*~It's done, it's done! Waaaahoo! Had to finish it, ya know...can't risk can-canning flamingos attacking me 0_o And the new cartoon plays tomorrow!!!! Yeeeeeeaaaahhhhhhh! *falls over in chair and gets back up* Oh, and the song "If We Hold On Together" belongs to Diana Ross & The Supremes.
Splinter quietly closed the door behind him and took off his coat. The gray cat was nestled in his elbow purring, now that he'd forgiven the small grudge from being left in the car. Splinter's padded feet made no noise as he shuffled passed the couch towards his bedroom. Suddenly, Michelle appeared in his flashlight's beam.
"Is something wrong?"
Splinter stepped back mildly surprised, but his face revealed nothing.
"What will I give them? This cat will be a wonderful gift, but I still predict some disappointment. And...and I have nothing to dress their wounds with," his eyes dropped to the floor. He could hide surprise but not regret.
"Why don't you keep this," she held out the folded rainbow blanket.
"That is very generous of you, but I cannot accept. It has too much sentimental value."
"It would mean a lot more to me if you took it. They need it more. Besides, you said so yourself: I need to let go. Go ahead and use it as some bandages. It's not the best, but they need something right away."
Splinter took it tenderly with his free hand and bowed deeply.
"Domo arrigato."
Then, with a faint smile, he disappeared into his room. Light breathing in the blackness confirmed Leo and Don were asleep. He lit a candle and brought it close to their bed. Donatello suffered from a deep gash just below his knee and Leonardo had cut across his brow and possibly a concussion. Both were exhausted and in need of immediate care. Prying his sad eyes away from his children, Splinter brought out a blade and began to cut the blanket with exact precision. As he worked tiredly, an idea floated to him suddenly. The blade made a change in course, and he cut of a red stripe, then an orange, blue, and lastly, purple. He set them aside and used the rest of the material as bandages. Starring at the abrasions, he realized these were the first of many wounds resulting from good intentions.
Meanwhile, Michelle returned to the turtles on the couch. She picked both up tenderly and found their small bedroom near Splinter's. Placing both on the same futon, she tucked them in and watched them dream. Even though they weren't human, their structures were just as perfect. The tiny fingers, the intricate shell patterns, those bottomless eyes, everything about them had a serene innocence. Her mind flashed and suddenly there was a little girl starring at her lovingly.
"Please?"
"Oh, honey. You really need to go to sleep."
"Just once?"
Those pleading blue eyes pierced her heart.
"All right," she smiled and sat on the edge of the bed as she took Emily's hand. After planting a small kiss on her forehead, Michelle's voice softly slid into a melody.
"Don't lose your way
With each passing day
You've come so far
Don't throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope and glory
Hold to the truth in your heart
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I"
Her mind seemed to flash again and the song's melody floated toward the sleeping turtles instead.
"Souls in the wind
Must learn how to bend
Seek out a star
Hold on to the end
Valley, mountain
There is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I
When we are out there in the dark
We'll dream about the sun
In the dark we'll feel the light
Warm our hearts, everyone
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
As high as souls can fly
The clouds roll by
For you and I"
After a final kiss on each forehead, she stepped into the doorway with a final glance. She realized they were the children she never had and she was the mother they never could have. Now she could truly let Emily and them go knowing she had made a difference. Although on the outside of their world, it had still been influenced. She could not get attached to the turtles and make them or herself suffer that kind of loss again. That void in her heart was now full; it simply took another to point out that there never was a hole there at all, that her family was with her all along. With a last soft smile, the light dimmed and faded away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Splinter's eyes fluttered open as cheers erupted beyond his door. Slowly, he slipped into a tattered robe. As he tied the sash, he stepped out into the drafty lair. Suddenly, his fingers dropped from his waist leaving the knot only half complete. His jaw was slightly agape and wide eyes watched baby turtles twirl around a pile of wrapped presents. Leo caught sight of him and grabbed his hand to join the dance.
"Look, Master! He came! He came!"
"Who?" It was the only word he could muster up.
"Santa, silly!" Donatello laughed from the couch, favoring his leg as he watched his brothers.
"Where's...," he suddenly caught himself. The boys settled on their knees and began to sort through the pile. Mikey grinned ear to ear as he shook a present and handed it to Raph to make a guess at its contents. The rat sneeked away during this and searched through the lair for Michelle, but she was no where to be found. With a sigh, he joined them again and sat on the couch next to Donatello. The kids occasionally rushed up to him and requested a guess for the box in their arms.
"Oh look!" Don reached over to the broken end table near by and handed him a small piece of paper. On the outside 'Splinter' was printed neatly in pen. He eyed Donny for a moment wondering if he had read the word. As far as he knew, they didn't know how to read yet.
"See? Sp-liiinter," he ran his finger across the word as he slowly pronounced it," That's you!"
"Well done," he smiled and patted his son on the head. The child's attention then turned back to his brothers as he unfolded the letter.
For them.
Love,
Michelle
A tear escaped him, and he wiped it away quickly before the boys noticed.
"Can we open them now?" Michaelangelo eyed him excitedly.
"You may," he smiled.
Immediatly they tore into the pile like a hurricane. Wrapping paper exploded into the air as Raphael savagely ripped it off and Mikey tossed it.
"Look! Look!" Raph jumped up with a model airplane in his hand. Splinter beamed and nodded to him.
"That's very nice."
Raph grinned and began circling the room making airplane noises, letting the model dive and twirl in the air as he ran.
"Wow!" Donatello stared at his first computer wide eyed. Although it was just a simple kiddy machine made for learning, Splinter suspected it would be the first of a large collection.
Leonardo tore into his as well and admired some action figures. He ripped the package apart and attacked Raphael's plane with them.
Mikey rushed up to Splinter and showed him his new art set. It was complete with crayons, paper, and even water colors.
"Pretty!"
"It is," he grinned and patted Mike," Why don't you go give it a try?"
He set it on the table and carefully pulled some crayons out. The orange one was eventually chosen, and he began to draw with his tongue protruding slightly in concentration.
Meanwhile, Leonardo dropped his action figures as Raph crashed the plane on them, and he approached the last present.
"This one's yours, Master!" Leo picked it up with some difficulty and placed it in his lap. They all paused with their gifts to watch him up wrap it. Brushing the box away, he brought out a fine wooden cane.
"Cool!" Mike smiled and returned to his drawing.
"Yeah! Excellent!" Raph joined.
"Awesome!" Leo added.
Donatello typed on his machine for a minute and looked up with a grin," Radical!"
Splinter looked away from the cane at each of them. Where did they get those words?! Their smiled widened at his shock. He chuckled.
"This is for you!" Mike picked up his drawing and handed it to him," That's you, there's Leo, Raph, Donny, and me!"
He pointed to each stick figure and beamed at him proudly.
"Ah, thank you Michaelangelo. I have some gifts for you as well," they perked up as he mentioned this.
Using his new cane, he departed for his room and returned with a box. They eyed it with full attention. As he opened the top, a cat suddenly jumped out.
"Whoa!" Mike laughed as it pounced on him,"Kitty!"
"What's his name?" Leonardo leaned over to pet him.
"I believe he made a loud...klunk, as his last regards," he grinned as they looked at him in puzzlement.
"Klunk? Klunk..," Mike played with the word for moment,"I like it! Klunk!"
They all gathered around to give Klunk a belly rub.
"But that is not all," they turned back to him.
"Leonardo," he pulled out a very long object entwined with a strip of blue fabric.
"Raphael," a shorter, shiny object came out with red material.
"Donatello," an even longer something with purple.
"And Michaelangelo," he handed the bulky present over with orange.
They each untied the material away and nearly fell over in awe.
"Leonardo. Patient and loyal, I grant you blue and the skill of the katana," he took the blue strip and tied the bandanna around Leo's head. Leonardo's finger traced the blade carefully.
"Raphael. Swift and skilled, I grant you red and the weaponry of the sai," the red bandanna was tied on in the same manner.
"Donatello. Clever and pacifistic, I grant you purple with the bo staff," the purple bandanna was tied on.
"And Michaelangelo. Loving and open, I grant you orange with the nunchaku," the pair of weapons was placed in his hand and the orange bandanna applied. He stepped back and admired them.
"Soon your lessons will begin, and the family honor restored," he bowed and sat back down.
"Thank you!" they cheered and admired their own and each other's things.
He gave a final smile," Merry Christmas, my sons."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michelle stepped onto the soft grass and it whispered behind her foot steps. The trees panted in the wind as the sun glittered across numerous graves. She paused in front of two specific ones and placed a vase of flowers on each.
"Hello Jake," she knelt down and touched the stone. It was surprisingly warm. A long silent moment passed before she finally spoke up again.
"Emily," she put her other hand on the grave close by," I just wanted to...to say I'm sorry. It's been almost a year now and I haven't even visited. But I wanted you to know I'm doing okay. I-I don't want you to worry about me any more. I've finally made peace with myself."
Tears started to come.
"And then I also wanted to tell you how much a I miss you: you're voices, laughter, smiles...but I'm going to move on now. I love you," she stood up and stepped back," Always."
Her tear-ridden eyes scanned the graves one last time before walking away, each step towards a new beginning.
After she disappeared, a slight breeze kicked up and the leaves scuttled away, revealing a final passage on both graves.
For Them.
Splinter quietly closed the door behind him and took off his coat. The gray cat was nestled in his elbow purring, now that he'd forgiven the small grudge from being left in the car. Splinter's padded feet made no noise as he shuffled passed the couch towards his bedroom. Suddenly, Michelle appeared in his flashlight's beam.
"Is something wrong?"
Splinter stepped back mildly surprised, but his face revealed nothing.
"What will I give them? This cat will be a wonderful gift, but I still predict some disappointment. And...and I have nothing to dress their wounds with," his eyes dropped to the floor. He could hide surprise but not regret.
"Why don't you keep this," she held out the folded rainbow blanket.
"That is very generous of you, but I cannot accept. It has too much sentimental value."
"It would mean a lot more to me if you took it. They need it more. Besides, you said so yourself: I need to let go. Go ahead and use it as some bandages. It's not the best, but they need something right away."
Splinter took it tenderly with his free hand and bowed deeply.
"Domo arrigato."
Then, with a faint smile, he disappeared into his room. Light breathing in the blackness confirmed Leo and Don were asleep. He lit a candle and brought it close to their bed. Donatello suffered from a deep gash just below his knee and Leonardo had cut across his brow and possibly a concussion. Both were exhausted and in need of immediate care. Prying his sad eyes away from his children, Splinter brought out a blade and began to cut the blanket with exact precision. As he worked tiredly, an idea floated to him suddenly. The blade made a change in course, and he cut of a red stripe, then an orange, blue, and lastly, purple. He set them aside and used the rest of the material as bandages. Starring at the abrasions, he realized these were the first of many wounds resulting from good intentions.
Meanwhile, Michelle returned to the turtles on the couch. She picked both up tenderly and found their small bedroom near Splinter's. Placing both on the same futon, she tucked them in and watched them dream. Even though they weren't human, their structures were just as perfect. The tiny fingers, the intricate shell patterns, those bottomless eyes, everything about them had a serene innocence. Her mind flashed and suddenly there was a little girl starring at her lovingly.
"Please?"
"Oh, honey. You really need to go to sleep."
"Just once?"
Those pleading blue eyes pierced her heart.
"All right," she smiled and sat on the edge of the bed as she took Emily's hand. After planting a small kiss on her forehead, Michelle's voice softly slid into a melody.
"Don't lose your way
With each passing day
You've come so far
Don't throw it away
Live believing
Dreams are for weaving
Wonders are waiting to start
Live your story
Faith, hope and glory
Hold to the truth in your heart
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I"
Her mind seemed to flash again and the song's melody floated toward the sleeping turtles instead.
"Souls in the wind
Must learn how to bend
Seek out a star
Hold on to the end
Valley, mountain
There is a fountain
Washes our tears all away
Words are swaying
Someone is praying
Please let us come home to stay
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
Where clouds roll by
For you and I
When we are out there in the dark
We'll dream about the sun
In the dark we'll feel the light
Warm our hearts, everyone
If we hold on together
I know our dreams will never die
Dreams see us through to forever
As high as souls can fly
The clouds roll by
For you and I"
After a final kiss on each forehead, she stepped into the doorway with a final glance. She realized they were the children she never had and she was the mother they never could have. Now she could truly let Emily and them go knowing she had made a difference. Although on the outside of their world, it had still been influenced. She could not get attached to the turtles and make them or herself suffer that kind of loss again. That void in her heart was now full; it simply took another to point out that there never was a hole there at all, that her family was with her all along. With a last soft smile, the light dimmed and faded away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Splinter's eyes fluttered open as cheers erupted beyond his door. Slowly, he slipped into a tattered robe. As he tied the sash, he stepped out into the drafty lair. Suddenly, his fingers dropped from his waist leaving the knot only half complete. His jaw was slightly agape and wide eyes watched baby turtles twirl around a pile of wrapped presents. Leo caught sight of him and grabbed his hand to join the dance.
"Look, Master! He came! He came!"
"Who?" It was the only word he could muster up.
"Santa, silly!" Donatello laughed from the couch, favoring his leg as he watched his brothers.
"Where's...," he suddenly caught himself. The boys settled on their knees and began to sort through the pile. Mikey grinned ear to ear as he shook a present and handed it to Raph to make a guess at its contents. The rat sneeked away during this and searched through the lair for Michelle, but she was no where to be found. With a sigh, he joined them again and sat on the couch next to Donatello. The kids occasionally rushed up to him and requested a guess for the box in their arms.
"Oh look!" Don reached over to the broken end table near by and handed him a small piece of paper. On the outside 'Splinter' was printed neatly in pen. He eyed Donny for a moment wondering if he had read the word. As far as he knew, they didn't know how to read yet.
"See? Sp-liiinter," he ran his finger across the word as he slowly pronounced it," That's you!"
"Well done," he smiled and patted his son on the head. The child's attention then turned back to his brothers as he unfolded the letter.
For them.
Love,
Michelle
A tear escaped him, and he wiped it away quickly before the boys noticed.
"Can we open them now?" Michaelangelo eyed him excitedly.
"You may," he smiled.
Immediatly they tore into the pile like a hurricane. Wrapping paper exploded into the air as Raphael savagely ripped it off and Mikey tossed it.
"Look! Look!" Raph jumped up with a model airplane in his hand. Splinter beamed and nodded to him.
"That's very nice."
Raph grinned and began circling the room making airplane noises, letting the model dive and twirl in the air as he ran.
"Wow!" Donatello stared at his first computer wide eyed. Although it was just a simple kiddy machine made for learning, Splinter suspected it would be the first of a large collection.
Leonardo tore into his as well and admired some action figures. He ripped the package apart and attacked Raphael's plane with them.
Mikey rushed up to Splinter and showed him his new art set. It was complete with crayons, paper, and even water colors.
"Pretty!"
"It is," he grinned and patted Mike," Why don't you go give it a try?"
He set it on the table and carefully pulled some crayons out. The orange one was eventually chosen, and he began to draw with his tongue protruding slightly in concentration.
Meanwhile, Leonardo dropped his action figures as Raph crashed the plane on them, and he approached the last present.
"This one's yours, Master!" Leo picked it up with some difficulty and placed it in his lap. They all paused with their gifts to watch him up wrap it. Brushing the box away, he brought out a fine wooden cane.
"Cool!" Mike smiled and returned to his drawing.
"Yeah! Excellent!" Raph joined.
"Awesome!" Leo added.
Donatello typed on his machine for a minute and looked up with a grin," Radical!"
Splinter looked away from the cane at each of them. Where did they get those words?! Their smiled widened at his shock. He chuckled.
"This is for you!" Mike picked up his drawing and handed it to him," That's you, there's Leo, Raph, Donny, and me!"
He pointed to each stick figure and beamed at him proudly.
"Ah, thank you Michaelangelo. I have some gifts for you as well," they perked up as he mentioned this.
Using his new cane, he departed for his room and returned with a box. They eyed it with full attention. As he opened the top, a cat suddenly jumped out.
"Whoa!" Mike laughed as it pounced on him,"Kitty!"
"What's his name?" Leonardo leaned over to pet him.
"I believe he made a loud...klunk, as his last regards," he grinned as they looked at him in puzzlement.
"Klunk? Klunk..," Mike played with the word for moment,"I like it! Klunk!"
They all gathered around to give Klunk a belly rub.
"But that is not all," they turned back to him.
"Leonardo," he pulled out a very long object entwined with a strip of blue fabric.
"Raphael," a shorter, shiny object came out with red material.
"Donatello," an even longer something with purple.
"And Michaelangelo," he handed the bulky present over with orange.
They each untied the material away and nearly fell over in awe.
"Leonardo. Patient and loyal, I grant you blue and the skill of the katana," he took the blue strip and tied the bandanna around Leo's head. Leonardo's finger traced the blade carefully.
"Raphael. Swift and skilled, I grant you red and the weaponry of the sai," the red bandanna was tied on in the same manner.
"Donatello. Clever and pacifistic, I grant you purple with the bo staff," the purple bandanna was tied on.
"And Michaelangelo. Loving and open, I grant you orange with the nunchaku," the pair of weapons was placed in his hand and the orange bandanna applied. He stepped back and admired them.
"Soon your lessons will begin, and the family honor restored," he bowed and sat back down.
"Thank you!" they cheered and admired their own and each other's things.
He gave a final smile," Merry Christmas, my sons."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Michelle stepped onto the soft grass and it whispered behind her foot steps. The trees panted in the wind as the sun glittered across numerous graves. She paused in front of two specific ones and placed a vase of flowers on each.
"Hello Jake," she knelt down and touched the stone. It was surprisingly warm. A long silent moment passed before she finally spoke up again.
"Emily," she put her other hand on the grave close by," I just wanted to...to say I'm sorry. It's been almost a year now and I haven't even visited. But I wanted you to know I'm doing okay. I-I don't want you to worry about me any more. I've finally made peace with myself."
Tears started to come.
"And then I also wanted to tell you how much a I miss you: you're voices, laughter, smiles...but I'm going to move on now. I love you," she stood up and stepped back," Always."
Her tear-ridden eyes scanned the graves one last time before walking away, each step towards a new beginning.
After she disappeared, a slight breeze kicked up and the leaves scuttled away, revealing a final passage on both graves.
For Them.