Chapter 4

Peering through her cave of blanket, Raven wearily rubbed the sleep from her eyes. As she moved in her bed, she heard a crumpling sound and reached down to pick up a small parcel. It was the gift she had gotten from Beast Boy the night before. She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts of the note, that she had completely forgotten to open the gift.

Gingerly, she opened the small gift. Once the wrapping paper was off, Raven opened the small flat box underneath. She gasped when she saw five slips of paper inside the box. They were tickets for the Jump City Grand Theater! She looked at the bright white tickets and read the clear black print that proudly boasted the name of the ballet, The Nutcracker. Raven smiled and pulled the tickets out to get a better look at them. She looked at the date printed on the side of the tickets:December 17. The tickets were for the show that night and they had some of the best seats in the house!

She jumped out of bed and quickly changed out of her pajamas. She carefully placed the tickets in their box and placed it on her bedside table, next to the ornament Beast Boy had gotten her as her first gift.

She walked excitedly to the kitchen and was slightly disappointed to see that she was the first one up. Walking over to the open area beside the couch,Raven sat down in mid-air and slowly chanted her mantra. As she meditated, time slipped past and her friends all woke up and entered the main room.

Raven stood up and looked around the room. Robin was placing a large plate of waffles in the middle of the table, surrounded by five empty ones. The rest of the Titans, Raven included, walked eagerly over to the table.

Once everyone was seated and had their own smaller stacks of waffles, Raven cleared her throat. Everyone looked at her, and she made her announcement.

"We're going to go see The Nutcrackertonight," she informed them.

"That actually sounds pretty fun," Cyborg commented through a mouthful of chewed waffles. "It's been a couple years since I went to The Nutcracker last."

"This 'Nutcracker', I believe I have heard of it. It is a seasonal play, yes?" asked Starfire, her eyes sparkling.

"It's a Christmas ballet," confirmed Robin. "I've seen it before. It was really good."

Beast Boy just smiled and looked down at his breakfast. Raven wondered for a second if Beast Boy was actually looking forward to it. He had gotten her the ticket- there were five, so surely he intended for them to all go together- but, did he really want to go, or was he just being kind?

For the rest of the day, everyone went about doing his or her own thing until the evening. Cyborg played video games with Beast Boy and worked on his car. Robin somehow managed to spend the whole day just talking to Starfire about the play. When Beast Boy wasn't playing video games, he stayed in his room with the door closed.

Raven traced the crystal designes of frost on her window as she willed time to pass. She had read for most of the day, but she had finished her latest book and was feeling too excited about the show to read. Of course, anyone looking at the girl right now wuoldn't think she was excited, as she traced the delicate lines of ice on her windows with a neuteral expression on her face.

"Raven, dinner's ready," Cyborg called through the door. Raven looked away from her window and let a ghost of a smile cross her face. In less than three hours they would be going to see the show.

That night they ate a quick dinner.Once they had both finished eating,Starfire dragged Raven to her room. Inside her room, she closed the door and turned to Raven, smiling excitedly.

"Friend Raven, I understand that this ballet is semi-formal attire."

"Yeah… and?" asked Raven.

"And you must assist me in the finding of an outfit!" Starfire squealed, opening her closet with a flourish.

Raven groaned, but walked over to the closet anyway.

"Well, do you have any choices yet?" asked Raven, shuffling through the hangers of clothing. She was slightly surprised at the amount of normal clothing Starfire had, concidering she never wore anything but her uniform except in the winter. Then again, all those trips to the mall can't have been to just while away the time.

"Yes, I have narrowed it down to ten shirts and eight skirts, and four pairs of shoes."

Raven sighed; this would take a while.

-

After Raven had finished helping Starfire choose an outfit, the alien insisted on doing the same for Raven.

Now, as she stood in front of her full-length mirror, Raven had to admit that she didn't look half-bad. She had been afraid that Starfire would pick out something atrociously bright and/or gaudy, but the Tameranian had kept Raven in mind while picking out the clothes, and Raven actually liked the outfit she had been forced to wear.

She would have been perfectly happy just wearing black dress pants and a sweater, but Starfire wasn't content with that. She had chosen a dark purple skirt made of silk for the empath to wear. For a top, Starfire had chosen Raven a dark gray blouse with delicate swirls of purple and blue. Raven had never been sure about wearing gray, because of her already gray skin, but the shirt was darker and looked quite nice against her pale skin.

The two girls made their way to the main room, where the guys were ready and waiting. Robin's jaw almost dropped when he saw Starfire.

"Y-you look… very nice… Star," Robin stammered, blushing as he looked over Starfire's outfit; a long, flowing pink skirt, matched with a white blouse that nicely showed off her figure. Strappy white heels showed off her calves in a way her usual past-the-knee boots she wore never could.

Starfire giggled, getting the reaction she had been hoping for. Raven couldn't imagine that the black suit he wore was very comfortable right now, judging by the shade ofcrimson his face was turning as hegazed at Starfire. Cyborg and Beast Boy sniggered at their leader's red face, drawing Raven's attention.

Cyborg had put on a grey pant and jacket suit that was large enough to fit over his sturdy frame. Raven had a sneaking suspicion that it had been specially made, as not even the largest man in Jump City needed a suit large enough to cover all of Cyborg's machinery, without being too large in the waist.

Beast Boy, Raven admitted to herself, actually looked quite nice. He was wearing a pair of khakis and a dark blue button down shirt under a chocolate brown blazer.

Beast Boy noticed her gaze and walked over to her.

"You look nice," he told her sincerely. Raven felt a blush cross her cheeks and grunted in reply.

Beast Boy smiled and didn't say anything else.

Everyone was ready so they walked out to the T-car and got in. Cyborg, of course, was driving. Raven sat up front in the passenger seat, and Beast Boy, Starfire and Robin sat in the back.

At the theater they parked in a nearby parking lot (Cyborg didn't trust his 'baby' with the young valet) and they walked into the theater. Inside, Raven smiled. She loved the Jump City Grand Theater. With its dark wooden carvings around the ceiling and dark red carpets on marble-style tiles, it had an old fashioned flair that reminded everyone that the building was older than they were.

She handed each Titan a ticket and walked over to their box. She knew they would want to get snacks.

She was only sitting alone in the box for a couple minutes before she heard Beast Boy's voice calling for her. She walked over to the door where the ticket taker was standing in front of Beast Boy. The green man smiled at her.

"Hey, Raven. Could you do me a favor and grab my ticket for me?" Beast Boy asked, smiling at her hopefully. His arms were full of snacks and his neck was angled awkwardly so he could look at her pleadingly.

"Why couldn't he get it for you?" asked Raven, pointing her thumb at the ticket taker who suddenly looked very uncomfortable. So did Beast Boy, who laughed nervously.

"The ticket is kind of in my back pocket," hemumbled, blushing. Raven raised an eyebrow. After a while, she walked over and quickly pulled the ticket out of his pocket. She blushed slightly when her hand brushed against his posterior, but she quickly shook the immature thought out of her head. She flashed the usher the ticket and he let them in, laughing lightly.

Beast Boy followed Raven in, vaguely wondering why she hadn't just used her powers.

-

During the first intermission, Raven stood up, stretching lightly. She looked over at her friends, who were doing the same. Starfire was smiling brightly and Robin was happy because she was. Cyborg had seen the ballet many times before, but he seemed content as he picked up various empty boxes (he had staggered in a couple minutes before the show started, carrying more snacks than even Beast Boy had. Luckily, he had been carrying his ticket between his fingers so he didn't need help getting in).

Beast Boy's eyes were wide and he smiled at her.

"This is so awesome!" he exclaimed.

"Yeah, it is," Raven agreed. "But I never really thought you'd enjoy a ballet."

"Yeah, me neither," Beast Boy admitted, laughing. "But this is actually really cool!"

Raven nodded and sat down once more.

"Don't you want any snacks?" Beast Boy asked. "There's plenty of time to go get some."

"No, I'm fine." Raven replied. Beast Boy shrugged and walked out to get more snacks.

He returned a few minutes later with even more snacks in his arms, and his ticket held firmly in his teeth to prevent to the same incident from happening twice.

He sat down next to Raven and put spread out his snacks on his lap and on the ground at his feet. Raven looked at the many snacks and looked at him questioningly. He laughed, but didn't reply,since the lights were dimming again.

A couple minutes into the second act, Beast Boy offered her some chocolate covered almonds, which she silently accepted. For the rest of the show, the two shared Beast Boy's many snacks.

-

The Titans walked into the Tower and turned on the lights. Raven followed her friends in. As she took her jacket oof though, her mind was far away in the Kingdom of Sweets.

It was late, so after saying good night, most of the Titans went to their rooms. Trailing behind, Raven stopped in the kitchen first and picked up her book, which had been left on the kitchen table earlier that day.

She went back to her room and noticed almost immediately the gift sitting on her bed. She picked it up and read the note.

Raven,

I'm glad you liked the tickets. I figured you would. I got the tickets a while ago from some raffle I donated money to. Anyway, I hope you like your fourth gift.

-Your 'secret' admirer

Raven smiled and put the note down. She picked up the gift. It was placed in a gift bag this time. Raven dug through the thin tissue paper that hid the gift, and pulled the present out. It was a small nutcracker figurine. Raven smiled and placed it on her nightstand, next to the tree ornament.

She quickly changed into her pajamas and crawled under her covers. She fell asleep quickly.

In her dreams she danced in a magical world, with a nutcracker that changed into a green prince when she kissed him.

I couldn't help myself. I love the music in the Nutcracker, and when the Nutcracker changes into a prince. It always puts me in the Christmas spirit, so I had to put it in the story somewhere! Thanks to everyone who has reviewed so far. You have no idea how happy they make me!

Tammy Tamborine