A/N - Finally, another chapter! Had a bit of trouble with this one. My mind didn't want to stay on this chapter, rather, it wanted to go through the upcoming ones. So expect updates soon, since the next few chapters are pretty much already written. Plus some of the far future chapters. My mind was wandering a bit far this month… Anyway, I was trying to go through April's various emotions with all this; hopefully I got them down. Enjoy!

Chapter 19 - Forgiveness is divine…

April got out of her car and shut the door. She stood for a moment, looking at the house. Her best friends, her family was in there and she… didn't want to go in there. Their whole relationship was based on trust; a very powerful trust, and she'd betrayed them. Then, a swell of anger rose in her. Well, why did she have to tell them everything? They'd kept things from her before, hadn't they? She'd run over this fact in her head the whole ride up, and most of the week before. The anger abated after awhile. But she didn't forget.

Now, she was nervous. Still a bit angry, though. Maybe she always would be; maybe this would change something between them. That was what she was the most worried about. Things changing. But, she realized. They had to change. If things didn't change, they could never move forward, go ahead. Go on with their lives. This should be forgiven…

With that thought, she walked up to the door and opened it.

Leo, Mike and Don looked over as the front door opened, and April walked through.

"Hey, guys." She smiled, then walked over to Don. "She sleeping?" She asked, looking down at Lindy.

He nodded, and she whispered back. "OK, then I won't wake her."

"Wait here, I'll be right back." Don said, then left to put Lindy in her crib.

"So." April stood there uncomfortably. "What's up, guys?"

It was silent for a few moments, almost unbearably so, until Leo spoke.

"Where should we start?" He said, then grinned.

She grinned back, then he continued.

"Look, April." Leo began. "We're… I'm sorry I acted the way I did. I should never assume that we should know everything about you. We don't have the right." He looked down, shaking his head. "You've done far too much for us to be… demanding that you tell us everything."

April smiled. "You've been going over that all week, haven't you?" She whispered.

"Was it that noticeable?" He said, then grinned back.

She walked forward, not knowing what else to do, and hugged him. "Thank you." She whispered in his ear.

He stood, surprised momentarily, then hugged her back.

"No." He said back. "It's us who should be thanking you."

She broke away, then went and hugged Mike. She really wanted to forgive them; they'd apologized and all… She hugged Mikey tighter as she realized that she wasn't as mad anymore…

"Hey, I leave the room for a few minutes and I miss out on all the hugs?" Don said, from the doorway.

She walked up to him and hugged him, too.

"Jeez, we're disgusting, do you know that?" Mikey grinned. "Not that I mind, you know." He added quickly. "I'm always up for a hug or two… or ten." He reached for April again, who opened her arms and hugged him again.

She laughed, then looked around. "Someone's missing."

Don nodded. "You noticed. We had a bit of a… miscommunication earlier, but I think he went for a walk."

April nodded. "What happened?" She asked.

Don looked at Mike, who grinned.

"Well, let me tell you, I've never seen a better reaction…"

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Raphael stood, his arms crossed over the fence, looking over the field at nothing particular. He heard someone approaching, then felt as someone came to stand next to him, and moved over a bit.

"Hey." April said softly.

"Hey." He replied.

"Look," April said, then stopped. "I'm sorry, you know. About last week. But you have to understand…"

He held up a hand to silence her. "Look, April. I know I overreacted. I do. And I wanna apologize for it." He looked over at her and grinned. "Yeah, I know, I know, a rare occurrence." He looked back over the field. "But seriously," He continued. "It was so hard losing… him… That when you said they knew it was you, I guess I just…" He stopped, shaking his head.

She moved over closer to him, and placed her hand on his shoulder, urging him to go on.

"That I just…" He took a deep breath. "I just got scared, April." He looked away from her. "Scared that they would get you too…"

"Raph…" She whispered. She shook her head. "You're too good to me, you know that?" She said softly, then bit her lip. "You guys are… you know, not many people get to choose their families. But I'm so glad that you chose me." She leaned over and hugged him. He stiffened at first, and then hugged her back.

After a moment, they broke apart, and went back to looked out past the field, into the forest.

"So," April began after a moment. "I hear you got yourself a new drinking buddy…"

He looked over at her and smiled. "They told you, huh?"

"Oh, Mikey was all too happy to share all the details." She said.

"Figures." He muttered, then grinned a little.

She laughed and nudged him with her elbow.

He grinned back until he couldn't hold back the laugh anymore and he let out a hearty chuckle.

They stood there, laughing at nothing, until the sun had almost set. Then they walked home together, silent, but comfortable.

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April's thoughts raced as she stood in the bedroom, changing her sweater after returning from her walk with Raph. He'd disappeared into the kitchen as soon as they'd walked into the house again. She sighed. She'd done it again. Just given in and forgiven them. Not that she didn't want to forgive them; she did. But sometimes it bothered her that she did it so readily, so quickly. When had she become such a pushover?

She shook her head, clearing the thought from her mind, and walked downstairs. She was getting way too emotional for her own good… She entered the kitchen, and all four of them stopped talking. She looked over at them and smiled. "Hey, guys. What's up?"

Mike looked over at Don and smiled. "Well, to welcome you back home…" He began.

"Your own home." Leo added.

Mike nodded and continued. "We decided to treat you with dinner. Cooked and served by moi, of course." He bowed.

"And I'm supervising." Leo grinned.

Don raised his hand. "And I'm helping by staying away from the kitchen."

"Good idea." April said, winking at him. She turned to Raph, looking at him. "And what are you doing?" She asked, smiling.

"Helping Donnie stay away from this mess…" He said, and they all grinned. "Actually, me and Donnie are settin' the table."

Don nodded. "We're taking care of the presentation portion of tonight's dinner rather than the actual preparation part of it." He smiled, then added. "Upon… numerous requests."

April laughed. "Well, how can a girl refuse? You guys are doing the dishes, too, right…?"

They grinned, and she returned the look.

"OK, now, get out." Mikey gently shoo-ed her from the kitchen. She took a seat in the living room. April stared out the window, watching as the last of the leaves hung on, through the cold that was quickly approaching with the season.

She wasn't angry, she decided. They were just being protective of her. She was the only other family they had now, she realized sadly. And they wanted to protect her. She grinned sadly.

"Are you smiling at me, or are you lost in April-land?"

She looked up quickly to see Mikey standing in the doorway, his arms crossed over his cheat and grinning.

She shook her head lightly. "Lost in my own thoughts today." She said, getting up and walking towards him.

He shook his head as he ushered her into the kitchen. "You're hanging out with Donnie way too much…"

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Dinner had gone well, and she'd gone to bed feeling relieved. Like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

The next morning, was more like old times. Hectic. After getting the dishes cleaned and put away (always an adventure), April was busy getting her last minute instructions and trying to push the rest of them out the door.

"And when she cries…" Don began, but was cut off.

"Donnie, I know." April laughed. "Lunch at 11. Nap at two. Diaper and clothing changes as needed."

"Yeah, but…"

"Don. You're going to be a half mile away, if that. I think I can handle it."

"OK." He said uncertainly. "It's not that I don't trust you. I just don't know how she'll react…"

A few hours later, April sat down at the kitchen table wearily. Lindy had reacted, all right. She'd reacted until she'd cried herself to sleep.

April put her head down onto the table wearily. She had such a headache. She rubbed her temples for a moment, unable, or unwilling, to get up and move. Finally, she decided that if she didn't get some aspirin soon, her head might explode. And the guys had done such a good job of cleaning the house up, too… She thought to herself wryly.

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Almost an hour later, April busied herself in the kitchen. Her headache was mostly gone, and she began making supper.

She was almost done when she heard a knock at the door. She froze, panic slowly rising in her, despite herself. Who would be there? She hadn't even heard a car.

April walked towards the door, and looked at the window at the top of the door. All she could see was some black hair. Probably a salesman. She tried to tell herself. She wasn't sure if she was glad the guys were practicing farther away today or not. She didn't want them to be seen, but…

She took a deep, calming breath, then slowly opened the door and peeked her head around it. "Hello?"

"I was wondering how long it was gonna take you to come and open the door."

"Oh my God…"