As much as Donatello loved his brothers, they often got on his nerves. Between the constant bickering, play fighting, and fussing about what he was inventing next, Donnie had enough. Especially with the invasion of his privacy with April.

He supposed he didn't blame them. With Donnie's crush on the human female, his brothers constantly found some way to tease him. Even down to the messages he got from her on his T-Phone. They weren't anything bad but his brothers didn't exactly understand or value the word 'privacy.' If they noticed a message from the girl, no matter what context she meant what she said in, they'd find a way to harass him about it.

Donatello is what you would call 'intelligent.' He never had to go to school but could outsmart the most brilliant of humans. He knew if he weren't a mutant ninja living below the city streets of New York, he held the possibility of winning a Nobel Peace Prize or some other prestigious award. So he knew he could find a way to keep in contact with April where they could say anything and his brothers could never find out.

It didn't take him too long to find a solution to his problem. Standing on top of a building, he gazed down at the open window of April O'Neil's room. Donnie had to admit he felt a bit silly, but sometimes the simple things in life are the best solutions.

The mutant fingered the paper plane in his fingers, wondering if maybe it was a stupid idea after all. But he had to try. Donatello brought his arm up and tossed the plane away from him. It fluttered and flew with the weight of his heart, landing perfectly through the window. He sat and waited, feeling his heart thump in his chest.

Donnie didn't know what to expect, but a paper plane came crashing down beside him sooner than he had expected. Opening up the paper with trembling fingers, he read over the girlish handwriting and smiled. This was going to work.

And that's how they communicated whenever they wanted to say something away from prying eyes. Where Donatello could compliment her on a move she learned with Splinter or how he thought the new shirt she got rocked on her. At first it really was that civil. Then somehow they slipped more compliments to one another, inside jokes and even things they'd probably never say in person. At least, not with the others around.

It was as though Donnie was falling for her harder than he had imagined. More than he thought possible. He'd spend hours memorizing the curve in her letters and the slant in her sentences. He'd trace the pictures she drew for him and remember every conversation they had in what letter and when.

But would he admit that he had fallen for her? Maybe. It had been months since she joined them. Months since she effected their whole lives. Months since she became the 'fifth turtle.' And now all he could ask of her was to never leave them once this was all over. Never leave him.

Reading over the letter he just got, Donnie felt heaviness in his eyes. He wrote out his response and sent it. One came back almost immediately.

'You okay?'

Was he? He supposed so. Although the mutant wasn't sleeping well as of recent. But he didn't know exactly what to say. How to explain himself. How he'd rather be holding her hands than his bo staff any day. How he'd much rather be keeping her close than keeping a close watch on the Kraang or Foot Clan.

'Yeah. Just a lot on my mind is all.'

'Whatchya thinking about?'

'You. The Kraang. Everything. I don't know, to be honest.'

Donnie waited for the next letter but it took longer than it normally would.

'I'm here for you, Donnie.'

He looked over her message. Donnie had so many mixed feelings, he couldn't think straight. What to say? What to do? What was acceptable and what wasn't?

'I love you so much, April.' He sent it without any hesitation. Donnie felt heavy. Like his muscles weighed a ton. Like he could sleep for years. Maybe he said the wrong thing but he could blame on anxiety if he needed to. He'd been under enough stress, she'd understand.

A paper plane landed perfectly on his lap. He opened it up with shakey fingers. Donnie read over the neat handwriting over and over again, a tear trailing down his cheek.

'Love you more, Donnie.' The mutant rested his head in the paper, taking in the light smell of the sweet perfume the girl used. He closed his eyes and let the tears come, a smile spreading on his face.