Heyyyyyyyy everyone! I'm soo sorry for the delay, I've been having writers block lately and I'm finding it harder to concentrate on certain stories, so that would explain why this story is so short. But none the less, please enjoy. Also, one last thing before you go on reading chapter two, I just want to say something.

ATTENTION ALL DEVIANTART PEOPLE: I really really REALLY want a fan made cover for this story, so if you're interested in making a cover for this story please pm me or leave me a review. I would like to see Karai and Leonardo on it together at least, but anything else can be added. So keep that in mind please.

Anyway, enjoy and review!

Raphael Pov

I slam my spoon into my bowl and bring the cereal into my mouth, chewing loudly. I glare at my older brother and his fiancé. I'm not mad at them, I'm just fed up with them. Every night they argue and then act as if the other doesn't exist during the day. It keeps me up at night, they are in the room next to mine so their constant bickering keeps me up at night. I've talked to Don and Mike, and they both said that Karai and Leonardo's fightin' is keepin' their eyes peeled during the dark hours of night as well. We agreed not to say anything just yet, we'll let them work out their own differences. But last night was the last straw. They've been living here for not even three weeks and I'm already wanting them out. Last night they were yelling back and forth nonstop for a good hour and a half until Leonardo finally left the room and slept on the living room couch. Then, not even two hours later Karai starts screaming, once again, and the whole house rushes to see what's going on, again. This also happens nightly. She apparently has reoccurring nightmares of the incident, and only Leonardo can calm her down. After that they sleep together for the rest of the night but then ignore each other the next day. I'm completely done with this bullshit.

"So, what we fightin' 'bout now?" My tone is impatient and what I just said was completely rude, but I am not sorry. Not one bit. There are bags under everyone's eyes in this household due to lack of sleep, which is caused by Leo's and Karai's constant bickering. They've been acting so childish, giving each other the cold shoulder everyday and then blowing up at each other each night. Don said their fighting is most likely caused from stress and depression from their child loss, which I understand completely. They lost a child and they're upset, I am too. I'm very sorry and so is everyone else in the family. But that doesn't mean that we can just let their arguing slide without at least telling them that it's affecting us.

"Raph." Donatello hisses from beside me. Don's been keeping an eye on me a lot lately, making sure I'm not getting myself into trouble. This lack of sleep is making my temper and self control go haywire, and I sometimes go a little too far. Donnie can keep me in line most of the time. Most of the time.

"Raph, me and Karai fighting does not concern you." Leonardo says firmly. I laugh. The look in his eyes is just hilarious. It's the look at he used when giving orders as a leader. It's been a year since I last saw that look in his deep blue eyes.

"Well, it shouldn't concern me. And it wouldn't concern me. If it wasn't causing me to loose sleep." By saying this, I make it known that his and Karai's clashing is disrupting everyone's sleep.

"I'm sorry we didn't realize that. We'll be quieter after you guys go to bed." Leonardo states in a dealing tone before going back to the pancakes in his plate.

I give my older brother a look of disbelief. You're freaking kidding me, right? They'll be quieter? This is fucking crazy. Just a couple months ago I was trying to start wars between Karai and my brother, but they just wouldn't break. They have this relationship that very few people have. They nearly broke up twice in just two days, and that only made their relationship stronger. But now...now I'm trying to get them to stop fighting and they don't care that they are. They just let their anger out on each other with complete carelessness. Sure, that's easier than talking things out, trust me I've been there. But...they don't seem to want to get better. And that pisses me off. They love each other, they're engaged. Sure, they lost a child and yes, that sucks big time, but that doesn't mean that they're over. That just means that they have to be stronger, and that they need to be there for each other now more than ever. Gah, if only they'd listen to me.

"So...you aren't going to try to solve the problem? You're just going to sit around fighting nonstop?" I ask in fake confusion. I understand that he doesn't want to talk about it, but I at least need my brother to admit that he's gonna try to turn things around with Karai.

"How me and Karai handle our arguments is none of your concern." Leonardo shakes his head slightly and I can sense his impatience rising. Out of the corner of my eye, I can see Donnie giving me a wary look, looking quite apprehensive as to how this will play out.

Karai sits next to Leonardo, staring at her plate, holding her fork against her half eaten pancake, seemingly lost in thought. She looks pained. I know that she's listening to this conversation, everyone is.

"Leo, it's almost as if you don't want to make up with Karai-" I hardly got a chance to finish before Leonardo hissed my name in a warning of a tone. But I ain't backin' down. From my spot across from her, I can see the pain in Karai's eyes as she holds back tears and attempts to be strong. She's trying to act as if the constant fighting doesn't bother her, but I know it does. I don't want her to have to suffer just because my stuck-up brother doesn't know how to work shit out.

"No, Leo, I'm serious. She's your fiancé, the love of your life, and you're sitting here fighting with her nightly as if you're on some sorta battlefield! You need to get off of your damn high horse, realize you've done shit, and fucking work things out!" I'm standing now, and so is Leo. I'm yelling now, with a fire in my emerald eyes.

Karai stands up and walks out of the kitchen, shutting the door behind her a bit carelessly. She has a determined expression on her face, an expression worn to show strength.

Leonardo stands across from me, glaring at me with such hatred that I don't even know what to think. "See what you've done, you startled her." His voice is even worse. It's as if I'm talking to someone completely different, a stranger that I've never met. Not at all my older brother.

"Oh, I startled her? She probably left because you aren't doing a damn thing about your guys' fighting! She's upset about it, Leo, I could see it in her eyes. You may not because she's wearing a strong expression, but if you would just look into her eyes for two damn seconds-" Once again, I'm cut off by my infuriated brother.

"AND HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?! HOW WOULD YOU KNOW HOW MY FIANCÉ IS FEELING?!" Leonardo barks. I'm taken aback by the sudden outburst. Who is this man? Certainly not my brother, that's for sure.

"Because I've been there, Leo! I've worn a mask of strength during hard times! She just wants you to comfort her, and you're doing the exact opposite! No wonder you guys fight so much, it's as if you've lost all interest in her." I accuse daringly.

Leonardo clenches his fists, and his body tenses in fury. "You take that back." He hisses in a deadly tone.

Oh, but I ain't backin' down. I've come this far, I ain't gonna turn back now. I've been accused of many things, but bein' a coward ain't one of them. "Make me." And before I know it, I'm being pressed up against the wall with Leonardo's nails digging into my neck. Can't...breath...can't...breath...

"LEO STOP!" Donatello and Michelangelo are trying their hardest to pry Leonardo off of me, and when Leonardo's grip loosens, I kick him where the sun don't shine and make a run for it. Donnie drags me off to his office and Mike tags along. Leonardo is left in the kitchen to marvel at the disaster he just caused.

In Donnie's office, he has me sit on his desk while he examines my pulse and eyes. Mikey stands next to me, quietly observing the checkup of sorts. "Does your neck hurt at all?" Donatello asks me as he shines a small light into my eyes.

"No, but my eye sure is burning." I answer in a sarcastic tone.

Donnie ignores my statement and moves onto my pulse. After a couple seconds he speaks again, "Okay, so your pulse is average and your eyes look normal. If anything hurts, let me know." My younger brothers starts packing his tools pack into a small box.

"Thanks, D. I just can't believe Leo did that. He's been acting so strange lately..." My voice trails off at the end as I state the obvious. Both of my brothers nod in agreement with what I said, and Donatello adds an explanation to my statement. "Yes, I do agree. But there is a highly reasonable explanation behind Leonardo's short temper. You see, Leo has been in a state of depression since the child loss, along with Karai. Both are so worried about looking vulnerable or weak, so their brains instead replace the sadness with anger." What I got out of Don's little speech is that both Karai and Leo are too worried about ruining their reputations to admit their sadness to one another, so they instead yell at each other nonstop. Yeah, seems pretty legitimate.

"Well, in that case, it looks like Karai's gonna need a shoulder to lean on, and considering Leo is too selfish to lend a shoulder, I guess I will."

Karai Pov

I sit on the porch swing on the rooftop of the crowded penthouse, looking out at the waking city around me. It's only about ten a.m., and the sun is already high in the sky. Summer, the days get longer the nights get shorter.

And your fiancé gets more pesky.

I hear the door open leading from the inside of the house to the rooftop, and I don't bother turning around. I know who it is. "Get away from me, Leonardo." I say in an already impatient tone.

"Actually, it's Raphael." I turn around to see Leonardo's most hotheaded brother leaning against the door. "Can I sit?" He asks. I nod my head solely as he walks over to me and sits down. "Sorry if I startled you earlier. I wasn't trying to be rude or anything." The apology is completely uncalled for and I can't help but ponder at it.

"What do you mean? At breakfast? I didn't leave because of you, it was Leo who was pissing me off." I roll my eyes as I think back to my fiancé and his stubborn attitude.

"Well, in that case, mind if I ask you a couple questions?" Raphael's voice makes it sound likes he taking a leap and I know that he'll take no for an answer. But, because I'm bored and have nothing better to be doing on this cloudy Saturday morning, I'll answer any question asked.

"No, I don't mind at all."

"Okay, thanks. So..why do you guys fight all of the time now? You used to be so close." Ah, the million dollar question. If only I knew myself...

"The incident really screwed things up for us and we haven't really been able to pick up the pieces." I sound so fucking stupid. So weak. So childish. Talking about my feelings as if it's everyone's business to know. How foolish of me. Yet I keep answering these questions until there are no more.

"Why haven't you guys done anything to stop fighting?" I heave a sigh. Why haven't we? "Well...I don't know. I mean, we hate fighting all of the time, and we both want things to go back to the way they were. But...there's this space between us. And I don't know how to get rid of it. Neither of us do. So, instead we yell and scream. Because that's easier." I didn't know that that's what was going on. My mouth did the talking for me, while my mind listened and agreed completely.

"Well have you at least talked to each other about the fighting? It really needs to stop." Why is talking to me about this? Couldn't he just ask his brother or something?

"No. We haven't sat and talked in a while. Not since..." I can't even finish my sentence it upsets me so much. The doctors words ring through my head as I think back to when I first received the news. "I'm sorry, Ms. Oroku, but your daughter didn't make it." My eyes had gone red and had tears stung them. Why me? Why Leo? Why us? Why couldn't this happen to some other couple?

We've done nothing but good since getting together.

Right?

We deserve our happiness.

Don't we?

I suddenly feel a hand on my shoulder, putting an end to my upsetting thoughts. My head jerks to the side, and I find myself staring into Raphael's compassion filed eyes. The pair of dark green eyes staring at me are unexpected and surprisingly comforting. It feels nice to have someone look at me like this again, it's been so long. Not even Leonardo cares for my emotions anymore.

"I'm really sorry about what happened, Karai. Neither of you did anything to deserve something like that. All though Leo may seem like he doesn't care about you at the moment, he does. He loves you, don't forget that." Raphael's tone is a mixture of firm and support, an odd mix of emotions that isn't found often. It makes him sound strong. Not physically strong, but emotionally; and that boosts my self esteem up just a little bit.

"I know that he loves me...but I don't feel like it. It's been forever since he last held me in his arms and told me he loved me. Apart of me feels like his feelings towards me have changed...that he's mad at me for what happened." I speak what's on my mind, though that is a risky choice. I could end up in some trouble if I'm not careful, yet I'm risking my safety, stepping out of my comfort zone to try something new.

"Nothing you do will ever change the fact that Leo loves you, trust me on that one. I've tried everything in my power to get him to break up with you, but it never worked. Each time I attempted to break you guys up, you just came back stronger than ever. I hated your relationship up until a little while after me and Mona broke up. I suddenly realized how strong you two were to be able to forgive and forget so easily, and I realized how beautiful that is. I respect your relationship now, I truly do. You guys are the perfect couple. I have never, in my entire life, seen a couple so in love and passionate about each other." I exchange a half smile with my future brother-in-law. "Besides, there's no reason for him to be mad at you. You did nothing wrong, there's nothing you could've done to prevent...it." Raphael says, referring to the incident.

A lie. A terrible, terrible lie that is. I could've done something to prevent it. I knew it was going to happen. I knew my father was going to harm me and my child, and I did nothing. Me and Mona didn't actually tell anyone what exactly Shen had told us, just that we had re-contacted her. I should've done something. If I had told Leonardo about what Shen told me and if I had taken the time to convince him to take us here then I would be holding my daughter in my arms right now. But, of course, I did nothing.

I look away from Raphael, and out into the morning sun. I process my thoughts and turn them into something bigger, humbling everything together into one big explanation. "But...what if there was? What if I could have done something?" Raphael gives me an oddly confused look at the questions I asked. "What do ya mean?"

I heave a sigh. I need to tell him, I need to tell someone soon before I burst. I must get this off of my chest. "My dad called me. He told me that he knew that I was pregnant and that he intended on visiting soon. Then Shen told me that Saki was going to cause a miscarriage and that there wasn't a way to stop it. Though, I'm positive that if I had just tried hard enough-"

"Karai, stop it right now and look at me." Raphael uses a stern tone, the kind that Leonardo uses when he's in leader mode. I turn and look at Raphael, obeying his order. "None of this was your fault. You couldn't have done anything to prevent it from happening, no one could have. Your father is a very unpredictable man, none of us saw it coming. Please, don't blame this on yourself." Then he does something that in a book or movie would be called a plot twist.

Raphael leans forward and holds me in an embrace. I hug back, happy to have the physical comfort that I have lacked for so long.

"I won't." I murmur as I close my eyes and savor the short moments spent in the friendly hold.

A bond is forming between me and Raphael, I can feel it. Respect is forming for him deep inside of my soul, and I know that this could be a start to a friendship.

We pull apart and a question from earlier appears back in my mind; Why is he taking to me about this? "Why did you come to me about all of this instead of your brother?"

Raphael sighs and rubs the back of his neck nervously. "Something...Er-well happened after you left the kitchen."

I raise my eyebrows and my body perks up in curiosity. "What happened, exactly?"

"Leo...he choked me." My eyes widen and I stand up, already making my way towards the door. Oh, when I find Leonardo he is so dead! It's one thing to be fighting with me, but to be choking your own brother, that's something completely different. "Karai, wait, there's a reasonable explanation!" Raphael chases after me. Somehow, he gets between me and the door.

"And what is that reasonable explanation?!" I demand, infuriated with my fiancé. What has gotten into Leonardo lately? He's..he's changing.

"I accused him of not caring about you anymore and that pissed him off. Please, whatever you do, don't go off on him about this." Wait..what? Why is he so protective of us not fighting? Why does it concern him? Why does he care all of a sudden?

"I can't make any promises, I'm sorry." I push past Raphael and make my way towards my sinning lover.

What's going on with Raphael and Karai? What's going to happen between Karai and Leonardo? Are they gonna get better, or will things just get worse for them? I hope you enjoyed chapter two, please review! Have a nice 4th of July everyone, and stay safe!

-RaphSai03