It's amazing the things one's mind comes up with at 4 am trying to get a pair of night owl children to sleep. Inspired in part by a challenge I got a few nights ago. *stix tongue out and Machi and Enigma* Mushiness, humor and drama to follow. More mushiness and humor than drama. G Enjoy.

Donatello:

It's amazing to me how fast children grow up. Well, the one child that I know anyway. It was hard to imagine our lives before her and while I may not be as close to her as say Mike is, I couldn't imagine a life without her. She's a very intelligent little girl and very much attached to my family. It's Shadow's sixth birthday and rather than have all her friends from school over for a nice big party, she opted to have my brothers and I and our sensei come for a small family party.

The last two weeks had been hectic while we all scrambled to get her something for her birthday. We had very little money and what we did have, we had to use on essential supplies. But over the years, sentimental gifts that we had given each other often meant more than any thing store bought. So, in keeping with tradition, we all racked our brains to come up with something meaningful to give Shadow.

Now, sitting back on April's couch enjoying a piece of the multi- layered, double fudge, too rich for my own good, cake that was Mike's present, I watched Shadow sitting on the floor eagerly awaiting the remainder of her presents.

"Whose do you want first, Shadow?" April asked sitting next to her.

Shadow's eyes lit up and looked around the room. She barely afforded my brothers and I a glance as her gaze rested on the figure in the recliner. "Grandpa Splinter's!"

We all exchanged looks of surprise and I realized that I had no clue what Splinter's gift to Shadow was. It wasn't that he had been secretive about it. I just never thought to ask him and I don't think anyone else had either. But judging by Shadow's reaction, it seemed that she knew something we didn't.

Splinter smiled slightly as if he had been expecting the request. "Very well, Shadow. I think you have waited long enough."

Shadow jumped up with a squeal of delight and climbed into the chair with Splinter. Seated next to me, Leonardo was the first to speak up and ask what we were all thinking. "Waited for what, Master?"

Splinter chuckled and pulled Shadow in a little closer to him. "While I was watching Shadow a few months ago, she happened to be going through my room and came across this." He held up a small brown book and I instantly knew what it was and I was instantly ready to head for the door.

I saw my horror mirrored in my brothers' eyes. They knew what it was too. Of course, we all knew Splinter kept a journal. He even encouraged all of us to keep one too. I kept one to record my experiments and such, but a log book of daily events seemed pointless to me. I always thought Splinter kept one as either a way to voice frustrations, a record of our childhood or a way to embarrass us when we grew up. Now, staring at the seemingly innocent book, my blood ran cold to think of the things that he had written down.

"I made a bargain with her," Splinter continued. "That if she never went into my room without my permission again, I would read her some things from my journal on her birthday as a gift."

Shadow turned to us with a grin and I couldn't help but notice the evil glint in eye. On the floor in front of me, Raphael found his voice first and I knew he was ready to log a very vocal complaint. "Splinter."

He never got any further as Splinter held up a hand silencing him and any objections the rest of us may have had. "A bargain is a bargain. I will not break my word. Especially not on the child's birthday."

Shadow shot us a pitiful look and I swallowed my own protest. Guilt trip. And being the softy I was, I fell for it. I glanced at my brothers hoping that one of them weren't as sucked in by the obvious ploy, but they were as vulnerable as I was. Game. Set. Match. We were finished.

Splinter smiled and set back in the chair. "So, Shadow, tell me. Whose story shall I tell first?"

My brothers and I all tensed. I wasn't sure whether it would be better to go first and get it out of the way or to postpone my turn in hopes of some kind of natural disaster. Shadow turned that evil looking glance to all of us again and I could just hear the "eni meni mini mo" in her head.

"Hmm," Shadow murmured. "I Leo."

My brother's nervous look was obvious to the whole room.