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Braving it in the New World	By : EvaBrick Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 10090 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 2
Disclaimer: I do not own the Ninja Turtles, nor am I making any money from them. I'm just borrowing the boys for a while. I do own my original characters.

Chapter List
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Charlie sat down on the park bench and sipped her smoothie. Raphael and Michelangelo had convinced her that smoothies were the new hot thing and that they needed a smoothie machine in the cafe. As far as she was concerned, it was the best purchase ever. So much food seemed so gross to her now and she was craving fresh fruit and veggies more than ever before.
She checked the time on her shell cell. She was a few minutes early for her meeting with Estrella. They'd decided to meet far away from the turtles so they could talk freely.
Charlie rubbed her stomach. She was due in a week and she was both excited and terrified. April was going to go to the hospital since Donatello obviously couldn't. He was heartbroken over missing the birth of his first child, but April had promised to live stream it for him. Charlie was both excited and terrified. Being pregnant was one thing, but it blew her mind that she was suddenly going to be in charge of an actual baby when she knew absolutely nothing about babies. Well, that wasn't entirely true... she and Donnie had been reading every baby book they could get their hands on and watching YouTube tutorials on changing diapers.
Her thoughts drifted to the overheard phone conversation. She hadn't been completely shocked about what Mike had said... somehow she'd known he had special feelings for her. She couldn't deny that there was a connection with him that she didn't have with Raphael and Leonardo. It was probably born from that night of terror when they had both nearly been killed. Things like that bond people. She had so much gratitude for all he had done for her.
She took another sip and smiled as she thought of Mike. He was so sweet and charming that it was impossible not to love him. If she was being honest with herself, if she hadn't fallen for Don, Mike would definitely have had a shot with her. But she had fallen for Don. Donnie was her soulmate and she knew it... heck, she could feel it right in her bones. He was the one she wanted to build her life with.
After Don had butt-dialed her the other night, Charlie had gotten out of bed and made sandwiches for the boys. It wasn't a big dinner, but at least it was something and she figured they'd be hungry and depressed. She wasn't wrong. The long faces that trudged into the kitchen told her that it had been a hard night.
The turtles were covered in dirt smears and mystery stains from the sewer. One of Leo's katanas was crusted with blood and Mike's eyes were red. Don looked like he was on his last nerve and Raphael looked like even his soul was tired.
Charlie had reached up and cupped Don's face in her soft hands. He'd shut his eyes and rested his forehead against hers.
“Hey,” she said. Don opened his eyes and looked at her like she might disappear. “You okay?” she asked. The other turtles stood around, watching. They all had bags under their eyes and sagging shoulders.
“Yeah,” Don said. His hands ghosted over her belly and settled on her hips.
But Charlie could tell he wasn't. She wasn't sure if he was insecure about Slash or insecure about Mike. Either way, he needed reassurance that he was loved and accepted. She leaned up and kissed him deeply.
The other turtles stood and watched. They weren't staring exactly, they were just there, looking lost. Charlie remembered the conversation she'd had with Master Splinter so long ago, back when they'd thought he was dying. He'd told her that they needed someone to care for them and help them through the big life moments that they had never experienced in the sewer. Charlie decided this was one of these moments.
She broke the kiss and rested her head on Don's warm plastron. Raphael was the closest and she reached for him. “Come on guys,” she said. “Group hug.” There was a pause and then he and Leo stepped in and wrapped their arms around Charlie and Don, who still held her close. Mike hung back.
Charlie felt Don's chin resting on top of her head and she knew the two brothers were looking at each other.
“You coming, Mike?” Don said at last.
Mike carefully stepped into the hug. Charlie reached a hand back and she felt his three-fingered hand slip into hers. She squeezed it and he squeezed back.
“Next week,” Charlie said, her voice resonating a bit against their hard chests. “Next week, I have to push something the size of a watermelon out of something the size of a walnut. If I can do that, then you guys can do anything. Sometimes life can be hard and it's usually not fair, but we need to count our blessings and be grateful for all the good things we have. We have each other. We have a home. We're going to have a new family member in just a few days.” Her ankles ached and she relaxed into the support Don's arms. “We've been through some huge changes in the last couple of years and it's okay if it takes us a while to find our way. Life is a journey.”
She could feel some of the tension leave them as she spoke. “Everything will be okay,” she said. “And it's okay if our journey is different from what we think is normal because we're...”
“Not normal,” Leo said, quietly.
“No,” Charlie agreed. “We're not. Not in terms of the big, wide world. But here, in our home... in our sanctuary, normal is what works for us. You're not freaks because you don't have human bodies. You're not freaks because things didn't work out with Lisa, and you're not freaks for retaining some of the natural instincts you were born with.” She swallowed and took a breath. “And I'm not a freak for being attracted to someone who does not look human.”
Don tightened his grip on her. “Honey... we've never thought that!” There was a shocked murmur of agreement.
“I know,” Charlie said. “But there are plenty of people out there who would, if they knew. Lisa did... and that really hurt.”
Leo looked sheepish. “You're right, Mike,” he said heavily. “I am a self-absorbed asshole. I was so caught up in how I felt that it never even occurred to me that you lost a friend, Charlie, or that she hurt you too. I'm sorry.”
Charlie sighed and let go of Mike's hand and wiggled out of Don's arms. Don put his arms around his brother's shoulders as she reached up and hugged Leo. “It's okay,” she said. “She wasn't good enough for you anyway.” She pulled back enough to look into his sad eyes. “There's nothing wrong with you, Leo.”
Leo put his arms around her and hugged her as closely as her belly would allow. “Thanks,” he whispered.
Charlie smiled at him and kissed his cheek before he let her go and put his arms back in the huddle. “Maybe we need to spend less time on the renovations and more time talking to each other,” she said, as she looked up to them. “I mean, when was the last time we actually spent an evening together? I know we all have our own stuff going on, but if we all make the decision that the family is going to be the priority and let the rest slot in where it can, I think we'll all feel more grounded and be a lot happier. Normal isn't out there somewhere... normal is here.”
“Can I bring Miguel here sometimes?” Raphael asked. “I could try harder ta be around home more but I've still gotta watch him and... he's alone too, y'know? Estrella's estranged from her family.”
“Sure, Raph,” Leo said. “I don't have a problem with that.”
“Me either,” Mike shrugged.
Charlie and Don glanced at each other and nodded. Charlie smirked and hugged Raphael. “Congratulations, handsome, on your big news.”
To everyone's utter shock, Raphael blushed. “Yeah, well...” he said. His brothers grinned and snickered. “Shut up, ya dicks,” he muttered.
Charlie kissed him too, then turned to Michelangelo. He smiled shyly and looked away. Charlie grabbed him and clung to him like a lifeline. “Thank you,” she said. Her hormones were getting to her and she thought she might cry.
Mike glanced at Don and kept his hands around his brothers' shoulders. “For what, babe?” He sounded surprised.
Charlie didn't loosen her grip. “For my life. You didn't just save my life that night, you gave me a whole new one. None of this would ever have happened if it wasn't for your kindness. If you hadn't saved me, I would have been killed and...”
“And we'd still be alone in the sewer, waiting for the last one to die,” Don finished. “You saved us all, Mike.”
Raphael and Leonardo looked at each other over Charlie's head. They were both ashamed of themselves. They really were self-absorbed assholes.
Leo cleared his throat. “If it wasn't for you, Mike, we never would have met Charlie and she never would have gotten that dose of mutagen and Splinter would be dead.”
“And the only thanks ya got was being ditched in the lair by yerself,” Raphael grumbled. “Sorry, Mike.”
Charlie still hadn't let Mike go. Slowly, very slowly, he shut his eyes and put his arms around her. For a moment, he let himself imagine that she was his and the baby was his and they were all alone.
Charlie pulled back and put her hands on his face. “I have always, always, always, got your back, Mikey,” she said.
“Thanks for not leaving me behind that night,” he said, gruffly.
Charlie pulled him down and kissed the bridge of his nose. “Never,” she said, firmly. She looked him in the eyes. “Never.”
Mike kissed her forehead and let her go. He flopped down in his chair at the table and reached for a sandwich. Raphael and Leonardo followed.
Charlie turned back to Don and nuzzled his chin. He nuzzled her back and kissed her again as deeply as she had kissed him earlier. “Thanks,” he breathed into her mouth before he slipped her the tongue.
“Is this weird that we're just hanging around while they do that?” Leo asked.
Raphael shrugged and his shell clunked against his chair. “I dunno. Do we want it ta be weird? I think dat's what she was on about... we gotta define out own normal.”
They both looked at Mike, who was decidedly keeping his back to Charlie and Don.
Don broke the kiss and picked Charlie up in his arms. “Sorry,” he said. “I'm just so excited about this baby.” He sat at the table with her in his lap.
“I wish you guys would tell us her name,” Leo said. “I mean... she's already here with us, really. We can feel her moving and she can hear us in there, can't she?”
Charlie looked up at Don and shrugged. He stroked her soft hair and smiled.
“Emily,” he said. “After Emily Dickinson. Splinter named us after the Renaissance painters he admired so we want to carry on the tradition and name our kids after writers we admire.”
Charlie nodded. “Emily Dickinson was a recluse. She stayed inside her house, often in her room, for most of her life, but she still some of the most beautiful poetry ever.” She looked up to the rafters of the church. “She built her own world... like us.”
“That's a beautiful name,” Leo said.
“Very pretty,” Mike agreed.
Raphael sniffled and coughed to clear this throat.
“Dude, are you crying? Mike asked.
“Shut up,” Raphael said through his sandwich.
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Braving it in the New World