Mona Lisa felt her entire body shaking. A strong mix of nervousness and excitement consumed her. She felt her face heat up while her body trembled and her knees became weak. How was a small piece of jewelry able to have this kind of power over her?

Mona Lisa knows why.

She recalls April telling her not long ago of an Earth tradition, where it is a custom for one's partner to offer what is called an "engagement ring" as one of the first signs of...

"Bishop did all this to stop me from asking you to marry me," Raph explains to her.

"You were... going to propose?" Mona asked, she was still shaking, but her tone was soft and touched from realizing this conclusion. "Is that what that date the other night was for? Before Bishop...?

Raph nods, "Bishop found out I was going to propose that night so he did everything he could to stop me. He abused his authority and tried to do everything he could to keep us apart."

"But you didn't let him..." Mona said, thinking through everything that has happened for the past few weeks. "That's why you fought him? You weren't just fighting for me to stay on Earth..."

"I was fighting for you to stay on Earth," Raph assures her as he takes her hands and looks her in the eyes, "but I was also fighting for us, for our future. I wasn't going to let him take you away from me. To take the life I want to have with you."

Mona began to feel her face heat up. "B-But what about when you said that we're already a part of each other's lives, how we don't need marriage-"

"I know... But after we had that talk I thought long and hard, reflecting on everything we've been through together. I realized that you are in my life, but only for a fraction of it. I want you to be a part of my whole life- No! I want you to be my life! I want to be your life! I want us to get married and to share that life together," he began to blush. "Maybe even start a family... I know now what I want, and I want to share it with you, but only if you feel the same..."

"Oh Raphael..." Mona says softly as she pulls him towards her, joining in a loving hug. "I want that life too," she whispers.

"Really?" Raph's eyes sparked with excitement, "I was worried you had doubts and didn't feel the same after what I told you. I... I thought I ruined my chance..."

"I admit, I began to fear that we had no true future because of what you told me, and when the Mutanimals told me you weren't, as they said 'marriage material', my mind grew more confused."

Mona could see the irritation grow on Raph's face from the Mutanimals comments about him. Another reason why they almost split apart, but the couple couldn't truly blame their friends for something they were unaware of at that time.

Mona continued, "Despite everything, I never doubted you. It was Bishop that made me begin to believe those doubts, it was never you," she caresses his cheek. "You are the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. I love you, Raphael. I want to marry you, to have a life together as husband and wife."

Raph softly smiles, taking Mona's hand and closing his eyes, embracing the soft touch of her palm on his cheek. The sweet moment was cut short with Raph's realization, "I'm kinda mad though..."

Mona tilts her head, "Why?"

"That bastard Bishop ruined my whole plans. Even before this whole mess, I wanted to properly court you."

Mona was intrigued, "And how were you planning to do that?"

"I got Sal's blessing and wanted to build up to a grand proposal. I had my brothers and friends set up this whole thing for us at a beautiful location so I could propose. I got you flowers, I dressed nicely for you, but then Bishop went on his power trip, and..." Raph sighs, "I failed..."

"That's ridiculous! You did not fail at courting me. From what I can understand, you believe you started courting me after we had our marriage talk on the roof, yes?"

Raph nods.

"Well, you are wrong."

Raph looks at Mona confused when suddenly she leans towards him, their noses less than an inch from touching

"In truth, you have been courting me from the moment our noses first met," Mona whispers to him softly. "Every adventure, struggle, and moment we've shared, from your love mail you sent me during your space journey to our training sessions in the dojo, were all actions of you courting me, and may I say, you have been doing a wonderful job, especially with your recent actions. On my planet, one fighting for your mate is the grandest honor to show one's declaration of love."

"I've heard," Raph says, leaning towards her, their noses finally touching.

"So you see? It was perfect. The best way to court a Salamandrian."

Raph smiles, touched by Mona's reassurance. What she spoke was the truth, and yet Raphael did not realize it till now. He has been courting her longer than he thought. He believed he only started courting her a few weeks ago, but in truth, he has since they shared their first kiss. She has always been his. From when they first met, during the long period of their long distance and attempts to keep in touch, to living on Earth together. From the little to big moments they shared. Each argument and make ups that followed. The laughs and tears they shared. Raphael has always been courting Mona Lisa.

"I still wanted to give you a proposal you deserve," Raph sighs, pulling away from their kissy-nose. "I had this whole proposal idea set up and a speech I was gonna say, but now... Ugh! You know my question and I know your answer, so there's no point in..."

Mona places her finger gently on his lips, silencing him, "Technically, you never truly asked me, and I didn't give you a true answer," she smiles as she bats her eyes, "Maybe once you propose to me properly, I'll give a proper answer."

Raph felt his face heat up again, "Heh... Well, the speech is not that great anyway..."

Mona softly giggles, caressing her hand to Raph's cheek and guiding her hand under his chin to lift his head up so his eyes meet her gaze, "I would love to hear it."

Raph smiles at her and takes her hands, holding them gently in his as they sit together side by side. He takes a deep breath, fixes his posture, and looks at Mona in the eyes as he begins.

"Mona Lisa, for the longest time in my life I thought I was happy being on my own. I accepted the idea that I would live the rest of my life as a solo turtle who needs no one by his side. In truth, I also convinced myself no one would want or love me for the mutant turtle that I am, but then one day a beautiful Salamandrian warrior punched me in the face and she quickly caught my eye."

Mona softly giggles at Raph's comment as he continues.

"The day I met you I knew my life would never be the same. You entranced me with not just your beauty, but your skills as a fighter and warrior spirit. You made me feel a way I have never felt before, and you continue to have this powerful effect on me. The mere sight of you makes me smile, hearing you laugh brightens my day, seeing you fight motivates me, and being in your arms is better than anything I could ask for in this whole galaxy. I never want that to end. I want to be with you till the end of our days, to be the woman I see by my side when I wake up every morning, to be there fighting by my side in every battle. You are the woman I want to spend the rest of my life with. So..."

Raph takes a deep breath as he carefully gets up from where he sat and goes down on one knee, presenting to Mona a small box that held the rose gold diamond ring that shined in the moonlight, as Raph asked her the question he's been longing to ask her.

"Lieutenant Y'gythgba Mona Lisa, will you marry me?"

Mona's eyes begin to tear up, a smile grows wide on her face as she nods and says happily, "Yes!"

Raphael knew her answer and yet hearing her agree to be his wife overwhelmed him with excitement as he placed the engagement ring on Mona's finger. Tears of joy ran down his face as Mona suddenly pulled Raph towards her and the couple joined in a burning kiss, holding each other tightly in their arms. The couple happily cried as they grew lost in their kiss as the city around them and night itself grew silent as they let the magical feeling once again consume them. The feeling of them being the only two beings in the universe, where everything around them disappears and the only ones watching them are the stars and planets around them dancing in celebration of their love and now their engagement. Their eyes locked on one another as they parted from their kiss, their noses and foreheads gently touching, as they told one another softly.

"I love you, Mona Lisa."

"I love you too, Raphael."

Before joining back together for another passionate kiss.