Later that day, Leo was putting Raph down for a nap, but even though he was exhausted, the baby wouldn't sleep and kept babbling. Leo sighed, picked up the baby and said, "Maybe a bottle will help you settle down, huh, champ?" Leo tickled the baby under his chin and Raph cooed, looking at his dad with his huge golden eyes and making Leo smile. "I love you so, so much, Raphie," Leo said. "I still wish we could find a cure and change you back. It's so hard knowing we'll never be together again."

"Gaga," Raph said, stretching out a hand and touching Leo's face.

Heaving a sad sigh, Leo went into the kitchen and settled Raph in his pram, while he made the formula. When it was ready, he picked up Raph, sat down and gave him his bottle. The baby sucked hungrily and Leo watched with a mixture of pride, sadness and happiness. He had to admit that Raphael was a gorgeous baby and such a sweet one, but Leo still missed being with the older Raph and he knew that wouldn't change. Don was okay, but he was no substitute for Raph and had NEVER been. Hot tears streamed down Leo's cheeks, as he remembered his and Raph's romance. "Why did this have to happen?" Leo said. "We'd only just gotten back together. Why is life so fucking unfair? I have to spend the rest of my life with someone I don't trust, let alone love, anymore. Oh, Raph. I miss you so much."

When Raph finished his bottle, Leo burped him and said, "I bet you're tired now. I can see your eyes want to close, but you're still fighting sleep. You always were stubborn and I know it'll be worse when you're older and can talk back. We're going to have many epic fights. Come on, Raphie. Close your eyes, so your daddy can take you to bed and…"

"Hey," Don said entering the kitchen. "How's the baby, Leo?"

"He's good. How are the others?"

"Not so good. They started sniffling. I think they're coming down with colds, which means he will probably too and we won't be able to go away."

"We can always go away when they're better, Don."

"I know, but I was looking forward to time away with you, Leo. Can I hold him?"

"Why?"

"I meant what I said about being kind to Raphael and he's going to be my son too, Leo. Let me hold him. Please."

"I don't think so. He's very attached and doesn't like…"

"Leo, you're going to have to trust me. I'm your mate after all. How can I be nice to Raphael if you don't even let me hold him?"

"Fine," Leo said reluctantly, handing Raph to Don. Raph immediately squawked, staring at Don fearfully and stretching out his hands for Leo. Don't want him, Raph thought. He scares me. Want Daddy. Want Daddy. "Waaaaaah!" Raph said, letting out an earsplitting wail that made Don instantly hand him back to Leo, who began to gently rock him. Raph cooed softly and nuzzled into Leo's plastron.

"He doesn't like me, Leo."

"Maybe he remembers what a jerk you've been to him, Don, so you can't blame him, but keep being nice to him by smiling at him, playing with him and you may earn his trust."

"Yeah, I guess so," Don said, and pecked Leo on the lips. Raph looked at Don and immediately nuzzled his face against Leo's plastron, demanding attention. He didn't like the mean man kissing his daddy.

"What was that for Don?" Leo asked.

"Just to show I love you and look at him. He doesn't like me showing you affection and is jealous."

Leo laughed and said, "You're paranoid, Don. He's a baby. Of course he wants attention, but he isn't jealous. He just likes affection, don't you, Raphie?" Leo said, planting a kiss on Raph's snout.

"Googgo," Raph said, looking up at his daddy.

"I'm going to check on the other kids," Don said, not convinced at what Leo had said. He would try to be nicer to Raphael, but his gut told him that Raph was jealous and he'd always be a thorn in his and Leo's relationship.

Leo took Raph into his bedroom, changed his diaper and put blue pajamas on him with turtles that Leo had bought for Kane when he was a baby. "There. You smell so sweet, Raphie," Leo said, hugging the baby. "Now you must be really tired. Close your eyes, pumpkin."

"Baboo," Raph said.

"Please. I want to sleep for an hour too. I'm tired, Raphie."

"Gohoooggooo."

"I guess that's a no, huh? Well, I know what'll make you sleep. It worked on the others, so it'll work on you."

Leo began to bounce Raph gently in his arms, making Raph coo and feel drowsy, the warm formula taking affect. Raph yawned and tried to fight sleep, but Leo kept bouncing him and a few minutes later, Raph's golden eyes slid closed and he began to snore. Knowing Raph would wake if he settled him in his crib; Leo got into bed and placed Raph onto his plastron, covering him with the blanket, and placing one hand protectively on the baby's middle. Then he, too, fell asleep.

He was woken an hour later by Don, who entered the bedroom and said, "Leo, It's time for supper."

"Already?" Leo said, sitting up gently, cradling a now awake and babbling Raph to his plastron.

"Yes. I can bring you supper in bed if you prefer."

"I think I would if that's all right. Then Raphie needs a bath and bed. I want an early night too."

"Okay. I'll be back in a bit, Leo."

I hope it's pizza, Raph thought. Want pizza. Tired of formula. Want pizza. It looks so yummy and everyone else eats it, so why can't I?

Don entered the room a few minutes later with a plate of pizza and Raph immediately squawked upon seeing it. "Gagooo!" he said, his golden eyes lighting up. Want pizza now, he thought, stretching out chubby hands.

"No, you're too small, Raphael," Don said, setting the plate down on a dresser and giving Leo a slice. 'You'll choke."

Want pizza, Raph thought, as Leo shifted him to his left arm, so that he could eat. "Bah!" Raph shrieked and snatched the pizza away from his daddy, shoving it inside his mouth before a started Leo could react. Oh, finally, Raph thought happily, tasting the melted cheese. I got it. Yay. Raphie has his first pizza.

"Raphael, you bad baby," Don said, snatching the pizza away and making the baby cry indignantly. "You'll choke."

"It's okay, Raphie," Leo soothed, rubbing his shell. "You're not bad and just wanted to try what Daddy was eating. Let him have it back, Don, otherwise I'll get no peace."

"But he'll choke, Leo, and by giving into him, he'll grow up spoiled and think he'll always get what he wants if he throws tantrums."

"Just this once, Don. Give me the pizza and if anything goes wrong, we're here."

Don scowled and gave Raph the pizza. Raph immediately stuffed it into his mouth with his fingers and began to suck on it, savoring the cheese and tomato taste. He spat the crust out a couple of minutes later and looked at Leo with a toothless grin. "Congrats, Raphie," Leo said. "You had your first pizza, but it's best you don't have any more until you're older."

I'll have more, Raph thought. All I have ta do is cry and ya will give me whatever I want, Daddy. Yer a softy, unlike him over there who is mean. I may only be a baby, but I know whose buttons I can push and who loves me and who don't.

Leo decided he'd finish his dinner later and took Raph into the bathroom for a bath. Sitting down in the water with him, Leo watched, as Raph played with the bubbles and babbled happily. Stubborn baby, Leo thought. But it was funny watching him enjoy the pizza and looking like he'd won a major prize.

"Baba," Raph said, touching Leo's face.

"You're a sweetie, Raphie," Leo said, nuzzling his face against Raph's. "And I love you. Do you love me?"

"Dadoo."

"I suppose that's yes," Leo said with a smile and washed him gently, including his shell. When he was finished, he toweled Raph dry and carried him into the bedroom, changed him into a diaper, dressed him in his pajamas, turned on the mobile and placed him in his crib. "I love you, Raphie," Leo whispered, and kissed him on his forehead. "I'll be back now. Want to check on your brothers and finish my dinner," Leo said, picking up the plate of pizza and leaving the room.

Raph yawned, closed his eyes and thought, I'm so sick of these horsies above me goin' round and round and round. Want…but before he could even complete his sentence, he was fast asleep, snoring gently and dreaming of the pizza he'd thoroughly loved.

A/N This chapter is dedicated to Christina. Thank you so much for your ideas.

I've always wanted to write two versions. One where Raph stays a baby and one where he doesn't and is back with Leo. Should I still do that?

Or would you prefer one where Raph is ultimately back with Leo? Please let me know.