I am on a roll tonight! Almost done this story I can't believe it! Anyway enough about me enjoy the story :)

The time had finally come, Hisashi had begun making an appearance once more. People who had tried to stand up to the man were suddenly disappearing off the face Earth. Everyone was ready, they knew the plan down to the last detail.

However they agreed that they would have one more day of rest for Mia's birthday before they set out to destroy the people that took the people they loved. Heather took Tyler with her to the surface to go shopping for some birthday supplies for their little party later that day. It was the first time the teen had been above ground since he was attacked. Heather noticed the sixteen year old seemed anxious and kept looking over his shoulder.

"You okay?" Heather asked concerned.

"Umm ya…kinda. Just a little jumpy I think," Tyler said nervously.

Heather stopped and touched the teen on the shoulder before he visibly flinched and pulled away. Tyler didn't like it up here anymore, he wanted nothing more than to go back to the lair where it was safe. Heather led the teen over to a bench and sat him down before placing herself beside him. After quickly assessing him, the doctor came to a sad realization.

"Tyler…sweetheart I think you have PTSD," she said.

"Huh?" Tyler said giving the woman a confused look.

"Post-traumatic stress disorder. It means you've been mentally affected by the attack you had," Heather explained gently.

Tyler gave the woman a shocked look before he tried to put on a brave face and replied, "Pfft I do not. I just feel a little more anxious up here then when I'm down there with the guys."

"Yeah…that's kind of the problem Tyler. You were born and raised in the sun you should be more comfortable up here," the woman explained.

Tyler looked defeated and huffed before he looked back at his doctor and said, "Look don't tell the guys okay. They won't let me fight if they think I'm a few fries short of a happy meal if ya know what I mean."

Heather glared at the boy before she replied, "PTSD does not mean you're crazy alright. It means you dealt with something that no one, let alone a child should have had to endure. It's perfectly normal to have it after what you went through. The fact that you're here now tells me that you are one strong kid...I need to tell the others so that they can look out for you. If they don't know what's going on you could be putting them in a lot of danger."

Tyler stared at the ground looking lost which broke the older woman's heart. Gently Heather wrapped her arm around the teen giving him a side hug before she kissed the side of his head affectionately.

"I'll make sure they let you go but only because I think your focus is more on the mission then on your fear. I'm truly humbled by your strength for someone so young," Heather said making the boy blush.

"Pfft, typical adult underestimating the abilities of the youth," Tyler replied trying to hide his embarrassment.

Heather could only laugh in reply before she linked her arm with the boy's and began leading him down the street to get what they needed.

It was early afternoon by the time the pair returned back to the lair. Heather instructed Tyler on where to put the bags before immediately making her way over to where Raph was sitting at a table with his brothers wearing ladies Sunday hats. Heather didn't know how the little girl did it but somehow she was having a tea party with her big bad uncles.

"What's uh…what's happening here guys?" she asked trying not to laugh.

"Ohhh dearie," Mikey said in a high pitched English woman's accent.

"As you can see we're having an elegant dinner party," Mikey explained in the high pitch.

Tyler chose that moment to walk in and it literally took everything in him not to burst out laughing at the sight of a beaming two year old having tea with her mutant turtle uncles.

"What did you guys put in Mikey's tea?" Heather asked the oldest three turtles.

"Ah pardon me dear. Do you see this?" Mikey said pointing to his hat.

"Do you see my lovely hat? I am Mrs. Nesbitt good lady," Mikey said in the British accent before sipping his tea as if everything about this was normal.

"Alright I'm done," Raph said standing up and ripping his hat off his head.

Mia just giggled as she watched her Raddy getting annoyed for getting sucked into having a tea party. The two year old waved after her uncle as he marched away annoyed. Heather quickly followed after the turtle to talk to him in private.

"Hey Raph wait up," Heather said running after him.

Raph stopped and turned to glare at the doctor before he replied, "you're not taking a picture!"

"Not what I was gonna ask you about but now I'm considering it. Look I need to talk to you about Tyler," the woman replied.

The turtle's face instantly went from pissed off to concerned before he asked, "What's wrong? He aggravate an old injury or somethin'?"

"No it's not physical…it's mental," Heather explained.

Raph pointed to his room before he said, "Let's go."

Once they were in the room Heather explained everything that happened top side making Raph feel guilty as hell.

"You tellin' me that even if we take this guy down, the kid is still gonna have to deal with this nightmare?...Tyler is gonna have to stay behind tomorrow…shit," Raph said.

"He's not glass Raph, he can do this so give him some credit. Mia had minimal symptoms of it as well and has long since gotten over the hump. I think Tyler will be okay as well so long as he knows he's safe at all times when he goes up there," Heather explained.

Raph took a minute to let the information sink in before he said, "I think maybe I'll do some meditation with him tonight to clear his head for tomorrow."

Heather smiled at him telling the turtle that that was the right idea to help the young man. Leaving Raph to his thoughts the good doctor made her way out the bedroom to come face to face with her lover.

"Oh you surprised me," she said smiling up at Leatherhead.

"My dear you are not well. You are pale and I heard you this morning again. Please for the sake of my nerves go rest on the couch," the croc pleaded to the woman.

Putting her hands up in surrender Heather replied, "Alright, alright I'm going."

…

The birthday party went off without a hitch, Mia was delighted by the small party her family had thrown for her. After a while Raphael decided he wanted to have some alone time with his adopted children. After he finally managed to steal his god daughter from the red head and pulled Tyler away from the tv he decided to take them for a walk alone from everyone else.

"Hey, where we going?" the young man asked they managed to make their way to central park.

As they walked Raph took a moment to notice the way Tyler kept opening and closing his hands while looking over his shoulder every two minutes. It wasn't until Raph put Mia down and she grasped the teen's hand that the kid started to calm down. Raph smiled at them and came to the conclusion that Mia was made of some kind of magic that made anyone around her feel at peace.

"Just here I haven't had a chance to talk to you guys together and I wanted to make sure we had a chance," Raph said as they stopped at the water.

"I just wanted to make sure you two understood that you are a family now. The two of you are like the kids I thought I'd never have to be honest with you. You're here now though and I wouldn't trade what I have with you two for anything else in the world," he explained hopping he didn't sound like a wuss right now.

"I'm telling you this cause I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow. One thing is for sure is that you're both gonna be home and safe tomorrow night after this cause I'm gonna make sure of it. Two if anything happens to me it's up to you guys to take care of each other and watch each other's back. Tyler you're a big brother now in a way you gotta always be looking out for her. I know its weird cause you've only known her for like three months but you got to look after her just like she'll take care of you when she gets older. Right Kicker," he said looking at the little girl who nodded understanding what he was saying.

"I know it's hard but we've all lost family that was near and dear to our hearts but together we can be our own family. So basically what I'm saying is-"

"That no matter what happens tomorrow we are a family and Hisashi can't take that from us," Tyler interrupted him.

"Ty famy…Raddy famy…Mia wuv fammy," Mia added just as casually as the teenager.

"Pretty much," Raph said pulling the pair close to his chest.

"There was something else," Raph said before he pulled out three candles and three wooden bowls.

As he lit the candles and placed them in the bowls he explained, "Today marks one year since Mia lost her parents…we lost our human family. Tyler I don't know when you lost your mom but I doubt she got a proper memorial with her son. It's too risky to visit graves so this will have to do."

Raph handed a candle to a shocked but grateful Tyler before holding a bowl in each hand with Mia in between in his arms. Together they released the bowls into the water. Raph wrapped an arms around each of the children as they watched the candles float away until only the flame of the candles could be seen.

"Okay guys…let's go home," Raph said before he started to get up.

Mia and Tyler smiled at each other evilly before giving Raph a wet willy at the same time in both his ears. Tyler quickly grabbed Mia before running like hell followed quickly by a pissed off mutant turtle threatening to kill them both slowly and painfully.

…

When they got home everyone had pretty much left or were in bed except Master Splinter who couldn't help but be amused as Tyler ran into the layer and straight to his room holding Mia both giggling evilly. He knew that look all too well. They were shortly followed by Raph who looked royally pissed, he knew that face to.

"Wet Willy my son?" Splinter asked amused.

"What was your first clue," Raph asked sarcastically.

"There's saliva coming out of your ear," Splinter pointed out laughing as his son took a cloth to his ears.

"There is also something troubling you Raphael," the rat said knowingly.

Raph silently allowed his father to see the many emotions he had been feeling over the course of the day.

"I'm scared sensei," the turtle sighed.

"I'm afraid to leave them, they've already lost so much…or that I'm not gonna be able to protect Tyler at some point, I can't handle losing anyone else," he said putting his face in his hands.

Splinter put a hand on his son's shoulder before he replied," I cannot guarantee any of our lives will be sparred after this battle, but I do know that if anything does happen we will always be here for each other. Whether it's just those two depending on each other or you seeking comfort for losing a son of your own no one will be left behind."

The red masked turtle took comfort in his father's words feeling as though they gave him strength to face the challenges ahead.

"Thanks sensei…I gotta go to find the brats before I go to bed," Raph mumbled getting to his feet to head to his bed for the night.

"Rest well my son you will need all your strength for the upcoming battle," Splinter replied as he watched his son depart his room leaving him to meditate.

Last chapter for the night and not gonna lie pretty impressed with myself :) Anyway hope you liked and don't forget to review the lady...the lady is now going to bed goodnight!