It still hurts

The clouds began to gather and soon the snow was falling. Slowly the home got wrapped up in the dark night. One by one the light was turned off and soon only one shined out on the dark night thought the window in the kitchen. Here stood a man with a concerned expression.

"What about the money in the bank account?"

The elderly woman poured some tea up in two mugs and sat down with one. The man took the other one and sat down next to her.

"We have already used them, Mrs. Williams. Remember the hole in the roof we had in the fall."

Mrs. Williams nodded sadly.

"But what about the kids? There is only a little over a week until it's Christmas."

The man looked down of his hands.

"I really don't know what to do."

The sat for a long time in silence, then suddenly the man jumped up.

"Maybe we are going to lose our home, but the kids should have their Christmas!"

"But…?"

"We are just having the Christmas party before the deadline."

They smiled both for the first time in hours.

---

The morning sun shined through the big window and ran playing over Raven, who was meditating.

"Raven."

Raven opened her eyes and saw Starfire, who stood in front of her.

"Yeah!!"

Starfire sat down beside Raven, and her eyes wandered out on the water.

"I can't stopped thinking about St. Johns and what happened there, when we was there."

She pushed her hair away from her face.

"I want to help them!"

"But how?"

"I don't know, but I need to do it. Ever since…"

She turned her head down and a little tear felt down on the floor. She pulled her self together.

"I can't stop thinking about him. He… If we could help St. Johns, then something good will happen this Christmas."

Raven thought about it for a while.

"I know what you mean, and I think it's a good idea. We have to ask Cyborg and BB, if they want to help…"

"Help with what?"

Both Raven and Starfire jumped five feet up in the air. They hadn't heard that Beast Boy and Cyborg had come into the room. Starfire told them about the idea to help St. Johns and they also thought it was a good idea.

"But how are we going to get so much money?"

Cyborg threw himself down in the sofa.

"We can take a job."

Beast Boy, who was about to start a videogame, dropped the game control.

"A job…but we have a job!"

Starfire smiled and was excited.

"A job, a real job… hem, what is a job?"

Raven sighed and talked without thinking.

"Where is Rob…"

They all got hit be the memory of their lost friend. Starfire hid her face in her hands. Cyborg tried to comfort her.

"It's hard in situation like this. I would give everything I have to have him back!"

Starfire pulled herself together and wiped her eyes.

"I know, but it hurts so much."

---

"What about selling cake?"

"We can clear peoples driveways for snow!"

"We can go on a treasure hunt!"

Gary and Mrs. Williams had told the residents of St. John about the letter. There were many ideas how to get the money. Some were more fantastical that others.

Gary looked out over the group of kids, as always were Jake, Sam and Elmer missing. They were probably doing one of their many tricks. Gary's foot still hurt after stepping on the mousetrap this morning, which the gang had planted in his slippers.

Still was Gary grateful for Jake. Somehow had the boy been able to connect with Sam. She was still angry and Jake knew it, but somehow was he able to understand her.

Elmer was also changed around Jake. Before should there nothing happen before he cried and needed comfort, but now he tried every time not to do it.

In Jake's case were there also many changes, when they were together. He was the natural leader and always had a plan or two up in his sleeves. Jake was also become more comfortably around his amnesia.

The voices and all the problems gave Gary a headache, so he retired to his office. He sat down in the office chair. His eyes landed on one of the pictures on the table. It was one of Jake and himself, which had been taken shortly after their first meeting. On the picture was Jake's hair orange, but now it had turned black.

Gary wished he could help the boy remembering. It troubled Gary, that he couldn't help him.

Another thing also troubled him was his friendship with Jake. It had begun to weaken, but he couldn't blame the boy for it. Gary was the superintendent – the enemy.

A knock on the door broke Gary's line of thoughts. He looked up and saw Mrs. Williams coming into his office. Behind her came a girl with red hair and green eyes. First he couldn't remember where he had seen her before, but then he remembered. She was one of the girls, who had brought Elmer back. She was Starfire.

"Excuse me, Gary, but I think you want to hear what Starfire has to say."

"Okay, what do you have to say?"

Gary looked over at Starfire, who for a moment looked nervous, but she came over it.

"We want to help you getting the money so you can save St. Johns."

"Thanks, that will be a great help, but why do you want to help us?"

Starfire looked away, and Gary would have sworn that he saw a tear in her eye.

"Okay, a helping hand is always welcome."