I'll be with you darlin' soon,
Be with you when the stars start fallin'.
I've been waitin' so long
To be where I'm going
In the sunshine of your love.
-Sunshine of Your Love, Cream

Raph is never been happier. Don and him are together again! This is the happiest moment he ever had. Yet, there is an annoying side of it…

M: Congrats! Oh my! Let's celebrate!
L: Take care of our Donnie, Raph.
C: Dude! I heard Donnie said "Yes"! Wow, nice dude! Glad you're serious to him now.
S: Raph and Donnie sitting on the tree!
A: I'll allow this Raphael. But I still am watching you.
T: Dude, he totally liked you even before!

These guys. When it started from Mikey, it literally scattered everywhere.
After strolling in the mall, they are on the car nibbling their takeouts on the way home. Since that lovely moment in the bookstore, it never left Raph's head. That kiss and the fact Donnie said "Yes".
But that doesn't set him off the hook. He needs Donnie's forgiveness. He needs to know the truth. He knew it will crash down as he didn't have the courage to tell him before the date. He doesn't want to lose Don and it's getting really conflicted and complicated to explain.
Another one is April. Now he learned the observance of Casey about April liking Donnie. She seemed happy to their progress but he knew that she is not deep inside. She is trying to take advantage of Donnie ever since they crossed paths.
He noticed Don is munching his fries while staring at the window. It seemed to be something is bugging him.

M: You should invite Donnie to this flea market in Eastman St. He likes that place.

Well, thank gods for Mikey.
"Hey, Don." Raph said while his hands are on the wheel. "Want to go to the market right now?"
He didn't expect Don to look at him and smiling like a kid. So, that's what's bugging him.
"You sure, Raphie?" Don asked.
"Yeah, why not? It's our date after all." Raph replied, causing Don to nod. Raph took the other turn to get there.
It's been long since Raph went to that area, being busy with his fame and all. They saw the seawall and the streetlights passing them as they go. Donnie just stared in amazement. There are many food establishments, booths and the sunset to entertain them. Raph parked his car near the playground. Between the seaside and the market is a small playground.
"Here we are, Donnie." Raph spoke. He can see the beam in Donnie's face, that happy smile. He always wanted to see that in his boyfriend.
They got off the car. While walking, he held Don's hand gently. His lover responded by intertwining his fingers into his. They felt the ambience of peace and happiness at the playground, with the giggles of children heard in the area.
Raph remembered the usual dates he had with Don before. He only did that routine in the first week they got together and nothing else. The date he did are always eating at fancy restaurants.
"You know, I always wanted to go to this place. I always go here alone and… I always see couples here. It made me a little envious…" Donnie said while looking downwards shyly.

"Raph, want to go to the park with us?" Mikey asked as he grabbed Leo's coat. He can feel Don's eagerness to go even though he is staring at the laptop monitor.
"Had to finish these riffs…" Raph replied. He can feel Don's sadness all over. "Can you finish that later?" He shyly asked. "You can go alone, Don." Raph spoke.
Donnie remained silent, same as Leo and Mikey. It seemed that the couple knew something is up about his relationship with Don.
"You go ahead, guys… I'll stay." The bassist said. The couple only nodded and went ahead. It gave an awkward silence as Donnie went to his room.
"I don't want to go alone anymore…" Raph heard him whispered.

Now, it clicked on him. Don never wanted expensive places. He only wanted simpler things.
"Raphie, we're in the market now." Donnie said. He saw bright lights all over the place. It's like a modern version of a festival. It had a lot of selling goods and people who wanted to visit. There are two pathways but it all leads in the same end.
Don holds Raph's hand tighter and leads the way to the right path. Different products are there, from toys to figurines to food. Donnie is smiling widely as he stared at them.
Don doesn't need to be alone anymore. Raph will never let him go no matter what happens.
"What are you looking at, Donnie?" Raph asked while wrapping his arm around Don's shoulders. Don just stared at the dangling necklaces. He seemed to be interested at the steel butterfly pendant.
"This is pretty." Don murmured. All of a sudden, the sales lady removed it and gave it to Raph.
"Raphie-" Don squeaked and protested. Raph puts it on Don's neck and locked it.
"It's a little gift from me." Raph whispered. The sales lady gave a simple pendant, another butterfly as well. It seemed they have a promo of taking one for free. It made Donnie delighted.
"T-two butterflies… You're the bigger one." Donnie pointed the pendant that had the thicker steel and giggled.
Raph felt this weird feeling, some sort of contentment and enjoyment. Maybe because his love is beside him, they continued to stroll along until they reached the end of the lane. It had a lot of smoothie booths. While holding Don's gentle had, he bought mango flavor smoothies. They took a quick turn to go to the other path.
"You know, Raphie… I'm having these… Uhh… Images…" Don confessed. "Of… Wanting someone to be here with me… But he never granted it…" Raph's eyes widened. It made him immobile.

Don is having memory flashbacks.

He might remember everything.

Everything is so well and not it's started to get shit storm.

"The face is blurred though…" Donnie walked but he noticed Raph is out of his league. "Raphie… Something wrong?"
"I'm sorry…" is all he said. He wanted to cry but couldn't. It's too public.
"What are you saying sorry for, Raphie? It's nothing, really… It's just a weird day dream, I guess…" He said but Raph is still distressed.
'Raphie…" He squeezed his hand gently. Raph stared at Don's eyes. It really had sparkles of innocence on it. He can't dare losing those glint of happiness, like what he did before.
"Donnie… I'm sorry… I…" Raph whispered. Donnie kissed his nose. "Hey, Raphie… I'm alright. It's just a random thought. I don't want to ruin your day by it."
"No, Donnie… I'm sorry. I didn't make you happy…" Raph said.
"What are you talking about, Raphie? I'm happy we're together. I'm happy I'm with you. Please, forget what I said, okay?" Donnie spoke. It made Raph calmed down yet his conscience is still bugging him. Donnie said to him way back that the past doesn't matter to him anymore. But Raph's guilt is eating him whole.
"I'm sorry, Raphie. I didn't mean to ruin our date." He said, looking down.
Ah, shit. Raph completely ruined the date.
"No, Donnie… I'm just worried to you." Raph said. It was a both lie and truth because of his reasons. He is worried that Don's memories might come back. He is worried about the repercussions because of his amnesia.
Donnie giggled. "Relax, Raphie. I'm fine." The bassist snuggled his arm. Raph smiled at the gesture, some of his worries washed away.

Finally, they got out of the market. They made a little shopping for their trip. They walked back to the car and dumped their bags before going to the seawall. Many people are walking, eating at the booths and couples sitting at the seawall to watch the view. It gives him more reasons why Donnie wanted to be with someone in going here.
He thought it's a nice way to end their date as they will have a big tour tomorrow.

"Raph! Donnie!" Mikey screamed at a food booth. What a way to end this date, really.
They are seated beside Leo and Mikey, who are eating dumplings.
"Leo asked me to a date here." Mikey squeaked as he holds Leo's arm. His lover is blushing profusely. Raph and Don's orders arrived after. They got hungry as well from the walk they had earlier.
"I didn't know you knew this place, Raph." Leo said as he sipped his tea.
"I knew this before but I haven't been here." He reasoned.
"Well, seemed that your boyfriend is very happy in your official date!" Mikey smirked, which caused Raph's fuse to go off again. He halted when he heard a warm laugh from Donnie. Seemed that he agreed to what Mikey had said.
"Leo! Let's go on the wall already!" Mikey tugged Leo's shirt. The vocalist just nodded and smiled. He lifted Mikey so he can climb on. Leo followed and sat beside him. He wrapped his arm around Mikey's after he put a blanket around them.

Donnie is smiling at the sight of their band mates having a moment together. It gave a signal to Raph.
"Want to eat there instead, Don?" Raph inquired. His lover nodded shyly. They stood up, Donnie carrying the plates with the dumplings and their drinks. He placed them on the higher platform. Raph holds Donnie's hips to hoist him up. Once he got up there, he climbed up and sat gently. Raph did the same, too.

Raph liked the stargazing. The moon is illuminating brightly with the stars, even the lights of the planes are there as well. The calming splash of the waves creates a romantic feeling.
Don felt a thick jacket on his shoulder once again. He muttered thanks to his lover. Donnie was eating a dumpling while his head was on Raph's shoulder. Both blushed as this affection thing is still new to them. Raph wrapped his arm behind his lover to embrace him closer. The bassist is enjoying the view of the moon, the stars and the calming sea waves.
"Thank you, Raphie. I enjoyed our date very much." Don murmured as he snuggled to his side. Raph smiled as it's a success that he made Don contented.

"I love you, Raphie."
Those words really tugged Raph's heartstrings. He never felt so happy, even happier than his career success.
"Love you too, Donnie." He whispered. Raph leaned down to kiss those sweet lips. The contact is short but fulfilling. Raph's lover giggled softly as they continued to watch the scenery.

Leo and Mikey are pleased to the new couple. It seemed their mission is accomplished.

The venue is real btw.

Every Sept. - Dec. there is this kind of a flea market that near the Sea Wall (It's like Baywalk) and also a carnival near the main market (Will put this in the future chapters). I basically am Donnie there, as I always wanted to go with "my partner" there. It's been what I wanted since high school.

The butterfly pendants are real too, like in the picture since I owned them. The one on the left (The thicker steel) is what "he" gave me three years ago, the one on the right, is what I bought in the said flea market. I've seen some arts that Donnie is always associated with butterflies, maybe because of his gentle nature.

Next is Tour Day!