It was in the way her sheets were rumpled in the morning that gave her away, even though April would deny it each day. It was in the way her eyes had lost their shine over the years, the way her nails left indents in her palm from clenching her fists too often, and in the way she could never relax.

It was in the little things that Donatello picked up that gave away her anxiety and fears, but he let April live her life thinking she had fooled him like she had over the years. He never pried or forced her to talk about it, she would one day if that day ever came. And if it ever did, he'd still be there waiting for her as patiently as he had since the day they met.

It was in the way she whimpered at night, tossing and turning each way that told Donatello that something was wrong. It was in the way that his touch was the only thing that calmed her down, and allowed her to sleep peacefully. It was in the way she got scared when he was gone for too long, and began to believe she'd be alone forever.

He never cared what time it was or where, he'd always be there for her even if he had to drop the rest of the world to do so. Even though she never talked about it, Donatello knew the pain she hid was from the years of constant trauma and fighting she endured.

Even though she had become stronger than anyone he ever knew, April was still human. With what happened to her mother, father, New York, and everything with the Kraang...he wasn't surprised that it had taken a toll on her somehow. He just wished he could prove to her that she's not weak, it's okay to be scared, but most importantly: she was not and never will be alone.

It was in the way he held her at night, and had her favorite coffee ready in the morning when she woke up. It was in the way he made sure he wasn't too far away, and in the way he checked in with her from time to time throughout the day. It was in the way he tried his hardest to make her smile and laugh, and in the way he would always ask about her day and how she felt, even if she didn't always tell him everything.

It was in the smallest of gestures, the quickest of looks, and the softest of touches that he learned over the years to help bring her back to the present and learn to live with her past. He would love the aspects of herself she couldn't love just yet on her own, and ease the pain as much as he can. But most importantly, it was in the way he did everything he could to make her feel safe and loved that showed just how much he loved and cared about April more than life itself. And he wouldn't change it for the world.