Hey everyone. Hope you all had a good week. I'm just letting you know that while I'll try hard to work on the next chapter after work, I'm not sure if I will get it updated next week or even the week after. The next couple of weekends I will be busy with work activities. I have inventory this weekend and will be working super late on Friday and all day Saturday and the weekend after this one I have a team building excercise with my department and will be gone all day. I'm hoping that I can get a chapter posted sometime in between then, but I have no idea how the week will be especially since work is already super stressful and busy all the time. I really appreciate your guys' patience with me. And for those who take the time to review. I think I'm going to wrap this story up in the next chapter or the one after that just because I don't have as much time to write and it's getting to where I want it to be. I have another story written and waiting, but that one will be posted a little closer to the holidays. And I will start working on the next in the series when I'm done with this one. Thank you again for your patience with me and I'll try to post again soon. Have a great week.

Chapter 23

Raphael had been annoyed with what Akemi had done to their room, he hadn't really had any reason to get angry with her since Elizabeth had already put Akemi in time out and had cleaned up most of the mess before Raphael had even found out about what she had done. Elizabeth had scrubbed hard at the walls to rid it of any trace of magazine page, stickers and glitter and then turned her attention to Raphael's work out equipment. She had then put up the last of the craft supplies she had too far up for Akemi to get into.

Afterwards, Raphael had had to admit that it was a bit funny, and though she was still annoyed about the waste of supplies Elizabeth had smiled as well. Knowing all too well that Akemi was just being a kid. And a curious one at that. A call to April had helped her replenish her craft supplies and she'd finished the counting boards for Akemi without further trouble from her daughter.

Melinda felt more and more at ease with the family. And while she had gotten used to all of the turtles now, even Raphael and his strange golden eyes, she still felt closest to Michelangelo. And in turn Michelangelo had continued to get closer to her as well. She hadn't gotten too much better at the video games he liked her to play with him, but she had to admit that she was holding her own better than when she had first started.

She was sitting on the couch, reading when she felt someone hovering over her. Placing her thumb on the page she looked up to see a grinning Michelangelo. She smiled. "Hey Mikey."

"Hey, Melinda. You ever play canasta? Elizabeth just put Akemi down for the night and said that she could probably get Raphael to play."

"Canasta? That a video game?" Melinda asked, confused.

Michelangelo chuckled. "Nope, it's a card game. Its lots of fun. Want to try it?"

"Um, sure but I'm not very good at card games," Melinda said as she put her book down. Mikey offered her his hand and she took it without hesitation, he pulled her up gently.

"Well, it's a good thing we aren't playing poker with Sensei then," Michelangelo teased. "He can clean any of us out and usually does." He winked.

"Really?" Melinda asked surprised by this.

"Yep, there was this time he was playing with Raph and Casey and… "

"And if ya don't shuddup yer gonna get it, Chucklehead." Raph growled from behind him.

Mikey snickered but let the subject go.

He led Melinda to the kitchen with Raphael trailing them. Elizabeth was already at the table, shuffling the cards. She smiled welcomingly at Melinda.

"Ever play this before, Melinda?"

Melinda shook her head sitting down next to Michelangelo.

"It's simple," Elizabeth said as she shuffled the cards again, while Raph sat next to her. She began to deal out the cards.

Elizabeth began to explain the rules while she dealt the cards. Melinda was having a hard time understanding everything.

"It'll be easier to understand once we get going," Elizabeth promised.

Melinda simply nodded looking at her cards.

She learned quickly that while the rules of the game were simple as Elizabeth promised, playing with two experienced players wasn't. She took some comfort, however, in the fact that Raphael didn't seem too familiar with the game either.

Michelangelo snickered as Raphael put down the card he'd obviously been waiting for and took it and put down another pile of cards before taking the discard pile, adding lots of points to the table that would count in his favor.

Melinda frowned, biting her lip as she looked at her own cards. She didn't even have enough points to meld yet and if Michelangelo went out she was going to have all the cards in her hand count against her.

Luck seemed to be favoring her, for the moment anyway since Michelangelo couldn't go out and still had a good half dozen cards in his hands. Melinda drew a card and looked at the Joker. A fifty point wild card. Finally. She put several cards onto the table, getting them out of her hand. She might not get enough for canasta this round, but at least she wouldn't have so many points against her in case Elizabeth or Michelangelo went out.

Considering carefully Melinda discarded and Elizabeth drew a card from the top of the pile, playing her hand.

Raphael's jaw clenched as he drew his card. He scowled, glaring at it as if it had done him a terrible wrong before glancing at Michelangelo's piles, then smirking discarded a black three, freezing the pile for Michelangelo. Michelangelo shrugged as he drew a card, and added the queen to his pile of queens already on the table. He then glanced at Elizabeth's piles and then Melinda's before discarding a four. Melinda had no interest in a four.

She drew another card and put it in the discard almost at once. Elizabeth reached out and plucked it up, putting it down with several more she had already had in her hand and then, much to Raphael's dismay she went out, ending the round.

"Sorry Raph," Elizabeth said with a smirk, she didn't look sorry at all.

Raphael shook his head. "No ya ain't."

Elizabeth chuckled. "Not really. Let's just call it payback for the fifty squats you had me do this morning after breakfast."

"Well can't 'elp dat – ya look so good when yer doin' 'em." Raph smirked.

Elizabeth rolled her eyes but her cheeks went a little pink.

"Ok wise guy," She said once everyone had finished counting up their points. She pushed the cards to Raphael. "Your turn to deal."

Melinda took losing Canasta to Elizabeth and Michelangelo with good grace. She'd come to accept the fact that Michelangelo was just a much better game player than she was. Michelangelo had just barely beaten Elizabeth, though Melinda wasn't sure if that was because Akemi had joined them halfway through the game and, still groggy and half asleep, she had insisted on sitting on Elizabeth's lap. Elizabeth had seemed a bit distracted after that though, had still managed to beat Melinda and Raphael and had only lost by two hundred points.

Michelangelo had cheered his triumph much to Raphael's disgust and Melinda's amusement. She would let Michelangelo have his moment of triumph. Though if she found out that they had Battle Ship, he had better watch out. Melinda was an amazing Battle Ship player.

After the game Raphael had wound his arm around Elizabeth's waist. And cradling her daughter they had headed upstairs once again, to put Akemi in her bed again, and to go spend some private time together as a couple.

"Want to play again?" Michelangelo teased.

Melinda shook her head. "I think you've officially kicked my but enough for one night," She said with a warm smile.

"How about some hot chocolate then?"

Melinda nodded. Michelangelo stood up getting down a couple of mugs and began to warm up some water.

Melinda watched him, watching the muscles in his arms rippling under the skin as he moved, then shook her head and looked down at the table, trying to get a hold of herself. What had gotten into her?

"They seem a lot happier lately."

Michelangelo turned, looking at her over his shoulder surprised. "Who?"

"Raphael and Elizabeth. He seems more relaxed."

"Oh… yeah well he's been asking her to marry him for months."

"She always said no?"

Michelangelo nodded. "She had her reasons for not wanting to get married I guess."

"She's lucky to have your brother."

"My brother is lucky, Elizabeth is great. And has been really good for him. Not everyone looks at us the way she does."

Melinda frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Most people don't look at us like we have feelings, like we're not… " he hesitated as if struggling with the word. "Animals."

Melinda was on her feet without having conscious thought of getting to her feet. She walked over to the turtle and put a hand on his arm, automatically wanting to comfort him. She felt his muscles twitch and he looked at her, the pain in those blue eyes was enough to break her heart.

"Mikey, you and your family are not animals. You and your brothers, your father, I've never met anyone like you. The way you live, the code of Bushido… you are all incredible. Whoever views you as animals… they don't know what they're talking about! You guys aren't animals. And all of you deserve to be happy."

She could see the doubt in his eyes, the insecurity. Did he really think that Elizabeth would be the only one who would ever see them the way she did. That the others would never find… Melinda reached impulsively. Touching the side of his face. Michelangelo didn't pull away, he stared back at her evenly, calmly.

Melinda looked into his eyes for several long seconds. This turtle. An animal when she first saw him, scary even with those big teeth. But from the first time he'd opened his eyes and spoken to her, she'd known that he was no ordinary animal. That he was special. From the day that he'd played her Super Nintendo, she'd known that he was fun. When he'd shared his lives with her on Super Mario World she'd known he was kind and compassionate. On the day she'd woken after being kidnapped by the Foot and had seen Michelangelo waiting for her she'd known he was loyal. From the day he'd gotten his memories back, and even though he hadn't remembered her he'd been friendly and welcoming. He'd done his best to keep her entertained while she had been laid up with her broken leg. He'd wanted her to feel as comfortable as possible down here with them. Always trying to include her, and keeping her company. He was her best friend. The most incredible, gentle, and loving soul she'd ever met, despite everything he'd gone through. He was so incredible.

Her heart beat wildly in her chest. She never wanted to be without him now. A life without Michelangelo in it didn't seem worth living. There wasn't anyone who could compare to him. He was one of a kind. And somehow the fates had been kind enough to bring them together. Though the circumstances hadn't been the most ideal for those conditions. The fact that those events had brought them together was all that mattered.

She wasn't aware of bringing her other hand up to his face, gently cupping it.

"Mikey, I… "

He looked back at her, the heart broken look in his face was too much for her. She didn't hesitate, she'd always been a bit impulsive. It was something Christine had often teased her about. But she found herself stretching up on her toes, with Michelangelo being just a bit taller than she was it didn't take much and her mouth pressed to his.

She felt his surprise, clearly this wasn't something he expected, and she started to pull back, not wanting to make him feel uncomfortable. But then his hands were up cupping the back of her head, keeping her close and he was kissing her back.

Warmth seemed to spread throughout her body at his touch. Something she had never felt before. An electric current seemed to run through her veins at his touch. Something that felt natural, and intoxicating. He wasn't the first one she'd kissed. She'd had her fair share of boyfriends, but she'd never felt a connection like this. Not like with Michelangelo. He was unlike any of those boyfriends who had always just been after one thing. But with Michelangelo it didn't feel that way. With Michelangelo this felt right, it felt as if she could never get enough of it. Could never tire of him.

She was a bit breathless when he finally drew back looking at her. "Melinda, I'm… I'm sorry I… "

She felt her heart stop in her chest and looked at him, heartbroken. "You're… you're sorry?"

He looked into her blue eyes and shook his head. "No. Not really."

"Me neither, Mikey. Me neither."

He smiled and brought his mouth down to hers again. She welcomed it warmly, greeting it enthusiastically with her own. The water began to boil, neither of them had noticed. Both of them too lost in the new experience, this new sensation. This new togetherness. She knew what she wanted and she knew that's exactly what she would have with Michelangelo.

"Raph?"

"Hmm?" Raph sounded languid and sleepy. His fingers trailed lazily up Elizabeth's back, his other hand resting on her hip, the warmth from it sent a familiar warmth spreading through her gut. She automatically pressed closer to him.

"I want you to meet them. My parents."

"What?" She felt him shift, pull away slightly. She could hear the frown and concern in his voice.

"I've been thinking about it," Elizabeth pressed, trying to keep her voice steady. "What if we had them come up here for the first meeting? We could meet them in Central Park… "

"'Lizabeth, it ain't a good idea. What if dey don't… ya know understand?"

"They're my family, Raph. Of course they'll understand. All they ever wanted was for me to be happy. And I've never been happier than when I'm with you. You're my best friend, a wonderful father to Akemi, and we're going to get married. I want them to know I'm happy. I want them to see how incredibly lucky I am to have you."

Raphael was silent for a very long time, his fingers still against her back, tense.

"Raph?"

"'Lizabeth… I ain't gonna make ya choose between me an' yer family."

"You haven't asked me to do that. But Raph… we've set the date. I'd really like it if my family could be there too."

She looked up into his face, those amber eyes visible even in the dark. She touched the side of his face. "Raph, please."

"We'll 'ave ta talk ta Leo… if he forbids it, 'Lizabeth, we'll have ta respect dat. He 'as da final say in dis kind o' stuff."

Elizabeth nodded knowing it was the best she was going to get from her fiancé. She knew that Leonardo wouldn't be easy to convince. But if he did agree and let Raphael meet her parents it would be worth it. Content she settled against Raphael, using his arm as a pillow, his other arm wrapping around her back pulling her close and closed her eyes. Drifting into oblivion quickly and contentedly.