Wolfjade: I am aware that you have a few up your sleeve, so I will settle down after raph leaving foot print on my butt cheek when got the jump on me. *rubs toosh* still hurts, as why I'm sitting on a donut cushion.

Created to write: thank you, normally yes but forgive splinters memory as he is getting old.

Jay: I'm pleased that you are enjoying the story so far and I hope you will continue to read the rest before the following as it is going to be slow update after this one. And I am glad that I didn't disappoint which a big thing for me when it comes to writing. Thank you guys. Anyway, onward to the story.

Chapter 20

One hour later

Rachael stretched a little and looked over her shoulder, as she felt a chill breeze that seemed more just cold air on her spine when had realised that she was alone in the hammock. Then looked to the door, after looked around the room. Raphael was in no where in sight, as the door was left half opened. Sighed softly as she made her way out of the hammock and walked to the kitchen, unaware that she bumped into Mikey, grinning at her like the Cheshire cat. In this case a Cheshire turtle. "What is the smile for, Mikey?" Rachael asked, feeling a little uncomfortable and unprepared for what is going to be asked.

"Are you and Raph, y'know?" Mikey begun then paused as he lightly bopped his head but continued smiling. Poor Rachael blushed like a red apple and begun stammering, embarrassed. "W-what?! I d-don't think it is any of your business if we did or not!" Holding both up his hands in defence as he continued to giggle and replied. "Sorry, was just asking."

"Mikey!" Wolfjade scolded as she stood behind him, with folded arms and tapped her foot. Looking back to Wolfjade and sheepishly smiled. "How much did you hear?" he wondered. "I heard all, Mikey. Shame on you." She answered, grabbing his mask tails and dragged him behind her while he wined and winced. "Ow, ow. Easy on the mask dudette."

"I'll be easy when you stay out of your brothers, personal business." Wolfjade replied in a low scolding tone. "Alright, ugh; ow. Please let my mask tails go now. I promise I'll be good." He pleaded, requesting. Wolfjade sighed, released his mask tails as he tightened his mask and rubbed his head lightly but blushed brightly as wolfjade draped her arms around his neck and nuzzled her nose with his and said softly. "Leave Raphael alone and concentrate on me, on us." Flattening her ears, looked up to him with pleading eyes as she softly requested. Mikey gulped quietly, trembled a little as he weren't sure if he should wrap his own arms around her or pull away.

Unhesitatingly draped his arms around her waist and pulled her close, continued to blush then said softly. "Ok, dudette." Looking deeply into her beautiful jade green eyes that had melt him and his heart raced fast then slow, he knew that something was forming. Unsure what it was just yet but one thing he knew for sure was that, Mikey really liked Wolfjade. Hearing him say, 'Ok dudette' as his way of agreeing had made her very, very happy. "Thank you, and good boy." She softly said and commented. Mikey replied nothing and just smiled, nuzzling her more. Wolfjade giggled and murred.

Splinter's room

Raphael knelt down before the table with his sensei and held a cup, freshly brewed of hot jasmine tea. "Something wrong, my son?" he asked, concerned as he sensed something wasn't right. Quickly sipped the tea then answered with a trembling voice. "I had a dream."

Splinter's ears twitched slightly as his whiskers had also bristled, followed with a worrying raised eye ridge. "A dream? What kind of dream, my son?"

Continued to stare into the ripples of his hot tea, brushing his thumb up and down of the cup. Finally he answered in a whispery scarce voice. "A nightmare." A hot tear streamed down his cheek. Splinter assured his son and requested gently. "Continue, tell me and we can figure it together."

The old rat quietly knelt on his cushion, listened to every detail described then assured his son gently. "Raphael, you will never be evil. It seems that you are still have demons to face and conquer. I've always known that your anger is difficult to conquer and channel as you are unique to your brothers. As you always choose to face the enemy alone but don't forget them and don't forget me. We are here, I am here and now you have someone with a beautiful heart that will always be here for you too." Standing up and walked to his son, placing a clawed hand gently on his son's head as Raphael bit his lower lip and tried not to cry.

"Go to Rachael, my son." Splinter continued, raphael looked up to him with watery eye glance and wiped the tear away from his cheek as the tear streamed down. "I am happy, you have found someone Raphael."

"Thankyou, sensei." Raphael replied, softly smiled then stood up and left the room. The old rat smiled as he turned to the photograph of his late sensei and father, exhaled softly and prayed for the best as he wished for his sons. Meanwhile, Raphael walked through the living room towards the kitchen as Mikey looked over the back of the couch, Wolfjade looked up to him. Giving a stern glance and he smiled, said. "I aint going to say anything, promise." She smiled warmly then nuzzled him gently and replied. "Good, popcorn?" offering the bowl. "You are the best, dudette ever." He commented.

"You keep telling me." She chuckled. Luckily both Leonardo and Donatello were occupied, doing their own thing, which kept them away from nosing about. For awhile that least until the purple clad terrapin left the laboratory and went to the infirmary and assisted April as she was ready to go home but the problem was that Casey hadn't returned yet. This worried April, calling his cell and got his answering machine on his cell. Sighed softly, with slight frustration but assumed that he could be out breaking purple dragon skulls. "Everything ok, April?" Donnie asked, gently. "Yeah, everything is fine. How's raphael?" she replied. "Well, he looks calmer." Don answered, assisting April from the bed. "Calmer? In what sense do you mean, calmer?" she wondered, curiously. He smiled and said. "Well, I think your friend, Rachael has something to do with his sudden change." April smiled proudly and happily. "Let's go have a peek."

Donatello smiled and nodded. Leaning against the frame of the doorway in the kitchen as he watched Rachael, cook some chocolate cupcakes.

The red clad terrapin smiled, tilted his head as he watched Rachael bend over to place the tray in the oven and immediately caught Raphael watching her, when she stood up and faced him. "What are you looking at?" she asked with a warm smile, folding the tea towel and placed over the top of a chair. Raphael didn't answer, continued to smile and walked around the table and gazed into her eyes.

Caressed her cheek tenderly and whispery told her. "You are so beautiful." Returning the smile, nuzzled in his hand and answered softly. "So are you." Before she opened her eyes, her lips met with his. Sharing a deep, passionate kiss followed by entwining embrace. He pulled her close, draping his muscled arms around her curvy waist as she draped her arms around his neck.

A few minutes later, breaking the passionate kiss and nuzzled their foreheads in deepening touch. "Mm-mm, that was awesome." Rachael commented. He chuckled and smiled, replied. "Yeah, it was. You make me so happy." Rachael smiled happily to hearing those words. Standing just outside the doorway of the kitchen was April with Donatello, watching the adorable lovers together as they walked away quietly.

"I better get the cupcakes out of the oven or they'll burn." Rachael smiled, kissed him tenderly. Raphael smiled, chuckled and asked. "Can I help?"

"Sure, be careful. They're hot." She assured him, smiling. "Yes ma'am." He teased, grinning. "No more of ma'am business. I aint that old, yet." She smirked, and winked. "You are so hot." He commented, making her blush and giggle.