"Now you place the cup over his stomach..." Telon explained, watching with an amused smile as Donnie did as told, putting the hand-sized metal cup over the bulging plastron of his younger mate.

Over the past weeks Donatello had been eager to learn everything he could about their anatomy, and especially about pregnancies. He figured it would be best to be prepared when the babies came. In addition, he loved it. He was in his element.

The cup was connected to a machine, and when Donnie moved it slightly, a faint heartbeat was sounding.

Instantly his face lit up, along with Mikey's. Very slowly he shifted the cup, a second heartbeat joining the first. For a few moments they heard both until the first faded out and a third appeared when he reached the other side of the stomach.

"Their hearts beat strong and sound healthy." The doctor quietly told Donnie, though the olive turtle was distracted by the wonderful sounds coming from the machine.

"I should've brought Raph... he's been complaining because he can't feel them move." Mikey laughed, eyes wet with happy tears. These hormones were going to be the end of him.

"They're in their eggs, of course he won't feel them move." Donatello rolled his eyes with a chuckle. "Especially through your plastron."

Mikey rubbed the top of his stomach lovingly, grinning widely when Don leaned down to press a kiss on the swelling.

"Those... humans you said?" He waited for Donatello to affirm he was using the right term. "They don't lay eggs?"

Donnie laughed, sitting up straight again. He had been explaining a few things to the curious medic turtle, and the doctor had been vastly interested in those strange creatures they called humans.

"No. It's similar to this, but the babies aren't in shells. They're connected to the mother with a cord that supplies them with oxygen and whatever they need."

"Fascinating..." Mikey giggled at the amazed face of Telon. He and Donnie had so much in common.

"Oh, hey, is there a way to find out the gender?" The youngest turtle asked, eyes wide.

"I don't think so, Mikey. Our genitals are hidden in our plastrons..." Donnie started to explain.

"Actually the shell and plastron are very soft still. They're not fully developed yet, their gender isn't defined yet. That happens around the sixth month usually, while their shells harden around the seventh month. So during that sixth month we could find out the genders if you want."

Mikey nodded enthusiastically, gripping Donnie's hands.

"Of course I want to! We have to pick out colors for the nursery!"

Donatello chuckled and shook his head.

"You're not even in the fifth month yet, calm down. We have to find a bigger apartment, or a house first."

Ever since they found out there were three eggs, they planned to move to a bigger place. There was no way they could let the three of them share a single room, especially when they were older.

"I knooooow." Michelangelo rolled his eyes good-naturedly and grinned. "Can we get something to eat now? I'm hungry."

He had timed his appointment so Donnie could go home with him this afternoon. Leo and Raph were both busy with their classes on thursdays, and both of these worrywarts were more than a little hesitant to let Mikey run around on his own at this point of his pregnancy.

The walk to their apartment was about 20 minutes. Raph and Leo's class would end in an hour, so the two youngest Hamatos had more than enough time to get some take-out for their early dinner. However, they didn't expect there to be a commotion.

"Huh, looks like a protest rally or something..." Donnie blinked as he watched the tightly packed crowd that blocked the main street.

"What would they protest against? It's great here."

"No idea. I bet we'll see it in the news later. Come on, we'll take the alleys. Leo and Raph are gonna throw a fit if we aren't home when they're done." The olive turtle grabbed Mikey's hand and pulled him towards an emptier alley.

They had to go quite far off their main route, though it was a nice walk since these alleys weren't full of trash like back in New York.

"Now what do we have here?"

The voice sent an unpleasant shiver through Mikey's and Donnie's bodies. Sure enough, Erion from way back then was appearing in front of them.

"Lucky us. And here I thought we'd never see you again." Behind them, Naroy blocked their way back.

The smaller turtles glared and went shell-to-shell, though Donnie tried to keep an eye on both of those idiots. Honestly, it's been almost a year since their unfortunate encounter, and Donatello had forgot those two even existed.

"Already forgot what our mates did to you?" Mikey taunted, fully prepared to take the morons down.

"I don't see those bastards anywhere... In fact, I'm pretty sure they're busy with their little teaching business." Erion made a show of checking the time. "We have fifteen minutes until they even realize you aren't home. That's more than enough time to teach them... and you a lesson."

It was quite unsettling that the large turtles knew the teaching schedule. Too much a coincidence that they found them here in that alley.

"You sure you want to try to take us on, here, without witnesses around?" Mikey challenged with a smirk, fingers itching to get revenge on them for scaring them back at that club.

"Oh, Erion! Look! My little cutie got a bun in the oven!" The reminder made Mike's face fall.

He was pregnant. He was carrying their children. He wasn't up to his usual performance levels; he was risking the safety of their babies! A sudden fear gripped him as he wrapped his arms around his bump, pressing his shell harder against Donnie's.

The genius found himself growling protectively. He reached behind him to turn Mikey with him so their backs were to a wall and he could glare at both of the big turtles at once.

Erion chuckled, stepping closer as if he didn't have a care in the world.

"You see, Naroy has a weakness for pregnant turtles ever since he got a taste some time ago... Y'know, the hormone overload."

"Bet you're really frisky, huh? I can help with that." There was a touch of insanity in Naroy's dark eyes as he also stepped closer.

"Donnie..." Mikey whimpered, clutching his swollen belly in fear.

"I'm gonna give you one warning..." Donatello hissed, taking on a fighting stance. "Leave us the fuck alone, or you're gonna regret it."

The larger turtles burst out laughing.

"Feisty, just the way I like them. Even if he's a little delusional. Really thinks he could fight us." Erion continued his approach, reaching out to grab Don's shoulder.

He managed to brush his fingertips on the skin, before he found himself on the ground with a grunt. He growled, attempting to grab Donatello's ankle to take him down.

Donnie stepped out of his reach, pulling Michelangelo with him. Erion got to his feet with a dark glare, he and Naroy approaching now as a unit. They tried throwing punches, but Donnie and Mikey kept evading them. Don got a few kicks in, more focused on trying to stay in front of his little brother.

"Mikey, step back." Donnie ordered successfully getting a pressure point on Erion's right arm, rendering it useless for at least ten minutes.

Mikey hesitated for a moment before taking a few steps back, away from the fight. He didn't want to leave Don to fend for himself, but as soon as Mike was out of hitting range, Donnie gave into his rage.

With wide eyes Mikey watched his brother go berserk on the two larger turtles. They didn't stand a chance as he mercilessly attacked their pressure points, making them feel pain without even breaking a sweat himself.

Angry that they were being overpowered by someone much weaker and smaller than themselves, Naroy lunged for Mikey, startling the pregnant turtle. Mikey gasped and stumbled backwards, crying out when Naroy managed to grip his ankle, making him fall on his backside.

While Naroy has been focused on Mikey, Don managed to send Erion to the land of dreams, hopefully nightmares. Mikey's cry made him turn around, assessing the scene and with a roar that rivaled Raph's he jumped in, kicking the muscled turtle so he was on his shell. Naroy couldn't move half of his limbs and in a vain attempt to defend himself against Donnie's wrath he let go of Mike's ankle.

The olive turtle viciously stomped the heel of his foot to the softer part of Naroy's plastron, effectively squishing the hidden manhood. The high-pitched scream felt good to Don, as he put more weight on it, hoping it hurt like a bitch.

Only Mikey's muffled whimpers brought him out of his rage and probably saved Naroy's dick.

"If you ambush us one more time I won't show any mercy." He growled at the blanched pervert and retracted his foot to hit his head, knocking him unconscious.

Taking a calming breath he rushed towards his mate.

"Sweetheart, are you okay?"

With a sob, Mikey threw himself into Donnie's arms.

"I'm sorry, I should've helped you! I don't know why... I just froze..."

"Sshh, baby, it's okay. You did exactly the right thing." Donnie smiled at Mikey, rubbing the tears from the freckled cheeks. He chuckled when his brother dove into him again, hiding his face in his neck and sobbing again. Michelangelo was prone to crying since he got pregnant, so it was amusing rather than worrisome.

"I... I fell. What if the babies..."

"You didn't hit your stomach, did you?" Donnie asked, placing a hand on the swell. Mikey shook his head, sniffing. "Then they should be fine."

The sky blue eyes were wide and full of tears. "What if they aren't?"

Donnie nuzzled Mikey's beak.

"Telon is still in his office. If you want we can head back and make sure they're okay."

Mikey sniffed again and nodded, staying close to his brother as they stood up.

xxxxx

Donnie rolled his eyes as their shellcells rang as he helped Mikey lay down on the exam table some time later. Leo and Raph, exactly ten minutes after their last class ended. Predictable.

Watching Telon prepare everything for an ultrasound he answered the phone, smiling at his baby brother as he squeezed his hand.

"Yeah?" Donnie tried to sound normal.

"Where are you? Is Mikey with you? Why won't he answer his phone? Why aren't you home?!"

"Calm down, Leo. Yes, Mikey's with me. We're at Telon's office."

"Still? Is... Is something wrong with the babies?" Donnie took his time to answer, glancing at the screen that now showed the eggs in Mike's belly. They were still intact, the fetuses appeared to be fine. Telon hurried to put the cup on the swell, beginning to smile as they heard three sound heartbeats.

"Donnie? God, Donatello, please..." Donnie blinked, letting go of a relieved breath and laughed at the distressed sound of his oldest brother.

"No, no, everything's fine. Um... do you think you could come pick us up?" He eyed the window, where they could see the sun starting to set.

"Of course. We're on our way." Donnie could hear the sounds of them moving through the phone. "Did... Did something happen?"

Don hesitated. He wasn't sure if Erion and Naroy would try to attack them again. And that they knew about their schedule had been really unsettling. Raph and Leo wouldn't hesitate to castrate the pervert turtles this time. And he and Mikey wouldn't be allowed to go anywhere alone again. Eventually he sighed.

"Uhm... yes." He decided to be honest. "I'm gonna tell you when you're here, though."

Donnie could practically hear Leo's concerned expression and wasn't sure if he should laugh or stay serious. Nothing he would say now could ease Leo's mind until the leader saw for himself they were safe and sound.

"We'll be there in a few." And with that the call ended. Donatello shook his head with a sigh, sending Mikey a look. The smaller turtle groaned dramatically and relaxed against the pillows.

"Bye bye, freedom..."