Chapter 28 (the real chapter 28, not the mislabeled chapter 27. Sorry everyone!)

Disclaimer: Nope, still don't own TMNT.

Two days later,

Anya woke up the next morning with a major headache. She felt like she had the flu. She got up, noticing that Don and Lydia were already gone. She moved out of the living room to see the turtles can talking excitedly at the table. Lydia was sitting on Don's lap, eating eggs. Anya noticed that the boys saw her and became quiet. She grinned. So, it had been one of those types of conversations.

Anya sat at the table, watching Don. He was smiling at her; letting her know in his own way that he had been teasing one of his brothers. Probably Leo.

Mikey came over and placed a plate of scrambled eggs and sausage in front of Anya. Her favorite breakfast. But, this morning, the smell of the eggs and grease, caused Anya to gag and run to the bathroom. She just made it before throwing up what ever was left in her stomach from last night.

Don was at her side immediately. "Morning sickness?"

Anya sat up. "Yeh." She gagged again, feeling Don move her hair out of her face. When it was over, Don helped her to bed. He placed a cool cloth on her forehead.

"I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."

Anya nodded. "Thanks."

Don left Anya and retuned to the table where the conversation about Leo's seemingly obvious sexual adventures were being explored.

Raphael was even in a good mood, joking instead of been curt and rude. He wondered if the night he walked Julie home had anything to do with that…but he wasn't going to ask. Leo was denying anything and everything, which made teasing that much more fun. Leo finally had enough and went to the dojo.

That night, Don was at his workstation, working on a new program to monitor Anya's hormone level, when his e-mail dinged. Becky had sent her results with a "CALL ME" in big bold lettering. He dialed her number. "Becky?"

Becky sighed. "Don, did you see the results?"

Don clicked the attachment with his mouse. "Opening now. Why?"

"It's…interesting. The baby is definitely growing at an accelerated rate, but I can't pinpoint a timeframe. She's about 6 weeks along but growth is nine weeks. I also don't like Anya's blood results. She needs to drink more water and hopefully that will resolve the imbalance. If not, we may have to test her for gestational diabetes."

Don was looking through the results, listening to Becky's concerns. He stopped at one result. "Why are her white cells up?"

Becky sighed. "I don't know. I was hoping you or Dr. Perry could explain that one."

Don nodded. "Got it. I'm forwarding everything to him and Leatherhead."

"How is she doing?"

"Okay. She has terrible morning sickness. She's been in bed most of the morning again."

"That would explain the electrolyte imbalance. Force her to drink more water. Although morning sickness can be a good sign, if she's sick for more than two days, take her to a doctor. She may have a more serious condition called Hyperemesis gravidarum. They may have to give her fluids intravenously."

"Thanks Becky."

"I'm still not happy about this, Don. I won't lie. I'm scared of what could happen to my little sister. I hate even more lying and hiding this from my parents. Although, I'm not mad at you, I know it wasn't intentional. Just…take care of her, ok?"

"I will, Becky. I promise you that." They hung up and Don went to work on finishing his program.

Anya came out of her room, the worst of the sickness over. She ventured into the kitchen to find some crackers. Raph was sitting at the table, reading a motorcycle magazine with his chair tilted back and legs extended over another chair. "Hey Raph."

Raph looked up, grinning. "Hey, you don't have my skin coloring anymore, you must feel better."

Anya ignored the comment and got herself some tea and crackers. She sat at the table, slowly eating. "So, what happened with Julie?"

Raph never looking up from his magazine said, "What about 'er?"

Anya shrugged. "How did the walk home go? You got home pretty late."

Raph looked at Anya once, before returning to his magazine. "It was fine."

"Just fine? Come on, Raph. She's my best friend. If you don't tell me, she will, and she tends to exaggerate."

Raph grunted, putting his magazine down, correcting the chair so he was level with Anya. "Nothin' to tell. We walked, make a detour at a bar, then walked to her place. Said good-byes. And, I came home."

Anya sipped her tea. "That's it?"

Raph seemed confused. "What else did you expect?"

Anya shrugged. "I don't know…you always seem so…eager, no that's not the right word..."

Raph shook his head. "Anya, I wasn't going to take advantage of your friend. Despite what my brothers think, I have never done that. Every woman I've been wit was ready and willing."

Anya put her hands up. "I didn't mean that. You just seemed to like her."

Raph nodded. "I do." He put his magazine up, letting Anya know that he was done with the conversation.

Leo came in from the dojo, sweaty and panting, one katana still unsheathed. He went to the refrigerator, downing a Gatorade. He wiped his mouth on his forearm, looking between Raph and Anya. "What are you two talking about?"

"Nothing," responded Anya and Raph in unison.

Leo grinned. "Right." He replaced his katana behind his back. "Anya, let me shower and I can go, if you want."

Anya nodded. "Cool. I'm feeling better so I should ready in twenty minutes."

Leo nodded. "Okay. Meet you down here then." He moved and jumped until he was in his room.

Raph looked at Anya. "You know, it's kinda weird that you two go off together."

Anya grunted. "We only talk." She stomped upstairs to her and Don's room. She walked in to see Don, humming to Lydia, feeding her a bottle. She smiled, whispering. "Hello."

Don smiled back. "Hello."

"I'm going with Leo. We'll be back in an hour. Do you need anything on our way back?"

She saw Don's sad face. "Just you."

She kissed his lips. "You already have me. Love you." She lifted her shell cell, showing him that she had it in her pocket. He nodded, rocking Lydia. He nodded, worry still written all over his face. Don trusted her…so maybe this was about Don's broken trust in Leo. She met Leo and they began walking to their normal spot. "Don and Raph think that our talks are not a good idea."

Leo shrugged. "Splinter has spoken to me about them too."

Anya stopped. "Why? All we do it talk."

Leo stopped, turning back towards her. "I know. You know. But, the perception of others is not."

Anya grunted. "This is so sexist. If I was Casey or another male, this would never be the case. But, because I'm a woman, everyone thinks I'm a slut."

Leo's eyebrow ridges went up. "No one has called you that. Ever. It's me they don't trust. But, I've reminded them a hundred times that I've never scent marked you."

"Marked me? How?"

Leo took her hand, helping her across a small ledge. "Turtles have scent glands. When we mate or have an intended mate, we use those glands to mark the person. It tells anyone else that the person is taken. Granted, it's just us, with Master Splinter being able to distinguish our scents. Not much competition. Don has marked you. A lot. You can't smell it, only we can."

Anya wrinkled her nose. "What does it smell like?"

Leo grinned. "Donatello."

Anya laughed. "Does he smell bad?"

Leo laughed. "No. It's his own scent. It's like a piece of fruit. If Don smelled like an orange, then you would recognize the smell as being orange-like. My brothers and I smell you and we smell hints of oranges all around you. It's not good, not bad…it's Don."

They got to their spot, which was an abandoned subway station from the 1900's. There was a car that Leo had fixed up so they had somewhere clean to sit. Anya sat down, looking around. "You added Christmas lights."

Leo nodded. "I thought they were more calming then those huge oil lamps."

Anya laughed. "So, what do you want to talk about today?"

"I guess we should start with the baby."

Anya grunted. "No. We always talk about this baby and it's just frustrating. I want to talk about something else. What do you think of Raph and Julie? Cute couple or war of roses?"

Leo shrugged. "I think Raph actually likes her. But, she seems head strong on her religious beliefs, so I don't know how far she would take the relationship."

"True." Anya looked around, nervous. She made circles in the air with her finger. "Nothing leaves this car right?"

Leo nodded. "Of course. That's the deal."

Anya sighed, touching her stomach. "When Julie first met Don, she freaked about him being a turtle. Bestiality, and all. There was a brief moment, when I worried about it too."

Leo frowned. "You thought of Don as an animal."

Anya nodded, defensive. "I'm ashamed of it now. I have come to my own terms with Don's physical appearance and genetic make-up. But, I think its still in the back of Julie's mind."

Leo leaned back, crossing his arms. "Does Don know?"

Anya shook her head. "No. I don't want him to know too. It would hurt him too much. He's always worried that I'll find a human and leave him. But, since finding out that I'm pregnant, he's been pushing me away."

Leo shook his head. "No way. If anything, he's fretting over you more." Leo stood, lazily walking through the small car, touching items as he went. "Don's a fixer. He's so focused on the baby and your well being, I can see how you would think he's ignoring you. Tell him. He doesn't realize what he is doing. Growing up, you can't imagine how many times we had to pull him away from a project to sleep, eat or just hang out."

Anya sighed. "I guess. It doesn't hurt less though."

"Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No." Anya ran her fingers through her hair. "How are you holding up with the Spanish Inquisition?"

Leo laughed. "Fine. It's driving Don nuts, trying to figure it out. Mikey and Raph are playing, but are extremely curious, as well. I think Don insistent because he now knows we can reproduce." He stopped and thought for moment before saying, "I know Karai did not have a child."

"How?"

"Her scent didn't change."

"How would you…Leo, please tell me you didn't see her?"

Leo grinned. "As much as I wanted to, no, I did not. I was near her though. Near enough to smell her. Her scent was the same."

"That's how you knew?"

Leo nodded, sitting in front of Anya. "If she had had my child, she would have had his or her scent on her. A scent that has a trace of me in it. She had no trace of me in her scent."

"Then, tell them it was some girl from South America. They'll get off your back."

"I'm not going to lie." Leo looked down. "I love her. She said she loved me, once upon a time. I'm not going to deny I was ever with her." He lifted his head up. "Silence will be the only answer they ever get from me."

Anya was about to comment when her and Leo's shell cells went off. She opened it. "Hello?"

Raph said, "Hey, you two, Don wants everyone back here. Family meetin.'"

Leo and Anya went back to the lair to find it in disarray. Leatherhead and Don were in a heated debate. Mikey was preparing some snacks. Raph was standing away from the crowd with Lydia in his arms. Master Splinter was sitting in the recliner, silently watching Don and Leatherhead.

Don saw Anya, moving to her. "You need to hear this."

They all moved towards Leatherhead. He cleared his throat. "Friends. I have heard from the Utroms. I had some concerns about the conception of Donatello's child due to the power of the gem attached to his shell. The Utroms have confirmed that the gem may have affected the child."

Anya squeezed Don's hand harder. "How?"

Leatherhead sighed. "The gem, although harmless to other life forms, has some unique properties. All of the Earth's gems come from magma. Minerals, stones and gems have a magnetic power of varying degrees, depending on where they come from and where they are harvested. The gem Don wears was harvested from the closest regions to the Earth's core. The highly magnetic power gave the gem the ability to change the wearer's form. According to the Utroms, the gem is feeding the unborn child energy. A pure and powerful energy. Don was in his transformed form during conception, creating a link between the child and the gem. The child will be linked to the gem until it is born. Once born, the link will be broken. The Utroms are not sure whether the child will drain the gem, rendering it useless to you Don, or, if the gem will replenish itself using your energy."

He walked over to Anya, asking her for her arm. Leatherhead placed a small device on her arm, which beeped and displayed Utrom wording. "The child's DNA will be extremely unstable. I sent a sample to the Utroms. They confirmed that due to the gem's affect, the child may have the molecular ability to transform."

Anya stared in disbelief. "You're talking about a shape shifter."

Leatherhead grinned. "Correct."

Mikey looked around. "So, the kid will be able to change into stuff, like Mystique or BeastBoy?"

Leatherhead nodded. "It appears so. It also explains Anya's fluctuating weight. It's not her. It's the baby changing. Although, we believe that the child will be able to transform into organic subjects only."

Mikey stood tall. "Organic?"

Raph sighed. "He means people and animals, dufus."

Mikey grinned. "That. Is. So. Cool!"

Leatherhead removed the device. "There is a negative side affect to this development. There is the child's mental development. We don't know if it will be fully developed or handicapped in some fashion. Anya, your vitals are becoming erratic. The child is trying to change you with it. But, you being a full-developed adult, your molecular structure will not yield to the child's desires. For all we know, the child could be experimenting on its surrounding and stop your heart, make you go blind temporarily…."

Anya's eyes went wild with realization. "I could die. My baby could kill me by accident."

Leatherhead sighed. "Correct." He took his machine and touched it to a watch-like device. He handed it to Anya. "Wear this device. It will monitor your baby's activity. I've programmed it to upload to Don and my computers every four hours."

Anya nodded. "Does my sister and Dr. Perry know?"

Leatherhead nodded. "I have informed them. Your sister was most upset."

Don felt numb. "Anya, we have to terminate the pregnancy. It's too dangerous."

Anya pulled her other hand, angrily away from Don. "How can you say that?"

Don moved towards her. "Easily. You just heard Leatherhead. The baby is too dangerous. It could change and kill you. It could stop your heart. It's not worth your life. If you want another child, we'll make it happen another way. Please."

Anya yelled. "It's my life, Don. If I want to give my life to give our child a shot, then I will."

Don was about to yell back when Leo moved forward, touching Don's shoulder. "It's a lot to take in. I think we should get some dinner and talk tomorrow." He turned. "Thank you, Leatherhead."

Leatherhead nodded. "This could be a great opportunity for the human race. A child who could change its molecular structure…it could stop cancer within itself. It could potentially regenerate itself…."

Anya backed away, wrapping her arms around herself. "It's something to study."

Leatherhead frowned. "I apologize. I didn't mean it in that manner."

Anya excused herself, going to her room, sounds of her weeping heard in the living room.

Don plopped down on the couch. "Shit. This can't be happening."

Raph whacked Don on the side of the head. "You moron. Anya is risking everything to be with you. She is having your child. And, all you can think about it yourself."

Splinter stood. "Raphael."

Raph shifted Lydia to his other hip. "No, Master Splinter. Don just told the woman he loves that he would rather kill their baby then see where this could go. He doesn't even want to try."

Don stood quick, obvious unshed tears in his own eyes. "What would you have me do?"

Raph sighed. "I dunna know." Lydia was quiet but upset in his arms. She wrapped her arms around Raph's neck. He rubbed her back, comforting her. "I just think you're jumpin' ahead of yourself. Ya know, counting the chickens before they hatch."

"Or, in this case, counting the turtles before they hatch," added Mikey with a grin. When no one reacted to his play on words, he continued, "This is going to be soooo cool. Don, if your kid can shape shift, it could go to school, go to the prom, college. You know, all the stuff that we missed out on because we're mutants. So, there is a risk. Everything has a risk. Anya's willing to try…and you, as the father and mate, need to stick by her decision."

Don sighed, nodding. The decision was made. After Leatherhead left, Don went into their bedroom. "Anya?"

He saw her outline, laying on the bed, away from him. "Go away Don."

Don sighed, getting into the bed, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I'm scared, Anya. Leatherhead confirms my worst nightmare. I don't want to lose you. Lydia doesn't want to lose you."

Anya turned. "Don't bring my daughter into this."

Those words stung Don but she was right. He had no claim to Lydia. He knew it was a risk when he got involved with Anya. He sighed. "What do you want to do?"

Anya swallowed loudly, tears in her eyes. "I want our baby to be born. To have a chance. I don't want its father writing it off before it has a chance to fight."

Don stopped. "I want our baby to have a chance. I do. But, I don't want you to suffer because of my unstable DNA. Can't you understand that our child may hurt you? Kill you?"

Anya frowned, turning away from him. "I knew the risks Don. I did it anyway. It's here. So now we, as a couple, have to make it work."

Don sighed, rubbing her back. This was going to be a long pregnancy.