Hello everyone!

So a reviewer sent me this suggestion; to write a companion piece ( I think that's what it's called) for my fanfiction story, 'Together'. Since I never included Splinter's thoughts on the whole thing, I figured, why not?

Thank you for the idea, Mystearica 'Primal' Fende! I hope this was worth the wait!

Enjoy! I own nothing except for the plot and the original story, 'Together'. POV switch between universal and Master Splinter.

A Father's Lament

My sons... my brave, brave sons...

I know how much my untimely death has taken a toll on each and every one of you. My eldest, Leonardo... you have had to become a surrogate father and leader to your younger brothers, a task that is not easy on a young turtle such as yourself.

Raphael, you have become heavy with anger, with hatred and loathing towards your own kin... towards your youngest brother, no less.

Donatello, you were once the peaceful and humble of your brothers, and now, you have turned into something I never wanted you to become. I never wanted to see you become bitter, become resentful of those around you who only want to help you make sense of what has happened to us...

And Michelangelo... my poor son... how you have suffered trying to keep your own family together when they have all but fallen apart, and almost losing your life- and yourself- in the process...

Each of you had to fight an inner demon that was threatening to swallow your hearts whole, to rip you away from one another.

And now I can watch the outcome.

Splinter didn't know what he should've thought as he and Mikey stood face to face with a hunter, his gun pointed at the scared turtle. The outlook was going to result in a deadly consequence unless something was done.

"My son, get back. I will keep him busy. You must run and get your brothers to safety!" Splinter ordered on that fateful night.

It was the last thing he ever got to say to his son.

Mikey refused to back down and leave his father, THEIR father, to the fate of a sadistic madman who wanted nothing more than to cut him open and experiment, or probably sell him. Or maybe he wanted to kill him, who knows.

All Splinter knew was that his son didn't heed his word. He wanted to stay and fight, despite knowing he was not quite ready to battle yet.

Even if his son was indeed hardheaded, he was still his son.

And Splinter was always a father first.

He did wish his youngest, most innocent of his sons never had to watch his father being shot six times with a dangerous weapon, or having to watch him blood tainting the already fithy sewers they were forced to call home.

He wished he got a chance to watch his children grow old, mature, and become their own person. A brief smile crossed his face at the thought of his sons- four mutant turtles about five and half feet in height- finding someone to settle down with and maybe even have children with... although how that would work was something for another day.

But saving Michelangelo... saving all four of his sons... that was something he was proud to do, something he has never once regretted, and something he was willing to do again if this ever happened again.

He had no regrets. He just wanted his sons to overcome and stay a family.

Michelangelo was only trying to help them cope. It is not easy to stand idly by and watch those you care about be slain by those who wish us harm. Michelangelo did not need to witness that, and yet he did, and I regret it so much...

But seeing my elder sons almost take him out because of his age, his inexperience in battle, their anger at their loss, I feared that I would see my own sons undoing of themselves and of each other.

They left him alone that night. Michelangelo should have never been in the hands of the evil Karai. He should have never been brought to believe no one but myself would ever accept him for who he was growing up to be.

He was always the most active of the four, sometimes a little TOO active, but he knew how to brighten his brother's day when I was being too hard on them in training, or when they argued among one another. In particular with Raphael, he... he had a special way with him, with cooling his untamed anger.

When Michelangelo came to speak with me, to ask me if it was okay to leave his brothers so he could finally be at peace, I had a rare, if not an unusual opportunity to speak to my son.

He seemed exhausted, and trying to get him to talk to me about what had happened to him was becoming something of a challenge. It took a lot of silence, something I was slowly coming to realize he was becoming far too accustomed to, before he opened his mouth to speak. This is what happened.

"Michelangelo. Do you know where you are?"

He nodded. "Am I... Am I dead now, Dad? Can I please just go to sleep..."

Indeed, he had looked completely drained of energy. But I had to urge him to continue to speak.

"My son, this is not a place for one as young as you to be. Why are you not with your brothers?"

He froze before he shook his head and looked at me once more, an almost... pleading expression crossing his features. "They don't want me there anymore... I'm so tired of fighting to keep them happy! I can't... I can't be me anymore... I'm so lost and I... I... "

He began to cry quietly as I stroked his forehead and shushed him, giving him some time before he composed himself. "It was the same thing every night... having to wake up to face them... having nightmares and being all alone to face them... I can't feel my own heart anymore, Dad. It's like... they tore it out of me. I don't want them to be sad, but I can't take them using me as an excuse for something I wish I could've fixed just as badly as they did!"

He sighed. "I gave up, Dad. I just gave up on everything... I'm tired now..."

I nodded. "I know you are tired, my son. But what have you given up on?"

He paused, thinking as his 'body' began to sink more into my lap. "I... I don't know..."

"Is it your brother? Or yourself?"

"... I-I guess... I guess both... it has to be..."

I nodded again and resumed stroking his forehead, listening to my youngest son's beating heart. It seemed he soon heard it too, for he looked up at me out of the sudden and asked, "What is that sound?"

"This, my son... it is this." I gently took his head and rested it over his heart.

He was still and quiet, listening to it, and asked in a soft voice, "H-How is that possible? I'm dead... it shouldn't be beating right now..."

"My naive son... you are not deceased. You are floating in a limbo state right now. Your brothers are helping you stay alive."

As if on cue...

'Mikey, I know you can hear me, and you don't have to say anything. I want you to listen to me.'

I smile at my son's shocked expression at hearing his eldest brother's voice. He looked at me, and I nodded. It was time for him to speak with them and bring his soul back once and for all.

Leonardo and Michelangelo talked, with my youngest son expressing his fear at being hurt once more, and being more shocked when he could hold him in the vast. Watching how terrified Michelangelo was, I wondered if what Leonardo was saying actually registered to my exhausted child.

Watching Michelangelo almost give in to the overwhelming darkness in his shattered heart was painful enough as their father.

Watching them struggle to bring the hyperactive, usually happy and smiling turtle that was their baby brother... that was heart wrenching.

I watched them bringing him home, little by little. I watched Michelangelo slowly let go of his pain and darkness, seeking shelter from the very brothers that were supposed to protect him, but I mostly watched them slowly becoming a stronger family.

Michangelo is still healing... even though I am not with them, I sense his heart is still holding on to painful, deeply painful memories of what his family did to him. Watching him smile with his brothers, their friends, even if he does not act like his usual self... it brings happiness to me.

He was alone for a long time, but now he has support. He has his brothers, and they have him. They shall stand as four brothers once more in due time...

And I will be there to watch over all of them until it is time for us to be reunited as a family once more.

For you, my sons... my brave, strong sons... I made this promise.

I will always be by your side, in your minds and in your hearts. Never forget you only each other, and without one, all will fall.

I love you all, my boys.

And done!

Frankly, I hope this was okay... this is my first time writing in Splinter's POV and given how I had planned for it to go, it came out pretty close. I think... o.o

Anyways, leave a review, any tips or feedback, but no flames!

Until next time!