New York City, October 8, 2036

She shouldn't be out there. Michelangelo didn't know who she was, but she definitely wasn't from Queens. He tossed pizza dough in the air, watching the out-of-place woman pacing the front of his store. He wasn't even open yet, it was still breakfast.

Maybe I should start serving pizza for breakfast too. Surely I'm not the only one who eats it for every meal. I could make a sausage, egg, and maple syrup, or ham, egg, and hollandaise… Man even after 38 years I'm still a pizza making genius.

His brothers surrounded a table near the counter, polishing off an extra large smore's pie, bickering amongst themselves over the happenings in their lives. Mikey had organized a bi-weekly family mealtime at his store in an effort to keep close to them. They'd drifted a bit once they'd gone their separate ways. It had been particularly hard on Leo, but Mikey missed living in a houseful of brothers too.

The gatherings were good for everyone, despite the griping front the Raphael put up. Michelangelo could tell by the way his red bandana-wearing brother lingered long after the pizza was gone, he enjoyed the time together.

And Donnie always seemed relieved when he'd sink into his favorite chair, the purple one with the cracked cushion. Mikey could afford new chairs, but Donnie always squashed the idea whenever he mentioned it.

Michelangelo glanced at them, pondering where they were in their lives. They'd made it in history books after saving the world so many times he'd lost count, and even more amazing, they'd lived to see it. Not to mention that they were wealthy beyond their wildest dreams. They were a franchise, books, movies, comics, toys, clothing… Michelangelo chuckled as he tossed the dough in the air again. If you could put a turtle on it, somebody made it.

Masked no more, instead clothed like humans, they did their best to behave like normal celebrity citizens. Mikey thought running a pizzeria was just the way to do that. His restaurant was popular, as much for the atmosphere and good food as for its owner.

It had been a long crazy road. The invasion before last they'd been exposed, and in an odd resulting twist had been rewarded with citizenship, only they'd insisted the offer be extended to all mutants. And it had been. That journey had been a whole other battle. One that in many ways would be ongoing long beyond his lifetime, he was sure.

He frowned at the black-haired woman pacing his storefront, waving a cell phone in the air and yelling at it. Her expensive sunglasses covered her eyes but he noticed the soft red of her full lips drawing down so low they might reach her jaw; if that were possible.

"Ahem," his elder brother cleared his throat and Michelangelo snapped to attention.

"Huh?" he asked, seeing that all three of his brothers were staring at him.

Raph leaned back in his chair, putting his arms behind his head. "He he," he snickered, "what's her name?"

A forgotten ball of dough dropped on Michelangelo's head covering his eyes. "Who?" He whined, peeling the goo away from his face.

His brothers shared a laugh at his expense.

"Whoever has you staring off into space," Donatello replied.

Michelangelo waved them off, and went to work cleaning up his mess. "It's not like that," he told them, motioning a flour-covered hand toward the front door. "I'm just wondering what a woman dressed like a movie star is doing in this part of Queens."

His brothers heads all turned toward the front door. Leo shoved his chair back. "Mikey, don't you know who that is?"

He didn't wait for an answer, crossing the dining room to unlock the door and step out to speak to the woman. Leo wasn't in his sergeant's uniform so Mikey thought he was either interested in the woman, or concerned for her safety. Either way, it had nothing to do with him.

"Uh-oh." Donatello stood as if he were going to follow Leo out the door, but the lyrics to Wonderwall belting from his phone stopped him.

"I thought you broke up," Raphael's voice came out low, sympathetic.

Donnie swallowed. He lowered a large green finger for the jittering device. "We did," he whispered, gazing at the image of April staring back at him. "I just— we're— I've got to take this." He glanced at Mikey, motioning a hand toward Leo and the woman. "She's not here for Leo, Mikey. I have a feeling she's here to see you."

Michelangelo's brow furrowed. "Me? Why?"

"Once you realize who she is, it'll all make sense." Donnie collected his phone from the table and pressed his lips flat. He strode toward the entrance, pausing before he left. "Mikey, if you need anything, just say the word. I'm here for you."

"What? Why?" Mikey stepped from behind the counter but Donnie ducked out the door. His purple neck-tied brother greeted the woman with a firm handshake before appearing to excuse himself. He disappeared around the corner, cell phone pressed to the side of his head.

"What's goin' on?" Raph followed Mikey to the door.

"I dunno, but we may as well—"

Mikey didn't get to finish as Leo pushed the door open, motioning his brothers back and the woman inside. Her mouth was going a thousand miles a minute. Mikey's eyes widened as he tried to sort out what she was saying to his big brother.

Raph grumbled something under his breath as Leo pulled out a chair for the woman to sit in. But she didn't accept the offer. Instead she waved her hands around in frantic movements while Leo remained attentive but otherwise silent.

"And she doesn't understand how it works. She never let me finish explaining it to her. She's studied her entire life for this moment, and now that it's here she disappears. So I thought she must be here—" The woman pointed a finger at Michelangelo. "With him!"

Mikey pointed to himself. "Me?"

The woman's scowled, flashing porcelain white teeth as she snapped at him. "Yes, you! Who else?"

Raph took a protective step between the woman and his little brother. "Gee, I dunno Lady, you haven't even said who you are. How's my brother supposed to know what you're goin' on about?"

The woman pursed her lips as she lowered her sunglasses, revealing familiar hazel eyes that struck a chord in Michelangelo. But he couldn't put a finger on why. The woman leaned forward, her eyes narrowing on Raphael. "You're sure you don't know who I am?"

Raphael's jaw shifted. "I do now. What're you doin' out without bodyguards?"

Michelangelo looked on, helpless, and trying for the life of him to remember who this woman was. But he couldn't recall ever having met her before, let along talking to her. Yet all three of his brothers recognized her, and here he was with a photographic memory.

Wait a minute, black hair…

Nope. Not Karai. Besides, Karai would be Leo's problem not mine.

Wait, is this lady my problem?

Oh no, is she here about that after party at The Sherry Netherland hotel? I paid for the damages before I left. How was I supposed to know Casey's pro-hockey team's idea of a victory party was a free-for-all brawl?

"I'm looking for my daughter." The woman tucked her sunglasses in her purse then thrust her cell phone in Raphael's face. "This picture is from last week. She was wearing a wig for some reason. I don't know. It must be another post-adolescent phase."

Well that's a relief. She's looking for her daughter. Wait, who's her daughter? And who is she, and what's it got to do with me?

Mikey craned his neck to see the picture but morning sunlight cast a glare over the glass.

Leo sighed. "Michelangelo, meet Ever Tilley."

Ever Tilley?

Michelangelo stared at his elder brother, feeling a heat rise to his cheeks.

Leo sighed again. "As in, Governor Tilley's wife?"

Mikey, rubbing the back of his neck, feigned a sheepish grin.

Raphael's green eyes shifted from the cell phone to Michelangelo. "Renet's mother, Pizza-For-Brains."