Hey, guys. I'm really bad at this. I just thought before I give you the chapter you've probably been waiting for, I'd give you a quick update. I've been fighting depression for years now. And, after seven years, I finally admit to the fact that I was mentally and emotionally abused for five and a half years by my step mom and my father. My step mom was the one who drove me to suicide all those years ago, and by some miracle, a phone call from my best friend moments before I tried to take my own life, saved me and is the reason I'm still here today. I was so ashamed of myself I denied it, until I realized it was hurting me even more by pushing this in the back of my head. So I'm coming clean about it. 2 years ago, I was disowned by the people who mentally and emotionally drained me to the point where the only solution I thought of would be to take my own life. I never want to get that way again, and I don't want anyone else to ever feel that way either. If sharing my story is going to help others, then I'll come clean. That was two years ago. Now, I've been accepted into the college of my choice, I'm surrounded by people who love and support me no matter what, not just my amazing mother but I truly do have the best friends anyone could ever ask for. I've accomplished more than anyone else in my family and I'm just 18. I have decided to go into nursing and counseling, while continuing my writing career. I'm more than determined to get somewhere. I'm begging you to PM me if you ever need someone to talk to, no matter what. I'll always answer as soon as possible. I'm sorry I haven't updated in awhile, but I promise I'm trying so don't give up on me just yet.

"Hey, Raph, I've been thinking.", Leo says to his immediate brother as he walks in the living room, after checking up on Donnie and Mikey to see if they're both okay. The younger ones where fast asleep in their own beds, growing use to bed rest, that would be at least another two weeks until Donnie's injures were healed enough for him to move around, and Mikey's leg still needs another week of no pressure.

"What's up?", Raph looks up from his comic.

"What if we move Donnie and Mikey into one room again?"

"Like we use to when we were little?"

"Yeah. I just, I dunno, I guess it's kinda stupid but I think it would really help both of them if they could just be around each other more again.", Raph considers this for a moment.

"What about we pull both of our mattresses out here? And then when Donnie and Mikey wake up, move them in here and grab their mattresses and we just stay out here together while they recover.", Leo nods in agreement.

"Let's do it.", Raph gets up from his seat and they head to Leo's room first. Leo takes apart the sheets and once he's done, they both lift it up, careful to be quite as all of the rooms were in one hall, and very close together. Once Leo's mattress is in the living room, they repeat the process with Raph's. An hour later, Leo checks on Donnie, and Raph checks on Mikey.

"Hey, knucklehead, how ya feeling?", Raph asks the youngest.

"Bored out of my mind!", Mikey answers in his normal, over-the-top, tone. Raph chuckles in response.

"Good thing I got a surprise for you then. Come on, I'll help you up.", he helps the orange banded turtle up and gets him in the living room. Mikey looks at the beds on the floor and goes to question it. "Just wait. Now come on.", he gets Mikey on his bed.

"Hey, Donnie, you okay?", Donnie forces himself to set up, and looks over at Leo, trying to manage a nod. "Are you in pain?", the turtle in blue darts to his side. Donnie shakes his head. "What's wrong?"

"I don't know.", he answers, and Leo nods, and wraps his younger brother in a hug, allowing him to calm down. "It's getting bad again."

"I think episodes are normal while you're recovering. Don't worry, you're okay. I got you, okay? You're okay.", this goes on for a few minutes, and Leo just rocks Donnie back in forth until the purple banded brother is calm. "You're okay now, Donnie. I got you."

"Thank you, Leo.", he smiles in response.

"No problem. Now, I got a surprise for you, and I actually think it's going to help you a lot. Come on.", he lifts Donnie into his arms, since his injuries aren't healed enough for him to walk very well. He gets Donnie in the living room and lays him on the other mattress beside Mikey. "I think we're only going to need one more mattress, Raph, and then all the blankets."

"What's all this?"

"We thought it would be better for us to all sleep out here while you guys are recovering. Be around each other more. I don't know, it was a kinda an in the moment thing.", Leo tries to explain, sheepishly.

"I love it!", Mikey exclaims, throwing his arm around Donnie's shoulder with a bright smile, and Donnie grins as well, and nods in agreement. The elder brothers smile with pride, and then get Donnie's bed in the living room, and grab the rest of the blankets. Leo finishes making up the make-shift large bed while Raph goes through some movie options with Donnie and Mikey. Sensei comes in, and sees all of his sons together, and grins to himself.

I told you, Donatello, you are very much loved in this household. I hope you're starting to see that. He goes in the kitchen and makes a batch of popcorn and puts a pizza in the oven. After the food is done, he takes them outside on a tray to his sons.

"My sons, I know how much you love pizza and popcorn while watching a movie.", he hands Leo the tray, and Mikey and Donnie both look at him.

"You're the best, Father!"

"Come on, you're going to miss the movie!", Mikey tells him, and urges Splinter to be by them. The rat laughs, but cheerfully joins his son. He couldn't think of a time where he watched a movie with all of them, and none of them were fighting. Halfway through the movie, he looks over from where he's sitting on the couch, and finds his sons all curled into each other. Raphael and Leonardo were on the outside of Donatello and Michelangelo. Each of them are softly smiling, even Michelangelo, as he slowly falls asleep on Donatello's shoulder.

Donnie Entry 8

Today was the first day in awhile I smiled and actually meant it. Leo and Raph went through the trouble of moving three of our beds outside in the living room, and now I can actually be around all of my brothers. The injuries Shredder left me with suck, but I know with my family, I can get through it. I had a bit of an episode today before Leo took me in the living room, and I know my older brother is going to keep being supportive with everything going on. Even Raph seems to be in a better mood. I'm hoping this means everything will be okay soon, and I think it will be. Mikey seems to enjoy being around me again, and I'm actually relieved to be around him again. I just have to keep telling myself it's going to be.

Mikey Entry 8

I'm convinced I have the best older brothers in the world. A movie night and all of us out in the living room is just what everyone needed. Leo and Raph don't seem nearly as stressed, and Donnie looks like a lot of the weight has been lifted off of him. I'm starting to feel better myself, but deep down I know this is far from over. I just have to keep on working on making Donnie happy again, and help him fight whatever demon is lurking in his mind. No matter what, I'm going to save my best friend. He saves me everyday, this is the least I could do.

Raph Entry 8

Leo and I decided to move ourselves in the living room, it'll be easier to keep an eye on Mikey and Donnie, not to mention this could really help their health in the long run. We had a movie going and Splinter made pizza and popcorn and I can't think of a time we all were just care free. Donnie looks at peace right now, and I'm glad. I know there are still going to be nights where Donnie's not going to be convinced the sun is coming up. And that I'm going to have to be there for him no matter what. But everything's going to work out in the end, I just know it. For the first time in awhile, I see this light at the end of the tunnel. My family is going to be okay.

Leo Entry 8

All of my brothers are fast asleep right beside me. Donnie is to my left, sleeping on my shoulder, with Mikey on his. Raph has his arm around Mikey, fast asleep on the other side, acting as the protector he tries to be. Donnie seems to be sleeping without nightmares, and Mikey is getting actual rest for the first time in awhile. Raph and I decided to move the beds in the living room, and this is just the first part of the recovery process. I'm going to be the brother they all needed awhile ago. One that cared, and was good to them. I'm going to start painting again, Mikey mentioned that might help Donnie because he use to love watching me as I did so. I'm going to practice to be more at peace with myself, and I'm going to start having weekly meditating sessions with Donnie. I know Raph is working on his anger, and trying to be there for our two younger brothers, but I know he still hasn't quite forgiven himself.

I know there are going to be times when Donnie's going to have an episode, Raph's going to get angry, Mikey's going to get upset, and I'm going to lose my faith. I just have to find a way to remind myself even in the darkest moments, I can do this, and so can my brothers. We're going to be okay, no matter what.