It was one of those quiet early evenings. The streets were relatively calm and a cool summer breeze scattered a few loose sheets of newspaper into lazy, tumbling rolls. It also gently sent varied colored mask tails swaying slightly as four figures stood on a rooftop, surveying the street below.

Even the lowlifes of the city seemed to be taking a pause. Somewhat of a relief actually since the main focus of these four was placed elsewhere tonight. Leo especially kept a watchful eye below, his posture very tense as he waited for the trio of women to emerge from the shop they had entered. Anxiously waiting for the very long haired brunette to make her appearance again.

Mikey was watching his older brother with amusement as he sat with his legs dangling over the parapet. "Relax bro. She's just shopping. What could go wrong with her going shopping?"

Leo just grunted as he crossed his arms, his eyes never leaving the front of the small thrift store as his large bulk shifted. The uncomfort of not having her in his sights very obvious.

And for once, there was nothing his brothers could say that would settle that unease. Vicky was in the final stages of her pregnancy, and the eldest had become…very concerned with her well being to put it mildly, though ridiculously overprotective hit closer to the mark. He didn't even want her to be out here in the first place.

But April had stopped by earlier and had told Leo's mate about this little store she had found, that held a variety of little gems intended for little life forms, and Vicky had wanted to argument had immediately broken out as soon as she had made her intent clear.

"No." He had firmly stated.

Vicky had shot him a glare, her hormones making her more than a little irritable. "Yes."

"I said no."

"And I said I'm going." Vicky had crossed her arms, Leo's were already crossed as he glared down at her.

"I will not allow it."

"I don't care if you do or not. I'm fucking going."

"It's not in a safe area dear one, I don't want you out there."

"Please… I could turn wrong in bed and fall over the edge and get hurt, if that's how you want to look at it."

"Then I'll have Donnie put safety rails on it."

She stared at him incredulously a moment before her palm slapped onto her forehead. "Leo! Don't you fucking dare! It's hard enough to pee as it is at night and if I have to struggle with a dang bedrail along with trying to get up out of bed with this mini mountain of a belly, Imma piss myself!"

"We can have April or Casey pick you up something to combat that. Or I'm sure Donnie will let you use his bedpan."

"I am NOT PISSING IN A BEDPAN!"

"Diapers for you it is then."

Vicky actually screamed by that point.

The argument was won by her only because it had evolved to tears. Not fake ones to get her way, Vicky wasn't like that. But simple, frustrated ones. She felt confined. She wanted to go out, to do something. Especially for the little bundle she carried within her. She wanted a hand in picking things out for it, to happily browse herself along the various shelves, she wanted to contribute more than just allowing it to grow inside of her. Vicky wanted to make her own memories and didn't want all of the burden of providing for it to be placed on everyone else and not her.

How could he argue with that?

Leo had eventually relented, only under the condition that he went with them. And that of course led to his brothers going as well. A little overkill in the protection department, but Vicky was so happy he let her go she didn't care.

The smile on her face as she walked into the store was well worth the aggravation of having to come out this evening, but that didn't mean Leo didn't worry. Leo always worried about her while she carried this burden for the both of them. And here he was, standing firmly at the edge of the building across the street, eyes fixed intently on that door to the corner shop.

Until they spotted something else and narrowed. A group of about ten Purple Dragons were coming up the street, making a loud ruckus as they did. Not a few car windows were broken as they passed, their loud, harsh laughter echoing down the small street. Leo's unease shot up some more once he saw them and his posture immediately shifted from tense relaxed to ready to engage. It seemed the quiet streak of the evening had been broken.

And of course that's when Vicky, Cris and April decided to come out of the shop, and almost ran right into them when they entered the alley to where the van was parked and waiting.

"Hey… Looky here…. Aren't these the chicks that hang out with those freaks?" One asked as he looked at the trio of women.

"Yeah, I think it is Sam." Another agreed, already closing in. "Hun would love to tell these pretty ladies hi. Maybe we should extend our hospitality." Out came a chain.

Leo's eyes flared with anger.

"Uh ooooh….." Mikey quietly sounded out, catching the look.

"Fuck off!" Cris snarled at them. Vicky just tried to back up and turned her body away from them as much as she could, but there was an asp in her hand as she glared back at them and her grip tightened on the bag she carried, fully intending to slam it upside a head or two if deemed necessary.

"Now, that wasn't very nice." A third growled as he pulled out a knife. "Maybe we should teach you some-"

That was about as far as he got before he was suddenly yanked back, swung around and slammed into one of his companions. In his place stood a very, very unhappy Leonardo. He didn't even pull out his weapons, but instead reached out with his hand and snagged another, lifting him easily and the Dragon pinwheeled his arms and legs as he flew out of the alley, across the small street, and through a window of a building on the other side.

Vicky winced a little at that one.

Leo didn't even give him a second glance, his fury now unleashed on the remainder of the group. For a few moments it looked like he was tossing a street thug salad as Dragons began flying every direction. Left, right, and a couple of them went up a bit before they came back down to land with heavy thuds. The last one had the indignity to be held up by his shirt, legs kicking, before Leo's fist introduced itself and he skidded quite a distance down the sidewalk.

Leo stood now between his mate and the group of gang members, his eyes cold and nostrils flaring as he glared them down. He had them all cleared out before his brothers even had a chance to join in.

"That was quick." Raph's was amused as he took in the damage.

"But to be expected." Donnie sighed, then made the call to have the authorities come pick up the latest group of idiots.

Mikey was just laughing his ass off.

The only thing that snapped Leo out of it was the soft touch on his arm and he looked down to see concerned brown eyes looking back at him. "You ok?" Vicky asked.

"I'm fine." A reassuring smile found it's way on his face for her. "Now."

She pursed her lips as she looked around, amusement in her eyes. "Well then…. Oh! Look at what I found!" She began to dig into the bag, pulling out items, the incident already forgotten about in her excitement.

Leo gently turned her towards the van, amusement in his own eyes now as she prattled on and began pulling out item after item. He kept his arm around her shoulder and replied appropriately with compliments on her choice. He watched the joy on her face as she critically inspected everything again before tucking it back into the bag. Maybe it had been good for her to come out, the frustration gone that had been marring her features the last few weeks.

The turtle decided then that he would let her come out more if she needed to do so…..accompanied of course.