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April had always been like family. The turtles loved her and protected her. April loved them and looked out for them, this had always been true, but something had changed recently.
It was one week after April and Casey had gotten back from their honeymoon. April hung out at the lair whenever she wasn’t busy with new house stuff. When she was over she had become very affectionate. Hugging them, leaning on them while watching movies, telling them how proud she was of them, even giving them kisses on the tops of their heads.
It was surprising at first. Mikey accepted it the fastest, always eager for affection. Donnie was nervous about it initially, but quickly warmed up to it. Leo was extremely embarrassed by it, saying he wasn’t a little kid, but April claimed that didn’t matter. He eventually caved. Raph seemed to just let it happen, pretending he didn’t care, but in reality he loved every second of it. After a while of this, they began to wonder if there was a reason for it.
They were all sitting on the couch, the movie they were watching had just ended. Mikey was leaning against April's shoulder, who had her arm around him. He looked up at her.
“April?” He chirped quietly,
“Yeah, Mike?” She glanced down at him.
“Are you gonna leave us soon or something?” His voice was quiet and almost nervous. April tilted her head at him.
“No, why on earth would you think that?” She rubbed his shell a little.
“It’s just that, you’ve been so nice to us lately.” He gestured to the other three on the couch, “We were worried it was because you were gonna go away.” His voice is almost childlike.
“You were all worried about this?” She looked around at all four brothers. Their faces a little embarrassed.
“Maybe a little.” Leo confessed.
“Yeah, especially Raph.” Don smirked, looking at his twin on the end of the couch.
“Why you little-” Raph started, he then looked at April and his face flushed a bit. “I’d just miss you is all.”
“Aw, guys.” April beamed, “I just realized how much family means to me recently, you four are like the little brothers I never had, and I just wanna love on you guys. I’m not going anywhere.” She gave Mikey a little kiss on the head.
“That’s really sappy, April.” Raph commented.
“Being married does that to you.” She chuckled.
They put on another movie, and huddle up on the couch. Without fearing the worst anymore, they all relax and fall asleep in a pile.
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Another week passed, the turtles are all down in the lair when April and Casey walk in. They explain how they're going upstate to help Casey’s family put up a new barn this weekend. They ask for the turtle's help, but they say no. Claiming they have other plans. Now April knows the guys weren’t usually lazy, so if they have something going on, she trusts them. April gives them all hugs and forehead kisses before she and Casey leave. The turtles wave them off and give each other knowing looks.
Late afternoon the next day, the boys are planning, or at least they’re trying to.
“Alright, bros, we have to decide what we’re going to get April.” Leo said at the table. They were all eating breakfast, except Mikey, who had already eaten and was busy painting a banner that read “We love you, big sis” so far.
They were trying to figure out the best gift to get April for being so loving to them lately. They had all decided to get her something, but figuring out what that something was, was a bit more of a problem.
“Well, what does April like?” Don tried to ask helpfully.
“Computers, clothes, jewelry, ooh chocolate pastries.” Mikey started rambling from the other side of the room.
“Okay, those are all good ideas, but she kinda has most of those things.” Leo tapped on his plastron. “Any other ideas?”
“She really liked the time Casey got her flowers.” Raph murmured over his cereal. They all turned to Raph, eyes lighting up.
“That’s perfect, Raphy!” Mikey shouted.
“Really?” Raph raised a brow.
“Sure.” Leo put his hand on Raph’s shoulder, “What big sister wouldn’t want flowers from her little brothers.”
“It sounds dumb when you say it like that.” Donnie pointed out.
“Nah, it’s perfect! Let’s go!” Mikey was already standing up from his painting to go grab his stuff. He immediately comes back and walks over to the table pointing a finger in the air. “One thing, where do we get flowers?”
“Leave that to me.” Don drank the last of his juice, got up, and walked to his computer.
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The sun is setting as the turtles walk into the flower shop, it was the only one open this late. Donnie had found a website for it and it seemed safe enough. They push open the shaded glass doors and a bell chimes. A shopkeeper welcomes them from behind the counter without looking at them. The shop is a small building lined wall to wall with different flowers and decorative planters, there’s a kiosk with cards and colorful ribbons. Fairy lights and ivy hang from the ceiling, making the whole room have a warm glow and cozy feel.
They give each other a nod and split up, each one going in a separate direction. The room was open so they could see each other from wherever they stood. Having gone to the future they were much more comfortable going into places and not being anxious about it.
The front doors open with the ding of the bell and they all jump at the sound. They take defensive stances and keep their hands over where their weapons were hidden under their hoodies. An elderly woman with a cane walks in slowly. They all breathe a sigh of relief. Okay, mostly comfortable.
They continue milling around, looking for a flower to pick for the bouquet. Mikey takes two seconds to see the flower he wants. He rushes over, grabbing serval, before taking a peak at the card kiosk. The other three take a little more time. Leo is stuck between two, Raph has to smell every one before deciding and Donnie is looking at his shell cell to see the different meanings of each flower.
“Come on guys!” Mikey complained with his flowers and a card picked in hand, “I’m collecting dust over here!”
“Yeah, Yeah, quit rushing us, Mikey.” Raph grumbled. He smelled one last flower, then grabbed several of the same red flower. Raph walked over to Leo, who was still having trouble making a decision.
“You know, for a leader who makes a lot of quick decisions, you sure are taking your time.” Raph elbowed Leo as he poked fun at him.
“Oh, don’t you start rushing me too.” Leo chuckled, not looking away from the flower he’s been staring at. Leo exhaled loudly before eventually choosing some small blue flowers.
“Ah ha! Found them.” Don spotted some purple flowers that match the description of the ones he was looking for. He grinned and held up his flowers to his brothers with pride.
They all walk up to the counter and place their flowers on it, the shopkeeper turned around and gave them a wide eyed look. They all flinch, worried that the person was about to scream, But instead they pick up all the flowers and stare at them.
“Zinnias, forget me nots, alstroemerias, and lisianthus.” The person gave a look of distaste, “This is the most mismatched bouquet I have ever had the misfortune of making.”
“Um, M’sorry?” Mikey quipped.
The worker gave a heavy sigh before putting on a smile and resuming their cheery demeanor.
"Who are you nice boys getting these flowers for?" They glance at each other, not really sure how to explain their situation.
"Our big sister!" Mikey piped up helpfully.
"How lovely, she's lucky to have four little brothers like you." They take the flowers to the back counter and start arranging them in a plastic sleeve.
"Even if this bouquet is… " They mumble something under their breath that the turtles can't hear.
After a few minutes the bouquet is done and wrapped in clear plastic and a dark green ribbon, funny, they didn't specify that. The shopkeeper placed the flowers on the counter, then pressed a few buttons on the cash register before turning back to them.
"Alright, with the card.” They pointed at Mikey's hands. "Your total comes to 26.99."
"Awesome! Donnie pay the nice…" Mikey notices the non-binary pin on their cardigan. "Flower person."
"Florist." They corrected.
"Yeah, that!" Mikey smiled and pointed a finger gun. Donnie sighed and pulled out his wallet, it's purple and shaped like an Ankylosaurus.
"Why do I always pay for everything?"
"Because you're the only one of us that makes money with those coding jobs." Leo commented, folding his arms.
“Still, you could chip in once and a while.” He handed the money to the florist, giving exact change. They handed Mikey the bouquet, they all thank the nice florist and walk out of the store with their prize.
It’s dark as they walk home, and the wind was blowing. The turtles were thankful for their hoodies and pants as it blocked the cold wind. It may technically be spring, but New York didn’t get that memo. Mikey held the flowers close to him, keeping them from getting damaged by the wind.
Leo lifted a manhole cover and they all slipped one by one down the ladder into the tunnel that leads home. It was quiet and echoey as they make their way through the tunnel. They were all a little tired and only the sound of dripping water and padding turtle feet could be heard.
Not being able to take the silence anymore, Mikey took a deep theatrical sniff of the bouquet in his hands.
“These smell really good, guys.” Mikey held the bouquet up to Leo’s face. “Don’t you think so?” Leo made a tsk sound before taking a small sniff of the flowers.
“Yes, Mikey.” He leaned his head back a little, “They’re lovely, but don’t shove them in my face.” Mikey giggled at that. Raph looked over at the flowers and rubbed the back of his head.
“Are we sure they’re a good gift for April though?” Raph mumbled. His brothers all stop and turn to look at him.
“Pardon?” Leo put his hands on his hips.
“Little late for that now, Raph.” Donnie chided.
Mikey stepped over to his big brother and put his hand on Raph's shoulder. “This was your idea, Raphie, what's making you worry about it now?”
Mikey’s eyes softened with empathy. Raph rubbed his hands together and looked at the ground.
“It’s just that, It’s usually Leo or Don coming up with the smart plans.” He paused a second. “I don’t typically worry about this stuff, but I really wanna get something April would like and you guys just went with what I said and I didn’t think you would and…”
“Raph.” Mikey looked him right in the eyes, “I meant what I said, It is a really good idea.”
“Yeah, April is gonna love it.” Leo chimed in. Donnie agreed with a nod.
“Okay.” Raph sighed. “Thanks, bros.” He gave a smirk and bumped Mikey’s shoulder.
“Alright let’s get moving.” Donnie motioned with his hand. “Those flowers are gonna start wilting if we don’t get them in water.” They all continued walking home.
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When April walked towards the lair, she immediately noticed something. It was quiet, too quiet. She could usually hear the tv going, Donnie working on something, Leo’s swords, or Raph and Mikey bickering by now, But she didn’t hear a thing. Odd, maybe they were meditating? She quietly peeked around the door, expecting to find four turtles and a rat sitting on the floor surrounded by candles. Instead she didn't see anyone and she smelled something burning.
“Guys?” She shouted, starting to worry. She heard the sound of turtle feet running from the kitchen.
“April!” Mikey ran up to her and gave her a big hug. “Missed you, how’s the barn? How’s Casey? Anything you wanna talk about? We can stand right here and talk about whatever you want.” Mikey stood right in front of her and rocked back and forth on his feet, clearly hiding something.
“Michelangelo.” April crossed her arms, “What’s going on?” She gives him an eyebrow raise.
“Alright, fine.” Mikey grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the kitchen. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
They entered the kitchen and April wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. On the wall was a banner painted with big messy letters that read “We Love You Big Sister!” The whole room was a mess and smelled like burnt cookies that the other three were throwing away. The biggest surprise was the large bouquet of flowers on the table, color coded to the turtles’ mask colors. April put a hand up to her mouth and gasped. Leo, Raph, and Donnie turned toward her giving embarrassed smiles and Mikey tugged on her hand.
“Surprise.” They all said awkwardly at once.
April didn’t know what to say. So instead she went over to the boys, pulling Mikey with her, and pulled them all into a big group hug.
____________________________________________________________________
The kitchen was finally clean. The turtles had tried to keep her from helping, but she told them just sitting around while they cleaned would make her feel worse than just helping. So now they sat at the table, tired from cleaning. April was sipping some water, trying to listen to her masked siblings, who were trying to explain what had happened.
“So, let me get this straight.” She set the glass down and folded her hands in front of her, “You guys were trying to make me chocolate chip cookies, but got distracted by arguing about… what cookie is best?” She gave them a wide eyed stare.
“Yeah, it sorta got out of hand.” Leo rubbed the back of his head.
“We all got so heated about it, we didn’t hear the oven go off.” Donnie said shyly.
“And that’s why we’re eating crackers with frosting.” April popped a freshly frosted cracker into her mouth.
“Exactly.” Mikey stacked three crackers together with frosting and put the whole thing in his mouth with a crunch. April shook her head at her little turtle brothers. They may be experienced ninjas and mutants, but they were still teenagers.
It was quiet for a moment before Raph pushed the vase of flowers from the other end of the table in front of April.
“These are for you by the way.” Raph tapped on the table nervously.
April put her hands over her mouth again, They really had gotten flowers for her. She noticed a card tucked in between the flowers. She picked it up, in Leo’s neat handwriting it read:
Dear April, Thank you for being such a great big sister to us, we hope this makes up for all the trouble we’ve caused you. Love Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey.
Each of the names were written by their respective turtle and Mikey’s had a little heart next to it. April felt tears forming in her eyes and she looked at her little turtle brothers.
“Aw, you guys.” Her heart felt very full. “I love you too.”
The turtles all got up and surrounded her in a hug. Of all the changes this family had gone through, this was the best one.