April woke with serenity the next day. She was met at her door by Michelangelo who escorted her up to the top deck. Once there they greeted Captain Raphael instructing two crew members on how to fix the mast. As soon as he turned around, his eyes met hers and he smiled. They made their way over to him, and as April approached, Raphael bowed.

"Good morning Princess. Ready for your tour?"

"Tour?"

"Of the ship. If you're going to be spending time here, you have the right to get to know her."

"Her?"

"Elizabeth."

"The ship has a name?"

"Of course. All ships do."

April let out a giggle.

"Michelangelo, would you be a dear and unlock the chains?"

"Of course," he answered.

As he unlocked the shackles, April let out a small gasp. "You're letting me out?"

"I have an idea that you won't try to escape," Raphael replied as he winked in her direction. April gave him an appreciative smile and proceeded to follow him around the ship for the next hour. She showed her the cannons in the bunker, the lookout post, and he helped her up onto the mast so she could understand why he did it so much. Once they returned to the main desk, Raphael went off to fetch something. When he came back, his hands were behind his back.

"What's next for today," April asked.

"You tell me." Raphael threw something at April that she surprisingly caught. It was a rapier. She looked up at him, confused. He pointed to her with his Epee. "You said you could fence," he assumed the proper fighting stance, "Show me watch you got."

"Captain, I don't think this is very fair."

"I told you, call me Raphael. And don't worry, I'll go easy on you." The turtle remained posed for sparring.

"I wasn't talking about me."

She then lunged at him and proceeded to school Raphael every way the sword could point. She'd corner him, pull trick plays, and even sweeped him off his feet. As Raphael fell back onto his shell, April rushed over to him. She knelt next to his head and examined him.

"Are you okay," she asked.

"Yeah. I'm fine, I'm fine." Raphael had pulled his hat down to cover his now red face. April couldn't help but laugh. "What's so funny," he asked looking up at her while still covering his face.

"Nothing," she answered still laughing.

After the sparring contest, April went back to her room to relax before dinner. She looked through the atlases stored on the left side of the bookshelf. When the sun had gone down, April made her way back to the Captain's quarters. He and the food were waiting for her. She sat down and began to eat.

"How was your day Princess?"

"Wonderful. I loved the tour."

"I'm glad you enjoyed it."

"I especially enjoyed beating you in fencing."

"You didn't beat me."

"Yes I did."

"You just temporarily disarmed me."

"Then why couldn't you get back up after you fell?"

"The shell's aerodynamics are being tweaked as we speak."

They both laughed and continued to giggle long after the joke was dead.

"I must share something with you Princess."

"Could you please call me April every now and then? Princess sounds so cordial. And do tell."

"April." He smiled at the sound of her name escaping from his mouth. "I must say you have become a favorite here on the ship."

"Really?"

"Everyone loves you. They tell me all the time how lucky we are to have such a gorgeous sweet girl on the ship."

"You called me beautiful again," she said in fake anger, smiling when she said it.

"Technically, I didn't call you that, the crew did. And they didn't say beautiful, they said gorgeous." He leaned into to the table to establish the difference.

April felt her face get hot. As she sat there something came to her that put her in a state of shock. Raphael could tell something was wrong.

"Is everything okay April?"

"Tomorrow."

"What about tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow's my birthday." They sat in silence as April collected herself. "Tomorrow's my birthday and I won't get to see my father."

More silence.

"Tell you what, don't worry about it."

"What do you mean," she asked. How could someone not worry about their own birthday?

"I've got it handled."

"I don't understand."

"You don't have to. Do watch as you wish tomorrow afternoon. I'll be busy. But come here at dinnertime like always."

"I don't get it. Wha-"

"Wow it looks like it's time for some shut eye. May I escort you home Princess?"

Raphael stood and walked over to April; holding out his arm for her to take it. April rose and curtsied.

"You may."

She took his arm and they walked back to her room. They stopped at the door and Raph took off his hat to bow.

"Sleep well Princess."

"You as well Captain."