Raphael sat up in bed and swung his legs over the side. It was getting late and the sewer had grown quiet about fifteen minutes earlier. He got up and walked over to the door, peering out in the dark for any signs of his brothers or master. When all seemed clear he took a leap off the balcony railing and landed soundlessly on the floor. With one last glance around he headed for the door.

"Are you sneakin' out again, Raph??"

Raphael felt a shock crawl up his spine and whirled, slamming Michelangelo into the nearest wall and planting a hand over his mouth.

"What are you doing up??" he hissed. Mike lifted the pizza box in his hand defensively and shook Raphael's hand from his face.

"Midnight snack," he said and blinked. "What's up? Are you goin' out for some action??"

"Would you keep it down?" Raph whispered, his eyes darting around. "I'm just goin' for a ride, alright??"

"Cool! Can I come?" Mikey declared. Raphael waved his hands around and clamped them over Michelangelo's mouth again. Why did he have no concept of quiet? Why??

"Shhhshhshhshh! No. I'm goin' alone!" he said.

"Awe...why not?" Mikey pouted. "I never get to ride on your bike... I never get to drive anything...!"

"Mike, listen.. I need you to shut up, okay? It's hard enough gettin' out of here without Leo gettin' on my case.. I don't need the entire place woken up!" He lowered his eyes and gave a deep sigh. He never really felt like he needed to explain his plans to anybody, but Mike was just like any little brother. If he left Mike wondering, chances are he'd get followed. He wasn't sure he could take it if any of them knew where he was planning on going. Normally, it wouldn't be so weird...but at night?

"What's up with you, Raph. You're turnin' all red." Raphael restrained the urge to strangle Mike.

"Listen.. Mike.. I'm gonna tell you where I'm goin'...but you hafta promise me you'll keep your trap shut about it."

Mike paused on the piece of pizza he was knawing, the cheese drooping between his mouth and the slice. Raphael never shared secrets. AWESOME!

"Sure, Raph. Cross my heart n' hope to...well..you know," he grinned.

"I'm goin' ta see April," Raph murmured.

"You're going to the Cedar Grill? Is that a new place?"

"NO!" Raph cringed and quieted himself quickly. "April... I'm going to see AP-RIL." Mike blinked.

"Oooh... Can I come?" Raph smacked a hand against his face.

"No. I'm going to see her alone," he emphasized. Mike looked at him a moment and then in took a big breath.

"Oooooooooooooooh YOU 'an APRIL are goin' on a DATE, huh??!! You sly dog!"

Raphael grew five shades redder. At least Mikey had converted to loud whispering by this point.

"Please...shut up." Mike muffled his mouth and giggled. "You promise to keep your mouth shut??" Mike nodded furiously and saluted...then promptly went back to muffled giggles. Raph shook his head. "One word out of you and you're dead." Turning, he walked as fast as he could out the door. He had to get away from the laughing. Was it such a ridiculous idea? Him and April? Not that he was thinking that, mind you. Oh, not at all. And it wasn't a date. He wasn't going on a date. She didn't even know about it yet... er...the plans...that were not a date. Raph ascended to street level and to the warehouse where they stored his bike and the armored car. Walking over to the motorcycle, he pulled the cover from it and took a seat. Suddenly, he felt better. Nothing like a nice, loud bike to make a guy feel a little less like a pansy. His hands gripped the handles as he revved it up and headed out onto the street.

It wasn't ridiculous... She ...she could have as much interest in him as anybody. It's not like they were THAT different. Raphael had to admit to himself he had entertained thoughts before. April was an attractive female...and spicy to boot. He adored her attitude...her dedication...friendship...and, well...everything.

"Damnit," he cursed under his breath as he rode along. Even if he told himself that what he thought of April was fine and dandy, what would she think if she knew? Wouldn't it make sense? She was really the only woman they ever talked to... What else could she expect? Even so...did she ever think that way about them...? About him?

Casey Jones had been in the picture for awhile and it was annoyingly hard to compete with him in a field like that. He basically had the same attitude that Raphael had, too...but he was ..well, human. The only problem was that Casey had a bad habit of ticking April off with little effort. He would say or do something that would send her into a rage, like a couple nights ago...and she would fume about it for days or weeks depending on how bad it was. They always ended up back together for some reason. Raphael liked Casey well enough, they had a lot of common interests. This particular one, however, wasn't something Raphael really wanted to share.

He slowed his bike and drifted into the alley by April's apartment, glancing up at her window and letting the engine rumble to a halt. His hands gripped the handles mildly. This was so frustrating! He just wanted to hit something! What if! What if?!

"Raph??" The turtle's mind cleared at the sound of his name from above and he saw April leaning out her window. "I thought I recognized that bike."

"April...!" he called.

"Just a sec - I'll be right down!" He nodded and pretty soon April rounded the corner of the building to greet him.

"I thought you mighta been asleep by now," he said.

"I wasn't feeling very tired," she said, tucking her hands into the pockets of her hooded jacket as she came to stand by him. "But, I suppose you never are." Raphael chuckled.

"Naw. I think I'm completely nocturnal now." He looked at her and she smiled, causing him to turn his head a little. Neither said a word for a moment.

"So..what-"

"Did you-" They said simultaneously.

"You first," April chuckled.

"Right. Uh. Did you wanna...go for a ride with me?" he managed, much to his relief.

"Seriously? You never let anyone ride your bike, Raph," she teased, raising a brow at him.

"Always a first time," he shrugged, trying to keep it casual.

"Sure.. Why not?" she finally responded and moved behind him to get on. One small problem, Raphael's shell didn't offer her much room to sit or anything to really hang on to. "I'm not sure this is gonna work, Raph."

"No, no. We're good," he insisted and slipped off the seat, ushering her forward and taking a seat behind her. I won't give up that easy! April scooted forward and Raph patted the handle bars. "Hands up here." She placed her hands there and he rested his own slightly to the side of them. "Good?"

"Good," April nodded. Raph nodded and revved the bike up, speeding it out onto the back roads. April yelped a little at the initial rush and then straightened up once the momentum had steadied. "Hoo.."

"Sorry 'bout that," Raph said lightly. "Usually just me."

"No, it's fine," April responded, leaning back into him a little bit for comfort's sake. If he hadn't been there she would have felt like she might fly off the bike at any second. Raph quietly let out a deep sigh. This was the best idea ever. "What brought this on, anyway?"

"Just wanted to get out," he replied, figuring that was as good an excuse as any. April nodded, seemingly satisfied. Raphael pondered a moment at how ready she seemed to get out of the apartment. It was like she had been ready the moment he'd gotten there - like she'd been expecting it. He had been visiting her a little more regular than usual...maybe she just figured he'd show up again. What made him anxious was the fact she seemed...happy to see him.

He shifted a little behind her and inched his hands on the handles over top hers. "Ready?"

"For?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at him. He grinned and rolled the handles, sending the bike screeching forward on one wheel. April screamed. The front tire contacted asphalt again after a few seconds and the bike sped along a little faster. April had sunk down against him and he looked at her. Her eyes were wide with surprise.

"Come on, that's not safe," he chuckled, using one hand to tug her back up into a proper sitting position. He slowed the bike a little and left one arm around her waist for a moment longer than he needed to.

"That was soooo...mean," April huffed a breath...but she grinned at the same time.

"I know. I'm just full of it," Raph said. By this point they had come to Central Park, where he brought the bike to a halt and let the engine die. Reluctantly, he unwrapped his arm from April's waist and got off the bike. She followed him, rubbing her legs a little to get the wobble out of them. The park was fairly deserted at this time of the night, if you knew which parts to go to. The night was fair and only a little chilled, a small breeze causing the trees to rustle.

Raph moved to lean against the trunk of one of the trees and crossed his arms.

"April...?"

"Yeah?" she asked, tucking her hands in her pockets again. Raphael closed his eyes and bowed his head a little.

"You 'n Casey... kinda been going together awhile, right?"

"Pft. I guess. We've broken up more times than we've made up. I'm not sure what you'd call that," she said, waving a hand dismissively.

"But he made you happy, right?" He said, lifting his head a little.

"Sometimes, yeah," she admitted. "There's always good parts to relationships or else you wouldn't be in them...well..most people anyway. Honestly, the last couple of nights have been the most fun I've had in awhile, Raph." Raphael looked at her fully now.

"Yeah?"

"Mmhmm. You're a blast when you want to be." Raphael resisted the urge to puff out his chest and strut.

"We've known each other awhile...I mean.. us.. uh..the guys and I, I mean," he said and mentally kicked himself for throwing in the last bit. Just be direct, you idiot!

"Seems like ages," April said, with another of her charming smiles...which wasn't helping Raph's heart keep quiet.

"Well... I mean.. what if... Did you ever consider..." For cripes sake, spit it out! "Mikey?" WHAT?! No! That's not what I meant!!!

"Michelangelo?" April asked, raising her eyebrows. "Mikey?" She chuckled a little. "That's silly." Raphael cursed in his head and bit his tongue in frustration so hard it hurt. "I don't think we'd ever work out, for obvious reasons." His teeth clenched a little and it was all he could do to not want to tear into the tree behind him.

"Right...Obvious."

"Far too rambunctious...," she touched her fingers to her lips and smiled at the idea, hugging herself with the other arm. "I don't think I could handle all that energy." She shook her head and looked at Raph again. "Are you okay?"

"Henh??" Raphael looked at her, eyes wide, having broke a small sweat. "M'fine."

"Oh, no..." April said, stepping close to him. "I'm sorry. That was rude, wasn't it? If Michelangelo has a crush on me... I... I promise I can let him down easy, Raph. I wouldn't dream of hurting your brother," she insisted frantically. Raphael finally let out a breath that he'd been holding and looked at her.

"Mikey doesn't have a crush on you," he finally said. April opened her mouth silently and nodded, pressing a hand to her forehead in relief.

"Ohhh, thank god. I was worried that you came here to tell me for him and that I'd gone and been all heartless and laughed about it. Mikey is sweet, really... I adore him..but ...honestly," she said, smiling crookedly. "What?" Raphael was looking at her rather intently.

"But it doesn't...bug you."

"What?"

"That...well...," he gestured at himself.

"Well.. I admit it's a little ..different... And... pursuing something like that would be...strange.. but.. I mean. You guys are my best friends... Should that really matter...?" she said lightly. Raphael felt like he was going to collapse.

"April..."

"Yeah?"

"I...m...glad you feel that way," he said.

She nodded again. "Are you sure you're okay. You look like you're going to be sick."

"I'm not sure I won't be," he admitted. "Let me take you home..." April hesitated a moment and then nodded. Had she said something wrong? Raphael climbed on the bike after she had taken her seat in front of him, his stomach in utter knots. The ride back was done in a somewhat awkward silence. April tried to get something from Raphael's body language while they rode, but nothing came. The time when they rounded into the alley came all too soon. "Here you go." April sat on the bike a moment and glanced over her shoulder at him. She shifted so she could face him sideways.

"Did I do something, Raph?" He looked at her a moment, his expression unusually soft, then shook his head. April's brows curved upward, concerned. "Is there anything I can do...?" she offered. Plenty, he thought, but his tongue had gone to rubber at this point.

"Can I hold you?" he asked quietly. April tilted her head at the request.

"I suppose so," she responded and turned a little further, extending her arms. He wrapped his arms around her form and pulled her close. He rested his nose against her hair. April tilted her head against his, chin on his shoulder. Raphael needed hugs?...Why not? Didn't everyone? She tightened her hug a little bit. Whatever he needed it for...it was important. "You know, you didn't have to ask."

Raphael brought a hand to the small of her back and let his fingers brush there. April leaned back a little to look at him in the eyes, bringing a hand up to brush his cheek.

"Well, you feel better...," she said with a light smile. Her eyes watched his a moment, searching. "Raph...?"

"Hn?" he asked.

"Why did you ask me that?"

He couldn't say it. Why couldn't he say it? Why wouldn't his tongue work?

After a moment of silence, April nodded. "It's gonna be okay, Raph. I promise." She leaned around and kissed him on the cheek, and his head moved a little, wanting to have that kiss...but he stopped himself and let it go where it was intended. When she pulled back, she smiled again and pulled from him, sliding from the bike. "Don't be a stranger, okay?" He managed to nod and watched as she turned, with a small wave...to disappear around the corner and go home.

He sat there a moment, still. After April had basically admitted she would consider being with them...why was he still afraid? He wasn't supposed to be afraid of anything. Did humans have this problem, too - where everything stopped working. If he didn't have the control he could have easily turned into an awkward mess. But she let him...didn't she? She kissed him...didn't she? Why not?

Why not...?