Author's Note: Holy Crap, this multi-chapter fanfiction with an actual plot thing is wicked hard. Sorry this chapter took longer than I expected. I should just stick to writing one-shots (like "Rooftop", which is unfortunately, definitely only a one-shot ^^;;). I'm really glad I planned most of this out in advance otherwise I'd be stuck. I'm trying to write as much as I can right now, because soon I'm not going to have much time to update as often. In addition to intense! schoolwork, I'm actually trying to draw a 40 page comic for my best friends, which has to be done significantly before Christmas. So Chapter 4 won't be probably for a while, although I'd like to get it out this weekend. How lame! But don't worry; I WILL get this fic done before Christmas! (yeah! ::pumps fist in the air::) It's probably going to be somewhere between 9 and 11 chapters when finished (sooo… that's 10, right??). I'm not sure about the fluff level I'm actually going to attain here, because I tend to get a little embarrassed actually writing out intense love scenes. That kind of thing is a little OOC for most of these characters anyway, right? That's why I lowered the rating to PG. Notice I re-uploaded the first two chapters, all HTML-d for your viewing pleasure cruising.
Disclaimer: Teen Titans, property of DC comics– Go buy the new comic when it comes out Nov. 25th! I'm going to! Also they belong to those swell people at Cartoon Network who have bringing me quality programming for the last 4 Christmases (we didn't get it by me too long ago… how sad) This Chapter is brought to you by Vanilla Coke and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.
Random Note: These author notes get longer and longer every time. I like writing them ^^. While writing this chapter, I listened to: "The Christmas Song", "Bells Will Be Ringing", and "We Need a Little Christmas" (performed by the Muppets) Ok, I stop talking now, you read story. Love!
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Chapter 3: "And Since We've No Place to Go"
"Awesome!" Beast Boy punched his fist into the air, grinning. "We can get a tree and put up lights and bake cookies…" The short green superhero stopped as he realized everyone was staring at him. "What? I like to bake, ok?"
"This is a great idea!" Cyborg beamed, "We really could use a little Christmas around here. We're gonna have to start real soon though, don't you think?" Starfire suddenly produced a large piece of paper she had been hiding behind her back, which comically rolled out about 4 feet down to the floor.
"Oh yes, Robin and I have made a list, and we have checked it twice to make sure we didn't forget anything." She beamed while everyone else groaned at her terrible pun.
"We decided it would be easier if we gave everyone something to do. Cyborg, you and I are going to go and get the tree. Beast Boy," Robin continued hesitantly, "We're putting you in charge of food. And try not to overdo the tofu?" The shortest Titan looked slightly put out as his visions of an all tofu turkey dinner were squashed. "Raven and Star, you're in charge of getting decorations for the Tower..."
"Woah, hold on. I don't DO Christmas." Raven looked truly terrified by the idea of having to hang up lights and popcorn garland with her perky pink-haired partner.
"Aw, come on Raven, even you can't be immune to a little holiday joy," Cyborg poked his finger into Raven's frowning face as he grinned at her.
"I'm Jewish," came her deadpan reply.
"No you're not. Come on. It's not that bad." Robin frowned back.
"Yeah, Raven. It's not like anybody is asking you to sing Silent Night dressed in a padded Santa suit." Beast Boy giggled as he apparently pictured this, and Raven glared at him to remind his she still had not forgotten about the snowball incident earlier.
"Fine. Lets just do this already." Starfire began jumping up and down all around Raven comically, bubbling over with glee, as Robin began speaking again.
"We also decided, that instead of getting presents for everyone, we're gonna do a Secret Santa, so that we each only have one person to shop for. So we'll pick names now, before we split up to go." Robin ripped a piece off of the bottom of Star's list and wrote everyone's names on separate strips before sticking them in an empty fruit bowl that had been sitting on the table. "Ok, everyone take one." Five hands reached into the bowl, each pulling out the name of the person they would be buying a gift for.
Starfire was the first to unfold her paper, and her eyes lit up as she read the name on the paper. She glanced around her circle of friends, and saw that while Cyborg and Robin each had small smiles, Raven looked slightly embarrassed and Beast Boy was studying the faces of those around him. She wondered who had gotten her, and what wonderful gift they would choose to bestow on her; the suspense was almost too much to bear. The young alien princess was certain Christmas was the most wonderful thing on the whole planet.
"Ah, snow is so wonderful, is it not Raven?" Star giggled as flakes settled gently on the tip of her nose and tickled her eyelashes. It was then next day, and the two girls had bundled up and headed down to Main Street to get their shopping "done and over with" as Raven had put it.
The streets were decorated with wreaths and garland, and the shop windows were filled with elaborate displays. Starfire was enchanted by the ones that included little animated figures of Santa and his elves building toys in an imaginary workshop, or Rudolph and his blinking red nose. Several times she was terrified as a bell ringer from the Salvation Army seemed to materialize out of nowhere, ringing their bell directly into her eardrum. She kept pointing things out to Raven, who was purposely ignoring most of what she said, or responding in monosyllables. "At least she has stopped looking like she is going to bite the next person who wishes us a happy holiday," Starfire thought to herself.
"Er… what should we do first? My list says we need to pick up several strings of lights, and then… glass balls for the tree?" She squinted at the list made out in Robin's small, neat handwriting, wondering exactly how safe balls made of glass were.
"We should be able to get those things in that place over there," Raven pointed to a rather large and crowded looking retail store. "We should probably also get out Secret Santa gifts while we're in there..."
"Yes. I'm not sure what to get though." She wondered if it was ok to tell Raven who she had to buy a gift for, and then decided it would be a good idea to ask for her help. Tapping her forefingers together, she looked earnestly at her friend, and timidly forged ahead, "I have to find something for Robin, and it has to be very special, and I am not sure what he would like and… Iwaswonderingifyouwouldhelpmethinkofsomething." This last bit came out all in a rush, as Starfire clenched her fists together determinedly in front of her flushed face.
"Take it easy Starfire… of course I'll help you think of something to give to Robin. Although, not to sound like a tired holiday special cliché, but I'm sure Robin will like whatever you give him, because it came from you." Starfire's eyes glittered with joy at Raven's encouragement.
"Then I will help you also! Oh – unless you do not need my help and you already know what you are getting…"
"Eh, I don't know yet. I have to get something for Beast Boy; I figure I'll just get him a video game or something like that," Raven said as she squinted into the shop window, where there was a colorful display for "Next Illusion 32", a new sequel in the popular video game series.
"Ah… but... Raven, don't you want to use this opportunity also to present Beast Boy with a small token of your affect-"
"No." Raven glared at her naïve companion.
"But Raven, he will never know how you-," Starfire began again insistently.
"Exactly," Raven cut her off once again. "Come on, let's get these decorations." The conversation was over, once again before it could start, Starfire noted. She sighed as she obediently trailed after her frigid friend. Several hours later, they returned to Titans Tower with several boxes of colored glass ornaments, multiple strings of lights, and one giftwrapped copy of "Next Illusion 32", but Starfire had still not found anything she felt was suitable for Robin. She had no idea what she was going to get him, but felt she would know what it was, the instant she saw it. She just needed to think about it more.
Meanwhile, Robin and Cyborg had set off on their tree hunting expedition. It was really much closer to Christmas than Robin had realized, as far as finding good trees was concerned. The pair trudged through the ever- increasing snow
"All these trees are brown and scrawny," Cyborg commented, closely examining a branch as the needles fell off in showers. Robin continued scanning the tree lot; he knew he'd know it when he saw it: that perfect tree, the one that was big, but not too big, full, but not overgrown, and green and…
"Hey, Robin, can I ask your advice?" Cyborg cautiously spoke up. Robin knew in an instant something important was on his friend's mind.
"Of course. Is this about your present for the Secret Santa?"
"Yeah." Cyborg looked sheepish as he rubbed the back of his head. "You know, Raven is really tough to shop for. I have no idea what she'd possibly like. That girl is harder to read than a double encrypted government document. But it's gotta be special, you know?" Robin raised an eyebrow at his companion's obvious devotion to the task at hand. He reflected to himself, trying to think of something that would be helpful advice on finding a gift for Raven.
"Well… maybe a book or something? I don't know. I'm sure whatever you decide on, she'll appreciate it." Cyborg looked very depressed with this statement.
"Well, yeah, but I wanna show her… you know, how I feel. So I want to come up with something really… thoughtful. Something that represents the fact that I recognize her as the unique and special lady she is." Robin couldn't stop his eyebrow from twitching upwards. While he wasn't completely ignorant to the fact that his robotic friend had developed a certain…admiration for the spooky sorceress, he wasn't really sure whether or not encouraging it was a good idea. Raven tended to be quite… unreceptive to these things.
"Well, since I already know what I'm getting for Starfire… I can help you and throw a few ideas out there." He furrowed his brow in thought as Cyborg looked expectantly on. "But first we better find a tree; it's starting to get dark out and the snow is really starting to come down."