Regrets

Late Part 1

Leo hummed a happily as she finished some ironing from last night. Raph was busy packing up Yuki's toys that were scattered all over their small apartment. Even though they both loved Yuki very much, it was still nice to get some peace and quite so they could focus on other things.

"You know, this is the first year Yuki's older enough to get excited about Christmas." Leo said with a smile. "I can't wait to see her little face when she sees that grotto, it's gonna blow her mind!"

"Yeah, and our wallets if we get there on time." Raph joked and looked at his watch. "Does yer Gran know we've got plans?"

"I just said to have her back first thing." She shrugged. "We should get her that talking doll she wants and some stocking fillers."

"Ya mean like an orange and a shine new penny?" Raph frowned.

"No, I mean like some blow bubbles or some cheap crayons or something." She replied as she called Catherine's phone to see when they'd be back. "It's ringing so she's got her phone on at least."

Raph nodded and he looked in his wallet, only for his smile to drop. They were seriously low on cash for Christmas. Leo noticed this and walked over to give him a hug...

******

It was almost ten now and Leo and Raph were getting ready for their day out at the mall with Yuki, but there was one problem; Catherine was really late bringing Yuki home.

"Come on Catherine." Leo growled as she looked at the clock in the kitchen.

"Tha line will be a mile long by tha time we get there." Raph added as he finished packing a bag full of snacks.

"I don't know what's taking so long, she's usually very punctual."

"Maybe she took her ta daycare out of habit?" He suddenly suggested and Leo quickly pulled out her phone to call the daycare.

"Hey Glenda, it's Leona Saiyo; sorry to call you at this time but I just thought you should know that Yuki won't be stopping long this morning... Isn't she? Oh no, she just stayed over at her Nana's... Right, bye." She smiled and hung up.

"So our Saint Catherine ain't forgetful, she's just late." Raph laughed, earning him a glare from Leona...

******

By now it was just after noon and Leona and Raphael where starting to get very worried about Yukiko. Catherine said she would have her back first thing and every time they tried to call there was no answer at her house or her cell phone.

"Maybe they've gone inta a cafe or somethin'? Catherine likes ta spoil her." Raph suggested.

"She said she'd bring her back early!" She hissed.

"Hey, what ever's goin through that head of yer's stop it right now."

"What if something's happened to them?" She asked as she grabbed the phone.

"They're just late."

"What if Catherine can't get to the phone? What if she's fallen? Or had a heart attack?! Yuki would be so frightened!!"

"Right, let's go there!" Raph growled as he grabbed their coats. "I bet ya Yuki's had her in and out of every toy store in New York."...

******

When Raph pulled up outside of Catherine's suburban home in Queens Leo practically jumped out the truck and ran up to the door, banging on the front door. When there was no answer Raph peeked in through the window and saw a dark empty house.

"There's no one home Leo."

"What do we do?! We've got no idea where they are!" She cried.

"We can call tha police."

"And say what?! She's with her great-grandma and she's running late?!"

"I know."

"They've only been two hours! For all we know their stood on our doorstep freezing!"

"Come on then." He sighed and she almost dragging him back to the trunk...

******

When Leona and Raphael got back to their apartment there was still no sign of Catherine and Yuki and Leona was starting to think that they needed to call the police. As Leo was sat in their apartment, waiting for them to return, Raph was driving around looking for them.

"Anything?" She cried when Raph came back.

"No, I tried tha park, tha mall and I asked around ta see if anyone had seen them; my Mom said their bound ta turn up."

"Oh right, so I should just stop worrying?!"

"Leo calm down!" Raph glared. "If Yuki walked in now ya'd scare her ta death!"

"I know something's happened." She sobbed as tears rolled down her face.

"Maybe Catherine's lost track off time, taken her ta tha store or somethin'."

"They were meant to be back hours ago! They must of had an accident!"

"So what now? Are we gonna call tha hospitals? Just ta put our minds ta rest?"

"What if they contact Social Services?"

"That's a risk we might have ta take babe."

"But they'll take her away from me!"

"She with her great-grandma, who absolutely adores her! Leo, ya've done nothin' wrong!" He reassured as Leo sank to the couch with rivers pouring from her eyes. "Look, if they're not back in half an hour we'll call tha police."

She just nodded...