TMNT is the property of Mirage, who back in the day did a Mikey one-shot about Christmas!

Chapter Six:...(is) Coming...

"An electric shaver?" Mr. Sakai said, surprised. "Why on earth would his sons think..."

"Hush! Just because you do not like the one our beautiful grandchildren presented you with last year..."

"I do not need one! I have never needed to shave very often! It was a waste of their money," Mr. Sakai defended, peeved. "Besides, had I not hinted for over a month or more that my fishing gear was old and how much I had admired that one rod and set up in the catalogue? Why bother asking Sofu what he most wants for Christmas if they have no plans to get Sofu what he most wants for Christmas?"

He grumbled on like this for more then a few minutes, but Mrs. Sakai had tuned him out as usual. She was thinking hard. The shaver that the grandchildren had proudly presented to their grandfather was unopened. They, too, had seen that commercial, and even though it was an old "ad", they had searched long to find one much like it. She would give them that for their father, and use their money for some other special treats to surprise them- especially this one called "Donatello".

"It is so sad that he is so young, yet he writes his beliefs as if he is much older," she mused to herself. "Such a shame! And see how he cares for his brother, who so believes in Santa Claus! Yes, young Donatello needs a little Christmas magic in his life."

She took Mr. Hamato's letter and money from her still grousing husband and began to plan. "Nothing elaborate" he had written:

"Please, nothing elaborate. I cannot afford such things, and I do not wish them to come to expect such things. I have always tried to keep them from the greed that I see in others in this world, but at the same time, I feel that perhaps I have been overprotective in that respect. I want them to have nice things. I do not wish to deny them. Raphael is fond of cars and motorcycles and such. Leonardo is a great reader, but also enjoys all sorts of games that he can play with his brothers. Donatello is quite the 'inventor' and mechanical genus (if I may brag). I do not know if that will help you. Are there such toys for someone with his interests? As for Michelangelo, well, he is such a happy, cheerful child that anything pleases him, anything at all- but he is very fond of coloring and painting and other artistic activities. I would be grateful if you could find anything that would meet these descriptions and the amount of money I have left you- but please, nothing elaborate!"

Nothing elaborate indeed- let him argue with her! For the few years they had "known" him he had steadfastly refused any but the most basic help and gifts from them. But this year would be different! She would put his money to good use and then some. His boys would have the best Christmas presents she could find on such short notice, and if she had to dip into her special "go to Atlantic City" money to help do this, she would!

"I must bake some pies for young Michelangelo," she said, ignoring her husband, who was still lamenting the condition of his current fishing gear- for he had stubbornly refused to go buy what he wanted for himself- after all, it was a matter of principle! "And then I must go shopping!"

Mr. Sakai, still fuming about his fishing gear, paid very little attention, as he went about his daily business of running the store. But later, from the kitchen upstairs where the appetizing smell of pumpkin pie was wafting down, he could hear his wife singing:

"Makka na ohana no tonakai-san wa

Itsumo minna no waraimono

Demo sono toshi no kurisumasu no hi

Santa no ojisan wa iimashita

Kurai yomichi wa pika pika no

Omae no hana ga yaku ni tatsu no sa

Itsumo naiteta tonakai-san wa

Koyoi koso wa to yorokobimashita"

((A/N- "Rudolph, the Red-Nose Reindeer"!))

There were only a few more days until Christmas.

Around the lair, the turtles did their chores, did their katas, did their training, did their lessons. In their free time, they played and joked and fought and read and watched TV.

But everyone seemed to notice that Michelangelo, though not as upset as he had been, also didn't seem as enthusiastic has he had before the terrible fight.

He watched the shows, usually by himself- unless Donatello, feeling guilty, would join him for an hour or two of yet another Christmas special where the brainy turtle tried once again to figure out how they could animate such things without computers.

Once in a while, if Santa was not a major theme, Raph or Leo would join him for some TV time- but there was hardly the old "conversations" that had taken place before Michelangelo had ruined his chance for Santa to visit. No incessant chatter about Santa and all the things he knew; no plans to stay up late and try to SEE Santa; no nagging of Splinter to make sure that they saved some cookies for Santa's snack!

As the day drew nearer, three turtles grew more apprehensive. Leo and Raph, despite Splinter's reassurances and talks and comfort and special trips topside to witness the harmlessness, still had a vague yet persistent fear that this HUMAN would come into their home- something that they'd been taught to fear for their entire lives!

Donatello finally asked Splinter why he didn't just tell them that Santa wasn't real. Splinter's answer still had the young turtle puzzled.

"I do not wish for Michelangelo to be made any more unhappy than he already is."

Michelangelo also was apprehensive- despite Splinter's reassurances and talks and comfort and special stories read to him from Donatello's many books on the topic, he still had a vague yet persistent fear that SANTA would NOT come into their home, and the others would not get any presents and it would be all his fault.

"Mikey, if Splinter says it will be okay, it will be okay," Don tried to comfort him during one TV show when they were alone, and something in the show had started Mikey crying.

Mikey responded by forcing himself to quit crying and to hug his older brother quickly and fiercely before Raph and Leo could find out that he had done so. He did not want them to think him weak and babyish.

Christmas Eve

Splinter noticed the fear at supper. He had done all he could, and now he was faced with a dilemma. If he told them all the truth, then Michelangelo would not only be disillusioned, he would feel like he was a fool for having believed in such a person.

If he only told Leo and Raph, chances are one or both of them would be quick to mention it to Michelangelo, and he did not want his son to hear it like that.

He sighed, and wondered if other parents had such worries.

Donatello was the only one who did not seem upset or disturbed or uneasy in the least.

"I must go out," he finally said, and Leo and Raph, already nervous, looked very startled. "I will not be gone as long as I usually am. Also, I will be going alone. Leonardo, you will be in charge. Do not leave the lair, and do not fight. I will only be gone for approximately two hours. I expect you all to be bathed and ready for bed in that short time. Do I make myself clear?"

His usual speech when he was going out unexpectedly.

All four nodded.

"You do not need to be in bed. But I do want you ready. Raphael, I am serious about your dressing in the pajamas tonight. The weather is very cold- even I can feel it at night, and we do not have enough blankets to stand against this winter."

"Aww, man... I HATE-" Raph started to complain, but Splinter cut him off.

"I understand that you do not like to wear such confining things. Perhaps I should find you a night shirt of some kind, similar to what I wear..."

"NO! No, Father! The p.j.s are fine!" Raph, desperate NOT to dress in a "nightgown" like a girl, quickly assured Splinter. Splinter, smiling to himself, once again won the argument. Besides, he had noticed that Raphael, though he would go to bed sometimes as Nature had made him, would wake up wearing the hated pajamas after shivering for several hours.

So, Splinter made his way quickly to the closed store, while his sons bathed two at a time and got dressed for bed and sat huddled on the couch watching yet another Christmas show.

In the dark, deserted store, Splinter easily found the gifts and small supplies that he had requested- and stood in shock at the size of the packages. He shook his head, knowing that his meager amount of money had not purchased all of this.

An envelope labeled "Do not open until Christmas" was on top, along with a small, festively wrapped package and a note.

Hmmm... it seems that Donatello is behind this... he must have left a note that night...

Suddenly it dawned on him: the note that Michelangelo had been writing! It had been his turn to go; he must have been planning something. Raphael had assumed the note was to Santa, when it had been something else, something Michelangelo tried desperately to keep secret.

Looking again at the packages, he smiled. Perhaps, in a way, the note HAD been to "Santa"... it certainly looked to Splinter that at the very least, Santa's wife had been the one to organize this.

He managed to add a quick and heartfelt "thank-you" to the note he had already written, and, loaded down with his bag of Christmas cheer, left quickly and quietly for home.

Leo and Raph, while in the tub, came up with a plan.

"We wait up, and we make sure he doesn't try to grab anyone," Leo said, the idea suddenly popping into his head in answer to Raph's "What do we do?"

"Yes! We can hide in the dojo!" Raph was all excited, picturing himself and Leo waiting with weapons ready as this sinister human snuck into their room and grabbed their helpless little brothers. In his mind's eye, he and Leo would jump out, heroically saving the two younger ones! Splinter would be so proud, and even (perhaps) apologize to them for ever trusting this red-suited fiend!

Leo, imagining how Splinter would praise them for being so aware of this monster's true motives, would tell him and Raph that they had already reached such a level in their training that they would not need to have lessons with their younger brothers. "You two will begin advanced lessons, and later you may help me teach Donatello and Michelangelo on a daily basis!"

"We can sneak out of bed around midnight," Leo nodded. "The others will be asleep, and I'm sure he won't come that soon. Father sometimes sits up that late, reading. He would wait until everyone was asleep! We'll sneak out then!"

"Right! We'll make sure no one messes with this family!" Raph, eager for the imagined fight, splashed his fist in the water for emphasis.

Later, Donatello and Michelangelo, in the bath, talked about the night as well.

"So, how do we watch for Santa without Father finding out?" Don asked his little brother out of the blue.

Mikey looked at Don, startled for a moment. Then he sighed.

"What's the use, Don? I- I know Father keeps saying that Santa will come, and I hope he does so you guys can get your presents," he finally sighed. "But I- I- oh, Don, what if he doesn't come? What will you guys do for presents?"

Don sighed, tired of his brother's moping.

"Listen here, Michelangelo!" he found himself saying rather sharply. In his mind, he was going to put an end to this by exposing this mythical being as a figment of parental imagination. "If Splinter says don't worry, then DON'T WORRY!"

Don probably looked more surprised than his brother. He didn't know where that came from... but now that he'd said it...

"Look, are we gonna wait up for Santa or not? 'Cause we need a plan to get past Father!" Don said forcefully. "We gotta get past him AND Leo and Raph, 'cause you KNOW they're probably gonna want to try to stay up and CHASE Santa away! They're still scared- the big babies!"

Mikey looked at this normally quiet, normally in control older brother, and marveled. He didn't ever remember seeing Donnie like this!

It was neat!

For the first time since the fight, Mikey allowed himself to BELIEVE!

I mean, after all- if DONNIE thinks we should do such a thing, then surely it must be true! He IS the smartest of us all, anyway!

Mikey looked with renewed hope at his brother.

"So- how do we get past Splinter?" he asked Donatello.

Splinter managed to store his extremely large bag of supplies just outside the lair, and yet have enough to bring in to fool his sons.

True to his directions, they were all four seated on the couch, dressed for bed. They all looked relieved to see their father walk through the door, and made to help as usual to put away the supplies- but he waved them back, except for Donatello and Michelangelo.

"I do not need all of you," he said, as they followed him into the kitchen and helped begin putting away the few things that he had.

Splinter had carefully placed the small package where either of them could find it without his noticing. He went about putting away the pies and the other "staples", and ignored the sudden gasps, followed by the faint rustling of the bag as the "surprise" was carefully removed and carefully shoved under someone's pajama top.

"Uh, I gotta go to the bathroom," Michelangelo said, and quickly left, followed just as quickly by Donatello.

Inside their bedroom they marveled at the beautifully wrapped gift- a label had been attached as well as a small note:

"Dear Donatello and Michelangelo,

Here is what you requested! I hope your father enjoys his surprise. You are both good sons to do such a thing. Your father is truly blessed to have such boys!

I wrapped it myself to save you the trouble. All you need to do is address the label.

Merry Christmas!

Sincerely,

Mrs. Sakai

P.S. Thank you, Michelangelo, for your kind comments about my pies.

"Wow!" Mikey's eyes were shining with such joy as Donnie hadn't seen in the past few weeks. As he carefully wrote his name on the label, he couldn't quit grinning- this really was gonna be a great Christmas surprise for Splinter!

He shoved the pen and present at Don.

"You gotta sign it, Don! We both got it for him!"

Don hid his smile- for a few minutes, and then he, too, couldn't quit grinning.

"Should we put Raph's and Leo's names as well?" he asked, but Mikey fiercely shook his head no.

"Why should we?" was all he said, and Don agreed.

They hid the gift for putting out later, and rejoined their brothers on the couch.

In no time Splinter joined them as well, and to their utter surprise and joy he cuddled them all as usual. It was funny; he would do this often, and yet it always seemed like something special and wonderful!

"Well, my sons," he smiled after generously sharing out the hugs and cuddles and tickles and such. "Shall we put out the cookies and milk for Santa?"

Suddenly two sons tensed up, while two sons (one more than the other) grew a bit more excited.

"Yes, Father! I've already put out the plate and glass in the kitchen. All we need to do is add the cookies and milk!" Don exclaimed, and Mikey was affirming this action most assuredly.

Splinter laughed at this son's pronouncement, and he had them all follow him into the kitchen where he made a big show of pouring out a glass of tasty milk, and set out four cookies- one for each of them.

"Now, let us have a special bedtime story, and then we must hang up your stockings- and then off to bed!"

Four voices agreed- and two sets of brothers began the countdown when they would put their plans into motion!