Devina slept in the living room again and didn't invade Don's room. She had seen him experience a painful BH contraction when they got home, but Leo quickly told her to help get him to his room, where a pool of warm water awaited for his relief.
The water had helped a lot more with the pain. Devina had nearly freaked out. She had never seen this. It was amazing his distress all those times in these weeks hadn't brought her around before now, but it hadn't been strong enough.
Don was a little breathless when he got out of the water as Leo handed him a towel. But otherwise, he was fine. Devina calmed down.
Then Don was left to go back to sleep. He needed his rest. Leo and Devina went out into the living room to await the other two.
Raph and Mikey came back a little while after and it was now time for bed. They had had no clue that Don, Leo, and Devina had been gone at all.
The next morning, everyone came down to breakfast. Even Don. Devina sat at the end of table. Don sat in between Leo and Raph. At least this time, he ate his food and didn't go running away. He was trying to conquer his fear of her. Plus he couldn't run now. He just didn't look at her, though he felt her watching him.
Devina was really looking forward to holding her little one in her arms and soon. Her baby was more to her than just something she needed to win the election. She loved her baby's father too. But it would always have to be a long distance and quiet love.
Don was more than ready for his pregnancy to end. He wasn't looking forward to all the pain, but just seeing his twins for the first time. He wanted to not have to worry about restrictions, being fat, and back pains and all those other kinds of pains anymore. He also did have a slight wish to go back into training. He wanted to lose all the fat he was gaining now to vanish as quickly as possible.
Don had doubled the weight the last time he checked. He now gained over 32 pounds, and maybe he needed a few more. He didn't want to gain more weight, but it was still a must.
As much as the pregnant turtle didn't want to go into it, he and his babies' mother had to discuss how they were going to raise their kid. Don didn't mind if his family overheard them this time. It was something they were going to be a part of too, helping Don to raise his kid (kids).
Don and Devina went to the living room after breakfast to start discussing the arrangements for both of them to be able to enjoy the baby's company.
"This would be so much easier to do if we would live together." Devina said. "But I know we got off to the bad start, and you never trusted me again."
"I like visiting outer space Devina, but yeah. What you said. I want to stay with my family. They need me. But the baby needs me too. I have carried him or her all this time. I love them."
"I know you do. But I deserve to spend some time with it too. You have had the full 8 months so far to be with it. When it comes, I will need to spent some time with the offspring too. Even a mom deserves to be with her baby."
"I'm more like the mom, and you're more like the dad." Don said.
"Sorry it was reversed. If it was that way as it is here on Earth, you never would have heard from me again I believe, or at least once to have told you that you were going to be a father." Devina said.
"And I would have taken fatherhood seriously Devina. Master Splinter taught us well to live up to our responsibilities that we have started." Don said.
"And that had definitely been proven to me the way you have done so well. I choose my male carefully. And you were the right one for this." She said.
"Unless if we were in an official wedding or bonding ceremony, please don't refer to me as your mate." Don said. "Just the father."
"Okay Donny. Whatever you want. But now, we really do need to discuss our baby's future with the two of us." Devina said.
Don nodded. "Like who is it going to stay with more?"
"Well Donny, I'll tell you this, since I will be busy trying to rule my planet now mostly full time, when I am officially queen, I would say that you could keep him or her just about full time, but there will also be times when I arrange for myself to have time off to come and visit, and my own parents will want to see our baby too. So at least when the election is over and until the next one in a few years, the little one I'll let you keep most of the time, but about every two months or so, I will come and want to take them to my planet to see its other grandparents too." Devina was explaining her side of what should happen.
Don was listening. Most of what she was saying so far was actually pleasing him. He would have the babies most of the time! He wanted them both after all! The twins would need each other. But then, she deserved time with them too.
As the kids would get older too, he knew that there would be times when he would want time away from his kids too. And what of his family? Though they all could take turns babysitting, even they were sure to need breaks as well. So, letting Devina take them every few months would have been a good idea.
But then, Don had to ask something else. "What about if something should happen to one of us?"
"With me in charge, my planet will become far different than when Raven was in charge. Just have yet to put everything in motion. But to answer that question, if something did happen to me, then the child would be your responsibility." Devina said.
Don liked to hear that. But if something happened to him, his family would still be there. "My brothers could still look after the child if something happened to me."
"And my parents are getting almost too old to solely raise a child. But they are still young enough to do jobs and help me take care of my child." She said.
"I don't think you have ever told me, what are their names?" Don asked.
"Clancy is my father, and Temmy is my mother. I had a younger sister too, but she died a long time ago."
"I'm sorry. What happened?"
"A mysterious illness. Something to do with her lungs." Devina said.
"And there is another matter. What about names?" Don asked. "I have picked out names, but yes, we need to go over them together too."
"Oh yes Donny. Names are the next biggest thing to talk about." Devina said.
Don got up and went to his lab, gesturing for her to follow.
Don's bros had been eavesdropping this time to their talk on how the twins would be raised. Mike was pleased that the babies would be with them most of the time. Raph just wanted her to leave.
The pregnant turtle and lizard woman got into the lab. Don didn't close and lock the door this time.
"I forgot to ask, how far along are you now Donny?" Devina asked.
"Thirty two weeks along. Just about 5 to 6 weeks left I presume." It had nearly slipped Don's mind about the twins. It had nearly slipped out. Twins came earlier was why he had said that.
Don dug out the list of names and pulled out the ones he had chosen.
Devina looked at them. "So, what do they say?"
"I choose Akemi and Kamini for girl names. And Elewa and Vito and Virgil for names I liked best. They all have good meanings." Don said. "Just in case one name each the baby doesn't look like. Whichever Junior looks like most, should be the name."
Don told her the meanings of the names then. She couldn't read Earth's writing, so Don had to read it to her. In the end, Devina was pleased with his decisions.
"I have been so busy on Anolis with my new job to come to even try to think of names, but I think you have done very well in choosing good names."
"Thanks."
With the way the others could hear Don and Devina talking to each other, you'd think they were perhaps starting to like each other. And they were going to be parents together. But not together, as a married mated couple. Just single parents.
But Don and Devina were just getting the main points of discussing the plans for the baby out of the way, and the child would need a name. Children in Don's mind, he knew.
At the end of the day, Don felt that most of what needed to be talked about was now talked about. He was exhausted.
Devina would stay a couple more days. And again, she would leave with another sonogram picture. But Don still wouldn't allow her in the infirmary for the ultrasound. It was something he wanted to remain secret, was the twin.
He wanted the twin to be a surprise.