A/N: Ah, dear readers, we have reached the end. I do hope you've enjoyed this journey into the chibi-turtles' world as much as I have, and that you'll find the ending satisfactorily happy. Thank you so much to all the faithful readers and reviewers!

Be sure to check my profile for a link to chibi-turtle artwork by Lion of Judah.

Happy reading!

The next two hours were the longest Splinter had ever lived through. He paced to the window, but a glance outside told him leaving that way would be a last resort. Not only was the roof a good ten feet off the ground, not a problem for him, but quite a drop for his four sons, but the window faced the busy cul de sac, and several police cruisers were parked in the driveway, with patrolmen scurrying about like an ant hive.

"What… what're we gonna do, Sensei?" Leonardo's voice quavered. He clung to his father's paw, staring up at him with wide, fearful eyes.

"We will remain hidden here," said Splinter gravely. "If we must escape, we will need to climb out this window." His black eyes flickered to his youngest son, curled up near the bed on the floor, asleep. Michelangelo was worn out from his ordeal.

"We would have to jump down to the ground, and make our escape in an unfamiliar neighborhood," explained Splinter quietly. "We would risk being seen by even more humans. For now, it is better to wait, my son. Miss Flanagan has dealt honorably with us. I trust her. We will wait."

"Father, I'm scared," said Donatello. "Why did the boy scream at Michelangelo like that?"

"He was frightened, my son. To him we appear… different. Humans fear what they do not understand."

"I'm sorry I screamed."

The small voice made them all jump. Splinter's eyes snapped toward the door. Donatello scrambled up from where he'd been sitting near Michelangelo and darted to his father's side. Leonardo's hand clutched his sensei's. Raphael leapt to his feet, and knelt next to his sleeping brother with a growl, as if to protect him.

"Please enter, young Trevor," said Splinter quietly. "Come in and close the door."

Cautiously, glancing over his shoulder at the voices coming from downstairs, Trevor came a bit further into the room. He hesitated.

"Please close the door," said Splinter firmly. Trevor glanced toward the stairs again, where he could hear policemen talking to his father, sister and brother. Reluctantly, he closed the door behind him with a soft click. He leaned back against it, watching Splinter warily.

"Are… are you really Jackie's friends?" asked Trevor quietly.

"Yes," said Splinter. His sons stared at the boy, as apprehensive as he was. Splinter sank down to the carpet, taking his cross-legged position. Glancing at him, Leonardo copied him. After a moment, so did Donatello. Raphael remained where he was, shielding his youngest brother from the boy.

They sat in silence for several minutes. Trevor watched the little family, his eyes wide.

"How come the police came? Are they lookin' for you?" he asked. Raphael's eyes flashed.

"Nah, they came 'cause yer ma tried to shoot yer family," he snapped.

"Raphael!" Splinter's sharp reprimand made the little turtle drop his head in shame.

"Sorry, Sensei."

"My… my mom tried to…" Trevor's bottom lip quivered. Tears slid down his face. "She said the gun was for… for self-protection," he whispered. "I saw it. I asked her. She said it was so nobody could hurt her."

"I am sorry, Trevor," said Splinter stiffly.

"No, it's ok. I know she's bad," said Trevor softly. "She never loved me. She doesn't like Jackie and Jonah, either, but that was different, 'cause they weren't hers. I'm hers, and she still doesn't love me. She never wanted me. She said so. She said I was a mistake. I'm glad the cops are gonna take her away." His chin came up, defiant.

He is brave, thought Splinter. But he is just a boy, and so deeply wounded.

"How come yer ma don't want you?" asked Raphael. He got to his feet and came part way toward the boy before sitting down just out of reach. He watched Trevor warily.

"I don't know," said Trevor sadly. "She just never did."

"Ya know what I t'ink?" growled Raphael. "I t'ink she was sick in da head. What kinda ma don't want her own kid?"

"Do you think so?" asked Trevor, looking at the turtle.

"I know so. I mean, lookit yer family," said Raphael. "You got Jackie, she was nice ta my brother when he hurt himself bein' a bonehead on his skateboard. She took care o' him, an' she protected us. And yer brother, Jonah, he's ok, too. An' yer Dad. He's lettin' us stay here an' we're strangers, ya know? We're not even human, but he's tryin' to help us. I guess yer family's ok. If she don't know that, den she ain't right."

"You're right," said Trevor. A smile broke across his face. "Thanks. Hey, what's your name, anyway?"

"Raphael."

"You wanna see my models?"

"Can I, Sensei?"

Splinter met the hopeful amber eyes with a worried glance. He could still hear the rumble of police voices downstairs. "When the danger has passed, my son," he answered. "We must remain in this room until the authorities leave."

"Oh. Well, I could bring summa my toys in here," said Trevor. Raphael's eyes lit up. He glanced at Splinter hopefully. The old rat sighed, but nodded his approval.

"Don't worry, Splinter. I'll be right back, an' I'll be real quiet," said Trevor. He jumped up, and paused, his hand on the doorknob. "I promised my sister. I won't let anybody find you."

"Thank you, Trevor," said Splinter gravely. He was rewarded by a flashing smile before Trevor hurried down the hall.

"Cool," said Raphael, with a rare smile. "Toys."

***

"Who wants pepperoni?" asked Jackie. She grinned, counting hands around the dining room table. "You only need to put up one hand, Mikey," she said.

"But Jackie, I'm hungry! I want two slices." Michelangelo's blue eyes sparkled.

"Bonehead." Raphael smacked his brother on the back of the head. Splinter sighed. Trevor snorted, nearly choking on his soda, and Jonah had to pat him on the back.

"Leonardo mentioned you're not fond of pizza, Splinter, so I picked up a sushi tray. I hope that's all right?" Jackie set the tray on the table.

Splinter smiled, pleasantly surprised. "Thank you, Miss Flanagan. This is a rare treat indeed."

Roger Flanagan shook his head. He still couldn't believe there was a four-foot-tall rat and his four turtle sons sitting around the dining room table with his family.

My family. Roger looked at his children. Jonah sat quietly, grinning, his eyes flicking back and forth between the turtles as they bickered over a slice of pizza. Trevor's head was bent close to Raphael's as they discussed the finer points of model making. And Jackie, his only daughter, was passing out slices of pizza and laughing at Michelangelo's antics as he tried to cajole a third and fourth slice before he'd finished those on his plate.

Has it been so long since we sat down to a meal together as a family? thought Roger. I don't remember the last time I heard Jackie laugh, or saw Jonah smile. And Trevor, he looks so relaxed. I hadn't even realized how tense he's been until I see him now, talking with his new friend. Things are going to be different around here from now on, he vowed. Very different.

"What will you do now, Splinter?" he asked, reaching for a piece of the sausage-and-mushroom pizza.

"As soon as we are able, we will return to the city and search for a new home," said Splinter. His black eyes flickered toward Jackie. "Your daughter has kindly promised to transport us home, once it is safe for us to return."

"Are you sure that's what you want to do?" asked Roger. "You do have options. Our family owes you our lives, Sir. I'd be glad to make other arrangements for you and your sons."

Splinter's eyes flashed. Roger wasn't certain whether the rat's expression held anger, fear, or both.

"Your family has agreed to keep our existence a secret." Splinter's voice was dangerously quiet. His sons stopped eating and looked at their father, waiting.

"Of course," said Roger, understanding Splinter's reaction. He's afraid we might still betray him. It's not easy to depend on strangers for the safety of your family. "I have given you my word. We all have. I meant, Splinter, that if you would like to leave the city, I could perhaps help you. A place could be found, away from people, where your family could be kept safe."

Splinter shook his head. "A most generous offer, Roger Flanagan," he said softly. "But the city is our home. We will go back."

"I understand," said Roger. "I grew up in New York myself."

Splinter relaxed and nodded, calmly eating his sushi. Roger wondered briefly how the rat managed to handle chopsticks with his claws. The little turtles relaxed too, turning their attention back to the pizza on their plates.

"But, if you go back to the city, will I ever see you again?" Trevor asked Raphael. Jackie, Roger and Jonah all gazed at Splinter, waiting for an answer.

"Nah, Trev," said Raphael, regret in his voice. "We gotta stay in da sewers, ya know? It's not safe for us to go topside. Not all humans are cool like you guys."

Trevor's chin wobbled a bit, but he nodded.

Splinter laid a gentle paw on the boy's hand. Trevor turned, startled, but didn't pull away. "Friendships are sometimes difficult," he said softly to the boy. "Distance might separate friends for a time. But memories, and loyalty, those are gifts which are carried within the heart. Perhaps, one day, young Trevor, you may meet my sons again."

"I'd like that," said Trevor with a watery smile.

"Well, I'll be darned," said Roger softly. He met Jackie's eyes over the table, and smiled.

***

Epilogue: -Ten Years Later-

Michelangelo leapt over the gap between the buildings, enjoying the wind and the freedom that came from the exhilarating feeling of flying. Below, he heard a shout, and a distinct thud.

Oh shell. And it was such a quiet night, he thought, dropping down to peer over the edge of the building. A young man was backing away from two Purple Dragons, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. The gang members advanced on him, their body language intent, menacing.

"I don't have any money, guys."

"Too bad, punk. You wanna walk in dis alley, you gotta pay da toll."

Mikey dropped lightly into the alley behind them as the first Dragon hit the young man with a sharp right hook. The kid tried to block, and swung wildly, but the second gang member caught him in the gut. He sank to the ground with a groan.

"Dudes, two against one is not cool."

"Get lost, freak," snarled one of the men.

"Sorry, I don't think so. The Turtle Titan, Battle Nexus Champion, does not take orders from ugly-purple-lizard-tat-wearing-losers," taunted Mikey. His nunchucks whistled, and one of the men crashed to the ground, unconscious.

The second man, seeming to realize they were in trouble, lunged at Michelangelo with a growl, but suddenly the shadowy figure simply wasn't there.

"Now you see me," quipped Michelangelo. Clunk. His nunchuck cracked the man neatly from behind. He collapsed in a heap at Michelangelo's feet. "Now you don't."

Mikey smiled. "Gets 'em every time." He heard a groan, and whirled around. He was about to disappear, ninja-style, up the fire escape, when something… familiar, about the young man caught his attention. He stepped closer, as if drawn against his will.

Mikey cleared his throat nervously. "Dude, you ok?" he asked cautiously.

"I think so." The boy sat up, gazing at Michelangelo. Mikey instinctively stepped back, deeper into the shadows. "Thanks, man. I owe you one."

"No problemo, Dude. Hey, what's your name?"

"Trevor. Trevor Flanagan."

Flanagan.

"Your sis is Jackie?"

"Yeah. You know her?"

"I did. A long time ago." Michelangelo smiled. "When I was little. Tell her… tell her Mikey said "hi", will you?"

"I… I will. Thanks again, man. You're a real hero."

"Nah, Dude. Your sis, she's the hero." A siren blared nearby.

"Wait. How did you know Jackie…?" Trevor sat up, peering at the figure cloaked in shadows, but the ninja was already gone, racing across the rooftops.

"Cowabunga!" The cry echoed through the night.

Trevor looked up, understanding lighting his eyes. He smiled.

"Take care, Mikey," he said softly. "It was good to see you again."

*end*