- Chapter 61 -

Hope

The next morning, everyone was sitting down to breakfast, when they noticed two people were missing.

"Tai and Mizuki aren't up yet?" Erika said aloud. "Weird."

"I'll go check on them," Hisako decided, leaning on a crutch. "Need to get my strength back anyhow."

She made her way to Tai's room, gently rapping on the door.

"Tai? Mizuki?" she called out softly.

There was no answer. She slowly opened the door and peeked in... to see Tai and Mizuki sleeping in each others' arms. A mere glimpse at Tai's bare back and Hisako realized what happened. Her eyes went wide before she closed the door.

"I… gotta go wash my eyes," she muttered to herself.

-X-

Later, the two finally came down. Hisako looked at them and immediately blushed in embarrassment, something that didn't go unnoticed.

"Sis, what's wrong?" Mikey asked. "Your face is all red."

Hisako jumped slightly, shaking her head.

"N-nothing!" she stammered before forcing herself to calm down. "Nothing."

"You've been all jumpy and weirded out since you went to check on Tai and Mizuki earlier," Mikey went on. "What could you have seen that-"

He got it at that. Tai and Mizuki slowly stiffened as all eyes fell on them.

"Oh. My. God," Mikey let out.

Tai turned red, then decided he might as well face the music. "Okay, yes! Mizuki and I… well, we…"

"Let your hormones get out of control last night?" Hisako offered, getting a small nod.

A collection of groans and gags sounded from every teen at the table, as well as Donnie protesting about "proper breakfast conversation". Mizuki turned to Hisako in embarrassment.

"Did you-?" she began.

"All I saw was Tai's back. And praise Bushido for that . My brain's got enough fucked-up shit in it already."

"Okay," Mizuki sighed. "I know we shouldn't have, but Shredder almost killed Tai the other day. There's a chance not all of us will survive this fight, and-"

"You didn't wanna die a virgin," Jade supplied.

"Okay, seriously, people," Donnie cut in. "This is not proper breakfast conversation!"

"Well, we weren't talking anyway. Don," Vee retorted. "What would you have us talk about?"

"And what if Mizuki gets pregnant?" Leo questioned. "Ever think of that, you guys?"

Mizuki shyly twiddled her fingers. "I... thought of that. The other day, when we were getting medical supplies for Hisako and April, I snagged some birth control pills."

"Well, there's that at least," Raph said. "We won't have to worry about a baby anytime soon."

At that very moment, a cry of pain sounded from the living room. Everyone jumped to their feet and charged out of the dining room, throwing the doors open to see Sydney on the ground with Richard beside her. She clutched her belly, wincing in pain and fear.

"The baby... it's coming!" she cried out.

"Now?!" Mikey exclaimed. "Can't you hold it in or something?"

Everyone gave him a strange look at that comment.

"Hmmm…" Hana knocked on his skull, getting a hollow sound in response. "Not quite ripe yet."

"I'm no midwife, but I'm the best we've got," Erika said. "But even so, we don't have the necessary supplies to deliver a baby."

Raph's expression steeled at that, and he made his way to the door.

"Raph, where you going?" Vee asked.

"The supermarket for supplies," Raph replied, turning back to them. "I want this baby to have a chance - even a tiny chance - in this big fucked-up world. I want it to be warm, and have a diaper and a bottle and decent clothes like any other human being. I won't let it be born in the trash in a back alley. I won't ."

Everyone stared in surprise for a few minutes, then Leo stood up.

"You're not alone there," he said, turning to Erika. "What all do you need?"

"We're gonna need baby clothes and diapers, like Raph said," Erika replied. "As well as bottles, formula, and something for it to sleep in. Though I could use some help here."

"I'll help," Hisako decided.

"Me too," said April. "We're useless in the field right now, but I think we can act as nurses."

"Raph, you and Tai are with me," Leo told them. "The rest of you stay here and do what you can to help Erika."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Erika took charge. "Vee, Donnie, get a spare mattress and some blankets, as well as any clean towels you can find. Mikey, get some hot water."

Everyone took off to do as they were told.

"Full stealth op, people," Leo said. "We do not need Krang or the Foot breathing down our necks right now."

"No argument here," Tai agreed.

"Lead the way, bro," Raph said.

The trio hurried to a nearby supermarket, and quickly started gathering everything Erika gave them on the list. Before long, they heard a familiar whooping noise. Miko immediately stiffened and started growling. At that, Tai let out an annoyed sigh.

"Fuckin' A…" he muttered under his breath.

"Thought you could just diss me, eh?" Bebop chortled. "The fly guy Shredder's got workin' for him fixed my stealth field. Can't hit what you can't see, can y-" Leo backhanded something behind him, and Bebop appeared, holding his sore snout. "How did you-?"

"Um, hello?" Leo pointed out. "Just because we can't see you doesn't mean we can't hear you."

"Clearly, your mutation didn't give you any more brain cells," Raph mused before shrugging. "Then again, can't increase what was never there."

"Look, Porky, we've got some real problems to deal with right now," Tai told him, waving dismissively at him. "So why don't you just mosey along and find yourself some nice truffles?"

Bebop scowled. "No, I don't think so. Two things are gonna happen here. You're gonna tell us where Shredder's little cobra is, then I'm gonna kill you."

"Get it through your thick head, Bebop," Leo retorted. "We're never going to hand Karai over to you."

"Yeah, she ain't your boss' daughter!" Raph added.

"You have any idea what Shredder's gonna do to me if I come back empty-handed?!" Bebop demanded.

Raph shrugged. "I missed the part where that's our problem."

At that very moment, Rocksteady charged out of a nearby alley. "We make it your problem!"

Tai's hand went to the hilt of his swords. "Leo... I think this stealth op's just been busted wide open."

Vee and Donnie set the spare mattress down, and Splinter and Kasumi gently helped Sydney to it. April propped her up with pillows as Richard took her head.

"Comin' through!" came Mikey's voice. "Comin' through!"

He ran into the room, holding a tub of hot water.

"Thanks, Mikey," Erika said, waving him over. "Bring it over here. Quick!"

Mikey quickly set the tub down next to her and Hisako draped a blanket over Sydney, who cried out in pain as she squeezed Richard's hand.

"Remember," he said. "Just breathe, like in class. In… out…"

Sydney whirled on her, rage on her face in addition to pain. "Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP! "

Everyone briefly recoiled at that.

"It's okay," Erika assured them. "This is a stressful situation. Mood swings and anger are common."

"Lamaze doesn't do much," Kasumi remarked. "When it comes down to it, the only breathing exercise a woman in childbirth does is this." She took a deep breath and let out a scream. "Trust me. I know."

"Aaaand I'm never having kids," Hisako declared. " Ever. "

Sydney let out another pained scream, clutching her belly. "Oh God, it hurts! I... I can't do this!"

Richard squeezed her hand. "Come on, Syd. You can do this. I know you can. We survived mutation and enslavement together, we can get through this too."

"He's right. You've suffered enough," Vee declared. "You've earned this baby, and we're gonna make sure it comes into the world safe and sound."

"Now, just try to breathe," Erika told her. "I know it's hard, but just try."

Donnie stood up, nervously looking out the window.

"C'mon, Leo…" he muttered. "Hurry up…"

Tai vaulted over a charge from Rocksteady, landing atop a nearby shelf.

"You guys picked the worst possible time to pick a fight!" he shouted.

"So sorry for the inconvenience," Rocksteady replied, cracking his knuckles. "But we have scores for the settling!"

Rocksteady then charged right at Tai, causing him to leap off the shelf as Rocksteady charged through.

"Be lot easier on yourself if you hand over snake girl!" the rhino mutant went on.

Tai scoffed. "Doesn't matter what you do to us, Rambi. We're not gonna hand Karai over to Shredder!"

"Fine then!" Bebop declared. "But when you're on the ground, tryin' to breathe through fractured ribs and popped lungs, just remember one thing: you brought it on yourself!"

"Bring it on!" Tai shot back.

Bebop then shot several hip lasers at Tai, causing him to block them all with his sword. As Leo and Tai confronted him, Raph dodged a charge from Rocksteady.

"You think I'm scared of you, now that you're a mutant, Rocksteady?" he taunted. "Doesn't change a thing. You're slow. You're stupid . And you got no style!"

"I have all the style!" Rocksteady shot back.

The rhino charged at him again, only to end up plowing through the wall. Leo and Tai watched him do so.

"Okay," Tai let out. "Bebop, we can easily handle. But how the hell are we gonna stop a damn rhino?!"

"Ever seen a bullfight?" Leo suggested.

Tai got his intent, smirking. As soon as Rocksteady reentered, a discarded bottle hit him in the face.

"Hey, Rocky! Over here!" Taui taunted as he whipped off his jacket, waving it like a bullfighter's cape. "Toro, toro! C'mon!"

Rocksteady scowled. "Ohhh, I'm going to gore you, insolent boy!"

He charged, and Tai quickly whipped his jacket aside as Rocksteady sped past him.

" Olé !" Tai declared, before quickly turning to Leo. "Alright, we've got his attention. Is there anything around here we can use to stop him?"

Leo quickly looked around, his eye eventually settling on an industrial-sized freezer. "Bingo."

Tai nodded. "I'll handle Rocksteady. You and Raph take care of his partner."

"Got it," Leo said. "Be careful."

"Back at ya," Tai replied.

As Leo and Raph turned to face off against Bebop, Tai turned to face Rocksteady.

"Okay, Bonehead, it's just you and me," Tai said. "Gimme your best shot!"

"Let us make with the crushing then!" Rocksteady let out.

He charged forward, and Tai waited patiently. At the last possible second, he jumped over the charging rhino, who ran into the freezer. As soon as he heard the crash of Rocksteady crashing into the wall inside, Tai slammed the freezer door and locked it.

"We'll just leave you in there for now, Rocky," he quipped. "Give you time to chill out."

Rocksteady furiously pounded on the door, but the metal was too thick, leaving just Bebop to deal with.

"Well, your partner's a bit occupied at the moment, Bebop," Raph mocked. "What're you gonna do now?"

"This!" Bebop threw an energy mohawk at them, sending them scrambling for cover. "Forgot about that, didn't ya, turtle boy?!"

They ran for cover as he threw a bit more at them, whooping as he did.

"He acts so goofy, I keep forgetting he's dangerous," Tai remarked. "Gonna have to work on that."

"We need to shut this guy down!" Leo insisted.

At that moment, they heard a bark, and turned in surprise to see Miko standing there, growling at the warthog mutant.

"You want some of this, pooch?!" Bebop shouted, throwing another energy mohawk at Miko, who jumped out of the way.

Miko turned to Tai, who got his pet's intent before ducking back down. "Okay, here's the plan. Miko's drawing his fire. While he's focused on him-"

"We sneak up behind him and let him have it!" Raph finished.

Miko gave a small nod at that, then started barking at Bebop, running around the pig in a circle. Bebop rapidly fired, but kept missing as the dog continued running around him, dodging left and right.

"Stupid dog!" the pig mutant shouted in anger. "I'm gonna-"

At that moment, something grabbed him from behind and spun him around. Bebop gasped in horror to see Leo glaring furiously at him.

"You're gonna do nothing ," the blue turtle hissed before throwing him across the store.

Bebop slammed back first into a shelf, which collapsed on him and pinned him down. Raph and Tai came out of hiding at that, Tai kneeling down to his dog.

"Nice work, boy," he said, scratching Miko behind the ears.

Miko panted happily, wagging his tail.

"C'mon," said Raph. "We need to find what we need and get out here before these guys get free."

"Agreed," Leo said, nodding.

At the safehouse, the secret knock sounded. Kagome yanked open the door to reveal Leo, Raph, and Tai holding the baby stuff Erika listed off.

"It's about time you came back!" she exclaimed, ushering them in.

"How's Sydney?" Tai asked.

"She's doing fine," Kagome replied. "C'mon."

She led them into the main room, where all the survivors were gathered.

"Sorry we're late, everybody," Leo apologized. "Bebop and Rocksteady showed up, and things got a bit... hectic."

"You made it," Vee replied. "That's all that matters. You get the stuff?"

"Yep," said Raph. "Diapers, clothes, formula, baby bed... the works."

At that moment, Sydney let out another pained scream. "I can't take it anymore! It… it feels like I'm dying!"

"It's okay," Hisako soothed as she took Sydney's hand, trying to send her soothing thoughts. "You can do this."

"We're almost done," Richard assured her before turning to Erika.

"Okay," Erika turned to Sydney. "On the count of three, you push, okay?" Sydney nodded. "Alright. One… two… THREE!"

Sydney spread her legs and let out a cry as she began pushing. Mikey caught a glimpse, and stiffened before fainting on the spot. Everyone stared at him blankly.

"Guess that was more of human anatomy than Mikey needed to see," Vee mused.

Jade rolled her eyes. "What a wuss."

-X-

After awhile, the sounds of Sydney's cries were covered by the sounds of a baby crying. Erika bundled up the little infant in a blanket before handing it over to its mother.

"It's a girl," she reported. "Perfectly healthy."

Sydney took the baby girl, who slowly stopped crying and curled up in her mother's arms. There wasn't a dry eye in the safe house; Jade in particular was crying the hardest.

Hana turned to her. "You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm wonderful," Jade replied, wiping her eyes. "Life is a beautiful thing, isn't it?"

At that moment, Mikey came to, shaking his head. "What'd I miss?"

"Only the miracle of childbirth," Makoto said dryly.

"She's beautiful, Sydney," Hisako said with a smile.

"I know Mortu said she'd be okay, but I was always afraid…" Sydney admitted. "And when the invasion happened, I feared even more." She held her baby closer. "To hold her in my arms… it's a dream I never thought possible."

Jade walked over to her at that. "I just wanna say... thank you."

Sydney looked up at her, confused. "For what?"

"I'm not gonna lie to you guys," Jade said, standing up. "These past few months, with the Turtles MIA and everything... I was starting to think we'd never beat Krang, much less drive him out. It just seemed like we were fighting a hopeless war." She looked down at the sleeping baby before going on. "This child… this innocent little girl… managed to inspire more hope in everyone than we've had in months. And I'm gonna do whatever it takes to make sure she can play on the streets without Krang lurking around."

"Hope…" Sydney repeated, looking at Richard. "That's a perfect name for her, isn't it?"

"I couldn't agree more," Richard said with a smile.

Jade turned to the others. "Okay, people. Let's give the new family some room. We've got work to do."

"Right," Leo nodded. "Erika, how long until April and Hisako can fight again?"

"In a few more days," Erika replied. "Then they'll be fully recovered, as will Karai."

"Good," said Leo. "With everyone we need together and at full strength, we'll finally be ready to end this invasion. In a few days' time… we're taking back our city."

Author's Note:

So, yeah. This chapter was largely inspired by the Avatar: The Last Airbender episode "The Serpent's Pass," with the newborn baby inspiring hope in the gang to fight Krang and all that.

Next chapter: the battle for New York begins!

Please R&R. Until next time!