A/N: You have NO IDEA how freaking sorry I am for being this delayed! -cries- I'm so sorry! Oh yeah, and I don't own Ninja Turtles. D:

"Finally he can cut through these strings,
And open my wings!
So goodbye until tomorrow!
Goodbye until my feet touch the floor,
And I will be waiting,
I will be waiting!" – The Last Five Years

--

Raphael was not overly fond of the fact that he had the direct attention of his entire family, save for Splinter. Having the eyes of all three of his brothers watching him as he came in was quite unnerving.

"What?" He barked. Mikey giggled.

"Raph and Hazel, sittin' in a tree---"

"It wasn't my idea!" Donnie added quickly. Raph growled, cracking his knuckles.

"Would someone care to explain this?"

"I only wanted to see what you were doing!" Mikey explained innocently, "Then Donnie followed me!"

"I was trying to get him to come back—"

"Don't even start," Raph growled, walking off. He'd never claimed to be incredibly intelligent or anything, but at least he could understand the concept of privacy…

Hazel, however, was significantly cheerier now, to the point where walking was now an obsolete mode of transportation and skipping was the norm.

"I'm quite possibly crazy!" she sang. "But I'm not the only one!" Despite the fact that Raph hadn't stayed long anyway, she didn't care, because for once, something had gone right for her. With a grin, she finished her painting. If her parents despised it, it didn't mean a damn thing anymore.

She went to bed around midnight, and slept quite well, until a strange nightmare hit her just-happy mind. She couldn't see anything, but something was hitting her so hard she screamed… without sound. Meanwhile, they were demanding something from her, but she couldn't make any sense of it at all… She woke up with a shrill gasp, clutching her pillow tightly to her chest.

Shuddering, Hazel crawled out of bed and got ready to go and visit her newfound friends- who didn't feel new at all, really.

Getting prettied up to go to the sewers, thought Hazel. That must be a new one. She'd heard it was supposed to be fairly warm for this time of year, unlike the rain from the previous day, so she wore a black knee-length skirt, with a red sweater and knee socks.

Hazel hoped they'd be awake. She knew she'd overslept, but she'd never really visited them until it was the afternoon before. She also knew Raph was a complete night-owl--- err, turtle?

After a runny, poorly made omelette, Hazel tied up her white sneakers and was on her way, swinging her arms excitedly as she strolled down the street. A few of her neighbors gave her dirty looks on their way to church before she disappeared into the alley.

"Hi everyone!" she smiled brightly as she entered, brushing herself off a little before she noticed the strange looks etched on their faces.

"D-Did I come at a bad time, guys?"

Mikey giggled again.

"Your sleeping beauty's in his room," he grinned.

"Cut it out!" Donnie nudged him in the ribs as Hazel blushed.

"W-What're you guys talking about?" she asked in fake innocence. How the hell did they find out?!

Leo, who had been silent the whole time, sighed.

"Hazel… We—"

"Mind your own business, Leo," huffed Raph, who had returned from his room.

"Oh! Raph!" squeaked Hazel, biting her lip and turning as red as her sweater.

"Don't you guys have anything better to do?" Raph growled, baring his teeth. "C'mon, Hazel." With that, he set his hand on her shoulder and led her out, glaring at Leo as he passed him.

"Where're we going?" Hazel asked quietly, her eyes fluttering back and forth as they walked through the dark, damp sewer tunnels.

"Nowhere, really," Raph shrugged. "I'm just sick of 'em, ya know?"

"I-I suppose I see where you're coming from. Then again, I'm an only child, too…" Raph snorted.

"Lucky."

"Who would you talk to without your brothers?"

"You?"

"I'm not always around, and besides, you just met me. That'd be a lonely life, w-wouldn't it?" Raph shrugged.

"You tell me."

"W-Well, it is lonely. E-Especially if you don't have any friends." Hazel looked down at her feet, biting her lower lip.

"Come on." Raph sat down on the edge of the concrete, and Hazel followed shakily, peering down. She did not want to fall, so she held on tight to Raph's arm.

"H-How'd they find out?"

"Mikey, that brat, followed me, and so did Donnie."

"T-They'd find out anyway, r-right?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right about that one. I don't really give a damn what they think, anyway…"

"They're your brothers," Hazel smiled, "You have to care a little bit, d-don't you?"

"Stop it," Raph smirked. "You're going to make me seem like a big sap." Hazel giggled, and it echoed off the dark walls. She had to stretch to kiss him on the cheek, but she didn't mind.

"I'll be right back, okay? I just have to check something. I'll only be a minute."

"O-Okay… I'll wait."

Raph was true to his word- he'd only took a few minutes to go back and nab what he was looking for, but when he returned, there was no Hazel waiting for him. In fact, he searched all over the place without finding her.

"R-Raph? Wh-Where am I?" Hazel stammered, looking around. She couldn't move, and everything was dark… Suddenly, the thin silhouette of a woman stopped in front of her.

"Finally you awake… Miss Hazel."

--

Candy Stars: Oh, the suspense:D I promise not to wait so long, guys. In fact, I'm writing a sequel to this fic… Before it's finished! I think that'll make it more interesting, to see how things end up… then find out why they happened that way. You know what I mean?

Thank you all so much for your reviews, watches, etc! It means tons to me!