Raphael didn’t remember falling asleep, but he woke up on the sound of whimpering coming between his arms. Half sleep – half awake Raphael wrapped his arms around Leonardo, making smaller male feel secured. “I’m here.” He whispered against Leo’s head, hearing and feeling other turtle relax and calm down. It allowed Raphael to fall back to sleep as well. In the morning he was first one to wake up. Still feeling Leonardo in his arms Raphael made sure not to move when he opened his eyes. He was on his left side, facing Leonardo. However, what made Raphael smile – and almost chuckle – was a sight of Leo. Said turtle had pulled his head some inside of his shell, little bit of his face and head still showing. Raphael couldn’t stop smiling. He had never seen anything like this and it amused him greatly. Raphael simply allowed himself to lay there, his right arm lazily resting on Leo’s side and shell while his eyes remained on Leonardo’s face – or what was left of it to see from hiding. Leonardo looked peaceful and comfortable as he slept so Raphael took that as a good sign. Leonardo had been able to rest in the end. Closing his eyes Raphael first thought of trying to get up and leave without waking Leonardo up, but then he remembered Margaret’s words to her girls. Today was going to be cleaning day. Shivering Raphael closed his eyes tightly, shaking his head. No. He wouldn’t get out of this bed until Leo woke up. Otherwise Margaret, most definitely, would think some cleaning tasks for him too – and Raphael wouldn’t have none of that. He hated cleaning. On top of that big turtle knew Margaret wouldn’t come in Leonardo’s room to get him either so he was safe here. Taking this chance Raphael relaxed sighing deeply. He could use some more rest too so he ended up laying there who knows how long, snoozing at timed, before Leonardo finally woke up. ** At the breakfast table girls eyed their master who looked much better this morning. He had smiled at them while wishing good morning. Even now, while eating, he seemed to be in better state. “So, Margaret, have you told them about our little plan?” Eyeing Leonardo suspiciously Raphael took a bite of his bread. He didn’t like the sound of that… “Not yet, master. I thought you might would like to do the honors.” “If you insist.” Leonardo smiled while wiping his mouth on a tissue. “Listen up, ladies. From today forward we are going to keep cleaning the house from top to bottom.” “Why?” “Because we are going to host a special weekend.” Girls looked at each other, their eyes suddenly beaming. It scared Raphael since he seemed to be the only one who hadn’t any idea what was happening. Noticing Raphael’s expression Leonardo turned to look at his companion. “Let me explain it to you, Raphael. We have arranged a ballroom weekend once or twice a year for few years now, depending how we have been able to arrange it. We normally would keep them at the autumn but I thought this would be good training and a test for you as well. I want to see how you can handle parties and big social situations.” Raphael was sweating, eyes wide as he stared in calm blue orbs. “I know you are nervous, even scared, but we all are there with you. I would never throw you in a full ballroom full of quests and leave you there alone.” Leonardo kept smiling as he placed his hand on Raphael’s. “Besides, this will give me something else to think and focus on, too.” Girls looked confused but Raphael instantly realized what Leonardo was saying. He wanted to distract his mind from the trauma. Swallowing Raphael nodded few times while turning his head away, staring at the food on his plate. “Yeah. I get it.” Looking back up at Leonardo, Raphael continued; “Tell me what I need ta do and I will.” Leonardo looked to be extremely pleased. “Thank you. Your help will be needed.” Now focusing on everyone else in the room Leonardo raised his voice a bit so that everyone could hear him loud and clear. “After we are finished here, Margaret, I will leave girls in your care to clean. Raphael and I will head to the city to get some supplies already for the weekend. We need to do many trips there if we want to feed hundreds of visitors.” H-hundreds?! Raphael was sweating again, keeping his eyes nervously on the food. He was so done for…! ** Next few days of the week Raphael was jumpy, nervous and just alone either in his room or library if he wasn’t forced to go to the city with Leonardo, Margaret or one of the girls to get supplies and food. He hadn’t even go to see the ballroom which girls had cleaned and decorated already. A knock on the door made Raphael lift his gaze from the book which he was slowly reading. His reading skills still needed lots of practice. Leonardo peeked inside, smile spreading on his face as he came further in, eyeing the book. “Well, well. What do we have here?” Sitting next to other turtle Leonardo kept smiling, Raphael hiding the book away. “Nothing.” Leonardo chuckled since he knew Raphael was embarrassed about the book. After all it was kids book to those who were learning to read. Eyeing lighter green turtle a moment with blush on his cheeks, Raphael snorted softly. “What ya want?” “I came to ask would you come with me, Margaret and the girls to the city? We are heading to get new dresses to the ladies for the weekend. You, as well as I, need suits too.” Raphael trembled as he felt shivers going all over his body. He was not waiting the weekend – and he definitely didn’t want to wear a suit. “Not now. I rather stay here and read.” “Okay. But just so you know, I won’t let you be at the dance without a suit so we go to the city to get you one tomorrow.” Raphael moaned loud, on purpose, rolling his eyes as Leonardo stood, giving him a smile. Leonardo stopped at the door as he took last look of slightly grumpy looking turtle, grinning at him. “And you need to learn to dance before the weekend too so – be prepared.” In his horror Raphael was almost choking on his saliva as his wide eyes stared after Leonardo who made his quick escape. ** Watching through his window Raphael watched how Leonardo escorted Margaret and girls in other and more bigger carriage before going in himself. Horses started to walk slowly after the command, taking everyone in the carriage with them. Sitting on his bed Raphael re-opened the book, sinking deep in his mind while reading it. At some point he faintly heard doorbell ringing, but since Raphael assumed he’s the only one at home – and deep in his mind he was afraid of catchers coming there and finding him – he remained in his room. ** Hearing the doorbell ring again made Lucy rush to the door, opening it. Behind the door stood a young man who instantly gave Lucy chills. “Yes?” “Forgive me for appearing like this, but I was wondering would a young lady let me in? I need to use a phone.” Lucy leaned slightly more against the door, keeping her eyes locked with the man’s. “I’m sorry but we don’t own a phone. Have you asked from the neighbors?” “I have and they didn’t have a phone either, but they said you have one. They have used it in the past.” “I’m sorry, but we don’t have it anymore. It broke long time ago and Master hasn’t got us new one.” Man clearly growed impatient since he grabbed the door, starting to force his way in. “Stop lying to me, Lucy! Just let me in and we can have some fun! You’ve no idea how long I’ve been spying on you, looking at you from the distance when you’ve been outside, or seeing you even through the window. I know you’re all alone here now.” With all her strength Lucy pushed the door back screaming. However she was thin woman, lacking all the needed muscle. She heard man’s nasty and dirty laughing near her head as a hand was coming to grope her. She screamed again as loud as possible, panic filling her soul, but the door flung wide open making her lose her balance. As Lucy was falling backward, strong arm caught her from behind, another massive arm flying past her right on the guy’s face. Staring in shock Lucy found herself staring Raphael’s side profile at her left, still feeling his firm hold around her as she was helped to stand on her feet better. The man was squirming on the floor holding his broken nose while Raphael snorted, releasing Lucy from his hold. Not bothering to even look at the young woman once, big turtle made his way to the man, lifting him up from the chest, throwing him out on the yard. A sight of big muscular turtle coming down the stairs towards him freaked the man out, making him get up on his feet as quick as possible, but Raphael managed to grab on his shirt which ripped partly as he tossed the guy in another direction. “S-stay away from me, you f-freak!” “Freak?!” Raphael snarled as he stomped towards the man with hurried steps. “Ya call me a freak when ya ain’t any better or some fucking Saint! Forcing yourself in a woman’s house, attempting ta rape her!” “I-I wasn’t going to ---!” “Oh hell yes, ya were going ta!” Raphael swung his arm at the man who managed to dodge it, rolling away before getting back on his feet, starting to run away as fast as he could. Standing still Raphael never removed his eyes from their target as he picked up a big rock, rolling it a bit against his palm with his fingers, before tossing it as hard as he could. Lucy gasped in awe as she followed the rock. How fast and smooth it flied through the air, hitting the guy right at the rear. Man jumped with painful and loud yelp, Raphael’s voice covering it almost immediately. “Make sure ya stay away from her and this place! If I ever see ya again I make ya regret it!” When the man was finally gone Raphael sighed, dropping down his tense shoulders. Damn, he would had wanted to beat the guy more, but since he knew Lucy was watching… Poor girl didn’t need to see any of that. Turning around Raphael started to make his way back inside, Lucy standing at the door way hands on her chest. “Ya okay?” Turtle’s voice was soft and honestly caring, real concern in his yellow eyes. “Y-yes. I’m fine. Just little bit… shocked.” “Like any woman would be. Come on, I make ya hot chocolate.” Turning Lucy around Raphael escorted her inside, closing the door behind them as he continued. “Tho I can’t promise it will be as good as Margaret’s.” Lucy’s little chuckle made turtle smile. “I bet it’s good.” And it was good! Raphael had a secret talent most definitely and it was making hot chocolate. Lucy’s smile while she licked her lips after every sip warmed turtle’s heart as he leaned on the table with his elbows while sitting next to her. “I think I will tell Margaret about this. You would then officially become our hot chocolate maker.” Raphael snorted with small laugh. “Ya think she would step down and let me take her place?” “I’m positive. She loves you the same way as she loves all of us.” Such words, and a thought of being loved, made Raphael smile as he kept his eyes on his crossed fingers. He liked this feeling. “… Thank you.” “Huh?” “For saving me. I just realized I didn’t thank you before.” “No need ta. I do what I can ta protect ya all.” Lucy smiled at the turtle, carefully petting his hand. “I’m so happy you were home. But why? I thought you went to the city with everyone else.” “Njah. Shopping ain’t my thing.” Raphael clearly shivered which made Lucy giggle. “Mine neither. That’s why I’m home.” Eyeing a woman next to him Raphael decided to ask. “Why? Ya are a woman after all. Don’t all women like shopping?” Lucy laughed gently. “Oh no, no! That’s just some weird thing what people have start to believe in.” Silence landed in the kitchen as a mutant and a human sat there side by side. “You know… I’m not sure why I’m telling you this, but I used to be quite the rebel when I was younger.” Raphael grinned, eyeing Lucy playfully. “Ya? Rebel? It’s hard ta believe when I look at ya now.” Lucy smiled slightly, holding warm mug between her hands. “It was before I ended up here and met master Leonardo.” “He saved ya too?” “Kind of. Now, I want you to know I wasn’t using alcohol, drugs or smoke. I didn’t end up in troubles with the law either. My parents, who adopted me, were nice but I was angry that they really weren’t my real parents. I took all my anger on them by disobeying them in all possible ways. I ran away from home, I broke stuff at home if I was there, I locked myself in my room and so on. I also said nasty things which I’m not proud of.” Raphael was silent since he wasn’t sure what to say. After all he never hadn’t had any parents so he didn’t know how family life really was. Only with Leonardo and the girls he had started to get some hints of it. “Haven’t we all done or said something what we regret. How ya ended here tho?” Lucy smiled at the turtle beside her, sighing softly. “It was rainy evening. Cold one too. I was standing behind the gate, looking at this mansion. I saw the warmth from fire and lights coming through the windows. I wanted to go home, but at the same time I didn’t. And… For a some reason I just couldn’t let go of the gate’s bars. I felt like I would collapse if I did. So I just stood there head down. Suddenly rain stopped and I looked up, just to come face to face with Master.” “Did ya freak out? After all he ain’t human.” “Amazingly I didn’t. First thing about him, what I noticed, were his beautiful and vivid blue eyes. They were full of kindness and warmth. The same warmth what I saw behind the windows. He was holding umbrella above us, smiling at me. He asked was I okay and would I like to come in. I couldn’t get a word out of my mouth so I only nodded. He took me in and, well, that’s why I’m still here.” She smiled as she said the last sentence. Raphael returned the smile, nodding. “Ya ended up in the best place possible for sure. But what about your parents? Do they know ya are here?” “I… Sent them a letter after I told Master everything months later. I just told them I’m okay and that I have found a master who I’m happy to serve. That he also takes good care of me. I also apologized everything what I ever did or said to them.” “Did ya ever got any reply?” “No. I didn’t give them any address. I want to stay here without them knowing.” “Ya scared they would come ta get ya back?” “That’s one option. One is that they don’t know that Master Leonardo is a mutant. While my parents are nice and all, they are still more or less suspicious about mutants.” Raphael nodded in silence. If that was the case then Lucy had done the right choice not to tell her parents. Lucy finished her chocolate in silence before standing up, thanking Raphael yet again. She watched how Raphael took her mug, going to wash it. “Are you excited?” “About?” “The ball weekend?” Raphael stopped instantly, swallowed and got back on washing the mug. “No, I can’t say I am.” “Why?” “… Too much people… I’m not comfortable.” “Hey.” Lucy said as she came next to the turtle, taking the mug out of his hand since he was polishing it now instead of just washing it. “It will be alright. Sure there will be lots of people, but usually everyone wears masks and just dance and eat. Besides we all will be there too. Master, Margaret, myself and other girls too.” “Ya gonna dance?” “Sure if I just find a partner! You?” Raphael looked sour as he stared the sink. “No.” “You can’t dance?” “Hmm. And I don’t want ta be in a spotlight so ta say. Been there too many times in a wrong way.” Lucy knew Raphael meant cacthers and their “spotlights” in execution room. After all Lucy had read a lot about them in order to expand her knowledge about the catchers, what kind of damage they do, if they won’t kill, and how those damanges can be healed. Lucy was the nurse in the house in the end so all knowledge was welcome to her. “Say what; I will teach you to dance and you will dance with me at least once at the ball?” “What?!” The expression on Raphael’s face made Lucy giggle loud as she kept her sparking eyes on shocked turtle. “Come on, it will be fun! Besides it’s a good way to thank you for saving me.” “I-I told ya already there’s no need for ya ta keep thanking me.” “Master also would like it if he would see you dancing. Perhaps you even would get to dance with him.” There was knowing and teasing spark behind Lucy’s eyes which made Raphael blush. After all they all knew that Raphael was sleeping in the same room, and bed, with Leonardo. However, none of them didn’t know the real reason behind it. “No.” Raphael sighed finally. Lucy huffed without giving up. She grabbed on turtle’s hand, starting to pull him with her. However the turtle was much more taller and heavier than her so poor Lucy couldn’t make Raphael move even and inch. “Hhnngg, come on! Don’t be so stubborn!” Raphael wasn’t stubborn, he was greatly amused as he watched this poor woman trying to make him move. After teasing her few minutes Raphael decided to give in since he saw the look on Lucy’s face – she wasn’t going to give up and back away. She had decided to teach Raphael to dance and that’s what she was going to do. ** In the ballroom Raphael swallowed hard, his eyes wide as he scanned the room. It was huge! Trembling he stood still, his mind imagining the said room full of strangers already. “Don’t let your mind go there yet even that this is your first time in here.” Lucy said as if she had read turtle’s mind. “As you can see this is completely empty.” Stepping deeper in Lucy turned her smile towards Raphael. “What do you think? It’s very pretty room, isn’t it? We all have been cleaning it like mad.” “It… shows. It’s shining all around.” “Like it should be!” She screamed in joy, escorting Raphael right in the middle of the room. “Wait here.” She said before leaving Raphael alone in the middle of the room. Soon music started to play. Waltz. That much Raphael knew about musics. Coming back with a smile Lucy stopped in front of big turtle. “You know how to dance waltz?” “No.” “Perfect. I teach you. Now, come closer.” Raphael gave suspicious glare at the small woman, refusing to move. Patiently waiting almost a minute Lucy huffed with a pout, grabbing on Raphael’s hand while tying to pull him, lowering her voice. “I said come closer!” Raphael couldn’t help but to laugh at her efforts of trying to make him move once again. But most of all he laughed at her voice since it sounded hilarious to Raphael. He had never heard Lucy lowering her voice. It was amusing. “Fine. If you won’t come closer, I will.” Stepping right in front of Raphael turned big turtle silent, small blush covering his surprised expression. Taking a hold on Raphael’s hand Lucy held it, escorting Raphael’s other hand on her lower back. “Now, pull me closer.” “Aren’t ya close enough?” “I said closer.” Raphael rolled his eyes with a smile, pulling her just slightly closer. No, that wouldn’t do! Lucy took firm step, pressing herself right against Raphael, making big turtle gasp and blush like never before. “T-too close! Too close!” “Nonsense! You need to be close to your partner when dancing.” Raphael swallowed as he eyed the woman, her back feeling so warm against Raphael’s palm through her clothes, her other hand being so small and fragile in his other hand. “Okay, the rules are very simple. You hear the music, right? And the rhythm goes one, two, three, one, two, three. Got it? You lead, I follow.” “How the hell I will lead?!” “Okay, then I lead. But you got the hang of the moves, right?” “Umm… No. Ya didn’t show me any.” Blushing Lucy chuckled as she stepped free from Raphael’s gentle hold. “Oops, sorry, my bad. I’m so excited to teach you that I forgot.” Taking few more steps back she held her hands up in the air like if she was holding Raphael. “Okay, just follow my legs.” She said before starting to take steps in the music’s rhythm, constantly repeating ‘one, two, three’. “See? This is easy and simple. Even you can do it for sure.” “I wouldn’t say that. After all ya are… slim and light woman while I’m big, heavy and clumsy mutant turtle. I have not been created for dancing.” “First of all; Thank you for the compliments. Second; You are not clumsy. Third; You can’t know that because you have never danced before. So let’s give it a go now, shall we?” Lucy, once more, came right in front of Raphael, escorting him with the right hold. “Listen to the music, surrender to it. Let it guide you. Or think something nice.” “Something nice?” “Hm-mh.” With deep inhale Raphael turned his hold a bit more firm on Lucy’s lower back, his right foot moving forward, Lucy following his lead. At first it was difficult since Raphael’s eyes were going down all the time to watch his feet. He was scared he would crush poor woman’s toes if he stepped on them. Lucy, in the other hand, had to keep reminding Raphael to keep his eyes straight, not down. “You are doing great, Raphael.” Lucy’s whisper made Raphael smile. He felt quite happy and proud of himself after getting better and more confident with the steps. Turning his gaze on her eyes he saw how happy and proud Lucy was. Her eyes – they were shining. “Who are you thinking of?” “What makes ya think I’m thinking someone?” Lucy smirked playfully. “Leonardo.” Raphael’s face instantly turned red, his eyes focusing forward. Yeah, he had started to think about Leonardo. All the good things what he had done to other turtle to help him. Leonardo made him happy, gave his self-esteem a boost, everything. Leonardo was amazing person and personality. Lucy wanted to ask would Raphael dance with Leonardo at the ball – like she had suggested earlier in the kitchen – but decided to keep her mouth shut. She didn’t want to shake or embarrass other turtle, even scaring him away. Not now when he was doing so well with dancing. So she stayed quiet, allowing Raphael to guide her through yet another waltz. ** Watching Lucy dance with Raphael between the cap of the ballroom doors made Leonardo smile. This was definitely something he hadn’t thought or even hoped for – not this quick at least. He had assumed Raphael to be more rebelious about learning to dance. Smiling he withdrew back outside to help Margaret and other girls to unload the carriage which was full of different dresses because girls hadn’t been able to choose just one.