April was watching her favorite BBC show as David played with his toys. She was currently bottle feeding Ricky. With Caitlyn gone, Raph needed family support even though he acted like he didn't need any. She took it upon herself to help with Ricky's care. While Raph worked at the shop with Casey's cousin, April would babysit. She still couldn't believe Caityln just left, the two women never really saw eye to eye anyways. When David was born, everyone was ecstatic. April thought Caitlyn would have been just as excited since at the time she was a month pregnant with Ricky. She remembered the face Caitlyn made when she saw newborn David.

In April's eyes she saw soft olive green skin that resembled Donnie's, David's back had no complete shell but remnants of it. His face was a replica of Don's with her own blue eyes. She was happy something of her was noticeable. When Caitlyn saw David she could see the disgust in her eyes. It had hurt her, and from that day on April and Caitlyn never got along.

"Oh Emma can't you see Sebastian is just no good for you?!" She argued at the English drama show. David looked at his mom before being distracted by his Legos again. Raph walked in carrying a motorcycle helmet.

"Hey April, thanks for watching Lil Ricky for me." he said as he walked over to where April was currently sitting. He sighed as he sank into the lazy boy exhausted from working at Casey's cousin motor shop.

"No problem, rough day?" She asked as she adjust herself.

"Yup..."

Ricky began to squirm upon hearing his dad's voice and began get fussy. April chuckled and went ahead and handed Ricky over to Raph.

"Hehe, what's the matter Ricky? Missing Pops already?" Raph held his son as he coaxed him to sleep. Raph noticed it was quiet.

"Where's everyone?" he asked as he patted Ricky over his shoulder.

"Don went to junkyard for some supplies, Leo and Rosa left to South America around 2 hours ago, and Mikey...well I'm not really sure, something about free comics and food."

Raph shook his head, "Has uh...Caitlyn come by..?" the slight sound of hope was etched in his question. He hoped that Caitlyn would change her mind. That she would see the grave mistake she was making.

April was a little surprised by his question but answered none the less, "No, she hasn't I'm afraid"

"Kay...uh me and Ricky are gonna catch some Z's, see ya"

"Alright, night boys" April said as Raph patted David on the head and then got up from the lazyboy and went to his room.

April sighed, she wished she could help, but knew there wasnt much to do but let time heal wounds, and hoped Raph bounced back.

"Frappe mocha caramel for Cindy" Nadia yelled out from the serving bar. Another busy day at Starbucks. The morning rush had not gone down and pretty soon they would go into lunch time rush. Days like these was almost a blessing, time went by quick, though she could do well without the rude customers.

"Green tea frappuccino!" she yelled over from the serving bar. A woman came and picked it. In a sling she had her baby wrapped tightly. Nadia couldn't help but smile. The woman thanked her and went on her way.

"Come on, Nadia...stop mourning already." Nadia convinced herself. As she whipped the counter clean.

Hours passed, and it was late afternoon. It was beginning to get dark. Nadia grabbed her coat, scarf, and satchel as she went to clock out. "Hey Christine I'm leaving now, Jane should be here in 30 minutes, let me know if anyone calls out"

"Sure thing boss, see you tomorrow" Christine yelled out from the counter. As soon Nadia walked out her phone started ringing.

"Hi Ma"

"Oh finally! You pick up phone, you know I been calling and calling and every time it sent to voicemail! I start to worry!"

"Ma, I was working remember? I told you this yesterday. Besides I couldn't use my cellphone, it was really busy"

"Nonsense! You should never be too busy to answer to your muqin. You just like your fuqin, that man always say he too busy to answer phone" her mom said as she continued to talk up a storm.

Nadia tried to walk and talk on the phone but with so many people on the street it was getting difficult, she made it to the crosswalk and waited to cross as heavy traffic sped by.

"That's because he is at work half the time Ma! Engineers are pretty busy people, you know what I gotta go I'm almost there anyways." Nadia said as she hung up her phone. She crossed the street and continued on her way for another 10 minutes before finally reaching her destination. A small Chinese restaurant packed with customers as always. Nadia weaved through the crowd and went to the back where her mother was cooking along with other workers. Her mother Vu, a master cook from China, had adopted Nadia when she came to America with her husband Jian. When hosting dinner parties, guest always complemented on Vu's cooking, with much encouragement from Nadia and Jian, Vu began her small business in Chinese cuisine and it has been a hit every since.

"Mama! I'm here" she yelled over in Chinese. Vu looked over as she smiled seeing her daughter. Vu yelled out orders to the workers as everyone else greeted Nadia. Vu came and gave her a huge hug and kiss on the cheek.

"My beautiful daughter, why it take you so long to come and visit. You know you I shouldn't have to call just to get your attention." her mother lectured as Nadia shook her head.

"Ma, I was just here the other Saturday, like a week ago"

"Not week! 10 days, that too long" Vu corrected, as she and her mom went to towards the back of the cute Chinese restaurant. Behind the building was a beautiful lush green garden with many flowers and a small waterfall with a koi pond. The tall bamboo and trees made very secluded and private. Vu had brought a tray of tea and Chinese sweets to the small garden table as the two seated themselves. Vu served the tea and prepped the sweets.

"Your fatha wanted to come for tea, but busy, busy, busy" Nadia began to prep her tea as her mother made small talk.

"He say new assistant is bright but careless. Always fixing little mistakes he leave behind"

"That's a shame" Nadia stated

Her mother looked at her, "when you going back Nadi? You not staying as coffee manager are you? "

"Mama" Nadia said sternly as she sipped her tea.

"No mama! You listen Nuhai." her mother said sternly

Nadia sighed as she put her teacup down.

"I know, it hurt to be betrayed. I know it hurt to be lied to. I know it hurt to lose child. But these hurts is what make you stronger, wiser. Starting with career, you too far to quit now!" her mother tried to encourage. Nadia said nothing as she looked down in her tea. Her mother frowned and spoke again.

"I too have lost child Nadia...it feels like half of you dies. Gone. But I got thru it, become stronger. Raise you, my lovely daughter. This too shall pass." her mother patted her hands and then changed the subject.

"You know that sniveling Kiba came by..."

"Kiba? What could he have possibly wanted?"

"What you think? He want you to take him back, he say he want to make amends"

Nadia scuffed at this information.

"You know what I tell him?" her mother said with a glint in her eyes. Nadia knew her mother very well and one thing she is known for is she loves to get her point across.

"I tell him 'he who cheat only cheat himself' then I sec Chow-Chow on him." her mother laughed at this as Nadia couldn't help but giggle too. Her mother was crazy sometimes. The laughter died down as a tranquility set in, it was times like these that made Nadia really appreciate her mom.

"Your rose bush grows" her mother pointed out as Nadia looked up and turned towards the white rose bush. It was growing quite beautifully. Its the rose bush Nadia planted with half of her child's ashes in the soil. Nadia smiled and nodded with agreement.

Having tea with her mom did make Nadia feel better, and she always was right about a few things. No parent likes to see their child suffer, and frankly that's all her mom wanted. To stop her suffering. Nadia knew her mom couldn't. In order for her to stop suffering Nadia had to do it herself. The two women talked about gossiped, catching up on things, reminiscing on past events. Soon it was getting late and Vu needed to supervise the kitchen. Nadia decided it was time to go home. Vu walked her daughter out to the front.

"Thanks for the tea Ma, really appreciate it." Nadia gave her mom a hugged who also returned the gesture.

"Remember, 'do not fear going forward slowly, fear only to stand still,' ancient Chinese proverb."

"Right..tell dad I miss him and I'll see him soon" Nadia waved goodbye as she walked on her way to the subway station.