(BETA) This Story has not been read through thoroughly so there will be some lingering mistakes, apologies! This will be rectified once read though...when I have time... (BETA)

OTHERWISE ENJOY!

xxx

A few hours later, Raph woke up not having realized he fell asleep. He felt lighter somehow and looking down, he saw that Alice had gone. Flashes of what had happened flickered through his mind racing panic and worry through his veins.

He wasted no time and shot up off the mattress tripping slightly over the frame before making it to the door and bursting through it. He hung over the railings too see everyone in the kitchen standing around.

"Guys! Have you seen Alice?! She's not here!" His voice was filled with panic, it only turned to rage when he saw everyone just look at each other a small smile on their lips.

"What the hell is wrong with you guys! Have you seen er or not!?" Raph's voice bellowed with anger.

Leo put his hands up in surrender before speaking up to him. "Raph, it's alright, she's…well she's here."

Raph took a moment to process his words before flinging himself over the railings and landing near the sofa. "Ok so where is she?" He stormed over to Leo.

"We haven't…er…seen her, per-say…but she's here…" Leo reasoned rubbing the back of his neck.

"Leo, what the shell are you talking about!?" Raph anger was builing as he reached for the front of Leo's shell without even realizing it.

"ENOUGH!" Splinters voice bellowed through the Lair.

With that everyone backed away from each other. "She is here, Raphael." Splinter motioned to the empty seat beside him.

Raph just looked to the empty chair then back to Splinter. "Uh…Sensei…?"

"Raph, he's right I'm here…" Alice familiar voice sounded form where Splinter had motioned.

Raph eyes widened when he saw a wooden spoon floating in the air back and forth as a wave.

"Hi…" Her voice sounded again.

"Wait…Wha-how did you…WHAT THE SHELL IS GOING ON!?" Raph's voice screeched as he stepped back slightly.

Donnie stepped forward. "It would seem the Mutagen has had an effect after all…it's given Alice the capability of invisibility…" Donnie tried to hide the tone of astonishment.

They stood in silence for a moment waiting for Raph to take it all in.

"Can you…Can you turn it off?" Raph finally said.

"Don't you think I've tried!?" Alice snapped. Raph recoiled, even though he couldn't see her, she was just as scary…

"Are you…you're still wearing clothes right?" Raph spoke up again, letting anything enter his brain fly out of his huge gob.

The wooden spoon was suddenly thrown at his head. Raph didn't even notice it and it smacked him in the face.

"Hey! Just coz you're invisible does not mean you get to throw stuff!" Raph growled.

"Of course I'm wearing clothes!" She stood and turned around; Raph finally noticed the floating top and skirt twirling around.

"Jack-ass…" She mumbled.

"Alice, relax. Why don't you come with me to the lab and I'll see if I can get rid of this…?" Donnie hesitated.

"I'm not becoming one of your lab rats Donnie!" Alice's voice couldn't stop from breaking.

Everyone heard it, their faces fell when they heard her weeping softly. Splinter placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I have an idea, follow me Alice." Splinter held out his hand to her, which she took in comfort and followed him as he led her to the dojo.

Splinter closed the door behind them slamming it in the turtle's faces, knowing full well they were following on his tail with curiosity.

Alice smirked when she heard fourth thuds hit the dojo door when Splinter closed it on them. He smiled and turned to Alice walking up to her until he was just a foot away.

"Do you remember the last time you were in here, how I helped you calm your mind?" Splinter said softly.

Alice nodded then, realized he wouldn't have been able to see it. "Yes." She finally said.

"I want you to do it again for me. Close your eyes Alice." Splinter said smiling softly.

Alice obliged and stood still. "I have." She aid, having to explain what she was doing since no one could see her…

"I have found that effects can be altered due to emotion, your worry and chaotic mind is only the beginning…you must calm your mind to be able to control yourself." He started to circle her as he spoke.

Alice stood there taking it all in, she could feel him move around her, keeping her eyes closed she took a deep breathe.

"Good, now. Remember what I said." Splinter stopped in front of her.

Alice imagined herself yet again as the rock in a stream, letting the water wash over her, letting everything pass by as if it never happened. A white hot flash of guilt and horror filled her mind when she thought of her sister, her brow knitted.

"It's alright Alice, just relax and let it wash past you…" Splinter said.

Alice wondered how he could tell she was thinking of it, given he couldn't see her. She frowned a little more as she imagined her sister drifting down the rived slowing straight over her head in the water…Her brow smoothed over and she took another deep breathe.

"Good. Now, open your eyes." Splinter's soft voice came again.

Alice opened her eyes and widened them at the sight of her reflection staring straight back at her. She looked down at herself and stated making sure she was all there.

Looking up at Splinter with an astonished grin. "How did you know...that would work?"

Splinter smirked down at her. "I am wiser then I look."

Alice could have hugged him, but out of respect she just nodded. "Thank you very much, Sensei."

Splinter smiled and bowed slightly, the sound of the door opening slowly broke there moment when they turned to see four turtle heads poking out from around the door.

Alice just rolled her eyes, but soon turned into a grimace when she felt Mikey lunge for her mid-section again.

"ALICE! I'm so glad to see you!" He whimpered.

"Mikey…uh…you were just with me a moment ago…" She grunted out from his grasp.

"Yeah but…I couldn't actually see you…" He sniffled. Alice patted his head an smiled before her eyes locked with Raphs, a small hidden smile appeared on his face she could see the relief in his eyes.

"So…" Donnie started. "It's triggered by emotion…?" He thought out loud.

"It would seem so, as long as I keep calm, hopefully I won't disappear into thin air again…" Alice sighed heavily. She felt Splinters hand on her shoulder again.

"If you wish Alice, we can continue these sessions, I can help train your mind." He offered.

Alice looked up at him and smiled nodding. "I would greatly appreciate that, Sensei."

"I promise Alice, I'll find a cure." Donnie said determined as he started for his lab.

An apologetic Leo walked up to her. "Alice, I'm sorry for…you know…earlier." He rubbed the back of his neck as his words hesitated.

"Don't sweat it Leo, we both got a little heated." She offered a small smile in hopes it would make him feel better.

Leo returned the simple smile and turned to leave the dojo followed by Master Splinter leaving Raph and Alice in the room.

They stood there for a time, their eyes darting from the floor to each other, not entirely sure how to start.

Alice opened her mouth to speak, but the wind was rushed from her lungs when she felt Raph's arms around her in an instant holding her tightly to him. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck burying her face in the crook of his neck.

"You scared me half to death dollface…" He finally said, his words muffled from where he had his head in her shoulder and hair.

"You're not the only one…" She mumbled back.

They pulled away from each other enough so they could look at each other. Raph eyes widened momentarily at the site of Alice's mischievous look in her eyes.

"What?" He asked a little dumbfounded.

Alice grabbed his hand and pulled up towards the door. "Come on I have a surprise for you." She sounded almost too excited to contain it, Raph protested slightly but gave up when she had already pulled him to the entrance of the lair. She grabbed her bag and they disappeared into the sewers.

The others watched with amusement and slight curiosity as Alice dragged Raph out of the liar.

"Awwww where's she goin! I'm hungry!" Mikey whined.

"There's plenty of worms and algae lying around…" Leo teased.

Mikey pulled a disgusted face before diving into the fridge to find something to eat.

…

"Hey Alice, don't you think you should be resting, rather then draggin your boyfriend around the sewers." Raph grunted.

Alice stopped in her tracks when she heard him say the 'B' word, knowing he probably didn't realize he had said it himself; she started dragging him again.

"Trust me, it's worth the drag..." Alice smirked.

They turned a corner in the sewer tunnel and came to a stop, Raph looked around seeing the beans of light shining down from the surface through the holes in the manhole covers. It was a long strip of sewer tunnel with a large opening that looked almost like a stage in a theater.

"Hey, isn't dis, where we…" He remembered the night he had found her in this tunnel begging him to help her, it brought a painful swell to his chest.

"Yep! This is where you found me, it's perfect!" She smirked.

"Perfect for what?" Raph asked raising an eyebrow.

Alice turned and smirked knowingly. "Perfect for a show…" She purred before dropping her bag.

She looked to Raph and twirled her finger, indicating for him to turn around.

"What are you up to…?" He crossed his arms over his chest and chuckled.

"You'll find out, but you have to turn around." Her voice was soft and almost pleading, Raph sighed giving in and turned around closing his eyes.

Alice grinned and quickly changed into her long black dress and heels, there was a ledge to the side out of the water that she stood up on to keep her dress out of the water. Next she took out her speakers, they weren't much but they were enough to make a little sound especially in the echo of the tunnels. She stood in the spotlight of one of the manhole covers and knelt down to press play on the speakers.

Raph eyes snapped open when he heard the sound of soft beating music from behind him.

"What the…?" He turned around not expecting to see what he saw.

She was wearing that long black dress he had seen her in at the bar and one of her legs was tilted out of the slit that ran from the top of her thigh revealing enough to make his shell tighten. He noticed her hips started to pop gently to the music and she swayed slightly side to side.

"We met on a rainy evening in the summertime
Don't think I need to tell you more
I needed a raise I worked so hard for this love of mine, love of mine
Still I got nothing to show for it"

Raph was stunned to silence and a slightly open gob when she started signing, the music and her voice filled the sewers drowning out any other noise there was.

"Here's a simplification of everything we're going though
You plus me is bad news
But you're a lovely creation and I like to think that I am too
But my friend said I look better without you.

Tongue tied and twisted, go on baby and go to my head".

He couldn't stop his legs from moving, taking small steps closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers and she sung only to him. He felt everything tighten when he looked her over. Gulping, he watched her as if hypnotized, this time, there was no one else around, this was a show for him only…

"Babe, baby believe me
If I stay it ain't gonna be easy
Okay, we'll do it your way
But this is the last time
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love coming down
Love on the rocks.

You love the chase but hate me for the runaround
We both just tired of the whole thing.
You tell me what you want you need you know you have to have
And I just pretend I'm listening"

Raph walked a little closer until he was standing just by the ledge, his head coming to level with her abdomen. It made him angry to think that before he couldn't just take her in his arms and let everyone know she was his. There may not have been anyone else around, but this time, he could take her for himself.

"Too tired this time to deal with old suits you wear with your ties that won't bind.

Babe, baby believe me
If I stay it ain't gonna be easy
Okay, we'll do it your way
But this is the last time
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love coming down.

Hot as hell, cold as ice, sip it slow cause it's so nice
Dulls my senses, drives my pain, but I do it again
Burns a bit to the touch, dangerous if it's too much
If this bottle could talk
Love on the rocks"

At those words her wrapped his arms around her hips and picked her up enough to lift her off the ledge. He didn't set her down because of the water but he kept her close enough so he could stare right into her eyes.

"Baby, baby, baby, baby believe me
Okay, we'll do it your way
But this is the last time
You'll hear the beautiful sound of love coming down"

Alice brought her hands to his face and brought his mouth to hers, claiming his lips for her own and kissing him deeply. Raph couldn't prevent a small groan escape his lips and echo down her throat.

Rested their foreheads together Alice smiled running her tongue along her bottom lip, savouring his taste.

"Feel better?" She whispered rubbing her nose against his cheek.

Raph chuckled throatily in response. "I was expectin' you to turn invisible or somethin'…" He chuckled.

"Just don't get me angry and hopefully that won't happen again…" She grumbled against his lips kissing him lightly.

…

Master Splinter was meditating in the dojo, sitting peacefully under the tree in the centre of the room his eyes closed as he embraced the universe.

Leo wondered and knelt before him. "Master, I want to ask you something?" He said hesitantly.

Splinter didn't open his eyes but responded. "How can I help you Leonardo?"

"It's about Raph…and well, Alice…" He started looking down at his hands in his lap.

"What about them?" Splinters cool voice sounded from in front of him.

"You know they're sort of…an item now right?" Leo rubbed the back of his neck before looking up at his master.

"This concerns you?" He responded with a small smile on his lips.

"Doesn't it concern you? Alice, she's giving him false hope of a normal life, we're not normal…I just, don't want to see him get hurt."

Splinter signed and stood opening his eyes he walked over to the shrine where the picture of his lost wife and only child still out there somewhere, sat.

"You all have something that connects you to a normal life Leonardo, Michelangelo has his music and video games, Donnie has his computers and his…feeling for April." He turned around to look at him.

"You have Karai…" He stated simply.

Leo eyes widened at his admission before looking down avoiding his gaze.

"You connection with her made you feel normal, as does your obsession with you cartoon TV series and you collectable figures…" Splinter smirked.

"And as much as it would hurt Donnie and Mikey if something came between their connections, just as it hurt you when something came between you and Karai…that is how hurt Raph would be should something come between him and his connection…" Splinter explained walking to Leo's side and placing a hand on his shoulder.

Leo looked up at him, understanding where he was coming from. "Thank you, for helping me see Sensei." Leo nodded bowing slightly before heading to exit the dojo.

Splinter stoked his long white beard and watched him leave shaking his head slightly he returned to his meditations, thinking on how much his sons have grown.

…

I hope you enjoyed more to come!

xxx