The sound of something shattering tears me from my nightmare. I scramble from my futon, heart pounding like a drum as panic and adrenaline line my veins. My mind is lost in the haze left by my tormented dreams, and even as I stumble for the sliding doors, cold cement beneath my paws, I am not fully awake.

But reality comes seeping in with every hasty step. The clicking of my claws and the swish of my tail help stir me from the remnants of my sleep, and like a cold splash of water, I am brought to the present. My heart continues to skip as I shove the doors aside and run for the hallway, my mind teeming with fear.

What was that sound?

Something has happened—

My sons are in danger—

I skid into the kitchen, staggering for stability against the wall, chest heaving. My eyes flicker to the floor, where shards of a broken tea cup lay scattered around the small body of a young turtle.

"Leonardo," I breathe, dropping to my knees beside him. He lifts his face from the floor, blinking up at me with thick tears that blur the stark blue of his eyes. I quickly scoop him up into my arms and brush the broken pieces of the cup from his skin, frowning as tiny beads of blood begin to surface along his scrapes.

"What on earth were you doing?" I question frantically. His throat works as he swallows and turns his face against my robe in shame.

"I'm sorry," he whimpers. "I-I didn't mean to break it—"

"I am not upset about the cup, Leonardo," I retort sharply. "What are you doing up so late? And why were you climbing on the counter by yourself? You could have hit your head or gotten hurt—you are already bleeding! I have told you countless times not to…"

I trail of when he starts to cry. His tiny fingers ball the fabric of my robe into his fists and he buries his face against me, sniffling and trembling. My ears droop and I sigh heavily. With the fear beginning to dissipate, I hug my frightened child securely, my voice fading to a soft whisper.

"I am sorry, my son." I rest my chin over his head and take a deep breath. "You just scared me, that is all…"

"I-I'm s-sorry," he stutters. His voice is thick, and I mentally scold myself for speaking so harshly before.

"I am not angry with you," I soothe. "It was an accident. But what were you doing in the kitchen? You are supposed to be sleeping in your room, with your brothers."

He sniffles and wipes the tears from his face.

"I-I had a bad dream…and I couldn't f-fall back asleep."

I hold him closer and gently stroke his head. The dim glow of the nightlight I placed along the opposite wall washes over the floor, glinting off the shards. I always leave water out within reach for my sons at night, just in case they wake up. But Leonardo was climbing cabinets and counters to reach the tea cups I keep on the top shelf. He obviously made it, but he must have slipped and fallen backwards onto the floor. I loosen my grip on him and peer into his misty blue eyes.

"What were you trying to do, Leonardo?"

He swallows again and blinks at the wetness in his eyes. "I wanted…I wanted to make some tea." He looks down at his hands and leans against me. "You said it helps you sleep."

I sigh, and my fear ebbs at the innocent of his answer.

"I see…" I glance back up at the shelf he had fallen from. "Would you like me to make you some, my son?"

His eyes widen a bit and the ghost of a smile traces his lips. He nods eagerly and I chuckle.

"Alright. But first, we must clean the floor so no one else gets hurt. Would you get me the broom, please?"

He nods again, slipping out of my arms and dancing over the shards in search of my request. I smile after him and shake my head. All of this for a cup of tea.

He hops back into the kitchen, broom in hand. With the pieces swept and dumped into the trash bin, I start the tea, and clean Leonardo's cuts. He waits patiently by my side in silence while I place little bandages on each wound, and by then, the water has come to a boil. I hand him his own tea cup and he holds it gingerly against his chest, as if he is afraid this one will break too.

Once the tea is poured, he follows me to my room, and we sit across from one another on the tatami mat. He watches me and mimics my cross-legged position, briefly averting his gaze to the steam curling up from the hot liquid. My lips tug into a faint grin and I tilt my cup towards me, allowing the tea to seep into my mouth and wash over my dry throat. The comforting, earthy scent brings back fond and familiar memories. I breathe deeply, rooting myself in the present and letting this simple moment chase away the darkness lingering along the recesses of my mind. The nightmare that seemed so vivid and terrifying only moments ago is now being diluted by the serenity of what lies before me. There is no burning building, no shattered glass, no blood, no death—just father and son sharing tea together.

Relishing the calm that quells my spirit, I open my eyes to see Leonardo watching me intently. He blinks rapidly at my noticing and flicks his gaze back to his tea. I study his facial features, noting the soft dip of his nose and the way his lips push to one side in curiosity and hesitation.

"Are you going to try it?" I ask, amused at how something as simple as a cup of tea has my son so out of sorts.

He nods and slowly lifts the cup to his mouth. Tilting it back, he takes a sip—and immediately, his face crunches in disgust. I smirk and arch a brow.

"You do not like it, my son?"

"It tastes like dirt," he murmurs, staring down into the cup with pursed lips. I chuckle warmly.

"I thought the same thing when I first tried it."

He smacks his tongue and sniffs at the dark liquid, as if contemplating to give it another chance. I let the heat of the ceramic seep through my hands.

"Would you like me to make you something else?"

He shakes his head at my offer. "No…I'll finish it."

We sit there in the quiet for a few moments. The warmth of the tea pooling into my stomach softens the edge the nightmare left on my mind, and I cannot help but to smile while I watch Leonardo struggle to drink the rest of his cup without complaining.

"…Did I wake you up, Sensei?" he asks quietly. His gaze drifts up from his tea to meet my own, and I shake my head, offering a comforting smile.

"No, my son. But next time you need something, please, come and find me, alright? I would rather be woken up by you asking for help than you getting hurt."

He nods solemnly and takes another slow sip of his tea. "Yes, Sensei. I would've…I just didn't want to bother you."

I chuckle. "So in other words, you wanted to do it by yourself."

He casts his eyes down in shame, but I lighten his demeanor when I laugh and pat his head affectionately.

"Do not worry so much, Leonardo. I already told you I am not angry."

He forces a faint smile, but I can tell he is still upset at something—whether it is himself or whatever dream woke him in the first place.

"Would you like to tell me what frightened you so much, my son?" I ask gently. He frowns, brow furrowed.

"I…I had a bad dream."

I nod in an understanding manner, not yet forgetting my own nightmare.

"We were playing hide-and-seek in the sewers," he explains. "…Down tunnels we've never gone through before. And it was really fun to explore things, but then it got really dark, and I couldn't find my brothers." He fidgets on the mat as if remembering the fear that plagued his dream. "I was lost, Sensei. I didn't know what to do or where to go, and it just kept getting darker, and then the water started rising and I thought I was going to drown." His throat works and he stares absently into the remaining tea. "I was scared...because I was gonna die, and I couldn't even find my brothers. Because it was my fault…for letting them play where you said not to go…for not listening to you." His eyes well up with tears again, and he sniffs sharply, wiping them away with the back of his hand.

I scoot closer to him and place my hand on his back in reassurance.

"It is alright, Leonardo. It was only a dream. You are safe, and your brothers are as well…" He looks up at me, searching my gaze for the security he craves so much. I smile back down at him. "You have nothing to fear, little one. I will protect you."

He dips his head. "I know, Sensei…" He chews on his lip for a moment before taking another drink of his tea. "Sensei," he whispers. "Do you ever get bad dreams?"

Behind my eyes, the fire blazes. Beams creak and splinter and smash on top of one another, separating me from my child. Blood soaks my shirt, and my throat is raw from the heat, smoke, and my futile screams. And only feet away lies the body of my wife, with dead, blank eyes reflecting the dancing flames as my world crumbles and falls around me.

I swallow hard and shake off the harrowing images.

"We all have bad dreams, my son," I say solemnly. "But they are only dreams. You will wake up and they will vanish, like smoke." I pat his shell. "Besides, there is enough in life itself to fear. You must make the most of what you have and find peace within yourself, so that when the time comes for fear to arise, you will be strong enough to face it."

"I'll be strong enough," he says firmly. I smile at his confidence.

"Yes, you will," I murmur. "But for now, you must go back to sleep, my son. Rest your mind and body—and most importantly, your spirit." I stand to my feet and offer him my hand. "Come, I will walk you back to your room."

A glint of fear shoots across his gaze and his shoulders tense. He grips his tea cup a little tighter, drawing a quick breath.

"Can I stay up a little longer?" he pleads softly.

"Leonardo," I whisper, kneeling down in front of him. "They are only dreams, remember? They cannot hurt you."

"I know," he mutters. "…But I still don't like them."

"No one does," I assure. "But you have nothing to fear now. Just think of good things, my son. Chase away the nightmares with memories that make you feel safe and happy. Besides, the tea will help you sleep."

He stares down at his cup and visibly relaxes. "Yeah," he whispers. "Okay…I'll try it."

He takes my hand and stands to his feet. I walk him past the sliding doors and down the hallway to his room. He stands in the doorway for a moment before handing me back the tea cup.

"Thank you, Sensei," he says sincerely. "I still think tea tastes like dirt…but I feel better now."

"Good," I reply warmly. "I do as well, my son." I kneel back down and kiss his forehead. "Now go back to sleep, and remember what I told you."

"Yes, Sensei."

I stand and smile down at him, nodding towards his room. "I will see you in the morning, Leonardo."

He dips his head and gives a short bow. "Goodnight, Father."

And then he turns and slips back into his room, closing the door behind him. I stand there for a moment, turning the word over in my mind.

Father.

I have only used that word a short number of times, and none of my sons use it very often. But every time they do, it strikes some cord hidden deep within me.

Father.

I was a father. I was a husband, too. And for the past eight years, I thought that all of that had been taken from me. Stolen and burned to ash, like the rest of my home.

But now…now I feel like I have been given something back. Something just as important and precious. And while it may not be the same life I had before, in a way, it is no different.

I stare down at the tea cup in my hands to find it empty. A faint smile crosses my lips. I step back from the door, humming to myself as I return the dishes to the kitchen and head for my own room.

I lay back down on the futon and sigh deeply, replaying the night's events over and over in my mind.

I lost my daughter. I lost my wife. I lost everything I thought could ever matter in my life, and for years, I have hidden from the past in fear, secretly longing for what was over what is. My world stopped turning the night Saki attacked my home, and he left scars I feared would never heal. But as I look back now, I realize how far I have come from the man I once was. Once again, I am a father. I have a home, safe and sheltered, where I can raise my new children in peace and comfort. My heart has healed and my spirit has found a sense of serenity in spite of all that has occurred.

"If only you could see the man I have become, Shen," I whisper.

How amusing it is to know that losing my humanity has made me a better man than anything else I have ever experienced. Coming to this country, to this city, and being in what I thought was the wrong place at the wrong time has made me stronger.

All of what I am at this moment, I owe to those four boys. And whatever hardships may come, we will be ready to face them the way any family would: Together.

THE END.

A/N: Yay, it's all finished! This wasn't what I had in mind, but I just started writing and then this happened. Yay for baby Leo! :D I wanted this story to end on a comforting, sobering note. It just goes to show that loss can be a way for different doors to open, and that life can always turn around. Optimism, whoo!

But of course we all know their lives only get harder from here on out...soooooooooooo

Anyway! Thank you to all of you who have taken the time to read this story and leave reviews! Your support means so much to me, and it makes me so happy to be able to write for such amazing people. I hope this lived up to your expectations and left you feeling all warm and fuzzy!

Take care, you guys!