Leo woke up early the next day, June 7, and looked at Raph, who was still fast asleep. He looks like an angel, Leo thought, resisting the urge to stroke his mate's cheek. And he's so beautiful. I can't believe he's my mate. "Yer doin' it again, Leo," Raph said.
"Doing what and I thought you were asleep?"
"I can feel ya starin' at me."
"You got me. I can't help it, Raph. You're so gorgeous and take my breath away."
"Ya just want ta jump me," Raph teased, opening his eyes.
"Only when you're ready. There's no rush. I know yesterday was extremely traumatic and we have all the time in the world."
Raph nodded and said, "Hold me. Every time I close my eyes, I keep seein' what happened, Leo. My babies…Our dead babies." Raph choked out a sob and shuddered. "I wanna kill him, Leo, for doin' that ta them. He's a bastard and a murderer."
Leo pulled him close and cuddled him. "Things are going to be fine, Raph. We're going to have a wonderful life together and we never have to see Splinter again, okay?"
"Still wanna kill him."
"I want to as well, Raphie, but he's not worth it. Karma's a bitch and he'll get his comeuppance soon."
"I hope so. I'm never gonna forgive him. Do ya think we're makin' a mistake leavin'?"
"Do you?"
"I don't know, Leo. All we know is down here in the sewers. Up there, we have nobody. Except Casey and April and they have their own lives, so we can't always rely on them. And how are we gonna survive lookin' like this? We can't get a house or a job. What the fuck are we gonna do? I know we can't go home, but we could make a life in this place? What do ya think?"
"Do you love me?"
"Course I do. I don't regret bein' with ya, Leo. Just leavin' that concerns me. I'm a bit freaked out, Leo. This is a huge step."
"Do you trust me?"
"With my life."
"I promised I'd take care of you, Raph," Leo said, pressing a kiss to Raph's beak. "And I meant it. I'll find a decent place for us. It won't be in the sewers and will have running, clean, fresh water and a large garden for the kids to play in. I'll make it happen. All you have to do is to continue trusting me. I know it's scary. I'm afraid, too, but I think we can build a great life for ourselves and our future babies."
"I ain't helpless, Leo."
"No, you're not, but I'm the alpha…."
"I'm an alpha, Leo. I'm just omega ta ya, because I wanna be, so don't treat me like I'm weak and pathetic. I'm tough. Got it?" Raph demanded.
"Raphie, I'm not spoiling for a fight. I just wanted you to know we're going to be okay."
"Then say that."
Leo sighed. Raph is so temperamental, he thought. Sometimes he loves me telling him I'm going to look after him. Other times, he's mad if I say that, like I'm questioning his masculinity. I can't win.

Raph sat up and said, "What time is it?"
Leo checked his watch and said, "Little after four a.m."
"So, what are we gonna do today?"
"You're going to rest."
"I'm fine, Leo. Don't baby me. What are we gonna do?
"I don't know." Then Leo's eyes lit up as an idea came to him. "Pennsylvania."
"Huh?"
"The Amish are regarded as weird, right, so they'll be more accepting of us. We'll go to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I'll get work on a farm and get us a place. It'll be awesome, Raph, and it's in the country. What do you think?"
Raph's eyes narrowed and he said, "Ya've lost the plot. It ain't countryside, but a city."
"Well, there are farms outside the city, Raph, and it's beautiful. We'll make a life there."
"And what are we gonna tell them? That we have a weird genetic disease that makes us look like giant turtles?"
"Yes. They'll believe us and they don't have access to electricity or computers to verify what we say. They also keep to themselves, so we'll be okay."
"And if I fall gravid, what are ya gonna tell them?"
"That you're my wife. Don't look at me like that, Raphie. I think it'll be cool."
"Back ta the stone age. Ya expect me ta cook and clean the house? Maybe bring ya yer slippers in the evenin'?" Raph said sarcastically
"Don't knock it until we've tried it. Or do you have a better plan?"
"What 'bout Mikey and Don?"
"They haven't contacted us and it's been hours since we left. I'd say that means they agree with Dad. We're on our own, Raphie, and I think Pennsylvania could be the fresh start we need."
"I ain't gonna wear a dress or make up or go ta church!"
"Is that your way of saying you'll try Pennsylvania?"
Raph sighed. "I'll try it. I suppose we have ta go ta church. I know nothin' about their way of life, except that they're weird and dress weird and speak weird and…"
"We'll get through it together, Raphie, and you only have to wear a dress when we have company and when we go to church."
"No makeup. I like au natural."
"So do I," Leo said, and kissed his hand. "Especially your scent. I wish your scent could be bottled, because there's nothing like it and it would sell like hotcakes."
Raph laughed. "When are we gonna leave?"
"Soon. We'll stow away on a plane bound for Pennsylvania. Trip takes less than an hour."
"Why don't we get my bike or the van, Leo? It would make more sense."
"I'll sneak back home and get the bike. Anything else?"
"Our belts and weapons. Don't give a shit 'bout the bandanna, but we need our weapons, Leo. In case we run into trouble."
"I'll be back now and I'll try to get some food."

Leo managed to sneak into the lair without being detected and got the weapons and belts, but he also got the bandannas, stashing them into a large bag. Then he made a huge pile of cheese sandwiches, placed them into a few lunchboxes and grabbed a few cans of soda, which also went into the bag. Leo slung the bag over his shoulder and went into the garage. The brothers had two vans and Raph's bike was parked by them. I'll take a van and the bike, Leo thought. Leo pushed the bike into the van, shut the doors and climbed in. Then he sent a text to Raph. "Meet me in the garage. Coast is clear. Hurry before Splinter wakes up."

Receiving the text, Raph sprinted to the lair, got inside also undetected, and went into the garage. He hopped into the front passenger seat of the van and said, "This is it, Leo."
"It is. Ready to leave?"
"I am. Let's blow this joint."

Leo started the engine and they drove for a while. Then Raph said, "Can we get the babies?"
"Raph, they're buried."
"But we can't leave them there. They need ta be with us, Leo."
"It's going to be daylight soon, Raph."
"I ain't goin' without them, Leo," Raph said firmly, his golden eyes blazing. "Please. I want them ta come with us."
"And where will we put them, Raph? And they'll smell."
"I WANT MY BABIES WITH ME, LEO. DON'T TELL ME WE'RE LEAVIN' THEM BEHIND."
"Okay, okay. We'll get them. I promise. We'll take them with us, Raph."

They parked by the park a few minutes later and Raph dug up the mass, scooped it up and placed it in a container he'd found in the back of the van. "Thanks," Raph said, settling back down on the front passenger seat with the container on his lap. "Thanks, Leo. I'm sorry for yellin', but I couldn't leave them there."
"It's okay, Raphie," Leo said, leaning over and kissing Raph's cheek. "I understand. They should be with us and we'll find a better place for them and we'll be near them."
"If we'd had a boy, I'd have named him after ya," Raph said, biting his lip and trying not to cry.
"We'll have many babies, Raphie," Leo said, taking his hand. "I promise. Lots of babies to cuddle and fuss over. You're going to be an amazing mommy."
"Daddy," Raph corrected, a small smile tugging at his lips. "I ain't a girl even if I carry the eggs."
"No, you're my brave, strong, sexy warrior and I love you so much, Raph. Always will."
Raph rolled his eyes and said, "Yer so cheesy, but I love ya too. Can ya start the engine?"

Leo started the engine and they drove for three hours without stopping. It started to rain and Leo pulled over and said, "We'll stop here until the rain clears, Raph."
Raph peered out the window and said, "There's a sign post here that says Willow Street, Leo, and there's a barn over there. Think it'll be safe ta leave the van here?"
"No. With the rain, I doubt anyone will be out and about, but we still have to be cautious and not leave the van unattended. I'll park the van in the barn and we can stay there and get some sleep. Move as soon as the rain clears."

Leo drove to the barn and parked inside. Hopping out, Raph and Leo gazed around their surroundings. Raph still clutched the container in his hands and Leo had the bag. A few chickens stood in a corner, pecking at some grains and there were six cows in their stalls. The barn smelled heavily of manure. Wrinkling his nose, Raph said, "Yuck. It pongs, Leo. And I thought it smelled bad in the sewers."
"It's temporary, Raph," Leo said, plonking down on some hay and unpacking the sandwiches. "Let's eat and get some rest and we'll leave when…."
"Yeah, I know," Raph said, sitting down beside him and setting the container on the ground. "Hey, maybe this place ain't so bad. Ya could ask the owner if we could work here and he'll let me bury the babies here. I think they'd like this farm. It's quiet and there's no risk of anyone diggin' them up and maybe we could stay in the barn. I could make it smell nice and make it home for us."
"Why, Raphie, you're so domesticated," Leo teased.
Raph smiled. "I have my moments, but don't tell anyone."
"Course not. You have your reputation to uphold."
Raph chuckled. "Hey, Leo? I'm glad we left the lair. I was scared before, but it means we can finally be together as much as we want, without Splinter's interference and fear of bein' interrupted. We can fuck all we like too, and not have ta worry 'bout anyone hearin' us."
"Except the owner."
"Well, maybe he'll buy some ear plugs, but we could make a life here, Leo."
"We will," Leo said, and kissed Raph tenderly on the lips. "We will, Raphie."

The lovers ate their sandwiches and then they snuggled close. Raph was soon asleep, and as tired as Leo was, he stayed awake. Someone had to be on guard, in case someone found them.

Four hours later, Eli Miller opened the barn door, wanting to milk the cows, and went inside. Spying the turtles, he pointed his gun at them and said, "What in heavens are you aliens doing in my barn? You have thirty seconds to explain before I blow you away."
Leo had fallen asleep, but upon hearing the words, he jolted awake, as did Raph, who clung to Leo. "We mean no harm, sir," Leo said, looking at the dark haired, bearded and brown-eyed man, who wore dark trousers, a dark shirt and suspenders. "We were looking for a place to hide out until the rain stopped. We'll leave."
"What are you?" Eli asked, debating whether the "aliens" could be trusted.

"We have a genetic disease that makes us look like giant turtles," Raph said. "It's very rare and there's no cure for it. We don't mean no trouble and as my…as Leo said, we just wanted ta escape the rain. We'll go now. I'm Abigail-Abby, Leo's wife."
Eli stared at them and made a decision. "A genetic disease that makes you look like giant turtles? Never heard of that before, but then I don't know about the outside world. You look harmless," he added, lowering his gun. "I hope I don't regret it, but you may stay here until the weather clears. Why does your wife have such a deep voice, Leo? What is that short for? Leonard?"

"Leonardo," Leo said. "My parents loved art, especially the Renaissance painters. My wife has throat problems that make her voice deep and she lost our babies yesterday. Poor girl. It's affecting her badly." Raph snuggled up close to Leo and reached for his hand. Leo looked at him lovingly and took his hand, squeezing it.
"You poor things," Eli said. "How sad. And how old are you?"
"Eighteen. We have no family. Just each other and Abby and I want to find a place to settle down. Is Willow Street a decent place to live and raise a family?"
"It's still pouring out there and not likely to abate today," Eli said, his heart going out to them. "I've made a large pot of soup. Would you like to stay in the main house and have something to eat and I'll tell you about Willow Street? Perhaps Abby would like some clothes? It's not right for a woman to be so undressed and you too, Leonardo. I have some clothes that may fit you."

Leo and Raph followed Eli to the main house and Raph said, "Think he believes us?"
"Hook, line and sinker. I do feel bad for duping him, Raph, but we have no other choice."
"Abby. Don't slip up, Leo, otherwise the gig's up."

Those kids don't fool me, Eli thought. Genetic disease indeed. I'm going to find out just exactly what they really are and get the truth out of them.