Well, hello again. Sora here. I'm finally out of traction and back in action. Well, I suppose traction is not quite the term to use. I'm afraid, though, that I must apologize again. I promised to have an update much sooner than this. I can give a brief explanation for my tardiness. After a battle and subsequent loss with a brownie (yes, you heard me, a brownie), I sliced my hand open and lost total use of my left hand for quite some time. As you know, both hands are required for any sort of efficient typing. Today is the very first day I've been able to use my injured appendage. So, here I am ready to present chapter nine of Love and Family.

As you all know, this is a Rob/Rae fic and will not change. Please don't flame me for the pairings. Any other sort of response is happily welcomed.

I do not own the Teen Titans and suing me would be wasted time and energy. Now, without further ado, the story. Here we go!

Once they were secure in one of the many garages at the Wayne Manor, Robin helped Raven out of the car. They were greeted by Alfred.

"Master Richard, welcome back."

"Thanks, Al," Robin answered casually. "Where's Bats?"

"Mr. Wayne," Alfred said, emphasizing his correction, "is waiting for you in his office. He instructed me to bring you as soon as you arrived."

"Whoo-hoo," Raven muttered darkly, "a long car ride followed immediately by a grilling. Can my day be anymore complete?"

"I take it this is not to your liking," Alfred said dryly.

"What was your first hint?" Raven returned.

"Perhaps your…delicate condition requires a rest before meeting with Master Wayne."

"There is no need to use such evasive language," Raven informed him. Her vocal pitch had not strayed far from her monotone. "I am knocked up and pregnant. I am not delicate"

"Quite," was all Alfred said.

For the duration of their "conversation" Robin had been quiet and watchful. As soon as he was sure they were done, he spoke up.

"Are you ready to stop chewing on each other's heads then?" he asked. Raven glared at him for a moment. Exhaustion did not agree with her. Robin looked back placidly, he was fairly sure she wouldn't up and annihilate him on the spot.

"So, you would like to rest then," Alfred asked, though it sounded more like a statement. Robin broke in before Raven had a chance to answer.

"Yes," he said quickly, "yes, that would be great."

"Indeed. Very well. You know where your room is. Miss Raven, walk this way, your quarters are elsewhere." Robin watched warily as the two began walking away. The two had not exactly hit it off. A small muscle was twitching just above Raven's eyebrow. Robin briefly wondered if he would ever see Alfred alive again.

An hour later, Robin was settled into his old room and wondering where Raven had been placed. He didn't have to wonder long though. Soon enough, a large hole appeared in his ceiling and his girlfriend dropped through it gracefully.

"No powers, "Robin reminded her out of habit. Raven snorted.

"I'm tired," she said simply. "There was no way I was walking down two flights of stairs and across the manor to the opposite wing."

"Lazy," Robin remarked, smirking.

"Try pregnant. It's exhausting."

"Why didn't you take a nap?"

"I tried, I…" she trailed off and mumbled something incomprehensibly.

"Hmm?" Robin asked curiously. "I can't hear you. You'll have to speak up."

"I got lonely," she muttered. "I'm not used to sleeping alone anymore." Robin kept a heroically straight face and he still got smacked upside the head.

"What!" he asked indignantly.

"I know what you're thinking."

"Oh, and what am I thinking?"

"Thoughts that will get you maimed one appendage at a time," Raven answered.

"Oh really."

"It can't really be so shocking that the freaky goth girl gets lonely." Raven's voice now reflected hurt. Robin decided her hormones were probably getting the best of her. He logged away the knowledge and set aside the joking matters. One arm drew Raven close.

"I have never considered you a freaky goth girl," he said soothingly to the hormonal woman. "You are a funny and intelligent person. I am honored that you find my presence worthy enough to miss." Raven relaxed against him and was silent for a moment.

"You know, sometimes I think your ability to say the right thing at the right time is what keeps you alive."

"Don't I know it," Robin muttered to himself.

"But," Raven continued, "You're still sleeping on the couch tonight." Robin was about to protest when someone knocked on the door.

"Yeah?"

"Master Wayne would sincerely like to see you…now," Alfred emphasized the now. "If you would be so kind as to come out we can fetch your girlfriend and be on our way."

"No problem," Robin answered, leading Raven to the door.

"I'm already here," Raven elaborated as they greeted Alfred.

"I wasn't interrupting a moment, was I?" Alfred asked dryly.

"You were," the two answered in the same tone.

"Teenagers," Alfred muttered.

"I'll have you know I'm twenty," Robin said indignantly.

"A young man then, twice as bad," Alfred returned.

The three continued to barb each other until they reached Bruce's study. "This is where I, thankfully, leave you," Alfred announced. He began to walk away, but he paused and turned to look at them. "It is good to see you again, Richard," he said before truly taking his leave. Robin smiled and the two entered the study.

"My room is creepier," Raven remarked, not two seconds after they were in the door. "From what you told me, I was expecting a bit more. I'm disappointed."

"It must be difficult then, living in such a place as your room." They heard Bruce before they saw him appear from between two bookcases. Robin looked nervous.

"No worse than a Bat Cave, I'm sure," Raven sniped back. She looked thoughtful for a moment. "You didn't make him sleep upside-down, did you?"

"I assure you," Bruce drawled slowly, "he was quite comfortable. You have become familiar with the rooms, you should know."

"Uniform, but comfortable," Raven acknowledged. "You placed us far apart, though," she observed.

"Indeed I did," was all Bruce would say.

"Why?" Robin asked curiously, speaking for the first time.

"Were you afraid I'd get into trouble? Oh wait," she gestured to the slight rounding of her abdomen, "you're a little too late." Robin winced and Bruce glowered.

"My goal was to keep you out of further trouble."

"What further trouble? I'm already pregnant; I can't exactly get pregnant again. Well, I can, but it'll be awhile."

"I see, well, have a seat and we'll have a chat." Robin and Raven took a seat in the two chairs provided on one side of Bruce's desk. Bruce sat in his own, rather intimidating large backed chair. All three of them were silent. Finally Bruce spoke.

"What the HELL were you THINKING?" he exploded. Robin and Raven seemed to shrink into their seats. Even Raven was too startled to come up with a reply. "You two are SUPER HEROS! People like you DO NOT become PARENTS! Do you realize how DANGEROUS a situation you have created? And about making me a GRANDFATHER, do you realize just how WRONG that is?"

Roughly an hour and a half later Robin and Raven stumbled out of Bruce's office. "Jesus, I think my ears are ringing," Raven muttered as she rubbed her ears. "If this kid can hear, he or she will definitely recognize grandpa's voice now."

"It's a wonder that his voice never gave out," Robin remarked.

"He's got quite a set of lungs for someone of his age."

"I am not that old," Bruce said as he appeared behind them.

"Old enough," Raven muttered, "to be a grandfather." It was unclear if Bruce had heard her as he did not respond.

"Well, it is growing quite late. Alfred will show you back to your rooms…and congratulations."

Robin and Raven, who had been following Alfred, hit the floor from shock. Bruce laughed and returned to his study, presumably to prepare for his "night job".

"That's it," Raven declared, "he's crazy." Robin simply nodded.

Once they were in their respective rooms, Robin attempted to settle down. There was only one problem. Every time he tried to lie on the bed, a large hole appeared and he fell through. He tried several different beds in several different rooms. Each time, the same thing happened.

Finally, Robin gave up. He groaned in frustration and settled in on a couch in one of the empty studies. A few moments later, Raven appeared at his side. He moved over to allow her some space and gave her a quizzical look.

"Well, I said you had to sleep on the couch. I never said you'd be sleeping alone," she murmured. Robin laughed softly and was glad the couch was wide enough for both of them.

"All right then, good-night."

The two slept peacefully through the night until Alfred brought coffee the next morning and triggered Raven's stomach.

Well, there is the end of chapter nine. Thank you all for being so patient and sticking with me through all of this. I'll have another chapter of this story up by Christmas as well as a chapter of Returning and, I hope, the first chapter of a new story. Well, thank you all again. I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time! Sora out.