Celebration Time

Note: HmmValentine story coming up soon, belated I knowbut I also realized something important about Rowan, so watch for a slight darker Valentine storysorry folksthere's only so much happiness that I can do.

Disclaimer: Blah be blah, I own Rowan and Charlie and the plot. and I own the wine!.I'll own it legally March 12 too!no rights over the turtles the ball thingy that drops on New Years and anything else not mine. Are we done? Good, on with the story.

~*~

The movie slowly wound down to the end, and the lights came back on, causing Rowan to blink against the bright light. Moving away from her rest post she stretched, giving a large lion like yawn behind her hand.

"How much time is left?"

Mike checked the VCR's clock. "Five minutes, they should soon be doing the count down with the ball in Time Square."

"Ya know, I've been here for two years and not once have I ever seen that."

"Well, it would be hard, what with Charlie an' all." Raphael said with a shrug.

"Well, yea, but I meant even on TV I never watched it, I was usually asleep by midnight due to the early hours I had to keep."

"Hmm, then you should know of one important rule of New Years celebrations."

Leaning forward with a small grin on her face, Rowan raised an eyebrow a Mike.

"And what would that be?"

"You're destined to spend the rest of your life with the person you kiss exactly at the moment of the New Year."

Rowan couldn't help the blush that rose to her cheeks, and she waved it away nonchalantly and rolled her eyes at him. But she noticed from the corner of her eye that Don had caught the blush, and was developing one of his own.

"And where did you hear that Mikey?" Don said, his voice trying to sound normal.

"Off a corny soap opera."

Grabbing his brother in a headlock and giving him a nugie, Raph laughed, "Funny Mikey!" When he let him up the hat had fallen down onto his beak, covering his mouth.

"No, leave it on, it's it's a good look for you." Rowan said in between laughs. Is that really me giggling like a little girl? My God it's been so long since I've been able to laugh and not feel worried of impending doom.

She felt some one poke her side, and she turned to see Don grinning at her.

"What're you thinking about?"

She shrugged and leaned in, "Just a little curious about the 'others' Raph mentioned."

Rowan watched as the grin froze on his face and Raph hollowed with laughter behind them, but quieted down when Rowan mentioned Charlie asleep in the next room.

"Never mind loverboy." She leaned in to whisper the next part that was for his ears only, " At least one of us should have experience right?"

Never had Rowan seen such a nervous looking twenty-year-old, turtle or not.

"Count down time guys and girl!" Turning onto the channel, all five began to watch as the ball made it's agonizingly slow decent to the New Year.

5

4

3

Reaching over, both Rowan and Don sought out each other's hand.

2

1

"Happy New Year!!"

Reaching over, Don kissed Rowan square on the mouth, not caring for the moment the fact that his brothers had been waiting for it. His two more boisterous brothers whooped their approval. Shocked at first, Rowan quickly warmed up to it.

"Now that's the way every New Year should be greeted!" She laughed, finally pulling away.

"So, what's your New Years resolution going to be this year?" Leonardo asked when things had calmed down.

"My resolution is going to be to poke as much fun at the two of you as possible."

"Haha, very funny Mikey. But seriously, what is it?"

"Ro', I'm hurt. I was serious."

Don groaned and rolled his eyes, turning next to Leonardo.

"Okay great Leader, what's yours going to be?"

"Aww, why ask him? We know it's just going to be about trainin' harder."

"Actually Raph, my resolution was going to be for me to try and loosen up a little. Have a little more fun."

"Nice one Leo, you should have fun. Life's too short to spend it worrying all the time, trust me on that one."

Leo turned to Raph who had been playing with the tip of his sai.

"And what about you Raph? What's your New Year resolution? To have more fights?"

"Well yea, but I thought I might train a little harder. Ya know, for the sole purpose of being able to kick your tail with style." He finished with a sadistic grin.

"Riiight well, you two are left. Donnie, what's yours going to be?"

"Uh, well, I think mine would be to be able to increase my knowledge." The comment elicited a groan from all those listening.

" Come on Don, you don't have to be super smart all the time. Why don't you make a resolution about you an' Ro'?" Mike asked.

"I got this one." Rowan said answering for him, "That resolution is for my ears only boys. Now, are we finished? I have a small bottle of wine if you guys want some. And no, it's not enough to make you drunk." She said with a silent reprimand to Raphael's sudden perking up.

"In a sec, you haven't said what yours is."

She sighed, "Must I?"

"We said ours Ro, now it's your turn." Raph said. "I'll get the wine, you say what your resolution is." She watched him stand and leave for the kitchen.

"Well, it's kind of personal. But, my resolution is tono you guys'll think I'm silly for wanting to do it."

"Aww no we won't. We promise! Right Raph?" Mike said, turning to his brother who had returned with the bottle and some wineglasses. Pouring herself a glass, Rowan sat back trying to gather her courage.

"II want to get my high school diploma. There I said it, are ya happy?"

They stared at her; finally Leo spoke up first. "You, you never graduated?"

"See, I shouldn't have told you, now you're all going to feel sorry for me."

"No! It's actually a very easy thing to remedy." Don said, coming to her defense.

She looked up at him skeptically, "It is?"

"Yea, school for adults should start up with the new school year. Until then I could teach you."

"Are you sure? I would hate to put you out."

"Actually Rowan, I thought you'd want him to put out." Raph said, laughing at his own dirty joke.

"Jeez you're worse than an old man, you know that?" Rowan said, glaring at him.

"I moved in with Jake when I was fifteen, the last grade I completed successfully was grade eight. And I don't read very oftenso I guess by your standards I'm pretty dumb huh?"

"Not as dumb as Raph." Mike said, trying effectively to lighten the mood.

"No, you and Charlie could come down a few days a week and I could begin to teach you the basics skills of Math, Science and English."

Don felt his heart ache when he saw the light in her eyes a the hope of having a real education. She asked for so little, but thought it so big, he couldn't help but try to give her everything she wanted.

"Guys, we should be going if we're to miss the drunks."

Mike waved, "Yea you're right. Well Ro' it's been great! See you soon!"

"You don't even have your coat on and you're already saying good bye?"

Downing his half a glass of wine, he and his brothers grabbed their coats off the rack.

"I didn't say good bye, I said see ya later. Big difference there."

When the three had left, Rowan turned to Don, who had purposely waited behind. Going over she hugged him good bye. Don looked down at her, suddenly realizing how small she was compared to all of them. At five feet she was a good two inches smaller than he and his brothers.

"So, we good?" Rowan asked, feeling like a child out on her first date.

Donatello smiled at her impish features scrunched up to reach his face.

"We're good."

No muss, no fuss. I like it this way. Standing up on tiptoes Rowan touched her face to his, pulling away finally a moment later.

"See you later."

Donatello nodded. "Definitely."

Closing the door behind him, she leaned against the frame trying to catch her breath. A sudden happiness filled her to the point of bursting, and she couldn't stop herself from grinned madly and twirling around until she fell on the couch dizzy and hugging herself. This has to be the best New Years of my life!

The End

~~~~~~~~~~~~ Reader Reviews ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Rene: HmmI'm not sure if it was deliberate or notthe big softie won't tell me! Talking through their smiles, yesh, they do that too often if ya ask me hope this chapter summed things up nicely for everyone. As for future storiesI think we'll be seeing many a story in the times to comemainly because they (my muses) refuse to have me leave well enough alone. Good luck with the next few days and you're business! When stories are as good as yours are, we don't mind waiting for you! ^_~.

Snowfire: Hmmhaven't ever heard of a Kitsune, but it's a pleasure to meet you! Rowan pressed a little, but she's not one to hold a grudge or get violent. And, uh, thanks for the mischiefI think.

Pretender Fanatic: Don't worry, we wouldn't deprive the closeted alcoholic of his liquor now would we? Although it was only a little bit of wine.

TMNTpunker: Ya know, so do Imine left for the Caribbean last monthI won't see him until April.little sailor couldn't stay in one place! .Glad you liked the story! Hope you all like how everything develops in later stories.