Love Don't Come Easy

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Eight: Reconciliations

Steven sighed it had been a while since he had last seen or heard from Rama, almost a month now. He recalled her saying that he was to call her and many times he had gone to, only he'd been interrupted, at first by his own irritation over her behaviour, then later allowing himself to get lost in his own work and research to find out if what Ramiela had said was the actual truth. He had plenty of time to consider his options and weigh out why it was that her family, went out to guard and protect the city.

He missed her, he hadn't realized how much she had come to mean to him, until her absence caused him to recall her laughter, that bright sparkle in her eyes or that coy, mischievous smile that played across her face, and many other tiny things that were unique to her. At first he was worried by being connected to such a vigilante group that could possibly border on terrorist like activities, that it would endanger his job and it could be wiser dropping the relationship all together. But judging from all he had learned from outside sources, those who had been attacked or saved by the turtle family, police at different stations, searching through news files, talking to some ex-clients who had come from Japan and gained citizenship through him, about the possibility of ninja in the city. He doubted that much harm could come to his career over a continued relationship with Ramiela.

Yet in spite of all that he knew and accepted as true he had somehow held back, somehow not wanting to be the one to call her, rather wanting her to call him, it would make it easier. Besides the longer he had put off the call the harder it seemed to be to pick up that phone and dial the number. He knew she had said that if he changed his mind he was to call, but at the same point he couldn't figure out why she hadn't bothered to call him.

' Doesn't she love me? The phone works both ways.' He mused ruefully scowling at the files and papers on his desk, ' She could call if she wanted to.' The fact of the matter was, he didn't want to be the one to call her, he felt he could speak easier to her if she made that move. ' Don't most girls call the guy when they are upset, wanting an explanation or to get together for a talk to work it out?' He wondered, forgetting for the moment that Rama had tried that on his apartment patio, it was he who brushed her off. He had to face facts that she wasn't going call, it was as if she had declared she could live without him if he could not accept her.

In the end Ramiela was not like most women he knew, and that was partly what appealed to him, the thrill of the chase combined with her personality...she was...well...he knew there was no one quite like her, looks aside of course. She had her own code of ethics, pride, beauty and confidence mixed with compassion and understanding. He longed to right wrongs, but he did it from behind a desk waiting for people to come to him, instead of going out and putting a stop to things as she did. He closed his eyes recalling the vivid picture of Rama as she fought the creep. She had done no more then she had to then declared later that she would not change it."Steven done with the Oyuki file yet?" a co- worker asked.

Steven opened his eyes "Ah yeah here Gordon."

"Funny you looked like you were day dreaming pal." the man snickered a bit as he took the file from Steven.

"I was just thinking about a girl..." Steven confessed, "My girlfriend, only we got in a fight and I, can't seem to forget her."

"She really got to you huh? I thought you swore off relationships until you could make something of this career" Gordon said as he sank into a chair on the other side of the large desk.

"I wasn't intending for it to get this far." Steven muttered, "Honestly, it is a bit of an odd situation, these people have been living in New York for years, sort of homeless people but they aren't actually citizens. Her family helped me and I figured return the favour by sort of paving the way for them."

"Homeless illegal immigrants huh? Got anything to help push it through?" Gordon asked curiously as he leaned forward.

"Sure but Gordon they are, well they are not exactly..." Steven paused wondering how to tell his buddy about the turtle family, how large it was, "Lets just say their physical appearance could stand in the way of things and they are leery because they know citizenship may not be the answer."

"So this girl ain't a looker huh?" Gordon grinned.

Steven tensed, "There is nothing wrong with her" He hissed sharply, "Aw just forget I said anything to you Gordon" Steven waved him off, shutting down as his friend stood up to leave.

Gordon paused by the doorway though "You know it may not be my business but ah, if she has got to you that bad I'd call her. Specially as you seem so hard up man."

Steven grunted casting a sour look to the now vacant doorway, he sat brooding and then suddenly he reached for the phone pushing in the numbers.

XXX

Aiden answered on the first ring he had his mouth full of potato chips as he greeted the caller and waited, when he realized who was calling he couldn't resist the smirk that played about his face, he set the phone down and went to the dojo where he found his older cousin, and sister working out "Oooooooh Rama-la, your lover has finally called." he informed her.

Rama ignored him, sure that Aiden was just trying to get under her shell with his usual tricks. While Kali turned a murderous look on her older sibling. "At least Rama has had more relationships then you'll ever have Aiden. A hooker wouldn't even take your virginity not even if you paid her to."

"Careful Kali that line might get you in trouble with Uncle Raphael." Rama warned her, " What lover?" She inquired indifferently trying her best to not appear interested.

"Steven, he's on the phone" Aiden replied slowly drawing the words out.

"Steven?" Rama's eyes grew large and round as all appearances of nonchalance were dropped as she headed for the phone trying not to run knowing it would only give Aiden more fuel.

Kali turned and gazed at her brother "You leave Rama alone."

"Why? It's not often I get the better of her" Aiden pointed out.

"Just remember she can still get the better of you where and when it counts." Kali replied, " I have to go shower, because I unlike some people have a life and a date." she tossed back her blond hair and arched an eye ridge at her brother in amusement.

Rama picked up the phone "Steven? That really you?" she asked in disbelief.

"Yeah. Rama, I was, well I shouldn't have treated you so badly. I know that you have very little choice in revealing yourself to the authorities and you did stop that woman from being further injured, and all I did was treat you like dirt."

"Maybe but you were hurting in your own way Steven. I mean I had lied to you and as a lawyer I'm sure the thought of going out with someone who takes the law into their own hands, even for what they feel is a good reason is morally and ethically wrong to you. I just couldn't tell you the full truth before because we do have to be very careful who we reveal it to and when." Rama explained feeling suddenly giddy, ' Steven has finally called me back, which means, maybe he's come around and...' her thoughts didn't know where to go, but they raced around in circles of the possibility of her and Steven being together again. She wanted to forget these long lonely weeks, forget the tiff that had caused the problem. Everything was fine now, because he had phoned, showing that he might be interested in talking to her and being with her, most of all it meant that her hopes for the future might still come true.

The warrior in her though whispered that his call so suddenly, after so long was highly suspicious and it might be a trap of sorts and she ought to be careful of where she stepped and what she said. She ought to prepare herself and not be so welcoming to him.

'But I can't hide this and I won't believe that he'd hurt me not for one minute. I won't believe it because I love him. I trust him, I need to trust him especially after all I've done to damage that trust.' She told herself as she listened to Steven, his voice sounded so warm and welcoming.

" I guess what I'm trying to say Ramiela is will you forgive me and give me another chance? I...All I ask is this time no more secrets, I know why you felt you had to before and I have checked on some other stuff you said, because it sounded like some fantasy story." He chuckled, "Do you know how many police departments around New York attribute the lower crime rate to what they call the Green Angels?"

"We are green but we don't have wings, and of course I forgive you. I love you. I wanted to tell you it all before but...well...the safety of my family took precedents but now it won't." she gushed. "Can I see you again some time soon Steven?"

"I was going ask you that." Steven laughed relaxing as he heard her familiar low, tone in the phone, making him long to hold her, to kiss her and to perhaps see if she was willing to go perhaps a bit further then before. "Great minds think a like."

"And fools seldom differ." Ramiela completed the saying tenderly. Just his voice was sending chills through her and that old aching, need, the desire for...what she wasn't too sure, she only knew it was there, answering and responding to his voice. " But I guess if I am a fool for anything it is for you." She cooed, then mentally kicked herself, 'Why did I say that it sounds so flipping corny? I mean really, why would I ever say such a thing?'

Steven didn't seem to notice, or care about her line. "Great when is good for you?"

Rama felt herself blush as she answered, they quickly set a date and slowly, almost numbly she hung up the phone, a large smile on her face, she waltzed slowly away from the phone humming a love song under her breath. She moved slowly into the kitchen and poured herself a drink of water from a jug in the fridge. By the time she had finished her drink common sense had prevailed enough to step in and remind her that she ought to tell the Master of the clan what was going on.

A part of her resisted because this really had nothing to do with the clan, this was about her life and her happiness, but she also knew that there was procedure to follow, and in this instance there was possibly good reason for it, 'But not really because Steven can't be trusted,' her mind interjected. Still as chunin it is part of my job to tell him any thing and let him deal with it. She sighed, anything suspicious or that could endanger one or more members of the clan was to be brought to Leo's attention, and this definitely fell into that category.

Oh forget it Sensei doesn't need to know. I can trust my own judgment in this. She fumed silently to herself, but then realized she would have to try and keep it secret from her entire family and if Aiden said anything about Steven calling, which Rama was quite sure he would then she would be the one in the hot seat, might as well come clean and get it over with.

She set her dirty glass in the sink and left the kitchen, to find Leo, knowing his schedule as she did she figured he'd be in the meditation room about now. She went down the hall towards the meditation room peeking in, and found he wasn't in there. She scowled slightly reaching out for him with her senses, because she knew that he could logically be just about anywhere in their home, she quickly picked up on where he was in the playground. Rama smiled, to herself, Leo didn't frequent the playground often, so she was just as glad she did have highly attuned mental senses due to her ninja training or she could have been looking for him the rest of the day.

The playground was across the hall and down from the meditation room, so Rama was there in moments, she saw Leo talking to Karena as they sat on a bench watching the children play, Rama knew that Leo was observing far more then the youngsters activities, he was probably making mental notes of the things they used or incorporated into play that might determine what skills they'd be good in later on. A child who was good at stealth could climb the chain ladders with little or no noise, a child who was unafraid of heights would climb as high as the equipment would permit and then try to get onto pipes that ran overhead, and so on.

She watched the young turtles, Tyler stood frozen on a plank high overhead and she wondered if her baby brother was going chicken out and head down. He looked down and trembled. Rama shook her head, swinging into action she scrambled up there fast as possible, "Tyler pretty brave of you coming all the way up here."

Tyler looked towards his sister glowing a bit in her praise but glancing back the way he came. Now he wasn't sure about backing out or down, not with his older sister and Sensei there to notice.

"Tyler, don't look down bro just relax. You have done this before" she reminded him gently.

"Not so high though Rama" the boy sniffed a bit.

" Yeah, but Ty, it is the same thing. Here look towards me. Just focus on where I am okay?" Rama raised an arm out towards Tyler, " Now you have a wonderful sense of balance Ty, you hardly ever get knocked down so take a few steps towards me" she encouraged, for she wanted Tyler to realize this really was no different from being a foot or two off the ground, the high ceiling area in this section of the sewers, meant that they could actually have the highest cross beam, which Tyler was on, at close to six foot height, not high for an adult but for a child it could be scary. Since the bridge or walking plank between the two forts was not as thick it made it even more nerve wracking. The turtles had built it purposely so the higher up you went the less width of a bridge you had for support.

Tyler took a deep breath and looked towards his sister, cautiously he walked towards her, gaining a bit of confidence as he got nearer to her. He beamed " I knew I could do it!" he crowed.

"Of course you could. You just weren't too sure when you first got up here." Rama agreed, having a feeling her brother would come up more often. She back flipped landing squarely on the board, Tyler not wanting to be outdone turned to his side and cart wheeled. Rama nodded her head, "Now how long before you make it to the pipes?" she asked pointing to the overhead pipes that were up above the fort.

"I dunno" Tyler answered shrugging, for the moment he was content to play at this level.

Rama chuckled sure that now Tyler had conquered this the pipes wouldn't be too far in the future. "Don't try and follow my lead here little bro" she warned him as she jumped off the bridge for the ground, an easy jump for her, and Ty could probably make it as well but he might land wrong and get hurt and she didn't want to see that happening.

Leo smiled as he watched the girl walk across the playground being mobbed by some of the other turtle children begging her to join them or come play, she assured them she would "In a bit." He recognized her walk and understood that she needed to talk to him but had allowed her brother's fear to take priority, that she cared for all the children and was willing to lend a helping hand to any of them when needed was a sign of what a good teacher she was.

"Something up Ramiela?" Leo inquired kindly as she came forward.

"Steven phoned, finally. He decided that he understands our circumstances and what we do." Rama explained " We have a date for later tonight." Rama informed him simply, maybe if she didn't make a big deal about it he wouldn't either.

The date itself didn't concern Leo, but the time lapse did worry him a bit, yes some people took a while to reach some kind of a decision, but Steven was a lawyer meaning that he was often required to come to quick decisions. "Why don't we talk in my office. " Leo suggested putting a reassuring arm around her shoulders, " I'll see you later dear." He murmured as he gazed at Karena before reaching over and pecking her on the cheek.

Rama allowed herself to be guided by Leo back out of the play ground area and over to his office. She waited until they were in the room with the door closed before abruptly accusing him "You are going tail me aren't you?"

"Well maybe not me, personally" Leo admitted.

"We can trust Steven, I'm sure he isn't up to anything" Rama protested, "Can't you trust my instincts in this?"

Leo leaned on his desk and gave her a stern hard look, "What makes you believe I don't trust you Ramiela?" he wondered giving her a puzzled look.

" The fact you are even considering having me escorted even for a short time and..." Rama began, " what is Steven going think?"

Leo gave a faint smile and nod, "Ah I understand now, you are afraid of someone intruding on your private time with him."

"Of course I am, especially as it is totally unnecessary." Rama pointed out quickly.

Leo steepled his hands together "Ramiela, he won't know we are there."

"But I will" She declared bitterly.

" Ramiela" Leo reached out and cupped her chin in one hand, "You are upset and you have a right to be, but you know as well as I do that it isn't always easy to pick up on hidden agendas over the phone, that plus your feelings could jeopardize you. If it endangers you, it could be a threat to the rest of us. We care for our family Ramiela." Leo insisted kindly, "Once we are sure that there is no trap waiting to be sprung the escort will leave. I doubt he will spring a trap on you later, if he is going do it, then it will be right away. Besides if he plans on luring you away to a trap you can pick up on it better when you are close."

Rama bowed her head, "I want to trust him." She whispered, " I do trust him. I don't believe that he has anything planned outside of what he lead me to believe."

"I know, that is your father's optimism showing through in you" Leo smiled, "But know we don't do this to hurt you or to cause trouble rather we do it to avert danger." Leo explained.

"I'm aware of that" Rama admitted.

" Then also be aware that we do it out of our love for you."

Rama sighed, "I guess I'm stuck with the guard dogs no matter what huh?"

"Fraid so" Leo agreed with a small nod of his head. He understood his second chafing at the idea of having someone tailing her, watching them and he really couldn't blame her for her irritation, after all she wanted to make up and she had been so morose since the break up, but he himself had to consider that Steven just might be planning something else and until he was sure that things were all good he was not going jeopardize any of his family.

"Then do me a favour and see to it, that dad isn't one of them." Rama pleaded.

Leo laughed, " For you, I think I can arrange that."

"Good because I do want to reconcile with Steven, and I want to try now that things are sort of in the open with us." She smiled, "And oh I have to go get ready. I do have to look right."

Leo hid his smile as best he could, all of a sudden this kunoichi who seemed more masculine at times then feminine turned all girl, worrying about having the right look and being ready for Steven, still her giddiness, smiles and laughter was welcome to her sad moping for the last little bit so he waved a hand at her dismissing her for now.

XXXX

Don and Raph watched from their vantage point on the rooftop spotting Rama with ease as she greeted Steven down below on the city streets, for a few minutes they stood talking, they saw the couple embrace and move off.

"Should we follow" Don wondered.

"For a little bit make sure everything is all right." Raph replied, "And keep an eye out for Mike, he isn't suppose to be around but it wouldn't surprise me if he was lurking street level. I am sure he knows."

"Mike didn't appreciate Steven's reaction to how Ramiela handled those thugs" Don commented.

"Yeah, well I can't say I don't agree with Mike there. But Rama she likes Steve and he don't seem too bad, poor girl needs a shot at getting some guy. She figures she won't ever have any one."

"Hmmm. Who does that remind me of?" Don asked under his breath glancing slightly towards Raph.

"She ain't my kid." Raph declared.

"Yet she picked up many of your mannerisms simply from being around you so much" Don stated.

"I think that is a good thing" Raph said.

"You would" Don chuckled a bit as they moved off carefully following the couple keeping a birds eye view, or in this case turtle's eye view of surrounding alleys and streets but seeing no sign of anyone suspicious.

The couple stopped and Don and Raph also paused, they had been on the move for about half an hour, they both tensed a bit when they saw Steven reach into a coat pocket but then they relaxed as he pulled out some small gift to present to Rama. "Looks like they have reconciled nicely. I don't think there is going be any trouble" Don essayed, " Not even from Mike."

"That's what you think, see who I just spotted in that back alley. One orange banded turtle in a trench coat." Raph reported.

The two brothers looked at each other and quickly moved into action moving down and grabbing Mike before he could head out and intervene. Raph clamped a hand over Mike's mouth as they hauled him back up to the rooftop, where he finally removed his hand.

"What were you doing?" Mike demanded.

"I was going ask you the same thing" Raph drawled, "You aren't supposed to be here Mikey and we were just going go, so we will make sure you come with us," he ordered.

"But...Steven..." Mike began.

Don shook his head, "Mike come here look down at them okay?" he urged his brother, "Don't you see how happy Rama is?"

Mike looked down and saw Rama cuddle up close to Steve hugging him, even from here he could sense her joy, and he sighed.

"Be happy for her Mike." Don pleaded as he rested a hand on his brother's arms.

"Don't forget you still have another little girl at home daddy" Raph reminded him, "But Rama is a big girl, hell she's a woman Mike and it is past time you realized that Rama is all grown up now."

"I know" Mike sighed, "You're right okay I'll come." he relented wearily, "One thing though, I'm never going let Tessa grow up."

Raph smiled at Mike's words and glanced over his shoulder in time to see the couple below them engage in a very passionate kiss, to be on the safe side he quickly moved to insure his body would block that view from Mike, for his brother might not find that sight as wonderful, in fact it would probably change Mike's mind real fast. besides Raph reasoned what Mike didn't know wouldn't hurt him.

TBC