A/N: Well I can't even say what ships are going to sail here (maybe send me your ships). I have no idea how this is going to go down. I decided to explore friendships, circumstance, and presence and see what happens… I'm aiming for a T rating, but well, you know. I'll keep that updated as it applies. Oh, turtles are 25, Angel is 21, Amethyst and Chloe are 20. Only one character is an OC (Amethyst). Chloe is Tea Time girl all grown up (but I had to age in her forward in the series from 6 to around 10 when Leo met her to make the ages work), and Angel is from 2003 TMNT also all grown up. Most back story and turtle visuals will follow 2012, some I made up.

I do not own TMNT.

*Trigger warning for abuse (in various forms).

HALCYON

One day, whether you are 14, 28, or 65

You will stumble upon someone who will start

A fire in you that cannot die.

However, the saddest, most awful truth you will

Ever come to find—

Is they are not always with whom we spend our lives. – Unknown

Amethyst

A myriad of colors on feathers, glitter, and masked faces of both life and death, danced on the iron bridge. The music was amazing, and the song easy to move to. Amethyst hummed the melody as her silver tulle skirt twirled around her ankles. The layer of satin beneath keeping her somewhat warm against the chill, though goose bumps covered her brown arms as a mid-autumn breeze blew over the water.

She needed the night, the brief reprieve from her thoughts. She held her jewel encrusted mask over her eyes, grateful it was a masquerade ball. Her platinum charm bracelet jingled as she turned to see the Mad Hatter walking by holding out a tray. "Tea?"

She shouldn't, but the point of the night was thoughtless fun and Amethyst wasn't one to turn that down. Especially after the day she'd had. "Sure, why not?"

The Hatter held a black cup out to her and she accepted it, sniffing the concoction he called 'tea'. "How much do I owe you?" she asked, lifting her sequined clutch.

"Nothing. Your admirer over there paid for it." The Mad Hatter motioned behind her.

Amethyst turned, but didn't see anyone looking at her. She scanned the crowd seeking either a familiar face or someone who seemed interested, but everyone appeared to be enjoying the party.

"Amy! Is that you? You look amazing!"

Swallowing a sip of what must have been a blend of at least six different alcohols, Amethyst turned once more, this time finding a breathtaking April O'Neil standing behind her.

She couldn't remember having seen April with her hair down before, but she should wear it like that more often. Her scarlet locks were intensified by the rows of purple and orange lights draped above the bridge, while her gown, a floor length metallic gold overlay, sparkled as she turned her hips left and right making the skirt swish.

"Well what do you think?" the redhead asked.

"You look incredible, April." Indeed she did, from mask to ballet slipper. But April wasn't the only beauty at the ball. In fact, Amethyst had been pleased with how she looked herself, up until an hour ago.

April motioned toward the crowd. "Thanks. I think we have a great turn out."

Amethyst took another drink, enjoying how it warmed her insides. "You sound like you had something to do with this."

April lowered her mask. "Yeah, it's for charity. That and I have some friends who don't go to parties much. I thought a Halloween Masquerade/Costume Ball would be the perfect chance for them to get out."

Amethyst nodded, never lowering her mask. "I guess I don't get out much either, so thanks for the invite. Where's Karai? She can't possibly be one who doesn't get out much."

April pointed over the crowd. "She's at the bar. And you're right. She gets out plenty." The redhead looked around. "Have you seen Angel? She's supposed to be working the bar, but she wasn't there earlier."

"She is. Sorry we ran a little late. She's probably talking to Karai. If not getting picked up by some random guy."

The two women exchanged knowing glances and a giggle.

Too soon, the sound died in Amethyst's throat. She set her gaze over the ripples cast by the breeze over the water. It didn't feel right, enjoying herself. But that was part of what was wrong, that way of thinking, and that had been the point. It's why she left… well tried to. But that had been a mistake, one she would remedy.

April's hand appeared on her shoulder. "How are you doing? Are you settling in okay?"

Amethyst forced a tight lipped smile. Things could be better. In a way, the past two weeks had been both terrifying and liberating. That is until that afternoon. Then everything was all askew again. But listening to him, it had that affect on her. Everything seemed so clear when she was away, but when they were together it all became fuzzy again. It didn't help that the things he said made sense, sort of. It made her head hurt trying to sort it out.

"You know if you, or Angel, ever need anything we're right down the hall." April's voice pierced her thoughts, and while Amethyst appreciated her, she was fairly certain that no one could help her.

"Thanks April, but I'm not sure how long I'll be staying. I was thinking on going home soon. I just have a few things to take care of first." She kept her gaze on the water allowing it to blur amid the orange and purple stars reflected from the party lights. Everything was distorted, the way things were, the way they appeared, and how they should be. It was hard to see what was right or wrong, best or worst, when all she was trying to do was survive.

She was going back to him, she had to, he'd hurt Angel if she didn't. Though it seemed her Latina friend was meant to suffer regardless, since she was the only one who'd ever successfully left the Dragons. Then she had been crazy enough to give Amethyst a place to stay.

Angel interfered and Hun did not like that one bit.

"Look, Amy, I don't know Hun the way you do, but I know what Angel and Casey have told me-"

Oh but you do, April. Better than you think. You know him and he knows you. Just like I knew you before, but you don't remember. The same way I know Karai, Chloe, and all about your freaky friends.

"Angel should've never gotten involved. There'll be hell to pay for what she tried to do." Amethyst interrupted April, forcing a smile she couldn't feel, the way she always did. "Look out for her for me, okay? And," her face scrunched up before she could smooth it out behind the mask. Then she remembered it was there to shield others from her truth. "Don't worry. I'll be around. I just have to stay we're I belong. He needs me."

Then she feigned a laugh, as if it were a romantic gesture she was accommodating, but it sounded forced even to her. She inhaled deep, pulling herself together before any of her emotions could slip free. "He's a better man when I'm in his life. Bad things seem to happen when I'm not there for him."

April stared at her, unmoving.

Amethyst kept her eyes glued to the water. Little waves, like little breaths, one ripple at a time causing a stir; one inhale to the next exhale. Sometimes, that was all she could manage.

But for the night at least, she was free to enjoy herself. She glanced at her newest charm, a tiny padlock, as she brought the cup to her mouth and chugged the remainder of the beverage. As she finished it, she addressed her still staring friend. "Come on, April, let's have some fun before I go."

As The Cheshire Cat walked by with a tray, Amethyst waved him down. "I'll take two, no three."

She stuffed a twenty in his paw, handed April a drink and set out to chug her second cup.

"Right." April frowned. "I'm just going to check on Karai." The smaller woman took a few steps away, stopped and sighed. "Amy, you can leave him. You don't have to go back. Whatever he's saying to you, it's just him trying to manipulate you, trying to control you. But you're free staying with Angel. You're safe there. We won't let him-"

"April. I know. I know what he's doing and I know what I'm doing. He needs me. I'm good for him." Amethyst finished her second drink and stacked the third in the empty cup, then took a hearty swig of it. The tingle was setting in, she'd make the most of this night yet.

"Yeah, but is he good for you?" April set her cup on the railing and walked away.

Amethyst stared at the current below, blinking back tears shed from a heart that knew the true answer to that; only to wince at the bruise forming on her left eye. She lowered her mask and finished off her third drink then reached for April's.