~~~I do not own TMNT~ Nor do I own Herbert the Timid Dragon~~~

"Dad?"

I opened one eye and listened. When no other sound came I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. It echoed again.

"Dad!"

I opened both eyes this time and stared to the door of my room. The small shadow of feet blocked the light from under the door. I smiled as I stood.

"DAD!" I opened the door to find a small turtle standing in front of me. "DAAAAA-Oh…" He looked at me with large, dark brown eyes. His hands were tucked behind his shell. Holding something, I assumed.

"Yes, Leonardo?"

He spoke rapidly so that I almost didn't catch what he was saying. "Raph and Mikey are fighting again, Donnie is snoring really loud and I couldn't sleep. Would you read this book to me?" He whipped his hands around to the front and held a book up to my eyes so close that I couldn't read the front.

I took the book and held it so that I could see. "Leonardo…This is a dictionary."

"What does that mean?"

We stared at each other for a moment and I set the dictionary to the side. "I'll find another book to read to you. You would not enjoy that one."

I put my paw on his shoulder and led him back to his and his brother's room. Even from down the hall I could hear the chaos that lay ahead. I opened the door and turned on the light to find Donatello lying spread-eagle on his stomach with multiple pillows over his head. I assumed this was Leonardo's attempt to quiet him. I then turned and saw Raphael holding Michelangelo to the floor. Raphael was laughing as Michelangelo squirmed and cried to be let loose. I tucked Leonardo in and asked him to wait. I then walked over and picked up Raphael under the arms. "You know better than this, Raphael."

He squirmed and swung his arms wildly as I took him back to his bed. "He took Oscar!" I placed him on his bed and picked the old, beaten teddy bear up off the floor.

"No he didn't. Look, here he is." Raphael snatched it from me and turned around to pout and rub the already furless right ear of the bear.

Michelangelo sniffed and wiped his nose on his arm before walking up and tugging on my kimono. "Look-it what he did!" He pointed to a small bruise forming on his green arm. His bright, blue eyes pooled with tears.

I kneeled down and looked at it. "Oh, it isn't bad." I lead him to his bed, tucking him in as well. I then went to Donatello. I removed the three extra pillows from his head and lifted his head to place his own pillow back where it should be. It was true that he was snoring loudly, so I rolled him onto his side. He gurgled some and his snoring subsided to a reasonable volume.

"Will you read now?" Leonardo called tiredly.

I smiled and went to the pile of books beside Leonardo's bed. "Of course I will." I searched for one that I hadn't read recently and sat on the edge of Donatello's bed; knowing that it wouldn't wake him. Leonardo and Michelangelo snuggled deep under their blankets as they listened to the story of "Herbert the timid Dragon". Raphael was facing the wall, staring down to his bear, and pretending to not listen or care about the story. But as I neared the end, he eventually turned and pulled his blanket over himself so that he could listen better. By the time the story was over, all of the turtles were yawning and on the verge of sleep, excluding Donatello who had not once stirred. I closed the book and laid it on top of the pile. Iwent to the door and took one last look around the room before I turned off the lights. After closing the door, I tiptoed off back to my room. The dictionary was still lying in the floor and I picked it up with a small chuckle. After placing it back in its spot I sat down and crossed my legs. Perhaps now I could finish meditating.