Darielle had found her rhythm. They all had. It had been 3 weeks since her Launch Party and she already had a steady base of clientele. She would get up at 7:30 and help Mikey in the kitchen. Usually 'helping' just involved morning conversation or suggestions for breakfast, but occasionally, Mikey would let her help toast bread or flip pancakes. After she had breakfast, she would watch the news with Raph and sometimes Leo. Then she would shower and settle at her desk around 8:30-9am. She would check for any new orders and file them by date priority and then she went through her existing tasks for the day and made a plan. At noon she took lunch with whoever was around and then went back to it. She would step away throughout the day to grab a snack or something to drink and then would call it a night around 5:30-6 or so depending on what was left on her plate. It felt fulfilling to still have so much to do. And she always made time for dinner with the family.

Dinner was her favorite part of the day. No matter what anyone was doing, they all stopped for the evening meal. Each had their seat and they all passed around the dish starting with Splinter. To Darielle, it was like what Thanksgiving dinner must be like. She remembered having a Thanksgiving or two with her parents, but it had always been a small affair because it was always just her mother, father and her. No in-laws or crazy relatives. The meal was quiet and pleasant. But dinner here, with this family, was loud and vivacious, with two and three conversations going at a time, sometimes with cross over. Mikey was expert at conversation jumping and could be in and out of a conversation then drop into another without causing a crash of words or rude interruption. Dishes passing, the occasional burp and clatter of silverware were noises that littered the air every instant and yet it was harmonious at the same time.

Once, Raphael even speared one of her pickles from her plate with his fork and ate it while he was talking to Mikey. Now, she liked pickles so when he took it as if it was his, she wasn't sure how to interpret that. Was it possessive or was it intimate? She knew she always over thought things. So she decided that her pickle was his pickle if he wanted it and she was not going to say anything. But the next dinner she tried a social experiment of her own by turning his actions back on him. She grabbed a French fry from his plate. Once again, Raph was talking, but he noticed her theft and actually pushed his dish closer to her and then put his arm around her chair back, all without deviating his attention from Donatello or skipping a beat as he spoke. She grabbed another fry and realized they were at the Next Level.

She had heard people talk about the Next Level all the time. Real people, movie people, TV people, they all discussed the precarious edge between where you were as a couple and were you would go as a couple. And there were Levels of commitment. It seemed they were past the 'getting to know you' level and were now in the 'we' level. The level where everything between them was shared as in 'we're going to the park' or 'we're feeling tired so we're gonna call it a night'. This also included fries and pickles as an 'our' thing and not a 'yours vs mine' thing.

It had hit her in that single instant with the French fry. Suddenly, the Next Next Level, seemed much closer than it had been. The 'we should grow old together' level. She shouldn't have been surprised, really. After all, she was living with him and his family. That usually rocketed you right into the Next Next Level on principle. But it hadn't been like that. She had felt more like the girl who practically lived at the house because she was dating a resident. But this food incident had been far more indicative of a clear step into the Next Level than moving her things in had been.

Was she ready for the Level after this one? How long did this level last? Could you be safe there for years? Or was there a kind of time limit you had to work within? She had heard women in offices talking about how their man was afraid to commit and they didn't want to waste their time if it 'wasn't going anywhere'. She hated expectations. She really only cared about Raphael's expectations, but he wasn't exactly one to communicate them. Was this going at the right speed for him? Was he comfortable or was he trying to be what he thought she needed? Did Raphael even think about these things? Did guys in general ever think about these things? She was irritatingly naïve about relationship diagnosing and was clearly in uncharted waters with no compass and the stars fogged out of view. Navigating this relationship away from rocky moments was not going to be easy for her. She needed a map or some kind of guide because she was suddenly afraid that 'Here Be Dragons.' However, she maintained a peaceful outward appearance through these thoughts as she had continued her dinner. She would bide her time until she could talk with April about her neurotic nerves.

It was late, but there were so many lights in the city that Casey and Raph could see people walking on the sidewalk below. They were small from their perspective of sitting on the rooftop, their legs dangling over the side of the building. They had been sitting there a while, but Raphael kept silent. He knew there was something on Casey's mind. But to draw attention to it by asking a question or even breaking the silence would be enough for Casey to stand abruptly and call it a night. Raphael knew this because it was what he would do. Finally, Casey spoke.

"Screw it." He said and pulled something out of his pocket. In his hand, the thing looked like a velvet shadow that melted into the darkness of his hand. When Casey set it on the ledge of the building, it took its full form as a small black velvet box. Casey said nothing and didn't look at it or Raphael.

"Ring?" Raph asked. Casey nodded, still not looking at Raph. "For April, right?" Casey turned on Raphael with his face contorted in angry disbelief.

"Yeah, stupid! Of course April. Jeez."

"Sorry," Raph defended weakly. "Coulda been for your Mom or somethin'…how do I know?" Casey opened the box to reveal a small ring banded in silver with a very petite single diamond.

"Ah, jeez." Casey whispered. "In the box, it looks so small. Like a speck of glitter not a diamond." He slammed the box shut with a single movement and swept it back into his jacket pocket.

"Nah, man. It's great. I mean April isn't into flashy stuff." Casey looked at him sideways. Raph shrugged. "I dunno what to say. I'd be nervous, too."

"Thanks," Casey huffed. "How 'bout 'no, Casey, that ring is just the right size. The diamond is blinding.' No, I get 'April isn't into flashy stuff.' Thanks, Raph. True friend to the core."

"Case, I didn't know you were…thinkin' about this. I mean, way to drop a bomb on a guy, you know? No friendly heads up like 'I think April's the girl for me' or 'man, April would look good with wrinkles' or somethin'. "

"You're one to talk." Casey snapped. "I come back and there's this Darielle chick and I have to hear about how you guys met through Leo! Leo! I mean, dude, okay? I should not be hearing something like that from the Hall Monitor, all right?"

"That's not how you found out," Raph argued. "I told you she was my girlfriend when you saw her at April's the first time. Remember buddy? Or did that mugger getcha too hard on the head with that purse?"

"No, man! I mean You And Darielle: How it All Began! I got the blow by blow play from the guy who lectures me on muddy boots in the sewer! What is that about?" Raph didn't know what to say to that so he scratched his neck uncomfortably.

"I dunno. I …I dunno." He finished lamely.

"Yeah." Casey crowed, pleased at his momentary victory. "Obviously." Silence fell between the two and neither wanted to be the one to break it first. Finally, Casey stood.

"I'm outta here." Raph rolled his eyes and stood, too.

"C'mon. You know I don't talk about stuff like that."

"Neither do I, man. But I got some stuff goin' on, you know? I mean I'm gonna give her this and I don't know what she's gonna say. Do you have any idea how much that freaks me out?"

"Yeah, I can guess." Raph answered.

"So…got anything else to say or are we done here?" Casey challenged.

"April likes you, man."

"Yeah…but does she love me? Because that's what it's gotta be. If she's not there, you know, to that love …uh…point…then this ring is gonna send her outta here like a bullet from a gun. She'll go fly off to Japan or some remote place and that'll be the end of me. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it. I'm with you, man. I get it. Trust me." Casey looked at Raph suspiciously.

"What, like, you know what this feels like?" Raph shrugged.

"Yeah. I mean, Darielle was gonna pack off somewhere and leave, too. It was this whole thing…" Raph explained vaguely, trying to be casual.

"What thing?"Casey poked.

"I dunno. This thing. She was just gonna jet off without sayin' anythin'."

"Why? Why would she do that? What…I mean..why?" Casey seemed flustered. Clearly understanding Darielle's mind was tantamount to April's.

"I'm not even sure why. She never said." Casey was not satisfied.

"Well…what made her, you know..not go." Raph smiled.

"I have no idea. I didn't try to stop her. I just said she'd always have a friend in New York and…I dunno. That seemed to work or somethin'. She tried to pass it off as somethin' else, like she wasn't gonna leave. But, it was kinda obvious."

"Women." Casey summarized.

"Yeah." Raph agreed. "So have you told April that you…uh…you know. Are at the…uh..love point?" Casey blinked.

"Uh..well…no. But I mean, I'm gonna. You know?" Raph squinted.

"Maybe you should start there. I mean, like, test the waters before you try Polar swimmin', kay?"

"Right," Casey nodded. "Excellent point. Okay. Got a game plan. That's good. Yeah, that's…uh...good. Okay." He took a breath. "So…are you there? To that love point, I mean?"

"Yep." Raph allowed.

"And….did you tell her?" Raph pursed his lips.

"Well…it kinda slipped out. I mean, we had this argument and like I let it slip that just 'cause we fought didn't mean I didn't still love her and she latched on to that 'love' word. I mean, it worked out and everythin', I just wouldn't recommend doin' it that way, you know?"

"Yeah. Great. So now I gotta plan when to say it. Fantastic." Raph was feeling better. He was the advice guy now.

"Well, I'd keep it small. You know? I mean don't go all out on some big fancy dinner at some white glove restaurant. I'd keep it personal with just the two of yous and then find the moment."

"Find the moment." Casey repeated, unsure. "When, man? I mean, do I plan it for after we're done eating or-"

"Don't plan it." Raph said. "Just say it when you really feel it and then she'll like know it's for real. Don't be all theatrical and make it phony and lame. Just let your instincts do it, or somethin'."

While Raph was aware that his words were very convoluted and helter-skelter, Casey was nodding, feeling more confident. Similar minds.

"Yeah, yeah. No, that could definitely work." Casey punched Raph on the shoulder and Raph returned it a little harder, smirking.

"So you and Dari, huh? I gotta say, I didn't see you as the ladies man type." Casey teased.

"Funny guy." Raph returned. "It just sorta happened. I dunno."

"So can I get your version? I mean the Leo Light version was good enough for basic info, but I want the Raph Raw Details version." They were both walking back to the ledge. Casey sat on the ground and propped himself against the roof edge wall. Raph followed suit, but sat to the side to give his shell room.

"My version? Why?"

"Cause, man! You know how April and I met! I mean, you were there! I can't have a one-sided friendship, man. Cough up."

"Fine…I was out doin' what we do, you know. " Casey nodded that he did. "And I see her walkin'. Now, it's pourin' rain, right? But she's just strollin' along like she ain't got anywhere to be. Like the rain isn't freezin'. So…I watch for a minute. And as I'm watchin' she starts walkin' faster and I'm tryin' to figure out why, so I almost don't see this guy grab the blond who was walkin' behind her. So anyway, I do see the guy grab the blond and I hop a few roofs to get over and I jump down to do my thing. I kicked his butt into Sunday." Raph fell silent.

"That when it happened?"

"Kinda. I went to go help her up, gentleman that I am, and she…well…does what women do." Casey was familiar.

The turtles did bring out the vocal reaction in women. No one ever really talked about it and Casey didn't bring it up because he couldn't imagine how it could feel. Casey wasn't a bad looking guy, so he never really had girl trouble. But he also never really had a girl that he troubled himself over. Until April. She was repelled, but not by his looks. It got under his skin that she wasn't taken in by him and he enjoyed the little cat and mouse they played. But the type of rejection the guys dealt with was completely different. Girls weren't playing hard to get with them. They just wanted to get away and he had nothing to say that could change that or anything to say that wouldn't sound patronizing or condescending.

"Yeah," Casey affirmed. "So that's when?" Raph nodded.

"Yeah. She brought it down here." He pointed to his arm. Leo had told Casey that the wound was long and went down the arm instead of across, meaning that more of the artery was opened allowing for extreme blood loss very quickly.

"It hurt, but it's like I didn't really feel it. I can't explain. Kinda like I couldn't believe this was really happenin'. I couldn't stand 'cause I got really dizzy." Raph fell silent. He hadn't talked about it since that night. Since Leo made him explain. Reliving it was not pleasant.

"Then Darielle?" Casey skipped ahead a little.

"Yeah. I mean she came right in real quick. She was tellin' the blond to stop and the blond was sayin' things."

"What things?"

"Things." Raph repeated.

"Like….?" Casey prompted. Raph gave Casey a once over and looked away.

"Like…I dunno. I think I heard 'monster'…maybe 'freak'. Things. Like I said."

"Oh." Casey said. He hadn't thought they were insults, he was thinking the girl had been talking to Darielle.

"But Darielle, I mean she lays it right on the line for the blond, you know? She says 'He just saved your life, why don't you return the favor and leave?' Cool, huh?"

"That is pretty badass." Casey agreed. He didn't think Darielle had it in her.

"Yeah. So the blond leaves and Darielle tries to help me."

"But you don't want it."

"No. I just…I dunno, wanted to go in peace."

"What?" Casey asked, shocked.

"Look, you don't know. I was freezin' and sleepy and I thought 'this is it. I'm gonna die in some back alley and my carcass will be splashed all over the front page news for my brothers to see.'"

"But obviously, that didn't happen."

"No. She was gonna call an ambulance and I grabbed her to stop her. That's when she saw my hand. She kind of had this look like 'holy crap', but …"

"No scream?"

"No scream." Raph confirmed. "She agreed about no ambulance and then convinced me to let her take me to her motel room which was just across the way."

"She convinced you?"

"Well, it wasn't too hard a sell. With that newspaper image in my head, you know?"

"Yeah, so then?"

"Well, I kept getting' more and more tired. So I didn't fight her too hard when she took the sleeve off to look at my arm. She cleaned the cut and tried to wrap it with somethin'. Then she convinced me to let her take me home to the lair. And I have NO idea how that came about. I mean, my head was swimmin' at that point. I can't remember getting' home. But Leo says he found me and Darielle 'bout 20 feet from the lair and he thought she stabbed me because she had pulled out one of my sais."

"Why did she pull out a sai?" Casey asked, shocked.

"Dunno. I think she thought she was bein' attacked or somethin'. But once she figured out who they were, she let them take me and Donnie marched her into the lair under guard. I was out for a while. Then I woke up long enough to say what happened and I was out again. When I woke up, I was pretty much healed."

"Lucky, jerk." Casey said.

"Yeah, so lucky. There's gotta be some freakin' benefit to bein' a mutant, don't you think?" Casey shrugged and stretched out his legs. "Anyway, I get up and I go out to talk to her. I'm gonna lay it on the line, right? Like look, sister, don't go blabbin' topside about us or else, you know?"

"But you fell in love!" Casey finished dramatically, laughing. Raph punched him in the arm.

"Shut up! She was like pickin' at her fingers. She was terrified and yeah, it pissed me off. I mean, what did she think of me? And I'm thinkin', this is what saved me? This is what I owe my life to? I mean, kickin' butt is sorta my thing, so bein' rescued by a terrified chick did not do wonders for my ego, you feel me? And she was lookin' at the floor and I was so angry that she was probably thinkin' what that stupid blond said, so I kinda yelled at her for not lookin' at me. Then I pointed out that she was bleeding onto the floor and she actually looked sorry. Then she said that, like, she was afraid because I had said somethin'."

"What?"

"I don't remember sayin' it, but it definitely sounds like me. She said, that I said, 'I would rather die than lead someone to my brothers'. So she was kinda waiting for the axe to drop. So I made it clear that I wasn't gonna kill her by bandagin' her hand the way she had fixed my arm. You know, kinda quid pro quo."

"Quid pro quo?" Casey asked.

"Tit for tat, stupid. Read a book." Raph slapped him on the back of his head in a friendly way.

"Right."

"So then I told her why she needed to keep us secret and yadda yadda. I walked her to the manhole cover and that was how we met."

"Wait a minute. You're leavin' stuff out!"

"No I'm not."

"So you didn't even get her name that time?"

"Oh, right. No, we did exchange names. Before I started walkin' her home. Oh, and before she left, she thanked me."

"Thanked you? Pretty sweet."

"Yeah," Raph smiled, remembering. "She said 'thanks for seein' a lady home.' I remember thinkin' she was the weirdest human I ever met. Next to you, of course."

"Of course. So she left and then?"

"Jeez, you want me to write a book on it?"

"I'd read it." Casey laughed.

"I followed her to make sure she kept her word about not talkin' about us. And she did and then we just got to talkin'." Raph shrugged. "It just kinda happened. Like I said."

"Well, that's pretty cool." Casey said. "Darielle's nice. April and her really get along."

"Yeah?" Raph asked, relieved. It was really important to him that all of his friends like her. All two of them.

"Yeah, in fact, they're hanging out tonight at April's."

"Oh, didn't know that."

"Yeah, something about girl time." Casey shrugged. "Probably talkin' about us. Great."

"Yeah, terrific. If I had ears, they'd probably be burning. Wanna crash it?" Casey smirked.

"Hell yeah." They both stood and walked with new purpose.

April and Darielle were sitting at the dining table in April's apartment, steaming coffee mugs in front of them.

"That's sweet." April said when Darielle told her about the pickle/French fry incident.

"Yeah." Darielle allowed. "But…does it mean something that I'm missing? I've never been here before."

"Here?" April asked, lost.

"To this point with a guy. What if we're moving at different speeds?" April shook her head.

"No. Guys only have one speed. Trust me. As much you're thinking about all this and what it means, Raphael isn't. He's just cruising along thinking 'hey, this is nice.' That's about as deep as it goes."

"Really?"

"Oh, yeah! I mean, guys don't really think ahead until their ready to jump off the high dive. Then they do this running leap into the future, leaving you in the dust wondering what the hell just happened. But I think you're safe for a while. I mean, it can take years to get a guy to that point." Darielle was feeling much better. "Unless there's a catalyst."

"What do you mean?"

"If something happens to make a guy start thinking ahead early. Oh, like I had this friend and when her boyfriend proposed to her, that got me thinking about weddings. You see? But I wasn't thinking of it before on my own. Catalyst." April frowned and looked her mug. "Yeah, no hope for a catalyst any time soon." She had meant to be a comfort to Darielle, but realized how her own fate was missing a catalyst and how that depressed her so very much.

"That's good. I mean I really like Raphael, I do. I just…want to enjoy this. I don't want to feel rushed and I don't want to make him feel rushed either. Why are these things so hard? Who came up with relationships anyway?" Darielle vented.

"Right?" April agreed. "Definitely not a guy, but some crazy chick hundreds of years ago, probably. I'd like to smack her."

"Yeah, but that doesn't help right now." She took a huge gulp of her coffee and froze. "You hear something?" Seconds later Casey walked in followed by Raph.

"Hey, guys." April greeted, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Casey plopped down into a chair next to April and kissed her on the cheek for a greeting.

"Just wanted to see my girl, Hi."

"Hi." April repeated. Raph sat down next to Darielle and he kissed her on the cheek, too.

"Hey, Elle."

"Hey." Darielle responded. So much for their girl's night.

"Whatcha doin'?" Raph asked.

"Nothing." Darielle said and gestured to the table that was only ornamented with their mugs. Raph fake yawned and stretched his arms theatrically.

"Oh, man. I'm beat. What say we call it a night, Elle?"

"Uh…okay." Darielle looked over at April and raised her eyebrows as if to say 'what is this about?'

"Good night, then." April said.

"Yeah, good night guys." Casey echoed. Raph lead Darielle to April's bedroom, down the fire escape and into the sewer. He stopped and smirked at Darielle.

"What?" She asked.

"I think Casey might propose to April." And he winked.

"What?" Darielle gasped. Her reaction made him nervous for his friend.

"Why, shouldn't he? I mean is April-"

"No! It's great! Is he really?"

"I think so. Maybe not tonight, but soon I think." He turned back to her. "You CAN'T tell anyone." He said. "Casey would beat me to a pulp so no talkin' to April about it."

"I promise." So much for no catalyst. She was beyond happy for April. She knew April wanted to be with Casey, but what would this mean for her and Raphael? Would it push them into something they weren't ready for? She felt like she was back where she started this morning. One step forward two steps back. Among other things in the office, Darielle had also heard women talk about men who took things too fast and how the relationship broke apart like a meteor bursting through the atmosphere disintegrating because of the sheer speed of entry. Why couldn't things just stay like they are for now? No interruptions or catalysts. Just smooth sailing, was that too much to ask?