Stella's Pov...
It feel good to be back home where I grew up for just a little while. Seems like nothing that happened in the past ever happened and being with Raphael, was the best time ever. We were at the cottage relaxing outside after a day of hiking through the mountain tops on the picnic blanket, we used earlier for lunch, on top of the grassy hill. We were enjoying a light snack of chocolate covered cranberries and strawberries along with glasses of champagne. Raph was laying on his stomach while I laid beside him on top of his shell as we watched the sun moving down west in the distance behind the lake. "Man, today was a great day Stella", Raph said, as he took a cranberry popping it in his mouth
"Yes, it was a rather glorious day, perfect for hiking", I said, gathering a few flowers beside me and rearranging them in my hands
"Still can't believe we got close enough to see that giant eagle that flew right in front of us", Raph said, looking up at me
"I couldn't believe it either, I thought we could literally keep getting closer till we could touch him", I said
"Too bad he did fly off when we tried", he said, shrugging and laying his head on top of his hands
"Oh well, at least we were able to get close, its not often people have the opportunity to do it", I said, smiling and rubbing his shoulder
I saw the corner of his lips curve up into a smile. "Yeah you are right babe", he said
I smiled and we both just laid together in silence enjoying the peace and quiet. I took some thread I had with me and I began to wrap it around the stem of a flower. With Raph facing away, I gently stuck the flower in the edge of his mask and began to thread more flowers together. He didn't seem to have mind it, in fact I think he might of found it cute when I saw his eyes looking up at mine and he chuckled. I smiled and I continued on what I was doing while Raph watched the sunset. He looked very much alive, like Bavaria was releasing more positive energy out of him. Like the change of scenery reflects a certain mood, the more serene it is the more calm he seems to be.
"I don't want to leave here Stella, I just feel like I belong out here", Raph said "You know? Like out in the wild like a turtle should be"
"Oh honey, I know you do and I do as well, but your brothers and Splinter would miss you and I so much", I said, as I stringed the flowers around his head "They would want us to come home"
"Nah they can do without me, besides I am just hothead to them", he said, looking away to the side
"That is not true and you know that", I said, sounding a bit stern
"Well they called me that many times before Stella and even when you were around", he said, laying his head on his arms "Just nothing but a maniac loner with a short fuse"
"You can't focus on what's been done in the past Raph, you can only look forward to what the future lies ahead and what different goals are yet to be accomplished", I said "And your relationship with your brothers what I have seen when I first came has much improved"
"I have been thinking lately of how really it has changed like you just said, I do want to do more with them, I just worry what they might think of the things I want to do with them and what I want to do to improve our bond", he said "That they might not accept it"
"Well tell them your feelings matter too, tell them you want to go out more and hang out, tell them you want to relive the good old times, tell them you want to have stronger bonds", I said, stroking his shell as I continued to put the flowers around his head
"They won't listen to me", he said, turning up to look at me
"Yeah they will", I said, with a smile "And you want to know why?"
"Why?", he asked
"Because its the truth and anyone will listen to someone who speaks the truth from their heart", I said "Cause I did when you told me about why you were angry all these years and look where it got you now"
"Maybe, that or it could be you are just more understanding", he said, turning on his side
"I don't think so hun, I think its more of me doing my part of listening", I said, laying down facing him "And actually the boys said to me while we were still in New York that they needed to do their part too more. They said when you were angry, that they needed to be there and listen to what you wanted to say and yet they didn't and they told me they had to do it more now"
"Seriously?", he asked, quite surprised
"I wouldn't lie to you", I said, shaking my head
"Damn Splinter was right about you, you are a miracle", he said
I giggled. "I wouldn't call me a miracle, maybe just a coincidence", I said
"Well I think you are my little miracle", he said, taking me by the arms pulling me on top of him
I giggled as I straddled him with my body as we gave each other a small kiss. "You know the boys were right too, I am turning you into a softie", I said
"I am not that soft", he said, smirking before he flushed red looking away
"Whatever you say teddy bear", I said, giggling
"Don't call me that!", he said, hiding his face with his arms
"You know you are one and you know you love me calling you that", I said, tapping his chest with my fingers smirking at him
"Okay fine", he said, whining a bit "But don't say that in front of the others"
"Don't worry its just between us, I promise", I said, raising my hand
"Good, come here you", he said, pulling me closer to him
I giggled as we both began to kiss each other with love and affection. I don't know how I just by listening and understanding to this former angry lost soul and made him break out of his chains of misery to become a whole new person come to life. Maybe I am a miracle, maybe it was apart of a plan for our paths to intersect and for me to help guide him towards the light of happiness. I am glad I did come upon him because I would still be where I was before and I wouldn't been given the greatest gift in my life. I love you so much Raphael, with all my heart and soul, and I will never look at you any differently than I do now and I will always be with you to the very end. "Hey you know I got an idea", I said
"What might that be?", he asked, cocking an eyebrow
"Here follow me", I said, climbing off of him as I started walking quickly down the hill
"Stella where you going?", he asked, sitting up before running quick to catch up
"It's not far, trust me, you are going to love it", I said, looking back before I started to run
We ran through the forest as it started to fade into darkness, luckily we had to brightness of the fireflies to light up our way. Only running a little more distance we made it to the edge of the forest, there right in front of us, still standing was a ever lasting childhood memory. "Where did you take us?", he asked, curiously
"It's my father's restaurant", I said, looking up at him
It was the edge of the river that surrounded the now peaceful and quiet village. It was an older building made of stone with a wooden lanai hanging over to where you were just above the water. It looked like it has been here since the beginning of times and was still holding its strong structure. "That's your dad's place?", he asked
"Yes, the one I told you about, how he had the best restaurant in the whole village", I said
"That's amazing", he said, looking at it
"I was thinking we could have dinner here, for old time sake", I said
"Yeah, why don't we? I think it would be a great idea to relive an old time, this time it will be just as special", he said, looking at me with a smile
I smiled at him lovingly and we take each other's hands and run across grass and jump over the river, climbing up towards the rooftop. We slid down in front of the old oak wooden doors, picking the lock with Raph's sai, and we made our way inside. Despite it looking dusty and having a few cobwebs from not being touched since my father's passing, it still felt like the same it always was. "Wow very old looking", he said, as we walked inside
"Yes, father didn't want it to be modern looking, he wanted to be as if you had traveled back in time just for a while and experience the feeling", I said
"I am surprised no one has touched the place since", he said, running his finger along a table removing some dust that appeared on the tip
"I am too, but I think its because its to honor my father's name, he made this place special to many people and me", I said
"Is that where you and your mom sat at?", he asked, pointing towards another set of double doors
"It is", I said, unlocking them and opening the doors to allow fresh air inside
There were many tables and chairs set out on the lanai, but one was very special that stood out. An oak table with two chairs, one on either side that was in the center of the moonlight and still there was a special little white vase with blue and red roses, that I made when I first came here. That's when dad made this our special table for only us could sit here. "It hasn't changed a bit", I said, placing my hand on the table, cherishing the precious moment
Everything started coming flooding back to me. I could hear the different conversations of people from different tables, the laughter of the farmers sitting at the bar, and the flame and sizzling of cooking going on in the kitchen. I could hear my mother's sweet voice and my little laughter too. "For my top customers, I present to you these exquisite dishes", father's voice said
"You are a darling chef", mothers voice said
"Thank you papa", my younger self voice said
I sighed happily as I felt hands gently touched my shoulders. "Are you okay?", Raph asked, looking curious
"Never better, I remember everything now", I said, slowly looking up to him
He gently pecked my forehead. "Here let me do dinner, you stay here, enjoy your memories", he said, softly
He pulled out my old chair as I sat down and he pushed me in gently, before giving my head a stroke, disappearing inside. When he was out of view, I looked up to the glowing moon that was always there to greet me whenever mother and I came here. "Oh mother, it's been so long, I can't believe I am back here. I never thought it would be happening. I thought I would just stay in America forever to never see home again. The memories are still alive here. I can feel it in me. If only you were here, you and father. I know we only had a short time together before your passing's, but I want you to know that they were all the golden years of my life. Every day and every year was special to me and I wouldn't change one thing about anything we have all been through. But, I also want you to know that I will keep these memories in my heart till the end of my time here. I will also be making new memories now, with my new husband Raphael and his family. You both would love them all. I wish you both were here to witness what big changes I have gone through, but I know you are watching over me in the heavens above. Someday we will be together again. I will make both of you proud of what challenges I yet have to face in the years to come and I know with the power of love and strength in my marriage with Raph, will help us do extraordinary things. I do miss you both and I love you both, with all my heart."
Two little stars right beside the moon began twinkling brightly beside one another, out of all the others out tonight. I thought of them as being my parents and they were responding back to me. I smiled softly before I gently blew the dust off the table and straightened it out to make it more presentable. I dusted off my vase before sticking one last flower I had left while making Raph's flower crown setting, the red poppy, gently inside. "Dinner is served", Raph said, appearing again
He carried two plates in his hands as he came walking over. "What did the master chef prepare?", I asked, giggling
"Well with what I could find inside, I thought maybe pasta might do the trick", he said, setting the plates down before sitting down
The pasta was angel hair with a thick marinara sauce, and a little leaf of parsley laying at the very top. "Mmmmm looks delicious". I said
We quietly started to eat and my mind was really focusing on the view of tonight. It felt like I was just here not too long ago and everything was just the same. "What are you thinking Luna?", Raph asked, sipping up a noddle into his mouth
"I was just thinking, how if I never have left here so long ago, I would never been able to have gained so much what I have now", I said "From going to living in poverty for a whole year to having everything given back to me in so little time"
"What do you mean?", he asked
"Think about it, if I never left Bavaria with my family to see America I never would have the chance to meet you", I said "Even if I had stayed there for awhile I would of came back home"
"So there is kind of grace in what happened don't you think?", he asked
"I think one way yes there is, but in another way it isn't you know", I said, trying to make it understanding
"Yeah I get it, I understand", he said, nodding "I know it made you lose your parents and you were all alone that whole year, I am just really amazed that you have come this far"
"While I may have lost a lot of things, my family, my home and I thought my future too", I said "But there was light at the end at of the tunnel, which was me meeting you and becoming apart of the family, now spending the rest of our lives as husband and wife"
He smiled softly and he took my hand into his own gently. "And I will make sure that nothing bad more will ever happen to you again", he said "You can bet on that, nothing will stop me and I will find those who did this to you"
My other hand carefully covered his. "We will do it together, I know we will find the answer", I said "As long as we have faith and we have each other"
He smiled and leaned over the table and kissed my forehead. "You are right", he said "We will find it"
I smiled and we started continuing on with eating, but as soon as we finished, we stayed at the restaurant. It was too much of a beautiful to be indoors. We sat side by side looking out into the wilderness just across the river. With Raph's arm around me I felt like I could just disappear and become one of the many spirits that roam these woods and run free like a wild horse in the meadows. But I knew my spirit would always stay here, no matter how far away I was from home. It will keep this place alive and it's heart still beating.
We spent another three days in Bavaria before we had to go home to New York. I knew it wouldn't be the last time of being here again as I could see future visits with the family. We were able to catch a flight for a one way stop to Manhattan and soon after a near ten hours of flight we finally made it back home. "I can't wait to see the guys, it's been quite a long time", I said
"Yeah actually did miss those knuckleheads", he said "I bet you Mikey is going to be tackling the both of us as soon as we hit the door"
"Fine I will take your bet, and the winner gets...", I asked, cocking an eyebrow
"How about a full body massage?", he asked, smirking at me with a cocky grin
"Mmmmmmmm sounds good, I will see your offer", I said, giggling
We both chuckled and we reached the lair door and we could see the lights were shining inside the lair. "Shhhh", I said, looking over my shoulder
We snuck in closer through the door hiding in the shadows as we quietly came in through the door to see the lights were all on, but no one was around. "Hmmmm lights are on, but no one is home", Raph said, looking around "Kind of like Mikey's head sometimes"
"Raphie! Stella!", a voice yelled out
Before we knew it we both were tackled to the ground and it was our little brother, having our head in a headlock in each arm, what might be considered a hug to him. "Well what do you know? I guess I owe you a full body massage", I said, smiling
"Yes!", he said, doing a fist bump
"You guys are back! Finally it was starting to get boring without you guys here!", he said, squeezing us tighter
"It's good to see you too Mikey, but can you let us both go, we are kind of choking here!", Raph said, hitting his shoulder
He then released us as we finally caught a breath. "Man when did you guys get in?", he asked
"Just now actually, not too long ago, we wanted to surprise you all but it looks like you brought the surprise to us", I said, giggling standing up
"Well hey there stranger", another voice said
Just then Donnie, Leo and Splinter came walking up to us. "Hey guys, it's good to see you back here again", Leo said, with a smile
"Hey yourselves, my big bros in laws", I said, giggling walking over
They both gave me a warm hug before Splinter came up to me. "Ah its good to see you back home my son and daughter, how was your time back your hometown?", he asked
"Oh just glorious Master Splinter", I said, with a smile "If only Bavaria was just a hop, skip and jump away from here, I would go there everyday"
"Yeah it was really nice up there, I have to admit it, quite different than a noisy smelly sewer", Raph said
"I realize that Germany is quite different than our home here in New York Raphael, but it has been our home for eighteen years and while it may not be fresh smelling, in the warm sunlight and being able to roam without the fear of encountering humans, it is where we belong", Splinter said "And I do have a sense of feeling that your stay in Bavaria won't be your last"
"He is right, I can tell there will be a lot more traveling to come to Bavaria and possibly to newer exciting places", I said
I smiled up to him and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "You know you guys are right, there will probably be more and I will be looking forward to it", he said, giving me a smile in return
"Well it a pleasure to see you both back home, but we will now let you both rest after your long journey", he said
"Thank you, sensei", Raph said, as we both bowed in respect, with Splinter returning the gesture
With all of us going our own separate ways for the evening, I decided to take a shower while Raph went upstairs into our room. I enjoyed a good refreshing shower and I turned off the lights after putting lotion on my arms heading up the stairs to bed. As soon as I reached the door I saw Raph was laying on the bed, against the headboard, and there was something I have never seen before. There was an old brown small box beside his thigh with the lid open and there was many things spread out along the bedspread. I gently knocked on the door catching Raph's attention. "Hey", I said
"Oh hey, didn't hear you coming up", he said
"What you looking at?", I asked
"Oh just some old memories", he said, looking at me briefly before looking down
"Oh really? What kind?", I asked
"Just times when we were still kids", he said "How fun it was back then"
I climbed on the bed to see photos, old little toys, and a small red fuzzy cloth underneath it all. "Oh my goodness you guys looked adorable back then", I said, taking a photo of seeing the boys practicing with their weapons of choice
"That's when we first started training with our weapons when we were six", he said, looking at the photo with me
"You guys looked so cute when you were trying to fight all seriously", I said, giggling "Especially you"
"Awwww stop Stella, I am not that cute" he said, blushing embarrassed turning away
"Oh please, how can anyone not think that that is not cute? Its adorable", I said, giggling looking at his tough expression with his little teeth sticking out from the top of his mouth
I then noticed the red cloth was sticking out from the box and I gently took it out feeling it was a soft blanket that could easily covered both of my thighs. "What's this?", I asked
"That was actually mine, when Splinter first found us when I was a baby, he gave that to me after I grew from the ooze", he said
"It's so soft", I said, rubbing my finger over it
"Yeah I slept with it all the time, and between you and I, Splinter said I carried it around with me all the time till I was three", he said
"Oh my goodness! How cute!", I said, smiling
"Well I guess I just liked it that much", he said, trying to act all tough
I giggled shaking my head before I saw out of the corner of my eye seeing him blush once more. When I looked back at the blanket my mind just kept looking it quietly and it started to going into thought. "What are you thinking Luna?", Raph asked
"Oh nothing", I said, shaking my head "It's nothing really"
"Hey come on tell me, what's going through that beautiful mind of yours?", he asked, turning to face me
I giggled. "Oh was thinking what it would be like, you know to have our own little ninja curled up here between us", I said
"I thought you didn't like Mikey clinging on to you whenever we watched scary movies", he said, with a chuckle
I gave his shoulder a playful shove. "I am talking about a baby, you know, bringing a little me and you into the world", I said, shrugging a little
"And you really imagine it being little huh?", he asked, with a smirk
"As long as it doesn't have those forty inch biceps of yours, if I see a bodybuilder on the ultrasound he is staying in there", I said with a giggle
"You know I am not that big", he said, shoving me with his arm
"That's debatable", I said, teasingly
"But really? You were thinking that?", he asked
"Yeah, but I can understand its too early...", I said
"Actually not really", he said, surprising me
"Really?", I asked "I thought this would of made you uncomfortable"
"Hey you are my wife, we tell each other what we are feeling and we listen", he said, with a smile
"Thanks, but yeah I always wanted children, I don't know why but I just feel alive when I am around them", I said "They do wonders to put a smile on your face"
"Yeah, I don't say this to others, but I actually did want kids. I wanted little eyes to be watching me and hearing them asking about all these things and being there to show and guide them", he said
"Really? That's so sweet", I said, with a smile
"But I never considered fatherhood as an option for someone like me, but for once, now that I have you, I finally felt like I had a future", he said
"So what does this mean? Do you want to start now? Start our own little clan?", I asked
"Well you are the smart one here, what do you think I am thinking?", he asked, with a charming look
I giggled. "Well I am not all brains and brawn, but I think with the look you are giving me, the little memory box of your childhood and me holding this blanket...I think that answer is yes", I said, with a loving smile
"Well then", he said, smirking "Let's make it happen"
I giggled as he started to shove the box away and he started climbing over me as we began to kiss each other. This was one side of Raphael that I loved so much, his romantic and passionate side. He is so moving and even though he acts gentle most of the time, I do love a bit of roughness. He kissed be more faster and forcibly as he squeezed me tighter to him, making me go weak in his arms. I feel us being lowered on to the bed as the silky softness of his bed spread pressed against my shell and legs and with Raph's body being pressed against mine, making it heat up by the second. He reached down to my thigh and he roughly squeezes it making me moan and arch back. I quickly ran my tongue across his lips as he quickly opened his mouth hooking his tongue on mine and brining mine into his mouth. It began into a dance of seduction and dominance trying to get the other's wet tongue down with the other, Raph ended up winning like always.
Raph pecked my lips before he went down to my neck, licking my skin all over till I am completely wet. I let out a moan of pure delight when he started to bit on my pulse and I began to pant heavily. He kissed the slightly red bite mark and he gently rubbed my breasts. I groaned as I arched up gripping his shoulders digging my nails deep into his skin. He gently pecks his lips along them both as each kissed made me shudder with excitement and desire burn more intensely inside of me. I giggled as he nibbled along my neck and he teasingly rubbed himself against me, making me shudder with excitement. He moves down quickly kissing the tops of my breasts deeply as I growled in deep pleasure, continually clawing the back of his shell. His lips then peppered my plastron and began to lick it up and down deeply as I felt heart beat intensify with each second and when he came to my thighs that's when I began to squirm from delight. I can't get enough of this pleasure of him touching my body like this. He kissed back up to my lips and rested his body between my legs and his plastron curved against mine. His strong hands squeezed my thighs once more and he kissed me so deep I thought I would explode from not breathing.
I suddenly pushed him off me as I climbed over him pinning him down on the bed, smirking down at him with him letting out a chuckle, as I pulled him into another intensified kiss. I give a love bite to his neck and hearing him moan makes me know that he is enjoying this. I nip his skin a few more times before I licked along his throat deep. I slowly moved down and kissed his plastron and he groans and shivers from each one that I gently placed. He then got me again as he kissed me bringing me under him and I wrap myself around him tight.
Our skin was sweating like we were just came from a long workout, but it was a burning desire. Raph kissed my cheek and forehead gently before looking down at me. "You ready for this? Is this what you want?", he asked
"More than anything", I said, nodding
"Alright, let's hope we can make this happen", he said
He moved in between my legs as we kissed each other softly. Over the next course of three hours we were both panting and sweating enough to soak the bed against each other. "Wow...", I said, panting hard
"Man that was aggressive", he said
"But a good kind", I said, kissing his chest
He moaned softly and he pulled me up more to where I was up to his face, pecking my snout. "I hope we made it happen", he said
"Only one way to find out, we will just see how the next few days go and we will take it from there", I said, smiling
"Sounds like a plan to me", he said
We gave each other a soft kiss before we settled down into the wet soaked sheets in each other's hold. This whole evening was about opening up and starting something new together. I can only hope that I will be pregnant and we can start a brand new adventure together as our own little family.
Over the course of the next few days, I was starting to see some changes to me. I noticed that my belt was having to be looser around my waist since I felt so bloated, I was getting easily exhausted from walking up the stairs and I was eating more food than usual and it was getting mixed in with other foods that don't go together, such as bandannas and potato salad. Oh my gosh could it be that I was really pregnant? I mean these were some of the signs that I read about that indicate someone is. Well there was only one way to find out for sure.
I waited till nightfall before sneaking out of the lair for a bit in a disguise to pick up what I needed from a local drugstore on the corner of the block. I snuck in the bathroom, while the boys were off in the sewers skateboarding and I pulled out a pregnancy test box from my coat. After doing what I needed to do, I waited anxiously leaning against the sink, tapping my fingers repeatedly against the counter. I kept checking my phone every few seconds wanting the next five minutes to go by. But after the wait was up, I looked over at the test at another sink on the other side of the bathroom. "Okay Stella, let's do this", I said
I walked slowly over and I turned over the test picking it up and a sudden gasp released from my mouth that I almost screamed. I nearly dropped the test before catching it again. It showed positive. I was pregnant! I can't believe it! I am actually pregnant! "Oh my god! Oh my god!", I said, covering my mouth with my hand
I was about to break down in tears of happiness. It felt like a dream come true, I was going to be a mother! And Raph...he was going to be a father! "Oh my god! Oh my god! Oh my god! Raph you are in for a big surprise!", I said, already knowing of how to tell my hubby
I made sure that the surprise was set in place on the couch enough to where Raph could see it when he came back home. It was Raph's baby blanket and inside of it was one of his sai's and cute little red boxing gloves that I found awhile back dangled around it. To add a little something extra I made a little sign in black marker in bold letters, saying, "Daddy's Little Boxer".
I placed it gently in front of the sai, and that's when I heard footsteps coming in. I looked up and I saw Raph coming in along with Donnie and Leo and Mikey, being the crazy one that he is, came flying over the couch barely giving me any time to duck as he did a figure eight laughing. "Oh Mikey, you are one of the craziest people I know", I said
"Jeez and I thought Raph was the maniac", Leo said, nudging Donnie
"Hey!", Raph said, looking over at him eyeing him
"Harsh truth dude live with it", Mikey said, as he skated around him shrugging
He then smirked as he threw one of his sai's at his board catching on the wheel, and making Mikey go flying into the lawn chair as it closed around him. "Babe!", I said, smriking at him
"Hey he deserved it", he said, shrugging smirking back
I giggled. "Okay instead of getting locked up in a lawn chair and flying like crazy, I have a little something to tell you guys", I said
"What's going on Stella?", Raph asked, looking curious
"Well I think I will let this do the talking", I said, nodding my head towards the couch "Take a look"
He gave me kind of a funny look before he started walking over but as soon as he reached around the corner of the couch, he started laughing and he turned around covering his face with his hands. "Hey don't turn around, you didn't even read it", I said, giggling
He couldn't hide the big grin on his face, not even with his hands. "You serious?", he asked "You really serious? Get out of here!"
I giggled and I slowly held up the test in my hand. "Surprise papa", I said, waving it side to side
"No way!", he said, suddenly coming towards with the biggest smile I have ever seen
He suddenly lifted me up in his arms and I shrieked giggling hanging on to him as he spun me around. "Are you freaking kidding me?", he asked
"I am not", I said, giggling
"Holy shell! I am going to be a daddy! Wahoo!", he said, cheerfully
I laughed as suddenly Mikey cheered tackling me into the couch. "I am going to be uncle! Cowabunga!", he said, shaking in a huge tight bear hug
"No way! You are pregnant?!", Don asked, looking surprised
"Took a test while you guys were out", I said, with Mikey still shaking me
"No way! I am going to be uncle! This is amazing!", Leo said, looking really excited with a big grin
"Surprise uncles!", I said, laughing, with Mikey finally releasing me
Raph pulled me back into his arms again as we both held each other in a tight grip. He kissed my head deep as I felt like I could morph into him with how tight he was hugging me. "God I love you!", he said
"I love you too baby cakes", I said, giggling
"What is going on out here?", Splinter said, walking from his room with his cane
"Well Splinter while you are out here we wanted to ask you something", Raph said
"And what might that be my son?", he asked, walking closer
"You prefer Grandpa Splinter or Pops?", Mikey asked
"Oh my dear!", he said, with his eyes going wide and a smile come to his face
He came immediately towards me as I leaned down and I giggled as we hugged each other close. "You are pregnant?", he asked
"I am, I just found out", I said "You are going to be a grandfather master"
"Oh my dear daughter I am so proud of you and you too my son", he said, looking up at Raph "You both have just created the first sentence of the new chapter of your lives and it will only get better as the rest of the story continues"
"I can tell already it will", I said, nodding
"And so do I", Raph said, taking me up in his arms and nuzzling my face as I giggled
"Okay who are you? And Stella what have you done with our brother Raphael?", Leo asked, sarcastically
"Let's just say Stella here has helped me think about things differently and how to see the best of life", Raph said "To enjoy more than just hiding and fighting"
"Woah! Dudette you are good", Mikey said, looking amazed
"I have been known to have a few clever tricks up my sleeves", I said, giggling
"And for our newest addition to the clan, I will make dinner tonight, our favorite", Raph said, patting my plastron making me giggle "Classic New York Italian pizza"
"Dinner yum! Now you are talking my language", Mikey said
"What language is that Mikey, nitwit?", Raph asked, giving him a playful punch
"Hahaha listen to the funny mutant", Mikey said, punching back playfully
"Less onions this time, it gave my mouth a bad aftertaste", I said, giggling
Later on with the others off to bed for the evening, I walked up the stairs to the bedroom while Raph was taking a shower downstairs. I turned on my side table lamp and I pulled out my book April gave me from her dad's old antique shop. I was enjoying the silence till I saw Raph doing a pose against the door frame, being silly but yet seducing. I hid my face more in my book giggling silently to myself, teasing him. I could sense he was smirking at me as I struggled not to burst out loud.
I saw him coming into the room, but I still pretended to not see him as I continued reading. I felt push me forward till he got himself behind me with his legs on either side of me. I giggled shaking my head as I felt him nibbling my neck and his hands rub my plastron in circles. "Look at you, you are glowing", he said, nuzzling my neck
I blushed as I set my book down and looked over my shoulder giving him a cocked eyebrow. "Raph we only found out today, doesn't a hubby say that when she is about ready to explode?", I asked, giggling
"That is true, but you are always and now even more", he said, kissing my forehead
"Awww you big sweetie", I said, giving his snout a nuzzle
"I can't believe it, we even got it on our first try", he said
I laughed out loud. "I guess we are just that lucky", I said, giggling
"I can't believe we are actually going to be parents, this is unbelievable", he said, looking happy
"Oh its believable darling, just you wait, those two months are sure going to come very fast and soon we will be hearing the little pitter patter of tiny feet around here", I said
"God I love you so much!", he said, pulling me into a deep passionate kiss
I giggled as I kissed him back as he hugged me in a tight embrace. I pulled away after a few seconds before I settled against him with his arms wrapping around me and his hands gently rubbing my plastron. "You know what I think?", he asked
"What?", I asked, looking up by craning my head back
"I think it will have my looks and get your personality", he said
"Oh really?", I said, giving him a look of curiosity "Tell me more"
Over the course of the next month the baby was growing bigger and stronger inside of me. I was able to see a small bump forming in the center of plastron, given about the size of a small watermelon. Raph and I could not of been more happier and more excited that we were going to be having a little one around the lair soon. Each morning and night he would give my bump kisses and rubs, even spiking up little conversations with it such as what its going to be like when it arrives and how are things inside of me. I thought of it as a very sweet thing how he was already forming a strong bond with our son or daughter and I knew the relationship was only going to get stronger as each passing day goes.
But one morning when I was getting out of bed and heading to the bathroom downstairs to get cleaned up for the day, I felt a bit of pain coming on. I thought it was nothing since Don told me I would get occasional cramps from the growth of the baby up till the due date. I tried sipping some green tea, trying to make some of the cramps subside but it didn't seem to help like it usually did. As I washed my face I screamed when I felt my stomach twist so hard I crashed down on to my knees. I fell back agianst the wall and my body instantly curved in an uncomfortable position on the cold tile as I felt the pain intensify. When I felt my stomach twist harder my eyes shot open, and to my absolute horror when I looked down I saw blood coming down my legs. "Raphael!", I screamed "Donnie!"
I heard the door come crashing in as I cried out in pain. "Stella what's wrong?!", Raph asked, looking terrified
"Something's coming out of me!", I said, as I could see a pool of blood beneath me
"Oh my god!", he said, getting on the side of me "What's happening?"
"Oh no Stella! I think you might of gone into early labor!", Don said, getting on the floor
I screamed as the pain got worse by the second. "Help me!", I yelled
"But she is a month early! There is no way she can be in labor!", Raph said "You got to stop it!"
"There is no time, your baby is in danger!", Don said
"We need to get him out! Now!", I yelled
"Stella you need to give on the count of three you need to give everything you got inside of you to push okay?", Don said "We need to get him out as quickly as possible!"
"Okay, let's do this!", I said "Oh my god!"
"Okay, one two three, push!", he said
I screamed in pain as Raph and I gripped each other's hands pushing my child out. I gave every ounce of strength to get it out as quickly as possible, before something terrible would happen to it. But only after doing one long hard push for a few minutes straight, I screamed again once more before I felt the pain subside. But I was far from relieved as we saw a barely small baby turtle covered in blood completely still in Don's arms. "Oh my god!", I said, feeling my body shake violently from the shock
"What's going on?", Leo asked, running in with Mikey and Splinter behind him
Their faces turned into horror as they saw the bloody mess on the floor and the baby. "What has happened?!", Splinter asked
"Boys!", I said, sounding hysterical
"Raph get Stella into the lab! Leo, Splinter on me! Mikey grab a few towels from the storage! Move! Move!", Don said, hurriedly taking my baby away
"Wait! What is going on?!", Raph said, as he picked me up his arms bridal style
But everyone was running into different directions as I started to go out into panic. "Wait! My baby!", I yelled, reaching out to it as Raph carried me away "Donnie!"
But Leo and Don had rushed the baby away to another section of the lab as Raph got me into the make shift hospital. I was put on oxygen and a blood supply to keep myself from going into shock from the blood loss. I was shaking so badly I could of cause an earthquake with it alone. "Babe what happened?", Raph asked, looking confused and scared
"I don't know! I was just fine before I felt pain and I fell and that's when the blood came out! Oh my god! Our baby!", I said
Raph hugged me tight to him as I began to cry hysterically into his shoulder. I was able to calm myself down some before we heard the lab doors open and Don and Leo stepped in. "Guys! You are here! What's going on?!", I asked, rapidly
They just looked at us grievingly. "You guys! What's going on?! What happened to the baby?!", Raph asked, in anger
"I am...so sorry...you guys...he...he didn't make it", Don said, shaking his head
"What are you talking about?", I asked, struggling not cry
"He is...gone", Leo said, wiping away few tears from his face
"Oh no! You don't-", I said, realizing what was happening "Oh my god!"
I suddenly broke down in tears as I began to scream out in anguish and grief. "No! No! No!", Raph said, looking in denial stepping back "Not that! Not that! Anything but that!"
Splinter then came in quietly behind the boys with Mikey trailing close, looking completely heartbroken, with a bundle of towels in his arms, looking the same. "My children, I am so sorry", he said "He is beautiful"
"Please let me see him", I said, holding out my arms
He slowly walked over to me as he carefully handed me the bundle. I gasped softly seeing a nightmare had unfolded in front of me. A small baby turtle cleaned up from the blood had my shade of green skin and had Raph's strong little body, laying motionless in front of me. He looked to be almost full term was barely just a foot long. I shake my head in disbelief as I gently touched my son's head to see if he would respond, but he didn't. He laid still, no life in him. "Oh my son", I said, crying "You are beautiful"
I kissed his little snout as I pulled him close to my heart, rocking him back and forth. "My baby boy", I said, holding him tight
Raph came over to me as I looked up to him. "Is..he?", he asked, with tears going down his face
I just nodded slowly and he broke down in tears hanging his head down holding it with his hands. "Come my sons, they need to be alone", Splinter said, quietly
The others left leaving us a moments of peace. Raph came up as he sat down beside me on the bed, looking at our son for the first time. "Look at him", I said, softly
"He is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen", he said, stroking his little head tenderly
"Oh Raph, our baby is gone, our little boy", I said, letting more tears fall
"He is perfect, absolutely perfect", Raph said, gripping his little hand in his own giant one
"I never got to name him", I said
"What did you want to name him?", he asked
"I don't know if you would agree to it, but its always been a name I loved", I said
"Anything you want to name him, I am with you all the way", he said "What did you want to name him?"
"Collin, Collin Rowan Hamato", I said "After my grandfather"
"It's perfect, it fits him perfectly", he said
"Here", I said, handing him our son
He delicately took him into his arms, shivering from the sadness. He looked like he was going to fall apart. He took a seat in a rocking chair behind him that was kept in the lab and he began to gently rock back and forth just holding Collin out in front of him. "Hey little man, its me, I am your dad, I was the one talking with you all this month", Raph said "I am so sorry buddy, I can't believe you are gone, I never got the chance to be your father, I had so much planned"
I watched in pain as I turned on my side facing away, and I began to cry softly. Feeling part of my heart, my spirit and my life just taken away from me and I could never get that back. I was exhausted from the pushing, the crying and screaming I had fallen asleep letting out shaky breathes. I awoke a few hours later feeling my eyes stinging like as if I was looking up at the sun for too long. I turned over on my other side to see Raph was still there holding Collin, but had stopped rocking and holding him on his forearms.
Raph was just sitting there, still as a statue. In his hands he was holding Collin wrapped up in the blanket that he showed me, all swaddled comfortably. He just stares at our little boy as the tears fall down his face. Raph brings him up to his face and he gently kisses the baby all around his little face. "I love you", he said, whispering, every few seconds
My heart couldn't take in seeing the sadness, heartbreak, and anger etched in his face. I then saw him take Collin and he rested him on his forearms cradling him close to his heart, trying to make it seem he was still alive. "Baby?", I said, walking up to him slowly, getting out of bed
He didn't bother to look up at me as I placed my hand on his shoulder, then that's when he looked up. His eyes were red from crying and his eye mask was soaked. "He would of loved it, it would of kept him warm and safe", he said, looking back down at Collin, who looked at peace "I can see him just sleeping peacefully, dreaming about good things"
"He would of loved you so much Raph", I said, stroking his head gently "Its going to be okay"
"Why did this happen? What did I do wrong?", he asked, looking up to me looking desperate
"Baby, this isn't your fault, none of it is", I said, moving around and sitting beside him pulling a stool beside me "Miscarriages do happen, even if there is no complications, sometimes its just natural"
"I just can't believe we lost him", he said, sniffling trying to dry the never ending tears going down his face "I will never know what he would of turned out to be or anything"
"He is an angel now Raph, and he is watching us up in heaven", I said, stroking his cheek
He sighed softly. "I failed us Stella, I tried to give us a family and it slipped out of my fingers", he said, looking down at our stillborn
"There wasn't anything you or I could of done to stop it", I said, shaking my head "Believe me Raph I am devastated too, I feel like someone just ripped my heart out and smashed it into pieces"
"I am just...I don't even have words", he said, shaking his head
"I know, I don't either", I said "But all I know is, that he would of been of great ninja, just like his daddy and we both would be very proud of him"
He nodded slowly in understanding and I moved closer to him as we wrapped our arms around each other in a tight embrace, making sure we didn't hurt our son. My hand gently stroked the back of his head as I rocked him gently back and forth. "Stella?", he said
"Mmmmm?", I asked, looking down at him
"Let's do a memorial for him, so that way he knows we still love him and that he knows he won't be forgotten", he said
"Honey of course, I want him to still be apart of this family and his spirit will always stay with us", I said "But I want you to know that I love you, and don't blame yourself for what happened today, okay?"
"Okay", he said, letting a tear fall
I kissed his forehead deep as I dried his cheek, before bringing him close to me as we both comforted each other on our loss. My eyes looked down at our little son Collin, when a little image came to my mind I can see he looked beautiful, one of the most amazing creatures I have ever seen in my life. I could hear his little giggles and babbles echo through my ears and the unimaginable feeling of him being in my arms. But the images didn't last long as I saw him fade away from me like sand in a storm. Erased from the world. "Our darling", I said, softly in my mind "I am sorry that you couldn't stay with us, I am sorry we didn't have the strength to help keep you alive, and I am sorry that you couldn't have been given a life that you deserved. But I want you to know that your Daddy and I will always love you, no matter what and we will never forget about you. You are our little angel and we hope you will grow happy and beautiful up in heaven, and I will always think about you. My darling dove, you will be missed and you will always be loved by us all"