Frozenwolfheart22: Your wish is my command! ;)

Gonna warn you now: VERY dialogue-heavy chapter.

Enjoy!

April 16, 2012

April stretched out her arm, breathing deeply. She released her breath as she brought her arm back. Splinter practiced the same motions next to her. This was a set of katas Splinter dubbed "Moving Meditations". It was similar to the stretches April and Raph did for their cool down.

She sighed inwardly, thinking of what the boys were up to. Donnie had wanted to do some controlled experiments with the ooze they had found in the fresh city air. He had hesitantly asked if she wanted to come along to help. April'd given the excuse of having cramps; which was a lie. She still didn't know how to act around Donnie or what the feelings swirling around in her gut truly meant. She just needed… a bit more time…

"A penny for your thoughts, dear one?" Splinter mused.

"Sorry, Papa. I'm just… thinking."

The older man chuckled. "As much as I love spending time in meditation with you, April, I cannot feel as if you are hiding from something…"

The girl stumbled over thin air. "H-hiding?" She stuttered. "I'm not hiding from anything." Both turned their heads as they heard the turnstiles click. April's face burned as a certain turtle's voice wafted into the dojo. Splinter grinned.

"Well, if you're not hiding, would you like to join me in seeing what the boys accomplished?"

April bit her lip. "I'll ask Raph or Leo about it later whenever we spar." She missed the knowing look her father threw her way.

"Don't think that you can hide from your problems forever, April. If one fails to face their problems, they will only grow."

She sighed, sliding into a meditative position. "I'll keep that in mind, Papa."

Splinter hummed as he left for the lab. He surveyed the tech-filled room, noticing only three of his sons. "Boys, where is Leonardo?"

Raph and Donnie exchanged an awkward look while Mikey spun around in Donnie's desk chair.

"Raph and Leo had a fight while we were out. Raph's the leader now." The youngest turtle pointed to his brother. Donnie groaned while Raph buried his face in his hands. The red turtle winced as Splinter gently tapped his cane on the boy's head.

"Raphael… I thought we've talked about your temper…"

"I know Pop!" Raph threw up his hands. "'Like a river over stone.' I said somethings in the heat of the moment I regret. But, Leo technically started it…" He stopped at Splinter's glare. He sighed. "When I find him, I'll apologize to 'im."

Splinter nodded, satisfied with Raph's plan. "Good." He sat on the couch closest to Donnie's desk. "How was the rest of your trip?" Mikey scooted closer to him, still in the chair.

"It was awesome! We made a new mutant friend!"

"WHAT?"

xXx

April had been meditating for only a few moments before feeling a presence join her in the dark dojo. She mentally felt the presence, figuring out who it was in an instant.

"Hey there, stealthy." She grinned, opening her eyes as she heard her brother stifle a shriek. "Why aren't you with the others in the lab?"

Leo sighed, crossing his legs to sit with her. "Raph and I had a fight up top and I went to blow off some steam. I didn't know they were back until I heard their voices in the lab. Figured I'd come hang out here until Splinter forces me to go and talk to Raph." He squinted at her. "Why aren't you in there with them?" Leo raised his hands at April's death glare. "Fine… won't ask again. Can I tell you something cool, though? You just CAN'T tell the others… at least… not yet."

April pulled her legs up to her chest, scooching closer to Leo. "Spill."

"I met a girl!"

"I'm sorry… WHAT?"

Leo nodded vigorously. "After Raph and I had our fight, I ran off on my own for a bit. This group of ninjas attacked me - and yes, I'll tell Splinter about them later, I promise -and I took them all out."

"By yourself" Leo held a hand up to his plastron in mock offense.

"You say that like you're surprised!" He waved off her chuckles. "Anyways, this cute girl flips onto the roof and starts talking to me. ME! WITHOUT freaking out! Then… she threw blinding powder at me and almost skewered me. OW!" He rubbed the shoulder April punched.

"LEO!"

"I know, I know… my instincts tell me this girl's bad news. She even knows about Splinter and the rest of us. It's just… is it so wrong to be happy if a girl - a kunoichi - didn't scream at the sight of me?"

"And what am I? Old pizza?" April huffed.

Leo gave her a look. "Come one, you know what I mean. Like the way you look at Donni-" He slammed his mouth shut. The boy knew he had just ventured into forbidden territory. That was confirmed by the dangerous glint in April's eyes.

"What was that, Leonardo?" She growled. He flailed, scrambling to stand up.

"N-nothing!" He stammered. He pointed towards the dojo's door. "Oh! Hear that? That sounds like Raph with an apology. COMING RAPH!" Leo all but ran from the room.

April sighed, flopping on her back. Why was talking about this thing with Donnie so complicated?

"Whoa. Why'd Leo look like you took a bite out of 'im?" April raised her head to see Mikey leaning against the doorframe. "Also, was he crying?"

The girl grunted, sitting up. "No. Someone threw blinding powder at him."

"You?"

"After what he just said, he's lucky I didn't throw his katana at him."

Mikey moved to sit with his shell against the tree in the middle of the dojo. April scooted backwards to join him. "Did it have anything to do with you not coming out with us tonight? I know it wasn't really cramps." April shot him a glare. He held her gaze. "Remember? You always come to me for the good chocolate every month and right now…" He closed one eye, trying to calculate something. "... right now you're about halfway between your cycles. You won't have 'cramps' for another couple of weeks."

April flushed. She buried her face in her arms as they rested on her legs. "Part of me is embarrassed that you know that…"

Mikey shrugged. "It's what happens when five guys live with a girl. You pick up on those things. " He nudged her. "So… what's the real reason you didn't come? Something to do with Donnie?" April peeked out from between her arms.

"How'd you-"

"You guys don't give me enough credit. Yeah, I'm always bouncing off the walls, but like I said: I notice things." Mikey chuckled. "You two haven't been the same since that thing with the Kraang last month." He moved closer to the girl. "Come on, April. You can talk to me."

April rested her head against the tree. Mikey could see the tears beginning to pool in her eyes. "Donnie told me that he loved me… right after we found out I'm a mutant… and that my dad was dead."

Mikey winced. "Ouch."

She nodded, eyes wide. "Right? It's not like I didn't have an idea of how he felt or that I didn't feel anything… it was all about the timing."

"And you've avoided him for a whole month? Y'all barely even say two words to each other at dinner." April once again pulled her legs to her chest. Mikey thought this was the most she had physically resembled one of them, trying to retreat within herself.

"I just… don't know what to say… Is it okay for me to have 'more than friend' feelings for someone I've grown up with as a brother?"

Mikey looked up at the light streaming through the leaves of the tree that had grown with them since childhood. "April, from what I've seen, you guys have never really been each other's siblings. You two have always been best friends." He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. "Isn't it time to talk to him about it?"

Both teens looked to the dojo's entrance as someone cleared their throat. Donnie stood there, awkwardly rubbing the back of his neck. "Uh… Leo and Raph made up. W-we were going to go out and try one more time to find that Snakeweed guy. April? A-are you feeling better? Maybe up to coming with us?"

It broke April's heart to see his eyes so hopeful. She just… couldn't do it yet. She couldn't meet his eyes. "Maybe… maybe next time. I'll help Splinter get a late dinner started.

Donnie visibly deflated. "Oh. O-okay. We'll see you when we get back?"

She nodded. Mikey stood, patting April's shoulder before dragging his brother away from the door.

April sighed, once again settling into a meditative position. Maybe she could use this time apart to finally figure out what to do about Donnie...

Progress? This has been a fun journey to write! Should be 2 more parts in New Girl in Town