Raphael felt the tension in his body increase, his muscles contract and his heart beat faster in his chest. He had just become the one thing he thought he'd never be: an uncle. A month had passed since his niece's birth, but he hadn't found the joy in it quite like his brothers and Splinter had.

Whenever April had walked into the room with the bundle of joy, he stayed far away. If he could, he'd leave the room. Don't get him wrong, he loved the kid...he just thought that maybe it'd be for the best that he kept distance from his niece. He wasn't exactly the best influence...what if he hurt the kid? Said the wrong thing? He didn't think he could live with himself if that happened.

When the rest of the family was asleep, Raphael liked to check up on the kid. At first he didn't mean to, but his feet one night began to work on their own and lo and behold he stood outside of Donatello and April's door. He opened it slightly to where he could see the make shift crib and the sleeping form of the baby girl. He didn't do that every night, but it made him feel better.

Raphael woke at an unholy hour, but no matter how much he tossed and turned, sleep did not come to him. The mutant sighed with agitation and decided a snack could do the trick. He walked into the kitchen and skidded to a stop.

The small figure of April stood in front of the fridge, holding her baby girl close and feeding her a bottle. She turned to see who had entered, her ninja sense close to being as strong as his and his brothers'.

"Morning."

Dark circles sat under her eyes from the sleepless nights of handling her newborn daughter. Raphael hadn't noticed how exhausted she and Donatello probably were. He had been too busy avoiding everyone to really pay attention to that.

"Hey, can you hold her for a sec? I need to run to the bathroom."

"I-"

Before Raphael could protest, his niece was shoved into his arms and April rushed out of the room. The ninja froze. What if he dropped the kid? Hurt her? How could April trust him with the baby?

Raphael gazed down at the kid in fear. The chubby baby girl looked up at him with her father's red-brown eyes, red poof forming on her head. His niece gurgled and waved her arms up at him. She tugged at the long piece of fabric of his chewed up mask and giggled.

The mutant felt his heart skip a beat and a smile form on his face. He held her closer to him, still unsure of his movement but more confident than he had been before. Why did he avoid her again? Gazing at his bubbly niece, he knew he could never hurt this child. Never would. And as he watched the infant in his arms mess with the fabric of his mask, he knew he could be the great uncle he wanted to be and the uncle his niece deserved. Looking into her red-brown orbs, he know he could do no wrong her eyes and never would. Raphael smiled, lifted her to his face and placed a kiss to her head.


Reply to Reviews:

Kia: That he does~

number1fanficfan: I'm glad! I enjoy writing Raph's soft side. :)