Mother Turtle

Part 3

Disclaimer: Mr Eastman and Laird own the rights to the turtles and splinter – I just borrow them for my own enjoyment. I am just a nice person who is willing to share it with my readers. The original characters are mine.

Leonardo walked into the apartment and kicked his shoes off at the hallway. He carried his violin to his room and placed it along with his sheet music in its rightful place. He then flopped down on his bed. He listened to see if anyone else was home yet, he could not even hear Splinter in the apartment.

"He's probably out with that woman," Leo thought to himself, as he picked up his book and began to read. He was only three chapters in when someone came in. Due to the quietness of the returnee, it must be Donnie. Leo got up and went out to see.

Donnie flopped down on the couch, not noticing Leo. Leo could tell from his brother's body language, that he was upset.

"Hey Donnie, did you have a hard morning with your psychology paper?" Leo asked, as he sat down on the nearest chair. Donnie just turned so his brother could not see his face; he did not really want to talk about it.

"No, it's not that. I've just got something else on my mind, that's all."

"You know if you want to talk, I'm more than happy to listen," Leo told his brother. There was a pause.

"Yeah, I know that Leo. I just don't, well, you're probably just as confused as I am," Donnie mumbled, fiddling with the cushion. It was not often Donnie mumbled that was usually Raph's department. Having spent fifteen years with Raph, he had learnt how to decode a mumbler.

"You talking about what's her name, Masumi?" Leo asked.

"Yeah, why, why where the hell did he meet her?" Donnie stumbled over is words, as he looked at Leo. It was the first time; Leo has seen Donnie's face clearly. The red mask around Donnie's eyes told Leo his middle brother had been crying. Leo's blue eyes through his glasses gave Donnie his sympathetic look. Donnie's blue eyes glassed over.

"I don't know Donnie. Are you worried that she's going to try and replace Mom?"

BANG!

In walked Raphael, as he throws his hockey gear on the floor.

"Yo, who's replacing Mom?" Raph demanded, standing over his two older brothers.

"Where's Mikey?"

"Monkey stopped off at the craft shop to get more clay for his art project. And don't change the subject on me, Leo!" Raph growled.

"Oh don't get all huffy with me, sit down and learn to relax!" Leo ordered his brother.

Raph gave him a death stare, but did what Leo said. He threw his feet up on the coffee table.

"I said who's replacing Mom?" Raph demanded.

"No one," Leo said.

"It's that Matta-I'm- Splinter's girlfriend ain't it?" Raph said, looking his brother in the eye.

"She's not here to replace Mom!" Leo yelled, standing up. He too was just as upset at this woman moving in as they were. Sometimes he just hated being the oldest. He hated being the one Splinter left to deal with his brothers. He hated the way Raph put his feet all over the table.

"If only our Mom was here, Raph your feet would never set foot off that carpet!" Leo thought to himself.

"I'm just concerned that she'll try and become our Mom, when she isn't," Donnie said, he sat up and looked at his brothers.

"She'll only replace Mom if you let her," Leo said.

"I don't even remember Mom, so how can she replace her?" Raph mumbled.

"You do remember Mom," Donnie told his brother, "You told Mikey about how she used to sing, "You are the sunshine of my life," to you guys."

"I probably only say I remember that because one of you or Splinter told me that," Raph replied.

"Look, guys she will never replace Mom, all we should do is be respectful of Masumi. That is all I think we should do, for Splinter's sake. We need to prove that Splinter raised us well, which he has under the circumstances."

"Your right Leo, we should behave like we usually do, it is what Mom would have wanted," Donnie said.

"Yeah, as long as she don't pong the bathroom out with perfume, I think I could handle it," Raph chuckled.

"Right, so yeah we'll just be polite and act normally," Leo said, feeling better than his brothers agreed with him, well that was two of his brothers. However, with the three older brothers agreeing, Mikey would just tag along with whatever they said just to keep the peace. Speaking of Mikey…

Mikey ran into the home, saw Donnie on the couch and jumped on him. Donnie managed to pull himself free.

"Gee, what's that all about," Donnie asked, moving over to Raph's couch.

"Can't a little brother show his affection for his bigger brother?" Mikey grinned.

"You are definitely the baby!" Raph pointed to his twin.

"I'm taller than you!"

"Only for a short period of your stinking life you are!" Raph replied.

"Okay, you two stop it. You know Raph is seven minutes older than you, Mikey," Leo told his baby brother.

"Yeah, I know. But think about this Leo, I am currently taller than Raphie, which for the first time in my life – I can bag him out for it."

"Shut it!"

"Raph, let's not have a fight, okay. Besides we don't want Masumi walking in and having you and Mikey beating each other up and me and Leo pulling you apart, now can we?" Donnie said. Mikey laughed when Masumi's name was mentioned.

"I just saw Splinter and Masumi down at the markets and you'll never guess what happened?" Mikey's eyes danced with excitement.

"What?" His three brothers honed in on him.

"Oh um... how about the fact she called me, Donnie and she seems to have gotten us all confussed."

"Mikey! You didn't?" Leo warned. Raph gave a sly grin and rustled his brother's blonde hair.

"Monkey, you legend. I never thought of that," Raph rubbed his small stubble of brown hair on his chin.

"We don't even look that a like anymore, not since you began growing your goatee. Seriously Mikey, I can't understand why you two think you should have it?" Donnie mentioned to his younger brothers.

"Dude, I'm sick of the dumb teachers at school thinking I'm you and wondering why I'm not getting an A plus on all my assignments. Anyways, the girls think I'm the hot one now!" Mikey grinned.

"Yeah they're all cueing up at that door waiting for Mikey to come out and shake his little arse," Raph nudged his older brothers, as he taunted the youngest.

"Guys, get over it. Mikey you didn't tell her you were Donniedid you?" Leo demanded.

"Um… maybe. Look Leo, she already called me Donnie, I was too kind to not tell her that the Don-son was actually stuck in the library with some books – which is totally not me."

"Mikey that was the wrong thing to do!" Leo pointed his finger at his baby brother, "I do not want any of you pulling another stunt like that on Masumi. It's not fair on Splinter!"

"Oh, get a grip Leo, she'll probably have a laugh when she realises she got us mixed up," Raph laughed at the thought of her getting them all mixed up.

"Look guys, why don't we go down to the park?" Donnie said, wanting to change the topic. He did not want this Masumi woman walking in and messing up their routine. Saturday afternoons was the one time of the week all four boys went and mucked about together – as a family. Something Splinter had started when they were little.

"Yeah, let's go. I need to tackle Monkey a couple of times, my life is not complete with out it," Raph grabbed Mikey and dragged him along with him. Leo grabbed the footy.

For those who have not figured it out, Monkey is Raph's pet name for Mikey. I will not explain why, only you will find out that he thinks he is the only one allowed to call his brother that. With the exception of Leo and Donnie, that is.