Donatello was hunched over his laptop. The sound of the keyboard filled the lab… until he felt a gaze fixed on him. He looked up and met her ocean-blue eyes—so like April's—gazing at him tenderly. Donnie froze, swallowing hard.

When they infiltrated TCRI to erase the DNA data of the real April and eliminate the evil clones, he had insisted on bringing the capsule containing the last April clone, even though his brothers disagreed.

There was no hostility, no intention to replace the real April; Donnie had seen it time and again. She was different. Unique. Perfect in her creation, independent of the original DNA. He was still trying to decipher the anomaly in her genetic code.

Raphael and Leonardo were suspicious, Mikey was paranoid, and the real April… wasn't convinced at all. But Donnie insisted that she wasn't like the others.

"Is something wrong, Donnie?" she asked, tilting her head.

"N-no… I'm just finishing some tests," he murmured, avoiding her gaze.

She ran her hands through her hair… and let it fall. Her red hair tumbled freely over her shoulders, and Donnie felt his mind go blank, surprised by how… unexpected and human she looked. The real April always wore her red hair pulled back in that low ponytail.

"What are you doing…?" he asked awkwardly.

She took a step forward, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Donnie tensed, unsure whether to back away or stay put.

She leaned closer, just enough for him to feel her breath. "Donnie…" she said in an almost whispered voice, gazing at him tenderly. "You've been so good to me since I woke up."

Donnie's eyes widened, and he swallowed hard.

She tilted her head, watching him with a glint he recognized all too well… and desperately wanted to see in the real April.

“If things don’t work out with April…” she whispered, even closer, “I can be your April.”

Donnie’s world stopped spinning. His mouth, open in astonishment, revealed his gap between his teeth. He didn’t know what to say. He didn’t know what to think. He didn’t know whether to back away or freeze.