CHAPTER 11: STAY WITH ME.

The Turtles came back to the lair and saw Julie nailed on the sofa, with her face buried in her knees, silent and still as a statue. Donnie and Mikey looked sadly and wondering eyes. What could've happen to her all of a sudden? Where was Raph? When Leo saw her too, he ran to her and asked:

"Julie! How are you? Where's Raph?" Julie answered with a dry and flat voice:

"He's out" Leo looked worried at her. Something wasn't right.

"Do you want me to follow you home?" Julie nodded, looking a little bit up. She looked very sad and broken. Her eyes were teary but empty at the same time, and she was always looking away when Leo looked at her. Leo didn't say more, he didn't want to embarrass her in some way. He knew too that Julie wouldn't have talked if they weren't been alone.

He helped her up and together, holding hands, they went to Julie's dimension through the portal. Mikey and Donnie looked at each other again.

"Do you think Raph has something to do with this?" Mikey said looking wondering at his older brother.

"I don't know, but I hope Julie will smile soon again, my heart breaks every time I see her that sad…" Mikey went to his room and fell asleep, hoping that Julie soon would be happy again.

Leo and Julie arrived in Julie's room. He switched on the light on the bedside table, which made the room slightly lighter. Meanwhile, Julie sat down on the bed, looking lost at the floor. Leo kneeled in front of her and took her hands, looking at her with warm, hopeful eyes.

"Julie…" She looked sadly up, but looked quickly away when their eyes met. He sighed and said:

"Has something happen when we were away?" No, she couldn't tell him, or he would've killed Raph! She just shook her head. Leo didn't completely believe it, but he didn't ask more.

"Is there something I can do for you?" Julie didn't answer, she looked away. Leo sighed again and rose up. He walked towards the portal. But then, he felt Julie's warm hand taking his and, holding it tight.

"Wait! There's something you can do…" Leo's eyes widened in relief and surprise as he sat down at her side.

"What can I do for you?" She turned towards him, looking at him with dark, sad eyes, but at least looking him in the eyes:

"Stay here tonight, with me…" Those words were clear as water. He thought about it for some seconds, and nodded.

"Ok, but let's ask your parents first!" Julie nodded too and they went out to ask Phil and Nancy. When they had asked, Phil and Nancy looked surprised at each other but they said it was all right. Seeing how sad Julie looked, it was best if Leo was by her side. While Julie was putting her pajama on and brushing her theet, Leo helped her parents preparing the sofa-bed. When she was ready, he went in her room to say goodnight.

He smiled comforting at her when they were both sitting on the bed.

"Good night princess." Julie's eyes sparkled a little when she heard those words, and smiled.

"Thanks, good night to you too!" She took his hand and dragged him close to her. He hugged her tight, caressing her soft hair all way down her back. She buried her face in his shoulder, and Leo soon felt it a bit wet of tears. He whispered warmly:

"Don't worry Julie, I'll always be there for you…I would stay here with you so much, but you know it's not possible." Julie rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. She would've done it. She knew Leo would've always have his heart open to her whenever she needed, and she felt better when she thought about it. At the same time, she knew that Raph never meant to do any harm before. In the end, Julie slowly closed her eyes and fell softly asleep in her love's arms.

Leo put her under the blanket and kissed her forehead before going to the living room to sleep.

In the middle of the night, Julie dreamt a horrible nightmare about Raph killing her family and her friends, because he felt tricked and betrayed by her. Blood was everywhere, and she screamed loud and desperately.

Leo heard a bloodfreezing scream from Julie's room, and ran fast to see what was happening. He saw Julie screaming, shaking and crying in her bed. He ran to her and took her in his arms, sitting down on the bed. Julie woke up screaming again and when she saw it was Leo, she cried in relief:

"LEO!" Julie hugged him tightly, with the tears streaming down her cheeks. Leo whispered warmly:

"Shhh…don't cry, it's all over now, it's was just a nightmare…" She stopped crying and calmed herself down. Leo's arms always made her calm….his and strong arms that protected her from darkness and his warm chest always made her peaceful.

"Leo, I beg you…stay here…" Leo sighed and said:

"You know that your parents would never agree, I can't stay here with you…" His voice broke. He wanted to stay there with her so bad. Leo felt in his heart that he had to protect his love, who was now weak and sad as a lost child. He wanted to warm her, comfort her, and stay by her side…

"But if you want, I can stay by your side until you fall asleep, what do you say?" She nodded slowly and Leo put her back in bed, and watched over her as she slowly closed her eyes. They were holding hands, and in the end she took a deep breath and fell deeply asleep. Leo smiled at her and went to the living room again.

Next day, Julie was in a good mood again, and her smile widened even more when she saw Leo sitting at the breakfast table with Adrian. She sat down at his side.

"Good morning!"

"Good morning princess!" He said warmly. "Are you ok?"

"Yes! And all thanks to you!" She smiled, and Leo giggled, leaning into a kiss…

"Bleah, stop being romantic you two!" Adrian said covering jokefully his eyes. They both laughed and Leo kissed her on the cheek instead. After breakfast, Leo was ready to go home. They were in Julie's room.

"So you're going home?" He nodded.

"Yes, my brothers are surely waiting for me." Julie smiled joyfully at him. She loved him so much…

"See you soon princess!" He went towards the portal, when Julie suddenly stopped him.

"Wait!" He turned around.

"Yes?" Julie hesitated a little.

"Ehm…c…could you…kiss me?" Leo remained a little bit surprised by the question, but he didn't hesitate a second. He smiled again and walked to her. He then kissed her lovefully on the lips. Julie's heart trembled of passion when she felt that kiss…after the kiss, Leo whispered sincerely:

"Aishiteru." Julie, who had studied Japanese since a tender age, understood and blushed sweetly. Leo kissed her quickly again and disappeared in the portal.

The same night Leo had stayed at the Johnson, not long after what had happen at the lair, Raph had run out furiously on a roof and punched the floor hard and angrily, shouting like crazy:

"FUCK! FUCK! DAMN FUCK! Why I am so STUPID?! What were thinking?! I'm just complicating everything, I'm hurting her deeply and putting her in front of a decision she even can't even make! I'm completely crazy…I…I must leave the city. I know I'll leave my family, but I prefer it's like this; I don't want to shatter it. It's the best for Julie too, I just want to see her happy…"

But before he would've leaved the city for good, there was a last thing he needed to do. He would've talked to Julie as Nightwatcher, and then done the thing. Only then, he would be able to leave her. However, he needed to see her on last time first. Just one last time…

A/N: Sooo my dear readers! What do you think? What exactly will our dear Raph do hehehehe? You'll see it in the next chapter, which is one of my favs! XDD oh, I hope too that I didn't leave you disappointed when Julie said 'stay here tonight…with me…" I wonder how many of you thought ' They will do it…' and I was just: 'nep sorry darlings deal with it!' hahahahaha sorry XDD but don't worry, patience will be well prized here at my fics, so wait and see my friends, wait and see….

Until then, see you next chapter!

Hugs and cookies, your

-Sushi :D