Chapter 24

Raphael shifted; his shoulder brushed against Leonardo's making him jump. Leonardo looked at his brother, his eye ridges rising in concern.

"You alright, Raph?"

Raphael swallowed hard and forced himself to nod. He wasn't being completely honest with his brother, and he knew Leo would see through the lie, but he was doing the best he could considering the circumstances.

When he'd told Elizabeth that she would need Leonardo's blessing on her introducing her parents to the family, Raphael had never believed that Leonardo would actually agree to it. He'd been almost smug in the security of Leonardo's protectiveness for the family. But he'd underestimated Elizabeth and her powers of persuasion. Before he'd even known what had happened Elizabeth was calling up her parents and setting up the date, time and place.

Leonardo had come along for back up, just in case something happened while Michelangelo, Donatello, Melinda and Splinter stayed home. Elizabeth thought that starting off with just Leo and Raph was the best way to introduce her parents and brother to her new family. If they handled it well they would meet the others later.

Elizabeth and Akemi were just down the path about fifty yards from where Leonardo and Raphael were hiding. Close enough that it wouldn't take long for the brothers to get there if something went wrong, and close enough for Elizabeth to feel safe. Raphael could hear Akemi giggling as Elizabeth read to her while they waited.

"Raph," Leonardo's hand touched his arm, startling him out of his thoughts. "You've asked her to marry you. Do you trust her or not?"

"Course I do, Leo," Raph growled jerking away from his brother.

"Well, if you do then you'll trust in her judgment. If she thinks it safe and that her family can be trusted… we have to believe her."

Raph scowled and shifted his weight.

"Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth's head snapped up and Akemi's head turned. Elizabeth's face broke into a wide grin and she stood up as three figures came down the path.

"Mom! Dad! Sammy!"

"It's Sam."

Elizabeth laughed as the three joined her. The woman that looked a lot like Elizabeth, only with shorter hair and laugh lines engulfed her in a hug. The taller broad shouldered man smiled, cupping the side of Elizabeth's face, stroking her cheek with his thumb. The younger man seemed to be willing to wait for his chance to show his affections.

When Elizabeth finally pulled back she was beaming. Her mother reached for Akemi, and Elizabeth passed her over to her mother willingly enough.

"Sure know how to pick a spooky place to meet, sis." Sam said with a sly grin. Elizabeth smiled and wrapped her arms around her brother's neck; he leaned down into the hug, squeezing her tightly for a brief moment before letting her go.

"It's so good to see you guys. It's been a long time."

"Too long," Elizabeth's father agreed. "Why didn't you come home after the trial?"

"Dad, I have a home, here in New York. I couldn't just leave."

"Why not?" The broad shouldered man with dark black hair was frowning.

"Because I couldn't leave the family I was staying with. They are family to us too. Raphael has been a great father to Akemi and his brothers are the best uncles. They're like my brothers now too."

Sam's eyebrows rose, stretching up towards his hairline. "This is the family you've been staying with for the last few years?"

Elizabeth nodded, watching as Akemi twisted a couple of her grandmother's curls around her fingers and yanked.

Her mother gently disentangled her hair from her granddaughter's fingers. "Well for goodness sake, Elizabeth. You why haven't you come to visit. You know that they would've been welcome to come along. We have plenty of room down at the ranch."

"It's not that simple."

"Of course it is," her father insisted, his voice rather rough. Raphael saw Elizabeth flinch and he shifted, frowning, hands going automatically to his sai.

Leonardo's hand fell on his arm. "Easy, Raph. They aren't going to hurt her."

Raphael just scowled, shifting his weight on the balls of his feet. Parents or not – he wouldn't let anyone ever hurt Elizabeth ever again.

"Elizabeth, honey, we've been so worried about you. You haven't given us a forwarding address and your phone calls always come from blocked numbers. It's like you don't want anyone to know where you're living. You can't blame us for being a bit worried," Elizabeth's mother said gently as she put a hand on her husband's shoulder, trying to soothe him while she adjusted the squirming Akemi in her arms.

"And then you want us to meet you in Central Park," her mother continued. "Well after nightfall no less. It just seems odd."

"I know it seems a bit strange but I can explain. I asked you guys to come up so that you could meet Raphael. We've been together for almost four years now, and we've decided to get married."

"What?"

Elizabeth had expected this. Especially since her family hadn't actually met Raphael yet. And the fact that the last time she'd gotten engaged her family hadn't met Graham before the engagement party either. She suddenly felt anxious.

"Elizabeth, why didn't you… "

"Dad, I know that this isn't conventional. But believe me it had to be this way."

"What in the world is that supposed to mean?"

"Mom, Dad, Sammy, just believe me when I say that Raphael is the most incredible person I've ever met. He treats me amazingly well; he's been there for me when I've needed him to be. Raphael is the one who saved my life from Graham that night he found Akemi and I… I owe him my life. And I love him with all my heart. I couldn't be with anyone better. He treats Akemi as if she were his own. His family has taken us in without question or complaint. They gave me a safe place to stay when I had none. Isn't that enough?"

Raphael saw Elizabeth's parents exchange looks for a brief moment before looking at Elizabeth again. "Elizabeth, honey all we ever wanted was for you to be happy. If this man is really as incredible as you say, then it seems we owe him a debt of gratitude for taking such good care of you."

"Where is this young man of yours, Elizabeth?" Her mother asked looking around expectantly. "He is here isn't he?"

"Yes he is. But… he is a bit different."

"Honey, you know we aren't racists." Her father said frowning now.

"I know, dad," Elizabeth said with a soft sigh. She turned looking into the bushes where Leonardo and Raphael were currently hiding. "Raph?"

Raphael hesitated.

"Come on, Raph. She's waiting for you." Leo urged gently.

Raphael drew a deep breath, steadying his nerves. He'd taken on hoards of Foot ninja, gang members, monsters, Purple Dragons, Hun, the Shredder, Bishop, and even a demon Shredder. And although at times he'd felt as if he'd gone into those battles with the chance of not walking away from them, he'd always been able to hide that behind his anger. His fury. His love of the fight. But if he were going to be completely honest with himself he'd never been this afraid before. Somehow meeting Elizabeth's family was more terrifying than facing all their enemies at once.

"Raph?" Elizabeth's voice sounded a bit strained and he could see her face change from expectant to worried, she frowned, crinkles appearing around the corners of her eyes, her green eyes scanning the darkness trying to find him even though he was too well hidden for her to see.

"Elizabeth?"

Elizabeth took a few steps forward, holding out her hand. "Raph… "

A green three fingered hand too hers. And her face relaxed, her fingers curled around his hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. Her eyes snapped up to his face, and Raphael stared into those deep green orbs. He could read the reassurance there. She seemed so sure of this. Leo was right he was in love with her, had asked her to marry him, would do anything for her, he had to trust her judgment. He gave a slight nod and walked with her back to her parents.

He saw their eyes widen as his shape came into view and the light touched his skin, illuminating the green hue of his skin. In her grandmother's arms, Akemi reached for him, grinning.

"Mom, Dad, Sammy, this is Raphael. Raphael, this is my family. My father John, mother Emily and brother Sammy."

Raphael had to swallow hard and cleared his throat a little before he was able to speak. "It's nice ta meet ya."

He saw John glance at his daughter, as if questioning her sanity and his own before looking at him again. Then to Raphael's surprise he held out a large beefy hand for Raphael to shake.

"Seems we have a lot to be thanking you for. If what Elizabeth said is true than we owe her life to you."

Raphael wasn't quite sure what to say to that and hesitated only for a second before taking the man's hand with his own. He felt John twitch a little, feeling the leathery reptilian skin. But to his credit he didn't flinch or try to pull away. Instead he shook Raphael's hand with real gratitude.

He saw Elizabeth smile from the corner of his eye. Obviously this had been the reaction she'd been hoping to get from her family, and it surprised Raphael that they seemed so ready to accept him for who and what he was.

He saw Emily smiling at him. Not the intimidated and fake smile some people gave them upon first seeing them. The kind that they were trying to hide their fear behind. No hers seemed genuine and grateful as well. He wasn't quite sure what to make of all this.

Elizabeth smiled, squeezing the hand she was still holding, as if sensing these thoughts. As if to tell him that she'd told him it would be alright.

"Thank you for looking out for our Elizabeth, Raphael." Emily said smiling. "All we've ever wanted was for her to be happy. And we could tell she wasn't happy with Graham. But even though we haven't seen her for so long she calls often and she sounds so happy every time she calls. I know my daughter, and I know that she's very happy with you and your family. And she's being well taken care of."

"He does, Mom," Elizabeth reassured her. "His whole family does."

"I just gotta say, uh, dat ya've got an incredible daughter. Dat she an' Akemi are two of da most important people in my life. An' dat I won't never let anyt'ing ever 'appen ta either one of 'em. Dat dey'll always be safe, protected and loved. I give my word o' 'onor."

"You might not be what we expected for our daughter, Raphael." John said solemnly as he stared at the turtle. Raphael shifted uneasily. "But it's obvious that you love Elizabeth, that you've protected and cared for her. That you've given her a home and raised her daughter as your own. That you'd be willing to do anything for her, and have already done so much for her. You're different than most of the boys Elizabeth has introduced us to. I've always had a sense for reading people, and when we met Graham it felt just like all the other boys she dated. After one thing and always looking out for themselves. Greedy, selfish and self-centered. And with Graham I felt the craving for power and control. But had no idea he'd take it as far he did. With you… it feels different and I can see my daughter being herself with you, not being forced to being someone she isn't, or being controlled. I want to thank you for that. It's what every parent wishes for their children. For them to grow up and be happy with someone they love. She's found that with you. And that's all that matters to us."

Elizabeth nudged Raphael with her shoulder, as if to tell him I'd told you so.

Raphael dipped his head forward in a quick nod of acknowledgement. "I do love yer daughter. She's da most incredible girl I've ever met. I'm really lucky – an' dere ain't a day dat goes by dat I don't know dat."

John smiled, a warm, genuine, friendly smile and held out his hand again, but before Raphael could take it, he found slender arms around him in a surprising, yet gentle and warm hug. His first instinct was to jerk away, throw whoever was hanging onto him off. It wasn't Elizabeth and he usually didn't allow anyone else to cling to him like that unless it was Elizabeth. This woman's scent was very different, and her skin more delicate somehow. Forcing himself to relax and not insult a member of Elizabeth's family he held quite still, though still a little tense.

Emily pulled back after a few seconds, seeming to sense his unease with her hug. But she smiled at him, her deep green eyes a mirror of Elizabeth's. Akemi reached for him and he took her automatically from the older woman, she snuggled into him, head on his shoulder, sighing contentedly. He felt Elizabeth lean against him and could feel Leonardo smirking behind him.

Emily's eyes were warm and genuine just like Elizabeth's and Raphael could see how similar they were in appearance now that he was closer to the older woman. He could see her twenty years younger in the face of her daughter. Now she had laugh lines and a couple of silver hairs that framed her face.

"Welcome to the family, Raphael."