Calli's Pov...
The faint sounds of light coos filled my ears as it woke me up from a dead sleep. I was really exhausted from delivering my daughter last night and even though it's only been about twelve hours since I was in labor, I still felt like I haven't gained even half of my energy back. I rubbed my eyes open as I turned over on my other side, seeing it empty where Leo was sleeping. I then heard a few more soft coos as I looked up seeing Leo's shell was towards me as he held our daughter Ellie in his arms, swaying gently side to side. He turned while swaying towards me as it turned out he was giving her, her morning bottle. He then looked up towards me with a warm smile. "Hey Callista", he said, softly
"Hey", I said, smiling tiredly "You should of woke me up, I told you would of gotten the next one if Ellie woke up"
He shrugged chuckling. "Hey it's okay, you needed to rest", he said "I didn't mind at all"
"Thank you, how is she doing?", I asked
"She is perfect", Leo said, looking down at her as Ellie continued to feed "She looks like you Calli"
"You think so?", I asked
"Definitely", he said
I smiled lovingly and I looked at Ellie, who had finished her bottle and she giggled looking up at Leo, giving up a small burp. Leo then wiped her mouth with a cloth gently and gave her an affectionate nuzzle to her face as she cooed smiling. "Awwww Daddy love", I said
Leo chuckled and he walked over towards me as Ellie began to reach out for me cooing to get to me. "Hold on Ellie, give me a second", Leo said, quickening his pace "Mommy is right there"
"Come here my little munchkin", I said, holding out my arms for her
Leo handed me down my daughter as she immediately settled down and snuggled close into my neck and shoulder. "There it's okay, you are alright", I said, rubbing her shell gently
Ellie cooed softly as she smiled softly, resting her little hand on my chest. "I can't believe she is really here", Leo said, sitting down beside me as he stroked the back of her head
"I know, I can't believe it neither", I said "And what a way she decided to come, right after we were dealing with an enemy"
"She really has got timing", Leo said, chuckling
I giggled and smiled. "Indeed", I said
Leo continued to stroke the back of her head gently as he made his way down her shell. He looked at her with absolute love in his eyes. Almost kind of how he looked at me when we were in love for the first time. "What are you thinking Leo?", I asked, softly
He sighed softly. "I hope she will stay like this for a long time", he said
"Leo, you know Ellie can't stay a baby forever", I said "Even though we both want her too"
"I know, but I want to keep her this way for as long I can hold on to it", he said
"Baby you know she will love you always", I said
"I just still hope she will by the time she is a teenager", he said, smiling softly
I giggled. "Baby that's a long time away from now", I said "Don't worry about it. I can tell that your relationship with her is going to be strong and full of love"
Leo smiled softly towards me and he looked down at Ellie, who had fallen asleep against me. He leaned down and gave her head a gentle kiss as she cooed then yawned in her sleep, curling up in my arms. "I wish Yani was here to see her", I said, sounding a little sad "Him and my parents"
Leo placed his hand on my shoulder and he scooted closer towards me and kissed in between my eyes. "I know Calli", he said "But I'm sure they would be proud of you and they are probably watching us right now and are adoring Ellie"
"You think so?", I asked
He nodded and then I smiled sniffling a little, wiping away a little tear. "You don't know how much it means to me for you to say that", I said
He smiled lovingly as I brought him closer to me as I leaned up and kissed him with love. He hugged me gently, being careful not to squish Ellie in between us as he kissed back with passion. We then nuzzled our heads against each others as we then pressed our heads together in silence. "You are the best husband ever Leonardo", I said, softly
"Thank you", he said, softly "Do you want me to bring you something to eat?"
"That sounds nice", I said
"Okay I'll be right back", he said
He gave my forehead a gentle peck as he left the lab, leaving Ellie and I alone. I looked down at my daughter as she sucked on her little balled up hand while she slept. I already missed having my baby bump that was fully gone now and having the feeling of her sleeping inside of me and now that she has entered the world and was sleeping in my arms. I would sure miss those times of her kicking around inside me constantly and how she would try to play hide and seek with me and avoid being tickled by Leo or I. But it surely wouldn't be something I wouldn't forget. I thought about it if those feelings would ever return if Leo and I decided to have more children, but I think dealing with just one right now was enough and having more kids could be a future plan.
I heard the lab door sliding open and Leo came in with a tray of pancakes with maple syrup and butter on top and a glass of orange juice on the side. "Mmmmmm looks good", I said, licking my lips hungrily
He smiled as he set the tray down in front of me and took Ellie from my arms carefully, not to wake her up as I started to eat. I savored the fluffiness of the pancakes and the sweet warm taste of the syrup and butter that slid down my throat. I took a sip of my drink and the taste of citrus from the orange burst in my mouth, waking up my taste buds.
"And that's another thing I will miss", I said
"What thing?", Leo asked
"Having the strange cravings", I said, giggling
"Oh yeah, you had quite the appetite", he said, chuckling
"Yeah like the ice cream with bacon, pickles, and strawberry jelly", I said, giggling
"Or the hot dog smeared in mayonnaise with whipped cream and sprinkles on top", he said
"Or our personal favorite the Italian spaghetti with jelly beans, strawberry and chocolate sauce, maple syrup and to top it off blueberry pop tarts", I said, giggling
Leo laughed. "Oh yeah that was just too funny", he said
"Yeah it was, it made Raph laugh so hard, I thought he might pop out of his shell", I said, giggling
He chuckled. "Those were good times", he said
I giggled and smiled. "Yeah they were, I'm glad we had them", I said
I ate my last bite of pancakes and drank my last sip of orange juice before wiping my mouth with a napkin, setting the tray off to my side. "Mmmmm that was good, thanks sweetie", I said
"Hey we got training today, so it's just going to be you and Ellie for a little while", Leo said
"Wait what about me?", I asked "Don't have I training today?"
"Not today, Splinter is giving you a few more days of rest before you join us again", he said, rubbing Ellie's shell "Besides someone has to keep an eye on our little angel"
I giggled. "Oh yes someone does, who knows what could happen", I said, shifting my daughter up more in my arms
Leo chuckled and I slid off the covers and Leo helped me up out of bed. "Can't wait to get back into shape", I said "Instead of feeling fab I look like flab"
"Hey don't say that", Leo said, squeezing my shoulders "You are perfect any way you are"
"Awww thanks babe", I said, as we both gave each other a peck
I slid the lab doors open hearing and seeing the quiet lair, probably the boys were already in the dojo, waiting for training to get started. "You going to be okay for a little while?", Leo asked
"Oh yes I will be fine hun", I said "I'm just going to take it easy and keep an eye on Ellie"
"Okay but if you need anything just come get me okay?", he said, smiling
"Will do", I said, smiling
"Okay I'll see you both in a little bit", he said, giving Ellie's cheek a kiss then mine one
"See you later", I said, pecking his cheek in return
"Bye", he said, giving me a one arm hug before leaving towards the dojo
As Leonardo left the living room for training, I then took Ellie in my arms and I placed her on a daisy flower play mat with soft pillow like petals underneath a circular pillow. She cooed softly as she snuggled down in the center of the blossom. I smiled lovingly down at her as she looked like a little flower bud that just bloomed on the first day of spring after a long cold winter. I gave her little head a gentle kiss as I left her to sleep, to make myself some morning tea. I kept an eye on Ellie as I boiled the hot water and tea bag on the stove top.
She twitched a few times as she had a little smile on her face. It made me wondered what little sweet dream she was having. I then poured myself some tea as I took a few sips, sighing with content.
I then heard the sounds of Ellie cooing immediately catching my attention and I looked from the kitchen and saw Ellie was moving around in her sleep kicking around her little arms and legs. I then set my cup down and I came out of the kitchen into the living room. She then began to whimper and my instincts took action as I quickly rushed towards my daughter to check on her. I knelt down on my knees beside my daughter and I lifted her up under her shell bringing her up to me as I slid my legs down laying on the rug, on my side, bringing her close to me. Her whimpering began to die down as she settled down in my arms, probably just wanting a cuddle.
"Shhhhh it's okay sweetie, Mommy is here", I said, quietly "I got you"
Ellie cuddled closer towards me as I smiled chuckling softly. I knew now that I probably wasn't going to be able to get up and that I was stuck down here on the floor with my daughter. "Oh Ellie, you may have my looks, but you have your father's clinginess to me", I said, giggling
Oh well it's not like I had anything else to do since I was taking it easy for a while, I might as well get some rest. I curved my arm behind my head using it as a pillow as I settled down, pulling my daughter closer to me as she rested her head on my chest as I fell asleep with my little girl in my arm.
Leo's Pov...
I took a chug from my water bottle and wiped the sweat off of my forehead as I left the dojo after four solid hours of training. As I walked out into the living room to check up on Calli and Ellie to see how they were doing, I found them on the floor sleeping together. Little Ellie was on top of Calli's chest and plastron curled up while sucking on her thumb, with Calli's arms wrapped around her.
I quietly walked over towards them as I sat down beside the two of them, laying undisturbed. My hand reached over and gently stroked Calli's temple with my thumb numerous times as my other hand gently caressed my daughter's shell. I kissed my wife's forehead gently and I kissed my daughter's head as well as they continued to sleep on. "I love you both", I said, quietly
I grabbed a pillow from off the couch and I slid it carefully under Calli's head as she shifted in her sleep as Ellie stretched out then settled back down again. I covered them both with a blanket that was laying on the back of the couch. "Sleep well my angels", I said
I then got on my knees rolling up to my feet, and I stood up walking away quietly leaving my girl and my new little girl alone to rest.
Calli's Pov...
I came walking up to the lair entrance as I finished my afternoon walk through the sewers to get a little exercise. I mean after all I did have to get back into shape before I started training again in the next few days. I had to lose all that baby weight, I gained about fifty pounds during pregnancy. Even though I did lose my baby bump I still had a long way to go, before I got back my well toned hourglass body. Well at least this was a good start of getting there.
I walked jumped into the lair as I heard laughter coming from the living room. I saw Ellie was on top of Leo's shell with him laying on the floor as he was shaking side to side as Ellie slid across his shell laughing. I giggled to myself as Leo chuckled as he grabbed Ellie by the sides of her shell and flipped her over till she was under his face and blew a raspberry on her little plastron, as she shrieked in laughter. "Hey my little goofballs", I said, walking in "Having fun?"
Leo chuckled. "Yeah we are", he said, picking her up in his arm "She wanted to have a little fun"
I giggled and smiled. "Well I am glad you both are having a good time", I said
Just then Donnie came out from the lab with the small tortoise, that we saved from last night, in the cage. "Hey Donnie, is she doing alright?", I asked
"Her vitals are strong and she is in perfect health", he said "I think she is good to go on finding a new home"
"Sounds great", I said, smiling
Just then Raph and Mikey came into the living room. "So what's the plan?", Raph asked
"We need to find a place for her", I said
"Yeah someplace safe", Donnie said
"I agree", Leo said "We need to find one as quick as possible before that hunter finds us again"
"We better think fast we don't probably have much time left", Raph said
As Donnie held the cage my daughter Ellie looked at the tortoise in the cage as it peeked over through the bars looking at her. She cooed reaching out to it with her little arm swinging up and down. "I think she wants to see the tortoise", I said
"We can let her, while we think of something", Donnie said
He set the cage down on the ground as he took the tortoise out and he placed her on the rug in front of Leo and Ellie. Leo then placed Ellie on the floor as she looked at the tortoise curiously. She then began to slide on her small plastron towards the tortoise as she looked at Ellie with the same look of curiosity. She then crawled towards Ellie as she picked up the tortoise and she hid inside of her shell. Ellie giggled as she placed the tortoise down on the ground and it appeared out of her shell again and began to crawl away. Ellie giggled as she began crawling after her cooing. "Looks like Ellie already made a new friend", Raph said
"Looks like it", I said, smiling
"Looks like we are going to end up keeping her after all", Mikey said
"Wild animals are nice to watch Mikey, but they are not so easy to keep", Leo said "We should find her a proper home for her to live out her life"
"Where could we possibly take her though?", Raph asked "The sewer is no place for something like her, unlike us who could survive down here"
"We could take her to the Manhattan Zoo", I said "There is this Galapagos Tortoise sanctuary there, Yani showed it to me when I was a little girl, I'm pretty sure it's still there. She could be safe there"
"Calli has got a point", Donnie said "If we get her down there, Bonesteal won't be able to take her from it when she is in that protected area"
"That sounds like we got a plan", Leo said
"It's not too far from here, I know where its at", I said "I will lead the way"
"You all must go while you still have the upper hand. I sense this hunter, is not wanting to give up that easily and take the tortoise back for himself", Splinter said, as he walked into the room
"You are right master", Leo said "We better move now"
Leo picked up the tortoise and placed her back in her cage, locking it and they took off towards the exit. As the boys left for the manhole cover, Splinter picked up Eleanora from her play mat as I walked over to them. "Do not worry I will watch her Callista", he said, looking at me
I smiled. "Thank you", I said
I then leaned down and I kissed my daughter's head gently. "Mommy and everyone will be back very soon sweetheart, we got go kick a hunter's butt", I said
Ellie giggled and smiled as I gave her snout an affectionate nuzzle with my own, before looking back up at my father and sensei. "We will be back soon", I said
"Be careful my daughter, use your skills wisely", he said
"Hai", I said, bowing in respect, before leaving running out
I followed the boys out of the manhole into the tunnel where the vehicles were parked above. I hoped into the drivers seat, starting up the jeep as Leo jumped in the passenger seat beside me with Donnie and Mikey hopping in back. "Follow me Raphael!", I called out
"You got it sis!", he called out, as he zoomed on ahead of us
"Let's go!", I said, stepping on the gas pedal as we zoomed out of the tunnel
Raph came out from his tunnel, specifically for when he goes out on his bike, while we came out of the main tunnel. I picked up speed as Raph and I both rushed the jeep and motorcycle down the deserted streets.
As we arrived at the zoo, it was dark and quiet with a little bit of smoggy fog floating at the bottom of the ground. We passed through some trees and bushes as we got onto the main trail with the directory signs and gift shop and food stands on the sides of the gates, that lead many other trails to different animal enclosures. "It's not too far from where we are at", I said, carrying the cage "It's just up this trail straight ahead"
"Then that will be our best bet", Leo said "We better get moving"
But before any of us could make a step, we heard the sounds of rustling through the bushes surrounding us and the quick whip sounds of something rushing past us. "Um ever get the feeling we are being watched?", Mikey said
"Something tells me we are", I said
"Bet you its that whacko hunter again, trying to snatch that tortoise", Raph said
"We better keep an eye out", I said "The faster we get her to that habitat, the faster she will be safe and we can get out of here"
"All right everyone fall in behind, quietly", Leo said, softly
We started making cautious steps forward to get to the beginning of the trail to the enclosure. I kept hearing the sounds of rustling in the bushes, that in my mind we were probably walking right into a trap. "Guys we need to hurry", I said, whispering
"She is right, on my mark make a break for it to the trail", Leo said "One, two, three!"
We started to make a run for it, but that was probably the worst mistake we have made. As Leo ran I saw he had tripped a clear trip wire and a huge metal cage came crashing down on top of him as he smashed into the bars. "I'm trapped!", Leo said "Guys run for it!"
As we started to scatter to try to race to the trail, a huge net came out of nowhere and it was about to land on top of me, but I slid on my leg ducking low. Luckily it missed me, but it got my brothers Donnie and Mikey instead causing them both to fall to the ground. "Hey what the hay?!", Mikey said
"Bad timing to be in the range of it's shooting elevation", Donnie said
"Come on Calls!", Raph said, grabbing my arm
I panted as I tried to keep up with him as we got closer and closer to the trail. But suddenly Raph pushed me to my side, nearly causing me to trip. "Look out!", he said
It turns out it was another trap and this it shot bolas's wrapping themselves around Raph, bounding his arms, hands and feet together, making him fall rolling over. "Run for it Calli!", he called out
I quickened my pace as I was only a few feet away from the trail and without warning a noose was thrown out in front of me and before I could even stop or make a move it was around my ankle and I was suddenly yanked up. I shrieked as my grip on the cage loosen and it fell below me as I dangled in the air. "Oh great the old yo-yo trick!", I said, trying to reach up and untie my foot
"Are you guys alright?", Mikey called out, as he and Donnie struggled under the net
"We are under attack!", Leo called out, shaking the bars on his cage
"Is this a zoo or a turtle napping?", Raph said, struggling in his bonds
"Get me out of here!", I said, as I tried to flip myself up
"Get me out of here! Come on!", Leo said, trying to pry the bars open
"Okay now I am mad at for whoever did this!", Raph said, as he tried to sit up
"Guess who?", Bonesteal said, as he appeared from behind a tree "I see you all are all caught up in my traps"
"Let us go you psycho!", Leo said, angrily
"Yeah you don't want to mess with us! Especially me I still got a few imbalanced hormones left in me that I got to get out!", I said, struggling
He then looked at the cage below me with an evil grin. "Good to see you brought me back, my little money award!", he said, as he pulled out a whip
He then slashed the whip below me as he wrapped itself around the handle of the cage and he snatched back towards him. "Come to Bonesteal!", he said, as he caught the cage
"Take your filthy hands off of her!", I said, angrily
"Now for you all stealing my property, shooting you will be an honor", he said, as he set the cage down and he pulled out a bamboo flute "And this is going to hurt"
As he blew the bamboo flute, a high screeching sound began to fill the air. It sounded almost like fingernails on a chalkboard. It pierced my ears like a knife as my face squinted as I tried to cover my ears to block out the resonance. My husband and my brothers began screaming covering their ears as they were tortured by the agonizing tune. "Ultrasound!", Donnie said, sounding in pain
"Jeez and I thought Mikey singing in the shower was brutal!", Raph said
"Well show is over!", I said
I then grabbed a few ninja stars from my belt as I threw them towards Bonesteal as they bounced off from a metal post and they aimed right on target at the flute slicing it into pieces. To all of our relief the noise stopped and Bonesteal threw the remainder of the broken flute away, growling in anger and frustration. "Jeez talk about someone who can't play taps", I said
"Now you are getting it!", he said, pulling out a crossbow
On top of it was a stack of three dynamite sticks tied together on an arrow with the fuse lit. "Oh great", I said, annoyed
He then shot the arrow and it came screaming towards me and I quickly flipped myself up and I used my katana to cut my foot free as I landed doing a back flip on the ground. I then quickly twirled around and I caught the arrow in my grasp. "Oh boy", Bonesteal said
"Blast off!", I said, placing the arrow beside my leg
The dynamite exploded as I went rocketing up into the air. I then flipped forward towards Bonesteal like a meteor about to crash down into the Earth and I then quickly spun around and did a spinning roundhouse kick to his chest, sending him flying back hitting the directory pole breaking it into two pieces. I then saw the tortoise in her cage, that was flipped on its side landing a few feet away into a ditch. I gasped as I tried to run towards her, but something wrapped around my ankle causing me to trip and fall.
I rolled over my side as I jumped to my feet and this time Bonesteal had a whip and he started slashing it out at me. I jumped and ducked out of reach of each time he tried to whip me and as he tried to whip at me once more it wrapped around my forearm and I gripped it quickly tugging on it towards me with my strength, making Bonesteal come flying towards me and I kneed him in the gut, making him go flying again, skidding across the ground.
I then went running after him, but he was quick on my move and he began to throw punches at me, grunting. I tried to block a few of them, but a few times he had knocked me in the snout hard. It felt like someone had punched me with a steel glove on their hand. I ducked low to avoid another punch, but it was bad on my part as I then got kicked in the face. I was forced back up as he tried to do another punch towards me, but I was quick enough to block and I punched him in the face with my other hand. But he was quick to spin around as he pulled out a knife and he slashed it across my arm, making a cut.
I cried out in pain as I held my gushing gash. "Calli!", Leo cried
"I'm fine babe! Time for me to finish this lunatic!", I said, looking at Bonesteal
He then tried to punch at me once more, but I was able to lean back on my legs. I then flipped backwards, kicking upside the chin with my feet, making him go flying up as I then spun around and did a front kick to his chest, sending him flying back once again as he rolled on the asphalt. I then grabbed my secret weapon, a manriki gushari chain and I threw it out towards him as it went spinning out towards him. The first end then caught around his wrists and the other end caught around his ankles as the two ends magnetize together, bounding his limbs. "Now that is how you hog tie ninja style", I said, smirking in victory
I then ran towards my family still in their traps. I first ran to my husband as I then unsheathed my katana and I sliced through the bars freeing him. "You okay?", he asked, running towards me before hugging me close
"I'm okay baby I'm fine", I said, hugging back "Come on lets get the others!"
We then ran towards Mikey and Donnie underneath the net. "Hey get me out of this! I feel like a fish", I said
"Well all you do is just lay around", Leo said, teasing
"Ha funny! Not!", Mikey said, sounding annoyed as he got to his feet
"Thanks guys", Donnie said, brushing himself off
I then ran towards Raph as I knelt down to him quickly cutting him loose from his bonds with my katana. "Hey thanks sis", he said, getting up to his feet
"Don't mention it", I said
I then ran towards the ditch where I saw the cage fill into and I slid down inside and I straightened out the cage. I check to see if the tortoise was alright from the crash, luckily she didn't look hurt, just stunned by the whole thing. "Is she alright Calli?", Donnie asked, as I climbed out of the ditch as Leo helped me out
"Other than being startled, she seems to be fine", I said, as I held the cage "We need to get her into that enclosure"
"What about him?", Mikey said, pointing behind him at Bonesteal as he was still hogged tied
"Why not throw him to the alligators?", Raph said, suggesting making him cringe
"I don't think that is a rather pleasant idea Raph", Leo said, crossing his arms
"He is right, that is a little over the top", I said "How about this?"
I set the cage down and I walked over towards Bonesteal as I cut his bonds free, but before he could make a break for it I grabbed his coat, pulling him up to me. "Listen carefully, don't let me or anyone of us catching you black marketing another endangered animal while we are around here, you understand?", I said, in a serious deep tone
He nodded nervously. "Now beat it!", I said
I threw him away from me as he took off running screaming into the night, jumping over the fence. I nodded my head in a firm way as I turned towards my family. Donnie came over with a roll of bandages and he tore off part from the roll and he gently took my arm and wrapped up my dried up wound, tying it together. "Thanks", I said
"Your welcome", he said
"Come on, this way", I said, as I began to walk on the trail
They followed behind me as we passed many exhibits housing, giraffes, rhinos, elephants, crocodiles, tigers and bears. A few red scarlet and yellow and blue and yellow macaws, sleeping in the tree branches above our heads. We went up a hill on the trail and around the corner was the sanctuary we have been looking for.
"There it is", I said, pointing
The enclosure was a huge one, it almost looked like you were on the island of the Galapagos yourself. It had nice big shady trees, huge rocks covered in moss, bushes growing flowers, and a small river separating the enclosure with the fence. Inside were five other huge adult tortoises that came up at least to my knee in height and were about the size of a small boulder. "Woah these guys are huge!", Mikey said
"Yeah they are huge ones, biggest in the world", I said, looking at them
"You think she will fit in here?", Donnie asked
"Well only one way to find out", I said
I then climbed over the wooden fence blocking the enclosure from the main trail. I then hopped over the river that lead to forest area. I then placed the cage down on the ground as I got down on my knees. I unlocked the cage door, letting the tortoise free as it slowly walked out to explore her new home. "What do you think? You like it little girl?", I asked, petting her shell
She then went to a patch of tall green grass and began eating it as another tortoise came by and started eating with her. I smiled in content happy that she was now safe from danger, hunters and becoming a scam for a quick buck on the black market, and she now had a new home with a new family. "Okay little girl, this is your new home now", I said "You will be safe here, take care of yourself. Have a good night"
I gave her shell one last stroke as I got up and left running back towards my family on the other side of the fence. I jumped over as we cheered doing a group high five. "Jeez what a night this was", I said "First day back on the job was a killer"
"Yeah you can say that again", Raph said, agreeing
"Well hey it was worth it", I said "We stopped the hunter, saved the tortoise, and we know now she will be safe. It's a job well done"
"Well I don't know about you guys but all this crime fighting is making me hungry", Mikey said
"Oh Mikey", we all said, in ushion
"Well I think it is about time we called it a night", I said "Last one back to the vehicles is roadkill"
I took off running back towards the entrance of the zoo. "First one there eats it!", Leo called out, chasing after me
"Yuck that is gross!", Raph called out
"Hey wait for me!", Mikey called out
We made it back to the entrance with Mikey being the roadkill and Leo having to be the one to eat him, since I wrestled against him to touch the entrance of the zoo first. We drove back home on the same route and we came rolling up on in the tunnel right beside the manhole cover. Mikey jumped in first into the lair and headed straight to the fridge for some food, followed by Raph, Donnie, Leo then me. I look to see Splinter was still in the living room with Ellie as he was playing with her with the little cherry blossom flower he gave her on the night she was born. I came walking over as Ellie caught the little flower in her hands and she tossed it up in the air. "Looks like someone is having fun", I said, smiling
Splinter chuckled looking up at me. "She has your laugh but Leonardo's smile", he said
"Was she alright?", I asked
He chuckled as he handed me Ellie. "Don't worry Callista she was just fine", he said "No trouble at all"
I smiled and I pressed my forehead against hers as I kissed her snout as she giggled. "How did the mission set out?", he asked
"We were able to get her into a protected habitat", I said "She will be safe there"
"I'm very proud of you all", Splinter said "It too reminds of how I helped some baby turtles I found in the sewer"
"Yeah but we made a new enemy", Donnie said
"And a weird and crazy one too", Mikey said
"He knows we exist", I said "He will be hunting all of us now"
I felt the warm and strong arms of my husband Leo wrap around me and Ellie in a protective hold. "We will be okay", he said "We will handle it, if we can handle the Foot Ninja, the Shredder, dragons and a mad scientist, we can handle a hunter"
"Leonardo is right, you all have overcome dangerous adversaries before", Splinter said "As the wise sensei Kenji Hashimora once said, whenever you find yourself doubting how far you can go, just remember how far you have come. Remember everything you all have faced, all the battles you have won and all the fears you have overcome"
"You are right master", I said "We will handle it"
"I think all of us have been through enough for one night, don't you think?", Raph said
"Agreed big brother", I said "I think we all should get some rest"
"I am all in for that", Mikey said, flopping down on his beanbag
Donnie went towards his lab and Raph went inside of the dojo with Splinter, leaving me and Leo alone with Ellie. We both heard the sound of Ellie yawning as she rubbed her little eye with her hand, as she looked up towards us sleepily. "Sounds like someone is getting sleepy", Leo said, looking over my shoulder, looking down at Ellie
"I think its about time we got our little princess to bed", I said
"Yeah and she needs to see her nursery", Leo said
"Oh yeah that's right", I said "She hasn't seen it yet, come on"
We walked into our bedroom closing our door, as Leo turned on the small lamp on his side table lighting up the nursery. "Here Ellie, this is your new nursery", I said, looking down at her smiling softly "Daddy made it just for you"
Leo smiled at me as I reached over and I placed Ellie down in her crib on her shell, as she rolled over on to her plastron, looking at her new surroundings.
"What do you think Ellie?", I asked, looking down at her lovingly "You like it?"
Ellie looked around curiously at her nursery, as she slid on her little plastron crawling around in her crib. She then looked up at the little mobile Leo made for her as she tried to reach for the little turtle that resembled me, cooing. She then fell forward trying to grab it as she rolled on to her shell and began giggling as she was kicking her little legs and began reaching up with her little arms trying to reach the other little turtles and little stuffed rat. I looked at my daughter adoringly, how she was loving her nursery and how adorable she looked as she played with her mobile. "Oh Leo she loves it", I said
"Mmmmm you know its missing something", Leo said, walking away
"What do you mean?", I asked, a little confused
Leo then took out from behind the pillows on our bed, a little stuffed turtle. It was a dark blue sea turtle with a light green shell, with black eyes and a little sown on smile made with black thread, that was just about the size of his forearm.
"What is that?", I asked, curiously
He smiled. "I wouldn't think I would still have this with me after all these years", he said "This was mine when I was a newborn"
"That was yours?", I asked, surprised
"Mmmmmhmmm", he said, nodding smiling "Splinter told me that he could never get it away from me, no matter what. That I used to take this with me everywhere I went and sleep with it every single night"
"Oh my goodness that is so cute", I said, giggling
Leo chuckled. "Well since Ellie is here now, I think its time I passed on a family heirloom", he said
"Lets see how she likes it", I said
Leo walked over towards Ellie's crib as he looked down inside. "Hey Ellie", Leo said, smiling "I got something for you"
Ellie cooed as she looked up towards him and he showed her the little stuffed turtle. He placed it down in front of her as Ellie looked at it curiously. She crawled over towards it on her plastron as she crawled over the top of it. She then slid and sat down and pulled it to her, cooing while hugging it around its head tightly. "Well it looks like she likes it", I said, smiling
Ellie cooed as she hugged it tightly in her arms, rocking it back and forth as she fell on her shell, giggling while still holding it in her arms. She then rolled on to her plastron releasing it as she looked up at us with a cute smile, giggling. Leo and I looked down at her with awe, adoring this precious moment. Ellie then crawled back on top of her stuffed turtle and rolled over on her side, hugging it to her tightly, snuggling her head against it.
Ellie then yawned sleepily, stretching out her arm cooing. She then laid her head down on the turtle's shell, rubbing against it as her little eyes fluttered closed. There was silence in the room as we just looked down at Ellie now fast asleep. In my heart, I knew deeply we were blessed with a truly special gift of a child. Leo leaned down and gently covered her with a green silk blanket and kissed her cheek gently as Ellie continued to sleep on, cooing lightly. As Leo stood up I leaned against him as his arm wrapped around my waist as we just stared down at our little bundle of joy.
"Beautiful isn't she?", Leo said, quietly
"Yes absolutely beautiful", I said, softly
"I bet you she is already dreaming of being the next ninja leader", Leo said
I giggled softly. "I bet she is", I said "Fighting just like her Daddy"
Leo gently kissed my temple as he rested his head against the side of mine. "I can tell we are going to see big things coming from her", I said "I can feel it deep down inside"
"I feel it too", Leo said. softly "Our little Eleanora is going to be something...amazing"
As Leo and I continued to watch our daughter sleep on through the quiet night, I thought of the many things that could happen as she grows to the kunoichi she will become. I see her being the apple of everyone's eyes in the family. I see her being a little Daddy's girl and being spoiled by her uncles. I see her striving for potential and reaching for the highest goals thought possible. But the one thing I do see the most happening, is that she will be a successful leader just like her father and keep her everyone close to her little heart. "I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow, and each road leads you where you want to go and you if ever have to face the choice where you have to choose, choose the one that means the most to you", I said "And while you are out there getting to, I hope you know we all love you, our little girl"