ANYBODY UP FOR SOME FEELSY, FLUFFY APRITELLO? Soak in the cosy sap, guys, 'cause next time we post... SHIT GOING DOWN AT CHEZ SHREDDER.

Of course as always, biggest thank yous to our betas Queequegg and Theherocomplex!


Whatever Dad and Master Splinter had been chatting about that evening, it must've been pretty motivational. After sensei left, Dad seemed extra keen on listening to April's actual thoughts, and even though she always hated to be put on the couch by her psychologist father, this time she figured she should play along.

As they sat together by the aromatic leftovers of Splinter's genmaicha tea, she caught him up on this week's weirdness. They talked about the future, and then about the future turtles, which he had trouble believing at first until she showed him some photographic evidence of yesterday's pizza party.

"I'll be darned," he uttered, his saucer-wide eyes making her giggle.

She told him about their mission to get Karai back, and he expressed his 'disapproval' of April getting involved in ninja feuds of all things—as if aliens weren't enough. He confessed the idea had crossed his mind about moving to the other side of the country, and she burst.

"No, Dad!" she exclaimed, springing to her feet, startling him. "You seem to have forgotten what our lives were like before the turtles. We were already a target of the Kraang even if we didn't know it at the time. I'm part Kraang! And they took Mom! And it wouldn't stop if we left New York. Any day they could be back. It's because of the turtles that we're the safest we can be. If it wasn't for them, you would still be the Kraang's prisoner, or mutated, and I would be their weapon of mass destruction, and the whole world would be another Dimension X by now!"

"I just want what's best for you," he said sadly. "It's very hard for me to see you jumping into the fray, risking your life out there, not knowing if you'll come back."

The helplessness in her dad's eyes almost broke her, and she came close to giving in. She swallowed it down, and forced herself to keep at it.

"If I said I wanted to, I dunno, join the army," she said in a moment of inspiration, "no one could hold it against me, not even you. Because I'd be risking my life for our country. Well, I want to risk my life for New York, and for the world. I'm one of the turtles now. There's a lot I can do. Dad, I have superpowers." She heaved her hands up in the air as though she were holding fire. "There's no escaping this part of me."

Her father twisted his lips into a sour-sweet smile. "I was afraid of that. But… I understand. You should choose your own path. Or, I guess you already have."

"Yeah," she said, soft but determined. Then her dad surprised her by rising to his feet to meet her in a long, tight, teary hug.

She promised to have dinner with him the next day so he could wish her good luck, and that night, for the first time in weeks, he slept like a baby. And so did she.

It was Sunday, but she was already up way before morning cartoons, getting ready for the day ahead in front of the bathroom mirror. She felt energized, brimming with a sense of purpose and fulfillment, as though she'd just nailed a hundred exams.

She'd spoken her mind to her dad, aired out the laundry. And it felt good.

Of course, she'd left the part about Donnie and her for another time. She figured he'd had enough to last him a few weeks. If all went well and she and Donnie ended up… Well, she'd tell him then, obviously.

A bubbly tingle spread through her core. It was a big day indeed. She wouldn't just be facing Shredder alongside the turtles that day; she would also be facing Donnie, heart on her sleeve, her feelings out in the open for him to see. She couldn't tell which made her more nervous. Whatever happened that day, it was bound to be life changing. Actually, she already felt different.

She paused the brushing of her hair to crack a smile at her reflection, and decided to finish pumping herself up by putting on some kunoichi-proof eyeliner, same brand as Karai. Today certainly called for the heavy duty stuff. They'd bought this one months ago on one of their outings.

Once done, she stared far off into the mirror, past her own face, as her mind wandered. Karai'd been ready to be better, she'd wanted to move on from her past. She had told April that much. Just like April, she was looking for her place in the world. There was hope for her. They could still bring her back. She just needed to feel like she belonged. April could totally help with that.

Not that her powers included divination, but something told her the Lotus wouldn't make their appearance until the very last moment. This could mean waiting until 11pm when sensei Leo would call it and they'd start the mission without the Lotus, so that the future turtles could still catch their wormhole back to their time, before it flew off into space for… another ten years, Future Donnie said? Anyway, a few hours of waiting around was okay, if it meant she had a chance to catch Donnie alone.

As she made to leave, she caught sight of the purple strand peeking behind her ear. She quickly french braided her side as tidily as she knew how so it was visible, and let the rest down, but still remembered to put a hair band in her backpack along with her brand new kunoichi armor and her tessen.

She nodded at the finished look—it'll do—and shot out the door.


Upon arrival, April met Leo first. Even now, she was prepared for him to pull her aside at the last minute and tell her she couldn't go—that it was too dangerous for her.

But Leo welcomed her with a "Ready for tonight?"

Pumped, she replied, "You better believe it, Leo." And she threw herself at him in a tight hug. Then she hugged Raph, who was passing by.

"Dafuq did you have for breakfast?" he grumbled, and topped it off with a hearty noogie, which April took to mean they were okay. She couldn't wait for him to see her with Donnie.

Despite the relatively upbeat mood, April's head still rang with the combined nerves of all her turtle brothers, past and present, as the hour drew near and there was no sign of Karai or Hachisu-no-Hana's clan. The Foot had been eerily quiet these days as well.

They waited, looking for ways to pass the time, each dealing with their stress in their own way. The Donnies constantly went over the schematics, and triple checked the Shellraiser with Future Raph lazily assisting. Leo and Leo disappeared for hours inside the dojo with Splinter. Judging from the smell of incense emanating through the paper panels, they were likely meditating—though April had to wonder how effective that was, with all the noise of pinball machines and video game tournaments and the occasional brawl.

April herself bounced from place to place, spending time with each of them. Maybe she should've been studying, but who had time for school today? She was way too busy being both impatient with the elusive Lotus, and nervous about the moment she found herself alone with Donnie.

After lunch, while the Donnies worked on who knew what else, and in an attempt to evade her troubling ruminations, she joined in a game of ninja catch with Present Casey and the Mikeys—Future Raph and benched Future Casey watching and cheering from the sitting area.

She and Future Mikey were unstoppable, winning several matches in a row, which did not sit well with Present Casey. They called 'half-time', and after a pee-break, they showed up with a few surprise cheats.

"Goongala!" Casey shouted as he jumped to avoid April's hand, and a second later she was blinded by a facefull of smoke.

"Casey, what the hell! Those smoke bombs are for the mission!" she yelled, desperately trying to fan the dark fog away.

But it was several bombs more before they eventually listened, so now they'd have to make more.

Donnie, after giving them a minor scolding, declared it safer to just do it himself. If she knew Donnie, he was probably just glad for the added distraction.

This was her chance. April quickly volunteered to help before anyone else could.

She'd spent the whole day in the lair, and somehow she'd still managed to run out of time to talk to Donnie alone. The delicate work of drilling holes in the eggs, emptying the shells, then funnelling the volatile flash powder into the tiny holes, meant there was barely any talking. By the time they were almost done, it was already 5pm, and soon she'd have to go home to dinner with her dad.

At last, all that was left to do was to seal the smoke bombs. She paused her work to pensively turn one in her hand, taking a sip from her coffee mug. Such a simple thing, and yet it had saved their hides so many times.

The clock still ticked persistently at the back of her mind, urging her to just get on with it and talk to Donnie. "So... tonight's the night. What are our odds?" she asked, grabbing the next bomb.

Donnie shrugged noncommittally. "You know… As good as they always are."

There usually wasn't much talking in the lair before the big missions beyond plans and tactics. The possibility that not everybody might make it back was there every time, looming above them during the hours leading up to the moment of truth, when they walked out those turnstiles together. They didn't need to say it.

On the desk were the blueprints of the Foot lair, covered in the Future Turtles' annotations. She skimmed through them pensively.

"I think they're better," she said then. "The odds, I mean."

He gazed at her, looking pleasantly surprised. "Feeling optimistic?"

She nodded decisively. "Yep. We're ready. We got a few tricks up our sleeves." She tipped her head towards the common room, where they could hear a renewed uproar from some game the others must have been playing.

He agreed, and she was happy to notice he looked lighter, infected with some of the same positivity.

"Are you gonna miss having your future self around?"

"Yeah, it's been pretty incredible… But that's okay, because I have the world's best lab assistant and apprentice." He flicked his finger at her 'World's Best Lab Assistant' mug—plink—and winked, which riled up the butterflies in April's tummy. Now's the moment, they cried.

She gawked in a trance, working on her starting words, as Donnie carefully replaced the smoke bombs in their pouch.

"That's all of them, I think. Well done, team!"

Do it now! Tell him!

Tell him what?

"Earth to April? Don't leave me hangin'!"

"Wh— oh!" She promptly met Donnie's gloved high three.

"Alright!" he hollered with an additional fist pump, then turned to her with a curious quirk of his mouth. "So what's up?"

She floundered for a bit, then said nonchalantly, "Spaced out."

Donnie didn't press further, though he threw her a cheeky sideways frown as if to say he was onto her. When he turned away to clean up all the ninja bomb-making tools and vials, she growled silently at the air, and absent-mindedly started clearing away stuff as well.

How was she supposed to bring it up? Should she start by confessing she'd been going out with Casey? No! Dammit, what a way to set the mood for the rest of the conversation. Donnie, we need to talk. That sounded too ominous. Should she try to segue into it somehow? She eyed the music box sitting inconspicuously atop the closet behind some boxes and gadgets. Maybe she could start with that. Oh, hey, my music box! There it is! I thought I'd left it at the farm, isn't that hilarious? By the way, maybe you'd like to… go out sometime…

"Maybe we still have time to make some of the more sizzly type of smoke bombs," he said evilly, completely oblivious to her inner turmoil, holding up a flask full of a bright magenta fluid.

She pressed her eyes shut, biting back a groan, because as it turned out she was really bad at this. She kept thinking about all the ways she could screw it up forever. Who would've imagined it'd be this hard?

Come on, just do it, you doofus!

Do what?

Anything! You're running out of time!

Her phone beeped once. Twice. For a moment she thought that was it, they all had to go wage war on the Foot. But it was just her dad. She was running late already.

"Is it time for you to go?" Donnie asked.

"Almost," she whined. "That's okay, I can stay a few minutes. There's something…" She'd been this close, but now she'd lost her words.

Donnie looked at her, brow raised, and her heart started pounding.

Go! Just go!

She cleared her throat, floundering. "Donnie, there's something I…" Her palms were becoming sweaty. Their gazes locked, and she could tell he already knew something was up from that little wrinkle on his brow.

"What is it?" he asked worriedly, and in an effort to reassure him, she chuckled, and then dipped her head feeling very stupid.

She realized then that Donnie's apprehension was seeping in through the peephole of her mind. She shut it, took a deep breath, and straightened out to meet Donnie's alert eyes.

Tell him with a kiss.

Donnie gulped, his adam's apple bobbing up and down. She stepped closer, slowly... and all of a sudden he jerked and gasped. But not for the reason she first thought.

Apparently neither of them remembered the flask of dangerous irritant liquid currently in Donnie's hand. While he was distracted, it had slipped from his grip. He reached out to catch it, but only bumped it further up in the air.

"Look out!" Donnie cried.

April yelped as Donnie lunged for the flask, which flipped and wobbled in mid-air, two pairs of hands fumbling desperately after it, to no avail. April's fingers accidentally whipped it downwards, the flask hit the floor, shattering in a hundred pieces, splashing its contents upwards, and Donnie jolted.

"Ow, ow! It's in my eyes!" He ripped off his mask, pressing his palms to his face.

"Oh man, okay, let's get them washed! This way!"

Skirting around the shattered flask, April quickly took Donnie by the arm and led him to the sink like his seeing-eye dog. She let him rinse off as she rushed to the cabinet for a clean towel.

After a few seconds, Donnie closed the faucet and stood upright, blinking rapidly.

"Better?"

"Still stings a little, but I think I got it all out," he said, rubbing his eyes.

"Don't rub them!"

He put his hands up.

"Sit here, lemme take a look," she ordered, rolling up Donnie's chair.

"It's okay, I'm fine."

"Donnie, sit."

"Hey, you just sprinkled the equivalent of jalapeño juice in my eyes. You don't get to boss me around," he jested, but ultimately obeyed.

Smirking, she leaned in and started gently padding Donnie's eyes with the towel, turning his chin this way and that, while he docilely let his arms fall to his sides.

"This sort of thing happens all the time anyway. Just having my brothers around is a hazard."

"Sure you gonna be okay?"

"I've had worse things get in my eyes. Like Mikey's burps..."

"Ew." April giggled.

Since he was sitting, he was just below her eye level, which didn't happen all that often. The lab's lighting was optimal too, and without the ever-present purple mask, she was suddenly much more aware of Donnie's features and the little details she never really got to look at. Like the smooth skin around his eyes, his cheekbones, the wide line of his inhuman jaw. His eyes were a bit bigger than a human's, more widely set, and his irises looked almost red in this light, with that certain iridescence he and his brothers shared. The fold of skin on his upper eyelid hinted at that bit of Japanese DNA that was part of him. He's so pretty, she thought, as Donnie blinked sheepishly.

She realized she'd been staring, the towel in her fist forgotten, and quickly pulled back her hands.

"I don't see you without your mask all that often," she commented casually, though her face burned.

"It got stained, so I took it off," he mumbled, pointing his thumb behind him at the discarded piece of cloth lying on the floor among a puddle of magenta liquid and shards of glass.

She fidgeted with the washcloth, folding it too many ways. "How are your eyes?"

"Better now," he replied cheerfully, offering her a grateful smile. "Thanks, April!"

"You're welcome, D." She took his two squishy cheeks in her hands and bent forward to plant a kiss on his forehead, relishing the resulting warmth on Donnie's face, even with his eyes still watery and squinted.

She'd only now realised just how close they were. The silence stretched, and her hands were still on his face. Donnie had gone very quiet and very still, and she noticed tension in his shoulders. Like he was expecting something.

It was happening. This time for sure. Feeling as though her heart was ricocheting off the walls of her ribcage, she started shaking slightly. She didn't want him to notice. But it was probably too late for that.

Screw it.

She dove, slowly but surely closing the distance between them until her lips met his. He gasped through his nose, letting out a little sound of surprise. She made it gentle. Short and sweet. An opening statement. Then she pulled back to look at the results.

Donnie was frozen, his eyes wide-shot, nostrils flared. Her heart gave a flutter at his adorable expression of shock, and she chuckled under her breath. Wetting her lips, she tasted a hint of coffee, salt, and him. The flavor was oddly familiar, as though they'd done this many times before. It felt right. Somehow.

She was back at the farmhouse, assaulted by the ghost of a hundred flowery smells, and the rustle of tree leaves in the breeze.

She wanted more, and leaned in for seconds.

But the moment she did, he recoiled out of her hands.

She stared, askance, but his eyes evaded hers now, shell pressed against the back of his seat. Then, he chuckled. But it was a humorless chuckle, laced with anxiety. Turning his chair away, he sprung to his feet, and took a few steps back from her, and all the while she stood there, shock-addled, not knowing what to do but to watch his awkward smile give way to a look of consternation.

"W-What are you doing, April?" he stuttered finally, and in his voice there was exasperation. For a second she thought maybe she'd gotten Present and Future Donatello mixed up. But no.

Her stomach dropped, and the excited quiver turned into a debilitating tremble that ran all up and down her body. What was happening? The only thing that came to mind was that she was wrong all along, and he didn't want her after all. She felt so stupid.

"I thought we'd be done with this," Donnie said to his feet. "April, you don't have to do that if you don't mean it."

She frowned in puzzlement, trying to understand. "What? What makes you think I didn't mean it?"

Donnie seemed to hesitate for a moment. Then he took a deep breath and, still not looking at her, said, "Raph told me about you and Casey, okay?"

April inhaled deeply, and buried her face in her palms. "Uuuugh, Raph…Why'd you have to say anything?"

"Someone had to."

She lifted her gaze, and momentarily met his, hesitating at the severity of it. "I—I was going to!"

At that he merely pressed his lips.

"I was! Listen, this thing with Casey didn't go anywhere," she tried to explain, but Donnie looked unconvinced. "You don't believe me?"

He ducked his head again, as though he didn't actually want to confront her. "It's not that," he said, but April had a feeling it was at least a little bit of that.

He didn't believe her. Donnie didn't believe her!

"It's just… Why didn't you tell me?" he went on. "You thought I couldn't handle it? Thought I'd… punch Casey or something? Like Raph? Raph thought so."

April vehemently shook her head. "No! That wasn't why!"

"Well, I hope so, because I was doing fine. We were doing perfectly fine," he said with a wide motion of his arms.

This had taken a turn. How could it have gone so wrong? How could she have been so clumsy? She should've planned this out better. Donnie looked at her like… He'd never looked at her this way. Just disappointed.

"Look, just… Don't do it again. Please." His voice was beaten, but stern.

"There's an explanation. I wanted to tell you."

He shut his eyes, shook his head. "I'm sorry, April, but I'm done with this game. You're my friend. And Casey's my friend, and I don't need the pity kisses. I'm doing fine, I promise. What's more, I don't really like you that way anymore, so... It's all good. You know, it's better this way," he said like that was good news, and for a second there she actually bought it. And man, that depth bomb hit her hard.

Her phone rang its familiar polytune, but she barely registered it until Donnie pointed at it with his eyes, and said, "You better go. I'll clean this up."

Her throat burned. Why did everything have to be so hard? In the cocktail of things she was currently feeling, anger finally made its appearance, and she welcomed it, and took it by the hand. Anger was always easier. Easier than sorrow, and much easier than shame. She had never felt like this.

Aching, she watched Donnie turn his back to her and get to work picking up the pieces of broken flask. She'd wanted to tell him everything that she felt. She'd been so keen. But it just didn't seem right now. The moment was ruined. Totalled. And she knew she could probably make it a lot worse now; her bad temper was, after all, only second to Raph's. It was best she let the whole thing cool.

Her phone started ringing and vibrating again, unrelenting. She smacked her pocket in rage—shut up—then swivelled around, picked up her bag, and stormed off. On her way out, she pulled a little too hard on the door and it rolled shut with a deafening metallic bang that hurts her ears. Behind her, there was a burst of grunts and oofs and cries of surprise, and she turned.

Oops.

Several pairs of eyes ogled at her from within a pile of turtle shells and limbs, all tangled up together on the floor one on top of the other. Beneath them, a custom giant Twister mat.

"Hey," she managed, but failed to hide the turmoil in her voice, and they all looked at her askew. "I gotta go. See you guys in a while."

Before she turned, she met eyes with Future Donnie, currently sandwiched like a patty between Future Raph, Future Mikey, Casey and Raph. She rushed towards the turnstiles.

But before she made it, and after another bout of grunts and complaints, a set of footsteps quickly caught up to her.

It was Future Donnie. "Hey, is… is everything alright?"

She shrugged, feigning confusion, unsure as to how to talk to him. "Yeah?"

But he wasn't fooled. "Okay, what happened? What did he do?"

This time, April was actually a little taken aback. She was the one who messed up, not Donnie. But she didn't feel at all like explaining, and stepped through the turnstiles. "He didn't do anything. I just gotta go."

But Future Donnie jumped over the turnstiles and chased after her. "I've known you for twelve years, April. I think I can tell when you're upset."

April stopped in her tracks.

Twelve years. Wow. She'd kinda forgotten how much set their two universes apart. And now Future April was gone.

She looked up—way up—at Future Donnie, and just saw her Donnie. A little bigger, a little bit more cynical, but still so very much Donnie. And then she thought of Future April, and everything she'd heard from Future Casey.

"I think I figured it out," she said. "I think you stopped trusting me. No wonder. I messed up."

On his face, a sudden desperation, like he wanted to protest or deny it. But he didn't.

In her heart she knew she was right. It wasn't just what or who she chose. It was that, for all intents and purposes, she'd lied. She'd failed him. It was that Donnie decided it was best not to fully trust her anymore. She hadn't realized how much she took that trust for granted.

Her phone started ringing again, and she grunted.

"Sorry, I'll… I'll see you later," she muttered to Future Donnie, who stared back, but didn't follow as she picked up the call and broke to a brisk jog through the tunnels. "Sorry, dad. No, I'm okay. I'm on my way."


The lab doors opened again with a screech. Donnie stopped wiping the effervescent mess on the floor and pulled up his goggles, thinking April was probably back with a mouthful. But it wasn't April at all.

"What happened?" Future Donatello demanded.

"I got some irritant liquid in my eyes, but no biggie," he replied flatly.

But Future Donatello clucked his tongue. "What happened with April? What did you say to her?"

Donnie twisted his face, annoyed and reluctant. "Um—"

His future double interrupted him. "Let me guess. April tried something, and you were a jerk to her."

"I wasn't a j— Hey, were you spying—?"

"I don't need to spy. I know me," he said, apparently accusing him of being exactly like him. He stomped towards him and Donnie got up to meet him with a defying scowl. "I knew what had happened as soon as I saw the look on April's face. So what did you do?"

"Hey, she kissed me!" he retorted defensively. "Out of the blue! When she's dating Casey! How am I supposed to take that? I just told her not to do it again, and that I was done with all that. And then I kindly asked her to leave. She had to go anyway. Hopefully that's that, and we can ignore it even happened."

But his future self didn't seem to find that acceptable. "Oh, just perfect! You know, we were always morons when it came to April, but this must be a new record. Somehow, we've accelerated the process. I guess it takes two Donnies to screw things up twice as quickly."

"What are you talking about?" Donnie said. In the pause that followed, icy dread flooded his gut. He'd avoided asking, but there was only so much he could do to ignore that huge mammoth in the room. "What happened with your April?"

"All you need to know is I've never regretted anything as much as I regret making her leave, and now it's happening again."

"April left? Like… for good?"

Future Donatello's voice deflated. "April's been gone for two years. And I don't mean just away. I mean… gone. Gone from my life. From our lives. And it was all on me."

Donnie was officially scared now. "How… how did that happen! April and I are friends!"

"But it's never been that simple, has it?"

Donnie turned his eyes to the puddle on the floor, wringing his gloved hands. "But she's not gonna leave just because I told her off once… Is she?"

"Of course not, but that's where it all starts."

"Well, enlighten me! I know, 'no spoilers', but you gotta at least give me something to work with here!"

His older self seemed to ponder for a bit, rubbing his neck. "April and I… It's always been great, but… complicated. She'd try something, every once in a while. But I never really believed her. I was afraid, if we ever… That it wouldn't work out, or worse, that she didn't really mean it. Or that she'd realise she needed something better. And then I'd lose her for real. So I thought, if I just ignored it… That it would go away, and it'd be better in the long run. But it turns out you can't just act like something didn't happen. Because it did happen. And you can't hope you'll both just forget about it, because you clearly won't. You leave it in there, it's gonna fester." He jabbed a finger at Donnie's plastron.

Donnie had to wonder if he'd gotten all that from a chat with Future Leo. Maybe Mikey. He was never this dramatic! But he was probably right, though. He remembered that kiss at the farmhouse like it had been five minutes ago. How could he not? No matter how hard he tried to act like it didn't happen, it was still embedded in him. Did April think about it too? Would he ever find out what the hell that had been about?

Probably not, unless you confront her about it, he answered himself, which was presumably Future Donnie's whole point.

"Last holidays, when she came to visit, we… we were a little tipsy, and I'd missed her so much. We ended up fooling around at her and Casey's old place," Future Donnie said bashfully, a twinkle in his eye. Then he shook his head. "But then reality came crashing down on me. I couldn't bear to gain something great, only to lose it. I couldn't deal with it anymore, and I told her that if it was always gonna hurt like this…" He sighed. "I said, 'maybe it would be easier if we just didn't see each other again'."

Donnie was stunned into silence. How could he have said that? How? And here he was giving him a hard time!

"She ended up agreeing, and we're keeping our word so far. She's moved on. And I'm..." he trailed off, downcast.

Donnie gawked in disbelief, grabbing his own head. That's why Future April didn't come through the portal! Future Donnie had pretty much kicked her out of their lives! He retreated into his chair, trying to piece his thoughts together. He was already mixing up present and future. What was she trying to do just earlier? Was his future self right, and did he jeopardize their friendship in ways he still didn't understand? How could it have gone so wrong? Was it too late?

"Listen to me, Donatello," his own voice said above him, like his conscience, pulling him out of his panic spiral. "April may be confusing at times, and frustrating. Believe me, I know. She doesn't let on much with certain things. But never turn your back on her, not even for a stupid tiff. I made that mistake and it cost us everything. Look, maybe she's with Casey, or maybe she isn't. She was with Casey in our timeline too, and then she wasn't, and there were reasons for that. And maybe she goes to work abroad, whatever! But for the love of Asimov, you can't let any of that ruin it." Then he snatched the arms of Donnie's chair. "You have to fix this, quickly."

Donnie babbled. "I… I'm not even sure what I… There are so many variables. I feel like a flow-chart doesn't cut it anymore."

"No time for flowcharts, just don't let her sit on today! Maybe you can catch up to her before she gets home." He got behind Donnie and budged his shell out of the chair.

"Now? And tell her what?"

"Just… talk to her. Just never stop talking. Or not never, like not all the time, I mean— well, you know what I mean! Go!"

He fumbled. "Okay… okay, I'll go after her and… talk, I guess… Yeah, I'll go talk to her. Okay." He threw his goggles and gloves on the desk and, still maskless, rushed out the door together with his future self.

Outside, the guys' big Twister pile plummeted to the ground like a mined mountain caving in on itself.

"What's up, double D?" Present Mikey grunted from the bottom of the heap.

"I gotta go! Be right back!" Donnie announced, already panting.

Young Leo, who seemed to have been playing the role of referee, straightened up on his knee pads. "Where are you going? It's still light out!"

Donnie halted in his tracks, and after a couple seconds' thought, twirled back around. "Big Mikey! Is your hoodie big enough for a turtle?"

"Plus-plus, bro!" Big Mikey declared cheerfully from the top of the heap, yanking it off his waist, balling it up and throwing it at him.

"Here, take my sweatpants too! Elastic action!" said Future Casey, the only one watching from the benches, and promptly started wiggling out of his bottoms, one-handed, then ran them to him in his boxers as if nothing made him happier than being half naked in the middle of the common room.

"Uh, thanks." Donnie heaved on the hoodie and squeezed his monstrous feet through the elastics with the help of his future self, who was dancing on his feet like the floor was magma, looking anxious as much as thrilled.

Even without a mirror Donnie could tell he looked ridiculous—and the looks from the guys confirmed it—but at least he didn't look like a giant humanoid turtle. Much.

Future Donatello clutched his shoulders. "Make us look good for once."

A thought occurred, and Donnie shot an uncertain glance at Present Casey. Casey looked blankly back at him from under Future Leo's armpit for a moment before shooing him with a handwave. "Well, go get her, dude!"

After that, Donnie felt himself swell. "Yeah. Yeah, okay," he mumbled breathlessly, pulling down on the tight crotch, then broke to a sprint.

"What's going on? Where's he going?" Leo's voice said again.

Donnie cringed as Future Casey's voice started, "Well…"


Donnie had to really haul ass to catch up to April. Luckily she was easy to spot, especially to Donnie. Her bright orange hair and yellow jacket stood out in the crowd two blocks ahead. Quickly he lept from rooftop to rooftop, past her, then descended onto the alley to wait for her.

"Psst! April!"

April's boots scraped the ground as she swivelled, hand on her tessen. He pulled his hood back a tad.

"Donnie?"

He grabbed her hand and pulled her into the shadowy alley, looking around to check that he hadn't been seen.

"What are you doing? You could be seen!" Her mouth twisted. "What are you wearing?"

"I, um… I wanted to talk to you."

He could never interpret her face for the life of him. Her brow was raised and slightly wrinkled, her voice thin when she said, "Oh?"

He fidgeted. "Let's see, where do I begin? Please don't leave us! I'm sorry, that sounded needy. You're free to leave, obviously. What I mean is— I— We would really miss you, and— Well, you know what, that shouldn't matter. Y-you should go and live your life, just as long as we remain friends—"

"Donnie, Donnie! Back up! What are you talking about?" she said, hands on her hips.

"Right, what I meant to say is… What happened before—I'm sorry."

"Oh, what are you apologizing for?"

He winced at her exasperation. "I didn't mean to be a jerk. It's just…"

"Donnie…"

"Please, just hear me out. I have to say this. I know I've been… a little annoying in the past. I was a dork, and a little inappropriate… And I know I made things uncomfortable sometimes. But that's because, you know..."

At his hesitation, April opened her mouth again, but Donnie stopped her, remembering Future Donnie's warning. He had to say this now or he might never say it.

"I didn't mean to make you feel sorry for me, or that it was all that important to me, or like I'm angry or something, because of Casey, and what Raph said… I'm rambling." He shook his hands, pausing to catch his breath, reorganize his words. "I just, I want you to know that no matter what, you're my friend, first of all. You're more than that, you're family. The other stuff…" He shrugged. "That's not important. Just as long as you remain my best friend. I just hope you'll always hang out, and be the best lab assistant ever, and… yeah. I just wanted t-to make that clear."

He released a breath, and with it a ton off his chest. Then he braced for April's reaction.

At least her gentle smile wasn't a bad sign. "Are you done?"

"Uh… I mean, I think so…Did I leave something out?"

"No, it looks like you covered everything. So is it my turn?"

Donnie shrunk in anticipation, but nodded.

"First of all," she began, "who says I'm leaving?"

"Well—" He jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Future Donatello told me what happened in their timeline, and…"

"Okay, well, Future Donatello doesn't know everything."

Donnie blinked. "But Future April…"

"...is a whole other person, and I wholeheartedly disagree with her choices."

He closed his mouth and lifted his brow.

"And second of all—let's see, how can I get this through to you?" She took a step towards him and gripped the sides of his arms as if she were afraid he'd float off. "You. Have. Nothing. To apologize for."

He frowned, humming. "Are you sure? That doesn't sound right."

She chuckled, and the sound, and her smile, even more than her words, were like a balm to his every being. "I'm not mad at you, Donnie. You've been nothing but good to me. I'm mad at myself."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a huge klutz. I swear, I have no idea what I'm doing. Being a kunoichi and facing death... That's easy. No problem. But it's the little things—knowing what I want, speaking my mind, being honest, even to myself. I'm not great with… emotions."

He grimaced in disbelief, and she scoffed ironically in response.

"I know, but it's the truth. I may be able to feel other people's feelings, but I don't know how to... deal with them. And I know I've hurt others because of that. I know because I can feel it. I just don't know how to fix it. Half the time I don't understand my own feelings, let alone others'!" she protested at the sky. "I'm sorry I wasn't entirely honest, Donnie. I was so scared that no matter what I chose, or didn't choose, one way or the other, I'd lose you guys."

"That's impossible," he promised, and she offered a smile as thanks.

"But I wanna make it better. I wanna be straight with you."

Here she paused, as if to gather herself. Donnie waited on bated breath.

"I think I know what I want now. I thought a little bit about it, and a normal life is totally overrated. I wanna be a kunoichi of the Hamato clan. I wanna finish my training, and you really inspired me to learn to harness my powers."

A wonderful feeling of relief and endless potential washed over Donnie. "Really?"

She told him about Master Splinter's visit to her home the previous night, and the following chat with her father, how she had stood up to him, and spoken her mind, and Kirby had finally realized that this is where she belonged.

"That's amazing!" he cried out, and slapped a hand to his mouth as one of the passers-by on the adjacent street turned to look into their alley. Fortunately, they didn't pay a second glance and kept going, but he still plucked his hoodie down to hide his face. "That's so great, April, you have no idea how happy that makes me." He gushed.

"It's a step forward, at least," she said, mirroring his ear-to-ear grin. "We should've talked ages ago."

"Yeah… Hey, so…" He steeled himself. "While we're all being honest, can I ask you something?" It had been at the front of his mind since he went out in search of April. He didn't want to let the opportunity pass, while he still had his courage. He swallowed, and cleared his throat. "W-Why did you kiss me?"

April's expression changed, drooped, her smile turning sober. "Why do you think, Donnie?"

"Uh." A hundred possibilities manifested in his mind: because it's your way of rewarding me; because you felt sorry for me and this was a consolation prize; maybe because you just like to play with boys like that; or maybe...

She rolled her eyes. "Because I really wanted to, believe it or not."

"But at the farmhouse… And then y—you didn't..."

She bit her lip, troubled lines appearing on her freckled brow. "That time was also because I wanted to. I promise. It just kinda… came out. But I guess it wasn't the right timing. I was just not ready for anything more. I probably shouldn't have kissed you then. That whole thing must have been just confusing."

"A lil' bit, yeah…" he admitted apologetically, fumbling with his fingers. "I'm… I'm still a little confused. Actually, I experience confusion often. Around you."

She ducked her head in shame, but then her mouth became a determined line. "Okay. Here's the rundown."

Donnie shifted on his feet, his heart like a jackhammer.

"Like you said, we're friends, first of all. But also something else. Never knew what exactly. But you've been in my mind a lot lately, you know… That way."

He pressed the tip of his forefinger to his plastron in a silent, "Me?"

"Yeah." She dipped her chin, looking up at him through her lashes. "For some time, actually."

Donnie's mouth moved and grasped for words, but he was mute. He felt a little dazed, like he was looking at the scene through a misty window, while wearing earmuffs.

"I mean, we probably still have a lot to figure out, but I think I'm ready now. To be something more than… something else. If you want."

Somebody pinch me. Somebody please hit me with high voltage shock and wake me up from this wonderful, cruel dream. This can't be real.

His mouth tugged at the corners, before it slipped back down. "What about Casey?"

She gave a wry nose chuckle that surprised him. "Casey and I went out once. And I think he'll agree, that didn't work out."

"Oh. Is—is he alright?"

"I'm sure he's fine," she said through a cheeky smirk.

Casey sure looked fine today. In fact, up to just a few minutes ago, he was convinced his new relationship with April was the reason. He remembered Casey's words of 'go get her'. Had that been his official blessing?

"So… What do you say?"

He fumbled for his voice, while trying not to be too zealous. Would that just scare her off? They were so close. He better not ruin it now. "Um—yeah, I...yeah!"

She must've misinterpreted it for doubt, because she gave a self-deprecating snicker. "I don't blame you for doubting me."

It caught him off guard, and he didn't correct her on time.

"We don't have to do anything right now," she went on, as though negotiating. "We can take it easy. Give you time to… think about it, and be sure."

"Yeah, okay," he vaguely agreed.

"God knows I took my time."

He laughed awkwardly with her, not knowing what to say. They spent a few seconds bobbing their heads like one of those stupid toys people put in the dashboard of their cars.

Did he have doubts? Was it possible that this could go terribly wrong, and do irreparable damage to their friendship? Would it be easier, safer, to just stay friends? He gasped inwardly: what would Mr. O'Neil say?

"What a place we chose for this, huh," she jested suddenly, looking around. "And here I was looking for the right moment."

"Yeah," he admitted, grimacing at all the garbage and mysterious puddles surrounding them. The smell wasn't what you'd call romantic either. Here it was, the moment he'd been dreaming of for two years, and he chose this dump. "Aw, man…" He face-palmed, thinking about how disappointed his older self would be when he found out.

But April laughed, and pulled his hand away from his face. "It's okay, Donnie. I think it's hilarious. I'm glad you came after me."

He let out a wistful sigh. "Me too."

"So… Walk me home?"

Donnie stared at her offered hand in wonder. "But…" he said, gesturing at himself.

"Come on, it's almost dark, and you're wearing clothes. Are those Casey's, by the way?" she added, pointing at his lower half.

"Oh, Future Casey's actually. And this is Future Mikey's hoodie. They were… very supportive."

"Looks good on ya."

"Yeah, right."

They laughed, leisurely this time.

"It's okay, Donnie. You just look like a gym jock dude who likes to wear his clothes real tight. We can risk it this one time."

She offered her hand again. He couldn't refuse it a second time, so he took it, and let himself be led out of that alley—so that technically she was walking him.

He'd never been so aware of his own two feet, huge and green and bare on the concrete, and of his hands, looking impossibly big in April's graceful pale grip. Luckily, though he looked hard, nobody else seemed to spare half a glance back. It was funny how much taller the buildings looked from down there, and how much smaller he felt, blending in with the crowd.

They talked all the way, though timidly. Something had shifted between them, and it was a little scary, but at the same time so very exciting. Halfway there, she started talking about the music box that he'd made her once upon a time, and the sole mention of it made him queasy. But as April went on, it turned out the story was quite different than what he thought he knew.

"I thought I'd left it in the farm. And it turns out you have it!"

Months of shame and disappointment wisped off the more they talked, and he laughed in amused disbelief. "Why didn't you just tell me?"

"I didn't want you to think I didn't care, or that I'd lost it on purpose, or something… It feels dumb now."

He told her what Future Donatello had told him, about that night at Christmas, years in the future. To his surprise, she reacted angrily, gritting her teeth. "It's dumb. It's so dumb." Then she laughed, which deeply confused Donnie, but she kept talking before his mind could twist things further, and gifted him with the telling of how she'd found Future Casey and Raph 'cuddling' in Splinter's room.

"So are our Casey and Raph…?" Donnie muttered.

She replied to that with a naughty shrug.

"Hm," he said conspiratorially. He knew he would not be able to keep his eyes off them now, looking for signs. It would be perfect; Donnie could have his revenge for all the times they'd made fun of his lovestruck ass.

Eventually they arrived at her doorstep, and they came to a lazy halt, her hand still in his.

"Well, we're here. I'm really late, I should go up," she said, pointing up at the living room window. Donnie hadn't realized how long they'd been walking.

April let out a frustrated breath, glancing back at the doorway, and seemed to hesitate. "Talk soon?"

Donnie nodded encouragingly. "Real soon."

She beamed at him and, standing on tiptoes, threw her arms around his neck. April's warmth against him felt even more intimate now. He caressed her head, cupping it entirely in his big monstrous hand, and remembered the first time he'd touched April's hair, because it had shaken him to his core. It had been the first human hair he'd touched, and it was nothing like Splinter's fur, no matter how often sensei washed and combed it. April's was silky and long, and he remembered wishing right away he could play with it. He ran his fingers through it once, then along the purple braid on the side of her head, revelling in the mere fact that he could.

He was almost afraid to blink, afraid he could still open his eyes and find himself in his bed.

At last, April got down from her tiptoes, her hands running over his shoulders, down his arms, until they met his hands. She gave a final squeeze, then took off.

Sure, he could've gone home to catch up on some sleep before the mission. There were otherwise a hundred things he could think of that could still be done in preparation. But his eyes would not budge from the upstairs window, nor his feet from that one section of sidewalk.

As mind-numblingly amazing as it had been, it felt… incomplete. Like the very last domino piece not falling. April had gone home doubting that he wanted this. And that was simply unacceptable.


April and her dad had TV dinners, because screw it, and watched Takeshi's Castle despite the risk of choking. By the time they'd cleared up the trays, it was already 8pm. She went to her room to get some rest and prep herself before it was definitely time to put on her armor and go meet the guys.

It was night outside her window, so she crossed the room to close the curtains. As she reached out with her hand, a shadow darted up from the side and planted itself right in front of her.

She started. "Holy shit!" Clutching her chest, she opened the window. "Donnie, you scared the bejeesus out of me."

"Sorry," he said weakly. He was pallid, fidgetty, the lights from the street glinting off the beads of sweat on his brow.

Scared that something had happened, she poked her head out over the sill. "What's going on?"

"Uh… well, I've been thinking about what we talked about and…"

He heaved in a raspy breath, bracing himself as if he was about to dive off the world's highest trampoline, and then he lunged, and before she could even blink, his lips were pressed to hers.

It was her turn to emit a low squeak of surprise as her heart started racing and a wriggly-wormy feeling filled her tummy. She felt the timid touch of his fingertips on her jaw. His eyes were squeezed shut, and he was clearly holding his breath. A smirk crept up on her smooshed lips, and she felt him start to pull away in response. She didn't let him.

"Oh," she heard him mutter the millisecond before she smothered it with her mouth. Desperately she clambered through the window, first one leg, then the other, without breaking the kiss. His hands were there right away and he gingerly held her arms as she finished climbing out onto the fire escape. He was so much taller than her. He was slightly hunched, and she on her tiptoes, bracing herself on his neck, muscles taut beneath her fingers.

Their kiss was tentative, inexperienced and clumsy, and so, so good. It was easy. It was effortless. As they experimented, they started gaining momentum. Now, Donnie's hands on her face were firm, but gentle. Always gentle. She snuck in a playful lick, and he paused to issue a look halfway between puzzled and amused. She snickered, and leaned back in, but this time she let her mouth part. He hesitated for a second before mimicking her, and they came together again, fully connected, sharing a breath. That oddly familiar taste of him permeated her palate, her nose. She savored it, and the certainty that she'd chosen well for once.

Finally they broke apart, if only for need of air. She panted slightly, but Donnie was gasping. She knew for a fact that he wouldn't be so out of breath if he'd been fighting an army of footbots all by himself. The pulse on his neck was telling of his racing heart. His eyes were a little dazed and unfocused. He seemed spaced out.

"Head rush?"

"Uh-huh?" he confirmed with a weak nod, and she chuckled, biting back an aww because she could just pick him up and cuddle him like a puppy and plop him in her front pocket.

A sudden feel of freezing droplets on the heated skin of her cheeks somewhat startled her. It had started drizzling. She shivered, and looked up at the sky as if to reprimand it for interrupting. They were having a moment here!

"Maybe you should go back inside," Donnie said with the widest smile plastered on his face.

At that moment, she remembered where they were, and issued a weary glance behind her. If her dad hadn't seen or heard them yet, he was sure to wonder why her clothes were wet. She agreed with Donnie's idea. But not quite yet.

"So, uh…" she said lowly as she gathered her words. "Listen. I can't speak for the future. I still don't know if this'll work out." Donnie's brow wrinkled ever so slightly, and she went on quickly. "I mean, none of us know what's gonna happen ten hours from now, let alone ten years. But I know what I want now. I know where my family is, and I love you guys. And I love you, Donnie. So much."

He gaped at her, jaw slack, and his breath hitched. "I can't think of anything to say that'll be as beautiful as that," he half whined.

She giggled. "You don't have to."

"But I do! I have so many… so much…" His hands gestured wildly around him at all those invisible things he couldn't grasp. "I can't believe me. I'm blank!"

"You'll have time," she assured him, pulling his hands down from the air. "I'm sure you'll find many creative ways to be as sappy as possible."

"Don't challenge me, Miss O'Neil."

"I do want my music box back."

"You got it. I'll… update the picture."

They held each other close, gazing stupidly in the other's eyes like absolute hopeless goobers, Donnie's hands on the hollow of her hip, feather light, and her hands on his plastron.

Donnie looked so happy. At home under the kind regard of his mahogany eyes, she marvelled at what had just happened, the reality of it not entirely sunk in. Look where you are, April! With Donnie! Look at you guys! Look at him! she squeaked inwardly, and felt a fuzzy warmth rise in her core. She allowed herself to open up, and it began to flow between them. They were bathing in a gentle current of euphoria, blithely floating. Donnie sighed softly. April was sure he could feel it too. No words necessary.

"April?" he said slowly after a bit.

"Yeah?"

"Could I ask that you pinch me? There's a hypothesis I need to disprove."

She grinned. "I'll pinch you on the lips. With my lips. If that's good."

"Can't hurt to try…"

But before their mouths were reunited, they were pulled right out of their bliss by a loud buzzing sound. Donnie jumped with a yelp, and without letting go of her entirely, reached for one of his back pockets. His T-Phone had gone wild. He took one anxious look at it, then at April.

"Guess who."


GAAAAAAAAAASSSPPPP holy crap we cannot believe we're finally here. Guys, this chapter's been sitting in our notes for like four years! Ahhhhhh take a big whiff of that sweet, sweet Apritello casserole... Mmmm...

So now beginneth the end. The next two or three chapters will be the last. It's been amazing, and we're so proud we're actually finishing this monstrosity. Wish our turtles good luck!

What did you think of the chapter, guys? What was your favorite part? Have any ideas for an illustration perhaps? I might do it!