Chapter 10 Sleepless Night

Hey all sorry for the late update. I've been really sick and struggling in my math class in college. I decided to drop it and take it later. I'm not all the way better yet but it's getting there. Keep the reviews coming.

Brittany kept thinking of the events that happened earlier today. She just couldn't get them out of her mind. Why does everything have to happen to her? No matter what she does, she always has some type of challenge ahead of her. Is it too much to ask for just to be normal and have a stress free life? Guess so. She tried to go to sleep early but that never happened. Everyone had left her alone as they knew she needed her space to think things through.

It was 2am when she looked at the clock and decided to just get up and go for the lounge. Maybe she can find something to do to take her mind off stuff. She knew she never would be able to sleep with as much as she has on her mind right now. No one can ever just let her be. They always have to make her life a living hell as if she doesn't already have that with losing her family and being alone for the rest of her life. To top things off she has to fight her husband and win? Huh, wonder how that will go. Probably will lose and humiliate myself anyways.

She reaches the lounge and turns on the lights. There are plenty of instruments. She remembered trying to learn to play guitar once but that had failed miserably. She can play simple songs on the piano but nothing that really counts. Hopefully no one will mind her just playing notes not even knowing which ones are which as she just plays to make a nice rhythm. She started to warm up and play some music. She was just acting silly not really knowing what she was playing. Just messing around to see what she could come up with, not knowing how to read or write music. She was just starting to get the hang of this rhythm she made up that took her like an hour to perfect how she liked it when someone cleared their throat. She looked up to see Raph standing across the room just watching her. It looked like he was amazed but how could that be. There isn't nothing special about her, there never has been.

Raph had been watching her for a couple minutes in complete silence. He sensed that Brittany was just winging it. He saw how she would try something, shake her head, and then try something else. She looked like she was rather enjoying herself for once. He just couldn't take his eyes off of her. She is the most beautiful creature he has ever seen even with all those bruises still healing. Although they are starting to go away. He just needs her to realize how beautiful she is not only to him but to other people as well.

"Oh I didn't realize anyone else was up," Brittany tells Raph as she was startled.

"Geesh, no need for excuses. This is your home as much as ours," Raph replies. "So what were you playing before I interrupted you?"

"Um, oh it was nothing."

"It didn't sound like nothing. It sounded beautiful just like you," Raph replies as he walks over and sits next to her on the piano bench.

Brittany is blushing beat red in her cheeks. She never realized that he actually thought she was beautiful. Actually, no one had ever said that to her before. She has tears in her eyes with emotion of what Raph had said to her. It made her feel good in front of someone for the first time in a very long time.

Raph sees the tears glistening in Brittany's eyes. He is wondering what he said to make her want to cry. "Are you okay? Did I say something wrong?"

"No you didn't say anything wrong. It's just that. It's just that nobody has ever said that to me before."

"Really? Geesh that must have been tough growing up not believing in who you are and how beautiful you are in the eyes of other people or in my case turtles?" Raph replies as he jokes.

Brittany starts to laugh and has a huge smile on her face. "Yeah, Raph I guess you could say that. Especially in school. I was always the outcast, the person who is different and not wanted by anyone else."

Raph reaches over and grabs her hand. As he kisses it he replies, "Don't you ever let anyone think any different of you. You are different but in a good way. You are a tough woman to have to deal with what you did. Geesh, I don't know if I would have been able to go through that."

"I guess so," Brittany replies as she leans her head on his shoulder to keep him from seeing her blush as she can feel it rising on her cheeks.

Raph turns towards Brittany. He lifts her chin up so they are looking each other in the eyes. He sees in her eyes that she cares about him and decides to just go for it and see what happens. He leans forward ever so slightly as their faces are inches apart. He kisses her one peck on the lips. Her lips are so soft and yet appetizing as he wants more of it. He looks at her in the eyes and sees amazement filled with is that desire?

"What do you think?" Raph replies nervously as he runs the back of his hand against his temple.

"Wow. I. I didn't think you felt the same way bout me," she replies nervously as she is blushing.

She looks over at Raph and starts to lean in for another kiss. Raph happily accepts her invitation for more. They kiss tenderly for a couple of minutes. Brittany has her arms around Raph's neck as he is holding her around her back rubbing circles on her lower back. They finally stop kissing and are just enjoying each other's company. Finally, Brittany starts to feel really sleepy around 4am. She yawns and leans her head against Raph as sleep finally wins the battle. Raph carries her in living and sets her gently on the couch along with her crutches as he heads to his own room for bed.

Raph is laying in bed being wide awake thinking of how lucky he is. He just hopes that his brothers and Master Splinter will be happy for him as they both have feelings for each other. He thinks that she is finally starting to heal but can only hope for the best. And that kiss, wow was that amazing. He hopes that things will work out in the end between them. He has never felt anything for anyone before but amazingly he really likes it and actually wants it.

So what do you think bout Raph in this chapter?