It was the one holiday of the year that they never seemed to care for, Valentines Day. Amber was often teased about having a boyfriend around this time, though she usually beat Raph up for saying it every year. This year, however, it wasn't the same. She thought she actually had a Valentine, but said 'Valentine' hadn't come out of his room all day. She seemed depressed all day, and Raph teased her mercilessly about it until she grabbed her mace and hit him away.
She didn't seem to notice anything afterwards, even when Mikey jumped in front of her, blocking the TV, and started jumping around like an idiot, or when Donnie showed her a robotic rat, one of her few fears. She didn't seem to notice any of it, and Mikey turned to Donnie, saying, "She's really out of it! Where's Leo, anyway?" Donnie pointed to their eldest brother's bedroom door, saying, "He hasn't come out all day. I think he's working on something…" Raph seemed ready to bash Leo's door open, just so the old Amber could come back from her weird little world and smile.
Just once…to have her feel depressed seemed to bring even Mikey down, and they couldn't help but try to bring the happy light back into her emerald eyes, or the smile that seemed to light up the darkness. It was already getting late, and they hardly noticed Amber had moved until she slammed her bedroom door shut, making all three of them jump. She sat on her bed, pushing her hair out of her eyes as she looked around, and finally settled into her bed, pulling a pillow over her head.
She dozed lightly, staying like that for a few hours until, around midnight, she heard the door open. She moved the pillow slightly to see the door, and saw Leo drop something on her dresser softly, carefully, before looking at her a moment. She pretended to be asleep, closing her eyes and regulating her breathing. He lifted the pillow up, and she could almost hear the guilt in his voice as he whispered, "Sorry…but Happy Valentines Day…"
He kissed her forehead before leaving silently, and once she was sure he was gone, she sat up, turning on her lamp to see what he'd left. It was an origami rose, a white ribbon tied on it, a note lying next to it. She took the note carefully, and flipped it open. It read:
'I know that this may not have been the best Valentines Day, and I'm sorry. I just couldn't decide what to get you. I wanted it to be special, something from the heart, and I thought this would do nicely. There's something else I think you should know, and I'm not the only one who thinks this: You're the heart of this family…no matter how many people joins us, or how big our family gets, you'll always be the one to stand by us when we fall, to bring us up when we're down, to brighten our day with your happy smile.
Raph actually gave me a 'visit' today, saying how hurt you looked, and I felt guilty. They all just seemed so worried, wondering if they'd see your bright smile again, or see your eyes light up like emeralds when you're happy. I'm actually surprised that I'm lucky enough to be with you, to be able to enjoy every day with your bright mood, and I hardly mind your temper anymore. I just needed to get this off my chest, and to tell you that I love you, and I'll never leave you.
Love: Leonardo'
She smiled, putting the note down as she tenderly lifted the paper rose between her fingers, looking at it curiously. It looked complicated, though she herself had never done origami.
She looked at the door, and smiled softly, thinking, 'I never thought you'd leave me…you'll always be my Valentine…'