The family had decided to stay at the farm house until the twins had hatched, which thrilled the kids. They loved the open space, playing outside and the fresh air. A few weeks after their arrival at the farm house, April and Casey had learned she was six weeks pregnant and they were all excited, especially little Lisa, who loved feeling April's tummy and asking when the baby would be born. Relations between Don and Ty were still strained, the latter still furious with him for the breakage of his lap top. He hadn't gotten a new one and the little boy was upset. He'd loved playing video games on it and talking to his online friends, the only connection with the outside world. And he was irate that no matter what he said, Don refused to believe that ghosts existed. Raphael had left that evening after he, Ty and Leo had reconnected, but Raphael still made contact with them by leaving letters in their dressers that they'd both read when alone. Leo and Ty both treasured them and kept them hidden from everyone.

On Christmas Eve after a dinner of April's meatloaf, the family were gathered in the lounge, carols playing on the CD player, the tree beautifully decorated, bowls of nuts and chocolates on the coffee tables, glasses of mulled wine in the adult's hands, except for April, who drank hot chocolate, and the little ones babbling, sitting by the tree, looking forward to Christmas Day. All apart from Ty, who stood, a scowl upon his face, arms crossed. "What's wrong, buddy?" Leo asked from his place next to Don on the sofa.

"Nothin'."

"If it were nothing, Ty, you wouldn't look like that. What's up?"

"I said nothing!"

"It's Christmas, Ty," April said with a smile. "Cheer up, sweetheart. Santa's coming tomorrow. Isn't that exciting?"

"Santa ain't real. He's just a fairy tale."

Alex looked up and said, with tears in his eyes, "Is that true, Daddy?"

"Of course it's not true," Don said. "Santa's real, Alex. Why would you say that, Ty?"

"Because every year I ask him ta bring me somethin' and he don't do it! If he were real, he'd bring it!"

"And what's that?" Leo asked.

"Daddy Raph," Ty said. "I've been askin' him every year and he don't do it, so he ain't real."

"Ty," Leo said, getting up. "It would be really tough to wrap Raph up and place him on the sleigh. There's only enough space for Santa and Raph would hate being wrapped up like a mummy. Santa wants to bring him, but he can't. But he is real and he loves you and the kids and loves bringing you presents."

"Whatever," Ty said dismissively. "I'm gonna go ta bed." He turned and headed to his room.

"Daddy, Santa is real, isn't he?" Lisa asked.

"Yes," Don said. "And he's going to eat the milk and cookies you left him and when you open your eyes tomorrow, your presents will be under the tree."

"Yay!" Lisa said, clapping her hands. "Did he bring the Barbie I wanted?"

"Maybe," Don said, a twinkle in his eye.

"And the boat I wanted?" Alex asked hopefully.

"Possibly," Leo said. "You two have been such good kids all year and Santa knows that. I'll be right back."

Leo left his family and went to Ty's room, finding the boy staring at a photo of Raph that he held in his hands. "Hey," Leo said.

"Hi," Ty said, clutching the photo to his chest.

"Ty, Santa…."

"He ain't real, Daddy. I know he ain't, so don't lie ta me."

"How do you know?"

"I've seen ya and Da…Don place the presents under the tree when ya think I'm asleep in bed. He ain't real and he don't eat the cookies. Ya two do."

Leo sighed and said, "Yes, you're right, but please stop spoiling it for your brother and sister. They believe in him, Ty, and I love seeing how happy they are when they open their presents from Santa, their eyes shining. We don't get much in the way of happiness and they have a tough life ahead. They'll never be accepted in society, just like you, and they need something to believe in. Even if it's for a short while. Come to the lounge just now and say you were wrong about Santa. Please."

"All right, Daddy, but I do wish ya could bring Daddy Raph back."

"I wish I could too, but I can't, Ty. It's not within my powers. All I can do is love you and try to be a good daddy to you and your brother, sister and the twins. I'd hoped you'd still believe in Santa for a while. I want you to believe in something, Ty. Something that gives you hope and joy."

"I believe in Daddy Raph and ya, Daddy, and that Daddy Raph's with us and watchin' over us. And yer a great daddy. I wouldn't want anyone else."

Tyler wasn't an overly affectionate kid, just like Raphael had been, but now he hugged Leo fiercely and said, "I love ya, Daddy."

"I love you too, my sweet boy," Leo said, pulling apart and looking at him tenderly. "Raph would be so proud of you. You're growing into such a lovely and handsome kid."

Tyler puffed up his chest in pride and said, "Well, Daddy Raph always said he was the most handsome and I take after him."

Leo laughed and said, "He was. Sexy, smart, caring. The whole package and you are a legacy to our love. Now, come on. Let's go to the others."

XXX

Leo and Ty had just entered the lounge, when a cracking sound could be heard in one of the rooms. "What's that noise?" Casey asked.

"Sounds like cracking," Leo said. "I think the babies are hatching."

Leo and the rest quickly headed into the room and to his immense delight, the eggs were indeed hatching. Forest green hands reached up outside the shell and a tiny whimper was heard.

"What's happening, Daddy?" Alex asked.

"You're about to become a big brother, Alex," Don said, drawing his kids close. Their eyes were wide with fascination and their mouths open.

"Babies," Lisa said happily. She'd seen Alex hatch and knew what the cracking sound was.

"This is so exciting," Casey said. "But why isn't the other one hatching?"

"I don't know," Leo said, fear creeping into his heart that something was wrong with the other baby. "Maybe it will just now. Let's wait and see."

The family waited and gradually, the shell of the first egg fell away and a little forest green turtle appeared, his tiny fists flailing, as he wailed, face scrunched up, sapphire eyes wide. "Maybe he's hungry?" April suggested.

"I think so," Leo said, going to him and picking up the infant and tenderly planting a kiss on his beak.

"He's gorgeous," Casey said. "Spitting image of you, Leo."

"I want to hold him, Daddy," Alex begged.

"Just now, baby," Leo said, handing the infant to Don, who grinned and cradled him against his plastron.

"He's so precious," Holly cooed from next to Mikey.

"Can't wait until we have our own," Mikey said. "He's adorable."

Suddenly, a whimper could be heard from the second egg, but there was no cracking sound. "The baby's alive," Don said in relief. "Maybe he'll break the shell now."

Five minutes passed, but nothing had happened, the baby still sobbing, so Leo said, "I'm going to crack the shell myself and give him a helping hand." He did so and the shell fell apart, revealing an emerald skinned and golden eyed baby, who unlike his twin, didn't move his limbs. He just lay there and stared at everyone, golden eyes wide, drooling.

"He looks like me, Daddy!" Tyler said.

Leo nodded, troubled the baby wasn't moving his limbs. Gut told him there was something wrong with the baby and it frightened and saddened him.

Don tensed slightly when he saw the baby didn't look like him or Leo, but there'd be talk for that later. What mattered now was a quick examination of the babies to see if they were all right. He, too, suspected there was something wrong with the second baby, who was now cradled in Leo's arms, Leo talking soothingly to him.

"Why isn't the baby moving his limbs?" Casey asked, earning a poke from April.

"I'm sure the baby's fine, Case," April said, sensing the dads wanted to do a check-up on the babies. "Let's put the kids to bed. Santa will be here soon."

"Santa," Lisa said. "I can't wait. Daddy, can I kiss the babies good night? Wait. Do they have names?"

Leo smiled and said, "Little one that looks like me is Leo and he's Raphie. Come and say hi, kids, and then bed time. Uncle Casey will tell you a story."

Leo stooped down, so the kids could kiss baby Raphie goodnight and Don did the same with baby Leo. Then they went off to their room with April and Casey.

Don did a quick examination on baby Leo, checking his reflexes, his shell, his digits and when he was done, he said, "I'll give them a more thorough test when we're back at the lair, but he looks perfectly healthy. Now for Raphie."

Baby Leo was stoic throughout, but little Raphie lay in Leo's arms, unmoving and mewling in fear. "It's going to be okay," Don soothed, stroking his head. "Daddy just wants to take a look at you." Don did the same test he'd done with Leo and when he was finished, he shook his head sadly.

"What?" Leo asked anxiously.

"Look at him, Leo. He's not moving his arms and legs and he's drooling. Not good signs. I don't think his spine fused well,which means we have a physically handicapped child. Probably mentally handicapped, as well. It would be kinder…" And Don cringed, hating what he was about to say. "To dispose of him."

"Challenged," Leo snapped, visibly upset at his son's diagnosis. "But perhaps with treatment, he can be cured. And dispose? How can you even think such a thing, Donnie?"

"It would be kinder to him in the long run, Leo. He's going to have a shitty life not being able to talk, walk and play with his siblings, and, Leo, we don't have access to those resources. He's going to stay this way forever. We need to think carefully if we can cope with him. We already have four other….."

"Would you say the same thing if he looked like you?" Leo demanded, his face darkening and his sapphire eyes blazing.

"Leo, it's…."

"Would you?"

"Yes! Of course I would, Leo. But why does he look like Raphael? You'd have dumped his sperm out of your pouch years ago."

"I don't know."

"Is he ours? I mean, he doesn't look like us."

"Maybe one of our ancestors looked like Raph, Donnie. I can't explain it, but it doesn't matter," Leo said, curling his fingers around baby Raphie's. "He's still ours and we'll love him the way he deserves." I wonder, Leo thought. If this is Raph. He talked about coming back to us. Is it possible this is him? I'll talk to Ty about it.

"It's going to be extremely taxing on us, Leo, both physically and mentally. Are you prepared for it?" Don asked.

Leo looked down at baby Raphie, who was still crying softly, drool dripping down the corners of his mouth and his heart overflowed with love. "Yes," Leo said and kissed Raphie's beak. "I'll never abandon him, Don. He needs us and love and we can give him all the love he needs. I know it'll be tough, but we'll get through it together, Donnie, and with our family's support. Look at him, Donnie. You can't possibly get rid of this little angel. Look at him, Donnie."

Don cradled baby Leo against his plastron and said, "You're right, Leo. We can't. I'll be there for him every step of the way and I know his siblings will too."

Leo smiled and kissed Don tenderly on the lips. "Thanks, Donnie."

Baby Leo stretched out a hand and touched Raphie's head, which made the baby stop crying and look at him. "Well, look at that," Don said. "Leo touched his head and the baby's stopped weeping. How sweet is that? They clearly have a bond already and like one another."

Leo smiled again and said, "I have a feeling they're going to be really close and Leo will be very protective of him. Let's give them something to eat and then bed time."

XXX

Inside his and Don's bedroom, the dads fed the babies with bottles. Raphie fussed a bit in Leo's arms and found it hard to latch onto the bottle, but after an hour of trying, he got it, Leo holding the bottle, and slowly sucked his formula down. Baby Leo guzzled his down like a pro, while watching his younger twin. His eyes never left him, somehow aware that he was the eldest and would have to watch out for him. Then the twins were changed into diapers and placed into the crib. Within minutes, both babies were asleep, little Leo with his one hand resting on Raphie's plastron, making the parents beam.

The parents kissed the babies and climbed into bed, exhausted. "Night, Leo. I love you," Donnie said, and kissed his cheek. "Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas, Donnie. I love you too."

Just before Leo drifted off to sleep, he thought, I know we've got a long journey ahead and many challenges, but I know we'll get through them. We're Hamato's and strong and brave and we can get through anything life throws at us.