Chapter 4

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Kristiana

"Whatcha doin baby guuuurl" Mikey cooed from the next room as I chopped up some vegetables in the kitchen. I knew he was talking to our little girl, and I couldn't help but smile. Mikey had started out a little lopsided when she was born, but now...

He was an amazing father. He watched her like a hawk, and made sure nothing hurt her.

He had matured so much from when I first met him, although he kept his sweet playful side that I fell in love with in the first place.

When I met him, well... it wasn't under the best circumstance, but he was so sweet, so gentle...and he took such good care of me...

Who wouldn't fall for a wonderful guy like that?

Okay, he was a turtle, but still... probably better than any human boy I ever dated when I was younger. Like Matt... Matt was only interested in one thing, and when I didn't give it...

Well, anyway... long story short. I was now married to a ninja turtle called Michelangelo and we had a little girl.

Don't ask me how it happened. I don't even know. I didn't even know we could... until Mikey wanted to try it one night, back when we were still in the middle of war...

I'm kinda weird in other ways too, but we won't go into that.

I heard Cassie squealing as Mikey did something with her, then a giggle coming from both of them.

"Don't get her too worked up" I called to him "I want to try and get her to nap before we go to the base"

We'd named out daughter after Cassie the Animorph. She and I had been close, and when I found out she hadn't made it out of that ship...

It was pretty hard news to deal with. She was always so sweet, and so caring.

Her full name was Cassandra Lily Cord, and although she had my last name, there were alot of traits she got from Mikey.

Like... she always seemed to be happy, even when she was overtired. She'd grizzle a little, but then giggle too.

She looked a bit more like Mikey than me. At almost one year old, her hair was starting to grow past her ears now, but her eyes were bright blue like Mikey's. She had a human nose and lips, as well as five fingers on each hand, but three toes on her little feet like Mikey. She also had her little shell, like the rest of her cousins did.

To me, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

"Daaaa" Came the response and then "Owow! Not the nose!"

"Keep tellin ya not to do that" I couldn't help but giggle as I put the chopped up vegetables in the fridge, washing my hands off. At least now all we had to do was cook dinner if we came back early enough.

Mikey had insisted on staying in the city, now they thought of us as heroes. We'd managed to get a house on the outskirts though, and with the upgraded tech Ithiell and Donnie had provided, I knew we were safe from any idiots.

Plus... Mikey was protective of both of us now. Hence my 'matured' comment about him.

Although, I had my own powers, and I was pretty sure I could throw people further than he could.

But... that was a contest we probably wouldn't have any time soon.

"Mamamamamamamma!" I heard Cassie squeal in delight, and I soon found myself with a little turtle girl attached to my leg.

"Mikey, you let her go?" I asked as I picked her up, swinging her up onto my hip with ease as she latched onto my shirt.

"She hurt my face" Was his grumble, and I rolled my eyes, looking down at my sweet little girl.

"Mam" She put her head onto my shoulder, looking cutely up at me. Oh yes, she was alot like Mikey, playing little miss innocent...

"Well maybe you shouldn't put try and blow raspberries on her tummy" I told him as I walked into the living room, seeing him on the floor holding his nose.

"And now I have two children" I rolled my eyes, seeing him now look up at me.

"Ah come on babe, I'm not that bad" He replied sulkily, managing to get up onto his feet. I moved to stand in front of him, moving his hand from his nose and looking at it.

"She gave you a little scratch" I told him, touching it and seeing him flinch, then moving to look at Cassie. I took one of her hands gently, realising her nails were growing a little faster now.

"Oh, I thought she might need her nails clipped soon" He muttered,and I let go of her hand, looking back up at him and touching his face gently. Those big eyes of his just... made me melt...

"I love you" Was all I got out, knowing I couldn't be mad at him for long. I felt so strongly for this silly ninja of mine...

"I love you too babe" He kissed me gently, then moved to take Cassie from my arms, kissing her on the forehead before holding her securely to his side.

Cassie giggled a little at the kiss, shoving her face a little into his shoulder and muttering "Daa"

"You should go get ready" He told me softly "It's almost time to leave"

"All right" I finally caved, giving him another gentle kiss before heading towards our bedroom. Before I went in, I heard Cassie giggle, then Mikey's soft voice,

"You know I love you too hey little one? My love isn't all for mama bear"

"Dadadada" Was Cassie's response.

I think I got the sweetest turtle of them all.

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"Ergh, she puked again" I heard Mikey mutter as I unlocked our front door, moving to the security pad and quickly typing in the code.

"Can't you deal with it? I'm kind of trying to-"

"Oh maaan!" I heard Mikey half run past me, towards the bathroom as he held our poor sick girl in front of him. Probably to jump in the shower to get them both cleaned up.

"Babe, take your gear off first!" I tried to remind him, but knowing it was useless. He probably just wanted to get clean.

We'd just gone for our catch up with the others, then had dinner out on the way back. Unfortunately, whatever they'd put in my daughters food had upset her stomach, and she started being horribly sick halfway home. I would have to call the restaurant and complain...

My first call though would be to Rtaia, knowing she could probably help us out or give us an idea on how to ease her poor little tummy. My heart ached knowing our poor little girl was in pain.

I heard the shower go on, going in to make sure Mikey did what I asked as well as bring in towels and what not for when they got out. Instead...

"Mikey" I scolded, seeing he was still fully clothed as he stood in the shower, bouncing Cassie a little.

"One, that's not going to help her, and two... what did I say to do"

"Uh... I... don't remember" He admitted, moving Cassie as her stomach revolted again, glad they were in the shower this time. Our car though would need to be cleaned...

"You have the worst memory" I grumbled, stripping my own clothes off as I set the two towels aside, jumping in the shower and both undressing our girl as well as removing Mikey's gear.

I managed to wash a few stains out as we stood there, squeezing as much water as I could out of the garments and throwing them in a pile just outside the shower.

As I went to step out, a hand encircled my wrist. I looked back to find Mikey staring me up and down.

"Where you goin gorgeous? Why don't you have a nice shower with us"

I faltered, almost giving in to him, but Cassie coughing a little brought me back to the present.

"You know I'd love to, but I need to call Rtaia and get her down here. We can't have our baby girl like this all night" I moved to kiss his cheek, then check her temperature before I got out and got things cleaned up, throwing on some around the house clothes as I made the call.

When I went back to the bathroom I noticed he'd gotten her out and was slowly drying her off. She looked terrible, her head resting at the nape of his neck, her eyes closed.

"Here, I'll get her dried off, you just get yourself sorted" I told him, taking her from his arms and hearing her whimper a little. I would most definitely be having words with that restaurant... my poor baby girl was miserable!

Thankfully Rtaia arrived as I was finishing drying her off, and we laid her on the couch as Rtaia set to work. Thankfully, for the moment, it seemed like she was asleep.

"It is possible, due to her unique structure, that certain chemicals in foods may upset her stomach" She said as we sat on either arm of the couch, Mikey looking almost like he wanted to cry. He loved his little girl so much, and to see her like this...

Well, it was breaking both our hearts.

"Babe, she'll be all right" I tried to assure him, holding a hand out towards him over the back of the couch. He took my hand loosely, and we watch as Rtaia worked. She pulled out a small syringe, putting it gently into her arm and watching as she sulked a little.

"Oh my Cassie babe" Mikey muttered, and Rtaia looked up at him, then to me.

"This should settle her stomach, but I would like to take some of her blood to test, so we can determine the cause of her illness"

"Please, if you can" I moved from the end of the couch to sit on the floor beside her and stroke my daughters hair, knowing she would probably wake up soon. As careful and methodical as Rtaia was, I still knew that needles could hurt.

"Just help her, please" Mikey pleaded with Rtaia, and she nodded.

I had never seen my poor Mikey so upset, and I was caught between comforting our daughter and comforting him. He was distraught to say the least.

I guess it was why I married him... he was silly at times but so full of heart... it's what I loved most about him.

Gently, Rtaia placed another empty syringe against Cassie's arm, gently placing it into the vein and slowly drawing the blood out. She whimpered again, her eyes opening and looking at me, trying to move her arm back but Rtaia held it gently in place.

"It's okay bubba, you're okay" I tried to soothe her as much as possible, finding as soon as Rtaia moved back she was crawling into my arms on the floor, holding tight to me. I patted the back of her shell, kissing her hair a little and humming gently.

"I will stay until I am sure she is well" Rtaia said, moving to pack up her things.

"We'd appreciate that, thank you for coming so quickly Rtaia"

She smiled a little, nodding "It is my pleasure. I would not let any child in our family suffer for any longer than need be"

"Dudette, that is so sweet of you" Mikey wiped the tears from his eyes a little, looking from me to Cassie. He moved to sit on the floor at the opposite end of the couch, Rtaia moving to sit on the floor near us. She pulled out a small device, starting to tap away and humming quietly to herself, doing something with that and the vial of blood.

I could tell all Mikey wanted to do was hold Cassie, the look in his eyes as he looked from me to his baby girl almost broke my heart.

"Hey Cassie" I tried gently to move her so I could look at her, finally managing to pull her off me just a little to see her face. I gave her the best smile I could muster, seeing her look strangely back at me. Poor thing looked so confused...

"Where's daddy?"

She started to look around, pointing at Mikey when she spotted him and letting out a small smile. I saw him perk up a little, before I managed to stand her up, resting her wobbly form on the edge of the couch with only a little sulking.

"Go on, go to daddy" I told her, watching as she righted herself, calling out to Mikey as she wobbly made her way, with the help of the couch, towards Mikey. As soon as she got to him, he swept her up in his arms and held her close, happy when she let out a small giggle.

Soon, she was squirming out of his grasp, heading back to me using the couch. She thumped into my arms, giggling a little as she did. Then she was up again, me helping her lean on the couch as she went back to Mikey.

She made a game of it, starting to giggle alot more, going back and forth and happily flopping into mine or Mikey's arms, with us encouraging her as she did.

"Is this normal behavior for Cassandra?" Rtaia asked when Cassie was halfway between us on the couch, and we turned to her.

"She isn't walking yet, but we're trying to encourage her" I told her, hearing Cassie giggle again.

"She is a year old now, is she not?" Rtaia continued, tapping away on her device.

"Babe" Mikey hissed, hearing Cassie making strange sounds.

"Yeah she is, a year in three days" I responded, hearing Mikey hiss again.

"I know that Eoran has been trying to walk as well, and he is slightly younger than-"

"Babe!" Mikey hissed a little louder, and I turned to him, ready to bite his head off, when...

"Oh" I covered my mouth, amazed at what I saw.

Cassie was slowly heading towards Rtaia, who still hadn't looked up, the concentration on her face as she moved made me almost cry.

"Whoa!" She suddenly toppled, and I reached forward, barely grabbing her in time. She giggled as I did, looking up at me as I pulled her into my lap, patting my face with her little hands.

"She just took her first steps!" Mikey almost squealed, jumping up and surprising both of us by sweeping me and Cassie up in his arms, spinning us around excitedly.

"Ah! Mikey stop!" I pulled Cassie close, afraid she'd fly out of my arms or get sick again.

"Oh... oh sorry babe" He put us gently down, kneeling beside us on the floor. Cassie giggled again, squirming out of my grasp and heading straight for Mikey again.

"Intriguing... " Rtaia was now looking at us, and I looked at Mikey, who was now picking her up and lifting her into the air.

"She walks!" He giggled, and Cassie giggled back at him, looking happy again.

"I do not believe-" But Rtaia's warning came too late as Cassie once again... unleashed... on her father.

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Aaaand I'll leave it to your imagination to work out what... unleashed... meant lol

Hope you guys are enjoying, please let me know if you are! :D

Constructive Criticism appreciated!