Raph didn't know why he was saying his to Donnie's... And maybe his? Son. He was just reminiscing about his wife and it was coming out loud instead of in his head as usual. He was happy that they had a son, angry that it was hidden from him. And over all confused HOW they had a son, because he was sure about that now, the kid looked so much like both of them!

"Don?" Raph asked softly, ready to be shouted out of here if Donnie hated him now. The sight of him in all his Nightwatcher outfit sans his helmet after all this time might bring back painful memories that are best left buried... He was never there for his now grown up son and Donnie was ill. His heart was cold to everything but Donnie and just being around him was keeping his anger in check, usually he would have decked the younger turtle, son or not.

Don blinked, thought he's dreaming that he just saw Nightwatcher or Raphael just now. Realizing he's real, he started to become timid like when they we're still together. "R-Raph, what are you doing here? Shouldn't y-you go... To Uhm... Your duty?" he asked. It's been like so many years the last time he saw and even talked to his ex husband.

"That can wait ba... Don.. How ya feeling? Rigel told me about you breathing trouble." He tried to sooth and explain, very nearly slipping back into the habit of calling him 'babe' like they were still a couple.

"Uhm... I'm al-alright, R-Raph..." Don stuttered, they weren't supposed to know his sickness and Raph is not supposed to know anything about Rigel! He blushed furiously, like when they were dating before. He missed Raph's touches and his voice. "Where... Where's Rigel?"

"He went to get ya some food. And you ain't alright. The kid said ya fainted and apparently ya always had breathing problems? Why didn't ya say anything?" Raph was annoyed and worried and happy and sad all at once for so many different reasons. His head swam with all the different emotions and he grabbed hold of the wedding ring again as he tried to stay calm for Donnie's sake. "Why didn't ya say anything..."

Donnie bit his lip. His husband seemed to learn his secrets now. "I... I'm sorry..." He only cried. His tears flowing down on his cheeks. "I... Don't want you to be worry... I don't want to... Be a burden to you..." He hiccupped then his breathing got irregular.

Rigel went back to the room, only to see his mom unable to breathe again and crying. He dropped bags full of food. He ran and pounced at the bigger turtle and grabbed a butterfly knife from his concealed pocket. "What did you do to him?!" Rigel screamed as he grabbed Raph yet slender arms hugged his waist, when Rigel knew it's from Don, he calmed down. Both of the father and son had those blazing eyes that shows anger, must be their 'good genes'.

"Ya ain't a burdan I just wish ya..." he was cut off by the sudden attack. He was about to attack back but stopped when Rigel seemed to calm with his moms arm around his waist.

Wiping a thin cut he'd gained on his chin from the butterfly knife from his cheek he glared at his possible son, keeping his anger just barely for the sake of Donnie. Since he divorce his fuse was even shorten that usual and it didn't take much to provoke him to violence.

"Alright you two, calm down..." Donnie plead softly. "Be nice to each other okay?" Donnie smiled, he really tried to be the peacemaker of his family. Because of him, everything fell apart. He broke his relationship with his husband and his kid didn't have a father to look upon. All he wished is his family to be together again, although it's impossible for now.

The mother coughed pretty hard, which made the two boys go over him, it's cute though, that Rigel is a copy of Raph. When Raph leaned closer, Don wanted to place his head on his broad shoulder to feel a sense of peace but the fact they are not married anymore stopped him from doing so. He awkwardly just moved his head sideway, though he seemed to be uncomfortable to the position.

Raph could see that Donnie was uncomfortable and moved the pillows to support his neck better. He stopped himself from leaning forwards and kissing his forehead like he used to do to his husband. His wedding ring was dangling down around his neck as he was seeing to the pillows, showing that he'd started to wear it full time again.

"Relax Donnie boy. We can sort this all out when you get a bit better. Just take it easy for now." He really wanted to confront him and ask about Rigel and how the hell /they/ could have a son together, and more to the point /why/ had Rigel been kept from him all the kids childhood.

Rigel squinted his eyes as Raph planned something to his mom but he let it slide as his mom requested to be nice.

"... Do you still love me... Raph?" Don weakly asked as his eyes closed and started to rest.
Rigel only remained seated there, avoided his gaze to the former couple. Rigel doesn't get it why his mama still loved this man despite the fact he is a vigilante who's brain is wonky. Despite he is a scientist, there are some things he can't provide an answer.

"... Why'd ya have to ask me that Don... I... *Sigh* When you left I..." He had no idea how to say that he obviously still loved him, but so much had happened and he'd grown so cold and bitter that it was hard to just come out and say the three words that used to come so easily. Did Donnie leave because of Rigel or because he'd fallen out of love with his husband? "Yeah... But ya really hurt me when ya left." He stood up and looked away slightly, feeling awkward to admit these things and be having this conversation in front of their son who hated him.

Rigel looked at the man who is walking away, again. Like the encounter he had in the restaurant years ago. "... Don't." He said, he knew Raph is looking at him. Despite he will regret saying this, "Stay. He needs you right now." Rigel continued. For some reason, Rigel can see Raph is very broken, it can be attested he still loved his mama. He can tolerate being in the same room as him as long as Don is recovering.

"I'm just getting coffee. I'll be right back." He assured before walking out in search of the coffee machine. He needed to clear his head and there was so many memories and feeling in that room that was getting to him. He's locked up his heart years ago but Donnie seemed to need the old Raph back and he wasn't sure if he even existed anymore. He loved Donnie but Raph had fully became the Nightwatcher over time, cold hearted and a bit of a bastard full time with an even more explosive anger then he'd had growing up.

He stayed out of the room for quite a while after finding the coffee machine before bringing it back to the room to deal with his own personal dysfunctional family. An ex-wife who needed him right now and a son who hated him when he'd only just found out he existed.

Rigel just nodded in disapproval after Raph left. That messed up Dad of his had to stop this vigilante nonsense...

Which sprung up a plan. It might just work... A taste of his own medicine.

Now determined, if his mother wanted him to get back, then he'll help him. Much to annoyance and best of all, he can beat him up without any guilt for all of the incomplete childhood he had because of his absence. "Don't worry Ma, I promise he'll be together with you again." He said. He heard the door open, as Raph kept his word to go back and with coffee.

When Raph came back he sat Down to drink his coffee, taking off his helmet that he'd put on for the sake of his secret identity. He didn't say anything since he didn't know where to start, watching the mother and child that had a life without him in it. Maybe they were better off without him? They'd done a good job on their own all this time and he would probably just mess everything up for them.

He couldn't leave them though while Donnie was so ill, he needed his family near and both Raph and Donnie had cut ties with Mikey and Leo years ago. "Have you or Rigel seen the others?" Raph wondered if Donnie had more contact with their family than he did.

"Yeah. We're always visiting Uncle Leo and Uncle Mikey." Rigel answered as he urged Don to rest more, that he'll take care of the god damn inquiries Raph is asking. "Seemed your too wrapped up in your 'job' you didn't bother visiting." Rigel said then sipped his tea.

Raph nodded and sipped his black coffee, looking out of the widow. It was early morning and he'd usually be going to bed about this time. "Yeah I get it. Big bad Nightwatcher abandoned his family." He snapped back at the kid who was getting on his nerves. Jeeze he really did not like Raph.

No one but Donnie even agreed with the Nightwatcher thing, but Raph could do so much more when people knew he was there and he could work /with/ people like the police instead of sticking to the damn shadows. He was always more violent than everyone else and they disapproved of his methods. He'd gotten tired of all the endless lectures from Leo.

"I'm doing this to my mama, not for you. You better thank he still loves you all these years!" Rigel stressed, he really tried not to attack his own father again. "You can save endless lives using such... methods but you aren't even hearing any news from your own family, let your own wife!" He tried not to scream loud, as Don will hear it and get stressed again. "If you loved your family much, QUIT being the Nightwatcher."

"Donnie ain't my wife no more. /He/ Filed the divorce papers not me! He's the one who left /me/ for a year and then came back only to freaking divorce me. You weren't even born then kid so keep ya mouth shut since ya obviously don't know the full story." He snapped at Rigel. His temper could only hold back so long, Rigel would only ever see the bad Raph and what he'd became. "You /don't/ know anything about me to judge."

He'd stood up and was about to storm out the room, but instead turned and glared out the window at the sun rising up. He was staying for Donnie's sake only.

Rigel remained silent and did deep breaths, he learned anger management classes. He hated the fact he got his father's genes in temper.

"I can tell you everything about it. I know everything about the world I'm revolving in. I know about you, I know about your past and my parents' relationship." He said. "You obviously don't know my mom's side, so you DON'T know anything about him to judge either."

"Back off kid. Ya know nothing about me OR mine and ya Moms relationship." Even Raph wasn't sure what relationship he was talking about. Their happily married life? The stress and depression when Donnie left. The happiness when Donnie came back and they were happy until it went downhill and they divorced? He wasn't even sure he was the same guy anymore. "I'm here for ya Mom's sake. I don't care what you think of me."

"Oh yeah! Try me!" Rigel spat back. His sun colored eyes narrowed at the person who he got inherited those. 'Well, you should care in what you think of me.' he thought, gritting his teeth. "Mama loves you more than anyone else. He never remarried nor been with someone else. 'Cause he's waiting for you to get back, even though all the damages had been done." He said with stern look of expression.

"You see a new wedding ring on me anywhere! I been in the same position as your /momma/. Only I got nothing. He got you and whatever he's doing with his life now." Raph snapped and once again looked to the door. He didn't have to put up with this shit. "I'm come back later Don. Need to blow off some stream." He growled and snatched up his helmet. It was pissed off and didn't want to do something he would regret. It was also dangerous for him to be here too long on his outfit, if people thought Donnie was important to Nightwatcher then he and the kid would be in danger.

After a few hours, Don is able to fully rouse. The first thing he asked is "... R-Raphie?" he wandered, he didn't see his ex husband. He got sad, that Raph didn't want to stay much longer. He had to understand, maybe because he had vigilante duties.

He sees his cutie son sleeping beside him. Rigel really went great lengths to protect and take care of him. He patted his head and moved to kiss his head. Rigel must've been very tired.

The door opened, an emerald skinned man went in, wearing civilian clothes and had a bunch of purple tulips and a bag of food.

Raph had a few hours sleep but this /was/ usually his sleeping time before he went back out during the night. Donnie was more important than sleep right now though.

Purple tulips seem appropriate, they were flower that they both enjoyed and was Donnie signature colour. They were also the flowers that had been used during their own wedding.

"I brought ya some food." He said with a light blush before putting it on the table in front of his ex wife. It was Donnie's favorite food and was meant as a kind of apology for shouting earlier. At least it wasn't arguing with the kid this time, the little guy's seemed to have fallen asleep.

Donnie blushed as he accepted the flowers and placed it on an empty vase on the side table. "T-Thank you, Raph..." He smiled weakly. As much as Donnie wanted to help about the food, Raph just pushed him back to bed to rest. His blush got more visible as he nodded. "You... You don't have any duties tonight?" He asked. He knew it's a stupid question but it's a way to break the ice. He is still petting Rigel's head as he sleeps in peace. Seemed that the "little monster" is napping.

Before Raph answers the question, he gave a spoonful of porridge to Don, signaling he must feed him. "R-Raphie... I... I can feed myself-" Yet he stopped when his ex husband gave a serious look.

"Don, ya ill. Just lay back an rest alright. Ma job can wait tonight I... texted Casey to take over." He admitted. It was the first contact he'd had with the fellow vigilante in years, luckily he knew he was still out their fighting and could cover him for tonight. Casey didn't patrol so much though, he knew that he and April had a kid only because they had left a voice mail, on his phone to tell him. Little Shadow must be an adult by now but Raph had never seen her.

Raph was still angry at Donnie but when Don was ill he couldn't seem to bring out that anger. "Rigel... He's mine ain't he?... Ya never even told me about 'im... How the hell dat even happen!" He dropped the spoon back into the soup and crossed his arms, trying to keep his anger in check which was getting harder the more he thought about it.

Don just looked down, on verge on crying again while fiddling his fingers. Only then a pair of thumbs went to wipe his impending tears. He saw a very confused Raphael in mask of sadness and anger. He returned to his seat, holding the bowl of porridge and the spoon in blank stare.

"I... You wouldn't believe me..." Don sniffled. "I... I got pregnant..."

"How the hell dat even happen... and you left me because of that!" Raph was confused and angry and most of all hurt.

Did Donnie think he'd honestly care about that! He'd have loved to raise their son alongside his mother, he'd wanted kids so badly but knew it could never happen with Donnie so he never brought up the question. Now he found out that they HAD a son and he'd never been told about him!

"... We... Leatherhead and I learned that... I was being experimented on... When I got captured." Don answered while looking away from Raph's gaze of anger. This is why he can't tell him the truth, Raph won't believe him.

"... I'm... I'm sorry... I'm... I'm scared." He said while sobbing silently. He doesn't want Rigel to wake up and find him crying and he most likely attack his father again. "You will leave me if... If I told you a male like me got pregnant." He wiped his own tears as the other hand rubbing Rigel's head as comfort.

Raph gently rubbed away Donnie's tears but his expression was unreadable, hurt and anger swirling with sadness and regret. "You should have told me... I loved you Don. I'm pissed that ya didn't think I'd love ya enough to stay with ya when you were caring our child though." He grunted and stood up again to face away from Don not wanting him to see how much of a mess his emotions were right now.

Donnie tried to reach out to Raph to stay. "I... I'll tell you... everything." He said and whispered, "Please... Stay." He partly begged. He missed his ex husband so much, his feelings never changed to him. He missed his kisses, his touches, everything about the larger turtle. If only he is given a chance to marry him again, he will agree and never leave Raph ever again. Unfortunately the latter might not agree, as the broken hearted state is there, also the family is so strained.

"I ain't leaving!" He snapped back before his anger soothed out, his temper was much shorter these days and he couldn't always hold it back like before. "I could never leave ya Don. Not like you did. I would have /loved/ to raise a child with ya, but ya never even asked. You getting kidnapped was my damn fault and yet you honestly thought I'd kick you out because you was carrying my child!" Raph wanted to both hug him and hit him so he just stayed still, tears in his eyes and an angry heartbroken look on his face. The two lover didn't know each other anymore it seemed and Raph didn't know what he was meant to do.

"I'm... sorry. I'm sorry..." Don kept apologizing. His decisions seemed not to work well, Raph's angry at him and Rigel is angry at Raph. "We never had a plan to have a kid... It's so out of the norm of a male giving birth, that's why I ran away... I tried raising Rigel well but my job is not enough to support him... I left him in an orphanage... That's when I returned back... I decided a... Separation because I had to get Rigel again and the only thing to do is raise him alone because... I'm scared in what you think of me bearing a son when I shouldn't have... And got him when he was seven years old. That's when... When I met you again in the restaurant..." He confessed.

"I /wanted/ kids with you. I just never said anything because I thought was impossible. An' it was only possible because I fucked up and you get captured by the foot!" Raph was crying as well but unlike Donnie his anger was still there. "When you came back I thought everything was fine again. We loved each other and then suddenly... You divorced me and years later I see you with a kid! Do ya have any idea how that looked. It looked like you'd moved on or had a god damn affair Donnie!"

Don wanted to explain after but all he can do is cry. It really is his fault and no doubt about it. He bend forward, despite Raph being hesitated for Don to get closer to him, the patient just placed his head on his broad shoulder, and just cried and cried. Whenever he is on the verge of crying, he always leaned his head to his shoulder, it gives him a sense of comfort. He kept apologizing, "I never moved on... Despite that Rigel and I were together... I never had affairs... Cause to this day..." He sniffed. "To this very day... I still hope I will be with you again... Despite we're not together anymore... I never stop... hoping..." His tears soaked his shoulder as he sobbed.

Raph froze for a moment but... Donnie in this position triggered memories. All their lives whenever Donnie cried he came and rested his head against Raph's shoulder like that.

He remembered every time. When they were little and Donnie had gotten in trouble for taking the TV apart and not being able to put it back together. Every nightmare and horrible experience in their lives that they got through together... The night that Raph had saved him from the Foot...

Raph melted and did what he'd done every time in the past, he wrapped his arms around Donnie and nuzzled him gently. "Stop crying Donnie boy..." His own voice was shaking slightly as well like he could cry any time. "I'm sorry I never contacted you to find out the full story... I never moved on either... I tried but no one was as perfect as you. And that's why I'm so pissed off about all this. We were perfect and then... We ain't the same people no more... Maybe just take it slow? I don't know if we can get back together after all this time, but I'd like to get to know ya again, Rigel too."

Don can't help but feel that uncertainty Raph said made him hurt yet he just nodded as he continued to sob. "Al... Alright Raphie... I'm not going to leave you anymore... Just please say... You still love me..." He sniffed. "But... I still see you as the Raphie I still loved way back... I can still feel it..."

Unbeknownst to their eyes, Rigel is fully awake and can hear them. Rigel thought he had to help his mama, if this is what he wanted, no matter how much he hated his own father, then he'll do it.

"/I/ ain't the same Donnie. The only thing I had since ya left me was my job. You had the kid ta look after. I ain't used to puttin others before myself no more. Rigel said ya even been in contact with Mike and Leo." He frowned as he pulled back slightly so that Donnie could see the cold eyes that looked a lot older than they should be. "I ain't part of the family no more. Hell. If Leo bumps into Nightwatcher he tries ta take me down like in one of the bad guys."

Donnie placed his hands on Raph's cheeks and smiled despite the teary eyes and sniffling. "... No Raphie... You're still the same to me..." he spoke. "And... Actually, Leo noticed the Nightwatcher every time he goes out at night... But he didn't attack you. Because... I asked him not to."

"Well apparently he's a liar as well. I got so many damn bruises where he attacked me" Raph growled and pulled away unknowing that Leo was just trying to bring him back home all those times. "I ain't the same. It hurt so bad when we split up. I still love ya Don but I don't know if we can be together again. Let's just start slow and see where we end up." Raph planned to just hang out like friends and then maybe if things went well then ho on a few dates. Start their relationship back from the beginning as two people who hadn't had their hearts broken.

Don is supposed to reply back, but he felt he is voiceless, and sudden blockage of air happened in his lungs. He struggled to breathe by inhaling as much as he can, causing for him only to produce gruff sounds. His sight is getting darker again as all he see is the one he loved ever since. Then he saw his son, finally awake as well. He felt he can't move. He didn't have the chance to say goodbye. He hated it though, when Raph wanted to start all over again, his health is taking that chance away.

Raph was out the room in a second and dragging a doctor back just as quickly, eyes wide and panicked seeing the one he loved despite everything slipping away into unconsciousness or worse. "Stay with me Donnie-boy." He had a pleading edge to his voice as he gripped Dons loose hand tightly, as if to anchor him to stay with them.

"Mama! Mama... You can do it!" Rigel spoke beside his father, he can't lose the only person that cares to him. "Mama, stay for... Him." He said, he still doesn't have the guts to say Papa or Dad or any endearment.
Donnie mouthed "I love you" before he succumbed to rest. It's revealed that Don took so much stress, specifically, crying, which caused his lungs to stress and have irregular breaths.

Raph felt so guilty. It was his fault. Everything was. Rigel was the reason his family was torn and that was only possible because Raph had been too stupid to prevent Donnie from being kidnapped and experimented on. He wanted to tell Donnie that they could be happy and together again but didn't want to give him false hope when it might not happen.

He stayed holding Donnie's hand for a long time with tears behind his shit tight eyes before getting up quickly and grabbing his coat. "Look after him kid. I'll be back tomorrow." He didn't want to put any more stress on Donnie to make him worse if he woke up.

When Raph shut the door, Rigel whispered 'He left. Again.' He stared at his mama, he is very glad his mama is strong and able to pull together. "Don't worry mama, I'll bring him back the way you loved way back. I promise." He spoke softly. In his bag there is a notebook and pencil, he started to sketch something there the whole day.

Raph slept in the day since his nights were filled by his Nightwatcher persona, but today he was having trouble sleeping and the little he did sleep was troubled and filled with Donnie as he worried over his ex husbands illness. With a sigh he got up and dug through his messy apartment until he found a tattered shoe box.

The box was special but for years had been shoved away along with Raph's emotions. Inside the box, was his and Donnie's life, held in still photographs. Growing up, going on dates and finally their wedding. Raph flicked through them all one by one, remembering each day that was in the small rectangle of memories.

And for the first time in years, the Nightwatcher cried.

Remembered that his mom always look at the family albums, he had copies of every picture they had together with Raphael. It's the first time Rigel sees his mom's loneliness of being separated from his husband.
Now, it's nighttime and he knew at this time at night, Nightwatcher will show up. He asked his Aunt April to stay with Don for a while as he had a business to do.
Confront the Nightwatcher and put him in his place.

Raph had managed to get a little sleep before he changed back into his Nightwatcher gear, throwing some plain clothes under the seat of his bike as well so he could visit Donnie afterwards.

He once again locked away Raphael Hamato and fully submerged himself in his persona, trying not to think about his ex lying in the hospital with Rigel... His son...

In the rooftops of the buildings and houses, there stood Rigel, well not the real Rigel, in a black suit similar to the Nightwatcher, but had a small cape on his shoulder.
He only had one mission: To knock some sense to his dad.
And return to his mama.

And at the right time, the adversary show up during one of the rescue a person from a gang member.

Raph tied up the criminals and had dragged them out into the street where they would be found and taken to jail. He noticed the new suit and scoffed. Over the years many had tried to follow his example, none of them ever made it far.

"Go home kid. I got this covered. Streets aint safe fer ametures after dark" He grunted after finishing up with the gang members and turning to regard the dark suited character.

Rigel frowned inside his helmet. he is utterly pissed to his own father. "I aint here for them..." he said as he jumped, well it's pretty handy his mama taught him voice synthesizers. his voice comes out to a more mature voice.

"I'm here for your head!" He shouted as he landed and threw out a tessen , aiming at Raph's neck.