Miracle on New York Hills (Part 1 of New York Hills)

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Mikey doesn't sleep much that night. He's trying to think of something and every time he closes his eyes...

Cracks.

Fire.

Flicker.

It doesn't matter. What matters is figuring out how to save the miracle and he finally has an idea. Well, a potential starting point. April. His older sister hears everything. Nothing gets past her. She uses her gift to stop fights before they happen and keep the family aware of everything.

Mikey sometimes looks at her and wonders if she can hear outside the valley. She once told him that she remembers a river just outside the valley. She was too young to remember anything else. She claims she doesn't mind, but she loves adventure and always looks towards the outskirts longingly.

What life could she have lived without them?

He thinks he's talking to April about the miracle, only to blush in embarrassment when Raph scolds Donnie. Donnie argues back that he needs extra food to provide for his brain. Raph takes Donnie's plate and just lifts him up by the shell effortlessly. He places Donnie in the seat next to his own, designated by the large pile of food.

April puts an arm around Mikey's shoulder, making him jump into his shell. She places her plate on the table and catches him with her expertly trained big sister reflexes. He peaks his head out with a frown, making April snigger. She catches his plate and hands it back to him.

"I hate you," Mikey says, fully exiting his shell slowly and pulling the plate close to his chest protectively.

April chuckles and rubs her cheek against his affectionately, "I know. I love you too."

She looks away to see the rest of the family sitting down. She turns back to Mikey.

"Raph's the only one who seems worried about the miracle. He checked on everyone, even the adults, and his eye was twitching all night," she whispers and Mikey strains to hear.

He blinks and he's on his own feet. April is joining the family. Mikey rushes over and takes Casey's seat next to Raph, causing her to storm slightly. Milo tugs her away and the cloud dissipates. They sit on the other side of the table, across from Ms. O'Niel and Mikey.

Grandpa Sho has even less patience for his antics than usual and has Gram-Gram move Mikey next to him and Donnie, when he continues to bother Raph. They do the same speech every day about helping the valley and sure it's absolutely great news for the miracle that Sunita's father is accepting of the proposal for Leo, but everyone knew it was going to happen eventually, so why can't he talk to his big brother? The five kids thing takes everyone off guard, as evidenced by Leo's flower crown that blooms. Mikey snickers at Milo's fake gagging and Raph's murderous expression he quickly hides when Grandpa Sho glances at him, whilst removing the single mismatched flower from the crown. Donnie shifts into Sunita and smacks his lips exaggeratedly, making smooching noises. A petunia hits him in the face, knocking him off his chair. Casey and Ms. O'Niel keep carefully blank faces, but Casey's fists curl under the table and Ms. O'Niel's lips press a little tighter than they do naturally. April sits with a small smile on her face, total attention on Grandpa Sho, ignoring Leo next to her and Donnie across from him.

Mikey has a feeling that April's jealously is making her be less than truthful about the five kids.

He ends up chasing Raph into town. His big brother refuses to answer and uses his jobs as distractions, picking up the donkeys for the eighth time in three days, so Mikey begins to ramble. He just wants to help like his big brother. It doesn't take long for Raph to crack. Once he does, everything just tumbles out.