{A/N:} Hello everyone. So this is it. The final chapter of the Advent Calendar. There is so much I'd like to say, but the most important is thank you. Thank you to all of you who took the time to read this. Thank you to all of you who left a review. Thank you to all of you who favorited or followed. Thank you. I am just so grateful to all of you. I hope that you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed writing it, and that you continue to support me and this adorable couple as you have. Please enjoy the final chapter of the Advent Calendar, and I hope to see you reading and reviewing my Apriltello stories in the future. Thank you. -Arcanine

Ch. 25: Love

"April, we're back," Leonardo's voice called out softly. The redhead stood up and walked over to greet the entering trio quietly, not wanting to wake the now sleeping turtle on the couch.

"Hey guys," she said, "Any luck?" She glanced at all three of them, taking in their pouts.

"None. Those stupid aliens ran away and didn't leave a single trace," Raphael growled out, clenching his hands into tight fists, "I was really looking forward to bashing their heads in for Donnie too." April placed a hand on the seething turtle's arm in an attempt to calm him down. Glancing at her, he gave a curt nod before sulking off into the dojo.

"What about you? How is he doing?" Leonardo quickly asked, changing the subject as he removed his katanas from his back.

"He's been resting this entire time, and I just changed his bandages a minute ago," the redhead reported, leading them into the living room, "We have to change his bandages hourly to prevent any infection." The turtle in blue nodded, while the hyper freckled one gazed at her solemnly.

"So he's gonna be okay?" Michelangelo asked hesitantly, seemingly afraid of the answer as though it would physically wound him. April gave him a warm and reassuring smile.

"Yeah, he's gonna be just fine Mikey," she replied softly, wrapping her arms around him in a comforting hug. Leonardo placed a hand on her shoulder as she cuddled his younger brother. The girl looked over her shoulder to meet with a deep blue gaze.

"You should go home and get some rest April," he said quietly, not wanting to disturb his sleeping brother, "We can take it from here."

"No," the redhead answered simply. The turtle in blue started, feeling a bit surprised.

"No?" he echoed bewilderedly, ocean colored eyes wide with confusion.

"No. I'm not going anywhere. There is no way I'm leaving Donnie's side," April claimed, narrowing her eyes at the oldest ninja and placing her hands on her hips as the youngest released her. He just stared back at her in shock.

"B-but what about your Aunt?" he inquired.

"I already told her I'm staying here today and tomorrow," the girl responded triumphantly, crossing her arms in front of her and giving him a light smirk, "You're not getting rid of me that easily." The turtle in blue opened his mouth, but closed it again, shaking his head as he couldn't find any words to retaliate with.

"Okay, fine then," he shrugged, "But you need sleep. We can take care of him so you can get some rest."

"No way Leo," April protested, moving toward the couch, "I'm not leaving his side." She returned to her place on the floor next to the sleeping ninja, bringing a finger up to gently caress the side of his face. As she continued to gaze lovingly at him, Leonardo just shook his head again in exasperation.

"You and Donnie are more alike than I thought you were," he muttered under his breath as he walked away. Michelangelo just followed their human companion, wishing to help in any way he could. He sat with the red haired girl, keeping her company as they watched over the injured turtle laying on the couch. They worked as a team, changing Donatello's bandages hourly as was suggested.

"Miss O'Neil, you must go to bed," Splinter said as he walked into the living room to check on his son. The weary girl was up alone now, Michelangelo had retired to his room a while ago. It was the early hours of the morning, though what time it was exactly, the girl didn't know or care about.

"I'm okay Sensei," she muttered out softly, rubbing her eyes tiredly.

"No, you are not," Splinter responded quietly, "You know very well that you must get some rest. I am sure that Donatello would not want you to make yourself sick like this. I am no longer asking you. You will go to bed." The elderly rat gave her a firm and commanding look, telling her that she was not to argue. She knew she didn't have any say in the matter any more.

"Okay," the redhead sighed out in defeat. She stood up, stretching her arms above her head while trying, and failing, to stifle a yawn. The aging rat led her to Donatello's room, opening the door and ushering her inside. She walked in, gazing back at her surrogate father curiously.

"I am sure that Donatello will not mind lending his room to you for now," he said, brown eyes twinkling with concealed amusement as his claws stroked his long, thin beard, "Besides, he has no need for it at the moment." He left her to marvel at the room she was in, bidding her a peaceful slumber. April took in the cluttered room, sky blue irises sweeping over all the books, papers, and unfinished projects and inventions that littered nearly every inch of the desk and bookshelves. Spotting the bed, she eagerly walked over to it and settled down beneath the purple blanket, cuddling contentedly into the mattress and pillow. Closing her eyes, the girl drifted off into peaceful sleep, thoughts of her purple clad turtle swirling in her head.

Donatello woke slowly, aware of nothing at first. As he blinked the tiredness out of his chocolate eyes, he felt sudden soreness all across his chest. Wincing, he sat up slowly, trying not to aggravate the wound further and cause more pain.

"You're awake!" a happy voice exclaimed in relief from behind him. Craning his neck, the scientist saw his younger freckled brother coming toward him. "How do you feel?"

"Sore, but not bad," Donatello replied as his other two brothers walked into the room. "What time is it and how long was I out?"

"You were dead to the world all of last night and most of today. It's about ten at night right now." Leonardo answered.

"Wait, you mean it's almost Christmas?" The turtle in purple looked up at his brothers in disbelief, eyes wide.

"Well lets see," Raphael mocked, "It's ten at night on Christmas eve, and I'm pretty sure that midnight marks the next day." Emerald eyes looked dryly over to the wounded turtle. "Did I get that right, or should we put the math on paper?" Rolling his eyes, Donatello merely glanced around the room in search of a certain redhead.

"So I'm guessing April went home?" he sighed out in disappointment.

"Actually, she didn't," Leonardo smiled.

"What?" Donatello looked up at his brother in shock, "You mean she's still here?"

"That girl is definitely stubborn. She wouldn't leave your side for anything. Stayed up the entire night taking care of you, and probably didn't go to sleep until this morning." The turtle in purple shook his head but couldn't stop the smile that spread on his face.

"Where is she?" The scientist questioned. He gazed warily at his brothers as they exchanged teasing grins. A moment of realization dawned on him then, and he began to blush horribly. Standing up, he slowly made his way to his room, leaving his laughing brothers behind him in the living room. Opening the door, he caught sight of something stirring on his bed underneath his blanket. He heard a small yawn as the blanket was kicked back to reveal the human girl hidden beneath it. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes were soft with sleep that she tried to blink away. It took her a moment to realize that she wasn't alone, but when she did, her entire face lit up.

"Donnie!" the redhead exclaimed, shooting up and running over to him. He chuckled as she stopped herself from tackling him. Instead she just stepped up to him, placing her arms around him gently. "You're awake, you're awake..." she murmured over and over again, her voice shaking.

"Yeah, I am," he muttered back bringing her close and running his large fingers through her fiery hair. He heard a hiccup, and she began to shake a bit in his arms.

"You're such a jerk!" she exclaimed angrily at him, looking up with fierce tear filled eyes, "Don't you ever, ever scare me like that again! Or I swear that next time, the Kraang won't have anything left of you to hurt!" Her anger ebbed away and she broke, sobbing loudly into his bandaged plastron. "I thought...I thought I lost you.." she choked out.

"What can I say? It's an occupational hazard," the scientist joked weakly as he comforted the crying girl. Then he grew serious as he held her at arms length. "Look, April, I'm sorry okay? I shouldn't have pushed you away like I did. I didn't mean what I said about you being a burden." He smiled gently at her, eyes softening. "You're definitely the strongest girl I know."

"Donnie? I'm the only girl you know," she grinned back, bringing her hand up to wipe away her tears.

"My point still stands," the turtle in purple muttered as she let out a laugh, "You're the most amazing girl I've ever met, and I know that you're strong. I should have had more faith in you. I was just so scared of losing you, of you getting hurt that I didn't realize I was the one hurting you. I know it's cliche, but it's the truth." He placed a hand on her cheek, which she nuzzled into, locking onto his chocolate brown gaze. She had missed him so much.

"I know. I'm sorry too. I just...I freaked out. I couldn't stand the fact that you were practically killing yourself for me," the redhead said softly. She drew in a sharp breath as she realized that his face was a lot closer to hers than it was when this conversation began.

"April?" he muttered, eyes closing.

"Yeah?" she breathed out, painfully aware of her loud, rapid heartbeat.

"Aishiteru," he whispered out. The two closed their eyes, their lips just a hairs width away when a sudden crash caused them to jolt. Looking over to the doorway, the teens saw three turtles, one on the floor grinning sheepishly while the other two glared at him.

"Um, hi?" Michelangelo grinned, waving at them from the floor. Leonardo and Raphael groaned, simultaneously face palming.

"How long have you guys been there?!" Donatello seethed as April glanced at the clock. It was midnight. Looking back over to the turtle in purple who was currently yelling at his brothers, she shrugged. Why not?

"Hey, Donnie?" she called, tapping his shoulder. He turned his head to face her. Smirking she grabbed him and pulled him close. "Aishiteru." And with that, she placed her lips over his in a loving kiss. The yells of the other three ninjas in the room were ignored as the two melted into their soft kiss. Their minds had gone blank, simply enjoying the sweet feeling of lips on lips, the complete and utter joy it brought them. They knew the future would be difficult, but together, they could survive any hardships. They just needed each other. She didn't need to know Japanese to know what she had told him. She meant it. He did too. They pulled away breathlessly, resting their foreheads together as they gazed into each others eyes.

"Merry Christmas Donnie."

"Merry Christmas April."

I love you.