"Where mommy?"
"Where papa?"
"When be back?"
Those three questions were practically on repeat since they came home. Even though Leonardo and Raphael did their best to act normal, the triplets seemed to see through their half-hearted lies and reassuring smiles.
They've always been very attuned to their parents' emotions.
For the rest of the evening it was easier distracting them, but when it was time for bed they couldn't escape the questions anymore.
"When you wake up we will go get them." Leo promised as he pulled a blanket over the baby turtle pile. They had once again gathered in the fort in Nix' room.
"Why no get now?" Amy asked, her bottom lip sticking out in a pout.
"I want mommy..." Nix sniffed, clutching a plushie to his plastron.
Ky didn't understand why his mommy and papa weren't here, but daddy and fafa said they would come back soon, and his daddy and fafa never lied to them.
He wiggled to snuggle between his siblings and hugged them both by their arms to comfort them.
"Fafa story?" He asked, hoping to distract his beloved brother and sister.
Leo's face looked so... wrong as he read to them. He leaned on Raph, whose arm was around his shoulders, a far away look on his face. What was wrong with them? Ky didn't understand.
They did stay a while after the story ended, quietly watching them sleep. Usually the toddlers fell asleep during the story, but this time they had troubles finding the deep rest they usually had.
Long after Leo and Raph left the room Ky woke from his very light sleep.
Both Amy and Nix were sniffing quietly, hugging their plushies close as they snuggled to Ky.
"Mommy and papa gonna be home soon." Kyanite tried to soothe them.
"Why are not home now? How d'you know they be home soon?"
"Dunno... but daddy say so."
"Daddy's sad..." Amy mumbled into her plush bunny. "Fafa's sad. Maybe gone forever."
Nix hiccuped at that. "I want mommy..." he repeated.
Ky's eyes were wide. Why would his siblings think they won't come back? Fafa said... but Amy was right. They both were sad. Was it true? Papa and mommy would never abandon them... would they?
Not being able to help himself Ky felt his own eyes tear up. Soon they were all wailing.
As soon as their door opened they shot out from their fort and threw themselves against Leo's and Raph's legs.
"I want papa!"
"I want mama!"
"Dey gone forever!"
"Nonono, honey, they're not gone forever. When it's day again they're gonna come home." Raph explained, wiping tears from his daughter's cheeks.
"Pwomise?"
"Yes princess, I promise. The sooner you all fall asleep the sooner we can go pick them up."
"Sleep wit daddy an' fafa..." Ky rubbed his own teary eyes as he squeezed on Leo's lap with Nix.
Leonardo hugged them tight and nuzzled both their heads with a sigh. He doubted he'd get any sleep at all with how much he was worrying.
Of course their children would be scared. They didn't understand why Mikey and Donnie weren't home with them at night. Especially Michelangelo's absence was hard on them, since he was practically always there, they've never been apart for more than a few hours since they hatched.
"Sure, let's go cuddle up." Leo gave a small smile and let his sons cling to him as he stood up to carry them to the master bedroom.
Raph followed with Amy, and a few minutes later they were all snuggled together under fluffy blankets.
Feeling assured by the presence of Raphael and Leonardo the toddlers fell asleep pretty soon, while the adults laid awake for quite a while.
"The next time I see Voron I'm gonna kill him."
Leo didn't answer for a few moments, eyes staying on the stars they were watching through their skylight.
"Make it look like an accident." He finally mumbled, sighing and turning his face to meet Raph's gaze.
"I don't know what we're gonna do if something happens to them..."
"Stop." Raph shook his head slowly as not to wake Ky, who was tucked under his chin. "Don't even go there. They're gonna be fine."
"We thought that before too, and now Mikey's in hospital." Leo hissed, fighting the urge to get up and let out his frustration.
"It's just so... shell. It's like he's just a lab rat for Voron. He's playing with Mikey's life, and with the lives of our unborn children. And it's so pointless too!"
Raph let him rant, expression serious. He's had those thoughts himself a million times already. He just didn't get the mayor's motives. What did he want with their children? Why them?
Of course he was just as worried about Mikey as Leo was. But if he started thinking about the what-if's he'd go crazy. And their kids needed them to keep a level head.
"When you win the election next year we won't have to worry about him anymore."
"If I win."
"No, you're gonna win for sure. You know, I've been thinking. You and Donnie could sneak into the lab again and get a sample of the drug. Proof. I'm sure the population won't think it's so great that their mayor is experimenting on their kind."
"Who knows. Maybe the majority won't mind since it's not affecting the alphas and neutrals."
"Damn Leo, what happened to your fire?"
"I'm just so sick of this!" Nix stirred, so Leo went quiet until the boy settled down again, and then he lowered his voice.
"I'm sick of always having to fight. Of always having to worry..."
Raph sighed and stretched his arm over to squeeze Leo's shoulder.
"Fearless, we've been fine and happy here in this dimension. The only problem is Voron. And as soon as you are the mayor you can kick him out of the city. You could have him arrested for what he did. And then we can continue to live in peace."
Leo gave a weak smile.
"Until the next maniac comes." He attempting to joke, and that had Raph grinning.
"Yes, but with you in mayor position I have green light to beat them to a pulp before they do any harm."
xxxxx
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Mikey whined the next morning when Donnie woke him with a gentle hand on his cheek.
"... I am waking you up right now, sweetheart."
Mikey rubbed at his eyes and sat up against the pillows. "I meant yesterday evening... We could've called them to say the kids goodnight..."
Donnie smiled and placed a tray of food on Mike's lap.
"You needed rest. Besides, if the kids were whining for you to come home you'd ignore every warning and run all the way."
The freckled turtle pouted, but didn't deny that statement. He picked half-heartedly on a piece of toast.
"I miss them..."
Donatello sipped from his coffee and settled down next to Mikey, an arm around his shoulders.
"They miss you too. As soon as you've finished eating we can go home."
"Really? Just like that?"
"While you slept like a log the doctor examined you and gave permission."
"What did he say?" Mike asked, taking bigger bites now that he knew he could leave afterwards. Don rolled his eyes.
"Of course he insisted it's stress. And he tried to convince me that being warm is reducing stress, so we should make sure you stay warm at all times and rest more. I pretended to believe him."
"Ugh. Okay. I don't mind being warm though." Donnie chuckled at that. Mikey smiled as he sipped from a cup of juice.
"We're gonna follow that instruction anyways, don't worry. Actually, I've already talked to Leo before and we decided to include a basking session to your schedule."
Michelangelo frowned. "But I don't need basking..."
"Our babies do. Especially now that it's colder the warmth is good for them, and you."
The reminder that their unborn babies were in danger was a good enough incentive for the pregnant turtle. Man, he really wanted to see his toddlers again.
"I'm done, can we go now?" Mikey pushed the tray away.
Donnie sighed and pulled it closer again, tapping the bowl of fruit salad.
"Eat."
"Dee... I wanna go hoooome..."
"In ten minutes Raph and Leo are picking us up with the children, come on, eat up."
Mikey blinked at this new information, but complied and started to eat the fruit. He rubbed his belly with his free hand. He really slept long. He didn't remember being that exhausted.
"... Oh, did you find something out yesterday?"
Don yawned. "Sadly no. He's not keeping any files around here. We're gonna have to find out where he has your file..."
The genius' face grew more serious.
"What's wrong?" Mikey asked, swallowing the last piece of fruit.
"Uhm. When I snooped around this morning I found Telon and Kion in another room."
"What?!" Michelangelo sat up straighter, looking at his mate with wide eyes.
"Yeah... I only talked to Telon very briefly. Apparently Kion got sick around three am, and wouldn't stop vomiting for an hour straight. Along with cramps similar to yours."
Don already regret saying anything when he saw how shaken Mikey was.
"Oh shell... how is he? Can we visit them before we leave?"
"They gave him the same medicine you got, and he's been asleep since. He should be fine in a while. I told Telon about the temperature problem." Donnie explained. "We can visit them when Kion's back home."
"But if it's the same problem I had, why is it so much worse with him?"
"My guess is that it's because you're warm-blooded. The babies draw the warmth from you, it lessens their reaction. Kion's baby can't do that since he's cold-blooded."
Mikey nodded in understanding. He felt really sorry for his friend. But Donnie said he should be fine...
"How's Telon?"
"He's a mess, to be honest. He keeps blaming himself. Can't really say I disagree..." He mumbled the last part, earning a slap on the shoulder from Mikey.
"What? It's true. Leo, Raph and I were scared to death yesterday because he poisoned you."
Michelangelo sighed. Even though they got along again, there was no use talking to Donnie when he was in one of his moods.
"Bogen must be worried too..."
"Leo said he was really shaken. Elia thankfully slept through the commotion... There's probably going to be quite the fight once Kion's better."
xxxxx
"Mommy! Papa!"
Mikey sank to his knees immediately to greet his children with a big hug and butterfly kisses to their faces.
Donnie wrapped his arms around all of them, soon being joined by Leo and Raph.
"Aw, I missed my sweeties so much!"
"We miss you too!"
"How are you?" Leo asked quietly as he nuzzled Mikey's cheek.
The freckled turtle smiled at the gentle caress and kissed Leo's beak.
"I'm all good. Don't worry."
Leo just kissed him fully on the lips, best as he could with their family huddled so close.
He couldn't help but worry, not after the conversation with Donnie this morning. They needed to keep a close eye on Mikey, who knew what other complications could arrive? The incident with Kion was scaring him, what if worse things would happen?
"Why blankie?" Ky asked, patting the soft blanket covering his mom's belly.
"That's so your new siblings aren't cold." Donnie explained after pulling away from Raph.
Amy nuzzled the covered bump. "We drink coco, make warm."
"Now that sounds like a great idea." Mikey praised, chest bursting with happiness at seeing his family again.
"You and fafa go home and do that. Daddy and I have to pick up some stuff first."
"I go with daddy an' papa!" Amy exclaimed with wide eyes, prying away from Mikey to cling to Don's leg. Her brothers stayed glued to Mikey, each gripping a hand tightly as he stood with Raph steadying him.
"Alright princess."
"What are you picking up?" Mikey asked with a frown.
"Heat lamps and a few more hot bottles. Maybe an electric blanket if we can find one."
Mikey briefly thought about voicing his thoughts that they were over-reacting, but he understood them. Better safe than sorry. Right now he just wanted to cuddle up on the couch with his family.
"Okay..."
xxxxx
An hour later Michelangelo found himself on the couch, with two fluffy blankets covering him, and Nix and Ky pressed to his sides. Another large blanket was spread to cover all of them.
They were watching a kids show while enjoying each other's company.
Mikey looked up when Leo appeared with a tray. He was handed a cup of hot chocolate while their sons received their sippy cups.
After settling down next to Ky, Leonardo leaned over so he could wrap his arm around his mate's shoulders.
"Are you comfy? Need anything?"
"I'm feeling a little too warm to be honest." Mike admitted with a smile.
"Get used to it, honey. At least until the babies are here." Leo gently stroked the freckled cheek.
"I was afraid you'd say that."
"Why don't you take a nap?" Mikey grimaced.
"I slept like a rock for 14 hours, I'm not tired at all." The pregnant turtle mentally prepared himself already for a few long days of mother-hen Leo acting like this.
"Mommy?" Nix looked up.
"Yeah sweetie?"
"We make cookies later?"
"Aw yes, that's a good idea."
"Mikey..."
"Shell Leo, cookies aren't that much work. I'm pregnant, not-"
"I just don't want something unforeseen to happen!" Leo grit his teeth.
Nix pouted as he looked at his fafa from Mikey's other side.
"Now you're just over-reacting, Leo. I've been baking a hundred times already while I was pregnant, I think I know what I can handle."
Ky's eyes were wide as he alternated between watching his mommy and fafa. The adults were staring each other down.
"We don't know what else this drug is doing to you and our babies. The cramps only started now, who knows what else could come?"
"Bruh-dah an' sissah hurt?" Ky asked worriedly, hugging the bulge and resting his cheek on it.
Nix had an unhappy frown on his face as he watched the display.
"No baby, they're fine, don't worry." Mikey gently rubbed a hand over Ky's free cheek.
The electric green gaze locked on Leo, as the adult frowned at his mommy. It was rare to see him like this, usually only when he was about to scold Mikey, and mostly it ended with the fun being spoiled.
"Michelangelo, I'm being serious. Raph and Donnie are on my side on this. We're not taking any risks until they're born."
"This is ridiculous, Leonardo." Mikey said, putting emphasis on Leo's full name. He really didn't want to argue with his mate, but this was going too far. It was one thing to allow them to baby him and all; this was a whole different matter.
"I won't let you dictate my life like that. If I want to bake with my son I will bake with my son!" He tried not to raise his voice in the presence of their children.
"Mommy..." Nix didn't like the tension. He nuzzled into Mikey's side, avoiding the belly. It successfully drew Mike's attention from Leo to his youngest son.
"I'm sorry honey..." Mikey soothed, craning his neck to kiss his head, his other hand still petting Ky's head. "We're gonna make cookies later, I promise."
He glanced at Leo with narrowed eyes, daring him to continue the discussion.
The older turtle kept his mouth shut for now, for the sake of their sons. He'd wait for Donatello and Raph to come back, they would back him up on this.
Of course he could just tell him about the other thing Donnie overheard the doctor say. However, that would put him through a lot more stress than anyone would be comfortable with. They had to find the right way to deliver that message, preferably when their children weren't listening.
As if they heard his mental musings, Don and Raph came home only ten minutes later.
Amy was carrying a new book with a wide grin, eagerly running to the couch to present it to her siblings.
"Look! Stars!" She exclaimed, pointing at the cover. It was a book about the constellations of this universe.
While Ky was eager to watch the pretty pictures, he didn't want to leave mommy's side. He patted the couch in front of him, scooting back so Amy could sit next to him.
Phoenix kept snuggling to Mikey, not interested in the book at the moment. He only looked up when Leo got up from the couch to help Donnie and Raph with their purchases.
"Niss, look!" Ky urged, raising to his knees to look at his brother. When he only hid his face and shook his head, Ky and Amy looked at Mikey questioningly.
Mikey frowned in concern, patting his youngest's carapace. "Don't you want to see those pretty pictures, sweetie?"
"No." Nix' voice was muffled by the blanket and Mikey's side.
The pregnant turtle blinked at this behavior. He looked at his other son and daughter with a smile.
"Why don't you show the book to fafa? I bet he'd love to see the stars."
The presence of their children would prevent his oldest mate from pulling their other two mates on his side, as a nice side effect. He could hear them talking in the kitchen, and it agitated him. There had to be something they were keeping from him.
However, he would take care of that later. Right now he had a son to console.
When Ky and Amy were gone Mikey nudged Nix until he looked up at him. It broke Michelangelo's heart to see tears in those beautiful eyes.
"My little angel, what's wrong?" When Nix only sniffed Mikey pulled him close and nuzzled the top of his head.
"I'm so sorry, sweetie. Fafa and I aren't fighting." He assured, thinking that was the problem.
He remembered hating it when Leo and Raph would have one of their infamous arguments. He could smack himself for acting like that in front of their sensitive children.
Nix had his arms around Mikey's neck now, squeezing as close as he could into the warm embrace.
"I dun' wanna new bruh-dah an' sistah!" The toddler confessed through his sobbing.
Michelangelo didn't know how to react for a few moments. Sure, he's noticed Phoenix wasn't as eager as Amy and Ky about the new siblings, but he's thought that would settle after a while.
"Honey, why don't you want them?" He found himself asking, pulling away and wiping tears from the forest-green reddened cheeks.
"Dey gonna take you 'way from me! Take my mommy time..." The boy hiccuped and rubbed at his own eyes.
"Nonono, baby, they won't take me away from you. You, Ky and Amy will always have me."
"Dun wanna share..."
"You're already sharing me with Amy and Ky, sweetie, and it works so well... It won't be any different." Mikey tried to console.
He's honestly thought they were rocking this whole parenting thing. Apparently that wasn't the case. Michelangelo's hormones tried to take over as his mind started to blame himself for not being a good enough parent.
"Amy have papa time, Ky have daddy an' fafa time. My mommy time." The toddler tried to explain. "New babies take mommy time."
Mikey sighed inwardly. At least now he knew why Nix has been so strange the past weeks.
It was no secret that the youngest stuck like glue to his mommy. He loved to help him in the kitchen especially, since it was their time alone.
While Amy shared Don's curiosity and Ky loved exercising and playing with Leo and Raph, Nix was more in Mike's line.
Grabbing his toddlers' cheeks with both hands, Mikey tilted his face up to look at him properly.
"Listen up, Phoenix. It doesn't matter how many siblings you have, you will always be my little angel, and I will always have time for you. We can still cook and bake together, just you and me."
Nix sniffed, eyes hopeful. "Pwomise?"
Mikey smiled and rested his forehead against his son's in a soft nuzzle.
"Big ninja promise."
The toddler giggled as his mommy nuzzled and squeezed him exaggeratingly tight.
With a tissue from a box on the coffee table Mikey wiped his boy's beak, kissing the little face all over when he was done, making Nix laugh joyously.
"I love my clean little angel." He sing-songed.
"I love mommy!"
xxxxx
"Alright, what are you keeping from me?"
"We're just-"
"Oh no, don't even try to talk yourself out of it. I want the truth."
Mikey had entered the kitchen to see what exactly Don and Raph had gotten, and sent Ky and Amy to show the new book to Nix in the living room, now that the youngest was feeling better.
His mates had this stupid vibe around them, a vibe Michelangelo hated. He had closed the door so their children wouldn't overhear, and crossed his arms.
The looks his mates were exchanging weren't assuring at all. Mikey was prepared to argue with all of them at once, but when Don sighed and buried his face in his hands where he stood at the kitchen island his own shoulders sagged, all irritation flowing out of him.
"What?" Did he really want to know? What did they find out?
Immediately assuming the worst, he wrapped his arms around his belly, eyes filling with tears already. "What's wrong with our babies?"
The whimper kicked his mates into action. Leo and Raph guided him to the dining room table so he could sit comfortably. Donnie sat down next to him and grabbed his hands, while Raph went to fetch a prepared hot bottle to place it on his stomach.
"Nothing's wrong with them, sweetheart." Donatello assured in a gentle tone. "Calm down, deep breaths."
"You wouldn't act like this if there wasn't something bad happening." Mikey accused, voice thick with unshed tears.
"Nothing's happening yet. Nothing's set in stone, and we're already working on a solution, okay?"
"Tell me." The pregnant turtle demanded.
"The doctor said there's a chance of the uterus not opening when it's time to pass the eggs. They could be stuck inside, or really hurt you when they're forced out." Don slowly explained.
"We're trying to figure this out so you and the babies won't get hurt."
Mikey leaned back, blinking through tears and confusion. Leo squeezed his shoulder.
"Don't worry about that, baby. Donnie said he's already got a plan."
The freckled turtle swallowed thickly. "T-Then why are you acting so... so Leo-like...?"
Donnie gave a sideways smile. "Dreon also said that your plastron is too stiff. Since the eggs won't grow much more it shouldn't get to any complications, it's just gonna be uncomfortable."
Raph let out a sigh, speaking up for the first time since Mikey entered the kitchen.
"We're worried about other complications that could arrive. Nobody knows what else could happen." He kept his horror visions to himself. They'd have enough nightmare material already.
"Any strain could have a bad effect... we just want you and the babies to be safe and not take any unnecessary risks." Leo gently massaged Mikey's shoulder, a weight falling from his heart when his youngest mate leaned into him.
"I didn't know that..." Mikey mumbled, lowering his gaze to look down at his bulge.
"Of course you didn't, sweetheart. We didn't want to scare you... we just want you to be a little more careful, at least until they're born, alright?"
"... I promised Nix we'd make cookies. Can't you let me try at least? I promise if I start feeling bad I will stop, but I can't let him down. He's already worried I won't have time for him anymore."
"... I'm gonna sit here in the dining room, reading a magazine or something." Raphael said, giving in.
He knew Donnie would be busy with setting up the heat lamps and Amy would be eager to help. Ky would be easy distracted by exercise with Leo.
Getting an approving nod from Don, that left Leo. Mikey craned his head back to look at his oldest mate upside down. That didn't dim the effect of his puppy-dog eyes at all.
"Fine. But after lunch you're taking a nap." Michelangelo heaved a sigh but nodded obediently.
"I could use a nap too after last night." Donnie yawned. "We can lay down and cuddle up with the triplets while Leo and Raph do the dishes."
"Why are we doing the dishes?" Raph asked with a raised eye ridge. Of course he and Leo would do it, with how exhausted Donnie looked and Mikey was forbidden anyways.
"You and Leo are cooking, and after Leo's last try to cook I swore I would never clean up after him again. I still have nightmares of the meatloaf." Don shuddered, lightening the mood.
"Hey..." Leo pouted, but there was amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Eh yeah, why don't we get takeout instead?" Mikey offered with a chuckle.