Epilogue
10 years later
"Man youse guys really go all out for birthdays, don'tcha." Casey said as he and April helped the turtles set up for Don's surprise party.
"Actually," Leo said as he walked in with the last of the party supplies, "Don's the only one who gets this much special treatment for his birthday."
"And whys that exactly?" Casey asked.
"Lots a reason Dude." Mikey answered,
"But mainly it's our way of thanking him for everything he does for us." Leo finished.
"I know Don does a lot for youse guys, but isn't this a bit much?" Casey asked.
April being the closest one to him, smacked him.
"Geez, April what was that for"
"Jus be glad is wasn't me, knucklehead. You woulda been seen stars right," Raph growled.
"Mr. Jones, much of what you see around you is because of Donatello. Everything from our appliances to the security system to the many vehicles we now use is because of him. Even as a young child he worked to make our home more comfortable for us."
"That answer your questions Case? Can we get back to work before brainiac gets back?" Raph asked.
"Too late" a cheerful voice rang out.
Amongst the groans of yet another failed surprise party, Don walked in.
"Donnie, you were suppose to be gone at least another hour at least." Mikey whined.
"Sorry Mike" Don replied with smirk tugging at his mouth.
"Man Don, we figured we would getcha this year?" Raph grumbled.
"Wait, this year?" April asked.
"Yeah, they've been trying to 'surprise' me since my tenth birthday." Don replied, "I think it's a guilt thing."
"Whatya mean by that Donnie?" Casey asked.
The rest of the family including Splinter suddenly found floor very interesting.
Don chuckled at his family's reaction.
"The reason I say 'it's a guilt thing' is because they forgot my seventh birthday and have tried to make up for every year."
"They forgot your birthday?" April said with disbelief.
"Yeah. The guys spent the night camped outside my and Leo's bedroom when I locked myself in there after yelling about it. I told I forgave them the next morning but I can't seem to get them to believe me" Donnie said cheekily.
"Man, Donnie had it made for a couple weeks after that." Mikey added.
"Not that he took advantage of it other than trading out of the hate chores of cleaning the bathroom and the dojo." Leo put in, Raph grumbled at.
"I've tried telling them that they don't need to go to all this trouble for my birthday," Don leaned over and whispered to April.
"Not that you don't like it" she replied back cheekily.
Don simply grinned.
He never told anyone but the best present his family had ever given him was thanks and hugs he got after that forgotten birthday. As much sadness that day had brought, the day after had brought a change in his family that remained to this day.
Much like when they were younger: Mikey still came to him when nightmares got the best of him, Leo still came to him to burdens became to heavy and he was still the only one that Raph trusted to talk to after his 'hot headedness' got the better of him.
Now however, Mikey could sense when his projects got the better of him and pulled him out of the lab to relax. Leo would sit in on some of his all-nighters and they would just talk. And Raph began joining him on his runs to the junkyard as well as in the garage when he was working on their vehicles.
'Yeah' Don thought with a smile "that forgotten birthday is definitely my favorite birthday.'
Well there it is. What did you guys think?