Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT

A/N: Thanks to everyone for their reviews and support! No doubt about it this is definetly the last chapter, votes are still going up about wether to do a sequel or not, I'm brainstorming ideas about it and if I find a satisfactory one then I'll put it in probably. The ending of this story has changed from where I originally planned it, I hope that you like the 'revised' version. After I finish with this story I'll be starting another Raph POV. I'm either going to call it Hello Cruel World or Hello Mother Russia, haven't decided yet. I think Raph needs some more spotlight in the 'mental stuff' chapters, huh? If any of you are interested then I urge you to check it out!

Chapter 31

Gift

Casey blew up another balloon. The ceiling was already full of them. April leaned over to tell him so, and smacked him in the face when he replied in his chipmunk voice. Hard enough to get helium if he's going to eat all of it.

He was sitting on the far side of the table, as far from Isis as he could possibly get. He was convinced that she'd been placed on this Earth specifically to torment him, which was partially true because she got a kick out of his loud exaggerated complaints. What he didn't realize was that Kento was in on it too, only he wasn't as painfully obvious about it as his sister was. That's why I grinned when he chose a seat next to my son.

We're celebrating their first birthday today, and of course the fanfare is enormous. Mikey spent all day in the kitchen cooking cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cookies, punch, and other stuff that I'm sure would put anyone into a sugar induced coma. Presents were made, boxed and wrapped in ridiculous gaudy wrapping paper and placed on the table. I refused to wear a party hat. Makes me look like a damn clown.

Beside me I watched Kento, in his modified highchair, steal a sly glance at Casey as he stuffed more cake in his mouth. Without warning he let out a loud wail and flailed his tiny arms at Casey. April shot a look at him that could melt all the ice cream in the room. "Casey Jones, are you bothering the children again? What's wrong with you, they're one tenth your size! Can't you pick on someone else!"

Flabbergasted, Casey sputtered cake out of his mouth. "B-but babe! I didn't do nuthin! I was just sitting here eating! I didn't touch him!"

"Casey!"

Seizing the opportunity he stole out of his chair, only to be caught on the ear by April, then dragged off to have a little 'chat.' Immediately Kento stoppedcrying and nibbled slowly on a small piece of cake, smiling silently to himself. Isis started roaring with laughter, slapping her crumb-caked hands on the table in delight.

I shook my head at them. Sometimes I don't know where they get it. Kento is either quiet and studious or like a silent land mine, while Isis is either like a roaring jet plane loaded with an arsenol of weaponry or like a hyperactive ninja overloaded with caffeine. Yeah, I guess that there's not much difference in that one. I watched as Isis and Mikey engaged in a small cake-fight. Kento watched with those big eyes of his, quietly eating his cake neat as a pin.

Thier development has been much different than that of humans still. They are both one year old, yet they have the dexterity, motor skills, and annoying factor of the average 2 1/2 year old human. Already they could speak in one-word sentences.Yet sometimes I swear that they understand more than any of us could imagine. Isis is slimmer than her brother, slimmer than we were at her age. Part of this we think is just average female build, the other is that she's as flexible as a friggin cat. Half the time I can't find the little brat. Kento on the other hand, has developed a fair amount of bulk. Part of this is just because his bone structure is thicker, wider. The other part simply seems to be that his body type is designed to carry more weight. Donny predicts that he'll lose his baby fat and probably have about twice the muscle than any of us. Wonder where he got that from! hehehe

Both of them have something of hair, though it's only on their heads. Not enough that they have to tie it back or anything, but it's there. Isis's black hair is wispy and almost feather silky soft, whileKento's hair is just a little bit more coarse, maybe like that of a horse. Both are as black as midnight.

Pretty much all the presents were open by now, and half of them didn't even look designed for someone their age. Donny gave out little computers and homebuild ipods (like they're going to use that), and Leo gave them little wooden swords to play with. I shuddered, knowing that everyone in the lair would soon be sporting bruises from those things after the sneak attacks started. Splinter, having been a parent before, simply gave them stuffed animals and some neat little wooden dolls carved out of the likeness of everyone that they knew. Mikey of course has no brain whatsoever. He got Kento a little gameguy, probably his old one, and had the wisdom to give Isis a little bow and arrow set with suction cup arrows. He'd be regretting that present choice later on I'm sure. It was obvious April didn't let Casey pick out any of the presents. They were simple but nice store bought items for preschoolers that they were sure to have a ball with.

tick

My presents were realatively simple. For one I got them bandanas.

tick tick tick

I got pink for Isis. Powder pink seemed too...nice for her. But Mikey found a hot pink one that suited her perfectly. It was a lively color.

tick tick tick tick tick tick

Kento was a harder coice. He was much calmer than his sister, thought things through more already even at his young age. Sensei helped me choose that one out. It was a shade of blue, as dark as the night sky. The color of the depths of the oceans, calm, steady, and tranquil. Or at least thats what Sensei had said.

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

Furiously I tried to ignore that infuriating soundand concentrate on other things. Master Splinter said that it helps, that if you react it only encourages them. It only...

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick

With a growl I stood up, slamming my palms on the table. Stiffly I turned my head to shoot a piercing glare at my daugter. She froze in position, her tiny hand grabbing the fork that was poised by the glass which she was tapping. She looked me straight in the eye without moving her head. She got my message loud and clear. Slowly, a small smile spread on her lips.

tick tick tick tick tick tick tick tick...

With a roar I heaved myself from the chair and shot past my son, who was looking at us with avid interest. With that same friggin flexibility I mentioned, she simply slid out of the chair as though it had axle grease poured over it and took off, her chubby legs pumping. Cries of alarm and laughter rang out as I pursued my daughter.

Despite how advanced she is compared to humans, she's still teeny tiny. Her legs are small, she doesn't have a lot of muscle development, and her balance leaves something to be desired. Typical toddler gait. In other words, I was catching up to her easy.

Without warning, something actually appeared beneath my foot. I was already mid-air, it was too late to stop it. I stepped on the plastic frisbee and it slipped from under me. I was able to catch my fall a little bit, or at least I would have if the punch table hadn't been there. As I landed on the table it flipped and the red liquid sloshed in the bowl as it was launched into the air. As if in slow motion the bowl turned over and landed on top of me, spilling the sugar laced juice all over me. Isis's shrill laughter somehow made it over everyone else's. With typical childhood curiousity, she came over to inspect her doings.

Quick as a flash I snatched her up and held her at arms length with both arms and glared at her. She squirmed in my hands for a moment, then flashed me an award winning smile along with her big almond eyes. "Funny Daddy." She giggled again.

I snatched and clawed at it, but despite my best efforts my anger melted away. How the Hell does she do that! With a sigh of frustration I looked at her. "Yeah, funny Daddy." I looked down at myself, I was a sticky mess. "Fu#king shit, I need a shower."

"Bucking spit?" She cocked her head and looked at me curiously. Oh no. Shit! How the Hell does she hear those things!

"Uh, yeah Sissy! The, uh, buck, a boy deer, sure likes to spit huh?" Ugh. Lamebrain. She looked at me curiously once more, not quite understanding my explanation (probably because I didn't) Yet I could see that she somehow knew I was lying.

Laughing, Mikey came over to take her. "Hey, bro. Nice fall! We'll look afterher until you get cleaned up, can't have you attracting flies!" The look I gave him had him wisely skittering off in the opposite direction.

Frustrated I looked at the frisbee that appeared out of nowhere. I recognized it. April gave it to Kento in a present. I looked over at my son. He was pointedly looking away from me, this time neatly eating some ice cream from a spoon. Despite the coolness of his treat, his cheeks burned red with guilt. I looked at the frisbee. Huh. A conspiracy. My kids are out to get me.

Shaking my head I headed to the shower, my feet sticking with each step. What was I turning into? Not a father figure possibly, it was impossible. Yet Icouldn't help but smile at their antics as I opened the door to the shower. Working together like that, at their age. When they get older they'll give everyone a real run for their money.

Once I opened the door I quickly shed my belt and bandana. Filling the sink with water I rinsed the sugary substance off, not wanting it to stick to me. I picked up my sai, but somehow it turned out unscathed. I was getting pretty darn good at using just one weapon, it actually makes me use my hands and feet more, something Sensei likes so much he's considering making the rest of my bros do it.

I turned on the shower and stepped to the toilet to relieve myself in the meantime. It was then that I saw it. A simple package. The box was made of a shiny metal with a metallic bow wrapped around it. Their was a card attached to it. Thinking some idiot brought a present for the brats but for some dumb reason left it in the bathroom I yanked thecard out and looked at it. All it said was:

Here it is...

I didn't recognize the handwriting, and it didn't look like it was from around here. Curiosity won over and I picked it up. Pulling at the end of the ribbon, it came loose of the bow with a slight tingling sound. It fell to the floor. Slowly I took the lid off of the box. What was inside made my breath freeze in my lungs.

It was a sai, three wide spaced prongs, the handle wrapped in red. It looked a tad bit worse for wear, but I knew when I saw itthat it was mine. It was my sai.

The one I left with her.


A/N: I wasn't sure how to word the last two sentences, hope I did satisfactory. Put in your opinion about sequel or not, the more likely I think people will actually read the thing the more likely I am to start one. No garuntees on that, though. I have to think of a halfway decent plot idea. If you have any suggestions go ahead and throw'em at me. Other than that, if you think that I'm a halfway decent author and that you like the whole -told through Raphs POV thing- then I encourage you to check out my upcoming story. It'll be one of my first shots at that type of subject so have mercy on me. Other than that, toodles!