A/N: This fic has practically written itself so far, even though it's kind of acting as a filler while I'm finishing up ANEB. And thanks again for the reviews!

"I'm not a kid anymore!" Samantha stood, going toe-to-toe with the large man.

Lugnut snorted. "Don't matter. I'm still gonna watch out for you."

She flicked her gaze to the other man. "That might be what you're doing, but it's not what he is."

Lugnut stood up and looked at his companion. "What she talkin' about Highfive?"

"She's just mouthin' off." Highfive waved it off.

"Yeah, right. Why do you think Red won't let him come around anymore?" Samantha sat back in her chair, blue eyes piercing.

Lugnut's eyes widened and he snatched the front of Highfive's shirt. "What did you do!" When the other man's eyes flicked to Sams, he growled. "You made a pass at her! I ought to rip your head off! We all agreed, she's off limits!" He smacked him around and shoved him towards the door. "I better not see your ugly mug around here again!" He turned furious eyes on Samantha. "As for you-!" He went to grab her arm, but Leo was out of his seat, growling.

"Don't even think about touching her! Or I'll make you eat that hand!"

The two males locked gazes, until Samantha stood beside Leo. She stroked his arm. "It's okay. He wouldn't hurt me, Leonardo."

He blinked down at her. "What?"

"He's kind of like another big brother. After my brother disappeared, I lived with him and Red for a long time."

Glasses appeared with two paper bags. "Here, I thought you might want to take these to go."

Sams smiled at him as she took the bags. "Thanks, Glasses."

Lugnut folded his arms and looked away. "Why didn't you tell me, Sams? I woulda-"

"You would've killed him. And he's your friend. I couldn't let you do that." She replied softly.

"Yeah, well, your brother was too and he left you for me to take care of."

She sighed and leaned up to peck his cheek. "I know. If you want details, ask Red. See you around Lugnut." She turned and started for the door.

Leo paused beside Glasses. "What do I owe you?"

Glasses shook his head. "Cupcake's money ain't no good here and that means, neither is yours." With that he turned and walked away.

Leo started for the door, but Lugnut put a hand on his chest. "If you hurt her, Freak. I will pound you into a puddle of goo. You understand?"

"I don't plan on it." Leo pulled away and met Samantha near the door. The walk back to her apartment was rather quiet. Until he took a deep breath, bracing himself as he asked the question that was burning in his mind. "What happened?"

"He asked me out. I refused. He didn't like the answer." She said flatly. They had reached her door and she handed him the bags in order to dig out her keys. But he caught her hand, making her look up into intense caramel eyes, filled with deep worry.

"What happened?" He repeated in as soft a tone as he could manage.

Her heart quickened at his gaze, truly touched by his concern. "Nothing happened. I didn't let it. But we both learned a valuable lesson that day." Leo frowned as she continued. "Him that I ain't so easily taken advantage of. And me, that I can never let my guard down, even around people that say they're friends."

Leo's expression dropped into one of sorrow. "Does that mean you don't trust me?"

She unlocked the door and looked up at him. "Of course not. You've already earned my trust more than once." She took the bags from him with a small smile. "Now come on. I'll warm these up."

He followed her in and locked the door behind them. "What is it anyways?"

"Burgers and wings." She pulled them out and set them on the pan. It wouldn't take long for them to warm in the oven.

Leo pulled out a chair at the small table. "That guy Glasses said something weird before we left."

Samantha chuckled. "He told you to forget the tab."

Leo watched her as she put the food in the oven. "Yeah, why?"

"I worked out a deal with him and Lugnut a few years ago. At the time Lugnut's gang was demanding protection money from all the local shops. I set it up so that Glasses didn't have to pay, but he'd have to let Lugnut drink whatever he wanted when he came in."

"That's still wrong." Leo protested as she sat across from him. "It's still forcing the guy to pay."

Samantha didn't seem fazed by his point. "Maybe, but considering he was paying two hundred in protection money and he only had to get Lugnut drunk every once in a while. It probably saved him a lot of money in the end. Plus, now him and Lugnut are friends. So, everyone sorta won." Leo frowned, but couldn't find an argument against what she'd done. After all it wasn't her forcing the protection money in the first place. "As for the burger and wings. I never really asked him to do that. He just did. I suppose it's his way of thanking me." She chuckled as she rose to pull the tray from the oven. "Joey used to love his burgers." As she lifted the pan with the small towel, it twisted and she burned her finger on the hot metal. "Ow!" She dropped the pan on top of the stove with a small clang.

Leo was out of his chair and at her side so fast that she blinked in surprise. He took her hand and put it under the cold running tap. She watched as he turned her hand, examining the small burn. It wasn't that bad. "Does that feel better?"

She blushed. "Yeah."

He lifted her hand and kissed the injured finger. Her blush turned a dark red and he smirked. "You need to be more careful."

She nodded mutely, lost in the tenderness of his touch and the intensity of his eyes. She finally managed to croak out his name. "Leonardo…"

His gaze softened and a tinge of trepidation entered it. "I…" He started to pull away, afraid he'd overstepped his bounds. The sudden desire to kiss him swamped her and she grabbed his shirt front pulling him down to her. Leo was surprised when she pressed her soft lips against his, then instinct took over and he wrapped her tightly in his arms. The kiss was unfamiliar and yet thoroughly familiar. It sent heat pulsing through his body like hot lava.

When they finally broke apart, he rested his forehead against hers. "Wow…"

She panted softly. "Ditto."

For a long moment they stood, wrapped in each other's arms. Neither wanted to move, basking in the moment. Finally, she stepped back to look up at him. "Are you ready to eat?"

He smiled warmly, brushing a curly lock from her eyes. "Yeah. Then maybe we can watch a movie."

She frowned. "I'm sorry, I don't have any movies. To tell the truth, I haven't even turned the TV on yet."

He chuckled. "Sure you do. There were some in the bottom of that box with the sheets."

She blinked. "There were?"

He reluctantly released her to pick up the box that was sitting on the floor nearby and set it on the table. He pulled out three VHS tapes. "We've got It Came from the Lake, The Jelly Monster, and The Mummy Monkey."

She grinned. "I haven't seen any of them. So, your choice."

He reviewed the titles again and held up one. "It Came from the Lake it is then."

She chuckled as she turned to pull out some plates. After their small dinner, they sat on the daybed watching the movie. Samantha snuggled up against him and he rested his cheek in her soft curls. It felt so natural being with her, like he'd done it a million times before. "We should have done this to begin with."

She giggled. "I second that."

By the time the credits began to play, she was half-asleep, a small smile on her lips. It nearly broke his heart to wake her, but he needed to get home before they started searching for him again. "Sams?"

She sat up, rubbing at her eyes. "Oh, Leonardo, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep."

He grinned. "It's okay. I kind of liked it." Then he sighed. "But I've got to go. It's late." He stood and she followed him to the door. "But maybe I could come by tomorrow and you can take those stitches out?"

She smiled back. "Sure, but I do have a few errands to run tomorrow."

"Do you need any help?"

"Nah, I've been on my own a long time. I can handle laundry and groceries. Oh, I almost forgot - your jacket!" She started to pull it off, but he put his hands over hers, tucking it around her.

"Keep it." He leaned down and she met his lips in a warm, tender kiss that made her knees want to turn to mush. One arm wrapped around her waist and his other hand dug into her mass of curls. For a lingering moment, it felt like their hearts were beating as one. He gently broke away. "Goodnight, Sams."

She wore something between a frown and a smile as he stepped out the door. "Goodnight, Leonardo."

Leo hung up his cap with a contented sigh and began unbuttoning his shirt. "So, you finally made it home?" He turned to see his brothers standing behind him.

"Yeah." He smiled at Raphael who only frowned back.

Mikey had a large dopey grin in place. "Well, don't leave us hanging bro. How'd it go?"

Leo pulled off his shirt, noting that it smelled like vanilla like Samantha's hair. "Good." He smiled remembering their kiss. "Really good."

Donnie lifted a brow. "Define really good?"

"Yeah, does that mean first base, second or third?" Mikey continued to grin.

Leo frowned at his youngest brother. "Do you even know what that means, Michelangelo?"

"Yeah, it means-"

Leo waved a hand. "Uh, never mind." He really had no desire to hear whatever odd ideas his brother might have about girls.

"So, do you think she's really into you?" Raph asked after a moment.

Leo had removed the rest of his disguise, but he kept the shirt out. "Yeah, I do."

Raph scowled. "Why?"

Leo shot him a glare. "Not that it's any of your business, but she kissed me."

All three brothers stared at him in shock and maybe a touch of awe. Raph however, wasn't done with him just yet. "She kissed you? You didn't kiss her?"

Leo couldn't help the smirk. "Not the first time."

Mikey clung to Donnie's arm. "You mean there was a second time?"

Leo smiled to himself as he walked away with the shirt in hand. "Boy, was there ever…."

When he was gone, Raph snorted. "She's probably just stringin' 'im along."

Don turned to glare at him. "What's your problem, Raphael? Can't you see he's happy?"

"I thought you were smarter than that, Donatello. Can't you see he's fallen head over heels for her? She's gonna make him think she loves him and then dump the poor guy. It's one thing making friends with the humans, but it's another to want to be with them."

"And what is wrong with that?" Don looked away forlornly. "What's wrong with wanting to be in love with someone…even if it is a human?"

Raph folded his arms. "Because we're turtles."

Donnie shook his head and walked off to his lab. Mikey frowned at Raph. "That argument is as old as a moldy slice of pizza, bro." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but I'm with Donatello and Leonardo on this one. I don't see anything wrong with it. If it makes our bro happy, then I'm all for it."

Leo sat on the side of his bed. Lifting the shirt to his nose, he drew in a deep breath. He smiled. Even Raphael's bad attitude couldn't bring him down tonight. He lay back with a slight pang of loneliness in his heart. The only thing that gave him solace was the thought of seeing her the next day. He rolled over closing his eyes and dreaming of soft hands and silky lips.

Raph glanced around as he crossed the living room. He could hear his brothers eating breakfast, their morning workout complete. He moved quietly to his father's door, uncertain if he should bother him. Splinter was often meditating at this time. He stood fidgeting for a moment, but not making a sound.

"Come in, Raphael."

Raph glanced back towards the kitchen, feeling the tug of guilt. With a sigh, he stepped into the room. "I'm sorry to bother you, Master Splinter."

"It is quite alright. Your soul seems troubled, my son." Splinter poured a cup of tea for each of them.

"Yes, Sensei. I'm worried about Leonardo and his relationship with this girl."

"I have not spoken with Leonardo about such affairs as of yet. What is your concern?" Splinter took a tentative sip of his tea.

"I'm afraid he's falling too fast and too hard for her. I'm afraid he's going to get hurt." Raph slowly picked up his cup and looked down into swirling liquid.

"It is the nature of all relationships that one runs the risk of an emotional injury, my son. Leonardo knows this well enough."

Raph shook his head. "You didn't see him last night. This is nothing like what he felt for Lotus Blossom. He's in deep. And the guys are just encouraging him."

"What exactly is your issue with his desire to pursue love, may I ask?"

"Well, for one thing she's human."

"Ah, I see." Splinter set down his cup, understanding the dilemma at last. "You are concerned that because of your differences she will not fully accept him." Raph gave a small nod. "Your situation is unique in some ways, but not in others."

Raph's brow bunched in confusion. "How so?"

"There have always been prejudices based on skin color or language or even on the region of a country one lives in. But there have always been those that have been able to look past such differences – to embrace those things that are different than one's self."

"But how can we be sure she's one of those people?"

Splinter smiled patiently. "You have met the young woman. I have not. What is your impression of her?"

"She seems genuine. She was pretty nice when we stopped by the other day." Raph admitted. "But…"

"Perhaps, if I were to meet with her, it would stem your concerns." Splinter suggested.

Raphael brightened at the suggestion. "That's a great idea, Master."

"Then I suggest, Leonardo invite her to our home."

A/N: Things are about to get complicated for poor Leo... Review xoxox :)