Raphael held his two year old daughter on his lap while he attempted to rock her to sleep; the fussy little girl would have none of it and continued to cry.

Splinter walked into his son's room and handed him an old warn out book full of children's poems and short stories.

"I read this to you and your brothers when you were this age and had trouble sleeping, the one circled is the one I would tell you when you had trouble sleeping at night."

The last two years of Raphael's life had been an interesting one, he had met Mona Lisa, and they began a relationship. After dating for several years they had a surprise, Mona was pregnant.

Unfortunately due to the war with Shredder Mona got caught in the cross fire during a battle and was killed before she could see her egg hatch.

As Raphael had held his girlfriend he told her.

"I promise I will protect our child with my heart and soul."

As the months flew by Raphael was a proud father of a daughter, with his brothers and his own father's assistance he has managed to raise his growing child.

Her name was Trixie, she looked more turtle then lizard and had a brown patch of hair on her head like her mother had.

Raphael now, two years later was going through the terrible two stage with his daughter.

She fussed in his arms as he flipped threw the book, he found the poem.

He remembered this story, there were times that Splinter would read it to his other brothers too, but mostly for him.

He smiled down at the fussy two year old and said.

"Trixie, this is a story that my father used to tell me all the time. I think you will like it."

She fussed and cried even more and said threw her tears.

"No, da da! Wan, a pway! No tory!"

He ignored her words and began to read the story:

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod

Alicia started to hiccup as he read the title.

Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod, one night sailed off in a wooden shoe;
Sailed off on a river of crystal lightinto a sea of dew.
"Where are you going and what do you wish?" the old moon asked the three.
"We've come to fish for the herring fish that live in this beautiful sea.
Netsof silver and gold have we," said Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

Trixie stopped crying as her father read the story, Raphael looked up when he sensed they were no longer alone, he saw his three brothers standing there. He continued reading.

The old moon laughed and sang a song as they rocked in the wooden shoe.
And the wind that sped them all night long ruffled the waves of dew.
Now the little stars are the herring fish that live in that beautiful sea;
"Cast your nets wherever you wish never afraid are we!"
So cried the stars to the fishermen three - Winkin', and Blinkin', and Nod.

So all night long their nets they threw to the stars in the twinkling foam.
'Til down from the skies came the wooden shoe bringing the fisherman home.
'Twas all so pretty a sail it seemed as if it could not be.
Some
folks say 'twas a dream they dreamed of sailing that misty sea.
But I shall name you the fisherman three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

Now Winkin' and Blinkin' are two little eyes and Nod is a little head.
And the wooden shoe that sailed the skies is a wee one's
trundle bed.
So close your eyes while mother sings of the
wonderful sights that be.
And you shall see those beautiful things as you sail on the misty sea,
Where the old shoe rocked the fishermen three - Winkin', Blinkin', and Nod.

By the time he was finished with the story, Trixie was fast asleep in his arms, he looked up and saw his father standing there looking at him pleased.

"Ever since she came into our lives my son, there has been a change in you. Though you have lost a love, she still lives in your daughter. You did a wonderful job getting her to sleep my son."

Raphael looked up at his father and said.

"Thanks, I see now how much the four of us meant to you when we was babies."

Splinter smiled and told him.

"You still do my son, and you told that story the way I used to tell it to you."

Raphael stood up after laying the book down, and laid his daughter down in her bed and said softly to her as he kissed her head.

"Good night my little dreamer, I love you."

A smile appeared on Trixie's face as she snuggled under her blanket, that story meant so much to Raph when he was small and now he has the chance to pass it on...


Disclaimer: I do not own that poem. Just Trixie.

A/N: That was a moment from my own childhood, but in ninja turtle version clearly. My father used to read Winkin, Blinkin and Nod to me when I was a little girl. I would get sick easily and have trouble sleeping. So he read it to me and I would fall fast asleep.

Thanks for reading...

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