DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by Nickelodean (I think). I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. IMPORTANT: This story isn't set in any specific TMNT canon. It's more a generic Turtles continuity. So feel free to envision the characters however you like, be it the comic book designs, movies, or any of the animated series. That said, if you do picture the 2012 CG cartoon characters, please bear in mind this story is a good few years in the future. Meaning, everyone is of legal age. Also, April is a normal Human and not a Mutant hybrid thing, and Karai is not Splinter's daughter (I can't believe they did that - it was SO cliche) - she's the Shredder's.

3. This is my fiftieth story here on this site. As a little bit of a celebration, this opening chapter is longer than my usual fare. I hope you enjoy it.

PART 1

Donatello raced up the fire escape as fast as possible. The call from April had him worried.

He could tell from her tone that something was up. Especially with the ever-vague "There's something I have to tell you." He and his brothers' history proved that statement rarely led to something good. In fact, April had been acting strange for the past couple of weeks. As Donatello thought about it more, he remembered her disappearing at random moments, or being tired or distracted at various times. The turtle was obviously concerned, but whenever he tried to talk to her, she dismissed the idea of anything being wrong.

As he reached her apartment window, he paused and saw her in her bedroom. She was pacing back and forth, her face in a slight frown. That made Donatello grit his teeth. Yes, something was definitely up.

The Mutant opened the window - he had not needed to announce his arrival for some years, now - and poked his head in. "April?" he said cautiously.

At the sound of his voice, April O'Neil darted her head up and, despite her obvious agitated state, smiled wide. "Donnie," she said, rushing upto him as he stepped fully into the room. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply, taking Donnie by surprise. However, he still instinctively linked his hands around her, deepening the closeness. Eventually, she prised her lips away. "I'm sorry to call you away from your lab, but... "

"April, what's wrong?" Donnie decided to cut to the chase. He knew April well enough to realise when she was about to ramble. "Your call was... well, you didn't sound OK."

At that, the lovely redhead turned away, breaking their embrace. "I... I... " Again the mutant grit his teeth. He hated seeing his girlfriend upset. He walked around until they were facing eachother once more, then delicately lifted her downcast face with his hand.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Are you hurt?" There was no visible sign of physical distress on her, but it would not be the first time her sparring sessions resulted in injury and she never told him. "Was Raph too rough again?"

"No, no," she replied, averting her eyes from him. "This has nothing to do with sparring."

Donnie was now getting impatient, despite himself. He knew April would tell him anything important, but seeing her like this tried even his patience. Nothing was allowed to hurt his girl. "Then what? When you called... you sounded confused. Something's clearly wrong... "

"'Wrong'... " April tutted, almost chuckling. "God, I hope... I hope not... "

Donnie frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Again she turned away. Whatever was upsetting her made her unable to fully face him. "I... don't know. I just... don't know." Her shoulders visibly shrunk. "Something... something's happened. Just... don't be upset. Please."

"April, you can tell me anything," Donnie said sincerely. "You know you can. I love you."

"I love you, too," she whispered. She then took a deep breath, stood straight, and turned back to him. She smiled, though she was clearly still unsure. "Donnie... "

"Yes, April... ?" He noticed she took his hand in hers, rubbing it slightly.

"I'm... pregnant."

Donnie flinched, tightening his grip on her hand momentarily. He glared at her, eyes wider than they had ever been.

Had... she just said... ? "Y... you're... what?"

April's shoulders slumped even further. "I'm... I'm pregnant... " Her voice was barely a whisper.

Donnie blinked. No, he had not misheard her.

A flood of emotions engulfed him. Shock. Incredulance. Fear.

And... anger.

He dropped her hand like a stone, and abruptly turned away from her. April audibly gasped. "Donnie... "

He stood there, motionless. Soundless.

"Donnie... please... don't be... "

"I should've known," he said quietly.

"Huh?" April frowned.

Donatello sighed deeply. "I should've known this couldn't last. I was fooling myself to think you'd... stay with me."

Again April gasped. "You... you think... ?"

"Who is it?" Donnie asked, still keeping his eyes from her. "It's Casey, isn't it? I knew you... " Donnie stopped and looked down. "No. Actually, it doesn't matter." He fell silent again, his thoughts in turmoil. Despite his outward calm, he was a mess inside. The woman he loved - the woman he had always loved - was a liar. He should have known. He should have known she would not... could not... keep her promise to always be with him. The scientist in the turtle knew it was obvious. Why would she stay with him? What could he possibly ever offer her? It was not like they could live in the suburbs with a white picket-fenced garden. "I should've known you'd want something... more. Something... normal."

"W... what?!" April stepped toward him, but he stuck his arm out, keeping her at a distance.

"Don't," he said quickly. "Please. It... it's OK. Really. I... understand." Part of him - the selfless part - almost felt he should apologise for wasting her time. It was obvious she wanted more than he could offer. All he could give her was his heart. He gave it to her freely... years before they had even become a couple. And though she said she loved him equally back, it was clear it could never last. It was a fool's errand to begin a relationship with April. But Donnie could not help himself. He let himself become lost in the girl of his dreams. He felt a fool to think she would stay with him. But still... to know she had been unfaithful, however logical it was, still left Donatello crestfallen.

He should have listened to Raph.

Wordlessly, Donatello turned around, never facing April, and trudged back to the window. Had he glanced at her, the Mutant would have seen tears forming in her eyes. "Donnie... what are... where are you... ?"

"Goodbye, April... " he mumbled.

Before he could reach the window, Donnie felt a hand grip firmly on his arm. Before he could do anything, April sharply spun him around to face her. "You... " Donnie was forced to look at her. Despite her infidelity, she seemed as heartbroken as he. "You think... you actually think... ?" She grabbed both his hands, holding them so tight her knuckles whitened. "Donnie, I love you!"

He blinked several times, trying to process the situation. Did she think he would take her back after cheating on him? He may be a fool, but he was not... well, a fool. "Don't... say that," he said steadily. "You're pregnant."

"Yes!" she yelped, tears pouring. "And it's not Casey's, or anyone else's!" She took one of his palms and placed it on her still-flat stomach.

Donnie's eyes widened as realisation dawned. Did that mean... ?

"I haven't been with anyone... " breathed April, "but you."

Donatello was dumbfounded. It... was not possible. April was pregnant...

And he was the father?!

"That's... that's impossible," he whispered. He then looked up at her. "Impossible!" he yelled.

"Donnie," she soothed, stroking his cheek. "I swear, I haven't been with anyone else... I couldn't cheat on you. This baby's yours."

The turtle returned his gaze at his hand on her tummy. Could it be true... ? "I... I... " He took a big gulp. "April... April, if this is a joke, it's... "

"It's no joke" she said sternly. "Donatello, I'm pregnant. And you're the father. I promise!"

As April's heartfelt words sank in, Donnie felt himself sinking - literally. His legs began to buckle. "I... I need to sit down... "

Smiling slightly, the young woman led her boyfriend to the edge of the bed. Both sitting gently, their hands still entwined, April sighed. "I... I did the test this morning. I've been feeling odd for a couple of weeks now. I've watched enough TV to know the signs. I... I took the test three times. All of them were positive."

Donnie stared out infront of him. "I... can't believe this... "

April stayed silent, simply stroking his hands in hers.

"It's impossible... " The Mutant's scientific mind was struggling to make sense of things. "How... how could this have happened... ?"

"Maybe our constant sex has something to do with it... " said April lightly. Donnie looked at her, at her hopeful, beautiful face... and they both burst into laughter.

"Oh my God... " strained Donnie through laughs. "This... this is too much... ! My... oh... Splinter's gonna kill me... !"

"Forget Splinter!" guffawed April. "What about Leo?!"

The laughter increased. It made little sense, but it provided both a release. It took awhile for the levity to die down. "Oh... Oh Donnie... " April breathed dejectically. "What the hell are we gonna do?"

Calming himself, Donnie raised her hand and kissed her knuckles. "I haven't a clue." Still, despite saying that, the release the laughter provided also gave the turtle a clearer head. To say he had overcome the shock would be untrue, but his mind was beginning to accept the facts. The love of his life was pregnant, and he was the father. The relief to learn she had not cheated on him was immeasurable. He knew April deserved so much better than him, but Donnie was still happy she had chosen him. And frankly, the revelation that she had remained faithful made him more than a little smug. Not that he would ever admit it. "I still can't believe this," he continued. "Why didn't I investigate this further? I'm a scientist, for fuck's sake!" It was also a rarity the reserved Donatello swore... at least compared to his brothers.

Of course the possibility of children had entered Donnie's mind, since he and April first declared their mutual feelings. But he quickly dismissed it: there was simply no evidence to suggest he or his brothers could ever get a Human pregnant. The science made no sense. But then... neither did the mutagen that transformed four ordinary turtles and a rat into what they became. In the back of his mind, Donnie wondered if he was clouded by his desire for April, his need to be with her once she returned his affections. If he had not been such a lovesick fool, perhaps he would have done more research. But he could not help it: once he and April began their relationship, it seemed all reason was lost to him.

"Sweetheart," April soothed, "please don't be angry."

Donnie darted his head to her. "Angry? Are you crazy? Of course I'm not angry! I'm just... shocked!" He took a deep breath. He was not angry - but thinking back to his initial reaction filled him with remorse. "I... I'm sorry for what I said."

April leant close and kissed him lovingly. "It's OK," she whispered.

"No, it's not," he said. "I should've trusted you."

"Donnie, please - not now." She put his hand to her face, and he instinctively began stroking her cheek. "It was perfectly understandable... though I must admit it wasn't the reaction I expected."

The mutant shrugged. "Evenso... I'm sorry." He looked at the ceiling. "I'm an idiot."

April frowned. "Donnie... ?"

"I should've anticipated this," he said. "I should've seen every possibility. Do you... " Donnie paused, thinking of the best way to phrase his words. "... want it?"

April was silent. "Do you?" she eventually asked.

Donnie took her hand and kissed it. "I asked first."

Quiet again, April appeared in deep thought. "It'll be hard," she said, more to herself.

"Complicated," Donatello added. "It... will never lead a normal life."

"We'd have to... hide it," April said, with a tinge of fear in her tone. "It would have to live... with you... "

Donatello groaned inwardly. Though he wanted nothing more than to live with the woman he loved, he knew a sewer was no place for her. Not to live. "It would be almost impossible," he said.

"It would," April agreed. "The... other option would be to... " She left the rest unsaid.

Donnie looked at the floor. "Yeah... I know." He hated the idea... but it was the sensible solution. He turned to look at her again. "April... I'll go along with whatever you decide. But you won't be alone. Believe me, I'll never leave you." He leaned closer and they shared a tender kiss. "I love you, and I always will." He stroked her hair as he manoeuvred her head to rest on his shoulder. "Whatever you want, I'll be with you 100%. I promise."

"I know," she said. "I love you."

They sat there in silence. After a few moments, April spoke again, barely audible. "I do." Donnie frowned as she lifted her head to look at him. She returned his gaze, tears tricking down, pure love in her eyes. "Yes, I do. I want this child."

That clinched it for Donatello. April truly did love him. For her to want to keep his child meant she was in this for the long haul. But still, he could not help but think of her welfare. "Are... are you sure? It'll... be hard."

To the turtle's surprise, she shook her head, then wrapped her arms around his neck. "I don't care. I want to have this baby, Donnie. I want to have your baby."

Donnie felt his eyes watering under his mask. "You're... amazing, April O'Neil."

The redheaded Human, tears pouring freely, chuckled. However, to Donatello's surprise, her smile quickly faded. "Now... answer my question," April said. "Do you want it?"

Now the Mutant chuckled. "April," he said, "I never in a million years thought you'd even return my feelings, let alone be willing to have my child. If you want it, I'd be an idiot to turn down us having the chance to have a baby."

The smile April flashed was almost impossibly wide. "I was so worried about telling you... "

Donnie silenced her with a kiss. "Like I said, you have nothing to worry about. I'll be with you no matter what."

April slowly fell back onto the bed, gently pulling the ninja down with her. "Make love to me... "

They still had alot to talk about. But it could wait until the morning...

TO BE CONTINUED