Only one year after the Zootants had become a part of Michelangelo's life, the team was well-known throughout New York City. Since Karai-Shredder unleashed mutagen upon the city, the mutant turtle knew he couldn't hide anymore to fight so many aggressive mutants. Most had been captured by T.C.R.I., including Karai herself.
Even with the Zootants' popularity, the only people who knew about their home base were their human allies. So, when they heard the brick entrance open, the Zootants assumed it was Casey Jones or April O'Neil. Sure enough, it was April, and she looked worried. Michelangelo also noticed she had been crying.
Despite her appearance, she still managed to give a friendly greeting: "H-Hey guys."
"Uh...hey?" Mikey was the first to get up and approach her. "April, what's wrong?"
April stayed silent for a moment before she replied, "...Casey left, and I don't know where he is."
The Zootants looked shocked at her.
Artemisia asked, "Have you tried calling him? Texting him?"
"A million times, but he won't answer." April pulled out her phone, just to make sure he hadn't tried to call or sent a text.
The Zootants brought April to the sofa to sit down, crowding around her in worry.
"So, he just left? Just like that?" Paolo asked.
April sighed. "Well… I did tell him something, but I wanted Casey to be here when I told you."
"What? What did you tell him?" Sirani asked, sounding eager to hear the news.
The redhead took a deep breath and then revealed, "I...I'm pregnant."
There is a brief silence as the Zootants took this information in.
"No way," Mikey gasped, a small smile forming on his face. "No freakin' way."
"You're gonna have a baby~?" Artemisia cooed, also smiling slightly.
April can't help but smile at their enthusiasm. "Yeah. I told Casey yesterday, and I thought he took it well, but when I woke up this morning, he was gone. He only left me a message that said: 'Had to go out of town. See you in a bit.'" Her expression shifted back to unease. "He hasn't called me or texted me since."
"'A bit' seems pretty vague," Paolo commented.
"So, he's been gone all day?" Mikey asked.
April nodded. "Yeah, but I couldn't get here until after work. Maybe he'll be back soon, but right now, I'm kind of unsure..."
Artemisia looked at the turtle and asked, "Is there any way we could try finding Casey, if he's outside New York?"
Mikey recalled, "I didn't think he knew anyone outside of New York."
"His parents live upstate," April said. "Do you think he'd be there?"
Just then, the doors to the lair opened, attracting the attention of April and the Zootants. A tired and sweaty Casey Jones ran in and doubled over once he came to a stop. He gasped, "April…"
"Arnold Bernid Jones!" April snapped, standing straight up. "You had me worried sick! Where the heck were you!?"
The Zootants got close to Casey, also confused where the heck he was.
Artemisia got close enough that she smelled something besides the sweat on his face. She asked, "Why do you smell like cookies and warm memories?"
"That'd be the natural scent of my mom's house," Casey answered.
"So, you were at your mom's all this time?" Mikey asked. "And you didn't think to call April to let her know you were safe?"
"I was in a hurry!" he explained. "Plus… I needed to think about what I was going to say."
"Well, what are you gonna say?" April folded her arms, still irritated since Casey hadn't explained much.
He took a deep breath. "Well, I guess I'll start the traditional way." He then got down on one knee in front of April, reached into his pocket, and took out a small ring box.
"Oh my god..." April gasped, putting her hands over her mouth.
The other Zootants looked confused, but Michelangelo knew what was about to happen.
"April, I know that this has been a long time coming, but I never knew when the best time to do this would be. Now… I think this is the right time." Casey smiled. "Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" April squealed and pulled him up, kissing him quickly. "But don't scare me like that again!"
Casey kissed her back. "I'll try not to."
"So, all this time, you were..." Mikey trailed off.
"At my mom's place," Casey confirmed. "She said to go to her if I ever needed a ring."
"You could've just said that," April pointed out.
Artemisia leaned to Michelangelo and whispered, "I don't want to sound stupid, but what's getting married?"
Mikey tried to explain, "It's like...committing to one person who you really care about."
Artemisia nodded, but she didn't fully comprehend. "I thought Casey and April were already at that stage of their relationship."
"Well, they are. But this is different. This is… special."
Sirani grabbed the turtle's leg. "Isn't there supposed to be a celebration or ceremony or something? Will we be there?"
"Of course you will!" Casey said. "You guys are, like, some of the closest family we have!"
Artemisia frowned. "But we're mutants, Casey. I assume your guests will be human except for us."
April smirked. "I'm sure we can figure out some way for you to attend without being there in person."
"Huh," Mikey uttered. "I think I might have something in storage that could help with that."
Artemisia snickered. "By storage, do you mean your room?"
He sighed, "Why can't you just take my word for things?"
Sirani smirked. "Because we know you're trying to sound smart, but really, you're a big goofball."
"I hate all of you," Mikey deadpanned.
Paolo also smirked. "We love you too."
Artemisia chuckled as the turtle headed to the "storage" to retrieve the item.
As they waited for Michelangelo to return, April looked to her now-fiancé and asked, "So, when did you imagine the actual wedding happening?"
-Six Months Later-
April looked at herself in a mirror and smiled at how gorgeous she looked. A band of white roses in her hair perfectly complimented her dress, which had been adjusted to fit her baby bump. She turned from the mirror and grabbed a bouquet of white roses, completing her bridal look.
Then she turned to the drone floating to her right and asked, "How do I look?"
"Awesome!" Artemisia's voice came from the drone. The Zootants were using the drone to watch the wedding from the comfort of their base, but April pulled the drone aside to get some advice from the female mutants.
"Can we look now?" Mikey asked. Both he and Paolo were looking away from the screen out of decency.
"Yup." Sirani smiled, holding the controls of the drone. "I just left April's changing room. Do you guys wanna talk to Casey, or...?"
"I think he'll probably be at the end of the aisle already," Mikey replied.
"Right." Sirani nodded, looking eager. "Are all you guys as excited as I am for this~?"
"We've all been waiting six months for this." Artemisia rolled her eyes. "Of course we're excited."
Sirani waited to move the drone in while April walked down the aisle, so it didn't draw attention to itself.
Soon enough, the wedding guests stood from their pews, and the pianist started playing the wedding march. Casey Jones stood at the end of the aisle and tugged at his collar, not used to wearing shirts with sleeves. Once April made it in front of Casey, she smiled at him and whispered, "You look great."
"Thanks, babe. So do you." Casey gave her a wide smile. He never thought it was possible for April to look more beautiful than she already was. April blushed and smiled back at him.
As the pastor officiating the ceremony said a few words, Artemisia looked at Michelangelo and smirked. "Are you...crying?"
"It's just so sweet seeing them both together after all this time!" Mikey whimpered while diverting his gaze.
Artemisia gave the turtle a tissue and said, "I knew this would happen."
The rest of the ceremony went smoothly, with Casey and April exchanging "I do"s and rings. The Zootants' drone watched the whole thing, and they went to the party afterwards. The group shared a toast, with the Zootants having their first ever taste of champagne.
Casey asked, "So, what do you guys think?"
"It's pretty good," Paolo replied nonchalantly.
Artemisia nodded. "Yeah, it's not too bad. I thought it'd be sweeter."
"Just don't overdo it," April said, drinking non-alcoholic champagne.
Sirani snickered, "Did Michelangelo overdo it the first time?"
"Sort of," April replied. "He started off on beer."
"Hey, I handled it well," Mikey insisted.
"Until you threw up on Donnie's computer," Casey pointed out.
The group gave a hearty laugh.
Sirani asked, "How did the other Turtles take to alcohol?"
Casey recalled, "Raph' handled it. Leo handled it. Donnie...sorta handled it."
"Sorta?" Paolo spoke up.
"He asked if could take me on in arm wrestling. Apparently alcohol made him super confident."
Artemisia chuckled. "Let me guess: you erased that confidence as quick as it came."
Casey shook his head. "Nah. I let him win. I'd never seen him so happy."
The group's revelry continued right up until the newlyweds left for the night.