Unexpected Gift

Chap 34

The next day, Don went over to April's to talk to her about when they could decide the date for the baby shower. He explained it was urgent it get underway quickly so if Leo did go into labor early like what happened to a woman he had read about.

Earlier, they all had decided who was going to get what items and took lists. Raph and Mikey were out buying their stuff now.

Then, wearing a disguise, Don and April went out to get some stuff. They had decided that in two weeks, the baby shower would be held. April said that they would hold off on baby food for now until the baby was closer to the due date.

"But I don't know if Leo is going to make it so close to the original due date I set for him April. Not after I read that article." Don said, worried.

"I'm sure he's going to be fine Donny. Leo knows how to be careful." April said.

"I sure hope you're right." Don said.

Some supplies were gotten for Splinter too and he began making a special quilt for his new grandson or granddaughter.

Leo was not to know of the baby shower, and it would be two weeks before he would get a surprise of his life while he was still pregnant. Now he began to feel even more restless and jealous, as his family was going out of the lair a lot more, acting real weird.

Leo tried to keep himself entertained by watching TV, reading, and meditating, but all these things were getting to him. He wanted to get out of the lair so badly. And he was wondering why his family was acting so weird all of a sudden.

Don told him to stay out of the lab, and Splinter kept him out of his room. They had never told him this before. Why now?

His family kept up the weirdness for two weeks. Even April and Casey were acting weird too. They wouldn't say anything about what was up. Leo was now just about fed up with all the sneaking around and the lies. Even his own father was in on it!

The big day finally arrived! Everything was ready. All the supplies and gifts were at April's. Splinter and Don snuck over the night before with their gifts after Leo had gone to bed. He never knew a thing.

Leo came to breakfast. He sat down and ate his food with the others, but he was eyeing them all with a wary look. What was up with them? He would get to the bottom of their secrets, one way or another.

He did notice that they too were giving him wary looks, but did smile at him. Leo didn't smile back. He just wasn't happy with the way they had been avoiding him, making him stay out of certain rooms, and avoiding his questions about what was going on behind his back. What had he done?

Then Don spoke up, "Leo, I need to speak to you after breakfast."

It broke the ice. "Okay." Leo said.

Don had to break the bad news now. But since it was baby shower day, this was going to be the only day that Leo was going to be allowed to leave the lair.

After breakfast, Don took Leo to his lab so they could talk in private. Leo was shocked that Don was now letting him into the lab. He saw nothing out of the ordinary. But there was a surprise in his closet that he would show him later on.

"What's up Don? I want some answers, now! Why have all of you been acting so strangely?" Leo demanded in an irritated tone.

"Leo, I have to tell you some bad news." Don said in a nervous voice.

Leo's eyes lit up. "What?"

"It's about you and the baby."

"What's wrong?" Leo said in a scared voice.

"I'm afraid that after today, you are going to have to go on complete bed-rest." Don said.

"Why?" Leo asked, "Is something wrong with the baby?"

"Not right now Leo, but I found an article on the Internet that what's happened to you did happen to a woman too. She never went on bed-rest. But she only carried her baby up to 28 weeks. I don't want you to have your baby that early." Don explained.

"Is this what's been bothering you all this time?" Leo asked.

"Well, yes. But before you do go on it completely, I know you have been unhappy for awhile and we do want to make you feel better. We are going to let you come have lunch at April's today." Don said.

Leo's eyes went wide. A chance to get out of the lair? That was great!

"I'd love to go, Don!" Leo said happily. "Any chance to get out of the lair."

Don was happy at that.

"But the others know of me having to go on bed-rest?" Leo asked.

"Yes. They read the story too. And they agree with me. Leo, you are going to have to do this for the sake of the baby. I want it as close as possible to the due date I set for it. And I don't want you leaving your room after today for anything but the bathroom." Don ordered.

"Okay!" Leo said. At least now perhaps Leo was understanding some of the reasons his family and friends had been acting so weird.

He was now 26 weeks. The baby should have been passing the 14 inch marker. It weighed about 2 pounds. The kicks were more powerful now than 2 weeks ago.

Leo was still getting the stomach cramps. He often complained of the baby kicking too hard. He was wincing a lot. His family was concerned, so that's why tomorrow, the full bed-rest was going to be started. Leo couldn't avoid it anymore even if he wanted to if he wanted to have a healthy baby.

Leo had started to let the others feel the baby move and rub his belly. Mikey was the most persistent. They all were even seeing the baby during Leo's exams now. Mikey saw where Don had placed the probe when he was playing the heartbeat. Now Mike even wanted to put it to the test of what he read that the partner could hear the heartbeat even without the ultrasound.

In that last ultrasound, the baby did appear to be in the head up position. But it should rotate soon.

Leo did let Mikey after some begging place his head next to his belly to see if he could hear the baby's heartbeat. His bro held still as Mike listened.

From within, Mikey heard a thumping going on. "I hear it!" He exclaimed happily.

Then Leo winced as the baby kicked him. "Ouch! I think it heard your voice Mikey." Leo said, rubbing the swelling.

By lunchtime, Leo was more than ready to go to April's and get out of the lair. And boy, was he going to get a big surprise that this was going to be more than just lunch with his friends.