Thankful

Chapter II: It's Time

By: Michelle

After dinner, the guys went to watch the football game, Splinter went in Shadow's room to meditate, and the girls began to clean up the kitchen. Venus went to the sink and began to wash dishes. April saw this and stopped her.

"You should be sitting down. We'll clean up the mess."

"No, I'll help you." Venus insisted.

April took the sponge from Venus. "Obento put you on bed rest."

"I'm pregnant, not helpless." Venus pleaded, but she knew she should be taking it easy and sat at the table.

Kat wiped down the table while Kimmico pulled out the cookie dough they made this morning.

Shadow got excited and grabbed all the sprinkles April bought to decorate the cookies. One at a time, she placed each one on the table next to the turkey and leaf cookie cutters.

Venus observed the different types: red sugar, green sugar, yellow sugar, orange sugar, chocolate chips, almonds, chocolate confetti sprinkles, and pecans.

Shadow sat down next to Venus. "Aunt Venus, you can help me decorate the cookies."

"Thank you Shadow."

While Hana and April finished up the dishes, Kimmi spread out flour on the table and began to flatten out the dough.

"RUN! RUN!" Raphael and Casey began to yell.

"Damnit." Raphael stomped as he watched the guy get tackled.

"What are they yelling about?" Kat asked confused over what all the noise was about.

"Football." Zenobia answered but it was obvious Kat was still confused. Zenobia then tried to explain.

Michaelangelo came in the kitchen, dug in the fridge, and pulled out another beer.

"Mikey, you're not drinking another one are you?" Kimmi worried.

"Nah, it's for Raph." Mike explained and tried to steal a piece of cookie dough.

"Don't even think about it?" Kimmi said grabbing his hand.

Knowing he wasn't going to win, Michaelangelo went back in the living room to watch the game. He handed the beer to Raph who took it and gulped down more.

Venus sighed as she saw Raphael start on his second bee. At least she hoped it was his second beer.

"Alright Shadow" Kimmi said to the anxious seven-year-old. "Come and cut out some cookies."

Shadow ran to the other side of the table and began using the cookie cutters. Any spot she could, she made a cut out.

Kimmi took all the unused dough and flattened it in front of Venus. Shadow again ran over and began making cut outs in the dough.

Venus looked at the shaped dough in front of her. She had four turkeys and three leaves. Shadow sat next to her and began to help her decorate while Kimmi, Hana, Kat, April, and Zenobia started on the rest.

"The turkey needs an eye." Shadow said and placed a chocolate chip on the turkey's head.

"OK." Venus watched. "What color should we make the turkey?"

"Umm." Shadow thought for a second. "Green and orange and brown."

Venus helped her decorate when she felt something funny. She took a deep breath and placed her hands on her belly.

"Are you OK Aunt Venus?" Shadow asked her.

Venus took another deep breath. "Yes. I'm fine."

Shadow began to decorate the cookies again.

Venus figured it was nothing and began to help Shadow. Then, she felt it again.

This time April watched Venus. "Venus, is something wrong?" She went over to her and placed her hands on her belly.

Venus closed her eyes and felt her belly. "I think it's time." She said and looked at April.

"Hana, can you get Splinter?"

"Yes." Hana ran in Shadow's room to awake Splinter from his dream walking.

"What's wrong?" Kat asked as the rest of the girls gathered around Venus.

"She's going to have the babies." April looked over at the guys yelling at the football game. "CASEY! RAPH!" But, they did not hear her.