Venom: It's a Christmas miracle!

Jinx: Yeah, we're back.

Robin: And better than ever.

Venom: Let's just get into it and start the show!

A Symbiotic Bond: A Venomous Titan Reborn
Chapter Twenty-Six

Gotham City – Downtown
Teen Titans

Jubilee's eyes fluttered open as she woke up beside Cyborg, Robin and Harley Quinn in the back of a pickup truck. Jubilee rose up and yawned heavily before she shook Cyborg awake. "Oi! Wake up Cyborg," Jubilee said as she continued to shake.

"Mom, I don't want any more green beans," Cyborg grumbled out as he turned away from Jubilee, which made her roll her eyes and shake him again.

"Cy, up and at 'em," Jubilee said.

Cyborg groaned and turned back around with half opened eyes and said "That's a nice sight to wake up too…"

Jubilee felt her face heat up at the compliment and Cyborg quickly woke up, realizing what he had said and blushed as well.

"Ah…Thanks…" Jubilee said with a bashful smile on her face.

"Awww, how cute," Harley's voice said, causing the two to look at her smiling face. "You two must really like each other."

The pair blushed again before Jubilee noticed Jean, Starfire and a girl that looked similar to Starfire, floating down to them. "See, I told you left them here," the girl said as the trio hovered over them.

"I can't believe it," Starfire said. "You were telling the truth…"

"Hey guys," Cyborg said. "Hey Blackfire."

"Sup," Blackfire replied as she stuck her hands in her pockets. "Harley, nice to see you again…Outside of that place."

"Likewise," Harley said with a smile. "It feels nice, don't it?"

"Damn right," Blackfire said before she glanced down at the group and said "You guys owe me one. When that guy left you all for dead, I was able to save you."

"Damn it Gambit," Jubilee said with a disappointed tone.

Ororo was going to be so disappointed in him…

"So what happens now?" Jubilee asked.

That question was soon answered as Raven floated into view with X-23 in an aura bubble and when Raven landed, the bubble popped and X-23 fell to one knee. "I am never doing that again," X-23 panted out.

Jubilee leapt out of the truck and landed beside X-23 and asked her adopted sister "Laura, are you okay?"

"I'll be fine Jubi," X-23 replied as she ruffled Jubilee's hair, which caused the X-man to pout. "Just had a bit of a fight. Nothing more, nothing less."

"I thought all of this was a dream," Robin said, prompting Jubilee and the others to look at him. "But I guess I was wrong…"

"Dead wrong bird brain," Harley said with a teasing smile. "So, what do we do now? I mean Arkham is destroyed and who knows who survived that big booming explosion." Just as Harley said this, dozens of squad cars rushed past them, heading straight towards the destroyed asylum.

"Wait! I just realized something….Beastboy and Jinx are missing," Cyborg said.

"Beastboy?" Raven asked. "You've seen him?"

Cyborg gave a small smile and said "Yeah…We've seen him…"

"We need to find him immediately," Raven said as she began to float but Jean held up her hand to stop Raven from flying off.

"No need, they're already here," Jean said as she pointed to the sky.

The group looked up to see Rocket flying down towards them as Venom, with Jinx on his back, Red X and Black Cat swung from building to building until Venom released his webbing and landed on the ground, with Rocket, Black Cat and Red X landing on the ground moments after.

Jinx hopped down from Venom's back and said "I don't think I'll ever get used to that."

"It takes time," Venom replied with his eyes arching up slightly before he said "Well…Hey guys, I managed to get my friends back."

"Nice!" Cyborg said with a thumbs up.

"I was unaware you were friends with Red X," Robin said before he glanced to Black Cat and said "And Catwoman's apprentice as well…"

"Well I do try to keep my friend's list vari-" Without warning, a black aura formed around Venom's body and everyone watched as he was suddenly yanked forward by Raven but before anyone could do anything, the aura faded and Raven took him into her arms with a tight hug.

"You idiot…" Raven whispered.

"I wasn't expecting that," Cyborg whispered to Robin, Starfire and Jubilee, who all nodded in agreement.

"Hey Rae," Venom whispered softly as he returned the hug just as tightly. "So I take it you missed me?"

"Against my better judgement, I did," Raven replied as she pulled away and said "You grew and your voice is deeper…"

"We spend all that time apart and that's the first thing you noticed?" Venom joked.

"Well when you go from shorter than me to taller than me, I'm going to notice," Raven said dryly. "So you're the Spider…I never would have guessed."

"Venom," Venom corrected. "That's the name I decided to go with."

"Venom…Sounds fearsome…" Raven said.

"Well, I do try…" Venom replied.

"When this is all over…I wish to speak to you later about so-"

Raven was interrupted when Rocket exclaimed "Okay!" as she stepped forward with her hand out to the Teen Titan member, putting herself between Raven and Venom. "Hi! I'm Rocket. His partner," Rocket introduced with a smile.

"Raven, It's good to meet Champion City's other hero," Raven said dryly as the two shook hands but while there was a smiles on their faces, everyone could see the challenging gaze in their eyes.

"While this is amusing and cute, how about we get out of here?" X-23 suggested.

"But where should we go?" Harley asked.

"I know where," X-23 and Jinx replied in unison.

Gotham City – X-Force Dorms
Teen Titans

"Thanks for showing us to the meeting room Laura," Robin said to X-23, who shrugged in response.

"I'm pretty sure when we all get some well needed rest, we'll need this room so might as well get it out of the way," X-23 replied as she took out a cigar and lit it up. "If you guys need me, I'll be up at Wayne Manor checking up on my friends."

"Don't go yet, I want to make sure Batman, Batgirl and Blackbat are okay," Robin said.

X-23 nodded before she turned to Raven and said "Thanks for saving me back there. I was pretty bad off."

"Anytime. We make a pretty good team," Raven said.

X-23 smirked and raised her right fist and gave Raven a fist bump before she looked to Robin and said "I'll be outside. Hurry your ass," before she walked off.

Robin snorted but watched as X-23 walked off before he turned around and said "Alright Titans…There is one thing that I want to do before we begin our debriefing meeting…"

Robin walked up to Jubilee and pulled out a communicator. "You've been through all of this with us when you really didn't have to. You helped us in Japan, helped us through this huge battle and we all like you so…I know you have your commitments with the X-Men but would you join us as a member of the Teen Titans?"

"Um! Fuck yes!" Jubilee exclaimed as she took the communicator. "I always wanted to be a Teen Titan!"

"We shall make the pudding of welcoming!" Starfire yelled happily as she hugged Jubilee tightly, who laughed and hugged back.

"Whoo! Congrats girl!" Cyborg exclaimed as he hugged both Jubilee and spun them around while both Starfire and Jubilee laughed happily.

"Congratulations," Raven said to Jubilee with a chuckle before she looked to Robin and asked "So no Static and Zatanna?"

"They are still my most wanted on our team, we just got very lucky to get Jubilee as well…And hopefully Venom will come back with us as well…"

"You think he will? I mean it's obvious he's made friends with Red X, Black Cat and…Rocket," Raven said as she crossed her arms.

Robin couldn't help but smirk at the jealousy in Raven's voice at the mention of Rocket. "You could tell that they were close?"

"The minute we talked, she was there. It's obvious she may be harboring some feelings for him," Raven noted. "She may have not said it but her body language told me all that I needed to know."

"It won't change anything about how you feel about him, will it?" Robin asked.

"Of course not," Raven said. "It is not like I'm in love with him…It's just a crush…a simple, small crush…"

Robin smirked and said "Yeah, And Cyborg and Jubilee are just friends."

Raven snorted and turned away and began to walk down the hall "I'm going to meditate."

"Need to find the right words to talk to Venom?" Robin asked.

Raven paused before she continued to walk away.

"That girl is in so much denial, she might as well be a river in Egypt," X-23 said from behind Robin, which caused him to flinch and turn around in alarm.

"I thought you left," Robin said.

"I did, I came back," X-23 replied. "Was hoping I'd catch something interesting was not disappointed either. You ready to go?"

"Yeah, I'm ready," Robin said before the two walked off but before he did, he said to the remaining three Titans "I'm heading to Wayne Manor. You guys relax for the night but tomorrow, team meeting with everyone."

"Right-o Boss," Jubilee said with a salute.

Both Starfire and Cyborg nodded and the trio watched as Robin and X-23 walked off. Once Robin was gone, Starfire said "I wish to speak to friend Venom so I must depart as well."

"Sure thing Star," Cyborg said. "I guess you'll be the first one to introduce him to the Apology tour?"

"Apology tour?" Jubilee asked.

"It's a long story but despite our friendship still being strong with him, we didn't part on the best of terms," Cyborg explained.

"Why don't you talk about it over the hot of chocolate?" Starfire suggested.

"You know what? That doesn't sound half bad," Jubilee said as she held a hooked arm to Cyborg. "Let's go."

Cyborg gave Starfire a silent look of joy before he connected an arm with Jubilee and said "Let's go."

Starfire watched as the two walked away and Starfire let out a gleeful laugh before she flew off down the hall that would lead to Venom.

Gotham City – X-Force Dorms
Garfield "Venom" Logan

"That Raven girl…She is very attractive…" Sym said quietly as Garfield laid down on his bed. After the group made their way to the dorms, Jinx and X-23 showed everyone to their rooms. "So is Rocket, Jinx and that Starfire girl…You seem to know a lot of attractive girls…"

Garfield frowned at this and said "Wait…Sym don't tell me that you're jealous…"

Sym laughed and replied "No…Not at all. In fact, I am very happy that my partner knows so many attractive females. You deserve to be happy you know?"

"Whew, thank goodness. I was worried for a moment that you were jealous," Garfield sighed out in relief. "Even if you aren't, I will say this. You don't have anything to worry about. You're still my number one gal."

"Thank you partner," Sym replied before Garfield was hit with a burst of affection and satisfaction. "We can finally relax...It seems so long ago since we can just chill, as you say."

"You got that right," Garfield replied with a relieved sigh. "So you never told me, how is Sym-Alpha our daughter?"

"Well…My species are able to create offspring with a certain number of seeds without our mass. I am able to create Seven of them while Sym-Alpha, when fully matured, will be able to make three. My race has something that is called a "Genetic Memory" where we can recall information from previous host. For example, the powers you have came from him since I was with him the longest."

"Okay," Garfield said, so far understanding. "So if for whatever reason we split apart, you'll have my genetic memory forever and I guess this is also why Sym-Alpha called us her parents when she was created because she has your genetic memory along with mine."

"Exactly…Normally, when my race has its offspring, there's no emotional attachment to it but since I've been with you, I have this...And it is the most wonderful feeling," Sym said with a proud tone.

"I'm glad…I'm feeling proud too if you can't tell…" Garfield said with a large smile.

"Speaking of our Offspring…She's is at our door," Sym noted.

It was then he heard a knock on his door. "Well, so much for that," Garfield said as he stood up and walked to the door with a shout of "Coming."

With a twist of the doorknob, He found himself staring at Jinx, who had her hands behind her back. "Oh, hey Jinx," Garfield said.

"H-Hey," Jinx asked.

"Hey Mom! Hey Daddy!" Sym-Alpha said.

"I gotta say, I'm still not used to that," Jinx said with a nervous laugh. "W-Well, can we talk for a second?"

"Sure…Come on in," Garfield said as he stepped aside to let her enter.

Jinx shook her head and said "It's not that deep of a talk…I-I just wanted to say thank you. You saved my life a lot of times since we reunited and I…Um…" Jinx suddenly revealed a bouquet of flowers and pushed them into Garfield's arms.

"Take them," Jinx said before she quickly turned around and ran off while Sym-Alpha shouted "Love you daddy! See you later!"

Garfield laughed and glanced down at the flowers in his hands. They were a bunch of pink and white roses. Where Jinx got them in the middle of the night, he didn't want to know but he found the gesture really sweet.

He turned around and placed roses on the dresser beside his bed and attempted to close the door when Starfire floated into the room and asked "Friend Venom, may I talk to you?"

"Sure Star. You know I'll always make time for you," Garfield said as he sat down on the bed with a smile. "But you can call me by my real name outside of missions."

"Your real name?" Starfire repeated before she smiled and said "Okay friend Garfield." Starfire floated into the room before she sat down on the bed as Garfield pulled out a chair and said "Now speak to me, Orange Beauty."

Starfire giggled before she leaned forward and kissed his forehead. The action was so sudden that he was taken by surprise. "W-What was that for?" Garfield asked with a faint stammer, ignoring the small laugh Sym gave.

"I was giving affection to my Milnip Wusserloop," Starfire said cheerfully.

"My mama what?" Garfield asked with mock offence, which caused Starfire to giggle once again.

"It means, "My Beloved Younger Half" and that is what you are to me," Starfire said softly. "In Tamaran, there is a word called Rutha. It means "weak" and when you left, I felt so weak…" Garfield noticed Starfire's eyes beginning to glisten slightly. "I didn't know if I would ever see you again so I wanted to tell you now that I apologize."

"Apologize?" Garfield asked.

"Yes! I wish to do the apologies," Starfire confirmed. "When you changed to the Beast, I did not defend my Milnip Wusserloop. I instead thought you had injured Friend Raven as well…And even after you were proven innocent, I didn't apologize then either…And by the time I realized it…You were gone."

Tears began to fall from Starfire's eyes and Garfield felt his heart squeeze. If there was anyone that he refused to see crying, it was Starfire.

"As much as it hurt, looking back on it, I'd be suspect of me too," Garfield replied. "I was being a jerk and the last time anyone had saw me, it was Raven and we had an argument before it all went to hell. I was never mad at any of you," Garfield admitted.

"Y-You should have been. I was the most mean to you," Starfire said.

"I think that was more Robin but," Garfield joked but seeing her wounded expression, a tender smile appeared on his face.

Garfield took Starfire's hands and held them as he said "Star…I need you to know something. Ever since the Titans began, we all had our roles to play. Robin was the courageous leader, Cyborg was the brawn and the brains, Raven was the sarcastic yet wise one and I was the carefree jokester. But you are the heart of the team."

"M-Me?" Starfire mumbled.

"Yes you," Garfield said softly. "From the moment we met, you've been always cheerful, always hopeful and never failing to bring a smile on my face. You crash landing here was the best thing that could have happened to not only me but to all of us. You really are the heart of the Titans. How could I ever, in my wildest dreams, be mad at any of you? Especially someone I see as my beacon of light?"

"Oh my Garfield, you have really taken her breath away," Sym noted as Starfire looked at him with shock on her face. "You better be careful or you may cause her to be smitten with you like Rocket is…"

'Good point, thank you Sym,' Garfield thought.

"Oh friend Garfield…I feel joyous that you have forgiven me for what happened! I shall bake the pudding of reunion in celebration!" Starfire said as she leaned over and gave Garfield a hug, which he returned gratefully.

Suddenly, Starfire let out a yawn and laid down on Garfield's bed with a tired "I am quite exhausted…"

"Same here," Garfield replied. "I haven't really had a chance to rest since Champion City…If you're really wiped, you can stay here tonight."

Starfire yawned again and said "I'd like that."

In any other situation, he would have refused but at this point, he could feel the exhaustion quickly overcoming him so with a quick web to the door to close it, he plopped down beside Starfire on the king sized bed and let out a yawn but when he looked to Starfire, she was fast asleep.

Garfield laughed softly and soon drifted off to sleep as well.

Rain: And that is the end of this chapter. As I mentioned, the next few chapters will be more lighthearted after the countless battles. The next chapter will include Some Jinx and Sym-Alpha having a heart to heart, Robin and X-23 checking out Wayne Manor along with Red X and Black Cat and Rocket/Raven interaction as well as a few other things so until then…

Starfire: Happy Christmas friends!