"Excuse me?" 

Dianne did not know what to say. What in the stupidest nonsense did Donatello mean by 'my wife'? She had thought he was sick or something so her face became red. 

Leo sucked in a deep breath, one hand running over his face in anticipation of the possible string of curses that could spew from the curly-haired brunette. Donnie gasped like a fish out of water. He turned to his twin for a quick save but the other twin backed away slowly mouthing an apology. 

"Don, you better have a good explanation for what you just said" her stern voice cutting through the thick atmosphere. The purple genius swallowed the lump in his throat. 

Think of a dumb excuse... his mind whispered. "Wait, I said something?" Donnie cringed, not that dumb.

Dianne narrowed her eyes at the turtle before her. "Don't make me repeat myself."

She watched as Donatello slowly tried to sink into his shell. Manning up, he sighed, "I said- ...."

"What?"

Donnie fiddles with his fingers, mumbling the sentence again. 

"Can you not whisper into the wind"

"GAH FINE, I said ... you're my wife?"

Dianne gave him the most confused and creeped-out look. One he wished he hadn't seen with his own eyes. 

Before she could say anything he spoke again, "You're my wife from the future if that makes any sense,"

"It does not make any sense, at all!" once again the soft-shelled terrapin felt shame—absolute wrong timing on his part. Dianne tapped her foot impatiently.

"Look, I can explain it all later back in the lair."

"No. NO NO, you are explaining this now. Cause I don't want to be walking around with a guy who thinks he can call me his 'wife'-"

"-Future wife," Donnie corrected much to Dianne's fuming anger.

"Whatever. Whatever gave you the right to even call me that!" she then gestured between the both of them. "I get that there's something between us, call it whatever you want...-" Donnie almost thought he'd have a chance to explain things when Dianne clearly knew that there was something between them. For a moment he thought he had hope on his side, 

"...but to call me your, your. Look it's just - DAMN YOU DONNIE, what are you even - do you know how weird this sounds?"

And the window to his hope slammed close on his face. 

Donatello needs to come up with an answer, quickly, "I know. It sounds crazy-"

"Insane!"

They both said at the same time, though Dianne had more of a bite in her bark.

He agreed half-heartedly, "-yes, insane. I assure you though that I have a perfectly good explanation for our current situation."

Dianne has no idea what to say next. "Just, do you have any idea of what this makes me feel like right now?"

Donnie waited for her to explain. It felt like the right thing to do.

"It's awkward. It is so awkward. I'm standing right here, I technically just met you and you have some wild thoughts- I mean how did that idea get in your brain?!"

Leo watched the weirdest interaction of his life. The slider thought that Dianne would have handled the situation more... elegantly? It is crystal clear to him that Dianne's reaction made Donnie feel dejected. 

She wasn't in the wrong. Donnie's and Dianne's chapters are so different from their future. By defeating the Krang, they essentially changed their timeline meaning the way Donnie and Dianne would have possibly met changed as well.

The 'Dianne' now has no idea of the future Leo and his family learned about. The future nearly came to pass.

She doesn't know that Casey Jr is from the future. Dianne does not know about their deaths...

"Okay, okay. I know the situation is crazy now but let's chillax, alright," Leo slung one arm around Dianne's shoulder and the other around Donnie's.

The two tensed in the proximity of each other. Leo grimaced, "Hey, are you guys made of lemons, cause you guys are looking sour"

Donnie turned his head away in shame, "Can you not do this right now, Leon"

Ah shit. Leo think!!

"Ah... wow it is getting hot in here! The floor must be made of lava. Am I right, or am I right guys?"

Dianne was 2 seconds away from hitting Leo upside his head. 

"Geez fine. Talk about a tough crowd," the blue-masked turtle relented, "Dianne, look. I know all of this sounds insane, crazy, and out of this world but I promise you on Donnie's nerd-brain that you will understand everything soon."

Dianne's breath calmed. Being the only girl there who had no clue of what was to happen wanted to retreat to a small corner and just lay there and contemplate her life choices. From the corner of her eye, she felt Donnie look at her in anticipation. Her gaze caught his briefly then forcefully tore her eyes away to look at anything except him. Donatello regretfully dipped his head. 

Leonardo, caught in the middle of it all, had no idea how to deal with lovey-dovey drama. 

"Alright, let's head home."

---

Now the leader in blue called for an important family meeting. Of course, that included all the humans and all the mutants, bringing the family count to the official number of 11 which of course included Dianne. 

11 became Leonardo's feared number cause who wouldn't feel the impending pressure of soon-to-be bombarded questions, angry looks, and sheer confusion that would soon come from the Hamato Clan? Thankfully, Leo did not need to answer his gram-gram, Hamato Karai. May she rest in peace and away from brain-wrecking family drama. Though she would have been happy to see one of her boys finally trying to make a life of romance for himself. 

Key word, trying.

So, how was Leonardo going to convince Casey Jr to spill the beans? He had no idea and decided to wing it. "Alright, mi familia. Get settled down because we are going through one hell of a rollercoaster ride," he said, grinning uncomfortably. "What's with the face, Leo? You look like you're hiding something" Leo flinched under his older sister's accusatory tone, "Can it April!" he squealed like a 9-year-old.

"My brother's senses are tingling Leo." Raph pressured him just enough to make the blue-loving turtle sweat bullets. "Yeah, Leo. You're the worst liar seconds to DonTron," Mikey teased, earning a glare from his blue brother. Leo could not hold his character together so he dragged his twin into the game. 

"Leon, don't-" Donnie's usual grumbling halted as the big red turtle towered over him. Donnie giggled nervously while one of his hands caught on Leo's mask tails so the twin couldn't run away. "Leo and I aren't hiding anything at all."

Raph eyed the middle child. His piercing gaze, accompanied by April's scowl and Cassandra's looming presence at the corner of the room made Donnie wish that Dianne had ended his life earlier. At least he would've died in the hands of his angel.

Out of nowhere, a pink tail flew in and thwacked the four brothers on their foreheads, eliciting a series of outraged ' ow's '. "Boys, can all of you for once act your age?"

"So Mikey still gets to act like a kid?" Donnie snapped his finger's towards Michelangelo, deciding to ignore his tantrum. "Cause Micheal here is only 19. Which makes Raph, Leo, and I the only adults in the group therefore we cannot act, quote-on-quote, our age because we aren't even the same age." Draxum who found himself seated beside Splinter a while ago felt a headache coming up, "Purple, you ramble when you're nervous. So cut to the chase, please! Also, where is my niece?"

"She's right here," Dianne mumbled and plopped herself beside Draxum. The sheep yokai raised his eyebrows, noting the very habit she showed when something troubled her. "Okay, which one of you two idiots made Dianne upset!" he pointed directly at Leo and Donnie

"Hey" they both answered in unison. "What makes you think I had anything to do with...them?" Leo gestured to the moping duo. "Well, I know that the three of you went out for a mission without informing us!" Draxum scolded the children. 

"Wait, you did what?" Cassandra shouted from her corner, "YOU WENT OUT WITHOUT ME?!" Sunita patted the female on her back to calm her down. "I'm sure Dianne had her reasons."

On that note, Draxum turned to face his only niece. His foot tapped impatiently, making Dianne bow her head to avoid the disappointment on his face. "Well..."

"I had my reasons alright!" the woman snapped back. Knowing that Dianne would not reveal more, he expectantly turned to the twins, and so did everyone decided to put them in the spotlight.

"I can see this happening with Leonardo, mainly because I didn't task him with the responsibility to watch over Dianne!" Donnie tensed under the baron's gaze. Leo spoke up for his silent brother, "Look, Draxy. It wasn't Donnie's fault alright. He didn't know about her sneaking out."

"LEO-" Dianne glared at him for outing her.

"I think your brother can speak for his own actions." Clearly, Draxum only wanted the purple brother to answer. 

"I can answer on behalf of the twins and myself, thank you very much!" Dianne defended. She did not want any interaction with the tech genius. Draxum's ears flattened. Anger continued to brew in him. He demanded Dianne explain instantly. With all the eyes and ears on her, Dianne became awfully aware of the tension in the room. Splinter held no judgment but was curious about what happened especially when seeing Donnie's sad look. Draxum was angry, pissed. The girls decided to stay off the tension for a while. 

Then, Dianne's eyes landed on Casey Jr. Her mind flashed back to when someone told her that he was from the future. An absurd idea but if the yokai world is real, time travel must be too. 

"I was checking on three spies-"

"SPIES?!" Mikey and Splinter shrieked. The orange turtle latched on Dianne's hand, "Oh mi gosh! Are you hurt? In pain? Did my brother take care of you-" Raph held the youngest Hamato and dragged him from the girl. Dianne was thankful for Mikey being neutral and caring. After assuring him, Dianne continued her tale. "I realized they were following me on some of my walks. One day I cornered them. They were spying on me, trying to find out where I stay, and so on but I always manage to throw them off my trail."

Splinter visibly relaxed. 

"When I cornered them I also made them work for me. Collect information about their employer's plans and anything fishy going on in the Hidden City. So far, I'm in safe hands."

Draxum still felt like she was hiding something from him, "And who is their employer?"

Dianne froze. She could either lie her way through or tell the truth. This is Draxum. Her uncle, who knows her like the back of his hand. She decided on the latter, "Big Mama. They work for Big Mama."

A stomp of his hoof shook the atoms of the room. The sheep yokai was furious, "And this is what you call 'in safe hands?'"

"I'm not hurt!"

"So?! That means that one day all of this is going to come back and bite you, Dianne. You know that!" Draxum marched into Dianne's space. Being who she is, she sized him up, "I held my own,"

"No, you didn't" All heads turned to the new voice. The thief shivered. Her mud-brown eyes locked in with another pair. "Stay out of this Donatello"

She spoke his name with venom. Everyone in the room could feel it. Even Draxum was stunned. "Oh, and lie about how you're meet-up almost went sour?" Donnie had no care this time.

"Stop it," she warned in an almost hissing-like tone. 

"No, Dianne. You know the danger you were playing with. If it weren't for Leo, who knows what would have happened!" his fists trembled. April looked at Leo with concern. Leonardo just shook his head. This is something that needed to come out.

"You're lucky. Very lucky. If we hadn't shown up no one would have known about this,"

Dianne bit back bitterly, "I would have told them when the time is right."

Donatello knew this was a lie. He could see the truth in her eyes, feel it in his heart. "Would you?" he challenged. 

Casey gasped. It's deja vu. He's seen this conversation before. Once in the future.

Dianne avoided all eye contact with the turtle. Donnie's soul seemed to pierce into hers. 

"WOULD YOU?!"

"NO! NO I wouldn't have! I can't have you worry about me 24/7, Donnie! It's not your burden to bear! It's not for anyone to bear!"

Here they were, two souls on fire. Rage and anger are built on innocent and justifiable fear and care. Tears pricked Casey's eyes. Just like in his time.

Mikey noticed who Donnie shook. He couldn't read the emotion on his older brother's face. So complex and raw. "Donnie, maybe you should..."

"No Mikey. She needs to know that she's not alone in this. I couldn't help her before, I will make sure I do right by her in every waking moment of my current life."

"No wait!" Casey warned but it was too late. "What do you mean, current life?" Splinter pressed. 

Dianne swallowed the lump in her throat and squeezed her eyes shut. 

"Dianne, I don't care if you can't look at me or even acknowledge me but trust me when I saw I will not let the future repeat itself" Donnie swore to her being. Even if this day brought on purple rain.

I never meant to cause you any sorrow
I never meant to cause you any pain

Dianne finally managed to meet his sorrowful eyes. Donnie knew well not to push his luck, but for this stubborn girl to realize she was not fighting a demon alone. He'd sacrifice anything.

Dianne knew what he had meant. Casey's breath caught in his throat. "Casey,"

"Casey, it isn't true, right?"

Casey's hand reach out, wanting to wipe the tears on Dianne's face. 

"Casey, tell me it's not true."

The young time traveler closed his eyes. His heart beats wildly in his chest. Donnie lowered his head, accepting the truth now being exposed to everyone as his soul cried tears of purple rain.

I only wanted one time to see you laughing

Casey walked towards Dianne. His hands gently held onto her shoulders as he hugged the familiar person with the familiar face. So soothing it was to hold someone so dear, once dead, in his arms again. His family.

Releasing her, Casey told her the reality. She watched as the young man fished out a circular object colored purple, in the middle was a flat screen. "Here, press this button,"

He guided Dianne's hands to a purple button with a 'D' insignia. Her breath shuddered. One final look of apprehension was shared with Hamato Donatello, then she pressed and the circular device glowed with violet neon light. 

She could hear the others gasp in shock. April cried silently, one hand coming to rest on Donnie's shoulder and Mikey held tightly onto his hand. Raph watched his parents, his biological father looked proud but sad. The elder scientist trying to grasp the logic. Leo leaned into Raph's side, eyes cast down while the oldest Hamato hugged the slider. Sunita hugged a crying Cassandra.

There, hovering above the circular pad, was a holographic picture of the entire family. Smiling happily and content in the midst of a dingy-looking room. Still, their smiles could rival the brightest stars in any galaxy. 

I only want to see you laughing
In the purple rain

At the top of the picture, written in elegant cursive, 

~ "Forever, Donatello and Dianne. Mr and Mrs Hamato" ~

In the middle of the family embrace, stands the bride and groom. Donatello and Dianne are in their fighting gear, each of their ring fingers adorned with beautiful, matching rings. 

It is proof of their union. Solidified as one body, one soul. Love lasting throughout the decades.