Destiny

When Raph saw Liam's body lying at the bottom of the stairs a heart-stopping panic filled him. He rushed past his mother to grasp Liam's hand.

"Liam...Wake up. Come on" Liam didn't move and Raph felt a rage that was far beyond anything he had felt settle over him. He turned a deadly look on his mother who was standing shocked at the top of the stairs. When he spoke it was in a voice dripping with poison. "If he or the babies die because of this, I will never forgive you; and you would do well to get out of my sight."

His mother went pale and gripped the railing, "what do yo..."

"NOW!!!" shouted Raph. His mother gulped and retreated into Raph's bedroom.

Raph looked up to see his father standing there with the phone in his hand. "I've just called 911. Don't worry an ambulance will be here soon."

Raph nodded gratefully before turning back to Liam. Taking a deep breath he performed a scan on Liam and let out a sob when he realized that Liam was bleeding internally. If something wasn’t done soon he would lose the babies. Raph shakily placed his hand on Liam's stomach and concentrated on the broken blood vessels and stopping the bleeding. He could feel it slowing when the ambulance arrived.

During the ride in the ambulance all Raph could think about was Liam. What if he died? What would Raph do without him? Raph thought that if Liam died he just might live up to his threat to his mother or maybe it would be easier to kill himself.

*Oh God * he sobbed * please...I can't bear to live without Liam...Please.*

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Raph stood up as the doctor entered the room. "Will Liam and the babies be all right?" he dared to ask.

Doctor Kingsley smiled, "Yes, they’ll be fine.”

"Can I see him?" asked Raph hopefully.

The doctor nodded, "Be quiet. He hasn't woken up yet."

Raph nodded, his relief almost palatable. He rushed off to Liam's room.

When he got there Liam was indeed still asleep, so Raph sat down by his bed and stroked his hand.

"Oh Liam, I'm so glad that you’re safe. I'm sorry. If you hadn't have rescued me then you would never have fallen. I told her that if you died I'd never speak to her again. I meant it Liam. This may sound sappy but you mean more to me than anyone, ever."

"I'm so sorry Raph."

The blond boy looked up at the voice to see his mother in the doorway.

Her eyes were sad and as Raph watched a tear slipped down her cheek.

“I didn’t realize…that you loved him so much… I thought he was…” she sighed and brushed the tears from her eyes. “May I sit down?” she gestured to the chair on the other side of the bed. Raph nodded hesitantly and she sat. “Your father says that it was no surprise to him that you and Liam were…involved. He says he could see it the moment Liam came up the driveway. ‘It was the way you looked at him’ he said.” Mrs. Johnson glanced at her son from the corner of her eye; “I thought he was taking advantage of you.” she glanced back down at her lap.

Raph stared at his mother in surprise, “Mom…what? How...it’s totally the opposite. Liam didn’t want to be with me because it would be viewed that way, but I kept at him until he gave in. He still won’t have sex with me and he’s even reluctant to kiss me. So can’t you see it’s the real thing!”

Raph’s mother nodded, tears falling silently down her cheeks, “I’m sorry Raph, so sorry…” she began sobbing inconsolably.

Raph was torn. He loved Liam with his whole being and his mom had threatened not only Liam’s life but his children too. Yet apparently she hadn’t meant to hurt anyone and had only wanted to get Liam away from her son, not push him down the stairs.

“Its okay mom,” he whispered, “It was an accident.”

She stopped crying. “Really?” she asked voice still unsteady.

Raph smiled, “Really.”

His mother rose from her chair and ran around the bed to wrap Raph up in a hug. “Thank-you.” She murmured into his hair.

They sat there for a while before they heard Liam moan from the bed. Raph was at his side in moments.

“Liam?” he called, “are you okay?”

Liam groaned and tried to sit up, “Are the babies okay Raph?” he clutched Raph’s hand painfully, “are they okay?”

Raph nodded and Liam burst into tears of relief pulling Raph close and holding him tightly. “I was so afraid.” He sobbed into Raph’s hair, “so afraid….”

Raph’s mother was very confused, “Excuse me Raph… but what does he mean?” she asked, “The babies...you mentioned something like that before, right after….”

Raph sighed and looked up from the still sobbing Liam and thought fast. “Liam hasn’t touched me, but the men who were holding me captive impregnated Liam using my genetic material. I don’t know how they found out he is a hermaphrodite, but he is now pregnant with twins, your grandchildren.”

Raph’s mother gasped and placed a hand over her mouth; more tears slipped from beneath her closed eyes. “I’m so sorry.” She finally managed, “I didn’t know…”

Stuck in a room with two sobbing people Raph just patted Liam’s back soothingly murmuring consolations. He was glad when the doctor finally showed up and asked his mother to leave.

“Now then, Liam how are you feeling?” asked the doctor once Raph's mother had left.

Liam sighed, "As well as can be expected considering the circumstances, Doctor"

"Well, as soon as I check your vitals you should be able to go." Dr. Kingsly continued, “You have a mild concussion, I recommend some peace and quiet for a few days and plenty of sleep."

"Yes sir." affirmed Liam. The doctor smiled and after checking Liam's vitals dismissed him from the hospital.

Raph's parents greeted them in the waiting room. Apparently Mrs. Johnson had told her husband about Liam's pregnancy because he enveloped the surprised young man into a bear hug. And when he released him there were tears in his eyes.

"Liam," he said, "why didn't you tell us? I was so worried that I would never even see my son again much less grandchildren. I'm so very happy and so very sorry for what my wife did. Please forgive her, she didn't know."

Liam cleared his throat, "Well, I wasn't sure how you’d react...you can stop hugging me now."

Raph's father let go of Liam and bashfully scratched his head, "Oh...sorry about that."

"Well I'm just glad that we're all friends again," Raph grinned, "I was starting to worry for a second there..."

Liam sighed, "Lets go home."

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Raph insisted on sleeping in the same bed as Liam to "make sure he was all right". Liam had consented just to shut him up but by morning he was regretting his decision. Raph was pressed against his side, his arms and legs hopelessly wrapped around Liam’s. He looked so adorable ...his head resting against Liam’s chest, a tiny bit of drool coming from his mouth...and it was driving him crazy. He'd never felt this way before. It just seemed so perfect and right to have Raph here...and arousing too. Liam flushed and carefully extracted himself from the sleeping teen.

*I think I'm gonna need a cold shower. * Liam thought as he left the room.