Author Notes: Hi everyone!! I am so sorry that this took me so long to update! I have had somethings going on... few friends got married, my one grandmother is sick, and my other grandmother passed away the night before christmas eve and on a lighter note... my Steelers are going to the superbowl! ... So needless to say I have alot of distractions!! But again, I really am sorry. I have this stories entire direction, I just need to get my lazy ass to type it out!!?!?!

please enjoy, and DO let me know if you like how its going. I sorta feel like I jumped the gun with Leo and Mia. I would love honest, but polite oppinions about that.

Thank you and happy reading.

"Da da da Da da da Da da Da da Da da Da…"

Leo paused as he came to the door frame of the kitchen. He stopped and watched as his brother jammed his hand into the box of Corn Pops, all the while humming the Michael Myers' theme from the 'Halloween' movies.

"Ah hem…"

Michelangelo jumped and turned his head with wide blue eyes; the corned cereal flew from the box as he ripped his hand out, all the while victoriously holding the plastic toy ring.

"HahahaaaHey Leo…. Sup dude?" Mike asked with a huge grin.

"Well… I have just uncovered the mystery of the disappearing cereal." Leonardo smiled at his brother light-heartedly as he walked to the cabinet.

"Ha yea… I got the mid-mornin munchies." The youngest brother replied as he shoveled a heaping spoonful into his mouth.

"Too much Summer Spook-a-Thon?" Donny strolled in toward the fridge, hearing Mikes comment on entry.

"Ha… yea. I can't get enough'ah that shit." Mikey giggled as he poked the fake, plastic ring resembling a Ring Pop, with his spoon.

"You do realize its July, right?" Don asked, raising an eye brow.

"OH dude, I'm aware. As much as I'm love'n the spooky movies, I would kill a kitten to swim in the farm house lake right now!"

"Gross Mike." Leo rolled his eyes as he pulled out a chair and slid into it, dropping his clean bowl onto the table.

"Dude… it's an expression. Relax." He replied in a muffled, mouth full.

"I do miss the farm. We didn't go last summer." Donny smiled fondly, reaching into the fridge for the orange juice and pulling out a chair across from his oldest brother.

"Raph and Shadow went…" Mike blurted, reaching for the cereal box for a fill up.

Donatello and Leonardo both looked at him.

"Quiet man… you wanna wake the beast?" Donny hissed and finished sitting down, reaching for the box out of Mike's hand.

"Naw thanks."

Leonardo looked across at Donny as they both made eye contact.

"Here Bro…" Mikey reached his hand out, garnishing the clear, plastic, obnoxious ring. "You wanna give this ta'Mia?" Mikey asked, batting his eyes innocently at his oldest brother.

Leo let out an annoyed huff of air threw his nostrils. "No, I don't."

"Come on… ya were spenden alotta time with her."

"Mikey, I don't want to discuss my personal life with you."

"I know…" Mike shoved a spoon full of cereal in his mouth and chomped. "…That's why I'll talk about it for you!" he grin was sweet and annoying.

"SO!" Donny spoke rather loud, changing the subject as he rustled the paper. "You notice they still don't have any information on the missing people from a few months ago?"

Leonardo nodded, "Yea, seeing as Aprils on leave now, the paper has a chance to cover a story first!" he chucked, Don joining in with a smirk.

"But seriously… I think we need to up our rounds."

Donny rolled his eyes, and went back to the paper, pretending to ignore his brothers' observation.

"Awe come on Leooooo!?" Mike whined, letting his spoon clank into the bowl.

"No, I'm serious."

"And I'm serious… you need to give this to Mia!"

"MIKE!"

"Guys, stop. We'll just take an extra shift. That's fine. Whatever...Mikey, stop with the damn ring." Don huffed at the end, not being thrilled about the extra rounds and totally over the cereal prize.

"Well… Raphs already out all night looking for Shay, can't we make him do an extra round on his way home?" Michelangelo reached for his bowl and brought it to his lips and began slurping the milk.

"How do you know he's out looking for her?" Leo raised an eye brow questioningly.

"Yea… " The three brothers turned in their seats to the door. "How the fuck you know what I'm doin all night?" Raph scowled as he stopped at the doorway.

"Hey bud! Long time no see!" Mike exclaimed cheerfully.

"Shut the fuck up Mikey." Raph gruffed as he stepped up to the fridge.

"Can we atleast stop tonight and visit April and the baby?" Don turned back to his oldest brother who nodded.

"Yea but I think Casey's bring her and the baby home this afternoon." Leonardo finished a bite of cereal.

"April said Shadow finally stopped last night.." Mike stated matter-o-factly. Watching his menacing brother stand with his back to the rest of the family, stop and stiffen as he rooted threw the fridge.

Donatello smacked his hand to his forehead and sighed. Leo glared at his brother.

'What?' he mouthed with a smirk.

Raphael slammed the fridge door causing the sound of jars inside to rattle and turned on his heal, throwing the youngest turtle a death glare he walked heavily back out of the kitchen.

"Michelangelo. I don't say this often, so listen closely." Leo looked over at the youngest brother who looked at him mid-bite. " Leave Raphael alone… and stop being a damn asshole!" Leo raised his voice at the end and shoved his bowl with spoon clanging into the center of the table.

He had woken up from the third listless night of sleep, muscles sore, eyes tired. Groggily Raphael sat up, rubbing his face with his hand while the thin white sheet pooled around his waist. Letting out a heavy sigh, he leaned back on his fisted; the clock flashing the time, 10:43am. He had been at least thankful that his brothers were staying far away from him and his nightly travels.

He had hoped to sneak into the kitchen for a bite and a glass of water unseen. The last thing he needed was to hear his damn brothers' mouth, let alone feel all their pathetic, sympa-fucking-thetic stares. Walking to his room, he kicked his door forward, hearing the hollow wood vibrate. Reaching out behind him, he grabbed hold of the handle and flung the door shut behind him. Jaw clenched, he sat on his bed, hands on knees staring across the room. Glancing at the clock he saw that it was now 11:02am. His mind quickly drifted to her. He knew she was at work, he wondered what she was wearing, how she had her hair… how she smelled.

These were his typical haunting thoughts. It was painful for him to even hear her name. He was so in love with everything about her and he gave it up, hurting her on purpose to save them both a possible painful future… or so he thought. The irony of it however is the dreams and thoughts of a normal life; Love, a wedding, a house, childrens, normalcy's. He had them nightly. Now the problem was not only was he secretly the most romantic brother, always believing again in being the valiant prince charming, saving his fair and beautiful maiden from dangers… even if they were small, like opening a jar. Raphael was a mans' man. He was a protector. There was where the problems lied. How was he to protect Shadow being a mutant turtle, never being able to go with her into public, malls, bars, work? The scariest thought to him was loosing her… again. The hardest part was knowing that she hated him, never wanted to see or speak to him and would never understand. He let out a breath as he played with his hands. What was he to do? Would he ever get out of this funk….heart ache?

He felt his heart jerk when he noticed a red sparkle next to his old set of Sai's.

"Damn!" he bellowed, standing and grabbed for the clock radio, hurling it across the room at the shelf that held his Sai's and the Ruby with the broken chain. He felt rage, such blinding pain and anguish. Moving to the door he threw his fist into the drywall, impaling it easily. Throwing the door open and he seethed as he felt himself begin to jog down the steps and moved to the dojo. He had to do something…. He had to get his mind else where.

Michealangelo glanced up as he saw a streak of green; having heard the banging up stairs, he dared not open his mouth to his brother or even follow. Standing he trotted up the steps and noticed the wall next to his brothers' door; the dry wall and paint were cracked slightly. Raising an eyebrow, Mikey moved to the door way and glanced in, he looked to his side and noticed the gaping hole his brothers fist had just created.

'Almost went to the whole way threw…' he thought with a sad smirk. He know Raphael was in pain and truth be told, he also know never in a million years would he have broken up with Shadow over the things he says he did. Course he had found out via Molly who had heard it from Robin who was the only person that Shadow had told the actual story too…well Shadow emailed her a day or two after. He did know his brother a little better than that. There was something more, he wouldn't be this unpredictable if he wasn't hurting.

"Mikey!" Glancing over his shoulder to his name, the younger turtle put his head down and turned back down the stairs. It was time for practice, and seeing the way his red banded brother went to the dojo… he didn't intend on getting paired with him…

"I seriously think I need to move in with you." Molly turned, eyes wide after Shay ended the quick tour of her home.

"And I seriously think that Mike would die if he had to come all this way to see you." Shadow smirked pulling out a stool at her island counter top in the kitchen. Reaching for a beer that she thought was hers, she tossed an empty into the garbage.

"So the guys know you're here?" She questioned, pulling the beer bottle back.

"Well… Donny thinks… that I'm visiting a college friend…" Robin bit her bottom lip and winked at the brunette.

"I just told Mikey I was hanging out with Mia." She nodded her head across the table at the dark-haired girl, "Not a lie after all...".

"AND… Leo used me for a make-out post a few weeks ago and calls randomly to tell me he's busy and he's sorry. I know better, he regrets it and hes playing nice. And right now he has know clue if I'm even in the same state soooo… " Mia rushed out in a long, fast pace and then grinned sarcastically.

Shadow smiled "Ok… A. Leonardo doesn't use anyone. B. He probably has a really really good excuse and… C. A single girl who formally dated a turtle needs juicy Make-Out details girlfriend! Spill!" She pounded her fist on the counter top and yelled like a crazy woman.

They all laughed, hard. With all of them being under stress lately, that made the moment that much better, and the night filled instantly with more promise. Molly had a hard time finding a new waitress job and no body was hiring for nights. It was the only time she could work since she started taking part-time summer classes. She ended up settling for working at a Starbucks. She liked it and the people, the shorter hours… but she did miss her tips and Mikey. With the longer rounds the guys were pulling, it was hard for any of them to see one another. Robin was overwhelmed at work and when she came home, she was not overwhelmed by her boyfriend. He was still being quite shy around everyone with her, she of course was ready to move along with everything. Everyone knew after all. She wanted a relationship with him, and she would never voice it, but she wanted what Shadow and Raphael had; what Mike and Molly have. She was emotionally exhausted.

Mia felt that things with Leo were neither here nor there. She liked him well enough, but with the boys being 'busy', they had barely seen each other. As much as she was telling herself that he was avoiding her with the 'busy' stuff, she knew it wasn't true. Robin and Molly were telling her they were getting the same treatment. Mia however, thought that if she convinced herself that it was just her, then maybe she could avoid him and the situation all together. Everyday she either felt really sad and annoyed because she cared, or she hardly gave the eldest turtle a single thought. She felt as though she was a woman scorned, even though that was not the case, and above all, they weren't and never were dating. They barely knew one another. It was a fleeting moment of weakness and attraction and that's over now, for all she knew.

Mia's laugher died down with everyone elses as she took a sip of beer. "Ah… I don't really wanna talk about that chica! Not now! This is fun, I want to have fun tonight! I will dish later." She smiled reaching for a chip.

"Ok….. fare enough I suppose." Shay faked annoyance.

" OH…. What did you think of your new little brother!?" Molly almost shrieked as she bounced up and down on her stool.

"I love him. I was really happy I made it to the hospital last week to see him. I want to spoil that kid rotten. "

"He is a cutey, Don and I ran into Raph up…." Robin caught herself but it had been too late. Shadow, who had been listening to her intently, was now staring directly at her marble counter. Her fingers began prying at the label on her beer bottle.

"Shay, …" The oldest Jones girl glanced across the island toward the hispanic. "Can I ask the obvious question? How are you…. Really?" Mia asked from her seat next to Robin; the blonde lifted her head back up to look at her niece.

Molly stopped mid motion to her mouth and set the bottle back down as Shadow shrugged.

"As good as I can be. It is what it is and everything happens for a reason. We obviously weren't meshing anymore and something had to happen. He just noticed it before I did."

Shay was now staring and playing intently with the Miller lite label off her beer as the other three women looked at her.

"I just want to have fun tonight. Seriously. I miss you girls a lot and I'm really excited your here!" Shadow changed the subject completely. "Now lets go get ready…. go get dinner and go dance!"

The girls all nodded, grabbing their beers and heading down the hall, talking about the different outfits they brought. Shadow sat folding the label into a pizza shape and stared at the counter once more. She was glad the girls were here, she needed this. After all… it was a year ago at the exact week, when she and Raphael had discovered their feels for one another...that morning at the farm house, the sun peaking in, the way his muscles tensed, the feel of his hands.... Shay needed her friends tonight. More than anything, she needed something to get her mind off of him, a wonderful distraction.

"Some shitty Friday night! No action, not a sound… I can't even help a lil'old lady cross the street!" Mikey huffed as he leaned against the wall.

"You'd give'er a heart attack Mike." Raphael stated matter-o-fact as he sat perched on a large air conditioning unit, cleaning the dirt from under his nails with a Sai.

Donny chuckled as he and Leo searched threw night vision goggles that Casey had bought them at an Army Surplus store a few months ago.

"Happy yer here too Raph." Mike rolled his eyes and rested his head in his one hand as the other arm flopped onto the wall as well, hand dangling over the edge.

"I can leave. That's fine by me… " The distant brother picked his head up from his daily hygiene and snapped at his brother. "I've liked ma'solitude, wouldn't mind it back…" he moved to jump down when Leo called to him.

"Hey Raph… you wanna come here and take a look at this?"

"What is it?" he arched one eye brow, annoyed that he was asked to do work during a round.

"So…. That's interesting." Donny pulled his head back, as Leo moved to hand the goggles to Raphael.

"Look, down there, next to that house, to the left of the tree…" Leonardo instructed Raphael.

"Ha… you cheat'n on Mia, Leo?" Raph smirked still looken in the goggles.

Leo rolled his eyes grabbing the goggles out of Don's hands. Adjusting them, he saw a older woman changing in a window.

"Grow up Raph. I said Left not right." He huffed and then sucked in a breath as they both reached their target.

"Holy fuck…." Raphael breathed out.

"What… what is it?! I wanna see!" Mikey jumped from the wall and made his way to his brothers.

"Donny, here! It moved." Leo handed the goggles back to the original handler as Mikey stood there practically panting.

"I, But…" Raphael stepped away from the wall, crossing his arms.

"What dudes? What is it?" Mike straightened, now asking seriously.

"Its… another mutant." Don said, turning and looking at him.

"Like Bebop and Rocksteady?"

"Different, I can't tell what it is." Leo said as he adjusted his goggles.

"Should we go get it?" Mikey asked, now reaching for Donnys set of night binoculars.

"No." They all looked at Raphael. "Lets just tail it. See where it goes, what it does."
"I agree." Donatello stood, joining them as Leo nodded.

"Wow…"

"Wow, what Mike?" Don looked at his little brother.

"Raph made a logical, mature decision…." He began looking in the sky "It this the apocalypse? I mean…are we havin' an eclipse tonight? … OW dude!" flinching, he grabbed his arm.

Raph settled back in to his cross-armed stance from his assault on his brothers' arm.

"God… I liked ya better when you were get'n laid!" Michealangelo had no 'brain to mouth' filter.

"Fuck you Mike." Raphael dropped his arms. His tone was low and threatening.

"No, Seriously. Whats up with you man? You're a grouchy ass hole! You made the choice! If your fuck'en miserable… change it!" Michealangelo snapped at his largest brother who was staring at him, seething.

"It's none of our bus…."

"None of our business Leo?" Mike cut him off, snapping his head toward the oldest. "It is our business!" The orange clad turtle turned his attention back to his angered brother. "Your our business Raph! Your our brother... somethin's up with you. Yea… we get it, your mister 'brooding and dark', what ever, but… " his tone softened as he saw Raph spacing out toward the rooftop across the street. "Sometimes, … somethin's ya can't deal with on yer own…"

There was a few moments of silence, no one moved or spoke.

"I'm sorry man.. " Mikey said quietly, gripping Raphael's shoulder. Raph glanced down at the hand and back up at the face of its owner.

"I just… I miss the old you man."

Raph kept eye contact with his brother, then turned his head, snorted and spit. Pushing through Don and Leo, he moved to the wall. "We gotta follow that thing…" he changed the subject and grabbed for a pair of goggles.

Leonardo looked at Mikey, wondering what the hell he was trying to accomplish by coming mere seconds from ending his own life, but the hot head had just let him live, and on top of that, Raph brushed it off for another day. Mike looked up to Leo and shrugged his shoulders, the older brother gave him a glance and turned to the wall.

"Glad the girls are all occupied… this is gonna be a long night. Fuzzy's not even trying to move. " Donny said, as he watched the creature stay close to the tree, making no attempt to run.

"Well Mia and Molly must have got bord, cuz I called April earlier to borrow a DVD and she said the girls went to see Shadow."

The older three looked at him. "What?" he shrugged his shoulders.

"Well I was lied too…" Donny stated flatly.

"I wasn't even told."

Raphael let out a sarcastic huff. "Your not even datin da'girl." He pointed out, getting an annoyed glance from the turtle in blue.

"Wait… so their out, out? Like a bar?"

"Yep Mike, we've been dupped. And I bet their doing the whole shebang too. Dancing, sexy clothes, drinks, men watching their every move... while we're…. here. " Don looked down the wall at the three brothers to his right, all of them looking at him with a different expression. "… watchin ugly down there scratch himself and hang out with a tree. Fun." Donatello finished with dry sarcasm and looked back threw the Binoculars. This was going to be a long night indeed.