Marla knew she had to come up with a story to tell the others. She hated lying to them and especially Leo, but she had felt that this had needed to be done.

When she went down to the lair, it was now two weeks after the wedding. Leo had been home a week now.

She walked down the stairs to the lair. "Hello, everyone. I'm back." Marla greeted.

All the others stopped what they were doing, which they had mainly been in the dojo training at the moment. They came out to see her.

Marla might have expected the frowning faces coming from them all. Especially Leo, who stood behind them all.

"Where were you?!" Raph demanded.

"I had an emergency with my mom. I couldn't not go to her. She was sick, Raphael, with pneumonia." Marla stated, but lied.

"And how did she come out of it?" Don asked.

"It took a long week of care at the hospital. Both Carlos and me were with her constantly. But she's well enough again to be at home." Then she glanced at her love. "I'm sorry for leaving like I did, Leo."

"Do you have any idea how lonely it was there all week? I hardly did anything at all other than what my usual habits are here at home. That really hurt that you couldn't consult me before you left." Leo said.

"Like I said, I'm sorry. What can I do to make it up to you?" she asked.

"Right now, nothing." Leo said. He then turned and went to his room. "If you stay tonight, feel free to sleep on the couch." he said before he closed the door.

Marla looked at his door sullenly. She had expected this.

"You are going to have to earn back his trust, Marla. You have no idea how much that sudden departure hurt my son." Splinter said.

"I understand that, Master Splinter. I will do anything to have his favor again, and your family's." Marla decreed.

Then she looked around at Leo's brothers and they didn't have happy looks at all toward her. She decided to take that cue and leave the lair. She knew they weren't the happiest to see her right now.

The boys all watched her go. They had never expected the woman who loved Leo to do that to him, regardless of what her situation was.

In his room, Leo heard the entrance door open and close. Marla must have left, he concluded. Now that he knew she was back, he just didn't want to see her right now. He would see her when he felt ready.

He glared at the wedding ring on his dresser next to his bed. He had taken it off when he got home. He would also take it off for training. Right now, he felt estranged from her.

…

At her apartment, Marla stared at the wedding ring on her own dresser. She still loved Leo. But how was she going to earn back his favor? She would do anything to make it up to him now. But she had still felt he had needed that lesson.

She went out to her kitchen to make herself some dinner and watch TV till it was time to go to bed. She hoped Leo would think for awhile and then come over, but he never showed that night. She was going to wait for him this time.

…..

Two days after she got home, Marla had to go back to work again. But she was always home by eight.

Days were getting shorter all the time, but hadn't lost Daylight Savings' Time yet.

Marla really hoped her love would stop by tonight. But he never showed. She hoped he hadn't given up on her.

She called Mikey the next day.

"Hi, Mikey. I know you and everyone is upset with me, but I just wondered how Leo is? Is he alright?" she asked.

"He's fine, but he is still upset with you." Mike said.

"Can you ask him to come to my home tonight, if he can? I really need to talk to him alone. We can't get this sorted out if I can't talk to him." Marla said.

"I'll see what I can do. There's no promises he'll show up, but he'll come if he chooses to."

"Thanks. Give it your best shot." Marla said, hopeful.

Mikey knew it was going to be a challenge to get his big brother to listen to him right now.

…

Mikey went to Leo while he was just casually training after lunch. He watched his oldest brother flowing fluently through his katas.

"What do you need, Mikey?" Leo asked. "If you need someone to play with, I'm busy."

"No, Leo. It's nothing like that. It's Marla. She called. She asked me to ask you if you would be willing to come over to her place tonight? She wants to talk to you." Mikey said.

Leo stopped his kata. He turned to his brother.

"I'll think about it. There's no promises." Leo said. "I know we need to work out the problem. I just needed some time to myself after I got home. She had just upset me greatly."

"I know, but if you still love her, you two need to work this out." Mike said.

"We'll see how it is after patrol tonight." Leo stated.

…

Marla wanted to be prepared for Leo's hopeful arrival. She would patch up the problem and try to get him in the mood. She would do this to make it up to him. She got her bedroom ready to light some candles, but wouldn't light them until it was certain. She didn't want to waste the candles. And she also put some rose buds on her bed too to make it seem more romantic.

She had a gown set aside for the occasion, but she still had on a blue t-shirt and jeans. She really hoped her love would stop by tonight. She missed seeing and talking to him. And one thing was clear, he needed to know the truth. She knew that marriage was really based on honesty, other than trust and love.

….

The turtles had had an earlier patrol tonight. Things had gone well for the most part.

Leo had been contemplating to go to Marla's to talk to her. He was missing her and this problem needed fixing.

When the patrol was done, they headed toward Marla's apartment, then Leo said, "Now that we're here, I'm going in. This is something me and her need to settle alone."

"Okay. Just listen to what she has to say and then say your part." Don advised.

Then Raph, Don, and Mikey headed home with Mikey giving him a thumbs up signal before he followed after his other brothers.

Leo turned to look at the apartment he was headed for. The lights were on and the curtains closed. He was sure she was preparing for his arrival. He let out a sigh and headed for her fire escape.