Chapter One:

"Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house...not a creature was stirring not even a..."

"Mi-KEY! I swear to God...Oh, you better run little brother, if I get my hands on you those legs of yours ain't gonna be much use!"

Raphael.

My dearest Raphael. Yelling at Michelangelo once again. I briefly closed my eyes, trying in earnest to drown out the squawks and squeals whilst all the time wondering what had set him off this time..? Baby Melody was fast asleep so I gently closed the book and covered her lightly with her favourite blankey, creeping out of the room and closing the door behind me. With baby monitor in hand I headed to the lounge.

It appeared that eldest, and the most calmest of the four, Leonardo had read my mind and in turn beat me to it. In fairness to myself though I was eight months pregnant and was larger than the average house so I couldn't move very fast. In fact 'waddling' was about as good as it got. Michelangelo loved to do impressions of me, not in front of Raph of course, but as soon as the largest brother was out of the way the smallest would walk around like a duck clutching an over-sized pillow to his chest. I hadn't the heart to tell him he was so anatomically incorrect that it looked ridiculous.

I smiled to myself. Two years ago this was not where I would have pictured my life. Truth be told my life was a far cry from where I was before and honestly, in spite of the ups and downs in getting here, I wouldn't change it for the world. I felt happy, loved and perfectly content.

Eyes fell on me as I joined the group, Michelangelo had taken hiding behind Leonardo gripping his blue banded brother tightly on the shoulders. As soon as I rocked up he switched and jumped behind me. Raphael glared and pointed a finger: "You can't be serious! No way you would be so low as to hide behind my girl in her condition; not even you would be that cheap Mikey"

The youngest slid back over to Leonardo. I crossed my arms, resting them on top of my huge bump.

"What's going on?"

"Just what I was asking" added Leonardo, following my lead and crossing his arms too.

"That little pip-squeak was in our room" A sharp jab of the finger emphasised the word 'that' "With his god-darn basket ball!"

I shifted my weight round in a finely balanced manner and looked at Michelangelo "Is this true?"

He nodded.

Looking back at Raphael I met his eyes with my own, trying to communicate feelings of calm and serenity: "And what happened with said ball?"

Raphael suddenly glanced down, a slight blush came to his cheeks: "He broke somethin'"

"I said I was sorry.." whined the smallest brother "I was an accident"

"Accident my ass, and now I'm gonna break your face!"

"Calm down" I whispered soothingly, turning to Leo I added "Take him outta here, I got this" Both blue and orange took this as their cue to exit, Leo putting a reassuring hand on my shoulder as he did. He knew I had the 'touch'. I'd always had the touch; the only one who could calm the resident hot head down when he was on a mission.

I turned back to my man, a soft smile playing on my lips: "I was trying to get Melody off to sleep, all this isn't helping"

He lowered his eyes "Sorry.."

Stepping forward I snuggled into his chest, my small hands resting against him "I forgive you..as always"

He held me close breathing my scent through my hair "Is she okay?"

"She's good. Sleeping. For now"

His large three fingered hand dropped to my stomach, gently rubbing the enormous bulge that was my ever growing baby "And you?"

I pulled back just far enough so he could plant a series of kisses on my lips.

"I'm good, huge but good" Taking a deep breath I laid my head back on his plastron and kissed him there.

"You're beautiful" His arms tightened a little and he stroked my stomach and back "Both of you"

"Oh by the way...Donnie thinks that I could be having twins"