Knowing he no longer had to hide; Raphael went about the next few days peacefully. He was still the hot-headed, arrogant turtle his brothers had come to tolerate, but there moments when he exposed his more sensitive side accidentally. Michelangelo asked April if this was how everyone acted when they liked someone. She would have answered quickly but with three brothers supposedly love-struck, one reading a book paralleling his life and hoarding a sword, one became a babbling idiot whenever he was in her presence, and one who was normally angry at the world converted to a softer version of his self, she couldn't come up with a suitable answer.

"In a lot of cases, yes, but your brothers aren't normal guys."

"No, I guess not. Man, I hope I don't act like Donnie when I find somebody."

April laughed. Mikey was different from the others. She pondered what he would be like with love on his mind. She patted his head and roamed off to her room to make an important phone call.

On Friday evening, Raphael decided to pay Irma a visit. He hadn't seen her all week and thought she could use some well-deserved attention. On his way there, he encountered a couple of purple dragons. Although he came out victorious, Raph let a few blows break his streak. He walked away with a slightly swollen eye and a bloody lip. As he climbed into the window, he could hear Irma in the kitchen. He walked down the hallway and into the living room where a Disney movie menu was displayed on the flat screen. Irma was across the room cooking dinner. Her back was to Raphael as she spoke,

"You know, I really think I should just give you a key."

"How'd you know it was me and not some robber?"

"You have a very distinct walking pattern. Thud thud thudthud thud. It sounds like you're limping."

"Knee problems."

"Gotcha."

"And I told you. I can't come through the front door. Too obvious."

"I meant for the window. It has a lock on….it." Irma had turned around and seen Raph's face. She dropped the food she'd been carrying on the island and rushed over to him. "How'd you get hurt," she asked with concern.

"I had a run-in with some purple dragons. It's nothing."

"You're bleeding and your eye is swollen."

"Only a little. You can barely see it."

"Sit down and relax." Irma pointed to the couch. "I'll be right back."

"Really Champ I'm fi-"

"Sit!"

Raphael sat down. He knew better than to cross a female. As she disappeared into the hallway, Raph examined the food that had been abandoned. There were four quesadillas sitting on a large plate. "She made enough for me," he thought and smiled even though it hurt. Irma came running back with ice, bandages, and tissues. Irma was wearing a black hoodie, denim shorts, and light blue high tops. She sat down on the couch next to him and gently cupped his face in her hands. He winced at the sudden movement.

"Poor baby," she remarked and began to fix the mutant up. She was very careful with everything. As she began to blot the blood rolling out of his mouth, Irma let out a small laugh. "Think of this as returning the favor." He smiled as she moved onto the eye. She grabbed the ice pack and made sure it wasn't completely slushed. As he watched her, Irma kissed the ice pack and held it to his eye.

"What was that for," he asked as he helped support the pack. Irma maintained a hand on it.

"Putting a little love into so it will heal faster. My mom used to do it all the time."

"Makes sense. So what's the plan for tonight?"

"Well, first I have to tell you the amazing news."

"And that would be?"

"Well." She hurried over to the food, picked them up, and sat them down in front of the couch as she got comfortable. "My best friend April called me today. And she said I'd be seeing her soon!"

"So she's coming back to New York?"

"Seems like it!"

"Good to hear. You're not going to forget about me as soon as she comes back are you?"

"That's not going to happen." He smiled. It was good to know he was unforgettable.

"So how would you like to meet the family?"

Irma lit up. She started shaking with excitement.

"You mean that?"

"Of course. They're dying to meet you."

"I'm taking you put in a good word about me?"

"Oh, absolutely."

"So when is it?"

"How's tomorrow morning?"

"Awesome!"

"So you don't mind if I sleep over and guard you until tomorrow morning?"

"Master Splinter allows co-ed sleepovers?"

"He allows them in case of protection. And he'd rather I escort you to the lair then you navigate it own your own."

"Couldn't you have just come by in the morning?" She had him there. His mouth hung open not knowing how to respond. "Is this one of your hair brained schemes to sleep with me?"

"No! I thought you might want some company after a long week of Eat, Study, Work, Repeat." Irma giggled. She loved making Raph uncomfortable. The looks on his face were priceless.

"Fair enough. But no funny business." She stuck her finger into his face in a playful manner.

"Done. Well, how about we eat this awesome food you made."

"I hope you don't mind. I didn't know what you'd like, other than pizza, so I made an educated guess."

"It's great. You're great. Thanks for the medical treatment."

"No problem. "

"So what's on the movie schedule tonight?" Raphael began to relax and extend his arms across the back of the couch. Irma sank down into the couch.

"My favorite, Beauty and the Beast."

"Never seen it." Irma gasped like she had never heard a more ludicrous statement.

"Then prepare to be amazed."

Raphael never thought he would like a Disney movie as much as he liked Beauty and the Beast. It was probably because he could relate to the Beast in a lot of aspects. The only difference was Beast had the opportunity to change back to a human. He did not. Halfway through the movie, Raphael noticed a small creature move in the kitchen.

"What was that?"

"What was what?"

"I saw something move in your kitchen."

"Oh don't worry." She turned toward the kitchen and said, "Come here baby!"

A small cat emerged from behind the island. It was orange with a white belly and had green eyes quite similar to Raph's. The cat jumped into Irma's lap and stood on its hind legs to rub heads with her.

"She's yours?" Raph was amused. The last time he saw a cat it was attacking his younger brother.

"Yes HE is. Raphael, meet Finley. Finley meet Raph."

"Hey buddy," he cooed as he tickled under the feline's chin. Finley quickly warmed to him as the cat was in his lap purring in a matter of seconds.

"I think he likes you."

"Must." The cat had jumped onto Raph's shoulder and continued rubbing against him and purring.

"You have a way with animals," she said.

"Well I kind of am one if you haven't noticed."

"Darn, you can't get anything past me." They all got readjusted and continued watching the movie, with Finley resting in Raph's lap.

Raph had closed his eyes for maybe ten minutes when he woke up. A special feature had begun playing automatically after the movie had ended. Finley had disappeared, but Raph found something else in his lap. Irma had fallen asleep also and her head was rested on his thigh. She was calm and peaceful, slowly rising as she breathed.

"Oh crap," Raph thought. What was he going to do? He wasn't going to move her because that would risk her waking up. He was trapped. "I know, I'll shift and maybe she'll do the same and move to the other side of the couch," he thought. He grabbed the back of the couch where his arms had rested. He gently moved toward her with a slight push. Instead of moving away, Irma moved closer. Her arms extended to his waist and she pulled herself up so that her head rested safely on his plastron. During the process, she let out a few sleeping moans and rubbed her head against his chest. "Great." The turtle panicked slightly then thought of a new plan. "Maybe if I lay down she'll slide off." As he reclined, she only tightened her grip. "Stubborn aren't you?" He stroked her hair as she slept on top of him. "Ah what the shell?" Irma had a giant throw from earlier still draped over her. He pulled it up over the rest of her body and got himself comfortable. He would never admit it, but that was one of the best nights of Raph's life.

Yay fun chapter! So school has gotten really tough in the past week and I'm still currently writing chapter seven. Hopefully I'll be done by next Thursday, but I don't have many free writing days. It's going to get real in chapter seven! So thanks for all the support guys! I'll try my best because I love y'all!