~Everybody wants eternal life but nobody can seem to get it right~
After a few minutes of silence April stood up and walked towards Master Splinter, carefully tapping him on the shoulder, trying not to disturb her mutant friends. "What is wrong April?" Splinter asked kindly and looked over to the red-haired teen. April didn't say anything but just signed for the dojo. Splinter took the hint and stood up.
April grinned and grabbed Casey by his arm, dragging him along to the dojo. Leaving the 4 turtles for some time alone.
"What was that all about?" Casey mumbled as he rubbed his sore arm. April just rolled with her eyes en grabbed her phone again. Turning it on and displaying the message she just got.
"I got a text from dad, everything is set and the package is delivered" She said to Splinter and showed him the message. Splinter bowed forward to read it better and also a small smile appeared on his face. Casey frowned, having no idea what this was all about.
"Am I missing something?" Casey frowned, which earned him a slap on the sore spot on his arm. "April" Casey yelled and rubbed his sore arm again, pouting slightly.
"The dinner me and my dad planned for them, to surprise them remember? And the package we ordered" April said and rolled with her eyes. She shut the phone and grabbed her twin tessen from the weapon rack. She mostly carried it everywhere she went but ever since they rescued the turtles she thought it would be better not to carry them around.
"Right, dinner" Casey grinned and rubbed his head. April rolled with her eyes again and followed Master Splinter outside the Dojo, quickly texting her dad they would be there soon. Casey huffed and followed April too. When they got back into the living room they saw they were still in the same position. Mikey and Donnie were still wrapped up in the blanket but were now quickly poking each other. Making them both laugh.
Leo was quietly on the couch but with a smile on his face. Raph curled up against him, and his head resting on top of Leo's plastron. Leo's hand was dropped on his own plastron and Raph's hand was on top of Leo's hand. It was an adorable sight.
"Guys" April asked hesitantly. She knew they were still slightly afraid going topside, because that was where they were captured. Mikey, Donnie, Raph and Leo all looked up. "I have a surprise at my house, you coming?"
The 4 brothers all exchanged some worried glances. "Come on, it'll be fun" April pouted but knew better than to force them. Raph slowly got up and looked to Leo, Mikey and Donnie doing the same. Leo bit his lip and glanced from his father over to his April.
"Nothing will happen my son, Casey, April and I will be with you the whole journey" His father assured him. Leo glanced over to his brothers. They were all looking at him, waiting for him to take a decision. He slowly looked at April again and then hesitantly nodded.
A smile grew on April's face and walked over to Mikey and Donnie, since Splinter already went to help Raph off the couch, since he was still injured. Mikey whined when the blanket fell off his shoulders as Donnie stood up but April just chuckled and handed him another blanket. Since they were cold blooded their temperature was quite important. When they would get too hot or too cold that could damage them.
And since they were still rather shaky they had to stay warm enough the whole time. April helped Mikey with standing up and tightened the blanket around her friends body. Mikey smiled gratefully and walked over to Donnie, refusing to leave his side. Leo was already standing at the entrance together with Casey and Raph and Splinter joined them soon.
Raph was still a bit dizzy due to his injuries but he managed, and Splinter could always carry him. They soon found a manhole cover closest to April's house and climbed out. Leo was the first one to go out of the sewers and shivered badly, seeing topside for the first time in so many days. He turned to the manhole and helped Casey and April out.
Splinter followed soon, carrying Raph while they climbed, much to Raph's annoyance. Donnie and Mikey followed soon. Mikey squeaked slightly and shuffled closer to Donnie while Donnie just wrapped the blanket tighter and tighter around his body.
"Let's go" April said as she noticed the discomfort of her friends and started climbing until she reached the rooftop. Her mutant friends and Casey followed soon and they all began to ran to April's apartment. And Splinter even had to carry Raph for the last few minutes because he couldn't keep up.
They jumped onto the fire-escape and April quickly pushed open her window, jumping inside her room. She flushed slightly when she remembered she actually let in 5 teenage boys and a father inside her own bedroom but quickly shrugged it off and went over to the hall.
"Dad, we're here!" April exclaimed as she raced down the stairs, quickly hugging her father. Casey and the 5 mutants followed soon after.
"Thank you for your hospitality Mr. O'Neil" Splinter said politely and looked to his sons, who were looking around in amazement. The whole room was decorated with Christmas lights, even though it wasn't even Christmas yet. The main lights were off and the only thing lightening the room were the colorful lights. There was a plastic Christmas tree decorated with Christmas balls.
But the best part was the large table, filled with delicious meals and snacks, and of course Pizza. Under the Christmas tree was a large present, the name 'Michelangelo' written all over it.
"Mikey!" April called out and grinned, pointing to the Christmas tree. A huge grin spread among his face when he saw the present and ran towards it, but April stopped him. "Easy, let's sit down first" April chuckled and gestured to the couch. It would be a little too early to eat anyways. Mikey squeaked in excitement and sat down immediately, pulling Donnie next to him.
Leo grinned and pulled Raph down on the same couch. Splinter sat down too, followed by Casey and Kirby. "This sure wasn't easy to find out, and just to be sure when real Christmas comes you will all get your presents" She said, glancing over to the 3 oldest turtles. They all grinned and Donne quickly poked Mikey in the side.
April sighed slightly and handed Mikey the present and sat down on the chair next to Mikey's place. Waiting for him to open the present. Mikey quickly ripped off the paper but then froze in place. His mouth fell open and his eyes began to water.
"T-this is…." Mikey gasped and pulled away the last remains of the paper, showing a picture of a small but powerful saw.
"It was Casey too" April said and took the present from Mikey, since he was still frozen in place, but his hands were now locked around his collar.
"I-is it…. Powerful enough?" Mikey whispered and looked from Casey and April, who both nodded. April began to open the package and showed them all the small saw. It sure looked powerful. Maybe even powerful enough to saw through the collar.
"You want us to do it now?" April asked Mikey who only nodded and wiped away his tears. "Alright, Donnie can you hold him?" April said quickly, knowing it would be too cruel to let Mikey wait any longer. Donnie obeyed and pulled Mikey closer to his body, exposing the back of Mikey's neck and rooting it in place.
April plugged the saw in and gave it to Casey. She then bend over Mikey and gently pushed the collar off his neck slightly, so Casey wouldn't cut into Mikey's skin. Casey nodded to Donnie and started the saw. Mikey whimpered slightly when the saw neared him but said nothing. The saw easily pushed through the iron and within seconds the saw was all the way through.
April quickly turned the collar so the cut was now in front and Casey could got the other side. As quickly as before Casey started and easily went through the iron, until the collar fell to both sides. Casey smiled and turned the saw off and April grabbed the two pieces of the collar. Mikey pulled out of Donnie's death grip and revealed his tears.
"I-is it …g-gone?" Mikey stuttered with a slight voice and reached for his neck. His eyes widened when he suddenly felt his own skin again. It was slightly sore but it was his own skin again, not the same cold iron collar he got used to all these days. It wasn't the collar that would remind him that he was owned. No, it was his own skin again.
Mikey jumped up and pulled April and Casey both in a big hug. "I love you g-guys so much" Mikey sobbed but laughed through his tears. After a few seconds he pulled out and jumped right on top of his brothers. Pulling them into a hug too.
Eventually they managed to calm Mikey enough and they all sat around the table for dinner. And despite everything they had gone through they had a wonderful evening. They talked happily, ate together and enjoyed their time. Splinter was smiling the whole time during dinner.
He had said it so many times and Splinter would say it again. The scars would be something that would always remain, and no time could completely heal time. But time could heal the worst. And they would eventually be happy again. Together, as a family.
This focused more on Mikey than I wanted to :/ I was writing this and all of a sudden a whole page was filled lol ^^
This is also kinda the last chapter, there will be an epilogue but officially (as far as this is official xd) this is the last chapter.