The Legacy

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter fifteen - Jokes and Talk

Shay:

I watched Ramiela run and play in the playground, and I couldn't help but feel a little sorry for my daughter.

The only playmates she had were all adults. Had she ever been able to feel the sunshine's warm rays on her face, feel the tickle of grass against bare feet? Had she ever been able to see the wonders of the world, that all little children marvelled at, like bugs in the grass and fuzzy caterpillars that turned into beautiful butterflies?

No, she'd never see those things, and that pained me, because no child ought to be deprived of such things, not even children who were born to the shadows and darkness of a subterranean world.

She was all ready older then four years by what was expected of her, for training purposes, and I knew exactly where that training would take her. I knew she needed it to stay alive and yet, I wanted her to have a chance to enjoy the things that other children her age got to take for granted, like being invited to birthday parties or playing outside in all kinds of weather.

My poor daughter, my child, my darling little girl, my how she had grown.

I had missed her so much at first but at that time I wasn't really ready to be a mother, especially as I was young and unprepared for it, and the world above seemed to beckon me.

Ramiela had been a very active baby crawling within days of being born and seeming to get into everything, it had taken all of Mike's energy and then some to keep up to her. I could see just from watching her run, jump, swing and climb on all the playground equipment that, that hadn't changed any.

I wanted to be with her and give her things she couldn't have but I know that I really couldn't stay. I knew for a fact that I would start to feel trapped and I couldn't ignore topside forever.

When I had returned home it had been with some trepidation on my part previously I had skipped out of classes, stole, made a lot of bad choices in my life, just to prove to my parents that they didn't know everything.

I had finally run away, but then I had returned to them full of regret and a determination to correct things and get my life back on track, whatever that meant. I begged my parent's forgiveness and vowed to obey all their rules and do whatever it took, if they would only let me home, after all I had put them through.

I told them of the young man I met named Michael and how he, and his family had helped me along and over time convinced me to go back home. I also told my parents of the daughter I had given birth to only to put up for adoption.

At first I missed Michael but as I started to date other people a year later Mike became more, the old flame and not the constant figure he once had been.

In fact there had been times that I pretty much forgot them all together, other times it would cross my mind while I was in school or on the job and I'd do my best to write a quick note, that hopefully I would remember to mail later on.

It was on holidays that I thought of Ramiela the most, mother's day, Christmas, Easter, her birthday. I'd think of her then and try to picture how big she was, what she looked like or acted like, and tried to think of things that she might enjoy doing.

I longed to see her and hold her in my arms again. I wanted so much for Ramiela to know that I was her mother and that I loved her, but I had promised Mike that I wouldn't tell her, and since he was far more of a parent to Rama then I was, it was only right for me to abide by his decision.

I knew I ought to feel grateful for the fact that he even allowed me to see her or spend time with her. No hurt feelings, no grudges to bear just plain Michael.

I wanted so much to be the mother I wasn't but I knew I hadn't been a mother to her back then and knew I couldn't be a mother now. One often had to make choices and stick with them.

" Shay. Shay!"

Her loud yell startled me from my thoughts and looked down to see her staring expectantly up at me.

" You okay Shay? How come you not answer?" Rama asked curiously.

" I was just thinking Ramiela, what do you want?" I asked in return.

" Why a turtle cross da road?" Rama piped up cheerfully.

" I don't know why?" I played along with her joke.

" To get to da shell station." She laughed at her own joke and watched me as well.

I did laugh a little and she smiled as if pleased.

" What one turtle say to the other?" She said almost instantly swinging into another joke.

" I have no idea. What?" I waited knowing that I had to be ready to respond to that punchline in the appropriate fashion.

" Gotta get you out of your shell." Rama said smugly then began laughing hard while repeating the words.

By the time she calmed down I was able to ask her something " Your daddy teach you those Ramiela?"

" No Shay Karena teaches me them." Ramiela insisted as she slipped her hand into mine " Come push me on swing kay Shay, please?"

" Well since you said please all right" I gave in easily, " perhaps after this we can go do some finger painting would you like that?"

Rama nodded her head eagerly " I like paints gots to be very careful. Can't make big mess. Little messes okay though." She informed me as if she had heard this a few times before, and she probably had.

Michaelangelo:

Rama like, I guess, most kids had a problem for settling down for bed in the evening, she'd get up with all kinds of excuses or draw out the tucking in process as much as possible with all the usual tactics.

" Daddy I want a drink of water."

" Daddy I have to go to the bathroom."

" Daddy I forgots to say…"

" Daddy I gots a joke for you…"

" Daddy can I have another story…."

Yep, just about anything to delay that lying down and actually going to sleep process was fair game once she hit the bed for the night.

Course I was partially to blame because I found I enjoyed being able to sit and talk with Rama. Evening was when Rama got reflective about her day and I found out a great deal about her, that I might not have known other wise.

Sometimes we played little games that would lead into discussions. Sometimes we would just talk about what ever came to mind and I'd let Rama pick the topic for discussion. No matter what the evening tucking in process was sacred to me, and I wouldn't let any one take it from me, not if I could help it.

Rama was sitting up in bed the blankets piled around her legs, her back supported by a couple of pillows, while I sat on the edge of the bed beside her.

" Daddy?"

" What Rama?" I asked.

" Do guests ever stay forever?" Rama wondered.

" No Rama they don't. People need to be topside, that is where they live. It is where there families, and work and things they enjoy are." I tried to explain.

I knew it wasn't easy concept for her to understand because she had never been topside and didn't know of all the wonderful things she could find there. However she might be able to relate to it on some extent.

" For a person to stay here would be like one of us trying to live up there, it wouldn't work. People would miss everything they loved and they would be very unhappy staying with us."

" Can't they go topside for fun things though and still stay?" Rama persisted.

" They could I guess" I agreed, " if they wanted to, but anyone who stayed here would have to give up certain things to stay here with us" I scowled slightly as I considered what to say, " There are lots of people topside Rama more then you can imagine and a person who stays with us has to insure we stay safe, which means they can't talk to any of their human friends about us," I spoke softly and stroked her short hair, " People are very curious Rama they want to know things and if they hear someone saying Leo or Don this, then they might ask who is this Leo, when can we meet this Don?"

Rama sighed hung her head " They can't meet us can they?"

" No Rama because while people are curious sometimes they get afraid easily and we might scare them then they might try to hurt us, because they don't know any better."

Rama pulled her Franklin close to her and she looked at him as she murmured a very soft " Oh!"

I smiled and placed an arm around her to hug her close " Is there someone that you wanted to stay?"

" Uh-huh" she nodded, " Guess they can't" she moped.

" Ah-ha you like Shay." I exclaimed tickling her a little " She has brought you so many wonderful gifts and now you want her to stay forever."

" No daddy. I don't want Shay to stay. I like Shay and the presents she give me. Shay's fun." Rama said simply.

" But?" I hinted arching an eye ridge at her.

" She seem sad daddy and she git like Uncle Donatello you can call her name and she don't hear you" Rama bit her bottom lip and twiddled her fingers a bit, " I like Shay but not like that! I want Karena to stay daddy." Rama announced.

" You do, Why Karena Rama?" I wondered shocked a little at her choice.

" Just like her lots. I know she likes us too and she just seem more real then Shay." Rama explained.

I saw her scowl when she said the word real. Rama often did that when she was searching for a word and wasn't quite sure if the word she used was the right word for what she wanted.

" Genuine, the real thing. Karena doesn't hide things. She is open and honest what you see is what you get." I offered a new word for Rama's vocabulary.

" That it daddy" Rama beamed, " What that word agin?" She asked eagerly.

" Genuine." I repeated for her.

" Genune" she echoed.

I had no doubt that she would recall that word later on when she wanted it. Rama liked words of all kinds.

" You know when you said Shay gets like your Uncle Don when you call a name and they don't seem to hear?"

Rama nodded.

" There is a word for that too" I told her.

" Really what?" Rama demanded.

" Distracted. When Don is busy thinking of other things to do in his lab he is distracted." I pointed a finger at her " You tend to get distracted now and again in your ninja lessons."

She giggled.

" Distracted means you are thinking of other things instead of paying attention to what is going on around you, or thinking of things that you should be thinking about." I explained.

" Disracked" Rama murmured " Daddy is there a word for everything?"

" Yes and as you grow older you will find out how fun words can be, and if you keep learning such big words, like the ones you learned tonight you'll end up like your uncle Don" I threatened her in a teasing way, " Saying things that is almost impossible to understand."

" Words are important daddy," Rama declared.

" Yes words are Rama. Enough talk now. Time to close your eyes and go to sleep." I decided that tonight's talk had lasted long enough.

Rama handed me Franklin " Kiss Franklin." She stated as she laid down.

I faked it kissing the stuffed turtle, then pulled the blankets closer about her as she gave a massive yawn and rubbed at her eyes.

" I ain't tired though Daddy" She protested.

I smiled " Then just lay awake and be quiet in your bed until you fall asleep. Good night Rama llama ding dong."

" Night daddy, love you."

" I love you too sweetie, I'll always love you." I bent and kissed her before I stood up to leave her room.

I found my mind turning over what Rama had to say about Shay and Karena.

Of course Karena could afford to be more open with Rama, she didn't have to hide who she really was, but I had to agree with Rama that Karena was still far more genuine then Shay.

Even Karena's thoughts and emotions that she didn't talk about were very easy to read I one wanted to search just a little. While Shay had always been more guarded in her thoughts so that one had to probe further and dig deeper to find out what she was really thinking. Plus Shay had to keep her true relationship to Rama hidden, which probably didn't help matters.

Perhaps Rama's childish intuition had informed her that Karena didn't hide things the way Shay did. Of course Shay had to hide certain things because I really didn't feel Rama was ready to know about her mother.

No matter what though it was rather reassuring to know that Karena would have the approval of our youngest clan member when she did finally decide to make her play for Leo.

TBC

Reinbeauchaser: Yes my nieces and nephews from their early years did help form Rama into who she is. Leo might be suspicious to some extent but you must remember most of the family feels that Shay left their home for the right reasons, and that her life is much better then what it was when they had met her. Raph on the other hand doesn't forgive or forget easily. He remembers how Shay dumped Mike and he doesn't care for that. Angsty part of the story coming soon. A gratitude for your insight.

Lenni: I probably couldn't write the story the same way myself if it wasn't for my handwritten original story to go on. I don't even use a back up disc a bad idea I know but there you go. As for Japanese I probably mutilate the language even with the help of my dictionary. Yes big trouble chapters coming up in oh, two or three chapters. A gratitude for your insight.