TMNT: Lullaby for Leo

Ch.16~ Family matters

Vincent raced down the stairs and turned to look at me impatiently, chuckling I jumped down landing beside him. He giggled as I tossed him over my shoulder heading back to the kitchen were April and Casey were waiting with the guys. Entering the kitchen, a big smile on my face I set Vincent on his feet and he looked up at Casey and April smiling.

"Hi, my names Vincent." he introduced, April crouched down in front of him and rubbed his head tousling his hair.

"Hi there Vincent, you're such a little cutie. My names April and that big lug is Casey, we're very glad to meet you." April chimed, Casey knelt down and patted Vincent's head.

"Ya look just like yer Dad little man," Casey commented Vincent, smiled at Casey.

"Uhuh, I want to be just like Daddy when I get older, my Daddy is so strong." Vincent babbled.

"You got that little man." Casey confirmed, "I don't doubt ya'll be just as strong as your Daddy."

"Yay!" Vincent cheered, April pulled him into a hug rubbed his back comforting.

"You are just the sweetest little boy." she cooed, letting him go she kissed his forehead fondly. "Next time I come over I am going to bring you some presents, what kind of toys would you like?"

"Toys, you're gonna get me toys?" he asked, excitedly she nodded.

"Of course, do you want some toy cars, action figures, whatever you want?" she explained.

"Daddy what should I ask for?" Vincent asked I rubbed his helm.

"Dunno, what would you like to get?" I replied, he giggled.

"I want a foam dart gun, please Auntie April." he answered, she nodded.

"Sure, I'll pick out some other fun things too." April cooed.

"Thank you, Daddy will you sing?" he enquired, I blushed looking away from him.

"Totally it's been a while since you sang bro, you're so good. You wouldn't believe it Ape but Raphie-boy here can sing like an angel." Mikey added.

"I guess, what should I sing Vincent?" I stated.

"The um.. what was again, you know Daddy the Humbling something."

"You mean The Humbling River, I guess."

"Yeah!"

Everyone sat down at the table, April sat on Casey lap while Mikey scooped up Vincent. Leo sat by me and Don sat between Casey, April, and Mikey. Breathing deeply, I leaned against the counter and looked at their waiting faces before closing my eyes again to sing.

"Nature, nurture heaven and home; Sum of all, and by them, driven; To conquer every mountain shown, but I've never crossed the river; Braved the forests, braved the stone; Braved the icy winds and fire; Braved and beat them on my own; Yet I'm helpless by the river; Angel, angel, what have I done?; I've faced the quakes, the wind, the fire; I've conquered country, crown, and throne; Why can't I cross this river?; Pay no mind to the battles you've won; It'll take a lot more than rage and muscle; Open your heart and hands, my son; Or you'll never make it over the river; It'll take a lot more than words and guns, A whole lot more than riches and muscle, The hands of the many must join as one; And together we'll cross the river; Nature, nurture heaven and home; It'll take a lot more than words and guns; Sum of all, and by them, driven; A whole lot more than riches and muscle; To conquer every mountain shown; The hands of the many must join as one, and together we'll cross the river; Braved the forests, braved the stone; It'll take a lot more than words and guns; Braved the icy winds and fire; A whole lot more than riches and muscle; Braved and beat them on my own; The hands of the many must join as one; And together we'll cross the river; And together we'll cross the river; And together we'll cross the river; Nature, nurture heaven and home; And together we'll cross the river; And together we'll cross the river; Nature, nurture heaven and home; And together we'll cross the river; And together we'll cross the river." I sang, opening my eyes again I saw April was smiling at me fondly and Casey looked surprised.

"Daddy sing more, more!" Vincent cheered.

"Damn Raph didn't know ya could sing like that," Casey commented.

"Yeah Raphael that was amazing." April complimented.

"It is good to hear you sing again my son," Father remarked as he walked toward the kitchen with his empty tea cup.

"Yeah, I guess it has been a while," I responded, he set his empty cup on the counter and looked up at me.

"I am glad to see such happiness in our home, I'd hope to see this more often." Father praised.

"Me too Splinter, it's good to see so much smiling faces, especially on Raphie-boy," April added I rubbed the back of my head smiling sheepishly.

(Leo's POV)

Finally, everyone has left and everyone else fell asleep, Raph stood awkwardly in the doorway to my room. He fidgeted shift his weight from side to side. I rubbed the back of my head looking away; why is this so awkward. We've shared a bed before; why is it so awkward now?

"So.. I guess we should go to bed too," I said, he nodded.

"Yeah, it is getting late," Raph replied, he walked up to me and I hugged him close and he sighed into my shoulder.

"Love you." I soothed, he sighed again.

"Love ya too." he replied.

"What's with all the sighing grumpy Raph?"

"It's just.. old ache's..."

"Where Raph, is it bad?"

"No.. just my back feels stiff, it's not bad at all."

"Would taking off your shell help, I mean if it doesn't hurt to do that?"

Raph pulled back and looked at me blushing deeply, which made me blush. I swear I am so dense sometimes, I pretty just asked him to get naked. I was about to tell him to forget about it, but he nodded shyly. Was he going to do it?

"Yeah.. but I'll only do it if you promise to not try anything or judge me."

"I'd never! I mean, unless you asked, and you should know I'd never judge you... I know it may be hard for you to believe that, but I mean it."

"Okay, but turn around, it looks weird when I take this off, give me a blanket too. I'll get the door."

Turning to the bed I grabbed one of the blankets and turned to give it to Raph who was shutting and locking the door. Taking the blanket, he turned his gaze away from me shyly. Flushing, I turned around trying to ignore the fact that he was essential getting naked behind me.

I could hear him shuffling behind me, and he is muttering curses under his breath. Then I heard a thud, his shell must be off. I kept my gaze forward waiting for him to tell me I could move. I heard him moving his shell, setting it farther away. Hearing more shuffling I felt a hand on my shell.

"R-raph."

"You can look now."

Breathing deeply, I slowly turned around to see Raph, he had the blanket covering his lower body. I could see his slightly narrower hips and a scar on his abdomen. The scar was clearly old and had been tended to as there are signs of being sewn back together. It must have been from when Vincent was born.

Noticing my stare Raph covered up the scar stepping closer to me. He was close enough for me to easily pull him into a hug. Unsure if he would appreciate it I moved slowly to bring him into a hug. He leaned into my hold and I hugged him closer. It felt odd to be able to envelop him entirely in a hug.

"You don't have to hide from me, is that scar from when..."

"Yeah.. they had to cut me open to get him out."

"Your back it's scared too right?"

"Yeah. Most of me is scarred, it comes with what we are. I just get to have extra places to have scars."

"Back feeling less stiff now?"

"Yeah, let's lay down, it's getting late."

"Sure."

Letting him go I watched as he strode toward the bed and sat down, I walked over and turned off the lights. Walking back to the bed I sat down and leaned over to cup Raph's cheek. He looked at me flushed as I pulled him into a gentle kiss our tongues twining. His hands rested on my thigh as he returned my kiss happily. A few more breathtaking moments I pulled back kissing him quickly again before pulling away entirely.

"Leo."

"I love you Raph, not just for today but for forever and always."

"Love ya too ya mushy bastard."

"Yep and I'm going to continue to be a mushy bastard, now let's get some sleep."

I laid down and he hesitatingly settled down resting his head on my shoulder laying an arm over my plastron. Kissing his head, I closed my eyes, I am glad to sleep with him like this every night for the rest of our lives.

"Night love."

"Night to you too my love."

Author's Note: Song is 'The Humbling River' by 'Puscifer'