Donatello fished out the old photograph from the bottom of his drawer.
It had been years, even before he met Hope, since he'd looked at it, mostly because it hurt so bad to think of those memories.
He ran his finger over the girl's face.
The photograph crumpled slightly at his touch.
"You never wanted me."
Hope had been with him and his brothers for 3 years now, and he still hadn't come to terms with his feelings for her.
She was almost as good as them in ninja training and nothing phased her.
Even meeting them for the first time, and seeing what they were, she took it all in her stride.
His brothers adored her, and she them.
She was an integral part of their family.
He felt like he needed to keep her at arm's length, otherwise he might fall into the same hopeless love spiral again.
He wasn't ready to have his heart crushed another time.