Sorry it took me so long to get this written guys, had a bit of a rough time of it lately. Anyway. Here is the alternate ending to the story. Thank you again for those of you who've taken the time to read, and then take the time to review, you guys are all awesome. I have the beginnings for my next story, but I still plan on taking a break from writing. At least for a bit. I'll be back though so I'll see you guys then. :) Until then take care and thank you for everything

Epilogue:

One Year Later

Leonardo stretched, working through basic katas before moving onto more difficult complex ones in the dojo. It was peaceful this early in the morning. His brothers were still sleeping and it was the best time for him to get in some good morning training and meditation without worrying about being disturbed. He found it highly irritating when he wanted to meditate and he had three noisy brothers interrupting him, asking him stupid questions, and teasing him about how much time he spent training or in meditation.

Bringing his katana around, Leo faced off with an imaginary opponent. Blocking, striking, anticipating. He worked himself, knowing he had to be at the top of his game if he was to protect his family.

The slightest of movements, the slightest shift in the air, the softest of sounds had him stopping. He paused and glanced towards the open dojo door. No one was standing there, but, someone was certainly making their way in. Leo grinned, sheathed his katana and walked over to the crawling infant.

"You're up early, Akemi."

Akemi grinned back at him and tugged on one of his mask tails, trying to stuff it into her mouth. Leo gently pulled it out of her grip and let her grip one of his fingers instead.

"AKEMI! Where'd ya go?" Raphael sounded frantic and Leonardo could hear a few things being shifted around as his brother searched for the toddler in the next room.

"Escaped from Raph did you?" Leo asked as he adjusted the infant and carried her out of the dojo.

Raph looked up as Leo walked into the living room and his tense stressed shoulders visibly relaxed. "Leo, tank shell. Dis is da third time she's gotten away from me dis mornin' – kept headin' fer da dojo."

Leo chuckled. "Should've checked there first, Raph."

"She's lookin' fer you. Yer 'er favorite." Raph said shaking his head and relieving his brother of the infant. "Come on kid, time fer yer breakfast."

Leonardo chuckled quietly as his brother carried Akemi into the kitchen.

"Morning, Leo."

Leo looked up as Elizabeth left Raphael's room. The couple had dropped the pretext of not being together after Elizabeth had moved in after she'd almost been killed when Graham had found her a year ago. She and Akemi had both almost been killed. If Raphael hadn't gotten to April's apartment to pull Graham off Elizabeth when he had…

Leo's mouth fell in a frown at the thought, even now when Elizabeth was alive and well, and Akemi was obviously flourishing. It had been touch and go for a while for both of them though, and Raphael still seemed to be touchy about the subject. Just a couple more minutes and it would've been too late. Donatello was hard pressed to keep them both alive until the ambulance had gotten there. Casey and April had arrived just before the police had so Casey had told the police he'd found Graham beating Elizabeth and Akemi up, had jumped him, knocked him out and tied him up. Raph didn't sleep for days, calling April anxiously every few hours to see if there had been any change in Elizabeth or Akemi's conditions. April's answer had always been the same.

We'll let you know when we know, Raph.

It hadn't been easy for any of the turtles. Mikey had been uncharacteristically solemn, refusing to play with any of his games or read any of his comic books. Raph had spent his time either pacing anxiously around the lair or taking his frustration out on one of his punching bags, each hit accompanied with a choice word that made the others flinch. Splinter hadn't even bothered addressing Raphael on his language much to the others' surprise. But they all knew how upset and worried Raph was. They all had been.

Graham was taken to trial while Elizabeth and Akemi were both still unconscious and fighting for their lives in the hospital. Elizabeth's family had driven into the city for the hearing and to plead with the judge on their daughter and granddaughter's behalves. Leonardo had watched the story on the news but no one else and been remotely interested in what had happened. As far as Raph was concerned no matter what the courts decided it wouldn't be enough. If he got the death penalty it would be the chair or a lethal injection and both of those were too good of a way out for Graham as far as Raphael was concerned, and life in prison wasn't good enough either, living off the state for the rest of his life and knowing someday he might make parole. And what would happen to Elizabeth and Akemi if he did?

Graham was found guilty of attempted murder and sentenced to life in prison with a chance for parole in forty-five years. When he was an old man and too fragile to hurt anyone Leo had thought bitterly.

As for Elizabeth and Akemi it took them both almost a month and a half to recover from their injuries. Elizabeth's had been worse than Akemi's, but with Akemi still being as young as she was, what injuries she had had were dangerous and terrifying. The doctors had been worried about brain damage but luckily there didn't seem to be any of that.

Elizabeth hadn't gone back to April's when she'd been released from the hospital. Instead she had had April and Casey drive her to the warehouse, Raph had met her topside and the two had embraced fiercely. A couple days later after her affairs were in order Elizabeth had moved in with the turtles for good. She'd moved into Raph's private quarters with him, and though his hammock still hung in one corner of the room with Donatello's help and with a generous donation from April and Casey the couple had a queen size bed to share. Akemi's crib had been moved in there as well. Most of Raphael's work out items had been moved downstairs so Akemi wouldn't get into them and ruin them, but Raphael didn't seem to mind too much.

Leo's mind snapped back to the present. "Morning, Elizabeth. Raphael's got Akemi in the kitchen."

Elizabeth smiled as she made her way down the stairs. "Great. Thanks."

Leo nodded and watched as she went into the kitchen as well. He was happy and proud of his brother. Raphael had really stepped up to being responsible for Akemi, raising her as if she really were his own. It was plain to see he cared deeply for Akemi and for Elizabeth.

Leonardo had been on patrol with Raphael late one night and the subject of Elizabeth had come up. Raphael had told Leo that he and Elizabeth had discussed marriage and while she loved him, and him her, she wasn't ready for marriage again. Not yet. Raphael hadn't seemed to mind. He was willing to go at Elizabeth's pace. But he had told Leo something that had surprised him.

Elizabeth had shown Raphael Akemi's birth certificate the night before, something she'd filled out at the hospital. Akemi Samantha Hamato. Elizabeth had told Raphael she'd picked the middle name for her brother, who she still missed terribly, but she was happy here in the city with Raphael and the others. She said she wouldn't give that up for anything. She'd signed her name on the line that had said mother and on the line over father she'd written in, not Graham's name, but Raphael's. Raphael had been shocked, but not displeased when Elizabeth told him that she knew he'd be a better father than Graham had ever hoped to be.

"Akemi, don't t'row dat!"

There was a clatter and Leonardo heard his brother sigh, irritated. He chuckled. Akemi had been getting more and more independent, and she liked to have things a certain way, if she didn't get things to be the way she liked, she threw temper tantrums. Her latest fetish was throwing things she didn't want.

Leo headed into the kitchen to fix a cup of tea. He saw Elizabeth sitting in front of her daughter, who was sitting in the high chair with a piece of torn up bread and some slices of banana and Elizabeth seemed to be coaxing some applesauce into her daughter's mouth. Raphael was grumbling as he mopped up something on the floor, Akemi's sippy cup had popped open spilling her milk all over the place. Leonardo could see from the milk trailing down the wall where the cup must've hit when she'd thrown it.

Akemi pushed her mother's hand away. "No."

"Come on, Akemi, open up." Elizabeth coaxed.

Akemi pressed her lips tightly shut and refused to open it up for the spoonful of applesauce.

Elizabeth ran her fingers through her long brown hair and glanced at Leo. "Leo, would you mind? She'll always eat for you."

Leo set down the empty tea kettle and walked over to where Elizabeth was sitting. Elizabeth gave him a grateful smile and handed him the spoon and container of applesauce. She got up, gathered up the tea kettle and started the water for his tea before getting started on everyone else's breakfast.

Leo put some applesauce onto the spoon and smiled at Akemi. "Come on Akemi you want to grow up to be a big strong ninja don't you?"

Raphael snorted quietly but Akemi opened her mouth and allowed Leo to put the applesauce in it.

"Don't know why, Leo. But she really does eat better for you." Elizabeth said with a sigh.

Akemi turned a little so she could see Elizabeth. "Mama."

"That's right that's your Haha."

"Haha."

Akemi clapped her hands, obviously pleased with herself, then smashed her hand against a banana sending bits of banana all over her highchair tray, and Leonardo. Raphael and Elizabeth laughed.

"That's a good look for you, Leo. You should wear mashed banana on your face every day." Mikey chuckled as he entered the kitchen. Leonardo wiped the smashed banana off his face in disgust.

"Is there coffee?" Don asked with a wide yawn as he followed his youngest brother into the kitchen.

Elizabeth chuckled. "It's almost don, Don."

Don sat down at the table sleepily and blinked at the table top as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world, Elizabeth only took a minute or so before she set a steaming cup of coffee in front of him and he wrapped his hands around it, as if it were the warmest thing in the world. He sniffed the aroma appreciatively and took a sip.

Elizabeth set a cup of tea down for Leo and hot chocolate for Mikey. Mikey grinned at the cup with the whipped cream and chocolate shavings on it. "You make the best hot chocolate ever, Elizabeth." Mikey said as he took a sip, whipped cream covered the top of his beak, giving him a mustache of cream.

"Yer s'pposed ta drink it, not wear it, Mike." Raph said rolling his eyes.

Leo smirked and took a sip of his tea, watching quietly.

"Chichi! Chichi!" Akemi begged holding her hands out for Raphael. She had obviously had enough breakfast between the slices of banana, torn up bits of bread, and the couple spoonfuls of applesauce Leo had been able to coax into her mouth. Leo picked her up out of her high chair and handed her to Raph. Akemi stared at Raph for a long moment, then grabbed his mask tail and gave it a sharp tug, turning the mask slightly on his head and making the material cover one of his amber eyes.

Raphael scowled as Mikey snorted into his hot chocolate, blowing bits of whipped cream onto the table top. Leo shook his head and took his usual seat as Elizabeth put a basket of muffins onto the table, which was quickly followed by toast, scrambled eggs, fresh fruits, and crisp bacon. Mikey grabbed a handful of the bacon, but Elizabeth smacked his hand sharply and he dropped all but two pieces, looking rather sheepish.

The soft sound of a wooden cane hitting the hard floor had Leonardo's eyes snapping to the entryway of the kitchen where Splinter was slowly making his way in. Elizabeth smiled and gave the rat a formal, polite greeting.

"Ohayuo gozaimasu, Master Splinter," Elizabeth said.

Splinter smiled fondly at her. "Ohayou, musume."

Leo saw the color touch Elizabeth's cheeks, no doubt Raphael had told her what musume meant because Elizabeth had only asked Raphael to start teaching her some of the Japanese language a few weeks ago, and while she was learning well, with a toddler running around their lessons had been short and far between.

"Oji! Oji!" Akemi began to squirm in Raphael's arms. She strained towards Leonardo.

"How come she knows more Japanese than I do?" Elizabeth grumbled as she sat down next to Raphael, her bottom lip sticking out in a pout as she glared at the scrambled eggs Mikey was piling onto his plate.

Raphael chuckled as he handed Akemi off to Leonardo, who sat her on his lap and helped himself to some of the fresh strawberries, melons, and raspberries Elizabeth had put on the table.

"'Cause Leo talks ta 'er in Japanese."

Elizabeth raised her eyebrows and looked at Leo questioningly. He met her gaze but then looked away again with a slight shrug. "She's picking it up well enough."

"Ichigo!" Akemi said as she reached for one of the strawberries on Leonardo's plate but he pushed the plate and the berries safely out of her reach.

"What'd she say?" Elizabeth asked, clearly frustrated in not being able to understand what her daughter was say in a language that was still so foreign to her.

Raph laughed. "She wanted on of Leo's strawberries. Don't tink Leo wanted dat smeared all over 'is face too."

"Funny, Raph," Leo said though, his tone had no snap in it. Akemi sat quietly on his lap, content to behave now that the berries were out of her reach.

Elizabeth glance at the time and then back at her daughter, who rubbed at her eyes. "She's bound to be tired, Leo. You can go put her down for her morning nap if you'd like."

Leo nodded, stood up and carried Akemi out of the room. He barely made a sound as he carried the tired infant upstairs and into his brother's private quarters.

"Ya know w'at I tinks funny," Mikey said through a mouthful of eggs and toast.

The others wrinkled their beaks, and noses, in disgust as bits of partially chewed eggs flew onto the table.

"Oops, sorry," Mikey said with a huge gulp as he swallowed the food in his mouth and wiped up the egg on the table with his hand and wiped it on his thigh. "I think its funny Akemi seems so taken with Leo when he used to hold her like she was a piece of glass that would break if he looked at her funny."

The other too laughed quietly, so their voices wouldn't carry to the sharp ears of Leonardo.

"I tink it's cause he's da calmest one 'round 'er, Mikey," Raph finally said when he stopped laughing. "He's quiet. She likes dat. I've noticed she's calmer if Leo's around."

Elizabeth squeezed his wrist and he glanced at her and smiled. Then the family began to eat together, quietly, with only the slight clinking of forks against their plates or the soft sound of cups being put on the table again after the user had taken a drink.

Upstairs Leonardo put Akemi down in her crib. She blinked at him with wide green eyes. Her hair was longer, hanging in loose ringlets around her shoulders, framing her heart shaped face. She looked so much like Elizabeth. She had Elizabeth's eyes, her nose, the color of her hair, the way Akemi's eyes regarded him at times he could've sworn it was Elizabeth and not Akemi he was looking at. He wasn't sure why she seemed to take to him, but he knew Elizabeth and Raphael, while not always pushing Akemi onto him, were allowed to spend some time alone together while Akemi stayed with him.

Leonardo spoke quietly to Akemi, remembering old Japanese folktales that Splinter had often told him and his brothers at bedtime when they were little. Akemi's favorite seemed to be Kachi-Kachi Yama and so Leo often told it, speaking quietly in Japanese. He wasn't sure how much of what he was saying Akemi really understood, but he'd barely reached the part where the rabbit pretends to befriend the treacherous and deceitful raccoon when Akemi's eyes began to drift closed, her head rolled to one side and her body relaxed as sleep claimed her.

Leonardo stopped talking and quietly left the room, closing the door softly behind him. As he headed back downstairs to join his family and Elizabeth he thought about all the changes they'd been through the past couple years. With Raphael meeting and befriending Elizabeth, bringing her home, how all of them had come to care about and love Elizabeth. And now Akemi.

At the soft sounds of quiet conversations in the kitchen starting up again Leonardo smiled, perhaps one day Elizabeth and Raphael would get married, though Leonardo had never even really considered the thought before. He'd never thought anyone would ever look at any of them the way Elizabeth looked at his brother, but if Raphael had been lucky. Then maybe, just maybe, others would as well.

His steps lighter and his heart a little lighter he went back to join his family as they finished up their breakfasts. He knew he should enjoy the peace of Akemi's nap while it lasted.

A/N Continued: Kachi-Kachi Yama is an old Japanese folktale. Of the stories I researched, I could see this one being one of the ones Leo told.

Oji- Uncle

Ichigo - strawberry

Haha - Mom

Chichi - Dad

I hope this ending was happier for everyone, I was happy with how it ended up. And yes the next story I'm working on is a sequel for this one. I might start posting it by the fall. We'll see how things work out. Thanks again everyone for reading and for those who review. I'll see you all again soon. :)