Sorry, this took so long but I wanted to get every chapter out at the same time just so everyone knows what happens and doesn't have to wait. The only thing I am currently working on is the Epilogue and another fic. So here are the last few chapters!

Enjoy!

Chapter 39

"Raph, are you sure you're-"

"Mikey, if you ask me one more time, you're the one who's not gonna be okay."

Michelangelo sighed, watching his brother move trash and any unnecessary items out of his room, still not convinced his brother was being honest. Ever since he had gotten home, he would not sit still or even talk to anyone, telling everyone he did not want to talk about anything.

"You haven't talked to anyone lately. We're just worried that you-"

Raphael stopped cleaning his room to shoot a glare at his little brother, "That I'll what? Drink?" When Michelangelo didn't answer, Raphael sighed, reminding himself that it was okay for his brothers to be worried. "I'm fine. I'll be better when Lil' is here."

Mikey nodded, "Me too."

As soon as Lillian heard that Luis was out and knowing that he knew where she would be staying, she had asked Raphael if it was okay to stay with him. Raphael was more than happy to take her with him, but when Barry insisted that he leave the condo without her, his nerves never ceased. He prayed nothing happen to her otherwise he'd kill someone. In order to rectify his nerves, his fears, he cleaned his room for the first time in years! It wasn't that messy, but it wasn't clean enough for Lillian and it was either that or drink.

Between looking at his phone to see if anyone would call him, cleaning a surface that was already clean, and trying to figure out how both of them were going to sleep in such a small bed he had, he was occupied enough to keep his mind off of the horrible. For the time being anyway…

Michelangelo felt the same way. He was worried that in such a short time of Raphael not being with Lillian, something was going to happen, but at the same time, he was worried his brother was going to worry himself into relapsing. These past few days have been so hard on everyone, to be awake was exhausting. No one knew that better than Lilly.

Both brothers straightened when they heard a car pull up in front of the lair.

Raphael sighed, "Thank God," he muttered under his breath, pushing his brother out of the way and making his way to the entrance.

Lillian felt safer underground. She felt safer with family near, willing to do everything to protect her. But it was another wave of emotions seeing all the sympathetic looks on everyone's face. She was preparing herself on the way over for all the sympathy or pity as she felt it was. Though, once she arrived, it felt nerve-racking getting to the lair.

Barry placed a hand on her knee before she exited the car, "Are you sure about this?"

Lillian shrugged, "This is the safest place for now. I have no job and I stopped going to school. I have to be here." She said before opening the door.

She was helped out of the car by Donatello, who held her tight and told her how sorry he was. Leonardo also hugged her, though he said nothing.

It wasn't till she saw Michelangelo's blue eyes did she let out a cry. When his arms went around her waist, pressing her tightly against his chest, she felt safe enough to let her legs give out. This was Mikey…it was okay to break. So, she tightened her arms around his neck and let him carry her while she let herself feel one more time.

"I got you, babe…" he whispered.

Lillian let out a sob into Mikey's neck. "Oh…Mikey…" she cried.

He clutched her head, his heart breaking at the sounds of her cries. Raphael had told everyone how Lillian was blaming herself and absolutely torn at the loss. So he kissed her head, "This is not your fault. Listen to me," he said, her cries soon becoming deafening the more he talked. "This is not your fault."

"I'm sor-"

Mikey squeezed her, "No. No, Lilly." He pulled her back enough to grasp her face in between his hands. "Do not. This is your family. No one blames you for anything." He pointed at his brothers, "Look, everyone is right here with you." He brought her face to his to rest his forehead on hers. "We got you, babe."

Lillian hiccuped, leaning into his touch, tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Mikey shushed her, pulling her in for another tight hug before she could apologize again for nothing. To see her like this, broken, it hurt him. Lillian meant more to him than anyone could understand, maybe Raphael… It took everything he had to not cry with her. But it was like April said to Raphael, he had to be a pillar of strength for her right now. He wanted to… Lillian needed to know she wasn't alone. They were all there for her.

Hearing her cries always caused a lump to form in Barry's throat. It was physically painful. Seeing her the way she was was simply devastating. He could imagine what Raphael was feeling. As he took out her small suitcases from the trunk of his car, he did everything he could to block out her cries; he tried his best to prevent the lump from forming in his throat. When he looks back at Michelangelo and Lillian holding each other in a tight embrace, he sighed in relief…finally he was certain she was safe right where she was.

After a while of just holding her close to him, trying to make her feel safe enough to let herself feel the pain in front of everyone, he gave her one last squeeze and pulled away. "You need rest. Let's get you settled in." He turned around, reaching out for his brother. "Take her to your room, I'm gonna get her stuff."

Lillian didn't hesitate to move to Raphael, who embraced her as if he hadn't seen her in so long. She needed that pillar of strength, she missed that warmth, it was the only thing that stopped her from crying. She let out one last shaky breath, his arms lighting a small flame of courage in her chest.

Raphael felt so relieved to be holding her in his arm, to know that she was finally in a safe place where no one would be able to do her harm. "Come on, Lil'…" he whispered, wrapping an arm around her waist and leading her to his room. He didn't know how long she'd be staying, but he tried everything he could to not panic at the thought that maybe they were moving way too fast. Maybe they needed time to…no… This wasn't the time for those thoughts.

He entered his room, immediately turning on the lights and helping her over to his bed.

She took in a deep breath, "I'm-"

"Do you want some water or food?" He interrupted her, purposefully. He didn't want to hear another apology.

Lillian pressed her lips together and shook her head. "No…" her voice just above a whisper. "I'm just…tired."

"You want to take a nap? Go ahead, babe. I'll put away your stuff. Don't worry." He said softly as Mikey came in his her things, setting them right by the door.

Mikey sighed at how horrible Lillian looked, like she was withering away, skinny and dull. Her eyes were red and puffy, with no shine whatsoever. He was afraid for the very first time that Raphael was right and that Lillian may not come back to them fully. Instead of opening his mouth to say anything and risk his emotions being visible in his voice, he turned on his heel and left quickly.

Lillian watched him leave in a hurry knowing it was because of her. He was upset. She looked around the room that was lit but a solid yellow light bulb implanted into the ceiling. He never got rid of his drum set, weird how she didn't remember him ever playing them. She watched him open her bags and take out whatever clothes she just stuffed in them.

It was almost too good to be true… Years she had thought about him, wondering if he was thinking about her or even regretted ever leaving her. How it was so easy to go back to him, she'll never understand. Now he was insistent on being called her husband, it was crazy… The most beautiful thing to happen at such a horrible time in her life. She hoped, even with the horrible timing, it would last.

She laid back onto his one pillow on his twin-sized bed. How were they both going to sleep in this bed, she had no clue, but she was too exhausted to think about anything. She felt like she hadn't slept in so long, as soon as her head sunk into his pillow and his scent filled her senses, she shut her eyes and let sleep consume her for hopefully a long time.

"So, you all are safe for the time being." Barry sighed.

Mikey scoffed, "But at what cost…"

"Too much, Michelangelo," Barry said sternly.

Leonardo sighed heavily, it was too much. Poor Lillian… His sister…horribly scarred. "So when are you leaving, Raph?"

Raphael rolled his shoulders, he was tired but was too angry to sleep. "Sooner than you think. Like next couple of weeks."

Mikey shook his head, "Don't you think Lillian needs help though? Like maybe professionally…"

"We all do. But Raphael was insistent we let her decide and Lillian decided to go away with Raphael." Barry explained. "I think it was a smart thing to do."

Raphael stood from his seat in a huff, "It was the right thing to do." He snapped. "Lillian is a grown woman going through it, but that doesn't mean we should be making decisions for her like that asshole has for years."

Leonardo held out his hand to calm down Raphael, "We all agree with you, Raph."

Barry placed a hand on Leo's shoulder to stop him. He knew that Lillian wasn't the only one going through an internal struggle. Raphael was seconds away from blowing up and everyone knew that his way of letting out steam, little by little instead of completely blowing up and perhaps making a bad situation worse.

Raphael had never felt so useless. Seeing Lillian the way she was, barely hanging on by a thread, what else could he do but be angry? Angry that he could only do so much to help her but it would never be enough. There was a heaviness in the air that everyone could feel, a thought that haunted everyone. If this man was free today and had all the resources and power to get to Lillian whenever what was going to stop him from getting to her? That thought was weighing on Raphael's shoulders so heavy it could crush him if he let it. He would never let this human waste go within a mile from her, and he'd kill him if he tried.

Otherwise, what kind of husband would he be?

"We need to do something about this guy." Mikey chimed in, in an attempt to cut the tension.

Barry nodded, "I told her about a restraining order and hope we'll have a lawyer represent her."

"That not enough," Raphael growled under his breath.

"Raphael…" Barry warned.

"How are we so sure he's going to obey the freaking law, Barry?" Raphael spat. "He was sure as hell okay breaking it the minute he put his hands on Lillian. And I'm supposed to sit here and pretend that it's enough? After everything!"

Michelangelo shushed him, "Lil' is sleeping Raph."

Raphael checked his tone, "I finally have her back. She's back in our lives. And if this son of a bitch finds a way to talk to her again, I don't think he'll just let her walk away freely. Then it will be on your hands."

"So what do you want to do? Kill the man?" Barry said roughly.

"You're just going to put a strain on your relationship with Lillian if you do anything, Raph," Donatello interjected before Raphael could say anything. "You guys are going through such a rough patch already and you just started getting over the last breakup. You won't survive the next."

"You don't think I know that, genius? But this is about Lillian's safety and-"

Mikey pressed two fingers into his eyes, groaning softly. "I'm having flashbacks."

Leonardo nodded, "Mikey's right. You're just doing what you did last time."

"What? Protecting her?" Raphael snarled.

"No!" Mikey scoffed, standing up to match Raphael's stare. "What the hell was the point of that speech about letting Lillian decide? If Barry and Lilly don't want you to kill this man, it's probably because it'll bite us all in the tails by noon tomorrow and lord knows you've done enough."

"Really Mike? You should be on my side! Out of everyone here, you should be just as angry as I am!" Raphael yelled, pushing Mikey back by his shoulders.

Mikey pushed his brother back, causing everyone who was watching to tense in anticipation. "I am just as angry as you, dude! But I am not about to focus all my energy on being angry when Lillian is safe, with us, and broken. Wanna be a boyfriend so bad? Start by paying attention to your girlfriend, meathead."

Raphael stared at his little brother slack-jawed, in utter shock. "What did you just-" when he took a step forward, Donatello was the first one to jump to his feet to stand in between the two.

Donnie pressed his hand on both of their plastrons, pushing them away from each other as hard as he could. "Enough. Both of you. All this fighting over the same damn thing is going to serve no purpose than waking up Lilly."

Barry sighed, "I am going to work tirelessly until everything is settled. Lillian is safe. Michelangelo is right. The best thing we can do right now is focus on Lilly and you, Raphael, need to focus on your relationship instead of revenge." He scolded, pointing at Raphael like he was a child. For a moment, his words sounded like something Master Splinter would say to Raphael to calm him.

Raphael shook his head from the stupid thought, scoffing in disbelief at himself. "Whatever…" he muttered before walking towards the lab to get away from the crowd.

April caught the end of that conversation as she walked into the lair, holding a carry-on suitcase in one hand. She watched with anguish as Raphael walked across the room to the lab, abruptly ending the conversation. She could feel the hatred boiling in his heart, it was mixed with so much sadness and pain. April felt her eyes weld with tears.

Donatello went to her as soon as he noticed her, she was wiping her eyes with the sleeves of her jacket. "April, what's…" his eyes traveled to the suitcase. "What's this?"

April sniffed, "These are some things Lillian left at my house. Some clothes and some…toiletries." She took a deep breath to regain control of her emotions. Donnie took one of her hands into his. "Sorry, there's just a lot of emotions in here." She whispered.

"It's okay," he comforted.

Barry went to April, taking the small suitcase away from her. "April, I would like to get into contact with your father so we can arrange for the payment for the bills of the house they're staying in."

April gave a faint smile, "Mr. Anderson, I don't think my father will…" she stopped at his insistent look in his eyes. "But I'll give you his number." She gave in.

Barry gave her a nod, walking over to Michelangelo to ask him where Lillian was sleeping so he could leave the suitcase there.

April squeezed Donnie's hand, "I need to talk to Raph." She told him.

"You can try, but I really don't think that's a good idea," Leonardo said, taking a seat on the couch.

"He may not be in the talking mood." Donnie sighed.

April shook her head, "I think he'll talk to me." She let go of Donnie's hand, wiping more of the tears that were falling from her eyes before bravely walking over to the lab. Why did it feel like she was going into battle? She shouldn't feel nervous… Despite what everyone was saying, and the logic that it all had, she had a difference of opinion.

She agreed with Raphael.

This man didn't stop contacting Lillian even when she was putting her foot down. In a state of crazed delusion, he was still trying to keep Lillian for his own. After all the threats and abuse, there was still something in his mind that convinced him there was still hope, or a way to keep her, trap her, force her. That delusion is what made him dangerous. And he'd never stop…

He had to be stopped.

Weeks ago she'd be so angry at Raphael for putting everyone at risk, but that was before she saw the bruises, before she heard the threats he had told Lilly, the nights April held Lilly as she cried, the look of fear she could see in Lillian's eyes at the sight of this man. That was before…this is now.

She entered the lab, finding Raphael aggressively putting on his black uniform, mumbling obscenities under his breath. She cleared her throat to catch his attention.

He looked up and scoffed at the sight of her, "Here to tell me how stupid I am? Save it."

April dug in her pocket, pulling out a black card, that almost looked like a credit card. She held it up, long enough for him to see.

Raphael was confused for a moment, staring at the card in almost disgust. Why the heck was she giving him a credit card? Is this some sort of sick joke? If it's not a credit card, then what… Raphael walked over to April, quickly snatching the card from her hand to inspect it himself. It was a key…

"I found this while washing her things." She explained to him. "Her apartment is on the 47th floor, it's apartment 47D. Show the front desk your key before you go in the elevator."

He straightened, narrowing his eyes at her with suspicion. "Is this some kind of test?" He asked.

She shook her head, "I've seen the bruises, the pain, the sorrow he's caused her. We know what happens if this continues or if he manages to get to her again." She quickly wiped a tear that fell away. Out of all the people in the world, crying in front of Raphael felt too foreign and uncomfortable for her. "He's dangerous."

Raphael stared down at the small card in his hand, having to really think about his next moves now he was able to do what he wanted. He needed to think about how everyone was going to react if he went through with this. Most importantly, he needed to think about how Lillian would react the moment she found out about his deed. He clutched the card in his hand. "So, you agree…"

"I do. But you have to realize this decision will change the way Lilly sees you and maybe even affect your relationship with your brothers."

"I know…but…" he scoffed. "I just got her back! I can't lose her again. Look at everything she's gone through! She lost a child…" He took a deep breath after those words left his mouth. "It was going to be our chance…" he whispered.

April nodded, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know, Raph." She reached to briefly touch his cheek. "Be safe. And be smart."

Raphael gave her a nod, before watching her leave the lab. He looked back at the key card, clutching it in his hand painfully, silently thanking April for understanding him, for taking his side.

He had to do what he had to do.

There were no words that could describe what was festering in his chest like an infected wound. So many emotions stormed his heart and clouded his mind, all preventing him to speak. Pain, hurt, furious rage, heartbreak… Utter embarrassment.

Being picked up at a jailhouse, being treated like a criminal, having to hear a two-hour lecture by his father on how brain dead and mind-numbingly stupid he was for letting a woman cause so much trouble in the press, and then going home to an empty condo filled with untouched furniture and loathsome memories—what a gigantic mess this all was! All this noise, all these threats, all the incriminating evidence that would've inevitably ended her career before the start, and for what? Even the pregnancy! He was so certain that would've left her no choice but to be with him. Now, the child pays…

Holding the key card to the lock, waiting for the blasted beep, Luis pushed the knob down and kicked the door wide open. He loomed into the condo, dress shirt unbuttoned, his jacket, tie, and blazer all hanging off of one arm until he slammed the door behind him when he dropped them all to the floor. He was to stay in this place until his father said so after firing him from the agency for putting its reputation on the line. No job, barely a home, no other option but to have what he's been craving for too long.

The city lights were the only things that gave him the glow to see what he did next.

He pushes a chair in the middle of the living room, then pushed the small console table away from him. He grabbed a photo of her, placing it on the table then headed to her secret stash. Opening the bottle and grabbing a big enough glass, he went back over to the chair and threw himself in it. He just wanted to look at her one last time, and he didn't want to be sober before dying.

"Sobriety…" he mumbled, pouring himself a drink and lifting his glass to her. "What a waste." He took a swig of the warm liquid and hissed at the taste. He got sober because he didn't want to lose her not because he truly felt like he had a problem. She was just so fucking dramatic. He took another gulp of the liquid, "You know something…" he pressed the glass to his forehead. "She's nothing without me. Nothing but a pretty girl whose dreams are nothing unique and whose talent barely helped her get by. Nothing special. Not a thing…" He laughed, finishing his drink. "Not a damn thing." He threw the glass at the picture, shattering it as it collapsed to the floor.

He stood from the chair, tossing back a swallow straight from the bottle of liquor. "She would've been nothing without me! She is nothing! A slut mother, whose career ended before it started, who would give it up to any piece of meat that would so much as give her the time of day!" He kicked the table over, feeling the need to continue breaking things. He picked up the glass and slammed it onto the floor. "Stupid bitch. How dare you make me love you!" He screamed. "All the shit I've done! The money I've spent! The sacrifices!"

He grabbed the bottle of liquor and took a deep breath before tossing the bottle back. When his throat clenched after the liquor scaled his esophagus, he swallowed what he could and then quickly began coughing for air. He wiped his chin, "None of it fucking mattered. All of it gone," he strained hoarsely. He took another painful gulp, then raised the glass off to the side, pointing towards the dark corner of the room. "As soon as you entered the picture."

When there was no movement, Luis turned his body to face the darkness. The minute he walked into the condo, the minute sat in the middle of the living, he could feel someone else in the room with him. Behind him…watching and hearing him. He was sure of it. He chuckled, "Didn't think you were the quiet type." He sipped the bottle and narrowed his eyes to focus his vision on the darkness.

After a quick eternity of silence, something shifted in the dark corner of the room, and nothing but the sound of heavy footsteps vibrated throughout the condo. Sure enough, a figure emerged from the dark.

Luis couldn't help but smile at the apparent changes in the outfit. It was clearly different for a reason, that reason was him. The photos… "I'm guessing you got in with her key card. She send you?"

The figure slowly shook its head.

Luis nodded, taking another swig of the bottle and laughing as he slowly felt the effects of the alcohol slowly creep up on him, climbing up his spine and making his mind wonderfully cloudy. "If you're going to kill me, then let me finish this fucking bottle." He went back over to the chair in the middle of the room and sat back down. If she had no idea that thing was here, he knew what his fate was. She would never send someone for him. "I'd much rather die fucked up than sober."

How awkward it felt to be in the same room as something otherworldly and be completely jealous of it… How was she so in love with this thing? Why? Why not him instead?

"You want to know something else?" He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "She was my only reason for living and that wasn't enough for her to stay." He laughed softly. "I gave her everything and could've given her more…and it wasn't enough. You have no idea the hardships we went through and in the end, I always had to change. Me. Never her…" he placed a hand on his face. "She wondered why her relationships always failed."

His adrenaline began to spike. He clenched his leather-covered hands, growing angrier and angrier with every delusional word that came out of this pitiful creature. It would be shocking if it was so pathetic that the self-awareness on this man was entirely missing. How could he only think of what he gave her? What about his child he forced her to bear? Was he going to even ask? Both of them could be dead!

Raphael couldn't believe how easy it was to get into this place. All he had to do was show the front desk the card and all they said was 'welcome back'. Not one person asked him to reveal his identity as some sort of proof that he did in fact live there. He entered the apartment and just waited, telling himself if by a certain hour no one came then it wasn't meant to be. Five minutes before he was about to leave, however, the door clicked and swung open and that's when he knew this was meant to happen and he was meant to be.

Then he had to listen to a poor excuse for a speech that did nothing but fuel his rage. The constant confession of love mixed with insults made his mind spin and he did not like that. He wasn't trying to hide from this piece of trash, which is why he knew from the moment he began his little tantrum that there was someone else in the room. Now that the cat was out of the bag, he wanted to make this quick and do it in a way that it wouldn't come back to Lillian and hurt her.

"I want to know a couple things before you do what you came here to do." He slumped himself down in the chair. "Is she out of the hospital?"

Clenching and unclenching his hands, he slowly reached around his back and wrapped his fingers around the grip of his sai. "Yes."

Luis swallowed at the sound of its voice. Truthfully, he didn't know what to expect. "Is the child alive?"

He pressed his lips together and let out the deepest sigh. To him, silence was the only answer this man deserved.

Luis shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose. The longer the silence lastly the more it shook the booze out of his system. "I guess she won." He mumbled before drinking more of his booze.

Raphael's eyes widened for a moment at the comment. Won? Reaching over the man, he grabbed the liquor bottle and tossed it across the room before grabbing Luis by his shirt, lifting him to his feet to face him. "Won?" Raphael growled, pulling him over the seat and tossing him like nothing to the floor. "You piece of shit!"

Luis coughed the air back into his body, "It's what she always wanted! She never wanted the child!"

Raphael bent down and grabbed him by the shirt again, lifting him to his feet. "She never wanted a child with you!"

Luis grabbed his wrists desperately, "She never wanted a fucking child! From the very beginning!"

"You forced her!"

Luis wiggled around for a moment in his arms before he figured out it was useless to fight. "Oh is that what she told you? Did she also tell you she was planning of getting rid of it altogether?"

Raphael brought him closer to his helmet, though he could see the look on his face, Luis saw nothing but his own reflection. "Who would want to have you for a father?"

"And you're better? You fucking freak." He spat before actually spitting onto Raphael's visor.

He blinks for a moment, pulling his clenched fist back and connecting it with Luis's cheek, sending him back onto the ground. He just waxed his helmet and now it's covered in this fucker's spit!

Luis wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, spitting onto the ground next to him. This creature was so much stronger than he could ever imagine. Maybe it had to do with his physiology, the fact that he wasn't human…but if he was going to die by this creature's hand then he was going to say what he needed to. "Lilly is going to do nothing but suffer with you at her side. Wanting and wishing for a normal fucking life. And maybe in a couple of months, years even, she'll want something better. Just watch."

He couldn't help but chuckle. He wasn't stupid, Raphael knew exactly what he was trying to do. Make him angry…

"And if I'm still alive, she'll come back to me." Luis coughed, picking himself off the floor. "After all, there had to be a reason she left you."

Raph swallowed hard that this. Lilly never told him…and he wasn't about to correct it. It didn't matter anyway.

"She'll come back. And I'll be waiting." He laughed, his mouth full of blood. "You can never give her what she needs. You could never love her like I did. She will never be satisfied with what you have to offer." Luis flashed a bloody smile at him. His hand slowly made its way down to grab the crotch of his pants. "You don't have what I have."

Raphael scoffed in disgust, finally grabbing a hold of his sai, pulling it from its holster, and grabbing Luis by the neck which quickly lead to him halting his movements. Holding the sai right up underneath his chin, he growled. "And I have her." That was something he'd never have. Lillian was his for life.

Luis gripped Raphael's wrist, letting out a hack when his air supply slowly started cutting off. "She's…nothing without-"

"You're wrong." Raphael snarled at him, bringing him close to his helmet. "You're nothing without her." He pressed the tip of his blade at the base of his jaw. "Why else did you buy all of this for her? The apartment, the fancy dresses, the ring. Do you know what I had to get her to have her come back to me? Not a damn thing." Partially true. Everything had been so rushed that there wasn't time to grovel and beg for Lillian's forgiveness, to have her take him back or have him prove how sorry he truly was for leaving her behind. But still, he felt secure when she looked at him and that was enough. "And it's just going to stay that way. And you…dead."

Luis lifted his chin up to the roof, exposing his neck to Raph and causing the sai to finally puncture the skin, a drop of blood slid down from his neck. "Go on." He choked out. "Do it." He encouraged.

Encouragement? Did he want to die?

"Do it." Luis hacked.

His heart was pounding in his head, his vision was red. How could someone be in love with someone they talked so poorly about? How could this person talk so poorly about the woman Raphael was in love with? How could he let him? He couldn't! No one would ever disrespect Lillian again for as long as he's alive. So why on earth was he hesitating to quickly draw back his sai and end it all? Just pull back and let him suffer! Slit his wrists and put a knife in his hand and let someone discover him.

A memory suddenly appeared from the depths of his mind, one that wasn't significant to him and one that he had completely forgotten. A memory of him as a young man holding a distraught Lillian in his arms in her bed after she was scared she had trusted her stepfather too early. More specifically a memory when Lillian looked at him with tears full of emotion and intensity and told him:

"If you kill, you will lose the part of you that I love."

His eyes widened at the echo of her voice in his mind. Why was he remembering this now? It was almost like she was there preventing him from ending everything once and for all! But why?

He's never wanted to kill someone so badly before in his life. Sometimes, when you are a warrior, you have to do things to ensure the safety of your loved ones. Leonardo, for instance, was more than willing to be the one to end the Shredder. Raphael had yet to kill. He had been extremely close, beating punks to a bloody pulp but for some reason, he could never bring himself to truly end a life. This time he didn't have to talk himself into it, he didn't have second thoughts, he wanted to end this man. He wanted to be the one to end Lillian's suffering. He wanted to see the life drain from this man's eyes and know Lillian will always be safe because of it.

But he hesitated…

No, he can't hesitate. He couldn't! Baring his teeth and growling in frustration as if a force was pushing against his hand. He had to kill him! For Lillian's safety, keeping him alive is too dangerous for her to live comfortably in the city and he'd be damned if he couldn't keep her safe and happy. No, he had to kill him. For the baby! For her!

But he couldn't. Because of her…

When he blinked, he noticed Luis's face was going almost purple. He pulled his blade off of his skin then let go of his neck, watching him fall to the ground and gasp for air. Raphael watched him, his chest heaving as he too tried to catch as much air as he could, his helmet quickly becoming stuffy.

Once air entered his lungs again and he was able to breathe normally, he began to laugh. Slowly at first, it was a chuckle, then it quickly turned into a cackle. Luis looked up at him, pointing and mocking. "You can't do it." He placed a hand on the floor to push himself up, his balance now hijacked from the alcohol. "I would kill for her in a second! That's how you and I are different!" He spat.

Raph stared at his wavering stance for a moment before snapping himself out of the trance. He put his sai back in its holster and cracked his knuckles.

Luis rolled his shoulders, "Now, it's my turn." He pulled back his fist and launched forward.

Raphael frowned, easily moving to the side to avoid him and have him stumble beside him. There was no honor in fighting a drunk man…

Eh, but what the hell?

Luis turned to face him and when he lunged forward once more, Raphael avoided him then landed a bone-crushing blow to the side of Luis's jaw.

Luis's head jolted to the side quickly, his knees giving out quickly which sent him down to the floor, landing face-first into the ground so hard it made Raphael wince.

Raphael watched for his breathing. Great, the moment he decided not to kill him he goes and accidentally kills him? Just his luck.

He took off his helmet and couched down, grabbing a handful of the man's hair to lift his head. His mouth was agape and all he did to let Raphael know he was still alive was let out a groan of pain.

"If you even think about getting close to her, talking to her or even breathing in her direction. I'll find you and I'll kill you." He growled, shaking his head to make sure he looked at him. Even if for a second, he wanted this man to look at him and know that it was him, the freak, that got the girl. "Stay. Away. From her." He threatened through his teeth, before slamming Luis's face into the ground once more, positive he broke his nose from the force.

He then ripped the button-up shirt from Luis's body and used it to wipe the spit from his visor before putting the helmet back on again. "Don't spit on my shit."

How was he going to explain this to her? April wasn't going to keep any of this to herself which meant Michelangelo probably knew and he would definitely tell Lillian. How was Raphael going to face her? Would she be relieved he didn't kill him? Or would she be upset he didn't avenge the child that could've been?

There was only one way to find out.

Lillian woke up at around 10 o'clock. She was still alone, with nothing but the illumination of the green lava lamp Raphael used as a light to keep her company. She stayed there for as long as she could take it, watching the clumps move up and down in the canister. Her mind was number from all the thoughts and she was still tired even though she had just awakened, but the main question on her mind was…why was she awake?

She sat up from the bed, tucking her knees under her chin, and watched the lava lamp while simultaneously listening for any voices that could indicate anyone else was awake. Where was Raphael? Was he awake with everyone else?

Through the door and the walls, she could hear muffled voices sounding like arguments and conversations blending together. Almost like they were trying to keep their voice down. She looked at the door for a moment before finally deciding to get see who was awake. She tip-toed to the door, slowly turning the knob and opening it just a crack.

"You just single-handedly ruined this relationship, you and Raph. Not only that but when Lilly finds out what he did and what you did she will never talk to you again." That sounds like Mikey, who must be extremely pissed by his failed attempt at lowering his voice.

"At least she'd be alive to be mad at me." That was April.

"April, there's no way you could've known that this man would ever-" Donnie's voice chimed in.

"No way? It's the cycle of abuse, Donnie! If this man never took 'no' for an answer, what the hell is a piece of paper going to do?"

"It's not just a piece of paper, April." This stern voice had to be Leo. "It's the law."

"How many women go through the same process and the abuser just comes right back just to kill them? I will not let that happen."

Lillian opened the door enough to peek her head out of the room, looking down towards the main area. She could see all the guys standing around April who was seated on the couch. It was almost like they were trying to intimidate her or more likely like they were extremely pissed at her.

"Explain to me again how this isn't going to look like Lillian put a hit out on this guy? Like she didn't send her boyfriend to kill her fiancé?" Mikey scoffed.

Instead of her eyes widening in shock, her hearing suddenly focused on the voices. She wanted to double-check and ask where in the world was Raphael! Why wasn't he home? Was Michelangelo just exaggerating or was it true? Did he really…

She couldn't even finish the thought in her mind.

"I am not going to sit and wait for the day we all realize Lillian is gone because no one took action. We all lost her once! Well, I am not going through that pain again! This time it will be worse because all of us waited and let this lunatic take her from us." April's voice was heartbreaking to hear. She was stern and unwavering but there was an underlying fear that made Lillian clutch her chest. April sounded terrified.

Letting out a shaky breathy, feeling her whole body tremble at the thought of her beloved ending someone's life. The thought of him killing to keep her safe made her furious that it had come to this. This was the only option that guaranteed her life on the other side. Luis never took 'no' for an answer. She was engaged to this man and at a certain point, she was in love with him and trusted him with everything! So he knows where everyone she loved lives, she can't hide unless she were to live in isolation here in the sewers and as much as she loved her family here, she refused to stay and not be able to live.

Living in fear is not living.

How was she going to escape this man?

Lillian gathered all the courage she could, straightened her posture, and walked out of the room, almost immediately catching everyone's attention.

April stared at her, her face turning pale with horror at the sight of Lillian. She heard! "L-Lilly, you're awake…"

Lillian placed a hand on her stomach at the sight of all the stares. Their pity made her nauseous. Was it always going to be like this? She swallowed a hard lump in her throat before speaking, "Where's Raphael?"

Everyone exchanged looks as if they could someone all come up with an answer telepathically.

Mikey opened his mouth to answer her but was suddenly interrupted by the roar of a motorcycle engine.

He was back.

Lillian kept her eyes on the entrance, nervously clutching the hem of her shirt, trying to come up with enough could to walk towards it. She needed to see him and his timing couldn't be more perfect.

Mikey quickly ran up to stand in front of her, "Lilly, wait just a sec."

"Move, Michelangelo." She snapped. "I want to see him."

Mikey looked at her with shock, her voice was never that harsh towards him. "Lil' you've been through enough." He reiterated softly.

Lilly blinked at his words in confusion, "I am not a child. Move." She spat viciously.

All this time, he has stuck up for her. He has always been on her side and has trusted her more than anyone he's ever known. Never once did he doubt her decisions, never once did he treat her like she was a child. This one time, looking at her hollow gold eyes, he wondered if it was the right decision to let her go. What would she see? How would it affect her? Michelangelo was terrified but still, he let out a heavy sigh and stepped to the side.

Time stood still for everyone as they watched Lillian push past Mikey and go for the entrance. When the motor of Raphael's bike ceased, the silence that followed was heavy and everyone shared the same wide-eyed stare, all thinking the same exact thing. What was Lillian going to find?

Raphael had just taken off his helmet and placed it on his seat when Lilly found him.

He took a deep breath before turning around, preparing to find her furious or devastated. Nothing, no amount of time, no amount of preparation could've prepared him for the look in her eyes. No anger, no fury, just deep concern, and worry. He felt his chest bubble with emotion at her wide eyes, brimming with tears. What had he done?

Lillian watched him shift from one foot to another, almost as if contemplating what to do. Move? Talk? She took a deep breath and waited.

"Lil'…I…" he began.

At the sound of his voice, she winced, clutching her shirt as her heart pounded painfully. She didn't care! At that moment, she didn't know the details of how or if; whether he had done the unthinkable or whether he changed his mind and just went out for a walk—she didn't care.

Letting out a small sob, she ran to him, throwing her arms around his neck and holding him close as she cried into his neck.

He didn't think twice to wrap his arms around her small fragile frame as she trembled against him. He was beyond confused and still so ashamed that he couldn't avenge her and the child but he could feel her pain through her sobs and every noise she made his arms tighten around her frame. How weak he had been not to kill the one person that caused this much pain, so weak! He didn't deserve the right to call himself her husband.

Lillian pulled away for a moment, quickly wiping her eyes from the never-ending tears and resting her forehead on his.

He couldn't bear to look in her eyes, "Lil'…"

"I know." She cried. "I know you didn't kill him but…" she grabbed a hold of his face to force him to look at her. His green eyes matched her emotions. "I don't care."

He grabbed her wrists and shook his head out of her grip, "I wanted to. I was so close to." He admitted painfully through gritted teeth. "After all that he's done to you and the baby…but, at the same time, I didn't want to lose you."

"No," She whimpered. "You could never."

He nodded his head softly, "No...I would've…and that terrified me." His voice was barely above a whisper. "So I couldn't and I'm so-"

"Don't." Lillian suddenly growled. "Don't put that weight on your shoulders."

"But you and the baby-" his voice trembled and he suddenly felt angry at how pathetic he sounded.

She pulled away from his grip and ran her hands along his face, gently shushing him to prevent him from repeating the same thing. She understood why he left. Maybe, if she were younger, she would've cared that he had revealed himself to such a dangerous person or even quite possibly brought him to the brink of death, now, as he's attempting to hold himself together in front of her she found herself appreciating him anyone could comprehend.

"Raph," she said sternly, despite the tears still flowing. "You're home, that's all I care about."

Raphael let her cup his face for a moment then he held her close again, practically crushing her against his body. The more understanding she was, the more he wished he would've gone through with it all. He wasn't sure what was going to happen next with that man and Lillian if after everything he was truly going to stay away from Lillian but one thing was for sure, Raphael was so relieved she was a part of his life again and he'd do anything, especially kill, to make sure she'd live safely.

Raphael buried his face into her hair, breathing deeply as if her natural scent would maybe help calm him. Once he felt strong enough to pull away from her and not completely crumble, he did so.

"I…" he began softly. "I think I broke his jaw…and nose…"

Lillian blinked her tears away at this confession. Of course, he did… She wiped whatever wetness was still on her cheeks, letting out an airy chuckle. "What am I going to do with you?"

He leaned into her touch when she cupped his face once more, her thumb rubbing against his cheek so softly it takes whatever strength he has left to not whine like a child at the tenderness. "I don't know…" he breathes. "Marry me?"

She gave a little snort, shaking her head as she pulled him in for a sweet kiss. It had been so long since they had just kissed each other, nothing more, nothing less, just a kiss. Her stomach vibrated for a moment, her heart pounded softly and she realizes that this tender-hearted love is what was missing from her life for such a long time it almost felt new. She kissed him once more and then once again before engulfing him in another desperate embrace.

After a while and knowing they had an audience behind them, she kissed his cheek. "I'm tired, let's go to bed." She whispered, taking a hold of his gloved hand and leading him into the lair.

She never said a word to anyone else, she ignored their curious stares or worried glares and just led Raphael to his room. She just wanted to sleep next to him, she didn't want anyone to talk to her unless it was him. She wasn't mad, she wasn't angry, she was just tired and genuinely wanted to sleep; wanted to skip the giant lecture Leonardo was definitely going to give his brother or the anxious gaze of Michelangelo or the explanation from April on how she was involved with all of this. She just wanted to sleep.

Shutting the door behind both of them once they were in his room, he watched her sit at the edge of his twin-sized bed. The green glow of his lava lamp left her tan skin grey, and although puffy from her recent tears, her eyes were dark and hollow. She looked as though she were fading away, cheekbones prominent from the lack of nutrition, hair in a loose disheveled bun, slightly chapped lips. It didn't take a genius to look at her and see that she had experienced too much for her tiny body to handle.

But as he pealed himself from his suit as quickly as he could without looking stupid, tossing them absentmindedly on the ground, he never broke his stare from hers. The only thing in his mind, as she held out her bony hand and beckoned him to come over, was the fact that she looked just as beautiful as she did when he first saw him all those years ago.

Despite all the events of the day and all the emotions, he found it shockingly easy to fall asleep with her in his arms.