Disclaimer: Don't own Teen Titans or DC.

Shoutouts:

Author's Note: I'm back with an update! Sorry it took so long, I've been hard at work on the book that me and my friend are writing. So now, I'm sitting on my bed, typing away on my laptop and getting caught up on Glee. :D I am so glad that everyone liked the first chapter (those who were reading it for the first time and those re-reading.) So folks, don't bite my head off on this, I made Babs only a couple of years older than Dick because quite frankly, I don't feel like writing her any older than that – I'll take my chance and be inaccurate. Also, I have to add that I retconned Dick and Babs relationship a little bit :P

Bound to You: The Christmas Spirit

Chapter 2

Dick leaned forward in his seat and took a deep breath. Not thinking twice about his posture, he allowed his body to slouch down as he decided to occupy himself with watching the floating ice cubes in his half-empty glass; anything to keep him from glancing at his watch for the hundredth time that evening. The party had merely just begun and already Dick was isolating himself into a corner.

This has to be the most boring thing that I have done since, well- since the last time I came to one of these things. With that negative thought, Dick raised his drink to his lips and took another sip.

"Well, well, well, fancy seeing you over here, in a corner, all by yourself." The sudden voice made Dick's insides jump a little. He calmed himself down before speaking to his visitor.

"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

"You actually mean to tell me I succeeded in sneaking up on you? Wow, Dick, I do believe you are losing your touch; or, perhaps the alcohol is hindering your foresight." The female voice responded in a playful fashion. Dick could not help but smile at the banter; she hadn't changed.

"You know, you haven't changed." Dick turned to face the voice, "you are still using sarcasm as a flirting tactic. When are you going to learn that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar, Barbara?"

Barbara stifled her laugh. "You haven't changed much either, still using these lame-ass parties as a chance to raid the Wayne liquor cabinet. Just remember boozie, mod-er-ration."

"As I recall, I wasn't the only one guilty in that debacle, in fact, I remember there being a certain red-head encouraging me all night. That one was such a nagger." Dick finished his statement by taking another drink from the glass. The events of the 'liquor-cabinet' night, as they had referred to it since its occurrence, were still a bit of a blur. He would; however, always remember the aftermath, because it was the first time Bruce had felt compelled to reprimand him with, what at the time seemed like, a prison sentence.

"That girl sounds like a horrible influence; she must have been bad news."

"It's okay, she got hers." Dick smiled at Barbara then changed the subject. "So having fun?"

Barbara scoffed, "Oh yeah, I mean, what could be better than celebrating a party with people you don't know? Not much I tell you, not much." Dick looked around the room and realized that he too didn't know half of the people that filled the hall. At least he could chalk it up to living in Jump City for almost seven years; what was her excuse? He voted to remain quiet on the topic and took the final sip remaining in his glass.

Thank goodness I am old enough to enjoy the open bar.

Barbara, in attempt to break Dick's silence, started talking again. "God, I can't stand her." She said looking straight ahead.

"Who, " Dick followed her gaze. "Selina?"

"Yes, Selina. She is a terror; did you hear about her practically trying to kill me? I can't believe she expects us to be cool with each other now. We so are not." Barbara ranted.

"I know I am probably going to regret asking about this, but how did she try to kill you?" Dick curiously pressed on. He hated it when Barbara began to act like a drama queen, but he had to admit that he hadn't always been Selina's biggest fan either. Hey, as long as Bruce is happy, right?

"A few years ago, she roped me up in my grapple and used me as bait. Maybe I over reacted a tad when I said that she tried to kill,-"

Dick couldn't help but interrupt Barbara in the middle of her story. One, he really didn't care all that much and two, he never passed up the opportunity to tease Barbara about something; so when opportunity called, he had to answer. "So you mean to tell me that you let Catwoman catch and bait you with your own grapple? Oh Babs, that is just sad. Now, who's the one losing their touch?" Dick smiled; that was the best news he'd received all day.

"Hey, life begins to take its toll after a while. Speaking of life, how is yours? How is Jump City?"

He knew it was only a matter of time before she was going to question the current events happening in his life. He didn't want to think about Jump City at the moment; although, he knew throwing the last few days events out of his thought-process was impossible. He thought about getting up and getting another drink at the bar, but decided against it when he caught a glimpse of Barbara's eyes burrowing into him.

What is she looking at?

"Dick, you are acting awfully strange. Is everything okay with you?" Barbara paused before continuing, "Is everything okay with the missus?"

No. Everything wasn't okay. Since his departure, Dick just couldn't shake off the feeling that engulfed him when he looked at Kory's face before leaving the bedroom. Kory didn't have to express how unhappy she was, her eyes narrated it all. Still, he couldn't see how any of this was Barbara's business; why was she even asking? "Babs, no offense, but I really don't want to talk about it right now."

"So it is woman troubles. Did you two have a fight?" Barbara egged on.

She was never a girl to follow boundaries; if she is curious about something, she asks. That's just the way she is. Dick tried repeating these facts, to keep from raising his voice. "Babs, I really don't feel like dealing with one of your jealous tirades right now; I already told you that I didn't want to talk about it."

Barbara inhaled sharply. "Dick Grayson, what the hell-, actually, you know what? I am going to forget about your momentary lack of decency and offer my ears to you anyway, despite your rude remark. Why? Because believe it or not, I do like to consider us friends – no, family; we have been through enough. Honestly, it does hurt sometimes knowing that you are off being happy, without me--"

Dick stood up, grabbed Barbara by the arm and pulled her out of the Grand Ballroom. He didn't want to make a scene. "Let's just get one thing straight; you were the one that left me. When I was going through some pretty big shit, I might add."

"Excuse me? You were the one that broke up with me! In an e-mail, no less."

"You wouldn't answer or return any of my phone calls; I had no choice."

"Would it honestly have made any difference?" Babs asked, feeling the need to defend herself. "You had your mind made up and nothing was going to change it. We weren't going to work."

Dick was about to offer his rebuttal, but before he could, his phone started vibrating inside his tux jacket. He took it out and looked at the screen. 'You have one new text message.' He frowned when he read the message. It was from Kory; she missed him. He felt terrible.

"As I was saying, before you rudely interrupted me and yanked me into the hall, I'm by no means jealous. Just because our romantic relationship dissipated when you left for Jump City, doesn't mean that I can't objectively act as a friend. I am here for you Dick, if you need someone to talk to." Barbara nervously brushed away the imaginary wrinkles on her dress before turning to walk away.

"Sorry, Babs, sorry." Dick quickly reached his hand out to grab on her shoulder. "Don't go. You're the only one here that I even remotely care to have a conversation with." Barbara turned around acting as a catalyst for Dick to continue. "I didn't mean to stage an attack on you. I acted like an ass." Babs turned around and crossed her arms over her chest.

"We didn't have a fight." Dick forced out. "This was an important Christmas to her and I left her alone to come here." He saw Barbara nod in the corner of his eye. "So that's what's wrong with me, I'm just feeling a little guilty and she just sent me a text message that made me feel worse than I already did."

"Well, Dick, I hate to bring up the obvious, but why didn't you just bring her with you?"

"Because I'm a coward, that's why." He swallowed anxiously knowing that he was going to offer an explanation. "We're engaged."

Barbara's jaw dropped. "Wow, Dick…I can't say I'm not shocked…congratulations."

A small pang of guilt tugged at Dick's heart; he knew Barbara wasn't exactly thrilled about hearing the news of his pending engagement; however, he would rather her find out from him personally instead of having to read it in the 'Gotham Post'.

"Thanks. She has been through a lot this year; she deserved a great Christmas and I failed at providing it for her." He ran his hands through his hair out of frustration. "I know I should've brought her despite what everyone would have to say; I'm an idiot. Even though your reaction to the news was gracious, I doubt Bruce's will be."

"So you didn't bring her because you are scared of what Bruce would say? Or do? Dick...you have to stop craving Bruce's approval." Barbara raised her left eyebrow.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dick countered with raising his right eyebrow. "I don't crave his approval."

Barbara glared at him incredulously. "You're kidding right?"

"Look, I just didn't want to fight with him during hell month. Is that such a bad thing?"

"Yes, it is, especially since you left your fiancé alone on Christmas all because you are scared to admit to the man who raised you, that you are engaged to the woman you love, a fact that he's going to eventually hear about anyway? Are you insane? Dick, that poor girl is probably heartbroken; no one deserves that on Christmas."

"I know."

"Plus, this would be the perfect time to tell him; he's not going to say anything in front of Selina, she wouldn't stand for it."

"I didn't think about that." Dick, the detective, admitted out loud.

"Yeah," Babs continued, "and everyone's going to be there, he wouldn't dare make a scene."

Dick stared at her with disbelief. "You're absolutely right." He started to take off towards the staircase that led to the manor's second level, but not before turning around to face Babs. "Feeling adventurous tonight?" He asked, wearing a huge smirk on his face.

"Hell yes!"

Kory deeply inhaled the scent of gingerbread and cinnamon that filled the tower kitchen. Since the moment Dick had left for Gotham, she had been keeping herself busy with baking. The once cleared-off kitchen counter was now covered with cupcakes, fruitcakes, her special chocolate chip cookies and now, gingerbread men.

"Kory, you should really come into the common room and watch the movie with us; we are beginning to worry about you." A fellow Titan voiced.

"I am fine; there is not anything to worry about," she smiled. She didn't want to ruin Christmas for the rest of them.

Raven ran her eyes over the counter and absorbed the site of all the baked goods lying out. She wasn't stupid, but she didn't want to push Kory into acknowledging something that she didn't want to.

"Okay Kor, I'm not going to try to push information out of you because, to be quite honest, consolation is more of Donna's territory; however, just know that we really would like your company. Dick may not be here, but we still are, so you don't have to be alone." Raven didn't want to wait for an answer before she started walking away.

She quickly called out to Raven's retreating form, "Raven… you are… you are absolutely right." She untied her apron and tossed it on the counter top. "Just let me take a shower first. Will you please inform Vic and Gar that I will be out in a few minutes?" After receiving a short nod from Raven, Kory started briskly towards hers and Dick's bathroom.

Kory wrapped the towel tightly around her slender figure and stepped out of the shower with absolute grace. The hot shower had allowed her to relax for the first time of the day.

"Christmas shouldn't be this stressful." She commented to herself, "at least it never was before."

All she wanted to do at that point of the evening was crash onto the bed, go to sleep, and wake up when Christmas was over and Dick was back at home, but she couldn't because she had already promised the rest of the team that she would join them in the common room for a movie.

Hopefully, the movie won't be long.

She opened the door to the bedroom and flipped the light switch, illuminating the room and revealing a masculine figure sitting on the edge of the bed.

"Hey…"

Final Statement: So yeah, this chapter didn't have too many changes either, aside from the Dick/Babs convo. I know it was a pretty short chapter, the next three (or four if I decide to add some) while be longer.