Hamato Karai 21

AUTHOR: Jinn-Jinn
DISCLAIMER: Not mine. Quite poor. Don't sue.

3 months later…

Karai had faced many things but this had to be the most awkward. The last time she was in this store she had given April O'Neil a gift that proved the end of the turtle clan. Today in an odd twist of fate she was going to present something to the redhead that would actually solidify and expand the family.

"Miss O'Neil." She called out softly.

April would swear to the end of her days that she was not startled, but she was; almost dropping the box of antiques that she was holding when a frighteningly familiar voice spoke. "Oh! Um, hello Karai?"

Awkward, just awkward.

Karai didn't know how to be friendly, she so decided on being blunt. "Leonardo and I are expecting our babies to arrive this evening."

"Leo told me yesterday. I am so happy for you both! And it's understandable if you want the first few days to settle them in. I can't wait to see them Tuesday!"

"Yes, however there is a small matter that require yours and Mr. Jones attention. Is he here?"

"Yeah, let me get him down." April sets her box aside and walks over to the stairs. "CASEY!"

A large, dull thump echoes, probably the man himself. Silence, then. "WHAT?"

"GET DOWN HERE!" She hollered. "KARAI WANTS TO SPEAK TO US!"

"WHAT?!" Suddenly there a rush of feet and Casey Jones reveals himself holding a bat. "What do you want, lady?!" He growls, his bat at the ready.

April promptly takes the bat from him and sets it on the counter. "Be nice. She's Leo's wife." She turns back to Karai who took the whole scene in with a mildly startled expression.

Smoothing her face, Karai cleared her throat and produced a thick stack of folded white paper. She opened it and presented it to them both along with a pen. "You two are the only people we trust. If anything should happen to myself or Leonardo, we are naming you the legal guardians of our daughters."

April gasped and Casey was dumbstruck. Karai had no time for either expression. "I need you to sign. Please."

"B-But, what about Splinter and the guys?" April asked as she hesitantly took the pen.

"Yeah!" Casey piped up. "They'd be great with kids."

"The courts will recognize HUMAN guardianship Ms. O'Neil, Mr. Jones. They can raise our daughters if they choose to, but you will be the ones capable of receiving their funds and signing off on documents. We believe that you both will ensure that our daughters are safe and that they will be able to reach their grandfather and uncles if anything should happen."

April was stunned, she looked at the papers in front of her, wondering if this was some kind of trap, but she noticed Leo's signature next to Karai's and decided to trust in her a little. She tightened her hold on the pen and signed her name. She then handed it to Casey who took it, but hesitated.

"Ape, but we don't know what's going to happen. What if we don't work out?" He asked.

April took his free hand and squeezed it. "You still plan on making sure Leo's girls get three meals a day, go to school, stay safe and get to see Splinter and the guys?"

Casey frowned and nodded. "Hell yes."

"Then sign the paper."

So he did.

The relief Karai felt was immense, but she did not let it show as she tucked the freshly signed paper back into her coat. "Thank you." She hesitated a beat. "The girls will be waiting for you on Tuesday."

She left.

Karai didn't know how to feel when she went to the airport to fetch her babies, but she was grateful she brought them over by private plane so she can view them quietly in the seclusion of the airplane hangar.

When the first caretaker approached, the baby in her arms yawned and rubbed her eyes, clearly having awakened from her nap. Karai, the Foot ninja, so deadly calm and always in control lost her heart to her instantly and extended her arms out to take her. The baby, still half asleep and looking for a warm place to snuggle leaned towards the new pair of arms and cuddled up before sleeping again. Before Karai can savor this new precious weight, the other caretaker emerged; the baby in her arms heavy and limp. Although her arm had one baby, Karai instantly wanted the other as well. The new one didn't even stir, just sniffed in annoyance and curled up against her, drooling.

It was awkward holding two, but oh how she loved them! She didn't know how else to feel. They were precious and they were her daughters. Leonardo's daughters too. Karai shifted them around a bit, then dismissed the caretakers to another car. She had to take them home instantly where their father was waiting. With some help she settled them both in the carriers already installed in the vehicle and she was pleased that she was not driving because she couldn't take her eyes off of them as they squirmed and shifted in their new space. She brushed a finger over the thick black hair of the smaller twin. Yoshiko was the name Leo gave her. She then stroked the fisted hand of the bigger twin; Kameko was to be her name.

There wasn't a word in the dictionary for the feeling that filled Leonardo's gut when he heard the garage door roll up. His babies have come home and the thought nearly paralyzed him. What would he do if he scared them? What if they cried being in his presence? He didn't know what to do; his heart was trying to come out his throat. Oh God….

The elevator pinged and he became paralyzed; terror, unknown until now, seized him.

But then the soft helpless sounds of his children reached him and he was instantly at the elevator door. Karai was holding both carriers and he took both of them from her, effortlessly carrying them to the couch. The babies squeaked at him as he knelt down before them. They didn't cry at the sight of him, they didn't even look perplexed. Leo reached out and touched their feet. Tiny toes incased in soft socks wiggled against his great hands. Kameko tried to grasp one of his fingers, Yoshiko continued to squirm. They were amazing.

"You should pick them up." Karai said as she knelt down beside him. Before he could say anything she took Kameko out of her carrier and without hesitation placed her in Leo's arms.

She felt soft and delicate as she adjusted to his touch, babbling and reaching out with curious hands. Then Karai placed Yoshiko in his other arm who promptly got a hold of his bandana tails and suckled on the edge of it. In his arms were his daughters; light as feathers, soft as silk, with that delicate powder scent. Emotions, so many swelled inside of him and he didn't know what to say, but his little girls were looking at him now as if expecting him to speak.

"Hey, I'm your…." Leo began to say when tears sprang into his eyes. He couldn't control himself as he smiled and wept. "I'm your dad." He looked towards Karai and saw that her own eyes were bright with tears. "And this beautiful woman in front of us is your mom and you're our girls now. We're going to take care of you."

Karai watched her husband kiss their daughters and she didn't know she could love him as much as she loved him now. He was the greatest warrior, the best husband and bound to be the most devoted father. She took Leo's nuzzling face from their daughters' soft hairs between her hands and kissed him, their tears of joy mingling. Their daughters didn't seem to mind being enfolded in their new parents embrace as Kameko reached up to grab her mother's hair. It was perfect.