Story is about half way done. Thank you for reading this far! Now it's off to New York! I did the best I could describing the farmhouse... twenty-five years after the events of the series. I hope it's good!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons" nor "TMNT." I only own Karena, Lilianna, Ryan, Venus, and Athena.


December 17, 2038 – Todayland, North Montana, USA

LILIANNA'S POV

My mother was right. Three weeks had passed since my parents flew to Todayland to see me and to spend Thanksgiving with the Robinsons. It gave Karena the opportunity to finally catch up with both my parents, and it gave the three of us the opportunity to forgive each other of that incident back in October. A four-day weekend was not enough time for me to bond with my parents after my kidnapping.

My parents left the following Monday morning after they ate breakfast with us. I was elated when my dad returned my T-Phone to me so that I could actually call him without borrowing someone else's phone. I was taken in for a surprise when I discovered that my dad had left videos for me to see on my phone every single day since my kidnapping until the day he and my mom flew here. He was crying at first, and then his sobs slowly turned into a smile as time moved on.

Meanwhile, I had attended school with Wilbur, and I had cheerleading practice every day. Tuesdays and Fridays were days with basketball games, so I performed on those days. Wilbur had performed also with the color guard. Karena had videotaped both my performance with the cheerleaders and Wilbur's performance with the color guard, and she had sent them to my dad. My dad had shown them to my cousins and uncles, who had cheered both of us on. I had smiled, for despite my cousins and aunts not knowing who Wilbur was, they were still happy to watch him.

The decision for me to make the cheerleading squad was the best decision I had ever made in my life. Almost all of the cheerleaders had welcomed me into the squad from the day of my tryout, and I felt part of yet another family. Only Bonnie had given me a hard time. I had read her mind one day, and it turned out that Bonnie was jealous of all the skills I had. They also inspired me to do my homework with them, and as a result, I had earned straight A's for the fall semester.

Today was the last day of the semester, and right afterwards, Wilbur and Franny was to drive me and Karena to Todayland Airport. Words could not describe how excited I was at seeing my parents again, but not just my parents. I was also excited at seeing my three cousins, three uncles, and three aunts.

I finished drawing a picture of Wilbur just in time for the final bell to ring. I got up, walked out of the classroom, up the stairs, and to my locker, which could only be open by an eye scan. I opened my locker and put away my books, but not before tearing off my drawing of Wilbur and folding it, putting it in the pocket of my green shirt. I grabbed my coat and backpack before closing my locker, and I jumped when I saw Wilbur next to me.

"Wilbur, you are amazing at scaring the crap out of people!" I said out loud with laughter.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to scare you," Wilbur replied with a smirk. "Are you ready to head to New York for the next two weeks?"

"Yes, I am. But before we go, I have something for you."

Wilbur's smirk turned into a heart-melting smile.

"Aww Lily, you don't have to do that."

"This was the best I could do for a Christmas present," I replied.

I took my drawing out of my pocket and handed it to my friend. He opened his mouth in awe.

"I could swear this is Karena's drawing of me," Wilbur said softly. "But I know it's yours. Your drawing technique is different from Karena's, and yet it's perfect."

I blushed.

"Both my parents are artists, too, but my dad is an artist to get ideas for his inventions. My mom draws for fun and relaxation."

Wilbur smiled.

"Well, add artistry to Lilianna Hamato's list of many talents."

I laughed merrily.

"Thank you so much for this," Wilbur said with a kind smile. "Remind me to do something for you when you get back."

"Well, Christmas is a week away," I replied. "But you don't have to get me anything."

"Lily, you got something for me. Therefore, I'm going to come up with something for you. Now, you clearly like art and the color lavender. You also have a preference to rock music when you practice your bo staff training, and you love to dance. But when someone asks you what you want for Christmas, what comes to mind?"

"Oh, gosh!" I exclaimed. "That's a good question."

"No, that is an excellent question," Wilbur corrected me, which got a giggle out of me. "What is the one thing you have always desired?"

"Well, right now, I most desire my dad teaching me physics and how to throw ninja stars," I answered. "But in all seriousness and from the heart… I'd want to go to a ball of some sort. I know that living with my parents never gives me the chance to dress up fancy, and I can't do that in the sewers. I'm not sure I'll ever have the chance here. But if it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, that's what I would want to do."

Wilbur smiled at me, and then to my surprise, he kissed me on the cheek. I rubbed my right cheek, feeling like my heart had melted.

"Why do I feel so… surprised and pleased right now?" I asked.

"Because you didn't expect it," Wilbur replied. "That is a wonderful Christmas wish. We'll see what we can do. But for right now, we need to get you and Karena to the airport."

Wilbur and I trotted down the stairs to greet Karena and Franny. We got in Franny's red flying car, and we drove into the heart of Todayland. I was thankful for Franny packing my things and putting them in the car, for I would have forgotten them in all of my excitement. But what got me even more excited was going through the airport, which showcased all of Cornelius's achievements as an inventor as well as the history that had occurred before Regina, Saskatchewan transformed into Todayland, North Montana. The four of us quickly got to the gate, for the plane was set to take off at four-thirty. I witnessed Karena and Wilbur embracing before giving each other a kiss.

"I love you," Karena told him.

"I love you too, Karr," Wilbur replied back.

I looked forward to see Franny walking up to me. She gave me a hug, and I hugged her back.

"You be safe in New York, okay?" Franny told me, and I nodded. "Despite the city's crime rate dropping significantly, it can still be a dangerous place."

"My family is a family full of ninjas, Franny," I replied. "I know I'll be safe."

Franny kissed me on the cheek.

"Keep us updated. Have fun, say hi to the Turtles for me. And come back to Todayland with your father and Karena safely."

"I will."

"I love you, Lily."

I let out a sigh.

"I love you too, Franny."

We let go, and the announcement came for us to board the plane. I followed Karena onto the plane, and she allowed me to sit next to a window. Before I knew it, we were taking off. I smiled as I saw the beauty of the city before going up into the skies.


New York City, New York, USA

KARENA'S POV

It was a three-hour flight from Todayland Airport to LaGuardia Airport in New York City. The plane left at four-thirty. But to my surprise, it was eight-thirty at night! We quickly got off the plane.

"Ugh, and just like that we lose an hour," Lily moaned, shaking her head. "I hate time zones."

"That makes two of us," I replied.

"Make that four."

I immediately recognized Donnie's voice as Lily ran over to him and embraced him. Her father not only embraced her back, but he twirled her around in the air. I smiled at the sight, and I could tell Lily loved her father's display of affection. April eventually came over to me and hugged me.

"Welcome to New York City… twenty-five years later."

"Has it really been twenty-five years?" I asked with a smile.

"Yes, believe it or not!" April answered with a chuckle. "So! We are going to the lair, get you reacquainted with the rest of the family, and then Donnie and I have made some arrangements at the farmhouse."

"Well, let's go then! I need to call Wilbur and let him know I made it safely."

"You can do that in the Party Wagon, Karena," Donnie replied. "We have acquired two vehicles since you last saw us in New York. So, let's roll!"

Donnie and April led me and Lily through the airport and eventually outside to see an old yellow Volkswagen.

"WOW!" I yelled excitedly. "I never thought I'd see one of those again!"

"It was my dad's when he was a teenager," April explained with a smile. "This van was a big help in our escape from New York City."

"But for right now, this van will help us return to the lair," Donnie said with a smile on his face. "They've all been expecting you both."

"I can't wait to see everybody again," Lily replied with a hopeful smile. "I'm ready."

It was not a long drive to get to the lair. My mouth opened with surprise when I discovered Donnie had created secret doorways to look like buildings in disguise.

"Donnie, did you meet Batman and come up with these disguises?" I asked with a smirk.

"I came up with these on my own," he answered. "My brothers and I actually have helped Batman a couple times."

My jaw dropped even wider.

"Okay, that Batman part was a little sarcastic on my part," I explained, biting my lip. "But it's cool that you actually met him! What's he like?"

Donnie let out a sigh.

"A genius with walls surrounding an empty heart."

We reached the lair in no time as Donnie parked the Party Wagon in what looked like a garage. I followed Donnie and April while Lily followed me.

"We're back!" Donnie announced.

I smiled. The lair had very rarely changed. It looked almost exactly like it did in 2013. I looked ahead to see Leo, a woman with short black and blonde hair – probably his wife, and a young boy with black hair whom I correctly assumed was their son running out of the dojo and into the living room.

"Karena?" Leo asked with surprise in his voice.

"It is great to see you, Leo," I replied with a smile.

"Oh my gosh!" Leo exclaimed, running up to me and giving me a hug. "This is a pleasant surprise! How are you?"

"I'm here and safe. And I have an even bigger surprise for you."

I stepped to the side for Leo to see his niece for the first time in three months.

"Hi Uncle Leo," Lily said shyly. "Hi Auntie Karai."

"Oh, Lily."

Leo and his wife embraced Lily, who happily embraced back.

"Welcome home," her aunt softly told her.

"Thanks. It's good to be home."

They separated, and then Leo led his wife and son to me.

"Karai, this is Karena, a very good friend of ours. Karena, this is my wife Karai and our son Ryan."

"It is an honor to meet you, Karena," Karai said with a bow, and I returned it.

"The honor is all mine," I replied. "And Ryan, it's very nice to meet you."

Ryan just stood still. That is, until his father nudged him.

"It's… nice to meet you too," Ryan finally spoke.

I took a good look at Ryan. He looked more turtle than human, as he was born with a shell, and he carried the same shade of green as Donnie. Like his mother, he had brown eyes. He was very clearly Japanese, just like his mother.

"I never asked you, Donnie," I spoke up. "I'm thinking Ryan was born through surgery. Was Lily born the same way?"

"No, April and I worked together to have a natural live birth in our bath tub," Donnie explained. "When Lily and April survived with no injuries, everyone else was inspired to try to reproduce."

"Words could not describe how happy I was to tell Leo we were having a baby," Karai chimed in with a dreamy smile. "I discovered I was pregnant a few weeks after Lilianna was born. I had been gaining weight while helping Donatello and April, but I didn't know what was causing it. Donatello examined me, and with a smile, he revealed that I was having a baby. Ryan had to be born by a Caesarean surgery. If it wasn't for Donatello, I would not have survived. He was born on January 1st."

"Raph and his wife Mona discovered they were expecting that Christmas Day," Donnie continued the story. "Venus was also delivered by Caesarean surgery on August 12th. Mikey and his wife discovered their bundle of joy shortly after Mona did, and I performed my last Caesarean surgery on September 30th."

"No one tried for a second?" I asked with a smile.

"Donnie and I tried and succeeded," April answered with a frown. "But we lost our son when I was 20 weeks pregnant. We had just discovered we were carrying a boy, and before I knew it, I had fallen on the floor in pain, and I was bleeding. Before we both knew it, I had delivered a stillborn baby on the bathroom floor."

"I named him Yoshi, after Master Splinter," Donnie chimed in with sadness in his voice. "We buried him next to Splinter. This was before Venus and Athena came along. Boy, we sure were thankful for Lily that day. Things would have taken a turn for the worse if Lily hadn't been with us."

"What is the celebration?"

We turned to see… a feminine creature I could not quite describe. But it was very clear she was either a mutant or not of this planet. She had teal skin with a long tail, and she wore a pink bandana around her neck. She was accompanied by a young girl, who had the same color skin as her, but I could see a turtle shell on her back, and she wore a baby blue bandana.

"Lilianna, is that you?"

"Auntie Mona!" Lily cried with happiness. "Venus!"

Lily ran over to them and hugged them both. Venus appeared to not enjoy hugging. Remembering correctly that Raphael was Mona's husband, I could tell Venus was certainly his daughter.

"Auntie Mona, Venus, this is Karena," Lily introduced them to me. "We met in Todayland. Karena, this is my aunt Mona Lisa and my cousin Venus."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," I told Mona, shaking her hand. "What species are you, exactly?"

"My real name is Y-Gythgba," Mona answered. "I am a Salamandrian from the planet Salamandria."

"There's a planet full of salamanders? Fascinating. What brought you here to Earth?"

"My comrade and I were tracking an outlaw who happened to be transporting to Earth. I had met Raphael prior to this on his adventures in outer space. Raphael suggested I remain on Earth, and I requested permission to stay to protect her from space invaders. Raphael and Venus de Milo are my greatest treasures on this planet, and Leonardo, Donatello, and Michelangelo have welcomed me into their family with open arms."

"And I'm Renet."

I turned around again to see a woman with blonde hair in a braided crown wearing blue armor. She walked out of the kitchen with a girl, whose looks reminded me of Lily. This girl was more human than turtle, and she had blonde hair like her mom.

"Hi!" the girl greeted me. "I'm Athena!"

"I'm Karena. It's a pleasure to meet you, Athena."

"Lily!"

"Hi, Athena!" Lily greeted her excitedly.

"Oh, Lily, praise the creator of time and space!" Renet cried. "You're finally home!"

"I take it you're Mikey's wife?" I asked the woman.

"Yep! And boy, I'm so glad the past finally caught up! I can be a Time Master without having to keep my marriage and daughter a secret."

I glanced around in confusion. Renet took a closer look at me, and then she gasped.

"You're Karena Edwards! I know you!"

"You do?" I asked, still feeling confused.

"When I met Michelangelo in the year 2015, I had come from this very year: 2038. I was studying to be an Assistant Time Master to Lord Simultaneous. I watched my future slowly changing when I discovered a disturbance in Los Angeles. I saw you moving through time and space to the future and remaining there. I pleaded with Lord Simultaneous to convince you to stay, but he disagreed, saying that the move was your choice. I travelled all around the world one day in 2038 to see what would become of us and of you. You looked happy when I saw you, and now that I'm seeing you in the flesh, I know you're happy."

"You couldn't be with your daughter in the future, could you?" I asked.

"No," Renet answered, letting out a sigh. "When I discovered I was pregnant with Athena, I couldn't go back to the future until she was born. Thank heavens for all that time Mikey had with his nieces and nephews! Every time I came to see him and Athena, Mikey had taken such good care of her. But now that time has actually caught up to me, I can be with my family all the time!"

"That is exactly why I refuse to work with time travel," Donnie chimed in, crossing his arms.

"What's wrong with time travel, Donnie?" Leo asked.

"Too complicated for you to understand?" Karai asked.

Donnie let out a huff before answering.

"Okay, look. I have been time travelling four times from the time I was fifteen and until I was twenty. Every time I had travelled back in time, some disastrous event happens that alters history as well as the future."

"Well, that's not true, D," April replied. "Remember when we went to space with the Fugitoid and we had to find the pieces of the Black Hole Generator? We ended up saving the planet. You've gotta give that time trip credit."

Donnie hesitated before replying.

"Okay, you got me there. There are way too many complications that come with time travel."

"Wilbur has always followed the rules of time travel," I replied, defending my boyfriend back in Todayland. "He always has a great respect for life and tries hard not to mess that up."

"Karena, I admire Wilbur for that," Donnie said. "I really do. But did you know that I was approached by an agency called TIME? This man asked me to work in an agency that specializes in time travel. I had already turned Cornelius down when he asked me to work with him on that subject. Too many dangerous things can happen. If a time machine, or even a part that creates a time machine, falls into the wrong hands, then that person can create chaos in the timelines."

"At least Lord Simultaneous was smart enough not to build a time machine," Renet barked. "Hence why we have the time scepter. Only those cautiously and fully trained in time travel can use the scepter."

"Anyway, my point is…"

Donnie hesitated before putting on an angry expression.

"I will not work for someone who is not careful and can cause negligence and recklessness with their resources. I absolutely will not work for someone who works to take innocent lives away from the planet. Therefore, I WILL NOT work anyplace that specializes in time travel!"

We all looked at Donnie with shock, surprise, and astonishment. I glanced toward Renet, who looked down, and then back at Donnie, who very rarely lost his temper.

"Come on, Renet," Mona told her. "Let's go spend some time with the Mighty Mutanimals."

Mona put an arm around her sister-in-law, and they left the lair together.

"The Mighty Mutanimals?" I asked with confusion. "Who are they?"

"They're a group of mutants we had met when we first started out," Leo explained. "Raph's pet turtle Spike mutated to become their leader, Slash. Leatherhead was a pet alligator until he got flushed down the toilet and the Kraang experimented on him. April found out Dr. Rockwell was mutated into a psychic monkey. Mondo Gecko was a boy named Jason who had a pet gecko named Lars, and when the mutagen struck, they merged together. Pigeon Pete was part of the group, but no one talks about him anymore. Donnie was able to mutate him back into a normal pigeon."

"Shinigami and I were living with them until I married Leo," Karai told us.

"Don, are you alright?" April asked her husband.

"April, would you like to patrol with me?" Donnie asked in response..

"So that's a no," April replied with a smirk. "Of course I will. Patrolling calms you down. Karena, could you watch Lily for us?"

"Of course," I replied with a smile. "Have a good patrol."

After April and Donnie left the lair, Lily and I glanced at each other and let out a sigh.

"So your dad did not agree with Cornelius on everything," I said with sadness in my voice.

"No relationship is ever perfect, Karena," Athena replied.

"I remembered a time when my dad received a phone call from Cornelius, asking for his help," Lily explained. "I overheard the call. Dad was angry. It turned out that when he was seventeen, he and his brothers followed Renet on a trip through time to stop some guy named Savanti Romero. After they were successful, they were on their way back to their present when they got separated from Renet and ended up in Tokyo… one year prior to Splinter moving to America. While my dad was in Japan, he had noticed how much the present was changing. Mom and a friend named Casey had disappeared from a picture he had on his phone. It broke Dad's heart, and it really prompted him to get Tang Shen and Hamato Yoshi together, and eventually to save Yoshi from the fire."

Lily paused, letting out a sigh.

"You already know the story of my dad travelling through space, so I'll fast forward to 2017. My dad had just turned twenty. The Turtles were preparing to celebrate Halloween in the city when monsters started to emerge. Savanti Romero was responsible, so they went on another time traveling trip with Renet. My mother had become a vampire before the trip. Uncle Raph turned into a vampire in Transylvania. After believing that the Turtles had done everything in their power to fix history, things were worse in New York. My dad became a vampire after my mom bit him. Thankfully, Savanti Romero was stopped, and Mom, Dad, and Uncle Raph went back to normal."

Lily let out another sigh.

"I remember my dad talking to Cornelius on the phone in 2029, angered that he was recommended to work for TIME. He had sworn off time travel, believing that it was going to do more harm than good. Dad wanted nothing to do with it."

"I think Uncle Donnie has a point," Athena finally spoke. "Some things are better left alone. History got us to where we are today. Who are we to change it?"

"Athena, you're Renet's daughter," I replied with surprise in my voice. "Has your mother told you about her job?"

"Yes, but my father went on these adventures too. My mom isn't the best time traveler in the world, but she still loved me and my dad. I wouldn't want to change history for anything. I wouldn't travel in time just to watch an event unfold."

"Wilbur used to go back in time for exactly that reason," I replied. "Wilbur recklessly changed the timelines at first, but he learned his lessons and fixed everything."

"He sounds like a better time traveler than my mom," Athena said. "They would have a lot to talk about."

"Meanwhile, how would you all like to join us for a sparring session?" Leo chimed in.

"That sounds amazing, actually," Lily answered with a smile on her face.


I had the pleasure of watching the Turtles' children sparring against each other with only their fists and feet. Lily, Ryan, Venus, and Athena were all amazing fighters.

"I am their sensei," Leo explained. "But each of them have their own teachers also. Karai taught Ryan how to use his weapon, the yari. You probably know both Donnie and April trained Lily with their respective weapons. Lily is a true jack of trades."

I had to laugh, because Leo described Lily perfectly.

"Venus is Raph's daughter, and she wanted her father to make sure of that with her sais."

I cracked up laughing.

"And Athena… man, Mikey is probably the best teacher of them all, even more than me. She is gifted with the Yuma, but will use the nunchucks if she absolutely must. Mona Lisa contributes with her combat training."

Who's the best fighter there?" I asked.

"Venus. Like mother, like daughter."

"Or is it like father, like daughter?" I asked with a smirk.

"Very true. Though if there was a child that was more like their father than their mother, it's Lily. You would not believe the resources she has found to build something with her dad or to even win a fight."

"So, who is the most honorable of all the next generation ninjas?"

Leo pondered for a bit as Lily and Ryan sparred against each other.

"All of them have honorable qualities. But if I had to choose one of them to lead the clan one day… it'd be Lily, and it's not just because she's the oldest of her cousins. She has advantages that others do not have. She has the ability to navigate her way through nature, despite her being kidnapped. She's learned how to use most of our weapons. It took her years, but she's finally learned how to meditate, even meeting Splinter."

"And you know this how?"

"Splinter told me through meditation," Leo answered, just as Lily pinned Ryan to the ground. "Session over. Ya me!"

"Geez, Lily, did you learn self-defense while you were all the way in North Montana?" Ryan asked in annoyance.

"You could say that," Lily answered with a smile. "Wilbur's an excellent teacher."

"Ooh—"

"Cut it out, Ryan," Lily interrupted him. "He's more like a brother. And besides, Karena's dating him."

"Aww, you guys are sparring without me?"

We looked to the door to see… a more muscular Raphael.

"Karena, is that you?" Mikey asked, also slightly more muscular.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted them, giving each of them hugs. "I've missed you! But the person you should be hugging is your niece."

Raph and Mikey's jaws dropped when they set their eyes on Lily. She smiled, walked over to them, and hugged both of them.

"So I hear you're a cheerleader now," Raph said with a Brooklyn accent.

"You heard right," Lily replied with a grin. "I never thought I'd be saying that either."

"Where are your parents?"

"Out patrolling. Dad had an argument with Aunt Renet."

"Donnie never fights with anybody," Mikey replied, rubbing his bald head and orange bandanna. "What was the topic?"

"Time travel," I answered. "Donnie explained why he would never work with anyone involved with time travel."

"It's a touchy subject with him," Raph replied. "He was so eager to return to the present when we went to Feudal Japan."

"Yet he never complained when he technically time travelled to the future?"

"I think that's different, Karena. It was his first adventure traveling in time, and it was the only one that went well."

"Wilbur," I whispered. "It's because Wilbur fixed his mistakes."

"I think Wilbur is the only one Donnie can trust with time travel," Leo said. "Karena, could you talk to Donnie? I know how close you are to him."

"I can see what I can do. I'm staying at the farmhouse anyway, so maybe I can talk to him then."


Once Donnie and April returned, Lily and I went with them to the farmhouse. It was a three-hour drive in the Party Wagon, so we ended up reaching the farmhouse at one-thirty in the morning. It was the only house in the area, which scared me a little. But, when I walked in with my suitcase, I discovered that it was a home.

The first room I had walked into was a gathering room. There was a lavender couch on my left for guests to sit on, and to my right was a walk-in closet to hang coats and put shoes away. The staircase was right next to the closet, and every other step had a small lighted Christmas lantern with green garland and fairy lights on the rail.

To the left was the living room with three windows and yellow curtains. There was a Christmas tree that was lit up in colorful lights right next to the fireplace. The fireplace was in between two bookcases full of books, but it was also decorated with white garland, white fairy lights, and three stockings to represent the small family. The mahogany coffee table and yellow arm chairs were pushed back to make room for the Christmas tree. There was a yellow couch and one yellow armchair facing the windows. To my surprise, there was no television in the room. Lastly, and also to my surprise, there were two air mattresses on the floor.

I went back into the gathering room and turned left into the kitchen, which looked like the most modern room in the house. The technology was up to date here, but it was clear everything in this kitchen was invented by Donatello. There was an electric oven and stove with a built-in microwave right above the stove. To my right was a jade-green dining room with a white dining table set beyond French doors. To my left were cabinets and a sink with a window looking outside toward a barn.

With a smile, I had gone outside through the dining room to try to look at the barn, but there was a lock on it, so I had to go back inside. I went up the stairs and debated which way I should go. Ahead of me was a modernized bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and a walk-in shower. The floor had silver tiles and the counters were white. It all blended well with the light grey walls. But what made me smile the most was a picture of Lily as a baby in her mother's arms in the tub. April looked like she was crying through her smile while Donnie had looked at his girls with such fondness on his face. The picture was hanging above the mirror, perhaps representing a memory of how Lily came into the world.

I went out of the bathroom and across the hall, passing three windows with lavender curtains until I reached a bedroom. I could immediately tell it was Donnie and April's room. The walls in here were a beautiful shade of blue, but the bedding was grey. There were two nightstands, one on each side of the bed. One had a picture of Donnie and April on their wedding day and an alarm clock. The other had a stack of books. There was a white Christmas tree with blue fairy lights next to the window, which carried a view of the woods.

There was a room right next to Donnie and April's room, and it belonged to their daughter. The walls were lavender with a purple bed against the wall. Across the room was a dresser, and on top were pictures of each member of the family as well as the family together. There was a bookshelf across from the bed, and on the other side of the window was a desk with a laptop on it. Not wanting to pry into Lily's private life, I walked out of the room and across the hall.

I opened the door only to find that it was an attic. After I was satisfied with my exploration of the farmhouse, I trotted down the stairs. I found Donnie and April at the bottom with smiles on their faces.

"What do you think?" April asked.

"This is an amazing house," I answered in awe. "Donnie, did you do all this yourself?"

Donnie gave me a gap-toothed grin.

"I'd love to take credit for everything, but no, I did not. Leo, Raph, Mikey, and Casey remodeled the bathroom for us. It was their wedding gift to us. Once April and I decided we wanted to make this our home, we eventually remodeled the rest of the house. I have upholstered every piece of furniture in this house, with help from April, and I have reinvented the kitchen. The dining room was all April. She wanted something to do while baby Lily was sleeping."

"So I have to ask: what's with the air mattresses in the living room?"

"Donnie and I are going to sleep down here," April answered. "You're our guest, Karena. With that said, you get the honor of sleeping in the master bedroom."

"Guys, that's not necessary," I replied with a laugh.

"Yes, it is," Donnie corrected me, putting his hands on his hips. "No buts. Our home is your home for the next two weeks. We usually spend the weekends in the lair, but we wanted you to get settled in here tonight. We'll head back to the lair tomorrow morning where we can officially catch up."

"Donnie, April, I don't want to separate you two. That's your place of privacy!"

"And for the next two weeks, it's yours," April replied with a smirk. "And who knows?"

April paused, putting her hands around her husband's neck and then nuzzling her nose with his, both of them carrying fond smiles on their faces.

"Getting cozy in the living room might be a very interesting experience for us."

I watched their lips meet, and I couldn't help but smile. When I met them in 2013, Donnie was crushing hard on April and could only get away with an occasional hug. Now, they're married with a daughter.

"April," Donnie breathed with each kiss. "We… have… company."

They continued kissing. Deciding to wait until tomorrow morning to ask about the barn, I retreated back upstairs into the master bedroom. I smiled when I saw my suitcase there. I left and went into Lily's room. The owner was sitting on her bed, reading a book.

"How are you doing?" I asked the kunoichi.

"It's hard to believe I'm back in my own room," Lily answered, putting her book down. "I never thought I'd see it again. Dad did amazing with the new paint job."

"Your dad did amazing with the entire house! I'm very impressed."

It dawned on me that Lily may know something about the barn.

"Lily… what's so important that the barn is locked?"

"Ew…"

Lily bit her lip.

"It's my dad's lab. There's a lock on it because I explored it alone the night before I got kidnapped. Dad was not thrilled and grounded me from the lab, saying he was going to put a lock on it."

Lily let out a sigh.

"Since I'm home, I might as well serve my punishment. I should not have even trained with my cousins today."

I gave her a smile.

"Lily, I don't think your parents care about your punishment. It happened back in October. And besides, I think you've learned from your mistakes after everything that's happened. I think you came home to a clean slate."

"I never thought of it that way," Lily replied, a smile forming on her lips. "And here I am wanting to be a psychologist someday."

"Really? When did this come on?"

"Just now, actually. The Robinsons have inspired me. My dad has his engineering, biology, physics, et cetera. My mom and Uncle Raph both have investigative skills in their belt. I want to help people the way you and the Robinsons have helped me. Besides, it'll help me learn more about my powers… and about my mother's powers."

"You are a very optimistic girl, Lily. That is a very strong trait in a psychologist. Who knows? You may work with your dad someday!"

Lily laughed.

"That would be pretty amazing."

We heard giggling downstairs.

"I wonder what's so funny?" Lily asked.

"Shall we find out?" I asked.

"You want to spy on my parents? Do we dare?"

"Let's do it!"

Lily and I tiptoed out of the room and down the stairs. We continued to hear Donnie and April giggling, and it came from the living room.

"Maybe they're watching something on their phones?" I asked.

We tiptoed into the living room. April's giggling turned into a moan while Donnie continued to laugh gently.

"Oh gosh," I heard Lily mumble.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

Lily took my hand and led me up the stairs and back into her room, shutting the door.

"Lily, what is going on?" I asked with giggles. "We were about to discover what your parents were giggling about."

"Karena, have you ever lost your virginity?"

"LILY!" I yelled. "That is a very personal question!"

"I'm going to take that as a no," Lily replied, looking into my green eyes. "And of course you wouldn't. Wilbur's fifteen years old."

"What does this have to do with your parents?" I asked, still offended at Lily's question.

"Karena, my parents are having…"

Lily paused, gesturing down. Then it clicked.

"Oh!"

"I have a feeling you'll understand when you and Wilbur get married."

"I love how you automatically assume that Wilbur and I will be husband and wife. We don't know that yet!"

"No, but I have a sixth sense about these things," Lily replied, playing with her red hair.

"I should get changed and get into bed. Have a good night, Lily. And welcome home."

"Says the woman from California. Thank you."

I opened the door and left the room, walking straight into April and Donnie's room. I changed from my red shirt and green skirt to my brown chemise. I brushed my hair at the mirror that was hanging in their closet, and then I called it a night, getting into the most comfortable bed I had ever laid on and immediately falling asleep.


The next day…

DONATELLO'S POV

I spent the first part of my morning brewing a pot of coffee and then bringing a cup out to the barn. I unlocked it, and I spent the first hours of my morning experimenting with my inventions. Some time after the sun rose, I heard knocking, which I thought was unusual.

"Who is it?" I asked.

"It's me, Dad," I heard my daughter say from the door.

I turned my chair to face her, and I saw Lily standing at the doorway holding a cup.

"May I come in?" Lily asked, carrying a frown on her face.

I smiled, lifting up my goggles.

"Yes, you may."

Lily came into the lab and set the cup of coffee next to my now empty one.

"I was wondering if we could talk," Lily told me, biting her lip. "The last time I was here, I was… I was scared of you."

My smile turned into a frown.

"Scared of me? Why?"

"I shouldn't have been. I mean, I deserved you yelling at me. But I was scared that you wouldn't want to talk to me for a while for ruining all your work."

"Lilianna, that will never be true," I assured her, holding both her hands. "Listen, we both made mistakes that day. We both lost our tempers, and I'm to blame for that. I truly am sorry."

"I'm sorry too, Dad, for everything."

I watched a tear fall from Lily's right eye. I smiled, and I wiped away her tear with my left hand.

"Hey, you did not cause all the bad things to happen. Of course, I could blame you for releasing the black plague in the Dark Ages. I could blame you for the Great Depression. I could blame you for the recession in the late 2000s."

I managed to get a giggle out of my daughter.

"I see your point, Dad. Some things are beyond our control."

"Exactly! Lily, you didn't know that not turning off the laptop completely would cause the fire. And it may have been possible that I needed to get or invent a new laptop anyway. I have had that laptop for years. The thing I should have controlled was my temper. But I lost it, and we argued with each other."

"Dad, curiosity got the best of me, and I never truly saw all of the lab before, and… then I ran into the woods that night. I heard crickets, and I was amazed at the peace and quiet."

My smile faded at Lily's revelation, and I let out a sigh.

"While I am disappointed in your actions that night and that morning, I hope you have learned something from all of this while you were kidnapped and escaping."

"Yes, sir. I have. Don't ever break curfew. Don't mess with your dad's lab. Always ask your dad if you don't have all the answers."

My grin came back.

"There you go."

"I've learned one more thing, Dad: don't ever take your parents' love for granted. There were many days that I was missing you just from my being hungry all the time."

Lily let out a sigh.

"I've also did some thinking this morning. I'm ready to serve my punishment."

I put a hand on her shoulder.

"I think your being kidnapped and living in a totally different environment was enough punishment. What do you think?"

"Dad, are you sure?"

"Lily, let me ask you this: do you like being grounded?"

Lily gave me a strange look.

"No!"

"How do you feel about the thought of being grounded after being kidnapped and not being able to be with your family for two months?"

Lily pondered my question.

"Yeah, I think you're right."

"I thought so," I replied with a smirk.

"So, I can be in the lab with you?" Lily asked with a gleam of hope in her blue eyes.

"Yes. In fact, I absolutely loved what you did. You knocked and asked if you could come in. Please do that more often."

Lily smiled.

"Yes, Dad."

"Now, how are Karena and your mom doing?"

"They're both still asleep. I woke up early and brought you this cup of coffee."

"Well, thank you very much, Lily," I replied, smiling at the kind gesture. "But Lily, it's seven-thirty in the morning. You need to get more sleep."

"Dad, I'll live. I promise."

I let out a sigh. She truly was my daughter.

"I'll tell you what. We're going back to the lair today so that Karena can truly catch up with the family. I would like you to take a long nap on the way. It's a three-hour drive, and doing that will easily ensure you get the amount of sleep you need. I don't want you training and then collapsing because of fatigue. Okay?"

"Okay, Dad. Please, enjoy your coffee."

Lily paused, putting a finger on her chin.

"You know, you also only got five hours of sleep. Maybe you should nap, too."

"Karena did grow the closest with your mom," I replied, also putting a finger on my chin. "That's not a bad idea. We'll nap together in the back. There's plenty of room in the van for us to do that."