Out of all of his brothers, Donatello was the most cranky in the morning. Even Raphael knew to give him his space until the caffeine from his coffee had kicked in. So when he came to breakfast humming with both eyes actually open his brothers couldn't help but exchange confused glances.

"Uh…sleep well, Donnie?" Leonardo asked after meeting Raphael's eyes. Maybe their intellectual brother had actually gone to bed at a decent hour for once but Leo doubted it.

"Have a nice dream?" Mikey asked suggestively waggling his eye ridges while he nudged Donnie with his elbow. "Blonde or brunette?"

"Nah," Raph said slowly, looking up over his cereal. "If I didn't know any better I'd say our bro got laid last night."

Leo sputtered, choking on his orange juice while Mikey almost fell out of his chair from laughter. Donnie just met his gaze evenly before resuming eating his cereal, still humming softly.

Once Leo had managed to stop coughing and Mike had collected himself they exchanged glances again, leaning in towards their resident genius. "Seriously, Donnie…what's going on?" Leo asked, frowning in concern.

Donnie looked up, blinking at the concerned looks on each of his brothers faces. He jerked back when Mike reached up to feel his forehead for a temperature. "I'm fine, guys. Just in a good mood. Is that a crime?"

"For you, at this hour….uh, yeah," Mike told him and Donnie rolled his eyes. He pushed back from the table and stood, looking down at his brothers.

"I would think you'd be happy I was in such a good mood," he said before narrowing his eyes in a silent threat. "And if you don't cut it out I'll be in a worse mood than normal." Mike's eyes widened and he jerked his head to look at Leonardo and Raphael. A slow smile spread on both their faces and surprisingly it was Leo who turned to Donnie first.

"So," he asked, lazily tracing the rim of his coffee mug. "Was she good?"

Violet couldn't believe how giddy she was as she moved up the stairs to the roof. It had been two weeks since her first talk with Donnie and he'd been to see her every night since. They had moved from rooftop to rooftop, of course. They were currently on top of a penthouse that Donatello thought belonged to a close family friend. Violet didn't tell him that her parents really considered this their weekend getaway - there were certain aspects of her life she was loathe to share with most people and Donnie wasn't an exception at times. Besides, he thought this roof offered a better view of the night sky anyway.

She still hadn't seen what he looked like and while that did irk her slightly there were certain benefits to the whole situation. By not seeing him she felt more open to express what she thought, unafraid of how he would see her because it was obvious he didn't want her to see him. He wouldn't tell her why, only that it was important she wait on his own timing before he properly revealed himself to her. She assumed he was badly scarred but the idea that he could be dashingly handsome, wanting a relationship based on intellect instead of appearance had also crossed her mind.

She quickly dashed those thoughts. Her parents had raised her to be idealistic, optimistic and realistic. The chance that he was a dashing rogue instead of a badly scarred vigilante didn't hold water long enough for her to hope. Which of course made her consider the possibility of his appearance and just how bad it might be - which made her wonder how she would deal with it when the time came.

Those thoughts didn't last long as she pushed open the door to the roof. "Took you long enough," Donnie's voice called. "Perhaps I should make you a watch."

Violet smirked at the playful tone he took with her and shrugged, tossing her hair over her shoulder. "Maybe you should," she said teasingly to the shadows. "Not that it would matter. A lady is supposed to keep her gentleman caller waiting." The words were out before she could stop herself and she blushed, ducking her head even though she couldn't meet his eyes.

"So, I'm your gentleman caller?" He asked, tone light as ever and she could almost hear the smile in his voice.

"Eh heh," she said, laughing nervously and rubbing the back of her neck. "Well…I mean…uh…"

Donatello laughed and Violet blushed brighter. "I do believe you're the brightest shade of red I've ever seen," he teased.

"That is hardly fair," she countered, "considering that you can see me and I can't see you." She paused, realizing that there was barely enough light for him to see if she was blushing or not. "Donnie!" She cried, annoyed that she'd fallen for his trick. Her cry was answered with more laughter. "Gee, I'm so pleased I can be your source of laughter for the day."

"Actually," he replied, laughter fading from his voice, "I don't think I laugh this much on my own. Or even with my brothers."

Violet's smile fell as his voice took a more resigned, saddened tone. She hated when he sounded that way and in her opinion, it was far too often. "Donnie?" She asked softly, moving to go to him when she stopped herself short. She wasn't allowed to comfort him that way.

Not yet, anyway.

So she had to be inventive. Turning to the brick ledge she placed her hands on the side and closed her eyes, enjoying the night wind in her hair. "What do you want, Donnie? In your life, I mean. What do you want?"

"You." He didn't pause in his response and she turned to the shadows, eyes wide. "Right now, all I really want is you."

Donatello had never had a secret from his family before and he had to admit, he liked it. They had met on the roof every night that week, talking until the shadows began to recede and Donnie had to return underground. He knew it bothered Violet that she couldn't see him but he merely reassured himself that it was for her own good.

Besides, who knew how she'd react.

It wasn't that he hadn't been tempted to tell her the truth - he liked her and he had the sinking suspicion that she would be accepting. Still, there was always the chance that she wouldn't and it was a chance Don wasn't willing to take.

So he avoided it.

Violet had her own topics she liked to avoid too, mainly those about her father so Donnie never asked. Instead he asked about the notebook that seemed to always be by her side, about her school work and friends, her home and favorite books. She had a normal life - the kind of life he'd never have and it fascinated him as well as stirred his envy.

They talked for hours on end with ease. Violet told him about her song lyrics, her horse Copper and the dozens of lessons her parents had made her take to "broaden her horizons". He told her he was home schooled, tinkered with electronics for fun and loved to stargaze when his brothers weren't looking. He didn't tell her how she made him laugh or how she'd quickly become the highlight of his day. She made him smile and besides, she was his secret. His and his alone.

His brothers had noticed the change almost instantly and in all honestly, he had done a poor job hiding it. Their breakfast confrontation was proof positive of that. And while he didn't mind their teasing he did realize that this made it even harder to leave the lair in the evening. For once in his life Donnie had been glad he wasn't the strongest or the fastest but the ninja with the best stealth. This made his night ventures easier by far. But nothing could have prepared him for her question or worse yet, his all too honest answer.

She turned to look at the city, a slight breeze rustling her hair as she asked, "What do you want, Donnie? In your life, I mean. What do you want?"

For once in his life Donnie reacted before thinking things through. Instead he answered simply, "You." He caught the surprised look on her face as she turned to the shadows, eyes wide but continued. "Right now, all I really want is you."

"Wh…what?" She stammered.

Donatello sighed. He hadn't meant to surprise her but he wanted to be honest. "You represent everything I want…and everything I can never have."

She swallowed. "I don't understand. I…do you hate me for that?"

It was Donnie's turn to be shocked. He jerked as if he'd been slapped. "No! Why would you even…Violet, listen to me. I have so much to be thankful for and I know that but there is this whole other realm of possibilities out there and there is only so much I'm…permitted to do." Because of how I look, he silently added. "Look, Violet, I don't want you to feel sorry for me and I certainly don't want you thinking that I hate you. I just…want you to understand who I am."

She turned towards him, a slight smile tugging at her lips. "I'd like that."

He smiled, glad that they'd come to another arrangement. For now she was his, in whatever capacity and he intended to relish every moment. With his life there was no telling how long this friendship would last.

The shadows were beginning to drift back now. Hours had passed and it was time for Donnie to head home and for Violet to sneak back into bed. The goodbye's were the hardest. There was always the chance that something would stop them from meeting the next night and neither were naïve enough to believe this relationship could last forever.

"Donnie?" Violet said softly, turning to look his way. "I'm leaving."

"I know. The nights just don't last nearly long enough, do they?" He sighed, frustrated but trying not to let it show.

"No, I mean, I'm leaving. I'm going back to my home tomorrow."

"What?! Wha-, Violet why are you telling me this just now?" He cried, frustrated for a whole new reason now.

She looked down at her hands, clutching them together as she spoke. "I didn't want it to be a sad night. I didn't want us to focus all our attention on the fact that this might be our last-" "No!" He cried, interrupting her abruptly. "No, this won't be our last night together. I thought…I mean, I knew you lived out towards the country but I didn't think…," he sighed. "School. You go to school." She nodded, looking guilty. "I didn't think about that," he admitted quietly.

They were silent for a moment before she asked quietly, "I never thought to ask…how old are you, Donatello?"

His full name. She used it rarely but he felt the weight with it - she was evaluating their relationship further with every bit of information he gave her. Analyzing the possibilities. Age had never been a factor for him to consider but then, he hadn't gotten past the idea that she might actually find out what he was one day. Everything after that ended badly in his mind so age hadn't mattered too much.

"Seventeen," he told her and she looked surprised and relieved at the same time.

"Awful young to be a hero, aren't you?" She teased lightly but there was always weight to her words when she spoke of his patrolling. It worried her, he knew, because of the possibilities it held.

"You didn't tell me your age," he responded quietly.

"I'm sixteen."

"A little young to be having nightly meetings with a crime fighter, aren't you?"

"I'm going to miss you, Donatello."

"Stop that," he ordered, voice firm but not unkind.

"Stop what?" She asked and he could hear the tears lurking on the edge of her voice.

"Stop saying my name like you'll never get to say it again. We will meet again. You must come into town all the time," he offered encouragingly.

"Not really," she admitted. "Except for Daddy's treatment…no, not really. We really shouldn't have stayed so long this time, to tell the truth but Mama just couldn't stand the idea of going home without him. Maybe now…I don't know, Donnie. I just don't know."

"Well hey," he said, suddenly brightening. "There's always e-mail."

Violet was miserable the entire ride home the next day. She snapped at her little brother for being too loud and her little sister for following her around like she usually did. When her mother commented on the dark circles under her eyes she admitted she hadn't been sleeping well but didn't go any further than that to offer an explanation. She hadn't told anyone about her new friend although she had the sinking suspicion that her father knew something was amiss. Still, he didn't say anything, just told Joey and Catie to leave her alone and willingly bore their attention in her stead.

She'd exchanged e-mails with Donatello although it was a poor substitute for the conversations they'd shared night after night. He had been optimistic, saying it would be like in old movies where lovers sent letters back and forth when forced to be apart. Neither had commented on his use of the word "lover". It was a loaded word and held far too many opportunities and heartbreaks than they were willing to admit.

She was brought back to reality when they pulled into their long driveway and a black luxury car was parked right at the bend in front of their home. "Mom?" She asked, leaning forward to peer at the government plates that were visible as they drew closer to the dark car. "Do you know who that is?" Violet didn't like government workers. They usually meant trouble for her father and he did not need any added stress right now.

"It's all right, Dragonfly," Henry said, turning to look back at his daughter, offering a reassuring smile. She shifted her gaze from him to the man in the dark suit that was now visible, leaning against the passenger side of his car smoking a cigarette. "You remember Agent John Bishop."