Raph stood at the window the next night, clinging tightly to a stuffed horse he had acquired for Hope a week or so earlier. Looking down at the grey toy, he swallowed hard, and tentatively reached out to rap on the window. It wasn't long before a blonde woman came into view and opened the window, stepping back to let him in.

"You must be Raphael. April talked a lot about you while I was caring for her. In truth I thought she was just very sick from whatever they had put her through, but when Hope was born, I wasn't so sure." Her words came out quickly, and her eyes never really locked with his as she spoke. "Casey said that you don't want to take her away, and I'm not too sure about that, but you want to be a part of her life, and I can't deny that." She finally met his eyes and he saw fear, but it was nothing compared to the burning passion that was also in them. "But if you hurt her, I will make you into turtle soup."

"It's a deal." He said, holding out his hand to shake hers.

"I'll go get her." Gabrielle said, and turned away.

The blonde went into a room down the hall, and he could hear her talking softly to the little girl. Raphael bit his lip and he looked down, petting the stuffed horse out of nervousness, hoping the girl didn't see his shaking hands.

Looking up when he heard footsteps, he swallowed hard when he saw the child that walked in the room. She was almost a splitting image of the photos of her mother at that age. Her quiet gold eyes met his steadily, and it almost seemed as if she was reading him. A smile came to his face as she moved towards him.

"Hi Hope. I guess yer Mom and Dad told you about me, huh?" He began, and watched as the girl scooted closer to him.

"They said that you're my Dad." She said quietly, and her eyes dropped, but only for a second. "You got feet like me!" She chirped excited, and sat down to take off her socks and shoes, revealing a two-toed foot, only pink. "That's so cool!" He laughed softly and held out the stuffed toy.

"Got this for ya." His gruff voice soft. Gold eyes went wide as she reached for it.

"How'd you know that horses are my favorite animal!?" She said, excitedly. Taking from him, she hugged it tight. "I love it so much, thank you!" Raphael sat down and the girl climbed into his lap.

"Do you got any family?" She asked him, looking up into his face.

"You got three uncles." He said. "Your grandpa passed away after your mother disappeared."

"Oh." Hope said softly. "Will I get to meet any of them?" Raph smiled.

"Yep, they're all very excited to see you. We just wanted to go easy on your Mom to night." He said. "You'll meet them another time." She looked down at his hands in hers.

"Can I call you Dad?" She asked quietly. His heart skipped a beat as she tilted her head to meet eyes the same color as his.

"Of course you can, Hope." He said quietly. She stood up to wrap her arms around his neck, pressing her face in his neck.

"I'm really glad you came to find me." She said softly. "I love Mommy and Daddy, but I always wondered about you guys."

"I know kiddo, I know." He replied softly, stroking her hair. "If I had any idea that you were out there, I would have found you. I started to look for you the minute I found out about you. I know I have so much to make up for, but promise I promise you that I will."

She nodded against him, then looked up, teary-eyed.

"Can you play with me for a little bit?" She asked. Raph looked over at Gabrielle, who was watching them over the book she was reading. She looked at them and nodded.

"Sure, let's go play." He told Hope, picking her up easily and walking down to her room.

Walking into the room, he expected a bunch of Barbie dolls and tea sets and those type of things, but was pleased to find a mix of toys, and soon he found himself playing a large dinosaur that was a partner to a spy Barbie that had her hair cropped short, as they raced to save the My Little Ponies from the evils of the cobra commander.

He almost had to laugh at how quick he became attached to his daughter, seeing his own smile in hers, and the fire in her eyes.

What would have it been like to have her from the beginning? If they had never run, and April was never taken. Finding about her pregnancy, being there through it, holding that tiny infant for the first time? Watching Hope grow up around his brothers and seeing them spoil her? Or even Master Splinter holding his Granddaughter, telling her same stories he had told them as children?

All too soon it was time for Hope to go to bed. As he pulled the blanket up to cover her, she reached up to him

"Thank you for coming to see me Dad." She whispered softly. "You going to come again?" He smiled softly, and hugged her back.

"Of course, kiddo. Maybe one of your uncles can come next time, okay?" He said, giving her a soft kiss on the head. "See you later, kiddo."

After Hope had fallen asleep, Raph thanked Gabrielle for allowing him to see Hope, and slipped out the window. He moved up to the roof of the apartment, he feeling his heart clench. He missed April so much right then. Leaning against a storage building he pressed his face into his hands, he felt tears slide down his cheeks, and his shoulders shook as he mourned what should have been.