Toddler Tales

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Rating: K+

Summary: A series of short Rama toddler stories part of the Rama series.

Teething Pains

The infant sniffled, her mouth scrunched up into a surly pout as her father, a ninja turtle known as Mike, or Michaelangelo, plopped the turtle child unceremoniously onto an examination bed in the infirmary, in front of Donatello.

" She had me up all night with her fussing and crying. I begged off patrol she was in such a snit" Mike explained, he arched an eye ridge and a small grin creased his large face " course patrol would have been easier Donny. I can't figure out what her problem is" his short-lived smile faded as he scowled with concern " Is Rama getting sick Don?"

Don smiled gently, he knew Mike who had one time been so foolish and lazy had changed drastically since his daughter's birth, Rama was nearing seven months of age, her mom had left just a few weeks back.

At first Rama had been fussy then too, but it seemed she had settled down only for her to decide to go back to her crying and wailing tactics that had bothered Mike back then, now he was far more use to these bouts, but it didn't stop him from being concerned about them.

Rama was a tiny handful, she looked much like all of them, but she had dark hair covering her head and five fingers and five toes, her only clothing was a diaper, she raised her arms out and up " Dada, dada" she whimpered, as she started to crawl towards Mike.

Don reached out picking the infant up causing his niece to squirm violently and increase her vocal protests, large tears rolled down her cheeks as she continued to call to her dad.

Dada was a new word for her, Mike had been ecstatic the first time she had said it but by now the novelty had more than worn off.

" If she is coming down with something Mike it isn't effecting her health any at the moment" Don claimed as he bounced the child in his arms.

Rama stopped her fussing and looked up at her uncle she gave a small coo, before snaring the tail end of his bandanna in a chubby hand, she began tugging and jerking on the mask, while chomping on another part of the bandanna that dangled down.

" OW! Let go" Don yelped suddenly as the mask pulled tighter.

Don quickly realized that it wasn't so easy to take a precious item from a determined toddler, she had a firm hard grip on her prize and wasn't about to relinquish it without a battle. On top of that she was gumming the thing into a sodden mass of fibres.

Mike chuckled as he saw the humour in the whole scenario, as the infant held Don at her mercy. He slapped his thigh and howled with his gales of mirth. " You know what that…"

Before Mike could finish Don glared at his brother " A little help here would be nice" he announced tightly through gritted teeth.

" Oh yeah right" Mike agreed.

Mike helped free the bandanna tail from Rama's grasp. Don looked at the bandanna end and made a face as he loosened the mask and pulled it off with one hand, grimacing with disgust at the amount of saliva and drool now saturating the cloth.

Don looked at the infant who looked as if she was gearing up to really voice her protest at losing her favourite item. Don furrowed his brow and popped a middle finger into her mouth resulting in a wide-eyed expression from his niece.

She began to suck on the finger with much enthusiasm on her part.

Don removed his finger; " Uh-huh" he nodded " Just as I suspected Rama is cutting her first teeth, two of them actually one on the top right and one on the bottom left."

" Teething?" Mike repeated he then beamed, " Aw Rama is getting her first teeth that means she can eat pizza soon."

Don chuckled " I wouldn't give her a slice of pizza yet though she may enjoy the crust, breadsticks are very good for teething infants. I have also read that teething rings especially the ones you can freeze are very beneficial."

" Wait hold on a second Donny. Does that mean Rama is going be fussy for a week or so or what?" Mike interjected quickly.

" It shouldn't be too bad Mike, we can get her some teething gel to relieve the pain and that ought to help her sleep, not to mention you too." Don replied as he placed Rama back on the bed.

A long drool formed dangling from Rama's mouth. Mike groaned as he took a cloth from his belt pouch to wipe it away. Rama grabbed the rag and chewed on it chortling merrily " dada,dada,dada" amongst other nonsensical baby talk.

" We are going have to teach you a new word Rama" Mike told her as he scooped her up.

" See she knows what she needs to do. Her chewing on things will help ease the pain and exercise the gums." Don smiled, " She isn't sick but due to pain she might be a little on the fussy side now and then, not to mention she will drool quite a bit now."

Mike looked at her " Listen kid I wanted a child not a Saint Bernard puppy okay"

Rama grinned around the cloth " Dada!" she squealed.

….

It was a few months later, and Rama seemed to constantly be getting one new tooth or another, in fact Mike was sure that Rama ought to have a full set of teeth by this time.

Mike sat in the dojo cleaning his chucks and insuring the spare chucks were as well maintained as the ones he kept on him for his own use. Living in the sewers were one could not escape the dampness, wooden weapons could easily grow weak if not properly cared for, Mike had learned that the hard way in his youth.

So he worked on cleaning and oiling his specialty weapon while keeping a close eye on Rama who was sitting on the mats gnawing on a teething ring, she started to crawl towards Mike to see what he was doing and paused as she saw the few spare chucks on the floor.

One hand reached out to clutch a wooden grip the infant plopped down on her butt and lifted the nunchuk handle beginning to chew on the wood.

" Rama hey! Give that here!" Mike ordered as he tried to take back the weapon.

" Dada, Raphie" She nattered.

" Raph went to visit your Uncle Casey." Mike replied as he managed to get the weapon away from his daughter he looked at the grips noting tiny notches in the wood. " Great I've heard of putting a few notches in your belt, but not on my weapons." Mike groaned rolling his eyes, " Just consider yourself lucky you didn't end up with slivers in your teeth."

Rama giggled cheerfully as she crawled over to cuddle on her dad's lap. " Buba"

" You thirsty? Want something to drink then?" Mike asked, he sighed figuring Rama wouldn't sit still any longer for weapon cleaning, he decided to put things away and finish the job later on. He did have to occupy her for a bit, though at least until things were tidied up, so he handed her a breadstick.

Rama cooed with delight clapping her hands as she took the treat and began to munch on it.

….

Rama sniffed as she took a deep breath in preparation of a long drawn out howl, she was cutting her molars and having, according to Don, an extremely painful time of it all, therefore since misery loved company the toddler determined to insure the entire family knew just how miserable she was.

Splinter squeezed his ears tight to his head as Rama let out her screech, the ninja Master winced noticeable, much as the noise irritated and grated on his sensitive ears, he was sympathetic towards both Michaelangelo and his grand daughter who held almost the entire family prisoner to her pain filled screams.

Raphael had wisely left the sewer moments after waking, Donatello had secured himself in the other end of the lair behind sound proof doors, and so only Leonardo, himself and the child's father were privy to Ramiela's achievement with her lungs.

Leonardo emerged from the dojo " Can't you do something with Rama Mike? She is making so much noise I wouldn't be surprised if someone heard her topside?"

" I'm trying Leo but she isn't going for her usual teething toys or anything else" A frustrated beleaguered Mike shot back, " I've given her teething gel, and infant Tylenol and she is getting so worked up I'm afraid she is going make herself sick" Mike moaned.

Splinter picked up the child, and she wiggled and squirmed on his lap to be set free. Nor did it help when Rama let loose a loud scream, so close to his already aching ears and flailed with tiny fists. Normally Ramiela loved nothing better then to cuddle close to Splinter, so the ninja Master had hoped she would quickly settle down but it was clear to him, by the newest yell and those that quickly followed, that his grand daughter was trying for all new heights on the Richter scale.

Splinter quickly set Rama free. She headed straight for Mike sobbing continually.

The ninja Master groaned wearily and slapped his tail in irritation on the floor, his long hairless tail clearly announcing the feelings the elderly rat was keeping firmly locked up otherwise for he knew, above all else, that patience was called for in such matters.

Rama paused midway to her father, who was giving her a sour glare, her howls ceasing as she stared at the long tail.

Ramiela was fascinated by Splinter's tail, it moved and it was fun to chase and catch. Now for a brief moment she seemed to forget her own pain and suffering as she watched the tail thumping and slashing on the floor.

Rama sniffed and wiped at her tears as she watched the Master's tail continue to beat the cement. She turned and made her way towards the tail giving long heavy half choked sighs as she did so.

Splinter smiled sitting back in his chair in relief, he knew instantly what had caught her attention, and it looked as if she was willing to play the game of ' catch a tail' again. As long as it kept her quiet, he was more then willing to oblige.

Rama was just starting to walk on her chubby infant legs and her steps were slow and shaky but she kept her focus on the tail and laughed merrily as she plopped down to catch it.

Rama's grip wasn't that hard, and while she often tugged or pulled, Splinter had taught her to be gentle, by keeping his tail away from her if she played too rough. Though, at the present moment Rama's sudden silence to play the game was enough incentive for the ninja Master to permit a little rougher play then usual.

Suddenly Rama chomped Splinter's tail.

Splinter almost sprang from his seat, his teeth gritted as a long breath of air was pushed between the interlocking teeth coming out in a hissing sound.

Rama continued to gnaw away at the tail.

" That is quite enough of that" Splinter declared as he pulled his tail free and checked for broken skin.

Rama's face puckered up and her chest started to heave suddenly.

Splinter laid back his ears, knowing what was coming, but about to sacrifice his tail, not even for peace and quiet.

" Rama come on how about a breadstick?" Mike encouraged as he rushed towards her, offering the prize in hopes of preventing the inevitable. He offered it to her.

She batted his hand away as she let loose her first howls, tilting her head back and opening her wide mouth to better express her feelings and opinions.

" Sorry Master maybe I'll just put her down for a nap or something" Mike muttered as he scooped Rama up.

" No! Dada." Rama declared through her howls. " Dada."

" Never mind dada. Daddy is getting pretty tired with you and he is ready to throw you into bed and leave you there."

The toddler's howls increased as she kicked and writhed.

Splinter sighed wearily, he bowed his head " Put her down Michaelangelo, it is all right. She will not sleep if she is too worked up."

" But Master your" Mike paused and gestured, " tail." He muttered not knowing how to continue.

" A ninja is a master of himself and his own environment, through certain meditations, a ninja is not as likely to notice pain." Splinter replied, " Her using my tail as a teething ring is far more acceptable to me then her screams, for at least she is quiet."

Mike seemed to debate and looked as if he was about to protest, but then he shrugged and lowered Rama to the floor.

The toddler made a beeline straight for Splinter her cries slowing as she did so. They became even less demanding as she caught sight of the wonderful tail. In moments she was sitting contentedly gently tugging and biting on Splinter's tail.

" Now, since she is quiet, I will keep your daughter amused while you bring me some tea Michaelangelo" Splinter ordered.

" Ah sure thing Master" Mike agreed as he scurried off to the kitchen shaking his head.

Splinter turned his head to see Rama quietly playing with his tail and chewing at it, drool trickling from the corner of her mouth.

She released his tail and laughed merrily.

Splinter rolled his eyes " It is a very good thing that you are my granddaughter and you are so cute Ramiela, otherwise I would never allow this indignity." He turned back to sit properly in his chair, " Perhaps this is why they call it teething pains" the old rat summarized.

TBC