Hello Everyone, sorry this chapter took so long. The next chapter (following this one) will be up within the next week I promise! I've been trying to work on at least three different stories at the same time, plus a couple of new stories I'm trying to get off the ground. I hope you enjoy it!

Ch. 28-Tenderly

It was afternoon in the turtle lair. The day's training was over and it was still a couple hours until patrol.

The turtles were in the kitchen having something to eat. Midori sat alone in the main room. She lay in silence of the couch for a moment before tentatively reaching for the TV remote. She channel surfed for a few minutes then she landed on an old music channel. The sound of a flute reverberated through the room, and she began to sway. Midori closed her eyes and lost herself in the music. She turned up the volume and spun, keeping her eyes closed. A gentle little grin spread across her face.

The evening breeze caressed the trees, Tenderly

The trembling trees embraced the breeze, Tenderly

Midori's grin blossomed into a full smile as she felt a familiar hand grip hers softly. She flinched a little, but soon relaxed as he wrapped an arm around her waist. They began to dance as the song went on.

Then you and I came wandering by and lost in a sigh were we

The shore was kissed, by sea and mist, Tenderly

Slowly, Midori pressed her right hand against the back of his neck, her forearm resting lightly on the lightning-shaped scare on his plastron. She tucked her head just beneath his and sighed contentedly as they moved in tandem with the music.

I can't forget how two hearts met, breathlessly

Raphael could feel her breath ghosting over his neck. Neon green eyes closed as Raph focused only on the human in his arms.

Raph knew that if he wanted to keep Dragon from hurting his family, he would have to fight. He didn't want to hurt Midori, but he had to do everything he could to ensure her safety. Even if he had to die to achieve it, Raphael was determined to bring Dragon down. The red masked turtle frowned. He had absolutely no intention of losing his life in the fight with Midori's uncle, but he was forced to acknowledge the possibility, along with the effects it would have on his family. Especially Midori. The only reason Raphael had not already confronted Ryuu was because of her. Internally Raphael feared how Midori would respond to another loss. Even though she didn't show it often, she was deeply scarred.

But Midori was also a very strong young woman. Raph knew she would honor his sacrifice and would not think any less of him for it. However, in the event of his death, Raphael had to ensure that Midori had the support she needed to get on with her life. The hotheaded turtle had no doubt that his family would take good care of her. After all, they had practically already adopted her as their 'sister'. Especially Leonardo, man those two got along like peas in a pod. Since those two had gotten to know each other Raphael had learned more about his conservative older brother than he ever thought he would.

Your arms opened wide, enclosed me inside,

You took my lips, you took my love

So Tenderly.

Raphael dipped her towards the ground as he returned to the present. Their eyes met and the emerald green turtle's heart dropped to his stomach, his only thought was: I can't do this to her.

Raph's line of thought was broken by his younger brother's voice. "Nice moves Raph."

Raph rolled his eyes and stopped cold. Midori glanced up at him questioningly and laughed at the glare she got in return. "You're embarrassed of dancing in front of Mikey?!" She said, barely reigning in her laughter.

"No I just…" His voice faded away as he couldn't come up with a viable excuse.

Golden eyes glinted mischievously. "You're just embarrassed that your little brother caught us in a moment, huh?" She took a few slow steps towards him and Raph inched backwards until he bumped into the couch. Midori smirked and stalked forward. "You're not embarrassed of me are you, Raphie?"

Raph shifted uncomfortably and growled. "Don't call me Raphie."

"You didn't answer my question!" She pounced, knocked him backwards and pinned him to the couch and began tickling his sides. "Answer the question!"

Raph grit his teeth as he refused to allow himself to laugh, "No!" Despite all his efforts the pouting turtle's frown melted into a smile, but he still refused to laugh.

"Well? Are you embarrassed of me?" She repeated more quietly and the tickling slowed to a stop.

Raphael looked straight up into her eyes. "I would never be embarrassed of you."

Midori beamed and Raph smiled, goofily. Did I seriously just say that? Man, I'm going soft. Raph thought to himself. Strangely enough, he couldn't bring himself to care.

Then he noticed that Michelangelo was wagging his eyebrows at them. So Raph concocted a little plot.

He used his ninja skills to flip them over so that he was the one pinning Midori to the couch. Then he proceeded to kiss her passionately. In the midst of the kiss Raph cracked open an eye and did a mental victory dance.

The look on Mikey's face was absolutely priceless. The youngest turtle's eyes looked as though they were about to bug out of his head. Raph watched as Mikey's shocked stare turned into one of juvenile disgust. As the youngest turtle ran off, Raph closed his eyes and sighed contentedly into the kiss. It wasn't long before he had to break away and allow Midori to breath.

Midori had been shocked by Raphael's sudden streak of bravado following how embarrassed the hothead turtle had been when Mikey had caught them dancing. She couldn't help but grin as she heard Michelangelo run off screaming. Just after the youngest left the room, Raph pulled away and stared down at her.

Honey-colored irises were lit with passion. Her pin-straight, jet-black hair lay fanned out on the cushions behind her. It seemed almost to billow out behind her like a mighty cape. Raphael's breath hitched. Her beauty at this moment could not be accurately described by any words.

Midori's thoughts began to wander as she pulled out of the kiss and stared up into Raphael's eyes. Things had changed between her and Raphael since she moved in with the turtles. Their dynamic had shifted. They'd moved from very close friends to something much deeper, something so much more. Though they hadn't officially discussed the change, they were both very aware of it. Raphael was always wonderfully sweet and very caring, even in the kisses they had just shared, Midori could feel that the red-masked turtle's grip was purposefully light, so that she could pull away at any time. Midori knew that Raph would always give her the option of saying no and that he would always respect that.

At some point during her mind's wanderings, Midori had pulled away from the kiss. Her cheeks colored and she suddenly felt as though the walls were closing in on her. She pushed up on Raph's plastron. The turtle immediately took the cue and got off.

The other turtles entered the room, the youngest leading his two older brothers behind him.

"Mikey told us you two were seriously making out." Leo stated.

Raph glared at him, "So what? You decided to come on in and watch? You guys are messed up!" Raph growled, punching his older brother not-so-gently in the arm.

Leonardo punched Raph back.

Midori smiled at Raph as he leaped on the eldest turtle and the two of them began to wrestle. She rolled her eyes. Honestly those two had the strangest ways of showing affection for one another.

The two eldest turtles wrestled happily, their smiles and laughter brightening the atmosphere. Mikey joined in and helped Leo pin Raph.

"I'll get you for this Mikey!" Raph growled, but this time it was a playful growl, not an aggressive one, meaning Raph was in a reasonably good mood. As soon as he was freed, the hothead tackled his little brother and started to torture him…by tickling the life out of him.

Laughter rang through the lair. Master Splinter emerged from the dojo and smiled at his sons' antics, but as the old rat's eyes met the neon green orbs of his second son's, his expression sobered.

There was something in Raphael's eyes. Something that Raphael was trying to tell him. Ah, so that was it. It was time. Raphael was leaving.

Splinter sent Raphael a look that said 'be careful.' Raph's subtle nod went unnoticed by the others. The fatherly rat quashed his worries and accepted that Raphael would go through with this regardless of his wishes. Splinter did not know, but he was fairly certain that they would wake up tomorrow morning to find that Raphael was gone.

Later that night…

Raph was going through his weapons cabinet trying to decide what to bring with him. There was a soft knock at the door. He closed the cabinet and jumped on his bed, pretending he had just been relaxing.

Midori walked in slowly, tentatively. Raphael shot off the bed and approached her, "Midori, are you okay?"

She reached out and pulled him into a tight hug. "I-I just can't shake the feeling that something bad is going to happen and my room is so dark and empty and I…well…I…"

There was a brief silence before Raph understood what she was trying to say. "You want to stay in here?"

Slowly she nodded. Raph nodded and grabbed a pillow and sheet.

"What are you…"

"I'm gonna take the couch," he stated plainly.

Midori smiled sweetly. "No. I-I want you to stay…Please?"

Raph was surprised and a little bit hesitant. "All right." He agreed slowly. "I'll sleep on the floor."

"Don't be ridiculous, Raph. There's more than enough room for both of us." Midori stated as she took the pillow from Raph's grip and placed it back on the bed. "Which side do you want?" She asked as though it was the most normal thing in the world.

Raph stiffened. "I don't know…are you sure you're comfortable with this?"

Midori smiled yet again. "I wouldn't have suggested it if I wasn't." She pulled him close and wrapped her arms around him. "I feel safe with you."

The next morning Raphael slowly drifted awake. He glanced at the clock. Five. Five?! Crud! He was supposed to have already been gone by now. With a sigh, the sleepy turtle closed his eyes once more. Oh well. He'd just have to wait another day.

It had been a very cold night, and even though Raph didn't remember pulling up the covers he could feel their light weight on his arms. It was so nice and warm. And the arms around him were warm. So warm…he thought as he began to drift off once more. Then his mind registered his previous thoughts. Arms. The shell?! Arms? His eyes snapped open. Midori was curled up against his plastron. Raphael was laying flat on the bed and Midori appeared to have cuddled closer during the night. Her straight, black hair was splayed across his plastron where her head lay against his chest. Raph belatedly realized that he had also wrapped his arms around her. His right arm was wrapped around her side, resting gently on her hip. The turtle was going to try and wiggle his way out, but he realized that her left leg was also laying gently over his, and it would be very difficult to extricate himself without waking her.

With no foreseeable way of escaping his current predicament, Raphael resigned himself to waiting for Midori to wake up.

Waiting also meant that he had plenty of time to think. So the occurrences of yesterday had prevented his departure last night. But tonight he would have to leave. He couldn't afford to waste any more time. But…what to do with that last day? Raphael was struggling coming up with an answer. Should he train? Prepare himself for what would, in all probability be one of the most dangerous and difficult battles of his life? Or should he spend his final day with his brothers? Spend the time bonding with his family, and make sure that they knew how much he cared about them? In all likelihood, he should probably do both.

I'll make sure this is a day my brothers won't soon forget.

And Midori…I'll have to tell her just how much I care now, and in the event that I do not return…

I'll have to tell one of my brothers and make sure that they understand. I need to know that they'll take care of her. I mean, I know they will, but I just need that verbal confirmation. I need to know.

That settles it. Much as I hate to do it…today I'm gonna have a talk with Leo.

So what did you think? Review please!