CH. 12: Leonardo or Raphael? I Choose…

After what happened a month seems to fly by. Everyone keeps busy training and spending time together. Rosetta and Raphael sneak off from time to time in order to be alone for a while. April knows that they are in a relationship but is keeping it to herself, letting them have their secret time.

With spring just about over the weather begins to warm up. The morning is nice with Rosetta hanging the laundry to dry. As she does this she hums a small tone in time with the crickets chirping. As she does this on such a nice quiet day Leonardo watches her from the porch. Leonardo seems to be trying to get up the courage to do something.

'Come on Leo, you can do it.' Leonardo moves back and forth on the porch. 'Just go up to her and tell Rosetta you like her.' He glances over at her smiling face as she stares up at the clear sky with dreamy eyes.

"Wow, she's really cute." Leonardo whispers to himself with a slight blush on his cheeks. "I wonder what she's thinking of."

'I wonder when Raph will get back from fishing.' Rosetta giggles to herself staring dreamily at the clouds.

"H-hey Rosetta." Leonardo starts hobbling over to her.

"Oh, hi Leo. What's up?" Rosetta smiles at him still taking care of the laundry.

"I… I was… hoping to ask you something." Leonardo stammers as his face turns red.

"What is it?" Rosetta seems confused.

"I… I was wondering if you would like to… go out with me?" Leonardo glances at the ground then at Rosetta.

"W-what did you just say?" Rosetta stares at him a bit stunned.

"I… I really like you Rosetta… and… I was hoping you feel the same way about me." Leonardo turns even redder as he gazes at her with hopeful eyes.

Rosetta, shocked, drops one of the sheets on to the ground. Leonardo goes to pick it up at the same time. The two of them stand up together holding the sheet. Leonardo, feeling it's the right time, leans in to kiss Rosetta. At the same time Raphael comes in spotting them.

"Leave her alone!" Raphael runs over shoving his brother away pissed off.

"What the hell is your problem Raph?!" Leonardo falls to the ground glaring at him.

"Shut up! You have no right to kiss her!" Raphael stands over Leonardo pissed off.

"And you do?!" Leonardo kicks him with his good leg.

Raphael falls to the ground and the two of them start wrestling each other. Rosetta tries to separate them, but to no avail. The others come out to see what's going on.

"Leo! Raph! What are you two doing?!" their other brothers separate them holding them back from one another.

"He started it!" They both shout glaring at each other.

"Me?! You were the one that pushed me!" Leonardo tries to get out from Michelangelo's grip hold.

"YOU tried to kiss Rosetta!" Raphael shakes off Donatello only to get caught by Casey.

"Stop it!" Rosetta shouts. "If you two are going to act like this then… then I DON'T LIKE EITHER OF YOU!" she cries running off into the woods to get away from them. Raphael and Leonardo's faces seem stunned and sad as she runs off.

"Is this REALLY how you two want this to go?" April shots them a quick glare then runs after Rosetta.

"That was harsh." Casey looks over to where the girls ran off to then glances down at Raphael. "Raph? Are you okay?" he sees that Raphael's face seems shocked and ready to cry at the same time.

"I'm fine." Raphael shakes Casey off then stumps off.

"Mikey, can you let go of me?" Leonardo stares at the ground with a sad expression.

Michelangelo lets go of him. Leonardo heads to the barn as Raphael heads off to a different part of the woods. Once alone, the two boys fall to the ground hitting it with all their might while tears roll down their faces.

Meanwhile by a crystal clear lake Rosetta cries her eyes out feeling terrible that she's causing a rift between the brothers. As she cries the water responds to her emotions moving around into a world-pool. April finds her and quietly sits next to her.

"You're powers are getting better." April stares at the world-pool.

"I can't help it, they react to my emotions." Rosetta rubs her now purple eyes trying to wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry, because of me Raph and Leo are at odds." She hics unable to stop her tears.

"It's not your fault. Guys fall for the same girl all the time. The two of them will work this out, just give them some space." April pats her pack gently.

Two weeks go by with Rosetta refuses to even glance at Raphael and Leonardo while they are ignoring each other. The two boys realize this is their fault but don't know how to settle this problem.

During one morning Leonardo sees Raphael staring longingly at Rosetta through a window with a heavy sigh. Trying to avoid him he heads outside and notices when Raphael isn't looking Rosetta is staring at him with the same expression Raphael had. Realizing this Leonardo makes up his mind on what to do. He goes to the others to ask for their help.

Later on that night Raphael and Rosetta both find a note waiting for them in their rooms reading;

'We need to talk. Please meet me in the barn at ten.

From, Leo'

They both head to the barn. When they get there they find a table set up for a date with the others dressed up like waiters.

"What's going on here?" Rosetta glances around confused.

"Yeah what's up?" Raphael glances at the others too afraid to see Rosetta's expression.

"I asked them to do this." Leonardo stands in front of the barn doors.

"Leo? Why?" Raphael stares at his brother confused.

"Master Splinter and Shredder were brothers until their jealousy over one girl tour them apart. I don't want us to end up like them." Leonardo shakes his head. "I care about you two too much to let everything fall apart now."

"So Leo asked us to set up this date for the two of you." April reveals the food.

"Thank you Leo." Rosetta kisses him on the cheek.

"W-we should leave so you two can be alone." Leonardo blushes a bit as he hobbles off.

"See you two later." Casey winks as he heads.

"Just keep moving Casey." Donatello pulls him off with a sigh.

Once there all gone the two of them look at the table then each other. They blush with a small smile then sit down to eat. They chat clearing the air between them. At some point the others start a second half of their plan playing music in the barn.

"What's with this?" Rosetta listens to it with a soft smile.

'Leo must really have felt bad.' Raphael smiles thinking of his brother.

"Want to dance?" Raphael stands up holding his hand out for hers.

"Sure." Rosetta nods happily taking his hand.

The two of them sway back and forth to the soft music. As they dance the two of them stare into each other's eyes. As they gaze at one another they stop dancing leaning in to kiss each other. When their lips touch the two of them feel as if the whole world has melted away.