DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by Nickelodean (I think). I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

PART 21

It was known by a few terms. Practice contractions. Prodromal labour. Braxton Hicks contractions. But in the end, the fancy names resulted in the same thing: false labour. They all really should have seen it coming. Donatello especially.

He read up on the occurrence, and indeed on everything pregnancy-related, so obviously knew it was possible. But he hoped it was something they would not have to deal with: his precious April had been through more than enough. However, he indeed should have known the surprises were not done yet. Everything was going too well for the last months of the pregnancy to go without another hitch. It seemed his family's lot in life for nothing to ever go the easy route.

Donnie looked over at his beautiful lover, once more laid up in bed. She was truly everything to him. Donnie again felt a wave of guilt in getting her into this situation. Surely nothing was worth all this trouble, all this stress. What were they thinking, letting this go to term? This latest crisis once again proved to the scientist he should never have let things get this far. He never should have met April. He never should have given into his feelings for her. He never should have ruined her life...

"Y'know, I can read you like a book." April's voice cut through Donnie's internal chastising. She looked at him with a slight shake of the head. "I can practically hear you beating yourself up in that big head of yours. Calling yourself every name under the sun."

Donnie darted his eyes away, a small blush coming to his cheeks. "Who else am I to blame?"

With an audible tut, April rolled her eyes. "Oh, I dunno, howabout no one?" She rested a hand on her huge tummy. "False labour isn't exactly a knew phenomenon. You've invented plenty of stuff, sweetheart, but that isn't one of them."

"This is all wrong," Donnie blurted. "What we thinking, having a baby? The risk was far too great. We should've... "

"Should've what?" interrupted April. Her tone was not argumentative; she was too tired for that. But there was something in her voice Donnie knew all too well: exasperation. Nothing really fazed April O'Neil anymore - even Raph and Mikey's personality quirks past the ability to surprise her years ago - but if there was one thing she still could not seem to stand, it was Donatello's self-beratement. The turtle was filled with a mixture of guilt and pride whenever he heard that tone in April's voice - guilt at annoying her, and pride in her belief in him. What did he ever do to deserve her love? "Donnie, I won't keep having this argument with you. I know you're only worried about my safety, but the fact is I'm pregnant, and there's a high chance that stuff like this will happen. I wouldn't sacrifice anything for this. I want this baby... " - her voice quieted - "... and I thought you did, too."

At that, Donnie looked at her. Her face was slightly pained, an element of doubt in her eyes. Great. Once again he caused her pain. The scientist in Donnie almost felt like he should be keeping a record of all the different types of ways he found at hurting her. "Of course I do," he said sternly, reaching out taking her free hand in his. "It's just that you've ended up ill in bed alot over these past four, five months, and it's all my... "

"Stop. It." April frowned deeply. "I'm not going to lie and say this pregnancy has been a picnic, but once our baby is here and in our arms, it'll all be worth it. Trust me." Her eyes softened. "Please."

Donnie melted at that. "I trust you more than anyone or anything, April." Truly he did. His love for her was as pure as his love for his brothers and father - maybe moreso. He trusted April with his heart and soul. He softly kissed her knuckles and, with his other hand, tucked a stray red hair behind her ear.

"Glad to hear it," she said, her lips creeping up into a smile. "So stop with all this self-hate, OK? That's an order."

"Are you my sensei now?" Donnie chuckled

"No," April replied with a raised eyebrow. "I'm the mother of your child. That outranks even Splinter."

Now it was his turn to roll his eyes. "Fair enough." Then he remembered something. He really hated to break the levity, but he had to tell her. "Speaking of orders," he began, hoping to keep it light - though he knew her reaction would render the effort futile. She tilted her head, motioning for him to continue. "I've talked with Karai, and we've decided: you're going to have a couple of bodyguards around you for the remainder of the... "

"What?!" April's jaw dropped. "Are you kidding me?" She started to shake her head. "No way. Forget it."

"April," he said, his own voice turning stern. "Please... I know I can't keep you in the lair, and I want you to have your freedom - " hence why she was in her own bed now and not back in the underground medibay - "... but if you're having Braxton Hicks pains, then I'm not taking any chances. As I've explained countless times, this isn't a normal pregnancy. I don't know for sure when you might go into actual labour. I'm not risking you going into it and having no way to get to me."

"I have my shell cell... "

"Please, April," Donnie snapped. "Don't fight me on this. I won't risk you being unable to physically get down to the lair. They'll keep their distance, but Karai's guards will be close enough to step in and make sure you get safely to me. Just trust me, please."

April looked furious, but Donatello would not break. There was no element of overprotection here: this was past that point. And the way her expression gradually calmed, it was obvious April knew it. She clenched her jaw and narrowed her eyes. "Fine," she hissed. "But I won't be hovered over."

"I promise you won't," the Mutant assured, and he meant it. After how she reacted to months in the lair, Donnie knew not to make the mistake of suffocating April again.

"On one condition," April then said. Donnie was about to say how her having bodyguards was happening no matter what, but she continued before he could do so. "I didn't notice it at the time, and we quickly had other things on our minds, but something you said when Casey visited... "

Donnie blinked. That he did not expect.

"You asked me what Casey was apologising for." April narrowed her eyes. "How did you know he apologised for something if you just got there?"

Another blink, then the blush returned. Once more April had the edge. "Well... I... er... might've been... " When April again rolled her eyes, Donnie clenched his own jaw. "It wasn't like that, April. I got here a little early and heard you two talking. But I wasn't spying on you, April, or mistrusting you: I was actually seeing if Casey could be trusted to talk to you without making you upset. But when I heard him question our baby, that's when I stepped in from the fire escape. I didn't say anything because I knew that would set him off."

April had a look of question on her face. "Really?"

"I swear," he said sincerely. "I'm sorry if you thought I don't trust you, but I still have a hard time trusting him not to hurt you again. And I'll never let that happen."

The mother-to-be let out a long breath. "Fine. You're forgiven." She nodded to the bedroom door. "But you won't be in my good books again until you get me a sandwich."

Donnie smirked. Yep, she definitely outranked Splinter. "Your wish is my command."

TO BE CONTINUED