A few weeks pass where Michelangelo tries to move on with his life, but whenever he stops to think, all he wants is to go and check on Annalise. He misses her more than anything, but he forces himself to stay back. She has to get back into the swing of things at school and get used to therapy.

By the time day nineteen without Annalise comes around, he's had enough. He vows to go and visit her one more time before he leaves her alone for good. That's all he needs.

But, fate has different plans, and on Saturday evening he gets a text from Annalise asking him to come over. He runs from the lair as fast as he can and doesn't stop until he reaches her place. When he finally lands on her fire escape, his heart is pounding and he's a sweaty mess.

He knocks on her window and waits. The curtains open and Annalise appears. Her face lights up just at the sight of him, making his heart feel like it may explode, and she pushes the window open.

"Mikey, hey!" she greets, leaning onto the windowsill.

He smiles. "Heya, Lisey. How goes school?"

She sighs. "It's school. Not much to say."

"That's good, really good," he says, rubbing the back of his neck. "Glad you're getting back in the rhythm of things."

She nods in agreement and they lapse into silence. She looks better, he notices. Her hair is all washed up, she's got less acne than before, and despite the dark circles under her eyes she just seems to be a little brighter.

"So...uh, it's weird, not having my channel anymore," she says, tapping her fingers on her arm. "You know, I still end up doing running commentary while I'm playing video games even though I'm not on camera," she admits, tousling her thin hair as if that will give it volume. "I'm really weird, aren't I?"

"I love that about you," he blurts. She blinks a few times, cheeks turning pink, and he pedals his hands in a circle. "Um, I...I mean, it's...it's not that weird! It's cute!"

She covers her mouth with her hand as she giggles. "Oh, thanks," she murmurs. She bites her bottom lip, averting her eyes from him. "I...really missed you, Mikey."

He bows his head. "I missed you too. Missed you so much it hurt," he says as he sits down on the beanbag chair that Annalise sometimes leaves on the fire escape. He gives her a hopeful look, resting his head on his hand. "Is...that why you wanted me to come over?"

She nods, blushing right to her ears. "Yeah..." She chews her lip again. "I didn't expect it, really, but...I just don't want to stay away from you." His eyes widen and she adds, sputtering, "N-Not that I was gonna, I just know I needed time and—" She covers her face. "I'm sorry, that's so stupid. I mean—"

"I'm in love with you," he says.

She goes utterly still, then her hands fall from her face, revealing her shocked expression. Any honking cars or passing pigeons seem to have frozen and Michelangelo feels like he, too, is stuck. He didn't mean to say it out loud, at least, not yet. He was just thinking it as he watched her talk and it came out. What kind of lovestruck idiot—

"You...what?" she repeats.

He breathes a little too fast as he stands up, but admits it again. It's out now, there's no going back. "I...I l-love you, Annalise."

She stares at her hands, silent, and he feels his world crumbling. This is it. She's going to smack him with the friend-zone, or worse, the brother-zone. He braces himself as she climbs out of her window and looks up at him.

He feels her hands caress his face and his eyes flutter open, meeting hers as they get nearer, and she presses her lips to his. His mind goes haywire, like the last time he thought eating coffee beans on a pizza was a good idea. He shuts his eyes, leaning into it a little although he's unsure of what exactly to do, and she pulls away.

They stare at each other, shared breaths in the space between them, and her hand trails to his shoulder. "I...think that I'm in love with you too," she whispers.

He blinks a few times before his face breaks into a giant grin and he scoops her into a hug, lifting her off the ground and spinning a few times as they laugh.

"So you don't want me gone?" he asks.

"No, never," she says, hugging his neck as he sets her back down.

He gasps. "Does this mean I can be your boyfriend?"

She almost can't contain the squeal of excitement welling up in her as she grins. "Only if I get to be your girlfriend," she answers.

He laughs and hugs her as tight as he can.

They spend the rest of the evening playing video games, eating too many snacks, and enjoying each other's company. It's the first day of the rest of their relationship.

----------

Raphael hates the sight of his t-phone.

He sent Taylor a message a few hours ago, apologizing for the wait and telling her that he's okay. She hasn't shown any sign of responding or even reading the message in the first place. It's driving him nuts.

"I'm an idiot," he mutters, running one hand over his head.

His t-phone buzzes and he makes a dive for it across the living room, scattering Michelangelo's Crognard VHS tapes. He gazes at the text message as he lays on his stomach, panting a little with nerves.

T: Hey, Raph...can we talk sometime? About us?

His fingers hover over the screen as he glances around the lair. Leonardo won't like it. Donatello will be on the fence about it. Michelangelo will accept it. Who knows what the others may think? Against all that, Raphael knows what he wants and he's tired of ignoring it. He wants to be happy too.

R: ...Yeah. I think we can.

----------

"Most probable
That so she died, for her physician tells me
She hath pursued conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed
And bear her women from the monument.
She shall be buried by her Antony.
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them, and their story is
No less in pity than his glory which
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
In solemn show attend this funeral,
And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity."

Destiny smiles a little as she closes Shakespeare's "Antony and Cleopatra". Leonardo takes a deep breath, looking up at her from where he lays on the couch at her side.

"So, that's it? Cleo kills herself because she can't live without Antony?" He frowns a little. "That's tragic..."

Her tail wags a little. "But...did you like it?"

"I mean, yeah, it was great! I just can't imagine why you'd pick something like that for us to read together."

She turns the book over and runs her fingers over the cover. "I...was thinking of how Renet said that you and I were one of her favourite historical couples, next to these two," she admits. "I thought it'd be interesting to see what we're stacked against."

He hums for a second before rolling himself up into a sitting position, then turning around to face her. There's a slight blush on her cheeks as she reads the back of the book, foot tapping a little, wings quivering.

"But...we aren't a couple," he says slowly.

She nods. "Yeah, I know."

He gets a little closer to her. "I want to change that."

"Yeah, I—" She stops, her ears perking as she finally looks at him. There's a tiny smile on his face, hopeful, and her lips part. "Leo, what..."

"Don't feel pressured, okay?" he says. He sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. "It's just...I've spent the last while trying to think of where I'm going in life, and every time I imagine it, you're by my side."

"I will be by your side, no matter what," she says. "I don't..."

"I want to try again, with us," he continues. "Even if you're by my side anyway, I..." He exhales. "Okay, maybe it's selfish, but I want to know that you're mine and I want to be yours. I want to be able to hold you and kiss you whenever I want to. Because, after all this time, I'm..." He shuts his eyes, an amused puff of air leaving him. "I'm still in love with you."

She tucks some curls behind her human ear, her fingers starting to tap. "Leo, I...what if I'm..." She shakes her head, trying to collect her thoughts. "I want to be enough for you, but what if I'm not? I can't drag you down with me whenever I'm losing it, or...or..." She turns away from him, her wings forming a blockade between them. "I want to feel good enough."

He leans over and grasps her shoulder. "I want us to be good for each other, Des."

"Are you sure?" She glances back at him, ears tucked against her hair. "You still want..." She gestures to herself, forcing a tiny smile, and for a moment he imagines her as the girl he saw on that rooftop two years ago. "Me?"

"You and everything that makes you, you," he says.

She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. "I..." She nods to herself. "I want you too, Leo."

His heart soars and he brings himself closer as she turns completely around, the two of them looking at each other with new eyes.

His gaze darts to her mouth. "Could I...kiss you...? Without all the tension and fighting that usually comes before it?" he asks.

She laughs. "You're such a dork." He blushes and she closes the distance between them. "Yes," she breathes.

Their lips, and their hearts, connect.

----------

When Diaval gets home, Oscar is pitching hay in the barn. Diaval shuffles to the giant doors, the scent of manure, hay, dust, and mud making him feel right at home, and he knocks his knuckles against the wood. A few goats bleat at him.

Oscar looks up from his work, his dark blue eyes lighting up when he sees Diaval. "Hey! Kid! You're back!" he calls. He jabs his pitchfork into the hay pile and steps over one of his smaller goats, wiping his hands off on his overalls. "How was the trip? Destiny's good?"

"Great," Diaval says with a nod. "Good t'see her."

"She's really gotta come back some time. I miss that kiddo," Oscar muses. He digs a handkerchief from his pocket, pauses for a second as his face scrunches, then he sneezes into the cloth. "Oof, sorry," he says. "Dust gets to you, eh?"

Diaval nods again. One of the goats scampers over and he kneels to pet her horns, making Oscar smile. The farmer scratches at his blond stubble, eyeing the roof thoughtfully.

"Oh, almost forgot! Melanie came by," he says. Diaval perks up, now holding the goat in his lap while she chews his ponytail. "Said you were getting back today, wanted to be there for you."

"She still here?" Diaval asks. He tugs his hair away from the goat, so she chews his fingers instead.

"Might be. She said she'd be up at the tiny house." Oscar smirks a little. "If you wanna give me June-lily, there—" He takes the goat from Diaval, earning a bleat of surprise. "You should go check."

Diaval nods, thanks Oscar, and hurries for the tiny house. It's still perched in the fields, framed by the giant tree with the tire swing, and Diaval basks in the feeling of wide open space as he walks. New York is fine but here, here is paradise. Here he feels truly free.

When he reaches the house, he lets himself in. The second he gets inside, the scent of spice and tea wafts into his nose and he releases a sigh. As he shuffles in and kicks off his shoes, Melanie pokes her head out of the kitchen. It's not hard to do in such a small house.

"Diaval!"

She races over to him and he extends his arms, awaiting a hug. To this day, she's the only person that he's okay with getting a running hug from. Even so, she makes their embrace quick, and he appreciates that even more.

"I'm so happy you're back," she says, smoothing his cloak against his shoulders, then stopping when she notices his stiff posture. "Sorry." He smiles a little and she returns it. "I made tea. I was gonna drink it myself but now that you're here, we can make it elevenses! I brought cookies..."

Diaval follows her into the kitchen, trying to help without getting in her way, content to listen to her ramble about her day while she plates their teacups and snacks.

"Diaval? Are you okay?" she asks. "You're more spaced out than usual."

His cheeks darken a little. "Just...happy t'be home." He adds after a second, "With you."

She laughs, her cheeks rosy, and he realizes as he carries the plate of cookies into the living room that if he were ever lucky enough to come home to Melanie every single day, he would never ask for another thing in his life.

----------

Master Splinter meditates in the dojo, listening to his family while they play a game of Mazes and Mutants in the living room. He chuckles to himself at their boisterous noise before he centres himself again.

Nothing ominous comes his way. For so long, his meditations brought him certain vibes, feelings of unease, the sense that something was coming that he could not prevent. Now, he feels peace. Perhaps his family has finally reached a point where they do not have to fight. Perhaps they can begin to think of their future.

He opens his eyes and lets out a soft breath before he gets to his feet. He takes hold of his loyal emerald staff and glides over to his shelf of belongings, taking down the portrait of himself, Shen, and baby Miwa. His ears flatten a little.

"My family will not be complete until I know where you have gone, Miwa," he whispers. The last time he saw Karai was after the death of Shredder. "Wherever you are, be safe."

He sets the photo back down and leaves the dojo, taking in the game going on outside. They're all playing in their LARP costumes. Sarina has made herself an outfit that involves horns and an extravagant hat with a feather in it. She holds a guitar made of pizza boxes and string.

"The gatekeeper won't let us in!" Leonardo cries. "We need charm."

Sarina gasps. "Oo! I'm perfect for that!" she says. She grabs the dice. "Trust in your Tiefling bard, my friends! I sweet talk the gatekeeper."

They let out a rousing cheer when she succeeds on the roll.

Splinter leans on his staff, smiling. Peace has finally come to them and if he's being honest, he almost gave up on the idea. With no enemies on the horizon and his sons maturing in more ways than one, growing up before his eyes, he feels a sense of contentment wash over him.

"They will be just fine," he murmurs.

End of Book Five