Chapter 11

Starfire jumped to her feet as Beast Boy and Raven entered the tower.

"Friends! Merry Christmas!"

"Merry Christmas Star." Beast Boy said. Raven nodded and gave a tiny smile. Robin grinned at them.

"Where'd you go?"

"Had an errand to run. Hey, you're opening presents?"

"No, just one each. Do you want to do yours? Then we can get some sleep." Cyborg said. Raven and Beast Boy both nodded. Beast Boy grabbed a box.

"Let's see what we've got." He said, pulling it open. Inside was a comic book. He gaped at it. For several minutes. With drool.

Starfire tapped his shoulder.

"Beast Boy? Are you alright?"

"Gah." He managed to mumble. Then he shook his head. "This… is Action Heroes issue #56. The rarest book of the series." He seized the tag and read it. His eyes widened and his head snapped up.

"You… you got me…" Raven folded her arms self-consciously.

"Yeah. So?"

"How did you… this is… how did you know?"

"I didn't know it was that incredible. It was the nearest one so I just grabbed it." Raven said defensively. Beast Boy gaped at her and then said,

"I love you forever."

Luckily he turned to get something just at that moment, so he didn't see her blush. Starfire did and let out a delighted giggle. This was killed by one look of warning from Raven. Beast Boy stood up and held something out to her.

"I opened yours, you open mine." He told her. Raven rolled her eyes and took the parcel. Unwrapping it, she pulled out a long, flat velvet-covered box. She looked up at him.

"Beast Boy…?"

"Open it!" He encouraged her. She opened it carefully and gasped.

Inside was a silver chain. On the end of it was a silver raven, holding a black gemstone in its talons.

"What can I say? I saw this and thought of you." He told her. She smiled at him. A proper smile. He beamed back.

"What? I don't get a hug?" He asked suddenly. Robin and Cyborg exchanged nervous looks. He knew better than to push Raven. But, to their complete and utter surprise, she merely hugged him briefly and stepped back. Starfire spun around on the tips of her toes, giddy with delight.

"Oh, wondrous day!" she cried. She stumbled slightly and held out an arm to steady herself. But Robin had already caught her around the waist. Everyone seemed to freeze as the pair gazed into each others eyes. For several moments no one moved.

Then Raven merely said,

"Either kiss her or stop drooling, Robin. This is getting nauseating." Robin flushed and let go of Starfire who also blushed and looked embarrassed. Beast Boy looked at Raven.

"Why'd you do that? They were going to!"

"No they weren't. They were jut going to stand there gazing into each other's eyes, hardly daring to breathe. It's like a bad romance novel." Raven shot back.

"Well, if you'd give them a chance they might have kissed!"

"Oh come on. They're slower than an asthmatic snail with some heavy shopping." Cyborg said. Beast Boy chuckled at that. Starfire rubbed her arm embarrassedly and then hurried off to the kitchen. Robin gave them a glare worthy of Raven and then walked over to Starfire.

Raven put the necklace on and then sat down. Beast Boy sat next to her and flicked through the comic book. Raven watched him. He looked up as he felt her eyes on him. After a brief smile he returned to his comic. She fiddled with the chain of her new necklace and fell into silent thought.

Starfire was bustling around the kitchen in an effort to try and hide her pink cheeks. Robin stood a little way of, unsure of what to say. Eventually Starfire peered around at him.

"Robin… thank you. For helping me."

"No problem!" He said, a little cheerfully. Starfire looked awkward for a moment. Robin scratched his neck and peered over at the others to make sure they weren't watching. They weren't. He turned back to her.

"Um… Starfire?"

"Yes?" She said hopefully.

"I wanted to… um… well…" He gestured to a couple of stools and they sat down. He took a deep breath.

"Starfire… I've known you for a while now, right?"

"Three years, eight months and 23 days." She said promptly. Robin felt slightly alarmed but pushed on.

"And… well, it's only that natural that…um. You know, I… You see, there comes a time in a young man's life… no, wait. I want to-"

"Robin?"

"Yeah?" He looked up. Her face was perfectly solemn.

"I wish for you to accompany me on a prune."

He stared at her. Her face turned rather pink.

"I… I did not make myself clear?"

"Not exactly…" He said slowly. There was a loud angry noise from the couch and Raven turned and said,

"She means a date, you ignoramus! Now say yes so we can go to bed and get some sleep!"

"Really? I mean, you want to?" Robin said in surprise. Starfire nodded.

"Of course. Otherwise I would not have asked. So would you?"

"Yes! I would! I so totally would!"

Starfire clasped her hands together, barely able to contain her excitement. Raven walked past to get some tea, but paused to tell Robin in a loud whisper.

"Now you kiss her."

"Raven!" Starfire said, appalled and embarrassed. The Gothic Girls rolled her eyes.

"What? You can't say you don't want him to."

Robin looked at the Tamaranian. She shrugged shyly. Robin took a deep breath, stepped forward and kissed her. For some time. Long enough for Cyborg and Beast Boy to start placing bets. Eventually Robin pulled away. Starfire swooned a little, putting a hand on the surface to steady herself. Raven looked at Robin, a sly smile on her face.

"Nice one."

"Beast Boy, tell her to stop or else I'll tell everyone about the time Starfire beat you at Autoracer."

"What? She beat you?" Cyborg said, staring at the changeling in delight.

Raven rolled her eyes.

"I'm going to bed."

No one said goodnight. They were too busy making fun of Beast Boy. Raven looked back at them before she closed the door. A smile spread across her mouth as she looked at them fondly. Then she closed the door.