Chapter 18

"So, what are you going to do?" Leo asked Usagi. They were sitting at the kitchen table, sharing a cup of tea late at night. The girls had given up the guest room to accommodate all the children, and the boys had piled up more blankets in the dojo for the rest.

"I'm not sure. I will offer to train them of course, if they wish. I will also ask some of my friends if they would be willing to take on a ward. I have room in my dojo. I will not send them back to the orphanage."

"And Nozomi?"

"I simply cannot allow her to be returned to those horrendous people who called themselves her parents. I will adopt her."

After a pause, Usagi added, "We will be out of your hair tomorrow. Thank you, Leonardo."

Layla was still awake, reading a book, when he walked in. She had moved her things into his bedroom, taking care that it was neat and not at all in his way. His thoughts briefly turned towards the conversation he and his brothers had with Splinter when figuring out how to house all their newfound guests. Splinter, his father, had suggested the girls just stay in his sons' rooms.

"It's not as if they were using the guest room anyways," Master Splinter said with a wry smile before walking off. Leo thought he might faint, and the rest of his brothers said nothing. Once he was gone, Donnie groaned loudly and hid his face in his hands.

"He knows?" Mikey whispered, cheeks red.

"Listen numb-nuts, anyone within the city limits could hear you two!" Raph hissed. Mikey's expression altered from embarrassed to smug instantly. Leo and Donnie smacked him upside the head on their way out.

"Come join me, sweetheart?" she said to him, breaking him out of his embarrassing memory. She looked at him almost expectantly, eyes wide, biting her bottom lip.

"How could I refuse?" he chuckled. Once tucked in next to her, she leaned her head against his shoulder and closed her eyes.

"Tired?" He asked.

She nodded. "I felt like I was in a constant state of anxiety when we were there, and now I'm exhausted."

"Well, you don't have to feel anxious anymore, you're safe." He kissed her forehead and set her book on the nightstand.

"What are Usagi and Gen going to do with all these children?"

"Train them, or find them homes. Ren will live with his uncle and Usagi said he'll adopt Nozomi."

"That's sweet. I'm glad they will have a home."

"That little boy is awfully attached to you now, you know," he teased. The child had scarcely left her side since she picked him up, not that she seemed to mind.

"He's sweet," she sat up, looking animated as she looked Leo in the eyes, "and he's so freaking cute."

His gaze softened. "You'd make a great mom, you know."

She blushed and looked away, "I don't know about that. But I do know you'd make a wonderful dad," she kissed his forehead sweetly. "I was wanting to talk to you about something." She chewed her lip nervously. He propped himself up on his elbows and gently traced patterns on her forearms with his fingertips.

"What's wrong sweetheart?"

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to know what you wanted to do after Christmas. Would you want me to come back here for a while? Or we could go to Japan? I think it would be difficult to be away from each other for a long time…" she trailed off and looked at him expectantly. She was nervous about bringing it up, as she was new to a relationship and wasn't sure how to navigate these new situations.

A smile slowly spread across his face. "Well, I do like both places. And," he paused, "I think it would be nice to spend a longer amount of time at each place…together. If you'd like." He realized what they were actually talking about was living together, and the familiar flurry of butterflies welled up inside.

"I would like that very much," she murmured, looking down to hide the grin that was forming.

"Um, you know, we, I mean the eight of us, don't always have to go together. We could uh, just the two of us decide where we wanted to spend time." That's what normal people do, right?

"Do you have a preference where we spend most of our time? I figured it might be here, to be close to Splinter and your friends."

"Yeah, I would like that. But you also have your garden, and it was nice to spend all that time outside. Tell you what, why don't we come back here for a while. Then we can spend some time this spring and summer in Japan, that way you can have your garden," he nudged her softly. "I couldn't tear you away from all your plants."

"If it's alright, I was thinking maybe I would leave the things I brought with me here?" She was still feeling shy but was grateful he was immediately on board with spending all their time together.

"I was going to mention this earlier, but I uh," he cleared his throat, "I actually cleared out some space for you to put your stuff in my dresser. I wanted to get you your own, but I haven't had time."

She grinned widely. "Really?" So he's been planning on me moving in someday?

"Yeah of course. You can't live out of a suitcase," he chuckled. "C'mere, I'll show you."

Leo watched her hug the little boy tight to her chest. The child snuggled down into her arms, burying his sniffles and tears into her neck. She smiled softly before setting him down. The child looked large against her tiny frame.

"You'll be alright," she hushed as she smoothed his hair away from his face. "Now go on, be brave." She squeezed his shoulder before he took the hand of an older child, who led him through the portal.

What the hell? Leo thought suddenly, as he felt the sting of tears welling up. It wasn't that sad…But he knew why. It wasn't the goodbye, but rather seeing her interact with the kid that made him feel something deeply bittersweet and melancholy. I hope…

The girls were watching tv with Splinter while his sons were training. Splinter had joined them in the morning for yoga, and they settled into a routine of tea and tv afterwards. Instead of another episode, Splinter began to regal them of his sons' childhood tales.

"It is so quiet now that our guests are gone. Those rambunctious children remind me of my sons at that age."

"Tell us!" said Talia.

Splinter's eyes gleamed as he began to pull out their most embarrassing stories from his memory.

"What are they doin' out there?" Raph asked his brother as he peered out the dojo door. He had heard all the girls and Splinter laughing. When he peeked his head around the corner, he saw Mina laughing hysterically and wiping a tear from her eyes. "Fuck," he whispered, realizing what Splinter was doing.

"Uh, guys?"

"Raph, c'mon we should get through this," Leo began to chastise him, until he turned around and saw the look on his brother's face.

"What is it, bro?" Mikey asked, bouncing over to Raph to see what he was looking at.

"Noooo!" he whispered dramatically; hearing Splinter finish a story about how he believed in Santa until he was 12 and refused to believe his brothers when they told him otherwise.

He could hear his brothers snicker behind him. "I'm not the only victim here," he whispered to them.

"Oh my god I hope he didn't tell them about –" Raph started, face turning a deep shade of green, thinking about the time he was scared to use the restroom by himself when he was a toddler so he would very loudly sing "Walking in Memphis" so he didn't feel alone.

Leo and Donnie started quietly humming the tune before bursting out into laughter.

"Leonardo and Donatello were avid readers as children, and I remember them reading a book that they had found together, Call of Cthulhu, if I recall correctly. Afterwards, they would act out the scenes of the book and play monster. The boys had made tentacles out of cardboard and take turns playing the monster. One day, Leonardo yelled as he tackled Donatello, 'I am the fearsome Chthulhu, look at my," Splinter paused, gathering himself has he had started to laugh too hard to finish the story, "look at my testicles! And Donnie would fight back, replying 'Stop hitting me with your testicles!" They mixed up tentacles and testicles and –" Splinter and his captivated audience lost themselves in laughter.

Donnie sat on the floor, defeated. Leo leaned his head against the wall, sighing deeply. Raph and Mikey lost control and laughed loudly enough to tip off Splinter and the girls that they were listening in.

Leo couldn't look Layla in the eyes for the rest of the morning.

They were reading next to each other in his little hideaway after dinner. Leo was thankful she hadn't said anything about the stories Splinter told them earlier.

He rested a hand on her knee. "You never told me about that nightmare you had."

"Mmm," she said as she closed her book. Her lips twisted as she thought about what to say. "I was alone in a hallway, and I just felt this overwhelming urge to leave, but the hallway expanded endlessly to either side of me. It was cold and dark. I felt like I was being watched, and then I heard footsteps, so I started running. When I looked behind me, nothing was there." She let out a sigh.

Leo's brows knit together. "Was that the end of the dream?"

She shook her head. "No. All of a sudden I found myself standing in the middle of a bedroom. I had a bloody t-shirt on and my whole body ached. I had bruises all over me. And I didn't think I was alone, so I walked around the room. In front of me there was this large shadowy figure that was dripping blood, and its hand was trying to grab my throat. I started to back away and ended up hitting the bed and it clutched my neck. I couldn't scream. But suddenly it just froze, and blood started pouring out of its mouth. That's when you woke me up."

"You know made it seem like it wasn't that bad of a dream. Layla, that's horrifying."

She looked up at him and rested her chin on his arm, "You said you had trouble sleeping, and I didn't want to worry you."

Leo gave her a withering look. "Stop doing that. You can tell me anything at any time. I want you to tell me."

"I was pretty tired anyways." She threaded her arm through his and leaned on his shoulder.

"Did you recognize where you were?"

"Not at all. Something about the atmosphere felt familiar, but other than that, no. I think…" she paused, chewing her lip in uncertainty, "I think it might be one of those dreams that will come true. I just have that feeling."

Leo shifted uncomfortably. She had shared with him that on more than one occasion she had a dream that came true. He had gently teased her about it, until she kept coming up with more examples of it happening.

"And how in the world would you end up in a situation like that?" He smiled softly at her. "Maybe that thing that was chasing you, and tried to grab you, couldn't follow through because your boyfriend," he paused to kiss her on the forehead, "who cares about you very much, stopped him. Although the blood pouring from its mouth is a little creepy, I would assume that means it died." He gave her a reassuring smile.

"I definitely was left with the impression that it was dead, so maybe you're right," she returned the smile. "I haven't had that dream again, although it's only been a couple of days."

"You'll tell me if you have it again?" He quirked an eyebrow at her.

"Of course. You know, I do sleep much better now next to you." She blushed as she said it but had been wanting to tell him. He was so free with his compliments, and she wanted to do the same.

"Oh?" He smirked at her.

"Yeah," she glanced down at her hands with a gentle smile, "I sleep much better."

Leo grinned at her, and with a teasing smirk said, "Well then you'll just have to keep hogging all the covers then."

She looked at him, momentarily horrified. "Do I do that?"

He chuckled, "Yeah but I don't mind." He lounged back onto the pillows, holding out his arm to beckon her into his embrace.

A wicked grin spread across her face as she snuggled down into him, "I'm surprised that out of all the books you keep in here, you don't have the Call of Cthulhu. Splinter said it was one you and Donnie liked to read together." She didn't dare look at him, but he could feel her smile. He narrowed his eyes playfully and grabbed her chin, getting her to look at him. He studied her for a moment.

Before she knew it his hands moved lightning fast, flipping her and trapping her underneath of him. She hardly caught her breath before those same hands gently tickled her sides.

"Not fair!" She laughed as he tickled her mercilessly. Tears trickled from the corners of her eyes.

He let up momentarily, but kept her hands pinned. "Are you done?" he asked her with a cheeky smirk.

She nodded vigorously and held his gaze, knowing that if she did, he would relent. Leo rolled his eyes, but the smirk stayed on his face as he rolled off of her.

"Did you learn your lesson?" He whispered in her ear, wanting to make her feel flustered. Wanting to make her want him.

Still breathless, she whispered a quiet "yes" and looked at him through dark lashes and heavy lids.

"Good," he smirked and kissed her forehead once more. Instead of following with more kisses, he returned to his book, leaving her flustered. He couldn't hide his cheeky grin, satisfied in his victory yet struggling to hold back his own desire. No, I can make her wait just a little longer.

When they walked back into the lair, they heard the door to Raph's room slam. Layla shot Leo a concerned look. Leo could hear clanging from the garage, and knew his brother was in there.

"I'll go see what's up," he motioned to the garage. Layla nodded as she crept down the hallway to knock on Raph's door. Mina opened up, eye bleary from crying.

"What happened?" Layla squeezed through the crack of the door and closed it behind her. Her sister leaned her head on her shoulder and continued to cry.

"We had a fight," Mina sniffled. She caught her runny nose with the back of her sleeve as she looked at her elder sister through blurry vision. Layla remained silent as they sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for her sister to continue.

"It wasn't over anything important really, but it's our first big argument. We've bickered before but this was so different."

"What was it about?"

"Just, well nothing really. I just think we overreacted to each other and –" Mina choked on a sob. "I feel awful. I said something kinda shitty and I really didn't mean too. But he also was being such a jackass about it, and I," her voice took on a feisty tone, "just didn't appreciate the tone he used."

Layla put her arm around her sister, "Leo and I got into a fight right before we left. I said something disrespectful that I didn't mean, and I felt awful about it. I still do sometimes. And he was being a control freak," she snorted, "But we apologized to each other and it's all better now. I'm sure you'll be able to smooth things over with Raph. He really cares about you."

"You think?" She sniffled.

Layla nodded affirmatively.

"He just can be so reactive sometimes and I know he's trying but I think when he feels protective, he doesn't really use his brain," she laughed softly. "And then he just says whatever comes to his mind, no matter how hurtful."

"Want me to stay?" Layla asked as she rubbed her hand up and down her younger twin's arm.

"No, it's ok. I'm going to go find him. Thank you," Mina kissed the top of Layla's head on her way out, still catching tears with the back of her sleeve.

"Ok Donnie, what did you have in mind?" Mikey asked, leaning on his brother's desk. He had plans to have a party for Nora and Talia, but knew Donnie probably had something else in mind for Talia's birthday.

"Well, I was thinking that I'd like to have some time just me and Tallie before we have a party. We're going to get some food and sneak into the planetarium, but we should throw them a big party the next night, on their actual birthday."

"Perfect!" Mikey beamed and began to rattle off everything they would need to purchase beforehand.

They had all been drinking. Leo and Raph stared each other down across the kitchen table, ping pong balls in hand. Mikey and Nora entertained April, Donnie, and Talia with karaoke in the background, not hitting a single note in tune. The three on the couch luckily were more interested in the joint they passed around.

Before he threw the ball, Mina staggered up to Raph, drink in hand. "Good luck, Raphie," she said as she stood on her toes to try to kiss his cheek. He still had to bend down the accommodate her. As he did, he heard shit talking coming from Donnie on the couch.

"You're so cute, Raphie," Donnie yelled out at him.

"Aww Raphie," Leo teased, riling his already drunk brother up.

"You got this Raphie," a drunk Casey hugged him from behind.

"Get offa me," he shrugged his brother off, but kept his arm around Mina as the ball sailed from his fingers, bouncing off the rim of the cup. "Mothafucka," he glared at his gloating older brother.

"Sorry," Mina grimaced.

"Nah ain't ya fault, pumpkin," he winked at her, giving her ass a small slap. Instead of getting embarrassed like she usually did when he did that in public, she just giggled.

"Sore loser," Leo rolled his eyes but grinned and snaked his hand around Layla's waist. She had been quietly cheering him on, giggling and tipsy. He swayed to the music as he held her close to his side.

"They must've made up," Layla whispered to Leo. He nodded, a cheeky grin spreading across his face.

"Ok beautiful, this one is for you," he said as he very precisely threw the ball, landing it solidly in a cup full of beer. Raph stood up taller, manning up to down yet another beer. Layla kissed Leo's arm, causing him to feel flustered. Thank god she waited until after I threw the ball.

As the game continued, Leo landed down to one cup. Both eldest brothers drunk, they playfully glared at each other across the table. Their usual aggressive rivalry was quite subdued and friendly when they were drunk.

"Yain't winning, blue balls," Raph slurred.

"Of course I ammm," Leo dragged out. Layla and Mina stood together.

"That weed they got is something else. Phew," Mina giggled to Layla.

"Tell me about it, I feel fucking great. God he's hot," she sighed as she looked at Leo trying to focus. She snorted when he swayed a bit. Raph had leaned his full weight on the table.

"Mine's hotter," Mina retorted. She wrapped her arms around her sister, kissing her cheek before sashaying up to her muscled boyfriend.

Music blared as the whole family looked over after they heard Leo and Raph's playful banter become louder. Layla didn't want to break Leo's focus, so she went to stand quietly next to him.

April nudged Casey, "Look at her." Layla was gazing up at Leo, who was completely focused on the task at hand (that was, beating his brother). She was biting her lip, smiling softly, looking completely smitten.

Casey giggled, "She's so into him." April leaned her drunken head on Casey's shoulder. "Do you think any of them have done it yet?"

"April!" Casey leaned away from her, mouth agape.

"Would you two hurry up already so I can kick Don's ass in the next round?" Mikey whined, sitting Nora on his lap.

Both elder brothers turned to glower at him.

Leo turned his attention back to the table and threw the last ball. It bounced on the rim before rolling in.

"Yes!" He shouted, turning to his side to kiss his girlfriend, celebrating his victory. "That was for you, gorgeous," he winked at Layla before taking a drag off the joint they were sharing.

"Goddamnit!" Raph threw his hands up. As annoyed as he was, drunk Raph was much more easy going, and so slapped Leo on the shoulder and blurted out, "I only letcha win, bro."

Leo rolled his eyes and playfully punched his brother's shoulder. "Yeeeaaaah riiiggghhtt," he stretched out.

"C'mon," Mina led him by the hand to the kitchen to fix herself another drink.

Leo sat down on the kitchen chair and pulled Layla into his lap while Donnie and Mikey set up the table. He kissed her shoulder while she fed him chips and gave him water.

"Thank you," he said as he crunched down. His hand caressed her thigh, and he was feeling particularly thankful for how short her dress was. God damn she looks amazing right now. His lips tickled her ear, "I really like your dress," he whispered with a cheeky grin plastered on his face. He kissed her neck quickly and smirked when he felt her shiver.

"Leoooo!" she whispered and turned to look at him, "Not here!" But he saw how her eyes shined playfully at him.

"I can't help it. You're sooo fucking beautiful," he grinned smugly.

She leaned back onto him as Mikey and Donnie started shouting at each other. "I'm glad you think so darling." He wrapped his arms and sighed contentedly, feeling comfortably inebriated.

"Cold?" He asked.

"Yes. Maybe I should put something else on?" She teased.

"No don't. I'll keep you warm." He shifted and looked over her shoulder. "Hey, you gonna eat the rest of those chips?"

"They're all yours," she giggled as she fed them to him.

As they watched his brothers play, Leo and Raph would shout and rag on them from the sidelines. Layla sat snuggled in his lap, feeling deliriously happy and wildly aroused. She was inebriated just enough to be both incredibly horny yet still in control. As he absentmindedly caressed her thigh, she could feel wetness pool between her legs. Fuck I want him. Though they hadn't been dating long, making out had quickly become rather hot and heavy, and she wanted him. And normally he was so reserved in public, but tonight he was being incredibly flirtatious.

"Do you want to know something?" she asked him, feeling emboldened herself.

"What's that?"

"You have kind eyes. I really love them." She kissed his jaw and felt victorious seeing how flushed his cheeks were, and how his hand that was caressing her thigh became nervous taps. I finally get to make him agitated!

"Do you now?" He smirked at her, trying to regain control. He liked to be the one to fluster her, not that he minded when she caught him unawares on occasion.

"Very much so. Do you know what else I like?"

He cocked an eye at her, waiting for her to continue.

She grabbed his hand and started to gently massage it. "Your hands."

His voice became husky and low as he whispered, "Tell me what you like about them, beautiful."

She knew what he was trying to do, and she wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of making her even more turned on while they were sitting there. Layla turned to whisper in his ear, "I'll tell you later."

She chuckled when she felt him huff. He resumed his tracing of her thigh, every once in a while teasingly skimming the hemline of her dress.

April wandered up to them, and cupping Layla's face, blurted out, "I'm so glad there's more girls around here now! It was getting awfully lonely with just a bunch of guys." Before Layla could reply, April kissed the top of her head then wandered off again.

April and Casey had passed out on the couch. Raph was snoring on the loudly on the recliner with Mina curled up in his lap. Layla was filling a cup of water in the kitchen and digging around for Advil.

"Here, love," a more sobered but still tipsy Layla offered to Leo. She was leaning on his shoulder, giggling softly at Raph's obnoxious snores.

"How can she sleep next to that?" Layla whispered. Leo merely shrugged before leading her upstairs. Holding her by the waist, he gave her rear a gentle smack on their way through the door.

"Hey!" she laughed. He shushed her as he locked the door. Without a word, his lips crashed onto hers. He lifted her up and hastily carried her to the bed, stopping himself just enough to set her down gently.

His breaths ragged; he broke away momentarily. "If you want me to stop, tell me, alright?"

Head tilted down, she glanced up at him. "Don't stop," she whispered. His hands tugged her dress up over her head. Thank god I thought to wear the nice lingerie. She looked away from him, a bit embarrassed, but he was focused on all her skin laid bare before him. His lips brushed against the crook of her neck while his hands wandered down her sides.

"Fuck," he mumbled as he kissed his way to her shoulder. He glanced at her face then as he became aware that he hadn't made sure she was alright. He smiled softly when he noticed that ever familiar shy look. He crooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to look at him. "You're so perfect," he breathed. Leo leaned in for another kiss, this one soft and full of love. He leaned her back against the pillows and settled down next to her.

"I like this," he said as he ran a finger down her bra strap. "It's…" he paused as he searched for the right word, "pretty."

"Thank you. I was hoping you'd like it," she smiled and kissed him again. Layla ran her hands down his arms and tugged off his wrist and elbow pads.

"Oh, you were? So, you were planning on me seeing it then?" He teased her, reveling in how deep her blush became. Before she could stutter out a response, his lips found hers again. He ran his hands down her back, stopping momentarily at the clasp of her bra before continuing his path down her spine.

Shit how do I get this off? Leo panicked but continued to kiss her. He ran his hand up and down her spine, trying to get a feel of how the clasp worked without trying to be obvious about it. Wait does she want me too? We've only been dating a couple of weeks technically…

"Can I take this off?" he breathed, fingers trailing the clasp of her bra.

"Yes," she exhaled.

Nervous excitement welled up in the couple. Leo licked his lips nervously as he fumbled with the clasp.