Please note - a little bit of spice but not too much...

Twenty-Nine:

Never in her life could she think of a time when she was so peaceful, so contented in all she was. Leonardo had his large arms wrapped around her and she could feel him breathing slow and steady into her neck. Of course there was the whole thing of having to get up of having to look him in the eyes without blushing; her stomach filled with butterflies. Part of her wished she could avoid that bit and avoid the whole 'morning after' experience. She also wondered what he would think - would he regret it? was she no good? She'd never done anything like that before. He'd said it was amazing but her non-existence experience with any man ever must have made her seem all silly to him. And in spite of his age he was such a man.

She felt him shift his weight and pull her closer, a kiss landed on her exposed shoulder: "Morning" Even the deep sound of his voice aroused her and after last night, well, if he didn't know she fancied him like mad before then, he certainly did now. She lay still. He reached for the light before flipping her over, those bright blue eyes seeking out her thoughts through her own dark ones. Immediately she felt herself blushing like crazy so fought to pull the sheet up over her head. He chuckled and yanked it back down, exposing her breasts in the process. She batted his hand away, giggling: "Stop it"

"I like to look at you"

He'd said that last night.

'I like to watch you..I could watch you like that forever'

"I need my clothes" she whispered. He stroked her forehead gently with a finger.

"You look good without them"

Again she blushed and tried to hide "You are terrible...stop teasing me"

He chuckled for a second time "I like it. Besides, you can't go shy on me now..not after"

She remembered...

His kisses hot and feverish on her mouth, her neck, his hands on her skin, inside her clothes, seeking out her breasts, her top being torn off his kisses going lower, his hands, his fingers, touching her oh so gently. Exploring touches, asking for instruction. She'd been shy to show him but he'd learnt fast and he was not going to give up.. and then she'd come undone, her body shaking violently, her hand over her mouth in order to muffle moans of pleasure that she wanted to make, and make loudly. He'd made her peak three times after that and she had been keen to return the favour. His embarrassment short-lived once she encased him in her mouth, listening to his reactions in order to learn what he liked.

And then he'd promised to hold her and never let go and they'd slept. Wrapped up warm and cosy, together. It had been blissful.

His eyes flitted to her shoulders and noted the lack of feathers poking out from behind them "Your wings have gone"

"Yes..I know"

"I guess that means no more flying for you. I can take care of you properly now, not the other way around" He recalled how she'd saved them - saved them all.

She rolled back onto her side, facing away from him "I still think there's more" His arms sought her out and pulled her close "I'm sure of it. I can't see how it's over, it's not that simple"

He rolled his eyes "Why be such a pessimist?"

"I'm a realist Leo"

He kissed her on the neck "I like hearing you say my name" his kisses travelling onto her shoulders making her breath hitch and goosebumps prickle her skin: god this guy was good. She wriggled.

"I'm being serious"

"Well stop it" He pulled her back over and took a breast in one hand squeezing it gently, rubbing a thumb over her nipple.

She moaned as his mouth found hers and the hand that had previously been on her upper body sought to go lower.

"And you can stop that" She twisted on her other side, facing him "We had a deal remember"

He remembered...

"You want to know don't you?" she'd regarded him carefully with big doe-full eyes "You want to know how a married woman can be a virgin, can be so, well..."

"Not now. Tomorrow. Now I'm going to hold you and never let go..."

And he had.

"You don't have to tell me anything. Not if you don't want to"

"My husband was gay"

There she'd said it. She let out a breath.

The revelation was like a slap in the face and for a moment Leonardo was lost for words but she was on a roll:

"Our marriage was a sham, a cover-up. He didn't want his parents to know; they'd disinherit him and stop funding his digs and he loved digging, his work was his life, without that he'd be a broken man"

"But you. What about you?" She had married a man who would never really be hers.

She looked away "I loved him" he heard her voice crack "In spite of everything I loved him so much. I guess I hoped one day he might love me too. But it never happened. I would never be his... type" Leonardo remained silent, he didn't look at her "You think I'm an idiot right?" Then he looked at her, he reached and held her face in his hands noting the tears in her eyes he kissed her softly.

"Never would I ever think that. I think you are so brave, so amazing, so wonderful. He took advantage, he never thought of you" A tear threatened to escape the confines of the rim and topple over onto the cheek, he ran a finger across and removed it "Liv you deserve to be loved in every way...and I want to do that; if you'll let me"

He wanted to love her. Somebody wanted to love her. Her heart thought it might burst.

"I guess I was a fool..." she sniffed and ran a hand under her nostrils "I just thought...I thought. I'd never wanted anyone and he was so...so..."

Leo held her, swept her into his arms and held her, planting kisses onto her head. She didn't need to say another word.


He held her until she was sleeping once more and after dressing he made sure she was comfy and her clothes were within easy reach, folded in a neat pile on his side of the bed, the tear in the top only slightly visible and then he turned off the light heading out to train.

In the darkness of her dream world she became aware of someone. Her dream self called out, asked who was there, and at the question there was the answer:

'It's me my love. Come to me my darling. I'm waiting for you. Come home, come to me'

"James?" She said it aloud. And found herself alone. No James. No Leo.

She flicked on the light and checked the clock - nearly midday - she'd slept far too much. Getting up and dressing she headed to the mirror and looked at herself - a stranger looked back - albeit a stranger minus wings. Her hair was still white though. She also noted that the mark on her lower back was still there.

The Chosen One. Chosen for what? The question was in her mind before she could resist.

In the lounge all of the brothers were present and only Splinter was nowhere to be seen.

"Wey-hey, here she is! The sleeping beauty" Michelangelo embraced her and gave an extra squeeze "Wingless yet still an angel to me"

Olivia smiled "Thanks Mikey"

"Tea?" It was Raphael. Never had he ever offered to make her a drink. She was about to speak when he held up a hand "Brown, strong, I know... I listen." He flashed her a smug look and disappeared as Donatello appeared behind her.

"Leo said they'd...well...I guess that's that then..."

She turned to face him "The tattoo is still there and then there's this..." She held up a strand of her whiter than white hair.

"Perhaps they take longer. Hey, we'll monitor and there's hair dye of course for the other issue"

"Suits you!" shouted Michelangelo "The white is sexy" He was hanging upside down on a pull up bar eating chips. Leonardo smacked him on the back of the head: "Knock it off" As he approached she bit her bottom lip, now there was sexy.. Her cheeks flushed.

"Morning.. Again" He wrapped arms around her and held her close, kissing the top of her head "He's right, it does suit you but no-one calls you sexy but me"

"Leo I.." He picked her up and planted a lingering kiss on her mouth to which the sound of smashing china came from the kitchen and she heard Michelangelo thump heavily to the floor.

"I darn well knew it!" announced Raphael as he came back over "You did hook up!"

Leonardo shook his head "Not in the way you're thinking so before you announce it to the entire world.."

"Damn it!" cursed Michelangelo as he knocked a fist towards the ground "Another lady taken and by my own bro too" He tried to be serious but the demeanor broke and he beamed a big smile and shook his brother's hand, the enthusiasm of it causing Olivia to shake too "Good for you though, didn't think you had it in you...always the quiet ones"

'Olivia my love...come to me' The voice was as clear as if he were standing next to her. James. It was James.

"Did you hear that?"

All three looked at her blankly.

"No. What did you hear?" Leonardo was frowning.

She shrugged her shoulders "Oh, nothing, just my imagination I guess" Either that or she was going insane. She glanced up at Leonardo: "I have to go home today" The others shuffled away whilst Leo's face noticeably dropped "I have to. I need to do things..you know. I'll come back"

"I know" He pulled her into a hug "I'll just miss you that's all"

"I'll miss you too" She closed her eyes, relaxed into him "You can always visit me. Whole place to ourselves. No nosy brothers"

She could feel him smiling through the hug "And you'll say my name? Loudly?" Now it was her turn to smile.

"Very, very loudly"

He let her go and grinned, touching her cheek with a finger "You got a deal beautiful. I'll go call April, round up the troops to get you home"

As he went to make the call an ice cold chill swept over her body, she shuddered.

'Olivia. Come home to me my darling, come home'