Thanks to Bloodrayne666 for her help with this chapter.
Chapter 9
Spread the Word
A while after Tyroth had gone, as Amber left her room, she was met by Jake.
"So, I guess our secret is out before it even got to be a secret." he said, rubbing the back of his head.
"True, but I don't think it went as badly as it could have." Amber said. "Didn't go as I had hoped, but it still went well enough."
"Yeah, but I won't deny it, I was terrified out of my mind."
"He wasn't too rough with you, was he?" Amber asked, taking Jake's hand in hers.
"No, he was very calm about it all, very understanding, if a bit protective."
"He can be like that, being an older sibling, and from what you've told me, Mona was the same."
"Sure, but she wasn't an 8 feet tall dragon." Jake chuckled.
"Fair enough." Amber giggled.
"By the way, why did he show up?"
"Oh, he was just checking up on me." said Amber. "He had noticed that I had a bad day yesterday, and then I vanished in the evening, so he wanted to make sure that I was okay."
"I see. So, what do we do now?"
"Well, I asked Tyroth not to tell the others about us. I want the two of us to do that on our own."
"I'm with you on that. Got any time in mind?"
"How about as soon as possible, like during breakfast?"
"Getting it said right away. Sounds like a good idea. Will you, or should I?
"I'll handle it, Jake. You've had more than enough stress as it is. Still, I'd love to have you by my side."
"Always, Amber." Jake lifted her hand to his face and kissed it. "Always."
Amber blushed and smiled, looking deeply into his eyes.
A little while later, they both sat down in the mess hall to have their breakfast while they waited for the rest of the village to arrive and settle down. Amber had even gone into the kitchen to ask Louie to join them once everyone had gotten their food, as there was going to be an announcement, and he promised that he'd show up.
Eventually, he did, and the mess was filled with all the inhabitants.
Amber swallowed, feeling a swarm of butterflies in her stomach, but a comforting hand on hers from Jake gave her the courage to continue.
Clinking a fork against her glass, she stood up and waited until everyone was quiet.
"Thank you." she said, taking a quick breath. "Now, there is something that I wish to tell all of you, and, to be honest, I had this entire speech planned in my mind, about how you've all been such good people and all, but I'll just cut to the chase…"
She took Jake's hand in hers, and he stood up beside her.
"Jake and I… We're a couple now!" she said, and the news was met by gasps, cheers, and applauds.
"Good on you!"
"Congratulations!"
"So happy for you both!"
"Yes! I knew it!" Sephie squealed.
"Okay, everyone simmer down now, please." Tyroth said in a loud and clear voice as he stood up. "Now, obviously, we're all super happy for the new couple, but there is something that you all have to know. Amber has asked that they be the ones to tell their loved ones that are not here right now the good news during the day, and that is how it should be. If any of you spill the beans before them, I'll personally skin you alive. Ten times."
Whether he was joking or not about the punishment, the point was well made, and all the inhabitants promised to keep their lips sealed, though the dragon did give both Percy and Rattletrap a hard stare, just to drive the point home, especially with Rattletrap.
Even so, a lot of people came up to Amber and Jake to personally congratulate and wish them a happy life together.
About half an hour later, Amber was pacing back and forth anxiously by the canal, while Jake sat on a nearby bench.
"Calm down, Amber." he said softly. "This is going to go fine. Just like during breakfast."
"I know. It's just… I've always been super nervous when it comes to introducing boys to my parents, and I was the same when I tried to tell you how I felt too."
"I think you handled yourself well."
"Maybe." she stopped, sighed, then laughed a little. "Look at me, Jake. I can face down Foot ninja and other creeps on a regular basis, but I'm almost having a nervous breakdown when it comes to telling my parents that I've found the love of my life."
"You think you have it bad?" Jake chuckled. "I can't even tell my dad about you, at least not all about you."
"Right. Sorry, I didn't think about that."
"It's okay. It's something that I will have to handle one day, among other things." he sighed at the last part, knowing fully well just how much he had kept from his father for several years now.
"Well, at least you'll have me by your side." Amber said, walking up to him and sitting down next to him.
"I know, and there's no one else I'd rather have with me." he said, taking her hand in his, making both of them blush a bit.
"Yo-ho! Amber!" the familiar voice of Erica, Amber's mother, called out, and Amber looked to the entrance of the sanctuary, where her parents had just arrived.
Even as Amber smiled widely, the butterflies made a return to her stomach, yet she stood up and greeted her parents with big hugs.
"So glad that you could come, mum, dad." she said.
"Of course we would. Your text said that it was urgent." said Richard.
"Did it?" Amber looked confused, then checked her shell-cell. "Oops! I must have written the wrong word, it was supposed to say 'important'."
"Well, we're here now, so what was it you wanted to speak about?" Erica asked.
"Yes, well… you see… it's like this… that…" Amber stumbled on her words, averting her eyes from her parents and blushed.
"Why are you so flustered, Amber?" Erica asked. "It's almost like when you… wait a minute… have you…?"
Seeing that her mother was piecing things together gave Amber the nudge she needed to finally get the words out.
"Yes, mum. I've gotten myself a partner. Someone I want to spend my life with." she said, walking over to Jake, who stood up, the two joining hands. "And it's Jake."
"Really?! That's wonderful news!" Erica exclaimed, and promptly hugged both of them at the same time without warning. "I'm so happy for both of you!"
"Thanks, mum…" Amber sighed in relief.
"Yes, thank you for accepting me, Mrs. Ottosen." said Jake, only to have Erica half pinch his cheek.
"Oh, hush you, and drop the formalities, Jake. You're part of the family now." she said with a smile.
"We hope you'll feel at home, son." Richard said, patting Jake on his back.
"I already do." Jake said with a smile, shaking Richard's hand.
"That's great!" his new father-in-law said. "We're going to have to take some new family pictures now that it's grown."
"Speaking of growing, are the two of you planing on having any kids?" Erica asked, causing both Amber and Jake to blush greatly.
"Mom! Jake and I have only been together for a day, tops! We haven't had time to even think about that, if we can even have children."
"I'm sorry, dear, but the twins are past their mid teens now, and I do so miss how they were when they were toddlers. Even if they did set one of my dresses on fire…"
"To be fair, we were warned." Richard chuckled. "And it wasn't one of your favourites."
As her parents continued to talk mostly among themselves, Amber looked at Jake apologetically.
'Sorry, Jake.' she mouthed, but Jake only smiled and shook his head, softly squeezing her hand to reassure her, telling her that he didn't mind, as long as he was with her.
The Ottosen would remain for another hour or so, talking with Amber and Jake about their future together, among other things related to their relationship, but eventually the two humans had to return home, as it had gotten quite late for them.
"Finally…" Amber sighed, but with a smile on her lips. "Don't get me wrong, I love my parents to death, and I'm so happy that they accepted you, Jake, but it was getting a bit too much for me."
"I know what you mean, Amber." Jake chuckled. "But I'm afraid it isn't quite over yet."
"What? Oh, right, your sister and the rest of the Hamato clan. I had almost forgotten about them."
"I don't blame you, there has been a lot going on today. But don't worry, I'll take care of this one, it is my sister after all."
"Thank you, Jake, but I still want to be with you when you do. It takes two to make a couple, after all." she said with a wink.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Jake responded, gently kissing her.
Meanwhile, in New York, deep in the sewers, in a hidden lair, Monalisa was sitting on the sofa watching a sitcom on the many televisions in the living area.
They had finished their daily training not long ago and the Turtles were skating in the sewers, Splinter was resting in his quarters and Pandora and Kemeko were in their playroom challenging each other to Mario Party.
As she sat there laughing at the show, she felt her shell cell vibrate against her thigh and she picked it up. Frowning the Lizard Lady checked the screen and saw it was Jake.
"Jake?" she thought as she opened the message.
'Hey sis, you free for a video call?'
Monalisa raised an eyebrow as she wondered what her brother wanted to talk about.
She stood up and walked to her and Raphael's bedroom where she had her laptop computer.
Setting herself up at her dressing table she activated the computer and activated video call.
"I hope everything's okay." She thought as she waited for Jake to respond.
After a few seconds, Jake picked up and Monalisa saw that her younger brother was grinning from ear to ear and was pink in the cheeks, which soothed the Lizard lady's soul, knowing that all was well.
"Hey Jakey!" Monalisa said.
"Hey sis!" Jake replied.
"You're in a good mood!" Monalisa said "What's up?"
Jake chewed his lip.
"Well... I'm not sure how to tell you this." He said "But...well."
"What? What is it?" Monalisa demanded.
Jake then looked to the side and motioned with his head to which Amber appeared also blushing and waved at Monalisa through the screen.
"Hey Mona!" she said shyly, yet smiled all the same.
"Amber?" Monalisa asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Sis, we...we got something to tell you." Jake said as he blushed harder.
"What is it?" Monalisa asked blinking in confusion.
Jake looked at Amber and Amber smiled at him.
"We're a couple!" Jake forced out grasping Amber's hand.
Monalisa's eyes widened.
"What!?" she cried shaking her head wondering if she'd heard correctly, her mind spinning from the surprising news. "How- when- why- All the questions! You answer! Now!"
"I know it's hard to believe!" Jake said. "But it's true! Amber and I are a couple! A lot happened over the last few days. And it ended with us finding out that we both loved each other."
"Wow… just… wow…" Monalisa almost gasped.
"Aren't you happy, sis?"
"Of course I'm happy! I'm overjoyed! And a bit overwhelmed! This all came as quite the shock, as you might understand."
"Trust me, Mona, it was a bit of a shock to both of us." Amber giggled.
"And then some!" Jake chuckled.
"I believe it!" said Monalisa, brushing aside some of her locks. "I've seen that the two of you got along well whenever we visited Mutopia, and I've always been grateful to you, Amber, for being at my brother's side when I couldn't, but I would never have thought that the two of you would actually become a couple. I'm not against it! Don't think that I am! It was just so…"
"Unexpected?" Jake filled in.
"Yes. Again, I'm not against this, I just didn't see it coming, and I am really happy for the both of you."
"That makes us very happy to hear, Mona." said Amber, giving the lizard-lady a warm smile.
"It sure does." Jake agreed, looking at Amber and she met his gaze. They both smiled and blushed, then leaned in towards each other and kissed, letting Monalisa see it all and she gushed at how lovely it was to see her brother so in love.
"Oh my god, you two are so cute together!" she almost squealed. "I can't believe that I never noticed how well you fit!"
"Well, we didn't notice either until recently." said Jake. "But can you do me a favour, Mona?"
"Name it!"
"Could you tell the rest of the Hamato clan? We've already told so many people here."
"Leave it to me, little brother! I'll let them know the good news! You two go and be all lovey-dovey. God know that I and Raph were, and still are." Monalisa couldn't help but giggle a bit. "Stay safe, both of you. And Amber?"
"Yes?"
"Welcome to the family!" Monalisa beamed.
"You too, Mona! You too!" Amber beamed right back.
After the video call, Jake and Amber walked through the village, as they had done so many times before, even together, but this time was different.
Previously, they had just been close friends, neighbours, colleagues, and partners.
But now, they were all that and more. They were also lovers, mates, and partners of a different kind.
Holding hands, they saw the sanctuary in a new light, their light.
And it would shine brightly, as they came to a stop on one of the bridges, embracing and kissing each other passionately, uttering those precious words together.
"I love you."
So ends the story of how Amber and Jake discovered their true feelings for each other. A bumpy road, to be sure, but the destination was well worth it, as this has been teased in several past fics, both mine and Bloodrayne666's.
Stay safe, everyone.