The next morning, at three a.m., Raphael and Leo were woken up by the ten-day old twins. "I'll go," Leo said, sitting up. Then he winced.
"What's wrong, Leo?" Raphael asked, concern in his golden eyes.
"My side hurts, Raph. Can you get a hot water bottle?"
"Ya gonna be able ta go out today? If ya can't, we can stay in and watch movies with the kids. Maybe that's for the best."
"No. Just get the hot water bottle and the formula. Then we'll talk."
"Anythin' else ya want?"
"Maybe some green tea, please."
"Okay," Raphael said, scooping the babies up into his arms. "I'll be back now."
Going past the lounge to the kitchen, he saw Don sitting on the couch. "Hi," Raphael said.
"Hey. You're up early, Raph. The tykes hungry?"
"Always. Could say the same 'bout ya. I mean, yer awake. Did ya go ta bed?" Amy squawked and Raphael kissed her forehead. "Shh. I'll get yer food now."
"Was busy in the lab. Need help?"
"Thanks," Raphael said, handing the twins to him.
They went into the kitchen and Raphael began preparing the formula and hot water bottle, while Don cradled the babies. "How's Leo?" Don asked.
"His side hurts and he wants a hot water bottle. I'm scared, Don."
"It's all right to be scared, Raph. I would be, too. Think how Leo must feel."
"Yeah. Fearless said he's damn frightened. It kills me ta see him like this, Don," Raphael said, his eyes filling with tears.
"Know we're here for you, Raph. Always."
"Thanks. Me, Leo and the kids are goin' ta the farmhouse this evenin' for some family time."
"Think that's wise going alone, given Leo's condition?"
"It's only for two or three days, but we need ta go away and talk and I hope ta take the kids ta the beach. They ain't never been ta one. Leo said he misses the ocean. Remember we went there a couple of times growin' up and I went when Leo and I had our honeymoon?"
"Raph, I think I should go with you. What if Leo collapses and you're all alone? I'll give you your family time when you want it, but you have to think logically."
"I'd be fine."
"No, you wouldn't. Not with four small babies as well. Besides I can watch them if you and Leo need some quality time alone."
Raphael nodded. "All right. Thanks, Don. I appreciate it. We're gonna leave 'bout six."
"I'll drive."
Raphael found that the hot water bottles and the formula were ready. He handed the bottles to Don and took the hot water bottle to his bedroom.
"Here ya go, Leo," he said, giving him the hot water bottle and kissing his beak. "How ya feelin'?"
"Thanks, Raph," Leo said, pressing the bottle to his side. "Much better. The kids eaten?"
"Don's feedin' them. I'll get them in a bit. Shit. I forgot the green tea," Raphael said, slapping his hand to his forehead in annoyance.
"It's okay, Raph. I'll have some later. Don't worry."
"Ya think ya can travel? Raphael asked."
"Where to?"
"Not too far, Leo. Just ta the farmhouse. Casey and April said we could stay there for however long we wanted. I was thinkin' a couple of days, so we could talk, have some quality time. Just the six of us."
"That would be nice, Raph."
"Don said he is gonna come with us ta help. In case ya know..." Raphael let the words trail off. "If ya don't feel like goin' we can stay."
"I want to go. Bring your camera."
"But the minute ya feel sick..."
"I know, I know. Raph, things will be fine, especially now that Don's going to be with us. Stop worrying so much, my handsome hothead."
Raphael smiled thinly. "I can't help worryin', Leo."
"If you worry so much the kids will pick it up and I don't want them to. I want them to have fun, Raph. Come on. It's one of the last holidays we're taking as a family. Let's not be morbid and depressing. Please."
"Fine. I'll try. I'll get the twins. Don must have finished feedin' them by now."
Raphael returned to the kitchen and saw Don still at the table. "They're almost finished, Raph," Don said. "Need any more help?"
"No, thanks. Ya should get ta bed."
"Here you go," Don said, handing the babies to Raphael. "All done. They're so beautiful, Raph. You and Leo are so blessed."
"We are," Raphael said, gazing down tenderly at his satiated babies. "See ya later, Don."
Raphael took the kids back to his room, changed them, placed them in their crib and kissed them. "I love ya, girls," he said. "Yer Daddy Leo does, too. Yer our angels and we'll love ya always." Crawling into bed, Raphael looked at Leo and said, "I love ya, Leo. How ya doin' now?"
"I love you too, Raph. Much better now." Leo snuggled up to him and said, "You're gorgeous, Raph. You know that? Inside and out. Love me. I want you to. Now."
Leo kissed him gently and ran his fingers up and down Raphael's plastron. "I want you, Raph." He stared at Raphael, lust in his sapphire eyes.
Raphael had never been able to resist him and he couldn't now. He smashed Leo's mouth against his and things soon heated up, as their bodies twisted and writhed with their all-consuming passion.
Afterwards, breathing heavily, Raphael said, "That was amazin', Fearless."
"Thank you, Raph. I needed that. I love you. Night."
"Night, Fearless." Raphael closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
A few hours later, Raphael and Leo were asleep when the door to their bedroom opened and Leo jr and Lily ran in and jumped on the bed. "Daddy!" Leo jr yelled. "Wake up!"
"Go away," Raphael said grumpily.
"Daddy!" Lily said, shouting into Raphael's ear slit. "Daddy, wake up. We want to play." Raphael glanced at Leo, but he was still asleep. Lucky him for bein' a deep sleeper, he thought crossly. "Daddy!"
"I'm comin' Lily. Sheesh. Stop already. Yer givin' me a headache. It's only six a.m."
"But we want ta play, Daddy. Come on." She climbed onto her father's chest and looked into his eyes. "Please, Daddy."
"Okay, okay."The twins started to cry and Raphael huffed in annoyance. "Thanks for that," he said. "Ya've woken yer sisters."
"Daddy!"
Raphael gently moved her off him and sat up. "I'm comin', sweetheart. Take yer brother and go ta the kitchen. I'll be there now."
"Can we have pancakes for breakfast, Daddy?" Leo asked.
"Yep. But go there now."
"Is Daddy awake?"
"No."
The kids ran out of the room. Raphael got up, changed the twins and turned his attention to Leo. Bending down, he whispered into Leo's ear slit. "I bet ya awake and ya pretended ya were asleep."
"How'd you know?" Leo asked, stifling a laugh, and opening his eyes.
"Ya sleep deep, but not that deep not ta wake from Lily's shriekin'."
"You mad at me?"
"No. If ya want more sleep, take it. I've got things covered." Raphael bent down and nuzzled his beak to Leo's. "Come for breakfast when ya want."
"Daddy!" Leo jr yelled from the kitchen.
"I said I'm comin', Leo!" Raphael shouted back. "Hold yer horses." Raphael picked up the twins, went into the lounge, placed them in the pram and pushed them to the kitchen.
Don was cooking and Mikey was at the table keeping the kids occupied with crayons and paper until the food was ready. "Look what I made Daddy," Leo jr said proudly, holding up a piece of paper. "A bunny. Looks like Uncle Usagi. Can we put it on the fridge, Daddy?"
"Sure, buddy," Raphael said, kissing his forehead. "Let me get the twins' breakfast ready and then I'll put it on the fridge."
"Leo asleep?" Mikey asked.
"Uh huh," Raphael said, preparing the formula.
"Daddy, look at my picture," Lily yelled. "Daddy, look!" Raphael turned around. "It's a picture of all of us. See? You, Daddy, me, Leo, Amy and Ali."
"Beautiful," Raphael said, smiling. "I'll put it on the fridge too, sweetheart."
Raphael fed the twins and soon breakfast was ready. They all sat down and tucked in. "Daddy?" Leo jr said.
"Yeah, Leo?" Raphael said.
"Can we watch Space Heroes after breakfast?"
"Sure ya can, but Lily also wants ta watch TV, okay?"
"Fine," Leo jr grumbled.
After breakfast, Raphael put the pictures on the fridge. Then he seated the kids in the lounge with Don and Mikey and went to the dojo to lift some weights. To his surprise Leo was there, seated on the meditation mat. "Leo!" Raphael exclaimed.
"I wanted to meditate, but I also wanted to talk to you and hoped we could talk privately. Sit."
Raphael sat down. "What is it, Leo?"
"I'm sick and my time is short, which means we have to appoint a new leader. I've come to a decision."
"Don would be perfect. He's smart, clinical, logical and he has my backin'."
"No, Raph. I didn't pick Don."
"Then Mikey? I know he clowns around, but he could handle bein' leader."
"I disagree. I want you to lead our family, Raphael. And I'm not saying it because you're my mate. You've grown as a person, have a better control of your temper, you think before you act a lot more and that is my wish."
Raphael's jaw dropped. Then he said, "I don't want this, Leo. Yer leader and ya can't do this."
"Yes, Raph. I have to and I am. From now on, you're the leader of our family."
"But, Leo," Raphael said, tears falling down his cheeks. "It's like sayin' yer really gonna die!"
"I am, Raph," Leo said, sliding closer and pulling him into a hug. "Don't refuse this. It would make me sad. Accept it and be the fantastic leader I know you will be. Please, Raph."
"Fine," Raphael said through his tears and disengaging himself. "I will be, but don't expect me ta be happy 'bout it."
"Good. And make sure all our kids know Ninjutsu. They'll need to learn to defend themselves like we had to."
"I won't be as good a teacher as ya, Leo."
"You'll be fine. I have faith in you, my handsome lover. My extremely handsome lover. You still make my knees go weak when I see you, Raph."
Raphael smiled. "Ya tryin' ta seduce me?"
"It working?"
"Maybe, but it'll have ta wait. I guess ya want ta tell the family now."
"Yes."
Raphael and Leo stood up, linked hands and went to the lounge. "I'm no longer leader," Leo said. "Raph is and I expect you to honor him and listen to him like you did to me."
"You know we will," Mikey said. "Congrats, Raph."
"I'm sorry, Raph," Don said. "I know this is hard for you and for Leo."
"It is," Raphael said. "But I'll be the best leader I can be ta honor Leo. Ya can count on that and I won't let ya down. For my first command, I order ya ta clean up the lair. It's lookin' a bit messy."
"Whatever you say, oh wise and powerful, Raphael," Mikey joked, earning a smack to his head from Raphael.
"Daddy, it's not nice to smack people," Leo jr said.
"I was kiddin' with him, Leo," Raphael said, rolling his eyes.
"Does that mean I can hit Lily?"
"No, it doesn't. Not the same thing. Hey, guys. Can ya watch the kids? I want ta spend some time with Leo. Kids, yer dad and I will be back later. Be good."
"Sure," Mikey said. "See you guys later."
"Where we going?" Leo asked as Raphael grabbed his arm and led him out of the sewers.
"Ya said ya wanted ta seduce me. I know the perfect spot."
The lovers soon found the hideaway they used when they wanted alone time and spent the whole morning together with no interruptions.
