A Half Shell Christmas

Chapter 2: A Real Christmas

Song: When Christmas Comes to Town from The Polar Express
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Mikey stood in front of Shelby's door awkwardly, his eyes flickering nervously to the handle. He felt bad, pestering Shelby when she was upset, but he couldn't let her be alone, especially not on Christmas Eve. Slowly and quietly, he turned the handle and peered inside the dark bedroom.

A trail of frost sparkled on the floor, leading straight to Shelby's bed. In the coldest corners of the sub-zero room, icicles had began to accumulate. Ice particles swirled in the air as the temperature dropped dramatically in the room.

Shelby took a deep breath as she wiped her cheek of any moisture. From what it looked like, she seemed to have stopped half way through shifting; the roots of her hair were white and flat, her ears pointed, and her teeth were sharpened to a point. She closed her eyes, trying to calm herself down, but to no prevail. Shelby sighed in defeat, her eyes opening, a couple stray tears rolling her cheeks.

"I'm wishing on a star, and trying to believe, that even though it's far, he'll find me Christmas Eve. I guess that Santa's busy, 'cause he's never come around. I think of him, when Christmas comes to town." She sang in a quiet voice, thinking she was by herself.

Mikey's face light up instantly, recognizing the Christmas song Shelby was singing from one of his favorite Christmas movies. An idea began swirling in his head; what would cheer Shelby up more than a duet with her favorite nun-chucking turtle?

He stepped into the room, his face set in a wide grin. "The best time of the year, when everyone comes home. With all this Christmas cheer, it's hard to feel alone." He sang, closing the door behind him as Shelby looked up at him in shock and anger. "Putting up the Christmas tree, with friends who come around. It's so much fun when Christmas comes to town."

Shelby looked down to the floor, sniffing as she forced the ice churning in her core to settle. As she did so, the room temperature seemed to rise, making the atmosphere more comfortable for the warm-blooded terrapin. "Mikey, what are you doing in here?"

"I came to see what's bugging you. And you can't tell me it's nothing; lying this close to Christmas will for sure get you put on Santa's naughty list." Mikey stated, sitting down next to the mutant. Shelby turned her head away, unable to be looked in the eyes. Mikey frowned, and scooted closer, despite the fact that he was already shaking from the cold. "Please tell me what wrong. Today's supposed to be a cheerful day full of love and happiness." He muttered, his lips turning into a slight frown.

Shelby glanced at Mikey, their eyes locking for a few moments. Finally, her lips began to move. "I've never had a real Christmas."

Mikey's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but before he could speak, Shelby continued. "It took a lot of money for my parents to keep the apartment we lived in and keep us out of the bad neighborhoods. The only presents I got where from my grandmother." She whispered in embarrassment. "After my dad left, it seemed impossible to ever have Christmas presents. All we did was sit around and watch Christmas movies all day."

Mikey's eye ridges furrowed together in confusion. "What does money have anything to do with buying Christmas presents? Didn't Santa just bring them to you?"

Shelby glanced at the orange-clad turtle in surprise, before realizing the meaning behind his words. Master Splinter never told Mikey that Santa wasn't real. But she couldn't blame the ninjutsu master- who could have the heart to tell Mikey the truth?

Besides Raphael.

She was able to recover smoothly. "Well, my mom always told us that Santa didn't give us presents because we were Chris Bradford's kids. That's why she had to try and save up for them, and that's why we didn't get presents. I know that's not what Christmas is supposed to be about, but as a kid, seeing your classmates with new clothes and toys, it made me feel left out, like Christmas isn't a holiday I deserved to celebrate." She explained, pulling her knees up her chest and setting her head on them in defeat.

Mikey frowned, pulling Shelby into his side and hugging her. "It doesn't have to be like that anymore. Santa will bring you presents this year. How can he not? You're almost a Kunoichi! That should make up for you being a Bradford." Mikey comforted, although his last sentence made her flinch.

"Presents for the children, wrapped in red and green." He sang, squeezing Shelby's shoulder.

Shelby sighed. "All the things I've heard about, but never really seen."

Mikey stood up, pulling Shelby up with him. "No one will be sleeping on the night of Christmas Eve."

"Hoping Santa's on, his way." They harmonized, singing the same verse on accident, but Mikey's eyes lite up in excitement.

"See! You're getting it already!" He cheered. "When Santa's sleigh bells ring,"

"I listen all around," Shelby finished.

"The Herald Angels sing!" Mikey sang, spinning Shelby slowly.

She rolled her eyes, although a small smile played on her lips. "I never hear a sound."

Mikey's smile widened in return, lifting Shelby into the air and spinning, "When all the dreams of children,"

"Once lost will all be found!" Shelby laughed, the room temperature heating back up it's normal state.

"That's all I want when Christmas comes to town!" Mikey exclaimed, setting Shelby down and pulling her into a firm hug.

"That's all I want, when Christmas comes... to town." Shelby whispered, her eyes misting with a new kind of tear as she turned her head and placed a kiss on Michelangelo's cheek. "What did I ever do to deserve you, Mikey?"

Mikey laughed, his cheeks flushing slightly. "Just by breathing, Shelbs."