Chapter 15

Home Tonight

Calypso and her sisters made it back to the Battle Shell without any more problems and Horatio stood up, as Andromeda was followed by Calypso.

He stared momentarily at the huge croc-girl, who carried his precious Echo in her arms.

Gently, the croc girl slid the young, pale-haired turtle into the human's arms, and Horatio hugged his daughter tightly, unable to speak and Andromeda choked, "My father…"

"This is Heaven," Horatio thought," I'm dead and I've gone to heaven."

Nerissa stood behind him, her hand on his shoulder, Eos stood to his side, her arm around his neck, and Andromeda kissed his forehead gently, her emerald eyes shining with tears that fell to his cheeks as she told him," It's good to see you again, father."

"And it's good to see you. all of you." he added, with a glance at the four ninja turtles and the croc girl.

Nerissa cleared her throat," Father, these are our new family members. My brother, Raphael and his brothers, Leonardo, Michelangelo and Donatello. And this is our new sister, Calypso."

Calypso nodded," I have heard…much about you, Sir."

He looked at her with a fatherly smile," My dear, if you are my daughters' sister, then I am your father as well, if you so wish."

Calypso ducked her shyly, smiling as her blue eyes twinkled.

Daphne moaned as she came to," Ug, where am I? Oh, I must be in heaven. Hullo, dad, how have you been?"

Horatio hugged Daphne, murmuring," No, no, little one, you are alive, and I am alive. We are alive and together."

Andromeda turned to Eos," Hey, sis, Daphne manifested her power…and it's a bad-ass power."

Eos winced at the bad language and asked," What? What did she do?"

"I dunno, but all of a sudden, her eyes were red, and people couldn't breathe."

Donatello's eyes widened," Oh my gosh…she was causing men to go into cardiac arrest?!"

"Is that what it was?!" Andromeda asked.

"Wait, power? What are you talking about?" Horatio asked gravely, his brown eyes fixed on his daughters," Tell me, my Nerines, what have I missed?"

***

Horatio was grave when Eos finished her tale. Eos bit her lip, wanting to tell them of ALL that she knew, but she didn't dare. She couldn't. What she knew was too painful for her to speak of.

Andromeda rubbed her temples as Horatio shook his head," I failed."

Leonardo cut in," No, sir, you did NOT fail. You can't protect the ones you love always and perfectly. There's only so much you can do. YOU sir, did you best. And they have proven that by the way they have acted. They banded together, they escaped together, and they have helped one another. You did not fail, Sir. You succeeded."

Horatio looked at his daughters, who all gazed back, grim but loving as they nodded.

He choked on tears again," My daughters…"

They all hugged him again, unable to stop. He had been dead in their minds for so long…Hope had fled like a bird, and now it was caged with their souls once more.

Calypso watched them, feeling a slight envy. Here was what she had never experienced before the four turtles girls had come into her life. She smiled bitterly, thinking," By the river, but they are almost my mothers…they taught me to trust and to live."

She sighed bitterly as she wondered what it would be like to have a father.

Splinter was waiting anxiously for his sons' return when he heard them before he saw them.

First came Leonardo and Raphael, looking tired but happy. Then came Donatello, tinkering with the radio, scratching his head and muttering. Then, came Calypso and behind her…

Splinter paused as he took in the sight.

Four grown turtle-girls, all grouped around an older man, who was taller then they, strong and gray-haired, his eyes dark with wisdom and light with happiness, his face lined with laughter as he jealously stayed closed to all four of them.

Splinter smiled as Leonardo came forward," we were victorious."

Splinter nodded, contented as the four turtle girls pulled their father towards Splinter.

"Father, this is Master Splinter, the father of Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo." Nerissa explained.

Horatio looked at the rat, no longer feeling surprised. He came to the old one and held out a hand, smiling," It's an honor to meet the one who raised such fine lads."

Splinter cocked an ear at this report as he took the offered hand," And it is an honor to meet the father of such fine young ladies."

Horatio looked slyly over his shoulder," You still followers of Artemis?" he teased.

Andromeda rolled her eyes, "Father!" while Eos blushed and Daphne giggled.

Nerissa also blushed," Father, you taught us better then that!!!"

Horatio held up a hand, laughing," I'm joking, I'm joking!"

Nerissa cleared her throat," Father, you must be tired, and hungry, yes? Let me show you to the showers, and we'll prepare something for you to eat."

Horatio smiled at her," My Nerissa, you're still as motherly as ever. It's so good to know some things DON'T change."

Andromeda giggled," No, father, some things do not change!"

As the four girls walked with their father, chattering all at once, Leonardo smiled softly, "You know…it's so weird…but this is the coolest thing I have ever seen in my life."

Don added softly," It's like, they got a second chance at being a family."

Raphael added," They have their father back…just like we had our father back when he went missing."

Mikey chuckled, "but they didn't have to deal with the aliens…or the space-traveling…or the Triceratons! Ow!" Mikey rubbed his head as Raphael smacked him," Shut up."

Nerissa came back, her eyes quiet as she looked at them, the four ninja turtles and their master and father and she shook her head as she told them," THANK you. if you had not rescued us, taken us in and made us your friends…I don't know that we would have found our father…that he would be resurrected the way he was. Thank you," she went to Splinter and kissed his cheek, her eyes saying so much more then her eyes could.

Splinter smiled, feeling tears prickle in his own eyes as he responded," Nerissa, you and your sisters have nothing to thank us for. You also, played an important part in your father's re-awakening."

She ducked her head shyly," I cannot say it enough. Thank you."

And she turned, to go join her sisters in the kitchen.

Leonardo swallowed hard," What now? They have their fathers back, are they going to…to leave?"

Splinter frowned softly, " That is for them to decide."

Mikey choked, "Wait, they can't just leave! Daphne's just learning how to olley! And I'm supposed to show her an olley fakey tomorrow!"

"Mikey, let it go!" Raphael grumbled, as he turned to go into his room.

***

Daphne voiced the question no one was thinking about.

"Now what?"

Nerissa sighed," We'll do whatever our father leads us to do. I don't know what that will be. But wherever her goes, I go."

Andromeda nodded sternly," I'm with you… But I'd hate to leave." She sighed.

Daphne began to giggled," So, DID he give you any tongue, that first night?"

Andromeda growled," Daphne, do you really WANT a butt-whoopin?"

Eos looked over her shoulder at Calypso, who had not said anything. The croc girl was being unusually quiet.

"Caly?" Eos murmured," You okay?"

Calypso nodded," Yes… I am fine." She replied softly.

"Calypso, you're normally very self-controlled to the point that we can't tell something is going on, but, despite your calm exterioir, you're being TOO calm. What is the matter?" Eos asked, concerned for her friend.

Calypso smiled at Eos' perceptiveness and shrugged," It's really nothing, my sisters. I would like to know how each of you feels right now…besides extremely happy," She chuckled at Daphne's mile-wide grin.

Andromeda paused as she thought about the question seriously.

"I'm nervous about the future. Is father going to want to us move away? Or will we continue to live here? And what about you, Calypso? Are you going to stay with us? It occurred to me that even though you are our sister, you DO have trouble trusting humans…and our father is human."

"He's father to you, so in my mind, he cannot be all that bad," Calypso replied, her facial expression stoic, but her inward parts quivering in uncertainty. She too, was unsure of how living so close to a human man would be, after her terrible past.

Andromeda looked up sharply," Eos, you and Donatello went to talk with Leatherhead, did he mention Calypso at all?"

Eos turned a little pink as Calypso turned her blue eyes towards Eos, waiting for her answer.

"Er, he just wanted to know where she had come from…um, and yes, I think he's got some sort of…something for her. it's not love…more like, curiosity and timidity all at once."

Calypso said nothing.

Andromeda looked at the croc-girl and asked, "So, LH on your mind?"

"Not at all." Calypso replied with a slightly annoyed frown," I'm wondering if maybe…if Leatherhead lives nearby, could we not also? Perhaps your father can find a job, or perhaps we can find some sort of work that does not involve us coming face-to-face with humans. Your father might live with Ms. O'Neil, or perhaps Casey Jones…or maybe they might find a new place for him altogether. We five might try finding another place in the underground to live."

Eos fingered her curls, thinking," Not a bad idea…of course, we won't push Father away so soon after finding him-"

"I did not mean that. Forgive me." Calypso murmured.

"No, I know you didn't mean it." Eos said quickly.

Nerissa sighed," I don't want to move away…not so far away we never see our brothers again."

"Brothers?" Andromeda raised an eye-ridge.

Nerissa looked at her wryly, "yes…because Raphael is MY brother, so the rest of them are as brothers to me. To you, Raphael is your sweetheart, but that makes the rest of them your brothers, Andromeda. Same for you and for Eos."

Eos blushed as she stammered," I am not in love with one of them!"

"Girl, you are." Daphne giggled and sang out,

"Who you think you're kidding,

He's the earth and heaven to you,

Try to keep it hidden,

Honey we can see right through you,

Girl you can't conceal it,

We know how you feel and who you're thinking of!!!"

Eos rolled her eyes, "DESPITE what you THINK you know, Donatello and I are just friends right now."

"Uh-HUH!" Daphne crossed her eyes at her sister and Eos snapped," Cut it out!"

Nerissa hid a smile and said sternly," And what about you, Daphne? I thought your namesake was a pure huntress of Artemis."

Daphne stuck out her tongue," I FOUND my Apollo, and I didn't give him the chance to chase me! I'm chasing him!" she giggled.

Eos giggled back, "And he's not exactly running away from you."

Andromeda rolled her eyes," You can say that again!"

Nerissa looked around at her sisters and shook her head. They were almost normal again, even after all that had happened to them. After all these years…

"Remember when we would lie awake at nights and talk about…about our namesakes? And about boys?" Daphne sighed dreamily.

Andromeda frowned softly and nodded," I remember."

Eos sighed," Yes, talking about Greek myths…and wondering that if there really WERE gods, why they couldn't make some guys like us."

Daphne giggled hard," I didn't care. I KNEW someday, our princes would come for us!"

Nerissa shook her head," If you old ladies are done discussing love, how about giving me a hand with this meal?"

Andromeda chuckled," I'm going to try and see if I can find some clothes for father. Nerissa, make sure you prepare him some tea, and Daphne, NO bubble gum!"

Daphne pouted," But, everyone likes bubble gum!"

Andromeda only shot her a warning glare as she went to find some fresh apparel.