A/N: I hope everyone is enjoying, if you are let me know. I know this one has some heavy content, but I hope it isn't too much of a downer.


"Star?" Yoshi had stepped out the door wearing his holo. He eyed the woman with her hands on his wife. "You okay?"

Star jerked her arm away from her mother, eyes still locked. She started back towards the door again.

"I wouldn't have come, if I had any other option." Her mother continued.

Star didn't look back. "I am not an option."

Her mother's voice took on a pleading edge. "I'll take anything." Star continued towards the door. "They'll kill me!"

Star paused barely a foot in front of Yoshi. She turned her head to look at her mother out of the corner of her eye, gaze as cold as ice. "Good."

Her mother gasped, her eyes growing wide. "How can you say that? So, you're just going to let me die!"

This time Star didn't look at her. "Yeah, just like you did me." She lifted her head and Yoshi saw pain flicker through her pale blue eyes. His body tensed and he scowled at the stranger. He took Star's hand and ushered her past him through the door.

"Star!" Her mother cried after her.

Yoshi glowered at the woman. "I don't know exactly what's goin' on here. But it's obvious, she don't want nothin' to do with you. I suggest ya leave, before somebody makes ya."

The woman glared at him, pointing into the house. "That's my daughter!"

Yoshi couldn't suppress the growl that left him. "No. That's my wife." The woman's eyes grew large again and her mouth hung open, as Yoshi turned and shut the door on her, making sure to lock it. He spotted Star headed up the staircase and he hurried after her. He finally caught up with her in the hall. "Hey…" Catching her wrist, he turned her to him. He lifted her chin and took in a sharp breath at the tears running down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry." She half croaked out. "I'm sorry."

He frowned, brushing away the tears. "What're ya sorry 'bout, doll?"

"I never thought she'd find me. Or at least I hoped she'd never find me again."

"She said she was your mother." He said softly.

Star snorted. "Some mother."

He frowned at her. "I thought ya said you didn't know your parents."

"My "mother"," she made air quotes with her hands, "left me in a dumpster when I was born. She was so strung out that she didn't even bother to take me somewhere that someone might find me. I don't think that qualifies as a mother. I'm lucky to not have come out a crack-baby." She sighed, looking up at him. "I didn't mean to lie to you though. I hadn't seen her for a long time when we met. I honestly didn't know if she was still alive." She touched his cheek. "And then I found out how good you guys are at staying off the grid. I just thought…"

"She'd never find you." She gave a small nod and he drew her against him. His large hands rubbing gentle circles on her back. "Do ya think she'll come back?"

She wrapped her arms tightly around him and took in a shuddering breath. "I…I don't know."

He frowned, considering the new information. This woman could be trouble, especially if someone was after her. They didn't need any unwanted attention. He sighed. "We're goin' to have to tell the others." She tensed in his arms, obviously not liking the idea. "I'm sorry." He murmured as he buried his nose in her hair.

She took in another deep breath. "It's okay. I understand." She buried her face against him. "But first, could you hold me for a little while."

Yoshi's arms tightened around her. "Anything you want, doll. Anything at all."


Liling sat up in the soft bed and looked around the room. Though it was rather sparse it was light and airy, a stark contrast from what she'd endured the past week. She almost felt like a princess, siting under the warm covers, clean and full for once. A smile crept across her face. Although it had been strange to meet the four large turtles, she hadn't been frightened of them. She had more reason to fear human men than these creatures. And she remembered stories her mother had told her as a small child about the giant turtle that helped to form the world. Obviously, they weren't those types of turtles, but it still put her at ease in some way.

And to discover there was a whole family of them living in this massive home was amazing. She couldn't help but wonder how big the place was and how many more might live there. She'd already met four more and she recalled hearing many more voices in the next room while in the kitchen. The human women too seemed very kind, especially the one that reminded her of her mother. A tear trickled down her cheek and she quickly swept it away. It had been more than five years and sometimes it was hard to remember her, particularly when her father had taken his frustrations out on her.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed away the old memories. They had promised she wouldn't have to go back there. Slipping from the bed, she wondered what to do. Should she go find Mira or Sarah? Or should she wait for someone to come get her? She remember Mira telling her something, but she couldn't remember exactly what she'd said. Music came from the hall and curiosity took over. She crossed the floor and opened the door. It seemed to be coming from another room down the hall. Listening, she moved a little closer. She'd never heard that kind of music before.

The door opened and she froze. The turtle she'd seen earlier stepped out. He blinked at her in surprise and then his brow furrowed. "Hey, isn't that my…" Shinta shook his head with a little laugh. His t-shirt came down to the girl's knees.

Liling relaxed a little when he laughed. But she couldn't remember his name. She pointed at herself "{I'm Liling. What's your name?}"

Shinta frowned. This might be a bit of a problem, since only his cousin and uncle could speak her language. Those born into the Hamato family could all speak some level of Japanese, but only the four brothers spoke it fluently. Which they did from time to time, when they didn't want anyone else to know what they were talking about. The girl repeated herself first pointing to herself and then him. "Oh, you want to know my name. I guess we did miss that earlier." He pointed to himself. "I'm Shinta."

She smiled. "Shinta."

He nodded. "I suppose you're looking for Aunt Sarah. Come on, I'll show you." He gestured for her to follow him. He led the way down the stairs to the third floor and knocked at their door.

Sarah answered it while running a brush through her hair. She smiled. "Up already?"

"I found her in the hall upstairs. I figured she was looking for you."

Sarah smiled at Shinta. "I hope you don't mind that I borrowed one of your t-shirts."

He chuckled. "Nah, she can keep it. I think that one was getting too small anyways." He was now twenty and nearly the same height as Leo, though his build was a bit more slender.

Sarah patted his cheek. "You need to stop growing."

Donnie appeared behind her. "If you had it your way, they'd all still be babies."

She shrugged with a smile. "True."

Shinta chuckled. "Dinner's ready. I'll see you guys downstairs."

As he left, Sarah examined the girl standing in the hall with nothing but a giant t-shirt hanging off her thin body. "Now, what are we going to do about clothes? You can't very well go around just wearing a t-shirt."

"We can fix that." Cat and Mira appeared at the end of the hall carrying several shopping bags.

Don's eyes widened. "Uh, I think I'll meet you downstairs too. This may take a while." Sarah giggled as he gave her a quick peck, then escaped down the hall.

Liling smiled at Mira as she held up a bag. "{We brought you some clothes.}"

Her eyes lit up. She couldn't recall ever getting new clothes. "{Really?}"

Mira nodded with her own smile. "{Yes. Let's see if they fit.}"


"How's the kid?" Raph sat at the table across from Donnie.

"She seems to be adjusting, but it's hard to tell since she's been here such a short time." Don filled his plate.

Ona had made supper, knowing that Sarah was still sleeping. And Kaz was trying to enjoy it with Kara in his lap. The problem was the three-year-old kept swiping his food. After the second slice of pizza was stolen, he decided not to set it on his plate. Instead he held it out of her reach. "Daddy!" The tot protested trying to nab it.

He chuckled as he chewed a bite. "Daddy's hungry too."

Jamie laughed. "She definitely has your appetite, Mikey." Beside her, Leo couldn't help but chuckle too.

Mikey grinned. "That just means she'll be as awesome as me."

K-three laughed as he filled Katsu a plate. "I guess we better hope the garage picks up business or you three will eat us out of house and home." Shinta couldn't suppress the snicker where he sat between Jamie and Kaz.

Ona giggled too as she slid into the seat beside Kaz. "You're going to have to learn to feed her first, otherwise you'll never get to eat." She filled a plate with more appropriate toddler foods. Kara grinned when her mother set in front of her.

Raph looked around the room. "Hey, where's Yoshi and Star?" His son was another one that was never late for dinner.

Jamie frowned. "They went upstairs after that woman came to the door. Yoshi didn't look very happy either."

Leo frowned. "What woman?"

Jamie shrugged. "This woman came to the door and asked for Star. She went outside with her and then Yoshi went too. When they came in, they both disappeared upstairs."

Concern marred Raphael's face. "They ain't come back down?" Jamie shook her head.

"When did this happen?" Leo felt a touch of concern as well.

"Right after the meeting."

That had been more than two hours ago. Raph pushed back from the table. "I'll go check on 'em." But as he started to stand, Yoshi and Star appeared. And just as Jamie had said, neither looked very happy. They both sat down and quietly began filling their plates.

"Who was your visitor?" Leo prompted.

Star fidgeted and Yoshi squeezed her hand. He frowned down at her before answering. "She was Star's birth mother."

The room fell quiet and Star clenched her eyes closed feeling everyone watching her. "I don't know how she found me."

"I thought there was a resemblance." Jamie said.

Don frowned. "Your mother is alive?"

Star bit her lip. "Like I told Yoshi, I don't think she qualifies as a mother."

Raph felt an angry protectiveness grow in his chest. "What'd she want?"

Star scowled, anger resentment seeping into her eyes. "The same thing she wanted the last two times I've seen her - money."

Leo's frown intensified. "Why do I have a feeling there is more to this story?"

Yoshi frowned back. "Because there is. We were gonna tell ya 'bout it after dinner."

Jamie could see how much this was upsetting Star. She squeezed Leo's hand and he met her gaze momentarily. He nodded. "Alright, after dinner."

About that time the girls arrived from upstairs. Sarah grinned as they entered. Behind her was Liling wearing a yellow dress with a yellow bow in her hair. She blushed as everyone turned to look at her. Sarah slipped her arms around Donnie's neck from behind. "Isn't she adorable!"

He chuckled, but the answer came from Jamie. "Yes, she is!"

Mikey smiled as well. "Totally."

Leo smiled at the girl. "It's certainly an improvement over last night." Shinta gave a small nod of agreement.

"It'd better be. Me and K-three had to go to ten different stores with these two." Raph grumbled gesturing at his wife and niece. But he had to admit, even Liling seemed more at ease in the new clothes.

Cat smiled as she sat next to him. "We told you that you didn't have to come, tough guy."

He smirked. "Darlin', you ain't goin' nowhere without me." Cat grinned, leaning up to kiss his cheek.

Sarah motioned Liling to the chair beside her, while Mira went to sit next to Katsu. Liling's eyes grew wide as she looked on the large spread and all the new family members she hadn't met yet.

Yoshi's brow furrowed. For some reason he'd thought she would be older. "How old is she?"

"She's just turned eleven." Mira provided as she started to fill her plate.

Ona's expression dropped as she felt her heart break for the child. She looked down at her own daughter. What kind of person would throw away their own child like that? Kaz frowned down at her and slipped his arm around her, placing a warm kiss in her hair.

Further down the table April had much the same reaction as Yoshi had. She could remember a story she'd done about human trafficking many years ago. But she recalled that most had been older teens. It broke her heart to see a small girl involved in such a terrible thing.

After dinner they settled down to hear Star's story. She explained she'd been left in a dumpster on Madison Street. Luckily a man had heard her crying and pulled her out within a few hours after her birth.

"I first met Kristy Nevelle when I was eight. I don't know how she found me or why. I think it may have been because the couple that had me at the time were talking about adopting me. One day she shows up out of the blue. Whatever she told them, they decided not to adopt me." Star sighed. "I was sent back into the system. While they were trying to place me, I heard one of the caseworkers say that she was trying to get me back. At the time I didn't understand why she'd all-of-sudden want me, when she threw me away like trash. Later on I figured out that she didn't want me, she wanted the check that came with me." Yoshi's hand tightened around hers. "I didn't see her again until I was fifteen. I had a little summer job on Coney Island. She shows up and gives me this long sob story about how her boyfriend beat her and threw her out. And she immediately starts asking me for money."

Star's jaw tightened. "I didn't know it at the time, but she was using it to buy drugs. I only gave her a few bucks, but that was all it took. Almost every day she showed up asking if I had any more. It didn't take long for me to figure out her game." Star sighed again. "I ended up quitting that job just so I could get away from her."

Leo sat forward with a deep frown. "How do you think she found you?"

Star shook her head. "I don't know for sure, but I guessed she must know someone who had access to the system and was keeping tabs on me." She frowned. "But I don't know how she found me this time. I'm sorry. If I'd thought she could find me, I would have said something a long time ago."

Raph put a hand on her arm, his expression sad. "This ain't your fault, kiddo."

"It certainly isn't." Leo rubbed his chin in thought, before looking up at his brother. "Don, do you think we could purge her file from the system?"

Don nodded. "Well, yes. But how much good would that do us now?"

"It would at least make this woman's contact useless." Leo said flatly.

Sarah shook her head. "But that doesn't change the fact that she knows where Star is now." Yoshi wrapped his arms around his spouse protectively.

K-three shifted beside Mira. "It doesn't sound like she's any kind of threat, more of a nuisance. We'll just have to be extra vigilant for a while."

Mira nodded. "We can pull her image from the security system and make sure everyone knows what she looks like."

Yoshi frowned. "There is one other thing. When she came by earlier she said if she didn't get some money, that someone was goin' to kill her."

Mikey folded his arms. "It sounds like she might be mixed up in something."

Leo's frown deepened. "Well, we're not going to let her get us mixed up in too." His dark blue eyes met Star's pale ones. "You're a member of this family, Star. And you know we take care of our own. If she bothers you, all you have to do is say something. We'll take care of it."

"That's right." Raph said firmly. "We ain't gonna let her hurt ya or get ya hurt."

Cat had sat quietly between Raph and Star. But an angry fire was blazing in her emerald eyes. "No, we won't."


A/N: That lady better watch herself, she's messing with the wrong family. ^_^ Remember to review!