Disclaimer: I do not own any TMNT characters or places. I do however own Maya, Suki, Niko and the baby.

Yeah yeah, I know it's been a while. Between work, taking care of my 16 year old brother and other stuff (like getting food and doing laundry) I just haven't had the time or energy to work on this. And chances are I'm going to be so very tired for work tomorrow...*looks at time* Correction...today, because I wanted to get this idea typed before I forgot about it completely. And so...here you go.

Oh, and by the way, this story has a little surprise for you near the end. Enjoy.

XxX

Raph woke up with a start, staring up at the dirty ceiling in the dim light. He wasn't sure just what was wrong but there was a feeling deep in his gut that told him something important was happening and it was happening now. He could hear the dripping of a broken tap somewhere in the half-destroyed house along with the sound of tiny claws scraping against the floors but he had long gotten use to those sounds.

No, this was something else...something he had felt before but couldn't put his finger on.

By the time he did figure it out it was like a sledge hammer to the gut. Quickly sitting up from the sagging bed, Raph bolted from the room and checked the small calender he kept since he left his family. After several moments of checking and double checking, he knew what the feeling in his gut was...

Maya was having the baby...and he was missing it.

A deep sadness overcame him, bringing tears to his eyes which he quickly wiped away. Taking the calender back to the bedroom he sat down on the bed again before digging into a hidden pocket in his jacket and pulling out a slightly torn and bent picture. When he and Maya were still on the run, they had managed to grab a camera that printed out instant photos.

'There needs to be happy memories Raph...if we survive this, I want to remember any good times we have.'

'We are going to survive this Maya. You, me and all the others are going to make it through this war.'

He was so glad he agreed to keep it now.

The photo was of Maya and the kids in the orchard, Niko craddled in his mothers arms as he looked up at everything with big curious eyes while Suki happily ate an apple. This was the only thing to prove that Maya was still alive, that he had a family hidden safely away somewhere.

Closing his eye tightly as he pressed the photo against his forehead, he once again prayed like he did all those months ago...

XxX

Panting heavily as soon as the contraction passed, Maya also closed her eyes as she fell back against the pillows. Sweat had matted her fur and hair to her body as it strained to push her baby out into the world. Opening her eyes slightly as she felt one of the mid-wives wipe her forehead with a cool damp cloth.

"You're doing lovely dear, just a few more strong pushes and the baby'll be here. When the next contraction comes hunch forward, grab your thighs and push as hard as you can."

All Maya could do in responce was nod her head weakly the do as instructed, a shrill scream tearing from her mouth as she did so.

'Raphael...I need you...I need you...!'

XxX

Raph continued to keep the picture close long throughout the night, the feeling in his gut getting stronger with each passing minute. It was almost time, he knew it. The last child that he and Maya made would be born soon. He would never be able to hold it, never see its first steps or hear its first words but so long as he kept the Shredder on this world and not out looking to get to other dementions the child would grow up safe.

"Daddy loves you baby...even though I'm not there, daddy loves you..."

'I love you too Maya...I'll always be there with you...'

Hours passed before the feeling faded. It was then that Raph knew the child had been birthed and so, turning the picture over, he wrote a small note on the back with the nub of a pencil which simply said 5:40 am, baby was born. He quickly returned the picture to his hidden pocket before gathering all his stuff up. It was time to move on.

Before he did though, he looked outside and saw something that hadn't been there for years.

A sunrise, peaking though the smog and clouds, throwing off colors of light blue and the tiniest bit of orange.

"I'll come back to you one day Maya...and our family'll be whole again."

XxX

Peaking through the crack in the door as the last mid-wife cleaned up the blood from the birth Suki waited until her mom said it was okay to come in. As soon as she was given the okay, she opened the door wide and ran in, pulling a scared Niko behind her.

"Mommy!"

"Mama!"

Hugging her two oldest children tightly, Maya gently shushed them as she comforted them. It wasn't her intention to have them in the house when she gave birth but so late at night ment that there would be no one around to look after them. But everything had worked out...more then she could ever hope for.

"Mama o'ay? What huwt you? I 'iss and ma'e betta." Niko said as he snuggled against her. "No li'e when Mama huwt."

"Thank you honey, but you don't need to do that...I wont turn away a hug though." Smiling tiredly as Niko grinned widely before wrapping his tiny arms around her and hugging her as tight as he could, she turned her attention towards Suki who was staring in awe at a spot beside her. "Suki, Niko...say hello too your baby sister and brother."

Sleeping quietly beside Maya were twins. The girl was almost all turtle, save for the two tiny ears laying flat against her head, her tail and her all black fur which covered her from head to toe except for her shell which oddly enough was also black. The boy was all cat, only his fur was the same green as Raph's skin.

"What are their names Mommy?" Suki asked quietly as she ran a finger over her new siblings cheeks.

"Your sister's name is Cora...and your brother's name is Noah..."

Watching proudly as both Suki and Niko crowded around their new sister and brother, she knew that things would be okay even if Raph wasn't here. They wouldn't be easy and no doubt would get down right hard at some points, but in the end, things would still be okay.

XxX

And there you have it! Maya had twins, welcome to the world Cora and Noah! I'm not even going to bother with spelling and grammer right now, I'm so freaking tired I feel like I'm gonna pass out...and no, Niko doesn't have a speak problem, he just can't pronouce his his r's and doesn't like say his k's. He'll grow out of it.

EDIT: Forgot to add this so here it is. I also own Cora and Noah...and yes I did indeed change his name from Gage. Whatever though.

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