Ever since April O'Neil's unexpected reappearance, the course of life on the farm changed...

I vainly tried to get more information about the specifics of her relationship with Raphael, the thing penetrating my thoughts ever since that talk I had with him a few nights back. But whenever it came up, everyone avoided any face-to-face interaction, usually changing the subject or doing something in order to escape direct approach to the matter.

Don started vanishing into his Northampton lab (the barn) every day, as if he is possessed; set on building some kind of new easy-to-balance-on-a-roof device, using JPS analogies and surround awareness tech. He said that an invention of that sort would've prevented the incident with the roof and the Foot. And, more importantly, it would have prevented Mikey's 'accident', and therefore it may proof to be of use in the future. He's been working nonstop, sleeping less then usual and barely eating, avoiding not only April's presence but, to be honest, anybody else's.

Leo is hyper-cautious, stepping on eggshells around April (and around Raphael, although he would've never admitted that) and spending most of his time in lonely-training sessions or meditation seances. He is frequently accompanied by Master Splinter, who also seams to be worried about Raphael (more then usual), but wisely chooses to reduce the fatherly influence on his hot-headed son to the minimum for now, since the turtle in question keeps alarmingly quiet and introverted (not very typical for his normally explosively-agitated temper), usually descending into the woods for long hours alone.

April, in her defense, is a very likable person. She is soft-tempered and good-natured, with cheerful spirits and a big warm heart. Kind of like I always imagined her to be (from Mikey's stories, of course... only I used to think he was overdoing it a bit). April doesn't hide her tender feelings towards the Hamato family, she clearly loves the turtles and the old rat, trying her best and making all in her ability to regain their trust, which was evidently lost. Master Splinter is especially affectionate towards her. It seams to me like he sees April almost in the same status as his own sons, therefore always forgiving and forever welcoming her into his fatherly heart. Thanks to the old rat, April does not lose hope, regaining her patience time and time again against the silent walls of protection the turtle-brothers keep building between her and themselves in the few days since they've all been reunited.

Even forever-joyous Michaelangelo has been holding some distance. From sunrise to dawn he drearily observes the farm-life from his new favorite spot, the attic. I frequently keep him company, sitting nearby and reading or joining the youngest turtle in staring at the snow-fall or the stary sky outside. It's like we could both use some mutual affection lately. To tell the truth, I feel most at ease around him, safe and relaxed. Mike is a natural peace-keeper and heart-warmer. He is the one who never judges and always sympathizes. Forever joking off and making you feel better no matter what, he is the one to be around when things get uncomfortable.

Sometimes, sinking into nostalgia, Mike would tell me all about the good times they used to have with April and Casey Jones, and about many different adventures they've experienced together over the years: how April shortly became sort of a mother figure they never had (first womanly impact on the teenage turtles), and how Casey perfectly matched Raphael's (unfulfilled until then) savage side and so on and so forth... And I've learned about how these two humans, for the first time in the turtles' lives, made their imprint, consequently adjusting a streaming balance between the alienated Hamato clan and the outside every-day world.

Yesterday morning when I climbed up to the attic I saw Mikey by the window. He was gazing out, fixedly following something with his eyes. As I came closer, he shot me a short smile and pointed out behind the window glass. I looked and saw two far away figures descending into the woods: one bigger and the other smaller with a red long scarf around the neck. They were Raphael and April.

I followed them with my eyes a bit, till they disappeared behind the trees, then turned my gaze to Michaelangelo. There was a hint of salvation in his light-blue eyes. He winked at me and catching me with his strong arms, swirled me around in a jocosely dance, until we both burst out laughing and dropped to the floor. And then we just lay there, regulating our breaths, when he began telling me about this one rare occasion when his hot-headed brother decided to spill the guts. It happened when the turtles were much younger (maybe about 10 years ago, or more - Mikey is never exclusively exact about his time lines).

Here is Mike's story, roughly as he presented it to me:

...I was laughing my lungs out, and Raph stood a few steps away, angrily baring his teeth at me: "I'm warnin' you, Mikey!" - he squeezed at me.

"Dude…" I was unable to pronounce a whole sentence at once without insanely giggling between the words: "you're like… totally… out'a line! I'm telling you... you probably got it all wrong..."

I exchanged looks with astonished Donnie, who had just emerged from the lab only to walk on me and Raph by mistake. At the sight of our smartest brother, Raph took a breath and tensed a little.

"Come on, Mikey... Gi'me a break... I'm not joking! Aint' you able taking things seriously fa' a change?! I'm tryin'a tell you something, shell-for-brains!"- he inflamed, turning his gaze towards Donnie, who was minding his own business seemingly on his way to make some (more) coffee in the kitchen, "Don, sit down man, hear me out, will ya'?"

Donnie, intently checking Raph's expression and quickly calculating something in his magnificent brain, came to the couch and casting my feet away to make some space, parked his bum on the cushion next to mine.

"Wow, guys..." I was getting a feeling this stupid thing was gonna get way out of proportions, because Don settled both hands in his lap and attentively focused his gaze on Raph, making it clear he was more then ready to be helpful.

Raph awkwardly shifted in his seat, "Don, ya' the smartest guy I know! " – he started, "Wha' da' ya' think 'bout April?"

"What do you mean?" Donnie raised an eyebrow, brashly gazing at our older brother.

"Like… as a girl, I mean…"

Donnie blinked, turning the thought in his brain. A dreamy smile appeared on his face: "April is awesome!" – he concluded.

"Yeah, sure, man… but… I mean like…" Raph frowned, hesitating, "Do ya' think one of us could… ya' know… ever be with her!?"

Donnie watched Raph intently, "Are you suggesting a sexual intercourse between a human female and a mutant turtle?"

I couldn't bear it: "Jeez, Donnie, you don't have to be such… such a… um... "

"Aha…" Raph perplexedly exchanged looks with me, cutting in, "...or sometin' like that…"

"Fascinating!" - was Donnie's response, as he closely checked Raph's expression again and scarcely looked at mine. Then he suddenly continued: "Well, if you brought it up already…" He settled back in his seat, "I've been dwelling on the subject myself recently and…" He timidly scratched the back of his head, "According to my research, physically - it is more than possible. I mean, our recreational functions seem to be very similar to the humans' and the whole issue with the organs' adjustability should fit fine, I believe. Biologically, however..." Here he discontentedly sighed, "there's no future"

The looks on our faces must've been so moronic that Donnie rolled his eyes and loosing his temper, explained again, this time clearly articulating every syllable: "NO BABIES! MUTANT TURTLES CANNOT BREED WITH HUMANS"

Raph cleared his throat and quizzically looked at our smart brother: "That's nice, Donnie! But who cares about babies? I'm talkin' about sex, man! SEX!"

I giggled and high-threed Raph, while Donnie shook his head in mild disbelief. Then suddenly his expression changed and he nudged Raph a bit, saying: "Did something occur between you and April?" His eyes were wide open, and a look of dreadful suspicion started showing on his face.

"Not yet!" – answered Raph, winking at me.

And I felt as if something crucially humongous landed on my head all of a sudden, so I looked at Raph with terror, while Donnie mumbling: "I see", flatly lifted himself up and withdrew back to his lab without saying another word. I watched my smartest brother go with the weight of realization heavy on my heart.

"Ra-a-a-aph!" – I whined blamefully, after the lab-door was soundly slammed behind the brainiac's shell.

"What?"

"I think you really hurt Donnie just now!"

"Why? 'Cause he has 'feelings' fa' April?!" He pronounced the word 'feelings' sarcastically and with contempt, "It's not like he's eva' gonna act on it! Besides, I think April likes me! Think I got a shot!"

It sounded like something smashed in the lab and a clatter of trillion little shards flew everywhere.

"Raph, please don't… don't hurt Donnie…" – I whined.

But he cut me off: "I ain't trying ta' hurt 'im!" He threw his hands up in the air, growling, "Mike, mind your own business, a'right?!"

I could already see my brothers fight for days and days over that incident. And I felt so useless and desperate. I hated when they fought. But what could I do? Tell Splinter? That sounded like a bad idea... You don't talk with your parent about sex... You go to your older sibling! Maybe the Fearless could find a common ground.

"Don't you think we should consult Leo at least... maybe…" – I said, totally intending later to bring Leo up to date on every detail of that short and deadly discussion.

Raph barbarically grabbed me and raised me up in the air by my shoulders, so I couldn't feel the ground anymore (he was much stronger than me when we were growing up): "Let's make sure that doesn't happen, Mikey! Capeesh?!"

I eventually told Leo everything, of course. And, of course, it all ended in another fight between Leo and Raph. I tried later talking to Donnie about this, but he always avoided this subject. Since Raph declared his disposition about April, Donnie sort of just laid off. Then later the whole thing slowly evaporated as Casey came into the picture…

Long after Mike's voice died away, I sat still and silently stared at the snowy branches of a nearby leafless tree as I began to figure out a little about that tension I witnessed between Don and Raph that night in the kitchen. Could it be possible that Donnie still loved April?! I knew for sure that Raph did... Maybe it was all just a teenage grudge... a dispute between brothers. Still, it got me feeling insecure and my mind started racing against all kinds of possibilities. Like... in the past April used to spend lots of time with Donnie! They have so much in common, like professional interests and general-pacifist-world-views... He obviously loves her in some way, maybe as a big sister, maybe as an equal scientific mind, or maybe... maybe he just loves her... Maybe he loves her more then he loves me...

And if that was not enough, I finally fully understood the fear buried deep inside Donnie's heart about the future of our relationship, or any romantic relationship, as a matter of fact: the fatal weight of certain lack of continuity of the Hamato clan, of Donnie himself... of mutant turtles in general. They were, after all, the only specimen of their kind... forever!

"Lin…"

I suddenly heard Mikey, softly calling my name and cutting my thread of thought. I turned to look at him. His expression of drear which he wore for the last few days was nearly gone. He was the good-old Mikey again. Only a little sadder, maybe. He looked into my eyes, saying: "Donnie never told you about April, did he?"

I shook my head and placed it on his shoulder. He put his arm around me, tucking my head under his chin: "Don't worry, Majesty, I'm sure he had a reason. It's Donnie we're talking about! The smartest Turtle there is..." He put his finger up in the air to emphasize, "...or ever will be!"