AUTHOR'S NOTE: This story takes place in July of 1998.

        On a hot summer afternoon, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles decided to do something they hadn't done in ages.
  "Boy, I can't remember the last time we ate at Vinnie's Pizza!" Raphael commented.
  "It's certainly been too long." Donatello added.
  "I feel kinda bad that we haven't visited. I mean we were like his best customers throughout half the decade!" Michaelangelo stated.
  "Well, he knew we were busy protecting Earth from the likes of Shredder and Krang." Leonardo replied.
  "Oh and remember that Dregg creep we had to deal with for a couple seasons?" Raphael mentioned.
  "Oh man, don't remind me. I still have nightmares about our uncontrollable mutating at the time!" Mikey added as they approached the pizza parlor. "Holy guacamole!!!"
  All four of the Turtles stood in shock to see a large sign on the doorway of Vinnie's Pizza, explaining that it had gone out of business.
    "We regret to inform our beloved patrons that due to circumstances beyond his control, Vinnie has decided to shut down his famous pizza restaurant! If anybody is interested in purchasing this building for commercial use, please contact Buffy Shellhammer." Donatello read out loud.
  "Buddy Shellhammer? I wonder how she got involved in all of this." Raphael commented.
  "Well, there's one way to find out!" Leonardo replied.
  "Righteous! Let's go pay her a visit!" Michaelangelo said excitedly.
    About an hour later the Turtles were at the Shellhammer estate. "Wow, when they patched up the hole in the brick wall Bebop and Rocksteady blasted at us, they painted it green!" Donatello stated.
  "Also, they took that tree that got miniaturized and placed it in a green vase." Leonardo mentioned.
  "Well, we did leave quite an impact on her after saving her from Shredder and his goons!" Raphael added.
  "You can say that again!" said Buffy as she greeted her old friends.
  "Buffy, it's so good to see you!!!" Michaelangelo said as he gave her a big hug.
  "Likewise. So I'm guessing you're here about the old Vinnie's Pizza place? I've gotten like five different people wanting to go into business with me, except three of them are known gangsters... Big Louie, Pinky McFingers and Mad Dog McMutt!"
  "Oh yea, we know those creeps all too well! So who are the other two?" Raphael asked.
  "Vernon Fenwick from Channel 6 News, but he wants to turn it into a British style pub."
  "Good luck dealing with that geek!" Michaelangelo remarked.
  "Yea, I wouldn't recommend working with Vernon. He treats our friends April and Irma pretty badly at the news station, even after all the times we saved his sorry ass!" Raphael commented.
  "Well, that just leaves out this pair of brothers. They're actually due to stop by in a few minutes. You're welcome to stick around and meet them."
  "Hey, you never know. They might actually be fans of ours!" Raphael stated.
  "Or better yet, old friends!" Leonardo said happily as he pointed to two blonde haired young men who they all immediately recognized.
  "I don't believe it. It's Zach and Walt!!!" Don said.
  "Boy, those two sure have grown up! They're almost as tall as April!" Raphael commented.
  "Guess that means they're no longer micro-dudes." Michaelangelo said in a forlorn voice.
  Upon seeing his good friends, Zach ran up and immediately gave them all a group hug. "Aw man, it's so good see you four!"
  "Likewise. How've you been?" Donatello asked.
  "Oh, I've been hanging in there. I never gave up on you, even when that Dregg creep had the whole city thinking you were evil!"
  "So where were you that whole time?" Raphael asked. "I mean sure we got plenty of help from that Carter fella, but we really could've used your help as well!"
  "After that whole ordeal with your rogues gallery, our parents started getting a little concerned about Zach putting himself in danger. So we ended up moving to Delaware." Walt explained.
  "They even made me throw away my Turtle Comm and my old Fifth Turtle costume... not that it would fit me anymore." Zach said somberly.
  "It's all good, dudes." Michaelangelo said.
  "We're just glad to see you're both doing well." Donatello replied. "So, what have you gotten in mind for Vinnie's Pizza?"
    "Oh, you guys are going to love this!" Walt said with a devilish grin. "So last year we went on vacation in Los Angeles, and one day we were touring the Hollywood Walk of Fame. That was when I came across this funky pizza place that had like this hip version of Adam and Eve wearing sunglasses, with their privates covered in mozzarella instead of leaves!"
  "Are you sure this was a pizza place, and not an adult book store or something?" Raphael asked, as he and the other Turtles became concerned.
  "No, it was an actual pizza parlor, with a very... provocative theme." Zach exclaimed.
  "So you want to re-brand Vinnie's Pizza in a similar fashion?" Leonardo asked.
  "Well, we don't want to risk copyright infringement with Sinful Pizza, but I definitely want to take inspiration from it. I'm calling our place Nekkid Pizza!!!" Walt announced.
  "I like it!" Buffy said with a smile.
  "You do?!" Zach and the Turtles all responded in shock.
  "Lets face it, there's no better way to attract our age demographic than with a little sex appeal!"
  "She's got a point there." Raphael remarked.
        About two weeks later, the pizzeria formerly known as Vinnie's was being remodeled from the inside out. Buffy, Zach and Walt were hard at work getting Nekkid Pizza ready for its grand opening. April O' Neil and Vernon Fenwick were assigned to cover the restaurant's re-branding, though Vernon was still upset that his idea had been nixed. "I can't believe Miss Shellhammer turned down my elegant British themed coffee shop idea for this sleazy display of debauchery! I bet those turtle friends of yours are psyched about it, April!"
  "Believe it or not, Vernon, but the Turtles aren't too crazy about this raunchy themed pizza parlor either. But it was their friend's older brother's idea, so they chose to be supportive"
  "I see. So what's your take on it, April?"
  "I'd... rather keep my personal opinions to myself." April said while trying not to blush.
  "Oh Lord, don't tell me you're into this!"
  "Hey, I'm only human! Besides, I think Irma's constant pining for love and romance has started to rub off on me. Either that or my biological clock-"
  "Okay, okay. Say no more! Sorry I asked."
  April let out a chuckle as she was then greeted by Zach, Walt and Buffy. "Hi guys!"
  "Hi, Miss O' Neil." Zach said as he shook the reporter's hand. "I haven't seen the Turtles around much."
  "Oh, I'm sure they're just hanging out in the sewers as usual."
  "Well, I hope they get themselves cleaned up in time. This establishment is going to be the first to officially hire and welcome mutants!" Buffy explained as she pointed out to a very familiar looking mutant lizard carrying around a skateboard.
  "Mondo Gecko?"
  "That's my name. Don't wear it out!"
  "When I asked the Turtles if they were interested in working here, they decided they prefer to keep devoting their lives to crime fighting, but then Michaelangelo said he'd tell his friend here that we're looking to hire some mutants," Buffy exclaimed.
  "Yea, and since all mutants are allowed, we're going to have a pretty lenient dress code." Walt said with yet another devilish grin before walking away.
  "I gotta be completely honest. I'm a little worried about my brother." Zach said.
  "What do you mean?" April asked.
  "Well, a couple years ago he was in a serious relationship with this girl he met his senior year of college."
  "Oh I see." April said with a knowing gasp.
  "So are they still together?" Buffy asked.
  "They wanted to be together, but her parents didn't approve of Walt... mostly because she had been preparing to go to a major dance academy somewhere."
  "Aw, poor Walt." April said. "I guess this whole pizzeria thing is just his way of getting over being brokenhearted."
  "It's so sweet that you care about your brother like that, Zach." Buffy said as she gave him a kiss on the cheek.
  "I hate to break up this conversation, but we've got a bit of a deadline." Vernon said impatiently as he pointed to his watch.
  "Who died and made you boss?!" April griped.
    After about 30 minutes of filming interviews with Buffy, Zach and Walt, April and Vernon left the establishment and headed back to Channel 6.
  "I'm so glad you're back, April!" Irma said the second her best friend and their obnoxious co-worker came in. "Oh, hi Vernon. You going back with April for the grand opening?"
  "Ugh, I'd rather not. You can go along in my place. I can only take so much pubescent angst!" Vernon griped as he headed off to his office.
  "What was that all about?"
  "Oh it turns out Walt went through a tough break-up recently. Also I think Buffy Shellhammer might have a sweet spot for Zach."
  "Oh wow! Wait, didn't Michaelangelo have a crush on Buffy?"
  "Yea, but I don't think people want to hear about inter-species relationships."
  "You're not thinking about making a news report on their love lives are you, April?"
  "Of course not, Irma! But Zach is really worried about Walt. It sounded like he really loved this girl, but her parents didn't approve of him for some reason."
  "Aw, that's so sad!"
  "I know. I feel like we should bring this to the Turtles' attention. I mean they are Zach's best friends."
    A couple of hours later April and Irma were in the Turtles' lair explaining what Zach had told April and Vernon earlier.
  "Aw gee, poor Walt." Donatello exclaimed.
  "He seemed so happy and upbeat when he was pitching his idea for Naked Pizza!"
  "No, Michaelangelo, it's called Nekkid Pizza!" Leonardo corrected his brother.
  "What's the difference, bro? We're always walking around naked!"
  "That's because we have our shells on to cover our tails... and other personal body parts." Raphael replied.
  "Besides, the word nekkid implies somebody's taking their clothes off to do something naughty." Irma added.
  "Like the time you and that aerobics instructor in the resort went skinny dipping?" April said with a chuckle.
    All four of the Turtles stared in shock, causing Irma to blush.
  "Okay... I think we're getting a little off track here." Leonardo remarked. "You were telling us how Zach is concerned for his brother. That's all that really matters!"
  "I guess it wouldn't hurt to go check in on them." Donatello said.
  "The grand opening isn't for another 2 weeks, so we have plenty of time to catch up with them." Michaelangelo added. "Besides, I wanna see how my bud Mondo Gecko is doing getting ready to be the first official pizza delivery mutant!"
    Later that evening at the pizzeria, Zach and Buffy were bidding farewell to the contractors that had been hired to get the place up to code. "I can't believe how quick this is all coming together!" Zach commented
  "Well, given all that's happened to this city over the last few years, I think a lot of people are anxious to have some fun and blow off steam!"
  That moment Walt came storming out of the store with Mondo Gecko following behind. "Look, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that I crossed a line."
  "Oh you did more than cross a line, you freak! You made me look like an idiot!!!" Walt shouted in anger.
  "Whoa, whoa. Calm down, Walt!" Buffy said.
  "Yea, what's going on?" Zach asked just as he saw the Turtle Van pull up.
  "This stupid lizard spilled a can of tomato sauce all over the Donkey Kong arcade game I paid $500 for, just as I was talking with the health inspector!"
  "Look, I didn't realize the can of sauce was open, and... please forgive me." Gecko said to all of them.
  Walt noticed the four Ninja Turtles having walked up to them, and without missing a beat, proceeded to storm off.
  "What was that all about?" Donatello asked.
  "Apparently there was a mishap, that cost us a very expensive video game." Buffy said in a concerned tone.
  Mondo Gecko hung his head in shame, which prompted Michaelangelo to give his friend a hug.
  "Hey it'll be okay. Accidents happen." Zach said. "Besides, like I told April earlier, Walt hasn't quite been himself since..."
  "We know, she stopped by the lair and told us." Leonardo said.
  "Heartache can sure have an intense effect on people." Buffy stated as they all went into the restaurant to look at the arcade machine.
  "Dang, red is not that monkey's color!" Raphael joked.
  "You know, it looked like most of the sauce merely hit the side of the cabinet. It didn't get into any of the electronic components." Donatello said as he examined the game.
  "Raphael, help Donatello clean up the game and see if he can get it working." Leo ordered. "Michaelangelo, Zach and I are going to go have a chat with Walt!"
  As they were about to leave, Buffy whispered something into Zach's ear. The young man couldn't help but blush as he left with the two turtles.
  "Dude, are you and Buffy like... into each other?" Michaelangelo asked.
  "She has been pretty flirty with me, and I have to admit that I kinda like it. I dunno, maybe after things have settled, I might ask her out on a date or something."
  Leonardo couldn't help but smirk at Mikey. "As long as the party dude here doesn't get jealous of you stealing his former main flame!"
    "Oh, for- it was just a silly crush I had! Heck, I got a current crush on that new intern at Channel 6, but I know that's never gonna go anywhere either! I have to admit, I kinda wish I could go see Kala in Dimension X. Atleast I know she only looks human!" Michaelangelo then turned to Zach. "Hey that reminds me. Whatever happened to that friend of yours who helped us stop Don Turtelli and that bogus Boldini dude?"
  "Oh, you mean Caitlin? She and her family moved to Virginia back in 1990. Her parents were also pretty worried about us being involved with you guys."
  "I can't say that I blame them." Leonardo commented. "It's not that we didn't appreciate your help, but you kids have no idea how dangerous it can get going up against these mobsters, mad scientists and alien invaders!"
  "Not to mention April's grumpy old boss Burne Thompson always blaming us for all the trouble that those bad dudes caused!" Mikey added. "So like, where the heck did Walt go off to?"
  "He must've gone back to our apartment." Zach replied with a sigh. "Luckily it's only a few blocks from here."
  "Michaelangelo, go with Zach to their apartment to check on Walt. I'm going to head back into the pizzeria to check on how Donatello and Raphael are doing with the arcade game."
"No problemo!"
    About 10 minutes later, Mikey and Zach were at the apartment. They entered to see Walt in tears as he was looking over an old photo of himself with the girl he loved. "What do you guys want?"
  Zach pulled up a chair next to his older brother. "Walt, I know you're still upset over what happed with Alana, and it's okay to be upset."
  "I'm not upset... I'm heartbroken!!! Her parents thought I was no good for her! I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye before they kicked me out of their house." he said with a sob.
  "I know you're hurting, dude, but you shouldn't go taking it out on friends. You really made Mondo Gecko feel bad back there!" Michaelangelo stated.
  "Besides, Donatello said the pizza sauce didn't cause any serious damage to it. He and Raphael stayed behind to clean it up."
  "Yea, dude! People are gonna be playing that Donkey Kong game all day long!"
    Walt took a deep breath. "I know I shouldn't have gotten mad, but that game is all I have to remember Alana. We met at a college mixer at a bowling alley. I was playing that exact same game. When the bowling alley went out of business, I asked if I could buy it." Walt said as he wiped his eyes. "Now that I think about it, being into video games is what caused her parents to disapprove of me... that and when I accidentally broke a priceless family heirloom of theirs."
  "Some people just can't handle us free-spirited types, dude. We don't mean to be reckless!, but our wild personalities do come at a cost." Mikey remarked. "Lucky for Zach here, Buffy's family is really open minded!"
  Walt suddenly cheered up and giggled. "Oh right, she's got a thing for you. Better make your move soon, little bro!"
  "Hey, don't rush me! I've never asked out a girl before, and I'm a little nervous!"
    About a week later, April and Vernon were back at the pizzeria. "This is April O' Neil for Channel 6 News, giving you exclusive coverage of the establishment formerly known as Vinnie's Pizza, which has been re-branded Michelangelo's Cowabunga Pizza! I'm here with co-owners Buffy Shellhammer and one of my good friends, Michaelangelo of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! So tell me, what happened with the previous plan to rename the restaurant Nekkid Pizza?"
  "Our friend Zach and his brother Walt decided to drop out of our business for personal reasons, but they encouraged me to get involved and put my own mark on the place! After all, my bros and I were Vinnie's best customers back in the day!" Mikey exclaimed.
  "Given the fact that we are hiring mutants like Mondo Gecko, it seems more fitting to have one of the most well known mutants around here be the face of this establishment!" Buffy added.
  "That's wonderful to hear!" April said with a huge smile as she faced the camera. "We'll be bringing you more coverage on Michelangelo's Cowabunga Pizza in the coming weeks up to its grand opening!"
  "Thank heavens that's over with!" Vernon griped as he turned off the camera.
  "Aw, are you still bummed about the British pub idea getting nixed?" Mikey said teasingly.
  "No, I've gotten over it. I'm not sure which is a more tacky theme for a pizzeria, you or implied human nudity!"
    "I'm just glad we were able to get the logo changed in time." Buffy stated. "It was originally going to be a take on The Birth of Venus, except she would be standing on top of a pizza instead of a clam!"
  April giggled. "Now there's a mental image! So um, on a different note, I hear you and Zach have started dating."
  "Oh yea. He finally worked up the courage to ask me out the other day. Of course, my new business partner was there to help him."
  "What can I say, dudettes? I make a good wing-man... or wing-turtle!"

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