Baby Boy

It was winter in New York.

It was the coldest in years, snow had reached up to some people's waist… but that never stopped them. It never stopped anyone who wanted to take a risk, who enjoyed danger!

The one person who came into my mind was Raphael. He's strong willed and, like his siblings, stubborn, but they wouldn't attempt to run out the front door and do a belly flop into the snow!

Luckily, Leonardo was there to stop him. But that wasn't the only fortunate thing. As my oldest called me and Tang Shen to 'tattle', we heard a noise at the door.

It was faint, it was barely audible but … we still heard it.

We heard many cases of where the Purple Dragons would break into houses this year, especially in this weather.

I looked at Tang Shen, and told her to take the boys into the living room.

She looked at me, her dark brown eyes reflecting hesitation and (like our sons) stubbornness. She didn't want to leave, she wanted to find out what was at the door, but after a visual (not verbal) persuasion, she left with our sons.

As she did so, I heard the cry of a distressed Donatello as Raphael tackled him for telling Leonardo his escape plan.

I cautiously walked to the front door.

I looked through the 'peep hole', there was nothing there, but I still heard a quiet sound from behind the door.

I unlocked it and slid it open … and was appalled at the sight I was greeted with.

Down on the door step, in a soggy cardboard box, wrapped in little more than a thin hand towel, was a baby!

I immediately took off my jumper, picked up the baby and wrapped him/her in it.

The poor infant was trembling and whimpering as the cruel wind whipped it's body, his/her face was close to blue and tears were welling up in his/her eyes. He/she was so small aswell; my guess is that the baby was born prematurely.

'How could anyone leave a child with hardly any clothing in the coldest winter in years on our doorstep without even ringing the doorbell?! If Leonardo didn't 'tattle tale' on Raphael, then we would have never heard the infant!'

He/she curled up the jumper, trying to keep the warmth that was given.

I hurried inside and ran into living room, attracting the attention of my wife and my boys.

"Yoshi, what has …" She began, but stopped when he eyes lay on the bundle that was being cradled in my arms.

"Shen, please call an ambulance, I don't know how long he has been here for and …" I didn't need to say anymore, because she was at the phone in seconds after she first saw the baby.

"Daddy?" Donatello stumbled over to me (courtesy of his oversized, purple dungaree) and peered into my arms. When he saw the child, his eyes grew wider than his thick-rimmed glasses.

"Daddy … what's happened to him?" He asked, concerned.

"Him? How do ya know it's a boy?" Raphael exclaimed, running over and shoving Leonardo in the process.

"He looks like a boy. It just seems obvious, the way his facial features are structured." Using those 'big words' that even the eldest seems to get confused about.

"Ok, the paramedics are on their way, we need to get him warmed up and quick and … Ahhh, isn't he a picture." Tang Shen announced and finished in a coo.

His hair was light blonde and he had bright baby blue eyes, I sensed deep joy buried under the misery and fear that was held in place, loosely.

Shen took my place and began to rock the baby back and forwards, and then the boy giggled.

He giggled. It was warm and it was elated, it was weak and faint but it was still full of life!

Tang Shen sat down, allowing our other adopted sons to get a better look at him.

They were in bewilderment, never before have they seen a little boy like the blonde, they could tell that he was different from other infants, that he was special.

"This boy is the actual definition of joy! He should be in the dictionary!" Donatello exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air.

"He looks like a chipmunk." Raphael mumbled, poking the baby in the cheek, causing the blonde to burst into a fit of giggles. My 'hot-headed' son's rough, calculative look lightened, he began to chuckle at the sudden reaction.

"How could any child be that small?" Leonardo questioned, now looking at me.

"I believe the most important question here, Raphie, is 'how can anyone leave a child in the freezing without even ringing the door-bell?' Tang Shen responded.

I sat down next to her, and brushed the blonde fringe from his eyes, once again revealing the innocence and joy burning deep with in him.

He grabbed Leonardo's finger suddenly and waved it around his head, causing himself and my sons to come out in a chorus of giggled.

But then I noticed something … irregular, about the child. I carefully pulled the jumper a few centre metres above him and … it revealed a … a long scar trailing down his chest.

Tang Shen's eyes darted to mine, full of concern and … fear.

"He must have been born prematurely." She muttered under her breath.

"Prematurely? What do you mean Dad?" Raphael cried, making the baby jump.

"Prematurely means to be early, before the due date so this baby was born before it was supposed to be … but why does he have those scars Daddy?" Donatello questioned.

"By the scars, it appears that this baby has had surgery. This could be because his organs weren't properly grown and were failing; he might have needed a new one! But I didn't think it would have been done on children his age … he would have been too weak! But it might seem that he is stronger than he looks …" I trailed off, only to have my thoughts interrupted by a loud, high pitched yawn.

Soon later, he fell asleep.

The paramedics took longer because of the weather; they had to walk a mile from the ambulance because of the thickness of the snow.

They took the child and he was rushed to the hospital, apparently he had a serious medical history, he needed to be checked over.

They told us that they would notify us if his state changes and if the biological parents are found, but we knew that wasn't enough.

We knew that we would visit the child … the boys loved seeing him and … they basically treated him like a brother before the paramedics arrived, they kept a close eye on him and they even asked to hold him, even Raphael was gentle.

But the look in his eyes … I have never seen it inside a child. It was a look of strength, a look of raw determination and talent … it showed … it showed wonder!

Big blue eyes filled with wonder; filled with innocence … he should have never been left in the cold!

But, if no one came forward, if he had no relatives to look after him then … then maybe I should talk to Shen …

Hello ma peeps! XD LOL! I have never used that phrase before!

This was a … a bit of a … I can't even remember the word (blond moment!)

EXPERIMENT! That's it! I am not sure how this will turn out, but this is a taste.

If you like it, please review to say if you want more because I am not sure if I should continue and make some more chapters or something.

So, please tell me your ideas if you want me to continue, say if it is good/bad/needs improvements.

Thank you dudes and dudettes.

MarshMellowMania Out! XD