A/N: I guess it's been a while, eh? Thanks to Leah for reminding me that I'm writing a fanfic. Yes, I did forget. I'm sorry. I understand if you won't forgive me. Please take this chapter as a gift and don't be angry…

Chapter 7

You're dialing the old house number.

I'm what?

You just dialed the old house number. What's the number for the apartment?

Uh…Um…

You don't remember, do you?

Do you?

We better ask for a ride over there.

Soda slowly turned around to face the table of Titans. "Um, can I ask a favor from you guys?"

"You just name it!" said Beast Boy. Anyone who made delicious waffles could have as many favors as they wanted.

"I don't remember the number for my apartment. But I remember where it is. Can I have a ride?"

"We'll all go with you and explain what happened to your brother. I'm sure he'll understand." Robin said.

Soda sighed. "I sure hope so."


"Hey Joey! Open up! HEY! Open the door! I SAID OPEN THE DOOR!" Soda stood in front of room 203 on the second story of Sunset Hills Lodging, banging on the door and screaming at the top of her lungs.

"How come you don't have a key?" Cyborg asked.

"We just got here yesterday."

"So, you got here and immediately went out looking for a job? Did you even unpack?"

"Nope."

Told you you shouldn't have gone running off like that.

Well, I know that now.

Suddenly the door flung open, and a tall, sandy-haired boy in his late teens stood in the dim light. In one swift motion he pulled his hand back and smacked Soda across the head.

"Nice to see you, too."

"Soda, WHERE THE FUCK WERE YOU? I've been calling people all fucking night! And you just fucking take off and go somewhere? Don't even bother to tell me where you fucking were? Fuck you, kid!"

"HEY! I know you're upset, but try not to cuss, we have guests."

Joey looked past Soda to the five Titans hanging back by the railing. His eyes opened wide.

"Hey, you're…"

Robin stepped forward, "The Teen Titans. Sorry about not getting Soda home sooner, she needed to recover. She took quite a beating. She's fine now, though. Everything will heal up okay."

Joey just stood for a moment. He looked from Robin to Soda to the Titans.

"Wow…well thanks. Would you…like to come in?"

"Sure."

The apartment was dark and worn looking. The Titans sat in the living room on a scratchy, uncomfortable couch the color of mustard. Boxes were strewn all over the apartment. There was a coffee table in front of them that was covered with stains and scratch marks. The whole place was musty and probably crawling with mildew.

"So the whole place just exploded?"

"Pretty much. Your sister was pretty lucky." So far Robin had been the one doing all the talking.

"I guess I owe you guys one, then." Joey smiled nervously and shifted in his seat.

Starfire had been looking around curiously the whole time. It occurred to her more than once that this home was much different from hers. It didn't look very clean or comfortable, and it was horribly small. There were seven people in the apartment right now, and it was incredibly crowded. Starfire had actually become attached to Soda in the short time she had been staying with them. She didn't want to see Soda leave. That's when she got a marvelous idea. She leaned over to Robin and whispered in his ear.

"Robin, may we keep Soda?"

"What?"

"She is a good housekeeper. She could clean and cook for us. It would leave time for our duties if we did not have to cook and clean ourselves. Plus, do you really want to see Soda live in a place like this? She could stay with us in the tower. She could see her brother whenever she wanted. You know we can afford it."

"Is that what you really want, Starfire?"

"If it is alright with the team, then it is what I want."

Robin looked at Joey. "Would you excuse us for a moment?"


"So…Soda would live with us? And cook and clean?" The rest of the Titans had celebrated at the thought of a housekeeper. The only person left to convince was Raven.

"Please Raven? It would be so much easier! You don't have to like Soda. In fact, if you ask her to stay away from you I'm sure she will." Starfire looked pleadingly at Raven, her large green eyes bearing down on her.

'Humph. While I would rather not invite a stranger into the house, she has an intriguing energy pattern. I suppose this would be a good opportunity to learn more about it.' Raven thought.

"Fine. And I won't tell her to stay away from me. I'll try to be…welcoming." Her teeth involuntarily clenched at the thought.

"Then it is settled?" Starfire asked Robin.

"If Soda and Joey say it's okay, then she can live with us."

The Titans re-entered the apartment. They saw Soda's and Joey's eyes squint at the sudden burst of bright light from the door.

Robin cleared his throat, trying to sound professional. "We have a proposition for you."

Joey looked surprised, but responded, "I'm listening."

"Soda told us about your unfortunate predicament. Did you know that she is very good at cooking and cleaning?"

"Yes. She was always good at it."

"We've discussed it and think that we might be able to help each other. You see, none of us is very good at cooking or cleaning, and Soda needs a job. We would like to hire her. She could cook and clean for us, and in return we could allow her to stay in our home. It's not very far from here, and of course you could visit each other whenever you like."

Joey looked at Soda. "Sounds like a sweet deal, kid. You should take it. You'll be a lot more comfortable in their house than here. That way I can rest easy knowing that you're being taken care of."

Soda just stared at him for a while. Then she opened her mouth, "What about you? Will you be okay? I'm not sure if I should leave you."

He smiled a warm smile, "You won't be leaving me. We can see each other whenever we want. Trust me, we'll both be better off this way. It's not that I don't want you, kid. I just think this way will be easier."

"Okay, Joey."

"Well, she's all yours, I guess. I'll come see her whenever I can. Thanks a bunch man, really. Now that she's staying with crime fighting superheroes, I don't have to worry about her as much."

Wow. Didn't see that one coming.

Joey is right, though. I didn't want to say anything, but I hate this apartment. But I feel guilty leaving him. I'll be living in luxury and he…well…

Joey would hate living in luxury and you know it.

Ha! You're right.

All you have to do is cook and clean, and you'll be fine. This IS a sweet deal.

I hope so. I like the Titans.

END CHAPTER 7

A/N: Yes, I know. It was very short. But I've decided to make the chapters shorter so they'll be easier to handle. The program I'm writing in isn't compatible with , so after I write I have to transfer it to Notepad. And I'm telling you, it's a bitch. Plus, you can have a little at a time to keep you interested. I promise I won't forget that I'm writing again. I'll try to update at least two or three times a week. Mostly it will be on weekends, as school has been increasingly demanding as of late. My classmates reading this know what I'm talking about.