Chapter 3

The scent of sugar cookies filled the air all around the tower. Cyborg was pleased with his baking. For once, the cookies hadn't burnt and crumbled up. For that reason, he was pleased. Cyborg painted various colors of icing on the cookies and Beast boy occasionally would snatch a cookie and stuff it into his mouth. But before he chewed he would ask: "This isn't all gonna go to my thighs...is it?"

About an hour later, Beast boy slammed his fist on the alarm. Without any hesitation, Robin, Starfire, Raven, and Cyborg came rushing in through the door. They all skidded to a stop to in order not to knock over Beast boy.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Robin inquired.

Beast boy tilted his head slightly and tapped his foot. "Weren't we gonna go shopping today? 'Cause I want presents."

Everyone grew a sour look. Robin's temple throbbed, Raven smacked her forehead, Cyborg muttered something to himself, and Starfire's shoulders fell.

"You're joking. You interrupted my meditation for your pathetic needs. Well that doesn't surprise me," Raven remarked bitterly.

"Um, I hate to say this, but the grass stain has a point. We all agreed to go shoppin' today." Cyborg sighed. "So, lets get to it, ya'll! Tee-"

"Ahem."

Cyborg glanced down at Robin. "It's the holidays!"

"Doesn't matter." Robin stated. "I'm still the leader of this team."

"Who made you the leader anyway!"

"Is it really that big of a deal?"

"Maybe..."

"Just let me say it!"

"Why should I?"

"Are you looking forward to eight hours of combat practice without a break?"

"Uh, fine, you can say it."

"Teen Titans, go!" Robin ordered proudly.

At the mall . . .

The Titans arrived just as the crowds were pouring in. The heroes all huddled together in a group circle to determine when they would meet back and where. Cyborg put his hand on Robin's shoulder, Robin's hand on Starfire's and Cyborgs, Starfire's on Raven, (and regretfully to Raven anyway) hers on Beast boy's, Beast boy's on her's, and Beast boy's on Cyborg and Cyborg's hand on Beast boy. They were all very smooshed together.

"Ok, team," Robin began, his brown creasing with focus. "When should we meet back here?"

"Please, where is here?" Starfire questioned.

"The food court and-"

"But the food court is rather large! How will we find one another?"

"We'll all meet back at the pizza shop."

"Which one?"

"The only one here!" Raven hissed.

Starfire blushed. "Oh, yes! I am sorry. Continue, Robin."

"Okay. So we'll all meet at the pizza shop in the food court after we're done shopping." Robin resolved. "But when is that going to be?"

"How 'bout in three hours. At uh," Cyborg looked at his built-in watch. "4:30 and thirteen seconds sharp…. No, wait...fifteen!"

"But what if I arrive at fourteen or sixteen seconds that is sharp!" Starfire cried fretfully. "Whatever shall I do?"

"Starfire! Calm down. You don't have be here at that exact time, you just have to be here close to that time." Robin explained.

"But Cyborg said-"

Cyborg cut her off, "Forget what I said. It was just a joke..."

"Glorious! Ha hahahahaha! I know understand your splendid words of laughter!" she giggled.

Everyone sighed in relief.

"Titans, separate!"

Wherever Robin is . . .

Robin wandered around every isle many times. Most of the items on the team's lists were either sold out or way over his budget. So far all he had in his cart were about fifteen bottles of mustard for Starfire, a book of dark and depressing poems for Raven, a box of pranks (that would be very annoying later) for Beast boy, and a Game Station game for Cyborg.

Something caught Robin's eye. He approached a counter with necklaces with engravements on them.

"Excuse me," he spoke out towards the sales clerk.

The clerk spun around in her chair and popped her bubble gum. "Yes? How may I help you?"

"Yeah. I'd like to have something engraved."

"What would you like to engrave into?"

Robin examined all of the choices. He chose a golden heart shaped locket. "That." he said pointing to it.

"What would you like to engrave in it?"

"Uh, I...um..." he stuttered, suddenly at a loss for words.

"I haven't got all day."

"Um...do you have a piece of paper and a pen?" Robin asked randomly.

The clerk raised a curious eye brow and handed him what he required. He scribbled down some words but crossed them off constantly.

'It's time to tell her the truth. Maybe she won't even give it a second thought...' his mind wandered.

"Well?" the clerk pressed impatiently.

Robin hastily wrote down what he wanted. "Here,"

She snatched the paper away and her eyes traced the words. "What would you like it to say on the front?"

"Starfire. S-t-a-r-f-i-r-e." he muttered.

"Okay, then, sir. You can pick it up in two hours. I work quickly."

"Can you try to make it look really, really nice though?"

"Yes, but can you please sign this and pay in advance."

Robin looked at the form with annoyance. He sighed and handed her the total and his signature at the bottom of the paper.

"Thank you. Your order will be ready soon. Don't forget!" the woman's voice trailed off.

Robin ran off as if Starfire had seen him. At least she didn't . . .

"Hi, Robbie-poo!"

Robin craned his head around with utter dread. He knew what to expect.

"Kitten." he growled.

She pranced over to him with bags and bags of clothes in her hands. She attempted to hug him but he slid out of the way.

"Oh, Robbie," she started slyly. "Might I say you look adorable in that jacket! Puuuuuuurrrfect!"

"Shouldn't you be going?"

"Never again, Sweetie! I'm all yours."

"What about Fang?"

"We are on a very loooooooong break."

"Whatever. Just leave me alone." he demanded nastily.

"You are such a tease, Robbie-poo! I saw you getting a necklace for me."

"It's not for you," he shot.

"Of course it is! I'm the only one for you."

Robin's eyebrow twitched. "Never. Say. That. Again."

"Why not?" she pouted.

"I don't like you that way. Matter of fact, I just don't like you." Robin repeated as he smirked.

Kitten's cheeks turned from a rose petal pink to a burning red. "You do like me! You just won't get it through your thick-"

"Bye, Kitten. We're done here."

Robin stormed off with Kitten close behind. He stopped unexpectedly and Kitten bumped into him without warning. Her bags spilled all over the floor.

Robin narrowed his mask at her and her bags. "No receipts, huh?"

She scurried off with the boy wonder not far behind. He lunged at her, but she snapped around and grabbed his arm.

"Watch out, Robbie-poo! This kitties got claws. MEOW!" she laughed.

"Get off of me!" he screamed as he pushed her hand off.

She quickly ran off again, only to have him grab her and drag her away toward the mall police. She looked up at him with a stupid grin on her face. "What you catch you get to keep," she purred.

Robin made a resentful face. "Ew."

Wherever Raven may be . . .

Raven's face was stiff from sheer boredom. She glared at all of the people buying cart-fills of toys and candy. All she had in her cart was polish for the T-car for Cyborg, a hair styling kit for Starfire, a small punching bag for Robin, and a hat with a twirly thing on the top and a month's supply of tofu for Beast boy. These are things on their lists, by the way.

She stopped and thought for a minute. 'Why am I getting Beast boy two presents and only getting everyone else just one?' she thought to herself. 'Probably so he won't pester me about being cheap.'

She walked on slowly; browsing all the isles. All she could do was look at how over priced a lot of stuff was. She would examine certain things, and then walk away; feeling that nobody had use for them. She picked up a book of supposedly real "Spells". She tossed it aside.

"My books of Azarath are better than that." she mumbled dryly.

She felt a tug at her cape. She glanced down to see a little kid with a big chocolate bar in his mouth and odds and ends of it smeared all over his face. She knelt down to meet eye to eye with him.

"That will rot your teeth you know." she stated matter-of-factly.

The kid burst into floods of tears and the mother came running over. She picked up the child and stomped off. Raven shrugged and went back to shopping.

"Raven, are you a dentist or something?" Beast boy's voice came.

Raven rolled her eyes and stuffed all the presents into her cape. "Hello, Beast boy."

Beast boy grinned. "Can you look at this tooth? I think it might have a cavity 'cause it hurts. Maybe it's because I forgot to brush once...or twice...or maybe the last six nights."

"Eeeeww!"

"Yeah. Whatever! Can you just-"

"I'm not a dentist. I don't have the power of teeth,... or whatever you say about dentists."

"Well you have the power to make children cry."

"Your jokes do too."

"Oh, yeah!"

"Yes."

"Oh yeah!"

"Yes."

"Okay, prove it."

"Why don't you? If I have the power to make children cry, then they will even if they like your dumb joke." Raven said. "So you go tell them."

"Fine! I will." Beast boy accepted as he approached a child.

"Hi, kid!" BB greeted. "Why did the cookie go to the doctor?"

The kid stared at him curiously.

Beast boy's face fell. "You're supposed to ask why."

The kid didn't move.

"Because he felt CRUMMY! Ha hahahahahaha! Well, what'da think?"

The kid was on the verge of tears.

"Never mind." Beast boy sighed in defeat. He returned back to Raven.

"Very funny. Not." Raven smirked.

"At least I didn't make it cry."

"Ooooohhhh. Harsh." Raven remarked sarcastically. "And where's your shopping cart?"

"I already bought my stuff."

"Where are the bags?"

"My room. I flew... them...there... oops."

"Nice giveaway."

"Whatever."

"Do you know what time it is?"

Beast boy suddenly pulled up his sleeve; revealing about ten watches. One had Mickey Mouse on it.

"Well, it's between: 1:08 am and 7:59 pm Eastern Standard Time." he replied. "Wait, how do I know all of these big words all of a sudden!"

"Never mind. I'll ask someone with a brain." Raven growled.

"I sooooo have a brain...I just don't use it very much! Rae!"

Cyborg is here . . .

"I wonder what they're gettin' me..." Cyborg wondered out-loud merrily. "I hope I get the 'Waffle Master 3000'!"

People looked at him strangely. He laughed nervously and headed in the other direction. He randomly plopped items in his cart. Mostly things that matched his fellow team mate's personalities. Like a kitten pillow for Starfire. He also picked out a few decorations to cover the areas of the tower that were still visible. Well, Raven's room was still visible, but he obviously had no intention of approaching her room with any cheery items. Not a good idea.

Starfire's section of the store . . .

Starfire had a cart full of stuff. Mostly for Robin. Unfortunately she had mistaken how much money she had, and had to put most of the gifts back.

Suddenly, she sensed quick movement. She turned her head around to see Robin dragging Kitten by the wrist toward the mall cops. Starfire's eyes glowed an ever brighter color than usual. She left her bags where they were and flew over to a very un-happy Robin. She floated right in front of him. "Hello, Robin." she greeted rather unpleasantly. "Why are you with that!" She pointed her index finger at Kitten.

Robin waved his free hand in defense. "Ew! Are you kidding me? Starfire, I would never want to be within a hundred miles of her! I'm just taking her to the cops... for good." he explained.

"Robbie-poo, is that the girl that you took to the prom!" Kitten shouted.

"Yeah. So?" Robin replied.

"That's the girl you bought the necklace for...isn't it! Oh Robin, how could you do this to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee? I guess we really are over!" Kitten wailed.

"We were never on in the first place! And never will be!"

Starfire grew a confused look. "You purchased me a neck of laces?"

"Uh," Robin paled.

"Yes he did! But trust me beast, you haven't had the last laugh!"

Kitten attempted to make an escape, but the two titans stopped her. Starfire grabbed her shoulders very tightly. "He is not yours." Starfire seethed under her breath.

"Who's is he then?" Kitten asked in the same tone.

"Nice catch, Star! Couldn't have done it better myself." Robin interrupted the cat fight.

Starfire blushed at him. "I am sure you could have, friend Robin. But it is quite pleasurable to stop a villain...especially one as dislikeable as the Kitten." she sneered.

"Heeeeeellllllllloooooo! I'm right here you know!" Kitten pointed out.

"Not for long." Robin muttered. "You'll be behind bars with your 'daddy'soon."

Kitten's eyes widened. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Later . . .

Kitten was now with the police and Robin and Starfire were left to talk.

"Star, why don't you go to the food court?" Robin suggested.

"Do you wish to be rid of me?" Starfire squeaked sadly.

"No, of course not. But there's something that I need to do...that you can't see until Christmas."

"What is that?"

"It's a surprise."

"What is it?"

"You can't know yet."

"Why the not?"

"Because-"

"Do you not like me?"

Robin turned around. "The whole point of this gift is to show you that I do." he blurted. He slapped his hands over his mouth.

Starfire beamed. "Please, is it the neck of laces that the nasty Kitten spoke of earlier?"

"She doesn't know what she's talking about. She's nuts." Robin let his hands fall down to his sides.

"Oh," Starfire breathed. "Then I suppose that I shall see you at the pizza shop momentarily."

She drifted away leaving a practically heartbroken Robin behind.

4:30 . . .

Robin had picked up the necklace and the rest of the team had bought their items. They all gathered together at the food court.

"Everything done?" Robin questioned.

Everyone nodded.

Robin smiled. "Alright, let's go home."

To be continued . . .

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

A/N: Hi people! Uh, sorry it took me forever to post this. I've been working on it for a while. It's not a very good chapter and it's mostly Robin and Starfire fluff, but I thought that Kitten would make it kinda funny...

Anywhoo...PLEASE send suggestions because I'm running out of ideas! And please send flame free reviews. I'll try to post chap 4 asap. :)

-PWG

P.S. - I got this line from the episode 'Date with Destiny':

"I don't like you that way. Matter of fact, I just don't like you."