"I didn't mean to yell."

"Yes?"

"I was just frustrated, and it was stupid of me."

"Definitely."

Dean looks up at his father, surprised at the calm look on his face. Their matching sapphire blue eyes lock, making Dean squirm a little.

"What exactly are you so angry about?" Leonardo inquires.

"Everyone telling me that Katie isn't a good person," he grumbles.

"Are they right?"

"No! I mean...maybe..." He runs a hand through his dark hair again. "She's nice sometimes, and she's really pretty and perky, but she doesn't seem to get what a relationship really is. She's changed since grade nine and ten...and I don't like it."

"Which is why you wanted to talk to your mother?"

"Yeah..."

"But...obviously, she didn't help." The leader in blue crosses his arms.

"She was telling me the wrong thing!"

Again, Leo smirks a tiny bit. He sits down next to his son, heaving a thoughtful sigh.

"Dean, one thing you have to know...when your mom gives you advice, she's going to be right. Ask anyone in this lair, and they will agree. 'Destiny is always right.'" He glances sideways at the wolf-raven boy. "Why do you think she's wrong now?"

"Because...she doesn't know anything about relationships because you and her never have any problems," he admits sheepishly.

Leo lets out a small laugh. "Well, that isn't true at all."

"How should I know? All I ever see you two do is smile or hold hands or laugh or...happy things! You never have problems!"

"Before you were born, we had a lot of difficulties. We still do."

"Like what?"

Leo's eyes seem to soften with pain, like he's remembering a distant memory. "Your mom and I were friends. We liked being there for each other, but nothing else. I liked her a lot, sure, but I didn't begin to think that she could love a mutant...like me."

"But she's a mutant too."

"Ah, but she was way prettier than me, as weird as that sounds. You know that she didn't always have her scars. Granted, they don't make her any less beautiful."

Dean nods slowly, thinking of the different black markings on his mom's face and body.

"Dad, you're getting off topic."

He smiles. "You know the story. She was hurt, I realized just how much I liked her, we dated, fell in love...and we made mistakes; ones that almost ended our relationship. Our feelings for each other were sometimes the reason we fought. I worried for her safety, she told me I was too controlling..."

"Seriously?"

"Don't sound so surprised. I did some things I wish I could take back, so has she. It hasn't been as smooth as you're imagining."

"Dad-"

"The thing is, we took it slow. We spent seven years together, meaning that we've had our fair share of good and bad times. You've known Katie for a few years, but have only been in a 'relationship' for half a year."

"Well yeah, but I given her nicknames or any of that stupid gooey dating stuff!"

"She has to you, hasn't she?"

He purses his lips. She had given him pet names, he hadn't for her. She had given him gifts and made him take relationship pictures together, but he never really enjoyed them.

"Yeah..."

"A relationship has to be mutual, and people are always going to have flaws."

"Exactly why I wish my cousins were more willing to give Katie a chance!"

Leo stops, watching his son closely. "Dean, a relationship is about loving each other, even with the imperfections. You shouldn't be with someone just because they like you and you sort of like them. Nobody is perfect, but you should feel like they are when you're with them."

"You make mom sound perfect anyways."

He chuckles. "Another lesson. Your mother can be stubborn and way too determined, something you've gotten from her. Even now, she still puts herself in danger in order to save others if the need be, like when you were seven and Venus was only a week or two old."

Dean frowns, remembering how Destiny had gained another set of scars protecting his baby sister. She wouldn't have gotten those if she had just stayed in the lair.

"Even now, she still doesn't give herself enough credit when she does save someone, like she's almost too selfless," Leo continues.

"There's no such thing."

"Oh? How about being so selfless that you could be bleeding to death, but you'd still only care about whether your family is okay? How about being so stubborn that you don't let anyone stop you, even when you're practically passing out from your injuries?"

The turtle's memories flash to when he defeated Shredder. She had refused to stay behind, despite being shot twice. Again and again, her stubbornness both saved someone in his family but got her hurt.

"That's kind of reckless," Dean admits, breaking his father from his memories.

"That's your mother, through and through." Leo sighs. "Even adding all those little flaws, when it all comes down to it at the end of the day, I still love her and I'll still do anything for her. Her little imperfections are...in a way, what make her perfect."

Involuntarily, Elisabeth appears in Dean's mind, smiling.

"What's your point?" he asks, a little put off.

"Do you feel like that around Katie?"

Before he can think, his mind reacts for him and says, "No."

Leo stands, patting his son on the shoulder. "Think about it, and apologize to your mother when you're ready."

He leaves, swinging the bedroom door shut behind him. Dean remains on the bed, his head swimming with new information.