When Leo and the gang arrived home, they were surprised to see a motorbike parked in the front yard, Karai standing next to it, her helmet in her hands. Her dark hair had grown since the last time Leo had seen her, which was two years earlier, and hung in a thick braid down her back. Her brown eyes sparkled and her lips were painted red and curved up into a smile. "Hey, guys," she said. "Been ages. Leo, you're looking good and wow, are those the quads? They sure have grown, but who are those two? And why are Raphael and Donnie missing? Are they dead? The baby you're holding looks like Raphael, but ...I'm so confused."

Before Leo could comment, the gang pounced on her and hugged her tightly and when they were done, Karai laughed and said, "I missed you all too."

"Good to see you," Leo said, having a flashback to the last time he'd seen her, shortly after the quads' birth. She'd told him he was a moron for being with Donnie when it was obvious that he still loved Raphael and he was making a huge mistake. Leo had told her to butt out and the next day she'd left for Japan. "Come inside."

"So glad you're back," Mikey said, when they'd all gone to the lounge and the quads, Raz and Raphael had been introduced to Karai and they were settled on the sofas. Leo took one sofa, Raphael on his lap, Raz next to him and Karai on the other side. Raphael jealously eyed Raz and clung to Leo possessively, occasionally looking around and glaring at Karai, seeing her as a new threat to his bond with Leo. Karai smiled at him and Raphael scowled, sticking out his lower lip.

Don't like new woman, Raphael thought. Hate her. My Daddy! My Daddy! She better stay away from him.

The quads played happily on the floor with their toys, while the adults chatted. "I'm glad you're here, Karai," April said. "It's been eons."

"Thank you for inviting me, April." Her brown eyes settled on Leo and she added, "And you, Leo. We didn't exactly part on the best terms. I am sorry about that."

"You were only looking out for me, Karai. No need to apologize. We're good."

"I'll go make dinner," Chloe said, handing Cam to Mikey.

"Let me help," Casey said to April's surprise. "What?" he said, taking in her expression. "I want to learn how to cook, so if you're tired, I can help out."

"That's sweet, Case," April said. "I just hope you don't burn the kitchen down like Leo!"

Leo flushed and said, "That only happened once."

"Once too many!"

The others laughed and Chloe said, as she led Casey to the kitchen, "Dinner should be ready in an hour."

Feeling ignored, Raphael whined, making Leo's attention instantly turn to him. "You okay, buddy?" he asked. "Is it your arm? Raphie?"

Daddy's attention on him, Raphael nuzzled into Leo's plastron and cooed. "He's fine, Leo," Karai said. "Nothing wrong with him. Probably just wanted attention. Babies are like that."

"And since when are you an expert on babies, Karai?" Leo asked and planted a soft kiss on the top of Raphael's head.

"I'm not, but I know kids seek attention and Raphael always sought it from you any chance he could get. Why do you think he second guessed you all the time? Because he actually didn't agree? No, he just wanted your attention and when he got it, he was over the moon. Tried to hide it by being pissed at you, but I called him out on it once and he admitted that. Is baby Raphael yours, Leo? You didn't say."

Mikey piped up and said, "No. Raph was turned into an egg and he hatched and this is him."

"Who would do that?" Karai asked. "And why?"

"Bishop did and Don might have had a role in it."

"I know Don loved Leo, but would he stoop so low?"

"I think so," Leo said. "Which is one of the reasons Don was banished. And because he was harming Raphie and he cheated on me with Leatherhead."

"The alligator? Ew!" Karai said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "I don't get it. Why would he do that when he had you, Leo?"

"Apparently, I wasn't paying him enough attention," Leo said bitterly.

"But you have your hands full with quads and now two more. Wait, whose kid is Raz's?"

"Mine and Raph's and it's a long story."

"I have time."

"Let's go help with dinner, Mikey," April said. "You and Karai can catch up, Leo."

"Okay," Mikey said and followed her to the kitchen.

Just as Leo was about to tell his story, a knock sounded on the front door. Leo stood up, cradling Raphael to his plastron, and said, "I'll be right back."

Opening the door, Leo audibly gasped, when he saw Mona Lisa. The Salamandrian smiled and said, "Hi, Leo. April invited me to come and stay. He's cute? Is this baby yours? He looks a lot like Raphael."

"That's because he is Raphael, Mona. It's a long story. Come in. You staying long?" Leo asked and couldn't help smiling. He'd always liked her and they'd been close.

"Week," Mona said, as she followed Leo inside.

"Aunty Mona!" the quads screamed, rushing to her and hugging her tightly around the legs.

Mona patted their heads and said, "I missed you too, boys. Oh, who is that cutie on the couch? Oh, hi, Karai. Didn't know you were coming. I'd have stayed away had I known!"

Raz smiled shyly and said, "I'm Raz."

"Mona," Karai said bitterly, standing up. "If you're staying…."

"He's mine and Raph's," Leo said. "And you don't have to leave, Karai. You just got here."

"If I'd known she was coming, I wouldn't have come!" Karai shrieked. "April knows we fucking hate one another."

"Aunty Karai said a bad word," Kane said, looking up from Mona's side and gazing at Karai. "She bad."

Who is this Mona, Raphael wondered? And why does Daddy look so happy ta see her? Is she gonna steal him away from me? Better not try!

"It's not…."Mona began, but Karai, muttering obscenities, stomped past everyone and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.

Leo sighed, but before he could comment," Mikey entered the lounge and said, "Did I hear yelling? Whoa, Mona. I wasn't expecting you, chick, and that explains the door slamming. Karai left."

"Yes. I'm sorry, Mikey. I didn't know she was coming. If I had, I'd have stayed away. You know how much I hate conflict. Perhaps I should leave too."

"Don't," Leo said quickly. "You just got here. I'll talk to Karai and maybe you guys can sort something out."

"I doubt it, Leo, but thanks. Karai still thinks I have the hots for you and I could see she does."

"You guys would be cool together," Mikey said, making Leo and Mona blush. Mikey laughed and added, "Of course that's hypothetical, because Leo's gay."

"Haven't you somewhere you need to be, Mikey?" Leo asked crossly.

"Yeah. See you guys for dinner," Mikey said, and added with a wink. "But you would make cute babies."

Mona ducked her head and winced at the statement, knowing that wasn't possible, because she was barren. "Mikey!" Leo scolded. "You know Mona can't have babies."

"I'm sorry I forgot. I didn't mean to upset you, Mona. Honest."

"Don't worry about it," Mona said, her face still lowered and streaked with tears. She'd always wanted kids and seeing Leo with his made her heart ache, although she was glad for him, because she knew that parenthood was also what he'd most desired.

"Later," Mikey said and beat a retreat.

"Sorry about him, Mona," Leo said. "Please come and sit down and let's catch up."

"It's all right, Leo," Mona said, extricating herself from the quads, who still clung to her, and moving to a couch. She smiled at Raz, as she sat down and did the same to Raphael, but he chose to glower, still distrusting the "funny looking woman."

The quads resumed playing with their toys and Leo sat down, Raphael on his lap. "So," Leo said. "How is life back home, Mona? Met anyone?"

"We've been attacked by the Triceratons, but nothing we couldn't handle. And there was someone, but my feelings were not the same for him, as those he had for me and I ended it."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine. It wouldn't have worked out anyway."

"How come?"

"You know the answer, Leo," Mona said softly, gazing at him intently.

What is she talkin' bout, Raphael wondered?

"So," Leo said, changing the subject. "Don's banished, because he cheated on me, had Raphael changed into a baby, harmed him and he also lied to me and Raph and said our baby died. I still have hope that we'll find a cure for Raph. Casey found him as an egg at Bishop's place and he hatched on August twelfth. All that, because Don was afraid Raph would win me back."

"I can't believe that. Don seems so mild mannered."

"Yeah. Was a shock to me too. Raising Raph as my son isn't easy. I get these flashbacks of us all the time."

"I could raise him as mine, Leo. I don't mind."

"No! I love him and I will raise him as mine. I'm just saying it's weird. That's all."

"I can understand that. What if there's no cure?"

"Then he'll remain my son."

"And what about your feelings for him, Leo? You'd have to quash them, because by the time he's a teen, you'll be thirty and not to mention you're his dad. Adopted, but still. It'd be wrong."

"I know."

"Can you do that?"

"I don't know. I guess."

"And Don? Will you take him back?"

"No! I'm done with relationships. I just want to raise my kids. That's all."

"But you'll need help."

"I have help."

"Hand me Raphael."

"He'll fuss."

"Don't be possessive, Leo. Just hand me the baby."

"I'm warning you. He doesn't like strangers."

"Hand me the baby, Leo!"

Leo got up and handed her the baby, Raphael squawking angrily, as he was placed in Mona's arms, golden eyes blazing. "Told you," Leo said.

"Sh," Mona said, looking at Raphael tenderly, her heart overflowing with love, as she began to rock him. Raphael reluctantly cooed, feeling safe and loved, as Mona kissed his beak. "He's beautiful. Absolutely exquisite. Look at his tiny fingers and toes. So precious. Hard to believe he'll grow up and be brash and rude."

"You're a natural with him," Leo said in awe. "Raph usually screams his head off. "He must like you."

"And I like him," Mona said and kissed Raphael's beak again. "He always was gorgeous, but not as gorgeous as you, Leo. You were and are the sexiest guy alive."

Leo blushed and said, "That's sweet, Mona, but…"

"But nothing. It's true. I still love you, Leo, and if there is no cure for Raph, I have a proposition."

"Which is?"

"I so badly want kids and you need a mom for them. Let's marry and make that happen."

Leo's jaw dropped at the unexpected proposal and Raphael thought, as he continued gurgling, I like her, but he's still my Daddy and mine alone!