M/G

"I don't know why I thought she'd be here," I confessed sadly, looking around my old living room, the furniture collecting dust from lack of use.

"It's alright, Y/N," Mikey reassured me, placing a hand on my shoulder and a kiss on my cheek, "Maybe...maybe she'll show up..."

I shook my head dejectedly, clutching the bouquet of flowers tighter in my hand. "Mom's gone. She probably left the city. I was just hoping I could see her."

I turned to go, but a faint voice stopped me.

"Y-Y/N?"

I gasped, looking over at Mikey - to find he wasn't there. He'd most likely snuck into hiding when he heard the sound of my...

"Mom!" I cried happily, rushing over to my mother, who had tears rushing down her cheeks.

"Oh Y/N!" She breathed, hugging me close to her, grinning as she murmured, "I'm so glad I got to see you."

"Me too," I replied, handing the little bunch of flowers in my hand to her. Mom grinned, kissing my forehead and fingering each of the blooms carefully.

"So does this mean you're coming back?" I asked hopefully, "You came back to the apartment, does that mean you're--"

"No, Y/N," She stopped me, her face full of bittersweet emotion, "I...I was just here to get my things."

My heart sunk, "...oh."

"See, I met someone," She explained, her eyes beginning to fill with an affectionate excitement I hadn't seen in so long, "Ben's kind, and he...he loves me. But he lives in London."

My heart couldn't decide if I was happy for her for finding love again, or completely broken now that she was moving away-again.

"I can take you with me," She started, "We can move to Britain, start anew..."

"No," I replied softly, "I...I can't do that. I have friends here, and...you know, it'd break Dad's heart..."

That last part was a lie. I didn't even know where my dad was. But I'd be even more heartbroken if I left Mikey to start a whole new life in another country.

Mom nodded in understanding, taking my hand and mumbling, "I'll text everyday. We can even Skype - I think you'll like Ben, he's a wonderful guy..."

I smiled, hugging my mom and saying, "Happy Mother's Day. I hope you're happy with him, Mom. Really, I do."

She grinned back, "Thank you, baby."

R/G

I stood on the roof of the abandoned apartment building, a tiny box of chocolates in hand, gazing at the night sky, trying not to fall asleep, waiting for any sign of my mother.

The mutant.

Who couldn't tell me apart from a piece of meat.

"Hey."

I jumped, turning to see Raph walking towards me. I sighed, turning back to the city skyline.

"I told you I'd be back by midnight," I restated for him.

"Yeah, and it's 1:30."

I frowned, pulling out my phone and finally checking the time, to find that my boyfriend was right. I growled lowly in disappointment, tossing the meager gift to the side.

"Don't beat yourself up," Raph said.

"How could I have been so stupid?"

"You're not stupid."

"I am!" I cried, finally turning to face him, "Why else would I have believed that my mom - the savage mutant lion - would have wanted to meet me on a rooftop for Mother's Day chocolates? Why else would I have thought that she'd even come at all?! Why else-"

I stopped as Raph suddenly pulled me into a hug.

"Hope," He replied, "That's why. And don't ever lose that. Don't lose hope, Y/N, because I promise you, we will find a way for you to see your mom the way she was before."

I closed my eyes so he wouldn't see the tears in them, hugging him tightly.

"But how?" I whispered.

"Donnie's working on the retromutagen. And if that doesn't work - we'll keep trying."

I nodded, holding onto Raph and mumbling sadly. "I miss her. I miss my mom. Why did I have to doubt her, why couldn't we have gotten along? I...I was selfish, I should've been better, I should've changed-"

"Y/N," Raph pulled back to look at me, "You don't need to change. You're perfect exactly the way you are - and since when have teenagers ever wanted to get along with our parents?"

I laughed halfheartedly, sniffling. "I-I just wish it had turned all out different."

Raph cupped my cheeks in his hands, wiping away my tears, "All we can do now is..."

"Hope," I finished for him, smiling and lightly punching his arm, "You can be quite the poet when you want to be..."

Raph rolled his eyes, kissing the top of my head. "Wanna go to Murakami's for some pizza gyoza?"

"At 1:30 in the morning?" I grinned, taking his hand, "Sure, why not?"

D/G

I took a deep breath, straightening the collar on my black pea coat and trying to smile in the mirror. The grin didn't reach my eyes though, so I just looked like I was wearing a strange grimace. I let the corners of my mouth drop, striding out of the bathroom and through the turnstiles, where Donnie was waiting.

"Ready?" He asked softly, holding a hand out to me, a solemn look etched into his features.

No. Absolutely not. I was NOT ready.

I placed my hand in his. "Ready."
***
I gulped past the lump in my throat, stepping out of the Shellraiser, glad that the darkness of the night hid my pained expression. D stepped out beside me, and I gripped his hand like it was my lifeline. My breath was shaky as I lead the both of us through the cemetery.

I couldn't hold back my tears any longer as I stepped in front of the tombstone, letting go of my boyfriend's hand to grip my bunch of flowers tighter in my hands. I kneeled on the ground, placing the blooms on the grave, reading the engraving etched into the stone.

M/N M/M/N L/N
November 23, 1973 -- April 15, 2010
Loving daughter, wife, and mother

I straightened, walking back over to stand
beside Donnie, bowing my head and letting my tears fall into the damp grass at my feet.

"How'd it happen?" He murmured, pulling me close.

"Lung cancer," I sniffled, "She...she was in a lot of pain...I'm glad she's not suffering anymore."

Donnie kissed my forehead, whispering, "I'm so sorry, Y/N."

I leaned against him, cuddling into his arms, "I-it's okay. S-She's in a better place now."

He nodded in agreement, rocking me gently and letting me cry for a bit. I held onto Donnie tightly, allowing my mind to wander to my memories of my mother, before the cancer, before chemo, when she'd always smile at me, tell me how much she loved me.

Eventually, we had to leave. The dew on the ground had begun to soak through my shoes, and my coat was no longer protectant against the cold breeze. I breathed deeply, gazing at my mom's resting place, my grief pouring out of me in the tears I shed.

"Happy Mother's Day, Mama," I whispered, "I love you."

L/G

"Maybe this isn't such a good idea."

I began to turn around, but Leo took hold of my shoulders and turned me right back around.

"Nope. You told me to make sure you did this."

I glanced down at my little note. "Well, you ignore my request, then."

"You also told me not to ignore your request under any circumstance."

"Well--"

"Y/N," Leo cut me off, smiling reassuringly at me, "It's not gonna be that bad. Trust me."

I blew out a breath, nodding to him and turning to head down the fire escape, stopping at my window and managing to pick the lock (having a ninja as a boyfriend has its benefits). I slipped into my old room, getting up the nerve to shout, "Mom? Dad?"

Nothing.

I checked through the house, finding the place devoid of life and my parents' monotone suitcases gone, which meant they were gone on another business trip. I sighed, unfolding my meager note to read,

Hey Mom, happy Mother's Day. Love Y/N :)

I frowned, heading to the desk in the study and grabbing a pen, scribbling my thoughts into the paper. I finished up, throwing the pen back onto the desk and rereading my revised note.

Hey Mom, Happy Mother's Day. I don't know if you've been worried about me. Don't ask how I was able to even get this note to you. Please understand this - I'm happy where I chose to go. I'm happy with Leonardo. You may not approve of me, but I want to forge my own path in life. Things have happened over the past few months that you wouldn't understand. But I still love you. I hope someday we'll be able to sort out our differences, but for now...just know that I consider myself lucky to be your daughter. I have learned so much for you - tenacity, perseverance, stature - I mean, you started your own business with Dad, for goodness sake! I'm sorry I don't want to follow your path, but I also hope you can accept me for choosing my own. I love you.
Y/N

I smiled, refolding the note and placing it neatly on the desk, climbing out the window and up the fire escape to meet Leo.

"How'd it go?" He asked as soon as I came into sight.

I glanced out over the city, sighing with a bit of relief and smiling at Leo. "It went well. C'mon, let's go watch some Space Heroes."