When Leo woke up the next morning, his head was pounding. My hell, how much did I drink, he wondered? He felt something warm pressed against him. The smell of sex permeated the room and, opening his eyes, Leo saw Raphael snuggled up to him, his beak nuzzled into the crook of Leo's neck. What the shell did I do, Leo wondered? Well, it's obvious, but it shouldn't have happened. I barely know him and we wouldn't work out. Damn it, Leo. That's the last time you drink. Leo extricated himself and climbed out of bed, intending to shower and to wash what had happened off of him, hoping to erase it forever from his mind and body. Feeling the loss of warmth against his body, Raphael opened his eyes and said, "It's cold. Come back ta bed, Leo."

"No. Whatever happened last night shouldn't have, Raphael. I apologize for my actions. Let's forget it happened, okay? Best thing for us both, considering we would never work out."

"Well, it did, Leo," Raphael said, sitting up. "I was a bit drunk, sure, but I was sober enough ta know that it felt right bein' with ya. We got a connection. Not just the sex, but over dinner, I really felt like we clicked and we could be…."

"No. My sensei wouldn't approve. Damn it. He didn't even know about me and Donnie. We kept it a secret."

"So ya ain't come outta the closet. Time ta, Leo. Ya like me, ya like what happened, but yer too scared ta admit it."

"I want to forget this. We'll pretend to be mates in public, but here we're just… nothing. Do you understand?"

"Yer spineless, Leo," Raphael hissed. "Golden boy fuckin' frightened of upsettin' his daddy. Yer twenty and old enough ta make yer decisions."

"I am making mine," Leo hissed and pursed his lips. "This can never happen again. It was the drink. That's all. I'm not attracted to you and we're too different to be anything."

"Keep tellin' yerself that, Leo, and maybe ya will believe it. Know what?" Raphael said, springing out of bed and locking eyes with him. "I ain't felt connected ta anyone this way ever. Not even with Casey. I loved him, but we didn't have this kinda connection, like we do, Leo. We talked for hours, like we'd known one another forever, like soulmates. I think ya feel the same way."

"I'm going to shower. When we disembark in New York, we'll go our separate ways. It's for the best."

"Yer a stubborn bastard. Why don't ya stand up ta the old man and say, 'I met Raphael on a cruise and I like him.'?"

"Because I don't like you," Leo lied. "You're obstinate, blunt, the most infuriating person I've ever met. You're crude and I hate what I've done. All of because of you. I drank to excess and had a one night stand. Something I'd never do back home."

"It don't gotta be a one night thing, Leo. Ya know ya want more and so do I. Give us a chance, Leo, and there's somethin' I gotta I tell ya."

"No and I don't want to hear anything else," Leo said, holding up a hand. "I'm going to shower. Alone."

Leo went to the bathroom and Raphael thought, I have ta tell him. He deserves ta know that I could fall gravid. The baby has a right ta know two parents.

When Leo emerged from the shower a while later, wrapped in a blue towel, Raphael took a deep breath and said, "We gotta talk."

"We've talked, Raphael. There's nothing else to say. I've made up my mind and that's it."

Raphael wrung his hands and said, "There's somethin' bout me that I didn't tell ya."

Leo folded his arms and said, "What?"

"I'm intersex."

Leo's jaw dropped, and he stammered, "Wh-what? You're a girl, but you look like a boy? I don't understand."

"I got male and female parts, but I resonate with bein' a boy. There's a possibility that I could become gravid."

"Gravid? Fucking gravid? This is a nightmare, isn't it?" Leo yelled. "Not only do I fucking have a one night stand, but the guy I've fucked can have babies. Damn it. Did you fall gravid with Casey?"

"No. We always used protection and this ain't no joke, Leo. I'm serious."

"I think I'm going to be sick. I'm twenty-years-old and I might become a dad. Sensei would be…No, he can never know. This is…I don't want any part of this, Raphael. Nothing," Leo said and set his mouth into a thin line. "I'm not ready for babies. Not that I'm sure I want any. I mean, it'd be cruel to have babies, considering how we're treated. No, if you fall gravid, the best thing would be abortion!"

Hurt and rage flashed on Raphael's face, before he said, "I should have told ya, Leo. I'm sorry it…"

"Just slipped your mind, did it?" Leo said acerbically. "Things like this don't just slip your mind, Raphael!"

"I liked ya so much. Maybe I was afraid ya wouldn't like me if I told ya. Clearly, I was right. As for abortion," Raphael said, patting his flat plastron. "I couldn't do that. The baby's an innocent, Leo, and I'll raise him or her on my own."

"What about your career and are you really qualified to be a parent?"

"My cousin will help, but yeah, I can do it. Money wise, I still got enough ta tide me over for a long time. I'll stay at home until the baby's old enough. They come first and I think I could be a dad. I got a lot of love, Leo, and I often baby sit April's two-year-old."

"You're not terrified of this? Babysitting isn't the same as parenthood."

"I am, but ya know what? I take responsibility for my actions. I don't run away from them. That ain't me, so maybe yer right and we ain't suited. I couldn't be with a coward!" Raphael shouted, his face darkening. "That ain't how my family raised me. Doubt yers did either. Maybe ya dad wouldn't be so hard ass and would offer help. If ya don't want me, I'll live with it, but denying yer child ya is cruel, Leo."

"You'll never cope and I'm not telling him. Not ever!" Leo roared. "I'm going for a walk! Need some air."

"I will and he or she will loved and know they're wanted. I'm gonna take a shower."

Leo stormed out and slammed the door. Raphael went into the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and thought miserably, as tears ran down his cheeks, how could he be so hard hearted? Yeah, I should have told him, but not wantin' ta know the baby, our baby, is criminal. And he's so wrong. If I do fall gravid, this baby is gonna have everythin' it desires and I'll be the best damn daddy ever, like it deserves. Fuck, Leo. We don't need him. Not now. Not ever.

A/N Will Leo warm up to the idea of a baby?