"You set for this?" Casey shifted the package under his arm, and half-heartedly pushed his hair back into place.

"Of course. Would you relax?" April pulled Shadow up into her arms a bit and rang the doorbell.

A few seconds later, Michelangelo opened the door and grinned. "Hey! Good to see ya! Come on in." He pushed the door open and waved them inside. He leaned down a bit to peer at Shadow as April brought her closer.

"Hey, microdudette!" He wiggled two fingers at her, and Shadow shrieked in delight. No one knew why Shadow loved Michelangelo so much, but April and Casey didn't really care, so long as it meant they had a babysitter they knew she'd love having.

Mr Samuels was chatting with Kia, but stopped when he saw April enter with Shadow. "Ah, at last - the cute one of the family."

April laughed. "That's for sure - this is Shadow." She held her up towards Mr Samuels, and with mock gravity he shook her hand.

"Very pleased to meet you, my dear."

"Wow - she's cute, April," added Kia.

"Thanks, Kia," April smiled.

Casey looked uncomfortable. He hated parties. All the talk was always so phony. Raphael, noting his facial expression, broke away from Splinter and walked over.

"Nice game by your Chargers Sunday."

Casey managed to look both relieved and upset. "Oh, sure, bring that up."

"I have to. If I keep it down, I'll die."

"Horrible. It's like they wanted to show me just how much they sucked."

"You didn't put anything down on it, didja?"

"I wanted to, but remembered what you said...and what I promised April. Thanks. You saved me a hundred."

Raphael grinned. "My fee's twenty percent."

Casey returned the smile. "It's in the mail."

"Liar. Want a drink?" Raphael held his glass of soda up.

"You pansies don't have beer, do you?"

"Maybe we do. Sure you don't gotta ask the boss lady first?" He nodded his head over towards April, smiling. "Let's see what we can round up for you." They headed for the kitchen, but moved aside to let Donatello out, who was carrying a cup of hot tea for Splinter.

"Thanks." Donatello put the cup and saucer on the table next to Splinter.

"Thank you, my son."

"Is this all you drink, Splinter?" asked Mr Samuels. "Tea?"

"Most of the time, yes. There was a time I only drank Japanese green tea, so I suppose I'm expanding my horizons slowly." Splinter smiled.

Mr Samuels grunted at Donatello. "Shouldn't you make him try something different?"

The doorbell interrupted Donatello's reply. "Oops - hold on a sec." As he walked to the door, he wondered, who's left? Us five, Mr Samuels, Kia, Mondo...he hadn't finished mentally going through the list before he reached the door and opened it. Glancing at the visitor on the doorstep, he flinched, but managed to maintain his cool.

"Oh, hey, um...Don'tello, right?"

"Uh, yeah."

Rocksteady grinned toothily. "I knew I'd start rememb'rin' which o' yous was which. Leonardo here?"

"Sure, sure, come on in." Donatello stepped aside to let the large mutant pass. Rocksteady ducked under the doorframe, and glanced around as Michelangelo shut the door.

"Wow, yous got a nice house!"

"Thanks. Party's in here." He led him into the living room where all conversation suddenly stopped, making the Miles Davis disc suddenly seem a lot louder.

"Everybody, this is Rocky," Donatello began, remembering to use the name Rocksteady preferred now. He spun around, and ticked off a few people. "You know Raph, Splinter, April, Casey, Mike and Leo." Splinter half-bowed, Raph smirked, but the rest gave a half-wave. "I don't know if you know Mondo and Kia."

Rocky tilted his head a little. "Are you the guys what's in the band?"

Kia just stared, but Mondogecko nodded. "Yeah - Diablizard."

"I see you up on the signs 'round town, but I keep forgettin' to go see yous. Sorry."

"That's cool."

Donatello completed the introductions. "And this is Mr Samuels."

"You the one what owns this place?"

"Y-yes," said Mr Samuels, uncertainly. Rocksteady made no motion to come shake his hand, which Mr Samuels was very grateful for.

"It's really neat! I like these old places."

"Well, uh, thank you."

Scanning the room one more time, he spied the baby in April's arms. "Hey, I didn't know you twos had a kid!"

April swallowed, and smiled. "Yes. Her name is Shadow." Steeling herself, she continued, "Um, did you want to see her?" She prepared herself to hand off her child to the 450-pound mutant.

"Nah - little kids always start screamin' when they see me. Big kids, too. And some grown-ups." Rocky glanced down at the envelope in his hand. "Oo, Leonardo! I got you something for your birthday." He half-walked, half-stomped over to where Leonardo was sitting. "Happy birthday!" he announced, and handed the envelope to him.

Leonardo took the envelope, and managed to make his smile seem non-condescending. "Thanks, Rocky. You didn't have to do that."

"Just wanted you to know there's no hard feelings or nuttin." Excitedly, he sort of danced in place. "Go ahead! Open it! Open it!"

Leonardo looked around to gauge reactions - they were more or less planning to open presents later on, after dinner. Seeing Splinter nod, he smiled at Rocky and tore the envelope open. He reached in and pulled out a smaller envelope. Examining the contents, his face took on a puzzled look.

"What is it?" asked Michelangelo.

"Gift certificates." read Leonardo.

April smiled. "To where?"

Leonardo glanced up, still looking somewhat puzzled. "McDonald's." Raphael laughed once, but Splinter touched his shoulder, which silenced him. Managing a smile, Leonardo added, "You know, I've never actually eaten at McDonald's, Rocky."

"Oo, then you gotta try it! The Big Mac is really really good! Except it ain't that big, so you gotta order four or five of 'em."

"I'll certainly try it." Leonardo held the gift certificates to his forehead, a gesture of thanks he picked up from Splinter. "Thank you very much."

"No problem, Leonardo. You know, no hard feelings. I can't really stay, though - I'm gonna go visit BeBop, then I promised the guys from work that I'd pick up some beer and watch a game with 'em."

Splinter asked, "How is BeBop?"

Rocky turned to him and shrugged. "He's OK, I guess. Looks like he might be outta jail in May 'f he keeps 'is nose clean. He says once he's out, he's goin' straight like me."

Giving a slight bow, Splinter remarked, "You have done an admirable job reforming, Rocky."

"Aw, it ain't that hard, actually - my boss now is tons nicer'n Shredder ever was."

Donatello started walking toward the door. "Well, thanks for stopping by..."

"No problem. Goodbye, everybody!" He waved excitedly to everyone in the room, then walked out with Donatello.

Mr Samuels sighed, then turned to Leonardo. "Don't you know anyone..."

"...normal?" finished Kia, smirking.

Splinter smiled. "Mutants tend to find solace with other mutants."

"Even ones that used to clobber you on a regular basis," added Michelangelo.

Mondogecko looked intrigued. "Clobber...what do you mean?"

Michelangelo nodded. "Rocksteady there used to be Shredder's right-hand mutant. Him and Be-bop and us used to mix it up pretty often."

Mondogecko looked shocked. "That's Rocksteady?"

Nodding, Michelangelo grabbed some chips for a bowl nearby. "Uh-huh. He's gone straight."

Mr Samuels shook his head. "Who would possibly hire him?"

Donatello came back in with a six-pack of soda. "Strip club. I can't remember the name. Kitty Cat Corner or something. He's the bouncer."

"Hm. Makes sense."

Raphael laughed and shook his head. "McDonald's gift certificates."

Splinter, shaking his head slightly, said, "My son, there is an excellent phrase involving gift-giving - 'it is the thought that counts.' Perhaps it was not the perfect gift for Leonardo, but he did think of him - and spent his own earned money to purchase something for him. Would you have thought such a thing was possible, as recently as last year?"

Donatello laughed. "The only thing we used to get from him was a telephone pole to the face."

Holding up his hands, Raphael said, "Point made." He half-bowed to Splinter. "Thank you, sensei."

Snorting, Mr Samuels said, "Geez. Even during parties, there's a lesson."

Michelangelo shrugged. "Always more to learn." He finished off his chips, then turned back to Leonardo. "Since you've gotten a head start on the gift opening, you wanna finish it off?"

Leonardo looked around the room, with a "well?" look on his face. Casey picked up the box and envelope, walked over and placed them in his lap. "Gotta show you we've got better taste than Rocksteady."

Michelangelo quickly said, "We all pitched in to get you this."

April added, "The box is from us. Maybe you should open that first."

Upon seeing the nodding from several in the room, Leonardo put the envelope aside and began opening the box. Once the lid was off, he stared into the box for a second, not quite understanding what he saw. Finally, he reached inside and withdrew a large grey piece of cloth. He turned it over in his hands, and finally held it up correctly.

"It's...it's a karate uniform."

April said, "In your size, no less."

"Not the easiest thing to find," added Casey, smiling.

"That's...it's great! I've always wanted one." Leonardo held it up. "Sensei - it has your crest on it!"

Splinter bowed. "I am honored to have you wear it, my son."

Leonardo just stared at it for a while. This was something he never expected, and he was surprised by how much it affected him. "Thank you," he finally said, quietly.

Michelangelo urged him. "Hey, open ours now."

"Oh. Right." He put the karate uniform carefully on his lap, then picked up the envelope. He ripped the end off, then slid out the contents. Unfolding the papers, he began reading them to himself. After a few seconds, he looked up. If he looked puzzled earlier, he looked completely flummoxed now.

"Read it out loud," suggested Donatello.

Looking back down, Leonardo began reciting. "Leonardo Hamato, this letter confirms your payment for entry in the Greater New York City Karate Competition for November 17. Enclosed please find a schedule, along with your draw number...what is this?"

Raphael leaned over the back of a chair. "Remember wishing you could spar with someone besides us four? Well, you got your wish."

Michelangelo grinned. "We enrolled you in a karate competition. Think you're up to it?"

Leonardo just stared at the paper, then finally looked up at Splinter. "A karate competition! Sensei, do you feel I'm ready for this?"

Smiling slightly, Splinter said, "My son, I would not have consented to your enrollment if I did not think you were up to the challenge."

"You really think I can win?"

"I do not know your chances of winning, Leonardo. But that is not why we enrolled you. You wished to spar with someone outside your family. Even if you lose your first bout, you will have at least faced a new opponent, and hopefully learned something as well."

Leonardo slipped to the floor, went into a kneeling position, and bowed, holding the paper to his forehead. "Thank you, everybody. I hope I prove worthy."

Mondogecko laughed. "Hey, lessons are fine 'n' all, but no getting all formal during a party!" He nodded towards Donatello, who was next to the stereo, and tossed a CD to him. "Fresh from Diablizard Studios. If that don't get the party out of formal mode, nothing will."