New York

Present Day

"My sons!" Splinter smiled as the four turtles rushed over and hugged him. Splinter grunted as if in pain but hugged them back.

"You're hurt!" Leo quickly realized backing away. Blood was smeared on his plastron. "You didn't say anything about being hurt."

"It was recent." Splinter waved him off. "But let's not talk about that now. I am so glad to see you."

The other mutants and humans in the sewer hadn't said anything. Mikey turned around to address them. "Guys, this is Splinter, our dad, ninja master. Sensei, this is Leatherhead, Mondo Gecko, and Bebop. I named them. We all hung out in the Australian Outback."

Leatherhead rose and walked over. He dipped his head to Splinter respectfully. Bebop and Mondo scrambled over and copied Leatherhead.

"Master Splinter, this is Slash, Casey, and Fishface." Raph introduced. The three made their way over but didn't say or do anything. "We all lived together in the Andes Mountains."

"This is Tigerclaw, Karai, and Rocksteady." Leo said. The three walked over. Tigerclaw and Karai bowed deeply while Rocksteady smiled and waved. "We've been all over Asia together, mostly the Chinese forests."

"This is Professor Rockwell, April, and Rahzar." Donnie beckoned his friends over. "We work at a research facility in Antarctica together."

"The Outback? The Andes? The Chinese Forest? Antarctica?" Splinter questioned. "You boys certainly got around. I'm glad you made so many friends. I was worried you'd spent all this time alone. Though I would appreciate it if they did not stir up the sewage in meaningless combat."

The room was filled with quiet apologies.

Mikey suddenly hugged Splinter again. Splinter flinched but welcomed it. "I'm so glad you're here."

"Sensei, allow me to see your injury." Donnie requested.

"Not here. It's disgusting and unsanitary." Splinter said. "Let us head home."

"Home?" Raph murmured as if dazed. Leo smiled while Mikey squealed in excitement.

"Home? We're going home!"

"Yes, my son." Splinter smiled. "We're going home."

The Lair

The turtles couldn't make it home fast enough. The others were kind of skeptical but followed anyway. Soon, all seventeen of them stood in the lair.

It wasn't too crowded if everyone spread out. Mikey ran around the lair excitedly.

"Everything's just like I remember it." Mikey said after he finished racing around.

"You were five, you don't remember it." Raph said but looked around with a rare smile of genuine happiness on his face.

"I must say, Donatello, I did not expect you to live in a place like this before you joined us at the facility." Rockwell said looking around. "A mind like your's must've been so hindered here."

"Like Raph said, I was five, Rockwell." Donnie told him. "And don't insult my home."

Splinter chuckled and Donnie whipped around. "Now, Sensei, let me see your injury."

"Allow me." Tigerclaw said stepping forward. "I am experienced with injury."

"No offense but your a giant cat and he's a rat." Raph said.

"Your point?" Tigerclaw snorted but stepped back to let Donnie do his thing. Donnie peeled back Splinter's robe revealing a long scar surrounded by blood stained fur. Several patches of fur were missing revealing light skin tainted with blackness.

Many of the people in the room flinched, including Donnie.

"Do not be alarmed, my son." Splinter told him.

"How long have you had this?" Donnie asked.

"A few weeks."

"A few weeks? Whatever did this to you was likely poisoned! That's why the skin is blackened like that under the surface. You needed to get help immediately!"

"Donatello, I understand that you have been away from cities for a long time but you must remember there is no help for us." Splinter reminded. "That is why we live in the sewer. Besides, this wound does not make much difference."

Everyone looked confused for a moment. Leo looked closely at his father.

"You're dying." he realized.

"I am dying." Splinter nodded.

"No!" Mikey cried. "We just got back to you!"

"And I will always be here for you." Splinter promised. "My body may be dying but my spirit remains strong. I will never truly leave. Not again."

The five of them drew close again and hugged.

"How- how long do you have?" Raph asked.

"At most, a few weeks." Splinter told him. "Through mediation I have extended my life long enough so I can see you. When I stop, I will die but I can choose when to pass."

"Father, no!" Mikey cried again. "We can't lose you!"

"Like I said, my son, I will never truly leave you." Splinter hushed and out his hand on him. "I do not want you to see me so weakened at the end of my life, I planned on dying sooner rather than later. No need to extend this but I wanted to see you one last time."

"Who did this to you?" Raph asked.

"Father Time."

"You're not that old." Donnie said.

"True. It was Father Time that allowed enough time to pass for Saki's hatred to grow so strong that he would destroy my family. Twice. It was time that allowed him to find me after I thought it was safe." Splinter explained. "It was time that allowed the wound he left to grow back."

"So it was Shredder." Raph growled.

"Do not that man darken this happy time." Splinter told him. "I am just happy to be with my family again."

"Do it now." Leo said.

"What?"

"You said you can choose when to die." Leo said. "I don't want you to die but I want you to die happy. You said you were happy now."

"Leo!" Mikey cried. Tears started forming. "How can you say that?"

"That he wants his father to be happy?" Raph questioned. He went silent for a moment. "I understand and I agree. Sensei, if you want, now would be the perfect time."

"Raph, Leo, how could you just give up?" Donnie demmaded. "He can still get better! Can't you, Sensei?"

Splinter shook his head. "Shredder's claws damaged my body beyond repair and an ancient poison runs through my body. It was a wonder I was able to find you. I agree, it is time for me to go to rest but I will not if my sons cannot accept that."

"I understand, Senesi." Donnie nodded. He looked to Mikey. "Mikey?"

Mikey was crying by now. He sniffed. "I understand too Sensei. Just wait for us to say goodbye, okay?"

"Let us leave." Leatherhead whispered quietly. "This is a personal matter."

The others nodded and left the room as quietly as they could.

"Sensei...Master Splinter…Father… Dad." Mikey choked on his words, he was crying heavily.

Raph put a hand on his shoulder. "Let me, Mikey. Father, we've been apart for so long. I've missed you for a long, long time. I will never forget the years we spent together or everything you've done for us or how much we love each other. Goodbye."

Leo spoke next. "I love you Father. I've thought about you every day for as long as I can remember. I always wished somehow things would go back to the way they were when we were kids. I loved being with you. I always will. I wish we could all be together again but I understand that we can't. I will try my hardest to honor you. Goodbye."

Donnie inhaled deeply. "I don't remember being a kid as well as Leo or Raph but I remember everything you did for us and how much we loved each other. Goodbye."

It was finally Mikey's turn. He cried loudly and wrapped his arms around Splinter, crying into his robe. "I love you Dad! Goodbye!"

"I love you my sons." Splinter said. The other three turtles were pulled into a hug with Leo and Raph on opposite sides and Donnie leaning over Mikey who was partially on the floor with his arms around Splinter. "I have been longing for this day for ten years."

Splinter looked up at them and ran his hand across each of their faces. Tears spilled out of each of their eyes. Tears formed in his own eyes but he blinked them back. His eyes shone with pure emotion. "Remember I love you. Goodbye."

Splinter pulled his sons as close as he could with all his strength, holding onto them one last time. Eventually, the strength disappeared. Mikey looked up into Splinter's eyes and saw the light fade. Splinter's body went limp and slumped over.

"Splinter!" Mikey cried. Tears from the other three turtles fell onto Splinter's fur. Slowly, they all backed up. Donnie's hand went to Splinter's face and he gently closed his eyes. Mikey grabbed the rug and pulled it over. Leo and Raph picked up Splinter's body and lay it out on the rug.

"Goodbye Father."

Author's Note: Emotions are hard to write. And death. Especially the two together.

I planned on Splinter dying from the beginning but it took a while to figure out how to do it properly. I hope this turned out alright.