Raphael set the dining table with plates, and placed the roast chicken in the center of the table on a large plate, he had talked with Raph and Raphie, that when he was to give them his signal, they were to take Mike to sit on the couch while he did his proposal. Everything was set, Raphael was praying that Mike would behave during this dinner, and not the way he has been behaving towards Nei.
It was the most important if not yet stressfull moment of his life, he hoped and prayed the words would not get caught in his throat. As the clock signalled it was 7 o'clock, Raphael gracefully sat Nei at the table and carved the chicken, placing an equal amount of meat onto each of their plates, as everyone scooped the bowls of vegetables to their own liking, with Raphael placing a few of said vegetables onto Mike's plate, earning an annoyed glare from him, that he shrugged off.
While everyone ate, Mike reached out to take a hold of his glass of orange juice, which was sadly placed a little too out of reach. He leaned a bit too far over as he placed his hand down on the table, it cought on the handle of his fork that hauled a helping of mashed potatoes at Raphie, catching him on the shoulder. Mike quickly looked at Raphie, he was about to appologise when his fingers caught the side of his glass and knocked it over, spilling half the liquid onto the table cloth. Mike instantly looked at Raphael, "I-I'm sorry...I didn't mean to..."
Raphael sighed silently as he reached out, picked up Mike's glass and placed it closer to his reach, "next time ask for me to move it closer to you," he said as gently as he possibly could.
Mike's eyes began to tear up as he took hold of his glass and tried to drink it with his lower lip shaking a little, he placed the glass back down and looked at Raphael, "c-can I please be excused to my room?" He asked, biting on his lower lip to keep it from shaking, both Raph and Raphie looked at each other with raised brows.
Raphael looked at Mike, his face may have shown a normal every day calm expression but his eyes clearly showed disappointment in them, "of course."
Mike was about to get up when Nei's hand gently placed itself on top of Mike's, "there's no reason for you to go sweetheart, everyone could see it was an accident," she said calmly and sweetly, giving a gentle smile.
Mike gave a nod, "I-I know....But I'd still like to go to my room..So...Good night." He said as he slowly moved his hand from under Nei's and quickly walked to the stairs and straight to his room. Mike lay on his bed, grabbed his pillow and deeply pressed his face into it, to muffle his cries. "He probably hates me now....I didn't even do it on purpose this time..."
Raphael sighed sliently, Nei placed her fork down and stood up, "if you all will excuse me I would like to go and speak with Mike."
"It's best if ya leave the kid alone, he'll calm and come back down when he's ready."
Nei looked at Raph, "what he needs is a friendly ear and someone who's willing to listen to him," she said and left the table and made her way up the stairs and knocked on Mike's door. "Mike sweetie, it's Nei. Would you like to talk? It's okay if you don't want or feel like it dear."
Mike sniffed loudly as he looked up a little from his pillow, "...c-come in...."
Nei slowly opened the door and walked over to Mike's bed and sat on the edge, she placed a gentle hand on Mike's shoulder, rubbing it softly. "Want to talk about what's so heavy in your heart?" She asked.
"Daddy hates me...I didn't mean to hit Uncle Raphie with mashed potatoes or spill the juice, it was an accident...I tried to behave, I really did.." Mike sobbed out as he buried his face back in his pillow. Raphael quietly walked upstairs as he heard Mike speak in a heavily tear filled voice, he stood beside the wall, not far from Mike's door and listened.
Nei smiled softly, "your daddy doesn't hate you, we know it was an accident dear, no one was at fault, and I think you behaved very well tonight."
Mike shook his head, "daddy doesn't think so, he thinks I did it on purpose when I didn't, he looked at me like he hates me for not liking you," he sniffed, "how can I like you, when you want to take daddy away from me?"
Raphael's brows raised as he heard what Mike had just said.
Nei smiled with a soft chuckle, "so that's what this has all been about? Attacking me the first time we met, and at the flower meadows." She smiled and stroked Mike's cheek, "sweetheart, I'm not going to take daddy away from you, honestly I'm not. I truly love your daddy and he loves me, I can be good for him and I can be good for you too, if you will let me. I can be someone who can help worry about you, like your daddy worries about you. I was hoping we could be good friends."
Mike slowly looked at Nei, slowly he sat up and leaned over, hugging her. Nei gently lifted Mike to sit better on her lap as she slowly rocked him while rubbing his back in soothing motions. "I'm sorry..."
"You don't need to be, it wasn't your fault at dinner." Nei said softly.
Mike shook his head, "no I mean I'm sorry for everything else..." He sniffed and coughed out a sob, "for purpously spilling juice over you the first time, and then at the flower meadows...I'm sorry...I'm really sorry..."
Nei hugged Mike close, "it's alright, it's alright. Shhh shh, no need to worry about it sweetheart, its past, forgotten and forgiven."
Raphael decided it was time he made himself known as he quietly walked to Mike's door and gently knocked, Mike looked up with Nei, slowly he pressed his face back against Nei's shoulder. Raphael wet his lips and walked up to them as he knelt down and gently placed his hands on Mike's cheeks and made him look up into his eyes. "Mike....I'm the one who should be sorry, I should have known why you were acting like you were. You were afraid of losing me weren't you?"
Mike gave a nod as fresh tears came to his eyes, he wrapped his arms around Raphael's neck and cried. Raphael stood up and began to gently rock him, "Mike, you're not going to lose me... " he looked at Nei and reached into his pocket and took out the small box, handing it to her, watching as Nei opened it, "you're gaining a mother."
Both Mike and Nei looked at him, "would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Raphael asked lovingly.
Nei stared at the ring in the box a moment, before she gazed up at him with teary eyes, "yes."
Raphael smiled widely as he reached out and pulled her gently into a kiss, Mike stared wide eyed, "yuck! Gross!"
Nei and Raphael looked at him, "you think kissing is gross?" Nei asked chuckling a little.
"On the lips yeah, you two looked like you had fish lips."
Raphael laughed, "fish lips hmh? I'll give you fish lips," He said as he dropped Mike onto the bed and playfully growled as he tickled Mike.
"AAAAAAaaaaaaahhhhh! NNNNNnnnnnnnoooooooooo!!!" Mike cried out in laughter as he was attacked by the 'tickle monster', Raphael eased up after five minutes of his 'torture'. Mike panted heavily after the assault to his tickle spots, he looked at Raphael and giggled, Raphael leaned down and placed a kiss to Mike's forehead.
"Good night my precious little one."
Mike smiled, "night daddy....Night Nei."
Nei smiled "good night sweetheart," she said and left behind Raphael.
Raphael smiled at her as they sat on the couch, "I believe Mike has finally accepted you."
Nei smiled, "yes, but only that I am not taking you away from him, and as a friend. I believe he will fully accept me into his heart, is when he feels ready himself, this is not something that can just be handed to him to immedietely accept." She smiled, "it may take a bit of time, but with us both being patient and understanding with him, it will work out just fine."
Raphael smiled, "I don't suppose you would like to walk him to school tomorrow? Not for pushing or forcefull reasons in order for him to accept you quicker, but to help the two of you bond more."
Nei chuckled, "I will be more than happy to." They smiled and shared a deep kiss before settling down to a movie.
