A/N: Happy Autumn! I apologize for the long break. Life is REAL! Anyway, I'm glad to be back. This chapter was giving me problems. I think things through before I write them down and I just couldn't decide which direction to go. So, yeah, it took me this long to figure it out.

…

CHAPTER 21- Not a Coincidence

…

Donatello stands frozen in his laboratory doorway when he sees Karai enter the Lair. She looks over at him, but doesn't slow her stride. Donatello turns back inside and closes his door.

She steps into the dojo unnoticed by the young turtle inside. She pads silently along the wall and slides down to sit. She watches him as he goes through his intense solo training. It has been a long time since she'd seen him like this. His muscles are tense and defined, glistening with sweat. He looks dangerous, but not out of control. The way he moves is so precise, his jumps and twists look effortless. Karai knows it's because of his lifetime of dedicated training that places Leonardo in a category of one. When they first met, Karai bested Leo. She was fierce, unrelenting, superior. After a while she found that the teenage turtle stood his ground with her, met her face to face, and won over her half of the time. After that, she doesn't recall when it happened... he became the master ninja. When did he become faster, more cunning... better than she?

It is a good thing, though. He can't be better than her at everything. His skin may be calloused and his shell impenetrable, but his heart is like clay in her hands. Even the strongest mountain has its fault lines. When Karai realized she could no longer beat him as a kunoichi, she decided to defeat him as a woman. It fed her pride to see how weak he became under her spell. It was wrong of her. She had turned her friendship with him into an owner/puppy arrangement. She held the leash that was invisible to him.

It was wrong of her at first. But when she saw that he was romanticizing their closeness, she felt guilty. She didn't want to hurt him, so she told him the truth. She didn't love him. He took it as a flat out rejection, and she, being the stubborn jackal she is, didn't feel the need to elaborate. She thought he should have understood.

Karai grew up in Japan. In her culture, the word love does not easily translate. Rather than say you love someone, you show them, appreciate them, validate their importance in your life by making room for them. Karai knew that the Shredder, evil as he was, had loved her. How they became father and daughter was riddled with contempt, hatred and jealousy on his part, but it was love, tainted, and distorted love.

Splinter has not said it, but the way he lights up when she arrives, how he takes his time in telling her some important life lessons he has learned, how she feels nothing but welcome in his presence, how he had forgiven her foolishness... Hamato Yoshi loves his daughter. She likes that he calls her Miwa from time to time. It helps him heal the past and embrace the future. And he understands that she is Oroku Karai. He told her once that by keeping that name it redeems the dark legacy it used to carry.

She shakes her head, wondering that if Karai, as she is, is enough for Saki and Yoshi, why isn't it enough for Leo? He knows her better than anyone and yet knows so little.

Karai smiles warmly as her thoughts distract her from the turtle across the room, staring at her.

"Karai." He says through heavy breathing. He slowly walks over to her, sheathing his katanas.

She looks up at him and chills run over her skin. She stands up and rakes over his body. She doesn't see any anger or disgust in his movements, curiosity maybe. "Hello, Leonardo."

He stands in front of her with pursed lips and an even gaze. Most of July, Karai had been a ghost to him. He had heard her hanging out with the girls, but kept away from the Lair. There was the one time, during the fourth of July, she did invite everyone to her pent house for bar-be-que and fireworks. She was so beautiful in her dark green kimono. Leo noticed that though Karai seemed in good spirits she said very little during the holiday, claiming to have a sore throat. She only waved at Leo and patted Toni on the arm. After that, Karai was absent from him for the rest of the month. He thought about calling or texting her, but Toni was getting ready for surgery and Karai was somewhat back with the family. He decided to focus on Toni instead.

Now it is August, Karai shows up a day after Toni's surgery, and it's all too suspicious. He isn't going to speak first. He doesn't want to give her any ammunition.

Karai stares at him a moment more. When he doesn't say anything, she folds her arms and smiles. "You looked good out there by yourself. Would you like a sparring partner?"

Leo blinks. "What, with you?"

"Sure." She stretches an arm over her head. "I'm out of practice and feel a bit stiff. I'd appreciate the push."

Leo steps back and frowns. "I'm done for the day."

"Oh, come on. You're NEVER done." She smirks.

"Why are you here?" He gets to the point.

"I told you. I saw you in here alone so I thought we could practice together."

"No, I mean, what are you doing in the Lair?"

She sticks out her bottom lip. "I know I haven't been here for a while, but that was a bit rude. I've been busy with other projects and now that those projects are complete, I took my opportunity to come here."

"And today was just the perfect day for you to drop by?"

"What's with the examination?"

"It just seems convenient for you to be here when Toni would not be able to... how did you know she wouldn't be here?"

"What makes you think I would not come here if she were?"

Leo tilts his head and crosses his arms. "Do you really want a serious answer to that question?"

Karai shakes her head. "What's with you?"

"I'd just once like you to tell the truth, so I wouldn't have to have my shields up every time you appear out of the blue."

"I have no work today. There are no good movies playing at the matinee. I was bored. I wanted to come and visit. Take your pick."

"That's nice of you putting us at the bottom of your list."

"Leo, I did not come here to argue. Why is it so hard for you to accept that I'm here now?"

"I don't trust you." Leo says.

Karai had been waiting for Leo to say something like this. Though her tact is proving his point, she needs this leeway to help her ease into a change of subject. She relaxes her shoulders and looks up at him with hurt in her eyes. "Fine... Mona told me everything... about Toni, her surgery and how she'll be in rehab for a while... is she all right? Do you know if it was successful?"

Leo nods stiffly. "I talked to her. She is fine. She can see."

Karai sighs in relief, as if she didn't already know every minute detail. "Good. That is very good... I promise you, I didn't have to dig around for that information. You know Mona, she couldn't wait to share the news... Anyway, I thought this would give me a good time to come and talk to you without any... distractions." She looks away from him. She feels absolutely awkward being so honest in front of him. She must be saying the right things.

Leonardo raises a brow. "You've been trying to avoid Toni. Why?"

Karai, still looking away from him, shrugs slightly and clears her throat. "I do not know what you have told her about me. I did not want to make things uncomfortable for anyone."

"You mean, uncomfortable for you?" Leo accuses.

"Yes." She looks back at him and sees the response she's looking for.

Pure shock splashes over his face. "Are you..." He doesn't know where he was going with that question. Is Karai actually opening up to him?

"As hard as it is to say, I have to be blunt. I did not know what to think when I saw her sitting there..."

"At the dinner table?" Leo asks, thinking that this can't be happening.

Karai looks deep into his eyes. "I was hesitant. I wanted to come to dinner and talk with you about what happened at my place, what you saw."

Leo frowns. He wishes she wouldn't have brought that up, though he feels he deserves an explanation. "What about it."

"I didn't sleep with him. I haven't slept with anyone... else."

As happy as this makes him, she still wasn't in the clear. "Would you have, had I not shown up?"

Karai steps closer to him. "Please don't incriminate me for something I didn't get a chance to do."

"Intent is everything." He says through clenched teeth.

Bingo. Karai smirks. "Intent is everything. Do you believe that with all of your heart, Leonardo?"

He stares into her light brown eyes. Her question seems like one that could corner him, but he answers truthfully. "Yes, I do."

She steps up very close to him and softens her voice. "Leonardo, I thought you would have always known... that my intent is subject to your very presence."

Her words light a fire in his chest. He lets down his arms and peers at her, awaiting some dark remark, but none comes. Her eyes bounce from his deep blue eyes to his questioning mouth. She sucks in her bottom lip and sees him watching her. Could it be this easy to get back into his good graces?

Just then, Michelangelo walks by, slinging a yo-yo and sees, through the small opening in the sliding door, Leo and Karai standing in front of each other. He's peeks in and strains his ear to listen.

Karai bats her eyes at Leonardo and gives him a shy smile. "Leo, I do not want you to think that you are so easy to replace. It was wrong for me to make you think that."

"I appreciate that, Karai. But, I don't think that will change how things are now."

"How are they now?" She asks. "That is what I came here to find out. I do not know what I am to you anymore or if it even matters."

"It matters. You still..." He won't say it. He refuses to get hurt anymore.

"It's OK. I really don't have any right to ask. But still it leaves me wondering what she is to you... if that seat next to you is permanently taken."

Leo dives right into her charms. Her quiet voice, soft gestures, her honesty, bowls him over. Did it have to take the possibility of losing him for Karai to finally have these feelings for him? And what of Toni? Her touch and that kiss... perhaps he should really think about this. Toni will be in rehab until September. That gives him a month to take his time and make the right decision... Only, Karai is here now...

He moves closer to her and places his hands on her arms. "Toni is... but you are..."

Karai sees the storm in his eyes. She wasn't going to allow things to go this far so fast, but after the performance she put on, the moment shouldn't go to waste. She has him, might as well make the choice easier for him. She inches closer to him, but doesn't initiate anything.

Leo can't take it anymore. "Karai..." He tilts his face towards hers.

Mikey freaks out and drops his yo-yo. It rolls into the dojo and falls at Leo's feet.

Karai looks over his shoulder and Leo stops his advance. He lets her go swiftly and turns around to see his freckled brother standing there. "Mikey!"

"Hey, bro, sis." He grins.

"Hello, Mikey." Karai picks up the wooden yo-yo and walks over to hand it back to him. She smiles at him but his expression is wary. She turns back to Leo. "I think I'm going to see what April is up to." She heads for the door. "We can finish talking later."

Once she's gone, Leonardo throws his head back and groans. "I know, Mikey, you don't have to say anything. I almost fell for it again."

"I wasn't going to say anything." He smiles.

Leonardo gathers his thoughts and sighs. "I bet... how much did you hear?"

"Not much. Enough to know that old habits die hard."

"Is she lying to me? If I knew whether or not she was telling the truth I'd..."

"Karai's not lying to you." Mikey says, rubbing his chin.

"How do you know?"

"I just know."

"That's not helping, Mikey."

Mikey steps up into his face. "How many times do I have to remind you of all the times you guys should have listened to me when we were younger? I have a natural knack for these things, and Karai isn't lying!"

"Ok, Ok... sorry." Leo puts up his hands. "If she isn't lying, how come it doesn't feel like a good thing?"

"She's not lying, but she's not telling you the whole truth either. I'm not sure what it is, doesn't feel right."

"I don't want to go here but, do you think she might have plans for Toni?"

"You mean like to hurt her?" Mikey's eyes grow wide.

"I know it sounds crazy. Maybe I'm thinking too fully of myself." Leo says. "Too egotistical, and Karai isn't like that anymore."

"Hmm." Mikey rubs the back of his neck. "Like I said, I'm not sure. I don't think Karai would intentionally hurt any of us just... I know you still have feelings for her and I'd hate it if she used that to her advantage again."

Leo looks at Mikey. He smiles at him and lays a hand on his shoulder. "Thank you, Mikey. I'll try to remember that."

"Plus, I'm kind of betting against her. It's the little wager we have going on."

Leo steps back. "Who's we? What wager?"

"Oop!" Mikey covers his mouth and heads for the door. "Nothing. It's nothing."

"Oh, no you don't!" Leo grabs his little brother and locks him in a chokehold. "Spill it, Mikey! What wager?"

"Ack Plthhh!" Mikey tries to break free and inhale a lung full of air. "I..c-can't!"

"Mikey, I'll knock you out and you'll wake up in a dumpster!"

"God, who are you, Raph!?" He heaves.

Leo squeezes tighter.

"OK! OK!" Mikey squeaks. Leo releases him and he rolls onto the floor. "Gee whiz! It's just for fun."

"Mikey!"

"Yikes!" He sits up and puts up his hands. "Raph, Donnie, Casey, me, and the girls are placing a bet to see who you end up with."

Leo's jaw drops. "You… you all are making a game out of this? My life's misfortunes aren't something for my family to profit off of!"

"Come on, Leo, it's not like that." Mikey stands. "You know we love you and want the best for you. What's wrong with trying to predict the future in a hopeful and financially lucrative way?" He grins.

Leo is not amused and Mikey sees this.

"If it helps, Leo, the odds are 50/50."

"I can't believe this." Leo lolls his head to the side. "Even Kala, your level-headed, space battle leader girlfriend is betting on my love life?"

"It was her idea." Mikey shrugs.

"OK." Leo gives up. If he wasn't sure that they were talking about his love triangle behind his shell, he certainly is now. "This must be so entertaining for you all. Might I ask why you and Kala are rooting against Karai?"

Mikey shakes his head. "Kala and I don't agree."

"Really?"

"Nope." Mikey grins. "Casey agrees with all the girls, except Irma, who sides with us guys."

"So that means..." Leo closes his eyes to figure it out. "Casey and the girls think it will be Karai and Irma and you guys think it will be Toni." Mikey nods. "What's Casey's reason for choosing Karai?"

"His only argument was that Karai is hotter." Mikey says.

The older turtle rolls his eyes. "Why did Irma choose Toni?"

"Something about letting go of what you are familiar with and embracing what is new... She says you are a progressive thinker."

The more Leo thinks, it does seem like a fun idea, and a very childish game, to guess with whom he'd end up. He looks into his brother's baby blues. "Why do you think it should be Toni?"

"Because, she likes you for who you are. You can be yourself around her. You both have something that the other needs, companionship. You're ready and she's willing, a perfect match."

Leo smiles. "And what if I end up with neither? What if my best case scenario is to be by myself?"

"Um... I hadn't thought of that. I..." Mikey loses his smile. "Leo, I'd never want you to end up like that. At least, not forever. I guess it would be OK for a while if that's what you wanted. But my hope is that you don't go the rest of your life... you know..."

"Alone." Leo asks.

Mikey sees the error of his ways. He was so eager to bet along with his family. It really is insensitive to Leo. "Sorry, bro. We really didn't mean anything by it."

Leo grins at him and pats him on the shell. "I know. It's OK. My only request is that you all keep praying for the best for me... and give me half of the winnings."

Mikey nods quickly, happy that his brother is not angry. He then immediately stops. "Whoa! Half? That's $200!"

"Wow, you guys bet big. I'm flattered." Leo chuckles and they head for the door. "Say, Mikey..." Leo says to lighten up the mood and mess with his brother. "What if I end up with both of them?"

Mikey gasps and breaks into a laugh. "Leonardo, you'd be my hero!"
...

Toni relaxes into her chair, sighing happily as the nurse applies a warming pad over her eyes. It has been a long day of visual therapy and Toni is glad to go back to what she knows- peaceful sightlessness.

"I'll be back with the lunch menu, Toni. You'll have to pick something to eat." The nurse says.

"I'm guessing the menu won't be in Braille." Toni hums.

"The menu is in English, Braille, and picture form. But the doctors encourage you to look at the menu to associate the words and pictures with what your fingers are reading."

"Oh, Ok. Can I just sit like this until then?"

"That's fine. I'll be back in a while."

Toni listens for the nurse the leave before she sighs again. She can feel the blood in the back of her head thumping and her eyes are still so sore. Her mind is boggled with all of the new information thrown in her face. She wonders how seeing-people deal with this all of the time.

Her ears perk up at the soft knocking at her door.

"Toni?" A familiar female voice calls to her.

Toni, eyes still shut, removes the heating pad from her face and smiles. "April?"

"Yes, it's me!" April smiles, seeing her friend sitting by the window of the comfortable hospital dorm room. She walks across the room and grabs Toni's hand. "It's so great to see you! How are you doing?"

Toni wraps her hand around April's. "I'm well. Very well. Oh, April, I'm so glad you're here! I didn't think I'd be hearing from any of you so soon!"

"Of course!" April says. "The rest of the crew couldn't wait to hear from you either and sent me here as soon as I could come." April sits on the edge of the bed. She sets her things down and stares at Toni and says in a hushed tone. "So… you can really see?"

Toni grins and, though her head is still slightly throbbing, she opens her eyes. When her fuzzy view takes in the vibrant color of April's hair, she gasps. "Wow!" Toni stands and reaches out to touch her. Tony runs her hands through April's hair, removes the hairband as she does so until the fiery red locks fall over the freckled girls]'s shoulders. "Your hair… it's beautiful. I had no idea hair could look like this. The color is…"

"Is red…" April is in awe looking at her friend. Toni's eyes are alive, shiny and green. "Toni… oh my gosh!" April hugs her. "You can see."

"Yup." Toni says,

"Let me look at you!" April says. Aside from being somewhat tired-looking Toni's eyes follow hers. She shakes her head. "I can't believe it."

"April… we look so different."

April nods. "Yes, but everyone does, more or less."

"So, I've noticed." Toni sits next to her on the bed. "I can't remember yet. For the past few days I've seen a few doctors and nurses, and my visual therapist, Mara. But if you line them up and tell me who is who, I'd fail. Mara says that I'm still relying on my other senses to recognize people. I have to learn how to use my eyes to recognize faces and places. It's even hard to differentiate between real faces and ones on a screen. But hey, I never thought it would be easy."

April's bag starts to vibrate." Oh, I almost forgot!" She opens her bag and pulls out an electronic tablet. She presses the side and its screen starts to glow. "Everyone wants to say hello to you and wish you well, but couldn't show up in person for reasons you and I both understand. So, Donnie rigged this up so you can talk to them." She hands Toni the device.

Toni takes it and squints. A moment later, images appear in front of her. Then, what appear to be faces are clearly seen on screen. "Hello?"

"Toni!" The group of people on the screen cheer and clap when they see her.

The cheering doesn't seem to abate and April chimes in. "Hey, guys, one at a time!"

A lone, green face takes up the entirety of the screen. "Toni! Hey! Can you guess who I am?"

Toni blinks at the smiling face and orange bandana. "Mikey?"

"Yes! Oh, my God, she can see me! Quick! How many fingers am I holding up?"

Toni touches the screen. "One and two."

"It's a miracle! Hallelujah! Toni, when you come back I'm going to bake you the most colorful cake in the world!"

"Thanks, Mikey!"

Next, the screen focusses on a new face. Toni only assumes that it is a new face because the streak of color across the face has changed.

"Hello, Toni. It's really good to see you."

Toni smiles, recognizing the voice. "Hi, Donnie. It's good to see you too."

"Wow." Donnie says softly. "This tablet that April brought is for you. Keep it close and call us if you ever need anything and we'll be right there… are you sure everything is going OK?"

"Of course. Everyone is nice and I know I'll learn a lot from them. Thank you for the tablet, Donnie."

Donatello nods assuredly and hands the device to Raph.

Raphael appears in his red bandana. "Hey, Toni. You got guts doin' what ya did. How ya feelin'?"

"I feel good, Raphael, right?" Toni looks at April and back at Raph. "You and April have the same color, right?"

"Y-yeah, that's right." Raphael stares at Toni. "And you and me got the same color eyes, ya know?"

"I guess we do." Toni smiles.

Raphael stares a bit longer, almost overcome by it all. He sniffles. "Here's Mona." He quickly hands the screen to Mona, who is already in tears.

"Toni? It's me, Mona."

"Hello, Mona. Wow… you look amazing!"

"No, YOU look amazing… I'm so happy for you! Come back to us soon!"

Mona continues to cry as another being comes into view. "Hello, Toni. Do you know who I am?"

Toni's eyes grow wide. "You…" She places a hand on the screen. "Kala! Oh, wow! Look at you!" Toni can't explain it, but after seeing her friends, the people who work in the hospital seem so bland.

Finally, another green face appears on screen. She can't forget this face. "Leo…"

"Hello, Toni."

Toni purses her lips, trying to hide her smile. Her face is beet red. "It's good to see you again."

"You too."

"I can't wait to be back with all of you. I promise to work hard and do my best!"

From the background, Mikey shouts. "Three cheers for Toni! Hip, hip…"

"Hooray!"

"Hip, hip."

"Hooray!"

"HIP HIP, HOORAY!"

They all say their goodbyes and April places the tablet and charger on the bedside table. "You can speak with everyone when you want now. Just press this green icon here in the corner to call. There are games on there as well." With a wrinkly smile on her face April looks back at Toni.

"What is it? Why is your face that way?"

"I heard what you said to Leo. That it was good to see him again. When he came to see you… you opened your eyes for him?"

"Um…" Toni's eyes blinks and she starts to blush. "Yes… He was the first person I ever saw." She places a hand over her chest and smiles softly.

April. "So, what do you think of him?"

Toni sits back and looks down. She admires her white robe and how it wrinkles and catches the light from the window. "I think he is the most wonderful person in the world."

April's eyes widen at the admission. "Do you really like him in that way?"

"Yes."

"Look at me."

Toni turns to her.

"You know that Leo has had his heart hurt before?"

"I know."

"Then you know how important it is for you to be absolutely sure of how you feel."

"I'm sure."

April regards the girl for a moment longer and nods her head. "I'm sorry if I seem to be overstepping my boundaries. Leo would probably blow a fuse if he knew I was interrogating you like this. Though, I've never known him to be angry with me." April's smile returns as she returns to sit next to Toni. "What you did took a lot of bravery… what you and Leo may become in the future will take bravery as well."

"Are you saying that you're brave for being with Donatello? Sorry if I'm overstepping MY boundaries, but I don't think he'd like the sound of you comparing your relationship to a rescue mission."

"What? Not at all!"

"I'm not brave for loving him." Toni says.

"You love…" April takes in the sure posture of Toni's body. The emotion has not reached Toni's face yet, something she still has to learn. "Me either, Toni." April says. "I don't think I'm brave for loving Donatello. The bravery is in 'the staying' when the rest of the world tells you to hate. Loving is the easy part. Letting go of what a normal life can give you so that you can take a road less travelled… that's what I meant. You've obviously felt this way before you saw him. Who's to say that your blindness helped give you two that chance?"

"Maybe it did. But, he allowed his feelings to grow in spite of my condition. I love him, April and I haven't told him yet, because I wanted to go through this surgery first to build up my nerve, whether it worked or not. Now I can see, and I'm still afraid to tell him. That's how much he means to me!"

April looks into the Parisian's shining, green eyes. She can't help that her words make her think of Karai. Leo's loved Karai for a long time, but nothing ever came of it. It would have been nice if things worked out that way. April admits to herself that she'd been rooting for those two to get back together. But if Toni is ready and willing, what can April do but be supportive?

April sighs and places a hand over Toni's. "Well then, when you finally tell him, I'm sure he'll be very happy to hear it."

Toni calms and smiles. "I've got about a month to get my thoughts in order. I plan on telling him when I'm out of this place and back at home. I hope he feels the same way. And I also know why you're being so protective of him. He and the rest are your family. I respect you for looking out for them."

"We look out for each other." April says.

"Kid? Is that you?"

April turns around and Toni turns an ear to a woman standing at the door. To April, she looks so much like Toni, except for the dirty blonde ringlets pinned back in a ponytail, she has the same green eyes and smile.

The woman drops her large canvas knapsack on the floor and slowly walks inside of the room. "Antoinette, baby? Can you really see me?"

Toni stands and walks to the woman. She stands in front of her and reads the woman's face with her hands; the slope of the nose, the beauty mark over the left brow, and how one ear is slightly higher than the other.

"Rose." She whispers. "Mom?"

"Toni!"

Mother and daughter embrace and cry as April wipes a tear away, witnessing the happy reunion. A few moments later, she comes up next to them with a box of tissue. "He you go."

"Oh, thank you." Rose wipes her face and blows her nose. "And who are you, dear?"

"Mom, this is April O'Neil. One of my good friends." Toni says, taking another tissue.

"You have a friend… good friends. It's so nice to meet you." Rose give's April a big hug and then turns back to Toni. "Toni, you look wonderful. I can't believe it!"

"I can't believe you're here! How did you know? I tried to get a hold of you." Toni says.

"It's the strangest thing." Rose says as she ushers Toni to the side of the bed to sit. "It was like I kept getting signs to come and see you. The last few days travelling have been very… strange. But, I already said that." The woman laughs.

"What type of things?" Toni asks.

The nurse arrives with the menu. "Hello, Toni and guests." She hands Toni the menu. "It's time to order lunch. Will the rest of you be staying? It's complimentary."

"I won't be." April says as she gathers her things.

"April, you don't have to go." Toni says.

"No, it's fine. You spend time with your mom. I don't want to get in the way."

"Nonsense!" Rose says. "The Turks say, Daha, neseli, or "The more, the merrier!"

"Please stay, April. Mom tells thee best stories of her travels. And the food is really good here for a hospital."

"Oh… Ok." April politely accepts and follows them and the nurse to the cafeteria.

It is very bright and nicely decorated, looking more like a restaurant than a sterile medical facility. Rose helps Toni read the menu and the three ladies dine on salad and fried fish sandwiches on fresh rolls. Toni eyes are beyond tire. She pulls out her sunglasses and sighs as she takes down a few tablets from her nurse.

Rose sips her tea and smiles warmly at the two young women before her. "Now, this all began on my train ride out of Amsterdam. I was reading an old book, dosing off, when the people sitting in the cubby next to me were listening to a radio show where someone was talking about a new and innovative procedure on giving sight to the blind. Their conversation intrigued me so, I invited myself over. I'm like that, no need to be shy, be friendly and mostly anyone will talk wit you. I started talking about you. They were a nice Japanese couple. They said they were med students and were interested in learning more about the eye and how it worked. We had dinner together and after, wished them well.

Then, at the station in Copenhagen, there was an eight-hour layover, just enough time for me to enjoy their festival of lights; not to be confused with the Jewish holiday, mind you. There was a man there selling wares from around the world at his little booth. He had cowboy hats, lanterns, teacups, everything. I came up to the booth because he was also selling little statues of liberty. Strange, right?

Getting back on the train and arriving in Dover, I checked into my favorite B & B and went to eat lunch at my favorite café and that is where I met Marie." Rose stops to finish off her Styrofoam cup of tea and sits back in her chair.

"Who is Marie?" Toni asks.

"Marie is a young lady from Paris. She travelled to Dover… because it was the last place her father was before he died."

April sets down her cup and stares at Rose.

Rose loses her smile. "Her father was an archeologist, always out of town and missed out on most of Marie's growing up. Her father was finally coming home, retiring and promising not to miss out on Marie's adulthood but…"

Toni and April sit quietly, troubled by the woman's silence and furrowed brows. "Marie had told me that she had always wanted to follow in her father's footsteps and join him on his excursions, but she had been a sickly child. All she wanted to do go along with him and dig up ancient civilizations with him… So I told her my story. I told her about you. She said that she would do anything to see her father again and wondered if my daughter may feel the same way." Rose shrugs. "Marie hit really close to home. Not that I needed much encouragement after her story, but Marie begged me to go see you. I told her that I didn't yet have the funds to get back to the states yet as my nearest bank was 300 miles away so… she gave me the money."

"What?" April starts up. "A complete stranger gives you thousands of dollars to fly back to America?"

"See? Very strange. All of this pointed back to you, Toni." Rose says. "I didn't hesitate. I thanked Marie, checked out of my B&B and took the next train to the city. When I arrived in New York, I couldn't get a hold of you on your cell. I went to your school and no one was there. I forget about the month-long break. Then I went to you apartment and you weren't there. I was worried, so I called the director of your school and she told me you were here. When she told me the reason, I nearly fell down the steps!"

Rose's mouth starts to quiver as she looks at her daughter. "It's like someone planned to make a way for me to be home at his very moment to see this miracle in you… I am so sorry, Toni for not being around."

"Mom." Toni speaks up. "You were always there for me. I was never alone. You raised me all by yourself."

"That may be true, kid. But, I was so very wrong." Rose's eyes starts to water as she looks at her daughter. "Just because you turned 18 doesn't mean you were automatically an adult and ready to live on your own. To be honest, I was literally training you to be independent so that you DIDN'T have to need me for the rest of my life. I had you very young and as soon as I could I ran and continued my life. I can't apologize to you enough for abandoning you for these past four years."

"Mom, don't…" Toni says. She places and hand on her mother's shoulder. "You prepared me very well. You put common sense and a strong drive within me… and now look at me… I'm looking at you! You were strong for me, so now, I am strong."

"You really don't hate me?" Rose pats away her tears.

"I could never."

Toni and Rose hug and this makes April want to run home and embrace her mother a well. Quite the opposite situation, because of the Kraang, April had grown up without her mother. Now that May O'Neil is home, the past couple of years have been surreal. Her father adjusted much quicker than any of them. For April, it was like meeting a long-lost stranger. Blurred memories is all she had of her mother. Her mother feels the same about April. But when it comes to mother and daughter, no matter how long they've been apart, the love never fades.

Still hugging, Rose kisses her daughter's temple. "I promise, whatever you need, I'm here for you. I'll be with you every step of the way through this. And after… I won't go anywhere without you."

April, after listening to Rose's story makes her feel uneasy. It DOES feel like this was all planned. But by who and why? Whatever the cause or reason, seeing Toni happy in her mother's arms drive any ill-will wonderings away. Nothing this good could come from such evil.

…

A/N: Thank you for reading! I hope to see you again soon.