Willow nuzzled her cheek against soft, leathery textured surface as she began to stir awake. With a yawn she turned, not being able to as she felt a pair of strong arms around her middle. Opening her eyes slowly she noticed a blur of green before her and a smile growing across her face.

"Morning beautiful." He sighed, placing his beak into the side of her hair, kissing it softly.

"Good morning." She sighed happily snuggling into the warmth of his blankets and body. "So," She started, her voice still heavy with sleep as she turned on her side, into his plastron. She started running her finger tips across his chest. "Are you going to tell them?" She asked closing her eyes and placing her head on his shoulder.

"I believe it would be good timing." He sighed.

"You were hesitant last night. And, on the phone I didn't even believe that you suggested it." She chuckled lightly as his chest vibrated on her cheek from his own.

"I was so excited about it, I wanted to scream it to the world. I just wanted them to know." He said as she perched her chin on the top of her hand that laid against his chest.

"You're amazing…" She sighed happily as he smiled, running his thick finger across her soft cheek.

"It pales in comparison to you my love." He said as she rolled her eyes, and rolled onto her back and off his bed. She went around the room, slowly blowing out the candles that dripped wax across his brick and concrete wall. "You always do that." He said sitting up as she looked at him in question.

"Do what?"

"Make that face when I say something…."

"Cheesy." She didn't let him finish. He sighed running a hand over his face.

"It's not a cheesy line to me, love. I mean them. I'm not used to this, everything I say may sound as though it's a line to you but I mean it with my whole heart and nothing more." She smirked at him walking over to his side of the bed as the covers slid down his plastron from sitting up. She leaned down, her hands pressing into the mattress as her lips brushed his. "You believe me?" He asked softly, their lips never parting as she smiled wider.

"Always. Now c'mon Romeo. I wanna tell them the good news!" She said grabbing his arm and tugging his heavy body off his bed.

The newly engaged couple made their way down the cement steps to the living area, hand in hand. Willow smiled at her brother-in-laws with a slight chuckle as Donatello and Michelangelo fought over news of cartoons.

"Dude, c'mon you gotta understand the significance that is X-Men. You can't just dismiss it as though it doesn't…" Donnie held up a hand quickly as the channel changed to the local news.

"Mikey, don't over exasperate your small vocabulary, you might fry something." He said his face in a straight expression as his eyes remained on the screen. Mikey sighed in a pout crossing his arms over his chest. He rose his eyes to the two descending the stair way and his face brightened.

"Mornin' you two! When'd you get back?" He asked as Willow went over giving him a kiss on the beak and moving to Donnie who got one on the cheek.

"Late." Leo said in a yawn as Willow smiled rubbing his shoulder.

"We had a couple of appearance we had to make with my mom and dad before we left." Willow sighed as Leo groaned to the memory.

"I've never been more aware of the superficiality of girls in my life." Leo sighed as Donnie chuckled.

"Who so bro? What, you get hit on or something?" Mikey asked turning his body towards the conversation at the edge of the sofa. Willow chuckled.

"That would be an understatement." She said as Leo let out a soft groan again. "I basically didn't exist to them. I was pushed aside multiple times, so they could grab his arm and feel his muscles." She said laughing a little.

"You weren't jealous?" Donnie asked furrowing his brow, but a smirk evident on his face.

"A little, however I'm the one with the beautiful ring." She said wiggling her finger as Leo smirked, leaning towards her cheek for a soft kiss. "So is Raph up yet?" She asked looking around as Donnie nodded.

"In the Dojo." He said looking back towards the news.

"Raphael!" Willow screamed into the air as everyone around her winced, covering the sides of their head.

"Jesus Willow…" Mikey grimaced rubbing his head.

"What? What is it?" Raph asked running into the living room, sai at ready by his side. His chest heaving with heavy breaths under his plastron.

"Nothing, we just have news." Willow smiled as he narrowed his eyes on her. She chuckled wrapping her arm around his and walking him back towards the couch and pushing him to sit between Donnie and Mikey. Splinter had made his way out of his room from the loud yell, leaning on his walking stick.

"Master, please take a seat, Willow and I have news." Leonardo smiled as Splinter returned it taking a seat in the lone chair next to the couch.

"What is this news that has caused such a commotion this early in the day?" He asked as Willow smiled, nearly bouncing on the balls of her feet as Leo's face slowly spread into a wide smile.

"Willow and I went to visit her parents as you all know and I was approved Willow's hand." He said as Mikey 'wooed' and Donnie smiled smacking his brother's arm as Raph nodded his head.

"Way to go man." Donnie said as Leo nodded.

"That isn't it though." He started again as everyone quieted down again. Leo cleared his throat as Willow handed him a small piece of paper. "I was given something, an early engagement present as Paul put it…"

"What, what is it?" Mikey asked excitedly, bouncing on the couch to sit on his knees.

"This…" He said handing the paper over to Donnie as he took it, looking at it. His brow furrowed slowly before his eyes shot up in surprise.

"Oh my… Are you joking?!" He said, getting quickly to his feet as Raph and Mikey did the same looking over his shoulder.

"What? What?!" Mikey asked bouncing against Raph's shell as he growled and nudged him back.

"It's a check numb nuts, clam down."

"Check for what?" Mikey asked as Leo's face spread wider.

"A Dojo." He stated as Splinter lifted his head slowly with a smile.

"That is amazing my son." He said, steadying himself to stand as Leo helped, earning a pat on his shoulder and a soft hug. "You are to have your own Dojo in the city?" He asked as Leo nodded.

"It's something to start. I'll have to plan out the program and give out fliers telling everyone where it is. Speaking of, I have to find a decent space. Hopefully nothing that needs too much fixing." He grimaced at the thought as Willow hugged his arm to her.

"Tiger, this is more than enough and you have a whole construction crew staring you in the face. Without the adding of my brothers and Casey. Riley would help, and Felicia. Izzy would probably be good at delegating and not much else." She chuckled as Leo relaxed slightly.

"Wow Leo… This, this is outstanding!" Donnie said, placing a hand on his eldest brother's shoulder.

"Think of all the kids you're gonna keep off the street bro!" Michelangelo said with a smile matching his older brother's. "The Purple Dragons are gonna have a run for their money man." He chuckled.

"I am very proud of you my son and Willow, you're parents are the most gracious people I have ever encountered. I thank them with my whole heart." Splinter said bowing his head as Willow smiled, taking his hand and patting it.

"They'll be more than happy that you feel such a way Master." She said bowing hers as he smiled.

"So, have you planned a date for the celebration?" Splinter asked as Leo's eyes widened a bit. Willow chuckled shaking her head.

"It's too soon now, and something Izzy and April have always told me is that you don't set the date, the Hall does." She said rolling her eyes.

"So we have time then." Leo sighed as Willow shook her head with a laugh.

"And you tell me your positive about this? And make fun of me for being so stressed?" She asked walking into the kitchen as he shook his head.

"I am more than one hundred percent positive with spending my life with you, there are no doubts about that. However, the ceremony itself… All those people in your family…" He said his voice softening as Willow turned towards him to try and make out the rest of his statement.

"All of which will not matter at the moment my son." Splinter said patting Leo's shoulder. "Once the day has begun you will think of nothing but that beautiful creature and your life together." He said with a smile as Leo nodded with one of his own.

"Thank you father." He said placing his hand over the elderly rat's.

"Wow, I can't believe it." Felicia said as Willow nodded in excitement.

"I know, it's unbelievable. They were so accepting and then the check! That was so unexpected. This change they can make scares the ever living out of me but, as much as I hate to admit and it's one of the greatest thing that has happened to us." Willow sighed as Izzy shook her head placing her red wine on the coffee table in Willow and Riley's apartment.

"No girl, you have every right." She said waving her hand to dismiss it. "He has to know. And he trusts you with this and you obviously don't care either way. This happening and what Donnie has created is just amazing. If it wasn't for Donnie…" Izzy sighed. "He's amazing." She said as her cheeks flushed bright red.

"Whaattt….?" Willow dragged out slowly as Izzy snatched her glass of wine, swinging the last of it quickly.

"He is just extremely intelligent to think and come up with something that could manipulate DNA like that. It's astonishing." She shrugged. Riley chuckled as Felicia shook her head slowly sipping her own wine.

"You're totally denying the love you have for the smarty brother!"

"Not love…" Izzy said shaking her head. "Appreciation for an equally intelligent mind." She shrugged again as Riley laughed louder, Willow joining in. "You two should never drink wine." She grumbled getting from the couch and pouring herself another glass in the kitchen.

"Ah, c'mon Bella! You know we're just fuckin' with you." Willow called as the red head shook her head in response taking her seat back.

"He's a friend nothing more. I appreciate him as a….Person, so to speak but nothing more than that." She clarified as Felicia rolled her eyes and Riley grabbed a pillow smacking her upside the head.

"You're ridiculous!"

"Oh please! How's Billy? Or have you forgotten that you still have a boyfriend other than a certain turtle baby brother?" Izzy shot back, snatching the pillow from Riley's hands as her blue eyes narrowed.

"Oh! Mikey and I are friends, he knows that. And Billy, he's just…"

"A piece of trash?" Izzy finished for her.

"Guys, maybe you shouldn't…" Felicia started, watching her friends with wide eyes bicker back and forth from her seat on the floor, pillow clenched in her tense grasp.

"Shut up!" They both yelled as they snapped their head's in the chocolate brown haired direction before turning their glares back at one another. Felicia pressed her lips tightly together before sitting back.

"You don't know a thing about Billy!"

"That's so weird," Izzy said in a false lightened mood. "neither do you!" She snapped.

"Because your taste in men are so much better? Or is it just a normal thing for you to sleep around with whomever is in your line of sight at that drunken moment?" Riley spat as Izzy's bright eyes narrowed. "Burying with each slurred word and sloppy kiss the fact that mommy and daddy always tired to buy your love?"

"Oh yeah, I'm the slut?" Izzy nearly hissed. "Have you seen your history in men Riley? Have you noticed the fact that they last, oh what a day before you toss them away with pure boredom or the real fact being that you're just scared shitless of commitment!"

"Bullshit." Riley said turning her head from Isabella as she did the same, both crossing their arms over this chests.

"Wow…" Willow said sipping her wine, with wide eyes as both sets of blue eyes came to hers.

"You two have some fuckin' issues." She said as Felicia flinched for the impact. Willow just sat staring at her friends as Izzy and Riley both caught each other's gazes, their eyes slowly lightening as laughter erupted from their mouths. Willow's shoulders shook as she leaned forward in her chair, tears started to stream down her cheeks. "Jesus fuckin' Christ!" She said, still laughing. "I thought I was the fucked one. I have a turtle for a fiancée!" She said, laughing louder as Riley and Izzy did as well. Felicia just shook her head, the pillow covering her rounded cheeks.

"You know it's weird…" Riley stated as the laughter died down. "I can't picture you with anyone else." She said almost in a question as Willow smiled nodding her head.

"I know, weird huh?" She chuckled as Felicia and Izzy nodded in agreement.

"What 'bout you Leesh?" Riley asked sipping her wine.

"What 'bout me?" She asked back, her chin propped up on the throw pillow.

"You and Raph seemed pretty cozy at the movies." She shrugged with a smile as Willow's eyes went wide.

"You and Raph went to see a movie? Where was I?!"

"You were home." Felicia shrugged. "It wasn't a big deal…"

"Yeah, they spent like, all day together." Riley said as Felicia sighed looking down at the carpet.

"What happen… Wait, Raph went to a movie? He took the formula?!" Willow said louder as Felicia grimaced.

"Yeah, Donnie was tryin' it out and wanted to do it with someone. Raph was the only one home." She shrugged.

"And oh man, you should have seen 'em!" Riley exclaimed turning towards Willow as Felicia rolled her eyes. "He was b-e-a-utiful! Those muscles…" She said letting out a slow whistle.

"Wow… I always wondered what he'd look like…." Willow mused almost to herself as Izzy chuckled.

"Me too." The red head agreed.

"He was alright." Felicia shrugged, still staring at the carpet ahead of her.

"Alright?!" Riley screamed in shock. "He was sex walkin'." She chuckled as Felicia rolled her eyes once more and Willow shook her head with a laugh.

"So, was this like a date? Why didn't you tell me?" Willow asked after the laughter died again. Felicia sighed and shook her head.

"No, Riley and Mikey asked us if we wanted to go. Raph said sure, I tagged along. I only went there because Donnie fixed my lab top for me and they were both fixing the Battle Shell and…" She sighed tucking a strand of hair behind her ears and adjusting her thick rimmed glasses. "He's just a friend." She shrugged her face burning with a blush.

"Yeah… Seems it." Izzy snorted sarcastically as Riley joined in.

It was nearing three in the morning as Felicia sat on her couch, in her dark apartment, watching endless infomercials. Her legs shook under her as she ran her fingers quickly through a short pigtail.

Her mind raced through the events that happened in the last week. Her best friend of what seems like life has gotten engaged and was going to be starting a new life with someone. Willow was always concerned about what she was going to do when she 'grew up' and now knowing exactly where that road was leading her it was like the stress lifted from her shoulders. Her smile was brighter, her voice happier. She was a whole new Willow. Felicia smiled for a moment at the thought and then sighed once another rounding thoughts popped back into her brain. She had numerous nights like this lately.

The idea of being alone forever crawling up from the darkest side of her mind. She was never a girl that called attention to herself. She stayed in the back of her classes throughout her independent life in college, learning and vigorously taking notes. She'd get advances sure, she never thought herself to be ugly or unworthy of a man's attention. It was just finding the correct one that seemed to be taking it's toll.

She read too many books and dissected too many movie lines to have a real man come along. Someone that existed in this universe and not some made up one in the beautiful mind of Jane Austen or Nicholas Sparks.

Fiction. She lived her life off fiction. Her and Willow both had been fooled with the idea of the 'perfect man' and the 'purest idea of love' all their lives. Disney was first on her list to blame. Where was her prince charming to come and slay the dragon of loneliness and whisk her away to a life of endless bliss and happiness? He seemed to be absent as of late. Or her first true love that made everything seem more magical than what life really was. Made everything tingle with excitement through her body and make her beg for more, just one minuet or second of just their pure existence near her, close to her. Where was that? Willow already found her Edward so where was her Noah?

She sighed, grabbing the remote and clicking off the television for the third time that night. She knew sooner or later, after another chapter or two of her latest Meg Cabot indulgence she'd find herself back in the same seat, still warm from when she last left it.

Passing the window she head a soft knock against the glass as she furrowed her brow, snapping her head in the direction. Walking over and trying to adjust her eyes to the darkness outside of it and the glare from her light over her stove she gave up and opened it. She smirked for a moment, leaning her body half out of the window, looking up into dark amber eyes.

"Ya know, ya could get killed doin' somethin' stupid like that." He said, his large green hand bracing his strong body as he leaned on her windowpane.

"Not when I have ninjas on speed dial." She said ducking her head and going back inside. He followed her, closing the window behind him as the cool Autumn air filled her apartment. Summer was coming to a close far too quickly.

"Why you up?" He asked after a moment as she flicked her lights back on so they weren't standing in the minimal light coming from her kitchen.

"Couldn't sleep. Why you here?"

"I was doin' rounds." He shrugged. She furrowed her brow for a moment taking in his demeanor.

"Rounds?"

"Yeah one of us usually goes around after our patrols and checks up on you guys. We never did it before but Mikey and Don started getting antsy just doin' a patrol around the city and then headin' home without checkin' on you girls first." He shrugged again.

"So you get the duty tonight?" She asked arching a brow as he smirked for a moment.

"Yeah, somethin' like that." He said averting his eyes from her as he took a swipe of the room quickly.

"You wanna…" She began turning towards the kitchen as he shook his head.

"Nah, you look like shit." He chuckled. "Get to bed kid." He said heading back to her window that he had entered from. She nodded her head with a smile, walking back with him.

"Well thanks." She said dryly to his comment giving a slight roll her of eyes. "And… Thanks…" Her voice a little softer as a small smile played at her lips. "For the checkin' I mean." She shrugged as her face burned with red. He smiled and his hand slowly rose nearing her flushed skin before it fell back to his side.

"Don't mention it. My job ya know?" He said climbing out the window as she nodded, her lip held tightly between her teeth. He grasped her window starting to close it as her hand flew up quickly to stop it.

Her eyes widened at her jester as he ducked his head to look at her in question. Her eyes darted from her hand, firmly gasping the chipped wood to his amber eyes, an eye ridge arched slightly. She chuckled at his expression as sighed, loosening her grip.

"I just, um…" She stumbled as he furrowed his brow. Her eyes started moving everywhere but his face.

"What Leesh?" He asked in a sigh as she cleared her throat.

"You wanna hang out sometime?" She said quickly as he smirked for a moment.

"Yeah." He said as her eyes went back to his in shock.

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'll pick ya up tomorrow." He said with a smile standing up straight. She furrowed her brow and then nodded quickly.

"Oh, ok. Like what time?" She asked still slightly flustered with his eased reaction. He let out a low, husky chuckle.

"Eight is usually the norm for datin' times right?" He asked leaned his head under her windowpane again to look into her eyes.

"Yeah…" She said her face feeling like it was on fire again. "Usually." She shrugged. He smiled again, as his hand touched her warm flesh, his hand cooling it down.

"See ya." He said leaning up and sliding her window shut. She nodded as she noticed the fleeting crimson of his bandana fade off her fire escape.

Her heart thudded loudly in her ears as she pressed her cheek to the cool glass of her window. Her head was spinning. She felt like she could fly around the room, as a smile, large and wide crept onto her features. Then it dropped quickly.

Could she save herself from falling too quickly? She had never felt like this before with anyone she was around. The wanting and heart pounding feeling that rang throughout her whole being when he was just mere feet from her. It was amazing and confusing all in the same instance. She never thought that something like this could happen to her. She never believed in it because she spent most of her life doubting it with the main word of Fiction.

He was different, he was kind and gentle with a rough edge that could shake anybody's ego. He had eyes that tore into your very soul, seeming as though they were instantly judging and dissecting everything about you. Every embarrassing thing, every lie, every moment of your life he looked as though he instantly knew with that smug smile. Always slow to form and almost crooked as it graced his wide mouth. He was deadly and brooding, mysterious and… Sexy.

She arched a brow to herself rolling through the persona of Raphael again. He was all those things. The cocky asshole that did what he want, when he wanted and got what he wanted when he wanted it without a second opinion or thought. He did it without question or rule. He let his heart take control for most of his actions never listening to the logic that could be screaming to do the responsible thing in his head. He left that for his older brother to worry about. He was the fight and power behind their unbreakable team. He was the passion and fire that erupted in all their battles.

She had to hold herself up on the side of the couch as she felt her knees buckle to the idea. Her heart thudded even louder in her head as she saw that smug smirk cross the features of his human face in her mind. Slight scruff from a five o'clock shadow that was dark, almost black on his tanned cheeks, with a lone dimple sunk into the skin on his left.

"I'm insane." She muttered to herself as she made her way to her bedroom, stripping of her clothes she had worn all evening and into a pain gray tank top and boy short underwear with Felix the Cat and his Magic Bag.

She snuggled down into her thick, dark green sheets and closed her eyes with a loaded sigh. All the thoughts that ran through her mind earlier, Mr. Wright and her Prince Charming all circled one main factor. Raphael. She had gotten to know him in the years of their friendship and a crush certainly did start to bubble. Never acting on it, never giving herself time to even think about it starting wearing down as the crush started to grow. Yet, she still didn't know him. She knew things about him, his family, the raising he had but not the real person he hid from everyone. That persona hiding underneath the rough exterior and hard attitude. She wanted to know more, she was always so intrigued to know more about him, thinking she could never get enough. There was always something, a movement or facial expression that caught her off guard that she instantly wanted to know why. The inner workings of his mind and soul, she wanted the in. Not because she felt as though it would bring them closer even though that would be a defiant beneficial factor, but because she wanted to make sure that this was real. These feelings, this thudding, low sound in her head that was caused by the hammering in her chest, she wanted reassurance that it was all true and real. Without that, she'd never admit to anything. She'd live the rest of her life, denying every feeling the rush of heat that came to her cheeks when he looked at her with that smirk or, when his body brushed against hers, or when his musk scent filled her senses. She'd deny it to her grave without that reassurance.

Closing her eyes that had been staring blankly at the ceiling as these thoughts rolled through her brain, heavy and tired. She positioned herself in her sheets, trying to fall asleep again. His face slowly fogged itself into her mind as she felt a sudden twist and pull on her stomach. She was sure her heart was going to explode. She turned onto her side, daring to crack open an eye and look at her clock. Red mocking numbers blurred into her vision reading 4:16. Sighing once more, she rolled over to her other side and started out into the dark of the city. Faint lights hiding behind buildings and around corners crept to the edges of her window and on the metal of her fire escape as she searched the skyline ahead. For a moment she thought she saw a silhouette in the neighboring roof top, but her eyes, heavy with exhaustion closed and slumber took her over.