This chapter has a couple of flashbacks that may be a little sad, so get your tissues just in case!
Chapter Two
As the days passed and Christmas drew nearer, Mona got stuck into getting the presents wrapped and making sure all the food for Christmas Day was nicely prepared.
The feeling she had in her heart was still hurting her, but she was determined to smile and not let anyone know what she truly felt.
When she had the moment to go to her room and reflect when everyone had a rest from Christmas preparations and ninja training (Master Splinter had said that even though it was Christmas, they still had to keep up with their training and meditation, but he did promise there would be no training on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day) she would open her wardrobe doors and look at the pictures she had of her family.
The pictures she had were from the Newspapers talking about her disappearance and her devastated family talking about her and how much they missed her.
There were some other photos she had found from a Memorial page and Memorial Facebook she found online.
These were ones that showed her when she was still human with her family and friends, including the ones that were taken when she and her friends were on their gap year before she was taken.
It was then Mona would let the tears she had been holding from everyone fall. She would stand there and let the floods of heartbreak and devastation roll down her cheeks.
Although she was happy she was spending her first Christmas with the turtles, and the man (or turtle) she loved, she was still upset that her family were spending Christmas without her, she knew that every time Christmas or her birthday would roll by, that they would feel a stab of sadness at the fact she would never come home.
Everytime she looked at the Christmas tree, she would think about when she and her two brothers Jake and Callum would decorate the tree and get excited about what Father Christmas would bring them.
On the day before Christmas Eve, Mona placed the last of the gifts she had wrapped for everyone under the tree.
As she looked up at the sparkling decorations and the coloured lights, she felt the tears come to her eyes as she wondered what her family would be doing when they decorated their tree.
Would they have tried to enjoy Christmas and do their usual traditions without her or would they still weep because she was no longer there?
As she placed the last present under the tree, she began to remember her final Christmas in Wisconsin.
Flashback
"Mona! Mona!"
Mona looked down at her younger brothers Jake and Callum, as they held some decorations up.
"You gonna help us? We gotta make the tree pretty! It's almost Christmas!"
"Indeed we must!" laughed Mona as she picked up a couple of decorations from the box and began to hang them on the branches of the tree.
After hanging many pretty decorations including some chocolate decorations there as only the star to put on top.
"Now for the crowning glory!" said Jake as he pulled out a sparkling gold star and held it up "Who gets to place the star on top of the tree?"
"I think Mona should do it!" said Callum "She's the best big sister ever!"Mona smiled at her younger brother and took the star before climbing a ladder to reach the top of the tree.
"Reach up high sister!" said Jake "You can do it!"
Mona stretched high and placed the star on top of the tree completing the final look.
"Yay!" cheered Jake and Callum "The tree looks beautiful!"
"It sure does!" said a voice behind them. Mona and her brothers looked behind them and saw their parents Calden and Gina looking at the tree and smiling.
"You did a great job kids!" said Calden "You all deserve your rewards!"
Mona, Jake and Callum smiled happily and waited for their father to tell them what their reward was.
"You can go and play outside! Then you can have some Christmas Cookies and Hot chocolate in front of the fire and a Movie!"
"Hurray!" shouted Jake and Callum. Mona just grinned.
"Race you outside Mona!" shouted Jake "You going to help us build a snowman?"
"Sure thing!" laughed Mona "And have a snowball fight!"
"YAY!" cheered Callum and Jake as they ran to put their coats and boots on to play outside.
End Flashback
Mona sighed as she remembered that Christmas;
They had built a huge snowman in the garden, then had a snowball fight in which they both got soaked! In fact Callum had put one snowball down the back of her neck and she had chased him around the garden before rugby tackling him and shoving snow down his front.
That was a funny time! Even though it was horrible having snow in her clothes, she loved the feeling of getting into her comfortable clothes for lounging around and having some hot chocolate.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day had been memorable when the rest of the family had come over and they had their Christmas Feast, opened their presents and played games or watched Christmas Movies. It was one Christmas Mona knew she would never forget in a million years.
Mona walked over to her room to have a few minutes to think.
The turtles were all finishing clearing up and had gone to watch the television.
As Mona left the main lair to go to her room, Raphael saw her go out of the corner of his eye and decided to follow and see if she was ok.
In her room, Mona stood in front of her wardrobe and looked at some pictures she had placed on the inside of the doors. Most were of her family, her friends, her martial art clubs and some pictures with her in them having fun when she was still human.
She wanted to get most of her sadness out before they would begin their Christmas party tomorrow.
The last thing she wanted was to be upset on Christmas Eve and spoil everything for everyone.
She had been living with the turtles for eight months and she had been happier than she ever had been in a long time, she loved being part of the team and fighting enemies and helping citizens whilst staying within the shadows and they had really made her feel like she was one of the family but the hurt from being taken from her family and that she would never see them again never went away and it still felt like a bullet in her soul.
Mona felt the tears fall as she remembered her first Christmas whilst living on the streets:
Flashback
Mona laid curled upon the mattress in the abandoned house she now called her home. She shivered under the many blankets that did hardly anything to keep her warm. The sun's rays shone through the broken window in front of her and onto her face.
Mona felt her stomach twinge slightly in sadness. Today was Christmas Day and she knew every child would be up early to check their stockings and the presents under their Christmas trees.
Mona pushed the blankets off her body and walked over to the window, she had spent last night sitting on the roof of a local church to listen to the carols and it had brought tears to her eyes.
She blinked her tired eyes and looked over the buildings as the sun rose above them. She remembered how excited her brothers got and how they would be up at the crack of dawn to wake everyone up.
Now they would be just looking into her empty room and wondering what had happened to her. Tears fell from her eyes as she thought of her family and how they must be hurting as they woke up on the day that they were supposed to be together and there would be a gap at the dinner table and in their hearts. It broke her heart to think of it all.
Mona walked over to the broken down fireplace and lit a fire hoping to warm herself. As she did, she stared into the flames and hugged herself welcoming the only warmth that was offered to her.
End Flashback
Mona closed her eyes and looked at the floor, those past Christmases had been horrible and she had never felt more grateful to be surrounded by her new family, friends and the one she loved.
But it was still hard knowing her family in Wisconsin were suffering from her loss.
"Mum...Dad...Jake...Callum" she whispered as her tears fell "I'm so sorry...I wish I could tell you, I wish I could see you, if only I could heal your hearts at this festive season"
As she continued to let her thoughts wonder, she felt someone touch her on the shoulder, Mona gave a yelp and turned around to see Raphael standing behind her.
"Whoa Raph" she said "You scared me"
"Sorry" said Raphael blushing in embarrassment "Didn't mean to"
"It's ok" said Mona trying to disguise the fact that she had been crying, but Raphael had already noticed.
"Are you ok Mona?" he asked "I've noticed you've been disappearing into your room every so often and your eyes have shown signs of crying"
Mona sighed, she guessed there would be no use trying to hide her true emotions, especially from her lover.
"I'm sorry Raph" she said "it's just being around all the Christmas preparations has made me think of my family and how they must be missing me, this'll be their third Christmas without me"
Raphael looked saddened for Mona and lifted his hand to wipe her tears.
"Oh Mona, I'm sorry" he said softly pulling her towards him and letting her rest on his shoulder.
"I know you miss them" he said "And I know how hard it is" he knew about the past Christmasses Mona had spent on the street and how horrible it was for her, it pained him to see his mate so upset.
"I'm sorry" Mona sobbed "I didn't want to ruin everything with my sorrow..."
"Don't be sorry babe" said Raphael "We all understand, and we're all here to look after you, it's our promise"
Moan hugged Raphael tighter and looked up. As she did, she felt Raphael's lips on hers and they shared a passionate kiss.
She felt so lucky to have Raphael as her mate, he was so caring towards her, especially after all she went through.
After a few seconds, Mona slipped away from Raphael's lips and nuzzled him, Raphael nuzzled her back and wiped her tears.
"We're about to watch our Christmas movies in a bit" said Raphael "We got popcorn, candy and mince pies, I just hope Mikey doesn't eat it all!"
Mona laughed at that part.
"Hey that cheered you up" said Raphael, Mona smiled "You complaining about Mikey always cheers me up, I know why he annoys you" she said.
Raphael chuckled and took Mona's hand.
"Come on" he said "Let's go and join the others, I think Leo's put the first DVD in"
They both walked out of the bedroom and over to the TV area where everyone was crowded. There was a stack of Christmas movies and Mona knew they wouldn't get through them all tonight as there were so many.
Raphael sat on the sofa and Mona snuggled up next to him. As Raphael put his arm around Mona he felt sad for her.
He knew how upset she was and he wondered what he could do to make her feel better. He looked at the TV and tried to rack his brains to think of something to do for his mate.
Awww, poor Mona. Thinking about her family at Christmas coping without her.
But it was nice to see Raphael comforting her. I wonder what he's planning to do for her? Guess we'll find out in the next chapter! Lol!
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!