Grace glanced at the lair door again, her leg bouncing a little. She felt a gentle nudge on her shoulder and looked at Hamari, who was looking at her with a kind of amused concern.

"It's not going to open any sooner the more times you look at it."

Letting out a soft, sheepish chuckle, Grace dropped her eyes.

"Yes… yes, I know."

After a moment, Hamari reached out and placed a gentle hand on her arm.

"He's strong, Grace. And the others'll keep him safe."

Grace felt her throat tighten, but a smile came to her face before she nudged her own shoulder against Hamari's.

"Do you just know what I'm thinking?"

"Oh, not exactly," Hamari said. "I just know when you're worried. That little line between your eyes is very telling."

Unconsciously, Grace reached up to rub the spot as she let out a soft huff.

"I'm ending up with a worry chasm, aren't I?" she muttered.

"Maybe," Hamari chuckled. "But so did your mother, and whatever her faults no one can deny she's still beautiful."

That made Grace smile again, but with a sense of bittersweetness to it. Hamari apparently saw it, because she let out a sigh as she rested her forehead against her hand.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought that up now. I just…"

"No," Grace said quickly. "No, don't apologize, it's fine. And I do really appreciate it."

Just then, the sound of the door unlocking broke into their conversation. Grace was on her feet right away, her nerves tingling as she took a few quick steps forward. Once the door opened, the first thing she saw was that all four brothers were there, which was a relief at first. Then she saw their solemn faces and an icy grip of fear clutched her heart. She hurried toward them and heard Hamari following close behind.

"What's wrong?" Grace asked anxiously, her eyes moving to Mikey. "Did something happen? Are you…"

He moved to take her hands, giving her a reassuring smile.

"I'm fine, Grace… we're all fine. But yeah, something did happen."

Grace bit her lip as he hesitated, looking both reluctant and worried. His brothers remained standing back, their concerned eyes moving between her and Mikey. Finally, the orange banded turtle let out a sigh.

"Your mom found us."

Grace felt a chill run through her body, Hamari's startled exclamation seeming to come from a distance. The question of if her mother had hurt him or the others sprang to her lips, but then she remembered Mikey had told her they were fine.

"But… why would she… why?"

Mikey gave her hands a gentle squeeze.

"Well… she said she knows what she was doing was wrong, and she wanted us to ask you if she can, well…" He inhaled deeply, then sighed again. "She wants to know if she can see you, t' tell you she's sorry herself."

The words almost seemed nonsensical to Grace at first, so many different emotions storming inside her that she couldn't identify them all. After all that happened, everything left unsaid between them, how could she face her mother? How could she even think Grace would want to see her?

Because you do want to see her.

A solemn, almost bitter smile came to her face. Somehow, even if it felt like she didn't know her at all, it also seemed Sakura knew Grace better than anyone else. She felt Mikey lightly squeeze her hands again and looked up to see him looking at her with an inquiring, concerned look.

"You okay?" he asked gently.

Her smile softened, but the emotional storm raging in her continued.

"I… I'm fine," she managed. "I just, I'm just not sure how… how…"

Mikey smiled.

"How to feel," he finished.

Grace blinked, but it wasn't a very big surprise. Both her and Mikey had always seemed able to tell what each other were thinking, even before she began feeling more than friendship for him.

"I know this is hard," Leo spoke up, drawing her attention. "But we told her the choice is up to you, and whatever you decide, you'll have our support."

He was looking at her with a look of gentle concern that she'd seen him direct countless times toward his younger brothers. Once again, she felt a surge of warmth at the knowledge that the turtles looked at her and Hamari as family. Her friend's hand rested on her arm.

"That goes for me too," she said. "I said I chose to stand with you, and I meant it."

Grace felt a lump rise in her throat, and her smile grew tremulous.

"I know, imoto," she murmured. "Thank you."

She directed her gaze downward, thinking. The pessimistic side of her whispered that this might be a trick, some kind of trap. But still, she found herself unable to convince herself of that. She had never been able to completely understand her mother, but one thing remained that she was always sure of.

Her mother never said anything that she didn't mean.

Maybe it was just wishful thinking, an unconscious desire to repair the rift that had been between them as long as she could remember. Every bit of logic said that Grace had no reason to trust this request. But something deep inside, something she had turned to over and over whenever she felt lost, that had never failed her yet, told her that she could.

She looked up, but before she could say anything Mikey smiled and pulled her into a warm, gentle hug.

"Ya won't be going alone," he murmured, running a hand through her hair.

Grace felt a lump rise in her throat, tears pricking her eyes as she smiled and nestled into his embrace. Another person embraced her on the other side, and she knew who it was.

"Anatawa hitorijanai," Hamari said softly.

That statement finally sent a tear running down Grace's face. Her voice quivered when she answered, but it was full of resolve.

"Arigato, onesan, koiboto."

So many questions still lay in front of her, and the way forward was anything but clear. But the thought that she wasn't facing this alone, but with two people who meant the world to her, she felt strong enough to face it.