Well...better late than never? This is the last chapter at least.

CHAPTER 09: ETERNITY

Whoever thought Michelangelo would be here? Sitting on a castle patio, having a grown-up beverage with two Italians while overlooking the twilight settling across Florence? Just smell that Mediterranean air!

'I could stay for eternity if the others were here.' As it were, he'd have to settle for jealous faces as the clan reviewed his memorabilia.

"Is it really alright for me to be out here?" Mikey asked his hosts.

Dina chugged her red wine, so Adamo answered, "Yeah. Why?"

"Isn't your grandparents' room, like, right there?" The mutant pointed at a tower on their right that shielded them from the upper roads with its two stories.

"Date night always keeps Nonna and Nonno out late," Dina said.

"They go dancing at the clubs," her brother tacked on.

"Just how old are they?" Mike's eye ridges raised as Adamo shrugged.

"Mid-seventies. Nonna needs to take oxygen with her to do it, but she does it."

"Yeah," Dina raised her glass with vigor, "we Santins are famous for partying until we drop dead!"

"I hope none of you have actually died at a party." The siblings exchanged a telling look and the mutant shook his head at what an interesting lineage his lover had. "What about your father?"

"Like I said, Papà was called into the office," Adamo answered.

"Will you relax, Verde?" Dina chuckled, running fingers through her long, pink-tipped hair. "You're fine. Only thing you should worry about is how you're going to handle Scheletro when she returns from her dinner with that asshole."

"You mean her father?"

"Same thing."

Mikey lowered his drink onto the arm of his patio chair. "I think your family has been a little hard on that guy. Everyone makes mistakes."

"Well, his mistakes got our oldest cousin killed."

"It happens." The siblings turned towards the mutant, each with distinctive disgust that made him raise a hand. "Hear me out. I'm not saying it's okay or doesn't hurt, just that people are responsible things they don't mean. Car crashes. Poisonings. Freak accidents, you know?"

Dina's disgust turned into a snide smile behind her glasses. "I think being torn apart by dogs is a little more than a 'freak accident.'"

"You get my point. Eligio didn't wake up that morning and think 'Gee, know what would complete my day? Throwing my daughter into a den of Sheppards and Pits!' He feels worse about it than they do."

"How could you possibly know that?"

"I've read the letters, Dina. You should, too. They show how much responsibility he shoulders. He's heartbroken and all he wants is to see his family again."

"Why defend him?" Adamo interjected. "He's done nothing except hurt Sophie."

"He hurt her once," Mikey argued, "and he's spent over twenty years trying to make up for it."

"You can't make up for getting your daughter killed."

"You saying there's no hope for someone to make amends? Yes, Eligio was the reason Hoshi and Cosima snuck into that hell hole. He didn't push Cosima, though. He alerted authorities, got everything shut down, served time. None of that makes him a bad guy. Irresponsible, not bad."

"How can you say that?" Dina whispered. Her drink was empty again, which made her grip on the glass all the more prominent. "We couldn't even have an open casket funeral because Cossi was so mauled."

"I've made mistakes, too," whispered Mikey in return. "They got people killed. Do you think I'm bad guy?"

The Santin siblings stared back with matching scrutiny for all of a moment. Adamo's EPF experience must've warmed him up to the reality faster than Dina, who glanced his way for unsaid thoughts.

The brunette's grimness made her think twice about replying and she exchanged her glass for the entire bottle of Merlot as Michelangelo continued, "Look, I've come to realize that hanging onto all of that negativity takes a lot more out of you than energy. Sophie would be better off if she just forgave him. It's been nice to see her lighter, see her smile, be in love with her city and family. Makes me realize..." The mutant peeked behind him—through an open space boxed by the upper catwalk, the tower, the mid-level roof, and the round tower. "Can I show you a secret?" he added while reaching into a pouch on his belt. He pulled out a pink ring box then opened it for his hosts to examine. "I plan to ask tonight. We go home soon and I find it more meaningful to propose in Italy."

"Wow," Dina adjusted her glasses, "that looks expensive."

Mikey laughed half from humor and half from frustration. "It was. Took a long time to save up for it, but it was worth it. She's worth it. Why are you guys smiling like that?"

Both Santins had Cheshire grins, and they leaned back in their seats as Adamo spoke, "Bet you've had this less than a year, haven't you?"

Mikey accepted the box back with a snort. "Uh, duh, why would I hold on to it for that long?"

"I think that bet's mine, Di."

The mutant glanced between the siblings. "What are you talking about?"

"Don't worry your pretty little green head about it," answered Dina. "We'll see how the night plays out. You want help setting things up?"

"Well, I had some ideas."

"Oh, no, no. This fated time has been a conversation in our family for decades. Leave the details to us and you can practice the big stuff."

Adamo nodded. "We know just the spot."

Mikey wanted to barf the entire time Dina and Adamo helped orchestrate a candle-lit setup around the top room of the castle's round tower. Sure, he got plenty of air from the multiple arched openings and had no issue with the fact that only a rusted fence kept anyone from topping down the mountain. But overlooking the final stage cemented his intent.

'Breathe, Dude, breathe. What's the worst that could happen?'

She said no. Ugh, perish the thought. How could she resist him, the ultimate ninja badass? Just look at the lengths he went to make the night special.

Okay, so Adamo mainly did the manual labor—pushing aside lesser quality furniture to centralize the nicest patio set—while Dina whipped up a few of Hoshi's favorite dishes—because of course, she had that down to an art. That said, he hung the fairy lights and scattered the star confetti and lemon-scented tea lights throughout the spread over a pink tablecloth. Now, all he had to do was survive Sophia's trek down the catwalk to reach him.

"Buonasera, amore mio," he greeted at the entrance arch.

The slender blonde pushed back disheveled hair from a red imprint that proved she had fallen asleep on the car ride home then spoke in a hurried ton her lover didn't understand.

"Um...what?"

"Huh?"

Mikey gave a lopsided smile. "I didn't catch that."

"Ah, right, English." Hoshi blinked rapidly. "I said you were bold, being up here in the open."

"Yes, well, I live dangerously."

Despite obvious fatigue, the woman stifled a yawn with a grin, attention turning to the lemony setup. "Is that Zabaglione?"

Mikey hesitated to answer. "Maybe?"

"Good, I'm starved."

Hoshi forewent her boyfriend's offered hand to plop at the round table without ever giving him the chance to pull a seat out like a gentleman. It stung—he had researched etiquette for this moment—before he reminded himself who Sophia Moretti was.

'I don't wanna marry her for manners, that's for sure.'

"How can you be hungry, Hoshi?" he asked instead. "You had dinner, yeah?"

Reddened eyes looked up from a clear cup layered with dark syrup at the bottom, whipping in the center, and raspberries on top. "Mum can eat anywhere, anytime. She was stuffing her face for weeks after Cosmo died. How do you think she gained so much more weight than the rest of us?"

"I always thought she took after your grandfather."

"Nonno's genes didn't help. That's for sure."

"I'm surprised you aren't following in their footsteps considering."

"Considering what?"

"You eat as much as my brothers and I do. Not that I wouldn't love you if you put on weight." Sophia made a face that turned Mikey sheepish, "Er, enough about Mama A. I asked about you."

The pink-tipped blonde swallowed her fruit. "Mum could eat in front of that guy. I couldn't. I tried. He bought me all my favorite desserts like what's here. I just couldn't stomach it after..."

Mikey allowed her a few seconds to continue. When she didn't, he spoke up, "Did you do it?"

Hoshi raised a thin brow.

"Forgive him, I mean. "

The woman was quiet for a long moment, staring into her half-eaten dessert like it would excuse her from talking.

"Hoshi—"

"I did. I didn't want to, but I did. And I blame you."

The orange-masked Chūnin smiled. "There are worse things to be blamed for." He chuckled until his statement settled in. Then, he cringed.

His girlfriend didn't take as much offense as expected; she sighed and sunk further down her chair. "Mikey," she started, "I hadn't cried so much since my sister's funeral. "

"Even after that whole Prowler fiascos?"

"Yeah. But at the same time, I feel..."

"Lighter?" The mutant met his girlfriend's stare with contained relief.

Thankfully, sparks of her natural personality made her semi-glare. "He can't make things better, not without bringing Cosima back. He would, though, if possible. That means something."

"I understand how he feels."

"I know you do." She meant July, among many other incidents.

Hoshi left it unsaid, thankfully, and Mikey breathed in through his nose before saying, "You regret listening to me?"

"Which time?"

"Hardy har."

"I don't," she admitted. "I can breathe a little easier. Course, that could just be Italy..."

The blonde glanced out through the many arched openings. Her long sigh and whimsical stare didn't go unnoticed by her boyfriend; they formed a pit of guilt in his stomach. He watched her upturned nostrils flare while inhaling her city's scent, her freckled features ease in peace.

"It's a beautiful place," he said. "I've never seen anything like it."

Hoshi snorted. "Course not, you live in New York: land of concrete and grime."

"Don't diss my city, Dudette. You have concrete, too."

"Natural Stone. Italians are artists."

"From buildings to food, that I gathered. Except for maybe Piss Castle. Your family doesn't seem to really care about fixing this place much."

"We spend most our money on food."

The couple chuckled weakly until they fell into silence.

"So," Hoshi started, "is this a pity party?"

"Pity?" Mikey asked. "Where? I don't see any pity."

"It's in your eyes, Figo."

"That's not pity."

"Then what is it?"

Dammit, how could he explain without sounding like a fumbling idiot? How could he admit what she mistook as pity was actually a kind of love? He empathized with her, hurt for her, and wondered if Leo had faced the same question: would it be right to ask her to come home with him? Adamo could work the EPF, keep her under the radar since Bishop already knew she hung around New York. Wouldn't it be safer for her and Adeline to stay? In a moment, the mutant forgot everything he rehearsed in the bathroom mirror and he fought trembles as he realized maybe his side wasn't the best place to stay after all.

"Figo? Figo. Mikey!"

Michelangelo looked up to see Sophia's softened expression. 'She blows a lot of hot air. It's something I'd miss if she stayed.'

But would she stay? Should he bring it up? Was it ethical not to? Should ethics matter? What the hell were ethics anyway? Gah!

"Is it just me or did it get hotter?" the mutant asked while fanning himself.

"Maybe it's too many candles," Hoshi countered.

Excellent point. Mikey nodded as he reached for the tea lights, only to knock over a frosty glass that smelled like red grapes. His instincts made him stand to scoop the contents back. He forgot to account for how close he sat at the table, though. It rattled, knocking over wine glasses and a few other treats into lights and confetti. Hoshi stood with way more grace than he did and he cursed under his breath with words Raphy would be proud of.

'Dude, you're acting like such a spaz! Who're are you? Don? Just ask already. Wait, no, apologize first.' When Mikey glanced back up, he noted how calmly his girlfriend cleaned wine off her clothes. Yet that didn't give him any strength to actually form words. He croaked, hand clenching the pouch the engagement ring sat in. 'You're an embarrassment to mutant turtles everywhere, Dude. Say something; she's smirking!'

"Figo, I thought you were smoother than this."

"I am! I mean, I am. It's just..."

"Just what?"

"You know you mean a lot to me, right?" he blurted. Slowly, the smirk fell and the blonde brought her hands to her pink-tipped layers. "I was really depressed for a while. It was hard watching my brothers. I thought maybe I was cursed, or just not meant to have someone, and then"—the mutant inhaled—"then you ran down the street. And kicked the shell outta some gangsters. I meant to save you. I wanted to be the hero. Turned out, you're my hero."

"I'm not the hero in this relationship," Hoshi replied. She had already braided her hair and combed it all out with her fingers to start over again. "You helped me live again. You..." She glanced down at her High Tops as Mikey took his first steps around the stained table.

"I've never met a girl who could roll with my banter so well. You keep me on my toes, never bore me, help me focus, and—"

Sophia reached into her sock to pull out something. "Marry me!"

The mutant stared at the box she held out with shaky hands. "Huh?"

"Ma—marry me. I—I know I'm difficult and broken, and sometimes too mean. But you deal with it. You make me feel safe, Michelangelo. It's all I ever wanted since I saw my sister ripped apart. Yo—you make me laugh, really laugh. No one else can do that. Not as often as you. I...I need you, Mikey, I..." Sophia's red eyes grew glossy as she opened the box to reveal a sturdy-looking band etched with stars. She shuffled forward, paler than he had ever seen her, and she swallowed thickly. "I've had this for a long time. I've just been scared to give it to you, scared you'd say no."

"No?" Mikey breathed. "Why on Earth would I say no? Sophie," the mutant's tone wavered when tears began slipping down his lover's cheeks, "you beat me to the punch."

"Wh—what?"

Unclipping his side pouch, Mikey pulled out a box smaller than hers, which he also opened. Gold bands were nestled inside, one that fit on top of the other. In a braided pattern on the sides, three pin-point Pink Diamonds were encrusted, symmetrical on both rings, and the biggest difference came from the larger Pink Diamond bordered by Moonstones.

"Cazzo, Figo," Hoshi whispered.

The mutant's stomach sank. "It's not too gaudy, is it?"

The blonde shook her head, crying harder.

"Oh, come on, Hoshi; you're gunna make me cry."

"You're already crying, Idiot."

Mikey erupted in a laugh, now aware of how wet his face felt. "We're just a bunch of messes, aren't we? It's like we were made for each other."

"You cheesy—" Hoshi didn't finish; she smiled through her tears, busied by handing over the much larger ring to her boyfriend.

"Does this mean yes?" he asked.

"I will if you will."

"You get that off a sauce packet?" Mike spared the blonde a smirk then angled the ring when he noticed something etched inside. One simple yet meaningful word that proved Hoshi could be just as romantic: Eternity. "You sure this is what you want?" the mutant pressed. He smiled when the blonde forced the ring onto his left hand and laughed when she stared at him expectantly.

"I would've dumped your shell long ago if it wasn't."

"Touché."

"How much longer do I gotta wait?"

"Sorry." Mike's tingling hands pulled both rings from the box, though he meant to pick up one. All well, they could separate them properly later. For now, he wanted to enjoy how the bands slipped onto her skinny finger. "Guess the next step after this is kids."

"Woah, there, Figo." The blonde laced her hands behind the mutant's neck to pull him down. "I said yes to you, not kids."

"Oh, come on. You'd make a great mama bear."

"Chill. I still haven't decided if I can go through with this whole 'I do' business."

"You can. Otherwise, you wouldn't have gotten me a ring."

Michelangelo smirked against Sophia's lips, their bodies pressed as far against each other as possible. His arms encircled her back, hands on her shoulder blades, refusing to loosen, and the blonde arched backward with the passion of his following kiss.