Chapter 3: What now?:

April (2003) POV:

I looked at my boys, Master Splinter, and the younger turtles gathered in my apartment. They reminded me so much of my boys but still so different. Blue was still the leader but still didn't argue so much with Red as my Leo and Raph did. Purple and Baby Orange seemed the most different from Mikey and Donnie.

Purple didn't seem particularly close to any of his brothers, and more stressed out than my Don. He paid Baby Orange more attention than the others sometimes, just like Donnie but less quiet, more opinionated and with an attitude.

'Kinda makes you wonder if Don was like that as a kid.' I thought glancing at our resident genius who blushed when he realised I was staring, probably for longer than I thought.

Baby Orange was...a sugarush in cute turtle form. He had a lot of questions for Mikey and seemed amazed when Leo and Donnie or even Raph asked him questions about their own world.

'Kinda makes me wonder,' She thought solemnly. 'What does it take to get that kind of look just from being listened to.'

I absentmindedly looked at Mikey as he gave this knowing look, arms crossed over his chest. He looked pained and seemed to meld into the background. Never thought I'd say it but...I want my loud mouthed Mikey back. I opened my mouth to call him out and maybe attract everyone else's attention on it but was cut off by Donatello.

"Well, me and this Mini-Genius have come up with a plan!" Donnie claimed standing up with Purple. "He remembers the blueprints for the machine and with April and I's help we should be able to remake it."

"Really?" I asked incredulously, my eyes widening. "You remembered it?"

"My big bro has photographic memory, yo!" Baby Orange piped up from in front of Mikey. "He's like a camera."

Purple was blushing deeply from the compliment as Red and Blue chuckled near silently, getting a flustered glare in return from the middle child. I smiled slightly at their antics; looks like they weren't so different after all.

-End April (2003) POV-

"We shall now take our leave Mrs. O'Neil." Splinter smiled as Baby Orange rushed forward to hug the young woman's waist.

"Thank you for helping me." He whispered, so quietly, she almost missed it.

"See you guys. And, anytime." She leaned down, placing a peck on his forward as he squealed in delight. "Be safe."

The freckled turtle beamed at her before his eyes glinted mischievously towards his three older brothers. Everyone blinked as three water balloons sailed through the air and slammed into Blue, Red, and Purples faces.

" for the WIN," He laughed joyously. "BOOYAKASHA!"

"Michelangelo!" "Michel!" "MIKEY!"

The three roars filled the room just as Baby Orange disappeared in a puff of purple smoke as it flooded the small apartment.

"When I get my hands on him," Red growled, leaping onto the window sill. "That twerps playing the 'Does Mikey bend that way?' game."

After his statement he jumped out, already hot on the others tail if the shrieking laughter was anything to go by.

"I'm still trying to figure out where he hides them." Blue grunted wiping his face off before proceeding to wring his bandana tails dry.

"And how he keeps getting those eggs!" yipped Purple. "I've hid them like eight times!"

"You've made smoke bombs from eggs?" Donnie gasped brown eyes wide in delight.

"Ah! Raph! Noooo! D'aaahhh!"

"Get back here!"

"We'll save this discussion for after we save your brother." Leo chuckled dryly as he all began to make their exit.

"Raph, go easy on him; he still hurt." called Blue already racing after his two wayward brothers with Purple in tow.

"Mrs.O'Neil may I have some advil...it's going to be a long night." The rat rubbed the bridge of his nose as he climbed onto Donatello's back. The two humans shared a laugh as the former scientist gave the aging mutant the bottle of pills before they were gone.

Once they reached the Lair, Baby Orange and Red were already rolling around on the floor; one squirming to get from underneath the other and one trying to pin down a moving target with pure anger and brute strength alone.

"D'OW! Mikey's DON'T bend that way!" The little turtle cried. "Enough! Uncle!"

"They DO NOW!" grunted the stockier turtle as he pushed the abused limb higher behind the others back.

"W-Well! Raph's fly!" A nervous smirk.

"Have you finally lost what semblance of a mind you had?" A raised eyeridge.

"I have a cockroach in my hand." Emerald green orbs widened before the darker turtle jumped off, eyes narrowing at his brother.

"You're bluffing." An accusation.

"Am I?" Deflection.

"Let's not test that theory." Blue jumped in, sending both of his little brothers glares. Baby Orange glanced around them, eyeridge raising behind his mask, freckled face scrunching up cutely as Mikey cooed quietly.

"Hey, where'd D. go?" The chubby faced turtle glanced around as he rubbed his sore shoulder.

"Him and Donatello went to start on their project." Splinter hummed from the sidelines. "I'm going to meditate before my soaps. Please try not to kill one another."

"Hai, Splinter-san." Blue bowed, eyeing his two brothers as Baby Orange made faces as Red making the older shake his fist at him threateningly.

"Understood Master Splinter." Leo gave his own brothers a look as Mikey's face took on a familiar grin.

"Well, are you lil' dudes hungry?" The taller orange banded turtle turned to the three remaining guests. "Chef Mikey'll whip you up some food."

"Can I help?" Baby Orange's one eye, the other covered by the gauze still, sparkled as he all but squealed with his hand waving frantically in the air. The chuckles he received from everyone in the room made his cheeks burn a slight red as he puffed them out in a pout.

"Of course!" Mikey grinned. "C'mon Sous Chef lil man!"

As the two left Leo glanced over at his own counterpart, who obviously seemed uncomfortable without his loud moodmaker of a brother. Getting an idea, he smiled softly.

"Would you like to practice Kata's with me?" He asked quietly, watching Blue's eyes shine as nodded quickly.

"Would I ever!" He grinned boyishly as he turned to follow the other. "My brothers never want to practice!"

"Especially Mikey…" The older teen deadpanned but paused at the complex look he received. The slight jealousy twinge didn't go unnoticed either. "How about before Kata's, we go talk for a bit?"

He smiled as the smaller sent him a confused look before nodding and following after him to the dojo.

After the two leaders in blue left, Raph glanced at Red who stared back. Harsh amber clashed with poisonous green. Raph snarled, Red copied the look. He balled his fist, the younger did the same. Finally they both smirked at one another.

"Let's go bash some skulls." Red sent him a feral smirk, arms crossed over his chest.

"Thought you'd never ask."