The next day began with Starfire and Beast Boy begging and begging and begging to decorate the tower. Raven pointed out that they wouldn't be here on Christmas Day, so there was no point. But Robin said there was nothing wrong with spreading a little Christmas cheer, and Cyborg agreed. Raven refused to be part of the festivities, opting to hang out in her room instead. "Gee," Beast Boy said after she left the room, "she's grumpier than usual."

"Well," Cyborg said, "this is the first year since Trigon's demise that she'll be able to freely enjoy Christmas."

"Shouldn't that make her happy?"

"Beast Boy," Cyborg sighed, "what are you doing for Christmas?"

"Oh, I'm going to meet up with my old team; I may even see my stepdad - see if I can mend things between us."

"Uh-huh," Cyborg said as he began untangling lights. "Starfire, what are you doing for Christmas?"

"Well, usually I would travel back to Tameran. But, since my sister has yet to pardon me for whatever crimes I did not commit, boyfriend Speedy has asked me to join him and his family."

"Sweet," Beast Boy said, and it suddenly made sense to Robin. He understood what Cyborg was saying. "What Cyborg is trying to say," Robin interrupted, "is that Raven will be by herself for the holidays. We all have friends and families, but Raven only has us."

"So why don't you just take her with you?" Beast Boy asked as he began taking out tinsel and ornaments. Robin froze. Why didn't he think of that? "Um…" Robin scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Friend Robin," Starfire said, "your face is turning red."

"Dude, you're blushing!" Beast Boy shouted.

"Shut up!" Robin said to the team's youngest manner.

"Wow, you really are blushing," Cyborg leaned in close to Robin's face.

"Beast Boy," Robin said as he pushed Cyborg away, "why do you think I should invite Raven to go with me?" Robin asked. Suddenly, 3 pairs of eyes were on him, staring at him like he was the most stupid thing they'd ever seen.

"Dude," Beast Boy said.

"We see the way you look at her," Cyborg said with a 'duh' expression. To say Robin was confused was an understatement. "How do I look at Raven?" Robin asked. "I look at her the same way I look at all of you."

"Dude," Beast Boy answered, "if you look at Starfire the way you look at Raven, don't tell Speedy. He'll kill you." Starfire chuckled as she unceremoniously dumped a box of ornaments onto the table. "I always thought Raven would be the one in denial," Cyborg muttered, "who knew it would be you?"

"Wait…" Robin paused, "you guys think I like Raven."

"Yes," all three answered at the same time.

"I don't like her that way," Robin argued. "I…she…we're friends."

"Wow," Beast Boy smirked, "that was almost convincing."

"You know, sarcasm isn't a good look on you," Robin said. "Anyway," Robin rubbed his masked eyes in exasperation, "I am not in love with Raven." His three teammates said nothing. Instead, they stared at something behind him with both shock and horror. Robin didn't want to turn around, but he did. Raven was standing there, looking at him wide – eyed, clutching a teacup. Her cheeks were blotched with red.

"H-h-hey," Robin said uneasily.

"I was just coming to make tea," Raven said slowly, "but I think I'll just go back to my…" her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the floor.

"Dude," Beast Boy said, "that was messed up."

"I may kill you," Robin replied.

Later that evening, after all the decorating, Robin heard a soft knock at his room door. "Come in," he said. Raven entered the room. "There's something for you in the kitchen," she said.

Robin said, "Another gift?" Raven nodded. "You may want to look at it before the others destroy it," Raven motioned with her head. Robin begrudgingly stood from his chair and walked silently through the halls next to the empath. "Raven," he began, "about today-"

"Robin, it's fine."

"It's not what you think…"

"It really isn't any of my business."

"You came in at the wrong part of the conversation- "

"Robin, it's fine. I'm not- "

"Spend Christmas with me!" he blurted out. Raven froze mid-step. "I mean…um…I…" he turned to look at the shocked girl. Her lips were slightly parted in surprise, her violet eyes were as round as saucers. She seemed stunned. She looked adorable. Adorably stunned. "Yeah," Robin breathed out, "Come with me. I'm going to Gotham for a Christmas gala. Richard Grayson needs to make an appearance. Come with me."

"Robin," Raven said, "if this is pity…"

"It's not pity."

"I don't mind being by myself- "

"I want you to come with me," he admitted. Raven was once again struck speechless. "I want you to spend Christmas with me, in Gotham." Robin was surprised at how true that was.

"O-okay," Raven hugged herself nervously. "If you're sure…"

"Positive."

"And it will be okay? I don't want to intrude."

"Trust me. It will be fine. They'll be happy to see me bring a girl around. And I know for a fact that Alfred will love you."

"Really?" Raven bit her lip shyly. Robin nodded. "You two have a ton in common," he assured her. "So," he said, "sound like a plan? You and me, knocking elbows with the richest people in Gotham?"

"Sounds…fun," Raven smiled up at him. Her face then scrunched in concern. "I don't have a dress."

"We'll go shopping."

"Robin – "

"I have to find a tux. We can go shopping together."

"Okay," Raven said as they continued walking down the quiet hallway. "Thank you for inviting me," she said softly, almost shyly. Robin couldn't stop the fluttering sensation in his chest and stomach. He felt like a little kid. She was happy, and he was the one who made her happy. "I'm only sorry I didn't think to ask earlier."

"Well," Raven said as they continued walking, "it's been a busy year. You've had a lot on your mind."

"Me? Busy year?" Robin scoffed. "What about you? Taking on Trigon like it was nothing." Raven's face reddened, and she looked away from Robin's approving gaze. "I couldn't have done it without you," Raven whispered as they entered the common room which led to the kitchen. "Okay," Robin announced, "I'm here. Show me."

"Someone has a secret admirer," Beast Boy sang, handing a card to Robin.

"We know, Beast Boy," Raven deadpanned. "We found out yesterday…the candy apples…remember?" Beast Boy only stuck his tongue out at her while Robin read the card. "On The 11th Day of Christmas My True Love Gave To Me…," he read. "Where's the gift?" Robin asked, trying not to be annoyed. Cyborg moved to the side to reveal an unopened, brown, shipping box. "I already scanned it," Cyborg said. "There's nothing in there that can be deemed dangerous or hazardous…nothing that my scanners picked up, I mean." Robin nodded as grabbed a knife from the drawer and cut the box open. He frowned as he took out small individual packages with decorative items inside. "What is it?" Beast Boy asked eagerly.

"Do-It-Yourself-Piper's-Piping Ornament," Robin read a small package. "What?" Robin was confused. Cyborg was already counting the individual packages. "Eleven," Cyborg said victoriously. "Eleven packages. Eleven piper's piping."

"Ooh!" Starfire squealed as she began to float. "I asked boyfriend Speedy about this last night. He was most knowledgeable."

"So, we're supposed to…decorate these ornaments?" Raven held up two packs. The excitement clearly absent from her face. "Seriously?"

"Yes, friend Raven," Starfire hugged her teammate, "join us! It will be fun!"

"Please get off of me," Raven said. Starfire released her friend, and she and Beast Boy began pulling glitter and glue out of the box. Cyborg joined them momentarily while Raven approached Robin. He stared at the small pack in his hands. For the first time in a few years, Raven could not tell what he was thinking. "Robin," she said his name, placing a hand on his shoulder. He jumped at the contact. "Are you okay?" Raven asked worriedly. Robin stared at her before saying, "I have an errand to run." He ran out the common room before the others could get a word in. "Huh? I wonder what his deal is?" Beast Boy asked with a shrug. Cyborg and Starfire ignored the changeling. Instead, they looked at Raven. "Yeah, yeah, I know," she said. "I'll take care of it. Return to your art projects."

Raven looked for Robin in all the usual places. She eventually had to give up her search when the Titans were called. Robin didn't show up to the scene. Even more surprising, he didn't have his communicator on him at all. Raven frowned as she looked down at Robin's communicator in her hand. Should she be worried?

Robin didn't return to the tower until after 11. He entered the kitchen, surprised to see the light still on. He was even more surprised to see Raven wide awake, sitting at the table. A do-it-yourself ornament sat in front of her. "Hey," he greeted.

"We were called out," Raven said. "There was a fire at an orphanage. No one was hurt." Robin pat himself down. "I didn't grab my communicator before I left," he said, "I am so sorry."

"It's okay," Raven gave him a small smile as she slid his communicator across the table to him. "No one was hurt. We got everyone out in time." Robin sat adjacent her. "I am so out of it. The gift – the pipers – threw me. Brought up some memories."

"Any you want to talk about?" Raven asked hesitantly.

"Well, those piper ornaments are super hard to find." Raven only listened with wide eyes. "I know this, because my mother used to get them shipped here from Europe."

"Oh," Raven said.

"Only someone who knows me really well would know that, though. And there's only one person who knows me that well. He's in Gotham. And he definitely wouldn't do this."

"Who would?" Raven asked.

"I don't know," Robin sighed. His head was beginning to hurt. His brain felt weird…like mush. "Well, I saved you an ornament," Raven pushed the packet to him. "The others desecrated the tree with 10 of them."

"Come on," Robin smiled, "their work couldn't have been that bad."

"Trust me. It was," Raven replied with a straight face. Robin opened the small pack and took out the pieces. "You didn't make one," he stated.

"No," Raven shook her head. "I didn't want to."

"Why not?"

"I just…this stuff is so foreign to me," Raven said.

"Did you have any holidays on Azarath?"

"We had festivals," Raven thought back as Robin began making his tiny piper. "We had moon festivals. Azarath had two moons. Of course, we had full moons once a month. But every six months, we would have two full moons at the same time. Those were fun days," Raven reminisced. "The galaxies would light up the entire sky. A starfall would accompany the full moons. A starfall – the sky lights up with thousands upon thousands of shooting stars. That was…it's one of the things I miss most about Azarath." Raven looked at Robin who had long ago stopped working on his project and was gazing at her. "What?" Raven asked as she looked down, hiding her face with her hair.

"I've just…you never talk about Azarath," Robin smiled.

"I…no one has ever asked," she replied. The two birds continued to stare at each other silently. After several seconds, Raven looked away. "What are you doing to your piper?" Raven asked.

"I'm making him a legit piper – bagpipes and all."

"Are you going to give a little skirt, too?" Raven chuckled.

"It's not a skirt. It's a kilt. There's a difference," Robin laughed with her. Raven sat with Robin until he finished his piper. When he hung his on the tree, he had to admit – Raven was right about the other's pipers. They were horrendous. Robin turned to Raven and said, "I'm sorry I never asked you about Azarath."

"It's okay," Raven shrugged with a tentative smile, "it's not exactly a story that ends happily." Robin's face grew pensive, before he pulled out his cellphone. Typing in a few commands, he handed it to Raven and said, "Here." Raven took his phone without question and watched as a video of a circus played. A man, a woman, and a very little boy began doing a series of flips before climbing a ladder to a platform. "Oh my," Raven gasped, looking up at Robin, "is that…"

"Yep," he answered. "I think that's my…4th performance."

"Wow," Raven said. Her eyes widened even more when she saw the number of views. "I – I didn't realize how popular you guys were."

"You never web-searched the Flying Graysons?" Robin asked, already knowing the answer to that question. "The other three have. They think I don't know, but I know."

"I didn't think you'd want us to, so I never did. It's your past, your story," Raven said, her eyes turning back to the video, "I figured, you'd show me when you were ready." Robin stared at Raven through his mask in awe, watching micro-expressions dance across her face. He saw excitement and joy in those minute expressions. It filled his heart with so much love. "Raven," he said her name softly. Raven looked up at him. Both felt their breaths catch as they realized how close they were. "I know what happened to Azarath was tragic, and it sucks that you had to suffer. But I'm conflicted. That tragedy brought you here," his fingers gently touched her face as if they had minds of their own. "And I am so glad you are here," Robin leaned down. His lips barely brushed against Raven's when the door to the common room zoomed open. The two birds leapt away from each other as Beast Boy walked through the doors, rubbing his eyes. "Oh, dude," he said tiredly, noticing Robin, "you're back." Beast Boy sleepily made his way to the fridge, grabbed a water bottle, and left the room with a mumbled, "Good night."

Robin turned back to Raven, whose cheeks were flushed. "Raven," Robin began.

"I should go to bed, too," Raven quickly said, handing Robin his phone. "Thank you for showing me the video. Good night." She quickly phased through the floor, leaving Robin in a stunned silence. What the – "Beast Boy," Robin growled angrily before going to bed. He was going to get Beast Boy back…somehow, someday. He was going to get him back.