TMNT 2012 Chapter 18: Home Sweet Home

Chapter 18: Home Sweet Home

April, Casey, and Nia returned late that night with the different vitamins and other things Mona would need. They also brought good news.

“We searched down in the sewers and there isn't any Foot tech soldiers or Kraang anywhere. We didn't check out the liar though, because we didn't know if they had cameras or something,” April explained.

Splinter stroked his beard, “This is good news....we shall wait a few more days then return home. Once in the sewers we will search for any traps or surveillance they may have set up.”

Everyone nodded in agreement. Mikey smiled, “Yay! We're gonna go home!”

Mona smiled and took Raph's hand. He smiled back and nuzzled her neck. She jumped as her cell phone rang, “Eep! Oh it's just my phone....” Her face paled.

“Who is it?” Raph asked concerned.

Mona hesitated, “Bradford.”

Raph froze as Mona stood to leave and answer the phone. He glanced back to Mona to see her face.

“So do you know what you're gonna tell Bradford yet Raph?” Nia asked looking at him.

Raph sighed and looked back to everyone else, “Well yeah, I gotta tell him that Mona is pregnant but I don't know how to say it. No matter what way I do say it he's gonna flip out.” He sighed again and looked at his feet. “I don't want him to hate me...”

April touched Raph's shoulder, “Hey it's ok. I'm sure he'll be upset at first but after awhile he'll be ok.”

Raph smiled at her, “Thanks April. It's just....the other thing I am afraid of is me being a father....will I be any good?”

“Raphael,” Splinter answered. “I was terrified when I had this same experience. It is normal to be afraid, healthy even.” He smiled at him, “We just want to be the best for our children and we are afraid we will never live up to that expectation. But they will love you, no matter what and you will be an excellent father, my son.”

Raph's eyes glistened, “Thank you, father.”

Donnie smiled, “So sensei, how do you feel about becoming a grandfather hm?”

Splinter only replied with a smile. Mikey looked to Donnie, “Dude! Were gonna be uncles!”

Donnie chuckled, “Yeah. I'm gonna teach them all about science!”

“No way!” Mikey began brushing at Donnie. “I'm gonna teach them how to skateboard and the art of comic book reading! Not to mention how to become pizza chefs!”

Leo sat off to the side as a smile played at his lips. Raph rolled his eyes, “You're both crazy. I'm gonna teach them how to become great fighters and to have no fear.”

“Are you gonna teach them how to have a bad temper too?” Mikey teased.

Splinter and the girls laughed. Splinter stood, “You will all be able to teach them great things.”

“Ooh so Raph,” April started. “Have you guys thought of names?”

“No not really...”

“Um sorry to interrupt and be a downer but I don't know if they will survive,” Donnie replied sadly. “From what you've told me she has a split cloaca, which I guess means her reproductive system is more like a lizard. She might lay eggs or there are some lizards who give live birth...like I said it just really depends on so many different things I have no idea.”

Raph nodded to him, “I really hope that they live....”

Splinter walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, “We all do my son.”

“So are you going to get married?” Nia asked excitedly. “I have so many idea's of what it could be like!”

Raph blushed, “Uh, I don't know....”

Splinter sighed, “I've been meaning to ask you that as well Raphael.”

Splinter sat down and Raph looked to him, “What do you think sensei?”

“I will tell you what I think but you need to make sure you do what you feel is right and what you want. If you wish to marry Mona Lisa, then do so.” Raph nodded. “I hope that you too are wed, in my time if this were to happen you were supposed to marry before the child was born.”

Lotus sat opposite of Leo and had her arms folded. “Splinter is right, if you love Mona then you should marry her....when you feel the time is right of course.”

Raph rubbed the back of his neck, “What would I get her....I mean I don't have that much money to get a ring and I don't think she can really wear one what with the webbing between her fingers.”

April winked at him, “Hey don't worry. We will discretely figure out if she can wear one or not and what size it needs to be.”

Raph blushed, “Thanks April....this is kinda weird to talk about. I mean I still can't get my head wrapped around the fact that I’m going to be a dad...”

Mona entered from the kitchen with a huff, “He said he'll be here tomorrow morning, and he can tell something is up as well.”

Raph stood and walked over to her, “Hey it'll be ok. We'll tell him together and if he freaks out....I’ll just try to be ready for it.”

Mona looked over to Raph and smiled, “Ok.”

¤ ¤

“SHE IS WHAT?!?!” Bradford roared grabbing Raph by his belt. He lifted him up and slammed him against the wall.

“Dad!” Mona yelled running over and touching his arm.

He growled and looked at her, “Back away Mona.”

Mona's hand retracted back but she stood tall, “Dad stop. It wasn't his fault, I went to him.”

A loud, menacing snarl emitted from Bradford's chest as he glared at Raph, “It doesn't matter.”

“Yes it does, I know what you told him,” Mona stated. Bradford didn't move, Mona felt her temper flare, “And I wanted it ok?!”

Bradford looked at her. Mona’s face was flushed red from her confession. Bradford huffed and released Raph.

“Look Bradford, I know you're not happy with me but...” Raph started.

Bradford turned on him, “I sure as hell am not happy with you! This is exactly what happened to me, I didn't want this to happen to her!”

Mona's face reddened even more, “We're not going to leave each other.”

“Well you both need to get married, before the baby is born,” Bradford demanded.

“No,” Mona glared at Bradford.

Raph's face fell, disappointed that she didn't want to get married.

Bradford stiffened, “What?” He turned and stepped close to her so he was towering over her. The room filled with tension and Splinter went rigid, afraid the situation was going to get out of hand.

“You heard me dad, just because I’m deciding to consider you my dad now doesn't mean you have complete reign over me. Especially because you've hardly been in my life.”

Bradford turned his head away, hurt by what she said. Mona sighed feeling a twinge of guilt, then she noticed Raph's sad face, “About getting married.....the reason I said no was because if Raph and I do end up getting married, it won't be because we're having a kid. I want him to marry me because he loves me, not because we had sex and ended up having a baby.” Raph smiled at hearing this and his heart fluttered.

Bradford flinched at Mona saying the word sex, who rolled her eyes. Splinter relaxed, “Chris, I understand this is an unexpected and shocking situation but I believe the best solution is to be calm and understanding. What's done is done, we cannot change it. We can only hope for the best.”

Bradford sighed, “I just didn't want you to make the same mistake as me Mona....”

Mona’s eyes softened and she touched his arm. Bradford looked at her sadly, his ears flattened against his head. Mona took a deep breath and wrapped her arms around him. Everyone's eyes went wide. Bradford tensed up and looked down at her. Mona's face was pressed against his chest and she was smiling. His face blushed as he hugged her back.

¤ ¤

The next couple days dragged on as they cleaned the farmhouse and prepared to go back home. Tension was thick between Raph and Bradford, Mona tried to talk to Bradford but he would only glare at the hothead. Raph tried many times to talk to him but all Bradford did was brush him off.

The day before the turtles and their friends decided to leave Bradford suddenly left without saying goodbye.

“What's wrong?” April asked looking at Mona. “Did Raph and him get in a fight or something?”

“No....” Mona started sadly. “I don't know why he just left.....”

April wrapped an arm around her, “Hey, it'll be ok. I promise.”

Mona smiled at her friend and leaned her head against her shoulder.

The day to leave was introduced by an ecstatic Mikey, “Good morning mutated star shines! And human and alien star shines! The Shellraiser Express leaves in fifteen minutes for a five hour, non-stop, one way trip to our very own liar of AWESOMENESS!!! Where my pizza awaits!”

“Mikey wouldn't that pizza be like almost two months old and probably covered in mold?” April asked.

Mona’s stomach lurched, “Please don't mention gross food.”

Casey, Nia, and April loaded up into Lotus's car and took any supplies and anything else they had brought. Mona sat at the wheel with Raph next to her. Mikey relaxed in his usual spot with Nia on his lap and Splinter sitting behind them. Donnie settled down in front of his computer as he began typing and checking through various programs. Lotus's eyes fell on the last available seat that was unfortunately next to Leo. She huffed and plopped down next to him as she fidgeted with her loose blouse.

The next five hours were hell.

Once they reached the sewers Mona switched spots with Raph who carefully maneuvered through the subway tunnels. Donnie flipped through security cameras and systems looking for anything out of the ordinary.

“Everything looks good Raph, go ahead and head to the gate,” Donnie replied.

Raph nodded and drove through a gate disguised as a brick wall that was covered in spray paint. It closed and a few minutes later, the Shellraiser was parked outside the lair.

Mikey leaped out of the Shellraiser, “It's home sweet home everyone!!!”