Ok, I had type this up quickly. Sorry it's short.

I don't own TMNT.

Chapter 35~First Forgiveness

When Venus walked into her home she wasn't surprised to see the young orange masked turtle snuggled up between his older brothers and sleeping silently where they sat in the main room. Leo and Raph glanced up at her and then Leo lifted his free arm in an invitation. Venus smiled and sat next to her older brother as he wrapped his free arm around her.

"Is Don ok," Leo whispered, not wanting to wake up Mikey and ignoring Raph's slightly envious glance at the two of them.

"Well, I feared my anger would do more damage than good. Slash is with him now."

"Well, Slash will be able to handle it. That little brother of ours is a miracle in a shell."

As if on cue, Slash walked through the door and motioned to the still open doorway, "Don wants to talk to you bro."

"I'll put Mikey in bed," Raph said, easily lifting his baby brother into his arms and turning to the stairs.

Venus looked at her older brother, "Good luck," she whispered before getting to her feet and ascending the stairs behind Raph as she was followed by Slash.

Leo took a deep breath and then climbed to his feet before turning to face his purple masked little brother. Before he could even contemplate on what to say he found himself forced against the wall, a sobbing little brother pressed against him. His instincts had him automatically wrapping his arms around his little brother and holding him close as he cried on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry," Don mumbled, (1)"Gomen nasai, nii-san."

(2)"Maa ii deshou," Leo said calmly, (3)"Koi shiteru, dai-kun."

Don smiled and cuddled into Leo's hold. It wasn't but a few minutes later that the purple masked turtle was ready to collapse. Leo scooped him into his arms and carried him into his bedroom where his red and orange masked brothers were already asleep. Leo approached the bed with a soft smile growing on his face and then slipped his semi conscious little brother under the blanket. The movement caused the others to fidget in their sleep for a moment. Then Mikey moved over, lying his head on Raph's shoulder while Raph reached out in his sleep and pulled Don closer. The eldest watched over them all with a warm smile, before silently slipping out of the room and making his way to the dojo, where his siblings and sensei sat in light meditation.

They all opened their eyes at his approach.

"They asleep?" Slash asked.

Leo nodded and joined his family. The unspoken discussion went on in their minds instead of in words. It was an hour later that they pulled away from the spiritual plane and locked eyes.

"I don't know," Leo whispered, "I want to stay here, but my brother's need me. I'm happy here, but their happiness is mine as well."

"No one is asking for your decision immediately kumquat," the Ancient One said, "Take your time Leonardo."

Leo bowed his head, "Thank you, sensei."

With that, the Ancient One climbed to his feet and exited the room.

"Leo?" Venus asked.

"Yes Imouto?"

"If you do return with them soon, it means our time is limited."

Leo smiled, he knew what she was hinting at. He eldest climbed to his feet and held out a hand to each of his siblings, "Who's up for a night sleeping under the stars?"

Venus and Slash smiled before taking the offered hands and following their older brother out the door and to their meditation field near the forest where they laid down in the grass and soon fell asleep, the younger turtles snuggling into their big brother during the night.

Uh, this story is turning so sickeningly sweet. Oh, I see future fluff. I'm gonna drown.

Translations:

(1) Gomen nasai, nii-san. : I'm sorry, big brother.

(2) Maa ii deshou, : It's ok,

(3) Koi shiteru, dai-kun. : I love you, little brother.

~Moonsetta