A/N: Okay so this chapter is a bit long, and took longer than I'd expected, but I hope the wait was worth it! So we get to see how their date turns out, but as usual, Mikey has a few surprises in store for our leading lady. And not all of them are good. Fortunately, he MORE than makes up for it with- um, enthusiasm? Creativity? Well, whatever- it looks like he's making up for lost time!

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A Dream Worth Keeping

The next few hours were like a whirlwind, first gazing out over the beautiful New York skyline from Lady Liberty's crown, then taking the ferry back to Battery Park to visit Castle Clinton and another subway ride on the red line to 42nd Street at Times Square, where we took in the sights for a while before making a brief transfer to Rockefeller Center. The outdoor café was open, so we paused for a few minutes to grab something cold to drink and rest, and just enjoy the atmosphere.

A short time later, while we were raptly admiring St. Patrick's Cathedral not far away, Michelangelo suddenly darted inside, leaving me alone on the street. I followed, but once inside, I was surprised to see him walk right up to a priest, whisper something into the man's ear, and then follow him over to the confessional booth when he nodded. Puzzled, I tried to ask what he was up to, but he simply gave me a serious look and shook his head, pointing to the nearest pew. Miffed, I sat down to wait while he went into the booth.

It was nearly fifteen minutes before he came out again. "What was that all about?" I asked, wondering what was going on. He'd been surprisingly quiet while we'd been gazing up at the church, as if something weighed heavily on his mind, but now when I questioned him, he just shrugged.

"No biggie- I just had somethin' I needed some advice on. Don't think it helped much, though. I guess I should know better than to ask a priest about ninja problems. Or mutant ones, either. I couldn't really tell him what it was all about, so he said that I'd have to figure it out on my own. Sounded like somethin' Master Splinter would say." He sighed, appearing downcast, and went quiet again. I was beginning to worry about his steadfast refusal to talk about whatever was bothering him.

A little later, we took the orange line from Rockefeller to the 59th Street station near Columbus Circle. We strolled down the sidewalk along Central Park West, blissfully savoring a pair of cones from an ice cream cart along the way. Street artisans and musicians had parked themselves casually against the low wall that ran along the edge of the park, while several street vendors sold hot dogs, pretzels, flowers, or various souvenirs up and down the street, from the Circle to the 65th Street subway entrance.

By that time, it was early evening, the warm, sunny spring day slowly cooling as shadows lengthened and the sun sank low. We paused near a musician playing a guitar and singing while a few people stood listening to the music. He was fairly good, and we stood for a little while just listening, though I couldn't help noticing that Michelangelo watched his hands closely, a look of intense concentration on his face. I had a feeling he was trying to learn the chords, though I was sure it would take more than just a few minutes spent studying someone else playing for him to be able to do it himself. Of course, he had surprised me before….

The man began to play an older song, one that I was familiar with from years ago when my mother used to listen to her favorite radio station in the mornings while getting ready for work. Mikey must've recognized it too, because he pulled me to an empty spot nearby and began to dance, tugging gently to prompt me to join him. The musician played on- "Fantasy could never be so thrilling- I feel free…. I hope that you are willing; pick the beat up, and kick your feet up…. Dance with me! Let it lift you off the ground- starry eyes, and love is all around us. I can take you where you want to go.…" It felt good to just let go and follow his lead, and before I even knew it, we were lost in the moment and the song, oblivious to the people staring all around us.

When the tune ended, Mikey stopped and drew me close, his eyes lit with pure joy. "I shoulda' done this a long time ago. You want to take a ride in the park? I'll spring for the carriage." He murmured softly, ignoring the smattering of applause our impromptu show had brought. He glanced down and grinned over at the man with the guitar, tugging a couple of ones out of his left pocket. He tossed them down into the case, and gave the man a mock salute. "Thanks, dude- you just made my day!"

I gave him an arch stare when he turned back. "Spring for the carriage? I didn't think you had any money. Why didn't you say something earlier?"

"I was kinda' savin' it, 'cause I don't have much. Should be enough for that, though. And dinner- as long as it's cheap. It's not like the stuff is easy to come by for us." He shrugged, a lop-sided grin giving his features a sort of dorky appeal that made me chuckle in spite of the minor irritation of knowing I'd been paying for everything, unaware that my date had funds of his own.

We retraced our steps back toward Columbus Circle, where several horse-drawn carriages sat waiting at the corner of the park for tourists to hire them. By now, the sun was setting, and the sky was growing dark faster than I had realized. I wondered if a ride through the park after dark was wise, but Michelangelo strode toward the nearest carriage without a second thought, nearly jumping in surprise when an older man stepped out into our path with a large basket in hand.

"A rose for the lady?" He asked, holding one out. Mikey almost brushed him aside, but glanced down, and then nodded vigorously.

"Hey, that sounds like a good idea! Should probably try to make up for not ponyin' up earlier. Sure, I'll take one." He muttered, almost to himself. He picked out a deep pink one with dark red edges, and dug in his pocket again, until he came up with several bills. He paid for the flower and stuffed the rest back in his pocket, falling down dramatically on his knees. "Oh, forgiveth this errant knight, fair maiden, for having offendeth thee by my neglect. I am but a poor, unworthy pauper, with no castle or gold with which to woo thee properly!"

"You are hopeless, you know that?" I giggled, rolling my eyes as Mikey once again went overboard on the dramatics. "Get up, goofball, you're embarrassing me!" I said, shaking my head ruefully. He made a big show of rising and presenting the rose with a flourish, and bowed low when I took it from his hand. "Why do you always insist on making everything into some kind of melodrama? You look silly doing that."

He grinned impishly, and shrugged as he finally offered me his arm and we walked over to the closest carriage. "I suppose that's just my nature, milady. Would you deny this poor jester his only joy in life? After all, no man can live without laughter for long- it ain't natural!" I snorted at the abrupt break in his hamming it up, while he approached the carriage. He stopped to let the dappled grey horse sniff his hand and nose at him to have its neck scratched, and I once again marveled at how easily he seemed to make friends with animals.

He inquired how much the driver charged, and then dug into his pocket again for the small fee. He led me over to the conveyance, helping me climb into it- once more acting the part of gallant knight- before hopping into the back himself, one arm casually draping over my shoulders. Once into the park proper, he leaned back, gently pulling me closer as we enjoyed the romantic sunset. I had to admit, the evening breeze felt nice, and the park was in full bloom, with cherry trees, tulips, irises, azaleas, and many other flowers blossoming all over the more cultivated portions of New York's largest oasis of green. Much of the park was covered by shady woods, the trees already leafing out into a verdant canopy above. Some even arched out over the many trails and paths, creating green tunnels that left odd shadows in the twilight gloom.

We were well into the park when full night fell, the moon already rising in the distance above the skyline. It seemed almost too perfect, like something in a romantic movie, but I wasn't complaining. Somehow, it only made our time together feel more special, as if the universe itself had smiled on us for this one moment. I sighed, gazing up to seek out the first star, wishing the evening would never end. The gentle clip-clop of the horse's hooves on pavement, the light breeze and the smell of wet woods in spring were relaxing, and even the sounds of people laughing or the distant noise of a game going on at one of the many softball or soccer fields didn't bother us- it was just another sign of life in the city, a new experience that my newly-changed mate took in with great appreciation.

"This is nice," he murmured softly after awhile, breaking the companionable silence that had settled between us. "I've been thinkin'- maybe I'll stay like this, and we can do this whenever we want. Heck, maybe I can even find a job or somethin', and we can get a bigger place together." I glanced over at him curiously- I'd never heard him talk openly about doing anything "responsible" or mature, and I wondered what had caused the change of heart.

"You'd really want to do that? Live a boring, mundane kind of life, doing the same thing day in and day out, punching a clock? That doesn't sound like you." I said in a low voice, to be sure the driver wouldn't overhear. I wondered if he was actually serious. With Michelangelo, one could never tell.

"Dunno'. Maybe. I guess I'm just tired of the way things are, and I want somethin' more…I dunno', just- I want the simple things, like a family, a REAL home that actually has windows and doesn't stink like sewage, maybe even go out to dinner and a movie once in a while. Y'know- the kind of stuff most people take for granted. Picnics, family road trips, standin' in the cold at Times Square to watch the ball drop on New Year's, goin' ice skatin' at Rockefellar, playin' on a softball team in summer; stuff like that."

"What about your brothers?" I asked. "What will you tell them?" That was the real question, after all. What WOULD he say to them, and how would they take it? I had a feeling it would not go well, and might even tear their already fragile bond to pieces. And that was the crux of it all. I knew them well enough by now to realize that they would probably see his defection to humanity as an unforgivable betrayal, one that would sever their ties to each other as the only four of their kind in the world.

"I dunno'. I keep runnin' it around in my head, but it always comes out with a bad end. I don't think they'll ever understand. But I HAD to do this! I don't want to spend the rest of my life in the shadows! Y'know, the most ironic thing about what we are is that we're cold-blooded. We're supposed to be livin' in the sun! But we hardly ever even get to SEE it, except through a sewer grate. Instead, we're forced to hide in the dark and only come out at night. How messed up is THAT?!" He spat the words out bitterly, as if they tasted bad. I couldn't blame him for feeling the way he did. None of what they had spent their lives enduring was fair or right, but it was all they knew, and I was fairly certain that at least ONE of them was satisfied with that. Raph might be questionable, but I could see Leo and Donnie both spending their entire lives in isolation- and content to remain that way. But not Mikey. No, that kind of forced solitude was utterly against his nature, anathema to his very being. I was quite certain it would kill him. If not physically, then his spirit, at the very least.

"Does that mean you're not going back?" I asked. I wasn't sure what answer I dreaded more- that he would go back and return to his old self, or that he would remain as he was now, perhaps destroying their family in the process. Neither prospect seemed especially heartening.

"I'm not sure. That's kind of why I went to talk to that priest earlier. Wanted to know what I should do. Still haven't decided." He didn't elaborate, and I knew better than to press further. If and when he wanted to tell me more, he would. Until then, I'd just have to let him handle it in his own way, and hope he would open up about what he had said to the priest. He just sat back with a heavy sigh, and studied the scenery as we continued our ride through the idyllic spring evening.

We rode along for a little longer; the trail opened up to reveal an open lawn surrounding the small lake that was commonly called the Turtle Pond for the many former pets that had been released there over the years, with Belvedere Castle rising up on the other side. The almost full moon hung like a pale disc in the sky above the castle, reflected in the water. Not far from the path our carriage followed, a large oak tree stood near the edge of the pond, with a stone bench beneath it. Michelangelo had been leaning back in the seat holding me close, my head against his shoulder, when he suddenly bolted upright, staring at the peaceful pond and castle with a look of utter amazement.

"Mike? What's wrong?" I asked, seeing his stunned expression.

"I don't believe it! Pinch me- I gotta' be DREAMIN'!" He breathed; he reached out and tapped the driver on the shoulder. "Uh, excuse me sir, but could you stop here for a minute? I'll pay extra if ya' don't mind waitin' around for a little bit."

The driver muttered his reluctant acceptance, and Mikey hopped out of the carriage, holding a hand out for me to join him. "I never thought I'd really be here; it's gotta' be a sign! Look where we are!" He said breathlessly, waving his hand out over the serene setting before us to emphasize his point. He led me over to the granite seat, looking out over the large pond, where a splash at the water's edge told me we had disturbed one of the pond's inhabitants. I wondered idly if it might be one of his distant "cousins", having a late snack before finding a safe spot to sleep for the night.

It was then that I recognized what had grabbed his attention so completely. I suddenly realized I'd seen this very spot before, though I'd never been there. It was the very place he had seen in his dream, the same place that had led to drawing the sketch I had found in his book. I let out a soft gasp of surprise, understanding hitting me in a flash.

"It's just like your drawing. How is that possible?" I asked, turning to him in confusion. "Have you been here before?"

He shook his head adamantly. "N-no. I thought it was just a dream! But it's just like I saw it. And I'm even human, just like in my dream. What do ya' think it means?" He turned to me curiously

"I don't know. Maybe there's more to all that fortune-reading stuff than we thought. I guess if I can accept having fought dragons summoned by a human-hating sorceress, or swords that cut holes in space, I can believe that dreams and tea leaves could foretell the future. I know you guys swear that Splinter has contacted you through astral projection, so I guess this isn't so strange compared to everything else we've seen. Maybe this was meant to be." I replied uncertainly. A part of me felt as if we hadn't come to be there by accident, though. If Mikey's dream meant anything at all, then perhaps it WAS a sign.

He moved slowly- as if in awe- toward the pond, and drew me over toward the bench beneath the tree to gaze out at the beautiful landscape. "This is perfect. I wish this night would never end." He said in a contented tone. He let out a soft sigh, wrapping his arms around me in a warm embrace. I was inclined to agree.

Impulsively, I leaned over and kissed him deeply, and his surprise quickly gave way to a passionate and eager response. I was pleased to discover that his kiss curled my toes even more now that he was human. The familiar woody, musky scent I'd come to know so well had changed; he smelled of sweat, incense, and laundry soap, and something vaguely masculine, but it hardly mattered now. All I knew at that moment was that we both wanted the same thing.

"I think we should call it a night, don't you?" I asked when we finally came up for air. He lifted one brow as if in mute question, and I saw a quirky half-smile light up his face. It was a look he'd given me before, and I found it comforting to know that some things remained the same.

"Ya' read my mind, babe," he growled hungrily, wiggling his brows meaningfully. "Let's go find someplace to spend the night. If we get hungry, we can always order take-out."

"Okay, where to? My place?" I asked, but he shook his head emphatically.

"Nope, someone might come lookin' for us and interrupt the, uh, festivities," he countered, clearly against the idea. "Can't use the lair, either- no privacy, for one thing. I say we get a room somewhere." I realized he was going to great lengths to avoid his brothers- and Splinter as well, no doubt- but he had a point.

"Alright, but you OWE me big time, lover-boy!" I teased, as we rose from the bench and hopped back into the carriage. He laughed, but didn't argue. A short time later, we had left the park behind, and it only took a few minutes to find a hotel that suited our purpose. It wasn't five-star, but it at least had clean rooms, room service, and an indoor pool, should we feel like using it. The notion was certainly tempting.

The hotel room wasn't exactly cheap, but it was either that, or risk his brothers showing up looking for us. It was clear from his reluctance to be found that they didn't know what Michelangelo was up to, or where he was. That worried me. It meant that Donnie wasn't the one who had helped him do this. But if not him, then who? What bothered me even more was that Michelangelo had clearly done something he wanted to keep from them, and that he seemed afraid to even tell me about it. It left too many awkward questions, most of them dealing with HOW it had happened, and who had helped him.

He shut the door to the room behind him once we were both inside, and locked it. He slid the bright orange shades down to cover his eyes, slicked back his hair, and leaned against the wall with his black jacket open part-way, the collar pulled up like a Hollywood rebel. "Ah, alone, at last. Okay, so do ya' want to order in somethin' to eat, or-" He tossed me a meaningful look, with a mock-lecherous brow-wiggle behind the shades, and then his gaze slid sideways toward the bed. "It'd be a shame to let this nice big bed go to waste. I can think of quite a few ways to have fun tonight, without ever leavin' this room! Trust me, babe, I'm gonna' make this a night you'll never forget!" He obviously wasn't one to waste time on trivial details. And at the moment, he was all business, as it were. The boy had a one-track mind, or so it seemed. Yet something in his voice sounded forced, as if his lady-killer attitude was only an act. I decided to call his bluff.

"Hmm, no doubt. Why don't we take it slow, Casanova," I teased, easing onto the loveseat next to the window. "We have all night, so why not take the time to enjoy this? No need to rush." I patted the cushion next to me, and gestured for him to join me. He seemed to deflate, and sighed, the cocky smoothness giving way to jittery insecurity.

"Uh, sure. Okay. Sorry, I guess I'm just really edgy and impatient right now. I mean, first time, y'know? I don't wanna' screw this up, but I also kinda' want to get right to the good stuff. Everything feels so weird. Er, you get me?" He sat down slowly, nervously staring at the floor, fidgeting with the small medallion around his neck. I'd never seen it before that day, and wondered again why he'd worn it. A reminder of who he was? Something to keep his hands busy? Whatever the reason, it was another of the little things that made him so full of surprises. Even the way he appeared to have stalled out after trying so hard to pretend he knew what he was doing, only to suddenly turn shy and unsure in the blink of an eye, made me smile.

"Don't worry, I'm sure everything will be fine. Just don't try so hard. You don't have to try to impress me, just relax and be yourself." I said, slipping the shades off his face. I hoped the advice would ease his fears, though in truth I was far from calm myself. I understood that this was what he'd been working up to all day, trying to build up the nerve to suggest what he wanted without seeming too pushy or anxious.

He sighed, unzipping the jacket and shrugging it off. "Yeah. Be myself, huh? I thought the whole point of me doin' all this was to NOT be myself. I mean, not the way I usually am. I just wanted to have one day to just be normal, y'know? See what it feels like to do normal guy stuff, like goin' on a date. And it's been really fun, too! But I don't want to disappoint ya' either, 'cause I really want it to be right. Special. I just want to forget about everything else for a while, and-"

As he babbled on- and I knew he was rambling out of nervous habit- I realized there was only one way to solve the problem. So I reached out, turning his head to look at me, and leaned close. "You talk too much, you know that?" I asked; then before he could reply, I shut him up with a kiss. He was so surprised at first that he just sat there, utterly frozen.

After a few seconds, he responded, kissing back and wrapping his arms around my waist. At last, I broke the kiss, and he gave me a bemused look, his eyes smoldering like coals. "I think I'm about to become the strong silent type," he said huskily, before pulling me into his lap and claiming my lips with another kiss. I didn't mind.

After that, everything became a pleasant blur, as hands began to wander, clothes came undone seemingly on their own, and the temperature in the room went from spring-like and balmy to subtropical, or so it felt. I barely noticed when he scooped me up in his arms- though I heard him grunt with the effort, something that had never happened before- and we somehow ended up on the bed. I shivered as his lips moved lower, nibbling at my neck teasingly, and I half-expected to hear him start churring again.

All the while, I'd been slowly working the bright Hawaiian shirt off his shoulders, baring a lightly tanned chest sparsely sprinkled with a few tiny hairs. I looked up at his face, half-obscured by a wild thatch of autumn gold hair with hints of copper, and marveled once again at the completeness of the change. He was definitely taller, and his limbs were a bit longer as well, though I noticed that there was a bit more meat on his middle than I'd expected. Then again, turtles didn't have abs, so maybe toning that part had never been a priority.

The pants came next, along with a pair of bright, printed boxers in an orange, red, and yellow abstract pattern. I gasped in surprise to discover that some things, at least, hadn't changed as much as others. Or to put it another way- HOT DAMN! Even sans shell and other attributes of his true nature, the lad was still packing more "meat" than the average male. Not that I was complaining, but it was a bit more than I'd expected. I stared down in rapt admiration, deciding that he was right about one thing, at least. It WOULD be a memorable night. He followed my gaze down, and suddenly blushed a shade of red that would have nearly matched Raph's mask.

"Uh- still too much?" He asked nervously, pulling away for a moment.

"No, this is perfect. I was just, you know, admiring the view." I teased, reaching up to draw him back down for another kiss. Somehow I'd lost my own shirt and pants, and now I was down to just a lacy bra and panties. He went back to nipping lightly at my earlobe and neck, before unhooking my bra with one hand, the other moving down to find its way much further south.

Almost before I knew it, we had shed everything but our inhibitions, and I felt my skin heat up as his head slowly moved further down, glancing up to meet my gaze with a look that was part nervous excitement, part plea for approval. I nodded assent, needing no words to understand what he wanted; I wanted it too. I could feel him trembling with anticipation, the raging hunger inside barely subdued by sheer will alone. I knew he ached to throw aside all restraint- hell, I was half tempted to pull him back up and roll over to take full control of the situation myself. But I refrained from it, knowing that he wanted to do this his own way, to make our joining perfect.

He slid down further still, nudging my legs apart, and I was only too happy to oblige. I shivered delightedly as he lavished attention on places best left to the imagination, sending delicious sensations through me from stem to stern. I reached down, fingers tangling in his hair, silently begging for more. He complied most willingly, and in minutes I was eagerly encouraging him to get straight to the point, as it were. Ever willing to please, he moved back up, lips and tongue playing havoc with my senses along the way, until he hovered over me with a look of pure desire in those soft, deep honey-gold eyes.

"You sure this is what you want? We don't have to, if you're not sure," he rasped out, clearly in torment from having to wait. I nodded emphatically, and was half-tempted to drag him closer and impale myself without any notice, just to prove my enthusiasm. Or maybe that was just my libido going into overdrive.

"Oh, for heaven's sake, what are you waiting for? Geez, do I have to draw you a road map, sweetie? I want you. NOW." I purred, wrapping my legs around his in a clear sign of consent. He looked almost shocked for a moment; then he chuckled softly.

"Okay, sorry I asked. Just call me King of the Stupid Questions." He rumbled softly, before returning to the task at hand in earnest. And when he finally took the plunge a few seconds later- well….

I'd like to say it lasted a long time. I'd like to say it was perfect. I'd even like to say it was everything I'd ever hoped for. But then I'd be lying. It was awkward, clumsy, anticlimactic, and over far too quickly. However, I decided that exemptions could be made for poor performance in light of the fact that he had NO experience at all. Not that I was much better, of course, given that I'd only ever had two partners- and neither more than once. So of course, we had to learn on the fly, as it were. He'd been more than satisfactory at, shall we say, going up to bat. The problem was that he didn't quite make it the grand slam we'd been hoping for. Still, I was content to take one for the team, all things considered. And besides, practice makes perfect, as they say, and I was fairly sure we'd get plenty of that before the night was over. I had NO idea….

"Um, not QUITE what I expected," he said uncertainly when it was over. He flopped over onto his back with a puzzled look, staring up at the ceiling. "Was that IT? I thought is was supposed to be more- I dunno', exciting or somethin'. Or did I miss somethin' in the instruction manual?"

"Don't worry, Mikey, you just need to, uh, polish your technique a bit. It's nothing to feel ashamed of- you're just new to this. You'll get better. Just takes a little practice." I cuddled up beside him, tossing one leg over his. He glanced over at me, and chuckled.

"I hope that means what I think it does, 'cause I ain't leavin' this room until we get a REAL fire goin'. And the sooner, the better." His reply was blunt and straight to the point, and I blushed a little to think of what he intended.

"Why don't we take it slow, okay? I don't think either of us is quite ready for a replay just yet." Not that I wasn't willing to try, but I figured it was a bit too soon for further fun and games until we'd had time to recharge.

"What, you didn't think I was a 'one and done' kind of guy, did you?" He asked, sitting up. "I am kinda' hungry, though. Maybe after we eat?" He asked hopefully. I giggled.

"Yup- you're definitely still you," I quipped, poking his stomach. "Mr. One-track Mind. If it's not food or video games, it's getting 'lucky'."

He snorted derisively, and crossed his arms. "Hey, I proudly admit to bein' a junk-food junky, game-addicted couch potato, and a hormone-crazed perv. Besides, it IS mating season, so there's that."

"For turtles, maybe- that doesn't count for humans," I pointed out. He let out a huff of dissent and shook his head.

"Not true! Haven't you heard? Mating season for teen guys is all year long!" He guffawed- and promptly got a pillow in the face for the snarky retort.

"Smart-ass," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "You mentioned being hungry; what would you like? You want to go grab something?" I said, changing the subject.

"Nah, I don't feel like gettin' dressed again just to go eat out when I can do that here. Let's just lounge around in our birthday suits and cuddle all night." He replied in a sultry tone, and the double-meaning was not lost on me. "Some take-out might be good right about now, though."

"Good idea, big guy. How about Chinese?" I suggested. He shook his head.

"Nah, we'd just be hungry again in an hour or so. I'm thinkin' Italian. Fettuccini sound good?" He replied. "We could get some bread sticks and those stuffed mushrooms, too. I love those things!"

I agreed, and we called a nearby restaurant for a delivery. We hurriedly dressed in the new kimonos we had bought, and when the food arrived, he paid the delivery guy and then we sat on the end of the bed to enjoy our late dinner. It wasn't the most romantic meal ever, but just being close and sharing time together away from all our worries and difficulties made it seem special. Eventually, we lost interest in the food altogether, and grew more concerned with covering each other with kisses than in actually finishing our meal. That was fine with me, I was more than happy to let him devour me like a sweet dessert.

His hands wandered hungrily, with only the thin material of the kimono between them and my skin, and soon he found the belt and even that obstacle was gone. Anxious to explore his new body further, I followed suit, stripping away the silken barrier until we were both naked again. I nearly melted when his hands found my rear and began to stroke and squeeze gently, while he nibbled lightly at my neck. After a few moments, he sat up, an impressive erection standing tall and proud as if to taunt me, and pulled me into his lap.

""I wanna' try somethin'," he murmured, his tone husky and deep. "Turn around, babe. Kneel with your legs tucked under you, and then bend over with your head down, 'kay?" I frowned a little at his instructions, but shrugged.

"Ooo-kay, but why? What are you going to do?" I asked curiously.

"Just trust me. I want to try somethin' a little different, and see how it goes." I didn't have a reply for that, so I did as he had suggested. As it turned out, I would NOT be sorry.

He slid close behind me, kneeling with his legs apart to surround mine, and leaned over so that his elbows were on the bed, his chest against my back, completely covering my body with his. He slid one hand back, down between us, and began to slowly work my body into a heated frenzy. I glanced back over one shoulder, to see his eyes burning into mine as he leaned close, covering my neck and shoulders with kisses.

"So, why did you want to try it like this?" I asked, though it was getting harder to think clearly, let alone speak. His hand exploring forbidden territory, along with the light nips on the back of my neck, were interfering with rational thought, for some reason.

He looked up for a moment, a hungry gleam in those warm honey-hued eyes. "We already tried it YOUR way, so I wondered if it might be better if we do it the 'normal' way for a change. I mean, it can't hurt, right?" He answered, his voice rougher than usual. He continued nibbling lightly at my skin, his breath hot against bare flesh.

"Funny, I thought that WAS the normal way," I panted; his attention to various parts of my anatomy was having the intended effect. By now, the touch of his fingers on sensitive spots was driving me crazy. I wanted to turn around and return the favor, but the position of our bodies made that impossible.

"Normal for YOU, maybe, but not for me. I was goin' for somethin' a little closer to natural inclinations, it ya' get my drift," he rumbled in a meaningful tone. I frowned for a moment in confusion; then it sank in what he meant. I flushed deep red as I realized he had "gone native" and chosen a position as close to a turtle's natural habits as possible. It also occurred to me that in this particular position, I was completely vulnerable, should things get out of hand.

"Oh, my God. You're not serious about this, are you?" I asked weakly, wondering just how much of that primitive instinct remained. Having read Donatello's book, I knew there was a good chance he might want to "play rough", and that worried me a little.

"Don't worry, if you decide ya' don't like it, just say so, and we'll try somethin' else." He said casually, still focusing on the task "at hand", as it were. "Relax, babe. I got this," he murmured into my left ear seductively. And he did. Oh, yes- he DID.

"Is this what they mean by 'animal instinct'?" I sniggered, then gasped as he stroked a particularly sensitive spot. He just grinned.

"Maybe," he answered innocently. "I just saw one of those nature shows a few days ago, and it got me thinkin', that's all." I was distracted from the retort I'd been bout to make, when I felt his hand move away, to be replaced by something else pressing against the ready opening. A moment later, he pushed deep, and all I could do was try to breathe as my mind went blissfully blank. Time seemed to lose all meaning, lost in the slow rhythm of primal instinct taking over, and everything else fell away. I'd been worried that he might become too aggressive, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that he had found a pace that suited our position, giving as much as he got. Once it became clear he had no desire to push the limits of what I was comfortable with, the complete surrender of control of bowing down on my knees under his larger mass somehow felt safe, as though being sheltered so completely could drive away all fear. His hands moved up to clasp mine, just above my head, as we both gave in to the powerful waves of ecstasy that had begun to build.

I don't know how much time passed, but we weren't paying attention to mundane matters. Tension built like a powerful current, until we were straining with every fiber of our sweat-slicked bodies for release. It came in a sudden, almost overwhelming rush, as he quickened the pace to the point where we were both rocking wildly, panting and moaning in pure bliss, abandoning all semblance of rational thought.

"Aaahh, M-Mich-ang-l-oohh!" I cried out, as I felt the climax hit us both with the force of a hurricane. Or an earthquake. It was hard to tell. He responded with a low, inarticulate groan and gave one final, deep thrust before collapsing against my back, breath coming in fast, shallow pants.

When he could finally catch his breath, he looked down with an expression of dazed rapture. "Whoa. Now THAT was more like it. And I love hearin' ya' say my name like that- damn, that was hot!" I felt a nip at my shoulder, and shivered with pleasure.

"What do you expect? I could barely breathe, let alone say anything coherent!" I giggled, and he slipped one arm under me, before sitting up straight. He pulled me up with him, then rocked back on his heels to flop backward onto his back on the bed with me sprawled on top of him, with my back still against his chest. I squirmed until I had managed to turn around and face him. Lying atop his front looking down into those deep honey-hued eyes. He smiled, and sighed softly.

"So, it was better, right?" He asked hopefully, with that look of expectation and optimism that somehow gave him an air of innocent charm. I nodded, nuzzling into his neck, and kissed his ear.

"MUCH better, hot-stuff. Boy, you DO learn fast, don't you?" I teased, chuckling. He grinned.

"Yup. Heh, guess you were right about just needin' a little practice. We'll just pretend that first one didn't happen." He sat up slowly, still holding me close to his chest. I shifted to straddle his lap, draping my arms over his shoulders.

Riiiight," I said teasing him a little. He gave me an over-dramatic wounded look; then he leaned back, folded his arms over his chest and pretended to pout.

"Yeah, go ahead, pick on the NEW guy," he carped, though how he was keeping a straight face was a mystery. But that was Mikey- king of the deadpan humor.

"You know, you've got a pretty impressive learning curve for a guy with no real experience," I purred jokingly. "It's no wonder you've been picking up Donnie's lessons so fast. I guess you just needed the right motivation." I mused with a grin. He just smirked.

"Heh, yeah, TOTALLY. Cowabunga, baby!" He wiggled his brows playfully, before leaning in for a deep kiss that left me breathless again. I realized in that moment that I wasn't going to get much sleep that night.

Once round three had ended- and I was beginning to think the hotel should install a bell on the bed-post for keeping track- we snuggled together for a while, simply enjoying the afterglow of our love-making. He held me close, and for a time, we rested from the evening's activities, knowing that our time was limited, but needing the peace of sleep. I dozed for a while, before being awakened when he slipped out of bed to pad softly into the bathroom. When he returned, I murmured to him to roll over onto his stomach, and began massaging his back gently.

"Mmm, that feels awesome," he sighed after a few minutes. "Makes me wish we didn't have shells- I'd be havin' ya' do that every night!"

I chuckled. "I thought you might enjoy this, and I wanted to give you an experience that you couldn't have otherwise. It's a shame you have to change back tomorrow." I sighed, knowing that we would never have a night like this again.

"What if I don't, though? What if I decide to stay like this? Would you want that?" He asked, twisting to gaze up at me. I reached down to brush a lock of dark reddish-blonde hair from his eyes, and smiled.

"I'm here for you no matter what you decide to do," I said. "But do YOU want to spend your life being just another face in the crowd? You guys have some amazing gifts, and it would be a shame to lose that forever. It's part of what makes you so special." I loved him so much, but in a way, it would be as if the Mikey I had come to know and love so well would disappear- and I was worried about what that would mean. Would he still be the same as a human? Would he change and become someone completely new?

He sighed, and shrugged, and turned over to face me. "I've been dreamin' of this my whole life," he whispered, sounding almost sad. "All I've ever wanted was to be able to be part of the world, instead of just watchin' life go by without me."

"Is that why you did this?" I asked. I had begun to think there might be more to it than he had ever been willing to admit, but I couldn't be sure. He sat up, frowning at the floor.

When he finally answered, it wasn't what I had expected. "I remember the first time we went to see the surface from a storm drain near our first lair. We were lookin' out at the street, and this lady dropped her keys. We were still just little kids then, maybe five, I think. I remember lookin' at her hands when she picked 'em up, and wonderin' why ours didn't look the same. I asked Sensei why we looked so different, and he said it was because we were turtles. But Donnie pointed out that Sensei wasn't, and he said that Donnie was right and that he was a rat. So I asked him why none of the other rats we ever saw looked like him, and why we never saw other turtles like us. You know what he said?" He glanced sideways at me, and I shook my head silently, surprised by his sudden openness about the past.

"He said it was because we'd been given a gift that made us special and unique. I asked him what it was, and he said it was a soul. Leo asked what a soul was, so he told us it was somethin' inside us that let us think and feel, talk, and know right from wrong. He said it was what made us able to learn things like how to read, and made us able to share and help each other, or to make choices or think about the future. He said it was why we could remember our dreams."

He paused, a faraway look in his eyes, and I knew he must be contemplating the words their father had said. "He used to read to us when we were little, and I used to wonder if we were like the characters in those old fairy tales. My favorites were Pinocchio, Beauty and the Beast, and the Frog Prince. I used to pretend that some witch had put a spell on us or somethin' like that, or that if we were good enough, a fairy would grant us a wish and make us all 'real boys'. I know it was just make believe, but I always wished it was true."

"That's what this is all about, isn't it?" I asked softly. "Making your wish come true."

He nodded solemnly. "Yeah. I kept thinkin' about what you said that day in the pump station, about bein' able to do anything if I try. Well, now I CAN. That's why I did this. There's a whole world out there waitin' for us, but what good is that if we can't be part of it? That's all I ever really wanted."

He sighed, and lay back, staring at the ceiling. "That means a lot to you, doesn't it?" I asked. I was beginning to see just how deep his longing for acceptance and freedom ran.

"Yeah, it does. We spent our whole lives lookin' up at the world from inside a SEWER! Talk about messed up! So, I found a way to change all that, and I took it. Is that wrong?" He looked back to me again anxiously, as if afraid of the answer.

I sighed. Clearly, he was wrestling with some serious questions about the future, and about who he was. "Of course not. What's important is what you believe is right for YOU. All that really matters is where you feel you belong."

He turned his face back to the ceiling, and closed his eyes. He was silent for a while, and I began to wonder if he had fallen asleep. At last, he spoke again, sounding older than he ever had before. Weary, as if he had just lived an entire lifetime in only a few minutes. "I guess that's it, then. I know where I really belong; truth is, I've just been tryin' to deny it all this time. Didn't want to believe it. They kept tellin' me, but I didn't want to hear 'em. I didn't want it to be TRUE."

"Want WHAT to be true?" I ventured hesitantly, dread building in the pit of my soul.

"That my place is in the dark. Down there with the rats and cockroaches in the sewer. Because without my brothers to share it with, none of THIS will ever feel right. I'll always feel like a traitor, like I just walked out on 'em. I- I love you more than ANYTHING, but I can't abandon them- they're my FAMILY! We're all each other's got."

I knew what that meant, and my heart died a little inside, knowing what he had just done. He was sacrificing his dreams for the sake of his brothers, choosing to remain in their shadowy, lonely world rather than walk away from the one thing that meant as much to him as our love. He had chosen to return to a life of isolation instead of forging his own path.

"Are you sure that's what you want?" I asked quietly, moving closer to him. "You know I'll stand by you either way, but I thought you were going to stay this way."

He shook his head sadly. "It's not about what I WANT, though, IS it? You said it yourself just now. It's about what's RIGHT. No matter how much I want this, there's always gonna' be that part of me that doesn't belong. I wanted it for ALL of us, not just me. Without them to share it with me, it's just- selfish. Like I'm turnin' my back on 'em, and that's NOT what I wanted. So I HAVE to change back. If I don't, they'll always hate me for it, and that wouldn't be right for ANY of us. I'm sorry."

He almost whispered the last words, and I knew he was in pain from having to make such a hard choice. "Mike, you know I'll always be here with you. I love you, and that will never change." I wanted to comfort him somehow, to show him that he hadn't lost as much as he believed.

"Yeah, I know. But I'm not sure if that's enough any more…." He sat up, staring down at the floor, leaving me to wonder what his decision was truly costing him.

"Michelangelo, don't say that. I know you're afraid of losing me, or your family, or both, but that's not going to happen. If it really means that much to you, we can find a way for ALL of you to do this if that's what you all want. You could still have the things you wished for- and share it with them, too. Don't give up hope. Please. I believe we found each other for a reason. You guys are my family now, and I'll do whatever it takes to hold onto that."

He shook his head, his expression grim. "No, that's just not gonna' happen. This was always gonna' be a one-time thing- once I turn back, that's it. No more sunshine and blue skies for ANY of us. It'll just be back to the sewers for good, and they won't ever be able to see what this is like. I knew that when I made the deal, but I kept tryin' to pretend that I could keep this bod and everything would be okay. But there's no WAY I could ever get them to go along with it, and Krang sure ain't gonna' do THEM any favors like he did for me. Wouldn't be surprised if he just refuses to turn me back, anyway."

"Krang? What does HE have to do with this?" I asked, but somehow, the answer had already popped into my head, and I felt my blood turn ice-cold at the revelation. So much of what Michelangelo had said made sense now, about knowing someone who could make him human, and how it had taken a great deal of "convincing" to get the mystery person to help him. I suddenly wondered just what HAD he done to gain the evil alien warlord's compliance?

"I asked Don to help me do this, but he wasn't havin' it. He shut me down without even listenin' to my side of things. And I didn't know where else to turn, so I- I went to see Krang. Took that tunnel module down to the Technodrome and made a deal with him. Seemed like the only way to get what I wanted. I don't like havin' to deal with him- he's sneaky and likes to try to twist things to his advantage- but what ELSE could I do? It was the only way!" He finally turned to face me, and I saw the look of desperation on his face, an almost manic need to make me understand why he had taken such a drastic step. He suddenly reminded me of an addict frantically seeking the next fix, heedless of the danger it represented.

"Have you lost your mind?! He's the ENEMY! My God, what were you THINKING?! Why would you even think he'd help you after what happened down there? He's in league with Shredder, remember?" I blew up at him. I couldn't believe he had done something so foolish and dangerous. On second thought, maybe I COULD believe it. He was just impulsive and reckless enough to try something like that.

He shrugged, though I wasn't entirely convinced that he hadn't lost his marbles. "Yeah, I KNOW that! But I didn't know what else to DO! Look, he sort of owed me a favor anyway, so I just called it in. Ya' gotta' trust me- I know what I'm doin'. He might be a power-hungry tyrant, but I'm pretty sure he's shootin' straight with me. I mean, I totally snowed him about my end of the deal, but as far as I can tell, he's on the up-and-up. It's gone okay so far, anyway."

That made me pause. "What exactly did you offer him? Just what WAS this deal, anyway?" I asked, staring at him suspiciously.

"I told him that I would give him the location of the lair if he made me human. Figured he'd be so eager to jump on it that he wouldn't even think to read the fine print." He sniggered, and something told me there was more to the issue than he was letting on, but I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.

"How COULD you?! You're not actually going to TELL him, are you?! You can't just-" I began, but he cut me off, grabbing my arms in a firm grip.

"Don't worry! I'm not REALLY gonna' give 'em our home address! I just made 'em THINK I would! Truth is, all I said was I'd tell 'em where 'the lair' is, but I never said it would be OURS. I'm thinkin' our old buddy Rat King could use some company. What d'ya' think?" He asked, folding his arms and looking smug.

I must've looked like a fish out of water, because I started to speak, but nothing came out, and all I could do was stare at him with my mouth working, trying to think of a response, and coming up empty. At last, I gave up, and shook my head in disbelief. He gave me his most self-satisfied smirk, and I realized he was more conniving than I'd ever imagined. Pulling a fast one on his worst enemies, just to get what he wanted, and setting them up for a fall? It was almost worthy of one of their own schemes.

"You- you set them up, didn't you?" I asked, remembering our own encounter with the rat-obsessed lunatic. If he sent those two chasing after THAT creep, they'd be lucky to survive.

"Heh, and everyone thinks I'm a dummy. I figured out that we've always been so concerned with fightin' honorably, that we've never REALLY used the whole 'ninja training' thing to the max. I mean, if we're supposed to be sneaky ninjas, shouldn't we be- I dunno'- ACTIN' like it?" He shrugged. "I mean, Leo and Splinter are so big on tradition and stuff, and in the old days, ninjas would do all KINDS of underhanded shit. Like sabotagin' an enemy's plan by pretendin' to join 'em, poisonin' their food, stealin' stuff, burnin' down warehouses of supplies, or even givin' 'em false info. So why not US? Just 'cause we're the GOOD guys doesn't mean we can't still fight dirty!" He grinned wickedly, and I had a sudden vision of him going rogue- and it scared me. As much as I loved him, there were moments when I was reminded that he wasn't nearly as innocent and naïve as he pretended to be.

"That- that's actually pretty clever," I mused, looking at him with new understanding. I'd almost forgotten that as much as he complained about the hours of training and hard work required for their skills, he was as much a ninja as any of his brothers, including Leo. No matter how much he might think otherwise, it was ingrained into his being in ways that perhaps even he did not realize. Perhaps that explained his refusal to abandon the only life he knew, in spite of being within arm's reach of his dreams.

"So, you think it'll work?" He asked, sounding slightly worried.

"How did you even get them to agree to that?" I wondered aloud, cocking my head to look at him curiously. "How can you even be sure Krang isn't playing you?"

"'Cause I fed 'em a line about bein' sick of my bros treatin' me like crap and ignorin' me all the time, and told 'em they could all go suck it. I'm pretty sure they bought it." He shrugged, a small smirk playing at the corners of his mouth. I chuckled, knowing just how convincing he could be when he wanted to. That boy is a born actor, I swear.

"Sneaky. So you basically told the truth, you just twisted it a bit. You know, sometimes you SCARE me," I admitted, shaking my head in wonder.

"Heh, the best lie is the truth!" He agreed, laughing softly. "Now, where WERE we?" He said abruptly, pulling me close again. I giggled, realizing he had already switched gears again. We spent the rest of the night engaged in what I soon discovered was his new favorite activity, before finally falling asleep in each other's arms.