Sorry guys! I completely forgot, exams are coming up and I had to do an IELTS test yesterday, that took the majority of my day. Hope you can forgive me :3

TMNT

"Mom?" I ask softly, trying to get my trembling limbs under control. This was mom, she was sweet, caring, she cooked for us, she took care of us. We were supposed to love her, I was supposed to love her. But that wasn't my mom, it wasn't how I would ever describe my mom to anyone.

That's how my classmates described their mom, but not mine.

"Leave me alone" Mom muttered, slurring her words. I could hear she had been drinking that weird liquid again. It smelled horrible, and mom and dad always started to act horrible if they had too much. We were never allowed to drink it though.

"Max said his family-" I stopped abruptly, a glass flying past my head and shattering in a thousand pieces behind me. I wince, feeling the leftovers of the drink spatter onto my back.

"Didn't I tell you to leave me the fuck alone?" Mom hisses, glaring at me. "And who the fuck is Max" It wasn't even a question anymore, because she didn't care. Because she didn't love me, or my sister.

"A classmate" I squeak out, too afraid to not answer her question. "They were celebrating Christmas" I quickly spew out as well, resisting the urge to close my eyes in fear. Dad said it was cowardly, that I couldn't be afraid of anything. It was a sign of weakness, and our family wasn't weak.

But I was, I was weak and afraid.

"Well we don't" Mom said curtly, sitting down again. "Waste of time. Now leave me alone or I'll throw a bottle" She hisses, grabbing the bottle that was near her and drinking the liquid straight from the bottle. She then looked at me, bottle ready to be thrown.

I was out before she could do so.

TMNT

A loud scream erupted through the house. I was immediately up, shoving my things under the bed without much care, because I knew that scream, that scream belonged to my sister.

"You little shit!" I could hear dad yell, and another cry, this time much closer. Without even thinking about the consequences I bolt out of the room. Almost immediately I realise what was going on. Dad was holding Amaya, my little sister, by her arm, hand raised and ready to hit her.

My eyes widen at the red spot already forming on her cheek. Hurt her again.

"Dad no!" I cry, bolting over to her immediately. The hit lands on my shoulder, it doesn't even hurt. Without wasting time, and taking advantage of dad's confusion, I pry Amaya away from dad. "Run" I tell her, shoving her away.

"Get back here you menace!" Dad yells, trying to step around me but I step in front of him without a second thought. His eyes darken at the action, glaring down at me. Then, before I can react, something solid connects with my cheek. I tumble to the floor, pain spreading across my face.

Something connects with my stomach, and I cry out, trying to curl into myself. But dad just keeps hitting, kicking me. I lay there, not trying to move and stiffening my cries as much as I could. Dad hated it when I reacted, he hated it when I tried to flee from him. I had learned that the hard way.

And I followed him, I never went against his wishes, I didn't talk about the fact that my parents didn't love me even when the principal asked. She was suspicious, but I denied it. I followed dad into that room, with the blood, the knives, and sometimes with a girl, terrified and crying.

But I would never allow him to hurt my baby sister.

"Honey?" I could vaguely hear mom's voice, and dad gave one last kick before he stepped back. "She's awake" She continued speaking to dad. The latter frowns, glaring down at me. I bite back a whimper, averting my gaze fearfully. Dad huffs in disapproval.

"You're pathetic, son" He says. "But you'll learn one day, I'll make sure of it" He hisses, turning around, and walking away. I sob quietly, pressing my forehead against the cold floor.

"Kiki?" Amaya whispers softly, and I could feel two hands on my arm. I recoil, hissing in pain. "I'm sorry" She whimpers, and I slowly get up until I was sitting instead of laying.

"It's not your fault" I whisper, but she shakes her head.

"I made a mess, daddy was mad because of me" She says in a soft voice. I look at her sadly, she shouldn't have to worry about that, she was only 5. She should be carefree, play with barbies and with friends, but our parents had denied her that since her birth, and I had no idea why.

I was allowed to go to school, so why wasn't she? I was allowed to go outside, she wasn't. I wasn't even allowed to talk about her outside, she was a secret to everyone except for us. Instead of the ounce of normalcy that I got, she was trapped. She was trapped in a house with parents who didn't love us.

"That's not your fault" I state, slowly getting up. Amaya looks at me warily, but follows me. I walk back into my room, the room my sister and I had shared since she was born. She slept on a worn mattress, and the only reason I still allowed her to, and not swap mattresses was because I was way too big for it, and she wasn't.

I ignore my injuries, it wasn't the first time dad hit me after all, and I climbed into my own bed. Not surprisingly, Amaya followed me without a second thought. She snuggles against me, and I wrap the blanket around her, holding her close.

"Merry Christmas" I whisper softly, and Amaya glances at me with a confused look.

"What is Merry Christmas?" She whispers, and I smile despite myself.

"A holiday, be with your family and celebrate" I tell her, trying to remember as much as I could from what Max had told me a few days ago. I didn't understand it fully either, but Max seemed so excited to celebrate it, and see his family again. Amaya seemed to think for a moment, before looking up at me with bright eyes.

Mikey

"I love you big brother" I smile, tugging her closer, ignoring the pain continuously spreading through my entire body.

"I love you too, always will"

"Mikey!" I immediately startle awake, eyes widening at the shout. "Hey otouto" Raph grumbles, but a concerned look was on his face. I frown slightly, glancing around to figure out what the hell was happening.

"Ya were having a nightmare… I think" He adds the last part hesitantly, gnawing at his lip. It was then that I realised the tears that were still continuously streaming down my cheeks. I shakily bring a hand up to my cheek, wiping the liquid away, but it was soon replaced by even more tears.

"Oh.." I mumble, staring at Raph, not really knowing what to say to him right now. For 16 years of my life I was either the older brother, or I was on my own. Being comforted was still foreign to me.

"Ya were whimpering like ya were in pain, and then ya just.. started crying." Raph explained, trying to make sense of what happened himself. "I don't think ya were sad" He adds softly. I scrunch up my nose at the remark.

"I was" I whisper softly. "I was sad because it was a good memory with my sister" I tell him, and Raph's gaze softens slightly. He eventually sighs, shifting so he was sitting next to me. I crawl upwards, sitting up instead of laying down.

"Wanna talk about yer dream?" Raph asks softly, and I gnaw at my lip at the question. Did I want to talk about it?

"It was the year before we had to flee." I start, averting my gaze. And a year before I had to leave my little sister. "I was 9, I think. Cass was 5 at that time" I sniffle slightly, wiping at the tears in an attempt to make them go away completely.

"What happened?" Raph asks, not moving from his spot. I blink a couple of times, before eventually settling on my lap instead. It was easier to not look at my older brother when I said things like this.

And it was easier to leave out the fact that dad hit me. "Just me and my sister, it was Christmas." I whisper, rubbing at my burning eyes.

"Is it cause it's Christmas tomorrow?" Raph asks, shifting on the spot until he was sitting next to me, back against the wall behind me. I glance at him for a moment.

"I guess so." I admit with a shrug. It made sense for me to remember that now, with the prospect of being able to celebrate Christmas with my little sister again. Of course my brain would remember those times I celebrated it with my old family, when my parents couldn't care less about Christmas.

Who the hell would have the heart to celebrate Christmas when a girl was locked up in their basement? I scowl at the thought. I was happy they were gone, they were horrible parents, they deserved to die without a question. They didn't even try to deny the accusations at all, the only thing they tried was make me equally as guilty.

But they deserved to suffer, they deserved to rot in prison for the rest of their lives. They deserved everything for hurting all those girls. They got the easy way out.

"Do you want me ta stay?" Raph interrupts my thoughts, and I frown for a moment, glancing at the clock in my room. It was just 2AM, I hadn't even realised. I turn on my side, glancing at him.

"Please?" Raph grins at the sentence, shifting once again so he was laying down, pulling the blanket over the both of us. I snuggle against his chest, and Raph wraps his arms around me.

TMNT

It used to be so easy, I used to know what to say every time I was with her. I was completely at ease around her. Not anymore.

"Hey" I smile, almost uneasily. The first time seeing her again it had been so easy. We were both reluctant to show emotion, she didn't know who I was at all. I knew how to react, but now, seeing her with her parents at either side…

"You look better" Cass smiles softly, cocking her head. I snort at the sentence.

"Wish I could say the same" I snicker. Or maybe I was just overthinking everything. Cass smiles at the remark, closing the small distance between us and hugging me without hesitation. A small tinge of pain runs through my ribs, but they had been getting a lot better since the accident now over a week ago.

"Merry Christmas, big brother" She mumbles, staring at me with a bright grin on her face. I swallow thickly, torn between whatever emotion I should be displaying. Happiness because I could feel Cass was accepting me, I was happy to know that Cassie would be in my life again after all those years.

But I was sad, because no matter how much she accepted me, she couldn't remember everything that I did. She probably didn't remember that I wished her a merry Christmas a year before I left her. She probably didn't remember all the times I said that I loved her. She probably didn't even remember our parents hating us.

The trauma was still there, but her memories weren't.

"You too, little sis" I grin, turning to her parents. "And Merry Christmas to you too, it's nice to see you again" I say politely, and the mom smiles kindly.

"Likewise Mikey" She says, bending her knees just a little bit so she was the same height as me. But she didn't try to hug me, for which I was both grateful, but also a bit disappointed. Hugs were still.. scary, if that was the right word. They made me feel trapped, restricted instead of comforting me.

Except with my family, because I trusted them with my life right now, but anyone else was a no go. I glance at Cassie, she was an exception as well.

"Hi, you must be Mikey's father" Cassie's mom said, turning her attention to dad, who had just walked in.

"I am, it is a pleasure to officially meet you, Mr and Mrs Eastman" Dad said, but the latter waved him off, as expected.

"Call me Zoe, Yoshi. No need for formalities right?" She smiled, and despite there not being any biological ties between her and Cassie, I could see that her cheerful attitude had affected Cassie big time.

"Call me Peter" Cassie's dad said, and Yoshi nodded as he accepted his hand.

"Do you mind if we use the fridge? We have things in our bag that needs to keep cool" Zoe asks, and Yoshi shook his head.

"Not at all, Zoe. If I may inquire, what are you making for us tonight, or must that remain a surprise?" There's a playful smile on his lips, and I can't help but smirk as well. Dad tried to act all formal, it was how he was raised after all, but he loved to joke, and he loved to prank us in his own way.

Dad didn't smile often, but a cackle or a snicker fit him better.

"It's chicken, a family recipe from my grandma" Zoe revealed, glancing at the cooling bag in Peter's hands. "I read online that you eat a lot of chicken during Christmas, so I tried to honour that. Oh, I also hope you don't mind if I brought presents, I read that it's generally only given to couples-"

"Zoe" Dad cut her off with an amused smile. "That is very considerate of you but you do not need to fear upsetting us in our traditions. The boys have done so enough already" He snickered, and Zoe was quiet for a moment before laughing as well. It wasn't like Zoe was wrong, she was completely right.

Dad told me that his family, and a lot of Japanese people eat massive amounts of KFC during the holidays, and that you had to order 6 weeks in advance even to get your order on Christmas day.

"I can imagine, they're not Japanese. At least, Cassie told me only Leonardo is" Yoshi nods in confirmation.

"Even he is mostly Caucasian. And while it is true that I was raised on Japanese traditions, I have adapted those traditions over the years. My other two sons have changed the way we celebrate Christmas massively."

"And now your youngest is" Peter murmured thoughtfully, I glance at dad. As if I were to ask if that was okay, but he just smiled right back at me, eyes filled with happiness and acceptance. So I just smile right back. Dad eventually led Zoe and Peter to the kitchen to put away the food, leaving me alone with Cass.

I glance at her, and she glanced right back at me.

"I remember by the way" She says softly, and I frown. "I remember when we were little and you said Merry Christmas to me. It's all really vague, but I remember you saying it." She continues, as if she could read my confusion, as if she knew I was sad about that earlier because I thought she wouldn't remember.

Guess I was wrong.

"I'm glad you did, Cass" I tell her. She chuckles drily before glancing at the door dad had left open. "Now let's go, I want you to meet my two other brothers" I smile, and Cass mimics it, nodding eagerly. I chuckle at her enthusiasm, turning around and leading her to the living room, where my brothers were already waiting.

Brothers… brothers who were as much family as Cass was, as much as Shen and Yoshi were.

I had found a new family, a family that loved me, and I was allowed to keep my old one.