In a town in Britain there lived a family of boys (or should I say men? They were 20 years old) and a maid who lived in a big old cottage enough to fit about 15 people, but only six lived in it.

There is four brothers that live there, each of them very different.

The eldest, Leonardo Hamato, was soon to be the Kings new personal guard when his father, Hamato Yoshi, (who also lives in the cottage) steps down and retires.

The second eldest, Raphael Hamato, usually stays in his office throwing away marriage requests from other ladies and girls from around the kingdom, writing refusal letters to other courts saying that he does not want to leave his family for some stupid job or girl, and training in the small room connected to his room because he wants to be a better fighter than his older brother.

The second youngest, Donatello, did the taxes and bills and owned a mechanic shop in town. He loves to tinker and invent things in the shed out in the yard during his spare time.

And the youngest, Michelangelo, usually stayed with their maid and kept her company while his brothers were out doing their work.

Now, the maids name was Ivy Rose, and has been with the Hamato family for only less than a year.

They loved her like she was part of the family and she loved them back. They treated her kindly (except Raphael, who has temper issues sometimes) and fair and let her take off every Sunday afternoon and paid her fairly well.

She never knew her family and never had any friends until she met the Hamatos, but she is certainly glad that the Hamatos took her under their wing.

Today is Wednesday and Leonardo and his father were coming home from a long days work of guarding the King and his palace.

Ivy heard the carriage and excused herself from Michelangelo's presence and hurried to the door.

As she opened the door she said, "Welcome home Mr. Hamato, and you too Sir, did you have a good day?"

Ivy wasn't usually allowed to call the Hamatos by their names, for it was "improper", so she calls them "Sir" or "Mr".

"It was well Ivy, thank you," Mr. Hamato said, entering into his house.

Leonardo nods toward Ivys direction as a 'it was good' and Ivy nodded back.

She took their coats and hung them on the hat and coat hanger.

"Where is everyone?" Mr. Hamato asked.

"Mr. Raphael is in his room, Mr. Donatello is working a bit later at the shop, and Mr. Michelangelo is in the barn talking to the cows... Again."

Mr. Hamato and Leonardo sighed in both exhaustion and slight frustration.

"Leonardo, go fetch your brother," Mr. Hamato ordered.

Leonardo of course didn't argue with his father and ran off into the backyard into the barn.

"What would you like for dinner, Mr. Hamato?" Ivy asked, folding her hands behind her back.

"Hm.. A soup would be nice... With bread and cheese, please", Mr. Hamato said.

Ivy nods, "I will get right to it", and went to the kitchen.

Ivy isn't allowed to eat with the Hamatos, only on special occasions. So she has to make something separate for herself after making the soup and bread and cutting the cheese (no pun intended).

As she was making the soup, she over heard Mr. Hamato talking to Michelangelo about the cows and to just leave them alone.

About twenty minutes later, Ivy called to everyone that it was time to eat (although Donatello was still at work).

Michelangelo sped over to his seat at the table (bottom right side) with a big grin on his face, his baby blue eyes sparkling with happiness. He may be a full grown man at the age of twenty, but he still has the heart of a child.

Raphael trudged in like he just woke up from hibernation and slumped down next to Mikey (top right side) in a grumpy manner (which is usual).

Leonardo walked in like a normal gentleman he is and sat down across from Raphael and Mr. Hamato sat at the head of the table.

"How long did Donatello say he was going to be out?" Mr. Hamato asked Ivy.

"He said until eight o'clock Mr. Hamato," Ivy replied, setting the bowls of soup with the cheese and the bread on the table. "He is training a new employee at the shop and wants to make sure he is suitable for the job."

He nods, "Ah, good for him then."

Ivy smiles slightly, "I hope the food is good. I will be back to clean the table when you are done."

She hurried off to the kitchen and began working on her food, French onion soup with Gruyere cheese sprinkled on top.

She snuck up to her room which happened to be next to Michelangelo's room and closed the door behind her.

She placed the soup on her small wooden desk and scooted the stool over to the desk and sat.

As she ate, she began to wonder why Mr. Leonardo was so quite when he came home. He is usually happy with his dark blue eyes dancing and his black hair slightly tousled from the carriage ride because when he wants to ride the horse won't listen to him (no animal ever listens to him, nor can he cook).

Ivy sips her soup and sighs, deciding that she will ask him later when he is alone.

After finishing her soup she picked up her dishes and walked down stairs into the kitchen and started washing her dishes and putting them away.

When she was done she peeked into the dining room too see if the Hamatos were done with their food, and as always Michelangelo was the only one done.

Ivy then picked up his dishes and put them in the sink.

"Two weeks? That's hardly enough time!" Raphael snaps.

Ivy turns the sink on and begins washing dishes, but is quiet enough to hear the others talk.

"I know," Leonardo said, "but I am going to need all of you guys' help finding someone suitable for me."

Ivys heart skips a beat. 'Find someone suitable for him? Why?'

"How? And does it matter what kind of girl? Cause you could just marry Ivy and get this over with," said Michelangelo.

Ivy blushes slightly and scrubs the dishes harder. She didn't like Leonardo like THAT. If anyone in the Hamato family that she would marry it would be-

"I would like all of you to send letters to all of the ladies in the court and all the court members who have daughters saying that I am looking for someone who is wealthy enough to help pay the taxes and bills. And no Mikey, I would never marry Ivy. She is more like a sister to me."

Ivy sighs in relief, glad that Leonardo didn't like her like THAT.

She finished washing Michelangelo's dishes and pokes her head in the dinning room and saw Raphael was the next one done, as always.

Ivy walks over and picks his dishes up carefully, walks back to the kitchen and starts cleaning his dishes.

"I can give you a ton of names of super rich girls who send me a thousand letters every week" Raphael grumbles. Leonardo nods, "Good, thanks Raph."

Ivy tried to think of some girls that would be a good match, but the only girl she knew of what her best friend Kopi, who was only the bakers daughter and Kopi has said very clearly that she doesn't like the Hamato boys that much (but Ivy knew that was such a lie).

But, Master Hamato was not retired or dead, so why was Leonardo finding a mistress now?

Ivy gathered the rest of the dishes and started washing them, ignoring the bubbles that floated up to her face and into her hair.

She then heard the front door swing open and then a few seconds later it was shut.

"I'm home!" Donatello called out, taking his coat and shoes off.

"Donnie!" Michelangelo squealed and rushed over to his older brother and have him a tight hug.

"Mikey, let go.." Donatello grumbled. He was obviously very hungry and didn't want his brother stopping him from getting food.

"Your bowl in on the table still" Leonardo said, still seated at the table.

Ivy wiped sweat off her face, forgetting that her hands were covered in soap. She let an exhausted sigh escape her lips and washed the soap off her hands before grabbing a towel and wiping her face off.

"Thanks for the food, Ivy."

Ivys heart skipped a beat and dropped her towel with a small yelp. She turns around to see Raphael leaning against the doorway to the dinning room with his arms crossed over his chest.

Ivy nods and bends down to grab the towel, but Raphael picked it up first and handed it to her.

Ivy quickly sits up and snatches the towel from him and looks up at him.

"You're welcome," she said mutters and turns back around and continued to wash the dishes.

Raphael didn't move an inch from where he was standing and just watched her.

She could feel his eyes looking at her and her cheeks started to turn pink.

"Do you need something Mr. Raphael?" she asked, wanting him to leave as soon as possible.

Raphael looked away and shook his head. "No..." he sighs, and then finally turns and leaves.

Ivy shook her head and finished the last dish. Raphael did that often, just watching her do chores while he sits there with his beer or by the door or when he is supposed to be reading the newspaper.

Ivy then dried her hands and walked out of the kitchen into the dining room to look at the time on the big grandfather clock in the corner.

9:30.

Time to go to bed.

Ivy wished the Hamatos a good night and they replied with a good night as well. She scurries up to her room and puts on her rouge colored night gown and slippers and lays down on her bed, pulling the soft and warm covers over her.

She stares up at the ceiling and wonders when she will fall asleep, but no longer than three minutes later, she was sound asleep.