This is it guys...last chapter. I want to give a massive thanks to everyone that has been reading, and for any comments or messages you guys have sent me. Everything is really appreciated, and I'm especially grateful to those who have stuck with me since A New Feature.

I do have at least two more stories in the pot for this series. One has been heavily planned with random chapters written here and there; the other has been outlined with ideas and a plot line but nothing else. They're both BIG pieces (maybe even bigger than the Distractions and Repurcussions saga) and so will need a lot of time and dedication to actually write. To be honest, I don't know if I have either of those things at the moment. It may be a case of I work on them here and there, but I have no idea when they'll actually be out. They WILL be out, one day: I'm determined to finish this series and achieve my goal of giving Venus a decent narrative. I just don't know when that will be.

Thanks again for reading. Hopefully I'll talk to you soon. Enjoy! xxx

Chapter 8

A lack of humans on their walk back suggested that Bonesteel's cronies had made a run for it. They stepped cautiously into the lair and stared at the mess in dismay.

"Leatherhead, I'm so sorry," Venus said as her friend just seemed to stare at the wreckage. He took in a deep breath and turned, forcing a smile.

"It is not your fault my dear. If you all hadn't been here, the damage might have been worse or I might have been captured. I am indebted to you."

Master Splinter walked forward and placed a hand on the alligator's shoulder.

"My friend, there is no debt. You have helped us many times in the past, such as when Donatello was mutated. We would always willingly help you. It is what we do, and shall always do." He looked round at the debris littering Leatherhead's lair. "Now, where would you like us to start?"

The group got busy, cleaning up their friend's home, April and Donny helping with the repair of any equipment, and the others clearing up rubbish and tidying away anything that survived the onslaught. There was a general murmur in the air until Raph spoke out directly:

"Well, what I want to know is why Venus and April were here when we arrived. I mean, there ain't a surveillance thing linked up in the farmhouse, is there? And even if there was then they certainly wouldn't have here before us, would they?"

Everyone began to consider his words whilst April and Venus just stared at each other.

"So, I'll ask again. Why the heck were you here?" He switched his gaze between Venus and April, the former finally sighing in defeat. She had hoped to tell Leo alone first, but Donny had already seen the report. She opened her mouth to speak when Leatherhead cut her off.

"Miss Venus, may I suggest that you take Leonardo into the next room while we finish up in here?" Venus nodded her thanks and April gestured for her to leave. Venus turned to find a very confused Leo, before taking his hand and taking him into Leatherhead's room, placing a mild shield upon the entrance to mask their conversation.

"Venus, what's going on? What's with all the secrecy?"

"I'm sorry Leo, I just didn't know how to tell you. Any of you. Ughh," she began, taking a deep breath. "Okay. Yesterday, April came and found me to see if I was okay. I admitted that no-one really knew what was wrong with me. She came up with some theories of her own and decided that we should pay a visit to Leatherhead to see if he could diagnose the problem. We didn't tell you because we didn't want you to worry and we thought that Don would feel as if we didn't trust him. We just wanted another opinion. So, we drove around a bit after leaving the lair and came here. Leatherhead did various tests and scans, the results of which were printed this morning."

She took the report out from her belt and handed it to Leo, who studied it intensely before frowning.

"Venus, I don't know what any of this means. Only that you will probably have 'multiple'."

"Yes Leo, I will," she smiled. "There are a few of them that have been giving me morning sickness for a month now."

"Morning sickness? But isn't that-?" his eyes widened and Venus held her breath for his reaction. "You're, are you..." he swallowed. "Pregnant?"

Venus nodded, tension rising within her as he seemed to freeze. Then a slightly shocked smile crept onto his face, and Venus sighed in relief.

"Are you sure?"

"Well, it was one of April's theories, but I wanted to get it all checked out first. Leatherhead gave me the news this morning."

"Why didn't you tell me before?"

"Well, we kind of got distracted, didn't we?" she shrugged, indicating her head. Leo's eyes widened; he hadn't noticed that she had another injury. He stepped towards her, inspecting the newer wound gently. He kissed it lightly, before wrapping his arms around his wife and hugging so hard that she thought he would crush her. She tried to sense the emotions he was emitting; guilt, concern, relief, and thankfully, happiness. He released and smiled, warmth and shock still glowing in his face. Venus laughed and grabbed his hand.

"Well then, are we going to tell the others?"

The pair stepped out into the living room where everyone looked up. Her eyes met April's immediately and she nodded. April smiled in return.

"Okay you two," Raph growled. "April told us why you came to visit Leatherhead. What we don't know is what you were whispering about in there."

"Raphael, Leonardo and Venus are entitled to some privacy," Master Splinter chided.

"It's okay Master Splinter, really. There's something we have to tell you all." Venus looked at Leo, who looked still too in shock to speak. She took the report and gave it to Master Splinter who passed it on to his sons, Donatello last. Raph frowned.

"This don't help us much."

"Yeah," Mikey whined. "I'm not sure how many of those words I actually understood."

"Donatello?" Master Splinter asked. His son looked at Venus and Leo first, earning a nod from the former, and stepped forward.

"Well, the Latin term 'gravid' means 'heavy one-"

"We ain't got time for a history lesson Don," Raph grumbled.

"Raphael." Master Splintered offered Donny to continue.

"It's used to determine whether someone is 'with child'."

Raph's eyes widened and he looked directly at Leo, understanding his shocked look. Mikey, however, just scratched his head again.

"Yeah, but what does that mean Don? They were 'with a child'? Did they work in a school or something?"

"No, shell-for-brain. It meant that the person was pregnant."

"So? What's that got to do with what we were talking about before?"

Don threw his hands in the air, giving up, before following Raph towards Leo and Venus. April took his place.

"Mikey, think as to why Venus has been so ill these past weeks."

"Because she ate something bad?" Michelangelo frowned, and Master Splinter saw a change in his expression. The cogs in his mind were moving. "Wait, no way. No way!"

He ran up to the pair and looked at Venus, grinning. "Really?" he asked. Venus nodded.

"WAHOO!" He cried and grabbed her in a hug before realising what he was doing. "Oh, sorry," he apologised, releasing her. He eyed her stomach. "How many you got in there?"

"Well, we aren't sure at the minute, but Leatherhead reckons about five or six," she smiled.

"Five or six?!" Raph grinned at Leo, smacking him on the shell. "Wait-a-go bro! Gonna have your hands full there with a clutch that big!"

"That big." Leo merely repeated, making Donny and Raph chuckle whist Mikey just looked at Venus in awe. Master Splinter stepped through the group and placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.

"Indeed my son. You have years of trouble ahead of you. But it will be trouble you shall enjoy and suffer gladly, for it will be mixed with the love and pride you shall show your children." Leo's eyes finally seemed to focus as his father's words sunk in. He stared at the rat, smiling a little.

"Yes, father." His brothers then leapt on him, pride and happiness emanating off them. The old rat turned to Venus who was smiling at the pile. He placed a hand upon her shoulder.

"You too, my child, should be pleased. You are carrying the next generation and the means that will allow me to become a grandfather. Chung I would be proud."

His words struck Venus with a sudden sharpness. Her father's name hadn't been mentioned in a few months and she thought with sadness how he wouldn't watch her children grow up. But the joy and now comical shock on Leonardo's face made her smile, and she realised that more happiness was to come.

Master Splinter gazed at his children with delight; they would no longer be alone. Venus held the key to the expansion of their species and had provided the chance for it to grow. He knew the duty upon her was heavy as the only female, but as he looked upon her proud form, he knew she would uphold it with the honour of Bushido, and the love of a mother.