Chapter 20: Opening the Door

A few days after he moved into Elizabeth's room, Usagi woke up one morning to the absence of the familiar warmth of her arms around him. Dismayed, he sat up and saw that she was already awake and getting dressed. Only instead of her usual yukata, she was putting on a knee-length black skirt and a crisp short-sleeved blouse, with black buttons and trim.

Rubbing his eyes sleepily, he asked, "Are you going someplace?"

Elizabeth flashed a smile as she tied a short blue scarf around her neck. "I was hired yesterday at that little sushi bar down the street," she explained. "I was going to tell you about it after dinner last night, but..."

She trailed off and smiled again, the flush in her cheeks matching his own. Last night had turned into their most passionate encounter yet. If Obento had been unaware of the direction their relationship had taken, he undoubtedly knew now.

Hyena certainly did. Right after he moved his meager belongings into Elizabeth's room and started sharing her bed every night, the dangerous animal had taken to silently glaring at him. Usagi didn't have to ask Elizabeth to know what was on the dog's mind. The look in his dark eyes clearly read, 'hurt her and I will bite you in half.'

Usagi didn't doubt that he could, and easily.

"I only have the morning shift," the redhead he loved went on, as she pulled her blood-red curls back, "so I should be back home by lunchtime. Good thing I'm a waitress and not a cook," she added with a grin. "They probably would have asked me to cut my hair."

She pinned her curls up in a braided bun, then kissed him goodbye and hurried out of their bedroom. The furry samurai hopped up to follow, even though he was still only dressed in his undergarments. "But why did you decide to get another job?" he asked.

"Because I want to do everything I can to help out around here. I want to make sure I do my part."

"But you already do your part," said Usagi, as the petite girl paused by the front door to pet Hyena. Taking care of so many animals, helping find them good homes, and just keeping the shelter running so smoothly was more than enough in his eyes, even if she wasn't directly bringing in any money. But Elizabeth's mind was made up.

"It still seems like a little too much to me," he said, as she headed out the door. "I feel as if I should do something for you in return."

Elizabeth paused. "Actually, there's one little thing that's been on my mind. You can help me with it when I get back."

After making up her mind that she was going to phone her parents, it was another few days before Monalisa built up the nerve to do it. Raphael watched as she picked up their private line; her hands shook a little as she started dialing. He leaned close enough to listen as it started to ring. There was a click, followed by a woman's voice pleasantly greeting who was on the line.

Monalisa choked. She opened her mouth to say something, but no sound came out. Her eyes flooded with tears.

Raphael quickly reached over and took her hand; she squeezed it tightly in response. She was shaking again. After swallowing thickly several times, she finally forced out, "Mom."

Her voice was only a tiny whisper. "Hello? Is someone there?" her mother asked.

"It's me," her daughter said, louder this time. "It's Mona."

There was a gasp, followed by a muffled rustling, like someone was fumbling with the phone after almost dropping it in shock. In the background Raphael could hear her mother yelling that her daughter was on the phone.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked as she came back on the line. She sounded like she was in tears. Her voice quavered as she rapidly asked more questions. "Are you hurt? Where are you? Are you coming home? Do you want us to pick you up?"

There was a loud click, followed by a male voice joining the conversation. "Is that really my little girl?" Monalisa's father asked, his frantic excitement matching his wife's.

"Yes," his daughter said quietly. "It's really me."

"Are you safe? Do you need us to come get you?"

Monalisa was chewing her bottom lip. Her grip on Raphael's hand grew tighter. "Something bad happened to me. Something that kept me from coming home. I can now, but...I've changed. I'm not like you remember me."

"I don't care if you've grown a second head," said her father. "You're still our little girl and we love you more than anything. Please, just tell us where you are."

His daughter's eyes filled with tears again. "Come to the playground you used to take me to when I was a kid. I'll be waiting for you there."

She hung up without saying anything else. With a shaky sigh, she closed her teary eyes and sank against Raphael, who put his arms around her and held her tight as she shook with emotion. "You have to come with me," she ordered, sniffling. "I don't think I can handle going alone."

"I already told you," the turtle reminded her wryly, "I'm going with even if you tell me not to."

He patted her shoulder. "Don't be scared. Everything will turn out okay."

Monalisa lifted her head and smiled at him despite the dampness still in her eyes. "Thanks. You're—"

"A great friend. I know."

Her smile softened. "That wasn't what I was going to say," she whispered, before moving closer and brushing his mouth with a soft as a feather kiss.

While Raphael was busy hugging Monalisa and assuring her that everything was going to work out, Michelangelo slipped quietly out of the lair. He felt funny hovering around while they tackled the female mutant's problem—plus it was getting more and more obvious that the two of them had a thing for each other, even if neither of them had admitted it yet.

He had to admit, the thought of another one of his brothers getting a girlfriend kind of annoyed him. Yet at the same time he was happy for him, which was kind of a weird combination. Pretty soon only he and Donatello would still be single, only unlike himself, the reptilian scientist liked being alone.

Michelangelo wished that he did, too. He wished that he could stop thinking about Elizabeth. He was trying really hard not to, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't shake the idea that if she just gave him one more chance, things would be different. He wouldn't screw up again.

With this thought playing in his mind as he wandered, his feet eventually led him to the Far East Animal Society. He hadn't planned on coming here today, but since he was here now and it had been a while since his last visit, he mounted the steps and knocked on the door.

Like usual, it was Usagi who came to open it. "Hey, little dude," he greeted with a small smile. "How've you been?"

"Very well, actually," the samurai answered as he invited him inside.

Michelangelo took a quick look around, but there was no one in sight except for the usual cluster of small animals. "Is, um, Lizzie around?"

Usagi shook his head. "She has not come back from her new job yet."

"Oh. She has a new job?"

"Mm-hm. It was very sudden and I am not sure of the details, but she said she has gained employment at a sushi bar."

The young turtle's heart sank. He always seemed to miss her when he dropped by. "I'll come back later," he said.

Usagi seemed distracted about something today. It only looked like he was half-listening as he went and sat next to where the animals were. There was a book lying open next to them. "Would you like some tea before you go?" he offered.

Michelangelo shook his head. "No thanks."

As he started for the door, Usagi gave an absent nod before picking the book up in one hand. His other hand was cupped, like it was holding something. Something small that glinted silver. The animals were all watching him curiously; he set the book down with a smile and wagged a finger at them. "I want this to be surprise," he said, a warning note in his voice. "Don't any of you tell her."

He went back to his book, and Michelangelo left, wondering what he was up to.

"Do I look okay?"

Raphael paused to look Monalisa over, his expression deadpan...though he could feel his eyes dance as he answered. "As okay as a talking lizard in a raincoat and hat can look."

She scoffed and swatted his arm, but the brim of her hat didn't hide her smile. She turned away from him and looked around the playground. It was still early in the day and summer vacation was over, so only a few small kids were playing on the equipment or in the sandbox, while their mothers watched from a nearby bench. It was a pretty nice place, with lots of bright colors on the swing sets and slides and jungle gyms. Raphael could understand why this place had been special when Monalisa was small.

They were only standing there for a few minutes when her parents and little brother showed up. Her father was carrying a big bouquet of flowers. Her mother had a worn stuffed teddy bear clutched in her hands. Henry had a bundle of colorful balloons, each one covered in sayings like 'welcome home!' and 'we love you!'

The three of them paused by a teeter-totter, their eyes rapidly scanning the playground. The pair of reptiles hidden in their long coats went overlooked. "Mona?" her mother called anxiously. "We're here, sweetie."

After making sure her hat was tugged down over her face, Monalisa stepped forward slowly. Raphael stayed back as he watched her approach her family.

"Mom," she said softly. "Dad. Henry."

Her mother flew a hand to her mouth as tears sprang to her eyes. "Oh, my baby—is that really you?"

"Big sissie!" squealed Henry, hugging her around the waist. With a thick swallow, Monalisa bent and hugged him back.

"What happened to you?" asked her father, who looked like he was struggling with tears himself. "Were you kidnapped? Are you hurt? Are you still in danger?"

She quickly shook her head. "No—I'm fine. I'll explain everything. It's kind of a long story, so we better sit down."

Tugging at her hat again, Monalisa took her family over to a picnic table. She spent the next few minutes explaining how she had been abducted by a crazed scientist and forced to help him with his experiments, thanks to her background in physics.

Her mother was horrified. "You could have been killed," she said, her voice faint.

From her posture, Raphael could tell that Monalisa was feeling drained after telling her story. "I'm all right now," she said tiredly. "But like I said on the phone, I'm different now."

All of a sudden Raphael felt a tug on his sleeve. He looked down to see little Henry grinning up at him through the balloons still floating over his head. "Can I have your autograph now?" he pleaded.

Raphael couldn't help grinning at his eagerness—and the fact that he had seen right through his disguise. Sharp kid. "Do you even know who I am?"

"No," Henry admitted sheepishly. "But it doesn't matter. All four of you are my heroes."

"Hold on a minute," Raphael told him.

He turned his attention back to the scene at the picnic table. Monalisa pulled off her hat. Her mother jerked back with a gasp. Her father dropped the bouquet and gaped. "Cool!" yelled Henry.

"You?" said her mother weakly. "But you were the one who..."

"I tried to tell you that it was me," her daughter reminded her sadly. "But you didn't believe me. I know I look funny now, but I'm still me. I didn't change on the inside. I'm still the same person I always was."

Henry suddenly thrust his balloons into Raphael's hand and darted over to the picnic table. Climbing into his sister's lap, he asked, "What's my favorite ice cream?"

Monalisa rolled her eyes. "Raspberry and pickles. You little gross-out."

Her brother laughed and hugged her hard around the neck. "See? She's still my big sister. She's the best big sister ever."

Monalisa finally lost the battle with the tears she'd been fighting back all this time. Sniffling, she hugged her brother, while their mother slowly came closer again, scooting along the bench seat. "I..."

She didn't look like she had any idea what to say. After picking up the bouquet and setting it on the table, her husband reached over and rested a hand on their daughter's shoulder. "You might look different, but you're still our daughter. And we'll always love you no matter what. I'm so sorry for what we did the other night."

After putting Henry down, Monalisa turned to her mother. The older woman threw her arms around her and burst into tears. "My poor baby," she sobbed. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry..."

It was hard to tell if she was sorry for what happened to her, or sorry for turning her away like she did. But it didn't really matter. The tears mother and daughter cried as they held each other were tears of renewal. Raphael finally had to look away, not wanting to join in the waterworks...but it was already too late.

Elizabeth was a little tired as she walked home from work, but she was happy. Her new boss was nice, and so were all her fellow waitresses. The sushi bar was a family owned business, so only a handful of the employees weren't related, but everyone acted like family anyway. She was already looking forward to going back tomorrow.

But the little thing that had been on her mind lately was her old job at the aquarium. She missed swimming every day, and she missed all the animals she used to take care of. She didn't want to work there again, but she couldn't help longing to go back and see how everyone was doing. Just one more time.

When she got home, she went straight to her room and changed out of her uniform. Once she had on her cozy yukata, she went looking for Usagi. She eventually tracked him to the garden; she scurried up and pulled him into a tight hug.

He hugged her back, but only with one arm. He kept the other behind his back, his hand firmly balled. With a frown, he looked down at the mixture of shelter and wild animals bouncing around her feet, trying to get her attention. "Go on, now," he told them. "Either go inside or go home."

They all complained noisily, but they obeyed, either scampering inside or off into the bushes. Elizabeth eyed the furry samurai curiously. "What's up?"

"I merely wanted for us to have a little privacy."

"I figured as much," she said, as Usagi took her hand and led her over to the back steps. "You want to talk about something?"

The white rabbit flashed a smile as they sat down on the steps together. A smile that didn't quite mask the obvious nervousness in his blue eyes. "I, uh, wanted to ask you how your first day at work went."

"Oh—fine. A little busy, but it was fun. Everyone is really nice."

Usagi smiled again. "I am glad."

"But there's one little thing I've been wanting to do," she went on. "I'd like to go back to the aquarium. Just once, so I can say goodbye to the animals properly."

"And you would like me to go with you?" Usagi guessed. "Of course I will. But before we think about that, there is something I need to ask you, and it really cannot wait."

Looking over his shoulder at the closed back door, he called out, "There are some around here who cannot be trusted to stay quiet."

On the other side of the door, there was a smattering of muffled giggles before everything went quiet again. Elizabeth smirked. "Fair enough. What's on your mind?"

His blue eyes lifted to her face. "You."

After taking a short breath, he cupped her hand in his, holding it so her fingers faced him. He took his other hand out from behind his back—and before she realized what he was doing, he had slipped a ring onto her ring finger. A claddagh ring, positioned so the heart faced outward.

In the softest of voices, Usagi told her, "With this crown, I give my loyalty. With these hands, I offer my service. With this heart, I give you mine."

Elizabeth pressed a hand to her mouth as her eyes grew moist. Her heart was pounding, filling with so much love she thought it might burst. She saw that love mirrored in Usagi's eyes as he looked at her, so anxious, so hopeful. She was so happy right now she wasn't even going to point out that he'd accidentally recited a marriage vow instead of a proposal.

With a joyful laugh, she pulled him into her arms and squeezed him tight, pressing her face into the comforting warmth of his throat. "Yes," she whispered. "Yes."