A Toddler Turtles Christmas Special

Secrets of the green Santa

Disclaimer: No – I don't own the rights to the turtles.

Thanks to the reviewers – you guys rock!

Hope you keep reviewing – cos I'm still writing…..

Sorry this is late getting up!

Young Donetello rolled over; he looked at the huge descending lump in the materase above him, which could only be his older brother's shell. He rolled over again to face the other bunk bed across the room.

There was his baby brother Mikey, curled up with his teddy and blanket, dribbling onto his pillow. As Don's eyes moved higher he saw on leg stinking out and the sheets half fallen off the bed. If it hadn't been for Splinter putting that bar up, Raphael would have surely crashed into the cold floor during the night. It had happened before – though luckily so far the metal bar saved the young turtle from falling out of his bed again.

Donnie was reminded how not so long ago he and Raphael were pretty close friends. They still were good friends, though in the space of about a year they had grown more apart. Donnie had found his interest in science and machines, and Raphael was more interested in mucking around and watching television. Raphael was still to Donnie's eyes not as mature as he and Leo was. Even though there was only four months between Don and Raphael's age – this did not make much difference.

It was more about who they were as developing individuals and where they were in the family chain. Leo being the oldest – was the bossy big brother and tried to keep the other three in line. Mikey was the baby – who was the regular punching bag and was dumped with the most horrid tasks that no one else wanted to do – that is when Splinter didn't assign the duties to his sons and left it up to them.

Don had now moved from being with Raph – the middle children – onto becoming the gifted child of the household. Splinter had realised his potential and was giving Don the opportunity to explore himself through his scientific adventures.

Raph was now left as the typical middle child of the group. He was not the oldest or the youngest and he wasn't gifted in anything really – except being able to express his emotions when things did not go his way. In a way Raph had been the one to turn away from Donnie, when he realised that he could never be on the same level of understanding as Don. He couldn't understand the new scientific language that Don was fast developing and he hated Leo for bossing him around. He was then left to hang out with Mikey – who as the youngest – and it didn't help that Splinter babied him to some degree still – was developmentally younger than his brother by 12 months, not just a month or two.

Don wondered what am I going to make my brother for Christmas. He had tones of great ideas – but then again – most of what he wanted to make – was more or less something up his alley – not his brothers.

"Hey Donnie, you awake?" Mikey called out from the other side of the room.

"Yeah Mikey – I am awake."

"Is it time to get up yet?" Mikey asked, he had no concept of time and he knew that his second oldest brother knew how to tell the time.

"I'm not sure. Hey Mikey – what you making your secret Santa for Christmas?" Donnie turned to face his baby brother.

"Splinter says we can't tell who the person is."

"No you don't tell me who – but rather what you want to make them?"

"I don't know. I don't think I can make things Donnie"

"Sure you can, you can do lots of things". Donnie said, trying to encourage his little brother.

"Like what?"

"Well you are good at drawing – draw them a picture. A really special one."

"What if they don't like it?"

"Mikey – they should be grateful of what you did for them and will probably love it. Because you spent ages on it."

"What you two talking about?" Raphael stuck his head down looking at the two bottom bunk beds.

"But Leeee, I mean this person won't like it. He thinks my drawings are stupid." Mikey said.

"You got Leo – sucked in!" Raph put bluntly.

"Raph! We're not supposed to know."

"Only you two know – Leo's still sleeping like a log – what he doesn't know won't kill him. Look Mikey – you get stuck I got the perfect gift idea for Leo if He was my secret Santa but obviously he's not. Shame really."

"Oh Raph! Shhh! How do you know its Leo anyways?" Donnie asked.

"Cos he said Leee – now that only mean lump of shell above your bed – so go figure it out if you're a smarty pants turtle".

"Nice to know you think so highly of your elders Raph."

"Give me a new shell!"

"Guys stop! Splinter will hear," Donnie warned his fauding brothers

"Mikey I got one thing to say to you – don't let Raph help you with my Christmas present!" Leo warned his baby brother, "Besides Raph – you better be careful what you do between now and Christmas because your secret Santa will be watching you."

"Leo just broke the rule! Wait til I tell Splinter!"

"No I never – I am not your secret Santa".

"It's either you or Donnie – cos Raph pulled himself out and then one of you pulled his name out." Mikey said.

"Trust me – It's not me!" Leo bluntly informed everyone.

"Then it's Donnie. Yes – sucked in suckers – I got Donnie! Sucked in Leo – you got Mikey!"

"Raph I don't think you should get too excited," Don began.

"Oh Donnie – you know you're my favourite turtle – well you and Mikey – not that thing there", Raph pointed to the brother across from him.

"Shut up Raphael. You think you're so good – you can't even spell your own name!"

"I can! RAPHEAL!"

"Well then it's Mikey's name you can't spell."

"I can. It's MIKEY".

"No I mean his real name?"

"That is his real name, he answers to it – so must be his name," Raphael defended himself.

Don couldn't help laughing at the two brothers arguing over something trivial. He knew Leonardo was having trouble spelling Mikey's full name – that's why they always called him Mikey – plus the fact that of all their names Michelangelo was a mouthful – and that's saying something when you have Leonardo, Donetello and Raphael to be compare to.

"MICHEALANGELLO" Donnie stated.

"It's only one L Don." Leo said.

"No it's two. Splinter says it's the same ending as my name and I have two L's – so it's right," Donnie pointed out.

"Mikey – how do you spell your name?" Leo asked the youngest.

"How Donnie said it. He knows everything!"

"No he doesn't." Leo said.

"And I guess you do cos you are the oldest." Raph replied dryly, he jumped off his bed, with a thump.

"Raphael! Use the ladder next time!" Called Splinter from the kitchen.

"How'd he know it's always me?" Raphael mumbled to himself, as he walked out the room.

Each young turtle was given time turning their usual schooling time to work on their Christmas presents. Donnie went off into the room that Splinter had set aside so that all his old radios and things were not in anyone's way.

He fiddled some wires, as he thought of what to make his brother.

Leonardo was building with the Lego – he had asked Splinter if he could take it aside from the others – as he didn't want the person he was making the spaceship for to see it. Splinter was willing for him to take it when the others were busy – but he also had to offer some Lego to them too.

Raphael found some old cardboard and began to make a castle out of it. He used his little paint set and scissors to make it presentable. He knew his brother would love this, as he's often joined in on games that involved a Lego castle.

Mikey on the other hand kept throwing paper in the basket. He wasn't doing too well. He was too worried that what he was drawing wasn't good enough. Why did he have to get the perfect brother! Nothing he could do would be perfect to Leonardo. Raph or Don would have been easier.

Even when Splinter came over and told him his artwork was wonderful – he didn't feel his work was up to scratch.

"But Splinter – I don't like how I draw the nose. It's not how it should be," Mikey commented desperately.

"My son, it is the thought that counts – that would mean moretoyour brother. Maybe you could also write a little story about how much the person means to you. Things they do to make you feel better? Maybe that would make it easy for you?"

"Hey that's a good idea – I can write a list of why Leo's a good brother." Mikey smiled – he could do that.

Splinter smiled – his sons were all preoccupied with their Christmas presents that he now had a chance to organise what he was going to give them in only a few days time.

Splinter crept to his room and opened the box he had ordered through a catalogue. It was just as well no one would be at the local pub this early in the morning. He had managed to get it back home before his sons woke up and only now was it time to see the quality of the contence was.

He smiled at the shiny objects inside the box – he knew this was what he had always wanted and he was now able to give to his sons the most wonderful present he had ever wanted.

Hum… what is it? What has Splinter ordered? Is it a set of brand new Stanley steak knifes? Find out next time…