The next morning, Raphael woke up early, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. And unbelievably happy. An emotion he rarely felt, because what did he have to be happy about, he thought, before he'd met Alex? He lived in a damp and smelly sewer and people deemed him a freak and he'd never find a mate looking the way he did. Not exactly things to crow about, but now things were different. He had a girlfriend and she said she liked him for him and didn't care about anything else, so things were looking up. Maybe I'll have the family I want, Raphael, thought, as he opened a drawer, took out his sketching pad and pencils. I know I'd be a good daddy. He picked up a pencil, sharpened it and hummed, as he began to draw.

XXX

Leo woke up, dread bubbling in his stomach. Today's the day, Raph learns the truth, Leo thought. His world will crumble; he'll attack me and hate me forever for deceiving him. For crushing his heart and spirit and laying his soul bare. For trusting again after what happened with Mona. I'm a shit. I wish I'd never gone along with Mikey's plans. I should have been honest and told Raph how I felt. He may have laughed at me, but it'd have been better than lying to him.

Leo's phone rang, jarring him out of his thoughts. "Yes, Mona?" he said. "To what do I owe this pleasure."

"Rumor is Raphael has a new girl."

"Yeah."

"A girl! Come on, Leo. We both know you like him and that was the real reason why you encouraged him to dump me."

"I don't know where you're coming from with this, Mona, but you're mistaken. I love Raph as a brother only."

"You can lie to yourself, Leo, but you don't fool me. I've seen the glances you cast at him. Longing ones that went beyond brotherly. You need to tell him how you feel before the new girl gets hurt and before Raphael makes a mistake."

"I can't do that!"

"So, you don't care that an innocent girl's about to have her heart broken, Leo, or care about Raphael?" Mona demanded furiously.

Leo hung up and tossed the phone onto the bed. Shit, he thought in despair, wringing his hands. How the hell do I get out of this mess Mikey and I created?

The burner phone that Leo used to speak to Raphael shrilled and his heart hammering, Leo picked it up and said in his Alex voice, "Raphie, morning, sweetie. You're up early."

"Yeah. How's my girl?"

"Fine and you?" Leo said nervously, his voice breaking.

"Ya sound a bit jumpy today, baby."

"Uh, I just saw a rat in my room. That's all."

I wonder how she'd have liked Dad, Raphael thought. Maybe not at all if she's afraid of rodents. "Ya need me ta come and get rid of the pesky thing?"

"No. It's gone. Listen, Raph, I can't talk long. I have things to do. Important things."

"We still on for later?"

"Um, I don't know, Raph. Something unexpected came up."

"Ya don't really wanna meet me?" Raphael demanded, his heart sinking. "And this is yer way of tryin' ta let me down. Ya can say it. Raphael, I don't wanna meet ya, okay? Instead of tryin' ta spare my feelings. I value honesty. I knew it was too good ta be true that a girl like ya would like me! And I was just a game ta ya. Or maybe yer secretly datin' someone else or are married."

"No. I really like you, Raph, and there's no one else."

"Then what's the problem? What's up that we can't meet? Are ya in some kinda trouble?"

"No. It's just….I'm nervous about meeting."

"Ya suggested it."

"I did, but it's easy to talk big on the net. Not so easy in person."

"I know. Half the stuff I'd never have said ta ya in person. Wanna know a secret?"

"Sure."

"I'm just as anxious as ya. Maybe more so, because I…My bros and I aren't very social and we only got a couple close friends, so meetin' ya is a huge deal for me. I don't trust easily, but I sense I can trust ya and ya won't break my heart. Ya don't gotta be worried. I won't hurt ya. Not unless ya want me ta."

I'm scum, Leo thought. Fuck. "Um…"

"That was a joke. I would never hurt ya, Alex. That's not how I roll. Not intentionally anyway. So, yeah, I'm kinda scared, but in my bones, I feel we could be the real deal and I wanna meet ya and see how things go. I'll tell ya another secret. Girls have laughed at me and called me ugly and my ex betrayed me, but ya make me feel safe ta trust and believe that I ain't ugly. That I deserve love. That I'm worthy of it," Raphael said, and choked back a sob, not used to discussing feelings. "Ya did that, Alex. I understand it's a big step meetin' a stranger, but ya have nothin' ta worry 'bout. I won't even touch ya or kiss ya unless ya want me ta and ya can have one of yer bros there as a chaperone if ya wanna. I don't mind. I just want ya ta feel comfortable. Yer so quiet. Ya still there?"

"I'm here," Leo said, while thinking, he's so sweet. I have to go. He needs to know the truth no matter what happens afterwards.

"So, ya in or ya out? Do ya trust me?"

"I'm in. I trust you, Raphael. I just don't know if you'll like me."

"Of course I will, baby. How could anyone dislike ya? Yer perfect in every way."

The intruder alarm sounded and Don's panicked voice could be heard outside Leo's door and the next sound Leo heard was a deafening explosion that caused his ears to ring. "Guys!" he called, throwing open his door and rushing to the lounge. Rubble littered the floor and he could just see an olive head peeking out of it. "Don?" Leo yelled, rushing to the prone figure. "Raph, Mikey?"

There was no reply and before Leo could call again, a second explosion at the entrance of the lair occurred. The force sending him flying through the air, his shell crashing into the wall. Landing on the floor in a heap, Leo groaned and tried to move, but found he was not able. His right leg sticking out at an awkward angle and pinned by what had once been the roof. His chest weighted down by rubble and threatening to crush his plastron, Leo battled to breathe and thought, I'm going to die if someone doesn't find me. But the likelihood of that's slim. How could anyone have survived these explosions intact? He heard Tiger Claw chuckle evilly at the entrance to the lair and him say, "That's the end of the Turtles. Great job, boys."

I'm too young to die, Leo thought, squeezing his eyes shut, as tears slid down his cheeks. Oh, hell. Please let someone find me.