Disclaimer: I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
A/N: this is written in junction with dondena. The idea is hers. She is beta as well. Also these turtles are based off of the 1987 old toon turtles. It takes place after the 'Red Sky'. Shredder and Krang, and Lord Dregg are all long gone.
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"Oh come on Donatello. I know this is embarrassing. But even though you're not giving birth the natural way, you need to learn to control your breathing, while you're in labor waiting for the c-section, you will need some breathing techniques to help keep calm or the strain of the natural instinct to push could damage something internally." Jane said.
"I know, I know. It's just so hard." Donatello said from the floor.
April was sitting behind him, a pillow between her belly and Donatello's rough shell, while Tanya was having a hard time concentrating on her studies. She was stretched out on her belly on April's couch, the thick book open in front of her. She was trying to read and write down notes, but the sight of Donatello laying on the floor in the birthing position and her mother trying to coach him along with the Lamaze video that was playing in April's VCR. Every time she looked up and over at the three, she would feel the laughter bubbling up inside and she would have to hide her face in the book.
"Stretch back out Donatello. Every woman that gives birth needs to do these." April said from behind him.
"I'm not a woman…" Donatello mumbled in irritation.
"But you are giving birth in a month or so, so stop acting like a child and…"
"I AM A CHILD!" Donatello burst out. He glared at all of the women in the room. "I don't want to do this! This is degrading and…and…" Donatello struggled to get up. The effect that he was going for was ruined by his clumsily try to climb to his feet.
Jane stood as well and glared right back at him. "Actually a young adult. So start acting like one."
"No. I refuse to do these asinine Lamaze classes." With that he turned and stomped over to April's window and out and up to the roof.
]"Wow. Sweet turtle does have a bit of a temper." Tanya said from her spot.
"Thank you Tanya for volunteering to go get him." Jane said. She let out a sigh and sat down.
Tanya looked at her mother with her mouth open. "What! Up to the roof? I can't; you know how I am with heights."
"You'll be fine. The fire escape has railings and you don't need to go far." April said. "Tell him I'm making him an apple and pickle milkshake. He had said that he had been craving one."
"What…no fish sticks in that?" Tanya mumbled as she closed her book and headed out to where the turtle had gone. Swallowing her fear she climbed out the window and gripped the railings like her life depended on it. Slowly, she climbed up. Thankfully it wasn't as cold and she only wore a jacket. The weather was beginning to warm slightly as spring was on the way soon. When she reached the roof she hurried away from the edge and then looked around. She finally spotted Donatello leaning against the small water tower that sat on April's apartment building. He was staring out across the city.
"Donatello?"
Donatello turned around quickly in surprise. He had tears in his eyes.
"Donatello… you're crying? Why are you crying?" Tanya asked, her normally teasing voice all serious. She reached out and touched his shoulder tenderly. Ashamed of his weeping, Donatello hastily wiped his eyes as he adverted his head.
"Leave me alone." Came the shaky reply.
"Nuh-uh. I can't do that. You aren't just upset by that little show in there are you? What's wrong?"
Donatello finished wiping his eyes and looked back to her. "I'm scared. Me and my bros can face any villain that comes along but when it comes to this I'm lost. The others are helping as much as they can but they don't truly understand. And I know that you and April and Jane are helping me with those…classes. I guess the reality of the situation is just setting in and it's scaring me."
Tanya smiled. "Every woman is scared I guess. Even if they have had one or more kids. Just relax and enjoy this. You do like being pregnant right?"
Donatello smiled then. "Yes. I think I do. Though I wouldn't want to go through this again. The twins are pretty well behaved. Though every night at exactly midnight they want to act out. Like they're doing some sort of sibling rivalry thing."
Tanya giggled. "So the hormonal backlash is over now. Or at least until next time?"
Donatello blushed furiously at that. "I'm so sorry about that."
"It's expected. Though I have to say you surprised April a bit. I told her that even the sweet turtle has a bit of a temper."
Again Donatello blushed.
"So you ready to go back in? April is making you a apple and pickle milkshake." Tanya wrinkled her nose as she said this.
Donatello had to laugh at her face. Then they both heard Donatello's stomach growling. He bowed his head and closed his eyes in embarrassment. He put a hand on his swollen belly.
"Let me guess, the twins are behind this?" Tanya teased.
"How'd you guess?" Donatello rolled his eyes as he smiled. He took Tanya's hand and startled pulling her toward the fire escape stairs.
Tanya balked. "Uh... Donatello," she said hesitantly.
His brown eyes looked back at her.
"As much as I like being this close to you, can we place use the other stairs?"
For a minute Donatello looked at her, trying to process what she had just said. She likes being close to me? He thought as he looked into her black eyes. Suddenly he smiled. "You're afraid of heights?" He guessed. He then nodded. "Of course we can."
Tanya and Donatello made their way quickly down the stairs. "It's rather silly and common, but I can't help it. I just get really nervous when I'm up higher then five feet."
"No, not silly at all." Donatello said as he walked slowly behind Tanya. He let out a groan when they got to the bottom of the stairs to April's floor. Donatello leaned against the wall in the shadows while Tanya kept a look out. "Leonardo was scared of snakes for a long time. He's over that fear, but he still can't stand them."
Tanya let out snort of laughter.
"What?"
"Snakes? But they are reptiles…like him. How odd." Tanya said.
"I know. It was rather shocking to find out he was petrified at the mere sight of them." Donatello stood back up straighter and began walking again.
It didn't take long to get back to April's apartment. Tanya knocked on the door and Jane opened it. "I see Tanya talked you into taking the long way." She noted.
Tanya pushed her way past. "Oh please."
"I didn't mind." Donatello said as he followed. He saw that April was on the phone.
"April's going to be awhile. So while we wait let's finish the breathing exercises." Jane said as she indicated the spot were the pillows were arranged.
Donatello let out a grumble while Tanya snickered. Jane turned her eyes to her daughter. "And you will take April's place as the coach."
"What!"
It was Donatello's turn to laugh at Tanya. "You thought you was going to get out of it did you?"
Tanya sighed heavily acting like it was a big thing, though she didn't truly mind. The only reason she hadn't helped before was because she still was taking some college classes and her schoolwork had been suffering since she had met the turtles. She had been studying while her mother and April were coaching Donatello.
She took April's place, her back against one of the chairs. She pulled the pillow that April had across her belly. Donatello watched her then with a sigh and he struggled to get down, his belly much bigger now. He leaned back and began again with the rather embarrassing instructions.
When Jane finally called an ending to the lessons, Donatello's bros were already on their way over to visit and pick him up. None of them allowed him to walk to April's. He had had a mind to protest but the ache in his back had him agreeing. April was finally making the promised milkshake while Donatello rested from his spot on the floor still. Tanya was still pinned behind him but she didn't mind. And neither did Donatello. She had returned to studying and was using Donatello's large baby bump to help prop the textbook up so that she could read over Donatello's shoulder. He was holding the book reading at the same time Tanya was. She had her head resting on Donatello's shoulder while she read from behind him. He was curious to see what she was reading and studying.
When they heard the other turtles, Donatello marked Tanya's place and set the book aside, then struggled to get up while Tanya pushed him, her hands firmly against his shell. After much groaning he finally stood up. His brothers walked in just as he stood up right and groaned, "I think I may need a back brace before this is over with."
Tanya giggled while his brothers laughed. As much as he did enjoy being pregnant with his babies, like he had said before, he didn't want to go through this again. Getting up was just too hard now in these later stages, and there was too much fuss about food and danger to his condition. And he didn't want to have these back pains anymore.
"So Donatello, how long did it take you to get up this time?" Raphael asked as he flopped down on the couch beside Jane. She let out a small yelp as she bounced from the force of the shorter but heavier turtle as he settled down. She gave him a small stare, then stood with as much dignity as she could muster after letting out the girlish yelp and tossed Raphael the remote.
"Thanks babe." He winked at the older woman.
Jane blinked and then shook her head and glared at her daughter who was behind Donatello. Tanya had her mouth covered and was trying hard not to laugh. She was letting out little snorts of laughter.
Tanya was saved when April came in with Donatello's shake. "Hey guys!" She smiled and hugged her turtles. "How long are you staying? I can put a pizza in the oven."
"Righteous notion dudette!" Michelangelo commented as he made himself comfortable on the couch and tried to grab the remote away from his brother.
"No, thank you April." Leonardo said. "We told Splinter that we wouldn't be long."
"That's ok. Maybe next time?" April said as she handed Donatello his milkshake.
"Sure. So Donatello, how did those lessons go?" Leonardo turned to Donatello.
Donatello paused in drinking his apple and pickle milkshake. "Horrible."
Tanya laughed and patted his shoulder. "It went fine. He's just being a big baby right now."
Donatello ignored Tanya as he watched his brothers channel surf. Something caught his eye. "Stop! Go back!" He handed the glass to Tanya as he moved forward looking at the TV intently. The channel was flipped back and it was the evening news.
"It is a sad day for two families. Two one-week-old infants were stolen from their homes early this morning. It all happened around the same time which led authorities to believe that it was the work of two or more people." The news lady went on showing the pictures of an Asian baby girl and a Caucasian baby girl. Donatello listened some more in horror as the police came on and in the deepest regret told the interviewer that they had no leads as of yet.
"Oh god. Those poor parents," April said as she stared at the TV in horror. All of them were shaking their heads.
They listened to the news some more, Donatello getting increasingly agitated. Leonardo saw this and decided it was time to usher his brother home. Tanya walked with them down to the Turtle Van. She gave the other turtles hugs and a kiss on the cheek for Donatello.
"In one week Donatello you will have your last appointment, then we'll get everything set up for the due date." She closed the door. "You take care and take it easy. Don't get upset too much." He couldn't help but feel excited that he would soon get to see his unborn twins.
Donatello looked down at her and nodded. "I'll try. Talk to you later." He waved to her as Raphael started the Turtle Van and pulled away. 'Don't get upset.' He thought. 'I'll try, but I can't help but feeling sorry for those families. They lost their babies.'
Donatello was a real emotional turtle right now with his pregnancy. Each time he would even see a mom or dad on the street pushing a baby stroller or carrying a baby made him long for his own even more. He couldn't bear the thought of losing his too. He had grown to love them so much. But his on the other hand would be wanted more by scientists than anything and he would make sure that didn't happen.
He wanted to catch these criminals.
And as it would go on that there were going to be several more kidnappings of newborn babies for awhile longer.