Chapter five:

A week has passed...

Casey has been trying to decide on the perfect home for him and his boyfriend.

Donnies bump is more noticeable than before. He is walking with all of his family including his boyfriend as they are just enjoying sometime in a wooded park.

Of course it's on the opposite side of town of where Leo had died.

Raph turns away as they all chuckle at something Mikey had just said. He blinks pausing as he for a moment swears that he sees a flash of movement. His pause seems to get the others attention.

"Raph? Is everything okay?" Mikey inquires though Raph doesn't turn to him.

"I thought I saw something." Raph admits putting everyone on edge as they look around.

The group now quiet as they listen for anything to give away the location of what Raph saw.

Raph and Casey are especially sticking close to Donnie who is ready to flee if needed.

Donnie could hold his ground he just isn't dumb enough to fight while pregnant.

Raph swears he sees something dart past a bush so he starts to head to investigate. His sais out as he is ready to fight whatever or whoever this is. He won't let whoever it is hurt anyone he cares about. He turns hearing a sound only for something large to charge straight for Donnie. He gasps since Casey had moved away to check something. He dashes forward seeing large sharp claws raise into the air. "No!" He screams out as Donnie looks wide eyed at his attacker. He manages to get himself between the two of them before those claws came down. He gasps as his throat is struck splattering the ground and the enemy with blood. His neck now in searing pain from the hit. He stumbles gasping for air and his limbs are quickly getting ready to give out. He collapses though someone catches him. He thinks he can hear the sounds of fighting though his body is a bit busy demanding he get air; His gaze is looking at the upper part of the trees rather than where the fight is going on. He tries only to find he can't really get air into his lungs.

"Raph!" Donnies voice breaks through as the other is lowered to lay on the ground. He lays the older on his right side so he's facing Donnie.

Raph looks to Donnie seeing tearful worried eyes. He doesn't see any wounds on Donnie which is a relief. He lays there still gasping for air as darkness starts to swarm the edges of his vision. He swears that he sees a worried Leo appear looking over Donnies shoulder at him. He smiles softly ready to accept it if this is the end. He will willingly take Donnies place in dying today. He tries to let out a sound of pain as Donnie tries to stop the bleeding.

"Don't leave us." Donnie pleads with tears in his eyes as Raph meets his gaze. "I don't want to lose another brother." His hands starting to tremble a little. He does his best to steady them as he desperately works to try to save Raph.

At hearing this Raph tries to give Donnie a look of assurance. "It'll... Be... Okay..." He gasps out to the other. He will accept his fate however he at least wants to assure Donnie before he goes. "I won't... Be going... Alone." His eyes look away from Donnie to look at Leo over the geniuses shoulder.

Leo looks sad that it has ended up like this though offers Raph a smile.

Donnie slightly glances back but doesn't see anything. He blinks sadly in realization and turns back to Raph unable to stop himself as he cries.

"Stay... Alive... For... Them..." Raph requests knowing that Raph means for their family as well as the babies. "You've... Got this... You're truly... Amazing... Even if... You can't always... See it..." He hopes that his words will help the other through this. He almost wants to reach to Donnie to touch his cheek... However he can't as his limbs won't respond. He listens as Donnie responds after a sniffle.

"I will. Thank you for saving me Raph. Goodbye." Donnie mentions sharing a final smile with Raph. His goodbye is a little shaky from his sadness.

Raphs eyes close and his attempted breaths slow to a stop. His body laying still and limp.

Donnie lowers his head eyes closed as he sobs over another lost brother. He leans into his mate who hugs him, and can hear the other family members, who had chased off the tiger mutant, grieving as well. He nuzzles his face into Casey's chest who tells him soothing words despite his own tears. He wants this to be a dream though also knows that Raph is with his mate again. So he can at least be glad for that.

...

Raphs eyes open to find himself suddenly floating above his body. He glances apologetically at his grieving family. He feels a hand on his shoulder turning to see Leo looking back at him. He smiles a greeting before leaning in giving him a loving nuzzle.

"That was very brave of you." Leo mentions referring to Raph sacrificing his life to save Donnies own. "I just wish your life didn't have to end so early." He looks a little sad at this.

"Heh. Well Donnie does have more than just his own life to worry about." Raph reminds Leo who nods his head. He also sees Leo perk himself up knowing that there's nothing they can do to change things. He sees Leo glad to be with Raph again. So he's glad that both of them can at least be happy to be together again. This time without Raph having to leave to return to the living world. "I know it was a bit reckless to just get between them instead of leaping on the enemy. But I would do it all over again to keep any of them safe." He adds wanting to assure Leo about what had happened.

"Especially Donnie with what's going on with him." Leo corrects him making Raph chuckle. His own lips turned upwards in a smile.

"Wish it was you?" Raph teases back getting a cute blushing Leo. He chuckles stealing a kiss before Leo pulls away to speak again.

"Maybe if we get another chance at life you can do that." Leo mentions since he had learned that some spirits do indeed get reborn; just not all of them and it's based on a higher being no one has seen who decides if it happens.

"That's a promise." Raph informs Leo who giggles excitedly. He grins at this glad to hear that from Leo. He makes sure to keep it in his head so he can hear it again as many times as he wants. His grin settles down after a moment.

The two turn to their family as they finally move picking up Raphs limp body. They're looks a little sad and mostly worried. They can't help some assurance in their gazes to their family... Despite that they can't be seen...

"We'll bury him next to Leo's grave." Splinter suggests and the others nod their agreements to it. He is clearly sad as his eyes and drooping ears give it away. He is just trying to seem strong for the others.

They are quiet as they still clearly feel heavy sadness of losing Raph. Though they do stick close to each other, Aril puts an arm around Mikey and Casey has his arm around Donnie, to help comfort each other.

Raph is at least glad to see them looking out for each other in this time of sadness.

"Ready to go?" Leo offers causing Raph to turn to him as their family heads off. "We will see them again. We can watch over them easily. I'll show you how." His words are a promise knowing how it'll help Raphs worry for their family.

"Yeah. I'm ready." Raph confirms taking Leo's hand as they share a look of love. He can't wait to spend his afterlife with the one he has been longing for.

The two float upwards a bit before fading away as they enter into the spirit world together. Hand in hand.

...

Donnie is sitting by Raphs grave after they have buried him beside Leo. He's been here for a bit as he can't believe how much he owes to Raph. He is the last one to remain as after awhile the others headed off. He places a hand gently on his pregnancy bump with a slight breath. "I'll make sure that they know of you. Both of you." He promises to them. A few moments later he is draped in a blanket causing him to turn.

Casey smiles at him, trying to keep the sadness to his eyes only to keep the smile warm, before sitting cross legged next to him.

"You know." Donnie looks to the two graves before him. He still can't fully believe that two of his family members are gone. "I wish that they had gotten to meet the little ones."

"Me too." Casey lets out a breath before a slight smirk graces his lips. "Do you think Raph or Mikey would be the one to spoil these little ones?" He inquires and Donnie turns to him with a slight smirk.

"I think you would do that more than anyone else." Donnie points out getting a playful shocked gasp from Casey which makes him chuckle. "If I had to guess I think I know how they might react to these little ones. Mikey will try to turn them into little artists. He'll also probably encourage them to get into trouble. Sensei might spoil them a little though still be strict enough to not matter, plus he'll probably try to start teaching them early like he did with us. Raph probably would have gotten super protective of them knowing him. Also I think Raph would have been slightly helping Mikey help them cause trouble. Leo well he probably would have them disciplined in no time. He however would definitely be like a second mother to them. Splinter too on the disciplined part. April might be a bit on the spoiling fun aunt side. She might teach them a bunch of human games to play." He feels nice talking about how he thinks their little ones will affect their family members.

"I think you're right." Casey hums to this and wraps an arm around Donnie who leans against him. "Though I guess there's only one way to find out. Which is when they come into the world."

Donnie hums in agreement closing his eyes as he didn't realize how tired he was.

"Come on." Casey places a kiss on the top of Donnies head. "Let's get you home." He gets a soft nod in response from Donnie who opens his eyes.

The two get up together and with Casey arm around Donnie they head off to indeed go home.

... Later...

A month has passed since Donnie announced his pregnancy. He has been wondering and theorizing how the children might look like when they're born. He knows he just has to wait for the birth, then possibly egg hatching if it doesn't hatch right away, before he will know. He is just so excited to see what his own children will look like it's making him impatient. He still has possibly one more month to go if he is correct. He is typing on his computer when he gets a call on his phone. He answers it as it's Casey. "Hey." He greets warmly.

"Donnie! Sweetheart! I just got the final approval of the house I emailed you about." Casey excitedly tells him making Donnie jump up in excitement. "We're getting our own place for real!"

"That's awesome!" Donnie had been hoping for this news. He fell in love with the house on a hill surrounded by trees just outside of town at first sight. He can't wait to be able to call it home with Casey. He does remember that it needs some fixing up, though it's nothing that the two can't handle. He does find some nervous excited energy shoot through him. He feels like this announcement has made the whole thing even more real than he thought. Sure he's been staying the nights at Casey's, however this is their home and they'll both be able to make it their own.

"I'll be getting the keys next week. So we should probably start packing."

"Yeah. I'll get started." Donnie agrees glancing around his lab. He knows that this will still be his lab however it feels weird with the moving out finalized.

"Great! I'll keep my eyes open for maybe a place we can make our own business. I'll talk to you later sweetheart." Casey makes a cheesy kissing noise as if blowing a kiss.

Donnie finds himself blushing a little more than he thought he would at the 'sweetheart' and kiss. He shakes his shoulders blaming it on hormones. "I'll talk to you later darling." He agrees before they hang up. He saves his work getting up going to grab the stack of folded boxes. He takes some to his room. "Okay. I'll probably take everything here with me, then I can sort through what to take and leave from my lab." He looks to all his stuff in his bedroom. "Let's get started." He wonders if he might be able to make a smaller lab in the basement of the house. He'll have to wait and see. He decides to get some packing done before announcing that they got the house. He is sure Mikey might try to insist on some kind of celebration, and pregnant Donnie is currently not up for whatever Mikey might try to insist on to celebrate. So he'll just enjoy some peace as he packs up his stuff. He is going to be the first of his family to move out.

Something that all of them never thought they'd ever do.

There's not even a sure way to know that Mikey will ever move out.

Donnie shrugs off the idea and hums a little as he works to help stop himself from thinking. He gets a good chunk of it done when his stomach aches. He sits on his bed with a groan and hand on his bump. "Dang. Could you two get any bigger?" He sighs gently rubbing his bump with one hand. "Fine. I guess I can tabs a small break." He shifts to be able to lean against the wall his bed is against. "Just a little break..." He tells himself managing to stay awake despite his eyes being closed. He's both excited to lay these eggs and nervous about how the delivery will go.

Will those eggs even fit trying to come out? And if not then who could possibly safely do surgery on Donnie to help deliver?

Donnie opens his eyes deciding that he needs to think about that before he even lays these eggs. He thinks maybe Splinter might be the best to perform the surgery, surely better than Mikey or Casey. He wouldn't trust them to do the surgery if it came to that. He doesn't know anyone else who could do it so he supposes Splinter will do. He just hopes that it doesn't come to that. He decides to go inform his family of the news of the house once his stomach settles.