Who wants some family fluff featuring the good doctor? Yeah, I figured you would. Here we go my faithful readers, our newest arc. I hope you enjoy it!

Leonardo smiled, leaning forward to smudge some shading on the canvas he was working on.

Recently, April had picked up a roll of canvas and some frames at a crazy discount, and the generous woman had gifted them to Michelangelo and Leonardo, her two favorite artists. Both the teens were overwhelmed by the gift, so in gratitude the duo decided to each create a piece that their sister could hang in her home, and Leo felt he had the perfect thing to gift her with. For the past month he'd been secretly working on a new project, a charcoal rendering of the Second Time Around antique shop. It looked stunning, even to Leo's critical eye, however, the turtle was seriously considering painting it in oils. In his mind, he saw it painted with early dusk providing the background, and the street lamps setting the mood, with the lights in the windows showing warm glimpses into the home. Leo also planned to paint invisible, only to those not knowing what to look for at least, nods to the family members not normally seen in the light of day. Leonardo was so excited to try his hand at oils, and now that he had a proper canvas, not just sketchpad paper, the leader wanted to challenge himself with the project.

Just thinking about it made the turtle buzz with anticipation.

The azure terrapin leaned back, pursing his lips as he assessed his work thus far. He was working on the bay windows located in the living room, and he'd drawn a laptop on a desk with a Bo staff leaning against the wall, just barely out of sight. When he added color, he'd put a slightly visible line of purple near the middle of the staff, showing that Donnie was nearby but unseen. Leo chuckled to himself. True, his family may not be in the painting, but neither was April or Casey, and he'd find a way to incorporate everyone in their odd family into the painting. Little touches that showed the cozy domesticity that they enjoyed together. The turtle suddenly brightened, straightening up as he was struck by an idea and quickly grabbed a pencil, then turned to the store windows. Sketching out a perch, the teen grinned as he drew a quick rough draft of a grey parrot with a red tail. He couldn't forget their newest family member, not after everything they'd been through. Anthony had earned his place in their clan, no doubt about it.

Humming a mindless ditty to himself, Leo poked his tongue out in avid concentration, focusing on the detail in the wings, when his door burst open to reveal the youngest.

"Leo!"

Mikey gasped, wincing as he watched Leo give a minute jump in surprise, the fingers holding the pencil almost ruining the sketch, but breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed that no harm had been done, "Whew, sorry, bro!" The orange ninja apologized, "I didn't know you were working, otherwise I would have knocked."

Leonardo breathed his own sigh of relief, carefully lifting the pencil from the canvas, "It's okay, Mike," he reassured, turning to his brother and setting the utensil down, "one of the good things about ninja training, means I don't react as badly to being startled, but I need to ask, why the rush?"

The youngest straightened up, reminded of his purpose for bursting through the door, "Doctor Lowery is here!"

"Why?" Leo cocked his head in confusion, they'd gotten over the flu almost two weeks ago, unless… "Is Master Splinter feeling sick?"

Mikey grinned, "Nope, but I do think something big is going down. Doctor Lowery called the house phone a while ago, and asked to come over, and then after he got here, he went into the dojo with Dad. Master Splinter came out to get another tea cup, but then he shut the door and they haven't come back out!"

Strange. Well, not that strange, as Anthony and Master Splinter had become very close friends. However, for the good doctor to call and invite himself over, only to immediately go into conference in the dojo with their father? Highly suspicious. Curiosity prickled in the back of Leo's mind, and suddenly, the eldest felt the childish urge to know what they were talking about. He shouldn't, and Leonardo struggled to contain the powerful desire, reminding himself that eavesdropping was rude. Not that it helped. Besides, one look at Michelangelo confirmed his suspicions on why the baby was even in his room. Mikey wanted to know as much as he did, and the youngest wasn't above using his ninja training for purely selfish reasons. For that matter, in this instance, neither was Leo.

"Wanna go listen in?" Leonardo smirked, reveling in the squeal of joy the youngest gave.

Pumping his fists into the air, Michelangelo nodded vigorously, "I love it when you use your powers for the forces of mischief." He grinned, then promptly ran out of the room, "Let's go get Raphie and Don!"

The young leader sighed, head shaking as he smiled fondly at the space where his younger brother stood. It was times like this that made the turtle realize just how far he'd come since his trials in Japan. Before the caves, Leo had clamped down on his more immature tendencies, forcing himself to become the stern leader he had once believed his family desired. Now though, the azure turtle realized that they never wanted an emotionless robot as a leader, they wanted their brother and son, even with all his flaws and failures. It had been almost almost eight months since their adventure with the cave spirit, the one-year anniversary fast approaching, but Leo felt like a completely different person. Like if he stood side by side with the Leo from right before the caves, they wouldn't even look alike. The turtle he was now didn't mind goofing around with his brothers, getting into trouble, and pulling pranks. He can instigate eavesdropping on their father, and instead of feeling the pressure to be the responsible one who lectures all the time, he could allow himself the freedom of joining in on innocent fun.

Looking back, Leo couldn't find a time in his life where he felt this at peace, or happy. He could only pray, considering the level of crazy that is part of their daily lives, that this feeling would continue to last long into the future.

"You traitors!"

Mikey's sudden, indignant scream tore through Leo's reverie, prompting the turtle to scurry to his feet, pelting through the door and rushing to the youngest's side. Michelangelo stood in the door of Donnie's room, mouth agape, and eyes wide with betrayal. Leo's brow furrowed in confusion as he rounded the bend, and peered into the room, before he too found himself gobsmacked with shock. Raph and Donatello were sitting on the genius' bed, the purple ninja's laptop propped on a pillow, and the two middle children were watching Mystic Pop-Up Bar…without Leo or Mike. Consternation exploded inside the leader, and turtle glanced at the paused screen, noting the episode number. It was past where they stopped on their last movie night. This means war.

"That better not be the last episode," Leonardo stated, tone stern and eyes aflame, "I mean it, guys, that better not be the last episode!"

Donnie grimaced, slowly wilting behind the large bulk of the brawler, using Raphael as a shield, "Maybe?"

"Seriously?!" Michelangelo burst, "We were gonna watch it together, dude!"

Raph, looking suitably guilty and ashamed, hunched his shoulders with a wince, "Well," he began, fidgeting where he sat on the bed, "we were supposed ta, but as soon as ya got better, ya both left us ta work on yer gifts for April. So, Donnie and I figured, we might as well finish it together."

Leo was ready to shoot back an angry retort, but froze when his conscience thought back on this past week, and he had to admit that he had been using every spare moment he had on the picture in his room. To the point that Mikey often had to drag him out for meals. Suddenly Leonardo couldn't stay angry at his brothers, and just looking at their guilty faces made said endeavor impossible. Raphael and Donnie were lonely, and they'd been tossed aside in both their leader, and Michelangelo's rush to work on their individual art projects. A glance at the youngest showed that Mikey had also put the pieces together and was drooping in his own wave of self-recrimination. Heaving a sigh, Leo could only shrug, and nod his forgiveness.

"I'm sorry I haven't been around," the azure turtle murmured, sapphire eyes heavy with repentance, "why don't we finish it tonight, all together?"

Raphael and Donatello both brightened, sharing a brief high five before giving their enthusiastic thumbs up, "Awesome!" Donnie grinned.

Leo turned to Mikey, waiting to see if the baby would agree to the plan, and for a moment, it seemed that Michelangelo was still deciding. However, the youngest rarely did anything that would endanger brotherly bonding time, so the orange ninja slowly gave a nod, "Fine," he grumbled, "I'll forgive you for going ahead in the series without us, but only this once, got it!?"

Red and purple hurriedly gave their nods of agreement, happy to have been spared the wrath of both orange and blue. Mikey glared at the middle children, allowing his anger to simmer for a few more seconds, then heaved a sigh, "I guess I might as well tell you that Leo and I are gonna go spy on Dad, and Doctor Lowery."

"Doctor Lowery is here?" Donnie asked, purple clad head popping around the brawler wreathed in confusion, "When did he arrive?"

Mikey narrowed his eyes, the grudge coming back to the forefront of his mind, "He probably arrived around the same time you were sneaking around behind our backs."

Leo tugged on the tails of the youngest's mask, making Michelangelo yelp, "That's not the tone I'd associate with 'forgiveness', Mike."

Mikey pouted at their leader, then released a loud put upon groan, slumping forward in resignation, "Fi-ine!" The baby groused, then turned back to the middle children, "Anthony got here about ten minutes ago, and he went into the dojo to talk to Dad."

"About what?" Raphael asked.

"We don't know," Leonardo shrugged, "that's why Mikey and I are gonna go listen in. So, you coming or what?"

Without another word and sharing a round of grins, the quadruplets scrambled out of the room, softening their footfalls into the feather light tread of master ninja. Like four shadows, the brothers flit through the lair, soundless and swift, until they came to the familiar shoji doors of the dojo. Leaning in close, the terrapins slowed their breathing, so to better hear the conversation inside. Peering in the cracks between the shoji doors, Leo saw Anthony sitting on the floor with their father, a small tea table set between them. Splinter was pouring the steaming liquid into the cups, a gentle smile on his face as the human spoke, the gentle southern lilt filling the space.

"Thank you for letting me impose," Anthony said, reaching forward to grasp the cup.

"It is hardly an imposition, when a friend desires to visit," the rat assured, settling back on his cushion and taking a sip.

The doctor chuckled, "I admit, I have something of a confession to make," he sighed, "I did come here with an ulterior motive."

Splinter took a deep draft from his teacup, then settling the small mug in his lap, gave a small nod, "Considering all the ways you have served my family," the mutant smiled, ears flattening in sincerity, "I can only hope that we may be of help to you in return."

Anthony smiled at their father, blue eyes twinkling with gratitude, "Thank you," he replied softly, then drew in a deep breath, "as you know, I've gotten rather close to your boys these last couple of months, and to be honest, ever since losing my son…"

The veterinarian's voice cracked, interrupting the conversation, the man gave a watery laugh as he swiped at his eyes, "Sorry," he rasped.

"Do not apologize," Splinter soothed, his cobalt gaze heavy with sympathy, "as you know, we live a dangerous life, and I'm grateful that I have not had to feel the pain of such a loss."

Anthony nodded, taking a shuddering breath as he regathered his composure, "It was a tragedy that neither my wife, nor I, were able to comprehend for months after it happened." His tone was merely a whisper, barely audible, but within its folds was an incomprehensible grief, deep and raw despite the passing of the many years, "we were so proud of our boy. He died saving lives, but we went home with ours shattered.

"It's crazy how your life can change in a moment," the human continued, eyes misty, "we were supposed to go to the family cabin in Mississippi, just the two of us. Rob, and me. We were going to spend a week fishing, and rambling around the swamps, just a couple of guys goofing off and telling stories."

Doctor Lowrey paused, a soft smile tender with longing stretching his mouth, "I miss that boy," he murmured, before giving his head a firm shake, "but I didn't come here to reminisce. I came here to ask a favor."

Splinter gave a nod of encouragement, refilling the doctor's teacup, then leaning back so to allow Anthony the space to speak. Taking another deep draft of the steaming liquid, the man once again asserted himself, "As I was saying," he continued, "I've gotten really close to your boys, to the point that I've begun to see them almost as grandsons."

The brothers exchanged silent grins, happy with the affection being shown by their new friend, before turning back to the conversation. "Not only do I see them as my grandsons, but I'd like to do something for them, if it would be alright?"

The aged rat cocked his head in confusion, "I thought you wished to ask a favor?"

"That's the favor," Anthony chuckled, "I'd like to take your boys on a trip. Spend a week at the family cabin in Mississippi, and show them my stomping grounds. I haven't been there since my wife passed, and honestly, I need to go through some things to potentially sell the cabin and the land. I could use your sons' help with the heavy lifting to make it ready to put on the market, and in return for their labor, they'll get an unforgettable experience."

Joy and excitement filled the brothers, making them all shiver with anticipation. Splinter, however, pursed his lips, tapping his muzzle thoughtfully, "This is quite the request," he stated, "while I certainly wouldn't mind allowing them such an opportunity, as I'm sure you'll take the utmost care of them, I can't help but wonder what my sons might think of it?"

Suddenly, Master Splinter shifted, and Leonardo realized with dread that the jig was up. Their father hadn't been fooled for a second. The mutant rodent turned to raise a bemused eyebrow at the doors of the dojo, smirking at the children he obviously heard from the beginning, "Well, my sons? Do you wish to accompany Doctor Lowrey to Mississippi for a week?"

Michelangelo didn't waste any time, promptly throwing the doors open, and pushing Leo's face down into the tatami mat while falling into the space over his brother's shell, "Yes! I want to go, I absolutely want to go!"

Leonardo wiggled from where his cheek was pressing into the floor, the bamboo fibers biting into his scales, the youngest's hand heavy on the back of his head. His right hand tapping out on the floor, the young leader grumbled up at the orange ninja, "Mike, get off my head!"

Anthony burst into delighted guffaws, watching as the teen terrapins crawled over the eldest in their eagerness to accept the invitation, while Splinter shook his head in fond exasperation, "I would think I'd have taught you better than to eavesdrop on my private conversations?" The rat asked, although his whiskers twitched with repressed laughter.

"Sorry, father," Leonardo apologized, voice still muffled by the floor as he waited for his brothers to finish crossing over his shell into the dojo, "it's my fault. I instigated listening in."

"Leonardo?" Splinter attempted a scolding tone with his eldest, however, the end result was weak, as the amusing image of the young leader being squished by his brothers drove any anger away, "I'm surprised at you."

"Don't be too mad at him, dad," Raphael defended, shuffling off the eldest and helping Leo off the floor, "aren't ya the one always tellin' us that we need ta be observant at all times, and take any opportunity ta improve our skills as ninja?"

"Yeah!" Donnie threw in brightly, "This was just an impromptu training session to see if we could make it past your detection."

"A very intriguing idea, Donatello," Splinter murmured, cobalt gaze glittering with mischief, "why don't we continue said training, with a special exercise to see just how stealthy you boys can be?"

Mikey released a groan, "But, sensei, it's Saturday!"

"Indeed," the rat nodded gravely, "we will need to work extra hard to make up for the training you will miss while on your trip with Doctor Lowrey."

"So," Leo's head popped up from its respectful bow, "does that mean we get to go?!"

Master Splinter paused, watching his children wiggle in anticipation, eyes shining as they silently pleaded with him to say yes. Finally, the aged mutant gave a soft sigh, dramatically acting as if he were being nagged into a decision, knowing full well that he was perfectly fine with said decision, "Doctor Lowrey," Splinter began, slowing his words to a drawl, "if you truly wish to take my sons on such a trip, in the interest of helping you prepare the cabin for sale, then I gladly give you permission to take them with you."

The turtles gave boisterous cheers, even as Anthony allowed himself a wide, crooked smile, "I promise to take good care of your kids," he assured, "and they'll come back with plenty of stories to tell you too."

Michelangelo jumped to his feet, throwing his fists into the air, "Aw, yeah! Road-trip!"

"Michelangelo…"

"Sorry, sensei."

Merry Christmas everyone!

I know it's a day late, but here's a gift for all my readers!

So, the guys are going to spend a week with Anthony in Mississippi, but we all know that vacations rarely go as planned for our intrepid team.

I wonder what kind of trouble they'll get into there? Any ideas?