New Beginnings *Six years later* (December) *Hamato Clan*

Leonardo wrote:

Leo indeed felt the swoop within. It was like the feeling of crazy butterflies he had the first morning Erica had ninja'd him away from his brothers and seduced him. Not that he put up much of a fight. It was of excitement and longing and he was surprised he didn't burst into a super nova when the force of love filled him, " She's home." His eyes flash bright and blue as he watched all his family, pressing kisses into the heads of his daughter and his son. "your mother is home, but you will remain quiet and still no matter how happy you are." soft but firm whispering to them, they will not get in the way for their Uncle Raph and their cousin.

Mikey looked up, none but their hearing would pick up the soft whispering of Leo. How did he know?

then again Leo had become spookily intuitive since becoming a father, of course Mikey didn't know it was further training with Splinter that allowed Leo to sense them, all of them when they were close, and when they were in distress... thats how they had found Raph so soon when they lost Venus. And was probably why Lilo and Don were able to save this hatchling.

So he didn't doubt that Leo knew Erica was back, it had been only a couple of hours... maybe a couple and a half but that was about the timing it took to travel between their place and the tree houses in one of Don's creations so Mikey wasn't shocked and quiet glad.

Now all the milk and food options for baby would be right here!

Leonardo wrote:

He shifts so he was angled to watch the miraculous and pretty new hatchling slowly shed the egg, and so he was facing the door would see Her when she came in.

She was HOME!


Heading towards hers and Leo's room with Edna moving away to the pool, Erica began stripping off her cloak and belt and the suit. Erica wore nothing under the special skull suit made of Leo's shed skin and shell and plastron. She loved having his skin on hers directly nothing between. And she wasn't exactly shy either, long ago before meeting Carl and Daryl and the mall she often spent her days completely naked, the victim and captive of five adult rapists. She'd been half nude in front of Daryl when he patched up a gun shot wound he had been more embarrassed than she and she still sometimes teased him about that. When it had come time to lay her eggs she'd stripped off uncomfortable and hot in anything, even the lightest silks. And whenever she was in her and Leo's rooms she was decidely naked as could be whether the children were around or not, they didn't care they'd had seen their mother naked and it was not new to them. And she delighted, absolutely delighted in being distractively nude around her husband. When he was trying to meditate or work out or puzzle over community issues. Enjoyed making him exasperatedly give up on focusing and accusingly asking her how he was supposed to concentrate when she was looking like that?!


Once naked and her suit and boots bundled just inside the large glass doors of her room Erica left the room and joined Edna by the pool she slid into it gasping a little at the cool water and washed off the sweat and smells of travel, the lingering faintness of Leo and sex from the night before. She would love to swim, but hurried, sitting herself on the pool edge in front of the little woman muttered and cursed when she came across tangles but finished up quickly. Her hair squeezed and twitsted drip free and now combed Erica slid on the new cloths. Most of it was nothing special, a light soft blue dress. What was special was the lightly armored bit across her breasts, dipping down around her back.

It was made of another turtles shed and donated skin. Venus's. Why? because they all wanted the remaining hatchling to have her scent, the remaining scent of its mother as well as Raph's some of the first the little one experienced. If the lil one had to breast feed it was ready and Erica could see in the event the child din't need her the wide supportive strip pelt could be easily removed and still provide the scent draped over Raph's arms.

She was for the moment otherwise fairly scentless, spotless. And with a grin at the little woman who made all the cloths for the compound and their suits specifically Erica now set off for Raph's room, knocking politely before slipping within and smiling, there they all were. April, her mates Donnie and Casey, Splinter, Mikey and she could smell milk varieties, annnnd oooh her husband - she longed to go straight to him into his arms with their babies but that would ruin her efforts now. Instead she stayed by the door beside Edna and waited to be invited forward by the new father if needed.

She was there! Yoshi and Shen gave silent excited squeaks and happiness lite over their faces in a soft glow, their eyes like their fathers briefly shining bright and blue and ooooh they wanted to go to her, but they had been told... to wait ...

Leonardo wrote:

" he was extremely proud of his two little ones, both managing to keep the reactions to seeing their mother, back, whole and so beautiful, quiet. And so did he, barely, the way their eyes connected across the room. Almost made him break his just lain rules and close the last of the distance between them and take her into the arms with their babies. but he could wait.

As the hat hing progressed, do did Raphael's excitement and a dirty and his focus set unflattering from his little one to be. He did hear Erica and with a gesture, invited her in...


..and finally, the little on broke free from its confines...upside down...

The hatchling's bright topaz eyes first fixating on its father, then shifting to each in the room as it wiggled it's short little tail... a girl! And sunk down to an upright position, sitting..her back initially facing them. She shifted her little head to look at them, the remanince of a grin etched across her lightly freckled face as she turned to fully face them...


Tiny features, like her mom, a shell to match but with with Raph's pattern. Her skin a light shade of green...

Raph was overwhelmed with emotions and couldn't hold back the tears as he carefully reached for his little one...his daughter, taking her into his arms for the first time. She seem unfazed by the robotic one, and the brightly glowing mechanical eye....


Raph was overjoyed, and thankful that all of his family was here to share this moment with him...


The little one, gazing up, her little tummy rumbled and she sucked on her little fingers...


"Huh... I think she's hungry..She...I have a daughter.. " He sniffled... she looked like his Mei, with some of his features thrown in. He was incredibly thankful that his family had worked so tirelessly on milk combinations, and his sister in law was willing to share her milk if needed....

Mikey fought squuueeeeees - he'd had to fight the urge to scoop the tiny niece up the moment she half grinned and looked his way - of course he was like that with all his brothers children... brothers... now two brothers had children.


He is careful to hold out the bottle - personally he would be surprised if the child took to any but the boob. Her cousins refused.


And Erica had sung enough to all the babies prior to hatching, inside of Venus... her own belly. funnily enough in regards to Yoshi and Shen Leo had also spent time singing to the eggs - though they didn't know he had also done so to the small bellies Erica had had.


Lord she was beautiful and Mikey hoped one day he might have a beautiful blond of his own to look at him the way she did Leonardo.


Maybe.


for now he bumps his elbow against Raph's and whispers, " invite Erica over to try the boob first bro - whilst she smells like... like Venus... you have to give her a name you know? He could smell her from here.


Venus had always given off an inviting warm scent. Erica's was electric, sweet like pop rock candy. At the moment Venus was present, and Erica's was not.

Their sister in law of course would make it so even not here, Venus was here for the birth of the one child she'd so very much wanted and longed for and passed away before meeting. Of course she would. He was touched for his big brother in red. Grateful.

April grins - covering her long squeeeeeeee and had to be restrained - if reluctantly by Don and Casey before she grabbed up the new hatchling goop and all !

" Ooooh my gaaaandalf Raphael.... she's beautiful." she gasps all teary eyed and smiling a the returned Erica.


She could sense in the lightness of the restraints that Casey and Donatello were trying also very hard to not make for cuddling their new niece too.

They knew their lovers instinct, felt it themselves, hence one large three fingers hand and large five fingered hand rested around April's belly and made her sit back against them, stay where she was and stay still. And in doing so keeping both Casey and Donatello in place.


Donnie grinning at the sister in law. Who for the moment had eliminated herself scent wise.


It was... unexpected and a sweet move. And of course being with Leo, having two hybrids herself she knew how much scent mattered to them.


Casey meanwhile cheered softly and flopped back on Raph's smelly to him bed covers doing the laid back version of a full on cheer - Donatello having to keep April and himself in place in the meantime the pair grinning at their lover and his antics.


" my huge sulky rude smelly fan girly best bud is a daaad! he did it!" teasing and cheering in his silent way all in one. Much to the amusement of April and Donatello and Mikey.

Splinter whispers a small blessing, eyes moist his tail curling about Raphael's shell tapping for a moment, " Congratulations Raphael. Welcome to the family little one..."


He had asked for grandkids long ago.


Now he had three. Three!

Shen and Yoshi wriggle and squirm and -

Leonardo : wrote:

" hush my precious ones, and do not climb all over your mother right now - remember your cousin may need to share her a little, because Aunty Venus is gone." his voice deep and like a warm breeze across their soft small delicate ears. And he lightly places his eager to meet their new playmate son and daughter on their feet, watching them scurry close, grinning. Moving a little closer. " She is beautiful Raph." a soft voice. closer to his wife he could feel the warm around her, but wasn't close enough yet to ruin her scentless approach to Raph and new hatchling.

Shen looks up at Raph and her new cousin, hopping trying to see closer, her wings flapping. Yoshi climbing up on the dresser to the incubator to see too - helping his sister up beside him after she stopped flapping and scurried to follow him.


Shen giggling, " oooooh Unel Raphie she? sheeee like meee? girl? soooo cuuuute." whispering - even excited both of them still recalling their fathers firm words to remain quiet. And casting their adoring eyes his way then back to their cousin.

Erica smiles, moving closer, but not too close without being asked, even if the mother in her just wanted to go over there and dot upon the new bundle of cute with all the affection she had more of enough of to spare.


And really hoped the little one would need her, if anything for her friendship with the little ones mother.


She watches her own little beauties hop about their Uncles feet - felt her husband move but to look at him again she would cave and or he could.


She hears Mikey and smiles up at Raphael, " if it that's okay... dad..." barely a whisper just for his ear holes.

Raph's eyes brimmed with happy tears as he carefully cleaned the little one's face of the egg goop, then the rest of her little body, holding her protectively in his arms...


"Heh...yeah, have to think of a name..." Because none would come to him right now. He had discussed names with Venus, back when it was known that she was carrying more than one. They had made a list, and decided they would pick as soon as the hatchlings were born.


The proud father spared a small smile at everyone, proud they could all be a part of this moment. Sticking his tongue out at Casey, and nodding at his niece... like her..

His little one squirmed, not yet crying, but definitely making her hunger known. He took the bottle from his little brother just as Erica approached. He knew that she had generously offered to be a wet nurse if the little one refused a bottle, but he hated to inconvenience her...she had two little ones of her own and didn't want to occupy more of her time..


Still, he invited her close...


"You sure? "

Erica smiles at Raphael.


Sure she and Venus had a rocky start. More for Venus than for herself, as Erica had been not only aware of the then interest the female mutant turtle had in her husband but also a deep trust for her own man that caused friction. Slight, as neither girl wanted to fight. And when that blip was removed from the relationship had gotten along like a house on fire.


The girls, herself, Lilo, April and Venus had their own version of sister hood almost as close as their turtles.


She nods, " I am sure. Whatever my niece needs from me." she would dedicate herself to her niece with or without needing to breast feed just as she had her own two - grinning at Leo when he moves a little closer their two hovering about his knees and behaving themselves. She was so proud they were so good.

Leonardo wrote:

" Our niece... did you and Venus have some names prepared brother?" he nudges his red clad brother gently, looking so lovingly at his wife. At his new niece, his brother. A little closer to them and making sure his hands rested lightly on his own two to keep their small vibrating selves in check beside him.

They were soooo eager, hopping and bouncy, Yoshi grinning when Raphael nods at Shen, Shen covering her mouth to cover her squeal of delight.


Yoshi grins and taps her little shoulder, both of them moving closer to Leo, arms up to get closer to their hungry cousin.

Leonardo wrote:

A silent laugh and he nods regathering his two back into his arms, recalling the magic moments they had hatched, the pride in his family being there. Sure he and Erica had done all they could up until she laid the eggs to hid her pregnancy. Wanting that celebration to be just theirs. But the hatchings. No that they had wanted to share. He nuzzles his daughter and then son, moving a little closer, still careful not to crowd Raphael and his new hatchling. Snorting when Splinter also climbed up his shell to get a better look. " beautiful like you Shen... like her mother."

Yoshi and Shen lean in to look Shen whispering excitedly to her new little cousin, not quiet understanding the new hatchling would not understand her, but her uncle would. " we can shares my mumma okay? mumma says okay and I wans to share oookay?" not touching yet but oooh she wanted to!


Yoshi nodding eagerly, " I shares too!"

Splinter smiled at the small woman in the door way on the room. She made the suites and other items for wear. And was a feisty little conversationalist, he enjoyed spending time with her. Though she wasn't yet right in their inner circle so was well back almost out of the room out of respect, there because she'd prepared Erica for this moment.


He climbed up Leonardo's shell when his eldest stepped closer to his brother in red, the new father, and peered over his shoulder, " My soooon... Raaaphael she is... beautiful..." he grins proudly, he was a grand dad - of three!!


He was so proud. And it showed.


He ignores his phone tingle.


It was on vibrate for no sound and bussed tingling against his skin in his pocket but he ignores it. reaching over to rub Raphael's head in the lovingly fatherly way.


He could scent Venus, not Erica... and was further touched. Edna and Erica obviously msde sure she would be scentless. Washed and groomed the young queen, and ah - a piece of Venus's shed skin, the ones Edna collected or all of them, even his shed fur! and kept aside was like all. Now a small strip around Erica, and possibly his newest grand daughters first feed.


So she, like her cousins Shen and Yoshi would have her mother and fathers scents as the very first she really took in.


He was touched. Deeply that Erica would go that extra little bit for the new one, for Raphael. His fur beneath his eyes moist.

Casey knew none of the children would get it but he still disguised a completely playful teasing middle finger back at his best bud by scratching his nose.


But he was happy for him. He felt his phone vibrate but ignored it as well. A little longer before other things. The only one a message would come from now is Lilo. She could be writing an congratulations or asking for help, she and Stitch might be pinned down somewhere and needed a hand out.


But he doubted it.


Still a few moments longer just revelling with his best bud then Leonardo would probably start herding all of them out so Raphael and his daughter could bond. And with the memory of Venus. He was a little slow on the uptake. Ericas simply style of dress. Why she was so clean looking. He too thanks to small amounts of mutagen sharing from Don was mutating, greater sense of smell, heightened senses, not to the extend of Erica because she had all of Leonardo to herself where as Casey happily co loved Donatello with April. And could not Smell Erica she was so fresh and clean right now, he could scent Venus.


ooooooh...


Sweet....


He grins watching a little breathless to see if his new niece would accept Erica. If so it would always mean milk for future use and bottles. He feels the slight twitches that meant Donnie and April felt their phones vibrate. Yes once the niece had a name and was feeding he felt Leonardo would start moving them out to leave Raphael in peace for a while. Then he would check his phone.

She was breathless. Wiping the few escaped tears and so very pleased, grinning up at Leo, Splinty and Raph and then at Erica.


A wide one, and full of thanks.


Making sure in a way their lost sister was here, and with them physically as well as in their hearts was touching.

Donatello grins at his mates shifting April closer to Casey and standing up beside Raphael, he was still the tallest of the brothers and was still most pleased by that, nuzzling Raphael's shoulder moving a little closer to peer over at his new niece too as Leo was, and Splinty was his newest granddaughter. " love you brother, well done." soft, so soft barely a whisper just for his brother's ear holes nodding at Erica in thanks.

Like his father and brothers Mikey ignored the buzz of his phone, hoping it was Lilo though responding to his attempt to introduce her to the baby she helped to save the life of with Donnie. But he could check that in a moment.


If baby would latch onto Erica and take her milk, it meant they could hang on to the stores of the substance for other emergencies. So he was hoping the perfect little niece would. He grins at Yoshi and Shen, they really were much like their father in moments like this. And their mother.


He to presses a bit closer to Raphael and whispers, " sooo beautiful, congrats bro..."

Erica feels her own phone buzz, but like the others ignores it for the moment lovingly adoring her pretty babies in Leo's arms then looking up at Raphael again. " you don't have to let her go, cradle her in your arms only her little carapace to your plastron and line her up." Because this was important first time bonding for Raphael and his daughter, and why she had a little strip of Venus shed skin about her, so little one would get her mothers smell.


Erica had never been worried or ashamed or shy about her nudity. So shifting the dresses soft cloth aside to bare a nipple was not a hang up and she waits patiently for Raph and the little one.


Already milk was beading there, but she could see the diet she'd been on for this very moment just encase had been working it was thicker and a slightly off whitish color, pre made new born mutant turtle ready.

Leonardo wrote:

He managed not to stare at the breast. His children were not the only ones to indulge in the milk sometimes. And he trusted Erica so there was no shaft of jealousy.


Only even as he silent churrs beaming at their father and his brothers, he felt the phone buzz and he couldn't just ignore it for the moment. Certain, or hoping it was Lilo wishing congratulations. And it was. Mikey showing Raph that on his phone. But also a plea for help. Short message. 'Negan attacked. Need a few fight capable hands and possibly transport size vehicle plus a extra fighter.'


He decides not to say anything for a moment, he would wait until the niece was latching, drinking, however she wanted it then shoooo out the happy family and leave Raph to bond with his new baby. If Erica was to be wet nurse she would have to remain close by but he needed to gather the rest of the community share the good news and then the bad and seek out some volunteers to answer Lilo's plea.


(ooc: Could someone please reset Leonardo's password to 'bluebandana' so I can sign in and reset it myself? chrome crapped out on me and lost all my passwords, Kitteh.)

And Raph had noticed what Wrica had done for his little one. The thought of it, coupled with his mate's scent caused more tears to swell in his eyes...God...what he wouldn't do to be sharing this moment with his Mei...

Hearing Leo's question, he was thoughtful for a long moment...when he thought that he would lose his whole clutch, he had fought to bury all those tender memories, moments shared with what he thought would be his life partner...

The memories came rushing back, bittersweet, but made easier by V's lingering scent. The ridiculously long list of names that his love had compiled. There had at least been seven hundred... and at the top, one she was adamant on, if at least one of their hatchlings was a girl...


"Jade..." Ge told his brother... "Think I'm gonna call her Jade..." Yeah, that already felt natural, and some of the anxiety was lifted, as if Venus was smiling down on them.

He continued to fuss over the little one, checking and double checking that her airways were clear, because she was still quiet, just taking in all of the surrounding faces, wiggling her little snout when her father ran a finger over it yet again. .

He quietly returned Donnie's 'I love you', and spared a grin at Splinter, Mikey, his niece and nephew and April- a special returned middle finger salute at his best bud....


...and finally, positioning his little one so that Erica could feed her without him having to relinquish her just yet. Jade's big topaz eyes slowly taking Erica in...

(Ooc: reset- let me know if it doesn't work)

Leonardo churs leaning past his beautiful mate nuzzling Raph's snout light with his own, the kind of affection nose kisses they used to do when little turtles themselves. " Jade is just perfect Raphael."A smile at his brand new niece. Pride over the pair in his tone.


Then backing off completely back a few steps away from the urge to press all of himself to his queen's soft warm back. His eyes taking in all the others, " It is time to leave Raphael and Jade for a little while we can all take turns holding her properly when her father is ready. Mikey leave the food for Raphael encase she wants something of that instead." a nod at Raph, aside from Erica the rest could wait. Give him space as had been afforded to himself and Erica years ago twice around.


And encase they thought to linger he begins to gently usher them out. Lingering to ensure they are all quiet and also make sure Jade was latching before he left entirely, he had to gather the community asap. His own little ones and father still on his shell.


( ooc: Much better, thank you. Kitteh.)

Any time the newly named Jade looks his way Yoshi makes a happy playful face at his new cousin.


Shen giggles at Raph's look, waving to her new cousin, " waaaaaaait until ya swiiiim me good swiiiiim..." she whispers so happily her tail like her brothers waggling, both swooooshing along their father's shoulders one on each side.


Spying her brother and swiping her hand at him behind their dad's head as he leans over to touch snouts with Uncle Raph. Both shifting their weight and holding on.


Yoshi sniggers catching the little hand - waving as their dad begins to gather them up to leave.

Nawwwwwwwwwwwwwing just barely able to keep it at a whisper April is all but vibrating when she can get closer cause Leo with his shell load backed off and she gets closer to Raphael too dragging Donnie and Casey up, closer, "Oh Raph... that's - she's... awwww suits her sooo well..." voice strained with the effort to keep her joy contained.


And she wanted to demand to hold the little bundle of adorableness!!


But she knew from the first two times now that the hatching was done it was best to give the new parent a little space.


Squeezing Erica's shoulder in thanks as the itty so adorable baby looks at her.

chuckling silently, using his middle finger salute to wipe his happy tears away and beaming at Raph, " ya did it buddy... damn she's so much cuter than ya." tease and all pleased for his best bud feeling April's tug and following her over as Leo began herding them out.


" we're going ya bossy turtle..." to Leo and his getting them out of the way.

Splinter hums at his sons affectionate words and light touches, proud of them all and it showed just how much so he was of Raphael at the moment with the soft rub to his head whilst he could reach, smiling down at Jade.


"Welcome to the family this side of the egg shell little one, we are all so pleased. Especially of you Raphael. And I am grandfather I get dibs on the first hold later." Oh yeah he said it!