Michelangelo didn't remember time travel involving a suction feeling, one of being popped through a vortex like a cork wedged in a bottle. Not like the sensation the time travelling jewelry gave him. But then Renet had always just created a door and they'd jumped in. Well, except when they'd tried to go home and there was lightning, like there was right then.

That was when fate interfered and dropped them— lush grass met his jean covered rump with a thud and he grunted.

He stood up, looked around and sensed Ever behind him. "Where am I, Mrs. Tilley?" he demanded, spinning around to glare at her.

Ever smoothed nonexistent wrinkles from her clothes. "Honestly, Michelangelo, look around you."

Mikey's eyes searched the small area, realizing he was on a small patch of green on a garden rooftop. "Uh, Mrs. Tilley-" He glanced over the edge, recognized most of the surroundings, noticed the upgrades and replacements. He straightened. He knew this building. His pizzeria was at the bottom of it.

"Shh, you're a ninja, certainly you know to be quiet. Come on, let's go inside and see what your future with my daughter looks like. Mind you, this is the one waiting for you after she's served her lifetime." She pointed a manicured finger toward the rooftop entrance and Mikey followed her down the steps which took him into an apartment. Mikey was floored by the renovations and recognized his taste in decorating immediately. "You need more space when Renet moved in, so you remodeled the building."

Michelangelo's lips parted, but Ever's hand flew up swatting at his mouth. He ducked just in time to avoid her, grabbing her tiny hand, careful not to crush it. He guided her toward him and lowered his face to hers. "Mrs. Tilley, I'm only going to say this once. Do not hit me." The woman's eyes widened in surprise and Michelangelo thought he saw what might be a hint of respect. So he tried his luck. "By the way, you are really giving me a hard time here and I've not done anything wrong. I want to know where I am, why I'm here and what is going on. Now."

Ever gripped Michelangelo's wrist, but it was so thick her fingers didn't quite close. She pressed a button on her bracelet and a sort of bubble formed around them. "Now, they won't be able to see or hear us. That way." She pointed a free hand toward the sounds of laughter tumbling down the hall.

As they walked down the narrow corridor Mikey noticed a crayon drawing of an orange cat on the door of a bedroom. He felt the corners of his mouth tip up as warmth rose beneath his plastron. He tapped on the door, and it opened revealing a pale pink room with brightly colored bedding and curtains. Above the bed, in big multi-colored letters was the name Kayla spelled out.

"Her name means keeper of the keys. Very time keeper appropriate." Ever nodded her approval.

"I don't understand," Mikey told her. "Donnie said we couldn't have kids." His eyes searched Ever's face then scanned the room again, undeniable hope blossoming in his chest.

"You can't. You adopted. The day they approved mutant adoptions you and Renet were there filling out the paperwork." Ever smiled, and for the first time Mikey thought it sincere. There was a newfound warmth to her eyes. "Do you want to see her?"

"Gods yes," Mikey blurted out before he'd thought about it.

Ever guided him down the hall, to the living room where he saw Future Him tossing a giggling toddler in the air, Renet cuddling with an orange cat on the couch.

"Be careful, Mikey," Renet giggled, and it sounded the same to Michelangelo as it had the day he'd met her. His heart swelled, moist heat burning his eyes beneath the lump constricting his throat. "You'll toss her back in time!"

Mikey heard Future Him laugh, felt the smile on his own face as a chuckle slipped by his real self. "Nah, Renet, I'd never let that happen, would I, K? Daddy'd never let that happen!"

"Daddy'd never let it happen, Mommy!" The girl squealed as Mikey turned her and blew raspberries on her belly.

"I don't ever want to leave." Mikey heard himself say, watching the perfect culmination of his life unfold before him.

"And that's our queue it's time to go," Ever whispered.

"What is?" Mikey asked, dazedly watching the blonde haired toddler in hysterics beneath his tickles. Her giggle was airy, sweet, and perfect. It melted into Future His and Renet's laughter blending in a harmony better than his favorite music.

"Your realizing that this is worth waiting for. That's our queue that my work, here in the future, is done. But we have one more stop before I take you back, future-son-in-law."

Ever pressed a button on her bracelet and the image of the room vanished sucking the warmth from Mikey's heart away with it. Was she telling the truth or just showing him what she knew he wanted to see? But as he looked at her, her features had softened, her eyes were bright and held depth, the small smile on her thin lips honest and he felt an odd connection to her. Mother-in-law. As in… a Mother. Something else he'd always wanted.

The darkness surrounding them was fractured with streaks of electric white and blue lightning and cracks of thunder that sounded static. Again he found himself falling, landing on his butt in a pile of long vibrant green grass.

"Ow." He grimaced, rubbing his jeans where he felt the recoil of the landing in his shell. "This is like the Christmas Carol with the ghosts that takes the duck to the past, the present, and the future. Isn't it?" He looked at Ever, while breathing in deep and catching the familiar scent of incense and wood burning smoke. His gaze drifted over the field, down to the valley below. Oh no. It couldn't be.

"Well, yes and no. You're a turtle not a duck, that would be the Disney version of the story, and there's no need for us to visit the present." Ever sounded confused, and fidgeted with her bracelet. "I meant to take us to the future where my daughter doesn't become Time Master. To show you what it looks like when she doesn't fulfill her destiny. I don't," her lips pressed flat, brows drawn as she pinched a knob. "I don't understand why we're here." Mikey finally saw the resemblance between the two women as Ever's eyes flickered with determination and she began to ramble. "It's working properly. I set it. Hang on, I can fix this. I'm sure of it. Because you have to know, time is profoundly screwed if Renet doesn't fulfill her role. Screwed, I tell you. Which, obviously means you're screwed too. But this- it appears to be working properly. I just—"

Make her say it. Mikey knew. He recognized the buildings. But he needed to hear her say it. "Where's here, Mrs. Tilley?"

Ever sighed, "Japan, 1999."