Sorry for the delay, guys! I've had a lot to deal with but I'm back and better now. : ) Please enjoy, and as always, thanks for the amazing reviews.
Chapter 20: Gratitude
Waking up that Thursday morning felt rather different than other days. There was a sort of content tranquility in the air that immediately brightened Noelle's spirits as she woke up in the room she'd lovingly come to call "her own". A scent of heated cinnamon prompted her stomach to growl, compelling her to wake up and join whoever else might be awake at nine in the morning.
She departed from her dim room and headed to the den, where she was both excited to see Leo and Donnie watching the opening show to the New York Thanksgiving Parade. Each of them were munching on about four cinnamon rolls, all of which were puffed up and steaming through the thick icy glaze. She could almost taste the texture on her tongue as she watched Leo chew delightfully on one. Embarrassed over just analyzing their food and eating habits, Noelle briskly walked to the kitchen, returning Donnie and Leo's greetings before she entered into the dining area.
"Hey, what's up girl?" Mikey called out with a cheerful grin from his spot at the counter. He was leaning over two large pans of the delicious rolls and squeezing the frosting tube so hard that it had exploded all over his hands and the pan. Regardless of his mess, he was beaming like a child on Christmas, and his joyous attitude was so contagious that the blonde found herself unable to not smile.
The best part of the whole scene was that he still wore the hat she'd gifted to him.
"Good morning Mikey. Happy Thanksgiving," Noelle greeted as she sat on one of the stools at the table. While she watched his hands move around she subconsciously intertwined hers together, her cheeks already growing warm so early in the day. She couldn't help thinking about the night before when they'd not only watched the first snowfall together, but had held hands too. It wasn't meant to be anything romantic, but the mere memory of it made her heart pound, especially when she recalled how he'd spun her around in his arms before-hand. The whole moment had been sweet and wonderful, lingering on her mind all the way until she'd finally fallen asleep with a content smile on her face.
If he noticed her staring, Mikey didn't say anything. He grabbed a nearby plate and loaded it with four crookedly circular rolls with uneven frosting before he handed it to her with his usual simper. "There ya go! Enjoy!" He winked and went to work on the other plates for himself, Raph and Splinter. April and Casey would show up around lunchtime to help prepare the feast, and the turkey was already cooking in the oven, so meals were set for the rest of the day.
Noelle thanked him and made her way back to the living room to join the other brothers in watching the parade. Her and Donnie eventually had their daily coffee, and Raph was forcefully woken up by his youngest brother to eat and watch TV with everybody else. Over all, the morning was a familial event that Noelle found herself lost in, but enjoyed every minute of. Master Splinter taking part in the informal breakfast ceremony just made everything even better, reminding her of Thanksgiving mornings at her grandma's house. They hadn't been nearly as eventful as the one in the lair, but the atmosphere had still been cozy and warm.
By the time the parade was over and dishes had been cleaned up, Casey and April had arrived with dishes full of food for the feast later. When April saw how Mikey was still wearing his hat she smirked knowingly at Noelle, who flushed and turned away out of embarrassment. Casey didn't say anything, but he did feel pretty clueless on what the little exchange had been about.
"Thank you both for coming," Splinter appreciatively thanked the two teens with a smile, ignoring how the hockey player still tensed up while around the giant rat. "Please follow me."
Noelle trailed after April and Casey around the kitchen, helping however she could with unloading and preparing the food, all the while oblivious to how Mikey would briefly glance at her from the corner of his eye before turning red and returning to his work. He was the prime chef of the whole operation since he was the only one who knew how to cook besides April, but instead of enlisting the red head for help he ended up asking the blonde instead.
"See, you gotta do it like this." Mikey angled the sweet potato downwards in the sink and expertly used a sharp knife to create little shapes within the spud while Noelle watched in fascination. He etched out chunks of the vegetable until it was in the shape of a ninja star, earning a clap from the blonde beside him while he beamed proudly. "Dude, we need a picture for our phones! I don't have one!" he enthusiastically suggested prior to briskly wiping his finger on his legs and yanking out his phone. He scooted next to Noelle, who turned pink when his cheek touched hers but smiled all the same as he lifted his device up and aimed it at their faces. "Say pizza!"
"Pizza!" she managed to say at an audible level before he pressed a button at the top and released a clicking sound. Mikey stepped away to get a good look at the picture, an excited squeal escaping his mouth when he glimpsed at the results.
"Dude, we look totally awesome! Look!" He showed Noelle the photo, who couldn't prevent her lips from curling up when she saw how happy and close they looked. It was the only friendship photo she'd ever taken, and just staring at it filled her with a blissful feeling that she couldn't describe. "I'll send it to you. It's gonna be my new background for sure!"
"Mine too," she shyly admitted. "I'll go get my phone." Noelle hurriedly left the kitchen and tried to avoid thinking about how fast her heart was beating. She felt silly for getting so flustered over a picture, but seeing the two of them looking so happy together just made her feel so jovial.
Noelle entered her bedroom and headed for the bedside table. She reached for her phone and froze when she noticed that her dad had called about a half hour ago. She gradually sat down on the bed and took deep breaths, her heart now racing in an entirely different manner that left her insides feeling unpleasantly warm. Goosebumps crawled up her skin as her nerves collided with each other, her thoughts a consistent battle of whether she should return the call or not. It should have been a simple answer that didn't leave her feeling so confused, but she really didn't know what to do and it bothered her immensely.
For five minutes she sat on her bed, knees pulled up to her chest and hair tangled over her shoulders in a knotted mess. Noelle kept biting her lower lip until she was sure she'd chewed off a portion while her feet tapped against the sheets as her toes continually curled up into the comforter. It was amazing how within minutes her entire day had shifted over, but not necessarily unpleasantly. He may not have left a voicemail of some sort or sent a text to say what was on his mind, but at least he had initiated some sort of contact with her, and that was something he'd never really done before. It was confusing how one moment he wanted nothing to do with her and the next he was trying to speak with her again.
"Yo, you okay Blondie?"
Noelle gazed up and saw Casey standing in the doorway, one hand covering an inch of the space's frame while the other was burrowed into his jeans' pocket. His brows were furrowed together in concern as he observed his friend appearing to be depressed, and felt guilty that he'd wished April had been the one to check on the timid girl instead. He didn't always know what to say in certain situations, so if it was some girl problem then he'd be completely and utterly screwed.
"My dad called me."
"Oh." That was all he needed to hear before he put two and two together. Like everybody else, he was angry over how Felix had talked to his daughter, as if she was just some mere nuisance who didn't have problems of her own to go through. He had to admit he was just as surprised as she was that that her dad had even called at all, especially on Thanksgiving. "What did he say?"
"He called when I wasn't in here, and he didn't leave a message." Noelle pursued her nervous habit of playing with her hair. "Should I call him back?"
"Do you want to call him back?"
"I do, but I'm just perplexed."
"What?"
"Confused."
"Gotcha." Casey thought of his own dad and felt a deep rage inside. Even on the holidays his old man insisted on ignoring his kids and just remained in the recliner chair watching old reruns of westerns and crime shows. It was sickening how his little sister had to endure not only not having a mom, but also a deadbeat dad. Casey was the one who took care of her, and who also walked her to her friend's house so she didn't have to go alone. She was currently at her best friend's place for Thanksgiving, and wouldn't be home for about two days. He was just grateful her friend's family was aware of the circumstances and did what they could to help out. "I can't blame you there. I don't even know if I'd call him, to be honest."
Noelle unfolded her legs and stood up, twisting her finger out of her hair's clutches. "I understand, but what if it was your dad? Would you do the same?"
"My dad's a jerk who doesn't even deserve to be called dad," he retaliated with a snort while he pushed himself off the frame. "He doesn't give a crap about me or my sister, and I say good riddance. We don't need him."
The blonde gaped at her friend in shock. "He is?"
"Oh yeah. He basically stopped living life when mom left, so now he's just a lazy good-for-nothing who stays home all day. He never goes to parent meetings or asks how my day is. He just doesn't care." Casey scoffed at the floor before he took a deep breath to fight off the feeling of breaking something. In regards to his temper he was pretty on par with Raph, but he'd gotten a lot better at controlling his attitude and desire to hit things. "Anyways, it's about what you feel comfortable with, but you wanted him to call you, right?"
"Yes, which is why I think I will call him back in a moment. Thank you Casey." Noelle graciously smiled at the hockey player before her eyes widened. "Oh, was there something you needed?"
The vigilante shook his head. "Nah, I was just sent to check up on you by April. Take your time, Blondie." He gave a little wave before disappearing back into the hallway, leaving her alone with her thoughts. Noelle shut the door behind him and sat back down on the bed while her thumbs anxiously rubbed the blank screen. She crossed her fingers and finally hit the redial button, unsure of what to even expect. He'd reached out to her, so that was a good sign, unless it was to tell her he really did want her out of his life. What would she do then? First her mom, now her dad? Was he just that disgusted with-
"Noelle?"
His voice interrupted her thoughts, leaving her feeling pitiful and defenseless. "Hi dad."
"Hey kiddo. I was just wondering if we could, uh, talk privately. I'm renting a hotel room right now until things get sorted, but I was thinking maybe you could come here? It's not too far from my place, well, my old place anyways."
Noelle lowered her eyes in guilt even though he couldn't see her. "Yeah, sure. When?"
"Well, does now sound okay? I'm not really doing anything and I figured you might have some dinner plans or something."
She bit her lower lip, which had recently become a terrible habit for her, and hoped that the others would understand that she wouldn't be around to help for a couple hours. She had a feeling they would though, so she decided to take him up on his offer. "That's fine. Where are you?"
Once he gave her the address and they both hung up, Noelle dressed herself in a deep violet sweater and a pair of jeans before she brushed the knots out of her hair and pinned the strands back. She slid into her jacket and pushed her phone into her pocket before she hid her weapon in her shoulder bag. She wondered if maybe she'd be allowed to go alone this time so none of her friends had to deal with the meager task of escorting her during the holiday. She understood their concern, but she had a feeling that she would be safe today.
Once she was certain she had everything she needed, Noelle exited her room and headed to the den where everybody was gathered and watching some animated Thanksgiving special. Even Splinter had seated himself on one of the couched to enjoy family time while drinking his daily cup of tea, though his ears perked up when he heard her shuffling nearby. He turned to look at her, brows raised when he noticed her wearing her coat.
"Where are you planning to go?"
Hearing him speak, the others also turned to look at Noelle, who was now flushing from all the attention. "My dad called and asked me to meet him, so if it's alright with you I'd like to go see him."
"Even after he talked to you like that?" Raph asked, his arms folded across his plastron. "No thank you."
"Yo, it's up to Noelle, not you," Mikey gently argued. He understood where his big brother was coming from, but he also knew how important this was to Noelle and just how badly she needed answers and closure. As if sensing what his freckled sibling was thinking, Raph firmly shut his mouth and turned away, but his foot tapped restlessly on the ground.
"I have to," the blonde responded, trying to sound as determined as she possibly could. "He's my dad, and even though what he did hurt..." she sighed at the fresh sting, "...I still need to make things right with him. I am really sorry to do this though. Um, I should be back before dinner."
Leo stood up. "I can walk you if you-"
"Aww dude, that's my job!" Mikey whined with a pout, prompting the girl to stare at her feet as she blushed.
"Maybe she should do this by herself."
Everybody looked at Casey, who leaned forward next to April with his elbows resting on his knees. He and April exchanged a look of agreement before he nodded at Noelle. "You've got this. If you need somebody to go with you then that's fine, but I think this is something you should do by yourself."
"Absolutely not," Splinter dismissed with a wave of his claw. "It is far too dangerous right now for her to be walking around alone."
"I have my weapon with me, and my phone too, Sensei. I promise I'll be okay. If it would help settle matters though, then I can always text somebody when I'm finished and they can pick me up at the nearest entrance." Noelle wasn't one to go against the wishes of a parental figure, but she really needed time to gather her thoughts and think, at least before she met with her dad. The lair was hidden, so the idea of somebody entering the tunnel to take her didn't seem very valid, and even if that were the case she'd be able to activate the alarm on her phone before anything happened.
Although he clearly still wasn't keen on the idea, Splinter sighed and nodded. "Very well, but the moment something doesn't seem right, do not hesitate to reach out to us. Do you understand, my child?"
His caring endearment brought a smile to the blonde's face. "Hai, Sensei."
"Then please proceed." On that note, the mutant father continued sipping his tea, but his eyes didn't leave his pupil's form. He fondly watched as Mikey and April embraced her before she left, and then he returned his attention back to the childish movie. "Hmmm. Kids."
[][][]
Thanks to a couple months of navigating underground and learning the tunnel system, Noelle was able to find the desired exit without much difficulty. She used the marks along the sewer walls as a guide to reach her destination, which was fortunately not too far from the lair. The trip itself proved to be what she needed to clear her mind and gather what she was planning to say to him. The problem was, she didn't know why he even wanted to talk to her, so everything she was planning to say could all be incorrect and not go with the situation. He hadn't necessarily sounded angry over the phone, but that didn't mean he wasn't. He'd already made it perfectly clear that he didn't want anything to do with raising her anymore, that she was just some sort of "problem" he didn't want to deal with. Just thinking about the anger and seriousness in his tone brought a lump to her throat and tears to her eyes that she hastily wiped away. She hadn't come by herself to cry.
The streets above grew louder as she climbed up the ladder and used all of her strength to push the heavy cover off. It was only when she had lowered the cover back down that she noticed the homeless man standing nearby with his shopping loaded with empty bottles and plastic bags. Terrified at having been caught, she stepped forward with her hands held up as she tried to explain herself. "Sir, I-"
"Mmm ooo ghh."
"Pardon?"
"Mm grr llyy."
She let out a sigh of relief at his lack of communication skills. She doubted he'd be talking to anybody. "Happy Thanksgiving sir."
He waved and wandered off, leaving her alone with a hand over her pounding heart. She was lucky it hadn't been a cop or somebody else who would've found her suspicious. Noelle took a deep breath and pulled out the folded piece of paper with the address sprawled out on it before she began her search. Luckily, Big Apple Hotel wasn't difficult to find due to its bright red bricks popping out among a colorless street. She ran across the road as the pedestrian symbol began to blink, barely making it across before a taxi took off behind her. She caught her breath and headed into the building.
The lobby itself was rather nice with two leather couches and three armchairs surrounding a glass coffee table. A young man in his early twenties stood at the smooth wooden front desk, appearing rather bored as he typed on the computer, little clicks and taps filling the modest-sized room. He barely glanced up as Noelle walked by and offered a smile, his ebony hair shining beneath fluorescent lighting as his head turned to follow her movements for but a minute before returning to his work.
Noelle found the elevator and took it to the third floor while her foot tapped nervously to upbeat piano music. As the elevator stopped and the doors opened to reveal a narrow burgundy hallway, she suddenly wished Mikey was with her. She closed her eyes and remembered how happy the night before had been, the smile on his face as they laughed and stood in the falling snow for nearly an hour like small children eager to make snow angels. He had talked about how amazing it was the entire way home, filling her with a sort of blissful pride that she'd been the one to show him just how magical snow really was. The thought brought a smile to her face and calmed her nerves, her fingers reaching outwards and curling up like he was next to her holding her hand. With a new serene attitude, she strolled forward and followed the gold-plated signs until she was in front of Room 318.
[The Fault in Our Stars-Christmas Tree]
"You can do this," she whispered to herself. She nonchalantly raised her hand and rapped her knuckles against the ivory door, her heart pounding anxiously in her ears. She stood back and hardly waited a moment before the door was flung open by Felix, who appeared far worse than before. It broke her heart to see the circles beneath his eyes and shadow of bristles over his chin and jaw. While she knew the circumstances hadn't been her fault, she couldn't imagine all the stress the past few days had brought him. All his hard work had been destroyed along with his home, and his ex wife was still missing. All the stress had physically and mentally taken a toll on his already tired body.
"Oh, uh, hey kiddo. Come in." He stepped back to permit her entry, which Noelle did so hesitantly. He did not smile as he watched her enter, nor did she expect him to as she took a seat on the corner of his unmade Queen sized bed. The TV was off and numerous plastic bags were scattered across the floor next to a desk with his laptop open. Felix closed the door and sat on the desk chair, his eyes looking anywhere but at her. "So, glad to see you got here okay."
"I did." The atmosphere was already awkward. "Happy Thanksgiving dad."
"Huh? Oh yeah, you too." He rubbed the back of his graying hair and sighed. "Listen, I just wanted to apologize to you. " Noelle sat up straight and surprised. "I'm not a good dad, and I never have been. Your mom and I, well...we were, uh, young and foolish. We didn't know how to raise a kid, and I didn't have any parents to go off of."
Noelle had always wondered about her paternal grandparents, but all her mom had said was that they passed away in a car accident in the middle of winter. She never brought it up because she didn't want to make her dad upset. She remained silent and allowed him to continue speaking.
"Your great grandparents were the ones who raised me. Eventually grandma got sick and grandpa followed soon after. That's what love does to you, I guess." He sighed and hunched over with his legs spread out and elbows resting on his knees with his fingers intertwined. "I actually met your mom in high school and ended up moving in with her and her mom. I eventually found out we were expecting you, which left me no choice but to marry her. That's just what was seen as appropriate."
After a moment of silence Noelle finally asked the question that had been on her mind for a while. She took a deep breath, not because she was afraid, but because she hoped that the answer she was about to receive didn't disappoint her. "Are you worried about mom at all?"
"Of course I am. I've barely been sleeping because of it, and to know that somebody is after you too really makes me upset."
"Then why don't you seem like it?" She bit her tongue, hating how much guilt she was pushing him under. It wasn't that Noelle wanted her father to feel guilty, but she was confused as to why he didn't bother asking how she was doing or even try to help find her mom. He seemed far too calm for somebody whose daughter was in danger of being taken.
"Because I don't know how," he responded, but this time he sounded like a broken man. "What do you say to your daughter about her kidnapped mom? What do I even do? I don't know if the police are looking or not, or if you need your space. You're a teenager."
"One who was very lonely and wanted her dad," Noelle replied with tears clouding up her vision. "I thought you and mom hated me for the longest time. I had no friends and my parents didn't want anything to do with me. I'm only happy and safe now because of my new friends, and they've made me feel like part of a family for a long time. I even have a best friend named Mikey who means the world to me, but you don't know about him because you've never asked." It was as if a dam had broken and everything was rushing out in one giant wave while tears streamed down her face. "I'm so happy with them dad, and I don't feel alone anymore. I'm scared to talk to you right now because I keep expecting you to shut me out at anytime. I just want to know that you don't hate me."
His lips had parted, and this time tears of his own filled his eyes. He hesitantly reached a hand forward and wiped away a tear on Noelle's face while she apprehensively stared at him. "You think I hate you?" he choked out.
"I don't know." She sniffled with a trembling lip. "No, I guess not. I was just so alone."
Felix stood up and pulled his daughter into a hug, the first hug he'd given her in years. It was awkward, but he was finally there for her, and that was all that mattered. "I'm sorry Noelle. I'm so sorry." His little girl sobbed against him, just as she'd done all those years ago when she was a toddler who had fallen and scraped her knee in the park, and his own tears rolled down his cheeks.
He'd been a fool, an absolute fool.
[+]
[][][]
Mikey paced both anxiously and excitedly next to the ladder as he wondered how the meeting had gone. When he'd received the text from Noelle that she'd finally finished with her dad, he had wasted no time in hurrying over to pick her up. Two hours of celebrating Thanksgiving without her had just felt like way too long.
A beam of light shone into the tunnel as Noelle pulled the cover back with a grunt before she beamed down at her friend with bright eyes. Happy to see that things had seemingly turned out okay, Mikey grinned right back. He climbed up the ladder so he was on the surface with her before he hunched over and offered her his back while she stared at him. "Just felt like you might want somebody to lean on and talk to," he suggested, and with a smile she accepted.
"Thank you." Noelle comfortable held onto him as he shut the cover and effortlessly climbed back down into the city's depths. She pressed her cheek against the top of his shell while he waited for her to talk. "He apologized to me."
Mikey hummed and nodded. "Well that's good. I think it's a nice big step in the right direction, whatever way that is."
"You know, I'm not sure," she giggled. "But I think you're right."
"So, did he say why he was acting like a jerk?"
Her gaze softened. "He did, and I forgive him for it. He really didn't have any parental figures to learn from, and he and mom weren't ready when I was born. They just didn't know how to deal with parenting, so like me with art, they escaped life through their work. Unfortunately, they neglected me a little too, but I think it's safe to say that he loves me."
Mikey smiled for but a moment before his cheerful demeanor faded away. "Does that mean you're living with him again?"
"Nope! I'm still with you all until I find mom," Noelle responded, laughing as he did a jovial skip. "Dad was on board with the idea, and I think he deserves some time to himself and a break from everything that's happening."
"But you haven't had a break from anything."
"I know it seems that way, but I'm really enjoying living with you, well, you guys." She sighed as she blushed once more, feeling silly again at her bashful behavior. Mikey didn't seem to notice though; if anything, he was positively elated at her staying with them longer than he thought, though he did hope that they found her mom soon. The lair wouldn't be the same without Noelle, but she definitely needed her mom. It wasn't fair to her to make her wait longer.
Soon enough the pair arrived back to the brightly lit lair. Upon hearing the turnstiles clicking, April came out of the kitchen wiping her hands on Mikey's stained apron while sweat coated her forehead. "Hey guys! Welcome back!"
"Thank you." Noelle closed her eyes and took in the intoxicating smells, her stomach rumbling in the process. She unzipped her coat and headed into the kitchen to provide her assistance while Mikey followed close behind to help as well. The three of them had potatoes peeled and mashed in no time, along with a perfectly heated turkey, stuffing, green beans, and rolls with better. The table was set, and the others were called to dinner.
"This looks really good. Nice job guys," Leo complimented as he studied the food with hungry eyes.
"Thanks." April beamed at the compliment and seated herself next to Donnie.
The food was passed around in a surprisingly calm manner, though Mikey stealing a roll off of Raph's plate was enough to start an argument that was quickly silenced by Splinter's cane thumping on the ground. Mashed potatoes were covered in miniature pools of gravy, slabs of butter melted on steaming bread, and thick slices of turkey were evenly sliced by Casey to go with mounds of stuffing. It was a little louder than the Thanksgivings Noelle was used to, but she'd grown to accept and love the noise.
Halfway through the meal, April tapped her fork gently against her glass to gather everybody's attention. "So, one of the traditions usually done on Thanksgiving is going around and saying what we're grateful for, at least, that's what was usually done at my house."
Raph frowned. "Do we have to? Seems kinda lame."
"Yes, you do," the redhead glared back, earning a snort from Casey. "You too Jones."
"Yeah whatever."
"I'll start. I'm grateful for my aunt and for being friends with all of you."
"Too sappy."
"Raphael, you may think about what you are thankful for in your room if you so wish it."
"Sorry Sensei."
One by one, each person at the table named something they were grateful for. For Donnie it was April and his intelligence, which prompting a chortle from Casey that ended in a sharp kick from the lanky terrapin. Casey was glad for hockey, Raph for his fists, though whether he was serious or not was anybody's guess, Leo was thankful for his Katanas and Space Heroes, and Splinter for all his children, including the human ones.
When it was Mikey's turn, he straightened up and looked at Noelle with a smile on his face. "I'm thankful for Noelle for being the most awesome best person ever!" Noelle felt her face burn as she felt every pair of eyes staring at her. "I'm also thankful for pizza and my comics and my brothers and Casey and April and-"
"Okay, I think it's Noelle's turn," Leo interrupted with a pat on his little brother's shoulder. The freckled reptile pouted at not being able to finish naming off his list, but he remained silent anyways and waited for his friend to speak like everybody else.
"We-well, I'm also very grateful for Mikey for being my best friend," Noelle voiced, her fingers twitching nervously beneath the table. She heard him triumphantly laugh before Raph kicked him. When she saw the encouraging smile from April. she felt some of the anxiety go away. "I am also grateful for all of you for helping me out and making me feel like I'm part of the family. Thank you so much."
"It has been our privilege," Splinter replied with his usual fatherly smile before he glanced at all his children. "Now, I believe we were going to have some pie?"
As little cheers went up around the table, Noelle felt herself grinning. She looked down at her phone and admired the background of her and Mikey, and realized that although she wasn't with her actual family this Thanksgiving, it was still proving to be the best one so far. She exchanged a childish wave with Mikey from across the table, and suddenly things seemed bright. She would find her mom, and she'd do it with the help of her new family.
