Hi guys! I felt so inspired writing the first chapter of this story that I needed to do another. Then, I swear I'll finish my chapters for "Gondor's Grace" and "Lilianna." But I believe I figured out what all I'm going to do for storytelling after episodes I already covered.

But, anyway, this chapter takes place after the episode "Turtle Temper." Hopefully you'll start seeing the trend. Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "TMNT."

October 7, 2012 - New York City, New York, USA

APRIL'S POV

I crawled into bed in my yellow pajamas after a long day of studying. I closed my eyes, and then I heard knocking on my window. I glanced through the curtains and saw a huge turtle with a stick on its back.

"Donnie!" I whispered excitedly.

I quickly got out of bed and opened the windows.

"Hey!"

"Hey, April," he greeted me with a soft smile. "We missed you this weekend."

"I had a lot of studying to do," I explained. "I have some tests coming up."

"Anything I can do?"

"Well..."

I glanced up at the nearby rooftop.

"I don't have a test tomorrow, but maybe you can help me study. Studying alone is frying my brain."

"Why don't we make things simple today?" Donnie suggested. "Let's just talk. Maybe you can come down to the lair tomorrow and study with us."

"Sure! But where are we going to talk? My aunt might be able to hear us."

"Let's just go to that rooftop. I promise we'll be quiet."

"Just let me go get my robe."

I hurried to my closet to get my white fluffy robe and white fluffy slippers. Then I joined Donnie on the rooftop.

"You never told me if you investigated the Kraang last night," I started our conversation. "How did it go?"

"Well, Raph blew our cover," Donnie answered with a dreaded sigh. "While Leo and I were staking out the Kraang, Mikey and Raph were making enough noise to bother a resident. Not only did the Kraang find us, but the resident videotaped us on his phone."

"Oh, no! So, what did you do?"

He rubbed his neck.

"Things got... complicated. After Splinter tried to teach Raph to get the video back using reason instead of force, Raph lost his temper in another fight against the Kraang. He left us in the fight and went after the resident! So we sent him back to the lair while we went after Spider Bytez and the Kraang."

"Wait a minute," I interrupted him with a raised eyebrow. "Spider Bytez?"

"I'm getting to that. This guy who caught us on video was kidnapped by the Kraang because of Raph. So Leo, Mikey, and I went after them when I discovered the truck was leaking oil. We fought the Kraang again, but then this guy was exposed to mutagen, turning into this huge spider! He has this... spit that melts organic and inorganic matter. We fell through two floors!"

I smiled, feeling captivated by the story.

"Keep going!" I encouraged him.

"Well, Raph came back to help us and I could tell Splinter got through to him. Spider Bytez kept throwing insults at him and Raph just let them wash over him. Raph really got to him and even broke his phone!"

"Which means the video is broken as well!"

"Yes. We are safe from public exposure."

We both blew heavy sighs of relief.

"I love how enthusiastic you are," Donnie told me. "I can tell you really care about us."

I shrugged.

"You saved my life. And I meant every word when I said I would keep your presence a secret. When I promise something, I never break that promise."

"That is a very good quality to have."

We paused, trying our hardest to look at the stars.

"Have you ever wanted to go somewhere quiet and calm?" I asked my new friend. "Just go somewhere where it's only you and just... look at the stars?"

"Definitely. I love my brothers. But Raph and Leo argue a lot. And Mikey invades my personal space a lot. I'm..."

Donnie sighed.

"I'm a pretty private person, April. I prefer to be alone with my thoughts and just... work. Or perhaps in this case, just be me."

I glanced over at him, cocking my head.

"I don't think you're a private person, Donnie," I suggested. "I can understand wanting to be alone sometimes. But you were the first to try to save my life. And I may have only known you for a week, but you are always eager to spend time with me. I think, of the four of you, you are the most eager to know about this world."

Donnie chuckled.

"I can't lie to you, can I?"

"I can spot a liar from a mile away," I answered with a playful wink.

"Alright. Noted: Do not ever lie to April..."

He rubbed his neck as he trailed off with uncertainty.

"I know my dad's last name is Hamato because the Japanese were called by their last name first."

I giggled.

"It's O'Neil."

"April O'Neil."

He grinned.

"It suits you!"

I laughed.

"In fact, and do not tell anyone I told you, but my full name is April Michelle O'Neil."

Donnie dropped his jaw all of a sudden.

"What?" I asked with a sheepish chuckle.

"Our names have the same meaning!"

"Which is?"

"Gift from God."

I raised my eyebrow again, not at all believing him.

"Donatello means gift from God?"

"Yes! I was curious one day and looked up all of our names. Leo's name means brave as a lion. Raph's, to my disbelief, means God has healed. I had to do some digging on Mikey's. It turns out, Michelangelo is a combination of two names: Michael, which means who is like God, and Angelo, which means messenger."

I laughed.

"I think I might have to know you guys better before I decide if these meanings fit them."

"Leo's fits him for sure," Donnie explained. "He's always paid attention to Sensei and understood his lessons. Mikey is actually a good listener underneath all the distractions. Raph..."

He sighed.

"I just don't get him. Sure, he's a warrior. He loves to fight, whether it's with the bad guys or with Leo. Actually, he likes to win."

"Has Raphael gone through any kind of trauma?" I asked.

"None. Well, except for the day he got a crack in his plastron. But even then, he still displayed his warrior spirit."

"I never noticed a crack in Raphael's... plastron, you said?"

"Yes. Just days after we were mutated, Splinter defended us from the Kraang. An accident happened where the shopping cart he used to house us ran over Raph. We all thought he was seriously hurt, but no! He kept going, encouraging Splinter to keep fighting."

I smiled.

"It seems like Raph did what he did to protect you guys," I said, reflecting back on what had happened the last two nights.

"I think you're right," Donnie replied, smiling back. "But at first, he was just thinking about himself, taking that guy's insults to heart. In a way, he still was."

"But when he does wrong, it sounds like Splinter will help him see why it was wrong."

"He usually does that with all of us. He is an amazing dad. That, I can say with certainty."

We tried to glance at the stars again.

"It seems like you and your dad are close," Donnie spoke again.

"Yeah," I replied, now with a frown. "I lost my mother over ten years ago."

"I'm sorry. I do not have a mother either. When I was little, I often asked Splinter about having a mother. He would often talk about his late wife, Tang Shen. I could only imagine what it would be like having her for a mom. We'd have a big sister, too. I think Shen would be the most encouraging mother I would ever ask for. I think... she would always encourage us to do the right thing for ourselves."

"She sounds like a wonderful person."

I held his hand, expressing my sympathy, and then I let it go when I saw that he had blushed. I had also blushed, but I looked away so he couldn't see it.

"Anyway," I continued our conversation. "After my mother disappeared, all I could remember was my dad and me in the city. We took walks every night, even when it was cold. When it snowed, we played in the snow together. We had snowball fights, we made snow angels, and so on. When it rained, we would put on our rain boots and jump in the puddles together. In the summer when it got hot, we'd get ice cream. We cherished our time together."

"What did you two talk about?" Donnie asked.

"He would talk about his work at the university."

"What does he do?"

"He's a psychologist!" I answered, smiling with pride. "When he's not teaching, he'll experiment with mice, dogs, and other animals to figure out how the brain works. It's really fascinating."

"Just don't say that around Splinter!" Donnie replied with a chuckle.

"I will be more mindful."

We were silent again, trying to glance at the stars.

"Hey, April, I know we have our patrols every night, but do you wanna come to the lair and hang out with us this weekend?"

"I'd like that!"

"What do you normally do during the week?"

"School. Homework. Chess club."

"You play chess?" Donnie asked with surprise.

"Yes. Though I'm not very good at it."

"Maybe I can help you improve your strategy. Strategy is one of the aspects of ninjutsu, after all."

"True. Maybe we can do it over email?"

"We can do that. And then you can visit us on the weekends."

I smiled.

"That sounds great!"

I glanced at my phone.

"Oh, goodness! It's almost midnight! I gotta get back in bed and get some sleep."

"That's a good idea. What time do you have to be at school tomorrow?"

I groaned.

"Seven-thirty. I hate it."

"Hey, you'll make it through. Just focus on getting a good night's sleep."

"Thanks, Donnie. I'll see you Saturday."

Just when we started to part ways, I felt myself stop.

"Donnie, wait!"

We turned back around to face each other.

"What does April mean?"

He smiled.

"To open."