The dojo was eerily silent.

It was unnerving to the point Mikey was squirming in his seat. Even he could sense how distraught their father was. Just staring at his back as he looked at the image of his departed wife Tang Shen and daughter Miwa, they knew the news was life changing. While they could hear little of what was said while Slash was in the room, seeing him leave covered in bruises but in a far better mood made them quite curious…and fearful.

"My sons…" Splinter turned to them, sorrow in his eyes though he tried so very hard to keep his strength. "We have much to speak of. I will ask that none of you speak until I have finished all I have said. Promise me you will understand my judgment and that you will not act rashly."

Leonardo stared at his father, unsure of what to make of anything that had been going on. It all was happening so fast and by the looks of it, Slash had spilled certain details to him that they had wanted to keep under wraps. The boys had long ago agreed, when they found out the others had requested Donnie as their mate, to forgo telling their father. They did not wish to upset him and were unsure if he would ever approve of such. Splinter was a traditional man, one that would bar such relationships under his roof. Yet, Leo longed to have his father's blessing on his relationship, especially if it was with Donnie. It would have made things cleaner when, heaven forbid it anytime soon, Splinter passed and Leo took over as head of the clan. He wanted to have Donnie close at his side. Even now as he watched him, he never before seen him look so…old.

Raphael was fuming. How dare his former best friend think he could take and lay claim to his mate? He was the first to kiss him, he knew that. Hell even April never dared to touch his virgin lips, no matter how hard Don had wished it. He was grateful to her for that, it kept his brother's lips pure for him. Though, as he looked at his father, there was an odd sense of dread. Something he could not put his finger on. Even now as he watched him, he never before seen him look so…old. He wanted nothing more than for the family to be safe and happy, but he could tell that his father would never get his wish. Something in those old eyes told him that Splinter knew about them and what they wanted from Donnie.

Michelangelo could not sit still. No matter how hard he tried. He wanted to talk, to tell his father everything that was going on, about their agreements, about his confession to Donnie, about everything. He felt dirty keeping it a secret and no matter how awkward it would be for him to confess to his father that he wanted to sleep with his elder brother, he felt it had to be known. Even now as he watched him, he never before seen him look so…old. It made him even more fearful of telling his father anything. Donnie often said Splinter did not need such stress, especially after last winter, when they thought they were going to lose him. Donnie had found away to help, though he never explained how.

None of them knew what was going on nor how to comprehend it. Things were happing fast, too fast for their liking. They heard the beating Slash was given, the raised angry voice of their father that made them wince. They were fearful. Fearful of what Slash would do to him, given that their father was quite old. Though part of them beamed with pride when Slash left the dojo covered in bruises but concerned when they seen him smiling.

"Do you all agree?"

"Hai Sensei." They spoke in unison. Though each knew it was going to be a hard task to remain silent.

He wished he didn't have to be the one to break the news to them but it was better coming from him. "I have…unexpected news." He was not sure if he should call it delightful or sorrowful. He had yet to know if Donatello would think of this as either or if he would want to keep and raise the child. "We will have a new member of the clan soon…"

"Ya mean he is gonna marry Donnie?!" Raphael stood up, anger flashing in his eyes. "Ya can't be serious! He raped him!"

Leonardo nodded in agreement. "I do not think it would be wise sensei…"

Michelangelo kept crying no.

He slammed his cane down. "I have asked you to remain silent until I have finished speaking!" his voice boomed. They sat up straight and silenced their complaints. Even Raphael sat back down. "I would never agree to such without consulting your brother first. Donatello is in no condition to agree to anything." He sighed heavily. "Slash is to remain here until Donatello requests that he leave. Given the current situation…I cannot say what the future will bring until I speak with your brother."

He could see the confusion in their eyes. None of them quite understanding his choice, they must have figured he would cast Slash out now that they have Donatello. "In order for you to fully understand I will have to start at the beginning." He went to the mutagen container that his youngest called mom. "When I came to, you three were splattered with mutagen crawling around near me…Donatello…" he closed his eyes, recalling the image so vividly.

The shattered glass floated near him, yet the small turtle's beautifully colored jade skin slowly began to grow lighter. He was upside down, unable to turn over in the small confines of the container and submerged in the odd liquid. He set the others in a small empty box he found and moved to help the last. Hands shaking as he poured the container out, gently flipping the tot on his plastron. He was not moving, was not breathing and felt far too cold to the touch.

He had panicked. Quickly patting the turtle on the back, hoping to rid it of what was inhaled. After a time the tot indeed coughed up quite a sum of the glowing green goo, much to the newly mutated rat's relief.

"He was once a vibrant jade in color, one of the many reasons I had chosen him at the pet shop. Yet, I have now come to know the salesman in that shop had been mistaken when he sold me four male turtles." He turned to him, eyes looking on at each of his sons. "One was a female."

The brothers looked at each other in confusions as if to suspect it was one of them before almost at once it clicked. "Donnie…" The old rat nodded. "It has come to my attention since your brother's absence that he was born a female. By some strange mutation, he never showed the characteristics of such before." He stroked his beard. He could see they wished to talk and ask questions, perhaps now would be perfect time to do so. "I will allow questions…"

Mikey was hinking hard, trying to understand everything that had just been thrown at them. "So you're telling us Donnie is actually our sister?" Mikey blurted out. "All this time he was a she?!" he was trying to process that, wanting to understand that he had heard it correctly.

"Yeah, numbskull." Raph smacked him in the back of the head. "Aint ya heard a word he said?" even so he could hardly believe it himself. "All dis time…it would explain a lot."

Leo was silent, thinking on this new information before looking at his father. "Was she aware?" If so, why had Donnie found a need to hide this?

The master shook his head. "I do not believe so. As I have said, he has never show signs until recently. Moreover, I would advise to call him by the male pronouns. He maybe biologically female but he still believes himself male." He could see that they understood that. "I want to make sure you are also understood this will be of a great shock to him. It will cause him stress to know this and it is not good for him in the condition he is in. I want you all to give him space and not cause any further unneeded stress. For this I will be limiting your visiting hours with him once he wakes…" He was slammed with an onslaught of complaints but one glare and they were quelled.

"He will need his rest and regardless of your wants and desires his recovery will be our top priority." He knew that they were not going to put themselves before their injured brother, but he wanted to make such clear. "Now, to continue. I am sure we are well aware of what…transpired during mating season between Slash and Donatello." He did not want to say such a word. "It would seem he was with Slash for nearly the whole of Mating Season. Given this time Slash was likely not aware of his actions, given that you three were also not aware of your own. We cannot fully blame him, as he advises that his brother Newtralizer was the one whom brought Donatello to him. Once your brother awakes I shall ask him to confirm this story, until then we will believe him and welcome him." There was sharpness to his voice, a warning that he was not to be disobeyed.

There was enough going on right now and the less stress on Donatello the better. There was no telling what the future will bring nor how well his intelligent son will face it. He will need help, guidance, and lots of support. No matter what his choice was.

"It is with all of this in consideration, that I have…more news." He wasn't sure how they would take it. If they would think it good like Slash or perhaps they would take it to heart and reject the child. He hoped in the bottom of his heart they would embrace it. "I am aware you all have been attempting to court your brother."

The sheer look of mortification on their faces proved beyond a doubt that this was correct. None of them could make eye contact with him now, each showing signs of shame in their actions. What had they done to him that caused them to feel this way? Why had Donatello never come to him if his brothers had gotten so out of line? Splinter sighed and sat before them, knees tucked under him and cane to the side.

"I am not upset by this." All three looked to him in disbelief. "Slash has brought it to my attention that you were never human, so you would not think nor act as a human would. It also reminds me of what your brother had told me, back when Leonard had his first season. Where my human side is dominant, yours is recessive. It is a secondary trait as you were born turtles. I cannot fault you nor deny your biology no more than I can fault the sun for giving into the moon." He stroked his beard. "It is also well known according to Donatello that your species of turtle is not monogamous…"

Mikey raised his hand, once their father looked at him and nodded he timidly asked his question. "What is…monogamious?"

"Monogamous means to have one partner. Like swans they mate for life, turtles do not." Splinter said softly. He could see his sons looking about at each other. Perhaps they had not taken such into consideration before, even if they had he did not want them pressuring Donatello into anything. "I want you all to be well aware that I am going to consult your brother, Leatherhead and even Slash on this. We will discuss more on it in the future and…"

Raph raised his hand now. "Master, why consult Slash? He's da one who fucked everything up." He flinched at the glare he got for using such foul language. There was no hesitation in bowing his head as he asked forgiveness.

"Slash…" Splinter held up a file taken from Donatello's cabinet of villains as his youngest had put it. Each file details important information about each of their enemies and even allies, they are of course in a different cabinet. "According to his notes, you all were mutated because you had human DNA upon you. Let's say that makes you 50% human. Since Slash was last touched by Raphael before he mutated, he is 25% human, making him more animalistic then you, my sons." He could see that they understood, perhaps Donatello had told them as well. "He also remembers what it was like as a turtle, you my sons do know remember such before your mutation. This is why I will be consulting with him as well."

Leo raised his hand now. "Master, forgive me for speaking out of turn but, I fail to see how any of that truly pertains to Donnie. I feel as if you are hiding something from us." He tilt his head to the side.

He let a small smile form on his lips, ever the perceptive one. "You are right. There is more to all of this, though I question if you are ready to hear it." His smile faded as he shook his head. His sons were nearly adults. He could not shelter them forever, they need to know and understand what was happening, he had to tell them now. "I am sure not even your brother is aware of this, given the events of the past month. I myself am finding it difficult to process this..." he cleared his throat, sat up straight and stared at his sons. "Donatello will be welcoming a new Hamato to the clan."

Mikey scuffed. "Master Splinter you already told us Slash maybe staying…" he was cut off by the sound of Raph's angry roar, one he had never heard before. He turned to his brother, noting him already being held back by Leo. It scared him, never had he seen Raph so angry before.

"Raphael, you will calm yourself at once!" Splinter was on his feet, trying to assist his eldest in holding him back. He never expected this. His son was far beyond his ability to reach him, having let go or reason and take on the full power of his rage.

Leo struggled to hold him back. Raph maybe on the shorter side but he was nothing but muscle and power. "I don't understand! Master, what do you mean? Why is Raph wigging out?!" He heard the same thing, understanding it just as Mikey had.

Splinter grit his teeth, finally able to subdue Raphael enough to elaborate. "Donatello is going to have a child." The look on his eldest's face was something he never seen before nor wished to ever see again. IT was there but a moment, but that was enough to allow Raphael to slip past their grip and take off out of the dojo, sais drawn.

All that could be heard was April's screams for him to stop.

~LRDM~

Guest01: oh my gods the feelz you gave me reading your review! I am happy I live as well! At least I think I am alive lol. I love your long review and what you had to say about the story thus far. (I live for long reviews!) I want to say thank you for your words of encouragement as I sometimes feel I am missing the mark with some of them. Anyway, I wont spoil anything and I fear responding to some of your statements may lol

Guest: Again thank you for the long review! I just want to say that yes it may seem harsh how they are treating Donnie and that they fanaticize about him but keep in mind, they are inexperienced. They are confusing love and lust. Fanticizing about Donnie, not as a toy but as a lover. They only had movies and tv to base relationship off of and lets be honest they don't always portray relationships in the best light. All 3 of the brothers even expressed fear when trying to create a relationship with Donnie. Not just fear of rejection but fear because they have no freaking clue what they are doing. Not only that they have to battle both their nature and instincts, Donnie will explain in later chapters. Just things to be mindful of.

Glazier Blue: Great analysis that Slash would have Donnie because he claimed him. Donnie when he said that could only make educated guesses. He has no clue what is going on and we can only assume what he will think when he is told what is going on.

Missbille: Splinter is very disgusted. Not only at Slash but himself as well. We will see in the next chapters that he feels he failed his sons.

The Butterfly: Yes, I am a victom as well but I was too young to have a baby when it happened. It does not mean it didn't affect me. Splinter is trying all he can. We can only see how Donnie feels when he wakes up.

Until next time my lovelies!