"Are you coming up for dinner?"
"Can't, I have to-"
"Let me rephrase that. Dinner's ready, so move your ass, Donnie."
Donatello rolled his eyes, but didn't move from his spot at his desk. He was hunched over a microscope and handled different liquids.
An annoyed sigh escaped him when Raph tried to take his tools from him.
"Raph, this is important."
The larger turtle was unimpressed.
"You have to stop burying yourself in work, babe. We still have more than enough time-"
"I don't even know if this will work in the end. I can't mess this up..."
Raphael sighed and cupped Don's cheek.
"You won't mess it up. You've already come up with an emergency solution, give yourself a break."
It was true. A month had passed since they heard the news about the possible complications. Don, as their family medic, had wrecked his brain until he found a solution that would work if the uterus wouldn't open.
He figured he could perform a c-section on Mikey and Kion. That was really the last resort, as Donatello really didn't want to cut up his younger mate. He'd have to go through his plastron, it would take ages to heal and would probably leave a bad scar.
His latest idea was that he could try to modify the drug to make the effects not as harmful as they would be.
"A lot could happen in two months..." Raph let another soundless sigh escape him.
If you'd asked him five years ago back in their own universe, who he thought was the calmest of them all, he would've told you without a blink of an eye that it was a tie between Leo and Donnie.
If you'd told him that he of all people would be the only sane one, he would've straight up laughed right in your face for that joke.
Since coming to this universe, no since they've become parents, he's felt things changing. Of course they all grew more protective, of Mikey and their children. That wasn't much of a change, if he was honest. However, since the poisoning it was so much worse.
Especially the recent incident was having an impact on them. Donnie, for example, was constantly in his lab trying to figure out a way to modify the drug after snatching some samples from the City Hall's secret laboratory.
Sometimes they could pry him away easier, and sometimes, like now, it was especially hard. It was kind of worse than back then. All too easily he fell back into that scheme. Just like Leo.
Their oldest mate has always been a mother hen, that hadn't changed much over the years here. He's become more relaxed, but since the incident this ugly stone cold attitude was appearing again. Instead of gentle reprimands there were more and more orders.
He wouldn't let himself be talked out of it either. Raph and Leo have had a dozen arguments about that already. Of course they had enough sense to take their arguments outside, away from their children.
Since Mikey was the main victim of Leo's attitude, they had the most... let's say disagreements. However, their youngest mate remembered all too well how he hated it whenever his family had an argument.
So when Leo annoyed him too much and got into his leader-tone, Mikey would just get up and leave the room. When Leo tried to follow him once, Mikey ignored him and snuggled up in the fort with their toddlers, who soaked up the extra attention like a sponge.
Michelangelo was keeping to himself mostly. With Leo's new old attitude and Don's withdrawal he focused on the children, drawing with them, reading to them, napping with them, doing everything he could to distract them and himself from the cloud looming over their family.
Raphael didn't know what to do anymore. Back then he would fight with Leo, spar with him, sometimes straight up attack him until they resolved their issues. After they got together there was the additional sexual let out, which eventually mellowed the arguments.
To be honest, back then it was usually Mikey who managed to put them all on the same page again. He probably would've done it this time too, but his own mood dragged him down, so Raph couldn't count on his youngest mate to fix this.
"We can't be prepared for everything, babe. We can only wait and try to fix whatever comes."
"What if something comes that we can't fix?" Tears were pooling in those beautiful dark eyes and it broke Raphael's heart.
"Donnie..." Raph pulled his olive colored mate in his arms, letting him sob into his shoulder. He felt so helpless.
"When I worked with Telon, I read some books about pregnancies." Don mumbled into the emerald skin.
"Multiples are so rare here. No one ever had triplets. Sometimes they just die within the womb, or one of the twins dies. During passing the eggs the mother dies. And in rare cases they are born, they are really weak. Some don't even make the first year."
"Babe, Mikey had triplets and they are all fine. We-"
"And that's the reason this is happening! The mayor wouldn't give a shit about our family if we only had one kid..."
Raph was quiet. In a way, Donnie was right. They haven't heard much of the mayor during the first pregnancy. And after he heard it were triplets and they were completely healthy he showed up on their doorstep.
"... But we don't have one kid. We have three, and I'm glad about that." He couldn't even imagine what it would've done to their family if they'd lost one or two of the triplets. The fear and grief he's felt when Nix' heart didn't beat was still filling his nightmares from time to time.
"Me too..." Don sighed and pulled back from Raph's embrace, wiping at his eyes. "I just wish Voron would leave us alone..."
"We just have to manage till May. When Leo beats Voron's sorry ass we won't have to worry about him anymore." Raphael tried to provide a silver lining, like he did with Leo some weeks ago.
"And we already have a plan Z in case there are complications during birth. We all know you can do it, it's gonna be fine. Locking yourself away from your family is not the solution, love."
Donnie shook his head with a tiny smile that had Raph's heart fluttering.
"You've become quite the wise guy, Raphie."
xxxxx
Michelangelo was worried. It was becoming a normal state for him, which felt so wrong.
When he was pregnant with the triplets, he had a week of being completely horny. It was normal, it was a sign his babies were developing just fine.
The whole sixth month had passed without a single boner. With the tense atmosphere it was no wonder that no one was in the mood for some nookie. Still.
The lack of mood swings was concerning him too. Sure, he could do just fine without crying over silly things, or blowing up every six seconds. But it made it okay. It was assuring that everything was fine.
Right now he was not so sure. Yes, they checked their hearbeats every day and everything was alright. Still.
It wasn't like he could just distract himself from his horrible thoughts. With Leo on his weirdo trip and Don on his quest to single-handedly save their unborn babies from eventual danger, plus Raph trying to keep them all together, Mikey felt like he couldn't talk to them. He just didn't want to add to the simmering fire.
His toddlers weren't doing all too well either, only adding to his worries. While they've been "clean" for a few weeks now, even at night, Ky started wetting the bed again. Overall they slept pretty fitfully, leaving them all tired throughout the day.
Amy didn't babble as much as usual, she mostly kept to herself or cuddled up to Mikey or Raph with a picture book or her plush bunny. Nix lost his appetite. Generally all of them just lost interest in playing and clung to Mikey like life depended on it.
It was worrying on so many stages.
As if they could sense Leo's tenseness – and Mikey bet everything he had that they could – they were more or less avoiding him. It didn't add to Leo's mood, so to say. The worst part was that Mike had no idea how to help any them.
However, this was going on way too long. Each member of the family was suffering, and it needed to stop.
Raph has done a great job in getting Donnie out his funk, and Mikey felt he should finally get out of his own funk, and help Leo too.
His first step was to pry himself away from his toddler so he could talk to Leo alone.
His other two mates were taking care of that. Since Don had been mostly absent the past month, the kids stuck to him like glue and were squealing with glee when he and Raph were taking them for a bath and for a bedtime-story afterwards.
Michelangelo wrapped the blanket tighter around himself, making sure his belly was covered fully before he stepped out onto the patio, where Leo was sitting on another blanket, meditating.
"You shouldn't be out here."
Mikey rolled his eyes but bit back a snarky response. It was pretty chilly in the early November air. But with how heated up the inside of their house was it was a relief to feel the cooler breeze, as long as his sensitive eggs were protected.
Leo let out a sigh when he felt his mate lower himself next to him. By now he was used to that rebellious behavior. That was the whole reason he was sitting out here meditating. He thought he was doing the right thing, protecting his family. And everyone seemed to work against him.
It was hard on him, seeing his children and his mates pull away from him while he tried to do the right thing.
"Are you here to finally tell me what an ass I am?"
Mikey blinked at that, especially the way he was talking was surprising. So defeated, and the cuss word that was harmless, but hardcore in Leonardo-standards.
"No... Though you are acting like an ass lately." The freckled turtle gave a small smile to show he wasn't really meaning it.
"Is that why you're all avoiding me like the plague?"
"We're not avoiding you."
"The kids are. Even Ky flees to one of you whenever he sees me..."
Michelangelo sighed and scooted closer to Leo, putting an arm around his shoulders and nuzzling him.
"You have to admit, your recent behavior is scary." Leo grimaced, making Mikey giggle. "I mean, we're used to it, from back then. But our children don't know this side of you... They should've never have to see this side." Mike rubbed a hand over his baby bulge. "None of them should."
Leonardo wiped a hand over his eyes, and Mikey felt his heart clench. Still, this had to be done.
"I... I just don't know what to do. I don't know what Voron's plan is, how much power he actually has, and without knowing anything I can't do anything! I don't know how to protect you!"
Mikey let Leo cry into his shoulder without saying anything, soothingly rubbing his arm and carapace.
"H-He would've guided me! He would've known what to do!"
The sobs were heart-wrenching, and Mikey felt his own eyes sting. They all missed their father, but for Leo it's always been the hardest.
"Leo..."
"I just feel so... so useless..."
"No. Leonardo Hamato, you are not useless." Mikey said sternly, despite his own tear-filled eyes. He grabbed both of Leo's cheeks and made him look at him.
"You and Raph and Donnie, you're all doing a great job protecting our family. Like you've always done and always will do."
"Then why does it feel like I'm failing?"
"Because that's what your inner bully is wanting you to feel... You've always done it. Blaming yourself. Because that's who you are. And that's what we're here for, to kick your inner bully's ass."
Leo couldn't help but let out a watery chuckle. He wiped at his own eyes again and took a few deep breaths to calm himself.
"... It would be so much easier if I knew what Voron's goal is. His motives. It's driving me crazy that I can't plan anything."
"Then why don't you find it out?"
"I'm sure he's eager to tell me of his plans..." Leo said sarcastically, busying himself by adjusting the blanket around his mate's shoulders.
"It's been a while, I don't know if you remember, but we're actually badass ninjas. I bet you and Donnie could sneak into his mansion, his private office at the city hall, anywhere you want to find out whatever you need to know."
Leo pondered over that for a few moments. "... There was nothing in his private office in city hall... but I haven't thought about his mansion..."
Mikey gave him a smug smirk, relieved that he managed to cheer his oldest mate up. Maybe he could find something that would calm his mind.
"I bet there's every information we need. And now pull yourself together, I'm supposed to be the emotional one here." Mike chuckled and wiped at his own eyes.
Leo laughed and hugged Mikey as tight as he dared, nuzzling the side of his face.
"I love you..."
"Aaaw, I love you too..." Mike smiled and enjoyed the affections. "And now come on, I bet the kids are already asleep and I kinda hoped we could cuddle together."
Leo helped Michelangelo get up. "Sounds good... and tomorrow I'm gonna sneak into Voron's mansion..."
"Shell Leo, for the rest of the week I don't want to hear anything about that anymore. We're gonna cuddle tonight, and tomorrow you're gonna spend some quality time with our kids. They need to know you didn't become a robot."
"... They really think that?" Leo asked, a tiny bit ashamed as he and Mikey walked inside and up the stairs.
"Amy was sure of it. They were planning to ambush you with water balloons."
"I offered to help them just dunk you in the hot tub." Raph's voice sounded from the bedroom, having heard the end of the conversation.
Mikey chuckled as he and Leo entered their bedroom. Raph and Don were already laying on the bed, snuggled together.
"Maybe I'm gonna play along." Leo smiled, helping Mikey to get comfortable on the bed and made sure he was properly covered up.
The four of them squeezed together best they could, kissing and nuzzling, enjoying the closeness.
Suddenly Mikey gasped.
"What? What is it? Are you hurting again?!"
A laugh escaped the pregnant turtle as he quickly shook his head. "No, not at all."
He quickly uncovered his belly, shushing his mates' protests and gestured for them to put their hands on it. "Wait a second..."
It took a few moments, but then there was it again. The slight shifting beneath his plastron. Both eggs were moving really slowly, but they could feel it.
Their babies were alive, and that was the most important part.
xxxxx
"I have to admit, I missed going all ninja like this." Donnie whispered to Leo as they carefully rounded Voron's mansion two nights later.
Leonardo gave an amused half-smile. "There's been no need to."
"And we can be glad about that." Don added. "Still."
The past two days they've spent much quality time with their family. The kids were happy that everything seemed to go back to normal.
Last night Donatello and Leo had searched the whole city hall, the secret lab and Voron's personal office there.
Unfortunately there wasn't anything new on the drug aside from the stuff they already knew. So the next step was to see if there was any more information in the mayor's mansion.
It was risky, with Voron and Asinda roaming around. But then again, it only added to the thrill they haven't felt in years. Raph and Mikey actually had been a little bit jealous.
Since the mansion was big enough, it was easy evading the mayor. It was a little surprise to see more turtles in different rooms.
"That must be some of their siblings." Donnie mused.
Of course. They didn't have any kids, why would they live all alone in that big mansion?
It took them a while to find Voron's office, and made short work of picking the lock. It was almost too easy, or at least that's what they would've thought back at their own dimension. Here it was really that easy, since none of the turtles here were trained ninjas.
"Kinda suspicious that he's taking such security measures in his own home." Don commented as he picked the lock to a drawer.
"I guess he doesn't want his family to snoop around in mayor business." Leo observed the bookshelves. "Though his whole mayor business is taking place in city hall."
A click signaled Don's success in opening the drawer. Leo stepped closer to see the contents.
There was a box with a combination lock. The two turtles exchanged a look. Very suspicious indeed.
"It's only three digits."
"Maybe a birthday?"
They looked around for a planner or calendar, but the result was sobering. None of the birthdays would open the lock.
"What else could he have used...?"
"A random number?"
"Wait..." Donnie left Leo to try out a few combinations while he pulled out his shell cell, flipping through his photo gallery.
A smile appeared on his face as he skipped a few family photos he and his mates made. He found what he searched for a few moments later.
"Try 458."
Leo complied, but unfortunately it didn't work. "What's 458?"
"Hm. Oh, the prison number of the sub mentioned in the file at city hall..."
They were quiet for a moment until Leo tried out another combination, smirking when it clicked and opened.
"What did you use?" Don asked in wonder.
"Backwards. 854. Voron seems like the type." Donnie chuckled quietly at that and stepped closer so they could browse the contents together.
The file inside was thick, filled with photos of a slender turtle. Most of them were mugshots.
"Nilo. A submissive turtle, infertile." Donnie read out lout, though he kept his voice low. "... That seems to be turtle mentioned in the other file."
There were quite a few pages of reports and whatnot. The mates shared a look, when they heard voices outside the office. It didn't sound like they would enter the room, still Leo and Don grabbed the file and climbed out the window to sit on the roof to read the lengthy file without being found out.
xxxxx
"Where the shell have you been? Did you find something?"
Leo didn't even have the mind to be annoyed by Raph's overprotective hovering.
"Oh, we did find something... Is Mikey already asleep?"
"No, he wanted to wait for you."
They followed Raphael into the living room, where Mikey was sitting on the couch, swaddled in a fluffy blanket and a heat lamp warming his swollen belly.
"Shoot." Raph ordered once they all sat and the tv was turned off.
"Uhm. Yeah." Donnie took a deep breath. "Back then when we found out about the drug, there was a sub mentioned that they experimented on." He waited for Raph and Mike to nod before continuing.
"His name is Nilo. He was imprisoned years ago, only a year or two after Voron became mayor."
"Before Voron took over, the borders weren't that clearly defined." Leo took over. "The rabbits were visiting regularly, despite the tense situation. Voron hated the rabbits, but didn't have any good enough reason to cut the truce."
"Then Nilo fell in love with one of the visiting rabbits. It was scandal, but Nilo was stubborn and didn't want to give up on his love. The people were scared of interbreeding, even though I don't think it would be possible..." Don trailed off, shaking his head to get back on track.
"Voron found his excuse. He made up ridiculous tales of the rabbits being evil, that they try to breed with us, until no pure turtles were left. Horror stories of them taking over completely, and so on. Being easily influenced, the population's majority followed his lead and the rabbits were banned. There's actually been really hard border controls then."
"Nilo didn't want that, and planned to run away with his rabbit lover. At the border, the rabbit was waiting for him, but a guard caught them. Orders back then were to kill any trespassing rabbits, so the guard tried to do his duty."
"Desperate, Nilo tried to save his lover and killed the guard. According to the chief's report back then, it was an accident. But Voron saw his chance to make an example and imprisoned him for killing the guard. There were some more reports of wardens and more guards, stating Nilo lost his mind and threatened everyone that his lover would come for him, that they would take over and kill Voron and everyone involved in his capture..."
"... That was what, fifteen years ago?"
Leo nodded, a concentrated expression on his face.
"But if that's true, why did they chill up on the border controls? And even allow rabbit merchandise and all?"
"According to the reports, it was to keep the turtles calm, so they would think everything was okay." Donnie sighed. "There were some notes from Voron himself, questioning everything and going over possible solutions. He's quite paranoid, especially since nothing happened in all this years. He thinks the rabbits are planning a big ambush, trying to overrun us with how much they breed."
"So that's what his whole forced pregnancy shit is about? Just in case the rabbits plan to attack some time in the future?!" Raph exclaimed, flinching when Mikey slapped his biceps with a glare.
They waited for a few seconds, but there was no toddlers whining. Since everything seemed to get better again, they started to sleep better again.
"At first, yeah." Leo agreed with a nod. "... And then we appeared. He came to the conclusion that the turtles couldn't keep up with the rabbits' reproduction system. So he planned to use us and our skills, to have good fighters to compensate the sheer numbers."
"That's ridiculous. We wouldn't just support-" Raph started, but Leo interrupted him.
"We already did. We trained the cops, and the kids back then. That's why he was so supportive of the dojo." Leo rubbed both hands over his face, shaking his head.
Don licked his lips. "And then Mikey had the triplets. We already established that that's rare for turtles. Voron saw how quickly they develop. He thinks that that propels his plans forward."
"As if we would train our children to some fighting machines..."
"Wait wait wait. That's it? That's why he's so obsessed with us?"
"Seems so..."
Raph leaned back, arms crossed. "Then I guess we don't have a problem."
Mikey frowned. "We don't? I don't know about you, but I'd rather not have my babies fight against their will."
"They won't. Absolutely nothing happened in fifteen years, why would it now? And even if the rabbits attacked, we're not obligated to fight for Voron. We would protect our friends and family, and everybody else can go to hell."
"I'm not so sure if it's that easy..." Don mimicked Mike's frown.
"No. This isn't New York." Raph stood up. "We spent our lives protecting the city for people who don't even know us. They would've burnt us alive if they ever saw us."
"Here they won't. We're just like them."
"Exactly. We're just like them. Why do we need to risk our lives, the lives of our children, to protect strangers? This might be our new home, but I won't fight for anyone but you and our children."
There was this hard gleam in Raphael's eyes. He wouldn't change his mind on this.
"We're only talking about the mere possibility of something happening." Don pacified. "I'd say, now that we know Voron's motives, we just continue our life together in peace, and make sure he stays the shell away from our family."
"I guess there'd be no harm if we kept training the cops, though." Leo spoke up. They've been slacking in that department, but with the possibility of an attack it wouldn't be bad to be prepared. "Just in case."
"Alright, I can live with that. Shell, I can't wait till you take over and we can throw Voron out."