Anticipation, Part 3

Title: Anticipation, part 3
Author: becky016
Warnings: None (That I can think of)
Note: I will be using these (---) to divide my story as some scenes, may, jump back and forth to one another.
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

Silence fell in the room, but instead of getting a scared or angry reaction. Charlotte was, instead, met with Raph’s smile, and she too couldn’t help but return the gesture while letting out a soft sigh.

“So much for someday huh?” Charlotte said, to which Raph chuckled somewhat.
“Ya tellin’ me” he replied. Although this pregnancy wasn’t planned either, the couple couldn’t help but feel happy.

Within seconds the male, leapt up on the bed besides his girlfriend and made himself comfortable.
“There’s gonna be a lot of work that needs doing” Charlotte spoke to which the hothead sighed.
“Gotta baby proof the bedroom…” Raph mentioned.
“And buy all new stuff”
“Don’t we have some of Ashley’s stuff we managed to save from the last lair?”
“But the baby might not even be a girl”
“Aw shell! I ain’t lookin’ forward to da late night feedin’s again…”
“I wonder if Donnie and Leo have some of the Taro’s and Noah’s stuff…”

After going through a sort list the pair stopped and took a breather.
“You’re happy about this right?” Charlotte asked Raph.
“Course, I’m just s’prised is all”
“Me too” Charlotte replied.

Taking a moment to let it sink in, the pair smiled and embraced one another, with Raph adding a kiss to Charlotte’s forehead.
“Can we uhh… just keep this to ourselves for a while, for a few hours if anything” Charlotte said.
“Sure, but… what do we tell Ashley?” Raph asked back.

Seems as though their daughter’s birthday wish had come true after all, not that they would plan on telling her just yet.
“Let’s just keep it between us for now; after all it is still early stages” to which Raph nodded in response.

A knock suddenly interrupted to the pair, and Raph went to see who it was. Once her opening the door he saw two blue eyes staring at him past an orange bandana.
“Oh hey Raph! You two busy in there?” his brother grinned cheekily, almost like he was thinking something dirty, to which he earned himself a whack on the head.
“OW!”
“What do ya want Mikey?” Raph growled
“Leo wants all of us to head topside for some training” he whined whilst rubbing the back of his head.
“He says we’ve been slacking off lately”

Glancing back at Charlotte, who had seated herself on the edge of the bed, she just tilted her head and smiled.
“Go on, I’ll be fine” she said. Raph felt lucky to have someone like her and to be honest Charlotte wanted to get some sleep, just to get this feeling of exhaustion off her chest.

So with a quick wave goodbye and closing the door behind them, both Raph and Mikey had met the remaining brothers in the living room.

“You guys all set?” Leo asked in a firm tone.
“Why wouldn’t we be?” Raph asked, twirling his sai amidst his palm. He couldn’t help but feel as though something was up, especially since the kids, Mia and Robyn were nowhere to be seen, and the fact that Don, Leo and Mikey all glimpsed at one another, followed by a nod.
“Uhh… is ther’ summin’ I need ta know?” Raph asked.
“Nope” they replied again a cheeky grin appeared around the group.

Though before Raph could get an insight into their true motives Leo had ordered the group to head for the sewers, to which Raph gradually followed. Little did he realise that Splinter had been watching them the whole time, with a smile planted across his face.

-------

Scouting the darkened rooftops of New York proved more than an ease for each of the brothers, and they took a moment to grab themselves some hot dogs, ninja style, whilst taking a quick break.
With Leo leaning himself up against the wall, he watched whilst his brothers warfed down their fast foods. Don had seated himself on top of the janitor’s closet, whereas Raph and Mikey were along the roofs edge but made sure that they weren’t able to be spotted by the normal busy bodies.

Taking his last few bites Raph happily finished his food.
“Mmm, man that was one good dog” he said proudly followed with a burp.
“Dude that’s so not how it’s done! It’s like this!” Mikey gleamed letting out an even larger belch than all of them put together.
“Nice, though these would taste a whole lot better with some soda” Leo replied.
“Soda?! Nah Leo what you need is a beer” his brother replied.

“I’d have to disagree” Don interrupted.
“You see the flavour of a soda finishes off the enhancement of the…” he carried on like no tomorrow, just as he always did when he was explaining things.
“Yeah, yeah! we get it Don!” Mikey sulked.
“Well excuse me for being smart!”

When a pause arose the four of them let out a round of laughter, once that was over and done with, Leo calmly looked up at the clear sky. If it weren’t for the city lights he’d probably be able to see more of the stars that were probably out tonight.
“Hey when was the last time we actually hung out like this?” he asked out loud to which each of them thought for a moment.
“You know…”
“I can’t remember…”
“Me neither…”

This time they all decided to look up at the sky.
“Huh, when did we get to busy to do stuff like this?” Mikey asked.
“When we became parents I guess” Don replied that’s when the youngest leapt from his seat and motioned his way through his brothers.

It really did seem like a whole other lifetime since it was just the four turtle brothers and their sensei, all training together in their old home. Time had surely flown by for all of them.
But Mikey wished to speak up, clarifying his version of the whole parenthood.
“Uh I beg to differ there brainiac! You mean when u guys became parents, I however am living a care free life” he mocked, as he took a seat of a wall, placed his hands behind his head and planted his feet up on Raph’s shell. To which the turtle was not amused.

“Yeah a care free life with Robyn, ‘member dat?” in an act of revenge Raph hauled his brothers legs high, making the turtle flip over the edge of the building completely and walk away. It wasn’t enough to worry him though, because with his fast reflexes Mikey was able to get a hold of the fire escape, stopping himself from falling to the ground completely.

“Hey!” the youngest remarked as he climbed back up. By this point Don had descended to his sibling’s side.
“True but either way, I think it’s gonna be some time before any of us get to hang out together like this, right Raph?” leaving the red banded turtle to question his brother’s sudden statement.
“Uhh? What-ja mean?”

When he turned round to face them, there they all were crowded together with their expressions saying it all as they continued to stare directly at him.
“Am I missin’ somethin’?” before he knew it they had all pounced on him one by one crying out “DOG PILE!”
“GrrrAAH! GET OFFA ME YA SHELL HEADS! WHAT GIVES?!” Raph growled underneath the heap as he struggled to throw them off.

Once more it wasn’t the best of mandatory embraces, since the turtle had found somebody’s foot in front of his face and given by the expression he had pulled, they hadn’t washed them in a while. Not to mention it wasn’t very comfortable for the others either.

“What gives?” Don questioned, as if it wasn’t already obvious.
“We just wanted to congratulate u bro!”
“Rumour has it that we’re gonna be uncles again” Leo ended.

Raph eyes quickly widened wondering how each of them found out, surely C couldn’t have told them about the pregnancy before him?! In any case he released a sigh of relief with a mild chuckle added too. It was a weird way to celebrate such an event but still, it was better than nothing.
“So ya guys know ‘bout that huh?”

Leo, Don and Mikey each rose to their feet, letting Raph up also as he dusted himself off.
“How’d you find out anyway?”
“Well Robyn may have hinted some minor details” Don explained.
“But it was master Splinter who pretty much sussed it out, remember when we were all back at the lair, well he had looked at you and Charlotte and said…”

“Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch”
“Something like that” Leo explained, to which Raph scratched his head.
“Heh, guess there’s really no hidin’ anythin’ from that guy...” that was something the brothers could all agree on.

“So, who’s up for heading back and celebrating things properly?” the leader put forward, Mikey was the first as he raced his way over the roofs crying out.
“Last one home hatched from a rotten egg!”
“No way am I coming last again!” Don followed as the pair of them disappeared down a shadowed alleyway.

As soon as Leo went to follow the dynamic duo he felt something pat his shoulder, he turned round to see Raph’s amber eyes pass through his red bandana.
“Hey Leo, uh not that I’m trying ta get all mushy or nuffin’ but… thanks” it was a kind of awkward moment for the pair, especially when the hothead added a punch to Leo’s arm to show his appreciation.

With Leo sharing the same gesture as he had, he just calmly smiled.
“Don’t sweat it Raph…” he replied, when he and Raph reached the edge of the building and looked down at the darkened passageway what Leo said next sent a abrupt chill down Raph’s shell.
“Besides I guess this means that you and Charlotte are gonna finally get married right?” he then leapt high into the air and dived down passed the walls and into the manhole cover with ease.

Now that Raph was alone, the only other word which could freak him more out than, ‘baby’, ‘bugs’ or ‘pregnancy’ was left running through his mind.
“…Married?...”

------

Meanwhile back at the lair, the women were finally enjoying a nice quiet night to themselves, with the men out and the children put to bed, their home seemed like a totally different place. Not that any of them minded.

Charlotte had remained in her room the whole time, aside from checking in on her daughter every now and then as well as putting her to bed, she has secluded herself. Not because she was trying to hide from everyone, she just wanted some ‘me’ time.

Casually browsing through a magazine she could hear some loud ruckus through the walls, to which she placed the publication to one side and went to investigate. When she opened the door the voices became much clearer some of which she could easily recognise of whom they belonged to and when she walked out to the balcony her hunch was right.

Looking down into the living room/dining area she spotted Splinter, Mia and Robyn gathered round April and Casey, who seemed to have dropped by unexpectedly. Not that it bothered any of them it had been some time since they’d last seen their human comrades.

It was then that Casey had spotted the red head looking down at them.
“Hey Char, what’s happenin’?!” the man cried out suddenly, this only made the man a target as his wife swooped in from behind covering his mouth.
“Casey Shhh!” each of the mutant females were happy about that, at least one person in the jones family had some sense, since they didn’t want the kids waking up anytime soon.

“Sorry for the intrusion guys but when Mia gave us a call we just had to come over” April said.
“You called them?” Charlotte questioned.
“Yeah she figured it was high time we all hung out together” Robyn replied from the kitchen as she was sneakily drinking one of Raph’s beers, whilst he was out.
“Are the boys here with you?” Mia asked.
“Nah we’d left the boys at home with one of the neighbour’s daughters” it was late anyway and it just made more sense if it was all adults.

While Robyn went to go get them all some beverages, the rest all seated themselves amongst the sofas. Charlotte too closed her bedroom door and made her way down the stairs to join her friends.
When the red head plonked herself down beside Mia, Casey decided to add to the mood by asking yet another question.
“Say Char… you been usin’ make-up, like a new blush or summin’?” the room then fell silent as the turtlette looked up at him with a puzzled reaction.
“No why?...” it was then that the couple looked at one another.

“Oh nothing really, you just seem to have a… certain glow about u” it was then Charlotte caught on to what the pair were saying. She paused for a moment before a quiet smile emerged over her face as she knew they had found out.
“Okay who told u?” the couple then turned to face Mia.
“I just heard, congratulations” she squealed with delight at the news as she wrapped her arms around her friend to whom Charlotte reciprocated.
“Thanks”

“Seems that good news travels fast” Charlotte spoke looking over her shoulder at the brunette who had brought through the tray of drinks.
“Hey it wasn’t just me, Splinter knew too” Robyn responded.
“You did?” the rat just responded with a nod whilst stroking his goatee.
“When you have been a ninja for as long as I have, you tend to… pick up on these things… but still learning that I shall become a grandfather again does bring hope to me once again” he smiled.

“What I’d be interested in is learning that I’d get to be the godfather” Casey put.
“You’re already a godfather to Ashley, it’s my turn now” April replied, causing everyone to laugh.

------

Before long the guys had returned and the true celebrations began or somewhat celebration, with the kids in bed they could do much. But still a gathering’s a gathering. Mikey and Casey continued to quarrel about who should be godfather and the girls kept going on about baby names.

It had all seemed so sudden, especially since there was such a short space between both this child and their older cousin, meaning Yumi. Not that is was that big of a deal but still it was a step further away for each of the turtles to get things back to the way they used to be. Before any of the children were born.

------

It was now well into the early hours of the next morning, which was probably a bad thing, since each of them had busy days ahead. Nevertheless it was fun for the old gang to be back together again.
The newly renounced parents were back in their room, removing their attires and climbing back into bed once more.

Charlotte moved herself closer to her boyfriend, while he had his arm spread out to welcome her. She gently placed her hand on his chest as she watched him yawn before he closed his eyes.
“Are you okay? You hardly said anything since you came back” Raph’s eyes slowly opened up again as they veered towards hers before looking up at the ceiling again.

“I’m fine just… summin’ Leo said earlier” he recalled placing his hand behind his head and looked up at the ceiling and thought. Charlotte snuggled herself closer to him her long strands sprawled out over the place.
“About?” Raph then peered down at her and just shook his head.
“Nuffin’ just summin’ stupid…”

The turtle then reached out and switched off the lamp beside him. He then rolled back round embracing his girlfriend, but what his brother had said, never left his mind and the look of concern never left his face.

“Just summin’ stupid…” he whispered.

TBC…