Hope loved to dream. It was the only time she could ever feel his closeness, his lips on hers, his arms around her. It was the only time he loved her back.

She awoke suddenly; she was lying on the couch, laptop in her lap, still on. She must have fallen asleep reading her comics. It was dark and quiet which meant the boys were probably out. She padded to the fridge and poured herself a glass of milk. As she closed the door a figure appeared.

"Oh! Donnie! You scared me!"

He glowered at her.

"What's wrong?"

He looked really mad.

"Donatello…?"

"How could you keep this from me? All these years you've been in love with me and you didn't even think to tell me? How selfish of you!"

"Wha- How did you know?"

"Of course I know! Always pining after me, giving me those puppy dog eyes! It's pathetic, as if I'd want someone as lame as you!"

"Donnie…?"

"I don't want you, Hope. I never have and I never will!"

He pushed her out of his way and shoved past.

Hope woke up with a start, tears pouring down her face.

"NO!" She screamed, unable to get Donatello's hurtful words out of her mind. "No…" She sobbed.

Powerful arms held her tight as she bawled. Scooping her up onto his lap, he stroked her hair until her sobs subsided.

"Hope?"

"Donnie. It was just a nightmare."

"Do you want to talk about it?" He asked, rocking her gently. She shook her head, not wanting this moment to end.

"Stay with me. Please."

He nodded and placed her back down on her bed. He climbed under the covers and let her snuggle into him. She looked up at his face, full of concern and her heart melted. It was just a nightmare, but she knew it was all true. Yes, he cared about her, in a sisterly way, just as the others did, but he'd never feel the same. He rested his lips against her hair and breathed gently. Hope had no way of knowing what he was thinking. She squeezed him tighter, wanting to be as close as possible to him, feeling his heart beating beneath his plastron.

"You're safe now." He said. She fell asleep in his arms that night. It was the best night's sleep she'd had in years. She murmured something to him as she drifted, but he couldn't quite hear it.

"I'll never let anything happen to you." He sighed as he kissed the sleeping girl's forehead.

"I-" He stopped himself. "Oh, you know."