Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT.

Song for this Fic: Iris as performed by the GooGooDolls

Leo and his brothers are 32 years old. Tony is 37.

**Warning** This fic contains something that may be disturbing to some. Please if you choose to read do not flame this fic but rather comment concerning the quality of the writing.**

Chapter 21: Hope

Rae's POV

My eyes flutter open as I hear a soft moan of pain.

"Ian," I gasp out when I sit up, ignoring the pains in my back and shoulders from how I was sitting.

"Mom?" he croaks weakly, then winces painfully.

"Don't sit up," I instruct gently, "How do you feel?"

"Sore," he mumbles, closing his eyes, "Is Kyo-?"

"He finally fell asleep looks like," I reply, pointing towards the other chair in the room to reveal the limp and slightly sprawled figure of Kyogen.

Ian laughs weakly after he opens his eyes then looks at me sadly.

"What about…the others?" he asks softly.

I close my eyes and sigh.

"Uen hasn't spoken in days and Antonio…he…" I sigh sadly, "He's very weak."

My son looks distraught.

"He's stable, but very weak. He lost a lot of blood," I whisper, "They didn't think he was going to make it. When Raphael broke in during the fight, they had minutes to get Antonio here…he barely made it here."

My son is silent for a time as if soaking in what I said.

"Are you…mad about what I did?" he asks softly, "about how I feel about Kyo?"

I look at my son and gently brush his bangs away from his face before I reply.

"No and no," I reply after a moment, "You were trying to protect me and love can be strange. I've learned this myself."

Ian gives me a quizzical look in response.

"Raphael has barely left my side since all of this. He slips in here at night and sits with me. We've…become close," I whisper.

Ian smiles and laughs weakly.

"Good for you mom," he murmurs, "Maybe…life can go back to normal…"

He laughs weakly as he ends that statement.

"Normal?" I ask softly.

"Yeah…as normal as it can be," he chuckles softly.

I smile.

Tony's POV

Everything aches, this is the first thing I notice, the next is the fact that Leo is sleeping in the chair beside me.

I'm in a hospital.

How the hell did he-?

Is he insane?!

At first I can't remember why and then with a shiver I remember.

No wonder he's by my side.

Leo stirs and lifts his head.

"Tony," he breathes out with a sigh of relief.

Someone moves at the edge of my vision and I see my mom sit up and smile.

"Antonio," she sighs happily, "Thank goodness."

"What'd I miss?" I mumble with a smile.

Leo laughs weakly and shakes his head.

April's POV

Uen is still curled tightly in the bed Leo set up for her in their temporary home.

She hasn't moved or spoken since she killed Karai and Raph brought her home while Leo rushed Tony to the hospital.

I fear that the trauma of what she did has broken her.

I lightly stroke her cheek and feel a tear fall.

Leo is worried about her and splits his time between her and Tony, but his heart is torn.

Fae has taken to curling up next to Uen and playing beside her.

As soon as Fae learned she had a sister she stuck to Uen like glue.

She loves Uen dearly and has been desperately trying to get Uen to play with her.

I glance down at Fae who is snuggled up against Uen clutching one of her favorite books.

Uen twitches, eyes fluttering open and I hold my breath.

"Uen?" I ask softly.

Her two-toned gaze flicks up to meet my green and she looks confused.

"April?" she asks weakly, "Where am I?"

"Home," I comfort, "You're home Uen."

A/N: Last Chapter, just a little transition-y thing. Epilogue next.