--July 26th, 1998
     “I’m a-lone, I don’t know if I can face the night.
    I’m in tears, and the cryin’ I’ve been doin’s for yooooou!”
     Don and Wendy smile at each other and roll their eyes as Mona’s voice belted out from the small room in the corner of the barn.  She was singing along with one of the many tapes Mike had given her after he converted to CD’s.  Currently, they were all hearing Aerosmith.  Wendy and Don were tinkering with some of the stuff that had been given to them to fix.  Don had April’s clock, and Wendy was working on Casey’s electric razor.  The Turtles had converted the small storage room in the far corner of the barn to a place where each of them could go to be alone.  Mike dubbed it “The Thoughtful Spot”; He often used the room to do some writing.  Leo would go out there to read, when things inside became a little wild--which was quite often.  Mona used it as a studio to do artwork.  She had received a large roll of paper and some drawing pencils and charcoal for Christmas--much to her delight.  She spent quite a bit of time in there, singing along with the boombox and sketching.
 “You’re my Angel, come and save me tooo-night;
     “You’re my A-ee-a-ee-a-ee-an-gel, come and make it all riiiight!”
     Wendy snickered, “I don’t know which is worse: This, or when she listens to ‘Weird Al’.”
     “At least she’s getting better,” Don glanced toward the closed door.
     “Indeed,” Came a voice from the front entrance.  Splinter walked toward them as Wendy and Don stood to greet him.  “What are you doing out here tonight my students?”
     “Just trying to get this stuff fixed before April and Casey leave,” Don held up April’s clock.
     “What brings you out here?”  Wendy asked.
     Splinter smiled toward the noisy room, “It has come to my attention that Mona Lisa wishes to speak to me.”
     “Or maybe sing to you,” Wendy giggled.
     Splinter chuckled then turned toward the music, calling over his shoulder, “Do not stay out here too late, my students.”
     “We won’t!”  Don and Wendy sing-songed back.

     Since Mona always kept one ear toward the door while she was in “the Thoughtful Spot”, she easily heard Splinter’s soft knock.  She turned the volume down on the boombox to almost nothing and rushed to the door.  “Hi Sensei!” She said cheerfully, then waved at Don and Wendy.
     The rat peered at the artsy mess in the tiny room, then at Mona, “Good evening, my dear.”
     “I’m glad you could make it out here to talk to me,”  Mona shut the door after Splinter entered.
     “I always have time for my students,” Splinter sat in the old, worn out chair the Turtles had found and shoved into the small space.  “What have you been doing out here?”
     Mona grinned, “Wanna see my drawings?”
     “Yes, very much so,” he nodded.
     She went to a stack of paper on the table, which had been tied together to form a book.  “My sketch book,” she smiled and perched on the arm of the chair next to Splinter and flipped back the first page.  The rat gazed at each drawing with wonder.  There were pictures of the Turtles and Wendy sparring; a few pictures of Wendy and Donatello sitting on the ground in the barn working: “They must really let their guard down while they’re in here,” Mona laughed.  “They didn’t even know I was watching them.”  There were portraits of all of them, including the four Turtles, Wendy, Splinter, Casey and April, each done with loving touches and amazing accuracy.  There was also a self-portrait that Mona sneered at.  “It’s a lot harder to draw yourself,” she shrugged.
     “There are quite extraordinary, Mona Lisa,” Splinter flipped back through the book, “But, I don’t know how wise it is. . .”
     “Yeah, I know,” Mona sighed.  “Someone might see.  But I’m just drawing what I know.  And, even if someone saw them, there not quite as incriminating as photographs or something. . . “
     “I’m not going to try to stop you.  Your talent is too great to be repressed,” Splinter handed the book back to her, “Just take care.”
     Mona nodded and stood, “I want to make some good portraits to give as gifts.”  She went to a paper tacked to the wall; it was taller than herself.  She lifted the paper, which was blank, to reveal another underneath.  “This is what I’m working on for Raph, to give to him on our anniversary.”
     Splinter’s eyes widened at the site:  A partially completed life-sized portrait of Raphael looked back at him.  It was a perfect example of the Raphael that rarely came out, a small, true smile on his calm face.  Despite the atypical expression, the depiction was perfect.  Mona gently touched the face of her creation, “I could draw him with my eyes closed,” She spoke softly.
     “It brings me joy to see how happy the two of you are,” Splinter said.  “You have helped Raphael in ways none of us could.”
     Mona knelt on the floor in front of the master, “I don’t know what it is, but when I’m with Raph, I just feel. . . whole.”
     Splinter smiled knowingly and took her hand, “Perhaps the love you feel for each other has filled both of your souls.”
     “Well,” Mona started, “That kinda touches on what I wanted to talk to you about. . .”

     “. . . It’s awful quiet in there,” Wendy glanced at the door.
     “Maybe she got Splinter to pose for her?” Don snickered.  The two looked at each other for a moment, then grinned and snuck over to the closed door, pressing their ears to it. . .
 
     “. . . So, what do you think, Master?”  Mona’s face was hopeful.
     Splinter sat, looking thoughtful for a moment, then nodded, “I believe you have a large heart, Mona Lisa.  You have found room to love us all, especially my son, and still wish to do more for him.  You have my permission.”
     “Thank you Sensei!” She bowed deeply, then took his hand and smiled.  Suddenly her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward the door.  Putting a finger to her lips, Mona reached over hand grabbed a book from the table, whipping it at the door. . .

     “Yaa!”  Don and Wendy fell back from the loud, sudden bang as something slammed against the door.
     “Teach you to eavesdrop!”  Mona called from inside.
     Wendy and Don looked at each  other sheepishly, then returned to their pile of junk on the floor while Mona and Splinter laughed together.
 

--July 27th, 1998
     Mona Lisa decided to confined in April next, knowing she was the only one who could help her.  She needed a human, and Casey would be way to embarrassed.  Besides, God only knew what he would pick out.  So, on one of Mona’s and April’s evening strolls--now that the weather was so hot, it was very pleasant for the two of them to walk and chat while the sun went down--Mona casually mentioned wanting to do something for her and Raph’s 1 year anniversary coming up.
     April glanced sideways at Mona, “Oh yeah?  Like what?”
     Mona’s idea came out hesitantly at first, but by the time they were almost home, both were giggling and joking.
     “I wish I could be there to see his face!”  April laughed.
     “Then you’ll help me?”  Mona was hopeful.
     Smiling, April patted her friend’s shoulder, “Of course.”  April never realized how much she missed the company of other females until Mona and Wendy came along.  When she needed advice or help with a project, Wendy was a great asset.  If she needed comfort or just some good ol’ fashioned “Girl Talk,” she could always count on Mona Lisa.  I was nice to have some close, same-sex friends again.  She loved the guys dearly, but it was sometimes just too much testosterone for her!
     “I get all sorts of catalogs in the mail for that stuff,” April rolled her eyes.  “I’ll bring some up next weekend.”
     “Thanks April,” Mona smiled, an expression April always found contagious when she was with her friend.  It was so open, so full of love, so real.  So, she smiled back, taking her hand as they approached the house, “What are friends for?”
 

--July 27th, 1998
     Zachary twitched and mumbled in his sleep.  “No. . . Don’t go. . . M-Mona Lisa. . . “
     Rayner cautiously approached, sniffing the air.  What was disturbing the master?  The others hung back, watching closely.  He turned back to them, shrugging.  Then slowly reached out, and touched Zachary’s shoulder. . .
     “Master. . ?” he croaked.  Behind him, Fidel whined.  Sheridan hissed in response.
     Slowly, their Master stirred, his eyes flying open, flicking around the room.  Was he looking for someone?  Rayner stepped into Zachary’s view, cocking his head, “. . . Master?”
     The expression in the doctor’s eyes changed from confusion to sadness.  This must have concerned Fidel, for he barked sharply, then whined again.
     Zachary stood slowly, allowing Rayner to support him slightly.  “I’m all right, my children.  Just a nightmare. . . Getting so much worse. . .”
     With difficulty, Rayner formed another word: “Her?”
     “Yes, her,” Zachary sighed.  Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.  Soon, I’ll have everything I ever wanted. . .”
     “Soon,” Rayner formed, smiling at his master.
     Zachary smiled back. . .
     . . . Soon. . .
 

--July 30th, 1998
     April took a deep breath, and confidently walked into the lingerie department.  A clerk honed in on her immediately: “May I help you?”
     “Well, uh,”  April stammered, “I’m just kind of browsing. . .”
     “Oh, well at least let me point you in the right direction,” the clerk smiled, her name tag flashing in the seemingly too bright lights.  “Any particular style or color you’re looking for?”
     “Umm, I’m not really sure. . . “
     “Why don’t you tell me the measurements?  That sometimes helps.”
     April recited Mona’s rather voluptuous measurements, earning her a raised eyebrow from the clerk as she glanced at April’s long, slender figure.  “It-it’s for a friend. . .”  April could feel the heat rise in her face.  Why were these lights so damn bright?
     “Of course,” the clerk continued to smile knowingly, “Follow me.”
 

--July 31st, 1998
     “Oof!” Don fell roughly as Leo swept out his feet.  But before Leo could “finish him,” Wendy grabbed the back of his shell, flipping him over, giving Don a chance to recover.
     Leo was on his feet in an instant, grinning at the small form before him, “You’re asking for it.”
     “Then why don’t you give it to me?”  Wendy smirked back, falling into a ready stance.
     “Ooh!” Mike howled, dodging a straight kick from Mona, “Hurt me!”  He blocked a strike of her sword with his chuck chain.
     “Don’t tempt me,” Mona growled wickedly.  She brought her sword in high again distracting him enough that she was able to brush him off his feet with her tail.  She pounced on him, straddling his chest, holding her blade against his throat.
    Mona brought her face close to his and cooed, “Go ahead Mike, hurt ME. . .”
     Mike’s eyes were huge, and he couldn’t speak, but Mona just giggled and looked up a Splinter, who nodded.  Before she could move, Raph grabbed her around the waist, lifting her high in the air.
     “Do you give?”  He demanded, grinning.
     “Never!!”  Mona squealed, wiggling out of his grasp, hitting the ground and rolling to her feet.  “You’ll have to come and get me.”
     “Gladly,” Raph lunged. . .
     Splinter clapped his hands, “That’s enough for today, my students.  They each bowed to the master, then headed toward the house.
      Mona took Raphael’s arm, holding him back.  He stopped to look at her as the others went inside.  “I have something I want to tell you,” Mona Lisa smiled at him.
     “Oh?” Raph raised an eyebrow, “What?”
     “I have a little surprise I planned for our special event,”  She wrapped her arms around his neck.  “I talked Splinter into letting us take a romantic getaway.”
     “What do you mean?”
     “I mean,” she stretched out the word, “How do you feel about spending a weekend in the city, just you and me?”
     “Really?”  Raph grinned widely.
     “Really.  Casey’s gonna come get us Friday morning.”
     “That’s tomorrow.”
     “Exciting, Huh?”  Mona kissed him softly.
     Raph stroked her hair, gazing into her eyes, “I can’t wait.”
 

--August 1st, 1998
     “Tonight!” Zachary cried loudly, causing his creatures to jerk their heads up, startled.  “You will go tonight!”
     Rayner was on his feet in an instant, sensing his master’s excitement.  The others followed suite, all eyes on the doctor.
     Zachary pulled out the by-now familiar objects: A rag and a small vile.  The vile was almost empty, and now Zachary poured the last bit onto the rag.  He swept it under their noses.  They all knew the odor by heart, it was forever etched in their senses.  But then Zachary did something different: “Now, go.”  They cocked their heads at him, confused.  “Go, find her.  Sniff her out. . . find her for me. . . Find her!!”
     Rayner understood; Zachary saw it register in his eyes.  “Her,” the Lizard croaked.
     “Yes!” Their master cried happily.  “Go, go now!!”
     Rayner strode to the door, looked back at the others, who followed him, then at Zachary, who nodded.  The Lizard nodded back, then was gone, Fidel, Sheridan, and Brock at his heels.
    The Doctor started at the door for a moment, then tossed his head back and laughed, and laughed. . .