquivel feigned innocence as she answered, "Why, Rafael…whatever are you talking about?"

"You know what I'm talking about, Mama! What happened to the nice, unassuming, quiet get-together that Miko and I had already arranged?!"

Raf's mother snorted, "Why are you so upset, Rafael? When your father and I found out about the sad little affair you had planned, we had to do something. Honestly, we did you and Miko a favor! We didn't change things all that much. We simply added a little…zest!"

Raf's father loudly agreed, "Si! This is your engagement party, my son! Remember, in Mexico when people commit to love we celebrate with honor!"

Mrs. Esquivel continued, "Besides, your father and I wanted to make a big impression on Miko's parents."

As Miko watched one of Raf's family place an enormous party sombrero onto her father's head, she groaned, "Oh, trust me…you made an impression, all right."

Suddenly Raf's mother was visibly worried, "You don't think it's too formal, do you?"

Before Miko had a chance to state the obvious, Mr. Gonzales moved to stand at the forefront of the room. From seemingly out of thin air he produced a microphone, and following a blast of earsplitting feedback he began to loudly address the room.

"Atención! If everyone will please be quiet we can get started with the matter at hand!"

The din in the room suddenly stilled until there was an eerie silence. It was so quiet one could almost hear a piñata drop. Mr. Gonzales turned towards Miko's parents and stared impassively at them for several tense moments. Nervously they blinked back.

Finally the fragile bubble of silence popped. Raf's father matter-of-factly announced, "As the father of the groom, I have La Pedida, or Father's Approval. I am the one who has the final say about whether these two can be married."

"Wait, what?!" Miko inhaled sharply, shocked at what she was hearing. Raf was equally surprised but held his peace, at least for the moment.

His father continued, "According to proper Mexican tradition, it is my responsibility to speak with the father of the bride beforehand to discuss Rafael's intention to marry Miko. It is done as a sign of respect, where the groom-to-be and his family go to the bride-to-be's household to formally ask for her hand in marriage. This way everyone can get to know each other more closely, since they will soon be related through the union of their children."

He looked sadly at Mr. Nakadai and sighed, "Unfortunately, my son apparently couldn't wait before proposing to your daughter. You have my most sincere apologies for this unforgivable lapse. I can promise you that from this point on we will do things right."

With an almost menacing look Mr. Gonzales turned to his son and sternly ordered, "Rafael, bring me the engagement ring."

Raf stuttered, "P-Papa…?"

"You heard me."

Miko whispered, "Raf, are you actually going to let him do this?!"

Raf murmured, "Miko, I-I…"

Mr. Gonzales interrupted, "That is enough, my son. Not another word."

Raf stared in mute astonishment as his father announced to the room, "Until I say otherwise, Rafael is not allowed to speak to Miko."

Miko and Raf couldn't believe this was happening. Up until this point Mr. Gonzales had been a kindly bastion of comfort and reassurance, but now his normally warm expression was completely unreadable. Miko blinked back her tears as she hesitantly gave Raf her engagement ring.

Raf reluctantly handed the ring to his father, who nodded approvingly and remarked, "I understand that I may seem harsh…perhaps even a little cruel. However, I assure you there is a very good reason for this." He glanced at Raf and Miko as a ghost of a smile passed over his lips. He winked and said, "Please believe me when I say this is for the couple's greater good."

Mr. Gonzales sat down in a nearby chair and smiled warmly as he addressed Miko's parents.

"You are both probably wondering why there are so many people here today. Well, the simple reason our whole family is present for this event is to bear witness. Traditionally in Mexico, when an intended couple publicly vows in front of their loved ones to always remain faithful to one another, their family in turn is obligated to always be available to provide love, guidance and support if needed. Not only does this make the couple's marriage stronger but it also brings the entire family closer."

Mr. Nakadai nodded thoughtfully and murmured, "So desu ka…"

Mr. Gonzales replied, "As I said, according to our traditions I am to discuss the matter with the bride-to-be's father. After we have spoken, you will have the opportunity to talk things over with my son. If you decide to give your approval, then Rafael will be allowed to speak with the intended bride and be free to ask for Miko's hand in marriage in front of everyone assembled. Then and only then will the deal officially be done."

"I understand."

Raf's father grinned proudly and said, "Rafael is a good boy. I couldn't ask for a better son."

Somewhere in the large crowd a voice cried indignantly, "HEY! What about me, Papa…?!"

Mr. Gonzales yelled back, "IF YOU EVER DECIDE TO GET MARRIED THEN YOU GET TO BE THE BETTER SON!" He shook his head and muttered, "Kids…"

Clearing his throat he resumed his conversation with Miko's father. "Rafael may be young but he is very mature for his age. He is smart and always succeeds at whatever he sets his mind to do. My son will go far in life, I promise you."

Mr. Gonzales chuckled, "For years I have suspected that Rafael felt strongly for your daughter Miko. When we finally got to meet her I could see why. She is a lovely girl…strong and full of life's spirit. I immediately knew she was the one for him. I believe they are destined to be very happy together."

He turned and addressed the crowd, "Now Mr. Nakadai has the opportunity to speak with the intended groom."

Miko's father breathed in deeply and said, "There is no need. Recently I spoke at length with young Rafael about this very subject. When I first met him I could easily tell that he cared deeply for my daughter."

He paused momentarily as he glanced at Miko, collecting himself emotionally before going any further.

"My daughter is precious beyond words to me. She has spent most of her life seeking her true place in the world. All that my wife and I have desired is for Miko to be happy. For years we have wondered if she would ever find happiness."

As she listened to her father speak, sparkling tears began to trickle down Miko's flushed cheeks. She didn't bother to wipe them away.

Blinking back a most unseemly tear of his own, Mr. Nakadai said, "When Miko introduced Rafael to us, I was startled when I finally saw it shining in her eyes. I didn't believe it at first, but there it was…the happiness that had eluded my daughter for so long. She was in love."

He sighed, "However, I stubbornly refused to be convinced, not knowing what kind of man Rafael was." Mr. Nakadai nodded at Raf and smiled, "He convinced me."

Reaching out he warmly patted Raf on the back. "No matter how much I attempted to intimidate him, he did not once back down. He stood his ground and never left Miko's side."

Mr. Nakadai faced Mr. Gonzales and said, "Your son is a fine young man, Gonzales-san. Earlier I said that Miko had spent her life seeking her true place in the world. I believe she has found it…with Rafael."

He bowed low to the ground.

"Your son honors me and my family. You should be very proud of him."

Holding tightly onto his wife's hand, Mr. Gonzales beamed at Raf and whispered, "We are."

Miko's father straightened up and happiness stole across his features as he grinned, "I believe it goes without saying that I am in full agreement with our children becoming married."

There was a brief surge of jubilation throughout the room before Mr. Gonzales held up his hands, requesting silence from the excited crowd. He grinned hugely as he nudged his son and handed him the ring.

"What are you waiting for, Son? Don't keep your bride-to-be waiting!"

Raf looked shyly at Miko as he got down on one knee. He whispered, "What was that you said earlier this morning…? 'Third time's the charm?'"

Miko growled, "Raf, I swear if you don't hurry up and put that ring back on my finger where it belongs…"

Mr. Nakadai suddenly stood to his feet and sternly shouted, "YAMETE!"

Raf hung his head as he groaned, "Sooo close…"

Mr. Gonzales stammered, "What? I-I don't understand…"

Mr. Nakadai slowly removed the sombrero from his head and replied, "Although I have agreed to the wedding, the deal is, how do you say, not done."

Raf's father demanded, "What are you saying?"

"I am saying that the ring cannot be placed on Miko's finger…not just yet."

Mrs. Nakadai silently joined her husband's side as he faced the crowd. Together they bowed humbly before he began.

"Thank you very much for inviting us here today and for extending such wonderful hospitality to us. Although my wife and I have had the opportunity to travel to many places around the world, this is actually the first time we have visited Mexico. From the precious little that we have seen since leaving the airport, we can already tell it is a beautiful country."

Mr. Nakadai glanced sideways at his wife and smiled, "In our travels we have seen and experienced much, but even though we have been able to immerse ourselves in other cultures we are still Japanese in our hearts. We Japanese take pride in our ability to adapt to the world and this is reflected in today's society, but because there is always such constant change it is easy to forget one's heritage…one's culture."

He paused somberly before continuing, "Sometimes our culture is all we have. I believe it is very important to our identity as Japanese, which is why I choose to follow many of the old traditional ways." Mr. Nakadai nodded at Mr. Gonzales and said, "You and I are much alike in that. I respect you and your family's beliefs, and humbly ask for your patience and allow me the same courtesy."

Raf's father cautiously nodded his consent and in reply Miko's parents both bowed with deep gratitude.

Looking out at the crowd, Mr. Nakadai chuckled good-naturedly and remarked, "I am still amazed at how large your family is. Our family is relatively tiny by comparison, but in spite of that difference we still believe the same truth: family is extremely important."

"In Japan, marriages used to be arranged by the family. Nowadays marriages based on love have become much more common, which is why many Japanese are opting to forego the long and costly engagement process. However, some conservative parents still insist that tradition be upheld and have the Yuino."

Mrs. Esquivel frowned, "I'm sorry, the what?"

"Yuino."

"No, I don't know. If I did know, I wouldn't be asking."

Mrs. Nakadai quickly determined the source of the momentary confusion. Placing an added emphasis on enunciation, she helpfully offered, "No, no…the Yu-i-no." A fleeting hint of mischief appeared on her face and she added, "…you know?"

Mrs. Esquivel snorted at the humorous play on words.

Miko's father sniffed and resumed his explanation. "Similar to a Western engagement party, the Yuino is a ceremony in which the families of the bride and groom meet for the first time. The betrothal is not traditionally finalized until the Yuino takes place, and that ceremony is what we wish to share with you now."

Relieved, Mr. Gonzales grinned, "We would be honored, mi amigo."

Mr. Nakadai nodded appreciatively. "The Yuino dates back to when the traditional marriage was still arranged. It began when the family of the groom would send gifts to the bride's family by a third party mediator. A member of the groom's family would follow up and visit the bride's family to make certain the engagement was accepted. If everything went well, the bride's family would treat this person to a feast. The family member would then return to the groom's family to announce the acceptance of the gifts and be treated to another feast."

"Today things are much more efficient and a mediator is no longer required. Instead, the bride and groom are personally involved with the process of the ceremony. The Yuino itself is more casual and can take place anywhere. However, it still requires the appropriate…etiquette."

"It is customary for the groom and his parents to have access to the ceremonial room before the ceremony starts, where they can make the necessary preparations beforehand. Then the bride and her family enter the room and a toast is made. In a roundabout way, this has already happened."

Raf huffed, muttering at his parents, "Even though some of us weren't always on the same page…"

Mr. Nakadai went on, "That said, we can simply skip ahead to the Kanpai."

"Kanpai?" Raf's mother raised an eyebrow.

Mr. Gonzales laughed, "Uh, oh. Here we go again."

Mr. Nakadai hurriedly explained, "Kanpai literally translates to 'dry cup.' It is the Japanese word for when we make a toast."

Mr. Gonzales grinned, "Now this we understand!"

Drinks for the toast were quickly prepared and distributed to everyone in the room…everyone that is, except for the intended couple. Even though the legal drinking age in Mexico was 18, Raf was technically underage in the state of Nevada. Miko was of age but didn't have the heart to imbibe in front of her husband-to-be. They happily opted to share a soda instead.

Mr. Nakadai held his glass up and inclined his head at the happy couple.

"Miko, Rafael-san, konyaku omedetou gozaimasu. Naka no yoi fuufu no ie ni wa, kami no shukufuku ga ari. Mainichi ga masumasu tanoshiku shiawase ni naru mono desu. Ofutari mo naka no yoi akarui katei o kizuite kudasai."

His wife took the liberty of translating for everyone present and said, "Miko, Rafael, congratulations on your engagement. For a husband and wife that love each other, God's blessings will be upon them. May every day be full of joy and happiness. May you have a warm, delightful family."

Mr. Nakadai lifted his glass high above his head and shouted, "Omedetou gozaimasu KANPAI!"

Mrs. Nakadai smiled, "Congratulations, CHEERS!"

After everyone took a healthy sip of their drinks, Mr. Gonzales requested the opportunity to make a toast of his own. Mr. Nakadai nodded in agreement.

Mr. Gonzales grinned at Raf and Miko and barked, "¡Salud, pesetas y amor y tiempo para gozarlos!" He turned to the Nakadais and said, "It means, 'Health, money, love and time to enjoy them!"

Everyone shouted in agreement, "¡SALUD!"

After several additional toasts, the parents chuckled happily. Raf's father turned to Miko's father and asked, "So what happens now?"

"Now is probably the most important part of the Yuino. To celebrate the union of the newly engaged couple as well as the joining of their two families, tradition dictates the giving of gifts."

Miko nervously asked, "Otosan, it's not that I'm questioning you or anything…"

Mr. Nakadai sighed, "…but?"

"…b-but are you sure this is such a good idea? I mean, Raf and his family aren't Japanese, and - "

Miko's father gently interupted, "…and that is precisely why we aren't exchanging gifts with Rafael's family. We are only giving gifts. In addition, we are foregoing the traditional exchange of the hakama and the obi. We can take care of those at a later time."

Raf whispered to his fiancé, "Everything okay, Miko?"

Before she could answer, Mrs. Nakadai suddenly appeared out of nowhere with an enormous article of luggage in tow.

As Miko's mother began to carefully remove the ornate rice paper-wrapped gifts contained within, Raf turned to Miko and tried to speak, only to discover he was tongue-tied with a tremendous tally of trepidity.

"Wh-when did she…I didn't even see…wait, exactly how did she get to the car and slog that thing back here so quickly?!"

Miko smirked, "Remember how you and Jack used to wonder how I was always able to slip past everybody to get on the ground-bridge with the Autobots? Well, now you know. I inherited my mad stealth skills from my mom."

Raf chuckled, "Great, I'm marrying into a family of ninjas."

"Hold that thought, Raf. I need to ask my dad something."

Miko quickly raced over to her father's side and whispered urgently in his ear. He raised an eyebrow at her request but eventually nodded.

Mr. Nakadai turned to the crowd and said, "Normally these gifts are given in a specific ritual order. However, my daughter has asked that since much of what has happened has been, shall we say, anything but traditional…we are going to save the second gift to be opened last."

Miko breathed a heavy sigh of relief and rejoined Raf's side.

"What was that all about, Miko?"

"You don't know? I thought you already did your homework on all things Japanese, Raf."

Raf huffed, "It's an awful lot to remember, Miko. I'm doing my best."

"Well, you'll understand shortly, especially when we get to that last gift. I won't lie to you, Raf…things are probably gonna get interesting in a few minutes, so you and I need to be ready if the situation turns ugly. Just follow my lead. We might have to do some serious damage control."

Raf gulped, preparing himself for the worst.

Mr. Gonzales sat down next to his wife and panted slightly, "Why don't you open the gifts, mi amor? I'm going to sit down for a minute or two to catch my breath."

Mrs. Esquivel lovingly kissed his cheek and smirked, "All those long-winded speeches finally getting to you, hmm? Took long enough…"

The gifts had already been marked with identifying numbers so that they were opened in the correct order. Miko and Raf sat nearby while everyone else huddled around and watched with anticipation.

Raf's mother smiled nervously as she opened the first gift. She blinked uncertainly as it revealed a pair of abalone shells. Their highly iridescent inner lining caught the light in a beautiful, almost rainbow-like fashion.

Bypassing the second gift as requested, Mrs. Esquivel opened the third gift. It contained a small pack of dried bonito flakes. Somewhat confused with the gift, she managed to grin with gratitude and moved on to the next one.

The fourth gift was a sealed container of dried cuttlefish. Raf's mother frowned, a look of uncomfortable bewilderment becoming more obvious with each passing moment.

The fifth gift was a package of dried kelp. Completely and utterly confused, Mrs. Esquivel leaned over to her husband and whispered, "What, was the gift shop closed and they had to stop by a fish market instead…?"

Miko's eyes grew wide with alarm. She whirled to face Raf and her flash of panic instantly surged through their shared sparkbond. He gasped, not expecting the sudden feeling of fear.

Scrap, this is culture clash of the worst kind! If my parents heard that, they might interpret it as an insult of losing face…!

Before Miko could freak out any further, her mother abruptly began to giggle.

When all eyes in the room looked to her for an explanation, she smiled apologetically and bonked herself on the forehead before bowing.

"Please forgive me. I see that there is some confusion over the gifts. Permit me to explain and everything will be made clear."

Mrs. Nakadai held up the first gift of abalone shells for everyone to see and elucidated, "The true value in these gifts lies within their hidden meaning. Each gift symbolizes a particular sentiment about the marriage that is to follow. These shells, while pretty to look at, hold a much deeper significance. In Japanese culture, they represent an expression of good wishes and longevity. We call them Naganoshi."

She held up the dried bonito and said, "Katsuibushi, which represents virility in a marriage."

Raf and Miko both began to blush furiously as the crowd of onlookers snickered knowingly.

Miko's mother held aloft the container of dried cuttlefish and smiled, "Surume, representing the wish for a long marriage."

The package of dried kelp was next. "This is Konbu. When offered as a gift, this seaweed is said to bring many happy and healthy children." She glanced at Miko and smiled innocently before saying, "Hopefully I will not have to wait too long before I am blessed with lots of grandchildren."

Everyone roared with laughter as Miko sputtered while sipping her soda.

Mrs. Nakadai turned to Raf's parents and said, "If I may, I would be honored to explain the symbolic meaning for the remainder of the gifts."

Mrs. Esquivel laughed, "I would appreciate that, gracias!"

She eagerly opened the sixth gift, genuinely excited to see what was next. Contained within was a long white thread made from Japanese hemp.

Mrs. Nakadai clarified, "This is called Shiraga, which means white hair. The strength of the hemp's fibers symbolizes strong family ties, implying a bond that cannot be cut. It also represents the wish that the couple will grow old and gray together."

The seventh gift was an elegant pair of Japanese folding fans, one white and the other gold.

"Suehiro. These are given as a wish for happiness and a bigger and better future. The fans are offered closed to symbolize the prosperity that will gradually open with the unfolding of the marriage."

Mr. Nakadai said, "Gonzales-san, you haven't had an opportunity to open any of the gifts yet. Why don't you open the next two gifts and then you and your wife can open the final gift together?"

Raf's father smiled, agreeing to the request.

Mrs. Nakadai produced a lavishly-wrapped package, this one slightly larger than the previous ones.

Mr. Gonzales held his breath as he opened the eighth gift, which to his surprise was revealed to be a traditionally-styled handheld wine cask. It was lacquered in red, with long wooden carrying handles. He whistled appreciatively as he admired the meticulous craftsmanship.

"This is…beautiful."

Mr. Nakadai bowed in gratitude as his wife described this newest gift.

"The Yanagidaru. For the purposes of betrothal, its name is rendered in such a way that makes it a charm against a wasteful wife."

The ninth gift was given in conjunction with the previous one. It was a large barrel of sake, too big to be properly wrapped.

"Unlike a typical barrel of sake, those that are given at an engagement ceremony are made from the wood of yui-no, or willow trees with tender leaves. They are meant to symbolize a pledge for obedience and gentleness in marriage."

Miko made a derisive sound and rolled her eyes. "I'm not that big on drinking to begin with, but even if I were completely tanked I still wouldn't be obedient!" She fixed her gaze on Raf and smiled, "Can't promise I'm gonna be gentle, either."

There were immediate hoots of raucous encouragement from the crowd, causing Raf to blush an impressive shade of crimson. Miko's father sighed before clearing his throat and moving onto the final gift of the ceremony.

Miko whispered to Raf, "This is it. Get ready."

Raf's parents rose to their feet to stand beside Miko's parents in full view of the entire room. Mr. Nakadai smiled as he produced a decorative envelope, beautifully sealed with an ornate gold and silver bow. It was folded in a particular way with the bow facing upwards.

Mrs. Nakadai said, "This is called a Shugi Bukuro. It is a special type of envelope used for important occasions. The bow on the outside is called a mizuhiki, which is crafted from a special kind of waxed cord. Don't worry. We made sure to have the bow facing up."

Mrs. Esquivel asked, "I don't understand, would there be a problem if it wasn't?"

"Actually yes, because otherwise it would represent a condolence gift given at a funeral."

Raf's mother blinked with surprise and replied, "W-well, then…thank you for being so considerate!"

Mr. Nakadai grinned as he handed the envelope to Raf's parents. Everyone held their breath as they opened it.

Mr. Gonzales gasped as he saw that the decorative envelope contained fifty brand new 10,000-yen bills, totaling half a million yen. His hands began to shake as he looked into the Nakadai's smiling faces.

"Th-this is…I can't…"

Mrs. Esquivel turned to her son and asked, "Rafael, offhand do you happen to know how much - "

Raf was way ahead of her and haltingly replied, "…under the current exchange rate, 500,000-yen equals about $5,000 in US dollars."

His mother almost swooned, "M-Madre de dios…!"

Mr. Gonzales suddenly cried, "I cannot accept this! This is too much…!"

Mr. Nakadai continued to smile amicably, slowly shaking his head.

"It is a gift, Gonzales-san."

Raf's father interrupted, "No! It wouldn't be right! I won't!"

Miko watched with growing concern as she took a nervous sip of her soda.

"Gonzales-san, please…"

"I refuse!"

Mr. Nakadai's eye began to twitch angrily.

"Gonzales-san, you - "

At that instant everyone was startled by the abrupt sound of someone choking. All eyes turned to the source and beheld Miko stumbling to her feet, knocking over her chair in a panic as she clutched at her throat with both hands. She attempted to take a breath but it seemed to only make things worse, because all she could manage was a pitiful strangling noise. She desperately grabbed Raf by his shirt, her eyes blown wide with panic.

Someone shouted, "DO SOMETHING, RAFAEL!"

Raf was terrified. At first he had thought that this was just another one of Miko's crazy stunts, but when he saw the look of fear in her eyes he knew it was no act.

Never having been in a situation where he needed to use the Heimlich maneuver, Raf still knew exactly what to do. Fortunately it had been part of his training as an agent. He sprang into action.

He immediately reassured the love of his life, "It's going to be okay, Miko."

He stood behind Miko and braced himself, encircling his arms around her abdomen. He made a fist with one hand and placed it just below her breastbone. Tightly wrapping his other hand around his fist he used just the right amount of force as he quickly pulled inward and upward, pressing into Miko's belly with a series of rapid upward thrusts.

Miko suddenly coughed and gagged violently before finally sagging in Raf's arms. He gingerly eased her to the floor and strained to hear if she was breathing. Not certain, he prepared to perform CPR.

Mrs. Nakadai whispered, "R-Rafael-san, my daughter…is she…?"

Raf didn't answer, his face a mask of grim determination.

Slowly, almost imperceptibly Miko's eyes opened to wink weakly at Raf.

"M-my hero..."

He huffed as the tension bled out of his body and said, "She's okay."

Raf slowly helped Miko to her feet as she rasped, "S-sorry…drink went down the wrong way…"

Mrs. Esquivel crossed herself and whispered, "Alabado sea el Señor." She reached out and gently patted Miko's mother on the back, trying to console the distraught woman as she struggled not to break down in front of everyone.

Mr. Nakadai bowed to Raf before gratefully squeezing his shoulder.

"Rafael…domo arigato."

Raf nodded and looked at his father.

Mr. Gonzales murmured, "I am proud of you, my son."

"Th-thank you, Papa."

Miko's father added, "I am just grateful you were here. If you weren't, who knows what…what might have - " He stopped himself, unable to continue.

Several minutes passed as everyone made certain that Miko was all right.

Without warning, a stern voice uttered, "Now then, where were we?"

The noisy room immediately stilled and became very quiet. All eyes were drawn to the drama unfolding before them.

Mr. Gonzales stubbornly folded his arms and said, "There is still the matter of the money to be resolved, si?"

Raf groaned, "Papa…"

"Stay out of this, my son. This is between me and Señor Nakadai."

"Papa, if you will just let me explain - "

Mr. Gonzales snapped, "Cállate ya, por favor."

Raf's eyes narrowed and he replied, "No, Papa. No lo haré."

Mrs. Esquivel gasped worriedly as she watched her husband slowly turn to glare at their son.

With a dangerously low voice, Raf's father growled, "So. You have something to say, Rafael…?"

Raf started, "I…um…" Nervously glancing around, he happened to see Miko as she quietly snuck to the back of the room without anyone else noticing. They were too busy watching the increasingly heated discussion between the fathers of the intended couple.

Miko began pointing frantically at her father.

Hesitantly Raf said, "M-Mr. Nakadai…"

Miko grinned before using both hands to point at her chest where her heart was located, then following up by sweeping her arms outward in a huge arc.

Raf began to smile, quickly cottoning on.

"Mr. Nakadai, h-he has a very big heart…"

Miko exuberantly thrust both hands high in the air, throwing Raf the horns. She paused for an instant before she then sat on the edge of a nearby table and struck a pose, looking remarkably like Rodin's The Thinker.

Raf fought to hide a smirk and said, "All Mr. Nakadai ever thinks about…"

Miko rubbed her chin thoughtfully as she pondered her next move.

Raf started to sweat. "…is…i-is…"

Miko leapt to her feet and held out one of her hands with the palm facing up. Using her other hand she began to make a peculiar motion, as if she were brushing something unseen off her outstretched palm.

Uncertainly Raf murmured, "…is making it rain?"

Miko facepalmed.

Suddenly Raf got it and practically shouted, "...GENEROUS! Wh-what I meant to say is…all Mr. Nakadai ever thinks about is being generous!"

Exhausted, Miko slumped into a chair and exhaled with relief, hanging her head low but still managing to give Raf a victorious thumbs-up.

Mrs. Nakadai slowly approached Raf's father and said, "You see, Mr. Gonzales…when receiving a gift in Japan, it is actually very good manners to politely refuse at least once or twice before finally accepting it. Anything beyond that…? Well, it's not good."

Mr. Gonzales glanced at his wife before looking back at Miko's father. Finally he sighed, "Very well. I...I am sorry, Señor Nakadai. I am a stubborn, prideful man. Please…forgive me."

Mr. Nakadai smiled and said, "Aren't we all? There is nothing to forgive, Gonzales-san."

Mr. Gonzales replied, "I…I don't know what to say. It's true, you know…what my son said. You are very generous."

Before Miko's father could object to the compliment, Mr. Gonzales abruptly grabbed him in another bone-crushing bear-hug, this time going so far as to lift the smaller man off the ground. Mr. Nakadai chose not to fight the inevitable and chuckled before he was finally set back down.

Miko could not hold herself back and hugged her fiancé. They both giggled happily, glad that they were able to dodge yet another bullet.

Mrs. Esquivel walked next to Raf and Miko and leaned in close before she whispered, "Nice work, you two. You should be on television with an act like that."

They laughed nervously, realizing with a start that she had seen everything.

Everyone turned to face the two fathers, who both grinned at one another as they shook hands.

Mr. Gonzales said, "You know, here in Mexico it is tradition for the intended couple to select Madrinas y Padrinos…mentors…important people who have played an important role in their lives. It is their duty to help guide the couple through the engagement process!"

Mr. Nakadai smiled thoughtfully and replied, "Interesting…in Japan we have something similar to that called the nakodo, or the matchmakers. They are an older social superior who arranges the potential couple's first meeting. Their purpose is to symbolize a stable marriage, and it is their honor to play a very important role in the wedding!"

Mr. Gonzales fired back, "Oh, really? Well, let me tell you something else we do in Mexico…!"

As the two men continued to pontificate about how great their respective cultures were, their wives watched with detached interest.

Under her breath Mrs. Esquivel muttered, "Men…"

When she noticed Mrs. Nakadai looking at her inquisitively, she asked, "What, don't you see what is happening here?"

Miko's mother shook her head no, so Raf's mother explained.

"All this talk about culture and tradition is all well and good, but right now it's nothing more than two grown men trying to one-up each other."

Mrs. Nakadai's eyes widened with mirth as she stifled a most unladylike snort, silently agreeing to the astute observation.

Suddenly Raf's father exclaimed, "We almost forgot! The ring!"

Miko's father started, "Hai! The engagement is only official after the ring has been given!"

Mr. Gonzales impatiently roared, "Rafael! What are you standing around for?! Get to it!"

Raf grumbled as once again he knelt before Miko.

"…can't believe we're doing this again. How many times is this, now? Four…?"

Mr. Nakadai yelped out loud as soon as he heard the unlucky number mentioned, but Miko immediately silenced him with a steely glare.

"I swear…if anybody else so much as breathes too loud, I'll have their guts for garters."

Raf winced, "Scrap, Miko. A little bit hardcore, don't you think?"

Miko smirked, "Be quiet and woo me, Mister Esquivel."

"Yes, ma'am." Raf cleared his throat. "Miko, you are the love of my..."

"...STOP. I've changed my mind. C'mon, Raf…I get it already. I love you, you love me, blah blah blah. Enough, already! The answer still hasn't changed! It's yes! Just hurry up and put the ring on my finger, already. Please...?"

Raf gently slipped the engagement ring onto Miko's slender finger. She sighed contentedly before she growled, "Gimme some sugar, baby."

Raf stood and took Miko's breath away with a toe-curling kiss that left her feeling faint. Their mothers hugged and their fathers happily slapped each other on the back as everyone in the room cheered.

Miko and Raf felt so much joy in their souls that their sparks touched. For a single shining moment their individual thoughts became one.

We did it!

I know! We actually managed to pull it off!

I love you, Miko.

Love you more, Raf.

Miko suddenly felt a tiny tug at the hem of her shorts. She looked down to see Raf's little cousin Bob. He blinked bashfully, looking as though he had a very important question to ask.

She smiled and asked, "What is it, sweetie?"

"So where are you and Rafael gonna get married, Miko…?"

Raf and Miko froze.

Things could not possibly get any worse.

Naturally, things did.

Both sets of parents heard the seemingly innocuous question, and slowly approached their children and encircled them like a hungry school of predatory sharks.

Mr. Gonzales chuckled, "Oh, don't be silly, Bob…!"

Mr. Nakadai fondly ruffled the young boy's hair and smiled, "Hai. We all know where their wedding will be held…don't we, little one?"

Miko and Raf both clenched their eyes shut as their respective parents spoke the words 'Japan' and 'Mexico' in the exact same breath.

Time stopped.

For several agonizing moments there was nothing but the silence of the grave. Even the low undercurrent of murmuring from Raf's extended family members grew quiet.

Oddly enough, it was Miko's mother who shattered the calm before the storm. Mrs. Nakadai dryly commented, "There is an old movie that I especially enjoy. If I remember correctly, one of its most memorable lines is, 'What we have, here…is failure to communicate!'"

Mr. Nakadai politely began, "Miko…? Exactly what are your plans regarding the wedding?"

Mr. Gonzales wasted no time and demanded, "Rafael! You are planning a traditional Mexican wedding…aren't you?!"

Miko's mother asked, "Why can't it be a traditional Japanese wedding? Why should your culture matter more than ours?"

Raf's mother snorted and responded, "I should be asking you the same question!" She turned to her son and urged, "Tell them, Rafael. Don't worry, your father and I are not about to go crazy with things. It will be a nice, respectable wedding held right here in Puerto Peñasco. We live in a more rural area, so we should only expect 300 to 400 guests! Remember, in smaller towns everybody gets invited!"

"So…which is it, Miko?"

"Rafael, I'm waiting…who are you going to side with: them or us?"

With a singular voice, all four parents demanded, "WELL?!"

When no answer was immediately forthcoming from Raf or Miko, Mrs. Esquivel exploded.

"¡AY CARAMBA! I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS TOO GOOD TO LAST!" She angrily began a long, steady rant in her native tongue, laced with a healthy amount of stinging expletives.

Things began to spiral out of control after that.

Mrs. Nakadai sobbed, "Miko, how could you do this to us?!"

Mr. Gonzales rumbled, "Rafael, I am very disappointed…"

Mr. Nakadai sniffed, "I never should have agreed to have the Yuino on Butsumetsu."

Raf's mother eventually switched back to English, saying, "Rafael, are you even planning to have a proper wedding in the church?!"

Raf's father added, "This isn't right, my son! Think of your family! Tradition demands…!"

Miko's mother cautioned, "Miko, is this what you truly want?"

Miko's father shook his head and sighed, "Be honest with yourself, Miko. Do you seriously believe - "

"DAMARU KUDASAI!"

Miko's parents immediately stopped talking. They were absolutely shocked that their daughter would ever speak to them in such a fashion but chose not to address it.

Raf's parents did not understand the words but their meaning was perfectly clear. They grew quiet as well and waited for their prospective daughter-in-law to speak.

Tearfully Miko sniffed and said, "This…is exactly what Raf and I were so afraid of. All we ever wanted was for our families to come together and celebrate our getting married, but I guess that's just too much to ask. Well, let me tell you something: this is going to be our wedding." She motioned towards her own parents and said, "Not yours…" and followed up with an identical motion towards Raf's parents, "…and not yours. No one is going to dictate to us what kind of wedding we're going to have."

She slowly rose to her feet, sighing tiredly as she wiped a few stray tears from her eyes.

"If you don't like it, then you don't have to come." She shrugged, "Sooo, that's it. I'm done."

Before turning to leave, Miko fired off one more parting shot.

"Thanks for making this such a memorable experience, everyone."

With that, Miko simply walked out of the room.

Raf was right behind her.

He was honestly surprised she had held on as long as she had. Through their sparkbond, Raf could easily feel the turmoil in Miko's spirit. It was a painful experience but he knew he had to remain strong for her.

Miko eventually came to a stop in the hallway and allowed Raf to catch up with her.

He panted, "M-Miko..."

She didn't look at him and said, "What do you want me to say, Raf? That you were right? That we weren't ready...? Fine. You were right. You were...y-you..."

Miko's shoulders began to tremble and Raf immediately reached out to comfort her. As soon as she felt his gentle touch she crumpled, turning around and falling into his waiting arms.

"Oh, Goddd...! Raf, I'm so sorry! This is my fault!" She sobbed.

"It's okay, Miko. It's going to work out, I promise."

"How can you say that after what we just went through back there?! Our parents are so caught up in keeping with tradition that they could care less about what we want!" Tears continued to stream down her cheeks. "Th-they don't love us, Raf."

"Miko, you know that's not true."

She folded her arms and huffed, "Well, it sure feels like it."

Miko thought for a long moment, then finally said, "Fine. We'll show them. We don't need them."

She looked deeply into his eyes.

"Let's do it, Raf."

"Wh-what? What are you - '

"Remember? What we talked about that day years ago...? Let's run away together and elope, just like Jack and Arcee did."

Raf smiled tenderly, brushing away her tears as he caressed her cheek.

"Miko..."

Hearing his soft utterance of her name, Miko lost all restraint and leapt into Raf's arms. She didn't hold back as she desperately kissed him, her lips plundering his like their lives depended on it.

Raf reluctantly pulled back and whispered, "...w-we can't."

"What? Why not...?"

"Because, Miko...it would destroy our families. We can't give up on them, especially not now. We've got to show them, Miko...we've got to show them that now, more than ever, they need to put aside their differences and pull together. We can't be selfish and leave things like this. We - "

"S-selfish...? Did you say selfish?"

Raf flinched, unprepared for the flash of anger and hurt on Miko's face.

"After everything - everything - that you and I have been through, you're actually going to stand there and tell me that I'm being selfish? Why, because I grabbed the one shred of happiness I've ever found and held onto it for dear life?! We've been through hell on earth, Raf! Dammit, we deserve to be happy...!"

Fear and uncertainty suddenly filled Miko's eyes.

"...don't we?"

"Not at the cost our families." Raf didn't budge, not knowing how else to say to make her see.

The turbulent emotions that had been swirling about on Miko's expression abruptly vanished as she buried them deep within her innermost being.

"...I see."

Raf started, "Miko, wait...hold on, this is - this is crazy! Why...why are we talking like this? What are we doing? I mean, if I didn't know better, I'd almost say it feels like we're - "

"...breaking up? Yeah, I was thinking the same thing."

Suddenly more afraid than he had ever been in his entire life, Raf begged, "Miko, don't do this. Please...please. I love you. I'm your Sparkmate, remember? There's got to be a way that we can work this out."

"If there is, I can't see it. Can you?"

Raf hesitated only for the briefest of instants.

It was enough.

She nodded sadly.

"That's what I thought."

Without saying a word Miko quietly removed the ring from her finger and placed it on the floor between her and Raf.

Miko's tears fell like rain as she took a step backwards.

"S-Saraba, Raf-kun. Watashi wa anata o eien ni aishimasu."

She turned on her heel and ran away.

Raf was rooted to the spot, not moving and unable to accept that this was happening.

Already out of view, Miko wiped the burning tears from her eyes and blindly hurtled down the hotel corridor as if all the demons in hell were snapping at her heels. Without breaking stride, she pulled out her cell phone and punched in a very special number on speed-dial.

"RATCHET...!"

…

"Oh, puh-leaze. Do they seriously still expect us to believe that Adam was killed in the cabin explosion? I didn't fall off the fuel truck yesterday, you know..."

Ratchet continued to vent, angrily grousing to no one in particular. Everyone knew from previous experience that the old Autobot medic was even testier than usual when he was watching his stories, which is why they stayed clear and gave him an extremely wide berth.

The com-link began to buzz insistently.

It never fails, he mused silently. He opened the channel and impatiently sighed, "Ratchet, here. What is it, Miko?"

He winced as her shrill voice blasted through the intercom, loudly echoing throughout Hangar E and causing his sensitive audio receptors to ring.

"I don't have any time for your scrap, Ratchet! I need an emergency ground-bridge at these coordinates!"

"What's wrong, Miko? Is everything all right? You sound like - "

"WHAT PART OF THE WORD 'EMERGENCY' DID YOU NOT UNDERSTAND?! I SAID NOW, SLAG IT!"

As Ratchet activated the controls for the ground-bridge he sensed the ponderous approach of one of his fellow Autobots.

"Uh...what's going on, Ratchet? Was that Miko's voice I heard?"

Ratchet keyed the final sequence of controls and grumbled, "See for yourself."

The swirling emerald vortex of the ground-bridge suddenly burst into existence. Seconds later Miko appeared.

"MIKO!"

Hearing the happy bellow from Bulkhead, Miko tried to put on a brave front and forced a grin. She looked up and saw the look of honest concern on her beloved Autobot guardian's face. She suddenly couldn't hold it inside any longer and came undone, losing all semblance of control. Miko fell to her knees and began sobbing.

Bulkhead all but ran over to his tiny human charge, gingerly scooping her up in his giant metal hands.

Haltingly he said, "Wh-what's wrong, Miko? Don't cry, kid...y-you know I can't handle it when you get like this. I'm here, okay? Now, tell me what happened..."

…

Raf abruptly snapped to his senses as he heard the distinctive sound of the ground-bridge portal opening. His heart sank as he realized what about to happen.

"Miko...no...NO!"

He took off like a rocket and sprinted after her. Rounding the corner he saw the ground-bridge just as it was beginning to close. Ignoring the danger he leapt into the vortex seconds before it sealed shut, instantaneously reappearing hundreds of miles away inside Hangar E.

Raf frantically looked around, calling out Miko's name. An uncomfortable silence was his only answer.

He finally saw Ratchet and asked, "Ratchet, where is she? Where is..." Raf's voice trailed off when he noticed the wide-eyed look of alarm on Ratchet's face, realizing all too late that the old Autobot had been silently attempting to warn him.

As a huge shadow enveloped him, Raf stumbled and barely kept his footing as a familiar impact tremor thundered through the entire Autobot headquarters. He turned and saw Bulkhead looming menacingly over him.

"Where's Miko, Bulkhead?"

The Autobot Wrecker glared, saying nothing in reply.

"Raf sighed, "Look, I know we've had our differences in the past but I don't have time for this. Where is she?"

Bulkhead continued to give Raf the silent treatment.

Raf gave up and murmured, "Whatever."

"You...promised."

Raf started slightly at the unexpected words and gazed up at Bulkhead.

"B-Bulkhead, I - "

"YOU PROMISED!" The Wrecker roared, "You gave me your word, Raf! You said you would always take care of Miko. She...she was crying, Raf." Bulkhead's optics suddenly blazed furiously as he bellowed, "YOU MADE MIKO CRY!"

Raf hung his head forlornly.

"I...I know. I messed up big time, Bulkhead." He chanced looking up into Bulkhead's optics and pleaded, "I just need to talk to Miko, and hopefully we can figure things out. Please, if you'll give me a chance - "

"NO. I already gave you a chance and you blew it. Get a clue, genius...Miko doesn't want to talk and even if she did, right now you're the last person she wants to see."

Bulkhead reached down and grabbed Raf, roughly picking him up by the scruff of his shirt.

Raf struggled, "H-hey, what are you doing?! Put me down!"

Bulkhead rumbled, "She's done with you and y'know what? So am I." He turned to Ratchet and said, "Open the ground-bridge, Doc."

The Autobot medic frowned and blinked uncertainly. "I...I don't think - "

"DO IT!"

Ratchet sighed and reluctantly re-opened the ground-bridge.

Bulkhead held Raf at eye level and glowered threateningly at him.

"If you were anyone else you'd be a stain on the highway. Thank your lucky stars I'm in a forgiving mood today." He began to move towards the swirling ground-bridge vortex.

Raf desperately fought to free himself from the Wrecker's iron grip, shouting, "Bulkhead, don't do this! Let me go! You can't...!"

"Don't come back here ever again. Next time I won't be so gentle."

Bulkhead unceremoniously tossed Raf through the ground-bridge, returning him to the hotel in Mexico.

Before Raf had a chance to return, Bulkhead transformed one of his giant fists into its wrecking ball mode and smashed the ground-bridge controls. The ground-bridge abruptly dissipated and vanished from existence.

Bulkhead snorted approvingly, "Good riddance."

Ratchet furiously whispered, "Do you have any idea what you've done...?"

"Something I should've done ages ago, Doc."

"BULKHEAD, I NEEDED THAT!"

Irritated, the Wrecker rolled his optics as he whirled around and shouted, "Yeah, yeah...I GET IT, ALREADY! YOU NEEDED THAT AND I WRECKED IT! IT'S WHAT I DO BEST, RIGHT?! I WRECK THINGS!" He stepped closer until his face was only inches away from Ratchet's. He threatened, "You got a problem with that...?"

Ratchet remained silent.

Bulkhead nodded and rumbled, "Didn't think so. Nobody makes Miko cry." The mere thought of his favorite human in distress suddenly infuriated Bulkhead. In a fleeting fit of rage he slammed his armored fist onto another control panel. Sparks flew as it shorted out.

He shrugged it off and called out, "Miko...? Miko, I took care of things. It's safe to come out, now."

Confused when there was no answer, the Wrecker looked around and asked, "Where is she, anyway?"

Ratchet folded his arms across his chest and sighed, "That's what I've been trying to tell you, bolts-for-brains. While you were preoccupied with telling off young Rafael, Miko managed to slip away."

Bulkhead huffed, "Scrap. No problem, Ratchet. Just put a trace on her com-link signal and we can track her down."

"Funny thing...that last instrument panel you destroyed also happened to be the communications controls."

"Uhhh..."

"Don't hurt yourself trying to figure it out, Bulkhead. What it means is that thanks to your little temper tantrum, not only are we unable to use the ground-bridge but to make matters even worse we are completely unable to track Miko's position."

Bulkhead hung his head in shame.

"Aw, scrap."

"Yip, yip, yip...come on, lend a servo. This mess isn't fixing itself."

…

In Mexico Raf raised his aching head, watching helplessly as the ground-bridge collapsed in on itself and disappeared. He slowly stood to his feet just as his older sister Pilar hurriedly rounded the corner and came to a skidding stop next to him.

She looked around and worriedly asked, "Rafael...? Where's Miko?"

Distantly he murmured, "She...she ran away."

He happened to look down and saw the ring. He stooped to pick it up.

Pilar's heart went out to her little brother.

"Oh Dios, hermanito...no! Wh-what about the wedding?"

"The wedding?" Raf straightened up as a single tear slid down his cheek.

He whispered, "The wedding's off."