Kon Shiso looks to his fellow tribunal members before he answers Leonardo's plea. "We will save the child. She has already shown the potential for great strength of spirit and courage. You should be proud that we have bestowed the honour of bearing the book upon her."

"Yes. We do not undertake such choices lightly," adds Chikara, "It is a burden few can manage or survive. Your daughter is unique, as we knew she would be. Unfortunately, the interference of the imposter's daughter again exposed the book. We had hoped your daughter's strengthened skin would be enough to protect it and her, from ever being discovered."

Quayla steps forward, placing her hand on Leo's shell. "Great Shisho, I must know. Leonardo and I, were we drawn to each other just to provide you with a suitable heir? We've been told that having Jade should have been impossible…"

Juto Shisho's booming laugh echoes around the room. "We did not see that coming!"

Kon smiles knowingly. "We did not alter your hearts but we did ensure you would have a child. That child is our legacy and despite your failure, still remains our greatest hope of keeping the book of the Tengu Shredder safe. As she grows she will become a great warrior with many skills."

A smaller flash of light appears next to where the Tribunal stand. The turtles and Splinter gasp at the prospect of another visitor, each instinctively reaching for their weapons.

A familiar voice asks. "What is all this?"

Quayla drops to her knees and bows her head. "Sensei."

"You are late Young One!" Chikara snaps.

"Hmm, so I am. What has happened to Jade?" The Ancient One asks as he spies her, still gravely ill. "We must help her!"

"We will Young One," Chikara answers, softer this time. She then turns and addresses the room, "Let us all focus our energies and restore the balance within the child."

Kon Shisho motions for everyone to sit around Jade's sickbed, they hastily oblige.

"Donnie, how is this gonna help Jade if the science stuff didn't?" Mikey whispers to his brother as he sits.

"I honestly don't know Mikey, but right now I'd try just about anything," Don whispers back, crossing his legs.

"Now," instructs Kon, "you must all focus your Chi. Envisage balance, yin and yang, light and dark, body and spirit."

A glow begins to emerge from the turtles, Splinter and Quayla.

"Good, now project that energy to the child," Kon continues and the Tribunal add their own light to the glow heading towards Jade.

The energy envelops Jade and becomes a burning, pure white light, as bright as the flash that the Tribunal arrived in. When the light fades away everyone blinks and rubs their eyes as they readjust. Quayla and Leonardo are instantly on their feet, peering anxiously at their lifeless daughter.

"Jade…?" Leo chokes in a whisper, hardly daring to speak.

Quayla's hands begin to tremble.

"Is she…" Raph starts but can't finish.

"No!" Splinter gasps.

Finally, after an eternal moment, Jade begins to stir. She sits up, yawning and rubbing her eyes sleepily then when she opens them, a puzzled look sets on her small face as she takes in her audience.

"Are we having a party?" She looks down and whispers to Quayla, frowning, "Mommy, I'm still in my pajamas!"

Quayla grabs her and hugs her tightly followed by an equally fierce hug from Leo and cheers from the rest of the TMNT. Splinter wipes a tear from his eye discreetly.

"The balance is reset. The child is still half mutant, half human and that is how she will remain," Chikara commands.

Leonardo and Quayla kneel before the Tribunal, bowing their heads, speaking in unison. "Thank you honourable Shisho."

"Do not fail us," cautions Kon Shisho.

"I wish to stay a while and talk with my old students if I may, Honoured Ones," The Ancient One says turning to the rest of the Tribunal, they nod and leave as suddenly as they appeared.

"Uhhh…Y'think they forgot something?" Mikey asks, laughing and pointing towards Bishop, still frozen. His usual calm demeanour evaporating as his eyes scan the room wildly.

"Nope. I think they left us target practice Mikey," Raph grins, twirling his sai.

The Ancient One waves his hand dismissively. "He will be fine. Go take him back where he belongs."

Raph grabs one of Bishop's stationary arms. "Damn. Come on Mikey."

"Aww, can't we keep him?" Mikey whines.

Raph smacks him. "What is wrong with you?!"

They haul Bishop away, laughing.

The Ancient One seats himself next to Splinter and Donatello. Quayla carries Jade over to them followed by Leo, holding his side. They sit exchanging looks of disbelief.

"So do I need to take a blood sample Ancient One, just to be sure?" Don asks.

"There is no need Donatello. Jade," The Ancient One smiles at her warmly, "is as she was and will always be."

"Half mutant," Leo surmises quietly.

Splinter eyes his son suspiciously.

"Half human," Quayla adds, hugging Jade again and whispering to her, "The best of both of us."

"So what have you been doing all this time?" The Ancient One asks his 'favourite student.'

"I'll tell you all about it Sensei, but first I just need to patch Leo up," Quayla answers, leaning closer to inspect her partner's wound, "Oww, that's gonna need stitches, hold on," she starts to move but is stopped by Splinter.

"Donatello and I will do that. I am sure the Ancient One has missed you both, please, stay and keep him company."

"Um, sure Master Splinter," replies Quayla as she watches them escort Leo out of the room.

Out of earshot while Donatello carefully stitches his brother's cut, Splinter sees his opportunity.

"What is troubling you my son?"

Leo winces as Don makes another pass with the needle. "It's nothing really Sensei, Jade is ok and that's all that matters."

"Is it?" The wise old rat probes.

"Yes…" Leo blinks slowly, exhaling. There really is no fooling his father, "It's just, I hoped…"

"You hoped Jade could be human," Don answers for him.

Leo nods. "Yes. I know she has to be both to protect the book but I thought maybe if she was human the Tribunal would let her be normal."

"Normal is overrated," Don laughs, "there, I'm done. No training for a couple of days Leo."

Leo hops from the counter. "Yeah Donnie, thanks."

"I mean it!" Don calls after Leo as he exits, he shakes his head. "He is so not going to listen."

"He listened to the most important part my son," Splinter says, patting Donatello's shoulder.

Mikey and Raph arrive back from their errand, followed by Casey and April.

"Look who we found," Raph announces, punching Casey in the arm.

"Eey Raphie boy, you guys having a party?" Casey asks, rubbing his arm.

April surveys the scene. Donnie's workstation is cluttered with equipment. Quayla sits holding Jade, talking animatedly with the Ancient One, she looks pale. Leo exits the kitchen sporting what looks to be the making of a new scar with Master Splinter and Don following after him.

"Um, don't take this the wrong way but you all look exhausted. Is everything alright?" April asks.

"It is now," Leo replies.

Epilogue

At the Farmhouse in Northampton Leo and Quayla lay awake in the small hours of the morning. The sun is just beginning to break over the horizon and they can hear their daughter slumbering softly in her bed. Leo reaches out and traces Quayla's face with his fingertips, she smiles and reciprocates with a kiss.

"Leo?" Quayla whispers as they break apart.

"Mmm?" He mumbles sleepily.

"Marry me."

Leo's eyes open wide, fully awake now. "What?"

"You heard," Quayla replies.

"I did, but I'm wondering if I'm still asleep…"

"You're really funny y'know, the others don't give you enough credit for it," Quayla says as she pushes him gently.

Leo smiles and sits up, pulling Quayla with him. "Cute, I'd have asked you years ago if I thought it was an option for us. We both know it isn't though, I'm sorry."

Quayla sighs. "I know… it'd just be nice."

Leo thinks for a moment before leaning out of the bed to retrieve his mask and a katana. He cuts two small strips of fabric from his mask then carefully picks out a long piece of Quayla's hair.

"May I?" He asks.

Quayla nods, curious as to what he is up to as he cuts the strand.

"Close your eyes." He instructs and she does.

Leo works for a few moments, when he is satisfied he whispers. "Open them."

Quayla opens her eyes and between Leo's fingers is a ring. The blonde strands of hair are neatly plaited between the twisted pieces of blue fabric to form the small, intricate circle. Leo, blushing a little under the green of his skin, puts the ring on her finger.

"It's beautiful Leo, thank you. How did you do that?" Quayla marvels, surprised as Leo's hands like the rest of the turtles were not exactly made for delicate tasks.

Leo dismisses the praise, embarrassed. "It's just something I learnt from Master Splinter when I was young. He was always trying to teach us exercises to make the best use of our hands. He taught us how to make an origami crane too."

"You'll have to teach Jade that, she'd love it,"Quayla says as she continues to admire her gift.

"I will, maybe in the morning," Leo replies, laying back down and pulling the blanket over him, the last few days had been endless.

Jade silently tiptoes towards her parent's bed, pleased that her training was paying off because she was sure they hadn't heard her. She lets out a giggle as she leaps on the bed.

"It is the morning Daddy! What are you going to teach me?"

Leo and Quayla grab their daughter and wrap her in the blankets, all of them laughing.

"How about…we teach you to let us sleep?!" Leo answers, grinning.

Jade continues to chatter away to her parents excitedly. This is the first time she has stayed at the farm and she couldn't wait to explore.

Quayla stifles a yawn and whispers to Leo while Jade is still chattering away to no one in-particular. "Y'know we really shouldn't let Mikey babysit…"

Leonardo smiles at his family. Life, for now, was good.

A/N Well I hope you all like the ending, apologies for the mush but I just felt there needed to be some light after the drama! I've really enjoyed writing this, it's been a great learning curve and thank you to everyone who has reviewed and kept me pushing forward. This is the first fan fic I've written but it's not going to be the last.