Authors Notes: I apologize for the long weight, and thank the people who continued to follow and read my stories.
Chapter # 20: Me, Myself, and Why?
Carson followed Leo to his room; the one that formally belonged to Master Splinter when the turtles were growing up. His father seemed lost in thought, or maybe he was just tired.
"Close the door," Leo instructed his son.
Carson did this, and then commenced to hand his beloved weapons over to his father. Leo stared for a moment at the weapons. He had not given his son permission to continue training with is katana. Carson had defied him, yet he had done the same with Master Splinter when he was a teenager. Leo shook his head, and waved the katana away.
"You may keep your weapons," Leo said. As Master Splinter had forgiven him for his disobedience, he would do the same with his son.
Carson stared at his father in shock. He was allowed to keep his beloved katana. His father wasn't going to take them away. Carson knew that he had defied Leo outright, and was in a lot of trouble for the recent choices he had made. If he was allowed to keep his weapons in his possession, then that could only mean that his father and Sensei had a worse punishment in mind for the discipline of his misguided actions.
"W-What is my punishment?" Carson asked solemnly.
Leo could hear, and almost smell, the trace of fear in his son's voice. He just couldn't figure out why Carson was so afraid of him when he thought he got into trouble. They all made mistakes, and he had seen his cousins make some big ones many times. Leo realized that Carson was still waiting for his reply.
"You will attend an extra hour of meditation and training each day until I say otherwise," Leo replied.
Carson nodded. He knew that was when his father trained privately with his brothers or Alex. This type of training was hard core, and more disciplined than even the other practices that all of the family was required to attend. He would do his best to serve his father well.
"Now, I want to talk with you about something else," Leo said as he and Carson sat down on the floor. Carson tensed. Did his father know?
There was a knock at the door, and in walked Alex, graciously bracing them with her presence as she walked into the wall divider and candles loudly. Objects of all sizes and shapes went flying every which way. "Ooops!" she exclaimed as she tried to tidy up her mess.
"Alexandra, a ninja's stealth can mean the difference between victory and defeat. Therefore, a ninja leader should be even more silent and poised."
"I'm sorry, Daddy!" Alex replied as she put everything back into its proper place. "Should I relight the meditation candles," she asked.
"No, this discussion should not last very long, and both of you have your evening chores to do. The lamp is fine."
Leo then turned to face his son. The expression on Carson's face was almost comical as he watched his sister pull the heavy bucket off her foot.
"Do you agree, Carson?"
"Yes," Carson replied, trying hard not to laugh.
"Now, Alex that is enough of your theatric performances for one day. Please sit with us. We have something very important to discuss." Leo said.
"Have you told him yet?" Alex asked eagerly as she bounced over to her brother, taking a seat across from him.
"Not yet. I wanted you to be here when I did." Leo smiled.
"Can I tell him then? Please! Please! Please!" Alex exclaimed.
"Sit still," Leo commanded. "Yes, you may tell him, but remember it is his choice in the end."
Carson looked at his father, and then his little sister. What was going on?
"Carson, we're going to be co-leaders," Alex squealed. She jumped up and ran over to Carson so fast that she managed to knock both of them over. "Do you want to? Please say 'yes.' Alex cried as she hugged Carson tightly. "Then I don't have to do everything by myself."
"Alexandra, that's enough," Leo's voice was firm, but calm. "What has gotten into you? I do not know why you are acting like such a child when you are a young lady, but it stops now."
"Yes Sir." Alex said weakly.
Co-leaders! Carson couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was going to be a leader, with Alex, of their father's ninja clan.
"This is your choice of course," Leo informed his son.
Carson thought for a moment. "Why are you presenting me with this wonderful opportunity?" He finally had to ask.
Leo looked taken aback. "What do you mean?"
"Do you not want to be leaders with me?" Alex asked with a slight pout.
"Yes, I do, but…" Carson looked down at the floor. "I defied you." Carson said. He looked up, but did not meet his father's eyes out of the deepest respect. "You didn't even know that I existed for most of my life, and you still took me into your home when I had nowhere to go. You continued my training, gave me a new beginning, and I defied you. Now, I get to be a leader, and train along side you."
"Co-leader," Alex corrected her brother. "That means I'm still in charge too."
Leo smiled. He knew his daughter would never let that get passed her.
He watched Alex dance for a moment, and shook his head. Why was Alex acting the way she was? Leo knew that his children knew how to behave when he spoke with them. What had gotten into her?
"This had better be the last time, Alex. Now settle down." He was going to get Mikey for teaching her those dance moves. He didn't realize that Mikey was not the culprit this time. Leonardo turned his attention back to his son.
"We all make mistakes, Carson, but I must warn you that if you become my assessor, defiance has a much greater consequence."
"I understand, Sensei." Carson shook his head. Why was his father doing this? Alex would still be the rightful leader, even if he was his first born son. The match between his two parents had been forbidden by the masters of their two clans. "This usually isn't done in a clan." Carson stated. Then, he could have kicked himself. What if his father decided it was not a good idea after all.
"True, but most ninja masters are not giant mutated turtles either!" exclaimed Alex. She covered her moth quickly with her hands as she noticed her father giving her a disapproving look. She hoped it didn't mean extra flips at practice. She really shouldn't have eaten that new extra sugary candy that Franklyn had made in the Science lab. She was bouncing off the walls. Even more, she hoped that her father and uncle didn't find out. They would both be in trouble.
"In most clans, the first born becomes the leader," Leo said. "However, as you have pointed out, I didn't know about you. I thought Alex was my first, so I trained her to be my assessor. You are part of the family, Carson, and Alex admitted when we talked about this that you have several, very skilled leadership qualities."
"You actually got through to Dalton, which is astonishment as he becomes more and more unruly every day. All of the children look up to you, listen to you, and obey you just as they do Alex. Besides, I rather make the two of you co-leaders now than have to put up with you fighting over leadership later."
"You know I would win that fight," Alex said.
"Why don't we test out that theory in practice tonight," Carson suggested.
"You're on!" Alex shouted. "You'll regret it."
"We shall see," said Leo. "Now go do your chores before practice starts."
Leonardo fell back into his thoughts after his children left the room. So much had happened in such a little amount of time. In deep meditation, Leo began to reflect upon past events.
Michelangelo was delighted when Alex had surprised him with the kitten. Unfortunately, it had gotten into some of the chemicals in Donatello's lab and mutated with some ice cream. Now she was called Ice-cream Kitty, and lived in their freezer.
Master Splinter had returned to the Tribunal in Japan. The children wanted him to stay with them, bust Master Splinter promised to visit again.
Leo and Michelle had lost their baby girl to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Though devastated himself, Leo focused on putting his own feelings aside so he could concentrate on the sorrowful needs of Michelle and his children. That's when things started to change.
Not wanting to rush his wife, Leo consented to wait for her to come to him for pleasure.
Not justifying his feeling about loosing his daughter, Leo started to go out for drinks more with Raphael. Even his practices became more intense.
Practice! Leo eyes shot open. It was almost time for practice. His children were eagerly awaiting the chance to see who was the better ninja.