Disclaimer:  I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; they are the property of Mirage Studios, Inc.  I am only borrowing them for the entertainment of those reading this.  Please don't sue me, I assure you—I have no money.  The other characters are mine, please don't borrow without permission. 

Chapter 10:

One More Visit

Athena:

Three down, one more to go.  Why did I always save him for last?  I shook that thought from my head while I made my way to the rooftop.  Funny how I hadn't knocked since the first time I'd been to visit.  I knew where he was, anyway, and I knew what he was doing.  Maybe that was why I was sneaking up on him.

I walked up the staircase from the porch to the roof just far enough to rest my arms on the edge and watch him finish his evening routine.  A little voice in my head told me that I shouldn't be spying on him, and at the same time I couldn't resist.  He was incredible to watch.  I found myself wishing again that I could have seen him at the height of his abilities, before everything changed.

The evening air was pleasantly hot, but not heavy.  The sun was just beginning to set over the horizon, turning the sky into fire.  I watched him move with such power and grace across the backdrop of flame, and I knew that this was one of those moments that I would be able to recall with perfect clarity, even years later. 

Leonardo slowed his movements and then stopped.

Leonardo:

I sensed her behind me, but I didn't turn around right away.  I still surprised myself at how well I could always feel her presence when she was near.  She'd developed a bad habit of lurking in the shadows whenever she came to visit.  I wondered if she snuck up on my brothers too, or if it was just a game she played with me to see if she could catch me off guard.  I decided to let her know I was on to her.

"Enjoying the view?"

"Mmm…it's a beautiful sunset."

She walked the rest of the way up the stairs and crossed the roof to where I was standing.  I made an extra effort to keep my breathing steady, as it had a habit of awkwardly catching in my throat when she was close to me. 

"I can see why you like coming up here so much."

"Yeah, I practically live up here as long as the weather permits—and even sometimes when it doesn't."

She smiled and took her eyes away from mine.  Her shoulders heaved slightly as she sighed and looked out over the horizon.

"Sunsets like this make me wish I could live here forever."

"Funny, I was just thinking the same thing the other day."

She turned back to face me, but with a much more serious expression.

"Would you like to stay here forever?"

Her question caught me by surprise and it took me a moment to respond.

"Why would you ask me that?"

"Because you could if you wanted to, you know."

"I thought this was only temporary."

"Or it can be that if you want it to be."

"Are you saying I have a choice?"

"There's always a choice, Leonardo."

I didn't really know what to say.  I hadn't even considered staying here.  Up until now she had never given me the impression that this was for anything more than a short while.  I wondered suddenly what had changed to make her say that.

"Do you not want us to go back?"

She appeared surprised by my question, and I knew that wasn't the reason even before she answered.

"No, that's not it at all."

"Then what is it?"

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to come back if it's not what you want to do."

"And if it is what I want?"

"Then come back.  Training starts again in two weeks."

"So that's why you're here."

"Mostly."

"Have you talked with everyone else about this?"

"Uh-huh."

"Are they going back?"

"We'll have to just wait and see who's there in two weeks."

I searched her face for some clue as to my brothers' decisions, but she was hiding them well.

"Well, regardless of what they do, I'll be there.  I told you months ago that I wanted in, and I meant it."

"I know that; I'm only questioning you now because I want to know if you still mean it."

"Of course; nothing's changed."

"Oh really?"  She wore an amused look of skepticism.  "Maybe you're too close to see, but from where I'm standing, plenty has changed."

Now it was my turn to be the skeptic.  "Like what?"

"Oh, like the fact that you don't even train anymore."

"So what?  It's not that big a deal.  At first it seemed like it was, but it's really not."

"It's not, huh?  Then why do I think that your brothers would choke if I told them that?"

"Because it would be a big deal to them.  Besides, it's not as though I've quit.  I'm just taking a break because I felt one was necessary."

"That's fine; I have nothing against that.  It's good that you know what you need, but I wasn't just talking about you not training anymore."

"What else, then?"

"It's what not training has done to you."

"It hasn't done anything to me.  I told you—I'm just taking a break."

"Whatever you say, but mark my words, they will notice it."

"There's nothing to notice, Athena."

"Would you like to wager on this?"

I gave her my best 'I am not enthused' look.  "Did you come here to try to get me to reconsider?"

"No."

"Good, because my decision is already made."

"Fine."

We stood in silence for a while before she spoke again.

"Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"I don't want you to think that I don't want you to come back.  I do."

I sensed that there was more she wanted to say, so I didn't say anything.  She walked over to the farther end of the roof and sat on the edge.  She turned to me with an expression I couldn't readily identify.

"Come sit with me."

I walked over and sat down beside her.

"I want to tell you something because I know that you will appreciate it.  You see, there's a lot that you don't know about me.  Someday you'll probably find out, but for now let's just suffice it to say that I was a different person before the four of you came into my life and turned everything upside down.  Believe me when I tell you that you were unexpected, but the effect you've had on me is even more unexpected.  Some days it scares me how quickly I've grown to love all of you and how invested I am in you.  I only want to do what's best.  Splitting you up was the hardest decision I've ever made, but I've watched the four of you over the last few months and I'm amazed by how you've grown.  I decided yesterday that it was time to bring you back together, and now I'm scared all over again that I'm making the wrong decision."

"Well, you already know that I completely disagreed with you about this in the beginning.  Now I know it was the best thing you could have done.  Through all of this, you've earned my respect, Athena, and my trust.  I can't speak for my brothers, but I'm confident that you've made the right decision."

"I hope you're right."

"Aren't I usually?"

She shoved me playfully with her elbow and I could tell she was more relaxed now that she'd said what she needed to say.  It was starting to get dark and the empty feeling in my stomach reminded me that it was time to eat.

"Do you have to leave again right away?"

"No."

"Are you hungry?"

"I could be."

"How about dinner?"

"Well, I guess that depends on what you're having."

"Whatever I can scrounge up in the mess I call my kitchen."

"Sounds appetizing."

"So you'll stay then?"

"I'll do better than that—I'll go get dinner for us."

"You don't have to do that."

"No, really, I think I do."

She stood up and held her hand out to pull me up.  I took it even though we both knew I didn't need it.

"So have you picked up on any Spanish yet?"

"I'm embarrassed to say not much, but on the positive side I've barely watched any TV."

She grinned and laughed.

"Well, I'll find us a movie on TV after dinner.  I'll even translate for you."

I watched her as she started down the stairs.

"Hey Athena?"

She turned and looked up at me.  "Yeah?"

"You really love us?"

She grinned at me for a minute before answering.

"What's not to love?"