Mikey's eyes moved away from the TV screen to where Grace was curled up beside him, her head resting on his shoulder as she dozed with a peaceful expression. A soft smile came to his face as he lifted his hand, gently running his fingers through her loose hair. A quiet sigh escaped her, her own lips curling into a smile before her eyes opened.

"Hey there," Mikey said. "Dreamin' about something nice?" Grace looked up at him, her eyes still a little bleary but shining. The sadness in them had started to lift over the past few days, her old spirit returning, and Mikey couldn't be happier to see her familiar smile again.

"Oh, yes," she murmured. "About that night on the roof, when we… you know."

Mikey raised a brow, his tender expression gaining a touch of slyness.

"Oh, yeah… hard t' forget that."

Grace let out a soft laugh, a slight pink tinge coming to her cheeks before she nestled closer.

"I said you were pretty good for a beginner, I remember."

Now Mikey felt his face heat, but his smile widened.

"N' you were too." He lowered his head to place a gentle kiss on her head. "Just needed the right girl for it, I guess."

"And guy," Grace replied, reaching to lace her fingers with his.

For a while both sat in comfortable silence, their attention only half on the TV. Then Mikey felt Grace shift a little and looked to see her biting her lip with a look of unease. He knew she wanted to talk about something but wasn't sure he would welcome it. Concerned, he rested a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, if you wanna talk about something, that's okay. You can tell me."

Grace hesitated another few moments, then let out a quiet sigh.

"If you'd left, do you…" Her voice broke a little on her next words. "Do you think your family would still want you?"

Mikey felt his throat tighten a little, at both the heartache in her voice and the implication of her words. Swallowing, his voice came out steady.

"Yeah. Yeah, I know they would."

Grace pressed her lips together as her eyes welled, then she nestled closer. Wrapping both arms around his, she pressed her face into his shoulder. He felt the tears escaping her eyes and his heart twisted. Pushing down his own sadness, he began running his hand up and down her arm in gentle, soothing strokes.

"Hey… it's okay. Your mom loves ya, and she just needs a little time."

He heard Grace sniffle, then her quivering voice came again.

"How can you know?"

Mikey's mouth quirked up in a small grin.

"'Cause Michelangelo is all wise and powerful," he said in an exaggeratingly pompous voice. His grin grew when a watery chuckle escaped Grace as she held his arm a little tighter. After a moment she spoke again, her voice soft and thoughtful.

"You are, you know."

Mikey blinked, a slight frown coming to his face.

"Huh? What d' ya mean?"

"Wise," Grace murmured. "I mean, we're about the same age, but… you know things, you… understand people in a way I never could, that a lot of others can't. And what my mother said, about you having intuition beyond your years? She wasn't just saying that."

That made Mikey's eyes widen, his jaw going a little slack.

"You… you really think so?"

"I know so," Grace replied, moving her hand down his arm to lace her fingers with his. "We… might not know each other as well as I'd like, but I know her enough to tell when she's being honest. And that she isn't easily impressed."

Mikey could hear the fierce pride in her voice, but there was something else there… something he recognized all too well. A sad smile tugged at his face.

"Well, ya know… I thought the same thing about Sensei and my bros."

A soft, breathy laugh escaped Grace as she nuzzled her forehead against his shoulder.

"I know… but because you were wrong doesn't mean…"

"I wasn't wrong," Mikey cut her off, then his smile grew. "I just figured out I never really believed it."

He lowered his head to press another kiss to the top of hers.

"N' I bet you will too."

A moment of silence passed, then he heard Grace let out a soft sigh as she nestled a little closer.

"I hope so," she whispered. "I really do."

The raw emotion in her voice made Mikey's eyes sting a little, but he didn't stop smiling.

"Well, ya know something?" he asked softly. "I think you're pretty wise too."

That made Grace lift her head, meeting his gentle gaze with an inquisitive, almost hopeful look.

"You do? Really?"

The orange banded turtle chuckled, placing his hand on her cheek.

"You bet. You knew there was more t' me than what ya saw… me and my bros. Most people just look at us like we're monsters n' don't bother t' move past that. You said I was beautiful inside and out, but so're you."

Grace's blue eyes widened, tears welling in them. Mikey smiled a little wider, wiping away an escaping tear with the pad of his thumb before touching his forehead to hers.

"You helped me," he murmured. "And I'm gonna help you too. Whatever ya decide to do, I'll be there. We all will. I promise, okay? I promise."

He heard a soft, choked sound that was both laugh and sob, and a tremulous smile came to Grace's face too as she lifted her hand to take hold of his.

"I know," she breathed. "Thank you, Mikey. Thank you so much."

The orange-banded turtle let out another soft chuckle before pressing a kiss to her forehead.

"Wouldn't do any less, babe."