Hello to my 17 OUADN followers and any new friends joining us today! Once again, I thank you for your patience as my writing motivations are few and far between. I will say that there are several segments within this chapter that (as I wrote them) made me smile/laugh/grin at the pure cheesiness. Feel free to comment with your favorite moment!

Hope you enjoy entering the year 2012 in CHAPTER 12 (Yes, yes I did plan it that way :P)!

March 19, 2012

"Happy Mutation Day to yoouuu!" The group sang to the four turtles gathered around the five tiered cake. Splinter even got into the spirit, sporting a paper party hat. April hugged Donnie's neck from behind as the boys blew out all fifteen candles.

It had been 15 years since the fateful day Hamato Yoshi and four baby turtles had been

mutated by an unknown ooze. As was tradition, Splinter retold the story of that day over breakfast. Mikey would refuse to let go of the tube that held the ooze which Splinter had recovered. The little family would then spend the rest of the day together playing games and watching movies. It was this year that the Murakamis came down for dinner to celebrate with the Hamatos.

"Did you guys wish for anything?" Mai began slicing and passing out the cake. Since the New Year, the five Hamato teens had been conspiring with Mai to bring about their greatest birthday wish. This was the signal to engage.

"Uh… yeah…" Raph drawled. He quickly pulled one of the plates of cake towards himself, quickly shoving the dessert into his mouth. The boy glared at his older brother, jerking his head towards the rest of the group.

"So… Sensei…" Leo tapped his fingers nervously against the table. "Now that we're 15 and April turned 16 last month…" He took a deep breath. "I think we're all finally ready to go topside, don't you?"

"Technically," Mikey pointed his cake fork towards Donnie and April, frosting flung onto Donnie's plastron. "Dee and April've already gone topside. Granted, it was kinda supervised and April regularly goes to the surface with Mai and we've been a couple times for New Years and-"

Raph smacked the back of his little brother's head. "The point is," He sighed as he looked at his father. "Pop, the rest of us should have a turn to really see the surface."

"When's it my turn… wouldn't I love... " Donnie sang under his breath as he poked at his cake. April giggled. She ducked as Raph chucked a piece of cake at the turtle next to her.

"STOP SINGING DONNIE!" Raph roared.

Donnie dashed around the room, avoiding cake and his wrathful brother. "TO EXPLORE THAT SHORE UP ABOVE!" He sang loudly. "WISH I COULD BE… PART OF THAaa- OW!" Donnie"s singing was cut short as he was tackled by a small angry ball of red.

Splinter - used to the boys' antics - stroked the long tail of his goatee, deep in thought. Before he could speak, April sprung from her seat to grab his arm.

"Hang on, Papa. Before you say anything, I think this could be beneficial for all of us!" She gestured to their small mishmashed family. Donnie and Raph finished their roughhousing and returned to the table. April continued. "If we're able to go wherever we want and explore more, it might help me remember more about my past or get a better handle on my powers…" She pressed a thumb into her palm, remembering the episode she experienced last week which resulted in Mikey receiving a bloody nose. "If I can learn more about my powers, maybe I can control them better…" April bit her lip as Splinter's clawed hand squeezed hers.

"Dear One, as hard as it is for me to accept that my children are not… well… children anymore, you are all growing up. The world above may contain many dangers, but it also holds many wonders. You deserve to discover them. All of you." Splinter gestured to his sons. "Let us clean up from dinner, then you may all go out once it gets dark."

"HIGH THREE!" The boys cheered. They threw their dishes into the sink before rushing to prepare for the evening. April hung back, wrapping her adoptive father in a hug from behind.

"Thank you, Papa." She whispered.

xXx

April clicked her short katana into its sheath on her back. She grabbed her hair brush off the vanity in her room, flipping her hair upside down to brush it out before flipping back up to pull her hair into a high ponytail. The girl did a little dance in front of her mirror. She could barely contain her excitement. This was really happening! Yes, she had often gone topside with Mai, but everything would be different running around with her brothers.

Now that her ponytail was in place, she added her signature yellow headband. Leo once asked her why she wore a headband as well as her hair up; she simply asked him why he wore his blue mask. It was a part of their identity. They each had their trademark colors and she had hers. As April adjusted her headband, her hand brushed against the piece of metal stuck in her ear. She smiled, thinking back to the month prior…

It was hard for April to believe that she was finally 16! Since it took a couple months for ear piercings to scab over and not close up, Mai wanted April to be able to wear any earrings she received for her birthday right away. That's why they had taken a girl's trip at the start of the New Year for ear piercing and a spa day. But it was now finally THE day.

Mikey and Mai worked together to make a beautiful spread for April's birthday dinner. She ooh and aahed over all of the gifts and earrings she received. Mrs. Murakami had even found a traditional pair of Japanese drop earrings at a local thrift shop.

April's favorite gift, however, came from Donnie. He apparently had taken weeks to carefully handcraft a lump of scrap metal into a pair of intricately carved 'dinglehopper' studs. The girl practically tackled her friend after she opened the box. April could feel the care he had poured into the gift, almost as if the metal itself was singing.

April giggled to herself as she remembered how flustered Donnie had gotten at the kiss she had planted on his cheek.

"April?" A voice came from the hallway. The turtle she had just been thinking about. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah!" She stood from her vanity, moving to where she kept her tessen.

The door opened, Donnie leaning on the doorframe. "You about ready to go?"

She nodded as she slid the metal fan into her belt. "Just about. Think you can help me wrap my hands real quick? It'll go faster."

Donnie's cheeks flushed. "Uh… yeah. S-sure!" April didn't miss how sweaty his palms were as he helped to wrap hers. "So…" The teen cleared his throat. "Thanks for helping convince Splinter to let us go out tonight." She shrugged.

"Honestly, I could sense that he was already on the fence about the whole thing. I just helped him make up his mind."

"Come on," Donnie teased, tugging on the end of her wrap. "We all know you've got him wrapped around your little finger."

April batted her eyes. "Just the perks of being the only girl of the bunch!"

The teens doubled over, unable to contain their laughter. They attempted to stifle their laughter as they heard a knock at the door.

"C-come in!" April choked out.

"Aren't you guys ready yet?" Mai poked her head in. "The others are revvin' to go, and… Mikey wants to do a 'group power pose'?"

xXx

One semi-reluctant group power pose later, the five teens stood respectfully before their teacher.

"While this is not the first time some of you will be visiting the surface, you must all maintain awareness." Splinter paced up and down the line of teenagers. "As your sensei, I am confident of your skills to remain safe and unseen. But as your father… I implore you to be cautious. Not all humans are as open as April or the Murakamis to… this whole situation." Everyone chuckled as Splinter gestured to the group. "I trust all of you. I only ask that you return to the Lair by 3am. That will give you…" He checked his watch. "...A little less than 7 hours topside. If any of you break this curfew, I will have to rethink letting this occur again in the future. Am I clear?"

"Hai, Sensei!"

"What time are you to be back by?"

"3am, Sensei!"

Splinter nodded, pulling everyone close in a tight embrace. "Very good, my children. Have fun. Be safe." As soon as he released them, the turtles leapt over the turnstiles into the subway tunnel.

"I am SO PUMPED!"

"Surface time, baby!"

"This is going to be EPIC!"

"PLEASE look both ways before crossing the street!" Splinter hopelessly hollered after the boys. He turned to head towards the kitchen, surprised that April had remained behind. "Are you not joining them, Dear One?"

"I am. I just wanted to give my Papa one more hug." She squeezed the rat-man around the middle. "We'll be careful. I promise." April pressed one last kiss to her father's cheek before chasing after her brothers. "WAIT FOR ME, GUYS!"

Anybody else getting an ominous feeling?