Note: References to Tyroth Darkstorm's fanfic 'Mutants Misplaced' along with my Fanfics 'A Dangerous Captive', 'Changes' and 'Mona's Wonderful Life' appear in this chapter.

Might want to get some tissues or prepare your sleeves for this!

Also, a friendly warning, there is a mild sex scene at the end, so if you are offended by such tenderness between two much in love mutants, then don't read!

Chapter Thirty-Six

Needing you

After leaving the medical bay, Raphael carried his mate to the bedroom they were using and as they entered Monalisa was amazed to see how the room was decorated.

There were some fake scented candles that smelt of lavender, and some silk red and pink rose petals were scattered on the sheets.

On the bed was a beautiful bunch of flowers made of silk which consisted of her favourite pink roses and some white lilies, along with a piece of paper rolled up like a scroll with a red ribbon around it.

Raphael set his mate down and Monalisa looked at the flowers before picking them up and looking at them.

"Oh, these are beautiful Raph!" she said as tears formed in her eyes, and she stroked them.

Raphael pointed at the flowers then up at the roof before signing 'Cam and Barry, they got them for me to give to you'.

"Oh, thank you honey." Monalisa said softly as she walked up and kissed him.

Raphael smiled and kissed his mate back then he nuzzled her and stroked her hair before pointing at the rolled-up note Monalisa had picked up.

Curiously, the lizard lady carefully put the flowers down, then undid the ribbon before opening the rolled-up paper and saw it was handwritten and she recognised it as her lover's yet it was more beautifully written than how he would normally write.

She looked at Raphael who gestured with his head for her to read it.

'My darling Monalisa,

I know I cannot speak the words I wish to you, nor sign them to express myself, so I decided to write you this letter.

Since the battle at the Foot Headquarters, I'd never felt so scared at the thought I would lose you, of course we have fought the Foot on many occasions and many I do not look back on fondly despite how much we both enjoy fighting to protect our family, or home and our city.

During our imprisonment in the Foot's Headquarters, I was terrified that this would be the last time I would see you, my brothers, my father, and our beloved daughter alive, I cannot begin to describe the feelings I had when we were brought before the Shredder and were sentenced to death, seeing how close Pandora came to being executed almost destroyed me.

As Mona read that part, she swallowed a huge lump in her throat and a couple of tears fell as she remembered that moment, and whilst in her coma, she had seen that scene play in her head and how it too almost broke her, and she had never felt such fear or rage in her life, yet she kept pushing those thoughts and memories aside and continued reading the letter.

I remember feeling the rage within me, and as we all know, I am a hot-head, and get so angry easily, but this was my limit and all I could think about what breaking free of my captors to save you, Pandora, Kemeko, our brothers and father, and when Kemeko betrayed Shredder, I was ready to destroy all the ninja, the V5 and all the other abominations of Dr Arden, him, Arashi, Shredder and Hanako.

When I saw Black Mamba take you down, all I could think of was getting to you, to save you, but Hanako stopped me then slashed Pandora down, it was then I saw red, I saw hell, I wanted to end Hanako, even if it meant killing myself, and it was then I felt the blade impale my throat, I could only hear my Little Geisha's cry of horror before I too fell, I could feel the pain as well as the blood leaving my body and I was convinced this was my final battle, and that I would never see my family again, and all I wanted to crawl over to you and hold you one more time….

Mona felt the tears come again as she remembered when after Black Mamba's venom started to affect her, she had wanted to die fighting, but she wanted to feel Raphael's arms and feel his kiss before she left the world.

She planned to tell him all this, but she continued to read the letter.

I cannot remember much as I was trying to keep alive from my wounds, but all I could think about was you, Pandora, sensei, and my brothers, and how I didn't want to die and leave you.

Then our friends arrived and saved us, I could barely keep awake as James and Dahlia tended to our wounds and I saw you next me, pale and sweating and I heard everyone saying you were poisoned and close to death, I wanted to scream! I wanted to beg you to not leave me! I felt the same terror when you nearly drowned in Skyrim, when you were stabbed by that mutant in the Foot Headquarters when we saved Tyroth, when you almost froze to death in that snowy Nook that Christmas before Pandora was born, and when you were in that coma when you were pregnant with Pandora after Dr Arden attacked you.

I didn't want to lose you, but if it was too late for you, I didn't want James and Dahlia to save me either, I wanted to go with you, wherever you go, I want to go too, you jump, I jump!

Monalisa swallowed another lump in her throat, and she almost let out a sob, she looked at Raphael and stroked his cheek and from her lover's eyes, she could tell he knew where she had read to, and he nodded as if confirming what he wrote was true.

She looked back at the letter, as there was still so much more to read.

But I also remembered Pandora, and how if she lost both of us, she would be heartbroken, I then thought of her, and tried to hold on for her, if she lost her mother, she would still have her father, since I knew that she needed me, more than her Aunts, uncles, even her favourite uncle Mike, grandfather, or our friends in Mutopia.

Monalisa gave a tearful smile at her lover then continued to read.

When I was put in the induced coma, I felt I was trapped in endless nightmares, I had fallen after being stabbed and the last things I remembered was fighting and my loved ones getting hurt, I felt I was reliving it all over again and I couldn't escape, I don't know what it was like for you and Donnie, but in my nightmares, I kept trying to reach for you but I couldn't, you were being pulled away from me and no matter what I did, I couldn't stop the dangers.

Then James and Dahlia brought me back, and I soon learnt I had no voice, it was devastating, but nothing broke me more than seeing you laying in your coma, and I couldn't wake you.

Monalisa bit her lip and looked at her mate then stepped closer to him so she was resting against him so she could continue to read.

I didn't want to leave you, I couldn't bear sleeping in our bed without you, so I spent every day in the medbay until James and Dahlia were able to bring you back to me, those days were agonising, and despite trying to learn American Sign Language and be there for Pandora, I was so tormented within, I kept praying for you to come back, and that there were going to be no further complications. If I had to choose between getting my voice back, or bringing you back, I would choose you. You, my beautiful lizard lady, Geisha Warrior, my precious treasure.

You mean the world to me Monalisa, more than anything else on the planet, more than life itself, you're my air, my reason in life, my strength, my everything.

Since that day you chose me as your mate, I've never felt happier, luckier, and after Pandora arrived, I've felt even more blessed, I found the meaning of life, I have a family.

I love you Monalisa, I adore you and I'm everything I am because of you, and I can only thank the Gods and all the powers that be that you're back here with me, and I'll never let you go.

Raphael

Monalisa finished reading the note, then looked up at Raphael, tears were flowing from her eyes, and she could see Raphael was crying too, his red mask was soaked, and he had a small smile forming on his lips.

"Raph…I…I don't know what to say…"

She then felt Raphael's fingers on her lips, and he shook his head as if saying 'say nothing my love.'

He then leaned down and kissed her deeply, Monalisa snaked her hands around the turtles' neck and kissed him back with the same passion.

Sliding his lips away from Monalisa's, Raphael nuzzled her then moved his lips against her cheek and Monalisa felt her lover's lips form the words 'I love you Mona'.

"Love you too Raphael." Monalisa said, she placed the letter on the side table with her flowers and cupped Raphael's face.

"Raph." She said "Your letter, I just…what you went through, I felt the same…"

As she spoke, she and Raphael walked over to the bed, and they held each other close.

Raphael looked at Monalisa and moved his lips, yet as he did, he tried to speak but all came out was a hiss and wheeze, but he formed the words:

'Please tell me what happened to you, I'll listen.'

Monalisa nodded and she rested against Raphael's chest before speaking.

"When I was tortured by Dr Arden, he did more than just hurt me and Donatello, he hurt Pandora, and I could only watch helplessly, I felt like a failure, that I couldn't protect our child."

Raphael gritted his teeth angrily, even though Pandora and Donatello had told him what happened to them in Dr Arden's labs, he still couldn't help but feel sick and furious as well as devastated he hadn't been there, but he did nothing but hold his beloved mate close.

"All through the torture and up till we were dragged to the throne room to be executed, all I could think about was you, and Pandora, and the rest of our family, and when Shredder ordered Pandora be killed before our eyes, I felt my world implode, yet I also felt fury and was ready to slaughter the ninjas, freaks and their leaders for what they were about to do to us."

Monalisa took a breath.

"When our chance came, all I could see was red mist when I cut down the ninjas around me, all for my family, for all I cared for, but then I felt the venom coursing through my veins, and I saw Black Mamba's smirk, and I felt the rage boil in me, she had delivered her fatal blow, but I didn't want to go down without a fight, I wanted to take her down with me, but she overpowered me, and I felt myself go down, slammed to the ground like a rock. I then realised that I was dying, and I felt the fear of what would happen to you, to Pandora, and how I never said goodbye properly, and I was denied it…"

A couple of sobs erupted from her throat, and she felt Raphael hold her closer as well as stroke her hair.

"I was drifting in and out of consciousness, and I can barely remember what happened, but I remember hearing Donatello begging me to stay with me, and I also remember being in Jake's arms, and he too begging me to stay, and I wanted to stay…I didn't want to leave my family, my daughter, you…"

Monalisa sniffed and took another breath before carrying on.

"I felt Jake holding me and begging me not to leave, and I could feel the venom taking over, I begged him to look after you and Pandora, then it all went blank…. I thought I had died, I couldn't hold on anymore, no matter how hard I tried."

Raphael squeezed Monalisa tighter, just hearing how his mate had almost died made him feel sick with fear and he felt tears come to his eyes as he continued to listen.

"As I slipped away, I almost wondered if I would arrive at the Afterlife, where I saw my mother, and my grandparents when Leo and Tyroth helped me find her after Diablo's betrayal, but instead, I was surrounded by nightmares, all of the enemies I've fought in my life since I mutated, the Purple Dragons who raped and murdered me, the Venomous Five, the Foot Ninja, Overlord's Zomborgs, the demons from when we first came to Mutopia, the enemies we fought in Skyrim, I was surrounded by them and no matter what I did to fight them off, they just wouldn't die or leave me alone….and I couldn't escape."

Monalisa then looked up at Raphael.

"I was trapped in my nightmares, but then James and Dahlia woke me up and I couldn't believe it when I realised that I had survived Black Mamba's attack, it was like someone had been looking over me, making sure I didn't leave my loved ones, that I was still needed here."

Raphael cupped his mate's cheeks and nodded, agreeing that someone was looking over her, whether it had been her mother, grandparents, Hamato Yoshi, Tang Shen, Karai or Chaplin.

"When I awoke, you and Pandora were my first thoughts and I wanted nothing more than to see you, and hear you and then you came, and I felt such relief and joy."

Monalisa then reached up and kissed Raphael's throat over the scars.

"Despite learning you couldn't talk, I was just as upset as you, but I was relieved that you were alive, as my world would have collapsed without you, I don't know where I would have been, I..I…I might have wished that Black Mamba had killed me, so we could be together in the Afterlife, but then where would our Little Geisha be if she lost us both? Like you said in your letter about her, if she lost one of us, she would need the other parent to be there for her."

The lovers embraced again and Monalisa kissed Raphael's throat.

"But I'm so grateful we're all alive, and I'm here with you Raph, here with you, alive and right here, right now."

She nuzzled her mate.

"You're my life Raph, my universe, and I want to be with you everywhere, I want to die when you die, when it's our time to leave, I love you so much!"

She looked up at Raphael and kissed him passionately, and Raphael returned the kiss with the same passion and his hands wandered over her hair and body and before long he felt a strong urge within him after being separated from his beloved mate in so long.

Monalisa felt the same urge and she ran her hands through the ribbons of his mask, and she stealthily undid it and it fluttered to the floor, then she moved to undoing his belt.

Raphael started to fiddle with Monalisa's dress, and he undid the buttons at the back before peeling it off her.

It wasn't long before the lovers were stripped of all restricted garments, and they embraced with passion before laying on the bed and ready to show just how much they missed each other.

Raphael lay Monalisa underneath him then began to kiss and nuzzle her, he kissed down her neck to her collarbones and to her breasts and stomach, worshipping her body that he had missed holding close to him.

His lips trailed over the scars she bore from battles past and most recent, and before long he made it to her legs and to her opening before caressing it with his lips and tongue making the lizard lady moan in pleasure.

Before long, Raphael could feel his tail starting to tingle as his organ to starting to emerge and he kissed up and down Monalisa's body before propping himself up on his elbows and pushing his leg in-between his lovers to open them which she willingly did and spread her legs apart so he could enter her.

Bucking his hips forward and entering his beloved Lizard Lady, Raphael gritted his teeth as he felt Monalisa's walls around him and he started to thrust.

Monalisa meanwhile wrapped her legs around him and helped him to thrust.

She loved this position when they made love, normally they enjoyed being spontaneous and she knew Raphael liked mating with her from behind, but this was a position where they could just hold each other and Monalisa even though Raphael couldn't voice his pleasure, she could see his face and how he moved his lips showing his passion for her.

The lovers continued their mating dance then Monalisa could feel her passion reaching its climax and she looked up at Raphael who was looking equally as ready as she was.

Monalisa gripped her lover's head, and he leaned down to her forehead so he could look in her eyes and he gritted his teeth as he thrust hard into her and at the same time Monalisa squeezed around him and let out a cry as she reached her orgasm.

Raphael dug his fingers into Monalisa's shoulders as he came, and he kissed her passionately before collapsing over her body feeling the urge to rest take over.

No words were needed to be exchanged between the two lovers, they had said what they wanted to express earlier, and their passionate action was enough to show each other how much they meant to the other, and how much they missed such love and passion, it would be a while before they re-joined their family and friends, but if they could just freeze the moment, they would do so, after all they had been through in the past couple of weeks, it was a relief to finally be together again and in each other's arms.

Awwww, such sweet moments, *sniff* I'm not crying! You're crying! *sobs*

Ahem, anyway, hope you enjoyed this romantic chapter, it's been a while since I did a RaphxMona scene, I must admit I would have liked to have done the last part in a more graphic way, but I gotta be careful to stay within the Mature rating here. I might write a sort of uncut scene that I may post on my Archive of Our Own page, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

See you next chapter!