When Leo and Mikey arrived home with baby Raph, April stared at them and said, "Where did that baby come from, Leo? And where are Raph and Don?"
"Don got changed into a Gamera and Raph…."
"Don got what?" April demanded, glowering at Leo, hands on her hips. "You promised you'd bring him home safely."

"Back off, dudette," Mikey said. "It's not Leo's fault. Tempestra got the better of us, but we'll find a cure to change him and Raph back."
"Change Raph back. Huh?" April said.

"Yes," Leo said. "I was going to tell you that Raph's been changed into a baby, April."
"This little thing's Raph?" April asked, peering at the baby, who was nestled against Leo's chest.
"Yes. Cute, isn't he? Want to hold him?" Leo asked, handing her the baby.

Raph bawled, not wanting to be apart from Leo, who he thought was his daddy, and wouldn't stop crying until he was back in Leo's arms. "Weird, Leo," April said. "He was all over me yesterday and now he hates me."
"Cause he's a little, sweet baby, who probably thinks I'm his daddy, don't you, Raphie? And all you want is daddy, don't you?" Leo asked, tickling Raph's chin. Raph cooed gently and reached up for Leo's bandanna with his chubby fingers. Leo smiled and said, "I guess that's a yes. Don't worry, April. We'll change him back."
"It's not him I'm worried about nor am I devastated that Raph's a baby. It solves my problem."

"Which is what, April?" Mikey asked.
"I've wanted to dump him for weeks. Things just weren't going the way I planned. He's too domineering and messy and he snores. I've tried to break up with him multiple times, but I didn't have the guts. If he hadn't been so awesome in the sack with his ten inch cock, I'd have kicked him out months ago, because he didn't satisfy me emotionally and definitely not intellectually. He's only a tad smarter than an amoeba."

"Whoa," Leo said, taken aback. "Raph's not stupid, April, and you never loved him?"
"Not the way you did. I suggested the threesome to spice up Don and my sex life and I was definitely attracted to Raph, but he was essentially just sex. Leo, you always said you wanted a kid. Now's your chance. Your very own son. I know it's not the lover you want. You were crushed when Raph dumped you and went for me, but hey, better to have him as a baby than nothing, right?"
"Wow. You're quite a bitch!"
"Look, I'm not. I loved Raph like I would Mikey; like a brother, but we just had sex. And you don't want to hurt your brother, do you? That's why I didn't dump him."
"What if the baby's Raph's?"
"I'll raise him and if a cure's found me and Don will raise him. Raph's welcome to visit."

"Visit where, April?" Mikey asked.
"Mexico. Me and Don are moving there once the baby's born. Anyway, I'm tired, so I'll go lie down. Please find Don and cure him. I love him."

"I've heard enough, April," Leo said furiously. "And if it's Raph's kid, I'll fight you on taking him away."
"You have no parental rights, Leo. I'm the mother, so good luck with that. Later."

"Is she really going to take the baby away, Leo?" Mikey asked sadly. "She can't, can she?"
"I'm afraid she can, Mikey, but I'm hoping she'll change her mind. I have to bath Raph."
"What about Don? He's still out there terrorizing people, Leo."
"I know, but Raph's the priority right now. He needs a bath, food and sleep. I'll put him in the crib that he built for our…"Leo's voice trailed off and Mikey patted his shoulder.
"Leo, I'm sorry. I know it was hard when Raph left you for her after the baby died. I always thought he was making a huge mistake and I tried to talk to him about it, bro, but he told me to fuck off.
"It's fine, Mikey. I'm all right. After I've bathed and fed Raph, I have to talk to Dad. He'll look after Raph while we go find Don."

FLASHBACK SIX MONTHS EARLIER: SEPTEMBER 14

Raph and Leo were basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking, when Raph said, "Leo, I think it's time ta explore new horizons."
"What? Like take a vacation?"
"Yeah. A permanent vacation from each other. This isn't workin'. Hasn't been since Taine died. Ya and I both know it." The mention of their son, who'd died at six hours old, from respiratory problems, sent a shiver down Leo's spine. They hadn't talked about his death at all, bottling it inside, and choosing to grieve in their own ways. Raph had spent most of his time lifting weights and tinkering with his bike and Leo had meditated. They hadn't even slept in the same bed, let alone made love in months, so Leo had been surprised when his mate had tackled him in the dojo and dragged him off to the bedroom they'd once shared. Raph had moved out and been sleeping in his old room. And they'd barely talked, except when it was a necessity.

"Then why did you drag me in here and want sex, Raph?" Leo demanded.
"I guess I wanted ta see if this could fix things. Try one last time and see if we could salvage things. Start over. But there's nothin', Leo."
"I still love you, Raph," Leo said, blinking back tears.
"Then why didn't ya comfort me when he died?"
"I tried. You pulled away. We both did."
"Couples who love one another don't do that, Leo. We have nothin' anymore. We're like strangers and it's best ta end this."
"We can still work things out if we talk, Raph. Don't do this. I love you," Leo pleaded, reaching out for Raph's hand.
Raph shifted away and said, "I'm not in love with ya anymore, Leo."
"That's the real reason isn't it, Raph?" Leo said, his gut churning with dread, as he waited for an answer. "Not our son. He's just an excuse. Have the damn guts to be honest with me. I deserve that."
"It's him, everythin', and I'm in love with someone else."
"Who?"
"April," Raph said, standing up. "I'm curious ta see what it'd like ta be with a woman and she and Don have invited me ta be with them. I'm sorry, Leo, but it's somethin' I wanna do. She's beautiful and she said she loves me. Told me when she kissed me this mornin'. This could be my chance ta have another kid. It's not like ya wanted more, else ya'd have made love ta me and not pushed me away."
"I do. If you'd talked to me, you'd have known I want another kid with you, but…"
"Goodbye, Leo," Raph said, opening the door and leaving.
Leo curled up into a ball and wept bitterly, his heart shattered into a million pieces.

That was the last time Raph and Leo had spoken privately, other than when forced to be together on patrol. It was awkward, unspoken, thick tension that hung between them like a dark cloud. A few hours after the break-up, Leo heard Raph's churring in Don's bedroom. He obviously was moving on. It hurt Leo more than it angered him and he thought, Raph's right. We weren't there for each other, like we should have been. If we had been, maybe things would be different now. I'm going to miss him so much. Miss having his strong arms around me and him lying beside me in bed. I'm going to miss his scent, our long talks, the way he makes me feel, like I'm special. I know I should be furious, but I'm sad more than anything, because I love him, despite everything, and I'd give anything to have him back, but I know he's April's now and I have to accept that and that Raph and I will never be close again.

BACK IN THE PRESENT: MARCH 18

Leo got in the bath with Raph and tenderly washed him all over. "I'm sorry, Raph," Leo said. "You thought you found love with April and she was just using you. And I bet you were excited knowing you were going to be a dad again and now you won't know that if we can't find a cure. All you'll know is that I'm your daddy. You won't even remember that we dated." Tears fell down Leo's cheeks, as he scrubbed Raph's shell. Raph reached up with his chubby fingers, touching Leo's face and said, "Gaga. Bah."
"Yes, you're a sweetie pie," Leo said, managing a small smile. "I promise you, Raph, that Mikey and I will try to find a cure. You deserve to know your child if it is your child. Now, let's dry you and get you some food."

Leo dried Raph, took him into his bedroom, changed him in the diapers he and Raph had bought for Taine, but never used, and took him into the kitchen, cradling him and pressing kisses to his head. Leo prepared formula that Don had bought. When it was ready, Leo sat at the table; Raph cradled in his arms, and watched as Raph latched onto the bottle and started feeding, making sucking noises.

"And what do we have here?" Splinter asked, entering the kitchen. "A baby, Leonardo, who looks like Raphael? Is it his son?"
"No, Master Splinter. It's Raph. An evil woman turned him into a baby and she turned Don into a Gamera. We need to find a cure for them and we have to find Don, so can you watch Raph?"
"Of course I will, Leonardo. How did April take the news?"
Leo filled him in on what April had said, and added, "Raph's my problem and she never loved him. Can you believe it?"
"I can. I never thought she loved him like you did. I tried to warn Raphael, but he was always so stubborn and told me I was wrong. This must be difficult for you. Caring for him after all he did."
"No. I've forgiven Raph. I just feel heartsore that he was just a toy to her. He tossed us away, thinking he'd be happier with her and she never loved him. He doted on her and gave her his heart."
"Like he did to you."
"No, Raph and I loved one another. We just drifted apart and April was the final nail in the coffin when she promised him a kid. That's what I think she did. Lured him with the promise of a kid and that's why he left me."
"I do not think it's all Miss O' Neil's fault. Raphael is to blame as well, Leonardo. It always takes two to tango."
"I guess so." Raph finished his bottle and Leo burped him. Then Leo said, "I need to go out."

Leo handed the baby to Splinter, but Raph screamed just like he had earlier and Leo quickly took him back, rocking him until he stopped crying and looked up at Leo, gently cooing. "He loves you, Leonardo," Splinter said. "And thinks you are his father. I doubt he will let anyone else hold him. I will go with Michelangelo and find Donatello. You will remain with Raphael."
"But, Master Splinter…"
"That is an order."
"Hai, Sensei. Would Raph be called a hatchling? He's tiny."
"Yes, and his birthday would be today, March eighteenth. I must go now. We will find a cure, Leonardo."
"Sensei, do you think now that April's dumped him and if he returns to normal, he'd want me back?"
"I do not know, Leonardo, but I hope so. You and Raphael have always been a good fit. Not Miss O' Neil. She belongs with Donatello. I must go."

Leo looked down at Raph and said, "Did you hear that, Raph?" Of course there was no answer and Raph stared back at Leo with his huge green eyes and gurgled. Leo sighed and said, "Let's go watch Space Heroes."

Leo went to the lounge, turned on the TV and sat down on the sofa, Raph snuggled in his arms. Raph felt secure and loved and he closed his eyes. Daddy smells nice, Raph thought, but why does he smell so familiar? Have I met him before? Too tired to think, Raph fell asleep, but the answer would come to him later, when he'd unexpectedly make a connection on the astral plane