Calli's Pov...
Now with Leo back home after being away in Japan for six months, the atmosphere itself had balanced once more. I tell you it wasn't easy for me to have him away for this long, especially with him being half way across the world without me being there to protect him in case of something should happen to him. After mending my relationship with my father after the incident, I have come to realize that this kind of separation would make me stronger as an individual, to be able to stand on my two feet and maintain my important leadership role in the team. I knew I couldn't let that fear control my mind or else I could put myself in serious risk of being injured or killed. I guess before I was just so scared of him being away from me because I couldn't be there, it reminded me of Yani and my parents and those memories still haunt me to this day. But I realized that this might happen to me again and I would be faced with the same challenge again, but this time I would be ready and wouldn't let that fear cloud over me and make me push away those whom I have come to love.
I was fluttering my eyes open to a cold morning where I turned over on my side to see the peaceful figure of my husband, smiling slightly in his sleep. After not having him sleeping by my side for so long, it warms my heart to see him right beside me. His left arm was poking out from the covers with his right arm tucked in and my hand was nearly laying on top of his own when I had turned over. I could see his golden wedding band around his finger shining dimly in the darkness and I carefully let my hand interlace with his with my ring and his touch together. It makes me look back on the day that our love would be lasting forever. It was such a beautiful sight to look at, nothing can compare to anything else. Two souls from different worlds have come to realize their feelings for each other was strong and that the rings were a living proof that nothing could pry them apart. I gently lift his hand up and gave it a gentle kiss along his knuckles before carefully placing it back down. I looked over at the time to see it was near seven in the morning and that I had to get ready soon.
What was happening was that since today was New Years Eve and April decided to take a trip down memory lane and had invited the family and Casey, along to go to back to the farmhouse to spend the special event there. Of course we couldn't say no to that, it sounded very interesting to see how it would like during the winter since we would usually go up there during the summer months. So I was very much looking forward to this day and couldn't wait to head up there. I slipped quietly out of the bed and headed towards the kitchen to pack somethings we needed to make s'mores and hot chocolate figuring that, that it would be something being craved, especially by Mikey and Ellie, whom can't seem to get enough of that. I joked with them that they might just become a s'more and mug of hot chocolate if they kept it up. I placed everything into a cooler with a smile setting it on the dinning table ready to go when we leave later on this morning. I had poured some tea from the kettle on the stove top and sat down in my usual spot at the table enjoying a quiet morning.
I felt a little bit stiffness in my right shoulder, maybe I slept on it wrong last night. I tried to roll my shoulders trying to stretch them, till I felt a pair of strong hands were placed on top. I giggled to myself knowing who it was and I tried to stand up, but I felt a tightening grip pushing me to sit back down and a low chuckle answered me. I sighed with content leaning back into his touch as I felt Leo massaging away the tightness as my shoulders started to relax. He ran his thumbs firmly over my shell just below my neck, releasing some of the tension there. I couldn't help but let a low moan escape my lips and I could feel his hot breath up against my cheek. "You like that?", he whispered lowly
I nodded with a smile and his warm hands slid down from my neck down my arms while he started pressing kisses to my neck. I giggled a little and titled my head to give Leo full range of my neck, shoulders and collarbone. His chuckling tickled me as he wasted no time letting his lips explore along my skin, each one he plants leaves a burning mark that makes my heart beat faster. "I thought you were asleep", I whispered, in between moans as he kissed on my sweet spot letting his head burying into my neck
"Well I was, till I didn't feel the soft beautiful warm body of my wife beside me, I couldn't just continue sleeping", he said, kissing my ear nuzzling it deeply
I turned slowly behind me and let my hand go to his jaw to guide him, to bring him to my lips for a kiss. Soft moans filled the room as I pulled him closer to me, our lips were dancing more deeply and faster with each passing second. My arms tightened around his neck till I felt him grip my thighs picking me up swiftly till I felt him set me down on top of the table and my legs immediately reacted wrapping tightly around his waist. Our deep passionate make out session lasted for a few more minutes till we both had to pull away unfortunately to catch a breath, as we both panted to regain with myself resting against his chest and his hand gently stroking the back of my head. A couple seconds later we both looked at each other with a dreamy smile. "Good morning", I said, softly
"Good morning to you beautiful", he said, pecking my forehead
"I really did miss those mornings where we had just a little time to ourselves before our crazy family life would start our day while you were gone", I said, with a giggle "There would be times I would just try to stay in bed as long as I could and just snuggle your pillow"
"Oh how I did too, it was hard not seeing you right next to me and I would just lay awake at night just trying to imagine you there to help soothe my mind, but it just wasn't the same", he said
"But thank goodness now, we don't have to worry about this kind of separation to happen for a long time", I said
"That we don't", he said, giving my forehead another peck "You looking forward to this trip?"
"Most definitely", I said, sliding off the table "I mean I think it would be a good thing, you know we have always spent New Years in the lair and I think that this trip will be a great experience especially for you guys"
"I agree, from what April told me that a neighbor a few miles down the road is suppose to be shooting off some fireworks", he said
"Oh? Well now this trip certainly is going to be exciting, I always looked forward to the fireworks on New Years especially when I was younger", I said, with a smile
"Hey did you know where I put my snowboard?", he asked, curiously
"Oh yeah I put it by the manhole cover by my skis", I said, with a smile "I wanted to see if I still got my touch"
Back when I was younger, Yani and I would take little trips outside the city towards the country side to go sledding and skiing. I got my first lesson when I was seven and it was so much that I remembered my first jump I did on a little slope landing perfectly. The only down side of that day was I never got the hang of how to stop in time before I would crash into piles of snow. Of course Yani would just find it funny until I would start laughing along with him. Even though its been almost seven years since our last trip together, I was hoping I still had maintained the skills that I had learned. Well I guess their would be only one way to find out, I just hoped I wouldn't break a leg doing it.
"Oh perfect!", he said "Well I am going to finish up packing the rest of my gear before we head out, what time did April and Casey say they would arrive?"
"They texted me last night saying that they would be here around 9, so we got about two hours to spare", I said, pulling out my phone from my belt checking the time
"Perfect, well I certainly can't wait to go and be able to spend more time with you", he said, hugging me from behind and giving my cheek a kiss
"You too my sugar cookie", I said, with a giggle, nuzzling his snout softly
Leo left the kitchen and I began to prepare some breakfast while I waited for the others to wake up. I cracked some eggs into the frying pan, hearing it sizzle as it cooked and I began to pop some French bread into the toaster before spreading honey and grape jelly on top. I heard some yawning as I squeezed some fresh orange juice into glasses and I looked behind me to see Raph and Mikey coming in and seating down at the dinning table, still looking like they were trying to wake up. "Well good morning sleepy heads", I said, happily
"Morning sissy", Mikey said, with a loud yawn
"What's for breakfast Calls?", Raph asked, rubbing his eye with a fist
"Your favorite big brother, eggs Sunnyside up", I said, turning around with two prepared plates with eggs and toast "Along with French toast with honey and grape jelly"
"Yes", he said, with a soft victory tone letting his arms go up in the air, with his head leaning back
I giggled and set the plates down in front of them as they wasted no time in starting to eat. Not a few seconds after they started eating, I saw my little girl Ellie come walking in with her panda snow hat on top of her head and her green scarf around her neck climbing up to her spot next to her Uncle Raph. "You look like you are ready for the snow Green Bean", I said, with a smile
"Totally Mama! I can't wait to go sledding down the big hills! I wanna go super fast!", she said, jumping in her chair with excitement
"Well don't you worry about that, we will be going sledding and playing out in the snow all day before the big countdown tonight", I said "But first you need to eat"
I set down a plate in front of her as she took a bite out of toast while I poured her some orange juice into her glass. She was eating in a rush making it look like she was struggling to contain her excitement. "Mama do you think we might be able spot some of those deer Aunt April told me about that come out during winter? Like the ones that used to come up to her when she was little?", Ellie asked, taking a large sip from her cup
"Mmmmmmm we just might", I said, with a smile "We will definitely have to keep an eye out for them, now you should hurry along and finish packing up your things honey, we will be leaving pretty soon"
"Alright Mama", she said, as I gave her head a kiss as she ran from her chair to her bedroom "Snow hills here we come!"
I laughed light heartedly and after breakfast was finished, I was finishing packing up the last of my stuff in my gym bag zipping it up and I made sure my scarf was around my neck tightly and my hat was secured on top of my head. I heard my phone vibrate in my coat and got a text from April saying, "We are here! Come up when ready!"
"Alright guys, lets head on up!", I called out
I grabbed my bag slinging it over my shoulder walking out from the bedroom just as I saw everyone else leave from their rooms all dressed warm in their winter clothes and gym bags ready to go. Grabbing the cooler I prepared earlier from the dinning table, we started to make our way up to the ladder to head up to the van waiting up above. I grabbed my skis, carrying them under my arm as I made my way up to see glaring taillights and a strong breeze blowing in from outside to greet me. "Brrrrrr its cold out this morning!", I said, pulling my coat closer to myself as I shoved my bag into the back of the van
"I said the same thing", April said, from the drivers seat "It was so cold this morning that I nearly slipped down the stairs coming from my apartment before we came to pick you guys up"
"You think that's bad? Try being cold blooded, that's even a worse scenario", Raph said, sliding his snowboard on the rack on top
"Yeah you guys got it easy compared to us", Mikey said, jumping inside
"Well except for Splinter, seeing as he is the only one with a fur coat on his back", Donnie said, tying ropes around the snowboards
Splinter just chuckled as I giggled along with him. "Well rest to assure you guys, it will be nice and warm when we get up to the farmhouse", April said, as we made sure our stuff was secured on top of the van before climbing inside
"Let's hit the road, I want to go sledding!", Ellie said, dragging her small sled inside
"Okay we are all set! Hit it!", I said
The van started up as we made our way down the tunnel and out on to the streets making our way out of the city to the countryside. It was snowing pretty good outside as it didn't take long for the van to almost be completely covered in it. Winter was always my favorite season, I don't know why something about it just makes me smile. Seeing a thick blanket of sparkling white cover everything, watching the many snowflakes of different shapes and patterns come falling down and feeling the cool crisp wind blow against my face was just a happy feeling. Even though it never hardly snow much back when I was living in the country side of Florence, whenever we took trips to the city, it was worth seeing. I remembered when I was a child my dad would put me on top of his shoulders so I could catch snowflakes on my tongue and I remember throwing snowballs at my mom when her back was turned and would point at dad saying that he did it. I am really surprised that I still remember those moments but I am very happy that I do, its one of the only ones that I remember by heart. I just wished that I knew more, but I just hope that someday that I will come to know more.
Driving along the road, the city life began to escape my view and it was soon greeted with country side completely covered in valleys of snow before we reached the edge of the forest that hid the farmhouse deep inside. The many pine trees had their branches weighed down by the weight of the snow and you could a flock of birds flying over head to escape the chilling cold going south and a deer just grazing out along side the road spotted the van and quickly disappeared into the trees without a trace.
About another hour later we were greeted with the familiar sight of the rustic looking farmhouse that looked cozy and inviting even on this cloudy snowy day as we pulled into the drive way. "Oh it still looks beautiful as it does when it is in winter", I said, as we started climbing out of the van
Ellie jumped out laughing dragging her sled behind her before throwing it in front of her and jumping sledding a few feet away cheering. "Any good place where we head to around here April?", Leo asked, as he was helping Donnie take the snowboards off the rack
"Not far away actually its near by the lake where we go swimming, its a good size clearing in the forest that will be perfect", April said, as she grabbed her bag slinging it over her shoulder
"Sounds like a plan to me", I said, with a smile "Ellie, Green Bean! Come on honey, lets get settled and we can go sledding!"
She came running back dragging her sled behind her. "Coming Mama!", she called out, as she came running back
She slipped a bit landing face first in the snow but quickly got back up with a giggle with her face covered. I couldn't help but giggle myself as she came up beside me as we walked up the small porch getting inside the house. The others were already going upstairs into their rooms to get settled in while Splinter was preparing a fire in the fireplace. "It feels so nice to be back up here again, if only it was a hop, skip and jump away from the city", I said, setting my skis down by the couch
"If only, but every summer when dad would take me up here, we would always make the best of it", April said
"Well I am excited to experience winter here as well", I said "So what is this clearing that you were telling us about?"
"Its a small patch of where the pine trees actually didn't grow and they have some of the biggest hills where we could always have the best races", she said "Hey! That's what we should we do, you guys should have one of your races again, its always fun to watch you guys!"
"Sounds like a plan to me! Let's do it", I said "Guys come on we are going to have a race!"
"Awesome! Be right there sis!", Raph called out
"A race?! Me first!", Mikey said
Waiting for a few more moments hearing commotion upstairs the boys came back down with their snowboards on the back of their shells bundled up ready for the snow. "Bet I can board faster than you on your skis Calli!", Mikey said, sliding down the stair railing
"Bet you can't", I said, with a smirk slipping on my goggles over my head "Bet you can't do a leap in the air doing three flips before landing perfectly"
"Bet I can! I am going to tear up the slope!", he said
"We shall see about that", I said
"Yeah you will probably biff it at the end when you were trying to show off and nearly landed in the pond back in the park", Raph said, with a snicker, making Leo and Donnie join along with him
"Hey I didn't see that rock in the way! Otherwise I would of made a three point landing", he said, with annoyed look
But I gave him a playful punch to the shoulder making him smile again. "I bet you would of", I said "Now come on let's head out, we are burning daylight"
Opening the door, we were greeted with a strong gust of wind as we started our trek through the thick snow. I tell you, it felt like each step you were taking you felt like you were going to sink. Almost like quicksand in a jungle. But taking it slow and steady we made our way through and with going uphill surely gave my legs a workout, my muscles were burning. Ellie was trekking not far behind me when she was making her way up beside me, she was pulling her sled behind her and as she tried to make another step, she lost her balance falling on her plastron with a grunt and started to slide back down the hill dragging her sled along with her. "Up you go princess", Donnie said, catching her by her sides and placing her on top of his shoulders before catching her sled
"Thanks Uncle D", she said, with a smile clinging on to his head
"Not far long now you guys, we are just about there", April said, looking back at us
Climbing up a few more feet we finally reached the top of the hill and what we saw was a grand site. A perfect clearing of smaller hills down below surrounded by a circle of pine trees. It looked like the perfect obstacle for a good race. "Sweet! Check that out!", Casey said
"It looks pretty radical to me!", Ellie said, as Donnie took her off of his shoulders
"Alright guys before we start, shouldn't there be a prize for the winner?", I asked
"Yeah like losers do the winners chores for a whole month", Raph said
"Nah dude it has to be something different this time, besides you won that bet last time", Mikey said, pointing at him
"How about this? Whoever wins this race...I can't believe I am going to say this, doesn't have to do training for a week", Leo said
"Woah dude! That's something new coming from the leader!", Mikey said
"Mmmmm not bad, I like it", I said, crossing my arms "Then that is what it is, whoever wins this race gets a week off from training"
"I am so going to enjoy a week off", Raph said, cracking his knuckles before letting his goggles go down on his face
"Don't count your chickens before they hatch Raph, I am going to get this easy as pie", Donnie said
"No way dude! I am going to win!", Ellie said, jumping on to her sled
"We shall see", I said, with a smirk
April got in front of us as we got ourselves prepared on our rides. I made sure my goggles were secured across my face and my ski poles were tight in my grasp as I edged closer towards the end of the large hill. Determination was on my mind as I looked towards the finish line at the end of the hills and I looked over at the others, to see the exact determination written in their faces. Leo looked over at me with a competitive yet playful look and I couldn't help but giggle sticking my tongue out at him. "So going to be nice being able to sleep in knowing I won't have to get up for training", he said
"Oh your words they are strong, but your foolishness has sealed your fate", I said
"Oh destiny is mine!", he said
"Alright guys, first one at the end of the clearing wins", April said, raising her arms up in the air "Alright! On your mark, get set, and go!"
She swung her arms down hard and fast as we took off quickly down the hill, picking up speed with each second. The freezing wind stung my face as I flew through the air landing hard on the hill doing a zig zag motion across the snow. The boys were showing off their best moves trying to gain the advantage at one another with Ellie zooming right past us cheering. Raph did a front flip before spinning a full three sixty before landing with a cheer with Mikey and Donnie come zooming past by him swiveling through small piles of snow before going off a high ramp of snow doing spins in the air with Donnie making a clean landing, Mikey not so much as he landed doing a somersault turning into a ball of snow. I couldn't help but laugh as he struggled out of the hold and getting back into the race. Nearing close towards the edge of the clearing, I was in the lead so far that is until I felt a snowball hit me on the back of the shoulder and I looked over to see Leo smirking at me coming up neck and neck beside me. "What you got to say now Calli?", Leo called out
"What I say is, I hope you are not a sore loser when I win!", I called out, picking up speed
"Oh I don't think so!", Leo called out
We both laughed as we trek over the hills still neck and neck. "Give it up leader boy, you can't match me I was built for speed!", I called out
"Question is Calli, are you hungry?", he asked
I shot him a confused look. "What does that have to do with anything?", I asked
"Because you are about to eat my snow!", he said, going off in the air with a cheer
"Says you!", I said
I looked towards a big snow ramp and headed straight for it, flying up into the air cheering. I threw myself forward doing a hard flip after another before doing a small spin landing. I threw my arms in the air with a cheer, seeing how I still got my skills even after so many years. "Woah Calli! Look out below!", Leo called out
I looked back up behind me and I saw him coming straight for me trying to maneuver his board out of the way, but I knew straight up that he wasn't going to be able to move himself out of the way in time, so I had to brace myself. "Oh sewer apples, this is going to hurt", I said, shielding myself with my arms
Leo crashed into me as we went tumbling over each other grunting till we crashed at the end into a tree with snow falling on top of us. I shook snow free from my face and Leo removed his goggles from his face up to his head and we just looked at each other for a few moments, till we could no longer hold it in and we both just busted out laughing. "Are you okay?", I asked, still laughing
"I am are you?", Leo said, helping me sit up laughing as well
"First time that happened to me, oh my god!", I said, shaking the snow off my hat
"Sorry I didn't think you would get in my way", he said, with a chuckle
"Don't worry, I have had heavier things fall on me", I said, with a giggle
We then heard the others come rushing down with Ellie rushing past pulling on the rope on her sled to stop, with the others not far behind as they skid to a halt in front of us. "Jeez some crash you both had", Mikey said
"Yeah that looked painful", Raph said
"Nothing to it", I said, with a giggle "It could of been worse, I could of had you crush me"
"So who won?", Donnie asked
We both just looked at each other and shrugged before looking back at the others. "We say its a tie this one", I said, with a smile
"Yeah its a tie", Leo said, pulling into a one arm hug
"Hey as long didn't Raph didn't win this one, than that's good with me", Mikey said, snickering
"Oh yeah? I will show you who will in this, he has got two giant fists about to beat the green off you", Raph said, cracking his knuckles
Mikey screamed running off before Raph chased after him tackling him to the ground in a pile. I rolled my eyes before unhooking myself from my skis running towards them both. "Raph don't you dare try to shove snow down where his head is!", I said, joining the dog pile
Leo's Pov...
I noticed Ellie out of the corner of my eye seeing her rolling a big size ball of snow near by, before she let herself fall down on top of it flattening it with a giggle. I chuckled walking over to her as she was rolling a smaller snowball in her hands. "Hey Ellie, what are you making?", I asked, kneeling down in front of her
"A snow turtle Daddy, I made one back in the park with Mama and Uncle Raph while you were away", she said, pressing the smaller one on to the bigger one
"Do you need any help?", I asked
"Yeah sure!", she said, with a bright smile "Make smaller snowballs for the arms and legs and I will find some stones for the eyes"
"You got it", I said, giving her a thumbs up as she ran off
I started to do four small snowballs pressing them into the giant pile and I chuckled looking over at my daughter digging through the snow, almost to the point of burying herself looking for stones for the eyes. She disappeared into a small pile for a few moments before her arms jerked up revealing two small pebbles and began to dig her way out of the pile, running back to me. "I found some Daddy!", she said
"Great Green Bean, its starting to come together now", I said
Ellie placed the two pebbles into the face of the turtle and I chuckled grabbing two sticks beside me before sticking them on top of the head, making Ellie laugh. "Daddy! Turtles don't have antlers on their heads!", she said, giggling
"Oh I don't know I see Uncle Raph has them all the time, he just doesn't show them when anyone is around", I said, with a snicker "You know they start growing out of your head when you are six"
"Wait what?!", Ellie said, quickly feeling her head
I couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Gotcha!", I said, shoving her shoulder playfully
We both then end up starting to laugh as we finished up the last few details of the turtle, by tracing scales of the shell and adding a stick smile for a mouth. "It looks perfect!", she said, with a jump
"Yeah it does, but it looks like its missing something", I said, rubbing my fingers under my chin
Ellie cocked to one side with a curious look before she looked up at me. "I know!", she said, running up to me "Daddy give me your hat!"
She grabbed my hat from off my head and placed it on top of the turtles head with a smile. "There now its complete!", she said
"What do you think honeybun?", I asked
"It kind of looks like you Daddy", Ellie said, with a smile
"Does it?", I asked, curiously
"Only a little cuter", a voice said
I couldn't help but smirk as I heard Ellie giggling behind me as I turned to see Calli walking up to the both of us. "Good one Mama", Ellie said
"Really?", I asked, with a cocked eyebrow
She giggled trying to act all innocent. "Really", she said
I smirked even more as I started to quickly make a snowball in my hands. "Even doing this?", I asked
She squeaked starting to back up as I ran towards her. "Oh no don't you!", she said, with a high voice
I threw it at her hitting her in the chest making her fall backwards laughing. "Get her Daddy! Get her!", Ellie said, running up behind me with a snowball in her hands throwing it at her mother
"You guys are so dead!", Calli called out, throwing a snowball at me hitting me right in the butt
"Hey right in the butt! Oh no you don't", I said, laughing throwing one back at her, but missed by inches
The three of us continued to pelt snowballs at each other till I got an unexpected hit from the back of the head, making me turn suddenly and I saw Raph laughing at me and a smirk grew on my face. "Been so wanting to do that for awhile", he said
"Oh so that's how you want to play, two can play at this game!", I said, pulling my scarf tighter around my neck before making another snowball quickly
But before I can even throw it I got another hard throw from a distance and I noticed Mikey peeking from over a hill top, snickering with Donnie right beside him. But before I could even blink, I saw two snowballs go flying right towards them hitting them both in the faces, just a few seconds apart knocking them back. I looked over at the culprit and realized it was Calli and April laughing. "Score two for the girls back home!", Calli said, with her hands raised
"Yeah! Now make that three!", April said, sneaking one from behind her back hitting Calli in the shoulder
"Hey I thought we were a team!", Calli said, looking shocked
"Oh no girl, this time its a free for all!", she said, with a sinister look
She laughed but then a snowball hit her, making Ellie laugh in victory hiding behind a snow pile. "Got you Aunt April!", she called out
"Last turtle or human standing wins!", I said, throwing one hitting Calli again
"Oh its so on leader boy!", Calli said, running after me
I took off running laughing as she chased me with a growl. Each one of us were pelting snowballs at each other in different directions, it was hard to tell on who was trying to hit who. But all I know is that we were getting pelted. Donnie got Mikey pretty good with a double sneak attack, when one snowball missed the other one got him in the back of the head. Casey snuck up behind April with one of the sleds that was used in the race and dumped a big pile on top of her, causing her to shriek than tackle him to the ground shoving snow down his coat. I saw my revenge in my sights as I saw Calli was being distracted by taking on Raph and I smirked seeing the plan was starting to fall into place, as I kept sneaking closer and closer towards her. But as I was about to make my way into the open, Mikey and Donnie started to pelt close towards me as they were trying to hit Ellie. I took the chance as they were making more snowballs and I ran towards my daughter as they readied to throw once more. "Daddy, help me! I am being attacked!", she said, laughing
"Not this time baby girl, you are my shield!", I said, grabbing her by her coat
She shrieked as I held her out in front of me shielding myself from any snowballs that were coming flying towards me as Ellie shrieked and laughed taking a few for me. Making it into the clear, I set her down as she growled at me wiping some snow off from my eyes. "Hey that's cheating Daddy!", she said
"It is a free for all snowball fight sweetie, don't worry you will get me back", I said, with a chuckle rubbing her head free of snow
I looked back towards Calli and I saw her shell was facing towards me and I quietly snuck closer and closer, till I was a few feet away. She was still distracted by the others throwing snowballs at her that she didn't even realized I was behind her and would await her. Sneaking closer, I was now only a few inches behind her and I gave a quick thumbs up to the others as they began to snicker, making Calli look confused. "What?-", she said
But before she could say anything else I grabbed her by the waist throwing her over my shoulder as I ran across the snow with her shrieking and punching my shell with her fists. I could hear the others laughing from the distance. "Hey you put me down!", she said, struggling to get out of my grasp
But I wasn't letting go as I ran towards the huge snow pile a few feet away and she began to scream looking where I was running to and she struggled even more. Almost there I pulled her down towards my chest and leapt right for the pile, where we both became buried deep with snow falling on top of us and sticking on to our clothes. "Leo!", she said, shaking some snow from her face "What am I? A cushion for you falling on me?"
"You got to watch your shell when it comes to a free for all snowball fight", I said, with a smirk and chuckle
"And I thought you would never do such a thing to your wife", she said, in a playful dramatic voice
"I love you baby girl", I said, kissing her snout
She smushed some snow into my face, making me grunt before she let out a giggle and kissing my snout in return. "I love you too handsome", she said, with a smile
I climbed off of her as she sat up shaking more snow off of herself, as I helped her to her feet. "Alright now since we literally pelted the life out of each other with snowballs", she said, with a giggle "Who wants to head back to the farmhouse for some hot chocolate?"
"I do, I am freezing!", Donnie said, adjusting his hat on his head
"Me too, I think I got snow down my shell", Mikey said, shivering and shaking side to side
We started to make our way back from the woods back to the farmhouse and were greeted with a warm inviting fire lit in the fireplace made by Splinter as he was adding more wood to the fire. We got settled in the living room, while I prepared some hot chocolate on the stove top. Leo and Raph were getting comfortable underneath some thick blankets while Mikey and Ellie were roasting marshmallows over the fire. "Now that was fun", Donnie said
"Yeah I will admit it was, though we didn't get our revenge on you for your little stunt you pulled on us on Christmas", Raph said, with a little bit of annoyed look at the end
"What can I say? I am just that good", Donnie said, resting his arms behind his head on the floor with a cocky grin
I giggled as I came in with a full tray of mugs of steaming hot chocolate with a small bowl of mini marshmallows on the side. "I found this day to be incredibly a delight, you know I really do love it when these moments come along, where we get to spend holidays and special events together", I said, as I set the tray down on the coffee table and everyone and myself took a mug "It really makes special moments that we will all remember as a family"
"I second that", Mikey said "If we only could do more, only this time in public without having to hide"
"Yeah that will be the day when we actually can walk with people without being called freaks or becoming deaf from screams", Raph said, taking a sip from his mug
"Who knows Raph? Maybe one day it will just happen", I said, as Leo sat down by side on the love seat pulling me closer "I mean if I could understand and accept you, maybe more people just might too"
"She is right, if she and then Casey and I could accept you, maybe more might following behind", April said, looking towards Casey who gave her a smile "You never know when you might meet someone who just might have a different point of view, you know not everyone thinks the same"
"You both hold very strong points in your statements", Splinter said, as he sat in lotus position near the fire "I always had a thought of how the humans above would never come to understand how the mutagen has come to create us into very unique beings. I always feared that if we were to be discovered my worst nightmares would come alive and I would not only lose my home, but my sons and my life. They were all that I had left after my world had crumpled around me after fleeing to America from Japan after my final battle with the Shredder. But upon meeting Callista after her encounter with Leonardo, I realized that some of my fears were overturned. Even when I thought that those who might of been our ally's would of never understand, could somehow see past our images and see for who we really are, and she did"
Splinter smiled towards me and I gave a nod with one in return. "Of course, as my father once told me you should never judge ones image, after all you never know you might just be judged yourself", I said, before turning my head towards Leo "I knew there was goodness in Leo right when I met him and it look where it lead us"
He gave me a warm smile and we snuggled close, letting out low churrs of happiness, nuzzling our heads together. "That's how I view people too, don't judge a book by its cover", April said
"Well you did kind of freaked out when you first saw us April and you Casey nearly beat Raph to death", Donnie said, with a chuckle
"Hey its not often you wake up with two turtles staring down at you after being knocked out cold after falling through a manhole", April said, with a smirk and cocked eyebrow
"Yeah and I didn't know he was a Purple Dragon, I just thought he was one of them dressed up for Halloween!", Casey said
"You are lucky you didn't get a hold of my head, otherwise I would of had to bap you a good hard one", Raph said, smirking towards him
"Like you could Shell for Brains!", he said
"Why I oughta-", Raph said, about to get up after him till Leo pulled him back by the forearm to sit back down "I will get you later for that one"
"But all in all, we still managed to see past everything and come to realize what great individuals you all were and we are even closer now than the day we all met", I said, with a smile "And that's something to be thankful for and proud of"
"You are right sissy, we are one crazy but pretty cool family", Mikey said
"Crazy, but in a good way, wouldn't change one thing about it", I said
"Well except maybe Mikey's strange eating habits", Leo said, snickering "That I can live without"
"Hey!", he said, with an annoyed look
We all just started to laugh as I held up my mug in the air. "To our family!", I said
"To our family", we said, as we clung our mugs together before taking a sip
Over the next couple of hours we were enjoying each others company while in front of the toasty fire. Telling stories of the olden days having a few good laughs and watching Mikey trying to juggle marshmallows and Ellie catching them in her mouth. Time was going by fast, I guess that's what happens when you are having a good time with family. Looking at the clock I could see it was 11:55, only about five more minutes to spare. Suddenly I heard a shot ring outside and April looked over from the second floor. "Guys! Hurry come on!", she said
We rushed upstairs to get onto the outside deck, with Donnie and Raph climbing on top of the rooftop. "Oh this is going to be sweet!", Ellie said, as she was sitting on top of Raph's shoulders
"Only thirty more seconds!", Donnie called out
"Come on! Come on! Let's start a brand new year!", Mikey said
"10 seconds!", Casey said
Now we started the rest of the countdown. 5...4...3...2...1! Finally it had turned midnight, it was now a brand new year! "Happy New Year!", we all cheered
"Goodbye 2019! Hello 2020!", Mikey cheered
Fireworks started going off in the air lighting up the sky in beautiful colors before disappearing but quickly being replaced by more enough to light up the forest near by. "Hey its New Years, aren't you suppose to kiss her?", Raph asked, teasing Leo nudging him in the shoulder
He blushed madly but I giggled turning his face towards me with a smile. He slowly started to smile and he brought me into a deep passionate kiss with us hugging each other in a tight embrace. The sound of fireworks and everyone's cheering only sounded muffled in my ears as Leo and I continued our kiss. I can't believe it that we are going to be starting another new year together as husband and wife. Our love has been strong for eight years and now it is only getting stronger with this new year, awaiting us with new adventures and new memories that we will create as a couple and as a family. I know by heart that each year that I will spend with Leo and my family is only going to get better and that we will continue on with our journey of being the heroes of New York and who knows maybe someday we will all be accepted by the humans above and we can enjoy things like this out in public without having to be afraid. Maybe they will see us how I saw them But for now, everything was perfect and I couldn't be more blessed with what life has given me. A family, friends and a bright promising future ahead.