Raph frowned as he held Cat tightly while they lay in their bed. He'd noticed the steady increase in her temperature and she was sweating now. He'd helped her out of the wet clothes and she'd crawled straight into bed to warm up. Raph had quietly cuddled her as she'd fallen asleep. That had been several hours ago.
Now as she trembled, he knew she was definitely carrying a fever. She also carried a slight shift in her scent which said she was sick. She'd caught cold from being outside so long in the rain with no protection. He felt his guts twist with guilt. She'd run off because of him – because he couldn't tell her how he really felt. He'd never let a thing like that happen again, his pride be damned. His grip tightened on her and she shifted a little closer.
"I'm still cold." She murmured against his chest.
He sighed. "I know. How about I get you something warm to eat?"
She leaned back to look at him. "Okay, I must be sick. Because I thought I just heard you offer to cook something for me?"
He snorted. "I can warm soup." His eyes softened. "I'll get you some tea too."
"Now I must be getting delirious." She teased softly.
He chuckled, stroking her cheek. His eyes grew dark. "I'm sorry. You're sick because of me."
"No, I'm sick because I was stupid enough to run out into a rainstorm without a coat. I don't blame this on you." She yawned and closed her eyes.
He pressed a kiss to her brow. "Sleep, I'll get that soup for you." She shivered as he left the bed. He tucked the covers around her before leaving.
When Raph crossed the living room, he paused to stare at Kala, who looked like she was about to fall asleep. Beside her sat Mira with a bowl of dry cereal. He patted her head. "Hey, munchkin." She smiled up at him and then went back to watching cartoons.
On a blanket on the floor, Kaz was laying on his plastron kicking his little legs. He looked around and gurgled happily. Raph shook his head. He remembered hearing the infant wake only about ten minutes after they'd gotten home. Taking pity on Kala, he nudged her shoulder. She started and blinked up at him. "You want some coffee?"
She nodded then blinked. "Uh, you know how to make coffee?"
He shrugged. "Mikey does it, how hard can it be?"
Kala chuckled lightly as he turned and entered the kitchen to try his hand at warming the soup. He'd done it once or twice before and felt pretty comfortable with that part. Tea was simple enough too. He eyed the coffee maker. Coffee, however, was a different story.
He started the soup and tea then turned his attention to the coffee pot. "Now, where does Sarah keep Don's coffee at?" After a few moments of rummaging through the cabinets he found the elusive bag. He looked it over for instructions but there weren't any. He frowned. Well, maybe this would be harder than he thought. He dumped some water in the maker and then put two large scoops of coffee in the top. He turned the unit on with a smirk. "Hey, that wasn't so bad."
Leo climbed from his bed and stretched. He smiled as he bent to push a long dark lock from Amaya's sleeping face and place a kiss on her cheek. Then slipped on his gear and headed out into the kitchen, past Mira, Kala and Kaz. He blinked in surprise to find Raph stirring a pot on the stove.
"Hey, Raph. How are you doing?"
Raph glanced at him over his shoulder. "To tell the truth, I'm still pretty ticked at that Dandrick creep." He sighed. "But I need to focus on Cat right now."
Leo slipped into a chair, looking at his hands. "How is she feeling?" The question sounded lame. He knew she was probably just as upset that some stranger had kissed her as Raph was. And although she was tough around the edges, he knew she was just as fragile as the other girls on the inside.
"I think she's sick." Raph's voice was tinged with anger and regret. He was still mad at himself for making Cat take off like that.
Leo looked up. "Sick? Have you told Don or Sarah yet?"
"Yeah, she's running a fever. It's probably from being out in the rain for so long last night." Raph moved to pour the soup into a bowl. "And no, I haven't told them yet. I thought maybe some soup and tea might make her feel better first."
Leo glanced past him at the coffee pot. "And I assume the coffee is for Kala?"
Raph couldn't help the small smile as he poured Cat's tea and Kala's coffee. "Yeah, looks like she needs it."
Leo gave a small chuckle and then frowned. "Say, Raph, you okay with me and Amaya going away tonight?"
Raph grinned. "Yeah, bro. Don't worry, we'll be alright. You just go enjoy yourselves."
Leo smiled slyly. "Oh, I plan on it."
Raph shook his head with a laugh as he left with the tray of food. "Honeymooners."
As he headed back across the living room, he stopped to hand Kala the coffee. She eyed it for a moment before taking a tentative sip. She nearly gagged as her mouth was filled with grit. Raph blinked at her. "What?"
She shook her head not wanting to hurt his feelings. "Uh, it's just too strong. I better get some sugar."
"Oh." He nodded and walked off.
Kala got up and took her mug back into the kitchen. Leo eyed her as she dumped it out. "Raph forgot to use a filter." She explained, earning a laugh from Leo. Coffee grounds filled the bottom of the sink. She glanced at the full pot that was still on the warmer. "Oh, well, better get rid of the evidence before Sarah or Donnie find it like that."
Across the lair, Sarah lay on her stomach in their bed. She let out a soft sigh as Donnie slid his hands gently over her bare body. When he came to the long scar on her right arm, he traced it gently with his fingers. Despite the nearly ten years since its creation, it still held a firm line of scar tissue. She turned her head to look up at him as a wave of his regret filled her. "It was a long time ago."
"I know." He said softly, trailing his large fingers over it. "But it doesn't mean I wish I couldn't have prevented it any less. I wish….I wish we would have had this healing power back then. We might have been able to avoid this."
She caught his hand and turned fully to him. She slid over to lie against his chest and he sighed, the sensation making his entire body relax. "You know," she said softly against his plastron, "I could say the same thing. You have a lot more scars than I do." She lifted her arm to look at the mark. "Thing is, I don't regret it. It reminds me of where we've been and how far we've come. And it also reminds me every day how precious this life is that we have together."
He propped himself up on an elbow so he could look down into her eyes. He smiled. "How did you get so wise, my love?"
She grinned. "I guess it rubbed off from you."
"Oh, yeah?" He teased as he leaned down.
She giggled. "Yeah." He closed this distance between them, capturing her lips with unrestrained passion.
Mikey rolled over and instinctively reached for Kala and frowned when he found the place beside him empty. He sighed as he opened his eyes. That's right Kala took Kaz out so I could sleep. I didn't realize having a kid was going to cramp my style so much. He sat up and started putting on his gear. The thought melting away as he looked at the crib against the wall. But I wouldn't change a thing. He stepped into the living room and smiled.
Kala was asleep on the couch, while on the floor Mira was lying next to Kaz reading him a story. He chuckled when he saw the title: The Tortoise and The Hare. Mira was trying her best to do the voices like he did and it made him laugh more. He picked up a blanket and laid it over Kala as he stepped around the couch. "Hey, can I read it with you, dudette?"
"Of course!" Mira hopped up and handed him the book. Mikey scooped up Kaz, who was still making happy noises. Putting his son in his lap and wrapping an arm around his niece, he began to read their favorite story. After he'd read it through at least three times, Mira looked up at him. "Uncle Mikey, would be okay if I gave Kaz my teddy? Maybe it would keep him happy and he wouldn't be lonely at night."
Mikey felt a lump grow in his throat and he pulled the girl close, while fighting the sting of tears. "I think he'd like that a lot."
No, I definitely wouldn't change a thing.
Leo pulled the van onto the small dirt road. Amaya sat beside him on the long bench seat. She watched with fascination as the trees formed a canopy over them, hiding the road from strangers and blocking out the rest of the world.
Leo smiled as he stopped near the pond. Their favorite spot was still as pristine as the day they'd first seen it. It was still daylight, but the sun was creeping towards the horizon. The sun sparkled on the pond's surface. "I know you don't really remember what Japan looked like, so I thought I'd show you the closest thing I could get to it."
He helped her from the van and led her down to the bank. She smiled. "It is breathtaking."
He watched the reflection of the sun from the water dance across her face. Her blue-grey eyes were wide and curious. The world seemed so fresh and new to her with her newfound sight. He brushed a hand through her long dark locks. "Yes, it is." He was in no way referring to their surroundings though.
She turned and embraced him. "What a wonderful gift."
Leo chuckled. "That is just the beginning. Wait here." He returned to the van and pulled out the gear he'd brought. Within a few minutes he had the tent and the small camping stove set up. He pulled up an old log for Amaya to sit on while he started a fire.
"Let's go for a swim." He stood and started to pull off his gear. "Summer's lasted longer than normal this year. The water should still be warm enough."
She blinked. "But I've never been swimming before."
He smirked as he helped her up. "No problem, we turtles are natural swimmers." He pulled the obi of her kimono and the material fell loose. He pushed it from her shoulders, so that the sun could sprinkle upon the pure porcelain white skin beneath. She blushed as unadulterated desire passed through his eyes. His voice was low and husky as he spoke. "Don't worry, we are completely alone."
She met his gaze steady and true. "I have no fears when I am with you, my husband."
"You are so beautiful." He pulled her tight against him as he kissed her deeply and thoroughly. He could feel her heart pounding as she gripped his plastron and it thrilled him to no end to know she desired to be here as much as he. He slipped his arms beneath her and carried her down to the water.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, breaking the kiss to watch the water rising up to meet her. As he lowered her into the slightly cool water, she snuggled a little closer. For a while he held her tightly until he was certain she felt secure enough to stand on her own. After a while she became bolder and he pulled her arms over his shoulders to take her into the center of the pond where it was much deeper. He smiled when her arms tightened around his neck and her check pressed against his. "I won't let anything happen to you."
She chuckled. "I know."
The sun burned a lovely red-orange as it started setting behind the tree line on the far bank and the temperature began to drop. The couple made their way back to their camp. They dried themselves with the large warm towels. Then Leo helped her on with her kimono and they sat beside the fire. Amaya leaned back into his chest with a contented sigh. "That was a wonderful experience."
"Well, you were going to have to learn sometime. Mira loves to come swimming here. But we didn't this past year, not with….everything that happened."
She turned to press her face into his neck. She knew the passing of his father still weighed on him. "I understand."
He sighed, brushing a hand through her hair. "I know you do."
She sat back with a smile. "I have a gift for you."
He grinned. "You do?"
She rose and retrieved something from her bag. She handed it to him as she sat back beside him. He slowly unwrapped the paper to stare in stunned silence for a moment. In his hands was one of the finest haori he had ever seen. The traditional coat was a deep blue that matched his mask and on each side of the breast was embroidered the crest of the Hamato family. He ran his fingers over the intricate stitching. "Oh, Amaya, how on Earth did you ever manage this?"
She smiled a bit sheepishly. "I have fair skill with a needle and thread, though I had to have Sarah teach me embroidery. I had not learned that particular skill until now."
He looked up at her with astonishment. "You made this!" He pulled her to him in a crushing embrace. "You are incredible, saiai."
She smiled. "I take it then, that you like it."
He chuckled at her tease. "I don't just like it, I love it." He kissed her brow. "I have something for you as well."
He retrieved his bag and pulled out a large box. "I didn't make it though." She chuckled as she opened it. Inside was lovely kimono. Large blue and pink flowers covered the outer layer while the inside was a pale blue made of silk. "You had to leave so much behind when we left Japan. I thought you deserved a new one."
She smiled up at him, love reflecting in her eyes by the fire light. "It is the most wonderful gift I have ever been given."
He grinned. "Well, if you think that's something. I have one more gift." He pulled a smaller box from his bag.
She took it slowly from him. "But you have already given me so much."
He shook his head. "We will only celebrate our first year once. Go on, open it."
She gave him a small sideways smile as she opened the box. She gasped, her heart jumping into her throat. She pressed a hand to her mouth as tears slipped from her eyes. In the box rested a blue diamond, clasped in a slender golden chain.
Leo slipped behind her and brushed her long ebony locks from the back of her neck. "This past year has been the most amazing of my entire life." He pulled the chain from the box, allowing the firelight to shimmer through it for a moment. Then he slipped it around her neck. "You have completed me in ways I never knew were missing. You came into my life at such a terrible time and you filled it with light and happiness. You will have my love, Amaya, as long as there are stars in the sky and diamonds beneath the earth."
She turned in his arms to kiss him. Expressing her love and gratitude for him in the only way she knew how. Words seemed useless here. She had to show him – had to let him know just how wonderful he was, how special. So, in the pale starlight, the universe blessed seemed the pair of lovers with its secrets. Love indeed lived as long as the stars.
A/N: Yes, this is the last chapter of this fic. I'm having a bit of writers block for the next one so any suggestions might be helpful. I hope you loved it! Great reviews too!