A Christmas To Remember
Chapter 17: A Beautiful New Year Dinner
"Hello, I'm Tailor and I'll be your waitress, what would you like?" Tailor smiled at Mikey who was sat at the table. His brothers and Master sat around the remains of it along with April.
Tailor had offered to cook them a perfect New Year's dinner. It was now New Year's Eve at 5:00. Tailor stood beside Mikey with a little notebook in her hand. Mikey looked at the small menu in front of him and smiled.
Tailor waited and tapped her pencil against her leg. Since it was a family gathering like dinner she had put on a pair off black trousers and a nice, red three quarter length top. April was wearing a pair of brown trousers and a cream top, her new gold chain that Tailor had got her for Christmas hung around her neck.
Tailor had spent the days giving her presents out to her friends. She had got Garth a small gold bracelet, similar to Elliot's and she had got Emma a whole beauty box, make-up set. Tailor didn't wear make-up and Emma knew that, that's why she brought her a video.
Garth had given her a lovely hair set. A curling heat brush and everything. Hair tattoos and beautiful glittery bobbles hung from a box when the lid was opened. She had put in a red glittery one to match her top, and her hair flowed down her back in beautiful curls, her bobble was tied around a section of her hair so that it was half up half down and her now curly fringe flowed down the left side of her face.
"How does the lamb come?" Mikey smiled, he already knew what Tailor was making them, but he wanted to lighten the mood.
"Well . . ." Tailor began smiling. "First you get a cute little animal that goes 'baa' then bam!" She banged the table slightly with the side of her hand. "You cut off its head!"
Mikey laughed along with the others.
"Nah, not really", she said innocently.
"Yeah right", Mikey said, grinning.
"Hey", she said, putting her hands up. "I heard it off an episode, sue me. Oh well, it brought a few laughs". She smiled and walked over to the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon".
"Don't we get an option?" Donnie asked, pointing to the menus she laid out for them.
"Nah", Tailor said. "That was so you had something to do while I started making dinner".
"We're having turkey!" Donnie said. "That takes up to eight hours to cook! Not five minutes while we're looking at the menu".
"Ok, ok, I confess", she smiled at Donnie sweetly. "I started cooking at 9:00 this morning".
"Bit early to get up and cook, don't you think?" Splinter asked her, smiling softly.
"Sue me again", Tailor said. "I'm an early bird".
//
Tailor enjoyed cooking. Her mum was a great cook so she had some of the talent too. She had given the guys a large turkey, with all the side dressings and vegetables in bowls in the middle of the table. Of course Mikey was the one to have third helpings.
After dinner the whole gang played games. 'Scrabble' was the first followed by a couple of games of 'Connect 4' and 'Twister'. Tailor mostly won 'Twister' because she spent most of her time in the gym, but she got away with playing by sticking her foot out the side of the mat.
"That's not fair!" Mikey had complained.
"Mikey, you're just a sore loser", Raph said, smiling at his brother. "She even won you by using three limbs".
"But it's still not fair! She's been winning most of 'Twister' because she's skinnier and also because she goes to the gym 24 / 7"
"I do not go to the gym 24 / 7!" Tailor had argued and smiled. "I only go 4 days a week, that's if I don't cancel".
"Still not fair", Mikey said cutely, folding his arms.
Now they were all sitting at April's table, drinking tea. It was now 8:00 and all off them were wiped. Mostly because of the games. Tailor was sharing jokes out of the crackers and Mikey was putting a Santa hat on her head.
"Aww, you look cute", he said.
Tailor rolled her eyes.
They spent an hour telling stories. How Mikey, Raph, Leo and Donnie defeated Shredder. How they had fun helping Keno in the all the shopping stores. Donnie playing with the clown, Mikey playing with the yo-yo, Leo up in the air holding onto his katannas and Raph putting Keno in the local dustbin.
April told Tailor about meeting Casey, describing what he looked like and that he went away for a while after. "He said he'd be back after New Year", April told her.
"Aww", Tailor said sadly. "I'll be back in India then".
A pang of sadness went round the whole table.
The sound of the doorbell made them all jump. Tailor lifted herself up and limped over to the door. Now that her foot was healing better she could put some of her weight on it.
She opened the door. A young man stood in the doorway smiling at her. Tailor frowned slightly; keeping the door closed a little so he wouldn't see the guys. He's handsome though, Tailor thought. He was wearing a pair of baggy, black trousers and a white baggy jumper. "Er, sorry", she said politely, pushing her Santa hat back behind her head. "I don't listen to Christmas carols".
The handsome guy smiled, and leaned on his hockey stick. Now where does that description fit, Tailor thought.
"You must be Tailor", he said, his long, brown hair flowing in front of his face.
"Yes, I must be", she answered. "You must be . . .?
"Casey", he said, holding out his hand. "Casey Jones".
Tailor smiled and shook his hand. "Oh, sorry! Didn't know. I guess you know about the . . . Er . . . guys?"
Casey smiled and nodded. "They're my good buddies".
Tailor nodded and opened the door wider. She gestured with her hand for him to come in. Casey came in and looked around the room. His eyes rested on the guys sitting around the table, talking.
"Yo dudes! Long time no see!"
Everyone perked up and stared at Casey. He smiled and held out his hands. "What? Something I said?"
Tailor stood behind Casey, balancing herself and smiling.
"Hi Casey!" April got up and hugged him; he kissed her lips and the room echoed with 'Ooo's'.
Tailor sat in April's place at the table next to Raph. She smiled at the guys and they all rolled their eyes. "We've seen this in a number of movies", Mikey said.
Tailor smiled. "I think it's sweet".
When Casey and April broke apart they both sat on the sofa. Casey kept an arm around April and reminded Tailor of Elliot. Always kind. Tailor looked at the guys. They were all asking Casey the same thing. "Where ya been dude?"
"Just around", Casey replied. "I came back early to surprise you".
"Well you did", April said.
Casey smiled and shrugged. He looked at Tailor. "So this must be your niece, huh April?"
"Yup", April replied. "Tailor".
"I think we've been introduced", Tailor said.
"Got your attitude, April", Casey pointed out.
"She does not!" April said.
"I do not!" Tailor said at the same time.
The guys giggled. April looked at them. "She does not, right guys?"
They all looked at each other then back to April. "Yes", they all replied.
Tailor looked at them and rolled her eyes. Mikey gave her an innocent shrug. Donnie shyly shrugged at her. Leo smiled sweetly. Splinter chuckled to himself and Raph gave her a small smile. Was it her, or was there a glint of sadness in Raphael's eyes?
"So Casey", Tailor said politely, turning from the others. "Tell us a bit about yourself . . . April's given us the gossip so far but I know there's more . . . I do know April fancies you rotten so we'll leave that bit out", Tailor smiled at him.
"Does she now?" Casey said raising his eyebrows.
"Yup, she said your . . . Cute. Funny. Kind. Good gentleman. Sweet. Loving. Awesome fighter. Always there. Strong . . . and she said you're a hunk", Tailor smiled innocently, she was counting these off with her fingers. She glanced at the other guys and they shot her some smiles.
Casey opened his mouth, slightly shocked and April looked at her with a surprised expression.
Tailor shrugged at Casey. "I ran outta fingers", she said sweetly.
Casey closed his mouth and smiled, he nodded at Tailor and turned to April. "Aww, is that what you really think of me? Didn't know you cared so much".
April blushed as red as Tailor sweater. "Er . . . I . . ."
Casey's smiled widened and he kissed April's cheek. "I think its sweet", he said, glancing at Tailor. "Thanks April. That's why I love ya!"
"Eww, yuck, mushy", Raph whispered to Tailor in disgust.
Tailor smiled at him and patted his hand. "You won't be saying 'yuck' if it ever happens to you".
"You think I'd kiss a girl's cheek? Who are you? Cupid?"
Tailor could tell he was smiling a little and shook her head. "Nooo . . . I don't believe in Cupid, my time will come", she grabbed a spare cracker that lay on the table and held one end, the other pointing to Raph. "Pull?"
Raph smiled. "To warn you: I always get the bit with the toy in".
Tailor smiled back. "That's 'cos ya got muscles", she said softly glancing at his arms. "We'll see".
Raph grabbed the other end and pulled. A loud 'bang' echoed throughout the room and everyone looked at Raph and Tailor. Tailor and Raph were on the floor, beside each other, rubbing their heads. Tailor was also rubbing her foot.
"What happened?" April said, rushing up to see if they were hurt. Casey held her back, smiling and shaking his head.
Raph and Tailor smiled at each other. "Cracker", they both said.
"We have seen this countless of times with Raph and Mikey", Donnie said, smiling. "Never knew a girl could tie with him when pulling a cracker".
Raph got up and helped Tailor up after him. They both sat back down, smiling at each other. Tailor glanced at the toy that dropped to the floor and picked it up. She looked at it and smiled.
"All that . . ." she said, handing it to Raph. ". . . For a dinky jigsaw puzzle!"
Raph opened the bag and 20 small pieces fell out. "Wanna see what it is?" he asked Tailor.
"Sure".
The others watched as the two friends argued jokingly over where each piece should go.
"How can that go in the middle?" Raph asked her when she held up a piece. "It has a straight edge".
Tailor smiled and shrugged. "Sue me again people!"
After a few moments of arguing Raph and Tailor had managed to see what it was. They both titled their heads, looking at the small square that lay on the table.
"What is it?" Casey asked, not being able to see it from the couch.
"It looks like a cartoon version of Tailor", Mikey said leaning over to Raph's side to look.
"Does not!" Tailor objected.
"Lemme see", Casey got up and peered over Leo's head. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and smiled. "You're right, it does look like a cartoon version of Tailor".
"Hey! You're all evil! It's a cartoon Monkey!"
Casey grinned. "Duh", he said obviously. "It's a spitting image!"
"Hey! Just because you're cute doesn't mean I don't take that talk!" She kicked him in his shin with her good foot.
"Ouch!" Casey sat back down next to April and rubbed his leg.
April laughed and shook her head. Tailor would never humiliate herself by calling Casey cute. That was the thing about her. She never, ever got embarrassed. Casey still kept rubbing his leg through his trousers.
"Oh come on!" April said. "It couldn't have hurt that much!"
Casey looked at her. "She kicks hard!"
Splinter chuckled. "At least she can stick up for herself", he said while looking at Tailor and giving her a warm smile.
"Thank you Splinter", Tailor nodded.
"Hey April!" Mikey piped up. "Could I put a Christmas CD in? I'm bored of this silent stuff".
"Sure Mikey", April said.
Mikey lifted himself up and placed himself in front of April's CD player. He scanned the cabinet April kept in the corner of her room with the CD's in. After a few moments Mikey found the Christmas CD he was looking for and slid it in the CD player, which lay on top of the cabinet.
'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' echoed the room and Casey jumped off the sofa with April and they both danced to the music.
Mikey and Donnie started dancing their own beat (which happened to be the same making them look as though they had planned this one out) and Splinter, Leo, Raph and Tailor remained at the table.
After several songs of dancing and laughing, Mikey changed it to a slow Christmas one. 'White Christmas'. Casey slowed himself down and placed his hands on April's waist and Donnie sat down.
Mikey smiled and shrugged and started rotating around the room, his arms out as if dancing with someone, in seconds he had everyone laughing.
"M - Mikey", Tailor said, shaking her head. "You can't PRETEND you're dancing with someone".
"Be my partner then", he replied, smiling.
"I don't wanna put too much pressure on my foot", Tailor said apologetically. "Sorry".
Donnie leaned forward and whispered to her. "Can you balance all you're weight on it?"
"Yeah", Tailor nodded.
"Well, then, dancing with Mikey won't hurt", Donnie said smiling. "As long as he goes SLOW!" He added the last bit with a glance at Mikey.
Mikey shrugged. "Sure". He extended his hand to Tailor and heaved her up.
Tailor, surprised to find she could put her foot firmly down without wincing in pain, found she could dance easily with Mikey.
Mikey smiled at her and nodded in approval. "You recover quickly", he said sweetly.
"I've had encouragement", Tailor said, thinking of Elliot and Mikey's brothers. Lots of encouragement, she thought with a pang of sadness. She would be leaving soon, in just a couple of days.
"You alright?" Mikey asked her, seeing her face frown a little.
"Fine", she whispered.
The danced for the rest of the night, some slow, some fast. Tailor shared dances with Donnie, Mikey, Leo, Splinter and even one with Raph. She danced once with Casey.
"My turn now April", she said with a wicked grin.
"I want him back in 2 minutes!" April said, jokingly.
Casey grinned widely. "Well, well, two girls fighting over me, and not just any girls, relatives".
"Shut up!" They both said.
When it reached 10:30, Splinter suggested that they went home. They all gave hugs and shared a few brief moments saying goodbye. Mikey was holding mistletoe over everyone's head that were standing next to April or Tailor.
"Mikey!" April shouted, arms folded.
"Ok, ok", Mikey gave April and Tailor both hugs and said 'bye' to Casey. Everyone else did the same and before they knew it, the apartment was quiet.
"Well . . . I better go too", Casey announced.
"Why don't you stay?" April suggested kindly. "Tailor goes home in a couple of days and it'd be fun if you could stay".
"It would be an honour", Casey said happily.
"Eww, this is getting too mushy for me . . . I'm off to bed!" Tailor hopped halfway up the stairs before turning back and giving a stare at Casey. "Keep in mind: NEVER go in my room!" The corners of her mouth lifted to show she was joking.
"Yes sir!" Casey said in an officer voice.
Tailor grinned and nodded. She said 'good night' and walked up the stairs, leaving Casey and April alone.
"She's cool", Casey said.
"Yeah", April sighed. "Despite what happened, I think I've never had a better Christmas".
//
(Thanks for the reviews everyone! Enjoy chapter 17! More to come . . . and Tailor's departure coming up, I'm afraid . . . * sad face * . . . I'm so emotional, * sniff *, ok . . . enough of that . . . enjoy! . . . Love ya all!).
Chapter 17: A Beautiful New Year Dinner
"Hello, I'm Tailor and I'll be your waitress, what would you like?" Tailor smiled at Mikey who was sat at the table. His brothers and Master sat around the remains of it along with April.
Tailor had offered to cook them a perfect New Year's dinner. It was now New Year's Eve at 5:00. Tailor stood beside Mikey with a little notebook in her hand. Mikey looked at the small menu in front of him and smiled.
Tailor waited and tapped her pencil against her leg. Since it was a family gathering like dinner she had put on a pair off black trousers and a nice, red three quarter length top. April was wearing a pair of brown trousers and a cream top, her new gold chain that Tailor had got her for Christmas hung around her neck.
Tailor had spent the days giving her presents out to her friends. She had got Garth a small gold bracelet, similar to Elliot's and she had got Emma a whole beauty box, make-up set. Tailor didn't wear make-up and Emma knew that, that's why she brought her a video.
Garth had given her a lovely hair set. A curling heat brush and everything. Hair tattoos and beautiful glittery bobbles hung from a box when the lid was opened. She had put in a red glittery one to match her top, and her hair flowed down her back in beautiful curls, her bobble was tied around a section of her hair so that it was half up half down and her now curly fringe flowed down the left side of her face.
"How does the lamb come?" Mikey smiled, he already knew what Tailor was making them, but he wanted to lighten the mood.
"Well . . ." Tailor began smiling. "First you get a cute little animal that goes 'baa' then bam!" She banged the table slightly with the side of her hand. "You cut off its head!"
Mikey laughed along with the others.
"Nah, not really", she said innocently.
"Yeah right", Mikey said, grinning.
"Hey", she said, putting her hands up. "I heard it off an episode, sue me. Oh well, it brought a few laughs". She smiled and walked over to the kitchen. "Dinner will be ready soon".
"Don't we get an option?" Donnie asked, pointing to the menus she laid out for them.
"Nah", Tailor said. "That was so you had something to do while I started making dinner".
"We're having turkey!" Donnie said. "That takes up to eight hours to cook! Not five minutes while we're looking at the menu".
"Ok, ok, I confess", she smiled at Donnie sweetly. "I started cooking at 9:00 this morning".
"Bit early to get up and cook, don't you think?" Splinter asked her, smiling softly.
"Sue me again", Tailor said. "I'm an early bird".
//
Tailor enjoyed cooking. Her mum was a great cook so she had some of the talent too. She had given the guys a large turkey, with all the side dressings and vegetables in bowls in the middle of the table. Of course Mikey was the one to have third helpings.
After dinner the whole gang played games. 'Scrabble' was the first followed by a couple of games of 'Connect 4' and 'Twister'. Tailor mostly won 'Twister' because she spent most of her time in the gym, but she got away with playing by sticking her foot out the side of the mat.
"That's not fair!" Mikey had complained.
"Mikey, you're just a sore loser", Raph said, smiling at his brother. "She even won you by using three limbs".
"But it's still not fair! She's been winning most of 'Twister' because she's skinnier and also because she goes to the gym 24 / 7"
"I do not go to the gym 24 / 7!" Tailor had argued and smiled. "I only go 4 days a week, that's if I don't cancel".
"Still not fair", Mikey said cutely, folding his arms.
Now they were all sitting at April's table, drinking tea. It was now 8:00 and all off them were wiped. Mostly because of the games. Tailor was sharing jokes out of the crackers and Mikey was putting a Santa hat on her head.
"Aww, you look cute", he said.
Tailor rolled her eyes.
They spent an hour telling stories. How Mikey, Raph, Leo and Donnie defeated Shredder. How they had fun helping Keno in the all the shopping stores. Donnie playing with the clown, Mikey playing with the yo-yo, Leo up in the air holding onto his katannas and Raph putting Keno in the local dustbin.
April told Tailor about meeting Casey, describing what he looked like and that he went away for a while after. "He said he'd be back after New Year", April told her.
"Aww", Tailor said sadly. "I'll be back in India then".
A pang of sadness went round the whole table.
The sound of the doorbell made them all jump. Tailor lifted herself up and limped over to the door. Now that her foot was healing better she could put some of her weight on it.
She opened the door. A young man stood in the doorway smiling at her. Tailor frowned slightly; keeping the door closed a little so he wouldn't see the guys. He's handsome though, Tailor thought. He was wearing a pair of baggy, black trousers and a white baggy jumper. "Er, sorry", she said politely, pushing her Santa hat back behind her head. "I don't listen to Christmas carols".
The handsome guy smiled, and leaned on his hockey stick. Now where does that description fit, Tailor thought.
"You must be Tailor", he said, his long, brown hair flowing in front of his face.
"Yes, I must be", she answered. "You must be . . .?
"Casey", he said, holding out his hand. "Casey Jones".
Tailor smiled and shook his hand. "Oh, sorry! Didn't know. I guess you know about the . . . Er . . . guys?"
Casey smiled and nodded. "They're my good buddies".
Tailor nodded and opened the door wider. She gestured with her hand for him to come in. Casey came in and looked around the room. His eyes rested on the guys sitting around the table, talking.
"Yo dudes! Long time no see!"
Everyone perked up and stared at Casey. He smiled and held out his hands. "What? Something I said?"
Tailor stood behind Casey, balancing herself and smiling.
"Hi Casey!" April got up and hugged him; he kissed her lips and the room echoed with 'Ooo's'.
Tailor sat in April's place at the table next to Raph. She smiled at the guys and they all rolled their eyes. "We've seen this in a number of movies", Mikey said.
Tailor smiled. "I think it's sweet".
When Casey and April broke apart they both sat on the sofa. Casey kept an arm around April and reminded Tailor of Elliot. Always kind. Tailor looked at the guys. They were all asking Casey the same thing. "Where ya been dude?"
"Just around", Casey replied. "I came back early to surprise you".
"Well you did", April said.
Casey smiled and shrugged. He looked at Tailor. "So this must be your niece, huh April?"
"Yup", April replied. "Tailor".
"I think we've been introduced", Tailor said.
"Got your attitude, April", Casey pointed out.
"She does not!" April said.
"I do not!" Tailor said at the same time.
The guys giggled. April looked at them. "She does not, right guys?"
They all looked at each other then back to April. "Yes", they all replied.
Tailor looked at them and rolled her eyes. Mikey gave her an innocent shrug. Donnie shyly shrugged at her. Leo smiled sweetly. Splinter chuckled to himself and Raph gave her a small smile. Was it her, or was there a glint of sadness in Raphael's eyes?
"So Casey", Tailor said politely, turning from the others. "Tell us a bit about yourself . . . April's given us the gossip so far but I know there's more . . . I do know April fancies you rotten so we'll leave that bit out", Tailor smiled at him.
"Does she now?" Casey said raising his eyebrows.
"Yup, she said your . . . Cute. Funny. Kind. Good gentleman. Sweet. Loving. Awesome fighter. Always there. Strong . . . and she said you're a hunk", Tailor smiled innocently, she was counting these off with her fingers. She glanced at the other guys and they shot her some smiles.
Casey opened his mouth, slightly shocked and April looked at her with a surprised expression.
Tailor shrugged at Casey. "I ran outta fingers", she said sweetly.
Casey closed his mouth and smiled, he nodded at Tailor and turned to April. "Aww, is that what you really think of me? Didn't know you cared so much".
April blushed as red as Tailor sweater. "Er . . . I . . ."
Casey's smiled widened and he kissed April's cheek. "I think its sweet", he said, glancing at Tailor. "Thanks April. That's why I love ya!"
"Eww, yuck, mushy", Raph whispered to Tailor in disgust.
Tailor smiled at him and patted his hand. "You won't be saying 'yuck' if it ever happens to you".
"You think I'd kiss a girl's cheek? Who are you? Cupid?"
Tailor could tell he was smiling a little and shook her head. "Nooo . . . I don't believe in Cupid, my time will come", she grabbed a spare cracker that lay on the table and held one end, the other pointing to Raph. "Pull?"
Raph smiled. "To warn you: I always get the bit with the toy in".
Tailor smiled back. "That's 'cos ya got muscles", she said softly glancing at his arms. "We'll see".
Raph grabbed the other end and pulled. A loud 'bang' echoed throughout the room and everyone looked at Raph and Tailor. Tailor and Raph were on the floor, beside each other, rubbing their heads. Tailor was also rubbing her foot.
"What happened?" April said, rushing up to see if they were hurt. Casey held her back, smiling and shaking his head.
Raph and Tailor smiled at each other. "Cracker", they both said.
"We have seen this countless of times with Raph and Mikey", Donnie said, smiling. "Never knew a girl could tie with him when pulling a cracker".
Raph got up and helped Tailor up after him. They both sat back down, smiling at each other. Tailor glanced at the toy that dropped to the floor and picked it up. She looked at it and smiled.
"All that . . ." she said, handing it to Raph. ". . . For a dinky jigsaw puzzle!"
Raph opened the bag and 20 small pieces fell out. "Wanna see what it is?" he asked Tailor.
"Sure".
The others watched as the two friends argued jokingly over where each piece should go.
"How can that go in the middle?" Raph asked her when she held up a piece. "It has a straight edge".
Tailor smiled and shrugged. "Sue me again people!"
After a few moments of arguing Raph and Tailor had managed to see what it was. They both titled their heads, looking at the small square that lay on the table.
"What is it?" Casey asked, not being able to see it from the couch.
"It looks like a cartoon version of Tailor", Mikey said leaning over to Raph's side to look.
"Does not!" Tailor objected.
"Lemme see", Casey got up and peered over Leo's head. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully and smiled. "You're right, it does look like a cartoon version of Tailor".
"Hey! You're all evil! It's a cartoon Monkey!"
Casey grinned. "Duh", he said obviously. "It's a spitting image!"
"Hey! Just because you're cute doesn't mean I don't take that talk!" She kicked him in his shin with her good foot.
"Ouch!" Casey sat back down next to April and rubbed his leg.
April laughed and shook her head. Tailor would never humiliate herself by calling Casey cute. That was the thing about her. She never, ever got embarrassed. Casey still kept rubbing his leg through his trousers.
"Oh come on!" April said. "It couldn't have hurt that much!"
Casey looked at her. "She kicks hard!"
Splinter chuckled. "At least she can stick up for herself", he said while looking at Tailor and giving her a warm smile.
"Thank you Splinter", Tailor nodded.
"Hey April!" Mikey piped up. "Could I put a Christmas CD in? I'm bored of this silent stuff".
"Sure Mikey", April said.
Mikey lifted himself up and placed himself in front of April's CD player. He scanned the cabinet April kept in the corner of her room with the CD's in. After a few moments Mikey found the Christmas CD he was looking for and slid it in the CD player, which lay on top of the cabinet.
'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday' echoed the room and Casey jumped off the sofa with April and they both danced to the music.
Mikey and Donnie started dancing their own beat (which happened to be the same making them look as though they had planned this one out) and Splinter, Leo, Raph and Tailor remained at the table.
After several songs of dancing and laughing, Mikey changed it to a slow Christmas one. 'White Christmas'. Casey slowed himself down and placed his hands on April's waist and Donnie sat down.
Mikey smiled and shrugged and started rotating around the room, his arms out as if dancing with someone, in seconds he had everyone laughing.
"M - Mikey", Tailor said, shaking her head. "You can't PRETEND you're dancing with someone".
"Be my partner then", he replied, smiling.
"I don't wanna put too much pressure on my foot", Tailor said apologetically. "Sorry".
Donnie leaned forward and whispered to her. "Can you balance all you're weight on it?"
"Yeah", Tailor nodded.
"Well, then, dancing with Mikey won't hurt", Donnie said smiling. "As long as he goes SLOW!" He added the last bit with a glance at Mikey.
Mikey shrugged. "Sure". He extended his hand to Tailor and heaved her up.
Tailor, surprised to find she could put her foot firmly down without wincing in pain, found she could dance easily with Mikey.
Mikey smiled at her and nodded in approval. "You recover quickly", he said sweetly.
"I've had encouragement", Tailor said, thinking of Elliot and Mikey's brothers. Lots of encouragement, she thought with a pang of sadness. She would be leaving soon, in just a couple of days.
"You alright?" Mikey asked her, seeing her face frown a little.
"Fine", she whispered.
The danced for the rest of the night, some slow, some fast. Tailor shared dances with Donnie, Mikey, Leo, Splinter and even one with Raph. She danced once with Casey.
"My turn now April", she said with a wicked grin.
"I want him back in 2 minutes!" April said, jokingly.
Casey grinned widely. "Well, well, two girls fighting over me, and not just any girls, relatives".
"Shut up!" They both said.
When it reached 10:30, Splinter suggested that they went home. They all gave hugs and shared a few brief moments saying goodbye. Mikey was holding mistletoe over everyone's head that were standing next to April or Tailor.
"Mikey!" April shouted, arms folded.
"Ok, ok", Mikey gave April and Tailor both hugs and said 'bye' to Casey. Everyone else did the same and before they knew it, the apartment was quiet.
"Well . . . I better go too", Casey announced.
"Why don't you stay?" April suggested kindly. "Tailor goes home in a couple of days and it'd be fun if you could stay".
"It would be an honour", Casey said happily.
"Eww, this is getting too mushy for me . . . I'm off to bed!" Tailor hopped halfway up the stairs before turning back and giving a stare at Casey. "Keep in mind: NEVER go in my room!" The corners of her mouth lifted to show she was joking.
"Yes sir!" Casey said in an officer voice.
Tailor grinned and nodded. She said 'good night' and walked up the stairs, leaving Casey and April alone.
"She's cool", Casey said.
"Yeah", April sighed. "Despite what happened, I think I've never had a better Christmas".
//
(Thanks for the reviews everyone! Enjoy chapter 17! More to come . . . and Tailor's departure coming up, I'm afraid . . . * sad face * . . . I'm so emotional, * sniff *, ok . . . enough of that . . . enjoy! . . . Love ya all!).