My Lucia

A/N: This little one-shot just came to my head, so I thought I'd write it. I hope you guys enjoy it as much as I've enjoyed writing it.

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT or any characters associated with them. I do own Lucia though.

Summary: Splinter reflects on his youngest daughter and how happy he is to have her in his life.

As life has gone on for me, I have often been thankful for many things in my life. I have been thankful for my health and for the fact that I have been able to live longer than most normal rats. I am also thankful for my children and how I have been able to raise them. Though I often do not show favoritism toward any of my students (despite the fact that Raphael often states I show favoritism toward Leonardo), I have become very fond of Lucia the most. The reason for this is not just because she is my only daughter but because she has shown so many different traits that make her unique. She is often determined to prove herself to her brothers and to show them what she can do. She wants to prove that she can do anything her brothers can, and I admire her for that.

She is also a gentle soul, who often is able to calm Raphael down (a feat that Leonardo has yet to perfect). She comforts Michelangelo when he is feeling sad and is willing to help Donatello on a project no matter how complicated it might seem to her. She is the one who joins Leonardo in meditation sessions and spars with him. She never gets mad when he beats her or lectures her but takes it with the grace she was born with. She strives to perfect her mistakes and to prove that she can be a ninja too. She often enjoys talking with me about different things and is the only one apart from Leonardo who will drink tea with me.

Lucia shines a bright light into our lives and has always done so. No matter how hard our lives were in the past, she never complained and always tried to cheer up her brothers. She is the star and the sun that shines on us, and I am very grateful to have her in my life. Her brothers are fond of her, too, and are very protective of her just as I am.

Holidays have always held a special meaning for Lucia, and it is no different this year. She is determined to make this Christmas just as special as any other. As I observe her decorating the tree with her brothers, I can see that special light in her eyes that radiates the joy she is feeling. She is excited for Christmas to come and for celebrating with her family and friends.

She looks over at me and smiles. "Father, are you going to help us decorate the tree?" she asks.

I smile at her. "Yes, I am," I reply. "Thank you for reminding me." I go over to the tree and take the ornament she holds out to me. It is one she made for me with my name on it. I put it on the tree and give her an ornament that I have made for her. She smiles at me and takes it, putting it on one of the branches.

As I look into her eyes, I see so many different things reflected there: Joy, excitement, and love. I can tell that she is so happy to be here and celebrating such a holiday. While we do not celebrate for the same reasons as the humans do, we do celebrate for family. It is a time to remember what is truly important in one's life, and as I gaze into those shining eyes, I can see what is important to me.

My star, my sun, my life.

My Lucia.

A/N: Yeah, it's a bit short, but I sort of planned it that way. I hope you enjoy this story I created for the holidays. Feel free to leave a review after you have finished reading. I hope you all have a shelltastic holiday season and a shelltastic New Year.