"What are we going to do with all this stuff?" Nightwing looked around.
"I know I want those drums!" Cyborg geeked out over the set.
"There are a lot of flowers. What was that about?" Nightwing stuck himself on a thorn.
"Anger." Changeling grinned sheepishly. "I teased her about being embarrassed & she got mad."
"& flowers appeared? What is that ring?"
"Lightweight titanium." Cyborg replied. "It's supposed to harness her energy in a constructive way by manipulating her powers into conjuring up harmless objects if leaked."
"So she can essentially feel without worry now?"
"Yes."
"I guess we don't have to worry about those mood swings anymore."
Changeling took a break (from eating cookies). "Whew! I was scared about those!"
Jinx laughed. "I can't wait to see how this goes."
"I can gather the rest of the blooms & display them in the rooms." Starfire offered.
Nightwing nodded. "Approved. Who's going to take all this art stuff? Changeling?"
Changeling looked over (having resumed eating). "Sure."
"Jinx? Could you take some of these mirrors? We'll donate whatever's left to Speedy."
Jinx laughed. "I can see that."
"Terra, can you round up all the tea & put what can fit in the pantry? We'll put the rest in another room."
Terra nodded. "Okay."
"Charlie?" Nightwing squatted in front of the little girl. "Can you take all the cookies into the kitchen for Uncle Dick?"
Charlotte grinned. She'd eaten another gingerbread man & her face was blue, red, green & white. "Okay, Uncle Dick!"
He smiled at her as she flew around the room collecting tins. "Bumble Bee? Take all the records. Dole out what you think everyone would like & take the rest to an old shop."
"Got it." She saluted him.
"Cy & I will move the instruments & sunglasses. We'll just give Charlie the balloons."
So they set to work cleaning up. Changeling took all the art supplies to his room, Charlotte put all the cookies in the kitchen & Starfire set a vase or two of flowers in every room of the tower. Bumble Bee sorted through all the records & gave everyone what she thought they'd like then flew to the city to find a secondhand store. Terra found room in the pantry for all the tea except a few paper boxes & all the wooden ones. She put the paper boxes in the cabinets in the kitchen then stacked the wooden boxes in her arms to give to Raven for her room.
Jinx put mirrors in every room before finding boxes to send the rest to Speedy in. She snickered as she thought of how he would react when he got them. He'd probably be ecstatic. Nightwing & Cyborg rounded up the musical instruments & doled out who would get what then moved them to those rooms.
All the while, Kid Flash & Calvin slept & Raven meditated on the roof.
*•*•*•*•*
"Can we talk?"
Bumble Bee jerked & nearly spilt her tea. "Talk about what?"
"Talk about Changeling & Raven having another baby." Cyborg leaned into the fridge for a snack. "I haven't talked about it at all."
Bumble Bee wasn't sure where this was going. "Yeah. Sure. What do you want to talk about?"
"Like can you believe she's pregnant?! I thought she of all people would be safe!" He leaned back to look at her.
"Contraception isn't 100% effective."
"I know but still. My little sister is pregnant." He looked back into the fridge to pull out turkey & cheese.
"She's an adult & she already has a kid." Bumble Bee rolled her eyes.
"I know but still. I'm worried about her. Will you talk to her? See how she's really feeling about it?" He grabbed a pack of crackers from the pantry before sitting in his chair to construct towers of meat, cheese & crackers.
"We've talked a little." She took another swig of iced tea.
"She say how she really felt?" He barely paid her any attention.
"She's excited." Bumble Bee had no idea if Raven was excited but knew she would be if she was pregnant.
"There would be more records then." He smirked.
"Okay!"
Both looked to the entrance of the common room to see Raven, Changeling, Nightwing & Starfire coming in. Raven was the one who'd spoken.
"What's going on?" Cyborg asked.
"Changeling has been admonishing Raven for meditating instead of the resting she was supposed to have partaken in." Starfire told him.
"Please, somebody get him away from me!" Raven growled.
"You have to take it easy!" Changeling wouldn't let it go.
"I won't break!"
"You don't know that. A half demon's never been pregnant before."
"How would you know?" She rolled her eyes.
"Don't change the subject!"
Cyborg & Nightwing snickered.
Raven huffed. "I will rest when I am tired & not a moment before! I had a headache I needed to get rid of & that took precedence."
"Then why can't you go lie down now?" Changeling demanded.
"Because I'm not tired!" A rose fell onto her head.
"You have a rose perched atop your head, Raven." Starfire took it.
Raven fought for control. "Leave me alone!"
"I'm not messing with you!" Changeling argued.
"I will lock you out of my room!"
"I'll leave you alone."
Cyborg fell out laughing. "Quit now, didn't you?!"
"I don't want to be cut off." He admitted sheepishly.
Raven went to the fridge & pulled out the pitcher of tea & poured herself a glass. "Then stop."
"I stopped!" Changeling raised his hands in surrender.
"How are you this glorious day, friend Bumble Bee?" Starfire sat in her normal seat.
"I'm fine, Star." Bumble Bee was glad to have a break from baby talk. "You?"
"I am the fine as well."
Raven pursed her lips. "You should talk."
"Raven, no!" Bumble Bee waved her hands.
"Why not? They're both here."
"I do not wish to talk about this." Starfire shook her head.
"Bottling it up will only ruin your relationships." Raven was sure. At least that was what Wisdom had told her when she'd visited earlier.
"I'm okay with that." Bumble Bee said immediately.
"I will learn to go on." Starfire agreed.
"What are they talking about?" Changeling asked Nightwing & Cyborg.
"No idea." Both shook their heads in confusion.
"Talk to them or I'll have Jinx do it." Raven threatened.
The scare tactic worked. Both knew Jinx would take great pleasure in revealing their innermost feelings.
"Fine!" Bumble Bee snapped bitterly.
"If that is our only option, I concede defeat." Starfire bowed her head.
"Nightwing, sit." Raven pulled Changeling to their seats & sat down. "We're having a discussion."
"Ooh! That sounds serious!" Kid Flash was in front of them instantly.
"You're so nosy!" Jinx followed much slower.
"What? I want to be in a discussion."
"I'm not admitting this in front of him!" Bumble Bee refused.
"Is this about you wanting a robo baby?" Jinx set her hands on her hips.
It grew really quiet. So quiet that Cyborg's choking sounded like gunfire. "Jinx!"
The pink haired hero shrugged. "My bad."
Bumble Bee wished she could melt into the ground. "How could you?!"
"My bad." She repeated. "I didn't mean to say it like that."
Bumble Bee rolled her eyes & got up to leave but Cyborg stopped her. "What is she talkin about?!"
"Nothing." She looked away.
"Oh no you don't! What is she talkin about?!"
"I don't want to talk about it!"
"Too bad! Robo baby? What does that mean?!"
"It means I want to have a baby!" She yelled.
Kid Flash gasped. Jinx elbowed him in the stomach. "Shut up!"
"You want- you want a baby?" Cyborg sputtered. "You have a baby. Cal's a baby. You want a baby?"
"Yes! You know I want a big family. We've talked about me growing up. Why would you think I wouldn't want more kids?!" She crossed her arms.
Cyborg was close to malfunctioning. "I didn't know. I didn't know."
"Then why don't you wear a condom? You must be okay with the odds of me getting pregnant if you're being so irresponsible."
Cyborg's face changed to one of sorrow. "Bee."
"What?" She didn't like the way he said her name.
"Bee, I'm technically sterile."
There was many gasps this time.
Bumble Bee's eyes swam with tears. "Sterile?"
"My sperm count is under 1000." He shrugged lightly. "I can't get you pregnant."
Bumble Bee covered her face & tried not to cry.
He put a hand on her shoulder. "But there's good news."
She sniffled loudly. "What?"
"I have sperm saved in a bank."
"What?" She wasn't sure she heard him right.
"When I had my accident, my dad knew my sperm would be affected so he used a procedure to extract my sperm & saved it for me." Bumble Bee broke down crying & he panicked. "Isn't that a good thing? I'm sorry!" He broke off when Bumble Bee wrapped her arms around his neck & jumped into his arms. "I'm confused."
"I'm happy." She drew in a shaky breath. "This means I can get my baby. Our baby."
Cyborg unwrapped her arms slowly. "Whoa! Wait a minute. We already have a baby. Cal's still really young. We should wait for this."
She wiped her nose. "You're right. Cal's really young & he won't understand a new baby right now."
Cyborg breathed in relief but he sucked it back in when she went on. "Next year. Def."
"What?!"
Kid Flash & Changeling chuckled.
"Oh, def. On my twentieth birthday, we'll go down to the place & start the IUI treatments. It shouldn't take anything at all. We're both young & healthy."
"Bee. Bee. Bee." Cyborg shook his head, dazed as he interrupted her.
"What?" She wiped her face.
"Don't you think that's a little soon?" A lot soon.
"No. I don't want them too spaced apart. Twenty is perfect."
"Bee-"
"We're doing it!"
He cowered. "Okay!"
She relaxed. "Well, I feel better." She went back & sat down & drank her tea as if nothing happened.
Changeling & Kid Flash were chuckling hardcore at Cyborg's face. Raven rolled her eyes at their immaturity. "Starfire. You're next."
"I believe you were correct in your assessment of the situation, Raven. Nightwing?" Starfire turned to her boyfriend. "I wish to become pregnant as well."
Nightwing's eyes grew to epic proportions. "Excuse me?!"
"I want another bumgorf." She said simply.
"But you have Chris. & Silky." He was thoroughly shocked.
"I know but I want more. I was very lonely growing up & I wish to have a large family to remedy that. It is what I have always wished for."
Nightwing almost fell out. His legs literally buckled. "Oh. Yes. I- Uh- what?"
Changeling & Kid Flash fell out laughing. Jinx & Raven hit them both.
"Nightwing? I am not so sure you want more children with me. Am I correct in my belief?" Starfire implored with impossibly wide eyes.
Nightwing's heart melted. He couldn't tell her he didn't want more kids with her. For one, it was untrue. "Of course I want more kids with you, Star. I just think that at this time, it would be a bad idea. Changeling & Raven are having their baby now. Cyborg & Bumble Bee will be having their baby next year.
That's a lot & we're not even married. I'd like for our next child to be in wedlock."
Why'd he say that? Starfire took it as a proposal. She squealed long & loud. "Yes! Yes! Yes!"
It took him a few seconds to respond. "What happened?"
"Yes, I will marry you!" She threw her arms around his neck.
"Wait, wait, wait!" He pulled her arms away from him. "I'm not asking you to marry me."
Her face fell. "No? You do not wish to marry me?"
"No!"
She started crying, Changeling, Kid Flash & Cyborg started laughing & Jinx & Raven facepalmed as Bumble Bee shook her head in exasperation.
"No! That's not what I meant!" Nightwing waved his hands. "I meant I wasn't proposing yet! Yet! I will! One day. We just need more time!"
"I feel as though I have been waiting since the Klorgaf tides have crashed upon the Seag shores!" Starfire wailed.
He hated to ask but... "What does that mean?"
"They crash every ten Tamaranean years!"
"So a long time?" He sucked in a breath. "Give me a year. Can I have a year?"
Starfire stopped sobbing & thought about it. "Yes. You may have a year in which you will propose."
Nightwing heard that threat. "Okay good." He took a deep breath. "A year."
"& then we will conceive."
*•*•*•*•*
"It's really crazy around here." Terra was lying on her stomach in her bed with her feet swinging, talking to her Atlantean boyfriend on her communicator.
"Wow. I can't believe she's... you know." Aqualad's eyebrows shot up to his hairline. "You'd think she would be more responsible than that."
"Bumble Bee says birth control isn't 100% effective." Terra lifted a shoulder.
"She's right." He cocked his head. "How are you holding up? I bet she has a lot of mood swings."
"She has been." She stopped kicking her legs. "I think that's why she's been losing control so much lately."
"I thought it was because Changeling really pushes her buttons." He joked.
"He does." She grinned. "But some fights weren't his fault."
"You mean like every time she gets jealous?"
"Some of those are his fault! He flirts so much!"
"He is a charmer." He admitted.
"But sometimes she's jealous for no reason."
"Like when she's jealous about you?" He taunted.
She smirked. "Yes. Like when she gets jealous about me. We don't have anything going on but she gets weird sometimes. But it's nothing like how he gets about you!"
He made a face at her laughter. "It's not funny. He really flies off the handle. Sometimes I think he's willing to fight me to the death over her!"
She began kicking her feet again as she burst out laughing. "I do, too!"
*•*•*•*•*
"Wazzup, Mr. Starfire?"
"Shut up. Just shut up." Nightwing massaged his temples. After talking Starfire into waiting a year after their nuptials to conceive, everyone had dispersed for various reasons but it was near lunch now & he'd been trying to come up with what to eat when Changeling decided to grace him with his blessed presence.
Changeling laughed. "I can't. I can't believe you're on the hook for marriage & a baby in just two short years!"
"Your baby will be here by then."
Changeling shut up. "So whatcha makin?"
"I'm trying to think of what to make."
"Is Chris coming home for lunch today?"
"No."
"Then let's have dogs & chips!"
Nightwing blew out a breath. "Fine." He took out package of hot dogs, sausages & veggie dogs.
"Want any help?"
"Sure." Nightwing shrugged.
Changeling grabbed all the condiments in the fridge while Nightwing boiled the meat in separate pots. The masked leader, who was wearing a pair of "embarrassment" shades, grabbed the wheat hot dog buns as the jokester of the team grabbed fruit to cut up & chips.
They worked in silence for a while before Nightwing spoke as he opened a package of shredded cheese. "How do you really feel about Rae being pregnant?"
Changeling stopped what he was doing (cutting strawberries) & looked up. Then he looked around before replying, "I'm a lot better than I thought I'd be. I really want this baby."
"Aren't you scared though?" The tanned detective asked. "I know we have the kids & all but going through a pregnancy seems different. Bigger."
"I'm terrified. I keep thinking he or she is going to hate me for giving them my messed up DNA. Charlie got the best of my power. She can turn into any animal without any weird side effects. What if this kid ends up just like me?" By now Changeling had started shaking.
Nightwing looked straight at him. "Then he'd be lucky."
Changeling relaxed. "Thanks, dude."
It was quiet once more as they finished up their respective duties. Nightwing fished out all the links & emptied the water. Changeling cut up the fruit & set out drinks. The nineteen year old grabbed utensils for the condiments while the eighteen year old set out plates & napkins.
"So you're really happy she's pregnant?"
Changeling's ears flicked. "I am. I know I sound douchy but I feel kind of proud. Like I accomplished something. Does that make sense?"
Nightwing thought it over. "Seems reasonable. A man's not a man if he can't give the woman he loves a baby. Or at least it feels that way. You did a man's job. You procreated."
"Yeah. I feel like a caveman."
Nightwing smirked. "You act like one half the time."
"I'm so offended right now, dude."
*•*•*•*•*
Raven stopped listening in to the private conversation in the kitchen & smiled. Changeling was really happy about the baby. That made her happy. Tea appeared in her room.
She roughly tamped down her feelings with a small twinge of annoyance. An iced sugar cookie in the shape of a star appeared in her hand. She took a bite out of it. It was perfectly sweet without being cloying.
"Yum..."
*•*•*•*•*
"Okay, Titans, listen up!" Nightwing announced at breakfast the next morning. "The press conference is in four hours."
"It's today?!" Bumble Bee choked on her tea.
"Yes. Wear your uniforms & stand with your significant other. I'll open the floor up with a statement then Starfire & myself will announce our relationship. Then Cyborg & Bumble Bee then Changeling & Raven then Kid Flash & Jinx. It's optional for you, Terra. Then we'll open the floor to questions."
"Where will the kids be?" Jinx asked. "We can't leave them by themselves."
"It's during naptime & the press will be right outside. It's at ten fifteen & you may go back inside at eleven."
"Cal won't sleep for 45 minutes." Cyborg pointed out.
The self-proclaimed prank master added, "Charlie will be up before then, too."
"Kid can check on them. Like I said, it won't take long." Nightwing assured.
"Have you gotten me a - what is it called again, Bumble Bee?" Raven asked.
"An OBGYN." The brown eyed girl told her.
"That doctor."
"Yes. You have an appointment this week. I'll give you the address later." Nightwing said.
"I am nervous." Starfire admitted.
"Why?"
"The public is most ardent about our personal lives. I am unsure if I can keep silent about Christopher if asked."
"Nobody's gonna ask."
"If you are sure..."
"I'm sure."
*•*•*•*•*
The girls were finishing their movie from the week before when Starfire squealed. "I am almost the engaged!"
"What?!" Terra's eyes widened.
The other girls smirked as the redhead nodded furiously. "Yes. Boyfriend Nightwing said that we would be joining the privilege of near matrimony in a year's time."
"Whoa baby!"
"Nightwing's supposed to pop the question next year then have a baby the year after." Bumble Bee grinned.
"It was almost as funny as you bullying Tin Man into giving you a baby next year." Jinx laughed.
Terra's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "No way!"
"Way." Raven confirmed in her dry monotone. "It was quite amusing to watch."
"Why didn't anything show up?" Jinx demanded.
"You didn't notice the brushes?"
Jinx, Starfire & Bumble Bee blinked. They hadn't. "No."
"Paintbrushes appeared."
"I can't believe commitmentphobe Nightwing is going to pop the question in one little year!" Terra exclaimed.
"Do the believing." Starfire giggled happily.
"Are you going to tell the world about you & Aqualad?" Jinx asked.
The blonde shrugged. "We haven't talked about it."
"You probably should." Bumble Bee told her. "The conference's in-" She checked the time. "Less than thirty minutes."
Terra stood up. "Alright. Tell me how the movie ends."
They waved her off before Jinx turned to Raven. "Any training today?"
"We have our afternoon training." Raven was confused.
"No." Jinx rolled her eyes. "I mean to see what other powers you have."
"Oh. Yes." Raven's lips flattened. "After the press conference."
"Are you excited to see what else your ring will make your powers do?"
"Ecstatic."
*•*•*•*•*
Nightwing realized something very important the moment he stopped talking... he hated being open. He forgot that in order to tell the public about him & Starfire, he'd have to tell the public about him & Starfire!
The reporters drew closer as they waited for the juicy tidbit he'd just promised them.
"Uh..." He sweated under his uniform.
Starfire gently took his hand & gave him a sweet smile. Flashes went off at this new development.
Feeling better, Nightwing faced the crowd. "Starfire & I are dating. Thank you."
The two stepped aside for Cyborg & Bumble Bee, who held hands. "Bumble Bee & I are dating." He & Bumble Bee stepped aside.
Changeling took Raven's hand & brought her to the podium. "Raven & I are dating."
There was shouting & pictures being taken but the shapeshifter just moved his pregnant girlfriend out of the way for Kid Flash & Jinx, who stepped forward.
"As you probably all know, Jinx & I are dating."
Terra was the last to move. She tapped the nearest microphone before clearing her throat. "I'm dating Aqualad of Titans East."
Nightwing stepped forward again. "The floor's open for questions."
The crowd went wild.
Nightwing frowned. This was harder than he expected. "You. There in the brown."
The man excitedly pushed forward & pressed record on his recorder. "Yes! This is for Cyborg & Bumble Bee. Did you move from Steel City to be with Cyborg, Bumble Bee?"
Bumble Bee stepped forward. "Not exactly. I was here for a mission & ended up staying. Sparky & I ended up together later."
Hands waved in the air so she picked someone. "Yeah. This is for Changeling & Raven. How did that happen?! He's so goofy & she's so creepy!"
Changeling growled but Raven put a hand on his chest before approaching the podium. "Changeling & I are more than what idiotic, pathetic wannabe journalists think we are. That's why we're together. Because of everything we are & everything we aren't."
Nightwing inclined his head at his friend's response then took her place at the podium. "Yes, you."
*•*•*•*•*
"I have never been so glad to have something be over in my life & my sixteenth birthday ended the world." Raven moaned as Cyborg ushered her inside.
He laughed. "Those people are like vultures. They pick at bones, thinking it's meat."
She groaned. "I have such a headache. It took all of my concentration to keep my powers under control."
"I bet." He punched in the button for the elevator to take them to the common room. "At least you'll be able to feel as soon as you get inside."
"I have a feeling cookies will be showing up soon."
They reached the top floor & went through the hallways until they reached the doors leading to the common room. Kid Flash had brought Charlotte & Calvin there on his last trip of checking up on them.
"Mommy!" Charlotte shouted. "People outside!"
A vein throbbed in Raven's forehead at the reminder. "I know. They'll be gone soon."
Charlotte had her face pressed against the glass. "Why are they here?"
"I don't know what to tell her." She looked at Cyborg, who shrugged as he went to pry his son from under the sofa. She sighed. "They came to take some pictures & ask us some questions."
Charlotte nodded before turning away from the window. She climbed off the window seat & walked over to Raven. "Let's play tea party."
"How about you play tea party with your toys while Uncle Vic & I do… something. We'll be right here if you need us."
"Okay." Charlotte dropped her bottom lip before brightening. "Come on, Cal!"
Calvin wiggled from his father & toddled over to her. She took his hand & led him to the plastic table by their toys.
"Ready?" Cyborg sighed over the work he'd been trying to accomplish being outshown by a two year old.
"Yes." Raven nodded & loosened the control over her powers. Immediately her headache went away & platters of cookies showed up. Raven felt the entirety of her annoyance. Every surface was littered with tins of cookies & they stacked three deep.
"Wow. They must have pissed you off." Cyborg whistled lowly.
"I haven't gotten to my anger yet." She bit off. Suddenly vases of flowers sat upon tins. "I am furious with those mealy mouthed vermin!"
"All those questions about why you're together sure didn't help."
"Nor the name calling. Gar is not stupid!" Single flowers rained from the ceiling.
"Ow!" Charlotte dropped the rose she'd picked up.
Instantly, Raven was by her side, healing the cut. "Are you alright?"
Charlotte nodded. "Why are flowers & cookies coming from nowhere?"
"It's the ring Uncle Vic gave me. I can feel now & when I do, it makes nice things happen." She explained.
Charlotte thought it over. "What does cookies mean?"
"You know when Daddy tells his bad jokes?" Raven waited for Charlotte to nod. "It's that feeling."
"What about the pretty flowers?"
"When Mommy gets mad."
"Did those people make you mad, Mommy?" Charlotte was a very astute child.
"Yes. Yes, they did."
Charlotte wrapped her arms around her mother's neck. "I'm sorry, Mommy."
Love & affection swept through Raven. It showed when musical instruments popped up all over the place but even freakier, birds came to the windows in droves. Raven watched in amazement as they started singing.
Cyborg watched in morbid fascination as chickadees, mockingbirds, blue jays & many more flocked to the tower & sung. "Now that is awesome!"
Raven pushed aside her feelings & the birds flew away. "That was love?"
"You were feeling love?" He went for his notebook & wrote it down. "I think each emotion has facets that are getting FaceTime."
A hummingbird tapped at the window as Raven let Charlotte go. "Def. getting face time."
*•*•*•*•*
"This is ridiculous!" Raven snapped.
"I know. Confusion's not an emotion." Cyborg scratched his head. Nonetheless, he sat the candle down.
After trying to stimulate various emotions, only two occurred; fear (after thinking about Wicked Scary II) & the not-really-an-emotion confusion (after wondering why no other emotion was coming to her).
The rest of the Titans stepped into the common room. Starfire screamed when she saw what fear produced.
"Star?! Are you alright?!" Nightwing hadn't.
"It is… the makeup!" She held up foundation & lipstick.
"That's a fear based effect." Cyborg finished writing down the effect for confusion.
"Fear makes makeup pop up?" Jinx grinned as she picked up some blush. "I could get used to that."
"What's the candles about?" Kid Flash jumped over the sofa & fell to the floor after sliding on tins of cookies.
"Apparently confusion decided to become an emotion." Raven rubbed her temples.
"But-?"
She interrupted Nightwing. "I know."
"Seems you were pretty annoyed." Bumble Bee looked over all the cookies.
"What other emotions are you trying to feel?" Changeling asked. "Maybe we can help?"
"As gross as it sounds & trust me, I don't wanna see this but I want to know about lust." Cyborg said. "There's so many variations on love & I want to see what that'll produce."
Two pairs of sunglasses appeared as Raven blushed. "No. No. That won't be necessary."
Too bad Changeling had already walked over. He wrapped his arms around her waist, dipped her then laid one on her.
At first, sunglasses were showing up left & right but then a bang was heard.
"Did something blow up?" Terra asked.
Starfire squealed. "No. It is the colored light like the 4th of July." Everyone was confused until she pointed up.
Above their heads, different colors were exploding then raining down like confetti.
"So pretty!" Terra exclaimed.
"He must be rockin her world." Bumble Bee was impressed.
"It's not like she can breathe anyway." Jinx laughed as they all realized the kiss remained unbroken.
Nightwing cleared his throat a few times to get the distracted couple's attention. "So we know what lust is."
Raven blushed but amazingly, no sunglasses appeared.
Cyborg finished writing down the effect. "Let's see how you handle stress. Imagine you had to do that press conference all over again but by yourself."
Raven's eye twitched. Just the thought brought back her headache.
"Yeah man!" Bumble Bee held up something. Something cute.
"It is the animal that is stuffed!" Starfire grabbed it from her.
"It's so cute!" Terra tried to tug it from Starfire but the orange girl wasn't letting go. "C'mon, Star! You had your turn!"
"The stuffed swine is mine!" Starfire's eyes glowed.
"No fair!"
The tugging increased & so did Raven's headache. More stuffed animals showed up along with a few more cookies.
"Guys!" Nightwing refereed. "She has more!"
Both were unaware of that fact until then. "More?"
"Yes. You're stressing her out & she produced more."
"I'm sorry, Raven." Terra felt bad.
"I also apologize, dear friend." So did Starfire.
"We don't need to work out stress or annoyance." Cyborg had gotten into a tin of cookies as he spoke. "What about sadness? Can you give me sad?"
Raven raised an eyebrow. "I'm not really a sad person." At least she tried not to be.
"Just think of something sad like a car hitting a dog or no more ham at Christmas."
"Wow. Really?" Changeling glared at him.
He only shrugged.
Raven thought about what would make her sad. She went through what would make a normal person sad but it wasn't doing it. Then she thought about if something were to happen to Charlotte. What if she was hurt & Raven couldn't heal her? What if she failed her?
Chocolates. Boxes of chocolates appeared atop any remotely flat surface. Chocolate truffles, candy hearts, fruit filled, cream filled, nut filled, hollow, solid, crispy, caramel, bars, pieces, boxes of chocolate.
As everyone marveled at the sight Changeling rewrapped his arms around Raven. "Whatever it is, it'll be okay."
"I was thinking about if something was to happen to Charlotte." She rested her head against his chest.
"Nothing's going to happen to her. We're here & we'll never let it."
Her worry & sadness went away. A box of tea appeared. Along with a bottle.
"What's this?" Nightwing picked it up. "Sangria? This is wine!"
"Wait! Wait! Wait!" Cyborg scribbled furiously. "What are you feeling, Rave?"
"I don't know. Changeling made me feel better & I suddenly felt… brave. To face whatever challenge we might encounter." Raven was feeling brave. It seemed to seep out of her & it showed as more bottles appeared. Some sat upright but most lay on their side on the floor & sofa.
"Bravery causes wine." Cyborg smirked. "Usually it's the other way around."
"We should clean up in here." Nightwing frowned. "What are we going to do with all this stuff?"
"Déjà vu anybody?" Jinx quipped.
"This is a lot of cookies! & flowers. What are we supposed to do with them?" Nightwing flailed his arms.
"Donate them." Changeling shrugged. "Hospitals, group homes, schools."
"That's actually a good idea, Changeling." Nightwing liked it.
"We have to keep the adorable stuffed creatures, assuredly?" Starfire hugged a stuffed snake to her chest.
"Yeah, sure." He didn't care. They just needed to find a place for all this junk.
As before, they split up to clean the room. Food went to the pantry while the other gifts were divvied up betwixt themselves.
When the room was cleaned (& the T-car was loaded up with vases of flowers & tins of cookies to take to shelters & the like), the team assembled once more.
"I'd like to try one more emotion if you wouldn't mind, Raven." Cyborg knew she was tired.
She nodded. She could handle one more.
"Can you feel guilt?"
Raven blinked. Why did he have to ask something so hard?! If it were a few years prior, she would have been swimming in it but since letting go of her birthday fiasco, her burden had been far lighter. "I can try."
They all waited as she tried to emote but nothing was happening.
"Come on, Raven. This one little emotion & you can go meditate." Cyborg enticed.
"I'm trying." She gritted her teeth together as she concentrated but was coming up empty. She'd apologized for any wrongdoing she had committed & expunged herself of guilt. She was completely free of the emotion.
But not another...
"Alright, stop. You're getting frustrated." As soon as the words left the robotic man's mouth, a pillow hit him in the face. A small, white, oblong pillow that had Love stitched across in rainbow thread.
"Frustration is not an emotion, am I correct?" Starfire picked it up from where it'd fallen.
"Not usually." Nightwing gawked as more pillows showed up. They were in a variety of sizes, shapes, colors & decorations but all were fluffy.
"I love these!" Terra picked out seven pillows that were emboldened with famous city names with famous landmarks in the background.
"I could get used to this power." Kid Flash put a really big fluffy dark blue pillow behind his neck.
Cyborg finished writing it down. "Take a fiver, Rave. You deserve it."
Raven sighed in relief as her frustration melted away. Her head was pounding & she needed a cup of tea stat.
Changeling knew this. "How about I take you to your room & bring you a cup of orange jasmine green tea?"
She smiled warily. "That would be nice."
The two shuffled off as the rest of the team decided what to do with the pillows.
"I'm going to go check on what the news is on our statuses." Nightwing was officially over it.
"Kid & I are going to drop off the flowers & cookies." Cyborg palmed the keys to the T-car.
"I'm going to watch the kids & fix lunch." Bumble Bee flew over to the tea party.
Terra shrugged. "I don't mind."
"Neither do I." Starfire loved the attractive pillows. If she had her way, she'd keep them all & give the plain ones to her friends.
"Okay." Nightwing was glad to reach a decision so quickly. "We all have our plans. Titans, go!"
*•*•*•*•*
Raven sipped her tea slowly, letting it warm her insides. She took a deep calming breath. This was more like it. Her headache was slowly going away & she'd be able to meditate shortly. "Don't stop."
Changeling grinned. He'd brought her, her tea along with a plate of iced sugar cookies & a big pillow then decided to rub her feet. "I never get tired of hearing that."
"Don't make me duct tape your mouth shut." She warned.
"So I should be seen, not heard?"
"Exactly." He pressed down hard. "Ow!"
"Sorry." He lied.
She glared at him. "Don't be mean."
"Shouldn't I be the one saying that?"
"I said it first." She stuck her tongue out in a fit of immaturity.
He chuckled at her cuteness. "I love you."
"I love your hands."
He grumbled then shrugged. Close enough...