Raph's Girl (a teenage muntant ninja story) (version idea #1)

Part 1: Earning My Forgivness.... With A First Date?

I glanced at Leo as we returned to the lair. ever since we left for patrol, no one had even looked at each other... I didn't blame them... or at least I don't any more.... I shook my head and I wondered what Tess was up to...

I shook my head. 'How am I gonna rebuild this burned bridge?' I thought. I sighed at the thought.

"Raphael!" I heard Master Splinter call "please come in here"

I groaned but went in anyway "yes Sensei?"

"Come my son.... Sit" he said. I sat on my knees looking down. "What is the matter my son?"

"Nothing Sensei" I said rather quickly. I winced.

I glanced up to see him stroking his beard. "So there is nothing bothering you?" He questioned

"No... Ah nope" I said "nothin at all. so can I...uh.... leave now?"

"no" he said "you may not. Tessa told me"

I felt my eyes widen "told you what Sensei?"

"How you all accused her of betraying us to Shredder" he spoke and I winced.

"But Sensei I can explain!---" I protested

"Silence my son!" He huffed " I do not want your explanations. I want you to fix what happened between you and Tessa."

I looked down "Do you really mean that?" I asked quietly "do you think I even have a chance now? After what I did?"

He sighed "look at me, my son" I slowly looked up at him. "Tessa is hurt. But she cares for you my son, I know that she will not run away or stop caring for you because you simply made a mistake. She will give you another chance but you must persuade her to do so..."

"But how?!" I asked desperately

"There is a way." He smiled "it's the way I won over my beloved Teng-Shen"

"how's that?" I asked nervously

"ask her on a date." he said calmly "you know what she likes don't you...?"

I grimanced "no... Not really...."

Master Splinter groaned softly. "oh, my son, you still have a lot to learn don't you?"

I nodded. "It's just...." I sighed "I'm not... Well.... Romantic, per say and I don't know what to do to show Tessa that I'm sorry...." I looked down.

"My son..." I heard him sigh before I felt a hand on my shoulders "what is it about Tessa that you love so much? What is it about her, Raphael, that you could not live with out?"

I sucked in a breath " her smile," I said closing my eyes "and her eyes, they draw you in, and-and they sparkle with mischief.... I love how she always surprises me... Or-or when she never lets a dull moment enter my life....." I gulped sucking down another breath "I love how she makes me fall in love with her, even more than the day before.... I just...." I shrugged my shoulders "I just love her....."

I looked up to find him smiling at me. "then why don't you tell her that?" he said softly. I looked down. 'because I don't want to seem weak...' I thought shamefully, clenching my fists.

Master Splinter let out a breath of air. "you know, my son... you are very different from your brothers...." he stroked his beard "oh yes... you are.... you see, you deal with the worlds problems in a different way than that of your brothers, and sometimes they do not see what you see. you bare the weight of the worlds problems on your shoulders, now while that is admiral, it is also very tiring. you do not want to let anyone close because you don't want to see them get hurt trying to protect you, my son.... is that not so?"