I hit 50 reviews! I'm so glad you guys are enjoying my story :3 I got a little caught up in school there, sorry about that! Hope you all enjoy this next installment...I don't think it's entirely what you're expecting, but we're on our way to that for sure.I received a negative review on the last chapter regarding how I am writing Raphael's sexuality. I'm posting the review here, because it's up for public viewing anyway.

"Why did u make Raphael gay? He's my favorite character and now you fuc*ed him up he better turn back straight. it's not that I have a problem with homosexuality I it's just weird."

This is the only time I am going to say this, because I may get more reviews like that in the future: If you do not like the way I am writing Raph, don't read my fic! :D I have every right to write him the way I want as you have to not like the way I am writing him. He will not be "turning back straight," as he was never presented as blatantly straight in the first place-AND THIS IS MY FIC. This is my personal interpretation and expression of the character, and I am sharing it so those who enjoy it may see what I've written. If you disagree with my interpretation of the character, you can say that without cussing at me for shock factor to intimidate me. If you want to talk about it in a respectful manner, I'm all for that! And if you're uncomfortable with Raph being with a man, I have good news for you: no one is forcing you to read this.

Mating season was always a...sensitive time in the lair. When the boys had first begun puberty, Splinter had simply cracked down on training to help them vent their extra energy. But ever since Donatello had begun his relationship with April, and Leonardo with Karai, he tended to not require more of them than their regular training regimen, even giving them a break occasionally in the first week, when the instinct was its strongest. He noted that when the boys were rushing to finish training to get back to their respective partners, they became sloppy in their rush to finish.

Michelangelo became much more affectionate with his sister-in-law and brother's girlfriend around this time of year, but not in a way that crossed any lines. If he needed to blow off steam, he would take to the tunnels and skateboard until patrol. He seemed to handle his instincts the best out of all the brothers; but seeing as he has always been the one with the most inner peace this was hardly surprising.

Donatello would still hole up in his lab during the mating season, but he was also prone to taking more hours sparring or even borrowing Raph's punching bag. However, since the advent of April he was plenty occupied and able to deal with his urges easily. Leo had a similar pattern with Karai, though he also enjoyed sparring with Karai as much as possible during the mating season. It seemed he liked her best when she was trying to send him sprawling.

This mating season was unfortunately different for Leonardo with his injury. A few short days after he'd been stabbed, he was still resting with only minimal physical movement to ensure the shoulder would stay limber. And, with no real way to let off steam, Karai could tell her lover was getting increasingly frustrated with the long periods of rest.

Which was why one evening, in his pent up frustration, he attempted to kick a dent into the wall. Karai came home from patrol to an interesting scene: her boyfriend's arm dangling out of its sling and his mask slipping off of his face as he kicked again and again at a single spot on the wall on the far side of their room. Karai opened her mouth to chastise him, but frowned when she noted the frenetic rhythm of his kicks. Leo was all about precision, about every move being perfectly timed and executed, even when he was practicing. What he was doing now wasn't practicing; it was a frustrated, injured man with no other outlets desperately trying to get some relief. Karai crossed the room and grabbed one of his shoulders, turning him softly. Leo's eyes went wide when he realized he'd been caught.

"You're, you're home already? I-I was just-" Karai shook her head and sighed, cutting him off.

"Just go lie down, Leo." She reached around to untie his mask. "You know you're not supposed to be out of bed." She gave him a little pat on his backside. "Go on. I'm not mad, I promise. It's just been a long couple of days."

"I'm sorry." Leo looked to the floor, forlorn and ashamed that he was the one to cause all this stress for her.

"Leo, you didn't try to get hurt. It's fine, let's just get to bed." Karai pulled back the covers for Leo so he could settle into bed, and changed into her pajamas as she did so. Stretching her arms over her head, she went to get the light before joining him under the covers. Leo looked up at the ceiling, ready for another night of denied sleep due to the pain in his shoulder when Karai rolled over and pressed her lips to his firmly. Clearly, "get to bed" didn't mean the same as "go to sleep" where Karai was concerned, as one of her hands was traveling down his plastron and heading right for his groin. Leo kissed back, surprised at Karai's sudden advances. He hoped she planned on continuing, he mused as she rubbed at his crotch, because with the way he was feeling right now there would be no way he'd wanna stop.

"Mmmnnn...ungh, Karai, you don't-" Her fingers unhooking his tail from his shell already had him shuddering with anticipation, but he didn't want to be selfish.

"Shut up, Leonardo." Karai met his eyes as she began stroking his tail. "Let me do this for you, okay?"

"...okay." Leo leaned back on the pillows and smiled at her as Karai blushed, which was rare. She was so used to being assertive in sexual situations, but when it came to being romantic, Karai wasn't very good at expressing herself. She supposed that's why she'd started doing this; she could satisfy Leo's urges, sure. But she could also...deal with what she was going to say better. This was comfortable for her, familiar territory, and it was already an intimate situation. It would be easier to tell him this now instead of just coming out and saying it.

"Mph, Leo..." She pulled her mouth just barely out of reach, skimming her lips over his.

"Karai...oh oh...Karai. I-ungh." For someone who needed to be in control in every other facet of his life, Leo loved it when Karai took the reins.

"I love you, Leonardo." She whispered, clasping his tail tightly and giving it a squeeze. Leo grunted a bit before responding.

"Love you too." He smiled at her. "That feels amazing, Karai." She frowned. She needed to figure out...she needed this time to have more gravity to it. It meant more now.

"I love you, Leo." She insisted, kissing him again. Leo giggled at her persistence, moaning a bit when her nail scraped ever so lightly over the end of his tail.

"I love you too, Karai." She groaned loudly, clearly frustrated. Leo was confused, to say the least. What had he said wrong?

"No! Dammit Leo!" Karai grunted as she slipped him out of his shell and mounted him quickly, thrusting slowly and with as much force as she could muster without hurting him. "I LOVE you. Like the forever kind." She slowed the rolling of her hips so it was slow and languid, she wanted to make love to him this time, really put her emotions into it. Not that it wasn't always making love for them now...but she wanted it to be tender.

"...forever." He smiled softly, tasting the word on his tongue. "Did...did you want a ring?"

"Eh. Maybe sometime later..." She reached to take his hands, entwining their fingers as best she could. "Only if you want to though...I don't see it as particularly necessary."

"I-ooohh.." He moaned when she came down with a bit more force. "I don't think...I need anything else...but you." Karai leaned down to kiss his forehead.

"Well, lucky you then." She whispered with another roll of her hips. You already have that."

...

"DUDE!" Casey chuckled, high-threeing Raph as they entered his living room window from the fire escape. "Was that awesome, or what?"

"You bet!" Raph flexed his muscles, still pumped from their most recent fight. "Oh man, they had it coming, too. How's your jaw?" Raph asked as Casey went into the bathroom to wash off his face paint. The turtle was excited, to say the least. Once they'd gotten into their old rhythm, he was able to ignore his urges easily. He couldn't see Casey under the mask and all that equipment, and when he really let himself get into the fight he didn't notice the little things at all! Maybe their friendship could still work.

"Just a bruise, I think." Casey entered the room again, and just like that all of Raph's hopes were completely dashed. The man was shirtless and paint-less, his jeans riding low on his hips and a wayward streak of black highlighting the veins on Casey's neck. Raph gulped as he took it all in. Casey was rubbing at his forehead with a washcloth, so it took him a moment to notice his friend's...state.

"Dude...you okay?" Casey asked Raph before running the washcloth over the back of his neck. Raph's eyes followed the trail the water drop traveled over Casey's collarbone and down his pectorals and abs. The hotheaded ninja swallowed thickly, trying desperately not to picture his mouth following the same path.

"I..." He knew he was staring, shit, Casey had to know now. But Raph just couldn't help himself, especially at that time of year. Casey's muscles were long, lean, and sharply defined beneath his skin. His scar-covered skin, Raph reminded himself. This guy had seen a lot of fights in his time...

"...Raph..." Casey hoped he wasn't blushing, but how could he not? Raph wasn't just looking at him. Raph was... Raph was checking him out. And, judging by the turtle's continuing stare...he liked what he saw.

Before he could contemplate this further, he noticed Raph was moving toward him. Casey opened his mouth to say something, but before he could Raph had grabbed him roughly and pressed his lips to the human's mouth, eagerly prying his lips apart to taste him. Raph's hands roved over Casey's back and shoulders, savoring the man's smooth skin beneath his fingers. Casey practically growled as he kissed Raph back, turning his head to deepen the kiss and holding Raph's jaw tenderly. They backed into the couch and toppled over, not even missing a beat as they shifted into a lying-down position, Raph on top of Casey. The turtle eagerly broke the kiss to follow that path the water drop had taken before him, biting at Casey's collarbone before laving his tongue over Casey's chest and stomach.

"Ungh..." Casey moaned, pumping his hips upward without noticing. Why hadn't it ever occurred to him before? Why hadn't he realized he liked Raph sooner? Well, because Raph was a guy and his best friend, sure, but when they were doing this it hardly seemed to matter. In fact, it seemed to make things even better. All he could see was Raph, even when he closed his eyes he saw the fierce fighter behind them. All he could hear was Raph's sexy grunts and growls, all he could feel was Raph's kisses and tongue and hands...hands undoing his pants..."Raph..." he moaned, trying not to buck his hips again. "Ungh, Raph..." he wanted to tell his friend how good this felt, how happy he was they'd gotten past that emotional blockade...but Raph froze where he was.

"C-Case...oh man, oh man, what the fuck am I doin'?" Raph scrambled away from Casey. "I, you, I'm sorry, oh man, I'm sorry!" Raph was off of him and heading for the window in record time. Casey was a little dazed, one minute he was on his way to an awesome evening and the next, Raph was gone?

"No, it's not like that, I wasn't gonna-Raph, stop!" Casey sat up and reached for him, but Raph was already gone. Casey flopped back down onto the couch, groaning in frustration. Would they be able to have an encounter that DIDN'T end with Raph running away from him? Dammit, he had wanted this! And Raph wanted it too, he could tell! So what was the problem?

Casey considered it for a moment. He definitely needed advice, but from who? April had sort of helped but...there was someone who knew Raph way better, and still knew just as much about this romance-relationship-attraction-whatever it was.

Maybe Donatello could help him.

We'll be getting back to Donnie and April in the next chapter! :) Please let me know what you guys think, drop me a (critical and insightful, please) review!