Dadda
Part 3
Disclaimer: No I don't own the turtles or Splinter – someone else made them up for me – I think we all know who those great men are. Gabby is my creation and Mine alone!! She's actually my Godchild – but my God child's not really called Gabby – I changed her name.. And the real life Gabby is almost 5 years old – this Gabby is about a year old– but shhhh – the turtles don't really know how old she is yet…
Oh and the Wiggles are an Aussie kids band that's been around since 1991. The Wiggles I do know are famous in the states now too.
It's Wiggle Time!
It was training time in the turtles' lair, where Master Splinter put the turtles through their practice like he had always done. The four turtles did their push ups and other warm up exercises. They practice their defences and their attack sequences.
Though this morning was a little different. Instead of Splinter standing next to the turtles as they worked, he sat off to the side with a young girl in his lap. The little girl was fascinated with this great big over grown teddy like creature – which also talked and walked!
Gabby was already winning the hearts of the five bachelors under the streets of New York – though with those big brown eyes – which could not resist picking up such a sweet little baby.
Every time she cried or spoke – all eyes turned to her, especially Raphael – who she had taken a personal shining to. Raphael was the one she called her "Dadda". So far she had learnt who Mikey was – mainly because he was there when Raphael saved her from dying in the old junk yard alone.
It was like a new Raphael had moved into the lair – a calmer and happier one. His days of blowing off steam at the small things that ticked him off – like Mikey using up all the hot water just before it was Raph's turn for the shower. Or when something didn't work he'd go abuse Donetello to hurry up and fix it. Then there were the times he just exploded at Leonardo – because that was what happened between those two.
No, in less than 24 hours Raphael had become a more quiet and reserved Turtle. His family had not seen him so sentimental before over anything – except when he was a toddler and owned a toy bunny. Mind you if you asked him – it wasn't a rabbit at all – but a lion – but he'd soon put you straight if you dared to call it a rabbit.
His face lite up every time the young child called out to him and he loved the way she had taken to him rather than anyone else. He was jealous this morning when Michelangelo played with her at the breakfast table – thinking she'd find Mikey much better company. But she soon turned back to face Raphael with those big brown eyes and simply say "Dadda".
Donnie was helping to restore some of their old baby things and he had emailed April to get some nappies for them and some baby food. Gabby couldn't live off just mushy weet-bix. She needed foods that would help her developing mind and body.
Mikey was going to make custard for her later – though the last time Mikey had tried making custard – it was black and rubbery – so the turtles did not put any hopes on him there.
"Dadda, good", Gabby commented from Splinter's lap when Raphael had defeated Leonardo in their practice battle.
Raphael turned to smile at the little girl who lite up his world, just then Leonardo took the chance to flip Raphael over and thus – resulting in Raphael landing shell first onto the floor.
Leonardo had clearly been against the arrival of Gabby, he did not see it their role to society to care for orphaned babies – their role was that to protect the city. What good would Raphael been when he is tired from lack of sleep because Gabby had kept him up? What good would Raphael be when Gabby protested to him leaving her – she had already done so this morning when Raphael went for a shower – he ended up having to take her into the bathroom with him – in order for everyone to be able to hear their own thinking.
What did his brother plan to do? Strap the child on his back, like Leonardo and Donetello do with their weapons? Raphael would not be able to fight with a child on his back and the other two would be spending their time defending off attackers who tried to get to Raphael and the baby.
"LEONARDO!" Splinter was now up and over at the side of the training mat. Gabby was still in his arms and tugging at a hair on his arm.
"Busted!" Mikey whisper to Don.
"What?" Leonardo came back to earth, "Yes Sensei?"
"Explain to me what you just did?"
"You always say a true ninja is never distracted from his work. Even when Raphael had defeated me – he had forgotten that I could easily turn round and attack him. Which is what I did to remind him of his lack of attention to the job this morning?"
"Leonardo it seems to me that you have something on your mind that in fact must be directed towards Raphael?" Splinter half knew that it would have something to do with the wriggling child who was now smiling down at her Daddy, who just smiled back at her.
"It's Raphael and this baby", He pointed to the little girl.
"Her name is Gabby - She's got a name! Use it!" Raphael stood up – the all too protective father.
"The normal Raph's back" Donnie commented to Mikey.
"Better hide the breakables again," Mikey chuckled – who stoped the minute he got a dirty look from his father.
"Raphael it is alright, my son. I think you two should leave, take Gabby with you," Splinter told the other two. Mikey and Don left when Mikey finally told Gabby he had a surprise for her.
"Leonardo, why do you oppose to Gabby being in the lair?" Splinter asked, he gave Raphael a warning look – let me handle this.
"We're not babysitters Master!" Leo exclaimed, "You trained us to fight – not change nappies and feed slop to a baby! We're all ninjas – how can we fight with a baby around? As usual Raphael did not think about his actions when bringing something he'd found at the tip home with him."
"Excuse me that thing happened to be a little girl – stop calling her an it!" Raphael exploded. How dare Leonardo be so self centred to think he should have leaved her there to die.
"Boys! Leonardo May I try and make you see what your brother did was very noble of him. He has not done this to gain reward – he has done what his heart has told him to do. He has taken a huge step into parenthood in only 24 hours – purely by chance."
"Well maybe he should think next time before he does something stupid like take on something he can not handle. He's a mutant turtle – we all are – except for you – he's a different species to the human baby. What happens when she gets older? You thought about that Raph? When she asks why we're green and she's brown? Didn't think so!" Leonardo throws all his anger towards the one turtle before him.
"Leonardo, do you suggest that what I did was wrong?" Master Splinter addressed his oldest son.
"What?" Leonardo confussed.
"I too became a father overnight many years ago," Splinter began.
"Yeah you forgot that bit didn't ya Leo – that Splinter didn't have to take care of us – but he did! We'd be dead now if it's weren't for Splinter!" Raphael shoots at his older brother.
Splinter gave both the eye to be quiet.
"I found the four of you dumped in the sewer alone, when you were only a babies. I was a rat and you were all turtles. I did not think during the first few months after I took you into my care about how serious the responsibility was. I just knew that I was doing the right thing – because without my coming along – what may have happened to you and your brothers? Leonardo can you think of what might have been?"
"I am proud of you Raphael, for I now know I have taught you well. I have given myself for you and now you are doing the same for young Gabriel. Neither of you realised that I was a rat and you were not until you were older – but by that stage – you were judging me by the way I treated you – not by what I looked like. I was your father – not a mutant rat, so to speak. I see the four of you as my precious sons and I thank the higher powers of this earth everyday for the blessing that came to me one day in the sewers. The four baby turtles crawling in the sewer, who then later were transformed by the ooze. I feel that all this was the plan for my life. So I feel that Gabby is part of Raphael's life."
"I do not think having a baby around will affect our efforts to fight the crime in this city – yes, I see our life styles are to change – but things will have changed eventually. I feel that you need to seriously go now and think about all these things, my son. For you are being blinded by jealousy towards your younger brother. You being the eldest probably feel that you should be the first to have a family, though things do not always work out the way people expect them to." Splinter finished his speech.
Leonardo gave Raphael an evil eye and walked hunched towards his room. Never Never in his adult life had he been sent to his room! Never had Splinter told him off for his moral standards. He had often seen the other three in trouble –but he never received this kind of discipline from his "father". He was the perfect son.
"I am pleased with your recent decisions Raphael, you have demonstrated a strong knowledge of right vs. wrong. Yes you are willing to sacrifice your life – because a child is for life – not just the weekend – for young Gabriel. I can see you will not dissert her like her real family and will take care of her for as long as you live."
"Yes Master Splinter. Thank you for seeing that I am not after any rewards, though she does make me smile and I guess that's a reward – but I will not boast."
Splinter chuckled, "My son, you will make a wise father – for you have experienced a lot of internal hardship – that no one else in this family has – and indeed not many in the world experience the torment that plagues you. You are a true man, even with a shell on your back."
Raphael smiled at his father, the father who he looked up to and adored – he wanted to be as good a father to Gabby as Splinter was to him.
"You know Splinter – for someone who hadn't planed on being a father either – I think you did an alright job with us. If you did stuff up –we never noticed." Raphael bowed and left the dojo.
"Wake me up before you Go Go, don't wanta go flying solo" Mikey sand and danced with the little girl in a blue dress.
"Mikey – That's not the words!" Donnie watched from the couch – as he fixed a toy car for the little girl to play with.
"Like Gabby cares. You don't care if Mikey changes to song, hey Gabby?"
"Mickey", The little girl continued to bob up and down on the spot to the 80's tune.
Donnie laughed, "Okay so there's Dadda for Raphael, Ohhh for Splinter and now Mickey – as in Mickey mouse for you!"
"Shut up Don! Hey Gabby can you say Donkey? That's your uncle Donkey – you say it with me.."
"Donna" Gabby pointed to the purple turtle.
"Ha ha – good girl! Uncle Donna fixes this wheelie toy for you," Donnie showed her the toy in his hands.
"Donna Dance!" Gabby asked him, she went over and grabbed hold of his leg.
"Yeah go Gabby get Don to dance – but please don't ask him to sing!" Mikey continued to dance and sing into the remote control.
"Okay, I'll get up and dance with you. Man with those eyes who could say no," Donnie cooed to her.
"You know maybe we should get some baby music for her?" Donnie said.
"What for? What's wrong with Wham!"
"Mikey – I think we should get April to buy her a baby's music tape. They're more educational!"
"Ain't this like educational? It's telling her not to go anywhere without one of us to protect her."
Don just laughed at this comment. "Seriously Mikey – you think that's the message of the song?"
"I don't think – I know. Here I got a another classic 80's song for ya Gabby." Mickey changed CDs.
"Like a virgin…."
The minute Mike turned his back, a green hand turned it off.
"No offence to Madonna or anything – but I'd prefer it if you didn't play stuff with such content as that song to my favourite little person," Raph bent down, as Gabby ran into his big strong muscular arms.
"I agree with Raph – we might have to sensor the music around here from now on."
"What no Madonna?" Mikey couldn't believe it.
"Mikey – listen to Madonna's other songs – like Holiday or Material girl – not Like a Virgin!" Donnie said.
"Well you know that means all my music must go – it's all swearing," Raphael said, pulling out some of his CDs.
"That means we can't wake Leo up with it when we want to tick him off?" Mikey frowned – was he not aloud any of his old fun now?
"Na - I got a better idea – check this out," Raphael walked to him TV and turned it onto the Disney channel.
"Get Ready to Wiggle, wiggle at home with mum and Dad, wiggle all day long"
Four Australian men in colourful skivvies danced about on the screen with a green dinosaur and a big dog and what looked like an octopus. They looked like they were having a fun time singing for all the children at home.
"WIGGLES!" Gabby cried and ran to the front of the TV and started dancing to the music.
"I thought you'd like this one, hey Gabby." Raphael said, he parked himself on the couch, soon to be joined by his brothers to watch this little girl dancing to the men on the screen.
"This show's kind of fun hey?" Mikey said, after they had seen the Octopus and some sea turtles doing a song and dance.
"And educational", Raphael said.
"But Raph – how did you know about this?" Don just had to know how the red turtle knew of such a program.
"Um.. Let's just say I rang Jen last night. She told me these dudes are big back in her home country. She's goner drop round some of their CDs for Gabby for me."
"So you told your girlfriend about Gabby?" Mikey asked.
"Mikey – not only is my girl the most bodacious babe in the whole world – but she is also a kindy teacher – which means – she knows about kids. I had to ring her to get advice on Gab's here. If there's anything I need to know about children – she's the one to ask. She knows everything." Raphael informed his brothers of the girlfriend he'd been seeing of late. They had met her before and she was a wonderfully kind and patient person – you'd have to be to put up with Raphael! She was also fun and had introduced the turtles to some of the games her children played – which was actually fun to play when you're an adult and completely drunk.
"So when's she coming over?" Donnie asked.
"After she's finishes Kindy for the day. She's bringing round some stuff for young Gab's here." Raph pointed to the dancing child in front of them. She was immune to their conversation – for she was wrapped up in listening to a dinosaur that they were calling Dorothy.
"I think it's just as well your girlfriend knows kids – cos we're seriously goner have to find out other ways to keep her amused – rather than TV." Donnie stated.
"Yeah – no kid of mine is turning into Mikey here – no offence Mikey – but you do watch too much TV." Raph patted his brother on the shoulder.
"Point taken – besides if I were to turn her into me, I'd make her a brilliant pizza chef."
"Mikey – I think she's too young to cook".
"Yeah – my kid's not touching that oven til she's 16! By then she should be sensible enough not to burn the place down – like you almost did!" Raph pointed to his baby brother.