Cheese!

Leo is sort of amused as Mike had seen the similarities, but Don had needed them pointed out. And a slight shrug to Raph. Almost a 'see, told you,' but not quite. And maybe chuckling that Don blamed Raph for the whole thing.

The kids are making a disaster of the table, and Leo is sort of struggling with not trying to clean it up just yet. Like with Mike, it won't do any good to clean it up now. You have to wait until they're done.

"Definitely a shower." And he considers Don's comment about hosing off the table. Though more traditional methods would probably suffice today... it wouldn't be the first time they'd wound up doing something like that. It had been pretty common in the pumping station lair. This one wasn't quite as easy to drain and dry out.

He poured some Cheerios for Lilo as Stitch started to 'shower' the kids. And Leo's outright laughing when Duncan hides behind the bowl. Though it probably did keep that tongue off his face. It didn't help the mess though.  

A smile at Lilo's reaction to the cereal, and chuckling at DonnieBoy and Don again. He's pretty sure Don has yet to figure out that they have the same cereal.

Annnnnd Raphie is definitely enjoying watching that moment, a slow grin and chuckle, shifting in his seat and opening up space for Duncan who, still trying to avoid being cleaned up all the way by Stitch was - bowl on head and all crawling into Raph's lap and drip all over him but - ah well it was adorable the way the little guy was giggling and squirming and trying to avoid the attentive alien whose tongue is not missing anything! " bwhhahahaha hey man if we have to wonder about that you gotta join in, all for one and all." he laughs thoroughly amused - then squeaking and jumping a bit as Stitch licks the milk and cornflake splatters on him!


Squuueeeaaaaking.


Mike laughs out aloud and shrugs, " icky but kiiiinda the sorta thing Bishop would do, encouraging the relationship if that's what happened cause he'd want some stake in the O'Neil Tech, good president guy or not." it made sense to him, ick still and he laughs at Raphie being attacked with the little boy in his lap. Snigger too at Don almost spilling everywhere hahaha


Erica oooops softly as her kiss causes a bit of a mess but waits until their sitting side by side to bump shoulder to shoulder with Don and give him a sort of soft grin, " the yoghurt is perfect, thanks." just so pleased and enjoying the chaos of the table and the excited children, Elena giggling fit to burst watching Duncan to try escape Stitch - and Liam is sort of slouching back in his chair - he'd wriggled the least with stitch's cleaning, and now was a happy full little boy - definitely food satisfaction on his face. Randal pouting - he looks hopefully at Don for some more! holding his bowl - empty and alien cleaned but upside down out. " peas? DaDon??" all big hopeful red eyed boy - all covered in alien drool.


Malcolm is waiting eagerly for the cleaning - and when the alien is done with the still giggling and hiding in a now clean bowl boy - he licks the fuzzy Alien's cheek back!


DonnieBoy grins, " it should, hah I think we both have the same right now." tilting his bowl so Don can see - though his is half down by now.


Lilo is laughing right along with Leo and watching the little purple turtle try to get away, it was a effort in vain, and she can't help it, " Stitch's tongue is prehensile and very strong." thoroughly amused and well her little best friend was enjoying searching for the milk and cereal apparently that licked off of the kids tastes good.

mike looks up and rather very mischievously though she has not yet learned to recognise that, " hah our tails and -ouch!" in protest at their fathers long rat tail flicks him hard upside the back of his head before he can finish that very very naughty sentence.


" so are rat tails. Or at least mutant rat tails." he is not entirely certain normal rats have this ability.


But to Mike it was worth the rebuke as long as Leo doesn't give him a pressure pointed leg again or something as all three young women currently at the table blush oh so prettily.


Haley sniggers and blushes and raises a eyebrow at Raphie whom gives her a confident grin and nod. Erica had sort of snort up a little yogurt and granola so was sort of spluttering and recovering from that. Lilo is blushing but mostly amused and cannot help muttering, " that must come in handy." whether that means the tail or not...

Groooaaannn at Raph, but it's mostly a playful one. Yes, the Bishop/Darius thing was more than a little Ew, but... he probably would have asked the same thing if situations were reversed.

And unfortunately, now that it's been brought up, he can't 'unsee' the similarities between the two! Gross!

"Except Bishop didn't seem to be in weapons manufacturing anymore. So maybe Darius kind of went off the rails...?" Sure, Bishop had been more than willing to use them as a personal secret service, but he'd gotten out of the destroying aliens gig. Don's next words are more muttered. "Wouldn't be the first time one of his projects bit him in the backside."

He returns Erica's smile, once they're seated and actually about to eat something. "You're welcome." And he's quietly thrilled with the slight shoulder bump. Just enough that she's right there, and he's content with that.

Aww... Randal's polite request is adorable...

And the drool is disgusting...

"Uh... yeah, I guess you can have more, but... how about a fresh bowl..." And he gets back up to get a clean bowl for Randal and fill it with a bit of cereal. It's not full, just a little more. He gives that to the tot.

He looked over at DonnieBoy saying they had the same cereal and chuckled. Yeah, they did.

Don didn't laugh at Mike's dirty comment, but he did laugh at Master Splinter interrupting it! HA! He checks to make sure Erica's okay after snorting on yogurt and granola.

Leo is chuckling at the back and forth with Don and Raph, but cools it when Mike takes over, then Don makes his last comment. Because there was definitely truth to that one.

"No, it sure wouldn't be."

Like DonnieBoy, Leo's about half way through his bowl of cereal, and the kids and Stitch are so very entertaining. For now, he lets unpleasant things drop and focuses on the now.

Leo almost choked on his Cheerios when Mike made his comment. Almost. It was a close thing, but he managed to get them down without showing it. He did use a slight cough as an excuse to lean close to Lilo.

"Oh, it does."

Spoken any louder at all, it probably would have earned him a smack too, and it still might, but it's very softly whispered. He is definitely referring to Mike's comment.

At that comment Raphie looks away from Haley, his amused and maybe egotistical grin at her blush and the way she averted the eyes to her bowl turned into a soft growl, it is barely noticeable, unless your a brother, and if the kids noticed again they seemed to accept it wasn't at them and not worry. And Don's right the mess of the alien clones and the resulting mutants everywhere and Don..." or more like bit us in the tail, but yeah I could see that a experiment of some sort of his going rogue and doing it's one thing." Or planted by Bishop - well whatever if they can end this kraang shit they can get onto spending some time what ever that may be with their clones for a time before they are reabsorbed into their time line. The current one.


Man time travel stuff gave him a headache and he lets it go with a loud proud nawwwwwww at Randal asking for more, he lightly tickles Liam's plastron, " what some more?"

liam bats lightly at the big hand, and shakes his head grinning.


" I know the feeling - likes Liam I is so full might pop - soooo of the awesome yummy peanut crunch and count chocular! so nommy would not have though to mix those -very clever LionTurtle." maybe some exaggeration but not to Elena! eyes wide and giggling.


" well we can't have thaaaat now can we, hows about DaddyMike take you bother to have a quick rinse now Stitch removed most of the cereal mess? Daddy Leo will need you all clean and ready to learn."


" oh yes yes yes I am ready ! - can we learn bones sometime LionTurtle?"


Splinter grins and refrains from smacking Leonardo - only because the words were soft and well he doubted Leonardo would have used the accurate but rude word he just knew had been on the tip of Michelangelo's tongue just moments before. " that's a good idea, go on Michelangelo take the full little ones, not bath just a brief rinse." because he could see his son was keen to push boundaries this morning.


Haly and Lilo exchange a bit of a glance and snigger, Lilo giving Leo a bit of a wink, " iiiimpressive, like I am learning you are in many ways." whispered and a bit of a tease, but all honest and a bit of a laugh as Stitch looks immensely pleased with himself.

She was thoroughly enjoying her cheerios, scooping small spoonfuls right now, savouring andrelishing and not rushing the moment. Adding after a moment with an amused snigger as Mike pouts and stands to do as told, whispering a little louder cause this part had no real need to be just between her and Leo, but still sort of. " and these are really, really good by the way."


Haly continued to watch Erica and Don for a bit, pleased really, and enjoying they seemed very happy.


Erica chuckles, some time today like there was an offer to talk to Splinter she was going to have to have a bit of a chat withElena. Just hang with her like sisters. A bit of a grin at Don's return smile, oh she was definitely enjoying the yoghurt and granola.


Raphie is still holding the now calmed and content little purple guy, he is also pointing at things on Raphie's persona nd asking whats dis and whats dat and lots of why - hahaha


[color:673d=#A0522D"[/color] any plans for the rest of you whilst Leonardo is busy?" maybe teasing ideas for the others to think up what they can teach the little ones.

Leo considered putting a stop to the Bishop talk for now because it was getting a little heavy for the breakfast table, but it seemed to be dying on its own, and the kids seemed to be taking over the conversation, which was good.

And Randal had distracted Don. Which was even better.

Leo chuckled at Elena thinking he was so very clever.

"Just a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup, but for breakfast." Leo grinned at her. Not something Leo did for his own breakfast anymore, but he would occasionally have a little for a sweet treat in the evening.

And maybe a little concerned about Elena's request. Leo knows the body as it relates to causing damage... not necessarily the names of all the bones.

"I think bones and anatomy is going to have to be a Professor Don day thing..."

Definitely amused by the kids.

He's amused as Lilo responds to him, and maybe a light, rush of a nuzzle, before watching her eat her cereal. Almost chuckling at how much she's enjoying it. They're just Cheerios. And he finishes his own before they can get too soggy. He does chuckle as she comments that they're really good. Leo agrees, but she's cute the way she said it.

As people finish, Leo gets up to start collecting dishes. Technically, he 'made' breakfast, and he needs to get the things ready for the kids to start their handwriting lessons, so he's not washing dishes. Mike seems to be on kid washing (Good! Another shower for Mike!) And Raph seems to need to clean up too, so he can help Mike out. He will leave dishes to Don, but Leo will collect them and get them into the kitchen. That will at least give his brother a chance to eat before feeling like he has to get up and take care of the dishes.

"Well... that too." Is mostly muttered in response to Raph. He doesn't go into that it also wasn't Bishop's intention, and he didn't want the Outbreak either, but it's sort of irrelevant at this point. And it would probably just lead to an argument.

Once Randal has more cereal, Don finally starts eating his. He's dropping a couple bites worth from the bowl into the cup, then eats it out of the cup. A little weird, yes. But it doesn't get soggy that way, and Don is a little notorious for getting distracted from meals.

"Sure, Elena. We can study bones one of these days." Yup, and as soon as the kids ask about wing bones... Hmm...

After her attention is drawn away, Don turns to Haley.

"You uh... mentioned a library. Any chance of us being able to get a book about basic dragon anatomy...? I know hybrids will be a bit different." Still, Don's certain he could piece something together that should be pretty darned close. Certainly close enough for the kids.

He looked over at Splinter's question.

"We've got that data from last night to go though." And by that, he's referring to what they got from the Purple Dragons. It will definitely have their human trafficking scheme, but it might also have some more information about the Kraang. "I thought we'd start there and see where it takes us."

Raphie grins and well, ick he might be no longer covered in cereal he had drool on him and was definitely getting sorta up to follow Mikey and nuzzling the mini Donnie in his arms. " Alright kiddies come on finish up and follow Daddy Mikey!"


Saving, just barely Don from being distracted from his breakfast.


Or at least mostly, the little girl may be distracted but she was done and slipped off the chair moving closer to Don and hugging his side. " thaaaanks Professor Don! me like bones!" happily and skipping away after Mikey and the little ones with him or um joining him at Raphie's words, that is Malcolm, whom scurried along with his chair cushion, and Liam.


And a Duncan up in Raphie's arms!


She giggles " now my fave brekky LionTurtle!" she informs yep he was definitely clever to her!


Haley giggles watching the procession, and more when Stitch bounces off the table like a fluffy ball following the two large turtles and the crowd of kids. Her attention comes back to Don at his question and she nods, " Sure, lots of books on keeping dragons, which is illegal in most countries magic ministries. And a lot have some basic anatomy of different types of the remaining dragons breeds in each country and and even some for dragon shifters like myself, I am a shifter that is a descendant of stoker class dragons, in that we breath fire and can create fire in other ways. So those are the best ones to look at for... well I am assuming our sons as much as me." she explains glancing towards the finishing his breakfast Randal.


Little guy had watched his brothers and Elena go and chirped - but didn't want to leave his bowl ! and stuffs the last of his breakfast in - like Elena he hugged Don, mumbling a milky mouth filled thanks before scurrying away eagerly.


Erica grins watching him go, she'd watched how Don was eating his breakfast and could, to her amusement, see the sorts of 'huh that's actually very smart' sorta glances at the arrangement from Lilo and Haley. Listening to her friend but mostly getting through her own bowlful and actually finishing it in full. And boy did she feel satisfied.


DonnieBoy ooooohs and looks eager. " I am very familiar with KraangTech if they have offered any to the PD's here I will spot the systems, huh even if I don't Don will." eager to help out.


Watching Stitch bounce away and wondering amused if the alien will get wash up too she helps Leo with dishes. Only once she had finished of course, not aware he had watched her. " did... did you want any help with the kiddies this morning?" oh yes she wouldn't mind helping out.


Nodding Splinter waggled his ears. ' sounds like a busy busy day." grin glad he offered his sons and the young women a someone to come chat to briefly, they would probably need it.

Leo is amused as the kids are gathered up and taken to have a quick shower. And he chuckles at Elena's declarations.

"I like it better for dessert." He chuckled as the kids headed off.

And he's listening to Haley's response to Don's question as much as Don is.

"I mean... I guess we're technically keeping dragons... but in general, that sounds like a terrible idea..."

And he's chuckling at the silent responses he's seeing to the weird way Don eats his cereal.

He looks iver as Lilo offers to help with the handwriting.

"You know... I have a feeling I am going to be slightly outnumbered..." Smiling, help would definitely be appreciated.

Don finished the bite from the cup quickly before returning Elena's hug. A brief distraction, but only the first.

"I know. I remember your wonderful song. We'll need to figure out the rest."

Unlike Elena's distraction, which was brief, the answer to his question of Haley is exactly why he eats his cereal from a cup. While listening to her answer, she has his full attention. He's not paying the slightest bit of interest to his breakfast.

"Stoker class. Seems a logical assumption. And Leo, keeping a wild animal as a pet and raising your own kid are hardly the same thing. Though... in this case, the information for both is probably similar." Leo had a 'uh huh, I know that,' look on his face, which Don dutifully ignored.

Eh, if anyone asks about his interest in the books, Haley's here. He could pass the curiosity off as being about stoker shifters since their friend is one. And his brother is dating a stoker shifter, so... possible future reference thing. Searching for information about Sirens or other magical creatures in general probably would help mask the specific curiosity.

...or land him on a watch list.

Don chuckled and accepted the somewhat milky hug from Randal, before gently shooing the child after the others.

It's not until Master Splinter's question is answered that he actually gets back to his breakfast!

Erica giggles and whispers only when Don has really returned to eating, " I will write down or tell you the rest of the bones song. Something for you two to share between yous." especially motivated to do so because there was a woooot from the disappearing bouncing golden-haired girl, the shower was running and she assumed it would not be long until the crowd of kids will be back so she waits for Don to finish she'll join in dishes by drying and putting away aware she kinda sorta held up Don this morning and nope not regretful about it at all. And well she smiles at Splinter. " if it is okay I... I'd like to chat first." because she'd take the initiative there, and well it will be a way to bond a little more with the patriarch of the Splinterson family.


Haley and Lilo had listened to Erica's voice at her request but neither girl looked concerned, figuring it was mostly to hang with her boyfriend's dad and get to know him more.


Haley is giving Don a nod. " if we all head out to the magic library some time I'm sure you'll find the needed books easily enough and who knows what Erica will find in the old dragon book I gave her to transcribe."

The islander grinned at Leo and nods, " know that feeling, sometimes do a hula class with my old teacher back home and it definitely helps to have an extra - especially if the kid is like me and often turns up late, sopping wet of willing to fight with the others." blush and a tad sheepish. From in the bathroom was a chuckling that was definitely all Stitch as a Raphie bounces out with a load of towels and scurries off to find Elena clean cloths - well at least undies and a singlet. And he looks hopeful to Haley as he rushes back moments later to his towel pile, " Haley can ya show me how to plait hair?" maybe like his brothers he shared a slight fascination with furr and hair in general but he just really wanted to do the princesses hair.


Haley chuckles and stands to go help. Just in time as Malcolm, shiny and gold and clean was shooed out of the bathroom after his quick and no action loo and shower rinse.


Splinter grins at Erica, " when you are ready dear." and glad she is happy to just jump right in. pats Donatello's shoulder as he is getting to his feet, an silent reaffirmation to his words to Erica, when Don was ready too.


DonnieBoy is over at the bench sneaking another cup of coffee, but drinking this one in time to Don's eating to be ready when his counterpart is.

Leo is sort of grinning at Lilo.

"Oh, so you were that kid, were you?" Yeah... based on some of what he's seen from her, that's somehow not surprising. Amusing, yes. Surprising, not so much.

Somehow, some way, Leo managed not to laugh at Raph asking how to braid hair. At least he did so until Raph and Haley had left the room.

"Little girl has Big, Bad, Raphie wraaaaaaapped."

Leo moves to capture Malcolm as he's freed from his shower into the lair proper. "And just where do you think you're going?" No tickles this time. Just a snuggle, and taking him over to where they do their school work. "Here, can you help me put these out for you and your brothers? Like they were yesterday."

"Thank you. That'd be perfect." He nuzzled Erica very briefly before she turned her attention to Master Splinter. Yes, he probably knew all the bones in Elena's song, but he certainly wouldn't be able to come up with any more of the song on his own. And it would be a good way to teach Elena. She already knew an incredible number of bones. And he's willing to bet she actually knows more that are later in the song, and she just hadn't gotten that far.

"Thanks, Haley. That sounds amazing." Well... that's pretty much how Don feels about just about any library.

There's a slight, sort of slow nod as Master Splinter squeezes his shoulder. Message received. Yes... he'll be in... no... he's not quite ready.

He takes a few more bites of his breakfast as they go, but doesn't last long. While Don did eat most of his cereal, there's still some left. He got up and put the rest on the counter where Mike or Raph could find it. If no one's eaten it in a while, he'll do something else with it. But usually someone comes along. Just thinking about that conversation he knows he needs to have... he's not hungry anymore. But a distraction sounds good.

"Shall we do this?" He nods toward the computer station. They have plenty of data to sift through. And tag teaming it will make it go faster.

Hah her fingers catch his bandana tails and gives it a playing tug, " ooooh I was that kid alright - and yooou definitely like the now grown weirdlo." the nickname didn't quite spark the anger it used to, and heck she loved the sort of grin - breaking into giggles and nodding, " sooo how long has he wanted to be the dad of a bunch of boys and a girl or two?" she wonders playfully. Then it was watching him catch the giggling little boy - laughing more cause the little gold feet were still going in the air - until Daddy leo was hugging him and the little guy snuggles right in and she sees the pure bliss there. And follows - pausing to catch up a released purple boy - snuggling.


Malcolm blinks, and looks about - for a moment not sure, and he nods slowly but pouts, " and more hugs?!" just to be sure but he is reaching for the boards to put out.


Lilo joins in smiling. Or sort of, letting the little guy lead as asked and mostly snuggling the purple one.


~


" mmmm thank you...." the soft pleased sigh and whisper of those words she knew left him wondering why she tanked him so much, but in this case she could add with a delighted grin, " for you will be able to help her much more in this passion for bones and science she has." sure she could put it in words but stimulate such a fervent want to know and discover in a way Don could for the bright little sister. And she is slipping away as the table empties to go and gather up the book to read over it.



"Thanks, Haley. That sounds amazing." Well... that's pretty much how Don feels about just about any library.


Haley grins and waves at don with a parting, " no thanks... I love the library." and she is over there with Raphie to show him how to brush the damp wild gold curls and then make a braid.


Splinter laughs softly, pleased with the family and moving off to relax for his stories!


DonnieBoy grins and nods, " you are as bad as I am at making it to meals and then finishing them..." he nods at the left overs but hell he does that a lot or just doesn't eat, and it seemed they shared that trait - but not this morning - he had actually managed to finish his bowlful and cleaned it out today and is keen to get started following where Don lead.

Leo gave Lilo a brief churr that was cut off by her pulling his bandanna tails. It ends in an "Ack!" And a chuckle.

He then considered the question about Raphie. "Wanted to? Probably longer than he would admit to. None of us considered it even a remote possibility until a few days ago. Just uncles when Casey and April decided to have a kid."

If Leo holds Malcolm's hug just a little long, well... it's a benign way of coping with what he saw last night.

And, well, Malcolm didn't seem to mind. Leo chuckled.

"And definitely more hugs."

Though he did set Malcolm down to help set out the boards. He kneels down to Malcolm's level to watch, but is mostly curious to see how Malcolm lays things out.

Don definitely had that slight curious 'why?' look until Erica explained. "You're welcome."

And really, he would probably enjoy sharing that information with her. As much as he did not want to be team medic, some anatomy practice would not go wrong.

And a slight smile at Haley's final comments about the library. He's looking forward to it.

Don chuckled at the meal comment as they moved toward the computers.

"They only let me get away with it for so long." He's probably pushing Leo's patience with meals already. And they don't really let Don get away with fully skipping a meal anymore either. Definitely not since Master Splinter's recompiling. Even if it is just a few bites, they usually make him eat something.

Don powers up the main computer as well as a laptop, which he offers to DonnieBoy. "They're networked. If we each take different files, should go faster."

Not everything will be of interest, but they can each focus on different information.

Oooh she loved the smiles!


And would settle sort of close to the space the kids are gonna be working, not in the way but just to hear the little guys and Lilo and Leo at work.


Settling to let the words she is translating flow.

" brothers," somewhat in a bit of a humph tone, mostly entirely fondly. " I feel ya, mine only let me skip so many before Raph is there threatening to to beat the green off me, or Lee comes a lecturing or Mikey shows up with all these samples, most pretty good and begs me to try them alllllll out.1' the last of which is the worst cause he always over eats in those times. " now it just takes knowing my April will probably sit around with me instead of getting something to eat and I hate that - can't let her go hungry... or pizza gyoza my brothers and I will fight over pizza gyoza."


It actually made for fairly good sparring matches to battle royale over the last perfect little pot sticker.


He nods and grins and rifles through his pockets pulling free his laptop, it was a much battered thin he had clearly patched up time and time again. And much loved and still his favourite picture on the save screen when it opened, a candid shot of his pretty red haired gal munching some pizza.


" Kraang techs systems are not that hard to get into once it's recognised their built for many tentacled touch, and usually as simple as our own systems as when their on our worlds they build them with available tech, and should check to see if those files from bio labs has finished converting so yous can enjoy a couple more of those too." mostly babbling a bit out of habit as its time to settle and get onto the files, the kraang stuff and pd ones. He knew Don might have already figured this all out.

He then considered the question about Raphie. "Wanted to? Probably longer than he would admit to. None of us considered it even a remote possibility until a few days ago. Just uncles when Casey and April decided to have a kid."
There was a giggle and maybe just for the churr, ack and chuckle Lilo manages a small kiss to Leo's cheek, amused and glad for them but not distracted more from the moment of closeness and cuddles with a very very happy little guy to snuggle. Now she is eyeing each board and smiling, Elena was a bright student - as was Duncan for their ages clearly ahead, well as far as writing went and the others were not too far behind, it was good work of the boys especially for beginningers.


" these are really good," She kneels slowly to watch - and also to catch the rushing over Elena and hug her, she can see over there Raph and Haley waiting for the next kiddo to be expelled from the bathroom.


Elena's happy rush over was halted - but she beams and giggles, " Lilo Leo LiLeo!" she had happily called out the entire way maybe messing up their names a little because both 'le' sounding names in the beginning with oooh's on the end but not minding. " Ser Raphie gave me plaits!" so working the showing off - and well sure the braids were a little messy and clearly done by a learner still she loved them! and was happy to show them off and being young didn't pick up on the amateur job.


Giggling Lilo hugs her, " we see and it looks great Elena."


Malcolm is unsure at first what to do with the boards and sort of nibbles on one of the corners, but then he recalls and places them on the table, most sideways or upsidedown and he does scent whose its whose, " Liiiaaaam... Duuuncaaaan... Randaaaaall... Malllcolm - Elenaaah!" sayingthe names slowly and sounding out the words like Ratpa taught him. Grin and DaddyLeo proud of his well he doesn't know it messy work and gestures with a, [color:8ab9=##DAA520]" taaaa daaaaa!"

"Sounds about right. Well... minus most of the threats. And I think Leo has given up on lecturing." Don smiled. Raph has occasionally been known to simply pick Don up regardless of protest and deposit him at the table. It hasn't happened a whole lot, but... more often than Don will admit to.

Don looks over at the pizza gyoza comment. His knee jerk reaction is that it sounds terrible! But... thinking about it a little more... he can't actually figure out why it would be. Just a potsticker filled with pizza toppings. Actually... it sounds pretty good.

"Pizza Gyoza, huh? Sounds like quite the combination."

Don has a soft spot for good sushi, which Leo figured out some time ago. It was one of the ways Leo actually got him to eat when Master Splinter was decompiled.

"Cute picture." He commented as DonnieBoy's computer came online. Don manually gave HAILI permission to interface with it. It was a little easier to cont.ol her here in the lair than in the truck. The truck needed certain permissions to operate on it's own, where the lair didn't need that sort of freedom.

"Seems reasonable." Don commented of the Kraang tech. He was pretty sure he could recognize their stuff by now, though he hadn't had a whole lot of time to play with it.

"It's... done..." Don is a bit more hesitant in his comments about the BioTech research. Yes, he does want to go through more of it, but he's not sure how much more he'd actually 'enjoy'. And He's not really in the frame of mind to deal with seeing them hurt. He should probably go talk to Master Splinter before he watches more of the research on the kids. But the files were ready.

While Malcolm was working on the boards, the rest of Don's cereal, sans milk, appeared in a cup on the desk near the computers. Leo might have given up on lecturing, but he hasn't given up on making his brother eat. He simply found a more effective method of getting his point across. And Don's breakfast turning up near his work station 'by itself' is definitely a sign that Leo's done with Don's partial meals nonsense.

Leo nuzzled ever so slightly into the kiss. And smiled as Malcolm set out all the boards. Little guy was so very cute. He looked up at Lilo briefly when she spoke. "All things considered... they're doing amazingly well." And Leo chuckled softly as the boards were laid out every which way. Such a very Mikey thing to do. He claps softly at the ta da! "Very nice, Malcolm." They'll worry about getting them right side up and... well... right side up... once the others have been released from the bathroom.

In that moment while Lilo is cuddling Duncan before Elena makes her way over, Leo slips away and sneaks Don's breakfast over to the computers. He's back in a moment.

He's back when Elena joins them and grins at her and her excitement over her braids. "Very nice, Elena. You must have stayed very still for Raphie to do that."

And while he praised her, he's guiding Malcolm to his seat. Hoping the child will settle in and be ready to write for a little while.

Or at least draw. Especially for the moment while they're waiting for the others, Leo doesn't mind if they draw for a bit. He puts out chalk for them.

DonnieBoy chuckles, but actually he doesn't say in exasperation that he'd wished the lecturing would stop, and the 'threats' or the nagging. However .... if he is honest, he likes it all, enjoys it. Loves those moments of annoyance with his brothers. He would not change for the world how entangled with others their home lives were and even more now they knew their counterparts. But those moments where it is just him and his brothers is fantastic. And treasured. Chuckling and nodding, " the perfect combo and Mikey now knows how to make them he or Murakami should make some for you guys to try out - damned awesome worth mikey's burps in face or Raph's stinky armpit head locks, and thanks, yeah it's my fave." beam and yep he returns tot hat screen just to briefly stroke the screen cheek before flicking back to the work and just in time for the pd stuff to start opening up, and so he grins at Don, " double team to get through this all?" looked like the thugs of the Purple Dragons here were more sophisticated than his own at home. Even a link in DonnieBoy would not know was a gamer tag this worlds hun used. So he didn't sero in on it immediately but to those familiar would know the giant mutant was still running things.

And he doesn't ask more about the other vids, accepting these turtles will get through them at their own pace.


~


Leo nuzzled ever so slightly into the kiss. And smiled as Malcolm set out all the boards. Little guy was so very cute. He looked up at Lilo briefly when she spoke. "All things considered... they're doing amazingly well." And Leo chuckled softly as the boards were laid out every which way. Such a very Mikey thing to do. He claps softly at the ta da! "Very nice, Malcolm." They'll worry about getting them right side up and... well... right side up... once the others have been released from the bathroom.


Lilo grinned and whispered when she had a moment. " That dear leader is because they have safely landed with their fathers, mothers and ratpa." wink. And ooooh she snuggles and then withdraws a little giggling and happy to catch the incoming Randal and Liam -


" very still Lion turtle oh yes yes yes! cause he was worried he was pulling my hair -" Elena oh so seriously fills in - and whispers, " of course no hurts very much all good - oh wow Malcolm!" voice rising back to normal, clapping her hands.


little Malcolm grins and is happy to sit and well his sketch was now very wobbly stick peoples but he had progressed past the shading only.


Elena grins following into a seat at her board and turning it the right way up, Malcolm didn't bother just started his squiggly people. Duncan had moved towards Leo once released and grins touching his knee, should he sit?

Leo sort of nodded, considering Lilo's words. And more behind them.

"Yeah... thanks to our clones from the future..." Not happy considerations, but not ones that will break him either. Just... heavy ones. After a moment he shakes his head and pulls himself out of them with a sigh.

"They've all come a long way with the help of family."

He chuckled at Elena's response, fully back from his thoughts, and present once again. "Go ahead and find your board, Duncan. You can write or draw until the others are ready." He rubbed the little guy's head, and gave him a gentle nudge toward his seat.

"Did you guys do T's yesterday? Maybe we'll do T today."

Don looks skeptical of any food being worth Mikey burps and Raph armpit anywhere near his face. He doesn't outright say anything, just... has that sort of skeptical look on his face. But he nods accepting the statement, and is interested in trying these things sometime.

"Definitely double team. It will take forever to get through this alone."

He hasn't been working long when he came across the gamer tag.

"Curious..." He definitely recognized the tag. To be on the server where it was, it had to be a higher up Dragon. And it's a tag that's been around for awhile. Years. It's a tag they had seen in a game. Don had seen it in PD data before, but...

He pulled up another window and searched the tag.

"This gamer tag... it's too old. The only Dragons this old are Dragon Face and Hun. And it went dark for months after Hun was taken into custody." Don sits back frowning. "But it's active now." The chuckle that followed is not particularly genuine. "Well, what do you know... Hun helped us collect some of Master Splinter's data bits..."

He shook his head before starting a second search.

"No recent giant turtle sightings though... so either off site or he's getting better at hiding." Don sort of suspects the latter.

Little boys are wriggly, even Liam, but they are all in their seats and Duncan's making an ooooh face at the letter, happy squirm and hopeful face, " teeeee teeee for turrrtle!!" oh so brightly Nd making his brothers sort of gap at him, Randal with his chalk in his mouth.


Nope they had not started t yet, but Duncan put two and two together at the sound of the t.


A nod, small bump of shoulder and Lilo is ready! kiddoes are in seats and she is looking to see how she can help, like shifting boards around when needing to help or tuck in a chair or rub a little head to make sure there is attention on Leo, which for most the part Daddy Leo had their full attention - if only this moment Duncan excitedly broke in.


~


Raphie tugs gently on Haley and sort of punches Mike's shoulder lightly, Master Splinter is in the story time, Leo and Lilo busy, Erica studying quietly seat on the end of the table oriented closer to the way the Don's had gone to work and so he and these two will do a bit of tidying up and maybe set out some tumbling mats for the kids - keep busy...


~


A grin and nod, oh yes so worth those dnagers for a taste -


" and I will happily admit that not only will double teaming go faster, it's just a awesome thing to work beside a fellow brain that isn't making this a competition between mammals and reptiles." though his and Dr. Rockwell's friendship is there and he can trust the chimpman, still dude got under his skin. : or clucks at me." amused and fondly so this time. Thinking of the super brained chicken.


Curious about the gamertage and pausing his own search which had found a ledger of the human trafficking victims, but he hasn't seen it yet as it had opened just as he is turning attention to the gamertag and chuckling, listening to Don explain what it was and that Hun unintentionally helped them some time. " it's possible a mix of both, dude has become more careful at hiding out, and off site, especially if he is a mutant, he would, if somehow he escaped or got out of containment, possibly head to somewhere else his gang has a threshold and probably somewhere turtle beings would not immediately be monsters." throwing that idea out there.

The skepticism regarding the gyoza's apparently magical flavor remains, but Don chuckles and accepts the statement.

Don had been about to agree about it being nice to work with others.. While Don is more than happy to work alone, it's fun to have someone to bounce ideas and information off of too. And while Don has a few outlets for this in April and Leatherhead, he's aware that DonnieBoy doesn't really have those options. But he blinks at the competition between reptiles and mammals. He interpreted the 'this' to mean really more than this exact task, but pretty much everything.

"Competition between... what? That's asinine." That makes absolutely no sense!

Don sort of pouted, considering DonnieBoy's words. He widened his search radius, extending it beyond New York City. "You mean, like Jersey?" Chuckling at his own joke. Mocking New Jersey like any self-respecting New Yorker. Though he was taking the suggestion seriously, and starts mostly thinking out loud. Something he often does with April and Leatherhead. Sometimes with Raph up in the garage.

"Seriously though... not a whole lot of options for places he wouldn't be monster. Hun is massive. Covered in spikes. And he was a monster long before he was a mutant. Though the Dragons did have some affiliates out in North Hampton. Still... not a lot of options that also have Purple Dragons and Internet. The remaining races of the Ylyntias, maybe, but they keep to themselves and do what they can to avoid interacting with humans at all. I can't imagine they would let Hun be in contact with his crew while hiding with them."

Except...

"Though there are places that turtles specifically might get by... Parts of Japan. Lilo mentioned her island in Hawaii might not mind us... Awwwfully far reaching for the Purple Dragons though. I mean... I know the Foot has affiliates that far out, but the Dragons?" Possible, but maybe not super likely. Still... Hun sitting on a beach sipping a mojito and controlling the PDs from afar was quite the mental image...

"Exactly, Duncan! T is for Turtle. Also Train, and Tiger and Tortoise. There's one hiding in the middle of RaTpa." Even as he spoke those words, he's trying to gently remove the chalk from Randal's mouth. "Ew, Randal. We don't eat chalk. It's not good for you."

Leo wrote a few T's, starting with capitals. Letting the kids see how he did it. His handwriting is neat and precise. It's hard to tell with just one letter, but Leo's penmanship is impeccable.

"Elena, maybe you could write a few T words for everyone else to see." Just to give her a little more of a challenge. She's beyond just writing the letter like this.

"Everyone else, let's start with just the letter T." He'll help guide them, one at a time, but for now... seeing who actually tries on their own.

" asinine and usually completely useless to the task or topic at hand, and well Dr Rockwell, the mutant chimp you saw in the army Lee gathered only had a masters in engineering and physics for our world, I am willing to bet if I had been able to I would have degrees in all of them." there is not a smug sound, just a matter o fact. " yet still he manages to annoy me and I know he does it on purpose... meh - still guy is loyal to Slash and a fighter." so yeah he didn't not like the guy or not trust him. " Guess its mostly my fault I swallow the bait hook line and sinker, mostly because when we first ran into him he kicked my tail, in front of April, on our first... sort of - or um myyy first attempt at a date with her." Sheepish about that.


And sort of tailing off and listening to Don - and sniggering a bit, less chatty and babbly because he is more comfortable and less nervous then the day before but still talkative, amused by the jab at Jersey. " you guys make fun of your Jersey too huh?" and thinking over what Don said and then shrugging, " both of our New Yorks are huge it is possible that Your extra spikey turtle is still here in NewYork hiding out or in North Hampton. Hah thats where in our universe April's family farm is. Hmmmmm could probably track his user name to last known location if he is using a normal ip.... oh wow look I think we have found your human chattel." not a joke, a sort of unhappy tone - but it is there on his screen and he has finally noted it, a rather thorough ledger of the humans capture, their descriptions and - ick - a number and what price they hoped for them. Erica had been scratched off as lost. Good. " looks like the buying has started but nothing has been picked up or shipped yet so if we can find where they are being held -"


~


Lilo grins and squats beside Eelna when she hummms out loud and begins thinking up t words to write, without giving her words. The bright girls grinned and caught Lilo's hand by the thumb and tugged, " thuuuuummmmm...." and of course she wrote it in her left handed scribble across the board, neat for her age and ability but missing the b on the end, Lilo doesn't rush that bit - but does call the young girls attention to the fact the word is not completely.


Some of these things the little boys had no idea what they were just yet. Tiger and Tortoise got blinks and wondering curious ooh amazed looks whilst train expired the usual excitement trains usually instilled in young children who had been exposed to cartoons as of the last couple of days, Malcolm immediately sort of humming the thomas tank engine theme, but he only knew the start... and Randala nd Liam both grinned - it made it easy to get the chalk out of Randall's mouth for that. Duncan gasps.


And so does Lilo - that was some fancy perfect penmanship, admiringly. Lilo's was a loopy fine lettered script when she wrote, readable and tidy but definitely not as neat!


Liam begins trying to copy, Randal after a moment of watching and then watching his brother, Duncan was into it and even noted out loud the sounds of the words Leo had just said. " Trrr rrrrrr aaaa aaaiii nnnn nnn, Ti iiii ga ga g eeerrrr, Tort ooooss...?" his t neater. And Malcolm rushed his after a moment noting he had been humming and forgetting to dooooo.

"Just masters in related fields? Sounds like someone's compensating for something." Don means scant accomplishments, but it could certainly be taken other ways. And it's mostly out if his mouth before he realized it. Oh well. It's out in the universe now.

There's an amused shrug at the poking fun at Jersey. Of course! And a chuckle at North Hampton being where April's family farm is. "Here it's Casey's family."

Don looked at the IP from Hun's most recent login.

"I suspect that rural South Dakota is unlikely. It's bounced. Let's see where it takes us." Don didn't actually have to do much other than initiate a back trace. It was definitely a Stockman program. "More Stockman programming." So yes, it's good, but Don can hack it. A map pops ip in the main screen, following the extensive relays. That Hun can still game with all the mirrors is impressive. And most law enforcement would have lost the trail be now.

"Annnd... back to New York. Let's narrow this down shall we?" A block or an address.

Don frowned at the human chattel. It's not untrue. "Hun likes to be actively involved. What do you bet they're where he is?" Don wants to move on that tonight. He'll have to talk to Leo at some point. Hopefully by then, they'll have an address.

Leo chuckled at the boys' confusion. "A Tiger is a really, really big cat. Like Klunk. They're not good pets like Klunk though. And. Tortoise is like a turtle, but they don't like water."

He's amused as Malcolm sings instead of writing. And smiles at Lilo sort of taking on Elena's task.

"Take your time, Malcolm. Do it again, guys."

While they worked, he added to his T. Train. He showed it to the kids, but really sort of guessing that Duncan was the one that might figure this out. "Any guesses?"

Elena almost looked up but Lilo called her attention back to practicing the few words she thought up starting with t, practicing writing them and at least a short sentence using the words. Small and easy sentences for now Lilo is pretty sure the little girl could manage longer but for the moment just quick and easy ones.


Duncan's ts much like Malcolms is a little wonky, but for the opposite reason, Duncan's in a rushed eager sort of way, Malcolm because of the distraction. but the little guy is trying again as his purple brother's tail wags and he sort of bounces in his seat looking excited, " tr aaaaa aaa in." he points out happily having sounded out the words and his playing with the alphabetic bricks the other day letting him make the connection between the way the word looked as Leo wrote it, as his dad in blue wrote it and sound out the letters individual sounds. Liam and Randal sort of look at him and sound the word out a moment behind - Malcolm happily adds -


"Chooooooooo chooooooooo!!!"likes to be actively involved. What do you bet they're where he is?" Don wants to move on that tonight. He'll have to talk to Leo at some point. Hopefully by then, they'll have an address.

Leo is sort of chuckling at the kids as they work. Yeah... this looks familiar. Maybe an amused glance to Lilo, whether she gets the amusement yet or not.

"That's right. T... R... A... I... N... Train." He's pretty sure Duncan could get the letters if given the opportunity, but he'll spell it out for the others. He rubbed Duncan's head as he looked at the writing.

"Take your time on those, Duncan. It's not a race." Leo's pretty sure he might as well be speaking to a brick wall by asking the little guy to slow down. Yeah... Leo knows another turtle who can't slow his brain down. And Leo's pretty sure that's a big chunk of why Don's handwriting is atrocious.

And onto Malcolm! "Yes! That's the sound trains make." And a little attention for the others too. He stays low, close to the kids as they work, and moves around the table. "Why don't you make a couple more of them. Can you think of any other words that start with a T sound?" He won't confuse them just yet with Th like what Elena's getting. And it's okay if they can't. He's just seeing what they come up with.

And Leo adds a lower case t to his own writing for them to copy when they're ready.

Randal is half way through his t - and pauses to sound out the word traiiin maybe a bit of a lisp still on t at the start. Blinking up at Leo's question and frowning in the way Raphie did when he was thinking of something, " tss aaa b all?" he offers shyly tapping the table beneath his board as Duncan churrs and nuzzles Leo's hand his very chalky fingers reaching for that big hand, he had written a lot more t t t in almost straight lines but scrawled letters.


Malcolm finally finished his looking excited and making more train sound he knew the clattering of the train tracks. And he can't help holding up his board, the t in the middle of the board and slightly angled.


Liam's t is because he was focusing on it nice and straight even if the top isn't attached and the lower case looks like an small l but he is concentrating and brightens when Randal says table - shifting off of his knees and sticking his feet out in front to wriggle his toes. " t t ooo sssss ehhh!" slightly mispronouncing.


" Those are toes Liam... tooeessssss.... ooooh!" Elena so helpfully interjects with a bright grin then oh faces as she realised she can write that down and does! Lilo having to muffle her sniggers and squeees cause heck yeah she could immediately imagine Leo and his brothers so small probably doing the same sorta things when they were learning this too.  And so danged cute! Leo's glance her way definitely gets a raised eyebrow and grin.


~


" only masters and that was why he was relegated to research only with chimp DNA and not actual live animals and with a equally both intelligent and qualified but not qualified Dr Victor Falco. Dude is definitely over compensating. Still when he isn't making things a competition between mammals and raptiles and or trying to show me up he is a loyal companion to Slash and works well with our team... just definitely not a buddy like you I can have this really cool geek out with." Grin, totally not.


He grins hearing about the Casey being the one with the family farm. " what a trip, your Casey still have family? ours has a dad and little sister, we have not yet met the dad, the little sister though, Chloe, she somehow conned Lee into hanging around for a tea party when Slash first mutated. Really sweet kid Lee adores her, and he still drinks tea with his smallest finger poking out hahaha." amused.


Nod, yep sounded like some sort of VPN IP cover up and he ignores his screen with a few more files opening showing cash purchases of some of the more well hidden warehouses along the docks, ones with a bit of clearing around them. And focuses on helping Don mostly narrow the trace - not aware first up the nearest ping on the towers is closest to the very first warehouse the guys and Dragons clashed over Casey and Angel.

Don looked over at DonnieBoy and smiled. He's happy to be someone the guy can geek out with, but he sort of feels bad for him. It sure sounds like the guy hasn't really had an outlet for this up until now! And to be perfectly honest... (which he won't be.) This 'Dr.' Victor Falco... sounds like a bully.

Don chuckles at Lee being roped into a tea party. Yeah, he could see the young leader getting caught like that. Actually, he's pretty sure Leo could wind up similarly conned in the right situation.

And Raph definitely. Actually, Raph's been conned into a couple of situations with various humans.

"Yeah, he's got family. His mom is still around. She put April through all these crazy 'tests.' Peeling and pressing tons of apples, making pie. Apparently she saw Master Splinter and Leo helping April. She's... Well, you've met Casey. She's just as strong and capable as anyone would have to be to keep him under control." As far as Don can tell, Casey's mom didn't even flinch at the whole... giant rat and turtle helping April with the tasks she had sort of conned her into doing. "Heh... her 'tests' actually seemed designed to make sure April could put Casey in his place when he needed it. She passed of course. Then there's Cousin Sid... Got into some trouble awhile back. Owed the Purple Dragons some money. Debt was cleared, and as far as I know he's managed to keep his nose clean since... probably barely..." Don doesn't really consider Sid to be a bad guy... just... got into some trouble that he couldn't get out of on his own.

He leans forward as they start getting some pings close by.

"Well... what do you know. I guess when you don't know where to go, you go where you know." Don selected the warehouse address and forwarded it to his shell cell. "Casey got nabbed by the Dragons years ago. This is where they had their headquarters. It was abandoned for years, but it seems they might've made their way back."

"Yes, Randal! Table!" Leo chuckled and wiggled his fingers as he let Duncan catch and nuzzle his hand. He kissed Randal on the top of the head.

"And you too, Liam. Definitely toes. Thank you, Elena." And he tickled those wiggly toes! "That's a wonderful 'T' Malcolm! Can you make another one?" He spares another glance to Lilo. Oh, Leo is loving this. Absolutely loving this!

Leo's family is, at least for the moment, home and safe. It's changed in drastic and amazing ways in the past few days, but they're all learning, growing and moving forward. While there has always been life and love in the lair, this is different. Now it's almost overflowing. And for Leo... it's amazing. And sure, there's are definitely things to be concerned about in the near future, but Leo is focusing on right now. This moment with the kids and Lilo. The rest of his family accomplishing their various tasks for the morning. And this is wonderful.

There's a lot going on. A lot of kids to keep tabs on, but they're all pretty much on task at the moment, though Leo suspects they're going to have to switch things up pretty soon. He can't imagine they'll last much longer before losing interest.

For now, though? They've all written some T's and seem to be recognizing the sound, and making connections. They're learning, which is what they're over here to do at the moment.

Once he has his hand back from Duncan and can write again, he adds 'Table' and 'Toes' under 'Train,' spelling aloud as he wrote.

" Yeah it is admittedly why when I am here I just babble so happily, everything I wished I had a fellow friendly and ready to learn and explore geek sort os rushes out like a geyser... i am holding most of it in at the moment but fair warning might come spurting out involuntarily." maybe a tad sheepish and clearly a leader in blue has told him to try and tone it down a little, or try to. " We have no idea how to approach Casey's father - but we think he might have had run ins with us before, on rescue side of things so we hope when Mikey and Casey decide to come clear with their somewhat together status and him introduce us to his dad. After all the times the little girl has snuck out to hang out with her Mr. Turtle and his crew. Big brother Casey has had to put his foot down about that." roll of eyes, entirely fond.


DonnieBoy laughs a bit at the story and he gets a mmmm face, " You know what I am not surprised if the mother in law did that and that's exactly why hahaaha love it, bit surprised she wasn't too worried about a giant mutant rat and turtle but tickled pink for ya all that she wasn't - that's really cool... think we met Casey's dad once when he was accidentally mind switched with a pigeon for like five seconds. But Casey and Mikey will properly introduce us when they make their current situation more permanent." Yeah he suspected it will be some time before Mikey and Casey were ready for something like that. The his own chuckling is fond, " no doubt your April passed, my April has put Lee in his place plenty of times, and me, all of us really, Mona of course can kick all our tails, and its funny and heart warming how much Raph likes being told by her and to be honest it is amusing when Lee's not so firm leader rules are crumpled by Karai's stubbornness and Shini's wiles." Thoroughly amused, as the last of the import dragon files are opening. Mostly other warehouses, three in total.


" mmmmmmaaaakes sense, its a place that's probably beyond interest to most and its a large place I assume and has enough space for a giant spikey turtle to make his lair.... And if it is big enough and has holdings as suggested by Casey being nabbed yeah I could see him keeping his prize close... mmmm about Sid might be advantageous to send him ads on free or low cost or subsidized courses for security guard or similar jobs, he sounds like a guy who needs a good focus and task to makes sure that nose stays clean." and it would be relatively easy for Don to send the guy the right resources in email junk form that most didn't read or as an invitation to attend such places. And maaaaybe he had been sending Casey the same sorts of 'junk' mail lately to encourage more than pro hockey and or bounty hunter as a possible career path. Mostly because he knows Casey would do well in the fields of correctional or security or police officer. And possibly a Sid too.


There is a humming, it is soft and low and barely noticeable but finally not so focused on the immediate task of finding the dragons victims he is noting it. And he sends all his data onto Haili and Don whilst bringing up the boys mutagen. " I had a little of Timothy's sample aside for trying out more retromutagens on his samples and on one slide I introduced the fraction of a sample of Liam's mutagen to it and well I watched the cellular transformation and well... I can't be certain of course from just that but I think they have the potential to mutat others either into dragons or sort of like dragon beings.... And thankfully the other dimension we had of note seems to have no further kraang activity though Lee does want to do a excursion there just to be absolutely certain, but the Donatello there must have some sort of alert about portals opening becsays he was there ten minutes before the turtles there converged on his position and he had to do the dodge to get out before being outed like I was." a grin, turned out better than they had hoped and well now they could help with the kraang problem here.


Mmmmmmmmmm Erica hums she is slowly uncoverign the secrets of the first dragon shifters, and humming as she thinks. And well it is more noticeable as she is making her way towards the Dons, book spread, a concentrated look on her face and her phon on the open pages.


~


Lilo has to cover her mouth - oh the absolute joy Randal took in getting it right the kiss to his head, and Liam's pleased little face and more wriggly toes!


The excitement Duncan was definitely taking in this mentally stimulating session, catching that hand and churring and that way Malcolm beams and nods, the little boys are trying, copying new t's, Duncan saying proudly, but a little slowly as if uncertain, that t came after s.


Lilo's watching Leo as Elena settles to adding table and toes and train to her little list, she wrote much like Erica did, but a little faster and messy like Duncan, but with the same round letters her sister used.


And sure she picked that up but mostly she was noting Leo's expression and she cannot help the absolute glow there. And knew she had felt that same delight and pleasure more than once. Once upon a time her life and family was her sister only. And they fought like sisters do, and Nani stumbled her way through helping Lili through grief and depression and loneliness and facilitated Stitch coming into their lives. The start to her family going from two, with love and life sure, but it grew and hasn't stopped really. Of course six year old Lilo hadn't really understood, all she knew was that David was around more, Nani was happy, Stitch and she were best friends and almost siblings. And even her social worker Cobra Bubbles had joined the family, with two alien uncles. Eight year old Lilo had not much more understanding as she and Stitch began the adventure of finding, rehabilitating and homing all of Jumba's experiments save the ones that dehydrated for now. But older now...


Yeah she knew that feeling Leo had and he would see it reflected back at him, especially as she considered Haley, Erica and Elena as much her O'Hana as her aliens. And now he and his sons, his father and brothers the more she knew them.


She glances and sees her best friend - amusing carrying his dug out of somewhere hover car over his head following a distracted and humming looking Erica off to somewhere. Probably to give the toy looking but space worthy craft to Don to play with.

"Yes! T does come after S!" Leo wiggles his fingers again and brushes Duncan's cheek with them as the little guy nuzzles into his hand.

Leo sees that love and warmth for her family in Lilo, and he can't resist. He shifts around and gives her a kiss on the cheek. It's not meant to excite her - like most of the other times he's slipped in this close to her! This time it's just... warm. Recognizing that same strong love for family. A family that actually sounds even stranger than his own! He loves seeing that in her, and just takes that quick moment to show it. And sure, the kids will probably latch onto that and make kissy faces. But they've done well with their Ts. And that might actually give them a little break.

He also spotted Stitch carrying what he's pretty sure is a small space craft through the lair, and he'd been about to say something, suggest the little alien take it to the garage, but... well... seems Don's on it.

Well... eventually... probably. But it's good to see his brother actually excited after last night. And really... Leo's not sure he's seen this sort of excitement in Don's eyes since they were in 2105. He's sure Don will eventually get the little space craft to the garage. So he settles for being amused, and just letting this play out.

Don is sort of watching DonnieBoy, amused by the whole geyser comment. "I hadn't noticed." But it's an amused teasing, not any sort of annoyance with the situation. He doesn't mind the babble for the most part, and would let DonnieBoy know if it was getting on his nerves.

And he chuckles at the idea of KidCasey having to stop his sister from going to see Mr. Turtle constantly. And the girls putting the guys in their places.

"I haven't really worried about Sid. Casey's been sort of keeping tabs on his cousin, and it's probably best that way. Our Casey is working in an auto shop. He makes pretty good money, and is looking to buy his own shop eventually. The right opportunity for that hasn't come up yet, but he's hoping it does soon. He sometimes calls Raph or me in after hours for problems he can't crack."

Don added the other warehouses in the files to the list on his phone. They needed to find the trafficking victims tonight. Not necessarily worry about Hun. And if they had to search all four... well, then they had to search all four.

He frowned at the information regarding the mutagen from the kids. "Given what we saw from our clones... that makes sense. It would certainly explain what the Kraang were at that point." And makes keeping the Kraang from ever getting the kids that much more important. It's sort of a wry chuckle in response to another dimension's Donatello setting an alarm for dimensional disturbances.

"I have a feeling we're pretty well infested already, but I can't say that I blame him. It's not a bad idea." And if they had found out about the Kraang being interdimensional critters in another way, that probably would have been Don's first line of defense too. In fact, he's still considering it.

But he needs time with the Kraang tech to do it! And that just hasn't happened.

"Your being outed didn't turn out too badly. Approaching them in a small group may not be a bad idea." Just something to consider running by Lee, and Don and his brothers would probably be available for such a meeting if they were required. He's pretty sure that Leo will be more free with interdimensional travel if it offers even slightly increased odds of getting rid of the Kraang for good.

Which would also get rid of their clones. Somehow, Don managed not to sigh.

Don felt more than heard Erica's approach, and turned around to look her way. Darker thoughts are pushed aside, and he chuckles at the attention she was paying the phone and the book. Just... watching her for a moment. Quietly enjoying the way she moved, and how intently focused she was on her project.

Yeah... he understood that! And he's curious to find out what she's learned.

He doesn't have time to ask though.

Don started as Stitch came in with the small space craft. He jumped up to sort of send the little alien to the garage with it, but...

"Whoa, is this how you and Lilo got here? This. Is. So! COOL!" It doesn't look at first glance like it should be space worthy, but giving it a slightly more detailed look, it's definitely sealed and has quite the little propulsion system!

"Wow, it's small! How'd you manage to make this all so compact? And what do you use for propulsion?" Yup, he's completely forgotten that they're not in the garage at all, and are barely out of the main part of the lair. Oh no, very happily exploring the little space craft. Oohhhh... he wants to take it apart SO BADLY! Kid in a candy store glee!

He will proooobably remember to get it out of the lair proper... either when someone reminds him or once he's relaxed from this excitement a little.

" Yaaaaaaaay!" Duncan cheers - and then he giggles and as Leo predicted the kiss drew their happy childish oooooohs and many smoochie faces from the kiddies - well the boys as Elena sorta tries but also goes " nawwwwwwwwww!"


Lilo grins, this time she maybe does sigh in the usual enjoyment that comes when he is close but its a happy sigh and her eyes stay on his even if there is no stopping the giggle or frin hearing the kids, " Lo ooove a growing family." she whispers not looking to make the kissing go on for now but certainly enjoying the warm and close moment with Leo, amused by the little ones. Oh yes she was thoroughly loving this!!


And is amused and eager as the kids watching stitch hurry off - hahaha dawwww


~


DonnieBoy's thoughts on the shop - except for the light up and cool! - were stalled when the Erica came meandering their way, though she is quiet on her feet, no ninja but quiet. And she is polite not butting in on their time together and the work they were doing, he glanced behind her a Raphie was in a apron and busy sweeping out the kitchen for a Haley to catch up and he grins chuckling a bit watching them, the rest of the lair was tidy and it looked like as the tv shows were transitioning Splinter is taking a moment to visit the loo and refresh his drink before resettlign to watch hehehe -


" being outed turned out great, so maybe doing so with these other turtles will be a good idea too...?" And he double checks the map and kraang lay out knowing they will be looking for a large and tall building to place their large portal - and well it keeps him from reacting and jumping in right away when Stitch comes over with his gift. Making a soft sound as he does so - cause daaaang it looked like the cutest little thing to get into!


The space naught geek in his was itching! but upon invite!


And well he almost asks about the sigh -


But Stitch grins and pops the little crafts boot and gestures for them, like a Volkswagon its engine was in the boot by the looks of this and wow he can see some sort of engine in there, and is listening as Stitch explains happily. " Stitch eat foods - Stitch poops - poop cubed, radioactive... put in there and boom! energy!"


Hahhahaha DonnieBoy has to grin recalling a certain roadster with a kraang chamber that could use a volatile chicken egg for the same purpose, like a mini fusion reactor. The little alien is pointing at parts and saying their names, some in what DonnieBoy assumes is this universes Hawaiian as Erica mouthed a few and some he assumed was the aliens alien language. Which Erica knew some words of by the occasional oh of her face.


Before she had brightened and grinned at Don - and if anything seemed to do more so watching him geek out - Stitch grins pointing at the bonnet. " tools in front, but perhaps no pull apart here... um not safe around kids." little alien said, but heck if something was going to happen he'd just eat the core of the engine.


Erica grins, she'd come this way to ask if it was possible to creat an app or something to scan the books pages and she could either isolate letters she thinks she has found and translate the pages as she goes to this wonderful phone Don created and or maybe she could just use the really cool music and song creating tools he is finding to translate and read out like an audio book? either way her original thought is pushed aside for now just enjoying the moment with the Don. And his enthusiam.

"Well... maybe not alone" Don commented with a smile regarding potentially contacting the turtles in this other affected dimension.

But all too soon, Don is practically vibrating he's so excited about the little space craft!

The Tricerton cruiser is cool, but this? This sort of seems like a motorcycle compared to a semi!

He is openly laughing at the thing running on Stitch poop! That is... possibly the most amazing recycling ever! He is absolutely THRILLED!

Don has no idea what half those part names were, but he doesn't really care. He'll figure it out eventually!

"Hey, Raph! Come check this out!" He was about to wave DonnieBoy over too. Juuuust before Stitch reminded him where they were. He actually had to take a moment to look around. Don had been faaar too caught up in this thing, right here, right now! Oh, whoops. They're practically in the living room!

Don blushed slightly after having gotten so caught up! And Erica's standing right there, so she gets an excited, slightly embarrassed grin!

"Right, right. And Master Splinter or Leo would probably wipe the dojo floor with me even if there weren't kids here now. Can you put it in the garage? There should be space near the Sewer Slider. The old sort of small pickup looking thing."

He will grab DonnieBoy's hand and drag him along too as they move to the garage! And he'll lead the way to make sure the space he thinks is clear actually is!

Leo laughed at the kids and watched them for a moment. There was enough going on, especially once Stitch brought the ship in that Leo wasn't going to even try getting them back on task until that went out to the garage.

Instead he wrapped an arm around Lilo to watch, giving her words a soft hum of agreement.

When Don clearly got lost in the moment and forgot where he was, Leo chuckled. But as he watches the moment continue, it's... sort of bittersweet.

Don hasn't necessarily been miserable, but this sort of all consuming enthusiasm? Dare he say giddiness? Leo hasn't seen this since they were in 2105. And whether that loss was because after being in the future, everything is old news, or whether Don never actually recovered from Master Splinter's decompiling, or maybe something as simple as just growing up, or some combination of them all, Leo doesn't know. Once they got their father back, Leo thought Don would be ecstatic, but he wasn't. Happy, yes. Absolutely. But... subdued. And Leo hasn't really seen this sort of joy from him since.

"I haven't seen him this happy in a long time... Thank you." Leo kisses Lilo's cheek again. Gently. Just happy to have her there.

He chuckles again when Don finally gets around to asking for the ship to go to the garage, the melancholy practically gone, and a bit of that cockiness is back. "He's not wrong. I absolutely would." Yuuup, no vehicles in the lair, not since Mike sent the BattleShell rampaging around their home.

Randal recalls the moments in the garage with Daddy's Dona nd Raph and so does Duncan - the little purple boy was became distracted mid mwahhhh! and almost bounces in his seat yelling quiet suddenly across the lair after the alien and little car! " Vrooooooooom vrooooooooooooom!!" and bounce bounce - but not leaving his seat - Randal had grabbed his brothers carapace edge like a steering wheel and adds -


" beeeeee beeeeee!"


Making Malcolm giggle and wriggle about in his chair.


Little blue boy had been watching Elena and was now trying out this new thing - he'd put his hand to his mouth at the kissy face sound and then blow it - mmmmmm he reaches over to tug on DaddyLeo's kneepad and wait patiently for the eyes to come back his way to share this new wonderful -


um he is not sure what it is.

The lair was mostly in order and - omg - even Mike touched up his room. Just encase a kid wondered into there at least they wont lose one or two in the now no longer existing mountain of mess in there or find some food that might comatose them or eat cat litter. it was clean as his room could be.


He sorta missed the pigsty to be honest but hey what one had to do, one had to do.


And he is rejoining the main lair after - under threat of Raphie arm pit smotherings - had taken care of the minimal washing since the other night and grinned watching the excited Don, it was nice to see it again -


Amused slightly watching to see the brunettes reaction to that - but she seemed just as pleased with it -

hahaha


sweet - the orange banded turtle scoots past the old table with kids around it and teacher Daddy Leo and Lilo - ooooh cosy? and into the kitchen to make easy to eat sandwiches - and if Don hasn't finished his cup o cereal by now it will follow him into the garage - or vanish to the sink if empty.

He grins from his repositioned favourite spot on the couch watching the interaction and to say the Donatello's and Duncan hahaha and now Raphael and Randall looked interested and excited was an understatement - which he is glad to see on his sons own face after so long.


Maybe the new comers will help Don remember all those amazing things int he future quiet a lot would not be possible without his innovations here, now and throughout his life.


And the help and input from his brothers too.


So it was a sweet sort of thing to see that spark at least for this moment reignited. Hopefully it stayed that way.

Dawwwww -


Erica briefly cups one of those blushing cheeks and shakes her head. " hah I think this look is very ... sexy." lowering her voice at that bit leaning in and whispering, not quiet against his ear hole at the moment just close and well it was!


She steps back and out of the way if not tugged closer so Stitch can get back past and decides her questions can wait. She'll play off for the moment she had just come over to hang for a few moments with them and maybe find a spot to try out some voice recordings. Reading this time not singing.

Hehehehe Elena's attention went from watching Leo and Lilo with the nawwwww chibi eyed sort of look and turned towards Liam showing him how to blow his kisses and giggling when he picked it up easily! Yay!

Haley giggles sneaking away - she'd had fun getting to just hang with Raphie and tidy and now she gets a moment to just watch her sons. Chuckling about the scene and sensing it is a wonderful thing, but caught up in the excitement and paly of the little ones around the table.

" and thank you, Stitch loves me dearly but I know he is sometimes a little lonesome for company that is on his intellect level and I think those three guys have found each other." she whispers back, lightly leaning against Leo and resting her head on his shoulder at the soft second kiss, tilting her head back to watch Leo and his face.

Oh heck he would not miss a moment like this! " coming Donnie - and Donnie... and Stitch." Raphie calls back, maybe hovering a second to watch Haley move towards the kids and check with a glance on their father.


Whom seemed very cosy in his seat and ready for his next story and after that it would be lunch -


And with the lair actually clean...


yep he is soooo following when Stitch, chuckling simply grabs the little car thing back up and carries it off when lead that way with a DonnieBoy being dragged along. But not unwillingingly, infact it's sort of hard to tell from behind whether it was his Don or the skinny bean that was doing the pulling -


DonnieBoy knows it was both of them! Though because of Erica it would be Don initiating the movement.


He manages a wave - and Raphie pauses behind the lot not in a rush calling over to the boys. " hey now if yall listen to DaddyLeo you might be able to come see before it is lunch and practice time." wink, hoping a little incentive will help daddyLeo get those eager little minds back on their tasks, though it was a Leo so he would manage either way.

Don is all grins as Erica whispers to him. He is soooo excited right now he's unable to contain it. He nuzzles her neck, a brief utterly ecstatic churr before he just sweeps her up, spins her around and hugs her before he returns her to the ground. One more, almost bouncing hug along with a soft sound that miiiight have been a squeeee! And he's off, grabbing DonnieBoy by the hand to go play.

Because he doesn't know what half of those parts Stitch was talking about are! And that's wonderful! He wants to find out about every single one of them!

Because yes, creating things is great, but learning about new tech? Especially when it's not life or death... Oh, he loves that!

Sure, there are several fields he has not explored in depth. He probably should devote some time to learn more about biology or medicine. He needs to get to the magical library, and that will be great! There's plenty out there to learn. But in his heart of hearts, he's an engineer. So this is extra special!

He can't notice that Erica's not singing right now, but he will later. And he will be happy to create the app that Erica needs... after lunch and training. Though lunch would probably be a good chance to talk about it.