Sorry this chapter took so "long," I had slight writer's block as to how I was going to get this all back into the story line (Despite how important this all is to the story line). But now it's all fixed and perfect. So Enjoy!

Disclaimer:…Tra la la la la! Nope, not today!

Chapter Five

Owen kept instep behind the girl before him, not really knowing what to expect. Yeah, he had been in the kitchen before, but this was different. He would be joining them for breakfast, which seemed simple enough, but in reality he didn't really know what that meant. A "normal" breakfast with four giant, humanoid turtles and a girl that just happened to be one of the turtle's girlfriends…wasn't "normal" at all.

'You're one to speak Mr. Creature of the night.'

He resisted the strong urge to roll his eyes at the sarcastic tone of his very own brain. The fact of the matter was, the thought of joining them for breakfast still made him feel all anxious and nervous despite his own…differences. He was not use to people, period, turtle or non-turtle. So, this whole thing was all new, which caused for a nervous vampire as a result.

Voices flowed from the nearby kitchen as they approached the opening. He eyed Centrice wearily and almost as a result, she turned back, throwing him a look. Before he could decipher what that look meant, however, she disappeared from his sight and into the well lit kitchen facility.

He was supposed to follow her.

But would he?

His nerves told him no, he shouldn't. He should call her back, and request that the food be brought to his room, instead. But the rest of his being told him that he should join them.

If he didn't, he would be a coward.

And he was no coward.

From the open archway he was just able to overhear one of the turtles as they addressed Centrice.

"Hey, is he with you?"

He took a breath, and released it as an attempt to calm his nerves before taking the liberty of finally stepping into the kitchen.

He was not at all surprised when all conversation ceased instantly.

As all of their gazes landed on him, he fought his nervousness and instinct while everything in his being told him to run.

But he knew better than to listen to it.

He was safe here. There was no need to be in "self preservation" mode, although he was surrounded by four, giant, fighting turtles…and a human girl…

Almost as if on cue, she cleared her throat and at the foreign noise, all four gazes left him and turn to her. She smiled tautly at their blanks stares, while on the inside, she scolded them for their lack of manners. They should be saying 'hello,' not staring at him wide mouthed and gaping. She felt more like a kindergarten teacher, introducing a new student and prompting the other children to accept him.

And basically, that was what she was doing.

While trying to be discrete, but failing miserably, she motioned for them to continue, but also proceeded to fail miserably at that as well.

They just weren't getting it.

However, to both her and turtle's surprise, Owen suddenly spoke up, his own greeting beating all of them to the punch.

"Good morning, turtles." His voice was measured and even as he spoke. He definitely was nervous now, but he sure as hell would not show it. At his speech all four turtles seemed to snap out of whatever trance they were in before finally voicing their own greetings.

"Good Mornin'."

"Morning, Owen!"

"Good Morning, Owen."

"Morning..."

He released a breath he didn't know he was holding before allowing a small smile to cross his features. At his greeting, Don had pushed out a chair with his foot and now Owen took that chair, settling down between the familiar Donatello and the somber Raphael. Centrice, too, sat at that point, her place being between Don and Leo, respectively. She smiled, pleased that their guest had finally been welcomed that morning, properly and politely.

However, she soon found herself sighing as her mind concentrated on the more current issues…She eyed the food before her, wearily.

Now that was another battle entirely.

The breakfast pastries now sat in the middle of the table with a bottle of syrup to one side and plate of butter to the next. Centrice also noticed another bowl of food, eggs she didn't remember seeing Mike cook.

He must have whipped it up earlier.

Well, there they sat, its aroma mixing with that of the waffles. Centrice sniffed the air, and from where she sat, she could see that Owen did so as well.

…It did smell good, but as she looked around, it seemed that again, no one wanted to take the insinuative.

So, she did.

With no more than a blink she reached for the bowl of eggs. That seemed to trigger everyone else's reaction and appetite for they all, non-shamefully and purely, dug in. A hum of voices fell over the table as each person asked the others for one dish or the next. Centrice smiled as she alone passed the butter dish, the eggs and the syrup to one turtle or the next. However, the hum soon broke as Owen's voice rose over it. All persons hushed, at Owen inquiry, but he still had to repeat it since he had been too quiet the first time around to be heard.

"What?" Centrice as well as the rest of the turtles looked up and into the face of a furrow-browed Owen. He looked down at his "waffles" in mild confusion.

"What is this?" He pointed to the waffles as he spoke and then watched Centrice for the answer. His tone wasn't distasteful or anything of the sort, just purely curious. However, surprise took its toll as Centrice, instead of answering, turned to the one that they called Mikey.

Actually, all of the turtles turned to stare at the brother whose food was being questioned. After noticing their turned gazes, it was then that Owen finally realized what was going on.

'He…cooks?' He had naturally assumed that it was the girl that cooked. Naturally. However, as it turned out, he was wrong with his assumption once again.

Meanwhile, all of the turtles turned to Mike, smiling a little as they did. Under all their stairs he grew sheepish and rubbed his neck nervously before talking.

"Um…Sometimes I like to experiment, Try and make new things, ya know. So, today I made…" Some of the old excitement filled his voice at the thought of his creations having yet another début. "Pizza Waffles!!!"

There was a pause after Mike finished before Owen tilted his head. The explanation had been less…than expected, but the enthusiasm was enough to consider the food, edible. Meanwhile, it seemed as though all of the tension at the table cracked at Mike's silliness for all of the other turtles soon found themselves snickering at both Mike's emphasis and at Owen's face. Centrice watched in utter amusement as they all cracked, one right after the other.

First it was Raph, a smile breaking past his usually stern features as he slowly shook his head in his hands. Leo and Don soon flowed as Leo grinned and Don chuckled lightheartedly. Centrice, too, smiled at their expression before looking back at the still quiet Owen.

Her eyes widened when she realized why he had been so quiet.

His head bowed, and his eyes closed, his lips moved as if he was talking before looking up completely and picking up his fork.

It left her stunned.

It was not as if something was wrong with praying before meals. Heck, it's a good practice to be performed…but that was not the problem in this case.

He was a vampire…Weren't they against all things like that? Weren't the cross and all things "holy" suppose to be his worst enemy, or something of the sort?

However, this vampire didn't seem to obey the "common rules," reading a bible and praying. It was enough to make her think…

Meanwhile, the turtles missed Owen's actions but all were drawn back to him at the sound of his fork lightly tapping against the plate before him. All of the turtles watched in complete and utter shock as Owen began to eat…the waffles!

Donny blinked before leaning over, patting the older vampire on the back as he did. Owen looked up and into Don's face as he chewed thoughtfully, catching his serous gaze.

"You have guts." Don stated with a nod before leaning back, his task complete. Two of the three other turtles also nodded solemnly in agreement as Mike huffed.

"Hey! You guy's always liked my cooking before!"

"Well, yeah Mikey," Raph looked down at the monster on his plate, "when the food didn't look like it was going to eat us!" Don, Raph, and even Leo, to some extent, snickered as Mike crossed his arms.

He was not amused.

He, at least, thought his cooking was good. Hell, what did they know?! They weren't master chefs like he was.

Besides, Owen seemed to like it.

He watched Owen as he ate, and was surprised when Owen suddenly looked up, meeting his gaze. Owen smiled reassuringly before leaning back, showing his empty plate for the first time. Mike smiled as well as he watched all of his teasing brothers sober up at the sight. Meanwhile, Centrice laughed lightly as everything played out before her.

"Can I have some more?" Owen asked simply, and when Centrice complied by passing him the plate of waffles, he nodded his thanks before taking two more. Mike grinned like mad before pointing towards the now engaged vampire.

"Ha! See! He likes it!"

"Ah! That's nothing! That guy 'll eat anything." Owen looked up at Raph's statement, not really sure how to take it. They really didn't know him, and Raph had only seen him eat only one other time since he's been there. However, at Raph's thumb in his direction and at the humored gaze Raph threw him as well, he knew Raph was just jesting. Owen sat up, a slow smile spreading across his features as the hidden humor made his eyes dance. It seemed only natural to play along. Meanwhile, he felt his nervousness die away to a pile of nothing as he spoke up.

"Oh, on the contrary Raph, I will eat anything…that's good." He threw Michelangelo a smile, and at the hidden compliment Mike beamed. Meanwhile, Leo looked at his own plate. It didn't look…too bad.

And if Owen could eat it and not fall over, poisoned…

Leo took a bite, chewing thoughtfully. Everyone's gazes fell on him for it. After a long moment he finally nodded before taking another bite.

"Mmm, Mikey. This isn't half bad."

Now with two positive endorsements, Donny felt that it was proof enough, as he too began to eat.

"Hmm, not bad at all."

Centrice nodded, her own mouth full with Mike's food as well. Grinning contently, Mike's gaze went over the table before landing on Raph, of who still sat back, his plate full.

"Well, Raph. It seems as though the others agree with me." His arm swept over the table as he mentioned the others. "Besides, I thought you liked pizza, since you didn't seem to be able to keep your grubby hand off of mine this morning." Raph threw him a look, but did not move, to pick up his fork, or to slug his brother. At the lack of reaction, Mike leaned on his hands, watching his brother in mock worry. "What's the matter Raph? I give you the permission to eat this, and you don't. Meanwhile, you eat things I don't give you permission to, and you do it behind my back! What gives?!" Mike lifted his hands and shrugged in dramatized questioning as Raph finally picked up his fork. He had had enough. He would not win this battle and he knew it.

Yes, Mike was just that annoying.

So with a sigh and a glare in Mike's direction, he finally gave in.

"You're a loser, Mike." He growled before taking a bite.

'Hmm, Not bad…for a loser.'

Owen sighed as he placed the dish in the sink as it joined the various others plates in the cluster. He would have helped wash, but when he asked, the turtle in Orange told him not to worry about it.

Not being one to argue, he just shrugged.

He was still in the kitchen, him along with two of the four turtles. After breakfast, Raph had announced that he was going to go watch television in the other room while Centrice mentioned that she wanted to catch up on some of her reading. Donatello also left, stating that he, too, had to finish up something.

So that just left, Leo, Mike, and Owen.

Owen couldn't help but watch these two from his standing point next to the fridge. Leo sat at the table now, his head buried in the morning paper. Meanwhile, Mike washed the dishes of that morning, humming a little tune and dancing a little dance as he did.

Owen smiled.

That turtle, he proclaimed, seemed to be the most relaxed out of all of them, fun loving, for sure. Very opposite to the way Owen had to live his life, which made Michelangelo all the more interesting. The turtle now sang softly as he danced, and the fact that the other turtle in the room didn't even seem to notice was just all the more humorous.

This was nothing new, and it showed.

Owen opened the fridge and grabbed two packets of blood absently before closing it again. That had been what he had come to do in the first place, but he had gotten sidetracked with his observations of the turtles. The beeping of the microwave soon followed as he set the timer. The sound was just enough to break Leo's concentration.

Leo looked up just long enough to pick up on the setting around him.

Owen was leaned against the counter, his head bowed and his eyes closed as he waited for the blood warming within. Absently, Leo's eyes soon found his paper again just as the microwave beeped once more. Owen looked up, retrieving the packs before finally opening his mouth to question his thoughts of the past few minutes.

"Do you know where I can find Donatello, Leonardo?" Leo folded the corner of the newspaper down to address the inquiring vampire. While he answered, he eyed the blood packs wearily.

"Yeah, he would probably be in the lab." He stated absently while going back to his newspaper and turning the page. Thinking back, he didn't remember Donny getting his morning "drink" earlier. And, now that he thought about it, neither did Owen. Therefore, it was safe to assume that one of the packs Owen had warmed up and now held was for his brother, a.k.a. Owen's student and the other was for himself; which meant that Leo didn't have to be alarmed.

"Lab?" Owen tilted his head as a small frown found its way onto his features. 'They have a lab!?'

"Yeah, down the hall. As soon as you reach your door, there's a door to your right. You can't miss it." Leo quieted then, his full attention going back to his paper.

Meanwhile, Owen took in the directions as he left to go find the hidden Donatello. He couldn't help but marvel at their lair as he did. It seemed so small, the Den leading right into their cozy kitchen, and then the hallways protruding from that. However, it was there that the coziness ended and that the rest of the lair began. There were a total of eight doorways in that hallway, only two of which he was familiar with, his room and the bathroom.

Other than that, he hadn't a clue.

He approached his door now, but stopped short, turning to his right as he had been told to. Faint sounds came from this door…faint tapping sounds as if it was metal against metal. It soon became obvious that he had found the turtle he was in search for, however, his curiosity now grew all the more with the question of what, exactly, Donatello was up to.

With a breath Owen knocked quietly. After a moment he went to knock again when the tapping didn't cease, but a voice sounded out before he could.

"Come in! It's open." Definitely Donatello.

Owen fondled the blood packs in his hand, their warmth heating his palms. His nervousness came back full-fledged, and he scolded himself because of it.

'You have to get over your bloody anxiety and fast, before you put yourself into a coma.' He released the breath, willing his nervousness away. He was right, he need to get over this. He knew that it was not until he did get over it that his teaching would truly become effective, him actually being able to connect with his student the way he needed to for the next part of the lessons. Therefore, as a step forward in their teacher, student relationship and as a way to bridge the gape, Owen opened the door and stepped inside.

-

A/N: I just thought I should make this clear.

Owen has a social anxiety disorder, (If you want to put a name to it) that causes him to get all nervous and edgy around a group of people or in some cases, a single person he "cares" about. Many years alone can do that to someone. (It has some stuff to do with is history as well, but I can't get into that now, can I. ;D) Before, when he was at headquarters and such, the crowd didn't effect him much because they weren't all up close and personal (But when they were (A little bit with Katrina and such), Owen was just a itchin') Plus, it's more with groups of people than just one person (Hence he grew comfortable with the Old man, and with some extent, Katrina, but still is Nervous with all of the turtles). So, being in the lair and at close quarters with five other people, has him just a itchin' as well. (Well, every hero has a flaw…or two, and that is just another reason why Owen is the hero!) But as you can see, he is slowly getting past his anxieties…

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Well, well, well. Wasn't expecting this turn of events (…much) but hey, it happened. Actually, it's better this way. It makes it all work out even better than expected. Yippie. So, anyhow, R and R, and I'll be coming out with new installments soon