Regrets

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Leo sighed as she handed another person their order.

She only had one more exam before she was finally free and she was practically counting down the days. If she wasn't at school and if Yuki was either at daycare or had a babysitter she would be working in the cafe.

"Hey, can I have a bacon and egg sandwich?" A man called when she turned away from the counter.

"Sure." She sighed and went in the kitchen.

When she came back with the sandwich she was shocked to see that it was Raphael he asked for the order. He was standing behind the counter with a smug grin on his face.

"What is it?" She said bluntly.

"Just came in ta see how great ya cooking is, and I've got good news." He replied as he handed her the money for the sandwich.

"What?"

"I just got a job at a grocery store not too far away, crap pay check but at least it's somethin', right? I start in an hour."

"Good for you, is that it or do you need something else." She smiled weakly. Raphael suddenly went quiet and looked very nervous.

"Um... I know that ya've been lookin' for a place ta live with Yuki and I wanted ta ask ya if ya'd move in with me."

"What?!"

"Calm down Leo, it's just a suggestion; I want us to be a real family, just you me and Yuki, what'd ya say?" He asked hopefully.

"Raph, this is a huge thing, I'm going to need time to think about it and have you even found a place to live?" She asked with a small glare.

"Well..." He chuckled, embarrassed.

"Find a place first the I'll start thinking about it." She told him before going into the kitchen.

Raphael watched her walk away with a heavy sigh before leaving for work; he couldn't be late on the first day...

******

Raph sighed as he pulled up outside his house. All he'd been doing was stacking shelves, cleaning and giving costumers' their change and his body ached.

He really didn't want to go back inside but he knew he and his dad had to face each other sometime, especially since they lived in the same house.

When he got inside he saw his dad standing by the door.

"Hey Dad." He sighed.

"Where have you been Raphael?" Yoshi asked in a deadly calm tone.

"Out."

"I can see that, where?"

"I've at work."

"Work?"

"Yeah, I got a job in a grocery store, was me first day today."

"It'll make a good Saturday job." Yoshi nodded before turning to walk away.

"No it won't Dad" Raphael suddenly said with determined eyes, causing Yoshi to stop cold in his tracks. "Why do ya think that."

"I've spoken to the school, you may have missed two exams but you can still sit the others and you could still get the grades to get you into college." He explained firmly.

"No." Raph growled.

"What do you mean no?"

"I don't want ta go ta college!"

"You stupid, ignorant fool!"

"Stop tryin' ta live my life fer me!!" He exclaimed angrily. "My mind's already made up!"

"What has happened to you Raphael, because I feel like you're a complete stranger to me." Yoshi admitted.

"Why won't ya let me be happy?"

"I just wanted to make something of your life, I don't want you to be trapped her with Leona Saiyo and her child."

"It's got nothing ta do with Leo or MY daughter!"

"Give it a rest Raphael!" He hissed. "I saw you two together through the cafe window, she was all over you like a hideous rash!"

"I just want ta stand on my own two feet!"

"Well you can go and do it somewhere else." Yoshi huffed before turning away.

"What?"

"I know you didn't do your exams but is it really that hard to understand?" He cruelly mocked his son. "I'm throwing you out ."...

******

It was dark when Leona got home from work. She knew Tigerclaw was still at work and her gran and daughter would be asleep but she honestly didn't know what her mother would be doing anymore.

As soon as she entered the house she heard the TV was on and guest either her mother or Kitsune was still awake.

She was shocked when she found Alopex slumped on the couch with a bottle of vodka in her hand.

But what angered her was the fact that a very tired and fearfully Yuki was sat next to her with the mutant fox's arm wrapped around the toddler, preventing her from escaping.

"Mommy!" Yuki cried when she saw her mother.

Before anyone could react the little turtle bit down hard on Alopex's arm, causing her to cry out in pain.

"You brat!" She growled. "Get here!"

"MOMMY!!!" She wailed and ran to the blue eyed turtle as her grandmother chase, teeth bared.

But before Alopex could do anything to the child Leo punched her in face, knocking her back a bit.

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING??!!!!!" She screamed as Yukiko cried into her leg.

"That kid of your's needs discipline, you'd never see me bite my mother like that." She slurred as she stumbled. Leona knew her mother was drunk, she could smell the booze from where she was stood.

"I thought Gran was looking after Yuki!?"

"She went out to see an old friend, some blind guy she knew from Japan, just opened a restaurant." 

"So what, she left you alone with Yuki while you're drunk?!"

"No, I was sober until she left, you have no idea how demanding a toddler can be." She hiccuped.

"Are you kidding me??!!" Leo snapped. "She's my daughter, I know what a nightmare she can be but I don't go drinking the second things go bad!"

"It was a one off!" Alopex snarled. "Don't you think that after everything I've been through I deserve a break?! But no, you go out and play with your friend and leave your baby alone with your parents, it's not a problem." She sneered before taking another gulp of vodka.

"Well it won't be happening again." She glared as she picked Yuki up. "You are never to be left alone with her ever again." She said and headed for the stairs.

"Wait Leona." Alopex said as she quickly followed them, but Leo pushed her back when Yuki coward away.

She tripped up and dropped her bottle, causing it to smash and the drink spilled over floor.

She sat there weeping as Leo went upstairs, not looking back...