Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. They are the property of Nickelodeon, Viacom, Mirage Comics and Peter Laird and Kevin Eastman.
Author's Notes: Happy...night before the last night of the year! Good news, this story is all complete! I really appreciate all the reviews and encouragement for my first Ninja Turtles story. Enjoy!
Chapter 11
April opened her eyes. Sunlight was streaming in the window. She groggily sat up and smiled as she remembered everything that had happened the night before.
"I love him," she thought to herself, "And he loves me."
"Good morning."
April turned to see Donnie smiling in the doorway. He carried a tray with fruit, cheese and some toast.
"Good morning," April said and smiled at him.
"I wasn't sure what you liked," Donnie said, "So I brought light stuff."
"It looks good," April said, "Are you going to join me?"
"If I may," Donnie said.
They sat together, eating and chatting. Neither said anything about their previous fight since it no longer seemed to matter. Whatever had been standing between them seemed to have disappeared in the night. Suddenly Donnie began to laugh.
"What's so funny?" April asked.
"I just thought of what Leo will say," he said, "Last he knew, I was ready to let you go."
"I'm so glad you didn't," April said, "To think I came so close to losing my first chance at happiness since before Kraang Inc. took my dad."
"April, about your dad," Donnie said, "What do you think you'll do if his recovery takes much longer."
April stopped chewing for a second. Before, she was prepared to move back to their house or leave the city altogether. But now she knew she couldn't.
"I don't know," April said, "Dad just isn't doing well. I think he's going to require a lot more care than I could ever give him."
"I'm so sorry," Donnie said. He pulled April into his arms and held her close.
"I don't know what to do," April said, "What will happen to me now?"
"Stay with me," Donnie whispered, "Stay here with me."
April pulled away in shock. She stared at Donnie with wide blue eyes.
"Did-did you just…propose?" April asked, fighting a smile from her face until she was sure.
Donnie froze a look of stunned realization on his face. His mouth worked like a fish's for a moment before he smiled. That smile. The one that April couldn't help but melt at the sight.
"April, the marriage age here in the States is 18," Donnie said, "In Japan, it's 20. But with parental consent, the age is as young as 16."
"In either case," Donnie continued, "Let's call what I just said a promise that can turn to something more later on."
"Oh," April said and she broke out in a smile, "Then my answer is yes."
"What?" Donnie asked.
"Yes, I'll stay with you," April said, "Please don't let me leave."
Donnie jumped off the bed and let out a shout of joy. He picked her up and swung her into his arms, kissing her for all he was worth.
"Dude, who let off the sonic death ray?" Mikey asked.
"I think it was Donnie," Raph said, "But haven't heard him squeal like that since that new computer program was released."
"What is the matter, Donnie?" Splinter asked. Leo followed, took one look at April in Donnie's arms and smiled tightly.
"Looks like he and April made up," Leo said. Donnie glanced over at his eldest brother.
"More than that," he said, "Master Splinter. Father, with your permission, I'd like to marry this girl."
Splinter's eyes went wide. Raph's jaw dropped and Leo seemed to go limp.
"Yeah! BOOYAKASHA!" Mikey roared and threw his arms around both April and Donnie.
"What?" Karai said, running into the room. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and an oversized shirt, probably one belonging to her father.
"DONNIE AND APRIL ARE GETTING MARRIED!" Mikey shouted.
"Really?" Karai asked, "Wow. That's fast."
"Hold on, Mikey," Donnie wheezed, "Don't get too excited."
"Yeah," gasped April, "Don't pick out my dress yet."
"You speak of a betrothal, my son," Splinter said, "A wise decision."
"What's that mean?" April asked.
"Think of it as a little more formal than simply exchanging high school rings," Leo said, "In Japan, the tradition of arrange marriages was to have a dinner and exchange 9 symbolic gifts."
"But we're a bit more modern," Karai said, "We'll have a dinner and exchange symbolic gifts. Oh, and I can take April shopping for an outfit."
"Outfit?" April asked.
"We'll talk later," Karai said.
"But first," Splinter said, "Perhaps you should both visit April's father."
Donnie and April looked at each other. As much as April longed to share the happy news with her father, she wondered if it would even reach her father in whatever prison he'd been left in by Kraang Inc.
"Dad," April said softly. She stood in her father's room at the hospital with Donnie behind her. Her dad sat in an armchair, staring out into space. In better times, April would giggle and tease her father about his orbiting the Earth. But now, she knew that there were no gears turning madly with theories and therapy practices, only loneliness and darkness.
"Daddy," April said tearfully, "I don't know if you can hear me at all. But I just needed to talk to you."
"Hello, Mr. O'Neil," Donnie said, his voice the same soft and gentle timbre he would use with her, "My name is Hamato Donnie. And I want to tell you I love your daughter very much."
April's father blinked and April looked hopefully at him. But he did nothing else.
"Daddy," April said, "When you disappeared, I was left alone. I won't tell you all that I went through because it doesn't matter anymore. Donnie is the greatest thing that has happened to me in all that time. He has protected me, made me smile and laugh and he's got a wonderful family."
Donnie smiled and took her hand in his.
"Mr. O'Neil, your daughter will be safe and we all love her," he said, "We're here today to tell you that we're engaged, or rather betrothed. A promise of marriage when the time comes. We want your blessing."
April gently took her father's hand and he flinched. She quickly released him.
"I think I know what you'd say," April said, "You'd tell me to be sensible, but to do what's right for me. And with everything in my life, I know this peace with Donnie that I haven't had since we were separated."
"Miss O'Neil," a nurse said softly, "I'm sorry, but your father has a therapy session now. If you'd like to wait?"
"No, it's okay," April said, "We'll get going."
She gave her father's hand another gentle squeeze and, to her surprise and delight, he squeezed back. Then he looked at her and actually saw her.
"My baby," he whispered. And April let her tears flow.
"Okay," Karai said, "Dinner is tomorrow night, so you need an awesome outfit."
"What's the dinner like?"
"Oh, nothing too crazy," Karai said, "I mean, it'll be a big deal because Mikey will have to eat something other than pizza. But we'll eat things like rice, vegetables, fish and sake."
"Sake," April said, "I know that one."
"Don't worry," Karai laughed, "It's ceremonial so only one drink for all us under 21s."
"Okay, good," April said, "I'm actually kind of curious what it tastes like."
"Later," Karai said, "First, the killer outfit."
Karai climbed into Splinter's car, a sensible 4 door sedan, to prepare for all the shopping that would be done. April let the warm air surround her as she rolled down the window. After driving for about 20 minutes in the Midtown area, April was seeing stars. Shops like Louis Vuitton, Massimo Dutti, and Prada were places she'd never been, even before the underground living arrangement.
"So, we're not going to Wal-Mart of JoS A. Bank then?" April asked.
"Oh, no," Karai said in shock, "Not for my future sister."
The next few hours were a whirlwind of dresses thrown over April and pulled off again, with Karai muttering about "style", "flair", and "eye candy for Donnie." At last, they stopped at a quiet little café for lunch and April collapsed into the chair. The quiet of the street was relaxing after the hectic stores full of people.
"I'll admit it," Karai said, "That white dress with the cherry blossoms is gold!"
"Thank you," April said, taking a sip of iced coffee, "But I'm still not sure I understand this pendant."
"Abalone is a symbolic gift," Karai said, "And the cord it's on is hemp. Hemp symbolizes strong family ties and long life together. The abalone shell is a good luck charm. I think he'll love it because you're lucky for him."
"And the turtle shape?" April asked.
"Oh, well," Karai smiled softly, "In most Eastern cultures, the turtle goes with the crane as a dual symbol of power and longevity. They are at weddings to symbolize love, longevity and power blessed on the couple."
"Power," April said thoughtfully. She finished her coffee, thinking not for the last time about the power of her mind. And again, she wondered about Miss Prime and what she'd said about her mother.
"Anyway, I think a pair of strappy charcoal sandals will accent nicely," Karai continued, "And we gotta find some jewelry. Oh, and a really nice hair-do, highlights are a must."
"Karai, slow down," April said. And then she stopped to stare behind Karai. Walking up the street, his gauntlets shining in the sun and catching stares was the Shredder.
"What's wrong, O'Neil?" Karai said and April caught the wicked tone. She looked at her and saw Karai grinning evilly.
"Well done, Karai," Shredder said.
"Of course, father," Karai said, "Although I don't particularly like inflicting pain on my brothers."
"A small act of revenge," Shredder said, "The real pain will come to Hamato Yoshi when he sees his son hurt. But turtles don't mate for life, so she'll be forgotten before long."
"You lied," April said, "Everything you said to Splinter and the Turtles, it was all a lie."
"Not all of it," Karai said, "I do miss my brothers, but of course I don't believe that story about the savings for my schooling or wedding or whatever. Oroku-san showed me the records from the beginning."
"And did he tell you what he's doing for Kraang Inc.?" April hissed.
"Providing them with security," Karai said.
"Are you really that naive?" April snapped. Karai flinched.
"My father would never do anything illegal," Karai hissed.
"No, he would not, Karai," Shredder said, "Perhaps that is why he was always so annoyingly respected."
Karai stared in confusion.
"What are you talking about?" she asked.
"Hamato Yoshi, your father," Shredder said, "He was always so upstanding, so determined to see justice done. As much as he hates me, as long as I had you, he would not risk your safety."
"But you told me about you and my mother," Karai said.
"Your mother was my prisoner for a time after she wed Hamato," Shredder said simply, "But she fought me and later escaped. When the trust opened for you, one of my contacts at the bank contacted me. It was easy to drain the funds and make it look like Hamato Yoshi was to blame. And when you agreed to allow me to be your manager, it was even easier to use your money to advance my business. The truth is that you were so focused on your own needs that you failed to see how they were being met with your father."
Karai went white and sat back in her chair. Shredder then turned to April.
"And now, Miss O'Neil," he said, "Perhaps you will come with me."
"I'll scream," April said, "I'll scream and everyone will react."
"Foolish girl," Shredder said, "Do you think I'm alone? All that will happen is a street full of people will be silenced. Permanently."
April was desperate to find a way but she didn't know what to do. She looked at Karai. Quiet satisfaction pooled in her as she saw shame on her face. She was beginning to realize that she had no choice. She raised a hand to take Shredder's.
"GOONGALA!" a voice screamed and Casey, racing on his bike, charged in and grabbed April's outstretched hand.
"NO!" Shredder screamed and he saw him strike across Karai. April's scream was lost as, even as the bike rode further away, she could still make out the flash of blood.
To Be Continued
Oh, quite a cliffhanger. This is the last chapter for this year. The rest of the story will post in 2015. See you all on the other side!