Chapter 53

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Christmas day quickly came and everyone in the house was excited. Claire, her mom, and Zoey had made something special for the boys for Christmas and she couldn't wait to see if they liked them.

Once breakfast was done, the Hicks, Master Splinter, and the turtles all went to the barn. The lone puppy came over and started barking around Leo's leg, then going to Mikey's leg.

"I know," Mikey said cooing as he kneeled down. "We left you alone for an hour. I'm sorry."

Raphael went over to Spike, who had just woken up, and put the little turtle on his shoulder.

"Sorry for leaving you, Spike."

Several presents were under the tree. Master Splinter was sorry he couldn't construct presents for his sons and they too felt bad they couldn't make anything for him.

Claire had gotten her parents a few presents but the main ones were a name plate for her mom's desk at school and a set of cufflinks for her father with his initials on it. Her parents preferred to exchange presents later in the day on their "Christmas Movie Date Night."

Her parents had gotten her new clothes, a few new DVDs, and a brand new green and gold leotard with mesh sleeves.

"Thank you, thank you!" Claire said. "This is beautiful!"

The boys were playing with the little puppy and weren't paying much attention to the Hicks.

Donna Hicks went over and gave each of the boys a medium-sized box wrapped up in the same Santa print. She then went over and gave Master Splinter one with Christmas trees all over it.

"I know they aren't much but we just-"

The boys started ripping open their presents in excitement.

Each boy received a knitted scarf, each of their mask color.

"Claire, Zoey, and I spent the last few days knitting them while you boys were training. I hope you like them."

Donna had hoped the boys had liked them but when she saw each of their eyes light up, she knew they loved them.

"This is so nice," Mikey said wrapping it around his head and snuggling into it.

Raphael went over and nuzzled his face against Claire's.

"Thank you. I just feel bad I couldn't get you anything."

As Claire and Raphael talked, Mrs. Hicks went over to Master Splinter. The man was holding a sketching inside a black frame of his four sons together with their sensei behind them. It was as if it was a posed picture but the man never remembered standing like that with his sons.

"I noticed your other photo of when you were human but I thought you should have one of your sons."

"Did-did you make this?" the sensei asked amazed.

"Yes, I used to draw and sketch people to support myself in college. It was just like that, having different images in my mind and meshing them all together."

The rat stood up and hugged the woman.

"You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you."

Kevin Hicks went over and put his hand on the rat's shoulder.

"A man should always have a picture of his family."

That night, after Donatello was finally yanked away from talking to Zoey on the phone, Claire's parents and her pulled everyone into the living room.

"Now it's time for one of my favorite traditions."

Claire went to the hall closet and pulled out a large box of art supplies.

"Each year on Christmas, we had Claire make us an ornament each Christmas day."

"It would be the only way for us to be able to pull her away from her toys long enough to put the batteries in or clean up the mess of wrapping paper," Kevin said laughing.

Claire started passing out the supplies to everyone.

"Then, one Christmas I asked if they would make one with me and it's been the three of us ever since!"

She handed some crayons and paper to Raphael.

"Until now, of course."

"What are we supposed to do?" Mikey asked.

"Whatever you want! You can make a snowman, a tree, even a shuriken if you want!"

Leonardo started cutting up pieces of gray paper, Mikey grabbed glitter and glue, Donatello started measuring out squares on pink paper, and Raphael took a green piece of paper.

Master Splinter enjoyed watching his sons use their creativity to create whatever their heart wanted. It was difficult to admit but the Hicks had created so many ways of sharing memories with their daughter, it made the rat jealous. Being in the sewers hadn't made activities like this easy. It was difficult enough to get the luxuries they had like the boys' games and comic books, but art supplies weren't often thrown out without some pieces missing or marks already on them.

And now, his sons were growing up so fast. How had 15 years gone by as if it was only 15 minutes? In a few years, he knew his sons would want to leave the Lair and possibly set up homes elsewhere, but he had hoped moments like this would become ingrained in his memory.

After about an hour, everyone had made an ornament. The turtles had a slight problem using the scissors to cut, but they had fun creating snowflakes, Christmas trees, and even little turtles. Mrs. Hicks couldn't help but think that she never pictured having a Christmas with four mutant turtles and their rat teacher.

Then again, she couldn't deny the fact that she was looking forward to the next one.

Returning to New York was a bittersweet moment for the turtles and Master Splinter. The city was finally allowing people to come back and that meant the girls had to go back to work. As Claire finished backing her belongings upstairs, Raphael, Michelangelo, and Master Splinter were in the living room with her parents.

"Can't we stay a little longer?" Mikey asked. "I'm gonna miss Mom's cooking."

"No," Master Splinter said. "We must return and ensure the safety of the Lair. Who knows if anyone from the military found our home."

"Plus, the girls have school starting back up on January 2nd."

Zoey's parents pulled up to the house. The Carrels had gotten along...decently with the turtles. There were still some issues with Zoey hanging out with four mutants, but Zoey had assured Donatello that everything would be better in time.

"Where is Donatello and Leonardo?" Donna Hicks asked.

"Don is outside meeting up with Zoey and Leonardo is in the barn still. He said he needed to find something."

Mrs. Hicks went outside and headed to the barn. Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Donatello talking to the Carrels. They didn't look entirely too happy, but the fact that they hadn't run off the moment Zoey stepped out of the car had to have been a good thing.

"I'm sorry, boy," she heard Leo say as she stood outside the door. "I know you don't want me to leave."

The woman peeked in and saw Leo holding the now slightly larger black and white pit pull puppy. Leo looked as if he would start crying. The turtle knew that, if the turtles ever did come back to the Hicks' home, the little dog wouldn't be there.

Mrs. Hicks never noticed until that point but Leonardo had always volunteered to take the dogs, and after the adoption fair the only dog, out on walks. Sometimes he was gone for quite a few minutes, maybe half an hour. Apparently the dog had a strong influence on the "leader turtle."

Leonardo stood up and carefully set the puppy on the ground.

"Be a good boy. I know you'll find a good home soon."

"Leo," Mrs. Hicks said knocking on the door. "Can I come in?"

Leonardo sniffled and tried to compose himself.

"Yeah, sure."

"Mikey said you were looking for something. Need any help?"

"N-No, I found it. Thank you."

The turtle, with his bag slumped on his shoulder, tried stepping around the woman.

"Are we all set to go?"

"Almost, but you seem to be forgetting something."

Leonardo looked at her confused.

"Your new little follower," she said pointing down.

Leonardo choked up. The little puppy was standing next to Leonardo, thinking it was time for another walk.

"I-I don't know what you mean."

"I think you've grown attached to him and it's obvious he loves you."

"No way! Absolutely not fair!"

Michelangelo complained the moment the dog was put into the car.

"First Raph gets Spike, and now Leo has this guy-"

"His name is Hikaru! After the Lieutenant-"

"Blah blah, point is, I think it's my turn for a pet next!"

Donatello sighed.

"Mikey, Master Splinter didn't say no to you getting a pet...he said no to you wanting to get a pet komodo dragon."