Okay you guys, this fic is a little different from what I usually write. I read a couple of stories, all starting with: 'The five times (this and this happened) and the one time (something else happened).' I liked the idea and since my schooling involved a lot of visits to UN-buildings and stuff, inspiration started flowing.

Anyways, enjoy these 6 upcoming chapters and don't forget, I'm just a child. I'm too stupid to either own the turtles or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. So don't go suing me or anything, I only own this laptop and I don't want to lose it.

Chapter 1: "The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protection by society and the state" The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 16.3

The Rough knocking on his hardwood door was the first sign for Hamato Yoshi that something was wrong when it woke him from his slumber. He checked his bedside alarm clock and noticed it was quite late already, half past nine to be precise. However, yesterday was a tiring day so it wasn't a surprise that he slept well into the morning for once.

Another round of knocking starts and before Yoshi can react, one of the little turtle infants wakes up to the sound and starts crying. With the concern of a human father and the speed of a cornered rat, Yoshi reaches the four babies who he left curled up on the floor in blankets. The first night he had placed them on his bed but had woken up a few hours later when one of the turtles had managed to fall off and hurt himself. Since then he knew the floor would be a safer place, at least until they would be a little older. It wasn't like he could go to a store and buy four cribs, for the obvious reason that he was a rodent as well as that he couldn't financially afford it to look after four infants.

He takes the crying mutant into his arms and rocks him, like he has done multiple times before. He had quickly found out that these creatures where very much like human children and had an intellect that matched one-year-olds. The little one he had picked up remembers him and curls up in the warm embrace, unlike they had doe the first few days and where wary of the stranger that handled them. Of course their nervousness was also fuelled by the fact that their perspective of the world had changed dramatically by their mutation. Yoshi still had several bite marks across his arms and hands from where the turtles had bitten him when they didn't like to be picked up.

The other children woke up fully as well and felt safe enough to wander around the room for a little bit, knowing that their sibling is in safe hands, hands they'd been in multiple times before. All heads raised though, when the knocking becomes harder and more impatient than it had been previously.

"Yoshi Hamato," a stern voice said and inwardly Yoshi sighed. Japanese customaries had him taught that it was incorrect and even impolite to name someone by their first name and then their last, unless you were good friends and you could leave out the last name all together. But even then it was more formal to add san after the first name. Americans thought differently and although Yoshi understood they never meant to offend him, he couldn't help but feel annoyed. Especially when the one that called his name was also the one who had awoken his little ones when they finally had decided to sleep in that morning.

"This is the police. You have to open this door immediately."

Suddenly Yoshi's heartbeat quickened and his fur bristled in panic. The turtles picked up on his change in demeanour and the three on the floor tried to make themselves invisible underneath the bed and in the corners of the room, two of them huddling together next to the nightstand. The one in his arms buried closer to his fur.

He couldn't open the door, that was obvious. But he wasn't able to escape anywhere. The only way out of his small apartment was what the police where now barricading. Staying here, however, wasn't an option either; they would enter his temporary home one way or another.

He gathered his children into one of the blankets he had lying on the floor. It was their favourite and the rat hoped it would provide them some comfort in their new home. He had found it yesterday but hadn't anticipated on moving in for another week, slowly preparing it without having the turtles unsupervised in his apartment for too long. But desperate times asked for desperate measures. He bound the blanket with the young ones onto his back as a carrier, like he had done before. The turtles liked it to be carried this way because they would be close to his warm body and each other.

There was no knocking anymore and no voices to be heard. The police men probably went downstairs to retrieve the spare key the owner of the building, Ben Parker, possessed. Yoshi knew why they were here. Parker had been knocking on his door several times to inquire about the crying he suddenly heard from Yoshi's apartment. Children meant that extra rent should be paid and as Mr. Parker had never liked Hamato Yoshi much, the unanswered calls and crying of babies had given him a good excuse to get rid of Hamato Yoshi from his building.

Yoshi was alright with that, Parker could have the apartment and everything that was still in there. He would look for a new life, together with these four new-found creatures. He didn't know it then, but it would be his new family here in New York, half a year after he lost his beloved daughter and wife in Japan.

He opened the window in the kitchen, the large one that would lead to the fire-escape alongside the building. Silently he thanked Mr. Parker for at least giving him an apartment on the second floor. That way he didn't have to climb down too far with the precious cargo he was carrying on his back. Before he knew it he stood in the alley below, little baby-noises coming from behind him. He was glad the infants were still so young and didn't understand the danger of the situation they were in. They merely enjoyed the fresh air and the morning light, both of which they hadn't seen too much of these last two weeks.

Yoshi gave them a few more seconds of sunlight before he finally lifted the manhole cover that was situated at the back of the alley. It had taken him over a week to figure out what was the safest place for him and the children to live. He discovered that new subway stations had been opened all over New York as the old tunnels had parts that where hazardous and could collapse. Yoshi had downloaded the blueprint of the new station together with the old one and compared. Some of the old tunnels had been incorporated in the new subway-tracks but most had been abandoned, together with all its former stations. None of the stations had any problems and weren't on the point of collapsing, Yoshi understood from the files. He had found out that one of those stations was nearby his former home and that the entrance towards it had already been completely closed off, a pavement now covering it all.

That is the place Yoshi is headed towards now. It is far from perfect but at least it has proper plumbing as he only had to switch a couple of handles on the pipes to have the bathrooms fully operated again. Other primary necessities he could gather around the city now he had an easy way of traveling safely. The subway's tunnels led to places all over the city and several of them were connected to the sewers by manholes, just as the ones on the streets. The combination of both systems created an underground mace that could bring Yoshi everywhere he wanted to go. It would be a place without humans, somewhere the turtles could grow up as safe as they possibly could.

When almost there the small noises on his back slowly turned into louder whines and pitiful cries. Yoshi understood the turtles were hungry as normally he would already have fed them their breakfast. He couldn't deny that he was growing hungry himself. However, he knew it was important to have the little ones safe first. After that he would venture outside again to find something suitable for himself and the turtles to eat.

He had found out that the turtles still liked to eat the pet food he purchased when they were still merely fifteen centimetres in length. But the food was still in his former home and with the police now probably already inside and searching for him, going back was out of the question. The little ones needed to eat though. He knew it is unhealthy to have growing infants go hungry for a full day and as their caretaker it was his task to make sure that wouldn't happen. The rest of the way home he tried to come up with a solution to that problem.

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He had left the turtles in their new home. There was an area in the middle of the station that was surrounded by benches and other high obstacles. The turtles had just started crawling and hat not shown any interest in climbing yet so Yoshi had dubbed it good enough for the time being. Of course, leaving four infants on their own was one of the worst things a parent could do but for now Yoshi didn't have a lot of choices. The babies needed food and getting to that would be even more difficult with the four young ones on his back.

His plan was to go to the local pet store, the place he had bought the four turtles a little over two weeks ago. Yoshi had already wondered several times what actually was the catalyst that got him to buy four terrapins as pets, a decision that, subsequently, had started this whole adventure. Mostly turtles remembered him of his childhood as the home he grew up in had a pond full of them. His father had always enjoyed watching the creatures and when he was little, Yoshi hadn't understood that. Wasn't a puppy more fun to play with? Only later, when Yoshi's wild antics slowed down and his training in ninjutsu began, he started to learn. Just like the care for a bonsai, raising turtles took time and patience. Turtles would live to become very old and thus, according to Japanese folklore, they are wise. To successfully learn from them, you need the patience and calm of a turtle. You need to watch and listen like they do, tread carefully and remember that when something seems to go wrong, safety will always be as nearby as the shell on a turtle's back.

So when Hamato Yoshi came to New York looking for a fresh start, taking up his father's hobby seemed like a good idea to remind him of his heritage. Also it would give him something to do and maybe the tiny companions would make his life in the Big Apple more bearable.

If he had known what it would turn out to, maybe he would have decided against it. The responsibility of four young, mutated children was too much for the broken man, far from his homeland and friends. Yet he had taken on that responsibility the moment he had bought them. And when he had interfered with the strange men in the alley, he had set his destiny. He couldn't run away from it now. He couldn't run away from them now.

Carefully he lifted himself onto some rubble. This part of the tunnels had indeed collapsed and created a hole for him to enter the sewers. From there it was easy to go anywhere he wanted in the city. It took him quite some time to find the right street leading him to the pet shop but when he had found it he knew he had to be on high alert. It was Sunday today so the store wouldn't open, which was perfect for Yoshi.

He hefted himself from the manhole and into the alleyway behind the shop. He had always kept a small tanto inside his robe and that day he was glad for it. With the sharp blade it was easy to break open the rather old and hardly used door at the back of the building. When inside the rest was easy.

He went into the shop, staying within the shadows the rising sun provided. He had been here only once but still remembered clearly where the turtle food was kept. After taking a couple of cans in his hands, he decided it would be easier if he put them all in a bag. That way he could bring more and have a longer time to figure out how to feed the little turtles. Obviously he couldn't keep stealing for the rest of their lives.

But when he reached behind the counter where he knew the plastic bags were stored, he heard something. He turned around and walked towards the sound, a mistake, he would realise later. When he came closer to the door he came through he saw the silhouette of a human being coming near and his heartbeat quickened. A red flag was raised in the back of his head when he saw the human was a police officer. Only now does Yoshi realise how easy the break-in really had been. Of course there would be something to keep the shop safe from burglaries, something like a silent alarm to a police station.

Another figure, a woman this time, also came through the door and together the humans carefully and quietly inched closer to where Yoshi hid. They would find him, there was no doubt about that. The backdoor was the only option for him to escape as the front door would lead to a busy main road. He only saw one choice left for him to take, but he procrastinated it till the humans were only a few seconds from noticing him.

He stepped into the light and held his hands up slightly in surrender. He made sure he stayed in the back of the shop so no one from the street could see him through the shop's windows.

"Please," he said although the humility from the surrender pained him slightly. He probably could fight these humans but the chance a fight would escalade was big. Humans could be injured badly and a hunt could be opened on not only him but also the turtle infants. If these humans were compassionate and truly cared about their function, maybe he could escape. After that, he promised himself, he would be more careful.

The man's face was growing pale, shock clearly readable in his eyes when he scanned them over Yoshi's body. The woman took a couple of steps back, a hand covering her mouth. Both however, quickly recovered and they took their weapons out. A Taser in the woman's hand, a hand-held gun in the man's.

"What are you?" the man demanded, standing up straighter and showing his muscular frame in a subconscious move to intimidate Yoshi.

"Please," Yoshi said again. "I was a human once, like you. Something terrible happened to me and some little children. I just need some food. If you let me leave now I promise to not come back."

He decided not to mention the turtles were never human children to begin with, like he was. He could possibly earn more sympathy from them if they thought innocent kids had been harmed as well and that Yoshi was trying to save them. In some abstract way, that wasn't completely a lie. The children were harmed, once Yoshi was kicked out of his home and he had to provide for them without aid from the society.

"Officer, I promise you I'll repay everything I take but let me leave with some food. At least for those infants, they didn't do anything wrong."

Both humans remained hesitant and quiet until the woman whispered something into the walky-talky on her shoulder. Yoshi could feel panic setting in and new he had to handle this quickly and with as little noise as possible.

"What have you done to the children," the man asked Yoshi, not sounding unkind. "Where are they now?"

"The children are safe," Yoshi answered hurriedly. "But they need food or they will not survive. I need to take this to them."

Yoshi held up the few cans of food and a grimace moved over the man's face when he saw them. If Yoshi could, he would have screamed. Of course it looks weird when a rat-man claims to have children somewhere and that he needs to feed them with turtle food. The strangest thing is though, that it was the truth.

This time the woman steps forward. "There are no reports of missing children, at least not as young as infants. Now tell us the truth sir, or we will have to use force on you."

Desperation made a quick prey out of Yoshi. He is a ninja master, yet, but at this moment of panic he finds it hard to keep his emotions in check. He cannot let these people get a hold of him and the turtles. At least not when he isn't sure if they will be treated right by the humans. The threat of the police woman came as a great shock to Yoshi.

"I do not believe I am a threat, miss. If I'm not mistaken, it is your job to do all that is in your power to protect people, not threaten them and hurt them in cold-blood. I'm only trying to take care of what is closest to me as a family."

At this point Yoshi knew he sounded desperate, that he was begging, but he couldn't help himself. He was tired, broken and god forbid, he was afraid. He had no idea what to do, shunned by his own race and threatened while he tried to help the only creatures that suffered the same faith as he did.

Suddenly the man holds his gun up after something else is said through his communicator. Because of his improved hearing, Yoshi could hear what was said this time. 'We have had a sighting of another mutant a week ago. Eliminate it, those freaks are dangerous'.

"I'm sorry," he said, which surprised Yoshi slightly. "But we protect humans, not beasts."

Only because of his agility and new-found quickness acquired by his mutation, could Yoshi escape that day. Also maybe, because the humans were afraid of him. Neither of those possibilities calmed Yoshi down in the slightest. It hurt, being different like this.

Hours later, tired both emotionally and physically, did Yoshi enter the subway station again. The turtles had waited faithfully for him and didn't look harmed. They were used to being alone for short and longer periods of time. They knew they had to behave then because when they would hurt themselves and Yoshi wasn't there, their cries of pain wouldn't be heard.

The little ones seemed happy enough with his return and crowded at his feet. First Yoshi thought they were looking for food or warmth from him, like they did many times before. But one by one stubby arms reached for him and little noises alerted Yoshi that they asked to be picked up by him. He could only hold two at the time but the other two were content by just being close to him as well.

The sweet, round faces that surrounded him calmed his nerves slightly and made him smile. He could not leave these young creatures to their own devices. Not only because he was responsible for them and their mutation, but also because they were the only ones he had left. A tiny family of monsters, no mutants, he corrected himself. They would take care of each other and make each other happy in their own little world underground. They could manage, they would survive.

When that same day was filled with the many cries of hungry children, and all Yoshi could do was pass along a plastic bottle with water for the babies to drink, Yoshi felt betrayed. He understood this wouldn't be the first time him and the turtles would be treated unfairly. And at the same time, he hoped it wouldn't make him bitter.

And that's the first chapter. I hope you guys don't mind my take on how Yoshi found their home. I wondered how it all came to be, their lair which is obviously an abandoned subway station but doesn't have any way up to the surface. And how the turtles move through the subway tunnels at one point, and through the sewers the other. This is just how I imagine that to be and if anything is unclear at all, don't hesitate to ask.

As for the turtles, you may decide yourself who is who. As one-year-olds children often have little traits like how some are grumpier or sleepier or more playful than others. But there aren't that many traits when they're so young. So I left that pretty much open for you guys to figure out. Next chapters will come when I have time again, I got a lot of other stories to update of course. But it's going to rain here for three days, starting on Monday, so maybe I can make miracles happen ;)

See ya!