Author's Notes: Last for this special. Kinda important is you care about Don and Mel.

Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick/Eastman/Laird. Melody Gray belong to me. I'm in no way making any money. Thanks.

Chapter 07 - Aeonian

Hamato Donatello halted in a wide culvert then glanced at his galoshes set ankle-deep in the slow moving water. Although thankful his feet were chilly instead of freezing and wet, he still frowned while vainly wiggling his scrunched toes. Their stiff nature roused a sigh across the crisp air, and he didn't hide it from the person he approached at the culvert's bright end.

"They are no worse than your sneakers," Melody remarked evenly.

Don fixed his parka's collar when she didn't face him, placing a bare hand in his pocket to fiddle with a wide yet shallow box in it. "Not true. My sneakers are broken in, molded. They're like a cocoon. Whereas these"—he pointed sternly at the shoes eating his pants—"are like boards."

"Then why did you buy them?"

"Rain isn't going to stop you from coming here, and water isn't going to stop me from joining you." The genius smiled, pleased by the cyborg's faltering composure. She fought a smile for all of a second before succumbing, so the almost bashful look she gave the rising sun left his stomach aflutter. "Besides," Don added, gentler, "I haven't given you your Valentine's present yet."

"Donny," Mel started.

Having expected as much, the mutant raised his free hand before she sent him a troubled look. "I know; you've never liked the Holiday. But maybe I can change your mind."

"With a simple present?"

"Yup."

"If you had one, why did you not give it to me yesterday?"

"Are you kidding?" asked Don with a deep chuckle. "Heartbreaker went on for two hours after April, uh…"

"Broke down?"

"Melody."

The blonde returned her lover's pointed stare with a flat expression. "It is an accurate term."

"I know," Donny conceded, glancing at the sun-lit cityscape. "And, don't take it personally, but thank you for not saying anything."

"What could I say? I had nothing to offer…"

'Which is a good and bad thing,' thought Donatello grimly. 'Support would've been nice. Though…no snide remarks is progress in itself.'

So, with such in mind, the purple-masked Chūnin inhaled. "Raph never won a round, and we were all exhausted by DAVHT's end."

"Those reasons sound like excuses." Quick to the wick, just like the woman's sudden glare.

An amused smile spread Don's wide mouth, even though an annoyed Melody Gray was hardly a laughing matter. "Partly. I didn't want to introduce gift-giving to our new day and, well, it's more of a private exchange anyway."

Mel remained quiet a moment before quirking her dark brow and asking, "What did you get me?"

Donatello teased the thought of drawing the anticipation out. That is, until he imagined the pain of Melody twisting his arm behind his carapace to gain information. She was about as impatient as Raphael, so, deciding he liked how his limbs were attached, he produced the box from his pocket.

The short-haired cyborg reached for it without a word, running a thin, robotic finger over its red gloss. She tore the sheer ribbon off as if it were made of tissue paper instead of heavy-duty fibers, and after removing the lid, her listless face softened with mild confusion.

"I, uh, I ordered these a while ago," the bō master began while stepping forward. "Just after Christmas. They're custom made, so they're unique to us. And took a while to arrive at April's."

"And what do they mean?" Mel spoke quietly, hindered by a touch of uncertainness and hope.

Maybe Don's conscious projected on the matter, but he swore her emotion brightened the purple flecks in her blue-gray eye—enhancing it with the enchantment of a nebula. He was careful to keep eye contact as his large hands reached the box to remove two silver bracelets, and he fought the urge to kiss her before he reminded himself that he should explain first.

"A ring would be pretty inconvenient for you, wouldn't it?" he inquired softly.

The cyborg gaped then glanced at the different sized bracelets once her lover placed them in his palms for display.

"I imagine it would get wedged under your knuckle guard or lock up your joint all together. So, I went with what I thought was next best."

"B—bracelets?" She probably couldn't help her stutter, and such added endearment to the action.

"Since neither of us are big jewelry fans, I kept things simplistic. They're stainless steel for durability. Quarter-inch thick. Inch wide."

"What are, uh,"—Melody cleared her throat, not daring to glance up from where her fingers studied the smallest bracelet—"these markings?"

"Do you like the design?" Don countered. He followed his lover's finger as it traced the indented pattern made of swirls and geometric shapes until it reached the bracelet's blunted end.

"Is this…an owl?" Unable to hold back, Mel picked up the piece, bringing it close to her contemplative face.

"Yes," answered the genius smoothly. "Represents knowledge and wisdom."

"In Native American standing."

"Which is what the bracelets are based off of. Of course, Mikey and Nia added a few Japanese elements, too, like subtle Kanji."

The cyborg glanced up. "They designed this?"

"I needed someone to help me figure out what to do," Donny answered with a light snort. "When I told them the only artistic things you enjoy are Native American, they took off."

"So," Melody gripped the bracelet tighter, "these are really…?"

"Marriage bracelets." The mutant nearly choked on his own whisper. But he maintained composure, taking the box from Melody to force it in his pocket with less interest than when he left the Lair. His gaze settled on the larger bracelet in his palm then the speechless young woman, who stood unmoving in the water. "You should read the inside inscription."

The suggestion sparked recognition and Mel shook her head a moment before lifting the bracelet in the sun's soft rays. She squinted through the warm light, yet read aloud, "Aeonian."

"It means eternal."

"I know what it means." Whether she meant offense or play, her glare felt non-threatening, so Donatello grinned. "I've used it to describe struggles."

"Yes. Many times."

"And you engraved it here because…"

"I thought it needed a new application…I—it's not too sentimental, is it?" Don watched Mel's moves carefully—particularly how her brow eased in a placid motion. He pushed down a sudden rise of worry until she lowered her arms to meet his eyes again, when a pit of another kind formed in his stomach.

"I like them," the young woman answered lowly.

"Enough to marry me?" the genius quipped.

Mel sent him a long, serene look before smirking, coy. "You married me by last year's end, Mister Hamato."

"True, but this should've been first." Don couldn't care less how silly his grin looked; he gently exchanged his bracelet for Melody's then gripped her left wrist with care. The cyber suit donning her shapely figure left her arms exposed, so his eyes traveled her arm's robotic features to the elbow—where it melded into nutty-toned flesh. "I want to do this as right as I can for now," he added while thumbing the bubbled scars at the transition.

"For now?"

Donatello nodded when Melody blinked. "We have no judges or documents or legal proof of any kind; however," the mutant tugged the cyborg close so he could run a hand down her strong cheek, brushing the beauty mark under her organic eye, "I can't help hoping that might change in the future. I know, you probably think it's silly. But leave me to my dreams."

"That could be dangerous," Mel retorted while laying a hand on Don's parka.

Donny chuckled then added in a more serious voice, "This is as official as I can be with you."

"I'm not a grandiose girl, Damn Mechanic. These…are more than enough."

The fact that she meant her words wholeheartedly swelled Donatello's chest with a tingling sensation. Silent, he maneuvered Melody's bracelet so her left wrist slipped through its thin opening. He squeezed as hard as possible when it settled over her metal, for security, then didn't fight the cyborg's lead as she grasped his left wrist. After pushing up his sleeve, she slipped the bigger bracelet around his naked skin before squeezing it with little effort. Her hand lingered a moment then squeezed again when she faced Donny, wordless.

"I promise," the mutant started, "I'll never deliberately hurt you again."

"But you may hurt me?" Mel countered, although breathless.

"We'll fight. You know that. But I won't stop loving you or supporting you. And I won't let anyone hurt you, either."

"Likewise. If someone even attempts to, I will rip them in half."

Don had to shake his head and snigger; it was the only way to preserve the mood since he knew Melody was dead serious. "You're a Hamato now," he said in an undertone. "All you have to say is 'I do'."

The cyborg's playful mood brought a sly smile to her large lips and she snaked her arms around Donatello's neck to whisper against his mouth. "I, Melody Gray, take this Damn Mechanic to be my husband."

"You know, a false name leads to nullified contracts."

"It's your name." She laughed.

"Just you wait," countered the mutant once he encircled the cyborg's defined waist, "I'll come up with something clever for you."

"I won't hold my breath."

"Bet I can make you hold it."

The two paused as their humor died down—drawn first by one another's gaze through the sun's orange rays then the undeniable spark between them. Donatello eased into the action meant to cement their exchange without any qualms, and tilted Melody's head back to deepen the kiss she started. Even if he were to run out of air, he had no intention of letting her go: his wife, his aeonian family.

Author's Notes: There you go: a little family fluff special, filled with a few important topics. Next story I'll be posting is "Cause Worth Celebrating". Hope to have that started by March 2nd next week, with a new chapter posted every 2/3 days. Thanks for reading.