TMNT: Lullaby for Leo

Ch.14~ Meet our son

"Leo stop pacing yer making me dizzy," I stated, then I felt Vincent stir in my arms. "Hush go back to sleep birthday boy."

"Daddy?" he muttered tiredly rubbing his eye with a balled-up fist yawning.

"Go back ta sleep Vincent, I'll still be here when ya wake up." I hushed, he snuggled into my shoulder tiredly.

"Go home with Daddy..." he mumbled I smiled kissing his head.

"Yeah, yer coming home with Daddy now go back ta sleep." I soothed, he closed his eyes and drifted back to sleep.

"Didn't want to be called Mommy." Leo teased walking over to hug me close, I snorted at him.

"Hell no, have any ideas for us to explain this or we just gonna walk in and let the confusion flow," I stated, he let me go sighing.

"Wouldn't that upset Vincent?" Leo asked I shook my head.

"I've told him that I had ta keep him a secret, I told him only me, father and.. I always told him you knew," I answered, looking away from Leo.

"You did?"

"Yeah, dunno guess I always wanted ya ta be part of his life so I always told him that ya were."

I felt Leo place a hand on my shoulder looking up at him I saw him smiling fondly. Readjusting my hold on Vincent I placed my chin on Vincent's head as I cuddled him close. Guess the easiest way to do this would be to just show up with him.

"So, what are we doing?"

"Just head home and see how this goes."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, not like we have better options."

"I guess, let's go."

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders, I leaned into him a bit nervously. I don't know how Don will respond but I'm pretty sure Mikey will be ecstatic, and father will be happy. No, I don't even want to think about how Casey and April will respond; note to self-focus on immediate family first.

"How do ya think Don will react?"

"Probably want to test you both; Raph are you sure that he's not..."

"It doesn't matter if he is, that man knows where I am, he always has, I've probably had a tracer for a long time. Even if I don't he would have put one somewhere on Vincent that would be almost impossible ta remove. It's better like this, I don't want ta know."

"I understand.. still, don't you want to know even just a bit?"

"No.. I try ta forget and now that Vincent gets ta stay with us I want ta help him forget. Sometimes it's better to forget, it hurts less when ya do."

"Raph that's not healthy."

"I don't expect ya to understand my reasons fully, just let me do what I think is best."

"Just don't shut me out."

"I won't, I'm done with that bullshit."

"Good, come on let's go home."

(Mikey's POV)

Hopefully, Raphie is alright because Leo ran off in quite a hurry. I'm going to hope that Raphie just got into a fight and got a bit banged up. Donnie had his first-aid kit out on the coffee table ready to mend whatever our hot-headed brother had broken this time.

The door swooshed open and I jumped over the back of the couch curiosity getting the best of me yet again. Leo was ahead of Raph who looked like he was holding something, I saw Leo move a bit to reveal a small boy in Raph's arms. The small boy had the same skin tone of Raphie, jet black hair and a lizard-like tail. Had I been right, was this Raphie's son?

"And here I thought you would stroll in covered in your own blood," Donnie stated, I turned to see Don looking at Raph in confusion.

"I got a lot to explain," Raph replied I raced over to look at the boy.

"Aw, he's a cute little guy, what's his name?" I asked Raph smiled at me as he readjusted his hold on the boy.

"Vincent," Raph answered, smiling at him I waited for him to smile back.

"He's such a cutie." I cooed, Raph smirked at me.

"Of course, he is." Raph countered, I chuckled.

"Fortunately, the little guy didn't get your ugly genes Raphie." I teased, he glared at me before chuckling.

"Jeez yer such a brat Mikey." he joked, I felt a hand on my shoulder, turning I saw Don standing at my side.

"So, I'm assuming you have an intelligent explanation for this Raph," Don stated, Raph nodded.

"Of course, I'm gonna go put this little guy down and I'll tell ya the story," Raph said, he turned to head to his room but froze when he heard father's door open.

"Raphael, are you really going to put him upstairs before showing him to me?" Father questioned, Raph spun to face father smiling.

"Sorry father, be there in a second." Raph chimed racing over to father and presenting the boy.

"He is perfect my son." father praised, I smiled as father whispered something to Raph.

"I'll put him upstairs then I'll explain," he stated running up to his room, I smiled. I haven't seen Raph so happy in a very long time, this is so great.

(Raph's POV)

I sat on the couch with Leo at my side and Donnie and Mikey sat across from us in chairs. How the hell am I supposed to explain this, guess I'll just tell it how it is?

"When I disappeared for that year I had been kidnapped by Bishop and his men. They took me to their lab and experimented on me. Then they changed me, so now I'm technically a girl, and then they created Vincent using me... Vincent is my biological son but.. they changed him a lot through their experiments. Then one day they just dumped me in the sewers where Leo found me. I couldn't find the will ta tell any of ya. I was scared ya'd hate me, so I kept it all hidden and only let a few things out. Up until a little bit ago, Splinter was the only one who knew everythin'. He got me ta tell him what happened when we were kids, I'm sorry I never told ya." I explained looking down at my fist balled up on my lap avoid Mikey and Don's eyes.

"Those monsters," Donnie growled, I looked up to see his furious face.

"Shit Raphie you should have told us sooner, we would have accepted it. I mean we're brothers forever bro." Mikey added, he looked at me with a sad smile. "Have to say the little guy is cute, I can't wait to talk to him."

"Me too, if you want I can teach him," Donnie suggested, I smiled at my younger brothers. "When are you going to tell April and Casey?"

"Thanks for reminding me, Don," I grumbled, he looked at me smirking.

"I am sure they'll be as accepting as us, although Casey might just be very confused." Don soothed, I sighed leaning against Leo.

"You can't put it off too long Raph," Leo stated I glared up at him. "Quit glaring at me you know I'm right."

"Shut up will ya, I'll tell 'em soon but I ain't doing it today," I growled, he chuckled rubbing my helm. "I ain't a kid ya know."

"I know you aren't but there so need for you to be so grumpy, you should be happy right now." Leo soothed, I smiled a bit.

"I guess you're right," I stated.

(Vincent's POV)

Sitting up I stretched before rubbing my eyes sleepily yawning as I did so. Looking around I saw that I wasn't back in my room; where am I? I remember I was with Daddy and then... They left me with Daddy! I shot up and raced to the door, but I stopped before opening it.

Daddy told me that only he, Papa and grandfather knew about me. Maybe I should wait in here till they come get me. That's when I heard a knock on the other side of the door. Jumping back, I dove under the covers on Daddy's bed.

"Vincent are you awake now?" Daddy asked the door opened as I got back from under the covers.

"I'm awake Daddy," I answered, he smiled and walked over rubbing my head. Then I noticed he had cuts all over him, why didn't I notice those earlier. "What happened to your arms Daddy?"

"Remember how I told that me, your papa and Uncles were ninjas?" he inquired.

"Uhuh. I remember Daddy." I replied.

"I got into a bad fight and got a bit hurt, I'm okay now though they are almost all healed." he explained. "Do you want to meet everyone?" he said, I smiled and nodded.

"I get to meet them this is so exciting." I cheered, he smiled.

"Yeah it is; Vincent here you can just be yourself okay." he added, I nodded grabbing onto his hand.

"So here I can be a kid, is that what you mean Daddy?" I chimed, he nodded.

"Yes." he stated, I let him lead me out of the room.

From the stories, Daddy told me I could recognize the figures waiting for me downstairs. The one with the blue bandana was Papa, then the elderly rat figure was grand-father. The shorter one with the orange bandana was my Uncle Michelangelo and the taller one with the purple mask was my Uncle Donatello.

Uncle Michelangelo was looking at me excitedly actually he was bobbing in place. Papa was smiling at us fondly which made me feel very welcome, and grandfather had the same look. Uncle Donatello looked like he was examining me closely, but not the same unfeeling the doctors had; his look seemed like it was out of worry.

"Hi, Vincent." Papa greeted, he walked over and knelt in front of me.

"Papa!" I cheered, jumping up and wrapping my arms around his neck hugging him excitedly.

Papa picked me up and twirled around, hugging me close. I giggled as I pulled back to look at his face. He was gazing me at me very fondly, quickly I buried my head in his neck hugging him excitedly. Daddy always told me about Papa, now I finally get to see him.

"I'm so happy to meet you, Vincent." Papa resounded, he set me down on my feet.

"Me too Papa." I chimed, Uncle Michelangelo reached over to rub my head.

"You are too cute little dude, I'm your Uncle Michelangelo but you can just call me Mikey." Uncle introduced, I smiled nodding at him.

"Okay, Uncle Mikey," I replied he pulled me into a hug.

"You're so cute, Raphie who knew you could have such a cute kid." Uncle Mikey teased, I turned to Daddy who was laughing at Uncle Mikey.

"You need to get better material, Mikey." Daddy joked, Uncle Mikey stuck his tongue out at Daddy which made me giggle; my Uncle Mikey was so silly.

"Mikey you could at least try to act your age." Uncle Donatello lectured, kneeling down he extended a hand to me. "Hi Vincent, I'm your Uncle Donatello but you can just call me Don or Donnie."

"Hi, Uncle Don." I greeted shaking his hand excitedly.

"You definitely have Raph's eyes, you remind a lot of your Daddy when he was young." Uncle Don commented, I beamed up at him excitedly.

"Really? Wow. That's so cool." I cheered, he smiled at me fondly.

"Donatello is not joking, you remind quite a bit of your Dad when he was your age, it's very nice to meet you my grandson," Grandfather added, I smiled at him and walked over to the elderly rat.

"Daddy told me a lot about you grandfather, I'm glad I get finally meet you," I said, he reached over and rubbed my head.

"Just as I am very glad to finally see you, as we all are. Welcome home little one." Grandfather stated, so this is what home feels like.

(Raphael's POV)

Vincent and Mikey really hit it off, mostly because on the inside Mikey is kinda like a kid. Seeing Vincent here is good for my heart, I've been wishing to bring him here for a long time. Now that he is here it is probably the best feeling I've experienced in a long time.

This feeling along with finally getting to be back together with Leo has really done me good. Seeing him smile as he does is one of the best feelings, and not only do I get to see my little boys smile. I get to see him, and Leo interact, and feel Leo's arm around me now as I watch Vincent.

"It has been a long time since I have seen you smile so much son. I am very glad that you are able to smile again." Splinter commented, I turned to him in surprise.

"I guess I am smiling, aren't I? Heh, I will admit this is the best I have felt in a very long time." I replied, turning to watch Vincent continue to play Mikey at one of his games. "For a while, I thought I would never feel this happy again."

"I hope you never have to go back to that ever again." Leo soothed, I leaned into his hold.

"As long as I get to see Vincent smile like this and have you by my side. I don't think I could ever go back the way I had been." I explained, Splinter sat poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip.

"I think it best we stay below the surface for a bit, now I will be off to meditate." Splinter advised I nodded watching as father left for his room to meditate.

"I love you Raph." Leo avowed, I looked up at him and pulled him into a chaste kiss.

"I love you too Leo," I confessed; now I remember what real happiness felt like.