Author's Notes: Thus we have reached the end. I have an announcement, so read the AN at the end. For this moment, enjoy!

Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick/Eastman/Laird. Nia Anders and Melody Gray belong to me. I'm in no way making any money. Thanks.

Chapter 10 - Sunset Tea

Donatello was gone by the time Melody awoke. It wasn't terribly surprising, given his insistence of her 'rest', so she knew not to look for him in the dark, still space. Instead, she calmly slipped out of the wild sheets and gathered her clothes without help of a light. The pleasing aches through her body as she did so quickened her heart because of memories from last night, and they reminded her how much she craved—needed—the mutant's essence to keep from falling apart. January had passed agonizingly slow, but with him guiding her through the steps, she found it easier to speak with his family—even if their talks rarely ended well.

'On that note, he will want me to speak with Splinter next,' she thought while opening the bedroom door. 'Perhaps it would be best to iron our standing before he trusts me with his life…'

What a souring thought. Sans Donatello's near-death experience, the only medical case to bring Melody so much anxiety was her mother's. Don was right; the similarities roused bitter memories—ones of pasty features riddled with deep wrinkles, warts, and blistered skin; of coarse wiry hair, so brittle it was a wonder it grew to her wide chin; and of deep sunken eyes, thin and shaded by pain yet so confident in what they saw: Melody. She recalled the disbelief of hearing her mother's last breath and the long-standing anger that delved her into street fighting. So much of her past had been filled with loss.

Not this time.

"Kuso!" a scratchy voice hissed.

It drew up Melody's head when her boots clicked against the cement at the stair's base. She spotted a tuff of gray fur obscured by the brick kitchen's archway, which shifted closer to the ground with a long groan. Several long strides placed Mel behind Splinter as he tenderly rubbed his thin wrist and she instinctively claimed the fallen broom and dust pan beside him.

"Was this a whole tea pot?" she questioned, mindful of the bright porcelain pieces scattered at the old master's feet.

Splinter motioned to regain the broom, but the cyborg had already gathered the glass and firmly pushed him backwards. "One of my favorites," the rat grimly noted.

"Did you have a spasm?"

"It weighed so little."

"The weight is not what matters; the motion does. You should be particular in the activities you partake in. If you are not aware of your limitations then the damage could—"

"I am always aware, Gray-san—especially of my limitations."

Why the sudden snap? Melody raised her vision from her squat, pausing the sweep up of glass. Splinter's short form regarded her with steeled dark eyes. But after a moment they eased, his head shaking as he claimed his fallen staff by the stove.

"Forgive me, Gray-san. I know you mean well."

Did he? Mel highly doubted so. Unless some unnoticed emotion shined through her voice. Silent, she turned back to the mess, swept the remainder of the porcelain into the dust pan, and then headed for the tall trashcan located by the fridge. One last run over ensured any smaller bits were displaced and by that time, Splinter stood steady with his paws on his gnarled cane.

"Gray-san," he started when their gazes connected.

"Call me Melody," she interjected coolly. "I already have enough reminders of my mother."

"Very well, Melody-san. Would you have a seat with me? The others took Nia Topside to watch the sunset and I find myself craving company."

Melody blinked, watching Splinter take a seat at the dining room table. "Sunset?"

He nodded. "You must have been more exhausted than you thought; you slept all day."

"And the Damn Mechanic didn't wake me up," she grumbled with a twitch. Splinter chuckled lightly as she joined him, but it quickly led into a coughing fit.

"You have been through much shock recently," the short mutant added once his lungs settled. "Entering a family on top of it all is bound to wear one out."

"I…I have not entered any such thing."

"Nonsense. The process has started and will come to fruition in time."

"You cannot possibly predict such."

"Of course I can."

"How? Motives and options evolve from day to day. You have no idea what will happen with us."

"Even so, I know the true characters of my children. And now, I am coming to understand our latest addition. In this knowledge, I am certain our family will grow with you."

"Don't you hate me?" The blunt question wouldn't remain at bay any longer, especially under Splinter' calm demeanor. Mel no longer felt an urge to run, but she gave into the burn that drew her fists together on the tabletop.

"I cannot bring myself to hate you, Melody-san," the rat said.

Whether or not he meant it genuinely or obsequiously was uncertain, so the cyborg narrowed her eye. "Don's told me likewise. His reason is because he loves me. What's yours?"

"I have seen my fair share of pain in my life, young one. Pain of sickness. Pain of lost love. Pain of vengeance. Pain of jealousy. It prompts others to do despicable things, often times in a kamikaze attempt to ease it. How could I mistake the wounded eyes of a girl who has seen an equal or greater amount of pain?"

"Y—you mean me?" Mel's throat clenched at Splinter's light smile.

"You read deeper than you feel you do, Melody-san. And you know what else I sense? Your anger and confusion. You do not understand how one cannot hate when wronged. To think you have gone all these years of your life holding onto rage, resenting outsiders of the homeless realm. Without it, you do not know where to stand, do you?"

Beside Donatello: that's the answer she wanted to give. But she couldn't find her voice at the prickling swell in her eye.

"Rage is a continuous fire, child," continued Splinter, softer. "It will always burn. If you let that subside, though, douse it with love, you will find a far more rewarding life. To share yourself with others does not mean you become all they expect; it means they will support everything that you are. Because sometimes we are not strong enough to stand on our own."

"S—so why send away Leonardo? I…I hear all these things of sticking together and watching each other's backs, but…"

Splinter frowned before the cyborg dropped her head onto the table. "You are not solely responsible."

"But I am part."

"…Yes." Sighing, the master shifted. "Leonardo's foundation of belief has been shaken. He has lost himself not just as leader, but as a person. And everything in this city reminds him of his fall. Yes, he cannot stand on his own. However, we can no longer lift him up, either.

He needs a change. He needs to find the lost pieces of himself without the influence of his family because we would only enable him. As heartbreaking as it is to send him to South America, he needs time for himself. Otherwise, his mind would only rot in the Lair."

"Did his fall…start before me?"

"Yes."

The cyborg couldn't stop her sigh of relief; so when it left, she straightened, facing Splinter with a wave of new tears.

"It is quite alright, Melody-san. It must be a burden off your shoulders."

"May I ask where his fall started?"

"With the troubles in July, when they failed to save the lives of a young woman and her son from Purple Dragons."

"Bastards." Melody hissed before she realized it, and unclenched her fists at the mutant's grim nod. "Donatello explained to me his reason for…for denying me in August was the fear brought by that incident. He left it vague, however."

"It is a painful reminder for my sons," Splinter noted morosely. "One they can't seem to escape. The mother's two daughters, Miriam and Jezebel, helped Michelangelo the same night you saved Nia. But Miriam has since learned the truth of that night. She lost herself to vengeance and while Hugh's friends recovered her from Hun's clutches, she is now in an institute. Filled with so much rage."

"Now they must live with knowing their failure to save her family has led Miriam to madness."

"It was not their fault." Words sharp, the wizened rat squared his shoulders, raising his scraggly chin.

"They can be part of the cause and not at fault, correct?"

Of course. Otherwise, his whole defense he built around her guilt over Leonardo would crumble. Splinter sensed it, too, because he reeled a second then grinned.

"There is much healing to be done, Melody-san—on everyone's part. And to recover as a family will require your strength as well."

The idea sounded ludicrous, and she let the thought play on her features.

"You are to help me with my cancer, right? Is not part of a doctor's role to lend strength?"

"You don't feel nervous about my involvement?"

"More so at the long journey that lies ahead. If I am to be honest, I am thankful for you. Donatello ensures me you are one of the finest medical minds he has ever dealt with and knowing you are on my side gives me great comfort."

Melody didn't know when the tears started; she only knew they streamed down her cheek when they dripped from her chin. She shook, thinking of how similarly her mother spoke to her. And she hitched, finding a sense of relief in the rat's wide smile. The moment was broken by the shifting of levers and gears as the Lair's entrance opened, which revealed four unique figures dressed in winter attire.

"The spider isn't coming back, Raph," Nia said blandly between her boyfriend and Donatello.

"Ya left it on the bend back there, didn't ya?" Raphael countered with an accusing finger directed behind.

"Hey, watch where you point that thing!" Michelangelo injected shrilly. He swatted away the hothead's hand then rounded the group by cartwheeling.

"It's probably already made its way back!"

"Seriously, Dude. The spider was the size of Nia's fingernail."

"An' it's got friends!"

"At least you know how to get payback when need's be," Don remarked.

Raphael spun to meet the genius' nonchalant grin. "With all yer high-tech gear, ya can't keep spiders out 'a the Lair?"

"Oh, sure. I'll just drop my work on advanced security features, the facial recognition program, trackers—wait." Don paused then stepped back as his brown eyes grew wide beside his mask. "Oh, shit, the trackers!"

"What trackers?" Michelangelo questioned, halting at the table.

"The ones we were using to make a grid. Ah, man, I forgot about them completely."

"Oh, those trackers. Yeah, they're still Topside, aren't they?"

Melody found Don's thrown back head funny. Her lips twitched as she dried her tears and stood, but when he repeatedly beat his forehead with his palm, she outright chuckled. He worried about the smallest of things and prided himself on being an excellent multitasker. And he forgets something as simple as a few trackers?

"Oh, wow, she laughs!"

Michelangelo's exclamation silenced Melody too late; she snorted twice before catching herself and the flabbergasted group was rewarded with a death glare. Don was the first to smile. Then Mikey. The two meandered to her side as Raphael fought amusement he clearly shared with Nia.

At least, it should be amusement. They looked chipper.

"Did you sleep well?" Donny asked. Mel thought she sensed a smirk behind his smile, but maybe that was her influence.

"Why did you not wake me?" she retorted, monotonous now that the intimate air between her and Splinter had dissipated.

"I tried. You smacked me."

The cyborg quirked a brow. "Really?"

"Got the bruise under my chin to prove it."

"How would I know I inflicted it?"

"It's in the shape of your fist."

"A fist is not terribly descriptive."

"It is when it's a cyborg one with notable knuckle shields."

"Maybe you should be quicker then."

Donatello deadpanned as the others sniggered around the couple. Their lighthearted air swelled Melody's chest with an emotion she couldn't quite explain, and meeting their glances threatened her composure. She dwelled on Splinter's warm countenance before averting her gaze, drawing it to Michelangelo.

The orange-clad mutant stripped himself of his coat while heading for the couch, his arms raised high. "Who's up for a movie?"

"Mikey, we need to—"

Mel raised a robotic hand to stop her lover midstride. "You wanted me to rest, so we will all rest," she said under her breath when Raphael quickly followed his youngest brother. "You spoke to Nia about IgR?"

Stiffly, Don nodded and studied Nia just as the artist turned on her heel. "She says she wants to help in any way she can."

"Then we start research tomorrow, let Splinter know of it."

"You seem pretty relaxed. Did you have a good talk with Splinter?"

The cyborg cocked her head, though her gaze drifted to Splinter, who had moved with Nia into the kitchen. "Who says we talked?"

"I know you better than that."

Slowly, Mel let a smile grow. "Yes…you do."

"So does this mean you've worked past what happened with Leo?"

Melody lowered her gaze to a teapot Nia took from Splinter, so she could fill it and place it on the stovetop. "In a way. You know…your family is not nearly as bad as the complaints you have told me over the years."

"Oh, just wait," Don countered with short laugh. "The annoying parts come later. Trust me. So. Do you want to pick out the movie?"

"No, I would rather help Splinter with the tea."

Donatello didn't reply. Then again, his loving gaze when she faced him already told her how happy he was. Did the happiness stem from her helping? Her talking with Splinter? Or her simply being there? She was unable to tell.

But the reason mattered little; her reward still came in a short yet deep kiss that held more passion than the day before.

Author's Notes: I hope you enjoyed this little story. It was quaint yet important for the clan - especially Mel. And I enjoyed being able to show you a little more of her side. For future reference, my mini-books will be just as vital to the overall story-line as the 'big' ones, so...be sure to check out everything (if you can). :P

That said, I have plans.

It won't be a month before I post again. HOPEFULLY. I plan to release a Valentine's Day special from Feb 8-14 (one chapter for each day). There's also a side project I've been working on that I may start posting. That is up to my whim, however. What ISN'T in the wind is the next mini-book, "Cause Worth Celebrating", which is to be posted throughout March. It will be a Raph/Nia centric story involving the guy's Mutation Day and the next step in their relationship.

"The boys' Mutation Day is on the 19th, yet none of them see what the big fuss is in the age of twenty-four. It's nothing special and with their brother away, what would be the point? Even so, Nia is determined to throw them a wonderful party. Will her good intentions turn array? Or will Raphael find there's a cause worse celebrating after all?"

I want to thank everyone who reviewed. You guys are the BEST. Without your love, I wouldn't post at all, so thanks. :D

Until next time!