Splinter and Mrs M

Disclaimer:

I don't own the Turtles or any characters you recognise. Eastman, Laird, and Nickelodeon etc own them. I'm doing this for fun and not making any money off it. Please don't sue me :). My OC's belong to me. Please don't take them without asking please.

Warning: Contains violence, coarse language, and possible sexual content, also some scenes of child neglect/abuse.

A/N: These are mostly 2K14 Turtles with other bits thrown in as the mood takes me. No Tcest. Turtles are 19 (Leo), 18 (Raph & Donnie), & 17 (Mikey) respectively. Splinter is the equivalent of a sixty-five year old.

Monday March 23rd

000

Splinter's POV

Esme has been growling me again for my long claws, so I've been keeping them much shorter than usual, to appease her. As I finish sanding down my nails, I muse on the past few weeks here.

Over the past three weeks, we have been settling into a quiet routine, of breakfast, then housework, lunch, then games or puzzles, dinner, and a talking book, before bed.

000

We have talked about many things. I've told her things about my past, that I have never shared with anyone else.

I've told her of my memories of Bobbie, my first guardian, a young scientist who cared for me until I was almost an adolescent. Bobbie had lived at the laboratory his whole life, after his mother had been killed.

Then of Hamato Yoshi, the Japanese man who adopted me, after his ward Betsy, a bundle of energy about a year old, complained that I shouldn't have to live in a science laboratory, to have medicines intended for her, tested on me when I wasn't sick.

Betsy was a child prodigy, with an IQ higher than even my son Donatello. Unfortunately, she had been very sick when she was born, after her mother, heavily pregnant with the twins, was badly beaten by Oruku Saki, The Shredder.

Her kunoichi mother, Raewyn, had tried to stop Saki from taking Hamato Yoshi's newborn daughter, after his brother Oruku Nagi had murdered Master Yoshi's wife. Little Amaya had been taken, never to be seen again.

No one ever found out what the Oruku brothers did with the grandmaster's granddaughter. However, the grandmaster died shortly afterwards, and the Foot Clan was taken over by The Shredder.

We laughed together, at the mischief Betsy and I got into, when we lived with Master Yoshi. I told Esme stories, of being chased through the house by Betsy's Nani, for stealing 'hokey pokey biscuits' from the top of the refrigerator for Betsy and her twin sister. Nani always would say she was going to turn me into a meat-pie filling when she caught me.

There were sadder stories of when Sensei would go on annual retreat, and the twins and I would be forced to live on fruit from the neighbourhood, as Nani and her husband would often get very drunk, and forget to feed us for days at a time.

Betsy had been my first, and my best friend. We had been inseparable, doing everything together, including our Ninjutsu and Japanese lessons. I had not resumed my ninjutsu after her abduction, until my own sons were born. By then, I was forced to teach myself.

Her abduction, just a month before her fourth birthday, had devastated the entire family. Her twin had been brutally murdered, but Betsy had simply disappeared, never to be seen again.

I told her of Master Yoshi's immigration to the USA, after Betsy's kidnapping. He had been searching for her, when the purple dragons had murdered him, leaving me once more an orphan.

I told her of being given to another laboratory, to be used as a test subject, until an eight-year-old April O'Neill, had rescued my son's and I from a fire, that had been set by her father, to destroy the deadly plans of the Shredder, whose student, owned the laboratory.

000

In turn, Esme has told me about her family, and the activities of her late father, who was the enforcer for a mobster. She grew up as a typical mobster's child, listening to stories of the innocent people that they hurt over the dinner table.

When she met Ivan, he was a young rookie police officer that had arrested her father, for some minor crime. She had eloped with Ivan, moving far from her parents to start a new life in New York City.

They had together, raise four outstanding sons, The eldest Feofan, had been working for a bank, stopping money launderers and terrorists from using his bank to launder their dirty money.

After his death on September 11, the next eldest Kazimir, had enlisted in the US Marines, and gone to war to avenge his brother. He had been sent home in a coffin, with a chest full of medals, for his bravery, and for services to his country.

Her third son, Ruslan, had been shot after responding to a chemical warehouse break-in by the Foot Clan three years ago. She had been happy when Raphael had told her later that the group's plans had been stopped.

Her youngest son, Timur had also been a police officer, though his and his father Ivan's death four years ago, had been after, the store they had stopped to get some groceries in, had been held up by the purple dragons. The owner, a Mr Jones, had also been killed in that tragedy.

000

I make breakfast this morning. I have already delivered Esme a cup of tea, along with the Braille daily newspaper that she gets. Breakfast I decide, is oatmeal with a fresh fruit salad.

We have decided to alternate breakfast making, with me making dishes of a western flavour, and Esme trying to make Japanese breakfasts. The results have sometimes been hilarious, reminding me of Michelangelo's early cookery attempts. I always eat what Esme makes regardless.

Esme arrives in the kitchen wrapped in a dressing gown, and carefully seats herself. I've already fed Lucy, who is happily lapping up her special cat milk, and premium cat kibble.

"Good morning Hahen," Esme says, as she feels for her cutlery. "The oatmeal smells delicious."

"Thank you Esme. I've also got a little fruit salad to give us both some much needed vitamins." I respond, handing her the serving bowl of fruit salad.

"The pantry is looking a little bare. I think I'll need to call Raphael to take me shopping. Stop swishing your tail like that Hahen. And yes, I know you have one. I may be blind, but my hearing is excellent. You swish, whenever I mention going outside during the day. I'm not sure what those awful scientists did to you, or to your sons, but it obviously left you looking different enough to make you anxious about being seen during the day." Esme commented, turning her head in my direction, with an amused look.

"How long have you guessed?" I enquire, my voice almost a low whisper from my anxiety. I now notice my tails swishing, and calm it.

"About February. Though understanding your past better now, it makes sense. It also explains why Raphael always scoots out of range when a try to hug him." Esme laughed.

I feel a little put out by Esme's confession. She has known for over a month, and has let me think otherwise.

She reaches for my hand and places it against her cheek. "I don't know what the fuss is about really. I think you are a good man, regardless of what you look like."

I call Raphael, asking him if he would take Esme shopping for groceries. I tell him that she knows, and has done so for over a month, even before I came to stay. As expected, Raphael is shocked, but quickly recovers, and tells me of the changes in the family. It is my turn to be shocked.

A former enemy, and a woman twice my son Leonardo's age is the mother of his biological child. She has joined our clan after she was betrayed by the Shredder. The addition of an adopted mutant child, seems, by comparison quite straight forward.

I have never expected to be a grandparent, though I knew it could happen, if one of my sons decided to do as I did, and adopt a mutant child. I did not expect any of my sons to have biological children. I tell Esme, who sniggers into her cereal at my discomfort.

The two teenage girls who have become attached to my younger sons are also interesting.

Naginatajutsu specialists are a welcome addition, though I remind Raphael, that Michelangelo is only seventeen, and should not be pawing girls, even if it is the mating season. Raphael just laughs, and says too late. He doesn't think they've done more than 'a bit of petting' though, as the girl had been through hell when Mikey rescued her.

Jayne sounds interesting. I hope she will take good care of Donatello. The news that April has returned to the new lair is initially concerning, but Raphael assures me that there has been no fighting, as the presence of the children has tempered any fighting and misbehaviour.

Raphael also mentions the death of Nobody's wife and his accident. The news that Donatello is caring for Nobody's children is concerning, as Donatello can barely care for himself, but Raphael simply reminds me that the whole clan looks after the children, so they are in no danger. Nobody himself cares for them most of the time, but still needs help himself with changing dressings etc.

Raphael also tells me of his new Sai, and Leonardo's new Katana. Donatello is rebuilding our armoury, with a view to waging war on The Shredder, after what was done to Karai.

We talk for quite a while as I am briefed on all the changes my clan has undergone in my short absence. The new lair sounds interesting.

Esme says I should go and visit them. She would like to meet the other boys, and my grandchildren. She always wanted to be a grandmother, but her sons died before that was possible.

000

I am agitated for the rest of the day. Esme tries to calm me. Now that she knows the truth, I let her touch my head. Her inquisitive hands lightly touch every part of my head and neck. Unfortunately, she ends up in my lap after I turn suddenly, to the footsteps coming to the door.

The key turns in the lock, before Raphael walks in. His eyes go wide at the position Esme and I are in, and he turns around to leave, mumbling, "Sorry Dad, I'll knock first in future."

"Don't be silly Raphael," Esme says, extracting herself from my lap, "I just overbalanced when your father turned his head."

Raphael remained facing the wall until I placed my hand on his arm. "It's quite safe to look now, Esme was just memorising my face, when I heard you at the door. I turned suddenly, which caused Esme to tumble into my lap after she overbalanced. All will be well."

Raphael smirked at me then, but otherwise said nothing. Esme came out fully dressed, and handed me my coat and fedora. Raphael's smirk deepened at this, before I put them on and followed him out to a non-descript red van.

The rear windows of the van were mirror tinted, preventing anyone looking in. We all climbed in, and headed for the supermarket. I was surprised as Raphael donned a human prosthetic head, before climbing out with Esme. I decided to remain behind, to enjoy some people watching from the safety of the van.

000

Raph's POV

I was amused at the conversation I had with Sensei this morning. Mrs M had him on the ropes from the sounds of things. He took the changes to the clan far better than I thought he would. Must be Mrs M's influence.

It was a little embarrassing when I showed up later, to see Mrs M giving him what looked like a lap dance, from where I was standing. I had to turn around and stare at the wall or I would have burst out laughing. I didn't think Dad had it in him!

Poor Dad, she made him come with us to the supermarket, even if he did hide in the van, when we got there. It took over an hour for us to get everything she wanted. She grilled me on all the changes in the family. She could certainly give Leo a lesson on interrogation techniques.

Finally, she was satisfied, with the mountain of groceries, and the latest family gossip. So I take her and Dad home. I've got pews to work on at the workshop. We took last week off, to build up the first basement level of the new lair.

When we get back to the apartment, I have to stand still while Mrs M runs her hands over me. She's impressed by my muscles, and amused by the number of scratches on my plastron and carapace. She gives me a kiss on the cheek, and tells me she has missed me.

She also tells me, that they are coming over for Easter, and she will bring some goodies for the children. I roll my eyes at Dad, but he simply smiles sheepishly. He's gonna have an interesting couple of weeks, until Easter.

000


A/N: Hokey Pokey biscuits are cookies from New Zealand. Nani is also a New Zealand term for grandmother.

Incidentally, the name Amaya means 'night rain' in Japanese. I don't like the 2K12 name Miwa, which has no meaning at all according to the baby name sites I've looked at. In addition, Amaya is only 20, three months older than Betsy and her sister would be.

Mrs Morrison comes from the TMNT 2003 cartoon episode "Touch and Go." She is an elderly, blind widow with a pet cat called Lucy. I just liked the idea of her meeting Master Splinter.

The notion that Donnie and Raph are twins is my own head cannon. It's the only way I could rationalise to myself the fact that the different versions put the order of the middle turtles differently. Sometimes its Donnie then Raph, other times its Raph then Donnie.

Master Splinter decided to use the Japanese word for 'Splinter' as his first name, when he introduced himself to Mrs Morrison. He's trying to impress her, since she can't see his true nature, so he feels he has a chance to get her to like him, before he lets her in on the truth.

You can't blame him for trying; he IS a male after all. Even if he usually doesn't hold much hope, the fact that she knows his son and accepts him, has given him a dose of courage.

See my other story "Brothers Bonding on the Cusp of Adulthood" for details about Raph and his brother's jobs. This story starts two months before "Brothers Bonding on the Cusp of Adulthood."

I love reviews, please tell me what you think.

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Any translations are done using Google translate app. I apologise in advance if the translations are a bit weak or wrong.

Japanese Translations:

"Hahen" (means "Splinter.")