AN: Wow! I didn't think that people would have the time to review, considering that I'm posting the epilogue almost right after I posted the last chapter, but some people did! You're fast! :D

Hawkfeather: Thanks for reviewing! Yes, Mikey is taking care of Leo's mental well-being like the considerate brother he is.

XiaoR18: Thank you so much! Here is the epilogue.

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Epilogue

One year later…

Casey Jones, having just returned from a six day vacation with his father and little sister, ran inside the lair excitedly.

"Guys! You'll never guess what happened on my way here!"

The four turtles, who were sitting on the couch and watching an episode of Leonardo's favorite cartoon with a huge bowl of popcorn, greeted him.

"How was your vacation time, Casey?" Raphael asked him.

"Nice. My little sister was delighted to spend all her time with me and…"

Casey frowned.

"But don't you want to know what I found?"

"It depends," Donatello mused. "Is the survival of the human species at stake?"

"Uh…no…"

"An alien invasion, then?" Michelangelo asked.

"That's not it…"

"Is there any immediate danger at all?" Raphael crossed his arms.

"I… don't think so," Casey stammered. "A new gang has arrived in the city and begun to bully the storekeepers. I've stopped them Casey Jones-style, and they've sworn to take revenge. They said they have high-ranking friends, and I'm almost sure I glimpsed a Foot soldier in the background."

"Then I guess we should have a look at it," Leonardo remarked, and Michelangelo sighed.

"What's the matter, guys? You're usually the first ones to get excited when something out of the ordinary happens in New York City!" Casey told them, perplexed.

"Yes, but it's Leo's vacation week," Michelangelo replied casually.

Casey blinked.

"Leo's vacation week?"

"Yep," Raphael confirmed, taking another mouthful of salty popcorn.

"Uh… and… why?" Casey asked, dumbfounded.

"So Leo doesn't burn out again," Michelangelo explained gravely. "At this time of the year – and unless there is an emergency– we get to take care of him and he's forbidden to lift a finger."

"And Leo accepts it?" Casey asked incredulously.

Leonardo threw up his hands without answering, but he didn't manage to completely hide his smile.

"He takes it as a training in patience," Donatello stated.

Raphael punched his blue-clad brother's arm lightly.

"And he's also taking advantage of it. This is the fifteenth episode of Space Heroes we're watching in a row."

Casey looked at them.

"Okay. Uh… So you're coming, or what?"

Leonardo stood up, swiftly and with suspicious relief.

"Yes. It sounds like a serious matter. Let's go, guys."

Michelangelo sighed.

"Well, at least we did better than last year, when we had to give up after only two days because an alien invasion required our full attention. This year, we almost reached the end of the fourth day!"

Donatello patted his shell.

"You're right, Mikey. We're making progress."

Leonardo smiled comfortingly at his orange-clad brother.

"Don't be sad, Mikey. We can still have that costume party afterwards. Maybe Casey will want to join us."

"Yay! Is Raph going to be a fairy again?"

Casey blinked, opened his mouth and closed it a few times, then burst into laughter.

"Oh please! Please!" He uttered between two fits of laughter. "Tell me you have pictures!"

From nowhere, a red scarf appeared around his left ankle and made him trip.

The End

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Author's Note: A word about the other characters.

Raphael's blow really affected Sir Hubert. When he woke up in the hospital, he decided that he would spend the rest of his life defending animal welfare. That's what he's famous for now, and he won a prize last week. Leonardo isn't too happy about it, because he's having an even harder time convincing Raphael that violence isn't the answer.

Sir Hubert's former second-in-command has started a career in haute couture and will present his first fashion show next year. He's still happily married.

The paramedics who intervened in Sir Hubert's house and saved his life are now retired. They all received a high financial compensation. After dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder for months, they are now beginning to take advantage of it.

New York's high society is still excitedly talking about Sir Hubert's last party…

And now, the acknowledgements!

Thanks to every person who reviewed, followed, or favorited this story. Your support is decisive, and I mean it. A special thanks to Hawkfeather, EchoKazul, Nutella Swirl and XiaoR18 who reviewed almost every chapter – and sometimes in great detail. You're amazing!

To every other person who came that far in reading the story, I hope you enjoyed it. I certainly had fun writing it – most of the time! And don't hesitate to leave a review (every language welcome) so I can know what you think!