"I have to go now. If Raphael finds out I was out with you all night, I'll never hear the end of it."

Serena was about to leave the Mutanimals place before a hand swiftly grabbed hers, holding her back from taking another step further.

"Is that so terrible?" Xyler asked, a pleading look in his eyes.

Serena looked up at the Salamandrian, then down at their hands connected. She hesitates, but pulls back and gives him a sad smile.

"I'll see you tomorrow." Serena claimed before jumping out of the window, leaving Xyler downhearted.

It wasn't always an easy task to get around New York, but being a Kunoichi, Serena was able to make it across town and to the nearest manhole cover easy. Meanwhile, back in the lair, Raphael was just about to sneak out as well. Creeping out of the safety of the lair and into the sewer system.

Serena, herself, had just lept down into a sewer tunnel. On her way back to the lair. It took a few minutes of tip-toeing and silent breaths before the two turtles bumped right into each other. Walking backwards, their shells collided and they both jumped at impact. Pulling out their weapons of choice to defend themselves before realizing who was in front of them.

"Raphael?" "Serena?"

"Where are you going?" "What are you doing out so late?"

They ended up answering their own questions in unison. Serena was clearly coming back from being with Xyler, and Raph was going out to meet with Mona.

"Well, at least I'm just coming back." Serena mentioned, slipped her blade back into its holder. "You're going topside, and it's only 3 hours until sunrise. Do you want to get caught?"

"Hey, Mona Lisa is my girlfriend. What are you even doing hanging out with Xyler?"

"That's none of your business. And I don't even know why you care so much."

Raph's POV:

'I care because I care about you and I don't want you getting hurt again.'

Like I could ever say that out loud. Acting like she won the argument, Serena glanced at me as she began to walk past me, towards the lair. No doubtingly she would go and blabber about my 'night plans' to my brothers, but that doesn't excuse the fact she was out with Xyler. What would those two even do? It's not like they're in a relationship.. Right?

These kind of thoughts ran around in my head up until I reached a meeting spot me and Mona agreed on; the edge of a high rooftop near the Mighty Mutanimals base.

Usually, when we're together, she's my focus. But this time was a little different, probably because of the encounter I had with Serena prior. I explained to Mona what went down and how I felt about it.

That's the great thing about Mona Lisa; she didn't mind at all if I needed to express my feelings and vent about some kind of whacked out thought in my head. She always listened and had some pretty good advice to go with it.

Almost like Serengela...

"But I'm sure you won't have to endure that any longer." The Salamandrian spoke up.

I immediately turned to her. "What do you mean?"

"What with Xylirathine offering to take Serengela to live with him in space."

I nearly fell off the building. "WHAT?!"

There was really nothing else to say.

"Did Serengela not tell you?"

'Obviously not..' I thought.

Mona continued. "Xylirathine mentioned that he wanted to rebuild a new and honorable Triceriton Empire, and recently asked Serengela to accompany him in this endeavor."

Even with the details, I could not think of any possible reason why Xyler would have the nerve to ask Serena to leave Earth. Her home. "No.. No way Serena would ever agree to something like that!"

Mona gazed at me with a questioning look. "Why are you so concerned?"

'Because Serena is too important and she can't just leave.'

But once again, it's not like I could ever say that out loud. I brushed my outburst off as nothing and tried to enjoy the rest of the night. But I couldn't stop being concerned about Serena's ultimate decision.

Meanwhile...

Serena's POV:

I snuck inside the lair without making a sound, making my way to my bedroom and silently closing my door behind me. My bed still had two pillows underneath the covers, just in case anyone decided to 'check up' on me. The most likely candidates being Leonardo or Raphael.

Donnie and Mikey seemed to mind their own business when it came to my social life, but for some reason, Leo and Raph were all up in there. Trying to constantly guess what was going on in my head.

I kind of understood Leo's curiosity because he was the leader of this team, and technically the 'Sensei' since Splinter was gone. He needed to know the mental stability of his teammates, right? That's how I perceived it anyway.

But with Raphael, I just don't know. It made sense when we were in a relationship, but that's long done. And it wasn't just that 'sensitive soft side' he had for his family that was showing, it had to be something else.

Perhaps it was the fact that I was hanging out with Xyler more often than not. It was pure fact that those two didn't get along, no matter if one tried to make amends with the other or not.

Or maybe I'm just thinking too much into this..

Deciding that I just needed some sleep, I pulled the pillows out from under the covers and put them back at the post of my bed. I hopped in, pulling the covers over my shoulders and rested my head against my pillow, I fell asleep quite fast.