A/N: Okay, so I decided I just couldn't wait to publish the chapter. I have add the Epilogue to the end of the chapter because I felt it was too short to be on its own. I hope you like it!

"Kala!" Mikey dashed into the tree line after her. He caught up with her quickly and latched onto her elbow. "Kala stop! What's going on?" The Neutrino fell to her knees, sobbing. Mikey knelt beside her. "Kala, please, talk to me."

"I can't do it….It hurts too bad….I just can't."

Mikey slowly pulled her into his arms. "Please, tell me. I know you're in pain. I want to help."

"You'll hate me. I hate me." Her sobs continued.

He stroked her hair. "No, I won't. I could never hate you, Kala. I love you."

She leaned back, wiping her eyes. "I wouldn't blame you if you did. I'm so weak."

He cupped her face. "No, you're not. You're strong and brave and kind." He took a deep breath, remembering his brother's words from nearly a year earlier. "You're my other half."

She pulled away from him and stood. She took a few steps away and stopped with her back to him. She wrapped her arms tightly around herself, trying to subdue the tremor that racked her body. "Okay, I'll tell you. And if you want me to leave, I will." Kala believed there was a large likelihood that he would. No one could want her after what happened. "When I was with Kassic…I got pregnant."

Mikey felt his blood run cold. She had had a child with that maniac? How could she have done something like that? And why hadn't she told him before now? Where was this child anyways?

Kala kept her back diligently to him, for fear of what might be seen in his eyes. She took a deep breath and continued to speak. "When I first found out it was relief, because Kassic stopped beating on me for a while. But that didn't last long." Tears slipped from her eyes again, her insides tightening. "I miscarried at three months after a particularly bad….argument."

Mikey stood behind her and reached out to touch her, but withdrew his hand when she started to speak again. Her voice trembled. "The worst part was…I was happy I lost it. Happy that I wasn't bringing another life into the world for him to hurt, happy that I wasn't going to be bound to him forever by a child, and happy that if he were to kill me that I wouldn't leave behind an innocent being unable to defend itself." She choked on a sob as she struggled to continue. "But I…I still feel its loss. It was my child as much as it was his. I should have left before that. I should have done more to protect it."

There was a roar and the crash of a tree behind her. Kala turned to see Michelangelo standing with his fists clenched tightly at his sides. His teeth were bared and his whole body quaked with rage. His face held an expression she had never seen on him before, dangerous and lethal. She took a step back as he took down another tree. "How dare he! How dare he!" Another tree was uprooted. "Damn him! Damn him to Hell!"

He was outraged for Kala, infuriated that any being would stoop so low, heartbroken for his beloved and disgusted at the Neutrino male. He wanted to rip him apart. He wanted to slice him open and see his insides spill onto the ground. Death was the only viable option for Kassic now. If he ever saw the man again, he wouldn't even allow him to take another breath in his presence.

Kala waited until Mikey finally fell to his knees and then she went to him. She cupped his face and was surprised to see tears streaming down it. He stared deep into her sapphire pools and pulled her to him so fast it knocked the wind out of her. "You've carried this all by yourself all this time?" Kala nodded against his chest. He clutched at her desperately. "Never, never again."

He growled possessively as footsteps approached. The three brothers stopped and gazed around at the new clearing Mikey had just made. "Is everything okay, Mike?" Leo asked. His only response was more growling as Mikey's arms tightened even more around Kala.

Donnie and Raph seemed to understand. Raph turned Leo back towards camp. "We better leave them alone for now."

They returned to their place beside the pond to find Sarah sitting beside Cat and April, Mira was in her lap weeping. Sarah stroked her little head and arms, trying her best to soothe her. She understood that Mira was upset because Kala and Mikey were. Distraction was the best tactic here. "Hey, are you ready to go swimming?" Mira lifted her head and nodded though the tears did not stop.

The guys knelt down beside them. Donnie nodded as well. "That's a good idea."

"What do you say, darlin'? You feel up to it?" Raph asked.

Cat nodded with a small smile. Donnie had said her wound was healed well enough that getting it wet shouldn't be an issue. "I'm ready, if you'll help me off with these other clothes."

Raph smirked, an impish glint in his eye. "Anything you want, darlin'."

Sarah wagged a finger at them in mock warning. "Now, you two behave there is a child present."

Cat snickered and stuck her tongue out at the other girl. "Like you two have a lot of room to talk."

Donnie laughed as he took Mira from his mate. The tot was finally starting to crack a small smile as her family bantered around her.

Leo tossed off his gear and took her from his brother. "Come on, Mira-chan, let's see what the water's like."

Raph reached down and pick up one of the water-guns. "Here, Leo." He tossed the toy to his brother, who easily caught it as he stepped into the water.

Donnie glanced down at the three remaining water-guns and then at his wife. Sarah felt the sparkle of mischief just before he grabbed one and dashed for the water. "Oh no, you don't!" Sarah squealed as she tossed off her top and shorts to reveal her bathing-suit, and charged after him.

April rolled her eyes and spread out her towel for some well-deserved sun bathing while Splinter chuckled at their antics. Cat chuckled too and grabbed at her side. It still hurt to laugh. Raph frowned. "You sure you want to do this? We could just stay up here."

Cat shook her head as she pulled her top off slowly. "No way I'm sitting out while everyone else is having fun."

Raph smiled and helped her off with her shoes and shorts. Then he helped her up and they waded down into the water, a water-gun hidden behind his back. He popped the little cap off with his thumb under the water, keeping it out of sight. He waited until Leo had filled the other gun and handed it over to Mira before brandishing his water weapon.

Leo threw up his free hand to block the onslaught. "Hey!" He laughed. "Get him, Mira-chan!" The tot in his arms grinned as she returned fire. Her aim was not nearly as good as her uncle's, who continued to soak Leo. Cat laughed at Raph's side, where he had her securely tucked against him.

A few feet away Sarah was trying to wrestle Donnie's gun from him. He laughed as he easily brushed off her attacks. She finally tackled him and they both went under. Sarah squealed as they resurfaced and he began tickling her.

Splinter smiled as he watched them from the shore. He loved to see his children enjoying themselves so. He understood that it had been difficult for them to be confined below all their lives. They had indeed been blessed by Cat's presence in their lives in many ways. He watched her for a moment, as she blocked the water that was splattering of Raphael's plastron from Mira's pistol. His son had chosen well, she was strong and brave and loyal to a fault.

He sighed. There was still someone missing though. He glanced at the tree line where both Kala and Michelangelo had disappeared. He worried for both of them. He had sensed that the girl's spirit had been troubled. He had hoped with time that his son would be able to heal the injuries to her heart.

A few hundred yards away, Kala was still held tightly against Mikey's chest. His breathing had evened out and the growling had ceased, but he still trembled from time to time. She allowed him to hold her as she listened to the erratic beating of his heart. They both remained silent as the wind blew softly around them, whispering its soft song in their ears. At length he spoke, his breath warm in her hair. She was surprised at the tenderness of his tone. "None of this has been your fault. Don't ever think that. Don't let him break you. Don't let him win, Kala."

"Oh, Mikey." Kala shut her eyes tightly, struggling to keep the tears in check. "You mean you're letting me stay?"

He shifted so he could look at her. He cupped her face with a frown. "Don't you get it? I love you. And nothing you could ever do will change that." Her tears fell free as he kissed her deeply. Her arms tightened around him. Never had she believed anyone could love her so completely. He was accepting her for everything she was, everything she had done, and everything she could possibly be in time. At last he released her lips to gaze her. "Promise me something?"

She nodded. "Anything." In that moment, she would have given him her very soul.

"Don't ever keep secretes from me again." His blue eyes pleaded with her from the very depths of his heart. "Please, Kala."

Her own eyes reflected her sincerity. "I promise."

He kissed her again with more fervor than before. He dug his large fingers into her hair and pressed the square of her back to pull her closer. Kala couldn't suppress the moan that escaped her. Mikey shivered, his pulse racing again but for an entirely different reason. His body ached as he felt her slip her arms around his neck, pressing her breasts against him. He left her lips to taste the skin of her neck while her fingers played with his mask's tails. The scent of her arousal burned his nostrils. For a moment his primal instincts fought the saner part of his mind for control.

Laughter echoed off the trees around them, causing him to pause and allowing him to force down those wild desires. They both glanced in the direction of camp. Kala sighed. "I hope I didn't ruin Mira's birthday."

Mikey smiled slightly. "Nah, I'm sure she's fine now." He rose and pulled her to her feet. "How about we join them? After all we can't let them have fun without us."

Kala giggled as she leaned her head on his shoulder while heading back to camp. He squeezed her hand and smiled down at her. She seemed lighter somehow. She had feared his reaction and now that it had passed she was able to fully move on. The memory of the lost child would never leave her but she could now look into the future with hope.

As they stepped from the shade of the trees back into the camp, Splinter let out a heavy sigh. They had changed. Kala's spirit now sparkled with joy and Michelangelo looked as though he had matured in a matter of a few minutes. There was an intensity in his son's eyes that told a powerful story, one he hoped one day to hear.

Mikey and Kala watched the others frolicking in the water for a moment. Mikey spotted the loan water-gun and the inflatable beach ball. The he grinned wickedly when he saw that April had fallen asleep on her towel. He walked forward to towards the cooler. "Would you like a water, Master?"

Splinter nodded. "Yes, thank you, Michelangelo." Mikey knelt to retrieve a bottle from inside. "Is everything alright, my son?"

Mikey glanced over his shoulder at Kala, who was slipping out of her outer layer of clothing to the bathing-suit beneath, and smiled. "Yes, everything is going to be fine now. " He handed over the bottle but didn't close the cooler. He scooped up a cup full of ice and water from the bottom. In one swift movement he dumped in it on his sleeping friend.

April shrieked and he took off for the water, scattering his knee and elbow pads in his wake, an irate redhead in hot pursuit. Kala laughed and gathered his pads and bandanna where they had been abandoned. She placed them beside the towels and dug out the plastic bag and tape. She smiled sheepishly at Splinter. "Would you mind helping me, Master Splinter?"

The old rat smiled and she knelt beside him as he wrapped her cast. "Your spirit is much more at peace now."

Kala nodded and her eyes drifted to Mikey, who was still being chased by April. "Yes, thanks to your son I can finally start to heal." She looked back up at Splinter. "I owe you all a great deal of gratitude that I can never repay. You've all done so much for me and even risked your lives."

Splinter smiled slightly and placed a hand on her shoulder. "You are a part of this family Kala. You hold my son's heart as he holds yours. Be happy. That is repayment enough."

Kala smiled. "Thank you, Master Splinter."

She picked up the water-gun with a sparkle in her eye and went to rescue Mikey from April.

Epilogue

Mikey looked up as the door to his room was slid aside to reveal Kala. He smiled. It had become something of a ritual now for her to visit him in the evening after most of the family had gone to bed. Sometimes she'd stay with him, curling into him as she slept. Other times she'd return to her room and he'd lay awake listening to the sound of her steady breathing through the thin screen that separated them.

It had been eight months since she had reappeared in the night sky. Eight months since Cat had nearly died and he had learned the horrifying truth of how badly Kala had been hurt. Things had changed slowly and for the better. Kala laughed more and the sparkle remained her eyes a lot longer now. She and Mira were finally bonding. The little tot had already taken to calling her "Aunt Kala", which the Neutrino seemed to enjoy.

Though the physical marks were gone, the emotional scares were still very pronounced. Sometimes she'd still cry and he'd hold her late into the night until she'd fall asleep. They hadn't told the others much, only that she'd miscarried at the hands of Kassic. Sarah had actually started crying, and Donnie had had a time trying to console his mate. Raph and Cat had reacted much as Mikey had with outrage. Leo had remained silent though his eyes had turned dark and his frown had been deep. Both Splinter and April had expressed their deepest sympathies.

Now as he removed the last of his gear and set aside his bandana, she slipped into the chair with him. She straddled his hips as his arms came up to wrap around her. He waited for her to speak as she leaned into him, resting her head on his shoulder. "Mikey, I want to be with you….completely with you."

He sighed as he brushed a hand through her hair. "It wouldn't be right, Kala. I want to be with you too, but…." He sighed again. "I won't dishonor you like that. You're everything to me."

"Then let's get married." Kala smiled when she heard the sharp intake of air. She sat back to look at him. His eyes held wonderment and his mouth hung open a bit.

His gaze flickered about the room as if making sure he wasn't dreaming. "You'd marry me?"

She smiled as she cupped his face. "You've taught me to love again, to laugh again and to be me again. I could not imagine spending another moment of my life without you." Her eyes sparkled as she spoke. "Michelangelo, please marry me."

He crushed her lips with his, pressing as much of her body as he could get against him. It was incredible, this feeling inside like he was going to burst into a million pieces. Never could he have possibly imagined having Kala's love, let alone having her as his wife. She had blown his mind with her words and desires. His body cried out for hers as did his soul. "I love you more than anything."

Kala smirked. "Even more than pizza?"

"Well…" He made an act of thinking that through and laughed when she lightly slapped his shoulder. "It's close, but yep definitely more."

Kala laughed as he moved them to the bed and leaned over her. "Well, I hope it wasn't too close."

Mikey laughed now as he ran a hand down her cheek. "Nope. You've got nothing to worry about, babe." He raised an eye ridge at her. "Hey, did you just propose to me? I thought the guy was supposed to do that."

Kala chuckled. "You still can, if you want."

He smiled. "Nah, too much work. It doesn't matter, as long as I can have you."

She smiled too. "Tomorrow?"

He nodded. "And every tomorrow after that."

A/N: Yes, this is the end of this story, but not the end of this series. Please keep watching for more. Oh, and don't forget to review! :) See, you guys when I get back from Alaska!