I wanted to finish this before the new year, but I got covid. I am now recovering, but I am very weak. If this chapter seems out of place, weak, filled with errors, etc., I apologize. I have little energy, but I really wanted to post something.

The scent assaulting his nostrils was heavenly and was the reason he was slowly wakening. What was it? And what was that weight on his chest? Richard looked down. Raven? He was wide awake now. Raven was fast asleep, her head on his chest; she smelled divine. Lavender? Lilac? Was that her natural scent?

A shudder raced up his spine when Raven snuggled deeper into his chest. His hand immediately went to Raven's hair, and he began to slowly pull his finger through her hair. A soft breath left Raven's slightly parted lips as she attempted to curl her body deeper into Richard's chest. Richard couldn't help but press a kiss to the top of her head as he looked out the window of Bruce's private jet. They were about to land, but Richard didn't want to wake Raven just yet.

He continued his gentle ministrations, only stopping once the plane was stationary. "Raven," he whispered, gently, enjoying the feeling of her head on his chest way too much. "Raven," he, regrettably, spoke louder while giving her body a slight shake. He watched her eyelashes move as her eyes fluttered open. It only took a split second for her to abruptly move her head from his chest. "Sorry," she muttered, her cheeks turning an adorable shade of pink.

"It's okay," Richard gave her an adoring look. "Feel free to use me as a pillow any time." Raven gave him a quick, shy smile before turning her gaze to the plane window. Her eyes only widened slightly when she realized they'd already landed. "That's a lot of snow," she said, looking up at the sky.

"It's Gotham," Richard smiled as he gathered stretched his legs before standing, "and it's just a flurry." Raven looked at him in slight horror. "It looks like a blizzard," she frowned.

"There's blizzards, and then there's Gotham blizzards," Richard chuckled. "This is nothing." Raven's frown deepened. "You'll survive," Richard smiled as grabbed the chocolate treats. "You'll be in love with snow by the end of this trip." Raven scoffed before exiting the jet behind Richard.

The Gotham cold seeped into her bones. Richard laughed at her expression. "Come on," he grabbed her gloved hands, "Alfred's here with the car. Let's go before you freeze."

Introductions were briefly made before Richard ushered Raven into the back of the town car, cracking a joke about her cold intolerance as he did so. Raven glowered at him before he disappeared, helping Alfred load the trunk. Ten minutes later, they were on their way to Wayne Manor. Raven remained silent, taking in their surroundings while Richard spoke animatedly with Alfred. Raven didn't need to be an empath to hear the slight longing in Richard's voice as he brought Alfred up to speed on his life. She briefly wondered why Richard didn't bother visiting more. "Are you okay, Miss Raven?" Alfred asked, bringing her into the conversation.

"Oh, I am fine, thank you," she answered politely. "Is it going to be this cold the entire time we're here?" she asked, biting one side of her lip. Richard smirked, clearly enjoying Raven's discomfort. The Titans in general found Raven's cold intolerance hilarious, and she didn't understand why. "Worry not, Miss Raven," Alfred replied, "I'm sure Master Dick has already thought of all the ways to keep you warm."

"Alfred!" Richard exclaimed as the smirk on his face was replaced with a look of abject horror. His face turned multiple shades of red. "Why would you – I – why?" he stuttered. Raven covered a smile with her hand as she silently laughed at her leader's embarrassment. "Of course," the kind butler continued, "if Master Dick doesn't know what he's doing, we have more than enough blankets at Wayne Manor." Raven only smiled. "Thanks, Alfred!" Richard eventually sputtered.

"It's a pleasure to serve, Master Dick," Alfred answered cheekily before beginning to hum a Christmas tune. Richard only slunk down into the seat with a groan. If Alfred decided to make comments like that, this was going to be the longest visit of Richard's life.

Richard's mind was all over the place as he began to slowly unpack. Firstly, he couldn't help but wonder what he had ever done to Alfred to deserve whatever that was on the drive to Wayne Manor. Dry humor, sarcasm in a deadpan voice – that was what he expected from Alfred. Straight up embarrassing him in front of the girl he was infatuated with – Richard was peeved. If the butler wanted Richard to keep in touch more, all he had to do was say so.

Secondly, the giant chocolate kisses. Richard hadn't wanted to worry Raven. He had played the appearance of gifts at Bruce's private airport off as something that didn't worry him. But it was an act. Richard didn't even know how to explain it to Alfred. Honestly, after the drive from the airport, Richard had no desire to share the existence of his secret true love with the old man. "I'll figure out something," was all Alfred said when Richard ignored his queries as to where they came from.

Richard sighed heavily. No use in dwelling on his annoyance with the butler. The longest he'd ever remained angry at Alfred was a record 10 minutes.

Richard was refolding a shirt when he sensed Raven's presence at his open door. "May I come in?" she asked shyly, after knocking on his open door

"Of course," Richard answered. "How's your room?" he asked about Raven's guestroom with a bathroom that connected to his room. Alfred was just so funny, Richard thought with an eye roll.

"It's big," Raven slowly made her way to him, "and we share a bathroom."

"I know," Richard masked his annoyance with Alfred. The last thing he wanted was for Raven to incorrectly surmise that the negative emotions he was feeling were directed towards her. "The tub is really big," Raven added. "But...um…" Raven sucked her lower lip as she nervously sat on his bed. Richard couldn't figure out why she was suddenly nervous. "Raven," he got her attention, "it's me. What's on your mind?"

"I sensed a change in your emotions," she blurted out breathlessly. "You're worried, but you're trying not to be. And slightly annoyed."

"It's not with you," Richard quickly said. "I'm not upset or annoyed with you."

"Is it the rooms?" she asked. "I can ask for a different- "

"It's not that either," Richard interrupted her. "It's the secret admirer thing."

"Oh," Raven nodded in understanding. "Bruce's airport is private."

"That, and…this is your first Christmas without the threat of your father hanging over your head. I want to make sure you have a good time. I don't want you to spend your first worry-free Christmas, worrying about me and my sanity."

"Richard," Raven stared at him intently, "if you're stressed, then I'm stressed. And not because you're my leader or teammate. You are…you're…" her voice trailed off. She wasn't sure what she was trying to say. "I can't have fun if you're not having fun. If you're worried, I'm worried."

"But you shouldn't."

"I choose to."

"Why?" he stopped folding, holding the empath's stare. Raven's lips parted slightly to respond. Richard slowly lifted a hand to her face, gently placing a few strands of soft, violet hair behind her ear. He was so happy she'd decided to grow it out. It almost reached her lower back now, and he ached to pull his fingers through the soft strands. His eyes returned to Raven's beautiful irises as his thumb slowly began stroking her lower lip. The air was charged with the energy racing between them. He was going to do it. He was going to kiss her. Raven seemed to be following his lead as she began to slowly lean towards him. Now was his chance, and he refused to miss it. "What's that?" she whispered, her face scrunching in confusion. Her head was turned away from him. Richard followed her gaze. She was looking inside his suitcase where a plastic package lay. "I…I don't know," Richard answered slowly as he studied the foreign object in his suitcase.

"How can you not know?" Raven asked humorously, "didn't you pack your own bag?" Richard fixed her with a look. "Sorry," she muttered, "it's better than the alternative."

"Is there anything in there that you…sense?" Richard asked. If he were truly honest with himself, he would admit that he was sick and tired of whatever game was being played. Raven's eyes and hand glowed black. "Nothing," she said. "I sense…nothing." Richard didn't want to worry Alfred by taking the package to the Batcave. He also didn't want to alert Bruce, who had yet to return from work. "We don't have to open it now?" Raven asked, hugging herself. "Do we?"

"Well, none of the gifts I've received so far have hurt me," he turned to look at the girl looking at him with blatant worry. "Also, I have you here to protect me," he smiled, trying to rid the stress lines from her face. Her face remained the same. Richard sighed before gently picking up the package. It was heavier than it looked. He slowly opened the top of it, pulled out a card, and read the front of it to himself. "Let me guess," Raven spoke after several seconds, "this is the 5th day of Christmas?"

"Yep." He then turned the package upside-down, dumping out the contents. He heard Raven gasp as he did so. On his bed lay 5 rings in 5 separate plastic bags. Five golden rings, as round as bangles and slightly thicker. "Are those…" Raven's voice trailed off as she stood next to Richard. "Those can't be real, right?" she asked. Richard took one out of the package. Upon closer inspection, he saw that they seemed to sparkle…like a starry night…with a gold sky. Raven picked up the discarded card and read aloud, "These are not 100% real gold. I don't have that kind of money. Instead, they're 25% gold with a little magic to make them sparkle. This person seems to want you to know who they are," Raven said as she handed the card to Richard. "But they are…" her fingertips stroked the soft metal. "I know it's weird and unnerving, but maybe the person doing this genuinely likes you," she said. "It's not easy making metal look like a starry night, but who could know you so well?" Richard's eyes snapped up to meet hers. "What did you say?" he asked.

"I was just saying that maybe the person who did this really likes you."

"No. After that."

"Who could know you so well?"

"Before that," he said. Raven pursed her lips as she began to think back, but Richard knew the signs of a person stalling. Raven looked at him. A look flashed in her eyes, too quick for him to decipher. She opened her mouth to answer but was interrupted by Alfred. "Have you had dinner, sir?" Alfred appeared in his room. "Oh. I see you and Miss Raven are already settling in."

"She's sleeping in the guestroom, Alfred," Richard groaned, desperately hoping the butler would shut up.

"Well, of course, she's sleeping in the guestroom, Master Dick. Where else would she sleep?" Richard looked at Alfred exasperatedly. "I have a few sandwiches downstairs if that interests you," Alfred said to Raven, ignoring the young man.

"I'll take one," Raven smiled politely.

"They're in the kitchen when you're ready. Master Bruce, I'm afraid, had a last-minute work emergency. He won't be in until late."

"Work emergency?" Richard scoffed, "or work emergency."

"No one likes a smartass, Master Dick. Just say what you mean. It's a work emergency." The butler then turned on his heel and strolled out of Richard's bedroom, leaving the young man shocked and stuttering. "You were right," Raven said, "I do like him."

"Uh," was all Richard could say. Seriously, why did Alfred suddenly hate him?