Tops could not believe it. Godfather Coltrane just refused to answer his repeated request for permission to marry Lo. He did eat his watermelons, but simply ignored Tops's asking to marry his beautiful, precious, gorgeous Lo. The lack of getting an answer almost gave Tops a heart-attack, despite him being a patient guy.. As he thought about it, tears ran from his eyes, thinking of still not being allowed to marry his dream-and-daydream bride.. The thought of never getting to be allowed to meet her at the altar were scratching his soul.. They said that for never there was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo, but then they apparently had never heard of Lo and her Tops!

Wasn't it clear that this was pure and utter love..?
Didn't it show to the whole community?
Tops never hid it. Neither had his Lo.. He knew some people thought they moved fast, Sabrina even told him when he brought it up, but Tops felt how he needed to marry her as soon as he could, as he knew she was the one for her from the moment he met her at Artie_Bucco's Nuevo Nuevo Vesuvio restaurant.

Apparently the postponing of Coltrane's decision had taken long for a reason, whatever that reason may be..
But still, it was harsh! What was there not to love about him? Okay, he had a dicing addiction..
And Okay, he wasn't the hardest worker either. Sure, he sometimes took the piss out of people..
But still.. It was not as if he hang a picture of himself in HQ.. It was not as that loaned vast amounts of money to gamble.. Then came back for a loan to win it back.. It was not that he was under suspicion of the brutal death of Mrs Scroggins It wasn't as if he let others do the work for him instead of doing it himself

He couldn't get his mind straight. But this was not the moment to doubt himself.

He would simply run away from the Seattle Business District and marry his Lo on the Streets instead of waiting for Coltrane's answer! They would create a huge party without arranging anything..

Surely many of his gambling buddies would show up, Random, Viscoris, Arsonist and Assunto definitely would! As well as his Crew Leader Tyki_Mikk and their entire family. Tops's former pupil Kesey should get an offical role there, maybe bear the rings? Alpina and Luna could hold Lo's wedding dress train, Bluegoose surely could arrange the music again.. Artie_Bucco would definitely bring some great food and Wednesday with him, right?

Tops and Lo would invite anyone that was in support of the marriage and would ask everybody that came to just bring something to celebrate the occasion, no matter whether it was booze, snacks or cloth diapers with pins (They would need them in about 10 months anyway; giving or taking a month). It would be a true street party.

Surely, Lo didn't fancy a posh wedding anyway, did she?

Colt hadn’t answered. His reasoning was simple, he couldn’t let Lo’s pure soul get tarnished by Tops vices, and god knows there were many. He knew she had feelings for him, but she would get over him. If he had gotten over it, then she could as well. It was in her best interest, if she wanted to grow into the powerful and influential mafioso he knew she could become.    

He was sipping on his lemonade, walking down the streets of Seattle, as he noticed Artie_Bucco and LuciousLyon sneaking away in bathrobes. What the fuck? He followed them, silently, curious as to where they were headed. The usually were proud of what they were wearing, and didn’t try to sneak it away. They turned into a small alley, turning left into a forest. They followed the small dirt path until they hit a huge flower valley. The walked right through the valley and finally arrived at destination.    

Colt hid behind a tree, hoping he wouldn’t be seen. From there he observed the location to which his two friends were headed. There were a bunch people, talking and laughing, all dressed fancy. There was a melon buffet, which made Colt salivate. He then noticed everyone sitting down and a priest walking to the front of the chairs. Moments after, Tops appeared, in full tuxedo, walking down the alley of chairs. Right after followed Lo, dressed in a nice and fancy wedding dress.      

THEY WERE MARRYING EVEN THOUGHT HE HADN’T GIVEN HIS APPROVAL?!?!? He got so mad his red face could be seen, even thought he was black. This was unacceptable. He ran up to the ceremony, making everybody gasp.      

“Tops. I have not given you the approval to marry my sweet Lo, and yet, you still go through with it? You realize you are representing Acting Godfather Tyki_Mikk and Ballard, and this is a personal offense to myslef and the whole of Pioneer Square. We will show you our district is not to be messed with.” he said, grabbing Lo’s hand and returning back to the city. He had to get ready.

Running down the dirt path with the One-Man-Band in tow, Bluegoose knows he's running late for the wedding.  As he comes around the bend in the path, he sees Tops and Lo standing near the alter.  And then he see's Coltrane take Lo's hand and Bluegoose feels a warmth come over him as he thinks "Awe...That is so sweet.  Coltrane has reconsidered and is giving Lo away" 

Turning to the One-Man-Band.  "Damn-it man, start playing the wedding music, were just in time!"

Tops's jaw dropped as he saw Coltrane pop up out of the bushes. At the very moment Bluegoose's one man jazz band started playing, Tops recognized Coltrane's look as being furious.
Tops froze as the well-respected Godfather spoke, asking him why he pushed on on the marriage..

But.. but.. Tops had trouble to find words.. then remembered a quote that he once read and replied

But Godfather Coltrane.. When you love someone, you can’t hold back. Love is a leap into the unknown, not a cautious dipping of the toe!

But Godfather Coltrane had his mind set, and dragged Lo away from him

Wait! Coltrane! Tops yelled

Don't take my Lo away from me! Let me show you what I am can do. I can prove you how I deserve her! My whole district can show what we are worth! Tops looked back in the hope to find his friends Kesey, Jeb and Artie_Bucco nodding. Desperately he looked at Trixxy and Tyki_Mikk.

We will show, right??

A tear fell from his eye as Lo's silhouette started to become even smaller and smaller. He made a desperate yell to Lo, hoping she would hear it

I will fight for you, baby! Whatever it takes!

Proud of the fact that he had provided the music, Bluegoose began walking up the path with his chin held high.  The One-Man-Band walked up behind playing the traditional marriage tune.

But something isn't right.  Coltrane is dragging Lo behind him as the storm down the path, away from the alter.  Thinking to himself, "Why is Coltrane's face so red?  Is it normal to have that many veins pop out of your temples?  Damn.....Lo has nice tits."  

Bluegoose's confidence quickly faded as he saw a look on the well-respected Godfather's face that made him jump off the path and give him plenty of room as they quickly rushed past.  

With a motion of his hand moving back and forth across his throat, he signaled for the One-Man-Band to stop the music.

Artie had taken a good look in the mirror as he was getting ready.  He was looking fine in his new black silk bathrobe.  The bruises from the boxing had all but healed as he looked less and less as if he had jaundice.

The decision about what to wear had been difficult; bathrobe or kilt but given he was so far from his mother's ancestral homeland the kilt would be a bit much.  He tried a top hat on with the bathrobe and that just looked ridiculous; even for him, so it was hatless for the occasion.

He was unsure about whether this was a good idea or not.  There had been several run-ins with Tops and his most recent one required Lo to potentially testify against Tops. 

Maybe Coltrane would be able to put a stop to this so Artie could get some time with Lo to discuss the "acquisition" of the courthouse.  The only reason Artie was going was the threat of some sort of legal ramifications from Judge Mopontop just now otherwise he would be busier with legal work.

Lo was tired to be a puppet in the hands of the men in her life. For one Tops decided to kidnap her - without her consent, but I think that's how kidnapping goes - and give her a surprise ceremony. She didn't care, really, she just wanted to marry her Toppy but she wanted to be able to pick out her dress and not wear this thing her not-sure-how-soon-to-be-husband of hers picked: it showed a lot of cleavage, and let's leave it at that. On the other hand - literally - was Coltrane. He had said no and even though she respected him, she didn't exactly agree. He was the only father figure she had in her life now, so she owed him a great deal of respect but she wasn't letting him decide all her life for her on the guise of being what's best for her.

'No' - Lo yelled at Colt for the first time since...ever? - 'I will not leave this place until I am Mrs. Tops' - her jaw was as set as her feet on the ground - 'I know you don't aprove of Tops, Colt. And I respect your opinion, but I have to say no to your no. You don't see him like I do and that's why I get you are feeling like that but... he makes me smile in the mornings when he puts on a very terrible French accent, and you know I hate mornings. He reads the books I tell him to, he treats me right, he is funny, has a huge heart and he loves me. He really loves me. I know it sounds rushed but... when you know, you know. And I know, Colti. And you know I know, and I love you for trying to protect my heart' - she said, tears in her eyes and hugged the large black man - 'But you have to let me do this. We can have a proper wedding and not this rushed thing, if you feel like it's better?'

This was the real becoming of Lo. She stood up for herself, she told, without fears, what she wanted. Let's just hope Colt wouldn't lock her up in a tower. Did Tops know how to climb using ropes?

Colt stopped dead in his track, as his blood froze and he heard Lo refusing to follow him. This was more serious than he thought then... She genuinely seemed to love him. But still.

How about this. Let’s set up a competition, between both districts. It will be your opportunity to show me how much you care for each other and how invested to your district you can be. I’ll see if I can approve of it afterwards. Deal?

She knew she couldn't bargain with Coltrane anymore. In the end it was his way or no way, and she had been lucky to have him almost reconsider it.

'A competition it is' - Lo said - 'I just won't shoot people, but you already know that. I can hit them hard with books if necessary'.

Let the games begin. She thought.

Meanwhile, Tops looked at the little silhouettes in the distance.. 

Lo and Coltrane seemed to be having a discussion.

Tops looked at Tyki_Mikk and without a word, he gave Tops permission to run towards the Godfather and his Lo to join the discussion.. As he came closer, he noticed Lo was still wearing his long shirt..

Jeb just got the call in the vast lobby of the Cadillac Hotel, DT, where one of those smiling black jacket rats came to him, holding a telephone. He always wandered how they managed not to trip in the long wire that unrolled behind them. Anyway. He couldn't recognize the voice exactly, but he assumed it was Tyki_Mikk, or maybe Bluegoose, or maybe Jumbo, or maybe... Anyway again. He would say Boss. And whoever it was, he would be content.

But what he heard from old Seattle he could barely believe.

- Ok, Boss. I'll be there soon. Gimme a couple hours to pack what I have to pack, and I'll be in Ballard by the morrow.

Was it a war ? Was it just a competition ? Between the two districts ? Just for some love story ? Coltrane he didn't know very much of that folk since he was new in the hood, well, not exactly knew, I'm Made, you know, he would grin, but quite, let's say, youthful.

And youthful was he. If I had been there in time, he thought, this would have been a matter of some Chrysler Royal turning steep in the streets and roaring and skiddin'...

- Bring me a ticket for Seattle. First plane. Quick, said Jeb to the black jacket hotel rat, who bent and turned away.

Jeb grinned as the boy stumbled in the wire.