"Taylor's getting married! Taylor's getting married!" Annalise sings as she hops up and down.
"I have to admit, Taylor, I'm surprised that your dress is actually white...and normal," Destiny admits as she combs Taylor's hair out and prepares it for styling.
"I suppose she has an inner girly-girl side of her," Sarina points out with a chuckle.
Taylor smiles, her heart light. She feels the material from where it hangs over a chair, but her heart becomes almost heavy as she looks at the dress. She looks to the other four girls, who are all fixing each other's red bridesmaid dresses. April looks ecstatic, flipping through a book of hairstyles while Destiny fixes the redhead's hair.
"I've got to go somewhere, girls. I'll be back in time. Okay?" Taylor asks.
"No problem! We've got this!" Annalise says.
"Don't be too long!" April adds. She gasps and holds up a picture or to Destiny and Sarina. "How's this?"
"Love it!" Sarina admits.
Taylor laughs lightly at their perkiness and runs from the prep room. The guests won't arrive for a little while longer. She knows that she has time.
She keeps going down the road until she reaches the familiar house. It looks pretty much the same, right down to the cream curtains hanging in her old bedroom window.
She takes a deep breath, moving to the door and knocking.
Maybe he won't be home. Maybe... She takes a few deep breaths.
The door swings open, revealing her father. His eyes widen when he sees her.
"Taylor...you're alive," he says, his face shocked.
"Hey dad," she whispers.
"What...what are you doing here? Are you alright?" He steps outside. "I heard you went off to college. How was that?"
"It was good. But...that's not why I'm here." She looks down nervously, twisting her ring around her finger.
"Did that creature hurt you?" he asks worriedly.
"Raphael did nothing to me. In fact...I wanted to invite you to my wedding." She braces herself. "Our wedding."
He blinks a few times before the meaning finally sinks in. "You're...you're marrying that monster? I thought you were smarter than that!"
"Dad, isn't it enough that I'm happy?" she asks, her face registering hurt. "Don't you care about me?"
"Of course I want you to be happy!" he insists, but his face remains in a mask of disbelief. "But...how can you be happy with a giant turtle?"
"Because I love him."
He turns away, running a hand through his grey hair. Taylor moves closer and places a gentle hand on her father's arm.
"Dad, I just wanted you to come and walk me down the aisle-" she starts.
"No. That's no wedding. I'll attend when you're marrying a normal human," he says coldly, brushing her hand away.
"Then that's it? You're not going to come?"
"Goodbye Taylor."
He walks inside his home again and slams the door. She sniffs, trying not to cry, but it's too much. She fails, letting the tears roll down her cheeks as she hunches over and cries into her hands. She turns away from the house and heads back to the road, half-blind with her tears.
Suddenly, she feels a pair of arms surround her. Her breath hitches and she turns around, meeting Raphael's distinctive green eyes.
"What are you doing? Don't you know it's bad luck to see the bride before the wedding?" she asks weakly.
"I'll take whatever bad luck we get," he says, his face sympathetic. "I'm sorry about your dad, Tay."
She can't bring herself to respond, pressing herself into a tighter hug. He kisses her forehead, rubbing her back gently.
"Come on. Let's get back."
---------
"Okay everyone, this will take stealth and careful planning, but I think we can do this," Leonardo says to the gathered group of wedding guests.
Everyone looks at the giant Catholic Church behind the blue-masked turtle, looking over the elegant architecture. This was the place Taylor wanted to get married in, so it's the place they're going to borrow for the ceremony.
"Donnie, work your magic," Leo murmurs.
Donatello nods and sneaks to the giant doors. With a few twists and turns of his lock pick, they swing open. Everyone mills inside, taking spots in the pews. Michelangelo races down the long centre aisle chucking rose petals, acting like a happy-go-lucky flower boy. Timothy and his plus-one, Hazel, join in after a while.
"Seriously, won't there be major trouble if everyone is found?" Piper whispers to Madison as the two settle down.
The tall Latina shrugs as she adjusts her tie. "Nah, that's just part of the fun."
Donnie positions himself at the altar while the Mighty Mutanimals help everyone set a few extra things up hurriedly. Even Mr Kurtzman and Mondo Gecko help out as much as they can.
April wanders up next to Casey as he stands at the back of the church, nervously fixing his tie. The redhead smiles and takes his hand, stopping his fidgeting.
"Nervous?" she murmurs.
He takes a deep breath. "Ah...maybe a little. It's a big day for Raph and Taylor. I just don't want to mess anything up."
April smiles and wraps her arms around his middle, pushing herself onto her tiptoes and kissing his cheek. "You'll be fine, Casey."
"How's Tay?"
"Sarina, Destiny, and Annalise are fixing her makeup and such. She'll be ready."
The couple takes one another's hands and moves up the aisle to their spots.
----------
Raphael's smile is the most euphoric thing anyone has seen once the ceremony starts. Splinter walks Taylor down the aisle, her excitement making her forget about her dad problems for a little while.
The entire time the ceremony goes on, Raph's gaze doesn't leave Taylor, nor do her eyes leave him. The vows are said and the rings are exchanged. Raph's wedding band, worn like a necklace the same way as his brothers', is jet black and smooth. It was a compromise, something more sturdy so it wouldn't break should the turtle be doing his usual vigilante stuff.
"Do you, Hamato Raphael, take Taylor Fuentes as your lawfully wedded wife?" Donnie asks.
"Shell yeah I do!" Raph grins.
"And do you, Taylor Fuentes, take Hamato Raphael as your lawfully wedded husband?"
"I definitely do."
They laugh, and Donnie shuts his book. "By the power vested in me by the Internet, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Raph lifts her veil, pulling her into a fierce kiss. Casey whoops and whistles, making April laugh as all the bridesmaids and groomsmen clap for the new couple. Slash bellows out in celebration for his friend, nearly making Murakami fall out of his seat. Luckily, Meeko helps him.
Just as Raph and Taylor break away from their kiss, Mondo skates down the centre aisle in a panic.
"Dudes! The coppers are coming! We have to flee!" he shrieks.
Everyone goes into a frenzy, scrambling for the side exits as the sirens start wailing and the red and blue lights start flashing in the stained glass windows. Raph grabs Taylor's hand as the wedding party runs from the Catholic church's building, Taylor grinning widely the entire time.
"Wow, just like old times!" she hollers, holding onto her veil.
"Seriously? You're gonna bring that up now?" Raph shouts, pulling her out of Mikey and Annalise's way as the two race past.
She laughs again. "Hey, running from the cops is like my second talent."
He shakes his head as they keep sprinting. "Just like you to get the cops involved on your wedding day, huh?"
She squeezes his hand lightly and winks. "Just some Fuentes flair, Raphie."
He rolls his eyes as he glances around at the other fleeing family members, slowing to a stop. He pulls her against him and presses his lips to hers, her arms surrounding his neck and her fingers looping around his mask tails.
"I love you, Taylor," he mutters under his breath.
"I love you too, Raphael," she returns.