Winter Wonderland
Chapter Two

The turtle moaned softly as he slowly woke up, feeling the blankets piled heavily on top of his form. He tried to move but as he did so, his body woke up and reminded him of the aches in his back, his feet and his hips.

He kept his eyes closed and took a few deep breaths to calm the pangs of his pregnant body, "Come on little ones... not long now until you're here in the world" He muttered softly and slowly started to sit up, using the pillows behind him to support himself as he rose carefully.

He took another deep breath and rested a hand on the large bump, glad it had stopped growing now near the end of his pregnancy. To where he'll finally meet his babies after the long months of feeling them grow inside himself.

Opening his eyes, he was welcomed by the frosted glass in the windows promising a winter wonderland outside. He was eager to explore it, like the rest of his family but at the same time he wanted to remain inside.

Rubbing his baby bump and pushing down the instincts inside of him to stay in the bed, he slowly got rid of the blankets that made up his nest before slowly putting his feet on the rug on the floor near the bed he was sharing with his mate.

The pregnant turtle's heart panged in feeling his mate missing from his side, as he turned slightly and felt the space where the blue-wearing turtle had laid during the night finding it cold. He sighed and moved around to slowly get up, wanting to head to the bathroom.

Seeing the all familiar bo-staff and his mask leaning against the bedside table, Donatello ignored them both as he used the table to rise up off the bed with a slow breath escaping his body as his back complained loudly in his mind from the movement.

Looking up, he found his scientist turned shop keeper friend close by ready to help.

"H-hey April, I'll be ok... do you know where Leo is?" Don asked softly as he carefully shuffled across the room towards the doorway, glad that the bathroom was just opposite his temporary bedroom.

"He's downstairs warming up, had been outside and is now talking to Master Splinter" She replied softly, moving to let the turtle by.

"Outside? That's typical of Leo... " Don muttered softly and sighed, "But thought he was going to stay by my side since coming here... he's been growing distant April... I'm worried" He said softly looking up at his friend.

April smiled softly, resting a hand on his shoulder and gave it a gentle rub. "It'll be ok Donny, go to the bathroom and I'll help you downstairs" She replied softly, "We'll go and talk to him once you're done up here"

Don gave a soft smile and nodded, "Thanks April, I'll be back in a minute" He said softly and opened the bathroom door, walking in slowly and closed the door behind him. He rubbed his chest and closed his eyes. "Leo..."


Leonardo looked down into the remains of his tea.

Master Splinter sighed, "So, that is what is troubling you my son" He muttered softly, reaching for the pot to refill his son's tea.

Leo held out the cup and nodded, "Been happening for the last week or so... every night" He muttered softly.

The rat teacher sighed, "I know I can only say that you have to talk to Donatello about this, but you don't want to put that on his mind... not when he is so close to the day when your sons come into this world"

Leo shook his head, "I don't want to trouble him, especially how hard it is for him to be comfortable but I promised him to be honest...no matter what" He muttered and finished his tea, refilling the cup from the teapot in front of him.

He looked around the heavily decorated room, seeing the small organised piles of presents around the tall Christmas tree that April and Casey picked out this year. He smiled softly thinking of the presents he had yet to finish wrapping but been so occupied, he shook his head and looked into the fire.

Master Splinter nodded, "I can understand, let us see how Donatello is today" He replied, refilling his own cup.

Leo smiled and nodded, feeling a little better especially hearing shuffled footsteps coming down the stairs slowly. "You should be in bed my mate" He said as he got up and helped the pregnant turtle down the last few stairs.

"W-wanted to find you" Don muttered, rubbing his beak against Leo's shoulder as he was brought close to the leader's side.

"I was going to come back up Donnie, promised would be at your side remember" Leo muttered softly, leading the pregnant turtle to the couch.

Don sighed and sat down carefully, rubbing his baby bump. "I remember, just what happened?" He asked softly, watching April and Master Splinter disappear into the kitchen.

Leo took a slow deep breath, letting it go slowly. "I-I've been having nightmares again... they've been terrible" He muttered softly, rubbing his lover's baby bump as he remembered the nightmares. "They've been occupying my mind lately"

Don nuzzled his mate, "Talk to me baby, you need to talk..." He said seeing Leo in the light coming from the fire, looking older and weary. "They are eating the energy out of you... miss seeing those eyes sparkle"

Leo sighed and nodded, starting slowly from the beginning. Repeating the nightmares, unable to hold his eyes with Don as he thought of the pools of blood, his mate dead in bed with or without their children.

"D-died in childbirth... I've had nightmares like that too..." Don muttered softly, rubbing his baby bump in soft circles smiling softly feeling a few kicks. "J-just not really been able to tell you... I don't want to leave you or my babies... not after all of this"

Leo pulled his mate close, feeling Don bury his beak against his neck. "Shh baby, it'll be ok... thank you" He muttered, kissing the top of the turtle's head softly.

Don nodded, "Know it will, just don't go away please" He muttered with a slight croak, muffled against Leo's neck.

Leo shivered at the hot breath and stroked the pregnant turtle's baby bump, "I promise I won't leave you or our children my fiancée... this will be the best Christmas ever"


A week passed quickly, the snow piling high outside the farmhouse windows with the turtles wrapped up in warm ponchos even when inside the farmhouse.

The nightmares still plagued the leader in blue, but with help from his father and from his mate they were not as fierce. But seeing the discomfort affect his mate every day did not help put his worry to rest.

But now the night before Christmas, the snow and wind howling outside the shuttered window and locked door of the farmhouse. Casey and April cuddled up in a nest of blankets on the floor, Mikey was staring at the presents around the tree while Raph was just staring into the fire. Master Splinter was reading quietly in his favourite armchair and on the couch rested Leo and Don.

Don was fast asleep, being lured to sleep by a full stomach, warmth from the fire and his mate. Leo smiled softly, stroking the baby bump feeling the children inside settling down to let their mother rest.

"Maybe ya should get him to bed Leo" Raph muttered softly, moving to rest his shell against the side of the couch. "Long day tomorrow"

Leo sighed and nodded, "I should Raph, but just moving him... he's pretty much in my lap and on the couch" He said softly, looking down at his sleeping fiancée.

Don sighed and turned a little with a soft moan, pulling his blanket nest closer to himself.

Raph gave a soft smile, "Can give ya a hand if ya like bro" He said softly.

Leo shook his head, closing his eyes. "N-no it's ok Raph... j-just can you move away?" He asked softly.

Raph frowned and moved to the other side of the room, "That better? Is it that instinct again?" He asked his brother.

Leo sighed and nodded, "Sorry bro, don't mean to... it just..." He stopped and shook his head, taking slow deep breaths.

Raph gave a soft smile and shook his head, "It's instinct bro, can't be helped" He replied, "It's happened since Donny's got pregnant and we're expecting for it ta keep happening after the little ones are in this world" He replied.

"But Raph's right about getting Donny to bed" April said softly, "We've got a long day tomorrow and will all be heading to bed soon" She added, knowing that she'll be up early to start their Christmas dinner.

Leo sighed and looked down at his sleeping mate, rubbing his covered baby bump in small circles. "I know April, we should get him to bed... just hate to disturb him when he's comfortable"

April smiled, getting up from her nest and checked on her friend. "He'll won't be awake for long, let's get him to bed and tomorrow will be Christmas day"

Leo smiled and nodded, giving Donny a gentle shake. "Donny, come on baby" he muttered softly.

"Hmm..." Don muttered, opening his eyes slowly.

Leo gently trailed his fingers along Don's cheek. "Hey baby, come on... let's get you to bed" He said softly.

Don closed his eyes and sighed, "O-ok" He muttered and slowly started getting up.

April gently helped him sit up with Leo, "We'll run you a bath in the morning, ok? Just too late to warm the water up right now" She sad softly, giving her friend's should a rub as Leo got up and stretched.

Don smiled and nodded, "Thanks April... I slept through the film didn't I?" He asked and flinched at his back panged.

April shook her head, "Don't worry about it, you were resting like we want you to... come on, let's get you to your bed" She replied, offering a hand.

Don accepted and got up shakily, being supported by Leo and April. "Thanks... guess will see you in the morning" He said with a tired smile and started shuffling off to the stairs.

Leo watched his mate go as he stretched and sighed, "I better go after him, make sure he gets in the right room" He said with a smile.

Mikey grinned, "Don't I remember, trying going to bed one night only for him to be there!" He said with a laugh.

Leo shook his head, "I don't think that'll happen again Mike" He said before jogging off to find his mate.

He found his pregnant, beautiful mate fast asleep in his nest in the bedroom. He sighed and tucked him in gently before kissing the sleeping turtle on the cheek.

"Love you my soul mate" Leo muttered softly.

He kissed the covered bump gently before checking things in the morning, quietly setting them up and just smiled in thinking of how wonderful tomorrow would be.