CHAPTER 2
YEAR 1 MONTH 8 (NOVEMBER 10)
MIKEY
We were back in the hospital room, I was in the bed my stomach had started to soften. Jason wanted me to be checked up on, we had stayed near the city never letting it get to far behind us. Jason wanted his friend to be there in case anything happened.
So now here we are for a check up and to see what was causing me a bit of discomfort. Cole walked into the room we had been instructed to go to. This one wasn't in use and Cole had put an out of order sign on the door just in case. He set up the machine to look inside of me.
Once done with that he rubbed the gel on to my plastron, and set the wand on top, trying to see if he could find anything unusual from the last time we did this. Last time it was an egg inside so we couldn't see if the baby was growing like it needed to. But now the egg was broken the baby, curled up in the fetal position, a cord leading from the baby to the womb lining. The egg bits were floating, but from what it looked like was they were dissolving.
I teared up seeing my baby for the first time, and Jason came up to see it as well. He sat next to me, wrapping his arm around me, holding me close. Cole didn't say anything, but printed out a picture of the baby. Then he was moving the wand around to see the front of it, trying to see if he could tell the gender, but couldn't I didn't care boy, girl I didn't care as long as they were healthy and safe.
We left the building the picture in a frame in my bag wrapped in a pillow case to save it from harsh movements.
YEAR 1 MONTH 11 (FEBRUARY 6)
JASON
It was happening the baby was coming, Mikey had woke to a sharp pain in his stomach and we called Cole to get over to where we were, he came soon after his bag on his back. He was by Mikey's side in a moment, getting him in the position to give him the best results in the birth.
I sat next to Mikey helping him in a slope sitting position to help Cole, and was rubbing his arms humming into his ear knowing that calmed him. He screamed at the first contraction, Cole seemed calm, but I could see his green eyes were wide.
"I'm gonna have to work down here is that okay Jason?" He asked, when he looked up, I nodded, I wanted to meet my baby and have Mikey by my side.
"Good, now let me see, it's gonna be soon," he said getting towels from his bag and a few tools. He set them to the side and waited. Mikey had calmed slightly, the pain dulling, he breathed deeply, in the meditated breathing he had learned from an early age. I followed him it did help calm you down, still hate his brothers, but his father was a genius.
It seemed like hours of Mikey being in pain, and screaming, but it was going to be worth it, that's what I kept telling him. He was crying, but he nodded when I talked to him.
Before long the wailing of a baby could be heard, Cole wrapped them in to a blanket we had bought, it was a neutral color of green with little turtles on the border.
He checked them over, before finding the gender. "She is a girl guys and everything else checks out, she is healthy and a good weight."
He handed her over to Mikey who settled her next to his chest, she opened her eyes for the first time that night, and we both gasped, her eyes were dual colored her left eye was my gold, and her right eye was Mikey's blue. She was perfect, I felt lucky to have the two most perfect people in the world as my own.
"What should we name her Sweetness?" I asked looking to him, his eyes never left our daughter.
"I have a name that I have loved since I was little, if it's okay, you can name the next one, but I have always wanted to have a little girl named this," he said looking up at me, his eyes still filled with tears.
"Of course Sweetness, what ever you want to name her, I'm fine with that," I said nuzzling him, then our daughter.
"Then her name is Artemisia, it's Spanish, meaning perfect," Mikey said holding her closer. I chuckled, the perfect name for her.
"I love it, it's perfect for her."
YEAR 2 MONTH 1 (APRIL 6)
MIKEY
It has been a month of Artemisia being born, her red scales covered with green stripes on her head, shoulders and her tail. Her plastron being an emerald green, her shell the same color as her stripes. She is a quiet baby she hardly cried unless she wanted something, even then it was only to get our attention. She was always smiling playing with a pink bunny that Cole had gotten for her.
We had decided to stay for a month before moving on, seeing as we wanted to make sure that nothing would go wrong. Cole advised just one month, then we would be good to travel again. So we did, he became like an uncle to Misia, he loved her like a niece.
Jason was happy that he could count on his friend to help for anything, and Cole agreed. I smiled Misia has a loving family to grow up in, and I loved that.
JASON
The last month had been a little difficult, Mikey had become depressed, Cole became concerned that it was PPD, but he assured us it wasn't. It was the anniversary of him running from his family, so I showered him with affection, and love and care. He brightened everyday, smiling more and more, opening up to Cole, and me once more. He loved being a mother to Misia.
We left soon after he brightened back up, and he carried Misia in a baby cradle on his chest. She was wrapped up in a blanket and was wearing a thick jacket and pants on a arm warmer on her tail, and socks on her feet, and gloves on her hands. She was sleeping at the moment, her bunny clutched to her chest, soft puffs of air rising into the air from her steady breathing.
YEAR 2 MONTH 6 (SEPTEMBER 6)
MIKEY
We had stopped at an abandoned home, this one had a crib in one of the rooms, we didn't use it. I spread a blanket on the ground, and let Misia lay on the ground, on her belly. She kicked her legs out her bunny clutched in her hand, hanging onto the ear. She giggled, babbling, blowing bubbles. I laughed at that and went to the kitchen of the house to see Jason making a bottle. I started to make lunch for us, when I felt something on my leg. I look down to see Misia down on the ground at my feet looking up at me, her dual colored eyes shining with happiness and achievement. I giggled and bent down to pick her up and settle her on my side letting her see what I was doing.
She was always so curious about everything, she wanted to know what everything was that was close to her. And if we did something with out her she would start to cry until we picked her up and show her what you were doing.
As I continued to make lunch for Jason and I Jason took her to give her her bottle, she whimpered reaching out for me. Jason tried to calm her to get her to eat, but she refused babbling angerly.
"Mmmaaa," I stopped what I was doing to look at Jason, he had frozen as well, Misia seeing that she had my full attention now started to reach for me, her tail lashing from her agitation
"Mmmmaaaaaamm," I didn't reach out to her yet, hoping that if I didn't do what she wanted she would say the word right.
"Mmmaamaa," she finally said it, a little long on the 'M' but she did it. I took her from Jason and hugged her to my chest, letting her snuggle in. Jason handed me the bottle and I gave it to her. She took and started to drink, while I grabbed my sandwich and handed Jason his. I sat on the ground with Misia in my lap, sleeping after her bottle, and I ate my lunch.
YEAR 2 MONTH 11 (FEBRUARY 6)
JASON
Today is Misia's first birthday, we went back to my home town, so that Cole could celebrate with us. He had gotten everything ready for the party, we just had to get there he would watch her while we went to get her a present.
We got there Cole setting a table up in the main room of the house we had stayed in the whole time we were here. Misia reached out for Cole, and so I hander her over to him, and she snuggled into his chest. We had kept contact with Cole when we left so that Misia would know her uncle.
Mikey smiled and steered me away from the duo who were snuggling into each other, happy to see each other again. I waved to Cole who nodded and went to play with Misia while we went to get what we needed to.
Mikey got a roll of pink fabric, her favorite color, and cut it making it into a mask like his. We went to another shop one for wooden weapons and foam ones. They were practice weapons, and Mikey wanted to start her out on training soon. So we grabbed four different weapons leaving the money on the counter for them, tax included.
We made it back to the house, Misia crawling up to us sitting on her knees reaching out for her mama. Mikey picked her up and snuggled her into his plastron.
"Thanks Cole so how did setting up go?" I asked watching Mikey with our daughter.
"Oh it went well, don't worry, so you wrapping the presents?" He asked seeing that Mikey was now dancing to some music with Misia on his hip. I laughed shaking my head.
Later after showering Misia with love and food, the cake having been eaten or smeared across her face in Misia's case. Mikey handed her her mask, she squealed in joy at the color letting her mother wrap it around her head, the tails being really short so that it didn't get in her way.
I set the four weapons in front of her, the weapons were a foam nunchucks, a wooden kama, a wooden tanto, foam tonfa. She looked curiously up at me, her dual colored eyes shining with residue happiness and sugar from the cake.
"Go ahead choose one," I said letting her pick her main weapon, the others if she wanted she would be able to learn them as well, or if she wanted to change her weapon later she could. She sat up on her knees before trying to get to her feet, Mikey stood as well, waiting to see if she would do it this time. She had tried to walk before, but it hasn't happened yet. She stood on her feet unsteadily and she took a step forward looking down at the nunchucks in front of her, before making unsteady steps to the kamas. She did this for all of them, before sitting in front of the tanto, putting her small hand on it.
I smiled and Mikey grabbed some leather he used for his belt and made one for Misia, a holder on her back, to hold her new weapon. She looked like a little ninja, and she was giggling swinging the nunchucks around now.
YEAR 3 MONTH 3 (JULY 4)
MIKEY
We had made it to another city, stopping in the park just in the trees. Misia on my shoulders her wooden tanto in her hand her bunny in between her body and my head, we had come here in previous years. This is the safest place to watch the fireworks, they did it in a park that bordered a forest. Before Misia was born, Jason and I climbed to the top of the trees to watch, last year she was to little for that, so we set up on a few branches off the ground. This year we are going up a little further.
Misia was so happy and couldn't wait to watch the fire works, she swung her legs slightly. I smiled happy for her enjoyment. Jason smiled to, taking the bags and setting them on the ground, hidden in a hollow tree. We climbed up to the middle of the tree, and waited for the show to start. Misia now in our lap, on one leg between us, we wrapped arms around her to make sure she wouldn't fall. Jason wrapped his tail around my shell, I leaned on to his shoulder my head laying on it, soaking in the love I knew he held for me.
The show started soon after, and Misia was so enamored by the colors and the sparkles. She squealed when a pink one went off, clapping her hands. Her little feet kicking out, her tail tip flicking with joy.
"Mama, they look so cool," she said not taking her eyes of the colorful embers filling the sky.
"Yeah they are, I love the colors this park uses," I said scooting closer to Jason when a breeze ran through the trees.
"I love you Mikey," Jason said looking down at me his golden eyes glittering in the fireworks.
"I love you too Jason," I said nuzzling him, holding Misia closer.
YEAR 3 MONTH 8 (DECEMBER 8)
JASON
I woke to howling, the wind was picking up, and the sky was darkening. I turned to Mikey to see him already awake, and packing everything away. I smiled ever the ninja he was. I sat up picking up the swaddled Misia who was wiggling trying to get free, I didn't let her, and put her in her chest cradle and she went to sleep feeling cuddled and warm. I smiled and helped grab a bag from Mikey he smiled at me and nodded his thanks, he grabbed the other two bags and we left our camp.
We traveled a bit until we came across a house it was in full, the walls a dark wood, though peeling. It had a porch with a ceiling and chair and table set off to one side and on the other was a porch swing. I looked to Mikey who nodded and we ran for the door. I picked the lock and opened the door letting Mikey in first, before going in and closing the door. I locked it before turning into the house seeing Mikey walking into what I think is the living room.
"Hey there's a fireplace," Mikey called from the other room, I sighed at last a place to warm up. I walk into the room, seeing Mikey already lighting up some firewood that had been next to the fireplace. The warm glow of the fire lighting the room better, there were shelves lining the walls, a couch right in front of the fireplace with a two chairs boarding it. I sighed this place was dusty and dirty, from nonuse, I guess. I get a blanket from the bag and draped it over the chair, and set Misia on the chair. She snuffled in her sleep bringing her bunny closer to her chest. Mikey came up behind me, holding a picture, I look down to see a family photo two adults a red head man with blue eyes, a woman with blond hair and blue eyes, and a child a little girl about Misia's age with red hair and blue eyes.
Mikey had a far away look in his eyes a frown on his face. "What's wrong Sweetness?"
"This is April and her father, and I guess her mother," he said. I remember him talking about April, she was one of the few people that Mikey knew before meeting me that was nice to him. One of the few that would try to stick up for him, I nodded.
"This must be her family home, why don't we clean it for her so that when she gets here again it will be clean for her," I said rubbing his arms he looked up at me smiling, his full watt smile that I loved. "But for now let's get some sleep okay?" I asked leading him to the couch, he laid down and I laid down on behind him, boxing him in and we fell asleep. The next night found us cleaning the top floor of the house, a bucket of water getting browner the longer we did this. Misia was helping cleaning the floor a sippy cup set on the floor and her bunny in a carrier on her shell so it wouldn't get in the solution of cleaner.
I was working on the ceiling seeing as I was the tallest, Mikey only reaching my chest. I was balancing on a chair my tail lashing to help me balance. Mikey was in the bath room cleaning the room, including the walls. We stopped to eat lunch and dinner spending all day on the upstairs, Misia having wanted to help, even when it was time for her nap. Mikey decided to let her nap in her chest cradle, she agreed, snuggling up to her mother's chest, sleeping soundly for a few hours, curled around her bunny like I do to Mikey when we sleep.
I smiled at Mikey when morning came, and the entire upstairs was done, it almost sparkled. Mikey looked at me, his face smudged with grime, and dust.
"Why don't we give Misia a bath and put her to bed, then we can have some alone time?" I asked looking down at Mikey pulling him to my chest and nuzzling his neck. He stifled a moan, and nodded.
MIKEY
(scene deleted if you want to read this one it will be on Achieve of our own under ShadowFox226)
He cleaned me up and changed the blanket, he laid down next to me, curling around me. I sighed and closed my eyes letting my head lay on his chest listening to his heart beat calming from our activities.
The next morning I woke to Misia hoping on the bed, and Jason behind her holding a tray with breakfast. I sat up and let Jason set the tray down on the bed and sat next to me, kissing my head. Misia sat next to me, her bunny in her lap, I went to eat the eggs and bacon that my mate made me, feeding a bit of it to Misia, we talked about what we would be doing today, we were going to do the bottom half of the house, the kitchen excluded, seeing as Jason cleaned it before cooking breakfast.
I finished eating and picked up Misia, and headed down stairs, we got the stuff ready to clean, and I was working on the window in the kitchen. I looked up from setting the spray back down after spraying the window. I stopped wiping the window frozen in place, seeing a van stopping in front of the house. That's not what made me freeze, it was the inhabitants. Three turtles came out one being carried between the other two. The emerald green turtle, walking backwards, holding the fallen turtle's feet. The taller one holding his arms keeping his head pillowed on the taller turtle's chest.
"What's going on Sweetness?" Jason asked behind me, I turned to look at him, and whimpered.
He came up to hug me and look out the window as well, his eyes narrowed, and he growled under his throat.
"We have to help Leo at least," I said I wanted to make sure that he was okay before leaving. Jason didn't look like he was okay with this, but knew that no matter what I wanted to make sure that my brothers were okay. He nodded I went to open the door, startling April who was about to open the door.