11AN: well, no need to rereview on the last chapter. As it happened, the whole reviewing thing that happened yesterday happened to a lot of people. Now onto the guest reviewer:
AprilFan4Eva- I get what you're saying. And that's what I was planning on for this chapter. Some flashbacks are going to be made in which they will be kids. I'm not saying that you are going to get the whole of it in this here chapter, but throughout the rest of the chapters. Thanks for the review!
thanks to all who faved, followed and reviewed on my last chapter. It was appreciated. I think that that was the most reviews I have gotten on the first chapter of any of my fics. It means a lot. Review for many more chapters to come. :D
Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles.
It is harder to keep the past only to yourself when the ones you love are counting on you. It is easier just to tell them all, if it means to save them from any problems for later.
I'll tell you now; let it go. Take the leap of faith. Don't let them suffer.
April paused, walking away from her crowded room, the bulky turtles following behind.
"Where are we going?" Mikey whined, latching onto her shoulders, pulling to her side.
"To the kitchen." She deadpanned, dreading the moment that she would have to tell them. Her hands were shaking. Pressing them firmly to her sides, she led them to the dark kitchen area, continuing to the fridge like box, opening it, taking out the orange juice.
When she turned around, she surveyed the four turtles, all sitting down in makeshift wooden chairs, searching her.
Mikey was even quiet, which was saying something. She gulped an endless amount out of the carton.
Leo narrowed his eyes. She was nervous. "Spit it out, April."
She started, some of the juice spilling down her shirt. Her head swung to the oldest turtles. His posture was straight, hands unintentionally clenched on his knees.
"Um, okay." She was soon interrupted by another figure entering the room, sitting down at the head of the table. "Hey, master Splinter."
"Happy birthday, April. Now quit trying to stall." The mutant rat had his dark beady eyes focused fully on April's facial and body expressions. He already knew what she was scared to tell his sons.
"Yes master." Her fists clenched, the carton in her hand exploding, contents flying everywhere. Her eyes widened, doe eyes flying to the contents lying everywhere.
"Don't worry about that, my lady, I'll gladly clean after you." In one fluid motion, Mikey was out of his seat, bowing. He sped walked to the carved in cabinets and fished out paper towels.
"Now, red, continue." Raph demanded, burning holes in her eyes.
She took a deep steadying breath. She was going to start with the basic. "I took videos as a child, documenting everything in my fathers lab that I could..."
Mikey stopped to stare at her perfectly perfect foot, spacing out.
"Those that you saw in my room? Those are ones that consist of you guys as small turtles." She surveyed the room, making sure that there was no discomfort. There was none.
The orange banded turtle snapped back to attention, now done with his task. He stood straight up, now towering above the dainty frame of his crush. "Can we watch them?" He asked, leaning in to smell her rosy smelling hair.
She was totally used to this. Brushing it off, she looked at him. "Maybe some. But let me tell you about why."
"Mikey, get your butt back over here and stop harassing dear April." Leonardo commented, still looking at her.
With that, the youngest turtle sulked back to his seat, butt hitting the chair with a loud thunk.
"You see, I took them because I thought that it was interesting about what... my father did to you." She smiled at the memory of Leonardo, small as he was, breaking his glass chamber with one punch.
"Ape, if I may ask-ouch!" Donnie yelped, rubbing the back of his head where Raph hit him. He corrected himself as he looked at the glaring red banded turtle. "April, excuse me, if I may ask, how did we end up down here?" His cheeks flamed red as the brunette paled at the question.
It was time to answer that... with a few deleted scenes to be safe. "There was a fire in the building, so I grabbed you and brought you down here to live." She wasn't lying. She was just keeping some things in the dark. Her eyes met the purple banded turtles dark eyes. She shivered at his look. It was like he could see into her soul, read what there was.
"Hmmm, that seems to short to be accurate..." he instantly unfocused on her, deep into his own thoughts.
She breathed a sigh of relief that the adventure was over. Everyone's eyes shot to Leonardo's as he sighed. "If it is, then we shall find out." He looked at his master, who was stroking his long thin beard. "Master Splinter, you are the only other one who seems to remember things, so would you mind telling us?"
There was a pause as Splinter seemed to think about this. "Well, my sons, the building did catch on fire, but something sinister was behind it. That, Leonardo, is what is fuzzy to me. Little April remembers more than I. I will, however, sate you with a story of our past."
All the turtles leaned forward in their seats, waiting for it. "Well, here goes..."
Flashback
The turtles seemed to remember nothing before they started growing. Not even when dear April had cuddled with each and everyone of them to comfort them. It had been the day that she brought them down here.
She sang them to sleep, then with eyes drooping, she fell with them after. The bed was hard and cold, the best she could find before growing tired. Her weak form held the mutants in safety.
When she woke up the next morning, she stumbled back in surprise.
For there, next to her, was four turtles and a rat. What she was cowering at was the fact that they had multiplied in size, now standing as tall as the dark haired beauty.
Splinter, of course, was taller than she, and had the look of an old man. He was in the corner, in meditation form. He had opened an eye, peaking at the frightened child, backing up against a wall. The brothers, of course, were still sleeping soundly, showing no signs of what was happening around them.
"Don't be afraid, little one. I have saw the good deeds that you have done. You were right in hiding. Now, let me show you my gratitude by leading you and teaching you ninjitsu."
With a bit of coaxing, the young April soon found herself growing warm to the thought of having a father figure around again. The brothers would be a bonus.
He let her cry into his shoulder until she couldn't force another tear out. He listened to her, not saying a word.
He felt protective of this fragile little girl. And with that threat lurking in the shadows, he needed to train her. They soon set off in search of a place to stay, settling in the place that they live today, 7 years later.
End of flashback
After all had grown quiet, they made sure that no more was going to be said before all simultaneously looking at April, who was now silently sobbing.
"Tell us what 'evil' Sensei is talking about, red." Raphael demanded furiously, trying not to show how sorry he felt for her.
"Don't be harsh, Raph." Leo retorted in a harsh tone.
"Don't cry, my dear." Mikey whined, rushing over to her shaking frame. He then looked confused. "What are you crying about?"
"I swear I'll slap the shit out of you, Mikey." The red banded turtle growled, hitting the table with a fist.
"Does it have anything to do with this evil that sensei was talking about?" Donnie now spoke up, rephrasing Raphs harsh question. Donnie had his head cocked to the side, curiosity shining softly in his gentle gaze.
April looked up, gulping in air. "Okay. I'll tell you everything." She tried to talk, but burst out crying again.
"There there, Ape-" Raph raised a hand threateningly in Donnie's direction, causing the genius to think twice, -ril, don't cry." He hooked an arm around her waist, pulling her away from Mikey, who tried to protest. Raph turned his had to his youngest brother. That shut him up. Donatello smiled softly. "Let's have fun before we talk about this."
"That's about the st-" Raph started, Leo cutting him off.
"That's smart." He gave a warning glance in his hot headed brothers direction, telling him to shut up. He was as disappointed as his brother was, but saw the briliantness in his purple banded brothers intent.
"I know what we can do! Charades!" Mikey put out, grinning ear to ear.
A collection of groans could be heard as they made there way to the family area, and the clear sound of a girls laughter, bright and joyous.
AN: well, totally not turning out like I had planned, but getting there. Don't think for one moment that April is weak. I will drop a spoiler: she is actually very tough. The story that Splinter told just struck her already frayed nerves. There will be a part three, and more info will be given. I'm sorry for the slow start.
I have to get up early tomorrow for band camp, then after school, I have to go to work, so I probably won't get another chapter put tomorrow. Again, I think you all for reading, and I hope to see more reviews and faves/follows.
Preview to next chapter: after April's party, she sets down, ready to give information. After all is finally told, will the turtles be angry that she withheld this info for quite some time? Or wall they be understanding? Find out in the next chapter!