Willow woke up as she felt the warmth of sheets and soft fabric run across her bare arms. She moaned against the bedding, stretching her limbs as she turned on her back noticing a piece of blue fabric over the headboard. She furrowed her brow sitting up as she felt something move along her side. She turned her head slowly as Leonardo sat up in the bed rubbing his hand over his face.
"Morning." She said with a raised eyebrow and hint of confusion in her tone. He looked over at her with a hesitated smile.
"I thought it would be more comfortable up here than on the swing." He shrugged as she nodded her head slowly still lingering with confusion. "We fell asleep and about two thirty I woke up and brought you up here. You asked me to stay so I did."
"I asked you to stay?" She said pulling the covers up over her tank top. He smirked a little nodding his head again.
"Did you not want me to?"
"No, no. I just don't remember...Either way I would have wanted you to stay." She smiled.
"Well, I am gonna go out for a run." He said leaning over her and grabbing his bandanna and tying it back over his eyes. She leaned back allowing his body to not press much against hers as she nodded her head.
"Ok. I should probably call my family tell them I'm here and all." She shrugged.
"That might be a good idea." He said arching an eye ridge as she smiled shoving him a bit. He got up from the bed leaving the room and shutting the door behind him.
She fell back against the soft old mattress placing her good hand over her face. She thought about the night before and trying to clear the fogginess of her mind to recall ever asking him to stay. She could have guessed from her sleep state that she would, especially since she broke her arm she can get on the needy side when she's wounded. She smirked a little thinking of waking up with that same feeling every morning. She stretched with a small squeak of happiness as she stood up straight in bed.
Wait…every morning? What the hell are you doing? You're thinking like a crazy person! First of all, he's just being nice to you. Second, he kissed you and apparently a kiss doesn't mean all that much to him since he's not making any moves. But, he's never really had this kind of experience before…?I mean he is a mutant turtle after all, not exactly an everyday occurrence to have a girl swoon over you. No, you're dumb. If he wanted you, he'd tell you. Especially the fact that he's a turtle, I'm sure since he's never had it, he'd jump at the chance. Any male no matter what species would. Of course Leo's not just any male… He's too honest a person to just…But he does keep a lot of things to himself? He's very closed off. Maybe he just needs a little push to help? Ah! No. Stop thinking about it and just let it go alright Willow. It's not going to happen. He's a good friend. Friend. Just…friend.
She sighed to herself pushing the covers away and smoothed out her hair in the messy up do it was and let it be. She could take a shower later to fix it. She rolled her eyes as she went down stairs.
Donatello was up as she heard Michelangelo snoring away on the couch. She figured Raphael, Casey and April was all still sleeping. She walked yawned and stretched as she entered the kitchen waving at Donnie as he smiled taking a sip of his coffee.
"Morning."
"Mhm." She smiled as she walked over to him leaning against his shoulder. "Where's mine?" She said with a pout as he rolled his eyes handing her a cup. "I'm wounded you can't pour it for…" He took her cup from her with a slight glare as she smiled snatching it back. "Kidding! I can do it. You are not a morning person." He grumbled something as he sat at the kitchen table.
"So how come you two didn't come in last night?" He asked as she fixed her coffee.
"Oh, we just wanted to stay outside. I forget how pretty the sky is here." She smiled leaning against the counter as she turned towards him.
"Yeah, it is something." Willow nodded her head as she searched the cabinets for a bowl.
"I don't think we have cereal?"
"It's for Boba smartass." She said over her shoulder as she grabbed one, filling it with water. "I need to go out and get her some food before my poor dog starves. And on top of that I get to stop by my parents. I'm gonna wait till April gets up to see if she can take me."
"Why not Casey?"
"HA! Yeah…apparently you don't know my family. Alright, my mom will beat him to death with questions about how long we've been dating, if we're living together, then he'll leave the room with my dad and she'll ask me if I've slept with him for how long, yadda yadda yadda. In the meanwhile, my dad is saying if you were hurt my little girl I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish. Precious things like that. Something I wouldn't wanna put any guy through again. So…I keep them as far away from my parent's house as possible." Donnie chocked back on his coffee from a laugh.
"So they're protective?"
"A little too protective."
"Now you liking Leo makes more sense." Don said with a smirk as he took another sip of his coffee. Willow turned around placing a hand on her hip.
"Excuse me?"
"What?"
"What did you just say?"
"Me? I said nothing." Donnie said getting up from the table.
"You know Donatello it is not honorable to lie to a lady."
"Lady? I don't see a lady anywhere." Raphael said as he entered the kitchen walking over to the coffee maker. Willow narrowed her eyes punching him in the arm as he passed.
"You both suck!" She said grabbing her coffee and going on the porch.
Splinter sat on the porch swing; his eyes closed as Willow held the door open for Boba to run inside. She heard the dog lapping up the water she put out for her. Splinter opened his eyes slowly to the sound of the porch door knocking against the wooden frame and looked towards Willow as she learned against the wooden pillar of the stairway.
"Come sit my child." He said softly as she turned with a smile walking over to the swing. It moved back a little as she sat, Splinter placing a paw on her knee with a small tap. He looked over at her with a smile as she forced one back. She turned away furrowing her brow as he sat back against the swing. "You know my sons care deeply about you."
"And I care about them." She said with a smile.
"Leonardo is a good boy. In time he will come to his decision and if it is the right one you will know." Splinter said still looking straight ahead as Willow furrowed her brow again turning her to face him.
"I-I'm sorry?" She asked trying to figure out if that is really what he just said.
"In time my dear, in time." Splinter said as he tapped her knee again, using it to steady himself on his walking stick as he stood. She looked at him walk into the house as she tried to steady her breath.
What…the…f…
"Hey
Will." Mikey said as he came on the porch sitting on the railing.
"Uh…yeah." She said still looking perplexed as she glared out ahead of her.
"You ok? You look like you're gonna hurl." Mikey said leaning over and trying to catch a glimpse of her face.
"Huh?...Um…totally maybe later." She said turning towards him and leaning back against the swing. He raised an eye ridge to her with a chuckled and went inside the house.
"Hey Willow." April said as she came out of the house.
"Uh. I think Willow left for the moment you might wanna leave a message." Mikey said walking into the house as April held the door for him. She eyed him carefully with a confused looked as she turned her attention to Willow . Her posture was straight as she barely looked to be breathing, her eyes wide fixed on one spot ahead of her. April raised an eyebrow sitting next to her as she placed a hand gentle on her shoulder.
"Will…?" Willow broke out of her stare in a slight jump to her name and turned towards April.
"Yeah? Hi. Morning, I mean…um…Hi." Willow said shaking her head and covering her face with her hand.
"You doing ok?"
"Um…Define ok?" Willow said with a sigh leaning her head back against the housing.
"Sorry…Just kinda still early." She shrugged. "What's up?"
"Donnie said something about you wanting to go visit your folks?"
"Oh…Oh yeah! Um, if you don't mind? I can drive if you don't wanna come I can understand. They're kinda crazy." Willow winced as April smiled patting her shoulder.
"I'd be happy to drive you. And believe me all parents are crazy."
Leonardo ran to that same spot where he was able to have this realization wash over him. The sky was a light blue as the wind blew clouds gracefully over it. He sighed, relaxing his shoulders from his meditation position and fell back on his shell on the soft grass. He placed his hands behind his head as he listened to the sound of the water, birds, wind, rustle of leaves in the newly spring air.
He had been hiding these feelings for her for so long he had no way to act, or knew any other way to act. He would watch her cross a room, tuck her soft hair behind her ear, smile as her smile went across her soft delicate features. He wanted nothing more than to tell her, hold her, be with her. The logic screaming in his mind was the only thing now holding him back from doing such things to her. She was a human. She had a life of her own before it was intertwined with him and his brother's. He sighed and leaned up about to get to his feet as a furry hand was place on his shoulder.
"Sit my son." Splinter said as Leo did, watching his father go to his side and sit along
with him. "You've been meditating for many hours."
"I know sensei."
"A lot to have worked out in those hours, yet with such an expression on your face and tension in your shoulders."
"I fear that I have not worked out any of them Master."
"Well, what is your heart telling you my son?"
"Is that the best thing to listen…"
"Leonardo, you have a family who you protect and care about and will do the same for you. Friends who took you in as if you were their own. You're life is rich with qualities that some search all their lives for. Ms. Willow is someone I am very grateful for. She loves your boys and that takes a lot of worry away from my heavy heart. Seeing you contemplate whether she is right for you is something that weighs it. She is there, willing my son. Only logic you need to think about is the one making itself known in your heart." Splinter said turning towards his son as he placed his finger right above Leo's chest plate on his green skin.
"But, sensei I…"
"No buts my son. You love her."
"Well, I am trying to…"
"That was not a question." Splinter said as a smile went to his face steadying himself on his walking stick as he stood. "There is nothing more for you to think about." Splinter said as more of a demand than a statement. Leo looked up at him as his father placing a firm, hand on his shoulder. "I understand the dangers and vulnerability you must be feeling to have opened your heart up to someone who not months ago was a stranger. Showing that you are vulnerable in the ways of love does not make you weak my son, in the end it'll make you stronger." Splinter gently patted Leo's shoulder as he started down the path back towards the farm house.
Leonardo looked down at the lake with a sigh as he relaxed his body back down against the soft grass. He closed his eyes slowly cutting off the sun from breaking through a cloud.
April pulled up to Willow 's large dark brown, red shuttered home. She had two neighbors on either side of her than no one for quiet sometime. Her yard was large as some snow still remained in parts where large oak trees have shaded them from the warmth of sun. Willow sighed as April stopped the car. She looked over at her younger friend with a smile as Willow grimaced opening her door.
She saw her mother come around the back of the house, dirt on her knees of her Capri green khaki pants, with a large black shirt, tucked into her front as the sides sagged out. She put her hand to shade the sun as she dropped her gardening tools running towards Willow , embracing her daughter in a hug. April smiled as Willow balanced herself patting her mother's back.
"What are you doing here!?" Her mother said as she pulled away looking her daughter over then pulling her back for a hug.
"Just a snowboarding trip cut short." Willow said as her mother looked at her arm. She placed a hand on her hip and shook her head.
"I don't understand you, or your brother. After what happened to your father!"
"You know if we stopped dad would give us hell for it."
"Still…Who is your friend?" Her mother smiled as she extended her hand. She took it back wiping off the dirt as April smile taking it.
"April." She said with a smile as Willow nodded.
"Very nice to meet you April, I'm Maggie. You have beautiful skin. Ah." Willow 's mother said as she placed her hand over her chest. "Well, c'mon, c'mon I can make us some coffee. You like coffee April?"
"Yes, thank you." April smiled.
"So tell me April." Maggie said as she placed cream and sugar on the table as Willow pat her old dog Rufio on the head. "How did you meet my Will here?" She asked as she took a seat.
"Well, we met a couple months ago." April said as Willow nodded taking a sip of her coffee. "She got a job working at my antique store aside from her radio station job." April said with a smile.
"Which…is why we're were we were going to Maine for a pick up when April said that she wanted to learn how to snowboard. I took the advantage at the slops here and then on the bunny slop I slipped and fell on my arm weird, explaining my cast." Willow shrugged as her mother eyed her carefully.
"Very well thought out lie my daughter, you father has taught you well. Now, if you don't mind as to telling me the truth, I'd appreciate it." Maggie said arching her brow on her daughter. Willow sighed as April winced waiting for the truth.
"Well, we…"
"Hey mom…WILLOW!? What the…Hey!" Hayden said as he walked through the door. He threw his arms around his bigger sister as she smiled hugging him back.
"Great timing punk." Willow whispered as he smirked.
"Always." He said pulling back as he nodded his head towards April. "Sup April." He smirked as she smiled.
"Hayden."
"Where are the g…" Willow elbow him in the stomach to cut off his question as her mother furrowed her brow.
"What?"
"The gang? They're coming up later, working on some old songs. Already called 'em." Willow said standing up and patting her brother's shoulder.
"Wha…? No…The…"
"Totally Hayden!" Willow said slapping him in the back a little too hard as he looked back at her. "C'mon didn't you wanna show me something in your room?"
"No…I…"
"Yeah remember, the thing, you wanted to show it to April and I, I called you earlier and you told me about it." Willow said trying to hint a little less subtle then she planed. She shoved her little brother into the living room as April smiled getting from the table and followed.
"What's the deal crazy?" Hayden asked as she pushed him into his room.
"No one can know about the guys! Did you tell anyone?" Willow asked glaring at him.
"No, no. I'm not stupid! I'm pretty sure if the government got hold of them they'd turn 'em into some kinda science project. Damn the man!" Hayden said as slammed his balled up fist on open palmed.
"Right." Willow said with an arched brow. "Just keep your big mouth shut."
"Totally twigz. No worries."
"Twigz?" April asked with a smirk.
"When I was little I used to think twigs were magic wands." Willow said rolling her eyes.
"Aww…."
"Yeah, yeah." She said walking back into the kitchen.
"Are you two done conspiring?" Maggie asked as Hayden smiled kissing his mom on the forehead. "Where are you two staying?" She asked as she cleaned off the table.
"Oh, my boyfriend's grandma's house is not far from here." April smiled.
"Boyfriend? Thank god." Maggie sighed as Willow looked at her confused.
"What?" She asked as her mom started to laugh.
"I thought you two were…"
"Oh, no…No, no, no!" Willow said shaking her hands back and forth. "Jesus, what is wrong with you?" Willow said as her mother kept laughing.
"Well, I don't know about you lately!" Her mom smiled as Willow rolled her eyes. "So, since we're on the subject." Her mom said easing closer to her as Willow sighed.
"No one."
"Really? Are you still not over Keith?" Her mom said softly rubbing her daughter's back. Willow rolled her eyes.
"I'm far over him. It's just confusing." Willow sighed as April smirked watching her friend shift uncomfortable on the subject.
"So there is someone?"
"No…well, I don't know yet." Willow shrugged.
"Is he cute?" Her mom said with a smile. "What's he look like?" Willow looked towards April as she put her head down trying to cover her laugh.
"He's…Something…" Willow said arching her brow. "He has brown eyes, deep intense ones that like look into your soul. Great arms…muscular from, studies martial arts…Really strong and protective." Willow smiled as her thoughts drifted on Leonardo. Her mom smiled.
"He sounds like a great guy. Hopefully next time you stop by you can bring him around."
"No thank you." Willow said leaning off the counter.
"And why not?" Maggie said placing her hands on her hips.
"Because mom, you always bombard my boyfriends with a million questions! And he's really not the type to feel comfortable around you or dad."
"Why's that? He's seems like a good level headed guy. You said yourself he's strong, he can't handle a few questions?"
"He's not even my boyfriend yet. And he might not be. We might just remain friends…Just…" Willow sighed running her hand through her hair. "Just can I at least figure this out before you start writing up the wedding invitations?" Maggie smiled.
"I suppose. You just know me and daddy, we care about you and your well being and what did I tell you about Keith? He was bad for you, making you move away from us just to break your heart. I wanna meet this guy, if anything happens to make sure he doesn't hurt you."
"I think he's incapable of that." Willow said looking down in a soft voice.
"You think that not, but you never know." Her mom said pulling her daughter towards her with a hug. "Go shower, and change you look like you've been traveling for weeks." Her mom said shoving her daughter towards the room. "I can keep April company."
Willow took her shower, quickly to not leave April alone too long with her mother. She walked into her old bedroom as it was kept the same as she left it. Posters of Trainspotting and Moulin Rouge on her wall. Pictures of high school friends, prom, and battle of the bands shows she went to. Books she had left behind and was meaning to send for. CDs on her CD racks that she placed into her ipod and long forgot about. She smiled, strumming the strings on her old pink guitar as she picked it up, putting it its carrier.
She went to her closet and pulled out a pair of old baggy jeans that she had worn in high school and kept in the back of her closet and an old black, worn band shirt she had made with a screen printing class she took. She pulled it over her head as she shook out her hair with the towel that was wrapped around it, putting her hair up in another messy bun.
April and her mother were still sitting at the kitchen table as Willow went down the stairs, her guitar over her shoulder. April smirked as Hayden bit down on his sandwich to free his hands taking the instrument from his sister.
"The string is broken. He said holding it on his knee as he freed his other hand and talked with his mouth full of food. Willow smirked nodding her head.
"That's why you're gonna fix it for me. Do you have your ipod?"
"Yeah?"
"Bring it with you."
"Where we goin'?" He asked handing the guitar back to her.
"You wanna come over tonight? Have a little jam session. I need to work out some stress issues." She said with a sigh as Hayden smiled slapping his sister's shoulder.
"Yeah dude, totally. I'll get my autistic."
"Not too late! And don't get him drunk!" Their mom yelled as they walked back to April's car.
"Love you mom!" Willow and Hayden both yelled over their shoulders.
"I'll follow you." Hayden said as he got into his truck, placing his guitar gentle in the seat next to him. Willow nodded her head placing her's in April's back seat.
"Hey guys, I think Willow and April are back?" Michelangelo said as he ran into the house form the porch. Raphael and Casey walked out onto the porch as April got out of the car along with Willow as Hayden's truck pulled in behind them. Willow turned with a smile as Raphael put his hands to his sais.
Hayden got from his truck, carrying his guitar with him as Raphael relaxed. Leonardo walked from the back of the house as he smiled watching Willow grab her pink guitar and strap it over her shoulder as she looked up, her bangs falling in her face as the wind blew as she looked up at him. She smiled as she walked up to the porch.
"Hey guys." Hayden said raising his hand as Raphael and Michelangelo did the same with his Mikey grin and Raph giving his greeting head nod.
"What's going on dude?"
"Nothin' much. Will just asked for a jam session and I wouldn't deny her." He smiled climbing the steps. They all stepped inside as Leonardo was last holding open the door for Willow. She smiled patting his shoulder as he placed his hand softly on her back following her inside. She looked back at him as they all went into the kitchen. Raphael handed Hayden and Casey a beer.
Splinter walked into the room as everyone carried on with their normal conversations. Hayden sipped his beer as it was spit out in surprise as Splinter walked over to Willow. Willow raised an eyebrow to her little brother wiping off the alcohol damped on her clothing as he winced.
"Sorry." He said as Willow shook her head with a smile.
"Master, this is my little brother Hayden." Willow said as Splinter nodded his head. Hayden put down his beer extending his hand as Splinter took it.
"Hello."
"Sorry about the spitting and well the everywhere-ness of it. Kinda threw me off for a minuet." Hayden laughed nervously as Raph rolled his eyes, Mikey laughing along with him.
"Don't worry dude, our Master here kinda has that effect on people." Mikey said with a chuckle as he nudged Hayden's shoulder.
"And what brings you here?" Splinter asked as Hayden looked to Willow for help.
"He's met them before Master, a couple months ago. When the letters first started to come. I introduced them with April." Willow said looking towards April for help now. April smiled nodding her head.
"He's harmless." She said waving her hand to dismiss Splinter's worry. He nodded his head slowly going back into the living room.
The night fell over the farm house as everyone made their way outside in the cool spring air. Willow sat next to Hayden on the porch steps as she strummed the strings to her guitar slowly. The others sitting around them, April and Casey on the swing, Mikey on the banister of the porch watching them play, Raphael on the other side as Donnie leaned against the house.
Leonardo sat on the walkway in front of the stairs watching Willow. She'd smile over at her brother every now and again, shoving him playfully or making a weird face. Leo would smile and looked down as he felt his cheeks warm up. She had braided her unruly wavy hair over one shoulder as her bangs swooped across her forehead on the opposite side. She'd tuck them behind her ear, as they fell from the wind blowing or looking for a change of cord. She didn't swing much tonight, just a little back up for Hayden softly and quietly but Leo listened to her sweet voice intently. He'd get small shivers up his spin as her voice sang the lyrics he had heard on her ipod weeks ago.
Soon, April and Casey turned in as Hayden agreed it was time for him to get back home as well. Mikey made his way inside, followed by Raphael and Donnie stayed for a moment. He watched as his brother move up on the stairs next to Willow as she softly strummed her guitar. He inched his hand closer to her from behind as Donnie noticed, smirking as he turned inside.
"Hey tiger." She said looking over at him as she heard the screen door shut from Donatello going inside. Leo smiled pushing her bangs back, tucking them behind her ear. She smiled as she placed her guitar next to her to lean against the pillar of the porch.
"I've had a lot of thoughts lately." He said softly, making her have to lean into him.
"Have you?" She asked with a smile.
"I don't know if I can…" He sighed as he turned looking out towards the darkness ahead of them. "I think I might…I'm actually not certain to what they are or what they might actually feel like but something is telling me that what I am feeling has something to do with you." He said trying to figure out the words as they flowed out of his mouth. He lowered his head shaking it as he felt her hand rest on his skin right below his elbow pad. He picked his head up slowly looking at her as she slid her body closer to his.
"What do you feel right now?" She asked softly as the moonlight caught on her eyes. They were soft and serious as he swallowed a little looking down at her hand on his arm, back up into her eyes.
"Nervous." He said as she smiled. She pushed her body closer taking her hand from his arm and placing it on his bicep. She felt her heart catch in her throat as his muscle flexed from his body tensing. She felt her breath shutter as she looked back up into his eyes.
"And now?" She asked again, almost in a whisper.
"Like a rush of fire just was force in front of my face." He said keeping his eyes on her. She didn't smile this time as she leaned in closer to his lips, turning and brushing them softly against his cheek. He clenched his eyes shut as she felt his bicep flex again from him clenching his hand to keep himself under control. "It feels like at any one moment I'm going to wake up in a cold sweat and have the linger smell of you, and your touch…I don't want…" She caught off his rambling thoughts as her lips pressed against his. He moved his hands, putting them around her back as she pulled her body closer to him. She pulled away slowly looking him in the eyes as he tried to catch his breath.
"This is real tiger, I promise. These feelings you have for me, they're real too and returned. I-I think that this is a dream too sometimes. It's too surreal, having someone like you, as good a guy as you are. You're amazing Leo." She said softly as he shook his head.
"No, I was wrong to push you away for so long. I didn't know what was going on with me I felt hot and cold with you and just wanted some kind of explanation. I had none and I'm not used to that, having no control over my feelings or actions or thoughts or…anything. It scared me." He sighed softly. "You scared me."
"I didn't know you could get scared." She said with a smile as she ran her finger along his arm. He smirked watching it as he returned his gaze back into her eyes as they met his.
"When it's something real and uncertain I do." He said looking down at her arm wrapped in a cast. She sighed looking down with him as he leaned in kissing her lips again, pulling away slowly as he caught her bottom lip. Their eyes opened slowly, he took her hands in his. "I want to be with you. I'm ignoring everything that I've tired so long to stop myself from doing because this confusing and unsettling feelings that I get when you're around me are on the brink of driving me crazy. I can't sleep, all I want is to see you smile." He said softly as she did to the word. "I do need you Willow, just as you need me."
She looked at him as her face fell slightly from shock. She remember her dream as those words left his mouth before. She clenched her eyes shut tightly before bringing her lips hard onto his. He had to let her hands go to catch himself from falling back as she leaned into him more. She let his lips go for a moment to let him breath as they found each other again, holding the other tightly against their body. She could feel a lump in her throat as she pushed it down, a stream of tears rolling from her clenched shut eyes.
Finally.
I have a tendency to drag stories out. This is the final chapter. Thank you so so so much for all of you who read and reviewed, favored and put on alert! There might...Key word might be a sequel. But that's not until I end at least one more story! haha. Thanks again guys! YOU'RE AWESOME! woo!