Ok, this takes place after The Mutation Situation and before the Mutagen Man Unleashed. Also, I know this isn't there real ages but for this story I am saying that the turtles are 17. i do not own TMNT.

Lea didn't know what to do. This was not how she imagined meeting her family again after all these years. Lea had hoped maybe the villagers would cause a distraction, but no such luck. They all seemed to be rooted to the spot, transfixed, just waiting for something to happen. Lea knew she had to face them, so she took a deep breath and turned around.

Raph couldn't believe what he was seeing. He was afraid to blink, fearing this was just a dream and that she would disappear if he took his eyes off her for one second. There before him, was a turtle he believed to be his long lost sister. The more he looked at her the more he knew this couldn't possibly be a dream. He couldn't dream anyone up who looked that gorgeous.

She had grown over the years. She still wore her blue mask, but other accessories were added as well. She still had her brown leather belt, the wrappings around her arms and legs, and her twin katana which were hanging at her side, but now she also sported a chain which she had wrapped around her waist above the belt, a dark green cloak, and a blue beaded necklace with a tooth in the middle. The only thing she was missing were the knee and elbow pads. She was the definition of HOT in Raph's opinion.

Raph was pulled out of his day dreaming when Master Splinter called out to her once again. "Leonarda, is that you my child?"

Lea was still shaking. Whether out of fear or the taser she had taken to the neck she couldn't tell. She was at a loss for words. Thankfully, she didn't have to say anything. For at that moment, Angela ran into her. She pulled her into a fierce hug, and broke down sobbing. "Lea," she whispered repeatedly. Lea stood there for a moment, her arms held out wide before she slowly embraced her sister. The others soon followed, encircling her in their warm embrace. She had finally found her family, she was home in their arms.

They stayed like that until the villagers started cheering praises to the Ghost of the Jungle. There was mention of a party to celebrate and a ceremony honoring her. Lea was whisked away before the rat or turtles could make any objection. They were told they were welcome to stay and join the party as honored guests of the Ghost of the Jungle. Of course they stayed, they had just gotten her back. They weren't going anywhere.

When they asked why they couldn't see her they were informed, she was being prepared for the ceremony. So they impatiently waited.

They had barely gotten to see her, much less talk to her. But what could be said? They wanted to know what had happened all those years ago, and they wanted to know how she had ended up in Panama. The biggest thing they wanted they wanted to know right now was who was Ronan? Why was he hunting her? But more than anything at the moment, they just wanted to see her. To be able to hold her in their arms, to know she was real and this wasn't a dream.

Splinter had known she was alive, he could always feel it. Angela had hoped that somehow she was still alive, but she had slowly been losing faith after all these years. And Donnie and Raph had lost hope a long time ago.

Now here she was. They had so many questions, but that would have to wait. The ceremony was about to start.

A crowd had gathered around a huge bonfire. It was strange to the turtles that they were welcomed into the group with open arms. Raph was getting extremely antsy and agitated. He was about to start yelling and questioning the locals where his long lost sister was they started banning on drums. The ceremony had started. A group of tribes women came out of a tent in rows of two. All were ornately dressed. When the last pair of women came out of the tent, they all separated. Forming a path from the tent to the bonfire. The two women on each side of the tent reached out, and pulled the flaps back to reveal Lea.

If Raph had thought she was gorgeous before, he had no words to describe her now. Her swords had been removed from her side, and she no longer wore the dark green cloak or her mask. Instead she now wore a white shawl that had been gently laid over her head, shoulders, and arms and it went down to the back of her knees. Blue, white, and silver paint covered her eyes instead of her mask as well as ran along her body. It was mostly blue and silver paint with only an accent of white around her eyes. She still had the chain around her waist and the tooth necklace dangled from her neck. Raph found her stunning.

She gracefully made her way out of the tent towards the bonfire with the other woman following behind her as the beating of the drums began to pick up. The ceremony began with the woman dancing around Lea and the bonfire. Then the woman began to back off, leaving Lea to dance around the fire. It was a hypnotic sight. She danced perfectly with the beat of the drums as the moon began to rise behind her. She continued dancing until the drums came to a stop. She knelt down on her knees where she stood. The village shaman came up beside her with a bowl in his hands. He began speaking in a strange tongue before he dipped his hand in the bowl, brought it back out, and sprinkled water over her head. Once that was done he told her to rise, "Tonight we honor you for your bravery."

Once the ceremony was completed, a feast was prepared and held in her honor. Everyone ate until their stomachs were full. Then the drums picked up once again and everyone began dancing. But Raph noticed Lea walk away. He followed her to a lake where she came to a stop at its edge, her back facing him.

All was quiet except for the faint sound of the drums. Raph didn't know what to say, he was never good with words. Thankfully he didn't have to as Lea began speaking. "It sure is a lovely night."

"Yes, it is."

"If you don't mind me asking," she turned her body halfway to look at him. She was the epitome of beauty with the blue and silver body paint, and the ceremonial white shawl. The moon shown off the water of the lake behind her. "What are you all doing in Panama?"

"We came out here for spiritual cleansing," Raph said quietly. "The real question is what are you doing in Panama? I had given up hoping you were alive and okay after so many years."

Lea sighed and turned back to the lake, "It's a long story. One I should probably wait to tell you all as one."

"Fine," Raph walked up to her side. "Then tell me about this hunter, Ronan."

"That's a long story as well, but the short story is he's been hunting me for the past five years. His full name is Ronan Tobias Jones. He's an American, but he's been down here ever since he found me. He can't seem to make up his mind whether he wants to keep me as some sort of pet or kill me and keep me as a trophy."

Raph growled under his breath, "Well he's not ever going to get you. Not when you have us."

Lea smiled weekly, "Thanks Raph." She leaned into him, and slowly put her arms around him. "It's so good to see you again."

The next morning, Lea walked into her families camp. "Hey guys."

"Lea!" Her siblings called out as they charged at her. She fell to the ground in a hug. She would have laughed if the air hadn't been knocked out of her. "You just disappeared last night. We weren't sure where to find you or if you would come back."

"Of course I came back. I just went to the place I call home around here to get some rest. I know I wouldn't have gotten that around her, the Embera people probably celebrated straight on into the early hours of morning."

"You would be right my child." Splinter said as he walked up to his children. He scrutinized his long lost daughter closely before turning around, and walking into the forest. "Come Leonarda."

Lea hesitantly followed, she had not gotten the chance to talk with her father the night before. Now that the time had come, she was a bundle of nerves.

They traveled to a small creek where Splinter proceeded to sit in the ground, "Please. Meditate with me." He could tell Leonarda was nervous, so he would not push her yet. They meditated for half an hour before Splinter finally spoke. "It is good to finally see you again my daughter. I had the feeling you were alive."

"Thank you father. It is good to see you again as well. I missed all of you."

"I missed you too my child. What are your plans now that we have been reunited? I don't think I need to tell you that Michelangela would hunt you down if you disappeared again." Splinter laughed, smiling lightly.

Lea smiled as well before frowning, "I don't know father. I realize the others are expecting me to come home with you when you head back. But this has been my home for years, how can I just leave it? Besides, I have to watch the tribes."

Splinter knew this might be a problem. "I suggest you talk with the tribes people. You seem to care about them very much. I will admit I want you to come home with us, but this is your choice. Just know that we cannot stay here. Eventually we will have to return to New York City. A lot has happened since you've been gone and the city needs us. I will accept your choice, no matter how hard it may be. Now go, talk to the tribe."

Lea got up and left.

Lea sat in front of the village elder. "Please, I don't know what to do. I have lived in Darien National Park many years now, and I have come to see it as my home. And I have taken up the responsibility of protecting the tribes. But I have found my family again. They wish for me to return to New York City with them. I just got them back, I don't want to lose them again. But if I go, then I am leaving the tribes defenseless. I just don't know what to do."

"Lea," The elder spoke. "You know how much we value family. Are you willing to tear yours apart?"

"No."

"Good, because I believe you should go with them. The tribes got along well enough before you came along, and we can do it again. Besides, it's not like you would have been around forever anyway. We have given you much over the years, but your family can give you more than we can. You should go, but know you always have a home here in Darien National Park."

Lea thought about what the elder said, before leaning forward to hug them. "Thank you."

"You're welcome, but you should probably let the other tribes know before you leave. The little ones will surely be upset if they don't get to see you one last time, and get to tell you goodbye."

"Understood." With that, Lea got up and made preparations to leave.

Angela paced back and forth, "She should have been back by now. What if she is not coming with us?!" Tears formed in her eyes, "We just got her back. We can't lose her again. She just has to come with us. she has too." She began sniffling.

Donnie pulled her in his arms. "It'll be okay Angie."

'No it won't' Angela thought.

Raph watched from the sideline. He desperately wanted Lea to come home. If she decided to stay...

Just then, Lea appeared in her regular garb with her blue mask, green cloak, tooth necklace, twin katana at her side, and her chain wrapped snugly around her waist. She carried a bag over her shoulder. "So," she asked. "Whose ready to go home?"

That's it for now. Please review. The next chapters will lead back into the episodes, but my own twists will be added to the story.