Time and Space

Longing

(Raphael's p.o.v.)
I missed her so much and I didn't know what to do. I never liked sharing my feelings with my brothers or anyone else, but I couldn't escape this cloud of depression. I stayed in my room as much as possible to avoid my brothers and everyone else. All I wanted was Mona Lisa back. She was the only one I was actually comfortable telling my feelings to (other than Spike and Chompy). Of course, my brothers worried about me, and I appreciate that, but I just want to be left alone. Being separated from the one you love is the most painful thing you will ever go through. Trust me. I wondered how she was doing. Was she thinking about me too? Did she even miss me? She has to be. I read somewhere that if you constantly think about someone nonstop, there's a good chance that they're thinking about you too. I missed her more and more every day. I felt her in my arms, I saw her in my dreams. Sometimes I would catch myself calling her name, only to remember that she wasn't there. I would cry myself to sleep every night, hoping that I would suddenly feel her arms around me, comforting me. I hated the way I acted, but I couldn't control it. I just hoped that Mona wasn't going through the same thing.

              Five years later

         Well, it's our birthday and you could say that we acted like any 26 year olds would act on their birthday. April and Casey bought us alcohol and we all drank as much as we could handle without getting drunk, except Mikey. We had to give him sleeping medicine because he was so drunk and couldn't calm down. Donnie had proposed to April a year ago and the wedding is in a few months. Casey met a nice female hockey player. Renet decided to stay in our time so she could be with Mikey. Leo and Karai hit it off. And then there's me, still keeping my promise. There was a fox named Alopex that came along and helped us fight Tiger claw. She tried to seduce me. It didn't work. My heart belonged to only one woman and I will never break my promise to her. I decided to go for a walk. Maybe that would clear my head. I was walking along the docs and I sighed. This is where we went on our date. We made love for the first time. I sighed again and continued walking. I kept my eyes down at the ground and kicked the pebbles and dirt as I walked. I payed no attention to where I was walking. Then, all of a sudden, I fell to the ground and got angry. "Hey! Watch where you're-" I started to say but got cut off by the realization of who I bumped into. My heart dropped and my mouth became dry. "M-Mona?" I stuttered. She rubbed her head and looked up at me with innocent eyes. She had aged beautifully. She didn't say anything, but she kept her mouth open in shock and her eyes wide, starting to water up. She flung her arms around me and began to sob. She pulled away and looked me in the eyes and smiled wide. "How I have missed you Raphael." She said. Her voice had hardly changed since the last time I heard it.

(Mona Lisa's p.o.v.)
     He had changed so much, yet he was exactly the same. Still handsome, still warm hearted, still caring, still protective, still absolutely irresistible. We hardly spoke, just held each other. But that said a thousand words. It was as though we picked up exactly where we left off. We held hands and walked down the docs together. He was now taller than me and I felt so small compared to his huge muscles. I was hoping he wouldn't notice but then my heart sunk as he suddenly realized, "are you pregnant?!" I really didn't want to tell him but I had no other option. "Yes." I sighed. "I thought we promised!" He said. "You think I cheated on you?!" I replied. "Well how else did you get pregnant?!" He shouted. "Look, it's not like that! I... I had to do it!" I said, unable to explain myself. "What do you mean you had to do it?!" He said getting angrier by the second. "Look, I'm the last female salamandrian and I had to repopulate my planet! I... I didn't want to... but it was an order and... I couldn't disobey the king." I said getting emotional. "You expect me to believe that? I've been saving myself for you and keeping my promise to not love anyone else! Did you just come to Earth to tell me that you cheated on me?" He said. "No! I had to come because... the Newtralizer... I really don't want to but..." I couldn't explain myself. Raphael didn't say a word. "Look, My mission was to carry and deliver every Salamandrian's child until Salamandria was populated again... and... unfortunately... that means EVERY salamandrian." I struggled to say. Raphael put his hand on my shoulder. "But I thought your planet hated him. Why would they want his children?" He said softly. "I don't know, but it was an order." I said. "So, how does it work? Do they inject something into you or do you have to... you know..." he started to say. I read his mind. "Unfortunately, there is no other way. But I promise you that it means nothing and most of them feel bad that I am forced into doing it." I said. "So... are you carrying the newtralizer's baby now?" He asked. "No. I am carrying one of my trainer's child right now. I am due any day. That's why I am here. So I can give birth and then find the newtralizer." I said looking at the ground. "And maybe someday... I'll carry your children." I said looking up at him. He smiled. "I can't wait." He said placing his hand in mine.