Hey, everyone! I really liked writing the one-shot 'I Remember' so I'm making a sequel! But, this isn't just a sequel. It's actually a collection of them! These are all fluffy turtle tot one-shots that Raphael is recalling in his memory. But, be warned, most of these will be Raphael centric.

This one-shot is between Leonardo and Raphael. I wrote the lullaby for my niece but I really wanted to use it in a story. The turtles are 7 years old in this little story. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles but I do own the lullaby in italics.

The Midnight Hour

"Silent. I am nothing but a shadow."

Leonardo crept along the hall, muttering his small mantra. It was well past his bedtime but his young brain strayed to a single place;

The dojo.

The tiny terrapin had been forced to go to bed by Master Splinter, as he refused to sleep until he had perfected a kata. Now, for the first time, Leo, the best-behaved of the Hamato brothers was breaking the rules.

'But only to advance in ninjitsu,' he thought to himself. 'I'll just practice the kata until there are no flaws then go back to bed.'

Adrenaline pumped through his body. The blue banded turtle was exhilarated. In his mind, he appeared as a stealthy rebel, striving for precision. Or perhaps Caption Ryan, his idol from the television show Space Heroes.

With that thought in mind, a giggle erupted from his lips. He immediately slapped a hand over his mouth but the damage had been done. Cautiously, Leonardo peeked into Rapheal's room, who happened to be on his left.

Glowing green clashed with calm blue.

"Raph?" the older boy whispered nervously. "Why are you up?"

The silhouette sitting on the bed released a frustrated sigh.

"I could hear you laugh, stupid," Raph grumbled bluntly, making Leo blush with humiliation.

"But that's not why I'm up."

Confused, Leonardo scanned his immediate younger brother. The hothead's posture was slumped and weary. But his eyes… they held a comfortable light in them. Like he was accustomed to being exhausted. Leo wasn't a fool. The blue eyed turtle was, in fact, very intelligent. Something wasn't right.

Raphael rolled his eyes. Even in the dark, he could tell Leo was giving him an inquisitive stare. Knowing that gazing at each other all night would get them nowhere, the green eyed terrapin spoke.

"I haven't been sleeping good lately," Raph admitted. "I was awake long before you came along."

Leo knew his role as big brother. Without any hesitation, he climbed onto the end of Raphael's bed, ready to comfort him.

"Is anything wrong?" He asked softly. The hothead refused to look at Leonardo. Instead, he fiddled with his blanket, radiating anxiety.

"No… Yes? I don't know!" Raphael exclaimed and clenched his fists with irritation. Leo sighed. His brother could be an enigma when it came to his moods. Although he was, by far, the most emotional of the Hamatos, the eldest turtle often was confused of what Raph actuallyfelt.

"Raph, you can trust me," Leonardo promised. "I won't laugh at you."

Finally, the short-tempered boy locked eyes with his older brother.

"I know you won't laugh," he said. "But the real question is, can you keep a secret?"

Leo's eyes flooded with hurt. Did Raphael, whom he loved so much, really think he'd deceive him?

"I'd never tell one of your secrets. Never."

Taken aback, Raph frowned. He was so familiar with putting up shields around his emotions that he didn't trust anyone. The emerald eyed terrapin never thought he'd upset Leo because of it.

Raphael gave up. The burden of his secrets were draining his young spirit. He longed to be free of the weight that dragged him down.

"Why doesn't Father love me?" Raph whispered dejectedly. Leonardo gasped.

"Dad loves all of us!" He said. Raphael shook his head.

"Not me," he murmured. "He's always praising you for how good you are at ninjitsu and is amazed at how smart Donnie is. Even Mikey gets a laugh from Master Splinter because of every dumb thing he says. But me… I barely ever get a smile."

Tears threatened to spill from Raph's unique eyes.

"A-all I w-want to d-do is make hi-im proud," he choked out, sobbing.

Two green arms darted forward. They wrapped around Raphael's shaking body and held him close.

"Raph… So this is why you can't sleep," Leo stated. "Master Splinter does love you. I can see it in his eyes every time he looks at you. And even if he doesn't, Donnie, Mikey and I will love you no matter what."

Leonardo and Raph sat there, holding each other. After many minutes, Raphael stopped bawling. His older brother nudged him lightly, urging him to lay down.

Together, the pair laid down, snuggling with each other. Even so, Leo could tell from Raph's wide open eyes that he would have to be coaxed to sleep. The blue eyed boy cleared his throat, remembering a certain lullaby their sensei once sang to them. The song originally was in Japanese but Master Splinter translated it into English for the turtle toddlers.

In the dark of the lair, a youthful voice could be heard singing the eerie words of a lullaby. Not long after, the home fell silent once again.

Leonardo and Raphael were asleep, embracing each other in the inky darkness.

When the clock strikes

The midnight hour

When the wolf cries

To the moon

When the stars gleam

The sun's asleep

Hoping to rise bright

Very soon

Where the rivers flow

Under this eerie light

Where the owl hoots

In the dark

The dainty house

Loses candle light

Flames flicker down to

Just a spark

No one knows that the child

Has his eyes wide awake

His mind wanders through the night

With the things inside he'll keep

He knows the darkness will conceal

The demons he won't share

Lost is all hope in the night

That he will ever sleep

At this midnight hour

At the midnight hour

Our secrets and our demons

In the dark will cower

At this midnight hour

At the midnight hour

Secrets cloaked in mystery

In the dark will tower