A/N - Again, around eight here.

I have to say, I really enjoyed writing the guys as youngsters. I might do it again… As for this story, I was thinking of an epilogue, but haven't decided yet. Oh well, hope you enjoy this chapter!

Raphael - Brooding and Brotherhood

Raphael walked out of his room, sulking slightly, but determined not to let anyone see. He'd just spent an hour in his room, as punishment. Master Splinter had heard him saying a bad word to Michaelangelo. A small frown creased his brow at the thought of Splinter. He always caught him, even if it wasn't really his fault.

Well, it wasn't really, this time. He thought to himself. Mikey did ask what the word he'd heard was. The thought comforted him a little, and he walked into the kitchen, where Don and Mike were sitting at the table, playing Go-Fish and Leo was washing the dishes.

"Hey, Raph." Don said, a little too brightly, and Raph saw him look over to Michaelangelo and shrug.

Mike stood up, biting his lip. "Uh, hey, Raph, look. I'm sorry about earlier. I mean, we didn't know what it meant right? So Master Splinter really shouldn't have…"

"Yes he should have."

All three of there heads whipped around to look at Leonardo, who was still calmly washing a plate.

"What did you say?" Raphael asked, not believing his ears.

Mike sat back down, and he and Donatello shared a look that clearly said: Here we go again.

"I said, yes he should have." Leo repeated, still looking at the plate in his hands.

Mike sighed at this. Don spoke up, his voice timid. "Um, guys? Maybe you shouldn't, you know? I mean, this is what got you into trouble before…"

"No." Raphael said. "It's what got me into trouble before. Don't tell me he punished you." He looked at Leo. Sarcasm dripped from his voice. "Not the perfect student. The perfect son."

"Well, maybe if you'd calm down and practice more instead of always being grounded in your room…"

"Shut up!" Raph said. He couldn't believe it.

"Guys…" Don warned.

"Shut up, Donnie." Raph growled.

"Don't tell him to shut up." Leo said, finally looking over to his brother.

Mike's eyes widened. Leo must really be ticked about earlier if he was egging Raph on like this. He usually just ignored it.

"You can't tell me what to do"

"Why not?"

Raph growled. "Wait until practice. I'm gonna get you so bad…"

"I'll tell Master Splinter. He'll believe me."

"You'd tell?!"

"That's right." Leo said, an odd smile on his face. "I'll go and tell say-say."

The words made Raphael go red. His hands made fists, which he held by his side. Leo knew how much he hated that. When they were little, Raphael couldn't say sensei. So he used to call him say-say. And Leo liked to remind him, especially when he really wanted to get under his skin.

Don whistled low and moved his chair a little bit away from the scene.

Mike's eyes went even wider, if that was possible.

Raphael jumped at his brother. Leo's eyes went wide, and he leapt back, dropping the plate he held in the process.

Don jumped up, followed closely by Mike, but before they could do anything, Splinter entered the room, and looked at the scene before him.

"What is the meaning of this?" He said quietly.

"I…" Leonardo started, but Splinter cut him off.

"Raphael." He said. "Go to your room."

Raphael's eyes went wide. No way he'd take the blame for this.

"Master Splinter , I…"

"Now." Splinter said.

Raphael shut his mouth, his brow creased in a frown. A snarl came onto his face. "I hate you." He said, as he ran past Splinter.

Don turned to Leo, who had a frown on his face, also. Mike knelt down to pick up the pieces of broken plate that still lay on the ground.

"Leave it." Splinter said, looking back to where Raphael had just run and sighed.

Raphael almost blindly ran to his room, slamming the door and jumping onto his bed. It wasn't fair. He thought, as tears threatened to run down his face. Not fair at all.

He shouldn't be the one in trouble. Leo was the one that had started it. So, he might've overreacted, but still…

Raph buried his head into his pillow. But it was never Leo's fault. He was too perfect.

Maybe that's why Splinter didn't like him.

The thought of Splinter not liking him had never really entered his mind before. But now that it had… It made sense to him now. As much as it hurt him to realize… It was because Leo was so perfect. And Mike was so funny. No one ever stayed mad at him, not even Raphael. And Don was so smart, Splinter loved that. All Raphael ever did was… cause trouble. They didn't need him. Or probably even like him, for that matter. That's why he was always in trouble…

He turned and stared at the ceiling, fighting back tears of sadness. If they didn't like him, fine. He'd run away. Then they wouldn't have to worry about him anymore.

He was just planning his escape when the door to his room opened, and Splinter walked in.

Raphael glared at him.

"Raphael…" Splinter began, but Raph turned onto his side, away from Splinter.

Splinter sighed. He moved to sit on the bed. "Raphael…" He put a hand on the boy's shoulder, but Raph moved over, just out if his reach.

"Go away." Raph said. "Leave me alone."

"I do not want to…"

"But I want you to." Came the muffled response.

"Alright." Splinter turned to leave, then stopped, looking back at Raphael.

"But, if it matters any." Splinter began. "Leonardo has told me the circumstances, and he is being punished for his actions."

That made Raphael take notice. "What?" He asked softly, sitting up in bed. It was then that Splinter realized how upset the young boy was. He saw the red eyes and the tearstained face.

"Raphael." He began softly. "Do you want to tell me what Leonardo said that made you so angry?" Splinter sat down softly on the edge of the bed, away from Raphael, giving him his space.

Raphael turned away again.

"He… "Raph paused, as if nervous about continuing. "He… said he tell on me to you… and he made fun of me, Master Splinter!"

"Ah." Splinter said, realizing now why Raphael had acted so harshly.

"Raphael, it should not bother you, so much when…"

"But it does! It does Master Splinter. And, and I'm sorry. I'm sorry that I'm so bad, and that you…" He looked away. "That you don't like me." He said softly. "I'm gonna go and get outta your way, so you guys can train." Tears threatened to fall down his face.

This shocked Splinter more than anything any of his sons had ever said.

"Raphael…" Splinter sat back a bit. "I do not hate you." He looked at his son, and was surprised again when he saw tears leaking down his face. Of all his sons Raphael the most hated to cry, especially in front of someone.

"Raphael, I love you. All of you, equally."

"Really?" He sniffled.

"Yes." Splinter smiled. "Maybe I am too quick to punish you, too." He put a hand onto the young turtle's shoulder. "I am sorry then, also. A parent is not perfect, either."

With that confession, Raphael moved over and put his arms slowly, hesitantly around Splinter. Splinter returned the gesture, and felt Raphael relax a bit.

They sat for a moment in silence.

"I don't hate you." Raphael muttered, so softly, that Splinter wasn't even sure he'd heard him.

"What, my son?" He asked gently.

"I don't hate you." Raphael repeated. "I don't."

Splinter smiled at that. "I know." He said, patting Raphael's shoulder gently. "I know you don't."

"I shouldn't have said it."

"There are many things we say, or will say that we do not mean. It is only when we truly believe it, truly mean it does it hurt the worst."

Raphael hung his head. "I say lots of stuff I don't mean."

Splinter smiled. "You will grow out of it. You will learn."

"What if I don't?"

"You will. But your brothers and I will always forgive you. They know you care for them. They know it is not true. It may make them angry, but they will always forgive you."

Raph nodded. "I'll try." He said.

"Good." Splinter nodded. "So will I."

"Well then," Splinter stood after a moment. "I think we've all learned a valuable lesson today. So you can come out of your room whenever you are ready to do so." He moved to leave, then turned back and looked back at Raphael.

"Oh, and Raphael? I had always liked it when you called me say-say."

****************************************

Now… he tried, he really did. But sometimes his anger did get the best of him. And he did say things that he didn't mean. And now Splinter wasn't there to talk to. And he missed that.

Sometimes, he actually thought that was why he fought with Leo so much. Leo was so much like Splinter… he resented him for it. He resented that it was Leo with Splinter's words coming out of his mouth. He didn't want to hear it from anyone else but Splinter. But that wasn't all of it. Yeah, they fought for a lot of reasons. But they always made up. Just like Splinter had said.

He wasn't perfect. He knew that. He swore too much, he said things he didn't mean. He lost his temper too easily. Sometimes he didn't think he belonged. But then, he remembered what Splinter had taught him: that no one was perfect. And he wasn't. But they always forgave him. Splinter had told him that, too.

He chuckled a bit at that. Splinter had told him that he wasn't perfect, but Raphael would be hard pressed to find a lot of evidence to that claim.

Raphael looked out at the city, the wind against his body cold from the rooftop he was perched on. This was his city. Their city. Splinter had given him so much… he tried hard to make him proud.

Yes, his anger still got the best of him. But he tried. And he knew it was OK not to be perfect. That they'd still forgive him; that they'd always love him. That he, for all his faults, for all his sarcasm and mean comments, for all of his brash ways and his harsh words, was loved. Splinter made sure he knew and his brothers and friends made sure he remembered.

Raph grunted, a small smile coming onto his face as he stood. He hated when his thoughts turned all heavy and emotional like that.

He looked back out over the city before going inside.

"I miss you, say-say."