It's been 2 months since the turtles saved New York from Kraang and his war machine. They were honored by the N.Y.P.D. with keys to the city and made lasting friendships.
April and Casey started dating, much to Donnie and Mikey's disappointment. They share an apartment that happens to have easy access to the lair thanks to Donnie. Casey was accepted into the police academy for detective and was taking day classes while still patrolling the city with the turtles some nights during the week.
Vern decided he was going to start his own news station with April as his top reporter. It didn't help his over inflated ego but it kept him occupied most of the time.
The turtles were kept busy with missions the N.Y.P.D. couldn't do, curtesy of detective Vincent. She also gave them code names as well. Swift aka Leo, M.C. aka Mikey, Ghost aka Donnie, and last but not least Rebel aka Raphael. This allowed only a handful of the N.Y.P.D. to know who they really were to help keep them safe from enemy informants.
Leo had only agreed to take these missions as long as they were given all the details to each case and that Leo decides how the brothers were going to execute each mission. Majority of them were simple recon and rescue missions so not too exciting for Raph's tastes.
Though these missions allowed the brothers to explore more of New York. Mikey loves seeing all the new sites and different parts of their beloved city. Donnie made some friends with the N.Y.P.D. tech team and helped a lot with their cyber-criminal hackers.
All these positive things were great for the brothers but one fact still loomed over the brother's heads and it had been even before the threat of Shredder and Kraang.
Master Splinter was getting older.
The boys could see his age more and more over the past years and the attack on the lair from Shredder two and a half years ago didn't help the aging master. This had Leo worried constantly while they were on long missions. Luckily for the boys April always stopped by the lair while they were gone to check in on the beloved rat.
Which brings us to the start of our story.
The Lair
"You know, April, this old rat is still able to make his own tea." Master Splinter said amused.
"I know, Sensei, I just want to help." April said smiling as she took the whistling teapot off the stove and poured hot water into two cups full of tea leaves.
"Don't think I don't know that my son has asked you to check up on me while they are gone on their mission. I may be old but I am not too old that I need to be pampered or checked on." He said with a grunt.
April smiled wider. Nothing gets past Splinter.
"Splinter, you know they just worry and care about you a great deal. You're the only Parental Guidance they've had all their lives. Of course they would want you to be taken care of, even if you don't need it. And besides this allows me to have my one-on-one time with my sensei." She said as she placed the tea down in front of him.
He smiled and stroked his beard. "I know I am getting older, young one, but that does not mean that my children will treat to me as a child that needs to be coddled." He sighed and frowned slightly. "But this is something I have been wanting to speak to you about, April."
"What is it, Sensei?" April asked concern etched in her voice. He looked up from his tea and smiled.
"I am all right, April. But I fear that when I do leave this world it will cause a great rift for the boys. They're going to need people to fill the void when I am gone. I do not wish for them to be alone in this world. It won't be enough for them to have just each other. You know they would rip each other apart not on purpose but because they can't give each other what they really need."
"I'm not sure what you mean. The boys have always had each other to depend on." She said taking a sip of her tea.
"Ah yes but tell me, April, before you met Casey, were you complete?" He asked cupping his tea in his old hands.
"Well, n-no. I felt I was missing something. I thought I could fill it with my career, but that wasn't it." She said as she looked down at the table. "When I met Casey, . . . I don't know it felt right."
"And that is what my sons will need when I'm gone. They aren't children anymore and I don't wish for them to be lonely in this world. But I fear they will not be able to find anyone who will not fear them for their appearance."
April smiled softly at Splinter and placed her hand on his. "I wouldn't be so sure about that, Sensei, look at all the people they have been able to meet and make friends with. I'm sure there is someone out there for each of them."
Master Splinter smiled and patted her hand. "I truly hope your right, April."