Title: You're Late (2k14)

Rating: T

Day 1:

April sat on the edge of the tub, her knee bouncing frantically. She tried to keep her eyes off of it, but they just kept trailing back over to the small stick on the edge of the sink. She wanted to hold it, but her hands were a jittery mess and she had already dropped it twice. On some irrational level she thought it might mess with the results.

The timer on her phone went off making her jump in surprise. It didn't seem like 30 seconds should be so short a time span. She should have been able to count one Mississippi, two Mississippi, but she lost count somewhere around sixteen Mississippi. Only something like this could make a grown well-educated woman forget how to count to thirty.

April placed her hands on her knees in an effort to physically stop it from bouncing like that. She took several deep breaths before she could will her hand to take hold of the small blue and white stick. Such a simple little item held the power to decide the fate of her life from this point forward with the information it may or may not contain. April couldn't decide whether she wanted to hope for or ward off, so she closed her eyes and snatched the stick off the sink.

One deep breath. Breathe, April, breathe. Slowly she dared to open her eyes. With a will of its own her hand found her mouth and covered it completely. Tears sprang to her eyes without warning, and without her being sure of why they were there. Were they tears of joy or tears of sorrow, or what?

PREGNANT

The big blue word stood there, defying all the laws of biology she had ever known. How could it be? There had to be some mistake. April's knee began its own dance again as she thought about all the times she and Mikey….. They had carried on quite a bit over the last almost three years. Never once had she been afraid of a moment like this. In fact, it allowed her to have a sexual freedom with Mikey that she wouldn't have dared to have with a normal human male. All under the assumption, the grievous and erroneous assumption that what she was facing now, she would never have to face. Mikey could not impregnate her, so she had let him spill his seed as he wished, with nary a thought to the matter, until now.

April got up on shaky legs and got her jacket and keys and headed out the door. Rite-Aid was just a few blocks away. She ran in, got several more pregnancy tests, all different brands and hurried back home, ignoring the suspicious looks of the cashier as she paid for them.

She came through her door like a whirlwind and took another test. She waited, this time it didn't even take the stupid thirty seconds before the double pink lines showed up. April threw the stick down and melted to her knees, crying and holding on to the sink for dear life. It couldn't be true and yet it was. Her period was a week late, she was nauseous, the whole works. April cried bitterly, muffling her mouth because she was ashamed to feel so bad about something that was a scientific miracle if nothing else. She was expecting a child, to become the mother of Michelangelo's child, a man she loved more than anything. Yet she felt everything but happiness. What would this baby be? A turtle? A human? Some freakish cross in between…?

The mere thought mortified her and filled her with an overpowering shame. Freak? Is that what this baby would be to her? Nothing more than a freak accident that wasn't supposed to be possible? Is that what the father was to her, just a freak? If Mikey was a freak then what did that make her? He hadn't forced her at all. April had been a willing and happy participant in every little thing they did, and she hadn't regretted a moment of it, until right now.

Abortion.

The thought slithered its way into the back of her mind as if it knew it was filthy.

No one has to know.

The thought retorted as it tried to assert itself into her line of logic. Mikey wouldn't know, but she would. She would know that she had destroyed a small innocent life, and that the man she claimed to love would not have had a choice in the matter. A man whom she knew would do everything in his power to protect and love his child. She would never be able to look Mikey in the eyes again. No. She couldn't do it. At least she didn't think she could, but didn't she owe it to herself to explore every option available? What kind of life would it have? If it comes out looking like Mikey how would they take care of it? How could she explain to a doctor without being committed? April shook her head as she held it between her hands. Too many questions and she didn't have any answers.

It was the early evening with the sun still in the sky, yet she was drained as if she had run a hundred miles. April undressed down to her underwear in the summer heat and laid on the couch. She turned on the TV, and soon she had drifted into a fitful sleep.

Day 2:

April got up before dawn. She knew the result but she had to confirm to herself that it wasn't all some horrible nightmare.

Stupid, prominent, undeniable plus sign. Instead of throwing this pregnancy test stick down, she carefully placed the cap back on the tip and set it aside. She stared in the mirror at herself. Her eyes were bloodshot and sore. She hadn't remembered crying so hard, but she must have. She applied enough makeup to hopefully cover the tell-tale signs of her emotional state. She had just put on some nude lipstick when she felt her stomach turn. The scent of the lipstick was setting her off. April closed her eyes trying to will the nausea away, but it wouldn't be denied. Knowing what was next, she kneeled down and let up the toilet seat.

She flushed it down, trying not to be nauseous about being nauseous. She freshened her breath and her makeup once more and headed to work.

Day 3:

Saturday morning. April had made the long trip from her apartment, even waking up extra early to get there. Now that she stood across the street from the abortion clinic she didn't know if she could cross the threshold.

"Information April. You're just getting information," she said to herself as she crossed the street. She walked quickly with her head down as if the whole world were watching her do what she thought of as a walk of shame.

The lady at the desk greeted her politely enough, but it did nothing to slow April's hammering heart. She placed clammy palms flat on the cold surface of the receptionist desk, putting on a smile that she hoped was convincing.

"How may we help you?" The older lady asked. The look in her eyes told April that this woman knew. She knew.

"Hello, my name is uh, April and I just wanted to talk to someone…" April tried not to trail off as she looked at the waiting room full of nothing but young women.

"You want to talk to someone? About what Ms. April?" The lady gently prodded.

She knows.

"Um," April stammered as her attention was snapped back to the receptionist. "I just want information about options," she said, her voice dropping at the last word.

The woman nodded her understanding without being told more. She grabbed a handful of pamphlets and handed them to April. April took them, glancing over them briefly before muttering a 'thanks' and heading back out of the glass double doors. With her shoulders hunched as if against a cold that wasn't there, April marched across the street to the bus stop bench.

She made it all the way to the subway before she found a relatively quiet corner and looked through the pamphlets. They had titles like 'Everything You Need to Know about Abortions' and 'Your Right to Choose'. April had always been pro-choice although she had never had reason to seek this information for herself. As she rifled through the pamphlets a feeling of wrongness invaded her heart and mind. This may be an option for some, may even be the only option at times, but it wasn't for her. She found the nearest trash and dumped them in, before slumping in defeat on the subway bench. April had to stifle the tears she felt threatening to fall.

Day 4-6:

Mikey had been texting her like crazy but she had ignored every single one of them. She was angry, irrationally angry at him. She knew it was wrong to punish him for something that he not only was unaware of, but that was not all his fault either.

'Hey angel cakes'

….

'you okay?'

…..

'well, you must be busy'

…..

'r u mad at me?'

…..

She felt horrible and selfish for not even replying, knowing that he would worry but she couldn't help it. She needed time to think. She needed to tell him since she had decided that she wasn't going to get rid of it.

April found herself staring at her side profile in the mirror. She smoothed a hand over her flat stomach admiring the six pack there. She inhaled deeply and poked her belly out, looking at herself closely. So this is what I'll look like at maybe four or five months I guess, she thought to herself.

Over the last few days she had been trying to think of her baby not as an 'it', but as a he or she. It was hard to do. It was hard thinking like a mom when you weren't expecting to ever be a mom. She finally exhaled and turned full face towards the mirror. She tried not to think about how she was going to tell Mikey. April went to bed to the sound of her t-phone. Mikey would text her for the next hour before he stopped.

Day 7:

April couldn't run from this any longer. Just so that they wouldn't send an all-out search party for her, she answered Leonardo's text. He was worried, and when she answered his text and not Mikey's without explaining why, he'd gotten angry. She could tell by his short answers.

Directly after work April made her way to the manhole that she specifically used. She had the pregnancy test in her messenger bag already. She was okay until she got near the lair. When she saw Mikey slowly step through the turnstile entrance with caution and a hurt look upon his face she almost turned tail and ran. She had hurt him very much with her actions. He thought she was angry with him and he had been wracking his brain trying to figure out why.

"April?" He said in a small pleading voice. She could tell he wanted to run and embrace her like he usually did but was afraid to. She had created this distance, now she didn't know how her news would affect it.

She hadn't expected that her love for him would swell in her chest and fill her so completely at the sight of him. Her legs moved on their own as they carried her to him, arms outstretched and reaching for him. She just needed him close to her. He grabbed her and hugged her tightly to him.

"I'm sorry, for whatever I did angel cakes," he pleaded into her hair as he held her. Tears stung at her eyes. He was apologizing for something that she had done.

April hugged him as tightly as she could. "Mikey don't. You didn't do anything I promise. We, we just need to talk. Are your brothers here?" She asked as she finally pulled out of his embrace, to find his eyes were wet.

"Yeah angel, they're here. What's wrong? Is it the foot clan? Did someone hurt you?" Mikey asked giving her a good once over and feeling for injuries.

"No Mikey, nothing like that. We just need to really talk about something super important," she said rubbing his arms soothingly.

"Ok, anything for you angel," he said taking her gently by the hand and leading her past Raph, and a scowling Leonardo towards his room.

It was in orderly chaos as usual. Mikey swiped the odds and ends off his made bed with one arm and helped her be seated. He sat down next to her and wrapped a large arm around her shoulders.

"Now, tell your Mikey what's wrong Angel Cakes. Why didn't you answer my texts? I sent like a million of 'em, see?" He said showing her all the messages on his phone.

She nodded, barely glancing at them before she turned fully to face him, lips quivering and eyes watering.

"Hey, hey, hey April. What is it? Please tell me what's wrong," Mikey said, his tone changing and his rare serious face making an appearance at her obvious distress.

April wanted to find a delicate or clever way to say the words, but nothing came to her. All she could do was say it flat out and hope that Mikey could take the news. She swallowed a huge lump in her throat.

"Mikey, a few days ago. Like, a week ago I did a test and, Mikey…I'm pregnant."

The words hung there in immeasurable silence. She watched Mikey's face go slowly from contemplative, to utter shock, to awe and wonder, and finally settling on his trademark easy smile. His eyes glued themselves to her abdomen as though trying to imagine her fully pregnant and showing. His hands crept up to his mouth, turning into fists to muffle his cries of excitement.

"You mean, I'm gonna be a….dad April?" He asked, his excitement starting to bubble up as he could no longer sit down. He sprung to his feet, bouncing on his toes and looking at her with wide excited blue eyes.

"Yes, Mikey. You're gonna be a dad," she said marveling at him. April wasn't prepared for this reaction, not really. She thought he would be sad, but then chided herself for not knowing her man better. Of course Mikey would be ecstatic. He would jump for joy and it would have to be her that brought home to him the full brunt of the situation before he considered it. Then, he would worry himself to an early grave.

"Oooh my god April!" He exclaimed, bouncing around the room before coming back to the bed.

He wrapped an arm around her back and pressed his other hand flat against her belly.

"Hey little Mikey, or Mikette. You could totally be a girl, and like I would be so completely cool with that!" He said with a smile stretching his face and, speaking directly to her stomach. He leaned his head down pressing his ear to her as if he could hear a response.

"You think she can hear me in there April?" Mikey asked innocently, still 'listening' to her belly.

"No baby, it can't hear you yet," she said. A small smile wanted to creep to her face, but the reality of it all this stifled it. She hated to burst his bubble, but she needed to bring to his attention the harsh reality of them bringing a baby into this world. It wasn't like it was on the movies, and he had to know that.

"Mikey, please get up. We still need to talk about this," she said trying not to let her nerves shine through her voice. Mikey snapped his head up, smiling brightly. It faltered when he saw she was still distressed. He held her shoulders as he studied her face.

"You don't want it," he stated plainly. "Why don't you want our baby?" He asked without any judgment, and that almost hurt worse than if he had screamed it at her in anger.

April shook her head, in denial of what she didn't know. She squirmed out of his grip and stood facing him, her head down and her own arms hugging herself.

"It's not that I….Mikey, this wasn't supposed to be possible," she said in a small voice. Mikey waited patiently for her to continue. She willed herself to look him in the face as she spoke, and not be a coward about it.

"Remember we asked Donnie, and he said it wasn't possible. That we're too different, and it seemed that way. God, we did so much for so long. I never worried about it, but now…" she had to gather herself and find the words to express her fears.

"Do you regret anything we ever did angel cakes?" Mikey asked and the question itself brought her to the root of the issue.

"Not even a little," she reply instantly. No, she hadn't regretted being with him in every sense of the word. She thought back to all those nights and even some days, and it filled her with nothing but bliss.

Mikey was quiet for a while, sitting there with his hands on his considerable thighs studying her.

"You're afraid the baby's gonna be like me," he said matter-of-factly.

April crumbled to the floor with silent tears. She felt so ashamed of even having thought it, but she couldn't deny the cold hard truth. Still she couldn't help but try to deflect.

"Of course I want the baby to be like you," she said. She only meant that partially. She wanted the baby to carry his honor, his name, his spirit.

But not his looks

"You know what I mean," he said, a rare look of irritation crossing his features. He got up and picked April off the floor and brought her to sit in his lap like a kid. With a large green finger he wiped the tears from her eyes.

"I know what Donnie told us," Mikey began, cradling her cheek in his palm, but not forcing her to look at him just yet.

"I know you're worried about having a mutant…"

"Mikey no…" she interrupted but he shushed her. He needed to express his own thoughts. She quieted down to let him speak.

"Listen. I know you're worried about having a mutant baby. It's okay because I understand that. But you gotta know I would never let any harm come to little Mikey or Mikette. We're a family April. The baby's gonna have an amazing life I promise. They'll have the best uncles in the world, the best grandpa with master Splinter. Donnie can teach the baby stuff, Leo can train the baby, Raph….well I don't know what Raph will teach…" Mikey said chuckling a little. April couldn't help but smile at it as well.

"Raph'll be teaching my baby how to sneak and drink beer," she said, giggling and wiping her own tears.

"Yeah probably," Mikey snorted. "The point is, the baby's life will be complete. It may not be the way you probably thought about having a kid, but still," Mikey said, turning her to look at him.

"You're gonna be an awesome mommy, and I promise to be an awesome dad," he said, his eyes determined to fulfill that promise at all costs. "I love you angel cakes. I'm gonna help you through this. We all will. We'll get through this like a family, you gotta trust me. You trust me don't you?" Mikey asked, smiling when April nodded her head and leaned on his shoulder, curling herself into his lap.

That evening they announced it to the rest of the brothers and Splinter. Needless to say everyone was shocked, but it gave way to joy and celebration. Donnie immediately went to work trying to study female gestation and birth, and trying to calculate the possible differences for April's unique situation. Splinter eventually lectured Mikey on the responsibilities of fatherhood, but was cautiously happy for him anyway.

Mikey was treating April like a delicate piece of crystal, even insisting on carrying her everywhere in the lair. She had to fuss at him to make him stop it.

April was finally coming to grips with the situation. Seeing the outpour of support made it easier to cope with. Maybe she would be alright.

Day 15:

The pain in her abdomen woke her up out of a sound sleep. Instinctively she reached for Mikey who'd been sleeping with her in her apartment since she broke the news to him. He wasn't there tonight though, and she stopped searching once she remembered he had gone on patrol and told her he would be in the lair tonight.

A pain hit her again, making her sit up and double over, gripping the sheets with one hand, and her stomach with the other. After it passed she hurriedly got up. All she could think of was her baby. What if something was wrong? She hadn't known what to expect and neither had anyone else. Maybe she was in labor? It would be a shocker but at this point anything was possible.

Crouched over with the residual pain, April made her way to the bathroom. She flicked on the light and immediately pulled down her underwear, only to be shocked and worried at the sight. April had never seen so much blood from her own body, not even on her heaviest flow days. She sat on the toilet, throwing her soiled underwear to the floor. Another pain hit her, causing her to moan out and double over. This time she could actually feel the blood running out of her like a river.

Panic started to set in. April had never been pregnant before, so had never experienced a miscarriage. Despite that, it was obvious to her that this was indeed a miscarriage. She had to do something. She needed a doctor. She thought of calling Donnie, but as much as she loved and respected his expertise on so many things, Donatello was not a medical doctor. She needed to go to the emergency room.

As another pain rolled over her, a fresh horrible thought seized her. What if the doctors can tell that the baby isn't human? Fear started to take hold and it was all April could do to contain it. She got up, cleaning herself as best she could and wrapping a towel around her. She went back into the bedroom to find her phone and call the ambulance.

Later that evening she was released after a D&C. She had called Vern to pick her up, although she was very vague with him about why she was at the hospital to begin with. When she said she was having female issues, he had thankfully not wanted to hear anymore.

She gathered together a bag of her belongings, calling for a few days off and intending to spend the next few days in the lair with Mikey.

As she expected he hadn't taken the news well at all. He was being strong for her though. He had waited until he thought she was asleep before creeping out of the bed to find Leonardo. She heard his soft crying and had to fight not to get up to comfort him. He didn't want her seeing him cry over it. She needed to let him handle it however he saw fit. She heard the soft footsteps of his other two brothers, rising from their beds to comfort him as if they had been drawn by his heartache.

Mikey cried bitterly most of the night. Leo rocked him and held him close as Mikey sobbed into his chest. Leo's heart broke for his brother's pain. All Mikey could talk about was the baby this and the baby that. His excitement was contagious and soon he had all of them wondering how to adjust their lives for the new addition. Now, it was gone just as suddenly as it came.

Donnie tried to comfort Mikey as best he could, telling him that it was a miracle to begin with and that from what he read most women go on to have successful pregnancies after miscarriages. Mikey had nodded, appreciating that his brothers were comforting him. He couldn't have stood under the pain without them.

After crying and eating a little cold pizza in the kitchen, Mikey was okay enough to go back to bed. He comforted himself in knowing that if it happened once it could happen again. He crawled into bed behind a truly sleeping April, and cuddled closely. He kissed her hair and stroked her cheek before resting his head on his pillow. For a moment, he had been a daddy and the woman of his dreams had been carrying his child. His child. Mikey smiled as he drifted off.