Stealthy Stories

[Askre]

I quite honestly have NOOO idea where my inspiration for this story comes from. Perhaps I just wanted to write something more family friendly for a change, perhaps I was just curious if I could pull it off.

Sure I have written stories already where the TMNT have to handle children that belong to them in one way or another, but never when all four of them are fathers.

There is mild angst in this story, mostly from Michelangelo, but nothing major and is not the only focal point of this story. I'm mostly writing it for the family atmosphere.

This particular story won't probably be very long, but who knows.

Disclaimer and Legal stuff:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles®, including Raphael®, Michelangelo®, Leonardo®, Donatello®, April O'Neil®, and Splinter® are registered trademarks of Viacom International Inc. Based on characters and comic books created by Peter A. Laird and Kevin B. Eastman.

I do not own them in other words.

This story is written purely as a homage to the Teenage Mutant Turtles and not meant for any commercial profit or infringement on copyright. This story will immediately be removed if Viacom International wishes so.

The story, is copyright © 2010 by Hermann Gunnar Sigurðsson (Askre).

Other characters unless otherwise noted are © Hermann Gunnar Sigurðsson (Askre).


Sum: An accident four months ago has left four adult turtles caring for four younger ones that, under normal circumstances, would have been them in an alternative universe.


Chapter 1.

Michelangelo.

I don’t know why but I keep counting the bundles, like I’m afraid that the number will decrease. But they remain four, all snuggled up against each other but each with their own blanket. It’s best to keep the four sleeping tykes together, that’s how they like it the best. That’s essentially what the kids currently know the best.

It’s unbelievable that my brothers and I used to be this small and all slept together, on a single mattress. Of course then there was only a single blanket and Splinter had us sleep together for warmth. Now heating isn’t that much of a problem, but some things can’t be changed.

One bundle moves and I look up but the boy is still asleep, probably just moving in his slumber. I sink back in the chair and keep my watch. I find myself often here; just sitting in the small nursery we made for them and watch the boys sleep. I could be doing other things, but I feel responsible for them. They are here because of a mistake I did.

Yet we divide the responsibility. One has each kid to take care of and we also help each other with the other ones. Master Splinter put it up like this and it wasn’t a bad system. Though I must admit if allowed I would have taken the brunt of the work, if only because it is my fault they are here in the first place.

“Everything alright in here?”

I look up at the whispering voice. It’s Leo, I just nod and then glance at the bed we build to fit all four of them. All sleeping peacefully, I think my boy is sucking his thumb, no wait Don’s too. Two thumb suckers, but somehow even that joke just flies over even me. I rise up and leave the room and close the door carefully behind me.

“It’s been over four months Mikey; you aren’t still beating yourself up over this are you?” Leo asks when seeing me in the more proper light of the tunnel.

“I guess I am,” I sigh and rub my forehead. I lean on the wall near the door to the nursery, one arm around me.

“Mike, it was an accident. You did everything you could have done,” Leonardo tries to assure me and puts a hand on my shoulder.

“It still stings Leo… they had their own lives ahead of them… they had their own Master Splinter… but not now… now they’re…” I stop and hang my head.

“You did the right thing, bringing them with you back home. They would have died on their own,” Leo says, squeezing my shoulder a bit to try and comfort me.

“Yes… I know Leo… I just wish I could have saved him…” I look at my brother but don’t smile. Right now that’s just not high on my mind.

“You tried, and that’s more than many could have done,” Leo tells me and let’s go of my shoulder.

I wish I could believe him and probably once I would have. But he hadn’t been there. Leo had only seen the aftermath. Me stumbling through the glowing portal, holding the four precious things that had no idea what was going on. It had taken my family hours to get me to tell what had happened.

After hearing it, Leonardo and the others went over to investigate. They had come back to report that there was nothing that could be done. Master Splinter then took the decision that it was then our responsibility to take care of the children as they now had nowhere else to go. Don dismantled the machine that started this all, if only to prevent any further accidents.

“Come on,” Leo brings me back from my thoughts; he gestures for me to come with him to the main living area of the lair.

I don’t really feel like socializing much but relent to follow. As we enter I can see Splinter watching the television, Raphael is working out with the weights and Don doing something on his computer.

“Everythin’ alright?” Raph asks when seeing us come from the bedroom tunnel.

“Yes,” Leo nods to him before I can answer.

Our red wearing brother nods and resumes his workout. At first he was the most reluctant of us to raise the little ones; he figured Splinter would be better at it. But we couldn’t do that to our sensei, he had already done that with us. Raphael was won over though by his little guy and has turned very attentive of him.

“Michelangelo,” I look towards the sitting area. Splinter was looking my way and beckoned me to come.

“Yes Master Splinter?” I ask and sit down on the couch near my father’s recliner.

“You are not alone in this duty my son,” he reminds me smiling warmly.

“I know sensei,” I sigh nodding.

“You and your brothers have been doing well since the children were brought here. They trust you all and look up to you for security and compassion. They may not have originated here but they are now part of this family,” he continues. At first the little tykes had huddled around him, but as my brothers and I started interacting with them they had divided into who they hung out the most with.

Leo’s boy was the first one to call one of us daddy, him that is. Our brother in blue had been quite surprised when that happened but Splinter told him to allow it to happen. The boy was already old enough to realize who his main caretaker was and could understand certain concept, like that some people were called mommy or daddy.

Raph’s kid was next, it was almost like if his brother was going to have a daddy he would too. It was only natural that Raphael was that one. I could swear my red-wearing brother broke universal laws with that grin when it happened.

Don’s and mine came next almost at the same time. Donny didn’t show much when it happened, only smiled slightly. Somehow I think he was secretly hoping it would happen soon. I almost broke into tears when my boy called me daddy but I somehow managed to grin at him and confirm, very reluctantly, that yeah I was his daddy.

But what was Splinter then? He was Master Splinter sure but he made sure that the boys knew he was only a temporary solution if their fathers weren’t around. It was Don who suggested they see if the kids would want to call him grandfather, it came slowly but in the end he was now Grandfather Splinter.

“Daddy,” the tiny little voice has me look over my shoulder. There in the tunnel entrance Don’s kid stands rubbing one eye tiredly.

Don leaves immediately his corner and hurries over to the kid. Five months ago it was nearly impossible to get him to stop working, now he will drop anything he’s doing and attend to his kid. Heck if any of the other little guys needs help he’s quick to offer it if the rest of us are not around.

“Hey what’s wrong little guy?” he asks gently and scoops him up. The little turtle huddles in his arms.

“Had a nigh’ma’e,” he complains.

“Aw, it’s alright. It’s over now,” Don assures the boy and cuddles him. Then he disappears into the tunnel with the boy, telling him he will stay until he’s asleep again.

We weren’t really sure how old they were. Splinter told us that they looked very similar to us shortly after we had learned to walk. That meant it hadn’t been that long since they mutated. It had not made me feel any better about this at all.


Donatello.

I tuck my son in beside his ,well brothers/cousins I suppose. The technically correct term would be cousins since each of them calls a different turtle daddy. But we decided not to discourage them from calling each other brothers either when they grew up, right now though they are so young that they wouldn’t care either way.

“It’s alright now. It’s only dreams and they can’t hurt you,” I keep my voice low and soft, gently caressing him on the cheek. It sooths him I’ve noted, he and Mikey’s boy like to be held and/or cuddled the most. Leo’s is in-between and not too surprisingly Raph’s is a tough guy.

As I calm my son down I make sure the other three kids aren’t disturbed in their slumber. But everything looks to be alright and soon my boy is dozing again. Now I watch the four bundles in silence, not exactly the how I planned to become a father. Well to be honest there were no plans of fatherhood at all.

Poor Mike is still guilt ridden over this and I have to admit feeling partly responsible as well. After all it was my portal device that had sent him on the fateful trip, one I’m sure Michelangelo cares not to repeat. I was quite shocked to see him return, looking so distraught holding four kids in his arms. The fact that he managed to hold all four of them was quite an accomplishment.

Leo, Raph and I then went over to that alternative past world to see if anything could be done. But all we could do was confirming what Mikey had already told us. We found the body of the other Master Splinter and it was uncanny how much alike he looked to our own father. I checked, double and triple checked but could only confirm that he was no longer alive. We gave him a proper burial and returned quickly home.

I went right to work and dismantled the blasted contraption that had forced such change on the lives of four innocent boys. I wasn’t too surprised that Master Splinter then entrusted us to be the main caretakers. He had already spent over twenty years raising four turtles; he was no longer in shape to chase after young active children. He would help us as he could but the main responsibility was now on us.

The boys were still so young and still learning and taking things in. I think they accepted this odd change of suddenly there being four adult turtles because Splinter was there too. They had already learned to trust him, it took them only few days to begin to trust us and after that it was only a matter of time before they called each of us daddy.

But then the subject of names came up, where the boys already with names or had their late father not gotten around to name them? We at first listened to their baby chatter when playing, trying to see if there was any indication of names. But they never did, the only name they seemed to know was Splinter.

Our Master did admit he hadn’t named us until after he finally managed to teach himself to read. The book on renaissance art wasn’t very useful unless you knew how to read it. By then we had already began walking and talking a bit. So chances were that the little boys still didn’t have names.

Leo suggested that perhaps with new lives they should be given new names. I personally agreed only because it was practical. It might save some confusion if they didn’t have the same names as us, Raphael didn’t care either way. Splinter left it completely up to us and Michelangelo I am not so sure about. He never expressed his opinion on it.

Well Leonardo’s son had been the first to use the word daddy so my blue-masked brother was the first to name him. It wasn’t very surprising that he went for a Japanese name and named him Takahiro.

I wondered if we should stay in the Japanese trend, just like Splinter had named all of us after Italian artists. The boys wouldn’t care naturally and somehow I just felt it was fitting and chose the name Kiosho for my son. Raph decided on a name too, his son is Akako now. Michelangelo wasn’t too responsive when we were deciding on names, but Leo did offer him the list of names I had printed out all the same. He took a long look at it, reading the names and what some of them meant. Finally without further explanation he picked the name Yaso.

All of them now responded to their respective names as if they had carried them all the time. It also made things a little easier for us, you can only go on ‘kid’ or ‘boy’ for so long, especially if the child was not the one you called ‘son’.

Of course even with names we still had some various pet names over our sons. It just seemed to come naturally, not sure if Splinter had ones over us and I’ve never asked. I was usually content on calling mine ‘little guy’. Mike had quite a vocabulary for this, there was sport, tyke, little dude, micro-dude, kiddo, he never really seemed to favor one over the other. Leo was far more though like Splinter and addressed his as son, or by his name. Though sometimes I could have sworn I could hear him utter the word hizo. Raphael as usual tended to keep things simple, he called his boy either son, kid or by his name.

I look down at the bed and smile warmly. Kiosho has fallen asleep once more. I rise up and leave the room not wanting to disturb them. Nothing has changed much in the living room, Raph is still working out, Splinter is in the sitting area and so is Mike. Leo has sat down as well reading a book.

“The others didn’t wake up did they?” Mikey asks me as I head for my computer once more. I shake my head no and sit down, resuming my work on it.


The next day.

Leonardo.

“Takahiro eat your breakfast,” I firmly tell my son. He’s so far shown more interest in retaliating against Akako who was flinging bits of his cereal at the others.

“Akako!” Raph narrows his eyes on his boy who puts up a rather innocent look. Oh sure yes, he wasn’t guilty of anything. The other boys actually giggle; there were no hard feelings, just young children playing with their food while they should be eating it.

“Daddy I wanna toast,” I hear Yaso whine, he bounces a bit in the high chair.

We count our blessings that we actually have more resources now than when Master Splinter had just the four of us. Now we were nine in the lair and I wasn’t sure what we would do if we couldn’t get April or Casey to bring us items that we couldn’t scavenge for. They had managed to get us four high chairs so the boys could more easily sit at the table. As well as other children things that were necessary.

Mike complies with his son’s wishes and pops two slices of bread in the toaster. Yaso is though impatient and watches everything with a bit of a frown. I glance to where Don sits with Kiosho on his lap. The boy looks tired and not very interested in his food at all. Donatello has to prod him to eat which his son reluctantly does.

“Kio isn’t getting sick is he?” I ask worried. So far the boys had all escaped becoming ill but it was only a matter of time, children got sick, it was just part of life.

“Well he did wake up two times last night because of a bad dream. He’s probably just tired,” Don responds hugging the tired little turtle. Our purple-masked brother had really taken into fatherhood, I’ve sometimes wondered if he felt guilty too over what happened.

“Daddy am done, can I go?” Akako looks at his father, his bowl of cereal was only half finished and there was also floating in it a half eaten toast.

“Finish your food kid,” Raph told him with a firm voice. Splinter had always taught us to finish what we had on the table. Of course before we met April and Casey, our food supplies were limited and we were usually very happy to have any food at all. Things were different now but it was still a rule we liked to follow.

“Aw daddy, I can’t eat no more,” the boy complains and folds his arms. He’s already learned how to imitate Raph’s hard stubborn expression.

“Alright then but I don’t want to hear any ‘I’m hungry’ whine five minutes later,” Raphael warned him

“Okay,” his son grins and jumps away from the table and rushes out of the kitchen. Takahiro puts on a determined expression and begins eating his food faster.

“Don’t eat so fast,” I warn him gently, I don’t want him to choke on the food. I know he’s simply hurrying to finish so he can join Akako in a play.

Yaso was quite content on stuffing his face with mores toast and cereal. Mikey watched him with a smile. He hardly ever smiled unless the boys were around. Kiosho finally seemed to have decided he was hungry after all and had began eating more properly. But he still refused to leave Donatello’s lap.

“Alright you can go hizo,” I noticed that Takahiro had finished his bowl. The little turtle wastes no time to climb down from his chair and dart out of the kitchen.

Raphael and I begin cleaning up after us and our sons. I then grab a broom to sweep up the cereal that had gone down after Akako and Takahiro’s food fight. Raph leaves but I decide to make some tea.

“Wha Unca Leo do?” Yaso asks and tries to see where I am now by the kitchen counter.

“Making tea little dude,” Mikey answers him. The boy scrunches his beak in disgust; he had tasted tea and not quite liked it.

“Yuck,” he says and resumes eating his food. We have certainly started to get more honest critiques in the lair after the boys arrived.

“Should I even bother offering anyone?” I ask with a wry grin. As expected no one currently in the kitchen wanted tea except me.

“No hung’hy no mohe,” I hear the quiet whisper of Kio. I glance back and see him now huddled, tired and yawning in his father’s arms.

“Come on little guy, let’s see if there isn’t something on the TV,” Donatello says and rises up. His son just nods in silence. I have to admit that I’m starting to get worried he’s caught something.

I clean up after Donatello and Kiosho, feeling that Don better attend to his boy if he is getting sick instead of worrying about dirty dishes. Yaso finally decides he’s eaten enough and desires to see what the others are up to. Mikey scoops him up and puts him down on the ground, the little turtle runs out of the kitchen and his father starts cleaning up after them.

Once my tea is finished I leave the kitchen holding my cup. Splinter was still in his morning meditation session, which he undertakes always after morning practice while we and our four sons eat breakfast.

Donatello has found a children program on the TV and is sitting on the couch with Kio. Raph is nowhere to be seen, I’m guessing he went to his room or maybe working on his bike. Akako and Takahiro have gone to the play corner and pulled out the box with the toys. They are now busy making motor sounds and driving small cars all round the floor. Yaso has approached them but still seems to be deciding whether to join them or play with the blocks.

I take a seat in the sitting area, not paying too much attention to the television. Mikey had gone to the play corner and is watching the three boys there. I just enjoy my tea for now.

“I think it’s safe to say by now that you got the quiet one,” I glance over to the couch. Kio actually sits now beside his father but leans on him while watching the TV. Don just chuckles at my joke. We had often wondered if the boys would start behaving like us at some point.


Raphael.

Not sure any of us thought almost four months ago that we would suddenly be taking care of four kids. I sure as hell didn’t and wasn’t exactly buying the idea at first that we should become father figures for them. But they didn’t have anywhere to go and Master Splinter was getting to old to handle four little tots all over again. Oh I’m sure sensei could still whip our butts if he wanted but I think he rather enjoys watching us running around after the kids.

But I kind of warmed up to it when seeing the squirts calm and beginning to play. Akako was a tough guy from the start, only Takahiro would challenge him and sometimes best him. We never really picked a kid, I mean it’s not we could just pick and chose like we were in a pet shop. Nah the kids more like picked us.

Kiosho was drawn to Donny immediately, he was quiet and shy and I guess because Don was always sitting somewhere working it was just natural to go to him. Braniac didn’t mind at all. Takahiro much like Akako liked to fight but he was not as rough and sometimes just wanted some quiet time. We started finding him going to Leo when our ‘fearless leader’ was meditating.

Akako on the other hand just loves to roughhouse and tussle and well it just became natural I was his main target. Heck I had to pull him off my punching bag once, because he decided it would make a fine wrestling partner. We ended up spending a lot of time playing together and I guess that’s how I ended up with him.

Yaso is doing a good job to keep that smile on Mikey. The guy is still in funk over what happened. Can’t say I blame him, I’m not sure I would have handled it better. But thanks to the little guy, Mike is at least moderately close to normal for him. Just wish he would laugh a bit more.

After breakfast I decided to go and do a much needed tune up on my bike. Then I maybe if the guys could keep an eye on Akako for me later today, go and see if Casey wants to do something. The kid is still too young to allow him topside, at least not without supervision.

I had been working on the bike for a while when I hear the patter of footsteps approaching. I glance to my side and see Akako and Takahiro peeking inside the lair’s vehicle room. Man those two are nearly inseparable. Always doing something together when Takahiro is in a playful enough mood.

“Hey kids,” I greet them and continue working on the engine of my bike.

“Hey daddy.”

“Hi Unca Raph.”

“Wath’cha doin’?” Akako sneaks in and approaches. Takahiro follows closely after him.

“Making sure my bike is in top shape,” I inform my son with a grin.

“Can we ride?” he asks pleadingly.

“Not right now, it’s still daytime,” I had taken him once on a ride with the bike, shortly before his bedtime. The boy loved it and hardly wanted to get off when we were done. I figured I could take him for another tour before heading off to Casey.

“Why always daytime?” Takahiro inquires and folds his chubby little arms. Damn I think he’s edging for a test ride too.

“Because it’s too dangerous for us, not all humans are like Aunt April and Uncle Casey,” I grunt and start making some final adjustments on the engine. I notice that my son is peeking into the toolbox. But I need soon what is lying beside it. “Hey Akako hand me the 3/8 spanner over there.”

Hey the kid is maybe young but they are picking up fast and Akako is already starting to learn the basics tools. I’m soon holding the requested item. The kids watch me for a small while with some interest, but then they grow bored and hurry back to the main section of the lair.

Once the bike is finished I clean up the spread tools around me and head back to the living area. Leo is doing his morning katas in the dojo, Akako and Takahiro are close by tussling on a training mat. Mikey is in the playground and building with Yaso, Don and Kiosho are watching the TV.

Master Splinter is watching Leo and the two boys, probably also making sure the kids don’t interrupt the training turtle. I head for my punching bag and start working out there. Looks like the rest of the day is going to be fairly quiet, well I can live with that.

“Daddy!” before I know it Akako has latched to my leg growling playfully. Takahiro had been grabbed away by Leo who had finished his katas. He was now busy tickling his son.

“So ya wanna fight kid?” I lift my leg and grab for my boy. He laughs and jumps off, I mock growl and jump after him. We tussle there for a while and I allow him few ‘victories’. But in the end I’ve pinned him up against my plastron and noogie him on the head with my hand.

“Ack, ack no fair,” he giggles and tries to break free.

“Life aint fair kid,” I chuckle and let him go. He immediately retaliates; jeez he’s my son alright.

I let myself fall back as he pounces in an attempt to get me down. Akako then lies flat on me to try and pin me, but the little bugger is still so small that he hardly even reaches my bridges with outstretched arms.

“So you think you got me down, got me on the ropes huh?” I mock glare at him. Suddenly I grab his legs and peel him off. He shrieks and laughs and tries to get back down. I sit up still holding his legs and then stand up.

“Who got who now huh kid?” I laugh; he manages to grab one of my knee pads and pulls hard. It doesn’t get loose but my son isn’t about to let go either.

While entertaining Akako, I notice that Leo and Takahiro have begun tussling as well. Master Splinter watches smiling wide. Why do I have a feeling he is having a nostalgic moment right now?

“Soon my sons I think we better start some of the basic training that fit their young age,” he then tells us.

“So uh, you gonna train them sensei?” I wonder but he shakes his head.

“I can assist where it is necessary. But I think for now that each of you should get them started on some of the simple basics. But Leonardo should then later on begin once they are older and ready to train them for real,” Splinter says.

I frown a little but it makes sense really to let Leo train them later on. Heck sure I could probably take a crack at it but Leonardo knows more about some of the other stuff that is required. Besides he is Splinter’s chunin, so it is just natural he would be next in line.

“If you don’t mind Master Splinter, I would like my brothers to help in that area as well,” Leo then says, he’s by now ‘pinned’ down on the plastron by Takahiro.

“Of course, I would except nothing less of you,” Splinter says.

“Whut training?” Akako asks, I still have him dangling upside down. I turn him around to hold him normally.

“You wanna be a tough ninja like daddy when you’re older right?” I ask. Akako nods eagerly.

“Well then we will have to train you,” I tell him.

“When?” the kid asks wide eyed in wonder.

“Not just yet kid, but soon enough,” was my answer, Akako frowns a bit not quite happy with that answer.

“Now where were we?” I then turn him right back upside down causing him to shriek and laugh, trying to wiggle free.

End chapter 1.


I am not saying that each turtle is handling their own counterpart. Yes Akako is behaving a bit Raph like and Kiosho is quiet. But people gain their personalities based on how they were raised, where they grew up and from their life experiences. So I personally think that by this time in the game, it is very obscure which one the adult turtle actually have

As Raph said, they didn't pick the kids, the kids picked them.
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Confusing the heck out of the world since 1983.

[engelina]

a very interesting story, askre. the kids are cute ( as to be expected)) and do what most small kids do... like with breakfast.

its also interesting to see dimantional traveling go wrong.. and the consequences that followed.

and looking forward to more.
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[Cynlee]

Nice beginning there! Can't wait to read more.
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"Poor dumb Kumquat..."

[Askre]

[Askre]

Chapter 2.

Donatello.

I had been worried this morning and somehow I suspected that Leo was considering it too. But probably the extra cuddly nature and the reluctance to eat his breakfast should have clued me in. Kiosho had managed to catch himself a cold and as the day processed it just came more and more evident.

And then it was no denying it, he complained about his throat hurting and his beak was stuffier than normal and then there was a mild fever as well. Leo immediately went to visit April and Casey to ask them to get us what we might need. Herbal remedies worked wonders, but there was sometimes the need for something stronger.

Man I remembered when I grunted and snapped at my brothers when they pulled me away from my projects. I hated it when they interrupted me while working on something. Now I was more than willing to forget all my stuff while sitting on the couch with my blanket wrapped sick son. On the coffee table was a small cup from the latest herbal drink Master Splinter had told me to give him.

“It’s going to be alright little guy, it’s just a cold. We’ve all had it,” I told him gently. He didn’t respond too much vocally, his throat hurt and the stuffy nose didn’t help either. The boy just leaned on me in silence, occasionally sniffling as he tried to clear his beak.

“Is he alright?” Mikey appeared behind the couch, he looks really worried.

“The fever hasn’t risen any and he at least drinks what’s given to him,” I inform my brother.

“He just is so silent…” my orange-masked brother whispers, I can see and feel that he is terrified it might turn into something worse.

“Mikey, Kio has always been the silent one of the four. He’s just extra so because he is not feeling so hot right now,” I gently remind him. Kiosho was not very outspoken of the four boys and sometimes I had wondered if he could speak at all. But then there came a ‘daddy can Ah huv dhis’ or ‘what’cha doin’ daddy?’

“Yeah I guess,” Mike relented. Then he looked down to his side, one of the other boys had arrived.

“Kio gonna be a’right?” it was Yaso. His father bent down to pick him up so the little turtle could see both me and blanket covered Kio.

“Yeah he’s going to be fine kiddo. Just a cold,” Mikey smiled reassuringly, but somehow I felt he was only saying it for the kid’s benefit.

“Kio have yucky tea,” Yaso spotted the tea cup and scrunched his beak.

“It’s to help him get better Yaso,” I inform him with a chuckle.

Leo had once offered each of the boys to taste some tea. Takahiro I’m pretty sure only liked it because his dad liked it. Akako was unsure about the taste and Kio had only frowned slightly in thought. But none of them had showed as spectacular face of disgust as Yaso. It had taken Leonardo every bit of training and discipline not to laugh.

“So you don’t like yucky tea huh?” Mikey asked his boy who shook his head.

“No, taste yucky,” Yaso confirmed.

“Well then you don’t have to drink it,” his father chuckled and for a moment threw the boy up and down, gently catching him each time.

I smile and am rather glad to see that Mike is showing some genuine happiness if only for the boys. We are going to need his fun-loving attitude. I notice two small heads peek over the arm on the other end of the couch. Akako and Takahiro were spying on me and Kio.

We had told them to keep a bit of a distance. We didn’t need all four of them getting sick at the same time. But the boys were unable to resist making sure Kiosho was alright. There was definitely a connection forming between them, a family bond. My son was one of them, despite not taking part in tussling or other major activities.

“My son, I could take Kiosho if you wish to go to work,” Splinter appears in the living room. He smiles warmly at me and Kio who sniffles and shifts a little in my arms.

I consider his offer; there were several projects I could go to. As well there were some sensor checks that I needed to run. I was after all responsible for the security system of the lair and Splinter knew that. But he also knew how taken I was now with the father role, how attentive I was of Kio. I just couldn’t help it, much like Mike I felt responsible for what had happened and I had vowed that we would take care of the boys.

“Kio, will you be alright for a little bit with your grandfather? Daddy will be really quick,” I ask softly, the very least I would get my son’s blessing that I could in fact leave.

Kio nods and sniffles a bit. Since he was alright with it I felt I could spare some time making sure our security was all up and running properly. But my projects would wait that was for sure. Splinter got seated in his recliner before I rose up and transferred my son over to him. My father held his grandson gently and spoke soothingly to him.

Mike watched still behind the couch holding Yaso. I wondered for a second if he had wanted to take Kio while I went to do the security checks. But I brushed it off and hurried towards my lab so I would be sooner done. Just as I was disappearing into it I heard Leo return to the lair.

“Did you get everything?” I ask and turn around.

“Baby Tylenol, couch syrup, you name it April got it for us,” Leo held up the plastic grocery bag and just at that moment April entered the lair too. “Oh and I got April too.”

“Not surprising I must say,” I chuckled. Our human friend loved the boys to pieces and spoiled them rotten at every opportunity. Hearing that one of them was sick, it was no surprise she had opted to come with Leo to the lair.

“Kio is in the sitting area with Master Splinter, I’m just going to run few security checks,” I told them and hurried into the lab. I could have easily done this in my work corner, but right now I wanted to make a complete sweep. Then I needed the more powerful workstation I had built in my laboratory.


April.

“Never thought I would see the day when Don would go reluctantly into his lab,” I say when watching Don disappear into one of his most sacred places in the lair.

“With Kio sick? I’m actually surprised he did go at all,” Leo commented and we headed to the sitting area. Mikey was sitting on the couch, closest to Splinter’s recliner who was holding bundled up Kiosho. In front of the TV the three remaining boys sat watching a cartoon. Raphael was working on the weights in the dojo.

“Ah good day April,” Master Splinter greeted me when we arrived. “And thank you for buying those items for us. We felt it was better to have them just in case, even herbal remedies have their limits.”

“You’re quite welcome Master Splinter,” I assured him and step up to stand beside the recliner. I peek at Kio who is all cuddled up with his grandfather right now. “Hi sweetheart, little sick are you?”

Such an adorable ‘I’m miserable, love me, cuddle me’ look. If it had been any of the adult turtles holding him I would have stolen the boy right away to hold him myself. But naturally I could not do that with Master Splinter. So I relented to sit in the nearest chair to the recliner.

It was so hard to picture any of the four as fathers but now they all were. They divided up the responsibilities and seemed to be doing a fine job so far. Of course they benefitted from Splinter’s guidance who was quite content on being in the grandfather role. I was more than happy to be an aunt for the little boys as well, Casey and I didn’t have children yet so this was as good practice as any.

They still hadn’t given me full details on how exactly they suddenly became responsible for four young turtle boys. So far all I knew was that Don had built a portal machine that lead to another world, there had been an accident and they had been given no alternative than to care for the young ones. I guess whatever happened was too painful for them to bring up, for one I knew Mike was not doing as good as he looked.

“Boys are you telling me you haven’t noticed who just came with me?” Leo reappeared in the sitting room; he had been taking the bag into the kitchen.

Akako, Takahiro and Yaso break their attention from the television and look at him. Then they glance at each other in slight puzzlement before looking around to see what they had missed. But the moment they see me it’s like a rocket had been launched. Three green turtle shelled ones.

“Auntie April!” they all three shout and dive for me. I’m soon wondering where I got the lap space when three excited turtle boys are clinging to me, asking twenty questions all in one breath.

“Yes, yes I’m very happy to see all three of you too,” I laugh. “But don’t be so loud Kio doesn’t need you three to be loud.”

“Did come with sumthin?” Yaso asks bouncing up and down.

“Did ya bring presents?” Takahiro grins innocently.

“Candy please?” Akako smiles as sweetly as the little tough guy allows himself.

“Leo you might as well return to the kitchen and bring the extra stuff,” I inform the blue-masked turtle who was watching my predicament with great amusement. I think the turtles were secretly enjoying what a baby magnet I had turned out to be.

Hearing that the goods were in the kitchen, the three boys were quick to ditch me and run after Leonardo. Oh well, they knew who they had to thank for it. I glance at Master Splinter and smile when seeing that Kio was now sitting up, he wasn’t so sick that he didn’t recognize the word candy.

“Ooh is someone feeling all better already,” I ask and reach to poke the little quiet turtle boy teasingly. He smiles shyly and giggles when my finger touches his blanket covered bridge.

“I am assuming this is for Kio,” Leo reappeared among us, after him filed the three boys munching on the candy I had brought down. The blue-masked turtle was holding a lollipop. I had figured it was easier on Kio’s throat to lick on that kind of treat.

“Yes you’re right,” I nodded. And soon the sick little turtle was calmly sucking on his treat with a quiet and slightly raspy due to soar throat:

“’ahnk Unc’ Leo, ‘ahnk Auntie Apil.”

The other three came and thanked me too, I had soon received two sticky kisses on my cheek but Akako being a tough guy only relented to hug my leg and even then that was only with one arm.

I eye Mikey and see that he’s still keeping an eye on Master Splinter and Kio. I wasn’t too surprised, he was really attentive of all four boys and I had been told he sometimes spent a great deal of time watching them sleep. I was really beginning to get curious to know what had happened exactly.

“Oh did my little guy get a nice treat from Aunt April,” Don had arrived ninja quiet into the sitting area. He was kneeling by Splinter’s recliner and one hand was gently on the blanket that covered his son. Kiosho was nodding, for now the lollipop was just being held.

“He has not complained about any pain so far,” Splinter informs him. “He will hopefully weather this cold off in only few days.”

“I was thinking Kio. You want to sleep in daddy’s room tonight?” Donatello asked gently. I knew the boys still slept in the same room so I wondered if this would be the first time one of them slept separated from their cousins.

“Can Ah daddy?” Kio positively lit up when hearing that.

“Yes you can,” Don smiled tenderly. I could see he wanted his son close, especially now while sick.

“Is that a good idea? They are used to sleeping together,” Mikey suddenly spoke up but seemed to realize his error. Don frowned when hearing this brother’s near protest but Splinter was quicker to respond.

“Donatello knows what he is doing and he has his son’s best interest in mind. The children will with time wish to sleep in separate beds, it is perhaps time to begin showing them it is alright to not sleep all the time in the same bed,” he informs him. He stressed the word son showing that he was not going to overrule Don’s wishes in the care for his child. I think it also played in that Kio had clearly been eager about the idea.

“Sorry sensei… sorry Donny,” Michelangelo ducked his head looking embarrassed.

I frowned a little; so far none of the brothers had interfered with how each of them handled their child. Mikey was clearly just being protective, accidentally stepping into Don’s territory in the process. I excused myself and rose up from the chair, I spotted that Leo was now in the dojo being a spotter for Raph who was using the bench-press.

Making sure that the little boys were still distracted by the television, I make my way over to the designated dojo area. Both Leo and Raph acknowledge me but the red-masked turtle never misses a beat in his lifting.

“So what’s up April?” Leo asks, probably wondering why I’m not showering the usual attention on the boys.

“Guys it’s been over four months. Don’t you think it’s time I get to hear the full story?” I ask quietly as I could.

Raph placed the weights on their hold and half rose on the bench. Leo was frowning in thought before glancing down at his brother. They both bit their lips, clearly debating their answer.

“She’s right, Leo. She deserves to know,” Raphael finally relented.

“Yeah you’re right,” Leonardo nodded with a slight sigh. He then gestured towards the tunnels that led to the bedroom. “Let’s go to my room and discuss it there, less chance of small pots with ears hearing too much right now.”


Splinter

I must admit, that my initial reason for letting my sons handle the brunt of the responsibility of raising the four children was to give them a chance, a chance at something I had been privileged with for a long time. Being a father and raise a child up; experiencing the unconditional love a child gives its parents.

My sons had already grown so much, faced so many foes and gained great deal of experience with life from the various events that had happened in their lives. They were no longer children, no longer teenagers, they were now young adults and I felt they were ready for something like this. Not that I had expected them to ever get the opportunity to experience what I had. What it is to be a parent.

But what else could we do? The young boys had been orphaned by a terrible accident, an accident that Michelangelo still feels responsible for. His brothers had already investigated that other world and found that there was no one else there who could take them. Once hearing that I knew immediately that it was now up too us to make sure the children at least had a future.

Four months now and my sons have already experienced a lot of the wonders and headaches of parenthood. I had to hide a smile when Raphael complained once that Akako was somehow getting into everything when his back was only turned for a second. Leonardo kept being interrupted in his mediation by Takahiro who always wanted to hold the enchanting looking candles. Donatello did not want to close his son off from the lab, but I’ve noticed that things are in much better order there now and some areas fenced off. Michelangelo has mentioned that Yaso is trying every trick in the book to stay up late.

And whenever one of them utters a certain question, the “was I ever like that as a kid?” I cannot but help but answer, a small grin on my muzzle. “Yes you where my son.”

They are fortunate though and probably do not realize it. My sons only have one child each, even though we all help wherever we can. I did have to raise all four of them on my own and somehow I suspect they have come to realize that.

We are now experiencing the first time one of the children is sick. Kiosho has all the signs of a small cold and I am very glad and relieved that we can make my grandson so comfortable. And ensure that this small ailment will not turn into something worse.

That was something I was often faced with when my sons were children. A small cold could turn into something worse. Before Donatello was old enough to do the things he could do now, like install proper heating and ventilate the lair properly. I often didn’t even have the herbs necessary to ease a fever or help with a headache. Sometimes I was lucky when scavenging but not always. Even though I want my sons to experience parenthood, I would not want to wish on them the fear and uncertainty if an ill son might just turn too ill.

Kiosho now expresses a wish to go back to his father. Donatello takes him and sits back down on the couch. I watch as my son gets the blanket wrapped child comfortable on his lap. Michelangelo also watches but from the corner of his eyes before rising up and heads into the kitchen.

“I take it everything was in order?” I inquire.

“Yes sensei, but I better go and take a routine check tomorrow on the equipment furthest away from the lair,” Donatello answers me, I nod. Kiosho coughs a bit and gives a clear expression that his throat did not enjoy it.

“I better make another batch for him,” I rise from the recliner and rescue the cup from the coffee table. My son nods his thanks.

Inside the kitchen I can see that Michelangelo is starting the preparations for dinner. I on the other hand go to the cupboard we had reserved for medicinal herbs. As I began making the herbal brew intended for Kiosho, I notice that Michelangelo looks rather uneasy.

“My son, there is nothing wrong in voicing your concern,” I address him. “You were just worried that Kiosho’s cousins would miss him. I can understand that.”

“Yeah… I know sensei,” Michelangelo whispers and continues to work on making what appears to be lasagna.

“But Donatello does have the right to make his own judgment of what he feels is the best for his son,” I gently remind him and my orange-masked son nods slowly.

The herbal tea is ready and I take it out to the sitting area, giving it to Donatello. He gently and carefully has Kiosho sip on the drink, I’m glad the boy has so far not resisted the medicine. I know it can have a peculiar taste children might not love all too much. I chuckle when the child decides to experiment, he dips his treat he got from April into the cup and then licks it.

“I don’t think it will taste any better like that Kio,” Donatello is smiling in amusement. Then he has his son drink the rest normally.

“At least your candy will help get rid of the aftertaste my grandson,” I reach to gently place my hand on Kiosho’s crown. He leans on his father in silence and is again sucking on the lollipop.

When seeing that the child is as comfortable as he can in his father’s arms, I return to my recliner. Takahiro, Akako and Yaso still sit and watch the TV though I notice they occasionally cast a glance towards the couch.

We may refer to them as being cousins since each of them calls a different person father. But somehow I have no doubt that they are also brothers, already sharing a similar bond between each other and my sons do.

End chapter 2
_________________
Confusing the heck out of the world since 1983.

[Fishy716]

Super story so far The hop between characters is nicely transitioned.
Can't wait to read more
_________________
"Life at best is bittersweet."

[Askre]

[engelina]

poor kio, having a cold is never fun, and small kids tent to feel very miserable. * has an slightly older one with a cold leaning into her atm..*

i hope the kid will feel better soon.

i also noticed mike almost always being somewhat near, at least if he can. whatever happened in that other dimension still bothers him. i hope he with time can get over it.

had to smile at April happily being an aunt for the boys, and spoiling them a little sometimes like a lot of aunts do.

good to see the kids are still having a strong bond together, and i am sure this will help them later in live.

and looking forward to more!
_________________

[Askre]

[Askre]

Chapter 3.

Leonardo.

April had been correct; it was long overdue that she got to hear the whole story. We had only given her a brief summary of what had happened, because we were still adjusting to the father roles. But she cared about us and she really cared about the four boys, not letting her know would be an insult.

I sit down on my bed while April takes the chair that’s in front of my desk. Raph stands by the closed door, just to make sure curious little ears wouldn’t be trying to pry. The boys would one day learn the truth, but right now it was just not comprehensible for their young minds.

“As you know April, Don built a working portal machine that actually opened a gateway to another dimension. An alternative reality,” I began telling her, she nodded having known of Don’s project.

“Mikey, always eager to test any ‘cool’ stuff Don built, offered to go over and explore a little while Don made sure the machine was still operational on this end. We figured he couldn’t possibly get into to much trouble, the portal even opened up in the sewers and all four of us were at home in them.”

“But Mikey soon found out that Don hadn’t just stumbled up on an alternative universe, it was a world where we had only recently been mutated. Not sure by how much, but it was only long enough for the four young versions of us having recently began talking and walking. Splinter was still coming to terms with his new body and had four young hungry mouths to feed,” I grimace a little, not really wanting to continue.

“Mike managed to convince the other world Splinter that he was a friend and from another world. When hearing that Splinter was scavenging for food and supplies Mikey in his usually good hearted way offered to help him. Splinter accepted gratefully, probably hoping that he could learn more from Mike since he had little experience in being humanoid.”

“Oh my,” April gasps and holds one hand over her mouth.

“Mikey didn’t realize that this Splinter had not yet become the Master Splinter he knew. This one was still learning, still adapting. In many ways he was still confused and unsure but already responsible enough to take care of four young turtles,” I start to rub my hands together.

“Just so you know April, what I’m telling you now is what we managed to get Mike to tell us. He and Splinter scavenged in the sewers until they reached a junction that looked unstable. Mikey thought it was alright to cross it but Splinter had been unsure. But his lack of experience as a humanoid and he probably trusted Mikey, overruled his uncertainty and he with Mike crossed through the junction.”

“Mikey misjudged how stable the sewer pipes above had been. Suddenly they burst and parts of the tunnel ceiling went down with them. Mikey had been quick enough to jump to safety but… not Splinter,” I stare at the floor and try to keep my emotions in check.

“Splinter was crushed under a heavy concrete pipe. What we gathered from Mike is that he tried to free him but had been unable to. Realizing to his horror what had happened, Mikey somehow managed to do the only sensible thing left for him to do. Head back to Splinter’s burrow, pick up the four young boys and take them over to us,” I raise my head to look at April; she’s clearly shocked but allows me to continue.

“It took our Master Splinter hours to get out of Mike what had happened. We had just seen him burst through the portal, crying and holding four bewildered young turtles in his arms. But once we did, Raph, Don and I rushed over to see if there was anything we could do,” now I sigh deeply.

“We found the other Splinter’s body, we examined the damage in the tunnel and Don checked the body over several times. He finally concluded that Splinter had died on impact, there had been no way he could have survived getting that heavy object right on top of him. Don was devastated, he cried as we dug the remains out from under the pipe. Once we finally managed I could hear him whisper, ‘we will take care of them. I am sorry’. We then did a proper burial for Splinter deep in the sewers.”

“Oh my… oh god, poor Mikey, the poor boys… poor Splinter…” April was upset and on verge of tears. I rise up and walk over to her, putting a hand gently on her shoulder.

“None of us meant for this to happen, but Don and Mike took this very hard. Mikey the hardest though and still blames himself for this. It was an accident and there was nothing he could have done, but he will not see it. All we can do now is doing what Don vowed by their father’s body, take care of the boys,” I tell her, feeling the sorrow coming over me too.

“I can see now why you didn’t tell me right away,” she puts her hand over mine, April smiles weakly at me. “This must have been so very difficult for you.”

“It took time to adjust to it; I think we are first now really coming to terms with it. But they are very much part of our family, they are our sons,” I whisper and smile back. “Now I’m starting to wonder whatever I did without my hizo.”

Hizo, treasured, that’s what I call Takahiro sometimes. The boy had so much spunk yet was still quiet and reserved at times. He could stand his ground against Akako but could be so gentle and caring with the two other. He had become so precious to me and to think that five months ago I hadn’t even considered the possibility of becoming a father.

“I know you say they are young, yet they feel slightly older to me. More like three or four year olds,” April mentions with a thoughtful frown.

“You are right, but you must not forget that we are turtles, even when infants we are already crawling all over the place,” I tell her. “We started walking and talking not that long after we mutated. If I remember correctly we picked on fairly quick before it slowed down a bit. The boys will behave older than their true age is.”

“Well thanks for telling my finally,” our human friend stands up and promptly hugs me. “And you’ve all been doing a good job so far.”

“We try,” I say and repay the hug.

Suddenly Raphael steps away from the door and opens it abruptly. April and I look to the doorway only to see two small green heads peeking in smiling innocently. They had probably only just arrived having figured that some of us were missing. Takahiro and Akako, why am I not surprised, those two were going to be trouble I just know it.

“And what do you two think you were doing?” I ask, both of them now stand in the doorway fidgeting.

“Ah uh… make sure door closed?” Takahiro suggests.

“Yah, true honest,” Akako looks at Raph nodding eagerly. “We no evausdop… uh eava… uh… we not spying.”

“Well you need to sneak better if ya want to get the drop on me,” Raphael snorted, mock glowering down at them.

“We try, you just hear to well,” Akako folded his arms and glared up at his father. It’s taking me everything not to laugh, April can’t suppress her giggles. I honestly didn’t mind that they tried to sneak up on us; it was good practice for them. I would though have been more impressed if they had succeeded, Raph was aware of them the moment they had come too close to the door.


Raphael.

Hear to well? Now how do you respond to that? For a moment Akako and I are in a short glaring contest before I shake my head with a snort. Takahiro enters the room and goes to his dad who crouches down to be on his level.

“So you think you can start to sneak up on me do ya kid?” I turn my attention to my kid who puffs himself up and with a determined face nods. Oh the challenge is on.

“Alright then come with me,” I leave Leo’s room and head for mine. I can hear my son follow me; probably wondering what we would be doing.

Akako was no stranger to my room. He even had one corner all for himself where some of the toys he owned personally were stashed. I had told him this was his private corner; he could come here to get privacy because ‘sometimes your cousins will just drive you up the wall and then you want to be alone’.

Leo borrowed the idea and put up a space in his own room for Takahiro. Don had something similar set up in his lab but then again, Kio was good at finding places to be away from his cousins. Mike didn’t seem to have set up anything like this for Yaso, though I’m sure his son sometimes disappeared into his father’s room at times. No Mikey was the only one of us who didn’t really want to separate them by much.

But they weren’t going to want to share a room forever and they were already showing four separate and distinctive personalities. I was actually beginning to size my room up and see if I couldn’t split in half. Then again getting them their own rooms wasn’t such a bad idea, too bad the lair was too small.

“Alright son,” I walk over to Akako’s corner and pick up one of his toy soldiers. I place it on the belt behind my back. It peeks out just enough so a skilled ninja could, if trying hard enough, whisk it away.

“Now you are going to be trying to get yer toy back. I will wait in the vehicle room with my back turned to the entrance. And you gotta try and sneak up behind me and get it,” I tell my son who frowns a little but the nods.

“Sneak in an’ get it,” he says and still has this determined look on him. He’s going to try alright.

“Now wait here, count to three before coming out,” I tell and quickly hurry out of the room and towards the vehicle room. The boys were still learning how to count and some simple stuff, Don was going to wait with other kind of lessons until he was sure on what level or whatever they were on. But Akako and Takahiro I knew could count to five, but hey I needed only a count to three.

I enter the vehicle room and get seated by my bike. I knew that I would have to allow Akako to win, we were going to train the boys eventually and they would need to build up some confidence for that. Well we’ll see how much my son tries, I’m half expecting him just to come barreling inside and wrestle for his toy back.

While waiting I started to occupy myself by checking over my bike. But it wasn’t long until I definitely could feel a movement behind me. It was still by the doorway and then it froze as if to determine if I had noticed. Okay I was suitably impressed, I think if Akako had not been trying to sneak up on a ninja he might just succeed. That is until his foot struck something that was sent skipping after the floor, maybe a rock or some stray nail. I turn around narrowing my eyes on him; the boy is cringing and still only half way through the entrance.

“Ya gotta do better than that,” I tell him. Akako scowls and stomps his foot down.

“I do again!” he snaps. “No fair, stupid rock.”

“Alright, I’ll be waiting for ya in the dojo then. Count to three,” I can’t but admire his attitude and he deserved another shoot at this.

I hurry back to the main living area of the lair and get seated on one of the training mats of the dojo. As I had entered I could hear that Mike was in the kitchen making dinner, Leo was sitting on a chair in the sitting area and April was on the couch beside Don who was holding Kio. Master Splinter was still in his recliner but he gave me a curious glance. I couldn’t see Yaso or Takahiro but I suspected my current position blocked them from view.

Again I could feel the sensation of someone moving and this time being much more careful. I decide to throw this one and let him approach all the way to me and manage to grab for the soldier. Then I suddenly shoot my hand behind my back, grab the boy and pull him in front of me.

“What the?” I growl pretending to be surprised. Akako laughs victoriously; in one hand is the toy soldier.

“Ahaha, I gots ya!” he shouts and squirms in my arms.

“Ah well, you got me this time kid,” I grunt and let him go. I had no sooner done that when he jumps up and races to the sitting room, shouting out his triumph.

“Very good Akako,” Master Splinter congratulates him and smiles, though I’m sure he knows I threw the match.

“No it mine!” suddenly Akako yells and as I approach the sitting area I see him prepared to strike Yaso. Leo being closer than I am manages to quickly stop him and keeps the two boys apart.

“Just wanna see,” the other boy whines. I realized he had spotted the toy soldier in his cousin’s hand.

“You can’t see! Mine!” Akako snarls.

“Yaso did not try to take the toy, he just pointed at it,” Leonardo informs me and April confirms it. Ooooh the boy is in trouble now. I will understand it if he would bap one of his cousins because they were being annoying but not when they were just being curious.

“Alright, that’s it, time out!” I growl, scoop Akako up and pack the snarling shouting boy towards the bedroom tunnel.

“No fair!” Mine! My toy! Stupid Yaso. STUPID UNCA LEO. STUPID DADDY!”


Michelangelo.

I just miss it when Raph takes kicking and screaming Akoko to the tunnels. I don’t get a chance to ask what is going on just yet; Yaso suddenly glues himself to my leg crying. Leo tells me what happened after I picked my kid up and tried to calm him down.

“Jus’ wanna see,” he bawls as I decide to take him with me to the kitchen.

Akako could get rough and sometimes dominating. Takahiro would take no flak from him, but Yaso and Kio were just not of that nature. Suddenly I’m actually rather glad that it is Raph who’s handling him.

Yaso is still crying when I sit down with him by the kitchen table. I’m not cooking anything complicated; decided to go with some lasagna that was already now in the oven. So I can concentrate for now on calming down my upset boy. He’s not overly sensitive, but he was probably startled by Akako’s outburst.

“It’s alright kiddo, you didn’t do anything wrong,” I assure him and pat him gently on the carapace.

“Akako mean,” Yaso whimpers still clinging to my neck.

“Yeah he was being mean, but Uncle Raph is taking care of him,” I wonder for a moment if this wouldn’t have happened if Akako didn’t have a private corner in Raph’s room. I wasn’t keen on letting the boys be separated, even if they had early on divided themselves to each of us.

I recall my outburst earlier and then what Splinter told me when he came to the kitchen earlier. We had so far always told them no if they wanted to sleep in our rooms. I had been positive it was a bad idea that Don separated Kiosho from the others, but Kio was the one who most often sought solitude from the other boys. He wasn’t into their roughhousing and other play. He would join them if they were playing something bit calmer like with cars or blocks, but if it was tussling, he high tailed into Don’s lab or work corner seeking his daddy.

Then it washed over me, not only had Don just wanted to keep his son close. Kiosho right now had a cold. If he slept in the nursery with the others he could make them all sick and the last thing we needed was having all four of them with a fever.

“Wha in dere?” Yaso has stopped whimpering and had noticed what was in the oven.

“Our dinner, lasagna,” I inform him. My son’s eyes open wide and he gasps in anticipation.

“It will be ready in few minutes, why don’t you sit down here while I put plates on the table,” I suggest kindly and put Yaso on his high chair. Now that the kid has noticed what’s cooking, he’s not going to be leaving the kitchen anytime soon.

I glance to the kitchen entrance when April enters. She smiles warmly and offers to help me get things ready. I shrug and accept her offer, she was going to stay for dinner and Casey was on his way too.

“Auntie Apil, we has las’na” Yaso informs her with a nod and points at the oven.

“Oh that sounds yummy. You like lasagna?” she asks him while putting glasses down on the table.

“Yah, yah,yummie,” the boy nods eagerly.

“Don’t let him fool you, if it’s chewable, it’s yummy,” I warn her and actually manage to flash a grin. I haven’t felt like doing that for a while now.

“Tea not yummy, tea yucky,” Yaso tells us, somehow I have a feeling we’ll be hearing that many times more.

“He still hasn’t forgotten the tea I see,” April chuckles; she had been present when Leo did the infamous tea offer.

“I doubt he will, I shudder to think what we’ll do when he gets sick and we have to get a herbal remedy into him,” I whisper to her.

“Well with Kio sick, that might happen soon,” she reminds me.

“Well he isn’t sick yet,” I glance at Yaso who is impatiently watching the oven. Like the food would be much sooner done then.

I was about to ask when April was expecting Casey to arrive when I suddenly hear a loud “Yo everyone! How’s it hanging?” Answering my question pretty well, that distracts my son who perks up and looks to the kitchen entrance. Takahiro then shouts.

“Unca Casey!”

“Well he came just in time,” I say as I get an oven mitten and take out the lasagna.

“Yay food ready,” Yaso bounces up and down in his chair.

“I’ll go get everyone,” April tells me, she had finished putting the plates on the table and walks out of the kitchen.

“Daddy, we eat now, uthers get lateh,” my son informs me as I’m putting the lasagna on the table; I eye him with a slight grin.

“Now Yaso you know that’s not how we do it. But a nice idea though little dude,” I inform him, the kid huffs and folds his tiny arms.

I shake my head chuckling as I go and get some drinks from the fridge. How come the kid always manages to make me feel slightly better, forget the guilt for a little while? Guess I’ll never know.

“Evvyone get in NOW! AM HUNGRY!” suddenly Yaso yells at the top of his lungs.

That did it. I’ve seen him do and say things that made others burst into laughter, but I barely cracked a smile and chuckled. But now I couldn’t stop and had to support myself on the refrigerator as my entire body shook in laughter. I was in tears and laughing so hard that my stomach hurt.

When I finally manage to get control over myself I notice Leo and Don holding Kio standing in the doorway of the kitchen. They are both staring at me mildly surprised and amused and it takes me a second to realize why. I hadn’t laughed like this in months.

End chapter 3.

You can see now what I meant by only mild angst We are actually at the point in the time line of this story where Mikey is slooowly getting over what happened. Though he still has slight bit to go before being completely over it.
_________________
Confusing the heck out of the world since 1983.

[engelina]

and we finally find out what happened back in that other dimension. Poor mike, having to have to see that. *huggles mike* i can see why he is blaming himself for the accident, even if it could have happened without him there, too.

we also get to see a little interaction between raph and his son, and raph has to deal with a tantrum at the end.

its good to see mike is slowly getting to terms with what happened. it probably be some time more before he can really leave it all in the past.


and cookies for the four kids. looking forward to the next chapter.
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