Author's notes- I don't own the TMNT or their enemies, only my characters, and you're about to be introduced to another.

I'm so so so so sorry for the wait you've had! There's been WAY too much going on in my life and my will for writing has almost died. But! Do not fear, I really wanna finish this now, so, here you are. The next chapter shall be much sooner.

Karm's point of view again.

Things change.

Karai hands Don's cell back to him, her face not showing a flicker of emotion. Elegantly, she walks towards her desk, the tanto still in her long, slender fingers. She settles to gaze out through the large windows that gaze out onto the rooftop garden; the one that fights always seemed to end in.

I sense Mikey shift beside me, but I never take my eyes from the Japanese woman in front of me.

"Karai…?"

She answers me with silence.

"Karai?"

"I have been waiting for so many years. I have been waiting to see your family again, to see… him again."

"You will."

"If he is smart, then yes, I will."

"Smart ain't the word…"

"What Mikey means is," I shoot a quick glance at my brother, "things have changed, Leo's changed."

"I am aware of that."

"And you, you're different too, Karai."

"Different?" Slowly, she faces me. "No, I am not changed, I am the same I have always been, Karma."

As she strides confidently, towards her desk, the blade in her hand glints in the light, her fingers dancing dangerously over it.

"I am still cruel, I am still cold, the only thing that has changed," one hand reaches for the desk, the other tightening its death grip on the tanto, "is that the desire for your family's demise is… dead."

Without even a glance at it, Karai picks up a letter and slides the blade into the seal.

"But… why? You couldn't forgive us before, why now?"

"Ah, I forget. You are young, you are naïve, but I am not. Time makes fools of us all, you will do well to remember that."

Her lips suddenly break, curving into a smile showing her gleaming teeth. Surprisingly, the Foot leader starts to laugh.

"I have something now, that I did not have before, but something that you also have."

I share glances with my two brothers, but neither look as confused as I am.

"Karma, I do not mean to confuse you. Please," the letter and tanto are quickly forgotten, "I wish you to meet the most important person in my life."

The rooftop doors are flown open as if from a wrath of a powerful wind, yet the figure that pushes them open is petite and seemingly fragile. As she steps forward, I step back, the shock like a punch to the stomach.

Sparkling emerald eyes meet with mine. Ebony hair frames her face; her ivory skin and cheekbones brushed with a slight blush contrasting deeply with it. She stands slightly shorter than Karai, but still as proud. It's impossible not to see the resemblance other than the eyes and pink cheeks.

"This is Lia, my daughter."

The older woman's smile broadens whilst I find my face falling blank.

"D-daughter? You have… a daughter." I whisper, trying to affirm it to myself.

"C'mon Karm, stay with us here."

Mikey's arm slides around my shell, steadying me.

"This… this is crazy. This is the reason you forgive us?!"

"You do not yet understand, but someday you will. Having children will change your whole life."

Mother and daughter exchange small smiles.

"Wait, Mike." I pull away from him. "Stay with us here? You knew?"

"We've kept ya in the dark long enough Karm… yeah, we knew about Lia, but only 'cause-"

"Erm, hi?" Yoshi stands in the doorway to the garden, looking a little apprehensive.

"Because of your son." Don finishes.

"Leonardo told me he was to have a child many years ago."

Every gaze in the room locks onto Karai.

"He pleaded me to never let our two clans ever cross again, for the sake of his child. Why should a second generation be brought into a war that the first generation started? We had a chance to end our feud, but it would involve swallowing our pride. My father was exiled because of you, but your sister was dead because of him, Karma. I hesitantly agreed, for my owns reasons other than saving your family." Her tone starts to darken. "As we turned our backs forever that night, I found myself alone with only myself to blame.

They were the worst days of my life. All I could feel was hate and betrayal from everyone, including my legion of Foot ninja. They had turned on me, especially the Elite. Their master was the Shredder and I was not him. I told them if that was the case, their services were no longer required.

Most left, some stayed. I am no longer the Foot ninja's New York leader, only a mere businesswoman. You must have found it easy to infiltrate my chamber, no? I am protected by mere guards, not fully trained ninja; you are easily skilled enough to slip past them.

The Foot is no longer my lifestyle, I only wish to provide for my daughter."

"But you said it was because of Yoshi that we know about Lia, how?"

"By 'we', your brothers meant only themselves. Leonardo and Raphael do not know, yet, they shall."

"Sorry mom…" Yoshi dips his head. "I just… the way you and uncle Mike and Don talked about the old days… it made me wish they were, so, I found Karai…"

"But it wasn't me sitting in that chair, was it Lia?" Karai frowns playfully.

"Mother… we've been through this, I'm sorry." This time Lia dips her head slightly.

"When Lia finally got over her shock, Karai had turned up and I had to explain everything…"

"By everything, do you mean-"

"Yeah… things with dad and uncle Raph."

"And this leads me to tell you why I was so hasty to agree to help you trick them into coming here. I have been waiting for so long for one of you to break that deal from so many years ago, because it is my fault, on behalf of my father, that your family is broken."

"You've wanted to help us?" Mikey frowns a little, obviously this is new information to him.

"Yes Michelangelo, family is so precious, I know now. My father was taken away from me and I found myself alone, I do not wish that upon anyone."

"I'm so confused, what do you mean?"

Karai sighs sorrowfully.

"Karma, Michelangelo, Donatello… your family is broken because of my family. I am so deeply sorry for the grief we have caused; yet I did not fear things would be so bad. I am glad Yoshi found me, so I could put this right-"

"Karai!"

Eyes wide, I spin around to find Leo and Raph, side by side and eyes narrowed dangerously.

"You've got some explaining to do." The eldest turtle's tone is harsh.

"Leo, wait!"

But Mikey was too late; Leo had already lunged for the ex-Foot leader.