A/N: Greetings, salutations and salutatious greetings! I would like to thank my family first of all for this honor... wait... no I wouldn't! They all suck! So I'll just thank me. Thank you me. I couldn't have finished this auspicious chapter without you.

...Uh, not sure quite why I just wrote that, but what the hey. Hope everyone enjoys this chapter. If you don't... well... Uhhhhh... You're not the boss of me!... Takes one to know one!... Some other various taunt!... Leave me a review!

Amy

"T-E-E-N T-I-T-A-N-S! Teen Titans! Let's go!"

I look sideways at Mikey. I've never met anyone my age (besides me of course) who was so enthusiastic about cartoons. After most of the people I've known in my life, I find his childlike nature really refreshing.

He stops singing suddenly and turns to me. "You know what I reckon would be awesome?"

"What?" I reply, mildly confused.

"Having Beast Boy as a pet." He gazes dreamily into space. "Imagine having a pet that could be anything."

Pets. Now that's something I haven't thought of in a while.

Mike comes down from his cloud when he realises I've gone quiet. "What's up Dudette?"

"Oh, nothing much. It's just that you mentioning pets made me think about my little turtle Alice. I just wonder what's happened to her."

"The one you were carrying when you got mutated you mean?" he asks, and I nod in response. "You know what I think? I thi-"

He gets no further than that as a shout comes from the dojo. "Yo! Amy! Trainin' time! Get yer butt in here!"

I just shake my head and get up, patting Mike on the shoulder. "I'll see you later Mike. His highness calls, and I must obey. You enjoy Teen Titans now."

"I always do," he replies, fully emersing himself in the show as I walk off to answer my summons.

"Bout time," Raph grunts as I come through the door.

"That's nice!" I chirp back, hoping to annoy him, but he's obviously too used to Mikey to rise to that kind of bait. And so, upon getting another idea, I change track. "Hey Raph? Could we start on weapons?"

Seeming slightly taken aback; he asks, "Why?"

Uh-oh. Think fast.

I shrug then reply, "Oh, I just thought it might make for a nice change."

He returns my shrug. "Sure, why not?" He walks over to the weapons rack and launches into a mini-lecture about caution which personally I think is a bit rich coming from him.

While Raph is babbling on, I notice Don poke his head in, one eye ridge raised. After a few seconds, his eyes widen and he leaves immediately. I wonder where he's gone until I see him return with Mike in tow.

Raph finishes and turns around to see his brothers standing in the doorway. "You guys come ta watch?"

They both just nod, looking very serious. Of course, as soon as Raph turns back to me, Don's face breaks into a huge grin and Mikey clasps one hand over his beak, presumably to stop himself from laughing.

"Pick a weapon." Raph instructs me.

I turn away from him and pretend to be considering my options, letting my hand hover over all the weapons in turn, before finally closing it around the bo.

We both move into position and Raph takes a defensive stance, while I take the offensive.

"Okay, when yer ready, just take a swipe at me, and we'll see what happens," he instructs.

Oh, this is just too perfect. He's not gonna see this one coming. Okay, stay calm. He'll know something is up if you crack up now.

I take a small step forward and make an overly-amaturish swipe for Raph's head. I can see him start to grin already.

You just wait bucco.

Suddenly I turn, moving forward and redirect the swing to the back of Raph's knees. The bo connects squarely and his knees buckle, sending him straight down onto the mat.

While he's just lying there in shock, I grin down at him and quip, "You can never underestimate an opponent Raph, you should know that."

That comment seems to break the trance. At that moment, both Don and Mike burst into hysterical laughter and Raph flies to his feet, demanding, "How the hell'd ya learn that!"

"Don's been teaching me. I just thought it would be more fun to show you, rather than just telling you."

He stands there for a moment, looking like he's trying to bite back a curse - that or the urge to just throttle me. Mikey interrupts his inner struggle by slinging one arm over his shoulder.

"You'd better try and keep this from getting to the streets. I think it might damage your cred if they knew you just got whooped by a girl."

I swear that I can actually see Raph's eye twitching. But Mike isn't finished yet.

"So then, just how much are you willing to pay for my silence?"

Raph says nothing, he only shrugs off Mike's arm and storms out of the lair.

I grin at Mike. "You know, I do believe that we just managed to make him so angry we snapped his brain."

"What brain?" is Mike's only retort. "Right!" he says, patting his stomach. "Now that I've been properly entertained, food is in order! We have to do things in the proper way don'tcha know."

I grin while Don shakes his head. "See you later Mikey!" I call at his retreating shell as it heads for the kitchen.

"Well," I say, turning to Don, "what's on the agenda for the rest of tonight?"

He looks thoughtfull for a moment. "I do have to fix the toaster, one of the elements isn't working properly."

"Would you mind if I sit in? I've got nothing to do, and I'd like the company."

"That would be fine, if you don't think it would be too boring."

I smile and pat his arm. "I don't ever think you're boring."

We chat for a bit about trivial things while Don is working hard, tinkering away at the misbehaving appliance. But eventually the conversation slows to a halt, and the only sound in the room is occasional metalic clinks.

It's at that point that my thoughts begin to wander. I look at the clock on the wall.

I wonder if the stars are out tonight.

I really miss being able to see the sky and feel the breeze on my skin.

I've been underground for so long, I'm surprised I can ever remember what the sky looks like.

"Amy?"

"Huh?" Don's voice snaps me out of my reverie.

"I said that I'm finished now."

"Oh, sorry. I got lost in thought: it was unfamiliar territory." I grin sheepishly.

Don spins his chair around and looks at me, his head cocked to one side. "What where you thinking about?"

"Oh nothing much. Just about the sky and how I haven't seen it in ages," I reply flippantly.

"You know," he says slowly, as if still forming the thought as he goes, "If you're missing the surface, I could take you up there for a while - if Splinter says that it's okay of course."

"You would?" I gush, unable to contain my enthusiasm.

"Sure I would." He smiles. "It obviously means a lot to you."

Unsure of what else to say, I reply, "Thanks."

I stand behind Don as he knocks quietly on Splinter's door.

"Come in."

Don smiles and ushers me in. We sit down on the cushions that rest on the floor next to the futon. I take a look around me in wonder - once again caught up in amazement of just how hard they all must have worked to make this place a home. Japanese prints cover the walls and the exotic smell of incense fills my nostrils.

Splinter's little paradise. Wow.

"So tell me my children, what brings you in here?"

I reluctantly cease my examination of a particularly beautiful print of a lotus flower and turn back to Splinter. About to make my request, I hesitate. Suddenly it seems like such a stupid thing to ask. Luckily, Don comes to the rescue.

"Sensei, Amy misses being above ground and I was wondering if you would allow me to take her up there for a while?"

The aged ninja master looks thoughtful for a moment, taking it in turns to regard both Don and I in a highly scrutinizing gaze.

Just when I'm starting to feel uncomfortable, he speaks. "I see no reason why not. I will expect to see the both of you back here before 1am. And of course I am sure both of you will make every effort to remain unseen."

Don bows respectfully. "Yes sensei."

At the same moment, I show my gratitude as well, albeit in a less dignified manner. "Whahoo!" I shout, punching both fists into the air.

Don turns slowly to me, shock on his face, but Splinter merely chuckles.

"Well… uh. Let's get going then. Come on Amy." Don stammers, clearly still unnerved by my enthusiasm.

As we get up and make for the door, I turn back. "Thanks Splinter."

He returns it. "You are most welcome my daughter."

I leave then, closing the door behind me, and actually manage to get halfway to the exit when Splinter's words hit me and I stop dead in my tracks.

Don notices my sudden lack of movement. "What's wrong Amy?"

"He… he called me his daughter," I manage to get out through the tidal wave of emotions.

"Well you are a daughter to him in the way that I'm his son. You're one of us. You know, part of the family."

Family…

I duck my head slightly to keep Don from seeing the tears welling up in my eyes and continue walking. As I pass him, Don puts one hand on my shoulder and falls into step with me.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Let's get going." I shrug his hand off and speed up.

We walk in silence along the tunnels, the only sound is the occasional drip of water. Or at least I tell myself that it's only water and try to concentrate on breathing through my mouth.

Don only breaks the pensive mood by saying, "Up here," and pointing to a ladder. He climbs it quickly and when at the top, opens the manhole a crack to peer out. Apparently satisfied, he heaves the cover to the side and clambers out.

I follow him. The first thing I notice when I emerge into the streetlight is the air. Sure, New York air isn't the freshest in the world, but right now it's like a sweet perfume to me. My worries suddenly evaporate. I'm outside! As I stand there I can hear Don sliding the manhole cover back into place.

At least noone will fall down this one.

I hear a small creak behind me and turn to see Don pulling a escape ladder down. "Are you sure it's safe to go up that way?" I ask.

"Perfectly safe. This is just an old abandoned warehouse. No one's been in here for months."

"Well then," I say, gesturing upwards, "lead the way my oh-so-knowledgeable guide."

We both reach the ladder's end without incident and at the top Don turns round to offer me a hand down onto the rooftop. Just as I am about to thank Don for his display of chivalry, I catch my foot on the edge of the ladder and trip. The gratitude I was intending to voice ends up becoming a small squeak of surprise as I barrel into his carapace.

Don catches me, but only just. Somehow, he manages to get his arms around me to stop me falling any further.

After a small moment, I look up from where my head had come to rest on his shoulder. "Heh, clutz attack. Sorry about that."

"Don't worry about it," he murmurs, smiling.

Not really thinking about it, I rest my head on his shoulder and move closer to him. Feeling him tense up, I hurriedly pull away. I don't want to make him uncomfortable, so I'm not gonna push it.

To change the subject, I comment, "Sure is a perfect night out here huh?" I sigh contentedly as I sit down on what looks to me like part of an air vent.

Don, "Hmmmm"'s his agreement as he sits down beside me.

I decide to endulge in a pleasure that I have long been denied. Lying back and gasing at the heavens. A loud thunk reminds me that this is quite impossible. So I sit up again, rotating my shoulders.

Don looks at me curiously, obviously wondering what that was all about.

I grin sheepishly. "'Forgot to take the shell into account. For some odd reason, it's not that comfy to lie on."

He laughs.

"Hey, shut up!" I exclaim, batting him on the arm. "It's not my fault I'm a moron!"

My actions just make him laugh all the harder, and I end up joining in. After the chuckles finally die off, we just sit there looking up at the twinkling multitude above us.

Then, as is the habits of thoughts, mine start to wander. I still can't believe they consider me a part of their family.

A family. A REAL family. Not just stuck together out of some misguided sense of duty – they actually care about each other. And me. This is going to take some getting used to.

"Amy, is there something wrong?"

I suppose I might as well tell him. I doubt it could do any harm. "It's not really wrong, just… ah," How to put this? "Well, I've never really had much of a family before."

Don's eyes widen. "You were adopted!"

The look on his face makes me giggle. It's comforting that a genius like him can still be caught out. "No, nothing like that. My parents were just a bit 'old fashioned' as it were. They didn't give a damn about what I wanted – they just wanted to marry me off to some dopey businessman for a nice symbol for some corporate takeover."

"But you said no, right?"

"Of course I did." Now why would he ask a stupid question like that for? Like I would've said yes?

"Because you didn't love him?"

"In the words of Princess Vespa: 'He didn't… do it for me.' I didn't even like him. He was just some boring self-adoring jerk in a suit who bragged about how great he thought he was all the time. One day my parent's just told me that I was going to marry this guy who I didn't even know, and it never even occurred to them that I might say no."

I waited for the inevitable hollow-sounding sympathy about 'how terrible it is when families break down'. I've heard that speech so many times that I should get it put on a t-shirt.

But nothing comes. I turn to Don curiously. He just returns my stare evenly.

"What?"

I shrug. "Oh, nothing much. I was just waiting for the usual PC sympathy."

Don smiles. "I had guessed you'd heard that sort of thing often enough, so I thought it would be better to just leave it."

"You know, that's the best response I've had yet."

Just when I'm about to thank him, a scream from the alley below grabs both of our attention.

Donatello

I look at Amy. I know that I should go and help whoever it is down there, but I really don't want to leave her on her own out here.

As if reading my thoughts, she tells me, "Go. They need you. I should be able to find my way back to the lair no problem."

I nod in response. "Just be carefull, okay?"

She just grins. "Hey! What could happen? Stop worrying and go be a hero."

Amy

As Don turns, walks away and then leaps off the side of the building, I'm glad that he can't see my face. That sort of thing worries me. Some people have guns. Martial arts don't stop guns.

Oh, well. His choice to to take risks. It is what he's trained for though, I'm sure he'll be fine.

Going the opposite way to Don, I get to the ladder and start climbing down. Luckily with no slip-ups this time. At the bottom, I realize an unconsidered obstacle. The manhole.

Well, there's no other choice, I'm just gonna have to shift it myself.

Damn this thing's heavy!

After only a couple of minutes of straining that feel like a couple of ice ages, I finally manage to get the blasted cover off. Just about to begin my descent into the fragrant depths, a hand grabs my arm. Hard.

"Well, well. What have we got here? A valuable find indeed."

"Bring her."

Donatello

Home at last.

I'm met at the door by Splinter.

"My son, you are late."

I cringe slightly. We may be nearly adults, but he's still my father and my sensei. "I'm sorry. I happened across an attack on a young woman and went to assist. I sent Amy back first though."

"You did?" He seems surprised. "But Miss Amy has not yet returned."

"What?"

This cannot be good.