"Daddy, who's that?" The girl pointed to the large rat in the picture.
"That's my dad. You're grandfather, Master Splinter." Mikey said as he finish cleaning the table from breakfast. Sophie enjoyed looking through his father's few belongings.
"Where's he?"
"He's in New York, remember button. He lives with your uncles."
"Daddy? Can we go to New York, please!" The small turtle pleaded. Mikey sighed and sat on the floor by her.
"Baby, we've talked about this many times." Mikey sighed, not wanting to break his daughter's heart again.
"I know, I know. That's where the bad lady lives. I know. But I want to meet my uncles and grandfather." Slipping out her lip, Sophie gave the puppy dog look all she had.
"Ok, I think about it."
"YEA!"
"Sophie, I said I'll think about it-" But it was too late, Sophie has ran to her room to start packing. Ever since Marie had been killed by Karai, Mikey had dreaded the day he'd have to go back to New York. Marie had been his world's light. But like his father, she had been taken from him when Sophie was still a baby.
It was hard for Mikey now, having to raise his daughter all by himself. Although Splinter had raised all four by himself, Mikey still found himself being overwhelmed by the job of a parent. He had also leaned a lot since he left at fifteen.
The next day, right before sunset, Mikey lifted the manhole cover and looked out to make sure it was clear before exiting with Sophie right behind him. Although they were both in disguises, the last thing Mikey wanted was to be spotted. Standing at the bus stop, he gripped his daughter's hand as the bus pulled up. "Remember Sophie, keep your hood up and your head down." Mikey said.
The two boarded the bus. As Mikey paid the bus driver, Sophie found a seat in the back and placed her pack beside her. "Hi." A small girl beside her said.
Looking up, Sophie was met by a green eyed girl. Her skin was very tan with freckles on her face, along with her black hair. The freckles reminded her of her father. Sophie acknowledged the girl. "Hi."
"My name is Sierra."
"Sophie."
"Are you going to New York too?"
"Yeah." Sophie knew better than to give to much information about herself.
"My family and I are going to see the Statue of Liberty. I can't wait!"
"Cool." Sophie started to open up a bit more. "My dad and I are going to see my family."
"Sophie, who are you talking to?" Mikey asked, his green face revealed as he came back to the bus seat.
"I'm talking to Sierra. She's going to see the Statue of Liberty." Sophie said excited. "Can we see it too?"
"We'll see, dear." Mikey said. Sitting between the two girls, Mikey sat thinking about the day he left. Though it was only five years ago, it felt like he'd been gone forever. Maybe that was because a lifetime of things have happened.
The next morning, the bus finally arrived in New York. Nudging the small turtle up, Mikey and Sophie were the first ones to get off the bus. "Dad, I didn't get the chance to say goodbye to Sierra. That's not fair!" Sophie protested.
"I'm sorry honey, but we have to go." Mikey apologized as the two slipped into the shadows. "Come on." Sophie sighed, she was used to disappointments. She knew it wasn't her father's fault, he was just trying to keep her safe, but that didn't mean she liked it.
Walking down a few blocks, the two finally stood in front of Casey and April's apartment building. After checking the list of names of tenants on the list outside the door, he looked behind him. "Come on button. We're gonna meet some friends of mine."
"Coming." Sophie sighed. She was still upset about not being able to say goodbye to Sierra. She didn't have many friends at home. Not that she wasn't a sociable person, she was exactly like her father in that respect. Her one friend, Taylor wasn't a mutant, he was human. Besides him and his parents who run the shop in her village, no one else knew Mikey and she lived there.
Walking up the stairs to the apartment, her father was looking around every corner to make sure no one was there. She thought it was silly. No one in their right mind used the stairs if there was an elevator. Miley knew that, he just wanted to make sure.
Finding the apartment, Mikey knocked tentatively, really worried about their reaction. After a few moments, the door opened. "May I help-" April started. Looking up, she saw Mikey and a huge smile broke out. "Mikey?"
"Hi April." Mikey said as Sophie stood behind him.
"Oh my Gosh! Casey, you gotta see this." April called as the black headed man came to the door.
"Mikey..." Casey said, the shock sinking in.
"Hi Casey. Did you miss me?" Mikey joked as the man hugged him.
"Ya know it." Casey laughed. Suddenly, the trio heard a small bang hit the floor. Looking behind, Mikey frowned. Sophie had withdrawled into her shell. Mikey sighed.
Picking up the small shell, he apologized. "Sorry guys, she's a bit shy."
"Who's that?" Casey questioned.
"Casey!" April smacked the man in the back of the head. "Come in you two, you must be hungry." Inviting Mikey in, April kissed his cheek. Sitting on the couch, Mikey continued to stroke Sophie's shell, trying to coax her out.
As April fixed up some snacks, Casey sat across from him. "Where have you been? Who is that?" Casey's face was as confused as it was happy.
"I've been living in St. John up in Canada." Mikey replied as Sophie started to slowly come out of her shell. "And this is my daughter Sophie."
Almost whispering, he leaned in close to Mikey. "Not to be rude, but why are you here?"
"CASEY JONES!" A holler came from the kitchen. A moment later, April came in with a pizza and some soda.
"You still like Pizza, right Mikey?" April asked and laughed as he teared down two pieces in the first minute.
"It's pretty simple actually. Sophie wants to meet the family." Mikey said, chomping down the forth slice with ease.
"Well, we're going soon. You wanna come?" Casey asked as April handed Sophie a juice box. Looking at Mikey, he nodded. Taking the straw, she drank the juice eagerly.
"Thank You." The young turtle thanked April.
At six thirty, the four finally crept into the sewers. Casey carefully replaced the manhole cover. Walking down the dark sewers, Sophie grimaced. "Daddy, these smell worse then the sewers at home." Mikey chuckled and picked up the small turtle and placed her on his shoulders.
"Well button, there's a lot less people at home." Mikey said, still chuckling at his daughter's cuteness. As the group came to the sewer tunnel where the turtle's lair was, Mikey was starting to get nervous.
"April, what if they don't want me back?" Mikey whispered worryingly to April.
"That's ridiculous. I'm sure they'll be glad you're home." April said, although she had some doubts. She remembered how Mikey's disappearance crushed the family. Finally reaching the door, Mikey slinked back.
"I don't think I can do this." Mikey said.
"Come on man!" Casey said, "You came all this way. Plus, they'll be happy to see you."
"Are you sure Case-man?" Mikey questioned.
"Positive." He assured him.
Opening the door, the four came in. "Hey guys, we're here." Casey yelled into the lair. Suddenly as if from nowhere, the three turtles appeared.
"Hey Case-man!" Raph called.
"Was 'sup Casey?" Donnie said as he grabbed the movie from Casey's hand and ran to the TV.
"Where's April?" Leo questioned.
"Right here!" April said, coming in the lair with Mikey standing beside her.
"MIKEY!?" The brothers gasped at the same time.
"Hi guys." Mikey said, a bit shy. Looking behind him, gestured Sophie to his side. Slowly, Sophie came up beside him. "I have someone for you to meet."
"Who the h*ll is that?" Raph barked as Mikey covered Sophie's ears.
"Raphael!" Splinter snapped as he came into the living area and saw Mikey. "My son? Is that really you?
"Yeah. Hi dad." Mikey said, running to hug his father.
"I'm so happy to see you, my son." Splinter said, embracing his son in open arms. "And who is this?"
April put Sophia down as Mikey motioned for his daughter to come forward. "Come on musume." Mikey said, speaking in Japanese to calm her down. Marie had always talked to her in Japanese and she always stayed calm. Mikey shook away the bad memory as Sophie took his hand.
Bowing her head in respect, she spoke. "Konnichiwa jiichan." Splinter, although confused on how a mutant turtle could have a child, hugged Sophie as she happily hugged back.