Song: Vapor - 5 Seconds of Summer

*Before you read this, I would really appreciate it if you went back and voted on all the chapters that you might have missed.  It really inspires me to write more of you do that. Thank you, you guys rock! <3

I sit in a chair in Donatello's lab. Beside me, Elizabetta is spread out on a table. She has a bunch of scientific stuff clinging to her body. She also has a weird-looking helmet on her head with wires jutting out of it. She stares up at the ceiling, as if trying to rid herself of any emotional thoughts. It isn't working, however, because her eyes are slowly flooding.

Karai is lying asleep on a table nearby with Master Splinter towering over her, but she isn't the object of worry. Donatello promised that she will heal quite nicely.

On the other side of the room, Elizabetta's mother is caged up. She just stands there as stiff as a board, completely at a loss for what to do. She has no orders to carry out, thankfully.

Ignoring the presence of our audience, I place my hand in Elizabetta's. I want to absorb the last few moments with her until she no longer recognizes my face.

"I only just found the guts to kiss you," I mutter, scanning the features of her face.

Elizabetta's green eyes flash with sorrow. "Life sucks that way," she replies quietly.

Staring into her eyes, I can see all of the memories that we share reflecting there. I slowly feel myself getting pulled away into another world, full of many confused and unsure emotions.

I remember when we met.

I step forward. "Sorry, we didn't formally introduce ourselves. I'm Leonardo. This is Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael." I point at each turtle in turn.

Elizabetta's panic changes to confusion. "You're not teenagers. There's no way. You're huge!" She pauses. "What's a mutant?"

I had struggled to hide my amusement. Something about her had caught my interest, and even then I knew it was going to lead somewhere big.

I remember the first time she desired revenge on the Shredder.

Elizabetta is fuming. "My mom and brother didn't deserve to die! I want revenge!" she insists as her eyes begin to tear up.

"And we will help you get just that," I promise. "But this isn't an attack mission. We are only going to scavenge the rubble for anything important that might have been missed. You can get revenge another time."

Raphael and Casey let out harmonies of disappointed "aw"s, while she stares into my eyes. I return the look steadily.

"I want to get revenge on whoever killed my family," she whispers determinedly.

"I will do everything I can to contribute," I promise softly without breaking eye contact.

I remember when I found that strange dagger, and it later turned out to be hers.

Elizabetta gasps at the silver blade in my hands. Her gaze darts up and down it in utter astonishment.

"Let me see the bottom of the handle," she says. I give her a curious look as I hand it to her.

She flips the dagger over and examines it. The look on her face is one of reminisce. The thought of her having a back story with it intrigues me.

In that moment, I realized I wanted to know everything I possibly could about her.

I remember when we had our first fight.

"Look, you don't want to help? Fine. I'll deal with Shredder myself," Elizabetta spits at me.

I feel my heart skip a beat in fear. "You'll get yourself killed!" I say as I pull myself out of my daze.

"Not if I train hard," Elizabetta retorts.

"I'm not going to train you anymore," I say with a firm shake of my head. "Especially knowing you're going to use your skills for the wrong thing."

She looks a bit set back, but she isn't going to give in that easily. "I don't need your help," she shoots back. "I'll teach myself."

"And how do you plan to do that?" I roll my eyes.

"I'll find a way!" Elizabetta turns her back on me and heads toward the spare room.

I remember when she saved my life.

The third 'bot I land on, however, catches on to my plan. It runs backwards into a wall and squashes me. I scream angrily as my weapons clatter to the floor. I try to force the enemy away with my feet, but it doesn't do any good. The pain pulsing through my arm wound takes the breath out of me. My lungs scream for oxygen, but I am trapped.

Just as I feel myself starting to get dizzy, the pressure the Footbot is applying disappeared. I fell to the ground, looking up into the eyes of Elizabetta. She has her dagger at her side as she bends down beside me.

"You alright?" she asks me. There is no mistaking the concern in her eyes.

I remember when she decided to leave New York.

I finally pull Elizabetta into a gentle hug. I feel her arms wrap around me; I am relieved that she is saying goodbye before she leaves.

It's strange having her head against my plastron. Coming into real contact with her makes my heart start pounding wildly, though I'm not sure why. I really hope she can't feel it...

She backs away from me and quickly wipes tears off her face for the hundredth time. She clears her throat and glances around at everyone in the room.

"Good-bye," she says, her voice cracking. As she turns to go, she takes my heart with her.

I didn't know I needed her around until she was already gone.

More recently, I remember her coming back.

Michelangelo grabs Elizabetta's hand and tugs her towards the kitchen. "C'mon! We have leftover pizza!"

   "No we don't, Mikey!" I call after them, slightly irritated that he's taking her away from the rest of us so soon. She just got back! "You ate the last slice, remember?" I remind him.

   "You don't know about my secret stash! I mean-" Michelangelo quickly tries to cover up his words- "I can just make something else!"

   As they head for the kitchen, I study Elizabetta. Something about her arrival has sent my mind spinning.  That's when I realize I like her. And I am jealous that Michelangelo gets to spend so much time with her.

   All those good and bad times; the memories that made us into what we are today. I remember it all, and she's just going to forget them?

   It isn't fair.

   Donatello speaks up, sending all of the memories spiraling away.  "Ready?" the purple-clad turtle asks us gently, as if he is speaking to little kids.

   I continue to look at Elizabetta. Her bright green eyes reflect the same amount of fear that I feel.

   Among her memories are the very things that we kept sacred together: the feeling of our fingers intertwined, the gentle brush of our bodies, the way that our lips connect like pieces of a puzzle. It will all be gone, like moonlight in the daytime.

   I don't want to let her go. I don't want her to forget me. I can't bear to look her in the eyes and know she doesn't have the faintest clue who I am.

   It definitely isn't fair.

   "This is just another one of life's challenges," Elizabetta reminds me, struggling to hide to pain in her voice.

   I look her straight in the eyes and say, "Game on."

   A tiny smile appears on her face.  "Game on," she whispers.

   After several long heartbeats, she tears her gaze away from mine.  "Ready," Elizabetta mumbles to Donatello.  That's when I know she's slipping away from me. And there is no way to get her back.

   I give her hand one last squeeze as Donatello switches the machine on. Elizabetta's eyes close as she is sucked into a deep sleep, never to recall me again.

   After several minutes of silence, Raphael's hand lands on my shoulder. "Like I said before, I'm no expert on this stuff. But I know now that she felt as strongly for you as you do for her. Maybe, just maybe, that'll happen again," he says.

   Though I can sense the uncomfortable twist in his speech, I am grateful for his effort. I smile weakly. "Thanks, Raph."

   Raphael gives me a grim smile and steps away.

   Master Splinter looks down at me with a wise look in his eyes.  "You have lost much, my son.  But you have also gained much.  Let this be a reminder to cherish everything you have, for you may not have it one day."

   I dip my head.  "Hai, sensei," I reply, grateful to have him speaking to us again.

   Michelangelo replaces him. "Don't worry, buddy. She's in a better place now," he says sympathetically, his eyes round with sadness.

   I look at him with a odd expression. "You do know she's not dead, right? Just unconscious," I remind him.

   Michelangelo's eyes flash with realization. "Oh, right. Oops." He awkwardly backs away.

   Donatello glances at Master Splinter, Raphael, Michelangelo, and April. "This might take a few hours, so I think we should leave Leo alone." The look in his eyes tells them not to argue, so they all head out of the room without question.

   "Make sure you get some sleep," Donatello adds, before he disappears as well.

   I settle down in my chair. I am determined to be the one that Elizabetta wakes up to, no matter what. I don't care how long it takes for Donatello's machine to work its magic. I'm not moving.

   I must have dozed off for a little while, because I jump awake when I hear a noise. Elizabetta is sitting up and looking around, a confused expression on her face.

   She catches my eye and she looks at me in shock. "Who are you?" she asks, though she doesn't sound afraid at all.

   I take in a sharp breath. I have to keep telling myself that it's for the good she's forgot me. However, that doesn't stop the tears from filling my eyes.

   I sit down beside her on the table. "No one important," I answer softly.  And it kills me to say that.

   She doesn't shy away from me like I thought she would. Instead, her bright green gaze stare into mine as she studies me.

   I lean closer towards her, expecting her to jerk away. But she doesn't. She just continues to watch me, as if I'm the most fascinating thing she's ever seen.  She's acting much different from when I first met her.

   Suddenly, I can't stop myself. I press my lips against hers. Half of me thinks she will pull away, but she doesn't. She leans into the kiss, intertwining her fingers with mine.

   I am the one who pulls back in surprise. She can't remember a thing, and yet she let me do that.

   She opens her eyes from the kiss also, looking a bit dazed. Her green eyes focus on me, and the next thing she says surprises me even more.

   "Leo?"

End of book one.