Hope sat on her bed thinking about the only thing she liked to reflect on. What exactly was it that stopped him from feeling that way about her? Was it the simple fact that they were a different species? Or that she just wasn't good enough for him? He needed someone like him; smart, beautiful, courageous. She would never live up to that. But it broke her to know that she could never be with him. He would get bored with her in one second.

She pulled her hair into a bun and set out of the sewer for a walk.

"Where you off to?" Asked Raphael.

"Just out for a walk."

"Are you okay?"

"I think so." She said planting an affectionate kiss on Raphael's cheek. "Don't wait up."

Hope was thinking the evening air would clear her head, but it only made things worse. All she wanted to do was sit and speak rubbish with Donatello, but after the mishap at the dojo, he'd hardly even looked her way. She needed him and he had no idea. He heart swelled in her chest. It was physically painful loving him.

Before she knew it, she was back in the alley where she'd first seen him. It had been months since she'd been here, she didn't need to now. It was early evening, but it was getting dark, and fog was cloaking the ground beneath her.

She sighed and thought of all the amazing times she'd had with him.

"Why can't you see me?" She said aloud, tears forming in her eyes.

"I can." Said a voice. But it wasn't Donatello's. It was one that she had never heard before. History repeating itself, a figure emerged, knife in hand. This time though, Hope wasn't scared. Months of training had prepared her for this moment.

It all happened so fast that she had trouble believing that it was even her who had done it. She flipped the mugger over her shoulder just like Donatello had shown her and he landed with a thud on the hard concrete. And this time Hope knew exactly what to do, she ran and ran straight back to the lair.

"GUYS!" She screamed as she returned. "GUYS!"

"Woah, what is it, Hope?" asked Raphael as she ran into his arms.

"I got attacked!" She explained.

"What?!" He exclaimed, holding her at arm's length and inspecting her for injuries.

"In the alley where I first met you guys, some bloke pulled a knife on me."

"What were you doing there…?" asked Donatello delicately.

"I-I-" She spluttered. "Never you mind why I was there, Donnie. "She glowered at him. "I kicked his butt!" Then she recalled the epic tale to the engaged turtles.

"That's amazing, Hope!" Exclaimed Michelangelo, doing pretend punches, with loud ninja sounds.

"We are so proud of you." Beamed Leonardo, stroking her hand. Raphael gave her a token pat on the back and nodded approvingly.

She looked to Donatello, but he gave her a weak smile and went back to his lab. Hope followed him.

"Donnie?"

"Hey." He said feebly, turning a glass beaker in his large hands.

"Aren't you pleased with what I did? Flip and everything?"

"Well, yes, of course I am. I just can't figure why you'd go there and put yourself in danger." He looked to her for her reaction.

"I- just needed to think…" She trailed off and looked down at her hands.

"About…?" He stared at her quizzically.

"Um." She couldn't meet his eyes.

"You've been going out a lot recently. Don't think I don't know what's going on, Hope."

"Huh?" Her heart was beating so hard she could hear it in her ears.

"You're dating someone, aren't you?"

"Eh?!"

"Seeing someone… Else." He added as an afterthought.

"I'm not, really not, far from it!" She sputtered.

"Oh." Was his response.

"Oh?"

"Just, oh."

He walked over to her, put his arms around her and leant down to kiss her on the head.

"I'm glad you're okay, Hope."