Toddler Tales

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Part Two: Just like her dad.

Don finished the final touches on his latest project, which happened to be a gift for his two year old niece Ramiela. The toy was an improved version of the see and say type toys that one had to use a large arrow to point to an animal and the toy would go ' The horse goes..' followed by what Don felt was a totally unrealistic sounding horse.

Don used actual recordings of the animal, and not only that but he had large buttons that when pressed would open up to reveal a three dimensional image of the animal requested. In other words Rama could actually see the animal the noise was related too, as well as develop her mimicry of the animals.

As ninja they often would use, different animal calls to get a bearing on where other team members were, when using cell phones or other means of communicating, including mental communicating, weren't all that wise.

Don wanted to encourage Rama to learn, and saw nothing wrong in providing toys that Rama could actually learn something from. Mike however couldn't resist teasing his brother.

"Come off it Donny boy, Rama is two years old, she has her whole life to learn. Let her be a kid and have some fun."

"Mike the early years of a child's life are the informative years, they are eager to learn and absorb information about their world. If I can teach her that learning is fun now she will enjoy her school lessons later on." Don retorted, "Besides Rama can learn a great deal about her world even at this age."

"For sure, I totally agree" Mike deadpanned, "but considering Rama's world isn't exactly the average two year old world, what can you hope to show her that would be pertinent for her?" Mike grinned and chuckled, "Are you going show her how rats can run through a maze? I'm sure she'd find that useful."

Don sighed as he stood up and stretched, Mike had changed in many ways since Rama had been born, he had grown far more serious and responsible, Mike put his daughter constantly first and worked harder and longer in ninjitsu then he had when he had been younger. But the whole family knew no matter how much Mike changed there were some things that would forever be Mike, this included his sense of humour, the way he teased his family and the irritating sometimes frustrating behaviour of his that got under your skin all the while he played innocent.

Don picked up the toy and went in search of Rama, he found the toddler in the living room with Mike. Mike turned to see his brother and spotted the toy in Don's hand he scooped Rama up to his lap pointing a finger towards the purple masked turtle.

"Look Rama it is your Uncle Donny" Mike crowed.

"Unca Don" Rama squealed, partly because Mike was tickling her under the shell.

"I have a new toy for you Rama" Don announced.

"Toy?" Rama clapped her hands.

"Don't believe him Rama; he is going to teach you" Mike warned," Don takes all the fun out of toys." Mike put the squirming Rama on to the ground and she waddled over to hug her Uncle's leg.

"What are you saying Mike? Rama loves my toys" Don mocked protested as he rested one hand flat on his plastron, "Don't you Rama?"

Rama glanced up at her Uncle "No" she replied before popping a thumb into her mouth.

"What do you mean no?" Don demanded.

Mike snickered "Where have you been Don? Oh yes I forgot, hiding in your lab inventing. Rama has taken a liking to the word 'no' over the last few days. She says it for anything and everything."

Don smiled, "I see she is starting to assert her independence by making her own choices." Don stated, "I've read about it and it seems to be a fairly normal stage."

Mike nodded agreement, "That plus Rama likes the word no. Right Rama?"

Rama glanced at her dad "No."

"Hey bro, while you show off your latest learning device, do you mind if I slip off to the store? We need milk and a few other groceries." Mike explained patiently.

"I think I can manage looking after her for a bit" Don said casually.

"Great I'll be back in under an hour. I changed her diaper recently and if she gets hungry give her some cheerios or a breadstick" Mike advised as he went to get his coat that hung near the lair door.

"Don't worry Mike I think I can handle it" Don smirked, he didn't know why Mike needed to fill him in on such trivial details, or why Mike seemed concerned, unless it was one of those responsible changes that had happened when Rama was born.

True, Rama was an active toddler, and had been since her birth, considering she could crawl a few days after she was born, but by now the lair was Rama proofed, and caring for her ought to be ten times easier then any number of challenges they had faced on the battle field, or other situations.

Rama had followed after Mike and watched as he pulled on his coat, she knew what that meant and immediately started to whine, "Daddy, daddy."

Mike picked her up and gave her a peck on her cheek "You stay here Rama llama ding dong. I'll be home quickly so you be a good girl for your Uncle Don now."

"No" Rama replied sweetly.

Mike laughed and tweaked her toe "Yes." He smiled, "See ya Donny have fun." He placed Rama down and slipped out the door shutting it firmly closed behind him before the infant had managed to take a single step.

Rama stood by the door, sniffing a bit as her face scrunched up and her bottom lip trembled "Daddy" she whimpered in a pitiful tone.

Don smiled as he put the toy down on the coffee table before going to the front door and swooping Rama into his arms "Your dad will come home Rama" he vowed.

"Rama go daddy" Rama sniffed.

"Not this time. Rama gets to stay with me instead." Don replied.

"No" Rama declared sounding almost like she meant it.

"Come see the toy I have for you" Don coaxed.

Rama beamed as she tugged on Don's bandanna tails, she had almost forgotten about the toy but she was now easily diverted to the item. Don tickled her causing her to laugh merrily her chubby legs kicking out.

Don chuckled as he realized his niece actually had his brother's laugh, an infectious merry sound that often hinted of mischief and mayhem.

Don packed her over to the couch and sat her in the crook of one arm as he grasped the toy with the other hand, the infant seemed content for the moment to snuggle into his arms, and her short dark wispy hair tickled Don's shoulder, as he showed her how to use the toy.

Rama began to smack awkwardly at the buttons, in her enthusiasm she often hit more then one button and the toy seemed to become a little garbled at those moments, as if not knowing which animal to do first.

"Here Rama try this button here" Don went to push one button.

"NO!" Rama yelled sharply.

"No?" Don echoed arching an eye ridge.

"Rama do" Rama insisted firmly.

Don held up both hands in surrender, "Fine you go ahead and do it then" he acquiescence.

Rama tilted her head up beaming her wide grin, was very familiar to Don, then Rama began hitting buttons quickly and in total erratic fashion not letting the toy play out before moving to the next one.

The toy began to sound a bit strange and the three dimensional items were looking like something out of a fantasy story. Don scowled as he realized the item might be nearing an overload and he snatched it out of her reach.

Rama howled in fury. "Mine, my toy" she screeched, "Rama pway."

"I know you are playing Rama but…" Don began.

"No!"Rama repeated loudly. "My toy."

Don rolled his eyes as he disengaged himself from the small turtle child placing the toy out of reach so he could work on it later "It might be your toy but you don't have to break it in the first five minutes. Let us do something else" Don suggested hoping to distract her from the toy.

Rama sat back on the couch a pout on her face as she crossed her arms over her plastron "Rama pway wit toy" she insisted stubbornly.

"I have to do some more work on it Rama" Don explained kindly, "you can have it back later."

Rama got off the couch and came over to where Don was "Wan' toy now" she stomped her foot in hopes of getting her point across. She huffed a bit in her fury.

"You can't have it now so let us do something else like colour" Don offered.

"Rama no colour" Rama shrieked, and then she tried to kick Don before flinging herself to the woven rug to kick, punch and yell full force. Her wails started at high pitch then rose to sharp decibels that caused the ninja to wince.

Don stood baffled in amazement, he had hoped being reasonable would work, but he had not realized that he wasn't dealing with a rational mind, the temper tantrum was violent and stunning, and for the simple fact Don had never seen Rama pitch a fit over any thing.

So he stood unmoving and slightly uncertain of what to do, at least for a minute or two but of course by then Rama's voice had risen to ear splitting levels, before Don recognized that this was yet another two year old stage, the temper tantrum. His technical mind reminded him that the temper tantrum was often brought on by the child's inability to communicate, or in a desire to achieve their own way.

This didn't help Don on how to deal with it, like Mike who acted up and fooled around for a captive audience, Rama seemed intent on holding him prisoner to her fury.

Then through the shrieks and screams Don recalled that Mike had told the whole family that if Rama was ever to have a temper tantrum when he wasn't at home to take her to her room and let her stay there until she behaved.

This sounded like good advice, especially as Don, though normally a passive turtle, was considering a form of violence if only to silence the toddler and spare his aching ears.

So Don picked up the child and carried the wriggling, screaming, kicking bundle to her room where he dropped her unceremoniously onto her bed, and beating a hasty retreat.

He leaned against the shut bedroom door and shut his eyes, muttering inwardly some oath or other. He could hear the rise and fall of his niece's wails on the other side of the door but with the door between them, the noise was now bearable.

After a few minutes there came a deafening silence and Don opened the door, wondering to himself if that was such a wise idea.

Rama shuffled out sniffing a little.

"Are you going be a good girl now Rama?" Don inquired.

"No" Rama said but her head bobbed up and down in the affirmative.

"I'll take that as a yes" Don grinned weakly, as he bent to hug her.

Rama returned the hug and sniffed sadly "Daddy?"

"Not yet" Don answered, he turned so his carapace faced her, "Climb aboard" he offered.

Rama gripped the edge of the carapace, with her fingers clenched tightly to him, as Don slowly stood upright, then he reached over his shoulder and grabbed onto Rama flipping her up and over his shoulder, catching her expertly in his arms.

Rama laughed, instantly amused with this new game, and begged for more.

Don laughed at her, "You are just like your dad you can go from upset to happy in a heartbeat, and you are easily amused" he grinned at her, "But I must say you are cuter then your father." Don informed her.

After a few more rounds of being tossed playfully over Don's shoulder Rama began to moan, Don paused and looked at her.

"What is the matter Rama, you not feeling good?" Don wondered, he grimaced as he figured the rough play might be causing Rama to get ill, but then again Raph often played rough with Rama with no ill side effects.

"Rama ea, Rama juice" Rama said.

"Oh you are hungry and thirsty" Don translated with relief, "Don't worry Rama I can take care of that."

He sighed, other then the temper tantrum this baby sitting thing was a cinch, in fact it was almost too easy.

Rama went running ahead of Don towards the kitchen, Don arrived in the kitchen and took out one of Rama's drinking glasses and filled it with apple juice. He handed it to her.

Rama tilted the cup up and the juice poured all down her front wetting her. Rama began to scream and cry.

"Oh!" Don gave himself a light smack on the forehead, "I forgot you are supposed to sit at the table when you drink from those cups."

Rama bawled her eyes squinted close as large tears flowed from her eyes and down her cheeks.

Don picked her up bouncing her "Calm down Rama it is okay. Come on we'll get you cleaned up and will do it the right way." Don assured her.

Rama was too busy crying to pay attention to Don, while Don meanwhile was starting to feel the dull throb of a headache building behind his temples. He gritted his teeth as he went to her bedroom, got a fresh diaper and then went into the bathroom.

He washed off the sticky juice and changed her diaper before taking her back to the kitchen, this time he placed her into her booster chair at the table, before cleaning up what juice had made it to the floor. He rinsed out her cup refilled it and placed it on the table in front of Rama.

Rama sniffed and cautiously took the glass n both hands being very careful as she drank from it. "Ank you Unca Donnie."

Don tousled her hair "You're welcome" He muttered, silently hoping Mike would get back soon, "Now something to eat."

" Cook-ie" Rama said hopefully.

" No Dad said you could have something else." Don informed her.

"Cookie" Rama repeated.

"Nope you can have cheerios or a bread stick" Don offered.

Rama shook her head petulantly, "No Rama cookie."

"Tell you what you can have cheerios and a breadstick" Don replied making it sound like his final offer, as he retrieved said items from their cupboards he placed them before Rama.

Rama looked at the items and tossed them to the floor " Cook-IE" she demanded in her loudest voice. The mulish look on her face said she wasn't going back down in this matter.

Don glowered at her "Fine you can have nothing" he decided.

"No Rama wan' cookie" Rama screeched.

Leo entered the kitchen "Don what is going on here? Rama has been screaming a better part of the morning." Leo sounded a bit perturbed. "What is the matter Ramiela?"

"Rama cookie" Rama informed her other Uncle.

" Fine" Leo agreed as he reached for the cookie jar.

Rama gave a wide disarming grin.

"Leo I told her she couldn't have a cookie" Don grumped glaring at his brother, " I'm the one baby sitting her."
"Then try to keep her quiet Don because I have been trying to meditate without much success. Besides I doubt one cookie is going cause trouble."

"Mike didn't want her having a cookie for a treat" Don muttered tightly.

"What Mike told you was a suggestion only, he won't give you an entire list" Leo chuckled as he shook his head, "Don't take Mike's words literally." He smiled, " A cookie isn't going hurt her."

"All right fine." Don relented.

Leo handed Rama the cookie, Rama sat in her chair scowling at the treat.

"No" She said suddenly.

Leo scowled, "Don't you want the cookie?"

"NO!" Rama pouted.

Don growled a bit as he snatched the cookie out of Leo's hand " Fine she doesn't want it she can do with out." He declared.

Rama tossed her head back and howled complaining constantly "Cook-ie"

Leo however wasn't about to cave in either especially as he had seen how Rama had reacted to the first cookie. However her cries had roused one other member of the family to come see what was going on.

The aged rat entered the kitchen taking in his two sons who were standing as stiff and formal as if on guard and Rama sitting in her chair red eyed, tears rolling down her cheek and the ninja Master couldn't help but feel some empathy for his only grandchild.

" Ramiela, calm down now." Splinter soothed as he went over and picked the toddler up, she immediately buried her face in his robe and nuzzled up near his neck giving heaving, gasps.

"Piner" She said dejectedly.

" What is wrong Ramiela? Why are you crying?" Splinter asked his voice low and comforting.

"Rama wan' cookie Spiner." She complained.

"Didn't Leonardo or Donatello get you a cookie?" Splinter wondered.

"No" Rama whined giving a negative shake of her head.

Splinter turned giving his sons a dark look, he arched his eye brows and his tail lashed the ground, "Couldn't you have gotten her a cookie?" he inquired.

"Well she didn't want it Master" Leo began shifting uneasily.

"Rama kept saying no and wouldn't take it" Don defended their actions.

Splinter smiled and nodded, " I see." He carried Rama over to the counter and took out one cookie. " Here Ramiela, you can have it."

Rama shook her head, "No."

Splinter laughed, " Ah wait now I understand." He reached back into the jar and pulled out two cookies, " At this age you need one for each hand to balance yourself."

Rama beamed as she took a cookie in each hand " Ank you Spiner." She replied gratefully.

Splinter returned her to her booster seat, under the amazed gaze of his sons. He turned and looked at them "All young children seem to know the art of balance, especially when it comes to cookies for they always need one for each hand." He explained patiently.

Don sighed, " I'm not going baby sit her again" he declared.

" Why ever not Donatello?" Splinter wondered, "Ramiela is a joy to be around."

" Well Master she has a lot of Mike in her, she is conniving, irritating and her smile can disarm you in a moment." Don informed his mentor.

"She is a child Donatello, you just aren't used to children." Splinter assured his intellectual son.

Don gave a small grin "Actually like her dad she tends to give me headaches in large doses."

Leo tried to hide his smile but Rama looked over at Don and chortled with amusement.

"I also have the strangest feeling she is laughing at me. She is just too much like her dad."

TBC