Those were the mornings that reaffirmed his place in the family, those times that everything felt right with the world. Those mornings when a small turtle would sneak out of his own bed early, determined not to wake his brothers, as quiet as his Sensei said a ninja should be.

On those mornings, he would creep into his father's room and into the bed beside him, wrapping his arms around the rat, enjoying the warmth, the sleepy hug that was returned to him.

Those mornings, when comforted him, made him feel –

Secure.

Safe.

Loved.

Those mornings were the happiest.