Chapter 13

The following morning Mei Pieh Chi woke with a start. She remembered falling asleep on the couch the night before but she could tell she was no longer there. It took her a few seconds to realize she was laying against another body. She recognized the masculine scent and relaxed.

'I must have been sleeping really hard. I didn't even feel him carrying me to bed.'

She closed her eyes and snuggled against her bed partner. At first she thought he was still asleep until she felt a hand sliding down her thigh. She opened one eye to see a pair of deep blue ones looking back at her.

"Ohayo, Mei-chan. Sorry if I woke you." Venus, adjusted her position as his hand slipped between her legs.

"It's ok. I woke up on my own." As she turned over on her back Venus noticed Leo's hesitant hand settled at her entrance. She straightened the covers, pulling them up to her neck and spreading her legs until hers were slightly intertwined with his. Leonardo smiled as Venus cuddled with him. It had been weeks since she responded to his attention in a positive way. He pulled her even closer and nuzzled his beak against her cheek. He was about to take things even further when he heard a gentle tapping on the door.

"Leo, are you awake yet? Dawn's about to break and you said we need to spar as early as possible. By the way, have you seen Venus?"

The eldest Hamato brother recognized Donatello's voice, and noticed that he sounded irritated for some reason.

"I'll meet you in the dojo in ten minutes," Leo responded, ignoring the question about Venus. There was a short pause before Don replied.

"Ok, see you in a few."

Leo gave Venus a quick kiss before rising out of bed. As he retrieved his ninjato from underneath his mattress Venus went over to Tokio's crib and peeked under the blanket draped over the top of the crib. The baby turtle was still asleep so the mother decided to go to Mikey's room to check on the twins. When she stepped out into the hallway she crossed paths with Donatello, who was coming out of the bathroom. He paused to stare at her a moment, noticing whose room she just came out of. He glared at her with a frown on his face before heading downstairs.

Once Donatello made it to the basement he saw Raphael was already in the dojo polishing his sai. The presently mask-less ninja went over to the weapons wall, popped one of his backup bos with his foot and caught it in his hands.

"Mornin', Donnie. What's wrong with your face?" The techno Turtle gave his brother a questioning look. "You look like somebody ticked you off."

"I'm ok, Raph."

"Anyway, I'm used to Mikey being late for sparring but not Leo. You see him yet?"

"Didn't see him, but I did speak to him. Said he'll be down in ten minutes."

"Weird. He's usually ready before all of us. Wonder what held him up?"

"Does it really matter?" Donatello growled as he twirled his bo, imagining what Leo and Venus might have been doing in his eldest brother's room.

"Geez! Calm down, Donnie. I was just makin' conversation."

At that moment the rest of the clan entered the dojo. Leo was carrying his still sleeping son in his arms while Mike followed holding Milan in a car seat, and Venus brought up the rear carrying Gidget in a car seat as well. The young shinobi settled down with the babies in a far corner of the dojo out of harm's way. She wouldn't be participating because of her present condition, but she would observe.

"All right, brothers, we spar without weapons today just to be on the safe side. We don't want to put the children in danger."

"Sounds good to me," Michelangelo responded as he placed his nunchucks in their holder on the north wall. As the others did the same with their weapons Mikey noticed his quiet brother was staring at the eldest the whole time. "So, are we pairing off or is this gonna be a free for all?"

"We need to stay on our toes, so a free for all sounds good, Mikey," Leo replied with a smile. His smile was wiped off his face when he got a sharp kick to the chest. Turns out Donatello wasn't wasting any time. Leo didn't bother complaining that his present opponent didn't wait for a signal to begin. He had said they need to stay on their toes after all. That didn't stop him from getting annoyed by Donatello's actions. When Donatello threw a hard punch at him Leo caught Don's fist then returned the favor with a kick to Donatello's stomach. Leo shook his head figuring Donatello was showing off for Venus.

She didn't show it on her face, but Venus did take notice. She never was impressed by male posturing, but that didn't seem to stop the growing conflict between two jealous brothers. Leo and Don looked as if they were about to come to serious blows when Mikey joined the fray by knocking them both off their feet with a sweeping kick. The downed Turtles quickly recovered and a true free-for-all ensued. Venus tried to keep up with the lightning fast moves of the sparring Hamato brothers as little Tokio bounced in her lap squealing with delight. He thought his father and uncles were giving him quite a wonderful show. The whole session ended with all four brothers in awkward positions. Mike's fist was in Raph's face, Raph's leg was pressing down on Leo's carapace while Leo had twisted Don's arm behind his back, and one of Don's toes was poking Mike in the eye.

"You know Leo, next time I suggest a free-for-all it'll be ok for you to shut me up," Michelangelo grumbled as he got up and rubbed his stinging eye.

"Heh, that really got my blood pumpin', so no complaints from me!" Raph crowed as he got up flexing his arms.

"Eh, that was actually kind of fun." Leonardo got up with a chuckle and walked over to where Venus and the children were. So far Donatello hadn't said a word. Leo knelt in front of his mate who was still holding their son in her arms.

"Was that you I heard cheering, Toki-chan? You were watching otou-san, weren't you?" His son smiled as Leo stroked his little chin. The father-son moment was cut short when Leo felt something land on his right shoulder. He looked over to see the end of Donatello's bo resting there.

"Are we having the clan meeting right away or are we going to have breakfast first?" Don inquired with a cool gleam in his brown eyes.

"There's no rush. I'm going to shower then eat. Do whatever you like in the meantime. I'll send for you once I'm ready." Leo glared up at Don as he knocked the end of the bo off of his shoulder. He then gave Venus a surprisingly passionate kiss before heading upstairs. Donatello then slammed his bo onto the weapon rack before leaving the dojo.

"Well, that was awkward!" Mikey singsonged as he picked up Gidget and headed to the upper level. Raph simply sighed and shook his head as he gathered up Milan, who was now wide awake and staring at his uncle as if he were crazy.

"C'mon, V. We'd better head upstairs before those two end up beating the crap out of each other."

"I really hope they don't come to blows. This is getting very tiresome," Venus complained as she followed Raphael up the steps.

Breakfast was pretty uneventful. Leonardo fussed at Venus about her not eating, noting that although she didn't have much of an appetite she still should eat something to keep up her strength. The expectant mother eventually agreed and ate half a bowl of cinnamon raisin oatmeal Donatello fixed her. She fed the rest of the meal to Tokio.

After breakfast Mikey helped Venus give the children baths while the others cleaned the kitchen and dining area. Afterwards the parents laid the little ones down for naps then met the others in the sun room. They could see a light dusting of snow on the ground as flurries fluttered among the naked tree branches. Leonardo had already fired up the electric fireplace causing the glass walls to fog up a bit. Klunk was curled up near the fireplace taking full advantage of the warmth.

"All right, everyone. We have some important issues to discuss," Leonardo started as he sat on the wicker love seat. He waited for everyone else to sit down and all eyes were on him. "Since we're going to be living here indefinitely we need to go back to New York to get necessary supplies. However, I don't think it would be practical for us to put the little ones through that long trip so soon. I suggest that two of us go back to the Lair to get anything we need right now, then the rest of us can go back to get anything else deemed important at another time. I need each of you to make a list of anything of immediate importance that you need brought back. Have the list ready by 9 PM tonight. Don, you'll be going with me to the Lair tonight."

When Leo said that Raph, Mikey, and Venus gave each other a worried look. Given the current tension between their leader and the resident tech, none of them thought it would be a good idea for them to be alone together.

"Uh, Leo, why don't I come along with you guys?" Raph suggested.

"I'd rather you stayed here to help with the children." That's when Michelangelo spoke up.

"That's ok, Leo. Venus and I can handle taking care of the kids. Besides, three can get more done faster than two."

"True, but the more of us come the less room we'll have in the van for supplies." Mikey suddenly looked deflated. Raphael wasn't one to give up so easily though.

"Look, Fearless, why don't I drive the Shell Cycle back? I wanted to bring it back here anyways."

By now the head of the Hamato clan had his eyes narrowed and arms crossed, indicating his growing irritation.

"All right, Raph, you can come too. Let's prepare for the trip. Mikey, Venus, you two work on your lists and have them ready for us before we leave."

Venus agreed with a nod while Michelangelo gave Leo a snappy salute. As Leonardo compiled his own list of essentials Donatello checked the weather forecast for the next few days. No snow beyond a few flurries was expected, so they didn't have to worry about getting caught in a blizzard or anything. By evening the whole clan had gathered in the living room. Venus was playing with Tokio, who was crawling around the portable play area discovering the wonders of plush carpeting. At first he patted and pulled at it looking quite delighted by the bouncy threads. When the baby tried to taste it his mother quickly scooped him up and tapped him on his little beak to scold him. She laughed when he tried to lick her finger. Leonardo, Donatello, and Raphael were now in the living room dressed for the winter chill.

"Mikey, Mei-chan, I need your list of essentials." Leo's youngest brother handed both lists to him so he could look them over. "Uh, Mikey, I thought I asked you to make a list of essentials," Leo grumbled with a frown.

"I did, bro! My comic books and DVD's are essential for keeping me from being bored senseless in case we get snowed in!" the resident cut-up explained with his signature goofy grin. Leonardo simply rolled his eyes and shook his head as he beckoned his traveling companions to head out with him. He gave Venus and Tokio affectionate goodbyes and slapped Mikey on the back of the head before leaving. As the trio of Turtles headed out to the van, Donatello, who had been relatively quiet up to this point, spoke up.

"You know, Leo, I realize the only reason you had me come with you is to keep me from being alone with Venus. What's the matter? Scared of the competition?"

"Really, Donnie? Do you have to start this bullshit now?" Raphael complained as he nudged Donatello towards their vehicle. Leonardo simply ignored Don's remark and got into the driver's seat. Raph got into the front passenger seat while Don sat behind Leo. "Listen, Brainiac, can we at least have a peaceful trip back to New York? I'm really not in the mood to deal with you and Leo's cat fight."

Still no response from Leonardo, but Raph could see a tiny smirk form on his older brother's face. Donatello couldn't see it though. Even if he had it wouldn't have stopped him from talking smack the whole trip. All that time Leo's grin got bigger and bigger. Raphael knew this didn't bode well.

"Seriously, Donnie, I think you should quit talking before you end up regretting it," Raph warned. Several hours later the three brothers finally made it to the lair. Donatello headed towards his lab when he felt a tap on his shoulder. When he turned around all that filled his field of vision was a big, green fist.

"OH, FUCK! LEO, PLEASE DON'T KILL HIM!" were the last words he heard before his mind was swallowed by darkness.

Next Chapter: Things have come to blows. Will Leonardo and Donatello ever be able to make peace?