A/N We start to get more into the plot and the budding romance, but oh no, a wrench is thrown in! Read and find out.

Chapter 3

Mikey was practically bouncing off the walls. It was Tuesday, which meant…

Gonna see Mira…he chanted over an over in his mind. He was in such a good mood that it was catching. Leo went ahead and told everyone there was no patrol that night since things had been slow lately.

Raph had spoken to Mikey privately and asked him to relay details next time. Mikey promised and thanked Raph for covering for him last week.

Even Donnie was like, 'Come and see this new gadget I just made' and Mikey oohed and ahhed without even touching it.

Around 7:30 Mikey was all packed and ready to go. He had something special in mind for tonight. He left the lair without anyone asking where he was going; it felt good.

A hop, skip and a jump later and he was leaping across the rooftops for their designated meeting spot. She was already there when he landed lightly on the concrete.

"Mikey!" she squealed and skipped over to hug him.

This time he was ready and wrapped his arms around her in a firm hug. "Good to see you babe." He said.

She couldn't help but smile and sink into him a little bit. For a turtle he sure gave the nicest, most comfortable hugs.

"I've got a surprise for you." He said once they had pulled away from each other.

"Oh yeah?" she grinned. "Wait, let's see what you can see through my camera tonight, I've got a surprise for you too, my editor loved your work and is going to be printing it in 'Sailing Weekly'."

He was astonished for a moment and then exclaimed. "No way, really? That's awesome!" He quickly scanned the area to see if there was anything worth photographing. He spotted an older Asian man practicing Tai Chi on the rooftop of his building. He snapped a couple photos trying to capture his movements.

Mira checked his work, nodding approvingly. "Not bad, not bad at all!" she giggled at how proud he looked. "Didn't you say you had a surprise?"

"Right!" He began rummaging through his backpack and took out something that looked like a projector. He set it up on his own tripod and aimed it at the blank wall near the doorway that led back inside.

"Care for a movie?" he asked.

This was so adorable and thoughtful that she couldn't help but give his arm a squeeze. "That's so cool, what movies did you bring?"

He had brought a selection of campy action movies and they settled on watching 'Demolition Man'. Both had seen it before but both agreed it was one of those movies you could watch over and over.

Also, in true Mikey fashion, he also provided the snacks: M&Ms, red vines and of course, popcorn.

Around halfway through the movie Mira felt her head getting heavy and began moving closer to his comfortable-looking shoulder.

She felt him tense slightly as she finally let her head fall down. Slowly then like he was afraid he would hurt her, he very carefully wound his arm around her back and allowed her to nestle herself comfortably in the crook of his shoulder.

Mira felt so relaxed and content that she felt herself nodding off. She thought she felt his fingers gently brushing her arm just before she fell asleep.

Mikey could hardly believe that he had a pretty girl sleeping on his shoulder. His hand was laying across her bare arm and he couldn't help but take a moment to feel her soft skin beneath.

The movie ended eventually and he didn't want to wake her up so he just sat back and relaxed with her and closed his eyes as well.

In her sleep Mira cuddled up even more to him even reaching her hand up to his chest and placing it there.

Mikey's breathing hitched when he felt her small hand moving across the tough skin of his plastron. He automatically rubbed her arm a little more and she let out a happy sigh.

He felt a strong sort of affection for her building in his chest. It was like, he didn't care if the world was ending he could stay right here beside her as long as she needed to use him as a pillow.

All too soon, she began to stir and her eyes fluttered open as she took a moment to wake up.

The first thing Mira could feel was warm skin beneath her hand and her face. She could smell the scent of his skin, a mix of leather, sweat and something that was just uniquely him. She inhaled sharply when she realized what had happened, removed her hand quickly and quickly lifted her head up.

"I'm sorry!" she said quickly. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you."

He missed the loss of her warmth immediately but didn't show it. Instead he said. "No worries babe, you must have been pretty tired."

Still a bit embarrassed she nodded. "I didn't get a lot of sleep today…My Nonna wanted to show me the secret recipe for her famous tomato sauce." She said gesturing with her hands and her Italian accent colouring the words.

He laughed, he couldn't help it, she was so cute when she talked that way. "Alright well we should probably call it a night then."

She made a soft sound of protest but she did feel pretty exhausted. "Fine…I'll see you next week then." She winked and hugged him easily now.

He hugged her back. "See ya Mir'."

She pulled back and raised one dark eyebrow. "Just when I thought my name couldn't get any shorter." She quipped.

He shrugged. "It's a habit of mine." He couldn't help but give her a cheeky grin and added. "You can use me as a pillow anytime."

She blushed. "Thanks, and thank for the nickname, nobody calls me that." She smiled. "Um, stay out of trouble okay?"

He winked and jokingly said. "No promises!"

She laughed one last time and helped him pack up his stuff and then watched as he jumped away.

This is how it went on for the next couple of weeks. Mira and Mikey met up on a weekly basis to watch the sunset and do an activity such as watching a movie, playing a board game or just looking up at the stars, talking. If it was raining they had agreed to skip a week although, the one time it did rain, Mira had just grabbed her raincoat and Mikey just let himself get all wet. He hadn't minded it as long as they could still talk.

Then there was one time Mira showed up and he wasn't there. Days passed and she still didn't hear from him. Tuesday was approaching and she was becoming increasingly more anxious.

Her mind whirled with all the possibilities that could have led to his absence.

Was he in trouble?

Did his family forbade him from seeing her again?

Had he decided that he did not want to continue their arrangement?

Was he dead?!

All she could do was wait and it was agonizing. Her family had noticed her change in mood. She hadn't visited in days and as sat listlessly around her apartment barely eating.

Her mother came to see her and tried to get through to her. "Mirella, my dear please tell me what is wrong…" she asked her when she lay on her bed one night. "Usually you go up to the roof on Tuesdays."

She sniffed once and tried to stop the onslaught of tears that threatened to spill. "Mama…I made a friend that I was meeting up there but last week he did not show up and now I haven't heard anything, I think he's ghosting me." She whispered.

Her mother looked confused. "What is…'ghosting'?"

She released a choked sob. "It means, he has decided he doesn't want to see me anymore…just cutting me off with no explanation."

She nodded in understanding. "I see…but he gave you no indication that he felt this way? Didn't he seem to enjoy your company?"

"Yes…" she whispered and choked back a sob. "I thought he would be different…"

"There are two possibilities. One: he had some kind of family emergency that he needed to attend to and two: he is a coward and is doing exactly what you said…if that is the reason then even if he does come back, you do not want that type of man in your life, you hear me?"

"Yes mama, you're right." She sniffed and dried her tears. "Grazie…"

"Good, now let me feed you, you look much too thin!" Her mother ordered.

"Okay…" she made herself get up and follow her mother to the kitchen. What had happened? Reason A or reason B?

She did not know it yet but she was about to find out just how dangerous life as a mutant turtle could be.

Seven days prior…

"Leo come one, I gotta go!" Mikey whined.

Leo was in full lecture mode. "And that's another thing…where have you been sneaking off to every Tuesday evening?"

Mikey was affronted. "I don't need to explain my whereabouts, does Raph?!"

"Hey! Don't bring me into this, I covered for you that one time!" Raph exclaimed and then cursed. "Shit, sorry Mikey."

"Covered for what? What's he talking about…?" his tone changed as he said in a low voice. "Mikey…"

"Nothing, Leo! It's none of your damn business." He glared. "It's not hurting anyone anyway."

Leo threw his arms up in frustration. "Oh well that's all fine and good since you have such good judgment" Sarcasm dripping from his words.

"I don't have to listen to this…" Mikey hissed and turned to leave. "I'm old enough to make my own decisions Leo, don't follow me."

Leo was fuming. "Fine. Go." He stalked off to the dojo to let out his frustration.

Donnie and Raph were just left glancing at each other in disbelief.

"That was weird…" Donnie commented. "Those two never fight."

"I don't like it…" Raph said. "Those two aren't supposed to be like that."

"Raph…you know what Mikey's up to, is he in danger?" Donnie asked.

"Nah, he's got a girlfriend, that's all." Raph felt a little bad for telling Mikey's secret but he knew it was only a matter of time before everyone was going to find out anyway.

Donnie's eyes widened. "A girlfriend?! Oh man, I never would've thought…no wonder he didn't want to explain himself to Leo."

"Yeah, but he needs to come clean soon, this can't go on much longer." Raph said with a shake of his head.

"You're telling me…"

Mikey had been rushing on his way to meet Mira annoyed that his fight with Leo had made him late.

Unfortunately for him, he was never destined to reach his destination.

On the way to see her he decided to try and break up a fight among a group of drug dealers and junkies. They drugged him, beat him up and left him in an alley.

He woke up days later disoriented with a splitting headache.

"Damn…what's the number of that truck that hit me…?" he moaned.

"You're lucky if that huge bump is the worst of your problems." Donatello's no-nonsense voice said.

Try as he might Mikey could not remember the events leading up to him being here. "What happened…?"

"From what Leo could tell it seems you were caught in a battle with some drug-dealers. They drugged you, beat you up and left you unconscious." Donnie explained.

"Why was I alone topside again?" He asked, still confused.

"…You don't remember? Do you remember having a fight with Leo?" he asked.

"I remember yelling at him…I was telling him I was an adult or something." It was all so fuzzy.

Donatello hemmed and hawed for a moment deciding whether or not to reveal that Raph had told him his secret. "You don't remember going to see…your girlfriend?" he asked carefully.

Now Mikey was really confused. "Girlfriend? I don't have a girlfriend…where did you get a whacked out idea like that?" He said.

Donatello decided just to reveal everything right then and there. "I think you have some short-term memory loss…Raph seemed to think you were going to see your girlfriend the night you got jumped and that's why you had a fight with Leo, you were trying to hide it from him."

"Nope…none of that is coming back to me…I have a girlfriend? Man that makes me sound way cooler than I am." He sounded so impressed with himself.

"…I'm gonna go get Raph." Donnie said now wanting to pass off his lovesick brother to his angry one.

Five minutes later Raph stood at Mikey's bedside. "Mike, you told me you were seeing a girl a couple weeks back, you've been going every Tuesday to see her, you don't remember none of this?"

"I'm trying, it's all so hazy…" He held his still aching head in his hands.

"Well, I hope it comes back soon or else you're gonna have one upset girlfriend…" Raph said before leaving.

Mikey spent the next few days recovering and still the memories of this supposed girlfriend hadn't come back to him yet. He gained a new visitor by the end of the third day.

"Oh hey Leo." Mikey said, as if they'd never had a terrible fight that led him to be in this position.

"Uh hey Mikey…how are you feeling?" Leonardo asked, sitting by his bedside.

"I'm doing a lot better, my head doesn't feel like it's trying to pound its way out of my skull anymore." He said happily as he drank a can of soda that Raph had brought him earlier.

Leo was glad he was feeling better but he was concerned about his memory loss. "You sure you don't remember anything about the night you were attacked?"

"I've got bits and pieces…I know you and I were yelling over something…and apparently I've got a girlfriend! Isn't that crazy, Leo?" he exclaimed. "Me…a girlfriend!"

"That does sound pretty crazy Mikey…but not completely…see the night you left on your own you and I did have a fight. You were hiding something that you didn't want me to know about." Leo said with a serious expression.

Mikey was shocked. "I was…? Wow, this past me sounds cooler all the time…" He noticed Leo's face and added. "I mean, I'm sorry bro…I probably said some stuff I didn't mean."

He relaxed his expression and said. "It's okay Mikey, I understand why you didn't want to tell me, but I think you really were going to see some girl. You've been sneaking out every Tuesday."

"So I've been told…but if I was seeing a girl I don't remember what she looks like or where…how am I going to find her again if I don't even know where to start looking?" Mikey looked crestfallen.

Leo thought for a moment. "I think you should come topside with us the next Tuesday night. I think it might jog your memories." He suggested.

"That sounds like a fabulous idea, I'm in." Mikey grinned.

The following Tuesday Mira was up on the rooftop waiting. She had started at sunset but she was now hours later and he hadn't shown. She was beginning to lose hope that she'd ever see him again.

She decided to go back to doing what she did best. Listening to music while taking photos of the city skyline.

Mikey, had been jumping rooftops with his brothers for hours and nothing was bringing back his lost memories. He was beginning to get frustrated. "Nothin's coming back guys… and now I'm just hungry."

Raph thought for a moment. "Wasn't there this new place you tried…Maria's something?"

"No that wasn't it…" Donatello said. "Mara's Pizzeria?"

Leonardo's eyes grew wide. "Mikey, you were talking to me on the phone like a month ago almost and you were telling me about the 'cute pizza girl' then suddenly you had to go. Later I asked you what happened and you mentioned that 'someone' almost saw you. It was probably her!"

Mikey did remember that particular pizza place and the name suddenly came slamming into his mind. "Guys…it's called Mirella's Pizzeria…I think we need to go there!" he said excitedly.

"Let me just pull it up here…" Donnie said, activating a digital map. "There it's just about five blocks that way." He pointed.

The four of them set off to the building in question.

Meanwhile, Mira was about to head back inside when she caught movement in her camera. She peered through the lens and saw some darkened shadows coming across the rooftops. She snapped a couple photos.

They were getting closer…she could now make out their shapes and they looked like…

"Mikey?!"

Michelangelo and his brothers were nearly to the restaurant when he noticed the girl on the rooftop with her camera. Something was very familiar about her…

They stopped on a taller building overlooking that one.

"Hey there's a girl on top of that one." Raph pointed out.

"With a camera…" Leonardo noticed with a frown.

Donatello said. "Protocol dictates we need to see if she captured us on film because she definitely could have."

"Can't argue with protocol…" Mikey said silently pleading Leo to let them check it out.

Their fearless leader rolled his eyes. "Fine, let's go…"

A couple jumps later and the four of them landed on the rooftop just a little ways back from the dark-haired girl with an expression of complete disbelief.

Mikey was staring at her, he felt like he knew her somehow. His suspicions were confirmed when her incredulous voice said.

"Mikey?! Is that you?"

Nervously he stepped forward. "Yeah…?"

Mira suddenly didn't care that he'd left her hanging for an entire week and a half, she rushed over to him and threw her arms around his neck. "I was so worried…!"

Leonardo and the others were in awe of the spectacle. Donatello couldn't help but feel bad for this girl who had been dropped suddenly because their little brother had been out of commission.

Mikey froze; he didn't know if he should hug her back or kiss her or what.

She must have noticed for she stepped back and said. "What's wrong…where were you?" She still hadn't noticed that he wasn't alone.

"I…don't remember." He finally said. "I got attacked and drugged a week ago and I hit my head pretty hard."

She raised her eyebrow and wasn't sure she believed him yet. "…you don't remember? You don't remember our agreement to meet up her every Tuesday? Red vines, movies, talking in the rain?" she was upset and beginning to get emotional.

Mikey was at a loss for words so Donnie piped up and said "He's telling the truth, he's got some short-term memory loss."

Mira gasped and now noticed the three other walking, talking turtles on the rooftop. "Omigosh these must be your brothers…" she breathed.

The three came forward then so she could see them all clearly. "Let me guess…Leonardo? Don…Donatello and Raphael?" she said gesturing to each one of them.

Mikey was floored. "I really did tell you so everything you said…is true, you are my girlfriend!" he exclaimed and then immediately wish he hadn't said that.

Her shocked expression and her voice indicated that she was definitely not…"Girlfriend?!"

End Chapter 3

A/N Oh no! What a mess they're in, will Mikey get his memories back?