Written by Dawn M. Jados
"Man Casey, this is gonna be so cool!", Michaelangelo exclaimed, grinning from ear to ear. Casey didn't speak, but the lack of color in his face said it all.
"You okay, Casey?", Donatello inquired, "You look kinda pale."
"Yeah...yeah, I'll be okay.", Casey muttered, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand. Turning to look at himself in the old full length mirror, he forced his body to stand up straight as he began to fuss with his tie.
"Hey", Raph mused, "You ain't scared...are you?" Casey flashed him a quick angry glance.
"Me? Scared?", he fumed, "You're talkin' bout Casey Jones. Casey Jones doesn't get scared.", he turned back to the mirror, trying his hardest not to show the sheer terror that threatened to consume him.
Raphael folded his arms across his chest, an evil grin spreading across his face. "Okay, big man", he pressed, "Then why do you look like you just saw a ghost?"
At that, Casey grabbed the hockey stick from its place against the wall and charged at Raphael. "Keep it up, and I'll shove this stick where the sun don't shine!", he threatened.
"Okay, okay...", Raph put his hands up in a gesture of silent surrender as Casey threw the stick to the ground and turned to face the mirror once again. "Geez", Raph mumbled, "Can't even take a joke."
Suddenly there was a knock at the door. "Whoooo iiiis iiiit?", Mike called in a high pitched feminine voice.
"It's me, Leo.", the voice was muffled from the other side of the door. "Let me in."
Hey, Leo", Don greeted his brother, "What's up? Is April ready?"
"Yeah, just about", said Leo, "And she looks great!"
"I can't wait to see her dress!", Mike smiled, "I'll bet she looks like a princess!"
"Yeah", Don sighed dreamily, "I'll bet she does."
"It sure was nice of her friend Mona to let her use her apartment while she's on vacation.", Leo flashed a concerned look in Casey's direction. "Hey Casey", he placed a hand on his shoulder, "You ready?"
"Y...yeah...I'm always ready for anything.", he gulped. He forced a nervous grin in hopes that the others wouldn't notice the sheer terror that threatened to consume him.
"Here", Donatello searched through a bag at his feet, producing bow ties and tuxedo jackets, "Put these on."
"Ooooh, goody, jackets!", Mike's eyes widened with excitement as he accepted the clothes from Don.
"Why do we have to wear this?", Raph complained, holding the jacket up between two fingers, examining it from all angles.
"Because we're standing up in a wedding, Raph", Leo said frustrated, "That's why."
"Yeah, well, these things are gonna make us look like chumps.", Raph argued.
"Raph, c'mon...", Leo rolled his eyes. Why does he always have to be difficult?
"I'm not wearing it!", Raphael announced, throwing the jacket back at a stunned Donatello. He crossed his arms defiantly and stood in the back of the room.
Michaelangelo already had the coat on and was working on the tie. Grinning happily into the mirror, he ran a hand over his head as if to slick back the hair that wasn't there.
"Well, hello handsome.", he smirked at the turtle staring back at him.
"Hmmph!", Raph mumbled something under his breath, not quite loud enough for the others to make out.
Leonardo shot him an annoyed glance. "Do you want to disappoint April?"
"Raph...", Casey interjected, a look of understanding in his eyes. "I know this is kinda bogus, having to dress up like this. God knows this ain't my style, but it's only for one night." He took the jacket and tie from Don's arms and held it out towards Raphael. "And it's for April." Raph stood still for a moment, unmoving as he thought it over. Finally, he snatched the garments from Casey's hands.
"Fine.", he frowned, "But just for April."
"Besides", Casey smirked, "We couldn't have the best man walking down the aisle naked, now could we?" ____________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Yes." April spoke anxiously into the phone, "Y...yeah, I know, Robyn, but...", she tugged nervously at her veil as she listened to her younger sister's scolding words on the other end of the receiver.
"April!", Robyn shouted, "I just can't believe you didn't tell me about this sooner!" A feeling of betrayal washed over her. "I mean...how could you!?"
April sat slowly, as if she were defeated. "I'm sorry, Robyn." She sighed gently, glancing into the mirror to sneak one last peek at the long white gown.
"Sorry!? God, April..."
The sorrow and deep hurt in Robyn's voice troubled her. She had never meant to hurt her sister whom she loved so much. It had been her that April had run to a few years ago when she needed some time away from everything, including Casey, to think. Her sister had been there for her, gotten her through a really tough time. Maybe she owed it to Robyn to have her in the wedding, to share this important day with her, but then again, she also owed it to her "second family" who had saved her life on more than one occasion, welcoming her into their lives with open arms. Besides Robyn, they were all the family she had left.
"April", Robyn mumbled, "You are my only sister, for chrissakes."
April was at a loss for words as she sat silently, holding the receiver. How can I choose between them like this?, she thought desperately, it's not fair.
"I...I just thought we were closer than that."
"We are!" April assured her. "Look Robyn, this just all happened so suddenly! We were down in the se...", she quickly caught her self, "...the store. We were in the store with the t...", she caught herself again. I have to stop doing that! "I mean we were there with those Italian friends of ours. You know, Mike, Leo...well, anyway...I know it's not the most romantic of places, but we always feel so at home there. All of a sudden, Casey just whips out this ring and proposes to me!"
"The store?", Robyn's voice was skeptecal.
"Huh?" Suddenly April was jarred from her thoughts as she contemplated what she had just said.
"You feel at home in the store?", Robyn probed.
Shit! What am I saying to her? This sounds ludicrous! God, April, pull yourself together. "Uh...well, it's a family store..."
"Oh geez!", Robyn moaned.
April twirled the cord nervously around her finger. Change the subject while you're ahead.
"Anyway, we decided it was time to get married. Why wait? But it all happened so quick. You live so far away, and we just decided to have a short, simple affair." She pleaded for understanding. "I...we just decided it was better this way."
"Better!?" Robyn blew up again. "Better without your only sister!? I'll bet you invited those Italian guys though, didn't you, April!?"
Ding dong! The doorbell chimed. "Uh...Robyn, hang on for a sec." April set down the receiver and ran to the door. "Oh, Leo, it's you.", she breathed nervously.
"Yep", he said grinning. "Tis I, your escort to the royal ball.", he joked and bowed. April forced a smile. She loved the rare times when Leo set aside his serious demeanor and loosened up like this.
"You ready?", his eyes gleamed with excitement as the reality of the events that were about to take place came into being.
"Yeah", she hesitated, "Let me just get Robyn off the phone."
"Robyn? You still there?"
"Yeah, April, I'm here.", the sound of defeat in Robyn's voice made April uneasy.
"I promise to make it up to you.", April insisted. There was a long moment of silence as the two sisters searched for something else to say.
"Yeah...well...look, April, I gotta go.", Robyn said atlast.
"Wait! Why don't you come here and we can spend some time together after the wedding?"
"I don't know...", Robyn hesitated. "I don't think it's a good idea. I don't want to interfere..."
"Please, Robyn! You won't be interfering! Casey would love to have you. Say you'll come. I'll send you money for the plane ticket."
"No, that's okay, April.", I'm not sure if I can make it anyway..."
"Uh...April...", Leo hated to interrupt what was obviously an akward and emotional moment for his friend, but they were going to be late. April covered the receiver with her hand.
"I know, I'll be right there.", she whispered. Leo could see the sorrow in her eyes as she spoke.
"Just, please consider it.", April said softly, returning her attention to her sister. "Please."
"Okay, April...but, I'm not making any promises."
Tears came to her eyes as she hung up the reciever and sank slowly into the chair.
"April...you okay?" Leo laid a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
I'm not sure, Leo." She lowered her head to stare silently at her lap. "This isn't the way it's supposed to be.", she whimpered softly, the tears dripping onto her dress, staining the white lace.
"I know." Leo hated feeling helpless like this. If it hadn't been for us, April would've been able to have a normal life. She'd be happy right now, like she deserves to be.
"Why can't I make her understand?" April sobbed.
"I'm sorry", he said, withdrawing his hand, and turning away. April knew these weren't words of sympathy, as much as words of self-accusation.
"Leonardo.", she said softly, rising from the chair. "It's not your fault."
"But it is, April", he mumbled. "Can't you see that?" Blame filled his heart as he stared at the floor. "You would be having a normal wedding tonight with all of your friends and family." He turned to face her, his eyes glazing over as he fought to hold back his emotions. April layed a hand gently on his shoulder.
"Leo...", her voice was soft, reassuring. Leo lowered his eyes again, concentrating on the beige and brown pattern of the worn out carpet. All because of us...
April lifted Leo's chin until his eyes met hers. She was a mess. Her eyes were red and puffy. Long streaks ran down her cheeks, mixing her black mascara and pink blush into maroon colored blobs. "You are my family", she said softly, "And yes, there have been times in my life when I've wondered...", she let her hand fall, her gaze wavering slightly, "Well, how much simpler my life would've been, but..." She stared into Leo's eyes, grief replaced by devotion. "I wouldn't trade you guys for the world.", she whispered. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Okay, um...turn down there! Down there!", Megan thrusted her finger to the right, and the cab screeched into the turn.
"Look lady", the cabbie scoffed, turning his head to glance back at her in obvious frustration, "Do you even know where you're goin'?"
"Yes.", she said, attempting to hide her confusion. "I'm looking for...Ninth Street...hmmm." She turned the map upside down, then right side up again, a frown wrinkling her delicate features. The cab driver sighed in frustration.
"Look", he said, the aggravation building in his gruff voice. He stared up into the rear view mirror, glancing back at her, a big scowl deforming his thick brow. Megan thought he looked like something out of a mob movie - the big build, the overly large head, the cigarrette perched between the dry fat lips, all under the dress shirt and tie, not to mention the strong Italian accent, that made her think at any moment he could pull out his gun and say "You killed my uncle Vinnie."
"I can't get you there if you don't even know where 'there' is!"
"I know, I know.", she said impatiently. "I'm working on it. Just floor it, okay?"
The man sighed and mumbled something under his breath before doing as instructed. Tires screeched as he weaved in and out of the busy traffic. Megan nervously held on to the door handle as the car swerved this way and that. Man, she thought, holding her breath as the taxi had a near-hit with a large van, it really is true what they say about New York cab drivers! Cars honked and people shouted obscene names as the vehicle sped past them.
"You got it yet, lady?" The driver has growing impatient. "Sometime today, huh?"
Megan sighed as she studied the map one last time. "Here", she said, handing the driver an envelope. "Here's the address. Can you get me there?" _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Stupid tie!" Raph complained as he stared into the mirror, fiddling with the fabric. The knot around his neck was suffocatingly hot. I look like a dork! Why do I have to get all dressed up anyway? No one's gonna see me 'cept the guys and Splinter. Raphael stuck his tongue out at his reflection. "This is rediculous!", he moaned.
"Unca Raph!" A small voice came from behind him. Wheeling around, he held out his arms to embrace Casey's daughter in a big hug.
"Shadow.", he smiled. "My don't you look pretty?" He gasped playfully, examining her dress. She looked like a little angel, her light curly hair tied up on her head, long strands hanging down to carress her innocent face. Her bright blue eyes twinkled with an uncertain excitement. The flowing white gown cascaded from her waste like billowy clouds on a spring day. All she needs is wings, he thought.
Shadow looked lovingly into Raph's eyes. "You look very handsome!", she announced. A big, dopey grin covered Raph's face as all frustration and aggravation slowly faded away. In the six years he had known Shadow, she had always managed to bring out this gentle side of him, although he would never let the others know it existed, and if one of them ever called him on it, they'd better watch out!
"Why thank you, miss.", he mused, bowing on one knee and kissing her hand. Raph glanced at the clock. Shit! 8:45! The wedding starts in fifteen minutes!
Raph grabbed the tuxedo jacket from the back of the chair and held it up, examining it in the light. "What, no Armonti?", he grinned.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Cautiously, Raph laid the jacket on the chair and slowly approached the peephole. Turning to Shadow, he put a finger in front of his mouth in a gesture to keep quiet. Shadow bit her lip in obedience and watched as Raph lifted his eyes to peer outside. A young woman, probably around his age, as best he could tell, was standing there, suitcase in hand. Raph was instantly intrigued. Her long dark hair, fair complexion and small frame made her look like a goddess.
"Wow!", he whispered, his eyes widening with curiosity.
"God, I hope this is the right place.", Megan worried. "I hope I'm not too late." She glanced down at the return address on the envelope and decided to knock again. Maybe he's just in the back getting ready.
Raphael was at a loss as for what to do. He so longed to open the door and speak to this girl, to find out who she was and why she was here, but he knew that wasn't an option. Besides, he and Shadow needed to get out of there fast. The wedding was going to start without them!
"Casey!", Megan called. She tried to peer into the windows, but the blinds were shut, making it impossible. "Casey? You in there?"
"Geez.", Raph mumbled. "This girl knows Casey?" He turned and lifted Shadow into his arms. "Come here, sweety." He carried her to the door. "Look through the hole and tell me if you know that girl."
Shadow peered at the young woman for a moment. "No, unca Raph.", she whispered. "But she's pretty!"
"Great!", Megan moaned. "I can't believe this! I've come all this way to see my cousin's wedding, and now I'm gonna miss it!" Suddenly, she got an idea. She gripped the handle and turned it, and was surprised to find it unlocked.
"Damn!", Raph whispered, cursing himself for not checking the door after the others left. Grabbing Shadow, he scooted out of sight into the hall.