I'm back from my honeymoon and it was wonderful! Thank you for all the well wishes, I truly have the best readers on the internet!

He finally faces his family, three cheers for best friends helping Leo get back home!

Leonardo looked down at the clothes he'd been wearing for the past five months, smiling in gratitude at the unexpected sanctuary he'd found at the forge, before handing them over to Rawgrim, "Thank you," the turtle said, sincerity in every note of his tone, "if it wasn't for your kindness, I wouldn't have made it this far."

"I should be thanking you," the nexian chuckled, "you brought life into this old house, and made me realize how much I enjoy teaching my craft. I'm grateful to you for that."

The blacksmith turned grabbing something up off the table that had been covered by a raggedy cloth, "These are for you, use them as you wish."

The ninja gaped as Rawgrim gave him stunning metal bars, of a quality he could only dream of using, "But isn't this," Leo gasped, "the last of the metal you harvested from that meteorite?"

"It is," Rawgrim nodded, "and before you say you can't take it, I'm going to insist you do."

"But it's too valuable a gift!" The turtle exclaimed, "Imagine the weapons you could make with it?"

"I'd rather imagine the weapons you'd make with it," the blacksmith grinned, "after watching the way you fought with the katana I made, you deserve a blade that flows with the same grace that you do. So, I want to make sure you have the right metal for the job."

Leonardo swallowed the lump that grew in his throat, even as moisture gathered in his eyes. Rawgrim pulled the turtle into a tender hug, patting the carapace of the teen mutant, "Use the metal, Small One," his deep voice rumbled, "and craft a weapon that serves you well in battle, and also serves as a reminder of the battle you fought and won within yourself."

"Yes, sir," the ninja nodded with a sniffle, returning the embrace.

With one last pat, the blacksmith released Leonardo, allowing Usagi the opportunity to clear his throat for their attention, "We should get going, my friend, I'm sure you'd rather catch your brothers before they leave for patrol?"

"Yeah, I do."

Usagi began the familiar chant, creating the glowing blue portal on the wall of Rawgrim's home, and Leonardo took a steadying breath. He had determined to go home, he was ready, and felt stronger in spite of the shattered way he'd abandoned his family. He was returning as a better version of himself, even though he still was scared that they'd judge him and reject him for his betrayal. Would they ever truly forgive his selfishness? Leo certainly hoped so. For now, it was time as Mikey would say to face the music. He just needed to talk to his brothers and father, try to explain why he left, and pray that they wouldn't hate him.

A white furred hand grasped Leonardo's shoulder, giving it a a comforting squeeze, "You can do this, Leonardo-San," he murmured softly, "you're strong enough, and they will not judge you harshly. They understand that you were not in your right mind when you left."

"Was I?" The turtle asked, insecurity making him bite his bottom lip, "I know that the Shredder….hurt me, but was I really out of my head when I made the decision to leave?"

Usagi considered this, "I agree that there was likely a part of you that wanted to leave, a part that had nothing to do with the Shredder. However, I'm very confident that you would have never made the decision to leave your family had it not been for the extreme circumstances outside of your control which drove you to it."

That actually made sense.

The unease Leonardo felt died down slightly as the wisdom his friend offered soothed the fear raging in his heart. Before being tortured by the Shredder, Leo would never have left his family behind, would have died before allowing anyone to drag him from their side. However, the day and a half spent trapped in his mind with their enemy had destroyed what little strength he'd possessed. Not that it was his fault, Leo was finally able to acknowledge, because anyone would struggle after that level of torment. Usagi had told the ninja of how much Raphael struggled with the brief time spent tortured by Shredder. As much as it horrified the eldest that the brawler would be subjected to their enemy's particular brand of abuse, it also comforted him that the brother he felt was so strong also couldn't shake off the torture. It meant that he wasn't alone anymore. Despite the fear and insecurity that Leo could still feel lurking in his heart, he felt more capable of facing those sides of himself. Now he just needed to face the family that he'd hurt so badly and beg their forgiveness. One more steadying breath, one last look of gratitude to Rawgrim, then the ninja plunged through the watery portal.

Sapphire eyes blinked as they adjusted to the familiar dim lighting of the lair, and once again the leader was overcome by emotion. The smell of home invaded his nose, making a swell of nostalgia and joy surge through his chest cavity enough to make it hurt. There was the couch that he and his brothers cuddled together on during movie nights, the favorite quilt that was big enough to cover all of them, the armchair with his father's favorite pillow, it was all there. Turning around, not intending to ignore his dear friend, Leo pulled in a deep breath of the rank sewer air, chuckling when he couldn't help but flinch. Oh yeah, he was home. A soft mew drew Leonardo's attention to his feet, and with a grin the eldest was quick to kneel down, running calloused hands through the ginger cat's soft fur.

"Hey, Klunk," he whispered, "I missed you, buddy."

Boisterous purrs returned the sentiment, and the turtle could only chuckle as Klunk aggressively cuddled his hands, bumping his head against the green scales demanding attention. He'd gladly give it, but right now he had something important to take care of.

Standing back up, the eldest turtle glanced around the lair, searching for his family. It was early, too early for evening training, which means everyone may be resting to prepare for patrol. This was the norm in their schedule, that sometimes they'd rest in the afternoon right before evening training, then dinner, then running the rooftops. Longing hit Leonardo hard, the wish to run next to his brothers under the night sky. He'd forgotten how much he missed it. Another wave of guilt crashed over the turtle, making a spike of insecurity to needle his heart. He really messed up this time. What if his family hates him? What if this was truly the last straw? Was the samurai correct that they'd forgive and move on, or would they make his deepest nightmares come true and reject him for good and all? Maybe he should go back to the forge before making another mess. Harsh trembling shook the eldest, and Leo turned to ask Usagi to open the portal back to Rawgrim's forge, but his flight was interrupted by a sudden squawk of surprise accompanied by the shattering of glass.

"L-Leo?" Donatello's voice was a breathy gasp, as if he were scared that if he spoke too loud his brother's presence would prove to be some cruel illusion.

Leonardo turned, heart ripping at the lost look in the usually warm brown eyes, and the sheer and utter fatigue lining the green features. The genius turtle stood in the entryway to the kitchen, a shattered coffee mug at his feet, java pooling across the concrete floor in dark splotches. Shaking hands held countless folders, but they soon joined the broken cup, the crisp white papers quickly turning brown as they fell among the spilled liquid. Tears sprang to the eldest's eyes as Donatello choked back a sob with both hands, shoulders shuddering with the effort it took not to fall to pieces.

"Hi Donnie," Leo rasped.

"You're actually here," Donatello hiccuped, voice barely audible as he slowly approached his brother, "You're really home?"

The prodigal son nodded, "Yeah, I'm really home," he whispered, shyly gesturing at the samurai rabbit, "Usagi found me, beat some sense into my head."

"Good!" Donnie spluttered, tears soaking his mask and streaming down scaly cheeks, "You needed it."

A sad smile trembled on Leo's lips, "You're right, Donnie, I did."

Three shuddering breaths, and then the younger turtle collapsed into Leonardo's arms, raw gasping sobs ripping through his chest and up his throat, "Why did you leave?!" Donatello wailed, a weak fist pounding helplessly against the eldest's plastron, "Why did you run from us?! What did we do wrong?! I couldn't find you! I looked, and looked, and I couldn't find you anywhere! You're supposed to be aniki, so why did you leave us?!"

"I know you were tortured," the engineer continued, "I know Shredder messed you up, but your leaving like that messed us up! Dad hasn't stopped crying, Mikey hasn't laughed in weeks, Raph barely talks to us anymore, what do you think would happen if you left?! That we'd just go on without you?! That's not how family works, Leo!"

Sapphire eyes clenched shut at the pain pouring from his younger brother, and Leo clutched the genius in a tight embrace. Donatello shook as he sobbed, burying his beak into his oldest brother's shoulder, soaking them both with his tears, "It's my job to fix things, Leo!" Donnie shouted, continuing his weak punches to the eldest, "how am I supposed to fix things if you're not here to fix?! How am I supposed to fix the family when the only way to do that is to bring back a brother that I can't find?! I can't keep things together the way you can! Everything was falling apart, and we didn't know how to fix it, I didn't know how to fix it!"

"I'm so sorry, Don," Leo sniffled, hugging his brother closer, "I'm so, so sorry."

"I know you're sorry, you're always sorry," the genius hiccuped, "you care about everyone else except yourself, but we needed you! Why can't you just get it through your head that we need you here?!"

"I didn't think you did," the prodigal son admitted, voice low in shame, "I thought that if I left you wouldn't have to deal with my garbage anymore."

Donatello's sobs were finally slowing down, enough to allow the purple ninja to give a derisive snort, "Don't you think we get a say in that?" He asked, voice congested from his weeping, "You know I don't like when people make decisions for me without at least consulting me first!"

Leonardo nodded, cheek pressed against Donnie's temple, both their cheeks slick with tears, "You're right, I should have."

"Darn right, you should have," the genius grumbled, sniffling back his tears, "I should punch you for leaving but I'm too comfortable right now, so I'll save it for later."

"I'll let you, otouto," Leo chuckled wetly, "I know I deserve it."

Donatello leaned back, giving his brother a skeptical pout, "But do you know that you deserve it for the right reasons?" He asked sullenly.

Leo quirked an eyebrow ridge at his brother, opening his mouth to reply, only to be cut off by the sound of the front door opening. Raphael and Michelangelo walked through, loaded down with groceries, no doubt a gift from April, only for the grocery bags to meet the same fate as Donnie's coffee cup.

"Leo!" Twin cries in unison, and suddenly the eldest's arms were full as Mikey barreled into him and Donatello, the youngest sobbing in relief.

Raph approached the eldest, topaz eyes glittering with unshed emotion, "Yer home?" He gasped, a disbelieving laugh shaking already trembling shoulders, "Fer real?"

Leo nodded, "I'm sorry for leaving," the eldest said, the lump in his throat making his voice people raspy again, "I shouldn't have, I just wasn't thinking straight, and-!"

The brawler waved Leo's words away, the red mask quickly getting stained a deeper shade of crimson, "We'll talk about it later," Raph said gruffly, "right now, just gimme a hug."

Leonardo reached out one arm, and the hotheaded turtle was quick to comply, the older brothers touching foreheads as Raphael clutched onto his leader, shuddering as he wept. One hand cupping the back of Michelangelo's neck, pulling him in closer to the huddle, and Donnie burying his beak back into the curve of Leo's shoulder, Leonardo closed his eyes as he reacquainted himself with the siblings he loved so well. They'd all changed, were so different, evidence of the stress they'd endured during his absence. Raphael sported new stress lines along his face and around his eyes, confirming what Usagi said that he was floundering in the position of leader. Mikey's eyes were heavy with grief and anxiety, unsuited to the beam of sunshine that Leo associated with the youngest. Most shocking was Donnie, he was thinner, face drawn with strain and fatigue, scales dull and shell shedding at the scutes. Shame pieced Leo's heart, making him pull the younger siblings closer. He'd done this. It was his fault that they've suffered, and by God he needed to fix it. The eldest breathed in his brother's scent, chest vibrating with deep throated chuffs that he was home and wasn't going anywhere, prompting his brothers chirping in reply, communicating in their first language their relief and joy at this unexpected reunion. Usagi stood in the background, a happy smile on his face at a mission completed and a family finally once again whole. Donatello pushed in even closer, burying his beak into Leonardo's neck, a shuddering sigh at the familiar strength he'd missed so dearly.

For several minutes, the eldest held his siblings close, bearing the weight of their emotional turmoil, guilt and shame making his own tumble.

"My son?" A soft voice interrupted, making the hug pile freeze.

The prodigal smiled sadly, eyes melting as he greeted the last member of the family, "Father,"

The younger brothers swiftly fled, making room as Splinter bolted to his son, paws outstretched to cup the damp cheeks of the eldest, "My son," the rat wept, "my Leonardo!"

The eldest leaned down, allowing his parent to snuffle his face, before the rat bestowed a tender kiss on his child's forehead, "Oh, my boy," Splinter sobbed, "I was so worried for you."

"I'm sorry, sensei," Leonardo sniffed, closing his eyes as his father pulled him into a warm embrace.

For thirty or so heartbeats, the eldest turtle allowed himself to be held, despite the way his stomach roiled at the conversation he knew lay ahead, could feel coming. Instead, he pushed the anxiety aside, and reveled in the feel of his father's arms, soaking up the love and affection being poured out like a flower fresh out of winter soaks up sunlight. It couldn't last though, as eventually questions needed answering, and Splinter leaned back to give his son a look of utter sorrow.

"Why, my Leonardo?" He asked, voice heavy with the terror and grief carried over the last five months of the prodigal's absence, "Why would you leave us? What would cause you to run from your own family?"

Sapphire eyes fell, shoulders hunching as Leo tried to gather his explanation for what happened, "When the Shredder," he began, voice hesitant and unsure, "when he had me…." Words ran out, and Leonardo shuddered at the memories, "Sorry, it's hard-."

"Hey," Raphael broke in, "we get it, I get it. Shredder tortured ya, he tortured me too, it don't make us think any less of ya."

The eldest turned, looking into the liquid gold eyes, and intense relief shook the turtle when he found nothing but compassion in their depths. That gave him the strength to continue, "Yeah," he nodded, "he made me relive every time I failed, every time I was hurt or injured, and then when he got tired of that he…" Leo's throat convulsed as he gave a heavy swallow, before spitting out the words as if he were spitting out poison, "he made me watch my family get skinned alive by the skin walker, over and over."

The family grimaced, Raphael growling out a curse that even their father didn't have the gumption to scold him for. Leo clenched his eyes shut, breathing in through his nose to regain his composure, before he struggled forward, "I didn't know what was real after a while," he said, voice hoarse, "and then when Saki began to say that I was nothing but poison to the family, that you'd be happier if I was gone…I couldn't fight back. I don't know why, but it made sense.

"It's my fault that you had to rescue me, again," the eldest continued, "my fault that I was too weak to lead to the point that I've developed heart issues, my fault that my own family had to coddle their leader out of fear I might fall into another flashback. I was so ashamed."

Leonardo paused, sniffling back tears, fighting to remain in control so to give his family the explanation they deserved, "So, when Mikey was stabbed by the fox spirit, I just….snapped." The eldest breathed, teardrops plummeting down already wet cheeks, "it was suddenly clear that I didn't have a place in this family, because my incompetence caused my brother to get hurt. I didn't even feel like I deserved to stand in the same room as all of you, because I lost the right to. I wasn't worthy, not anymore, of being a leader or a brother, and in that moment, I didn't think I ever was to begin with."

"That's bull-crap, Leo," Raph growled, the gruff tone softened by the affectionate hand squeezing the prodigal's shoulder.

"Yeah, why would you think that?" Donnie sniffled, still struggling to reign in his emotions, "And why would that make you believe that you needed to leave?"

"I don't know, it's hard to explain," Leonardo bit his lips, scared to bare his most dreaded secret, scared to make his family bear the burden of yet another one of his many issues.

"Dude," Mikey said, the first words he'd spoken since he'd seen Leo from the front door, "I saw the new room, the fear that you'd be thrown out. Is that why?"

The prodigal gave a miserable nod, shame seared across his features, "Yeah,"

"Why would you think we'd throw you out, bro?" The youngest pressed, baby blue eyes full of compassion.

"Because that's what happened the last time I messed up." The confession was spoken in barely a whisper, the tone soft with guilt, however, it carried the weight of a metric ton.

Revelation hit the small family hard, with Splinter reeling back as if he'd been slapped. Leonardo wilted, anxiety once again making the eldest tremble, "I'm sorry," he rasped, "I know I messed up again, but I just thought that if I left instead…I'd save you the trouble of sending me away."

"You thought you were sent away to the Ancient One because you weren't good enough to stay?" Donatello breathed, realization making his brown eyes blow wide with guilt.

Another miserable nod, sapphire eyes clenched shut, fear over his family's reactions making the eldest shrink in on himself. That was when Splinter saw his most stalwart son in a new light, and it shamed him. In that moment Leonardo was not a leader, he was not ninja, he was a child lost and confused, desperate for peace from the gnawing darkness infecting his soul, wishing for the pain to stop. Splinter reached out with trembling paws, wincing when his son flinched at his touch, but continuing until the rat had Leo's face cupped in his palms.

"I apologize, my Leonardo," the rat said, eyes brimming with repentant tears, "for being too weak to help you when you needed your father, and not your master."

Shocked sapphire eyes shot open, and Leo was shaking his head in denial, "It's not your fault-!"

"Yame!" Splinter commanded his son into silence, thumbs stroking the damp cheeks of his eldest, "My son, it is my duty as your father to care for you, mentally as well as physically. I failed you, my Leonardo. I was so focused on preparing you for your path ahead as a ninja, I forgot that you are still only a child, with many of the same fears that all children battle.

"I am sorry," the rat sighed, pulling Leonardo close so to tenderly caress the maskless head, "I cannot change the past, my son, but I can make a promise for the future. From now on, I will choose to put as much energy into being a father, as I do into being your sensei."

"You've always been my father," the eldest continued to deny, panic and anxiety at his parent admitting a flaw that none of the brothers had never admitted aloud making his gaze grow wild, "we know you love us."

"My son," grieved cobalt eyes locked with sapphire, "if I had truly been your father more than your teacher, then you would not struggle as you do. I have raised you to be fine ninja but forgot your youth. So concerned with making you warriors that I neglected to fill your days with love and reassurance, reminding you that you are worthy of love."

"But you did…" the eldest insisted, voice shrinking.

Splinter shook his greying head, "Obviously I have not," he rasped, stroking the green head, "if I had, then you would not doubt yourself as you do."

Broad shoulders shuddered as Leonardo finally allowed himself to break, the grief of his self-imposed exile finally vented in the arms of his family, "I only want to be good enough for you, for all of you." He began to weep softly.

"You are good enough, my son," Splinter reassured, "you have always been good enough. I promise, I will never send you away again."

The soft cries grew into a distressed whine, which quickly evolved into a keening wail as Leonardo sagged into his father's embrace, falling to his knees with a thud. That was what he's been needing, the promise from his parent that he would never be sent into exile again, that he had a place in their family, that he really was good enough. He held to Splinter's words as tightly as one would a life saving rope, because if there was one thing the ninja inherited from his father, it was that Splinter never broke a promise. He could trust the aged rat. A weight that had been pulling him down for the better part of eight months finally lifted, and with that release of pressure came a flood of tears and sobs rushing down with the force of a tsunami tidal wave. Leonardo couldn't hold back the cries with his usual steely resolve, the emotions he'd imprisoned behind the thick floodgates he'd built in his heart were raging, and like a dam wall being breached, they crumpled under the strain. He was a tot again, weeping into his father's robe, seeking security from the monsters that lurk in the dark.

Splinter continued caressing the scaly head and convulsing carapace, silent tears leaving dark streaks in his fur, allowing the eldest son to finally release the months, if not years, of pent-up stress. Wordlessly, the younger brothers drew close, clinging to the eldest in solidarity, calloused hands rubbing soothing circles into the shuddering carapace as they bore the weight of their sibling's inner turmoil, allowing him the safety to vent it. It had been a long five months for all of them, and while the siblings were not immune to the turmoil inflicted by their brother's disappearance, they also understood the damage their old enemy had wreaked on Leonardo's mind. Their compassionate natures sought to reach out to their struggling sibling, wrapping him in their arms as they exuded love and patience.

"I-I'm sor-ry," Leonardo eventually gasped, hiccups shaking him through his sobs, "I should-n't have l-left, I missed you s-so much!"

"We missed you too, aniki," Donnie murmured, leaning his forehead against Leo's.

"No kidding," Mikey snorted, cuddling into his oldest brother, "I thought the first time was bad, but this time was so much worse. We need you around here, Leo, otherwise everything just feels wrong."

"We're a team of four," Raphael threw in, "and I believe yer the one that said no one is replaceable on this team, includin' you, ya dork."

Leonardo laughed, even as the tears continued to drip off his chin and cheeks, leaning in closer to his family, "There's no place like home," he agreed, "every day without you guys felt so warped and wrong, I don't want to imagine living life where you aren't there with me."

Raph gave his brother a teasing grin, "Well, it can't have been all bad," he chuckled, "ya really packed on some muscle wherever ya went."

"He worked as an apprentice at a forge," Usagi threw in, the rabbit stepping out of the shadows from where he was allowing the family their space to talk, "Leonardo-San learned how to craft some very fine weapons."

"Seriously?" Donatello asked, cocking his head to the side.

Leo gave a shaky nod, struggling to regain his composure even as the hiccups persisted in jerking his frame, sapphire eyes looking shyly down at the floor, "A blacksmith named Rawgrim was my teacher," he explained, "I learned everything I could while I was there."

"Pfft," Donnie shook his head, amusement shining through the warm brown eyes, "typical Leo, send yourself into exile and you still find a way to learn something new about swords."

"I also said the same," Usagi grinned, "obviously the path of the warrior is not keen on letting Leonardo-San go."

"Hey, I'm not complainin'," the brawler grinned, "the sooner I can get back ta normal and let Leo be leader again, the better!"

The eldest wilted as a round of laughter shook the small family, suddenly feeling the weight of his brothers' expectant stares being turned on him, "Um, about that," he whispered, shoulders hunching self consciously, "I'm not sure….I mean, I don't think I can…"

"Don't think ya can, what?"

Leo bit his bottom lip, insecurity silencing him until an aged, furry paw gripped a shaking green hand, "Don't think you can, what, my Leonardo?"

A sigh, fingers entangling with each other as he struggled to piece together what he was feeling, then Leo spoke in a scared whisper, "I don't think I can be leader, yet," he rasped, "everything is so messed up…especially in my head, so I don't think I can do it…at least not yet."

"But Leo-!" Raphael's signature temper exploded, though without its usual heat, instead the liquid gold eyes were pleading with the eldest, begging to be relieved of the burden of leadership, "Ya can't! We need you back!"

"Raphael!" Splinter scolded, the sharp tone making the brawler flinch, before the rat gave a heavy sigh, "We will respect Leonardo's choice."

"But master Splinter!" Raph tried again, only to be cut off once again.

"No, my son," their father said with a grave shake of his head, "I will not make the same mistakes, not again, not after all the pain we've endured.

"You were all raised to be warriors, and in this you have all four excelled beyond my wildest expectations," Splinter stated, voice low with shame, "and while I believe that you know how much I love you, my sons, there is still a measure of doubt on whether we are family or merely strangers living together as ninja."

"That's not what Leo meant, though," Donnie burst, "he knows we're family."

"Indeed," the rat nodded, giving the eldest a compassionate glance, "I am certain he does as well."

"Then what's the problem?" Raphael growled, fear at the unknown making his gaze grow wild, "What's so bad about him bein' leader again, like he always is?"

"The problem is that your brother was never given the choice," Splinter replied, looking to Leonardo for confirmation, smiling sadly when the eldest gave a tiny, guilty nod, "Raphael, you and your younger brothers have been allowed many choices in your lives. How to spend your free time, the hobbies you enjoy, the ability to stay up late or go out with friends. Leonardo does as well, but not to the same extent.

"He was not allowed the opportunity to say he wanted to quit," the rat rasped, voice choking up, "instead your brother bore the weight of our family, and he has done so valiantly. Therefore, if your brother is asking for time away from those duties, as his father, I will choose to protect him and honor that wish."

The furry paw still grasping the eldest's hand gave the green fingers a comforting squeeze, "My Leonardo," Splinter whispered, "take this time and consider the path you desire to walk, and whatever you choose, I promise I will support you."

Another wave of relief, warm and cold at the same time made the turtle sway, a sudden vertigo causing his vision to tumble, "Yes, sensei," he stammered.

"But, if not Leo," Donatello quavered, uncertainty making the brown gaze troubled, "then who is going to lead us?"

"No one," Splinter stated firmly, never releasing his prodigal son's hand, "we are officially on a break as ninja, and for the indefinite future, we will be focusing on strengthening our bonds as a family."

"Uh, care to elaborate?" The genius asked, "when you say a 'break', do you mean in general, or-?"

Their father gave a nod, "No patrol," he began watching his sons' shocked expressions, "no fighting of any kind, nothing that pertains to our being ninja, including training."

Mikey's jaw dropped, "No ninja training? At all?!" He spluttered.

"I will not forbid you from any form of healthy exercise," Splinter clarified, "as I would hate to see all your hard work go down the drain. However, no, I will not hold ninja training anymore, at least for now."

"But," Leo's soft tones cut through the noise, sapphire eyes wide with guilt and panic, "I can't ask you to do that!" He gasped, "Besides, I haven't trained in months, I'm already so far behind my brothers, I'll need week of supplemental training just to stand on level ground with them! I'm out of shape and weak, too weak to be of any use to this family!"

Usagi gave a scoff, crossing his arms and leaning against a pillar with a pout, "I'd hardly call our battle 'weak', Leonardo-San. Remember, it was you who won and laid me low in the dirt."

"Dude, you beat Usagi?" Mikey grinned, but Leo wasn't willing to be comforted.

The eldest shook his head, "No, I'm just becoming a liability again," his breaths were becoming quick and shallow pants, anxiety eating at the corners of his vision like a ravenous shadow monster, "you can't do this, it's just going to hurt everyone!"

"As if you have not already been hurt?" Splinter's question was quiet, meek, and yet rolled like distant thunder, "Leonardo, this is not for forever, it is only temporary. Trust me as your father, allow me the opportunity to cast aside my role of teacher and embrace you as my son? When you are ready, we will resume our training, however, we have all been under too much strain and to return to our lives as if we have not endured a great deal of turmoil is a bad habit we must all work to eradicate."

"So, what do we do?" Michelangelo quavered.

Finally, a true smile lit the aged mutant's face, the furry muzzle stretching as hope lit the cobalt eyes, "We will be a family. We will play games, and have long conversations. You boys will have movie nights, and play your video games, and enjoy each other's company. Together we will grow stronger, not through training as ninja, but through our bonds. I have long said that only as a family can we weather the storm, it is time I relearn the value of that lesson."

"And what do I do?" Leo asked, blue eyes looking lost, and slightly broken, but there was a light softly glimmering in their aquiline depths.

Splinter regarded the eldest, understanding that Leonardo was not asking for a specific task, but more of what he needed to do to become whole again, of how to make the decision of whether to become leader of his brothers, "Consider yourself," the rat finally uttered, "examine your soul, and your dreams. I cannot make this choice for you, and I will also not require you to make the decision until I decide that our rest is over. In fact, I forbid you from making your decision until that day. Take this time, my son, and rest. Relearn who you are, and what drives you. Only then will you discover what you truly want."

Leonardo nodded, the weight of the moment making him both dizzy and heavy with fatigue. The younger brothers seemed to notice this as Leo's head gave another concerning sway, "Welp," Mikey chirped brightly, taking a hold of the eldest's right arm and slinging it over his shoulders, "if we don't have to train anymore, and we don't patrol either, I guess there's only one thing left to do. Movie night!"

Raphael huffed, but a satisfied smile was slowly spilling across his features, "I guess a vacation don't sound too bad," he grumbled, taking Leo's other arm, "but don't pick anythin' dumb. Got it? Ya better choose a decent movie, Mike, or so help me."

"Please," the youngest scoffed as they carried the prodigal towards the couch, all four brothers quickly finding their spots and snuggling in, with Mikey skillfully flipping their favorite quilt over their legs, "all the movies I pick are awesome, you just don't know that because you're snoring like a chainsaw five minutes in!"

"If they were so awesome, they wouldn't put me ta sleep, lamebrain," came the answering snarl.

From his peripheral, Leo numbly acknowledged that Splinter was picking up the spilled groceries, walking them to the kitchen and putting them away. Usagi assisted the aged rat, nodding when Splinter invited the rabbit to stay for dinner. Heavy eyelids blinked, barely able to pull back up as exhaustion weighed on the eldest turtle, making his whole body sag. Whether his brothers missed this or simply chose to ignore it, they continued the soothing chatter as the maskless head sunk until it rested on the comforting bulk of Raphael's bicep. A brawny arm rose to wrap around the strangely quivering shoulders, sheer relief making the turtle shiver, as Mikey subtly pulled the blanket up higher on the eldest. Leonardo's eyes closed, his breaths evening out and growing deeper. Donatello reached around the youngest to rub the tired head resting on the brawler, encouraging the eldest to sink even deeper under the folds of their quilt.

He was home. And even better, he was forgiven. Things were going to be strange for a bit, and he had a big decision to make, but right now…Leonardo couldn't feel more content.

How did you like it? Was the conversation with his family what you all hoped for? I did my best to make it deserving of my fabulous readers.

Please read and review, as always, I love to read your thoughts and opinions!