EvilBunny91:

I'm SO sorry for the huge delay,but I've been really busy! School is killing me and then my computer broke, so I had to wait a couple of weeks to get it back and then came Christmas with all it's busy stuff.

Leo: She's really sorry, guys. She didn't mean to delay this much.

Donny: And she managed to write this chapter. And it's the longest one this far.

Mikey: So, PLEASE forgive her!

Raph: I'll make sure that she at least TRIES to write more now on.

EvilBunny91: That's my New Year's promise! Well, anyway, enjoy the third chapter! ^^

Love Is The Greatest Feeling Of All

Chapter 3: Explanations

Leo's POV

It's 15.30 already, Bella should be home soon. Usually she comes home straight away. She doesn't want to miss any training time, so she's always hurrying from school.

But today, she was taking her time. She should be here by now. I hope nothing has happened to her. Suddenly my shell phone rings. I took it and saw it was Bella calling me.

"Bella?"

"Hi, Leo! Listen, I'm going to mall with my friends. I'll later, okay?" her voice answered.

"Okay, but what about your homework?"

"Oh, c'mon! You sound like master Splinter. I'll do them later, okay?" she used that sweet-voice oh hers again. She knows it's my weakness.

"Okay, but…"

"I gotta go now, so see you later! Bye!" she says before hanging up the phone.

I sign as I put my phone away. She can sometimes be little immature. She should understand by now that school comes before fun. Besides, the Purple Dragons or the Foot could be on the move. She can't take it against all them.

"Hey, where's Bella? Shouldn't she be here already?" I heard Donny asking as he came from his lab. Raph and Mikey came in too.

"She called just now. She's going to the mall with her friends."

"Ya sure it's safe? What if the Purple Dragons are there?" Raph asked.

"C'mon, Bella's tought dudette! And she's not stupid enough to get in trouble." Mikey said with his care-free attitude.

"Still, maybe it's for the best. Let's follow her and make sure she'll be fine. C'mon!" I made my decision and we hurried from the lair.

We jumped from the rooftops towards the mall where Bella usually goes. And I was right, there she was with her friends. We decided to stay and wait for them.

For some couple of hours nothing happened. It was already getting 9.00 pm. How long can one shopping trip take?!

Finally I saw them coming out. I signalled my brothers and we followed them. Everything was going fine for a moment, but unfortunately, it didn't last long. Some Purple Dragons got them surrounded on a dead end. And I knew it was hard for Bella to fight when her friends were involved.

I could feel my blood starting to boil when the leader-punk advanced them and saying: "Well, aren't you girls pretty. We could give you some company."

Yeah right, like Bella would go with someone like them.

"Piss off." one of the girls growled.

"Leo, what are we gonna to do?" Mikey asked me as the Purple Dragons took out their weapons.

"What you'd think? We'll fight. On my mark. One…two…THREE!"

The leader of the Purple Dragons lunged towards Bella and her friends. Luckily, I managed to kick him before he could harm them. We landed in from of the girls, protecting them.

Oh, those Purple Dragons were in trouble now.

Bella's POV

"Bella, are you okay?" Leo asked me. I could hear the worry in his voice.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Thank God he and others came just in time.

He nodded his head and then turned towards the Purple Dragons, glaring at them.

"You just did the mistake of your lives." he growled.

"No one messes with our sister." Raphael added.

Then my brothers attacked them. The fight didn't last for long. Those Purple Dragons sucked. And they were cowards. So, after my brothers knocked down few of them, the others just left.

"Heh, chickens." Raph laughed. He has always been the one to fight, reason or not.

"Guys, I'm glad you came, but I think we have a little problem…" I turned to look at my friends.

My friends looked shocked. Their eyes were so wide that they looked like they'd pop out if their sockets any minute. And there was horror on their faces, too. I just hoped they wouldn't scream or call the cops. My brothers turned to look at them and stepped closer to them.

"Are you girls okay?" Donny asked bit worried and took a step closer to them.

"Take another step, and I'll punch you!" Miyako growled suddenly, obviously getting her courage back. She stepped closer and took her battle position, as if to protect us. I could swear I heard Raph chuckle at this.

"Miyako, no! It's okay, there're not dangerous!" I shouted as I stepped in front of her to stop her from attacking my brothers.

"Bella, why the hell are you talking to these…these… giant turtles?" Jessica asked, fear clear in her voice.

"Well…it's a long story. You'd better come with us and we'll explain the whole thing." I couldn't figure out anything else to do. Besides, they had already seen my brothers. Now I had to hope they wouldn't freak out completely.

For my surprise, they followed us without showing any kind of disliking. Soon we reached the man hole and opened it.

"We're going down there?!" Jessica wrinkled her nose. I know the sewers aren't the prettiest place.

"Hey, if it's not too good for you, princess, you can just go home!" Raphael snapped pretty angered.

"Raph, please! Don't give them the wrong expression of us!" Donny elbowed him to ribs.

"C'mon, Jess. It's just sewer water." Miyako sighed and started climbing down the stairs.

Others followed her and me and my brothers came too. Then we led them to our home. Before we let them enter in, we stopped them.

"Please, wait here. We'll have to first tell master Splinter about you." Leo said, turning towards my friends.

"And who's he?" Miyako asked, raising her eye ridge.

"His our…father." As crazy as it sounds, but it's true. Master Splinter IS our father. Maybe not biologically, but he raised us.

My friends probably wondered what kind of man has four giant turtles and one girl as children. Well, he isn't actually a man, but still.

My brother and I entered our home. My friends followed us. I could see them looking around curiously.

"Please, wait here." I asked them as brothers went to get master Splinter.

"Master Splinter, are you here?" we called him.

"My children, what is it?" he asked as he came out of his room.

We explained the whole story as simply as possible. I just hoped that master Splinter would understand that my brothers didn't have any choice but to show themselves to my friends. He didn't say anything until we had finished. Finally he broke the silence.

"I understand you didn't have other choice in the matter. And I know you did what you believed was the best. Now, Isabella, what are these friends of yours like?"

"They're my best friends and the sweetest and most understanding persons I know. I don't think they mean any trouble for us. I know them, they wouldn't want any harm for me." I answered sincerely.

Master Splinter was quiet for a moment. But then, a small smile grew to his face.

"Very well, I believe you. Shall we invite our guests inside?" he answered after few seconds of silence.

I was so happy that he trusted my knowledge of people and was ready to meet my friends. I gave him a smile before hurrying to the entry where we've left my friends.

They still looked little suspicious, but at least not scared or mad. I waved my hand, signing them to follow me. They followed me to the living room where my brothers and master Splinter waited for us.

"Please, sit down." I pointed to the couch. They sat there, still looking at us all.

For a moment no one said anything. It was getting pretty awkward. Then, Mikey decided to break the ice.

"Eh…hi!" he waved his hand and gave a goofy smile. My friends turned their attention to him, still not saying anything. But I could swear I heard Jess chuckle a little.

I and my brothers glared at Mikey a little bit. Then, Leo cleared his throat, getting anyone's attention.

"Well, I suppose some introducing might be in order. I'm Leonardo, but you can call me Leo."

"I'm Michelangelo, but just call me Mikey."

"I'm Rapheal. But Raph's okay, too."

"I'm Donatello, or you can call me Donny."

"And I'm master Splinter. Welcome to your home."

My friends seemed to relax a little bit.

"Thanks. Nice place you got here. Where'd you find this, sale season for houses?" Jess asked playfully.

"JESS!" Miyako and Wendy shouted at her. Jess winced and scratched her neck.

I chuckled a little bit, but Mikey was laughing really hard.

"Sale season…that was a good one!" he laughed. Jess too dared to laugh little bit.

"Well, anyway, I'm Jessica. But you can call me Jess."

"I'm Miyako."

"My name's Wendy. Pleased to meet you."

My brothers and master Splinter relaxed a lot when they saw that my friends were no danger.

"I suppose we should tell you our story." Master Splinter said and started to tell what happened to us.

My friends listened silently and seemed to understand. They even asked a few questions, and we answered the best we could.

"Now all your weird stories make sense. I always wondered how your "house" could be remodelled or being poisoned for pests all the time." Miyako said.

"Yeah, or how family is always studying or working all around the world all the time." Jess added.

My brothers and master Splinter gave me a questioning looks. I scratched my neck and gave a goofy grin.

"Heh, I kinda…ran out of stories. I mean, logical ones." I laughed awkwardly.

But what about now? Would my friends forgive me for lying? Would they approve my family? Would they still wanna be my friends?

"Guys, I'm sorry that I lied to you. But I had to, I couldn't tell you the truth. And I hope we can still be friends." I gave them my most sincere look.

My friends looked surprised first. But then they started to smile.

"Oh, Bella. We could never be mad at you." Wendy spoke first.

"You had a reason not to tell us the truth." Miyako continued.

"And of course we're still gonna be your friends! Jess assured at last.

"Oh, guys…" I couldn't get the words out. I was so happy.

"C'mon, group hug!" Jess shouted before they all closed me in a tight hug.

I could feel my brothers and master Splinter smiling at us. At least I knew things were gonna be fine between us all. I hugged my friends back as much as I could. They were hugging me tightly. Really tightly.

"Öömh, guys? I can't breath…"

EvilBunny91: So, now the Turtles now Bella's friends. Up next: "Getting To Know Each Other"

Donny: I think this was nice chapter

EvilBunny91: Oh, thanks ^^

Leo: Yeah, you're getting better at this.

Raph:...

Mikey: And...

EvilBunny91: I wish all you my dear readers (and others) very, freakin' good and happy New Year 2010!!! XD