Natasha donned a trench coat and fedora and waited for Leo in the lounge. "Sure you don't want to stay and help me with one of my experiments, Natasha?" Don asked.

"Nah. I'd die of embarrassment. Sorry. Science ain't one of my interests. Ain't smart like that."

"I could teach you."

"No, thanks."

"You know, I'm not all about science. We could watch a TV show."

"What? Like Lifestyles of the Insane and brilliant? Pass."

"Hey, how do you know about that show?" Don said, narrowing his eyes. "My brother, Raph, always teased me about it."

"Bishop had it on once and I hated it," Natasha said quickly. "Borin' ass show. Sorry, Donnie. Not into that."

"And what do you like? Romance?"

"Action."

"Most girls like romance."

"I'm not like most girls, I guess. I like some romance, but I'm more into action."

"You'd have gotten along well with my brother, Raph. He loved action too."

"I see. Well, I'm sorry I'll never get ta meet him. He sounds like he was a cool guy."

Leo entered the lounge and said, "Where's Mikey, Don? Tash, ready to leave?"

Natasha nodded and linked her arms in Leo's. "Ready when ya are, babe," she said.

"I think Mikey's in his bedroom, Leo," Don said.

"We should be home by eleven. If you need me, I have my phone."

"Have fun, Leo."

"Later," Leo said, and he and Natasha left the lair.

When they'd left, Don thought about Natasha. Something about her seemed off and he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Bishop has the answers, Don thought. And seeing that we have a truce with him, I'll ask him. Don typed an e-mail and said, "Bishop, need some answers on your mutant turtle, Natasha." He was about to hit send when he changed his mind and thought, I can't message Bishop. Natasha's terrified of him. What if what Natasha's saying is true and Bishop hurt her? He'll go after her again. I'll figure out on my own what's off about that girl.

After leaving the lair, Leo said, "You want to hit the war museum first or miniature golf, Tasha?"

"Neither. Why don't we go swimmin'?"

"In November? You're nuts, Tasha, and we're cold blooded and…"

"So yer a scaredy cat, Fearless?" Natasha said, and giggled.

Leo frowned and said, "Fearless, where did you get that from?"

"Uh, remember when I was in Raphael's room with ya, I saw a note on the table and it said, dear Fearless, and under that 'Leo, ya suck', so I assumed he meant ya. Sorry. I didn't mean ta make ya sad."

"I'm not sad. It's just what Raph called me and it's not true. I'm not fearless. There are a lot of things I'm scared of."

"Like what?"

"We lost Raph and I'm scared of losing my other brothers and disappointing my dad. I'm the eldest, so it's my job to make sure they're all okay. I worry all the time that I'm not doing a good job at leading. Raph wanted the job and was mad when I got it and that's one of the reasons why we fought a lot, but I never really wanted it. Dad picked me. It's a hell of a lot of pressure, you know, and sometimes I feel like I'm going to crack. I have to tell my dad that Raph's dead and I don't know how to tell him. He's old and it'll crush him and it's my fault and…"

Natasha wrapped her arms around him, leaned on her tiptoes and pressed a kiss to his lips, sending a tingle down Leo's spine. "It ain't yer fault that Raphael's dead, Leo, and yer doin' yer best as a leader. Give yerself a break, okay? Yer way too hard on yerself."

"I'm not hard enough."

"Ya are," Natasha said, pulling away, and smiling up at him. "Yer a great older brother and I'm sure yer brothers and Raphael thought that. I think yer awesome and I haven't known ya long."

"You're so sweet to me, Tasha, and I think you're…"

"I'm what?"

Leo blushed and said, "You're wonderful. It feels like I've known you forever. Isn't that strange? We only met earlier, but I feel like that and that I can tell you anything and you won't judge me."

"Same here, handsome. Why don't we skip the golf and war museum and go for pizza?"

Leo froze and said suspiciously, "How do you know we like pizza?"

"Mikey said so."

"Oh, right, but we ate already. I know a funfair we can go to. Do you like rides?"

"I know what I'd like ta ride," Natasha said, and smirked.

Leo blushed and said, "They have all kinds of games there too. I went with my brothers a few weeks ago and we played paintball and the like."

"But I'd dirty the trench coat."

"Doesn't matter. We have spares, so up for it?"

"We should have somethin' ta play for."

"Oh, what do you suggest?" Leo asked nervously.

"That's easy, Leo. I win, I get ta decide what we do next. Ya win, ya decide, but I'll tell ya now, ya won't win. I'm competitive and I NEVER give up."

Leo laughed and said, "We'll see about that."

XXX

They headed to the funfair and went on the rollercoaster first. Natasha, when she'd been Raph, had always loved rollercoasters, but now she pretended to be scared, as the rollercoaster took off and clutched Leo's hand. "Hey, it's all right," Leo said. "It'll be all over soon, Tash. Things are fine. I promise." Natasha leaned against Leo's shoulder, trembling slightly, and Leo thought, her hand feels so tiny in mine and so right and she smells amazing. I think I'm falling in love with her.

All too soon the ride was over and they bought candy floss and played ring toss. Natasha squealed with delight when Leo won a large stuffed teddy bear with a red heart saying 'I love you' and handed it to her. "Aww, it's nearly as cute as ya, Leo," Natasha said, and kissed his cheek. "Thank ya."

Leo reddened and said, "You're welcome. Want to try bobbing for apples?"

"Nah. What about the haunted house? Unless yer chicken."

"Let's go."

They headed into the haunted house and Natasha shrieked when she saw a corpse on the floor, oozing blood. Leo held her close and whispered, "Shh, Tash. It's not real and is a prop."

"It is, Leo. It smells coppery and is fresh blood. The person ain't been dead long. We'd better scat, else they'll think it's us."

"All right."

They hastily left the haunted house and Leo said, "We'd better leave the funfair or they'll start asking us questions, Tash. I'm sorry things were ruined."

"Nah. I had an epic time and we can always come back later. What time is it?"

"Just nine thirty."

"So we got an hour and a half. Let's buy ice creams and go sit in the park until we gotta go home."

Leo's phone rang. "Yeah? Oh, hi, Don. What? I'm on my way. See you now." Leo hung up the phone and said dejectedly, "My dad's taken a turn for the worse. We have to go home. I'm sorry about tonight, Tash."

"Hey, it's okay. Yer dad matters more than a funfair," Natasha said, squeezing his hand. "And I'm sure he'll pull through, Leo."

"I don't know. He's old and his heart's not so strong."

"Just know ya have me, Leo," Natasha said, putting down the teddy bear and wrapping her arms around him. "No matter what happens, I'll be there for ya."

Leo melted into her touch and whispered, as tears ran down his face. "Thank you, Tasha. We'd better go."

Natasha picked up the teddy bear, holding it close and followed Leo back to the lair. Tonight was incredible, she thought. Leo was so sweet and I could tell he likes me the way I like him. As for Dad? How am I gonna tell him goodbye without anyone realizin' it's me? Would be weird if I snuck in there and spoke ta him, because the guys think I don't know him. Gotta think of somethin' fast, because I need ta tell him goodbye and that I love him.