Chapter 26/Epilogue
Chapter 26/Epilogue

The next morning, as planned, April and Casey were outside loading up the mini-van for their return home to the city. A light snow fall dampened their clothes while treking back and forth from the house to the trunk of the car. Both were tired but determined to get an early start on the road to reach New York before nightfall.

"Hand me that box, would ya April?" April bent and lifted it towards him, looking away. "Thanks, babe."

"Where's the guys?" She looked to the house, then left to right. "Did you see them this morning?"

"No, they got up before we did. Been workin' out in the barn or some shit. They'd better not do any vigorous exercises. I don't want to be drivin' with sweaty reptiles in the van!"

"Reptiles don't sweat, dear." April said cooly.

"Well, these guys do! Unless they spit all over themselves."

"Mm...what a lovely mind you have." April stretched and went to sit on the porch steps, glancing over to Shadow sitting next to her. Her teeth were chattering a little bit. At least she knew she wouldn't be sweaty in the car. "Hey, sweetie. I saw you last night with Uncle Mike. I guess you're not scared of those big green guys, huh?"

"Not really." Shadow scrunched her nose. "They're more weird-looking then scary."

April laughed. "Yeah, they are weird-looking, but that's good you're not scared of them anymore. Two of them will be riding with us back to New York."

Casey slammed the trunk shut. "Well, we're loaded up. Ready to hit the road."

"Yup." April stood up and wrapped her arms around him, kissing him gently. "Maybe it'll get better by Christmas-"

"Don't count on it." Casey said with a smirk. "That is, we'll see."

Michaelangelo was the first to emerge from the barn and collect his winter clothes. His leg was doing much better in healing itself right away. That was the one good thing about their bodies. Dependiing on the degree of the injury, they healed very quickly, ready to do another battle or something with a lot of action involved. He sniffed in the air, loving this time of year. The snow made him feel great to be alive. It smelled so clean and crisp, he could play in it for hours.

Leonardo came out of the barn next, looking over to the mini-van. "Looks like they're leaving."

"Mm, hmm." Mike zipped up his coat. "So it is definite you're staying behind?"

"I thought about it and April said it was okay. I don't mind; I'll keep the house taken care of till they return for winter break. Right now's not a good time for all of us to be crowding them, especially the way Shadow is at the moment. They need their space. And I need mine."

"Yeah, should be nice without me bunking with you, huh?"

"No, that's not it." Leo sighed. "I just need time alone. Don wants to stay behind to hang out with Lark and that's fine with me. Whatever those two do is none of my business. Raph already said he's going home; so did Splinter. Then, it'll just be us. Unless Don wants to go back home to New York after Monday, it'll be just me, then."

"Will you be all right?" Mike laid a hand on his shoulder. "All by yourself?"

"Mike." Leo gave him a look. "I'm an adult. I'll be fine. You'd better get going."

"Yes, 'pop'. Tell Raph we're leaving." Michaelangelo giggled as he ran off to the car.

April gave Leo and Don a very tight squeeze of a good-bye and Casey did his usual one-arm hug or punch in the arm to them. Shadow stood by the passenger door and watched the group embracing, pulling back, going to others, embracing them, talking and saying their farewells. April looked to Shadow and tapped her cheek lightly.

"You can say, good-bye, if you want to, honey."

"Oh." Shadow looked to Leonardo and walked over carefully, glancing to his boots and asked in a whisper, "You're not coming?"

"Hmm?" Leo turned to her, gazing down. "Oh, um, no." He thumbed to Don. "Him and I are staying behind but we'll be seeing you later during winter break. Okay?" The answers were always hesitant, but she nodded back. "Bye, Shadow." Leo finally said. Shadow swallowed and slowly wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Um, bye...I dunno your name..."

"It's Leonardo." He said quietly, brushing her soft hair.

"K..." Donatello looked to her as she pulled back and did the same to him. "Bye...um...dunno your name either..."

"That's all right. It's Donatello." Don said with a laugh, patting her shoulder. Aside from the winds, a pin could be heard if dropped. The others looked to her wide-eyed, shocked by what she just did to those two. Shadow smiled a little before climbing into the car. "That went fairly well-"

"My God, she can be taught!" Casey smacked his head.

"Casey!" April complained. "Stop it."

"Yes, ma'am."

Casey saluted her, then to Leo and Don whom backed away with a nod. The car was cold but started up right away. Casey let the motor warm up for a few minutes before backing out and driving away down to the main road. He looked in the rear-view mirror at the necklace that dangled on his coat. Looking away from his chest, his eyes shifted to the back. Shadow sat at the window seat with Michaelangelo buckled up next to her and Raphael took the seat behind them with Splinter. All were quiet. Casey looked to April last, taking her hand into his and kissing it lightly. She smiled and leaned back in her seat to prepare herself for the long journey home.

Back to New York.

From the diary of April O'Neil Jones

Sunday, November 28, 1999

Well, we're all setteled in to the apartment; back home from the country. I can safely say we survived another holiday gone wrong. Casey phoned his mother to wish her a happy Thanksgiving as I later called my sister in California to wish her the same thing. From the sounds of it, they both had a wonderful time. I simply told Robyn, "Last year was a little better than this year's." Casey used the same line to his mother but like all mom's, she knew it was worse then what he said.

Raphael, Michaelangelo and Splinter has settled back into their home just fine. I talked to Mike for a quite a long time on the phone; even let Shadow briefly speak to him even though she was still a little confused with who he was. This is hurting him. I know it is. It's hurting all of us but it will soon be back to normal in due time.

Leonardo called to say things are fine at the farmhouse. Donatello was out with Lark on Saturday night so he had the whole place to himself. He too, hopes they are happy with one another and that it goes further. I'd want to see all of them find someone they truly love and want to be with for the rest of their lives. Loneliness is such a horrible thought to think about. I have yet to find out more news on Lark's case with the uniform situation. And the...ahem...other situation. Leo says he's staying out of it, but that doesn't mean he can't talk to me!

Raphael is doing better after grieving over Kate. Him and Shadow sat down one evening and he told her all about the girl she went horse-back riding with that one day. Shadow had forgotten who she was, obviously, but Raph left no details out. He explained that Kate is in a place where she will be happy and left it at that. I stood by when I listened to this little talk, one hand on my hip, the other holding a Kleenx. But, then he had to go and ruin the moment by going out later with Casey to have a beer. I swear, some things never change!

Casey wears that damn necklace no matter where he goes. To work, to sleep, in the shower, it's everywhere! No escaping it! I go to give him a hug or kiss and it pokes me right in the chest! It's a gorgeous trinket, yes, but sometimes a pain...and I do mean pain! Della, the woman whom gave it to him says it will keep his human form the same whenever there's a full moon out. Darn. I almost wanted to try out a night of "Beauty and the Beast" and see what happens. Dare I take the risk? ;)

The ups and downs of one's life are usually when the good and the bad come together. We've each shared our many ups and downs and I'm ready to handle much more to come, even though it's things I will hate to expect. It happens to the best of us, it happens to the worst of us. It happens...to all of us.

As I type this on my ancient type-writer, lovely Donatello locked his PC with a password, I think about what I've got here and what I know will be with me for a long time. My family. I told Lark and now I will say it here. I love them all and I never want to leave them for as long as I live.

On that note, I have several loads of laundry to do. Messy kids. What a way to end this, huh? Until next time, this diary is closed for now.

THE END