Author's Notes:

Okay, I couldn't think of a better chapter title then the one I came up with. Naming chapters can be a real pain sometimes. Oh well… Hope the chapter is still good.

Chapter Twelve: The Official Okay:

When Buffy awoke the following morning, she got ready for work. She had a few minutes before she had to go, so she just sat on the sofa. Buffy started to think about Raph and how he was doing. He had come by the other night, checking up on her. He just wanted to know if Buffy was okay. Then the two talked. Buffy found out that there were other like Raph, and she had asked if she could meet them. Raph had told her he had to get the okay from them first. She hoped that she could.

Then Buffy thought of Spike and Dawn. She missed them terribly. The others she could care less about. She then wondered what Spike and Dawn were doing. There was only one way to find out. Buffy decided to call Spike. It's been a few weeks since she called Spike and thought she would call again since she hung up on him last time. So, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed Spike's number.

It rang a few times before Spike picked up: "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me." Buffy replied.

"Buffy..."

"Yeah, how is it going?" she asked him.

Spike couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, if you only knew."

"What? Is Dawn okay?"

"She's fine."

"That's good."

"Me, on the other hand..."

"Did something happen?"

"Yeah, Dawn found out you were leaving."

"YOU TOLD HER!" Buffy's voice rang out on the other line.

"No, the little Bit figured it out." replied Spike.

"Great, anything else?"

"Yeah, she told the others, and Xander almost staked me when he found out."

"I'm sorry." Buffy said. "I know you must be going through hell."

"You could say that." said Spike. There was a long pause before Spike said: "It wouldn't be if you came back."

Buffy sighed. "I'm sorry Spike. I just can't. I have a new name and new life."

"You know, I'm not the only one going through hell. Dawn is too." he told her. "She really misses you."

"I know she does." Buffy replied. "Maybe I should send for her and she could live here with me."

"What about the others?" asked Spike.

"Screw the others." Buffy answered.

"What about me?"

"Spike, I just don't know. How about I think about it?" she said. "Well, I have to get going. I'll get in contact with again."

"Buffy please let me talk to you more."

"Later."

Click...

Buffy put away her cell phone. She hated cutting Spike off but if she hadn't, he would have bugged her about leaving everyone behind. Then she thought about Dawn again.

"I could bring her here." she said to herself. "Wait, no I can't." she continued. "If I bring her here, I'm going to have to explain who she is. This is going to be harder then I thought."

Then after she did some more thinking, she got up and went to work. It was going to be a long day.

Down in the den, the turtles and Splinter were awake, and starting the day. Mikey was busy in the kitchen fixing breakfast, Donnie was all ready busy in his lab, Venus and Leo were cuddling on the sofa, Splinter was in his room meditating, and Raph was still in his room. He was awake but he didn't want to leave the safety of his room. Raph knew that today was the day that he was going to tell the others about Sydney.

"Okay, I have to do this." Raph said to himself. "But I think I'll tell Splinter before I tell the guys and Venus."

Raph went out of his room. He made his way to Splinter's room but he stopped when he saw Venus and Leo cuddling on the sofa. "What the hell is going on here?"

Venus and Leo turned to him. "You know if you take a picture it would last longer?" Leo said to him.

"Are you guys together now?" asked Raph.

"Yes," Venus answered. "Do you have a problem with this?"

"Yeah, but since you guys don't care what I think..." he said to them but stopped. "You know what? Forget it. I have to talk to Master Splinter."

"Actually," Leo said as he got up from the sofa. "We have to talk."

"That's right," replied Venus, who also got up from the sofa. "We need to talk about Leo and I and why you were gone so late last night."

"Look that can wait." Raph told her. "I need to talk to Splinter first." he stormed away from them.

Leo turned to Venus. "I know, let him go right?"

"Yeah," answered Venus with a smile. "Let him go."

Raph shook his head as he made his way to Splinter's room. He knocked before he entered. "Master Splinter, may I come in?"

"Of course Raphael." he heard his mater's voice from within.

Raph took a breath before he entered. He then sat before Splinter. "What troubles you my son?" Splinter asked. "Something has been bothering for the past few days and I would like to know what it is."

"Well master, it's two things." Raph began. "It all started when Leo brought up my feelings for April..."

"I know, he should not have brought that up, but you should not have teased him about him liking Venus." replied Splinter. "He apologized did he not?"

"He did, and I'm almost over it." Raph answered with a small laugh. "Look, I know it was wrong falling for April but I can't help who I fall in love with." he continued. "But I'm slowly getting over her, and after all she's happy with Casey and I think they are great together."

"It is good to hear you say that my son," Splinter said. "I know it's hard for all of you because we are so different from the above world... What makes it worse for me is that you, Donnie, and Mikey won't find another female turtle to bound with like Leo has."

"You know master, maybe it's better that way." replied Raph. "At least Mikey and Donnie won't experience a broken heart like I did."

There was a long silence before Raph said: "That was the first thing, now, I wish to tell you the second thing."

"Go on."

Raph sighed before he finally told Splinter about Sydney. "I showed myself to a human. She was in trouble. A few punks were giving her trouble, and we got rid of them she asked me to introduce myself."

Splinter was shocked but he wasn't mad. "How did this human react to you?"

"For once, someone didn't run away from me." answered Raph. "She actually introduced herself. Her name was Sydney Garner."

"I see," Splinter asked. "Is that where you went last night?"

"You heard me leaving?" asked Raph.

"I am your father. I know everything." Splinter told him with a laugh.

"Well, to answer you question, I did go see Sydney last night but I went to go see April first." explained Raph. "It seemed that Sydney made friends with April and Casey, so she told them about me."

"Do you know if she told anyone else?"

"April told me that she didn't because she didn't want anyone to think that she was crazy." Raph answered.

"I see."

"Are you mad at me?" asked Raph.

"No, I am not." Splinter answered.

"You're not?"

"No, I think it's good that you meet this Sydney person. However, I wish you would have told me sooner."

"I'm sorry master." replied Raph. "I just thought if I did, you would be angry with me."

"It's all right my son." Splinter said.

Raph smiled. Then he asked: "Would it be all right if Sydney could come down here?"

Splinter thought about it before he answered. "Yes, she may but she has to keep our secret if she does."

"She will." assured Raph. "She just wants to know about us."

"You may bring her down when you wish to."

"Thank you Master Splinter." Raph said as he got up. "I guess I should tell the others about her before she comes down."

"That might help." replied Splinter.

Raph was getting up when he and Splinter heard: "Hey guys!" It was Casey and April.

Raph and Splinter went out to greet them, as well as the others. "Hey April!" Mikey came out of the kitchen with a bowl of cereal in his hand. "Want some breakfast?"

"No thanks Mike," April answered. "But thanks anyway."

"What about you Casey my man?" asked Mikey.

"Nah, I'm fine too." Casey said.

"So what's going on?" asked Leo.

"I need to speak to you." she said as she looked at Raph.

"Don't need to. It's all ready done." replied Raph.

"What's all ready done?" Donnie asked.

"Yes, what's going on?" asked Venus.

"Raphael, I think you should tell your brothers and the others about Sydney."

"Who's that?" asked Mikey.

"You guys should sit down." Raph said.

They did as Raph told them about Sydney. When he was done, they waited for their reaction. Leo was the first to speak up: "Are you crazy for showing yourself?!"

Well, this is off to a great start, thought Raph.

Venus said to Leo: "Leo, calm down."

"Calm down?! Calm down?!" he asked. Leo turned to Splinter: "Please, tell me you agree with me master."

"I am sorry Leo," replied Splinter. "He talked to me before he revealed this information to you, and I'm not angry with him."

"In fact," Raph said. "Master Splinter said it would be all right if I brought her down here because she wishes to know about us."

"WHAT?!" yelled Leo. He cooled down before he said: "You know what, never mind. Just do what you want." then he stormed to his room.

"Leo!" Venus called after him. She excused herself and followed Leo.

"Well, that was fun." replied Raph. He turned to Mikey and Donnie. "Are you two okay with this?"

"It's fine by me." Donnie answered first.

"Yeah, we could always use another chick down here." said Mikey with a laugh.

Raph rolled his eyes at his brother's comment. He then turned back to Splinter. "Would it be all right if I brought her here tonight?"

"That would be fine." answered Splinter.

"Thank you." Raph replied with a bow.

"Hey Raph," said April. "Would you mind if we bring Sydney down?"

"Why?" he asked.

"Well, we haven't told Sydney that we know you or the others."

"All right," said Raph. "How about bring her down around seven?"

April and Casey agreed to it. They said: "Goodbye," to the turtles and Splinter and went back to their apartment. Now, all they had to do was wait for seven o' clock since Raph got the official okay from Splinter.

To Be Continued...