Note: Some parts in this chapter refer to Tyroth Darkstorm's fic 'Mikey's Date' and my fanfic 'Goodbye my Friend'

Chapter Four

A couple of days past and everyone was deciding what they would do for the Talent show.

Leona along with a couple of other Mutopians said they would help build sets and props as well as paint some scenery.

Louie said that himself and Patch would make sure lots of treats and refreshments would be made for the pre-show, the intervals and afterwards.

Tania also offered to make costumes and help do make-up for those who needed it.

Tyroth was very pleased, and he thought maybe this Talent Show would be a success since everyone was so enthusiastic about it.

In his allocated room, Michelangelo was sitting on his bed and looking at a photograph of himself with his beloved ginger cat Klunk taken some years ago.

Even though he loved Christmas, it was also a rather sad time, as it was at this time of year that he had found Klunk wandering alone in New York city and adopted him.

Klunk had died of old age just before Pandora was born.

Even though it was just over ten years ago, Michelangelo still missed him like crazy. He had been so heartbroken, and even though he put his focus into being a good uncle to Pandora, he never forgot Klunk, and in fact he never thought of getting another pet after him, since Klunk had been such a special pet to him.

Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Michelangelo called over for them to enter and he smiled as he saw Kate appear.

"Hey sweetie!" the Viper smiled "You okay? I think I got an idea of an act we could do for the showcase. If you're up for it that is?"

Michelangelo grinned.

"You got an idea?" he asked placing the picture down, yet Kate noticed it and raised an eyebrow.

"What have to you got there, honey?" she asked.

Michelangelo bit his lip and looked at the photo.

"Just the photo of Klunk and I, I still miss my goofball kitty."

Kate gave her boyfriend a sympathetic smile and sat next to him.

"Awww, Klunk!" she smiled "I remember that little rascal!"

It was true, Kate had gotten to know Klunk not long after the incident involving Izo Ren trying to seduce Michelangelo so she could report back to the Foot of their lair.

After Michelangelo had recovered slowly from the incident, he had spent time with Kate and one of the things he did with her was introduce Klunk to her.

Even though Kate had met Klunk briefly she hadn't fully bonded with him until afterwards and the cat had taken a liking to her, in a way, he seemed to think that Kate was a trustworthy girl, or mutant girl and he always purred and pressed his paws on her when she stroked him.

Flashback

It had been just over a week since the Hamato Clan, Tyroth, Sephie and Kate had discovered the woman who Michelangelo had been seeing, Shari or Izo Ren as she was really known had been working with the Foot to infiltrate the lair and slaughter them.

Michelangelo had slowly started to feel like his old self, thanks to the help and support of his family and friends.

He had decided to spend time with Kate, and despite feeling scared of her at first, seeing her let her guard down, after her confession for her love for him in his room, he had begun to see what a different girl she was under her hard aggressive outer skin.

One thing he did do was introduce her to Klunk properly.

Kate sat on the sofa as Michelangelo walked over with his ginger cat and placed him on the sofa.

"Hey Klunkers, I want you to meet Kate! I know you've observed her and given her a few head bumps, but I want you to get to know her properly!"

Klunk meowed at his master then looked over to Kate who smiled and held out her hands.

"Hey Klunky!" she smiled.

Klunk looked at her for a moment then crawled over to her letting her pet him.

Kate stroked under his chin then started to gently scratch him behind the ears and the ginger cat purred loudly and started to snuggle against her.

Michelangelo watched his pet cat start to paw on Kate's leg as well as rub himself on her, almost like he was marking her with his scent.

He then saw him start to lick and groom Kate's fingers with his rough tongue.

"Wow dude!" he said then looked at Kate who had that warm smile on her face, one of those rare looks he hardly saw on the Viper.

"He really likes you! No scratch that! He loves you!"

Kate giggled.

"Well, I do like cats!" she answered, "Always have!" she stroked Klunk more and the cat soon climbed into her lap and lay across it, exposing his belly and Kate soon began to tickle his tummy and Klunk stretched out his legs and paws and purred louder.

"Wow! I think he really does love you!" Michelangelo said as he sat closer to Kate and began to stroke his cat along with her.

Kate smiled and laughed.

"Animals often tell a good character when they see one, and I hope I passed the test, as you did with him!"

"Oh, that I don't doubt!" Michelangelo agreed as he looked at Kate and he felt a slight flicker in his stomach looking at Kate's smile and her sparkling eyes.

"I don't doubt at all…."

End Flashback

Michelangelo remembered that day like yesterday, and after that, he wondered, that if Klunk had met Shari aka Izo Ren, whether he might have sensed something wrong, unlike Kate who Klunk had taken to straight away, as soon as she touched him, he knew she was a good person and a wonderful trustworthy friend, later girlfriend to his master.

"I know you miss him hun." Kate said as she leaned on Michelangelo's shoulder and stroked the photo "But wherever he is, he's watching over you, and I'm sure he's proud of you! Being so brave and achieving so much in your life."

Michelangelo leaned his head on hers feeling her soft hair.

"I miss him all the time." He said, "Especially this time of year, but I always have fond memories of him."

"And as long as you have those memories." Kate smiled looking up and kissing Michelangelo's cheek "Klunk will never leave."

"You're right!" Michelangelo said, a small smile curling on his lips.

He looked back at the picture, then gave it a kiss before placing it back on his bedside table.

"So anyway," he asked deciding to change the subject, "What was your idea for the show?"

Kate smiled.

"Well…."

Meanwhile, Jake was sitting on one of the benches by the canal looking at a photo of himself, Monalisa and Callum at Christmas back home in Wisconsin.

This one was one of him, his older sister and younger brother in their back yard, about two years before Monalisa was taken from them.

They were standing in front of a huge snowman they had built together, and their father had taken a photo of the three of them with it.

Jake sighed and looked at the image of Callum, his younger brother, the one he knew and loved before he changed into that person he didn't know, and didn't like, and then before he began Diablo the Raven.

He placed a finger on the photo and a few tears formed in his eyes as he remembered that day…

Flashback

Jake rolled a large snowball up to the spot where he, Monalisa and Callum had agreed to place the snowman they planned to build in the yard.

It was a little tradition they had between them every year, that when it snowed, they would build a big snowman in their yard.

Callum had managed to roll a smaller ball for the upper body and Monalisa managed to do one for the head.

"Upper body's ready!" Callum called and with Jake's help they lifted it onto the larger ball Jake had rolled, and Monalisa placed the little ball on top.

"There we go!" she grinned patting the snowman down so the balls stuck together.

"He looks amazing!" Jake cheered "Do you think he's ready to be dressed?"

"I think so!" Monalisa smiled.

"I'll go and get the accessories!" Callum announced and he turned and ran towards the house.

"I hope he doesn't pick out any of mom or dad's best scarves or hats." Monalisa said as she watched their younger brother run into the house.

Jake nodded in agreement and took off his glasses before rubbing them with his gloves and putting them back on.

"What shall we call the Snowman this year sis?" he asked.

Monalisa thought for a moment.

"Not sure Jakey, let's wait till Cal returns then we can ask him."

Jake agreed and before long Callum came running back with a large straw hat and a brown scarf as well as a carrot and tiny stones for eyes and mouth.

"Got what we need!" he said happily.

"Good job Cal!" Monalisa replied "That's mum's straw hat and dad's old scarf!"

Callum nodded.

"Don't worry! I asked this time, and they said yes!" he confirmed, and Jake placed the hat on the Snowman's head, Monalisa wrapped the scarf around the neck and Callum placed the stones on the Snowman's face for eyes and mouth as well as stuck the carrot in it's face.

Once that was done, the three siblings stood back and looked upon their creation.

"Another Snowman built by the Freeman Siblings." Monalisa smiled as she looked at her younger brothers who held a hand of hers each.

"My favourite time at Christmas!" Callum said, "Our tradition every year!"

Jake nodded.

"And we still need to name him!" he reminded his brother and sister.

"That we do!" Monalisa smiled "Well, I named him last year, so I think Callum should this year!"

"Me?" Callum asked.

Monalisa nodded.

"It is your turn, since I had the honour last year, and Jake had it the year before."

Jake nodded agreeing with Monalisa and Callum smiled gladly before looking at the Snowman.

"I got one name!" he said not bothering to think for a moment.

"What's that?" Monalisa and Jake asked together.

Callum looked up at his siblings.

"Mr Barnes!" he said, "After our Principal at Kindergarten!"

Jake blinked.

"Him?" he asked.

Callum nodded.

"Uh huh!" he said "He was a jolly man! And always made me laugh when he got into the mood at Christmas!"

Jake laughed as he agreed.

"That's true he did!"

"Then it's settled!" Monalisa said as she wrapped her arms around her two brothers "We shall call him Mr Barnes!"

"Hello Mr Barnes!" Callum called "Merry Christmas!"

Jake and Monalisa laughed and greeted their Snowman Mr Barnes then walked iver and hugged him.

End Flashback

Jake sighed and looked at the photo again.

"Oh Callum." He said " Even though its been two years… despite everything, Mona and I still love you, more than we can say…"

"Jake?"

The human almost jumped out of his skin, and he turned to see Amber sitting next to him, also holding a photo.

"Oh, hey Amber!" he said, "You thinking about what to do for the Talent Show?"

"I'm getting there." Amber replied, "I was just wondering how you were." She saw the photo Jake was holding and she gave a sympathetic look "Ah, I see."

As much as she was aware of Diablo and how he had turned on Mutopia, stole the magical water and created his own band of Mutants, The Disciples, she know how much it hurt Jake and how he along with Monalisa still loved and cared for his brother.

Jake lowered the photo.

"It's been two years and yes I know, since Diablo betrayed us, but it's been so hard on me, and Monalisa…."

Amber placed a hand on Jake's shoulder.

"You got no need to explain Jake." She said, "We understand."

She held up the photo she held in her hand, and Jake observed it.

It was a photo of two humans, one a male with brown hair and a female with long blonde hair.

The female was standing in front of the male grinning and her cheeks were being pulled by the male who had a silly look on his face.

Jake studied the photo and looked at Amber.

"Is that?" he asked.

Amber nodded.

"Uh huh." She replied, "It's me and Tyroth when we were human, Jennifer and Raymond, as we were known, our last Christmas together, we were at the local park and he decided to get cheeky as dad took our photo."

Jake chuckled.

"It's a great photo!" he said.

"It was one I held close to me after Ray…I mean Tyroth disappeared." Amber said, "I always treasured it."

Jake sighed.

"I did all I could to treasure the memory of Mona after she was gone, when Callum was feeling angry and going off the rails, I tried to keep Mona's memory alive by being happy, because that's what she would have wanted."

"And what of Callum?" Amber asked, her eyes darting around making sure no-one was listening.

Jake sighed again.

"I don't know Amber." He said truthfully "As much as I still love Callum, after he became Diablo, I don't know if there's anything left of the brother I knew and loved, but I try and think of the times before he changed, it's all I can do."

Amber gave a sympathetic smile and patted Jake's hand comfortingly.

"I admire you being strong Jake." She said, "I do…honest, and whatever people here in Mutopia say, those who… you know…still feel anger…you're the strong one, still holding love in your heart rather than hate, it takes a lot of courage to do that!"

Jake smiled back at Amber and took her hand holding it tightly.

"Thanks!" he smiled.

"Anytime!" Amber winked.

Awww! Such a sweet memory there for Michelangelo, and Jake still feels saddened over the loss of his younger brother after Callum went rogue as Diablo the Raven.

Keep checking back for more coming soon!