"Thank you so much for helping me," I sighed, dragging another box of donated books toward me.

"You have already thanked me," Splinter mused as he sorted. I looked up and watched him for a moment, a small smile spreading over my lips. He was in his usual black kimono, although with all the dust it looked slightly gray now. "You are staring."

I nodded and continued to work. But after a moment I paused again.

"I know I've thanked you already, but sometimes it doesn't feel like enough," I looked over to him again. He turned his head to look at me, dark eyes kind. "You saved my life..."

"It was not your life those men were after," he turned and continued to sort.

"I may not have died, but my life would have ended. I'm not strong enough to make it through something like that."

"You are stronger than you know Tilly."

"Let's agree to disagree," I mused as I looked around my bookstore. It was old, but it was mine. And with Splinter's help it was coming right along. I would be able to open early if we kept up this pace.

"It is nearing the anniversary of the day we met," Splinter looked over to me. "Is that what has you so trapped in the past?"

"No and yes," I smiled. "The weather is the same as the night we met, but that's not it. You could have just walked away after you helped me. But you didn't. You got me home, calmed me down. I've never had the guts to ask you before this, because I was afraid of the answer."

"And do you have the guts now?"

"I do," I nodded. "Why did you stay after you helped me?" My heart was fluttering painfully. I didn't have any friends, and that was mostly due to my...financial situation. Since I was young people only ever befriended me because my family had money. And time and time again it blew up in my face. I adore Splinter. He was a friend, a mentor, a father figure. If he told me he had stuck around for any reason relating to money, I think it would break me.

"I know you fear getting close to others, because you have been used in the past," he began, tucking his hands into the sleeves of his robe across his chest. "But I have no use for money. I stayed with you because you were frightened and upset. Hurting. No one should have to deal with such things alone."

I had tears trailing down my cheeks. I wiped at them quickly and smiled at him.

"And you wonder why I thank you all the time," my voice was thick from holding back tears.

"It is I who should thank you. This place as become a sanctuary for me. And you, a good friend. More than this rat deserves."

"You deserve a lot more than my old dumpy book store," I shook my head. "Oh, how is Raph? You said he broke a finger last time we talked."

He smiled and assured me he was okay. I had never seen his sons, but I knew their names and stories from what he had told me.

"How did your meeting go?" he broached the subject very carefully, turning back to his task.

"Well," I felt tears prick at my eyes again and tried to shake them away. "My father thinks the book store is a good idea, his wife doesn't. She thinks I am a leech."

"Is she aware that this is coming from your trust on your mothers side?"

"She is. But she doesn't believe it. Doesn't understand why I get so much more than her. I don't know how my father can stand her. It's so obvious she's only there for the money. He told me they got into a fight and she went and put over a hundred thousand dollars on her credit card."

Splinter shook his head.

"What of your brother?"

"Still in Iraq, but he thinks the book store is a good idea too." At least I could count on him to support me. Mostly.

It went quiet and we both went back to work. All of the donated boxes of book were sorted and cataloged. Splinter went home for the night and I triple checked that the grates were down over the windows, the privacy shades were in tact and the door was dead bolted before heading upstairs for the night.

My apartment was nothing special. I could have had it renovated but what would be the point? I liked that I could see the bricks peeking through the the dry wall in some areas. And the wood floors had all these scuffs and worn places that added character. It was like the apartment had memories of it's own, life of it's own. And I didn't want to erase that.

I started a bath and grabbed some rose oil, it was my favorite. If the oil was pure, I found that I never needed perfume. The scent lingered on my skin for hours. I pulled off my many sizes to large men's sweater and lose fitting jeans. Ever since I was attacked, my wardrobe slowly began filling with over-sized clothing. I wasn't ashamed of my body, in fact I was in pretty good shape. I worked out at the gym up the road every day. I did squats and donkey kicks and lunges all so I could have a nice lifted rear. I examined myself in the mirror, taking off my very plain underwear and bra. I wasn't the most attractive, I was a little on the pale side. Self assessment done, I climbed into the bath and began to wonder if maybe I should change the way I dressed. It wasn't very professional, and while it was my business I should probably not look like a hobo when I was down there. I grabbed my phone and began to snoop around online.

"You're dressing different," Splinter commented as we assembled the tables and chairs.

"Is it terrible? Do I look bad?" I ran my hands over the front of my sweater. A few weeks ago I decided to make a small change. I still wore sweaters, but they were more feminine. Slouchy but meant to be that way. Asymmetrical on purpose, not because the neck was so stretched out. And form fitting jeans. With little heeled booties most of the time.

"You look wonderful," he smiled. "I am happy to see you feeling comfortable in your own skin again."

"Thanks, it feels good. I feel good."

"As you should."

It was late, rounding midnight when the sound of something clattering in the back of the shop had both of our heads snapping in that direction.

"What was that?" I asked, getting to my feet quickly.

"Sensai!?" someone called out and I watched Splinter stiffen. "Dad?"

"Yes Michaelangelo, what can I do for you?"

"Mikey get out of there!"

"I need a band-aid!"

"Mikey I have bandages."

I looked over to Splinter who was covering his eyes with his clawed hand.

"Are you alright?" I called, worried. If he need a band-aid he must be bleeding.

"Oh, girls voice. Must be Tilly. Hey girl, I'm Michaelangelo, but you can call me Mikey!"

"Come Michelangelo," Splinter called and I waited to see if I was going to need to run upstairs and grab the first aide kit. I sort of assumed his children would be like him. Rat-esqu. But when the six plus foot green turtle with an orange bandana tied around his eyes came walking around the counter from the back, I knew I was wrong.

He had big, bright expressive blue eyes and a grin that screamed mischief. He was holding his elbow with his three fingered hand.

"Oh my gosh!" I covered my mouth with my hands. "I'll go get the first aide kit." And I dashed upstairs just as the more of them came walking in. I slid into my bathroom and grabbed the large kit, and hoofed it back down.

"No! Tilly's going to take care of it!" I saw Mikey pulling his injured arm away from a very tall turtle in purple.

"I got the first aide kit," the words slowly died on my lips when I had five sets of eyes slide over to me.

"Tilly," Splinter looked at me before smiling softly. "These are my sons. Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michaelangelo."

"It's nice to meet all of you," I fumbled a little. "I've heard so much about you."

Nobody seemed to know what to do and it became awkward very fast. I suddenly remembered Mikey's bleeding elbow and rushed over.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized as I set the heavy kit down on the nearest table. "Do you need help or can you.."

"I can help him," Donatello, the purple banded one moved forward and Mikey stepped back.

"Tilly can help me, right?" he looked at me with with big blue eyes and I agreed.

"Ugh, sure."

"Baby," Donatello hissed at him.

"Whatever Doctor Frankenstein," Mikey mumbled and then smiled at me.

"Can you move your hand so I can see?" I asked and moved closer. He lifted his arm up and then pulled away his three fingered hand. It was a scratch, not terribly deep, enough to cause it to bleed a little. "It's not bad," I assured him. "A little cleaning, some antibiotic ointment and a band-aid and I think I can save the arm."

Donatello, who had been watching as Mikey showed me his arm let out a howl of laughter. Mikey grinned at me and I set about doing my little task.

"So unfortunately for you I am a girl and all I have are band-aids I like. So you get to choose between little red heart shaped ones or bacon."

He started giggling and pointed to the hearts. As I applied it he asked,

"So is this you giving me your heart?"

"If I was giving you my heart I would have put the bacon band-aid on you."

"Is there anything else?" Splinter looked over at his sons and I could feel the non-verbal scolding his eyes were lashing out at them.

"Was just, you know," Mikey began and then sighed. "Curious."

"I tried Sensai," Leonardo shook his head. "He purposely fell off the roof."

"And what were you doing on this roof?" He seemed to not know what to say and I had a light bulb moment.

"You guys have been on the roof? That explains my warped chair," I nodded to myself. It looked like someone weighing about what one of these turtles did had sat in it and stretched all the fabric out, causing it to droop.

Everyone looked to Raphael and he ducked his head.

"It's okay! It's just a chair."

After that night, Mikey was pretty much here all the time. He just started showing up at night, asking if he can help with anything. He drove Splinter insane, and he made me equal parts nervous and excited. It had been about four months since that night I met them all and it was just him and I cleaning up after a long, tiring day. But sales were good, people liked the atmosphere. I couldn't ask for more.

"Hey beautiful, you want me to take the trash out for you?" Mikey called, already gathering up all the garbage bags. He didn't wait for me t respond, he just brought them out back and came back in. I was counting down the til when he came around and leaned on the counter to watch me.

"Mikey," I sighed.

"Sup angelcakes?"

"Why are you doing all this?"

His blue eyes met my brown ones and he looked confused.

"Doing all what?" he smiled.

"This. Coming over every night, taking the garbage out, telling me I'm beautiful."

He watched me fidget for a few seconds before he smiled brighter.

"Because I like you. Because I do think you're beautiful. It's your eyes, they are the prettiest things I've ever seen. They look like hot cocoa. And your hair is so shiny and soft and it smells like coconut. And when you smile," he grabbed his chest dramatically. "Girl, I swear my heart stops. And then you start talking to me and it just starts racing in there."

I stared at him.

"It's racing right now, because I am so nervous," he blinked a few times. "I wanted to say all of that for so long, but Splinter told me to wait. To go slow. Give you time. And I will. The rest of my life, til I'm like a super old Tortoise."

I continued to stare at him.

"All I need to hear from you is you like me too," he finished, voice going low and trailing off. He was still looking at me, his usually dazzling blue eyes a little more mellow.

"I do," I whispered. "I do like you."

A slow smile spread across his face until he was grinning.

"But I'm..nervous. I haven't really liked anyone for awhile, not since before..well before I was attacked."

Mikey nodded, reaching out and taking my hand gently.

"You call the shots."

"No, that's not how a relationship is supposed to be. Not how I want it to be," I nodded. "I want you to have a voice as well as me. Otherwise it's not fair."

"You know what I like best about you?" he asked, leaning down to kiss my hand. "How you make me feel. I don't feel like a weird mutant turtle when I'm with you. I feel strong and smart and important."

"Mikey that's beautiful," I smiled.

"How do I make you feel?" he asked, looking at me with that soft smile.

"Safe. Cared for. Pretty."

"Beautiful," Mikey interjected, holding up a large green finger.

"Beautiful," I smiled. "You give me hope."

"Hope?" his smiled remained, but it was puzzled.

"Yes. Your touching me Mikey, which isn't something I could handle even just a few months ago. But I am completely at ease with you, I even want you to touch me more. I want to kiss you and that is not something I have wanted for awhile."

He leaned over the counter and gently, almost feather lite, touched his lips to mine.

"One step at a time angelcakes," he mumbled, putting his lips back against mine, with a little more passion this time. "Does this mean your my girlfriend?"

"Yes," I smiled against his lips. "I think it does."