A/N: First of all, happy new years! XD Second of all. MOST. STRESSFUL. NEW YEARS. EVER. That is all. =D

Turtlefanforlife1982: XD No he won't. His inability to learn is what makes him Mikey!


9. Cry


Splinter felt his body being shaken awake by tiny hands. He slowly opened his eyes, and met the intense gaze of the small turtle who was responsible for his early wake. Leonardo's face was barely a couple of inches from Splinter's. "Leonardo, why are you awake?"

"Raphie is crying."

Splinter sat up, and stared at the wall for a moment. Raphael? Crying? That certainly wasn't normal. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir." Leonardo nodded hastily.

"Is he in his room?"

"Yes."

Splinter stood up, grabbing Leonardo, and walked to the two small turtle's shared room. He sat Leonardo down beside the door. "Sit here." Splinter turned his attention away from Leonardo, and walked into the room. Quiet sniffles and hiccups seemed to slam into his ears. "Raphael?"

"G-go away!" Raphael's form squirmed underneath his blankets.

"Raphael, is everything alright?"

"No!"

Splinter sighed as he slowly made his way to his son's bed. "Raphael." He sat down and placed a hand on the small turtles form. "What is wrong?"

Raphael dug his way out from under the covers. He turned his head away from Splinter. "Nothing."

"You know you can tell me anything, my son." Splinter frowned when Raphael muttered something under his breath. "I cannot hear you."

Raphael growled, his easily triggered anger acting up. "I said, nightmares." He mumbled.

Splinter scooted closer to Raphael, and placed a hand on the turtle's shoulder. "Everybody has nightmares. They are nothing to be ashamed of. I even have Nightmares from time to time."

Raphael slowly turned to his father, tears still slowly falling down his face. "You?"

Splinter chuckled. "Yes, me. Would you like to talk about your dream, Raphael? It helps."

Raphael glanced down. "It was scary."

"They usually are." Splinter nodded. "Would it help if I told you mine first?"

Raphael shook his head. "Yours is gonna be like super scary."

"In my nightmares, I lose you four." Splinter stated, ignoring his son's wish to not hear what he had to say. "My nightmare, is that one day, Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and you will disappear, and I will be left alone."

Raphael stared up at his father. His bottom lip began quivering. "I had a dream that you left, and you didn't want to come back, and it was cause you hated me!"

Splinter stared at his son with wide eyes. "I do not hate you, Raphael."

"You said you liked Leo better than me!" Raphael sobbed out. "You told me that Mikey would be a better ninja than I would and that it was my fault you were gonna leave us!"

Splinter wrapped his son in a hug. "Raphael, I love you so much, and I would never leave you. I will never be able to hate you, and Mikey will become a fine Ninja." Splinter felt Raphael grip his kimono. "Raphael, it was only a dream. A bad dream that will never come to see the light of day. I love you very, very much."

Raphael sniffed pulling away from Splinter. "Do you love me more than Leo?"

Splinter shook his head. "I love you the same as I love all your brothers."

"Not even a bit more than Leo?"

"Raphael. I love you all equally. Do you feel better now?"

Raphael nodded. "Yeah."

Splinter smiled, and wiped away some of Raphael's tears. "Good. Leonardo, you may come in now." Leonardo's small form slowly entered the room. Splinter smiled. "Now, you two need to go back to bed." Splinter laid Raphael back in his bed, and pulled his covers up. "No more bad dreams tonight. Get some sleep." He smiled as Raphael nodded.

Leonardo climbed into his bed and smiled as Splinter tucked him in as well. "Goodnight, Leonardo."

"Night, Daddy."

Splinter stood by the doorway. "Goodnight, Raphael."

"Goodnight, Dad."

Splinter slowly turned away, and headed back to his room. "Daddy!"

Splinter sighed. "Go to bed, Michelangelo!"

Small footsteps quickly ran towards Splinter. Michelangelo stared up at his father with a smile. "I can't."

"Will running help you go to sleep?"

Michelangelo let out a huge fake yawn. "OH man, I'm tired. Daddy, I'm beat. I gotta… I gotta go to sleep. It's too late for me!"

Splinter smiled as Mikey quickly ran back to his room. He shook his head and he too went back to his room.