Regrets

The Unexpected

The next day Raphael woke up to an unexpected surprise in their apartment. Standing in the kitchen with Leona was April O'Neil.

"What are ya doin' here?" He glared slightly.

"She came over last night and I let her sleep on the couch; she's not feeling so great and her Mom's being a pain so I'm taking her to the doctor, can you take Yuki to daycare?" Leo smiled and he sighed before nodding.

"Ya don't look so great either babe." He pointed out as he gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"Why do you think Catherine said all those things?" She suddenly asked, not meeting his gaze.

"Because she bitter, twisted." He growled.

"I can't believe how angry she was."

"I know Alopex ain't ya birth Mom, but Eroina never took any part in yer life whereas Alopex loves ya."

"Wow, you've matured a lot since I last saw you." April grinned as Raph sent her a glare. "Listen Raph, I know I went a bit off the handle when you kissed me, I mean, it was just a kiss and I don't even know what I was freaking out about, can we put this behind us?"

Raph looked at her and then at Leo and back to their human friend with a smile.

"Sure."

"Oh Raph, if you do see my Mom..."

"Yeah, she's probably heard something by now." He sighed as he grabbed his coat and keys. "I'll tell her that's everythin's fine."...

******

After dropping Yuki off at daycare, Raph made a quick stop to see Leo's boss to tell him that she had taken the day off work. Thankfully, her boss was a very understanding person.

"Thanks, I appreciate it." He smiled and turned to leave, only to be faced with Alopex.

"Something wrong? Only I heard there was a problem." She glared.

"It was a misunderstandin'."

"I don't suppose there's anything I can do?"

"No thanks, we're fine." He said before dashing off to work...

******

Later that afternoon, Catherine turned up at the cafe looking for Leona. She really wanted to clear the air but she couldn't find her granddaughter or great-granddaughter anywhere.

"So you don't know where she is?" The old turtle pleaded with the manager. "I just want to apologise, I got carried away with this Santa idea and it reminded me of Eroina, she loved all that when she was little."

"Well I'm sure Leona understands so there's no need to apologise, you know how teenagers are these days."

"I suppose Leona wouldn't want any visitors today, I'll call back another time." She sighed and turned to leave, only to see Alopex coming back in. The fox just couldn't stop worrying about er daughter and came to see if she was at work.

"Hello Alopex." Catherine said with a cold smile.

"Hello."

"How are things?"

"Fine."

"Do you see much of Yukiko?" The old turtle smiled and Alopex looked away from her gaze.

"No." She sighed.

"I see her all the time now, she can't get enough of me." She chuckled and Alopex glared at her.

"Can't she?"

"Well, at that age they instinctual know who loves them." Catherine added and Alopex clenched her fists to stop herself from hitting the old woman.

"It took you a long time to acknowledge she or Leona existed."

"They were kept away from me, I was never invited into Leona or Yukiko's lives, I should of been their for them at those important moments of their lives; I've missed so much." Catherine glared as she became more and more distressed.

"They always had me." Alopex snapped. "They wanted for nothing."

"Well Leona can't stand you and Yukiko never talks about you anymore, they've learnt they can't rely on you, but I'm going to make sure that they know I'll always be there for them."

"You make it sound like they've both been abandoned!"

"Well from Yukiko's point of view, she has." Catherine spat before pushing passed Alopex and storming out of the cafe...

******

Later that afternoon, Tigerclaw was sat at home with his wife, listening to her ranting and raving again. When she returned from the cafe she was in a right state and the tiger was sure that she and Leona had had another fight.

"OK, what's wrong?" He finally asked.

"Catherine Aiuto." She spat. "Honest Tigerclaw, I could hit her! She was in tha cafe, telling me how much Yukiko loves her!"

"No, she loves the toys she's buying for her." Tigerclaw sighed.

"Well that witch is twisting her around her little finger!"

"Look, Yukiko's not going to for get about the grandmother she's known from birth."

"She will if Catherine has anything to do with it! She wants me out of the way!"

"Who cares about what she wants?"

"She sees Yukiko all the time and yet I don't see her at all!"

"You will, you and Leona will patch things up soon." He reassured with a smile. But it didn't ease her rage...

******

That night, when Raph got back to the apartment he saw Leona and April stood in the kitchen with worried looks on their faces. Yuki was fed, bathed and in bed by that time so he knew it wasn't something to with his daughter.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"I took April to the doctor." Leo sighed.

"What did he say?"

"Nothing much." April replied. "I was just asking Leo how you guys cope with Yuki and all the pros and cons of having kids."

"Can't lie, it was hard tha first few years but we struggled through it and we're has happy as can be, right babe?" Raph smiled as he wrapped and arm around Leo's waist; but his girlfriend didn't reply, instead, she and April shared a look.

"What's goin' on?" He frowned, not liking being kept out of the loop. April looked at him with teary eyes as she bit back a sob.

"I-I'm pregnant."...