Family is Forever

Worth the Wait?

{A/N: Photo above is just one of my favorite pics of Donnie}

Aria's POV:

Ever since our encounter with the Foot, Donnie's been acting a little weird. He's been less talkative when we hang out. Nowadays, he gets this spaced out expression that's actually...

Me: " Kinda cute."

Wait, did I just say that out loud? I quickly look around to see if anyone heard me. Thankfully, no one is around except Donnie, but he's in his lab, just a few feet away from me at the entrance of said lab. Anyway, in spite of Donnie's change in attitude, and a very emphatic push in this direction from April, I've decided that today's the day I'll tell Donnie the truth about the feelings I've been harboring for quite a while.

I've been rehearsing what I'm about to say, pumping myself up for whatever's headed my way, and receiving nothing but positive feedback from the others, including Splinter's blessing to enter a relationship of this type. So then, why am I frozen in place? Has the lair always been so warm? Maybe he's busy right now? Oh well, what's a few more hours? Just as I go to turn & walk away, I find Leo directly behind me with a warm smile of reassurance.

Leo: "Y'know, it's been proven that the more nervous you are about something, the more right it is for you to go through with it. C'mon, what's the worst that could happen?"

I roll my eyes with a smirk, my nerves increasing with every worst case scenario I can think of.

Me: "Hmm, let's see. He could reject me, our relationship could be ruined, or ended altogether, he could tell me that now isn't the right time for him, he could..."

Before I can continue, he gently grabs me by my forearms, makes a motion with his hands, signaling for me to meet his eyes.  He has me take two deep breaths with him simultaneously and provides me with opposing sides to each of my scenarios.

Leo: "Ok. A, and I say this with absolute certainty, he could never reject you even if his life depended on it.  Nothing could end the relationship you two already have, & now is the perfect time for both of you. B, for all you know, he could be working up the nerve to do what you're about to as we speak. He might even have the exact same reservations as you."

Somehow I doubt that, but the pep talk is a nice gesture, and it's helping me out a great deal.

Me: "Y'know, as obnoxiously full of yourself as you are, deep down you're a real sweetheart. Thanks Leo, I needed this. Wish me luck!"

His smile grows as he gives me a brotherly hug and whispers something in my ear.

Leo: "Good luck, sis. Not that you're gonna need it. Remember, we're all rooting for you."

As Leo walks off to who knows where, I turn back to face Donnie, only to find him staring back at me with a warm smile.

Donnie: "Hey Aria, what do you need?"

Here goes nothing.

Me: *takes a deep breath* "Donnie there's something I need to tell you. But I have to ask you something first. Everyone else calls me 'sis', 'Ria', or 'Ari'. You always use my full name or nicknames like 'fair maiden' or 'my dear'. Why is that?"

Now he's the one with a nervous look. We have a 5-second long moment of silence before he answers me, in a way I was not expecting.

Donnie: "Well, the truth is, I like you Aria. In a romantic way.  I have for the last 1 year, 6 months, and 38 seconds. I never told you because I didn't want anything to mess up our friendship. Also, as you well know, Leo & I often argue over which of us is the 'better' twin. So, I thought that you'd prefer him over me. Plus, I'm not always the most sympathetic person, or turtle for that matter. You need someone with those qualities, especially with what you go through every day. Even more so, since you've just been reunited with members of a clan who took you away from your family."

I can feel this confession heading into dangerous territory. So, I do what I do best, and interject with one of my signature pep talks, but with a twist. I place my forefinger and thumb beneath his chin to nudge his gaze to match mine.

Me: "Donnie, nothing in this world or any other could destroy my relationship with you, because I like you too. In the same way you like me. And another thing, you should never think of yourself as being 'less than' any of your brothers. You are your own person, or turtle. You're also the smartest, sweetest, kindest, generous, most sympathetic person I've ever met. Finally, you guys are my family. To be honest, over the years I've had trouble remembering my life before I met you guys. All I remember clearly is the day I met you. Furthermore, since that day, I can't imagine a world where you're not part of my life, and I don't want to imagine or live in that world."

In all my years of knowing Donnie, I've never seen his smile as big and bright as it is now. My smile grows with his as I utter the words I've wanted to say from the moment he said that he felt the same as I did.

Me: "I love you, Donatello. For everything you are, for everything you've given me, and everything you've done for me. From now, until always."

His response to this, I can never forget. He pulls me into a kiss full of love, loyalty, gratitude, and all the happiness either of us could give one another, which I gratefully return.

Donnie: "Always, huh? I like the sound of that. So, Ria, would you do me the profound honor of being my girlfriend?"

My smile turns to a lovesick grin as I reply to his most gracious offer.

Me: "Donnie, it'd be my genuine pleasure."

Before we can fully lean into each other for another kiss, we hear an eruption of cheers from the entrance to the lab. We simultaneously roll our eyes as we turn to see the guys, Splinter, and April giving us wide 'Cheshire Cat' grins.

Mikey: "Do we even need to ask?"

I give them one last eye roll before I turn to Donnie for confirmation that I can give them our news. He gives me a grateful smile and nods as we both turn to our family with simultaneous responses, the only difference being our use of pronouns.

Donnie & I: "She/He said yes!!"

Their cheers get louder & more plentiful as the seven of us walk to the living room, my boyfriend and I ready for them to bombard us with questions, comments, & Leo's sly remarks. The whole time, I stay cuddled into Donnie's plastron as he sits behind me on the couch.  In my mind, I have a very strong feeling that we were both thinking the exact same thing.

Donnie & I: "Totally worth the wait!"