Baby Chinchilla

Epilogue

Donnie POV

10 years. It's been ten years since she left. Left me, left our kids, left her family. Nobody was ever the same. Leo sank into a deep depression afterwards. He had this crazy idea that somehow it was all his fault. He could have done something, anything. But in all reality he couldn't have. None of us could... no matter how much we wanted to. I will never forget that day, and on this day every year I would remember it more vividly than ever. Because today was the anniversary of her death, and the kids' birthdays. I smiled as I remember our kids who were turning ten today. And I felt it was time to tell them what had happened to their mother all those years ago.

I was sitting outside on the porch swing when Leo came out to find me. He sat down next to me in silence. After a few minutes, he looks at me and asks,

"You thinking about April?" I nod. How could I not? She was the love of my life and she was gone forever. Leo nodded in understanding.

"I loved her so much, Leo. So much. Then fate decided to step in and rip her right out of my hands." I said as my eyes started to tear up. Leo put a hand on my shoulder.

"I know Don, I know. We all loved her as much as you did... just not in the same way. She was like the sister we never had. I miss her too." He said and smiled. After Leo sank into his depression about six years ago we didn't know what to do. We tried everything to bring him out of it, but nothing worked. Then something amazing happened. One rainy and cold night everything was normal. The kids were asleep and we were about to do the same when we heard banging on the door. Leo ran towards it and flung it open to see something we never thought we'd see. Karai, stood there and she looked worse for wear. She was battered, bruised and her left arm hung limply at her side. She had a huge gash on her face and half her armor had vanished.

"Help... me... please..." She begged before she passed out. Leo caught her and took her upstairs where I assessed her injuries. She had a broken arm so I put it in a sling. I cleaned up her cuts and put a bandage over the one on her face. The whole time Leo was amazed, starstruck and worried as hell all at the same time. Over the next few years, Leo pulled out of his depression and him and Karai made a happy couple. Though he swore he would never get her pregnant for fear of what might happen. He swore up and down and to the heavens above. And then it happened. Karai was pregnant. Of course the first thing Leo did was freak and blame himself. We brought in Dr. Tower and she said Karai was only pregnant with twins. Nothing she couldn't handle. That seemed to take the weight off of Leo's shoulders just a little but he was still wary. He would dote on her so much that she would often tell him to leave her alone and do physically unpleasant and impossible things to himself. After about the fifthteenth time, he finally left her alone.

I returned to reality to see Leo's attention somewhere else. I turn around and see the subject of my flashback walking toward us. She was about six and a half months pregnant and when she walked she kind of waddled like a penguin. No one told her that though. Raph only made that mistake once. I shivered at the memory. Poor guy. She finally reached us and said,

"I think its time to come inside. The kids are getting anxious." Just as she said that a redheaded blur popped up from behind her.

"Hi daddy!" I chuckled and picked her up and put her on my lap. She was my only daughter and her name was April Junior. Or AJ for short. She looked exactly like her mother, and I would have a tinge of regret when I looked at her.

"Daddy are we ever gonna have cake? What flavor is it? I wanna open my presents, Daddy! Please????" She whined and I smiled.

"Of course sweetie. We'll go inside now." I stood up and flung her over my shoulders. She squealed and laughed.

"Daddy! Put me down! Help! Uncle Leo, help me!!!" I heard Leo chuckle and then shake his head no. She pouted and stuck her tongue out at him.

"Auntie Karai! You'll help me won't you?" She pouted and gave her aunt The LookTM and after a few minutes the older woman gave in.

"Alright, come here." She took AJ off my shoulders and put her on her shoulders. They walked back inside while Leo and I followed. We opened the door to absolute...chaos. Pillows were everywhere, a couch was flipped over, and there was some sort of liquid coating the walls. We could only stare in amazement. The kids continued to mess around, not aware of our presence. Then, Karai cleared her throat and the kids stopped dead in their tracks. Fear evident on their faces they turned to face their aunt who absolutely livid.

"I leave for five minutes... and you manage to do this?!" Her voice rose with every word. "Clean this up or nobody gets any cake or presents. Got it?" The kids nodded and went straight to work. As the kids cleaned up, we walked in the kitchen to go find Mikey and Raph. But what we found was definitely not what we expected. In a million years. But it happened. And I still couldn't believe what was in front of my eyes. We stood, jaws on the floor in shock. None of us could move. And they didn't seem to notice us either because they kept on kissing. That's right. Kissing. Mikey and Raph were kissing.

Finally Leo snapped out of it and cleared his throat. The two sprang apart like the other was on fire. They locked eyes with us and stared in fear and embarrassment. There we stood, for a good five minutes. Just staring. Finally Mikey spoke up.

"Listen guys... we wanted to tell you... but-" Mikey was cut off abruptly by Leo's voice.

"How long?" He asked. Mikey and Raph looked at each other, back to Leo then down to the ground.

"About 2 years..." Raph said while cringing. We all waited for Leo to explode. But surprisingly, he didn't. He just sighed and said,

"Listen. As crazy and unexpected as this is, I accept it. It only makes sense when you think about it. As long as you two are happy then I am fine. What about you guys?" He gestured to Karai and me. Karai just shrugged which meant 'fine by me.' I looked at them and stated,

"Leo is right. It only makes sense that this happened and I am perfectly fine with it. I only wish you would have told us sooner." Mikey who had perked up looked a little guilty.

"Yeah, we know. We were just scared about what you might say." Raph nodded in agreement.

"Daddy! Where are you? I wanna open presents!" I heard my daughter scream from the other side of the door.

"Were coming sweetie." I walked out with the others following me. When we entered the living room the kids were sitting in a circle waiting patiently. Unlike their sister, the boys had no sign that their mother was human at all. They were giant mutant turtles just like the rest of us. There was Raph Jr., Leo Jr., and Mikey Jr. They all acted exactly like the man they named after. We passed out presents, and as I watched the products of I and April's love open such things with utmost joy, I realized something.

April may be gone, and nothing will ever change that. But she did leave things behind. Things that will never let me forget her. Although I cannot be sad forever. She was in a better place now.

I realized I needed to appreciate what I had before it was gone.

HOLY CRAP ITS ACTUALLY DONE! THANK THE LORD. Well, I know everybody who had read this story, was not very happy with the ending. But I hope this epilogue gave you some sort of closure. And if it didn't, send me a message and let  me know. I'm always up for a little constructive critcism. Just don't be a jerk about it, k? Alright. Well this story is officially over, but because summer school let out today I will be updating more often. After this, I will go finish up Family Ties, and I will continue to write The End Of The World As I Knew It. If you haven't read that yet, and like apocolypse stories, go check it out. Also I will begin another fanfiction soon. I won't give that big of a hint on what it is about but if you are in the How To Train Your Dragon fandom, you will LOVE what I have planned. Well until next time.  -Tori