A.N.: FINALLY!!!! An idea has STRUCK me by surprise! Lol. Actually, WAS gonna write a chapter 4 "Stinking Babies", but an idea I'd written in there for a chapter, gave me an idea for THIS story too! Technically, I should write the chapter 4 "Stinking Babies" first, but I always do things half ass backwards-lol. So, yeah, anyway, here's the next LONG, LONG awaited chapter! Enjoy!

It was that time of year again - a time of year each member of the turtle clan dreaded with a passion. It was the month of June – a month where normally nothing big an exciting happens. Well, in the turtle home, it's a month of grieving – grieving for the sister they'd lost six years earlier, when they'd been younger and not as skilled in ninjitsu as they were now. For all they knew, she was dead – but – there was still that slight teeny bit of hope, that she was actually alive and well. Out of all the turtle children, Donatello always took it the hardest – he still blamed himself for the incident that had taken place – causing them to lose their one little sister.

Six years earlier, on June 17th, their one two-year-old sister, Dawnatella, had been caught and taken away kicking and screaming by the evil Shredder and his Foot Soldiers. It had been Donatello who'd been with her at that time. He had taken her for a walk in the sewers – in a tunnel they didn't normally travel – and had been ambushed by the Foot. Being only seven at that time, it was a completely unfair match, in which he'd lost the one thing he was to protect. His little sister. Oh, he'd done the best he could've then, to try and keep the evil Foot from getting her – but they'd still captured her and carried her away, leaving him lying there in the tunnel beaten – bruised, and bloodied.

It had been Raphael who'd found him, as he'd been wandering aimlessly about the sewers, and had happened to stumble upon his injured brother. Raphael had helped his brother home, then had run to fetch Master Splinter from the kitchen, where he had been preparing their dinner. Both had wondered what had happened, and why – they had no idea the extent of the young turtle in purple's ordeal, until he'd told them that the Foot had over-powered him and taken Dawnatella.

Now, mind you, Master Splinter hadn't been too pleased when he'd heard that his son had taken her into a tunnel they were told to steer clear of, unless with him – but he also knew that right then, the matter could not be helped, and yelling at the young turtle would not have helped any right then either. Instead, he'd quickly fed his children, then sent them to the one Nursery and told them to remain quiet at all costs. He'd then gone to hunt for a new home – knowing if they stayed where they were, the Foot would eventually find them – and the thought of his children being harmed, made him all the more determined to find a new home for them that very night.

The very next morning, the turtle clan was quickly and quietly ushered to their new home. Master Splinter made sure to go back for the things that they would need – or that he thought one of the children may desperately want – but otherwise, it was basically for their necessities. Oh, sure, from time-to-time he'd go back to their old lair, and check for any signs of Dawnatella – like any normal father, he was hoping she'd somehow be magically returned to him. Of course, as you know, he'd no such luck.

Ever since they day Dawnatella had been abducted, Donatello had tortured himself every year for the whole month of June. As far as he was concerned, the constant torture he put himself through couldn't be helped – he deserved it after all, didn't he? After all, he did take his little sister into forbidden territory, thus putting her in grave danger. And he'd known better than that – hadn't he? Who knew? He sure didn't – nor did he ever ask anyone for their opinion on the whole matter. He didn't want for anyone to know how badly it still bothered him – that it'd been his fault. His fault...

June of the year following of Dawnatella's abduction, was the first year that it'd really hit home. Master Splinter had noticed his pupils acting more strangely than usual, and questioned Leonardo and Michaelangelo about it as Raphael – and Donatello – refused to talk. After hearing what they'd had to say, it was then that he'd decided to hold a ceremony in Dawnatella's memory, so that she would always be remembered properly – not that his children wouldn't think of her anyway – but still.

Now, because of that ceremony – which lasted the whole week of the 17th - each child had come to either hate or cherish the month of June. Donatello, Raphael, Michaelangelo, Lenore, Ziptango, Daydream, and Mily had all come to despise the month of June – each for a different reason. Donatello, obviously, loathed this particular month, because of what he was forced to remember over and over again. Raphael detested it, as he was forced to remember a time when the Foot had been able to overcome them and cause them great harm and pain – he hated anything that harmed is family in any way, no matter how small it may be. Michaelangelo, well, he just hated the fact that everyone was always so sad and seeing them sad depressed him. He did not like being depressed, so he'd always try to cheer them up, only to be scolded by Sensei – which he did not like at all. Lenore despised the month, as all everyone talked about was Dawnatella – she didn't like the fact that someone who wasn't even there anymore could hog all the attention. She also hated it because her brother's attitudes would change, and her and her sisters would fight more often over stupid little things – thus upsetting Master Splinter. Now, Ziptango on the other hand, she just didn't like seeing Donatello all upset – she knew of the situation, but didn't understand how – after al these years – he could still blame himself for what had happened. As far as she was concerned, it'd just been one big, horrible, accident. And Daydream, well, she basically hated month for the same reason as Michaelangelo – only, she showed it in a different way. Oh, and Mily. Mily didn't like all the talk about what "might have" happened to their sister after she'd been captured.

Everybody else – Arista, TMNTPunker, Raphiella, HexAdecimal, TygeroftheWynd, Splinter, Machias, Danceingfae, and Leonardo – cherished the month. They knew and understood why it was so important that they do this for the sister they'd lost – each hoped that if something should ever happen to them, that their siblings would do for them what they were doing for Dawnatella each year.

(Note: stopped this chapter at 1:50a.m. Monday January 19th, 2004. )

Finally it was the day Donatello dreaded. It was the 17th of June. He grumbled as he entered the dojo for the ceremony that was about to take place. He took his seat on the dojo floor next to Leonardo, and remained silent, his lips pursed together tightly.

Master Splinter soon entered the dojo, and began the ceremony. He'd had to stop a few times though, so that some of his pupils could calm themselves – and once he did have to stop to scold Lenore for fidgeting and trying to get Ziptango's attention.

Lenore grumbled to herself quietly after she'd been scolded – she didn't mean to fidget so much, but she was getting bored and wanted to go off and play.

Master Splinter carried on with the ceremony, and eventually called it to an end, when it seemed certain young turtles were unable to stop sobbing long enough for him to speak. He bowed to his students, then left the dojo, knowing they'd all leave within their own time. Mind you, he wasn't surprised to see Lenore the first to come barreling out of the room, only to plop down in front of the Nintendo. He knew all had different ways with dealing with this sort of thing, and playing seemed to be her way of dealing with it – no matter how much he disapproved.

Eventually, everyone, except for Donatello, had left the dojo to go do their own thing. They were glad Master Splinter had always given them this day off, so that they could relax, reminisce, and come to sorts with their feelings about what had happened all those years ago.

Donatello still sat on the dojo floor, staring down at his hands. He'd willed himself not to cry throughout the whole ceremony, and so far he'd succeeded. He did NOT want to cry over what had happened anymore. He was sick off all his tears, and would yell at himself anytime he did cry over the loss of his sister. No one knew the depth of his pain – as no one else had been there to hear Dawnatella's terrified screams. Nor had they seen her being hit by the Foot, to get her to shut-up, so that they could take her away quickly and quietly.

He rubbed as his eyes furiously, when he felt tears begin to fall, as he remembered what all had happened the week before she'd been taken from them – from him.

Flashback.....

Dawnatella sat on the foot of Donatello's bed, anxiously waiting for him to get up. She loved Donatello – hence the reason Master Splinter had named her Dawnatella.

Donatello could feel something – or someone – on his legs. He knew it had to be one of his sisters – namely Ziptango or Dawnatella – when he felt whoever was sitting on him, pat his legs.

"Donnie," Dawnatella called softly, patting her brother's legs again. "Donnie, ake up!" (wake up)

Donatello groaned as he opened his eyes, and smiled when he saw his little sister grinning at him. "Hey Munchkin."

"Donnie!" Dawnatella squealed happily. She giggled as she began to bounce on him in excitement.

Donatello picked her up and set her on his plastron, so that she was closer – and also so that he could regain feeling in his legs. "Whatcha doing up so early?"

Dawnatella smiled at him innocently. She'd woken up to see him – everyone else was still sleeping – except Master Splinter.

"You wanna have breakie?"

"Reakie!" She giggled as she clapped her hands. She leaned down and kissed his beak.

"Alright. Breakie, it is then," Donatello laughed quietly, as he got up – he was careful not to knock her off the bed and onto the floor. Once he was out of bed, he picked her up and padded his way down the hall and into the kitchen, where Master Splinter was making himself a cup of tea.

"Ah, early wake up call, my son?" Master Splinter said softly.

Donatello chuckled. "Hai Sensei."

Dawnatella clapped, then threw her arms around her brother's neck. "Donnie!" She said proudly, as she beamed up at their father.

"Yes, that is Donatello, my Little One," Master Splinter smiled warmly. He patted her head, then went out to the den to sit in his chair while he drank his cup of tea. He'd known when he'd let Dawnatella out of her crib that she'd go straight for Donatello.

In the kitchen, Donatello got them both some cereal after setting his little sister down in the one high chair he'd built for their sisters. He laughed as she ate her Cheerios – something Master Splinter had actually been able to find.

"You're silly Dawna," he told her, calling her by the nickname he'd given her. Best part was, she'd only let him call her Dawna – anyone else did and she'd scream.

Dawnatella grinned at him, then drank from her sippy cup – another thing they had lots of, as people always seemed to be throwing them out.

Donatello shook his head, as he lifted the end up of purple and white bandana and tied them behind her head. She always managed to get her bandana in the way, thus making it all sticking and gooey from her breakfast.

After breakfast, and once he'd cleaned up their mess and Dawnatella, he carried her out into the den to watch cartoons. She loved cartoons. Best part was, she liked the same shows he did – nobody else really cared for his shows.

Dawnatella giggled as Bill Nye The Science Guy came on. She loved Bill Nye the Science Guy. She snuggled into Donatello, as she watched the show.

Donatello held his sister close to him, though she was sitting in his lap all ready. He loved it when one of his sisters would cuddle with him, and not Michaelangelo or one of his other brothers. He always seemed to be the forgotten brother – unless, of course, Dawnatella and Ziptango were around.

Soon enough, their other siblings were up and running about. He was surprised when Ziptango decided to stay glued to Lenore, Daydream, Mily, and Michaelangelo. She was usually always with him, so for her not to be with him was a rare occurrence. He shrugged it off, deciding to let it go, as he stood up with Dawnatella in his arms, and carried her into the room that would soon be his lab – Master Splinter had promised, and he never broke a promise. It just wasn't honorable to break a promise to anyone – especially not the ones you loved.

For quite awhile, him and Dawnatella tinkered around with the stuff in the room – and more than enough times, he'd stop what he was doing to play with her and show her stuff he knew she'd find interesting. He'd even found an old stuffed dog that desperately needed some repair. Without anyone knowing, he'd repaired the dog, and now had it hiding behind his back.

"Donnie!" Dawnatella cried impatiently, wanting whatever it was he held hidden behind his back. "Give Dawna!"

Donatello laughed. "What's the magic word, Silly Dawna."

"Pwease?" Dawnatella asked, giving him a puppy-dog look.

Donatello brought the stuffed purple dog out from behind his back, and showed it to her. "You want this Dawna? Do you want the puppy Donnie found and fixed up just for you?"

Dawnatella nodded eagerly, as she reached out for the stuffed dog. She hugged it close to her plastron after her brother had finally given it to her. "Tank-you Donnie!"

"You're welcome Munchkin," Donatello smiled, kissing her head.

For the rest of the day, the two of them had hung out and basically been inseparable. That night, he even let her sleep in his bed with him, as it was what she wanted – she would've kept on screaming and crying otherwise.

End of Flashback.....

Donatello shook his head trying to get rid of the memories, then got up and left the dojo, heading straight for his room. Once in his room, he quickly went to his closet, and dug around for a box he kept hidden from the rest of the family. Once he'd found it, and had made sure the door to his room was closed, he opened the box and took out what it contained. He hugged the box's contents to his chest, as his tears began to fall again, and he lay down on his bed.

"I love you Dawnatella," he murmured softly, to what he held. "Love you so much."

No one knew it, but what he kept hidden in that box, was the little stuffed purple dog he'd given her the week before she'd been abducted. She'd had it on her when the Foot came and took her away – thus making her drop her beloved dog. And in the week she'd had the dog, she'd never – ever – leave it behind. She'd always had it clutched in her little fist, as it was her all-time favourite toy.

As he lay there clutching the dog, tears streaming down his face, he – like always – prayed that his little sister was still alive and well. He prayed that whatever the Foot and Shredder had done to her, hadn't been too bad nor caused her any pain. He didn't wish it upon any of his siblings, and especially not his little sisters – not even Lenore. No matter how bratty anything of them got at times. He loved them all too much to wish upon them what had happened to Dawnatella. And lastly, he prayed that they would one day be re-united with the little sister they'd lost six years earlier. He prayed it so hard and so much, that he knew deep down that one day it would eventually come true.

(Note: ended this chapter at 4p.m. Friday, January 23rd, 2004.)

A.N.: Obviously, it took my two hours in total to write this chapter. Hope y'all enjoyed it – I wrote the last half while not in a good mood. I know it seems kinda short, but it was an important chapter that needed to be written up – and it's actually six pages long-lol. And sorry it took me so long to post it – wanted to have the chapter about this in "Stinking Babies" written up first – obviously, that was just done. Lol. Well, adios! Plz R & R! KTBSPA & KTNTPA & KTACPA & KTJTPA & KTKCPA & KTJTTPA & KTCPA & KTBSPA & KTBKPA & KTCAPA & KTRMPA & KTRSPA!!!!! ~Lenni~