Bambi's affect on Leo.

No I don't own the Turtles or Bambi – just pointing that out.

Master Splinter entered the lair, holding the door open, as a young Michelangelo bounced into the room. Splinter had taken his youngest son out to scavenger with him. He had wanted to observe Michelangelo without his three brothers around and this was a wonderful opportunity for him to spend time with his youngest.

"Hey guess what?! I found a didio!"

"I hope it's an adventurous one." Leo said, as he and the other two looked up from their game of hungry hippos.

"I hope it's a scary movie!" Raphael beamed.

"Yeah it is," Mickey stated.

"What about any science in it? I hope there's science in it!" Donny announced.

"It is." Mickey replied.

"Have we seen it before?" Leo asked, looking at his Sensei.

"Yes, when you were only four I took the four of you to see it. I remember Mickey really loved it, so I have allowed him to bring it home."

Splinter took the tape off Mickey and put it into the VCR.

"I bags Splinter!" Raphe raced to join Splinter on his favourite chair. Leo and Donnie sat on their bean bags, on either side of Splinter's chair. Mickey, placed his bean bag at Splinter's feet, he knew from Ralph's look that Raphe wasn't going to share Splinter with anyone tonight.

There was silence as the film began, a look of horror and confusion swept over the oldest three turtles.

"BAMBI?!" They call cried, as though in agony.

"Do we have to.....???

"Now my sons let us have a nice relaxing movie before bed time." Splinter calmly replied.

"How the hell is Bambi scary?" Raphe blurted out. He did have a point, thought the other two. Splinter scolded Raphael for his language.

"Sorry Splinter."

"You are forgiven my son," Splinter gave Raphe a big hug, as Raphe curled up in his father's arms. He soon fell asleep.

When the movie got to the part where Bambi's mother dies, Donne burst into tears. Mickey was already in tears and crying into the ends of Splinter's gown. Splinter patted his youngest son's head gently. "Now, now, my son. Death comes to us all. It's what we do with our time we have that is of great importance. Come on, you may hop onto other lap, my dear boy."

Mickey climbed into Splinter's lap, the one place all of them felt safe and warm. Many times had Mickey clung to Splinter when he was fearful and many times had Splinter been such a comfort in those times.

"I love you Spinta," Mickey said, snuggling into Splinter and accidentally kicking Raphe, who woke up.

"DON'T!" Raphe grumbled in his sleep.

"Let us wait to see, I feel that this movie ends happily." Splinter said.

All eyes watched the movie, except Raph, who had fallen back to sleep. He was just so warm and cosy in Sensei's lap, that he had even ignored the fact Mickey had joined him.

Leo watched eagerly as the closing of the movie came, where Bambi becomes the king of the forest just like his father. Leo had been upset when Bambi lost his mother, though being the oldest, he could not let the others see him cry. He just reflected on this, "Wonder if I'll be as good a ninja master as Splinter one day?"

"Alright my sons, I believe it is time for bed. Come along, I'll come and tuck you all in."

Splinter helped Raphe and Mickey up and with Mike holding onto Splinter's arm, he guided Raphael to the bedroom. Leo and Donetello followed behind.

Splinter tucked all four turtles into their own beds and wished them a peaceful sleep. He then went into his own room for the night.

Michelangelo and Donetello had fallen asleep within minutes. Raphe was now fully awake, due to the ache in this bladder letting him know he had better go visit the bathroom.

He started to climb the ladder, down from the top bunk, when he heard sobbing.

He looked underneath him at Mickey's sleeping form. It was usually Mickey who balled his eyes out, though by the big grin on Mickey's face, he was obviously having a wonderful dream.

He looked over to the other bunk bed, at Donnie. Don was mumbling softly to himself about Newton's law. Raphe knew better to think that would make Donnie cry. His attention caught the sound again, this time his eyes moved to the top bunk of where his oldest brother slept. He noticed Leo was shuddering and could hear sobs.

Raphael padded over to the other bunk, placed his feet on the edge of Donnie's bed, making sure he didn't kick Donnie.

"Hey Leo, why you crying for?"

"I'm not crying. I've got a cold. Now go back to bed."

"Leo, I know you're crying. What's wrong?"

"I said nothing! Now go back to bed," Leo replied between sniffles.

Raphe tried to climb onto Leo's bed, without using the ladder. His foot slipped and he kicked Donnie awake.

"Sorry Donnie!"

"What are you doing?" Don grumbled.

"Leo's crying and won't admit it."

"I am not crying!" Leo sobbed.

Donnie got up and did the same as Raphael.

"Sounds like you're crying to me. If you're sick, why do you not tell us and we can fetch Splinter for you?"

At hearing his father's name, Leo broke down even more.

"Come on Leo. It's alright; Sensei said it's alright to cry. He also said it's good to share it with another person. I and Raphe won't go back to bed until you tell us what's wrong!" Donnie said.

Leo rolled over and faced his younger brothers. He had tears down his cheeks.

"I was just thinking about that movie. About how Bambi lost his mother, what if something like that happened to us?"

"Leo, we don't have a mother," Donnie pointed out.

"I mean what if something happened to Master Splinter? We would be all alone..." Leo whispered.

Both Don and Raphe looked at each other. They felt butterflies in their tummy. They could never imagine life without Splinter. They would be lost without him.

"Come on Leo, Splinter would never die!" Raphael said, more to calm himself.

"But Raphe, what, what if someone hurt Splinter?"

"I'd go kill them." Raphe replied, set in his discission.

"You know violence is not the answer, Raphie."

"Donetello is correct, my son." All three turned to see Splinter in the doorway.

"Though I can see you only mean to show your loyalty to me, am I correct Raphael, by defending me, if need be. I am flattered to know you feel so strongly about your old rat master."

"Come, I think it is an important time, for the three of you to come into my room. I would like to discuss this matter with you fully."

All three scrambled quietly into Splinter's room, "Please come sit on my bed, my sons."

Splinter smiled at his boys, he was amazed at how they had grown up so fast. It only seemed yesterday they were uttering their first words and stumbling about the lair with their security blankets.

"I take it the actions in tonight's movie have moved you my son," Splinter addressed his eldest. Leonardo nodded.

"It is normal for a child to fear for his father's safety, as it is for a father to fear for his sons."
"But your not afraid of anything, Splinter," Raphael said.

Splinter smiled at his son. "I am afraid of loosing one of my four sons."

"Even when we're loud and noises and really naughty?" Raphe inquired.

"Yes, even with all the noise, I would never replace my four kids. I think it comes with being a father, a natural instinct just sets in." Splinter chuckled.

"But we're not really your children..." Donnie pointed out.

"Oh, but you are just as equally my sons as if I had witnessed your birth. I have raised you since your mutation, have I not?"

"Yes, you have."

"Does that not make me your father?"

"I guess your right; you are our father, even though we may not be the same species."

"Yeah, he does everything any other day would do," Leo announced, "He cares for us when we're sick and injured."

"And he warns us against dangers and keeps us safe."

"And punishes us when we're bad," Raphael added.

Splinter chuckled, "And who else would put up with your tantrums and still love you all the same?"

"You still love me even when I'm bad?" Raphe asked

"Of course my son. Please remember it is your actions that sadden me, not you. All of you give an old rat a ray of sunshine in a gloomy world."

"Splinter, do you think that I could be like you when I grow up? Like Bambi was like his dad in the end of the movie."

"Of course you can my son. All of you have the abilities to become great ninja warriors. It takes time and practice and also age. That is why you have only started your training in recent times, for you must work on the basic tasks before you can move onto the more advanced tasks."

"Then if anyone tries to kill you, I'll ninja kill them." Raphael announced.

"I can see where you are coming from Raphael. Avenging those who have wronged us, is what we must do. As a ninja you seek truth and justice in this world, nothing more and nothing less. It is not glory that you must strive for my sons, but honour and loyalty to those you hold dearest to."

"I would be really sad if you left Splinter," Donnie said.

"The only time I will ever leave you is when I draw my final breath of air, though even then I will always be apart of you. Please remember that my sons. I will always be there for you, no matter what."

"What will happen when you die? What will we do?" Raphael asked.

"I expect Leonardo to take care of you and that you and Donetello will assist him in helping Michelangelo through such a time of grief. You need to stick together and be there for one another, as that is what brothers do."

"I will always look out for my brothers, Master Splinter." Leonardo bowed, "It would be an honour."

"I am sure you will do it well my son. Though please come, let us return to our own beds. All of us will be tired and cranky in the morning otherwise."

Splinter walked his three sons to their beds and tucked them in, as he had done earlier that night. He gave them all a light kiss on the head and told them he loved them. He did the same to a happily sleeping Michelangelo.

"Have peaceful dreams my sons."