Don was feeling a lot more pregnant these days. His belly was growing ever more noticeable as the hormones did their job softening the cartilage of his plastron. It seemed like it had suddenly hit some critical point where it had lost enough rigidness to begin really stretching out. He was already tying his belt much looser than before, and now he would sometimes get uncomfortable enough that he needed to stop and let it out even further during the course of the day.

Unfortunately for Don, reptilian skin isn't nearly as good at stretching as human skin. Don realized that the reason he had been so itchy was that the scaly skin between his carapace and plastron was starting to shed as his plastron buckled outwards. Shedding was an embarrassing problem that he and his brothers had dealt with during growth spurts. At least Don was getting used to being embarrassed by now.

His nausea was beginning to subside somewhat, but it had left a voracious appetite in its place. He would eat all day if he could, but the strange looks that his brothers gave him led him to stop before he'd had his fill. His feet were swollen, and his fingers too. It made typing pretty difficult. He was constantly exhausted, and still prone to headaches, but worst of all was the back pain.

Don had been suffering from it for a while now, but the bigger and heavier his triplets grew, the worse it became. Most pregnant women have some degree of back pain, but Don's was more complex. Due to his mixture of human and turtle anatomy, he had both a spine, and a shell. While turtles' spines are completely fused to their shells, Don's was only fused on the top and bottom. The middle part of his spine was free in his back like a human's. In the spots where his shell and spine weren't connected, there was a thin layer of flesh between them. Now that Don's babies were growing, they were pushing his spine into his shell, bruising the flesh in between. It was so tender and painful, but there was nothing that could be done to soothe it. As a bonus, he was beginning to have periodic bouts of numbness in his legs due to pinched nerves.

Don had designed a garment to redistribute the increasing weight of his belly. He hoped that it would even out the pressure to a broader portion of his shell. The problem was that it looked ridiculous - sort of like a body-shaping undershirt. On the bright side, it did cover up his shedding scales, which were currently peeling off of his sides in sheets. In his mind, the best solution was to wear clothes and simply cover the whole mess up. To that end, he had asked April to do a little personal shopping for him.

When he had a few private moments, Don pawed through the bags that April had brought. He picked out a pair of sweatpants and an oversized tee shirt and tried them on. The clothes easily hid his support garment, and they were so soft and cozy. A little shiver of pleasure ran down his spine. There were some plush slippers in there as well, which gave his aching feet some much-needed padding and support.

Don walked out the door and was headed to his computer, when Leonardo stopped him. "New clothes?" Leo asked.

"Yeah. This gestation process is messing with my body temperature regulation. I'm hoping this will help." It wasn't a complete lie. The primary purpose of the clothes had been to cover up the shedding and the support garment, but Don's strange mix of warm and cold-blooded characteristics had been all over the place lately. One minute he was freezing, the next he was burning up. It seemed to be caused by the hormones and metabolic changes.

"They look comfortable," Leonardo said awkwardly. "Anyway, the guys and I were hoping that you could talk for a bit."

"Oh." This was a surprise, but there was no point in avoiding it. Leonardo led Donatello into the living room where Raphael and Michelangelo were already seated.

"Hey, I didn't know that this was going to be a fashion show!" Michelangelo teased. "I would've worn my Turtle Titan costume."

"Can it, shell-for-brains," Raphael ordered. "This is serious."

Donatello gulped. "Uh-oh."

"No uh-oh," Leo promised. "We only want to talk to you."

"Okay. Well, you have my attention. Fire away," Donatello urged.

Leonardo cleared his throat. "We thought that it would be a good idea to get everything out on the table. Have a nice, open conversation."

"About the babies and I?" Don guessed.

"Yes. I know that we didn't handle your announcement all that well, and obviously we don't exactly see eye-to-eye about your decision to keep training and fighting. That being said, you've been making yourself awfully scarce, Donatello. Are you mad at us, or avoiding us?" Leonardo stopped speaking and looked to Donatello.

"No," Don replied. "I've just been busy building the ultrasound machine and dealing with Triceraton stuff, and now this wrinkle with Hun. Plus, I kind of figured that you needed space and time to get used to things."

"And, we appreciate that. We do," Leo affirmed. "But, it's been a couple of weeks now, so I think that it's time to start talking things out."

"Okaaay," Donatello drawled.

"Well, first of all, how are you feeling?" Leonardo asked.

Donatello gulped. He was feeling lousy, but he had been for months now. "Um, fine, I guess. No major changes."

Leonardo crossed his arms, sternly. "And you'd be honest with us if there were changes, or anything potentially worrisome, right?"

"I would," Don promised.

"And you'd be honest with yourself too, right? Because you've got a pretty terrible record where that's concerned," Raphael spoke up.

"I know that's how you guys feel, but I can be totally transparent about everything, if it would make you feel better," Don offered. "I'm tracking everything that I can think of: blood pressure, pulse, weight, abdominal measurements. I'm monitoring all of that every morning, as well as running a urinalysis dipstick test that checks for ten different parameters. I'm also setting up my lab instruments to run bloodwork for hormone levels and other markers. Once that's up and running, I'll check it once a week. I'm making good progress on the ultrasound."

Leonardo nodded. "And all indication is that you're okay?"

"Yes. I'm happy to show you the records, or you can even run the tests yourself if you prefer."

"That won't be be necessary," Leonardo replied. "We just want you healthy, Don. Unfortunately, you're the only one remotely qualified to make that judgement, so I suppose you're both doctor and patient."

"I guess. I'm being really careful, though. I swear. I recently discovered that I'm anemic, so I'm trying to get more iron," Don explained.

"You don't seem to be getting sick quite as often," Michelangelo observed.

"Not quite so much," Don agreed. "My appetite is growing, but I still haven't gained back all the weight I lost, believe it or not. My back is hurting lately. It's bad enough to keep me awake at night, but I'm dealing."

"You might want to rest more," Leonardo recommenced.

"Leo," Don said warningly. "You know where I stand."

"I do, but hear us out," Leonardo requested. "I know that you feel like it's essential to stay in shape, and it's true that you're a very important member of our team."

Don smiled nervously. "Thank you."

"But," Leo raised a finger, "I'm not sure that you're taking long term considerations into account."

"What do you mean?" Don asked.

"It seems like you're doing a great job monitoring your health-"

Don cut Leo off. "I'm planning for the future too. April can do a c-section if needed. We're getting the tools, and I'm writing up instructions, decision trees-"

Now Leo turned the tables and cut Don off. "I meant longer term. What about after the babies are here?"

Don was baffled. "What do you mean? Like, if something is wrong with them?"

"No. I mean even in the best case scenario, when there are no health problems at all," Leonardo clarified. "What will you do with them every day?"

"Oh. Well, they'll be babies. They'll entertain themselves, right?" Don cast his eyes around searchingly.

"Maybe so, but you're so insistent upon training and patrolling so you don't lose a step. Do you really think that you'll be able to join us on missions after they're born?" Leonardo wondered.

"Why wouldn't I?" Don asked.

"Who will watch them, Don? You can't just leave them alone," Leonardo pointed out.

"I know that!" Don blurted. Truthfully, Donatello hadn't really thought about it. He'd been so busy dealing with the Triceraton, building the ultrasound machine, training, and everything else. "I'm sure April and Casey would pitch in, maybe even Angel."

"Pitch in sure, but think of how our missions turn out," Leonardo considered. "Sometimes we're gone for days, even weeks. We never know what'll happen when we walk out that door. Would you really ask that of our friends? How would they work or go to school if you had an extended absence?"

Donatello didn't have an answer ready. "I guess… I could build some sort of robotic sitter…"

"Like Rosie from the Jetsons!" Mikey yelled. Everyone ignored him.

"You'd trust your three newborn babies with a robot nanny?" Raphael said sceptically.

"Maybe not. Our human friends would be my first choice, but I could build a robo-nanny that they could use in case of unplanned long term absences." Donatello clasped his hands protectively around his middle. Even as he was saying it, he knew he could never leave his babies in the care of a robot, no matter how sophisticated. They would need real love and attention at all times.

"Regardless of what contingency plans we put into place, I don't think that you'll be patrolling nearly as often. You'll be a father. Your place will be with them," Leo advised.

"I think that you're right about that much," Don reluctantly agreed.

"So why not take a step back now?" Leonardo asked. "I know why you don't want to, but you're so busy with other projects. It'll be good for your back, and if you're anemic then more rest can't hurt."

Don frowned. "I know that my condition makes you uncomfortable, but-"

Raphael leaned forward. "We're not just uncomfortable. We're scared for your safety!"

"I told you that you're welcome to check my medical log. I-"

"No matter what those logs say, anything can go wrong at any time," Leonardo correctly pointed out. "Pregnancy is a strain. You could have a sudden heart problem, or an aneurysm or hemorrhage. Women still die during pregnancy and childbirth, even when everything seems fine. And these are people with proper medical care, normal babies, and normal non-mutated bodies. And you're carrying triplets, Donatello. Triplets!"

Don felt his lips begin to quiver. "So what would you have me do? Go back to Area 51 and put myself under Bishop's care?"

"No. Of course we don't want that," Leonardo insisted. "But, there are other places that you could go, places where you could have proper medical care, and places where you and the babies would be accepted by society."

"Like where?" Don wondered.

"Back to the future would be one option," Raphael considered. "Usagi's homeworld would be another."

Donatello took a deep breath and shook his head. "I don't… I don't know. We're unique creatures. I don't think that doctors would know what to do with me, even in the future. And, Usagi's homeworld seemed to rely more on herbal and folk remedies. Just because they were able to handle Leo's poisoning doesn't mean that they would know what to do about… this."

"If you don't like either of those options, there's the Utrom homeworld. I'm sure that Professor Hunnicut and Leatherhead would be able to get you seen by the right people," Leonardo replied.

"How would we get there?" Don asked. "We don't have a spaceship or access to a portal. Even if I knew how to get in touch with them, it would take them months to reach earth and get me back there. I'd have already had the babies by that time."

"Would that be such a bad thing?" Raphael mused.

"What do you mean?" Don wondered. "I thought that getting proper medical care for the triplets and I was the whole point."

"Well, it's not the whole point," Raphael put in.

"There's also the matter of what is best for the babies," Leonardo added. "Do you remember when we brought up adoption, and you kind of blew it off?"

Don cringed. "I absolutely remember that. It sort of upset me, if I'm being honest."

Leo sighed. "We don't want to upset you. We just want to make sure that you consider all of the options available to you. Because I'm sure that there are all sorts of families in Usagi's world, or the Utrom homeworld or even the future who would love those kids. And, let's face it, what kind of life can we offer them, really?"

Donatello was perilously close to bursting into tears. He knew that the hormones had a lot to do with it, but he swore he could feel his heart shattering. "You… you don't want the babies? You don't think they'll be happy here?"

"No!" Leonardo quickly shouted. "Please don't get upset, Don. That is not what we're saying!"

Donatello gulped. "What… what are you saying then?"

"It's just that we've been talking, and all of us are in a weird position here. Not just you," Leonardo explained.

"I know. I get it," Don said softly.

"I'm not sure that you do," Leo said. "I know these kids are mostly yours, genetically, and that you're the one carrying them as well. But, they belong to the rest of us too, at least partially."

"Yeah," Don whispered.

"We don't know where we stand… or what our roles are supposed to be. Do we… do we get a say at all, in anything?" Leonardo wondered.

Don hadn't thought of it that way. Had him hiding away come across as possessive? "Of course," he said, trying to sound firm despite his voice wavering. "All of our lives, we've done everything together. We're in this together too."

"I'm glad that's how you feel, because it hasn't really seemed that way." Leonardo rubbed his temples. "I think that we can all agree that you're the primary decision maker. Have you given much thought to what you want life to look like after they're born? Given your approach to training and health care, it seems like you don't want much to change, but it will, Don. Our lives will look nothing like they do now."

"I guess I thought that I'd still be able to do everything that I do now, just less often. I know that I won't be able to work in the lab as much."

"You still want a lab?" Raphael wondered.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I?" Don asked.

"Aren't you scared about the babies getting into things?" Leonardo fretted. "You're so careful, but even you have accidents."

"I can lock the doors and babyproof it. That way there will be double protection," Don promised.

Leonardo nodded. "Okay, but when will you find time to work? Three babies will keep you busy."

Don wriggled uncomfortably. "I guess I thought that one of you guys could watch them if I needed to work in the lab. I know I'll have less time in there, but I didn't realize that you guys wanted me to get rid of the lab entirely."

"We don't. We're just talking, Don," Leonardo insisted.

"So, you are prepared to be Mr. Mom? To have these kids take over your whole life?" Raphael asked.

"Prepared or not, it's going to happen, right?" Don pointed out.

"If it's what you want. But if you don't, there's adoption," Leonardo answered.

Don bit his lower lip before speaking. "Why do you guys keep bringing that up? Clearly it's not what I want."

"Haven't you considered what they might want? Do you really think that a life in the sewer here with us is what's best for them?" Leonardo asked.

"Hasn't it always been good enough for us?" Don replied.

"I don't know. Has it?" Raphael put in. "We'd have to essentially seal ourselves up in here, given the amount of trouble that we get into. Are you ready to go back to the way things were before? Even you don't seem to be, never mind the rest of us."

Raphael was referring to the turtles' early lives. When they were little, Splinter didn't let them go to the surface unless there was an emergency. It wasn't until recent years that they had known true freedom.

"It doesn't need to be as extreme as when we were little," Donatello insisted. "Splinter was alone. He couldn't read, and didn't understand human ways. There were four of us to only one of him."

"Maybe it doesn't need to be that extreme, but those kids would be better off somewhere that they'd be accepted into a society and not hidden away. You would be better off too, if we chose a place with good medical care." Leonardo trailed off as he saw Donatello try to hide that his lip was quivering.

Raphael stepped in to say what Leonardo wasn't strong enough to voice. "Don, you know how I feel. It's hard for me to even picture this future, because I just can't see you surviving pregnancy and birth. I just can't get past it. But if I do push that aside and try to think about the kids - Man, I just can't see us raising them here. Can you? Do you really think that it's what's best for them? for you? for all of us? I mean, do you really think that we're ready to be dads?"

At that, Don had an outburst. "Do you guys understand that I love them? Maybe that's the part you're missing! I know I've been hiding a lot from you because of the weirdness of this situation and the fact that, frankly, I'm embarrassed. But, I love them! We're bonded to each other, and I can't imagine separating from them. Is that what… is it what you guys want?"

Mikey hadn't said anything yet, so he stepped in now. The others were muted due to Don's display of heartfelt emotion. Donatello was shaking like a leaf. "You know how I feel. I'm totally psyched to be the fun uncle."

"You'll be more than just an uncle. You get that, right? It's not gonna be just fun and games," Raphael grumbled.

"Well, the other three of you guys are so good at being serious. I guess I see that as my role," Michelangelo insisted.

"What do you want for the babies, then?" Leonardo asked. "In a perfect world?"

"I'm with Don," Michelangelo announced. "We stay down here and raise them and otherwise try to keep things mostly the same."

"That's so childish, Michelangelo. Things won't be the same. Not by a long shot," Raphael argued.

"What do you want to do then, Mr. Grumpypants?" Michelangelo wondered.

"I want to take Don someplace where he and the babies can be properly cared for, and I think… I think… Shell, I know we've been dancing around this issue but I'll just come right out and say it. I think that the babies would be far better off if they were raised somewhere other than here."

Don had stayed quiet while Raphael spoke, afraid of breaking down completely. He couldn't hold back any longer. "You don't want them, do you?" he cried. "You want me to give them up, to leave them behind!"

"No. I just think that we should consider it. That's all this is, Don. That's all. Don't get so emotional," Raphael begged.

"I'm sorry. I guess… I do acknowledge that there are far better places than a sewer to be raised," Donatello quavered.

"Yeah. And I'm not saying we couldn't stay with them. Everything is on the table, as far as I'm concerned," Raphael placated.

Donatello sniffed and wiped his eyes. "What do you think, Leo?"

Leonardo looked surprised. "Me?"

Don nodded. Leo thought for a minute. He only wanted to moderate a discussion. He hadn't really formulated a strong opinion yet. "I do agree with Raph about you getting actual medical care, and I do feel that you should be taking it easier."

Leonardo hesitated. "I'm also scared that this place isn't safe enough. Since Dad has been gone, it's been a real struggle just getting through day-to-day life. Do we really want to add children into this mix? I'm not sure that I can keep them safe here, never mind happy and healthy. And, maybe they would be better off if they were in a place like Usagi's world, where they could be out in the open, enjoy the sunshine, make friends, go to school, have a real future… and a real family."

Donatello was horrified. "Are you saying we aren't a real family?" Don had never considered otherwise, and Leo was supposed to be the leader of this supposed family!

"No!" Leo insisted. "I didn't mean it like that. It's just that, these are genetically engineered mutant children that we are talking about, with mixtures of all of our DNA. Am I an uncle or a father? And what about you? Are you the father or mother? I know how optimistic that future that we all lived in with Cody was. But, once they get to that future, assuming that they even do, how will they explain things? They'll be so different as it is. How will this… family background affect them? Wouldn't it be easier for them to have a more traditional arrangement - a mom and a dad? We always wanted a mom, right? And, they wouldn't even have to know how they were created or where they came from. They could just have nice, normal lives."

Don began trembling again. "Oh my… you don't… you don't want them either?!"

Leonardo put his hands up. "Stop jumping to conclusions! I was just thinking out loud. We need to consider all options. We need to really talk this through, not just sit on our hands and live our daily lives and hope for the best."

"And we all have skin in this game," Raphael pointed out. "These are our babies too, in some way. I know it's uncomfortable and it's a hard conversation, but we should all decide together what is best for them. Not just you because you're the… carrier."

"Okay," Don whispered. He ran his hands down his face to cover the fact that he was now openly crying, then returned them to protectively embrace his swollen belly. "You're right about all of that. I don't think that I can take anymore of this right now though."

"Okay," Leo agreed. "Let's just process all of this and think some more. We can talk again in a day or two."

Don wandered back in the direction of his room. "Are you okay?" Leo called to his retreating shell.

"Yeah," Don lied, not bothering to turn around.

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