After they got home Leo grabbed a book and sat in front of the tv. He was just getting into it when he heard the sound of soft footsteps and the smell of vanilla hit him like a brick wall. He glanced beside him to see Cristen sit down and cross her legs. Her hair, which was in a bun, was still wet and was dripping on her shoulders.

"Do you need a towel?" he asked concerned.

"Huh." She said her head whipping to face him. Her hair sprayed water droplets all over his face and she gasped.

"Oh my god I'm sorry." She said as he wiped the water off his face.

"No, no it's fine." He said laughing. "I was just asking if you needed a towel. Now it looks like I need one."

She smiled.

"No, that's ok. I'm good." She looked down on the couch and saw the book that he was reading. "Hunger Games huh. Good book. Good movie to."

Leo picked up the book and marked his place.

"Yeah. It's great. I found it a couple days ago on patrool."

"It's amazing isn't it?" She said still eyeing the book. "How Katniss takes her sisters place." She looked up at Leo. "You would do it to...wouldn't you."

Leo didnt even have to think about that answer.

"In a heartbeat." He said.

Cristen smiled and looked towards the t.v.

"I've always wondered what it would be like to have siblings. I mean, the foster homes had other kids, but they were constantly leaving and coming in. Not really enough time to build relationships."

Leo waited for her to continue. She got like this sometimes. Mostly when it was just the two of them. Her usual joking, quick witted personality striped away to reveal the more solum side.

"It's just always been a one woman show with me. And I was ok with that. I mean, why carry around all that extra baggage. But since I've been hanging out with you guys I just-." She stopped short and closed her eyes chuckling. "I'm sorry. This is stupid."

"No its not." Leo said resting his hand on her knee. "I don't know what I would do without my brothers. Without my family. I always know that there's someone who has my back."

"Must be nice." She said in a small voice. Leo barely heard it. Cristen gasped as Leo pulled her into a tight hug.

"Don't say it like that. Whether you like it or not we're your family now."

He pulled away and stared right into her eyes gripping her by the shoulders. "Nothing is going to happen to you with us around. I promise." She smirked and put her hands on top of his.

"I believe you. No need to get handsey with me."

Leo smiled. She was back to her usual self. She got up and started to head to her room. Leo picked up his book and had just opened it when he was attacked from behind. The attacker hugged him around the neck burying her head full of wet curls into his neck.

"Thank you Leo. You're a good brother." She let go and he turned his head to see her disappear around the corner. Cristen went to her room and started to put stuff away into the old dresser the guys fixed up. She was pullin stuff out of her bag when a paper fell to the floor. Confused she picked it up and realized that it was her dads card. She stared at the number below the car repair logo and bit her lip. Glancing at her shell cell on her bed she made up her mind. She dialed the number in the phone and put it to her ear. It only rang a couple times before a voice came on the other end.

"Hello." Said a voice that she didn't recognize.

"Oh um...can I speak to Micheal...Micheal Lopez."

There was some muffled noises and then her father was on the phone.

"Hello?"

"Daddy?"

Raph was in his room working out like he usually did before he went to sleep. His music was blasting through his stereo as he did a set of curls and dropped his weights down.

He wiped his face with a towel and slug it around his neck. Still pumped up, he walked toward the bathroom and when he walked in the smell of vanilla shampoo hit his nose. He smiled realizing that Cristen had been in there not that long ago. Walking over to the shower stall he noticed that she had left her clothes on the rack. He grinned at the excuse to see her and strolled towards her room. He knocked on the door and peeked in. She was pacing back and forth biting her nails. He slipped in and she looked over to him. She said something into the phone and after a few seconds hung up. Her bottom lip pouted out and she groaned and fell onto the bed. Raph sat her clothes down and sat next to her.

"Ok whats wrong?" He asked. She looked over to him and crawled into his lap.

"I love you." She said looking into his eyes. He kissed her softly savoring her taste and pulled away.

"I love you to." He rested his hands on her thighs and sighed. "So who was on the phone?"

She chuckled and ran her hand down his plastron. "I knew you weren't gonna let that go."

"So." He said expectantly. She sighed.

"It was my dad. I finally called him."

Hey guys! Id love to hear what you think of the story so far!

OXOXOXOXO