Hey guys! Thanks for all the reviews. I'm about to head off to Water world, so I'll this quick.

I hope you all enjoy the new chapter. As requested, I put Arinna's back-story into it all.

Ps. At some point, I asked my sister to be the one to finish this chapter up and post it. So if you see a different writing style at some point in this, it is her writing.

She might also leave a message somewhere just so you now -_-

I wanted to post this today, but I knew I wouldn't be able to finish it once I go to Water World because I'll be to tired. So I requested my sister to do it for me.

Well, Bye bye!

Plastic cup?
Nope.

Broken TV?

Nope.

Old blanket?
Yes.

You know, going through the dump isn't that bad. You actually find a lot of cool stuff in there. The only problem is getting all the stuff you find out.

Fore instance, an old blanket that is in rather good shape.

Chuckling triumphantly I turned the blanket around to examine the other side. Something small with multiple legs came into view.

It stood menacingly in the center of the blanket, daring any poor fool to stand against it.

Frozen in place, we stared at each other in an intense mental combat.

A spider.

I was on this creatures turf with no way of escaping. I had to be strong. The little babies depended on me! If I didn't safely retrieve this blanket, they would be shivering all night.

So, with a deep breath, I narrowed my eyes, ready to attack.

Okay Arinna, this is going to take skill, courage, and a well thought out plan.

"….AHHH! Get off! Get off! Get off!" a shrill cry escaped me as I shook the blanket wildly.

Yup. I'm that good. Be jealous.

With a good flick, I sent the spider flying, shooting towards some cans.

"Hah!" I laughed, pointing to the pile. "Can't scare me, stupid spider." An eerie 'CrEeK' stopped my boasting long enough for me to notice one of the large piles of trash tipping over. "Oh wait no no-!" I screamed a little too late as the pile fell down on me.

With a cry of agony, I couldn't help but feel that Spider was laughing at me now. Most likely thinking, 'Karma for stealing my home!"

Well shut up you stupid Spider! I completely intended for that to happen!

Pushing upward, I forced a few boxes off of me, giving me enough room to crawl out of the mess. Whipping my brow, I glanced back at the pile with distaste. At least there was one good thing that came from the whole endeavor.

I could use these boxes to help carry back some of the supplies. With that happy thought, I reached for a medium sized box, stuffing the blanket inside.

With a nod, I moved to get up when one box in particular caught my interest.

"Oh? What is this?" I mumbled, pulling the box towards me. It was still tapped up, most likely having never been opened. Titling my head, I reached into my pocket to pull out a pocketknife I had found towards the beginning of my Dump Diving Adventure.

Yes, I've named this my Dump Diving Adventure.

Cutting the tape, I ripped the box open, frowning at what could possibly be inside: when what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a few shirts… and eight tiny reindeer.

... Hmm, yeah that was lame. I should wait till it was closer to Christmas for those sorts of jokes. Oh well, too late to take it back.

Oh, but wait…

Digging through the box, I blinked when I pulled out a robe looking sort of thing. It was super long, Auburn colored, and folded around itself like a robe.

Would Splinter want a robe? It definitely wasn't a bathrobe… it seemed more like a kimono. Well, Splinter said he was from Japan, so he might have worn a kimono before. Plus, he was a big guy… Rat, so this should fit him.

With a smile, I folded the robe back up and stuffed it back in the box. Placing it on the box I had before, I picked them both up and continued my search.

It was odd. I had gone through the dumps many times before, but this time just seemed… different. Maybe it was because I wasn't just looking for things to help myself to survive. I was looking for things to help other survive.

It was a nice feeling to help others. To have others need you and be grateful for you.

With a bright smile on my face, I skipped through out the garbage, keeping a sharp eye out for anything that might be of us to me.

I had only been in the dump for at least an hour before the two boxes I was carrying were filled to the brim. The load was starting to get heavy as well and I had a ways to go before I would reach Splinter and the boys.

I could always come back later anyway. This dump wasn't going anywhere anytime soon.

So, good day to you dump! Thank you for you generous donations to the Turtle Tots Society!

Oh, I liked that! The 'Turtle Tots Society" It had a nice ring to it, if I do say so myself.

(Sup, I'm the sister. The author of this story had decided to be a butt and leave me to finish this up while she is off gallivanting in the sunny wonders of water world. You should all yell at her for pushing her stuff on poor innocent me.)

With a grin I turned on my heel and began to walk out of the dump.

"Oh I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts, dodododo," I sang happily. "There they all are standing in a row! Big ones small ones some the size of your head!"

You gotta love Disney songs.

When I was little my brother and I had a Disney marathon every weekend. Those were some of my best memories with him.

With one final twirl (which was a bad idea. I almost lost the boxes when I tripped) I waved wildly to the dump and skipped all the way back.

Life was good. It wasn't perfect, but it was good.

-000-

Pushing myself through the ticket booth, I peeked out from behind the boxes to stare around. Seeing no one, I frowned.
"Uh… hello?' I called awkwardly.

Something shuffled a bit in the other room and hesitantly peeked out. I blinked to see Splinter staring at me, relived to find it was I and not someone else.

"Oh, Ms. Arinna. Forgive me, I thought you might be someone else." He apologized.

"Nah, it's fine." I shrugged. "Where are the boys?"
"The little ones are resting." Splinter announced, gently closing the door behind him, making sure not to make any noise.

With a nod, I moved to the center of the room, where I placed the boxes down. "So, I found a bunch of great stuff for you to use." I began, opening the first box.

Splinter approached the box, smiling. "You seem very good at this."

"Years of experience." I smirked. Sitting down, I began to take out the box's content. "I got a few blankets, some old pillows, a couple cans of food for you, an old first aid kit, a couple knives… though, I'm not sure what you would use them for. Maybe self defense, I dunno." I shrugged, placing the items on the ground.

"I see." Splinter nodded, lifting the knives up to examine them.

"Oh hey, I found this. It looks completely new too, I don't think the guy who threw it away knew what he was losing." I chuckled, lifting the box with the robe up to him.

Taking it carefully, Splinter titled his head at the kimono like robe.

What if he doesn't like it? I mean, I don't think I would want to wear a kimono all the time. Then again, that's just me.

"This… this is perfect Ms. Arinna." He smiled.

Oh thank goodness he likes it!

"Really? Awesome!" I almost sighed with relief, but held myself back.

"Thank you very much Ms. Arinna. You have already helped us in so many ways I am not sure how I will ever repay you." Splinter said genuinely, looking up from the box.

"Aww, it was nothing, really. I'm just glad I could help." I placed a hand on his shoulder with a warm smile.

"Where shall you go from here Ms. Arinna? Back to your family?" Splinter inquired after a few seconds, glancing at me.

"Oh… um… no, not really." I shrugged. "I don't really… live with my family. I actually don't have one." I admitted slowly. Splinter's eyes widened and he bowed his head in apology.

"I apologize for bringing up painful memories." He said softly.

"Oh no… don't be. You didn't know." I said quickly. "I've been living on my own since I was 13 anyway." I hadn't even realized just how fast time had gone by. I was already 18 years old since my dad had left.

"13? Why at such a young age?" Splinter sounded shocked.

I frowned. No one had really ever bothered to ask me of my past. I admit to being a little hesitant about sharing it. But Splinter had already told me his past, as sad as it was for him, so it was only fair.

"My mom disappeared when I was only 10. No one knows where she went, she just… vanished out of thin air." I started to explain. "Then my dad didn't really care much for me. It seemed he would get arrested every other week. At some point, he got in some real trouble. Got put in jail for 3 years."

"When he was released you did not return to him?" Splinter asked.

"No." I scowled, which I rarely did. I mean that too. It actually hurt to scowl, no joke! "He didn't bother to look for me, and I was doing better on my own than with him. He wanted… he wanted me to help him with some of his crimes. Help him deliver drugs and other things. I wouldn't help him, so he had no use for me."

My dad cared for me once. Then my mom disappeared and everything changed. He showed his dark side, a side I wanted to part of.

"And you have been living on your own ever since?"

"After my dad was arrested I was with my older brother. He was my legal guardian until I turned 16. After I turned 16 though, we went separate ways. It happened right after my dad was let out." I rubbed the back of my head.

There was so much to say to him. I wasn't sure if I was ready to start talking about all of my past. Maybe it would be best if I just think it all through?

My Brother for instance. His name was Vincent. After what happened with my parents, he was the only family I had left. He was everything to me. He was there to protect me, raise me, and help me smile. He taught me everything I knew on self-defense, even if it was just a little, and how to survive on the streets.

Then two years ago, after my dad was let out, my brother said he had some work to do. He was always getting into fights and tangled together with gangs.

Don't get the wrong idea though! My brother wasn't apart of gangs. He was more of a vigilante who got involved with things… that almost got him killed.

The night he disappeared, my brother heard of some trouble happening and told me to stay home. He went to go check it out, and never came back. He completely disappeared, just as my mom did. The police assumed he had been killed, or just took off somewhere, unable to support me.

I never believed that. I knew something happened to my brother that night that stopped him from coming home. He wouldn't abandon me.

"…I'm sorry. I must have been hard for you." Splinter frowned, seeing my silence.

I smiled a bit. "It's not so bad being a street rat… uh, no offense." I said quickly.

"None taken." He smiled back.

I chuckled. "Yeah, I'm not proud of some of the things I do. I try not to do it often, but I have to pickpockets from time to time to get food." I looked down in guilt. "When I can though, I go through the city dump. You would be amazed at the kind of stuff people throw out. I almost got caught a few times though. I'm not the most stealthiest person in the world. I'm sure if I was, I wouldn't have to pickpocket as much." I sighed in defeat, leaning my head back to stare at the ceiling.

Before I realized it, I had begun to ramble. Telling Splinter everything and anything. Any feeling I had cooped up inside of me all these years.

Splinter didn't mind, and shared some of his own as well. He talked of how he met his wife, their marriage, and her death.

It must have been only recent that it occurred, for he would pause when he brought up the subject. When I told him he didn't have to push himself, he insisted, saying it was only fair.

He talked of his his enemy, Oroku Saki. Also known to some, as The Shredder.

"The Shredder?" it was an odd name to have, but it gave me a bad feeling.

"Yes."

It really was a weird name, but Splinter didn't find it ridiculous. His eyes were dark at any mention of his archenemy.

Luckily we didn't stay on the topic of 'The Shredder' long, and moved onto other things. Such as, why wasn't I put into foster care after my brother disappeared?

Yeah okay, I would have preferred to stick with something else, but it was a decent question that I would probably ask as well.

"…Well, they did put me into Foster care." I said slowly, looking towards the ground. "I just didn't… stay in it."

Splinter looked puzzled. "Why?"

"I didn't… want to stay in the Foster home. Not that it was overly bad or anything, I mean, there were a lot of nice people in there."

And a bunch of not so nice people too.

"I had a goal and a dream I wanted to follow though, and staying in that place would stop me from accomplishing them."

"What was your goal?" Splinter inquired.

I gave him a weak smile. "I wanted to find my brother. Even though everyone was saying it was hopeless, I knew he was out there, somewhere."

It took me a while to get out of that place too. There was the whole, who should all the possessions go to, where should the girl go, and a whole bunch of other legal stuff. Since I had no other family I was put into a Foster home, while my brothers possessions were handed down to me. I put them all into storage though… for when he came back.

After that I focused on getting out of the Foster Home. It wasn't too hard, and I was easily able to get out. The only problem was trying to get information on your brother while the police and other Child Protection agencies were out looking for you.

So I had to stay low until everything cooled down. By the time I turned 17 I was no longer a main source of concern, though they still kept an eye out, and was able to look around freely. My brother's trail had gone cold.

It had been too long and almost all info on him was fading. The last place any one had seen him was near the harbor.

After that, nothing.

I had spent a whole year trying to get information of my brother. Some times I considered looking out of the city, but could never bring myself to leave.

Sure, my brother could have left New York City, but even if he did, where? I could search all the country and never find a single clue as to where he was.

He knew I was in New York, so if I stayed here, he would eventually come back… right? That is what I hoped. And even if that idea was stupid, I didn't know what else to do. I was only 18.

"I know he'll come back one day… I know it." I whispered, pulling my knees close to my chest.

Splinter stared at me, slowly looking off towards the boxes. In the awkward silence, he cleared his throat.

"Well… shall we continue through the boxes?"
Glancing at them dully, I nodded. "Yeah." I reached out, grabbing the one I was going through before. "I brought some shirts for the turtles. Though, I'm not sure they will like them. They might not fit either, so I'll have to find something else to use them for." I shrugged, holding them up. There were at least four shirts, all of different colors. There was a blue shirt, a red shirt, a purple and an orange. Folding them back up, I placed them behind me, leaving them for another time. "Anyway though, I got you a tooth brush, still in the box, so no need to worry." I held it up with a smirk. "Still need to find some tooth paste though." I grumbled as I rummaged through the box. "Got some old soap, a few jackets, they are a little big though." I held one up with a puzzled frown.

Splinter cleared his throat to catch my attention. When I looked at him, he smirked, pointing behind me.

Following his finger, my eyes widened at the sight of the four little turtle tots all sitting behind me, staring at me back with wide, innocent eyes.

"Oh!" I gasped, only now realizing that they were there.

Wait a minute, how long had they been sitting there?!

"I didn't see you little guys there." I chuckled, reaching out to pet Leonardo's head. He grinned happily, rubbing his head against my head, wanting more attention.

"It took quite some time to get them to rest without you there." Splinter announced with a small sigh, recalling the event with a sour face.

I smirked at him, lifting Michelangelo into my arms. Instantly relaxing into my arms, he reached up to suck his thumb.

Thumb? Well, he only had three fingers, so was that his thumb? I'm sure one is his thumb, another is his pinky and the one in the middle… is of course, the middle finger. Aww, no ring finger for you guys. Though I doubt you would ever get married.

…Wow, hold the phone Arinna. What if they got married?

Well that is dumb, who would they possibly get married too? I'm sure they could find love one day, sure. Most likely with another turtle… or something.

Hmm… I don't actually know. If they continued to grow, it might be hard for them to get together with other turtles. Aww, no love for them. That's sad :(

Well, I could love them.

I almost chocked at my own suggest. Quickly catching it and pretending I was just clearing my throat, I stared down at Michelangelo with wide eyes. His Baby blue orbs caught with my own, and he smiled.

To my right, Raphael and Donatello were wrestling together. Raphael mainly winning the battle.

And finally Leonardo had crawled over to Splinter, happily sitting in his lap, watching his brothers.

… Could I love them? Would that be all right? Would it be all right with me? Could I even handle that?

Wait a minute, handle what? What would I be handling?

Raising them.

That's… a really big responsibility. Raising four little babies, without any warning at all. That… that was too much! I couldn't do that!

"Ms. Arinna. Are you alright, you look a little pale." Splinter asked, he voice growing with concern.

"O-Oh um… yeah." I stammered. "Just… lost in though I guess."

"This is all a lot to take in, I understand." Splinter nodded, looking down at Leonardo, who was staring up at him obediently.

"No joke." I mumbled under my breath. "I guess though I was just… wondering what would happen from here?"

"From here?" Splinter inquired, looking up at me.

"Well yeah. What do we do now? I know you are going to keep these little guys down here, so no one can find them but… What… um, that is to say… what should…"

"What should, you do?" Splinter finished for me, seeing as I was having trouble finding my words.

"Yeah." I dipped my head, focusing on Michelangelo. He was still sucking on his thumb, but had started to mess with my shirtsleeve with his other hand.

Smiling a tad, I petted his hand. He cooed at the gesture.

Where will I go from here? Back to that abandoned house, forgetting any of this ever happened?

Maybe I could come visit or something?

Placing Michelangelo back on the ground, much to his disagreement, I rose to my feet. The four turtles paused to look at me, tilting their head as if to ask, 'Hey lady, where you going?"

"I think maybe… I should just uh… head out." I announced awkwardly. "You seem to have this all… under control." I motioned to the room, clapping my hands together as if to end it all. "Yeah…"

Gazing up at me, Splinter closed his eyes, smiling. He said nothing at first, leaving both of us in silence.

Did he want me to leave? Or was he waiting for me to ask something? Maybe he wants to say something, but he's thinking how to say it? He hasn't really say good-bye or anything and I-

"Mr. Arinna." Splinter's voice caught me off guard, and I jumped. "I can never truly repay you for what you have done here today." The older rat began. "The only thing I can offer, is a room, and a few blankets."

"…What?"

"You are welcome to stay here." He announced with a smile.

"Eh?" my eyes widened.

"We have all grown quite accustomed to you visiting Ms. Arinna." Splinter smiled, looking to the little turtles that had surrounded my feet. Leonardo, who had crawled back over to me at some point, pulled on my pant leg, wishing for some attention while Donatello and Michelangelo were distracted with the strings on my shoes.

Raphael stared up at my blankly, before he suddenly pouted, grabbing my other pant leg, also wishing for attention.

Kneeling down, I placed a hand on Leo and Raph's heads, smiling brightly at the four of them. I couldn't never leave them. They had all jumped right into my heart.

Was Splinter serious? Could I stay here? I mean, never in my life had I considered living in the sewers, but I had already begun to get use to the smell!

If I stayed I wouldn't have to leave the four little turtles. Splinter wouldn't have to care or go through this change all by himself too!

I would… I would be raising them.

That made me hesitant.

What if I messed up? What if I taught them all the wrong things or… or accidentally kill them by sending them off un-prepared!?

"I…" I trailed off, looking to the boys.

Oh… what the hell. Or um… Shell. Hehe, turtle joke.

With a meek and nervous nod, I grinned. "Yes. Yes I'd like that very much!"