Just when Annalise thinks that it can't get weirder, it does.

She stands in the lair next to Michelangelo while the other mutants discuss plans in rapid, urgent tones. Destiny's tail and wings are stiff with concentration. Leonardo and Donatello point to different areas on a spreadsheet while Raphael and Sarina observe them, the turtle's arms crossed and the cyborg's hand resting on her chin as she taps it lightly with one lithe finger. Master Splinter looms over the table, ears perked, his staff nearly bumping Leonardo when he moves.

Annalise takes a deep breath and rests her hand on her forehead. She was in such a rush to leave her house this morning that she didn't eat breakfast. That was her first mistake. Her second was believing that her headaches wouldn't show up, that maybe she could avoid her need to eat for a little longer than usual.

"Hey, Annalise, you good?" Michelangelo asks, face crumpling as he frowns at her.

She inhales through her nose. "I'm just a bit...headachy."

His brow furrows. "Did I talk too much on the way here? Sorry, dudette. Sometimes I just get going and I go on and on without stopping and usually I don't realize when I'm doing it either so you can see my problem here, right? Talking, talking, talking, not noticing when—"

"No, no, it's not you." She smiles a little. "I didn't eat breakfast, so now I'm hungry and my head hurts." She glances at the debating mutants again. "And...well, this thing with Sarina's mind getting invaded is so crazy. I can't wrap my head around it," she admits. "Does that happen often?"

"In this family, you never know," he says with a shrug. "Leo's hallucinated and fought mutant mushrooms, Des has gotten mind-controlled a few times, Raph once fought this giant cockroach that wanted to eat us all, and one time Donnie spilled brain juice on himself and he got all stupid."

Annalise blinks a few times. Her lips purse, she makes a noise that sounds like the child of a cough and a sneeze, and she snickers, covering her mouth with her hand as her shoulders tremor. Michelangelo's cheeks turn pink.

"Your life is pretty crazy, huh?" she asks. "And I thought getting abducted by Kraang was bad."

He grins and does a deep bow. "I try my bestest, my dear."

Another laugh. He idly wonders whether she actually finds him funny or if her sense of humour is just strange enough that she finds most things funny.

Her amusement cuts off as her forehead flares with pain, an annoying voice screaming, "FEED ME! FEED ME!" and kicking her head like a tantruming toddler. She sighs and rubs her temples as a gentle three-fingered hand rests between her shoulder blades.

Michelangelo leans closer to her as if telling her a secret. "Well, if everything is too crazy for you again, I have an idea," he whispers. "I could...make some food and we could go on a picnic date." She looks up at him with an expression that he can't place and he panics a little. "Um, I mean...not a date. Just an outing, as friends...unless you're okay with a date! Or not..."

She reaches up and rests one finger over his mouth, making his eyes go wide. "I'd love to go on a date with you, Mikey," she says.

He takes a deep breath and rests his hands behind his head, tingling with excitement. "Yeah, okay...cool." He glances over at Leonardo for a second and tries to mimic his collected, cool posture. "So, I can get the stuff ready and we'll go."

"Sweet." She adjusts her bag, tucking it close to her side. "I've...just got to go to the bathroom before we go, alright?"

He nods rapidly and she turns and walks away. Michelangelo waits, leaning forward a little, listening until her footsteps fade away. As soon as they do, he squeals with glee and leaps into the air, startling his entire family.

"BOOYAKASHA BOY! AW YEAH! MIKEY IS SMOOTH LIKE PEANUT BUTTER!" he celebrates loudly, doing a ridiculous happy dance in a circle around the table his family is gathered around.

"Um...why is that?" Leonardo asks.

"Because, my bros, I..." He jabs his thumb against his plastron as he puffs up with pride. "Just asked a girl out on a date and didn't get rejected! The ladies love Mikey, but the only one who matters said yes. Take THAT!" He whoops again and laughs as he shakes his butt.

Splinter chuckles. "Congratulations, Michelangelo. It takes bravery for a man to put his heart out on the line like that."

Donatello arches an eye-ridge. "Leo and I have already had girlfriends," he points out, just a little too smug for Michelangelo's liking. Leonardo casts a quick look to Destiny. "Talk to us when you have the courage to make it official."

"Unlike Raphael?" Sarina wonders out loud without a second thought.

Raphael's face hardens into a scowl and Sarina's eyes widen when she realizes what she said. She claps a hand over her mouth, eyes flashing once, and the others visibly tense. Without another word, Raphael turns and storms towards the lab doors.

"Raphael, wait! I did not mean—" she attempts.

"Stuff it, Sarina," he snaps.

Annalise appears at the door as he reaches it. He jostles her rather roughly as he goes by, stomping down the hall and disappearing into his bedroom. The slamming door makes his brothers and sisters flinch while Annalise looks towards them with wide eyes. Sarina's face is crestfallen.

"Did I miss something?" Annalise asks.

"Me and my big mouth," Sarina mutters, covering her face with her hands. It's the most human, natural thing that Annalise has ever heard her say. "Must I always say exactly what I'm thinking? I am so foolish..." Donatello purses his lips and reaches out to pat her back.

"No, you are not foolish. You had a foolish moment," Splinter says. "Just work on reading the mood and holding back on potentially harmful comments."

Sarina nods and busies herself with a stack of papers on the table, unable to look anyone in the eye. Destiny sighs, uncrossing her arms and giving her wings a shake.

"I'll go see if I can talk to him," she says.

"Do you have a death wish?" Leonardo asks, skeptical.

She shrugs. "I'll morph and sit on him if he tries anything. Later."

"Destiny, as much as I'm thankful for your offer, try not to crush Raphael. I'm rather fond of him," Splinter comments with a slight joking in his tone.

"Hai Sensei." She salutes, spins on her heel, and heads out.

Annalise shuffles over to Michelangelo. "Did...did she say morph?"

Michelangelo snaps out of whatever daze he was in and nods. "Yeah! Des can turn into a giant wolf. Didn't I tell you that?"

She shakes her head. "Nope."

"Oh...well, she can. She's giant. And a wolf." He imitates claws and bares his teeth at her before laughing.

Annalise feels her stomach clench and she can barely make herself nod. "Yeah...are we gonna go soon?" she asks. The idea of getting out of this lair is suddenly far more attractive.

"Sure thing! Just have to pack stuff up and then we can bounce," he says. "Come on!"

She nods and heads for the kitchen. Michelangelo moonwalks towards the door, flashing finger guns at his family as he dons a sly grin.

"Booyakasha," he whispers.

"Maybe do some more design work while you're out," Donatello suggests. "The teleporter should be ready by the end of the week and we'll need the outfits ready."

Michelangelo stops and he visualizes everything that will happen once the teleporter is ready, a frown working its way onto his face. Once it's done, they'll head off into the cyberverse. Once Circa is defeated, Annalise won't have any reason to visit them. She'll leave and go back to her old life and Michelangelo will be left to being a nameless fanboy, only able to see her in her videos. He never gave much thought to the end of the mission and what it could bring. The idea that his dream come true could come to an end smacks him in the heart.

Annalise won't be with him forever. Shell, she won't even be his. His dream girl, the only human that he's ever craved attention from, will leave him behind. His eye-ridges narrow and he clenches his hands into fists. She's a part of his life now, more than she was before, and he isn't ready to let that go.

"Renet already disappeared and left me high and dry," he mumbles to himself. "If I let that happen with my precious cupcake, then my name isn't Michael with an Angelo."

"Mikey?" Leonardo asks. "You still in the present, buddy?"

Michelangelo blinks, nods, and flashes a smile. "Totally, bro. I'll see you after my date!"

He dashes off to the kitchen without another word. He skids to a stop right outside the entrance and peeks in at Annalise. She rustles through the fridge, grabbing ingredients as best she can while nibbling at the banana in her hand. Her eyes are narrowed and she brushes her bangs from her eyes every now and then, pausing her searching only to take another tiny nibble.

Why must she be so cute? He sighs wistfully.

He wanders into the kitchen and she looks up. She gasps and scrambles to her feet at the sight of him. "Sorry! I know you said you'd pack up but I was waiting for you and this cat in the freezer offered me a banana..."

"Aw, Ice Cream Kitty is like that," Michelangelo says with a smile. He opens the freezer, revealing his Neapolitan feline. "She's our food protector! Aren't you, kitty mama?"

She mews and purrs as he scratches his chin. Annalise murmurs a soft "aw", setting down a jar of mayo on the kitchen table. Michelangelo kisses Ice Cream Kitty's forehead before closing the freezer, licking strawberry off his lips as he turns back to Annalise.

"How good are you at cooking?" he asks.

She bites her bottom lip. "I can do basics. Eggs, toast, pasta..."

"Perfect. You can be my sous chef!" He claps his hands together. "I'm a master in the kitchen, in case you didn't know," he says with a wink. He kisses his fingers and speaks in an exaggerated Italian accent. "I will make-a the best-a picnic food-a...ever-a."

She laughs. "I can't wait."