A/N: Seems like no one is interested anymore. Oh well, I've enjoyed the journey. This will be ending within the next three chapters hopefully. Then on to bigger and better things! Once the summer roles around I will have more time and will most likely go back and edit out all the fluff and unnecessary stuff.

Dislaimer: I do not own TMNT, but they hold my heart.

Friday came and went, and before they knew it, a month had passed and Christmas was upon them. The boys often found the weekend and evenings rather lonely. Melanie seemed to be getting serious with Sky, and it worried all of them, Raph in particular. He was frustrated that she could just abandon them and leave. How could she for some snobby brat?

Leo on the other hand was happy that she had found someone to trust, and, despite not liking her being gone the majority of the time, he was happy that she was happy.

Don didn't really think much of it. Sure, he loved his sister, but he had known this day would come, and the more he thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He knew that Melanie would one day go off and start her own family, and he envied her for that. All of them did, but Don in particular. He envied that there were so many people she could end up with, as his options were limited. It was hard for him to remember that she wasn't one of them sometimes. Eight years had softened his belief that they were alone and always would be. Perhaps if Melanie had been older when they found her, a romantic relationship would have existed between her and one of them, probably Raph. Perhaps it meant that something could happen between another human and himself.

Mikey was just sad that Melanie seemed more interested with Skylar than him anymore. She was always talking on the phone, texting, or spending time with him, and it made Mikey feel abandoned and worthless. But he kept about his usual self and put on a smile when she was around.

Christmas was only a week and a half away. Thanksgiving had been spent with April and Casey at his grandmother's farm. The holiday had been wonderful, and Melanie had enjoyed listening to her brother' stories of their adventures over dinner. Stories of the shredder and different dimensions and worlds were told that she had never heard before, and she was extremely glad that she had not been in their lives until most of the danger had passed. Sure, they still had run-ins with Bishop and the Purple Dragons, but it sounded like her adventures with them was nothing compared to their teenage years.

Melanie walked into the dojo for her morning meditation and yoga before going to work. She found Leo sitting on a mat in the corner, three soft candles casting distorted shadows over his green skin. Melanie sat across from him and began to slow her breathing. A few moments passed before she reached the spiritual plane and sensed rather than heard his calm presence there.

"How are you this morning, Melanie?" he whispered in Japanese.

"I am well, Leonardo. How are you?" she responded in the same tongue.

"I am good as well. How is Skylar?"

"He is well." She hesitated, causing Leo to open his eyes and watch his sister.

"What's wrong?" he spoke out loud in English.

"Nothing, I was just thinking about asking him to spend Christmas with me…." She trailed off.

"I think that's a great idea!" Leo said with a smile.

"Here." She finished. Leo looked at her curiously. "I am not, absolutely not, spending Christmas anywhere but here. I feel bad cause I've been spending so much time with him and barely any with you guys. Besides, this is home, and I think it's time for him to know and meet you guys. I talk about you guys enough that he is chomping at the bit to meet you."

"Have you spoken with Master Splinter about this?" He asked.

"Not yet. I was planning to. What do you think Leo?"

Leo thought for a moment. "I think that if you care for him as much as I think you do, it's time we met the man who has captured my little sister's heart." He smiled, brushing her cheek with the back of his hand.

"He has done that." Melanie whispered.

Debating whether to ask or not, Leo finally gave into his curiosity and asked, "Do you love him?"

She sighed sadly. "I don't know Leo. I mean, I really care about him and he's so good to me. But I keep thinking 'what if this is just a show? What if he is lying to get something? What if he's not who I think he is?'"

"Well I'm sure if he comes here we will know." Leo said.

"I just don't know Leo. I'm still cautious, but I feel like I should trust him."

"It is always important to do both. Being cautious doesn't mean you don't trust him. It means you value yourself enough to protect yourself. But sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and if you end up falling you should know that we aren't going anywhere." He leaned over and wrapped his arms around her.

"Thanks Leo." She sighed into his arms.

"Mikey stop messing around. Raph get the drinks. Leo set the table." Donnie shouted over the commotion in the kitchen. Mikey and April were in the kitchen, pots and pans everywhere full of food. Raph and Casey were wrestling in the lounge room and Leo was standing near the table looking lost. Donnie sighed in frustration. The past three days had been spent scrubbing the lair spotless, and in an instant in seem to be filthy again. It was mid afternoon on Christmas Day. Melanie had left half an hour ago to get Skylar. The rest of the family, including April and Casey were preparing for their arrival. Everyone was anxious and worried, but Donatello seemed to be the only one that had his head on straight. He had been trying to keep things under control, but as the minutes since Melanie left increased, so did the chaos and noise. He rubbed his temple and helped Leo get the dishes onto the table, but he couldn't help but feel a knot of worry in his stomach. He was worried that this Skylar wouldn't accept them, and he knew that if he didn't, Melanie would be torn and forced to choose him or her family. And that was a decision Donnie didn't want Melanie to have to make, because either way it would break her heart. Donnie and Leo finished with table and all seven of them collapsed onto the couch. Candles were lit, music was playing, and the fireplace was on. Everything was ready and they could relax.

Not thirty seconds passed before an alarm went off. Casey jumped into April's lap and Mikey squealed. The rest of them shook their heads and Donnie hurried over to his computer. He had set an alarm the night before to tell them when Melanie entered the garage above them.

"They're almost here." He yelled over his shoulder. Leo was behind him and squinting at the monitor. "You okay, Leo?"

He rubbed his eyes and leaned back. "Yeah, I'm fine."

The two of them walked back into the lounge room where the scene had dramatically changed. Mikey was huddled and shaking on the couch next to April and Casey, who were clutching each other. Raph was pacing and twirling his sai. Splinter looked annoyed. Raph snorted.

"I didn't tink she was gonna get him dis far honestly. He must really like 'er." He continued to walk back and forth in front of the fireplace.

"Raphael, sit down. You are making me dizzy." Splinter rubbed his head.

"Oh, uh, sorry sensei." He knelt in front of the fireplace and Leo sat next to him. Donnie went over and checked the monitor. A camera placed in the corner of the dark garage barely showed two dark shadows. He just made out which was Melanie. She was holding Sky's hands in her own and standing across from him. Donnie bet that she was bracing him for what he was about to see. This was a critical point. Donnie turned up the audio and heard Sky laugh.

"Babe, what are you talking about?"

"Sky, please just listen to me. My family…isn't normal." Melanie was pleading with him.

"No one's is, hun. We all have problems." Sky's voice reminded him of Leo.

"Fine then, I'll just have to show you or you can leave." Melanie's voice cracked and Donnie knew she was crying.

"Uh, guys, we might have a situation." Donnie said softly. His brothers and splinter were behind him in an instant.

"What's wrong?" Leo said.

"Iz dat bozo messin' wit my girl?" Raph growled at the same time.

"No, she's talking to him. Master, should we go up?"

Splinter stared at the screen. "Not yet."

"Babe, I'm sorry. I'm listening. Why is your family not normal besides the fact they live way out here?"

She sniffed and looked up at him. "They aren't human."

Sky's mouth opened and Melanie flinched. He sighed and took a deep breath. "Um, I'll take you home. You don't sound too good. You must be tired."

Melanie gave a frustrated sigh at the same moment Splinter nodded to his sons; they disappeared in a flash. Splinter continued to watch. Sky took Melanie's hand but she tugged away from him. "No, I am perfectly fine. You go then, since you don't believe me."

"Sweetheart…" he said, but was cut off from a low rumbling as the elevator came to the surface. Four shadows stepped forward as Sky stumbled backwards and fell behind Melanie.

"You not takin' my sista seriously makes me kinda mad, eh Leo?" Raph's gruff voice was soft and icy.

"Raph," Leo chided.

"Who…Who are you?" Sky squinted, trying to see who and what they were.

"Sky," Melanie said, stepping forward between Mikey and Donnie. "These are my brothers." Sky finally realized what they were and fell backwards with a whimper.

"Damn, you humans will never change." Raph smirked.