Leo and Raphael got married at the tender ages of thirteen and eleven. Splinter had warned them that they were extremely young to make that kind of commitment, but the happy couple had threatened that they'd run away if he didn't consent to their wishes. Not wanting to lose his sons, Splinter had agreed. Not long after the ceremony, to the tremendous shock of the family, Raphael was gravid. The young parents to be had been nervous about the baby, but also excited and had immediately started fixing up Leo's old bedroom to turn it into a nursery. The happiness soured a bit when Raphael was told that he could no longer train like the others and couldn't go out on patrol. "Why the hell not?" Raphael had demanded. "My son, you need to stay at home," Splinter had said. "For the safety of the baby and yourself. You aren't as nimble as you once were." Raphael had looked down at his swollen belly and scowled. "So I'm a little fat. I can still fight. Come on, Dad."
"No. You are to stay at home. What if something happened to you or the baby? Could you forgive yourself?"
Raphael shook his head. "No. I'd die if anythin' happened ta the baby. And Leo would probably never forgive me either."
"Then it's settled. You can stay home with me and watch TV. There's apple pie in the fridge. Cut us some slices and how about some cream? You hardly touched your lunch."
"Okay, Dad." Fuck, I'm gonna be so bored, Raphael thought, still feeling resentment at being forced to stay home.

Raphael cut slices of the pie and went to the lounge, handing Splinter's plate to him and plopping down beside him. The nice thing 'bout expectin', Raphael had thought, is that I can eat whatever I want. He devoured his food, then went back for more. "My son," Splinter had said, seeing Raphael with his second plate of pie. "You must have been really hungry."
"Yeah," Raphael agreed. At least I have food, he thought. That will alleviate the boredom.

Raphael consoled himself by eating. Multiple portions of everything and it wasn't just at meal times. He snacked throughout the day: chips, soda drinks, baked goods. He ate whatever he could find. It didn't go unnoticed. "My son," Splinter said one evening, looking at his son's much rounder figure. "Do you think it's wise to eat so much and your belt looks like it's going to snap any minute now?"
"I'm hungry, Dad," Raphael said. "It's the baby and these cravings. Besides, I'll lose the weight when it's born."

"I'll get him into an exercise regime then," Don said. "But, Raph, do try to lay off the sweet things a bit."
"Why? I like it and the baby likes it? Makes me happy, don't it, Leo?"

Raphael sometimes had terrible mood swings, because of the pregnancy and Leo didn't want to initiate one now, so he grabbed his mate's hand and said, "If Raph's happy, so am I. And he's healthy, Don. Besides he's young and he'll shift the weight in no time."
Raphael looked at him gratefully and tucked into his fourth chocolate brownie. "Ohh. This is so good, Mikey," he said. "Did I tell ya?"

Michelangelo laughed. "Yes, Raph. There's plenty more."
"Great," Raphael said, swallowing and reaching for another.

Later in bed, Raphael and Leo were talking, when there was a popping noise. "What was that?" Leo asked.
Raphael groaned contentedly and rubbed his massive gut. "That's much better."
"What is?"
Raphael pulled back the bedclothes and said, "My belt popped off. Much better. Now my belly can hang freely." Raphael's mask and gear had been discarded a while back, being too small for him and rested on the dresser. "Raph, do you think you should go on a diet? Maybe Dad was right..."
"Fuck ya. I'm gravid, Leo. The only pleasure I get is eatin'. Let me at least have that. I'll work out when the baby's born, okay?"
"Okay. I'm just concerned."
"Ain't no reason ta be. I'll be fine, Leo. Quit bitchin'."
"Okay, Raph."
"Do ya find me unattractive like this?"
Leo stared at his tubby mate with his huge belly and chubby cheeks. Raphael was no longer the muscular, strapping turtle Leo had fallen in love with. "No," Leo said quickly. "I fell in love with you for you, Raph. What's inside your heart and head. Not..."
"So ya never thought me handsome?"
"Let me finish. Yes, looks played a part too. You may be a bit rounder now, Raph, but you're still beautiful to me and you will always be. I love you. That'll never change." Leo nuzzled his beak to Raph's and kissed him. "Especially now that you're carrying our baby. You're giving me such a precious gift. Thank you."
Raphael smiled. "I love ya, Leo. Can ya do me a favor?"
"Anything."
"Can ya get me a piece of chocolate cake and ice cream?"
"All right, Raph. Anything else?"
"Some chocolate milk."
"Okay, Raph."

Leo got the food from the kitchen and Raphael happily devoured it. "I've been thinking," Leo said. "What do you want to do when the baby's born, Raph?"
"Train, fight the bad guys."
"I think one of us should stay at home with the baby. Why endanger both of our lives?"
"What are ya sayin'?" Raphael asked, narrowing his golden eyes.
"I'm leader, so it can't be me. I want you to stay at home."
"What? But we fuckin' agreed that I'd go back ta trainin' and fightin."
"No, Raph. I said we'd discuss it and we are now. You're going to stay at home."
"I ain't no fuckin' housewife, Leo! It ain't fuckin' fair. I'm the one who got fuckin' knocked up and now I have ta stay at home forever!"
"It isn't forever, Raph."
"Then when? When it's grown up?"
"Just for the first six months or so, Raph. Until the baby's a bit bigger. Come on. Most new mothers would be thrilled to stay at home."
"I ain't gonna be Mom! I'm a dad and so are ya."
"I'm not asking you, Raph. I'm telling you."
"Ya ain't my boss."
"I'm still your leader and I'm ordering you to stay home."
"Fuck ya, Leo!"
"Curse all you like, but the decision's final. Just think you can have all the food you want, watch some TV. Dad says you've been watching the soaps."
"Just know I ain't happy, Leo. It ain't fair that ya get ta go out when I'm gonna be stuck at home watchin' crappy TV. And this is the last kid, Leo. Ya hear me? I'll do those six months, but after that I'm gonna go bust some Purple Dragons and get back in shape. Got it?"
"I thought you wanted more kids."
"Not if I have ta stay at home for the rest of my damn life! This is it. Okay?"
"Okay, Raph. You know I think you'll be a great Mommy," Leo teased.
"Fuck ya," Raphael growled, throwing a pillow at him. "Ya get the couch tonight."
"Why?"
"For bein' a jackass. Fuck off. I wanna sleep."
"Raph..."
"I don't wanna talk. It's yer fault I'm in this damn state."
"Raph, it was..."
"Out!" Raphael yelled, his golden eyes flashing.
"I do love you, Raph."
"Fuckin' get out!"

Fuck him, Raphael thought, as he lay back down. Who does he think he is, bossin' me like that? Fuckin' Fearless needs ta know what it's like bein' gravid and cooped up twenty-four seven! See how he'd like that!

A couple of months later, Raphael was lying in bed beside Leo, when he felt tremendous cramps in his belly. "Leo," he said, shaking him. "Leo."
"What's the time, Raph?" Leo asked sleepily.
"Three a.m. I need ya ta get Don. The baby's comin'. Argh! Now!"
"What now?" Leo asked, now alert.
"Fuck!" Raphael yelled, clutching his stomach.

Leo jumped out of bed ran to Don's bedroom, yanking open the door. "Don, come now!"
"What is it?" Don asked, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.
"Raph's in labor. Come, Don."
"Okay."

Don and Leo raced to Raphael's room. "What do I do, Don?" Leo asked.
"Talk to Raph. Tell him you're here. Raph, I want you to lie down and spread your legs."

Raphael gritted his teeth and lay down, spreading his legs. "It damn hurts." Don got a pillow and propped it underneath his butt.

"What's going on?" Mikey asked, entering the room. "I heard shouting."
"Raph's giving birth," Don said.
"I'll get the video camera!"

"Ya ain't gonna film me," Raphael snarled, baring his teeth.
"Raph," Leo said. "It's going to be our only baby. Please. And Dad's away on retreat, so he's missing this. He'd want to watch the birth."
"Ya owe me big, Leo! And fine!" Raphael roared, feeling another stab of pain.

Mikey arrived with the camera. Turning it on he said, "Smile, Raphie. You're on camera."
"I'm so gonna pound ya," Raphael yelled. "Ya little shit and don't call me...Arggg!"

"Raph, breathe in," Don said. "And then I want you to push, okay?"

"I'm here, Raph," Leo said. "I love you and you can do this. Push."

Raphael pushed as hard as he could. "Gah," he said, feeling his eyes water. "It fuckin' hurts."
"Leo, wipe his face with that cloth," Don said.

Leo grabbed a cloth and gently wiped Raphael's face. "You're doing great, Raph," he said.

"Push, Raph," Don said. "Push."
"I can't. I'm tired. I can't."
Don peered at Raphael's cloaca and said, "It's starting to come out. Just two more huge pushes, Raph. You can do it."

Raphael pushed, then lay back, panting. "I can't," he said breathlessly.
"Once more, Raph," Leo said, kissing his beak. "You can. Once more."

"Gahh!" Raphael yelled, pushing again and out popped a perfect round little egg.
"You did it," Leo said, kissing his forehead. "Well done, Raph. You did it. I love you."
"Can I sleep now?"
"Yes, but don't you want to see the egg and hold it?"
Raphael gazed down at it and smiled. "I'd like ta." Leo picked it up and placed it in his hands.
"It's so perfect," Raphael said in awe, running his hands over the egg. "I can't believe that came outta me. I'm so happy, but I'm glad there's only one!"

"Can't believe it either," Mikey said. "Totally gross, but so sweet at the same time. You're a mommy now, Raph!"

"Fuck ya," Raphael snapped. "I'm a daddy!"

"Congrats, guys," Don said. "Great job, Raph. You want anything to eat or drink?"
"Just sleep."
"I'll bring the incubator here so the egg can go in. It should hatch in a couple of months."
"Okay," Raphael said sleepily, closing his eyes.

"Sleep well, Raph," Leo said, kissing his cheek and taking the egg from him. When Don brought the incubator, Raphael was already asleep. Leo placed the egg into it and grinned. Mikey turned off the video camera and hugged Leo. "Congrats, Leo," he said. "You and Raph thought of any names?"
"Nothing certain. But that can wait. Look at him. He's so perfect and beautiful."

"The egg?" Don asked.
"That, too, but I was meaning, Raph," Leo said.

Mikey grinned and thought to himself, I bet there will be another baby before long!

in July that year, Raphael was back training and going out on patrol. He'd also managed to lose all the weight he'd gained and was feeling terrific. I love little Leo, he thought, and being home with him, but I also need ta go out. I can't stay at home all the time. Raphael was on his way home when he felt a twinge of nausea. Shit, he thought. Maybe the sushi I had last night was bad. Shit. He found a garbage can, leaned into it and threw up. Then leaning heavily onto a railing to steady himself, he threw up again. Fuck. Must have been really bad sushi. I'll tell Leo we ain't orderin' from there again. When he was feeling a little better, Raphael stood up and made his way home.

Raphael arrived home and headed to the kitchen for a drink of water. Don was at the table, reading a science magazine. "Hey, Don," Raphael said, getting a glass and filling it with water. "Hi, Raph. How was patrol?"
"Fine," Raphael said, turning around. "Felt a bit sick, but I think it was because the sushi was off. I'm fine now, though."
"Really? You look a bit green, Raph."
"Honestly I'm okay." Raphael suddenly felt a fresh wave of nausea. Turning around swiftly, he just managed to upheave into the sink.
"I disagree. Let me examine you."
"I'm only sayin' okay, because I know ya will nag if I don't, so okay, but it's probably the sushi."

Don and Raphael went to Don's lab. Raphael sat down and Don ran some tests on him. Then printing out the result and reading it, Don's eyes widened. "Hmm."
"What?" Raphael asked. "It's food poisoning, like I told ya, ain't it?"
"No, Raph."
"Then what?"
"You're gravid. Looks like the little tyke's going to be born in February. Con..."
"No!" Raphael yelled. "Fuckin' no!"

Raphael jumped off the chair so fast, he over turned it and ran as fast as he could out of the lair, tears spilling down his cheeks. Just when I could start ta go out again, this had ta happen! Fuck ya, ya little brat and fuck ya, Leo, for messin' up my life.