Chapter 25

"Ah! My head!" April (Nickelodeon) yelled as her hands grasped her head.

"April, what's wrong?" Donnie (Nickelodeon) asked as he steadied her.

She shook her head. "I…I think it's the Kraang!" She threw her head back.

Leo's (nickelodeon) eyes widened. This would be the first time him and his brothers would have to face the Kraang, since the invasion in New York. This was his test: can he protect his family?

Mikey (nickelodeon) screamed. "Dudes, what are we going to do?!"

He wrapped his arms around Raph, who just growled at him.

"How big of a threat are they?" Leo (2003) rolled his eyes at the usual Raph -v- Mikey scuffles.

"After you get past the laser guns and the size of their dimension, not a big one." Leo (Nickelodeon) shrugged.

"Yeah, they're these brain blobs in robot bodies." April (Nickelodeon) said.

"Fascinatin'." Raph (2007) as he cracked his knuckles.

"Can we go then, please?" Raph (2003) held his sai tightly. "We can stop them before they get here."

Great, this is a major problem. We have all of our enemies teaming up, and we're running out of turtles to call. Plus, my house is getting really crowded. Yeah, we always have parties for about fifty people in the house, but these are mutant turtles who are trained ninjas. Put them in a house with nothing to do, and we're talking a lot of restless Raphaels. Which means there are going to be a lot of bored Michelangelos and very annoyed Donatellos. To top it off, some stressed out Leonardos….Oh great.

"We stick to the plan. If the Kraang get too close we go to Usagi's dimension sooner. We can't keep dimension hopping and trying to find places to stay. We already know where we're going to stay in Usagi's dimension, so let's stick with what we already know. I understand that April's (nickelodeon) instincts are ALWAYS right, but it doesn't mean the Kraang know exactly where we are. Besides, we may give ourselves away and be in more trouble. I announced before havoc could break loose.

"The Krang are coming! We can't just wait for them to come here!" Raph (Nickelodeon) exploded. "We already loss Splinter!" He closed his eyes for a second. "I'm not risking my brothers because your plan's STUPID!"

"Splinter's okay!" I yelled back, but quickly put my hands over my mouth. Shell.

"What?" His eyes narrowed. "What do you know? Where is he?" D (Nickelodeon) and Raphael (2003) held him back.

"It was in the show, Karai saved him. He was breathing, alive. Raphael, he's okay. The Shredder didn't kill him." I carefully put my hand on his shoulder.

He shrugged me off. "Let's just get over with this so we can go home." He walked away towards the barn. Leo (Nickelodeon) shook his head.

"I'm sorry about him." He was still watching where his brother stormed off.

"Don't worry about it. I know how he can be." I turned to Leo. "Wanna spar? I need some more practice with my Kamas."

Leo nodded and we walked away from the circle that had formed. We went further into my property and got into stance.

"You okay?" Leo asked as we circled each other.

"Yeah, I'm just nervous about tomorrow. I'm scared for you and the others." I attacked high and Leo blocked.

"Don't be. We'll be home and safe soon." He was only using one of his katanas, and attacked again. This time he swung to the side. I adjusted my grip and our blades collided.

"But with the Krang possibly joining Bishop and the Shredder,"

"We can handle it." Leo interrupted me.

Our weapons were swinging and clashing quicker now. "I don't agree with having Leo (2007), Venus, and Donnie staying back with me and the kids. You need them out with you. I can protect the kids and Yoshi is able to cloak us. I know I'm staying back in case one of you get hurt, but let them go with you so they can help make sure everyone stays safe."

He stopped and put his swords back. Leo took my hands. "I don't know what I'll do if anything happens to you again. I won't let it happen."

"But you said I've improved. I went out with you on patrols and missions." I argued and pulled my hands away so I could stuff my Kamas in their holster.

"Please, just trust me. Stay away from Bishop and the Shredder." His thumb ran over my cheek and I put my hand over his arm.

I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Promise me you're coming back."

Leo pulled me closer. "I promise. I'm not leaving you."

We heard someone approaching us and we separated enough to see who it is.

"I'm sorry to disturb you, but we found what appear to be the Krang, and their location is closer than we thought. We must leave now." Usagi said.

They knew where we are. I should've listened to Raph (Nickelodeon). He was right, we shouldn't wait for them to get closer. Now, our escape may not happen. I went numb and stared at Usagi.

"Okay we're coming." Leo answered and Usagi left. Then Leo made me look at him. "We'll make it through. Your parents and friends will be away from the house. We're going to end this." He kissed me before we turned and walked, hands intertwined, back to the house. Donnie (Next Mutation) and Michelangelo (2003) were collecting some supplies. My mom was helping pack them in bags. Donnie and Don (Next Mutation) were working on the portal and Yoshi watched them with wide eyes. Leonardo (2003) was going over the plan with Raphael (2007) and Venus, who was also staying with me. Yasuo came up next to Raph (2007) and listened intently to Leonardo (2003). Everyone else were preparing for battle. I found Kiyomi sitting with Sarah and Kristen on the couch. I was going to go over there, but Jim stopped me.

"Here, take the gun." He handed my 9mm and a couple magazines of bullets. I stuffed them in my belt and slid the gun into my pocket. Jim was probably hoping I didn't have to use them, so was I. He could be very predictable at times. That's probably why I never got into arguments with him; I always picked the ones worth arguing over.

"Thanks." I forced a smile on my face.

"Be careful out there, okay?" He told me.

"Always am." I answered and went over to Kiyomi.

We said our good-byes and piled through the portal and started to separate into our groups. We were going to attack from literally every direction. (Ready for some confusion!) Leo, Don (Next Mutation), D (Nickelodeon), Mike (2007), Raphael (2003), April (Nickelodeon), and Casey (2007) were positioned North of the Shredder's location. Leonardo (1990 movie), Raph (1990 movie), Casey (Nickelodeon), Raph (Nickelodeon), Michelangelo (2003), Leo (Next Mutation), and Don (2007) were South of Shred-head. On the West side was Leo (Nickelodeon), Usagi, Raph, Mike (Next Mutation), Donatello (2003), Casey (2003), and April (2007). Over on the East side, Mikey, Raph (2007), Leonardo (2003), Mike (Nickelodeon), Raph (Next Mutation), and Casey Jones (1990 movie), and Donnie (1990 Movie). For the rest, we stayed at a campsite in an abandoned cave. Splinter and Venus started organizing the supplies while Leonardo (2007) talked to the kids. April (2003) was saying good-bye to Casey (2003) and Donnie was talking to Leo about how they were to contact us; stuff like that. I kind of just stood there, staring at how, somehow, we were able to get 29 strangers to come and save my family. Okay, they weren't exactly strangers, but we weren't people who I make days to catch-up for holidays or to hang-out. The scene, that I didn't even notice started, in front of me made me smile, but feel sad at the same time. Leo was down on his knee comforting a crying Yoshi, a shaking Kiyomi, and a struggling Yasuo. I moved a little closer to hear what Leo was saying.

"No matter what happens tonight, I want you all to know how proud I am of the three of you." His thumb caressed Kiyomi's cheek and she grabbed onto his hand. "Promise me that if anything does happened you go and get help from one of us. Mommy has the tablet with our locations." He turned to Yasuo. "I want you to run to whoever is the closest to you. Remember to use your gifts to protect each other." His other hand took Yoshi's shoulder. "Don't forget your training, and be careful." His eyes closed for a moment then they opened again; going from 'I'm your sensei' to 'I'm now a very worried father'. "Aishiteru" He hugged and kissed each one of them.

"Aishiteru, daddy." The three of them responded and took in their dad.

He let them go and stood up.

"Leo," Raph called, "It's time."

Leo nodded. "Just give me a second."

Raph told the others and went to his group. Leo walked to me and we automatically trapped ourselves into a tight embrace. I refused to let myself cry. I wouldn't let him continue to see me that way. Like before my turtle-ized life, I kept my emotions hidden. No one could tell I was an emotional mess, but on the inside I felt like I was being strangled. I went into a state of depression when a friend of mine moved across the country six years ago. We were close, even went out, but he never called me, wrote to me, made sure I was okay, etc. Yeah it was fifth grade; doesn't mean losing someone you care about doesn't hurt. I shook my head. I wasn't losing Leo, even though I could now. My chest tightened, making it harder to breath. It was an uncomfortable, but familiar feeling. The knot in my throat and sting in my eyes are also those bad familiar feelings. I breathed in Leo's scent, and smiled. He always smelt a lot like leather from his gear, but he also had a hint of something else….I couldn't put a name on it. Leo's finger gently made me tilt my head up to meet his eyes. My brows furrowed; out of worry. He sighed and his hand went to the back of my neck.

"Be careful." I whispered.

"Always am." He whispered back.

"Hey Fearless!" Raphael (2003) yelled. "Let's go!"

Leo put his forehead to mine and groaned.

I laughed "I know Raph, any Raph, is impatient. Just kiss me so you can go before he drags you away." I pulled him towards me and kissed him. He laughed into the kiss, knowing I was probably right. If it wasn't Raph to pull him away it would be Casey, any of the Caseys. When he started to leave and we finally let go of each other's hands, I waited until I couldn't see them anymore. Then I sat next to Kiyomi who was literally glued to her brothers' sides. As I sat down they scurried over to me. Kiyomi had started a fire, and the flames were flicking along with her hiccups. Venus looked at them sadly, knowing she couldn't do much to help them. April (2003) started digging through a bag of supplies.

"So, how did you get the names Kiyomi and Yasuo?" Venus asked trying to get us to think of something else.

"Well, I wanted all of their names to have some meaning. Yoshi's name is master Splinter's master's name. Even though in the movie based off of my Leo's life didn't talk about Hamato Yoshi, Leo said he was another worker at the lab. It's how April was allowed in the lab. Yoshi spent a lot of time with Splinter. Anyway, since we lost Splinter, we wanted to name one of our children after his master in honor of splinter. As for the other two, I wanted to stick with Japanese names, and have a meaning to them. So, I chose Kiyomi because it means 'pure beauty'. We had a few ideas for Yasuo, but they weren't Japanese names; like Ethan, Dimitri, uh…Kendall, and Damon. When he was born and we saw how at peace he was I literally called him 'peaceful one'. He didn't cry, he was quiet." I rubbed Yasuo's arm as he stared blankly at the fire. "It got Donnie a little nervous, right Don?" I smiled at Donnie who was leaning against a wall. He smiled and nodded. "But we were with the Utroms. They're friends and they made sure they were all healthy." I felt Splinter and Leo (2007) watching me.

"Their names fit them well." Splinter smiled at the kids.

April (2003) got up and came over with a blanket. She put it over the kids and they pulled it close to themselves.

"When we got to your home, and saw you and your kids. My brothers and I had a hard time believing it was possible. Also by the fact that your relationship started when you were human amazes us. Mikey (2007) talks to Donnie (2007) every time we come back from patrolling. He asks about having a family other than my brothers, sensei, and April and Casey." Leonardo (2007) stared into the calming flams. It seemed that everyone was interested in the fire. "Don (2007) tries to get him to think that we're too young to be in any form of relationship, but it gets harder to convince him. We always see couples walking hand in hand or stargazing in the park." He sighed. "I don't know seeing you….I guess it just…somehow we feel like…"

"There's hope. That there's someone out there who'll look past the green." I finished for him and repeated what Sarah had said to me.

He nodded. "We only have each other."

Just like the t-cest fan fictions! I tried to keep my expression blank, but I felt an awkward smirk crawl on my face.

"What?" He asked.

"Nothing." I giggled just because I don't know, I'm weird. "Just something from my dimension."

He shrugged and Venus took the tablet to check everyone's location. By the looks of it, everyone was on schedule and were halfway to their positions. Yasuo curled up next to me and his brother and sister squished in-between him. I frowned slightly, but smiled when they started to drift off to sleep.