The next day, Splinter punished Raph. Staying away from Leo until he was ready to make it up to him was only the beginning. He was also forbidden from leaving the lair, he was charged with doing all of the chores around the lair, he had to meditate with Splinter, which he hated, and no TV for a week. He had wanted to watch a wrestling mania, but now he wasn't allowed to watch it.

Raph was more than pissed. All because of those damn babies. He was sure that they were evil and dangerous for his brother to be carrying.

After last night, Don and Leo went to Leatherhead's place to see how the babies were after the stress that was caused.

Leatherhead now had an ultrasound machine as well as his scanner. He checked the babies using both.

They could now hear heartbeats on the ultrasound machine. Both were found and Leo was glad that no big harm had come to them.

When they got back home, Leo did see Raph on his way to the kitchen for some food. The red masked turtle scowled at his pregnant brother. He didn't say a word and went on into the kitchen.

"I get why Raph's mad, but there is no way I'm aborting my babies." Leo said.

"I know we won't," Don insisted. "But we just have to keep an eye on him and yes, even the babies when they are born to make sure they are going to stay harmless. Where Bishop's concerned, Leo, keep in mind that they might grow to be dangerous. But let's hope not."

"They aren't dangerous. We will raise them to make sure they never turn dangerous." Leo snapped back. He didn't want to hear what Raph said come from anyone else.

"I know, and I am with you all the way, Leo. It was just a precautionary thought." Don said.

"I can go away from here if anyone's going to even think I'm going to kill them." Leo warned.

"You wouldn't be able to give birth to them on your own though, Leo." Don said.

"I know. I would come back before that time, but maybe I do need to get away for a while."

"Leo, you just got back. We don't want you to go away."

"Then please stop talking as if my babies are demons." Leo said.

"I'm sorry if it sounded like that at all. That's just where Raph's thoughts were coming from. We know what kind of work Bishop is capable of, Leo. We just don't want it to happen to us." Don said.

"I know. And I will make sure he never succeeds. But the way I see it, Johnson had manipulated our DNA and made these precious babies just to be harmless, innocent little things that he and Bishop can do anything to in the future if they got their hands on them. They would take their DNA from them to make that stupid mutant army that Bishop wants so badly. The babies themselves would never be dangerous, they would just be innocent beings caught up in the middle of evil schemes." Leo explained his thoughts.

It was hard for Don to even come up with anything to say to that. Leo had a point. He was sure of Leo's twins just being innocent victims.

….

By the time two weeks had passed, Raph felt more ready to apologize to Leo for what he had done, but he explained why he was so worried about it all.

"Raph, I understand why you're worried about me. But the babies are just innocent. They were going to be in the scheme of things for Bishop's work if I had stayed or if he gets his hands on them. He just wanted them for their DNA to make the army. I know he wouldn't have been concerned if they lived or died. But they are a part of us, and I am not going to let the last two die." Leo declared to Raph. "Don't ever try that again."

"I just don't want to see anything bad happen. And I won't, but I'll still be watchin' over ya." Raph said. "And I'm sorry." He was still antsy about this whole thing though. He just wouldn't let it get the best of him again, not unless it truly called for it.

…

Don counted up to the due date of the twins and calculated that they would be due in late January. It wasn't the best time of the year for the twins to be born, so he figured he had better start working on some incubators for the babies to sleep in for the wintertime.

The turtles might be able to stay here in the city up until it started getting really cold out, then they would head up to the farmhouse for the babies' sakes for when they were born. The sewers were no place to birth babies.

…

When the twenty third week came around, it was in October.

By this time, Leo had remedied what he would do if he had nightmares. He would either go for a walk in the sewers or meditate. But the good thing was that he wasn't having them as often now.

Ali had also written him a letter, telling him how things were going and had even sent a picture of the foal. The picture was also meant to be shown to Mikey, as Ali had discovered Mikey's crazy love of animals too.

Mikey wanted to name the little colt, but Leo said that she wouldn't be keeping the foal. She would just have him until weaning time.

"I wish we could have him." Mikey whined.

"You already have Klunk, Mikey. And we don't exactly have the right kind of home for a horse. They have to be allowed to eat grass and hay all day and I don't think anyone of us wants to clean up the messes they would make." Leo said.

"There's space at the farmhouse."

"We don't live there all year round, Mikey. Horses are a big responsibility and we have the twins to be thinking about. No. There will be no horse in the lair. Yes, I liked the horses too, but we don't have the right knowledge and space to care for any."

"Well, I just hope he gets a good home." Mikey said.

"He will." Leo put an arm around Mikey. "She has responsible people wanting to give him a good home. She said that he'll be a show horse later on."

"Thanks, Leo." Mikey said as he gave Leo's stomach a rub. "I hope one of you two is my child." Mikey said.

"Don't give up hope, Mikey."

"Have you been thinking of names?" Mike asked.

"Still, not really. Times have just been a little confusing for me."

"We can help think of names."

"Sure. That would be nice." Leo said.

After Mikey left to go do something else, Leo went into Don's lab to see how the incubators were coming along.

They were looking well done every day. Don sure spent a lot of time on them. He wanted the babies to be welcomed and loved as much as his pregnant brother.

….

Leonardo missed his serious training days so badly. Small katas just didn't cut it, but it was better to be doing something than nothing. He wanted to train with his brothers and father again. He also didn't like the fact that he was getting fat, but he knew he didn't have a choice in the matter.

He could do some punches and kicks, some moves with his katanas, and did daily yoga exercises. He had also begun more specialized breathing techniques. The twins were putting more pressure on his internal organs.

Down here in the lair, Leo was the leader again, but out on patrol, Raph was in command, with Don trying to keep him calm. But if Leo's guidance was needed, they could always call him. Leo wanted to feel wanted and useful. And despite his condition, he didn't want to be left helpless either.

Beta read by Applepye.