I do not own, so do not give me the credit for creating the characters and places. And don't you dare pay me anything! I make no money, so please don't sue either real creators/owners. I'm really grateful for your work! This wouldn't exist without it.

I'm only writing to you now, mom, because the "thank-you" letters I received from the guys put me in a letter-writing mood. I wrote three letters to you guys over there like I got three letters from these guys here. I wanted to thank you, dad, and Robyn for everything you've done for me. So, again, thank you, and don't worry.

The family I have living with me right now may be a bit rowdy at times. Some of them, though, are really polite. A few of the others can be a little rude. Some of them are quiet. All of them "can" be quiet if they try. Some just prefer not to try all the time.

One of them and I are really alike. Some of them remind me a bit of Uncle Auggie, or even one of you guys. Sometimes, I feel some of them and I are not at all alike or that they're like anyone I've ever known before. But I've come to love them all.

I never had a brother growing up. Now I feel like I've had almost every kind of brother imaginable dumped on me, except for a really mean one, I think. Not even the one who loses his temper does so with me very often. It's usually one of his brothers he goes off on, particularly the youngest and oldest ones.

They all rag on me, a bit, but not majorly. They also help me out here and there. They've done cooking, and dishes, and I made them fold towels since they use those. Despite that, they love me. And I love them. They're kinda my New York family! I hope to see you, Robyn, and dad soon, but I will be alright here for now.

When I first came to New York City, I thought of being here as my adventure leading to and through my education and career. Now the education part is done for a while, though I may work on getting my Phd, someday. I after getting my Masters, I thought my career launch would be a snap. Life is funny that way, isn't it?

My plans now may not be what they were before, but now that I'm carrying on dad's tradition with "Second Time Around," I'm finding myself really enjoying it. I hope to sell lots of antiques soon. Then I'll tell you, dad, and Robyn all about it.

To tell the truth, though it's a surprise, I really like my life now. It's a lot more exciting than working for Dr. Stockman was until … Well, you know.

Let's not get into that anymore. It's time to turn a new page in my adventure story. And my current houseguests are "really" helping out with that!

As for the infestation, the guys now in my house escaped, don't worry about it! They are all really careful with me, and they're careful for each other's sakes as well. I don't know when they'll be able to move back into their old home. That will probably be the dangerous part. We'll see.

Anyway, I love you all! And again, don't worry. I'm just living my new adventure here!

Love

Your April!

The antique shop owner set her pen down and looked over at the papers Raphael, Donatello, and Leonardo had written on for her. * She grinned at them.

She'd read them all about three times each now. She giggled a bit over a few remembered lines. Then she rose to her feet and stretched her arms up over her head.

She walked to the door of her bedroom and opened it enjoying the quiet. Wow it was really quiet. The stillness seemed only disturbed by the TV audio and … snoring?

April tiptoed out. A moment later, she felt foolish. The ninja in her home probably heard her. She peeked around a corner. A strange, yet domestic sight met her eyes.

Splinter sat on the couch. Raphael and Leonardo flanked him on either side. Donnie and Mikey both sat on the floor on either side of Splinter's legs.

Raph and Leo seemed awake. Raph stared at the Television. He even held the remote. The game was still on. It was the middle of the fourth quarter.

Leo turned his head and looked out the window. The drapes were down, so April wasn't sure what Leo was seeing or hearing, but she believed he was getting something out of it.

Mikey was leaning back against Leo's legs snoring open mouthed up toward the ceiling. April wondered what would happen if a spider fell into his mouth. She stifled a giggle suddenly feeling like an annoying little sister.

She glanced at Donatello. He had his arms crossed over her coffee table and his head pillowed in them. Parts of a T-phone were scattered about in front of him. He seemed to be still save for even breathing.

Casey was sitting in her arm-hair. His head had also fallen back, and he was snoring too. She wondered when she should wake him to get the guy out the door probably after the game ended.

April snuck into the room feeling oddly self-conscious. After all, she was doing so in front of ninja. She crept toward her rocking chair on the other side of the room. She had to walk in front of the TV to do so, but no one said anything to her. The eyes of the wakeful turtles and rat followed her gently, however.

April pulled her seat up closer to theirs, sat down, and leaned forward. Splinter's gentle, raspy voice wafted into her ears. "Welcome, Miss O'Neil. How did your call with your family go?"

"It's funny, after reading the notes to me from your sons," She looked to the turtles flanking him, "you guys, Leo, Raph, and …" She glanced at the sleeping turtle in purple, "Donnie, I felt like writing instead. So, I did to my dad, sister, and mom." Her brows furrowed. She glanced at the rat. "You, knew that already didn't you?"

The rat gave her a knowing smile. She scrunched her nose at him and then looked back to the screen. Her green eyes reflected a sport she didn't care much about beyond nostalgia of sitting next to her daddy as he watched it. Yet, her face didn't glow with just the reflected light of the tube, but with sincere happiness too.

. . .

"Uh, Sensei, I think we got a problem here …"

Splinter glanced at what his son Raphael was looking at. April O'Neil had leaned over the arm of her rocking chair, leaned onto an arm of her couch, and pillowed her head in her arms before falling asleep. Splinter looked back to the turtle in the red mask. He held a finger to his mouth and then pointed to Casey Jones.

Raphael nodded. He went over to Casey. Then he poked the man in the cheek. Casey slapped the turtle's green finger away. Then he snapped upright. His blue eyes were wide. "Wha, wha, what happened?"

"Easy, Case it's just me. You're at April's place. We gotta be quiet cause she's asleep."

"Oh." Casey rose and stretched. Then he scratched the back of his head and blearily stared at the far wall. "Who won?"

Raph told him the score and a few highlights from late in the game in a low voice while escorting his friend out. Leo leapt up, over the couch, and moved toward the coatrack reaching toward it. Raph saw. "Hey, Case, don't forget your stuff there."

Leo stepped back as Casey grabbed his scarf and jacket. The man glanced back toward April. "She really asleep?"

Splinter studied the young woman a moment. Then, in a steady, low voice he replied. "Indeed."

Casey scratched the back of his head while looking at her. "Well, then, uh, tell her 'Bye' for me, and 'Thanks for everything.' You know, dinner, and inviting me over, and letting me watch her TV, and … everything!"

Leo grinned while reaching up to slap the tall man on the shoulder. "We will Casey. Now go on, you need some sleep yourself."

Case grinned at him. Then he opened April's door and stepped out with a wave. "Catch ya later."

Raph and Leo smiled after him. At the clap of the door closing, Mikey's head shot up. "Wha, wha! What's going on? Are the giant earth worms still invading?"

Leo looked over. "Mikey, shush …"

Raph finished for him. "April's asleep."

Mikey looked over at the young lady. Then he beamed at their host. His voice somehow softened and heightened at the same time. "Awww … She's so cute!"

Raph stood and scratched his head while looking at April "Uh, should we wake her or not?"

Leo raised his arms at his sides. "I could carry her to her bed."

Raph turned a hardened stare on him. "That would be 'weird' Leo."

Their father's raspy voice spoke. They both turned their faces to him. "Perhaps we should compromise and lay her out on the couch."

Leo rubbed his chin a moment, shrugged, and walked around the coffee table passing a still sleeping Donatello. He slowly, smoothly, crouched and squatted down, moved his arms under April's legs and around her shoulder blades, and lifted under her legs. As her legs moved up and out, her head went back. He turned his own body away from the rocking chair while jutting his elbow out to pillow her head. Mikey watched with a wide-open mouth. "Whoa …"

Leo gave him a look. Mikey blinked up at him. "What?"

Raph growled. "He needs you to move you bone-head …"

"Oh!" Mikey stepped up on the couch his sensei had already vacated and jumped off it and over Donatello.

Leo glared after him. He whisper-scolded his brother in orange. "Mikey!"

April hummed and stirred in his arms. He went still and looked down at her, but she didn't awaken. Meanwhile, Donnie did. He raised his head, blinked, and looked to the nearest lurking forms towering over him. He saw what Leo was doing. His blinking eyes widened. Then he got up and stepped away.

Leo sighed, turned his body so he faced the nearest wall, took a step backward, and then slid sideways dragging his feet. He moved between the coffee-table and couch without tripping. Then he lowered, a now sleeping soundly again, April onto it.

Sensei was somehow at his side with a blanket. He threw it over her and then tucked her in just like he used to with all of them. Donnie still stood by watching. Now Mikey was back. The turtle in orange clasped his hands together. He wore one of his widest grins. "She's soooo cute!"

Somehow the rat ninja undid April's hair from its bun and smoothed it out a bit for her before placing the scrunchy on the coffee table and both hands on top of his cane. He whispered without much of a rasp in his gentle voice, "Goodnight, Miss O'Neil …"

They all stared at her another moment. Well, Mikey was crouched over her feet on one end of the couch. He then whispered to the others. "You know what this means?"

Leo turned squinted eyes upon his youngest brother. Donnie and Splinter turned the same upon each other. Raph ignored his younger brother. Mikey's grin got even wider. "Her 'bed' is available!"

Suddenly, the youngest turtle became a blur of orange and green. Leo vaulted right over the coffee table and was in pursuit. His whisper-yell drifted back to the others. "MIKEY!"

Raph went after them both at a jog. Donnie just stalked the same direction glaring. Splinter watched, his ears perked up. Then he looked back to Miss O'Neil. She was moving and murmuring again. Splinter tried to speak smoothly over her. "No, no stay asleep, Miss O'Neil. We will handle this."

He moved that direction himself and heard anxious, angry whispers and the joking voice of Michelangelo. As he moved so he could look through the open door into April's bedroom, he saw one dark silhouette bring something big and lumpy down onto another form's head. There was a soft thump followed by a squawk.

Splinter sighed and shook his head. "Maybe …"

This is the end. I really appreciate all the reviews and love this story has been getting from those with profiles and guests alike. Thanks guys, thank you all! :D

God Bless

ScribeofHeroes

*Chapter 11 is basically the guys letters to April complete with Mikey stating his plan to write a comic book about her.