TMNT does not belong to me. Just Annie & Co. Big Thanks to The Silent Hunter for reviewing!

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I wake up slowly, turning to greet my husband. But Raphael's not there. Not even Zeb's at the foot of the bed. That's strange. I get up and walk out to the Den, but no one's out here either. Not even Klunk. This is really weird. And I'm starting to panic.

The baby starts kicking and I place my hand on my belly gently, softly singing my and Daddy's Cherokee chant to calm him. That's when I notice the person lying on the couch. At first, I can't make out who it is 'cause it looks like they're wrapped in every extra blanket that we have down here. Probably Mikey. He must have stayed up watching monster movies and scared himself silly again. I sigh, relaxing. If Mikey's down here, then the others must be in the garage.

I walk over to the couch and shake him gently. But something's not right. He's way too stiff. That's when the blanket falls from his head and I find myself staring at Aaron's dead face. I jump back in shock. The features flicker between Daddy's, Uncle Yoshi's, then back to Aaron's.

And then I'm looking at my husband's glassy, unseeing amber eyes. I scream.

"Annaleigh! Wake up!"

I toss, still screaming. "It's just a nightmare! Wake up, Wildcat!"

I snap awake and just start crying. Raphael wraps me in his big arms, pulling me into his lap, and I find myself holding onto him for dear life. He's alive. Thank heaven!

"Shhh, babe. It's okay, it was just a dream," Raph whispers, trying to calm me. "I'm here, Wildcat."

I manage to calm down somewhat, but I'm not letting go of him. Not for a while, at least.

"D'you want to talk about it, Sweetheart?"

I sniff, burying my face in his plastron. My voice is muffled as I haltingly tell him what I had dreamed about.

His arms tighten around me. "It's okay, Wildcat. I'm not going anywhere. I'm right here."

"Is she okay?" Don's voice asks from our doorway.

"She's fine, Genius. She just had a nightmare."

I look up and meet our purple-masked brother's concerned hazel eyes. "I'm okay, Donnie," I say shakily.

Then I remember my brother, "Is Aaron alright?"

Don comes in and sits on the edge of our bed, "He made it through the night. But," he takes a breath before continuing, "he's still unconscious." Seeing the look on my face, he quickly adds, "His vitals are much stronger though."

I look back at my red-masked turtle, "Can I go see him, babe?"

The skin around his eyes tightens. I must have really scared him, "Not until you calm down some more," he says gently. He looks at his brother, "Can you finish getting her breakfast, Genius? I don't want to leave her right now."

Donnie nods his head, "Sure. Toast it is." He chuckles at the face I make. "Unless you'd rather get sick again, Annie?"

I shake my head hard and both my husband and his brother start laughing. I lean more against Raphael, my ear to his chest. Just listening to his heartbeat.

"I'll be right back." Don looks at Raph, "I'll let everyone know that she's all right," he says before disappearing out the door.

"You sure you're okay, Annaleigh?"

"I'm fine. That just shook me up."

"Yeah, I know. I've never heard you scream like that." Raphael takes a shaky breath, "I was in the kitchen when you started. Nearly scared me out of my shell. I'd thought you'd gone into labor. Or that someone managed to get into the Lair..."

I lean up to kiss him, holding onto it until I need to breathe. "I'm sorry, babe," I pant. "I guess everything just caught up to me."

"That's the last time I leave you alone," Raph says, rubbing my back. I just lean my head against his chest again. Continuing to listen to his heartbeat, just reassuring myself that he's still here. Our baby starts kicking and I lay my husband's hand on my belly, my hand firmly grasping his.

About an hour later, my Raphael finally releases me from his arms, sort of. He carries me out to the couch, setting me in the chair next to it. I don't protest this time. I definitely know that I've scared him.

I watch Aaron sleep for about another hour, sometimes singing. But mostly just talking to him.

I stop when Amie greets Donnie, who's at his Lab, with a quick kiss. My eyes widen in surprise. I'd known they'd get together sometime, but I hadn't been expecting it to happen now. Raph looks at me in confusion, then looks back to Don and Amie, who are now talking quietly.

"They're just talking, Wildcat."

"They were just kissing a minute ago, babe."

Raphael's brows shoot up, "Seriously? Don's smoother than I thought." I giggle.

Mikey's camera clicks as Amie pecks Don on the cheek. I groan. Michelangelo!

My husband's face instantly becomes concerned, "You're not in pain, are you Annaleigh?"

I smile and shake my head, "No. I just heard a camera click."

"Mike's taking pictures of us again? I thought he was over that."

I roll my eyes, "Not of us, Raph. Donnie and Amie."

He's about to respond when Aaron groans from the couch. I slowly get out of the chair, mindful that Raphael's right beside me. Probably to pull me away, if something goes wrong. He's convinced that Aaron will hit me again. And I can't help but agree with him. I keep my distance. "Mimi, get your butt over here," I say.

"What's going on, Nani?"

Aaron groans again, his eyelids fluttering. Amie grabs his hand and he looks at her. Don comes up behind my sister and Raph motions to Mikey to get Splinter.

Aaron's completely oblivious of all of this. His green eyes meet Amie's blue ones as Raph moves me behind him. I wrap my arms as far around di hi's waist as my belly allows.

"Amie?" Aaron says weakly. She hugs him gently.

"Good morning sleepy head," she says as calmly as she can. By now, Leo's also standing protectively in front of me and Splinter is by my brother's head, blocking me from view.

He coughs, "How long was I out?"

This is getting plain ridiculous. Aaron obviously is in no condition to take a swing at me. And it's best that he knows now, instead of finding out later. I step between my husband and Leo, right where Aaron can see me. "Most of the night, Aaron," I say gently. Raphael frantically tries to pull me behind him again, but it's too late.

"Annie?" My green-eyed brother gapes at me. "You're pregnant?" he splutters, eying my belly.

"Yes," I say calmly as Raphael wraps an arm protectively around me, holding the hilt of one of his sai with his free hand. "You'll be an uncle in about two months," I finish quietly.

"Annie Louisa Carter, how could you?" he says, his pained voice sounding betrayed.

"My name is Annaleigh Sora Hamato," I snarl, whirling around, and heading for the sewers. Raph right behind me. I will not stand there while he talks about my husband and my baby as if they're trash. I won't!

My turtle follows closely for about five minutes, still giving me some space. But when I finally turn to him and he sees the hurt in my eyes, Raphael pulls me close. "I just want to get the heck out of Dodge, di hi."

"Where the shell are we gonna go, Wildcat?"

"April did say that if we ever needed a break that we could crash at their place," I say, trying to keep my voice light. I really just want to cry. I don't know why my brother's reaction is bothering me like this. I'd known that he'd say something like that. So why am I so upset?


Please R&R.