Note: This is a Prequel of sorts to 'Past Mistakes'. So if you liked that, you'll like this! :D
Title: When Raphie met Zoey
Summary: Zoey Jones is in for the shock of her life when her cousin brings some interesting company to the farmhouse. She finds herself battling her head as well as her heart when attraction hits her hard for a temperamental turtle.
Rated: T for now
Pairing: Raph/OC, Casey/April
Genre: Romance/Comedy
Dis: I don't own TMNT! ((((SAD FACE)))
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Zoey Jones smiled as the fresh air filtered into the interior of her car, blowing strands of her almost black hair behind her. It was a warm, sunny day in upstate New York where the trees were just starting to change color, indicating that fall was upon them. Most of the trees were still green and lined the curvy highway she was currently traveling down toward her family home. It wasn't a precious gem but it was someplace she went to when she needed to escape. The search for a job was stressing her out, there weren't too many places hiring college graduates, instead opting for those with more experience. What was the point of going to college when no one will hire you? Her frustration over a newly acquired Mass Communications degree led her to put in for two weeks of vacation that she had saved up as well as declining all of her friends suggestion that someone go with her.
"Maybe I'll call Casey tonight," she said to herself. "Let him know I'm here and ask if anything needs to be-" Her car, a red Ford Shelby GT, shuddered and she frowned as the car went from a sleekly running machine to a sputtering mess. "The hell? Agh, c'mon!"
Knowing she was almost there she pushed her car to the extreme until it came to a stop in the middle of the driveway. Clenching the steering wheel tightly in her hands she leaned forward to press her forehead against the leather of the wheel, closing her eyes as the anger inside her demanded to be unleashed.
"FUCK!"
Stomping her flip-flop covered foot on the floor before yanking off her seatbelt, she pulled on the lever that popped the hood, then exited the vehicle. She pulled the hood up and coughed a little as the smoke came out and blew in her face. Over a close inspection she saw she was leaking coolant and that her water pump was busted. Irritated she slammed the hood down and chanced starting the car up again. She managed to make it to the old barn. She opened the doors, put down the blocks that were in there, and guided the car onto them. Not wanting to deal with her busted car yet she grabbed the three stuffed bags of stuff she brought with her as well as her suitcase, closed the old barn doors so that no critters like a skunk would try and make its home near her baby, and hurried over to the large home. Slowly, a smile started to form on her face, especially with the familiar creak of the porch door hit her ears.
Suddenly, about six years ago, Casey had the urge to fix the place up. It'd been unattended for some time, sadly, and Zoey had been more than a little happy to hear he'd been fixing it up. New flooring, freshly painted walls, and a little spit and polish went a long way.
She let the door close behind her and left her suitcase by the stairs before heading to the kitchen to put her groceries away. The fridge and freezer needed to be plugged back in but the insides were clean so no mold was present, thank God. After putting her groceries away, Zoey grew tired and decided that since she was on vacation she was entitled to a nap when needed.
Rushing up the stairs she went to the room at the end of the hall, burst through the door, and dropped her luggage. She fell face first to the mattress, her flip-flops landing on the wooden floor as her body sunk into the spring mattress. A little cold since she wore jean shorts and a t-shirt she pulled a blanket over her before sighing, happy for the silence. She looked over to see a large, stuffed panda bear on the nightstand and chuckled before grabbing it and pulling it to her body to snuggle with.
"Aw Casey, is this your teddy bear?"
Even though her car broke down on her, the first day wasn't so bad. She could express order the part she needed so long as her phone had reception and it usually did. She was here for two weeks and hell, she could use her busted car as an excuse to stay longer. Smiling at the idea she burrowed further into the covers and fell asleep.
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"Man I can't WAIT to get out of this sewer," said an excited Michelangelo as he stuffed some comics into a small bag. "Fresh air, no boring patrols, and totally being one with the nature!"
Raphael watched his brother in amusement. They'd all been getting a little antsy, mostly because for once the crime rate was low and their nightly patrols have been a real bore. Casey and April suggested a trip up to the farmhouse and all of them had been quick to agree. At the house they all pretty much did their own thing and it was a moment to relax. Leonardo spent most of his time meditating in the woods, Donatello was usually suckered into a project with Casey or April, and Mikey lounged in the grass reading his comics while basking in the sun. As for him, Raphael just enjoyed being alone either walking around the property or drinking beers with Casey down at the large pond that was a five minute walk from the house. Raphael liked the farmhouse because it was the one time no one, mainly Leo, was getting on his shell about something. Though he was doing his best to hide it, Raphael was just as excited as Michelangelo for this trip. Raphael was actually the first one ready to go, not really packing much save for his pillow, toothbrush, sai, and his favorite book: Jurassic Park.
Leonardo was the second one ready and was currently making sure Master Splinter wanted to stay behind. Splinter made it pretty obvious he was going to enjoy his time alone in the sewer with the lack of noise four sons can make. Being in their early twenties, they've yet to simmer down when it came to being a rowdy bunch: especially Michelangelo.
"You have fun my sons," said Splinter. "Please know that I will be having just as much of a relaxing vacation as you."
"Yes Master," said Leonardo with a bow, making Raphael roll his eyes.
Teacher's pet.
"Yo Turtles!" shouted Casey as he came barging in through the lair entrance. "We ready to get goin'?"
"Shell yeah!" said Michelangelo, carrying a snack bag as well as a large, circular suitcase that had his stuff in it. "Donnie's still mulling over what gadget to bring with him to work on. I'll go hurry him along."
Raphael gave Casey a high-five, three in his case, while passing him to head to the surface. They managed to obtain a small building for dirt cheap using the earnings from the jobs Mikey and Don had when Leonardo was gone and so using the sewer entrance, Raphael entered what was deemed their garage. His bike as well as Mikey's van was parked there along with a few odds and ends that Donnie was working on. Parked beside the unit was April with the large white van they took on trips to the farmhouse. It was dark out, but Raphael still made sure no one was around before entering the van.
"Hey Raph."
"Sup, April?"
"Ready for a fun filled week of no obligations?" she asked. "Sorry for the late hour but I had a shipment come in at ten and had to get it cataloged before taking this week off."
"No problem," said Raphael, settling in his seat. "We're usually up this late anyway. You sure yer okay drivin'? Being in your condition and all?"
"I'm pregnant, Raph, not handicapped," teased April as Michelangelo came racing toward the van. "Hey Mikey!"
"April! Thanks for the invite, Dudette, I'm totally looking forward to this!"
"It's no problem, Mikey."
"I can't wait to get my tan on," said Mikey before reaching around the seat to rub the slight swell of April's stomach. "How's my little dude or dudette doing? Huh? Hellooooooo uncle Mikey loves you!"
Raphael clenched his fist but took deep breaths to calm the inner desire to whack his brother upside the head, the idiot. Soon the rest of them were in the van and within the hour they were finally out of the city limits. Instead of concrete, bright lights, and a Starbucks on every corner all Raphael could see were stars, trees, and the full moon that made everything have an almost unearthly glow. Mikey was snoring beside him and he was certain Don was out too. April was keeping herself awake by singing along softly to some country song and Casey looked to be zonked out in the passenger seat. Raphael closed his eyes and didn't open them until the van came to a stop.
"We're here!" announced April.
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Zoey was startled awake by the sound of car doors closing. Groaning she brought a hand up to her head to pull back loose strands of hair that'd fallen out of place during the night. She had woken up from her nap at about one in the morning and made some eggs and toast for dinner while drinking freely from a tequila bottle to celebrate her first night of vacation. When she started getting sleepy she'd returned to the room she'd been in before and fell to the bed without bothering to change into pajamas.
Sitting up she stifled a yawn before peeking out through the window. She saw the familiar white van and rolled her eyes while crawling out of bed, ignoring the slight headache from the alcohol consumption.
"Of course he'd come up here the time I decide to," she muttered, slipping her flip-flops back on. A little chilled she rummaged through her bag to find a light blue hoodie and pulled it on over her head before exiting the bedroom and hurrying down the stairs, pulling her hair up into a ponytail on her way down. She heard female laughter and smiled, at least he brought April, so she'd have someone to talk to and not just yell at.
Opening the door she was about to complain to her cousin but whatever she was about to say got tangled in her throat when seeing alien like creatures out on the front lawn. No, not aliens, TURTLES, and one of them was rubbing April's belly!
"Mikey, enough," laughed April as she turned to the house, only to still in her steps when seeing Zoey standing in the doorway. "Zoey!"
"Zoey?" Casey along with the turtles turned to where April was staring with a deer-caught-in-headlights expression. The one April called Mikey gave a small squeal before hiding behind April, another cursed, and the last two tensed as if expecting her to attack them. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Taking a vacation…" Zoey rubbed her eyes, clearing some grit away but not erasing the images of the turtles. "Did I drink too much last night? Am I going crazy? Because I swear there's four turtles standing in the lawn."
"Uh, Zo, you all right?" asked Casey as Zoey stumbled to one of the chairs on the porch, sinking onto it, her eyes never leaving the reptile-like creatures. "Yer not gunna faint are ya?"
"No I'm not going to faint! I'm going to be locked away in a mental ward!" snapped Zoey, running her hands through her hair, the tie coming loose, while her large blue eyes fell upon the turtle named Mikey. "Are you real?"
"Totally!"
"Huh…" Zoey giggled, then started to laugh, then grew serious as she pointed a finger at her cousin. "You have some esplainin' to do, Lucy!"
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TBC!
