I'm on a role… O.o Italics are dreams.

She stood at the top of a New York skyscraper, standing fully erect for the first time in months. A strong breeze blew her hair back from her face and tugged on something big on her back. Curious, she craned her neck to take a look. Wings. Huge black, bat wings that shimmered blue by the light of the moon. Experimentally she flexed them, and they twitched. She smiled as she spread them and held them open, stretching their fifteen foot wing span. They filled with air and she had to grab a nearby ladder to keep from blowing away. She gasped as a strong gust tested her strength. She laughed with joy as she realized she could draw a full breath. Before then she hadn't realized she couldn't!

Suddenly a little hand clutched hers. She looked down and instantly tucked her wings in and crouched down to hug the little boy. Blond wisps of hair danced in the breeze and sparkling sky blue eyes gazed happily into hers. "Hi, Mommy!" She pulled him into her arms, full intending to never let him go, but pulled back when she felt something on his back. He had wings too. White dove wings rustled happily. "Yoo 'ike dem?" he asked in his little kid voice.

She tried to speak, but she could not. So she smiled and kissed his forehead. She held him close again, praying she never had to let him go.

"Mommy, I gotta go now." She looked down at him, confused. "Will you keep Uncle Mike and Uncle Don, and Uncle Raph safe? And don't forget Daddy." Wait, what? Why was he referring to the turtles as his uncles? Why did he leave out Leo? Who the heck was his father? "I wuv yoo, Mommy. I gotta go now." He managed pull out of her grasp, despite her clutching hands and desperate noises. He leapt into the air and his little wings beat in time with her heart, flying up, up and away from her yearning, empty arms. She leapt up too, unfurling her own wings and beating hard, but the wind was suddenly too strong. As she tumbled through the empty air away from her son, she howled. Not in fear, not in anger, but in desperation and in grief.

With a jolt, Roxanne sat up. Briefly she wondered where the howling scream was coming from until she realized it came from her. She clamped her mouth shut and sat panting. "Roxy?" Leo's panicked voice sounded from the armchair across the room. She glanced up to see him half climbing, half falling out of his seat. Evidently he had been sleeping there. She noticed belatedly she was sitting on the couch. She didn't really remember getting there. Did Leo carry her here? It didn't matter – Samuel was gone. A tortured sob escaped her throat. She buried her face in her hands and ignored the new limbs on her back. They did not matter. The fact that she was in a sewer did not matter. Even the fact that Leo was watching her sob openly did not matter. Only the fact that her son was gone mattered. The world did not in that moment.

(Back in time, when Leo exits the kitchen and Roxanne is asleep)

His family had left the kitchen to seek sanctuary in their rooms hours ago. He could not leave, but neither could he go into the living area. Now that his family was asleep they would not see his halting progress, however. He stepped into the room, fearful of waking her. She slept on. A few more timid steps. She did not stir. Finally he came up to the couch and stared down at her sleeping form. She was peaceful, dare he say angelic at that moment. For the moment, her sleep was untroubled. Very gently, he tucked a lock of dark hair behind her ear. Leo would've sworn he saw her mouth twitch, and he stilled. Nothing happened.

He sighed heavily. She didn't deserve this. How much more crap was life going to throw at her? Hadn't she had enough? With slumped shoulders he turned and made his way to the oversized armchair they were all fond of. He would not leave her tonight. It just felt wrong to leave her down here all by herself. And didn't she deserve it? Didn't she deserve someone watching over her? He settled in, fully intending to stay awake in vigil. A trying afternoon worrying about the angel in your life can get down the best ninja, however, and he fell asleep within minutes.

He was back in South America, sitting outside the sea-side cave he had claimed as temporary home. He could see the beach far below from this vantage point, and he could just make out Raph, Casey, and Mikey romping on the sand. Don was knee deep in a tide-pool, inspecting its contents. Master Splinter and April were conversing happily on a driftwood log, out of range of their more energetic companions. Leo sighed happily. He had often wished to bring his family here, where they could have fun and explore out in the sunshine without worrying about being discovered. There was just one person missing…

A touch on his shoulder made him look up. Roxanne had emerged from the cave behind him, standing straight and proud. She smiled down at him as she unfurled her huge wings that glittered strangely golden in the sun. She tapped his thigh playfully with her strong tail, and then jumped off the cliff ledge he was sitting on. She glided gracefully down to the rest of his family, and they all greeted her with love and laughter.

Suddenly the weather changed. Great storm clouds rolled in fast from all directions. Thunder boomed deafeningly and lightning flashed. The wind picked up to frightening speeds and Leo could see his family running for cover. Leo jumped to his feet and rushed to a path he still knew by heart, even though he had been back in New York for over a year now. He couldn't go very fast. The wind kept forcing him to his knees, and the rain was almost impossible to see through. The lightning didn't help, either. He couldn't hear anything above the wind and the thunder. He had to get to the beach, though, he had to. The feeling of dread would not leave his stomach.

Then, above the wind and rain and thunder, he heard a howl. It's grieving, haunting notes stopped his heart.

Leo woke with a start, half toppling out of the chair he had tried to jump out of in his sleep. The howling came to a stop, and he looked to its source. There sat Roxanne, shaking like a leaf and paying no attention to her injuries. "Roxy?" Leo called, worried. She buried her head in her hands, shaking with sobs. "Rox!" He called, but she did not hear him. He rushed over and gathered her once more into his arms. She let him and leaned on him limply.

It was not the pretty crying you see in movies. There was wailing and sniffling and snot involved. But Leo was more than willing to let her do all of this into his shoulder. When she had finally cried herself back to sleep, he did not let go. He simply reclined himself and fell asleep with her using him as a mattress.