2. April

Naturally, the movie had been Mikey's suggestion. He'd been horrified to learn that April had never seen "Sinbad of the Seven Seas" ("What?! April, you have GOT to see this movie! It's got Lou Ferrigno! ...What do you MEAN you don't know who Lou Ferrigno is?")

It had taken a bit of discussion at first to figure out when a good time for movie night would be. April always got up early, which didn't usually jive with the less structured schedule of her nocturnal friends. But eventually she and the turtles had decided on a time for movie nights that worked for both of them - either eight in the morning or eight at night, depending on April's plans.

This time, it was a night movie. April plopped on the couch with a sigh, settling between Mikey and Raph.

"Tough day?" Don asked.

"Not bad. Just long," she answered, scrubbing her hands over her face. "Every time I think I'm finished cleaning up the store, I find something else I have to do. I'm going to have to pull some all-nighters if I'm going to open on schedule."

Leo emerged from the kitchen, carrying a bowl of popcorn. "We can help clean," he volunteered. "Just tell us what you need us to do." He deposited the bowl into Mikey's outstretched hands, smirking a little at the way his brother's fingers wiggled impatiently.

"I might take you up on it," April answered. "But not tonight. Just thinking about Windex is enough to make me want to scream."

"Besides, it's movie night!" Mikey put in. "April, your life isn't complete until you've experienced this movie."

"It's that good, huh?" she asked, taking a handful of popcorn.

"It's terrible!" Mikey answered enthusiastically. "Probably one of the worst movies of all time. But it's so bad it's good."

"You can't take it seriously," Leo said. He sat down in the battered arm chair, hugging a throw pillow against his chest as he settled in. "If you do, it'll drive you crazy."

Mikey flapped his hand at Leo in a shushing gesture. "Just let her see for herself." He frowned down at Don, sitting on the floor against the couch with his laptop. "Turn that off, Donny," he said, flicking his brother on the back of the head. "You need to focus."

"I am focusing. I can watch the movie and write software for the Battle Shell's weapons systems at the same time." Don swatted Mikey's hand away when he was flicked a second time, not even looking up from the screen. "You're not going to change my mind about this so you might as well start the movie. In case you've forgotten, you've made me watch this at least ten times."

"Fine." Mikey pouted, but hit the button to start the movie.

Raph slouched against the arm of the couch, grabbing a fistful of popcorn when April offered him the bowl.

"Favorite movie of yours, too?" she asked.

"Nah. But it's fun to watch it with Mikey," Raph answered, stuffing the popcorn in his mouth. "As long as he doesn't quote every line," he finished pointedly.

"You're no fun, Raphie." Michelangelo tossed a popcorn kernel at his brother, but stopped when April gave him a forbidding look.

"I am not going to be in the middle of a popcorn fight," she said firmly. Raph snickered, prompting Mikey to stick his tongue out, but the brothers soon settled in to watch the movie.

To Mikey's delight, April thoroughly enjoyed the movie. She giggled her way through the first half hour - when she wasn't groaning and hiding her face in a throw pillow in second-hand embarrassment. But after a while, Raph noticed her becoming more and more quiet, and when he glanced over he saw her starting to blink heavily. The battle with the ghost knights was coming up, though, so he turned his attention back to the television. When he looked back at April again, he saw that she'd fallen completely asleep, sitting precariously upright with her eyes closed.

Don had noticed, too. "Should we wake her?"

"She was pretty tired," Leo said doubtfully. "I think we can let her sleep."

"That can't be too comfortable, though," Don replied.

Mikey's eyes glinted mischievously. "I can fix that." Before anyone could stop him, he reached out and gave April's shoulder a gentle nudge. She wavered unsteadily for a moment or two, then slowly leaned over and came to rest with her head against Raph's shoulder.

Raph froze, eyes wide. "Mikey!" he yelped. April fidgeted slightly but didn't wake, relaxing against him again. Raph glared at Michelangelo for a moment before turning his gaze to Don (who looked stunned and a bit alarmed) and Leo (whose mouth was quirked in an infuriatingly familiar manner, betraying the fact that he was desperately trying not to smile). "What the shell am I supposed to do now?" Raph hissed.

"She looks pretty comfy, Raph," Mikey said with a grin. "I think we should just let her sleep."

"For how long?"

"Until she wakes up, I guess," Don shrugged. His surprise was rapidly being replaced by amusement.

Raph's hands itched to bap Mikey upside the head and wing pillows at Don and Leo, but the light pressure of April slumbering against him had him pinned as effectively as if he were trapped under a locomotive. "What's she gonna say when she wakes up?"

"She'll probably scream," Mikey said gleefully. "I would if I woke up that close to your face."

Raph clenched his teeth. "You wanna scream? I'll give you a reason to scream," he growled. Mikey just snickered.

"Uh, Mikey…" Leo cleared his throat and rose to his feet, putting a restraining hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Why don't you go make more popcorn?" He picked up the empty bowl and shoved it into his brother's hands, giving him a little push to get him moving.

"I'm gonna turn him inside out one of these days," Raph said darkly, staring after Mikey as he disappeared into the kitchen.

"No jury would convict you," Leo replied, coaxing a chuckle out of his scowling brother. He picked up the blanket hanging on the back of the couch and covered April with it, giving Raph's other shoulder a reassuring pat. "Don't worry. If she's still sleeping at the end of the movie, we'll wake her up."

"...Nahhh, don't bother," Raph said grudgingly. "It's fine. She ain't heavy like you goofballs. 'Sides, I'm pretty sure I can get up without wakin' her if I have to."

Leo gave him a knowing little smile and returned to his chair. The smell of popcorn wafted through from the kitchen and Raph could hear Mikey humming to himself as he puttered around. April sighed a little, tugging the blanket closer around herself and snuggling closer against him in her sleep. Mikey chose that moment to return from the kitchen, popcorn in hand, and Raph scowled at him in anticipation of more teasing - but Mikey just smiled. Raph rolled his eyes and looked away. He shifted position just a little to make sure April wouldn't be in danger of sliding forward as she slept, then settled in to watch the end of the movie.