Chapter Six

The next day, Leo went about his normal routine. He meditated (well, he pretended like he was) between running through his training exercises. After lunch Raph suggested they spar together; Leo agreed, though his mind kept wandering even as he tried to focus.

"It's not like you to get distracted," Raph noted with a frown after he'd laid him flat for the third time.

"Maybe I don't like being cooped up," Leo muttered as he hauled himself to his feet.

"Hey, that's what happens when you fib to Splinter," Raph said, snickering.

Leo scowled, and was pleased to see that Raph hadn't been expecting the left hook to the jaw in the least.

"That wasn't very nice," Mikey commented, as Raph stumbled by rubbing his face.

"No, but it made me feel better."

It felt like the sun took forever to go down that day. When the evening news finally came on, Leo retired to his room and pretended to read, then dozed for a while. This time he had it all planned out; he'd dug up a watch with an alarm, which he set to go off a few hours before dawn.

When it woke him up later, he set it to just before dawn. Now he wouldn't have to worry about getting lost in his time with Arella.

When he went up the ladder and down the tunnel to the dry, secluded spot, Arella was there waiting for him. She was wisely wearing boots - the same buckled boots he saw her wearing the night they met - plus jeans and a glossy teal blouse. It was sleeveless and held up with string-thin straps, and there was an extra ruffle attached to them that draped partway down her upper arm, accentuating the soft curve of her shoulders.

She looked unreal, like a flawless china doll come to life. Leo drew close to her, put his hands gently on her arms and kissed her. Her lips felt cool; a shiver ran through him as she rested her chilly fingers on his arms.

When they parted, they sat on the boards together, arms still wrapped around each other. Leo noted absently that he should make this place nicer - better seats, maybe a blanket. She felt so cold tonight.

"Tell me about yourself," Leo murmured as he nuzzled her soft hair.

"What do you want to know?" Arella wondered, her tone lazy as she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Everything. Come on, I told you my life story; what about you? Have you always lived in New York?"

"I was born on an Irish moor. I lived alone in a cottage by the sea until the Great Famine came. After that I had trouble finding food, so I came here with everybody else. I prefer the coast, so I've stayed along the east here ever since."

Leo turned blank. "You, uh, look good for you age," he noted dryly.

He laughed a second later. "You mean, that's when your ancestors came here."

Arella smiled tightly at him.

"Do you have any family?" Leo wondered.

She shook her head, her eyes staying locked with his. "Not anymore. My brothers left to make their fortune when I was small, and my parents decided to travel all over Europe with me when I came of age - trying to find some rich landowner to marry me off to."

"Where are they now?"

Arella cuddled her head under his chin. "Dead. The last potential husband we stayed with didn't like it when my parents changed their minds and left suddenly. They met with an accident shortly after that."

Leo frowned hard. "Foul play?" he guessed.

"More or less."

He tightened his arms around her tiny frame. "You're lucky to be alive," he said quietly. "I'm so glad you weren't hurt."

Arella chuckled softly and ran her fingertips up and down his arm. His skin prickled deliciously.

"How long ago was this?"

"Early 1800s."

Leo laughed again. "Seriously."

Arella lifted her eyes to his. "Seriously, it was a long time ago. I barely remember them, and I don't miss them. They spent so much time going to parties when I was small I never got the chance to know them."

Leo gazed at her sympathetically. "Do you ever get lonely?" he asked softly, reaching up to brush a curl from her eyes.

"Sometimes. Then I met you."

Leo felt that burning ache swell inside him until it hurt. He couldn't keep himself from saying it.

"I love you, Rey," he whispered.

Arella's smile turned dazzling. She snaked her arms around his neck and meshed her mouth with his; Leo drew her close to him, reveling in her touch, her smell. She smelled so good, like a mixture of incense and flower petals.

Her lips were so wonderfully soft, so smooth and supple beneath his own, though they were a little cold and dry. He expected them to warm and moisten as he continued to kiss her, but they didn't.

Arella suddenly cupped his face and drew her tongue across his mouth, sending a shiver of delight through him. She chuckled and pulled away. "Interesting flavor," she noted, sounding amused. "What did you eat tonight?"

Leo flushed a little. "Garlic and onion pizza," he admitted sheepishly.

Arella made a purring sound and kissed him again. She lightly drew her fingernails over the sensitive flesh between his shoulder and neck, making him shiver again. His heart was pounding and his head was swimming; when Arella started nudging her lips down to his throat, he automatically tilted his head back.

Purring low in her throat again she licked across that same tender spot she had found before. Leo moaned softly, feeling his heart quicken even further. His pulse was humming under the spot Arella had pressed her lips to.

His watch picked that moment to beep.

"Oh, crap," he muttered, frustrated.

Had hours really gone by already? They must have, though it sure didn't feel like it.

Arella moaned in protest as he started to get up. "Don't go," she begged, her arms clamping around him. "Please, not yet."

"I have to," Leo sighed, though he wanted more than anything to stay here in her arms. "If I don't go now Splinter will notice that I'm gone, and then I'll be in even more trouble. I should be unpunished in a few days; then I can come up and spend as much time with you as I want."

Arella unwound her arms from his neck and sat back, though she looked painfully frustrated about something. "Okay," she whispered, after swallowing several times. "I'll wait."

Leo wasn't sure what she meant by that, but he darted forward and kissed her satiny cheek. "I'll see you tonight," he promised, before hurrying home.

The following day was almost exactly like yesterday, minus sparring with Raph. Leo tried not to let it show how anxious he was for nightfall and immersed himself in his practicing. Later that evening April dropped by to give them all an update on the wedding plans, along with several other instructions.

"We plan to take two weeks off for honeymooning, so I'd like you guys to come in while we're gone. You know, to water the plants and feed the cat."

Casey had given April a kitten for Christmas last year.

"That won't be for a while though, will it?" asked Mikey as April pulled out a set of keys.

"No, but I figure you guys should hang on to a set anyway. You know, just in case."

With a smile, she handed the keys to Leo, who took them without making eye contact with either Splinter or his brothers. At least someone around here still thought he was responsible...which must mean his brothers hadn't blabbed.

"Anything else we can help with?" asked Don.

"Not really. We're keeping it fairly small, so we've already gotten most of the major planning squared away. Right now I'm trying to pick out my gown - not easy with Casey helping me."

"What, doesn't the guy have good taste?" Raph asked teasingly.

April rolled her eyes. "Not unless you consider clothes I would be arrested if I wore them in public tasteful."

Raph snickered. "Well, you can't help who you fall in love with."

"Tell me about it."

She stayed and joked with them for a while more before heading back out. After she was gone, his brothers headed up to patrol for a few hours. Leo - naturally - stayed behind, not appreciating the barbs they tossed his way on their way out. He sat cross-legged on his bed while they were gone, fuming quietly.

When they got back they took out a game of cards, which they didn't invite him to join. Leo was pretty sure fun wasn't included in his punishment, so he let it slide and went to bed early.

When his watch went off, he eagerly got up and left the subway car - and stopped short as a chill ran through him.

In the distance he heard the distinct rumble of thunder, and even though he was underground, there was no mistaking the steady sound, the dampness in the air, the smell.

It was raining - no, make that pouring.

Leo's heart sank as he was filled with aching disappointment. Arella wasn't likely to venture out in weather like this - and even if she did, it didn't matter. A light was flickering in Splinter's room, brighter than what he usually fell asleep by. Above the patter of the rain Leo heard the soft crinkle of a page being turned.

Splinter was a light sleeper and often roused by a storm, so sitting up reading till it passed wasn't unusual for him. It still made Leo want to weep with disappointment as he sat in front of the subway car, chin rested in his hands.

I'm sorry, he thought bitterly. I'm so sorry, Rey.

Somehow, he felt like he was to blame for this. If only he hadn't gotten himself grounded. If only he hadn't let his training slip while he was worrying about getting his brothers' attention. If he hadn't he might have been able to sneak past Splinter even though he was awake.

Why did he go and let that bug him in the first place, anyway? It seemed so unimportant now. So his brothers were acting out of character and doing things that didn't include him; so what? He didn't need them. He had Arella now. As long as he had her, that was all that mattered.

Screw them, he thought darkly. Screw all three of them.

Sleep.

It was like a whisper in his mind, softer than a summer breeze. Sleep now. Sleep...

He had been wide awake moments ago, but now his eyelids started to droop. Yawning, Leo stood and went back to bed, where he slipped off into a place full of warmth and Arella...though his mind still couldn't seem to clearly capture her face.