Knock on the door didn’t make her move or react at all. She knew none wouldn’t enter without her permission but she realized she was wrong when the sound of door creaking open reached her ear slits.
“Reonel? Can I come in?”
Of course it needed to be her mother. Squeezing pillow harder with her hands, burying her face deeper in it, she managed; “Go away.”
That was the reaction what Leonardo had been expecting. After all she still was Raphael’s daughter and right now she was acting like her father when he was emotionally too hurt, not finding words to describe it. Thanks for the experiences what Leonardo had managed to gather over the years by being with Raphael he knew exactly how to act. Stepping in the room he gently closed the door, making his way to her daughter. Taking a look at her made it clear she wasn’t going to move or protest. Small smile spread on Leo’s lips as he turned around keeping his eyes on her all the time while slowly sitting down at the edge of the bed.
“Honey. I know you’re angry and I’m not expecting or demanding you to talk to me. All what I want is that you listen to me.”
Leonardo waited a moment just in case if she changed her mind and wanted to say something – but she didn’t. Taking deep inhale Leonardo rested his hands on his thighs looking at his palms.
“I’m not sure how I should start except by saying I’m sorry. I’m sorry I got so angry at you, letting my emotions take over me like that. All that fear, pain and worry came out all at once. I’m not happy or proud since no any child should get such horrible reaction from their parents, no matter how worried or hurt they would be.”
He waited again to give her a chance to reply but she didn’t even move one inch. Since this didn’t make her react Leonardo took another way to approach her.
“There’s one thing you must know and understand however; We did sneak out as teenagers as well in many nights so there isn’t anything wrong in that. However we usually always went together or with someone. We rarely went out alone and if we did we always told someone where we’re going. Your father and I wouldn’t be this mad at you if you’d had told us. Sure we would have been worried and scared to let you go alone but at the same time it would had been the best way to make us trust you more. You’d had told us where you go and when you come back. When and if you would had kept doing that we’d have seen that you really are that good girl of ours. Right now we see you as a lying teenager with no respect or trust towards us. And we feel we can’t trust you either...”
Hearing silent sobs softened old turtle’s heart and he reached his hand to stroke Reonel’s shell with soothing and calm circles. Suddenly she moved making Leonardo pull his hand back in his lap. Watching Reonel sat up but not looking at him was a good start.
“I understand all that, mom. I really do but you still didn’t need to explode on me like that.” Now turning her reddish and teary eyes on Leonardo made bigger turtle feel strong regret of ever yelling at her like that. Seeing your child cry was something what Leonardo couldn’t stand. Sobbing harder she forced herself to remain in eye contact with Leo.
“Not then when I tried to tell you everything!” Sobbing harder she turned her head away hiding her face in her hands. Regret squeezing his heart Leonardo reached for her with both of his hands, sealing her in a side way hug. “Why didn’t you let me tell you the truth?”
“I’m sorry, dear. I’m so sorry.”
“You have no idea how unfair that felt. I knew I did wrong but I wanted to have someone too. I mean you have dad, uncle Don have Mikey, April have Casey and then… Then there’s me all alone. At times I have been thinking why you and dad even had me…”
Hugging her a bit more tight Leonardo decided it was all what he could now say or do since he really had no words. He was purely too shocked after hearing Nel’s words. And secondly he and others had promised to each other never to tell Nel she was not planned. She didn’t need to know she was an accident – but even that she was not planned she was extremely much loved and cared. Her parents loved her unconditionally and would do anything and everything for her. Listening her crying a moment Leonardo opened his mouth to finally say something but Reonel was faster.
“Grandpa Splinter understood me… When I felt I couldn’t talk with any of you I talked to him. He always smiled and encouraged me, shared his wisdom. I wish you would had been more like grandpa in that moment...”
Feeling lump growing in his throat Leonardo swallowed few times. “Yes, you’re right. I should had been more like him. But you know life is a road where we grow and learn all the time. Even I grow and learn more and new things still. This, what now has happened in our family, has been one good teacher as well. I really need to be more relaxed even then when and if some house rules are being violated. However I will not let it go unpunished.”
“So you’re going to punish me?”
“I thought I would tell Don to change the codes on lairs’ doors so you can’t get out. Ho--”
“You were going to lock me in my home for the rest of my life?!”
Hugging her more tight Leonardo continued. “Let me finish. However I thought it would be way too hard punished since you didn’t do anything all that bad. If you would had become a dark street whore or pregnant then I’d done that. Just to keep you safe.”
Pushing her gently away Leonardo still kept his hands on her shoulder turning her to face him. She seemed a bit surprised to see a small smile on his face. “Just promise me you won’t do such things what I just said.”
“… Become a whore and or pregnant? What do you think I am? An idiot?”
Leonardo couldn’t help but to chuckle which lifted the mood in the room. “No, you’re not an idiot. You are smart girl who’s growing and learning.”
She looked mildly relieved but still concerned. “So… How about my punishment?”
“Let’s just say you will be doing dishes for 2 weeks. I think that’s enough.”
“You KNOW I hate dishes...”
“And that’s why it’s the best discipline method.”
She sniffed while short laugh escaped her as she rubbed her eyes. Leonardo smiled as he opened his arms, Reonel leaning in for another hug. Kissing the top of light green head Leonardo closed his eyes enjoying the moment of hugging his sweet little girl.
“So are we good?” Reonel almost whispered.
“Yes. We are good.”
Suddenly Leonardo fell side ways pulling Nel next to him on the bed still holding her. As confused as she was Reonel looked up at her mother.
“Mom, what are you doing?”
“Feeling like stretching my back. But the more longer I lay here more relaxed I start to feel. You have very comfortable bed, Nel.”
Smirking she nudged him. “What? You trying to say you want to stay a night?”
“Would that be bad?”
“No but I thought you would go lecture dad as well.”
“I’m not going to lecture him. I’m done lecturing and ranting. I just want to lay here, rest and spend time with my girl.”
Changing poses for better so that they were right way on the bed, Leo’s head on the pillow and Nel’s head on his shoulder.
“Say, mom, about spending time… Your and dad’s anniversary day is coming, right? How you two are going to spend that special day? After all you two have known each other 30 years, being together at least the last 15 years. Right?”
“You are right about that but… We are not going to celebrate our anniversary.”
“Huh!?” Lifting on her elbow she looked down in blue eyes. “And why’s that?”
Leonardo’s expression didn’t leave any guess why.
“It’s dad.”
“Yeah. He doesn’t like to celebrate them. He said in the past they are human things and don’t have anything to do with us. I asked him for few years to celebrate anniversary with me but he always said no and we never celebrated, not even then if I had prepared us something, so… I stopped asking.”
Leonardo looked away when Reonel’s eyes were burying too deep in his, searching for the deepest truth and emotions, but he was too late. Reonel already had caught the truth and pain his her mother’s eyes and soul.
“Dad’s a jerk! His decision not to celebrate with you has hurt you. I will talk to him.”
“Don’t. It won’t change anything. I’m happy enough I have him and you by my side with Don and Mikey. April and Casey included.”
“But still, mom. You guys could and should celebrate at least one anniversary.”
“Nel, we won’t celebrate anything. Or if we do it, it probably will be then when we’re 150 years old.” Turning his head Leonardo noticed a book behind Nel’s head on her nightstand.
“What’s that?”
“Hm?” Turning she took a book in her hands settling back down in her mother’s arms. “It’s a book what I got from aunt April last month.” Handing it to Leo’s waiting hand Reonel continued; “She thought I would like it and I sure do. I’ve been reading it over and over again.”
“Oh, really? Must be a good book then.” Leonardo smirked as he opened the book, his eyes turning slightly more wide in surprise. “Love poems?”
“You know I love poems and collect them. I have many other poem books already but I didn’t have any love poems.”
Turning the pages Leonardo hummed once as a reply as he kept eyeing the texts. They made his heart yearn such love affection from Raphael but he knew he would never get such thing. Closing the book Leonardo smiled while placing book back on the table.
“I’m glad you started to collect poems instead of some porn magazines like your father.”
“Dad has porn magazines? Why? He has you!”
Chuckling Leonardo sighed deep, pressing Nel gently more against himself. “Because your dad is an idiot.” This made Reonel chuckle as she rested her head back down closing her eyes.
“… Mom?”
“Yes, dear?”
“I’m sorry I behaved so bad towards you.”
“Forget it. Forget it all. It’s the past and we won’t talk about it ever again. But before I forget – Jake called you after you went in your room.”
Her head jumped up with huge eyes as she stared Leonardo. “H-he did…? Why didn’t you say anything? Why you didn’t call me?”
“Because I decided our situation back then was bad enough. Besides talking with him opened my eyes more since he told me things what you hadn’t told me. He also wanted me to deliver you a message; He wants to see you tomorrow night.”
Seeing her eyes spark with excitement Leonardo tried to remain strict. “I will let you go but with one condition. I, or someone else, will come with you. You will not go alone.”
Hugging Leo harder than she had attempted to she was forced to release her hold since she was going to choke her father. “Oh, mommy, thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” Placing small kisses on his cheeks Leonardo pressed her head back down on his shoulder in order to calm her.
“Okay, okay, calm down. Get some sleep now since tomorrow will be rough day. We have lots of training to do. And maybe we will give you your weapon later if you do good.”
“Weapon!? I will get my own weapon!?”
“After you have train 2 weeks hard and do the dishes. Then we’ll see if you have deserved a weapon.”
“I won’t fail you! I won’t!” She was now way too happy and excited to sleep so she got out of the bed, heading to a wall across the end of her bed. She took a rope starting to jump as fast as she could. Leonardo watched her jumping and using her energy on something good, but he was too tired to stay awake long. Soon his head turned slightly to the side, mind drifting away.
At some point Leonardo woke slightly feeling Reonel crawl on the bed in his arms. After she settled down Leonardo fell back to sleep – only to wake up later at some point on the sound of loud snoring right next to his ear slit. Opening his eyes slightly he soon realized it was Nel who was snoring and not Raphael. Luckily for him he had got used of snoring partner so he shifted a bit making Nel move a bit too, which made Nel’s snoring drop down some. Now it was on more bearable level so Leonardo could fall back asleep once more in that night.
Taking a look in Reonel’s room Raphael couldn’t help but to smile. Seeing his two most precious persons sleeping together after making peace was extremely heart warming. Coming in with silent ninja steps Raphael stopped at the side of the bed bending down to kiss both of their heads. Neither one of them woke, not even then when Raphael tucked them in better with warm blanket.
With last look Raphael exit the room closing door silently behind him. Entering his and Leo’s bedroom Raphael couldn’t help but to smirk. While he loved to sleep with Leo he couldn’t help the excitement when he realized this huge bed would be fully his to sleep on tonight. Settling at the middle of the bed Raphael stretched in every possible direction, tossing and turning a bit too before he found perfect position and spot to sleep on. However he missed Leonardo a little bit. Pulling Leo’s pillow in his arms it gave away of Leo’s scent which lulled Raphael into peaceful sleep with loud snoring.
