The Gift

By Misty Fortner

A Robin/Raven story

As much as I wish Santa would bring me the Teen Titans for Christmas, he hasn't. I still do not own them.

To my readers and reviewers:

Thanks to everyone who reviewed me. I have read them all. Not going to write personal comments for this chapter mainly because its 3 am. I want to go to bed. I hope everyone likes the chapter. The next one won't take as long. This one was just hard because I didn't know completely what I wanted to do with it. I know on the next couple chapters. I should have chapter 10 up by the end of the week. (At least that's the current plan)

Chapter 9: Miss You Most at Christmas Time

"Every other season comes alone and I'm all right,

But then I miss you most at Christmas time."

Robin lay in his bed tossing and turning. He hadn't slept well last night, and he was exhausted after the battle with Dr. Light. Still sleep would not come. He was thinking about everything that had happened in the last 24 hours. Raven was being foolish. They couldn't be parents to an actual baby. In the back of his mind something told Robin that Raven was ready to be a great mom. It was his ability to be a good father that he doubted. Robin quickly denied the thought and returned to tossing and turning. He needed to rest.

Suddenly there was a bright flash of light, and Robin saw an woman standing in his room.

"Hello, Robin. We need to talk" she said.

Robin reached for the button on the communicator to call for back up when the woman mumbled a quick word and his communicator jammed.

"Look, I don't know who you are but I will but the scanners will pick you up." Robin said on the offence. "The rest of the Titans will be here any second."

"No they won't. Right now they think I'm my daughter, so they won't interfere with our talk. Robin you need to reconsider the decision you made regarding your child. Raven is going to have her with or without your help. I promise you that you will regret it."

"You are Raven's mother?" Robin relaxed a tiny bit. He didn't think Arella would try and harm him because she tried to avoid violence. Still he had gotten her daughter pregnant and wasn't supporting her in the technical since of the word, so Robin was still not quite at ease.

"Yes, I am"

"Look I know she's your daughter, but we're not ready to be parents. We have a duty to the city. She needs to terminate the pregnancy."

"You know my daughter. She's made up her mind to have this baby. Wouldn't it be better to try and be a father then to deny your child all together?"

Robin just shook his head. "Look, if you want to support your daughter in ruining her life go a head. I will have no part in it. Get out of my room, and tell your daughter I want nothing to do with her and the little brat." Robin crossed his arms and tried his best to ignore Arella.

After trying a couple more minutes Arella finally decided she would have to do what she really didn't want to do. She had to protect her family; even if it got her kicked off Azarath. "If words can't convince you of the truth, maybe your eyes can. Look at it as a Charles Dickens type deal. I only hope you will accept the truth." After that Arella faded away. Robin decided he was dreaming. Arella hadn't really been there. He hit his pillow in frustration as he tried to sleep. He wanted the day to be over, so he could work on refocusing his team tomorrow. If they didn't get their act together, the villains would overtake the town.

After about an hour had past another light flashed and this time Robin found himself outside. He looked around trying to figure out where he was. It all looked very familiar but he didn't know why. Finally his eyes focused on the tent in the near distance. "Could it be?" he wondered and took off into a run towards the tent.

He looked into the tent, and felt overcome by a broad range of emotions. He had been right; he was back at a circus in which his parents were performing. He stood and watched as his parents preformed their normal routine on the trapeze. Everything inside him wanted to run over and convince his parents to leave the circus. If he could convince them to leave they wouldn't die, and he could have a normal life. Robin looked at himself performing. He was wearing the new costume his parents had given him on there last Christmas together. He had received it Christmas eve, and been so proud to wear it in the Christmas performance the following day. As he took in more of the surroundings he realized this was that Christmas performance. A single tear slid down Robin's cheek. He missed them so much. His life would have been so different if they had never died. Robin felt he had missed out on so much. He had always wondered if they knew how much he loved them. Robin vowed to approach them after the show and make sure they did.

Robin felt a hand on his shoulder. He jumped and then quickly turned around, and found himself looking into the face of Bruce Wayne his former mentor, also known as Batman.

"I know what your thinking, Richard. Even if it was possible you know that you can't interact with them," said Bruce.

"Why can't I just tell them I love them? I didn't do that often as a child, they need to know."

"Even thinking about it is pointless, because we are here to observe. We can't affect the world we are seeing"

"Don't say pointless! She says that word all the time. I don't want to think about her while I'm near my parent's again. I just want to figure out how to tell them that I did love them, even though I didn't act like it.

Bruce nodded; he knew his former Robin was referring to Raven. When Arella had showed up to explain the situation he had initially thought that Robin's position was correct that the pregnancy should be terminated. Raising a child for two teenagers is hard enough, let alone two teen superheroes raising a daughter who will have powers. But after a long talk with Arella, Bruce had decided that Raven was in the right, and the little girl Winter was supposed to be born. If she was to be born Robin needed to see the importance of being a father to the little girl. All children needed both parents.

Bruce and Robin stood watching the circus from a great spot. They couldn't be seen or actually interact with the seen before them so they could get the best viewpoint in the house. Finally when the performers were doing their final bows, Bruce broke the silence. "Your parent's were very good at what they did. I believe they would be proud of the way you have lived your life so far."

Robin looked at Bruce. Robin understood what Bruce was saying and it annoyed him. Looking at his former guardian he said in a slightly raised voice "So far! I thought you would agree with me about the pregnancy. I'm not ready to be a father and my parents would know that too!"

"Your parents would agree that you're not ready to be a parent. But the fact is, Richard, you are going to be a father. Raven is going to give birth to your daughter. Pretending it's not happening won't make go away. Your parents would have wanted you to take responsibility for them. My guess is your parents might have pushed for marriage, something no one is asking you for. All anyone wants is for you not to leave Raven to raise Winter by herself."
"Winter, the little girl from the orphanage? What does she have to do with this?" asked a very confused Robin.

"I thought you knew. Arella assumed Beast Boy or Cyborg would have told you. Winter is your daughter. Arella from the future sent her to your time to try and stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life."

Robin was in shock. He didn't know why he hadn't realized it sooner. Winter had been so protective of him and Raven. She had also been so cold to him when she and Raven had left. He understood why now. Winter knew that he wanted her mother to have an abortion. Winter knew that if her mother listened to him, she would have never been born. She had been a beautiful little girl, obviously Raven had faired well as a single mother.

Silence once again stood between Bruce and Robin as followed the performers back to the living trailers. Stepping into the room, they watched as Robin's father presented Robin's mother with a dozen roses. "Merry Christmas, to my beautiful wife. I want you to know that I will always love you," said Robin's father.

His mother took them and presented her husband with a kiss before going to put them in a vase.

"Yuck," said the voice of a young Robin.

His mother left out a soft chuckle. "Just you wait. Mama's little Robin will grow up and fall in love one day. Then kisses won't seem so yucky."

The little boy rolled his eyes. "Mom, I told you, I'm too old for that nickname. Call me Dick, or at least Richard. No more Robin, please. It's embarrassing."

The woman looked at her son. "As long as your alive, you will always be my little Robin. Even when you have a child of your own, I will still call you my Robin. I will try to not do it around other people."

"Fine, whatever" responded the younger Robin in a very irritated voice.

"Don't talk to her like that," scolded the older Robin. No one in the scene responded to the voice, for they didn't here it."

Robin's father looked at the little boy. "Richard Grayson! I've told you not to speak that way to your mother! Have some respect for her."

"Sorry mom"

The woman smiled at her son. "You're alright tonight. I have a big heart. It's Christmas." She fiddled with the roses a little while longer trying to get them perfect. "When you do fall in love, Dick, give your love roses. Nothing melts a woman's heart like roses."

The younger Robin smiled at his mother acknowledging her abiding by his wishes to be called Dick.

"Yep, they have gotten me out of much trouble. I gave your mother roses on our first date. She's been madly in love with me ever since" chuckled Robin's father.

Bruce turned to Robin. Our time is almost over. You will be returning to your room now. Richard thank about your parents. They both influenced you. You needed them both. Winter needs both you and Raven. You may not be ready to be a father, but trying is better than not doing.

With another flash of light, Robin was once again lying in his bed. He looked around. Everything seemed the same. Everything except for the single white rose sitting in a vase on his night stand. He looked it and remembered the roses his father had brought his mother and the rose he had bought Raven. His parent's had obviously impacted him in ways he hadn't known.