Chapter 5

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Serah

My name is Serah Mayer.

And this is my first time doing any of this so I just wanted to say hi. So... hi!

So anyway, a few years back I found out I was part alien and my mother was what they call a Chanaiben.

This I found out through one of my besties Jade, who has probably pretty much told you the whole story with that.

Up until then, I thought she was normal too. You know, chick that came from another country, a little lost, a little bit of a tomboy... awesome accent as well...

Anyway, I'm part alien. And at the same time I found that out, I also found out about the Yeerks. And a whoooole heap of other nasty creatures I won't go into right now. But pretty much... Yeerks invaded our planet, turned it into almost a wasteland as they tried to take it over... and myself and my friends stopped them.

The Animorphs, Jade's team, and...

"Oh, Leo!" I ran forward, grabbing Dean before he reached his father, almost getting both our heads sliced off.

"Wha-oh" He sheathed his katanas as I stood up, the squirming mass of turtle boy now in my hands.

"You gotta watch what you're doing!" I almost snapped at him as I put our son back down, watching as he waddled back off to what I hoped was his room. I had been keeping an eye on him, but... well, when you gotta go, you gotta go. And I thought my husband had heard me when I'd called out to him to watch him for like, thirty seconds.

Okay, I guess I should back up and tell you the short, short version. I came across Jade kissing what I now know as Donnie back in the day, thought he was a monster... fainted, thought I was mad. Until I caught them... kissing... again and they brought me down to the old lair to meet the rest of the turtles and Splinter... and I soon found out about everything else after that.

Then I got close to Leo... fell for him, and thought I had a silly crush. Soon found out he felt the same way and we... well enjoyed a certain activity together, which led to me somehow getting pregnant and married to this big, blue bandana wearing maniac with the katanas.

We now had a son. Dean Axel Mayer. Axel in kind of commemoration of Ax, who probably saved my butt more times than I could count. He died saving some of my friends in one of the last big battles we had. He stayed so they could escape...

"Sorry Ser, I didn't know he was out of our bedroom"

"Well I did call out"

He scratched the back of his head as I heard something thump in Deans room, then a giggle. I knew it was something I would probably have to clean up, but right now...

Leo was my target.

"I was kind of focused on the kata-"

"Well that's not good enough! You know hes fast! He's got too many of your traits in him... a sneaky little ninja..." I folded my arms, listening out for any more crashing, hoping Dean hadn't made too big of a mess.

Dean was more turtle than human, although he did have my dark eyes, and a small tuft of hair, the one and a half year old had his fathers nose and mouth. He had the three fingers like Leo, and the same toes, with the same kind of texture and colour of skin that his father had.

I noticed in our catch ups, that Dean and Miah looked more like their fathers than anything, although Dean was the most... turtle-lish, to put plainly.

"Serah, I am so sorry, next time I'll remember to practice my kata outside" He took my hands in his, giving me an apologetic smile.

"Next time you will practice your kata miles away from here, understood? Go visit Raph, I'm sure you two can train together... he aint that far from here"

He looked at me strangely, and I indicated to Deans room where I noticed he'd gone quiet. Which worried me.

"Dean is fine, he-"

I growled a little, yanking my hands from his grasp and moving to go check on Dean. A quiet baby is a baby that's up to something...

I skidded to a stop at the doorway, seeing toys scattered all over the room, and...

"Oh no, Leo!"

In an instant he was by my side, looking at me quizzically, before turning to see his son.

I put a hand over my eyes, sighing as Leo let out a deep laugh beside me, patting my shoulder a little.

Dean had thrown out all the toys from one of his toy boxes, somehow managing to get the semi heavy box over on his head. His hands were on the edges, and he was talking in baby garble at who knows what, giggling a little.

"Oh Dean, you're slowly killing mommy, you know that?" I muttered, not sure whether to walk away and let Leo deal with it, or just start picking up the toys to put back in the box.

"At least he's inventive, I'll give him that" Leo chuckled, and I turned to look at him, finding he had his arms folded and a big grin across his face.

"Were you like this when you were little?"

Leo chuckled again, using one arm to pull me in and close to him as I sighed.

"I don't think so, but you might have to ask Splinter"

I scoffed, finally giving into the affection as my arms slipped around him, leaning my head on his shoulder a little.

"Splinter couldn't say a bad word against his favorite son I bet"

"Splinter loved all of us equally growing up. Yes, even Raph before you say anything" He squeezed my shoulder a little, watching as the box slipped from our sons head, and he giggled as he looked at us.

"He's so happy" I murmured, watching as he worked his way into a standing position, wobbling his way over to us.

"He's loved" Was Leo's response as he got close, and I scooped him up in my arms, surprised when he threw his arms around my neck and hugged me tightly.

He muttered some incoherent words, slobbering a little on my cheek with what I guessed was meant to be a kiss, swinging his legs happily.

"Thanks little man" I muttered, wiping my cheek with my other hand, looking up at Leo.

I don't know why, but the look on his face just made me smile, watching as he patted his sons shell a little.

"Nam" Dean mumbled, pointing to his mouth, and I couldn't help but laugh. As crazy as this kid was, I don't think I could have loved anyone more.

"All right, let's go little man" I shifted him onto my left side, feeling Leo put his arm around my right after I turned around, the three of us heading towards the kitchen.

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"You have nooo idea how good this is" I muttered as I leaned back in my chair, looking at the four other girls around me.

"I... think we do" Rachel winked at me, smiling.

"It's been months since we had a girls day out" Amanda added, leaning forward and taking a big gulp of her hot chocolate.

"Yeah, and those lucky boys get a weekly training catch up" Jade rolled her eyes, her hands on her own mug.

"Maybe we should start a business or something"

We all looked at Kristiana.

"What?"

"And what would we do in this business sweety?" I asked, leaning forward "Promote ourselves as the former saviors of earth"

Now it was my turn to be looked at.

"What?"

"That was possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard come from your mouth" Rachel muttered, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm serious but" Kristiana continued, ignoring me as I shot daggers at Rachel "We could do something with our lives, and as much as I enjoy having all this money and all this freedom... frankly, I'm bored as all blueberries"

"Me too" Amanda, raising her cup up to her face, but then stopping "I mean, don't get me wrong... I love Ithiell and Eoran is just the best thing I could have ever asked for, I just... I feel pretty useless other than being all... motherly and house wifey"

"Urgh, we're house wives" Jade thunked her head on the table "Last thing I wanted to be"

"Well, we could always buy a shop and sell cloth-"

"Oh hell no" Jade's head shot up, moving her hands in front of her madly "I am not gonna be a part of selling clothes. You girls drive me mad just by going shopping with you"

Suddenly it hit me... and it was something I knew we could all do.

"Oh, what about like a cafe? Or even like a bar or something" I offered, looking at all the girls.

"Uuuuuh... whhyyyy?"

"Well think about it my gorgeous friends... Amanda has the talent to sing, Kristiana and I can cook or serve drinks, and-"

"And Jade and I take no crap... we could be the bouncers!" Rachel laughed a little.

"How about this" Jade leaned forward, and we all joined her.

"We throw ideas back and forth, until we come up with something... plausible... we can do with our adult lives"

"We could do a-"

"No TV shows" Jade half glared at Amanda, who pouted.

"Yeaah, I really don't want to do something like that" I leaned back, hands up in a defensive position "I mean, it was hard enough to get away from the lights and cameras back when we helped save the world. I don't want paparazzi on my door"

Kristiana snorted "You mean the door that barely anyone could get to if they tried? Babe, you live on a mountain top... well, almost"

"It's got a good view at least" I couldn't help but smile "Oh and then there's the scenery"

All the girls let out weird sounds, and I couldn't help but giggle a little.

"We don't want to know what you and Leo get up to... that's just..." Jade stopped, shuddering.

"Well I knew what you and Donnie used to get up to... all that yelling and moa-"

"Ser-ah!" Jade practically yelped, her face turning the perfect shade of pink.

"And now my day is complete" I grinned, watching her shoot daggers in my direction.

Soon, it was time to go, and the five of us split off in different directions, heading home to our husbands and children until the next day. I was kind of excited to be able to see my mom and brothers again, as they'd be joining us tomorrow at the base. Sam and Toby really did miss their nephew...

I went up the usual route home, parking my car in my usual spot and heading up the small slope to the house. I'd done this a billion times before, smiling and wondering what the two boys were now up to... I just hoped Dean had been good for Leo...

The first thing I heard when I opened the door was "All right, attack daddy!"

Dean giggled, then made some high pitched sounds as I heard something thump. Leo laughed a little, and immediately I wondered what they were up to.

Slowly and as quietly as possible, I shut the door behind me, using what I'd learnt to sneak towards the living room

I leaned myself against the wall, hearing Leo laughing and Dean giggling, the small thumps continuing and wondering what was happening.

"Okay, no more attacking daddy" Leo told him, but from the sounds of it he didn't listen...

That's my boy...

I took a chance to peek around the corner, surprised to see Leo on the floor, holding his hands up in a defensive position, watching as Dean whacked him mercilessly with-

"Wooden katanas?!" I almost snapped, both of them stopping what they were doing to look at me.

"Uh, hi honey" Leo tried to smile, scrambling up off the floor and picking Dean up as he did, trying to hide the tiny katanas behind his back, but it was too late.

"You gave our son wooden katanas?! What the hell are you trying to do Leo?!"

"Well, I was hoping to train-"

"Hes not even two! Two Leo! He's too young to even think about any of that stuff!"

"Well, technically hes one and-"

"Doon't get smart with me" I almost ran up to him, pointing a finger right in his face and making him move back a little.

"Ser, it was just for him to play-"

"No, he doesn't need to know how to fight! Not at his age! He's too young!"

"Serah, calm down!" Leo's deep voice got my attention, opening my mouth to speak, but Dean beat me to it.

"No!" He hugged tightly to Leo, his little hand suddenly coming out and almost reaching for me.

Instinctively, I reached out for him, finding now in my arms, once again saying "No no"

I was honestly speechless as I held our son, his head now digging into my shoulder. Like... he knew...

"Our boy is smarter than we give him credit for I think" Leo's voice turned soft as he ruffled Deans hair, making him giggle. Loved his little giggle...

"Yeah, but... Leo, he's-"

"I know, but... these things aren't even wooden" Suddenly I was being whacked in the shoulder, barely feeling anything as I looked down at the two little swords.

"Foam?" I wondered, looking up at Leo as he nodded.

"I don't want to train him if he doesn't want to be trained, but... I just thought..."

"You want him to take after you" I couldn't help but smile, leaning up and kissing him "I get it"

"Well, I don't want Splinters teachings to end at me and my brothers" He confessed, looking back at Dean, who was now grasping for him.

I felt his weight leave me, Leo take him easily as he finally met my eyes again.

"Leo... I get it... I just.. don't want him to feel like he has to put himself in danger for others, if he-"

"I know. You just don't want him hurt, and neither do I" His free hand cupped my cheek, and I leaned into it, loving his strong but gentle touch.

"How about... we let him keep these, and if he wants to follow in your footsteps, then... we'll talk about it. When it happens, not now"

"Sounds fair" He nodded, smiling at me again. That smile...

I couldn't help but smile, knowing what we'd be doing after the little guy fell asleep.

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

Constructive Criticism appreciated!