As we draw to the end, I have one request; in your comment, please tell me what I did best, what I need to work on, and your favorite part of this fic.

The boys stampeded through the tunnels faster than ever before, coming one immediately after the other down the slide. April met them at the bottom, raising a finger finger to her smiling lips. "Sssh... you don't want to wake her up."

"It's a girl?" Mikey whispered back, voice still echoing loud. Raphael raised a hand to whack the youngest turtle.

Maria's faint laugh came from the couch, head only barely visible over the back of the couch. "Come see."

The boys scrambled as quietly as they could, Splinter and April following at slower pace. Maria was slumped on the couch, pale and yet glowing, her hair wet with sweat, her arms cradling a bundle wrapped in a pink blanket.

The brothers gathered around the couch, kneeling at Maria's feet, perching on the sofa arm; Splinter lightly sat on the cushion beside her. "Are you well, Maria? Was there any... complications?"

"I'm fine, Splinter, thank you. April is an excellent midwife."

Casey dropped the grocery bags on the kitchen table, digging the heavy-duty painkillers out of the cupboard and passing them to Leo, warily eyeing the sofa. "You didn't actually... have the baby on the couch, did you?"

April slapped the back know of his head. Casey yelped and rubbed the spot. "Ow! I was just wondering..."

Maria smiled faintly, bone weary. She glanced at Leo with concern, eyeing his sling and splint- Don had fixed him up in the Walmart parking lot-and the pills he was taking. "Leonardo, what happened?"

"I broke my wrist," he answered, glossing over the details. "But the mission was successful. As far as TCRI know, you no longer exist."

Maria's smile grew and the worry almost visibly fell from her shoulders. She closed her eyes and breathed a most heartfelt, "Thank you."

The brothers grinned at each other. Splinter fingered the edge of the blanket. "Now, let us see this baby girl."

Maria glanced around at eager brothers, who were all fixated on the bundle in her arms. She lifted the blanket and angled her arms so they could see. Immediately, the burly warriors were smitten; the baby squirmed and mewled, opening her tiny eyes and rubbing a paw against her nose. A red panda; she was a chubby, fuzzy-furred red panda.

Mikey crooned over Maria's shoulder. "Awwwwww she's perfect!"

The baby cringed at his noise, face wrinkling and she only started to wail. Maria gently rocked her and she hushed. Raphael hissed at his brother. "Good going, Mikey you scared her!"

"She's alright," Maria soothed, brushing her thumb over her daughter's plump cheek. "She's just never heard his voice, it's new to her."

"I didn't mean to," Mikey, crestfallen.

"What's the little one's name?" Splinter asked, smiling down at the tiny striped face.

"I thought I'd take a page out of your book," Maria admitted, shifting the baby girl. "To name her after an artist."

Splinter touched a tiny, curled fist. "Oh?"

"Mhmm. Elisabetta."

"Can we call her Lisa?" Raphael piped up from his place at her knee.

"Or Betta?" Don added.

"Of course," Maria smiled. "Do you want to hold her?"

"Yes!" Mikey shouted, then quieted his voice."Yes, yes, yes, pleeeeeeeaaase!"

"Ah ah ah," Splinter contradicted, reaching for little Elisabetta. "Seniority first."

Maria laughed and passed the baby to the rat. He expertly cradled her, bouncing her and making her smile. She squirmed and reached up for his whiskers. He pulled his head back a bit, evidently having much experience with babies and their grabbing hands.

After a few minutes of coos and squeakes, Splinter glanced down to his son. "Leonardo, do you want to hold her?"

Leo glanced up at his father, the baby, and Maria, then down to his arm, pinned in a sling. "I don't think... what if I drop her?"

"You can hold her with one arm," Maria told him, patting the cushion next to her.

Splinter stood and Leo hesitantly took his place. Maria showed him how to hold his one good arm. Then Splinter bestowed the baby. Leo's heart melted even further. The baby Betta gurgle and latched onto his bandana ends, laying over his shoulder. She tugged a few times, making the turtle smile, before turning to run her hands over his plastron. Leo had a few moments with her before Mikey whined. "Pass her along, I want to hold her!"

"Raph?" Leo asked, not wanting to pass the baby with one arm. The hothead was even more nervous. "Ummm... maybe not?"

Casey snorted. "Don't want her crushed."

Raph growled. April slapped Casey again, making him yelp, then patted Raph's bicep. "You'll be fine, Raph. Here," she leaned over the couch and lifted the baby out of Leo's arm, walking around the sofa to settle her into Raph's arms.

The brawny turtle froze and stiffened, glancing frantically around for help. Maria leaned forward and put a hand on his broad shoulder. "Relax, Raphael. You won't break her."

The hothead took a deep breath, his pectorals squishing the baby's cheek. She gurgled and squirmed, kicking her feet and flailing her arms. Maria squeezed Raph's shoulder. "She likes you."

Raph smiled, scar on his lip twitching. "Yeah... heh, she's cute."

"My turn," Donatello announced, reaching out to pluck up the baby. Leo was pretty sure the genius was doing a doctor's examination on the, checking her length and weight, even lifting her up to eye the striped tail bristling out of a hole cut in the back of her onsie.

Then it was Mikey's turn. The youngest turtle was squirming with excitement when Donnie passed the baby to him. He gratefully accepted her, holding her with enthusiasm, if not inexperience.

Maria gently offered instruction. "Support her head."

Mikey adjusted his arm. "Aw, mom-"

Everyone froze and held their breath. Mikey quickly started backpedaling. "As in mom of the new baby, not my mom, I don't have a mom- can someone else start talking please?"

"Michaelangelo," Maria softly spoke. "Do you really see me as a mom?"

Mikey bowed his head over the baby, quietly admitting "Yeah."

She looked over the other three brothers. "And the rest of you?"

They all nodded. Maria choked, tears brimming. "Oh, boys, I'm honored."

They all perked up, grinning. Splinter smiles, taking the baby from Mikey's arms and cuddling her to his shoulder. "Welcome to the family."

THE END