After a couple weeks up at the farmhouse, the gang headed back to New York. Midori would be starting a new education about this world. Randall would be a part of it too.

Randall was still rather shy around the female lizard. There would be some lessons she could teach him too, no doubt. He hadn't felt this shy really since college.

Once back in the turtles' lair, Leatherhead said goodbye and went back to his home. He had helped to educate Midori about the Utroms as much as he could and some other science. She found it a little confusing, but she welcomed him as a friend to learn from.

Each of the turtles and Splinter would teach Midori what they knew about this world.

Leo knew it was crucial that she learn how to defend herself if she was going to remain in this world. She was to start some training immediately. She would be going through the basics, basically from the bottom, like how Leo had been teaching Cody in the future how to defend himself. She would be Leo's second student.

Midori would watch training from the sidelines while watching Leo and his brothers spar. Even watching Randall train with them. Though she was impressed by the training the turtles did, she was even more impressed by how Randall managed his moves. Course, sometimes he would pull a joke and disappear. Leo was the only one that could sense him coming. The others still had issues second guessing him.

Midori had never really met a male lizard before that had the kind of talents that Randall had; the ability to blend so well, altogether vanish, climb walls, change colors like he could. Use his body like a snake's coils, using his tail as a main weapon. His sassy and witty personality. His voice. They were all impressive to her.

"I'm not just any male lizard." Randall told her. "I'm formally from a different dimension too. One that's called the Monster World. I'm a lizard monster, that's why I'm so different than any lizard here in this dimension, or yours."

"It's still impressive to me, Randall. You just really seem like you need someone to be there for you, like you haven't had before." Midori tried to assure him.

"The turtles and their father and friends have been there for me in my times of need when I came here to New York after I was banished from my world. Both times. They were the first ones that ever really did care about me. I never knew my parents, and learned the hard way from orphanages and foster homes how nobody wanted reptilians around. My kind were greatly despised. I'm lucky to be alive today. There were so many that tried to destroy my life growing up." Randall explained to her.

"I'm sorry. But look at what you have accomplished. All the hard times in your life only made you stronger. To not give up on what the hard times that mean others tried to do to you. Even here in this world." Midori complimented him.

"Thanks." Randall knew this made sense. And this was coming from someone who hadn't known him long.

Randall liked that this girl was giving him attention, but he didn't want to be her soul caretaker. At least, not yet.

Midori learned about many TV facts from Mikey, as well as to maybe start playing video games soon as a past time. Other fighting techniques and meditation, and planning strategies from Leo. She was starting to learn about new science from Don. Raph tried to teach her some fighting moves as much as possible, other than Leo. Splinter taught her about wisdom and patience.

Mikey ended up making a shirt for Midori, as she didn't really feel comfortable being without clothes on. At the very least, she wanted a shirt to wear.

After two weeks were up, April and Casey were back from their honeymoon in Hawaii, and they were formally introduced to Midori too.

April and Casey were secretly told that Midori would one day become Randall's wife, and they would be happy to support that decision. Just Randall and Midori couldn't be told of their future.

…

As time went on, after Midori had learned some more about the human world, she was finally allowed to go on a patrol with the turtles, on a night that Randall didn't go out. She found the city to be absolutely incredible and beautiful at night.

And there would be times when Randall would come along. He just didn't want to be left alone with her just yet. He always wanted at least one of his adopted brothers to be with him.

The guys could sense that Randall didn't want to be alone with Midori. They couldn't help but feel for him a little bit, but they did want to encourage him to learn to be comfortable around her. He wasn't a little kid that needed protecting.

But it was just Randall's own defense side protecting himself. He had been used and rejected by females in the past in the monster world. He just wanted to make sure this girl wouldn't do the same thing. Like, what if she fell for one of his turtle brothers instead? He wouldn't stop it.

Midori wondered what it was she was doing wrong. She went to Master Splinter about it.

"I just want to know what I am doing wrong?"

"I will talk to him." Splinter said. She took comfort that he would. She just hoped he wouldn't be too hard on him.

One day, Master Splinter asked Randall to come see him when he had come over to work with Don on some projects in the workshop.

Randall came to his room. "Splinter, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Randall. Come in and close the door." The wise rat said.

Randall did just that.

"What did you want to talk to me about?" Randall asked.

"Sit down." Splinter said. Randall did. "I know it has been hard for you since Midori came to stay with us. You haven't been yourself much anymore. You seem more shy than we have seen you." Splinter explained.

"I don't know, Sensei. She just makes me nervous, and I know she seems to try to get me alone. I just don't feel all that comfortable around her by myself. Too many girls used to use and reject me. How can I know that she wouldn't choose one of the turtles over me?" Randall explained his reasons.

"She does really like you, Randall. She wanted me to talk to you as someone who knows you better than the shy person she knows you to be. And maybe it's because you are more like her kind, despite you being a monster and not a lizard male from her world." Splinter stated.

"Oh, well, I'm just… nervous. She just showed up out of the blue at the wedding and wasn't expecting her. I might have been more prepared if I had known she was coming first. But then, I see how she is a nice girl. She is nice to me, I just feel I want to get to know her more." Randall said.

"You can. Just let her in to your world. That means spending time together. After what we all went through with April and Casey, we all learned some things that could make a relationship work. You just let her know your limits and try to be serious and firm about what they are. And neither of you should be forced into any situation you're not comfortable with. You'll get there, Randall. I know you will, but from something I told Cody in the future: A life without balance is hardly worth living." Splinter explained.

"You guys give my life balance. You took me in and gave me a real family when no one else ever truly did." Randall declared.

"Then, just think of this as another step in like if you were a teenager who is ready to start a relationship. A girl who wants to really be with you. My sons would never try to take her away from you. They just aren't ready for relationships themselves, yet. One day maybe." Splinter said.

"I'm still not ready for an intimate relationship, Splinter. I'll try to work on just being her friend." Randall said.

"That's a good way to go about it until you feel comfortable enough around her, but try to take this next step, in being brave to take this new challenge. You always love to handle challenges."

"This is just a different challenge for me. Relationships are hard to maintain with the opposite gender at times."

"It is for any family ties too. Look at all we went through to maintain our trust for one another. We got through it. Just do what you feel is right. Midori is a very nice girl." Splinter declared.

"I know, and I'll try to work on not feeling so shy around her. I just feel more comfortable with one of the others being around, that's all." Randall said.

"That's fine. Take things as slow as you want. But if you so choose to go beyond just friends, I give you my blessing. Go and be happy, Randall." Splinter smiled. "You may go and do what you were doing before."

"Thanks. I'll try to work on things. But I know it's still too early to go beyond just friends yet." Randall replied. He bowed and left Splinter's room.

The rat father was sure he had helped Randall, but he wasn't going to meddle in their affairs. He was just trying to give the lizard an encouraging pep talk. He would still let things unfold as they should. He was sure his sons would too.

Midori later went in and talked to him. "I talked to him and he's just not used to being around females all that much, other than April. But with so much hurt in his past from girls, he's just being careful, Midori." Splinter explained to her.

"Thanks for talking to him. You just know him better than I do. He just doesn't open up to me." she said.

"He will in time, I'm sure." Splinter said. "Just give him patience and understanding. Let him come to you."

"I'll try my best. I want to be good friends with him." she said.

"I know you do. Give it time." The wise rat encouraged. 'And one day, you'll be mates.' he told himself.

"Thanks again for talking to him." Midori thanked him and went on her way.

Splinter didn't try to sort out others' issues very often unless they were getting nowhere with each other.

….

Within a couple months after returning from Hawaii, Casey started noticing some changes in April's behavior. She didn't feel good a lot of the time and she was very moody. She couldn't keep her food down much anymore either. She often times wanted to be left alone.

Casey didn't always handle her moodiness quite that well.

Midori was still living at the lair, and Randall was still in the basement. They had begun having a better relationship, and were taking things slower. For now, they were just friends.

April was a little more open to Randall than she was with Casey. She told him how she was feeling when he was away at work and they were in the shop working together when no one else was around.

"I just wish Casey would stop telling me what to do, or think for that matter. He doesn't understand how I'm feeling these days." April complained to the lizard.

"Do you know what's going on with you? Even I wouldn't know what's going on." Randall asked.

"Randall, I think I have a feeling I know what it is. I'm late." April said.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"My usual monthly bleeding cycle that happens to human women. Randall, it's late. When it's late, it usually means a woman like me could only be pregnant." April explained it to him.

Randall's eyes widened. "Oh. That means Casey is going to be a father?" he asked.

"Yes. I'm pretty sure." April said. "I just wonder how he'll take it. He's not exactly the most understanding man around."

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled. It's his kid. Or kids." Randall chuckled.

"I hope it's not more than one. I probably wouldn't mind at least two, but I'd prefer one at a time. One baby alone will give all of us concerns to worry about." April explained. "They are a lot of work."

"I've never dealt with children other than scaring them. But they obviously aren't much more different than monster kids. Yes, they are handfuls." Randall agreed with her.

"I'm going to get a pregnancy test to just be sure." April said.

"Can I go too?" he asked. He did want to be a little more prepared too.

"Yeah. I would feel better if I had company." she said.

They closed down the shop and walked down to the nearest grocery store that was nearby. Randall made sure to stay invisible as they were out in broad daylight. He walked in next to April. He followed her to the pharmacy isle. There, April looked at the different pregnancy tests. So did Randall.

"What do you have to do to know for sure if you're expecting?" Randall asked.

"It's a rather sensitive matter. I have to go to the bathroom on it. Doctors can also take blood too. But the test will be able to pick up a hormone in my urine." April described how it was done, even though it wasn't the prettiest thing to discuss.

"Oh. It might beat the blood test then."

"I'm sure Donny could take blood and make sure. But Randall, please don't tell Casey. This is just between us for now. Just until I know for sure and when I feel ready to tell him." April declared.

"Agreed." Randall said.

April finally decided on one and went up to pay for it. They went back home and April immediately went to the bathroom to use the test. Randall waited for her in the living room. He figured more that why couldn't she just wait until Casey was here to do it with him?

April did what she had to and now, she just had to wait for ten minutes to determine from the stick if it was true. She knew what she and Casey had done in Hawaii and when they had gotten back in their own personal time. But now, she had to be sure of the results.

She sat down on the couch. Randall got up next to her. Why did he almost feel like an anxious father, even though this kid would never be his? He rubbed April's back, trying to soothe her as a friend just being there.

Ten minutes later, it was time. April got up off the couch while Randall waited. "Please come with me, Randall. I'm so nervous."

"O-okay." he said. He got up and walked with her into the bathroom, where the stick waited.

Her left hand was in his upper right hand as she picked up the stick. The result read "Pregnant." Now she knew.

"So what is it, April?" Randall asked.

She let him see the result. "You're going to be a mother." he knew.

"Yep." She smiled. "I know it's a lot to take in, but I'll need everyone's support while I go through nine months of this, or seven months."

"I may not know how to support a female much going through this, but I'll be there as much as I can. Casey's the one you really need to tell, plus the guys." Randall urged.

"And I will. But like I said, this is our secret until I'm ready to tell." April said.

Randall nodded. "How far along do you think you are?"

"It wouldn't be no more than six weeks I'm sure." April replied. "But only a doctor could tell me for sure."

"Good luck on that."

"Maybe one day, Randall, you'll be blessed with little ones of your own." April rubbed his back.

"And I'll be the anxious father as my mate goes through what you're going to go through." he stated. He had a feeling of who a possible mate was going to be, if it ever came to that.

…..

Randall kept his word that he wouldn't tell anyone until April was ready to reveal her secret.

April went to the doctor first to find out how far along she was. The doctor did an internal exam and found she was more like seven weeks along.

She went home and told Randall. She would tell Casey that night, and the others would find out later that week, she vowed. They all had to know.