A/N: This is the last chapter of this story. FRET NOT MY LOVERLIES!! A third installment is coming your way. I'd like to get the first five chapters done before the story is put up, so I'm not sure how long it'll be before it's up. Just keep your eyes open!
I'd like to take up some space to thank a couple people in general, I've thanked them thousands times before, but it's the last chapter and they deserve a lot of credit.
MinniBlack (formerly BarbeeBlack) – You suck. You're such a good freakin' beta and then you totally diss your job. So you suck and rock at the same time. LOSER. I love you. Thanks for your help, support, and love.
Imthegreenfairy88 – What started as a simple Reader/Author relationship has really become a friendship (to me at least). You've reviewed, read, and listened to me, and that just makes me very honored. You're a very talented author yourself. Thanks so much.
Anniewanny2 and xo-shauna-xo – Both of you are exquisite artists, thank you so much for taking the time to make the artwork that you did for my story.
My readers – I could not have done any of this without you. Thank you for following Surprise! (which was MUCH more popular than I thought…) and thank you for reading this story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Disclaimer: Why am I going through this….again? Not mine.
Music for this chapter –
Pocket Full of Sunshine – Natasha Bedingfeild
One Thing is for Sure – The Spill Canvas
Chapter 25
Loose Ends
"Family isn't about whose blood you have. It's about who you care about."
-- Trey Parker and Matt Stone (South Park, Ike's Wee Wee)
((Gee, never thought I'd use a South Park quote…))
"Come in, Miranda." Splinter called out of his door before Mimi even knocked.
"Not now, Killer." The girl told the dog nipping at her ankle. Mimi exhaled walking in, the dog following her in.
"Kneel, child." Mimi obliged kneeling in front of the old rat, the dog even sat down and bowed it's head.
"Sensei, I know I didn't follow your orders." Mimi said, "I acted rashly, against your orders, and I'm sorry."
"What I am most concerned about, is your safety, Miranda." Splinter said, "I know you are still mourning the loss of your friend, and your body is still healing, but I am very glad to know that you are safe and still with us." She looked up at him. "It has been a most trying year for you. I hope that all that has happened has taught you what you must work on, and showed you how strong you are."
"I need to work on…" Mimi hesitated, "Thinkin' before I do things, considerin' who can be hurt by my actions, and all the consequences. I need to work on keepin' a level head in battle, and controlling my anger."
"Very good." Splinter said, "I am very pleased with your progress, and with how much you have learned." He smiled, "And of course, I forgive you." She smiled back softly, "But this does not mean you are out of punishment."
"Should'a saw that one comin'…" Mimi mumbled with a sigh.
"Once you are fully healed, your training will double, and you will be forbidden to fight unless it is in self defense." Splinter said, "When we can both agree that you are ready to fight, you will join the boys in their duty to protect."
"Yes, Sensei." Mimi bowed her head, she stood and hugged her teacher.
"And if you must blame yourself for this disaster, remember that you are also to blame for the completeness of this family," Splinter said hugging the girl, "For without you, I fear my sons, and the triplets would not be with us."
Mimi couldn't believe she agreed to this. She said no more before, and here she was. Angel and Maureen. Their hair was perfect as was their make-up. Though it was mismatched with their frumpy clothing. And then there was Mimi, dressed just as lazily as them, and having her face covered in cosmetics and her hair being dressed.
"Maureen put down the straight iron, now!" Mimi ordered.
"What?" Maureen asked, "Why?"
"Why not?" Mimi said, "That's a weapon in your hands, I'm goin' to end up with burnt feet!"
"Your feet are no where near your head," Joanne pointed out, putting some kind of product in the girl's hair.
"Thanks for that, genius." Mimi grumbled, "I'm only sayin' she is Maureen, and I don't trust her with anythin' metal or burnin' hot in her hands."
"Just put it down, Ree, I want Mimi's hair wavy anyway." Angel said and Maureen shrugged.
"Tell me again, why are we doin' this?"
"Senior pictures, Mimi, orientation is tonight." Angel rolled her eyes.
"Oh shit, that's right." Mimi bit her lip, "They aren't gonna make me like…wear a dress…right?"
"No, they have this weird pin-on thing that looks like the upper part of the dress." Joanne explained, "It's kinda weird, but it's better than wearing a dress."
"I guess." Mimi grunted, Maureen went to lift the dog tags off of her, "Hey, what're you doin'?"
"You cannot wear these in the picture, Mimi." Maureen rolled her eyes, "Where's the necklace we got you for your birthday?"
"I'm wearin' it." Mimi said, "Took forever to get the blood off." She shook her head, "You're not gonna make me take that off too are ya'?"
"No, it'll look nice." Angel smiled down at the girl.
"Are we done yet?" Mimi whined.
"Almost." Joanne said, and she felt the girl messing with her hair, Angel applied some sort of lip gloss to Mimi's lips and then grinned.
"Why are we doin' this in the livin' room?" Mimi asked.
"I want the guys to see what you look like all dolled up before you left, they're stopping by." Joanne grinned in an evil manner.
"I hate you." Mimi glared.
"I love you too."
"Okay, we're done." Angel said.
"What do you think, girls?" Maureen asked, Mimi frowned as the triplets surrounded her inspecting her appearance.
Mimi was afraid to get up and look for herself, but did anyway. Walking into the bathroom she turned on the mirror. She raised one eyebrow, a lot of time for a very simple look. Her hair was parted down the middle, two pieces of what her bangs should be framed her face while the rest of her hair cascaded down, looking much shinier and softer than usual.
The make up was simple, even though it was grueling and very long process. Her skin looked flawless, and she groaned. Angel had covered her in foundation and concealer, this was going to take a long time to take off. Her eye shadow was very neutral, thankfully, with black eye-liner making her blue eyes pop and mascara on her eye lashes giving them a longer, fuller look. And the pale color on her lips was neutral making them shine.
"You look amazing." April said walking by the bathroom, "The guys are here." Mimi groaned, April winked and left Casey was walking by and stopped.
"Are you wearin' … lip gloss?"
"Shut up." Mimi growled pushing past him, heading for the living room. She might as well get this over with. She heard Angel speaking,
"I'm trying to convince her to let us do this more often, she looks fabulous."
"Good luck with that." She heard Leo say.
"I bet Joe could get her to do it." Angel said, and Joe snorted.
"Sure, I could." The girl said sarcastically.
"Well, maybe she'll like it and change her mind!" Maureen said excitedly.
"Yeah, and then I'll magically be able to shit rainbows." Mimi said making her entrance.
"Oh, wow." Don said, "You look great, Mimi."
"That's the Mimster?" Mikey asked, "You look totally awesome, chica!"
"Thanks." Mimi said tightly, she looked at Raph who was way too amused, "Can we go now?"
"What's the rush?" Raph stepped forward, and she glared at him.
"The sooner we get there, the sooner we can leave." Mimi said, "And then I can wash this crap off my face." The room chuckled, and Joanne grinned saying,
"Oh god, Mimi, I cannot wait until you go to prom."
It was weird seeing so many at this table. They had to get another one and attach it to the original, just so everyone would fit. And it was louder than usual, which was pretty loud. Splinter and Casey were on the ends of the table, April was on Casey's right, sitting next to Mark and Tom and then Mrs. Davies. Next to her was Leonardo and Angel, on Splinter's left. On Casey's left was Raphael, next to Mimi who was next to Marcus. Joanne and Donnie were next, and then Mikey and Maureen.
"So, Mimi when does school start?" Tom asked across the table.
"Um, I dunno." Mimi frowned, "When does school start, Ang?"
"In like two weeks, Mimi," Angel said, "You gotta get your stuff together, girl."
"I will." Mimi said, "In two weeks." There was some laughter from the table.
"Yeah, right," Joanne shook her head, "Not while I'm in town, we're buying you a ton of supplies."
"Excitin'." Mimi said sarcastically.
"And then we get to organize it by color and brand name." Angel said and Mimi looked at her like she was insane, "Okay, maybe just by color." Mimi shook her head as more laughter spread around.
"I think I'm gonna run away and join the circus." Maureen said.
"They wouldn't want you." Leonardo teased.
"Are you kidding me, this family is a circus." Donnie stated.
"So, you don't have to run away after all." Mikey said and Maureen giggled.
"You don't want to join the circus anyway, Ree, they have clowns there." Mimi said.
"Um, duh!" Maureen said, "Why wouldn't they have clowns?"
"I'm just sayin'," Mimi shrugged, "I hate the fuckin' circus."
"You're afraid of clowns!" Mark accused.
"Have you seen a clown, Mark?" Mimi asked, "They're like…little happy devils with face paint and stripey suits." The girl shivered.
"We had this big blow up clown punchin' bag when we were kids," Casey began, "I would put it by her bed when she was sleepin'…" The older man laughed, "She used to scream every fuckin' time, man."
"I can't believe this." Mike said, looking at the girl, "The girl turns into a blood thirsty monster when she's angry, and she's afraid of clowns."
"Oh, right this from the guy who asked his girlfriend to kill a spider for him, what about that, ninja boy?" Mimi teased and Maureen laughed.
"She has a point, Mike."
"Whatever, that's still totally ridiculous."
"Mikey, you're totally ridiculous." Joanne said and the table laughed.
"Mrs. Davies are you enjoying your pizza?" Angel asked and the woman smiled nodding.
"Sorry we don't have anythin' else," Mimi looked around at the brothers, "These four practically live off the stuff."
"Oh, it's not a problem Mimi, don't worry." The older woman smiled kindly.
"For ninjas you guys are lacking proper nutrition." April teased.
"Seriously." Mimi said.
"This coming from the girl who lived off of candy bars for an entire year." Donnie rolled his eyes.
"Must be a ninja thing to eat crap twenty-four, seven." Casey said, and the table laughed some more.
Mimi looked around the table at the extended family, disbelieving that at one time there were so many empty seats. She smiled to herself, even harder to believe that at one time she felt agonizingly alone. Here she was surrounded by people who loved and cared about her, she felt a pang of sadness as she realized there was one person missing. Roger should have been part of their family. She felt a firm squeeze of her upper thigh as she looked at Raph who was giving her an inquiring eyes.
"You okay?"
"Just thinkin.'" She said grinning and kissing him on the beak.
"About?" He asked, she shrugged a bit.
"Nothin' much." The girl grinned grabbing his hand in hers, "Just what matters most to me…"
A/N: The last chapter of What Matters Most. I hope you all enjoyed the story. Please look out for the third installment, it should be up as soon as I can get the first five chapters finished. Thanks again.
-- Whispered Lies