Kitsune hummed a happy song as she hung up pretty pink banners and balloons all around the house. It was finally Yukiko Saiyo's first birthday!
While Alopex was cooking breakfast, Leona was at the dinner table opening cards that people had sent for Yuki. The little turtle was sat next to her mother in a baby bouncer. Just then Tigerclaw came downstairs.
"We've got Yukiko's party tonight right?" He asked the girls.
"Yeah, it'll be fun." Alopex smiled.
"You think?" Leo sighed.
"Oh Leona, today's suppose to be happy." Kitsune grinned to her granddaughter, but Leo still wasn't smiling. "Come on, Yukiko's first birthday, it's quite a milestone; it's a whole year since you were born." She cooed to the baby before going back to the decorating...
******
Later that afternoon it was Yuki's party. April, Casey, Irma and some mothers with their babies from the neighbourhood had turned up. The whole floor was littered with presents, some only half opened.
In the kitchen, the table was full of party snacks and drinks and in the centre was a beautiful birthday cake.
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The presents Yuki had gotten were toys, books and clothes.
Leo had dresses her daughter in a beautiful white dress with pink, glittery flowers on it.
As everyone were enjoying the party, April was talking with Kitsune.
"This must be very satisfying for you." She smiled. "You've got yourself, your daughter, your granddaughter and your great granddaughter."
"Oh stop it, your making me feel a hundred." Kitsune playfully scolded as she drank a sherry.
"I think we should catch this momentous occasion on video." Alopex beamed as she pulled out a video camera.
"That's a wonderful idea Mrs. Saiyo, years from now you can look back and remember Yuki how she used to be, much better than photos." Irma smiled as there was a knocking on the door.
"Come in!" Tigerclaw called and everyone almost froze when Raphael walked in.
"Hey, I just wanted ta give Yuki this." He smiled as he gave Leo a dark pink box with a white ribbon on and a card.
Leo and Raph had come to an arrangement. Raph could spend an hour a week with his daughter on the weekend at Leo's house because he didn't want his father to know and he visited on his lunch break so the old rat would not suspect anything.
Leo opened it and gasped when she saw the locket inside.
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"Open it." Raph smiled. She did and inside was a picture of Raph, Leo and Yuki when they were still in the hospital. Kitsune had taken it of all three of them together.
"Raph, it's beautiful." She said. "Kinda reminds me of the birthday present you gave me." She added with a smile.
"Are you staying, Raphael?" Kitsune asked.
"Uh, no, I can't." He sighed as he hugged his daughter. "I gotta get back." He added before quickly leaving. Leo opened the card and inside was Raphael's check for Yuki's care...
******
When Raph got home he realised that his parents were out working and was out Mikey was doing who knows what kind of damage.
"And where have you been today?" Donnie asked with a glare when he saw Raphael pass by the kitchen.
"Out." He growled before heading up to his room.
Donnie just sighed and went back to his coffee...
******
Back at Leo's house everyone was still enjoying themselves at the party. Leo and her friends were in the kitchen munching on the snacks as Leo talked about all the things Yuki had done in the past year.
"Yuki was 8 months when she first sat up and 10 when she started crawling, I've made this little book." She giggled.
"So do ya record everything?" Casey asked as he snatched a cupcake from Irma.
"More or less."
"So when she's fourteen are you going to say 'she's had her first kiss'!" Irma laughed.
"Just wait until your a mother, then you'll understand." Leo frowned.
"There's no chance I'm going to be saddled with a brat like that, prefer my freedom."
"She doesn't know what she's missing, does she Leona?" Alopex smiled before kissing her on the cheek and leaving. After a few moments of silence April cleared her throat.
"Look, do you mind if we go 'cause Karai and the others are going out and they invited us." She asked nervously.
"It's fine." She sighed.
"See ya tomorrow." Casey said as he, April and Irma left the party. Leo sighed as she kept staring at the floor. She loved Yuki with all her heart but buy the time she's old enough to look after herself Leo would be nearly thirty.
"Smile!" Alopex called. Leo looked up and saw her mother pointing the camera right at her.
She looked passed her and saw Yuki sat on Tigerclaw's lap as he read to her from one of the books she got, but the little one was more interested in the new toy in her hand.
Leo smiled.
There was no way she was going to let anything spoil her little girl's birthday. She put on a big smile before getting some drinks to see who wanted one...
