Chapter 1

Shooting star & hanging out with friends

~11 years before~

On the rooftop where the four turtles tots and young April O'Neil watched the starry night as they were watched over by their guardian. August O'Neil.

Comfortably sat in his fold away chair, reading a book contently as he also kept an eye on the children as they star gazed and happily interacted. Laughed and played a game of tag as they chased one and another around then finally young Donnie stopped and called for the others as he pointed to the sky. "Look."

"What is it, Donnie?" Young April asked, as she came to his side followed by young Mikey, Leo and raph. "Yeah, what is the deal Donnie?" young raph asked afterwards. A bright cosmic light flew across the skies over head of them as they were all memorized by the beauty of the falling star. "A shooting star." Young Leo cried happily as he too, pointed out to it. "Let's make a wish." Young Mikey said.

Looking to each other at first then agreed, nodding. "What should we wish for?" Young raph wondered. April smiled and wrapped one arm around Leonardo on her right while she held Raphael's hand, looking up to the shooting star. Raphael smiled, returned the soft squeeze as Leonardo returned the embrace as Mikey looked to his right, over to his older sibling while Donnie smiled and said. "I know what I want to wish for."

"Do tell us. What is it?" Raph told him. "No! If he tells, it won't come true." Mikey cried. "Yeah that's right. If he tells, then his wish don't come true." April answered, immediately afterwards confirming and supporting Mikey's theory. "Let's make a wish together." Donnie suggested, with a smile. All nodded and held hands as they looked up to the sky and quietly made their wish.

August O'Neil looked up from his book, smiled warmly and placed a bookmark in the page before getting up then asked. "What are you kids doing?"

April was the first to answer but continued to stare the starry night sky as she held the hands of her terrapin friends. "We are making a wish on the shooting star."

"Oh? Is that so? A shooting star? Where is this shooting star?" august O'Neil excitedly exclaimed as he too wanted to make a wish. "You missed it." He smiled and replied. "Oh well, always next time."

The four turtle tots and young April, continued to gaze up to the sky and held hands as they hoped their wishes would come true. August O'Neil smiled, watching the children just enjoy been children and hoped for the night to never end as it was beginning to get late. Releasing a soft exhaling sigh, he gently requested them to fall in. "Alright kids, time to go back inside and time for bed."

All whined and begged to stay up longer. "Can't we stay up a little longer?" August smiled and shook his head in defeat as he never could say no to five adorable little faces that were able to pull off, the unmistakably and perfect puppy eyes that always made him melt. "Oh alright, just for ten minutes then it is time to go inside and bed. Deal?"

All cheered happily and replied, nodding. "We promise." August O'Neil chuckled softly and smiled as he walked back to the chair and sat, picking up the book and stated to himself. "Oh dear, Augie. You are one big softie. She was right. Could never say no, even to the looks of sweet angels." He sighed as he remembered the one angel that had passed away or presumed to be deceased as she just disappeared without a trace. A single tear had managed to well up in his right eye and streamed down his cheek before drippling to the leaflet of his collar. How he missed his wife, and what he would give to know exactly what had happened to his wife.

Lost in thought and memory when the five children stood around him and rubbed their little eyes tiredly and yawned before saying in unison. "Can we go to bed? We are sleepy."

August smiled tiredly and yawned softly then agreeably nodded as he stood up, folded the chair and carried both the book and chair in one hand while taking April's in the other as the four turtle tots followed inside.

~two minutes later~

August had pulled the covers over the five sleeping children as they all, climbed in the bunk together. Huddled closely as they happily embraced each other. Watching them sleep was the most beautiful thing that august O'Neil had ever seen. It was like seeing a litter of puppies, when first born. Standing and leaned against the frame of the doorway, as the light showed through behind him and then slowly closed the door but only half closed.

Rubbing the back of his neck, walking to the dining table and sat down. Holding his hand together in a tight clasp before him. Lowering his forehead on the table surface as he quietly sobbed and had fallen asleep himself. Shortly afterwards, he sat up and stretched. Realising the time and exhaled softly before yawning and stood up tiredly then weakly made his way to the master bedroom as when he heard a familiar voice behind him. Turning around to see the calming and loving light, surround the figure that stood in the middle of his living room then finally, revealed herself.

Tears streamed down his tired cheeks as he cried her name. "Mary-Anne?" a soft warm and loving smile was presented then finally the soft reply. "Yes, augie." Holding her arms out, open to him as she waited. Without hesitation, he took the step forward and immediately threw his arms around his wife then deeply kissed her as she returned the passionate kiss and loving embrace. Caressing her warm tender cheek as he cried. "I have missed you so much, Mary. Oh my Mary angel."

"As have I, my dearest. As have I." she cried tenderly, nuzzling her forehead with his. "I came to give you a message and I don't have much time." Pulling away to look at her as he was confused and said in whispery confused reply. "What do you mean, don't have much time?"

"This is going to be hard to hear but." She paused and exhaled shakily then resumed with a whisper. "I have passed on." August's eyes had widen in disbelief and horror that he couldn't believe what he was hearing but to him, she was here with him. How could she be here if dead? "That is not possible." He stated. "You can't be here if you are deceased." He continued. She caressed his cheek, reassuringly smiled and whispery told him. "I shall always be with you and April. Always."

Reaching out to her as he begged, pleaded her to stay as she floated away and heard the words of her sweet voice say. "Take good care of our daughter, my love. Take good care of her. I will always be with you."

Standing shakily, ever flowing tears had streamed down his cheeks as he dropped to his knees and buried his face in his hands and sobbed brokenly. It was not until he heard his daughter's voice call out to him as she rubbed her eyes and said tiredly. "Daddy, why you crying?"

He did not answer, just gently pulled his small child into his arms and embraced her tightly. April didn't understand why her father was crying, only that she could do was cuddle him in return and assured him. "It's ok to cry daddy." Petting his hair with her tiny hands. "I am here, daddy."

********
~Eleven years later; present day~

In the lair, April is staying with the turtles as she searches for her missing father, due to the invasion of mysterious occurrences had taken the city by storm. But not all days are dark and gloomy, some are rather peaceful, exciting.

Master splinter decided to take a photograph of the group as he wished to expand the family album and when they find, August O'Neil. He will see what he has missed while taken by the Krang. "My sons and Miss O'Neil." He called.

"Yes sensei." The four turtles replied, falling in line as they stood before their sensei. Whilst April stood close by and answered. "Yes master splinter."

"What is that?" Raphael asked, pointing the object in splinters clawed hand. "I think it is projector." Donnie assumed, curiously wondered what the object may be. "I wish to take a photograph. Would you please sit on the couch." He requested, with a smile. "A photograph? Awesome!" mikey cried, excitedly. "Don't miss my good side, master splinter." He stated, showing off. The old rat chuckled and said. "I won't miss anything my son, now would please sit down so I may take this photograph."

April assumed this was family moment and decided to sit this one out as she was requested to join in the photo taking. "Miss O'Neil, would you please join in the photo taking." At first she was honoured but felt as she was intruding. "I assumed this was a family photo so I will sit this out but thankyou for the offer."

"You are family and I would be humble if you would join in the photograph, please." Splinter asked once more with humble grace and appreciation. April couldn't stop herself from smiling as she just threw her arms around him and cried. "Thankyou, thankyou. I would be honoured to be in the photograph. Where do you want me to be seated?"

"Anywhere is fine." He told her, smiling. April immediately took her place in-between Raphael and Michelangelo. While Leonardo on the far right and Donatello on the far left. Mikey said with mouthful of his pepperoni and chilli dog pizza. "Yay, I get the first dibs of getting the first hugs in the photo!" Donatello looked to his younger brother and said, while holding a piping hot coffee. "What was that? I didn't catch that, with the flying pepperoni pieces flying out of your mouth." Both raph and leo shook their heads and grunted in disgust they both said unison. "Uh, mikey. Uh."

April covered her lips as she hid the laughter then finally splinter was ready. "Alright, my sons and daughter. Ready for the photograph?" all looked to the old rat and said in reply. "Yes, we're ready."

"On three, and say family." They all huddled together and closer as splinter counted down encouragingly. "Three…two…one…"

"Family!" they answered unison, and smiled happily as the flash brightened the scene and finally the photograph was taken.

******
~To be continued in chapter two

What do you think of my first attempt to the 2K12 and 2k14 series of TMNT? I am focusing on the relationship between April and Raphael but I will create a fiction for both series in different format though. As inspiration to Setoangel01's artwork, based on the same chapter title for each one. Please forgive me also as I couldn't think of what 'family' means in Japanese as I don't know Japanese very well. I do hope they will hit off well as I will try my best in writing a good one for both. Wish me luck and hope to see you in the next chapter, tootles.