Disclaimer:…Do not own turtles, but I do own Owen AND Centrice…so that ALMOST makes up for it, but not quite…

Chapter One

He just could not sleep! Not even to save his life…

Donatello sighed before giving up.

Yup, it would be another sleepless night; another tired day.

Ever since he had gotten over his initial sickness at his "turning," he ended up learning, through experience, that the dub "The Creatures of the Night" was no lie.

And he had the restlessness to prove it.

Carefully, he detached himself from the sleeping Centrice. He watched her as she stirred, but nothing more. She would not wake up.

And for that he was glad.

At first, when he had his nightly roams, he had been by himself, so he really didn't have to explain himself to anyone. But now, that was not the case. As of yesterday, Centrice had taken off of work, an official vacation now spent in the turtle's lair.

What could have been better?

They spent every waking moment together, just as they always wanted to. And since everything now became two, if she woke up, this would be no exception.

But she needed her sleep. That was a given. She did not express the nocturnal nature that he did. So instead of waking her up to join him, he would rather let her have her "beauty rest" as she so cleverly put it.

But that didn't mean he couldn't watch her as she slept.

He sighed, admiring her sleeping form, but soon the pull of activity got too strong, pulling him away. He stood, stretching. His mind told him that it was about three in the morning, and one look at his clock told him that he was right. Although that was weird, he didn't bother to give it a second thought as he made his way to the door. In the hallway he headed for the kitchen, but couldn't help but stop and stare at the closed door at the end of the hall.

It was formally a storage room, but now, it belonged to Owen.

It felt so weird having him here, and he had only been there for a few hours. Breakfast would be an event with the new addition, that much was certain. So many questions about his life style had popped into his head at the thought of the vampire actually living with him, but he never had the gall to ask.

What foods did Owen eat? Did he sleep all day and prowl all night like a normal (mythical) vampire? Did he sleep in a coffin?…

Well, the last one was kind of silly, but still, the questions were endless.

However, now it seemed as though he would finally get his answers. Besides…

Owen lived right there!

Breaking his gaze from the still door, he continued his journey to the dark kitchen. 'A little mid-night snack never hurt anyone…' He thought as his stomach growled in agreement.

He opened the fridge only to bypass the rather large growing pile of transfusing pack as he searched the white box for food. When he first came, Owen had put the packs in there before asking for his room, of which, he hasn't left ever since. Now, a white box of leftover pizza occupied the bottom shelf, catching his attention instead. He opened it and sniffed.

Still good.

Well that settles it.

He had found his midnight snack.

Placing two of the cold slices on at nearby plate, he made his way over to the microwave. The beep beeping soon filled the room. He waited for his food. He smiled at the thought of how much like old times this moment had become.

Waiting for his pizza…

As if on cue the saucy aroma began to fill the room, causing his already hungry stomach to rumble in anticipation.

Just a few more seconds…

"Hey, what are you doing up?"

Uh-oh, busted!

However, with a look over his shoulder, he realized that it was only Raph. Raph watched Don dejectedly as the microwave beeped. His nose picked up on the aroma immediately.

"You're eating pizza, at this ungodly hour?" His voice portrayed his wonder as he hit Donny with a look. At that, Donny looked up at his speech, his cheeks heating up as he did. This definitely was an awkward situation.

But from years of experience, he knew exactly how to get out of it.

"Wanna slice?"

At that, Raphael's gaze widened before going thoughtful. "I thought you would never ask!" He pulled up a chair, turning it around to straddle the back as Don retrieved the pizza from the microwave. He went to get another plate, but Raph waved him away while reaching for his slice.

He could use his hands.

Don sat, their small meal commencing as he did. The den stirred in its calm as the small noises of the night resonated thereof. A clank there, a small scurry here.

Basically, the music of the night.

They both listened to the music that was their den as they ate in silence. Suddenly, Raph stopped as if remembering something, but did not look up from his plate. However, the silence was soon broken by the quiet sound of Raph's accented voice.

"What's it like?"

Don looked up from his cheesy goodness at Raph's sudden words.

"What?" He mumbled through a mouthful of pizza.

Raph never looked up from his pizza although he did neglect to eat anymore.

"What's it like Don, to be a…"

Don raised an eye ridge.

"A Vampire?"

Raph nodded, finally looking up. Don couldn't help but look into his dark eyes as he did. There was embarrassment there; however, it was overridden by something else.

Raph was genuinely curious.

At first, Don didn't know what to think. He and Raph hardly talked. Being so different they just never got to know each other like with Mike or Leo, even though they were all brothers. They just never had a junction to connect with.

So, for Raph to join him now, and ask him such things, Don had to doubt if Raph was sincere in his inquiries, or was he just pulling his leg as some sort of joke.

However, one more look at his eyes told him that Raph was completely truthful.

He really did want to know.

Don smiled as the doorway to a new relationship with his brother suddenly opened.

"Well…" He thought about it. What was it like? How could he describe it without it being too confusing, or without losing Raph all together? "It's like…"

He had nothing.

Raph watched him as Don thought, a slight frowning at the extended silence. Maybe some prompting would help…

"Is it like, power?" He asked. His hands folded on the wooden tabletop as he leaned onto his elbows. He watched Donatello thoughtfully, a glint in his eye. "I always believed that when you turned into a vampire, along with it came absolute power…" Don watched him measurably.

'What did he mean, 'always?'…' Oblivious to Don's thoughts, Raph continued, his gaze going distant as he spoke.

"And that when you're a vampire, you are…untouchable. Like…true power, ya know?" His gaze fell on Donatello, his eyes questioning as well as piercing.

He was expecting an answer.

However, the gaze only seemed to make Donatello more and more uneasy.

'Since when has he gotten all physiological?'

'Since when has he begun to believe in vampires, because from the way it sounds, it was way before you turned.'

Yeah, now that he thought about it, the voice was right. These questions were not just 'spur of the moment', questions. These questions were defiantly old questions, questions that had floated through his brother's mind for a while, maybe even years.

But what triggered them now?

'Well, Duh! You're a vampire. That much is obvious. He can ask you now because you're his brother, and a vampire, therefore you wouldn't laugh at him, like you all did when he first got into that kind of stuff?'

'Wait, what?!'

'Fourteen Years ago…'

Don blinked. Fourteen years was a long time, and even now his memory was a little foggy. But then he remembered, his mind clicking as he did. That book. That stupid book Raph had taken to. "Folklore and Myths" or something of the sort; they had all teased him because of it.

Because he was into such silly things.

However, now that he thought about it, Raph had never mentioned that book or what he thought about it after that ridiculing incident ever again, and likewise, they had never seen the book again.

That only meant that Raph still had it…or just threw it away.

But, the more he thought about Raph's words, smaller and smaller went the chances of Raph throwing the book away so many years ago. Even more came the idea that Raph still had the book, stashed away in his room somewhere. He might even still read it…

Meanwhile, Raph watched Donny as he waited for the answer to his question of many years. However, when none came, he sighed dejectedly. He stood, the pizza forgotten in a sea of embarrassment and shame.

'I knew I shouldn't have asked. Now he probably thinks I'm stupid!' He turned to leave, but was stopped by a very quiet and very hesitant voice.

"It's like…awareness."

Raph stopped, turning. Was Don answering his questions? The look that Don gave him only confirmed his suspicions.

He was.

Smiling, he sat. He felt a giddiness he hadn't felt since he was little, but he welcomed all the same. Donatello would answer his queries.

"Awareness? What do ya mean?"

Don blinked, Raph had seemed to come alive at his words, sitting with a childish giddy that he couldn't remember seeing on the usually angry and disgruntled turtle in red. Don couldn't help but feel as though he had just reached a milestone. After twenty two endless years of searching, he had finally found something that Raph actually cared about, and it had been right underneath his nose the whole time…

At Raph's wide and imploring eyes, Don continued, feeling more like a story teller than he would have liked to.

"Well, it's like…all of your senses have been heightened beyond anything you had ever known. You hear things that would have never been able to hear…" His mind went back to when he found the Plane. "…Or see things you never would have been able to see…"

At that Raph grinned, finally nodding. That seemed like a satisfactory answer. However, as fate would have it, the answers were not finished, for soon, another voice sounded out, his own thoughts on the subject coming out as well.

"Although Donatello is right, he did not hit it completely on the head. There is more…he just doesn't know it yet." A pale figure stepped out from the shadows, his black midriff contrasting greatly with his white skin. He took his own seat as the turtles just watched him in silent awe, their conversation ceasing instantly. He smiled smugly at their expressions.

It was Donatello who found his voice first.

"Good Morning, Owen…"

-

Hey, this took no time at all! Yay! The Beginning of the End, it's finally here!!! More coming soon! Keep Posted, R and R in the meantime though…