"It's Izzy you should be yelling at she's the one that did all this." Willow laughed as her father Paul and mother Maggie walked through the large hotel that was set across the street from the Garden, where the reception would be taking place.
"It's too much." Maggie argued crossing her arms over her chest. "She needs to be reeled in."
"Well, it's already paid for, she said something about getting some kind of discount for dropping Mr. O'Hare's name so, really it's not that bad...?" Willow shrugged as Paul snorted, holding the elevator door open for his daughter and wife.
"We're paying for the open bar and our families rooms, that's all she would let us do." He huffed.
"You also gave Leo and I an amazing wedding present already, which he has pictures to show you dad. He's so proud..." Willow smiled happily. "He always comes home with where everything is going to go and who's gonna teach what... It's amazing."
"You're so happy." Maggie said, admiring her daughter as she smiled.
"I am. Extremely." Willow said as Paul nodded.
"That's all I needed to hear. When's the rehearsal dinner?" Paul asked, rolling out onto the floor where himself, Maggie and their family would be staying on.
"At four I believe. We need to be across the street at three thirty promptly. When is gram and the others coming?" Willow asked.
"Papa said they'd be here early to check into their room around eleven tomorrow morning. As well as your cousins. I already called aunt Dana to make sure." Maggie said walking down the long hallway with her husband and daughter.
"Oh good. I just want them to be one time...The Justice of the Peace is about as serious as Leo it's unnerving."
"You know baby, if you didn't like him you could have gotten another one." Maggie said, holding the hotel room door opened for her husband and daughter.
"No, Leo liked him and he wanted to pick." She shrugged. "I did so much else with picking and the wedding and he was so excited to contribute, I wasn't going to take that away from him just because the guy is too serious. I'll get over it." She shrugged entering the room.
"Well, he better not say anything to my baby or he'll have a serious problem with momma bear." Maggie said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. Willow chuckled rolling her eyes.
"I forgot about momma bear. She's rather scary."
"Hey!" Leo called, jogging into the room and kissing Willow on the side of the head. "Sorry I'm late, Zachary was told he needed to get our suits pressed before we could take them out of the store. I'm assuming that was Izzy's doing?" Leo asked, looking at Willow who shrugged.
"See, reeled in." Maggie said, doing the motion of reeling a fish in with a fishing rod.
"Stop it mah. She's fine." Willow chuckled as Leo rolled his eyes.
"So, how do you like the room?" Leo asked, looking around himself. "Looks similar to ours."
"Yeah, apparently we're directly above you." Willow added.
"Which means we'll hear everything." Maggie said, pointing a finger at Leo.
"Oh please, we're gonna be too tired to do anything after the reception." Willow said, yawning a little.
"Apparently you're already tired. Maybe you should nap before the rehearsal dinner?" Maggie asked, placing her hands on her daughter's pink cheeks. "You feel warm, are you coming down with something?"
"Mah, stop. I'm fine." Willow said, rolling her eyes. "I'm just a little tired from trying to play catch up with the wedding and Izzy calling me every five seconds to make sure everything is in it's perfect little place. Also, Felicia and Raph apparently broke it off because of something stupid." She said, taking a deep breath. "So... He's not talking to anyone right now except for Leo and Casey."
"What happened with those two?" Paul asked with a frown.
"Complete misunderstanding." Leo said with a shrug. "Raph doesn't exactly like to listen when he already suspects that he's right."
"You just explained all men, dear." Maggie said as Paul scoffed.
"And stubborn Italian woman!"
"Are we talking about Willow again?" Felicia chuckled as she entered Paul and Maggie's room.
"Oh my poor Fee. How are you doing hunny? Are you OK? Do you need anything?" Maggie asked, going over to Felicia with a hug. Felicia glared over Maggie's shoulder at Willow who mouthed 'sorry'.
"I'm fine Maggie." Felicia sighed, pulling back from the hug. "I just need to ask Will something real quick."
"What's up?" Will asked, placing her mom and dad's suitcase on their large bed.
"Well, in the hall... If you don't mind?" Felicia asked shyly as Willow nodded, walking with Felicia out in the hall, next to an ice machine.
"What?"
"Izzy put Raph and I in the same room." Felicia sighed as Willow groaned, rubbing her hand over her face. "I know, I'm sorry... But, what the hell am I suppose to do?"
"Well, tonight you will be with me in my room and Leo can bunk with Raph. We can't see each other anyways tonight after the rehearsal dinner."
"OK... And after the wedding?"
"Um... Maybe he'll be too drunk to notice?" Willow said completely unsure as Felicia leaned back against the ice machine. She could feel tears stinging her eyes and really didn't want to cry like this. In the middle of a hotel hallway, where her best friend of twenty something years was getting married, next to an ice machine. "Fee," Willow cooed, noticing Felicia's facial cues. She knew she was about to cry. "You and Raph are meant to be together. You just need to talk to him." She said, rubbing her hands against Felicia's arms.
"He hates me right now. I'd hate me too." Felicia sniffed, rubbing her finger under her eyes to catch a tear.
"He'll just yell if anything, you know he'd never hurt you."
"I know that. It's not the fighting I'm worried about. Well, yes it is. He won't let me get a word in edgewise. He'll be stubborn and loud and aggressive and I'll cry like a little bitch and make myself look even more pathetic." She sighed, shaking her head and running a hand through her hair letting her side swipe bangs fall messily back into place. "I don't know what the fuck to do." She groaned, placing her head back against the ice machine.
"You need a drink." Maggie said from behind Willow. "He's an idiot if he doesn't want to listen. You need to make him listen." She said with a shrug, handing Felicia a short, crystal glass filled with some ice and a dark amber liquid. Felicia took a sip, letting the harsh flavor burn her throat and chest.
"How do I make him listen?"
"Tonight stay with Willow, tomorrow at the wedding, ignore him. Let him come to you."
"He won't come to me. He's done." Felicia sighed, taking another sip.
"No he's not. That boy is in love with you." Maggie said rolling her eyes. "He's been infatuated with you since he first saw you."
"How do you know that?" Felicia asked downing the rest
"The way he looks at you, please. He couldn't take his eyes off you at the party we had and you two weren't even dating yet. He's going to listen if you make him listen."
"Get naked, that always works when Leo and I fight?" Willow shrugged as Maggie tsked, slapping her daughter on the arm.
"Really?" Maggie asked shaking her head. "Tonight don't think about it. I know it's hard but, be there for your friend." She said, pulling her daughter to her side. "Ignore him, have fun and celebrate!" She said pulling Felicia into the hug as well. Felicia chuckled a little, hugging her best friend and second mother tightly.
"You're right. This is way more important." Felicia sighed, rolling her eyes to herself. "I'm sorry Will."
"Don't be sorry." Willow said, shoving her friend lightly. "You're my Maid of Honor so you're going to be by my side all night! You're walking down the isle with Donnie and Mikey and Riley will be behind you with Izzy and Raph bringing up the rear. I'll pinch you if I catch you looking at him." Willow chuckled as Felicia joined in.
"Thanks."
"OK so!" Izzy called over the crowd that was sitting in the small open space of the Garden. Chairs were already set up for tomorrow afternoon and a beautiful archway that was covered in greenery and flowers stood at the head of them, where Izzy now shouted at everyone.
Felicia's family joined the rehearsal party, sitting on Willow's side next to Maggie and Paul. Hayden and Tyler talked in the back on Leonardo's side, a couple seats back from where Splinter, Usagi, Casey and April sat with Felicia's younger brother Patrick, talking amongst themselves.
Jane, Felicia's mom sat straight and happy next to Maggie, her best friend for years, holding her hand tightly as she watched Willow back at the end of the Garden getting ready to practice walking down the isle.
"This is so exciting." Jane whispered over to Maggie as she chuckled lightly. Randall, Felicia's father and Marine Veteran sat next to Jane with a straight back and face as he and Paul talked softly to one another.
This is the first time anyone has met Felicia's family aside from Jane. Randall eyed each of the brother's carefully as Willow introduced them one by one. Raphael tried to watched Randall as closely as he could from where he sat before catching his eyes and looking down quickly. Raph sighed to himself, shaking his head as Izzy pushed him forward to go to the back of the Garden. Why feel intimidated by a man that he'll never see again aside from tomorrow.
Randall seemed as though he didn't take shit from anyone, and the hand shake Raph and his other brother's endured told him that Randall knew his own strength. Raph didn't exactly know how to take that. He was nervous already if Felicia had told her family about him and her and their relationship. If they knew, or more importantly if Randall knew Raphael had dated his only daughter. She never really talked about her family but then again... He never really asked.
"I want you four in back, Leo come up here with me and Willow go hide behind Raph." Izzy called out, Willow chuckled running to the back directly behind Raphael placing her back against his.
"Can you see me?!" She yelled out as everyone chuckle softly. Raph sighed, putting his arms over his chest.
"This is serious Willow!" Izzy yelled back as Willow rolled her eyes, standing beside Raph.
"So, what's your problem?" Willow asked Raph watching as Izzy broke Hayden and Tyler out of their conversation, demanding that they go stand beside Willow since they were giving her away.
"What?" Raph asked, looking over at her.
"You heard me."
"This has nothin' to do wit you Will." Raph sighed, looking back towards the front of the Garden.
"It has to do with one of my brothers and my best friend so yeah, I think it has a little something to do with me."
"You don't know what happened n' you can't automatically take her side."
"I'm not taking anyone's side, I wanna know what's going on with you."
"Nothin'. I'm fine." He shrugged as she let out a scoff.
"Yeah right. Well, she isn't. You need to talk to her."
"I ain't got nothin' to say to her right now."
"Well, then when?"
"When I think it's time. Damn, leave it alone Willow." He sighed, stepping ahead as Izzy took his arm to walk forward towards the arch way. Willow sighed.
"Leave it Will." Tyler said softly as Willow nodded. "He'll come around."
"Yeah, and if he doesn't, we'll make him." Hayden added as Willow smirked, looking up at her two brother's.
"You guys are dumb." She chuckled, feeling her throat get tight as tears started to prickle in her eyes. She placed her arms between Hayden and Tyler's as they started walked down the isle.
"See? Not that hard right?" Izzy asked as she took her spot on Willow's side down the line of girls. Betty clapped her hands from one of the chairs in the front where she sat, behind Willow and Felicia's family.
"You guys walk so well!" She smiled as Izzy rolled her eyes at her.
"My only suggestion is that maybe a little less talking once we're walking down the isle, hm?" The Justice of the Peace said looking over towards Izzy as Willow smiled. "And I know that you two wanted to write your own vows?" He asked, standing under the flowery archway. Willow eyed Leo for a moment, their hands reached out to one another. He smiled at her nodding his head as she followed.
"Oh good..." She sighed. "I thought you would have forgotten." Leo furrowed his brow at her as Mikey chuckled from beside Donnie.
"Leo forget? Are you kiddin' me. He started those like months ago." Mikey chuckled as Leo rolled his eyes.
"While Willow finished hers last night." Riley added as everyone laughed.
"Ha ha," Willow said, shaking her head. "It wasn't last night... It was the night before." She shrugged as everyone laughed again.
"So, once you're done with the vows I will asked, Leonardo do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold as long as you both shall live? And you'll say..." The Justice of the Peace said as Leo smiled.
"I do."
"Good, Willow same question, what's your answer?"
"I do." She smirked as Leo did the same. She could feel herself getting more and more giddy hearing the words being said out loud in front of everyone.
"I know pronounce you husband and wife you may kiss the bride." He said, nodding his head towards Leo as he tugged Willow's body to his kissing her lips softly. "That's the idea." The Justice of the Peace chuckled clapping his hands as everyone else joined in. "You two will now, walk down the isle to the space there at the end. I will announce you as Mr. and Mrs. Leonardo Hamato. Your wedding party will follow as they came two by two and that's all she wrote." The Justice of the Peace said with a shrug. Willow was beginning to like him more and more. He seemed a lot more relaxed, like this really was his calling in life to Marry people.
"That's easy." Willow laughed as Leo nodded, kissing her again.
"Can we eat now?" Mikey asked as Willow chuckled looking over at him.
"Yeah, let's make our way over to the hotel and see how the reception space is shaping up." Willow said, taking Leo's hand and holding her hand out for Felicia to grab. She did happily walking ahead with the happy couple.
"Oh wait, before we do that..." Randall said, stepping out into the isle to stop the threesome. "I need to check on something." Willow furrowed her brow, looking towards her mother who look equally as confused as did Felicia's mother Jane who stood up looking towards the back of the Garden where her husband had left.
"What's going on?" Felicia asked, looking towards her mother as she shrugged.
"I don't know sweetheart." Jane said as Felicia's little brother Patrick smiled, stepping up beside her older sister.
"It's a surprise." He said as Felicia glared at him.
A large shadow of a man started up the stairs, the sun shinning brightly behind him as Randall entered the Garden smiling from ear to ear. He stepped aside to another large man behind him, dressed in Military fatigues and placing a large duffel bag on the cobble stone ground.
"So, I hear there's a wedding for some little punk and I didn't get an invite?" He called out as Willow, Felicia, Riley, Izzy, Betty, Maggie, and Jane all gasped loudly. Felicia put her hands to her mouth, tears welling quickly in her eyes as she ran forward towards the large man. She jumped up and he caught her easily, hugging her tightly to his torso. Willow was next, walking up as the rest of the girls joined behind her.
"Oh my God..." Felicia cried, her face buried in her older brother's shoulder. "I didn't think you'd be back ever." She sniffed as he chuckled, holding her up with just one arm and opened his other for his mother who was a mess of tears as well. He pulled both woman close to him, hugging them tightly.
"Well, I'm back Fee." He said as Willow wiped a tear from her face.
"Oh God, my baby..." Jane whimpered, as the man chuckled, feeling tears start to prickle in his own eyes.
"Alright, alright give the man some air." Randall said, pulling Jane back and wrapping her in his own arms. Felicia stepped back, wiping her face and looking at her older brother.
"So, where's the bride?" He asked as Willow smirked walking up to him and giving him a hug. "Sorry, I didn't bring a gift."
"Shut up, this is better than anything you could have ever given me." She said, sniffing herself. She pulled back from him looking towards the front of the Garden where the brother's all stood confused, watching the family reunion. Willow waved all the brother's towards her.
"This is Logan." Willow smiled as Logan nodded his head.
"Hey fellas. Sorry, I'm a little late." He chuckled as Jane slapped his large arm.
"You're five years late!" She said, wiping tears from her cheeks. "And you two knew about this?" She asked turning towards her husband and younger son. Patrick pointed towards Randall who shoved his son as Logan wrapped his arm around his younger brother's head, rubbing the top of it with his knuckles.
"They knew. I wanted it to be a surprise." Logan shrugged, letting his brother go.
"Well, it's a hell of a surprise." Felicia sighed as Logan looked at her confused.
"When did you get a mouth on you?" He chuckled as Felicia sighed, rolling her eyes.
"I was twenty when I last saw you before you were shipped off. My vocabulary has changed."
"Apparently. I don't like it... So, which one is the groom?" Logan asked eying the brother's carefully. Leonardo stepped forward putting his hand out as Logan took it tightly, shaking it. "You treat her good?" He asked glaring as Leo nodded his head. "Good. Now, which one of you is dating my baby sister?" He asked looking back towards the brother's as Raphael's eyes widened. Felicia sighed, looking towards Raph quickly before taking her brother's arm and turning him to leave the Garden.
"None of them. I'm hungry." She said as Logan chuckled.
"And bossy now too... Seriously not liking it."
Everyone made their way to the reception area as a couple of Carters for the wedding and rehearsal dinner hurried around the room, setting up a buffet style long table. Mr. O'Hare was there, arms crossed over his tall form and cell phone in ear. Izzy smiled, bouncing towards her father as Betty entered with Donnie on her arm. She stopped short, making Donnie fall back a little and look back at her.
"What?" He asked, turning towards her worried face.
"My dad is here. Willow!" She hissed, looking over her shoulder as she and Leo entered the reception hall arm in arm.
"What?" Willow said, smiling brightly as she looked over the beautiful hall.
"My dad is here!" Betty whispered as Willow chuckled.
"You know your mum is coming tomorrow too, right?"
"Yeah, tomorrow." She said with a sigh. "I guess we should just get the ridicule over with now, c'mon." She said pulling Donnie with her as he looked back at Willow worried. "Daddy..." Betty said softly as he talked on the phone with his back to her. He turned with a smile, holding up a finger as Betty sighed, looking towards Donnie with a roll of her eyes.
"Sure Tom that sound fantastic. Alright, Golf on Sunday? After church of course. OK, see you then. OK, bye..." Mr. O'Hare hung up the phone with a sigh, tucking it into his blazer inside pocket. "Hello Elizabeth, who's your friend?" He asked, smiling towards Donnie.
"This is Donnie, my boyfriend."
"Boyfriend? What happened to that... Um, greasy looking boy with the long hair?" He asked, taking his cell phone back out of his pocket as it vibrated with a text.
"That was three years ago dad." She sighed as Mr. O'Hare chuckled to himself placing his phone back in his pocket.
"I'm getting old now Beth, you can't assume I remember everything or keep up with all these boys. Between you and your sister I swear I've met all of New York." He said rubbing her ebony curls as she tugged away from him.
"Anyways..." She growled as Donnie squeezed her hand.
"Hello, it's wonderful to meet you Mr. O'Hare." Donatello said, letting go of Betty's hand and reaching it out towards Betty's father.
"Please son, Mr. O'Hare is my father call me Christopher." He smiled, shaking Donnie's out stretched hand. "This one has manners. You're moving up in the world Beth." He said turning his back towards her and Donatello. "Bella, you need to tell those people to move the lights to the left. This glare is going to be too much on this side."
"That's it?" Betty asked, walking to the side of her father.
"What else do you want from me Beth? I am busy planning your sister's best friend's wedding." Christopher sighed as Betty rolled her eyes.
"Telling people what to do isn't exactly planning a wedding." Betty grumbled, crossing her arms over her chest. Christopher looked over at her with a waiting expression.
"What would you like me to say Beth?"
"Nothing dad..." Betty said with another sigh, taking Donnie's hand and walking back towards where Willow and the rest were standing at the main table that was set to the side of the stage along a wall that was covered in black flowing drapery with lights illuminating a dark pink between it.
The main table was a long table with a dark pink satin cloth and a black lace overlay. There were Stargazer lilies set at every other place setting and a beautiful set of stemware that had the words 'Mr and Mrs.' on them. Willow sat in her spot with the word Bride written in script behind her chair with a black lace backing.
"So... How'd it go meeting daddy?" Willow asked Donnie's white face.
"It-it was OK." He shrugged as Betty sighed.
"I need a drink." She grumbled, walking to the back of the room where the bar was.
"I hear that." Felicia said, following after her. Raphael watched from his spot on the other side of the table, as far away from Felicia as he could possibly get.
"Have you talked to her at all?" Donnie asked softly as Raph huffed and shook his head.
"No. I got nothin' to say to 'er." He said, crossing his arms over his large chest.
"Maybe you should talk to her man, you never know..." Mikey added from beside Raph, leaning on the back of Leonardo's groom chair. Willow turned towards their quiet conversation, catching Raphael's eyes.
"I agree." She said, glaring at him as he rolled his eyes and made his way to the bar now as the girls made their way back.
"He's not gonna budge with this one." Donnie sighed, pushing Mikey back from Leo's groom chair and sitting next to Willow. She hummed in agreement, watching Raphael at the bar, grabbing a beer and turning towards her father who looked as though he was asking him something. Splinter, Leonardo, and Usagi all stood with Paul in a seeming deep discussion.
"She should talk to him but she's just as stubborn as he is."
"So, I have an idea!" Hayden said, pulling Maggie with him as she chuckled at her baby boy's antics.
"What's that?" Willow asked.
"They're going to have a practice set, but you need to sing a few songs. Get some of those wedding jitters out." Maggie said as Hayden nodded. Willow's smile slowly dropped as she shook her head.
"Hell no." She said, looking over at Leo, Splinter and Usagi with Raphael and Paul as they made their way over to the bridal table.
"What?" Leo asked as he saw his wife's horrified face.
"Willow is singing." Maggie said, clapping her hands.
"Oh, that would be wonderful child." Splinter said with a smile, leaning heavily on his walking stick as Leonardo pulled out a seat for him to sit on. Splinter's face and form were familiar to that of what Willow used to see in pictures around the lair of him as human however, he was now aged with a graying beard.
"Wouldn't it?" Maggie said with a smile, then turning towards her daughter with a glare. "Sing."
"Sing what?" Willow sighed, getting up from the chair as everyone around her clapped.
"What's going on?" Logan asked, with his mother stuck to his side.
"Willow is going to sing!" Felicia smiled bumping her hip with her best friend's.
"Willow is being forced to sing." Willow said in a grumble as Logan chuckled.
"As I remember it you were a little song bird running around with Fefe and her camera strapped to her face."
"Fefe?" Mikey chuckled, looking over at Felicia's bright red face.
"It's a pet name." She grumbled as Logan laughed.
"She's hated it her whole life. Not as bad as Twigs here." He said pointing to Willow who rolled her eyes.
"Anyways!" Maggie said breaking the kids out of their bickering. "What should Willow sing?"
"Something for Leo." Izzy suggested with a smile as Willow looked over at her soon to be husband.
"Like what?" She asked as Izzy shrugged.
"We could sing that song mum likes." Hayden said looking at Willow then Felicia quickly. "It might um, help." He shrugged as Willow looked at him with a furrowed brow before her eyes widened.
"What song do I like?" Maggie asked, crossing her arms.
"Need You Now by Lady Antebellum." Willow said with a smile looking towards Felicia who was sipping heavily on her drink as her eyes darted back from meeting Raphael's who stood on the other side of the long table behind Donnie and Leo.
"That is perfect." Maggie said clapping her hands. "Go, go sing it! PAUL!" She screamed in the air as Paul rolled over to her shaking his head.
"I was literally right behind you dear." He said as she rolled her eyes.
"They're gonna sing that song I love." She said pointing towards her kids that climbed the stairs to the stage. Riley and Tyler joined them as they moved instruments around. Riley fixed her drum kit that she had set up earlier in the day with Riley and Izzy to supervise.
"That's wonderful. Some people probably need to hear it." Paul said in a whisper towards his wife as she nodded in agreement looking at the estranged couple.
"OK, so..." Willow said, testing the microphone. "I haven't sung in awhile..."
"Since four hours ago." Riley said, leaning over towards her drum set microphone and everyone laughed. Willow looked back to her in a glare.
"Anyways... I haven't sung in front of a crowd in awhile so, if this sucks don't blame me. Blame my mother and brother. And Mikey."
"What did I do?" He called as Willow smirked.
"Sorry Bud, that was habit." Willow chuckled, looking over towards Hayden who strapped a guitar around his shoulder. He played with the tuning for a moment before, stepping up to the microphone and tapping it with his finger. Tyler moved a keyboard that was off to the side beside Hayden and started the melody.
"Picture perfect memories scattered all around the floor... Reaching for the phone 'cause I can't fight it anymore..." Willow sang softly into the microphone. She took a breath softly, looking towards Leonardo who smiled at her, happily and content.
"And I wonder if I ever cross your mind..." Hayden and Willow both sang in unison. Maggie moved a chair to the front of the stage, watching her son and daughter sing.
"For me it happens all the time..." Willow sang before her and her brother started singing the chorus.
Felicia sighed, looking over at Raphael as Hayden started singing his part. Raph's eyes met her own and she quickly looked away. Her arms wrapped around her chest as she held her glass of wine in her hand. Izzy walked over to her, putting her arm around Felicia's petite shoulders.
"You OK?" She whispered, looking over at Raph quickly before meeting Felicia's green, sad eyes.
"Willow picked this song on purpose." Felicia said, rolling her eyes.
"Well, duh." Izzy chuckled.
"I hate this song." Felicia grumbled as Izzy rolled her eyes. Betty walked over next, after giving Donnie a kiss on his cheek and getting up from where she sat on his lap.
"You OK?" Betty asked, moving next to Felicia's other side. Felicia rolled her eyes.
"Yes damnit." She hissed quietly. "I'm not a fuckin' heart sick puppy that got kicked OK? I'm trying my damnest not to think about it, or him with him fuckin' over there looking like..."
"Sex in a suit?" Izzy asked, arching a brow as her eyes travel over Raph's body. Felicia glared towards her friend, pulling out from under her arm. "I'm kidding. Fee, I know you're OK, I just need to make sure." She shrugged as Betty nodded.
"Willow wanted us to watch you." She said, her eyes flickering towards her now empty wine glass.
"I'm not drinking too much." Felicia said, putting the glass down on a nearby table.
"No, of course not." Izzy shrugged. "Actually she wants you to drink some more." Izzy laughed as Betty smiled with a nod.
"Then get me another wine." Felicia said, handing Izzy the glass.
Willow, Hayden, Riley and Tyler finished the song with a smile towards one another as everyone started clapping. Maggie stood to her feet, clapping loudest and closets to the stage as Hayden bowed, putting his arm around Willow that did the same.
"Obviously that wasn't for Leo." Willow chuckled into the microphone. "Wanna do another?" She asked, looking back towards Riley who nodded, spinning her drum sticks between her fingers.
"Well, we did mum's favorite what about dad's? Barton Hallow?" Hayden asked as Willow nodded and their father wooed from the floor. Hayden strummed his guitar as they both sang in unison to another song.
"Should we work on our speeches as best man and maid of honor?" Felicia asked as she sipped her wine, sitting next to Donnie at the table where they would sit tomorrow. Betty opposite Donnie and Willow opposite Felicia.
"You haven't written it yet?" Willow asked as Donnie chuckled.
"I did." He said with a shrug as Felicia stuck her tongue out at him.
"Whatever. I did write it... Just not all of it. I'm working on it, I just need some input." Felicia shrugged as Willow rolled her eyes.
"Well, she has been busy dear." Maggie added, giving Willow a pointed look.
"Busy with what?" Logan asked, leaning over from the other side of his mother to look at his baby sister. His smile faded as he watched Felicia's eyes dart quickly to Raph and away back down at her half eaten plate. He took a long pull of his beer, shifting his gaze from Raphael to Felicia. Her face heated as Logan smirked, nodding his head. "You and I need to talk." He said pointing at Raph as he furrowed his brow.
"About what?" Raph asked as calmly as he could while his hands clenched underneath the table in a fist.
"No, you don't." Felicia said, getting from her seat and taking her brother's arm. "Come with me." She hissed as Logan looked back towards Raph from being pulled out of the room.
"This isn't over." He said as Felicia sighed, shaking her head. Felicia took him outside in the large patio area.
"What the hell was that about?" He said softly over at Hayden and Tyler who watched as Logan and Felicia left the room.
"Ya know how Hayden and I gave Leo the third degree when he first started dating Willow?" Tyler asked, leaning across the table to Raph who sat in front of him.
"Yeah..." Raph said slowly.
"Well, you should be so lucky." Hayden chuckled from beside him.
"Logan is a little..." Tyler started.
"Overbearing." Izzy scoffed, sipping her wine.
"Pushy." Riley added.
"Remember when Fee started dating that really jumpy kid and Logan made him pee himself?" Izzy said in between laughter as Judy snorted from across from her.
"He just looks out for our family." Randall said, putting a fork full of food in his mouth, looking up at Raphael. Raph shifted uncomfortably in his seat, looking down the table towards Willow. She gave him a small smile mouthing the word 'sorry'.
"He wasn't right for my baby girl anyways." Jane said, looking at her son and daughter in deep discussion before getting up from her seat.
"We're not together." Felicia said with a sigh, across from Logan as they stood outside on the patio, fixing her glasses as Logan chuckled.
"Bullshit." He scoffed, taking a sip of his beer. "I'm a Navy Seal Fefe. I know how to read people and you have hurt written all over your face and he'd guilty as shit, staring at you when he thinks no one is looking. What did he do?"
"He didn't do anything. We're not..." Felicia started.
"They're not sweetheart. They broke up a couple days ago." Jane said as she walked outside where her children were talking.
"How did you..." Felicia started to ask.
"Maggie told me. She's my best-friend she tells me everything about you that Willow tells her." Judy shrugged as Felicia sighed. "Why didn't you tell me you and Raph were dating? He seems like an amazing man... Aside from the fact that you look like he broke your heart." She sighed as Felicia rolled her eyes, trying to fight back tears.
"He didn't break my heart. It was a mutual break up." She shrugged as Logan scoffed.
"Did he break your heart?" Logan asked as Felicia took a deep breath.
"Can we change the subject please?" She growled, turning from her mother and brother. She put her arms tightly around her chest to hold herself together. She couldn't cry right now. Logan would lose it and Raph can't deal with a fight right now. Not at the rehearsal dinner for his brother's wedding. When they're family wasn't prepared for ever having a rehearsal dinner for a wedding ever in all of their lives. "This isn't important." She said after another long breath, turning back towards her brother and mother. "This is Willow's day. Almost day, whatever. She needs me, I'm the Maid of Honor. I can't be out here discussing my could be love life with my brother who shows up after years. I'm not a little girl anymore, you are not going to fight my battles for me. I am a grown woman. I need to talk to him in my time in my way and that's the end of it." She said, pushing through her mother and brother and taking her seat back down beside Donnie. She finished what was left in her wine glass quickly before Willow reached over and pour more in her glass for her.
Jane sat down as Maggie leaned in next to her whispering in her ear. Judy shook her head, whispering back as Paul sighed, looking over at Logan as he sat down hard in his chair. Randall looked between his son and Raphael as they shared a quick glare.
"This isn't the time or the place." Randall said quietly to his son as Paul nodded his head. Raphael shifted again in his seat as Mikey put a hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright man, they don't know the whole story." He reassured as Raph sighed, taking his own long pull of beer.
"I need somehtin' stronger." He said, getting from the table to go towards the bar. Splinter watched him and got slowly from his chair. Usgai and Leo both stood as Splinter put his hand up for them to both sit back down.
"Let me go, my son." He said softly to Leo who nodded taking his chair back next to his soon to be wife.
"Raphael." Splinter said as Raph sighed, taking a shot quickly and turning towards his father. "Drinking only worsens decisions and fogs the mind."
"It also helps numb the mind." Raph muttered as Splinter glared at him, pressing his walking stick into the top of Raph's foot.
"Helps you become an idiot." Splinter said, pulling his stick back. "This is your brother's time now my son. You need to work out whatever problems you and Miss Felicia are having another time, in your own time."
"I don't got anythin' to work out wit' her Sensei."
"You obviously do my son. You care for this woman."
"No, I..."
"That wasn't a question." Splinter said looking towards the bartender. "Warm Saki please." He said as the bartender nodded with a smile.
"I thought alcohol fogged the mind." Raph smirked as Splinter took a sip of his drink.
"For the young and stupid, yes." Splinter said with a smile as Raph chuckled. "Be by your brother's side. This is new and uncertain territory for him, for all of us. We need to be together as a family. Speak with Felicia in your own time, when you are both ready." He said, nodding his head and walking back towards the table.
Raphael took a look over at Felicia as she laughed at whatever Mikey had just said. Her head thrown back showing off her milky, slender neck. Her cheeks full and flushed in a large smile as her hand went up to her mouth, covering his view of her perfect lips and teeth.
The sundress she was wearing today already had him looking at her far more than he wanted. It was bright green like she was punishing him and short, showing off her beautiful, shapely legs. She really was the most beautiful woman he's ever seen. It only makes sense that their relationship ended as quickly as it started.
"So, what do you think your first position will be as husband and wife?" Riley asked, as she sipped from a long straw that was connected to her drink on the floor.
All the girls laid on Willow and Leo's large California King sized bed in the Honeymoon suite of the hotel. Riley and Izzy stopped at the liquor store after the rehearsal dinner for a much needed girls night before the big day. Willow was only allowed one drink by orders of the Wedding Nazi.
"Oh my God that's horrible!" Willow laughed as everyone else joined in.
"It's not a bad question." April chuckled.
"It's expected from the sex hound." Izzy interjected with a laugh as Riley snorted taking another sip of her drink.
"True. Why didn't you tell me earlier sex with them is amazing?" Riley asked, siting up and looking at Willow as April was braiding her long hair.
"Are you stupid? I told you that months before you even had an idea of screw Mikey!" Willow laughed as Izzy rolled her eyes.
"It can't be that great." She huffed as Willow, Felicia and Riley all shook their heads.
"No, you're wrong." Riley said, laying back down against the mattress.
"You have nothing to add?" Izzy asked, looking down at her younger sister who sipped her drink steadily.
"No, we're not... There yet." Betty shrugged as Willow smiled.
"He's such a gentlemen our Donnie." She said, leaning back to April who chuckled.
"He was raised well, that boy." April agreed.
"He's amazing." Betty sighed, as Felicia rolled her eyes running her fingers through Betty's long black hair.
"What time are the florist coming tomorrow?" Willow asked, looking over at Izzy who smirked.
"Aw, I turned you into a bridezilla! Finally!" She cooed as Willow rolled her eyes.
"I just want to make sure they set everything up correctly." Willow shrugged as Felicia laughed.
"Bridezilla." Betty added, laying her head over Felicia's legs.
"Whatever."
"So, who's room is next to ours?" Riley asked, placing her ear against the wall.
"Donnie and mine." Betty said.
"I better not be hearing anything coming from that room!" Willow said as Betty chuckled.
"You just said he was a gentleman!"
"Yeah, but you my dear little one are no lady." Willow laughed as Betty opened her mouth in mock shock.
"I am so! Gimmie a book, I will balance that fucker on my head right now!"
"I think that fact that you called a book a 'fucker' is hurting your case there, lil' bit." Riley chuckled.
Three knocks at the door broke the girls out of their laughter as Willow went to get up. April, Felicia and Betty all grabbed at her to keep her on the bed.
"It's bad luck to see the groom! If that's Leo you just doomed yourself." Betty said as April chuckled.
Izzy got from the bed and looked into the peep hole.
"It's the blonde one." She said rolling her eyes as Riley jumped happily from the bed and bounced over to the door, hip checking Izzy out of the way.
"Room service you need towels?" She heard from the other side of the door, opening it with a laugh.
"No, but I do believe we need a little bit of six foot handsome." She cooed as Donnie rolled his eyes behind Mikey. "Are you guys our strippers?"
"Yeah, because that wouldn't be awkward!" Willow yelled from the bed.
"Not for me." Riley said, leaning up on her toes and giving Mikey and soft kiss on his lips.
"Maybe later babe." He smirked.
"We're here for Dinner orders." Donnie said, walking past the couple still making lovey eyes at each other. "We're all gonna order some pizza, do you guys want any?"
"Does Zack need my card?" Izzy asked as Mikey shook his head.
"No he said he got it. He also said if we took your card because you threatened us you can kiss that trip to Cancun goodbye... Or something?" Mikey added as Izzy sighed.
"Rich people are weird..." Riley said, making a face at Izzy as she flicked her strawberry red hair at her.
"Hater." Izzy walked back to the bed as Betty got up, wrapping her arms around Donnie's slim torso.
"I missed you."
"You guys saw each other four hours ago." Izzy scoffed as Betty stuck her tongue out at her. "Mature."
"Your mom."
"Is also your mom." Izzy laughed.
"I missed you too." Donnie said, kissing Betty's head as she leaned up for a real kiss.
"Awe..." Willow said, looking over at Felicia who had her head down, twirling her ice around in her large cup. Willow sighed, looking back towards Mikey. "We'll take some pizza." She nodded.
"Not too much!" Izzy interjected. "You need to fit into your dress tomorrow! You're already gonna bloat because of the alcohol!"
"Jesus, you make it sound like she's three hundred pounds." Riley said shaking her head.
"And even if I was I'd still want some pizza and I'd still look bomb ass in my dress!" Willow said getting from the bed and pushing her butt up against Izzy.
"So, two pizzas then." Donnie said, giving Betty a kiss on the cheek before taking Mikey by his arm and leading him out of the room.
"Bye babe." Mikey said as Riley chuckled. "I love you!" He called as the door shut.
"I love you too!" She called back turning back towards everyone with a stupid smile on her face. She sighed happily before looking at everyone staring at her. "What?"
"You told Mikey you love him?" Willow said as Riley's face turned bright red.
"Yes... We said it to each other a couple nights ago." She shrugged.
"Good for you." April said, pulling Riley to her for a hug. "He deserves someone as amazing as you."
"Well, I know I do have big shoes to fill." Riley sighed as April and Willow did as well.
"Amber was a good person but, Mikey is with you now and you make him happy. That's all that matters." Willow said with a nod as April agreed.
"Yeah, you wouldn't want to let them in and then find out that they're completely unable to expect love and won't believe a word you say even when you beg for them to listen." Felicia grumbled from the bed as everyone turned and looked at her.
"Well, you haven't exactly begged Raph to listen yet have you?" Izzy asked, taking a seat next to Felicia. Felicia looked at Izzy long and hard for a moment, straw between her lips as she sucked down the last of the alcohol in her newly re-freshened drink.
"You're absolutely right Isabella." Felicia said, getting to her feet with a little stumble.
"How much have you eaten today?" Betty asked as she caught her same sized friend.
"Chicken... I think? And a cookie...? Those little cookies my mom brought! I love those..." She sighed. "Doesn't matter! What matters is that I make Raph listen. Your mum was right Will, he needs to listen!" Felicia said walking to the door and opening it quickly. Willow and Riley both scrambled to grab her from walking down the hallway. "NO! I wanna tell him." She said tugging her hand back from Riley's grasp. "I am not drunk and I am not going to regret this. I love him and he's gonna listen if it kills him damn it!" She grumbled, stomping her way up the hall to where her and Raphael's room was.
She looked back quickly at Willow and Riley who both wore grimaced expressions and knocked hard on the oak door. Hearing movement on the other side it opened to the tall human form of Raphael, with a towel around his waist and body damp from a shower. Felicia's eyes wondered a little too long at it before snapping back to his in a glare.
"You're going to listen to me." She said pointing a finger in his face as she furrowed his brow and stepped out of the way.
"What?" He asked, shutting the door. She again was staring too intently on his glistening skin, hard and flexed. The towel sitting low on his hips it made her mouth start to water. She growled at herself, looking back at his face. His handsome human face, but it wasn't her Raph. She needed to talk to her Raph.
"When do you change back?" She demanded as he looked over at the clock with a shrug.
"Ten minuets, why?"
"We need to talk." She said taking a seat on the edge of their bed.
Leonardo was laying at the headboard, watching the two converse with a slightly worried expression. He looked at Raphael, who shrugged and then got from the bed slowly, putting down the book he had been reading.
"OK, so do you two need some alone time?" Leo asked as Felicia jumped and turned to him quickly.
"Jesus Christ, I didn't even know you were in here." She breathed, sitting back on the bed. "Yes please, thank you Leo. OH!" She called, as he headed for the door. "Don't go to Willow's room! You two can't see each other. Donnie and Mikey are getting pizza so go to one of their room's instead." She directed as Leo nodded, giving Raphael one last glace before exiting the room.
Felicia sat on the edge of her bed, staring straight ahead at the black television in front of her with her arms tightly crossed around her baggy sweatshirt covered chest.
"Maybe you should put some clothes on." She grumbled, not looking away from the TV. Raph smirked a little, dropped the towel from his waist and walking in front of her to the other side of the room where his bag was. He pulled up a pair of boxes and sat in the large arm chair, resting his ankle across his opposite knee.
"What do you wanna talk about?" He asked as she still sat, arms crossed and looking straight ahead.
"I'm not saying a thing until you're normal again." She said defiantly as he nodded his head, putting his arms back behind it to get comfortable.
"Ten minuets can be a long time." He pressed as she sighed, trying with everything in her not to look at his body. "Of course, it can be fast too. Like a blink of an eye. I don't think in this case it is though, do ya?" He asked with a smirked as she pressed her lips together tight. Raph looked back at the wall clock. "Only three minuets have passed. How long do you think you can wait? I mean, not that you would wanna talk to me anyways as a turtle." He said with a shrug as she snapped her head towards him in a glare. "Right?"
"You wouldn't even let me finish! You didn't even see the other side of the God damned list! I didn't even want to write that down and you know you're not the marrying type and even if you were I don't think I am and even if I was I wouldn't give a shit, because I'm with you! I would give up my left fuckin' arm if it meant I was able to be with you. This whole relationship you've been comparing me to Meredith! I am not that wretched woman! I don't give a fuck what you are! You know that, I've told you that! You just couldn't handle the fact that someone might actually love you and care about you for you and see you for you! That's what I was writing the fuckin' list for! Because, I realized I love you, you fuckin' idiot! But, that doesn't matter now anyways since you can't even talk to me without being a snarky asshat. So, fine! Enjoy your ten minuets by yourself!" She said, turning to stomp her way back to the door.
She felt strong arms grasp tightly around her waist and spin her around to his hard body.
"You swear too much." He said, pressing his lips tightly against hers.
"I always swear too much in my head..." She grumbled to herself as she sat on the edge of the bed, waiting in silence. Raphael hadn't said anything, she hadn't said anything. They've been sitting like this for ten minuets.
"What?" He said, looking over at her as she snapped her head to him.
"Nothing..." She said softly as he sighed and got from his chair.
"Give me a minuet." He said in passing as she nodded, watching him walk to the bathroom. After a couple moments he came back out, boxers in his normal large, green hand. "What did you want to talk 'bout?" He asked, closing the blinds to the window and taking his seat back in the large arm chair.
"Us."
"What us?" He asked coldly, arms crossed over his plastron.
"Raph..." She sighed, feeling tears start to prickle in her eyes.
"I've been through this song and dance before OK. I'm not in the mood. My brother is getting' married tomorrow and I feel like I'm in another fuckin' universe. We weren't suppose to do this. Date or even get married. This wasn't in the cards for us, at all. So, maybe it's better that we ended it the way we did." He said with a shrug. She looked up at him, tears bubbling in her vision before blinking and looking down at her hands.
"I don't think so." She sniffed as he sighed, rolling his eyes.
"So, then what? We date some more and hurt ourselves even further? You were right in your list about one thing, I am not the marrying type. I don't want all this bullshit. For a day? To pretend I'm someone I'm not? Something I'm not? Your family seems nice and all but, I don't think they'll be all that exceptin' of this." He said motioning towards his body.
"I don't care about any of that, that's the point. That's why I wanted to talk."
"Well, you don't have to." He shrugged, sitting back in the chair. "I honestly do better on my own."
"You really think that?" She asked, looking up at him now. "You think we weren't good together?"
"Well, don't get me wrong Fee, you were amazin' in the sack but..." He shrugged again. "Aside from all that, what else is there?"
"What else is there?" She said, standing to her feet. "Oh, I don't know what about emotions, feelings, love? None of those came into play for you?" She said, raising her voice. She glared at his nonchalant shrug, turning away from him with a growl. "You're unbelievable. So, what's this act then huh? The I'm a big tough guy act that doesn't need a woman for anything other than getting my rocks off?" She asked, throwing her arms out to the side as she turned back to him, still sitting like nothing was happening, calmly in the chair.
"It's not an act sweetheart." He said with a smirk. She felt her hand twitch at her side. Never once in her life had she ever wanted to slap anyone before.
"You never loved me then?" She asked trying to keep her voice and bottom lip from quivering.
"Nope." He said.
"Great." She said with a nod. "Then I guess I shouldn't even waste my time then, huh? Why even have a talk with someone who doesn't give a shit right?" She asked, nodding her head and crossing her arms tight to her chest. She needed to hold onto something because she could feel herself started to fall apart.
"I guess so." He said as she nodded again, then shook her head.
"I have never been more wrong in my entire life." She said, sniffing as tears started to fall freely now. Since he didn't give a shit, why should she about crying? "I hope you are happy in your solitude Raph." She sighed, wiping her face quickly before making her way out of his room. The door slammed behind her and she collapsed against it hard, feeling her breath start to come in short gasps. "I'm so stupid." She sobbed to herself, pushing away from the door and starting down the hallway to Willow's room.
Raphael watched as she slammed the door hard behind her and listened to her sobs on the other side. His heart clenched in his chest and his whole body twitched to move but, he sat where he was. He wasn't going to be broken again by an act of tears.
This was easier. Her thinking he was the bad guy. Him breaking it off with her. If she was mad she'd stop the consistent looking up at him when she thinks he isn't looking. Where else would he be looking? She was an open book, which makes this completely confusing to him. He really never thought he'd have to go through this with her. He hated the word love and all it stood for with the opposite sex. He couldn't keep putting himself in this position to get hurt by woman that he was never even suppose to converse with in the first place. Maybe all this was for his brother's but, not for him.
He laid back on the bed, putting his large arm over his face. He listened carefully as Felicia walked slowly, sniffling her way back to Willow's room down the hall. The door to his room opened and he felt the bed give a little on the other side.
"You alright?" Leonardo asked as Raph moved his arm and shrugged up at his older brother.
"As good as I can be I suppose. Who gives a shit 'bout me?" He chuckled, sitting up. "What 'bout you? How are you doin' wit all this?" Raph asked as Leo smiled with a shrug of his own.
"Weird..." He sighed as Raph nodded.
"Extremely."
"This wasn't on the radar for us." Leo said, looking towards his brother as he nodded.
"No. I'm beginning to realize this." Raph sighed, laying back against the large headboard.
"I've known this from the beginning. I was never prepared for this." Leonardo sighed.
"Of course you knew." Raph chuckled.
"Well, not right from the start but, once we started getting serious and I started sneaking up to see her in her apartment... Leaving you all alone. Leaving Splinter..." Leo sighed, shaking his head. "It's harder than it sounds."
"We all need to leave sooner or later." Raph shrugged as Leo nodded in agreement.
"But, were we?"
"Obviously." Raph nodded. "At least you. Listen, you've taken care of all of us, Splinter, myself Mikey n' Don. You're the leader, you're the one that we all looked to for guidance when Splinter wasn't givin' it. If any one of us deserve all this bullshit its you." Raph chuckled, getting from the bed to grab a soda from the large Styrofoam cooler that Hayden and Tyler bought for all the rooms, filling them with water, beer and sodas.
"Thanks." Leo nodded, catching a soda that Raph tossed him.
"So, sleepin' arrangements?" He asked as Leo chuckled. "You need your beauty sleep for tomorrow?"
"No I can sleep on the..." Leo started, getting up to sit on the small couch that set in front of the window.
"Hell no bro, I was just kiddin'. I'm not gonna make you sleep on the couch your last night as a single man. You got your whole married life for that shit." Raph chuckled, slapping Leo lightly on the face before laying back against the small couch, kicking his feet up and crossing them at the ankle.
"Went well huh?" Willow said as Felicia wiped her eyes, shaking her head as she entered Willow's suite.
"I'm an idiot." She shrugged. "He wants literally nothing to do with me, or us anymore. He's better off alone..." She said, going to the large hot tub that was set next to the bed and sitting in it, putting her flushed face against the cool marble.
"He's an asshole." Betty said as Felicia shook her head.
"No, he's right. He wasn't ready for a real relationship. Meredith hurt him too much and then me with that stupid, fuckin' list! God... I'm an idiot."
"He'll come around." Riley said, sitting on the edge of the tub as Felicia shook her head again.
"It's for the better right now Felicia." April spoke up. "Raph was hurt before, and he's feeling hurt again. He wasn't exactly ready, like you said and that was even before you. They've never expected any of this, any of you guys. Even you Willow. It's a culture shock to them. Think about it, living all your life underneath the city no real contact with the human world. Protecting it and once you're seen by other people, humans you get screamed at in horror? That could hurt and scar anyone. They've all been through a lot and seen a lot. Willow, I love that you love Leonardo but, you still need to be careful..." April sighed as Willow nodded.
"I couldn't be anything but careful with Leo." She said softly as April smiled, feeling tears start to sting her eyes. She pulled Willow into a side hug, rubbing her arm.
"That's all this is Felicia." April said through some light tears. "He, all of them don't understand, really understand how you all could have feelings for them more than friendship. More than being a brother. It's new. It's so new to them and even through they've had relationships before, that doesn't mean that this is still untraveled territory."
"He did say that this all wasn't in the cards for them. Him and his brother's." Felicia said softly from her spot in the tub. Willow shrugged.
"Maybe it wasn't but, if you love him then apparently his cards have been dealt differently." April said with a smile.