Heya readers! I did say there would be some more cute moments and here they are! Hope you enjoy them, and if you don't know the song below, check it out on Youtube! It's one of my favourite songs ever!
Note: I don't own the song.
Chapter Three
Father and Daughter Time
After a while, everyone decided to get started on some dancing and socialising.
Donatello had set up a laptop and speakers so he could play some music.
Michelangelo was more than happy to start dancing and took to the middle of the room and began to do some breakdancing.
Everyone laughed and cheered as Michelangelo danced and spun on his head. Raphael then joined him with some dancing, he also started showing off slightly with some backflips and handstands making Mona cheer and gently wave Pandora's paws.
"Isn't your daddy and Uncle Mikey clever?" she asked to which Pandora gurgled in reply.
"Can I teach Pandora a few moves when she gets older?" asked Michelangelo in a the middle of a handstand "She could become the queen of hip hop!"
"Sure!" said Mona "She'll be a dancing queen!"
Pandora gurgled again and clapped her little paws excitedly.
It wasn't long before Casey and Leonardo joined in when some more songs started playing and Splinter offered to hold Pandora so Mona could join with with the dancing.
Donatello then played some rock songs making everyone jump and cheer.
Michelangelo then shocked Raphael by grabbing Mona and spinning her around on his shoulder making her squeal.
"Hey!" Raphael cried "Don't frighten Pandora with your wild antics with her mother!"
Mona laughed as Michelangelo set Mona down and they looked at Pandora who gurgled more.
"Well she doesn't seem to mind!" said Michaelangelo "I think she'd love a go!"
"When she's older Mikey!" said Mona placing her hand on Michelangelo's paws "She's still only a baby."
"Right now yeah," said Michelangelo "But she and I will have so much fun when she's older! I'll teach her skateboard, breakdance, go on wild rides all over the sewer! In fact I have plans to let her ride on my shoulders whilst I skateboard all over the sewers!"
Mona and Raphael looked a little scared.
"Michelangelo!" said Leonardo "I wouldn't get any crazy ideas."
"Don't worry bro!" said Michelangelo "I'll be careful with my little niece!"
He walked over to Splinter and placed both large paws on Pandora's face before nuzzling her.
"Don't worry little geisha! Your Uncle Mikey's gonna take good care of you! You're gonna be safe as houses!"
Raphael went pale again as he imagined Michelangelo skating all over the sewers and the lair with Pandora in his arms.
He trusted his little brother, but he felt as any father would be, concerned for his daughter's safety, especially with his brother's antics on his skateboard.
"Better keep an eye on him." he thought as he walked over to Donatello, an idea flashing in his head.
After a while, almost everyone was exhausted from dancing and Donatello decided to play some softer music.
Michelangelo was sitting on the sofa with a plate of snacks as well as a bottle of beer, Casey was talking to Leonardo as they both held a bottle of beer each.
Splinter was talking to Mona and April, both had a glass of wine and Splinter had some saki.
Raphael was holding Pandora in his arms bouncing her about in time to some of the music, looking into her wide eyes he smiled and leaned down to nuzzle her a few times.
Looking up he saw Donatello nod at him and Raphael walked to the middle of the dancefloor with Pandora and began to do a little slow dance with her.
Pandora gurgled and giggled as her father waltzed around the dancefloor to the song he had asked Donatello to play for them.
Seeing the sight of them, everyone looked up to see father and daughter dance along to Lee Ann Womack's 'I Hope You Dance'
I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
As everyone watched Raphael dance with Pandora in his arms, no-one spoke, they just stared as the hot headed turtle held his baby girl close, her tiny frame resting on his plastron and one tiny delicate paw in his own. It was such a touching sight.
Michelangelo and Casey had stopped talking and joking, Splinter stopped sipping his saki, Donatello smiled at the sight, and Mona and April lowered their glasses to gaze at the sight.
I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances but they're worth takin',
Lovin' might be a mistake but it's worth makin',
Don't let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)
As Raphael continued to dance with Pandora, April took a few pictures of the two dancing.
Michelangelo stood in silence, his eyes brimming with tears at the sight, Donatello swayed slightly as he watched his brother and niece dance together.
"They're so cute together..." said Mona softly to April as she saw her mate kiss the top of his daughter's head as they continued to dance together.
"Yeah..." said April as she placed a finger to her eye to wipe away the tears that fell.
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean,
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
As the last few notes of the song played, Splinter couldn't hold back the tears and they fell rapidly like rivers as he watched his hot headed son hold his daughter close, as if she were a delicate flower and continue to dance slowly.
He began to imagine Pandora growing up and dancing with her father, he saw her as a toddler trying to reach up to her father and him pick her up and cradle her close, he saw her as a big girl standing on her father's feet as he danced with her, he saw her as a teenager hugging him when she was stressed or scared, then finally as a beautiful young lady dancing with her father.
Splinter knew Raphael would protect Pandora with his life, he knew Raphael would make sure she grew into a happy healthy girl, he would train her in ninjutsu and Mona would show Pandora a few moves in Kung Fu.
"I hope you'll do well in raising your daughter Raphael, I hope I have raised you well, not just as a ninja but also with the knowledge of caring and protecting your family." Splinter whispered softly.
"Just looking upon you know as you dance with your daughter, you will be a great father, you may have a short temper and a dangerous attitude, but you are the most passionate and protective turtle, always there for your brothers and for Mona, and now as you are blessed with being a father, I know you will do the same for your daughter."
Leonardo though he was choking up at the sight looked at his sensei who was trying desperately to wipe his tears and wrapped his arm around him.
"So cute huh?" he asked.
Splinter nodded.
"It's like we're looking at a different turtle." said Splinter.
Leonardo agreed.
"Such a sweet sight..." he said "I could watch it forever..."
Dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance.
I hope you dance...I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)
As the song drew to a close, Raphael hugged Pandora close to him and whispered soft sweet nothings into her ear.
He seemed unaware the whole family had been watching and were choked up by the sight and right now he didn't care.
He wanted to stand there forever and just stay there in the moment, his little girl in his arms, he knew one day she would grow, but he didn't want that, not yet. He wanted to hold her close and protect her, he hoped somehow, Pandora knew what he was thinking right now, that she could feel it through the bond they had, and way she clung to him, he somehow knew she trusted him and loved him.
"Raph..." Mona's gentle voice brought him back to earth and he looked up to see his mate come over, her eyes shining with tears.
"That was amazing..." she said "Such a touching sight."
Raphael smiled.
"I just wanted to do something special for Pandora." he said.
"And you did." said Splinter wiping his tears away.
"Yeah..." said Leonardo stroking Pandora's soft hair making the baby reptile look up and grab his hand in response.
After a couple of hours, everyone was starting to get tired, Pandora seemed to have had a lot of fun during her party, and now she was curled up on Raphael's plastron and sucking her thumb.
"Awww, looks like the birthday girls all tuckered out." said April.
"Not surprised though," said Casey "She's had a birthday to remember."
"If she does remember it of course!" said Michelangelo
"Well the photos will help if she doesn't." said Donatello.
April then yawned and stretched.
"Looks like Pandora's not the only tired one." said Splinter.
April nodded.
Casey then yawned.
"I think it's time we headed back." he said "It is late after all."
"Thanks for the gifts you two." said Mona hugging them both "They're brilliant, I think Pandora's going to love playing with them."
"Yeah, thanks." said Raphael.
April and Casey said good night to everyone then gave the sleeping Pandora a kiss before heading to the entrance of the lair waving goodbye.
When they had gone, Splinter looked at the mess on the table and around the living area, there were empty beer and wine bottles, paper plates strewn everywhere and crumbs all over the sofa and chairs.
"I think the clearing up will have to wait until tomorrow." he said making everyone sigh with relief, especially Mona and Raphael as they too were tired and wanted to put Pandora to bed before settling down themselves.
After wrapping up the leftover food and cake for tomorrow, everyone soon headed to bed, but not before giving Pandora a kiss goodnight and whispering Happy Birthday to her, even though she was sleeping peacefully in her father's arms.
"I just hope she doesn't start crying when I put her in her nightclothes." said Mona softly as she stroked her daughter's cheek.
"Hopefully she won't." said Leonardo as he watched Splinter kiss his granddaughter and whisper softly to her.
"Happy birthday my granddaughter." he whispered "Sweet dreams tonight."
Pandora snuggled tighter against her father and placed her paw in his mouth causing everyone to sigh 'Awwww'.
Mona and Raphael then took Pandora to her bedroom, Mona gently jiggled Pandora awake so she could get her out of her birthday dress and put on her Panda baby jumpsuit. Luckily Pandora didn't start crying but sleepily allowed her mother and father to dress her for bed.
Very soon, Pandora was in her Panda jumpsuit and Raphael soothed her back to sleep on his shoulder before placing her gently into her crib.
Mona then placed Pandora's Geisha Bear under her arm and put Ninja Bear near her as if it was to be some guardian to her then turned on one of her light up sensory toys to make some stars dance on the ceiling.
"I could stand here forever..." said Raphael as he stared at his daughter, "She's so cute."
Mona nodded and rested her head on his shoulder, her eyes were getting heavy and as much as she wanted to watch her daughter sleep, she and her mate were tired themselves.
"Come on babe." said Raphael "Let's get some sleep."
Mona agreed and followed her mate to their own bedroom and Mona turned the light off leaving Pandora to sleep peacefully.
Awww, wasn't that cute? I felt that song was perfect for some father and daughter time.
Hope you enjoyed it and stay tuned for more surprises coming soon!
