Chapter 3

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Rachel

My name is Rachel Berenson.

Around two years ago our war ended. But not without casualties to our team.

Ax... my best friend Cassie...

And my cousin, Jake.

I don't think we'll ever know what drove him over the edge... maybe the war messed with his head, or maybe it was something else.

All I know is... I'm both glad hes gone as well as... I guess you could say lost.

I miss him. I miss the Jake before all this.

He loved basketball, hanging out with his best friend Marco... just pretty much being a kid.

When we found out about the Yeerks, and were given the power to morph, I think we all changed. Both for better and worse.

Jake... well, I know none of us were the same after that night. But Jake... he shouldered the responsibility and became a leader at such a young age...

Things got more complicated when we met Jade and her team, and they joined our fight. I mean, it was great to have some powerful allies, and an actual fighter we could use without the Yeerks tracking it, but...

Well, maybe it was then. I'm not sure.

It could also have been when we found out about four giant turtles who were named after renaissance painters, as well as the giant rat that raised them.

All I know is that day I met my match, my equal...

The love of my life, to be exact. Raphael.

I don't know what it was, but we connected as soon as we met. I didn't care that he was a big green turtle... all I knew is that he challenged me in ways I never knew I could be challenged. And calmed the anger when it burned out of control. I don't know how. but... I think that's when I started to fall for him. He made me happy when I felt sad or angry. And.. I think I did the same for him. He was always such a hot head...

Now, years later, the two of us had somehow created the little boy that was sitting in the high chair in front of me, swinging his legs as I tried to feed him. Tried... because every time Raph hit his punching bag, his little head would turn to look.

Okay, he wasn't exactly a little boy. He was half human, half turtle. His face was human, and he had a little tuft of hair that looked like mine, which was slowly starting to grow out. His skin was creamy, but it had the same texture of Raphs. The rest of him... well, it was like his father.

He had a little shell, three fingers and three toes, and a hell of an attitude for a nine month old.

Then again, he may have gotten that last part from both of us.

"Raph, can you stop for five seconds? I'm trying to feed Jake" I asked him as he smacked the bag again, and our sons head moved to look at him, trying to almost get out of the specially made high chair.

Yes you heard right. Jake was his nickname I used. Raph didn't always like it, but he knew it helped me.

Our sons full name was Jacob Luke Berenson. Raph usually just liked to call him Jacob, but me...

"I'm a little restless, sorry" Was his response, and I rolled my eyes.

"Well so am I, but I'm trying to feed our son and you keep distracting him"

"Fine" He grumbled, moving from the punching bag and instead just pacing around the main room of our house. Still didn't help Jacobs attention span, but at least the noise wasn't making me miss his mouth every time I put the spoon near it.

We'd moved to a place deep in the forest, away from prying eyes and idiots with cameras. Donnie and Ithiell had both helped set up a security system that we could both easily use, and made sure if we ever got stuck that they could help out from where they were. Just in case someone decided to try and hunt us out.

I'm sure if they got too close either Raph or I would... make sure they didn't come back snooping. Raph was a big turtle, and just his size intimidated most people that saw him, even after all that had happened.

I groaned when Raph started to pace behind the high chair, watching as Jacobs head tilted upwards, trying to see his dad and making cute little noises as well as doing his baby talk. I saw Raph smile, stopping and looking down at his... well, our... creation.

"Dear husband?" My voice was tight as I bit back the frustration, watching as he looked up at me.

Yes, I married him. So sue me. Better than marrying some drunk idiot who hits his family. Raph was nothing like that, and he'd been raised right. Still...

"Yes dear wife?"

"Can... you not?" I let out the words slowly, hoping the anger would die away soon.

It didn't. I'd barely been able to feed Jacob, and his face was now a mess due to every time he turned.

"Well, I-"

"Would you like to try and feed him then?" I growled, watching as Jake now turned back to me, his eyes now as big as dinner plates. He knew something was up...

"Fine, at least it'll give me something to do"

I put the bowl on the edge of the high chair, moving to get up-

"BAH!" Jacob cried, slamming his hands on the edge of the bowl and sending the mush flying at me. It hit my face, my arms and shoulders...

"Oh great!" I tried to wipe the mess away from my eyes, hearing Raph roar to life, laughing loudly.

"Oh that is it!" I was furious, moving to grab Raph, but he dodged my grasp, taking off and running around the room almost lazily it seemed, with me after him.

What he forgot was that I trained with him and Splinter for a short time, so I knew some tricks of my own.

I went to chase left, instead dodging right and cutting him off, body slamming him with all the force I had. He cried out as I hit his side, knocking him over and landing on top of him.

I looked down at him as he smiled up at me, hearing Jacob squealing with delight. Of course he'd enjoy this...

I grabbed a glob of food from my shoulder, watching as Raph's face turned from happy to shocked as I slapped it on him, smothering it all over his face and neck, watching as he squirmed a little.

"Rachel!" He snapped, and I couldn't help but let out my own laugh, my anger towards him now gone. It was so hard to stay mad at Raph for long...

"Payback!" I laughed, managing to sit myself up on him, straddling his waist as he fought to get the goo off him.

I grabbed another glob that had landed on my neck, wiping it all down his chest, hearing him grumble.

"You wanted something to do" I couldn't help but giggle "Well, there you go!"

"Oh you little-"

I yelped a little as he threw me off him, and in seconds he was above me, pinning me down. He smiled down at me, and I couldn't help but grin at him, my rough and tumble ninja had gotten me again...

"Daadadadadadadada!" Came the squeal, and we both turned to look at Jacob, who was pointing at Raph.

"Babe.."

"Yeah, I heard him..." Raph helped me up, and we both went over to Jacob, who was still pointing at Raph.

Pride filled my chest, and I slapped Raph's shoulder, making him grunt and look at me.

"Dadada!" Jacob squealed again, then clapped his hands happily.

"He just said his first word! And it was you, you lucky-"

"Doesn't count" He muttered "Not actually-"

"Raphael!"

"Dadada!" Jacob continued to squeal.

"Yes it does! He called you dad!"

I had a feeling we'd be arguing about this one for a while.

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I woke up slowly, my ears picking up sounds that my brain wasn't quite registering just yet... Raphael had really wiped me out earlier...

Soon, things came into focus, and I groaned a little.

"He's awake again" Raph muttered from behind me, and I mumbled in response, starting to sit up and looking around for my clothes, hearing Jacob crying from the next room...

"Where'd you-"

"Don't worry, I'll get him" Felt Raph move, kissing the back of my neck and sending shivers up it, before I felt the bed moving. I watched, smiling as his shadow walked slowly out of the room, rubbing his face a little.

"Thanks babe" I called after him, deciding to turn the light on to find my PJ's... Raph didn't mess around when he was restless.. I was honestly surprised the noise we were making hadn't woken our son up. But then again, he did sleep pretty well most nights. It was just every now and then...

I heard Jake's cries subside and Raph talking to him, hearing the floor creak as he moved from the bedroom into the main room, towards the kitchen. I found my underwear and my pants, slipping them on and brushing my hair back, wondering where he'd tossed my shirt.

I finally gave up and just went to my set of drawers, grabbing one and slipping it on. Shuddering a little from the cold, I moved to get back under the covers, knowing I would probably have to do some cleaning tomorrow after we got home.

With the light now back off, I curled up under the covers, feeling myself warm up a little. With Raph in the bed beside me, usually it was nice and toasty, but without him... I had to curl up to get to a comfortable temperature.

Slowly, I started to drift again...

"RACHEL!" Raphs voice boomed through the house, jolting me back awake and making me panic a little.

"RACHEL!" He called again almost straight away, and I bolted out of the bed, fear going through me and wondering if something had happened to our little Jake. I knew Raph would never hurt him.. at least-

I half skidded into the kitchen, relaxing about a hair when I saw everything seemed fine. Raph had Jake on his hip, his other hand holding a bottle. Jacob himself seemed like he was more interested in trying to suck his thumb, looking at me with those big blue eyes of his.

"What the hell is wrong? He looks fine" I moved over, looking our son up and down for any injuries, surprised when Raph now smiled at me.

"He's fine, but... " He bounced Jacob, making him look a his father "Say it again little guy"

He looked confused for a moment, before excitedly pointing at me and swinging his legs a little.

"Mamaa!"

My jaw dropped a little.

"Mama!" He said again, giggling a little when Raph tickled his side.

"His first words Rach"

"He said his first words yesterday" I countered, and he shook his head a little.

"That was just... noise"

"No, he pointed to you and said Dada"

"Dada!" Jake pointed at Raph, almost shoving a finger up his nose and making Raph have to lean back a little.

"But..."

"Mama" Now he was pointing at me again.

"Well... at least he knows who's who" I smiled at him, grabbing his hand which was pointing at me and kissing the palm. Little Jake giggled, kicking his legs again happily.

"First words... both mama and dada" Raph mumbled, bouncing our son again, and I couldn't help but smile.

Our little boy was growing up so quickly!

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Constructive Criticism appreciated!