Chapter 7: The Longest Night

With Emily's return and subsequent birthday party almost a week behind them, things had returned--for the most part—to a normal routine at Titan's Tower. The days rolled from combat training, missions and classes to evenings out, meals together and occasional visits from their parents. One Thursday morning found Robin on the phone when Hummingbird trudged into the kitchen.

"When did this happen?" Robin cried. "It's been how long? When were you planning on telling me? I'm sorry, dad, I'm just…I know you didn't call to make me angry…yes, I know that it's Rosemary's eighth birthday this week. Really? You think she's ready? Of course! Yeah! I'll talk to you and mother later. I love you too…bye."

"What's happening?" Hummingbird asked as she retrieved a bowl and other apparatus for breakfast. The others were slowly filtering into the room as Robin replaced the handset.

"That was my dad…you're not gonna believe this, Livie…my mom's having another baby!" Robin replied, his eyes starting to shine the more he thought about this impending new sibling.

"That's awesome!" Hummingbird replied, suddenly more awake. She went crossed to where Robin stood and hugged him.

"That's not all, either. There's another surprise on its way, too," Robin added.


"Happy birthday, pumpkin," Nightwing murmured as he woke his young daughter that day. She opened her blue eyes and Nightwing grinned. Rosemary Grayson was her father's mirror image etched into her mother's feminine features.

"Thank you, daddy," she whispered as she yawned and stretched. She sat up and wrapped her arms around Nightwing's neck and hugged him. He reminded her that breakfast was soon and then left the room to allow her to change. When Rosemary arrived in the dining room, she situated herself in a chair between her father and her grandfather, Batman.

"G'morning, Grampa," Rosemary said, climbing into the chair and lightly kissing Bruce Wayne's waiting cheek. It was Rosemary's custom to give him this kiss every morning and Wonder Woman often teased him, saying that he looked forward to Rosemary's kiss more than he did hers.

Bruce grinned as Rosemary ate her cereal. He looked over her at Nightwing, who grinned shyly back at him. Starfire sat down at the table and now was as good a time as ever to tell her.

"Your grandpa and I have been talking about your birthday, Rosie," Nightwing said. "We've got a surprise for you, but you have to tell us if it's something you really want."

"A surprise?" Rosemary squeaked. "What is it, daddy?" Nightwing covered Starfire's hand with one of his and then looked back at Rosemary.

"Your mom and I have decided that since you're eight years old now, you're old enough to decide whether you think you're ready to be a Titan or not," he said. He watched Rosemary put down her spoon and carefully contemplate this.

"You would be near your brother and the others. Jason would take good care of you and you would be able to fight the crime with the rest of the Titans," Starfire added. Nightwing could feel that she was over-talking the situation in her nervousness. Nightwing squeezed her hand reassuringly. Rosemary looked up from her cereal bowl with a very concerned look on her face.

"What if I need you? Or mother? Or grandpa?" with each addition to this list, Rosemary's voice rose in panic. This time, Bruce jumped in, putting his hand on his granddaughter's shoulder.

"Olivia and Jason know exactly how to get a hold of all of us, including all of your aunties and uncles in the event of an emergency," Bruce said. Rosemary seemed to relax when he said this. Now she smiled and heartily agreed to the proposition. Just as she said that she would love to go and live with the others, the door to the dining room opened again and admitted a red-haired young man in a handsome purple uniform. Rosemary leapt from her chair and hovered as she squealed in joyful shock, "Jason!" and bolted through the air, across the room and into her big brother's waiting arms. Robin had not even managed to locate his family before his little sister launched herself into his chest and knocked him to the ground. He laughed as Rosemary babbled over and over that she had missed him.

Robin sat up with some difficulty and took in the sight of his young sister. She had grown considerably since he had seen her. Her new uniform, a gift from their parents, was much like their mother's: a simple tank top and skirt. Robin also grinned as he noted that his sister's uniform covered her midriff, a modification he was certain their father was responsible for.

"Are you done with breakfast?" Robin asked. "I want to go in the practice arena here. I've never been in it before." Rosemary jumped up and escorted her brother to their destination. Once they were there. Rosemary watched in awe as her brother put on an impressive display of his abilities. One of the drones nearly had him, but he managed to evade it and finish the simulation. When he finished, there was general applause from the small group that had accumulated. Among them was his father.

"Nice work out there, son," he said, patting Robin on the back as he caught his breath. "You've been practicing."

"Every day," Robin replied proudly. "Has Rosie been working out here?"

"The kids have their own program here, but she doesn't use it as often as she could," Nightwing said. Robin asked why and Nightwing gestured to Rosemary, who hid her hands instinctively in shame. Robin smiled gently and took her hand from behind her. It was burned, just like his had been when his powers first developed.

"This happened to me, too," Robin said, reaching into his pocket. "Reese and Toby made me a pair of gloves that protect my hands from the starbolts. Here. These are for you. Happy birthday, sis." Robin held up a new pair of gloves that matched his almost exactly except that hers were white with a pink stripe that bore the word "Rosefire" in pretty white letters.

"Rosefire?" Rosemary repeated.

"Yeah. That's your new codename. That's what the rest of the team will call you when we're kicking bad guy butt together," Robin said as he slipped the gloves over her hands and showed her how to secure them. "There. Now you won't get burned." Rosemary smiled and threw her arms around her brother. He hugged her back for a moment and then knelt down in front of her.

"When can I come live with you, Jason?" she asked. Robin smiled.

"Tomorrow. I need to go home and do my patrols, but I'll be back for you bright and early tomorrow morning, okay?" Robin replied. Rosemary nodded and made a run from the room to start packing. Starfire came forward and kissed her son's cheek.

"You were truly marvelous, my son," she cooed, hugging him.

"Your mother and I have something for you, too, Jason," Nightwing added. From behind his back, Nightwing produced a deep purple cloak with armored clasps.

"Oh wow…" Jason stammered. "It…it matches my uniform!"

"It does indeed. We wanted our son to look like the Prince that he is," Starfire explained. "Especially when he is presented at court on Tamaran."

"Court? Tamaran? When am I going to Tamaran?" Robin asked.

"We're thinking of taking you and your sister to meet your subjects," grinned Nightwing. "We wouldn't be gone more than a week."

"Who's going to cover my patrol routes? What about the team?" Robin babbled.

"Don't worry about them. Titans East will be coming to visit and there will be plenty of extra hands to help make sure everything's covered. If anything, Livie's going to have her hands full. She's not used to Mas and Menos…" Nightwing chuckled.

"I guess I don't feel so bad then. When did you say we're leaving?" Robin said.

"In two weeks," Nightwing said. "We'll work out more specific times later. C'mon, let's go sit down for a while. Your grandparents want to see you, too, and it feels like we haven't seen you in forever." Robin smiled, and followed his parents out of the practice arena.


By the time Robin returned to Titans Tower, it was evening, and the Tower was quiet. He walked into the Ops Room to find the television still running and a single Titan on the couch in front of it. Robin took a glass of juice into the living area with him and walked around the side of the couch. Fast asleep in front of what appeared to be a rerun of an antique show was Hummingbird. She slumped in her seat as she rested her head on the back of the sofa, forcing her chin into her chest. Robin chuckled softly and sat down gingerly beside her. Hummingbird awakened and yawned as she stretched a few of her cramped muscles.

"When did you get home?" she murmured.

"About five minutes ago," he replied softly.

"How was the Watch Tower?" she asked, her eyes still drowsily half open. Robin smiled.

"You'd think my folks hadn't seen me in years they way they coddle me; especially my mom," he said shyly. Deep down, he really loved his mother's doting attentions. Hummingbird giggled.

"It's not funny," Robin replied, still grinning and now staring at his shoes in an attempt to hide the blush spreading up his face. "How would you like it if your mother ruffled your hair in front of other respectable super heroes?" Hummingbird laughed a little harder.

"What are you watching?" she said, suddenly looking at the TV screen. She flipped the channel to a show about animals and then returned her attention to Robin. He placed his empty juice glass on the coffee table in front of them and then relaxed back against the cushions again, stretching his arms out along the back. After a few minutes of the show, Robin, too, was slumping in his seat. When a new source of warmth presented itself, Robin instinctively wrapped his right arm around it without opening his eyes to see that he was tucking an equally sleepy Hummingbird beneath his arm.

At one point, Robin awoke and sleepily fumbled for the remote. The show they were watching was long over and now all that remained was the white noise left when programming is over for the night. He looked at the sleeping girl in his arms and smiled. Lightly, he brushed Hummingbird's hair out of her face, more aware than ever how soft her skin was, and how her hair was smooth like lavender silk. The gentle point of her ears peeked out from beneath this and it took all his restraint to keep from tracing the contours of her features with his fingertips.

Robin swallowed and then whispered so softly that no one else in the world could hear, "I've been so blind…Until tonight I thought you were just my best friend. I feel like I've really looked at you for the first time in my life…." Robin rested his head against hers and closed his revelation with, "You're so beautiful, Olivia…"

They were awakened hours later by what sounded like one of their teammates suffering from a terrifying nightmare. Without stopping to consider their circumstances, they ran from the living area to Catalyst's room. Hummingbird banged on the door when they arrived, and then bolted inside when the door slid open.

"Toby!" she shouted. "Wake up! You're dreaming!" Hummingbird shook her twin's bare shoulders and he cried out as he tore himself from his dream state. He gasped for breath as Hummingbird sat down on the edge of the bed, and the others filtered inside, each one concerned about their friend. Beast Boy came forward and stood near his oldest siblings but before he could speak, Catalyst found his voice.

"Call mom and dad…something's wrong…Now, Livie…find mom and dad…" he stammered.

"I have bad dreams sometimes, too," Beast Boy said soothingly. "Here, this makes me feel better when I want mom and dad…" with this, he offered his big brother a stuffed action figure of their mother. Catalyst ran his hand through his hair and Hummingbird gently took the doll from him with a smile.

"Thanks, buddy," she said. "Toby, what's going on?"

"I'm telling you, something's wrong. I keep dreaming that something's wrong!" Catalyst cried.

"Take it easy," Hummingbird said, squeezing his shoulder. "I'm sure everything's all right. Emily, do you have your mirror?" When Thetis produced her mirror, the kids watched in eager anticipation as the image materialized on the surface.

"See—I told you everything's fine. Look, dad fell asleep in mom's arms again. You know how much mom likes that," Hummingbird said. "Go back to sleep everyone. False alarm," She handed Thetis back her mirror and then remained as the others went back to bed.

"Are you going to be okay?" Hummingbird asked her twin.

"I know Emily's mirror says that they're okay, but I can't help feeling like we're not getting the whole picture here," Catalyst replied.

"That mirror is never wrong. We'll call them in the morning and make double sure," Hummingbird said, standing as Catalyst sank back into his bed. "Everything's fine."


Three Hours Before:

"Hmmm…do it again," Raven moaned, a satisfied smile gracing her pretty face. She rolled over onto her husband's chest, observing his smile too as he replied, "Anything your heart desires." Raven straddled his thighs and bent down over him, running her hands through his hair as she kissed his mouth. He clutched her to him and returned this kiss, his heart beat now escalating again. Changeling pulled his wife down against him and rolled her beneath him. Out of instinct, Raven readjusted her position so that he could once again bury himself inside her. She gasped and cried out as he found that rhythm that she liked so much—not to fast but just slow enough where she felt every nerve ending firing when he moved. She clutched the sheets and moaned again, making Changeling even more excited. He panted as he pushed harder, knowing that if she moaned like that again, his end would come before hers and that wouldn't be acceptable. He wouldn't be able to sleep if he left her unsatisfied. Raven cried out and wound her arms around him, digging her nails into his back and pushing her hips against him, desperately wanting more of the friction his motion was creating. Suddenly she felt it—it was coming. Raven whimpered again and her breath doubled as she plummeted over the edge and very nearly screamed as her body climaxed, all of her muscles clenched as Changeling himself quivered and came inside her, collapsing onto her chest as he tried to catch his breath.

Both of them still sweating, Raven clutched Changeling to her and smiled as he nuzzled against her and wound his arms around her torso. As Raven's heart beat slowly returned to normal, Changeling suddenly rolled over onto his back and started to cough.

"What's wrong?" she asked weakly.

"I don't know," Changeling replied. "My heart is still racing."

"Are you okay?" Raven asked, rolling over to face him. She reached over to touch him and he jerked away, now clutching his chest.

"I can't breath! Oh, God, Raven, help me! My arm is starting to hurt!" Changeling gasped. Raven shouted into their intercom that they needed emergency medical assistance and then returned to her husband's side. She grabbed onto his hand and refused to let go when he tried to pull away.

"Don't you leave me," Raven murmured, kissing his face and speaking near his ear. "Do you hear? Don't you leave me…" Seconds later, Changeling lost consciousness and Raven panicked. At that moment, the emergency team arrived and used the emergency transporter to remove Changeling to the infirmary. By now, most of the other heroes in their part of the crew quarters wing were awakened by the noise.

"Raven, what happened?" asked Nightwing, emerging from his and Starfire's bedroom.

"I don't know…" Raven said, hugging her bare shoulders. Her nightgown was thin and the corridor was chilly. Torque and Arsenal were now coming out from their room to see what was wrong. Nightwing was about to take Raven in his arms to keep her warm when there was a small tug on Raven's nightgown.

"Here, Auntie Raven," said a little voice. Raven and Nightwing smiled as the little girl before them handed Raven her robe. The six year old was bundled from head to foot in her own warm red robe and fuzzy matching slippers. From the glint in her blue eyes and the reddish tint in her hair, there was no doubt as to whose daughter she was.

"Thanks, Erin," Raven said. Erin Lian Harper had been born shortly after Aries' one year anniversary with the Titans. She was tall and fair, and in every way her father's little girl. She had picked up a bow and arrows and began practicing with her father before most of her friends on the Watch Tower were old enough to read a book. Torque often remarked that her little girl was a fighter from the word go. Erin had kicked harder in the womb than her brother Aidan before her, and had kicked and screamed her way through her first two years of life as she had often been sick as an infant. Once Erin could walk, there was nothing stopping her, and she could only grow stronger. Arsenal could not have been prouder. Now she returned across the hall to them, where Arsenal picked her up and held her.

"I…I don't know what to do…" Raven said, losing the battle to keep her tears from falling from her eyes. "Should I be there? Should I go back to bed and wait until morning? I know I'm not going to be able to sleep…"

"Get dressed. I'll come and sit with you," said Cyborg, joining the conversation. "I was down at the infirmary already. Gar's had a heart attack."

"Oh, Azar…" Raven gasped, collapsing to her knees. Nightwing caught her as she started to sob.

"Come on, Raven. I'll help you get dressed," said Torque. Jinx joined them and helped her get Raven onto her feet again and get her back inside the room. Minutes later, they came back out and Cyborg escorted Raven down the corridor to the elevators. Starfire had joined the group now, gently clutching Nightwing's shoulder.

"Is Raven going to be all right?" she asked softly.

"That will depend on the next few hours. If Gar pulls through then I'm sure everything will be fine. If not…this is going to be a long night," Nightwing replied, reaching over to kiss Starfire's forehead.

While they waited outside the infirmary, Cyborg tried to convince Raven to call her children and inform them of what had happened.

"It won't do any good to worry them right now. We don't know what will happen. If he takes a turn for the worse, I'll call the kids, but for now, let them sleep. They don't need to worry yet," Raven insisted. Cyborg nodded and held her in his massive hands.

"Oh, Vic, what am I going to do if he dies?" Raven murmured.

"We'll worry about that if it comes to it, Rae," Cyborg said softly. Two hours later, a doctor emerged from the ward and told them that Changeling had been stabilized and that he was asking for Raven. Raven and Cyborg went to the bed that Changeling had been placed in and Raven took her husband's hand in both of hers.

"Hey, good lookin'," Changeling muttered with a weak grin. Raven started to cry again.

"You scared me," Raven whispered.

"They tell me I'm going to be okay, baby girl," he replied. "Don't you worry about me."

"I won't be able to sleep with you here like this," Raven murmured. Her tears plopped softly onto the sheets below her. Changeling smiled. "Then come here," he said, gently patting the empty space beside him. She levitated up onto the bed and Changeling snuggled against her, holding her hand tightly as she slowly stopped shaking and drifted off to sleep.

"Thank you, Cyborg," Changeling whispered as he closed his eyes. "Thank you for looking out for her."

"You can thank the others too, when you get out of here," Cyborg smiled, patting Changeling's shoulder before he left the infirmary. "Sleep well, guys."