TWO YEARS EARLIER

Thirteen-year-old Raph was sparring with Leo in the dojo one afternoon, when he felt tremendous cramps in his belly. Grimacing, he dropped his sai and fell to the floor, clutching his belly. "Are you okay, Raph?" Leo asked, dropping to the floor beside his brother and looking at him in concern.
Raph sucked in a deep breath and said, "Must be some bad ass food I ate. Cramps like I've never had before."
"Want me to call Don? He's in his lab with Mikey."
"No, no. It's gone, Leo. I'm okay. Really," Raph said, managing a weak smile. Truthfully, the pain was intensifying, but he didn't want Leo to know that, because he'd drag him off to Don's lab so fast and Don would conduct endless experiments until he knew for sure what the problem was. And Raph hated needles and being the subject of the experiments. "You're absolutely sure that you're okay?"
"Yeah, Leo. Stop worryin'. If it comes back I'll ask Don ta run some tests, okay?"
"Promise me."
"I promise. Ya won. Rematch later?"
"If you're feeling okay. Maybe we should tell Don to be safe."
"No! I'm sure it's nothin', Leo, and it's gone. Please. Yer worse than a mother hen!"
Leo chuckled, helped Raph to his feet and said, "It's my job to worry about you. All of you."
"Not at the cost of givin' yerself an ulcer. I'm fine, but I think I'm gonna take a walk and get some fresh air."
"Want me to come?"
"No, no. I'm fine, Leo," Raph said, picking up his sai and placing them in his belt.
"Okay," Leo said, finally relaxing. "But take your T-phone and the minute you feel sick, call me. Maybe the walk's good for you. You've been looking a little pudgy lately."
"I ain't fat, Leo. Look, all muscle. No fat!"
"All right. I take that back."
"Bye, Leo!"

Raph did his best to walk of out the lair normally and not scream, as the pain continued. He walked for a long time until he was a good distance from the lair. The cramps were now seconds apart and Raph couldn't hold back from screaming any longer. Doubled over, he sucked in a deep breath and tried to clutch the wall for support. What the hell's wrong with me, Raph thought, sinking to his knees? These cramps are like nothin' I've ever had before. Can't be food poisonin', can it? "Ngh!" he groaned, as another contraction hit him. No, no. It feels like somethin' wants ta be expelled from me, but what? Could it be eggs? But how could it be eggs? I'm not female. "ARGGH!"

Leatherhead happened to be walking past and hearing the turtle's anguished cries, he stopped and said, "Raphael, is that you?"
"Argh!"
"What's wrong?"
"Cramps," Raph groaned. "Bad."
"Let me take you to my place and we'll see what's wrong."

Before Raph could protest, the crocodile lifted him, carried him back to his place and placed him on his bed. "Have you eaten anything off lately, Raphael?" Leatherhead asked.
"No."
"When did the cramps start?"
"Bout twenty minutes ago. They're 'bout a few seconds apart now."
"Ah," Leatherhead said, understanding. "Have you been sexually active?"
"Seriously?" Raph yelled. "I'm a mutant turtle. Who'd want me?"
"Just asking, Raphael," Leatherhead said, inspecting him. "I believe you're gravid and the cramps you're experiencing are labor."
"But I'm a boy. Argh! How is it possible?"
"I need you to spread your legs and push, Raphael, okay? Trust me on this."

"I don't believe ya. I'm a…Argh!"
"Push. I'm right here," Leatherhead said, getting a towel and mopping Raph's forehead that was beaded with sweat. "Push."

Raph pushed, screaming obscenities, as he did so. Leatherhead nodded and said, "Good, Raph. Very good. You're doing well. It'll be over soon, my friend. Keep pushing."
"It hurts," Raph choked out, tears streaming down his face, as another contraction hit him. "I want it ta stop."
"It will soon. Keep pushing."

Raph pushed for a long time and Leatherhead said, "One more push, Raph. The egg's almost out."
"Egg?"
"Push!"
"Argh!" Raph said, pushing, and out plopped a perfect white egg. Panting heavily, Raph said, "An egg? Really?"
"I'm as amazed as you are," Leatherhead said, picking up the egg.
"Argh!" Raph said, feeling another contraction. Raph pushed hard and out popped a second egg.

Raph's labor ended when the eighth and final egg made its presence. Leatherhead had placed them all in an incubator he'd managed to acquire to use if he ever found a mate. Wiping a panting and tired Raph's brow, Leatherhead said, "How are you feeling, Raphael?"
"Crap. I can't believe those things came outta me. I'm a boy."
"Are you sure you haven't been sexually active?"
"I'm a virgin. Most action I've ever had has been with my right hand! Like I said, who wants a mutant turtle?"
"Other mutant turtles?"
Raph flushed and said, "Look, the only mutant turtle I like is Leo, but I don't think he likes me the same way and we ain't been together. Don't tell him that I like him!"
"Is it possible that you were a female before you mutated?"
"What? Me a female? You have ta be jokin'! And I have a cock! I don't understand…"
"Then the eggs are unfertilized and essentially duds. We'll bury them. Would you mind if I run a few tests? To determine what you are."
"I'm a boy. This was a freak thing. That's all, but sure, do yer tests. I have ta get back by six, though. "

Leatherhead conducted some tests and said, "Raphael, you're a hermaphrodite and have male and female parts."
"What?"
"Yes. A vagina and a fully functioning uterus, as well as a cock. You're a medical miracle."
"Ya mean freak. So, is there any cure for this shit?"
"No, my friend. And it means you'll lay eggs at least twice a year. More if you become sexually active. You know what this means? Your clan can continue and your brothers have the chance to have children. Wonderful news, but the other news is that your sperm probably don't swim and you're infertile."
"Why me?" Raph yelled, clenching his fists. "I'm a boy."
"No, Raphael. You're a girl, who just happens to have male parts as well. Now that you're entering puberty, it's clear that you're a girl. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You can have children."
"I'm a boy! Fuck. I'm a boy!"
"I'm only telling you what my tests say, Raphael, and you're a girl."
"I don't wanna be a girl. I wanna be a boy," Raph sobbed. "Like my brothers. Why do I have ta be even more of a freak? My brothers can never know 'bout this. Never. They'll treat me different. I won't be able ta train, spar, go out on patrol. Never. But I look male. How is that possible?"
"I don't know, Raphael, but you are a girl, and they need to know."
"NO. I'm never gonna tell them and yer not either," Raph yelled, sitting up. "And I bet yer tests are wrong. Fuck."
"It's okay to be angry, Raphael, but I assure you the tests are accurate. Did you not notice any changes in your physique or mood? I find it alarming that you didn't."
"Leo commented that I'd put on some weight, but I didn't think much of it. I had been eatin' more, but I figured it was due ta trainin'. Always makes me hungry. Moods? I've been feelin' hormonal lately and wantin' ta cry. And I don't cry. Now I know why. It's because I was gravid," Raph said, spitting out the last word. "And ya say it's gonna happen again."
"Yes, for the rest of your life, but I'll be here to help you, my friend."
"Just peachy," Raph said sarcastically. "Lucky me."

Raph's T-phone rang. "Yeah?" he said.
"You missed dinner, Raph. Where are you?"
"Leatherhead's, sorry, Leo. I'll be home in a bit."
"Good. Are you okay?"
"Fine, Leo. See ya in a bit."
Raph disconnected the call and said, "I'm goin' home, LH. Can ya bury the eggs for me?"

"You should do that, Raphael," Leatherhead said.
"No. Ya do it. I wanna forget it happened and I'm gonna pray it don't happen again."
"You should stay and rest."
"I need ta go home. Thanks for yer help. I'll see ya soon."

Raph slowly made his way home and when he arrived, Leo was waiting for him. "Raph, I kept dinner for you," Leo said.
"I ate at Leatherhead's," Raph lied. "Thanks. I'm gonna go ta bed, Leo. I'm tired."
"Hey, Raph. If something was wrong with you, you'd tell me, right?"
"Sure. Night, Leo, and I'm fine."

Raph headed to his bedroom, booted up his Laptop and looked up female turtles. When he got to the part about red-eared sliders laying between two to thirty-two eggs per clutch, he burst into tears and buried himself under the covers. Why me, he thought? I don't want this. I don't wanna be a girl. I don't want no eggs.

ONE YEAR EARLIER

Fourteen-year-old Raph had laid a few clutches and was used to the shift in his moods and the stabbing pains his gravidness brought him. The most eggs he'd laid in one sitting had been twenty and the lowest two. The minute the cramps started, Raph went off for a walk, claiming he wanted fresh air and his brothers just thought that maybe he was sick of being cooped up. Raph had laid the eggs, buried them and then gone home and acted like nothing had happened. The first few times he'd been filled with immense shame and disgust, but after that, he began to look forward to the feeling of fullness the eggs brought him and the knowledge that he could have kids filled him with elation. If he had to be truthful with himself, he'd always wanted kids. Maybe Leatherhead's right, he thought. Being a girl's a blessin'. I can have kids and I've realized I do want them, but with Leo. I love Leo. He's amazin' and so fuckin' hot. I dream of havin' his fat cock slidin' into me, fillin' me…."

"Raphael, you're not paying attention," Splinter admonished. "And you're not doing your katas right. You haven't all day, which is why I told you to do extra training with me."
"Sorry, Sensei. I got distracted."
"I can see that. Is something bothering you, my son?"
"I need ta tell ya somethin', Sensei. Ya may kick me outta the clan, because of it."
"Raphael, you are my son and nothing you do would make me do that. I love you," the aged rat said, placing a hand on Raph's shoulder.
"Sensei, Leatherhead did some tests on me and I'm a girl. I mean, I have male and female parts, but I'm essentially more a girl."
"I see. And how do you feel about that, Raphael?"
"Took me a long time ta accept, but I do now. But I don't want ta be treated differently than my brothers. I still want ta train, spar and go out on patrol. And that's not all I wanna say. I love Leo, Sensei. I wanna be with him. I know we were raised as brothers, but we're not biologically related and if he likes me too, I wanna be able ta be with him."
"No, you are not, but I need to meditate on whether I can allow it."
"And my secret?"
"That is not mine to tell, Raphael. You may tell your brothers when you are ready. You are dismissed."
Raph bowed. "Thank ya, Sensei."

Four days later, Raphael was summoned to the dojo. "I have thought long and hard about things, Raphael," Splinter said. "I will keep your secret safe, but I cannot allow you to be with Leonardo. It goes against my beliefs. That is all."
"But, Sensei…"
"You are dismissed."
"I HATE YA!" Raph bellowed, running out of the dojo and colliding with Leo, who was about to go inside.

"Raph?" Leo said, grabbing his arm.
"Let me go!"
"Stop. What's wrong, Raphie?"
"Let me go!"
"Not until you tell me. Let's go to my room. We'll get privacy there. Come on."
"Ya got…"
"We'll sort whatever it is out, Raphie. Come with me."

Leo wrapped his arm around Raph's waist and they went to his bedroom. Shutting the door, Leo said, "Raphie, tell me what's wrong?"
"Yer gonna hate me," Raph said, shuffling his feet.
"I could never hate you. Tell me what's wrong."
"We're not biologically related, right?"
"No."
Raph flushed and said, "I told Sensei I wanna be with ya and he said no."
"You what?" Leo said, shocked.
"I like ya, Leo. I always have and he said no. Now yer gonna hate me."
"No," Leo said softly. "I like you too, Raph. More than a brother. I always have, but I didn't know if you felt the same way."
"And now we can't be together."
"Yes, we will. We'll be together even if he says no. What do you say to that, Raph?"
"Hell, yeah," Raph said, smashing his mouth onto Leo's and wrapping his arms around him.

Tongues danced and battled for dominance, as the kiss intensified. When the couple broke apart, panting, Leo said, "That was incredible, Raphie."
"I agree. Encore?"

They kissed again and when Raph left a while later to feed Spike, he thought, I'm finally with Leo. I couldn't be happier, and he don't know it yet, but we're gonna have a family of our own someday. I can't wait.