Here is the next chapter! Ororo will be back, but not until later! Robin will show a sensitive side that no one knows he has.
Chapter Four"Yeah it's Christmas eve," screamed the children.
"Yes," said the caretaker.
The children's orphanage was preparing for its annual Christmas concert. Superstars from all over the world would come to the center and sing for the children. This time though the children's center hadn't received enough money from the government. The caretaker didn't know how to tell the kids that they wouldn't get a concert this year. Then she'd have to explain the absent gifts.
"When is the singers singing?" asked a young girl.
"Unfortunately we won't be having the singing this year," said the caretaker.
All the children stared at her. The younger ones started to cry. The older ones tried to comfort them.
"Why?" asked a girl.
She was about fifteen. She was only allowed to stay because her younger brother wouldn't eat or sleep unless she was there. The brother was four. They had been eleven and one month, when they had arrived.
"The government," said the caretaker. "They didn't give me the payment they give to support us."
Suddenly the doors opened. Four people walked into the orphanage. Jennifer Lopez, Hilary Duff, Shania Twain, and Britney Spears walked over to the caretaker.
"We've been waiting for three weeks for your invitation, why haven't you had us over here yet?" asked a very furious Jennifer.
"The government didn't give us the money we rely on for the event," said the caretaker.
"How many times have we told you not to worry about it?" asked Hilary.
"We love these kids," said Shania. "We don't want money to sing for them on Christmas."
"We'll do it for free," said Britney.
"Thank you," said the caretaker. "But I can't allow it. The government will expect pay no matter what. They feel that if we have you guys here to perform it'll cost us no matter what. We had important people here to do their job, they need pay."
"We'll take care of the government," said Shania. "We'll talk to them and then next year we'll perform."
"Thank you," said the caretaker.
The four women left. Then a new-cloaked person entered the orphanage. She walked up to the caretaker.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
"Yes," said the cloaked person. "My names Raven, from the Teen Titans. We have overheard that the government didn't give you some money you were entitled to. So we'd like to have all the kids over at the Tower for Christmas."
"That's wonderful," said the caretaker.
The kids started to cheer.
"I'll have them over by around seven," said the caretaker.
"Sounds good," said Raven, smiling under her hood.
"They'll be here at around seven," said Raven.
"Cool," said Beast boy.
"Superb," said Starfire.
"Can I talk to you Raven?" asked Robin.
"Sure," she answered.
They walked out of the living room, and all the way up to the roof.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said. "I just want these kids to have a good Christmas. I know how it feels to lose your parents at such a young age. I want them to remember this as something special."
"I do to," she said, hugging him.
"I think we should buy them gifts," said Robin.
"That's a great idea," she said. "But there's so many of them. Will the government support this?"
"They have no choice," said Robin. "We defend the city. If they don't keep us happy then we can just say we quit."
"True," she said. "Ok, let's go."
He pulled her into a passionate kiss.
"Thank you for understanding," he said.
"FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS!" freaked Cyborg. "WHAT YOU DO BUT THE ENTIRE MALL?"
"No but there's about two hundred kids in that orphanage," said Raven. "We got them ten things each."
"I think it's really sweet," said Cyborg. "But the mayor gonna freak when he sees this."
"Oh well," said Robin. "Let him."
DING DONG. The kids were here. Robin went to the door and answered it. He smiled at the sight.
"Hey," he said. "Come on in. We've got the whole Tower ready for you guys."
The children walked in. The caretaker pulled Robin aside.
"See that girl there?" she asked.
"Yeah," he said.
"We can't take her back," she said. "She's over the limit, but her brother will die if we don't keep her. I have a huge favor to ask. Can you take her and her brother for a while? Just until they get adopted."
"Sure," he said.
They enjoyed singing and a very large Christmas dinner. The kids talked with the Titans and amongst themselves. For kids they seemed very well behaved. Only the girl that had been pointed out seemed to not talk to anyone, and her brother. Robin thought this was odd.
"Hey," he said, to the girl. "Can I talk to you?"
"Whatever," she said.
They walked out of the room, and onto the rooftop.
"You ok?" he asked.
"Fine," she said stubbornly. Her face softened. "Sorry. My parents died on Christmas. I really don't like the holiday. I only pretend to like for my brother."
"I lost my parents on Christmas to," he said. "But I had to learn to let it go."
"I can't," she said. "I was with them for eleven years. Then they were gone, never to be seen again. It hurt, it hurt real bad."
"I know," he said. "This is probably going to hurt even more but the caretaker told me that you can't go back to the orphanage. She asked us to look after you and your brother until someone adopts you."
The girl's face drooped. She started to tear.
"I new this would happen," she said. "Ever since that day, that man, I hate him."
"What man," said Robin, suddenly taking interest.
"The man who killed my parents," said the girl. "He wore a mask. I couldn't see his face, all I saw was an eye, staring out of the orange side of the mask."
"Slade," he said.
That vile man was the reason she was parentless. His hate for Slade grew. It was so strong even the girl could sense it.
"Did he kill your parents to?" she asked.
"No someone else did," he said. "I've already avenged my parents and killed the guy responsible."
"I want to get the man who did this to me," she said, seriously.
"No," he said. "You're to young, you're brother will need you. Slade isn't easy. I've fought him for years, but haven't been able to kill him."
"I don't need to go near him to kill him," she whispered.
A falcon flew over the tower, suddenly it changed course and landed on her shoulder. Robin watched in amazement as she stroked its feathers. She whispered something to it and it took off again. It came back ten minutes later with a gem in its claws. It gave her the gem and then took flight.
"What…?" started Robin.
"I can control animals," she said. "I've been able to since I was two. Slade was after me because of that. My parents stopped it. I'm the Princess of the Animal Kingdom."
This girl will leave eventually. The animals will stay with her and her brother. Slade will finally go down and never come back. Beast boy will have a very difficult decision to make next chapter.