I had not thought too much about it, seated where I was on the floor and on a comfortable blanket, a blanket thick but cushy spread under me where I sat. The blanket was wide and covered much of the floor, and my sons laid around me on it, sleeping peacefully.

They had all said farewell to their friends, the group who had aided them defeat the evil Tengu Shredder, and though I noted Raphael's reluctance to let Ms. Reno leave, I believe he figured he might see her again anyway, so there was no need to be so at unease, assuming Michelangelo would leave him alone long enough to have a moment of peace.

But of course with the youngest, perhaps that is asking too much…

From where they lay tangled in their sheets, I smile fondly and simply watch them. I find great serenity and comfort in merely being near them, no words spoken and no movements made. Listening to their breathing would be enough to calm my heart.

There are times when I listen to the solitude of my mind I remember master Yoshi and Shen, when they were sit on the porch and cuddle next to each other, some times when the night is cool and the sky it illuminated by millions of stars, they would talk in joy and some times with laughter, and from where I would often perch on my master's shoulder, I would get a petting or a nuzzle, and I would feel their affection tickle me.

I miss them very much and long to be with them again one day, and as I sigh in an inward feeling of loneliness, apparently had subconsciously affected my children, for they slightly began to stir.

Raphael stirred from his near the foot of the couch, since we were all gathered in the den with a slumber party, and rolled in his spot from his shell to his side, nuzzled and then hugs the pillow closer where a light frown knit his brows. Michelangelo mumbled sleepily and draped an arm over Donatello's shell, who lay besides him, and my youngest pressed his cheek to his brother's shell and then smiled, drooling a little as he mumbled some more. Donatello had apparently not acknowledged the moist on his shell yet, he drifted back into dreamland without a flinch.

Leonardo, on the other hand, slept quietly and did not move nor stir. He merely lolled his head from side to side for a moment with a small frown, before he had settled down again, drifting deeper into his slumber almost as if he is awake and was merely meditating.

There are times I wonder just how aware he is during his slumber.

For such a light sleeper, he and I had often ended up waking each other when we are restless at night, when one of us would lurk around the corners of the lair, we would sense each other and exit our quarters to investigate.

More than once we would meet in the kitchen for a cup of tea, or warmed milk, and then talk for a while before trying to get back to bed. I understand that he feels the need to take care of his brothers and always be on alert, but now after the fall of the Shredder, followed by the fall of the original Tengu Shredder, and now after Karai had taken the lead of the Foot, I wonder what is to become of this family now that the danger it had grown so used to fighting had somewhat all been permanently removed.

Our quest with the Tribunal has also ended, and they had gone to find their own path.

But, what path should my sons and I take? I do not know which path to take from here…

I want them to find their own path, where I would know they will be able to take care of themselves and each other, but I fear they might grow further apart now that there is no reason for them to stick together.

Where Leonardo trains regardless of any enemy asides Karai and the Purple Dragons, Donatello shies farther from his brothers by hiding in his secluded corner, and laboring over his trinkets and projects. Michelangelo spends more and more time playing and fooling around, or just having a generally good time, where Raphael either trains or sleeps most of the day.

I know Leonardo and Raphael are also still somewhat troubled with our loss of cause to fight, especially with the Foot now under Karai's order they no longer come across us, but the Purple Dragons are still a minor foe to us.

Leonardo perhaps thinks it is time for us to move on and find our own future, and so trains to perfect his ninjutsu regardless of what the future may bring, where as Raphael is still troubled and maybe even bothered with the Purple Dragons, that they are still running freely with the police unable to stop them or find proof against them, as well as his distaste with how Karai took lead of the Foot.

On the other side of the scale, Donatello and Michelangelo appear rather content with where they are, not that I would blame them, as far as they are concerned the worst had passed with the fall of the Shredders, and all is well.

I wish I knew what the future would hold from here on, if the worse had indeed passed, but I can't help but wonder if it is as true as I believe it is.

Perhaps this old rat is worrying too much, after all, there is a future ahead of us, no need to fret about something that had not yet happened.

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A/N: a short piece I drabbled on my LJ a while ago. This is mostly based somewhere between season five and six, after the Tribunal but before Fast-forward.