"This is a terrible idea," Nikki said as he starred up at the apartment building his sister had dragged him to. "How did you even steal that thing anyway?"
Andrea, still looking at the blip on the screen, replied, "Not like it was hard. Donnie's got his head in the clouds." She finally looked up and steeled herself knowing that this could end badly. Nikki felt Andrea's hand slip into his searching for a sense of comfort. "You promised," she reminded in a whisper.
"I know," Nikki said looking down at the blip on the GPS screen.
"They deserve to know they're not alone." Andrea stepped into the building with Nikki in tow. "We need to be quick. Mama will notice us gone."
"You're gonna get us killed."
"Quit being a pansy and hurry up. I think they're on a floor above us."
Nikki followed his sister heart racing at every noise. They were supposed to wait till contacting whoever the GPS was taking them to. Andrea took it upon herself to sidestep her father's wishes. In her mind they couldn't understand. They grew up together. She and Nikki were lucky to have each other but their past was shrouded in mystery. She couldn't imagine not having anyone. She just hoped Leo would forgive her.
Andrea came to a stop outside a door on the third floor. She reached up but hesitated for a moment before knocking. Heart pounding, she stepped back hearing footsteps.
"Hello, can I help you?" A blonde woman with chin length hair held back with a cream-colored head band opened the door still dressed in pajamas. "Are you lost?"
Andrea and Nikki shared a look. "I don't think we're lost," Andrea answered.
"I'm sorry, but I don't know—" The woman's sentence trailed off when Andrea pulled her glove off revealing a green hand. After a beat of shock, the woman grabbed the two teens and yanked them inside. "Are you hurt?" She asked while locking the door.
Andrea and Nikki pulled down the hoods on their jackets.
"I don't understand," the women muttered taking in their appearance. "You're just—How did you find us?"
Andrea smiled, "It's kinda a long story. Do you have an open mind?"
The woman reached out and gently touched Andrea's cheek with the faintest nod. "I'm Amber."
"I'm Andrea and this is my brother, Nikki."
Tears welled in Amber's eyes as she looked at the two before her, "Please, tell me everything. Let me go get, Mira."
Nikki and Andrea took a seat on the couch in the tiny living room as they waited for the woman to return. Andrea looked down her phone and the message from her mother piling up. She bit her lip wondering if she should just ignore it.
"Just tell her we couldn't wait," Nikki offered.
Andrea nodded and quickly sent the message when she heard footsteps approach. They watched with held breaths as Amber came out of the hallway and a girl their age came to stand by her nervously.
"I-I'm Mira," she gave a small wave.
"I'm Andrea."
"And I'm Nikki. . .we're like you."
Amber pulled her stunned daughter to sit on the poufs they usually used as footrests.
"Ok, so, like I said it's a long story," Andrea started ready to deliver her carefully practiced explanation. "Nikki and I were dropped at out mom's doorstep when we were a few months old. Same for you?" Amber nodded but then remembered that it was Rosie's doorstep. "A few months ago, my brother and I found other's like us."
"There's more?"
"Yes and no," Nikki corrected. "You see they're like us in that they are half of us."
"I don't understand," Mira frowned. "Are you saying like a parent?"
"Exactly like a parent, actually. They're the reason we look the way we do. They're mutants."
Amber stood and started pacing the floor, "Wait, so you're saying, Mira, has a dad?"
"I know it sounds crazy," Andrea stood, "but it's the truth and you're her mother, too."
Nikki grabbed his sister's hand and pulled her back down and gave her a warning look.
"How do you know that?" Amber muttered heart beating slow like a drum every beat echoing in her chest as she recalled the night Mira was dropped off. "How can you know?"
"I'm just assuming," Andrea explained further more carefully, "But Donnie ran a DNA test and found that our moms were actually our moms. If she was left on your doorstep, then she's probably your biological daughter."
Mira swallowed hard, "It wasn't your doorstep. It was Aunt Rosie's doorstep." She thought about the woman that visited on occasion and could never look at her for long.
"I'm your mother," Amber replied in a defiant tone taking Mira's hand.
"I didn't mean. . ." Andrea trailed off.
"I know, dear, continue."
"Right, anyway. Do you have any abilities?"
Mira looked at the curly blonde girl across from her, "What can you do?"
"There's not really enough room in here to show you, but I'm really fast. Nikki's strong. Can you do anything?"
Mira focused and shifted her skin tone to dark blue, "Does this count?" Her blue-grey eyes bright against her now dark skin.
Andrea's eyes sparkled with the possibilities and nodded vigorously. "You're incredible!"
"Excuse her," Nikki apologized for his sister's excitement. "There's still a lot we don't know. We think there is one more like us since there are four brothers—Donnie, Raph, Leo, and Mikey. We haven't found them yet. The reason we came today is because we know what it's like to be alone." He met Mira's eyes noticing her skin was back to its original dark green.
Amber took her daughter's hand with a small, hopeful smile. "Can we meet them?" The older woman turned to the two teens on her couch.
Andrea nodded though her mouth went dry. Since she'd started explaining everything her phone have been vibrating in her pocket non-stop. "Can you drive?"
"Do you know which ones my dad?" Mira asked, walking beside the other two teens as her mom led them to the car.
Andrea considered the question looking Mira up and down. Nothing stood out that screamed Mikey or Don, but she did have a dusting of freckles across her nose. "What do you think?" Andrea asked Nikki. "Mikey?"
"Mikey," he agreed seeing Mira's lopsided grin.
Jess paced the room seething while Donnie profusely apologized and Lila sent another text to Andrea. "How could you let this happen, Donnie!? You know Andrea is always up to something!" She jabbed a finger at Leo, "She gets that from you!"
Leo tried not to take her ranting personal.
"Wait, she replied!" Lila jumped to her feet while the others all looked over her shoulder to read the message as well. "They're on their way home with Mira and her mom," Lila breathed thankful that they were ok.
The group jumped when they heard a key be inserted into the door lock. The brothers instinctively jumped to hide while the two mothers waited with belated breath for their children to enter.
Andrea was the first to enter looking rather sheepish. Before Jess could jump to scolding a woman about their age followed by Nikki and another girl, Mira she assumed.
"Hi," the woman reached her hand out to Jess and then Lila. "I'm Amber. Your kids found me. I hope you're not too upset with them."
Jess felt her need to scold dissipate and let out an exasperated breath. "Is yours so much trouble?"
Amber smiled and turned to look at Mira. "I don't know. I suspect she will be."
Mira smiled back innocently and pulled back the hood of her jacket fully revealing her short, chestnut brown hair, dark green skin, and blue-grey eyes.
Nikki took her coat and hung it up jumping when he noticed Mikey in the corner of the ceiling. "I don't know why you guys are hiding. We already told them."
Mikey jumped down and landed by Amber half expecting her to scream. The woman glanced at her daughter and then the turtle creature before her. "You weren't kidding," she chuckled addressing Andrea.
"I'm Michelangelo," he wrapped an arm around Amber's shoulders, "But you can call me Mikey."
"Michelangelo?" Amber questioned looking him over in wonder. She reached up cupping his cheek in her hand, surprised at the warmth, and passed her thumb over his freckles. "Wow," she breathed.
Mikey blushed not used to having the tables turned on him or not having a human scream, pass out, or both, let alone touch him. He chuckled nervously and gently pulled her hand away.
Don deflated seeing the physical similarities between his younger brother and Mira. Leo set a hand on his brother's shoulder and gave the genius a reassuring smile. Though it didn't make him feel much better he appreciated his brother's attempt to try.
Mikey noticed the girl staring at him and gulped. He'd dreamed of what he would do when he met his kid when Don said it was a possibility, but now he was lost. "Hey, I'm Mikey. I think I'm your Dad."
Mira stared wide eyed at Mikey. This was not how she pictured her day going when she woke up that morning. She looked over the other brothers as Andrea had called them. She tentatively shook Mikey's hand, "I'm Mira."
"I think I'll order some Pizza's," Lila excused herself.
"I'm Jess."
Amber turned her attention from Mikey and her daughter to the Latina woman. "Nikki's mom, right?"
"Yes. Seriously, I hope they didn't cause you too much trouble."
"Not at all," Amber chuckled. "Actually, I'm a little relieved. I'm sure you understand."
Jess nodded. "You've met Mikey, but these are his brothers: Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo."
"It's very nice to meet you." Amber excitedly shook each of their hands. "I'm Amber."
Sorry it's been about a week since I updated. My uncle passed away suddenly so I've just not had the motivation for much. I hope you're all doing well and enjoyed this new chapter. Let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!