Hey everyone. Here's the next chapter as promised, and I'm working on the next one so I can get that posted next week. Thank you again for those who take the time to review, hope everyone enjoys the rest of their weekends and has a good week.

Chapter 18

Melinda was glad that she hadn't taken all of her things out of the bags that the turtles had brought down for her. It made it so much easier for her now that she was packing up what few things she had unpacked.

It felt strange to her to think that she'd considered the sewers home, but after being here for the last few weeks she had to admit that she had felt at home here, but she should've known it was temporary. She should've known that nothing lasts forever. The turtles had been gracious, but they owed her nothing. She had saved their brother, maybe, but they had saved her life from those black clad ninjas, had gotten her out of that horrible place. They had repaid what little debt they might've owed her. So if they wanted her to go, she would go without a fuss.

Perhaps she would visit Christine, it would be good to see her sister for a few days and she knew Christine would be thrilled. And then what? She frowned as she thought about it. She really didn't want to stay on the dude ranch forever. Or be a burden on her sister.

She was sure she would come up with something. There were plenty of opportunities else where, somewhere, somehow she'd find where she belonged.

Tying the bag shut Melinda found herself facing a new complication. She couldn't very well pick up the bag and carry it with her broken leg. Getting around on the crutches Donatello had given her was difficult enough, and that was without trying to drag a heavy bag or two filled with her belongings. She'd have to have one of the turtles help her. It'd probably be Donatello. If she could tear him away from Michelangelo now that his brother remembered them and would obviously want his brothers close to him.

Still, he was the one who wanted her to leave for Michelangelo's sake. And she needed help. Gripping the crutches tightly she maneuvered her way out of the room and to the main living area of the turtles' home.

She saw Akemi walking around the couch dropping something on the floor as she went. Obviously lost in her own game of imagination.

"Akemi, honey don't spread crumbs all over the floor," Elizabeth sounded very tired. She came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on a towel and frowned at her daughter.

Akemi ignored her and kept sprinkling crumbs onto the floor.

"Akemi, you're going to get a time out," Elizabeth said firmly. "One… two… "

"Elizabeth, is Donatello still in the infirmary with Michelangelo?"

"Um, yeah he is, Melinda. You need something?" Elizabeth seemed distracted as she picked up her daughter who began to kick in protest at the interruption of her game.

"Just need some help getting my things out of here. I can't move the bag by myself," Melinda explained.

Elizabeth looked at her surprised, clearly she hadn't been expecting that for an answer. "You're leaving?"

"Well, yes, I'm well enough to travel now. And there's no real reason for me to stay here as long as I wasn't planning on staying in the city. Besides, I don't want to press your hospitality anymore than I already have."

Elizabeth frowned, her jade green eyes narrowing. "Donatello asked you to leave didn't he?"

Melinda looked away from the other woman, unable to meet her eyes.

She heard Elizabeth sigh and shift her weight. "Melinda, you don't have to leave."

"Yes, I do. Look I really appreciate everything that you and those turtles have done for me, but I never wanted to cause trouble. Staying here will just cause trouble. I think it's best if I just go."

"How about a cup of tea?"

"I really don't know if… "

"Come on, the guys are in there with Mikey anyway. They'll probably be there for a while."

Melinda sighed but nodded, gripping her crutches she followed Elizabeth to the kitchen, sitting down at the table and propping up her leg as Elizabeth filled the tea kettle and put it on the stove, then got a couple cups down from the cupboard and put tea bags in them.

She pulled out a box if ginger snaps and put them on the table sitting down across from Melinda, offering her a cookie. Melinda took it, nibbling on it.

"He's just worried about Mikey, Melinda. It doesn't have anything to do with you. They're very protective of each other."

Melinda looked at Elizabeth. "You sound as if you're talking from experience."

"Well, that's because I am." Elizabeth smiled sitting back in her chair, a lock of hair had fallen over her shoulder and trailed down her front, gleaming in the overhead light.

This took Melinda by surprise. Elizabeth just fit in so well with the family, it was as if she'd always been here. It didn't seem right for Raphael to be without her, or Elizabeth to be without Raphael. They were perfect for each other.

"Really?"

Elizabeth nodded. "Really."

"But you and Raphael. You two seem so happy."

"We are," Elizabeth said as she helped herself to another ginger snap. "But it was complicated when I got here. His family was worried about what would happen if things escalated and then didn't work out in the end. They were especially worried when I told them I was pregnant."

"But… isn't Akemi Raphael's daughter?"

"Well, the paper work says he is, but genetically no. I was married when Raphael found me in the park to a very abusive man, Graham Cooper."

"Of Cooper Enterprises? That business that went bankrupt last year?"

"That's the one," Elizabeth sighed. "I was alone in the park when I first met Raphael. He saved my life that night, brought me down here to the lair. His brothers, Leonardo especially, were worried that someone would be looking for me. And they were right to be worried. Graham was very possessive. He saw me as property not a human being, he put out a large reward hoping that every gang member would be looking for me… it was really hard for the turtles. Leonardo didn't want his family to be in danger… he was almost rude at first. He was even willing to trade my life for Donatello's when one of Graham's men managed to capture him."

Melinda's eyes widened. "Did he?"

"No, I didn't give him that choice, I went back to Graham myself, hoping he would let Donatello go. But of course he didn't and it almost cost both of us our lives. If Donatello and Michelangelo hadn't gotten there when they had – well, it would've. Leo backed off after that realizing that I was willing to give myself up if it helped keep his family safe. He knew I wasn't trying to put his family in danger then. The hardest part for me though, was telling them I was pregnant. When they found out… well none of them were happy. Raphael especially. But it was Splinter that was the most concerned of what it would do to Raphael since we were getting closer at the time."

"Splinter?" Melinda asked with a slight frown. "What did he… ?"

She was interrupted as the tea kettle began to whistle. Elizabeth rose and poured the hot water into the tea cups then got the milk, sugar and honey out and put them down along with the two cups of hot liquid.

She sighed as she poured some milk and honey into her own tea.

Melinda stirred some sugar into her's. "So what happened? I mean obviously you are here… but… "

"Well, Master Splinter took me aside telling me he didn't think it was a good idea that I stay here because I was pregnant, and I was getting closer and closer to Raphael. He was worried about how Raphael would handle it when I left, if I chose to go back to the surface after having the baby. I told him that I didn't want to keep the baby, that it wasn't something I had ever wanted with Graham. That I had planned on giving the baby up for adoption so I wouldn't have any ties to Graham. He warned me that I might feel different about it after being pregnant and giving birth to the baby. He told me that I should decide before Raphael and I got any closer. But by then I already knew what I wanted, because I had fallen in love with Raphael. He had been there in a time when I felt like I didn't have anyone. So I knew what I wanted, so I had to make the decision on what would be best for the baby."

"You kept the baby and you brought her back here though. How did you know that was the right decision for the baby?"

"Well, as Master Splinter predicted, after being pregnant with her, and giving birth to my baby I couldn't give her up. Especially since I had wanted a girl, and that's what I had. I'd already told Raphael that I couldn't give the baby up for adoption, and he'd figured as much. He knew I'd wanted to keep her. He and his brothers and their friends had even thrown me a little baby shower. They made the crib and Mikey painted the nursery for her. She was a premature baby, had some complications with her heart when she was born. So I stayed with April and Casey for a couple weeks until she was well enough to come back down into the sewers. But while we were there Graham found us. He thought Akemi was Raphael's baby. Tried to kill us both. Raphael got there just in time to save our lives. But we were both in bad shape. When we got out of the hospital I took her straight to the sewers. We've been living here ever since."

"So you knew that this was the right place for you and Akemi?"

Elizabeth sipped at her tea and looked at Melinda. She swallowed. "Yes, I knew from the minute I realized that I loved Raphael that I never wanted to live anywhere else. I've never felt safer than when I'm down here with the brothers."

"Don't you miss going up to the surface though? Interacting with other humans?"

Elizabeth studied Melinda for a minute as if considering the question carefully. "No not really. I do go up to the surface for supply runs, I was awarded a large cash settlement from the courts and that takes care of most of the needs we have so there's no need for me to have a job, and I'm happier down here where I can spend all my time with Akemi and know we are safe. Going up for supply runs is usually enough for me. The turtles let me come and go as I please. I'm not a prisoner here, and neither are you. But I feel safer here. "

"Isn't there anything you miss? Anything you regret?"

Elizabeth shook her head, a slight smile pulling at the corners of her lips. "No. I talk to my family all the time, they were concerned at first when all my calls were coming from a blocked number but I told them that I did it for my safety and Akemi's, especially since I was awarded half the company and Graham's assets. It makes my bank accounts a large target for anyone looking for a big pay off. My family understands that. I hope one day soon to take Akemi to the farm so she can visit her grandparents. They ask about that all the time. I was going to talk to Raphael about it, but with everything that's been happening lately it just hasn't been the right time. But we'll get there eventually."

"So you don't think I should leave?"

"I'm not saying that you should leave. But I'm not saying you have to stay either. All I'm saying, Melinda, is I know that Michelangelo has really come to care for you as his friend. And he needs friends right now."

"He doesn't remember me, Elizabeth."

"Perhaps not, but that doesn't mean he won't. Or that he doesn't need you. He gravitated to you when he shied away from the rest of us. He'll need you here. But that decision is up to you."

"Donatello doesn't want me here."

"I will talk to Donatello, and the others. If you decide to stay you will be welcome. I promise."

Melinda sighed and took the last sip of her tea. "You're a very persuasive person, Elizabeth."

"I just know that something as special like the friendship that you and Michelangelo have shared shouldn't be thrown away as if it meant nothing to either of you. They don't have that many friends because of who and what they are, so any friend they make is precious."

"Let me sleep on it. I'll let you know in the morning."

Elizabeth nodded. "That's fine, Melinda. Take your time."

"Cookie!"

"Akemi, honey, mommy is going to be making dinner. Why don't you go watch… "

"LION KING!"

"No, not Lion King."

"Yes!"

"No, Akemi. Now go pick something else."

Melinda rinsed out her cup and took Akemi throwing herself on the floor and beating her hands and feet on the ground as her cue to leave and let Elizabeth take care of her daughter.

She returned to the guest room, looking at the bags containing her things. She sat on the corner of her bed pulling the bag closer to herself.

What was the right thing to do here? Should she leave like Donatello wanted? Did the others feel that way as well? And if they did was it really the right thing to do? Or was it her choice like Elizabeth said? What would she do if she decided to stay down here in the sewers with these turtles? Could she live the rest of her life down here? Could she stand not going to the surface very much, not smelling the fresh air, feeling the cool breeze, hearing the hustle and bustle of New York traffic? Get used to not walking down to the coffee shop for her morning coffee and bagel? Not having a job? Getting out of the rush of every day working life? Could she stand settling down here, just so she wouldn't lose a friendship with a turtle that probably didn't even remember who she was?

She blinked and was a bit startled to see she was pulling out all her clothes, folding them absent mindedly as the questions had run through her head. Folding them as if she were ready to put them away in the drawers. And it was then that she realized she'd made her decision. She didn't want to leave, she had come to really care about this family, and even if they didn't want her to stay, she didn't want to leave. Not if there was a chance that Michelangelo would remember her. She had to find out for herself. And she wouldn't know if she left. Smiling a little she put the clothes away in the drawers. She'd have to thank Elizabeth for the little chat they'd had in the morning.

Come on now - you really think I could let Melinda leave? I don't think so :)