A/N: THIS IS IT! I wasn't able to really complete this story without some sort of closer...an epilogue of some sorts. So it's super short compared to my other chapters. But, hopefully, this gives a little closure to this story. Don't worry though, I'm in the workings of a sequel if my readers want it ;) Review and tell me what you thought of this story as a whole, if you want the story to continue in a sequel. TELL ME! I need to know my duckies. I'm also currently working on dishing out some different fanfiction verses. Maybe Holes, Tuck Everlasting, and possibly a little of the Labrynth!

So here it is, the conclusion to Turtle's Vixen.

Epilogue

Family; it's a simple three syllable word that people of the world often take for granted. Take for granted what it meant to not only be part of a family, but to simply have one. The often blind and forgetful never truly understand what it is that they have and just what they should mean to each other. Love and support. Understanding without judgment. But naturally, that was the world. That was the way a majority of the human population behaved and existed. After all, they're families had histories and legacies that stretched decades, centuries for some. Families of the world tore each other apart for trivial and often stupid reasons; money, control, materialistic things. It was madness.

To one hodge podge group of mutants and hybrids in the shadows of New York City family was all that mattered; it was all they truly had. They fought and had their differences but at the end of the day none of the conflicts went unresolved. They'd found a way to live on, to ensure that their existence was not unnoticed at least in some small way. The start of it all came down to the first mated pair of this family; Shiho and Leonardo.

They'd become the first of their kind to find a way to make their mark on the world and it all started with their twins, Allegra and Erasmus. With these two textbook definitions of miracles did the collection of mutant turtles and hybrids have the hope of not leaving this world without something to say they were there.

A solid two months had come and gone in the blink of an eye since the day Shiho miraculously gave birth to those blessed twins. They grew like weeds and were the sunshine of Leo and Shiho's world. They had all they ever would need to live on happily together; Aanika, Allegra, and Erasmus. While Aanika didn't particularly enjoy sharing the spotlight she'd had for a year, she still understood that her parents loved her to the moon and back. Only now, she had to share them. More importantly, she had to share Leo.

It seemed that in the short time that Aanika had become the child between the fox and turtle, she tightly bonded with Leonardo. A Daddy's Girl inside and out she was, and she made sure everyone knew that he was hers first.

Between Raphael and Saundra, the second mated pair of the family, they weren't sure if they wanted kin yet or even at all. The fact was just fine with the both of them, they had each other and that was essentially all they ever needed and wanted out of life. If it happened, they wouldn't fight it. But they weren't seeking to become parents as actively as their two leaders had. They fought more than they got along but their fire was impossible to extinguish. Raphael loved that gecko hybrid more than life itself and Saundra would never leave that hot and heavy state of mind when it came to her mate. The fights were plenty but the love-making afterwards was out of this world.

Donatello and Fiona were another love story altogether. Fiona wanted more than anything what her sister had; the love of a child and family of her own. So far, they hadn't much success in conceiving but they were making a constant effort in trying. Donnie and Fiona were always the pair that offered to watch Leo and Shiho's children when they needed a patrol run or just the time alone to be mates again. Donnie wanted to give Fiona what she wanted…what he wanted more than anything. Making her happy would make his world complete, especially if it meant that he'd have his own little one to bounce on his knee when he was in his workshop. All of them often wondered if Donnie's genius would descend to his children when he had them. The only way to find out was to have success. Luck would be on their side soon and Fiona and Donatello will have their turn.

The last of the bunch was Michelangelo and Magdalena. In the few weeks after Allegra and Erasmus were born, he found the guts to ask her to be his mate. He wanted that happiness and whole feeling his older brothers had. He'd been silently jealous since the day Shiho and Leo had come out as a couple, secretly envious of his leader for always having the better things first. When Maggie said 'yes' Mikey was nearly unable to contain his elation and nearly hit the roof. The bad energy between the clone and her host was still present, but once Mikey had mated with Maggie that was the start of the two trying to be civil. Shiho never sent her clone dirty looks or scolded her the way she used to and Maggie made the effort to not pick stupid fights with her host.

"Leo, I think they're out. Help me won't you, Darling?" Shiho whispered. Her twins were fast asleep on her chest as she swayed back and forth in her rocking chair. Both infants curled their hands into tiny fists and made tiny coos and giggles in their sleep, leaving their mother in wonder as to what their little minds could be seeing. Leo, who had just come in from a patrol and a shower, smiled at his beautiful mate and carefully picked up Erasmus.

"How long did it take tonight?" He muttered in a low voice. Shiho chuckled lightly and pat Allegra on the back, still rocking slowly.

"About an hour. Not too bad. How was the run?" Both parents froze when Erasmus made a small whimper, making them believe he was waking up. When he only turned his head on Leo's plastron the pair relaxed. Getting them both to sleep at the same time was harder than they let on to their brothers and sisters.

"Eventful. You'd think those Purple Dragons would get the picture after the first year of beatings, but that doesn't seem to be the case," Leo kissed his son's forehead before carefully laying him down into the crib. Shiho stood and gently bounced Allegra when she began to stir, swaying her body as she did so. "I dunno, Shiho. With that gang still out there, I'm so afraid that they're going to get hurt."

After resting the girl beside her brother, Shiho grazed her fingers down the sides of their faces. Leo wrapped his arms around her waist from behind and rested his chin on her shoulder with the heaviest sigh. Shiho understood his fear, she'd be lying if she said that she wasn't just as afraid for their safety as Leo was. But she knew that if she hid them away the way Splinter had for fifteen years, they would simply rebel against their parents. Aanika would be the first to do so.

"We can't keep them away from the world above, Leo. You and I both know what that will do. And besides, it's not like they'd ever be alone," She grasped her mate's forearms before turning around in his arms. She was so cute in her motherly glow, a sight that he could honestly never grow tired of seeing. With a smirk, the ninja leaned down and kissed her dark lips. Still the same delicious flavor that Leo was absolutely addicted to; mint. Even now, after nearly three years from the first time he kissed her, Leo was never able to have enough of that taste she possessed.

"So what do you think, Domehead, should we call this a wrap and a happily ever after?" She mused. Leo chuckled and looked down into the crib and back up to his mate.

"Nah. We haven't finished our story yet. We can call it a happily ever after when we're old and senile."

"Oh Leo, mhm…I love you."

The swift ninja swooped the dainty fox into his arms and pressed an obnoxious kiss to her cheek.

"I love you too, Fuzzball."

So, while they were happy, it wasn't the end of their story just yet. They had plenty more chapters to write and pages to turn. If anything, this was just the beginning for the turtle and the vixen's tale.

Just the beginning...