Important AN:

I'm so sorry I haven't updated this story in a while, I've been working on the chapter for a while but everything just stopped flowing. I know how disappointing it is not seeing a story being updated periodically but it's hard to do that when you no longer know what to write about. I'm planning on ending the story in the next chapter, just a heads up, this is the point where I had planned to wrap things up way back when I had been planning out how it would eventually end anyways. So in a sense everything worked out fine, I guess I just needed a lot of extra time to myself and a break from writing.

However! If anyone even remembers what happened in the last chapter (probably not?) I have a big surprise for you all! This chapter by the way has been written out, deleted, and written out again so many times over, so I hope you all enjoy the version I ended up with!

Next and final chapter will be just like the second to last chapter of the prequel to this story, Runaway, where April is writing in her notebook. I thought that would be the easiest way to wrap up the story, if anyone would like it written another way please let me know I'm always open to different options.


Chapter Twenty-Eight

Three more months, that was it.

Three more months until the farmhouse had yet another mouth to feed, and another mom. It all seemed to be happening too fast for them to understand. Sure April had gone through the same thing just years before, but no two mothers were the same. Alex's pregnancy was a different story all together.

She wasn't prepared to be a mother, that much was clear. Long nights she spent awake just talking to April, watching her play with Oliver and Wren who also were seemingly excited for the new child to arrive. It wasn't like she didn't want the child, it was just taking a toll on her, like it was absorbing her energy, draining it from her completely. Her gifts had even begun to weaken, which had even Donnie confused.

"The child may not be draining your energy, it may be draining your power." He had said with a small sigh as he examined her health for the third time that week. She had started to grow weaker as the due date approached and it was weighing the entire family down.

"What do you mean Donnie, like it's taking my powers from me?" She had asked him with weary eyes, narrowed and tired. Her gifts were the only thing she held dear to her heart that she considered her "possessions." She had nothing from her old home, nothing from her old life except a dull sword, and bow-staff she couldn't even bring herself to use anymore. She had at least obtained her gifts from her mother…that was the only thing she had ever gotten from her before she was killed. Now a growing being inside of her was taking that away.

"That's exactly what I mean. It would make sense though, that's possibly how you obtained your gifts from your mother. Being able to control the elements was a hereditary thing you essentially took that from her. Your being able to give the illusion you're invisible may have been passed to you through the mutagen your mother carried in her blood, which is why that gift was completely random." Donnie took a step back and put his hand to his chin. Alex had grown smaller, she had lost a lot of weight and April and Mikey had spent countless nights trying to get her to eat as much as possible, which only ever ended with her rejecting the food or throwing it back up. Other than her weight loss and her exhaustion she was fairly healthy as much as he could diagnose with the knowledge he had. He was worried about the child though, he could only assume it would continue to grow stronger, but what powers would it be capable of yielding. Alex was already strong, if she had continued to hone in her abilities throughout her years he believed she could possibly level an entire city with just her gifts.

"That would make sense." She whispered, her eyelids falling shut very slowly as she struggled to open them again.

"You should get some rest." He said putting a hand gently on her shoulder, she just nodded and walked out the kitchen door with a quiet goodnight and a quick thanks.

Three months later

Leo had been reclusive, for the most part. If Alex waddled into a room he would excuse himself or occupy himself with something random as if to appear that her presence didn't bother him. Truth be told it really didn't anymore. It was true he had loved her but now he was learning to cap that love with something akin to brotherly love. She was carrying his brother's child; he was going to be an uncle, again.

He couldn't jeopardize this family again by throwing his love out on the line, he would stay back. Besides, he had Karai now who had decided the farmhouse could be a forever home.

He knew he had a lot to sort through still but one thing was for sure, he couldn't just keep ignoring Alex. There were only so many places he could run and hide when she came around and soon enough there would be a baby with her too, in her arms.

She would need a shoulder to lean on, and he knew subconsciously he waned to be that shoulder. He wanted to hold the child and be a part of its life.

He had to come out of hiding; he had to stop acting dead inside whenever she glanced his way.

Maybe it was time to try and make amends.

He sighed, letting his head fall into his hands as the thought played around in his head. Sinking back into the couch he heard footsteps venturing down the stairs as they creaked, shattering the silence he was so accustomed to at night.

He assumed it was Karai, or Donnie as the two were always the early risers, Karai to train, Donnie to get a jump on the days work.

It was neither.

It was her, he could tell by the way her feet shuffled against the cold wood floors, and the way her breathing was heavy as if even the short walk down the stairs was enough to make her tired.

He was silent, sitting on the couch pretending to be asleep, and she walked right passed him on her way to the kitchen.

If you're going to do it, do it now he said to himself, his mind yelling at him to get up and meet her in the kitchen but his body staying planted on the couch.

He sat in silence like that for a good twenty minutes, debating if he should get up, or if he should just continue to pretend to be asleep.

Before he could even come to a conclusion over what he should to the silence was shattered once again as a barely audible gasp pierced his ears. It had come from the kitchen, and out of instinct he had snapped his head up, listening.

Another gasp rang out, then a louder groan and what sounded like someone grasping for something to put their weight on. Before he even knew what he was doing he had jumped up, his body carrying him quickly to the kitchen where his eyes went wide at the sight before him.

Alex had hands clutching the counter tops, knuckles white, breathing labored. She didn't seem to notice him standing there until he took a step closer to her from the doorframe and she turned to look at him through pained eyes. His heart sunk at the sight, and for a moment it was like watching her body crumble under the rubble of the building all over again. Seeing her in pain, it was something that made him want to be strong, it made him want to be the one to bear her weight, take away her pain.

But that wasn't his job anymore, it was his brothers.

"It's happening" She whispered, her words sharp and she closed her eyes shut as she took a deep breath in. Leo just stared, confused, frozen.

"It's happening" She mumbled again, freeing a hand so it could wrap around her bulging stomach.

His brother wasn't there right now though, and it was only her and him. He rushed over to her but before he could put an arm around her to support her weight he hesitated. The last time he had touched her he had almost killed her, but before he could even back off she had grabbed his upper arm with her hand, clinging desperately to him. Her eyes locked onto his as he turned his head, a look of terror written in his electric blue orbs, afraid he might hurt her again.

"I trust you Leonardo." She whispered, squeezing his arm, her eyes sincere.

A weight had lifted off his shoulder then and he just nodded, wrapping his arm around her torso shifting her weight to his body.

"W-what do I do?" He said, the reality of the situation now crashing down upon him, he couldn't do this, he couldn't deliver a baby!

"Trust me." She said with a sharp breath. "Just…trust me."

He nodded, just hearing her voice again, speaking only to him cleared his mind.

"Get me to the couch, then go and get Donnie and Raph. I don't want to wake the kids up." She whispered and he just whispered back an okay, and with only half of his strength he lifted her bridal style and briskly walked her to the couch before racing up the stairs with as much silence as a mouse and getting Donnie first, then Raphael.

Both were awake within seconds, racing down the stairs to find Alex, neither really registering that it was Leo that had woken them up.

She was carried by Raph then out to the barn where Donnie had set everything up for her delivery to be as comfortable as possible all while he could monitor her health at the same time.

He had given her some pain killers, though he knew it wouldn't be enough. This was going to be very painful for her and he had tried to convince the other two to leave so they wouldn't have to watch her in so much pain. Raphael of course refused, and Leo was about to leave before Alex had grabbed his hand from her spot on her makeshift bed and wouldn't let go.

"Don't go." Was all she could get out before a wave of pain hit her and her eyes squeezed shut trying to will it away. Eventually she let go of his hand after crushing it a few times and was replaced with Raph's who, as much as he tired to hide it, was experiencing his own kind of pain as she clamped down on his fingers. Occasionally Donnie would ask Alex how she was feeling, ask her to push and she would in turn follow directions with a small groan and sometimes a scream. Her face was plastered with sweat, her eyes dull, her body just completely drained of all energy.

It had been two hours. Two hours and Raphael was tried of watching her grow weaker and weaker, to the point of even snapping at Don who just ignored him and kept his focus of Alex. Leo lingered in the backdrop of the action, watching Alex with careful eyes ready to help if help was needed before the barn door rolled open behind him and April flew in, her eyes full of life.

"Alex!" She yelped running past Leo right over to the little bed, looking to Don for an update. Don just shook his head, his eyes telling April all she needed to know.

Alex's eyes were falling shut, the color was draining out of her body and April could tell what was happening. This baby was too strong; it was still feeding off of her gifts, her life force. With a determined demeanor, she placed one hand over the girl's forehead, the other over her heart, both palms immediately aglow with light.

Leo stood up and walked over standing a few steps away from Raphael who was watching April with confused eyes. "What're you doing?" He asked, his voice tired and angry.

"She needs energy." April replied back, giving Raph a quick glance hoping that would get the message across. Transferring energy was something April had only had to do on one other occasion, which was to Leo, who stood with knowing eyes behind his brother. It was something that would drain April's energy very low, something that she was resorting to because without it Alex could die.

Another hour, another hour and Leo hadn't moved, neither had April or Donnie, or Raph. It seemed to be working, Alex's eyes were open again, and the pain seemed to be hitting her again in full waves as she groaned and cried out, once again pushing against it.

One more hour and her eyes were open all the way, wide and full of energy, April's energy. April had since then removed her hands, and had slumped back against a bale of hay, her eyes falling shut. She was the one who needed rest now.

Another hour had passed, an hour that had everyone on their toes. Don had been waiting, watching, and knowing any minute now the child would be born. Raphael was still clutching her hand, and Leo, still standing behind him watching the scene from over his younger brother's shoulder.

One final push, seconds later a small whimper, then a cry filled the air. Alex collapsed on the bed, and everyone besides April who was asleep, and Donnie who was holding the child were frozen in time.

"Are you going to stare at her, or do you want to hold her?" Donnie said holding the child in his arms wrapped in a tiny yellow blanket. Raphael just looked down at Alex who was fast asleep, then back at the baby, then back at Alex. "Shouldn't I wait until she wakes up?" He asked with anxious eyes.

Donnie just glared. "She's not waking up for a while, she's burned down all her and April's energy for this. I think she would want you to hold your child Raphael." He shot walking up to his brother and gently placing the child in his arms before he could argue.

"My…child?" Raphael whispered, casting his gaze from Don to the baby in his arms. He was holding her like it was the first time he had ever held anything so small, and it was quite amusing to Donnie to watch him react to the small girl.

"I would hope so." Don mused to himself, walking over to April to see if she was close to waking up anytime soon.

The baby girl was as human as could be, she held no signs of mutation except for was looked like a small patch of skin that resembled his on the side of her neck. She barely had hair, but what she did have was brown, and her cheeks were dotted with barely visible freckles.

Beautiful was the first word that popped into his mind.

He had been holding her for a while now, with Alex still not showing any signs of waking up. As much as he had trained his entire life, his Father had never made him hold something in his arms with locked elbows for so long. He was starting to feel the soreness seep into his arms, and as much as he wanted to continue holding the now sleeping baby girl he needed a break.

With Don sitting by April, jotting down something in a notepad, and Alex still asleep, he turned to the older brother he knew was sitting just a few feet away. With reluctant steps he came to stand in front on Leo, Leo standing up to meet his gaze.

"Do you want to hold her?" He asked, his eyes softening as he registered the look on Leo's face. His eyes were glossed over with relief, and something akin to complete joy, his face trying to hide a small smile.

"Of course." He whispered, and Raphael gently placed the baby into his arms, and as soon at Leo had complete hold over her he couldn't take his eyes off of her. The movement seemed to stir the baby girl awake and as her eyes fluttered open Leo held his breath, praying she wouldn't cry.

Not even a whimper, she just stared up at him with hidden wonder trapped behind the brightest emerald eyes he had ever seen.


There it is, baby time! Let me know what you guys think. Sorry the chapter ended like this but it was all I had for now. Hopefully I'll be able to update quicker next time and I apologize again for the long wait. Forgive me darlings! I beg you!

Anyways, see you next chapter for the ending!