The stars were seen from up above, bright, almost as bright as the moon. Her vision focused on a set of stars where they slowly came into a row and started to light up as blood red beads in the sky. A cosmic power from the heavens above shot from the farthest star and travelled down to the lowest star until it came crashing down to Earth. She watched as the ray hit a constellation that looked more old than the finest treasures around it as the stone came alive and started to spin. At first, the stone was slow, until it started to move faster and faster as the ray turned into a vortex. Then just as she didn't think it could possibly get any worse, shadows appeared out of the beam of light as they jumped out running straight for her.

Xena gasped as she jumped up and started to pant as she looked around at her bearings. She slowly started to calm down when she noticed that she was in Leo's room. Even though it was supposed to be a rather cold night, Xena was drenched in sweat as the blankets stuck to her legs. She struggled to work herself free as she picked herself up from the bed and slowly got out of the room. She was about to leave the bedroom when she noticed someone standing in the doorway.

Master Splinter spoke through the darkness, "Come. Have some tea with me, my daughter. Tell me about your vision. I could sense that this one is about danger. We must talk"

"I didn't get to see as much but I could tell that it has something to do with constellations. Something or someone is planning on releasing some kind of monster raid over our heads" Xena explained before she took a long sip of tea, "I didn't get to see who though"

"And what about us?" Master Splinter questioned, "Did you see anyone in our family in danger? We must assume that this will happen in our city. All of your visions seem to be whenever it is of danger to you or our family"

"No, Master, I didn't see anyone and I couldn't tell if I was there" Xena told him, knowing what Master Splinter might be suggesting.

"This is troubling news. Do you know when it will happen?"

"When a certain set of stars align. I couldn't really tell which ones, it just happened so fast"

"It is alright, my child"

"But what if my vision does come true?"

Master Splinter sighed, "We will have to hope that my sons will act as one by that time"

Xena nodded as she knew who he was hinting on; Leonardo. She tried her best not to show that even implying about him bothered her, she still had trouble on the inside. Her throat constricted as she forced her tea up to her lips and sipped it slowly. She looked at the rat which she knew was watching her closely.

"But what if he doesn't return? We'll have to do something or else the city is lost" Xena implied.

"What are you saying?"

"Send me out instead"

"No! You're too much of value now"

"But aside from your sons, I have telepathic abilities that could help save our city. I can't stand by and let people die from whatever is going to go through that portal"

"Think about Aidan"

"That's who I'm only thinking about! Why do you think I'm doing this?"

"You are a new mother, Xena, it is understandable how your maternal instincts will make you want to go out and protect the city for your son" Master Splinter told her, "But sometimes, staying out of the battle is the only way to protect him"

Xena opened her mouth to say more but then she slowly closed it and gazed down to the table. If there was anyone in her family that she should listen to, it's Master Splinter. He was the only one who she knew who has a close relationship with his children and she was hoping that she could mold her relationship with her child after his example.

"If you go, then Aidan will have no one until Leo comes back" Master Splinter gently said, "As much as you have the driving spirit to save others, you must look within now and see what matters the most"

Xena slowly nodded as she remembered the first time she held her son in her arms; how suddenly it didn't matter that Leo refused to come back from his training. She only cared about the small bundle wrapped in her arms as he snuggled into her, knowing that she was his mother.

Xena confessed, "I wish I told him that we were expecting"

"You wanted it to be a surprise" Master Splinter reminded her.

Xena sighed as she looked back to the elder rat.

"But at what cost? Look at the situation we're in now?" Xena said in a low voice.

"We all didn't know that he wasn't going to come back"

"Nor did we know that he was going to stop writing to us"

Master Splinter gave a small smile, "I see that you've forgotten how Leonardo acts. I am quite surprised at you, Xena"

"What are you talking about, Sensei?" Xena questioned.

"Leonardo is always hard on himself-"

"Now that I didn't forget"

She could remember countless times how the turtle would come into her apartment going on and on about how he messed up on one little thing. Even Xena would know that whatever mistake he thinks he did, it was all inside his head. That was Leo's worst enemy; his mind. He was such a constant perfectionist that even Xena had trouble getting through to him sometimes. She felt a small smile come across her lips as she couldn't help but remember how Leo would come in ranting about himself and then leave apologizing for how he acted. The blue clad ninja always thought that somehow he was a bother to her when really, she looked forward to his visits.

"Which is why he is staying behind" Master Splinter continued.

Xena scrunched up her eyebrows together and looked to him as he continued to stare at her. She sometimes wished that she could read into the minds of animals but so far, her magic hadn't bloomed in that way. She often fantasized about the wisdom and knowledge that she could gain just by peeking into the mind of the rat for five minutes. Now it seemed like he was playing a game with her. She let out a small huff as it flickered a candle on the table before he went on.

She wondered if Leo had come back when he was supposed to, would she and Master Splinter be having a different conversation right now? Would Leo have been in here listening to the wisdom of his father? Or would he be inside, making sure that Aidan doesn't wake up and disturb his brothers? Xena yearned for the turtle on nights like these when she had intense visions in the night and no one there to comfort her.

A tear came down her cheek as she quickly brushed it away. She didn't want Sensei to see her cry. She had to be strong for Leo's brothers, her baby's grandfather, and most of all, her baby.

Master Splinter placed a gentle hand under her chin, "It is alright to cry. Tears are not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength. You've been holding it in for too long now"

Xena's face scrunched up as she felt more tears pour down her cheeks as her shoulders caved in as she started to cry. She felt the material of a robe wrap around her as Master Splinter held her and placed his head over hers.

"I just want him back. I've tried communicating with him but he doesn't answer"

"He has to deal with this on his own. He will find you before he even returns home"

Xena shuddered as the thought came to her mind of Leo smiling from outside of her window, asking to come in.

"What if he likes it over there?" Xena questioned.

Splinter froze up for a moment as he gazed down to the redhead teenager. That was the question that's been plaguing his mind the entire time as well. What if he liked staying at the temple and learning more ancient arts? Did he send his eldest son to a place where he can no longer follow? Splinter quickly threw those thoughts out of his mind as he smoothed the young girl's hair. He knew his son's eternal force is his family, he will return someday and Splinter was counting down the days until he did.

He finally said, "He would never leave you behind, my dear. Even now, I can only imagine that he is missing you more than anything"

"I hope you're right. Otherwise he's going to miss out on his son's first birthday" Xena sniffed as she straightened up, "I should be going back to bed now. Don't want Aidan to wake up Raph"

"No, that will not be an easy thing to witness" Master Splinter smiled down to her, "Good night, my child"

"Thank you, Sensei" Xena smiled to him.

Splinter helped the woman stand as they both walked arm in arm into the darkness. He didn't want Xena to feel that she was totally alone in this situation. He's seen how the young girl acts like her normal self to his son's in hopes of convincing them that she is alright, but it didn't work for him. He knew the young one was feeling so much blame as she entered the room and walked over to the bed. Splinter walked in slightly to go to the little crib that was made in the corner.

He gazed down to his grandson, not knowing that his mother had left the room for a little bit. Aidan had the same facial features and hair color as Xena but has the golden-amber brown eyes of Leo, he has a slight blush thanks to his mother being a human and green skin like his father. Splinter reached down and caressed the infant's cheek as he slightly stirred but didn't wake up, making the grandfather smile a little bit wider before turning to the mother who just climbed into bed. She was watching the interaction from afar as a smile mirrored on her face.

Xena whispered, "Thank you for everything. I don't know what I would do without you"

Splinter smiled as he walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder and gently kissed the top of the human's head. Xena smiled back up to the rat as he turned and walked back over to the hall. He turned back around as the young girl had shuffled herself into the bed that was once his eldest sons before he left.

"When you're family, you will do anything for them" He told her, "No matter what the cost"

Xena smiled as she turned and faced the wall as she stared at the Japanese character that meant the word: family.

Her mind drifted off to sleep as she imagined herself trying to communicate with Leo but she knew that if she tried, he wouldn't answer. He's been ignoring her ever since he left the temple behind. She remembered trying and trying to reach out to him but to no avail. Sometimes she would be in a meditative state for so long that she would just pass out in a nap from trying so hard. Xena had hoped that telling him that she was pregnant would make him come back. But in the end, it was her decision to let him go to Central America and not his.

The runway was buzzing with people as the dawn was barely breaking. It was hard to believe that the airport was open for 24 hours a day. Even though no one knew which plane would lead to where from the outside, Leo seemed to know as his eyes zeroed in on the one in the far right. He looked behind him to see his father, brothers, his friends Casey and April, along with April's cousin who is also his girlfriend; Xena. He smiled to them as he moved back over to his family.

Mikey quickly lunged himself at the eldest in a bearhug that Leo was sure that he was going to crack his shell. Instead of telling him to get off, he embraced his little brother until he wanted to let go. Donnie was next, like his personality, he was gentle with his hug as he tried not to tear up. Raph came up to Leo and embraced him in a strong hug as he whispered a farewell.

"I am proud of you, my son. Let us know when you arrive there. Give Usagi my thanks and tell him we will rematch soon enough. I am sure he's looking forward to it. Be safe" His father said as he gave him one last hug.

"I will, father. I'll return as soon as I can" Leo straightened up, "I promise"

Casey came up to the turtle next, "Make sure to come back with souvenirs. I want a pinata, a runestone, and maybe a cursed gem if you're feeling generous enough. See ya, buddy. Write when you can"

"I will, just remember our deal" Leo glanced over his shoulder to Xena.

"Don't worry. I'll keep her safe"

"Hey, Leo. I couldn't help but pack this for your trip"

"You didn't have to, April"

"You know I worry"

Leo chuckled as he took the baked cookies, "You were always like a big sister to me"

April smiled to him and hugged him as tears fell freely from her cheeks. When they stopped hugging he glanced over to Xena who slowly made her way over to him. He smiled down to her as her red hair caught fire from the sun of the dawn.

Leo turned to everyone else, "Could you guys give us a minute? I wanna talk to Xena alone"

"Sure"

"Just make sure you don't miss your flight"

"Bro, that's a good thing! Take your time!"

"Come on, guys. Let's give the love doves some time alone"

"Casey..."

"What? How else are they going to leave?"

Xena turned around and tried to smile at Leo, "So I guess this is it! It's funny how time could be your worst enemy"

Leo wrapped his arms around Xena and brought his lips crashing down into hers, he could tell she was expecting the kiss, from a premonition, no doubt. They both came up for air shortly after as she opened her eyes and looked at him, trying her best to smile.

"I'll talk to you everyday once I get there. You don't even have to wait for my letters" Leo assured her.

Her eyes shot up as she looked at his eyes.

"I've never communicated to someone that far" Xena confessed.

"You're very powerful, Xena, I know you'll be able to" Leo nuzzled the side of her head with his snout.

She giggled a little bit as a sound beeped out that made her heart sink, it was the warning sign of the airplane. Leo heard it too as he glanced over his shoulder as he saw the crew finishing up with throwing the luggage into the plane. He suddenly didn't want to go, he wanted to take Xena by the hand and lead her away from the airport and go back into the nearest storm drain. He sighed as he looked back down to Xena as this time she seemed to be the one full of confidence. She smiled as she gave one last feel of the blue bandana as she twirled it around her fingers. Leo held her as if he would never let her go as he took in the scent of her shampoo with the smell of a powerful, sweet, and spicy aroma that filled his senses.

"Don't worry about me, Leo, what I feel for you will never change" Xena whispered, "I'll wait for you"

"I know you will, Xena, that's why I love you so much"