Disclaimer:…. I obviously do not own Ninja Turtles. Peter Lair and Kevin Eastman do.

"The nights are getting colder, those faces growing old. And there is nothing you can do.

So sing your sad excuses, you've got the scars to prove it; and I'm sure they'll sing along

Why did you change? Why did you bend and break?

When the water turned to wine, did it feel the same?"

"Structure" by Innerpartysystem.

When Moth and Master Michaelangelo hit the sewers, they knew they were home free and they stopped to catch their breath before beginning to walk home.

The silence was heavy, and they both knew why, but Moth finally managed to ask.

"Karai told the truth, didn't she?" Moth asked in an unexpectedly harsh voice.

"About what?" Her adopted father asked coldly.

"You know damn well what!" Moth yelled; this had been the first time in her life she had ever raised her voice to her father…. She had made that mistake before when she was much younger, but that had earned her a punch to the face as punishment. "I was never really a waif, was I? Was I really born Oroku Jade?"

Her cowl-wearing sensei was silent.

"T-Tell me it isn't true!" Moth demanded, feeling a rush of emotion; No! It couldn't be true, why would her father lie to her like that her entire life?

"Moth…." Michaelangelo said in a sad sigh; he turned back to face her and there was a vacant look on his sage-green face. "It doesn't matter."

"IT DOES MATTER!" Moth screamed and grabbed a fistful of his cowl and pulled him foreword, she leered down on him, an easy task seeing as she was human and he was a turtle and was thus much shorter. "Tell me the truth, who are my real parents?"

"I am." He responded, Moth fought back a sudden strong urge to knock his lights out.

She let go of his cowl and took several paces ahead of him, she was still facing him "No…." She said in a quieter, but still harsh voice "No, you aren't me real father; a real father would never lie like that to his daughter!" She shouted and ran as fast as she could, back to the Lair.

Michaelangelo stood for several moments, his mind filling with the same thoughts that had been plaguing him for twenty years. And along with it was the one question that had always haunted him.

'Did I make a horrible decision?'

He felt hot tears well up in his single eye when twenty years of grief crashed down on him; now his own daughter hated him….. How could he make her understand? He never could….

Michaelangelo turned around, taking a different route to a very different place.

Venus DeMilo had been meditating in the Dojo that she and Michaelangelo had set up in the past several months they had lived in the Water treatment plant when she heard someone enter the Lair. Breathing deeply, she studied the one who had entered; it wasn't Michaelangelo, she could tell by the footsteps. Instead, it was Moth, whom was angry and confused judging by heartbeat and aura.

"Aunt Venus!" Moth roared and ran into the Dojo, literally. She didn't even bother sliding open the sliding paper door; she just bust right through the door like it was made out of cardboard.

Venus mentally prepared herself; this type of rage could only be brought on by one thing….

"You found out, didn't you?" Venus asked solemnly as she opened her eyes, but she stayed in lotus postion.

Moth's expression changed to crestfallen "It's true isn't it? Karai is my mother…. I'm the daughter of evil."

"That is not true." Venus reprimanded "You are the daughter of Michaelangelo…. That is a noble quality."

Moth sat across from the elder ninja, "I'm not really his daughter," Moth scoffed "I was just a tool…. A tool for his revenge; first he stole me to hurt Karai, then he trained me for the sole purpose of killing Leonardo…. And… Am I really also just a replacement for his real daughter?"

Venus stiffened up, but then sighed in defeat "Come, I must show you something." Venus stood up and grabbed the girl by the hand and chanted out somewhat of a spell, and before Moth knew it, they were in the Graveyard.

"Did you just… Transfer us?" Moth asked in amazement; she knew shinobi magic was powerful, but she never thought...

"Only our spirits," Venus said, and touched a headstone to prove it; her hand fazed right through it.

"Why are we here?" Moth asked.

Venus did not answer, she walked down the dirt path and lead Moth to where their family lay dead. When they were there, Venus pointed at a certain headstone.

Michaelangelo was on his knee's in front of it, one hand on the top of the headstone as his single blue eye bore at the name caved into the stone.

Angel, and baby.

"The street girl he befriended, what it about her that-?" Moth began to ask, but was cut off.

"Shush." Venus chided and signaled for her to be quiet and listen.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you…." Michaelangelo whispered to the headstone that would never answer "I'm sorry your dead because of me….. Leonardo would never have killed you if we never fell in love…"

"He what?" Moth gasped.

"Think, child." Venus told her simply.

And so Moth did: Michaelangelo had always been bitter from losing his father, brothers, and many of his friends…. But he had always been much more bitter in comparison to Venus DeMilo, who had lost the same, so what if he lost even more than that?

He lost his soul-mate….. His soul-mate, who had a baby….

"The baby, is it his?" Moth asked Venus, she didn't bother keeping her voice quiet seeing as Michaelangelo would never hear them anyways.

"He said Angel never told anyone… Can you see why?" Venus skeptically asked.

"I can."

Michaelangelo started speaking again "And even when he killed you, I was still convinced Leonardo was still good… But I learned my lesson the hard way when he killed our little daughter… I'm so sorry."

"The baby Leonardo killed wasn't Shadow Jones, was it?" Moth asked; Venus shook her head.

"No… When we have children with humans, it can either be born full turtle, or full human. Leonardo's child was born a turtle like him, but Michaelangelo's had been born human. She was born right before Leonardo killed our father, before he returned with all of his wickedness."

"What was her name?" Moth asked quietly, feeling her fathers grief that rolled off in waves.

Venus DeMilo chewed her bottom lip before replying "Leonadi." She answered honestly "Angel named her that, knowing how much Mikey missed our missing brother…"

"What happened to Shadow Jones?" Moth asked.

"April and Casey did not want to risk the life of their daughter, so they… They gave her up for adoption. It was to protect her from Leonardo"

It was starting to come together; the real reason April and Casey started to hate Michaelangelo and Venus DeMilo was because they had lost their daughter in a different way. She was alive, but they weren't there for her… They had given their flesh-and-blood child to strangers.

There had been three baby girls twenty-one years ago. Leonadi, Jade, and Shadow: One was killed, and the other two were believed to be killed, but in reality Shadow and Jade had just been taken away, raised by different parents.

"I'm so sorry Angel…. I've sufferent twenty-one years of grief and loneliness, and I still feel as if I should be punished more." Michaelangelo said, and punched the ground; there were tears running down his face "I'm so sorry Angel…." He repeated "I'll join you soon." He said, sounding like a bitter warrior.

A bitter warrior about to go into battle.

"Come and see this, child…" Venus said "Grab my wrist." She commanded and wrought back her arm towards Moth, the arm with the missing hand…. But the hand was back, probably because she was in spirit form. Moth gripped her wrist and let Venus guide her. When Venus was behind her unsuspecting brother, she placed her remaining hand on top of his head, and kept it from fazing through.

Moth saw his memories.

Five-year-old turtle-tot Mikey was taking a stroll through the sewers; he was sniffling and there was a big bruise on his left cheek; he knew he wasn't allowed to be alone, but he didn't care.

The little turtle-tot sat on the edge of the 'sidewalk' and let his feet float in the dirty sewer water; without warning he buried his face in his hands and started to cry histerically.

"What's wrong Mikey?" Two voices asked; Mikey turned his teary face and saw Leo and Venus standing a couple of feet away from him. Venus and Leo were never apart, Master Splinter said they were so close because they were twins.

"Nothing." Mikey sniffled; five-year-old Venus frowned.

"That's not true!" She said and pointed at him accusingly "You did something bad didn't you? Is Master Splinter mad?"

"Nuh uh! I'm not in trouble!" Mikey shouted.

"No fighting!" Leo said "Mikey, why are you crying? Are you hurt?"

Mikey nodded slowly as his brother and sister sat by him "Me and Raphie were fighting over who got to watch TV, and then he yelled at me and called me an idiot and hit me really hard!"

"That meanie!" Venus said and tugged Mikey's arm "Come on, let's go home and teach him a lesson!"

"No," Leo flatly said "Mikey, I don't think Raph meant it… He does that a lot when he gets mad, Master Splinter said he's got a… A uh… temperature."

"I think he says it's a 'temper'," Venus said "he said Raphie's got a bunch of angry stuff inside, and when he doesn't let it out he explodes."

Mikey stared down sadly at his reflection in the dirty water.

"Come on Mikey," Leo encouraged and grabbed his arm "I bet Raph feels real bad."

Mikey looked up again "Really?" He asked hopefully.

"Yeah; Raphie and Leo will be there for us forever, remember?" Venus cheerfully reminded him; Mikey nodded.

When they got back to the Lair, Mikey was tackled in a hug by his biggest brother, Raph.

"Mikey! Mikey, I'm really sorry I hit you!" Turtle-tot Raph told him in a panicky voice and hugged tighter as he apologized over and over again, Raphie was even crying! He really did feel bad about hitting him!

"It's okay Raphie!" Mikey chirped, he was really happy that Raph was sorry.

When Raph was eventually pried off, Mikey beamed at Leo who was giving him a big, encouraging smile. Leo was the best big brother in the world!

-Timeskip-

12-year-old Mikey was hazily staring into space; he was buried in five layers of blankets due to the serious fever he had. He'd been sick for the past two weeks and none of the herbs Master Splinter and Venus were giving him were helping.

He was absolutely miserable, and he was only getting sicker; he could barely eat because he would only throw it up minutes later, he could only train because standing up too long made him dizzy, and all he really could do was lay down and sleep a lot.

And the look in Splinter's eyes told him that it would probably get really serious soon.

Donnie said the only alternative they had was to steal medicine, but Splinter refused.

Mikey frowned; why did April and Casey have to be gone on a trip to Europe? If they could get medicine for them, it could be over, but they weren't going to be back for another five weeks.

"Leo?" Mikey croaked when his eldest brother approached him, a partly guilty, partly relieved looked etched on his leaf-green face.

"Mikey shh." Leo told him and brought something out "I brought this for you, it's medicine."

"How did you get it?" Mikey asked.

"I stole it." Leo admitted "But I did it because I didn't want you to be sick anymore."

"But Splinter said -!"

"Forget what Splinter said, just take this medicine and you'll finally get better."

"Thank you Leo." Mikey said, smiling the first real smile in a week. This was first time Mikey had ever seen Leo disobey Splinter.

-Timeskip-

"What are you guys doing?" Fifteen-year-old Leo asked as he walked into the living room; he crossed his arms seeing all of his siblings assembled like a dancer crew in front of the radio, which was playing some song.

"We're trying to get a routine." Mikey chirped "Okay guys, follow me; step foreword, step back, cha cha cha, twist and yeah!"

"Why did I agree to this?" Raphael grumbled.

"Don't wuss out bro." Venus DeMilo told him "If we have to do it, so do you."

"Yeah." Donatello agreed.

"Your both gaaaay." Raph insulted half-heartedly.

"Really? Like this?" Venus said; she made a V with her fingers and put it front of her mouth, then stuck her tongue out between them.

"Eww…" Raph said while Don and Mikey bust out laughing.

"Want to dance with us Leo? Or do you have to train?" Mikey asked.

Leo grinned "With a routine like that, please! Watch and learn." Leo hit the ground and did a series of street-danced often seen on MTV back when it was about music videos, and not pregnant teenagers.

"Damn Leo! I never thought I'd see the day…" Raph trailed off.

"Yeah, I thought you stopped being fun when Splinter made you leader!" Don laughed.

"Yo Mike, you just got served." Venus said with a laugh.

Mikey comically narrowed his eyes "You win this round fearless leader…"

-Timeskip-

"Hey Mikey, I have something to tell you."Angel said, fidgeting.

"What is it?" eighteen-year-old Mikey asked.

"I… I like you. A lot. I know you're a turtle, but I think I might even love you…"

A bright smile filled out on Mikey's lips, his blue eyes twinkled happily "Really? I really like you too!"

-Timeskip-

"I just really worried… Leo's been missing for so long…" Twenty-three year old Mikey told his lover, Leo had disappeared over three years ago and they could never find him. They thought he was dead… But not Mikey, he would never believe it, he and Venus never could quite get over it.

"I'm sorry Mikey, I know you miss your brother a lot…" Angel said and squeezed the turtles hand in assurance "But, there is a silver lining, I have some good news."

"What?" Mikey asked.

"I'm pregnant! You're going to be a father Mikey!"

-Timeskip-

"I think it's going to be a girl, what do you think Mikey?" Angel asked.

"I think it could be too." Mikey agreed and lovingly placed a hand on Angelo's bulging tummy; they were in April and Casey's living room, and his older friends were expecting a child of their own at this time. April's would be born a few weeks earlier than Angel's, but Mikey was still estatic, he couldn't wait to be a father.

But he was practically balancing several plates right now; he hadn't told his family, they never even knew he was in a relationship, let alone that his lover was having his baby, how would he ever tell them?

-Timeskip-

"She… She's beautiful Angel, there isn't a hint of turtle in her… She looks just like you." Mikey said; he sat aside the bed that Angel was lying in, and was holding his daughter, who was wrapped in a pink blanket. Because they were sure the baby would have looked like a turtle, Angel had given birth at April and Casey's home, seeing as April was a doctor and helped her with the birth.

"I don't know, she might have her daddies spirit… She sure kicked a lot." Angel said.

"What do you want to name her?" Mikey asked.

"Well, you can give her a middle name, how about that? I want her to have your last name." Angel said; Mikey thought for a moment.

"Tenshi," he said warmly "it means 'angel' in Japanese."

Angel giggled "You are so sweet." She said, "I want her first name to be Leonadi."

"Leonadi? That sounds like…"

"I want her to be named after your brother, I know how much he meant to you."

Mikey kissed Angel on the forehead "I love you." He said, then he rocked their little daughter in his arms. To the baby, he cooed "And I love you too, Leonadi Tenshi Hamato."

-Timeskip-

"Angel?" Mikey called as he entered her apartment; he was still grieving heavily and deeply in shock when he saw Leo kill Splinter right in front of them… But he still had his other family, they would perhaps remind him that his life still had plenty of good in it.

But Angel didn't answer.

When Mikey came to the bedroom door, he gaped when he saw kanji written on the door… In blood. He could read the kanji clearly, and he knew exactly who wrote it.

It was Leo's name.

"Angel!" Mikey yelled and knocked the door down.

His heart shattered.

"N-No…!" He whispered and headed to the bed where Angel, his sweet Angel, was laying.

There was a sword sticking out of her head.

-Timeskip-

"Mikey? Why did you bring Leonadi here? Is something wrong with Angel?" April asked as her turtle friend came in through the window, his infant daughter safely nestled in his arms.

"April," Mikey sobbed "Leo… He killed Angel!"

"Oh my god!" April gasped "First Splinter, now her… Why is he doing this?"

"I don't know, I didn't believe it while he torched our home, and I still can't fathom it… Those Foot monsters have brainwashed him or something." Mikey hissed, his voice thick with pain and grief, and his eyes bright pink from tears "April, please, will you take care of Leonadi for me? Leo can't hurt her if she isn't with me…"

-Timeskip-

"Raph! NO!"

-Timeskip-

"Donnie! Not you too…!"

-Timeskip-

"April… Why are you and Casey sobbing so hard?" Mikey asked; sure he was crying pretty hard too and had been for months now, but they never cried right in front of him.

"Mikey, I'm so sorry!" April sobbed "But Leo… He came here last night, in the nursery."

Mikey felt his blood turn to ice.

"He killed Leonadi!"

-Timeskip-

"Why did you do all of this, Leo!" Mikey demanded as he fought with his former brother.

Leonardo was covered in intensive wounds like Mikey and Venus were, but he was still dishing out pretty badly, especially with all of his reinforments and Karai.

"You killed my family!" Mikey screamed, he was protecting the only family he had left; Venus. Venus was on the ground, trying to stop of bleeding of her arm. Leo had tricked her and cut her hand off.

"You were all in my way…" Leonardo said with a cruel, taunting laugh.

Before Mikey could do anything else, Karai jumped him; he felt one of his eyes fill with pain and half of his vision go out.

All he could see was blood.

Moth blinked when the memories all passed through; though hours had gone by for her, it had only been a split second "That was… Horrible." She whispered; no wonder her father was the way he was… "Leonardo… He was so kind-hearted when you were younger, how could he be the way he is now?"

"We could never know." Venus DeMilo said sadly with a sigh "Mikey eventually told me all about Angel and Leonadi… And no, he was not trying to replace his daughter. He wanted Karai to suffer, but not you, he took you away from one family and his intentions were to give you another one."

"Yes, but on opposing sides. What if I become cursed?" Moth asked.

"As long as Karai dies first, the curse will pass on to Kai." Venus DeMilo said "The curse, you see, normally passes on only to the first-born son, and only passes down to a daughter if there are no sons." She explained "The possessing spirit, the original Oroku Saki, is a man, so naturally he would only want to possess the body of a male. Once Kai dies, the curse is dead because he has no children; is passes on only from parent to child."

Moth nodded; good, but there was twisting in her stomach... "But… I can't kill Karai, or Kai."

"Why not?" Venus asked, shocked to hear that.

"Whether or not I like it, Karai is my mother… And Kai is my half-brother… Father taught me to put family in front of everything… And they are my family, by blood." Moth said "But even though I cannot lay a blade on them, I have absolutely no problem with killing Leonardo, especially after seeing all of that…"

... Sad right? Again, I had all of this planned, so some strange things said and done in earlier chapters can make sense now.

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