Prompt: any of the ninja's mothers

Ship: none

ꕥꕥꕥ

The screaming stops. After nearly twenty-four hours in labour, she hears a cry. A cry of a newborn.

"It's a boy," she faintly hears someone say.

ꕥꕥꕥ

A few hours later, Lilly wakes up. Lou is sat having a conversation with a doctor.

"Where is he?" She asks, reaching for Lou's hand, "where's our son?"

"He...he had to be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit," Lou starts, grabbing her hand and squeezing it.

"Since he is only three pounds, his body can't control and regulate his temperature. We've had to put him in an incubator."

Lilly's vision blurs, the room starting to spin. The last thing she hears is Lou calling out to her, before everything goes black.

ꕥꕥꕥ

Lilly holds the baby boy in her arms, holding him close to her chest. After being physically separated from her baby for so long, she can finally hold him properly. He was small, only weighing three pounds at birth and barely making it.

"We haven't given you a name baby," Lilly cooes.

His arms stretch out slightly. Lilly smiles.

"Welcome home, Cole."

ꕥꕥꕥ

"C'mon Cole, you can do it. Say mamma."

Twelve month old Cole, smiles widely and reaches for her, babbling loudly. Lilly leans down and tickles him. Cole giggles loudly but wants picking up.

"Ma...ma...ma-ma...mamma!" Cole raises his arms again.

Lilly picks him up and spins him around. Cole giggles loudly and tugs on her hair.

ꕥꕥꕥ

"You can do it Cole."

Lilly holds a fifteen month old Cole on his feet, holding his hands. Cole looks up at her. Lilly smiles.

"It's okay, one step forward."

Lilly takes a small step closer to him. Cole steps forward slightly. Lilly lets go of his hands. Cole stumbles forward a few steps before falling over.

ꕥꕥꕥ

"Mummy?" Cole asks.

Lilly's kneeling in front of the toilet, trying to hide her retching from her two (nearly three) year old son who hates vomit and is terrified of it.

"Wha wong?"

"I'm...I'm just a little sick Cole, that's all."

"Icky?"

Lilly nods and stands up, flushing the toilet. Cole jumps at the sound and ducks behind the washing basket. Lilly giggles, washes her hands and crouches down in front of him.

"It's okay...how about we go and paint?"

"Pwaint!" Cole squeals, raising his arms to Lilly.

Lilly picks him up and takes him down into her small art studio. Sitting him down at the small table, she grabs a large sheet of paper and lays it across the table. Grabbing some child painting pots, she fills them with paint and puts them next to him. Putting a black apron on him, she crouches down next to him.

"What are you going to paint Cole?"

Cole doesn't reply straight away. He looks around the room before his eyes land on Lilly again.

"Mummy!" Cole giggles and claps his hands excitedly.

Lilly smiles and pecks his forehead. Cole dips his finger into the blue paint and begins to paint.

ꕥꕥꕥ

Cole's happily sitting on Lilly's lap, playing with Coco, his panda toy. Lilly smiles and plays with his hair.

"Cole?" Cole's head snaps up to look at Lou.

Lou beckons him over. Lilly places him down and Cole sprints to Lou, instantly climbing onto his lap. Lou offers Cole a small present wrapped in pink paper. Cole blinks at it before looking up at Lou.

"Go and give it to mummy."

Cole drops Coco and grabs the present before stumbling back to Lilly.

"Mummy!" Cole holds the present up to her.

She slips onto the floor and gently picks him up, putting him on her lap. She leans around Cole.

"Would you like to help me?"

Cole nods rapidly and picks at the paper. Lilly opens it with him and she pulls out a box. Cole bounces on her lap.

"OWPEN!" Cole yells excitedly.

"Shh Cole," Lilly pulls the tape off the box.

She slides the lid back and her eyes widen. Inside are an assortment of paints, multiple different colours.

"Cole chose them specially. He wouldn't give them to the cashier," Lou chuckles.

"Wike 'em?" Cole asks.

"I love them. Thank you Cole."

She kisses Cole on the head. He squeals and hugs her tightly. Lilly giggles and hugs him back.

ꕥꕥꕥ

Cole stumbles over, griping Coco tightly, vomit on his pyjamas. He reaches up and pokes Lilly's hand with his fingers.

"Mummy," Cole whimpers.

Lilly groans and blinks her eyes open. Sitting up and looking down. Her eyes soften when she sees Cole in front of her, his shirt covered in vomit, tears in his eyes. Cole whimpers and raises his arms to her. Lilly picks him up and sits him on his lap.

"Do you not feel very well?"

"N-No," Cole whimpers, clutching her nightshirt.

She picks him up and carries him into the kitchen. Sitting him on the counter next to the sink, she pulls out a small cup and fills it with cool water. She raises it to Cole's lips and helps him drink it.

"Can I stway wit you and daddy?"

"Of course...let's get you into some clean pyjamas."

ꕥꕥꕥ

Cole comes home from school. Today had been a rough day. Cole screamed and cried for nearly two hours because he refused to leave Lilly.

"Mom!" Cole runs over, climbs onto her bed and sits on her lap. Lilly smiles weakly and hugs him.

"Your father told me what happened. Cole it-"

"But mom, they were being mean to other kids. A-And you always told me to stand up for what's right."

Lilly pulls him closer. Even though Cole means well, he can't get himself in trouble.

ꕥꕥꕥ

He knew something wasn't right. The second no one came to meet him at school, confirmed it. Running up to his parents' room, his eyes widen at the sight.

Lou is knelt beside the bed, his shoulders shaking, his head buried in the duvet.

"Dad?" Cole calls out.

Lou jolts and turns to him, wiping his eyes. Cole slowly walks closer and pulls himself onto the bed. Cole tugs on Lilly's hand.

"Mom?"

Lou bites his lip and looks away. Cole watches his fathers movements and whimpers.

"M-Mom?!" Cole shakes her arm, "MOM!"

Lou hugs him and pulls Cole onto his own lap, shaking and crying, murmuring apologies. Cole sobs into his chest. Even though he's only eight, Cole knows his life is about to change forever.

So...apparently, I see an angst opportunity and I run with it.