Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick/Eastman/Laird. Songs belong to their owners. Nia Hamato/Anders, Melody Hamato/Gray, and other OCs belong to me. I'm in no way making any money. Thanks.

Chapter 10 - The Names

Nia awoke Friday morning with a great sense of accomplishment. Tuesday's party had been a success and cleaning up the following days felt less than a chore. The guys were helpful in that instance, so she could breathe easier, knowing her job as host was over.

"That the last 'a it?" Raphael's heavy accent questioned from behind.

Nia finished zipping the large, overstuffed duffle bag on her bed then pretended to dust off her hands. "Clothes are packed. Place is vacuumed. Bathrooms are cleaned. Kitchen's cleared. Decorations are retired. That should be all."

"Now back ta the city." Raph tickled the exposed flesh of Nia's neck with his mumbling lips and she choked on a giggle as strong arms wrapped around her upper body. They enclosed her like a straight jacket, keeping her hands pressed against her chest.

"Is something wrong with home?" the artist asked while her husband buried his face by the collar of her Silver Sentry print sweater.

"Yeah; it's teemin' wit' gangs an' EPF scum. An' Sensei won't let us do anything about it."

"I'm sure he doesn't want to keep you from helping."

"Who knows. By the time Leo gets back, maybe it won't matter."

"Raph!"

"What? So Don's busy. He can't go on patrol unless he wants ta die 'a exhaustion. But Mike 'n I are available."

"Would you do that?" Nia's whisper lured Raph's head up. "Would you go against Splinter-san's wishes and patrol?"

"I—I don't know. Maybe." Sighing, the hothead tightened his hold around Nia. There was a slight tremble in the action, which left the young woman more vexed then disappointed. "I hate bein' helpless."

"I know," said Nia softly. She leaned her head against his then inhaled to prevent the bedroom lights from flickering when the Chūnin growled.

"We can't afford ta leave the city as it is. I can't sit back an' watch. Especially since ya live in it. April lives in it. Hugh. His wife. The gang wars are gettin' outta control, spillin' inta residential areas. I—if ya were caught in a crossfire like the Summers, I—I—"

"Hey"—tender, Nia meet Raphael's gaze, staring into his fierce amber eyes with a smile—"I'll be fine. My new work hours will be later than at Baker's, so you can escort me this time. That is, if you want."

"'A course I wanna," the mutant countered without delay.

"Th—then everything will be good. I'll have my knight watching me."

Raph's body rumbled with a deep chuckle. "Knight watcher, eh? I like the sound 'a that…"

"Oh no, wheels are turning."

"Hey, it ain't near as bad as Mike's plottin'."

"Still pretty bad though." The mutant grimaced under Nia's meek grin, but she sniggered, nuzzling into his cheek. "If you do anything, please, please, promise to be careful. And not push yourself too far. I—I don't want you hurt either."

"Well," Raph breathed while the heat of their foreheads touched, "I do got an allurin' wife at home. Wouldn't want her gettin' too lonely."

"That's not true; she has brothers for company," Nia retorted just below a hoarse whisper. The huskiness in her lover's voice sent pleasurable chills down her spine and she struggled to free her arms so she could wrap them around the male's neck.

However, Raph maintained dominance, smirking at her feeble attempt as his burly form shifted until they faced one another. "How can any 'a them compare ta the devilishly handsome me?"

"You're getting better at flirting. You know that?"

"So are ya." Stooping his neck, Raphael brushed wide mouth against his wife's as he said, "Practice makes perfect, right?"

"I guess," Nia answered, reveling in the warmth of his breath. "We aren't at the point where we call one another 'Boo' though."

In the bat of an eye, Raph blanched, saying flatly, "Never call me that. Baby, Sweetie, an' Honey are out 'a the question as well."

Nia scrunched her face in disgust. "Ew, no. Besides, our nicknames should be more meaningful. Or unique."

"We're talkin' nicknames now?"

"Why not?" Grinning, Nia rested her forehead against Raph's again. "Don's the only one who calls Melody 'Mel'. And she calls him 'Damn Mechanic'."

"How romantic."

"You aren't good at romance, remember?"

The mutant pursed his lips.

"The names should reflect us…our Yin and Yang. Wh—what was it you said we're like? Water and fire? Why not use that?"

"Ya wanna be called 'water'?" Raph questioned with an arched eye ridge.

Nia shook her head. "The Yin-Yang concept is Chinese. How about I call you Huǒ?"

"Hu-wah?"

"Say it faster. It means 'fire.'"

"An' ya know that 'cuz…"

"Of Madam Vermillion."

Now Raph shook his head.

"What?"

"Yer trustin' Chinese from an Italian hero."

"She wasn't born Italian. She moved."

"Sure, sure. So what would I call ya then?"

"Shuǐ."

"Shway…sounds like I'm tryin' ta speak wit' a lisp."

"Y—you don't like it?"

"I didn't say that," Raph insisted gently. "We're all about quirks in this couple, after all."

"Huǒ?" Nia asked, drawing her lips close to her lover's.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad I married you."

Raphael's smirk morphed into a smile when Nia's eyes lifted to his. Slowly, his grip loosened to fall at her hips. Then, he whispered, "Me too, Shuǐ."

Nia leaned into his kiss next, ignoring April's call from downstairs.

"I'm still flabbergasted you got Raph to dance," April remarked across the Subaru Forester. She glanced in Nia's direction, though it was really quick.

Nia's reminiscent smile felt plastered to her face when the woman turned back to traffic. She straightened in the front passenger seat, pushing back wild locks of the hair she didn't feel like brushing earlier.

"I mean, you had him on the dance floor. Moving."

"I—it was just the Macarena," Nia said, eyeing the dark horizon and sea of red lights beyond the windshield.

"Doesn't matter. I've known the guy eight years and I've never seen him dance. Not even drunk."

"Raph's been drunk?"

"Surprised? While he's conscientious about keeping clean, there have been points in time where he and Casey got carried away." Several brake lights of other cars gave the redhead's glower a demonic feel before her eyes rolled and her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

The artist set her attention on the whiteness of April's knuckles. "A—are they bad when drunk?"

"Do you not remember the stories of Raph when you spent a month with Bishop?"

"Uh, I do. But…"

"S—sorry I brought it up. They turn into assholes. Let's leave it at that."

"Oh, okay."

Nia blinked. 'Mental note: don't let Raph drink too much.'

"I'm more shocked you danced, Nia," April added teasingly.

The younger woman heaved a little sigh. "Honestly? I didn't want to. You saw me; I'm more of a flailer."

"Then why do it?"

"Well…I felt bad for forcing Raph out there. It was meant as payback, but he was really flustered."

"Payback? For what?"

"Something he did last week. Creeping on me while I painted to Joan Jett."

"Wait"—April grinned widely—"you dance while you paint?"

"In the privacy of my own shame, yes," Nia replied with a pout.

"Guess with a ninja boyfriend you never know when he'll be around."

"Still don't know how he did it. It was the middle of the day."

"Must 'a been one of Donny's inventions. I know he's been fiddling with the Stealth Watch again."

"Stealth Watch?"

"It's like a cloaking device to give the guys extra coverage."

"Really?" One brow raised, Nia peered into the side mirror on the car's door, partly blinded by the Battle Shell's headlights. "My husband failed to tell me that. Ah!"

"Your what?" cried April as she corrected the Forester from the detour along the rumble strips.

Nia hardly had the mind to unclench her fingers from the car's safety handle, let alone enough to answer through the dying scare.

"What did you just say?" the redhead continued incrudiously.

"I—I—" The artist froze. How could a pair of green eyes feel so…fiery?

"You're considered a wife now?"

"Y—you were the one mentioning how Raph and I c—could find away."

"Yeah, but, like, two years from now or something."

"April." Tone serious, expression even, Nia straightened in the passenger seat. "The time came. I…I'd rather not talk about what led to it, but this trip made me realize how much I—I want and need Raph in my life."

"I don't doubt that," April retorted, sighing. "But being a wife entails more than you might realize. Maybe you should've read a book first or—"

"We'll learn along the way. Together. The key to a working marriage is belief in it and a willingness to sacrifice for one another. It must be wanted above all else. And takes top priority."

"Sounds like someone's already read a book."

Nia flashed April a smile when the woman changed lanes. "Not a book. A mother."

"Lucky girl. I never knew my mother…"

"Sorry."

At Nia's sincere whisper, the driver shrugged. "Anyways. Y—you and Raph exchanged vows? When?"

When? Nia gawked at the question. Heat rose in her body because of the memory, and remnants of Raphael's voice forced her vision sideways. Their exchange hadn't been traditional, but a mix. And realizing how far emotions took the couple kept the young woman silent.

"Hold it." April glanced in Nia's direction with the most uncomfortable sense of deduction the artist had ever experienced. "Did he say them while you were—"

Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!

Nia had never reached for a phone faster in her whole life. In seconds, she spread across the Forester to the red cell phone April kept in a holster on her visor then pushed the speaker button with fury.

"Yes, Mikey?" she asked, loud. "You called? You need something? Wanna chat? Let's chat."

"Uh." Michelangelo's voice on the other end drawled out. "Did you have coffee, Ni?"

"Oh, no," Nia answered quickly. Her chuckle was painfully nervous and off, but she was more concerned with April's boring stare.

"Okay then. Glad you're having a good"—the mutant paused—"time."

"Just tell 'em, Shell-for-Brains," Raphael's gruff tone interjected, muffled.

"You drive!" Mikey snapped before clearing his throat.

"Is something wrong?" April questioned, glancing in the rearview mirror.

"No. Well, a bit."

"D—do we need to pull over?" Nia turned completely in her seat, though she could barely distinguish Mikey's and Raph's forms in the Battle Shell.

"Face forward," Raph added over his youngest brother's chuckle.

Nia did as instructed, yet with a huff.

"We wanted to tell you we won't be going to your place, April," Mikey then added solemnly.

"Why?" the redhead replied.

"Sensei's not feeling too hot. We wanna get him home first and—"

"I have said we can stop by April-san's first," snapped Splinter's voice from the Battle Shell's rear. Though obscured by distance, its annoyance felt no lighter.

"Sensei," noted Donny, garbled, "Nia wanted to visit her parents anyway. Right?"

"Y—yeah," answered Nia squeakily towards the cell phone. "I—it's alright if you must rest, Splinter-san. We're almost at the city and I plan to stay the night, so…"

"I'll drop her off," April remarked while nodding into the mirror.

"Good," noted Raph—a soft action.

"We're going home, Sensei," Don added. His voice lowered then another joined him in jumbled conversation.

Melody must've struck up a conversation, so Splinter spoke over them, "I apologize for the sudden change of plans, young ladies."

"You know it's not a problem, Splinter," April immediately responded.

"Nia-chan, you were so busy with preparation and hosting that our paths hardly crossed. I was looking forward to sharing some K'ekchi tea."

Despite her hidden position, Nia smiled, saying, "We'll have some soon. I'll come home after work tomorrow. How about then?"

There was a pause over the phone line—no doubt where the master smiled as well. "I would be delighted to hear of your day, my child."

"An' I'll be there ta pick ya up," Raph said as his father's voice joined Don's. "Eleven, right?"

"Yup. At the, uh, the Warner-Frost Services."

"With strange lady Irma," jested Mikey.

"Never mind her; you guys should concentrate on getting to the Lair safely."

"Alright, little mama hen," the youngest Hamato teased. He laughed in unison with the others in the Battle Shell then turned serious in a moment's notice. "We wanted to thank you, by the way."

"Th—thank me?"

"We didn't want to do anything with Leo gone," noted Don, his voice now clearer.

"But ya made us," Raph added. "Even came up wit' a Mutation Day song."

"It wasn't terribly creative," muttered Nia. Still, she couldn't prevent her blush.

"Hey, it was sung to the Silver Sentry theme, so I was happy," Mikey remarked.

"Even if regular people like Hugh 'n Blaine didn't know it."

"Raphy Boy's poor musical taste aside, we wanted to say we had fun."

"Between the food, games, and company, even Mel had good time. Right?"

A garbled scoff sounded after Don's question.

Mikey sniggered. "Sure, April didn't wear my cowboy hat present from Christmas."

"I told you I forgot it, Mikey."

"Even so"—the nunchaku master paused to punctuate his blatant overlook of April–"we were shown there was a cause worth celebrating after all. And…we're thankful to have you as a sister, Nia."

"And daughter."

Splinter's voice is what broke the damn for Nia's tears. They were subtle and slow down her cheeks, yet shook her frame anyway.

"In someone else's case, you're way more now, eh?"

"Shut it, Shell-for-Brains! Splinter's right—Nia, I'm hangin' up. Call me tonight?"

"Y—yes," Nia answered through a shaky breath. "I will. Bye, guys. And drive safe. I…I love you."

A series of 'I love you's filled the Forester before the call ended. Only one sent Nia's heart soaring, though. She smiled like a fool as she settled back in her seat, and by April's design, she caught the redhead's pointed gaze.

"You were telling me about those vows."

Nia was more than thankful to leave April's car at Lenox Hill Hospital. The redhead had prodded out every bit of information possible, and at one point, the artist swore she blacked out. She hadn't been terribly detailed, of course; moments such as those were meant for Raph and her only. April had been more interested in the way he went about things. And while it was mildly annoying, Nia endured the assault because next time she called Angel, she'd be subject to the same ruthlessness.

What was it with women and gossip?

Nia didn't quite understand, but she knew better than to fight things. At least when it came to the Queen Bees. They tended to get what they wanted in the end, so why not make life easier? Besides…if she had a problem later on, a background could help with a solution.

At least, that's what she told herself for comfort.

For now, she was faced with a new task. A worse one. Seeing her father again.

Walking the familiar route to her mother's room was torturous. Turning the silver handle reminded her of a horror movie. The fact that silence reigned didn't help when she paused once inside.

She found Gavin asleep on a couch beside Mia's bed. It was a little surprising given the hour. Her father tended to be a night owl like her, so ten at night was rather early. She approached the couch with careful steps, eyeing the pasty skin of his unconscious face.

'His cheeks have sunken in more,' she realized before her attention drifted to the round spectacles laid on Mia's sidetable. 'He said he didn't want to be more comfortable than Mama, but he should consider sleeping in a bed anyway. He's probably eaten less than a bird since I've been gone, too. He won't take care of himself without some enforcement…Mama's always been better at it, though.'

What was she to do? The evident pain in her father's Chi drove the knife of guilt deeper in the young woman's gut. How could she have had so much fun at the Farmhouse when he was suffering here? While she had a firm foot in the Hamato clan, he was her father. And he cared. Perhaps a little too much.

'Something needs to be done about his jealously. And weird…fear-hate. How…h—how am I going to tell him Raph and I are now…? Oh, I can just picture it now. "Hey, Daddy, I got married without your blessing. Raph and I will be living in his room now. That's okay, right?" Ugh! He'll never speak to me again!'

The fierce tug Nia gave her hair hurt, but it hurt less than the dread that shot through her chest like a freezing bullet.

No, she couldn't tell Gavin. He would crumble at the union and she would forever lose her chance for a genuine blessing. He needed time, was all. As vexing as it was, she longed for his approval too badly to give up yet. And she found peace in the fact that Mikey had exercised the same patience with her when she tuned out the world.

'If Mama remembered…if she were herself…it would make things so much easier…'

"Ugh-gah." A strained, almost childish voice, called Nia's attention.

The young woman whirled in the half-lit room, drawing her attention to the tipped cup on Mia's bed table. The water in it had poured across some left-over mashed potatoes, flowing over the table's lip into the patient's lap. It was strange for food to remain unattended so late at night, and even more so for Mia to sit upright.

Regardless, Nia had seen stranger. Along her route towards the brunette, she retrieved a towel kept from the hospital bed's foot board and immediately began cleaning the mess.

"Mama," she grumbled downwards, "we keep telling you to ask."

Perhaps not with words, but she could grunt at least…right?

Nia sighed at the frail look of her mother's long hands as they tested the dampness of the coarse covers. When her bony fingers fiddled with the towel, the daughter gently pulled it away then wheeled the bed table until she could stand at the woman's side.

"Looks like we'll have to change you and the sheets," she said while drawing down the white blankets.

Nia paused, though, at a light touch on her cheek.

It felt like lifting weights to meet her mother's eyes. And once she did, she froze, half bent. There was a spark behind their warm brown irises—a rare sense of contemplation. The woman's short-cut hair tilted with gravity when her head cocked and her shaky hand brushed the side of Nia's cheek again.

Any tears the daughter thought were dried returned with a force that darkened Mia's gaze. Was is pain? Sorrow? Regret? The signals were too mixed in Nia's brain to tell.

"Mama," she croaked. "You have so—so much to look forward to…and you don't even know."

Mia lowered her gaze to Nia's hand, which she gripped before making eye contact again—this time with a promise of tears. Gradually, as if in slow motion, she smiled crookedly, the light of recognition glowing brighter.

"Mama?" Nia questioned as her tears slowed.

"Bah-bee," Mia managed through an uncooperative tongue. She spoke with the hoarseness of a smoker and the lisp of a toddler. And while both attributes remained when she continued, the words were sterner, "My baby girl."

First, air left Nia completely like she was suddenly in space. Then, when she gained it back, all she could think to do was call for her father.

Author's Notes: Yes, I DID just leave it there. And yes, this IS the end of the book. I have an April Fools extra that's mostly finished, but I'm not sure if it'll be out on time. After that is the next monster: 'A Tale of Heroes'. No release date because, well, that's life. Reviews help motivate me, though. Just sayin'. ;)

Thanks for reading and reviewing, everyone! :D