Christmas

Ch 3

He sighs and walks up the stairs in silence. I hear a knock on the door and ignore it turning on my side and burying my head. I hear the door close and stay still. I feel his hands rubbing my shoulders and speak.

"How can you accuse me of cheating on you Leo? I am in love with you and would never do anything to hurt you. Just leave me alone."

He sighs and strokes my forehead gently.

"Stacy I'm sorry for saying that to you. I was just in shock because I'd never imagine it possible because I'm not all human. Let's not say anything till we know for sure ok."

I smile and grab his hand. Then I nod my head and lie on my back. He grabs my hand and puts the ring back on my finger and smiles. Then our lips meet and I feel myself in a tight embrace. I feel his hand move in my shirt and grab it.

"Leo now is not the time. What time is it anyway?"

He looks at his watch and sighs.

"About 4:15pm, the party started without us. Come on Stacy let's go join them before they come up looking for us and I kick Casey's butt."

I laugh and smile up at him. He looks into my eyes and strokes my forehead gently.

"What is so funny? He is always getting on my nerves especially when I say I'm going by your place."

I look into his brown eyes and smile.

"That's just Casey he'll never change. Come on Leo we're missing the party."

We get off the bed and descend from the stairs and Cory grabs my hand.

"Come on Aunt Stacy and Uncle Leo let's go open our presents by the tree."

We both smile and follow him to the tree. I sit on the couch next to Janet and sigh as I rub my stomach.

She looks and asks.

"Stacy what's wrong? Are you feeling ok?"

I just look up and smile.

"Nothing, I just ate a lot for breakfast and rushed out my house without letting it digest. I'm fine Janet. What about you? Are you ever going to tell Mike how you feel about him?"

I watch as he buries her head in her hands.

"I just can't Stacy. I am in love with him but yet I know he's hiding something from me and I don't like liars."

I look at her and sigh.

"Janet he is not a liar. Believe me he'll tell you when it's the right time. You shouldn't hide your feelings from him like you are especially on Christmas Day. Look above his head he's under the mistletoe go and talk to him already. He's looking right at you. Look for yourself."

I watch as Leo sits by me and sigh. He holds me close and watches as his brother Raphael stares at Kari while she opens her presents. Leo signals to Mike. He looks up and smiles slyly with his thumb up. Then he puts the mistletoe above Kari's head and taps Raph's shoulder and points up. Raph looks up and glares at him.

"Mike don't you dare. I don't know how to kiss a girl, I'm not normal. She'll slap me silly if I try."

Mike flicks him in the back of his head.

"How the shell do you know if you won't at least try. We all know what you think about her bro. Besides you still haven't given her your present yet."

He sighs and walks by Kari and taps her shoulder.

"Umm you're under the mistletoe and you know what that means."

She looks up and smiles.

"Yea I do, so what are you waiting for well Raph? Oh before you do I got you a present since we're best friends go on and open it."

He puts it down and grabs her hand.

"I will after the tradition is carried out."

She stares into his deep brown eyes and closes her eyes. He takes a deep breath and leans into kiss her. Leo watches as their lips meet and sees her embrace Raphael as they kiss underneath the mistletoe. She opens her eyes and he embraces her while they continue. They break apart and he hands her the gift. She smiles and sits on the loveseat and opens the present slowly. She sees a box and opens it and then stares at it with her mouth dropped.

"Yes Raphael I'll be your girl if you promise to put the bracelet on for me."

He smiles and undoes the clasp and then closes it as it fits her wrist snuggly. She smiles at him and gives him her present.

"Now it's your turn. I hope you like it."

He opens it and kisses her on the cheek.

"Just what I wanted thanks Kari. I guess you saw what Mr. Personality did to my punching bag with his blades."

Leo looks at him and sighs.

"Ok you made your point already drop it will ya?"

Splinter hears them arguing and yells.

"Leonardo and Raphael for at least one day can you two not fight? Today is Christmas and for sharing love not for fighting! You two are brothers not enemies. Now enough!"

Leo looks up and shrugs.

"But Sensei he started it not me."

He glares.

"I don't care who started it I said enough now stop the bickering you two!"

Leo looks and nods his head.

"Yes Sensei."

Raphael goes to open his mouth and Splinter glares.

"Stop starting with your brother and apologize to him right now."

Raph sighs.

"I'm sorry Leo."

Leo smiles and nods his head.

"Apology accepted. Thank you Raph."

Don looks above Lacey's head and walks by her. He taps her on the shoulder and points up. She looks up and smiles at him then closes her eyes and waits. Don takes a deep breath and kisses her on the cheek. She looks into his eyes through his headband and says.

"Is that all you got? Let me show you how it's done. Now pay close attention."

He gulps as she lifts up his chin. She leans into kiss him and he accepts without hesitation.

"Whoa Lacey I had no idea you felt that way about me. Why didn't you ever tell me? Now I can tell you."

She looks puzzled.

"Tell me what?"

He sighs and takes her hand.

"I am also in love with you Lacey. I have always been the shy one out of my brothers and just didn't have the courage to tell you afraid I'd get turned down. Will you be my girl and wear this chain?"
She looks and smiles as he puts it on and embraces him tightly. He smiles as their lips meet and returns the approach. They break apart and they join me, Leo, and Janet on the couch. Lacey rests her head on Don's shoulder and he strokes her forehead gently as she traces his muscles through his shirt. He puts his arm behind her and sighs with relief that they were finally together especially getting a girlfriend on Christmas like his brother Raphael. The three brothers stare at Mike and he gulps.

"Umm no way…I am not ready to…hello Janet. Merry Christmas to you. What's that?"

She smiles and puts her head down.

"A present for you from me. Please Mike accept it we are friends. Oh and don't forget to read the card."

He opens the envelope and sits across from us. Then he opens the card and smiles up at her.

"Janet why didn't you just tell me instead of writing it in a card? What were you afraid of?"

She shrugs and then responds.

"Rejection since you're so fine and as for me I'm not."

He smiles and lifts up her chin stroking her forehead gently.

"Janet don't say that. You're very pretty and have a kind heart. Remember looks aren't everything. Come here and stand by me and then look up."

She looks up and sees she's under the mistletoe and gulps.

"You really don't have to. I won't get offended."

He embraces her and lifts up her chin stroking her bangs back from her eyes and smiles.

"I know that but why wouldn't I want to kiss my girl when she's under the mistletoe?"

She looks in his eyes and opens her mouth in shock.

"Your girl? Am I hearing things or did you just say…that…"

Her words get cut off as their lips meet and he embraces her tightly. Then they break apart and she licks her lips.

"Oh Michelangelo you're a good kisser. Can we try again I wasn't really ready."

He smiles and leans into kiss her once again. She accepts his approach and embraces him tightly as they make out underneath the mistletoe. Leo flicks wrapping paper at him and coughs.

"Ah hem…Umm there is a 5 year old present will you breathe already. Michelangelo!!"

He lets go of Janet and wipes his forehead where the sweat was dripping down. Then he takes her hand and joins us on the couch. She sighs and rests her head on his shoulder.

April signals to me to follow her into the bathroom.

"Stacy here take this pregnancy test. Yours was expired. I'll get some egg nog while you go in the bathroom. Go on now."

I take it and enter the bathroom. Then I sit on the couch by Leo and watch the clock in silence. The time passes and I enter the bathroom to see the results and see a negative sign. I wrap it up and lean against the bathroom door and sigh with relief. Then I throw it away and return to the couch next to him. I whisper in his ear.

"Leo I'm not pregnant. It was a false alarm, I'm sorry for giving you the wrong information."

He kisses my forehead gently and smiles.

"It's ok Stacy. Now for my gift."

I watch as he gets on one knee and look puzzled. His brothers, father, April, and Casey stare at him standing over him. He looks up and coughs.

"Umm mind giving me some space I need to breathe gee."

He takes my hand after they move back and gazes into my eyes.

"Stacy sweetie we've been together for 5 years and you've always been there for me when I needed you the most. Especially after the way I treated you after the final battle with Shredder."

He opens the box and takes a deep breath.

"Maybe not now but in the future will you marry me Stacy? I want to spend my life with you by my side."

I look and tears roll down my eyes.

"Yes Leo I will marry you."

He places the engagement ring on my left hand and moves the promise ring to my right hand and smiles.

We kiss and he returns by my side on the couch and holds me close. April pours egg nog and makes a toast.

"To Leo's and Stacy's official engagement, Raph and Kari, Janet and Mike, and of course Don and Lacey. Congratulations to you all! Merry Christmas also!"

Our glasses touch and we drink our egg nog. Then we all sit and watch a movie in silence. Splinter gets up and says.

"Goodnight everyone I'm so tired. To all of you my sons I'm glad all of you found love. Especially to you Leonardo soon to be groom."

He looks and stares.

"Sensei would you like someone to help you back to the lair? I'll walk you back and then return here."

He looks and shakes his head.

"No my son I'll be fine enjoy your night with your fiancée and family. I'll be fine and see you in the morning."

Leo watches as he disappears down the manhole cover and sighs. I look in his eyes and can see he's worried. The movie ends and we all head to the spare rooms to sleep for the night. I watch as he hits his watch and lies flat on his shell. Then I take my robe off and lie down next to him resting my head on his smooth chest.

"Leo is Splinter in good health? I mean you seemed worried when he left earlier. Please talk to me Leo we're going to be married and can't hide things from one another."

He looks into my eyes and shakes his head.

"No honey he's not. His age is catching up to him and now its showing. That's why I have to take over training my brothers because our father just can't anymore. He's weak and can't go on anymore. Go to sleep and don't worry about it. I just know what I have to do now in case we lose him. Goodnight honey and Merry Christmas to you also! Love you Stacy."

He holds me close and we drift off to sleep immediately.