Alright. This is a one shot fic. I got the idea for it when I was
ironically at work, making pizzas. Lol. Just a little idea that I had and
decided to try it out. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is my original character Summer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...not mine. Nope! Not at all!!
The Hardest Goodbye
Down the ladder, slightly rusted from years of being unused and across the cement paved floor I walked, the fall of my footsteps echoing against the thick walls of a underground subway that had been left forgotten. Well, almost forgotten. My feet moved lightly down a short flight of stairs, my hand brushing a tarnished banister imbedded in the center of the stairway as the smell of the finest pizza New York had to offer wafted up from the boxes I carried, filling my nose with it's spicy scent. You would that that after tow years of working in Nicks Pizza, endlessly slapping dough and taking orders from livid customers often swearing at me with their thick New York accents I would have grown beyond sick of even being near the product I spent hours making, but I wasn't. It was hard to grow sick of pizza. I often wished I could congratulate the guy who had come up with such a thing. He had to be just swimming in cash by now. Lucky bastard.
As I entered what had once been the platform, now somewhat tastefully decorated with over stuffed couches upholstered in dark greens and tans, tables, weight equipment of every kind and a castle jokingly built out of old pizza boxes, I warily pulled out the hair tie holding up my thick, wavy auburn hair and sighed as the heavy mass spilled over my shoulders. It had been a long day. Too long, and I was more then happy to be at the place I called home. But strangely home was very quiet. My sultry green eyes, framed by long dark lashes assessed the desolate room searching for signs of life but there were none. Huh, the guys must have been out.
I had lived here for a year and a half, having been taken in by the four after one purely crappy day. First my apartment had been broken into and completely ransacked. Everything of true value had been taken, my television, my microwave, my stereo and computer, anything that could have had price slapped on it and been sold on the street. Few things had been left behind. Most of my clothing, my toothbrush, a few pieces of simple jewelry. The jerks had actually even taken my food. How low could you possibly sink?
After a fit of inconsolable tears and reminding myself that I had no one to call since the death of my legal guardian, Aunt Elsa had left me more or less alone, I left my small apartment to wander the streets of the "big city" alone. It was a dumb idea and I should have known it but my small town brain wasn't really capable of putting two and two together at that moment. It was in a darker area of town that I was jumped. I shuddered to think of what more would have happened had my four saviors not come along when they did. They took me to their underground home, consoling me as I sobbed out my heartbreaking story and then insisted that I lived with them. From what I could tell they were trust worthy, they had saved my life and I literally had nowhere else to go. I gladly accepted.
Clearing the reminiscent thoughts from my mind I shrugged and placed the pizza's down on a table as I passed it, smiling as my glance passed over a collection of comic books, then quickly crossed the cavernous room, walking under the muted light of the large stained glass dome in the center of the ceiling and into the last car of a six car subway train that had been abandoned years ago. This car had basically been declared as my own and I had treated it as such, moving in a queen sized bed with a matching dresser, hanging a full-length mirror on the wall. The bedspread was simple, yet elegant in appearance, the color of deep blue and set the main tone for the room. A thick green and blue area rug almost fully covered the floor and a small desk with a flat screen computer sat angled in the corner.
Leaving the door slightly ajar behind me I unbuttoned my work shirt, making a disgusted noise when I saw the small splatter of sauce staining the denim. Shrugging out of the shirt I draped it over the computer chair and went to my dresser, retrieving a simple yellow tank top and a pair of dark green straight-legged sweat pants that had been cut at the hems. What can I say? I just liked having the fabric pool around my feet. It was a fetish of mine.
After having changed I went to the small bathroom that had been conveniently connected to my room (because I was a woman) and washed the after work residue from my face and arms. God it felt good to be clean again. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, full lips pulling up in an impish grin and revealing a straight row of white teeth. A natural blush stained the honey colored skin of my cheekbones and sparkling green eyes smiled back at me. Playfully winking at my reflection I turned on my heel and went back into my room, flopping down on my bed with a groan of utter elation. Minutes passed maybe hours but I highly doubt I had laid there for that long. But maybe I had. Whenever I was truly comfortable time always seemed to fly by me. Finally the sound of four voices carried to my ears and I smiled. The guys were home.
I didn't have go greet them. They knew where I was. Hell, the pizza alone told them I was safe and home. They didn't have to go out kicking random asses to find out where I was. I laughed softly at that thought and turned my head, settling more into the soft down pillow. Moments later a soft knock sounded at my door and I grunted unceremoniously for whoever it was to enter. There was the sound of the door sliding in its track followed by a soft chuckle and a thick Brooklyn accented voice saying, "rough day?"
I flipped over onto my back and gave the owner of the voice a welcoming smile as I propped myself up on my elbows, noticing right away the paper plate laden with two large slices of pizza. "Hey! For me?"
"Nope. Came here to eat it in front of you."
Laughing I watched Raphael, the third oldest of the four turtles, arrogantly cross the room. I sat up, making room for him to sit down. "So where were you guys?" I asked, after he was settled and the plate of pizza was in my possession.
He shrugged. "Don and Mike wanted to check out this arcade so me and Leo went with them to keep them out of trouble. You know how those two are."
I nodded, taking a healthy bite of pizza. "I guess I expected you guys to be here when I got back."
Raph smiled and nudged me with his shoulder. "Aww, you missed us?"
"You know it." I quickly finished my pizza and crumpled the paper plate, tossing it into a wastebasket beside the bed.
"How was your last day?" Raph asked, idly making conversation, but there was sadness in his tone. One that caught my attention and sent a sharp pang through my heart.
"It was long. Very long. But..I don't know. I'm going to kind of miss it. The people I mean!" I quickly corrected. "No way in hell will I miss everything else."
Raph laughed softly and shook his head. "Don't blame ya. I've heard every single one of your horror stories. I'm afraid to get within a mile of that place now."
"So are we still sticking to the whole training plan?" I asked, shifting my position on the bed and causing my arm to brush against his. We both jumped and glanced up at each other. Green clashed with ebony and I felt my heart break a little.
"If you want to," he finally said, breaking the tense silence. "We don't have to since..well..you know-." His voice trailed off.
"No. No, I want to. It will be my..my last time doing this with you guys. We'll have fun," I said, voicing something neither of us wanted to deal with at that moment.
He nodded, a simple gesture, and stood. "I'll meet you out there then." And he was gone. I watched his back as he left, feeling tears prick my eyes. This was so hard. In a way I couldn't even believe it had happened or was happening for that matter. When I came to live with the four amicable mutants I had no idea that I would eventually fall for one of them. But I had, and hard.
I'm not sure how it happened or when, but I had woke up one day after two months of living with the four turtles, Leo, Mike, Don and Raph, and of course their sensei Splinter and knew at that moment that part of my heart indefinitely belonged to the red masked Raphael. And he knew it too. It was if we had come to the same conclusion at the same time and decided the best thing to do would be to come clean with each other. But that was all we could do. Admit that we had fallen for one another and then make the best of it.
The others had been accepting. Mike had teased us non-stop but he was the first to say that he was "totally for" our feelings. Don and Leo had both been accepting, Don a little less because he too had developed somewhat of a crush on me. But his feelings were nowhere as deep as Raph's.
So for a year and several months we lived as normally as possible, flirting shamelessly with each other, cuddling while watching movies, doing things couples would do. Of course there were things we would never be able to do because of what he was but what we could do we did, enjoying our relationship for what it was.
I had been going to college at the time, finishing up my final two years in New York and earning my major in law. I knew when I graduated I would be done in New York and have to move to Memphis where I had applied to take the A.B.A. Raph knew it too so we never talked about it. For the most part we acted as if that time was never going to come. But now it had, and now things were far more difficult then either of us expected them to be.
Drying the salty tears from my face with the back of my hand I drew a shuddering breath and stood, slipping into a pair of socks and putting on my worn tennis shoes. I was going to make this night a memorable one. This was my last night with the guys, my last night with Raph and I never wanted to forget it.
I slid out the door and smiled when I saw that Mike and Don were sitting on the couch, their backs to me. Leo and Raph's eyes were on me so I quickly placed a finger over my lips, indicating that they should keep their mouths shut, something they were both pretty good at doing. Seeing the wicked smiles they returned I resumed creeping up on my two unsuspecting friends. I slid my hands quietly over the back of the couch, placing them inches from their shoulders and then released a shout as I vaulted over the couch and into their laps.
"Jesus..what the-," Mike yelped, his hand gripping the arm of the couch as the other rested over his chest. "Damn it Summer, you scared the hell out of me!"
I laughed and grinned up at him. "Well that's kind of what I was going for Mikey," I remarked dryly. Turning my jade gaze to Don I laughed when I saw him glaring at me. "Oh, come on Donny. You knew that was coming."
A smile broke the purple masked teens face and he shrugged. "Yeah. I heard you coming. I guess we didn't work on your ninja skills very well, did we?"
I slid off their laps. "Well, you got one more chance to do it so I suggest you make it a good one."
Raph came up behind me and slid a well-muscled arm around my shoulder. He was smiling; despite the pain I could see swimming in his deep ebony eyes. "Whadya say guys? Should we quit holdin' back and just pound on her?"
"Hell yeah," Mike said, getting to his feet. "After that little stunt she pulled I'm totally game."
We spared for hours. Well, the whole sparring session turned into more of a joking/teaching/reminiscing session but I was glad it did. We all needed a good laugh, especially in light of tomorrow's events. For the night we all acted as if it was any regular day and I wasn't leaving them tomorrow. Pictures were taken, which I was very glad for. They would be the only thing I had aside from my memories and the letters they promised to write after I was gone.
They each gave me a going away present. From Mike a new pair of tennis shoes, from Leo a cookbook because he knew how much I missed cooking elegant dinners, from Don a framed, blown up picture of all five of us and from Raph a simple amethyst crystal pendant on a silver chain. It was beautiful and I almost started crying over it but forced myself not to. Now was not the time for tears. Plus it would probably freak them all out. They didn't know how to handle crying women.
It became late and after saying good night to everyone I took my presents to my room, packing them safely away with everything else that had already been thrown into boxes that lined the far wall across from the bed. The few things left to pack, clothing, make up, and other various things I threw in boxes quickly, forcing back the sadness that had haunted me all night. When I was done she sat on my bed, toying absently with the necklace Raph had given me. All that was left to do was sleep, but that of course eluded me. So I sat, once again unaware of the time that passed.
I wasn't surprised when I heard the sound of a throat clearing at my doorway. I looked up, knowing Raph would be there. He stood, looking awkward, his eyes filled with sadness. It was almost too much. I could feel the tears collecting in my own eyes and knew that I would not be able to hold them at bay for long.
"Summer," he murmured and that was all it took. I pushed myself off the bed and flung myself into his waiting arms, releasing the tears I had been holding back.
"I..I don't want to do this. I don't want to go," I cried brokenly though my tears.
"Shhh. Don't cry Summer. It's okay. It'll be okay," He ran a hand lovingly over my hair, trying to calm me.
"Raph, it hurts so much."
"I know it does."
"I want to stay here." I pulled back and looked up at the mutant I had come to love so deeply. "With you."
He cradled my face in his hand. "We talked about this hun. You've wanted to do this all your life...and what we have..it can't-."
"I know. It can't work. But I wish it could." I smiled up at him, knowing my heart was in my eyes and not caring at all. He knew how I felt, how I would always feel. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, his voice husky with emotion.
His arms went around me and I laid my head on his shoulder, my lips brushing his neck. "Stay with me tonight?" I asked, the plea sounding desperate.
"Yeah. I'll stay."
I crawled into bed and he lay down beside me. I pulled the covers up around us, cuddling up as close as I possibly could to him. This would be the last time we ever did this and the very thought broke my heart even further. I started wondering how much I could take before it became too much. "I don't think I'll be strong enough to do this," I whispered into the dark.
He was smiling. I could hear it in his voice. "Yeah you can. I've never known anyone more stubborn then myself until you came along. You're strong Summer. You'll make it past this and live your life. I know you'll be okay."
"What about you?"
"I'll..I'll spend every day thinking about you and wishing you were here, but I'll be happy that you're out doin' what you want to do."
Silence fell and we both drifted into a slightly troubled sleep, only made easier by the fact that we were together. For now, we were together and that's all that mattered.
The next day dawned overcast, a constant drizzle falling onto the busy streets. The last of my things were packed and loaded onto a truck that I would be driving to Memphis. Now came the hardest part. The part I had been dreading for so long. Goodbye.
"You guys are walking me up there right?" I asked the four mutants who sat solemnly waiting for me to get ready.
"You bet. There's no way I'm letting you leave without knowing you made it safely to your truck," Leo said, his protectiveness ever so endearing.
I smiled sadly, turning to the mutant who had become like a grandfather to me. He may have been a rat in nothing but tattered clothing to anyone else, but to me he was just as human as anyone else. His wise outlook on life had provided me with so much and I would never be able to repay him. "Splinter. Thank you for everything," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. I leaned down and hugged his frail body. "I'll miss you."
"I shall miss you too, my child." I backed away and he nodded. "May your trip be safe and please don't forget to write."
"I wont. Promise." Reluctantly turning to my four escorts I pushed my shoulders back bravely. "Okay, lets go."
We walked in silence, making our way slowly to the surface, each of us dreading what was about to happen. Unfortunately it could not be prolonged and before we knew it, we were at the surface, standing in front of the moving truck and staring at it in disbelief. So this was it. This was the end.
Taking a deep breath I turned To Mike and smiled. "Mikey. I'll never forget you bud. Take care okay?" I gave him a hug, laughing when he squeezed me tightly.
"You're one hell of a girl Summer. You better come visit us sometime," he said, his voice wavering slightly.
Leo was next, enveloping me in a warm, brotherly hug. "If you ever need anything you just call. And if you're up studying one night and need some help, I'll be willing to give it to you anytime."
"Okay. I'll do that. Bye Leo."
I quickly moved on to Don, the tears by now streaming down my face in constant rivers. "Don.." I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Take care of him for me okay?" I whispered.
"I will," Don replied quietly, knowing I was talking about Raph.
And then came the hardest good bye I would probably ever give in my life. I faced Raph, a fresh wave of sorrow washing over me. I fell into his arms, crying openly, not caring at all if the entire world knew my heart had shattered. He cried too. I could feel his broad shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs. We clung to each other for what seemed like forever. Then finally, we stepped back. It was time for me to go. I lifted my hands, placing them on either side of his tear-streaked face. "This is it."
"Yeah."
"I want you to know that I will never love anyone as much as I love you. Never. You were it for me and I'll spend every day thankful that I met you."
Raph nodded. "Same goes." He gave a watery chuckle. "What are the chances that I'll stumble upon someone as cute as you being mugged in an alley, huh?"
I laughed softly. Then I did something that I had given much thought to but never actually done. I rose up on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, my stomach flipping pleasantly with a wonderful emotion that I would forever treasure. His arms came around me, holding me gently as the moment stretched on. I pulled back and smiled up at him. "I'll never forget you...and I'll never stop loving you."
"I love you too Summer. I always will," he said softly, loving shining in his dark, ebony eyes.
I drew an unsteady breath and pulled away from him, feeling for the life of me that I would never survive this moment. But something deep inside of me knew I would and it forced me to move, move on to my future, and move on with my life. "Goodbye," I whispered, turning slowly and walking through the rain, smiling sadly as the droplets fell onto my face and mingled with the tears. I left them behind and faced my new life, knowing that I would never forget any of them and knowing that my heart had found a love that several people only dreamed of. It had been mine and I had been happy. I would never forget a love like that. No matter how much heartbreak, no matter how many goodbyes I would hold that love forever.
Disclaimer: The only thing I own is my original character Summer. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles...not mine. Nope! Not at all!!
The Hardest Goodbye
Down the ladder, slightly rusted from years of being unused and across the cement paved floor I walked, the fall of my footsteps echoing against the thick walls of a underground subway that had been left forgotten. Well, almost forgotten. My feet moved lightly down a short flight of stairs, my hand brushing a tarnished banister imbedded in the center of the stairway as the smell of the finest pizza New York had to offer wafted up from the boxes I carried, filling my nose with it's spicy scent. You would that that after tow years of working in Nicks Pizza, endlessly slapping dough and taking orders from livid customers often swearing at me with their thick New York accents I would have grown beyond sick of even being near the product I spent hours making, but I wasn't. It was hard to grow sick of pizza. I often wished I could congratulate the guy who had come up with such a thing. He had to be just swimming in cash by now. Lucky bastard.
As I entered what had once been the platform, now somewhat tastefully decorated with over stuffed couches upholstered in dark greens and tans, tables, weight equipment of every kind and a castle jokingly built out of old pizza boxes, I warily pulled out the hair tie holding up my thick, wavy auburn hair and sighed as the heavy mass spilled over my shoulders. It had been a long day. Too long, and I was more then happy to be at the place I called home. But strangely home was very quiet. My sultry green eyes, framed by long dark lashes assessed the desolate room searching for signs of life but there were none. Huh, the guys must have been out.
I had lived here for a year and a half, having been taken in by the four after one purely crappy day. First my apartment had been broken into and completely ransacked. Everything of true value had been taken, my television, my microwave, my stereo and computer, anything that could have had price slapped on it and been sold on the street. Few things had been left behind. Most of my clothing, my toothbrush, a few pieces of simple jewelry. The jerks had actually even taken my food. How low could you possibly sink?
After a fit of inconsolable tears and reminding myself that I had no one to call since the death of my legal guardian, Aunt Elsa had left me more or less alone, I left my small apartment to wander the streets of the "big city" alone. It was a dumb idea and I should have known it but my small town brain wasn't really capable of putting two and two together at that moment. It was in a darker area of town that I was jumped. I shuddered to think of what more would have happened had my four saviors not come along when they did. They took me to their underground home, consoling me as I sobbed out my heartbreaking story and then insisted that I lived with them. From what I could tell they were trust worthy, they had saved my life and I literally had nowhere else to go. I gladly accepted.
Clearing the reminiscent thoughts from my mind I shrugged and placed the pizza's down on a table as I passed it, smiling as my glance passed over a collection of comic books, then quickly crossed the cavernous room, walking under the muted light of the large stained glass dome in the center of the ceiling and into the last car of a six car subway train that had been abandoned years ago. This car had basically been declared as my own and I had treated it as such, moving in a queen sized bed with a matching dresser, hanging a full-length mirror on the wall. The bedspread was simple, yet elegant in appearance, the color of deep blue and set the main tone for the room. A thick green and blue area rug almost fully covered the floor and a small desk with a flat screen computer sat angled in the corner.
Leaving the door slightly ajar behind me I unbuttoned my work shirt, making a disgusted noise when I saw the small splatter of sauce staining the denim. Shrugging out of the shirt I draped it over the computer chair and went to my dresser, retrieving a simple yellow tank top and a pair of dark green straight-legged sweat pants that had been cut at the hems. What can I say? I just liked having the fabric pool around my feet. It was a fetish of mine.
After having changed I went to the small bathroom that had been conveniently connected to my room (because I was a woman) and washed the after work residue from my face and arms. God it felt good to be clean again. I smiled at my reflection in the mirror, full lips pulling up in an impish grin and revealing a straight row of white teeth. A natural blush stained the honey colored skin of my cheekbones and sparkling green eyes smiled back at me. Playfully winking at my reflection I turned on my heel and went back into my room, flopping down on my bed with a groan of utter elation. Minutes passed maybe hours but I highly doubt I had laid there for that long. But maybe I had. Whenever I was truly comfortable time always seemed to fly by me. Finally the sound of four voices carried to my ears and I smiled. The guys were home.
I didn't have go greet them. They knew where I was. Hell, the pizza alone told them I was safe and home. They didn't have to go out kicking random asses to find out where I was. I laughed softly at that thought and turned my head, settling more into the soft down pillow. Moments later a soft knock sounded at my door and I grunted unceremoniously for whoever it was to enter. There was the sound of the door sliding in its track followed by a soft chuckle and a thick Brooklyn accented voice saying, "rough day?"
I flipped over onto my back and gave the owner of the voice a welcoming smile as I propped myself up on my elbows, noticing right away the paper plate laden with two large slices of pizza. "Hey! For me?"
"Nope. Came here to eat it in front of you."
Laughing I watched Raphael, the third oldest of the four turtles, arrogantly cross the room. I sat up, making room for him to sit down. "So where were you guys?" I asked, after he was settled and the plate of pizza was in my possession.
He shrugged. "Don and Mike wanted to check out this arcade so me and Leo went with them to keep them out of trouble. You know how those two are."
I nodded, taking a healthy bite of pizza. "I guess I expected you guys to be here when I got back."
Raph smiled and nudged me with his shoulder. "Aww, you missed us?"
"You know it." I quickly finished my pizza and crumpled the paper plate, tossing it into a wastebasket beside the bed.
"How was your last day?" Raph asked, idly making conversation, but there was sadness in his tone. One that caught my attention and sent a sharp pang through my heart.
"It was long. Very long. But..I don't know. I'm going to kind of miss it. The people I mean!" I quickly corrected. "No way in hell will I miss everything else."
Raph laughed softly and shook his head. "Don't blame ya. I've heard every single one of your horror stories. I'm afraid to get within a mile of that place now."
"So are we still sticking to the whole training plan?" I asked, shifting my position on the bed and causing my arm to brush against his. We both jumped and glanced up at each other. Green clashed with ebony and I felt my heart break a little.
"If you want to," he finally said, breaking the tense silence. "We don't have to since..well..you know-." His voice trailed off.
"No. No, I want to. It will be my..my last time doing this with you guys. We'll have fun," I said, voicing something neither of us wanted to deal with at that moment.
He nodded, a simple gesture, and stood. "I'll meet you out there then." And he was gone. I watched his back as he left, feeling tears prick my eyes. This was so hard. In a way I couldn't even believe it had happened or was happening for that matter. When I came to live with the four amicable mutants I had no idea that I would eventually fall for one of them. But I had, and hard.
I'm not sure how it happened or when, but I had woke up one day after two months of living with the four turtles, Leo, Mike, Don and Raph, and of course their sensei Splinter and knew at that moment that part of my heart indefinitely belonged to the red masked Raphael. And he knew it too. It was if we had come to the same conclusion at the same time and decided the best thing to do would be to come clean with each other. But that was all we could do. Admit that we had fallen for one another and then make the best of it.
The others had been accepting. Mike had teased us non-stop but he was the first to say that he was "totally for" our feelings. Don and Leo had both been accepting, Don a little less because he too had developed somewhat of a crush on me. But his feelings were nowhere as deep as Raph's.
So for a year and several months we lived as normally as possible, flirting shamelessly with each other, cuddling while watching movies, doing things couples would do. Of course there were things we would never be able to do because of what he was but what we could do we did, enjoying our relationship for what it was.
I had been going to college at the time, finishing up my final two years in New York and earning my major in law. I knew when I graduated I would be done in New York and have to move to Memphis where I had applied to take the A.B.A. Raph knew it too so we never talked about it. For the most part we acted as if that time was never going to come. But now it had, and now things were far more difficult then either of us expected them to be.
Drying the salty tears from my face with the back of my hand I drew a shuddering breath and stood, slipping into a pair of socks and putting on my worn tennis shoes. I was going to make this night a memorable one. This was my last night with the guys, my last night with Raph and I never wanted to forget it.
I slid out the door and smiled when I saw that Mike and Don were sitting on the couch, their backs to me. Leo and Raph's eyes were on me so I quickly placed a finger over my lips, indicating that they should keep their mouths shut, something they were both pretty good at doing. Seeing the wicked smiles they returned I resumed creeping up on my two unsuspecting friends. I slid my hands quietly over the back of the couch, placing them inches from their shoulders and then released a shout as I vaulted over the couch and into their laps.
"Jesus..what the-," Mike yelped, his hand gripping the arm of the couch as the other rested over his chest. "Damn it Summer, you scared the hell out of me!"
I laughed and grinned up at him. "Well that's kind of what I was going for Mikey," I remarked dryly. Turning my jade gaze to Don I laughed when I saw him glaring at me. "Oh, come on Donny. You knew that was coming."
A smile broke the purple masked teens face and he shrugged. "Yeah. I heard you coming. I guess we didn't work on your ninja skills very well, did we?"
I slid off their laps. "Well, you got one more chance to do it so I suggest you make it a good one."
Raph came up behind me and slid a well-muscled arm around my shoulder. He was smiling; despite the pain I could see swimming in his deep ebony eyes. "Whadya say guys? Should we quit holdin' back and just pound on her?"
"Hell yeah," Mike said, getting to his feet. "After that little stunt she pulled I'm totally game."
We spared for hours. Well, the whole sparring session turned into more of a joking/teaching/reminiscing session but I was glad it did. We all needed a good laugh, especially in light of tomorrow's events. For the night we all acted as if it was any regular day and I wasn't leaving them tomorrow. Pictures were taken, which I was very glad for. They would be the only thing I had aside from my memories and the letters they promised to write after I was gone.
They each gave me a going away present. From Mike a new pair of tennis shoes, from Leo a cookbook because he knew how much I missed cooking elegant dinners, from Don a framed, blown up picture of all five of us and from Raph a simple amethyst crystal pendant on a silver chain. It was beautiful and I almost started crying over it but forced myself not to. Now was not the time for tears. Plus it would probably freak them all out. They didn't know how to handle crying women.
It became late and after saying good night to everyone I took my presents to my room, packing them safely away with everything else that had already been thrown into boxes that lined the far wall across from the bed. The few things left to pack, clothing, make up, and other various things I threw in boxes quickly, forcing back the sadness that had haunted me all night. When I was done she sat on my bed, toying absently with the necklace Raph had given me. All that was left to do was sleep, but that of course eluded me. So I sat, once again unaware of the time that passed.
I wasn't surprised when I heard the sound of a throat clearing at my doorway. I looked up, knowing Raph would be there. He stood, looking awkward, his eyes filled with sadness. It was almost too much. I could feel the tears collecting in my own eyes and knew that I would not be able to hold them at bay for long.
"Summer," he murmured and that was all it took. I pushed myself off the bed and flung myself into his waiting arms, releasing the tears I had been holding back.
"I..I don't want to do this. I don't want to go," I cried brokenly though my tears.
"Shhh. Don't cry Summer. It's okay. It'll be okay," He ran a hand lovingly over my hair, trying to calm me.
"Raph, it hurts so much."
"I know it does."
"I want to stay here." I pulled back and looked up at the mutant I had come to love so deeply. "With you."
He cradled my face in his hand. "We talked about this hun. You've wanted to do this all your life...and what we have..it can't-."
"I know. It can't work. But I wish it could." I smiled up at him, knowing my heart was in my eyes and not caring at all. He knew how I felt, how I would always feel. "I love you."
"I love you too," he said, his voice husky with emotion.
His arms went around me and I laid my head on his shoulder, my lips brushing his neck. "Stay with me tonight?" I asked, the plea sounding desperate.
"Yeah. I'll stay."
I crawled into bed and he lay down beside me. I pulled the covers up around us, cuddling up as close as I possibly could to him. This would be the last time we ever did this and the very thought broke my heart even further. I started wondering how much I could take before it became too much. "I don't think I'll be strong enough to do this," I whispered into the dark.
He was smiling. I could hear it in his voice. "Yeah you can. I've never known anyone more stubborn then myself until you came along. You're strong Summer. You'll make it past this and live your life. I know you'll be okay."
"What about you?"
"I'll..I'll spend every day thinking about you and wishing you were here, but I'll be happy that you're out doin' what you want to do."
Silence fell and we both drifted into a slightly troubled sleep, only made easier by the fact that we were together. For now, we were together and that's all that mattered.
The next day dawned overcast, a constant drizzle falling onto the busy streets. The last of my things were packed and loaded onto a truck that I would be driving to Memphis. Now came the hardest part. The part I had been dreading for so long. Goodbye.
"You guys are walking me up there right?" I asked the four mutants who sat solemnly waiting for me to get ready.
"You bet. There's no way I'm letting you leave without knowing you made it safely to your truck," Leo said, his protectiveness ever so endearing.
I smiled sadly, turning to the mutant who had become like a grandfather to me. He may have been a rat in nothing but tattered clothing to anyone else, but to me he was just as human as anyone else. His wise outlook on life had provided me with so much and I would never be able to repay him. "Splinter. Thank you for everything," I whispered, trying to keep my voice steady. I leaned down and hugged his frail body. "I'll miss you."
"I shall miss you too, my child." I backed away and he nodded. "May your trip be safe and please don't forget to write."
"I wont. Promise." Reluctantly turning to my four escorts I pushed my shoulders back bravely. "Okay, lets go."
We walked in silence, making our way slowly to the surface, each of us dreading what was about to happen. Unfortunately it could not be prolonged and before we knew it, we were at the surface, standing in front of the moving truck and staring at it in disbelief. So this was it. This was the end.
Taking a deep breath I turned To Mike and smiled. "Mikey. I'll never forget you bud. Take care okay?" I gave him a hug, laughing when he squeezed me tightly.
"You're one hell of a girl Summer. You better come visit us sometime," he said, his voice wavering slightly.
Leo was next, enveloping me in a warm, brotherly hug. "If you ever need anything you just call. And if you're up studying one night and need some help, I'll be willing to give it to you anytime."
"Okay. I'll do that. Bye Leo."
I quickly moved on to Don, the tears by now streaming down my face in constant rivers. "Don.." I murmured, wrapping my arms around his neck. "Take care of him for me okay?" I whispered.
"I will," Don replied quietly, knowing I was talking about Raph.
And then came the hardest good bye I would probably ever give in my life. I faced Raph, a fresh wave of sorrow washing over me. I fell into his arms, crying openly, not caring at all if the entire world knew my heart had shattered. He cried too. I could feel his broad shoulders trembling with suppressed sobs. We clung to each other for what seemed like forever. Then finally, we stepped back. It was time for me to go. I lifted my hands, placing them on either side of his tear-streaked face. "This is it."
"Yeah."
"I want you to know that I will never love anyone as much as I love you. Never. You were it for me and I'll spend every day thankful that I met you."
Raph nodded. "Same goes." He gave a watery chuckle. "What are the chances that I'll stumble upon someone as cute as you being mugged in an alley, huh?"
I laughed softly. Then I did something that I had given much thought to but never actually done. I rose up on my tiptoes and pressed a soft kiss to his lips, my stomach flipping pleasantly with a wonderful emotion that I would forever treasure. His arms came around me, holding me gently as the moment stretched on. I pulled back and smiled up at him. "I'll never forget you...and I'll never stop loving you."
"I love you too Summer. I always will," he said softly, loving shining in his dark, ebony eyes.
I drew an unsteady breath and pulled away from him, feeling for the life of me that I would never survive this moment. But something deep inside of me knew I would and it forced me to move, move on to my future, and move on with my life. "Goodbye," I whispered, turning slowly and walking through the rain, smiling sadly as the droplets fell onto my face and mingled with the tears. I left them behind and faced my new life, knowing that I would never forget any of them and knowing that my heart had found a love that several people only dreamed of. It had been mine and I had been happy. I would never forget a love like that. No matter how much heartbreak, no matter how many goodbyes I would hold that love forever.