There she was. 

Smiling ever so sweetly. Her curly hair perfectly framed her face, her tan skin shimmering under the purple lights, and her eyes like diamonds. She is perfect. To Donatello, despite his brain telling him that these feelings were all for not, his heart said otherwise. 

Sil, as the others did not know as Dianne, finally woke up from her overnight stay in the medbay. Mikey was the first to stumble upon her in the late morning. Thrilled to see her awake, Mikey screamed for joy. Which caused a series of chaotic events starting with Donatello rushing to the medbay with a blow torch in his hands prepared to burn the face of whatever menace decided to disturb his tinkering, his brother, and the girl, "WHO DARES-". The next chaotic turtle entered shouting "Leon's got it" and slammed right into Donnie.

Sil winced and before she could say anything a blur of red burst through the door. Raphael's eyes widened in glee, rushing over to Sil's bedside and began to check over her frantically, meanwhile Donnie and Leo began tussling on the floor for who knows what reason. Cassandra, April, and Sunita swooped right after Raph and like a flock of mother hens, they began to fret over Sil. 

Finally, to complete the series of chaotic events, in came the angry goatman with a half-awake rat father and the one and only Casey Jones Jr. Just like every protective father-like-figure over their daughter-like-figure, Draxum felt steam coming out of his ears when he saw the red-clad turtle and the pesky girls hovering worriedly over Sil. "Give my girl her space!" Draxum pushed each of them away much to their dismay and held Sil's face with utter care.  

" You're alright," Sil heard the pain in his voice and quickly laid one of her hand's over his, sinking into her uncle's gentle touch, nodding. "I am," Sil assures him multiple times. Draxum kept her hands close to himself, shedding a tear of gratefulness. He then gave Sil the most tender of kisses on her forehead and whispered to her to never give him a heart attack again. 

"Awwwww...." a chorus of cooing from the group of teens made Draxum blush out of embarrassment. "I always knew you were full of sunshine," Mikey beamed and hugged Draxum, the latter allowing the turtles to embrace. 

Laughing, Splinter patted her head, "Glad to see you all right. Orange was so excited for you to wake up, he made you breakfast." Sil melted out of pure adoration, telling Mikey she could not wait to eat. The orang turtle blushed, "Aww it's nothing, but if you're feeling it I made pancakes!!!"

"Ohhh yeah," Leo hugged his younger brother. "Sil, you need to try his pancakes."

"Yeah, girl. Don't miss out on the Hamato specialty. Plus, you can hang out with us once you get your groove back." April and the girls high-fived each other enthusiastically shouting, "Girl's day out!"

The she-thief felt her heart warm at the sight. Normally humans don't go celebrating over some random stranger's recovery, especially after knowing them for a day or two. Sil woke up just expecting a 'get well soon' card and definitely a visit from her uncle. To wake up to a group of smiley, and teary-eyed combo family of mutants, yokai, and humans is a surprise to be sure but a welcomed one. 

In this case, with her heart now warmed to the core she decided then and there to bestow upon them her identity. 

"Thanks, everyone. Really," Sil smiled gently while readjusting herself to sit on the medical bed. "Mikey, I am down to try those pancakes."

The orange turtle jumped with joy. 

"I really thank you all. You put your lives on the line for mine without really knowing me and I owe all of you, big time." she was never one for heartfelt and emotional thanking but the turtle family got the message.

Raph laid a hand on her shoulder, squeezing lightly, "Don't sweat it. We are the Mad Dogs and we kinda have a thing for knowing if a person is good or not and we knew you're a good person. You're welcome, Sil."

Feeling a tear slip down her face, she finally cracked, "Dianne. My name is Dianne Rosetta. You've done so much for me. I could at least introduce myself properly to my amazing rescuers."

Sil, or Dianne, watched her friends go slack-jawed and starry-eyed, missing the pain suddenly displayed on Donatello's face. "OH, MI GOSH! That is the most beautiful name, ever!!".  Mikey squished her face and hugged her, "As Raph said, don't mention it. We are good doers and good do". Draxum just shook his head, watching the sweet interaction between the two. The excited orange turtle tried tugging Dianne to the kitchen forgetting she was still hooked up to some machines monitoring her heart rate. 

"Woah there buddy. Cool your jets," the blue turtle tugged on Mikey's bandana. "We gotta get Dianne off this thing then we can drag her to breakfast." A long pause rang out as the whole gang waited on someone specific to take charge. 

At the corner of the room stand Donatello. Lost in his own mind where a silent war wages about if he should allow himself to care for the bonnie-lass that would inevitably become the most important thing in his life, or if he should put up his bad boy front at full force. 

In those few minutes, of course, he would choose the latter. 

Casey Jr cleared his throat and nudged Donnie's side with his elbow. "Hmm? Oh yeah." Donnie walked to Dianne's side and then clicked on the machine to read the stats as his family watched in anticipation. "Her vitals are stable. Wounds are pretty much healed and yeah she is cleared for discharge."

At the purple ninja's confirmation, Casey and his mother helped Dianne off the bed. The other three turtles in blue, red, and orange ran to the kitchen dragging Draxum, Splinter, April, and Sunita, to set the table. Dianne thanked Cassandra and finally took notice of the male brunette. "Hey, I think I haven't been introduced to you properly."

Casey sputtered at first, feeling nostalgia crashing down on him. Still, he cleared his thoughts as he searched for a fresh start. It's not like Dianne's was the only old face he had seen. "I'm Casey. Casey Jones," he introduced, leaving out the 'junior' in his name.

"Jones? Like Cassandra? Are you two sib-"

"Distant relatives!" Donnie grabbed the Jones' shoulders, squeezing tightly on Cassandra's. "That's right. They are distant relatives who are only that and one of them is totally not from the future or related to the other more paternally or anything."

Casey squinted at the purple turtle before a knowing look passed between the both of them. No one else seemed to realize that Dianne was part of their future. No one knew who caught on to her being the Dianne Rosetta. Dianne Rosetta did not know about her place in their future and Donnie was determined to keep it that way for as long as he could. Without waiting for the two Jones' to reply Donnie shoved them out the door, closing it immediately and sighing. 

"Well, that wasn't weird at all," Dianne's sarcastic voice made Donnie jerk, and his body turn around wildly. A bright blush rested on his face making Dianne tilt her head to her side as she giggled, "What happened to the smooth operator? If I didn't know better I'd say you were lying."

Damn that smirk on her face. Donnie cleared his throat and stood straighter like he had a wooden pole driven through his spine. "NO. I was...not," the genius groaned and covered his face with one of his hands to hide his growing blush. "Whatever. Sorry for that but you can go now," his voice was as monotone as possible. The girl raised a brow deciding not to say a word. She shuffled to the door only to stop just millimeters from the boy's face. 

Donnie glanced down sharply. His body felt hot as he found himself licked by the flames of natural attraction. He kept his bad boy image up front, "What?" 

"The door, Donnie. You're blocking it," she smirked. 

Wordlessly the turtle moved from the door, opening it to quickly usher her away. Dianne walked out and then called out to him, "Are... you going to join us?". Donnie had to admit, his name in her voice sounded ever so sweet. "Yeah, Sil. In a while."

Sil shook her head and chuckled, "Please, call me Dianne." His bad boy front cracked a little, "Sure, Dianne."

---

Breakfast went smoothly. Mikey managed to impress Dianne with his cooking. She was forced to admit that his food was the best she had eaten in so long. Thanks to Draxum being a mostly full-time chemist, cooking was never his forte since everything ended up tasting like it had been cooked in ooze. 

Casey took his chance to talk to Dianne about almost everything, minus the 'I am from the future and Donatello is your future husband' part. The other three girls were getting to know Dianne at a more personal level, Draxum, and Splinter enjoying everything else.

Donnie joined them not too long after Dianne left the medbay. April, Cassandra, and Sunita kinda forced him to sit next to Dianne, much to his brother's amusement. Casey noticed the turtle shift in his seat every time Dianne would bump into him. Splinter would ask his purple-clad son to pass the sugar to Dianne. When their fingers touched Donnie found himself reduced to a stuttering mess, "S-sorry," or "Uh-uhm ha ahah. Sorry about t-that."

Breakfast went smoothly for everyone except Donnie. Leo noticed his twin with a grumpier look than usual. Bumping his leg from under the table Leo sent Donnie a questioning and worried look only for his softshell brother to grumble and give Leo the stink eye. 

Oh, yeah. Leonardo definitely wanted to get to the bottom of Donatello's situation, later. The red-eared slider carefully observed every flinch and grunt from Donnie and every sad reaction Casey would throw at his twin and Dianne. Unfortunately, Donnie excused himself unceremoniously and went to lock himself up in his lab. 

"Is Donnie alright?" asked Dianne. 

"Yeah. He gets like this sometimes. Don't worry though, he'll be in a brighter mood later." April explained with a soft smile.

---

Lunch rolled about not too long later. Draxum and Sunita went back to the Hidden City. Cassandra brought her son along to meet her girl scouts, April went to college, and that left the boys, Splinter, and Dianne at the lair.

Raph was giving the ultimate lair tour to Dianne also explaining to her his family's history. From their mutation to Shredder, Big Mama, and finally the Krang. He did mention Casey being from the future. He also may have slipped about his genius brother's supposedly happily married life but it went way over Dianne's head. "Wait! You were the guys defeating the Krang?! Fighting up there?"

"Heh, yeah." Raph scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "That's - woah. I just- Wow the whole of Earth owes everything to you and your brothers."

Raph blushed lightly, "Well, it's our duty. The Hamato Clan serves to protect." Dianne admired the big snapping turtle. "It's also our duty to protect each other. Down here, family is all we have."

Dianne nodded in understanding, "You're a very good brother, Raph." He smiled gratefully, showing off his snaggle tooth which made the girl laugh. "So, anyways. I hope you're looking forwards to staying here."

The female rolled her eyes, "Don't remind me. Drax made it pretty clear that I would have no choice in this. I'm really sorry to invade your home all of a sudden." 

"Dianne, you apologize too much. Trust me when Raph says not to worry, cause Raph definitely wants you to know not to worry. You're a Mad Dog now. Part of our crazy team. And if any of my bros have to say anything about it, ask them to talk with Big Bro Raph."

The girl smiled gleefully and fist-bumped the giant turtle. Raphael continued the tour by dragging Dianne to watch some Jupiter Jim movies with Splinter, gorging on popcorn and other sweet delicacies. 

---

Three movies later, Leo and Mikey decided to join the movie marathon, Splinter went to rest. The boys decided to squish Dianne between themselves. Hushed giggles and lame one-liners and bantering were key to having a good time. "Geez, we gotta call Dee. His next favorite movie is up," Mikey tapped a message to his older brother. "Pluto Vacation 4. I have no idea how that nerd ends up enjoying the lamest Jupiter Jim movie ever," Leo complained to Dianne. Not a minute later, Donnie walked with all his grumpy might. 

"Micheal. Brothers... D-Dianne," said female waved at him in greeting only for the genius to look away hurriedly and not give her a second glance. Dianne notices this and pressed her lip into a line, with a little hurt tingling in her heart. Leo notices this but doesn't say a word.

The purple brother makes his way to his own bean bag, plops down, and orders Mikey to play the movie. Leonardo decided to test a theory he had been keeping for a while now, unbeknownst to his brothers. 

Throughout the movie, Dianne tried to interact with his terrapin twin. She would try the smallest smile or wave. Whenever Donnie caught her gaze he would flinch and immediately look away. Leonardo decides to test his hypothesis. 

Somewhere during the movie, Leo caught Donnie looking longingly at Dianne. Especially when she laughed. Leo being Leo threw in his Hamato charm by slinging his hand over Dianne's shoulder and yanking her close while joining in her laugh.

She didn't think much of it since the movie made her laugh so hard. Donnie on the other hand visibly tensed. Something primal in him awakening. Donnie glared daggers at his brother in blue. Although Leo felt it, he kept going. Wearing a smug smile on his face. Leo leaned in closer to Dianne and whispered some jokes about Donnie and Pluto Vacation which made the girl chortle.

Donnie's hand clenched. The bean bag he sat on became a squishy distraction as he squeezed it in a tight fist. His insides boiling with unwanted jealousy. Part of him hated that feeling. The other was proud and maybe even boastful that he out of all his brothers would be the first to have a solid relationship with a significant other. 

Now, that thought scared him. Donnie collected himself and tore his gaze from his dumb-dumb of a brother.

Leo noticed this and amped up his game. "You know, Dianne. If you like this show, I could show you my Jupiter Jim comic collection,"

Dianne's eyes glittered with excitement, "Really? Oh, definitely." To be honest, Leo didn't take her to be a sci-fi fan and he genuinely wanted to show her his comic collection. That and so he could tease Donnie over his jealousy cause the boy was fuming in his seat.

Since Donnie sat closest to Raph, the oldest of the four could feel Donnie vibrate with anger. Being a softshell turtle, Donnie was naturally the most aggressive by nature and also territorial. It sent Raphael's older brother's senses tingling. Following Donnie's angry glare, Raph's kind eyes rested on his mischievous blue bandana-wearing brother. Raph didn't bother speaking, so he just slapped Leo on his head.

When the latter turned, Raph pointed at Donnie and signed to Leo to 'cut it out'. The red-eared slider's smirk grew and he winked in Donatello's general direction. Having enough of his shenanigans, Donnie stomped away angrily. "Leo, what did you do?" the youngest Hamato accused. Leo rolled his eyes, "Don't worry. I got it. Dianne, don't you go anywhere. I still want to show you my comics."

The trio watched the leader in blue race after his twin. "Are they going to be alright? Donnie seemed a little off," Dianne looked to Raph for answeres. "Ah, they do this all the time. It's their thing." Seemingly satisfied with his answer, they went back to watching the movie.

---

"OKAY! What was that all about, Leonardo?" 

Leo winced, "Whooo... using my full name, huh? You must be really mad." 

"Leo, I'm not mad." Donnie plopped into his swivel chair and swiveled uncaringly.

"My name in the span of two seconds? You're jealous aren't you," the swiveling stopped. Now Leo knew Donnie was mad.

The softshell leaned further into his chair. "Do explain yourself, Leon." He was eerily calm. Too calm, in fact. Leo felt tiny amounts of fear travel up his spine, "Well, just saying. Dianne and I a pretty much very close..."

Donnie's eyebrows indicated he was not amused. "...and she seemed all comfortable in my arms," Leo continued. The purple turtle scoffed wordlessly, "So? She's clearly a friendly character. If I had done that she would've reacted the same way."

"Is that so?"

Donatello nodded. 

"Hmm... then why did you ignore her when she greeted you?" 

Donnie's eyebrows furrowed intensely, "...I didn't see her," it came out more like a question.

"Really? Bro I have known you forever and I know you just lied."

"Well, what do you want me to say, Leo?"

"I want you to admit that you like her. Is that so hard, baby bro?" Leo asked a little sweetly this time. Even coming up to fist-bump Donnie on his shoulder. "Leo, look at my eyebrows," upon Donnie's request, he did. 

Donnie pointed to his eyebrows. "You see these eyebrows? They are cross. Very cross." Leo gulped. "They are so cross, they are the crossest brows you have ever seen. They are attack eyebrows, Leo."

The blue-clad was at  lost, "So... urhmm?"

"SO... I do not like her the way you think I do. I just... like her. Like a friend and totally not feeling anything else." 

Leo gave him the most deadpanned look, "Wow you even suck at trying to lie. But the attack eyebrows were a huge hit though." This caused Donnie to slap his own face hard. 

"Look, Leo. You know I'm not good with these things alright? So just leave me be."

Leo frowned. He did not like not knowing his brother's true feelings. Time to pull the ultimate move. "All right," he shrugged. Donnie watched as some new emotion wrote it's way to his twin's face, "Since you forgo the sweet lady, I think I'm gonna make my move on her."

"What?!" Donnie nearly jumped out of his chair. 

"Hmm? I mean, I can right? Since you only see her as your friend?"

 "Uhh... uh yeah." Donatello forced a smile.

"Really? You don't sound too happy about it."

"No. No. It's fine." Donnie was not fine. Fists clenched, body vibrating. Leo got him good.

Smirking, Leo pressed on, "Alright. Just don't want you to be-"

If Donnie really had no feelings, he wouldn't have looked so pale with his dark green complexion. "I'M NOT JEALOUS!" 

The brothers froze. Donnie felt the blood rush to his face. Leo could not have been more proud of himself for catching Donatello Hamato, an emotionally unavailable bad boy, red-handed dipped in pure jealousy. Donnie knew he was lost. "Gah, fine. Fine! I am jealous, alright."

"Why should you be? Clearly, she likes you too." Leo asked in true curiosity. "Because, I- I don't know how to do this. She, I. Look we are two different people, from two different places, and have two different circumstances on our hands, alright." Donnie's shoulders shook with the effort he took to become vulnerable in front of his dear twin. "Look, you wouldn't even get it. I appreciate you trying to help, Nardo. I really do but the situation is too complicated. You wouldn't even understand if I told you."

Guilt seeped into Leo's face. He himself knew that Leonardo could not maintain a straight face when he was caught indirectly. "Why are you making the "I'm innocent face?," Donnie asked without missing a beat.

Leo hissed and chuckled nervously, "Wha..."

"Nardo..." the attack eyebrows came back full force and Leo cracked. 

"I- Lookitwasn'tmyfaultyoudecidedtohaveaheart-to-heartwithCaseyinthekitchenwhen anyonecouldhavewalkedintoyourconversationandeavesdroppedunintentionally."

Donatello was confused as ever making Leo sigh. 

"Alright, Dee just don't get mad at me. I said it wasn't my fault you decided to have a heart-to-heart with Casey in the kitchen when anyone could have walked into your conversation and eavesdropped unintentionally...."

For a moment Leonardo heard nothing. Not even a gasp from his twin. "Dee? You alright, bud?"

Donnie's jaw was slacked open. Heart beating wildly it would have burst right out of his plastron. Then the volcano of anger burst, "YOU EAVESDROPPED?!"

"Is that all you heard? Not the unintentional part, Dee?" 

"YOU EAVESDROPPED!" 

"How was I supposed to know you were talking about something private?" Leo argued with his hands gesturing wildly.

"How was I supposed to know you were walking around in the middle of the night?" Donnie bit back.

"Dang it, Nardo." Donnie sucked in a heavy breath. He felt like crying but it was no use now. "How much did you hear?"

Leo looked down at his feet, ashamed. "I- I heard the end. When Casey mention how much Dianne cared for you? And you, her? Well, the future you and I heard her name and tried to piece things together but.... y-you get my point." At that moment, Leo saw Donnie's eyes glittering with tears. He had never felt so bad in his life for even trying to make Donnie jealous. 

"Dee?"

"We die- We died, Leo. She died," he whispers painfully. Leonardo's remaining ego broke to pieces. "She died," Donnie repeated. "Leo she dies. I.... She nearly died yesterday and I couldn't- I couldn't do anything."

Donnie's chest rose and fell as he let his emotions take him away. "Leo, I don't even know if I can love or even try to love. If I can't even keep her safe in Casey's future, what right does it bring me to ... love. To even try to love or feel for Dianne. I already failed, Nardo." 

Leo was speechless. He has never seen his brother this disturbed. "I can't, N-Nardo." 

"I'd be a fool to love her."

Donatello broke down crying. He cried over Leonardo when he was trapped in the prison dimension. He cried when Splinter lied to get the turtle tank into a demolition derby. He cried now over his future and his present. Leo launched forwards pulling his brother into a hug. His own eyes pooled with tears. Donnie clung desperately to his brother. He didn't care that Leo saw his bad boy front crumbled like dust, blown into the wind like ashes. 

Leo gently removed his younger brother's mask and hugged him again. The younger whimpered, shuddered, gasped, and cried. 

"Don?"

The younger twin hummed. 

"I don't know how right I am, but we already changed the future by defeating the Krang. I'd say your future with Dianne would have been changed."

Donnie remained quiet so Leo continued. "Donnie, we may not have the answers, but wouldn't it be worth trying to love if you now know you could have a better future?"

The scientist seemed to calm. They did change the future. Did they? 

Donnie raised his head to look at his brother. Leo kneeled down to match Donnie's level, "What is it, bud?" Donnie chuckled, remembering how the younger Leonardo would ask the younger Donatello when the latter had an amazing idea brewing. 

They did. They did change the future.

"We changed the future. For once, Leon, you're a genius."

Leo chuckled. Smiling, he leaned his head on Donnie's. A secret gesture the two shared whenever they had a heart-to-heart.

Donnie told Leo that he would try to feel. Slowly but surely and that answer was good enough for the older Hamato twin. After some time together, Leo left to join the others. Donnie lay on his bed and let his mind wander. He already made a pact with Leo where his twin and his dad were allowed to give him dating advice. Donnie knew he was going to regret it, but if the final result allowed him a life with Dianne. A safe life and a full life, how could he say no? 

Donatello had come a long way. From refusing to feel, to allowing something like this to happen in his life. He really was a fool to want. 

A fool to want Dianne.