all you have to do is believe

AND

AND

^{“If you will permit me, I believe it will be necessary for me to take your hand.”}

^{“Oh,” she said, surprise in her voice. “Okay, sure.”}

^{Splinter hesitated. It had been a long time since he had felt the touch of a human hand. So very long. With an uneasiness that shamed him, he reached for where he knew her hand to be. His fingers brushed against hers, and her hand instinctively wrapped around his. He drew in a sharp breath as a jolt of memory stabbed through him and left him speechless.}

^{“Go on, Yoshi.” Tang Shen’s voice, ringing with laughter. “She is a baby, not a china doll. You will not break her.” A hand, reaching out, hesitant. Five tiny, perfect fingers wrapping around his own. Capturing his heart as surely as her little fist caught his finger, a hold impossible to break…}

^{“Master Splinter?”}

^{April’s anxious voice pulled him back to himself, and he took a shaking breath. “Forgive me. Some memories are stronger in the dark.”}

excuse me as I have all tHE SPLINTER FEELS KTHXBYE