Hello. Sora here again. Yes, I'm pretty busy today. Two new chapters (one for my other story and one for this one). I apologize for the long wait. Illnesses have been my downfall these past few weeks. However, that is now the past and I'm up and kicking...for the most part. I'm well enough to write at least.
Well now, it's been awhile for me, so let me get back on track by running my standard. This is a Robin/ Raven fic and will remain as such. My luck has held out so far and I have received no flames, please help me continue that streak. Compliments are welcomed and encouraged, as are criticisms. Flames are okay too, so long as they aren't pairing flames.
I don't own the Teen Titans, but I'm pretty okay with that. Well, let's get on with this, shall we?
Cyborg offered to drive the team to the mall on his way to Titans East. It was eventful to say the least. They made four emergency stops for Raven, who was beginning to wonder if she would ever keep anything down again. The car had to stop a fifth time for Beastboy when he attempted to throw himself from the car in a last ditch effort to get out of shopping. Everyone was less than impressed. They stopped a sixth and seventh time to get food for Starfire. Each was beginning to realize that a Tamaranian pregnancy meant Starfire was constantly hungry. Overall, it took an hour and a half to get to a mall that was only a half hour away.
"I'll see you later, have fun!" Cyborg called as he finally dropped his team at the mall entrance and sped away. Robin turned to look at everyone.
"Well, what should we do first?" he asked.
"Oh, the court of food, please!"
"The Gaming Stop! Mega Monkeys Rule!"
"Let's go back home."
"Oookay," Robin sighed. He glanced at his watch. "Well, it's 12:30 right now. How about we do lunch and figure everything out from there?" His suggestion was met with general agreement.
Though Robin had warded off an argument by suggesting they eat first, he was beginning to regret the decision. If the car ride had been bad, he decided lunch was just plain hell. Even Trigon would have thrown up his hands and stayed away.
During the meal, several things happened. Starfire spent $245 on food alone and then decided she still had the munchies and proceeded to "share" with the other people around them, as was indeed customary on Tamaran. It didn't go over so well.
Later, Robin happily ordered and prepared to eat his favorite soup and crackers, only to have the crackers taken by Raven. This was a great disappointment on his part.
Next, Beastboy undertook a very dangerous personal mission. He made it his goal to see how many times he could make Raven sick in one day by using tofu. This, of course, invoked her wrath and that of a particularly large, cafeteria style table. Both Beastboy and the table flew into a far wall.
Raven's little levitation trick in turned caused panic among the other diners of the food court, who didn't know what was going on. Everyone ran screaming in all directions. Starfire, a tad homesick for her home planet, thought that, because there was no evil nearby, everyone was playing a game not unlike one she used to play as a child. In her excitement, she flew about and occasionally unleashed starbolts.
In the midst of all of it, Robin sighed deeply and put his head in his hands. "Lord give me strength," he muttered.
Finally, two hours later, things were starting to get straightened up. Beastboy and his table assailant were carefully pried from the wall. The massive damage around the food court was billed through the Titans' insurance company. Raven had been reminded to keep her temper and powers in check for the baby's sake and Starfire had been patiently informed that, in this instance, the screaming had not been a part of a game. She apologized immediately, and the well loved Titan was quickly forgiven.
Eventually, the group made it to the first store of the day; In the Beginning. Starfire grinned in delight and proceeded to drag Beastboy toward the back of the store. The poor boy whimpered the whole way.
Once they were alone, Robin turned to look at his girlfriend. "Ready?" he asked. Raven gave him an almost pitiable glare.
"Just take me home," she muttered.
"We can't do that until Cyborg gets back in a few hours."
"I hate you."
"I love you too," Robin chimed. Raven sighed.
"Fine, we may as well make this day productive. Come on, I'll pick up a few shirts and some pants." The two wandered into the maternity store unaware of a camera clicking furiously a few yards away from them.
Nearly an hour later, Starfire strode cheerfully out of the store laden down with multiple bags. Beastboy followed carrying the rest of the burden. Behind them, Robin and Raven emerged carrying one bag apiece. They were chatting quietly together when Starfire got her next idea. "Friends, may I put forth another idea?" she asked. They all looked hesitant, but Robin nodded.
"Sure, Star, lay it on us." Starfire tilted her head and Raven suppressed a grin. She knew what was coming next. Robin called out in shock when Starfire suddenly dumped her bags on him.
"I appreciate you offering to carry my bags, Robin, but what has this to do with my question?"
"He meant for you to give us your idea, Star," Raven explained quietly. Starfire looked mildly embarrassed.
"Oh dear, my Earth terms have become better, but your…how do you call it, slang? Yes, your slang still eludes me at times." Raven cracked a small grin.
"No, I think you did just the right thing." From under the mound of bags, Robin glared up at her. He knew Raven constituted this as some form of revenge. "Anyway, what is your idea?"
"May we please venture to the store of infant items?" Starfire looked excited and hopeful. Raven's eyes widened and she looked ready to bolt. Beastboy, laden down and trapped by his burden, looked ready to cry. Robin looked torn between his two choices: save his own hide and that of his loved one, or give into the happiness of his dear friend.
In the end, Starfire's look clinched it and even Raven knew it. It was a little known secret that Robin was a sucker for the puppy dog eyes when it came to the women in his life. With Starfire happily leading the way, the group trudged toward Baby Emporium.
Once inside, they were met with the shock of their lives. Neither of the birds could bring themselves to walk any further than the front door, and when Starfire took off with Beastboy down one of the countless aisles, they made no move to follow. Robin turned to Raven. "This place is huge," he squeaked. Raven nodded silently, a look of shock on her own face. "I didn't know infants required this much."
"Neither did I," Raven whispered.
"I'm scared…hold me?"
"You got us into this, Robin."
"We're screwed."
"Oh yeah."
Some three hours later, Robin and Raven managed to track down Beastboy (who was found cowering in the crib section, he refused to look at breast pumps) and Starfire. By the time Cyborg picked them up and took them home, they were all exhausted.
The first thing Raven did upon entering the tower was make her way to her room and collapse on her bed. Robin was quick to follow. After they had laid in silence for a few moments, Raven spoke. "Never again, Boy Blunder. I refuse to undergo such torture ever again." Robin sighed.
"I think next time, we leave Beastboy or Cyborg to take Star shopping and we'll go on our own."
"What part of 'I'll never go again' aren't you getting?"
"I get it, but you and I both know you're eventually going to need…more clothes." Robin nearly said "bigger clothes" but wasn't willing to risk it. "And at some point in time, we're going to have to shop for things to put in the nursery." Raven groaned.
"That's it, I'm done being pregnant."
"I don't think you can do that."
"I know I can't, but I feel better saying it."
"Whatever floats your boat," Robin quipped. Raven glanced at him and sighed.
"I know we have to go again, but give me a month. I need to recover from this most recent…ordeal you call shopping." Robin chuckled and leaned over to give her a kiss.
"Sure thing," he answered. The two birds were perfectly content to cuddle together in silence and allow themselves to decompress from the day. Unfortunately, it didn't last long. Cyborg came up and knocked on the door.
"Yo, you two. Batman's on the line and he looks pissed. You'd better get down here quick." Robin and Raven glanced at each other before scrambling off the bed and down to the communications room.
Once they were there, they gazed into the screen containing a mildly irate Bruce Wayne. "Good evening," he said slowly. Raven couldn't help but get the chills. This man could be terrifying when he wanted to be.
"Uh, hi Bruce," Robin stuttered. "What's up?"
"Have either of you seen the breaking news this evening?" Bruce asked in a dangerous, faux conversational voice.
"Um, no. Is there something we should know?"
"Not quite. More like is there something you should be telling me?"
"We don't understand," Raven offered quietly. She was confused as to where this conversation was going.
"Perhaps this will help," Bruce replied as he pushed a button. A moment later a clip popped up. There was a picture of Robin and Raven walking into the maternity store with the caption reading: Resident Birds Preparing to Nest? Both birds stared at the clip in shock. "Well?" the millionaire prompted.
"Shit," Robin muttered.
Well, that concludes chapter seven of Love and Family. I know it took me quite awhile and I again apologize. I hope you all enjoyed it. Until next time! Sora out.