TMNT does not belong to me. Just Annie & Co. Big thanks to The Silent Hunter!

"How can anyone hate dogs?" I ask April. I'm trying to distract myself, to keep myself from thinking of the funeral that's in just two days.

April keeps her eyes on the road as she answers, "Well, the guys have never met a pet dog before. The only dogs they've come across are either strays or-"

"Guard dogs," I finish. I make a face. "Yeesh. I almost forgot about that. Those're the worst. Especially when they mistake you for a kitty."

April busts up laughing and I manage a chuckle too. A little whine sounds from the back and I reach behind me to scratch my beautiful, gray and white Australian Shepherd behind his ear. Zeb's short little tail thumps contentedly. He's definitely feeling better after that rat poison incident. Why anyone would leave a bag of that stuff in the park and out in the open is beyond me.

Shortly after Raphael had disappeared, I'd asked Splinter if I could bring Zeb back to the Lair. I remember the apprehension on his face. Apparently, his experiences with dogs were just as bad as his sons'. If not worse. But he'd agreed when I'd assured him that Zeb was well-trained and well-behaved. And that I could control him.

Mikey's worries had been different. It had taken me nearly half an hour before I was able to convince him that not all dogs like to chase cats. Once he knew Klunk was safe, I had Michelangelo's approval.

Don and Leo had agreed too. Albeit reluctantly.

And Raphael. Well, he's put up with me so far. He can put up with Zeb too.

Even though April had offered to let him stay at her place, I wanted to keep Zeb with me. Like I had told Raphael. I wasn't letting any member of my family out of my sight for a long time.

And Zeb's such a sweetheart. Who couldn't help but fall in love with him?

As soon as the girls left, I turned to my father, "Sensei, are you sure? April did say the dog could say at her place."

Before Master Splinter could answer, Raph makes his way over to us. I hadn't realized that he was back in. "Did someone say 'dog?' Please tell me that Annaleigh's not bringing back a dog. That's the last thing we need, Fearless, and you know it."

I scowl at him. I was gonna tell him that she asked Splinter's permission, not mine. But then, I realized something. "Didn't Annie tell you about her pet?"

"No. She just said that she was picking up someone, or something, named Zeb." Then he glares at me. "And since when did you start calling her 'Annie.'"

I roll my eyes. I really don't want to deal with his attitude. I've about reached my limit. "She told me to call her that the first time I met her. I told you about that, remember?"

If Sensei hadn't been standing there, I was sure that my red-masked brother would have attacked me. What has come over him lately? I had thought that he was getting his temper under control. But ever since he and Mikey ran into Leopard that first time... Then, it clicked. "You like her."

Shock, and then rage flew over my brother's face. "I do not. And if you don't shut up about it, I'll give you worse than I gave Mikey." His amber eyes bore into my brown ones. He's completely forgotten that Sensei's standing right next to me

"Raphael!" Master Splinter's eyes flash, and Raph jumps guiltily, as if he didn't know that our father was standing there.

It's completely quiet in our Lair and I realize that Mikey and Don are watching us intently from their respective places on the couch and in the Lab. Raph mutters angry an apology and stomps furiously towards his room. As soon as his back is turned, Mikey mouths, He likes her. And Don nods his agreement.

Great. Just great. If this is how Raphael is going to act around Annaleigh, then I need to at least consider trying to talk her into staying with April. I'm tired of fighting with my brother.

"So," April begins and I stifle the urge to groan. I know what's coming. "What's going on between you and Raph?"

I roll my eyes yet again, "Nothing. We're just friends."

"Friends don't sleep in each other's arms."

This time, I do groan, "He was just making sure that I was okay! I needed someone to turn to, and he was the only one awake. That's it!"

"Okay, okay! It's just that I get the feeling that Raph thinks of you as 'more than a friend,'" she looks at me pointedly before turning her eyes back to the road.

I'm about to insist that she's seeing things, but then I remember the way Raphael had blushed last night. And the way he couldn't seem to speak to me right before April and I had left. What if she's right? What the heck am I gonna do? I've got too much to deal with already. How much more can I take before I break?

But that's not the question, is it? I guess the real question would be, 'Do I like Raphael too?'

I reach back and scratch Zeb's ears again. He is so lucky that he's a dog.

Well? What do you think? Does Annaleigh like Raph? How will Raph take to Zeb? Please R&R.