No One's Gonna Love You

by NeneJPhilly

"We are the ever living ghost of what once was." T for sparse language & suggestive themes. Title from Band of Horses/Cee Lo Green/Kristina Train song. Summary subject to change. {COMPLETE}

1. Manic Monday

Okay this is the first Teen Titans story I've written (but not published because BBRae Week happened) &'d love for you to tell me how I did getting the characters right. I haven't seen TT in ten years.

Enjoy!

NJPNJPNJP

"Eat my dust!" Changeling yelled.

"Hold your horses, Green Bean!" Cyborg twisted in his seat as his character in the video game did. "I am catching up to you! Cheating won't work!"

"Cheating?!"

"You're both behind." Nightwing chuckled.

The besties shared a telling glance, where they vowed to put aside their differences & unite to take down their leader.

The game was intense & all knew it would be a photo finish when all of a sudden; the screen flickered & changed to the outside camera as the doorbell rang.

"Aww!" Changeling groaned.

Nightwing frowned. "I don't see anybody."

"Me either." Cyborg ran a big hand over his bald head. "Maybe they left?"

The doorbell rang again.

"Or not."

"Who's going to get it?" Changeling wanted to know. "I got up last time."

"& I got up the time before that." Nightwing looked at Cyborg.

The robotic teen groaned before climbing to his feet. "All you had to say was "get the door"."

"Get the door."

Cyborg glared at the ace detective as he stomped to the elevator & Changeling laughed himself silly. He grumbled to himself as he rode the lift down to the first level & walked to the front door.

He checked the camera beside the door & still didn't see anything. He pulled open the door & looked out. The sun shone brightly in his face & birds chirped but no one was outside.

He grumbled at the situation & turned to go back inside when he heard a tiny voice. "Hi!"

He stopped in pure confusion. Did he just hear what he thought he heard?

"What's your name?"

He reeled back. He was hearing a voice! He did what his instinct was telling him & looked down. & almost passed out. There were three kids on the doorstep! He leaned precariously before gaining his equilibrium. "What?"

"My name is Christopher. What's your name?" The one who spoke was a little African American boy no older than four. He had dirty clothes on & his hair stuck up all over his head. But he was cute.

Cyborg waved faintly. "Hi."

The little boy beamed. "What's your name?"

"Cyborg."

"That's a funny name." He giggled.

"I guess it is. It's a nickname." Cyborg looked outside for anyone who could be responsible for them but the island was empty.

"What's a nickname?"

Cyborg payed attention to them again. "It's a new name someone gives you that's fun."

"Oh. I want a nickname."

Cyborg eyed him before squatting to his level. "Where do you come from, Chris?"

Christopher shrugged.

"You don't know your address?"

The little boy shook his head.

"What about your telephone number?"

He did it again.

"Do you know your mommy or daddy's name?"

Again.

Cyborg sighed. "How did you get here?"

"The scary lady said that the people here will take care of us."

"Scary Lady?"

The child next to Christopher began shaking. Cyborg hadn't even noticed her; Christopher's personality was so exuberant. She was Hispanic with large violet eyes & long black hair that lay limply down her back.

She stared at Cyborg in fear & bit her lip as she whimpered. When he reached for her to comfort her, she began crying silently.

"Oh no! Don't cry! I'm not going to hurt you!" He soothed.

She hid behind Christopher.

"That's Charlotte. She doesn't talk to anybody." Christopher stage-whispered.

"It's okay, Charlotte. Uncle Cy's not gonna hurt you." Cyborg showed his hands.

Charlotte peeked out from behind Christopher.

"That's it. I'm friendly." He held out a hand like she was a deer.

Slowly, she came from behind her friend & approached the cybernetic adult. She put her hand in his.

He smiled at her & pumped their hands twice. "It's nice to meet you, Charlotte."

"Hi." She whispered.

Cyborg brightened. "You're a pretty little girl. Sweet, too. I bet you're smart. Do you know your parents?"

She shook her head.

"That's okay." He pointed to the last child that he couldn't actually see because it was in a car seat with a blanket over its face. "Who is your friend?"

"Baby." She whispered.

"It's a baby?" He kept his tone nice & low.

"He don't gots no name." Christopher informed him. "The scary lady didn't give him one yet."

Cyborg noticed how every time this "scary lady" was mentioned, Charlotte grew afraid. "Well let's take a look at him."

The children looked on as he let Charlotte's hand go to pull the carrier near. He moved the blanket & saw the baby was asleep. He was Caucasian with blonde tufts of hair & ruddy cheeks. Cyborg found him cute.

While inspecting the baby, he woke up & opened his mouth but nothing came out. The baby closed his mouth & stared at the technology proficient teen with big blue eyes.

Cyborg waited but all he did was stare. Cyborg figured he wouldn't start crying so he picked up the handle of the carrier & ushered the children inside. "Well come on. We'll figure out what to do with you."

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

"He's been out there for a long time." Changeling noted as he raked his hand through his long hair.

"He'll take care of it." Nightwing returned from getting something to drink. "Whatever it is."

"Maybe someone has left the package for us?" Starfire, who'd been in the kitchen making zucchini bread, suggested.

"Then why hasn't he brought it inside?" Changeling turned around to ask.

"Perhaps it is too large for him to carry alone?"

Changeling shrugged. "Seems sound."

"If he needs help, he'll ask." Raven, who'd been reading on the far end of the couch, flipped a page in her book.

Changeling's ears flicked. "I hear the elevator."

"We'll know soon." Nightwing took a sip of his drink.

The group waited for Cyborg to return & heard his heavy footfalls as he approached the common room doors. The doors opened & there he was. With children?!

The four gaped at him, video game forgotten, food forgotten, book forgotten.

Cyborg almost laughed at the dumbfounded looks on their faces. "We have company."

Starfire set down the bowl that was dangerously close to slipping out her fingers & flew over to him.

Christopher outstretched his hand & waved. "Hi. My name is Christopher. What's your name?"

"I am Starfire of Tamaran, young Christopher." Starfire peered at him before plucking him up & hugging him. "You are the most adorable!"

"Starfire!" Nightwing reached out a hand. "Don't break him!"

"Mommy!" Christopher hugged her back.

Nightwing's eyebrow swung up. "Mommy?"

"A bumgorf of my very own!" Starfire floated several inches higher.

"Starfire." Nightwing could see this going badly. "He's not yours. You can't have him."

"Why not? He has already laid claim to me." Starfire peppered the boy's face with kisses as he giggled.

"You can't take someone else's kid. It's illegal."

While Nightwing was trying to talk Starfire out of Christopher, Changeling jumped over the back of the couch & approached the remaining kids. He smiled at the little girl as she tried to hide behind Cyborg. "Hi. My name's Gar. What's your name?"

"Changeling!" Raven hissed. "Don't interact with it!"

"Come on, Rae. She's just a little girl." Changeling kept his gaze on the baby. "Hey? You wanna see a trick?"

Charlotte just looked at him but she didn't retreat.

Changeling shifted into a dog.

Charlotte wrapped her arms around Cyborg's leg in surprise.

Changeling approached her slowly giving her plenty of time to move away. She just clutched Cyborg tighter as he came near. He laid down in front of her & crawled on his belly towards her.

She peeked from behind Cyborg & giggled.

Changeling turned over on his back & wiggled.

She drew nearer & reached out to pat his head. He made sure to lie still. She patted his head then flew back behind Cyborg. When he didn't move, she peeked out again & got up the nerve to approach him again.

She rubbed his stomach timidly.

He laid out & let her. Pretty soon he was getting sleepy & shifted back.

Charlotte jumped & stared at him.

He folded his arms behind his head & crossed his legs.

She came to him & rubbed his stomach again but he felt different & he chuckled. She decided she liked that sound & she liked him. She climbed in his lap & laid her head against his chest. "Daddy."

Raven was completely floored as her usually composed but currently open mouth could attest to.

Cyborg snickered.

Changeling got up & carrying her safely; walked to Raven & sat beside her. "Look, Rae. I'm a daddy."

Raven put her hood down to glare at him. "You are not this child's father."

"I don't know. I think she knows what she's talking about."

Raven eyed the little girl, who was quite frankly staring back. "No."

"No." Charlotte repeated.

"Yes."

"Yes."

Raven narrowed her eyes. "Are you just repeating what I'm saying?"

Charlotte was quiet for a long time before saying, "No."

Changeling & Cyborg chuckled.

Raven pursed her lips & was about to say something when Charlotte spied the book in her limp hands. Charlotte crawled off Changeling's lap & into Raven's. She pointed to the book.

Raven frowned. "This is my book."

Charlotte took the book from her & shoved it in her face.

"I think she wants you to read to her." Changeling had laughter in his voice.

"Why didn't she just say that?" Raven took the book from her.

"She looks two or three years old. Maybe she doesn't know how?"

"I don't deal with kids." Raven told the child.

Charlotte just stared at her.

"I don't think she cares." Changeling grinned.

"Well she should." Raven picked her up & transferred her back to Changeling's lap but the little girl climbed back onto her lap & pointed to the book.

Raven groaned.

Changeling chuckled. "Just read to her."

"I will not give in to the demands of a child."

"Want me to read to you?" He poked Charlotte's side.

She giggled. "No."

"She wants you, Mommy." He batted his eyelashes.

"Stop that! I am not this child's mother." Raven tried again to put her on his lap but she just came right back. Raven groaned again.

"Just read to her."

"This isn't a children's book!" She threw out the excuse.

"She won't know."

She rolled her eyes before eyeing the little girl balefully. "One chapter & then you're getting off."

Charlotte smiled.

Raven huffed then opened her book to the correct page & began reading.

Cyborg turned towards Starfire & Nightwing to see how they were fairing & saw he was talking her into giving up the child.

"Come on. Give me the child." Nightwing was saying.

Starfire pouted. "Must I?"

"You must."

She landed on her feet & gave him Christopher. She sighed. "I suppose so."

He set the boy on his hip. "Now he is not yours. He's not a puppy."

"I may have the puppy?" Her eyes lit up.

"What? No! Star-"

"Then I may be permitted to keep the bumgorf?" She reached for Christopher.

Nightwing moved his body. "No!"

"Then I am to have nothing?!"

"You have Silky!"

Starfire thought it over. "May I have Silky & the bumgorf?"

Cyborg had to give it to her. She was persistent.

"No, you may not." Nightwing frowned.

"I must choose one?"

Nightwing thought it over. "Yes."

"I choose bumgorf Christopher."

Cyborg clapped his hand over his mouth to stave off laughter. He wanted to hear what Nightwing was going to say.

Nightwing's eyes widened. "You just picked him. Don't you need to think it over? You've had Silky for years."

"I know. I wish to have Christopher for years. Silky can go to a good home, where I may visit him but Christopher stays here, yes?"

"No! I mean if he- I don't know- I mean- Cyborg!" Nightwing turned to his robotic buddy.

Cyborg had an evil grin on his face. "Yes?"

"What's the deal with these kids?"

The look wiped away. "I don't know. They were just out there."

"You didn't see anyone on the bridge?"

"I didn't think to look but I didn't. I didn't see anybody."

Nightwing sighed. "We have to get information out of them."

"I already tried but go ahead."

Nightwing walked to the couch & set Christopher down on it. "You sit here." Christopher kicked his legs. "Now tell me, who are your parents?"

Christopher just blinked at him.

"Who's your mommy & daddy?"

Christopher pointed to him.

Nightwing gaped as his friends laughed. "I am not!"

Christopher nodded. "I like you."

The corner of his mouth kicked up before he ruthlessly shoved it down. Many kids didn't like him, citing he was too serious. "I didn't ask if you liked me. I asked who your parents were."

Christopher pointed to Starfire, who gasped in delight.

"No. Who are your real parents?"

He pointed to him again.

Nightwing ran a hand over his face, nearly disrupting his shades & took a stabilizing breath. "Where do you live?"

Christopher shrugged. "The scary lady said this was our new home."

Charlotte whimpered.

"Scary Lady? What Scary Lady?" Nightwing was on alert.

Christopher poked his bottom lip out & his eyes filled.

"Hey, hey, hey." Nightwing squatted in front of him. "Nothing is going to hurt you. I promise."

Christopher wrapped his arms around Nightwing's neck & laid his head on his shoulder.

Raven didn't know it but she'd wrapped her arm around Charlotte protectively.

"I think these kids have been hurt." Cyborg said. "I say we take them to the med bay & check them out."

"I say you're right." Nightwing picked up Christopher.

"Come on, sweetie." Changeling plucked Charlotte from Raven's lap & stood up. She clutched his neck & wrapped her limbs around him.

The group went down the hall to the medical bay & set the kids on beds. Cyborg set the car seat on a bed. The baby watched him as he unbuckled ahem attempted to unbuckle the straps. "Help!"

Raven rolled her eyes & pushed him out of the way. She unbuckled the straps then faced him with an arched brow.

He grinned. "It was hard."

She went back to Charlotte. She said not a word.

"It was hard!" He insisted.

Starfire set her hand on his shoulder.

He sighed. "Let's just look over them."

Changeling & Nightwing wiped the smirks off their faces.

Cyborg was careful to not harm the baby as he took the straps off him. He unsnapped his onesie & took it off him. The others gasped as his skin was revealed.

There were bruises all over him along with what looked like cigarette burns.

"Can we take your sweater off, honey?" Changeling asked Charlotte.

She nodded.

He grabbed the bottom of her sweater & pulled it up. "Who puts a child in sweats in this heat anyway?!"

Raven covered her mouth as her skin was uncovered. "Who did this?"

"Does this hurt?" Changeling pressed a finger to a particularly nasty looking bruise on Charlotte's shoulder.

Charlotte nodded.

"Okay. I'm sorry." He moved on to another bruise.

"Who would do this, Nightwing?" Starfire asked as she lifted Christopher's sweatshirt.

"I don't know." Nightwing had his arms crossed & was stroking his chin in angry contemplation. "But we will find out."

"I think we should document this." Cyborg said.

"Agreed. We'll notify the police immediately."

Cyborg grabbed a camera he kept in the med bay & took pictures of each of the children.

"I think I can heal them." Raven reached out for Charlotte.

"Ow, Mommy." Charlotte leaned away from her.

"I'm not-" Raven sighed. "I'm not going to hurt you. It's going to make you feel better."

Charlotte eyed her fearfully.

"You're going to feel better. I promise." Changeling told her.

Charlotte dropped her guard & let Raven touch her. Raven's hand glowed blue as she hovered over Charlotte's skin.

"Do you feel better?" Changeling asked as the bruises started to fade.

Charlotte nodded. "Better."

He swiped a finger down her cheek. "Good."

Raven went to the baby & healed him. He opened his mouth but as the pain receded, he closed it & eyed her seriously.

She went to Christopher & healed him, too. "Thank you." He said.

"You're welcome." She went to stand beside Changeling again.

"I can send those photos into the chief when I file the report." Nightwing said.

Changeling chewed on his bottom lip. "Maybe we should distract them? Are you hungry, sweetie?" The last was to Charlotte.

She nodded. "Hungry."

Nightwing consulted the clock on the wall. "It's nearly time for lunch anyway. We'll feed them then when they're down for naps, we'll contact the police."

"Naps?" Starfire cocked her head to the side.

"Little kids take naps." He shrugged.

"How do you know that?" Cyborg asked.

"We're not so old we don't remember naps."

Cyborg inclined his head. "Good point."

Nightwing set Christopher on the floor & took his hand. "What do you like to eat?"

Christopher shrugged as the other followed them out. They walked to the kitchen.

Nightwing let his hand go to pull open the fridge. "Let's see what we have…"

"How about the grilled cheese with mustard?" Starfire suggested.

"Yummy." Christopher giggled.

"Would you like grilled cheese?" Changeling asked Charlotte.

She nodded & buried her face in his shoulder.

He set her in his seat at the table & went to put on Cyborg's chef hat. "Then get ready for a culinary delight. Welcome to Titans Kitchen! I'm Chef Daddy & I'm going to blow your mind!"

Charlotte giggled.

Raven rolled her eyes as she sat in her usual chair, which was right beside Changeling's. "May we proceed, Chef Idiot?"

"It's Chef Daddy." Changeling glared playfully before going to the fridge & taking out cheese & butter. He grabbed bread from the box & a pan from the cabinets.

"This oughta be good." Nightwing set Christopher on the table & sat in his seat in front of him.

"Oh it will be." Changeling promised as he heated the pan on the stove & put in butter.

Starfire clapped as she sat in her seat next to Nightwing. "This will be most enjoyable!"

"I'll say." Cyborg sat in his seat between Charlotte & Starfire. "I always dig when he gets in his Chef Boyardee zones." He set the car seat in front of him.

"Chef Boyardee? Who is this Chef Boyardee? He is not more famous than me." Changeling put on a French accent.

Starfire giggled. "Most humorous indeed."

Changeling put four slices of bread in the pan. He could make two sandwiches at once. He let the bread become toasty on one side before flipping them over & adding cheese slices. He topped the open faced sandwiches with the toasted side & added a bit more butter to the pan. "You're going to love this, kids."

Christopher sniffed the air. "It smells yummy."

"It'll taste even better."

"I must admit my nine stomachs are quivering in anticipation." Starfire rubbed her belly.

"You won't have to wait long." Changeling cut the sandwiches into triangles & plated them up for the kids. "Bon appetit, mon Cherie!"

Both Christopher & Charlotte picked up a wedge of melted cheese & toasted bread & stuffed it in their mouths. "Yummy!"

"You like it?! You really like it?!" Changeling wiped away a fake tear.

Christopher raised his thumb.

Changeling grinned before setting about making sandwiches for the adults.

Raven got up to make her tea & felt like being generous enough to take drink requests while she waited for the water to boil.

Changeling plated up two more sandwiches in the meantime.

Her kettle whistled & she poured water into the mug he had gotten her for Christmas the year before. It was blue with a skull & crossbones on it. Born to be Wild was on the back.

Changeling started whistling & dancing in front of the stove.

"Play that funky music, green boy!" Cyborg teased.

"You know it!"

Raven came back to her seat & sat down. She noticed Charlotte struggling to hold her cup of milk. She sighed before holding the cup for her & letting her drink her fill before setting the cup on the table in front of her.

"Two more sandwiches coming right up!" Changeling plated the golden brown slabs.

Starfire clapped as he gave it flair. "You may be on the Chefs of Iron, Changeling!" Iron Chef was her newest obsession.

"I think so, too." He grinned.

She drenched her sandwiches in mustard before taking a swig right from the bottle. "The Michael Symon would be a formidable foe but I believe you could best him."

"Aww, thanks, Star!"

"I bet he couldn't beat Chef Cat Cora!" Cyborg teased.

"I could so!" Changeling glared hotly.

"Chef Morimoto would leave you in the dust!"

"I could totally take that guy!"

"Bobby Flay would destroy you!"

Changeling's color grew high as he got angry. "I'm better than all those guys!"

"Is that why you're burning the sandwiches?" Nightwing asked.

"Oh! My sandwiches!" He shifted his hat before turning back to the stove. The sandwiches weren't burnt but if he'd let them go a little longer; they'd be in danger of being darker than his robotic bud.

Cyborg laughed. It was too easy to rile Changeling up. He fell for the bait every time. "I got your goat again, C!"

Changeling shifted into a goat & bleated before shifting back & making more sandwiches.

The others chuckled.

He finished making the sandwiches & put the pan in the sink to soak before returning the cheese & butter to the fridge & the bread to the box. He set Charlotte on the table so he could take his seat. "I can't wait to get into this; I'm starving."

The group ate quickly before piling their dishes in the dishwasher. They drifted to the common room.

"Where are we going to put them for their naps?" Cyborg wondered as he set the baby on the table & went to sit down.

Since Cyborg wasn't in his view, the baby started crying.

The others were in shock since they hadn't heard a peep out of him yet.

Changeling picked up the car seat but the baby continued to cry. "Is he hungry, too?!"

"Perhaps he is in need of the rest?" Starfire clapped her hands over her ears.

"Did it get dark all of a sudden?" Cyborg asked.

They all looked out the windows & saw dark clouds rolling in.

"That looks bad." Nightwing noted. "Give him back to Cyborg. Maybe he can calm him down?"

Cyborg was passed the carrier & the baby immediately stopped crying. "Whew! Glad that's over! We don't have anything for ya, buddy!"

"The clouds' going away." Raven brought their attention back to the weather.

Nightwing frowned. "That's odd."

"Check the news." Changeling suggested.

Nightwing turned on the news station & they all listened in to see what was going on.

"It looks like a storm anomaly." The anchor said. "The clouds rolled in but stayed for just a few seconds. Already the day is bright & sunny again."

"They do not know what caused such weather either?" Starfire asked.

"I guess not." Nightwing turned off the volume as the newscaster went over the eight day forecast.

Seeing the baby drift off, Cyborg put him down. "Must be some freak thing."

No sooner had those words left his mouth than the baby started screaming.

The clouds turned dark & ominous as tears rolled down his cheeks.

"What's with the weather?!" Changeling covered his ears.

"Cyborg, pick him up!" Raven could see this getting annoying very quickly.

Cyborg picked him up & he stopped crying, tears still sliding down his cheeks.

The clouds turned white & fluffy again.

They turned their attention back to the television & Nightwing turned up the volume.

"have no idea what's going on in Jump City right now but as the station that gives you minute by minute updates, we'll keep you posted." The weatherman was saying.

Nightwing turned the volume down again & stroked his chin. "I think I have a theory. Cyborg, put the baby down."

"No!" Starfire held out her hands. "He will most assuredly weep!"

"I know." He sighed. "But if I'm right, it could be worse."

"Worse than him crying?" Raven didn't see what could be worse. He was pretty loud.

"Yes." Nightwing turned to Cyborg & gestured. "Put him down."

Cyborg put him down & instantly, the baby cried. Dark clouds rolled in & thunder sounded.

"Uh hmm." Nightwing nodded. "Now pick him up."

Cyborg picked him up & the thunder stopped. The clouds, though not as heavy or menacing looking, stayed.

"Rock him."

Cyborg rocked him gently. The clouds went away as the baby sniffled.

"Just what I expected."

"What?" Changeling was confused. "Did you expect him to shatter my eardrums?"

Nightwing's lips twitched. "No. I believe this child is a meta."

It took the others two seconds to all talk at once.

He whistled. "Every time he cries, the weather turns bad. Whenever he stops, it goes back."

"No way." Cyborg set the carrier down to test it. The baby instantly started crying & the clouds came back. Lighting struck. Cyborg snatched the car seat back up. "Okay! He's meta!"

"Wow! He's a powerful little sucker, isn't he?" Changeling whistled low as the clouds went away.

"If he is the metahuman, is it correct to assume the others are as well?" Starfire asked.

"We don't know for sure if we don't ask but I think so." Nightwing turned to Christopher, who was playing with Silky, the mutant larvae. "Do you have any powers, Christopher?"

"I don't know what that is." The little boy shook his head.

"Can you do things no one can explain?"

Christopher just stared at him.

"Like the super strength." Starfire got up & lifted the sofa.

When she put it back down, he copied her. Exactly.

"He has super strength!" Cyborg exclaimed.

"Do you have the joy of flight, little bumgorf?" Starfire asked the child.

He blinked up at her.

"Can you fly?" Nightwing asked bluntly.

"A little." The little boy concentrated very hard & he was able to hover a few inches off the ground for a few seconds before he landed on his bottom.

"That is remarkable!" Starfire was enthused.

"He's meta, too!" Changeling grinned. He turned to Charlotte. "Can you do stuff, too?"

She shrugged.

"Try." He urged.

"Like what?" Her voice was soft with confusion.

"I know it's a long shot but can you shift?" He turned back into a dog.

She closed her eyes & shifted into a black German Shepard puppy to match his green one.

He barked happily. She yipped back.

"That is most adorable!" Starfire picked her up. Charlotte howled at the pain.

Raven tugged her away. "Don't decapitate her, Starfire."

"I apologize." The redhead bowed her head.

"It's alright. Just be more careful." Nightwing suggested wisely.

"Shift back." Raven told the little girl but she only yipped at her.

"Maybe she doesn't know how?" Cyborg scratched his head.

Raven put her foot on Changeling & pushed. "Shift back & tell her how."

Changeling shifted back & scowled. "Use your words, Mama."

"Don't call me that, scoundrel." She held the child er… puppy out to him. "Tell her how to shift back."

Changeling grinned before looking into the pup's face. "You know how you look, right?" The puppy yipped. "Just picture that. Think about how you look & shift."

Charlotte closed her purple eyes & shifted back to a little girl.

Something went boom.

The room's (adult) occupants looked to Raven, who looked surprised herself. "That wasn't me."

Changeling took Charlotte from Raven. "We'll go see what it was."

"I think it was in the fridge." Cyborg frowned.

The green skinned man walked to the kitchen & opened the fridge. A jar of pickles had shattered. "It was the pickles. Weird."

"I think it may have been the child." Nightwing stroked his chin.

"Charlotte?" Cyborg asked. "How? Why?"

"It might have been an accident. Christopher has more than one power. She might as well."

"Get her to do it again." Changeling walked back to Raven & held the little girl out to her.

Raven frowned. "Why me?"

"Who has the most experience blowing stuff up?"

"You."

"I do not!" He was affronted. "You have way more than me."

Raven rolled her eyes & took the child. "Concentrate on that mug." She pointed to Changeling's favorite mug in the dishrack.

"Hey!"

"All in the name of science." Raven ignored him. "Concentrate on that mug & make it break."

Charlotte closed her eyes & concentrated. She opened her eyes & two seconds later, the mug shattered.

"Man…" Changeling pouted.

"Did you see that?" Cyborg was in awe.

"Yeah. She killed my mug."

"Yeah. Using starbolts!"

"But that's Star's powers!"

"My point exactly. What if her power is using other people's powers?"

"Then she should be able to fly as well, correct?" Starfire looked between them & the child.

"Test it out." Nightwing advised.

"How?"

"I can't fly."

Raven made a face. That meant it was up to her or Starfire.

"Little bumgorf, you must use the joy of flight & you shall fly!" Starfire hovered above the ground.

Charlotte looked so lost.

That meant it was up to her… Raven sighed. "Feel the weightlessness enter your body. Lift your arms & hop. Push down with your feet & extend your body. Then angle your body higher."

Charlotte knew most of those words & could guess the rest so she did what Raven said. She floated in the air without Raven holding onto her.

Christopher pouted.

"Follow me!" Starfire yelled in joy. She flew in circles around the room.

Charlotte followed her, gaining confidence & even smiling as she caught up to her.

"Look at them go!" Changeling was in danger of getting whiplash.

Raven crossed her arms.

Starfire slowed down before touching down. Charlotte followed. "What fun!"

Christopher blew out a breath. It came out cold & frosted the side of Nightwing's face.

"You have more powers?!" He wiped at his face.

Christopher shrugged. Then he nodded & squinted at a couch pillow. Two red beams left his eyes & the pillow exploded. He rubbed his forehead afterwards. "My head hurts."

"That's okay. You don't have to do anything else." Nightwing patted his shoulder. He looked at the rest of his team. "So we have three meta children that have been abandoned on our doorstep..."

Changeling pursed his lips before pasting on a smile. "How about a nap?!"

"No!" Both Christopher & Charlotte groaned.

"You're not tired?" He swung the little girl up into his arms.

"No, Daddy." She snuggled into his neck & let out a yawn.

"I think you are. Come on. We'll both take naps."

"Promise?" She looked up at him.

"Promise."

"Okay, we'll put the oldest two down for a nap while you focus on keeping the baby happy." Nightwing told Cyborg.

Who groaned. "Fine."

The other Titans left to do just that, leaving him alone with the baby that was watching him like a hawk. He blinked down at him & sat down on the couch with the carrier in his lap.

What was he supposed to do? hold him until CPS came to get him?

No way! He needed help. He opened the communicative link in his arm & called Bumble Bee.

She answered after three rings. "What's up, Sparky?"

"Hey, Bee. What are you doing?"

"Uh… nothing. Why?"

"I need your help. Can you come out to Jump for about a week?"

"Uh… sure. We've had a lull in activity. What's up? What do you need my help with?"

"This is something you're going to have to see for yourself. & can you bring kids' stuff?"

"Kids' stuff? What kind of kids' stuff? Why?"

"You'll see when you get here. Just clothes & a few toys. Things a newborn might need. Stuff like that. Have it be a mix of stuff for boys & a girl."

"That's really weird, Sparky." She uttered seriously.

"Just stuff for a three to four year old boy, a two year old girl & a newborn boy."

"That's oddly specific."

"This is an oddly specific situation. You have no idea."

"Okay." She said slowly. "I guess I can do that. & you'll tell me as soon as I get there?"

"As soon as you get here." He promised.

"This isn't a ploy to get with me, is it?"

His face reddened. "No! Conceited!"

She laughed. "Just had to make sure."

"Whatever. Just come on." He blinked multiple times to get his blush to die down.

"Okay, I'll see you in a few hours."

Cyborg knew she was about to hang up but he wanted to mess her up as payback. "Just so you know, I don't need a ploy to get with you. You know you want me."

Her jaw dropped & her eyes widened but before she could respond, he cut the connection & smirked to himself. This might be a fun week after all…

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

"Why this room?" Raven demanded.

"Because it's across the hall from mine." Changeling returned just as fast.

"But it's next door to mine!"

"You don't have to check on her."

She huffed. "Of course I do. You have the emotional maturity of a two year old. She needs a responsible adult to make sure she doesn't die."

"Is that an age joke? You're only six months older than me."

"& someone who can count. I'm five months older than you."

He brought up his hands & started ticking off the months.

She rolled her eyes & turned to the child who was looking between them on the floor. "Go to sleep."

"Too dark." Charlotte shook her head.

Raven waved her hand & the curtains opened, letting in the afternoon sun. "Go to sleep."

"Story?" Charlotte floated up & flew to the bed, where she sat in the middle.

"I'm not about to read you a story. I have no children's stories."

"Story." Charlotte didn't care.

Raven huffed. "Fine. One story."

Charlotte smiled.

Changeling grinned, too as he sat on her side. "Goodie. Mommy's going to read us a story."

"I'm not her mother & I'm not reading to you." Raven sat on her other side & pulled a book from a portal she conjured.

"I'm in the room."

"I'm officially ignoring you." Raven opened the book & began reading Gulliver's Travels.

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

"Starfire!" Nightwing yelled loudly. He had his hands clapped over Christopher's ears but his own were subjected to the bubbly Tamaranean's loud yodeling.

"Yes, friend Nightwing?" She stopped wailing.

He took a deep breath. "Don't you know any lullabies?"

Starfire put her hand to her mouth as she thought. "Earth ones?"

"Any that are quiet."

"I believe there is one. I have not heard it for many years & may have forgotten the words."

"Just hum it." He pleaded as he let Christopher go to massage his own ears.

Starfire sat on the bed & cuddled Christopher close. She kissed his cheek before lightly humming the tune from her homeland.

Christopher wrapped his little arms around her waist & laid his head against her chest before closing his eyes.

Nightwing liked Starfire's maternal side but it was going to be hell trying to separate these two now. He could see it now; tears. Lots & lots of tears.

He watched as Starfire petted Christopher's tangled hair & rubbed his back with a gentleness they'd all been trying to teach her for years. He felt something move inside his heart & chalked it up to his crush on the alien.

Pretty soon, Christopher was asleep.

Nightwing took him from her & laid him on the bed. Starfire kissed the little boy's head & followed Nightwing out. "What are we to do now?"

"You can go relax. I'm going to call the chief of police." Nightwing pressed the button to close the door to the room across the hall from his but next to Starfire's.

"I wish to watch him slumber."

"I think it would be better if you went to watch TV." Nightwing found that creepy… yet understandable.

"What if he shall need me?" She asked anxiously.

"He's not going to need you." He returned.

"What shall he do when he awakens & no one is there? He may become afraid."

Nightwing realized that could be true. "We'll come back to check on him in twenty minutes."

Starfire huffed but relented. "If you are sure."

"He doesn't need you watching him sleep. Go watch TV." He advised.

"Okay." She bowed her head & touched down. She walked to the elevator & rode upstairs to the main rooms.

He watched her go before going to his room for an USB stick then following. He looked in the common room to see Starfire searching the guide for something to watch & Cyborg making faces at the baby.

The baby cooed at Cyborg & flailed his limbs at every funny face.

Nightwing smirked before letting out a sharp whistle. All three turned to him but he gestured for Cyborg to accompany him.

The robotic gamer stood up & made his way to the leader. "We're going now?"

"Yeah. Better to do it while they're sleep. Well most of them." He looked down at the infant, who stared back.

The trio made their way to the evidence room. When they got there, Nightwing closed the door behind them then went to sit at the computer by the wall. He sent a Skype message to the chief. As he waited, he turned to Cyborg. "Do you want to go get the camera?"

"It'll be faster without Little Man."

"What's his name?"

"Chris said he didn't have one."

Nightwing frowned. He found that extremely rude. The baby had to be a few weeks old. He deserved a name. "I can watch him while you go to the med bay."

"Do you think he'll cry?"

"Maybe. But he'll have to get used to us before CPS comes."

Cyborg shrugged then handed over the carrier. He didn't even get to turn around before the baby started crying. He was torn. Maybe Nightwing should get the camera?

Nightwing waved him off. "He'll be fine. Go on."

Cyborg made up his mind to be as quick as possible.

A sound alerted Nightwing to the computer as Cyborg left. It was a response on Skype. He pressed the button to make a call & waited for the chief to pick up. It took two rings. "Chief Egan."

"Nightwing." Chief Flynn Egan nodded. "What's going on?"

Nightwing thought it best to cut to the chase. "Three children were abandoned on our doorstep."

"Is that one of them?" Chief Egan frowned.

"Yes." Nightwing didn't know what to do with the baby so he let him cry.

"Where are the other children?"

"Taking naps." Nightwing set the car seat on the floor. "We have proof that these children were abused & there's something else. They're meta."

"Meta?" Chief Egan raised his eyebrows.

"All three. The bad weather that we're experiencing at this very moment is the result of the baby crying."

His eyes widened. "Get him to stop. I just saw a lightning bolt hit a parked car."

"He won't stop crying until-"

"I'm back! I'm back!" Cyborg ran in with the camera.

"Cyborg gets back." Nightwing finished. He held up the carrier so the baby could see Cyborg.

The blonde sniffled as tears still raced down his cheeks but at least he wasn't as loud.

Cyborg handed the camera to his boss & took the car seat. He took a seat in another chair & began making faces at the baby to get him happy again.

Chief Egan was in awe. "I'll call Child Protective Services as soon as possible. What proof do you have for them being abused?"

Nightwing hooked up the camera & uploaded the pictures. Then he attached them to an email addressed to the chief. "These are pictures we took an hour ago."

The policeman received the message & opened it. Years of service prepared him for the sight. "I'll save these as evidence. CPS should call you soon. I'll call you tomorrow with more on the case. We'll find whoever did this."

"Thank you, Chief Egan." Nightwing nodded.

"Keep that baby happy." Chief Egan disconnected the call.

Nightwing smirked. More bad weather was up. "How long do you think it'll be before CPS calls us?"

"Depends on how backed up they are." Cyborg had had his own brush with Child Protective Services in his lifetime & knew they were swamped.

"Might as well go to the common room & watch TV while we wait." Nightwing stood up.

"Oh. I called Bee for help. I know she knows about kids & stuff so I thought it would help us out."

"That's a good idea. We need all the help we can get today."

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

Raven turned the page. "Do you even understand what I'm talking about?"

Charlotte shrugged.

"Keep going, Rae." Changeling urged.

She sighed. "She doesn't understand what this book is about. Why am I reading it?"

"Because you were reading it before she got here."

"It's a book about healing magic."

"She's interested."

That much was true. When the children woke up from naps, they were brought back to the common room, where Christopher played Hide & Seek with Starfire & Charlotte had immediately crawled back in Raven's lap for her to read to her. Charlotte hadn't taken her eyes off the pages since.

"She won't ever use this."

"You never know."

She rolled her eyes before Charlotte patted her hand & pointed back to the book. "Read."

"I'm nearly done with this book." Raven protested.

"Then you'll get another one." Changeling duhed.

Raven cut her eyes at him. "Why don't you read to her?"

"You don't think I can read."

She blinked. "That's not true."

He looked at her. "It's not nice to lie."

"I know you can read. You read comic books all the time."

He frowned. "Ha ha. Just read."

She huffed. "Fine."

"I don't understand how you've been playing Hide & Seek for over an hour." Cyborg told Starfire as she looked for Christopher.

"Tenacity." Nightwing flipped the channel.

"It has been a most enjoyable game." Starfire looked under the couch & pulled a giggling Christopher out.

"You got me!" Christopher threw his arms around her neck & squeezed.

"I have gotten you!" Starfire picked him up & cuddled him close.

"I think this is gonna last until they leave." Nightwing murmured.

Cyborg chuckled. "He's having fun so I feel like that's a win."

"You're just mad you can't stay out of the baby's sight without risking lightning strikes."

"Not true!"

"Set him down." Nightwing taunted with a straight face.

Cyborg looked at the baby, who was looking back at him. "I don't wanna."

Nightwing laughed. "Chicken!"

"Did somebody say el pollo?" Changeling turned around.

"Oh no." Cyborg groaned.

Changeling morphed into a green rooster & clucked.

"You're not funny, C!"

Changeling strutted up & down the couch.

Nightwing laughed as Christopher & Starfire giggled. Raven raised an eyebrow at his immaturity.

Charlotte shifted into a black baby chick.

Raven frowned. "Great. I have a lapful of poultry."

Changeling stepped on her lap & clucked in her face.

She was less than amused & showed it by picking him up with her powers & throwing him from the open window.

Christopher's mouth fell open. "Where he go?"

"Out the window." Raven eyed the chick still in her lap. "Change back & I'll finish reading to you."

Two seconds later, Charlotte was a little girl again.

"Is he coming back?" Christopher asked Starfire.

"Yes, my little bumgorf. He will return soon." Starfire kissed his cheek before setting him on his feet. "It is your turn to count & I shall hide."

Christopher looked at the window for a minute before he covered his eyes. "One. Eleven. Seventy. Two sixty. A million. Four…"

Starfire flew to the pantry & hid inside.

A minute later, he went looking for her & a green seagull flew into the room, sopping wet.

It changed into Changeling & he walked to the couch, where Raven was still reading in her low voice. "Too much?"

"Yes." She continued reading.

He nodded before stiffly walking out to find dry clothes.

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

Nightwing turned from the wall to wall windows. "The weather's going back."

"Good." Cyborg flopped back on the couch, making sure the carrier on his knees didn't move.

"He is loud." Starfire pulled on her ear.

"So loud." Changeling resumed humanoid form after crawling from under the sofa.

"How long are you going to hold off on training?" Raven asked the eighteen year old leader.

"We can probably skip it for today. The kids will be gone before tomorrow so missing one day won't kill us." Nightwing came over to the couch.

"Yes!" Changeling snatched Charlotte from Raven's lap & kissed her cheek repeatedly. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

She blushed & giggled. "You're welcome."

Nightwing rolled his eyes at his antics. "We should probably find something for him to eat when he wakes up. I think he's hungry."

"Don't babies eat often?" Raven recalled seeing that somewhere.

"How often can it be?" Cyborg shrugged.

"Are we starving him?" Starfire worried.

"Poor, little man." Changeling set Charlotte in his lap. "I know I get cranky when I miss a meal."

"When do you ever miss a meal?" Raven narrowed her eyes.

"& I'm never cranky." He ignored her.

Cyborg snorted. "Trying to talk to you before you eat breakfast is like trying to get between a lioness & her cub."

The others laughed as Changeling pouted. "You're just proving my point."

"What can we give him?" Raven brought the subject back to what was important. "He has no teeth."

"Mashed potatoes?" Changeling lifted a shoulder.

"The mashing of bananas?" Starfire suggested.

"Milk?" Cyborg thought up.

"We have no bottles. Even the older children had trouble holding glasses." Raven reminded them.

"I could use an eye dropper."

"For what?" A new voice asked.

The team turned to face Bumble Bee at the common room entrance.

"You came!" Cyborg closed his mouth.

"Of course I came. I said I was coming. Now what is it I'm here for & why was it so urgent?" She put her hands on her hips.

"Maybe you should come sit down & see for yourself?"

Bumble Bee walked to the couch then around it to sit down. Her eyes widened when she saw Christopher on Starfire's lap.

"Hi! I'm Christopher! What's your name?" The little boy waved to her.

Bumble Bee waved back in stupefied awe. "Karen."

"That's a pretty name."

Bumble Bee smiled at him. "I like Christopher, too."

"We're watching TV cuz it's quiet so the baby won't wake up."

"Baby?" She looked up to meet the adults' eyes & saw the carrier on Cyborg's lap. "You have a baby on your lap."

"I do." He watched her to see how she was taking it.

She got up & flew to right in front of him & turned the car seat. She unbuckled the restraints & lifted the baby out.

"No!" The others leaned forward in fear.

"What?" Bumble Bee put him against her shoulder & jostled him slightly.

The noise woke up the baby & he began crying.

"He's… special." Cyborg got up to take him back but Bumble Bee flew away from him.

"All babies are special." She kissed the baby's cheek before she hovered around the room slowly. She started humming & rocked him gently.

The baby stopped crying & held onto her uniform top. His little face was pinched & red until it evened out & lost its high color. He eventually relaxed & laid his head down on her shoulder.

Cyborg's jaw was on the ground. "How'd you do that?!"

"I'm amazing." She shrugged her free shoulder.

"He has cried the entirety of his stay." Starfire was blown away, too.

"Aww! Why?" Bumble Bee came back to the couch & sat beside her.

"So far, he doesn't like anyone else." Nightwing said. "Have you noticed the storms?"

"Yeah. That's really weird. It'll be storming one minute then sunny the next."

"He's meta. He's been making the storms with every tantrum."

"Oh, you're a meta?" Bumble Bee spoke softly to the baby that was watching her speak. "You're a powerful meta, aren't you? Those storms almost took me out."

He reached out his hand & touched her mouth. She kissed his hand.

"You are unnervingly talented at this." Raven noted.

"Thank you." She looked over. "& who is this one?"

"This is Charlie." Changeling lifted the little girl up.

Charlotte covered her face with her hands.

"Her name is Charlotte." Raven rolled her eyes.

"I like Charlie better." Changeling didn't care.

"Hi, Charlie." Bumble Bee spoke. "It's nice to meet you."

"Hi." Charlotte pulled on the sleeves of Changeling's shirt to get him to put her down. Once she was back on his lap, she buried her face in his chest.

"Are they meta, too?"

"Yes, they are." Nightwing spoke up. "They were dropped on the doorstep a few hours ago & were abandoned."

Bumble Bee gasped. "How cruel!"

"It gets worse." Changeling frowned. "They've been abused."

Bumble Bee's mouth was hanging open. "Who did this?!"

"We don't know yet. There's going to be an investigation & we'll know more tomorrow." Nightwing said.

"What's going to happen to the kids now?"

"Chief Egan called CPS & we're supposed to be receiving a call from them letting us know."

"I'll help in any way I can."

"Thank you."

"Do you have food?" Cyborg asked.

Bumble Bee stared at him. "What?"

"Do you have food for the baby?" He expounded.

"Oh! Yeah. I went to a baby store & got a lot of stuff. It's all in my pod of the T-ship on the roof."

"We can get it all while he's still happy." Nightwing was happy that the child liked someone else & would give Cyborg a break.

He, Changeling & Cyborg left to go up to the roof & got out the bags & brought them down.

"I cannot believe he is so quiet." Starfire watched as the baby got more comfortable on Bumble Bee's shoulder.

"He isn't affable." Raven agreed.

Bumble Bee laughed. "He seems pretty amicable to me."

"Now that you're here."

Bumble Bee smiled as she kissed his cheek again. "You've been giving them a hard time?"

"Yes." Starfire said seriously. "A very hard time."

The boys came back with the bags. "You got a lot of stuff, Bee."

"I didn't know what to get cuz I didn't know the situation but I think I got most of the stuff you're going to need for at least a few days." Bumble Bee patted the space next to her.

The guys set the bags down in front of the girls & Starfire set Christopher down beside her to rifle through the bag closest to her. "Clothing?"

"Figured kids need clothes." She shrugged.

"Nightlights?" Raven had levitated a bag over & lifted out a fairy night light.

"You said children. Children are usually afraid of the dark."

"Are you afraid of the dark?" Changeling asked Charlotte, who nodded.

"Good call, Bee." Cyborg raised a thumb as he peeked through a couple bags.

"Thanks. You should find food soon. I didn't know what the baby would like so I got a ton of different formulas."

"I found a canister." Nightwing held up the can of baby formula.

"Did you get any bottles?" Cyborg asked as he continued searching,

"Of course I did, Sparky. I even got sippy cups for the others." Bumble Bee was offended.

"Please, what is the "sippy cups"?" Starfire asked.

"It's like a level two bottle. When you get too big to suck out of a baby bottle but can't use a glass like an adult?"

"Ingenious!"

"How do you make a bottle?" Cyborg found a blue bottle. "He's gotta be hungry."

"I can make it. Here." Bumble Bee stood up & held the baby out safely.

Cyborg frowned. "I've never held a baby!"

"It's not hard!" She frowned, too.

"I'd rather do the formula."

"Sit down & hold this baby!" She snapped.

He grumbled but sat on the sofa (amidst chuckles from his bros). She adjusted his arms then laid the baby in them.

"There. See? It's not so bad."

"Bossy." He muttered.

"Whatever." Bumble Bee took a bottle & can of formula into the kitchen & made a bottle.

Starfire floated behind her, watching in fascination. "You are quite skilled."

"Thanks."

"Dress." Charlotte had slid off Changeling's lap & rustled through a bag. She pulled up a purple dress.

"You like the dress?" Changeling pulled her back on his lap.

She nodded.

"Do you want to wear it?"

She nodded again.

"& who is going to put her in it?" Raven demanded.

"You are." Changeling didn't miss a beat.

"You're begging for another dipping."

"I like to swim."

Her eyes glowed.

He grinned. "I love you, too."

A light blush dusted her cheeks so she raised her hood.

"It's been a few hours. What could be taking CPS so long to call us?" Nightwing sat back on the couch.

"What if the Chief of police hasn't called them yet? He could be swamped, too." Cyborg pointed out as Bumble Bee came back.

She took the baby from him & sat next to him to feed him. "It could be anything really."

"I think they'll call soon." Changeling was sure.

The landline rang.

It was abrupt & strange as the phone rarely rang inside the tower as their communicators took care of most social communications.

Nightwing went to the phone & answered it. "Titans Tower. Yes, this is Nightwing. That is correct."

The other Titans listened in.

"That's correct. We have an idea. Oh really? Of course. We'd be happy to. Thank you. Goodbye." Nightwing hung up & turned around. "I have good news & bad news."

"Bad news first." Cyborg said.

"CPS isn't equipped to handle metahumans. & even if they were, they have no room at the home. Especially for little kids. We're going to have to keep the kids until spots open up or they find a foster home willing to take in three super kids."

"Yay!" Starfire leaped into the air.

"Starfire!" Bumble Bee laughed.

"We are able to keep them!" The redhead didn't care.

"Only until they find a place for them." Nightwing reminded her.

"What's the good news?" Raven wanted to know.

"The good news is that it can't get any worse than this."

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

"Thanks, Sparky." Bumble Bee turned around.

"No problem." Cyborg set her bag on the bed in the room across from his.

"You know, he needs a crib. He can't sleep in a bed alone." She gestured to the baby on her shoulder.

Cyborg frowned before rubbing his head. "I guess I could get started on making him something but it might take all night."

"I guess he can sleep with me tonight. One night won't kill him. Hopefully."

"What's the worst that can happen?"

"He rolls out of the bed. He rolls over & the covers get in his nose & mouth & he suffocates. I roll over & squish him. He chokes on his own spit & drowns-"

"Wait! Wait! Wait!" He lifted a hand. "Are you kidding me?!"

"It could happen!"

"None of that stuff is gonna happen." He refused to laugh.

"You don't know that." She kissed the baby's cheek again & his mouth opened.

"That is insane."

"It's true! Anything could happen."

"There's a distinct possibility that none of that will ever happen."

"Have you ever heard of SIDS? It could happen."

"What the hell is that?"

"Don't curse in front of him." She snapped. "He could pick up on that!"

"He's like a month old…" His face said it all as he deadpanned.

"I said he'd pick up on it; I didn't say he'd repeat it."

"Gimme the kid. You're obviously tired."

"No." She twisted away from him.

"Don't you need to unpack?" He reached out for the baby.

She walked away from him. "Stay away from us!"

"You know you're going to have to give him up soon…"

She stuck her bottom lip out. "No fair!"

"You can't keep somebody else's baby." He was lost as to her thought process.

"He's an orphan."

"You don't know that. His parents could have abandoned him like that mean old lady they're all scared of."

"Same thing; he's an orphan."

"You're just saying stuff because you like the screamer."

"He's been good since I got here. I don't know what any of you are talking about."

"He seems to like you."

"Of course he does." She kissed the baby's cheek.

"You're going to spoil him with all that kissing." Cyborg was not jealous of a newborn.

"He can be a little spoiled." She didn't care.

"You're only saying that because you get to give him away & don't have to deal with the fallout."

"Maybe."

He smirked. "I'll let you settle in."

"Thanks. Just leave me &… &… & what is his name?"

"He doesn't have one."

Her mouth opened in righteous indignation. "How rude!"

He closed his grey eye & stared at her as if gauging how serious she was. When he realized she was completely serious, he opened it. "Okay."

"He needs a name." She sat on the bed & adjusted the baby in her arms, looking him in the face.

"That's a job for his next parents."

She hummed before her eyes widened with joy. "I have the perfect name for him!"

"You can't-"

"Calvin!"

"What?" He was blown away.

"His new name is Calvin." She looked down at the baby… er Calvin. "Cal for short."

Cyborg stood there for approximately two minutes before he set his mouth. "You can't name him. He's not a new pet you can play with until you get bored."

"I'm not that type of person. I don't grow weary of the familiar."

That seemed like a dig at him...

While he was trying to work out if he should be offended, she laid down & laid Calvin down in her circle of arms, tickling him.

The infant giggled & flailed his limbs, giving her a big smile.

Cyborg smiled at the picture they made before shaking his head & furrowing his eyebrow. He cleared his throat. "I'll just put the stuff you bought for him in the room next to this one." He walked out before he could do something stupid… like stay.

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

"Do you know what time it is?" Changeling tossed the chef hat back atop his head.

Charlotte squinted at him before ultimately shaking her head. "No."

"Time for everyone's favorite cooking show: Chef Daddy!"

Charlotte's lips pulled into a small smile. "Yay."

"You really don't emote, do you?" He chucked her chin before going to the fridge. "What is it tonight?! Eggplant Parmesan?! Vegetarian Chili?! Burritos?!"

"Man, burritos sound good!" Cyborg rubbed his stomach.

"Burritos it is!" Changeling grabbed ingredients from the fridge & shut the door with his foot then set Charlotte on the counter beside him. "I'd like to call my lovely sous chef, Starfire to help me!"

Starfire giggled as she floated over. "Watch me, my little bumgorf. We shall prepare a culinary feast!"

Christopher walked over & struggled to climb into a chair at the island. Cyborg picked him up & sat him down. "Here you go, Little Dude."

"Thank you, Uncle." Christopher said politely.

Cyborg smiled. "Welcome, Nephew!"

Charlotte pointed to a packet of seasoning. "What's that?"

"Imitation meat!" Changeling announced proudly.

"What "imi" mean?"

"Imitation means fake." Cyborg told her.

She made a face. "No, Daddy."

Cyborg fell out laughing. "Even she knows fake meat ain't good!"

Changeling cut his eyes at his best friend. "She just hasn't had it yet!" They'd long ago squashed their meat vs. tofu argument but it was still an easy dig at times.

Starfire was browning real hamburger in a pan beside him. She (& Raven) had learned to cook Earth food. Finally. After receiving enough cookbooks for holidays & birthdays, she'd decided to attend classes & learn from her friends.

Both improved greatly (Raven citing a need to be at least proficient in the most basic of survival tasks as to her reason for learning) & soon began trying out new recipes for the guys. They'd both try out a dish & perfect it before moving on to the next.

There were days the boys ate nothing but meatloaf & cornbread. Bad meatloaf & cornbread.

Once Starfire understood how Earth cooking was, she was more able to find foods from her planet that the others would like. Now she wasn't left in an empty room when she announced she was making a pudding.

Raven herself liked to use juices & extracts to flavor her potions.

& both were into cooking shows & baking. Changeling suggested a garden & liking the idea of fresh produce to practice more recipes with, the girls agreed. Pretty soon the whole Tower was in on it, each person adding things to it that they like to eat.

One fourth of the island was comprised of the garden & a grove of fruit trees they planted. They planted fruits like grapevines & tomatoes & berry bushes such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries & blackberries; vegetables like corn, potatoes, spinach & peppers.

Raven even had a section for tea.

Many a day saw the superpowered team in the garden hard at work. It was enjoyable & kept their grocery bill down.

They used ingredients from the garden daily & took turns cooking. Cyborg & Raven usually cooked breakfast since both were up & Raven really liked baking biscuits (especially after Cyborg had handed over his grandmother's recipe).

Nightwing was pretty handy at lunch. He knew enough about cooking to survive on his own but he didn't get the enjoyment out of it like his fellow teammates. He made a lot of salads & sandwiches.

Changeling & Starfire usually handled dinner. Both liked to create feasts & go all out. & even better, Starfire liked making dessert. Although the team had gotten into healthy living when they put in their garden.

It was just so much easier & they were getting older. It just made sense. They ate plenty of salads & fruits & veggies. They did their own canning (that was an exhilaratingly fruit filled month) & Cyborg had even given tofu a try. It def. didn't get him to give up the bacon but every once in a while was okay.

Which is what killed their tofu vs. meat fight.

Starfire giggled now. "I believe the imitation of meat is satisfactory."

"Thanks, Star!" Changeling stuck out his tongue.

"Fake meat is an abomination." Raven flipped the page in her book.

Changeling wanted to throw something at her but everything was too big. He decided to go to the fridge & grabbed a solitary grape. He threw it at the back of her head & it fell into her hood.

Of course she felt it… She snapped her book shut & lifted the grape from her hood. She turned around & used her powers to shoot the grape back at him.

He ducked at the last second & flicked his tongue at her.

Using her powers, she swung a pan at the back of his head. It connected.

"Ow!" He clutched his head.

Charlotte giggled as Cyborg out & out roared with laughter.

"You can't laugh at Daddy." He pouted at Charlotte before rolling his eyes at Cyborg. "You can just shut up."

"She got you good, String Bean!" Cyborg chuckled.

"I know. I'm seein stars."

"The meats have concluded cooking, Changeling." Starfire didn't laugh but her lips twitched heavily.

"Yeah. Yeah, it's time to cut the other stuff up." He turned off the stove & took two sharp knives from the knife block.

Deftly, they diced tomatoes & onions & chopped lettuce & avocados. They grabbed cheese (a three cheese Mexican blend) from the fridge & refried beans from the pantry before setting everything in an array on the island.

Using a little bit of everything, they stuffed fresh ingredients into large flour tortillas, Changeling slicing a "V" into the vegetarian one's so he wouldn't accidentally eat a meat-filled one.

By the time they were done, Nightwing & Raven had set the table & added salsa, sour cream, taco sauce, lime & Ranch, the secret ingredient.

The entire group sat down to eat.

"I foresee a problem." Nightwing looked at Bumble Bee, who was still holding Calvin.

"What's up, BossMan?" Changeling took a bite out of his burrito.

"How is Bumble Bee going to eat? I doubt he'll let her."

Bumble Bee frowned. "Can't I set him down?"

"He won't like that." Changeling swore.

"I'll hold him while you eat then you hold him while I eat." Cyborg offered.

"No. I'm going to put him down." Bumble Bee flew over to the car seat.

"No! He'll cry!" Raven didn't want that at all!

"It's okay for babies to cry. Not only will holding him all the time spoil him but it's completely illogical to hold him all the time when he'll get over it. It'll take a little time & he's def. going to throw a tantrum but it'll be better in the long run." She buckled him into the carrier & turned him to face the kitchen.

"Are you sure?" Starfire didn't want him to cry but if her friend knew what was best…

"I'm positive." Bumble Bee returned to the table, ignoring the baby's cries.

The others split their attention between the wailing infant to the gathering storm clouds outside.

"How sure are you? Are you sure you're not forgetting he's meta?" Nightwing wanted to make sure.

"It's just a storm. Mother Nature hands them out all the time & he's going to eventually get sick of crying." Bumble Bee assured him.

"What if people get hurt?"

"He's going to grow up with these powers. Ever hear of terrible twos & teen years? He needs to get in the habit now. People will always be in danger."

"I guess that's people's argument against us."

"Trust me on this."

It was wildly uncomfortable as the group ate & Calvin cried. Cyborg tried to eat fast but Bumble Bee put a hand on his shoulder & shook her head. He slumped. He didn't like hearing him cry.

It broke Starfire's heart. She kept sneaking glances back at the baby & watched as tears raced down his face.

Even Raven felt bad for him but hoped that Bumble Bee knew what she was talking about. Then she thought about Teether & realized maybe if someone had broken him of his crying when he was a baby, he wouldn't have tantrums now.

Christopher pulled on Nightwing's sleeve. When the older brunette leaned down, he whispered, "It was like this with the scary lady. He cried for a long time."

"Probably why we had all those storms." Cyborg muttered. "It's been like this for six weeks."

Raven cut up Charlotte's food when it became evident that she couldn't pick up the burrito without wearing it. "You don't think it's been him, do you?"

"It would explain why the weather people are baffled." Nightwing said.

"Maybe he is six of the weeks old then?" Starfire guessed.

"Do you know how old he is?" He asked Christopher, who shook his head.

"I can run some tests on him. On all of them. Just to make sure they're healthy." Cyborg offered.

"Are you scared of shots?" Changeling asked Charlotte.

She shrugged. "What's a shot?"

Cyborg turned to her sharply. "You've never had a shot?!"

She shrugged again.

"Maybe she just doesn't know the word for it?" Bumble Bee suggested.

"A shot is a long needle of medicine that usually goes in your arm & it hurts." Changeling explained.

Charlotte looked at him blankly.

"Yeah, she's never had a shot. You don't forget that."

"It wouldn't surprise me to find out these children are malnourished." Nightwing said.

"They will be safe with us." Starfire's eyes burned brightly. Literally.

"Quite."

"Let's talk about something better. What are we going to do tomorrow since we have them?" Bumble Bee asked.

"Mayhap we shall take them to the beach?!" Starfire grew excited for this plan.

"They've probably never been swimming before." Nightwing didn't think it was a good idea. "They won't know proper aquatic safety procedures."

"Maybe we can teach them how to swim?" Changeling liked the sound of that.

"They don't have bathing suits." Raven deadpanned.

"Couldn't you girls go buy some?"

"Why do we have to?"

"Because we'll set up for the beach while you're gone. We'll spend all day outside."

"Maybe it's not a terrible idea…?" Nightwing said slowly.

"I like it." Cyborg lifted his shoulders.

"Then it's decided. We'll have beach day tomorrow."

L-O-V-E•Y-O-U

Bumble Bee looked at the time. "It's getting late. We should get the kids ready for bed."

Raven blinked. "I've never done that. Is it hard?"

"A little. If they splash."

"Splash?" Starfire cocked her head.

"You know? Splash the water?"

"Oh. That sounds most enjoyable. May we start now?"

"Sure. I got a baby tub for Cal-"

"Cal?" Raven raised a hand.

"That's the baby's name. I named him." Bumble Bee picked up the baby that had cried himself to sleep.

"Are you sure that was wise?"

"He needs a name. Calvin is perfect."

Raven looked at Cyborg, who gave her a telling look. "Cal it is."

Bumble Bee smiled. "Okay, let's go. I can't wait to get him in a sleeper."

"Is it the adorable?" Starfire picked up Christopher.

"I bought a couple but the one I want to dress him in is white with yellow ducks on it."

Starfire screeched lowly. "Adorable!"

"Very." Raven said dryly.

Bumble Bee laughed. "Come on, we can give them a bath at the same time."

"Do you have the bubbles?" Starfire asked.

The girls walked out with the kids.

"Bubble bath? Yes." Bumble Bee pressed the button for the elevator to come.

"What kind?" Raven used lavender bubble bath herself.

"Grape, watermelon & strawberry."

"Very fruity."

The girls rode the lift to the barracks & went to the rooms assigned the children. They each picked out items for bath-time & met in the bathroom.

Raven ran the water in the tub & poured in two capfuls of watermelon bubble bath.

The bathroom had four toilet stalls, three shower stalls, five sinks & one tub. There were two bathrooms, one for the women & one for the men. Both looked exactly the same.

Bumble Bee had Starfire hold the sleeping Calvin while she ran him a bath in the baby tub with grape bubble bath. Then she took him back & disrobed him before she put him in the tub.

Starfire helped Christopher take off his clothes before putting him in the tub. She grabbed her cranberry soap & a washcloth & began washing him.

Raven did the same with her lavender soap & Charlotte.

The girls worked silently at washing the children until Starfire started washing Christopher's hair.

"Ow, Mommy!"

"I am sorry, my bumgorf!" Starfire gasped.

He touched his head gingerly. "It hurts."

"Have you ever had your hair combed?" Bumble Bee asked.

He shook his head.

"I'll braid your hair when we get done."

"Such as when we have the night of the girls?" Starfire's mouth opened in delight. "I would very much like to see his hair in bows."

Raven had a dubious look on her face as Bumble Bee laughed. "No, he won't have bows in his hair. It's a type of braiding that lots of men have. Like mine."

Bumble Bee had long ago taken her hair out of two puff balls & now had French braids going down her back.

"I would very much like to learn how to perform such a skill." Starfire tried again to wash Christopher's hair.

"It still hurts, Mommy." Christopher said.

"It'll hurt since you've never had your hair combed but it'll feel so nice after. I promise." Bumble Bee swore.

"It's gonna hurt?" His face was contorted in pain.

"But only for a little while. & I'll give you some medicine so you'll feel better."

"Okay." Christopher sighed.

"I will try to take the upmost care, young one." Starfire vowed.

He nodded.

She worked slowly & as gently as she could to comb his hair until all the kinks were out & the comb could go through easily.

Raven did the same for Charlotte, who didn't speak a word (though she winced a few times). "Wait here." She went to grab a big bath towel & came back. "Stand up."

Charlotte stood up carefully.

Raven wrapped the towel around her & lifted her out. She set her on her feet & began vigorously rubbing her to dry her off. "Are you cold?"

"A little." Charlotte held still.

Once she was dry, Raven pulled a nightdress over her head. "Do you want socks?"

Charlotte nodded.

Raven left to get her socks.

Bumble Bee carefully dressed Calvin in the sleeper she wanted for him & emptied the baby tub. She'd clean it while he was asleep.

Starfire lifted Christopher out of the tub & towel dried him before putting him in Spider-Man pajamas. She emptied the tub & folded the towels to put on the edge neatly.

Raven came back with a pair of tiny white socks. She put them on Charlotte's feet. Charlotte slipped her hand into hers. Raven smiled on the inside.

"Let's stop by my room for the stuff & we'll go up to the common room." Bumble Bee set the awakening baby against her shoulder.

The group walked to Bumble Bee's room, where she picked up the items necessary & they went up to the common room.

"You're back." Changeling was on his knees facing the back of the couch when the girls walked in.

"Friend Bumble Bee is going to do the braiding of young Christopher's hair. Without bows." Starfire said.

"Radical." He grinned.

Starfire giggled before putting Christopher on his feet on the couch. "Are you ready, my bumgorf?"

He nodded. "It won't hurt anymore?"

Starfire looked to Bumble Bee, who shook her head. "Not much."

Starfire turned back to Christopher & smiled. "It will hurt very little."

"Okay." He wrapped his arms around her neck & squeezed.

Bumble Bee gave Calvin to Cyborg before sitting on the sofa. She opened her legs & patted the space between them. "Come sit."

Christopher let Starfire go & walked across the guys to get to her. He sat between her legs & got comfortable.

Bumble Bee got straight to work. She sectioned off a one to two inch swatch of hair by his right ear & bundled the rest in a ponytail holder. She used the comb to make sure all the kinks were out then used a mixture called grease to moisturize his scalp.

After, she separated the hairs by three & started braiding backwards to the base of his skull & a bit farther as his hair was fairly long. When she was done, she sectioned off another piece of hair & repeated her previous steps.

Starfire paid special attention to her workings as she wanted to use the skill in the future. She found herself copying the movements as if trying to commit them to memory.

Raven was in awe. Of Bumble Bee's talent but also Christopher's hair. It held up nicely under the heavy assault & he barely winced. Her own hair was fine & most likely wouldn't hold its shape the way his was.

Nightwing & Changeling had never seen the practice being done before so they watched with unveiled interest.

Cyborg, however, knew of this so he entertained Calvin, who was up & wanted to play. Charlotte sat on Changeling's lap & watched her friend get his hair braided with a slight smile. She was glad he was getting fussed over.

Bumble Bee worked quickly & soon Christopher's hair was done. "I have an extra scarf for you. You want to wrap it up so your braids don't get ratty."

"Ratty?" Christopher looked up at her sleepily.

"When you don't take care of your hair, it gets ratty. Looking how it looked before. You might be a boy but you want to look good, too. Don't you?"

He grinned & nodded.

She pinched his cheek. "I'll tie it on you & you tell me if it's too tight." She quickly covered his hair with a silk scarf & tied a knot by his ear. "Is it too tight?"

He shook his head. "Can I see it?"

"In the morning. It's time for you to go to bed."

"Aww!" He crossed his arms & pouted.

Bumble Bee set him on his feet & began cleaning up but before she got too far, Raven cleared her throat. This was slightly embarrassing but she liked what she saw. "Bumble Bee?"

"Yeah, Raven?" The cocoa skinned Titan raised an eyebrow but didn't look up.

"Can you braid Charlotte's hair? I don't know how to do that."

"It's late. How about I give her a big French braid? I'll redo it tomorrow & can probably do designs if you want."

"Designs?" Starfire was peeking through the scarf on Christopher's head. "You can do the designs?"

"Yeah. I can even do letters. It's pretty cool."

"One French braid will do fine." Raven plucked Charlotte from Changeling's lap & deposited her on Bumble Bee's.

Bumble Bee combed through Charlotte's fine but long hair. She got all the kinks out before greasing her hair then started at the front of her hair to bring three wide sections together. As she worked backwards, she brought the sides in until it was all one jumbo braid. She tied the tip with the ponytail holder she'd used on Christopher's head. "Done."

Charlotte's hair was no longer limp & scraggly. It shone healthily & even curled at the ends. She pulled the braid over her shoulder & marveled at it. No one had ever done her hair before. "Thank you."

"You're very welcome, sweetie." Bumble Bee rubbed her shoulder before setting her on her feet.

"You want me to tuck you in?" Changeling asked.

Charlotte nodded & went to him. "You & Mommy."

"I am not your mother." Raven huffed, irritated.

"Stop being so crabby & come on. It's nine o'clock & she should have been in the bed." Changeling stood & scooped Charlotte up in his arms.

Raven followed them out amongst mental grumblings.

Christopher leaned against Nightwing. "I'm not tired." He yawned.

"Starfire, I think you should put him to bed." Nightwing looked down at the child.

"Will you not contribute?" Starfire picked Christopher up.

"I'm not good with this sort of thing." His cheeks reddened slightly.

"Then you shall learn tonight."

"Star, I don't think-"

"You shall learn tonight!" Her eyes glowed.

He didn't want to be blasted into oblivion so he stood up & they walked out.

Cyborg looked at Bumble Bee. "You're going to put him to bed? Rather you want us to put him to bed?"

"No. I want you to hold him while I get ready for bed. He can't sleep in that big old bed by himself so I'll go to sleep now. I just need to get ready." She picked up everything she was taking with her.

"I'll just watch TV then." Cyborg noticed the baby was going to sleep again anyway.

"Bye, baby."

Cyborg's eyebrow lifted in surprise but she wasn't talking to him.

She kissed the baby's cheek & floated to the elevator.

He shook his head with a blush. She hadn't even been there 24 hours & she was already messing him up.

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

Starfire set Christopher in the bed & arranged the covers around his body. "Are you the snug?"

Christopher nodded. "Tell me a story, Mommy."

Nightwing frowned & put up a hand. "Maybe I should do that?" He didn't want her reciting a war story.

Starfire beamed & sat on the other side of Christopher. "This shall be most enjoyable."

Nightwing sat on the bed & stroked his chin. He wasn't being modest when he said he didn't know what he was doing but he vaguely recalled stories his parents used to tell him every night. He chose his favorite. "There once was a robin that had a bunch of grapes.

He sat in his nest eating them one by one. He was content with himself & his meal. One day a sly fox walked up to him & noticed his beak of grapes.

The fox said to him "You're such a beautiful robin. Your feathers are magnificent, your colors splendid & your eyes sharp.".

The robin liked the praise. He cocked his head to show off the colors.

"You are the most beautiful robin I have ever seen." Said the fox. "You have the grace of a swan, the poise of a flamingo & the regality of an eagle."

The robin liked the praise very much. He preened in the sun.

"I bet you have the most spectacular voice." The sly fox said. "Please grace me with it."

The robin opened his beak to sing & when he did, the grapes fell from his mouth. The fox quickly snatched up the grapes by the stem & trotted off.

The robin felt bad for being fooled for praise means nothing if it's false."

"What does that mean?" Christopher yawned widely.

"It means that people are going to tell you things that make you feel good but it might be because they want something you have. Don't fall for it."

Christopher was silent for a long moment & they thought he'd fallen asleep. "Okay, Daddy. Goodnight. Mommy. Daddy."

"Have the night of goodness, my precious child." Starfire kissed his cheek.

Nightwing cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable. "Go to sleep."

Starfire rolled her eyes as she stood up. Christopher was asleep. She & Nightwing left. "That was a very nice story you told."

"My dad told it to me." Nightwing shrugged, although it was a very big deal.

"Thank you for helping me put him to bed."

"I should go over some leads for the new HIVE members." Though most of their villains had either retired or gotten frozen with the Brotherhood of Evil, new villains were popping up recently.

Starfire knew he was uncomfortable & didn't push. "Goodnight, friend."

"Night, Star." He went to the elevator to go up to the evidence room.

She went to her own room & sat on her bed to regale the highlights of her day to Silky.

L~O~V~E•Y~O~U

Changeling arranged the covers around Charlotte. "Want to hear a story?"

She nodded. "I'm not sleepy."

"Okay." Changeling launched into a long & detailed story of a knight & a dragon & a princess that vaguely made Raven think of an episode they'd had together but she didn't want to be presumptuous.

At the end, Charlotte blinked up at him. "I'm still not sleepy."

"Still not sleepy, eh?" He tapped his hand against his chin. "Do you want me to sing to you?"

Raven frowned. "We're not trying to traumatize her."

"Wow, you're funny, Rae." He mocked.

"Sing, please." Charlotte commanded.

"Alright, here's one that my mom used to sing me all the time.

Oh look there's five little ducks!

1
2
3
4

5 little ducks went swimming one day
Over the hill & far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
But only four little ducks came back

1
2
3

4 little ducks went swimming one day
Over the hill & far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
But only three little ducks came back

1
2

3 little ducks went swimming one day
Over the hill & far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
But only two little ducks came back.

1

2 little ducks went swimming one day
Over the hill & far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
But only one little duck came back

1 little duck went swimming one day
Over the hill & far away
Mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
But no little ducks came swimming back

Sad mother duck went out one day
Over the hill & far away
The sad mother duck said, "Quack, quack, quack"
& all the 5 little ducks came back"

Raven looked at him in awe as Charlotte giggled & clapped. "You didn't sound horrible!"

"I can sing, Raven." He fairly glowed.

"But when we-"

"That was for fun. Sounding bad is part of the description."

She closed her mouth & narrowed her eyes. "What else are you hiding?"

He smirked mysteriously. Eyes never leaving hers, he asked Charlotte, "Want me to sing you another song?"

"Yes, please." Charlotte had liked his rough yet soft voice. It was like velvet wrapped sandpaper.

"Okay. I'll be right back." He left & came back with a worn light brown guitar.

"I didn't know you could play acoustic." Raven eyed him suspiciously. "Just that awful Popstar video game. You always pick the bass guitar."

"So you notice me." He strummed smugly.

She narrowed her eyes & they started to glow red.

He just smiled & began strumming the guitar. He opened his mouth & began singing words neither girl had ever heard before.

Before long, Charlotte's eyes grew heavy & they closed eventually. Her breathing evened out & she made a soft snoring sound.

Changeling stopped playing & kissed her forehead. "Sweet dreams, Princess Charlie."

Raven eyed him as they left. She turned out the light on the way out & looked at Charlotte for a second before closing the door. She folded her arms & looked at him again. "Where did that come from & what was it?"

"Where did what come from?" He leaned against the wall next to his door.

"That song. It wasn't English & wasn't gibberish so I assume it was a real language. Why didn't you tell any of us you knew more than one language?"

"You know I can speak to animals."

"Human languages!"

"You never asked."

She frowned. "Well I'm asking now. How many languages do you speak?"

"5."

"I speak six." It was a little thing to be competitive over but she was.

He smirked. "Well I'm going to go play video games. See you in the morning, Mommy."

"I'm not that child's mother!" She snapped at his retreating back as he laughed.

5 Little Ducks, The Fox & the Sparrow by Aseop.