April walked briskly through the sewers, a way she had gone many times before, until she reached her destination.

"Hello? Anyone home?" she called as she climbed down. No answer.

"Are you here?" she called again. She looked around for any sign of living beings in the old subway station and after few seconds Splinter walked out of the subway.

"I'm afraid that my sons aren't here. Donatello made them come with him to collect... well, I didn't catch the name of it, but it could be found in garbage. They should come home in an hour or so, unless they meet somebody," he said in his low a calm voice.

"Oh, alright. It wasn't anything important anyways, I was just going to tell you that I found a new apartment," April said and began to look around again.

"New apartment? Why did you feel the need to move from your old one?" asked Splinter raised his eyebrows.

"Move? Wait a minute... they never told you?"

"Told me what, exactly?"

"Oh, great. Well, while we... okay, they, were looking for you, they stayed at my apartment. Then Shredder's ninjas came and after about 10 minutes, my apartment was ruined. After 5 more minutes, my antique shop was also ruined. Everything went on fire. I've had to stay at my friends until now. They honestly never told you?"

"Not even a uttered word about all of this. I shall ask them why when they return. But where have my manners gone, would you like anything? A drink, perhaps? My sons have been gone for two hours, they could be home soon, should you wish to wait for them," said Splinter and motioned for April to sit down.

"Why not? I haven't got anything else to do," she said and sat and propped her feet up on the chair in front of her. She got tired of walking so much and needed to get the blood to rush back.

"A whole apartment was burned down, along with an antique shop. Was the shop yours?" asked Splinter and sat also down.

"Kind of. It belonged to my father. He collected things, junk and just anything that he thought he could sell or wanted to keep. I opened the shop every now and then," April explained. Splinter nodded.

"Your father, is he...?"

"Died some years ago."

"I see."

"It was the only thing I had left of him," April whispered and looked away from Splinter. She had never told the turtles it, seeing how much they missed their father after it happened, but she was extremely sad about losing the shop.

"No." Splinter shook his head strongly.

"What are you talking about?"

"These were only material things. You have the memory of him engraved in your soul and heart. You have his image in your mind, his scent in you nose, his touch on your hand and his words in your ear. Is that not enough?"

April looked at Splinter from the corner of her eye. Of course a Japanese sensei would say something like this... but it made sense, didn't it? She could remember her father just as clearly now, with or without the shop. Perhaps the old sensei was right. But where did this piece of wisdom come from?

"Was your family alive when you had to leave Japan?" she asked quietly.

"No. I had no family when I was outlawed." He seemed sad for a moment but then a loud ruckus could be heard above, unmistakably the sounds of four turtles. His nose twitched and his ears pointed upwards.

"But now, I do have a family. And you're more than welcome to join it, should you wish to."

-----

First TMNT fic here I was wondering why they didn't put in emotional scene with April after the shop was burned down, just a sad look. Not that the look didn't say enough, it was just a thought... well, nevermind.

I'm working on another TMNT fic with Splinter as main character but I don't want to send it until I've completed it. I've no idea when that'll be...

But please, do review, just to tell me you read this. Chiao!