Seven Weeks Later

Zoe

"I am going to be pregnant forever," I sob into Exodus's pink t-shirt.

She shudders, "Mmmmmeeee tooooo."

"Seriously?" Mikey complains, turning his head toward us. X and I look up from our mutually sobbing embrace to glare at him.

Releasing my friend I rub my face. "I can't take it anymore. I've got to get out of this bed, out of this room, out of this house!" Scooting myself to the edge of the bed, I snatch the remote control from Mikey's hand, push the off button and throw it at him.

"Hey! The movie wasn't that bad!" Mike protests.

Exodus snorts, "I'm crying and it's your fault!"

"What, I didn't write the script!" Mikey throws up his hands and stands up from the bed.

"It was devastating!" She weeps.

"It was Death at A Funeral, the British version, and it was funny as hell!" He snatches up the box, pointing to it, "See, it says right here, comedy."

"That guys Dad was dead, there was nothing funny about it Michelangelo!" Exodus stands up leaning over her belly to swat at his arms.

I take this spat as an opportunity to sneak out and waddle my way out into the hall, where I wrap my hand around the rail and edge down one step at a time, carefully. I was going to be in enough trouble for being on them but if I fell Raph would have my head. As I reach the bottom and scan the living area, I know everyone but Mike and X are out back, because it's supposedly an amazing day outside.

I wouldn't know, I've been trapped in that room for six weeks and I can't take it anymore. With one hand under my ready to explode belly, I open the front door and step barefoot out on the front porch. The sun warms my skin and the air kisses my face, both soothing and tormenting me with five years of amazing memories. My throat tightens and I feel a wetness in my eyes as the breeze caresses my flesh, lulling my mind away to visit my past. As I reach the porch swing and lay across it, leaning against the back, I rest my head on one of the floral throw pillows and look out through the slats in the porch railing at the long tree lined gravel road, then up to the cloudless bright blue sky; the sun high above the roof behind me.

Three baby boys squirm within me and I feel a tightening sensation, but close my eyes, choosing to ignore it. I've been having contractions for a week but nothing happens. I'm sick of getting my hopes up, especially while Donatello goes on about how please he is that I've made it so far. I sigh, rest my hand against the triple bowling ball hard mass and let the breeze carry me away, free and far from the confines of my body.

I'd felt him before I ever met him.

When we were finally face to face, I couldn't take my eyes off him. Something had snapped into place, like a missing puzzle piece that fit right where it should.

He took me home, became my teacher, my lover, and my best friend.

I squirm, feeling an uncomfortable wet chill every time the wind blows. There's a burning ache from my chest to my pelvis, and I whine not wanting to wake from the comfort the day has brought me, but the discomfort is growing and my body is trembling. When I try to move my abdomen protests with a breath stealing jolt and I opt to clutch the throw pillow instead, whimpering as I try to free myself of the fog lingering in my head.

I looked from the large green hand outstretched to me and up into his clear green eyes, tears welling in my own. He was handing me a new beginning, a chance.

"Raph, she's over here! I found her- SHIT! Get Donnie, quick!"

That's Karai's voice. I blink my eyes trying to find her face.

Soon I hear what sounds like an army of footsteps pounding up and down the porch.

"Zoe, I think we need to talk."

"Yes, Sensei?" I smiled at him and his face all but lit up. Oh that smile, that unguarded truly happy crooked smile. My heart tugged in my chest, aching to just wrap my arms around him and hold him.

"What the hell? She's covered in sweat," Karai's hand touches my forehead and she leans down to look in my eyes, "Hey, how long have you been like this Zoe?"

"Her waters broke," I hear April say, then I feel her hand on my abdomen, "She's sweating because she's in hard labor."

"You are safe with me. You will always be safe with me. I will not hurt you and you will not hurt me."

"Then why's she so unresponsive?" Karai asks, stroking my hair, then looking down at me she says, "Zoe, talk to me, you're freaking me out."

"Zoe, you're fighting and you're in control."

I feel my hips shifting forward, "Karai, look."

"Oh my God. Where is Donnie?"

"Come on, let's go home."

"Home?"

"Yes Zoe, home."

"It's your home Raph."

"Uh-uh, it's your home too, until you decide you don't want it to be. Now come on."

"I'm right here." I can hear the irritation in Donatello's voice.

"Donnie, look," I hear April again and she moves me.

I feel a large hand against the side of my face, "Zoe, hey talk to me Sister." Donnie's scooping me up and I hear the front door opening.

"What are you doin?"

"Whatever the hell I want." I grab the tails of his bandanna and tug lightly, grinning at him.

"Do you ever stop?"

"Never."

"FUCK IS THAT HER BLOOD?" I hear Raph scream.

"Calm down Raph." Donnie grunts, carrying me down the hall in the direction of the lab.

"I think I love you Zoe."

"I think I love you too Raphael."

Tears glisten in his eyes and I see it there again. My own personal heaven.

"DON'T TELL ME TO CALM DOWN, THAT'S A FUCKING LOT OF BLOOD DONATELLO!"

I'm lowered onto a table and shiver against the cool hard metal pressed against my flesh. "April, start a line, Karai undress her. Raph get Mike and Leo." Donatello's orders are short and efficient and I can hear him moving things in an almost methodical rhythm.

"Zoe, I want this baby."

"Then I guess… we're having a baby."

"I'm not leaving." Raph's voice cracks.

"I NEED HELP RAPHAEL, NOW GO!" Donatello yells like I've never heard before. Hearing Raphael snarl and his fist hitting something makes me try to open my eyes, only to find them impossibly heavy. My body is naked and trembling for a moment before I feel the warmth of a blanket drape over me.

He's lying me down and he's assuming his favorite resting spot, only now he curls up to my side and rests his face against the mass that is my belly. I love him.

"Somebody tell me why there's a trail of blood from the front porch, down the hall to the- Oh, shit-" Michelangelo falls to a loss of words for the maybe the second time since I've met him.

My body twitches and shudders and my legs are moved, before there's a gentle pressure between them. "Donnie the first babies perineal. If we can get her to push, it shouldn't take long." April's voice is soft, weak.

Leo's voice came next, "What is going on and why is Raph losing his shit? And who's bleeding all over the – Oh, hell."

"I'm so tired."

"You're right there Zo, you've got this."

"We have a boy."

"What's his name?"

"Antonello."

"She's got to push. Leo, get Raph and I don't care if you have to beat the shit out of him, get him in here and you two be ready to catch babies. Fuck, this room is not even sanitized right now!" Donnie sounds like he's on the verge of losing it himself and if I wasn't so drowsy I might have the sense to be scared.

"Donnie, she really needs to push," April sounds like she's crying.

"You still love me?"

"Bonded for life."

"What?"

"Nothing, I love you for always Zoe."

"Zoe, look at me. Please Z," Karai's voice is just inches from my cheek and she pushes my hair out of my eyes, "Zoe."

I blink furiously and my blurry Japanese friend comes into focus, her warm brown eyes wet with tears.

"Why are you crying Karai?" I murmur.

"We need you to push, Zoe. The first baby is ready, I'm going to help you sit up and when you feel the next contraction, push as hard as you can. Give it everything you've got Sweet Girl, come on."

"Tell me what to do Zoe," His lips brush my throat with his heavenly voice and those words…

Michelangelo appears by my side, "Is there anything I can do?"

"Help her sit up Mike." Karai said, taking my hand in hers and giving it a squeeze. "Zoe, anytime now. Come on." She shakes my hand, "I know you feel that Zoe, come on!"

"I want you in every way that I can have you Zoe, in every way and for always."

"ZOE!" I hear Raph, before I feel him reaching deep within me. There's that gale force wind. My love is pulling me back from the lingering veil threatening to take me away. When I open my eyes he's in my face, eyes wide with fear, yet his voice is steeled with resolve and commands me like never before, "Open your eyes and look at me Zoe, NOW."

I try to focus on him, "Raph?" My voice sounds feeble, pathetic.

He nods, "Push Z. We've got a baby waiting on you to finish your part. He's almost here, now come on."

I swallow as my body trembles. Beyond the agony of labor I feel so heavy and weak. But as I look in his eyes, and he takes my hand to share his energy with me, I will myself to take a deep breath and push as hard as I can with my next contraction. Then I feel him slip from within me.

"And Andrea. Don't forget the girl Z."

I rolled my eyes, "and Andrea. Like I could ever forget the girl who has you wrapped around her finger."

He pulled me to him, pressing his lips against my ear, "I thought that was you."

Donatello immediately launches into his next set of orders, "Leo, take the baby." I feel pressure between my legs, "The next baby is flipped and I've got to do a c-section. Shit, she's losing too much blood. Karai, I need you to hang another bag of saline, April start another line and hang a bag of O neg."

"What're you holdin' on to?"

More tears slid down my cheeks as I watched his eyes, opening my hand like a flower blooming to reveal his mask, "You."

"Donnie," Leo's voice is almost inaudible but I hear it and his words yank me from my memories, "The babies not breathing."

"Leo, clear his airway," Donatello instructs and I feel a cold liquid wash over the entire lower half of my body, "I've got to clean the surgery site. And everybody not doing something go wash your hands, put on gloves, a gown and a mask, then relieve someone who hasn't done it yet and hurry the hell up!"

Leo sounds like he's crying, "Donnie, I cleared his airway and did everything you told me."

No, no, no. We didn't make it all this way to lose you now.

"Raph," I mumble, opening my eyes to find his gaze on his brother's shell. "Raph, give me the baby."

Karai squeezes my hand.

With my body still contracting and feeling even more drained since delivering one, Leo's words provoke me and I gather everything I have then scream with what voice I have left, "SOMEBODY GIVE ME MY BABY NOW!"

I catch sight of Karai, April and Mikey startle. Donatello stops what he's doing and looks up. Without a word Raphael takes the tiny shelled babe from his brother's arms and brings him to me, laying him across my chest but not looking in my eyes. I pull my hand free of Karai and struggle to wrap my arms around the tiny, limp green baby.

"Hey," I blink, trying to focus on him, stroking the back of his tiny head with my shaking fingers, so weak that they almost won't do what I'm asking of them. I cradle one hand under him and scoot him up so my mouth presses against the side of his head, "Come here to me now. You belong here, your family needs you. Now come." And I summon all the energy within me and push it into him as my world fades to black.