I keep failing to upload on Mondays. My apologies. But my head is doing a lot better! I can finally focus a bit again :D

For this week I've got something special. Many of you had asked me to write some turtle tots, so I decided to do just that. It's namely settled around Splinter, since he doesn't have a lot of airtime. I really hope I was able to catch all of their characteristics. For some reason it's hard to write about kids, haha. But still, I hope you guys like it.

Enjoy!

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Father Of The Year

"Sensei, sensei, sensei!"

The pitter-patter of tiny feet caused Splinter to look up from his early morning meditation, he always did before his sons began to wake up. Smiling softly the rat waited for the sliding door to be opened. Seeing his sensei in lotus position, Leonardo got a curious look on his face. "Sensei! Are you up?" he whispered, not taking in the fact he just woke up half of New York with his screaming earlier. Splinter opened his eyes and gave his son the kindest of smiles. "Goodmorning, my son. Did you sleep well?"

"Hai, sensei!" was the answer. Feeling his sensei invited him into the dojo, Leonardo ran up to him, not bothering to close the doors. Right in front of Splinter Leonardo halted and quickly sat down on his knees. For a few seconds he was fidgeting with his hands, but then remembered the way Splinter had taught him and quickly laid his hands on his upper legs.

"Very good, Leonardo," Splinter praised him, causing a broad smile on the young turtles face. "Are your brothers still sleeping?"

"Well, Donnie was. And Raphie and Mikey were fighting, because Raph thought Mikey stole Raphie's blanket, but I think Mikey didn't, cuz Mikey was sleeping and Raph is always tossing in the night so Raph maybe pushed his blanket to Mikey and Mikey just took it not on purpose," Leonardo explained in a serious voice, letting his sensei know he didn't approve of his brothers' behaviour. Then his eyes fell into a sad look. "And they didn't wanta listen to me when I said they hatta stop."

"Ah, that is not very surprising," Splinter answered with a reassuring smile, indicating his son didn't do anything wrong. The silence that followed didn't last long, as a playful shriek reached his sensitive ears, telling him at least one other son was out of his bed. When there was a loud growl, followed by a hard thud, Splinter knew a second one had followed. As he heard the tiny feet rapidly on the hard floor, he knew they were following each other too.

Mentally preparing himself for the real beginning of the day, Splinter gave a content sigh, before turning to his son who had scooted even closer to him so their knees were almost touching. His big eyes were fixed expectantly on him, waiting for an instruct or something. Splinter gave him a nod and placed his paw on his son's head. "Come, Leonardo. Let's make sure your brothers don't hurt each other."

"Hai!" Leonardo called, jumping up and waited for Splinter to rise too. When he had made sure his father would follow him, he ran up to the dojo doors. Right before he wanted to pass, there was a hard sound of something breaking. Immediately Leonardo stopped his running, as if it was he who had made the noise and he turned around. "I think they are up," he stated. Splinter merely chuckled, continuing his trek to the doors. He didn't hear any cries, so none of his sons got hurt by whatever was broken. Expectantly he walked through the doors, waited for Leonardo to pass too and then shoved the doors shut. Looking up, Splinter was greeted by a rather unpleasant sight. Donatello was standing next to the broken pieces of glass that once functioned as a fruit bowl. His gaze however, wasn't pointed at the ground, but to an old stone oil lamp that was standing on the shelf a little higher than himself. His tiny hand was already reaching out.

"Donatello!" Splinter warned, seeing what his bright son was going to do. "Do not push that lamp off the shelf."

A little surprised Donatello looked up. "But I wanna know if it breaks," he said honestly, looking back at the stone lamp. Splinter walked towards him. "It will. Now step away from the glass. Carefully please."

Donatello got a frown on his face, not hearing the warning of his father. "But how do you know?" he asked. "Why does this bowl breaks, but our cereal bowls don't? And why does a drinking glass break, but a cup doesn't? And the teapot, but not the kettle?" he summarized the things he already had researched. A little frustrated he looked back at the lamp and gave it a push.

"Donatello!" Splinter called just as the stone lamp clattered to the ground, breaking in several pieces. Donatello looked at it. "And the lamp breaks too," he said a little disappointed as if he had expected something else. He looked up to his sensei with pleading eyes. "Why does this break, but my flashlight doesn't? I don't understand."

Very carefully Splinter picked up his son and carried him away from the dangerous pieces of sharp material that lied on the floor. Next to the couch he put him down and gave him a stern look. "Donatello, I have told you before I do not tolerate you breaking things. I will explain to you why certain things will break, but I want you to respect the goods we have. Do you understand me?"

It admired Splinter how long Donatello could hold his gaze. Any other son would have looked down to their feet right now, but the curious one kept on looking. "I guess. But why?"

Splinter sighed. The boy was just out of bed and yet again his search for answers by his own research began. Right before Splinter wanted to say something in return, he heard the voice of his oldest son. "Raph! Don't touch that!"

Splinter whipped his head up and saw Raphael squatting next to the broken pieces, reaching out to grab one. Michelangelo was standing curiously behind him, Raphael's sleeping blanket tied around his neck like a cape. "Dude, it breaked," the youngest said softly. Raphael shot a look over his shoulder. "Broke."

Not knowing he was being corrected, Michelangelo gave him a scowl. "You're a broke!" he shot back, thinking it was an insult. Then he saw his sensei looking at them. "Sensei! Raphie called me a broke!" he whined.

"Raphael, Michelangelo! Move away from the glass. Now!" Splinter fell out, not wanting any accidents to happen. A little startled the two boys froze in place, not really knowing what to do next. When Splinter's stern gaze didn't alleviate they both choose wisely and scooted back. When they were at a safe distance, they immediately ran off, scared for a punishment or something like that. Splinter gave a sigh, looking in the directing his sons just vanished in. When those two were together it most definitely meant trouble in the not so far future. Hoping they could behave for just a minute, he turned back to finish his conversation with his other son. A little surprised he saw there was no one there anymore. "Donatello?" he asked, looking around. How in the world the boy slipped out on him?

"He went to the kitchen," Leonardo helped his sensei. Splinter gave him a kind smile. "Thank you, my son. Now can you keep an eye on Donatello, while I will get your other brothers for breakfast?" he asked. Leonardo's eyes turned big, realising this would be a very important task. He puffed his chest out and put his hands on his hips to make himself big. "Defanat- Defin- Definitatelity - Deffin - Yes! I will!" he exclaimed after struggling with the difficult word. "You can trust me, sensei!"

"Very good, Leonardo," Splinter praised his responsible son. "Now please go to the kitchen and make sure your brother doesn't break things or hurt himself. If you are up for it, you can already set the table. That would help me a lot."

"Hai!" the tiny turtle yelled and immediately he ran off to search for his brother. Smiling proudly, Splinter looked at his son. The young boy had the natural gift to keep an eye out for the safety of his family. Coupled with his charismatic character and vast loyalty, he was a great big brother with the talent to get far in life. The others truly looked up to him, even Raphael, although the little rebel would never admit it. Speaking of whom, he really had to check on his two missing sons. It was way too quiet for his liking. And that was never a good sign. He took a few steps forward towards the room Raphael and Michelangelo had disappeared in, until he heard a crash from the kitchen, followed by a startled Leonardo yelling: "Donnie! You may not do that! Splinter said so!"

Shaking his head in exasperation, Splinter continued to walk further. Both of his sons were capable enough the handle it themselves - Leonardo had the responsibility, Donatello had the knowledge. Besides that, it didn't sound like anything had broken, so there was no immediate danger.

The moment Splinter walked into the adjacent room, his heart seem to stop by the sight of his second oldest son. Raphael had managed to climb up to the high level sewer pipes that were running across the ceiling of the room.

"Raphael! What do you think you are doing?" Splinter warned him, hoping he had hidden his worrisome tone. Spotting his sensei, the boy gave him a smirk. "Look, sensay!" he said in a tough voice and he let go of the pipes with his hands as he balled his biceps. "Look how cool I am!"

Quickly Splinter ran up to the point he was exactly underneath his son. "If you do not come immediately down, I will get you myself. And then you will be in a lot of trouble, Raphael!"

Raphael thought of his choices, lowering his arms to hold himself again. With a put off face he looked his father in the eyes. "But I wanna be like tha guy from tha book ya read yesterday."

Splinter gave him a stern look. "If you wanted to be the Queen of England. Get off the pipes before you hurt yourself!"

"But I'm tha best at climbing," Raphael defended himself as his tiny feet searched for ledge to put them on. Splinter saw what he was doing and relief washed over him. "Yes, I know. And I know you are the best in falling too. So be careful," he said a lot more gentle and patient than before as he stretched out his arms in order to give his son some assistance. Raphael gave him a scowl. "Nuh-uh, I don't fall. Fallin' is fer weaklings," he stated, jumping to a lower pipe, almost losing his balance. Rejecting Splinter's help, he jumped down on the floor giving his father a proud smirk. Splinter returned the look with a semi-warning glaze. "The next time I see you climbing on anything higher than your bed, there will be consequences. Have you heard me?"

"This is stupid," Raphael mumbled, looking at his feet. Hearing it perfectly, Splinter gave his son a second chance. "What was that, Raphael?"

The boy swallowed quickly. "Yes, sensay."

"Will you look at me when talking to me?"

Reluctantly Raphael looked up. "Yes, sensay," he repeated softly, although his scowl didn't alleviate.

"Very good," Splinter said satisfied. He looked around the room. "Now where is Michelangelo?"

Raphael pointed up towards the ceiling with a sly grin, causing Splinter's eyes turn big. "He's on the pipes too?"

Giving a chuckle, Raphael shook his head. "Nah, he hatta go."

Heaving a sigh of relief, Splinter gave his son a stroke over the head. "I presume you meant the toilet?"

Raphael nodded, looking at this father from under the large, comforting hand. "I'm hungry, sensay," he changed the subject. The rat gave a soft smile. "Then go to the kitchen and help your brothers set up the table. I will get Michelangelo and then prepare breakfast."

Raphael cocked his head. "But I'm hungry. Can't ya just make breakfast fer us?

"Raphael," Splinter started. "You know it is not nice to be selfish. We eat together or we do not eat at all."

"But Mikey is so slow! He always takes hours ta go to tha bathroom!" the boy whined. "An' I'm hungry now!" Seeing the angry look of his father, he shrunk back. "Heh…" he gave an awkward smile. "I'm off!"

"Raphael!" Splinter called after him, until he heard a yell. "Sensei! You've gotta help!" the voice of his youngest son sounded from the bathroom. Splinter sighed, deciding to let Raphael off the hook for now. He quickly went to the bathroom. "What is it, Michelangelo?" he asked gently, seeing the almost scared look on the youngest' face. "I pee-ed."

Raising an eye ridge with a glance to the toilet bowl, Splinter nodded. "I can see that. And what do we do next?"

The young boy fiddled with Raphael's blanket that was still tied around his neck, giving a small shrug with one shoulder. "I dunno," he mumbled. Splinter smiled softly. "We fl…" he helped him with the beginning of the word, seeing Michelangelo look up to him. "Flee?" he asked hopefully, already moving his feet towards the door. Splinter blocked his way in a gentle manner. "No. We flush," he told him. Two big blue eyes stared at him and then to the toilet. Swallowing Michelangelo looked back. "You do it," he said, burying himself in Splinter's robe as if he searched for protection. A little surprised the rat looked down on his son. "What is the matter, Michelangelo? Why are you scared?"

After a little pause, Michelangelo looked up again. "Raphie sayed that there are chocodails in the potty. Very meanie ones," the youngest explained. "And - And the sound of the fl- flus- flas- flashing makes them awake."

Splinter sighed once again, his head in the direction of the kitchen where his sharp hearing caught the three boys messing around. He turned back to Michelangelo. "My son, there are no crocodiles in our toilet bowl," he patiently made clear, understanding what the youngest tried to tell. Not really convinced, Michelangelo shot a look to the pot. "But Raphie's sayed so."

Giving a smile, Splinter got on a knee, looking his son in the eyes. "There are times you have to trust your brother, but there are also certain things that can not be true. You have flushed the toilet many times before and did something happen back then?"

Slowly Michelangelo shook his head, although he averted his eyes. Splinter caught on to that. "Trust me, my son. There is no such thing as crocodiles in the potty," he said leveling with Michelangelo's vocabulary. His son whipped his head up to him. "Are you sure?"

Splinter nodded. "Yes, I am."

"Very sure?"

"Yes, very sure."

"Very, very, very sure?"

Splinter laid his hands on his son's shoulders. "I would never lie to you, Michelangelo. There are no crocodiles in our toilet." He held his gaze a few seconds, before his son got his smile back on his face. "Okay. Shall I flash?"

Deciding not to correct him directly, Splinter nodded. "Yes, you may flush."

Getting out of his father's grip, Michelangelo walked the few steps to the bowl and put his hand on the handle on the side. Giving his sensei an uncertain look, he waited for the encouraging nod. Taking a deep breath he pushed the handle down and the inevitable sound of flushing followed. He dared a look over the rim, seeing the whirling water disappear in the drainpipe. Feeling Splinter appearing next to him, he shot him a proud look. "No chocodails," he said.

"Indeed, my son. And there will never be." Splinter waited for the water to settle until he managed to catch his son's attention again. "Come, Michelangelo. Your brothers are waiting for us in the kitchen." He wanted to walk away until he felt a soft tug on his robe. Looking down he saw Michelangelo with his arms spread out, an expectant look on his happy face. "Up?" the boy asked as he wiggled his fingers. Splinter gave him a soft glance.

"Please?" Michelangelo tried, balling and stretching his hands simultaneously, his big eyes pleading. Unable to resist the look of his youngest, Splinter reached out and lifted him up. "Now let's make some breakfast," he smiled, feeling the embrace of the turtle in his arms. "I wanna help!" Michelangelo yelled, raising his arms in the air, almost stomping Splinter against his nose. "Calm down, my son."

"Down, down, down!" the boy shouted, wiggling in his father's hold. With a slight amused sigh, Splinter put his son on the ground again and immediately the tot sped off towards the kitchen. "Foooood!"

Shaking his head with amused exasperation, Splinter followed his son, knowing this day would be yet again a challenge to manage the household. Nevertheless a task he did with dedication and love, since his sons were his everything. He would raise them to become strong, independent brothers, strengthened by the bond of their family. A family who would care deeply for each other, a family who would always stand together, a family who could protect themselves and each other without doubt. A family of brothers who could trust each other blindlessly, who put everything at stake to keep each other safe. A true Hamato family.

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That's it! I hope you liked it. Please tell me in a comment :)