Hey guys, this one was suggested by - Pheonix09:

After Master Splinter is gone, Leo is the head of the family at a young age, but his brothers don't know how much pressure and stress he's really under then after a few months, Leo can't take any more, so he breaks down in his room alone one night. Raph, sensing something off, gets up and hears him then comforts him (holds him, rubs his back, kisses him on the top of the head a few times, etc.) and basically tells him he's not alone.

I changed a couple things, but I hope you still enjoy xx

Head of The Household

Leonardo closed the door to his room with an exhausted sigh. Today had been one of the longest days of his life! This entire month had been a nightmare in itself.

He cringed, had it really been a month since they lost their father?

He stared into the darkness of his room, he was exhausted, but he knew he wouldn't sleep.

He made his way across the lair and into the dojo where he knelt before the family picture, he looked into his father's eyes.

"Father… You left too soon" He admitted sadly, "I'm… I'm just not ready for all this yet. Do you know how hard this month has been? The guys are barely coping… honestly, I'm the same but at least they're getting to mourn. Raph hasn't cried since the funeral but his temper is getting more and more out of hand, even he's scared of himself! I try to help him best I can but… Y'know… We never have seen eye to eye"

Leo smirks a little as tears sting his eyes.

"Donnie's building us this insane armour, I guess he's trying to make sure he doesn't lose another family member but…" Leo breathes a shaky breath. "He won't eat, or sleep and he's cried very day since you… I'm always there for him, I'm afraid to leave him alone for even a second… Mikey… He's not doing great; I haven't seen a single smile on his face this month. Not that there's a lot to smile about… He's not pranking, joking or even talking really, he's turning his beak up at food too! He's never done that! He's not been spending time with Ice Cream Kitty, so I've been looking after her in the meantime, but she misses him, and I honestly think she blames me for his absence. Mikey's also cried all month too; I'm amazed he still has any tears left. I'm there for him too, I promise I am! I hold both of them every day, so they don't go through it alone… I haven't had a chance to cry since the funeral"

Leonardo stops for a moment before looking down at his knees.

"Today's been the worst though… Raphael didn't even get up until noon and he immediately flipped out at me! He accused me of trying to replace you… I mean… technically he's right? I really am trying to step up and be the head of the household now that you're gone, that's what you said I need to do as eldest brother but… It's so hard… I don't mean to rub Raph the wrong way but somehow, I still do it and… I'm scared he hates me… He walked out and… He's not come back, what if he's gone for good?" Leo shakes his head, "Donnie finally collapsed today, I carried him to bed and when he eventually woke up, I made him eat. I've put him on bed rest for a few days but… he's not said a word to me all day. Mikey… Mikey… I don't even know, he's been in his room all day again, but he at least ate with Donnie. I found out what he's been doing all this time, did you know he was an artist? His drawings are incredible! I thought Donnie was good with his designs but Mike, he's so expressive! I'm glad he has a way to let his emotions out… Nobody's cried today, they're just… Numb I guess?"

Leonardo sighs and looks back up at his father's picture. The exhaustion, loss and sadness all bubble up inside him and finally the tears are let loose.

"I can't do this, I feel like I'm losing them" He cried pitifully, "I-I I'm not ready to look after them all, it's not fair that I have to! I'm too young for this kind of responsibility! I'm no leader Father and I'm not you! I don't know what to do!"

He sobbed emptily.

"I miss you so much… I feel so alone and scared" He hugged himself, "I'm a failure father, I couldn't keep you safe and now I'm losing my brothers. I wasn't ready for this! I-It's too much!"

Eventually his words faded into mumble filled sobs as he finally let his emotions out.

He jumped out of his skin when he felt a pair of arms wrap around him, he pulled away hastily and rubbed his eyes.

"R-Raph?" He gasped as he looked into his brother's soft emerald eyes, "You came home!"

He threw himself onto his brother and hugged him out of pure relief, the tears started again.

"I'm so glad you're home! I'm sorry for everything Raph just please don't leave again!" He pulls away suddenly and look his younger brother over, "You're not hurt, are you?"

"Wh- No, Leo I'm fine" Raphael stares at the eldest in worry, "I'm sorry I worried you and… and that I walked out… I've just been stressed y'know?"

Leo swallows and nods, he rubs his eyes once more and takes a deep breath.

"I know" He smiles softly, "It's ok Raph"

He goes to stand but Raph keeps a hold on him.

"I heard everything" He admits, "When I saw you walk in here, I went to follow you to… to start another fight but then I heard you talking and… Leo…"

Leonardo cringes in embarrassment.

"Sorry" He groans, "I was just being a drama queen" His eyes widen as Raph shakes his head.

"Leo… I had no idea how much pressure you were under, we've all been so selfish!" Raph growls, "You've been taking care of us and being there for us 24/7 this whole time without even a thank you, you've been trying to help us and hurting yourself in the process"

Leo stiffens as he's pulled into a fierce hug.

"I'm sorry big brother" Raph breathes sadly, "I'm so sorry you've been doing this all alone"

Leo hugs his brother back and starts to cry again.

"I'm so tired Raphie" Leo whimpers. "I don't want to lose anyone else but everyone's mad at me for trying to replace Father, I don't wanna replace him, but he made me! He tried to train me for this, and I can't do it"

Raphael holds his brother before kissing him on the head.

He was angry at himself, his little bros and at his late father. Leo was clearly exhausted and drained but still he soldiered on, keeping his family going.

"You can do it; you have been doing it Leo" Raph sighs gently. "But it doesn't matter… You're not alone anymore bro, I'm here. I'm gonna help from now on, I promise"

Leo just nods as he sniffs.

"Step one is getting us both to bed" Raph nods and gently helps his brother to his feet, "You're exhausted and I'm pretty tired too, then in the morning we work together and sort those two bums out"

"They're grieving Raph" Leo frowns as he follows his brother out of the dojo.

"They've done enough moping around, we all have" Raph leads them to Leo's room, "You're the only one that's not been able to move on, those two need to see that the world hasn't ended. There's still a family here even without Splinter"

Together they get into Leo's bed.

"We can't get through this alone" Raph yawns, "And you didn't deserve the way we treated you"

He stops talking when he sees his brother is fast asleep, he nods once before closing his eyes.

The next morning Raphael was the first up, he made coffee and laid out cereals, bowls and spoons in four places.

He marches to Donnie's room only to find both little brothers in the same bed, he smiles before clapping his hands loudly.

"UP!" He calls, the two turtles jump and fall out of bed.

"Raph?" Mikey mumbled as they both sit up, "You came home?"

Raph cringes.

"Yeah… I kinda realised something… and we're putting it right today!"

"What did you realise?" Donnie asked with a yawn. Raphael frowned.

His two brothers looked terrible. They were pale, skinny and their throats croaked from lack of use.

"We've been selfish" Raph states, "We were lost in our own little miserable worlds while Leonardo looked after us putting his own grieving to the side. We're still a family and it's time we started acting like it"

"You said it yourself Raph" Mikey frowns, "He was trying to take dad's place"

"Yeah because he's our big brother" Raph growled. "It's up to him to look after us now and that's what he was doing"

"That is what Master Splinter was trying to prepare him for" Donnie nods as they both finally get to their feet, "I guess we took it for granted… Poor Leo must be exhausted"

"He is" Raph sighed quietly. "Found him last night… guy was a mess"

"We suck" Mikey sniffs,

"Yeah we did but now we're gonna make it up to him" Raphael nods as he leads the boys into the kitchen. "Have breakfast"

Donnie and Mikey sit down and start collecting what they want as Raph calls Leo down, he then sits as well.

Leonardo couldn't believe his eyes when he walked into that kitchen, all three brothers were rested and eating together.

He gaped a little before sitting in his place.

Tears sprang to his eyes as all three brothers smiled and said good morning to him.

"Thanks guys" He smiled tearfully. "I'm glad you're all back"

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